Before You Buy African History Books
If you're wanting to buy a book on African History, whether it's a general history of the continent or a narrower topic such as the Anglo-Boer War, there are several things to consider to ensure you're getting something factually accurate and that you'll enjoy reading. A book being a best-seller is no guarantee that it's accurate, but it should at least be a good read. Here are criteria you can use other than a bestseller's list to help you.
Who is the Book Written For?
Is it a popular history book, a TV-tie in, a first-year university textbook, or an academic treatise aimed at post-graduate students? Generally speaking, books accompanying TV series are highly readable and well illustrated. Popular history books often have a small section of illustrations in the middle, so they're cheaper. Academic books are usually expensive as only a small number are printed because of the limited market. Only you can know the depth of your interest.
Books for School Projects
If your aim is to be able to explain a topic to your kids or to help them with a school project, you're best off with a book specifically written for children. This way you quickly get the basic facts you need. The illustrations will help make it appealing to your kids. Creating a home library that your kids can use, first with your help and later by themselves, encourages life-long learning.
Author's Credentials
Consider who it is who has written the book, what is it about them that gives their writing credibility?
Look at their academic qualifications (the positions they've held, the schools they attended) and what they've written before. If the author's a journalist, how authoritative are the publications they write for? Someone who's regularly published in The New York Times can probably be trusted to do their research thoroughly. If there's more than one author, check that it's not just a collection of disjointed essays.
Publisher's Credentials
Along with the author's credentials, have a look at who published the book. A book from a large university publisher is more credible than something the author published themselves. Keep an eye out for academic publishers who co-publish with African publishers and universities.
Other Considerations
Is the book Afrocentric, Eurocentric or objective? Points of view change, so look on the copyright page to see when it was first published. What was an acceptable opinion in a previous century, today's readers may find offensive. Check to see if there is an index and use it to see how many pages deal with the subject you're looking for. Is the book part of a series? If so, it may be limited in scope but there may be companion volumes that'll also be of interest. Check how extensive the bibliography is and the dates of these references to see how up-to-date and extensive the author's research was.
Who is the Book Written For?
Is it a popular history book, a TV-tie in, a first-year university textbook, or an academic treatise aimed at post-graduate students? Generally speaking, books accompanying TV series are highly readable and well illustrated. Popular history books often have a small section of illustrations in the middle, so they're cheaper. Academic books are usually expensive as only a small number are printed because of the limited market. Only you can know the depth of your interest.
Books for School Projects
If your aim is to be able to explain a topic to your kids or to help them with a school project, you're best off with a book specifically written for children. This way you quickly get the basic facts you need. The illustrations will help make it appealing to your kids. Creating a home library that your kids can use, first with your help and later by themselves, encourages life-long learning.
Author's Credentials
Consider who it is who has written the book, what is it about them that gives their writing credibility?
Look at their academic qualifications (the positions they've held, the schools they attended) and what they've written before. If the author's a journalist, how authoritative are the publications they write for? Someone who's regularly published in The New York Times can probably be trusted to do their research thoroughly. If there's more than one author, check that it's not just a collection of disjointed essays.
Publisher's Credentials
Along with the author's credentials, have a look at who published the book. A book from a large university publisher is more credible than something the author published themselves. Keep an eye out for academic publishers who co-publish with African publishers and universities.
Other Considerations
Is the book Afrocentric, Eurocentric or objective? Points of view change, so look on the copyright page to see when it was first published. What was an acceptable opinion in a previous century, today's readers may find offensive. Check to see if there is an index and use it to see how many pages deal with the subject you're looking for. Is the book part of a series? If so, it may be limited in scope but there may be companion volumes that'll also be of interest. Check how extensive the bibliography is and the dates of these references to see how up-to-date and extensive the author's research was.
Source...