An academic book review is very different than one created by a website or a bookstore. The purpose of a website or a bookstore is only to sell a book and not an educated evaluation of a book. When writing an academic book review, critical thinking and analysis is an essential part of the evaluation of the book in question. The reviewer is endeavoring to present a fair analysis of the material, research and knowledge of subject matter, accuracy is essential especially with academic books. The purpose of an academic book review is to provide an accurate analysis of the book so that other students will know if the book is useful for educational endeavors.
When writing an academic book review, knowledge and interest in the subject matter is quite important. For example: if the book The Chronicles of Narnia and Philosophy: The Lion, the Witch and the Worldview edited by Gregory Bassham and Jerry L. Walls was selected, it would be beneficial for the reviewer to have read the books by C.S. Lewis and perhaps learned about the life of C.S. Lewis. Book reviewers need to research and check that the information in the book is accurate. It is easier to do research and evaluate if the reviewer has some interest or prior knowledge of the subject however it is not a requirement. Often with academic books, the information can become out of date very quickly. If the book reviewer choose to review Radiologic Science for Technologists: Physics, Biology, and Protection Ninth Edition by Stewart Carlyle Bushong, the information would be more out of date than with the Tenth Edition. Medicine and technology for example are changing rapidly. The book selected must be the most current edition available in UCN Libraries.
The academic book (e-books are acceptable) for review at UCN must be selected from the UCN Libraries collection and registered with the Library staff. The book selected cannot be one selected by another UCN student or one that has been previously reviewed by another UCN student. For example, Indian Horse by
Richard Wagamase has been read for UCN classes many times and has already been reviewed. Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens has been reviewed academically and otherwise for over a hundred years. It is important that this review reflect the UCN student reviewer’s critical thinking and not another reviewer’s perspective. It is however perfectly acceptable to ask another UCN student or faculty member to help proof-read one’s review.
The benefits for other UCN students to read reviews written by their fellow students are many and varied. It is a means of providing information whether the book will be useful in the class or classes that they are taking or may take in the future. The academic book review provides necessary information on the benefits of reading that book. Often selection of the correct book saves time and aggravation for all manner of UCN researchers. Academic book reviews may demonstrate how a book will not meet the reader’s need. Academic book reviews are highly beneficial to students and staff at UCN.
The UCN academic book review winning entries will be display in the Library with the book and also posted on the Library services website.
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