"The first function of a book review should be, I believe, to give some idea of the contents and character of the book"

Walter Kaufmann's quote recommends that the primary purpose of a book evaluation need to be to offer an introduction of the book's material and its total character. This indicates that the reviewer should provide a summary of the book's main points, as well as an evaluation of its quality. The evaluation should also provide an opinion on the book's strengths and weaknesses, and how it compares to other operate in the same category. In addition, the review should supply an indication of the book's desired audience, and whether or not it is likely to appeal to them. Ultimately, the review needs to offer readers with enough info to decide whether the book is worth their time and money.