Science & Technology

By Staff -- Library Journal, 5/1/2007

Agriculture

Horticultural journalist Spencer-Jones (Wild Flowers of Britain and Ireland) has gathered concise entries from 70 contributors on what are certainly marvelous gardens. The descriptions and histories, along with the superb 800-plus photographs, will whet any gardener's appetite. The arrangement of entries makes sense horticulturally: the chapters are devoted to each continent (except Antarctica) and are organized geographically from west to east, then from north to south. While this helps group gardens by tradition, history, and climate, it is not intuitive or useful for trip planning or quick reference (e.g., Italy follows Switzerland, which follows Romania). Readers will not find information on how to get to the gardens and if they are public or private. There is a list of gardens by country at the end, but to find a certain section of the book, one must either leaf through the entire text or go to the index of garden names at the beginning. This work provides much pleasure for a reasonable price, but it is recommended only for comprehensive gardening collections.—Daniel Starr, Metropolitan Museum of Art Lib., New York

Having paid homage to dogs in Woman's Best Friend: Women Writers on the Dogs in Their Lives, McMorris now delves into the special bond women share with felines in this gathering of 29 short essays by some of the same contributors (e.g., Clea Simon, author of The Feline Mystique: On the Mysterious Connection Between Women and Cats). Female feline fanciers will chuckle about situations that run along the lines of: "I'm not usually a cat person, but," "I wasn't really looking for a cat, but," "I don't want to end up like a crazy cat lady," "My boyfriend hates my cat! Who should I choose?", and "Love me, love my cat." Entries are nostalgic, yet few are tearjerking or sappy; most of the furry divas profiled are purring machines that touched their owners' lives. Although some anecdotes are better than others, there's plenty for cat lovers to relate to and appreciate. Recommended for larger public libraries.—Eva Lautemann, Georgia Perimeter Coll. Lib., Clarkston

Built on islands and surrounded by salt water, Venice lacks space, topsoil, and fresh water, conditions that have made gardening difficult there. Yet over the centuries, residents have built countless gardens, large and small. Many Venetian gardens are completely hidden from public view, but writer Dammicco and photographer Majerus (Secret Gardens of London) invite readers into these private worlds. Here are the gardens of hotels, palaces, museums, monasteries, and private homes. A separate chapter is devoted to terrace gardens. The book profiles newly built as well as ancient gardens, focusing on structure and the integration of hardscape and plant materials. Its purpose is not to offer much in the way of technical gardening advice; instead, it provides a modest narrative of local garden history and design, with text well incorporated with the photographs, which are the raison d'être for the book. This coffee-table volume will round out collections in landscape architecture and garden design and will benefit libraries collecting lavish garden photography or travel photography books. For other libraries, it's an optional purchase.—Emily-Jane Dawson, Multnomah Cty. Lib., Portland, OR

In his eighth book, Hayward (contributing editor, Fine Gardening magazine; Your House, Your Garden: A Foolproof Approach to Garden Design) shows how to design gardens around new and existing garden structures such as arbors and fences. He believes that if gardeners spend some time looking at their structures before beginning a project, they will more easily get a sense of how the garden beds should be designed to complement the structures. He also thinks structures should serve a purpose in the garden, e.g., gazebos should frame lovely views and arbors should create inviting entrances. Individual chapters cover arbors, decks, gazebos, sheds, pergolas, playhouses, summerhouses and pool houses, fences and gates, trellises, and bridges. Hayward discusses things to consider when designing around structures and advises on the best places to site them, illustrating his ideas with color photographs that show how different types of structures evoke different moods in gardens. In the last chapter, he designs a new garden using his concepts. Easy to understand and beautifully illustrated; recommended for public, botanical, and academic libraries.—Sue O'Brien, Downers Grove P.L., IL

Continuing the saga of his metamorphosis from sophisticated suburbanite to rural farmer (see the previous entries A Dog Year, The Dogs of Bedlam Farm, and A Good Dog), Katz follows up with this delightful memoir. Bedlam's farm population has grown and changed: an old dog is gone, a neurotic but innately talented border collie joins the family, a gentle Labrador is rehomed, two cows arrive, a newly purchased donkey gives birth unexpectedly, and a shy ram is retired and replaced by a good breeder. Katz explores his evolving attitudes toward animals: livestock versus pets, numbers versus names, those for whom the vet bill cannot exceed the selling price and those for whom almost no vet bill is too high. He honestly and humbly confesses what he has learned from these animals and the local people who have become a part of his life and have shaped his emerging self. A vivid picture of a 60-year-old man attempting to live the rugged rural life emerges. This beautiful tale, poetically told, is recommended for public libraries and James Herriot fans. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 3/1/07.]—Florence Scarinci, Nassau Community Coll. Lib., Garden City, NY

In this book's foreword, Olympic show-jumping gold medalist William Steinkraus explains that a miscellany is "a mixture of various things" and notes that owing to the abundance of specialization in the horse world there is a need for a book of general knowledge. Compiled by two editorial consultants on equine titles, this is the perfect tome for that task. Filled with wonderful illustrations and photographs, it details all sorts of horse data, including the history of the horse, breeds, riding disciplines, equine health, and fascinating trivia tidbits. Did you know how hamburger came to be? To tenderize the meat, the Mongols put it under their saddles. For their part, the Europeans transformed this method into steak tartare; its cooked form became hamburg in Germany and later hamburger in the United States. In contrast, Elwyn Hartley Edwards's The New Encyclopedia of the Horse has more in-depth coverage of breeds and training but less little-known trivia. Highly recommended for all public libraries where equine titles are popular.—Patsy Gray, Huntsville P.L., AL

Award-winning author and gardening expert Whiteside (Forcing, Etc.) has created a well-organized, step-by-step guide to urge both novice and expert gardeners to get on the path to "happy gardening." She encourages gardeners to stop fretting over creating a perfect garden and focus on accomplishing easy-to-manage goals and projects that will transform a yard into a personal garden paradise. Part 1 focuses on gardening basics, such as making new beds and keeping gardening records in a journal, and garden chores, like fertilizing, weeding, and watering. Whiteside also discusses how to deal with gardening design dilemmas; attractive ways to use ornamental plants, trees, and shrubs; how to start a salad garden; and ways to enjoy gardening throughout the year. Each project outlines the payoff, determines its size (small, medium, or large), lists the required tools, and walks the reader through the installation process. The watercolor art, informative sidebars, expert tips, and illustrations add a touch of whimsy and fun, making this a joy to read. Suitable for all public libraries.—Eboni A. Francis, Ohio State Univ. Libs., Columbus

Your arthritic knees are killing you. Should you try acupuncture, glucosamine, magnets, fish oils, or one of the other popular alternative treatments for arthritis? Fortunately, this book will help you sort through the medical research miasma and spare you any daunting PubMed searches. Hoffman (Tired All the Time: How To Regain Your Lost Energy) and Fox (coauthor, Syndrome X) summarize and interpret the research on 101 alternative therapies for 21 disorders and rate these "cures" on a five-star scale. They discuss possible side effects and dosage guidelines, offer advice on selecting practitioners, and present an excellent overview of medical studies in general. While other books (e.g., Jean Carper's Miracle Cures and James Balch and Mark Stengler's Prescription for Natural Cures) cover the same territory, this manual stands apart as a succinct and authoritative alternative therapy guide. A much-needed antidote to the ubiquitous everything-but-the-kitchen-sink natural cure compendiums, it also serves as a reminder of the importance of developing strong health information literacy skills. Recommended for all public library and health collections.—Blanche Angelo, Livermore P.L., CA

Once viewed as rare and unusual, autism is now considered an epidemic with the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention findings reporting that one in 150 children in the United States now has autism. The parent of an autistic child, Jepson (founder, Children's Biomedical Ctr. of Utah) encourages physicians and parents to view autism "as a medical illness, not just a behavior disorder." He discusses the neurological, gastrointestinal, genetic, and environmental issues that complicate our understanding of autism. His book is meant to be used as an overview for the layperson, not as a step-by-step guide on how to treat autism. Although there are agreed-upon common treatment approaches, each autistic child is unique. Jepson makes clear that with proper medical oversight, the autistic child can improve, often dramatically. Recommended as a comprehensive reference resource on autism in consumer health collections.—James Swanton, Harlem Hosp. Lib., New York

Pediatric intensive-care units (PICUs) serve young, critically ill patients who generally have similar complex needs met through close collaboration of highly specialized health team members under the direction of a pediatric internist. Here, Christopher reflects on his 25 years spent directing the Mayo Clinic's PICU through ten cases illustrating what a PICU can and cannot do and the importance of active parents in questioning, obtaining information, and helping make crucial decisions with patience, faith, and self-care. Chapters range over scenarios like watchful waiting (with little medical intervention, as in a seizure case) and intense intervention (as in a hepatitis case involving multiple organ systems). Each chapter recaps with succinct advice; the narratives draw in the reader with relatively jargon-free descriptions intertwined with information on how "ordinary people perform in extraordinary ways," from initial crises to outcomes ranging from "miracles" to death. Broader issues such as ethics and medical costs are humanely presented, yet no specific resources are mentioned (e.g., authoritative web sites). Still, as the only book of its kind, this is heartily recommended for public, hospital, and consumer health libraries.—Janice Flahiff, Univ. of Toledo Health Science Lib.

Sedentary lifestyles spent in front of televisions or engaged in repetitive movements like golf exact a heavy toll on the human body. Eventually, the skeleton loses its "dynamic balance," explains Key (Back in Action), the physiotherapist to the British royal family. Joint mobility, flexibility, and muscle mass diminish until "pain is but a whisker away." However, Key claims joints can be "returned to suppleness" through a series of yoga-inspired routines she devised that restore function and reduce pain in the spine, neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, ankles, and feet. The textbooklike clinical descriptions of joint anatomy provide far more information than most readers need. But the step-by-step gentle exercises illustrated with line drawings will appeal to the sedentary as well as to the fit. Highly recommended for all health and fitness collections; an alternative to Anthony B. Carey's The Pain-Free Program: A Proven Method To Relieve Back, Neck, Shoulder and Joint Pain or Joseph Weisbert and Heidi Shink's 3 Minutes to a Pain-Free Life: The Groundbreaking Program for Total Body Pain Prevention and Rapid Relief.—Karen McNally Bensing, Benjamin Rose Inst. Lib., Cleveland

According to the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, over 130,000 babies have been born from 1985 to 2000 owing to in vitro fertilization (IVF). Freelance writer Kohl here offers a part memoir, part essaylike account of her experience with IVF and its effects on culture, legal issues, and more. Diagnosed with polycystic ovarian disorder at 29 when she looked into having a baby, the author usually opens chapters with a recounting of an experience (e.g., disturbing meetings with fertility experts) before segueing into a discussion of topics associated with IVF: children's being more susceptible to illness and birth defects, the maximum age women may receive IVF, and sex selection. From her paranoia over her IVF-conceived daughter to her reflections on what constitutes life, Kohl eloquently shares her innermost reflections while raising important issues in a thought-provoking way. Readers in her position may find hope in her story. Recommended for public libraries with consumer health collections and academic libraries with women's studies or ethics collections.—Rebecca Raszewski, Drexel Univ. Lib., Philadelphia

This latest entry in a series of books produced by the Hospice Foundation of America to accompany its annual video conferences features 18 essays by professionals in the counseling field. Doka (gerontology, Coll. of New Rochelle) has returned as editor, and the overall purpose this time around is to look at the current thinking in the field and at what has changed. Some essays investigate evolving concepts such as anticipatory grief and mourning and disenfranchised grief. Others ponder the controversies concerning whether grief should be pathologized and whether counseling is a help or a hindrance to those who are grieving. Other topics include parental bereavement, adult loss of a parent, working with children, self-help, mutual help, and family counseling. Interspersed are several essays by grieving individuals. This book will be useful primarily to professionals, but it is accessible to interested lay readers as well; it nicely complements other books in the series and J. William Worden's Grief Counseling and Grief Therapy: A Handbook for the Mental Health Practitioner. Recommended for academic and large public libraries.—Dick Maxwell, Porter Adventist Hosp. Lib., Denver

Dry eye syndrome (DES)—more currently known as dysfunctional tear syndrome—is a complicated disorder often associated with systemic diseases such as Sjogren's syndrome, lupus, and diabetes and frequently misunderstood by the more than nine million American sufferers. A practicing ophthalmologist, Maskin (director, Cornea and Eye Surface Ctr.) estimates that an equal number of people are not even aware that they have a milder form of the disorder and that the incidence of this disorder has been increasing steadily. He devotes close to half the book to an overview of eye anatomy and causes of DES (e.g., computer use, contact lens wear, aging, LASIK surgery, and systemic diseases). In the remaining chapters, he focuses on getting a correct diagnosis and seeking and finding treatment that includes dietary considerations, over-the-counter products, and modifications of the home and work environments. The book wraps up with a FAQ section, a glossary, and resources for further reading for each chapter. There are not many resources geared to consumers on this topic, so Maskin's practical and informative book is timely and highly recommended for public and consumer health libraries.—Beth Hill, Kootenai Medical Ctr., Coeur d'Alene, ID

The U.S. healthcare system is excessively expensive, inefficient, and often delivers poor quality care. It is also inequitable, with tens of millions of citizens unable to access needed care because they lack health insurance coverage. So argues Relman (emeritus, Harvard Medical Sch.; former editor in chief, New England Journal of Medicine) in this persuasive call for reform that points to the commercialization of medicine, with its primary focus on generating income and profits rather than providing appropriate patient care, as an important factor in the system's failure. This business model, he writes, has driven up costs, reduced access, and jeopardized the quality of care. To improve the situation, Relman proposes a bold single-payer, universal health insurance system combined with the widespread use of prepaid community-based, not-for-profit multispecialty group practices with salaried physicians. This extremely informative, insightful, and thought-provoking book makes an important contribution to the literature and is essential for anyone interested in healthcare. Highly recommended for all academic and public libraries.—Ross Mullner, Univ. of Illinois Sch. of Public Health, Chicago

In 2005, cancer survivor Debra LaChance founded the Healing Project to create a community of support for those living with chronic and life-threatening illness. In this new collection from the project's "Voices of" series, more than 40 people whose lives have been profoundly touched and irrevocably changed by Alzheimer's disease—including actress Kate Mulgrew and Today Show personality Willard Scott—share their stories, providing readers with insights into living with the disease from the early, often unnoticed beginnings to its final, devastating stages and beyond. Contributors include victims, spouses, family members, friends, and caregivers who write with dignity, candor, and humor about their journeys and the sometimes positive and unexpected effects the experience can have. The collection is divided into four sections: "Parents," "Spouses," "Grandparents," and "Caregivers" and includes an afterword listing ten warning signs of Alzheimer's, as well as a chapter by Dr. Maria Torroella Carney on the future of the disease. This poignant, insightful, distinctive, and informative book is highly recommended for all public and academic libraries.—Elizabeth M. Wavle, Elmira Coll. Lib., NY

Barr (We Called it Macaroni) here offers a lovingly written memoir of her years working with and learning from Julia Child. As Child's executive chef for almost 20 years and a producer for Good Morning America and Baking with Julia, she is able to provide a unique glimpse into the early world of culinary television. Of course, she also reveals Child, who comes off witty, warm, and dedicated—to her people and her profession. It was Child's support and encouragement that enabled Barr to form a successful career out of a passionate hobby. The book's greatest strength lies in how Barr has captured the voice and personality of her friend and mentor; her stories about the woman, whether involving a stop for a hot dog at a roadside stand or the graceful way that Child handled mistakes, will enable readers to make a new connection to this larger-than-life figure who did so much to change the perception of food and cooking in America. Recommended for most public libraries. (Photographs not seen.)—Rosemarie Lewis, Broward Cty. P.L., Fort Lauderdale, FL

Aimed at stay-at-home moms competing with the Joneses, this book joins the saturated market on extreme parenting and dealing with the Bree Van de Kamps in mommies' lives. Clinical psychologist Dunnewold (The Postpartum Survival Guide) argues that we are failing to distinguish between our children's needs and their wants and are falling prey to the three O's: overperfecting, overprotecting, and overproducing. She offers a new mantra of "perfectly good" (as opposed to "perfect"), describing a mother who doesn't buy into cultural pressures and instead is fully satisfied if her good days outweigh her bad. The book wanders a bit and uses irritating housekeeping similes (e.g., "parenting anxiety eats at you like nail polish remover on a finely varnished dresser"). Also, Dunnewold's presentation could be stronger (e.g., she emphasizes the importance of quality time away from children, but then refers to this time as a "mommy play date"). Despite these quibbles, many will find Dunnewold's advice helpful. A perfectly acceptable acquisition for public libraries or consumer health collections needing an update.—Julianne J. Smith, Ypsilanti Dist. Lib., MI

In his sociological study Kingdom of Children: Culture and Controversy in the Homeschooling Movement, Mitchell L. Stevens divides homeschoolers into two groups: those from the Christian day-school movement and those from the alternative school movement. First-time author Gathercole seems to be one of the latter and has here assembled the most common questions regarding the social aspects of homeschooling (e.g., "Don't the kids miss out on socialization?") and answers based in opinion, fact, and personal accounts from homeschoolers and their children. This formula works—Gathercole persuasively argues that homeschooling is not isolating but can be a sophisticated approach to socializing and educating children. The personal accounts especially challenge our cultural construct that school life is synonymous with childhood. While considering the social benefits of homeschooling, Gathercole also illuminates contemporary problems with public education. With a short list of web and print resources, this is not a how-to book, however. It is a successful albeit repetitious and elementary consideration of the topic intended for families in the initial stages of investigating homeschooling. Suitable for public libraries with large collections on the subject.—Fran Mentch, Cleveland State Univ. Lib.

Noted author Gurian (The Wonder of Boys) here advocates that parents reject what he calls the "social trends parenting system"—i.e., following popular parenting fads—and instead focus on the unique talents, proclivities, and temperaments with which children are born. He spends a good deal of the book laying out the scientific aspects of personality and temperament, delving into recent brain research that, for instance, shows how gender and other factors play a role in personality development. While Gurian's overall message is worthy, many parents may find some of his recommendations confusing and even alarming. He seems to advocate for specialized medical tests, such as brain scans and blood tests, in the absence of any real reason for performing them, treating them as tools to help parents better understand a child's "core nature." His use of that term itself is problematic, as it sometimes refers to personality and other times to medical issues. His statements about certain areas of research and popular culture are also inaccurate, e.g., he misunderstands the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, equating shyness with introversion. Still, parents may be able to take away the important and liberating idea that knowing your child is the best parenting advice of all. Fans of Gurian's other books will be pleased; those who want to understand better how personality affects child development would be better served by Elizabeth Murphy's The Developing Child.—Rachel Davis, Thomas Memorial Lib., Cape Elizabeth, ME

From Prince Edward Island to Tokyo's massive Tsukiji Market to California, the Bahamas, Argentina, Spain, Australia, and China—to refrigerated cases in grocery stores and food courts and walk-up counters and carts across Japan and the United States, sushi has evolved from a quick snack to the repast of high-powered businessmen to a cultural reference simultaneously mocking and worshiping at the altar of wealth and celebrity (see the Christina Aguilera roll at Hamasaku in Los Angeles). It exists both as a commonplace and as a luxury. Journalist Issenberg's beautifully written book reveals the complex web of commerce, culture, and culinary expertise that hauls fish from the sea, ships it around the world, and delivers it artfully to the plate. Sprinkled throughout with fascinating character studies of the many buyers, importers, sushi chefs, restaurateurs, critics, and diners who make the wheels turn, this work is solidly rooted in place—allowing one to tour four continents slowly. It makes enjoying sushi not only a delight for the palate but also a thought-provoking repast for the mind. Recommended for all libraries.—Courtney Greene, DePaul Univ. Lib., Chicago

These two spiral-bound books by child abuse prosecutor Kelly, massage therapist Tegtmeier, and writer Ashcraft (101 Things To Do with a Cake Mix) sport retro covers and provide simple chicken and tofu recipes, from Cranberry Chicken Spinach Wraps to Tripleberry Tarts. The most noteworthy is from 101 Things To Do with Chicken: the Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce features a fabulous marinade that is extremely easy and quick to prepare. Unfortunately, the small size of the books makes them difficult to use while cooking and results in a typeface that isn't very big either, so the farsighted will have problems reading. The notes section in the back is nice although not totally necessary. The content itself is arranged in an interesting order, with main meals in four separate categories.

Navigating the books, however, might have been easier if the mains were lumped into one group. Because chicken has been given the multiple-recipe treatment before, 101 Things To Do with Chicken is not a necessary purchase. 101 Things To Do with Tofu, on the other hand, will nicely expand the vegetarian cookbook collections of larger public libraries with its fast gems of recipes.—Claire A. Schaper, Franklin Inst., Philadelphia

Saulsbury has written several books on desserts (e.g., Cookie Dough Delights; Puff Pastry Perfection) as well as contributed recipes to such magazines as Cooking Light and Southern Living. In her latest cookbook, she shares her love of panna cotta, a versatile northern Italian dish that can be sweet or savory. It has a gelatin/cream base, and the ease of preparation makes it great for entertaining. Saulsbury chronicles the history of the dish, discusses the variety of ingredients used (from porcini mushrooms to chocolate), and supplies presentation tips. Mostly, she lets the recipes demonstrate the versatility and simplicity of panna cotta. Although this cookbook—which features web sites that offer ingredients, tools, and books—need not be in every library, larger public and special libraries will want to consider purchasing it.—Ginny Wolter, West Toledo Branch Lib., OH

As public interest in wine grows, so has the number of wine-related books. Best for wine beginners or those looking for a quick go-to guide, this concise primer to wine consumption edited by British oenophile Atkins features articles by British writers who have penned wine books and contributed to wine publications in their native country. Topics covered include where to purchase wine, wine selection, wine tasting, and wine styles. Reading wine labels poses a challenge to new consumers, and this book demystifies them with photographs from the top wine-producing countries and text defining acronyms and terms. Some of the content may seem off to American readers (e.g., consumption regulations, wines unfamiliar outside of the European Union) owing to the authors' British background. More advanced wine enthusiasts will notice that suggested wines are by type, with no mention of specific vineyards or which years were good for particular wine styles/grapes. Recommended for public libraries with limited budgets; not an essential purchase for those with larger collections.—Kimberly Bartosz, Univ. of Wisconsin at Parkside Lib., Kenosha

This oversized photo book is one woman's tribute to the Great Salt Marsh—more than 20,000 acres running up the Atlantic Ocean along the Massachusetts coast to the border of New Hampshire. Taken from Monnelly's original gelatin silver prints, these 57 large-format, black-and-white images range from long-distance shots of tree-filled islands perfectly mirrored in a body of cloud-spotted water to an almost microscopic shot of a perfect oak leaf frozen in the waters of Gravelly Brook, Ipswich, MA. In an essay, journalist Doug Stewart ties together the beauty and inherent fragility of this unique ecosystem, while Monnelly uses images. This beautiful and generally affordable monographic work is both a tribute to and a record of a true natural wonder. Its lack of scientific data/history makes it of limited use to natural historians or ecologists; as such, it is not recommended for academic or school libraries. Special collection libraries or specialized libraries that focus on nature photography/estuarine studies may, however, be interested in rounding out their collections with this title.—Susan E. Brazer, Salisbury Univ. Lib., MD

The contributing factors to innovation, especially dramatic leaps forward in business, science, and technology, remain little understood. Ogle, an entrepreneur and scholar, is fascinated by the question, What do renowned creators and scientists have in common? Building on cognitive psychology, complexity theory, network science, and specifically theories of extended-mind spaces, he draws out nine laws that govern creativity. Convincing case studies (regarding, for example, the structure of DNA, the Apple II PC, the Barbie doll, cubism, the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain) demonstrate how people use intelligence embedded in the technical, cultural, and social idea spaces they inhabit. Clearly, no person is an island unto him- or herself when it comes to brilliant breakthroughs. Unlike recent best sellers on the topic of innovation such as Thomas Kelly's The Art of Innovation or Malcolm Gladwell's The Tipping Point, this book, though insightful, is not reader-friendly. Many people will be turned off by the scholarly writing style and the lack of detailed advice on both how to map interlinked spaces of embedded intelligence and how to identify hot spots ripe for exploitation. Strongly recommended for business and science collections in academic and larger public libraries.—James A. Buczynski, Seneca Coll. of Applied Arts & Technology, Toronto

Anyone unacquainted with Wendell Berry—man of letters, farmer, recipient of numerous awards, modern-day Jeremiah, and iconoclast of contemporary culture—will find no better overview of his life and ideas than this collection of reminiscences, literary criticism, and tributes edited by Peters (English, Augustana Coll.). Contributors, including Hayden Carruth, Gene Logsdon, Bill McKibben, and Scott Russell Sanders, have produced a range of essays from scholarly to personal on Berry's key issues—the importance of the local community, the necessity of developing practical skills, eschewing consumerism and practicing sustainability—all of which run counter to contemporary society. Barbara Kingsolver writes in her usual delightful fashion that when faced with life's big questions she asks, "What would Wendell do?" This is a book to be read with a pencil so that passages can be savored and pondered. Berry's voice is grounded in traditional values that never grow old, a seeming paradox during this time of urban and technological sophistication. An excellent resource that deserves a place in both academic and public libraries.—Maureen J. Delaney-Lehman, Lake Superior State Univ., Sault Ste. Marie, MI

One might think that issues of trust, empathy, and reciprocity are peripheral to the functioning of civil or military institutions or computer networks. In fact, Clippinger (senior fellow, Berkman Ctr. for Internet and Society, Harvard Law School) argues that no network can function in the absence of agreed-upon systems for generating trust, resolving conflict, allowing for negotiation, or managing risk. Because it changes so quickly, the digital sphere is a laboratory for observing social network innovation. The problems of how to negotiate, barter, and build trust all needed to be resolved before eBay could function, for example. This title is part of an emerging field of study that seeks to understand behavior in social networks through fields as diverse as evolutionary biology, primate studies, classical economics, and cultural histories of successful "trust networks" (Renaissance Florence is the example offered here). It's a heady mix of theory and prescriptive advice. The final chapter, addressing the topic of "open identity systems" for thwarting Internet-based identity theft, looks at a practical system for applying the theories described in preceding chapters. For libraries collecting books on computer science, business, and social psychology.—Michael Dashkin, QUALCOMM, San Diego