This research is a study of book reviews in two aspects, the book reviews published in Thai periodicals during 1977-1980, and the attitude of the readers towards the book reviews. The study of the books reviews in Thai periodical is done through an analysis of the 4,138 book reviews from 26 selected periodicals. The attitude of the readers is gained from the study of the questionnaires answered by 225 representatives of those whose work concern books or book reviews. This group of persons consists of university students who major in Thai, college and university insturctors of Thai language, writers, and librarians. The research results show that the number of the book reviews in Thai periodicals is small compared to the number of the books published in Thailand during the time studied. The books reviewed cover all types and subjects, most of which are written in Thai. Although the number of the books that are reviewed varies from type to type, the book reviews are in line with the reading interest of the readers. Most of the book reviews do not have fixed forms. They are usually written in informal style with the use of both written and spoken language. Many of them are in the form of a book report. There are differences between the presentation of data of book reviews in general journals and in subject journals, and between fiction and non-fiction. Most of the reviews give general information about the book but lack the evaluative information which the readers consider very important. The readers gain advantage from reading the book review at a moderate degree and suggest many ways of improving book reviews: the number of the reviews, the balance of types and subjects and the currentness of the book reviewed. The research work is organized into 5 chapters. The first chapter is an introduction stating the problem, the purpose, the scope, the limitation, and the use of the study, and the method used in the study. The second chapter gives general information about a book review, stating the characteristics, thecontent, and the types of book reviews, and the history of book reviewing. The third chapter is a comparative study of book reviews in various aspects. The fourth chapter deals with the attitudes of the readers towards book reviews. The fifth chapter is the recapitulation of the results and the recommendations. The researchers recommended that the reviewing of books in Thai periodicals should be improved. There should be more evaluative information in the book reviews. The persons whose work concerns book reviews and the reviewing of books: publishers, reviewers, readers, librarians, and scholars should now realize the importance of book reviews more than before, and should promote book reviewing. There should be studies of book reviews in Thai periodicals to the present day, and studies of the reviewing of books in other media.
