Book Review

 

In addition to the sources assigned to the class, you are required to write a critical review ( examination) of one other book (you must find a book). Your choice must be approved by the end of week 2, please send a message with your book choice for my approval. Critical book review IS NOT a summary of the book. In that review, you should look at the author’s background, purpose for writing the book, the argument of the book, organization of the book (topical versus chronological), a brief summary of the book, sources and evidence, and critical analyze if the author(s) succeed in making the argument. The book review is due by the end of week 5.
My suggestion is to review one of the books used for your research paper. Your paper should be a Word document, in 12-point Times New Roman font, double-spaced, and structured according to Turabian or Chicago style rules. The maximum length of the paper is 2 pages.

Assignment Guidelines:

Book Review Guidelines: Historians often contribute to the scholarly discourse in the form of a book review, which I strongly encourage you to do. The guidelines for book reviews for this course closely follow those of the Journal of Military History. When writing a professional book review, following guidelines is essential for success, so these guidelines are important; Use them for evaluation of the book review for the course.Also include a successful sample book review. Recommend you choose and read the books for your review as early as possible since a good review might require more than one close reading of the book.

I. Appraisal: Keep the scholarly interests of the reading audience in mind as you write the review.

· Does the author clearly state goals and achieve them?

· What are the goals?

· Is the work sound scholarship?

· How does the work contribute or add to the field?

· What is the significance of the book to the field?

· Is the writing clear and free of jargon?

· Is the book worth buying? Reading? By whom?

II. Tone: Scholarly disputation is best handled in a courteous manner. Criticism, both positive and negative, must be substantiated. Personal attacks on the author, as opposed to strong disagreement with the book, are always inappropriate and will not be published.

III. Footnotes: Do Not Use. Indicate exact pagination for direct quotes as in the following example: “The military genius of Napoleon is best demonstrated in his capacity for situational flexibility” (p. 323). If it is necessary to translate a foreign-language quotation, include the original on a separate sheet. Quoted material, especially lengthy ones, are not a good idea, though.

IV. Names: Give the full names of persons you mention in the review.

V. Minor Errors: Unless errors or fact, typography, or spelling and grammar detract in a major way from the quality of the book, it is hoped that the limited number of words in the review can best be expended more profitably in other ways.