Xpress Reviews—First Look at New Books

-- Library Journal, 9/24/2008 2:28:00 PM

The week of September 23, 2008

Nonfiction

Ardrey, Adam. Finding Merlin: The Truth Behind the Legend of the Great Arthurian Mage. Overlook, dist. by Penguin Group (USA). Sept. 2008. c.384p. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-1-59020-098-8. $24.95. HIST
Verdict: This extensively, even obsessively researched book posits that Merlin was a Druid chief of the sixth century and further that he and, indeed Arthur, were in fact Scottish, not English or Welsh, as is commonly thought. The author states that subsequent writers with a Christian agenda have suppressed or altered records to obscure his valiant defense of the old ways from encroaching Christianity. An intriguing read for fans of The Matter of Britain.
Background: While researching his family’s clan history, writer and human rights advocate Ardrey claims to have found evidence that proves that Merlin was a historical figure of sixth-century Scotland. He further believes that he has found proof that Merlin contemporary and Scottish warlord Arthur Mac Aedan (559–96) is the Arthur of legend and that Merlin had a twin sister called Languoreth. She was apparently a great queen and famous in her lifetime, but her contributions have been overlooked and/or suppressed by Christian writers.—Diana Lawsky, MLS, North Bergen, NJ

Birkbeck, Matt. Deconstructing Sammy: Music, Money, Madness, and the Mob. Amistad: HarperCollins. Sept. 2008. c.288p. photogs. index. ISBN 978-0-06-145066-2. $25.95. BIOG
Verdict: Award-winning investigative journalist Birkbeck examines the reasons why Sammy Davis Jr., one of the greatest entertainers of the 20th century, died deeply in debt and why just a few years after his death his widow, Altovise, was living in poverty and working minimum-wage jobs. More than just an archetypal story of a celebrity bilked of a fortune, this book, which makes tax law sexy, is a forensic examination of why and how Davis’s finances were so badly mismanaged.
Background: Rather than offering anything particularly revelatory about Davis the man, this exceptionally detailed book mostly deconstructs what happened to the man's money. The parallel story involves former federal prosecutor Albert "Sonny" Murray, who endeavored to resolve Davis’s tax debt on the behalf of his widow. Murray’s entrepreneurial parents figure prominently, especially his father, the grandson of slaves, who was the first black criminal court judge in Brooklyn, NY. Murray, a driven man and not a Davis fan, toiled for years for almost no remuneration in order to see justice done.—Diana Lawsky, MLS, North Bergen, NJ

Dollins, Cynthia. The ABCs of Literacy: Preparing Our Children for Lifelong Learning. Cumberland House. 2008. c.339p. index. ISBN 978-1-58182-652-4. pap. $16.95. CHILD REARING
Verdict: Throughout, Dollins reinforces her recommendations by relating stories about her own experiences as a parent and those of her friends. This excellent book will be appreciated by parents who are looking for more than a simple recommendation of a good book for reading aloud.
Background: Dollins, an educator and lecturer in reading and writing methods at Pepperdine University, here provides parents with a comprehensive guide to fostering early literacy skills in their children. She first explains why reading aloud to young children is important, translating education speak into easy-to-grasp language and concepts. Following that is excellent information on the different genres of children's literature and advice on how to choose the best titles for children. Dollins also offers guidelines on how to read aloud and how to reinforce concepts through modeling, dialog, book-based activities, and writing exercises. The final section presents even more ideas for activities that can be used to reinforce literacy skills, such as employing manipulatives like blocks, magnets, and even shaving cream. Extensive appendixes provide booklists, charts, and reference sheets to help parents select the most appropriate books.—Rachel Q. Davis, Thomas Memorial Lib., Cape Elizabeth, ME

Felder, Leonard. Fitting in Is Overrated: The Survival Guide for Anyone Who Has Ever Felt Like an Outsider. Sterling. Oct. 2008. c.224p. index. ISBN 978-1-4027-4884-4. $17.95. PSYCH
Verdict: Even insiders (as opposed to outsiders) will benefit from Felder's communication wisdom. Highly recommended for popular psychology collections.
Background: Using examples from his clients and stories of famous outsiders, clinical psychologist Felder (When Difficult Relatives Happen to Good People) makes positive suggestions for those feeling excluded from inner circles. According to the author, outsiders, instead of trying hard to conform or feeling slighted, should strive to be objective students of human behavior. After discussing why it's uncomfortable to be on the outside, Felder lists benefits: outsiders often provide different but essential perspectives, come up with creative solutions, and have the freedom to speak out and take risks. In well-written chapters with easy-to-remember points, Felder covers mistakes outsiders make, outlines skills for improving communication at work and at home, gives strategies for coping with cliques, and offers creative options for finding (not always making) peace in family situations. Other sections advise what to do when your ideas are not accepted, how to help other outsiders, and how to create a circle of supportive friends or substitute family. Scripts are given for defusing difficult situations, managing stress, and immunizing yourself from words and phrases that trigger frustration.—Lucille M. Boone, San Jose P.L., CA

Friedman, Thomas L. Hot, Flat, and Crowded: Why We Need a Green Revolution—And How It Can Renew America. Farrar. Sept. 2008. 448p. index. ISBN 978-0-374-16685-4. $27.95. SCI
Verdict: This thought-provoking, accessible look at the impact of wealth transfer from energy-consuming to energy-producing nations, failed policies, environmentalism, conservation, greenness, and a new vision for America should leave readers asking questions and demanding solutions. Although some of the ideas aren’t new, this is a worthy read. Friedman refers to sources throughout the text, but footnotes or endnotes would have been welcomed. Recommended for all libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 4/1/008.]
Background: A former columnist for the New York Times and a Pulitzer Prize winner, Friedman (The World Is Flat) asserts that through innovation and by example America can and must exercise leadership in what he calls the new Energy-Climate era. According to Friedman, the combination of global warming, the spread of middle-class consumerism, and population growth requires a new systemic approach to the global issues of climate change, energy indigence, and biodiversity loss. Initiative and creativity in the development of clean energy can lead to prosperity, energy independence, and the reduction of energy and economic poverty.—Robin K. Dillow, Rotary International, Lincolnwood, IL

Goddin, Philippe. The Art of Hergé, Inventor of Tintin, Vol. 1: 1907–1983. Last Gasp of San Francisco. Sept. 2008. c.208p. illus. index. tr. from French by Michael Farr. ISBN 978-0-86719-706-8. $39.95. Graphic Arts
Verdict: Readers fascinated by the "adventures" will enjoy watching the evolution of Hergé’s art and his lovable hero. Recommended where interest warrants. [For years, the reviewer’s French girlfriend called him Tintin because of the likeness she saw.—Ed.]
Background: If Hergé is relatively unknown to the general reading public, his classic creation, Tintin, the French boy hero of the middle of the last century, will be familiar to all French children and at least to many Americans who have studied French. This handsome volume by Goddin, an expert on Hergé who has published several books on his subject, is being released now, according to the publisher, in anticipation of three films soon to be produced about the adventures of Tintin by Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson. The 147 color images and 233 black-and-white and line art are beautifully reproduced and often fill the page. (Some of the black-and-white originals have been tinted.) Each spread offers several photos, some of them heretofore unpublished, with accompanying text that functions more as captions to the artwork.—Edward Cone, New York

Healthgrades with Samantha L. Collier, M.D. Healthgrades Guide to America's Hospitals and Doctors. Sterling. 2008. 1119p. index. ISBN 978-1-4351-0426-6. pap. $29.95. MED
Verdict: This is a suitable, affordable purchase for libraries, especially if it comes out yearly. It is comparable with America’s Top Doctors, seventh edition, especially since the latter relies on peer nominations and surveys. Recommended for health sciences, consumer health, and public libraries.
Background: HealthGrades, an independent health-care ratings organization, has been around for almost a decade; this first edition guide presents hospital ratings based on "real patient outcomes," not location, reputation, or word of mouth. In the first few chapters, HealthGrades Chief Medical Officer Collier addresses choosing a doctor and hospital, preparing for a hospital stay, protecting the patient and loved ones from medical errors, and asking questions before common procedures. The chapters with ratings list the content alphabetically by state then hospital name. The hospital ratings, which take up most of the book, are based on an analysis of complications rates and death rates for patients at one hospital compared with another over a three-year period. The hospitals are given one of three ratings: five stars (excellent), three stars (average), and one star (poor). The brief profile has an overall patient-safety rating; indicates if it is a teaching hospital; lists the hospital’s address and phone number, clinical program ratings, and awards for additional categories such as clinical excellence, if applicable. There is also a list of the five-star rated hospitals and hospital ratings by specific procedures such as coronary bypass surgery, maternity care, and stroke. The top doctors chapter is based on objective patient outcomes information only in specific areas such as cardiac surgery. The top doctors only come from hospitals with outcomes in the top ten percent in the nation for various specialties, not all doctors. The appendix covers HealthGrades’s data sources and explains how specialties’ ratings were determined.—Rebecca Raszewski, Lib. of the Health Sciences, Univ. of Illinois at Chicago

Kamin, Dan. The Comedy of Charlie Chaplin: Artistry in Motion. Scarecrow. Oct. 2008. c.320p. photogs. index. ISBN 978-0-8108-6142-8. $65. FILM
Verdict: By examining Chaplin’s films, often frame by frame, Kamin has deciphered the magic that was Chaplin—the poetry and eloquence of the movement of Chaplin’s small form. Kamin states that by defining his films with human movement rather than camera movement, Chaplin "develop[ed] his eloquent conceptions of comedy based on gravity, momentum, rhythm and space." Kamin’s observation illustrates what makes his book an excellent addition to the collections of academic and specialized libraries.
Background: Kamin, a physical comedian and author of two previous works on Chaplin (Charlie Chaplin’s One-Man Show and Chaplin’s Limelight and the Music Hall Tradition), began this book as a revision of his first. However, the availability of new primary-source collections and the evolution of his scholarship and cogitations on the artistry of Chaplin have led Kamin down a new path. There are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of books and other materials concerning the life and films of Chaplin. Kamin takes a new approach, and the disciplines of film studies and film history are the better for it.—Teri Shiel, Westfield State Coll. Lib., MA

Khantzian, Edward J., M.D., & Mark J. Albanese, M.D. Understanding Addiction as Self-Medication: Fixing the Pain. Rowman & Littlefield. Oct. 2008. c.192p. index. ISBN 978-0-7425-6137-3. $39.95. PSYCH
Verdict: Brief and to the point, this text provides relevancy to a treatment premise that was developed 30 years ago. Most suitable for large public and academic libraries with extensive collections on divergent views for addiction treatment.
Background: Both clinical professors of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, Albanese and Khantzian provide a tool to facilitate an understanding of addiction and the components necessary for successful addiction recovery. Although designed for use by patrons, families, and practitioners, it appears to be more of an academic model for discussion than a practical tool for recovery. The focus on the Self Medication Hypothesis (SMH) is that individuals choose to self-medicate in order to relieve the stress and pain (physical or psychological) of life events. This text explores the relationship among self-medication and suffering, psychiatric disorders, emotional pain, and trauma as well as behavioral disorders. Recognizing that it is suffering that drives addictive behavior, the authors note that therapeutic treatments such as 12-step programs, psychotherapy, and medication can be strengthened.—Melody Ballard, Pima Cty. P.L., Tucson

Kirk, Sally. Hope for the Autism Spectrum: A Mother and Son Journey of Insight and Biomedical Intervention. Jessica Kingsley. Sept. 2008. c.416p. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-1-84310-894-8. $24.95. PSYCH
Verdict: Kirk provides a valuable and accessible resource for parents investigating the many treatments for autistic spectrum disorders. An essential title for public libraries.
Background: Kirk, a mother of three boys, including Will, who was diagnosed with autism around age two, set out to learn everything she could about autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) and available therapies and treatments. In doing so, she discovered Defeat Autism Now! (DAN!) and its protocol for biomedical intervention in ASD. After years of trying various educational and behavioral therapies, Will started making real progress when he began treatment with a DAN! trained physician. Kirk not only shares her own family’s journey through autism and all its many therapies and treatments but also shows readers how they and their child can benefit from biomedical intervention. Kirk explains in clear terms how the underlying physical problems can cause difficult behaviors and how when treated, ASD symptoms can subside. Kirk includes chapters on the common physical problems children with ASD experience and explains their treatments. She includes practical tips for implementing biomedical intervention and explains each intervention in detail. There is also an appendix with parents' ratings of biomedical interventions, nutrient supplementation, and a bibliography for further reading.—Lisa M. Jordan, Johnson Cty. Lib., KS