Book Review

For this assignment, read a book that matches one of the topics on the class syllabus, and write a review of it, using the criteria sheet you have been given as the basis for the review.

Format –

· The body of this paper should use the headings given on the criteria sheet and be written as a professional book review.

Part A (25%) - Review the book, provide a summary of the important points the author makes about the subject, and give your opinion supported by reasons and the author’s perspective. This should be the shortest section of the paper.

Part B (30%) - Address each category as shown on the criteria sheet

Purpose and Audience, Authority, Accuracy & Reliability, Objectivity, Currency, and Coverage

Part C – (35%) – Identify the most interesting aspect of the book, supporting your thoughts with reasons and examples. How can you use what you’ve learned at work and in your business career? Why (or why not) would recommend this book to others?

Marks are assigned as per the Criteria sheet in this handout

Remember, you MUST demonstrate critical thinking in the presented material to get the best mark

Criteria Checklist For Book Review

WHAT THIS MEANS:

1. Like it says,summarize (meaning 2 or 3 paragraphs) what you think are the most important points in the book according to you! There is no limit. Obviously a book will have more than 3 and maybe one big important point.

2. Now you have a summary of points, what is your opinion of these points? Like them or not? Why? How can they help you in professional or personal life?

3. Supported “with reasons” mean you write more than “I really like/hate the point.” Not good enough. Provide YOUR reasons (not somebody else’s book review off of the internet). Did it inform you, how and why? Did it emotionally impact you? How and why?

4. Find what YOU think is the most significant part of the book. What’s the key point that you strongly remember ? A “focused discussion” means you clearly and simply offer your opinions and feelings. What was good/bad? What was really important to you and what was missing in YOUR opinion? What was the author trying to say and did they do a good job? Why does this most significant part stick in your mind?

5. The author’s perspective means the author’s point of view and the message they are trying to get across. In YOUR viewwhat is behind this thinking by the author? Is it something in their background and experience or education or knowledge? Where are they “coming from” in their thinking?

WHAT THIS MEANS:

1. The “required information” means all the stuff that is required in Part A.

2. “Critical thinking” is a big deal. In all the above points (Part A) you apply “critical thinking.” This means you continually are questioning “why is this” (what was said and/or the data provided). You question the validity of the author’s comments and data/conclusions, as in, are the facts for real? Are they supported by evidence? You look for contradictions (they said this and then they said the opposite). You ask yourself is the content relative today? You consider is the author is biased toward a position and/or have they left something out.

3. PURPOSE & AUDIENCE: What is the book’s purpose? Is the author trying to inform all readers, certain readers (who? Gender, age, ethnicity, profession, education, geographic location, job positions).

“Stated” purpose means the author’s point is crystal clear. You don’t have to guess or assume. “Implied” purpose means they don’t straight-out say what their key point is but leave it “fuzzy,” meaning you have to sort of assume what their writing about.

Tone and content:

“ Tone ” is how we speak and write. Is the writing cheerful, friendly, complicated, bureaucratic, informative (meaning easy to read with clear wording and sentence/paragraph structure). Explain why you think that. Content means what information the book contains. Tone and content are linked to the book’s audience. A complicated book on leadership with a lot of complexity and jargon is likely aimed at a readership that already knows a lot about leadership styles and principles. An easy-to-read tone and content is for a general audience (anyone).

4. AUTHORITY: Does the author have the background, experience, training, education, and knowledge to write such a book? Are they acknowledged “experts” in that they are well known because of their work and activities? Do you see their name appear a lot in Google search in reliable sites and publications? Have they received good/bad reviews in the news/social media? Is their book popular on Amazon.ca?

5. ACCURACY & RELIABILITY: Here’s your chance to be a UCW professor! Make sure that the information (data and facts) presented by the author are accurate. Here is where you have to do a bit of Google searching within CREDIBLE sources. The author’s book may or may not have a references section or bibliography (this does not mean the book is not credible, just a style).Offer an informed opinion based on reliable evidence that what you have is based on fact (note: a historical author like Machiavelli or Sun Tzu is obviously hard to track down. The fact that their works have been around for centuries says it all).

6. OBJECTIVITY: Some author may be objective in their book, meaning all sides are presented and their “opinions” are neutral and factual. Some books present a singular point of view by the author—THEIR opinion using “facts” and information to support their position. Either way, you need to show that you see the difference. Explain why you have come to that conclusion. Explain why such writing makes a difference to readers and especially to YOU.

7. CURRENCY: This simply means is the content of the book up-to-date with today. It might be, with information no older than one or two years with up-to-date data. But many books on leadership are “foundational” meaning they were written a few years (or centuries) ago but their content has stood the test of time. This means their focus and writing has concepts that are just as applicable today as they were many years ago despite the fact of the major changes in society and business/organizations.,

8. COVERAGE: In YOUR view does the book do a good job on covering the topic that it is focused on? Why is that? Show what key points you think are very substantial and well- presented and useful. But if the book is missing some key points or important data does the author acknowledge that? And what are those key points and why according to you are they important?

CONTRIBUTION TO THE FIELD: How does this book specifically add new, better or different information and knowledge to leadership? Does it “make you think” differently about leadership even if the information is not really that new but is presented with a different angle or is presented in an easy-to-read/understand format.

REALLY IMPORTANT: As the early instruction state, why/why not would you recommend this book to others?

HOW can YOU specifically apply what you learned from the book to either your personal life or to your organizational lifer?

How your paper is marked