Scholarly vs Popular vs Trade

Scholarly books are written for scholars/researchers in the author's field and are typically intended to share research findings and contribute to the ongoing scholarly conversation. Popular books are written for a general audience and are usually intended to entertain.

Look for:

> Extensive cited references or bibliographies supporting the text.

> Expert authors in a particular field of study with credentials and experience in an academic field. 

> Publisher who is well respected, such as a university press, government publication or a major publisher of academic books.

> Discipline-specific language and specialized terminology.