Subject Research Guides   University of West Florida Libraries

Book Reviews

Book reviews can be used to find a critical evaluation of a given book, to learn what subject matter the book covers, and to identify other books in the same subject. Book reviews can be very brief with a summary of the contents of the book and some annotations, while other reviews provide information about the author, in-depth analysis, and an evaluation of pertinent literature covered by the book reviewed.

To find a book review, you will need to know the author's full name, the exact title of the book and the copyright date. With this information, you may want to consult the General Sources section for books of general interest, or go directly to one of the subject area sources. Book reviews for academic and trade publications are found in subject-specific book review sources, while fiction and creative written works such as poetry and drama will be found in the general book review sources.

For literary or biographical reviews, visit the Literary Criticism and Locating Biographical Information Subject Research Guides.

General Sources

Book Review Digest. 1905-96/97 (Ref. Z 1219 C95)
Book Review Digest. (WilsonWeb) 1983-

General reviews on English-language fiction and non-fiction books.

Book Review Index. 1965- (Ref. Z 1035 A1 B6)

Provides access to books, periodicals and books-on-tape, on a wide range of popular, academic and professional interests from over 500 publications from the United States, Europe and Australia. From 1965-1968 only an author index is available; since 1969, a title index section was included.

Combined Retrospective Index to Book Reviews in Scholarly Journals. 1886-1974, 1979. (Ref. Z 1035 A1 C64)

One of the best collected indexes for reviews in scholarly journals.

Expanded Academic Index ASAP. 1980- (InfoTrac)

Library Literature & Information Science Full-Text. 1980- (WilsonWeb)

This database includes many journals with book reviews such as Booklist, Choice, Teacher Librarian, and Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA).

National Library Services Cumulative Book Review Index. 1905-1974. (Ref. Z 1035 .A1 N3)

Includes reviews from Book Review Digest (1905-1974), Library Journal (1907-1974), Saturday Review (1924-1974), and Choice (1964-1974).

New York Times Index. 1851- (Ref. AI 21 N45).

Arranged alphabetically by author under the subject 'Book Reviews.'

Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature. 1900- (Ref. AI 3 R48)
Readers' Guide Full Text. (WilsonWeb) 1983-

The Times Index, London. 1938- (Ref. AI 21 .T46)

Reviews are listed under the author's name and in a separate section under the 'Books (titles and reviews)' section. Title varies: Official Index to the Times and Index to the Times.

Education

Child Development Abstracts and Bibliography. 1927- (Ref. HQ 750 A1 C47)

Book reviews are arranged alphabetically by author since 1954 in section entitled "Book Notices".

Education Index. 1929- (Ref. L 11 E27)
Education Full Text. (WilsonWeb) 1994-

For Education Index, see "Book Reviews" at the end of each volume. To find reviews on the online version, Education Full Text, go to the "Advanced Searching" mode and select "Book Review" option listed under "Document Type," then add your title, author and/or subject.

ERIC. (FirstSearch)1966-
ERIC. (Cambridge)

History

Historical Abstracts. (ABC-CLIO) 1955-

For book reviews, go to the Advanced Search mode and include the phrase "book review or review essay" within the title/translation communication box and add your author, title, or subject as keywords.

Index To Book Reviews in Historical Periodicals. 1973-1977. (Ref. D 20 I5)

Humanities

Art Index, 1929-1995. (Ref. N 1 A45)
Art Full Text. (WilsonWeb) 1984-

"Book Reviews" index is found at the end of each volume for the print version. For book reviews in Art Full Text, go to the "Advanced Searching" mode and select "Book Review" option enclosed under "Document Type", then add your title, author and/or subject.

ATLA Religion Index. (Cambridge) 1944-

Within the "Advanced Search" option, limit by "Book Reviewed" with keywords, authors, etc.

International Index. 1907-1965. (Ref. AI 3 R49)

"A guide to periodical literature in the social sciences and humanities." Arranged alphabetically by author's last name.

Humanities Index. 1974-1995. (Ref. AI 3 H85)
Humanities Full Text. (WilsonWeb) 1984

"Book Reviews" index is found at the end of each volume for the print edition. For book reviews in Humanities Full Text, go to the "Advanced Searching" mode and select "Book Review" option under "Document Type" then add your title, author and/or subject.

Index to Book Reviews in the Humanities 1960-1990. (Ref. Z 1035 A1 I63)

Music Index. 1949- (Ref ML 118 M84)

RILM Abstracts of Music Literature. (EBSCOhost) 1967-

Provides book reviews, concert reviews, and recording notes 'if they are of scholarly interest.' Go to the "Advanced Search" mode and select "Reviews" from the "Type" options.

Philosopher's Index. 1967- (Ref. B 1 P4)

Since 1970, reviews are arranged alphabetically by author in the section entitled "Book Review Index".

Science & Medicine

Applied Science and Technology Index. 1958- (Ref. T 1 A53)
Applied Science and Technology Full Text. (WilsonWeb) 1983-

"Book Reviews" are listed in an index at the end of each volume in the print version. To find reviews in Applied Science and Technology Full Text, go to the "Advanced Searching" mode and select "Book Review" option enclosed under "Document Type" then add your title, author and/or subject.

Biological and Agricultural Index. 1964-1991. (Ref. S 1 B5)
Biological and Agricultural Index. (WilsonWeb) 1983-

"Book Reviews" are listed in an index at end of each volume. For book reviews in the online version, go to the "Advanced Searching" mode and select "Book Review" option enclosed under "Record Type" then add your title, author and/or subject.

CINAHL: Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature. 1977-1997. (Ref. RT 1 C8)
CINAHL. (EBSCOhost) 1982-

"Book Reviews" index is in appendix. After 1987, look for the "Book Reviews" entry in the volume for Subjects. For book reviews in CINAHL online, type the phrase "book reviews" as a subject, then type an author, title and/or subject.

General Science Index. 1978-1997. (Ref. Q 1 G46)
General Science Full Text. (WilsonWeb) 1983-

"Book Reviews" are listed in an index at the end of each volume. In General Science Full Text, find book reviews by going to "Advanced Searching" mode and select "Book Review" option enclosed under "Record Type" then add your title, author and/or subject.

Social Sciences & Law

Book Review Index to Social Science Periodicals. 1964-74. (Ref. Z 1035 A1 B63)

Arranged alphabetically by author. Main areas covered are: economics, education, history, political science, sociology, geography, area studies, environmental science, international relations, criminology, public administration, social work, and consumer affairs.

Business Periodicals Index. 1958-1995. (Ref. HF 1 B8)
Business Full Text.(WilsonWeb) 1986-

"Book Reviews" are listed in an index at the end of each volume. Find book reviews in Business Full Text by using the "Advanced Searching" mode and select "Book Review" option enclosed under "Document Type" then add your title, author and/or subject.

Index to Legal Periodicals. 1958-1995. (Ref. K 9 N33)
Legal Periodicals Index. (WilsonWeb) 1981-

"Book Reviews" are listed in an index at the end of each volume. In the online version, book reviews can be found by going to "Advanced Searching" mode and select "Book Review" option enclosed under "Document Type", then add your title, author and/or subject.

International Index. 1907-1965. (Ref. AI 3 R49)

"A guide to periodical literature in the social sciences and humanities." Arranged alphabetically by author's last name.

Social Sciences Index. 1974-94/95. (Ref. AI 3 S62)
Social Sciences Full Text. (WilsonWeb) 1983 -

"Book reviews" are listed in an index at the end of each volume. For the online version, Social Sciences Full Text, find book reviews by going to the "Advanced Searching" mode and select "Book Review" option enclosed under "Document Type", then add your title, author or subject.

Social Sciences & Humanities Index. 1965-1974. (Ref. AI 3 R49)

Arranged alphabetically by author in section entitled 'Book Reviews' at end of each volume.

Women Studies Abstracts. 1974- (Ref. HQ 1101 W6)

Arranged alphabetically by author in section entitled 'Book Reviews'.

Periodicals

The following periodicals are located on the second floor of the UWF John C. Pace Library and are available online if a link is provided.

Internet Resources

BookPage

http://www.bookpage.com/

BookWire

http://www.bookwire.com/

Chicago-Sun Times

http://www.suntimes.com/index/books.html

Go to the "Entertainment" section and then go to "Books".

Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/

Look for 'Books' section under the "Style" tab.

The Law & Politics Book Review

http://www.bsos.umd.edu/gvpt/lpbr/

Includes book reviews in the areas of social science and law.

Updated by Kristy Padron, English Literature Librarian
University of West Florida Libraries
Last Date Updated: March 2007