Often it is the only source of criticism of a book. Furthermore, it may include a summary of the subject of the book, a discussion of style, and even a comparison with other similar books. If you do not have these in hand, conduct an author or title search on the online catalog. If you still cannot find this information, consult the librarian at the Reference Desk for assistance. This is a good place to begin your search because it not only gives references to various reviews but it also includes quotations or excerpts from the actual reviews.
Emphasis is on works of general interest.
To find a review in Book Review Digest look under the name of the author of the book in the volume for the year the book was published. If it is not there try the next year. This also cites reviews appearing in general periodicals. It is more comprehensive than Book Review Digest but does not contain excerpts from the reviews. This annually indexed thousands of books titles in the humanities.