How to Analyze a Book

This article was co-authored by Christopher Taylor, PhD. Christopher Taylor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community College in Texas. He received his PhD in English Literature and Medieval Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014.

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Reading books, whether they be fiction or nonfiction, is a terrific pastime that is both fun and informative. However, analyzing books can help you get even more out of the books you read, both for fun and for academic purposes. Knowing how to analyze a book changes the way you interpret and understand books, and maybe even what they mean to you. Once you know how to break down a work’s plot, structure, language, and argument, while critiquing an author’s perspective, analyzing books is a breeze.

Method 1 of 2:

Breaking Down Fiction

Remember when you’re reading that all the little details in the book were deliberately chosen by the author and hence might be significant in some unseen way. For example, if an author describes a young girl’s dress as “yellow like the sun,” ask yourself why the author chose the color yellow (symbol of optimism) or what it means for her dress to be compared to the sun.
Certain sections of any book should be read with particular attention. The beginning and end, for example, are a good place to find meaning and symbolism in a text. Read these with a bit more attention.
If you have trouble reading slowly or staying focused, try to keep the specific goal for your reading in mind instead of reading “mindlessly.” For instance, if you’re trying to analyze a work of fiction for symbolism, keep this in mind as you read and it will help you to zero in on the relevant details (e.g., the author’s choice of names for their characters). [2] X Research source
Read the book twice if you have time.

Write down anything you think might be particularly important, even if you aren’t sure. You’ll be glad you kept a convenient record of potentially significant details when it comes time to write about your analysis.
In your notes, quote directly from the book when you think the specific wording of the text is important. Otherwise, feel free to paraphrase the text when you’re taking note of events or themes.
If you can, invest in a personal copy of the text. This lets you highlight, underline, and make notes in the margins of significant passages as you go.

When researching the context in which a book was written, consider the time period, location (country, state, city, etc.), political system, and the biography of the author. For example, a Russian expat writing in the 1940s about a dictatorship may be making a statement on the Soviet Union or Joseph Stalin.
Look into other books by the same author and see how the book you’re reading compares to them in terms of story, subject matter, themes, and other details. For example, many of Philip K. Dick’s novels focused on the nature of reality and questions surrounding identity.
Try starting on a site like Wikipedia. While it's not an academic source, it often provides an overview of the topic and may link to other sources or even other works by the author.

For example, if the characters in a novel are only able to resolve a problem by working together, the author may be making a statement on the importance of collaboration.

Settings can be symbolic. Reflect on the characters at a certain point in their journey, and/or foreshadow certain key plot elements.
For example, ask yourself if a story that takes place in an isolated cabin during winter would be significantly different if it took place in an apartment in a big city. If so, think about why a different setting changes the meaning of the story.

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You should also consider why the author would have their characters do the things they do and what point they’re trying to make.
For example, if a holy man commits a murder, ask yourself why the character would betray his beliefs or why the author would seek to depict a holy man in this way.

Writing style includes the author’s choice of vocabulary, sentence structure, tone, imagery, symbolism, and overall feeling of the story. [7] X Research source
For example, an author may seek to impart a more humorous tone by using short, choppy sentences and nonsensical words.

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Some common themes include good vs. evil, growing up, human nature, love, friendship, war, and religion.
A book may deal with multiple themes, with some themes being more obvious than others. Often, themes are most visible in the beginning and end of a book. Re-read these sections after your first read-through to help you evaluate the book's theme.

Make an outline to put your ideas and relevant information together. This is especially useful if you’re writing a critical analysis of a book for others to read. Create an outline that includes background information about the book and author, a summary or description of the work itself, and your interpretation.

Advertisement Method 2 of 2:

Critiquing Non-Fiction Books

Try to find key words and phrases in each paragraph as you read and write down a summary of each passage or chapter as you go. [8] X Research source
If you have trouble reading slowly or staying focused, try to keep the specific goal for your reading in mind instead of reading “mindlessly.” If you’re reading for specific information on a topic (e.g., the physical properties of meteorites), bear this in mind as you read and you will be better able to focus on the relevant information as you read it.

For example, some historians write books to challenge dominant interpretations of certain historical events (e.g., the cause of the American Civil War).
Many authors will state the purpose of their non-fiction book in the preface or introductory chapter and restate that purpose in the book’s concluding chapter. Skim these sections to help you determine the book's overall goals.

For example, if the book is a history of a particular political party, then the author’s relationship to that party (e.g., if the author is a party member) will almost certainly influence how the party’s history is written in the book.

For example, an author may write: “High school students typically learn European history from their teachers. These teachers are overpaid.” In this instance, the first sentence is a statement of fact, while the second is a statement of opinion.
Statements of fact are often followed by citations either in the form of footnotes or parenthetical citations.
Don’t dismiss out of hand what an author says purely because it’s “opinion”; in most cases, an author’s conclusions will be derived from the facts that are also presented in the book and should be judged as such.

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For example, consider whether you would reach a different conclusion based on the same evidence and check to see if the author describes in the book why they didn’t reach the same conclusion as you. If they don’t, their argument may not be entirely thought out.
Try to check the author's information against other sources. Look at academic articles, online encyclopedias, and other scholarly resources to see if the evidence the author cites matches the larger scholarly body of work on the subject or if you can find contradictory evidence that the author did not include in their work.

For instance, think about whether the author’s evidence was reliable or relevant, whether the argument was logical, and whether the author’s conclusions made sense to you.
Be sure to not let your personal attitudes interfere with your analysis. If you find a book unconvincing, ask yourself if you have any internal biases that may prevent you from analyzing the book in a neutral manner.

Community Q&A

My grandson's English teacher says he doesn't write analytically enough, yet the kind of questions set are "How does this make you feel?" What advice should I give him?

Community Answer

Tell him to write honestly about how the text makes him feel and, if possible, try to relate the issues from the book to his own life, i.e. "This reminded me of the time. " Suggest he try to draw parallels between something he learned through his experience and something the book is trying to help readers understand.

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