FIA 2.5
Sapere Aude
Abstract
Lecture and assignment
, College: Why do we read and review academic books, and
how?
Reading to the mind is what exercise is to the body
- Why read and review academic books?
- How to review an academic book? And how not?
Why reading an academic book?
- Most academic literature published as a journal article
o Rather short, focused on one topic
o Recent research-findings
o Limited embedding in context/background/implications
- Academic books have a different role:
o Discuss academic findings in a broader context
o Consider longer time-spans
o Develop more complex arguments considering a series of findings
- Reading a book is an investment
- Some books very relevant for you, other less so
- How to differentiate
- Why?
o Help others make a wise choice for a book
o Give attention to a book that as a future professional/student you consider worth reading
o Support authors whose work you consider particularly worthwhile
o A form of literacy criticism
- Critical introduction and meaningful evaluation of a book:
o To a particular audience (fellow students, general public, scientific community)
o Within a particular context (health science, addiction, Dutch health policy, specific experiments,
experience)
How writing a book review?
- Show you – the writer of the book review – are able to understand, describe and critically evaluate the
book for a specific audience and in a specific context
- Describe: form (functional0 and content of the book
- Critically: critical introduction of a book to a particular audience, well reflected/analysed (not the same as
to criticize)
- Evaluate: put into its context (one of its various context, students from different streams could and
should! Investigate different contexts) – show strong/less strong/ weak points/ omissions and argue why!
- An evaluation is based on arguments, not mere opinion
- Put into the context of your studies, be specific and concrete
4 steps:
1. A brief outline of the core argument of the book and its audience (what is it about/ for whom was it
written?)
o Provide a brief overview of the book
o Do not simply repeat it, but make sure that you have to distance and identify key
topics/essential arguments and focus on these
o Also consider the presumed audience as well as the author and take note of any specificities
o Take notes while reading! Mark important aspects, thoughts, sentences
2. A discussion of how this argument relates to potential competitors and/or alternatives (how is it different
compared to other sources on the topic?)
o Look for further material related to the topic of your book
o Other books (reference list)
o Other sources on the same topic (journal articles, newspaper, art work, documentaries)
o Do explicitly take other courses from your study in account, make these explicit
o Take these further materials into consideration when evaluating your book (support your
arguments)
o Make sure that your choice of context is well considered and give clear arguments: why you
choose the alternative/competitor/ comparison/study course that you have chosen
3. A discussion of the scientific/scholarly and societal relevance of the book
o Show how and why this book is important, what is relevant and in what sense?
o Present – brief: quotes to indicate the relevance of the book reviewed and explain why
4. A discussion of the lessons learned or omitted (what did or did not we learn from reading this book
o Indicate what you have learned from the book – and other/ fellow students can learn – what did
the book add to you knowledge about/ insight in the topic? Why was it valuable?
Sapere Aude
Abstract
Lecture and assignment
, College: Why do we read and review academic books, and
how?
Reading to the mind is what exercise is to the body
- Why read and review academic books?
- How to review an academic book? And how not?
Why reading an academic book?
- Most academic literature published as a journal article
o Rather short, focused on one topic
o Recent research-findings
o Limited embedding in context/background/implications
- Academic books have a different role:
o Discuss academic findings in a broader context
o Consider longer time-spans
o Develop more complex arguments considering a series of findings
- Reading a book is an investment
- Some books very relevant for you, other less so
- How to differentiate
- Why?
o Help others make a wise choice for a book
o Give attention to a book that as a future professional/student you consider worth reading
o Support authors whose work you consider particularly worthwhile
o A form of literacy criticism
- Critical introduction and meaningful evaluation of a book:
o To a particular audience (fellow students, general public, scientific community)
o Within a particular context (health science, addiction, Dutch health policy, specific experiments,
experience)
How writing a book review?
- Show you – the writer of the book review – are able to understand, describe and critically evaluate the
book for a specific audience and in a specific context
- Describe: form (functional0 and content of the book
- Critically: critical introduction of a book to a particular audience, well reflected/analysed (not the same as
to criticize)
- Evaluate: put into its context (one of its various context, students from different streams could and
should! Investigate different contexts) – show strong/less strong/ weak points/ omissions and argue why!
- An evaluation is based on arguments, not mere opinion
- Put into the context of your studies, be specific and concrete
4 steps:
1. A brief outline of the core argument of the book and its audience (what is it about/ for whom was it
written?)
o Provide a brief overview of the book
o Do not simply repeat it, but make sure that you have to distance and identify key
topics/essential arguments and focus on these
o Also consider the presumed audience as well as the author and take note of any specificities
o Take notes while reading! Mark important aspects, thoughts, sentences
2. A discussion of how this argument relates to potential competitors and/or alternatives (how is it different
compared to other sources on the topic?)
o Look for further material related to the topic of your book
o Other books (reference list)
o Other sources on the same topic (journal articles, newspaper, art work, documentaries)
o Do explicitly take other courses from your study in account, make these explicit
o Take these further materials into consideration when evaluating your book (support your
arguments)
o Make sure that your choice of context is well considered and give clear arguments: why you
choose the alternative/competitor/ comparison/study course that you have chosen
3. A discussion of the scientific/scholarly and societal relevance of the book
o Show how and why this book is important, what is relevant and in what sense?
o Present – brief: quotes to indicate the relevance of the book reviewed and explain why
4. A discussion of the lessons learned or omitted (what did or did not we learn from reading this book
o Indicate what you have learned from the book – and other/ fellow students can learn – what did
the book add to you knowledge about/ insight in the topic? Why was it valuable?
