LibGuides: History: Book Reviews

How to Find Book Reviews

Identify the year the book was first published.
Check the title page for copyright information.
Find a source that indexes articles at the time your book was published.

Book Reviews Online

New York Review of Books With a worldwide circulation of over 135,000, The New York Review of Books has established itself, in Esquire‘s words, as “the premier literary-intellectual magazine in the English language.” The New York Review began during the New York publishing strike of 1963, when its founding editors, Robert Silvers and Barbara Epstein, and their friends, decided to create a new kind of magazine—one in which the most interesting and qualified minds of our time would discuss current books and issues in depth. Just as importantly, it was determined that the Review should be an independent publication; it began life as an independent editorial voice and it remains independent today.
Google Scholar

Book Reviews Resources @ Speed Library

America: History & Life
This online index focuses solely on U.S. and Canadian history, and it can be used to find citations of book reviews of titles with a historical focus. Choose the 'Advanced Search' option, then type the title of the book in the search box at the top of the page. Choose 'Title' from the menu. Then select 'Book Review' from the 'Document Type' menu below.
JSTOR
This multidisciplinary online database can be used to find reviews of books published from the 1800s through the early 2000s. Choose the 'Advanced Search' option to search by book title. Narrow your search by choosing the 'Review' box in the 'Narrow By' section.
Book Review Digest, 1905-2011
Print Location: Index shelves on Speed Library top floor near periodical shelves

Since 1905, this source has provided citations to and excerpts of reviews from a selective list of periodicals. To be included, non-fiction works must have received two reviews, and fiction must have received four reviews in the periodicals covered. Entries are arranged alphabetically by author, though there is a Subject and Title Index. Information includes bibliographic data, a synopsis of the book, and citations to the reviews with excerpts from 3 or 4 reviews. Each citation includes the reviewer's name and the number of words, e.g. (160w).
Book Review Index, 1965-2013
Print Location: Index shelves on Speed Library top floor near periodical shelves

A rather exhaustive index, now covering reviews in more than 470 periodicals, this source provides only the citation to the review. Entries are arranged alphabetically by author, but a Title Index is included. Because the index contains such a large number of review citations, it is by far the most complete source of book reviews since 1965.