Social Sciences Continued

This aptly named book has a simple message: gay marriage for many people is not a theoretical issue but a real-life one. The ten stories included here take the issue out of the hands of politicians and invite the reader into the homes of real people. Some have married legally; others have had civil ceremonies or devised their own rituals. Some come from families that have always accepted them and their partners; others have families vowing never to speak to them again. Some relationships are of recent vintage, other couples have been together over 20 years before marrying. Some have children, others don’t. United by shared love, each is a pioneer couple in the ongoing evolution of a traditional institution. For those seeking to become part of the legal battle, there is an appendix that lists resources. However, the most important point made is that there is no ideal marriage, just marriage. Recommended for public and academic libraries.—David Azzolina, Univ. of Pennsylvania Libs., Philadelphia

Hauser (psychiatry, Harvard Medical Sch.), Joseph P. Allen (psychology, Univ. of Virginia), and Eve Golden, a Cambridge, MA, writer trained in psychiatry, have pioneered significant research in the area of teen resilience. Here they address the quandary of why some teens have the resilience to bounce back from troubled adolescence to lead healthy, satisfying, and productive lives while others never find their way “out of the woods.” To investigate, the authors conducted a longitudinal study of 70 people who had been institutionalized in a psychiatric facility during their adolescence. Using initial and follow-up interviews that began during their hospitalizations and spanned many years, the researchers chart the narratives of those deemed resilient by a battery of psychological tests. It is clear that the subjects who had interest in and capacity for reflection, agency, and relationships as well as a positive attitude and desire for change fared better in cultivating resilience. This study continues the work of clinical psychologist Norman Garmezy, who promulgated the notion of resilience. Highly recommended for academic libraries and for public libraries holding books such as Martin Seligman’s Learned Optimism: How To Change Your Mind and Your Life.—Lynne F. Maxwell, Villanova Univ. Sch. of Law Lib., PA

These are not your father’s layoffs—seasonal plant shutdowns, and recession-induced furloughs. Layoffs today are permanent and life-shattering for blue-collar workers, professionals and even highly placed managers. Uchitelle (economics correspondent, the New York Times) chronicles the rise and impact of the American corporate culture of layoffs. Until the mid-1970s, American companies dominated the world economy and offered employees at all levels lifetime job security. However, with the rise of foreign competition, rising energy costs, and the retreat of the federal government from Keynesian economics, American corporations turned to massive layoffs as the panacea for their problems. Uchitelle talks to corporate leaders and employees to document the bad management and political failures that make huge layoffs seemingly inevitable. Highly skilled aircraft mechanics, production workers, and middle managers share their stories of emotional exhaustion and economic downgrading in this heart-wrenching book. It would be stronger, however, without his short final chapter on solutions to layoffs, which doesn’t do that topic justice. Nonetheless, highly recommended for academic and larger public libraries.—Duncan Stewart, Univ. of Iowa Libs., Iowa City

Travel writer Barish adds a third volume (along with Spain and Italy) to her series on unique and inexpensive accommodations in monasteries, convents, and religious guest houses, many of which are located in some of the most beautiful towns and villages in France. Travelers can stay, for example, in a 16th-century building just a few feet from Chartres Cathedral or in a former castle in village of Moulins-les-Metz in Lorraine. Most of the more than 150 institutions profiled accept guests without any religious obligation, but some of them offer only spiritual retreats. Each entry includes information on the number of rooms, amenities, cost, availability of meals, any special rules, directions and contact information, and two to four pages on local tourist attractions. The average cost per person per night is $30 (meals may add $5 to the cost) and some monasteries ask only for a donation. Barish has also included a reservation form letter in English and French. This is a worthwhile addition to any travel collection and will intrigue travelers on a strict budget and those who want a holiday with a twist.—Linda M. Kaufmann, Massachusetts Coll. of Liberal Arts Lib., North Adams

This collection of 30 essays (most published for the first time) is appealing and timely. Part remembrance and part die-hard celebration, these pieces offer glimpses of the Crescent City—its people, places, history, and culture. Whether it’s a dinner of Oysters Ellis in the ambient French Quarter or a handful of plastic beads whizzing by your jambalaya, this book shows us the Big Easy as seen and enjoyed by fans and inhabitants alike. Editor James, cofounder of the Pirates Alley Faulkner Society, has assembled a multitude of voices, including Paul Prudhomme, Charmaine Neville, and Roy Blount Jr., to help capture the “seasonings” that make New Orleans what it is and to offer a hopeful glimpse of what it will become again in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Proceeds from the book will benefit the Pirate’s Alley Faulkner Society and PEN American Center’s Writers’ Fund. Especially appropriate for public libraries, but considering the interest in the city and its future, most libraries will want to own a copy.—Mari Flynn, Keystone Coll., La Plume, PA

From a water tower that looks like an oatmeal carton to the Kinko’s where the false information about George W. Bush’s military record was faxed to Dan Rather, Oddball Texas is full of strange and unknown tourist spots in Texas. A majority of the spots are folk art, plaques, and other drive-by spots that you would not want to spend more than ten minutes visiting. These include the so claimed “world’s largest” six-shooter and the “world’s largest” roadrunner and the final resting spots of bank robbers Bonnie and Clyde. Pohlen, a radio travel commentator and the author of the “Oddball” travel series, also includes some interesting spots like the fried chicken restaurant in Mexia where Anna Nicole Smith once worked and many small, bizarre, and often overlooked museums such as the Creation Evidence Museum and the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame. While certainly not a guidebook you would use to plan a vacation, Oddball Texas could be thrown in the car to help break up the monotony of a long road trip across this great big state. Of interest to Texas and regional libraries.—Joel Jones, Kansas P.L., Kansas City, MO

Schur offers here a chronological compilation of essays about the 18-month honeymoon she took in 1971 with husband Stephen, which began in Mexico and crossed 31 nations to end in Wellington, New Zealand, where the couple ultimately lived for five years. These essays, previously featured in publications like Salon.com and anthologies such as Lonely Planet’s 2003 The Kindness of Strangers, are memorable in their reach: more than just recounting events in the life of the writer, they capture the atmosphere of places like a tramp steamer in Panama, a dream chalet in the Swiss Alps, or a customs house in Afghanistan; they also distill the character of the local people and recount their stories. Perhaps the most striking of Schur’s journeys is the car trip she and Stephen took from Switzerland to the border between India and Pakistan, where the car had to be sold. Another essay, “A Memory of Herat,” resonates especially in this age of fear and suspicion. Schur’s fascinating account of her young life as a trusting, adventurous traveler will make the reader long for the seemingly carefree travel of the days before 9/11. Recommended for all libraries with travel and women’s studies collections.—Lisa N. Johnston, Sweet Briar Coll., VA

Though he won both a Pulitzer and a Nobel prize, 20th-century American icon writer John Steinbeck was often reviled in his lifetime. This book takes the reader through the unique landscape revealed in this complex writer’s books. Shillinglaw (English, San Jose State Univ.), a scholar in residence at the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas, CA, draws a rich portrait of Steinbeck’s California, even if at times her text has the tone of a doctoral thesis. Areas covered in depth are Salinas (East of Eden), the Monterey Peninsula (Tortilla Flat and Cannery Row), and Los Gatos (where Steinbeck lived and wrote The Grapes of Wrath). For those who would follow Steinbeck farther afield, his time in Mexico, Baja California, and New York is included. What gives this book a place on any library’s shelves is its excellent historical background on places of significance to Steinbeck, complemented by clearly defined maps for locations and buildings. Lavishly illustrated with historic photographs and contemporary scenes by photographer Nancy Burnett, Steinbeck’s California concludes with a time line of the writer’s life, extensive notes, and a comprehensive index. Highly recommended.—Janet Ross, formerly with Sparks Branch Lib., NV

According to Cloud, a clinical psychologist and coauthor of Nine Things You Simply Must Do, an individual’s integrity will ultimately determine whether he or she succeeds. While brains, competencies, deal-making abilities, and opportunities help, a person needs six character dimensions, including the capacities to connect and build trust, to embrace and resolve negative reality, and to rise above ordinary human selfishness and find one’s role in the big picture. While more judicious editing would have made the book more concise, it’s a worthwhile read that will help people fill some “gaps” in their lives and stand a better chance at achieving their goals. Recommended for all libraries.

Is it possible to have too much of a good thing? Marketing executive Demirjian tells more than one would ever want to know about kissing, delving into kissing etiquette, the variety of kissing types, kissing customs around the world, and tips for keeping lips kissable. In addition, she lists famous screen kisses, mood makers and breakers, and the ingredients of a good kiss. The book is fun, but after a while the constant focus on and analysis of kissing seems to quell any excitement regarding the act itself. What would have made a great magazine article tends to be overkill in a book. However, YAs would probably like this, and it would enjoy a decent circulation on the new book shelf. Recommended with reservations.

No matter how sophisticated people think they are, even the most loving couples revert to their primitive, or “reptilian,” nature of fight-or-flight, according to Ferguson (staff psychologist, Dean Medical Ctr., Madison, WI). Taking both a biological and a psychological approach, he explains how partners can manage challenges to intimacy more effectively if they understand their basic physical reactions to each other. He develops this idea further by discussing how maladaptive responses to perceived threats (feeling the need to defend oneself) lead to unprovoked attacks. In a clear-cut, helpful, and humorous manner, Ferguson discusses how to end these cycles and create healthier relationships, going so far as to include helpful suggestions for making divorce as humane as possible. Highly recommended for all libraries.

If going through therapy and reading relationship books doesn’t work, it’s time for this lively guide developed by journalist Grossman and screenwriter Wainess. Striking a witty yet empathetic tone, the authors examine why so many relationships fail and discuss how to get ready for good-bye and how to break up as painlessly as possible. There is even a chart that helps partners divvy up mutual possessions and a list of the best things about being single again. Gleaning much of their information from their web site BreakupNews.com, which chronicles the breakups of couples all over the world, Grossman and Wainess have skillfully put together best and worst practices. This is a great book for those who have been dumped, are on the verge of being dumped, or are ready to dump someone—in short, everyone who’s been in a relationship. Highly recommended.

Kelly, a dating coach and author, encourages women to think about man hunting the same way they do job hunting and work smarter, not harder. To that end, her book urges readers to get out of their comfort zone, meet men, intelligently size them up, and know when to hold on or let go. Guidance for the “new era” of dating—which includes Internet dating and speed dating—is delivered in a lively, entertaining style. Interesting sidebars cover such topics as “What Men Watch in Women on First Dates” and “Mr. Wrong Case Studies.” Illuminating and bound to circulate, this book is highly recommended.

In her clever dating guide, columnist and author Straker (Sexy Jobs in the City: How To Find Your Dream Job Using the Rules of Dating) sketches 21 career types, including the man’s look, basic personality, risks, perks, and what to expect when dating him. For instance, the biggest challenge of the Wall Street trader is getting him to commit, but he knows how to wine and dine. While the psychiatrist is a good listener, it’s hard to get him to admit when he’s wrong. Straker includes key words and phrases for each occupation that will help readers speak the same language. Fun yet insightful and hard to put down, this book is destined to be a hit. Highly recommended for all libraries.

What better way to begin the new year than to learn how to live a more rewarding and fun life. Entrepreneur/author Kogan encourages readers to break old patterns and live outside the box through 30 “dares,” or suggestions for living. The dares are organized into six chapters, which range from establishing better daily habits and eliminating unproductive fears to aiming higher and laughing a lot. Within these short chapters, Kogan proposes learning something new each day, e.g., dedicating six weeks to kicking a bad habit. This is an incredibly upbeat book, with great ideas for many readers. Recommended for all libraries.

Writing for wives who are “tired of it all,” McClary (women’s health, Univ. of North Carolina) offers women techniques for owning their future, building self-confidence, and remaking their lives with men into healthy, mutually satisfying relationships. Her advice is based on the sound psychological premise that people can’t change another person—they can only change themselves. Only a conscious, continual, confirming commitment toward fullness and self-love can help one partner deal with the ups and downs of married life, argues McClary in a heartfelt, older sister’s voice. The subjects she covers are relevant to long-term relationships and include such topics as “How To Recognize and Treat Relationship Attention Deficit Syndrome.” Recommended for public libraries.

Ritberger (What Color Is Your Personality?) uses a scientific and humanistic approach to help readers understand how personality makeup affects one’s view and experience of love. She organizes personality types into colors and explains what makes a particular color group tick. She then offers tips for dealing with that group. For example, it’s beneficial to go slow with “oranges” and let them take the initiative, while it’s helpful to voice respect and appreciation with “yellows.” Her theory is that understanding leads to creating and sustaining a mutually satisfying relationship. Interesting for larger libraries.

Licensed family therapist/creativity coach Maisel blends Eastern principles of breath awareness with Western principles of positive psychology to offer an antidote to stress, procrastination, and anxiousness. His ten-second technique is made up of incantations—breathing and thinking components that use a single breath for a specific thought. He provides 12 incantations (e.g., “I am completely stopping,” “I am equal to this challenge”) and combines them in centering sequences to use in specific situations. In clear prose that interweaves instructions with reports from his clients and practitioners, he leaves the door open for readers to experiment with these techniques. An excellent starting point for anyone interested in improving his or her ability to center and to become calmer and more powerful; recommended for all libraries.

According to Marsolek, a clinical hypnotherapist, men and women can use their mental energy to beat back pain and headaches, lose weight, and improve performance in a wide range of areas. In this detailed how-to manual, he explains the process of hypnosis and provides step-by-step techniques for putting oneself into an intentional trance and using the unconscious to shape specific life changes. An added audio CD of guided self-hypnosis inductions helps the reader get into the flow of the subject matter. If one is determined to use self-hypnosis, this is the book to read. Recommended for larger libraries.

For those who want to explore the mind-body connection in a more general way, they might take an interest in Power, Passion & Purpose. Using the teachings of ancient and indigenous cultures, Roulac, a business consultant, explains how to use the four intelligences (physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual) and the four modalities of energy practice (breath, movement, sound, and stillness) to reach the highest levels of personal power. While Roulac’s promises that using her book will lead to finding one’s life purpose or to identifying one’s genius are rather lofty, her chapters on meditating and developing one’s intuition could be quite helpful to someone looking for alternative therapies and stress reduction. Recommended for rounding out a traditional self-help collection.

In this inspiring saga of African American experience, teacher and journalist Ross probes the nature of searching for purpose by sharing the struggles and triumphs of people who have chosen unique paths. Profiled are individuals in more than 25 careers, including a zoo curator, a guitar designer, and a scientist. The stories are compelling and show how these potential role models have refused to accept social and cultural barriers. What is particularly striking is that each person has a mission to help others pursue their own life vision. Readers, no matter what their racial or cultural background, are sure to expand their understanding of the American dream and where they might fit in. Recommended for all libraries.

Marriage and family therapist Steele surprises readers with his statements that dating doesn’t work as a way to find relationship happiness and that outdated dating skills have led to divorce, welfare, and other societal woes. He explains his position by listing 14 dating traps and offering ten principles for conscious dating. The traps include making choices based solely on attraction, believing there’s a limited supply of potential partners, or presenting a false image of oneself. Through his principles, Steele instructs on knowing oneself and what one wants, learning how to get it, practicing assertiveness, and so on. The quizzes and charts are moderately helpful. This is standard relationship fare. Recommended only to update collections.

Buchman, DanaA Special Education: One Family’s Journey Through the Maze of Learning Disabilities. Perseus. Mar. 2006. c.224p. ISBN 0-7382-1033-1. $21.95. PSYCH

This intensely personal memoir tells the story of a daughter’s and a mother’s struggles with learning disabilities. When she was a 35-year-old newlywed and mother to be, Buchman took on the challenge of running her own fashion line. The difficulties of operating a new business, however, would not compare to raising her firstborn Charlotte, who began to show signs of dyslexia and attention deficit disorder, along with developmental disabilities. Tests and the search for proper schools and doctors followed, while Buchman embarked on her own path to self-discovery. The perfection-seeking New Yorker eventually came to see Charlotte as a person with unique abilities (in fact, she’s attending college in New England). Kudos to Buchman for her forthright memoir, which should go a long way toward lifting the stigma of learning disabilities. Highly recommended for all public libraries.—Walter J. Cegelka, St. Thomas Univ., Miami, FL

Hyperlexia is a little-known syndrome often matched with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) where children are obsessed with words and can read far above their age level. While it seems odd that this would be a disability, hyperlexia is accompanied by a great difficulty in understanding verbal language. The parent of a young child with both autism and hyperlexia, Jensen sums up her parenting problems by likening verbal communication to a second language. A variety of methods for connecting a child’s knowledge of words with their meanings is demonstrated, as are numerous useful resources like social stories. Charts for measuring rewards for good behavior are also provided. Many of these examples, especially rewards, are useful for all children with ASD. This book, probably the first of its kind, is strongly recommended for all public libraries and academic libraries with autism or education collections.—Corey Seeman

LeComer, a special education evaluator of children who are suspected of having developmental disabilities, has amassed case studies of children with developmental delays, checklists, and hands-on advice for parents of children with autism, ADHD, aggressive behaviors, sensory processing disorders, motor control problems, and learning disabilities. The author makes the point that not every developmental delay leads to a disability and that when caught early, many developmental differences can be corrected. She shows parents how to identify their child’s specific challenges and how to act swiftly to obtain early intervention and treatment. At the end of each chapter, readers will find special exercises for each developmental delay. Part 3 offers plans for taking action and getting professional treatment. Recommended for parents of children with developmental delays and all public libraries. Parents seeking to improve their children’s social interactions and success should also consider Richard LaVoie’s It’s So Much Work To Be Your Friend.—Walter J. Cegelka