Books reviews in the Monachos.net Orthodox Books Review are offered with a rating system designed to indicate the usefulness of the volume for those seeking to understand Orthodox through patristic, monastic, liturgical and ecclesiastical study. The ratings system utilises a five-point system with a graphical indicator, wherein the points have the following meanings:

Indicator:	Equals:	Description:
	1 out of 5	Indicates a text which the reviewer perceives to be substantially poor or otherwise inconsequential to the field or topic. Books with this rating may be poorly written, ineffectively translated, or present material which the reviewer finds inaccurate or flawed, as explained more fully in the review.
	2 out of 5	Indicates a work which the reviewer believes to be of slightly less-than-average quality in most respects, while still possessing positive characteristics or elements. Academic texts with this rating are generally those which the reviewer considers less-than-ideal, but from which he/she still believes some benefit may be had in reading.
	3 out of 5	Indicates a text which the reviewer believes to be of good quality and content, with no more than an acceptable amount of faults. Academic works with this rating are considered by the reviewer to be of trustworthy quality, suitable for research and citation. Other works with this rating have been judged to be a 'good read', generally leaving the reader better off for having made the effort.
	4 out of 5	Indicates a work which the reviewer believes to be of superior quality. Academic texts with this rating are judged by the reviewer to present an original or creative assessment of the topic at hand, contributing in a unique way to the scholarship of the subject. Non-academic works with this rating are considered to be texts of special significance, particular beauty, or other attributes which make them stand out above the fray.
	5 out of 5	Indicates a work which the reviewer deems to be indispensible to a full understanding of or engagement with the theme(s) addressed in the text. Academic texts with this rating are considered by the reviewer to be essential to the study of the field. Non-academic texts with this rating are esteemed as 'must-read' works of a given category or theme.
(n/a)	n/a	A 'not applicable' rating is given to those works which the reviewer believes are not able to be rated according to the above guidelines. In general, the writings of the Fathers are given this '(n/a)' rating, since it is considered inappropriate to 'rate' the works of the doctors of the Church. However, some reviewers may choose to give a rating to volumes containing writings of the Fathers, using the rating to judge the presentation, translation, introduction, etc, of the work. Texts with this rating generally offer an explanation of its merits in the body of the review.