A ten-step book review process by Professor Tara Brabazon

After posting a recent book review to social media and making mention in the caption that I followed Professor Brabazon's 10-step process, I have been asked by numerous colleagues for the process (video below).

Professor Brabazon is the Dean of Graduate Studies and Professor of Cultural Studies at Charles Darwin University. She is my PhD supervisor and I absolutely adore her.

Here she is being academically generous to the Nth degree and sharing the process of book reviews that she developed, tested and has published with: 

For those who just aren't visual, here are Tara's 10 points in brief (but you really should watch the 24 minute video for understanding the nuance of each point):

1. Know your reason of review: is it to help a book find an audience or other?
2. Have a big crunchy opening (a story, funny, flashy, ice breaker).
3. Craft a TIGHT summary to attract the right audience. Present the context of why the book review is meaningful at this time.
4. Move from the WHAT of the book to the WHY this book matters.
5. Use quotations, no matter what discipline yourself or the book are from.
6. Opinions do matter - present yours in a scholarly way.
7. Experiment with new modes of expression in how you write.
8. Outline before you start: the book is the focus rather than runaway thoughts.
9. How negative can you go? What was this book trying to achieve? Did it?
10. Write a screamer of an ending: an ending of Ben Hur significance.

Here's my example book review following Professor Brabazon's 10-point plan: Rising Strong by Brene Brown.

Disclaimer: This book review is written to fulfil partial requirements of my industry partner internship with Typeface Books. 

👵🏼 Megan Bayliss, Social Worker
👩🏼‍🎓 PhD candidate: social and cultural resistance to the status quo