Reviews of books published before 1990
Reviews of subject-specific books
Reviews of books by regional authors
For book reviews (both scholarly and non-scholarly) of books published in last 10-20 years:
Academic Search Premier
Searches for book reviews in magazines and journals. A good first stop when looking for reviews of either scholarly or popular books.
Book Review Index
A comprehensive list of book reviews for both popular and scholarly works. To find a review, choose the appropriate part of the set based on the book's publication date, then look under the author's name.
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Book Review Digest
Identifies reviews that appeared in magazines, journals, and newspapers. Annual volumes list reviews under the author's name. Each entry includes a summary of the book's contents, excerpts from some reviews and citations for complete reviews. There is a title index in the back of each volume. (NOTE: Be sure to check the year of publication as well as the next two years for late-appearing reviews.)
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ProQuest Newspapers
Limit "Document type" to review – “Book review” and search for full-text book reviews from major newspapers such as the New York Times. Best for reviews of popular works.
JSTOR
Good for reviews of scholarly books. Use the "Advanced Search" function to limit "Type: Review." Does not search for recently published book reviews. More information.
Project Muse
The "Advanced Search" allows you to limit the document "By Type." Choose "Review." Best for reviews of scholarly works.
Literature Resource Center
Search for the author, then click on "Literary Criticism, Articles, & Work Overviews." Book reviews are included in that section.
Books In Print
Records describe in-print, out-of-print, and forthcoming books, audios, and videos from North American publishers and U.S. distributors and wholesalers. Some descriptions include book reviews.
For book reviews (both scholarly and non-scholarly) of books published before 1990:
JSTOR
Good for reviews of scholarly books. Use the "Advanced Search" function to limit "Type: Review."
Book Review Index (1965-present)
To find a review, choose the appropriate part of the set based on the book's publication date, then look under the author's name.
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Humanities & Social Sciences Retrospective Index: 1907-1984
Limit the "Document Type" to “Book Review.”
Book Review Digest
Identifies reviews that appeared in magazines, journals, and newspapers. Annual volumes list reviews under the author's name. Each entry includes a summary of the book's contents, excerpts from some reviews and citations for complete reviews. There is a title index in the back of each volume. (NOTE: Be sure to check the year of publication as well as the next two years for late-appearing reviews.)
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Combined Retrospective Index to Book Reviews in Scholarly Journals (1886-1974)
This set lists book reviews that appeared in scholarly journals in the social sciences between 1886 and 1974. Volumes 1-12 list authors alphabetically, with book titles and review citations following the author's name. Volumes 13-15 form a title index.
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Similar resources:
Combined Retrospective Index to Book Reviews in Humanities Journals (1802-1974)
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An Index to Book Reviews in the Humanities (1960-1990)
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Nineteenth Century Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature (1890-1899)
Look under the author's name.
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Index to Book Reviews in the Humanities (1960-1990)
Look under the author's name.
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New York Times Historical Database
Limit the document type to “review” before searching.
New York Times Index (1851-present)
Look under "Book Reviews."
REF/INDEX SHELVES
Times Index (London) (1785-1786, 1790-present)
Look under "Books." Reviews are arranged alphabetically by author.
REF/INDEX SHELVES
Finding reviews of subject-specific books:
If your subject is not covered in this list, please try the general resources listed above.
Art Full Text
Limit “Document Type” to “Book Review.”
Business Source Premier
An advanced search allows you to limit to book reviews.
CINAHL with Full Text (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health)
Useful for health sciences fields. Add the phrase “book review” to your keyword search.
PsycCRITIQUES
PsycCRITIQUES is a database of full-text book reviews in psychology.
SocINDEX with Full Text
Useful for sociology, social work, and related fields. Add the phrase “book review” to your keyword search.
Science Resource Center
Add the phrase “book review” to your keyword search. For example, An Inconvenient Truth and book review.
Finding reviews of books by regional authors:
Sometimes regional authors are only reviewed by local resources and specialized publications. If you can't find a review of the book in Academic Search Premier try the following.
America's Newspapers: North Carolina
Handy for finding reviews of local authors of popular books and novels. Add the word “review” to your keyword search.
LexisNexis Academic
Click on "Power Search" and "U.S. Newspapers and Wires," which includes regional newspapers.
Literature Resource Center
Search for the author and look for an entry from Contemporary Authors, which will have a bibliography of articles and reviews. Also click on "Literary Criticism, Articles, & Work Overviews." Book reviews are included in that section.