Book reviews

A journal’s review section assesses books and other resources for its readers. The parts divide by the reviewer’s work: taking on an assignment, identifying the readership, judging the work against its purpose, adapting the review to the kind of resource, and writing to a short format. Writing and producing books, peer review of manuscripts, and editorials and commentary belong to neighbouring concerns.

• Taking on a review — finding assignments and review copies, declining conflicts, declaring a standpoint, and supplying the details printed at the head of a review
• Saying who the book is for — testing the book against its intended readers, identifying other readerships, and making a recommendation with its reservations
• Judging a book against what it set out to do — using the book’s stated purpose as the standard, deciding what to check, and substantiating the verdict
• Reviewing each kind of book or resource — adapting the assessment to argumentative books, reference works and textbooks, practical guides, popular science, patient-facing health books, and other media
• Writing a short review or notice — selecting the description, particular features and recommendation a short review or brief notice can support