How To Judge A Health Book By Its Cover

How To Judge A Health Book By Its Cover - Or Nearly So...


­AUDIENCE: Is book intended for adults, children, teens, or professionals?

Is information basic, advanced, technical?

Is the reading level appropriate to audience?


AUTHORITY: Are the author’s credentials and professional affiliations clearly presented?

What is author’s background? Is author associated with reputable organizations?

Has author written other books?

Is the author associated with a commercial product or service?

What is author’s specific point of view on topic?

Is author promoting information that is in opposition to commonly acceptable medical practices?

Does this book appear in lists and/or reviews of recommended health books?

CONTENT: How completely does the book cover your topic? Is it a broad overview or does it focus on a particular aspect of the topic?

Is the writing clear, free of technical jargon, and unbiased?

Is the information presented factual or opinion? Are there verifiable footnotes or sources?

CURRENCY: This is a very important characteristic for health information.
Generally material should be no older than 5 years, although there are exceptions.

Is this the latest edition of a frequently revised or updated book?

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES: Is the book logically organized & the print easy to read?

Does it possess a Table of Contents, Index, and list of sources?

If there are tables or illustrations, are they appropriate and easy to understand?

PUBLISHER: Although each book should be judged on its own merit, there are some well-known, reputable publishers of health books. Some of these include:

Books from Organizations and Associations, like the American Medical Association, the American Cancer Association, the American Heart Association, or the American Diabetes Association;

Books from University and Medical School Presses, like Johns Hopkins, the Mayo Clinic, the Cleveland Clinic, Harvard, and Oxford;

Books from medical and scientific commercial publishers, like Wiley, Mosby, McGraw Hill, Merck, PDR, Hazelden, and W. B. Saunders.

RED FLAGS: Avoid books that promote a particular product or service, or that are testimonials. Beware of authors whose credentials do not match the medical field. Avoid books that advocate harmful treatments, or theories that are significantly outside what has been scientifically proven.