Message From the Incoming Book Review Editor

Abstract

Over the past several years, Jamila Bookwala, PhD, FGSA, has served admirably and dutifully as the Book Review Editor for The Gerontologist. She has culled through hundreds of titles (some good, some not so good), convinced scholars to take on the task of reviewing the books, and shepherded reviewers through the submission and publication processes. As I assume my new role as Book Review Editor, I hope to build upon the good work of Dr. Bookwala and continue to serve our reading audience with book reviews that are timely, insightful, and compelling. In the following paragraphs, I will address three questions that pertain to purpose, quality, and process. What is the purpose of a book review? This is a simple question and the answer is just as simple, yet a bit more verbose. The purpose of a book review in The Gerontologist is (a) to alert readers to the presence of the book; (b) to provide a concise synopsis of the book; (c) to offer insight into the space that the book occupies within the literature; and (d) to help readers see how the book might be used in academia and beyond. Ultimately, the purpose of a book review is to help readers make more informed decisions and to answer two questions, “Should I read this book?” and “Should I adopt and assign this book?”