The librarians of the William H. Welch Library at Johns Hopkins have composed a helpful page on the Currency vs. Quality tradeoff. Take the time to consider it. Although it is intended for medical school students, you will find some salient points. Many printings or editions may indicate that the work has been well accepted. Revisions and updates reflect changes in knowledge and include previously omitted material.
Books published by professional groups or academic presses are more likely to be scholary.
Become familiar with the reputable publishers in your field. Ask your mentor for suggestions. Citation Count . If you are unfamiliar with SSCI or don't have access to it locally, be sure to ask us about it at Summer Session. Book Reviews .