It has occurred to me that after reviewing 52 books, I haven’t taken the time to explain my rating scale. Indeed, at the end of every review, I give a score that ranges from:

GOOD
👍👍
👍
👎
👎👎
BAD

Essentially, the scale goes from -2 to 2, and skips 0. It aims to represent the amplitude of how enthusiastically I would recommend a book to someone if I were talking next to them.

  • Two thumbs down (👎👎) is a book I would tell you to avoid at all cost. There is nothing worth the time investment here, for anyone. I haven’t rated a book this badly yet.
  • One thumb down (👎) is a book that, as much as I wish I could recommend it to someone, there is probably another book I would recommend above it.
  • One thumb up (👍) is a book I would recommend to most people.
  • Two thumbs up (👍👍) is a book I couldn’t recommend enough. It probably deeply connected with me as a reader.

I hope that clears things up! 😃

=L