How can I as a non-academic know if a book is widely used and well accepted by scholars?

As a non - ac adem ic , there are several ways you can determine if a book is widely used and well accepted by scholars . Here are a few suggestions : \n \n 1 . Check the author ' s credentials : Look for information about the author ' s academic background , publications , and affili ations . If the author is a well - res pected scholar in their field , it ' s a good sign that their book is likely to be widely used and accepted . \n \n 2 . Look for reviews : Check for reviews of the book in academic jour nals or by other scholars in the field . Pos itive reviews from respected sources can indicate that the book is well - reg arded and widely used . \n \n 3 . Check the publication date : If the book was published recently , it ' s more likely to be widely used and accepted by scholars . However , this is not always the case , as some books may take time to gain recognition . \n \n 4 . Check the availability : If the book is widely available in academic libraries and book st ores , it ' s a good sign that it is widely used and accepted . \n \n 5 . Check the language : If the book is written in a clear and conc ise manner , using evidence - based arguments and well - re se ar ched information , it ' s more likely to be widely accepted by scholars . \n \n Over all , while there is no fool proof way to determine if a book is widely used and accepted by scholars , these factors can give you a good idea of its standing in the academic community . </s>