Brinkley (history, Rice Univ.; The Great Deluge: Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast) details President Roosevelt's status as an American folk hero, his battles with political and corporate dissenters, and the friends and enemies he made in his fight to preserve the U.S. wilderness through the creation of national parks and monuments, bird and game reservations, and national forests. Brinkley heaps praise on Roosevelt for his preservation of over 230 million acres of wilderness, detailing Roosevelt's reading, his naturalist hobbies, and the people he drew around him who crucially worked to save American wilderness areas. VERDICT While this very readable biography showcases an impressive amount of research, at over 900 pages, the pace is slowed down by simply too much information about the scientists, politicians, and explorers Roosevelt knew and by the extravagant descriptions of wildlife. Best suited for academics, armchair historians, or the most avid of biography enthusiasts. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 11/15/08.]—Crystal Goldman, San Jose St. Univ. Lib., CA

The first and most basic lesson of genealogy is to talk to your family. Eubanks (Ever Is a Long Time) interviewed his mother to start to learn about his grandparents, Edna and Jim Richardson, an interracial couple who married, lived together, and raised a family in rural Alabama in the first years of the 20th century. While Eubanks begins by seeking his grandparents' motivations and their methods for subverting societal norms, his memoir eventually broadens to a thoughtful (though still personal) exploration of the construction of race and racial identity, particularly within families that cross the color line. He considers thought-provoking questions like the potential for communication between black and white family members. Eubanks concludes, among other things, that while his own generation threw off the yoke of segregation partly by forging a proud black self-identity, his children seem to see race as a tangible but uninteresting social fact—and to them, race is far less compelling than questions of justice and fairness. VERDICT Highly recommended, especially for memoir readers or patrons interested in thoughtful and personal considerations of race.—Emily-Jane Dawson, Multnomah Cty. Lib., Portland, OR

This account of the Roman Empire at its height completes Everitt's trilogy of Roman biographies, which began with Cicero: The Life and Times of Rome's Greatest Politician (about the fall of the Roman Republic) and continued with Augustus: The Life of Rome's First Emperor (about the establishment of Roman rule by one man). Here, Everitt composes a skillfully analyzed and well-researched narrative of the life of an emperor who excelled as both a soldier and an administrator. Despite his inability to win over the Roman Senate, his self-congratulatory personality, and his habit of discarding friends on a whim, Hadrian was a poet and painter who Hellenized the Roman Empire and halted the wars of conquest that expanded the empire, preferring to manage the territory already conquered. Hadrian was, in Everitt's words, "a good Nero." VERDICT This excellent, readable biography is highly recommended to both lay readers and scholars interested in ancient, Western, and Roman history.—Crystal Goldman, San Jose St. Univ. Lib., CA

This is a sweet autobiographical tale about a writer at midlife trying to understand his late father, a radiologist (and lifelong Chicagoan) who aspired to write about a key historical event in his early life: the Depression-era bonus march on Washington, DC, by veterans of World War I. Langer (Ellington Boulevard) goes on a quest to determine whether his grandfather was also involved, and—if so—what influence that may have had on his father. He ends up consulting everyone but a good genealogist, who could have given him better answers. As Langer grew up in a middle-class Jewish neighborhood with loving parents, his story might seem ordinary at first. But he has an eye for humor and knows how to mine the vein of longing that any adult child might feel for a deceased parent who always seemed to evade answering life's deeper questions. VERDICT Interspliced with anecdotal tales and rambles to historic sites and archives, this book works as both personal history and national history, though some readers may find claims to the latter a bit overdone. Overall, however, this is a sunny and charming book that readers seeking a light but invigorating read will enjoy.—Paul Kaplan, Lake Villa Dist. Lib., IL

Much has been written about the integration of Little Rock Central High School in 1957–58, but LaNier—youngest of the Little Rock Nine—offers a different perspective as a student who was eager for a good education but never really wanted to be at the center of such a momentous event. Facing abuse from white students, she also avoided the press and shunned attention from supporters. While many of the Little Rock Nine ended up attending school elsewhere, following the closing of all Little Rock high schools for the 1958–59 school year by Governor Faubus, LaNier returned for her senior year. She survived the bombing of her home, graduated from Central, and left Little Rock intending never to look back (she lives with her family in Colorado and founded a real estate brokerage firm). VERDICT With honest clarity, LaNier acknowledges what Little Rock's African Americans lost because of Central's integration: secure jobs, a strong sense of community, and the special commitment of the well-qualified teachers at black schools. Not until 50 years later was LaNier able to confront her past and embrace her role in civil rights history. An engaging and moving book; highly recommended.—Kathryn Stewart, Proquest/Library of Congress, Washington, DC

The Scottish-born Linklater (Measuring America) presents an intricate but accessible biography of James Wilkinson, one of the more enigmatic, controversial, and polarizing figures in early American history. Relying heavily on primary sources, especially Wilkinson's published memoirs and unpublished correspondence, Linklater reveals how and why this ambitious and talented young Continental Army general became a spy for the Spanish Empire and collaborated on a western separatist movement with Aaron Burr, whom he eventually betrayed by revealing Burr's plans. The author repeatedly compares Wilkinson's written defenses of his actions with documentary evidence of treason, convincingly arguing that Wilkinson, as described by one of his many enemies, had a "habitual distaste for honesty" but possessed the charisma, cunning, and intelligence needed to live a double life that fooled America's first four presidents. Wilkinson frequently put America at risk by revealing military strategies and secrets to his Spanish handlers, but, as Linklater shows, his duplicity ultimately failed to deter the growth of a fragile young nation. VERDICT This fascinating and richly detailed book is a useful resource for studying America's early struggles with internal interference and external opposition. A fine choice for undergraduates and informed lay readers.—Douglas King, Univ. of South Carolina Lib., Columbia

Muhammad met the man of her dreams, married him, bore him three children—and endured years of suffering under his brutal verbal and emotional abuse. After leaving him, she was hounded, stalked, and threatened and her children were kidnapped in a custody dispute. When, in October 2002, she was asked by the police, "Do you believe your husband, John Allen Muhammad, could be the D.C. Sniper?" there was only one answer: yes. This excellent memoir might not have been published without the D.C. Sniper angle, and that would have been a shame: Muhammad speaks up for all abused women, reminding us that scars aren't always visible and that emotional abuse is as devastating as physical abuse. Her insight about abuse in military families is clear-eyed and sensible as well. Even those who come to this book asking "How can their families not know?" will come away with a new understanding of and respect for this brave woman, whose faith saw her through to the end. VERDICT Readers of true crime, memoir, and women's issues will appreciate this book, which also includes valuable advice and contact information for abused women.—Deirdre Bray Root, Middletown P.L., OH

Patenaude (research fellow, Hoover Inst., Stanford Univ.) applies his expert knowledge of early Soviet history in narrating the story of Leon Trotsky's final years in exile in Mexico. This, then, is the story not of the dashing hero of the Bolshevik Revolution and the Russian civil war but rather of "the Great Exile" and "the Old Man" of the Dewey Commission hearings and later events, an individual hounded by the Kremlin and its supporters in the West and suffering from an array of physical ailments. The book draws extensively on archival collections and published primary sources, in addition to important (mostly English-language) secondary work. VERDICT It's not evident how the author is reassessing this fascinating period in Trotsky's life, and nowhere does he make his case. Nonetheless, his Trotsky is a reliable and masterfully written account that captures, in the words of John Dewey, "the bare overpowering interest of the man and what he has to say." It should be read by anyone interested in Trotsky and the ways in which his life intersected with events in the Soviet Union, Europe, the United States, and Mexico in the 1930s.—Sean Pollock, Wright State Univ., Dayton, OH

One Fidel, two legendary friendships, two books. Reid-Henry's is an exciting, fast-paced history that finally has more to do with the revolutionary movement celebrating its 50th anniversary this year than with the relationship between Castro and Che Guevara. That relationship was one of revolutionary intellectualism and a deep trust. First-timer Reid-Henry explores Fidel's abiding faith in Guevara's abilities and strategies in an adventure story that often reads like fiction. Utilizing primary-source materials and interviews to construct the 12-year relationship between the two revolutionaries, he has created a memorable book.

Esteben (Latin American literature, Univ. of Granada) and Panichelli (romance philology, Catholic Univ. of Louvain) take a critical and controversial look at Gabriel García Márquez and his friendship with Castro. First published in Spain in 2004, this book provides keen insight into the Nobel prize-winning Colombian author and his obsession with power, in this case Castro's power over Cuba and world events. Though both men were in Colombia's capital in 1948 when populist Colombian leader Jorge Gaitan was assassinated, an event that shaped their lives, they did not meet until García Márquez went to Cuba to cover the revolution. The authors examine this surprising friendship in light of the novelist's literary career and the guerrilla leader's revolutionary path, often pointing out García Márquez's blind loyalty to Castro's harsh political regime. Although some flow and meaning is lost in the translation, this book delivers a new view of Castro and, most certainly, of García Márquez. VERDICT Both books are recommended for all students of the subjects, and Reid-Henry's book is a considerable achievement.—Boyd Childress, Auburn Univ. Libs., AL

One Fidel, two legendary friendships, two books. Reid-Henry's is an exciting, fast-paced history that finally has more to do with the revolutionary movement celebrating its 50th anniversary this year than with the relationship between Castro and Che Guevara. That relationship was one of revolutionary intellectualism and a deep trust. First-timer Reid-Henry explores Fidel's abiding faith in Guevara's abilities and strategies in an adventure story that often reads like fiction. Utilizing primary-source materials and interviews to construct the 12-year relationship between the two revolutionaries, he has created a memorable book.

Esteben (Latin American literature, Univ. of Granada) and Panichelli (romance philology, Catholic Univ. of Louvain) take a critical and controversial look at Gabriel García Márquez and his friendship with Castro. First published in Spain in 2004, this book provides keen insight into the Nobel prize-winning Colombian author and his obsession with power, in this case Castro's power over Cuba and world events. Though both men were in Colombia's capital in 1948 when populist Colombian leader Jorge Gaitan was assassinated, an event that shaped their lives, they did not meet until García Márquez went to Cuba to cover the revolution. The authors examine this surprising friendship in light of the novelist's literary career and the guerrilla leader's revolutionary path, often pointing out García Márquez's blind loyalty to Castro's harsh political regime. Although some flow and meaning is lost in the translation, this book delivers a new view of Castro and, most certainly, of García Márquez. VERDICT Both books are recommended for all students of the subjects, and Reid-Henry's book is a considerable achievement.—Boyd Childress, Auburn Univ. Libs., AL

A Kenyan student, one among a large group of students airlifted to the United States in 1959 by the African American Students Foundation, has a son who, 50 years later, becomes the President of the United States. It is upon that stunning truth that Schachtman (Rumspringa: To Be or Not To Be Amish) builds his premise: the airlift, which brought hundreds of Kenyan students to American colleges and universities, changed the face not only of America but of American politics. Central to this story is Kenyan Tom Mboya, here portrayed as a heroic figure fighting the colonial powers that still ruled Kenya in the 1950s and 1960s. His rising international prominence enabled him to meet notables, such as Harry Belafonte, who would help him fund the airlifts, and he used the presidential election of 1960 as leverage to finesse funding from John F. Kennedy's family foundation. Whether that affected Kennedy's election, as Schachtman posits, is not so clear. But this little-known period of African and American history ultimately had a profound effect on American life, especially in race relations and politics. VERDICT A well-written and fascinating account that all students of history will appreciate.—Jane B. Marino, Great Neck Lib., NY

Through an acquaintance with the granddaughter-in-law of Gertrude Tennant (1819–1918), Waller (Wheels on Fire: The Amazing Inside Story of the DaimlerChrysler Merger), was privileged to have access to a huge cache of family papers, letters, and diaries from which to craft this intriguing biography. He reveals the story of a neglected daughter of a minor English naval officer, a child whose formative years spent in the high society of 1830s French salons no doubt influenced the celebrated gatherings she would later host in mid- and later Victorian London. An intimate and lifelong friend of Gustave Flaubert and closely acquainted with iconic men of the age from William Gladstone to Victor Hugo, Tennant would become such a highly connected woman that a meeting with Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Shaw merited no more than a minor note in her diary. VERDICT It is a pity that Tennant is now remembered only as part of the background in the lives of famous men, a slight that Waller hopes to correct as he chronicles the seemingly endless connections and experiences acquired in her astonishingly long life. Recommended for students of the Victorian and Edwardian eras.—Tessa L.H. Minchew, Georgia Perimeter Coll. Lib., Clarkston

With newspapers and other print news media struggling with declining profits, shrinking advertising revenue, dropping circulation, and staff layoffs, the future of print journalism is uncertain. Jones (director, Shorenstein Ctr. on the Press, Harvard), who covered the press for the New York Times, examines what it would mean if news reporting disappeared. Jones argues that the news has an "iron core" central to a functioning democracy. Investigative reporting is a key component of this core, which includes coverage of international affairs, politics, public affairs and government policies at all levels, and business; the resulting news serves as the basis for a range of other journalistic activities, including opinion writing, blogging, and entertainment. Jones draws on his family's experience as owners of the Greeneville (TN) Sun to illustrate what he calls the public-service mission that distinguishes print journalism from other businesses. If this mission is replaced by profit, he sees little hope for or value in saving newspapers. VERDICT The changing media landscape is a hot topic, and this book adds to that conversation, although it does not offer concrete solutions. Worthwhile reading for anyone interested in the fate of print journalism.—Judy Solberg, Seattle Univ. Lib.

Swiss journalist Ammann surely got the scoop of his career when notorious commodities trader Marc Rich agreed to meet with him, which resulted in this remarkable book. Rich fled to Switzerland in 1983 to avoid prosecution for tax fraud; President Clinton's last-day pardon of Rich ignited a firestorm of controversy. As Ammann rightly claims, very little was known about this "most successful and controversial commodities trader the world has ever seen." He offers rare insight into Rich's youth in a Belgian Jewish family who narrowly escaped the Nazis, shows how Rich became involved in the earliest stages of commodities trading, and credits him with inventing the "spot oil market," which ultimately ended control by the "seven sisters" cartel companies (hence the book's title). But it's in regard to Rich's involvement with foreign countries, especially Israel, that Ammann provides the most significant new disclosures. Is Rich a rogue or a philanthropic businessman? Ammann lets readers draw their own conclusion. VERDICT This book reads like a cross between a rags-to-riches saga and a cloak-and-dagger thriller, but it's also an excellent and timely primer on the world of commodities trading within a global economy and will greatly appeal to readers interested in current events.—Richard Drezen, Brooklyn, NY

Over 60 percent of college students admit to having committed plagiarism. Here, Blum (anthropology, Notre Dame) undertakes to investigate and understand this extensive violation of academic expectations. Carefully describing different modes of plagiarism, different approaches among academic disciplines, and different student behaviors, she comes to realize how foreign such technical concerns are to the ways students function with their peers and in their classes. As she recognizes the difficulty students have in clearly understanding the details of academic citation, she looks more closely at the student culture, where a hectic life of college course, socializing, and campus jobs leave little time for careful academic work. Especially in the selective private colleges she knows best, Blum finds great pressure on students to be successful, meet requirements, and participate fully in college activities and social life, with little time or commitment to adopt their teachers' professional goals of independent and thoughtful academic preparation. VERDICT Blum offers many useful insights about student culture and academic values and enlivens her book with extensive interviews from articulate students. A useful perspective on current issues on college campuses.—Elizabeth Hayford, formerly with the Associated Coll. of the Midwest, Chicago

The story of operation Overlord and the French-coast landings on D-day, June 6, 1944, has been recounted many times both in print and on the big screen. It is certainly a story worth retelling, and Beevor (Stalingrad) does it well, combining contemporary accounts with a moving narrative, beginning on June 2, 1944, and ending with the liberation of Paris in August. He relates the operation from all points of view, from the commanders to the men on the beaches, giving equal time to all participants and including, more unusually, the experiences of the French civilians involved. Civilian casualties ran into the tens of thousands, a fact either ignored or given short shrift in most books. Beevor shifts perspectives smoothly, enabling the reader to follow along without confusion, from the U.S. landings on Omaha and Utah beaches to the British and Canadians landings on Sword and Juno beaches, to the airborne incursion and the German response. VERDICT Beevor has written an in-depth campaign history, comparable to Max Hastings's Overlord and Carlo D'Este's Decision in Normandy, that should be read by beginners and experts alike. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/15/09.]—David Lee Poremba, Windermere, FL

In her first book, journalist Brey tells the story of the Allied monuments officers, commonly known as the "Venus Fixers." These were middle-aged art historians, scholars, and architects—newly commissioned lieutenants and captains—from the United States and Britain tasked with saving and restoring Italian painting, sculptures, and architecture during the Italian campaigns of 1943–45 with few resources and limited authority. While much has been written about Nazi efforts to plunder European art, comparatively little has been written on Allied efforts to save Europe's cultural heritage. Brey's book is more about art than it is about war, but she effectively places her story within the context of the larger Allied efforts in Europe. VERDICT This engaging and clearly written book will appeal to readers interested in art history and preservation. Those without a knowledge of art but intrigued by its fate during World War II will want to skip this and read Hector Feliciano's The Lost Museum or Lynn H. Nicholas's The Rape of Europa. (Index and illustrations not seen.)—Michael Farrell, Reformed Theological Seminary Lib., Oviedo, FL

Historian Carroll's measured account of the Guise family in Reformation France offers a nuanced view of a dynasty legendary for its bloody and treacherous defense of Catholicism. Unusually unified for a princely family of the Renaissance, the Guise rose to prominence in the 16th century through dynastic marriage and a coordinated cultivation of the crown, the Church, and the military. Carroll is particularly effective in recounting the intertwined public lives of the soldier François, Duke of Guise (1519–63), and his brother Charles, Cardinal of Lorraine (1525–74), humanists who could tolerate Protestantism (at least among the French upper classes) if it served the family interests as opposed to the violent Counter-Reformation rigidity of later generations. Carroll pointedly gives secondary place to the most famous of the Guise, Mary Queen of Scots, daughter of James V of Scotland and Marie de Guise (sister of François and Charles). Guise conspiracies aimed at toppling Protestant Elizabeth I helped force the hand of the English monarch to execute the family's hapless candidate for her crown. VERDICT This thoughtful, comprehensive, and well-written volume will appeal to those interested in European history but is probably too dense and demanding for the general reader.—Stewart Desmond, New York

Flint (Lincoln Inst. of Land Policy; This Land: The Battle over Sprawl and the Future of America) writes about the battle between Robert Moses, New York's master urban planner of the 1920s–60s, and urban renewal activist Jane Jacobs. While covering the careers of both Moses and Jacobs, Flint focuses on two events: Moses's plans to extend Fifth Avenue through Washington Square Park (1950s) and to build a massive Manhattan highway, the Lower Manhattan Expressway (early 1960s). Jacobs (The Death and Life of Great American Cities) believed that neighborhood character—its people and buildings—must be preserved. She and other West Village activists used political smarts (e.g., strategic media coverage, having children canvass for petition signatures) to outmaneuver Moses, the powerful government official. The book concludes with current examples—such as how cities are now improving mass transit instead of building more highways—to show how Jacobs's legacy and ideas have held up over time. The jury is still out on Robert Moses's legacy, dealt a hard blow by Robert Caro's The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York. VERDICT Recommended for readers interested in urban planning, preservation, or architectural history.—Leigh Mihlrad, Albany Medical Coll., NY

The Black Hawk War of 1832 was a three-month conflict that resulted in the expulsion of the Sauk nation from Illinois. The war has often been viewed as a decisive victory by U.S. military forces, resulting in the seizure of Native American lands for white settlers. Hall (history, Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison) revises that view by examining the military's native allies in the conflict, namely, the Dakota, Ho Chunk, Menominee, and Potawatomi, who saw the conflict as an opportunity to inflict harm on their traditional enemy, the Sauk. Thus, they allied themselves to the United States, using diplomatic protocols that dated to the arrival of the French and English in the Great Lakes region of North America. While the native warriors were looking to the past for established methods of accommodation to shape their relationship with the U.S. military, they unwittingly aided the United States in securing a future for Illinois that excluded all native peoples. VERDICT This highly recommended work should be read alongside Kerry A. Trask's Black Hawk: The Battle for the Heart of America.—John Burch, Campbellsville Univ. Lib., KY

In this expansive, well-researched work from the interdisciplinary field of Atlantic history, Hancock (history, Univ. of Michigan, Citizens of the World: London Merchants and the Integration of the British Atlantic Community, 1735–1785) focuses on the commodity of Madeira in an effort to explain how producers, distributers, and consumers in the long 18th century used global trade networks, constructed through negotiation and "conversation" to transcend artificial barriers constructed by central authorities. These "self-organized" networks in turn facilitated the transfer of cultural, economic, and political information across international borders. Expanding upon the historical methodologies of T.H. Breen's Marketplace of Revolution, Bernard Bailyn's Atlantic History: Concept and Contours, and Richard S. Dunn's earlier Sugar and Slaves, Hancock admirably uses a wealth of previously unexplored primary documents to reconstruct this dynamic world. His book ranges from the production of Madeira on the Portuguese island to a detailed analysis of how consumers in both the urban centers and backcountry wilds of America developed a socially stratified world defined by the "gentility of drinking." VERDICT While the work's scholarly tone may limit its potential audience, students and scholars across the academic spectrum as well as wine enthusiasts will benefit from Hancock's monumental study. Highly recommended.—Brian Odom, Pelham P.L., AL

McGinty (Lincoln and the Court) gives us a detailed account of the trial and execution of abolitionist John Brown in 1859 for his raid on Harpers Ferry. Through studying the trial records, period newspapers, and accounts by trial participants, the author raises several important points regarding the fairness of the proceedings. First, the Commonwealth of Virginia tried Brown even though the Harpers Ferry arsenal was the property of the federal government. The prosecutor, Andrew Hunter, had had a relative by marriage who was killed by Brown's men, a factor that should have removed him from the trial. Both of Brown's original defense attorneys had witnessed the raid. After the jury returned the guilty verdict, Brown's appeals were quickly denied, and Governor Henry Wise of Virginia refused to grant clemency. In short, the government of Virginia was determined to be rid of Brown. The results, however, went against Virginia and the South: Brown's eloquent defense of his actions, denunciation of slavery, and execution transformed him into a symbol for the end of slavery. VERDICT McGinty has written an important account emphasizing Brown's trial rather than the raid itself as a significant turning point in the struggle between North and South prior to the Civil War. Recommended for all readers interested in the Civil War.—Stephen L. Hupp, West Virginia Univ. Lib., Parkersburg

The Cuban Missile Crisis may have brought President Kennedy and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev to the brink of nuclear war, but no other international confrontation occupied more of Kennedy's time than the Berlin Wall Crisis of 1958–63. So claims Smyser, an aid to Kennedy's representative in Berlin from 1960 to 1962, Gen. Lucius Clay. The author shares harrowing accounts of East Berliners drowning or being shot when they desperately tried to escape to democratic and prosperous West Berlin while the Wall was being built. He also reveals the link between the 1961 Bay of Pigs fiasco and the 1961 Berlin Wall dilemma and the Cuban Missile Crisis. Kennedy and Khrushchev played a dangerous game of nuclear chicken, but ultimately the Soviets backed off in Berlin and Cuba when Khrushchev underestimated Kennedy's determination not to appear weak, as he had following the Bay of Pigs. Smyser sorts out the diplomatic dance over East and West Berlin, including among the other important players: British prime minister Harold Macmillan, French president Charles de Gaulle, East German leader Walter Ulbricht, and West German chancellor Konrad Adenauer. VERDICT Portraying President Kennedy as a work in progress who evolved into a thoughtful statesman with a healthy mistrust of military and diplomatic advisers, Smyser delivers an impressive narrative that will hold the attention of general readers and scholars.—Karl Helicher, Upper Merion Twp. Lib., King of Prussia, PA

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded 100 years ago by a combination of black and white reformers as a response to the violence directed at African Americans across the country. It gained national recognition by challenging the Wilson administration's attempts to segregate the federal government. By the end of World War I, the NAACP had become a black-dominated organization with 90,000 members. In a comprehensive history of the NAACP through the decision in Brown v. Board of Education, Sullivan (history, Univ. of South Carolina; Days of Hope: Race and Democracy in the New Deal Era) documents how the NAACP used its focus on law and the courts to rise from its humble origins and become the leading civil rights organization in the country. In chronicling the NAACP, Sullivan chronicles the beginnings of the civil rights struggle itself. VERDICT Well recommended for both general and academic readers.—Jason Martin, Univ. of Central Florida Lib., Orlando

This scholarly treatise on the Sicilian Mafia covers much the same ground as John Dickie's Cosa Nostra: A History of the Sicilian Mafia. But it's unique in that Lupo is an Italian national and academic (history, Univ. of Palermo) who offers a detailed study of the Mafia's origin in Italy and its later move to America. Avoiding the sensationalism often found in books about organized crime, Lupo makes a rare contribution by combining history and politics, beginning in the 1860s. He explains that the unification of the Kingdom of Italy presented a favorable environment for the Mafia to emerge, as land ownership became increasingly commercialized, with lands held secure under the watchful eyes of the landowner, prominent citizens, and local criminals. Lupo then discusses the role played by totalitarianism and democratization when the Mafia arrived in America, initially in Louisiana, and looks at post-World War II Italy, when the Mafia presented itself as an alternative to the state. VERDICT Given its scholarly bent, this would best serve serious students of the Mafia, particularly its history, or of the history of organized crime.—Krista Bush, Univ. of New Haven Lib., West Haven, CT

This brave account of a childhood ravaged by neglect, violence, and institutional indifference is remarkable for its utter lack of anger and bitterness. Masters (Finding Freedom: Writings from Death Row) entered San Quentin in 1980 at age 19 for armed robbery and was moved to death row in 1990 after being convicted as an accessory in the murder of a guard—though he professed his innocence, which newly uncovered evidence supports. Here, he recounts in utilitarian but not unlovely prose a boyhood marked by unthinkable brutality, starting with parents who were both heroin addicts. He never uses his story to excuse himself; indeed, his regret over his past crimes is palpable. Instead, Masters serves up his own life as a cautionary tale to those with the power to protect children from the kind of domestic and institutional abuse he suffered. Despite the title, the events that sent him to death row get only the briefest mention; Masters's conversion to Buddhism in San Quentin has brought him solace and clarity. VERDICT A heartbreaking memoir; the brutal conditions of Masters's boyhood will be difficult for some readers to take, but his ultimate message of hope and reconciliation is moving and inspiring. Highly recommended.—Rachel Bridgewater, Reed Coll. Lib., Portland, OR

Bosco (Sch. of International Service, American Univ.), who has worked with the UN in Bosnia, here analyzes the role and effectiveness of the most visible UN agency, the Security Council. He sees it as having two roles: defusing conflict is the better known, but it also provides a means for its five permanent member states (China, France, the Russian Federation, United Kingdom, and the United States) to meet away from the limelight, where they can discuss informally the potential conflicts among themselves. He credits this second role with preventing an actual U.S.-USSR war during the Cold War. Bosco takes an historical approach, beginning with the negotiations that created the UN during World War II, but gives the past 20 years more detailed treatment than earlier events. In those cases when the Security Council has not succeeded in preventing conflict, the author is balanced in explaining how individual member states contributed to the failure. Ian Hurd's After Anarchy: Legitimacy and Power in the UN Security Council takes a thematic approach to some of the same incidents. VERDICT This thorough, well-researched history is appropriate for all with a serious interest in international relations.—Marcia L. Sprules, Council on Foreign Relations Lib., NY

What we think we know about 9/11 and what really happened are two different things, according to this new book by the former senior counsel to the 9/11 Commission. As someone who helped write the best-selling 9/11 Commission Report, Farmer now asserts that not only was the official version put forth by the government inaccurate but also that it conveyed a false sense of security. Using recently declassified and released sources, Farmer blends legal and political expertise to paint a startling revised picture of 9/11. Telling the story in successively decreasing units of time, he builds suspense and creates a compelling albeit disturbing narrative. The "ground truth" about what really happened should help us realize a second, more far-reaching truth: unless we correct serious systemic failures in our governmental organizations and operations, we will be doomed to repeat errors in future human-made (or natural) disasters. VERDICT This book sheds new light on the events surrounding 9/11 and the role of government in handling crises and also serves as a rallying cry for change. Essential. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/1/09.]—Leslie Lewis, Duquesne Univ. Lib., Pittsburgh

A former Baghdad correspondent for the Associated Press who has lived in Dubai, Krane traces the historical roots and economic and political changes of "a small Arab village that grew into a big city" and profiles the members of the ruling royal family—Sheikh Rashid, Sheikh Zayed, and Sheikh Mohammed—whose vision brought Dubai to where it is today. Krane also examines such aspects of life in Dubai as security and terrorism, the economy, immigration, the dangers of the highways for cars and pedestrians, the construction industry, and the real-estate boom. There has been a downside to the rapid advancement in Dubai, says Krane: "Lives were trampled by the city's growth. Greed eclipsed common sense. The old ways were lost never to return." The author, who bases much of his research on interviews, includes extensive bibliographical notes. VERDICT This landmark work is recommended to those interested in the history, politics, and economics of the Middle East; an excellent choice for anyone who wishes to learn more about Dubai.—Lucy Heckman, St. John's Univ. Lib., Jamaica, NY

Mankoff (international security studies, Yale) makes a solid case that since the mid-1990s Russia has been verbally aggressive in proclaiming its own interests despite Western opposition. Russia's turn from the West originated when Yevgeny Primakov became prime minister under Boris Yeltsin, which the Russian people supported. Mankoff shows how Vladimir Putin and Dmitri Medvedev made a real effort to downplay minor differences with the United States while stressing that the increased economic benefit Russia has derived from its energy resources has allowed it to back up its words with actions in its recent military conflict with Georgia. Mankoff comprehensively analyzes Russia's relations with the United States, Europe, China, and the former Soviet states, concluding that Russia's helpful suggestions for solving international problems should be given more weight. VERDICT The book is not narrative history, which may hinder its readability for the general public, but for students and scholars of international affairs, there is no better choice regarding Russian foreign relations. A thoughtful corrective to Edward Lucas's compelling but slightly alarmist The New Cold War: Putin's Russia and the Threat to the West. —Rob Langenderfer, Brown Mackie Coll. Lib., Ft. Mitchell, KY

In recent years, much of the discussion about the Muslim world has focused on the role of Islam in politics, especially the rise of extremist groups that invoke religious doctrine to justify their actions. In this informative book, Middle East expert Nasr (international relations, Fletcher Sch. of Law & Diplomacy, Tufts Univ.; The Shia Revival) challenges our commonly held assumptions about the dynamics of the contemporary Middle East. Using a language accessible to nonspecialists and relying on examples from countries ranging from Iran to Turkey and Pakistan, he demonstrates that there is a commercial revolution in the Muslim world fueled by the emergence of dynamic and upwardly mobile middle-class entrepreneurs and reformers who wish to develop their countries and enjoy the amenities of modern life. It is this "critical mass," he says, that will define the contours of Middle Eastern politics and the broader Muslim world and not the marginal extremists that have dominated foreign news coverage of the region. VERDICT This book should be read by all concerned citizens and policymakers in the West.—Nader Entessar, Univ. of South Alabama, Mobile

President Clinton is often portrayed as a weak foreign policy President. However, in this illuminating investigation, Sale (special correspondent, UPI; Traitors: The Worst Acts of Treason in American History from Benedict Arnold to Robert Hanssen) shows that this was true only during the early years of Clinton's first term. Clinton became a skillful manager of international affairs despite his preference for domestic politics, his loss of credibility with the Lewinsky scandal, and the isolationist attitudes of Congress and the public. Much of the book describes Clinton's ultimately successful fight against the ruthless Serbian president Slobodan Miloševic´, whose attempt to create a Greater Serbia after the breakup of Yugoslavia resulted in the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of his former compatriots in the early 1990s. Sale also discusses Clinton's fight against Saddam Hussein. VERDICT In a first-rate revisionist account that unravels the complicated international events of the Clinton era, Sale concludes that Clinton matured into a tough foreign policy President whose speeches connected with the public as effectively as those of Roosevelt, Kennedy, and Reagan. Enthusiastically recommended for readers who appreciate nonsensationalist works such as John Harris's The Survivor: Bill Clinton in the White House.—Karl Helicher, Upper Merion Twp. Lib., King of Prussia, PA

This illuminating work by Bonanno (clinical psychology, Columbia Univ.) challenges Elisabeth Kübler-Ross's five-step model for understanding grief and the dying process. The author shares his research into the experiences of ordinary people who have lost a loved one, revealing how their personal journeys through the grief process differ remarkably from what most self-help books and the professional literature on grief describe. In warmly presented chapters, Bonanno cogently covers the traditional response to grief in Western culture, how grief many times is overcome with enlightened levity, the importance of resilience after losing a loved one, the importance of memories in the grief process, the strength that develops after overcoming a loss, and the importance of beliefs in various myths about the afterlife. VERDICT While the popular and the professional literature on death and dying continue to surge, Bonanno's work manages to offer a clearly professed alternative way to understand grief that will be a refreshing new resource for professionals, as well as for the grieving.—Dale Farris, Groves, TX

This collection of previously published essays by the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay is both lyrical and side-splittingly funny. In each autobiographical composition, the self-deprecating Chabon reveals facets of his ongoing evolution into "manhood." His most resonant role, as father, finds him reviling the "provided solutions" and "pre-imagined environments" of contemporary toys and advocating that children "mock capitalism and the uses to which it seeks to put them." Chabon also notes the infrequency with which today's kids are left to their own devices; there is "no space…free of adult supervision, adult mediation, adult control" so that kids can, as did he, simply ride bikes or mess around. The writing makes epic the mundane, such as his teenaged adventure leading his young brother across an unfamiliar cityscape, or a rant on "crap" that manages to both skewer and celebrate pop culture past (Planet of the Apes TV series) and present ("family movies"). VERDICT Readers seeking the intelligence of Updike; the gentle, brainy appeal of Sedaris; or the literary virtuosity of Nabokov will thoroughly enjoy what the publisher bills as Chabon's first major nonfiction work. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/15/09.]—Douglas C. Lord, Connecticut State Lib., Hartford

Sex addiction includes a wide variety of behaviors, from cheating on a spouse to child molesting. Certified clinical sexual addiction specialist Steffens (vice president, Victim Svcs., National Coalition for the Protection of Children & Families) and Means (Living with Your Husband's Secret Wars) address the situations of spouses caught in a web of betrayal, stigma, and physical and financial vulnerability. They include information on sex addiction but focus on the needs and healing pathways for those affected by such damaging behavior. The authors assert that codependency is not an adequate explanatory model, as it suggests that spouses are coconspirators in this type of behavior; they instead view spouses as trauma survivors. This approach emerged from the authors' research and patients' personal stories. They offer practical advice on judging if recovery is occurring, how much children should be told, self-soothing techniques, and ideas for dealing with crises and recovery issues. The book concludes with a list of web resources. VERDICT This sensible and authoritative guide will serve as a comforting source for those with a sexually addicted partner and as a resourceful approach for counselors.—Antoinette Brinkman, M.L.S., Evansville, IN

This book is Berg's extremely persuasive dismissal of the claim that the United States is a "post-feminist, post-racial" society. Using testimonies from her survey of hundreds of American women, as well as extensively documented research, this self-admitted second-wave feminist gives a rapid-fire account of the advancement of women's rights and the continuing backlash on feminist progress from the 1950s to the present. Berg's feminist critique of seemingly gender-neutral events are a revelation. The attacks of 9/11, the war in Iraq, the current economic crisis, and the continuing health-care debate are examined with a keen eye toward their impact on women. Equally insightful is Berg's analysis of the setbacks facing the third wave of feminists in the United States. Limitations on contraception and abortion, the sexual harassment of women in the military, the fight for gay and lesbian equality, and the never-ending pay gap are but a few of the "new" issues tackled by Berg. VERDICT Each chapter of this book offers an impassioned plea: feminism is not dead, but there is still a great need for feminist women and men to fight for the rights of women in America. As Berg aptly states in her conclusion, "Everyone who believes in gender equality...must join together to push for progressive policies that will enhance all of our lives." Highly recommended.—Veronica Arellano, Univ. of Houston Libs., TX

This delightful book was born when Tsui moved from New York's Chinatown to San Francisco's. She asked herself, What is a Chinatown? On this quest she visited five different Chinatowns, including those in Los Angeles, Honolulu, and Las Vegas. Her warm descriptions are accompanied by her own photographs and hand-drawn maps. She writes of her grandparents' arrival in New York from Hong Kong: they considered hard work as a freedom to earn. She notes that San Francisco's Chinatown began in 1906 when a Chinese businessman erected an "oriental" archway, while Los Angeles's "Chinatownland" was the answer to Hollywood's ongoing need for an exotic backdrop. Honolulu's is considered a crossroads with its array of Asian residents and a distinct Hawaiian flavor. Las Vegas boasts the newest Chinatown, a mall invented in the 1990s. Why do America's Chinatowns continue? Tsui says they stay even when they could move on because Chinatown is the heartland for Asian America, historical touchstones for the elderly, and a physical home for new immigrants, even as they realize that America is bigger than its Chinatowns. Their continued existence indicates that these communities have succeeded. VERDICT All readers interested in Chinese American subjects must consider this title.—Susan G. Baird, Chicago

As alternatives to the usual hotels and B&Bs, monasteries and convents may be equally comfortable and convenient. The authors of these guides to such accommodations have invested a prodigious amount of research to insure that their readers find numerous possibilities for economical, educational, and possibly uplifting travel. Barish is the more experienced writer in this specialized genre, with previously published books devoted to Italy, Spain, and France, while Clark here covers three countries in her single volume. Both books follow similar formats, providing a wealth of information about the history of a monastery or convent, in addition to details of the surrounding area for sightseers. There are practical details as to costs, amenities, contacts, and location directions. Barish's book is packed with photos, while Clark provides only a few. Clark, however, offers an excellent index. Both books have sections devoted to spiritual-only accommodation, but neither provides site-specific maps of their selections. Readers will be pleased to note affordable accommodations in major cities as well as facilities scattered throughout the countryside. Barish includes sites in London, York, Norwich, Ryde, Salisbury, Birmingham, and on the Isle of Wight, with hundreds of others further afield (including in Scotland and Wales). Clark offers hundreds of locations including in Vienna and Salzburg, as well as in Prague and in Italy's Tuscany, the Amalfi Coast, and Rome. Cautions to readers are noted with each entry, e.g., some accommodations in Britain lack towels but do include breakfast. Others, in Europe, may impose a curfew or silence during meals. Advance planning to make the most of this unique type of accommodation—and to find space available at a desired time—is a must for the savvy traveler. VERDICT These books are highly recommended both for those new to these possibilities and for experienced travelers.—Janet Ross, formerly with Sparks Branch Lib., NV

When he's in a city, Byrne's preferred form of transportation for 20-some years has been the bicycle. Here is a grab bag of his observations—always interesting, frequently original—caught on the fly as the much-traveled Byrne crisscrosses the globe, from London and New York to Manila and Buenos Aires. In London, Byrne, known of course as the cofounder and lead singer of Talking Heads, attends an exhibit by an award-winning cross-dressing potter, who shows up at the exhibit with loving wife and daughter. In Manila, he is invited to sing along at karaoke with the Heads' hit, "Burning Down the House," but declines. The clean, safe streets in Berlin impress him, but he is disturbed by the lack of concern for bikers and pedestrians in his own country. Preoccupations recur: how do genes and myths shape our behavior and attitudes? Is creativity just a sophisticated form of lying? Why do souks and shopping malls look the same everywhere (is there "some kind of meme for social shopping?")? VERDICT The man who emerges from these pages is the type of person we'd all like to meet, just more observant than most. Enthusiastically recommended for all readers of travel memoir or of just plain good writing.—David Keymer, Modesto, CA