Social Sciences

-- Library Journal, 3/15/2008

Biography

Bernstein, Harry. The Dream: A Memoir. Ballantine. May 2008. c.304p. ISBN 978-0-345-50374-9. $24. AUTOBIOG

Nonagenarian Bernstein's moving sequel to his critically acclaimed memoir The Invisible Wall: A Love Story That Broke Barriers deftly continues the harrowing yet inspiring story of his troubled family's struggle to pursue its dreams amid poverty and heartache during the Great Depression. Having finally achieved their long-held hope of emigrating from England to the United States, the Bernsteins find that 1930s America is not at all the land of opportunity they had imagined. In compellingly simple, direct prose, Bernstein masterfully describes the harsh realities and quiet joys of immigrant life in Chicago's and New York's Jewish neighborhoods. He possesses the unusual ability to find redeeming beauty even in life's most mundane aspects, speaking eloquently with a rare warmth and wisdom to the human heart's universal yearning for love and meaning. Likely to appeal to readers who have liked Anzia Yezierska's Red Ribbon on a White Horse and those interested in the immigrant experience in America; highly recommended.—Ingrid Levin, Salve Regina Univ. Lib., Newport, RI

Borneman, Walter R. Polk: The Man Who Transformed the Presidency and America. Random. Apr. 2008. c.432p. illus. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-1-4000-6560-8. $27.95. BIOG

Borneman (1812: The War That Forged a Nation) presents a birth-death biography of Polk, albeit one leaving readers wishing there were more details of his subject's early life. About half of the book dwells on the presidency of a man who resolved from the start to serve only one term. Yet Polk exerted tremendous influence over the nation's path between 1845 and 1849. Borneman soundly argues that Polk was not the dark horse candidate so often portrayed but Andrew Jackson's protégé who met his primary objectives for his administration: reduce the tariff, create an independent federal Treasury, and bring in Oregon and California. Borneman contends that Polk was the most assertive president up until Lincoln, especially regarding the Mexican War, which Polk used to further his aim of adding to U.S. territory. The major battles in Mexico are covered, of interest to military history buffs. Borneman has a pleasing style and makes fine use of primary sources that all demonstrate why Polk is habitually ranked as one of the ten best presidents by historians. More detailed and extensive than John Seigenthaler's entry in the presidential series from Times Books, this is highly recommended for all public and academic libraries.—Bryan Craig, MLS, Nellysford, VA

Colton, Timothy J. Yeltsin: A Life. Basic Bks: Perseus. Apr. 2008. c.640p. index. ISBN 978-0-465-01271-8. $35. BIOG

In spite of his tremendous importance in the transformation of the former Soviet Union, few biographies in English trace the rise and fall of Boris Yeltsin. Colton (government & Russian studies, Harvard; Soldiers and the Soviet State) remedies that situation somewhat with this detailed study informed extensively by Russian-language primary documents and an interview with Yeltsin in person. Covered are Yeltsin's origins in the downtrodden kulak peasantry; his rise through the intricate networks of Soviet bureaucracy from provincial posts to leadership in Moscow; the political machinations behind his role in the upheavals that brought about the dissolution of the Soviet Union; and his eventual decline and death. The wealth of detail will either fascinate or daunt general readers depending on their level of interest in tracing byzantine maneuverings. Although Yeltsin the human being emerges sometimes in the foreground, this is chiefly a book about politics and political processes. It will be of lasting importance to serious readers and is highly recommended for academic as well as large public libraries.—Barbara Walden, Univ. of Wisconsin Lib., Madison

Funderburg, Lise. Pig Candy: Taking My Father South, Taking My Father Home—A Memoir. Free Pr: S. & S. May 2008. c.320p. photogs. ISBN 978-1-4165-4766-2. $24. AUTOBIOG

This third book from journalist Funderburg (Black, White, Other) is not an easy read. It is, however, a thoughtfully crafted, gut-wrenching memoir revolving around the author's complicated relationship with her terminally ill father and his complicated relationship with the small Georgia town he left in his youth but was drawn back to later in life. Funderburg's experience—that of a child in the urban North of the 1960s, the daughter of a white mother and an African American father—was dramatically different from that of her father, who grew up in Jasper County, GA, in the 1930s and 1940s. Funderberg came to realize just how different when she began escorting her then-ailing father back to his beloved farm. During these holidays, she learned more and more about her distant father and the complex nature of the American South, past and present. As children must when confronting the death of a parent, she also learned something about herself. She found her strength as well as her devotion to and love for a father who was himself not always an easy read. Recommended for public libraries.—Tessa L.H. Minchew, Georgia Perimeter Coll. Lib., Clarkston

Giffels, David. All the Way Home: Building a Family in a Falling-Down House. Morrow. Jun. 2008. c.320p. illus. ISBN 978-0-06-136286-6. $25.95. AUTOBIOG

Those visiting Giffels's (columnist, Akron Beacon Journal) dream house often ask him if he's seen the Tom Hanks movie The Money Pit. His is an astonishingly decrepit mansion built in 1913 and last maintained in 1965. The owner remained long after that year, right until (and a little after) Giffels bought it and took possession. Giffels is an incorrigible do-it-yourselfer. Hunting for the right home for his growing family, he let no combination of rot, rust, decay, wildlife, buckling walls, gaping roofs, and assorted dilapidation sway him once he and his wife, Gina, fell in love with the past, and the potential, of his Tudor revival behemoth. Giffels's restoration adventures include a drywall finishing team whose combined résumé includes manslaughter and managing a Cyndi Lauper tour; a failed attempt to blast out squirrels with a Fender Stratocaster; the thrill of buried treasure; a touch of Akron, OH, local history; and ruminations on parenthood, loss, and love. The book ends with the birth of the Giffels's second child, but a brief afterword indicates that, ten years later, renovation continues. A funny, painful, engaging cautionary tale, warmly recommended for public libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 2/15/08.]—Janet Ingraham Dwyer, Worthington Libs., OH

Steinmeyer, Jim. Charles Fort: The Man Who Invented the Supernatural. Tarcher: Penguin. May 2008. c.352p. illus. index. ISBN 978-1-58542-640-9. $24.95. BIOG

Steinmeyer (The Glorious Deception), a preeminent stage and TV designer of magical illusions, shows himself a gifted biographer with this moving study of a 20th-century original. Decades after his death with a cultish following that began in his lifetime, Charles Fort (1874–1932) remains a thinker whose motivation and compositions (e.g., The Book of the Damned of 1919, still in print) maintain their fascination. Despite his subtitle, Steinmeyer knows that the supernatural as a concept existed before Fort; Fort, in effect, brought it back to earth. Assiduously, he culled from the periodical record countless observed instances of the inexplicable: showers of frogs, a rain of blood in North Africa, a flurry of flakes of beef in 1876 Kentucky. Then he ruminated upon the data—not as proof of miracles but as palpable occurrences disregarded by science. To Fort, these hundreds of phenomena that flew (often literally) in the face of accepted theory demonstrated that science was the blinkered religion. His work attracted the enthusiasm of Theodore Dreiser. Steinmeyer is an elegant and unobtrusive author who shows us an entirely fascinating, shy, and witty man. The unpublished autobiographical fragments that Fort penned about his Albany, NY, childhood, achingly poignant, display, as much as his books, a prose stylist like no other. This book is not to be missed. P.S. Have reprints of Fort's work on hand, too!—Margaret Heilbrun, Library Journal

Wintle, Justin. Perfect Hostage: A Life of Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma's Prisoner of Conscience. Skyhorse, dist. by Norton. Apr. 2008. c.480p. illus. index. ISBN 978-1-60239-266-3. $27.95. BIOG

There have been several publications by and about Myanmar's 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Suu Kyi, whose work for democracy in her country (formerly Burma) has placed her under house arrest in Rangoon for much of the last 20 years. Wintle (New Makers of Modern Culture), a British author who has written extensively on Asia, here compiles an impressively thorough account of Suu Kyi's life, brought up to date with a postscript to cover the Monks' Revolt of November 2007. He sets that uprising and its suppression against the recent tragic history of Myanmar. Unable to meet with his subject, he has drawn upon a wide variety of sources to present a convincingly sympathetic portrait of a woman considered the most courageous of human rights advocates. Wintle explores the network of international relationships and the global economic aspirations of China and India to show why Suu Kyi's struggles are more than just a problem of her backward country and why the West has not been able to resolve the matter. One can hope that Suu Kyi will eventually be able to write and publish her own book. In the meantime, Wintle's book will be sought out in both public and academic libraries. —Harold M. Otness, Ashland, OR
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Economics

Abarbanel, Karin & Bruce Freeman. Birthing the Elephant: The Woman's Go-for-It! Guide to Overcoming the Big Challenges of Launching a Business. Ten Speed: Celestial Arts. Mar. 2008. c.256p. index. ISBN 978-1-58008-887-9. pap. $15.95.
Mears, Emira & Lauren Bacon. The Boss of You: Everything a Woman Needs To Know To Start, Run, and Maintain Her Own Business. Seal, dist. by Publishers Group West. May 2008. c.256p. bibliog. ISBN 978-1-58005-236-8. pap. $15.95.
Werhane, Patricia & others. Women in Business: The Changing Face of Leadership. Praeger. 2008. 208p. photogs. index. ISBN 978-0-275-99454-9. $39.95. BUS

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, female-owned companies account for 28 percent of all American businesses, but as Werhane (business ethics, DePaul Univ.; Moral Imagination and Management Decision-Making) and her coauthors point out, only six Fortune 500 companies are headed by women. These three titles offer much-needed advice to the thousands of women making entrepreneurial moves or to those who want a boost up the corporate ladder. Werhane et al. interviewed 22 women executives to get their thoughts on leadership styles and how they have broken through the glass ceiling. Each executive's story focuses on one aspect of her career or management style. They share ideas on coaching, mentoring, creativity, building a culture of trust, managing reputations, social commitment, being customer-centered, being a servant-leader, and many other refreshing takes on what has made them and their companies stand out.

"Birthing the elephant" is business writer Abarbanel (The Dollar Bill Knows No Sex) and syndicated columnist Freeman's metaphor for launching an entrepreneurial venture: both are mammoth undertakings that require around 22 months. If the venture is successful, the entrepreneur will have a healthy, thriving business to call her own. The authors admit that their breezy guide doesn't focus on the nitty gritty of business plans and dealing with the bank, but it does show, for instance, how start-up venturers can substitute "brains for bucks."

Canadian entrepreneurs Mears and Bacon offer their personal experiences in setting up their web-design company, as well as real-life scenarios from dozens of other women in start-up ventures. After helping readers define the vision for their business and understand why they need to be their own boss, this practical guide follows the stages of a start-up and offers down-to-earth advice backed up with real-life scenarios.

Both entrepreneurial books, with inspiration and guidance for women launching their dreams, are recommended for public library business collections. Women in Business is in the management genre, which makes it better suited for academic and larger public library business collections.—Carol J. Elsen, Univ. of Wisconsin Libs., Whitewater

Block, Sandra & others. The Busy Family's Guide to Money. c.266p. ISBN 978-1-4133-0836-5.
Fitzpatrick, Diana & Stephen Fishman. The Work from Home Handbook: Flex Your Time, Improve Your Life. c.166p. ISBN 978-1-4133-0701-6.
Stim, Richard & Ralph Warner. Retire Happy: What You Can Do NOW To Guarantee a Great Retirement. c.247p. ISBN 978-1-4133-0835-8.
ea. vol: Nolo/USA Today. Mar. 2008. illus. pap. $19.99. BUS

These are the first three titles in a new series coproduced by Nolo and USA Today. In The Busy Family's Guide, USA Today personal finance columnists Block, John Waggoner, and Kathy Chu focus on the building blocks of family security: budgets, savings, investing, insurance, and estate planning. They begin by coaching readers on how to talk about money and how to set up a plan, then tackle taxes and tax breaks, controlling and dealing with debt, home buying and mortgages, and the components of an estate plan. A chapter on investments demystifies the options by comparing and explaining cash investments, stocks, and mutual funds.

Attorneys Fishman (Lower Taxes in 7 Easy Steps) and Fitzpatrick's Work from Home Handbook is for those considering working at home either as an employee or a freelancer. Essentially, it is a narrative checklist of issues to consider and the steps to take to make home-based employment feasible. Readers will learn to assess whether a job can be done from home, how to make the case for it with an employer, and how to find existing telecommuting jobs. The section on freelancing helps those ready to create their own home-based businesses with information on setting fees, finding clients, and dealing with tax implications.

Finally, in Retire Happy, attorney Stim (Patent Pending in 24 Hours) and Nolo cofounder Warner (How To Run a Thriving Business) advocate thinking through retirement well before turning out the office lights. They present strategies for constructing the elements of a successful retirement (e.g., health, money, rewarding activities, a circle of friends) and devote significant space to retirement money issues. Particularly useful is the section on calculating the amount needed for a long and secure retirement. Each of these books is clear, practical, and nicely enhanced by charts and checklists. Recommended for public libraries.—Joan Pedzich, Harris Beach PLLC, Rochester, NY

Wilen-Daugenti, Tracey. China for Businesswomen: A Strategic Guide to Travel, Negotiating, and Cultural Differences. Stone Bridge, dist. by Consortium. Oct. 2008. 182p. bibliog. ISBN 978-1-933330-28-0. pap. $16.95. BUS

Wilen-Daugenti, a scholar and international business author, has assembled a valuable guide for businesswomen visiting China. The topics range from important strategies for negotiating and avoiding gender conflicts to hospitality and leisure advice, such as dining and gift-giving tips. Such advice is important because of the cultural intertwining of entertaining and business in China. Select chapters are authored by contributing specialists, e.g., a registered nurse, a psychologist, and a political science Ph.D candidate. Thus the book not only provides a wealth of relevant travel and cultural information, but it also offers information about preventative health practices, the psyche of modern Chinese women based on their common history, current roles and pressures in a dynamic Chinese society, and effective governmental collaborations. The book is enhanced by the appendix "Interesting Facts About Women in China," along with a time line, notes, and suggestions for further reading. Many of the chapters also highlight pertinent web sites. This very helpful and straightforward guide is an enjoyable read for both genders and is recommended for academic business libraries as well as public libraries for readers interested in the topics not mentioned in the book's title.—Caroline Geck, Kean Univ. Lib., Union, NJ
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History

Keith, Leeanna. The Colfax Massacre: The Untold Story of Black Power, White Terror, and the Death of Reconstruction. Oxford Univ. 2008. c.256p. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-19-531026-9. $24.95.
Lane, Charles. The Day Freedom Died: The Colfax Massacre, the Supreme Court, and the Betrayal of Reconstruction. Holt. Mar. 2008. c.313p. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-8050-8342-2. $27. HIST

In Colfax, LA, in 1873, one of the country's worst incidents of racial violence took place when white supremacists slayed dozens of black men, a tragedy that would effectively signal the U.S. government's abandonment of Reconstruction efforts. The massacre led ultimately to the Supreme Court's 1875 decision in United States v. Cruikshank, in which it was declared that it was not the federal government's province to defend the rights of the murdered blacks. These two well-researched and accessible treatments, each with its own emphasis, shed further light on the massacre and should pave the way for a wider consideration of its significance. Keith's (history, Collegiate Sch., New York; coauthor, with Sandy Fekete, Companies Are People Too) is a fast-moving, sympathetic account focusing on the Louisiana setting, the participants, local reactions, and the lore that grew up around that day. Keith recognizes the significance of the tragedy but argues against exaggerated claims about its national impact. She suggests that "its story must yet be reconciled into the broader narrative of American History."

Lane, who has covered the Supreme Court for the Washington Post, offers a longer study not only of the massacre but also of the national scene and the resulting court proceedings, both local and federal, that produced legal and political aftermaths as tragic as the massacre itself. Lane sees the event as a "turning point in the history of American race relations and racial politics," stating that after the above Supreme Court case "the federal government did not mount another substantial effort to enforce black citizens' right to vote in the South until the civil rights revolution in the 1950s and 1960s." His maps and provided "cast of characters" are helpful. Public and academic libraries should purchase at least one or the other of these books, both welcome additions to the historiography of the Reconstruction era, and if choosing one, should pick depending on whether they prefer the local historical and personal context (Keith) or the long-term political and constitutional significance (Lane).—Theresa McDevitt, Indiana Univ. of Pennsylvania Libs., Indiana, PA

Long, James & Ben Long. The Plot Against Pepys. Overlook, dist. by Penguin Group (USA). Jun. 2008. c.336p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-1-59020-069-8. $29.95. HIST

Samuel Pepys is most famous for the diary he kept between 1660 and 1669, as well as his eyewitness accounts of the Great Plague and the Great Fire of London. As secretary of the admiralty, he played an important role in the development of the British navy. Yet in 1679, Pepys was imprisoned in the Tower of London on suspicion of treason, charged with being a secret Catholic and supporter of the Catholic Duke of York. Prolific novelist James Long (Battletech) and his son Ben Long investigate the mystery behind this arrest. Drawing on letters, government documents, and, where relevant for background, the famous diary, they piece together the plot against Pepys, identifying the role played by the mysterious Col. John Scott. The charges against Pepys were dropped a year later. While providing exhaustive sourcing, the authors present their findings in a nonacademic style, more like that of a readable, entertaining crime thriller. Recommended for public libraries.—T.L. Cooksey, Armstrong Atlantic State Univ., Savannah, GA

Meyerson, Michael I. Liberty's Blueprint: How Madison and Hamilton Wrote the Federalist Papers, Defined the Constitution, and Made Democracy Safe for the World. Basic Bks: Perseus. Mar. 2008. c.272p. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-465-00264-1. $26. HIST

Meyerson (law, Univ. of Baltimore; Political Numeracy) provides both historical and contemporary analyses of the Federalist Papers, examining their key democratic principles and how the papers' main authors, James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, conveyed those principles to persuade state conventions to ratify the Constitution. He demonstrates that Madison's and Hamilton's principles remain central to our controversies over the interpretation of the Constitution and the question of "original intent." Ongoing issues range from the separation of powers and the abuse of government power to the war on terrorism to medical marijuana. Meyerson extends his study to suss out the intricate personal relationship between these two men, as well as their political relationship. In spite of their many conflicts, their intellectual legacy cannot be underestimated. Both public and academic libraries will find this book a useful source for interested readers.—Steven Puro, Saint Louis Univ., MO

Rose, Michael. Washington's War: The American War of Independence to the Iraqi Insurgency. Pegasus. May 2008. c.240p. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-1-933648-77-4. $24.95. HIST

A former commander of the UN Protection Force in Bosnia, Rose (Fighting for Peace: Bosnia '94) analyzes and compares American policies in the Iraq War with those Britain used during the America Revolution, focusing on both countries' approaches to combating insurgents. Rose draws parallels between Britain's inability to understand what motivated American rebels and George W. Bush's misunderstanding of Islamic insurgents in Iraq. Ultimately, Rose's focus is more on the American Revolution than the Iraq War. Prone to general statements, he writes that the loyalties of irregular forces cannot necessarily be relied on: some will move to the winning side; some may become uncommitted. He applies a theory about the Continental fighters in the American Revolution to Iraq: that the local population may be roughly divided into thirds—one-third in favor of the insurgents, one-third siding with the ruling powers, and one-third uncommitted. As a brief history, the text is fine, but more rigorous explication of and comparison to the conflict in Iraq would have helped orient readers. Still, Rose makes several good points, both historical and in criticism of our current policies in Iraq. Suitable for public libraries.—Matthew J. Wayman, Pennsylvania State Univ., Abington Campus Lib.

Smith, Larry. Iwo Jima: World War II Veterans Remember the Greatest Battle of the Pacific. Norton. May 2008. c.320p. photogs. maps. ISBN 978-0-393-06234-2. $26.95. HIST

The story of the Battle of Iwo Jima is well known, especially with the attention it received on its 60th anniversary in 2005 and the publication then of several fine studies (e.g., James Bradley and Ron Powers's Flags of Our Fathers), not to mention Clint Eastwood's two recent films. Now best-selling author Smith (Beyond Glory) has amassed a superb collection of 22 oral histories from Iwo Jima veterans, including two Medal of Honor winners, a Navajo "Code-Talker," the last surviving flag raiser from the first flag raising on Mount Suribachi, a war correspondent, and an African American marine who served in an ammo company. These veterans make for a good mix of officers and enlisted men. In his introductions and follow-ups to their memories, Smith discusses the controversy surrounding the flag raisings (whether posed or genuine, etc.), the fate of Japanese commander Kuribayashi, and the ultimate fate of the island itself, among other topics. In spite of the extensive literature on Iwo Jima, this is a unique and compelling book; strongly recommended for all collections. (Photos not seen.)—David Lee Poremba. Keiser Univ., Orlando, FL
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Law & Crime

Bailey, F. Lee with Jean Rabe. When the Husband Is the Suspect. Forge: Tor. Mar. 2008. c.272p. ISBN 978-0-7653-1613-4. $24.95.
Strong, Marilee. Erased: Missing Women, Murdered Wives. Jossey-Bass. Mar. 2008. c.352p. index. ISBN 978-0-7879-9639-0. $27.95. CRIME

When a woman is found murdered, the husband or boyfriend is the automatic suspect, but when she goes missing, the police rarely consider it a crime until a certain amount of time passes. This fact concerns author Strong (A Bright Red Scream), who develops a profile of the "eraser" killer: men who kill in order to "erase" their wives and families in order to start anew (that women themselves may be eraser killers is barely acknowledged). Strong focuses on the Scott Peterson case, but she also covers 50 other cases, from murderer Chester Gillette in 1906 to killers of the present, ecompassing both the famous and the obscure. Since vital evidence can disappear from a crime scene while the matter is still considered a missing-persons case, Strong hopes that this new "eraser" profile will do for missing wives and children what "violent sexual predator" and Amber Alerts did for child abductions. Of course, some women do run away, die by accident or suicide, or are murdered by strangers. "Innocent until proven guilty" and the civil rights of suspects are of concern to Bailey (The Defense Never Rests), the controversial veteran criminal defense attorney. His book, written with journalist and fantasy novelist Rabe (Dragonlance), focuses on particular men, guilty and innocent, who found themselves in the public eye after the women in their lives vanished or were murdered. Bailey has sympathy for innocent men caught in the legal spotlight, but none for the guilty. His book summarizes 20 different notable cases of murdered women, from the crime through the trial. Focusing on such famous defendants as Sam Sheppard, O.J. Simpson, Scott Peterson, and Robert Blake, some of whom he defended, Bailey offers his take on these crimes. His stories of both the innocent and the guilty remind readers that being a suspect doesn't make you a killer. Both books belong in public libraries; Strong's book is a good choice for academic libraries as well.—Dierdre Root, Middleton P.L., Dayton, OH
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Political Science

Bender, Steven W. One Night in America: Robert Kennedy, César Chávez, and the Dream of Dignity. Paradigm. 2008. c.256p. index. ISBN 978-1-59451-429-6. pap. $22.95. POL SCI

Bender (law, Univ. of Oregon Sch. of Law; Greasers and Gringos) frames his history of American Latino political participation within a study of the friendship of Robert Kennedy and César Chávez, who first met during JFK's presidential campaign. RKF oversaw outreach to Latinos, while Chávez headed the largest voter registration organization in California. Later, Chávez turned to rural union organizing of immigrant agricultural workers and called for help from RFK, who backed their 1966 strike. His backing of Chávez and the union, their shared belief in nonviolent activism, and their commitment to Catholic teachings on the poor created a bond between the son of Irish wealth and the Mexican farm worker. In turn, Chávez and the United Farm Workers Union worked to help RFK win the 1968 California primary from which Bender dates the decline of Chávez's union. After RKF's assassination, union political enthusiasm waned, and President Nixon sought to undermine the Farm Workers legally and economically. In the face of the anti-immigrant movement that began in 2006 and some anti-Hispanic vitriol from 2008 GOP candidates, Bender issues a plea for a revival of the RFK-Chávez concern for the dignity and well-being of the poor. He conveys both the fact and the emotion of the Latino dream for uplift, as shared by Chávez and RFK. Recommended for public and academic libraries.—Duncan Stewart, Univ. of Iowa Libs., Iowa City

Minow, Newton N. & Craig L. LaMay. Inside the Presidential Debates: Their Improbable Past and Promising Future. Univ. of Chicago. Apr. 2008. c.208p. index. ISBN 978-0-226-53041-3. $22.50. POL SCI

The first presidential candidates' debate was between governors Thomas Dewey and Harold Stassen before the 1948 Oregon GOP primary. Sixty years later, there have been 41 primary debates (through January 2008) with more to come. No one is more qualified to write their history than Minow (Annenberg Professor, emeritus, Northwestern Univ.; Equal Time), who, as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission under John F. Kennedy, called TV a "vast wasteland" and has been a key part of the presidential debates for decades, lately as vice chairman of the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD). With colleague LaMay (journalism, Northwestern Univ.; coauthor with Minow, Abandoned in the Wasteland), he tells an important story well and briefly, examining the history of the debates, the legal issues with federal "equal time" requirements for politicians, finding venues, coordinating with the candidates, and, most controversially, who is included. The criticism that the CPD, which has been chaired by the ex-chairmen of the Republican and Democratic parties, is really an adjunct of those parties and wrongly excludes minor candidates, is addressed—but the defense of the system is not convincing. Nonetheless, this scholarly study is a necessary addition to academic political science collections and useful in all public libraries.—Michael O. Eshleman, Univ. of Dayton Sch. of Law, OH
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Psychology

Beck, Martha. Steering by Starlight: Find Your Right Life, No Matter What! Rodale. May 2008. c.256p. ISBN 978-1-59486-613-5. $24.95. PSYCH

In this self-help guide with a fantasy-fiction twist, sociologist, life coach, and O: The Oprah Magazine columnist Beck continues in the spirit of her earlier work, Finding Your Own North Star. Here, her clients' stories illustrate the progress and pitfalls of finding one's purpose in life. Their journeys, sparked by challenging exercises, are adventurous, and the narrative is hilarious. Beck also incorporates themes and outcomes that she explored earlier in her memoirs Expecting Adam and Leaving the Saints. Much of her advice, laid out in a three-stage process, may initially seem contrary, counterintuitive, or repetitive (e.g., telling your life story backwards). In the first stage, readers identify goals and eliminate obstacles. In the second, they envision the future, find messages in dreams, and forge a middle path between the past and the future. And in the final stage, they live their destiny, observing coincidences, working miracles, and breaking new trails. A concluding chapter shows the process at work in Beck's own life. While the author's New Age spirituality may put off some, her writing style will appeal to fantasy and adventure fans, not to mention the sizable audience who reads her O column.—Lucille M. Boone, San Jose P.L., CA

Carley, Michael John. Asperger's from the Inside Out: A Supportive and Practical Guide for Anyone with Asperger's Syndrome. Perigee: Putnam. Apr. 2008. c.288p. index. ISBN 978-0-399-53397-6. pap. $14.95. PSYCH

A week after his young son was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome (AS), Carley himself received that same diagnosis. Through his work as the executive director of the Global and Regional Asperger Syndrome Partnership (GRASP), a support organization providing advocacy, outreach, and education for individuals and families affected by AS, Carley has since met many others with AS and has heard their tales of triumph and failure. Here, he shares their stories and insights, as well as his own wisdom. He also offers practical advice and suggestions to those affected by AS on such topics as social situations at home and work, friendship and romantic relationships, how and when to share the diagnosis, coping strategies for stressful situations, and finding work compatible with one's skills, abilities, and interests. Carley does all this with a candid humor that makes the book both readable and believable. Large public libraries with developmental-disability and autism-spectrum collections should purchase this winning manual.—Lisa M. Jordan, Johnson Cty. Lib., KS

Hornbacher, Marya. Madness: A Bipolar Life. Houghton. Apr. 2008. c.320p. bibliog. ISBN 978-0-618-75445-8. $25. PSYCH

In Hornbacher's first book, Wasted, she described the agony of life with eating disorders. What she did not know then was why she so abused her body. That answer came at age 24, when she was diagnosed with an extreme form of bipolar disorder. This memoir recounts episodes of that disease, and it is heartbreaking. Readers sense Hornbacher's struggle to rein in the paragraphs, sentences, words that sprawl across the page; many sections have little punctuation and lead nowhere. Alternately, the scenes over which Hornbacher exerts some control seem to come from a place of thoughtful repose and are both disturbing and deeply moving, giving true insight into what it's like to live with this most stubbornly intransigent of mental disorders. That the book was finished at all is a great tribute to Hornbacher's resilience. Followers of Wasted and other literary recovery memoirs will clamor for this. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 12/07.]—Elizabeth Brinkley, Granite Falls, WA

Keesling, Barbara. Men in Bed: Everything a Woman Needs To Know About the Good, the Bad, and the Kinky. Hudson Street. Apr. 2008. c.256p. ISBN 978-1-59463-044-6. $23.95. PSYCH

Best known as a sexologist and therapist, Keesling (The Good Girl's Guide to Bad Girl Sex) has also been a sex surrogate, a university professor, a talk-show guest, and the subject of a Playboy pictorial. Here, she provides another frank and explicit bedside reference guide for women, addressing much of the confusion and uncertainty they may encounter in their sexual relationships. Writing in an unambiguous yet warmly conversational style including numerous exercises and hands-on techniques, she discusses the issues, motivations, and concerns experienced by the Overexcited Man, the Uninterested Man, the Sex Addict, etc. She also draws on her own years of experience and includes frequent, illustrative anecdotes showing today's modern woman the best ways to encourage, support, and communicate with her man. Keesling's empathetic and supportive attitude toward men's challenges makes this helpful conversation starter a refreshing addition to comprehensive sex manual collections.—Crystal Renfro, Georgia Inst. of Technology Lib. & Information Ctr., Atlanta

McCullough, Michael. Beyond Revenge: The Evolution of the Forgiveness Instinct. Jossey-Bass. Apr. 2008. c.304p. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-7879-7756-6. $24.95. PSYCH

Although the news abounds with stories of horrendous violence fueled by the desire for revenge, occasional tales of forgiveness also surface. McCullough (psychology, Univ. of Miami) argues that revenge and forgiveness are both evolutionary adaptations. Using data from game theory, primatology, and laboratory-based social psychology, he shows that the best way to maximize one's resources is to forgive judiciously the transgressions of friends and family while punishing cheaters and competitors who fail to play by the rules. Perpetrators can maximize the possibilities for forgiveness and reconciliation by enlarging the circle of the victims' "friends" and by clearly signaling regret and a willingness to reform. Attempts to promote forgiveness, such as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, are discussed, and the situations in which they are, and are not, useful are outlined. Unfortunately, McCullough doesn't deal with the situation in which both parties feel wronged, which is more common than the case where there is a clear transgressor willing to acknowledge his or her error and seek forgiveness. However, even with that caveat, this readable, highly commendable book belongs in social psychology, political science, and criminology collections looking for an edge.—Mary Ann Hughes, Neill P.L., Pullman, WA

Storey, Tim. Utmost Living: Creating and Savoring Your Best Life Now. Harmony: Crown. Apr. 2008. c.272p. ISBN 978-0-307-34177-8. $23. PSYCH

Motivational speaker and life coach Storey dreams of making people's lives "hopeful, whole, and worthwhile"; in order to fulfill his aim, he has traveled the world giving lectures and leading workshops, influencing such luminaries as Quincy Jones, Marcus Allen, Darryl Strawberry, and Lee Iacocca. His advice to readers is simple: find out what is important to you, envision your goals, and go after them with single-minded courage. Each chapter ends with a section of questions to answer for your "Utmost Living Journal," because like many authors today, Storey believes that writing is an important part of changing your life. While not offering a unique self-help philosophy, Storey's book is well written, entertaining, and practical. Throughout are excellent quotes from a diverse group of people (including Eleanor Roosevelt, Johnny Cash, and Albert Camus), which are set off in larger type so the book can be used for quick inspiration. Voracious self-help readers, especially those desiring Christian undertones, will appreciate Storey's message.—Mary E. Jones, Los Angeles P.L.

Tholen, John F. Winning the Disability Challenge: A Practical Guide to Successful Living. New Horizon. Apr. 2008. c.235p. index. ISBN 978-0-88282-290-7. pap. $13.95. PSYCH

No one plans to become occupationally disabled. Most people don't have a backup career waiting when they are no longer able to continue in their chosen one. And they aren't prepared for the emotional and psychological impact that such an impairment will have on their lives. In this inspirational book for that audience, Tholen draws on nearly 30 years of experience in occupational therapy; he also writes from personal experience, as he has had to adjust his life to accommodate severe back pain that keeps him from many of the things he used to do. In typical self-help fashion, Tholen provides 100 affirmations designed to encourage readers to overcome feelings of worthlessness that can result from limited ability. Also offered up are tips for setting goals, speaking assertively, maintaining relationships, and managing pain. Appendixes provide more information on practical matters like obtaining disability benefits. This is self-help for an underserved audience; disability collections looking to diversify should consider.—Mindy Rhiger, Minneapolis
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Social Science

Jellison, Katherine. It's Our Day: America's Love Affair with the White Wedding 1945-2005. Univ. of Kansas. Mar. 2008. c.312p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-7006-1559-9. $29.95. SOC SCI

Jellison (history, Ohio Univ.; Entitled to Power: Farm Women and Technology, 1913–1963). takes an in-depth look at the history and popularity of the American "white wedding" and in doing so provides a unique exploration of late 20th- and early 21st-century American culture. She starts right after World War II and progresses through celebrity, royal, and movie weddings to the "reality weddings" of today and how the ritual of a white wedding has been adapted in many same-sex marriages. Seasoned throughout with images of bridal shower games, advertisements for elaborate wedding gowns, and other consumer goods with a bridal theme, Jellison's book views the wedding "business" from all pop cultural perspectives. An enlightening and fascinating read, her book is sure to be of interest in most libraries, especially those with women's studies or popular culture collections.—Nicole Mitchell, Univ. of Alabama Lib., Birmingham

Pinker, Susan. The Sexual Paradox: Men, Women, and the Real Gender Gap. Scribner. Mar. 2008. c.336p. illus. bibliog. ISBN 978-0-7432-8470-7. $25. SOC SCI

Psychologist and Globe and Mail columnist Pinker makes a well-constructed case for interpreting gender-based workplace trends through the lens of gender-based sex differences. Equally conversant in clinical psychology, neurobiology, linguistics, and social science, Pinker engineers this familiar dichotomy, proposing that gendered biological wiring—and not discrimination—is at the root of workplace inequities. She offers evidence showing young males to be more vulnerable than girls, right from frequency of premature birth to behavioral problems, ADHD, and chronic illness. So what happens later on? Why aren't women running more board meetings? Pinker likens men and women to two "software programs that run at different speeds," arguing that subsequent hormonal changes that females experience at puberty lead them along separate professional trajectories. Generalizations throughout the book weaken the credibility of her rigorous research, as when Pinker concludes a section on women opting out of high-powered business roles for more people-oriented jobs by asserting that women demonstrate "a capacity to be attuned to others," a tendency "that makes women feel pretty good." Recommended, with the above reservations, for all libraries as a good basis for continued consideration of the issues it raises.—Elizabeth Kennedy, Oakland, CA

Richards, Amy. Opting In: Having a Child Without Losing Yourself. Farrar. May 2008. c.320p. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-374-22672-5. pap. $15. SOC SCI

Cofounder of Soapbox, a feminist speakers' bureau, Richards (coauthor, Grassroots) here recounts how she is finding her way as a feminist mother in 21st-century America. As a sidelines feminist, likely a contemporary of the author's mother, this reviewer finds Richards's perspective especially interesting. Throughout, she raises questions about and makes excellent arguments relating to the career-motherhood balance. The book's crux is that, as a result of the feminist movement, women today have an abundance of choices available to them; therein lies the problem: how to choose without feeling guilty about one's choice, without questioning one's own instinct, without becoming overly concerned about hurting others' feelings. Though the introduction's reference to Centers for Disease Control birthrate statistics could be clearer, this work contains first-rate resources and notes from the popular press. Modern women of all ages will be drawn into Richards's mix of memoir and feminist analysis; a perfect candidate for book clubs.—Margaret Cardwell, Memphis
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Travel & Geography

Dunston, Lara & Sarah Monaghan. Dubai & Abu Dhabi's Top 10. DK. (Eyewitness Travel). 2008. 128p. photogs. index. ISBN 978-0-7566-3057-7. pap. $12. TRAV

Dubai and Abu Dhabi are two of the most important cities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and are fast becoming two of the world's more popular travel destinations for business, sporting events, and vacations. The authors, who have both lived in Dubai and Abu Dhabi for a number of years, here show the best these cities have to offer. They highlight sightseeing and activities in a wide variety of categories including shopping, skiing, souqs, and spas. Each topic's coverage spans a page or two and includes color photographs as well as an occasional map or blurb on additional useful information. The authors also list addresses, phone numbers, hours of operation, prices, web site addresses, and map locations (the book's front and back covers are foldout maps) when available. An Arabic/English phrasebook rounds out this handy guide, a great resource for your next trip. Highly recommended for public libraries and the travelers they serve.—Melissa Aho, Bio-Medical Lib., Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis

Ward, Douglas. Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships 2008. Langenscheidt. 2008. 708p. illus. maps. index. ISBN 978-9-81268-240-6. pap. $24.95. TRAV

This hefty but handy guide, now in its 23rd edition, explains trends for 2008, addresses FAQs, explores various aspects of the cruise experience, speaks to destination-based cruise-line selection, and relays the history of cruise travel. It further advises travelers of all kinds (e.g., the physically challenged, lone travelers) and interests on making informed decisions and describes the ten major cruise lines in terms of their accommodations, ambiance, and more. The guide's bulk is devoted to detailed reviews of 280 oceangoing cruise ships, alphabetical by ship name. Each ship is assigned points that are then translated into overall one- to five-star ratings, with the points reflecting more detail than the stars. Another useful section offers tips on such topics as booking directly vs. through a travel agent. Charts include typical menus and cabin layouts, a ship's personnel organization, and new ships launching between 2009 and 2012. With full-color photos and maps of principal cruise destinations, this edition is highly recommended for libraries with larger travel collections serving those interested in cruise travel. Libraries whose previous edition is three years old or more should replace with this one.—Elizabeth Connor, the Citadel, Military Coll. of South Carolina Lib., Charleston
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CORRECTIONS: In the review of the Matchmaking Institute's Make Me a Match (LJ 11/15/07), we inadvertently listed the publisher as Sterling when it is Skyhorse.

In the review of Katherine Burton's Hedge Hunters (LJ 12/07), we listed the wrong distributor; the correct distributor is Ingram.

In the review of Ed Sherman's Make Any Divorce Better! (LJ 2/15/08), the publisher was incorrectly cited. It is not Nolo but Nolo Occidental, a separate entity.
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