Social Sciences Reviews, September 1, 2010
Sep 1, 2010Biography
Eire, Carlos. Learning To Die in Miami: Confessions of a Refugee Boy. Free Pr: S. & S. Nov. 2010. c.256p. ISBN 9781439181904. $26. AUTOBIOG
Eire (T. Lawrason Riggs Professor of History & Religious Studies, Yale) takes readers on his personal journey, beginning in 1962 when he and his brother arrived in Florida as part of Operation Peter Pan—an evacuation of 14,000 Cuban children whose parents arranged for their relocation to the United States, away from Castro. Eire's prose engages us throughout as we learn of the challenges he faced as he assimilated to his new world. He often carries us back to Cuba, where his parents remained. He longed for his family traditions, even as the United States became his "real world"—a world lit up with color. The reader becomes a part of Eire's assimilation journey, which although at times provides humor, was more often simply difficult. Eire interlaces Spanish appropriately, thus illustrating how he still thinks in one language but speaks another. VERDICT Eire shows how strong and deep are the personal impacts of emigration, yet he met his challenges head-on and succeeded. Readers of memoir and immigrant stories will appreciate Eire's journey and celebrate his accomplishments.—Susan Montgomery, Rollins Coll. Lib., Winter Park, FL
Korda, Michael. Hero: The Life and Legend of Lawrence of Arabia. Harper: HarperCollins. Dec. 2010. c.768p. photogs. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780061712616. $34.99. BIOG
T.E. Lawrence (1888–1935) lived an extraordinary life: archaeologist and explorer in the Middle East; military planner and leader of the Arab revolt in World War I; influential diplomat and statesman after the war; gifted writer; and a close friend and correspondent to writers, artists, and political leaders until his death in a motorcycle accident. Romanticized by Lowell Thomas and the popular press, he achieved wide fame in Britain and the United States that he sometimes used to advance his causes but more often shunned to protect his privacy. His story is well known, first from Thomas and later in the striking 1962 film, as well as through several serious biographies and volumes of his published letters, all of which Korda, successful publisher and prolific author, has examined to bring together the different phases of Lawrence's life, including his tense family background. The result is an engaging portrait of a talented man who achieved much in spite of a complex and sometimes self-destructive inner life. Korda calls Lawrence a hero in the classical sense, meaning one who trained himself for the role through moral and physical discipline, hard work, courage, and great skill at leading others. VERDICT Because so much has already been written by and about Lawrence, there is not much new here. The book's value is in its readability—it will draw in even those familiar with Lawrence. His life deserves a new biography every few years. History buffs and general readers will appreciate this well-written, fast-moving exposition of the rich life of an individual. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 7/10.]—Elizabeth R. Hayford, emerita, Associated Colls. of the Midwest, Evanston, IL
Porter, Linda. Katherine the Queen: The Remarkable Life of Katherine Parr, the Last Wife of Henry VIII. St. Martin's. Dec. 2010. c.464p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780312384388. $27.99. BIOG
Against the backdrop of Henry VIII's five previous marriages, Katherine Parr receives short shrift. Painted as a matronly woman selected by Henry to be the antithesis of the sexually liberal Katherine Howard, Parr is generally viewed unenviably as nursemaid to an autocrat whose obesity, age, and increasingly unpredictable temper made him no catch. Porter (Mary Tudor: The First Queen) has set out to provide us with a fresh perspective on this intelligent, ambitious, and resilient woman, the consort who outlived Henry. Here we do not see Katherine quietly tending Henry's ulcerous legs, but rather carving out her identity through her impressive scholarly and literary achievements and her brief time as regent. She also gave Henry's children the warm family life so long denied them. In closing, Porter touchingly (and rightly) credits Parr's role in nurturing the brilliant and indomitable Elizabeth I. VERDICT Readers with an interest in women's history and/or Tudor England should find this biography a refreshing and gratifying read.—Tessa L.H. Minchew, Georgia Perimeter Coll., Clarkston
Rice, Condoleezza. Extraordinary, Ordinary People: A Memoir of Family. Crown: Random House. Oct. 2010. c.352p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780307587879. $27. AUTOBIOG
Rice's graceful memoir is a personal, multigenerational look into her own, and our country's, past. With vivid and heartfelt writing, Rice, U.S. secretary of state under George W. Bush, looks back on her grandparents and parents, then moves forward through her own life up to the 2000 election (this is not a political memoir for the most part). Some of the most moving parts are those relating to her early family life in Birmingham. Rice was a child during the height of the Civil Rights Movement while living in staunchly segregated Alabama. She knew the little girls killed in the 16th Street Church bombing and witnessed much of the violence of that time. Despite the circumstances of their lives, Rice's parents were dedicated to education and providing the best opportunities possible to their daughter, an only child. Her family was also very involved in their local community (they moved from Birmingham to Denver in 1967) and worked tirelessly to convince others to value education as they did. VERDICT Readers will perceive Rice's emotion in relating her story, yet her portrayal seems fair and unbiased. This book by a truly fascinating woman is highly recommended to all interested readers. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/15/10.]—Lisa A. Ennis, Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham Lib.
Rowley, Hazel. Franklin and Eleanor: An Extraordinary Marriage. Farrar. Nov. 2010. c.416p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780374158576. $27. BIOG
Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt occupied the White House longer than any other first couple, with FDR always considered in the top triumvirate of American Presidents and ER ranking as the greatest First Lady according to the polls of experts. For those interested in the private record of these two public figures, this is the book to read. Biographer Rowley (Richard Wright) brings her honed skills to the Roosevelt marriage. Though the narrative is familiar and the author has not uncovered new information, she empathetically presents an incisive portrait of a new kind of marriage that was as fruitful to FDR and ER in some ways as their original Victorian marriage. They broke through convention just as Teddy Roosevelt had done in politics. A leitmotif of the book is how much FDR based his career on Teddy, with the major difference that FDR was ultimately much more successful. Similarly, Rowley insists that ER was not a reluctant First Lady but carved a new role for herself. Both ER and FDR were essentially active and flexible, adapting creatively to changing political and personal crises. VERDICT Without resort to sensationalism, the author turns a familiar story into a page-turner, bringing out the nuances of this marriage and of their relationships with others around them without demeaning either FDR or ER. This is the book for readers with an interest in American Presidents.—William D. Pederson, Louisiana State Univ., Shreveport
Royko, Mike. Royko in Love: Mike's Letters to Carol. Univ. of Chicago. Sept. 2010. c.254p. ed. by David Royko. photogs. ISBN 9780226730783. $24. BIOG
David Royko, son of the famous Pulitzer Prize–winning columnist (1932–97) who wrote for three Chicago papers, here presents his father's letters to his mother, starting before they were married and well before Mike Royko became famous. "Mick" had loved Carol Duckman since boyhood, but she married someone else. When, while he was in the air force, he learned that she was divorced, he began to write her, declaring his love and embarking on his courtship. The 114 letters here extend from February 1954 through January 1955, by which time the couple was married. The letters (Carol's letters to Mike have not survived) are endearing and often funny, as they provide a glimpse into the mind and personality of young Mike. He details his life on the Washington Air Force base, his feelings about the military, and his love for Carol. As editor, David offers commentary throughout to provide context. Mike's most famous column, "November Farewell," serves as the book's prolog, the piece he wrote after Carol's early death in 1979; she was only in her forties. VERDICT This book will appeal most to ardent fans of Mike Royko, of whom there are many, particularly around Chicago. General readers would have been better served if David had provided even more extensive context.—Sharon M. Britton, Bowling Green State Univ. Lib., Huron, OH
Two Cleopatra Biographies
Goldsworthy, Adrian. Antony and Cleopatra. Yale Univ. Sept. 2010. c.480p. illus. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780300165340. $35. BIOG
Goldsworthy follows up his admirable life of Julius Caesar (Caesar: Life of a Colossus) with a joint biography of two of Caesar's protégés. The record shows that Cleopatra, queen of Egypt, and Mark Antony, the Roman triumvir, didn't meet till 41 B.C.E., well into their busy lives, when she was 28 and he 43, although some (this reviewer included) may suspect that they encountered each other earlier during Cleopatra's visits to Caesar in Rome. Both from elite, cosmopolitan families of the Mediterranean world, Antony and Cleopatra made an ill-fated alliance, political and romantic, against the forces of Caesar's heir Octavian/Augustus. Goldsworthy credits the eventual victory of the unsoldierly Octavian to his PR savvy and his general, Agrippa, who outclassed Antony as a military leader. VERDICT Because Goldsworthy must retell the history of the civil wars of the first century B.C.E., his book could easily be called Caesar, Antony and Cleopatra. With limited source material, he constructs a plausible portrait of two practical romantics whose storied love followed the path of political advantage. Unlike Stacy Schiff's Cleopatra, Goldsworthy's book is not packaged to attract readers of bodice rippers, but these two titles are probably more alike than different: good serious books, though not necessarily for scholars or specialists.—Stewart Desmond, New York
Schiff, Stacy. Cleopatra: A Life. Little, Brown. Nov. 2010. c.448p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780316001922. $29.99. BIOG
Pulitzer Prize–winning author Schiff (Véra [Mrs. Vladimir Nabokov]) offers another fine biography here. Though few reliable records remain regarding the Egyptian queen, this book peels back the layers of mystery surrounding Cleopatra and attempts to reveal a legend in her own time. While Schiff takes a few liberties by ascribing emotion to her subject, she demonstrates an immense amount of research. Her narrative does not so much bring forward anything new about Cleopatra as it presents her to the contemporary reader in a more accessible and, indeed, engrossing way. The results complement Diana Preston's Cleopatra and Antony: Power, Love, and Politics in the Ancient World, which examined the reality behind the first "celebrity couple," also with an eye to contemporary readers. VERDICT With her new book, Schiff showcases her skill at capturing a life. Her prose is elegant but easy to read and briskly paced. In spite of extensive research, Schiff's projection of emotions and motivations onto her subject tilts the results more toward pop history than real scholarship. Undergraduates, lovers of biography or ancient history, and those seeking an introduction to Cleopatra will delight in this take on the near-mythical last queen of Egypt. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/15/10.]—Crystal Goldman, San Jose St. Univ. Lib., CA
Communications
More New York Stories: The Best of the City Section of the New York Times. New York Univ. Nov. 2010. c.320p. ed. by Constance Rosenblum. illus. ISBN 9780814776551. pap. $18.95. COMM
The New York Times printed its last issue of its City Section in May 2009 after 16 years of featuring slices of life in Manhattan and the other four boroughs of New York. Like New York Stories—also edited by the section's former editor, Rosenblum (Boulevard of Dreams: Heady Times, Heartbreak, and Hope Along the Grand Concourse in the Bronx)—this commemorative collection captures the essence of New York's distinctive urban life. Fifty intriguing and heartfelt essays are divided into four sections—"Characters," "Places in the City's Heart," "Rituals, Rhythms, and Ruminations," and "Excavating the Past." The book includes contemporary and historical reflections on the people, places, and spirit of the city. While most of the section's essays were written by Times staffers, this collection also features contributions from well-known authors like Edwidge Danticat, Jonathan Rosen, and Nathaniel Rich. Verdict For fans of the Big Apple and the New York Times.—Donna Marie Smith, Palm Beach Cty. Lib. Syst., FL
Economics
Gwartney, James D. & others. Common Sense Economics: What Everyone Should Know About Wealth and Prosperity. St. Martin's. 2010. c.208p. index. ISBN 9780312644895. $21.99. BUS
It is nearly impossible to boil economics down to a few essential statements. Yet Gwartney (economics, Florida State Univ.; Economics: Private and Public Choice), Richard L. Stroup (economics, adjunct, North Carolina State Univ.; Eco-Nomics), Dwight R. Lee (economics, Southern Methodist Univ.; Getting Rich in America), and Tawni H. Ferrarini (economics, Northern Michigan Univ.) distill the core principles of "common sense economics." People earn money by helping others; governments help people by protecting their lives, liberties, and property—these are some of the basic ideas highlighted here in crisp, logical writing. The authors bring to light both the self-stabilizing genius of the free market and the absurdities of politically driven economic policies with "crony capitalism" that often ensue. Two surprising inclusions are the "economic bill of rights" and the chapter on personal finance. The former, written in the language of a constitutional amendment, seeks to clarify the narrow role of the U.S. government in economic affairs, while the latter is a distinctly practical financial responsibility guide. VERDICT Though Common Sense is not an in-depth analysis of economics, economics students and professors, as well as general readers, will benefit from reading this introduction to general economic principles. Highly recommended as a primer.—Jekabs Bikis, Dallas Baptist Univ.
Learn Like a Leader: Today's Top Leaders Share Their Learning Journeys. Nicholas Brealey. Sept. 2010. c.222p. ed. by Marshall Goldsmith & others. ISBN 9781857885576. pap. $19.95. BUS
This volume had its beginnings ten years ago during a weekend meeting of the Learning Network (TLN), a "group of senior thought leaders in the field of management and organization development." The focus was on how experienced leaders learn. The TLN then asked 100 of the leading management and organization figures to "describe a personal learning experience—a turning point that shaped their life's work and influenced their teaching." Of the 100, 35 of these stories are included here and arranged by various themes, including "Lessons on Leadership," "Crossroads and Choices," "Leading, Learning, and Teaching," "Seeing Yourself as Others Do," and "Pain Is a Great Teacher." Editors Goldsmith (coauthor, What Got You Here Won't Get You There), Beverly Kaye (president, Career Systems International), and Ken Shelton (chairman & editor in chief, Executive Excellence Pub.) include such notable contributors as management specialists Warren Bennis, James Belasco, Jay Conger, Jay Galbraith, and Jim Collins. With each essay are an author biography and a list of questions for further discussion. The essays convey how personal and professional experiences changed the authors' ways of thinking and enhanced their leadership abilities and the way they taught others how to lead. VERDICT Management/organizational behavior faculty, practitioners, and anyone interested in improving leadership skills should use this book.—Lucy Heckman, St. John's Univ. Lib., Jamaica, NY
Education
Klose, Robert. The Three-Legged Woman and Other Excursions in Teaching. Univ. Pr. of New England. Oct. 2010. c.224p. ISBN 9781584659273. $24.95. ED
In his previous books (Adopting Alyosha; Small Worlds), Klose discussed his adopted son; here, he offers insight into his teaching life. He has taught biology at an open-admissions university in Maine since 1986, and he chronicles these experiences in the book's six sections. "Clientele" showcases his distinct array of students, ranging from single parents to veterans, the homeless, and even a convicted murderer. "Our Common Tongue" covers the breakdown of American English, and "I, Teacher" delves into Klose's relationship with science. The "Forbidden Fruits" section is where his opinions are strongest, focusing on controversial subjects, including the evolution debate and his students' beliefs in the paranormal. "Methodologies" covers his attempts to make science relevant to students, and "The Future Is Now" discusses technology in the classroom. VERDICT The book's scope and intended audience are unclear; Klose tends to go off topic, particularly when he addresses language and writing techniques. Instead of focusing on his students, his short essays offer a disjointed picture of his life, experiences, and beliefs. Not recommended.—Karen McCoy, Farmington P.L., NM
Yellin, Susan & Christina Cacioppo Bertsch. Life After High School: A Guide for Students with Disabilities and Their Families. Jessica Kingsley. Sept. 2010. c.272p. index. ISBN 9781849058285. pap. $19.95. ED
There are myriad accommodations that colleges and, to a lesser extent, work sites are required to make for people with disabilities, yet navigating the process can be daunting. Here, Yellin, attorney and founder of the nonprofit Center for Learning Differences, and Bertsch (former director, disability svcs., Fordham Univ.) provide students with disabilities and their parents an outstanding and highly readable guide to preparing for and transitioning to life after high school. They start by examining the legal landscape and cover defining a disability and creating a paper trail to document the disability and previous accommodations. They move on to college-entrance exams, how to select a college, and the admissions process, and then discuss the transition to full-time work. There is also a chapter devoted to dealing with medical issues without mom. The book ends with a useful list of resources, organized by topic, for further information. Verdict An excellent resource for students with disabilities and their families; at this price, within reach for most people and libraries. Highly recommended.—Mark Bay, Univ. of the Cumberlands Lib., Williamsburg, KY
History
Bryson, Bill. At Home: A Short History of Private Life. Doubleday. Oct. 2010. c.448p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780767919388. pap. $28.95. HIST
Popular nonfiction writer Bryson (A Short History of Nearly Everything), an American-born UK resident, uses his home—a former Victorian parsonage—to explore how the contents of the rooms—in both his and others' dwellings—are reflections of our history. Changes in how we cope with hygiene, sex, death, sleep, amusement, nutrition, and various manufacturing and service trades all leave legacies on the domestic front. Looking at so many aspects of quotidian culture, Bryson understandably risks leaving out some parts, unlike microstudies such as Mark Kurlansky's Salt. Concentrating on the last 150 years of industrial society, thus including those advances showcased at the Great Exhibition of 1851 (the year his house was built), he often wanders back several centuries. The digressions can be overwhelming, especially as the chapters do not provide clear organization. A dedicated wordsmith writing in a colloquial style, Bryson evidently enjoys his musings and trusts that his public will do the same. VERDICT Readers might best use this anecdotally constructed book by dipping into, rather than methodically reading, it. Its eclectic, ambulatory arrangement will delight many but baffle others. Bryson fans will want to read it. With a bibliography listing print sources but no websites and no endnotes. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/1/10.]—Frederick J. Augustyn Jr., Library of Congress
Butchart, Ronald E. Schooling the Freed People: Teaching, Learning, and the Struggle for Black Freedom, 1861-1876. Univ. of North Carolina. Sept. 2010. c.336p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780807834206. $39.95. HIST
Schooling so long denied slaves became one of ex-slaves' strongest desires. It also represented what sympathetic, though often condescendingly paternalistic, whites thought blacks most needed to advance from slavery. Thousands hearkened to the call to teach freed people. Butchart (history & education, Univ. of Georgia; Northern Schools, Southern Blacks, and Reconstruction) has devoted a productive career to identifying what schools arose when and where for blacks in the South; under whose auspices; with what announced mission, methods, and curricula; and who taught what to which blacks for how long. Here, he masterfully caps his research and writing based on a meticulously constructed database identifying about 11,600 teachers in Southern black schools from 1861 through 1876. He documents the larger than previously acknowledged role of blacks who tended their own as one in three of all teachers in freed people's schools. He further exposes the clash between teachers' views and students' visions for their education and themselves, especially in the context of oppressive white supremacy. VERDICT This work promises to long be a touchstone for scholars and students of post–Civil War black education, of Reconstruction broadly, and of blacks' transition to actual freedom.—Thomas J. Davis, Arizona State Univ., Tempe
Childs, Craig. Finders Keepers: A Tale of Archaeological Plunder and Obsession. Little, Brown. 2010. c.288p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780316066426. $24.99. ARCHAEOL
This is a delightful account of the complicated world of archaeology by an author who loves (one might even say is borderline obsessed with) the past. Naturalist Childs (The Animal Dialogues: Uncommon Encounters in the Wild) explores both sides of the debate over the ethics of archaeology, of who owns the past—as well as who has the right to dig, sell, and keep uncovered artifacts. What Childs does brilliantly throughout is to keep asking the reader who is right and who is wrong. Are the archaeologist, museum curators, and scholars the good guys? Are the looters, private collectors, and ordinary people digging up artifacts the bad guys? Or is it the opposite? The reader finds that there is no easy answer when it comes to our past. VERDICT This nicely wrought, even poetic book about archeological excavation and the variety of people who are passionate about the past and its artifacts will fascinate everyone from high school students to professional archaeologists digging in the field. Highly recommended. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 3/15/10.]—Melissa Aho, Bio-Medical Lib., Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis
Cowie, Jefferson. Stayin' Alive: The 1970s and the Last Days of the Working Class. New Pr., dist. by Perseus. Sept. 2010. c.480p. index. ISBN9781565848757. $27.95. HIST
The New Deal liberalism that led to prosperity for American workers crashed in the 1970s, certainly one of the bleakest decades for blue-collar workers. So claims Cowie (history, Cornell Univ.; Capital Moves: RCA's Seventy-One Year Quest for Cheap Labor) in this edifying survey of the politics, labor movements, and cultural landscape of the times. By mid-decade, the recession of 1974 unleashed stagflation (a failing economy combined with inflation), which many economists and politicians blamed on higher union salaries. At the end of the decade, union membership declined sharply and gains made by minorities and women were largely moot owing to job losses from foreign competition. Cowie includes excellent investigations of how motion pictures, television, and popular movies portrayed the decline of the working class. Such real and fictional working-class heroes as Bruce Springsteen, The Band, Archie Bunker, and John Travolta as Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever defined the Seventies' most tragic legacy: the time when the "republic of anxiety overtook a republic of security." VERDICT Along with Francis Wheen's irreverent Strange Days Indeed: The 1970s: The Golden Days of Paranoia, this book will be sure to engross modern American historians and readers who enjoy serious contemporary history.—Karl Helicher, Upper Merion Twp. Lib., King of Prussia, PA
Dower, John W. Cultures of War: Pearl Harbor/Hiroshima/9-11/Iraq. Norton. 2 010. c.608p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780393061505. $29.95. HIST
Wars often happen because decision makers make bad decisions. But we elect smart people to make reasoned decisions. Dower (history, emeritus, MIT; Embracing Defeat), a winner of the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize, among other honors, examines four cases in which he asserts that a combination of blindness, arrogance, strategic imbecility, and institutional failures of intelligence led to massively bad results. A great deal of his discussion deals with the—in his view—disastrous George W. Bush presidency and its obstinate refusal to replace preconceptions and posturing with fact. Much of his argument involves the psychological and institutional similarities between the Japanese decision for war with America and the equally misguided American attack on Iraq. Wherever destruction is possible, someone will justify it on the grounds of reason and morality in the name of God; is there a way to avoid that trap? VERDICT This dense, well-documented historical survey sometimes descends into anti-Bush diatribe but casts a different light on the decision to use the bomb on Japan and to use shock and awe on Iraq. Best for dispassionate students of 20th-century war history who are open to iconoclastic opinion; with extensive notes.—Edwin B. Burgess, U.S. Army Combined Arms Research Lib., Fort Leavenworth, KS
Fossier, Robert. The Axe and the Oath: Ordinary Life in the Middle Ages. Princeton Univ. Sept. 2010. c.400p. tr. from French by Lydia G. Cochrane. ISBN 9780691143125. $35. HIST
French historian Fossier (medieval history, emeritus, La Sorbonne; editor, The Cambridge Illustrated History of the Middle Ages) here turns his attention from the middle classes and the nobility of the Middle Ages to the great and largely unknown group of ordinary men and women who made up the majority of the medieval population. His humanistic portrait delves into topics ranging from marriage practices to farming knowledge. The Middle Ages, he contends, were not an unchanging, dark time but rather one not at all different from our own, as people had the same corporal and spiritual concerns that we possess now. This book compares favorably with William Manchester's A World Lit Only by Fire and Joseph Gies and Frances Gies's Life in a Medieval City. VERDICT Fossier writes with a passion that makes this amazing period of European history come alive for any reader interested in medieval or social history. However, a not inconsiderable concern for academic libraries is the absence of notes, a bibliography, and an index. Nonetheless, on all other counts, this accessible book is recommended.—Brian Renvall, Mesalands Community Coll., Tucumcari, NM
Holt, Thomas C. Children of Fire: A History of African Americans. Farrar. Oct. 2010. c.464p. illus. index. ISBN 9780809067138. $27. HIST
Holt (James Westfall Thompson Professor of American & African American History, Univ. of Chicago; The Problem of Race in the 21st Century) eschews the traditional topically driven historical narrative here in favor of a more human attempt to relate history as it was lived chronologically. He chronicles the major events, as well as the unexplored tragedies and triumphs of ordinary and extraordinary African Americans through the successive eras of the last 400 years, beginning with the first recorded slaves to arrive at Jamestown in 1621 and ending with the election of Barack Obama as President. Holt's thoroughly researched material and scholarly tone make this work well suited for use as a college text, comparing favorably with standards like Darlene Clark Hine and others' African Americans: A Concise History and John Hope Franklin's seminal From Slavery to Freedom. VERDICT Academics and educational institutions, along with all interested readers, will want to add this to their African American history collections.—April Younglove, Rochester Regional Lib. Council, NY
Langguth, A.J. Driven West: Andrew Jackson's Trail of Tears to the Civil War. S. & S. Nov. 2010. c.480p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781416548591. $30. HIST
This revisionist account of Andrew Jackson's presidency and policies lays out the immense human and political impact of Jackson's forced removal of Native Americans, the Cherokee Trail of Tears. Langguth (journalism, emeritus, Univ. of Southern California; Union 1812) goes beyond traditional accounts of Jackson and the Cherokees, such as Robert Remini's Andrew Jackson and His Indian War, by examining antebellum politics of slavery, the Mexican War, and the doctrine of states' rights in relation to the forced relocation of the Cherokee from Georgia and North Carolina to the western Indian Territory. Langguth argues that Jackson's refusal to respect Cherokee land rights, even after the Supreme Court decision that upheld those rights, fed the flames of political violence and civil conflict, which ultimately climaxed in Southern secession and war. VERDICT A story told with players from 1825 to 1865 and including (in addition to Jackson) such politicians as Henry Clay and John C. Calhoun; Cherokee leaders Major Ridge, John Ross, and Elias Boudinot; and the intriguing socialite Margaret Eaton, this work is sure to be controversial among western expansion and Civil War scholars and as such is highly recommended for individuals with interests in Cherokee and Civil War history. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/15/10.]—Nathan E. Bender, Laramie, WY
Overy, Richard. 1939: Countdown to War. Viking. Oct. 2010. c.159p. index. ISBN 9780670022090. $25.95. HIST
The origins of World War II have probably not received the level of attention devoted to the century's earlier major conflict. In this slim volume, Overy (history, Univ. of Exeter; The Twilight Years: The Paradox of Britain Between the Wars) provides a straightforward examination of those last days in late August and early September 1939 when the peaceful European countryside was about to be shattered by a new world war. Hitler had originally wanted to attack Poland on August 26 but changed his mind. The following days were filled with hectic communications (and miscommunications) among Berlin, Paris, and London. The nerves of all the participants were shot by late August. Meanwhile, Hitler made up his mind again to start war mobilization with the attack on Poland scheduled for early morning on September 1. Overy believes that Hitler misjudged his Western counterparts because the German dictator was convinced that neither France nor Britain would do anything once the attack had begun. For that error in judgment, Europe and much of the rest of the world was convulsed in another terrible war for nearly six years. VERDICT Overy's well-crafted and easy-to-read book should be a useful source for both general and academic readers.—Ed Goedeken, Iowa State Univ. Lib., Ames
Titone, Nora. My Thoughts Be Bloody: The Bitter Rivalry Between Edwin and John Wilkes Booth That Led to an American Tragedy. Free Pr: S. & S. Oct. 2010. c.480p. ISBN 9781416586050. $30. HIST
Provocative and revealing, Titone's first book provides another dimension to an iconic national calamity by alleging that John Wilkes Booth assassinated Abraham Lincoln in part to establish his own importance within a family of theatrical rivals. Titone contends that the feared, idolized, alcoholic but legendary father Junius Brutus Booth favored elder brother Edwin, who bore Junius's talents and faults, over John by taking him on tour, setting the stage for the latter's treacherous act. While most readers will agree that correlation is not causation, Titone's theory (largely based on Booth sister Asia's writings) adds to the narrative while not dismissing the political and cultural reasons for Wilkes Booth's plot—his Confederate and proslavery sympathies have often been noted. Titone portrays wide-ranging milieus from Baltimore to the California gold fields to Panama to New York as important contexts for the Booth family saga. She is most impressive in her use of primary sources and in her literary style, less strong in her use of secondary works, citing general histories in her bibliography but omitting specific studies of Booth. Meticulous readers will want to compare this book with Michael Kaufmann's American Brutus and Edward Steers's Blood on the Moon, among others. VERDICT Titone challenges her readers to view Lincoln's assassination as the result of a dispute between brothers just as the Civil War was at the national level. Her book should attract both scholars and general readers.—Frederick J. Augustyn Jr., Library of Congress
Weber, Thomas. Hitler's First War: Adolf Hitler, the Men of the List Regiment, and the First World War. Oxford Univ. Oct. 2010. c.416p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780199233205. $34.95. HIST
Weber (modern European, international & global political history, Univ. of Aberdeen, Scotland) challenges Hitler's claim, mostly expressed in Mein Kampf (1924) and generally accepted by later historians, that his experiences in World War I shaped both his ideology and subsequent Nazi policy. While little specific information about Hitler's wartime experiences is available, it is possible to reconstruct the history of his unit, the List Regiment, in some detail. Weber by necessity focuses on the men who served with Hitler, but he uses their experiences to assess the impact of the war on the postwar radicalization of German soldiers. His conclusion: it radicalized relatively few soldiers of the List Regiment, and Hitler's postwar claims about his wartime service are largely false. Weber is strongest in re-creating the actual experiences of List Regiment members and in challenging some of the conventional wisdom about the war's long-term impact. His argument that Hitler did not develop his radical ideas until after the war is less convincing, however, as the fact that Hitler's comrades were not radicalized en masse does not necessarily prove that Hitler fit into the same mold. VERDICT Recommended for all general and specialist readers seeking further study of Hitler.—Frederic Krome, Univ. of Cincinnati Clermont Coll., OH
Winchester, Simon. Atlantic: Great Sea Battles, Heroic Discoveries, Titanic Storms, and a Vast Ocean of a Million Stories. HarperCollins. Nov. 2010. c.512p. illus. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780061702587. pap. $27.99. HIST
How does one attempt to write a biography of a subject as old and vast as an ocean? Driven by a lifelong fascination with the Atlantic, Winchester (The Professor and the Madman) found inspiration in viewing the ocean and our relationship with it through the categories of Shakespeare's seven ages: infant, schoolboy, lover, soldier, justice, old age, and second childhood. Employing a mixture of history, science, and anecdotes from both sides of the Atlantic, he envisions the ocean's birth and eventual death and explores how its boundaries were discovered and defined, the many ways it has affected the development of human society (artistically, militarily, industrially), and humanity's effect on it in turn. Though the sheer size of the subject obviously limits how much of the Atlantic's "life" can be related in a single volume, Winchester does an excellent job at presenting an extensive collection of the most interesting parts of its existence. VERDICT Winchester is in fine form, and his typically engaging style creates a vibrant portrait of an ocean that remains endlessly fascinating. Highly recommended, especially for those who have enjoyed the author's previous works. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/15/10.]—Kathleen McCallister, Univ. of South Carolina, Columbia
Law & Crime
Dzikansky, Mordecai Z. & Robert Slater. Terrorist Cop: The NYPD Jewish Cop Who Traveled the World to Stop Terrorists. Barricade. Jan. 2011. c.322p. ISBN 9781569804452. $24.95. LAW
Veteran NYPD homicide detective Dzikansky spent four years in Israel to observe the aftermath of terrorist attacks and cull lessons to help the NYPD prevent and better handle terror threats. He is at his best when recalling his 20 years on the streets of New York, his experience visiting the scenes of dozens of suicide bombings in Israel (among other places), and the personal pain of dealing with and recovering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Although his reports on the aftermath of bombings are difficult to read, readers will still crave more stories and details. While he no doubt gleaned valuable information and was able to help the NYPD develop policy and training to handle terror threats, Dzikansky does not get into the politics of whether a city—even New York—should be running such programs. The book would benefit from hearing more of his views, although it does include a summary of lessons learned and guidelines for how to spot a terrorist. VERDICT This will be of interest mostly to security and law enforcement professionals and those interested in New York and the aftermath of 9/11.—Karen Sandlin Silverman, Ctr. for Applied Research, Philadelphia
Hunt, Jennifer C. Seven Shots: An NYPD Raid on a Terrorist Cell and Its Aftermath. Univ. of Chicago. Oct. 2010. c.344p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780226360904. $29. LAW
Sociologist Hunt here details the NYPD cops who took down a terrorist cell in 1997. Acting on a tip, the NYPD Emergency Services team raided a Brooklyn apartment and shot two suspects, who had a fully operational suicide bomb that they planned to detonate in the subway during rush hour. The officers should have become decorated heroes, but the politics of the police hierarchy complicated their stories. Hunt, who has spent years studying police culture in the NYPD and elsewhere, unfurls the operation and its consequences from the perspectives of five participants. The raid, the petty jealousies, and the politicking of publicity-hungry superiors all the way up to the police chief and the mayor are brought vividly to life. The book ends with 9/11 and the responses of those same police officers to another terrorist plot with a much more tragic outcome. VERDICT There is a distinctly academic tone to some of the chapters, which may put off some readers, but the story stands on its own. By turns inspiring, heartbreaking, and infuriating, this will appeal to readers interested in police culture as well as both students and fans of the real-life police procedural.—Deirdre Bray Root, Middletown P.L., OH
Political Science
Hamilton, Nigel. American Caesars: Lives of the Presidents from Franklin D. Roosevelt to George W. Bush. Yale Univ. Sept. 2010. c.624p. illus. bibliog. ISBN 9780300169287. $35. POL SCI
It may seem like an impossible task to tackle the lives of 12 Presidents in one book, but Hamilton (senior fellow, McCormack Graduate Sch., Univ. of Massachusettes; JFK: Reckless Youth) makes an admirable attempt. Inspired by Suetonius's The Twelve Caesars, which profiled the first Roman emperors, he tells the story of 20th-century America by looking at its leaders. Each chapter is dedicated to one President and comprises three parts: "The Road to the White House," "The Presidency," and "Private Life." The result is a snapshot of each man's life, political challenges, major accomplishments, and historical legacy. By necessity, the book lacks a certain depth, offering instead highlights and critical moments that shaped each administration. Hamilton deliberately shines a light on his subjects' humanity and imperfections and is frank in his assessments. His admiration for FDR is evident, as is his disdain for George W. Bush. VERDICT Some readers may take issue with Hamilton's opinions about particular Presidents. But as a whole, this is an excellent overview with a novel approach to comparing and contrasting presidential policies and personalities over the past eight decades. Recommended for those interested in American history, current events, and politics.—Michele Martin, Sonoma Acad., Santa Rosa, CA
Rhodes, Richard. The Twilight of the Bombs: Recent Challenges, New Dangers, and the Prospects for a World Without Nuclear Weapons. Knopf. 2010. c.352p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780307267542. $30. INT AFFAIRS
Pulitzer Prize–winning atomic weapons historian Rhodes (The Making of the Atom Bomb) completes his quartet on the history of nuclear weapons with this volume that picks up with the end of the Cold War in 1991. Rhodes takes us on a painstakingly researched trip through many nuclear hot spots, including former Soviet republics as well as Iraq, South Africa, and North Korea, next delving into where we stand today and musing about what the future might bring. Throughout, his aim is to remind us of post–Cold War nuclear dangers. He engages us by weaving the fascinating true stories of inspectors finding hidden nuclear stockpiles, how negotiations have variously played out (how Jimmy Carter allegedly saved the United States from possible war with North Korea), and the rationales nations have used for stockpiling nuclear weapons, including prestige and their use as bargaining chips so as to be heard by the United States. VERDICT Nuclear weapons are of major concern worldwide, and Rhodes is an expert in his field. His clear, thoughtful writing makes this title an essential read for those who want to stay informed about global nuclear politics, even though he appears to have completed writing without including Iran in his discussions.—Krista Bush, West Haven, CT
Rohter, Larry. Brazil on the Rise: The Story of a Country Transformed. Palgrave Macmillan. Sept. 2010. c.288p. index. ISBN 9780230618879. $27. INT AFFAIRS
"Brazil is not for beginners" is a quote attributed to famed Brazilian composer Antonio Carlos Jobim. With Brazil's rise as a global player, Rohter (culture reporter, New York Times), who has lived in Brazil for over 14 years, recognizes that more and more people worldwide are becoming interested in what it means to be Brazilian. In this book, he successfully illuminates some of the more convoluted issues within Brazilian society. He not only addresses the stereotypical Brazilian topics of soccer, beaches, and the Amazon, but he also tackles such complex subjects as oil, race, and politics, concentrating on the last 25 years, during which, owing to continuity within its own political system and stability in its national currency and overall economy, Brazil has become a major contributor to global politics and economics for arguably the first time in its history. Rohter's conclusions show Brazil to be a country that on the surface may seem straightforward but upon careful examination reveals itself to be much more intricate. VERDICT Recommended for a general audience interested in South American/Latin American social science and international affairs, particularly as related to Brazil.—Jeremy Spencer, Univ. of California, Davis, Law Lib.
Soffer, Jonathan. Ed Koch and the Rebuilding of New York City. Columbia Univ. (Columbia History of Urban Life). Oct. 2010. c.544p. illus. photogs. index. ISBN 9780231150323. $34.95. POL SCI
Ed Koch, mayor of New York City from 1978 to 1989, was one of the most colorful and controversial of U.S. politicians. The son of immigrant Eastern European Jews, he has a quintessential rags-to-riches story that somehow parallels that of New York itself. Soffer (history, Polytechnic Inst., NYU) has produced, if not the definitive work on Koch, certainly a respectable and authoritative one, even if it feels sometimes like an amalgam of two different books, a biography and a municipal history. While Soffer does provide ample background on Koch's early life, he focuses much more on the larger canvas of New York at the time Koch was first elected mayor. The author concludes that Koch proved to be exactly the right person for the job as he strove to restore the city's financial integrity while balancing budgets and fighting an entrenched bureaucracy to make real changes. Despite genuine accomplishments on social issues, e.g., crime, homelessness, and AIDS, according to Soffer, Koch's record remains decidedly mixed. Koch's often pugilistic style alienated many—friends and foes alike. Additionally, his third term was riddled with corruption and scandals that surely contributed to his ultimate defeat in his 1989 bid for a fourth term. VERDICT New York admirers will find much to relish here, while those interested in learning how municipal governments work, especially during financial crises, will be especially enlightened by Soffer's efforts. Recommended.—Richard Drezen, Brooklyn, NY
Psychology
Herbert, Wray. On Second Thought: Outsmarting Your Mind's Hard-Wired Habits. Crown. Sept. 2010. c.263p. index. ISBN 9780307461636. $25. PSYCH
Herbert, former editor in chief of Psychology Today, offers a book that counters the argument set forth in titles like Malcom Gladwell's Blink. The brain is like a dual processor, he argues—one part is logical, deliberate, and cautious, while the other is much older and primitive. The latter is the heuristic brain—fast, impressionistic, and sometimes irrational. After years of evolution, the brain has become hardwired with mental shortcuts that help us quickly navigate our daily lives. However, they can also distort our thinking and lead to poor decision making. Herbert explains how these ingrained connections can answer questions such as what the state of your desk has to do with your political preferences, what typeface has to do with which book you will buy, how drawing two dots on a piece of paper can desensitize you to violence, and much more. Heuristics are neither good nor bad—the trick, Herbert says, is in recognizing when to question an instant response. VERDICT Backed by scientific research, Herbert takes heuristics out of the lab and successfully shows readers how ancient shortcuts can impact our modern living and how to use this knowledge to make better decisions. For dedicated psychology students and academics.—Phyllis Goodman, West Chester P.L., OH
Porr, Valerie. Overcoming Borderline Personality Disorder: A Family Guide for Healing and Change. Oxford Univ. Oct. 2010. c.400p. index. ISBN 9780195379587. pap. $24.95. PSYCH
It takes a good therapist, researcher, and writer—mental health advocate Porr is all three—to tackle the difficulties of borderline personality disorder (BPD). Characterized by recurrent impulsivity, mood changes, and relationship difficulties, BPD may include unstable identity, paranoia, fear of abandonment, and suicidal behavior. Princess Diana is an example of a well-known person so diagnosed. Experienced therapists may shun these patients, so the good news is that, using a family-oriented approach that avoids interpretation and past history, practical help for this relatively neglected syndrome is available. Porr describes the use of dialectical behavioral therapy, an egalitarian, compassionate, realistic approach that makes loved ones effective as partners in therapy. She ably explains neuroscience as it applies here and emphasizes understanding, validation, and acceptance (not unconditional love). VERDICT An outstanding model of the psychoeducational approach, this volume bridges a daunting gap between laity and psychotherapists. Highly recommended for professionals as well as families of these patients.—E. James Lieberman, George Washington Univ. Sch. of Medicine, Washington, DC
Robinson, Andrew. Sudden Genius: Creativity Explored Through Ten Extraordinary Lives. Oxford Univ. Nov. 2010. c.352p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780199569953. $34.95. PSYCH
The concept of genius is both revered and reviled in modern society. However, the genius personalities chosen for this book would probably be widely accepted as prime examples of high accomplishment and creativity. Robinson (Einstein: A Hundred Years of Relativity), a former literary editor for The Times Higher Education Supplement, amassed an impressive array of scientific research and biographical detail for this study. He explores the components of creative genius, including talent, intelligence, memory, and the unconscious, as well as unusual but related manifestations like savant syndrome and synesthesia. The biographical subjects come from diverse fields but mostly represent Western cultural backgrounds. The final section analyzes the patterns and correlates of high creativity. Notable conclusions are drawn concerning the "creative personality," the ten-year rule for creative breakthroughs, family effects, the relationship between madness and creativity, and factors determining who is considered a genius and for how long. The notion of sudden genius is empirically evaluated, and the author suggests that "genius" itself is historically decreasing. VERDICT Recommended for students as well as general readers, this is a well-researched, finely written, and highly stimulating intellectual romp through the world of cognitive exceptionalism.—Antoinette Brinkman, M.L.S, Evansville, IN
Social Sciences
Bateson, Mary C. Composing a Further Life: The Age of Active Wisdom. Knopf. Sept. 2010. c.272p. bibliog. ISBN 9780307266439. $25.95. SOC SCI
With increasing life expectancies, we have evolved past the old divisions of youth, adulthood, and old age. Older adults in industrialized nations now anticipate many years of robust health, a stage that anthropologist Bateson (professor emerita, George Mason Univ.) calls "Adulthood II." In this affirming but meandering volume, the author, daughter of Margaret Mead and Gregory Bateson and author of books including Composing a Life, which this book explicitly draws on, engages in conversations with various accomplished, high-capacity people. She interviews a boatyard worker–turned–jeweler, a retired Episcopal dean, an actor/activist (Jane Fonda), and others who she believes exemplify her concept of integrating one's experiences and potential in an improvisational manner. Between the interviews, she offers an illuminating consideration and adaptation of Erik Erikson's eight stages of human development. While the aging of the baby boomers has inspired an array of books, such as Allan M. Kleiman's The New Golden Years, this one considers the art of living, rather than the practicalities of finance, health, retirement, or second careering. However, the conversations that are its heart and bulk disappoint, with insufficient editing, profound topics wrapped in chatty language, and a casual feel to the entire project. VERDICT Of interest to the audience it celebrates.—Janet Ingraham Dwyer, State Lib. of Ohio, Columbus
Travel & Geography
Hiss, Tony. In Motion: The Experience of Travel. Knopf. Oct. 2010. c.336p. index. ISBN 9780679415978. $27.95. TRAV
New Yorker staff writer Hiss (The Experience of Place) takes on travel, or, more precisely, the concept of travel as a mind-opening, elucidating, even eureka-inspiring endeavor—something he calls "Deep Travel." One can be in Deep Travel on the way home from the market or on the way to work. It is about noticing and appreciating things, even if you've overlooked them hundreds of times. Deep Travel involves, literally, taking a first step (there is heavy coverage of the notion of first steps) and is related to the notion of "Deep Time"—as when during an activity one is lost in the moment and happily oblivious to its duration. Deep Travel is restorative; it could reduce the number of wars and other conflicts and allow you to live longer. Despite the book's exciting premise, after the first couple of chapters, reality hits: the text is interminably dull. Perhaps it would be better as an hour-long lecture or an essay made up of the beginning few chapters and the ending. VERDICT This is not recommended for travel enthusiasts; academics who study thought processes and patterns would, on the other hand, probably have a field day.—Lee Arnold, Historical Soc. of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
Honeywell, Alice & Bobbi Montgomery. Across America by Bicycle: Alice and Bobbi's Summer on Wheels. Terrace: Univ. of Wisconsin. Oct. 2010. c.300p. photogs. ISBN 9780299248840. pap. $21.95. TRAV
Bicycle touring travelogs generally fall into two basic types: those that describe the riders overcoming physical hardships and the hilarious mishaps of their epic journey, and narratives about the inner growth of cyclists as they tackle the seemingly impossible. Writing consultant Honeywell and retired English teacher Montgomery present a book that falls into the latter category, as they document their three-month trip biking eastward from Oregon, mostly on the Lewis and Clark, Northern Tier, and North Lakes cross-country bicycle routes. They explore what it means to live the pared-down existence of loaded touring as they pedal slowly enough to enjoy the beauty of the country. Honeywell and Montgomery also discuss their equipment, time management, and the ever-important aspect of all cycling journeys—locating and consuming lots of food. Without the major drama that many long-distance cycling trips engender, this book makes riding 3600 miles seem doable for anyone willing to hop in the saddle. Verdict Readers will find this an easy and inspiring read, but it's lack of serious crises may disappoint those who thrive on high adventure. [Ebook ISBN 9780299248833.]—Sheila Kasperek, Mansfield Univ., PA
Tatchell, Jo. A Diamond in the Desert: Behind the Scenes in Abu Dhabi, the World's Richest City. Black Cat: Grove. Oct. 2010. c.304p. maps. ISBN 9780802170798. pap. $14.95. TRAV
British author Tatchell (The Poet of Baghdad: A True Story of Love and Defiance) shares her quest to Abu Dhabi to see how much it has changed since she lived there for a time as a child. The capital of the United Arab Emirates and the richest city in the world, Abu Dhabi is characterized by the fine line between modernity and traditional Muslim desert culture, as Tatchell soon finds as she travels around looking for the National Archives. She talks to a wide range of people from expatriates to Emirate nationals to businesspeople, family friends, and emerging artists, seeking their views on the changes that have taken place in the last 40 years. Tatchell finds both the good and the bad, but her criticism occasionally leaves the reader wondering if perhaps she expects too much of this city struggling to find its place in a global world. Verdict Tatchell's journey toward making sense of the city's rapid transformation and her own family history will appeal to general readers and fans of self-discovery memoirs.—Melissa Aho, Univ. of Minnesota Lib., Minneapolis
