How to find book reviews

Older book reviews

For older (pre-1980s) book reviews, print indexes such as book review indexes and periodical indexes are particularly useful.

Book review indexes are specialized tools that help locate book reviews published in journals or magazines. Look alphabetically under the author or title. Choosing an index depends on the type of book and the date of publication. Cumulative retrospective book review indexes cover a certain time period in one publication. Look under the author or title.

Other more general indexes help you locate articles of all types in journals, magazines or newspapers. Book reviews are usually located in a separate section at the end of the index under a heading called "Book Reviews". If not, they can be found alphabetically under the letter "B" amongst the rest of the text.

Reviews in popular and scholarly sources

Book review indexes

Book Review Digest
Z 1219 C96
Webster Library Reference: 1905-2010

Book Review Index
Z 1035 A1B6
Webster Library Reference: 1965-2007

General indexes

Canadian Periodical Index
AI 3 C2
Webster and Vanier Library reference: 1963-1980

Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature
AI 3 R48
Vanier Library Reference: v.1 (1900/1904)-v.64 (2004)

Reviews in scholarly sources

Book review indexes

An Index to Book Reviews in the Humanities
Z 1035 A1I63
Webster Library Reference: v.2 (1961)-v.4 (1963), v.6 (1965)-v.31 (1990)

Combined Retrospective Index to Book Reviews in Scholarly Journals 1886-1974
Z 1035 A1C64
Webster Library Reference

General indexes

Humanities and Social Sciences Index Retrospective
Online

JSTOR
Online
Searches can be limited to reviews

For more information, ask a librarian.