Tavis Smiley and Cornel West. The Rich and the Rest of Us

Write a book review that describes, analyzes, and evaluates the quality, meaning, and significance of a book. It is not a retelling. It should focus on the book's purpose, content, and authority. 1. Write a statement giving essential information about the book: title, author, first copyright date, type of book, general subject matter, special features (maps, color plates, etc.), price and ISBN. 2. State the author's purpose in writing the book. Sometimes authors state their purpose in the preface or the first chapter. When they do not, you may arrive at an understanding of the book's purpose by asking yourself these questions: a. Why did the author write on this subject rather than on some other subject? b. From what point of view is the work written? c. Who is the intended audience d. Scan the Table of Contents, it can help understand how the book is organized and will aid in determining the authors main ideas and how they are developed - chronologically, topically, etc. e. How well has the book achieved its goal f. Would you recommend this book or article to others? Why? 3. State the theme and the thesis of the book. a. Theme: The theme is the subject or topic. b. Thesis: The thesis is an author's generalization about the theme, the author's beliefs about something important, the book's philosophical conclusion, or the proposition the author means to prove. 5. Evaluate the book for interest, accuracy, objectivity, importance, thoroughness, and usefulness to its intended audience. Show whether the authors main arguments are true. Respond to the author's opinions. What do you agree or disagree with? And why? Illustrate whether or not any conclusions drawn are derived logically from the evidence. Explore issues the book raises. What possibilities does the book suggest? What has the author omitted or what problems were left unsolved? What specific points are not convincing?