Ask what is being judged
Writing, design, scholarship, and audience response are different qualities. A broad accolade does not tell you which one matters for your reading question.
Inspect the work itself
Choose a claim and examine its supporting material. Notice what a reproduced page contributes that praise or a nomination description cannot supply.
Keep the label in proportion
Use recognition as context when it is documented, then make a specific assessment. Avoid treating a reputation as proof that every interpretation in a book is settled.