Write a Book Review

Bloggers write book reviews for a number of reasons, some of which I'll share with you here:

1. Sharing Opinions: Many bloggers write book reviews because they have strong opinions about the books they read and want to share these opinions with others. Writing a review allows them to express their thoughts, interpretations, and feelings about a book.

2. Engaging With Readers: Book reviews can generate discussions among readers. By sharing their views on a book, bloggers can engage with their audience, stimulating conversations, debates, and sharing of different perspectives. This interaction can foster a sense of community on the blog.

3. Helping Readers Make Informed Choices: A book review can provide valuable insights that help readers decide whether or not to read a particular book. A well-written review can give potential readers a good understanding of what to expect, which can save them time and money.

4. Establishing Authority: Bloggers who consistently write insightful and detailed book reviews can establish themselves as authorities in a particular genre or field. This authority can build their reputation and increase their readership.

5. Promoting Literacy and Reading: By writing book reviews, bloggers can encourage a culture of reading. They can introduce readers to new authors, genres, and ideas that they might not have discovered otherwise.

6. Enhancing Writing Skills: Writing book reviews can also help bloggers improve their writing skills. The process requires them to articulate their thoughts clearly and effectively, to analyze complex ideas, and to build compelling arguments.

7. Attracting Website Traffic: Book reviews often include keywords related to the book title, author, and genre. These can improve a blog's Search Engine Optimization (SEO), making the blog more visible on search engines and attracting more traffic. Yes, people actively search book reviews!

8. Generating Revenue: Some bloggers might earn affiliate income by linking their book reviews to online bookstores. If a reader clicks the link and makes a purchase, the blogger earns a small commission at no extra cost to the reader.

9. Engaging with Authors and Publishers: Writing reviews can establish connections between bloggers and the publishing world. Authors and publishers might send complimentary copies of books for review, invite bloggers to participate in book tours, or even quote their reviews in promotional materials.

Ready to write your book review? Let's go!

Step 1: Read the Book First and foremost, thoroughly read the business book you are reviewing. This might seem obvious, but to provide a detailed, comprehensive review, you need to understand the book's content, structure, arguments, and overall message. Take notes while reading, highlighting interesting points, quotations, or any sections that you find significant or confusing.

Step 2: Understand the Book's Main Arguments and Points Identify the author's thesis or main argument. In non-fiction, this is usually explicitly stated. Also, identify the supporting arguments or points. These could be examples, statistics, personal stories, etc. Write these points down in a logical order.

Step 3: Brief Summary Start your review with a brief summary of the book. Don't give away too much or reveal any spoilers, just provide enough information to frame your review and give your readers a sense of what the book is about.

Example:

"In 'The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks', author Rebecca Skloot explores the profound impact that the HeLa cell line - derived from the cancer cells of a woman named Henrietta Lacks - had on modern medicine, all while diving deep into the ethical, racial, and human complexities that have surrounded its usage."

Step 4: Discuss the Author's Arguments Present the author's main argument and how they support it. This will help your reader understand the flow of the book and the main points being made.

Example:

"Skloot presents a compelling argument about the disregard of consent in medical research. The book delves deep into the history of Henrietta Lacks' life and how her cells were used without her knowledge or consent. Skloot supplements her argument with the personal narratives of Henrietta's family and extensive scientific research."

Step 5: Critical Evaluation Here is where you state your opinion on the book. Was the author successful in making their argument? Was the writing clear and compelling? Was the topic interesting and well-researched? Did the author offer enough evidence to support their points? Was there anything missing or something you would have liked to see more of?

Example:

"While Skloot's argument is compelling, the strength of 'The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks' lies in the profound emotional resonance achieved through the personal narratives of Henrietta's descendants. However, at times, the complex scientific information seems slightly overwhelming and could be better broken down for the lay reader."

Step 6: Key Takeaways Highlight a few of your main takeaways from the book. These could be insights, new information, or thought-provoking ideas.

Example:

"The book forced me to contemplate the ethical aspects of scientific advancement, the stark racial disparities within the medical community, and the emotional impact on Henrietta's family. It is a strong reminder that every scientific advancement has a human story behind it. It left me feeling grateful for the NHS in the UK"

Step 7: Recommendation Close your review by indicating who might find this book interesting or useful. You might also want to give it a rating, if that fits with your review style.

Example:

"I would recommend 'The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks' to anyone interested in medical ethics, history, or human rights. Overall, I rate this book 4.5 out of 5 stars for its powerful storytelling and thought-provoking content."

Step 8: Proofread Finally, read through your review for any spelling or grammatical errors. Check that your arguments make sense and that your points are clear and well-structured.

Remember, your review is just that - a review. It's not a book report, so don't just summarize the entire book. Instead, discuss its strengths and weaknesses, and share your opinion about it. Reviews can vary in length, from a short paragraph to a full-page article, depending on your platform and audience. Always remember to respect the author's work, even if you didn't enjoy the book. It's okay to critique, but it should always be done in a constructive manner.

When you've created your book review post remember take the link, and share it in the Blogging Challenge Facebook Group

Looking forward to seeing your reviews!

Sarah

P.S. If you've found this via a search engine then come on over and join the 30-Day Business Blogging Challenge - it's free!