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Good Book or Bad: How to Tell

© Mary Wilson

As a writer, I spend lots of time looking at and reading books. As a bird owner, I want to know that the book I pick up will give me all the information I'm looking for and then maybe just a little bit more. How do you know a book will do that?

First, look at the title and cover. These two items should give you a clear picture of what species of birds this book is about as well as a hint of what is inside. For example, a book with "new" or "basic" in the title may not be aimed at experienced bird owners. Likewise, books such as Complete Guide to a Happy, Healthy Pet or Complete Owner's Guide usually aren't complete, nor do they solely provide the information an owner needs to know for a happy, healthy pet.

Open up the book. Is there a table of contents that allows you to find pertinent chapters? This is especially helpful in a book that deals with medical or behavioral issues where the owner will be looking for a specific topic. Flip to the back of the book. An index serves the same purpose as a table of contents. Are there many words listed, and are the words the ones you would use to look up a topic? If the book deals with species or medical issues pay particular attention to layman's terms versus the technical or Latin names.

If you're in a bookstore, or the book is on Amazon.com and has the "look inside" feature, flip to some random pages. Read a paragraph or two. Is the book written in an easy to read style, or does it seem to be "over your head"? If you're not sure, read a few more paragraphs or turn to a new page.

These few tests should be able to give you a good indication of whether or not the book holds the information you're looking for. However, what is a "good" book versus a "bad" one?

It is hard to tell as the definition is subjective. If the book tells you what you want to know, not what you need to hear, in a concise format that is easy to navigate, then it is a good book. As authors, we should be striving for clarity in our communication with readers, especially if it is on a topic that may be difficult or new to the reader.

I hope this helps you the next time you go to your local book store looking for books about birds. Next time, we'll discuss why "complete owner's manuals" aren't.

The copyright of the article Good Book or Bad: How to Tell in Small Hookbills is owned by Mary Wilson. Permission to republish Good Book or Bad: How to Tell in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.