In The Atlantic. While these are intended for reviews of fiction, many apply to the review of academic books. They were written in the 1970s, so perhaps that explains his use of male pronouns alone. Here are the first three – the others, and the introduction, are longer:

1. Try to understand what the author wished to do, and do not blame him for not achieving what he did not attempt.

2. Give him enough direct quotation—at least one extended passage—of the book’s prose so the review’s reader can form his own impression, can get his own taste.

3. Confirm your description of the book with quotation from the book, if only phrase-long, rather than proceeding by fuzzy precis.