Arts & Humanities

Two compelling subjects are intertwined here: ancient Egypt and death. This beautifully illustrated book, published in association with the Brooklyn Museum, accompanies an exhibition traveling through 2011 of 120 objects from the museum. Items range from a simple stone weapon from a predynastic man's grave to a realistically painted Roman man's mummy portrait. Bleiberg (Egyptian art curator, Brooklyn Museum) gives a helpful descriptive chronology before discussing the development of elaborate belief systems and funerary practices, including graphic details of different choices, according to one's financial means, of mummification techniques. A fascinating essay by Egyptian specialist Kathlyn M. Cooney (Getty Research Inst.) uses documentary evidence from Deir el-Medina to study the economic and social aspects of ensuring immortality through the purchase of funerary objects. A theme throughout is that ancient Egyptians at all levels were concerned with achieving everlasting life; however, what they put in their graves depended on what they or their families could afford. With 130 color and 12 black-and-white illustrations; recommended for all public libraries.—Anne Marie Lane, Univ. of Wyoming, Laramie

Architecture journalist and author Drew (Tensile Architecture) has a long-standing interest in tents, and he sees a bright future for tensile architecture in today's fast-paced, mobile world. Lightweight and flexible, tents seem a natural fit for an urban-nomad culture, but, as this book demonstrates, tensile architecture offers more than just temporary structures. The first section covers the history of the tent, new materials with longer service lives (from 20 to 35 years), the contributions of innovators such as architect Frei Otto, and the influence of software on contemporary tensile design. The second section profiles 30 recent examples of tensile architecture—sports arenas, train stations, exhibition buildings, airports, office buildings, hotels, and other tensile structures are each described, illustrated, and critiqued in four to six pages. The emphasis is on the structures, forms, and materials that make the designs possible, but Drew also includes a historical perspective and critical review. Recommended for architecture collections and large public libraries.—Amy Trendler, Ball State Univ. Libs., Muncie, IN

Morgan (Precolumbian Architecture in Eastern North America), a fellow of the American Institute of Architects and president of an architectural practice based in Florida, defines earth architecture as "a study devoted to the architectural uses of the earth in shaping the environment of humankind." Each chapter reviews a human-created earth form—"Mounds," "Shaped Hills," "Earth Retained," "Terraces," "Platforms," "Excavations," "Modified Earth," "Water Retained," and "Cities"—and includes a brief overview of the earthwork followed by specific examples of earthen structures, which range from religious centers and homes to memorials and public spaces. Information provided about structures includes textual descriptions, histories, photographs, area sizes, approximate years of construction, and model drawings. Examples are drawn from around the globe and date from ancient to contemporary times, e.g., Persepolis near Shiraz, Iran, and the Concord Pavilion concert venue in Concord, CA. This survey will be of interest to patrons studying architecture, anthropology, archaeology, and sustainable building practices. Recommended for public and academic libraries.—Valerie Nye, Coll. of Santa Fe, NM

Heather, a collector of North Korean posters, here presents 250 color reproductions of posters from his collection, giving the reader a rare and honest look at state-sponsored propaganda in North Korea from the 1950s to the present. Indeed, these are remarkably hostile posters that encourage aggression and even acts of suicide against the United States. In his essay on the recent political history of North Korea, Koen De Ceuster (Ctr. for Korean Studies, Univ. of Leiden, Netherlands) describes the artistic characteristics of these posters, such as color and visual layout, and how these elements help convey the political messages. Unlike Prestel's Soviet Posters (2007), which is arranged chronologically, this one uses a more topical arrangement, perhaps because of missing dates. Unfortunately, the content loses some significance when it is not supported by at least approximate production dates. The captions that translate text in the posters run vertically, so the reader must tilt the book on each turn of the page. Despite these faults, this unique and powerful selection is recommended for academic and large public libraries.—Eric Linderman, Euclid P.L., OH

This is the latest scholarly catalog in a new series revising publications originally begun in 1945 at the National Gallery, London. Following Volume 1 (2004), which focuses on many northern works by Bellini, director and former senior curator Penny here presents the gallery's collection of Venetian paintings dating from 1540 to 1600. The introduction covers the types of paintings commissioned by the city from some of Venice's foremost artists, including Titian, Tintoretto, and Veronese, and shows how their paintings got to England and to the National Gallery's world-class collection. Then, the specific artists are presented in alphabetical order, with entries featuring biographical information and details on individual paintings, including size, materials and techniques, conservation, condition, attribution, subject, treatment and date, frame, and acquisition by the gallery. The entries are fully footnoted, and a short list of "Changes of Attribution" since the last edition in 1975 is also included. Beautifully illustrated with many full-color reproductions, this is essential reading for specialists. Art students and the museum-going public will also find it informative. Academic, museum, and large public libraries are advised to purchase.—Ellen Bates, New York

In this authoritative look at a 400-year span of the production of figurative painted enamels primarily produced in Europe, Speel (Dictionary of Enamelling) offers a meandering and technical discussion of the physical processes of creating enamels by fusing ground glass and mineral pigments and firing them onto a metal substrate—a description that will be difficult for newcomers to follow. Major sections of the book explore the enamels of Limoges from 1500 to 1765; 18th- and 19th-century Genevan enamels; Russian work from the 17th to 19th centuries; English enamels, with particular attention paid to Battersea enamel and to the artistry of Henry Bone and his followers; and the Viennese styles from the 18th to 20th centuries. There is also a section on Chinese enamels of the European type (not of the more traditional cloisonné) oriented toward the export trade. Most of the 80 illustrations are in black-and-white, and the 30 color plates are adequate rather than awe-inspiring. Given the high price and the specialist nature of this volume, only libraries specializing in historical decorative arts should consider purchase.—David McClelland, Philadelphia

The 80 duotones collected here and introduced by Kaldal, deputy editor of the daily newspaper Fréttabladid in Reykjavík, were taken 14 years ago by EiÐur Snorri Eysteinsson and Einar Snorri Einarsson in a newly opened tavern in Reykjavík. These portraits of regular patrons at the bar—e.g., bartenders, musicians, actors, models, students, artists, and ordinary barflies—originally appeared in an exhibition in Reykjavík in April 1994. They were taken with a large-format camera, all from the same angle and with the same lighting and composition. The images were also taken in a short period of time, and, as Kaldal elaborates in his introduction, the lens was not cleaned until everyone was shot; he writes, "The grime that collected on the lens and inside the camera was intended to be part of the bigger picture." The photographs are technically well done, thanks to the quality of the Hasselblad camera, but the artistic merit of using the same angle in every picture and a dirty lens that projects lint and dust onto the images is questionable. Not a necessary purchase.—Karen MacMurray, South Piedmont Community Coll. Lib., Polkton, NC

British photographers Eva and Tony Worobiec follow up their previous Ghosts in the Wilderness: Abandoned America by traveling the highways, a long-standing American pastime, and photographing old movie theaters, diners, automobiles, and motels along the way. The narrative describes the different locations they visited, ranging from New Mexico and Kansas to Texas and Montana. Part of the Worobiecs' contention is that many of these structures are fading from the landscape, being replaced with cookie-cutter fast-food eateries, chain motels, and multiplex movie theaters. According to the authors, most of the photographs were taken at dawn or dusk to accentuate neon lighting. The technical data for each photo is listed in the back of the book. While this volume does illustrate the photographers' points regarding the vanishing landscape of these older structures, it is almost too homogeneous in nature; after a while, one diner looks a lot like another. Recommended with reservations for public libraries.—Ronald S. Russ, Arkansas State Univ. Lib., Beebe

A columnist for the Times Literary Supplement (TLS), Campbell (This Is the Beat Generation) is a perceptive critic of contemporary American and British literature. He loosely organizes the profiles and essays collected here into three groupings: New Yorker contributors, including John Updike, William Maxwell, Truman Capote, and Jonathan Franzen; African American authors, including James Baldwin, Richard Wright, and Stanley Crouch; and writers associated with the Beat generation, including Allen Ginsberg, Gary Snyder, Robert Creeley, and Alexander Trocchi. All but one of the pieces (a profile on Amiri Baraka) appeared previously in such publications as the Guardian review, the New York Times Book Review, Granta, and the TLS. Campbell's criticism is intelligent and absorbing, his prose free of critical jargon. While generally sympathetic to his subjects, Campbell does not hesitate to point out their artistic and human failings. Taken together, these articles, informed by Campbell's personal contact with many of the authors, provide an overview of three important streams of contemporary American literature. Recommended for serious literature collections.—William Gargan, Brooklyn Coll. Lib., CUNY

Readers will cheer for poet Hall (The Museum of Clear Ideas) when finishing this slim but powerful memoir. Hall's story begins as he unpacks boxes after relocating from Michigan to New Hampshire. Out come his early works, photographs, and memories, which he shares with readers. The arc moves from his eagerness as a student to the grief of an older man. As a student at Harvard and Oxford, Hall shows determination to study, write, and publish. As an older man, he struggles through the death of his beloved wife, poet Jane Kenyon (From Room to Room), and multiple health problems. His reward is a fax from the Library of Congress offering him recognition as the U.S. poet laureate from 2006 to 2007. Hall's resolve to dedicate his life to writing will be appreciated by those who love literature and those who aspire to be writers. This is a beautiful, compelling memoir; recommended for all academic and large public literature collections.—Joyce Sparrow, Juvenile Welfare Board Children's Svcs. Council, Pinellas Park, FL

Light (Forever England: Femininity, Literature and Conservatism Between the Wars) takes a different approach to Virginia Woolf by examining not only her life but also the lives of the domestic servants who worked for her. She provides an interesting social history of the maids, cooks, and other domestics who served Woolf and her family, interspersing their stories with Woolf's. Born into a wealthy family, Woolf never knew a world without domestic help, but she often struggled with her employees. The five lengthy sections focus on the different servants who worked for Woolf. The writer and her family left a plethora of letters, but the domestics in their employ left little correspondence or memoirs, which made presenting their side of the story challenging. Light, whose grandmother worked as a kitchen maid, succeeds in describing the hardships of a domestic's life. This literary Upstairs/Downstairs is recommended for all academic libraries that support English literature and English history collections.—Erica Swenson Danowitz, Delaware Cty. Community Coll. Lib., Media, PA

In this fast-paced volume of reminiscences, acclaimed author McMurtry (Lonesome Dove) shares his lifelong love affair with books—not those he has written but those he has scouted, purchased, traded, kept, or sold. Starting with a gift from his cousin of 19 books, McMurtry has amassed a personal collection of about 28,000 books and estimates that in his career as an antiquarian book dealer he has owned approximately one million books. With remarkable clarity, he gives his readers a glimpse into the world of a bookman—its eccentric characters (one dealer would allow him to look at his books only through binoculars), its thrills (landing a copy of The Great Gatsby for $12 and years later learning that a similar copy sold for $168,000), and its disappointments (finding a perfect copy of a Nathanael West novel only to realize that the back cover had been gnawed away by rats). McMurtry notes sadly the decline of secondary booksellers, the increased use of audiobooks, and the growing presence of computers in libraries. Yet he expresses his belief that the love of books and the love of reading will never die. Anyone who reads this memoir will surely agree. Recommended for all libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 3/15/08.]—Anthony Pucci, Notre Dame H.S., Elmira, NY

One could easily argue that these essays by Mendelsohn (The Lost) are a critic's criticism. Trained as a classicist, with graduate work in Latin and Greek, he states that he is more interested in writing about popular-culture interpretations of classical texts than about the actual classics. His breadth is quite impressive; he tackles female characters in the work of Pedro Almodóvar, the HBO series Angels in America, and the films The Hours, Kill Bill: Volume I, Brokeback Mountain, World Trade Center, United 93, and more. Within a theater section, he examines The Producers, Private Lives, and recent stagings of classic Greek dramas in New York. Mendelsohn's writing is bold; he is not afraid to be in the minority, for example, when he offers a searing treatment of Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones in the sarcastically titled "Novel of the Year." Entertaining, thought-provoking, and often controversial, this book is not for the masses but for those who find pleasure in diving into literary criticism. Recommended for large academic and public libraries.—Stacy Russo, Chapman Univ. Libs., Orange, CA

Award-winning Scottish poet Paterson (Orpheus; Landing Light) here compiles aphorisms originally published in his prior collections The Book of Shadows and The Blind Eye: A Book of Late Advice. Paterson aphorizes in his introduction: "Reading a book of aphorisms diligently in the sequence they appear makes about as much sense as eating a large jar of onions diligently in the sequence they appear; and no one should try to finish either in one sitting." He's quite right: a little goes a long way. Ranging wildly in topics (e.g., "Imagining the worst is no talisman against it"; "The blush: what evolutionary advantage do we gain in the publication of our embarrassment? But then the secret shame rarely had much effect on my future conduct"), his collection affords readers many pleasant hours with this often forgotten and deceptively simple cousin of the poem. Worth considering for academic or public libraries with extensive literature collections; optional for others and those that own Paterson's older books of aphorisms, from which these are culled.—Felicity D. Walsh, Emory Univ., Decatur, GA

Best-selling author and National Book Award nominee Roiphe (Lovingkindness) and her husband, Herman (known here as H), had been married 39 years when he collapsed and died suddenly. As Roiphe tiptoes into her new life, each event triggers a memory of H. He enjoyed cooking and did most of the shopping, so eating and going to the grocery store bring painful memories. Likewise, Roiphe had never figured out how to unlock their apartment door—H always did that—so entering and leaving home becomes another obstacle to overcome. Although friends and family invite her to lunches, dinners, and plays, Roiphe seems preoccupied with finding another male companion. She includes here detailed accounts of her numerous emails, phone calls, and dates with every available man she meets. This single-minded need to find a male companion seems strangely out of character for the feminist author. While her memoir serves an important purpose by bringing light to the often hidden subject of grief, the parade of possible suitors she presents weakens its impact and limits its appeal. Recommended with some reservations for large public collections. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/15/08.]—Nancy R. Ives, SUNY at Geneseo

Hard on the heels of Sarah Caldwell: The First Woman of Opera, Daniel Kessler's engrossing biography of opera conductor/director Caldwell (1924–2006), comes this reminiscence dictated to Matlock over a three-year period. Caldwell shares insights into the running of opera companies, including deciphering the intricacies of personnel issues, choosing and adapting set designs, addressing deteriorating buildings and other venue situations, conducting in a male-dominated world, and dealing with political machinations in such arenas as the Philippines, the former Soviet Union, and Massachusetts. Throughout, she maintains an evenhanded approach and does not indulge in gossip or innuendo. Omitting anything more than cursory remarks about her family and other relationships, Caldwell illuminates the portion of her life devoted to opera, offering a few sidebars about related artistic endeavors. Matlock, who knew Caldwell through serving on the board of the Opera Company of Boston, has compiled a fluid text and provides introductions to each section that flesh out some family background and provide basic context. Recommended for all collections as a representation of what Caldwell wanted to share with her audience and as a balance to Kessler's title, for which he did not have the advantage of her cooperation.—Barry J. Zaslow, Miami Univ. Libs., Oxford, OH

Nearly 20 years after Ronald Reagan's presidency, his name means different things to different people. To some, it's the Berlin Wall, Reaganomics, or the Cold War; to those who knew his entertainment career, it's derisory reminiscences about Bedtime for Bonzo, the Gipper in Knute Rockne All American, or comedian Rich Little's mocking, rosy-cheeked, and head-shaking "Well…." Seeking to tie the entertainment and political sides of Reagan together and paint a more holistic portrait of the man, best-selling author Eliot (Cary Grant: A Biography; Down 42nd Street) succeeds in adding a little soul to a Hollywood career that has been undervalued if not entirely dismissed while setting the stage for what was yet to come. Although the book feels as though it is written too much in hindsight—Eliot's tendency to foreshadow and add melodramatic weight to occurrences occasionally gets the best of him—this is a valuable supplement to other biographies that focus more on Reagan's presidential years and is an important addition to large public and academic biographical and entertainment collections.—Ben Malczewski, Ypsilanti Dist. Lib., MI

Well-known jazz pianist and author Gioia (The History of Jazz) recently took a serious interest in blues music. Here, he begins with a brief explanation about the African roots of the music and discusses such non-Delta roots as minstrel shows, W.C. Handy, and Bessie Smith. Gioia then starts in earnest, describing the beginnings of the Delta sound with Charley Patton and former Parchman inmates Son House and Bukka White. He relates the stories of such obscure Delta artists as Tommy Johnson and Big Joe Williams before delivering the bulk of the book, which describes the lives and influences of Delta blues icons Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, B.B. King, and John Lee Hooker. Gioia ends with a chapter about the rediscovery of Delta legends by rabid blues collectors during the 1960s and then oddly leaps to 1990s performers such as Chris Thomas King and Junior Kimbrough in the last few pages. Gioia has read the essential books and spoken to blues scholars to provide a concise, fast-paced volume about Delta blues basics. Though presenting little new information and not geared for the blues fanatic, this is an excellent introduction to Delta blues for the novice and the general reader. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/1/08.]—Dave Szatmary, Univ. of Washington, Seattle

Goldberg has been CEO of several record companies, managed the careers of Nirvana, the Beastie Boys, and Sonic Youth, and produced various television programs and rock documentaries. This is a guy with an entire cocktail party's worth of stories to tell, and here he shares reminiscences about such performers as Bruce Springsteen, Kiss, and Led Zeppelin. He also takes a look at the industry, and it is not the romantic, artistic picture one might imagine. Instead, Goldberg shows us a sometimes dark business run by record executives, concert promoters, and artist management agencies that alternately stroke and squeeze musicians for a better return on their investments. Talented individuals would often transcend the focus on the bottom line; other times, genius was sacrificed for the almighty dollar. However, the theme that emerges is the deep insecurities felt by successful musicians and the need for managers and label execs to reassure them of their continued relevance and talent, a task Goldberg appears to have spent a lot of time performing. Recommended for music libraries and public libraries with strong media coverage. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/1/08.]—Eric C. Shoaf, Brown Univ. Lib., Providence

With a fan's enthusiasm and a scholar's scruples, Graves (English & humanities, LeMoyne-Owen Coll., Memphis; former editor, Rock & Roll Disc magazine) sets the record straight on the life and times of Robert Johnson and his influence on musicians since his passing in 1938. The myths aren't exploded but instead explained as the response of those who discovered his music, especially those young rock musicians who fell in love with it in the late 1950s and early 1960s. And that's the strong point of this book, where fact and fiction collide; in addition to shattering some ridiculous illusions about Johnson's life, the author convincingly shows that Johnson's skills as a musician and composer are what count. Fortunately, contemporaries of Johnson and those close to him left behind enough information to show what Johnson was really like, and Graves offers some useful items, as when he explains the value of the few validated photographs of Johnson. This book, which finally salvages Johnson's life from the myths surrounding it, is highly recommended.—William G. Kenz, Minnesota State Univ. Lib., Moorhead

James, bass player of the British group Blur—which rose to stratospheric fame in Britain and had varying degrees of success worldwide in the 1990s—has penned a roguish portrait of his hedonistic and compelling life that also illuminates the music and art worlds of the time. James recounts his childhood in middle-class England and the early years of Blur with tales of touring and promotional jaunts. As success and fame increase, his bustling social life takes center stage and is rendered with bons mots on topics ranging from art and travel to astronomy and cheese that illustrate a pleasure in discovery and an unabashed joy in living. James's amiable storytelling of a wild life lived without remorse concludes with the portrait of a man who has ultimately achieved stability and contentment. Fans of Brit pop and music of the 1990s will find this essential reading, but it should also appeal to those who appreciate popular culture, as James's writing transcends the traditional music memoir with freshness, humor, and pithy social observation. Recommended for larger public libraries.—Jim Collins, Morristown-Morris Twp. P.L., NJ

Film critic and author Kimmel (The Dream Team: The Rise and Fall of DreamWorks; The Fourth Network: How Fox Broke the Rules and Reinvented Television) dishes out movie recommendations with some interesting facts. He outlines 15 of what he considers to be the greatest romantic comedies and shows how they came together, detailing the casting, controversies, script changes, edits, and ironies that came into play. He also discusses how each movie was received and the subsequent career turns for those involved. There are many informative tidbits, like how Woody Allen's Annie Hall was an "incoherent mess," according to Kimmel, until editor Ralph Rosenblum sculpted it. Kimmel includes only one movie that was released this decade (Love Actually), so libraries that have his earlier Love Stories: Hollywood's Most Romantic Movies or Isn't It Romantic (both written with Nat Segaloff) may not need to add this one. Worth considering for public libraries with decent-sized collections of film books.—Lani Smith, Ohlone Coll. Lib., Newark, CA

Famed trumpet player, jazz composer, and artistic director of Jazz at Lincoln Center, Marsalis updates his earlier To a Young Jazz Musician and explains in lay readers' terms how jazz works as a diverse musical genre and, more important, how an understanding and appreciation of jazz can enrich one's life. In engaging prose (with some profanities in a few of the quotations from musician colleagues), Marsalis and Ward (coauthor, Jazz: A History of America's Music) discuss jazz as an expression of both personal identity and American identity as well as the role of race in jazz. The narrative addresses a wide-ranging audience quite well and will appeal to musicians (jazz and otherwise), jazz aficionados, and readers who just want to know what that thing called jazz is. Including a nice mix of autobiography, musical explanations, sociology, and advocacy for jazz in a culture that, according to Marsalis, is far too focused on the least common denominator in music, this work is highly recommended for all public and academic libraries. [See Prepub Alert,LJ 5/1/08.]—James E. Perone, Mount Union Coll., Alliance, OH

This extensive, thoroughly researched biography traces the life of John Lennon, who, nearly 30 years after his murder, remains one of the most intriguing and respected figures in popular music. Novelist and biographer Norman, who recounted the story of the Beatles in Shout!, focuses here on Lennon's life outside his legendary band, with particular emphasis on his subject's tumultuous, unconventional childhood, his strange and sometimes shocking relationships with and attitudes toward his parents, and his two very different marriages. Lennon's treatment of his discarded first wife and long-suffering, seafaring father are examined in rich detail, shedding new light on his complex personality. Norman investigates both Lennon the public figure and, more interestingly, Lennon the private man, revealing a uniquely talented and influential artist and activist who suffered from sometimes debilitating insecurity and abandonment issues that haunted him throughout his life. Exclusive new commentary from Yoko Ono, Paul McCartney, and sundry confidants and family members provides fresh insight to this accessible albeit lengthy work of popular biography. A highly recommended addition to any public library's music or biography collection. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/15/08.]—Douglas King, Univ. of South Carolina Lib., Columbia

In this eye-opening duel biography of the first and only interracial American comedy team, Reid and Dreesen share their own unique upbringings—overcoming the stigmas of poverty and prejudice and through sheer determination making a difference in many people's lives through a shared talent to entertain and educate. For five years, the duo dared to address the controversial, discriminatory realities of the 1960s and taught audiences to laugh at their troubles instead of joining the violence and destruction surrounding them. They were ahead of their time and paid the price for their efforts. After they split up as a comedy team, Reid was best known as Venus Flytrap on television's WKRP in Cincinnati and as the genius behind the highly respected but short-lived Frank's Place. Dreesen perfected his stand-up talents and was the opening act for Frank Sinatra for many years until his retirement from performing live concerts. A heartfelt memoir and a nice capsule history of growing up different, fighting the odds, and becoming successful on one's own terms, this is recommended for all libraries.—Richard A. Dickey, Washington, DC

Biographer Sandford (McCartney; Kurt Cobain) delivers the latest work to explore Roman Polanski, notoriously controversial director of Rosemary's Baby, Chinatown, and The Pianist. Recounted are many of the hideous events Polanski witnessed as a child in German-occupied Poland, from which he formed a worldview often reflected in his films. Sandford takes every opportunity to address the transformative events of Polanski's life, often initiated by Polanski himself; not surprisingly, the author speculates on the possibility that many a metamorphosis was, and is, intentional fabrication. Drawing from firsthand interviews with the director's associates and colleagues, as well as Polanski's autobiography, Roman by Polanski, Sandford writes this life-spanning survey with casual fluidity—seemingly appropriate for a man so well known for his nonchalant personal exploits. Stories of Polanski are seemingly always up for dispute and practically by default evoke conflicting views of his personal moral character. Nonetheless, Polanski's artistry is generally held in high regard, and Sandford's obvious knowledge and critical estimation of Polanski's work conveys a tough but appealing fairness that should be welcomed by scholars and lay readers alike.—Eric Pasteur, Peoria P.L., IL

White (political science, economics, & philosophy, Coll. of Staten Island/CUNY) and Arp (research associate, National Ctr. for Biomedical Ontology, Univ. at Buffalo; ed., South Park and Philosophy) use the story of a comic book figure—Batman—to deal with myriad philosophical questions. White contributes two of the 20 chapters, and the other 18 are written by various philosophy scholars. The writing in each chapter is engaging as the detailed story of Batman's fictional life and experiences unfold. The philosophical questions concern, e.g., the nature of personal identity; responsibility, or lack of it, for action, including the so-called insane act; free will vs. determinism; the nature of moral acts; social obligation; political commitment; and the ethics of right and wrong. Scattered throughout the chapters are pertinent insights from well-known philosophers of the past and present, including Plato, Aristotle, Kant, Kierkegaard, Heidegger, Hobbes, Nietzsche, and Wittgenstein. There are extensive footnotes for each chapter so that readers can turn to original sources. This philosophical examination of Batman's actions through nearly 70 years of comic books, television shows, and movies is highly recommended for all libraries.—Leon H. Brody, Falls Church, VA

Boonin (philosophy, Univ. of Colorado, Boulder) argues against the theories that punishment may have good consequences and that victims are entitled to a measure of retribution. Readers will want to examine his arguments in detail, but, in short, he contends that punishment does intentional harm to people and is therefore wrong. Instead, he recommends restitution: those who break the law should be made to restore the property and happiness of those who have suffered. Obviously, murderers cannot restore life, and victims of rape cannot have the harm undone or their sense of security fully restored, but, he argues, something can be done to make the world a better place. However one assesses the arguments, though, it seems undeniable that some people need to be segregated because of their behavior. Although nothing in Boonin's argument appears to refute segregation as long as people are not harmed, it would be hard to distinguish it from punishment. The bibliography offers a rich choice of works on rival theories, but nonprofessional readers will do best to have in hand the long-established standard review of all the traditional arguments, A.C. Ewing's Morality of Punishment (1929). This book is intended for academic philosophers, but it should attract a wider audience.—Leslie Armour, Dominican Univ. Coll., Ottawa, Ont.

Gross (sociology, Harvard Univ.) uses the life and thought of highly regarded, if controversial, philosopher Richard Rorty (1931–2007) to propound a sociological theory about the intellectual development of academic humanists and social scientists. The resulting book is as much about a detailed theory of the sociology of ideas as it is about the life, thought, and career of the philosopher. Gross effectively covers the main phases of Rorty's professional life, from his childhood as the only child of left-leaning parents, enrollment at 15 for a master's degree at the University of Chicago, and Ph.D. studies in philosophy at Yale to his turn away from hard-core analytic philosophy to the broader subject concerns found in the humanities. Rorty's relationship with his parents is told in captivating and pertinent detail, but the biographical information concerning his later life is limited, which prevents this from being a full biography. Aside from these considerations, this study is essential for academic sociology, philosophy, intellectual history, and biography collections in academic libraries, as well as for public libraries collecting comprehensively in those subjects. Highly recommended.—Leon H. Brody, Falls Church, VA

Kingwell (philosophy, Univ. of Toronto; In Pursuit of Happiness: Better Living from Plato to Prozac) here gives an account of modern cities while also offering a critique of postmodernist architecture. He uses the points he makes about cities to discuss issues in the theory of knowledge and metaphysics, paying the most attention to problems of consciousness. Kingwell has a good eye for details: he discusses, e.g., the properties of concrete, the technique of walking in New York, and the significance of the Manhattan eruv, an accommodation that allows religious Jews to carry on the Sabbath. His account of cities, which concentrates on Shanghai as well as New York, emphasizes thresholds and throws into question the sharp separation between interior and exterior in buildings. Kingwell criticizes postmodern architects such as Rem Koolhaas for having become less revolutionary, and more cynical, than they once had been. He extends his criticism of sharp boundaries to challenge the Cartesian self; here he has been much influenced by Gilbert Ryle. An extensive bibliographical essay concludes this excellent book. Highly recommended for philosophy, urban, and architecture collections.—David Gordon, Bowling Green State Univ., OH

Žižek, (Inst. of Sociology, Univ. of Ljubljana, Slovenia) brings his hallmark erudition, acerbic wit, and compelling use of pop culture to a focused discussion of what amounts to the human will to violence. In half a dozen movements arranged like formal music, he discusses by turns the stripped-down realities of liberalism, fascism, and true fundamentalism (such as that of the Amish); the role of Israel's identity on the world political stage; the Paris riots of 1968; the concept of neighbor as ultimate Other; and so on. Reaching back politically only to the Nazi era and philosophically to Kant, this discussion is grounded in the present and directs readers to consider the counterposed violences of doing evil and doing nothing. Žižek's interests and writing style offer easy enough intellectual access for a wide audience of undergraduates and college-educated lay readers; his book could become an essential campus read, but his theories go beyond the academic and should be brought to the attention of anyone concerned with converting social relations policies from any core of violence. [This title and Steven Lukes's Moral Relativism are the first volumes in Picador's new "Big Ideas/Small Books" series.—Ed.]—Francisca Goldsmith, Halifax P.L.s, N.S.

"Oh, deliver me from the familiar,/from the old maps and their destinations/that are pre-destinations, nothing more." In this first collection, Blake has found her own way to answer her prayer: she confronts the ordinary in her life and changes its course, its importance, through keen consideration and well-chosen words. Blake's skills rest not only in her blend of colloquial and exacting diction with a sharp ear and enticing music but also in her delightful way of seeing the everyday: "Love will pitch a tent anywhere—…./Marriage vows to build a home." The new bride in her new Eden, shopping the aisles and naming the incidentals for house and family, is a lot like Eve, who "knew the word fruit/but not its implications." The answer to Blake's prayer is not as simple as it might appear, though. Daughter, wife, mother: this is a web in which it is difficult to move about. Ultimately, this collection celebrates the charm and grace that belong to domestic life, the world in which love has built its house. A smart and thoughtful collection; highly recommended.—Louis McKee, Painted Bride Arts Ctr., Philadelphia, PA

"This love for the petty things,/part natural from the slow eye of childhood,/part a literary affectation" is endemic to these poems by former poet laureate Collins. Collins takes aim with wit and irony to attend the ordinary as well as the extraordinary. Some poems are written in Paris, where, in one, the poet imagines completing Paul Valéry's wandering, abandoned poems. Some are conscious of themselves, addressing the notion of the reader as well as the writer: "Where are you, reader,/who have not paused in your walk/to look over my shoulder/to see what I am jotting in my notebook?" And some address larger issues: the passage of time, death, life's purpose. "Crashing through the iron gates of life/is what it's all about," the poet decides as he stretches out on the carpet in service to the day he has chosen to seize. "Poetry is a place where both [listening and being listened to] are true at once,/where meaning only one thing at a time spells malfunction." In these poems, readers will find Collins honoring both with bits of wisdom and considerable delight. Essential for contemporary poetry collections.—Karla Huston, Appleton Art Ctr., Appleton, WI

The title of Ford's second poetry collection (after Deposition) refers not only to the Roman ruin but also the Colosseum Theater, a neighborhood movie house in the Garden District of New Orleans that burned down six months after the floods of Katrina. Ford reveals the origins of this story in a note at the back of the book, one of many helpful glosses of the sources she draws upon, from Genesis and Exodus to Tolstoy and William James. These poems take us as close as an outsider can get, layer by layer, through the artifacts and archetypes of our ruined cities and their inhabitants (she also visits Rome, Beirut, and Saigon). The speaker herself tells us, in a poem called "What We Get," "I wanted the far away. I wanted not to feel/caught," catching us by the unexpected line break. In "The Snakes," the serpents do not signify the fall from grace, though they can be read that way, and acts of nature need not be read as acts of God. Ford's work is strongly reminiscent of Carolyn Forché's The Angel of History and deserves the same level of recognition. Highly recommended for public and academic libraries.—Sue Russell, Bryn Mawr, PA

Several poems in this latest book from PEN/Voelcker award winner Gregg (In the Middle Distance) allude to the tragic love story of Orpheus and Eurydice, suggesting the overall tone. Including new works as well as selections from previous volumes, these free-verse poems generally progress from growing up to growing old, with the early poetry reminiscing about a six-year-old and her feeling of being connected to all things and the later poems musing on unbelief, death, and hell. As Gregg ages, she feels the loss of friends, father, and lovers and the betrayal of her husband and tries with mixed success to put this state into words. Some of the poems are marred by Gregg's tendency to indulge in abstractions and profundities: "Presence gives," Gregg writes. "Absence allows and calls, until presence holds the invisible weeping" ("The Apparent"). More attention to the specific nouns inspiring the concept would have helped. When the poems are good, they use vivid metaphors grounded in nature, from the sinuous motion of a copperhead snake to the ragged migration of salmon. Calling on W.C. Williams's haikulike lines as well as Amy Lowell's imagism, Gregg is at her best employing understatement and concrete details. Suitable for larger public libraries.—Diane Scharper, Towson Univ., MD

The author of numerous volumes and recipient of the Pulitzer Prize, Komunyakaa (Neon Vernacular) is among the most prominent contemporary poets writing in English. The poems that comprise his new collection provide an astonishingly panoramic view of the totality of war. Its first section is a series of loose sonnets written about battles and conflicts, which take on an added note of irony when we consider that many of the earliest sonnets were love poems. Poems of the second section treat the very implements of war, those things that rely on human agency to animate them. Here we find poems about helmets and catapults (the tools of combat), poems on opium poppies (which finance armed conflict), and even a poem that considers Picasso's famous painting Guernica. But it is the final section, in which Vietnam veteran Komunyakaa writes the story of his alter ego, a split self who was born, grew up, went to war and emerged, that is perhaps this book's finest achievement. Strongly recommended for public and academic libraries.—Chris Pusateri, Jefferson Cty. P.L., Lakewood, CO

While it's usually poets who try their hands at writing novels, Laird (Utterly Monkey) is an example of a successful novelist who tries his hand at poetry. Although this is Laird's second collection of verse, the formal characteristics of this volume have as much in common with prose as with poetry. Laird's pieces often tell the story of an object, which he then backlights with narrative, spinning a tale about each. Reading these poems is a bit of Proust's madeleine: the object acts as pretext for a story that in some way relates to events in the narrator's past. Rather than focus on the word or the line, Laird emphasizes the sentence as the primary linguistic unit, which gives his pieces an overall coherence, sometimes at the expense of immediacy. However, this collection holds together well, and unlike many books of poetry, it gets stronger as it goes. Recommended as a supplement to the poetry collections of larger academic and public libraries.—Chris Pusateri, Jefferson Cty. P.L., Lakewood, CO

The poems in this first collection focus on wide-ranging subjects: love, citizenship, our consumer lifestyles, even the process of writing itself. Strongest are the love poems, particularly "After Sappho V," which records a failed relationship: "you led so many/onward and if when they arrived/they found themselves/alone, aflame—//…why blame the fire/for its damage?" McLane has a keen eye for everyday objects, as when "Jargon of experts washes o'er the perfectly stacked Special/K, Cheerios, Wheaties, Apple Jacks and Count Chocula," and she composes with humor: "we video'd our way from thing/to thang to thong." Some poems don't live up to the promise of their titles (e.g., "Excursion Susan Sontag"), others use simplistic rhymes ("what am I/if I lie//below the earth/below the sky), and several poems critiquing our leaders and lifestyles can sound too shrill. Granted, political poetry is extremely hard to do well, and McLane does take chances and push her poems in new directions. The poems that enchant most are short, use everyday language, and have metaphors that ring true: "grass the blades'/imprint/my cheek/my thigh." We see the physical world and relish it. Recommended for most collections.—Doris Lynch, Monroe Ctny. P.L., Bloomington

"All summer I made friends/with the creatures nearby…." Oliver's latest volume offers new and previously collected poems, as well as two essays, celebrating all manner of critters and the worlds they inhabit. From the small, the curious, and the commonly overlooked—grasshoppers, snow crickets, and whelks, for example—to the wild and intimidating, like coyotes, and, of course, the possibly mythical bear that haunts the Truro woods, the natural world is made more real and dangerous and, yet, inexplicably inviting in these poems. A prose piece tells about how "In a corner of the stairwell of this rented house a most astonishing adventure is going on," and accounts the details of a nesting spider; while a poem tells, not "about foolishness,/but about how I rose from the ground/and saw the world as if for the second time" after near-death by alligator. There is even a baker's dozen of poems about Percy, her dog, a lovable recurring character in her work. In all, this book is an affirmation: "everything,/even the great whale,/throbs with song." Recommended for all contemporary poetry collections.—Louis McKee, Painted Bride Arts Ctr., Philadelphia

National Book Award finalist Young (Jelly Roll) energizes the poems in his latest collection with subtle and not-so-subtle references to songs as well as to biblical passages. The book's title alludes to Simon and Garfunkle's "The Sounds of Silence" (1965), which was partly inspired by the assassination of JFK. Occasioned by the death of Young's father, these poems muse on the disconnections of life, generally using free association with religious, historical, and racial undertones, though there are a few list poems. Divided into several sections, this book asks the question, How does losing a parent affect one's view of life and even of one's deepest self? In answer, Young recounts scenes from his own childhood as well as his father's illness, death, funeral procession, and bereavement dinner. Reminiscent of Marc Connelly's play, "The Green Pastures," the final section contains a series of informal odes to various foods that would be found in a picnic. Ultimately, the collection effectively becomes an exercise in soul-searching even as it eulogizes Young's father. Highly recommended for all libraries.—Diane Scharper, Towson Univ., MD

Bronfman, a philanthropist and former CEO of the Seagram Company, along with college writing instructor Zasloff, highlights strategies for a Jewish spiritual and cultural renaissance in North America. Noting the option of assimilation and high rates of intermarriage, Bronfman exudes confidence that both Jews and their non-Jewish loved ones will embrace Jewish tradition if given a nonthreatening way to discover it. Emphasizing that Jewish identity relates to both religious and cultural experience, Bronfman promotes choices to maintain either type of Jewish identification. Outreach vehicles he discusses include Jewish camps, trips to Israel, campus activities for college students, graduate scholarships, and Jewish information resources not promoting one denomination. Bronfman's management background shows in the sober, straightforward tone. Yet personal and professional anecdotes abound, and Bronfman includes lengthy quotations from interviews with other philanthropists, rabbis, and scholars. Libraries requiring a more scholarly work can consider American Jewish Identity Politics, a forthcoming book of essays about Jewish identity edited by Deborah Dash Moore. Bronfman's title is recommended for large public libraries and Judaic studies collections.—Marianne Orme, Des Plaines P.L., IL

This well-written, scholarly book provides an overview of aspects of Islam that may be unfamiliar yet of interest to contemporary Jews. Starting with a survey of Islamic history, this text focuses on the role Jews played during the emergence of Islam. The middle section explains the Islamic religious system through an explication of Islamic theology, scripture, literatures, tradition, and religious law. The last part gives the non-Muslim reader insights into how Islam is practiced. Firestone (The Blackwell Companion to the Qur'an) investigates how Islam views non-Muslims, specifically, Jews, Christians, and other "people of the book." A chapter titled "The Five Pillars of Islam" examines the role of prayer, ritual, and fasting and the importance of pilgrimage, while a separate chapter explains the importance of jihad as elaborated in the Koran. The Muslim relationship with Jews and Islam's response to Jewish texts make this book particularly interesting and relevant today. Although much of the text depends on Firestone's interpretations of Islamic texts, the book is well documented, and the author approaches the subject objectively and thoughtfully. The glossary at the end will prove useful to readers new to the subject. Recommended.—Herbert E. Shapiro, Empire State Coll. of SUNY, Rochester

A growing interest in Christian heresies and heretics is reflected in the increasing numbers of publications in the area in the last two decades, including two subject encyclopedias (Leonard George's Crimes of Perception and Chas S. Clifton's Encyclopedia of Heresies and Heretics). Frassetto (history, Univ. of Delaware; Heretic Lives) admirably demonstrates that many who were declared heretics have much to teach us and some may not have been as far from orthodoxy as originally thought. He argues that those who rejected sacred and secular authority and traditions, though with intent to reform, were threats that the society of the time could not ignore. Frassetto covers 500 years of figures who influenced the Western European church and state from the year 1000 through Schism and Crusades, including Bulgarian preacher Bogomil; canons Stephen and Lisois of Orleans; Henry the Monk in Lausanne; Waldensians, Cathars, and the Italian Apostolic Brethren; and John Wyclif in England and Jan Hus in Bohemia. Marguerite Porete is the only woman represented. Supported by a chronology and bibliography, this history will be of interest for academic and religious history collections.—Anna M. Donnelly, St. John's Univ. Lib., Jamaica, NY

Independent scholar Levenda (Unholy Alliance: A History of Nazi Involvement with the Occult) has been studying and writing about occult history for more than a decade. Here, he looks deeply into the astrological/astronomical roots of the occult tradition as well as at the related theme of an adept's celestial ascent through seven stages. Central to the narrative are the North Pole Star (Polaris) and those stars around the pole that never set, in particular, the seven stars of the Big Dipper. Scholarly, complex, and reliant on a thorough knowledge of occult history, Levenda's book is not always easy to understand and will not appeal to casual readers. Moreover, longitudinal studies of this sort are open to the charge that the author is selectively choosing favorable elements to include while omitting mention of things that disprove the case. Every culture can be interpreted from widely disparate viewpoints. This study is recommended for academic libraries and public libraries with strong religion collections.—James F. DeRoche, Alexandria, VA

Freedom requires more than political and economic liberty; it requires, argues lay theologian Ramachandra (Gods That Fail: Modern Idolatry & Christian Mission), "freedom from those definitions of the 'human' which take the form of oppressive world pictures…[i.e.,] images or metaphors that soon come to tyrannize over others." Deeply informed and writing with passion, Ramachandra challenges a number of ill-informed world pictures, commonplace images of science and culture that we often take for granted, while avoiding the American-culture-wars agenda of most evangelical works of this genre. He critiques the myth of terrorism from within the Christian tradition of just war, questions the coherence of the new atheism's characterization of religious violence, and argues that belief in human rights requires grounding in religious commitment. Likewise, he contends that a Christian understanding of multiculturalism is superior to that of political liberalism, that science is wrongly seen as promoting atheism, and that, despite its tendency toward academic elitism, postcolonial theory has important insights for a Christianity that is expanding in the Southern Hemisphere. North American readers, whether Christian or not, will benefit from the author's international perspective, wide reading, and judicious evaluation.—Steve Young, McHenry Cty. Coll., Crystal Lake, IL

Rynne (founder, Marquette Univ. Ctr. for Peacemaking) offers an interpretation of Jesus through the eyes and experiences of Mohandas Gandhi. Notable characteristics of Rynne's historical considerations are how the New Testament influenced Gandhi's initial decision to pursue nonviolence and how the teachings of Jesus inspired Gandhi's resistance tactics in South Africa and India. Rynne also presents four Christian theologians (C.F. Andrews, John Howard Yoder, Bernard Häring, and Walter Wink) who advocate nonviolent means of resistance, and he correlates their stances with Gandhi's outlook. Lastly, the author attempts to draw together Christian concepts of salvation with Gandhi's ideal of nonviolence; this section is the weakest, owing to a lack of recognition that Gandhi and Jesus are approaching nonviolence from different philosophical foundations. However, Rynne manages to overcome this fault to offer an impassioned plea for the implementation of nonviolent resistance in the modern world. A worthy addition to any library.—Dann Wigner, Wayland Baptist Univ. Lib., Plainview, TX

Prolific author Scharfstein's The Five Books of Moses: An Easy-To-Read Torah Translation (2005) was recently recommended by LJ for Hebrew school and family use, largely because of its clear and simple language and accessibility. Here, Scharfstein has taken his Torah translation, revised and updated his illustrations and introduction (which covers, e.g., Torah history and scholarship, holidays, and ceremonies), and added commentaries by classical and contemporary rabbinic commentators to over 2000 biblical passages. Although not all of the commentaries are attributed, all are easy to understand and help clarify this complex yet central text for readers from YAs to adults. Recommended for public and Hebrew school libraries—even those that own the 2005 translation—for its wealth of commentary; also recommended for interested families who did not purchase the previous text.—Marcia Welsh, Dartmouth Coll. Libs., Hanover, NH

Schwartz (The Two Faces of Islam: Saudi Fundamentalism and Its Role in Terrorism) presents a glimpse of the complex position of Sufism within Islam throughout history and around the world. Schwartz's history of the various schools of Sufism along with biographical passages of individual Sufi teachers and saints make up the greatest part of the text. Schwartz also includes his own impressions of Sufi holy places and shrines, giving portions of the text a travelog feel. He spends much of the book issuing polemics against Wahhabism because of Wahhabite antagonism that extends to extreme violence against Sufis and their places of study and worship. Schwartz concludes by limning the position of Sufis around the world today, and this is where he hints at global harmony. He contends that Sufism cannot be co-opted by Western governments, but, if recognized as something beyond folk religion and supported, may have the power to effect change from within. Schwartz's effort to clarify the intricate tradition of Sufism for the general public makes his complex book worthy of purchase by most libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 4/1/08.]—Eric Norton, McMillan Memorial Lib., Wisconsin Rapids, WI

It's been 36 years since Mark Spitz won a record seven gold medals in swimming during the tragic 1972 Munich Olympics, and he remains a giant figure in the history of both competitive swimming and the Olympics. The iconic photograph of Spitz wearing his swimsuit and all seven medals was the best-selling poster of a sports figure until the late 1970s. Foster, the current president of United States Aquatic Sports and a former member of the U.S. Olympic Committee, takes the reader back to Spitz's turbulent youth, when he was seen by many as an arrogant jerk. Foster's balanced and meticulous retelling of Spitz's challenges, struggles, and triumphs is informed by extensive interviews with Spitz as well as his family, coaches, and competitors. Furthermore, the fine points of swim racing are discussed here, at times in overwhelming detail. While swimming does not generally garner the interest that other sports do, Spitz is perhaps the finest swimmer of all time, and his ongoing life is well recounted here. Recommended for collections focused on swimming or the Olympics.—John Maxymuk, Rutgers Univ. Lib., Camden, NJ

In his first book, Moore (president, Covenant Air & Water, LLC) writes of his late father, Gene Moore, a small-town boy who was said to have prodigious baseball talent and who was scouted by the Brooklyn Dodgers when he was still a teenager. Then Pearl Harbor intervened, and everything changed. Moore joined the navy and ultimately assumed a new role: as a guard for the German sailors caught from the captured and highly prized U-505 submarine (the submarine is now one of the most visited holdings of the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry). To pass the time, Moore taught these men how to play baseball and in the process learned a new role as a teacher. Owing to war injury and the passage of time, his talents may have faded (he did get a second look from the Pittsburgh Pirate organization after the war). This is a very touching book about new roles and second chances. The author has used fictionalized dialog to move the story along and increase readability. Both history (especially war) and baseball buffs will enjoy this work, which is recommended for larger collections.—Paul Kaplan, Lake Villa Dist. Lib., IL

Mortimer (former editor, SkateBoarder magazine; coauthor, The Mutt: How To Skateboard and Not Kill Yourself) has compiled interviews with important professional skateboarders in order to capture an oral history of the culture of the sport from its earliest days in the 1950s to the present. Included here are the pioneers, such as Jim Fitzpatrick, who first made skateboards from two-by-fours and roller-skate parts as a teenager in California. The stars of the sport are featured as well, among them Tony Hawk, Stacy Peralta, and Bob Burnquist. A former skateboarder, this reviewer was fascinated by the numerous photographs and the interviews, which capture the language and personalities of the individuals. Librarians seeking a general history of the sport and its subculture may want to consider Jocko Weyland's The Answer Is Never: A Skateboarder's History of the World in addition to this book. Highly recommended for any library with a strong interest in skateboarding and its culture.

Powell, editor of the European skateboarding magazine Sidewalk, offers a colorful and useful manual for mastering numerous skateboard tricks. Intended for riders of all ages, the book presents step-by-step breakdowns of skills illustrated with photographs of children around age 12; each step of a trick features a picture and a written description. Some tricks have additional tips in the corners of the pages to help riders get the most out of each move. The introduction features a brief history of the sport, a diagram of the parts of a skateboard, and descriptions of proper safety equipment. Appealing to beginners, this book is recommended for public libraries serving large skating communities.—Todd Spires, Bradley Univ. Lib., Peoria, IL

Perhaps it did not produce as seismic a reaction as, say, Tiger Woods declaring his retirement (shock waves!), but tremors were surely felt in the tennis world when #1 ranked Justine Henin recently proclaimed that it was time to hang up her racquets for good. So sudden was the announcement that author Ryan—a reporter and friend of the Belgian Henin family—quickly dispatched a postscript to this already completed book. While Ryan gives much expert coverage to Henin's brilliant, albeit short career (seven Grand Slam titles from 2003 to 2007), he also deftly describes how Henin's successes came despite mind-numbing family misfortunes and a long-standing feud with her brothers and father. As it turns out, yet another calamity—the 2007 near-death of her brother in an auto accident—brought the clan back together. Advice given early on by her mother, Françoise Henin, who died when Justine was just 12, seems to especially resonate today, and that is the importance of retaining a sense of balance alongside professional ambition. Publishing to coincide with the start of the U.S. Open, this is recommended for general and sports collections.—Howard Katz, Library Journal