Social Sciences

Sora (The Lost Treasures of the Knights Templar) argues that Troy was not in Turkey but was instead located on the Iberian Peninsula near present-day Lisbon. He further posits that the legend of the Trojan War, obscured and distorted by time, retelling, and geographic shifts, actually represents the vanquishing of ancient Celtic goddess-worshipping cultures by the patriarchal societies of the Mediterranean region. Since evidence regarding the location of Troy in Turkey is questionable, Sora's theory is intriguing. Unfortunately, he bases much of his analysis on linguistic similarities, which are often tenuous and sometimes simply wrong. For example, Sora states that pharaoh is "a word derived from pharos and Faro, both meaning 'light' on the Atlantic coast of France." Actually, pharaoh comes from the hieroglyphic symbols pronounced (presumably) per and oh, meaning "great house" and referring to the office rather than the individual. Such mistakes in scholarship are numerous and lead to the inevitable conclusion that while Sora's theory is interesting, it is in the end mere speculation. Purchase where interest warrants.—Katheine K. Koenig, Ellis Sch., Pittsburgh

Varner (The Mythic Forest, the Green Man & the Spirit of Nature) has published another volume in a series of works comparing legends and beliefs from cultures around the world. This latest covers mythological beings including fairies, giants, mermaids, horned creatures, harpies, werewolves, and vampires as well as the folklore of animals and insects. He provides an overview of creatures from ancient times to the present, incorporating examples from European, Asian, African, and Native American traditions. This global comparison emphasizes shared customs and illustrates a universal belief in these mythic beings. Though not a comprehensive look at folklore themes, this book is unique in its focus on the magical creatures of our collective imagination. It is appropriate not only for popular reading collections but also for academic research collections, as sources are cited throughout and a bibliography of resources is included. In the review copy, words were cut off and continued on to the next line without hyphens, making it difficult to read the text smoothly; one hopes that this will not be an issue for readers of the finished copy.—Eloise R. Hitchcock, Western Carolina Univ. Lib., Cullowhee, NC

First-time author James was born in Hollywood in 1950 to an abusive mother and a neglectful father who quickly exited via divorce. During early childhood, her nights were spent alone tied to a chair so her mother could roam Sunset Strip. At 11 years of age, James ran away and was arrested and thrown into juvenile detention, where she refused to give her name. At 14, after being put into state custody, she ran away from an orphanage, staying one step ahead of the authorities with the aid of Michael Stewart, who got her a job as nanny for his brother John, the lead singer of the Kingston Trio. Three months later, James ran again, making her way to New York City's Greenwich Village; to London with Denny Laine of the Moody Blues, who fathered her only child; then to Connecticut with her baby son; and eventually back to California. Through the years, numerous celebrities paraded through her life, among them Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, and Jackson Browne. These cameos certainly hold the reader's attention, but so do the author's resourcefulness and strength of character. This straightforward, conversational read is recommended for public libraries catering to baby boomers.—Dorris Douglass, Williamson Cty. P.L., Franklin, TN

Zoologist Morris, the author of such best sellers as The Naked Ape and Intimate Behavior, writes that the world is filled with wonderful pleasures for anyone "who manages to maintain an inquisitive eye, a childlike wonder and a sense of humor." Judging from this delightful memoir, Morris has managed to retain these qualities throughout his long and varied life. In his youth, Morris's passions centered on animals and painting. Eventually, these interests led to jobs as curator of mammals at the London Zoo, host of the British television show Zootime, and director of the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London. Financial success from his best-selling books allowed him to move to Malta, travel worldwide, and write many more books about animal and human behavior. This lengthy autobiography is basically the combination of two previous books, Animals Days (1979) and The Naked Eye (2001). Of the 80 chapters, only eight are new: three fill in the time period between these books, and the remaining five add some new episodes to the latter book. There are several new photos as well. Libraries owning the two original books may pass on this one. Otherwise, this absorbing and entertaining memoir is highly recommended for academic and public libraries.—Ilse Heidmann, Washington State Lib., Olympia

Journeyman author Skidmore (b.1981) delves into primary sources to portray the reign of Henry VIII's son, king of England from his 1547 coronation at age nine to his death at age 15, when he was succeeded by his half sister Mary Tudor. Less biography than history of a troubled regency, the book follows Edward's two succeeding guardians, his uncle the Duke of Somerset, eventually deposed and executed by the Duke of Northumberland (who later met the same fate at the hands of Mary). Both men worked toward the expansion of Henry's Reformation of the English Church fully supported by the maturing, scholarly, and staunchly Protestant king. Receding into the background of the book's somewhat clumsy prose, Edward himself remains "lost," awaiting another author to resolve the contradiction between hunt-loving child and severe religious reformer eager to remove his sister Mary from the succession rather than allow a Catholic to assume the throne. Until that author comes along, most libraries will want to own this lively account of political intrigue during the reign of a boy king.—Stewart Desmond, Madison Square Park Conservancy, New York

While serving with a military intelligence detachment in Vietnam, lawyer Fred Whitehurst was charged with combing through captured North Vietnamese documents and burning those without military value. As he tossed documents into the fire, an interpreter stopped him and said, "Don't burn this one, Fred. It has fire in it already." It was the diary of a young woman named Dang Thuy Tram, begun in April 1968 when Tram was 25 years old and serving as a chief physician at a Viet Cong field hospital in central Vietnam and abruptly ended two years later when she was shot and killed by American soldiers. Whitehurst brought the diary home, eventually locating Tram's family and returning it to them in 2005; the book was soon published in Vietnam and sold nearly a half million copies. Although the writing is at times scattered and filled with random questions and thoughts, as one might expect in a personal diary, Tram offers a poignant perspective on the human suffering experienced by America's opponent and provides insight into Tram's personal and political struggles. Recommended for public libraries and academic libraries with Vietnam war collections. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/15/07.]—Patti C. McCall, AMRI, Albany, NY

Welch (The Romanovs and Mr. Gibbes) writes compellingly about Anna Anderson, the woman who claimed to be the surviving Grand Duchess Anastasia, youngest daughter of Czar Nicholas, who was murdered with his family in 1918. That someone may have survived this massacre has provoked many claimants throughout the years, giving credence to the decision to call this book "a Romanov fantasy." The author takes readers through the appearance of Anna Anderson in Berlin in 1920 and the gathering of a swarm of supporters—including some of Anastasia's childhood friends, who risked everything to prove that Anderson was truly the Grand Duchess Anastasia. The book is filled with photographs, anecdotes, stories, and innumerable sources (including contact with supporters of Anderson) that reflect the belief that she was the youngest daughter of the czar. Whether or not readers believe this, Welch offers engrossing insights, leaving the DNA-derived answer to the final chapter. (Many readers may remember the culminating news story in any case.) Recommended for public libraries interested in Russian history or good nonfiction historical mysteries.—Mary C. Allen, Everett P.L., WA

The last thing that 1960s militants might expect is that 40 years later they would seem quaint. Wilkerson, of the Weathermen Underground terror group, was one of two survivors of an explosion at the group's bomb factory in her father's New York townhouse. Her memoir combines an overview of 1960s radical history with the story of her transition from bourgeois daughter to make-believe Leninist. It can be read several ways—as a personal account of the plunge of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) from idealism to the self-satisfied violence of the Weathermen, as a deeply felt autobiography of Wilkerson's struggle to find her way in the world, or as an individual's muddled story, which gives us this history much as readers may know it already from such books as Todd Gitlin's The Sixties: Years of Hope, Days of Rage or James Miller's Democracy Is in the Streets. Wilkerson's writing conveys the urgency of the time as well as the 1960s slogan that all politics is personal. Most interesting is the account of the budding women's liberation movement and the resistance that "radical" men showed to it. Recommended for academic libraries and larger public libraries.—Duncan Stewart, Univ. of Iowa Libs., Iowa City

Murders, traffic accidents, suicides, political scandals, labor strikes: these are topics found in any newspaper today. Yet this book's faits-divers, or "sundry events," were crafted by Fénéon over a century ago. Translated by Santé (The Factory of Facts), this curious work is a collection of news items Fénéon wrote in 1906 for Le Matin, a Parisian daily newspaper. These three-line items have no equivalent in U.S. newspapers. More than brief reports or police blotter notes, they are succinct, minimalist accounts of the events of the day, covering almost anything from the mundane (an announcement for a civic association banquet) to the horrific (a dog who ate his dead master's head). Capturing the moment, and thus ephemeral in nature, these items are more like photographs or journalistic haikus or an outline for a novel. (Santé prefers to translate nouvelles here as "novels" rather than as "news.") Fénéon, who also edited literary journals and was involved in the post-impressionist art scene, turned these faits-divers into an art form, reflecting the modernist, bare-bones aesthetic of such contemporaries as Seurat, Mallarmé, and Toulouse-Lautrec. For academic libraries and other libraries collecting in the relevant genres.—Donna Marie Smith, Palm Beach Cty. Lib. Syst., FL

Cowen, an economist and monthly columnist for the New York Times, attempts to follow the lead of Steven Levitt's superb Freakonomics and bring economic principles to everyday life—or so the book's promotional material claims. Unfortunately, Cowen deviates quite a bit from economics. While he makes some interesting observations, he spends far too much time preaching and making quips. Among Cowen's better insights is that the purchase of kidnapping insurance in Latin America has normalized the kidnapping trade because kidnappers and the insurance companies have developed mutual trust and a solid working relationship. The book's problem is that there are few such nuggets. Instead, Cowen goes overboard in giving advice, drawn from his own experiences, on diverse subjects such as how to order food in a restaurant, please a spouse, and dress for success. Do readers really want restaurant and personal advice from an economist? Cowen fails to deliver what the book advertises. A marginal purchase only for larger public libraries.—Lawrence R. Maxted, Gannon Univ., Erie, PA

Freedman (founding CEO, Civic Ventures: Prime Time: How Baby Boomers Will Revolutionize Retirement and Transform America) has written a wonderful summary and guide for boomers entering their next phase of life. In his words, "We need to be liberated from artificial notions such as 'retirement age' and the oxymoronic concept 'working in retirement.' " With predictions that one in four U.S. residents will be over age 60 by the year 2030, his book serves as a wake-up call warning that we are using outdated models for viewing the pending surge of retirement-age workers. Rather than approaching retirement as a time for leisure, he argues, boomers should be using their knowledge and experience to pursue fulfilling second careers. Freedman effectively uses personal accounts of individuals who have successfully bridged careers to find rewarding and meaningful work in later life. He puts retirement into historical perspective and gives a thorough description of current demographics, concluding with a guide to finding your own particular encore career. This thoroughly readable book is highly recommended for academic and public libraries.—Mary Grace Flaherty, Sidney Memorial P.L., NY

This book is an introduction to all the steps required to start a small business. It takes readers from the business formation, e.g., choosing a form of business and name, to writing a business plan, financing the endeavor, locating and licensing the business, and paying taxes. Warda, an attorney with business expertise, covers laws applicable to the formation of contracts, labor and employment, safety and health at work, and advertising. He explains the various kinds of insurance that may be necessary and advises readers on using the Internet in their business. There are a glossary and sample forms that new entrepreneurs may find helpful, such as an authorization for release of employment information and an education verification form. Simply written, this book is a good starter resource for those considering a business venture. It covers some of the same territory as Fred Steingold's Legal Guide for Starting and Running a Small Business, which has the added benefit of chapters on franchises, customer relations, and resolving legal disputes. For public business self-help collections.—Joan Pedzich, Harris Beach PLLC, Rochester, NY

Crew (superintendent, Miami Dade County public schools) is worried that public schools are failing to turn students into mature, conscientious adults. With Dyja (Play for a Kingdom), Crew first explains four key areas of student development—personal integrity, workplace literacy, civic awareness, and academic proficiency—and why they are necessary in the global economy. The rest of this book is an explanation of his "Connected Schools" model, in which students interact with educators, parents, communities, businesses, and the arts. Crew repeatedly refers to the four areas of development to tie his ideas together and mixes educational and business models to describe how Connected Schools can create a skilled workforce, an engaged citizenry, and a strong job market. There are many practical examples here of Crew's work, some of which are inspiring; others may have only limited applicability to nonurban school systems, much though Crew wishes the book to have broader purpose. He briefly tackles current issues such as No Child Left Behind and the related shrinking education budgets. While his thoughts offer hope and rejuvenation, his clunky writing makes reading his book more challenging than it should be. Recommended mainly for urban public libraries and for universities with large education departments. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/15/07.]—Erica L. Foley, Flint P.L., MI

Through the framing device of actual letters to a first-year grade school teacher at a New England inner-city school, Kozol (Death at an Early Age) explores themes familiar to readers of his previous works. He shares his passions about the education of children, including his opinion that vouchers will benefit the wealthy at the expense of the poor, deep concerns about the privatization of public education, and ongoing disdain for the dishonesty he discerns lying behind the rhetoric about equality in education. His points are well documented in an extensive notes section that includes sufficient references to his own earlier writings to provide a retrospective view of this progressive educator's life work over the past four decades. In one quite lovely chapter focusing on the value of interpersonal relationships between and among students and teachers, he pays tribute to the late Fred Rogers (of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood fame) by describing vignettes from their shared classroom visits and subsequent correspondence over the last ten years of Rogers's life. Kozol has made important contributions to progressive education in his own life. A fine update of his ideas and insights; recommended for public and academic libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 4/15/07.]—Jean Caspers, Linfield Coll., McMinnville, OR

Pletka (associate superintendent, Vista Unifed Sch. District, CA; My So-Called Digital Life) here considers how to educate the millennial generation. Teaching kids born and raised on the Internet is fundamentally different, he argues, from teaching previous generations. Increasing high school dropout rates and widespread student disengagement are real problems, and Pletka explores the research on these conditions and talks with parents, teachers, and students about the needs of the latest generation. He offers credible strategies on how to reach these students in order to teach them. His authority on the subject is clear, and he includes lists of references and web resources for further study. Concise and well written, this book would be an asset to any academic library supporting education programs. It would also be useful in public libraries catering to parents and in school libraries supporting professional development for teachers and administrators.—Mark Bay, Hagan Memorial Lib., Univ. of the Cumberlands, Williamsburg, KY

Sixty years after his incredible career as a double agent for the British, Eddie Chapman (1914–97) is the subject of two new books charting his experiences as one of World War II's most amazing spies. A cad, bounder, womanizer, safe cracker, and general bad guy before the war, Chapman was in a jail on the Channel Island of Jersey awaiting trial when the Germans took over the island and decided that he might make a good spy for them. After training in Germany, he was parachuted back into England to blow up an airfield. Instead, he immediately turned himself into the authorities and cooperated with MI5 (the UK's security intelligence agency) as one of England's double agents. The Germans were fooled into thinking that Chapman had indeed destroyed the airfield and rewarded him upon his return to Germany with the Iron Cross. Sent back to England, Chapman spent the latter part of the war giving incorrect information to the Germans about the success of their V-1 and V-2 rockets. He wired inaccurate coordinates to the German rocket launch crews who then sent their rockets to places of minor importance, causing little damage.

Chapman wrote his own account in 1966, and a movie about his life titled Triple Cross appeared in 1967. Both Booth and Macintyre tap many of the same original sources, and both interviewed Chapman's widow for their respective accounts. Of the two accounts, Macintyre (associate editor, the London Times; The Man Who Would Be King: The First American in Afghanistan) displays a surer hand on the overall historiography of wartime spying and probably has an edge. But Booth, whose career has been in broadcasting and journalism, is a skilled writer who manages to weave Chapman's complex story into a readable volume that both entertains and informs. Chapman's wartime exploits would be unbelievable were they not verified by many sober debriefing accounts residing in numerous MI5 files available to any who want to look. Large public and academic libraries should purchase if budgets allow, but if they need to choose, they should pick Macintyre. Chapman's is a most unusual story that will intrigue most readers.—Ed Goedeken, Iowa State Univ. Lib., Ames

Fenster uses the new complete edition of Lincoln's legal papers, as well as newspapers, letters, and memoirs, to weave a spellbinding tale of alleged adultery, murder, legal practices, personal rivalries, and political ambitions in the mid-1850s—and of Lincoln's emergence as a national political figure. In doing so, she brings us as close to the social and political culture of the day as possible. Although she relies too much on memoirs to depict a Lincoln much admired as a lawyer of ready wit, unimpeachable integrity, and astute judgment, she also mines the sources deeply to discover a small-town America unsure about male-female relationships, strangers in town, and "truth." As in Brian Dirck's Lincoln the Lawyer, among other recent works, she shows how Lincoln's studying of human nature, reading, and time on the legal circuit prepared him for public life. More important, she makes the most persuasive case yet that Lincoln's argument on the need to face down Southern threats of disunion was essential to holding together the disparate elements of the rickety new Republican Party and gave Lincoln national prominence before the Lincoln-Douglas debates. Her analysis of Lincoln's "lost speech" of 1856 is simply brilliant. The verdict: a captivating and compelling book that's highly recommended for public and academic libraries.—Randall M. Miller, Saint Joseph's Univ., Philadelphia

There seems little doubt that Aaron Aaronsohn (1876–1919)—pioneering Zionist, agronomist, cartographer, and British spy—richly deserves a proper biography. Aaronsohn's astonishing abilities and historical importance are matched by the tragic scale of his untimely death in a plane crash en route to the Paris Peace Conference. These two books tell slightly different stories of a man who left abundant personal sources that nicely mesh with official documents and memoirs. The challenge is to insert biography within a complex of subordinate themes: decaying Ottoman authority, the brutality of "Young Turk" leader Djemal Pasha, the emerging Palestinian Yishev Zionist leadership and diplomacy, American involvement, and the strangely opaque agendas of those responsible for Britain's wartime strategy. Both books include treatment of T.E. Lawrence and, as Goldstone describes it, the "parallel lines" of Aaronsohn's "dreaming…[of ] Jewish independence…[and Lawrence's of] Arab independence." Of the two books, Florence's more detailed discussion of Lawrence adds little that is not known but gives readers a broader context for the British policy Aaronsohn sought to shape. Florence is at his best in expressing a deep sympathy for the personal details of Aaronsohn's life: his critical decision to align Zionist objectives with the British campaign against Ottoman rule by creating a source of military intelligence crucial to Allenby's 1917 invasion of Jerusalem; the torture and suicide of Aaronsohn's beloved sister and companion spy, Sarah; and especially much of official Britain's shoddy treatment of Aaronsohn and his relations with Zionist leaders, including Chaim Weizmann. Goldstone's emphasis on wartime diplomacy reveals that the British Declaration in favor of a Jewish homeland was partly motivated by concerns of a rival "German Balfour Declaration." She also offers the intriguing notion that, had Aaronsohn lived, his unique survey of Palestinian water sources could eventually have facilitated a peaceful boundary with Lebanon and Syria. The respective strengths of the two books do not offer one obvious choice for libraries. Goldstone's book is somewhat better focused, but Florence's is more clearly written. Academic and larger public libraries may benefit from either or both.—Zachary T. Irwin, Behrend Coll., Pennsyvlania State Univ., Erie,

This final work by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author (The Best and the Brightest), who died in April, looks at the "Forgotten War." Not a battle history, it concentrates largely on the politics of the situation and how the Truman administration found itself fighting a war it did not want with a commander it could not trust. Much of the book concerns the MacArthur headquarters and the general's insistence on carrying out his own agenda rather than Washington's. The author expresses a great deal of anger at Col. Charles Willoughby, MacArthur's intelligence chief, who baldly falsified his estimates to agree with the boss's fanciful preconceptions of the Chinese. The result was a huge U.S. military debacle culminating in the disastrous retreat from the Yalu in 1951. Halberstam offers interesting discussions of the China Lobby and the effect it had on the debate. The run-up to the war and the first year are covered in great detail, but the book gets sketchier after Matthew Ridgway's assumption of supreme command in 1951. Some rough organization and lack of narrative covering the later years suggest that Halberstam's death may have cut short his work. Still, this is a vital, accessibly written resource for students of the period and is sure to be widely read. Recommended for most collections.—Edwin B. Burgess, U.S. Army Combined Arms Research Lib., Fort Leavenworth, KS

An outgrowth of decades of travel and research by Hunt (classics, Stanford Univ.; Alpine Archaeology) and a popular class he teaches, this book allots one chapter to each of ten key discoveries: the Rosetta stone, Troy, the Assyrian Library at Nineveh, Tutankhamen's Tomb, Machu Picchu, Pompeii, the Dead Sea Scrolls, Akrotiri on Thera, the Olduvai Gorge, and the Tomb of 10,000 Warriors. These discoveries are examined "in the context of the evolving discipline of archaeology since the eighteenth century." Hunt writes colorfully and enthusiastically about each discovery and the importance of material finds, not texts alone, in reconstructing history. He gives full credit to archaeologists—great names such as Ninevah's Layard, King Tut's Carter, the Leakeys of Olduvai Gorge, and even Troy's much-maligned Heinrich Schliemann—for their unique accomplishments. The bibliography includes sources for each chapter, but footnotes would have benefited readers amid the broad sweep of time and space covered. Scholars will undoubtedly disagree over the relative importance of these discoveries and whether some should have been selected at all, but for lay readers and beginning students in archaeology and ancient history, this book will serve as an enjoyable, wide-ranging introduction to the importance of archaeology in writing—or rewriting—history. For public and undergraduate libraries.—Joan W. Gartland, Detroit P.L.

In 2005, Angela Smith was stabbed to death in Arizona. Hours later the killer took his own life. He was Ricky Rodriguez, formerly known as Davidito, the so-called Prince of the religious cult the Children of God (aka the Family). Smith was an influential member of the cult who had helped raise Davidito. Journalist Lattin (Following Our Bliss), who covered the Family for the San Francisco Chronicle, uses interviews with current and former Family members and excerpts from Family publications to describe the activities of "a band of Jesus freaks that went dangerously awry." Founded in the 1960s by David "Moses" Berg, the movement was characterized by free love and rigid discipline. Berg, the End Prophet, was accused by Rodriguez (his adopted son) and others of methodically sexually abusing the Family's children. Marriages between generations were encouraged, and young women were instructed to practice "flirty fishing" to recruit new members. The psychological toll on the second generation of Family members was heavy and resulted in many suicides. Lattin uses Rodriguez's quest for revenge as his focal point but often gets distracted, introducing too many minor figures and overemphasizing the sexual exploits of Berg and other leaders. Nevertheless, this is a valuable exposé, with well-documented sources, of a fringe group that is still active worldwide. Lattin also provides a capsule history of similar countercultural religious movements. The book, which reads like a suspense novel, will be in demand at public libraries but is also recommended for sociology of religion collections in academic libraries.—Thomas A. Karel, Franklin & Marshall Coll. Lib., Lancaster, PA

Rozario (American studies, Smith Coll.) presents a historical analysis of American perceptions of natural and human-made disasters and their effect on our society. Puritan clergy such as Increase and Cotton Mather regarded calamities as God's instrument for both punishing and correcting humanity, a demonstration of the transient nature of the material world, and a means of increasing participation in religious revival. Natural disasters had consequences that were both positive and negative. New Madrid, MO, never recovered from the massive 1812 earthquake, while San Francisco quickly rebuilt after the one in 1906. Rozario also sites such writers as Williams James about the thrill many survivors felt in experiencing the latter disaster, which he saw as an example of civilized people desiring dangerous but life-validating events. The author goes on to point out how such disasters have expanded the role of local, state, and federal government by means of building codes, establishment of first responders, and laws codifying disaster relief. He examines 9/11, drawing comparisons between the fall of the towers and images in the mass media, and closes with the issues of race and class made evident in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. This interesting, complex examination on how catastrophes have shaped the development of this country is recommended for all libraries.—Stephen L. Hupp, West Virginia Univ., Parkersburg

Where does history leave off and folklore begin? Simmons implicitly provides one answer to this question as she relates the story of James White, who emerged from the Colorado River at Callville, NV, in 1867 as the sole survivor of a prospecting expedition led by Charles Baker into the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. White claimed to be the first person to float through the Grand Canyon. Simmons shows how White's recollections were expanded and embellished by others until it was impossible to separate fact from fiction and notes that White himself changed significant parts of his story in later years. White's story was disputed almost as soon as it appeared, and Simmons objectively covers the controversies surrounding his claims, which persist to this day, demonstrating that White's story can neither be proved nor disproved. She also traces some of White's and Baker's movements, thus giving us a glimpse into the lives of two of the many drifters who roamed the West during the mid-19th century. Recommended for collections on Colorado history, the West, and folklore.—Stephen H. Peters, Northern Michigan Univ. Lib., Marquette

The paradoxical centrality of slavery to American freedom occupies this slender volume's six essays. Representing lectures delivered by various prominent historians at Gettysburg College's Civil War Institute, where Boritt serves as director, the pieces are not new. Yet fitted together by Boritt and history department colleague Hancock, they briskly review American Negro slavery's influence in the advent and aftermath of the Civil War. John Hope Franklin and Loren Schweninger recall the persistence with which slaves shucked their chains to steal themselves away in numbers near epidemic. Two essays treat the black experience during the war, one focusing on civilians and the other on the Army of the Potomac's black division. Hancock sketches how blacks in the antebellum North used slavery's legacy in building their identity as Americans. Eric Foner further details that legacy after the war as ex-slaves in the South rose to lead their region toward a better day. Ira Berlin's opening essay on slavery in American history and memory scrolls to and fro to show slavery's continuing importance. This little stimulant from leading hands goes a long way in pointing out how and why slavery still matters so much in U.S. history and life. Recommended for academic and larger public libraries.—Thomas J. Davis, Arizona State Univ., Tempe

In his new book, Stilgoe (visual & environmental studies, Harvard; Landscape and Images) examines how railroads influence their physical and social environments. He speaks as a visionary for transportation change, offering numerous examples of how a resurgent rail system based on historical example could transform America. He cites a Massachusetts case where on a highway route recently plagued by standstill traffic jams, steam-powered passenger trains once traveled at 80 miles per hour and how a newly developed commuter rail service based on this historical precedent is now greatly cutting commute times. He cites other positive points about increased rail utilization, such as fuel savings, reduced freight costs, decreased road wear and repair, less parking congestion, and the opening of fast new connections between places. Stilgoe's lyrical descriptions of abandoned railroad right-of-ways and detailed research on historic train schedules will enthrall rail enthusiasts. Unfortunately, he concentrates more on describing his historical examples and less on laying out his conclusions. His work is nonetheless an insightful contribution for those researching transportation options and is recommended for larger public and all academic libraries with transportation collections.—Lawrence R. Maxted, Gannon Univ., Erie, PA

In her debut work, Tunzelmann offers an extremely well-written and lively history of a pivotal time for two nations. While Britain and India prepared for the post—World War II dismantling of the former empire, the political players found that disentangling the two powers was more complicated than anticipated. In describing the behind-the-scenes history of the crises accompanying Indian independence and partition, the author focuses predominantly on Louis and Edwina Mountbatten, Mohandas Gandhi, and Jawaharlal Nehru and how their personal lives affected the political situation and one another. Tunzelmann maintains that while Mountbatten, as the final viceroy of India, was mainly bemused and stymied by the infinite challenges of the rising Indian government, his wife was far more competent in grasping these complexities while efficiently doing humanitarian work. In fact, it was her close relationship with Prime Minister Nehru that raised eyebrows and may have altered the course of history. This is an eye-opening view of a remarkable time, as the British Empire divested itself of its largest colony and a new world power was born. For another perspective on the strong personalities behind these changes, see Shashi Tharoor's Nehru. Highly recommended. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/1/07.]—Elizabeth Morris, Barrington Area Lib., IL

An often-quoted sentence from a 1976 article written by Ulrich (Harvard; A Midwife's Tale) has become the title and premise of her most recent book. Here, Ulrich explores how and why women make history and how three women—15th-century French poet and scholar Christine de Pizan, 19th-century American activist Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and 20th-century English novelist Virginia Woolf—helped to define and expand the history of women through their writings and their beliefs. Ulrich uses each as a starting point in discussing both real and fictional characters in stories about Amazons, Shakespeare's sisters and his female contemporaries, female slaves in 19th-century America, and the history of ordinary women. Looking at new scholarship in women's history over the past 30 years, Ulrich calls attention to the expansion of this field of study and its influence on a whole new generation of feminists and scholars. A distinctly important and extremely readable contribution to the study of women's history, this book is highly recommended for academic libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/1/07.]—Susanne Markgren, SUNY at Purchase Lib.

The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) was designed to protect workers who take time off to recuperate from an illness or care for a sick family member or new child. Attorneys Guerin and England wrote this primer to help human resources professionals manage and interpret the FMLA's complex rules in common workplace situations. They explain how to determine whether a company is covered by the FMLA and, if so, the steps it must take to comply. The authors also discuss employee eligibility for leave for a serious health condition or for a new child, providing chapters on negotiating the red tape involved in obtaining proof of illness and managing the actual leave. There is good discussion of the interplay of the FMLA with other laws that affect worker leave and an excellent checklist to help track FMLA data. The appendixes provide summaries of state family leave laws, as well as sample leave policies. Purchasers who register with Nolo can keep abreast of expected changes to the rules via email notification. Recommended for most public libraries.—Joan Pedzich, Harris Beach, PLLC, Rochester, NY

In 1970, President Nixon announced a massive war on crime. More prisons were built and more people incarcerated than ever before in U.S. history. With the media's portrayal of convicts as demons, the public attitude toward anyone who had ever been arrested became bleak and hostile. According to Pager (sociology, Princeton), this attitude prevails today, particularly in the job market. Using scholarly research, field research in Milwaukee, and graphics, she shows that ex-offenders, white or black, stand a very poor chance of getting a legitimate job (though black men with clean records fared the same as whites just out of prison). As a result, many live in poverty or return to crime. Pager is not an activist clamoring for reform but instead presents her findings in a clearheaded manner, pointing out the societal consequences of the predicament and suggesting ways for change. Written for the general reader with a nod to the academic audience, the book is both informative and convincing. Highly recommended.—Frances Sandiford, formerly with Green Haven Correctional Facility Lib., Stormville, NY

This is less an astrology book than an opportunity for the author to offer his opinions about most everything under the guise of planetary influence. Hillman is a proponent of merging astrology with depth psychology, his father James Hillman's (The Soul's Code) field. In each chapter, he describes a celestial body and its archetypical meaning, occasionally sharing an insightful view of how that information expresses itself in life patterns. But he more often veers off into folksy, well-meaning advice, with the planets acting as classification scheme (e.g., marriage tips? See Venus). When he gets around to explaining a planet's influence given its placement in one's natal chart (i.e., its position at the exact time of an individual's birth), it is thickly wrapped in the titular stage metaphor. Readers should have their charts in hand, as the slim resources/"how to" section in the back is, well, slim. Great concept, flawed execution; a lukewarm recommendation for public libraries wanting a comprehensive astrology collection.—Janet Tapper, Western States Chiropractic Coll. Lib., Portland, OR

On 9/11, Faludi received a phone call—a reporter for an East Coast newspaper seeking her reaction. "Well, this sure pushes feminism off the map!" she commented gleefully. In Backlash and Stiffed, two books on gender stereotyping, Pulitzer Prize winner Faludi proved her readiness to take on controversial subjects. In her new package of dynamite, she musters an impressive array of evidence to argue that 9/11 killed off serious dialog on gender equity in America, fostering instead the crudest ideals of macho heroism and female acquiescence. Faludi argues with passion and wit and for that reason will again infuriate critics on the Right. Compared with Anne Coulter, who addresses many of the same subjects, Faludi is sharp, quick, and deadly, while Coulter is a blunt instrument. Both appeal to American values, but Coulter's is knee-jerk patriotism that keeps women at home; Faludi champions equality of treatment for both sexes. And where name-calling is Coulter's weapon of choice (opponents are "godless," stupid, or both), Faludi deploys facts. Neither takes any prisoners on attack, but Faludi is conscientious in not going beyond the evidence and Coulter seems not much to care. A book that deserves to be read; enthusiastically recommended for all libraries.—David Keymer, Modesto, CA

Ginsberg (political science, Johns Hopkins Univ.; The Fatal Embrace: Jews and the State) here revisits a topic echoed in his previous work: the myriad forces, both public and private, that shape the U.S. government and political process. The result is an easy-to-read and well-cited book seeking to explode the myths of political participation. His bleak view of U.S. politics focuses on the wholesale misleading of citizens by corporations, bureaucrats, legislative officials, presidents, political parties, and anyone with a financial or strategic stake in government. The author enumerates historical and modern evidence of how the selfish motives of the elite and not selfless regard for the electorate decide the course of the country. He concludes that individual participation in the political process is moot when compared with the forces within, pulling the strings. "When in doubt, vote them out" becomes the prescribed motto. Little is offered, however, to guide the reader in reforming the wrongs so engagingly revealed. This fact, and the author's propensity to insult the citizens who would find this book enlightening, diminishes its overall impact. Recommended for large public and academic libraries.—Elizabeth White, Univ. of Georgia, Athens

Prominent author (Diet for a Small Planet), activist, and advocate, Lappé now offers a slim manifesto that promises to show readers how to reframe their understanding of democracy as a way out of what she refers to as a "spiral of powerlessness." Lappé argues that our current definition of democracy, "elections plus a market," creates benefits for corporate interests and the rich but not for the average citizen. She argues for a dynamic, values-driven model of democracy that she calls "Living Democracy." As a manifesto, the work is mostly effective. Lappé rallies her readers, striking a welcome tone of hope and optimism, and many of her reframing techniques are compelling and inspiring. Unfortunately, she peppers the book with facts and statistics that are too decontextualized to work as evidence. She does better when she draws on inspiring anecdotes from people and communities practicing the kind of democratic principles she describes. Lappé is a prominent thinker; most public and academic libraries should consider this title.—Rachel Bridgewater, Washington State Univ., Vancouver

This riveting first-person narrative of a purportedly authentic instance of psychotherapy reads more like a novel than a case study. Baer, a Chicago psychiatrist and former president of the Illinois Psychiatric Society, delivers a blow-by-blow account of his sessions with a woman named Karen. Showing symptoms of depression and complaining of spousal abuse, Karen initially fails to make much progress; then Baer discovers that she has "alters," or alternate personalities, each of which came into being at different times in response to the horrific childhood abuse that Karen experienced. As the alters reveal themselves in therapeutic sessions and via letters, Baer gradually understands Karen. Ultimately, he helped her destroy her alters so that Karen could become whole. This fascinating, extraordinarily detailed narrative will appeal to mental health professionals as well as general readers who enjoy books such as Flora Rheta Schreiber's Sybil and Truddi Chase and Robert A. Phillips's When Rabbit Howls. Recommended for public and academic libraries.—Lynne F. Maxwell, Villanova Univ. Sch. of Law, PA

This sequel to Bernstein's Loving Rachel: A Family's Journey from Grief provides a rare, honest, even gritty glimpse into the life of a young person with the dual diagnosis of mental retardation and mental illness. The author (creative writing & English, Carnegie Mellon Univ.; Bereft: A Sister's Story) deals candidly and lucidly with the challenges of raising Rachel from her school-age years through early adulthood. She describes Rachel's entry into the worlds of work, travel, social activities, and even "love." Together, they manage a sojourn abroad, where Rachel lives in a kibbutz while her mother pursues her academic work as a Fulbright scholar. The author describes triumphs in getting the help Rachel needs through Medicaid, Title XIX, and growth-hormone treatments as well as the downside of living with someone who is demanding and quite unlovable at times. The memoir concludes with the dilemma such young people face when parents can no longer care for them or, as in Rachel's case, when they want to leave home. An unsentimental yet inspiring story of unshakable mother love, this book is recommended for public libraries.—Antoinette Brinkman, M.L.S., Evansville, IN

Teacher and writer Edmundson (English, Univ. of Virginia; Why Read?) focuses on Freud and Hitler in this patchwork psychoanalytic history of the 1930s. Mingling the stories of these men is a stretch since Freud said so little about the German dictator even after leaving Vienna in 1938 as a refugee. Yet Edmundson applies Freud's notion of a universal need for authoritarian father figures as an explanation of Nazism and explores Freud's militant atheism as a protest against that irrational yearning, especially in Moses and Monotheism. The author relies on Ernest Jones and Peter Gay for Freud's biography, accepting as fact matters of such controversy as his fidelity and midlife celibacy and his disinterest in the Nobel Prize. This portrait of a pessimistic, ambivalent, courageous, rigid, rarely vulnerable man in the context of Moses is valuable though somewhat speculative. Recommended for psychology and history collections that should also have Louis Breger's well-balanced Sigmund Freud.—E. James Lieberman, George Washington Univ. Sch. of Medicine, Washington, DC

There are a number of self-help titles for people with bipolar disorder, but this one has several singular features. For starters, it's written by a full-treatment team—a psychiatrist (Fawcett), a psychologist (Bernard Golden), and a patient (Nancy Rosenfeld)—so readers are given a unique combination of expertise and practical tips for daily coping. Medications, forms of therapy, suicide prevention, childhood and adolescent bipolar illness, how to deal with the stigma of mental illness, and information for family members and friends count among the topics covered. This revised edition includes a new chapter titled "Questions and Answers Regarding Bipolar Disorder," updated resources, and new information on medications; the latter alone justifies the price of updating for those libraries that own the first edition (2000). This book, along with E. Fuller Torrey and Michael Knable's Surviving Manic Depression: A Manual on Bipolar Disorder for Patients, Families, and Providers, should be in every public library, no matter how small.—Mary Ann Hughes, Neill P.L., Pullman, WA

Fulghum, who came to fame in 1988 with his best-selling All I Really Needed To Know I Learned in Kindergarten, returns after ten years with more insightful and often funny observations of the world's idiosyncrasies. This time around, he ponders questions that he still asks himself: "What on earth have I done? What in the name of God am I doing? What will I think of next? And who do I think I am?" In trying to answer these, Fulghum doesn't miss anything, and he wants to make sure that his readers don't either. In the chapter titled "The Last Stages of Life and Why a Limited Opportunity for Lion Hunting Shapes Mine," Fulghum points out that the Masai tribe that lives along the Kenya/Tanzania border admires and reveres its elders, while ours warehouses the elderly in extended-care facilities. Fulghum feels that the Masai way is the better way, but tribe members must kill a lion in order to prove their worthiness. Since there aren't many lions in Fulghum's neighborhood, he has to figure out a better way—a way of his own. And so he does. An inspiring read; recommended for all public libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/15/07.]—Mary E. Jones, Los Angeles P.L.

First-time writer Robison diagnosed himself with Asperger's syndrome after receiving Tony Attwood's groundbreaking work on the subject from a therapist friend ten years ago. In his well-written and fascinating memoir, the fifty-something brother of Augusten Burroughs (Running with Scissors) addresses the difficultly of growing up in a household with an abusive and alcoholic father, the social problems he encountered at school, and his great affinity for mechanics. It made no difference that he lacked a high school diploma—Robison's natural skills landed him work as an automobile restorer, Milton Bradley engineer, and stagehand responsible for the pyrotechnic guitars used by rock band KISS in the late 1970s. Despite these successes, the author suffered social difficulties while developing his ability to connect with and understand machines, a thread that is explored in great detail. If there is a drawback here, it is that readers do not get a strong sense of how his self-diagnosis impacted his life. But even among the growing number of books written by those diagnosed later in life, this entry is easily recommended for public and academic libraries with autism collections. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/15/07.]—Corey Seeman, Kresge Business Administration Lib., Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor

According to a 2004 Indiana University study on behavioral and life changes since 9/11, that event caused lasting, underlying anxiety, suspiciousness, and isolation in the United States. Here, popular author and clinician Stout (The Sociopath Next Door) examines the dynamics of that process, beginning with an assessment of how readers are personally affected, including a self-scoring anxiety test. This is followed by an analysis of terrorism and its effects. The author introduces neuropsychological concepts and compares political terrorism with the private terrorism of domestic violence and other traumas. In her view, such actions short-circuit normal brain functioning and trigger pathological individual and collective behavior. She also delves into the politics of fear whereby "fear brokers" exploit negative psychological states in society for their own personal and political goals. Finally, the author briefly considers how individuals can become more resilient and hopeful about the future. Although Stout's ideas are bold, relevant, and appropriately referenced, her tone often seems more political than psychological, especially in the last sections on minimizing the threat of terrorism post-9/11. Nevertheless, she provides a valuable if not totally satisfactory counterpoint to political fear-mongering about terrorism. Recommended for large public libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/15/07.]—Antoinette Brinkman, M.L.S., Evansville, IN

Using statistics to explain why there are "14 million unmarried black females in the United States," journalist Mathis (Yet a Stranger: Why Black Americans Still Don't Feel at Home) introduces readers to some of these women (not a statistically gathered sampling) through engaging chapters that categorize them and reveal their experiences and thoughts. Each chapter defines a type of single black woman and provides stories of women who exemplify that type. For example, the stories of four women are used to describe the lifestyles of Swingles, singles who go out with a variety of men but haven't found the one they want to marry. Another chapter, Flamekeepers, focuses on the "1.5 million black women [who] are widows" through the author's conversations with three of these women. Mathis spoke with "130 black women from all walks of life, all ages, and all parts of the country" to write an entertaining book that validates the experiences of many unmarried women of any race, age, or class. Some theories about how to meet and attract men provided by the women featured in this book will appeal to readers seeking such advice, but this is more social science than self-help. Those who appreciated Claudette Sims's Loving Me: A Sisterfriend's Guide to Being Single and Happy will enjoy this work. Recommended for public libraries.—Tonya Briggs, Oberlin Coll. Lib., OH

After reading yet another explicit description of staged sexual activity, readers might be forgiven for closing this account of an increasingly important part of the American pornography industry. But make no mistake: Ross (The Divine Nine: The History of African-American Fraternities and Sororities; The Ways of Black Folks) has produced a serious study of a polarizing subject. In addition to interviewing many performers, he also interviewed scholars in ethnic, gender, and First Amendment studies and, along the way, explores such issues as the development of African American pornography in reaction to industry-wide discrimination, the existence of cross-racial misogynistic attitudes, the strong ties between black pornography and hip-hop, and the continued popularity of pornographic videos and DVDs despite the Internet revolution. Although Ross's attitude may sometimes seem less than objective, his style is compelling and accessible, and he should be commended for maintaining a sense of humor. With a useful dictionary of terms associated with pornography; highly recommended for academic libraries with collections in the above disciplines and larger public libraries.—M.C. Duhig, Carnegie Lib. of Pittsburgh

This smart and witty tour of the quest for clean body (and spirit) begins with the practical neolithic age and runs through the advent of metrosexual preening. As a protégé of the late Roy Porter, health's greatest historian, Smith has impeccable qualifications. Her relative fixation on elite (and sometimes fringe) programs for hygiene and their trickle-down impact on the masses reflects a problem with cultural and social history generally: the sources from ordinary individuals, often nonliterary to begin with, are not preserved as often as those of the privileged. Even so, Smith might have given more and earlier attention to working and poor people. In addition, the narrative favors European and specifically British phenomena; Americans get credit (along with the French) for developing the mass market in cosmetics but not for creating flawed but vital public regulators such as the USDA, FDA and EPA, which have served as models for more practical agencies and oversight in Europe. But Smith's keener interest is the individual's (rather than society's) quest for physical perfection, and almost any reader of Clean will come away more aware of the pervasiveness of body-beautiful ideology in contemporary life and commerce. The book is recommended, especially for academic libraries.—Scott H. Silverman, Bryn Mawr Coll., PA

These are two of eight titles in the launch of a new "Encounter" series of pocket city guides created specifically for the visitor planning a two- to five-day trip to a city. Each volume is researched and written by a local author and focuses on what the city's residents themselves—both notable figures such as Craig Newmark of Craigslist in San Francisco and "average Joes" such as a Brooklyn bodega owner—feel are the best itineraries, neighborhoods, sights, shopping, and dining experiences in their hometown. This of course makes for fairly subjective lists. The target audience for the series seems to be younger, hipper travelers who will no doubt be pleased with the recommendations for clubs, bars, and hot new restaurants, but there are plenty of suggestions for mainstream tourist attractions and eateries as well. All weekend and short-term visitors will appreciate the color photos, compact format, and insider tips. Recommended for public libraries, especially those with larger travel collections.—Rita Simmons, Sterling Heights P.L., MI

Written by local experts, these books combine color photographs and cultural details with extensive information on lodging, dining, and attractions in a manageable travel size. Each of these first editions, portions of which appeared in Fodor's Hawaii, is newly refocused on an individual island. The text includes the usual guidebook fare, but Fodor's local authors have packed each book with an incredible range of useful, relevant, and fun information as well. Activities covered included snorkeling and learning to surf, and there is information on such local island cultures as Kona coffee, plate lunch, the language, and the lei tradition. These books also include practical information on honeymoon and wedding planning, booking your trip, and saving money. Rather than focusing on high-end or budget travel, the books accommodate all budgets. Each book contains maps throughout but also has a pull-out map with detailed information on the larger towns. A cut above other guidebooks, these are excellent additions to any travel collection and are consistent with Fodor's quality publications and reputation. Highly recommended for all libraries with travel collections.—Louise Feldmann, Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins

These two books are stellar additions to the exponentially growing travel library about China, site of the 2008 Summer Olympics. They are about the ancient and cultural capital of the quickly rising superpower, with the second title also covering the fiercely modern city of Shanghai. Each book has colorful photographs, maps (including subway maps), illustrations, indexes, recommendations for accommodations and eating, sight-seeing, history, phrase books, and travel information. Top 10 Beijing is particularly handy if one wants to study the one city, although its small size may concern some librarians. Humphreys lists Beijing's top ten highlights and then lists the top ten features of each. The book then compiles various other top ten lists such as the chief Chinese movies, teahouses, children's attractions, socialist monuments, galleries, museums, restaurants, and street food, and various recommended city neighborhoods as well as sites just outside the city. It also lists the top ten accommodations in the categories of budget, business, and high-end hotels and hostels. There are travel tips and references for further information.

The larger Beijing & Shanghai is organized more like a traditional travel book. After comparing the two cities, so different in origin and nature, and informing readers about the country generally by means of sections on literature, language, religion, gardens, weather, and history, it is divided in half between the two famous cities and includes additional information—beyond Humphreys on Beijing—on festivals, art, architecture, parks, festivals, excursions, and walks. The final section, "Travelers' Needs," combines information on accommodations and eateries for both cities. Both books are beautifully put together and will be eminently helpful additions to public library travel collections.—Melinda Stivers Leach, Precision Editorial Svcs., Wondervu, CO

Shunxun (architectural design theory, Beijing Inst. for Civil Engineering & Architecture) and Buffalo, NY, architect and teacher Foit-Albert have put together a handsome and informative book highlighting 41 religious shrines around China. Most of them are far off the beaten tourist routes and are known only locally. Included are both Han Chinese and minority sites, with an emphasis more on representative structures than on the unique. The substantial introductory chapters explain the settings and the architectural elements that connect the shrines to their settings. The specific sites and their structures are then divided into those on mountaintops, in the sides of cliffs, in caves, in mountain valleys and villages, and along rivers and lakes. Each is illustrated not only with photographs but by profiles and sketch plans that greatly enhance understanding of the buildings themselves (there are more than 350 images total). There are helpful location maps and a time line. Far more than the usual coffee-table book, this work serves as an excellent introduction, description, and explanation of traditional Eastern religious architecture increasingly abandoned and neglected today in the sweep toward modernization. It belongs in libraries with architectural, religious, or broad Asian collections, but it is a fine addition to general public libraries as well.—Harold M. Otness, formerly with Southern Oregon Univ. Lib., Ashland