Thomas J. (TJ) Davis is my go-to for reviews of books about law, history, Black American experiences, and a blend of those themes. The questions he conceived and asked Jonathan Eig about King: A Life in an LJ author Q&A still rank as some of my favorite and most memorable. He also recently introduced author Imani Perry for a Day of Dialog keynote session. In every review, TJ’s storytelling ability reflects his exceptional talent to capture each book’s premise and get to its core. He’s not afraid of stating heavy facts either, and he does so with integrity and elegance. TJ is an attorney and emeritus professor of history at Arizona State University in Tempe, where he’s keeping busy with long-neglected projects.

‘‘The book’s 25 chapters not only cover her personal hard work, private moments of individual sacrifice, and resilience, but they also glimpse the proud and painful history of Black Americans insistent on seizing ownership of their ambitions and lives." From TJ’s review of Lovely One by Ketanji Brown Jackson

When did you start reviewing for LJ?

I started reviewing for Library Journal in 1978, back when everything was snail mail and reviews were typewritten, double-line spaced into a prescribed box on triplicate carbonless copy paper. There was no running over the word limit, as every keystroke pushed you closer to the margin on that single sheet.

What are your favorite kinds of books to review?

I regularly review books dealing with history, law, public policy, and societal dynamics. My favorites present accessible, compelling expositions or narratives that shape information into fresh and telling insights. The best for me display the extraordinary writer’s gift of simultaneously reaching general readers, advanced students, and specialists.

What do you find most rewarding about the reviewing process?

The most rewarding part of the reviewing process for me is continual learning; the joy of appreciating the writer’s craft, skill, extensive research, and imagination; and then doing the critical thinking to analyze and express what the book says. Further, reviewing keeps me engaged with the literature in my fields of interest, while also extending diversity in my reading.

Can you share three books that you have enjoyed reviewing for LJ?

Here are a few books that stand out as especially enjoyable: Anu Bradford’s Digital Empires: The Global Battle To Regulate Technology; Ian Goldin’s The Shortest History of Migration; and Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Lovely One: A Memoir.