Social Sciences

At 45, Carlson (beauty & health director, Town & Country magazine) was stuck—in her words, "half-dead." Once a competitive ballroom dancer, she gave up that pursuit for a more traditional life as wife, mother, and writer/editor. Exhausted with juggling her roles, despondent over a failing marriage, and feeling she could do better, she was ashamed of not celebrating the good fortunes in her life—a glamorous job, healthy children, and a comfortable lifestyle. When her husband gave her a Valentine's Day gift of refresher ballroom dancing lessons, she began a challenging but ultimately life-affirming journey toward self-awareness. Through the partnership that is ballroom dancing, she gained insight on relationships and rediscovered passion, self-expression, confidence, and trust. At the end of the book, two years have passed, and Carlson is a single parent, comfortable with who she is and looking forward, with optimism, to each new day. This honest and heartfelt memoir will have limited appeal to dancers or dance fans, but it will resonate with women in their forties and fifties who have lost a sense of self in the midst of trying to be the perfect wife and mother. Recommended for public libraries.—Joan Stahl, Univ. of Maryland Lib., College Park

Reading as if it were an extended stand-up routine (an audio edition would be quite an experience), this provocative, energetic memoir introduces us to Hadjii, screenwriter, director, and star of the movie Somebodies, as a trouble-seeking black boy living a fairly untroubled youth in 1980s Georgia. He's surrounded by an entertaining—and readily familiar—circle of characters, from the hangdog relative addicted to scratch-off lottery tickets to the sweet-natured older woman at church who will bend your ear for hours with her hard-luck stories. Hadjii's characterizations are spot-on, except that he has just about everyone speak in a crude, profanity-laden vernacular that fits Hadjii but not so much, say, his mother or her friend, the recovery-minded Oprah disciple, at the family gatherings. His "nice" family and acquaintances wouldn't really talk this way—would they? With his wickedly funny angle on race relations, family dynamics, and everyday aspects of growing up, from the pathetic pottery project in art class to his father's brief, weird birds-and-bees lecture, Hadjii offers an intriguing voice. Readers who prefer to avoid foul language and a disrespectful attitude, however, would do well to identify with the Mama of the title. Recommended.—Janet Ingraham Dwyer, Worthington Libs., OH

Given the steamy revelations and bitter accusations in many popular memoirs on China (e.g., Li Zhisui's The Private Life of Chairman Mao or, more recently, Gao Wenqian's Zhou Enlai), it is a relief to read an account by an urbane and often witty insider who neither idolizes nor demonizes China's top leaders. Ji's childhood in a politically connected family of patriots and scholars was ruptured by the Japanese invasion in the 1930s. The family made its way to New York, where Ji discovered American generosity, political debate, and ice cream while he studied his way into Harvard. The Korean War of 1950 shocked him into returning to China, where his dedication and knowledge of foreign countries eventually took him to the top of the Foreign Ministry. Although he tells revealing anecdotes about being Mao's interpreter, the best stories concern life backstage as foreign policy was made and China regained global respect. Premier Zhou Enlai emerges as a humane but painfully tested leader of almost superhuman ability. Ji's book should attract a general audience, but even China specialists will be intrigued (if slightly tantalized when the stories break off). Highly recommended for all libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 3/1/08.]—Charles W. Hayford, Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL

Patten, a real estate developer and former Maine newspaper publisher, was born into a prominent and successful family. This is the intensely personal story of his surprising search to fully know his identity. He begins in 1995 with his discovery, at age 47, that the man he was named after and considered his father was not actually his biological father. His natural father was Duff Cooper, the British Conservative cabinet minister, who died in 1954. Patten then tells of how, with this knowledge, he began to look at his own life anew; at the many lives of his mother, a descendant of John Jay; and, ultimately, at the three men with whom his mother was most involved and who shaped his life. By means of his own memories, family letters, and newspaper reports, he pieces together a newly understood personal history. His early years, with the man he believed to be his father, were spent as the privileged namesake of an American diplomat. Bill Patten Sr. died when Patten Jr. was just 12; his mother then married renowned columnist Joseph Alsop. In the Alsop household, young Patten was swept up in the political and social life of Washington during the "Camelot" years of the JFK presidency. Overall, this is a fascinating journey through the author's life, illuminated by personal photographs and told against the backdrop of the larger events of the era. Recommended for all public libraries as well as large undergraduate libraries.—Lisa A. Ennis, Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham Lib., Lister Hill

The reign and personality of Mary I of England are rarely portrayed in a positive light. In her first book, Porter aims to offer a more accurate understanding of Mary Tudor. But she does not succeed. Yes, Mary is to be commended for surviving the tyrannical reigns of her father, Henry VIII, and half brother, Edward VI. But is her groveling in an attempt to keep her head attached to her body properly defined as brave? She simply knew when to shut up. Occasional factual errors also hurt Porter's cause. For example, Mary's maternal aunt, Juana I of Castile, was Ferdinand and Isabella's second, rather than eldest, daughter. And the author's descriptions of Mary as a determined ruler with a "strong voice and personality" who couldn't be manipulated are not supported in this book. Readers will learn something about the events of Mary's time and the people she knew (conveyed in dreary narratives), but Mary's own personality and thinking are not here. Not recommended.—Tonya Briggs, Oberlin Coll. Lib., OH

Stoneman (honorary fellow, Univ. of Exeter) claims—with good reason—that his work displays a new approach to the much-studied Alexander by focusing on the legends surrounding him. Yes, historians have previously constructed such analyses around groups of texts embodying these legends and the geographical area whence they sprang. Stoneman, however, uses the chronology of Alexander's own life to connect the various legends. This strategy works surprisingly well, primarily because the reader reviews the historical facts of Alexander's life (in all their uncertainty) before being asked to follow the various tangents of legend, which can be bewildering. It becomes clear how and why stories appeared centuries later, whether in medieval India or England, and what geographical and cultural factors were involved. In this way, Stoneman introduces Christian myths and legends and makes their genesis more understandable, particularly in relation to "histories" that arose in the 13th and 15th century from a ninth-century Romance of Alexander. These are all complex aspects of the study of Alexander, yet Stoneman does his best to present them in an organized fashion, and for the most part he succeeds. Recommended for academic libraries.—Clay Williams, Hunter Coll., New York

Uruburu (English, Hofstra Univ.) posits that today's Lindsay-Britney-Paris—obsessed media culture has its roots in the "crime of the century": the 1906 murder of renowned New York architect Stanford White on the roof of the original Madison Square Garden (which he designed) by Harry Thaw, the jealous husband of Evelyn Nesbit. Early photographs of this child-woman are both discomforting and hypnotic, and hers is indeed a sad tale. Neglected by her widowed mother, she modeled for artists and photographers to support her family, performed on stage, and was promoted by the entranced White, who allegedly raped her. At Thaw's murder trials (the first ended in a hung jury, the second in acquittal by reason of insanity), Nesbit testified to all the lurid details of her life. Uruburu was granted access to Nesbit family materials, and though she offers an interesting case study, her often sketchy book gives short shrift to the last 50 years of her subject's long life. In the end, evidently mesmerized by Nesbit's story, she offers her own lurid take on events to the exclusion of other, more nuanced explorations. Not appropriate for academic collections, this should be popular with "ripped from the headlines" biography and true-crime readers in public libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 11/15/08.]—Karen Sandlin Silverman, Ctr. for Applied Research, Philadelphia

Noted political commentator Phillips (American Theocracy) presents a compelling economic and historical analysis of the decline of the United States as a superpower. In fact, he has accurately predicted many of today's political and economic conditions, such as the bursting of the housing bubble, the reduction of oil supplies, the devaluation of the U.S. dollar, and the decreased role of the dollar in world trade. Phillips attributes the country's present financial chaos to politicians' shortsightedness and financiers' irresponsible decisions. He also addresses the related topics of financial schemes, such as the creation of new financial products from debt and credit, and financialization, a term Phillips uses to describe America's movement from manufacturing to financial services. Despite his pessimism, Phillips gives the reader hope by drawing parallels with other periods in history and showing that catastrophic downturns are often cyclic and may even be expected once a superpower has reached a pinnacle (as with the global domination of the Dutch and the British in eras past). Because this book skillfully explains complex issues relevant to the American public, it is recommended for both academic and public libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 12/07.]—Caroline Geck, Kean Univ., Union, NJ

Tungate (Adland: A Global History of Advertising), a British author and journalist based in Paris, focuses on fashion, cultural trends, and advertising. His books on these and related design and marketing topics are fun and easy reads; his best-selling Fashion Brands and contributions to The Epica Book demonstrate a close attention to what is hot and what is now. Here he observes that the male is now, arguing that fashion brands, electronics manufacturers, and advertisers should be paying closer attention to men, carefully distinguishing between perception and reality. He structures his book with a "metrosexual" table of contents, focusing on matters like skin, clothing, and diet. The twist is that while more men are interested in these things, the pitch should always have something to do with what has traditionally sold—practicality and sports. One of many new books that focus on the increasingly popular trend of segmentation in marketing, e.g., Michael J. Silverstein & others' Trading Up: The New American Luxury and Jose Cancela's The Power of Business en Español, Tungate's work is chiefly an insider book for professionals interested in these permutations in marketing. Recommended for special libraries (e.g., ad agencies and marketing consultants) and business school collections.—Stephen Turner, Turner & Assoc., Abington, PA

Higher education is one of America's successes; professors and students alike come from around the world to benefit from its wide-ranging strengths. One of its most respected leaders is Trachtenberg, recently retired after 19 years as president of George Washington University, having served previously as president of the University of Hartford. In a lively, anecdotal style, Trachtenberg (with coauthor Blumer) outlines his experiences, describes the lessons learned, and explains how students, parents, faculty, and journalists misunderstand the role of a university president and underestimate the challenges of leading a major American university. Finding sufficient resources might be the greatest responsibility, but presidents also focus on student well-being, curriculum, athletics, security, facilities, and the concerns of university neighbors. While universities change slowly and consensus is hard to build when faculty are experts in their disciplines but less knowledgeable about building an institution, U.S. higher education continues to provide broad personal and professional opportunities to traditional undergraduates as well as adults of all ages. The author's wit, intelligence, and compassion make his insightful book a joy; readers will wish they knew him personally. Highly recommended.—Elizabeth R. Hayford, President Emeritus, Associated Coll. of the Midwest, Evanston, IL

Axelrod (The Real History of the American Revolution) set out to write "a good basic book on World War II" that would be "purposely concise, nonacademic…and straightforward." He has succeeded in all respects. His book traces the origins of the war back to the Treaty of Versailles after World War I. Using a refreshing, lively narrative to cover the entire scope of the war and also to discusses the postwar implications of the conflict, he expertly explains the ideological, economic, nationalistic, military, and other interrelated issues that played a part in the war's enactment. The text is lavishly illustrated with pertinent photos and maps and insightful sidebars that provide commentary and analysis, as well as alternate historical theories and other useful details. The author provides a "Dramatis Personae" that covers some 100 politicians, military leaders, and other individuals who played major roles in the war and are detailed in the narrative. Each theater of the war is covered in a coherent manner that clarifies how each impacted the other. Reading more like a novel than a dry compilation of facts and figures, this work condenses a vast amount of material into a workable and entertaining study that will increase its readers' taste for history. A solid, well-researched book that should be considered by all collections.—David Alperstein, Queens Borough P.L., Jamaica, NY

Barnes (Blue Monday), a reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, writes of the truly senseless race riots that took place in East St. Louis, IL, in the summer of 1917, resulting in the deaths of nearly 100 people and the burning of over 200 buildings. The riots were the tragic legacy of slavery, Reconstruction, and its aftermath—compounded by circumstances of organized labor, strikes, business competition, and municipal corruption. Rioting white union members focused not on those circumstances but singled out victims on the basis of skin color. Mobs of African Americans reacted violently in self-defense. Judicial inquires in the aftermath placed blame on local businesses and union agitation. Local police and the Illinois militia were complicit and were shown to have actually spurred on violence toward those they were charged to protect. The legacy of these events is evident in the city to this day, yet among much blight there are pockets of sustained rebuilding and a community not without hope. Malcolm McLaughlin's Power, Community, and Racial Killing in East St. Louis is a dryer, more scholarly treatment than Barnes's, with more tables, maps, and citations. Barnes offers an essentially populist account, crafted with an eye on newspaper reporting and municipal politics. It is most fitting for public and undergraduate library collections.—Jim Hahn, Univ. of Illinois at Urbana Lib., Champaign

Bordewich (Bound for Canaan) and Standiford, each with his own emphasis and style, offer fresh perspectives on the early history of Washington, DC. Bordewich, a freelance journalist, offers a substantially more well-rounded and comprehensive story, explaining in satisfying detail how the city's site was chosen and how political scheming, personal conflicts, and greed almost doomed the project of designing and constructing a capital city from scratch. Two themes are woven throughout his narrative: the important but often overlooked role played by slaves and former freed slaves and the constant North-South debate at the root of the bitter dispute over the capital's locale; the chosen site bore both symbolic and practical importance. Bordewich introduces readers to the key players: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, African American surveyor Benjamin Banneker, intractable and ill-fated architect and city planner Maj. Pierre Charles L'Enfant, the city's triumvirate of commissioners, and a host of pernicious financial speculators. Their contributions, both helpful and detrimental, are thoroughly documented. The convoluted political and financial details occasionally bog down an otherwise engaging work of popular history.

Standiford (director, creative writing program, Florida Intl. Univ.; Last Train to Paradise), who has published both fiction and nonfiction, gives us a work far more colorfully written but omitting or downplaying many important facets and details of the project. Banneker and slavery are all but overlooked, and the greedy and incompetent speculators get but scant mention in an entertaining but incomplete account. Yet Standiford has a novelist's gift for engaging, briskly paced narration, and his chronicle, as far as it goes, is scrupulously researched. He focuses on the early successes and eventual failure of L'Enfant, one of the more complex and fascinating characters of the era. The flamboyant Frenchman headed the city's planning and construction until his controversial dismissal midway through the project. Standiford explains how the architect's fiscal incompetence and, more notably, stubbornness and indestructible ego doomed a promising career. He also recounts the 1814 destruction of much of Washington, DC, by invading British soldiers, but his title is largely metaphorical as the bulk of his book concerns the tumultuous relationships between L'Enfant and his superiors. These two quite different volumes complement each other well. Both are recommended for public and academic libraries, but libraries seeking just one book on the early history of the city will be better served by Bordewich.—Douglas King, Univ. of South Carolina, Thomas Cooper Lib., Columbia

The story of America's discovery has been told many times before, but Boyle (The Troubadour's Song: The Capture and Ransom of Richard the Lionheart) believes new insights and connections can be gleaned by juxtaposing the lives of Columbus, Cabot, and Vespucci while highlighting the main reason for Western exploration: profit. Boyle describes Columbus and Cabot as salesmen, loners, and outsiders, while Vespucci is characterized as an insider, trustworthy, efficient, and a fixer. All were involved in the slave trade. Other historians have noted a probable collaboration between Cabot and Columbus in seeking an alternative and profitable route to the Indies. Admitting to uncertainties, Boyle nonetheless presents three goals of their scheme: to obtain financial rewards in perpetuity from any future use of their pioneered route, solicit investors and partners to share the costs, and develop Eastern supply contacts in advance. No documents have survived definitively linking Cabot and Columbus (and his brother Bartholomew); Boyle alludes to discovered connections in the Venetian archives but fails to detail them. Readers new to the subject of America's discovery will find Boyle's writing interesting and the intertwining of Columbus's, Cabot's, and Vespucci's stories engaging. An optional purchase for public libraries.—Margaret Atwater-Singer, Univ. of Evansville Libs, IN

In this delightful addition to the countless other books written about the British Royal Family, Carroll (Choosing Sophie) deftly constructs information chronologically by ruling dynasty, from the Angevins to the Windsors. Along the way, she shares with readers little-known facts—e.g., that the 20-year liaison between William IV and his actress companion was apparently a happy and contented one until he tossed her aside to become king—as well as facts more widely known, e.g., that Queen Victoria and John Brown were close friends but that no evidence of an affair has been discovered. As her previous experience writing historical fiction under the pseudonym Amanda Elyot attests, Carroll can ably research and distill facts and has a true talent for weaving fascinating narratives. Her entertaining writing style makes this one book you do not want to put down. Entertaining, impeccably researched, and extremely well written, it will appeal to all readers with an interest in British history as well as to those with a more specialized interest in the personal lives of the British royal family. Highly recommended.—Faye Harkins, Murray State Univ. Libs., KY

In his latest work, Ellis (politics, Willamette Univ.; Presidential Lightning Rods: The Politics of Blame Avoidance), who has written several books dealing with U.S. politics and political history, rightfully notes that it is unusual that something as important as presidential travel has not been more thoroughly covered; indeed, this is one of the few monographs dedicated to the topic (see also Bob Wither's The President Travels by Train: Politics and Pullmans). The book brings together disparate facts relating to the presidency, including the debate on appropriating government funds for travel and how the Secret Service came to be in charge of protecting the President, as well as the evolving image of the President himself, from veritable clerk of Congress to embodiment of a regal presidency. Ellis captures the essence of Congressional debates on domestic and international presidential travel over the years and outlines some of the partisan rhetoric, from Federalist to the present. Though the writing is at times tediously repetitious, this monograph provides an important look into an underexplored area of American political history and is overall a valuable addition to the collections of academic libraries.—Melissa Johnson, George Mason Univ. Lib., Fairfax, VA

During wartime, a tension exists between freedom of speech and the demands for national security. During World War I, President Woodrow Wilson understood the importance of controlling the U.S. wartime message, and he thus supported the Espionage Act of 1917, which made it a crime to assist the enemies of the United States. The addition of the Sedition Act of 1918 controlled the public debate over the war by limiting speech. The Socialist Party's Eugene V. Debs was an outspoken opponent of the war. During a speech in Ohio, he criticized the Espionage Act, which led to his prosecution and ten-year prison sentence. Ultimately, Debs (who ran for President for a fifth time, while jailed, in 1920) and others who had been arrested as political dissidents were freed, owing to an evolved political and civil-libertarian climate. Freeberg (history, Univ. of Tennessee) argues that Debs's case illustrates the problems associated with silencing public discourse, most especially during a time of war. Debs was never a threat to national security; instead, he was a principled individual expressing his political beliefs. This excellent introduction to Debs and the Socialist Party is also an engaging examination of an issue that still tensely engages us today. Recommended for both public and academic libraries.—Michael LaMagna, Cabrini Col. Lib., Radnor, PA.

In fall 1975, on the Baltic Sea, Cold War tensions culminated in a mutiny aboard the FFGStorozhevoy. The Soviet antisubmarine warship's political officer (zampolit) believed that Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev's government had strayed from the Marxist-Leninist party line and that he could commandeer this ship, sail into Leningrad's (today's St. Petersburg) harbor, and broadcast a speech that would move the population to action. But when the route to Leningrad came suspiciously close to the Swedish coast, indicating a possible intent to defect, Brezhnev himself ordered the rogue ship to be sunk with all hands on board. Gindin, the FFG Storozhevoy's chief engineer and senior lieutenant, joins with National Book Award winner Hagberg (The Kremlin Conspiracy), to tell the story of these real-life events, which in part inspired Tom Clancy's novel, The Hunt for Red October. The narrative is fast-paced, even gripping in portions. Though the background history in various chapters is rudimentary and incomplete, the story withstands its brief recounting, and the embellishments are worth reading. Highly recommended for all public libraries.—Harry Willems, Park City P.L., KS

Lee (Chinese literature, emeritus, Harvard Univ.; Shanghai Modern: The Flowering of a New Urban Culture, 1930–1945) here explores the neighborhoods of the pivotal city of Hong Kong, which, following one-and-a-half centuries of British colonial rule, became a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China in 1997. Lee remarks that this change was expected to reflect "doom and gloom" but instead produced "doom and boom," with urban renewal and a relentless pressure to tear down and build anew endangering the city's historical treasures. With chapters divided by region, Lee describes much of the metropolitan area in terms of various films and novels set in Hong Kong. In his final two chapters, he focuses on the new and complex relationship between the Hong Kong lifestyle and the new political regime. In addition to his observations on the huge changes that have occurred since the transition, he also predicts that the exhilarated progress will lead to a city of homogeneity and mediocrity. With 64 color illustrations, 24 half-tones, four maps, and a detailed index; for public libraries and collections on history, travel, Hong Kong, and Hong Kong films.—Melinda Stivers Leach, Precision Editorial Svcs., Wondervu, CO

From 1963 to 1966, liberalism reigned in the United States, and during this brief time a breathtaking number of laws were passed, creating the enduring legacy of the 1960s, say Mackenzie (government, Colby Coll.; The Politics of Presidential Appointments) and Weisbrot (history, Colby Coll.; Maximum Danger: Kennedy, the Missiles, and the Crisis of American Confidence). Their informed political history reveals how President Kennedy, a liberal work in progress, and President Johnson, "the most skilled and ingenious legislative leader, perhaps of all time," supported by the 89th and 90th Congresses and by the liberal Warren Court, passed such monumental legislation as the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act, Medicare and Medicaid, Head Start, and new laws to protect the environment and to expand aid to higher education. The authors show that liberalism lost public support when it could not meet its overly optimistic goals of ending poverty, healing the racial divide, and, most significantly, financing and winning the Vietnam War. By 1966, liberalism had run its course; the conservative movement gradually emerged to fill the void. This book provides a balance to the many accounts that view the 1960s as most noted for the counterculture, antiwar protestors, and sex, drugs, and rock'n'roll. Strongly recommended for larger public and all academic collections.—Karl Helicher, Upper Merion Twp. Lib., King of Prussia, PA

Eminent French historian Poisson tells a strange and complex story that has heretofore been little more than a historical footnote: the return of Napoléon II's remains from Austria to France in December 1940. Napoléon II (1811–32) was Napoléon's son by his second wife, Empress Marie Louise. With the cooperation of Vichy Deputy Prime Minister Pierre Laval, Hitler envisioned an elaborate ceremony, complete with typical Nazi pageantry, on the date coinciding with the return of Napoléon Bonaparte's remains 100 years earlier. According to Poisson, this event brought tensions to a head within France's Vichy government and precipitated a coup by Pétain's supporters against such "ultra collaborationists" as Laval and Fernand de Brinon, while strengthening support for Pétain's position. Poisson argues that Hitler's motives were twofold: first, psychological revenge on the French people, and second, a permanent link of his name to his hero, Napoléon. Poisson also states that this "gift" was not an attempt to induce the French to embrace a collaborationist policy; rather, Germany wanted and preferred an unequal French vassal state. As this affair has not been so thoroughly detailed in other works, this well-argued and well-documented book is necessary for all World War II collections. Recommended primarily for academic libraries.—Maria C. Bagshaw, Library Assistant, Knowledge & Information Resources, Ecolab, Inc., St. Paul, MN

After studying in Germany, Polish-born reformer Rose (1810–92) moved first to England and then, at age 26, to the United States, later returning permanently to England. During her lifetime, she advocated communitarianism, atheism, abolition, and women's rights, contributing to these causes primarily as an orator. In this first published collection of Rose's papers, editor Doress-Worters (founder, Ernestine Rose Society; coauthor, Our Bodies, Ourselves) gathers together and introduces several of Rose's lengthy, literate speeches and letters. Doress-Worters writes from the perspective of a modern feminist, and she is as interested in Rose's biography as in her activist works. She notes that she spent 20 years researching her subject, ultimately she can only speculate about Rose and her motives—as she does in the general introduction—for, aside from Rose's transcribed lectures, documentation is scarce. This dense volume is addressed chiefly to scholars and is recommended primarily for academic libraries, though public libraries with a special focus on women's studies may also consider. —Cynthia Harrison, George Washington Univ.

The family road trip, perhaps best immortalized by the Griswold family in the film National Lampoon's Vacation, is the subject here taken up by Rugh (history, Brigham Young Univ.; Our Common Country). From the end of World War II to the 1973 oil crisis, the U.S. summer family vacation was an American staple, fueled by postwar prosperity, the increased prevalence of car ownership, and more liberal vacation benefits. Here, Rugh explores the different types of vacation destinations—from dude ranches and theme parks to family camping sites and the National Park System—revealing not only the factors that led to the creation of such places but also how they came to define the postwar consumer society and the nuclear family. She also looks at how the difficulties Jews and African Americans encountered traveling in a segregated society led to their developing their own travel industry and culture. (African American travel played a role in the Civil Rights Movement, as travelers demanded equal access to hotels, restaurants, and national parks.) Well researched and a valuable addition to the study of 20th-century popular culture and history; recommended for academic and larger public libraries.—Mike Miller, Austin P.L., TX

Commercial airline pilot Spencer shows how, with an American public stupefied by the unimaginable airline attacks on its homeland on 9/11, civil aviation and military circles joined forces quickly to fathom, manage, and defend against a then-unknown enemy. She further conveys the sense of frustration, confusion, and terror felt by flight crews already airborne as the disasters at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon unfolded. Spencer scarcely disguises her profound admiration for these individuals who, armed with the barest intelligence, managed to bring their planes and passengers safely through the ordeal. She exhibits great sympathy for the Air National Guard fighter pilots, who managed to defend their country without sufficient authority and effective rules of engagement. And she insists that, despite the clear findings of the 9/11 Commission Report, these fighter pilots and their commanders did fashion an adequate aerial defense—even though no word had been forthcoming from their civilian higher-ups in Washington. An impressively researched and compellingly written narrative of one of America's worst catastrophes; recommended for collections on terrorism and aviation and all libraries.—John Carver Edwards, Univ. of Georgia Libs., Cleveland

In this meandering book, British journalist and author Tanner (The Last of the Celts) traces the creation and dissolution of the fabled library of 15th-century Hungarian King Matthias Corvinius. Born Matthias Hunyadi in Cluj, Transylvania, in 1443, the boy who would become the Raven King followed his father's footsteps into the military, eventually becoming the leader of a Hungarian empire that briefly served as Europe's bulwark against the Ottoman invasion. The library is the framing device for a biography of Matthias, a summary of Hungarian history from the Renaissance to the present day, and an account of great Renaissance libraries. As part of his effort to bring Italian humanism to far-off Hungary, Matthias sent learned emissaries to Florence to order special volumes of the rediscovered Classics, all written, illustrated, and bound by hand. Tanner surveys the surviving Corvinian manuscripts (marked with the Raven symbol) and the paths they followed from the Ottoman sack of Budapest in 1526 to the great libraries of Europe and the United States where they reside today. Black-and-white illustrations and a map (neither seen) should help with the presentation. This book belongs in public libraries and will be of great interest to students of eastern European history.—Stewart Desmond, Madison Square Park Conservatory, New York

In this historical overview of U.S. foreign policy, Widmer (director, John Carter Brown Lib., Brown Univ.; Martin Van Buren) argues that the United States has more often been internationalist than isolationist. A former speechwriter for Bill Clinton, he elaborates on the rhetorical dimensions of his topic. FDR clearly emerges as his foreign policy hero for championing human rights and the end of colonialism during World War II, even as British prime minister Winston Churchill fixated on preserving the British Empire. Widmer also praises Woodrow Wilson's idealism abroad without commenting on his racism at home and Jimmy Carter's human rights record without acknowledging his limited political experience, which undermined his domestic and foreign policies. In failing to note the shortcomings in temperament of some of the Presidents, Widmer fails to explain why some become crusaders and others pragmatists. The lack of footnotes will limit scholars' use of the book, but its readability will appeal to a broader if partisan public. Recommended for libraries with patrons interested in foreign policy.—William D. Pederson, Louisiana State Univ., Shreveport

This "dual biography" is the first full-length exploration of the tempestuous 17-year partnership between Madame de Stael, the most celebrated woman writer of the Napoleonic period, and up-and-coming liberal politician, journalist, and theorist Benjamin Constant. Literary critic Winegarten (Accursed Politics) uses letters, diaries, and published accounts to reveal the pair's innermost thoughts and feelings on love, marriage, and politics, skillfully interweaving the story of their parallel lives against the backdrop of the social and political maneuverings of post-revolutionary France. While the two were never a married couple, they consulted, advised, inspired, and used each other, and each responded in distinct ways to the new Napoleonic order. At times, the complexities of French politics in this period may make the book difficult to follow for all but the most engaged and informed readers, yet Winegarten's recounting of the nature of this partnership and clear examination of the pair's political ideas, writings, and emotions make her book an important contribution to the field. The author concludes that despite their private shortcomings, these two should be remembered and admired for their key contributions to Western liberalism in its formative phase. Students of French literary and cultural history will best appreciate this highly readable, if occasionally complex, narrative. Recommended for academic collections and large public libraries.—Marie Marmo Mullaney, Caldwell Coll., N.J.

Ideally, the family environment is a loving, nurturing one where children are cherished and cared for. This is not always the case. Some children are raised in an emotionally and/or physically abusive environment, and the harm bestowed can haunt them throughout their lives. In rare cases, a child may take revenge against the abusive parents. Such was the case with Billy Gilley Jr. In While They Slept, novelist/memoirist Harrison (The Kiss) describes the details that led to Billy killing his parents as they slept and then his youngest sister, Becky, who walked in on the act. Gilley believed that he would be liberating his other sister, Jody, from their abusive parents. Harrison's accounts of these 1984 slayings come from interviews with Billy (who is still imprisoned) and surviving sister Jody and from a variety of documents (e.g., transcripts of 911 calls). Just as unusual as Harrison's pursuing this subject 24 years after the murders is her intertwining an account of own abusive childhood throughout the narrative. Whatever the title may say, it is evident that Harrison is using the Gilley tragedy as a means of dealing with her own abusive relationship with her father. Though the narrative can therefore sound self-indulgent, she does a good job of reviewing the Gilley case, offering a fundamental look at the searing private dramas that can lead to family tragedy. Recommended for criminal justice collections.—Tim Delaney, SUNY at Oswego

In anticipation of the FBI's centennial this summer, prolific author and law enforcement veteran Holden (To Be an FBI Special Agent) has produced a work for general readers on the ever interesting and controversial history of this primary investigative agency of the U.S. Department of Justice. The book may be defined as an unofficial history, but Holden was granted access to current agents and to the FBI's photo archive to produce a work profusely illustrated with about 300 photographs of equipment, FBI activities, and agents and criminals in action, all of which will fascinate. Chapters cover the early years when Teddy Roosevelt was President, J. Edgar Hoover's long tenure as director, his role in blacklistings and McCarthyism, the pursuit of organized crime, spies, the use of domestic surveillance, and standoffs gone bad. Some of the popular touches include movie posters and comic strips. The book includes all of the FBI's "10 Most Wanted Fugitives" lists and ends with a list of the 51 special agents who died in service, a brief chronology, and definitions of acronyms and abbreviations. Those looking for more critical discussion of the bureau may want to examine Rhodri Jeffreys-Jones's The FBI: A History, but this book will have appeal in both public libraries and specialized collections.—Daniel K. Blewett, Coll. of DuPage Lib., Glen Ellyn, IL

Wittes (research director in public law, Brookings Inst.) attempts to stake out a middle ground between civil libertarians, who see the courts as the protector against Executive Branch abuses in the war on terrorism, and Justice Department architects of the war on terror. He does an excellent job of discussing the way this country has historically treated prisoners in wartime, citing Civil War and World War II examples. In clear prose, the book starts by discussing existing laws prior to the 9/11 attacks, then dissects the Patriot Act and the tangled response of the courts to prisoner interrogations, detentions, trials, and surveillance. The central thread of the book is that the Bush administration failed to involve Congress in its decisions and flouted the Geneva Conventions. Thus, the book is a rebuttal to John Yoo's War by Other Means: An Insider's Account of the War on Terror, which argued that the Geneva Convention did not apply to al-Qaeda and that the President's broad war-making powers gave him control over terrorism, with Congress's role limited to cutting off funds. Wittes succeeds at proposing a statutory framework for fighting terrorism. Recommended for legal or current events collections in public as well as academic libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 3/1/08.]—Harry Charles, Attorney at Law, St. Louis, MO

Carlin (senior international writer, El Pais; White Angels: Beckham, the Real Madrid and the New Football) provides an intriguing and readable addition to the small shelf of books (e.g., David Black and John Nauright's Rugby and the South African Nation) on the role of rugby in unifying post-apartheid South Africa and on how sports and politics can be meaningfully intertwined. Although Carlin focuses on Nelson Mandela's use of the 1995 World Cup rugby championship, which had been uniquely scheduled to take place entirely in South African stadiums, he provides many engrossing anecdotes that illuminate the troubled political atmosphere in South Africa at the time. Carlin depicts Mandela's evolving attitude toward rugby, from his contempt for a sport that represented white South African domination (specifically as represented by the national team, the Springboks), to his consideration of the sport as a tool for unity, to his becoming an actual rugby fan. Nestled within Carlin's stories are valuable insights into the political genius of Mandela both generally and specifically in his role in converging sport, culture, and politics. Carlin's own recent interviews, with Mandela, the rugby players, and various politicians, serve as strong primary-source material. Endnotes and a bibliography would have made the book more suitable for an academic audience. Recommended for high school and public libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/15/08.]—Shannon Pritting, SUNY at Oswego Lib.

Anyone wishing to understand political psychology and especially voting behavior in the United States should start with this penetrating, provocative analysis of the presidential elections of 2000 and 2004, which reprises the insightful 1960 classic, The American Voter. A quartet of outstanding political scientists—Lewis-Beck (Univ. of Iowa), Helmut Norpoth (Stony Brook Univ.), William G. Jacoby (Michigan State Univ.), and Herbert F. Weisberg (Ohio State Univ.)—carefully and critically examines the nonpartisan National Science Foundation's National Presidential Election Surveys of 2000 and 2004 in order to demonstrate the significance of voting behavior for the American polity, particularly with respect to the crucial choice of the American presidency. In 15 chapters paralleling those of the earlier title and each including a "Comment and Controversy" section, they succeed with distinction. This impressive and persuasive piece of political science scholarship is neither a quick nor an easy read. Serious undergraduates, graduate students in political science and political scientists will be best rewarded by this treatment of the psychological and attitudinal factors explaining and supporting voter behavior. The gold standard of serious scholarship in the era of political polarization; highly recommended for undergraduate and graduate school libraries.—Stephen K. Shaw, Northwest Nazarene Univ., Nampa, ID

Kenya's elections in December 2007 produced official results that provoked violent and fatal demonstrations. That election's flaws, in turn, resulted from Kenya's long history of a strong executive branch of government and a weak judiciary, according to Kenya-born Mutua (human rights & international law, SUNY at Buffalo). During a 2002–03 sabbatical there, he headed the Kenya Human Rights Commission, worked toward the establishment of a truth and reconciliation commission for tribal conflicts, and closely observed the National Constitution Commission, which was working on a new constitution for the country. The author presents a detailed history of Kenya's constitutional reform efforts since independence in 1963, with analysis of why reforms have failed to establish a real democracy. In his view, a real and lasting democracy will require an independent judiciary and a strong civil society sector. His final chapter presents his recommendations for next steps to reach the ultimate goal. Specialists in African affairs and constitutional democracy will find this an insightful and thorough treatment. Most appropriate for specialized collections.—Marcia L. Sprules, Council on Foreign Relations Lib., New York

Christian marriage counselor Chapman (The Five Love Languages; The Heart of the Five Love Languages) has written this guide for anyone, regardless of religious or spiritual persuasion, who wants to become loving and compassionate. Chapman focuses on seven traits—kindness, patience, forgiveness, courtesy, humility, generosity, and honesty—as foundations for loving relationships, challenging readers to develop them as habits for everyday living. Devoting a chapter to each trait, Chapman begins each chapter with an easy-to-remember definition (e.g., "courtesy: the act of treating everyone as a personal friend"). He shares stories of clients and others who have put these traits into practice, then suggests ways of developing them and of overcoming obstacles to adopting them. Each chapter concludes with exercises in visualization (e.g., what would your relationships be like if you were to adopt a given trait?) and further questions and options for application. Concluding chapters explore the application of the seven traits in marriage, parenting, and the workplace. Chapman's style is easy to follow; his questions are thought-provoking and appropriate for group discussion and personal reflection. Recommended for public libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 3/1/08.]—Lucille M. Boone, San Jose P.L., CA

Actually, it's the size of his testicles and belly that matters, not the size of his man-gland. This girl's guide to male machinery includes basic information about the penis and testicles, male sex drive, semen, the male take on masturbation and intercourse, fertility, dysfunctions, and sexually transmitted diseases. Fisch (clinical urology, Columbia Univ.) and journalist Baskin also answer questions about "blue balls," the taste of semen, post-ejaculation snoozing, and honeymoon cystitis—topics not usually covered in sex guides. The questions come from women all over the country; the answers are documented via references to the medical literature, and a glossary is included. But the book lacks other necessary supporting material. There is, for instance, no list of resources, either print or web-based. A "Finding Help" section includes only New York City physicians, New York City hospitals, and some national associations. And, further, illustrations are sparse, consisting mainly of the pelvic cross-section, a sperm cameo, and a schematic for the angle of the dangle by age. A good resources section and lighthearted, informative drawings throughout would have really perked up this helpful and entertaining but limited work.—Martha Cornog, Philadelphia

From the establishment of the first shelter (1974) to the passage of the Violence Against Women Act (1994), domestic violence has become a more visible social problem. Mills, a lawyer and social worker who founded the Center on Violence and Recovery at New York University, raises the question of whether the resulting criminalization of domestic violence has actually made America safer. She concludes that it has not and marshals an impressive array of relevant research, realistic case studies, and personal experience to support her view. Early chapters cover the history of the "battered women's movement," the origins and dynamics of intimate abuse, and surprising racial and cultural differences. Because the problem is so complex, she argues that new treatments are needed, especially in cases where couples wish to stay together. Furthermore, traditional approaches favored by activists may even exacerbate the problem. The restorative justice model she espouses ("Circles") relies on couple and group encounters deemphasizing shame and guilt. Research comparing the success rates of the various batterer intervention programs is obviously needed. The ideas are highly controversial, yet this book is authoritative, reasonable, and easy to grasp. Strongly recommended for social work and criminal justice collections.—Antoinette Brinkman, MLS, Evansville, IN

While many self-help gurus claim to have influenced millions of people's lives, Pelzer actually has. A Child Called "It," his best-selling memoir about surviving a horrifically abusive upbringing, has practically become a textbook in high schools across the country. Here, he also strives to help readers become successful against the odds, touting a commonsense yet compelling message: believe in yourself, let go of the past, take responsibility, and have faith. The mostly three-part chapters elaborate on his philosophy, share anecdotes from his life, and feature a list of questions for readers to ask themselves about the chapter's teachings. Pelzer's writing style is a long way from elegant. Conjuring the military man he was, it is straightforward and commanding, reflecting the years Pelzer has spent analyzing his past in order to clear it away. The strength of this book is his character: his ability to overcome and imbue others with hope. Recommended for all public libraries, especially where Pelzer's previous books were popular.—Mary E. Jones, Los Angeles P.L.Social Science

Time magazine writer Kluger (Splendid Solution) here introduces us to the concept of simplexity—the notion that seemingly complex things can be more simple than they appear and that, alternately, seemingly simple things can be more complex than they appear. Like Malcolm Gladwell in The Tipping Point, he uses a single idea to offer readers a peek inside a wide variety of familiar occurrences, taking us on a fascinating journey. Kluger introduces readers to the relatively new field of complexity science, drawing examples from current projects of the Santa Fe Institute, the interdisciplinary scientific research center founded by Nobel laureate Murray Gell-Mann. Following the work of this and other scientists, he explains the complexity and simplicity of phenomena such as why it takes so long for a group of people to leave a burning building, why we're more likely to worry about things that probably won't kill us than about the things that probably will, and why the operating systems in our cell phones are so difficult to master. Though the chapters are only loosely held together, this book is sure to appeal to a broad audience. Recommended for public libraries.—Elizabeth L. Winter, Lib. & Information Ctr., Georgia Inst. of Technology, Atlanta

This memoir spans the Sixties, when anti-Vietnam War rallies, women's and civil rights marches, sit-ins, and boycotts produced an era of great social upheaval. Nies matches these expressions of unrest with injustices encountered in her own life at the time. She learned about gender discrimination when she found herself unemployable after earning a graduate degree at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. Nies explains that the few women who got hired from programs such as hers worked primarily in clerical or low-level positions for the CIA. She finally found a job with the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom and explains how she went on to work for 11 different liberal antiwar U.S. congressmen—"the best job in Washington"—doing research, writing speeches, and more. But there was still inequality. When she attended a congressional hearing on the Vietnam War, she was told she could sit only in the women's gallery, to which she responded that Congress was violating its own law, Title IX, which guaranteed equal access to public accommodations. Ultimately, Nies writes of coming of age as a stronger and wiser self than the "girl" she was at the beginning. The life experiences and lessons she relates so freshly (including political parallels to this era's war) will make this book captivating for students of the political and cultural history of the Sixties. Highly recommended for academic libraries and larger public libraries.—Lisa Nussbaum, Buffalo, NY

Online and video games are an art form, a major national pastime, a new type of community, and more. Here, gaming journalist Rossignol (coauthor, Transmissions from Imaginary Places: Writings on Computers and Video Games) comments on the current state of these games, their role in society, and their effect on players' lives. Rossignol is especially interested in games having no specific boundaries or discernible endpoints and with users' participation in the games' evolution. (This can be done with games allowing players to build modifications and with multiplayer online games allowing a large number of players to contribute in new and unpredictable ways.) He also gives a nod to the important uses of games in medicine, the military, education, art, propaganda, and more, but it is the entertainment they provide that most impresses him. Rossignol sees entertainment, or creations that prevent boredom, as a legitimate—even necessary—human endeavor. Recommended for any public library and for academic collections supporting American, cultural, and media studies as well as art and game design programs.—Lani Smith, Ohone Coll., Newark, CA

Mobil celebrates the 50th anniversary of its popular travel guides by giving its 2008 editions a more sophisticated look. The new format is still not as purse- or pocket-friendly as Fodor's or Frommer's, but these four series titles are smaller than the earlier Mobil editions, which looked like they belonged on the front seat of the family sedan. Like the AAA guides, the Mobil guides describe family-friendly activities and attractions and recommend lodging facilities, spas, and dining establishments. Noteworthy in this era of blogs and web site-generated user reviews is Mobil's stringent criteria for its prized star ratings. Mobil's team of anonymous inspectors evaluates properties based on standard measurements that include the expected issues, such as cleanliness and location, but also some more distinct ones, like whether the inspector was offered a beverage within 60 seconds of being seated at a restaurant. The guides are updated annually, and a page-to-page comparison of several entries in the 2007 and 2008 editions revealed few significant changes other than those relating to rates/prices, contact information, and other such details; the occasional added or deleted entry; and some abbreviated restaurant descriptions. Libraries where Mobil guides are popular will want to update with these new editions, but sleeker format aside, there is little in these anniversary editions to warrant purchase by public libraries that have not experienced demand for the series.—Rita Simmons, Sterling Heights P.L., MI

The subtitle indicates all the makings of a funny account of a cross-country romp, but Orion (I Know You Really Love Me) doesn't deliver. Her humor is forced, and there's a terminally cute quality to her writing. The author and husband Tim are practicing psychiatrists. While she enjoys a "couch potato" existence, he longs for a life on the open road. After some convincing on Tim's part, the two agree to take a year's leave from their careers to ride cross-country in an RV. Doreen's cocktail recipes (e.g., "Phobic Friar," containing Frangelico, raspberry liqueur, and Baileys) begin most chapters. Her accounts of their travels have a similar flavor. Doreen and Tim's adventure begins with a shake-down cruise from the couple's home in Boulder, CO, passes through several Western states, then heads east (the "real" part of the trip), making a convoluted circuit of the country. The book ends with lists of "Special Places and People" and books the authors read on the trip—as well as the author's request to be invited to speak at book groups. An easy read, though maps or photos might have helped; for libraries with patrons likely to appreciate such a work.—Janet Ross, formerly with Sparks Branch Lib., NV