How to Write a Book Review

In addition to my two primary occupations -- as a theology student and a pastor of two churches -- I also serve as the Reviews Editor for the journal Global Forum on Arts and Christian Faith. Book review essays are among my favorite kinds of writing, so I would like to offer some advice for reviewers who might want to (or be asked to) write one of their own.

First of all, there is no formula for writing an engaging review of a book (or a film, art exhibit, or performance). Or perhaps it is more accurate to say that no one wants to read a formulaic review. However, like all art forms -- and yes, reviewing and critiquing are forms of art -- there are certain conventions to consider when composing a review essay.

• List the title, author, year of publication, publisher, and number of pages. This is all standard stuff that usually comes at the beginning of the review. A good editor will ask you for it if you forget to submit it with your draft.
• Include a quote from the book. Part of your job as a reviewer is to describe the author's main point(s). This can (usually) be accomplished by quoting the thesis, or a supporting argument, directly from the book. Don't make it too long -- a sentence or two is probably adequate.
• Tell us what you think. A review is not simply a report or summary of what the book says. That's what dust jackets are for, and a de-personalized summary of a book's main points is not fun reading. Your job as a reviewer is to converse with the author based on your own experiences and viewpoints. This is why you don't have to know more about the subject than the author -- you just need to relate it to your own personal knowledge in interesting ways. But don't go overboard -- no one (besides your own mother) wants to read a review that is mostly about you.
• Place the book in an intellectual landscape. Be sure to mention what kind of book is being reviewed, such as which genre it belongs to -- e.g., systematic theology, ethnography, fiction, poetry, etc. Go a step further, thereby creating a stronger review, by placing this book in relation to other books -- that is, describe how it is similar to or different from well-known works in the same field. For instance, if the author studied at a prominent university with famous professors, then establishing their academic pedigree might help your readers better understand the book's perspective. Also, if the book is theological in nature, then you might mention where the author studied and/or which faith tradition she belongs to. In other words, your ability to frame the book within a universe of ideas will greatly increase the value of your review. This is essentially why I read book reviews. It's not only that I lack the time to read every book that I want (or need) to. I also want to know how various schools of thought are developing and who is contributing to them.
• Combine more than one book. A multiple-book review is a great way to situate a book within a wider academic framework. Placing two or three (or more) books in conversation with each other exposes and clarifies the different intentions of the various authors. Also, you might consider pairing a theoretical book with one focused on practical matters, testing whether the ideas in the former support the recommendations in the latter.
• Read other reviews, especially of the book(s) you are writing about. Don't reinvent the wheel; make sure you aren't writing a review that someone else already has. Also, other reviewers will spark ideas and draw out things that you didn't notice on your first reading. Here are some publications who put out excellent review essays for a general audience:

  Christ and Pop Culture
  The Curator
  Books and Culture
  New York Times Sunday Book Review

  In addition, every academic field has its own journals that include thoughtful and critical reviews of new academic books. You might need access to a library or a subscription to read those, and scholarly reviews may take years to come out (instead of weeks for popular books).

• Mention where the book succeeds and where it fails. You aren't a Roman Emperor who gets to decide whether the author lives or dies. So your review should be more nuanced than "liked it" or "didn't like it." The book did at least one thing right, and there was something it could have done better. Point out examples of each. Better yet, tie your praises and criticisms to something you have noticed in your own experience.

So, why do we write book reviews at all? Because we want better books. A.O. Scott, film critic for the New York Times, wrote recently that critics are not the enemies of artists, nor are they parasites who feed off of creative types. Critics are actually artists in their own right, trying to improve society's output of art. Go make the world a better place and write a critical review of a book you just read. If it's about worship or art and culture, send me a message and ask about putting it in our journal.