Reference

Each of the four volumes that make up this compilation by Sowers (Social Work Practice and Social Justice) and Dulmus (How Institutions Are Shaping the Future of Our Children) is dedicated to one aspect of social work: the profession of social work, theories of human behavior in the social environment, the practice of social work, and social policy and policy practice. The contributors represent an international spectrum of experts, including one Nobel Laureate. However, articles by non-U.S. authors appear primarily in volumes dedicated to policy and practice. The first volume contains historical context and addresses current issues and practices (e.g., "The History of Social Work and Social Welfare" and "Putting Evidence Based Practice into Practice"). The second volume begins with an excellent (if a bit positivistic) preface by Bruce A. Thyer (Coll. of Social Work, Florida State Univ.) defining theory and its use in social work, followed by 16 chapters dedicated to a specific, relevant theory. The third volume is devoted to the practice of social work and reflects a current trend toward evidence-based practice (which it wholeheartedly embraces). The fourth volume provides an overview of social policy with emphasis on the role of the practitioner and the scholar in its creation. Each volume contains separate author and subject indexes. BOTTOM LINE This exceptionally comprehensive reference set on an ever-evolving discipline exceeds its purpose "to serve as a resource for the profession." Students and scholars of a wide variety of social sciences will find it extremely valuable. Highly recommended for graduate and undergraduate libraries. [Available electronically through the Wiley InterScience platform, featuring content from over 2500 STM journals, books, reference works, and databases.]—Sarah Sutton, Texas A&M Univ., Corpus Christi

Since prehistoric times people have recorded their history, myths, and legends. While stories were originally kept verbally, the invention of writing heralded the creation of literature. Cook (emeritus, English, Albion Coll.) has written another book discussing the history of literature, having previously penned Facts On File's Encyclopedia of Renaissance Literature (LJ 2/1/06). In the introduction, he promises a book "meant to acquaint learners with what they may expect to find in broad literary ancient texts and give learners an introductory overview about the people who wrote the works." In this, the book succeeds. Over 500 A-to-Z entries—running in length from one to ten pages—summarize and review famous literary works, popular philosophies, author's lives, and literary compilations created between 2350 B.C.E. and the middle eighth century C.E. Notable authors' works and their bibliographic information are discussed separately. While the major emphasis is on Greek and Roman authors, influential authors and materials from ancient Egypt, China, Japan, India, Egypt, and several other countries are also covered. A brief bibliography is included with each article, and a selective bibliography concludes the book. There is also a time line and an index that can help users find relevant authors and information. Unlike many encyclopedias, the book does not contain illustrations, but it does provide a few charts showing relations between characters. BOTTOM LINE This work offers a very concise overview and synopsis of many significant works of literature from ancient times. While it is accessible, casual readers probably won't do more than glance through it. Researchers with a general interest in literature, a specific author, or a specific title should find it a good place to start. The emphasis on the Greek and Roman literature may limit use of the book. [Available in print only.]—James Langan, Univ. of Pittsburgh Lib., Johnstown

Unlike other encyclopedias recently published on the subject of race, this one brings together unique material that goes beyond the premise of the title. It can be profitably used to update the ever-popular Gale Encyclopedia of Multicultural America (1995), and it adds 90 excellent maps for students who may need help in the geography department. It also adds minority groups that are not ethnic groups, such as the Burakumin of Japan. The scope here is more international and more inclusive than in two similar recent titles: Macmillan's 2008 Encyclopedia of Race and Racism and Greenwood's 2005 Encyclopedia of Racism in the United States. There are 40 separate biographies and a lot of biographical information in the context of other entries. It is also easy to find information by using the list of entries, classified reader's guide, list of images, and index. The titles of entries are topical: e.g., "welfare queen," "environmental justice," "Britain's Irish," "Red Power," and "underclass." While the subjects are all interesting, the cogency of some may dim with time. The 600 entries vary in length from 600 to 6000 words, with references including recent Ph.D. dissertations and cross-references. The 360-plus contributors come from 14 countries and include many acknowledged scholars; editor Schaefer and assisting editors are faculty at DePaul University and have monographs and textbooks on sociology and race under their belts. It is only unfortunate that production began before Barack Obama's dust-up with Rev. Wright's Black Liberation Theology, so that there could be a more timely article on the topic. BOTTOM LINE The content and style of this encyclopedia are authoritative, intelligent, well chosen, easy to use, not excessively duplicative, and useful for colleges, high schools, and public libraries. [Available electronically through SAGE eReference as well as Gale Virtual Reference Library.]—Janice Dunham, John Jay Coll. Lib., New York

This encyclopedia examines nearly 70 topics in each of eight ancient civilizations: Africa, Egypt, the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Greece, Rome, and the Americas, among them the standards such as art, literature, religion, family, and war. There are also entries on topics like crime and punishment, mining, quarrying and salt making, natural disasters, scandals and corruption, social class and abandonment, and sports and recreation. When appropriate, multiple cultures within a geographic region are addressed. For example, in the entry on governmental organization in Africa, Carthage, North Africa, Saharan Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa are all addressed specifically. The thematic arrangement facilitates cross-cultural study. However, while it is possible to examine a particular region or culture, it would take some effort. Each entry was written by a knowledgeable expert and includes cross-references to other entries in the encyclopedia and a list of suggested readings for further research. There are also 250 black-and-white photographs and, where appropriate, translations of primary-source documents within the work. Editor Bogucki, who holds a Ph.D. in anthropology from Harvard, is an expert in early farming societies in Europe. BOTTOM LINE Nicely complementing Salem's 2002 Encyclopedia of the Ancient World—which, while it contains thematic overviews, primarily consists of short entries on specific events, places, or people—this is a well-written and -constructed encyclopedia designed to facilitate cross-cultural studies. Appropriate for high school and undergraduate libraries. [This title will be available electronically through Infobase Ebooks, the publisher's new ebook platform launching in the fall of 2008.]—Ryan Johnson, Univ. of Mississippi, Oxford

With their scope, depth, and breadth consistent with high school media center collections, these two-volume sets attempt to balance the biographical, political, geographical, military, social, legal, and economic aspects of U.S. and world history in a clear and concise manner. Each contains approximately 400 A-to-Z entries, including subject entries and biographies that average about 1000 words in length, as well as 300-plus images, maps, further reading lists, and an index. Each set starts off with an introduction that consists of a reader's guide, glossary, and chronology. The clean, crisp images accompanying the text in all volumes provide a lens into the time periods covered in each set. BOTTOM LINE Providing content broader than ABC-CLIO'S 2006 Encyclopedia of the American Revolutionary War: A Political, Social, and Military History but not as comprehensive as Scribner's 2006 Encyclopedia of the New American Nation, these sets are most suitable and recommended for high school media centers, public libraries, and general readers. [All four titles are available as ebooks; for more information, go to www.gale-cengage.com; e-pricing depends upon account type and population served.]—Marianne E. Giltrud, Catholic Univ. of America Libs., Washington, DC

This book by Gwinnell (Sch. of Professional Psychology, Univ. of Portland) and medical writer Adamec, author of other health titles in this series, boasts approximately 200 A-to-Z entries on legal and illegal drugs and their effects on society. All entries include discussions of abusive use as well as drug use in medically prescribed settings, covering a wide range of topics, among them, anxiety disorders, child abuse, and drug-free zones. The articles range in length from a few paragraphs to a few pages. Most longer articles include bibliographies and many also include helpful See also references. Several appendixes precede the volume's index, including some interesting data tables along with contacts to relevant state agencies and departments. The index is thorough, although the only index entry for laudanum, for example, refers the reader to a mention in the introduction. However, if the reader studied the "opiates/opium" entry, he or she would be able to locate additional information regarding the use of this drug. BOTTOM LINE Doubtless, an exhaustive review of this topic would take several reference volumes. This steady single volume covers a lot of ground, however, and as such is recommended for public, academic, and health- science institutions. Consider purchasing it even if your library already owns Robert O'Brien's 1992 book by the same name. [Available in print only.]—Lura Sanborn, St. Paul's Sch. Lib., NH

This book provides an accessible and balanced synopsis of every major person, organization, and place involved in the long and controversial history of the evolution-creationism question. It is a major source of information on the subject, covering the entire range of topics in the history of the debate. Moore, who has been the editor of American Biology Teacher for more than 20 years, and Decker, who holds a Ph.D. in conservation biology, discuss and describe evolution and creationism in terms of the peoples and places that created and influenced the controversy. The authors neither condemn nor support the scientific or religious sides of the spectrum; instead, their main goal is simply to present an objective and accurate description of the debate and the major players involved with it. The 500-plus entries are mostly short (averaging 800 to 1000 words in length), are easy to comprehend, and often include lists of recommended readings for a more in-depth study. BOTTOM LINE This accessible resource is a great tool for anyone looking for short and concise background on the evolution-creationism controversy. Recommended for all public and high school libraries. [Available electronically through Greenwood Digital Collection, now comprising more than 3500 titles bearing the Greenwood, Praeger, and Libraries Unlimited imprints.]—Luis J. Gonzalez, Hunter Coll. Libs., New York

In a library world changing at the speed of electrons, it's comforting to find that some things never change. The World Book Encyclopedia is still a great read. Even if it feels a bit stodgy compared with the ever-expanding world of hip wikis, it's well written and engaging, with generous illustrations and an appealing format. This is a true collaborative effort, with an impressive roster of nearly 4000 contributors and signed articles, so it's easy to see whose credentials you're relying on. Rigorous updating turns over up to a third of the content in each edition, and this makes the encyclopedia reliably current. Articles on Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, for example, note their entry into the 2008 presidential campaign, and there are new entries on Google as well as a map of Beijing showing locations for the 2008 Olympic Games. Still, while it excels at providing facts and dates, the encyclopedia reflects a particular mainstream ideology that serves well for some topics but not for others. The article on milk, for example, asserts that it is "the most nourishing of all foods" and continues with a paean to cow's milk in the human diet, omitting scientific studies implicating it in a range of diseases or the controversy swirling around the use of bovine growth hormones. An encyclopedia has the impossible task of carving out truth in a world where knowledge is continuing to evolve. Created to meet the needs of school curriculums and home users, the World Book offers simplistic answers to complex topics, steering clear of controversial statements. This approach allows for the needs of student assignments, but it does little to aid critical thinking. BOTTOM LINE As long as the venerated print edition exists, libraries of all types and sizes will continue to purchase the World Book as a core reference resource for young adults and adults, and it will continue to be a solid starting point for inquiry. [Electronic versions are available as the World Book Online Reference Center and as targeted databases for specific groups; for more information, go to www.worldbookonline.com.]—Kelli Perkins, Herrick Dist. Lib., Holland, MI

For the first time, the history, culture, religion, and intellectual movements of the Jews of Eastern Europe are documented in this impressive and important two-volume reference work. The more than 1800 signed A-to-Z entries by leading scholars range from brief identifications to multisectioned in-depth essays on major topics. Written by contemporary scholars in many different fields and edited by Hundert (The Jewish People in America), the encyclopedia covers all aspects of Jewish life in Eastern Europe and is accessible to readers with varied interest levels and backgrounds. While the language of most of Eastern European Jewry was Yiddish (and later Hebrew and the vernacular languages of the host cultures), this English-language reference work draws on multilingual sources to cover all aspects of Jewish life from the religious to the secular. Previously, the best-known Jewish reference work, Gale's Encyclopaedia Judaica, covered many topics relevant to Eastern European Jewry but not at the in-depth level of this impressive reference work. Since 1972, there has been an exodus of Jews from the Soviet Union, the fall of Communist rule in Eastern Europe, and incipient attempts at a renaissance of Jewish communities in the new post-Communist regimes. This is the first major reference work to deal with these recent political, social, and cultural phenomena. The encyclopedia defines Eastern Europe as coincident with the areas where "eastern" Yiddish was spoken and comprises the current areas known as the Baltic States, Belarus, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, and the Ukraine. There are extensive bibliographies and additional resources to enable the student of most subjects to gain further in-depth knowledge. Also included are more than 1000 illustrations (more than 50 in color) of images never before published owing to the relatively recent opening of East European archives. These images will serve to revive and revise the iconographic memory of the East European Jewish experience, beyond the images of the Holocaust with which we are already familiar. BOTTOM LINE The vast array of topics covered here is dazzling. A landmark, authoritative reference work, this will be of interest to both scholars and readers with interests in Jewish studies and Eastern European history and culture. Highly recommended. [Available in print only.]—Herbert E. Shapiro, Empire State Coll. of SUNY, Rochester