http://iss.sagepub.com/
International Sociology
http://iss.sagepub.com/content/29/2/79
The online version of this article can be found at:
DOI: 10.1177/0268580914523876
2014 29: 79International Sociology
Mohammed A Bamyeh
From the editor: Ways to write a good book review
Published by:
http://www.sagepublications.com
On behalf of:
International Sociological Association
can be found at:International SociologyAdditional services and information for
http://iss.sagepub.com/cgi/alertsEmail Alerts:
http://iss.sagepub.com/subscriptionsSubscriptions:
http://www.sagepub.com/journalsReprints.navReprints:
http://www.sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.navPermissions:
What is This?
- Mar 10, 2014Version of Record>>
at Knihovna Univerzithniho on April 7, 2014iss.sagepub.comDownloaded from at Knihovna Univerzithniho on April 7, 2014iss.sagepub.comDownloaded from
International Sociology Reviews
2014, Vol. 29(2) 79­–80
© The Author(s) 2014
Reprints and permissions:
sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav
DOI: 10.1177/0268580914523876
iss.sagepub.com
From the editor: Ways to
write a good book review
I would like to use this introduction as an opportunity to outline some basic strategies of
reviewing that produce good, readable, and useful book reviews. Following these will
maximize the benefit and readability of a book review.
1.	 Focus on what the book actually says, not on what you want to say. You can, of
course, give us your opinion of it, but this should never come at the expense of
ignoring the book’s argument. After all, you are reviewing someone else’s work,
not your own. Even if you disagree with a book, readers generally expect the
review to tell them at least what the argument is, how it is justified, and how it
relates to other literature in a certain field. You can tell the reader that while telling
us why you like it or dislike it. But typically few readers appreciate a reviewer’s
opinion if they have no idea what that opinion is responding to. Do not
evaluate a book in terms of what you would have written. Try to understand what
the authors you are reviewing have tried to do, and whether they have succeeded
on their own terms, before you tell us why or not they have succeeded on yours.
2.	 Avoid a mechanical, chapter-by-chapter description of the book. This approach
usually produces uninspired reviews. Some parts of the book may be more important
than others, and you can focus on those. But the best reviews sketch out the
overall thesis of the book. The review may, of course, explain how the book is
structured and how its argument progresses, but keep in mind that reviewing a
book is not the same as reading it.
3.	 Pay attention to language and meaning. Avoid jargon, and do not worry too much
about what you think specialized academics like to hear. Do not use complex
sentences; be short, concise, and to the point. If the book is complex, do not
reproduce its complexity. Tell us what you are able to get out of it. It is better not
to do the review than to write gibberish. Do not try to sound needlessly profound.
Be concise and to the point. Your language needs to make sense.
4.	 Keep in mind that your audience is international, not local or regional. Do not
assume that all our readers are familiar with the minutia of local or national
debates, even if you happen to live in a large country or feel that your country (or
its social science community) is important.
5.	 Keep in mind that your audience is general. Write for a general audience of sociologists,
not specialists in your own area. Our readers come from all the subfields
523876ISS0010.1177/0268580914523876International Sociology Review of BooksEditorial
research-article2014
Editorial
at Knihovna Univerzithniho on April 7, 2014iss.sagepub.comDownloaded from
80	 International Sociology Reviews 29(2)
in sociology. Think of your review as an opportunity to explain debates in your
own specialty area to a larger audience of social scientists. Get out of your
national, regional, and subdisciplinary shell, even your sociological shell. Think
of the ability to communicate across various divides as a calling.
6.	 Although publishing reviews may add to your professional credentials, reviews
should never be done exclusively for that purpose. It is easier to write reviews if
you are genuinely interested in the ideas and debates in the books.
7.	 Keep notes and references to an absolute minimum; it is preferable to avoid them
altogether. A book review is not the place for an extended thesis. Save that for a
full-length article.
In general, a review is an opportunity to engage in debates and ideas, learn something
new, and provide a valuable service to a large, educated audience. But it should
also be an enjoyable activity. The best reviews are usually written by those who enjoy
writing them.
Mohammed A Bamyeh
at Knihovna Univerzithniho on April 7, 2014iss.sagepub.comDownloaded from