Social Sciences Reviews, June 1. 2011
Jun 1, 2011BIOGRAPHY
Ebadi, Shirin. The Golden Cage: Three Brothers, Three Choices, One Destiny. Kales. 2011. c.256p. tr. from Italian by Nathaniel Rich. ISBN 9780979845642. $26.95. AUTOBIOG
Currently living in exile in the UK, Nobel Peace Prize winner Ebadi (founder, Centre for the Defence of Human Rights; Iran Awakening: A Memoir of Revolution and Hope) is an Iranian human rights activist, lawyer, former judge—and prolific author. Her latest work recounts growing up in Iran along with the three brothers of her childhood girlfriend Pari. Through the lives of Abbas, Javad, and Ali intertwined with major political events in Iran during those same years, Ebadi assesses how each brother formed his own unique political ideology, setting the path toward each one’s distinct future. Raised as an equal with her own brothers, Ebadi only later realized that this was atypical in her homeland. She is staunchly committed to egalitarianism and recounts here a lifetime of turbulence: Pari’s family coming apart because of their differences, Ebadi’s own stint in solitary confinement for her political beliefs, and the alleged threats by Iranian authorities in 2009 that sent Ebadi out of the country. VERDICT Political science aficionados will enjoy this remembrance of life in late 20-century Iran. Ebadi remains convinced that democracy in Iran can still be adopted successfully. —Krista Bush, Shelton Public Schs., CT
Faulkner, Carol. Lucretia Mott’s Heresy: Abolition and Women’s Rights in Nineteenth-Century America. Univ. of Pennsylvania. Jun. 2011. c.288p. illus. index. ISBN 9780812243215. $45. BIOG
The title of this biography is quite fitting. As Faulkner (history, Syracuse Univ.; Women’s Radical Reconstruction: The Freedmen’s Aid Movement) conclusively shows, Lucretia Mott (1793–1880) consistently took a hard-line, partisan stance against slavery and expressed controversial religious beliefs (Mott was born and raised a Quaker) that threatened to alienate more moderate abolitionists and believers while appearing outright heretical to those who disagreed with her. Faulkner not only describes the details of Mott’s life, from her childhood on Nantucket Island to her death 87 years later at her home in Pennsylvania, but gets at the core of Mott’s passionate—and often divisive—convictions, despite a relative dearth of primary, introspective sources (Mott rarely kept a diary, and Faulkner describes her letters as “rushed and newsy”). VERDICT The final product is impressive: this is the first biography of Mott in 30 years, and it proves to be thoroughly researched, well written, and fascinating. Faulkner’s accessible writing style makes this book appropriate for any reader interested in women’s history generally or the history of the U.S. abolitionist and women’s suffrage movements.—Jennifer Stout, Cumberland Univ. Lib., Lebanon, TN
Martin, Justin. Genius of Place: The Life of Frederick Law Olmsted. Da Capo. Jun. 2011. c.496p. illus. index. ISBN 9780306818813. $30. BIOG
Olmsted is perceptively described by Martin (Greenspan: The Man Behind Money) as “the most important American historical figure that the average person knows least about.” But Martin’s valiant attempts to illuminate his subject produce mixed results. A typical 19th-century American autodidact, Olmsted had numerous interests that led him to many endeavors, from farmer to world-famous landscape architect—but with years in between as journalist, abolitionist, Civil War–era medical relief administrator, and more. His motivation was a deep “social vision,” as Martin calls it, that drove him to try to effect change wherever he believed it was needed. Martin maintains that Olmsted’s greatest legacy will remain that of “park maker,” notably, with Calvert Vaux, of New York’s Central Park and Brooklyn’s Prospect Park. VERDICT This is a workmanlike biography; it adequately examines the balance between Olmsted’s public and private personae, but Martin does not fully bring together the disparate threads of Olmsted’s extraordinary life in a clear portrait. Readers may be better served by Witold Rybczynski’s A Clearing in the Distance, which masterfully articulates both the accomplishments and the influences of this great figure who deserves to be better known.—Richard Drezen, Brooklyn, NY
COMMUNICATIONS
Alexander, Amy. Uncovering Race: A Black Journalist’s Story of Reporting and Reinvention. Beacon, dist. by Random. Oct. 2011. c.240p. ISBN 9780807061008. $27.95. COMM
Alexander, who has been a staff writer at the San Francisco Examiner and a contributing writer at the Washington Post and Boston Globe, among other publications, focuses on how journalists of color disproportionally suffer from downsizing during hard economic times despite their important role in reaching new audiences who better reflect the demographics of an increasingly diverse American society. Through the lens of her career in newspapers, the Internet, and radio, Alexander criticizes the mainstream media’s failure to pay attention to minority points of view and offers examples of the bias and groupthink that can arise in homogeneous newsrooms. In the epilog, the meatiest section of the book, she addresses the sidelining of professional journalists in the Internet age and the pros and cons of the rise of advocacy and niche journalism, where commentary tends to displace reporting. VERDICT Alexander’s observations about race and the media are more interesting than her discussion of career history, which could have been enlivened with more personal details. An optional purchase in a crowded field.—David Gibbs, Georgetown Univ. Lib., Washington, DC
Wick, Steve. The Long Night: William L. Shirer and the Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. Palgrave Macmillan. Aug. 2011. c.288p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780230623187. $27. COMM
The drama and tension of covering Europe during Hitler’s rise to power comes to life in this account of William Shirer’s early career. Wick (senior editor, Newsday) draws on Shirer’s diaries and letters to detail his thoughts and actions as he headed for Paris in 1925 to begin his journalism career. Framed as an adventure story, the book engages readers with an insider’s view of Shirer’s work and personal life, first with the Chicago Tribune, then with Hearst, and finally partnering with Edward R. Murrow to establish CBS radio news. Shirer was stationed in Paris, Vienna, India, and Berlin, and he knew or covered some of the best-known people of the era. Wick acknowledges the challenges of covering the Nazis under the watchful eye of German government censors but raises questions about whether journalists did enough to inform the world about the Nazi menace. He highlights a Jewish acquaintance of Shirer who sought his assistance in escaping Austria and whose fate is unknown. VERDICT Readers interested in Europe at the beginning of World War II or journalism history will be quickly drawn into this well-written book, which raises important questions about journalism that have resonance today.—Judy Solberg, Seattle Univ. Lib.
ECONOMICS
Greer, John Michael. The Wealth of Nature: Economics as if Survival Mattered. New Society. Jun. 2011. c.288p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780865716735. pap. $18.95. ECON
In his September 2, 2009, New York Times column, Nobel Prize–winning economist Paul Krugman asked, “How Did Economists Get It So Wrong?” That question embodied the soul-searching within economics that followed the field’s admitted spectacular failure to foresee and prevent the recent financial crisis known as the Great Recession. Greer (The Long Descent: A User’s Guide to the End of the Industrial Age) takes the foibles of modern macroeconomics as his jumping-off point for what turns out to be largely a critique of contemporary society’s organization, use, and management of natural resources. Drawing heavily on the work of E.F. Schumacher, Greer’s central thesis is that we don’t adequately value natural resources and irresponsibly consume them. He also explores the inevitable depletion of fossil fuels, the evils of money and the viability of other types of nonmoney economies, and the potential danger of excessive faith in technological progress. VERDICT While providing a handy summary of many concepts popular in “alternative economics,” this book is not particularly engaging, although the going green/environmental crowd might get behind Greer’s arguments.—Steve Wilson, Dayton Metro Lib., OH
Kirschner, Rick. How To Click with People: The Secret to Better Relationships in Business and in Life. Hyperion. Jul. 2011. c.272p. ISBN 9781401323202. $24.99. BUS
Anyone who has taken a leadership or effective-management seminar will recognize the concepts that motivational lecturer Kirschner (Dealing with Difficult People) here outlines. Kirschner tells us that clicking with others is based on resonance or feelings of similarity and that when these feelings do not happen naturally they can be created. He explains strategies for identifying and using a person’s motivation (values, reward, challenge, esteem, purpose, feelings) and communication style (action, accuracy, approval, appreciation) to create resonance or “blending”—both in person and at a distance (via phone, email, and online). Kirschner explains how to use behaviors such as connected listening, positive projection, and the seven core signals (affinity, comparison, conformity, reciprocity, authority, consistency, and scarcity) to achieve the click and to add persuasive power to our ideas. He also identifies nine stumbling blocks that impede clicking and suggests ways to overcome them. VERDICT A quick read with practical advice for improving communication, this will be of interest to first-time managers, new professionals, and those looking to improve their people skills.— Sara Holder, McGill Univ. Lib., Montreal
Lofton, Louann. Warren Buffett Invests Like a Girl: And Why You Should Too. HarperBusiness: HarperCollins. Jul. 2011. c.272p. illus. index. ISBN 9780061567551. $25.99. BUS
Lofton cites research that finds female investors tend to trade less, shun risk, and perform more research than male investors. She also argues that Warren Buffett’s value-investing style is more feminine than masculine and well worth emulating. Lofton has three hooks here: applauding women investors for their reasonable temperaments; structuring chapters around anecdotes of superstar Buffett’s many successes; and making frequent references to The Motley Fool (www.fool.com), of which she is managing editor (cofounder Tom Gardner provides a foreword). Her book is an easy read but not a particularly helpful one—most readers enthralled with Buffett already know about his dedication to companies he understands, his buy-and-hold strategy, and his dependence on reading and research, all of which is simply rehashed here. VERDICT The appendixes, containing interviews with value-investing practitioners, are interesting, but readers serious about learning the nitty-gritty of Buffett’s style might be better served by a title like Vahan Janjigian’s Even Buffett Isn’t Perfect.—Sarah Statz Cords, The Reader’s Advisor Online
EDUCATION
Creighton, Allan & Paul Kivel. Helping Teens Stop Violence, Build Community and Stand for Justice. rev. ed. Hunter House. Jul. 2011. c.264p. bibliog. ISBN 9780897935685. pap. $19.95. ED
Teens are often misunderstood and written off as careless, worthless, and/or prone to violence. But there are adults who see them as vital members of society and want to help them overcome obstacles and achieve success. Creighton and Kivel (cofounders, Oakland Men’s Project; coauthors, Making the Peace) have updated their 1992 publication, Helping Teens Stop Violence: A Practical Guide for Counselors, Educators, and Parents, to bring it into the 21st century. Exercises, role-play activities, and agreements are still included, but it has been revised and expanded to include new sections on disabilities, religion, immigrants, and the environment. The authors’ goals are to help adults help teens develop into effective community leaders and to help teens improve their lives. VERDICT Most parents will not be able to use this manual as intended, and even educators may find it difficult to devote the time needed to follow it completely. But many adults who work directly with teens in a controlled environment, such as a counseling center or a youth ministry program, will find value in this step-by-step guide.—Terry Christner, Hutchinson P.L., KS
Ruben, Marina Koestler. How To Tutor Your Own Child: Boost Grades and Inspire a Lifelong Love of Learning—Without Paying for a Professional Tutor. Ten Speed: Crown Pub. Group. Aug. 2011. c.208p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781607740278. pap. $13.99. ED
This book is for parents interested in providing holistic learning opportunities for their children. Ruben advocates the importance of “parent-tutoring” as an effective supplement to regular education, and she derives many examples from her experiences as a professional tutor. She begins with tips to engage children in the learning process and proceeds to ideas to make education fun and creative. Parent tutors are also encouraged to model a love of learning for their students. In “Tutor Toolboxes,” Ruben recommends everything from mnemonic devices to organizing learning spaces and materials to, most important, encouraging reluctant children. Each chapter ends with a “Tutor Take-Away” table that summarizes the section. Parents with teens will be most interested in the final part of the book, which focuses on how to adjust educational approaches for adolescents. VERDICT Parents who have trouble motivating their children will find this book (which considers K-12 students, with a particular focus on teens) useful and will appreciate Ruben’s organization and chapter summations; parents of children with special needs or disabilities should look elsewhere.—Karen McCoy, John F. Reed Lib., Durango, CO
HISTORY
Downing, Taylor. Churchill’s War Lab: Code-breakers, Scientists, and the Mavericks Churchill Led to Victory. Overlook, dist. by Penguin. Jun. 2011. c.416p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781590205655. $30. HIST
World War II saw the introduction of numerous new weapons and procedures, with the British prime minister desperate for ways to counter German strength. Churchill enthusiastically supported experiments, new military units, changes in procedures, and unorthodox thinkers who had been disregarded by the establishment. Downing (Battlestations: War Winning Weapons of the Second World War) shows here how, unlike President Roosevelt, Churchill took great pleasure in the details of weapons development and military operations. World War II was as much a scientific/mental war as one of sheer force, and Churchill strove to exploit British advantages. Downing reminds readers how Churchill’s own military career had been marked by independence and daring. This well-researched book, organized by broad themes (e.g., the air war, the naval war), focuses on the contentious interactions between Churchill and his exasperated top officers and war cabinet, who resented his energetic interference in their departments. It is a good overview of how a visionary leader must encourage and coordinate the talents of various personalities and organizations to achieve a common goal. Readers will also enjoy Stuart Macrae’s recently republished Winston Churchill’s Toyshop. VERDICT General readers from high school up will enjoy this fast-paced and informative book. It won’t give new information to specialists, but they may enjoy it nonetheless.—Daniel K. Blewett, Coll. of DuPage Lib., Glen Ellyn, IL
Foreman, Amanda. A World on Fire: Britain’s Crucial Role in the American Civil War. Random. Jun. 2011. c.1008p. illus. maps. index. ISBN 9780375504945. $35. HIST
Whitbread Prize winner Foreman (visiting research fellow, Queen Mary, Univ. of London; Georgiana: Duchess of Devonshire) weighs in with a big book rich in description and strong in narrative, with a large cast of characters that includes British nobles and American statesmen jockeying for power, British journalists reporting the war, and Englishmen and Irishmen fighting, respectively, with the Union and Confederate armies in what they regarded as noble causes. Foreman’s special strength is tracking the social relationships that bound together, or estranged, the movers and shakers in London and Washington, with keen insights on the political maneuverings that kept England out of the war. If her minibiographies sometimes overwhelm the narrative and her battle accounts distract in their detail, her deftly drawn vignettes remind readers that personal concerns and personalities informed policy as much as national identity and interest. VERDICT The result is a very good read and a grand panorama of the war on land and sea, in the press, and in drawing rooms and public assemblies on both sides of the Atlantic. Highly recommended for all students of the Civil War, buffs and scholars alike, and anyone wanting to understand the complicated world of Anglo-American relations. [See Prepub Alert, 11/29/10.]—Randall M. Miller, Saint Joseph’s Univ., Philadelp hia
Mansel, Philip. Levant: Splendour and Catastrophe on the Mediterranean. Yale Univ. 2011. c.496p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780300172645. $35. HIST
French and Ottoman historian Mansel (Constantinople: City of the World’s Desire, 1453–1924) re-creates the daily life and political idiosyncrasies of the three jewels of the Levant: Smyrna (now Izmir, in Turkey); Alexandria, Egypt; and Beirut, Lebanon. Beginning at the start of the Ottoman Empire’s relationship with France in the 16th century, Mansel examines thoroughly each city and its people as a study in contrasts. Although Europeans and Ottomans, Jewish, Christian, and Muslim, lived and worked side by side in these Levantine ports, all was not cosmopolitan bliss. Mansel skillfully highlights the nationalist, religious, and cultural conflicts that plagued Smyrna, Alexandria, and Beirut well into the 20th century, while at the same time still acknowledging that the diversity of religion, nationalities, and ideas that coexisted in the Levant existed nowhere else in the world. VERDICT This is a rich piece of historical storytelling that will satisfy scholars, travelers, readers of travel literature, and everyone in between. Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in this complicated region of the world.—Veronica Arellano, California, MD
Rees, Siân. Sweet Water and Bitter: The Ships That Stopped the Slave Trade. Univ. of New Hampshire: Univ. Pr. of New England. 2011. c.360p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781584659808. $27.95. HIST
Rees (The Floating Brothel ) presents a well-researched account of Britain’s attempt to stem the Atlantic slave trade by creating the Preventive Squadron to enforce the 1807 Abolition Act. Royal Navy ships patrolled the African coast, detaining slave traders and freeing their human cargo. This epic, complex story stretches across the Atlantic Ocean, where British antislavers clashed with slavers from throughout Europe and the Americas, and digs deep into Africa, where British agents bartered with African kings and enticed them to stop human trafficking. Rees explores Parliament’s motivations for financing an expensive and dangerous antislaving campaign that was unpopular with the media, noting that for many British captains and crew, adventure and ambition were the stronger motivations. Her use of case histories and personal narratives make this an especially engrossing read. Readers not well acquainted with African geography and nautical nomenclature may find the myriad details overwhelming, but Rees does an overall solid job of crafting a readable but dense narrative for serious readers. VERDICT Rees presents a little-known but historically significant chapter in nautical and slavery history, an important addition to 19th-century studies. Recommended to students and informed lay readers in British history and African geography . —Douglas King, Univ. of South Carolina Lib., Columbia
Steinacher, Gerald. Nazis on the Run: How Hitler’s Henchmen Fled Justice. Oxford Univ. Jun. 2011. c.400p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780199576869. $34.95. HIST
Steinacher (Joseph A. Schumpeter Research Fellow, Ctr. for European Studies, Harvard) has meticulously researched how so many Nazi war criminals were able to escape justice after World War II. While its title may lead some readers to expect a dashing adventure tale of espionage and escape, this book is really about the bureaucratic chaos that paralyzed the Allied governments in the early postwar period. By pouring over newly released archives, Steinacher shows how the International Red Cross, the Vatican, and Western intelligence agencies preoccupied with the Cold War against the Soviet Union were all complicit in the escape of key Nazi criminals. Often this assistance was given unintentionally, but the chaos that followed World War II made the escapes almost inevitable. The millions of displaced without documentation made it easy for thousands of war criminals to disappear. VERDICT This book will be the standard for generations of historians who wish to study the fate of Hitler’s followers who evaded justice for decades or escaped it altogether. Recommended. —Michael Farrell, Reformed Theological Seminary Lib., Oviedo, FL
Swint, Kerwin. The King Whisperers: Power Behind the Throne, from Rasputin to Rove. Union Square: Sterling. 2011. 336p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781402772016. $21.95. HIST
Swint (political science, Kennesaw State Univ.; Mudslingers: The Twenty-Five Dirtiest Political Campaigns of All Time) offers an illuminating study of the real power players, the behind-the-scenes movers and shakers in political history. His work is divided thematically by philosophical and/or psychological approach, e.g., “Machiavellian,” “Silver-Tongued Devils,” and “Schemers.” These are somewhat traditional divisions—Swint does not dig deeply into the particular philosophies. Within each type, he provides a brief historical-political biographical snapshot of exemplars covering a wide variety of time periods and cultures. Examples include Dick Cheney as a Machiavellian, Leon Trotsky as a silver-tongued devil, and James Carville as a “Fixer.” These snapshots are well defined, with Swint highlighting the specific details that align with the section each person represents. VERDICT General readers interested in political history and political science will find this a captivating book. Not for academics or specialists because there’s a lot of nuance left untouched, although the bibliography indicates a good amount of research.—Elizabeth Zeitz, Otterbein Univ. Lib., Westerville, OH
LAW & CRIME
Moskos, Peter. In Defense of Flogging. Basic Bks: Perseus. Jun. 2011. c.192p. ISBN 9780465021482. $20. LAW
This provocatively titled volume claims that the American prison system is too expensive and has failed to be fully effective throughout its history. Moskos (law, police science, & criminal justice administration, John Jay Coll. of Criminal Justice) uses the long-abandoned practice of flogging to examine the American penal system’s history and its shortcomings. Flogging faded in the 18th century, as penitentiaries strived to become more humane. In a straightforward style, the author argues that the humiliation of flogging is preferable to long periods of isolation. He further argues that the reforms meant to improve prison conditions have made them worse, e.g., in early jails, families visited prisoners freely and provided food and other necessities. Modern prisons separate prisoners from their families in destructive ways, and tougher sentencing has done little to stop repeat offenders. VERDICT Moskos’s argument is unconventional and convincing. Those interested in prison reform will find much to contemplate here, although they may not agree with Moskos’s arguments. Lay readers interested in the law will also be drawn to this. The title alone will attract a large audience.—Becky Kennedy, Atlanta-Fulton P.L.
Rodgers, Paul. United States Constitutional Law: An Introduction. McFarland. 2011. c.300p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780786459407. pap. $45. LAW
Associate Justice Robert H. Jackson said that the Supreme Court’s interpretations are final not because the court is infallible but are infallible because the court is final. Rodgers, a lawyer who headed the association of public utility commissions, presents a catalog of the Supreme Court’s constitutional cases. He goes through the Constitution and briefly discusses the cases, interpreting each provision. Constitutional law is a vast subject, and this is a comprehensive survey, but it is written as a reference and not to be read straight through. Neither the historical antecedents—e.g., Magna Carta, the English Bill of Rights—nor the historical events that shaped the drafting are discussed. Rodgers generally avoids legal jargon, but when it appears, e.g., “strict scrutiny,” he doesn’t explain it. A big problem is the illogical mess of certain areas—the commerce clause, the First and Fourteenth Amendments—and no guide can clear that up. VERDICT Perhaps a reference shelf that doesn’t already include one of Congressional Quarterly’s books should add this, but it doesn’t work for general lay readers or for lawyers.—Michael O. Eshleman, Kings Mills, OH
Willman, David. The Mirage Man: Bruce Ivins, the Anthrax Attacks, and America’s Rush to War. Bantam. Jul. 2011. c.464p. photogs. index. ISBN 9780553807752. $27. CRIME
Willman, who won a Pulitzer Prize for his Los Angeles Times reporting on the anthrax attacks, here provides a highly detailed account of the federal government’s investigation of the series of letters laced with deadly anthrax spores that were sent out just after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The contents of the letters killed five people and injured many more. After years of focusing the investigation on a scientist who was eventually cleared of all charges, the FBI, Willman believes, finally got its man. But the chief suspect, Bruce Ivins, a government anthrax expert who worked for the U.S. Army in Maryland, committed suicide before he was brought to trial. Willman presents a strong case of circumstantial evidence that Ivins was indeed the anthrax killer. But, he concedes, some doubt remains. More important, the book reveals serious shortcomings in the nation’s law enforcement and national security bureaucracy. VERDICT Willman has produced an impressive piece of investigative journalism that will be of interest to all Americans but particularly to those involved in national security, law enforcement, and civil liberties.—Robert Bruce Slater, Stroudsburg, PA
PARAPSYCHOLOGY
Wilson, Colin. Supernatural: Your Guide Through the Unexplained, the Unearthly and the Unknown. Watkins, dist. by Sterling. Jun. 2011. 600p. index. ISBN 9781907486555. pap. $19.95. PARAPSYCH
This is the latest incarnation of Wilson’s earlier The Mammoth Book of the Supernatural (1991, reprinted in 1997) and The Giant Book of the Supernatural (1994), and it is readily apparent that the content has been neither revised nor altered. The table of contents here, as in many 19th-century novels, includes abstracts summarizing the various sections. The index is not comprehensive; for instance, the term poltergeist appears numerous times throughout the book, including in the table of contents and the appendix, but it is not indexed. The book itself is a detailed catalog of various supernatural phenomena that have been recorded throughout history. VERDICT Wilson is very well known in this field, and readers who enjoy supernatural events will like this book, but one of its previous printings will suffice if you are interested in the topic.—Bradford Lee Eden, Univ. of California Lib., Santa Barbara
POLITICAL SCIENCE
Warrick, Joby. The Triple Agent: The al-Qaeda Mole Who Infiltrated the CIA. Doubleday. Jul. 2011. c.304p. index. ISBN 9780385534185. $26.95. INT AFFAIRS
This is a true story that reads like a thrilling spy novel. Warrick (Washington Post ), a Pulitzer Prize winner whose specialty is covering intelligence, presents a riveting account of Humam Khalil al-Balawi, the presumptive Jordanian double agent recruited by the CIA in Washington’s war against al-Qaeda. For some time, al-Balawi had been sending invaluable, firsthand information to the CIA about the inner workings of al-Qaeda and its top leadership. Al-Balawi had purportedly become a confidant of al-Qaeda’s elusive No. 2 leader, Egyptian physician Ayman al-Zawahiri. The “double agent” had promised to provide the CIA with its biggest victory in its war on terrorism by delivering al-Zawahiri. After a waiting period, a special CIA team was to meet with the mysterious double agent in a secret spot in Khost, Afghanistan, to receive the much anticipated information about al-Zawahiri. On December 30, 2009, al-Balawi entered the location, but instead of delivering the anticipated intelligence, he detonated a 30-pound bomb strapped to his chest, killing himself and seven CIA agents. VERDICT Warrick’s straight journalistic report, without editorializing, is highly recommended both to those who follow the U.S. war on terror and to all readers of spy and espionage thrillers, whether fictional or not. [See Prepub Alert, 1/10/11.] —Nader Entessar, Univ. of South Alabama, Mobile
PSYCHOLOGY
Roberts, Cheryl A. Coping with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Guide for Families. 2d ed. McFarland. 2011. c.218p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780786449743. pap. $39.95. PSYCH
Roberts (applied linguistics, Univ. of Northern Iowa) updates her 2003 original book on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Admitting her nonclinical background, she explains how her marriage to a Vietnam veteran, interest in human behavior, and living and working in different cultures led to further investigating PTSD. Strongly directed at lay readers interested in or personally experiencing the disorder and its accompanying stress, Roberts explains the effects of PTSD on individuals and their families, including the trauma caused by noncombat violence and natural disasters. She nicely covers PTSD causes, clinical diagnosis, and treatment of the disorder, including counseling, medication, and alternative therapy. She also presents typical challenges faced by PTSD individuals and their families and provides helpful recommendations on how best to develop and implement a healthy, long-term approach to handling them. New here is information regarding Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans, new policies and treatments used with military veterans, and information on female war vets, who represent a new demographic for combat PTSD. VERDICT Roberts includes helpful additional resources for PTSD survivors and family members and a handy guide to recommended reading, as well as key films that dramatically convey the reality of PTSD. Primarily focused on combat, this will be of great value to veterans or those in the armed services who may be experiencing PTSD and their family and friends.—Dale Farris, Groves, TX
SOCIAL SCIENCES
Levy, Michael. Kosher Chinese: Living, Teaching, and Eating with China’s Other Billion. Holt. Jul. 2011. c.256p. ISBN 9780805091960. pap. $15. SOC SCI
As in Peter Hessler’s River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze and Peter J. Vernezze’s recent Socrates in Sichuan: Chinese Students Search for Truth, Justice, and the (Chinese) Way, Peace Corps experience is the inspiration for Levy’s cheekier and freewheeling but insightful adventure story. Pundits describe a prosperous Chinese middle class living along the coast, but in 2005 Levy arrived in poor and isolated Guizhou, where the students he taught belonged to China’s “other billion.” At first it was hard to know which side knew less about the other—Levy, whose China background was shaky, or his hosts, whose understanding of his Judaism was limited to the fact that “Comrade Marx was Jewish” and so was Einstein. As Levy gets to know (and play basketball with) his students, his misadventures with squat toilets, confrontations with exotic foods, and bureaucratic snafus become less important than genuine debates over American democracy and the students’ belief that their authoritarian system has led to development, stability, and dignity. VERDICT Informative, snappy reading, though not essential.—Charles W. Hayford, Northwestern Univ., Evanston, IL
TRAVEL & GEOGRAPHY
Chitnis, Christine. Markets of New England. Little Bookroom. Jun. 2011. 216p. photogs. index. ISBN 9781892145963. pap. $15.95. TRAV
In this upscale guidebook to markets of New England, freelance writer Chitnis features 50 of the best farmers’ markets, art fairs, and festivals in the area. In addition to location, dates, and times, she provides websites and a page on the distinctive features of each market. Most similar guides are colorless pamphlets published by local governments or business groups, but this one features glorious full-color photos of heirloom vegetables, crafts, and baked goods. Readers will want to grab a tote bag, jump in the car, and head out to browse among the organic grains, clams, and homespun yarn. Boston’s hip Bazaar Bizarre, for example, promises it’s “not your granny’s craft fair” and offers items leaning toward the indie and punk. The book’s small size is just right for tucking in the car for a spur-of-the-moment weekend jaunt. VERDICT This guide is of primary interest to New England residents, but leaf-peeping tourists will also find plenty of inspired shopping ideas.—Susan Belsky, Oshkosh P.L., WI
Wolff, Joe (text) & Roger Paperno (photogs.). Café Life San Francisco: A Guidebook to the City’s Neighborhood Cafés. Interlink: Interlink Pub. Group. Jul. 2011. c.160p. photogs. maps. ISBN 9781566568470. pap. $20. TRAV
It’s not as if one needs another reason to visit the magical City by the Bay, but Wolff and Paperno (coauthors, Café Life Rome) provide a delectable impetus. Wolff divides the city into five neighborhoods and adds a trio of Marin County entries for a total of 24 café recommendations. The specialties of these coffee shops range from full-service meals to Italian pastries, unusual ice cream flavors, and gelato. In the heart of downtown San Francisco at Union Square, there’s the Italian Emporio Rulli Il Caffè. Equally continental is the Café Metropol, only here you’ll find a taste of Austria and be welcomed by brothers Klaus and Albert Ranier. Wolff then covers North Beach, the Sunset District, and the Mission District. Mission Bay and Dogpatch may be out of the way for visitors, but Wolff’s recommendations are worth a side trip. VERDICT What makes this such an inviting guide are the interviews with café owners that provide in-depth background on the establishments and neighborhoods. It is a joy to read and an essential purchase for anyone planning a trip to or living in San Francisco.—Janet Ross, Sparks Branch Lib., NV
