Social Sciences

King Hussein bin Talal ruled the small kingdom of Jordan for 47 tumultuous years and became an influential figure in Middle Eastern and world politics. Ashton (senior lecturer, London Sch. of Economics and Political Science) and Shlaim (international politics, Oxford Univ.) have each produced substantial, well-researched studies praising King Hussein's efforts to bring peace and reconciliation to the Middle East. Both books demonstrate Hussein's skill at maintaining stability in Jordan, a country lacking natural resources, thus obliging its king to use intelligence, diplomatic skill, and personal charm to maintain its independence in the face of war and military incursions from Israel and political intrigue or threats from his Arab "allies." With a substantial Palestinian population, Jordan could not escape entanglement in the Arab-Israeli conflict. Hussein preserved the integrity of his kingdom by astute, often secret diplomacy with Israel and ongoing, mostly successful efforts to build regular communication and mutual respect with British and American leaders. His ability to sustain Jordanian independence was less than his lifelong dream, however, and he failed to achieve his vision of unifying the Arab world under the leadership of his family's dynastic rule. Both writers agree that although Hussein's resistance to joining the American-led coalition against Iraq's invasion of Kuwait in 1991 greatly undermined his favorable standing in the United States, his funeral in 1999 attracted mourners from all over the world, including four American presidents. Extensive interviews and archival research in Jordan and elsewhere enabled both authors to give us readable accounts of a fascinating political and diplomatic career, as well as an understanding of the thoughtfulness and personal graciousness that characterized the man. Libraries collecting in the history of the Middle East should have both these well-balanced and well-written studies, but if only one is possible, the Shlaim volume, with greater attention to the intricacies of Middle Eastern relations, would be most suitable for readers with a strong interest in the subject.—Elizabeth R. Hayford, formerly with Associated Colls. of the Midwest, Evanston, IL

Gartner (psychiatry, Johns Hopkins Medical Sch.) focused his previous book, The Hypomanic Edge, through a biographical-historical lens, on the mild form of mania that he believes can fuel outsized achievement in business, politics, and other fields. His new book is a single case study in hypomania, as for two years Gartner immersed himself in the life of Bill Clinton, reading the literature, interviewing dozens of friends and associates, and following the former President through Africa on a visit for Clinton's AIDS foundation. Like other biographers, Gartner finds that the dysfunctional family dynamics of Clinton's childhood explain a great deal, although many particulars and certainly the conclusion that Clinton is a moral hero differ from two earlier psychological studies, Paul Fick's The Dysfunctional President and Jerome Levin's The Clinton Syndrome. While some readers may consider reductive such observations as our Bosnia policy being a restaging of Clinton's relationship with his stepfather, all will be interested in details like Gartner's detective work that he believes has identified Clinton's actual biological father, and most will find the book an engaging combination of the clinical and the personal. Recommended for public libraries; optional for academic libraries.—Bob Nardini, Nashville

Jackson (senior pastor, University Christian Church, Cincinnati; editor, The Papers of Martin Luther King Jr. Vol. 6: Advocate of the Social Gospel, September 1948–March 1963) has written a convincing reinterpretation of the role of King in the Montgomery, AL, bus boycott of 1955–56. Jackson grants that King's inspirational oratory and ability to communicate to African Americans across class lines made him a powerful symbol and chief spokesman of the movement there. However, the black community in Montgomery had laid the groundwork through its organizing activities in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Local activists, white and black, including NAACP leader E.D. Nixon and Women's Political Council president Jo Ann Robinson, as well as civil rights lawyers Virginia and Clifford Durr and librarian Juliette Morgan, planted the seeds that flowered in the boycott. Jackson concludes that in many ways, King did not make the boycott movement; the blacks of Montgomery made him. Highly recommended for all major libraries.—Anthony Edmonds, Ball State Univ., Muncie, IN

The ultimate self-invented "new man" of the new world of 18th-century Europe, Casanova has become such a figure of legend that it requires a biography such as Kelly's to place him correctly in context. As a biographer, Kelly (Beau Brummell) has a flair for deconstructing what seems outrageous and inexplicable and making sense of a turbulent life. A citizen of Venice, Casanova was at home all over Europe, easily making inroads into the ranks of power and prestige via the church, the theater, and the aristocracy. His connections helped him in whatever pursuit he was engaged in at the time, be it espionage, literary aspirations, scams, or his constant and infamous seductions. The "facts" in Casanova's own autobiography often defy belief, but Kelly's deft handling of the historical facts separates truth from fiction and offers background information that counterbalances Casanova's claims. The book's contents are interestingly arranged into acts, scenes, and intermezzos that perfectly capture the theatricality and staged quality of Casanova's life. Although the biography does lose direction when it becomes a graphic and unpleasant catalog of sexual escapades, the historical overview of the man and the era is very well done. Recommended where interest demands.—Elizabeth Morris, Barrington Area Lib., IL

Lachman's (executive producer, Inside Edition) focus on the Lincoln family from after the assassination until as close to the present as a dwindling genealogy allows is not riveting reading. Did this family ever actually "rise"? Surely Lincoln is one of those isolates of history; his family's conduct over the next generations perhaps simply reflects the heartaches and character flaws so many of us share. So to some extent the book's troubles may be blamed on the descendants themselves, starting with Robert Todd Lincoln (1843–1926), the only one of Lincoln's children to survive to adulthood and a less than appealing personality. His part in the committal of his mother, the grief-stricken and volatile Mary Todd Lincoln, to an asylum is well known (and Lachman praises Jean H. Baker's Mary Todd Lincoln), as are her subsequent travels domestically and abroad. Lachman himself has to travel nearer and nearer to our time to cover bits of this depressing story that haven't been broadly addressed before. The moral: no one is of interest simply because she or he is descended from someone who was. Lachman himself may know this, which is why he strives to make something of a connection between a Lincoln descendant and lost highjacker D.B. Cooper. For public libraries wishing to extend the focus of their Lincoln collections.—Margaret Heilbrun, Library Journal

In this arresting hybrid of journalism and memoir Leech relates his experiences investigating political, economic, and drug-related stories throughout Latin America. The narrative is organized into 11 chapters, which parallel the 11 hours Leech was detained by the FARC, a Colombian guerrilla group, in 2006. Each chapter begins with details of Leech's captivity, which serve as introductions to broader stories, including the civil unrest and massacres in 1980s El Salvador; his meetings with government officials and paramilitary and guerrilla groups vying for power in Panama, Colombia, and other nearby countries; and the wavering effectiveness of the U.S. war on drugs. Along the way, Leech highlights the rampant human-rights violations in the region, the fumigation of cocaine plants, which also destroys other crops, and the large displaced civilian populations often caught in the cross fire. This enlightening book, which mixes a readable level of detail and background with personal narrative, should be in every library, public and academic.—Sarah Statz Cords, Reader's Advisor Online

Was Jack Slade (1831–64) a murderous gunfighter of the Old West, as depicted by Mark Twain in Roughing It, or was Twain off the mark? Journalist Rottenberg takes the results of research by a small group of amateurs who have been digging through records and carefully examining books for mentions of Slade and adds them to his own efforts to present a portrait of a wagonmaster, Overland Mail division superintendent, and at times a hapless drunk. The first two occupations earned Slade a small fortune, the last cost him his life, hanged by a group of vigilantes in Montana. Rottenberg shows Slade in all his complexity, delineating how his skill at keeping the stagecoaches and mail moving was a factor in keeping California in the Union. He examines how the myths and legends surrounding Slade originated and were propagated, sometimes with the aid of Slade himself. Since Slade left no letters or other writings, Rottenberg fills in with discussions of the times, occasionally becoming so immersed in the era that the reader loses sight of Slade. This won't matter to Western history buffs or general readers, but the record here isn't substantial enough for academics. Recommended for public libraries and comprehensive collections on the West.—Stephen H. Peters, Northern Michigan Univ. Lib., Marquette

Art is not the first thing that comes to mind when one thinks of the New York Times, but it appears to play a very important journalistic role in communicating editorial ideas, even at a subconscious level. Kraus, an art director at the Times for 30 years, provides a detailed analysis of the art on the Op-Ed page, from its inception in 1970 to today. The 306 images are arranged by decade, and the text is divided into short sections that focus on a variety of themes related to the images, the artists, and editorial practices. Kraus draws on her 13 years as the art director of the Op-Ed page to share an insider's view of the editorial and political processes of the newspaper and includes several images that were never published in the Times. Using text and images, she shares her passion for visual communication. Readers will be entertained and come away with a deeper appreciation of the power of illustration. This book belongs in public libraries that subscribe to the Times and in most academic libraries.—Judy Solberg, Seattle Univ. Lib.

The Web 2.0 innovation LinkedIn (www.lindedin.com) has gained huge popularity as a professional networking tool and is often considered the key to success for businesspeople and job seekers today. In fact, all Fortune 500 companies are already part of this service. Butow (CEO, Butow Communications Group) and Taylor (cofounder, TalentPlanet) show how to use LinkedIn strategically to communicate and to gain competitive advantage. The 12 chapters supply detailed and practical instructions for functions such as registration, profile creation, and the management of contacts, leads, and recommendations. In addition, members are offered guidance about proper business etiquette and for using LinkedIn to its full potential, especially with regard to recruitment, job seeking, and business intelligence. Unfortunately, the many screenshots contained in the text are too small and, therefore, virtually unreadable. Nevertheless, this informative text is well written; because of its value to business and human resources professionals and to individuals developing their careers, it is recommended for all academic and public collections.—Caroline Geck, MLS, MBA, Somerset, NJ

The growth of email and text messages, among other innovations, has made time management at work more of a challenge. Keeping up with all of this simultaneous communication can become counterproductive. Business coach Crenshaw (founder, Fresh Juice Strategy) addresses the myths about multitasking and argues that it can in fact cost valuable time to employees. Crenshaw frames his book in the form of a fictional case study: "Phil," a consultant, is about to meet with the manager of retail clothing chain "GreenGarb: Clothes Mother Nature Intended" about improving employees' time management skills. Crenshaw's point is that the notion of multitasking is a false construct that costs both time and money. In fact, employees are "switch tasking" (switching back and forth between two or more tasks). Crenshaw claims that "background tasking" (doing two or more tasks, with only one of them requiring mental effort) could be more efficient and effective. Currently, employees lose time owing to interruptions by coworkers, distractions from new technologies, lack of attention to colleagues when they are speaking, and juggling home and work. The author also provides exercises for employees to measure their efficiency and effective use of time. Bibliographic citations are included, but a glossary would have been helpful. Overall, readable and thought-provoking; recommended for public and academic libraries.—Lucy Heckman, St. John's Univ., Jamaica, NY

These authors both hold senior positions at Young & Rubicam (Y&R), part of the largest ad agency holding company in the world, WPP Group. Their book sounds an alarm based on a gap in value between how consumers and investors perceive brands. The authors have a proprietary research tool that they use to measure value, and they've found that investors reward companies with greater brand awareness, even if consumers don't see much utility. The book presents recommendations on how to close the gap between consumer and company perceptions. Many other books present theories about branding. Al and Laura Ries's The 22 Immutable Laws of Branding offers a hands-on approach to branding, focusing on what works and not necessarily why, while Janelle Barlow and Paul Stewart's Branded Customer Service attacks the problem of branding from the view of the customer experience. David A. Aaker and Erich Joachimsthaler's Brand Leadership's more quantitative approach and academic perspective can be compared most closely to this new book. The Brand Bubble is appropriate for a business school or corporate library and will be useful to marketers as well as investors.—Stephen E. Turner, Turner Devaughn Network, Abington, PA

Author and senior loan officer Reed (Mortgages 101; Mortgage Confidential) is back to impart advice and insider tips for people finding themselves in the current rush to refinance. Here, he skillfully outlines the process from start to finish, examining refinancing with a dollars-and-cents formula to calculate recovery time and providing an overview of the different mortgage programs and vendors available today. Helpful advice, like requesting to review the title report and appraisal, is included throughout. Reed also dispels many common misperceptions surrounding the mortgage industry, such as competitive interest rates, online lead generators, and aggregator sites. Negative-amortization and subprime loans are briefly explored but could have been developed further. Still, the author ably provides concrete counsel for obtaining rate quotes and picking a loan officer and does a good job of showing how to compare apples to apples in an attempt to determine the best deal available. Predatory lending and loan fraud are also discussed. This title would serve as a nice post—subprime mortgage crisis update for real estate finance collections. Recommended for all public libraries.—Tracy Mohaidheen, M.L.I.S., West Bloomfield, MI

The 2007–08 subprime financial crisis is the jumping-off point for Smick's (Johnson Smick International) examination of current threats to global prosperity. He explains that although the subprime losses are small in the context of world financial markets, a lack of transparency has diminished investor confidence, dried up financial liquidity, and threatened the very foundations of our world financial system. He says that the growth of global financial markets has made it more difficult for central banks like the U.S. Federal Reserve to intercede effectively in times of crisis. Smick compares the subprime crisis to past events like the UK's forced devaluation of the pound in 1992 and Japan's economic stagnation in the 1990s. He warns of pending dangers like an overheating of the Chinese development juggernaut and the present calls for protectionism by U.S. politicians. He favors a global financial system built on transparency and trust. Smick's role for some 30 years as an economic adviser to central bankers and legislators of all stripes gives him a solid perspective on the global financial system. This summing-up of the subprime debacle and other global financial threats, aimed at general readers, is first rate; highly recommended for all public and academic libraries.—Lawrence Maxted, Gannon Univ. Lib., Erie, PA

Environmental historian and author of the well-received Larding the Lean Earth, Stoll (history, Fordham Univ.) here considers the life and ideas of the greatly deluded J.A. Etzler, a now-obscure utopian engineer whose influence during his peak in 1820s–40s Germany and America was nil. Etzler believed that inexhaustible earthly natural resources, to which value would be constantly added through technological innovation, fated poverty and inequality to obsolescence. History has not proven Etzler prescient, so it's puzzling that Stoll works so hard to make the case against Etzler's hyperconsumption gospel. The book suffers from disjointedness, with three related but mismatched essays—an intellectual biography of a less-than-scintillating figure, an overview of 19th-century environmental history, and a work of contemporary advocacy of conservation. Stoll's witty account of Etzler's unworkable "Naval Automaton," variously described as an engine or wagon by contemporaries, is the book's highlight. While the narratives are well done, the book is ultimately not fulfilling. Recommended with reservations for academic libraries.—Scott H. Silverman, Bryn Mawr Coll. Lib., PA

On a less than promising note, Watson, a self-proclaimed futurist writer and speaker, starts by back-peddling and reframing his book as a survey of 200 trends that will affect the next 42 years (presumably in order to go up to the half-century point). He has gleaned these emerging patterns from immersing himself in the popular media, a method he defends as a discipline with an everyman, anti-intellectual appeal. His predictions run from mundane (depleted oil reserves will be a problem) to trite (science will be the new religion) to facetious (memories will be erasable with a premoistened towelette called a mindwipe). He fails to provide facts, citations, or even arguments to support his meandering diatribe. One proclamation follows another, leading to an ambivalent conclusion that the future may or may not be a nice place to live. Each section ends with a postcard from the future that is apparently meant to provide comic relief. Unfortunately, more often than not they simply make obvious observations in a snide and petulant voice. Perhaps tellingly, Watson suggests "Further Reading" in lieu of citations or a bibliography. Not recommended.—Robert Perret, Univ. of Idaho, Moscow

As a highly successful entrepreneur who has been involved in a steady stream of successful business ventures, Wyly could have felt compelled simply to write the usual autobiography. Instead he also shares with the reader a set of universal lessons that he learned throughout his life and that he adroitly weaves into his story. Starting with his experiences growing up on a Depression-era cotton farm in Louisiana through his early days as salesman for IBM and Honeywell, Wyly lures the reader into his tale. The stories about his role leading companies such as Sterling Software, Bonanza Steakhouses, Michaels Stores, and Green Mountain Energy, among others, will also capture the attention of the general business reader. His description of his involvement in these ventures and the lessons he learned therein, when combined with business advice gleaned from years of interaction with such leading capitalists as Ross Perot, Michael Milken, and T. Boone Pickens, help to make this a solid business memoir; recommended for business collections.—Richard Paustenbaugh, Oklahoma State Univ., Stillwater

Murray (Losing Ground: American Social Policy, 1950–1980; coauthor, The Bell Curve: Intelligence and Class Structure in American Life) proposes four "simple truths"—ability varies, half of all children are below average, too many people are going to college, and America's future depends on how we educate the gifted—for parents, educators, and policymakers to confront. The current focus of the educational system, Murray contends, of educating all children to the same level and holding them to the same standards (i.e., No Child Left Behind) ignores these four truths and attempts to prepare most children to earn a B.A., though many of them are not suited for college and would be happier and more productive in different careers. He suggests that bachelor's degrees should be reserved for students with the ability and interest in careers requiring it and instead there should be a series of national certifications to show what a job candidate can actually do. Murray's argument is controversial but well researched. His book is highly recommended for public and academic libraries.—Mark Bay, Cumberland Coll. Lib., Williamsburg, KY

Most of us have heard the stories connected with the "Golden Age of Piracy," 1660–1725. Be they fictional or factual, the exploits of such famous buccaneers as Henry Morgan, Edward Teach (aka Blackbeard), and William Kidd as well as less-well-known figures such as King Baldridge, Thomas Tew, and Henry Every have permeated literature and history around the world. Burgess (Seize the Trident) recounts the stories of the political and business figures who supported these pirates and their voyages of plunder and murder, describing how the colonial governors in North America and the West Indies engaged in pirate brokering, selling privateering commissions that legitimized the armed seizure of treasure-laden ships as far away as the Red Sea. This was effectively state-sponsored piracy, and everyone profited from it—everyone except the English Crown, that is. An engaging story wonderfully told with solid research. Highly recommended.—David Lee Poremba, Keiser Univ., Orlando, FL

The stories of the United States and Great Britain are inexorably linked beyond the Colonial ties and shared language, a connection and relationship that form the basis of this original book by Burk (history, Univ. Coll. London). While there are numerous books about specific links between the countries (see, for instance, Christopher Hitchens's Blood, Class and Empire: The Enduring Anglo-American Relationship), Burk's study is vast and complex, assessing the total relationship. She ably addresses the political and diplomatic ties but really shines when discussing the cultural influences between the two countries; a fascinating chapter called "Nineteenth Century Travelers' Tales" explores the writings of British and American voyagers, including Charles Dickens and Mark Twain. The book is well researched—Burk used many archives on both sides of the Atlantic—and, though its heft may be intimidating, it is well written, with a strong narrative that reads like that of a shorter work. Highly recommended for all libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/15/08.]—Mike Miller, Austin P.L., TX

Carr (former director, Mystic Seaport; All Brave Sailors) presents a survey of the turmoil that led up to the American Revolution, including Bacon's Rebellion (1676), the Maine campaign of 1688, Queen Anne's War (1702–13), the War of Jenkins's Ear, and King George's War, both of the 1740s, all the while describing situations that demonstrate the growing strife between the emerging "Americans" and the often heavy-handed British officials. Carr is at his best when depicting specifics that colorfully illustrate the growing tension, such as the British practice of impressing sailors and the Casco Bay siege during Queen Anne's War. But the reader is left to wonder why Carr ends the book at 1750 and thus provides only a cursory overview of the French and Indian War, which arguably had the greatest impact on colony-crown relations, and King Philip's War. Despite these flaws, Carr's text provides a decent update to Douglas Edward Leach's Arms for Empire and Roots of Conflict. Recommended only for public libraries.—Matthew J. Wayman, Ciletti Lib., Penn State Schuylkill

Dando-Collins (Caesar's Legion) recounts the conflict between tycoon Cornelius Vanderbilt and adventurer William Walker over the control of Nicaragua from 1855 to 1857. Walker, with mercenary support, entered Nicaragua's civil war in 1855 on the side of the Democratico forces against the Legitimistas. Historians have seen the Tennessee native as wishing to reintroduce slavery to Nicaragua and encourage settlement by American Southerners. Dando-Collins claims that Walker initially acted out of personal ambition, seeking to emulate Sam Houston of Texas. Only after he was elected president of Nicaragua in 1856 did he turn to slaving-holding interests to support colonization and to bring in African labor. Dando-Collins's basis for his defense of Walker? That he came from a family hostile to slavery and there is no record that he supported the practice of slavery himself. Even if the paper trail is not there, Walker's willingness to reintroduce and thus expand slavery demonstrates tolerance for the institution and/or unscrupulous desire for power. His actions put him into conflict with Vanderbilt, who controlled a major portion of shipping routes that used Nicaragua as overland transit between the Atlantic and Pacific. After the Democratico government seized his company's assets, Vanderbilt, with the tacit encouragement of the U.S. government, supplied Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador with money for arms to depose Walker in 1857. While Dando-Collins presents the story readably, his questionable historical interpretation limits his book's value. Only for academic collections seeking comprehensive coverage.—Stephen Hupp. West Virginia Univ. Lib., Parkersburg

In 1943, Garland was on track to become a doctor like his parents when he conveniently flunked organic chemistry at Harvard and enlisted in the army, finding himself heading off to fight in Europe with the 45th Infantry Division (in which famed editorial cartoonist Bill Mauldin also served). Garland, who has authored many books relating to the history of the Cape Ann coast of Massachusetts (e.g., Down to the Sea), chronicles the division's journey from the landing at Sicily through the liberation of Dachau and then, some 60 years later, also seeks to come to terms with his experiences and those of his comrades. Part personal and collective memoir and part history, Garland's book is loaded with recollections compiled from interviews, diaries, drawings, and photographs that he neatly fits into the historical framework. His writing is highly engaging and shares the story of the 45th and its 511 days in combat and four amphibious landings, providing an excellent narrative history of the division during World War II, as well as a personal reckoning. A must have for any World War II collection, especially those focusing on war memoirs.—Patti C. McCall, AMRI, Albany, NY

In this thoroughly researched work of scholarship, Gildea (history, Oxford Univ.) argues that the French Revolution spawned two conflicting ideologies that dominated the course of French history from 1800 to 1914. Through the lives of five generations of French citizens, Gildea elucidates the seemingly irrevocable differences between these two opposing camps. The Monarchists viewed the Revolution as an abhorrent rebellion against legitimate authority, while the Republicans embraced the Revolution as the unfettering of human potential. This conflict became manifest through the turbulent events of 1815, 1848, 1851, and 1871 when French blood was shed to assert the conflicting legacies of the Revolution. Gildea (Marianne in Chains: Daily Life in the Heart of France During the German Occupation) maintains that this conflict permeated the entire fabric of French society, and it was only the unifying crisis of the Great War that finally ended the turbulent debate over the legitimate legacy of the Revolution. This thesis should generate controversy since historians like Julian Jackson (France: The Dark Years 1941–44) maintain that the divisive legacy of the Revolution survived beyond World War I and the conflict included Bonapartists, Socialists, and Communists as well as monarchists and republicans. Still, Gildea's book is a worthy addition to all comprehensive modern French history collections.—Jim Doyle, Rome, GA

Goodman (Jewish Food), "Food Maven" columnist for the Forward, encapsulates the enterprising city of New York's schemes and social fabric in an account of the penny newspaper, The Sun's 1835 series purporting to document life on the moon. Assisted by his own talents for fiction writing, Goodman shows how this new working-class organ, by printing fabrications rather than facts (as well as by pioneering the penny per copy press), became the most widely read newspaper in the world. Using magazines, memoirs, and guidebooks of the period, Goodman maintains that the radical English expatriate editor Richard Adams Locke devised the so-called moon hoax to satirize the claims of religious astronomers who believed that God had created extraterrestrial life. This is a rollicking read, perhaps better at conveying a lyrical feel for the time and place than for its scholarly analysis (for which see Sean Wilentz's Chants Democratic: New York City and the Rise of the American Working Class, 1788–1850). Lengthy biographical accounts of P.T. Barnum and Edgar Allan Poe, introduced in part to evince how deception and plagiarism characterized the period, while interesting, are extraneous and little related to the main story. Gracefully worded, footnoted, and with a bibliography, this book's appeal nevertheless is more to the general reader than to the academic. Recommended for public libraries.—Frederick J. Augustyn Jr., Library of Congress

Intense loyalty, painful separation, incredible hardship, and, above all, overriding love are all in Matthews's chronicle of his family's love-hate relationship with an evolving Russia. Moscow bureau chief for Newsweek, the author ably captures both the Soviet Union of the past and the present atmosphere of the new Russia. From his grandfather's execution during the Stalinist purges in the 1930s, through his mother's and aunt's deprivations in World War II, to his own fascination with the changing Russia of the 1990s, Matthews has created a testament to how deeply a country and a people can get into your blood. At its heart is the romance of the author's English father and Russian mother, who endured six years of forced separation on different continents, only to get married finally owing to their sheer diligence and strength of character. Interspersed are descriptions of Russian social life throughout the eras, meetings with KGB contacts, and the author's experiences in the Chechan war. Matthews is a consummate storyteller; that this family history is true makes it all the more enthralling. Recommended for public and academic libraries.—Maria C. Bagshaw, Ecolab, St. Paul

Mattson (history, Ohio Univ.) begins his history of the modern conservative movement in America with the mid-1950s. He argues that contrary to most views of the 1960s, the conservative movement was alive and well then and that conservatives during this period adapted the confrontational tactics of the Left. Later, during the 1970s and 1980s, they used the language of the Left to further their agenda. As an example, Mattson discusses the controversy surrounding academic freedom. He says that conservatives see a liberal bias on college campuses that they characterize as a "hostile learning environment," a phrase first used by liberals to describe perceived biases against ethnic minorities in education. Although the author makes clear that he is a liberal, the book is an objective history of modern conservatism, highlighting the work of William Buckley, Irving Kristol, and others. In the last chapter, Mattson discusses the consequences of the Right's adaptation of the Left's tactics. He says that politics has become a series of personal attacks, prompting more people to ignore politics altogether. He then offers advice for combating this problem. Recommended for academic libraries; public libraries will want to evaluate their collections before purchase.—Becky Kennedy, Atlanta-Fulton P.L.

To the 5000-plus titles in English that examine Hitler and the Nazi era must be added yet another tome, and one that is good. Mazower (program director, Ctr. for International History, Columbia Univ.) has produced an exceptional study of the Nazis and their quest for the control of Europe and its surrounding territory. Expanding on his Dark Continent: Europe's Twentieth Century, Mazower masterfully surveys how the Nazis successfully applied current military technology to accomplish the age-old Prussian goal of dominating the other European nations. The Nazis were effective at conquering (at least at the beginning) but were awful at managing their new subjects: despite their initial spate of victories in 1939–40, the Germans were ruthless masters and quickly lost any support their newly conquered peoples may have felt for them as rulers. Mazower sets his narrative within the context of how European thinkers envisioned empire building in the new 20th century, which puts a slightly different spin on the Nazis and World War II. An essential work; recommended for all collections.—Ed Goedeken, Iowa State Univ. Lib., Ames

Opper (curator, Greek & Roman sculpture, British Museum) curated the current British Museum exhibition on Hadrian, which this book accompanies. Both bring together artifacts from around the world, including stunning sculptures, bronzes, coins, mosaics, and fine interpretive texts about the man who was emperor of Rome from 117 C.E. to 138 C.E. Opper newly assesses Hadrian's legacy. Hadrian had to assert his legitimacy continually, as the product of the new elite arising out of Spain, and as the adopted successor of his military mentor Trajan. Opper lauds Hadrian's ability to bring stability to the empire through his stamina, military actions, constant travel through the provinces, and extensive building programs in Rome and beyond, e.g., the famous wall in England's north. The author repeatedly demonstrates the importance of architecture in Hadrian's vision for the Roman Empire, and here, for the first time, readers can see fragments of a colossal statue of Hadrian excavated in 2007 at Sagalassos in Turkey. There is also a moving array of artifacts from the Cave of Letters in Judea, where people hid during the Bar Kokhba revolt of 132 C.E. when the Jewish population rose up against Roman rule and were brutally defeated. Opper covers both Hadrian's devotion to his Greek male lover, Antinous, and his relationship with his wife, Sabina, and his adoption of Antoninus Pius as his successor. This striking, beautifully illustrated book belongs in all archaeology, history, and ancient art collections in academic, special, and large public libraries.—Joan W. Gartland, Macomb Community Coll. Libs., Warren, MI

History repeats itself, and Polner and Woods (The Politically Incorrect Guide to American History) remind us that both Leftist dissent against jingoism and Rightist opposition to governments swollen by war run throughout American history. The authors present writings by thinkers and activists, from the War of 1812 to the Iraq War. Daniel Webster thunders against the draft of 1814; Abraham Lincoln denounces President Polk's lies about the war in Mexico as "the half-insane mumbling of a fever dream." Even less controversial wars had opponents; included pieces range from the religious and pacifist writings against the Civil War to a statement from World War II draft—resister David Dellinger. The pieces are arranged chronologically and include moral and legal statements, accounts by activists and veterans, and the traditional letters written by mothers. The book would have been even more powerful had it featured writings by minorities and about the wars on American Indians. A five-page list of antiwar films is also included. Recommended for larger public libraries and all college libraries.—Duncan Stewart, Univ. of Iowa Lib., Iowa City

Properly, this is a history of the development of the American military rifle, a story that begins with frontiersmen bringing their personal weapons to the fight, then a government with varying degrees of reluctance developing the capability to arm large numbers of fighting men. Historian Rose (American Spies) is at his best with the Colonial, Revolutionary, and Civil wars, explaining in great but absorbing detail the intricacies of flintlock vs. musket vs. percussion rifle, smoothbore vs. rifling, muzzle loader vs. breech loader. He's intimate with the various pioneering gunsmiths and the growing trend toward industrialization of warfare throughout the 19th century. A constant theme is the endless, excruciating debate between those who desire an army of highly trained marksmen as opposed to those who plump for firepower. He's briefer and less convincing, though well documented, about the 20th century, particularly post—World War II armaments, although the development of the AR-16 as a challenger to the AK-47 makes an interesting comparison. Recommended for most libraries, this will find readers among historians, militarists, gun enthusiasts, and Americana buffs. Includes extensive footnotes and a lengthy bibliography. —Edwin B. Burgess, U.S. Army Combined Arms Research Lib., Fort Leavenworth, KS

When he came across a foolish young 16th-century aristocrat's confession of attempting to murder his wife and father by sorcery, Ryrie (church history, Durham Univ.; Britain Reformed: Religion, Politics and Society in Britain 1485–1603) discovered a fascinating way to introduce readers to the deeply entangled worlds of Tudor-era magic, medicine, and religion. The young man had himself been conned, and it is the story of the con man, a would-be physician and magician named Gregory Wisdom, that's at the heart of this book. Ryrie shows how Wisdom fits into the murky boundaries between medicine and fraud (he lacked university credentials) and probably met other con men frequenting Tudor England's notorious gaming houses and brothels during a time when the deadly new disease, syphilis, was increasing the demand for "medical" help. Ryrie discusses Widsom's medical schemes and how the belief in magic, whether the esoteric magic learned from Renaissance scholars or the more mercenary practices of small-time conjurers, was common even as successive Tudor rulers tried to control it. Ryrie's book skillfully illuminates an age when political upheaval and the turmoil of belief that accompanied the Reformation could make the magical claims of a fraud like Wisdom seem plausible. With detailed notes. Recommended for academic libraries.—Larry Milliken, Drexel Univ., Philadelphia

This fascinating, immensely readable book will be welcomed by both general readers and those interested in French culture. Using an impressive array of sources, Spawforth (ancient history, Newcastle Univ.; The Complete Greek Temples) re-creates the history of Versailles and its inhabitants, focusing not merely on architectural details but on the many human stories hidden within its lengthy past. Meticulously tracing the growth and changing usages of the palace from the days of Louis XIII to the ill-fated departure of Louis XVI in the upheaval of the Revolution, he offers vivid insights into a vanished world of royal and aristocratic splendor as he describes the clothing, rituals, habits, ceremonies, and entertainments of a social set obsessed with the "fetishes of rank." No detail appears to have escaped his purview as he looks at the court's dress codes, standards of service, etiquette rituals, and sanitary facilities. Even more important are the glimpses he provides into the lives of those servants and townspeople who made life at Versailles possible, individuals such as the "water waiter" who oversaw a kind of underground economy by redistributing leftovers from royal tables. This book thoughtfully analyzes how Versailles has been both a living community and a symbol of many things—royal magnificence, despotism, extravagance, isolation, and, finally, national pride. Most intriguing is the little-known story of what became of Versailles after the Revolution and the key role played by conservators like Pierre de Nolhac in preserving and reconstructing its history. Highly recommended for large public libraries.—Marie Marmo Mullaney, Caldwell Coll., N.J.

Here is a compelling narrative of an epic collision between two civilizations. In May 1798, Napoléon Bonaparte launched his ill-fated invasion of Egypt. Among his 40,000 invading troops (the Army of the Orient) was a small group of French scholars whom Napoléon included in the expedition for the sole purpose of examining all aspects of Egyptian culture. Although the French fought magnificently, the ravages of disease and British naval power brought them to their knees—but not before Napoléon's "savants" unveiled the grandeur of an ancient civilization and changed forever perceptions of the history of humankind. In this riveting account of that colossal campaign, British writer and philosopher Strathern ("Philosophers in 90 Minutes" series) evokes the incredible hardships endured by French soldiers in an unforgiving land. At the same time, he offers a poignant view of a Muslim society overwhelmed by invaders who brought death and destruction in the name of brotherhood and equality. Strathern's skillful use of memoir and other primary sources brings to life one of the most fascinating campaigns in military history. Libraries that have already purchased Juan Cole's Napoleon's Egypt: Invading the Middle East should still consider this more cohesive and less didactic account of a long-ignored Napoleonic misadventure. Specialists should also be intrigued by Strathern's analysis of the complex motives for France's invasion of Egypt. Highly recommended for both academic and public libraries.—Jim Doyle, Rome, GA

Between 1999 and 2003, 43 HIV-positive inmates died at Limestone Prison in Alabama. Fleury-Steiner (sociology & criminal justice, Univ. of Delaware) takes an in-depth look at the Limestone Prison case to demonstrate larger problems in the U.S. penal system. He argues that the Limestone deaths did not happen because of an isolated incident by a few ineffective administrators but rather because of a combination of circumstances that have become commonplace in many penal organizations: changes to national criminal law enforcement (e.g., the passage of the Prisoner Litigation Reform Act); increased pressure on politicians to get "tough on crime," which contributes to prison overcrowding; the trend toward privatization of prison health-care services; communication problems; decreased funding; understaffing; and an overriding emphasis on security that trumps medical care. The author hopes this detailed look at one institutional failure will provide lessons that may avert catastrophes at other institutions serving vulnerable populations. A list of prison advocacy organizations and a lengthy bibliography are useful additions. Recommended for academic criminology and management collections.—Tina Neville, Univ. of South Florida at St. Petersburg Lib.

In this work, Graebner (The Age of Doubt: American Thought and Culture in the 1940s) reconsiders the kidnapping and trial of heiress Patricia Hearst in the context of psychiatry, media, politics, and popular culture in the 1970s. The book is divided into two parts: the first half is a detailed recitation of the kidnapping of Hearst by members of the Symbionese Liberation Army, or SLA (an American self-styled urban guerrilla warfare group active in the 1970s); the crimes committed by her; and her trial and conviction. In the second part, titled "Reading Patty Hearst," the author concedes that no one knows why Hearst joined her SLA captors. He cites society's dismay with the chaos of the Nixon administration, the decline of the family, and the survival culture of the day. Patty's Got a Gun is a well-written, sophisticated speculation of why Hearst was convicted both by the jury and in the court of public opinion at the onset of the Reagan era. Readers looking for a livelier, more personal account should read Shana Alexander's Anyone's Daughter: The Times and Trials of Patty Hearst. For specialized collections.—Harry Charles, Attorney at Law, St. Louis, MO

Schechter (American literature, Queens Coll., CUNY; The Devil's Gentleman: Privilege, Poison, and the Trial That Ushered in the Twentieth Century) has put together a sweeping anthology covering the history of crime in America and showcasing some of the best American crime writing. Arranged by publication date, the selections are mostly magazine-length retellings of American crimes, including Puritan execution sermons, murder ballads, and cringe-worthy heinous accounts. The authors selected vary from the colonial (e.g., Benjamin Franklin) to the literary (e.g., Nathaniel Hawthorne, Mark Twain, Truman Capote) to current best-selling experts (e.g., Dominick Dunne, Ann Rule, Calvin Trillin, James Ellroy). The all-too-familiar tales are here—Leopold and Loeb, Charles Manson, Son of Sam—but Schechter also includes some stories that received less press and may be new to readers, like the 1930s case of the Cleveland "butcher" and the 1873 axe murders on Smutty Nose Island, NH. Readers will find it difficult to put down this delightful treasury encompassing some of the best crime writing from colonial times to today. Highly recommended for public and academic libraries.—Karen Sandlin Silverman, Library Svcs., Ctr. for Applied Research, Philadelphia

Walker was a communications specialist in the U.S. Navy, and from 1968 to 1985 he passed cryptographic secrets to the KGB so the Soviets could track U.S. fleet movements. Here, he justifies his treason through criticism of Cold War American society and includes fascinating details of his actions. He claims that the information he provided allowed the Kremlin to see that the Reagan administration was not preparing for a nuclear war and helped lead to the fall of the USSR. Walker explains his motivation: he was upset at the dangerous and expensive falsehoods of the Cold War, he thought that the assassination of President Kennedy was an organized coup by corporate/government leaders, and he wanted the money. It is ironic that this traitor is outraged that his spying partner and longtime friend Jerry Whitworth betrayed him to the FBI; Walker also blames his ex-wife and Whitworth's wife. His book is suitable for the espionage collections of all libraries to complement Pete Earley's Family of Spies, Howard Blum's I Pledge Allegiance, and Robert W. Hunter and Lynn Dean Hunter's Spy Hunter.—Daniel K. Blewett, Coll. of DuPage Lib., Glen Ellyn, IL

Fourteen years after Nixon's death, the debate still rages about his place in American history as a man of destiny, corrupt president, or elder statesman, writes Frick (director, Creative Writing Ctr., Franklin and Marshall Coll.). The author interprets Nixon through national myths that are embedded in American culture and provide the battleground for today's culture wars. This thought-provoking and perceptive account, like David Greenberg's Nixon's Shadow: The History of an Image, offers numerous historical and cultural anecdotes that bolster the authors' similar conclusion that the second half of the 20th century was like an Age of Nixon. Greenberg primarily investigates how Nixon was viewed by different political constituencies, while Frick explores how Nixon has been portrayed in books, music, plays, and political cartoons and how he spins himself in his three autobiographies. He interprets Nixon through a number of myths that include rising from rags to riches and fulfilling America's messianic role of being the leader of the free world. Frick is good at showing the dark sides of these myths, and his excellent appraisal reveals as much about the former president's supporters and haters as it does about Nixon himself. Strongly recommended for large public and all academic popular-culture collections.—Karl Helicher, Upper Merion Twp. Lib., King of Prussia, PA

Judah, a correspondent for the Economist who has covered the Balkans during years of great change and upheaval, takes up the daunting challenge of explaining Kosovo's—and its region's—history to a novice reader. His emphasis is on the past 20 years, with enough about earlier years to explain issues that linger. The small state of Kosovo, with its predominantly ethnic Albanian population, declared independence from Serbia earlier this year. The relationship between Albanians and Serbs has been a complex dance of changing allies and hegemons, as well as continuing animosity, with refugee populations frequently stranded on the wrong side of a changed border. Judah does a commendable job of telling the dense story in an understandable fashion. Because the region changes so quickly, an up-to-date history like this is welcome. Readers seeking a more in-depth treatment will be well served by Miranda Vickers's Between Serb and Albanian: A History of Kosovo, now ten years old, or Paul Hockenos's more recent Homeland Calling: Exile Patriotism and the Balkan Wars. Suitable for popular collections.—Marcia L. Sprules, Council on Foreign Relations Lib., New York

Katzenbach, IBM's senior vice president, served from 1961 to 1968 as deputy attorney general in Robert F. Kennedy's Justice Department and then as Lyndon B. Johnson's attorney general and undersecretary of state. Here, he shares his memories about JFK, RFK, LBJ, and Dean Rusk, Johnson's secretary of state and the only one of these officials that the author did not highly regard. The most fascinating chapters describe Katzenbach's important roles in such landmark civil rights victories as the desegregation of the universities of Mississippi and Alabama, the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and the 1965 Voting Rights Act. His narratives about Vietnam are less illuminating because he was not in the diplomatic loop. Katzenbach's writing becomes dull when he digresses in detail about the operations of government and preachy when he assesses the strengths and weaknesses of the administrations he served and the current one. Yet, this is a balanced, often insightful insider's account that is recommended for large public and academic libraries.—Karl Helicher, Upper Merion Twp. Lib., King of Prussia, PA

Newton and Scharf are noted experts on international war crimes and former advisers to the U.S. Department of State. They provided judicial assistance to the trial of Saddam Hussein and other Ba'athists, including training of judicial personnel, writing rules for the Iraqi Tribunal, and observing the nine-month trial proceedings. Here, they write of their experiences and provide perspective on the trial, which began in October 2005, including gavel-to-gavel coverage of the proceedings. The Iraqi High Tribunal was a newly formed court, and its base of authority was a complex mixture of Iraqi law, international law, and trial law. The authors examine how this tribunal sought to develop its credibility with the Iraqi people, a task complicated by the defense team's efforts to delegitimize the legal process at almost every stage. They also often effectively draw analogies between this trial and trials before the International Military Tribunal in Nuremberg after World War II. Their insiders' account is directed toward general adult audiences and will effectively aid them in understanding this crucial phase as Iraq struggles toward its future. Recommended for major public and university libraries.—Steven Puro, St. Louis Univ.

Robinson (author in residence, Johns Hopkins Univ.; Masters of Chaos) tackles a subject that has been the focus of the nation's attention since 2003. Although it can be easy to overlook yet another book on Iraq, she brings an insider's perspective to the subject. Based on her reporting, interviews, travels to Iraq, and unpublished sources, her book focuses on both military and political issues, lessons learned in the early years of the war, General Petraeus's approach to the latter phase of the war, the results of his approach, and suggestions for the next administration. Robinson does a great job of refreshing the reader's memories about events in Iraq before and after Petraeus; however, her own right-leaning political beliefs occasionally come through, and some readers may find her tone one-sided. For those less well versed in the Iraq War, a map and a list with the "Principal Cast of Characters" come in handy. Recommended for larger public and academic libraries.—Jenny Seftas, Southwest Florida Coll. Lib., Fort Myers

Part primer with historical overviews and bios on key players and part tabloid-style digest, Rossi's series entry nonetheless manages to remain entirely informative throughout. Setting itself apart by addressing preconceived notions, the book is divided into chapters on specific countries in the Middle East, emphasizing their uniqueness in matters of energy, military, religion/ethnicity, money, politics, unity, and theocracy. Statistics are provided on the war, including civilian and militia deaths, refugees, and moneys spent on Iraq and unaccounted for. Rossi's previous titles in her WEASK series (whateveryamericanshouldknow.com) hint at the tone of this book, e.g., What Every American Should Know About Who's Really Running the World: The People, Corporations, and Organizations That Control Our Future. Her boldly outspoken style might not appeal equally to everyone; one chapter is titled "European Designs: Hacking up the Middle East." However, her cheat sheets help clarify, her vocabulary is defined, and there are extensive footnotes. Overall, this is recommended for public and undergraduate libraries.—Krista Bush, Univ. of New Haven Lib., West Haven, CT

The lives of the Sánchez sisters seem almost too good to be true, but the road to Capitol Hill for these successful Latinas (both Democrats) was paved with hard work, determination, and, most important, dedicated Mexican-immigrant parents who confidently believed that this is the land of opportunity. Loretta had been a successful financial manager before she won California's 47th congressional district seat in 1996. Her younger sister, Linda, was a labor-relations attorney before she became the newly created California 39th congressional representative in 2003. Loretta is the ranking female Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, and Linda is the first Latina to serve on the House Judiciary Committee. Written as a first-person dialog with Loretta's words printed in serif type and Linda's in sans serif, the book describes growing up in a family of seven children, who helped each other and their parents make sense of American culture and its educational systems. Each sister describes her struggle to win elective office and fight against sexism and racism in the halls of Congress as well as among some of their campaigns' opponents. Their story is fascinating and uplifting and deserves wide readership. Highly recommended for all public libraries.—Jill Ortner, SUNY at Buffalo Libs.

Zúniga, popular political blogger (dailykos.com) and reluctant leader of the netroots—those technocratic raiders now seen as a catalyzing political-action force fomenting populist action—gives us a set of tools and strategies for finding and exposing cracks within the social political-media system. With deft narrative ability, he insightfully dissects the hows and whys of many blog-driven political upsets over the past three years, from the unfortunate circuslike atmosphere unfolding around Cindy Sheehan outside of President Bush's ranch in Texas to the senatorial upset of George Allen in Virginia. Zúniga unfolds the nature and extent of netroots persistence, which is indicative of a seemingly new digital citizenship in which those with access to blogs as platforms can potentially expose and open gates to the democratic process. Zúniga's latest is focused more on practical tools and techniques of political action than his earlier Crashing the Gate: Netroots, Grassroots, and the Rise of People-Powered Politics (with Jerome Armstrong). This book will be in demand in libraries serving communities with a blogosphere readership.—Jim Hahn, Univ. of Illinois Lib., Urbana

Counselor and lecturer Cushnir (Setting Your Heart on Fire; Unconditional Bliss) has developed a four-step formula for achieving success and unlocking undeveloped potential. His ideas will be familiar to readers of popular psychology. He advises first connecting to an emotion, experiencing fully the corresponding physical sensation in the body, and waiting until the sensation changes before examining and analyzing. The next steps follow a continuous loop: identify the issue, imagine the worst thing that could happen, visualize the situation, feel the associated emotions, and continue the process until able to move forward. Using examples from his clients, Cushnir applies this process to problems of addiction, compulsion, and communication in relationships and in the workplace. Useful tips are given for when it may be wise to regulate emotions or postpone expressing feelings. In a final section, Cushnir imagines the benefits if emotional connection were taught in schools and used in politics. Appendixes answer questions and summarize principles, but no bibliographical references or suggestions for further reading are given. Cushnir's genius lies in his compilation of easy-to-follow principles, highlighted core concepts, and key refinements. Recommended for popular psychology collections in public libraries.—Lucille M. Boone, San Jose P.L., CA

Novelist Farrington (The Monk Downstairs) offers a wry, almost stream-of-consciousness musing about his struggles with depression throughout a large part of his life. Bordering on a devotional of sorts, the book includes frequent quotations from John of the Cross and many other spiritual writers. Farrington also fills his book with funny anecdotes and jokes that illustrate points he is making. Ultimately, this is a personal diary of one man's journey to the other side of the black chasm of depression. This meditation will be most useful to someone who is facing similar struggles. Farrington's description of the Stations of the Cross for children is alone worth the price of the book. For large public libraries or specialized psychology/self-help collections.—Margaret Cardwell, Memphis

Modern society both needs and fears obsessiveness. Olympian athletes, concert soloists, and novelists have to be obsessed, yet the admired qualities that undergird their excellence also cause suffering and can lead to psychiatric diagnosis. Davis (English, disability & human development, & medical education, Univ. of Illinois, Chicago; My Sense of Silence: Memoirs of a Childhood with Deafness) begins with a gripping story of his own boyhood compulsions. Taking examples from literature, history, art, and medicine, he shows how society both aggravates and aggrandizes obsessiveness, notably in sex education, science, and psychoanalysis. Francis Galton, Charles Dickens, Sigmund Freud, Marie Stopes, and others populate a "biocultural narrative" that Davis introduces to penetrate walls of isolation between historical context and the latest fads and between categorical disease and the experience of illness. Profound, brilliant, and engaging, the book deplores the separation of medicine and psychology from their historical and social contexts. Demonstrating a narrative approach, Davis breaks the quarantine that isolates the obsessive person from obsessive society and rightly recommends a good dose of interdisciplinary medical history. Highly recommended; essential for most libraries.—E. James Lieberman, George Washington Univ. Sch. of Medicine, Washington, DC

Designated by Newsweek in 1997 as one of the 100 Americans most likely to shape the century, Pentland (director, Digital Life Consortium, MIT) introduces a fascinating new way to understand how we read our social environment. To gather scientific data, Pentland has devised the "sociometer," an ingenious instrument for measuring the ways in which humans communicate by "honest," or unconscious, signaling. This device allows Pentland to track social networking by measuring four kinds of signals: influence, mimicry, activity, and consistency. He argues that the influence each person has in social interactions, the reflexive copying of gestures, increased levels of activity when mutual interest occurs, and the consistency of emphasis and timing contribute to our unconscious, hardwired paths of communication. Pentland's lucid treatment of complicated psychobiological principles effectively enables lay readers to grasp difficult but significant concepts. Moreover, his appendixes provide full descriptions of the relevant research methodology. Similar in scope to Malcolm Gladwell's Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking, Pentland's book is better-suited and recommended for university collections.—Lynne F. Maxwell, Villanova Univ. Sch. of Law Lib., PA

AIDS has been known in India since the 1980s. In the ensuing decades, numerous alarms have been rung, but with a few exceptions the government, health establishment, and even the constantly vaunted new middle class have perpetuated misinformation, practiced outrageous discrimination, and made little effort to offer effective treatment or prevention to the millions of people affected by or at risk of the virus (estimates for the number of people currently infected in India range from 2 to 5 million). This anthology of new essays by the literary and journalistic elite of India is intended to raise consciousness. Aside from economist Amartya Sen's foreword, which speculates about economic effects and the question of personal responsibility, the essays are all personal stories that, despite the inclusion of famous authors (including Salman Rushdie), have no distinctive literary merit. The intent to counter the belief that AIDS happens to "other people" is weakened by the fact that most of the essays describe marginal or oppressed people who will seem exotic to middle-class readers. Recommended for academic collections and large public libraries.—Lisa Klopfer, Eastern Michigan Univ., Ypsilanti

Gender studies have for so long focused almost exclusively on women that the term is sometimes taken to mean women's studies, a focus that has left a major gap in gender studies courses and texts. These four books represent the most recent attempts to understand men and their role in society.

Cross (history, Pennsylvania State Univ.; The Cute and the Cool) posits that men are not acting like adults, but like big kids, pointing out that many men, even into their thirties, play video games, enjoy radio programs such as Howard Stern's, and still live at home with their parents. He uses the term boy-men to describe these males who refuse to grow up and act their age. Although many people in the social sciences will recognize Cross's primary point, his term boy-men seems prone to possible misinterpretation. Nonetheless, Cross provides an interesting take on the history and development of boy-men, which he argues began in the 1950s. He points out that popular TV shows watched by boys in the 1950s and 1960s were child-friendly versions of the Old West, e.g., Gunsmoke, and other examples of watered-down masculinity, e.g., The Courtship of Eddie's Father. He cites Hugh Hefner's playboy, hedonistic, pleasure-seeking persona as the envy of many men who wished simply to live a carefree life and be surrounded by beautiful women. Cross argues that the boy-men of today are basically a product of several generations wherein men were coddled as boys and not expected to take on the responsibilities traditionally associated with adult males.

Journalist Garcia (The New Mainstream) argues that men's role in society has become compromised as women continue to make huge strides in many social spheres, including employment and education. With their traditional role as breadwinner taken away from them, men are less sure about their place. As a result, Garcia argues, young men have formed and embraced a "Jackass culture" that keeps men in a perpetual spring-break mode.

Kimmel (sociology, SUNY, Stony Brook; Manhood in America) puts forth the argument, similar to Cross's, that guys are not growing up and instead are listening to Howard Stern and playing video games, both of which behaviors contribute to the stunting of their maturity. Kimmel's "Guyland" is both a stage of life and the places where men gather to be guys. Kimmel spends time on the "Guy Code," which emphasizes the ways in which men are identified as men, including being emotionless, displaying masculinity whenever possible (e.g., never wearing pink), and remaining loyal to one's male friends.

The only woman among these authors, syndicated columnist Parker argues in her antifeminist book that there is a smear campaign against men, especially white men. She believes men are blamed for everything and that if they even look at a woman in a certain way they face harassment charges. She highlights the declining role of men in society by pointing out the gradual eradication of fathers from children's lives (30 to 40 percent of children sleep in a home without their father present), the crisis in educating boys, the need for male elementary teachers, discrimination against men in child custody suits, the gradual feminizing of men in culture, the cultural acceptance of The Vagina Monologues but the denial of the male counterpart, The Penis Monologues, and the "girling" down of the military.

The underlying themes of all four books involve the idea that parents have become enablers of their kids' (especially boys') refusal to mature and take on adult responsibilities. Further, as men have confronted the changing role of women, the corresponding concern over what it means to be a man has been lambasted by many in the mainstream. The material found in these books thus goes against politically correct flags. For some, this may be a welcome relief. These accessible books are highly recommended for all libraries because they provoke discussion and keep the conversation on gender alive.—Tim Delaney, SUNY at Oswego

Deng and Beny Ngor Chol, in collaboration with novelist Barbara Youree, relay their experiences as Sudanese refugees. The brief, well-paced chapters are detailed enough to help readers understand the political reasons they became refugees in Ethiopia and then Kenya. Deng, on whom the story primarily focuses, was seven when he was separated from his family and 20 when he left a refugee camp in Kenya for Kansas City, MO. Filled with action, suspense, and even romance, the book follows Deng as he is threatened by crocodiles and shot at; recounts Deng and Chol meeting fellow tribe members, relatives, and friends throughout their journeys and finding out who has survived; and portrays both Deng and Chol finding mates and falling in love in the refugee camps. In the last chapter, Youree sums up what happened to Deng, Chol, and others, although it would have been better from Deng's perspective, as readers will have developed great sympathy for him. Although maps of Sudan, Ethiopia, and Kenya are included, maps of the journeys that Deng took from Sudan to Ethiopia to Kenya would have been of more interest. This would make a good reading group selection. Recommended for academic and public libraries.—Tonya Briggs, Oberlin Coll. Lib., OH

Part travelog, part polemic, this book follows Weston (studies in women & gender, Univ. of Virginia; Render Me, Gender Me) as she travels around the nation via Greyhound bus. Combining anecdotes about incidents that take place on and around the bus with occasional didactic asides about the history and sociology of various regions of the country, Weston documents the extreme poverty and oppressive social structures that she encounters as she uses one of the only affordable travel options available to the least affluent people in the United States. Told exclusively through the first person, Weston's book includes autobiographical details about her girlfriend, economic situation, and Qigong routine. Although Weston's ambition to give voice to an otherwise often voiceless segment of the population is admirable, many of her character sketches of fellow passengers reduce them to mere caricatures with nicknames like Too-Tired and Bible lady. Unfortunately, her book offers no new solutions or information to those who are familiar with modern critiques of poverty in America; however, it will likely be an accessible and engaging read for those who are less familiar with the literature. Appropriate for public libraries.—April Younglove, Linfield Coll. Lib., Portland, OR

ERETZ magazine is a publication devoted to the geography, environment, and land and nature of Israel. Editors Yadin Roman and Ya'akov Shkolnik have developed detailed directions and practical information for 36 hiking routes in Golan, Upper Galilee, Western Galilee, Lower Galilee, Carmel, Coastal Plain, Judean Mountains, Hebron Mountains, Judean Desert, Southern Judean Desert, Northern Negev, Negev Highlands, and Eilat Mountains. For example, the chapter devoted to Hebron describes a route in the Yattir Forest in terms of its length (18 kilometers), difficulty (for good hikers), start/end points, duration (7 to 8 hours), admission fee (none), opening hours (none), equipment (none), pick up point for cars (end of route), and much more. The description of the Yattir Forest route also explains a fence that bisects the northern part, paved and unpaved parts of the trail, flora, and historical background. Beautifully illustrated with full-color maps and photographs, this is highly recommended for those interested in enjoying outdoor activities while visiting or living in Israel. For larger travel collections.—Elizabeth Connor, The Citadel, Military Coll. of South Carolina, Lib., Charleston

Travel journalist Runge, Rum & Reggae's (R&R) most prolific author, and freelance reporter Logan have produced the latest in this series, continuing the transition from its popular Caribbean-focused books to more exotic South American locations. Half of the book addresses essential information and traditional activities for the city of Rio de Janeiro. The remaining half highlights other cities in the state of Rio de Janeiro: Buzios, Paraty, Petrópolis, and Teresópolis, as well as Ilha Grande and Itatiaia. The authors provide very useful tips on where to stay, where and what to eat, and what to do, including nightlife suggestions for gays, lesbians, and simpatizantes (friends) and recognizing drug culture. This all-inclusive approach speaks well of R&R publications, which strive to appeal to the more sophisticated and independent-thinking traveler. Special features of note here are the easy-to-absorb "key facts" sections and an essential Portuguese language survival guide. The publisher's unique touristo scale, using from one to ten Edvard Munch screaming heads as rating symbols, is a bit bizarre (e.g., more heads means more swarmed by tourists), but, all in all, the book is a winning complement to traditional travel guides. Recommended for both public and academic libraries.—Richard A. Dickey, Washington, DC