Arts & Humanties Reviews, October 1, 2010
Oct 1, 2010ARTS
Abbott, Brett. Engaged Observers: Documentary Photography Since the Sixties. Getty. 2010. c.236p. illus. index. ISBN 9781606060223. $49. PHOTOG
The Vietnam War launched a new era in documentary photography, as photojournalists were given a free hand to capture everything, unlike previous 20th-century American wars in which the government tightly controlled coverage. The practices that started in Vietnam quickly spread globally. Abbott, the J. Paul Getty Museum's associate curator of photography, presents a survey of documentary photography gleaned from nine previously published volumes, including Philip Jones Griffith's Vietnam Inc., W. Eugene and Aileen M. Smith's Minamata, and Mary Ellen Mark's Streetwise. Monochrome is the medium of choice for documentarians, with only Lauren Greenfield's Fast Forward and Girl Culture and Susan Meiselas's Nicaragua in color. All the artists'representations are dramatic and often emotional, but subjects range from the mundane to the horrific, from children sleeping and farmers working to Japanese villagers sickened and deformed by mercury poisoning and battle zones capped by Nachtwey's army field hospital photos depicting surgeons desperately working to save gruesomely wounded soldiers in Iraq. VERDICT The camera's might as the teller of history and societal critic is in full vigor in this remarkable collection. Anyone with a taste for this brand of photography will be richly rewarded. Highly recommended.—Mike Rogers, Library Journal
Alexander Calder and Contemporary Art: Form, Balance, Joy. Thames & Hudson, dist. by Norton. 2010. c.176p. ed. by Lynne Warren. photogs. ISBN 9780500515235. $45. FINE ARTS
The art of Alexander Calder, though broadly acclaimed by art lovers and museumgoers, has for the art-critical elite held too much of a taint of excessive joy, accessibility, and elegance to be taken very seriously. His most famous works—the exquisitely balanced, delicate mobiles—generally have been ignored in American MFA programs, their popularity their prime stigma. This monograph considers Calder's influence on the current generation of artists by analyzing and illustrating a range of works by seven sculptors born between 1966 and 1974. The pendant to an exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) in Chicago, this volume has been well compiled by curator Warren, for the presence of Calder as forebear is highly evident even among the divergent work of these young U.S., European, and Mexican masters. The airy whimsy, fluidity of motion, and material heterogeneity seem a chip off the old Calderian block. Besides showcasing the work of the present generation, the exhibition and book contain more than 75 examples of Calder's own sculpture selected from the MCA's plentiful holdings, to underline a continuum of influence heretofore disregarded. VERDICT This reassessment makes a fine addition to larger public and academic library art collections and will appeal to art students and those interested in contemporary sculptors.—Douglas F. Smith, Berkeley P.L., CA
Conran, Jasper. Country. Conran: Octopus, dist. by Hachette. 2010. c.304p. photogs. ISBN 9781840915181. $60. PHOTOG
Simply titled, this sumptuous book captures not only the natural landscapes of rural England, but also a sense of humanity, including many haunting interiors of homes and other habitats. Versatile designer Conran provides a personal, at times poetic commentary of a year in the countryside, lavishly illustrated with absolutely exquisite photographs. Taken with a fresh eye, these original images range from broad, breathtaking landscapes of fields and streams to intimate portraits of English gardens and pubs. Conran's visual story line includes portraits and still lifes as well, all of which contribute to the touching theme of long habitation and impart a pleasing, well-worn quality to all the people and places. Crisp images in muted colors help to foster a misty atmosphere. VERDICT This superb book is not just a photo-essay, but also an informal social and cultural history that will appeal to anyone interested in photography, fine art, design, and country life in England. Highly recommended.—Raymond Bial, First Light Photography, Urbana, IL
Hemachandra, Ray & Daniel Belasco. 500 Judaica: Innovative Contemporary Ritual Art. Lark: Sterling. (500 Series). 2010. c.420p. photogs. ISBN 9781600594625. pap. $24.95. FINE ARTS
This handsomely produced volume focuses on what the authors term the three main trends in the design of the ritual objects known as Judaica. The first is "craft" and includes color, decoration, and biblical narration illustrated with forms. The second trend, dating from the 1920s and peaking in popularity from the 1950s through the 1970s, is the "modernist" style, in which an absence of decoration and a preference for metal (especially silver) predominate. The "postmodernist" trend, arising in the late 1970s, has more social content and employs mixed media. Beautifully photographed examples of all three styles make up the 500 color images depicting Sabbath candlesticks, kiddush ritual cups, dreidels, Passover seder plates, spice boxes, Hanukkah menorahs, mezuzahs, tzedakah boxes, and more. Although the artists are identified, there is little narrative beyond the introduction. The art speaks for itself, fortunately. VERDICT Those interested in contemporary Jewish arts and crafts will find this catalog useful. Beyond this niche readership, this book will be a welcome addition to Judaica art libraries and contemporary art museum gift shops.—Herbert E. Shapiro, Empire State Coll. of SUNY, Rochester
Lives of the Hudson. Prestel. 2010. c.224p. ed. by Ian Berry & Tom Lewis. illus. maps. ISBN 9783791350479. $49.95. FINE ARTS
This catalog of a 2009–10 exhibition at Skidmore College is a multifaceted look at the Hudson River—not just as inspiration for the 19th-century Hudson River School, but more thematically rich. This retrospective includes works both literary and visual by contemporary artists as well as their 19th-century predecessors. Arranged by four grand themes—the natural river, the imagined river, the human river, and the working river—older and contemporary works of visual art, contemporary historical assessments, and works in prose and poetry evoke the sweeping nature of the river in human experience. Lives of the Hudson is successful as a book/catalog, in which one can read and study the written parts at leisure as well as the reproduced images; how it worked in the exhibition (not seen by this reviewer), where the visual arts presence must have dominated, is unclear. VERDICT Edited by Skidmore's curators and faculty, this is an excellent example of the kind of work university art museums can present. Highly recommended.—Jack Perry Brown, Ryerson and Burnham Libs., Art Inst. of Chicago
Modern Women: Women Artists at the Museum of Modern Art. Museum of Modern Art, dist. by D.A.P. 2010. 512p. ed. by Cornelia Butler & Alexandra Schwartz. illus. index. ISBN 9780870707711. $65. FINE ARTS
As one picks up this hefty volume, the cover image of an enigmatic woman captures the viewer's interest with a mesmerizing gaze. This is Maya Deren (from her 1943 experimental film), one of the hundreds of women discussed inside. Five years of research have brought forth a richly illustrated book with 48 scholarly essays about women artists (both famous and lesser known) within the Museum of Modern Art's collections. Readers not familiar with the broad range of media that the museum collects will be astonished at the variety of international artistic expressions. Arranged chronologically, the first innovator into modernism we meet is the 19th-century photographer Julia Margaret Cameron. The museum also frankly discusses its history, when feminists demonstrated against it because of its lack of equitable representation. An informative section at the end contains short biographies of influential women behind the scenes at the museum: the three founders, as well as other donors, curators, and administrators. VERDICT This is an important study on two levels: how an institution openly addresses gender issues, and how instrumental women have been in advancing the arts to where they are today.—Anne Marie Lane, Univ. of Wyoming, Laramie
The Original Copy: Photography of Sculpture, 1839 to Today. Museum of Modern Art, dist. by D.A.P. 2010. 256p. ed. by Roxana Marcoci. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780870707575. $55. PHOTOG
This generously illustrated (302 color and duotone reproductions), oversized publication provides a significant, critical examination of the relationship between photography and sculpture, exploring how photography has influenced the understanding of sculpture and how sculpture has affected photography's development as an art form. In the first half of the 19th century, photography only documented, collected, and publicized sculpture and other artwork. Over time, however, photography became a vehicle for reinventing and altering our understanding of sculpture. Divided into two parts, the first section features three scholarly essays on the intersection between photography and sculpture by editor Marcoci (curator of photography, Museum of Modern Art), Geoffrey Batchen (history of photography & contemporary art, Graduate Ctr., CUNY), and Tobia Bezzola (curator, modern & contemporary art, Kunsthaus Zürich). The second section showcases more than 250 works from the 19th century on. Plates are organized into ten conceptual modules introduced by brief texts. VERDICT Insightfully and professionally presented, this well-documented book, with endnotes and a selected bibliography, will interest general readers, students, scholars, professionals, and others.—Cheryl Ann Lajos, Free Lib. of Philadelphia
Rath, Sara. H.H. Bennett, Photographer: His American Landscape. Univ. of Wisconsin. Oct. 2010. 296p. photogs. ISBN 9780299237042. pap. $24.95. PHOTOG
A chance encounter by a young John Szarkowski (eventually curator of photography at the Museum of Modern Art) with Bennett's early work would result in his eventual retroactive inclusion in the developing study of American photographers. Bennett captured the vision of his locality, contributed to the advance of photographic technique, and promoted photography as a public relations tool. The period of his activity, the late 19th century, was one of enormous growth in the social and cultural interests of the nation. Bennett's panoramic images allowed one to view the landscape from a single point and still encompass the grand scale of the image. As the face of the Midwest changed, so did the work of this distinctive artist; in his full panoply one can see both the enduring beauty of his world and the faces of those who lived in it. Throughout a lifetime of difficulties, personal and financial, Bennett never failed to observe the wonders of life and to record them for all to see for years to come. VERDICT A well-written biography of an innovator in this field, as well as a sympathetic personal account of his life and work for his followers.—Paula Frosch, Metropolitan Museum of Art Lib., New York
Reesman, Jeanne Campbell & others. Jack London, Photographer. Univ. of Georgia. 2010. c.288p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780820329673. $49.95. PHOTOG
This book is an unanticipated landmark, for London's groundbreaking work as a photojournalist has remained hidden until now. These photos were made from long-forgotten negatives held by the California State Parks system, rediscovered during research for the 1906 San Francisco earthquake centenary. London was a prescient, timely genius; his work helped define the photojournalistic form, a new idea, now seen as the window into contemporary life. The book's visual bounty seems endless: London was the only American to document the Russo-Japanese battlefields in 1904; he recorded the 1906 San Francisco earthquake's aftermath; he chronicled the 1914 Mexican Revolution, shown here alongside heartbreaking shots of the dying South Pacific peoples he visited during a transoceanic voyage in 1907–08. London's seminal nonfiction work, The People of the Abyss, was accompanied by trailblazing imagery of the English underclass that readers can now see in expanded form. The images are paired with London's own vivid anecdotes, revealing his descriptive powers for a new generation. VERDICT Representing a major expansion and renewal of London's stature, this book will be of great appeal to a broad range of audiences interested in history, American literature, and photography.—Douglas F. Smith, Berkeley P.L., CA
Sills, Vaughn. Places for the Spirit: Traditional African American Gardens. Trinity Univ. 2010. c.160p. photogs. ISBN 9781595340641. $29.95. PHOTOG
Here is a book that is many things at once: a portfolio of black-and-white photographs of people and nature, a visual examination of gardens and gardeners, an exploration of a rarely documented aspect of the African American experience and folk culture. Photographer Sills traveled throughout the southern United States seeking gardens created and tended by African Americans. At first view, most of the gardens may seem quite ordinary, but Sills strives to capture the unique character of the plantings and accompanying ornamentation as expressions of the black gardeners' American experience. Commentary by the photographer and an introduction by her husband, author Lowry Pei (writing, Simmons Coll.), provide insight into the images. In their view, the gardens have a spiritual dimension, which can be traced back to African sources. VERDICT General readers interested in photography, gardening, or African American culture will find something of value in this volume.—Eugene C. Burt, Seattle
LITERATURE
Bellow, Saul. Saul Bellow: Letters. Viking. Nov. 2010. c.608p. ed. by Benjamin Taylor. ISBN 9780670022212. $35. LIT
The letters gathered here disclose a fertile mind harnessed to a febrile temperament. Saul Bellow (1915–2005) was acclaimed as a major Jewish American novelist of ideas, and he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1976. His novels are being enshrined as classics in the "Library of America" series. In his epistles to literary agents, publishers, childhood friends, lovers, wives, academic colleagues, and fellow authors (notably Philip Roth, Martin Amis, Robert Penn Warren, and Ralph Ellison) Bellow could convey wit, humor, graciousness, and charm; mercurially, he could also be malicious, derisive, and vindictive. Yet most would acknowledge his sedulous mastery of craft. He had a long, productive literary life and a notoriously public one. The letters in this volume, which date from 1932 to 2005, have been selected from a much larger cache of correspondence and are creditably edited by essayist and novelist Taylor (graduate writing faculty, The New School). VERDICT Recommended for readers familiar with Bellow's novels and his literary circle.—Lonnie Weatherby, McGill Univ. Lib., Montreal
The Best American Essays 2010. Mariner: Houghton Harcourt. 2010. 304p. ed. by Christopher Hitchens. ISBN 9780547394510. pap. $14.95. LIT
This selection of the year's outstanding essays of literary achievement at first appears to be a book for those J.D. Salinger called "lifetime English major[s]." Entries such as "The Murder of Leo Tolstoy" by Elif Batuman, "Lunching on Olympus" by Steven L. Isenberg, and "A Fine Rage" by James Woods all focus on the essayist's reaction to meeting or reading the works of famous authors such as George Orwell and Philip Larkin. After digging further into the collection of 21 entries, however, readers will discover gems that quickly move the book beyond the realm of an English class curriculum. "The Elegant Eyeball" by John Gamel explains a doctor's duty when healing has failed to accompany patients on the "lonely road to disability and death." Matt Labash's "A Rake of Progress" takes readers through several days in the Washington, DC, life of Marion Barry, the former mayor and current council member, who blames other people for his drug and tax problems. "The Dead Book" by Jane Churchon details the respect and dignity required of a nursing supervisor asked to pronounce "Mrs. Jones" dead. VERDICT This new contribution to a series published annually since 1986 is a required library acquisition and perfect for writers seeking a concentrated look at contemporary essay writing.— Joyce Sparrow, Kenneth City, FL
Davidson, Ian. Voltaire: A Life. Pegasus. Oct. 2010. c.512p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781605981192. $35. LIT
Davidson (former chief foreign affairs columnist, Financial Times; Voltaire in Exile) has written an enthralling biography of the titan of the French Enlightenment, giving readers the first birth-to-death English-language life of Voltaire (1694–1778), born Francois-Marie Arouet, in at least 20 years. Davidson covers all the facets of this complicated man; his relationships included passionate affairs with many women, most especially Emilie du Chatelet, who died in childbirth in 1749, a friendship with Frederick, King of Prussia, and associations with emerging figures of the Enlightenment. He spent significant time in England in his young adulthood, well covered here, and later in Prussia at the court of Frederick, as well as over the border from France in Switzerland during his exile in his later years before a triumphal return to Paris. VERDICT Every page of Davidson's book is a pleasure to read: both the subject and the prose scintillate with anecdote and clarity. The results, capturing and interpreting Voltaire for a new generation, are highly recommended for general readers and specialists alike.—Bob T. Ivey, Univ. of Memphis
Franklin, Ruth. A Thousand Darknesses: Lies and Truth in Holocaust Fiction. Oxford Univ. Nov. 2010. c.304p. index. ISBN 9780195313963. $29.95. LIT
There are strong and conflicting viewpoints when it comes to recounting the Holocaust in fiction, and Franklin (senior editor, New Republic) does an excellent job of presenting all sides of the issue. Many believe that writing fictional literature or poetry about this event if it wasn't experienced firsthand is akin to blasphemy. Alternatively, a second school of thought posits that silence could be worse, and that accurately rendered literary versions might better engage readers, potentially assisting them in comprehending an otherwise incomprehensible event. Indeed, even within the most famous of memoirs, accounts have been substantially edited or updated, which additionally brings into question how much creative license the autobiographers themselves should have. In her reasoned discussion of this charged topic, Franklin covers many important writers of both fact (e.g., Elie Wiesel, Primo Levi) and fiction (e.g., W.G. Sebald, Jerzy Kosinski). Another aspect she introduces is the right (or duty) of second and even third generations—of which Franklin is one—to assume the legacy of communicating their ancestors'experiences. VERDICT This text is superbly written and offers insightful analysis. Geared for the academically minded, it is an ideal addition to any college-level program in Holocaust studies.—Judy Brink-Drescher, Molloy Coll. Lib., Rockville Centre, NY
Morrison, Robert. The English Opium Eater: A Biography of Thomas de Quincey. Pegasus. Dec. 2010. c.496p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781605981321. $35. LIT
A scholar of Romantic and Victorian literature, and already coeditor of a collection of essays on this subject (Thomas De Quincey: New Theoretical and Critical Directions), Morrison here produces the first full biography of De Quincey in decades, a scholarly work that makes use of the complete spectrum of archival and published sources. De Quincey (1785–1859) was an autodidact whose most defining trait was his addictive personality, which manifested itself in parasitic relationships with the poets Wordsworth and Coleridge, the constant shadow of debt, and a lifetime battle with alcoholism. Most notorious was De Quincey's experience with opium addiction, which culminated in his major work, Confessions of an English Opium Eater (1821). While shocking to a Victorian audience, it became wildly popular for its tell-all approach to autobiography. Morrison's treatment is comprehensive in its evenhanded presentation of unflattering details and emphasis on the tremendous impact De Quincey had on the birth of the mass market for journalism and literature in Great Britain. VERDICT Recommended for all students of the 19th-century British literary world and essential for comprehensive collections of Romantic and Victorian literature.—Lisa Guidarini, Algonquin Area P.L., IL
Tablet & Pen: Literary Landscapes from the Modern Middle East. Norton. (Words Without Borders). Nov. 2010. 688p. ed. by Reza Aslan. ISBN 9780393065855. $35. LIT
The fifth title in this anthology series (following Literature from the "Axis of Evil") is a broad, century-spanning collection of poems, short stories, novel and memoir excerpts, and essays from ten countries and the state of Palestine. Of these, Iran, Turkey, and Pakistan are the best represented, while Egypt, Syria, Iraq, and Palestine also receive significant coverage. Editor Aslan states that his goal was to provide "a different, more authentic perception of this rich and complex region," and in this he is largely successful. Authors range from names well known in the West (Kahlil Gibran, Naguib Mahfouz) to the overlooked and unknown (Ismat Chughtai, Ghassan Kanafani). The early sections of the book, as expected, feature only a handful of women writers, but the post-1980 section achieves a far better balance. VERDICT This is a necessary and well-curated collection, though perhaps a little heavy on poetry for some readers'tastes. Essential for all academic libraries—an entire literature course could easily be built around this one book—yet highly recommended for general readers as well.—Forest Turner, Suffolk Cty. House of Correction Lib., Boston
Vendler, Helen. Dickinson: Selected Poems and Commentaries. Belknap: Harvard Univ. 2010. 560p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780674048676. $35. LIT
Vendler (English, Harvard Univ.; Last Looks, Last Books) has published widely on poetry, including works on Shakespeare's sonnets, Yeats, Wallace Stevens, Keats, and more. In this volume she provides close readings of 150 of Emily Dickinson's poems. Vendler states that this is a book "to be browsed in, as the reader becomes interested in one or another of the poems." Some of her choices will be recognized by most readers, such as "Wild nights/ Wild nights!" and "My Life had stood/ a Loaded Gun." Other poems may be vaguely familiar, and some will likely be a first reading for those who have not previously immersed themselves in the world of Dickinson. Vendler's commentaries are not daunting. They are written in an accessible style and mostly span two or three pages, yet her comparative brevity runs deep. VERDICT This work by a well-established scholar belongs in most academic and public libraries. Both casual readers and scholars of Dickinson alike will want to purchase it.—Stacy Russo, Chapman Univ. Libs., Orange, CA
Performing Arts
Greenberg, Keith Elliot. December 8, 1980: The Day John Lennon Died. Backbeat: Hal Leonard. Nov. 2010. c.256p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780879309633. $24.99. MUSIC
True crime author Greenberg (coauthor, Perfect Beauty: A Glamorous Socialite, Her Handsome Lover, and Brutal Murder) chronicles the final hours of former Beatle John Lennon's life on the day of his murder in New York City. Lennon and his wife, Yoko Ono, were busy recording, doing a photo shoot with Annie Leibovitz, and giving interviews for their just-released comeback album, Double Fantasy. Greenberg frames the day's events by intercutting details of Lennon's biography as well as histories of the other Beatles, Lennon's killer, Mark David Chapman, and even the police officers who were first on the scene that night. VERDICT The book does not cover much new ground, and Beatles and Lennon fans will be aware of most of the facts presented here, but this is an interesting examination of one of rock's darkest days and a poignant reminder of what was lost when Lennon died. Philip Norman's recent John Lennon: The Life is more suitable for readers seeking an in-depth look at Lennon's life.—Jim Collins, Morristown-Morris Twp. Lib., NJ
Kirkland, Douglas. Michael Jackson: The Making of "Thriller"; 4 Days/1983. Filipacchi, dist. by Hachette. Nov. 2010. c.196p. photogs. ISBN 9781933231983. $30. MUSIC
Focusing on four important days in 1983, Kirkland, the only photographer on the set of "Thriller," takes readers on a photographic journey deep inside the making of one of the most influential music videos of all time. Through a telling set of photos, we get a glimpse into the creative minds of Michael Jackson and director John Landis. The brief Q&A with Kirkland reveals insight into his artistic process but focuses primarily on the specifics of Jackson's personality at the time. This is where the book becomes an essential read for Jackson enthusiasts: it offers a window into his world just moments before his unparalleled rise to superstardom. VERDICT Like all great photography, the images tell an amazing story and give a glimpse into the subject's soul. However, the inclusion of quotations from modern musicians influenced by Jackson coats the book in a sappy varnish of feelings, detracting from the vibe of the photography and creating a bland memorial. Great for browsing, but it could've been so much more.—Justin Hoenke, Portland P.L., ME
MacLeod, Dewar. Kids of the Black Hole: Punk Rock in Postsuburban California. Univ. of Oklahoma. Nov. 2010. c.240p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780806140414. pap. $19.95. MUSIC
Appropriately titled for an Adolescents song that describes an apartment for homeless punks in Fullerton, CA, this book explores a pivotal moment in both youth and punk culture. A bricolage of political British punk, art school New York punk, and Hollywood, the Los Angeles punk scene famously produced the Germs, X, and the Dils. While he highlights the emergence of this new musical style, MacLeod (history, William Paterson Univ.) also dissects the cultural fragmentation taking place as 1960s counterculture slowly morphed into mass culture. The industries of culture, music, and cinema constructed youth as boppers in the 1950s and hippies in the 1960s. In the 1970s, youth culture responded by creating the cultural industries that had historically capitalized on their existence. Punks in Southern California continued the do-it-yourself ideology while, at the same time, navigating the ever-expanding metropolis of Los Angeles. The punk ethos mixed with increased suburban isolation gave rise to a much more desperate sound: hard core. VERDICT MacLeod interweaves numerous historical trajectories into a seemingly benign moment in punk history. Readers who enjoy Greil Marcus and Simon Frith should make room on their bookshelf for him.—Joshua Finnell, Denison Univ. Lib., Granville, OH
Spoto, Donald. Possessed: The Life of Joan Crawford. Morrow. Nov. 2010. 336p. photogs. bibliog. ISBN 9780061856006. $25.99. FILM
Author of more than 20 celebrity biographies, Spoto (High Society: The Life of Grace Kelly) begins his latest by sharing a response from Joan Crawford to a fan letter he wrote when he was ten. Though much has been written about Crawford, who died in 1977, Spoto justifies his contribution by writing, "because no other movie star—with the possible exception of Marilyn Monroe—has been so underappreciated, misrepresented by rumor, innuendo, fabrication, unfounded allegation and rank distortion." Does Mommie Dearest ring a bell? So it seems Spoto wants to thank Crawford for her kindness to him as a boy by setting the record straight and clearing her name. He relies on the Joan Crawford papers, scrapbooks, letters, and ephemera housed at the New York Public Library, as well as what has already been written. VERDICT What sets this biography apart from previous titles? Where other biographers made sensational statements about Crawford as fact, Spoto makes assertions based on his research as to what would and would not have been likely or possible. This is a balanced and readable account of a possibly misunderstood and maligned star. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/15/10.]—Rosellen Brewer, Sno-Isle Libs., Marysville, WA
Staple, Neville with Tony McMahon. Original Rude Boy: From Borstal to The Specials. Aurum, dist. by Trafalgar Square. Nov. 2010. 368p. illus. index. discog. ISBN 9781845135423. pap. $16.95. MUSIC
Only a few books document the British ska music scene from the late 1970s and early 1980s, so this is a welcome addition for fans of the music. Staple (of Jamaican roots) was a product of his times, with a rags-to-riches life story of a tough kid getting into trouble, then finding amazing show business success as part of the integrated punk ska band The Specials. Staple, writing with journalist McMahon, is a natural storyteller, and he pulls no punches in relating his brutal childhood, the race-related difficulties for immigrants to England, and the squabbles of The Specials that led to their early breakup. VERDICT This is a fascinating account of a special time and place. It will appeal to all second-wave ska fans and those interested in English race relations. Recommended, along with Specials bassist Horace Panter's recent memoir, Ska'd for Life, for all comprehensive collections.—Bill Walker, Stockton-San Joaquin Cty. P.L., Stockton, CA
Wobble, Jah. Memoirs of a Geezer: The Autobiography of Jah Wobble; Music, Mayhem, Life. Serpent's Tail, dist. by Consortium. Nov. 2010. 352p. photogs. index. ISBN 9781846687204. pap. $14.95. MUSIC
The original bassist for Public Image Ltd. (formed by John Lydon just after the Sex Pistols'breakup) and a pioneer of the British world music scene, Wobble tells the story of his life and career in a voice that is confident, concise, and full of East End sensibility. From early fame to creative and financial fallings-out, fatherhood, a series of straight jobs, alcoholism, recovery, and musical rebirth, he acknowledges his faults without self-pity and his successes without arrogance. His opinions on industry idols like Lydon and Brian Eno are candid but never gossipy. Most refreshingly, he also displays a real gift for storytelling, making a stay in the hospital for abdominal cramps or London Underground employee training sessions every bit as entertaining as tales of backstage debauchery. VERDICT The author's relative obscurity in the United States may limit the book's initial audience, but it's a winning read that anyone who appreciates a good memoir will enjoy.—Neil Derksen, Gwinnett Cty. P.L., Lawrenceville, GA
PHILOSOPHY
Edmonds, David & Nigel Warburton. Philosophy Bites: 25 Philosophers on 25 Intriguing Subjects. Oxford Univ. 2010. c.216p. ISBN 9780199576326. $15.95. PHIL
In this highly accessible book, Edmonds (coauthor, with John Eidinow, Wittgenstein's Poker) and Warburton (philosophy, Open Univ.; Philosophy: The Basics) present 25 interviews with leading philosophers who engaged with the authors on their popular website, philosophybites.com. The interviews, which were originally podcasts, have been revised by the interviewees so that they are easier to follow when read. They cover a broad range of philosophical topics—from performance-enhancing drugs in sports to the problem of evil—with such figures as A.C. Grayling, Kwame Anthony Appiah, and Miranda Fricker. The authors explain that, although the interviews may be short, they do not gloss over the topics. Instead, the dialogs show the complexity and rational thought needed in examining each topic, while also demonstrating how philosophy can be applicable to our lives. VERDICT The authors have done a wonderful job of conveying the entertaining and engaging format of their podcasts. Readers can enjoy each thematically arranged piece individually or read the book in its entirety to gain a better understanding of current philosophical issues. This book will be very rewarding for anyone with an interest in philosophy.—Scott Duimstra, Capital Area Dist. Lib., Lansing, MI
RELIGION
Kraybill, Donald B. & others. The Amish Way: Patient Faith in a Perilous World. Jossey-Bass. Oct. 2010. 288p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780470520697. $24.95. REL
In their second book together after their best-selling Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy, Kraybill (senior fellow, Young Ctr. of Elizabethtown Coll.), Steven M. Nolt (history, Goshen Coll.), and David L. Weaver-Zercher (American religious history, Messiah Coll.) go further in depth into Amish spirituality.Filled with Amish voices, the book is a compelling weave of anecdotes of Amish religious beliefs, practices, and affections, divided into four parts: spirituality, community, everyday life, and the things that matter. Describing the Amish faithful as secure, serene, and content, the authors further explore ways in which the non-Amish, or "English," can learn from Amish spirituality. Their inclusion of a short history of Anabaptists (the antecessors of the Amish), a sample lectionary, and the "Rules of a Godly Life" makes this insightful work even more delightful. VERDICT Adding to the growing body of literature on the Amish, this book will be a welcome addition to academic religion collections and of interest to readers at public libraries as well.—Holly Hebert, Rochester Coll. Lib., Rochester Hills, MI
Lyons, Gabe. The Next Christians: The Good News About the End of Christian America. Doubleday. Oct. 2010. 208p. index. ISBN 9780385529846. $19.99. REL
The United States is swiftly becoming post-Christian (if it ever was Christian), and many in the church have responded by either isolating from culture entirely or embracing it wholeheartedly. Lyons (founder, qideas.org; coauthor, with David Kinnaman, Unchristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity and Why It Matters) focuses on the church's reaction to this new generation of Christians and on the radical changes some church members are making to engage it. Eschewing both extremes of separatism and wholesale blending, the author outlines a "middle way" of restoration, of being a Christian who engages the younger Christian culture in a meaningful way while remaining clean of personal defilement. Lyons defines these "next Christians" by six characteristics: "[they are] provoked, not offended; creators, not critics; called, not employed; grounded, not distracted; in community, not alone; [and] countercultural, not relevant." VERDICT This analysis of the coming wave of Christianity will be enlightening to those outside the church and encouraging and challenging to those within it. Readers of N.T. Wright, Tim Keller, Rob Bell, and Bob Briner will appreciate this book. Highly recommended.—Ray Arnett, Fremont Area Dist. Lib., MI
Putnam, Robert D. & David E. Campbell American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us. S. & S. Oct. 2010. 416p. illus. ISBN 9781416566717. $30. REL
Religious life in America has gone through remarkable changes in the last half century, and Putnam (public policy, Harvard; Bowling Alone) and Campbell (political science, Univ. of Notre Dame; Why We Vote) bring together a mound of sociological survey data to sift out the nature of those changes: the rise of the megachurch, the growth and plateauing of evangelicalism, the decline in mainline Protestantism and Anglo-Catholicism, and the 21st-century surge in the ranks of those claiming no religious affiliation. Putnam and Campbell trace these changes to the great liberalizing shock of the 1960s and subsequent pendulum swings first to the right, now to the left, through which "libertines and prudes have successively provoked one another." Religious communities have become increasingly identified with political conservatism, even as individual religious identity has become more fluid. Nonetheless, Americans have become more religiously plural and tolerant in recent decades, and this, state the authors, is America's grace. VERDICT American Grace does for this decade what Robert Bellah's Habits of the Heart did for the 1980s and Wade Clark Roof's Spiritual Marketplace did for the late 1990s. A monumental and insightful sociological analysis of the current religious climate and how it developed. Highly recommended.—Steve Young, McHenry Cty. Coll., Crystal Lake, IL
SPORTS & RECREATION
Cavanaugh, Jack. The Gipper: George Gipp, Knute Rockne, and the Dramatic Rise of Notre Dame Football. Skyhorse, dist. by Norton. Oct. 2010. 320p. photogs. ISBN 9781616081102. $24.95. SPORTS
President Reagan's political rallying cry, "Win one for the Gipper," originated in his portrayal of star Notre Dame halfback George Gipp in the 1940 biopic Knute Rockne, All American and thence became a part of American cultural literacy. But what of Gipp himself? He was arguably one of the three greatest football players of the early 20th century along with Jim Thorpe and Red Grange, but Gipp is the least well known of the trio, so sportswriter Cavanaugh's (Tunney) treatment meets a glaring need. The problem is that Gipp was a reticent loner who died 90 years ago at the age of 25. Fortunately, Cavanaugh was able to draw on several interviews he conducted 30 years ago with many of Gipp's teammates and contemporaries while he was writing a magazine piece. He has supplemented those with further interviews with descendants and additional research to create as full a picture of Gipp as is likely to emerge. Still, the book is as much about coach Knute Rockne and Notre Dame football as it is about Gipp, whose short, colorful life was marked by a propensity to spend more time drinking and gambling than attending class. VERDICT A welcome resource on a legendary figure, also giving a valuable depiction of a fabled coach and the start of a college football dynasty.—John Maxymuk, Rutgers Univ. Lib., Camden, NJ
Eubanks, Steve. Golf's Ultimate Eighteen: Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Amy Alcott, and Other Golf Greats Reveal Favorite Holes To Create the Ultimate Fantasy Course. Sellers. 2010. c.128p. illus. ISBN 9781416205807. $34.95. SPORTS
Golf is addictive. When not playing a course, golfers obsess over equipment, buy instructional books, and watch the sport on television. In their heart of hearts, golfers are also course designers. What Eubanks (To Win and Die in Dixie) has done is assemble a fantasy golf course made up of existing memorable holes. These 18 holes come at the recommendation of notable professional golfers, including Palmer and Nicklaus. It is worth noting that Augusta National has two featured holes, whereas all the other holes come from different courses. Each hole is featured here with dramatic photography, a layout with a yardage scale, and the commentary of several golfers. The author admits that the "greatest" really is a matter of opinion and that other golfers might have other choices. If there is a quibble with the book, it is in the choice of golf professionals. Notably absent are Tom Watson, Johnny Miller, Tiger Woods, and Annika Sorenstam. VERDICT A good choice for libraries with large sports collections, and an option for many golf enthusiasts.—Steven Silkunas, North Wales, PA
From the Jaws of Death: Extreme True Adventures of Man vs. Nature. Griffin: St. Martin's. Oct. 2010. c.384p. ed. by Brogan Steele. ISBN 9780312555665. pap. $15.99. REC
This collection of true survival stories includes a range of accounts of narrow escapes and near-death experiences in the wilderness and on the open seas. Excerpts of works by well-known adventurers such as Fridtjof Nansen and Sir Ernest Shackleton are supplemented by lesser-known and more recent accounts of survival against the odds after plane crashes, shipwrecks, and other ill-fated expeditions. While these often grim tales are full of terrible weather, atrocious suffering, and even worse luck, some of the better selections are potent reminders of the inspiring human capacity for ingenuity and endurance in the face of almost certain death. Unfortunately, the selections vary considerably in writing quality and emotional impact, with some excerpts too truncated to engage adequately the reader. Rather clichéd comments by the editor are an irritating addition. VERDICT This choppy, inconsistent collection is best suited to adventure fans who enjoy episodic, quick-reading tales of survival, especially those interested in Alaskan and arctic survival narratives. Readers should be aware that this work includes graphic descriptions of starvation, cannibalism, gruesome injuries, and mental anguish. Dedicated adventure readers may prefer to read the full-length original works from which some of the more intriguing excerpts originate, such as Nansen's Farthest North.—Ingrid Levin, Salve Regina Univ. Lib., Newport, RI
