Social Sciences Reviews, October 1, 2010
Oct 1, 2010BIOGRAPHY
Lee Myung-bak. Making Hyundai, Remaking Seoul: From CEO to South Korea's President; The Autobiography of Lee Myung-bak. Rowman & Littlefield. Oct. 2010. c.192p. tr. from Korean by Zhu Hong. ISBN 9781442205000. $34.95. AUTOBIOG
This could have been a remarkable autobiography of Lee Myung-bak, president of the Republic of Korea. When he was a boy, his family suffered under the Japanese invasion of Korea, and he was later imprisoned for his opposition to Korea's postwar military dictatorship. Despite abject poverty, he rose to become Hyundai's CEO and then South Korea's president. However, there should be no mistake about the purpose of this book: its aim is to praise the concept of the "humble" leader and to promote world capitalism as the panacea for all problems. The book reads like a collection of highly sanitized, public-relations press releases whose sole purpose is to humanize the leader, leaving out any mention of the rampant corruption in Korean business and government. The major themes of this book can be best summarized in Lee Myung-bak's "six strategies for success"—efficiency, brand name, sustainable growth, marketing, balanced development, and coordination. Simple answers for difficult situations. VERDICT This quick read may inspire some fledgling businesspeople who dream of the CEO's corner office or a high government-executive position, but readers in search of more can pass.—Glenn Masuchika, Pennsylvania State Univ. Lib., University Park
Phillipson, Nicholas. Adam Smith: An Enlightened Life. Yale Univ. Oct. 2010. c.352p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780300169270. $32.50. BIOG
Scottish moral philosopher Adam Smith (1723–90) is known for his pioneering work in economics. Phillipson (Honorary Research Fellow in History, Univ. of Edinburgh, UK) places Smith in the context of the Scottish Enlightenment and describes his upbringing, appointments, and travels, painting Smith as an intellectual revisionist, able teacher, and sought-after adviser on finance. He traces the development of Smith's ideas from early lectures and his Parisian encounters with François Quesnay and his fellow économistes. Phillipson provides a brief but adequate examination of Smith's major works, The Theory of Moral Sentiments and The Wealth of Nations, as the philosopher's call to readers to take moral, political, and intellectual control of their lives. On Smith's personal life, Phillipson says he was humble, enjoyed the quiet of his birthplace, Kirkcaldy, and had many lifelong friendships with peers such as David Hume. VERDICT Phillipson balances Smith's intellectual achievements and his personal life, largely obscured by a lack of surviving documentation. James Buchan's The Authentic Adam Smith gets bogged down in examining Smith's major works, while Phillipson spends less time on such analysis. Though an accessible work for undergraduates and others interested in economics or philosophy, this is not likely to tempt general readers.—Lawrence R. Maxted, Gannon Univ., Erie, PA
Segev, Tom. Simon Wiesenthal: The Life and Legends. Doubleday. 2010. c.448p. ISBN 9780385519465. $35. BIOG
Nazi hunter Wiesenthal is an iconic figure in modern Jewish history. Given that Israeli journalist Segev is somewhat of an iconoclast, it may be surprising that he does not seek to challenge Wiesenthal's heroic status; instead, he presents a judiciously organized and researched examination of Wiesenthal's life and the images of himself he projected. Segev cogently argues that to understand Wiesenthal it is necessary to situate him in the multiple spheres of modern Jewish life. A Holocaust survivor who lived in Austria among the remnants of European Jewry, Wiesenthal had deep ties to the United States, whose soldiers liberated him and whose Jewish community provided material and emotional support for his work. Wiesenthal's grandchildren, meanwhile, are mostly Israelis. Segev subjects Wiesenthal's autobiography to critical examination, and while he finds that some details are exaggerated, he shows that such slanders as the accusation that Wiesenthal was a Nazi collaborator are not valid. VERDICT The man who emerges from this text is ultimately more complex, and indeed likable, than the mythologized figure. Segev's study should be the standard for many years.—Frederic Krome, Univ. of Cincinnati Clermont Coll.
Tremlett, Giles. Catherine of Aragon: The Spanish Queen of Henry VIII. Walker. Dec. 2010. c.448p. bibliog. ISBN 9780802779168. $28. BIOG
Since the life of Catherine of Aragon was pivotal in the history of England and in the religious reformation of much of Western Europe, it is surprising to learn that there has been no full-length biography of her since the 1970s. Tremlett (Ghosts of Spain) has set out to remedy this deficit and approaches Catherine's life from a Spanish perspective rather than the more frequently used English lens. The familiar components of Catherine's story emerge from this narrative, interestingly if sporadically highlighted by less-well-known primary-source material from an ecclesiastical tribunal held in Zaragoza, Aragon, in 1531, to gather evidence on the validity of Catherine's marriage to Henry VIII. This testimony was, as might be expected, very different from that of the dramatic hearings held at Blackfriars in London. Tremlett skillfully weaves her sources into a humanizing picture of this formidable woman. VERDICT This biography should appeal to a wide audience with an interest in women's, Spanish, or English history.—Tessa L.H. Minchew, Georgia Perimeter Coll., Clarkston
Unger, Harlow Giles. Lion of Liberty: Patrick Henry and the Call to a New Nation. Da Capo. Nov. 2010. c.336p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780306818868. $26. BIOG
In this engaging popular biography, Unger (The Last Founding Father: James Monroe and a Nation's Call to Greatness) recounts the career and examines the political and moral philosophies of the persuasive anti-Federalist best remembered for the American Revolution's rallying cry, "Give me liberty, or give me death!" Unger focuses on Henry's radical views on individual liberty and states' rights as well as his vehement opposition, as Virginia's governor, to strong presidential powers. Unger argues that Henry, who feared an American monarchy, used his theatrical oratorical skills, developed as a successful young defense attorney in rural Virginia, to win nation-shaping political arguments. An appealing element here is the wealth of excerpts from Henry's legendary speeches and revealing letters, seamlessly woven in with Unger's narrative. Appendixes include the entirety of Henry's legendary "Give me liberty, or give me death!" speech and a letter outlining his views on slavery. VERDICT Lacking new information and perspective, this title is a good choice for general readers seeking a relatively brief account of Patrick Henry's political activity and contributions to early America. However, scholars and even well-informed lay readers won't be satisfied.—Douglas King, Univ. of South Carolina Lib., Columbia
COMMUNICATIONS
Johns, Adrian. Death of a Pirate: British Radio and the Making of the Information Age. Norton. Nov. 2010. c.320p. illus. index. ISBN 9780393068603. $26.95. COMM
Johns (history, Univ. of Chicago), an expert on intellectual property and piracy, presents a history of the underground shipboard radio phenomenon in Great Britain in the 1960s. He uses the murder of illegal radio operator Reg Calvert by fellow pirate Oliver Smedley as a backdrop to the story of how a group of people fought the BBC's exclusive rights, granted in the 1920s, to transmit radio programming. Johns assesses these pirates' contributions to British culture, especially in view of the BBC's unwillingness to play rock music during the period. He uses a variety of secondary sources along with newspapers from the period, trial records from the Smedley murder case, and BBC documentation. VERDICT While presented as a scholarly historical study, the book also ties in modern issues of copyright and intellectual property. The Smedley murder gives it a more popular slant as well for those who enjoyed Steve Conway's memoir of life on a pirate radio boat in the 1980s, ShipRocked.—Joel W Tscherne, Bryant & Stratton Coll., OH
Kovach, Bill & Tom Rosenstiel. Blur: How To Know What's True in the Age of Information Overload. Bloomsbury, dist. by Macmillan. Nov. 2010. c.240p. index. ISBN 9781596915657. $26. COMM
In an age of 24/7 online news coverage, many traditional standards of journalism, such as who counts as a journalist, objectivity, or a defined news cycle, are irrelevant. Breaking news stories are reported by all types of people before the facts are determined, and consumers are left to decide what is true. Media critics Kovach and Rosenstiel (coauthors, The Elements of Journalism) offer practical advice for analyzing journalistic content in this new media environment. They describe four types of news content: journalism of verification, reporting that values accuracy; journalism of assertion, passing along fast-breaking information with no verification; journalism of affirmation, presenting selective information to an audience with specific political affiliations; and interest-group journalism, offering news-type information but sponsored by a special-interest group. Identifying the type of content is the first step in what the authors describe as a skeptical way of knowing. They offer techniques for examining journalistic content for completeness, sourcing, use of evidence, and relevance. VERDICT This well-written critique of contemporary journalism will appeal to academics, journalism students, and consumers interested in the changes in the news media.—Judy Solberg, Seattle Univ. Lib.
ECONOMICS
Bhidé, Amar. A Call for Judgment: Sensible Finance for a Dynamic Economy. Oxford Univ. Oct. 2010. c.384p. ISBN 9780199756070. $29.95. BUS
Bhidé (The Venturesome Economy) draws heavily on Friedrich Hayek's seminal essay, "The Use of Knowledge in Society," to argue that lending decisions had become overly mechanistic and centralized prior to the financial crisis that began in 2007 and that this was an important causal factor in the crisis. He traces this trend to an overreliance on statistical models, developed by financial economists, that often made unrealistic assumptions or were misused by practitioners, and to relatively recent changes in securities and banking regulations. Bhidé's central thesis is that the dialog and judgment required in lending are best exercised closer to the actual applicant. He suggests that banks be required to qualify loans in a more old-fashioned way—making personal, case-by-case evaluations of applicants—to prevent them from taking outsize risks. In addition, banks that accept short-term deposits from the public should be restricted in their business to lending and simple hedging. VERDICT Recommended for scholarly readers, those interested in the Austrian or Chicago schools of economics, or those who desire to be comprehensive in their study of the financial crisis.—Steve Wilson, Dayton Metro Lib., OH
Carey, David & John E. Morris. King of Capital: The Remarkable Rise, Fall, and Rise Again of Steve Schwarzman and Blackstone. Crown Business. Oct. 2010. c.336p. index. ISBN 9780307452993. $27.50. BUS
This account of Blackstone, a company formed by the talent—and reputations—of Steve Schwarzman and Peter Peterson, covers the entire history of the company as well as the backgrounds of its major players, from the 1970s to the present. Carey (senior writer, The Deal) and Morris (editor, Dow Jones Investment Banker) base their insiders' view on extensive interviews with Schwarzman and others, as well as prospectus information from the firm. The company, meant to be "part M&A boutique, part buyout shop," has survived and even thrived through difficult times in the market, and the authors see the Blackstone model as a challenge to the traditional forces on Wall Street. VERDICT The authors don't assume the reader has much prior financial knowledge and therefore provide explanations of basic financial terminology and the leveraged-buyout process. The explanatory approach makes this a good choice for those interested in Schwarzman's personal story as well as those who follow business and investing.—Elizabeth Nelson, UOP Lib., Des Plaines, IL
Goldman, Aaron. Everything I Know About Marketing I Learned from Google. McGraw-Hill. 2010. c.256p. ISBN 9780071742894. $26.95. BUS
Ever wonder how Google got so popular? How it transformed itself from an interface to an authority and became the multibillion-dollar marketing machine it is today? Do you wonder whether you could apply Google's strategies to marketing your own products? If so, this book is a great start. Goldman, a digital-marketing authority, outlines 20 lessons that laypeople can use to market their products and services successfully online. Lessons include how to get near the top of search results, keeping marketing simple, and testing and tracking everything you do. The author includes URLs throughout the chapters where readers can access additional content online. The book also delves into the top-secret Google algorithm in order to help people market more successfully. A related work worth consulting is Jeff Jarvis's What Would Google Do? VERDICT Written with humor and frankness, this book is as appealing as a manual for marketing as it is for armchair reading. Anyone interested in the pop culture of Google will appreciate it.—Poppy Johnson-Renvall, Mesalands Community Coll. Lib., Tucumcari, NM
McTevia, James V. The Culture of Debt: How a Once-Proud Society Mortgaged Its Future. MB Communications. Nov. 2010. c.232p. ISBN 9780984565108. pap. $14.95. BUS
As a reorganization consultant for near-bankrupt firms, McTevia (Bankrupt: A Society Living in the Future) is distinctly qualified to pen a stern warning about America's staggering debt and titanic unfunded liabilities. By the time debt-ridden companies are consulted by McTevia's firm, most cannot be saved, so the firm helps with wind downs and liquidations. Here, McTevia applies his expertise to the perilous balance sheet of "USA, Inc." He argues that America's debt problem continues to be largely ignored by politicians and the media, but the flood of consequences will eventually break the levee of denial. How will America's debt be reduced, and what will be the results? McTevia insists that "draconian" spending cuts must occur, financial education must improve, and Americans must stop emulating Aesop's grasshopper (ignoring the future) and start imitating the ant (working for the future). VERDICT Though the book is timely and the message could not be more significant, pervasive reminders of the author's past experiences sound too much like an infomercial for his services, and the simple conversational writing style inhibits the book's flow.—Jekabs Bikis, Dallas Baptist Univ.
Mehrling, Perry. The New Lombard Street: How the Fed Became the Dealer of Last Resort. Princeton Univ. Jan. 2011. c.184p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780691143989. $29.95. ECON
Mehrling (economics, Barnard Coll.) analyzes the recent financial crisis, focusing specifically on the role of the Federal Reserve. "Lombard Street" in the title is a reference to an 1873 work in which Walter Bagehot, an early editor of the Economist, theorizes that the central bank must act as a "lender of last resort" by creating a safety net for private banks. Mehrling expands upon Bagehot's analysis to conclude that the central bank must also act as a "dealer of last resort," stepping in to assist the private securities market when it fails to function properly. The distinction relies heavily upon complex macroeconomic and finance theories, making the book's finer points inaccessible to those without a strong foundation in economics or finance. VERDICT Readers who are not well versed in these areas and seek to deepen their understanding of the financial crisis would be better served by Joseph E. Stiglitz's Freefall: America, Free Markets, and the Sinking of the World Economy. Mehrling's book is recommended only for readers in graduate business or economics programs.—Jennifer Michaelson, Cleveland
Quiggin, John. Zombie Economics: How Dead Ideas Still Walk Among Us. Princeton Univ. Oct. 2010. c.248p. ISBN 9780691145822. $24.95. ECON
Apparently some economists have a sense of humor, dismal though it may be. Quiggin (economics, Univ. of Queensland, Australia) uses the 2008 global financial crisis as the focal point for examining five core macroeconomic and financial theories that have been—to use zombie terminology—killed by our current predicament. These concepts are essentially tenets of free-market economics, which Quiggin refers to as "market liberalism." Each chapter examines the birth, life, and death of an idea and offers suggestions for alternative views, along with extensive reading lists. He covers important territory such as the efficient-markets hypothesis, trickle-down economics, and privatization. Using examples that focus mainly on the United States, the UK, and his native Australia, he draws similar conclusions from markets and economies worldwide, starting with the Great Depression and working his way to the present global financial crisis. VERDICT While this book's title and cover art imply pop economics, its content is considerably more academic. Because the embedded concepts require an understanding of macroeconomics, microeconomics, and finance, Quiggin clues readers in to key theories and concepts without bogging down the text. Economics students and interested lay readers will find this valuable.—Carol J. Elsen, Univ. of Wisconsin–Whitewater
Verdino, Greg. MicroMarketing: Get Big Results by Thinking and Acting Small. McGraw-Hill. 2010. 288p. index. ISBN 9780071664868. $26.95. BUS
In this clear, easy-to-read volume, Verdino, vice president of strategy and solutions at the social marketing company Powered, Inc. argues against "intrusive" marketing that interrupts and annoys, such as mass-media advertising and pop-up windows, and in favor of marketing based on trust and relationships. Although Verdino sometimes repeats himself, he accompanies his thoughts with a variety of enlightening examples from companies large and small, demonstrating the components of successes and failures and showing how a company can build brand awareness through authentic campaigns that target well-connected customers or through highly attentive customer service. The last chapter invites reflection on each previous chapter through open-ended questions and space to respond; Verdino provides his email address and other ways for readers to obtain further guidance. VERDICT Recommended for its extension of "buzz marketing," but it might overlap with Shama Hyder Kabani's The Zen of Social Media Marketing. However, while Kabani's book seems better suited to practitioners, Verdino's illustrative examples would appeal to both practitioners and academic libraries.—Heidi Senior, Univ. of Portland, OR
Wolfensohn, James D. A Global Life: My Journey Among Rich and Poor, from Sydney to Wall Street to the World Bank. PublicAffairs: Perseus. Oct. 2010. c.480p. photogs. ISBN 9781586482558. $29.95. BUS
Wolfensohn's varied accomplishments include being a successful financier at Schroders and Salomon Brothers as well as at his own firms, becoming the ninth president of the World Bank, and playing a major role in the planned withdrawal of Israel from the Gaza region. He was born in Australia to Jewish parents who emigrated from England and who often experienced financial hardships. In this memoir, Wolfensohn describes how his father's successes and failures impacted him and how they were a major influence in developing his business savvy. He also reveals aspects of his personality such as persistence, risk taking, and viewing mistakes as opportunities to show us what helped him succeed in many ventures. VERDICT Individuals with an interest in international business and the provision of aid to economically disadvantaged countries will find this book fascinating for Wolfensohn's insights, worldwide experiences, and adventures. Recommended.—Caroline Geck, Newark Public Schs., NJ
Wu, Tim.The Master Switch: The Rise and Fall of Information Empires. Knopf. Nov. 2010. c.336p. photogs. ISBN 9780307269935. $27.95. BUS
In this eye-opening business history, Wu (Columbia Law Sch.) examines the evolution of media industries, such as film, radio, cable, telephone, and information, with Apple, AT&T, and Google among the major companies discussed. Readers will recognize that current events impacting the information environment are eerily reminiscent of past ones, especially plans affecting the open and free Internet infrastructure. Wu is an exemplary writer because he is able to draw readers into his stories with engaging details. He also here provides an economic analysis of the cyclical nature of the organization and size of firms. Relying on economic theories, Wu advises against government involvement, because it will only interfere with marketplace events. VERDICT Readers should be knowledgeable about the theories of important economists, such as Joseph Schumpeter, and have an economic background in the characteristics of corporate structures, such as monopolies and oligopolies, to make the best use of this book. Recommended for fans of Wu's Who Controls the Internet? and for those interested in the media infrastructure.—Caroline Geck, Newark Public Schs., NJ
Zelizer, Viviana A. Economic Lives: How Culture Shapes the Economy. Princeton Univ. Nov. 2010. c.480p. ISBN 9780691139364. $35. BUS
Zelizer (sociology, Princeton Univ.) is one of the earliest and most prolific contributors to the field of economic sociology, which has only recently come into the spotlight as traditional economic theory has failed to predict or explain repeated crises and downturns. This is a collection of Zelizer's previously published essays in five thematic areas: valuation of human lives, the social meaning of money, intimate economies, the economy of care, and circuits of commerce. The sixth section includes general essays on the relationship of social life and economic activity. Each section begins with a brief introduction that provides background, underlying theory, and summaries of the essays included. Other recent titles in the field include Alex Preda's Information, Knowledge, and Economic Life: An Introduction to the Sociology of Markets and Richard E. Wagner's Mind, Society, and Human Action: Time and Knowledge in a Theory of Social Economy. VERDICT Immensely interesting and thought-provoking—essential for academic collections and for fans of the Freakonomics series looking for meatier fare.—Sara Holder, McGill Univ., Montreal
EDUCATION
Cahn, Steven M. Saints and Scamps: Ethics in Academia. 25th anniversary ed. Rowman & Littlefield. Oct. 2010. c.144p. index. ISBN 9781442205666. pap. $19.95. ED
Hailed as one of the best works on the subject of academic ethics when first published in 1985, Cahn's (philosophy, Graduate Ctr., CUNY) book has been "lightly edited" and appended with five papers for this 25th anniversary edition. Cahn originally sought to emphasize the obligations college professors assume in their careers, covering all aspects of teaching, from office hours and grading to departmental responsibilities and publishing. These obligations have remained relatively unchanged over the last quarter century. Unfortunately, so has the level of many professors' ethics. This edition is an effort to raise the consciences of a new generation of professors and stem the increase of academic malpractice. While it may be too late for those who have already acquired unethical teaching habits, perhaps this updated version will be better used by today's education students and novice instructors. VERDICT Cahn's work is still relevant. Even parents, students, and taxpayers will find this an accessible read.—Terry Christner, Hutchinson P.L., KS
HISTORY
Ackroyd, Peter. Venice: Pure City. Nan A. Talese: Doubleday. Nov. 2010. c.416p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780385531528. $37.50. HIST
Italo Calvino once wrote, "Every time I describe a city I am saying something about Venice." Maybe that's why Ackroyd's new book is more enjoyable than his recent Thames: The Biography. Nonetheless, it's more a string of essays than one coherent book. Ackroyd interweaves history with impressions (some quite apposite) on a host of topics about living in Venice: the light and color, Carnival, prisons, prostitutes, death, the Venetian republic's extraordinarily long existence, artists, and the claustrophobic life of the city. He writes exceptionally well at points: he's always been a master of the aperçu, and his comments on Venetian art and architecture in particular are perceptive though by no means original. His sources are often vague or missing altogether. He errs twice, calling Philippe de Commynes "an ambassador from fifteenth-century Flanders" and "a traveler from the court of Burgundy," when, by 1495, the year Commynes visited Venice, Commynes had served France, not Burgundy, for 23 years. Perhaps it's a minor error, but it leads one to wonder what others lie hidden in this largely undocumented description and history of Venice. VERDICT This is a pleasant read but too formless for anything more serious. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/1/10.]—David Keymer, Modesto, CA
Charpin, Dominique. Reading and Writing in Babylon. Harvard Univ. Jan. 2011. c.342p. tr. from French by Jane Marie Todd. illus. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780674049680. $29.95. ARCHAEOL
Charpin (Mesopotamian history, Sorbonne, Paris) takes up a subject that's been debated by Assyriologists for many years: Did scribes alone have the knowledge to read and write cuneiform, the earliest writing, invented by the Sumerians around 3200 B.C.E.? Charpin focuses on what may be called the "classical" period of Mesopotamian civilization, the period between the Babylonian rulers Hammurabi (1792–1750 B.C.E.) to Nebuchadnezzar (604–562 B.C.E.). Charpin's work at Ur some 20 years ago convinced him that what was thought to be a school was in fact a residence for clergy who home trained their children and apprentices to read and write cuneiform. His research has convinced him that literacy was not limited to professional scribes. The depth and range of material Charpin includes is indeed impressive. In sections that will be of particular interest to lay readers and students, Charpin goes into detail about reading a cuneiform tablet and the apprenticeship of a scribe. He informs the reader that the oral, spoken word—Sumerian or Akkadian—was most important in Mesopotamian society, and it was the survival of the written over the spoken word that produced the expansion of writing. VERDICT Required reading for scholars in the field and their students.—Joan W. Gartland, Macomb Community Coll. Libs., Warren, MI
Hands on the Freedom Plow: Personal Accounts by Women in SNCC. Univ. of Illinois. Oct. 2010. c.632p. ed. by Faith S. Holsaert & others. photogs. index. ISBN 9780252035579. $34.95. HIST
Powerful, inspiring, and tremendously moving, the oral histories collected here highlight the essential role women played as organizers and activists with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) in the South of the early 1960s. These stories demonstrate the strength and bravery required to stand against repression and brutality in the fight against segregation. Included are the newly gathered personal recollections of more than 50 women, black and white, northern and southern, who describe their participation in events that transformed their lives and also helped change the world. The activists, including high school students, were jailed, beaten, threatened, and treated inhumanely at sit-ins to desegregate lunch counters, on Freedom Rides to challenge segregation on public transportation, and in doing field work to register voters while enduring the oppression and discrimination of Jim Crow laws. Together, the overlapping stories create an indelible portrait of the Civil Rights Movement in Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, and Maryland where women such as Diane Nash, SNCC's first female field secretary; Joann Christian Mants, an activist who was jailed 17 times by the time she was 16; and many others, worked for social justice.VERDICT Essential reading for anyone interested in the Civil Rights Movement and crucial for all collections documenting the era.—Donna L. Davey, New York Univ. Lib.
Hicks, Brian. Toward the Setting Sun: John Ross, the Cherokees, and the Trail of Tears. Atlantic Monthly. Jan. 2011. c.416p. illus. maps. bibliog. ISBN 9780802119636. $26. HIST
John Ross became principal chief of the Cherokees in 1827 and led his people through multiple trials, including removal from their homelands in the Southeast, a violent conflict between rival political factions in Oklahoma, and the Civil War. Hicks (Ghost Ship: The Mysterious True Story of the Mary Celeste and Her Missing Crew) utilizes Ross as the prism through which to explore the history of the Cherokee during the removal era. Although well written, the story feels incomplete. Eleven chapters set the stage for the Trail of Tears, but the event itself receives only one chapter. Short shrift is also given to the subsequent violence that erupted when Cherokee aligned with Ross allegedly began killing prominent Cherokee, such as Major Ridge and Elias Boudinot, who had signed away the tribal homelands in the Treaty of New Echota. VERDICT Although Hicks does a great job of establishing and building up his information, he then seems to quit and simply bring the book to an end, leaving readers stranded. Instead consider Theda Perdue and Michael D. Green's The Cherokee Nation and the Trail of Tears or Tim Alan Garrison's The Legal Ideology of Removal: The Southern Judiciary and the Sovereignty of Native American Nations. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 9/1/10.]—John Burch, Campbellsville Univ. Lib., KY
Hornblum, Allen M. The Invisible Harry Gold: The Man Who Gave the Soviets the Atom Bomb. Yale Univ. 2010. c.480p. ISBN 9780300156768. $32.50. HIST
The stealing of the secret of the atomic bomb by the Soviets during World War II has been defined as one of the major crimes of the 20th century. Who was the courier who conveyed the information? Harry Gold, a Jewish immigrant of Russian background, who was a quiet industrial chemist in Philadelphia. He passed documents to his Soviet controllers taken from the Manhattan Project by U.S.-based physicist Klaus Fuchs. When he was arrested in May 1950, Gold confessed and helped convict the Rosenbergs for their part in the operation. He later came to regret his betrayal of America. Through interviews and primary-source research, Hornblum (Confessions of a Second Story Man) presents the fascinating details of how this poorly paid nonprofessional performed so well and of the actions of desperate Communist sympathizers who heaped ridicule upon Gold's revelations of extensive Soviet espionage networks. Readers should also look at Katherine A.S. Sibley's Red Spies in America: Stolen Secrets and the Dawn of the Cold War. VERDICT A well-documented, accessible, and involving story, recommended to specialists as well as interested general readers.—Daniel K. Blewett, Coll. of DuPage Lib., Glen Ellyn, IL
Kohl, Christiane. The Witness House: Nazis and Holocaust Survivors Sharing a Villa During the Nuremberg Trials. Other. Oct. 2010. c.272p. tr. from German by Anthea Bell. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781590513798. pap. $14.95. HIST
During the more than three years in which the Nuremberg War Crimes Tribunal heard cases, the American military ran an inn called the Witness House for those slated to testify. Journalist Kohl has utilized published sources and her own interviews with former residents, staff, and associates to tell the story of this unusual hostel. The focal point of the narrative, translated by the notable Bell, is the Hungarian émigré Ingeborg Kalnoky, who was engaged by American military authorities to manage a facility in which both defense and prosecution witnesses stayed. Kohl vividly re-creates the physical landscape and the nearly soap opera–like interactions of the residents, some of whom were intimates of the Nazis and others their victims. VERDICT Kohl blends the story of her own research with the telling of the actual history of the hostel. The result is not always interesting, although the narrative of the hostel is fascinating, particularly the portraits of the Nazis and Nazi sympathizers and their revisionist stories about their past.—Frederic Krome, Univ. of Cincinnati Clermont Coll.
Ngai, Mae. The Lucky Ones: One Family and the Extraordinary Invention of Chinese America. Houghton Harcourt. 2010. c.304p. photogs. ISBN 9780618651160. $26. HIST
The entrance of a new immigrant ethnic group into the American middle class is often studied through numbers and statistics; however, Ngai (history, Columbia Univ.; Impossible Subjects: Illegal Aliens and the Making of Modern America) approaches the creation of the Chinese American middle class experience through a three-generation narrative of the Tape Family, beginning with Joseph Tape and Mary McGaldery Tape—or Jeu Dip (in Mandarin Zhao Qia) and Mary, whose Chinese name was never recorded. Their story encapsulates their complex mission to attain the comforts of middle class existence by adopting the culture of the American marketplace—anglicizing their surname, living away from San Francisco's Chinatown and other Chinese, and distancing themselves from the traditional manual labors of immigrants. The Tapes were crusaders of equal rights for Chinese and fought to desegregate the schools, yet their motives were as self-promoting as they were altruistic. VERDICT Ngai has written a remarkable chronicle of one particular multigenerational family. This scholarly, heavily footnoted book can be read by both laypersons and serious scholars interested in minority American history, social change, and ethnic studies.—Glenn Masuchika, Pennsylvania State Univ. Libs., University Park
Profiles in Leadership: Historians on the Elusive Quality of Greatness. Norton. Oct. 2010. c.352p. ed. by Walter Isaacson. illus. ISBN 9780393076554. $26.95. HIST
Isaacson (Benjamin Franklin: An American Life) introduces a welcome collection of new essays by both academics and popular wordsmiths on their choices for U.S. pacesetters as examples of leadership. Most of the subjects are white men who surmounted personal obstacles, although Native American Chief Joseph and African American civil rights pioneers W.E.B. DuBois and Pauli Murray are also included. Selections range from Giants baseball manager John J. McGraw (chosen by Kevin Baker), evangelist Charles Grandison Finney (Frances Fitzgerald), Wendell Willkie (David Levering Lewis), and J.P. Morgan (Jean Strouse) to such usual choices as General George Washington, FDR, General (not President) Eisenhower, and Ulysses S. Grant as a better than previously considered President. Isaacson maintains that astute leaders are not necessarily the most brilliant people but have the traits and skills to balance pragmatism with principle, listen to disparate opinions, and weld them, through effective communication, into working coalitions. Readers might want to compare these ideas with those on transformational leadership in James MacGregor Burns's Leadership. VERDICT Isaacson asserts that this collection is simply meant to be illustrative and thought-provoking. It succeeds in that and will meet the expectations of general history enthusiasts, while practitioners may prefer interpretive biographies.—Frederick J. Augustyn Jr., Library of Congress
Rasmussen, Daniel. American Uprising: The Untold Story of America's Largest Slave Revolt. Harper: HarperCollins. Jan. 2011. c.288p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780061995217. $26.99. HIST
Rasmussen's auspicious debut (he graduated from Harvard in 2009) is the first book-length account of a large-scale, three-day slave revolt on the sugar plantations near New Orleans during the 1811 Carnival (Mardi Gras) season. The author argues that the slave-rebels, who had learned warfare tactics in their native Africa, were inspired by the successful Haitian revolution. These were not common criminals but political revolutionaries, contrary to the scant historical accounts of those eager to squash threats to the South's slave-reliant economy and deter its western expansion. Rasmussen, who boldly interjects opinions and conjecture into his narrative rather than allowing readers to come to their own conclusions, paints the slave-rebels, especially their leaders, as heroes and martyrs for the cause of liberty, and the slave owners and white politicians as ruthless, greedy, and inept. With few reliable primary sources at his disposal, he fills out his work with thorough historical context and vivid descriptions of the radically different daily lives of slaves and planters in antebellum Louisiana. VERDICT This is a welcome addition to popular history and an engaging read for anyone interested in this important chapter in the tragic story of American slavery. Scholars may have concerns about Rasmussen's rather heavy-handed characterizations.—Douglas King, Univ. of South Carolina Lib., Columbia
Silverman, David J. Red Brethren: The Brothertown and Stockbridge Indians and the Problem of Race in Early America. Cornell Univ. Oct. 2010. c.296p. illus. photogs. maps. index. ISBN 9780801444777. $35. HIST
Silverman (history, George Washington Univ.; Faith and Boundaries: Colonists, Christianity, and Community Among the Wampanoag Indians of Martha's Vineyard, 1600–1871) explores the history of Brothertown and Stockbridge, two Native American communities established in the 1780s in New York. The inhabitants originally hailed from New England and had adopted Christianity in the early 18th century, believing that their conversion would allow them to become equal to whites through cultural accommodation. Never truly accepted because of their ethnicity, the Native Americans developed racial attitudes of their own toward Africans. Despite becoming "civilized," the residents of the two towns were forced to migrate to Wisconsin in the 1820s. Efforts were soon underway to seize their lands by forcing them to Kansas. In response, the Brothertown people renounced their native identity and, in their own eyes, became white through U.S. citizenship in 1839. They quickly rediscovered that they continued to carry an inescapable racial stigma. VERDICT For academic readers interested in the construction of race, this highly recommended work should be read alongside Nancy Shoemaker's A Strange Likeness: Becoming Red and White in Eighteenth-Century North America. For a different perspective on Brothertown, see Brad D.E. Jarvis's The Brothertown Nation of Indians.—John Burch, Campbellsville Univ. Lib., KY
LAW & CRIME
Biegel, Stuart. The Right To Be Out: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in America's Public Schools. Univ. of Minnesota. Oct. 2010. c.320p. ISBN 9780816674589. pap. $19.95. LAW
The structure of this detailed exploration of LGBT students' and educators' legal rights to be open about their sexual orientation and gender identity in the public school environment reflects Biegel's faculty role at both the UCLA School of Law and Graduate School of Education and Information Studies. He offers an overview of relevant case law as well as thorough discussions of the current legal environment, the right to be out in the contexts of both the First Amendment right to expression and the Fourteenth Amendment right to equal treatment, and the tensions between the law and the realities of the classroom. In the second part, he examines the public policy implications that arise from these laws. Biegel discusses curricula, pedagogy, sports, and the special challenges faced by transgender youth. While the book is compelling and empathetic, it is more appropriate for school professionals, legal practitioners, and mental health professionals than general readers. VERDICT An indispensible resource for educators, public school administrators, and other professionals involved with legal and administrative issues in K-12 education. School counselors and parents of LBGT youth will also find valuable information and resources.—Rachel Bridgewater, Reed Coll. Lib., Portland, OR
Tarnoff, Ben. Moneymakers: The Wicked Lives and Surprising Adventures of Three Notorious Counterfeiters. Penguin Pr: Penguin Group (USA). Feb. 2011. c.384p. index. ISBN 9781594202872. $27.95. CRIME
Freelance writer Tarnoff's tale of the most famous counterfeiters in American history is intriguing. The first was busted after a loud, drunken fight with his wife was overheard by neighbors in Colonial Boston. The last, a Philadelphia shopkeeper, sold bogus Confederate bills as souvenirs. Until the end of the Civil War, each state had its own set of rules and law enforcement practices and printed money as needed. Caught with the equipment and goods needed to produce paper currency, a counterfeiter had only to change locations after a brief encounter with the law or other narrow escape. The tide began to turn after the Secret Service, formed in July 1865, stepped in to provide a more consistent approach to this endemic problem. The history of counterfeiting also provides an interesting look at the ups and downs of the American banking system. Tarnoff fills the book with many little-known facts and stories that will please anyone interested in the "story behind the stories" in American history. VERDICT A fascinating read for devotees of the history of American crime and law enforcement agencies.—Claire Franek, MSLS, Brockport, NY
PARAPSYCHOLOGY
Father Sebastiaan. Vampyre Sanguinomicon: The Lexicon of the Living Vampire. Weiser. 2010. c.320p. ISBN 9781578634804. pap. $24.95. PARAPSYCH
Father Sebastiaan here offers practical advice on how to adopt the vampyre (spelled to distinguish it from the more familiar creatures famous in movies and television) lifestyle. Vampyres feed on human energy, not blood. The book presents harmless advice on how to become a vampyre—rites, rituals, and codes of behavior, among other topics. There is even a strong emphasis on politeness and almost courtly behavior. Although this volume is rich in information, the writing style tends toward denseness and repetition. VERDICT Teens and Goths may find this an interesting but slow read, and New Age practitioners may also be intrigued. Some patrons will recognize Father Sebastiaan's name from his television appearances. A novel choice only for large public libraries looking to expand their paranormal collections.—Susan Flaherty, Portland P.L., ME
Walker, Georgina. Amazing Encounters with Those Who Have Passed Over: And What They Teach Us About Life After Death. Allen & Unwin, dist. by Trafalgar Square. Nov. 2010. 192p. illus. ISBN 9781741757620. pap. $15.95. PARAPSYCH
Walker, an Australian clairaudient/clairvoyant, strays from the "it's all about me" psychic-medium formula and delivers an easy-to-read collection of what are intended to be endearing vignettes of other people's experiences after a loved one (friend, parent, even pet) has died and then made contact with the bereaved through some sign that all is well. Each story ends with a wisely observant statement by the author. The stories are short, sweet, and evenly written, with folks interpreting the appearance of a rainbow or words on a billboard as a message from beyond. Walker's comments, while not earthshakingly insightful and certainly hyperbolic, are compassionate. VERDICT Walker's Dearly Departed: Everything You Want To Know About the Afterlife is a more typical book about the experiences of a gifted medium and probably a better bet if you're looking for amazing reading on this topic. Her latest work is heavy on the schmaltz, but some grieving readers may find the stories deeply reassuring. A lukewarm recommendation.—Janet Tapper, Univ. of Western States, Portland, OR
POLITICAL SCIENCE
Bhutto, Fatima. Songs of Blood and Sword: A Daughter's Memoir. Nation: Perseus. Oct. 2010. c.496p. photogs. ISBN 9781568586328. $26.95. INT AFFAIRS
Writer and poet Fatima Bhutto is a member of one of Pakistan's most newsworthy and controversial political families. As niece to former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and granddaughter to former president and prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, she has witnessed her relatives' tumultuous rise to political power and their violent, sudden deaths. Now Bhutto attempts a memoir framed by the assassination of her father, former foreign minister Mir Murtaza Bhutto. Yet what she creates is less of an autobiography and more of a sweeping political history and biography of the Bhutto family (with a special emphasis on her father's life). Bhutto assumes her readers possess a certain degree of knowledge of Pakistani politics and her family's public life. As a result, her book can be a bit laborious at times, particularly when she works through the intricacies of Pakistani government and foreign relations. Thankfully, her family portraits are engaging enough to keep her story moving forward. VERDICT Although not ideal for lovers of memoirs, Bhutto's book will appeal to those familiar enough with world politics to have an interest in the intimate details of Bhutto family life.—Veronica Arellano, California, MD
Garton Ash, Timothy. Facts Are Subversive: Political Writing from a Decade Without a Name. Yale Univ. Oct. 2010. c.448p. ISBN 9780300161175. $35. POL SCI
Garton Ash (European studies, Oxford Univ.; Free World: America, Europe, and the Surprising Future of the West) is a prolific commentator on contemporary history, practicing what he calls "history of the present," a combination of historical scholarship and journalism. His concern is to ferret out the facts of prominent events and strip away the spin that the politicians and the popular media try to put on them. This is Garton Ash's third published assemblage of essays written over a previous decade. His topics here include the continuing developments in eastern and central Europe, the European Union, Islam in Europe, and the U.S. role in the world. Because he is British, Garton Ash can act as a disinterested observer of both the United States and continental Europe; his analysis and proposed solutions run to the socially liberal. VERDICT All of these essays provide informed and thoughtful commentary on events that might puzzle general readers. Those interested in global affairs who do not believe that the commentator who shouts the loudest is always correct will find that these essays aid in understanding dynamic and complex issues without dogma attached.—Marcia L. Sprules, Council on Foreign Relations Lib., NY
Lepore, Jill. The Whites of Their Eyes: The Tea Party's Revolution and the Battle Over American History. Princeton Univ. (Public Square). Oct. 2010. c.248p. ISBN 9780691150277. $19.95. POL SCI
Professional historians, Lepore (American history, Harvard Univ.; New York Burning: Liberty, Slavery, and Conspiracy in Eighteenth-Century Manhattan) believes, have with few exceptions been wary of employing historical analysis to reflect on the present, so leaving "plenty of room for a lot of other people to get into the history business." Here, Lepore is primarily concerned with the leaders of today's Tea Party movement, whose claim to the inheritance of the Founding Fathers she sees as "anti-historical" and "a variety of fundamentalism." In five brief chapters, she weaves reportage on today's Tea Party together with reflections on the organizers of America's 1976 Bicentennial celebrations and Revolutionary-era figures such as Benjamin Franklin, Phillis Wheatley, John Adams, Thomas Paine, and others. Their world, she argues, was so vastly different from ours in ideas on religion, race, equality, and most everything else that convenient claims on our Revolutionary past, which recur throughout American history, need to be challenged. VERDICT This book is an expansion of Lepore's May 3, 2010, New Yorker article, "Tea and Sympathy." The reporting and the history both seem thin at book length, and readers who settle for the article will lose very little.—Robert Nardini, Nashville
Peterson, Scott. Let the Swords Encircle Me: Iran—A Journey Behind the Headlines. S. & S. 2010. c.752p. index. ISBN 9781416597285. $32. INT AFFAIRS
Peterson, an experienced journalist with multiple postings in the Middle East, visited Iran and interviewed many Iranians to create a richly detailed investigation of the tensions between reformers and militants there over the last 15 years. Sympathetic to the reformers who believe that democracy and individual freedom are part of an Islamic republic, Peterson also explains the traumatic historic events that contribute to the rigidity of the conservatives, from the 7th-century martyrdom of Husayn to the oppressive rule of the Shah and the brutal invasion by Iraq in 1980. While many Iranians admire the United States, there is strong resentment of American support for the Shah and Iraq's chemical attacks, President Bush's labeling Iran as part of the "Axis of Evil," and the American military presence on Iran's borders. Peterson's insightful anecdotes portray the 2009 presidential election and the subsequent demonstrations and repression. He concludes that the current Islamic government has lost legitimacy but also warns that the population will rally against foreign interference or invasion. VERDICT Recommended as an engaging, well-informed picture of a complex society suffering under a repressive regime and the subject of often unbalanced debate about American policy.—Elizabeth Hayford, emeritus, Associated Colls. of the Midwest, Evanston, IL
PSYCHOLOGY
Greenman, Jan.Life at the Edge and Beyond: Living with ADHD and Asperger Syndrome. Jessica Kingsley. 2010. c.208p. ISBN 9781849051064. pap. $19.95. PSYCH
In an effort to provide hope that life with a child with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or Asperger's syndrome can get better, Greenman, a banker, chronicles her life with her son, Luke. From birth, Luke was a difficult child and became more and more challenging. Each chapter concludes with tips from Greenman, Luke, and Abbi, Luke's sister. Topics include consequence, cause and effect, language taken literally, labeling of Luke with ADHD and later with Asperger's, education, and a chapter from Abbi's perspective. This is a story of hope, and parents will come away with the knowledge that even though they may feel like their life is teetering on the edge, they are not alone. VERDICT While Luke's story is definitely an original one, the struggles and feelings of being overwhelmed and out of control will be familiar to families dealing with a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The authentic voices of Greenman, Luke, and Abbi are invaluable in validating the feelings of all those living with ASD. Recommended for families of autistic children and their health-care providers.—Lisa M. Jordan, Johnson Cty. Lib., KS
Hawkins, Lee Ann. Find Love at Last!: 7 Steps to Attracting the Sweetest Love You Have Ever Known. Heart Focused. Nov. 2010. c.149p. ISBN 9780964999534. pap. $17.95. SELF-HELP
Licensed clinical professional counselor Hawkins presents her seven steps to help strengthen personal relationships. The persuasively written discussion covers knowing what a person wants out of a lasting relationship, knowing one's baseline four "life levels," identifying what is getting in the way of the desired love, the physiological influences of thought and emotions, the spiritual influence of the "Law of Attraction," how to rewrite one's life story, and learning tools to help attract and create a new platform. In addition, the author adds an explanation of the value of practicing the "HeartMath" techniques—technologies and tools to reduce stress, improve performance, and enhance health and well-being. Hawkins's focus is to engage the senses to attract desired relationships through visualization and "giving your heart a voice" through the practice of Ask Once, Thank Often Journaling and "making your desires come alive" through the creation of a Vision Board. VERDICT Although the author has clinical credentials and experience, unfortunately the bulk of the material may float over the heads of more rational, cynical readers looking for pragmatic suggestions that do not require a leap of faith into the world of New Age mysticism.—Dale Farris, Groves, TX
Molinary, Rosie. Beautiful You: A Daily Guide to Radical Self-Acceptance. Seal, dist. by PGW. Oct. 2010. c.432p. illus. ISBN 9781580053310. pap. $16.95. self-help
In this book of daily readings directed at young women, educator Molinary (Hijas Americanas: Beauty, Body Image, and Growing Up Latina) offers tools and resources for personal empowerment. Molinary's work stems from her belief that each woman should develop her own positive self- image independent of popular culture. Some readings are a single paragraph, others continue beyond a page. Throughout, she uses examples from her own life and includes exercises for writing in a "Beautiful You Journal." In her introduction, Molinary stresses that though there is no single right way to read through this book, doing the exercises is important for learning. She also gives guidelines for sharing experiences in dyad (friend, mentor, mother, or daughter) and group settings. VERDICT Although the readings are designed with young women in mind, this book can help foster self-confidence and positive body image for all women, and it should appeal to all ages.—Lucille M. Boone, San Jose P.L., CA
Sacks, Oliver. The Mind's Eye. Knopf. Oct. 2010. c.256p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780307272089. $26.95. PSYCH
Sacks (neurology & psychiatry, Columbia Univ. Medical Ctr.; The Man Who Mistook His Wife For a Hat) continues his successful stream of books on the quirky aspects of psychiatry with this latest, which explores the fascinating stories of six people who have learned to navigate the world and communicate with others despite losing one of their key senses and abilities, e.g., the power of speech, the capacity to recognize faces, the sense of three-dimensional space, and the ability to read. Also revealed is the author's own dramatic story of a tumor in one eye that left him unable to perceive depth. As in all Sacks's works, readers will learn about fundamental facets of the human experience while better understanding the unpredictable new ways the brain can find to perceive, which allows it to create complete images of the world. Sacks delivers a richly detailed examination of various paradoxical medical conditions while he wrestles with more fundamental clinical questions, such as how humans really see and think. VERDICT The author's well-known style creatively balances complex medical discussion, which will appeal to professionals on the one hand, with solid, down-to-earth prose, which will attract his legion of fans interested in the human condition on the other.—Dale Farris, Groves, TX
SOCIAL SCIENCE
Cartmill, Christopher. The Nebraska Dispatches. Univ. of Nebraska. Nov. 2010. c.152p. ISBN 9780803222946. $18.95. soc sci
Commissioned to write a play about Standing Bear—a Ponca chief whose legal tribulations resulted in Native Americans receiving Fourteenth Amendment protections under the U.S. Constitution—Cartmill (Gallatin Sch. of Individualized Study, New York Univ.) moved back to his native Nebraska to conduct research. Here, he poignantly captures his experiences over a three-year period, during which he comes to understand how being home helps to ground one both culturally and spiritually. Like researchers in many other disciplines, he also discovers that not being of native descent creates complexities because some native peoples believe that only they have the right to tell their stories. To them, nonnatives chronicling their past contribute yet another chapter in Euro-Americans' centuries-long theft of their property and culture. VERDICT This recommended monograph should be read alongside Joe Starita's "I Am a Man": Chief Standing Bear's Journey for Justice. Academic readers might prefer Valerie Sherer Mathes and Richard Lowitt's The Standing Bear Controversy: Prelude to Indian Reform.—John Burch, Campbellsville Univ. Lib., KY
Harrald, Chris & Fletcher Watkins. The Cigarette Book: The History and Culture of Smoking. Skyhorse, dist. by Norton. Nov. 2010. c.256p. illus. ISBN 9781616080730. $22.95. SOC SCI
A lighthearted book not to be taken too seriously (try finding information on lung cancer or emphysema!), this is a veritable encyclopedia of more cheerful smoking knowledge. Described as the "ultimate guide to the nearly extinguished culture of cigarette smoking," it is humorously written within an A-to-Z format that includes entries related to pop culture (movies, celebrities, news headlines, games, books), cigarette brands, types of cigarettes, advertising slogans, smoking rates throughout history, and even health (a giant chart of ingredients, filters). Harrald and Watkins are both British, with backgrounds in advertising, and the book is essentially a UK import: spellings—and most references here—are British. The book features many illustrations and charts, which enhance its readability. VERDICT For smokers or those interested in pop culture who would like a humorous take on a serious topic.—Leigh Mihlrad, Georgetown Univ. Medical Ctr. Lib., Washington, DC
Pérez Firmat, Gustavo. The Havana Habit. Yale Univ. Oct. 2010. c.256p. illus. index. ISBN 9780300141320. $25. SOC SCI
Introducing Havana—no, not that Havana, the land of Fidel, Che, and revolutionary fervor, but Havana as imagined in American arts and culture. Cuban-born scholar Pérez Firmat (humanities, Columbia Univ.) explores the city's significance to film, music, fiction, dance, television, and that staple of American culture, the Cuban cigar. The lively text, supplemented with various illustrations, makes for a distinctive reading experience on America's fascination with what Frederic Remington termed the "Havana Habit" as far back as the middle of the 19th century. Most of Pérez Firmat's material and examples are from the pre-Castro Havana of the 1930s and 1940s, the image of Cuba in the American consciousness that never fully disappeared, even after the arrival of communism. The final chapter brings readers full circle with its coverage of Castro and his lasting influences. VERDICT Highly recommended both for specialists and for those newly exploring the subject.—Boyd Childress, Auburn Univ. Lib., AL
TRAVEL & GEOGRAPHY
Bryant, Sue & Melissa Shales. Frommer's Cyprus Day by Day: 29 Smart Ways To See the Island. ISBN 9780470721377.
Simon, Jos. Frommer's Crete Day by Day: 21 Smart Ways To See the Region. ISBN 9780470717080. ea. vol: Wiley. (Day by Day). 2010. 192p. illus. maps. index. pap. $13.99. TRAV
Greece's island of Crete and the Republic of Cyprus remain perennial holiday destinations owing to their rich histories, cultural resources, cuisines, climates, and friendly locals. Frommer's "Day by Day" guides fit easily into a jacket pocket and solve the dilemma of finding the best sites to see and affordable places to stay and dine for visits lasting a day, three days, a week, or longer. Outstanding features include the full-color illustrations, maps, photographs, and a sturdy, removable map that features street and island views. Each book gives solid tips for mapping out urban and regional tours, outdoor adventures, and getting around. For example, a three-day tour of Crete hits the Palace of Knossos and the Kazantzakis Museum in Myrtia on the first day; the capital's museums, churches, and parks on the second day; and the beach, aquarium, and outdoor museum at Hersonissos on the last. A three-day tour of Cyprus might feature a castle and medieval museum in Limassol, archaeological sites in Kourion, and Kolossi Castle on the first day; sightseeing in villages and vineyards on the second day; and finishing in Nicosia and Lefkara. VERDICT Travelers preparing to visit either place may wish to read more detailed guides such as John Freely's Crete: Discovering the ‘Great Island' or Tim Boatswain's A Traveller's History of Cyprus and tuck one of these Frommer's guides in their hand luggage. Highly recommended.—Elizabeth Connor, The Citadel, Military Coll. of South Carolina, Lib., Charleston
