Adamson, Thelma. Folk-Tales of the Coast Salish. Univ. of Nebraska. 2009. c.448p. maps. ISBN 978-0-8032-2668-5. pap. $25. FOLKLORE
Adamson originally published this collection of oral narratives of the Pacific Northwest in 1934 after conducting extensive fieldwork with the Coast Salish Indians in western Washington State. Originally published by the American Folklore Society as Memoir 27, this reprint edition contains a new introduction that provides biographical information about Adamson and explains the significance of her contributions to the field. The text consists of 155 stories including traditional myths and tales, many with several variants of the same tale-types. Also included are the author's ethnographic annotations with extensive notes on the storytellers' asides such as their voice qualities, gestures, and etiquette. There are also transcriptions of recorded songs produced by ethnomusicologist George Herzog. Additionally, the book includes a section of comparative notes from eight regional collections compiled by Adele Froehlich. VERDICT This scholarly work will be most beneficial to researchers of Native American studies, especially those seeking source material in the areas of religion and folklore or Pacific Northwest studies.—Eloise Hitchcock, Cumberland Univ. Lebanon, TN

Ali, Nujood with Delphine Minoui. I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced. Three Rivers: Crown. Mar. 2010. c.192p. tr. from French by Linda Coverdale. ISBN 978-0-307-58967-5. pap. $12. AUTOBIOG
This slim book tells the story of a Yemeni girl married off at a young age (her exact age is unknown, but she was by all accounts still a child) who dared to resist. Raped and beaten by her husband, she did the unheard of: she found her way to a courthouse and insisted on a divorce. Luckily, she was brought to the right people who chose to protect and defend her. Her story is told in simple prose without excess exposition or cultural color. Aspects of her family's difficult social situation are touched on without elaboration, perhaps to protect their honor or perhaps because these were matters that the little girl herself did not understand. The result is heartfelt, as naive as one would expect of an illiterate child relying only on her own drive for self-preservation. VERDICT This will be a favorite book club read. It is too slight to serve most college-level women's studies classes, however, unless paired with more substantial interpretations of the social conditions in Yemen.—Lisa Klopfer, Eastern Michigan Univ. Lib., Ypsilanti

Miller, Marla A. Betsy Ross and the Making of America. Holt. Mar. 2010. c.480p. illus. ISBN 978-0-8050-8297-5. $30. BIOG
The myth and legend surrounding Betsy Ross and the creation of the American flag looms large in American history. While many children's works have recounted and perpetuated the basic stereotypes, the question of who Betsy Ross really was remains unanswered. Through wide-ranging research and a skillfully crafted narrative, Miller (history, Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst; The Needle's Eye: Women and Work in the Age of Revolution) has not only broadened our understanding of Elizabeth Griscom Ross Ashburn Claypoole but also the men and women of revolutionary America who "went to work every day and took pride in a job well done." Recounted are rich scenes from the City of Brotherly Love ranging from revolutionary upheaval to the yellow fever epidemic of 1793. VERDICT With this distinct and persuasive biography, Miller weaves Ross into the fabric of the rich revolutionary tapestry. Fans of Woody Holton's Abigail Adams and Mary Beth Norton's Liberty's Daughters: The Revolutionary Experience of American Women, 1750–1800 will be drawn to Miller's compelling account.—Brian Odom, Pelham P.L., AL

Stonor Saunders, Frances. The Woman Who Shot Mussolini. Metropolitan: Holt. Apr. 2010. c.400p. index. ISBN 978-0-8050-9121-2. $28. BIOG
Of the many people who tried to assassinate Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, only one was a woman—and a petite, well-to-do Irishwoman at that. Stonor Saunders (The Cultural Cold War: The CIA and the World of Arts and Letters) seeks to resurrect the lost story of Violet Gibson, who wounded Mussolini during an assassination attempt in 1926 but has been relegated to footnote status in history. Gibson's story is remarkable; unfortunately, the archival record of her life before the assassination attempt is thin. Stonor Saunders attempts to make up for this by tying Gibson to hemmed-in women of the time, such as Virginia Woolf and James Joyce's daughter, Lucia. The result is a book heavily padded with irrelevant digressions and musings. While the author clearly feels passionately about resurrecting not only the story but the public image of her subject, she fails to make the case that Gibson was anything other than mentally ill. VERDICT An interesting case plucked out of obscurity fails to provide enough fodder for a full-length book. An optional choice.—Elizabeth Goldman, Kingston Frontenac P.L., Ont.

Mencken, H.L. Mencken on Mencken: A New Collection of Autobiographical Writings. Louisiana State Univ. Mar. 2010. c.296p. ed. by S.T. Joshi. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-8071-3592-1. pap. $24.95. COMM
Mencken (1880–1956), one of America's most recognized and iconoclastic journalists, estimated that he wrote between ten and 15 million words in his lifetime, and he compiled selected pieces into three autobiographical books: Happy Days, Heathen Days, and Newspaper Days. Joshi (ed., H.L. Mencken on Religion), a Mencken bibliographer and scholar, has collected an additional 44 pieces that he hopes will be considered the fourth book in the "Days" series. Selections cover a 50-year time period and are arranged chronologically by the events they discuss within the categories of personal memories, Mencken's writing life, philosophical musings, and travel narratives. Mencken's lively prose might entertain as he relates a love story with an unexpected ending or provoke as he expresses strong opinions about religion, human nature, or politics. His colorful use of language and interesting turns of phrase will engage even the novice Mencken reader. Joshi includes useful contextualizing notes and biographical information. VERDICT Mencken aficionados and scholars will be pleased to have another volume of his collected works. Libraries with Mencken collections will wish to purchase this.—Judy Solberg, Seattle Univ. Lib.

Kahan, Alan S. Mind vs. Money: The War Between Intellectuals and Capitalism. Transaction. 2009. c.329p. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-1-4128-1063-0. $39.95. ECON
Kahan (history, emeritus, Florida International Univ.) guides readers through the origins and the devastating historical consequences of "mind" disliking "money" and intellectuals (in general) opposing capitalism, as evidenced in various movements throughout history. He masterfully traces intellectual anticapitalism in the historical and philosophical tapestry of Western society. Clarity, which makes the work very readable, comes with generalizations about the "intellectual class," but it is such stereotyping that allows the author to buttress his thesis with large amounts of deeply researched supporting information. Readers will learn a great deal about lineages of all major anticapitalist arguments and their permutations in a global world. They will be left looking for a solution as thorough as the description of the mind/money conflict itself, but here they may be disappointed with the brevity and generality of the proposed détente. Kahan, so lucid and entertaining when writing about the background and outworking of important ideas, does not deliver the thorough resolution called forth by his tension-filled plot. VERDICT Those interested in the moral and intellectual history of free-market thought—and often the surprisingly violent opposition to it—will find the book invaluable.—Jekabs Bikis, Dallas Baptist Univ.

Partow, Donna. Making Money from Home: How To Run a Successful Home-Based Business. Tyndale House. Apr. 2010. c.224p. ISBN 978-1-58997-608-5. pap. $13.99. BUS
Former investment banker and current entrepreneur Partow gears her book toward women who are interested in starting a business at home, likely a growing demographic in the continuing recession. She pares down a lot of business advice to its essentials, working with readers to consider the pros and cons of this endeavor, write a business plan, examine ways of marketing the business (including global electronic flea markets), and look at legal and financial issues. Readers get instructions for writing a blog, pricing a product, and giving seminars in straightforward language. VERDICT Partow successfully offers one-stop shopping for anyone, female or male, considering a home-based business or wanting to improve an existing one.—Deborah Bigelow, Leonia P.L., NJ

Peters, Tom. The Little BIG Things: 163 Ways To Pursue Excellence. HarperStudio: HarperCollins. Mar. 2010. c.756p. ISBN 978-0-06-189408-4. $24.99. BUS
In his latest book, business guru Peters (In Search of Excellence) combines observations he has gleaned from his travels, current news items, conversations, and followers of his blog in a compact guide that aims to help readers realize effective projects, customer contentment, employee engagement, and business profitability. No doubt, Peters is on target as he advises readers to appreciate the angry customer, work on their last impressions, make sure that the restroom is clean, and 160 other ways to guarantee success. Each suggestion contains a rationale, example, and method of implementation, all in two pages apiece. VERDICT Those who want to improve their business, whether a boss or an employee, will find great ideas in this compelling and very browsable book.—Deborah Bigelow, Leonia P.L., NJ

Walker, David M. Comeback America: Turning the Country Around and Restoring Fiscal Responsibility. Random. 2010. c.240p. illus. ISBN 978-1-4000-6860-9. $26. ECON
America is broke! American households owe about $483,000 apiece as part of the $56 trillion total of our national debt and unfunded obligations. This is the frightening message of Walker, who is a former comptroller general of the United States and an outspoken critic of deficit spending. He explains that America has been borrowing to pay current expenses and putting off the funding of Social Security, Medicare, and other entitlement programs. He warns that the consequences of this policy will be to destroy our way of life, devalue the dollar, and make us indebted to foreign powers. He explains in depth how the United States could get back to financial security through benefit cuts, tax increases, improved government cost efficiency, and greater reliance of Americans on themselves. Walker comes across as nonpartisan and writes clearly for general readers with an almost folksy style. VERDICT The probable audience for this book will be fiscal conservatives, which would be a shame because it should be a wake-up call for everyone. It serves as a fine expansion of—and update to—the 2008 documentary I.O.U.S.A.: One Nation. Under Stress. In Debt, and its companion volume of the same title, in both of which Walker was a prominent participant.—Lawrence Maxted, Gannon Univ. Lib., Erie, PA

Brodie, Laura. Love in a Time of Homeschooling: A Mother and Daughter's Uncommon Year. Harper: HarperCollins. Apr. 2010. c.272p. ISBN 978-0-06-170646-2. $24.99. ED
In this memoir, derived from an article that appeared in Brain, Child magazine, Brodie (Breaking Out: VMI and the Coming of Women) explores the year she spent homeschooling her daughter Julia. Writing for parents interested in short-term or supplemental homeschooling, Brodie lists benefits of this method, including increased family quality time and customized education on subjects sometimes overlooked by standardized tests. She also explains the day-to-day realities of short-term homeschooling—what she discovered, what worked, what didn't, and why. Such case studies are not available in other resources in the field; books on homeschooling are typically designed for long-term students and don't always include details of how homeschooling impacts family relationships. Brodie references a few of these books, as well as other how-to resources in her bibliography. VERDICT Although this memoir fills a niche, Brodie's story reads better as a short article than a full-length book. Public libraries with communities of short-term homeschoolers may find it useful.—Karen McCoy, Farmington P.L., NM

Ekirch, A. Roger. Birthright: The True Story of the Kidnapping of Jemmy Annesley. Norton. Feb. 2010. c.288p. illus. maps. index. ISBN 978-0-292-06615-9. $24.95. HIST
James "Jemmy" Annesley, presumptive heir to multiple titles in England, Ireland and Wales, was kidnapped at the age of 12 in 1728 by his uncle and was sent as an indentured servant to America. He didn't return to Ireland until 13 years later, eventually obtaining justice against his treacherous uncle. Jemmy's enemies claimed that he was the illegitimate son of a house servant and therefore had no claim to his family's titles and fortune. In an age devoid of DNA testing, proving one's legitimacy would have been near impossible. This extraordinary tale of kidnapping and betrayal captured the hearts of many and reportedly was the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson's popular novel Kidnapped. Surprisingly, few works have been written recounting this intriguing story. VERDICT Ekirch (history, Virginia Tech; At Day's Close: Night in Times Past) does a masterful job of detailing these events in this meticulously researched and highly readable narrative. Concisely written and well documented, this fascinating book will appeal to both serious readers and general history buffs.—Carrie Benbow, Toronto P.L.

Gwynne, S.C. Empire of the Summer Moon. Scribner. May 2010. c.384p. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-1-4165-9105-4. $26. HIST
This is a highly readable, but problematic, account of Cynthia Ann Parker, captured by the Comanche Indians at age nine, and her son Quanah Parker, who grew up to become the most famous of all Comanche chiefs. Gwynne (The Outlaw Bank: A Wild Ride into the Secret Heart of the BCCI) proves adept at using primary sources to illuminate the military history of the Comanche empire and the Texas frontier. He gives good attention to John Coffee Hays and the Texas Rangers, and to Gen. Ranald Slidell Mackenzie, whom Gwynne describes as the "Anti-Custer." Yet this work is marred by a surprising insensitivity, with frequent references to Indian women as "squaws," and sparse information on Comanche individuals without any white heritage. VERDICT Readers wanting more biographical information on the Parkers should turn to Jo Ella Powell Exley's Frontier Blood: The Saga of the Parker Family, while those wishing more of a Comanche view should see Pekka Hämäläinen's The Comanche Empire. Despite its title, this work is at its best as a Texas-centric militaristic interpretation of the 19th-century Comanche wars of the southern Plains.—Nathan E. Bender, Laramie, WY

Heaney, Christopher. Cradle of Gold: The Story of Hiram Bingham, a Real-Life Indiana Jones, and the Search for Machu Picchu. Palgrave Macmillan. Apr. 2010. c.304p. illus. maps. index. ISBN 978-0-230-61169-6. $26. ARCHAEOL
On an archaeological trip to Peru on July 24, 1911, Hiram Bingham, an American explorer and history professor at Yale, happened upon the ruins of the Inca city of Machu Picchu. Although the site was already known to the local native people, Bingham made the Machu Picchu ruins famous and received acclaim as their "discoverer." Heaney presents a well-researched and very readable biography of Bingham from his childhood in Hawaii as the son of missionaries, through his education and careers as historian, educator, explorer, and finally politician. He probes the depths of Bingham's work and character, examining setbacks, scandals, and achievements and skillfully unraveling Bingham's role in the controversy that still exists today between the government of Peru and Yale University over the ownership of the Machu Picchu burials and artifacts. Heaney shows Bingham as a complex and ambitious man inculcated with the racial attitudes of his time, but he also convincingly shows that despite his shortcomings, Bingham made a significant contribution to the study of South American archaeology and Inca history. The book's title is something of a misnomer, as Bingham found no gold at Machu Picchu, and the name "cradle of gold" is used in the text to refer to a different Incan archaeological site that Bingham visited. VERDICT Recommended for history and archaeology enthusiasts interested in a detailed account of the life of an archaeological icon.—Elizabeth Salt, Otterbein Coll. Lib., Westerville, OH

Lieven, Dominic. Russia Against Napoleon: The True Story of the Campaigns of War and Peace. Viking. Apr. 2010. c.646p. illus. index. ISBN 978-0-670-02157-4. $34.95. HIST
This is the story of Napoléon's invasion of Russia in 1812, but addressed here primarily from the Russian viewpoint. Using Russian military archives only accessible to Western researchers since 1991, Lieven (Russian history, London Sch. of Economics) studies the Russian war effort against Napoléon, most familiar to readers either through British and French historians or through Tolstoy's renditions in War and Peace. Lieven begins with the Treaty of Tilsit in 1807 and ends with the triumphant Russian entry into Paris in 1814, describing the longest military campaign in European history in an engaging narrative, without the embellishments of Tolstoy in War and Peace (Tolstoy is barely covered here, in spite of the subtitle's implication) or the usual Western prejudices. Among Lieven's points are that a certain percentage of senior officers serving in the Russian army were foreign born (mostly from the Baltic States), and that the Russian mobilization was not only extremely large but also extremely cheap, with the troops being given raw cloth and told to go and make their own uniforms. VERDICT Highly recommended for all who study this era of European and Russian history, or keep up with Napoleonic studies.—David Lee Poremba, Keiser Univ., Orlando, FL

Vuic, Kara Dixon. Officer, Nurse, Woman: The Army Nurse Corps in the Vietnam War. Johns Hopkins. 2010. c.320p. photogs. index. ISBN 978-0-8018-9391-9. $50. HIST
Drawing on hundreds of interviews, Vuic (history, Bridgewater Coll.) provides vivid insight into the nursing experience during the Vietnam War in a time when men and women were just beginning to rethink gender roles and norms. She explains that many young women signed on out of a sense of patriotic duty while others simply sought travel opportunities in foreign lands and put off the traditional marriage and children route expected of them. The Army Nurse Corp provided nontraditional opportunities for women while giving them a traditional role as caregiver. Facing a serious nursing shortage, the army was forced to offer equal rank, pay, and career advancement while implying that women would enjoy the attention of men from around the world and marriage proposals. While these women were educated, many holding advanced degrees, and expanding the role of nurses, they still had to cope with being objectified. As one nurse said, "You really learn how to maneuver, how to protect yourself." VERDICT Vuic demonstrates that while the army has made strides toward accepting women, it still has a long way to go. Anyone with an interest in military history or women's studies will want to read this accessible and engaging book.—Patti C. McCall, AMRI, Albany, NY

Halliday, Paul D. Habeas Corpus: From England to Empire. Harvard Univ. Mar. 2010. c.490p. ISBN 978-0-674-04901-7. $39.95. LAW
Halliday (history, Univ. of Virginia) constructs an exhaustive and informative legal history of the English writ of habeas corpus from the 16th century to the present. Habeas corpus is a judicial writ, established, contrary to modern interpretations, to ensure that the king's laws would be followed and that "justice should be done." Among its many powers, it determined whether jailers were providing fair treatment when the government arrested or detained an individual. Halliday's viewpoint is that the writ of habeas corpus was based upon the King's prerogative, i.e., authority. He explores how the writ in fact protected liberty for the king's subjects. Another of Halliday's positions, supported by his intense archival research, is how the king could use habeas corpus to control other judicial and political institutions and create uniform legal practices throughout the British Empire. Halliday provides an expertly developed analysis which draws multiple interesting connections between the writ of habeas corpus and sources of English law, many of which are connected to the U.S. Constitution. VERDICT This book is highly recommended for college, university, and law school libraries, and for individuals who are seriously interested in this component of legal history.—Steven Puro, St. Louis Univ.

Asmus, Ronald. A Little War That Shook the World: Georgia, Russia and the Future of the West. Palgrave Macmillan. Feb. 2010. c.272p. index. ISBN 978-0-230-61773-5. $27. INT AFFAIRS
Asmus (executive director, Transatlantic Ctr., Brussels; Opening NATO's Door), who was in the Department of State under President Clinton, presents a clear, workmanlike analysis of the brief war that erupted between Russia and Georgia in August 2008. Although he doesn't ever go for Churchillian oratory—which is both a strength and a weakness of Martin Sixsmith's Putin's Oil—his prose never bogs down in passages that can't be easily understood. Instead, he provides a compelling account of why Georgia felt that it had to take action to try to preserve its independence against Russian encirclement and what the Western powers did (and didn't do) to stop the war. Asmus attempts to cover a great deal, but he doesn't always go into the detail promised at the book's beginning, especially regarding Russia's reasons for rejecting moving forward as part of the West and instead turning toward its own Eurasian orientation. VERDICT Despite minor flaws, this book provides some sound conclusions and is strongly recommended for all readers, general or academic, seriously interested in this component of today's international affairs.—Rob Langenderfer, Brown Mackie Coll. Lib., Fort Mitchell, KY

Kiriakou, John with Michael Ruby. The Reluctant Spy: My Secret Life in the CIA's War on Terror. Bantam. Mar. 2010. c.224p. photogs. ISBN 978-0-553-80737-0. $26. INT AFFAIRS
Perhaps this book would have worked better if it had been presented as a personal memoir of this ex-CIA spy. In its current form, Kiriakou—the former head of counterterrorism in Pakistan who came to prominence when he publicly called waterboarding torture in 2007—intersperses stories of his CIA-related missions with self-indulgent, almost soap-operatic passages about his first marriage, his years in Greece, and courting terrorists and their information. The passages that are about his work come off as disjointed. While this may be attributable in part to the editing rights of the CIA over all reporting on its operations, the results are simply overbalanced toward editorially attacking his ex-wife. The most memorable parts are Kiriakou's accounts of the violent beating of a civilian who insulted his ex and his "kidnapping back" one of his children from a church service after she "kidnapped" them first. VERDICT Fans of fast-paced gossip will want to read this book; however, readers interested in the many issues we confront in fighting terrorism should skip it in favor of Matthew Alexander and John Bruning's How To Break a Terrorist: The U.S. Interrogators Who Used Brains, Not Brutality, To Take Down the Deadliest Man in Iraq. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 11/1/09.]—Jenny Contakos, Southwest Florida Coll., Fort Myers

Lawrence, Regina G. & Melody Rose. Hillary Clinton's Race for the White House: Gender Politics and the Media on the Campaign Trail. Lynne Rienner. 2009. c.277p. ISBN 978-1-58826-670-5. $65; pap. ISBN 978-0-58826-695-8. $26.50. POL SCI
Lawrence (political communication, Louisiana State Univ.; When the Press Fails) and Rose (political science, Portland State Univ.; Abortion: A Documentary and Reference Guide) examine carefully and critically the 2008 race for the White House, especially the Democratic primary race between then senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama. They scrutinize the historic contest between a female and an African American for their party's nomination, arguing persuasively that female candidates in American politics, especially in national campaigns, encounter a "gendered discourse" in which such candidates cannot afford to be either too feminine or too masculine. Such candidates are then placed within a "double bind" that they must recognize and try to combat successfully if they wish to be seen as viable, electable candidates. This excellent work is much more than a campaign biography of Clinton, and it is clearly not an insider's tale of life on the campaign plane with the press pack. Rather, this carefully researched and well-written study illustrates that a female candidate and her context directly affect her chances of being elected to any national office, and especially the presidency. VERDICT The authors do not predict when a female will occupy the Oval Office, but anyone interested in American politics, presidential campaigns, media politics, and the role of gender in American elections should devour this book. Highly recommended.—Stephen K. Shaw, Northwest Nazarene Coll., Nampa, ID

Pfiffner, James P. Torture as Public Policy: Restoring U.S. Credibility on the World Stage. Paradigm. 2009. 224p. index. ISBN 978-1-59451-508-8. $86; pap. ISBN 978-1-59451-509-5. $19.95. INT AFFAIRS
Pfiffner (Sch. of Public Policy, George Mason Univ.) is a decorated Vietnam veteran whose clear and detailed writing offers an excellent case against the use of torture in prisoner interrogation in the "war on terror." He establishes several core propositions: that "alternative" means of interrogation carried out under the Bush administration amount to fundamental violations of the 1955 Geneva Accords and of U.S. law; that neither President Bush nor Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld had the legal mandate to authorize such procedures; and that "unlawful combatants," whether at Guantánamo, Abu Ghraib, or Baghram, are subject to legal protection. In view of accumulated evidence, congressional testimony, and the Supreme Court's decision in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld, these findings may seem unsurprising, yet they provide an excellent basis for Pfiffner's wider discussion about more controversial positions. Among other findings, the author explains the administrative difficulty of controlling the use of torture, the fallacy of arguments supporting torture in interrogation, and the extent of opposition to torture within the Bush administration, including the FBI and the armed forces. Pfiffner does not recommend the prosecution of American officials for torture but firmly supports "putting this unfortunate episode…on public record in an authoritative way." VERDICT Highly recommended for all readers interested in current global affairs, history, or the military.—Zachary T. Irwin, Pennsylvania State Univ., Erie

Zaeef, Abdul Salam. My Life with the Taliban. Columbia Univ. Mar. 2010. c.360p. ed. & tr. from Pashto by Alex Strick van Linschoten & Felix Kuehn. illus. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-231-70148-8. $29.95. INT AFFAIRS
Keen observers of Afghanistan have invariably referred to that country as the graveyard of empires. In recent years, its political destiny has largely been affected by the policies of the Taliban movement. In this highly readable book, Western readers are given a glimpse of the movement's goals via the words of Zaeef, a former senior member of the Taliban who was held as an American prisoner, including several years in Guantánamo. This autobiography has been ably translated from the Pashto and edited by Strick van Linschoten and Kuehn (cofounders, AfghanWire.com), who are based in the city of Kandahar, a major Taliban stronghold in Afghanistan. In this fluid narrative, the reader learns of Zaeef's formative years as a fighter against the Soviet occupation of his country, his subsequent administrative position in the Taliban government, his experience in Guantánamo, his eventual release without charge, and his resettlement in Kabul as a private citizen. In addition, Zaeef provides perspectives on Afghan issues that are largely ignored by the international media and recounts his criticisms of the U.S.-supported Afghan government. VERDICT Highly recommended for all specialists and interested general readers.—Nader Entessar, Univ. of South Alabama, Mobile

Frost, Randy O. & Gail Steketee. Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things. Houghton. Apr. 2010. c.304p. ISBN 978-0-15-101423-1. $27. PSYCH
We're not talking the "stuff" of stuffed closets here, but homes so completely packed that their owners can't cook in their kitchens because every surface—including the stove and sink—is covered, can't sleep in their beds for the same reason, and can't have visitors and often lose spouses and children because of the appalling living conditions. Psychologist Frost and social worker Steketee have been working with such troubled souls for a number of years and here introduce readers to some of their clients: Irene, an outgoing and successful real estate agent who hoards because each piece of junk seems beautiful and full of promise; Debra, for whom each piece of junk mail was a piece of herself; and Pamela, who hoarded cats. While mostly intended to enlighten the general public about this problem, the book contains advice for those who wish to help a loved one who is a hoarder. VERDICT An excellent starting point for family, friends, and neighbors of hoarders, but the vivid writing will attract readers who enjoy fiction or memoirs about extreme behavior (e.g., Flora Rheta Schneider's Sybil and Hannah Green's I Never Promised You a Rose Gardener).—Mary Ann Hughes, Shelton, WA

Neziroglu, Fugen & Katharine Donnelly. Overcoming Depersonalization Disorder: A Mindfulness and Acceptance Guide to Conquering Feelings of Numbness and Unreality. New Harbinger. Jun. 2010. c.200p. ISBN 978-1-57224-706-2. pap. $17.95. PSYCH
Detachment and avoidance behavior can be understandable and even helpful reactions to discomfort and psychological pain, but chronic behavior of this type constitutes depersonalization disorder (DPD), which affects about two percent of the population. Research psychologist Neziroglu and behavioral therapist Donnelly, both of the Bio-Behavioral Institute, describe this disorder, tracing its causes from trauma to drug abuse and other problems and outlining treatment strategies. Four DPD patients are used to illustrate the wide-ranging characteristics of the illness, including detached and robotic behavior, spaced-out feelings, inability to concentrate, and memory difficulties. They advocate behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), incorporating ideas on mindfulness and psychological flexibility. Assessment tools, exercises, and inspiration are also provided, along with alternative treatments, reference materials, and an informative Q&A section. VERDICT A sensible and readable research-based self-help tool, which provides a viable alternative or complement to the pharmacological treatments for mental illness in vogue today. The book should be both comforting and challenging for DPD patients, families, and counselors.—Antoinette Brinkman, MLS, Evansville, IN

Grant, Linda. The Thoughtful Dresser: The Art of Adornment, the Pleasures of Shopping, and Why Clothes Matter. Scribner. Apr. 2010. c.224p. ISBN 978-1-4391-5882-1. $25; pap. ISBN 978-1-4391-5881-4. $15. SOC SCI
British journalist and Booker short-listed novelist Grant (The Clothes on Their Backs) here offers in expanded book form the pieces she has contributed to the Guardian and on her blog of the same name, ruminating on particular issues relating to women and dress. Opening with a piece about a high-heeled red shoe found at Auschwitz, Grant writes that it is the pleasure taken from clothes that defines human beings, that "people have written and thought about clothes ever since we could write and think." These pieces cover a variety of topics, including the development of fashion after World War II, the use of clothes to make a woman feel sexy, and clothing for plus-size women and those (including the author) over the age of 50. An overall theme is the importance of clothes in the making of one's self, but Grant also explores such matters as the fashion industry's reaction to the 9/11 bombings. VERDICT A quick read that fashion enthusiasts will appreciate the most, but readers beyond that demographic will appreciate Grant's approach and will find themselves rethinking their views on fashion and clothes.—Nicole Mitchell, Univ. of Alabama Lib., Birmingham

Reavis, Dick J. Catching Out: Life in a Day Labor Hall. S. & S. Feb. 2010. c.352p. index. ISBN 978-1-4391-5479-3. $23.99. SOC SCI
Temp agencies for blue-collar jobs attract unskilled workers, many unable to keep a steady job owing to prior conviction or physical disability. The pay is low, the work is sporadic, dangerous conditions are routine, and health insurance is unheard of. The problem with this well-intentioned volume is that Reavis (journalism, North Carolina St. Univ.; The Ashes of Waco) spends its bulk reporting the details of tedious jobs, which makes for tedious reading. With a rotating crew of companions, Reavis "catches out" (obtains jobs) painting culverts, stocking a store, boxing a dead man's possessions, and moving trees, sod, and auction cars. His slight backstories would be compelling if fleshed out, but most of the laborers are identified primarily by race and physique. Only briefly at the end does Reavis analyze the day-labor industry itself and its need of reform. VERDICT Lacking both the incisive social commentary of Barbara Ehrenreich's Nickel and Dimed and the trenchant wit and felicitous style of Pete Jordan's Dishwasher, this book reads like a missed opportunity. Those keenly interested in labor issues will want it, but they may not find it satisfying. [See also Gabriel Thompson's Working in the Shadows, reviewed below.—Ed.]—Janet Ingraham Dwyer, State Lib. of Ohio, Columbus

Thompson, Gabriel. Working in the Shadows: A Year of Doing the Jobs (Most) Americans Won't Do. Nation: Perseus. Feb. 2010. c.272p. ISBN 978-1-56858-408-9. $24.95. SOC SCI
Journalist Thompson (Calling All Radicals) writes much in accord with the image of him presented by the photographs that begin several of his chapters here. Garbed and accoutered for each of the jobs he undertook to research this volume—from picking lettuce in Yuma, AZ, to riding his bike as a flower shop and restaurant delivery man in New York City—he appears to be an affable young man, game to take on whatever comes next. His goal is to expose the harsh working conditions to which Latinos (and, he acknowledges, other poor Americans) are currently subjected, including "grinding, deadening work; the workplace diet of sodas and candy bars; the sleep deprivation; the frequent health emergencies; [and] the complete lack of savings." VERDICT However well intended, The Jungle this isn't. It's a mostly anecdotal and impressionistic account that will, however, be of interest to social scientists and public policymakers. Readers may come away hoping that "AgJobs," a bill currently being considered by Congress that seeks to relieve chronic farm labor shortages while protecting rights and opportunities for immigrant workers, is passed soon. [See also Dick Reavis's Catching Out, reviewed above.—Ed.]—Ellen D. Gilbert, Princeton, NJ

Downie, David (text) & Alison Harris (photogs.). Food Wine Burgundy. Little Bookroom. (Terroir Guides). 2009. 464p. photogs. maps. index. ISBN 978-1-892145-75-8. pap. $29.95. TRAV
Downie (Food Wine Rome) pragmatically explains how world markets push out many "moms and pops" that produce a quaint bounty in vast, varied, and lush landscapes and how haute influences in bistro cuisines replace traditional dishes and forsake roots. Not writing a dirge, Downie instead calls readers to arms by celebrating the terroir (literally "terrain") and how it, along with the particular climates, has created culinary jewels for millennia—snails, Charolais beef, chèvre, honey, truffles, and grand cru pinot noirs and chardonnays. He easily demystifies the processes of wine making and the distinction and variety of Burgundy's regional productions. Downie succinctly maps and divides Burgundy into four regions, walking readers through each town and discussing lodgings, markets, artisans, and vintners. He also deconstructs restaurants' menus for their technique and signatures. VERDICT Beautifully depicted, handily sized, and substantially sourced for contact info and seasonal hours. Not a stand-alone general guide, this book is a regional standard for oenophiles and the palatably enchanted traveler. Highly recommended.—Ben Malczewski, Ypsilanti Dist. Lib., MI

Twain, Mark. The Chicago of Europe: And Other Tales of Foreign Travel. Union Square: Sterling. 2009. c.448p. ed. by Peter Kaminsky. illus. ISBN 978-1-4027-5869-0. $24.95. TRAV
Kaminsky, former managing editor of National Lampoon, has compiled a collection of Twain's travel writing from his published books, articles, and lectures, covering the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Europe, India, and the Middle East, as well as a final section of "whimsical pieces." Some of these essays near brilliance (such as Twain's take on the Maori wars in "Town of Wanganui"); others are borderline bores (like "Goin' to the Theater in the Big City" or "The Killing of Julius Caesar Localized"). Some of the pieces are timeless, but there are moments when readers will need to remind themselves that these works reflect a time and a place. VERDICT Reading this compilation may remind one of watching a marathon of the BBC comedy The Benny Hill Show—a little, in doses, goes a long way. Some of the pieces could have been left out, and more editorial commentary for each essay (e.g., when it was written or a few words giving context) would have improved the reading experience. Recommended for Twain fanatics.—Lee Arnold, Historical Soc. of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia

In the review of At Home in Japan (LJ 2/1/10) the reference to Margaret Mead as the author of a book titled The Chrysanthemum and the Rose should have been corrected to refer to Ruth Benedict's The Chrysanthemum and the Sword. We regret this error.