How to Cite a Book in ASA 6
Complete guide with examples for citing print books, ebooks, edited volumes, and book chapters in ASA 6th edition.
Basic Format: Print Book (Single Author)
ASA book citations include the author, year, book title (italicized), place of publication, and publisher. Include the state abbreviation only if the city is not well-known.
Reference List Entry
Author Lastname, Firstname. Year. Title of Book. Place of Publication: Publisher.
Example: Single Author
Citation
Beeghley, Leonard. 2000. The Structure of Social Stratification in the United States. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
In‑Text Citation (Parenthetical)
(Beeghley 2000)
Book with Two or More Authors
List all authors. Only the first author's name is inverted (lastname, firstname); subsequent authors appear in normal order.
Example (Two Authors)
Edelman, Peter, Harry J. Holzer, and Paul Offner. 2006. Reconnecting Disadvantaged Young Men. Washington, DC: Urban Institute Press.
Edited Book
Example
Hagan, John, and Ruth D. Peterson, eds. 1995. Crime and Inequality. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.
Chapter in an Edited Book
Example
Clausen, John. 1972. "The Life Course of Individuals." Pp. 457-514 in Aging and Society. Vol. 3, A Sociology of Stratification, edited by M.W. Riley, M. Johnson, and A. Foner. New York: Russell Sage.
Ebook with URL or DOI
Example
Wimberly, George L. 2015. LGBTQ Issues in Education: Advancing a Research Agenda. Washington, DC: American Educational Research Association. https://ebooks.aera.net/catalog/book/lgbtq-issues-education-advancing-research-agenda.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to include the state abbreviation?
Only include the state abbreviation if the city is not well-known (e.g., "Thousand Oaks, CA"). For major cities like New York, Chicago, or Boston, omit the state.
How do I cite a translated book?
Include the translator's name after the title: Lattimore, Richmond, trans. 1951. The Iliad of Homer. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.