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

There are a few ways you can determine if a book is widely used and well accepted by sch ol ars , even if you are not an academic : \n \n 1 . Check with your local library : L ibr ari ans are a great resource for finding out which books are popular and well - reg arded in a particular field . They can also help you determine if a particular book is widely used by sch ol ars . \n 2 . Look at academic databases : Many academic databases , such as J ST OR , Project M USE , and Google Sch olar , allow you to search for reviews of books in your field . You can also use these databases to find cit ations of the book , which can give you an idea of how widely it is used by sch ol ars . \n 3 . Check with academic soci eties : Many academic soci eties have recommend ations for books in their field . You can check the website of a society related to your area of interest to see if they have any recommend ations . \n 4 . Ask other sch ol ars : Another way to determine if a book is widely used and well - accept ed by sch ol ars is to ask other sch ol ars in your field . You can do this through social media , email , or in - person convers ations . \n \n Over all , it ' s important to keep in mind that what is widely used and well - accept ed by sch ol ars can vary by field and by sub field . It ' s always a good idea to do some research and gather multiple pers pect ives before dec iding if a book is a good fit for your needs . </s>