Social Sciences

Pham, author of the highly acclaimed memoir Catfish and Mandala, returns with a memoir of his father's life in Vietnam from the father's youth under French colonialism through his release from a Vietcong reeducation camp in 1976. Pham alternates between past events and those closer to the present, re-creating the ebb and flow of life's hopes and realities as the boy became a man. Born into wealth and privilege, Pham's father, Thong von Pham, would later lament as a draftee in the South Vietnamese Army that "hubris brought me down a difficult path when wisdom would have led me toward comfort and wealth." Counseled by his mother "don't be quick to kill or be killed for someone else's rhetoric," Thong witnessed wanton cruelty by competing perpetrators. As a child, he watched the horrific murder of a villager by a French Foreign Legionnaire from Algeria, which left him dreaming of joining the resistance against France. He would soon hear the lurid details of the execution of his beloved teacher, accused of being a French informant. Pham deftly paints a compelling portrait of life during three wars in Vietnam (World War II, the Indochina Wars, and the Vietnam War), of his father's inner conflict, and of the difficult choices faced by a people living in fear. This beautifully written book is essential for public and academic libraries.—Patti McCall, Albany Medical Research Inst., NY

Here's a notable but hardly atypical scene from first-time memoirist Rothschild's poor-little-rich-boy story: overwrought, 13-year-old Matt runs away from home with a $100 bill and a box of rat poison. When the poison fails to do him in, he takes a cab to Times Square to ask the prostitutes whether he's gay. He gets an answer, gets relieved of his remaining cash, and gets sent back home to face his grandparents, who address the situation by buying Matt a puppy. Clearly, Rothschild has quite a story to tell. Abandoned by his jet-setting mother, he's raised by her indelibly portrayed odd-couple parents: Matt's feisty, irrepressibly opinionated grandmother and storytelling, class-conscious grandfather, the only Jewish family in an exclusive building on Manhattan's East Side. Enduring a childhood of privilege and self-doubt, Matt is dismissed from one elite school after another, befriends a neighbor girl who convinces him to steal bagsful of Barbies from F.A.O Schwarz, and struggles with his weight, his sexuality, and especially his breathtakingly wealthy—and stunningly dysfunctional—family. Rothschild's style serves his story well. Reminiscent of David Sedaris, he is by turns whimsical and brutal, self-involved and self-deprecating. A strong debut; recommended for public libraries.—Janet Ingraham Dwyer, Worthington Libraries, OH

Seymour, whose prolific output includes novels, nonfiction, and children's books, here blends autobiography and memoir to tell the story of her family's—namely, her father's—obsession with a house. In 1944, 21-year-old George Seymour finally found a way to finance purchase of Thrumpton Hall, a Nottinghamshire country estate he'd spent his early life coveting. From then on, everything in his life revolved around keeping the house in pristine order, keeping up appearances, and keeping the family in line. The author wisely warns readers that she's only telling her version of the story; while she does interview her mother and allude to her brother, she does not assume she has access to all the family ghosts. It's left to the reader to determine how exacting her father's emotional abuse must have been and whether his relationships with various younger and younger men might or might not have been overtly sexual. This book explores the angst of upper-class, post-World War II English life, offering the reader an intimate look at one family's dynamics amid declining financial security. Recommended as interest warrants.—Pam Kingsbury, Univ. of North Alabama, Florence

This delightful book could change the nonspecialist reader's perception of the English Civil War era as tedious while impressing those already familiar with it. Just read about Prince Rupert of the Rhine (1619-82) in Spencer's biography, and you'll feel as if you are hearing a story from a witty friend, with all the gossipy bits included and with explanations that move the story ahead exactly when necessary. However, this "friend" is an excellent writer and historian (see, e.g., his Blenheim: Battle for Europe), here accessing the archival record on Charles I's nephew, who supported the Royalist cause as a dashing youth in his twenties, already a veteran of the Thirty Years War. Six feet four with long, curling locks, Prince Rupert was not only a larger-than-life model of the romantic cavalier but also a Royal without a country—his parents had lost the crown of Bohemia—later to be an admiral, a founder of Hudson's Bay Company, an artist, an inventor and scientist, a dog lover (which plays a part in his time fighting Cromwell's forces), and a statesman after the Restoration. Spencer places Rupert in full context, assessing his successes and failings, his military skill and brutality. The results are highly recommended for any college, high school, or public library.—Sue Lay, Perry H.S., GA

Both ostensibly about leadership, these titles differ in tone and focus. Baker (CEO, Educational Broadcasting Corporation) and O'Malley (senior business editor, Yale Univ. Press) emphasize developing a "constellation of behaviors" that could best be described as kindness, while The PITA Principle offers an extended metaphor comparing Pain In The Ass (PITA) employees to actual sandwiches (the soggy, the crusty, etc.) and lists methods for working with such challenging subordinates and colleagues. Baker and O'Malley deny that being kind means a good manager must be a pushover, suggesting instead that offering clear expectations, telling the truth, fostering growth, and mentoring future leaders are not only good for the people involved but also good for business. Their book is the more scholarly of the two, with each chapter systematically offering bullet-point suggestions, insights gained from personal interviews with successful leaders, and helpful references. It starts slowly but is ultimately a credible guide for emphasizing the qualities of gratitude, authenticity, humility, and humor.

The PITA Principle is a much lighter read. Each chapter offers a definition of a different type of PITA, a list of their pop culture counterparts, and a discussion of each type's strengths and weaknesses. Orndorff and Clark, both associated with the Career Services Center, Pennsylvania State University, also suggest that PITA could stand for Professionals Increasing Their Awareness; to that end, they conclude with self-tests for determining personal PITA tendencies, as well as a final chapter outlining how to establish positive working relationships. Public libraries with large business collections might consider either book to round out their management collections; academic and special libraries may find more of lasting value in Leading with Kindness.—Sarah Statz Cords, Madison P.L., WI

Slackonomics doesn't have much to do with economics or with the recent best seller Freakonomics. But then, Chamberlain is forthright about being a freelance writer, not an economist. In a book that is part armchair sociology, part oral history, and part apologia, Chamberlain bounces between the TV sitcom Family Ties and the film Donnie Darko to explain how a strange combination of ennui and passion forged the Generation X Zeitgeist. She illustrates the entrepreneurship of Gen X through the cultural intersection of the films Wall Street and Say Anything. Marriage, friendship, happiness, and other aspects of the human experience get the same VH1 treatment. This generation's saving grace, argues Chamberlain, is its inclination toward creative destruction, that is, its rejection of existing systems and extrusion of only their most vital parts. Chamberlain interviews a handful of people about their alternative career success stories but never provides evidence that her interviewees aren't the exception or that creative destruction is unique to this generation. Her hyperbolic claims and reliance on 1980s–1990s pop culture will likely leave readers of other generations cold. Gen Xers, however, should find this a light, nostalgic, enjoyable read. Recommended for public libraries.—Robert Perret, Southwestern Coll. Lib., Winfield, KS

Economist Choate (Hot Property: The Stealing of Ideas in an Age of Globalization), who was Ross Perot's vice presidential running mate in 1996, exposes the dark side of globalization with well-argued points on the dangers Americans face in lowered safety standards for imported food and pharmaceuticals, underemployment, the loss of national sovereignty, and elites with divided loyalties. Our supposed military might, he says, has been undermined by dependence on foreign suppliers for vital military components. He denounces the current revolving-door system of officials leaving U.S. public service to become well-paid representatives of foreign interests and then often returning to government office. He also claims that the Bush and Clinton administrations conceded too many points to foreign interests in negotiating trade agreements like NAFTA. Choate devotes separate chapters to challenging the pro-globalization ideas of both economist Milton Friedman and author Thomas Friedman (The World Is Flat). In conclusion, he recommends numerous public policy changes to strengthen America in areas such as trade, public finance, and pensions. Complementing Gabor Steingart's The War for Wealth, a superb criticism of the broad effects of globalization, this articulate assessment of America's position in the global economy should be in every public and academic library. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 4/1/08.]—Lawrence R. Maxted, Gannon Univ., Erie, PA

Soundview publishes condensed versions of selected notable business books and sends them out to subscribers. This collection of some of its summaries follows The Marketing Gurus collection. Lauer, a senior editor at Soundview, joins with other Soundview staff to offer 14 summarized works on management by recent prominent writers in the field. Each summary is a distillation of approximately 5000 words. The summaries, all of recent books or updated editions, making them relatively fresh in a fluid field, cover a range of current topics (e.g., topgrading and wikinomics) and are by lead authors (e.g., Ken Blanchard, Peter Drucker), but there's little structure and few connections between the offerings. Each summary is preceded by a "summary in brief," spelling out in four paragraphs what will be covered in the full summary, adding an irritating layer of repetition. The summaries are competently done and might be useful as refreshers, but reading boiled-down versions of even the most potent ideas is, at best, uninteresting, making one feel like a student taking shortcuts. This book never makes a real case for its own existence: it does not analyze the books covered or build upon their arguments. Libraries would be better served by acquiring the original books instead.—Brian Walton, Tampa-Hillsborough P.L., FL

Not many business books focus intently on a single company, but Michelli (The Starbucks Experience: 5 Principles for Turning Ordinary into Extraordinary) has done it again with a book about the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. This is at first glance a book about luxury. Many books describe a trend toward luxury worldwide; for instance, Michael Silverstein and Neil Fiske's Trading Up: The New American Luxury considers how Americans in particular relish small luxury treats, such as handbags, drinks, or weekend getaways. Michelli's new book is unquestionably tapping into the same trend. Yet a company that has survived for over a century must be about more than trends. This book describes those timeless elements that the company has institutionalized to allow it to grow and maintain the superb service for which it is known; service is in fact the core issue. It's not simply, in the case of the Ritz, about timeless buildings with tasteful appointments. As Michelli points out, it's embodied by the mantra "gentlemen and ladies serving gentlemen and ladies." This work would be useful for libraries with collections on hospitality and customer service, as well as large business school collections or corporate libraries. It is not appropriate for smaller general-circulation libraries.—Stephen E. Turner, Turner Assoc., Abington, PA

Psychotherapist Rivkin and artist Rubin have teamed up to write a manual on women's lives—not a "do more in less time" book but a book about choosing what to do and what not to do. Addressing women who push to do everything, and to do it perfectly, they recommend a refreshing step back from frantic lists, actions, and demands. The authors describe the overfunctioning woman, analyze her underlying psychological drives, and suggest how she can change thoughts and habits. Much of the advice focuses on getting out of what is here called "the Treacherous Triangle," formed by overfunctioning, suffering low self-esteem, and relating to "Impossible People." Unfortunately, much of the message is lost in the sloppy writing. Many times a thought is left undeveloped, only to be picked up in a later chapter without any connection. Chapters meander across themes, with "Your Turn!" exercises that seem unrelated. Metaphors are long and mixed, and clichés abound in highlighted "Chickpoints." Ultimately, the effort required to extract useful ideas will be too great for busy, overfunctioning women. Not recommended.—Erica L. Foley, Clinton-Macomb P.L., Clinton Twp., MI

Pollster Zogby (CEO, Zogby Int'l.) synthesizes several years' worth of polling data across a wide variety of topics to paint a picture of today's American culture. In other words, he's not just discussing political polling here. After explaining the art and science behind polling, he goes on to argue for a new American consensus, one that he believes is emerging. He identifies and discusses four "meta-movements" that he thinks represent new definitions of the American dream, much different from the material prosperity that defined the good life for previous generations. He then details these meta-movements—living with limits, embracing diversity, looking inward, and demanding authenticity, discussing poll results on everything from how long Americans expect to live to whether or not scientists should bring back extinct dinosaurs. While Zogby's conclusions seem neither unfounded nor unreasonable, it is difficult to see how he can legitimately tease so much why out of polling numbers that simply demonstrate what. The poll data in the book will likely be of general interest, and his text boxes of summarized marketing tips following each chapter will be useful for those seeking to find new ways of reaching the kinds of American consumers Zogby has described. Recommended for business collections and corporate libraries.—Elizabeth L. Winter, Georgia Inst. of Technology, Atlanta

Donoghue (English, Ohio State Univ.; The Fame Machine: Book Reviewing and Eighteenth-Century Literary Careers) provides a rapid overview of the influences shaping and, he believes, weakening, contemporary U.S. higher education. Ever since the end of the 19th century, the American preference for corporate efficiency has undermined the core liberal arts curriculum, leading to the emergence of for-profit colleges and universities that emphasize career preparation and have no time for the humanities. Combined with a shrinking and increasingly competitive job market for PhD candidates, this environment threatens the autonomous academic life that allows tenured professors to pursue their intellectual interests and combine teaching with scholarship. In lively prose, Donoghue draws together a wide range of perspectives, asserting that higher education, especially general education and the humanities, offers important values for American society. He urges his colleagues to become more active in defending a richer mode of education and to make themselves better informed about the factors now shaping colleges and universities. This book raises important issues in a zealous tone and is recommended for any library on—or near—a college campus.—Elizabeth R. Hayford, formerly with Associated Coll. of the Midwest, Evanston, IL

Fish (law, Florida International Univ.), former dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Illinois in Chicago, is deeply committed to teaching and to higher education and relishes presenting his views with zest and wide-ranging scholarship. He thinks universities should focus on teaching academic skills and analysis, avoiding politics. But he knows that universities are currently threatened by political activists on both the Left and the Right. He confronts both William Bennett and the cultural conservatives and Ward Churchill and left-wing activists and explains how they both attempt to distort the university's rightful role. Fish, an eminent Milton scholar, is a great debater and is ready to scold all who confuse the issues, including faculty, students, trustees, and members of Congress. Seven loosely connected essays in this volume urge universities to focus on their core role and exhort faculty to teach, acknowledging the support provided by administrators and pleading for appropriate resources for higher education. His many interesting insights into higher education issues may be presented here in a hectoring tone, but this work is recommended for public and academic library readers who enjoy a lively interchange.—Elizabeth R. Hayford, formerly with Associated Coll. of the Midwest, Evanston, IL

Because he has 30 books and numerous awards under his belt, it's difficult to imagine Ackroyd (London: The Biography) writing a truly bad book, but this one comes perilously close. It's best to dip into at bedtime: every page contains intriguing information about the Thames, those who live near it, and the activities surrounding it. But the book is overwritten—bloated and flabby, with too little spine. The first parts are highly impressionistic: Ackroyd treats the "sacral" Thames as though it were purposive, but his argument doesn't convince, and the reasoning throughout the entire narrative is questionable. Ackroyd fails to provide a clear historical narrative or topographical sequence. Instead, he has organized the book around a series of loosely connected topics, and the jumping around is confusing. Long lists—people, places, products, even colors, sounds, and smells—don't help. (In four pages, he describes 35 separate springs and wells!) If you don't possess a priori familiarity with the towns, springs, and so forth abutting the Thames, you will gain little from reading these lists. Ackroyd's observations on the connection between art and the Thames—an area where he should shine—are overly enthusiastic. Nonetheless, as many Ackroyd fans may still want to read this puffy book, it is recommended for large public collections—but with reservations.—David Keymer, Modesto, CA

In this military-history survey, editor de Souza (classics, Univ. Coll., Dublin) and 20 British and American professors and other authorities cover the political, economic, and social contexts of wars, also discussing key battles and military leaders in geographical areas that include Mesopotamia, Egypt, Persia, Greece, the Hellenistic Empire, the Roman Empire, Celtic Europe, the Steppes, Southeast Asia, China, Korea, Japan, Mesoamerica, and the Andes. In a chapter titled "War Before History," anthropologist R. Brian Ferguson (Rutgers Univ.) brings in additional worldwide material and asks the thoughtful questions of when, where, and why the wars under discussion began. Maps and time lines are given for each area, though dates vary greatly, from thousands of years B.C.E. through the 16th century C.E. (for the Aztecs and Incas). Among the fascinating details readers will learn is that one reason the Romans fought the Gauls in southern France was for control of the wine trade. In addition to written accounts, the contributors document their discussions with photographs of "visual resources," e.g., skeletal remains, statues of warriors, ruins of fortifications, and weapons and armor found on archaeological sites and in graves. Recommended for all public libraries.—Anne Marie Lane, American Heritage Ctr. Lib., Univ. of Wyoming, Laramie

Prolific author Axelrod follows up his Profiles in Audacity: Great Decisions and How They Were Made with this study of 35 of the greatest mistakes in history. The work is divided thematically into six parts (e.g., "Decision To Gamble and Hope," Decision To Manipulate"), each containing vignettes designed, as Axelrod says, to "pique interest, satisfy curiosity [and] teach." The topics span the course of history as well as the globe and include a mixture of the usual suspects, with some perhaps less predictable. For example, there is "New Coke," as well as Watergate, the Iraq War, the Romanovs and Rasputin, the Dreyfus affair, and Ford's Edsel. Often a writer on leadership and management, Axelrod looks at these events as resulting from decisions made by particular people, so he takes into account personalities and character flaws while focusing less on the broader historical context. He warns readers that he makes no claim to being objective in analyzing the events. The result is less a history book than a look backward at leadership and decision making. Still, the book serves as a good introduction to a broad range of historical events. Importantly, Axelrod has included a list of further readings. Recommended for high school and public libraries.—Lisa A. Ennis, Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham Lib., Lister Hill

The end of World War I was a time filled with joy, despair, anger, sadness, and confusion. Here, Best (former fiction critic, Financial Times; Trafalgar: The Untold Story of the Greatest Sea Battle in History) weaves personal accounts from the time into a broader narrative of events. All sides are represented, as are both contemporary and future leaders, e.g., the Kaiser, Churchill, Truman, and Hitler, whose histories are already well known. The value of this book comes from its detailed account of what ordinary men and women were thinking and experiencing at the time. Some were working for revolution in Germany, others were trying to imagine what peace would bring, and the soldiers were trying not to get killed before the Armistice, set for the time referred to by the subtitle. Few of these people could foresee how briefly this fragile peace was to last. Adding a new dimension to our understanding of World War I, this book can sit alongside Stanley Weintraub's A Stillness Heard Round the World: The End of the Great War, November 1918 and Joseph Persico's Eleventh Month, Eleventh Day, Eleventh Hour: Armistice Day, 1918, World War I and Its Violent Climax. For all libraries. (Illustrations not seen.)—Daniel K. Blewett, Coll. of DuPage Lib., Glen Ellyn, IL

These two studies perfectly complement each other. Trudeau (former executive producer, NPR: Gettysburg: A Testing of Courage) has written a sprawling and mesmerizing account of "the March" that reminds the reader that General Sherman had no intention of waging a "total war" against Confederate Georgia but instead hoped to make any continuance of the rebellion within its borders so unpalatable to its populace that the state government would regard a return to the Union as the lesser of two evils. Sherman's ultimate decision to selectively destroy civilian property stemmed from his belief that the South bore collective responsibility for its treasonous actions and his determination to show Georgians that neither their property nor their livelihoods could be protected by Confederate president Jefferson Davis or his Richmond authorities. The greatest blot on Sherman's record during the March centered on his treatment of the newly freed bondsmen, whom he denounced as impedimenta. As a result, Sherman, known for his racist views, had no compunction about abandoning these runaways at every opportunity. Trudeau concludes that even if the rebels were not hampered by outmoded defensive schemes and dithering regional commanders in Georgia, they could not have stopped Sherman, whose men were too experienced to be denied.Caudill and Ashdown (both journalism & electronic media, Univ. of Tennessee; coauthors, The Myth of Nathan Bedford Forrest) take a different approach, examining the myths surrounding Sherman and his March (both books capitalize the word), myths going back to the time of the March itself. The authors see the March as great drama, with Sherman providentially cast as its leader, regardless of whether future generations accepted that script. As the pageant migrated from the headlines to literature, film, and theater, popular culture embraced the story, thus leading to its universal acceptance in American society. Even so, Caudill and Ashdown contend, readers debating the significance of Sherman's extraordinary undertaking can grudgingly acknowledge opposing interpretations. In the end, the authors solicit our assent that the act of summoning forth Sherman's memory has become tantamount to invoking one's own values: The March, like the Confederate flag, "has become shorthand for a complex set of values, perspectives, and traditions." Both major contributions to Civil War historiography, these two books cannot be overlooked. Recommended for all history collections—Civil War, social, or intellectual—in all libraries.—John Carver Edwards, Univ. of Georgia Libs.

The tale reads like a classic spy novel. The setting? Washington, DC, in the early 1940s. The protagonist? A dashing RAF pilot, steeped in the city's social circles. He listens closely to government gossip while planting a few rumors of his own, then reports his findings to his mysterious chief. Instead of a spy novel (although Ian Fleming is featured), this is the true story of the young Roald Dahl's adventures working for the fledgling British secret service in its efforts to bolster pro-British support in America. As one of famous spymaster William ("Intrepid") Stephenson's trusted young agents, Dahl's covert responsibilities were basically to be himself: charm dinner party guests, romance socialites, and be seen and heard by power brokers while picking up information along the way. Conant (109 East Palace: Robert Oppenheimer and the Secret City of Los Alamos) pieces together some of Dahl's political assignments, documenting the smaller cogs in the intelligence machine while including close-ups of many of the era's elite, such as Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, Lyndon Johnson, Noel Coward, and Ernest Hemingway. With this excellent history of personalities and politics during World War II, Conant adds successfully to her previous books that have made vivid the war's background players. Highly recommended.—Elizabeth Morris, Barrington Area Lib., IL

The Shenandoah Valley campaign of 1862, in which Confederate Gen. Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson's troops managed to prevent the much larger Union armies from reinforcing and capturing Richmond, has received numerous book-length treatments, either on its component battles (e.g., Robert Krick's Conquering the Valley: Stonewall Jackson at Port Republic) or, as here, on the full campaign (e.g., Robert Tanner's Stonewall in the Valley). Generally, the books have focused on Stonewall Jackson and the Confederate viewpoint. Here, however, Cozzens (The Darkest Days of the War: The Battles of Iuka and Corinth), a Foreign Service officer with the U.S. Department of State, presents a compelling chronological and bilateral narrative of the entire campaign from March to June 1862. Using primary-source materials from both sides, Cozzens offers new interpretations of the campaign and of Stonewall Jackson's legendary success, which was not nearly as brilliant as it appeared but was as much the result of Union failure as the triumph of Southern arms heralded in the press at the time. Jackson's errors are covered here, as are those of a succession of Union commanders, all really learning their trade in these early stages of the war. Sure to become the standard work on the campaign, this book is strongly recommended for all collections.—David Lee Poremba, Keiser Univ., Orlando, FL

Witch hunts have captured our imaginations for centuries. This latest offering by Demos (history, Yale; The Unredeemed Captive: A Family Story from Early America) provides an overview of witch hunting in its many guises, going back to the Romans and extending to accusations regarding daycare diabolics in the 1980s. Interspersing reviews of the literature of and about witchcraft with his own entertaining renditions of particular cases, Demos provides a window into the environments that produced witch hunting and the beliefs they reflected. His first section, on European witchcraft over 16 centuries (c.150 C.E. to c.1750 C.E.), is too brief to give such a broad time period its deserved treatment. Nonetheless, Demos is able to answer questions about general witch-hunting trends with regard to gender, class, religion, and worldview in the crazes that swept the continent. Next come his discussions of early American witch hunts, including the 17th-century panics in Connecticut and Massachusetts. He both summarizes these events and examines the various explanations of them that scholars have advanced over the years. The final section explores modern witch trials and movements such as McCarthyism, highlighting the historical parallels and differences over years of witch hunting. Overall, this is a fascinating overview of one of history's most feared and least understood phenomena. Best suited for public and undergraduate collections.—Dan Harms, SUNY at Cortland

In 1870, Rep. Joseph H. Rainey (1832–87) of South Carolina entered the U.S. Congress as its first black member. In 1901, Rep. George H. White (1852-1918) of North Carolina left Congress as the 20th black to serve. Focusing on these 20 men, Pulitzer Prize finalist Dray (At the Hands of Persons Unknown: The Lynching of Black America) fleshes out the circumstances in which these early black congressmen lived and worked. He portrays these men as confident, courageous, eminently decent, exceptional individuals who advanced public education and other reforms for social justice. Casting Reconstruction's efforts as crucial to mid-20th century civil rights successes, Dray emphasizes parallels between the periods. His sourcing of quotations shows his considerable research, but this is not so much a scholar's book as one for general readers. Dray's compelling narrative offers sharper focus and argument than Maurine Christopher's Black Americans in Congress or former Rep. William L. Clay's Just Permanent Interests: Black Americans in Congress, 1870–1991. Dray develops a poignant story of racial hope—and resentment—and of America's ultimately reneging on its promises to blacks. For collections on the U.S. Congress, civil rights, Reconstruction, and black politics or politicians.—Thomas J. Davis, Arizona State Univ., Tempe

Giannino di Guccio was a successful, wealthy merchant trusted with high office in Siena's government. But was he also the uncrowned king of France? In this compelling book, di Carpegna Falconieri (medieval history, Univ. of Urbino) recounts how in 1354 C.E. Giannino came to believe that he was in fact the lost royal heir, King Jean I, switched as an infant and raised as a commoner. He then sought to reclaim the throne of France. This unlikely story, drawn from the Istoria del Re Giannino, possibly authored by Giannino himself, was long thought to be a literary invention. It does contain all the attributes of a Dumas novel: greedy monks, mercenaries, and conmen attached themselves to Giannino, as did true believers. He was mocked and cheated and was possibly the unwitting pawn of the court of Navarre. He was also a forger of letters patent from various rulers. In the final chapter, di Carpegna Falconieri unleashes his critical skills as a historian to situate Giannino, debate the authorship of the Istoria, and examine the role of fabricated identity in Giannino's campaign to be recognized as king. Written in an accessible and captivating style—McCuaig also ably translated Chiara Frugoni's A Day in a Medieval City—this well-researched work is recommended for academic and large public libraries.—Larry Milliken, Drexel Univ., Philadelphia

In this compelling analysis of the Allied response to Hitler's Final Solution to the "Jewish Question," historian Hamerow (history, emeritus, Univ. of Wisconsin; On the Road to the Wolf's Lair: German Resistance to Hitler) pulls no punches. He argues that at the heart of the tepid reaction to the massive extermination of European Jews was a resilient anti-Semitism that permeated the entire Allied world. Through an exhaustive examination of anti-Semitic sentiment from the prewar years to the Eichmann trial of 1962, Hamerow clearly indicates that throughout the Allied world Jews were considered a clannish and avaricious sect that threatened gentiles. In fact, this anti-Semitic sentiment prevailed until the late 1950s, when it became clear that European Jewry no longer existed. Only then did the Holocaust receive the horrified recognition it deserved. Israeli scholar Shlomo Aronson's Hitler, the Allies and the Jews explores similar themes, but Hamerow's study is far more lucid and provocative and deserves a wider audience. Recommended for all academic and public libraries.—Jim Doyle, formerly with Sarah Hightower Regional Lib., Rome, GA

A story combining religion, wealth, sex, class, and power typically makes for a tantalizing read. Herman (Sex with the Queen: 900 Years of Vile Kings, Virile Lovers, and Passionate Politics) does not disappoint with her account of Olimpia Maidalchini's incredible life and rise to power in 17th-century Italy. As the sister-in-law of Pope Innocent X, Olimpia was his closest adviser, would-be lover, and indisputably the authority behind the robes, which earned her the title of papessa, or lady pope. Olimpia's legacy was a scandal for the Church, and a good deal was written about her during and after her time. With this immensely readable and compelling book, Herman has reopened the Maidalchini file and presents a very detailed historical account of a real woman who strove to overcome male domination and live her own life. An expert on—and descendant of—European royal families, she skillfully uses letters, diaries, newssheets of the time, and biographies to tell this personal tale, set during unforgiving times. Highly recommended for public and academic libraries.—Susanne Markgren, SUNY at Purchase Lib.

Hett (history, Hunter Coll.) analyzes the career of Hans Litten (1903–38), a prominent anti-Nazi lawyer. Hett describes how Litten, the son of a Protestant mother from an old Prussian family and a Jewish father who converted to Lutheranism, actively identified with both his Christian and his Jewish roots yet broke with his parents politically. For example, many of his friends were German Jews active in Socialist politics, while one of his favorite intellectual pursuits was the study of Christian art. While Litten despised the German Communist Party, he defended communists who fought street battles with Hitler's storm troopers (SA). During the prosecution of four SA men in 1931, Litten forced Adolf Hitler to the witness stand, embarrassing the Nazi Party at a critical time in its quest for electoral respectability. Hett adroitly explains the workings of the Weimar legal system and challenges the conventional wisdom that the German legal profession was, prior to 1933, so right wing that its transition to Nazism was an easy and logical step. After 1933, Litten was sent to a concentration camp, where after years of abuse he committed suicide. Recommended for all libraries.—Frederic Krome, Univ. of Cincinnati Clermont Coll.

During the Vietnam War, a time of dramatic social change in U.S. history, women were demanding more participation at all levels of society—including the right to report on the war. Hoffman (journalism, Old Dominion Univ.) focuses on 15 female correspondents, chronicling both their lives and their reporting. She interweaves the personal, journalistic, and historical strands into a fascinating and dramatic account of the era. Beginning with Gloria Emerson's first trip to Vietnam in 1956 and concluding with Laura Palmer's race to the helicopter during the 1975 evacuation of Saigon, Hoffman recounts the entire war through the work of these women. The trauma of the war is brought home in the booby-trap death of photojournalist Dickey Chapelle, while civil rights issues are reflected in African American journalist Ethel Payne's focus on the lives of black soldiers. Many of the women won prizes, including Pulitzers for Frances Fitzgerald's Fire in the Lake and Gloria Emerson's Winners and Losers. Hoffmann's epilog traces the post-Vietnam lives of the women. This well-written book will be important for public and academic libraries.—Judy Solberg, Seattle Univ. Lib.

Hubbard (architecture, MIT) introduces readers to the history of surveying in the United States as it evolved owing to the need to subdivide the vast continent. In Part I, "Assembling a National Domain," Hubbard uses 66 maps to explore the genesis of the boundaries of the original 13 Colonies from the various grants and charters, as well as the claims to lands beyond the Appalachians and the impact of later acquisitions from the Mississippi to the Pacific. Part II, "Apportioning the Domain into States," follows the attempts by Congress and early Presidents to devise a method to create new states from the unorganized territories of a growing nation. Hubbard chronologically traces the congressional policy and process for state building in a series of 33 maps. The third and largest section, "Apportioning the States into Rectangular Parcels," is a rather technical study of the invention and application of the "rectangular survey" by Congress in the Ordinance of 1785. Mark Stein's amusing and informative How the States Got Their Shapes (arranged alphabetically by state) is the better choice for public and secondary school libraries, while larger public and academic libraries may wish to consider this more scholarly book.—Edward K. Werner, St. Lucie, Cty. Lib. Syst., Ft. Pierce, FL

This incredibly important publication will be welcomed by scholars and informed lay readers alike. Long out of print in the original French and never before available in English translation, this combination diary/memoir provides an engrossing account of the activities of the French Resistance by an early participant. Humbert, an art historian, was a member of one of the earliest (if not the earliest) resistance groups to be formed. Her diary account, begun in June 1940, recounts in riveting detail the atmosphere of panic and "scenes of savagery" that accompanied the fall of Paris and collapse of the Third Republic. Betrayed to the Gestapo, imprisoned both in France and in Germany, and deported to a slave labor camp, Humbert nonetheless survived the war and went on to write this personal and deeply moving memoir of her reflections upon these various experiences. Originally published in 1946, the French edition has long been an important resource for scholars. Translator Mellor, herself an expert in French culture, has included valuable complements to the original manuscript, providing readers with selected primary documents on the Resistance, biographical information on Humbert, and annotations to the text. Highly recommended.—Marie Marmo Mullaney, Caldwell Coll., N.J.

In this volume, British historian Kynaston (The City of London) presents the first two parts ("A World To Build" and "Smoke in the Valley") of what will ultimately be his history of Britain from 1945 to 1979, which he refers to as his "Tales of a New Jerusalem." Although the immediate postwar years in Britain have been well covered by many historians, Kynaston's distinctive approach, weaving together private diary entries, media accounts, and interviews from the social research organization Mass Observation, allows the reader to experience the same circumstances and events simultaneously from many different viewpoints and all levels of Britain's class structure. Ranging from V-E Day to the sweeping changes brought about by a young Labour government, the text never loses its focus on how ordinary people coped with the effects of war, long after the battles ended. Coal miners, housewives, and shopkeepers join alongside famous voices to tell about times of astonishing adversity and upheaval. Some British terminology will be unfamiliar to an American audience, but overall this book, although a heavy 704 pages, is engaging and accessible. Recommended.—April Younglove, Linfield Coll. Lib., Portland, OR

It is sometimes hard to believe from our vantage point that in the early 1960s the U.S. government was so obsessed with Fidel Castro that it plotted various ways to get rid of him. President Kennedy inherited plans begun by Eisenhower to invade Cuba, and, after hasty consultation with his advisers (both military and civilian), he cautiously approved a nighttime invasion of the southern coast of Cuba at the Bay of Pigs. The invasion was doomed from the start: Kennedy called off air support, the invasion spot was surrounded by a dense swamp, and Castro knew all about the project beforehand (he was tipped off by his friends in the Kremlin). Kennedy ended up deeply embarrassed and never trusted his military advisers again. Khrushchev was emboldened by his belief that Kennedy was a weakling, and 18 months later the world faced the much more serious Cuban Missile Crisis. American decision makers evidently learned nothing about the dangers of invasions—witness the results of our invasion of Iraq—so history indeed seems to repeat itself. Jones (history, Univ. of Alabama; Mutiny on the Amistad) has crafted an exceedingly impressive history of this tragic event that should stand as the definitive treatment for years to come. Essential for all history collections.—Ed Goedeken, Iowa St. Univ. Lib, Ames

Lawrence (history, Univ. of Texas, Austin; Assuming the Burden: Europe and the American Commitment to War in Vietnam) has written a fine brief history of the Vietnam War that relies primarily on a wide reading of secondary sources but also employing newly accessible archival materials from China, Russia, and Vietnam. Lawrence focuses on U.S. policy, yet he provides an international context, offering a healthy dose of information on the role of other major players, including North and South Vietnam, the USSR, the People's Republic of China, and several European nations. He subtly incorporates major interpretations of the war and presents a balanced, nonideological narrative. If he has an overall thesis, it is that the war was an enormously complex phenomenon that does not lend itself to simplistic analysis and simple answers. Because of the book's brevity and focus on policy, Lawrence devotes relatively little space to actual combat from the ordinary soldiers' perspective. Nonetheless, this important book will be of great value to educated lay readers as well as college students looking for a readable overview. Recommended for major libraries.—Anthony Edmonds, Ball State Univ., Muncie, IN

Readers familiar with the American Revolution know of Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben, the former Prussian army officer who whipped the Continental Army into shape. In this volume, Lockhart (history, Wright State Univ., OH; Denmark: 1513–1660) confirms some of the myths associated with Steuben and refutes others. Steuben's title simply meant that he was born into a noble bloodline and not that he was wealthy. Steuben himself did not lie about his station or office until American agents in Paris created and marketed to Congress a persona that the baron then felt obligated to fulfill. He expected his somewhat manufactured reputation to earn him a field command in the Continental Army but was instead eventually made Inspector General, a position he never wanted or requested. Steuben nonetheless succeeded in creating an army that would stand up to the British on the field of battle and eventually drill as well as any European unit. Lockhart introduces us to both the gregarious, affable officer who made easy friendships and the withdrawn, solitary man who ultimately lived a sad and lonely life. This entertaining, enlightening, and objective volume is highly recommended for both public and academic libraries.—Matthew J. Wayman, Pennsylvania State Univ., Abington Coll. Lib.

Revisionist historian Menzies (1421: The Year China Discovered America) here argues that a Chinese fleet arrived in Tuscany in 1434, giving Italy the necessary tools for the Renaissance. These tools included maps of the entire world, astronomical calendars, Chinese texts (including Nung Shu), rice, printing and movable type, slaves, gunpowder, firearms, and much more. According to Menzies, the European Renaissance in fact invented nothing new: Leonardo da Vinci was just an illustrator (though still "superb") and Francesco di Giorgio a "wholesale plagiarizer" of Mariano di Jacopo. Menzies traces all such "new" works back to Chinese ideas and drawings published in the 1313 Nung Shu. Like his 1421, this book will be appreciated by general readers looking for a different, non-European history of the Renaissance. And like 1421, it will spark controversy; historians will surely debate Menzies's research and resources. Many will find his premise bogus, but his previous book proved popular. Public libraries should consider purchase, owing to possible demand, but sketchy sourcing makes this of questionable value to college libraries. (Index and photos not seen.)—Margaret Atwater-Singer, Univ. of Evansville Libs., IN

At the beginning of the 20th century, Smyrna was the most vibrant, cosmopolitan city in the Ottoman Empire. Home to an overwhelming population of Greeks, Armenians, and wealthy Levantine business owners, this Turkish city was a multicultural model of peaceful cohabitation. Yet the advent of World War I and increasing sectarian tension transformed this Ottoman "paradise" into a war zone long after the war officially ended. A complete breakdown of law and order and an indifferent foreign military presence ultimately led to the city's brutal destruction and one of the worst humanitarian crises the world had ever seen. London journalist Milton (Nathaniel's Nutmeg) raises expectations for this chronicle of the destruction of Smyrna, and, thankfully, he does not disappoint. Drawing heavily from the personal narratives of Smyrna's Christian residents and foreign diplomats, as well as interviews with survivors, Milton offers a detailed portrayal of life in Smyrna, a comprehensive look at the politics that shaped the city, and a shockingly vivid eyewitness account of the city's violent demise. This extremely well-researched historical narrative is recommended for both public and academic libraries.—Veronica Arellano, Univ. of Houston Libs.

Pérez (director, Inst. for the Study of the Americas, Univ. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; To Die in Cuba), the highly acclaimed author of several books on Cuba, now examines the image of Cuba in American eyes over more than two centuries. Much of his analysis is indeed historical, focusing heavily on the events surrounding the Spanish-American War and its aftermath and particularly the role of Cuba in American imperialism. His central theme is Cuba as metaphor—as child, woman, or fruit. Pérez is at his best in his section on America as parent of an infant Cuba, where his judicious use of sources, especially cartoons and editorials culled from contemporary newspapers, periodicals, and government publications, illustrate the Cuban image as envisioned and devised by American politicians and policy shapers. There is little emphasis on Castro's revolution and the American embargo, and Pérez's writing is purely academic. Recommended for academic libraries and research collections with a Latin American focus.—Boyd Childress, Auburn Univ. Lib., AL

In the last few years, we have finally been seeing more books on the important Jacksonian period of American history, when the country grew in so many ways. Bancroft Prize winner Reynolds (English & American studies, CUNY; Walt Whitman's America) has produced a thorough chronicle of America from 1815 to 1848. As his title suggests, the awakening of the "giant" (that is, America) was a transformative process in many ways, including the country's growing economy, its immigrant populations, the process of urbanization, and the simultaneous increased access to land out west. The country, Reynolds explains, became more experimental; he cites religious exploration (e.g., Evangelicalism), advances in the scientific and pseudo-scientific realms (e.g., land expeditions, as well as P.T. Barnum's exhibits), and a brand of truly "American" literature as exemplified by Emerson, Melville, and Poe. Reynolds does not offer new particulars or a revisionist take on the era and its notables so much as he offers sound synthesis. Some readers may regret that he focuses more on what than on why. His primer, in effect, does not really explore the factors behind all the burgeoning American experimentation. Yet even as he covers a lot of cultural and political history, his skillful style prevents tedium. His book will appeal to general history buffs and American studies students. Highly recommended for all public and college libraries.—Bryan Craig, Nellysford, VA

Whitaker (The Mapmaker's Wife), a journalist who usually writes on topics in popular science and medicine, plunges full force into the legal and historical significance of a U.S. Supreme Court decision overlooked by many historians. Moore v. Dempsey (1923) concerned an appeal from five blacks convicted of murder in the first degree and sentenced to death by the Court of the State of Arkansas. The convictions stemmed from a 1919 Arkansas race riot in which a white man was killed and several people of both races were injured. Whitaker shows how NAACP attorneys struggled to defend the accused in the face of an all-white jury, prosecution witnesses who were whipped if they didn't lie, a mob outside the courthouse threatening violence if there were no convictions, court-appointed defense attorneys who refused to call any witnesses, and a trial and deliberation that took less than an hour. Whitaker carefully traces the progress of the defendants' federal appeal all the way up to a Supreme Court dominated by a group of crusty old men, a few of whom had the heart and mind to see through the sham of Arkansas justice, overturn the state court ruling, and set the men free. He praises Associate Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, noting in particular the influence of that Boston Brahmin on the other justices, who finally agreed with Holmes that "counsel, jury and judge were swept to the fatal end by an irresistible wave of public passion." Whitaker also notes the exemplary work of Scipio Africanus Jones, the NAACP attorney, born a slave, whose effective constitutional arguments turned the tide in favor of the defendants. Highly recommended for academic and law libraries.—Philip Y. Blue, New York State Supreme Court Criminal Branch Law Lib., New York

Baatz (history, John Jay Coll. of Criminal Justice, CUNY) breaks his fascinating narrative into two distinct Law and Order-type sections. He starts with the kidnapping and murder of 14-year-old Bobby Franks, abducted while walking home from an afterschool baseball game. While it might be easy to dismiss the murderers—Nathan "Babe" Leopold Jr. and Richard "Dickie" Loeb—as bored rich kids, Baatz shows that there was much more to this story. They were precocious overachievers, already pursuing graduate studies before their 19th birthdays, and lovers whose relationship had a strange synergy: there was Loeb's obsession with committing the perfect crime and Leopold's fantasies of being a valued and valiant king's slave. Baatz details the trial, drawing on troves of material, including extensive newspaper coverage and court transcripts. Politically ambitious prosecutor Robert Crowe argued for the "gallows," while famed anti-death penalty defense attorney Clarence Darrow made the case for mitigation. Baatz includes an appendix with information about books, plays, and movies inspired by the case. Best for academic and legal collections, as it may be a bit dry for popular true-crime collections. Recommended as such.—Karen Sandlin Silverman, Ctr. for Applied Research, Philadelphia

Fisher (Constitutional Conflicts Between Congress and the President) analyzes the crisis in U.S. civil liberties created by presidential decisions since 9/11 and connects them to a broad legal and historical analysis of presidential authority going back to the Whiskey Rebellion and the Alien and Sedition Acts in the 1790s. His concern: internal damage to U.S. constitutional values and to our system of checks and balances in times of crisis or perceived crisis. Fisher gives special attention to governmental limitations placed on the civil liberties of the vulnerable, that is, "undesirable," groups, e.g., the Japanese during World War II. He makes his goal clear: "By reviewing the periods where America falls short of its…standards, my hope is to rededicate the commitment to values that enrich us and benefit the world community." Fisher finds that Presidents, especially the current President and the executive domestic limitations his administration has imposed, have historically created a greater threat to U.S. citizens' civil liberties than have perceived potential external threats. To maintain democratic values, Fisher believes that individuals and public officials must critically question executive actions. A well-supported history and analysis, especially for public libraries, this wide-ranging and informative book is highly recommended.—Steven Puro, St. Louis Univ.

This book will help veterans make sense of the dense bureaucracy of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Gaytan (director, American Legion Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Division) and Borden (The Baffled Parent's Guide to Sibling Rivalry) enumerate the benefits to which veterans are entitled and counsel readers on how veterans may take advantage of these benefits. The book opens with a history of the veterans' benefits system and a discussion of eligibility. Health care, disability and rehabilitation, death benefits, the GI Bill, VA loans, and job preference benefits are explained. The authors provide tips on record keeping and documentation and show readers how to undertake an appeal when benefits are denied. The text is specific and practical, clarifying which VA form to use to secure the needed benefit. Nearly half the book consists of appendixes with useful lists of VA medical facilities, veterans' service organizations, state-by-state contact information, and Small Business Association offices for veterans. This will be a necessary purchase for most public libraries because it updates older titles such as Christopher P. Michel's The Military Advantage: A Comprehensive Guide to Your Military & Veterans Benefits and John D. Roche's The Veteran's Survival Guide.—Joan Pedzich, Harris Beach PLLC, Rochester, NY

Does the United States need a death penalty today, especially since we are among the few nations that still have one? Its proponents claim that it deters crime, that death by lethal injection is painless and humane, that it is racially neutral, and that it provides "closure" for the victim's families. However, in this volume, attorney Gerber (retired judge, Arizona Court of Appeals) and Johnson (justice studies, Arizona State Univ.) dismantle these claims and several others with clear, well-researched arguments. Beginning with the history of the death penalty in Colonial times, the authors document how it has evolved over the years and how it has affected lawmakers and ordinary citizens alike. Particularly interesting are little gems of information about how politicians have used it to further their own careers. Although the authors lack the passion of a Sister Helen Prejean (who provides the foreword), their book is a vital contribution to the anti-death penalty cause. Written in lay readers' language, the arguments are poignant and intense. The book could serve as a primer for anti-death penalty groups. Highly recommended.—Frances Sandiford, formerly with Green Haven Correctional Facility Lib., Stormville, NY

When a case is decided, a Supreme Court justice may write the decision (the majority opinion), may agree with the outcome but for different reasons (a concurring opinion), or may disagree (a dissenting opinion). Some chief justices work to keep their colleagues from dissenting, the Court being more authoritative when speaking with one voice—e.g., the 9-0 vote against segregation in Brown v. Board of Education—but dissents exist all the same. Tushnet (Harvard Law Sch., A Court Divided) has gathered 16 of them. One is very famous, John Marshall Harlan's dissent to the Plessy v. Ferguson ruling that "separate but equal" was constitutional. A number are well known outside legal circles, e.g., the dissents to Dred Scott (which ruled that blacks cannot be citizens) and Korematsu (which allowed Japanese internment in World War II). Even with Tushnet's abridging by means of removing legal citations and such, this is still legal writing, far from page-turning prose. And not all of these are actual dissents, e.g., Robert Jackson's opposition to Brown was in fact never issued. Supreme Court dissents are available in their entirety from numerous sources. The value of this book is in Tushnet's excellent commentary—worth a book of its own. Thus, it should be considered by larger public libraries.—Michael O. Eshleman, Kings Mills, OH

Zelden (history, Nova Southeastern Univ., Miami) offers a thorough analysis of the legal arguments behind the Supreme Court decision Bush v. Gore, making clear that his book is not a history of the 2000 election itself but an examination of the election's legal issues and their aftermath. He argues that the voting errors that led to the historic Bush v. Gore decision have not been corrected and still threaten the democratic process. He also argues that the Supreme Court did not seize its opportunity to address flaws in the electoral process that came to a head in 2000 and that the ramifications of Bush v. Gore have been largely ignored. Zelden believes that ignoring the lessons of the decision has harmed American democracy. Each of the book's ten chapters recounts and discusses a particular portion of the case's time line, from election night through the recounts and finally the Supreme Court's opinion that declared George W. Bush the winner. An afterword addresses the problems that have persisted since 2000 and how they have not been solved. Academic libraries will want to add this book, with thorough and useful sourcing, to their collections. Some public libraries may wish to add as well.—Becky Kennedy, Atlanta-Fulton P.L. Syst., Atlanta

Much has been written in recent years by academics (e.g., Thomas E. Mann and Norman J. Ornstein's The Broken Branch), journalists (e.g., Joe Klein's Politics Lost), and politicians themselves (e.g., Lee H. Hamilton's How Congress Works and Why You Should Care) about Congress's descent into dysfunction. In this book, Ahuja (political science, Youngstown State Univ.; coeditor, Legislative Studies Quarterly) reviews the extensive literature, considers the evidence demonstrating Congress's poor performance and incivility, and offers six causes: gerrymandered congressional districts that lead to the election of more intensely partisan members, the increased importance of narrowly focused interest groups, the 24/7 news cycle, the rise of political consultants, the supplanting of policy issues by wedge issues, and the inability to or unwillingness of members to socialize in their free time, leading members to view those in the opposing party as objects to be scorned rather than people with whom one could reason. The author provides ample quantitative and qualitative evidence that documents the factors discussed, and he concludes with a series of recommendations to improve the institution, among them limiting the use of campaign consultants and the media. Some of the recommendations are unrealistic, but many are worth serious consideration. This is a concise and informative book, and a valuable addition for all libraries whose holdings in this subject area are limited.—Thomas J. Baldino, Wilkes Univ., Wilkes-Barre, PA

Cohen, a professional speechwriter, introduces 27 presidential campaign speeches given by candidates ranging from William Jennings Bryan in 1896 to Bill Clinton in 1992. Each speech is accorded its own chapter, and all the speeches have been edited, with the full versions available at www.livefromthecampaigntrail.com. Cohen's purpose is not to provide scholarly analysis but to introduce each speech and lay out a grand spectrum of political rhetoric. He concludes, not surprisingly, that campaign oratory matters; oratorical skills (or lack thereof) often make for memorable campaigns and flourishing presidential moments. Cohen's analysis of the crucial relationship between rhetoric and democracy and his argument—basic but noteworthy—that speeches are never given in a vacuum add to the value of the collection. Since presidential candidates left the front porch and entered our living rooms, their words, Cohen argues, have taken on more importance, both for their campaigns and for the health of American democracy. As he shows, the persuasive politician is largely a rhetorical one, even though rhetoric is not enough. Some of these great orators did not make it to the highest office, and some of the winners have been poor speechmakers (e.g., Nixon). The best one-volume account of presidential campaign speeches for general readers, this book belongs in every public, high school, and college library.—Stephen K. Shaw, Northwest Nazarene Univ., Nampa, ID

In this first and insightful analysis of C-SPAN (Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network) founder and CEO Brian Lamb, Frantzich (political science, U.S. Naval Academy; Citizen Democracy) offers not only a thoughtful biography but, more significantly, a persuasive polemic on the values of participatory democracy. C-SPAN first aired in March 1979, with support from the cable industry (it has never received government funding) and provides neutral live observance of House and Senate proceedings, as well as such interview programs as Book TV. On C-SPAN there are no anchor personalities; the functioning of the U.S. government is center stage. A former political insider, serving both LBJ and Nixon, Lamb emerges as a conservative revolutionary, dedicated to the proposition that while politics itself is not a spectator sport, television can aid in the understanding and appreciation of fundamental American political principles—and thus the support of democracy in action. Justice Louis Brandeis once opined that the greatest threat to democracy is an inert people. In this year's presidential campaign season, no one, as Frantzich argues, presents the American electorate with a more compelling means or reason to be energized than Lamb's network. Recommended for all libraries.—Stephen K. Shaw, Northwest Nazarene Univ., Nampa, ID

Jerald terHorst, President Gerald Ford's press secretary, likened the position to a "trapeze artist in the middle of his walk with a stick in each hand, trying to keep his balance." Here, Klein, former New York City Mayor John Lindsay's press secretary, explains how the role of presidential press secretary has evolved from the public relations directors known to FDR and Truman to the spinmeisters of recent administrations. Quoting extensively from transcripts of briefings and press conferences, Klein shows how press secretaries informed reporters and controlled information during historic periods such as World War II, Vietnam, the crisis over school integration in Little Rock, and Watergate. He organizes material by topics that include the Cold War, presidential scandals, domestic crises, and global issues, showing how, as the press became more assertive and the news marketplace went to 24/7 delivery through cable news and the Internet, press secretaries became more deft at spinning stories to reflect the best image of the President. This book is a welcome marriage of well-researched scholarship and an engagingly fresh style. Most sections are well documented, and there is an extensive bibliography. Recommended for public and academic communications collections.—Jill Ortner, SUNY at Buffalo Libs.

Leonard (executive director, Open Society Inst. for Europe) argued in his Why Europe Will Run the 21st Century that the American Century based on "hard power" will give way to a European Century based on "soft power." Figuring in that process that China could be either a key partner or deadly adversary, Leonard became an "accidental Sinologist." He writes of smoking Cuban cigars in Beijing and debating with policy intellectuals whose arguments fell into several groups that he labels in the text. The "New Left" accepts the market system but advocates democracy and government welfare programs, while "Yellow River Capitalists" want to let a new capitalist class set priorities. What Leonard elsewhere wittily calls "Neo-Comms" mirror the American "neo-cons." Unlike the first two groups, whose focus is domestic, the "Neo-Comms" push a great power strategy of military expansion, aggressive cultural diplomacy, and hard-nosed international law. Leonard vaunts China's present model of economic growth and political control, downplaying its authoritarianism, but argues that we need to appreciate Chinese debates, which will shape future policies. Libraries with substantial world affairs collections should add this astute and lucid book.—Charles W. Hayford, Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL

Conservative talk radio, prayer breakfasts, a southern strategy, even evangelical preachers brought down by sexual scandal, none of these features of the conservative movement are unique to our own generation. Historian Lichtman (history, American University; The Keys to the White House), instead traces the development of modern conservatism from its birth after World War I through 1960—when "a vibrant conservative culture was flourishing across America"—to the present day, when the onset of "conservative big government" leads him to wonder if the movement is on the edge of "implosion." He writes an entertaining narrative, evenhanded although not impartial, based on an impressive amount of original research on the well known and little known alike, who, united against communists and multiculturalists and usually allied with business, foreshadowed or helped create the predominant political forces of the past 40 years. Lichtman's book is recommended for public and academic libraries as an addition to the growing literature on American conservatism.—Bob Nardini, Nashville, TN

The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have developed into long, drawn-out combat with no clear-cut end in sight. In this hard-hitting and engaging book, Schultheis (Night Letters: Inside Wartime Afghanistan), a veteran correspondent who has covered Afghanistan for over 20 years, contends that al-Qaeda is winning the "war on terror" and argues that the war the United States has been waging in Afghanistan and Iraq has helped al-Qaeda's global cause. The author identifies Pakistan's military intelligence service (ISI), Saudi Arabia's ruling class, and extremist Sunni groups as the real "Axis of Evil." He describes how various elements of the Saudi ruling family have helped the emergence of extremist Wahhabi movements that have targeted an assortment of groups, including Shi'a Muslims whom they view as heretics and deserving of the worst kinds of punishment. By focusing on the wrong culprits, such as Iran, the Bush administration has helped strengthen the Saudi-financed and -trained terrorists that have wreaked havoc in Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere. This accessibly written book is highly recommended for all public libraries.—Nader Entessar, Univ. of South Alabama, Mobile

The best-selling author of The Bookseller of Kabul here provides a dark look at the plight of children abused and orphaned by war in Chechnya. Equal parts history, biography, and ethnography, the text documents Seierstad's travels into the war-torn region, for periods from 1994 through 2006, giving firsthand accounts of the lives of both Russians and Chechens under an ever-changing banner of presidents, rebels, and pseudoleaders. Heavily laden with the history of the conflict, the story focuses mainly on the Chechen woman (referenced in the title) who, unable to have children, has taken in hundreds of orphans during a war that has not yet ended. With haunting, occasionally melodic, occasionally clinical prose (at least as translated by Christensen), Seierstad reveals how knowing nothing but anger, poverty, and conflict can damage the psyche of a child and how a mother's love is sometimes enough to change a life—but sometimes is not. The ending is far from happy, and it reminds readers that there is more than one war happening in our world today. For both public and academic libraries.—Jenny Seftas, Southwest Florida Coll., Ft. Myers, FL

Far from the sophisticated Sex and the City urbanites live millions of U.S. women of all ages still mired in sexual doubt, ignorance, and silence. Yet information does reach some of them through sex-toy parties, which rely on female networks and promise a fun evening of sex education coupled with product sales. Brisbane is CEO and founder of Pure Romance, a company offering "relationship enhancement products and intimacy education" via in-home, all-women parties with a values-and-versatility concept; her book grew out of 25 years in the field. Part 1 aims to convey permission and self-acceptance to these less sex-savvy women while delivering basic sex information about anatomy, sexual health, and sexual response. Part 2 focuses on relationships: talking, touching, varying positions and using enhancement products to jump-start good feelings and keep things rolling. The elementary-level information is accurate, thorough, and delivered with friendly enthusiasm and plenty of examples; a good resources list offers more advanced guidance. Not an essential purchase but a nice item in less urban areas and where these parties are popular.—Martha Cornog, Philadelphia

Times Literary Supplement (UK) columnist Greenberg's elegiac, beautifully crafted memoir chronicles the summer his teenaged daughter, Sally, lost her mind to madness. In it, Greenberg observes the experience and its effect on everyone involved with meticulous care. At times acutely painful, at times painfully funny, his story alternates between the progression of Sally's bewildering, frightening decline and Greenberg's own at times comically absurd experience as he simultaneously deals with a dependent brother suffering from his own demons; a difficult, obtuse wife; and a New Age ex-wife who, after each visit, offers cosmic explanations for her daughter's condition before retreating to her home in the country. Characters from the psychiatric ward where Sally spends nearly a month are often indistinguishable in their strangeness from the doctors themselves, giving the atmosphere of the hospital a hauntingly surrealistic air. The whole effect is one of a wrathful storm passing through Greenberg's life, turning every relationship upside down as it shattered any semblance of inner peace in both father and daughter and destroyed their ability to communicate at the time. Sure to become a new classic in the literature of mental illness; highly recommended for all public libraries.—Elizabeth Brinkley, Granite Falls, WA

According to Pera, approximately 10 to 30 million adults in the United States have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). A writer/editor who moderates an ADHD online support group, Pera views the syndrome as a brain-based impairment to be treated with medication, and she uses original online survey data (111 partner respondents) as well as detailed case studies and compatible research findings to support her position. She begins with an explanation of ADHD and its manifestations in later life, then addresses the devastating effects of living with an ADHD-afflicted partner. In the final section, she provides coping strategies. Adult ADHD is largely presented here as the cause of a host of problems ranging from overspending and bad driving to abusive behavior; such sweeping findings and generalizations also characterize discussions concluding that ADHD may be more debilitating than established psychiatric/psychological conditions like anxiety disorders and major depression. More practical are Pera's guidelines for choosing a therapist and communicating with an ADHD-afflicted partner. While ADHD is a controversial psychological construct, this book is a unique compendium of information on the topic for lay readers. Suitable for comprehensive consumer mental-health collections.—Antoinette Brinkman, formerly with Southwest Indiana Mental Health Ctr. Lib., Evansville, IN

If you are looking for an everyday, run-of-the-mill relationship guide, this introduction to the world of nonmonogamy is probably not for you. Village Voice sex columnist Taormino, who has authored or edited a handful of guides on physical relationships (e.g., The Ultimate Guide to Anal Sex), sheds light on the various types of open relations and shares tips on how these relationships can most successfully be maintained. Those put off by the book's premise shouldn't be: this is not so much an espousal of nonmonogamous relationships as it is a comprehensive guide to the phenomenon, offering numerous firsthand accounts from those involved in open relationships. With its modern twist on conventional relationships, her latest title would be best suited for contemporary nonfiction collections.—Carolann Curry, Mercer Univ. Medical Lib., Macon, GA

The use of alcohol by adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) to mitigate their symptoms and assist them in functioning in social situations is an area in which little research has been done to date. Here, Tinsley, who was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome (AS) as an adult, recounts his own use of alcohol, a seemingly benign habit that quickly got out of hand, hurting his personal relationships, his ability to obtain and maintain employment, and his health. Coauthor Hendrickx is training manager of an AS support project for adults, and her partner, Keith (with whom she wrote Asperger Syndrome: A Love Story), is self-diagnosed with the syndrome. Here, she enhances Tinsley's account by sharing her own experiences and explaining the intricacies of alcohol addiction. Though Tinsley's story of growing alcohol dependence is at times painful to read, the story of his recovery can give hope to all who struggle with addiction. This book will benefit professionals in the field, those diagnosed with AS, and their friends and family by increasing their awareness of the issue and perhaps helping them to avoid similar situations in their own lives. Recommended for large public and academic libraries.—Lisa M. Jordan, Johnson Cty. Lib., KS

What can explain the behavior of suicide bombers, successful investors, and depressives? According to psychologists Zimbardo (emeritus, Stanford Univ.; The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil) and Boyd (director of research, Yahoo!), it's their attitude regarding time—past, present, and future. Here, Zimbardo, a past president of the American Psychological Association renowned for his 1971 Stanford Prison Experiments, and research partner Boyd describe six major time perspectives. Through a questionnaire called the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory, readers can determine whether they are primarily driven by concerns with the past, the present, or the future as well as whether they view each time period positively or negatively and how that perspective might be influencing their behavior. The authors further explore what has been learned to date about how to achieve a set of perspectives that seems most likely to help people become happy and successful. So little self-help material based on real science is published that, when something like this comes along, we owe it to our patrons to make sure it is readily available. For all public and most academic libraries.—Mary Ann Hughes, Neill P.L., Pullman, WA

This is a historical guide to 366 sites throughout the United States, all of which were utilized by native peoples prior to 1900 and are open to the public. Within five geographically organized sections, Kennedy (ed., The Civil War Battlefield Guide) lists the locales in chronological order. However, the only information provided for each place is its location. Travelers requiring information such as hours open to visitors will have to find it elsewhere because not only is it not here, there are no web addresses or phone numbers to help readers find out more about the respective places. The value in this work, however, is in the cultural and historical information contained within the essays connected to the entries. Many of these were written by either Native Americans who have a personal connection to the site or scholars who know the archaeological and historical record intimately through their own research. Interspersed among the entry essays are additional essays that contextualize the individual sites within the oral traditions and histories of the American Indian peoples who reside within the present-day United States of America. Recommended for public libraries.—John Burch, Campbellsville Univ. Lib., KY

Pohlen, a commentator on NPR in Chicago and author of the Oddball state travel guides (e.g. Oddball Illinois: A Guide to Some Really Strange Places), offers progressives a handy guide to U.S. historical sites that will interest them in particular, and along the way he provides fascinating vignettes of America's largely forgotten radical past. He arranges his book by region, state, and then alphabetically by town, including photos, quotes, and a key identifying which kind of site he is describing—museum, long-gone building, etc. Populous states on the coasts have the most sites identified, but Pohlen reminds readers that even Mississippi and Utah have progressive spots to visit. He notes that there are many more places than he could in fact include; nonetheless, he could have beefed up the Midwest section. Flint, MI, is here, but Tipton, IA—site of the 1931 "Cow War" between farmers and state militia—is not. Nor is Debs, MN, named for Eugene Debs, who spoke to thousands at that location. This book can certainly be used well as a travel guide, but it is just as much fun to pick it up and thumb through in your armchair. Recommended for public libraries and academic American history collections.—Duncan Stewart, Univ. of Iowa Libs., Iowa City

Scarpa, who has published essays, novels, and poetry, offers a native's view of Venice, pieced together from Venetian history, his own personal life, and the kind of anecdotes that don't often make it into traditional travel guides. (The title refers to the shape of Venice when seen on a map.) Scarpa exhorts the traveler to leave guidebooks behind and see, smell, taste, and hear his Venice, an often dark place where the canals stink, church bells and heels echo through narrow streets, and the city's deadly beauty (radium pulchritudinis) is kept in check by scaffolding and unsympathetic modern buildings. Later chapters of his book include two that are variations on earlier chapters, presumably to fill out what otherwise is an intriguing but slim volume. Also included is a short essay on Venice by Guy de Maupassant. Although called a guide in the subtitle, this is not a travel guide, per se, but a meditation on a place.

Café Life Venice is the third in the "Café Life" series authored by Wolff and Paperno (Rome and Florence are their previous volumes). It's an attractive little book, full of color photographs of 17 cafés, bakeries, wine bars, and gelato shops and equally colorful and entertaining stories of their owners and of Venice. Readers will feel ready to greet the owners as if they were old friends after having read about them in such familiar detail. Travelers on a budget should check another guide for prices, since this includes none, as well as for more choices. While travelers to Venice will find much to appreciate in both of these books, they should regard them as supplements to comprehensive travel guides. Both are recommended for public libraries with large travel collections.—Linda M. Kaufmann, Massachusetts Coll. of Liberal Arts Lib., North Adams

This guidebook by two contributors to National Geographic Traveller is for the serious bookworm, covering U.S. and European literary locations and events. It's divided into two sections; first is "Travel by the Book," listing houses, museums, hotels, restaurants, and cafés that have either hosted literary lions or inspired them. This section also includes literary festivals, walking and other tours, and even a list of writer's gravesites. The arrangement can be a bit confusing, since some entries focus on a particular author, such as "Twain Slept Here (And You Can Too!)," while others are geographically themed, e.g., "Literary Houses on the Prairie." The second section, "Journeys Between the Pages," is more focused. Ten cities inextricably connected to ten writers, e.g., Kafka's Prague, Joyce's Dublin, and of course those in the subtitle, are covered in detail. One shortcoming of this guide is that the same famous authors appear frequently throughout the entire book, popping up in almost every chapter of the first section and in sidebars and references. An author index (not seen) should help readers find the sections with references to their favorites, assuming their favorites are Austen, Hemingway, Shakespeare, or Joyce, but fans of Willa Cather, John Milton, or Tennessee Williams, let alone many other notable writers, will find less here to pique their interest. Much of this information is available from other sources; having it gathered in one book will please devoted readers, whether travelers or not. Recommended for public libraries.—Rita Simmons, Sterling Heights P.L., MI