""How to Judge a Book: A Handy Method of Criticism for the General Reader"" by Edwin L. Shuman is a guidebook that teaches readers how to evaluate and critique books effectively. The book provides a comprehensive method for analyzing and assessing a book's content, style, and structure. It is aimed at the general reader who wants to develop a critical eye and become a more discerning reader. The author explains how to identify the main themes, arguments, and literary devices used by the author, and how to evaluate their effectiveness. The book also covers topics such as the historical and cultural context of the book, its intended audience, and the author's background and motivation. Overall, ""How to Judge a Book"" is a practical and informative guide that will help readers to better understand and appreciate the books they read.1910. In this volume Shuman has tried to formulate a simple, homemade system of criticism, yet one based on the highest standards, by means of which the ordinary reader may judge for himself as to the real merits of the latest popular novel-or of any other book. The object is to help the average serious-minded woman or man, young or old, to get his share of the best books-within the limits of his own taste-from library shelves and from the motley new thousands that pour yearly from the presses. Contents: General Standards; First Steps in Analysis; The Plot of a Novel; Character Drawing; Thought and Imagination; Setting and Atmosphere; Composition and Unity; Style and Spirit; Morality in Art; Realism and Romanticism; The Short Story; Prose Other than Fiction; Poetry and the Drama; and The Object of Art. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.