The point of this exercise is to help you crystallize your critique of the book. Your essay must make at least one decisive argument about the book. In completing this exercise, you might want to consider how you would answer the following questions (these will form the basis of our discussions): What historical question is the author addressing? What is the author’s argument(s) about the historical question they are trying to answer? What types of sources did the author use to support her argument? Is his/her argument persuasive? Is the author entering into a historical debate with others and if so, who? Did the book change the way the history of this topic was written (look up sample book reviews using Journal of Negro History to answer) What would you say are the strengths of the book? The weaknesses?