Social Sciences

By Staff -- Library Journal, 2/1/2007

Biography

Given the recent death of noted economist Milton Friedman, it is fortuitous that we should find Ebenstein (economics, Univ. of California, Santa Barbara; Friedrich Hayek: A Biography) assessing Friedman's life. Friedman was many things in his long career: bureaucrat, professor, author, columnist, public television host, presidential advisor, and Nobel prize winner in economics in 1976. The University of Chicago was his intellectual home for many years, and there he taught a number of students who later became well-known economists in their own right. As a true libertarian, he believed that "adults should be able to do as they wish so long as they are not harming anyone else." He advocated less government, a free-market economy, even legalized drugs and prostitution. Where some may see Friedman as an ideologue, the author views him as a man of true conviction who believed in following the truth, no matter where it led him. Though modest in scale, this biography doesn't skimp on the details of Friedman's life. Well written, thoroughly researched, and easy to read, it successfully explains how Friedman's ideas continue to resonate. Recommended for all libraries with business/economic collections.—Richard Drezen, Washington Post/NYC Bureau, New York

The Smithsonian is known to most Americans, whether or not they have visited its main Castle or any of the attendant museums. However, Englishman James Smithson (born James Louis Macie), whose bequest created the Smithsonian, is an enigma. A disastrous fire at the Smithsonian in 1865 destroyed his on-site papers, manuscripts, diaries, equipment, and more. Seeking to build a picture of this man and discover what prompted his bequest to the United States, architectural historian Ewing has little to work with as she digs deep into the past, but she follows every scrap of information, from letters to bank records, and comes up with a vigorous picture of Smithson as a son, friend, companion, man, uncle, and scientist. She also marvelously re-creates the age in which Smithson lived, detailing his travels, his friends and their complicated relationships in society, his scientific contributions and connections, the politics of his times, the excitement new discoveries brought to science, as well as the excitement in society generally, with events such as the American Revolution and the French Revolution. Required for history of science collections and highly recommended for all libraries.—Michael D. Cramer, Schwarz BioSciences, Research Triangle Park, NC

London-based author Lanchester's (The Debt to Pleasure) family, particularly his mother, kept secrets better than most. Like most children, Lanchester believed himself to be the center of the universe; he also believed that his parents' reticence about their pasts was the natural order. Only at his mother's death did he learn her date of birth, the name her parents gave her, and the guilt she'd carried for years over the ways she'd deceived her husband, son, and siblings. This is Lanchester's attempt to reconstruct his parents' lives from the time they met until his mother's death. Through alternating narratives, he examines the ways in which each of his parents was encouraged to subvert emotional truths. In researching and tracing his parents' history, Lanchester comes to understand how his parents protected him, sacrificing dreams of their own to insure their son's future. Poignant, interesting, and artfully written; recommended for public and academic libraries with large memoir collections.—Pam Kingsbury, Univ. of North Alabama, Florence

Born Sophie Frederica Auguste of Anhalt-Zerbst, Catherine II (1729–96) was arguably the ablest monarch in Russian history. Her reign began with a coup: she deposed her husband, Peter III, and let him be murdered. Rounding (Grandes Horizontales) explores both the private and the public figure, culling with expertise from archival sources. By nature, Catherine was humane, with a personality that blended candor and guile. Unlike her predecessors or successors, she encouraged her ministers to express themselves without fear of retribution, even when they disagreed with her. Her energy and intelligence paid off. Reflecting on her reign, she listed "29 [new] government districts…, 144…towns, 30 conventions and treaties, 78 military victories, 88 'memorable edicts concerning laws or foundations,' … 123 'edicts for the relief of the people,' … 492 achievements in all…." She purchased numerous artworks for the Hermitage, corresponded regularly with Voltaire and Diderot, and served as patron to artisans, architects, and educators. Until the excesses of the French Revolution soured her, she enthusiastically supported the Enlightenment. This is an attractive account of the reign of a most remarkable woman; Rounding's use of the voluminous and lively court correspondence is a plus. Strongly recommended.—David Keymer, Modesto, CA

Historian Wallis (Route 66) turns his attention to Billy McCarty (1859–81), a.k.a. Billy the Kid, carefully separating fact from myth—a difficult task, since the myth has all but obscured the facts. Drawing on archival sources and interviews as well as documents and secondary works, Wallis digs beneath the surface, clearly identifying what is known or probable and presenting the reasonable alternatives for what is conjecture. He emphasizes the politics of the Gilded Age and how it affected the frontier and Billy in particular. This well-written and engaging biography is aimed primarily at general readers interested in the West and provides a clear, concise, and reliable account of Billy; Wallis is careful not to make his story so complicated that it confuses readers. Nevertheless, given the extensive research underlying it, the book can stand alongside Robert Utley's more scholarly Billy the Kid: A Short and Violent Life. Recommended for public and academic libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 11/1/06.]—Stephen H. Peters, Northern Michigan Univ. Lib., Marquette

Contributors to this collection examine several aspects of the Oprah Winfrey juggernaut, including her talk show, magazine, and book club. The thematically grouped essays critically analyze how she uses personal information, particularly her battles with weight, to effect a level of intimacy with her audience. Several of the articles mention the talk-show episode where, after a 60-pound weight loss, Oprah pulled onstage a wagonload of fat representing the loss. Her detractors also argue that her book club diluted the discussion of so-called literary fiction, and much attention is paid to Jonathan Franzen's being disinvited to discuss The Corrections after his seemingly ungrateful comments about the overall intellect of the book club and its members. More extensive in its coverage than Kathleen Rooney's Reading with Oprah: The Book Club That Changed America, this book identifies the common threads that run throughout Oprah's empire, the demographics of her audience, how she brings together women from diverse backgrounds, and her use of empathy and encouragement to foster self-improvement. Recommended for academic libraries.—Regina M. Beard, Economics Librarian, Kansas State Libs.

Inspired by its recent series of lectures to college students, the World Bank has put together a collection of relevant and accessible essays by 27 of its specialists. Originally created in 1944 to help with postwar reconstruction, the bank has since expanded its mission to encompass the elimination of extreme poverty everywhere by developing experimental aid programs and issuing grants and low-interest loans to spur economic growth in developing regions. (The role of the bank in reducing extreme poverty was brought to the attention of lay readers in economist Jeffery Sachs's recent The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time.) Divided into four parts—"The Global Economy," "Human Development," "Environment and Natural Resources," and "Global Governance"—this book is ambitious in scope, covering extreme poverty, pending environmental problems (e.g., climate change), conflict management strategies, and even international governance, with a special focus on the bank's own philosophy and its role in helping to solve these difficult problems. Best suited to larger public or academic libraries.—April Younglove, Linfield Coll. Lib., Portland

Chip Heath (organizational behavior, Graduate Sch. of Business, Stanford Univ.; Rumor Mills) and brother Dan (consultant, Duke Corporate Education; cofounder, Thinkwell) team up on a tacky topic. They borrow the "stickiness" metaphor from Malcolm Gladwell's The Tipping Point, which examined the social forces causing ideas to make the leap ("tip") from small to large groups. The Heaths focus on the traits that contribute to an idea's ability to catch on, or "stick." Urban legends—like the one about the traveling businessman who is drugged and wakes up minus a kidney—are prime examples of such stickiness. While totally untrue, these tales make for great retelling, and we seem primed to fall for them. Using engaging examples from around the world, the authors illustrate the six principles of stickiness: Simplicity, Unexpectedness, Concreteness, Credibility, Emotions, and Stories (SUCCES!). Their fun-to-read book will appeal to communicators in every field who want their messages to be more effective. Highly recommended for public and academic library business or psychology collections.—Carol J. Elsen, Univ. of Wisconsin Lib., Whitewater

Until recently, the outlook for many of the poorest people in Bangladesh was dismal. Despite previous long-term aid from the international community to improve the country's infrastructure and economy, sustainable development was hampered by corruption and governmental inefficiency. This book tells the story of Western-trained entrepreneur Iqbal Quadir, the driving force behind the creation of GrameenPhone, the largest Bangladeshi GSM (Global System for Mobile) cell-phone operation. Quadir had the innovative idea of using local Western-trained entrepreneurs to help villagers attain micro-loans funded by foreign investors (and generated by Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yanus) and then showing villagers how to operate cell-phone leasing businesses. Sullivan refers to this successful business model as the "external combustion engine" because of its impressive multiplier effects on economic growth. Applications of this model in other poverty-stricken areas worldwide have repeatedly yielded similar results. This book offers valuable insights about the use of cell phones and technology-based investments to generate wealth and demonstrates that entrepreneurship may be more fruitful than aid. This valuable work can be effectively integrated into public administration, global business, and human resource academic courses.—Caroline Geck, Kean Univ. Lib., Union, NJ

Tapscott (management, Univ. of Toronto; The Digital Economy)and Williams give readers a thoughtful look into the future through their study of the collaborative environment that has revolutionized business today. Tapscott's New Paradigm think tank, where Williams works as research director, sought out companies and individuals having a significant impact on industries based on their openness, peer production, information sharing, and global action. The result is a forward-looking economic model wherein connected individuals engage with companies in web-based communities to embrace a new art and science of productivity and innovation called wikinomics. The authors discuss several Web 2.0 applications and the need for open-source software and open-access publishing to achieve success. In-depth profiles of companies and individuals make the book helpful for all types of businesses. The book was even written in a collaborative spirit, as the authors polled the public for suggestions on the subtitle through an online forum and encouraged readers to participate in blogs and wikis pertaining to the book. Highly recommended for public and academic libraries.—Mark McCallon, Abilene Christian Univ. Lib., TX

Although not always reliable, lie detectors, or polygraph machines, have been used to uncover lies for generations. They represent a technological breakthrough in which an instrument tests a person's body signals to reveal indications of whether he or she is lying. Alder (history & humanities, Northwestern Univ.; The Measure of All Things) details the story behind the invention of the machine by John Larson and Leonard Keeler in the 1920s. He explains that, initially, lie detectors gave the nation hope that political corruption, adultery, murder, espionage, and so on would all come to light, ultimately leading to a utopian society. And indeed, Larson and Keeler moved from Berkeley, CA, to Chicago to apply their device toward fighting crime. Alder also provides an extensive review of Larson's and Keeler's lives (they ended up rivals and enemies). For its general review of the history of lie detectors and its breadth of information, this book is recommended for large public libraries.—Tim Delaney, SUNY at Oswego

Few cities parallel the charm and grace of Cuba's old Havana. Yet Havana loses three buildings a day to decay and collapse; 1400 structures are abandoned every year. In short, the Havana of the 19th and early 20th centuries—to say nothing of its 16th-, 17th-, and 18th-century remnants—will not be around much longer unless drastic renovation and restoration occur, which is unlikely. These dire facts make this small book, a virtual travelog through the heart of "the Pearl of the Antilles," that much more appealing. Estrada (founder, Hispanic magazine; Welcome to Havana) guides us through the city while relating the history of Cuba, his focus always on Havana. As much a tale of tobacco, sugar, and slaves, this delightful account leaves no stone unturned and reveals fascinating historical insights. Estrada's chapters on Ernest Hemingway in Havana and social life during the casino/mobster era are pure gems. He spares neither expansionist U.S. policies nor Fidel Castro's socialism from blame for Cuba's present state. Highly recommended.—Boyd Childress, Auburn Univ. Lib., AL

How much contact did Native Americans have with Europe in both the pre-Columbian and immediate post-contact time periods? Forbes (Native American studies & anthropology, emeritus, Univ. of California, Davis; Africans and Native Americans) attempts to make the case that a great deal of interaction occurred. He describes both supposed planned voyages and accidental trips (canoes being blown east by storms) by Native Americans to Europe during the centuries before Columbus's voyage in 1492. While Forbes thoroughly documents his sources, he makes frequent wide-ranging assumptions related to pre-Columbian Native American voyages based upon small bits of possible evidence. Post-contact reports of the kidnapping, enslavement, and shipment of significant numbers of indigenous American people to Europe by the Portuguese, Spanish, English, and Dutch in the 16th and 17th centuries are generally better documented and more widely accepted by anthropologists and historians. The depth of research throughout is clear, but the narrative is somewhat repetitive. Although most of Forbes's conclusions are highly speculative, this work can provide fascinating reading for those interested in controversial and alternative anthropological theories. Recommended for academic and large public libraries.—Elizabeth Salt, Otterbein Coll. Lib., Westerville, OH

Tens of thousands of blacks in antebellum America defied the law and the power of slavery by stealing themselves away from bondage. Among their loosely linked paths of hope lay what has come to be called the Underground Railroad. Spontaneous as well as structured, the underground sheltered those fleeing slavery, though the means varied and escape was seldom easy. Freelance writer and Washington, DC, tour operator Ricks narrates the story of a dash by sea from the U.S. capital in 1848. In perhaps the largest mass escape in U.S. slave history, 77 blacks sailed the 54-ton schooner Pearl from the Potomac into the Chesapeake. Heading north, they made it about 100 miles before an Atlantic storm stalled them and allowed captors to seize and return them to Washington, where their capture was hailed by heckling mobs.

The plight of fugitive slaves galvanized and split communities, including Detroit, MI, codenamed Midnight in the underground. Its black residents in particular served as conductors, directing fugitives to safe houses and across the Detroit River to Canada and welcoming settlements such as that of Dawn, as Tobin (Hidden in Plain Sight) and poet Jones richly detail. Their time line nicely situates developments in slave resistance and provides broad historical context for sketches of historical figures and in-depth portraits of black communities in Canada that became home to fugitives who succeeded in making their way "north of slavery," as escaped slave Frederick Douglass once famously dubbed the northern U.S. neighbor.

Furthering the Canadian connection and extending her internationally recognized work in public archaeology and history, Frost unearths fascinating aspects of the underground's international dimensions. Following escaped slaves Lucie and Thornton Blackburn from Louisville, KY, to Detroit and then to safety in Canada in 1833, Frost details U.S. blacks' determined resistance and the diplomatic problems cross-border fugitives created in U.S.-Canada relations. Beyond that, she develops blacks' entrepreneurial contributions to Canada, for the Thorntons became prominent in the Toronto livery business.

Rich details of determination, hope, and life run through these three books, bringing to life personalities and places in the too often hidden or ignored history in the fight for basic human rights in antebellum America. Nicely complementary, these works each deserve a place in collections on black, local, or antebellum U.S. history, and Canadian collections should also have Frost's as well as Tobin's and Jones's works for their local history.—Thomas J. Davis, Arizona State Univ., Tempe

In his first book, Griffin (history, Ohio Univ.) explores the nature of the settlers of the western frontier borderlands during the French and Indian War and the American Revolution. While Alan Taylor's The Divided Ground: Indians, Settlers, and the Northern Borderlands of the American Revolution details the creation of borders between the Indian nations and the English Colonies/American states, Griffin contrasts the formative ideologies of western frontier settlers regarding American Indians with those of the British Empire and the American tidewater revolutionary elite. Frontier corn whiskey culture, partially descended from mid-17th century English revolutionary culture, helped foster an American complex of racial and multicultural relations that lionized even arguably psychotic slayers of Indians, who avenged personal losses and brought a sense of order based on racial divisions to violent new homelands. Recommended for libraries with research interests in civil rights and racial relations in the early American republic.—Nathan E. Bender, Univ. of Idaho, Moscow

Considering contemporary reading habits and conducting a close analysis of contemporary texts, Hunt (history, UCLA; Politics, Culture, and Class in the French Revolution) argues that between the 1740s and 1780s Western attitudes changed dramatically: there emerged newfound feeling for others and an appreciation of others as self-directed entities. The reading public developed this sensibility largely as a consequence of the new epistolary novels of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Samuel Richardson, and others. Concurrently, there was a growing abhorrence of torture or public punishment. Thus was laid the foundation for a language stressing the possession of rights by all men, a concept incorporated in America's Declaration of Independence (1776) and France's Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (1789). Though women were still excluded from political (but not civil) rights, the door was at last open to religious minorities, the Jews, and free blacks. Talk of rights waned with Napoleon; other political languages engaged Europe for the next century and a half. Rights surfaced again in 1948 with passage of the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Cultural history of a high order; recommended for academic and large public collections.—David Keymer, Modesto, CA

Although NASA declined to assist in the preparation of this book, possibly fearing critical treatment, independent writer Jones has produced a first-rate account of the Expedition Six mission to the International Space Station. U.S. astronauts Ken Bowersox and Don Pettit and Russian cosmonaut Nikolai Budarin anticipated a 14-week stay at the station, from November 2002 to March 2003. Instead, their mission morphed into a five-month-long test of human endurance. Their plight as marooned spacemen stemmed from the intervening explosion of the Columbia space shuttle and the grounding of the remainder of the fleet. In a somewhat graphic and always gritty writing style, Jones recounts the onboard personal trials and triumphs associated with the survival of these men and the lot of the families they left behind. As a backdrop to his core narrative, he offers a concise yet engaging treatment of the competing American and Russian space programs. In the end, a Soyuz space capsule connected to the hull of the space station was the only hope for a safe return to Earth. Jones's heart-stopping account of the astronaut's harrowing descent toward the steppes of Kazakhstan caps a most engrossing read. Recommended for all aerospace collections and all libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 11/1/06.]—John Carver Edwards, Univ. of Georgia Libs., Cleveland

July to December 1944: with the Allies broken out of the Normandy beachhead, the German armies in full retreat and hastening back toward Germany, and French, British, and American armies in hot pursuit, the Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF) rosily predicted a January collapse, which was refuted in the Ardennes. Neillands (The Eighth Army), a former British Royal Marines commando, is interested in three intertwined issues: Allied strategy for the ground war, Eisenhower's performance as ground forces commander, and the various army commanders' roles in the race for the Rhine. He attempts to correct American historians' biases, reexamine the actions of the major subordinate commanders (Generals Bernard L. Montgomery, Omar N. Bradley, and George S. Patton), and discuss the problems that kept the Allies from ending the war in 1944. His evaluations of the characters are balanced: Eisenhower was a fine coalition leader and a mediocre battlefield commander, Montgomery is shown as a solid and experienced commander but a total failure at relationships with the other generals, and Patton as reasonably effective in the pursuit but constantly undermining Allied strategy. Essential for subject collections.—Edwin B. Burgess, U.S. Army Combined Arms Research Lib., Fort Leavenworth, KS

This readable chronicle focuses on the powerful 16th-century reigns of Elizabeth I of England and Philip II of Spain. Elizabeth I was intelligent, perplexing, and energetic and Philip II a zealous Catholic, practical and reclusive. Both were arrogant and determined to have their way. Their preparations for rule (Philip II was taught how to be king by his father, Charles V), interactions with each other (a marriage proposal and military battles), and struggles to maintain and expand their empires are related here in succession. Patterson briefly recounts the events that affected their realms, e.g., Martin Luther's influence, Philip II's previous marriage to Elizabeth I's half-sister Mary, and each sovereign's problems with France. The title of the book refers to a famous line in a speech Elizabeth I gave to British troops preparing to prevent an invasion by Philip II. The line also explains why she was a formidable opponent for Philip in a time when being female was underestimated and scorned. An engaging book for those interested in clear, condensed studies of these monarchs; recommended for academic and public libraries. (Photo insert and index not seen.)—Tonya Briggs, Euclid P.L., OH

Federal prosecutor Stanley got a "birthday party" he'll never forget when he was kidnapped by thugs who were after his ATM and credit cards, blindfolded, and held for over 24 hours on the eve of his 38th birthday. Though familiar enough with street crime from his days as a Brooklyn boy, Alpert was an environmental litigator, not a criminal prosecutor, and was unprepared for this random and terrifying encounter. Still, his quick mind and courtroom experience stood him in good stead: he spent much of his time memorizing details of his surroundings and absorbing hints dropped by his captors, clues that would help the police immeasurably in their search for the kidnappers. For all its inherent drama, the book is slowed down considerably by Alpert's repeated injections of other biographical information. More judicious editing might have given this harrowing story more punch. Recommended for public libraries.—Deirdre Bray Root, Middletown P.L., OH

"This is a story of three unwinnable wars," writes historian Perret (Lincoln's War) in the opening sentence of his book about the United States in Korea, Vietnam, and Iraq. It is more the story, however, of three Presidents, Harry Truman, Lyndon Johnson, and George W. Bush, each of whom, the author argues, was driven by personal demons and prevailing political winds to engage the country in catastrophic missions in Asia, each time increasing presidential power. Based for the most part on secondary sources, the book seems a series of episodes connected by the author's glib one-liners. "Buy one war," for example, says Perret of today's War on Terror, "get several more for free." Whether or not one agrees with Perret's argument, and whether or not one thinks he is clever, readers will find this book less substantial than the many biographies and histories he has written before. Not recommended.—Robert F. Nardini, Chichester, NH

Grierson (coauthor, Culture Jam), who writes for the periodical Adbusters and has been nominated for several Canadian National Magazine awards, is a wise observer of many widely divergent aspects of popular culture. Here he turns his attention to people who have dramatically changed the direction of their lives. Although he tries to categorize these "wake-up calls" under such rubrics as "The Kandinsky Decision," evolution, revolution, epiphany, and paradigm shift, the differences do not seem distinct. The book is really a series of brief descriptions of fascinating and usually high-profile people explaining how and why they changed direction in life. Interesting as they are, these stories become repetitious and are recounted rather than examined in any depth, which leaves the reader hungry for a more sophisticated consideration of the subject. However, with so many baby boomers facing middle age and retirement and the consequent introspection, there is a large audience for this book. Larger public libraries will want to add it to their pop psychology collection.—Fran Mentch, Cleveland State Univ. Lib.

The year: 1965. The place: a small, insular New Hampshire community where church and home life are dominant forces. When Hall becomes pregnant at 16, she is shunned by family members and friends she's known throughout her school years. After traveling to the Middle East and suffering the indignities of loneliness and poverty, which include selling her own blood, she returns to the United States and creates a new life out of her still-palpable grief. Finally, she is able to forgive her own parents, who never offer an apology. She then receives a visit from her 21-year-old son, whom she had been forced to put up for adoption and who was raised in an atmosphere of abuse and scarcity. Though Hall's memoir—her first book—occasionally loses ground to the very grief she is trying to overcome, the message of redemptive compassion makes this a worthwhile and moving read. Appropriate for all public libraries.—Elizabeth Brinkley, Granite Falls, WA

Psychiatrist and certified addiction specialist Westreich (clinical psychiatry, NYU Sch. of Medicine) shares what he thinks works best for families and friends hoping to get their loved ones into treatment without getting hurt themselves. His method, a combination of what he calls creative engagement and constructive coercion, is based on his personal experience with hundreds of patients and their families and friends, as well as ideas culled from psychiatric literature and advice from his mentors. His methodology involves using every available strategy to convince the addict to enter treatment and then continuing to work with the addict, who should not be left to his or her own devices. This approach contradicts conventional treatment wisdom and offers a more positive outlook than do the tough love or intervention approaches typically recommended. Along with his novel strategies, Westreich deals with recognizing and understanding the nature of addiction, learning about treatment options, and handling situations that can present special difficulties. He also includes highly realistic sample dialogs that help family and friends prepare for and implement these strategies. Highly recommended for larger public libraries and for academic libraries supporting the helping professions.—Dale Farris, Groves, TX

In his first book, freelance writer, lecturer, and musician Letcher, who holds doctorates in both religious studies and ecology, examines the history and use of hallucinogenic—or "magic"—mushrooms since ancient times. Letcher's passion for his subject clearly comes through; his writing style is highly accessible and amusing, and the material he presents is thought-provoking. Extensively researched and engaging though it is, however, his book at times reads more like an advocacy piece than a scientific treatise, and countless descriptions of psychedelic experiences can become a bit tiresome. Appropriate for anthropology and public health collections in academic libraries but optional for public libraries.—Mary Grace Flaherty, Sidney Memorial P.L., NY

Niederhaus, who recently completed her master's thesis at Stanford University on multigenerational living arrangements, and brother Graham (marketing & international business, Graduate Sch. of Management, Univ. of California, Irvine; Doing Business with the Japanese) combine their personal and professional knowledge about multigenerational living to formulate this eminently practical guide to designing housing arrangements compatible with the needs of varying generations. Not only do such social structures help with child- and elder-care needs but they can make a great deal of economic sense. The authors convincingly argue for the trend by interviewing more than 100 families, who offer compelling rationales for their decisions to consolidate living arrangements. Best of all, the authors supply blueprints for suitable housing structures. In an invaluable chapter titled "Designing and Remodeling Your Home for Privacy," they detail ways to convert garages and basements into optimal living spaces for older relatives. They also address relevant legal and financial issues. While other books, such as Patrick H. Hare and Jolene N. Ostler's Creating an Accessory Apartment, touch on similar territory, this work is the definitive resource for readers considering multigenerational living arrangements. Recommended for large public libraries.—Lynne Maxwell, Villanova Univ. Sch. of Law Lib., PA

In 2000, twentysomething Masood suddenly left her Seattle dot.com existence to live in and travel through parts of Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and Turkey. Although this intrepid traveler was born in Karachi, Pakistan, she experienced a rebirth of sorts through the kindness of strangers, learning the Arabic language and praying and fasting. By the end of her insightful, pious, and life-altering journey, she had learned a great deal about living in the moment, returning to the United States just two weeks before 9/11. Masood has much to say about the daily lives of the lovely and hospitable people who befriended her and helped her grow. She has since founded Diwan: Dialogue on Islam, a nonprofit institute. Highly recommended; libraries that already own Rosina-Fawzi Al-Rawi's Midnight Tales: A Woman's Journey Through the Middle East will want to purchase this delightful book as well.—Elizabeth Connor, The Citadel, Military Coll. of South Carolina Lib., Charleston

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, travel writer and memoirist Morris (Nothing To Declare) set out on a decrepit houseboat with two river guides named Tom and Jerry. As her life was changing rapidly—her father had just died at age 103, and her daughter was leaving for her first year of college—Morris decided to travel, seeking comfort and adventure by returning to her family home, the Midwest's river country. The journey down the Mississippi took her boat through many unfamiliar places, but Morris was most interested in the towns that were significant to her father's long life. She writes of him as a difficult, often abusive, and secretive man and tries to reconcile their troubled relationship, weaving a memoir of her family into a travelog recounting fascinating places and people, including a Katrina survivor, a sorcerer, and denizens of many small ports. Never sentimental or maudlin, this is a realistic memoir of a strong woman on both a physical and an emotional journey at midlife. Recommended for public libraries and academic libraries with travel collections.—Lisa N. Johnston, Sweet Briar Coll. Lib., VA