Book Review 108

Question Description

Need some motivation to read a current book on leadership? Perhaps, this will help. You pick the book on leadership, write a 2 pages book review.

A book review is a descriptive and critical/evaluative account of a book. It provides a summary of the content, assesses the value of the book, and recommends it (or not) to other potential readers. A book review is NOT a book report.

It should include the basics, such as the following: What is the book about? Who is the intended audience of the book? Is it focused on a specific subject or is it a general survey of a wider subject? What is the author’s point of view on that subject? A summary of the main ideas which advance the author’s argument.

However, critical comments should form the bulk of the review. It means that you are going to evaluate the book objectively. Ask yourself the following, if applicable:

• Has the purpose of the book has been achieved?
• What contribution does the book make to the field?
• Is the treatment of the subject matter objective?
• Are there facts and evidence that have been omitted?
• What kind of data, if any, was used to support the author’s thesis? Did the author use persuasive and unbiased evidence to support his/her claims? Can the same data be interpreted to alternate ends?
• Did you find the book engaging? Persuasive? Did you agree with it? Did you enjoy it? Does the book raise issues or topics for discussion?
• Would you recommend it to others?