The key thing is this – I do not want a book report. A book review should include no more than a paragraph or so telling me about the book and instead focus your analysis on the argument made by the author, their evidence and how well (or not) they make their case. What I am looking for is your value added analysis about the book – Did they make their case? Did they marshall the evidence promised? Did they tell both sides and then explain their view point? Was it persuasive? What were the strengths and weaknesses of the book? Or was it just terrific all around? Or terrible all around? There is no set length, but I have found it’s hard to do an adequate review in less than 6-8 pages. Thinking it thru, if you have a 1 page intro and a 1 page conclusion, this leaves 4-5 pages for your evidence, discussion and argument. Of course you have to lay out the argument of the book, lay out your agreement or disagreement with it and your evidence therefore, perhaps site 3rd party sources and then take a side. In other words, something more thoughtful than the polemical balderdash you hear on the talking head shows on TV (with or without a bouffant hairdo). For whatever book it is, it may help give you context to find some book reviews of your book. Read these and feel free to use them in your analysis, agreeing or disagreeing with their take as you like. If you do this, please footnote it or give a reference at the end.
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