Reference

At five volumes, this is possibly the largest publication in Berkshire's history. Arranged alphabetically, the nearly 1000 articles cover an extensive array of subjects as they relate to China. Among those explored are the country's history (both ancient and modern), politicians, architecture, food, international relations, and medicine. Varying in length from one to more than ten pages, the articles are thorough without being overly complicated. Titles are printed in English, Chinese, and a transliterated pronunciation of the Chinese word. The editors appear to have delivered on a promise in the introduction to minimize the cultural bias about various subjects. Most of the 300-plus contributors come from a variety of academic fields. One drawback is that the first page of each article has its text printed over a grayscale picture. Although attractive, this feature sometimes makes the pages difficult to read. BOTTOM LINE This insightful analysis of China may be a useful companion to David Levinson and Karen Christensen's Encyclopedia of Modern Asia. It could provide valuable information to anyone studying the country and is thus recommended to all public or academic institutions with an interest in China. [Purchasers of the print set get a free one-year individual license (or comparable discount from the institutional license) to a digital edition hosted by ExactEditions.com.]—James Langan, Univ. of Pittsburgh at Johnstown Lib.

Grove has become synonymous with excellence in reference materials in art and music, and the latest entry in the series is no exception. Edited by Bloom and Blair, professors of Islamic and Asian art at Boston College, the encyclopedia expands and updates the Islamic art entries from the well-known, massive Grove Dictionary of Art. Rewritten, reedited, and reorganized, these entries amount here to over 1600 A-to-Z articles and over 450 illustrations, drawings, and maps detailing "the art made by artists and artisans whose religion was Islam, for patrons who lived in predominantly Muslim lands, or for purposes that are restricted or peculiar to a Muslim population or in a Muslim setting." Long articles, such as the massive entry on architecture, are divided into chronological, geographical, or medium of art form as required by the topic under discussion, and a list of references follows each entry. Cross-references to other articles appear within the text, and unfamiliar Arabic words are translated for ease of comprehension. BOTTOM LINE This volume is everything that one has come to expect from a Grove title: literate, comprehensive, and authoritative. Smaller libraries may also want to consider Richard Ettinghausen and Oleg Grabar's classic Islamic Art and Architecture, 650–1250 (Yale, 2001) if cost is an issue, but for libraries with specialized art or Islamic collections, this is essential.—Amanda K. Sprochi, Univ. of Missouri, Columbia

This resource provides information on directors of TV films and miniseries in English of more than 60 minutes in length and spanning several decades, starting in the 1950s. Roberts, an acquisitions editor and contributor to entertainment-industry journals and editor/author of a few other books on entertainment industry topics, aims to be exhaustive in scope, and that is certainly evident in the sheer number of entries included. Each of the nearly 2000 entries provides a videography, brief biographical information, and descriptions/analysis of some of the films. Entries range in length from very brief (a sentence or two) to fairly long (a page or more), with longer entries including plot summaries, award nominations, and production details. BOTTOM LINE Most of the information included here could be found on such free web sites as www.imdb.com. But collected and vetted here, the data might have more authority. Libraries with specialized film collections or those with strong demand for print materials on TV shows should consider acquiring.—Denise Johnson, Bradley Univ. Lib., Peoria, IL

Written for both the layperson and the scholar, this second edition of a book first published by Scarecrow in 2001 is a concise resource on the history of Islam as a religion, a philosophy, and a political movement. Its dictionary-style entries are cross-referenced and include short biographies of the individuals who shaped Islam in its formative stages during the Middle Ages. Written by Adamec (Afghanistan 1900–1923: A Diplomatic History), who is considered an authority on the history and politics of the Middle East region, the book includes a chronology, a map of the Islamic world, a list of acronyms and abbreviations, and a brief introduction to the world of Islam. An extended bibliography suggests resources for more in-depth research on all the topics discussed. BOTTOM LINE Comparable with such books as The A to Z of Islam and Historical Dictionary of Prophets in Islam and Judaism, this clearly written and thoughtfully organized resource by an expert is most suitable for public libraries; academic libraries may consider it as a basic introduction to the field.—Luis J. Gonzalez, Hunter Coll. Libs., NY

This A-to-Z resource covers everything one needs to know about dreams from the early fascination of the fourth century B.C.E., when Chuang-tzu dreamed that he was a butterfly, to dreams and the New Age and the questions of "What will the future bring?" The book contains 276 dream-related topics from art history to science, along with information on dreams from ancient times to the present. More than 1000 dream symbols and explanations are included, from airplane dreams, which may mean that a dreamer has the power to "rise above" a situation, to zoo dreams, which may indicate that the dreamer needs to "tidy up" a situation. In addition, the book presents numerous entries for the people involved in dreams—from healers and therapists such as Aristotle and Freud to movements and dream topics such as Buddhism and dreams in movies. Both authors have impressive backgrounds: Lewis has taught at the University of Wisconsin since 1999 and previously authored The Oxford Handbook of New Religious Movements and The Astrology Book; Oliver has worked as a crisis intervention therapist for 30 years and previously wrote Angels A to Z and Afterlife Journeys. BOTTOM LINE This attractive and comprehensive book is accessible to both curious observers and serious students of dreams. It provides a nice balance of scholarly and nonscholarly information as well as numerous illustrations and research sources. A great buy for both public and academic libraries.—Kathleen A. Welton, Chicago

The authors of this book, all established researchers in the field of biblical studies, have compiled a volume that best serves as an introduction to biblical literary criticism for high school students and a general adult audience. Part 1, "Reading the Bible as Literature," serves as an introduction to all types of biblical criticism for Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant traditions. Part 2, "Books of the Bible," covers every book for each tradition, and includes a general introduction to each book, a summary of the events, literary commentary on the book, and a list of the figures appearing in it. Entries in this part range from one to about ten pages in length and include black-and-white illustrations. Part 3, "Related Entries," covers people, places, concepts, and themes not included in Part 2 or that appear across numerous books, such as Abraham, Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha, and biblical poetry. Appendixes include a chronology, lists of biblical books in various versions, a detailed bibliography, useful web sites, and a general index. BOTTOM LINE Although it does not meet the needs of upper-division university bible students or scholars, this work will serve its intended audience of high school students and lay readers owing to its approachable language and an eye-pleasing layout. Recommended for public libraries and high school and undergraduate libraries that support biblical literary criticism study.—Rosanne M. Cordell, Indiana Univ., South Bend

Getting paid to beat people up? Wow, what a concept! Essentially a biographical dictionary of mostly obscure boxers, brawlers, and chop-socky types, this work includes only a handful of entries that discuss the actual sports alluded to in the title. There is an article on sumo wrestling, for example, a spectacle in which Japanese lard butts attempt to shove each other beyond the bounds of a circle on the floor. This work is of very limited usefulness, as the sketches of various fighters are not much more than a dry recitation of their various matches. To the book's credit, each individual's professional record and list of championships, if any, are included—certainly a plus as far as statistic-crazed fans are concerned. The wooden writing style and lack of substance are understandable given the credentials of Hudson, who is neither an athlete nor a sports writer but rather a lawyer. Perhaps the most salient point in the title's favor is that it is made from quality materials. A statement appearing beneath the bib record attesting to the durability of the paper employed implies that anyone with more tattoos than teeth who wishes to check up on potential opponents can drool all over this tome with impunity. BOTTOM LINE This book is simply a catalog of people you've never heard of doing things you'd rather not know about. Those wishing to bolster a sports-and-games collection should instead turn to the four-volume Berkshire Encyclopedia of World Sport. Expensive but worth it, the Berkshire set is professionally produced and written by people who really know their stuff.—Michael F. Bemis, Washington Cty. Lib., Woodbury, MN

Ethics, at its most basic, is the difference between right and wrong, specifically, how to do the former and avoid the latter. This fork in the road, so to speak, is especially problematic as it pertains to modern-day sports; the mantra of "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing" is apparent even in amateur games. At the professional level, competitive pressure is compounded by the lure of big money, which virtually ensures that ethical lapses occur with dismaying frequency. To find our way out of this moral maze requires some guideposts, one of which is this title. Lumpkin (Sport Ethics: Applications for Fair Play) points out in the preface that the object of this compact volume is to stress that "sportsmanship, respect for the game, fair play, and making morally reasoned decisions [are] essential to ensuring that positive values and character will be taught, learned and demonstrated." A noble and worthy goal, to be sure, and one that is very well laid out in the pages that follow. The material is arranged in eight chapters, which cover such areas as the philosophical underpinnings of the sports/ethics connection, specific ethical issues, as reflected in "Cheating" and "Winning as the only measure of success," and a refreshing look at those who placed principals before trophies. Especially helpful to researchers will be Chapter 7, which provides a brief description of the entity, contact information, web sites, etc., and Chapter 8, "Print and Non-Print Resources," which is an annotated bibliography of books, DVDs, web sites, and other appropriate sources of sports ethics material. BOTTOM LINE A one-stop shop for basic facts about the dos and don'ts of track and field and beyond, this book is well written, accessible, and affordable, packing a lot of stuff in a small package. Highly recommended for public libraries; essential for academic libraries as institutions of higher learning of almost any size these days have an athletic presence on campus.—Michael F. Bemis, Washington Cty. Lib., Woodbury, MN

Ezra's (Muhammad Ali: The Making of an Icon) contribution to ABC-CLIO's "Perspectives in American Social History" series is a lucid, balanced examination of the lasting effects of the civil rights movement. Noted academics, including Ezra himself, have penned eight chapters, each focusing on a key element of the civil rights movement: "Early Pioneers"; "Student Activists"; "Religion and Clergy"; "Southern Civil Rights Organizations"; "Organizations Outside the South: NAACP and CORE"; "Black Nationalists"; "The Black Panther Party"; and "Women." Each chapter is illustrated with archival photographs and contains biographies of seminal figures such as Elijah Muhammad, Whitney Young, and Fanny Lou Hamer. Notable is the exploration of often-overlooked topics, e.g., the antipoverty outreach efforts of the much-maligned Black Panthers and the role of women as leaders within the movement. The book opens with brief biographies of the contributors, followed by an informative chronology that opens a few months shy of Brown v. Board of Education, and concludes in 1975. A boon for researchers, one-third of the book is dedicated to supplementary material: primary documents, a 15-page glossary, and a substantial 52-page bibliography. Numerous other titles explore the impact of the civil rights movement. Few do so with the breadth of Ezra's work. Bruce J. Dierenfield's The Civil Rights Movement focuses on responses to everyday racism, while Peter J. Ling's Gender and the Civil Rights Movement examines the role of women more closely than Ezra's work. BOTTOM LINE Any single-volume examination of the civil rights movement can at best be a primer on this era of reform or serve as a gateway to further research. Ezra's work shines in both these areas. All libraries should own this title.—Daniel Sifton, Cariboo Reg. Dist. Lib., Williams Lake, B.C.

Just as there are different tribes of Native Americans, so there have been differing policies relating to their relationship with the U.S. government. This title gathers information on these disparate entities in one convenient place. Finkelman (Encyclopedia of American Political History) and Garrison (The Legal Ideology of Removal) edit the works of approximately 150 contributors writing on specific laws, persons, organizations, and issues. Contributors are mostly academics; their tribal affiliation is listed if applicable. Entries range from a few paragraphs to a few pages in length; are signed and cross-referenced; and end with a bibliography that may include case law, books, and journal articles. All are clearly written and accessible to nonexperts. The entry on Mascots is a good example of an article that concisely explains an issue and its legal history. BOTTOM LINE ABC-CLIO's three-volume Treaties with American Indians (2008) is slightly less expensive, covers much of the same territory, and even utilizes some of the same contributors. It includes the text of treaties, a chronology, and greater coverage of Canada; this one provides more content on related issues and a more user-friendly format. Both are authoritative and recommended for most libraries.—Teresa R. Faust, Vermont Dept. of Libs., Berlin

This biennial edition by members of the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) presents its valuable data on working families in America. The EPI's mission is to include the interests of low- and middle-income workers in the country's economic debate. The volume is a factual and unvarnished snapshot of the living standards of working America. Here we see falling family income, increased wealth concentration, rising economic disparity, and even class-based mortality differences, evidently the results of federal economic policies from 2000–08. As with all EPI publications, the research and presentation are impeccable, unbiased, and disturbing. Chapters on family income, class mobility, wage stagnation, employment, wealth, poverty, life expectancy, and international standing detail declining American standards of living at home and in comparison with other nations. BOTTOM LINE This edition is, as always, an unbiased presentation, but it amounts to an overwhelming indictment of federal policies that have favored the wealthy over working people. Highly recommended for all library reference sections.—Duncan Stewart, Univ. of Iowa Libs., Iowa City

Johansen, a faculty member of the University of Nebraska, has authored 26 books, including Global Warming in the 21st Century, which received the 2007 Choice Award for Outstanding Academic Title. In his new effort, Johansen skillfully examines the tremendous impact that climate change has had on the shape of our lives. The 300-plus entries span two volumes and are arranged alphabetically, with a topical guide and a detailed index. The 100-page bibliography at the end of the second volume is impressive. The subject entries are carefully chosen to reveal the multidisciplinary nature of climate change and include wide-ranging discussions including aerosols, asthma, dengue fever, and poverty. The reader often associates the Arctic with climate change, but Johansen includes examples from Africa, Asia, and Europe to demonstrate that all nations are impacted by global warming. The one- to five-page entries are well written and easy-to-understand, clearly identifing the major gurus in the field and following both the scientific and the popular debate since the 1980s. Each is accompanied by an up-to-date reading list that includes scholarly works, government reports, and web sites. The few illustrations are well chosen but unfortunately in black-and-white and lack contrast. BOTTOM LINE This would be of great value to high school, public, and university libraries. It is probably the only reference book to date that focuses on science and technology rather than on public policy.—Hazel Cameron, Overlake Hosp. Medical Ctr., Bellevue, WA

In the E-reviews column of LJ 8/09, we neglected to mention that Alexander Street Press' American History in Video collection will soon include hundreds of documentaries from the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), California Newsreel, Newsreel Films, and a number of other producers. The product will grow to include more than 3000 video titles totaling more than 1000 hours.