01
Quote or paraphrase one claim
Choose a statement you can examine rather than judging an entire book at once. If you paraphrase, preserve its strength: “may help” is different from “always improves.” Note where the statement appears.
02
Identify the support
Look for evidence, a worked example, a cited study, or an argument. A publisher description tells you what is being promised; it does not establish that the promise is fulfilled.
03
Find the boundary
Ask who, what situation, or which assumptions the claim applies to. Try a counterexample that addresses the actual claim rather than a stronger version the author did not make.
04
Write a qualified judgement
State what seems supported, why, and what remains uncertain. Suggest the evidence that would resolve the uncertainty. Critical writing is strongest when the reader can follow the reasoning, not merely the tone.