Following the trend of her previous, successful titles (e.g., The Rituals of Dinner; The Geometry of Love), Visser again gracefully applies her wide-ranging learning in the service of fundamental humanistic themes. She examines the meaning of gratitude, using linguistic, sociological, religious, and other rubrics to consider such matters as why we wrap gifts, what we owe to our parents, and why Japanese speakers say "I'm sorry" when English speakers would say "Thank you." Visser is one of a small number of writers able to both use and transcend conventional academic scholarship to offer readers a truly liberal education. This work may be compared to Leon R. Kass's The Hungry Soul: Eating and the Perfecting of Our Nature in the authors' belief that everyday rituals reveal profound insights into human life. VERDICT Readers content to skim the surface will glean pieces of information; those able to invest more time and thoughtfulness will be rewarded with deeper insights and will appreciate the book's extensive bibliography. This will also appeal to those who seek greater cross-cultural understanding.—Lisa Richmond, Wheaton Coll. Lib., IL

Helen Gahagan Douglas is recognized by many as the archetypal victim of the political smear campaign—in the 1950 U.S. Senate race in California, Richard Nixon painted her as a Communist sympathizer, "pink right down to her underwear," to which she, not to be outdone, responded by pinning him with the label "Tricky Dick." The climate is right to consider Douglas as the prototype for today's woman in politics (e.g., Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin, and Nancy Pelosi), still trivialized by the media. Yet there's more to Douglas than that; Denton (American Massacre: The Tragedy at Mountain Meadows) succeeds in her aim of presenting Douglas as torchbearer for progressive idealism in U.S. politics while not forgetting that she was first a star of stage and screen. Denton integrates Douglas's own words seamlessly and tells her story with an almost cinematic sense of occasion. Concise yet contextually detailed and insightful, the book lets Douglas's voice dictate the mood, with Denton as noteworthy guide. From star to activist to congresswoman to humanitarian, Douglas saw each platform as an "extension of being a good citizen." VERDICT Absorbing as biography, as a behind-the-scenes political page-turner (revealing what has changed and what has remained the same), and as an account of one person passionately focused on the bigger picture.—Ben Malczewski, Ypsilanti Dist. Lib., MI

Much like Edith Gelles's recent Abigail and John: Portrait of a Marriage, Holton's work portrays Abigail Adams as someone to be revered but one who had flaws and passions like so many geniuses of the time. Older or more conservative biographies of Adams show her in the light of her husband, but they didn't look at the woman behind the man, the woman who was not just a stalwart Founding Mother but one who was ahead of her time by advocating for equal education for both sexes—at least in her correspondence—and devising ways around the laws of Colonial America restricting women. Holton (history, Univ. of Richmond; Unruly Americans and the Origins of the Constitution), whose previous books also deal with Colonial American history, allows Abigail's voice to radiate off the page; the biography grips the reader from the beginning tale of Abigail writing her own will. VERDICT A wonderful book for revolutionary history buffs, women's studies majors, and biography lovers.—Suzan Alteri, Wayne State Univ., Detroit

This distinctive, full-scale biography focuses on Brandeis's intertwined and multifaceted career as a leader in the legal profession, a social and economic reformer, a key player in the American Zionist movement, and a justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, the latter accounting for the last third of the book. Relying upon Brandeis family papers and letters and Supreme Court documents not previously available, Urofsky (law & public policy, Virginia Commonwealth Univ.; coeditor, The Family Letters of Louis D. Brandeis) analyzes broader social and political movements during Brandeis's lifetime (1856–1941) and the changing importance of law in society over that time. Brandeis established new jurisprudential principles for American law, especially in areas of the right to privacy, as a right to be left alone, and labor and business relationships involving legal protections for industrial laborers. However, Urofsky offers only limited analysis of his subject's judicial impact. VERDICT This chronological, conversational, and straightforward biography, as distinct from the more specialized legal and social analysis of Philippa Strum's Louis D. Brandeis: Justice for the People, will be appreciated most by general readers interested in American history and American social progress.—Steven Puro, St. Louis Univ.

Approaching 30, Wallace (Yes Man; Join Me) wondered how he had become a man with throw pillows on his sofa and a social calendar that includes brunch. An old address book inspired him to go on a quest to find his 12 best friends from childhood to see how each is coping with turning 30 and to acknowledge the ways those friends influenced him. The resulting memoir, though a bit slow in the beginning, is a touching and often humorous look at how social networking and a willingness to travel can help long-lost friends reconnect. Wallace and the friends with whom he'd lost touch share memories of Michael Jackson, the Back to the Future trilogy, Ghostbusters, and the occasional practical joke. His narrative is a reminder of the importance of childhood memories. VERDICT Reminiscent of Nick Hornby's High Fidelity, this memoir should appeal to male readers of a certain age and to anyone who has gotten hooked on networking web sites. [Film rights have been sold to Miramax.—Ed.]—Pam Kingsbury, Univ. of North Alabama, Florence

The Internet has come nearly full circle, albeit content today is more mainstream than scientific. The success of social-networking sites such as Facebook, Digg, Twitter, and LinkedIn suggests that the web is once again more about information sharing and collaboration than promoting goods and services. This doesn't mean that money can't be made in the medium but merely that key business practices have changed—or have they? Brogan, cofounder of a new media conference series, and trend analyst and consultant Smith lead readers through today's most popular social-networking outlets and present six easy-to-understand behaviors that can positively influence business and reputation. Case studies illustrate why some socially driven initiatives succeed while others don't; proper etiquette within the new frontier of the "human web" is also discussed. The authors make the cornerstone concept of a "Trust Agent" highly understandable, providing clear examples both pre- and post-Google. Moreover, they show how one can achieve success by leveraging the web to build relationships based on trust. VERDICT Highly recommended for anyone interested in fostering online relationships or cultivating business on the web.—Judy Brink-Drescher, Molloy Coll., Rockville Ctr., NY

Why do Americans buy what they buy? What tricks do advertisers use on unsuspecting consumers? These are some of the questions addressed by Eisenberg (former editor in chief, Esquire; The Number: A Completely Different Way To Think About the Rest of Your Life) in this illuminating work. With his humorous and captivating style, Eisenberg leads readers through his shopping experiences, with which readers can easily identify. Ultimately, this is an overview of the psychology of buying and of the advertising and retailing industries all in one book. In addition to using stories from his own family, Eisenberg relies on interviews with shoppers, advertisers, and retailers as well as his short stint working for a popular retailer during the holiday season just for the experience. Readers who wish to explore the subject further will find a plethora of sources throughout the book. VERDICT Well researched and including an extensive bibliography, this study of shopping in America from the perspectives of shopper, retailer, and advertiser may at times overwhelm the reader with too much information, but it's an engaging read and would be a solid choice for those interested in consumer or marketing studies.—Holly S. Hebert, Rochester Coll. Lib., Rochester Hills, MI

The best-selling author of The Undercover Economist again delivers an informative yet riveting book, accomplished through the fluid use of economic principle to dissect everyday conundrums, as seen in these entries from Harford's "Dear Economist" column in the Financial Times. He uses fictional Ann Landers-type questions that effortlessly lend themselves to his dry English humor, and both the questions and the answers he provides are quite interesting. Harford commonly employs sophisticated economic principles alongside everyday rules of thumb, and readers will be entertained by his instructive empirical evidence, e.g., "Men like thin, educated women who do not smoke" and "people with a lot of education and little money are miserable." Some interesting highlights are a "happiness equation" that proves that more money will make you happier and that Michigan is still worth two trillion dollars. Who knew? VERDICT Although targeted to a highly educated audience, the book is highly recommended to all Harford fans both in and out of academe.—Tracy Mohaidheen, MLIS, West Bloomfield, MI

Norberg (In Defense of Global Capitalism) searches high and low for the culprits who, in his opinion, caused what he calls the "perfect financial storm." He implicates many individuals and institutions, including Wall Street tycoons, credit rating analysts, banking executives, government officials, and, ultimately, the American home-buying public itself. But Norberg allots particular responsibility to the Federal Reserve (both Greenspan and Bernanke) for reckless interest-rate cutting that arguably played a role in creating the real estate bubble and subsequent financial calamities. Norberg has done impressive research, assembling evidence that the crisis was not merely systemic, but he doesn't propose a fitting punishment for the accused. For example, does he want Fannie and Freddie eliminated, scaled back in size, or simply left alone? VERDICT Norberg is a libertarian who sees government intervention of any kind as a "bad thing," but his theses do not convincingly support his conclusions. Consumers wanting a basic introduction to the background of the financial crisis from a purely libertarian perspective might benefit from this book. However, it still has a "first draft" feel, as if published in haste. Readers wanting a more in-depth and balanced analysis would profit from Mark Zandi's newly updated Financial Shock.—Richard Drezen, Brooklyn, NY

Following The Haunting of the Presidents, Birnes (The Day After Roswell), star of the History Channel's UFO Hunters, and Martin present this new title, which the jacket copy proclaims to be "the only book to tell the story of how paranormal events influenced the United States." It certainly is not, though it might be the first one with a 50-page introduction discussing such topics as Sumerian astronomy, Egyptian pyramids, and magic and divination in the Bible. The authors begin the U.S. section with an overly simplistic analysis of the Salem witch trials, stating that they're rooted in Calvinism (why similar trials occurred in Europe among other Protestant sects and Catholics is never addressed); they then proceed to discuss Spiritualism, psychic research, and paranormal events. The authors use primary sources at times, as well as secondary sources, encyclopedias, and less-reputable texts (e.g., Zechariah Sitchin, who believes humanity was founded by aliens). In some cases, they gloss over historical difficulties with their source material yet criticize other scholars for bias. VERDICT Excellent books—e.g., Mitch Horowitz's Occult America and Herbert Leventhal'sscholarly In the Shadow of the Enlightenment—are better purchases.—Dan Harms, SUNY Cortland Memorial Lib.

This is another brilliant addition to the corpus of works produced by one of the world's most eminent historians of 18th-century France. Darnton (Carl H. Pforzheimer University Professor & director, Harvard Univ. Lib.; Forbidden Best-Sellers of Pre-Revolutionary France) provides a detailed examination of the French literature of libel in the years of the French Revolution. The libelle, he explains, was a distinct genre and an enormous business that focused on exposing the scandalous and scurrilous ways of public political personalities. The attacks took a variety of forms—anecdotes, puzzles, biographies, caricatures, verbal portraits, and news reports. Rather than simply describing or summarizing such texts, however, Darnton interweaves a discussion of the writings, authors, subjects, and readers, as he traces how the targets of slander changed with the shifts in political climate. He also uses police archives and diplomatic records to describe the counter-institutions of the so-called book police—censors, spies, inspectors, and double agents. Most important is his assessment of why the whole "smutty subject" matters, combining historical, sociological, and anthropological analysis to explain the role libel played in creating a political and revolutionary culture where public opinion mattered. VERDICT Not likely to be accessible to general readers, this work is recommended for scholars of 18th-century French history and for university libraries.—Marie Marmo Mullaney, Caldwell Coll., NJ

Not till his epilog does Renaissance historian D'Elia say that this book was inspired by his accidental encounter with letters that 15th-century Roman humanists wrote while imprisoned in the Castel Sant'Angelo for conspiracy to assassinate Pope Paul II. That explains a lot about the book. In 1668, informed of a plot against his life, Paul II rounded up the usual suspects, leading local humanists, and threw them in jail for a year where they exchanged Classically-inspired letters of apology, regret, and defiance. D'Elia details a half-century of prior challenges to the papacy that could make a pope uneasy. What D'Elia never explores is whether this particular plot existed or how it might have worked. Instead, the book considers the aspects of Roman humanism that bothered the church: homoeroticism, a taste for pre-Christian philosophy and flirtation with Islam. D'Elia closes with a numbing textual analysis of the letters that inspired his work. VERDICT Despite some interesting detail of the centuries-old love-hate relationship between the Romans and their pope, the book isn't for the general reader. It may have some interest for students of Roman humanism.—Stewart Desmond, New York

Although it is well known that the Dutch West India Company purchased Manhattan for a pittance in 1626, few realize that it was the Munsee Indians who made the sale. The Munsee have traditionally been ignored by scholars owing to the lack of research materials, probably because the Munsee were a refugee population by the 1760s, with members scattered to join many different Native American polyglot communities. Grumet (senior research associate, McNeil Ctr. for Early American Studies, Univ. of Pennsylvania; Historic Contact: Indian People and Colonists in Today's Northeastern United States in the Sixteenth Through Eighteenth Centuries) supplements the available archival resources with anthropological and archaeological data to reconstruct the history and culture of a people who were extremely influential in the development of the Dutch colony of New Netherland, which eventually became New York. VERDICT This is an illuminating and well-written history that should be read alongside Amy C. Schutt's Peoples of the River Valleys: The Odyssey of the Delaware Indians. —John Burch, Campbellsville Univ. Lib., KY

In 1119 C.E., a group of knights took holy vows to protect pilgrims to the Holy Land. Two hundred years later the Knights Templar had become the most powerful and wealthiest military organization in the world. In the 14th century, they were brought down by the greedy Philip IV of France, and questions arose about their ascent to power, the source of their wealth, and even about their faith. Haag (The Rough Guide to The Da Vinci Code) sifts through the history and the legends to illuminate these mysterious Holy Warriors. Discussing the origins of Solomon's Temple and the Crusades, with many sidebar clarifications, Haag also reviews Templar revivals and the Freemasons, as well as books, movies, and even video games that feature the Templars. He also examines several "conspiracy" theories (e.g., that the Templars found that Mary Magdalene was Jesus's wife and were behind the French Revolution) and prominent locations related to the Templars. Additionally, he briefly covers the discovery of the Chinon Parchment by which Pope Clement had absolved the Templars before their trial. VERDICT Readers of The Da Vinci Code and other fictions relating to the Templars will enjoy this well-written, copiously illustrated, and solidly researched book. Highly recommended.—Robert Harbison, Western Kentucky Univ. Lib., Bowling Green

Originally published in Germany in 2000 to accompany an exhibit on this subject, this collection of essays examines Jewish life in the German capital during the height of Nazi persecution (1938–45). Meyer (Inst. for the History of German Jews, Hamburg), with Hermann Simon and Chana Schutz (director and vice director, respectively, New Jewish Synogogue, Berlin) assert that while much attention has been paid to Nazi anti-Jewish policy and its implementation, the voices and experiences of the individual Jews are often lost; as such, these essays constitute an important dimension of the historiography. Each chapter details a specific aspect of the Jewish experience by focusing on either an event, such as the "June-Aktion" (June Action) of 1938, or on a specific theme, such as the role of Zionism in daily life. VERDCT Though the assertion that the voices of individual Jews is often ignored is questionable, and though the essays do not necessarily provide any revolutionary new insights into the Jewish experience under Nazism, the authors succeed in bridging the gap between the broad issues, such as the process of illegal immigration or hiding, and the experience of individuals. The volume is, therefore, extremely useful for both teachers and students.—Frederic Krome, Univ. of Cincinnati Clermont Coll.

Pawel (former reporter, Newsday) has written a well-integrated and illuminating history of Cesar Chavez's United Farm Workers Union (UFW) and the related struggle for civil rights. She tells the bottom-up history of the UFW through the eyes of eight activists whom she interviewed—including a Protestant minister, ordinary farmworkers, and radical lawyers—who devoted years of their lives to Cesar Chavez and his vision. The author thus captures the heady days of early organizing, starting in 1965; Chavez's failure to create a self-sustaining union from the movement that he regarded as his alone; and the ultimate departure of many activists when they became disillusioned with Chavez's leadership. VERDICT This work recognizes Chavez's organizing talents, his personal charisma, and his all-too-human belief that he was the union. Thus, it is a valuable addition to the story of Chavez and the UFW. Recommended primarily to students of labor and Chicano history, although general readers interested in the changes wrought during the 1960s may well like it, too.—Duncan Stewart, Univ. of Iowa, Iowa City

Roth (history, Ohio State Univ.) traces the fluctuating story of violence leading to fatalities from Colonial times to the present, perceptively and often provocatively conjecturing why our violence has usually surpassed that of our European peers. Through both textual and statistical analyses, he charts deviations in the character and frequency of U.S. homicides, noting regional, gender, class, racial, and ethnic differences. Roth meticulously mines not only court records but also newspaper accounts, vital records, and attitudes expressed in diaries and letters, concluding that killings "are not determined by proximate causes such as poverty, drugs, unemployment, alcohol, race, or ethnicity, but by factors...like the feelings that people have toward their government, the degree to which they identify with members of their own communities, and the opportunities they have to earn respect without resorting to violence." This nuanced treatise regards social factors as correlative or coincidental rather than causative, seeing alienation and a deep absence of belief in governmental legitimacy as signifiers of violent actions. VERDICT Overlong for the casual reader, although it can intrigue like a police blotter over time, this is recommended for specialists in the field, especially quantitative historians, less so for readers seeking extended, narrative treatments.—Frederick J. Augustyn Jr., Library of Congress

Tise (Hidden Images) successfully retells the story of the Wright brothers' return to Kitty Hawk, NC, in 1908, eight years after their maiden pilgrimage there, to refine further their updated 1905 flyer. The challenges facing them had been daunting: production of a machine that would fly higher, faster, and farther than earlier Wright models, all the while allowing for an onboard passenger. They had hoped to conduct their shakedown flights in the seclusion of the Outer Banks but instead found themselves the objects of a media circus. Tise's narrative gains momentum as the brothers depart Kitty Hawk, Wilbur to capture praise from VIPs in Europe and Orville to fly brilliantly at Fort Myer, VA, before his near-fatal crash on September 17, 1908. The author rightly portrays the Kitty Hawk interlude as perhaps the last happy time for the brothers before the crushing burdens of fame, litigation, competition, declining business prospects, and the untimely death of Wilbur took the Wright saga in a different direction. VERDICT Drawing from a wealth of primary sources, Tise depicts the brothers' distinct personalities, strengths, and foibles fairly, though he's clearly an unabashed partisan. A tightly focused slice of Wright historiography.—John Carver Edwards, Emeritus, Univ. of Georgia Libs., Athens

In this history of post-World War II Britain, the conclusion to a trilogy begun with The Victorians and After the Victorians, British author Wilson argues that not only has Britain changed but that it "no longer exists." It's a situation he mourns and blames primarily upon New Labour politicians but sees as a nearly inevitable outcome after the war. Alternating between sociological analysis and summary analysis of the period's prime ministers, Wilson produces a history that even those not familiar with Great Britain will find fascinating, especially if they understand that this history contains consists of many personal reflections and does not aim to be objective. Much of the story has already been covered in Hugo Young's This Blessed Plot: Britain and Europe from Churchill to Blair, but Wilson's creative contribution lies in his many allusions to literature, drama, and music as metaphors for Britain's experience. VERDICT Most readers will find some way to disagree with Wilson, who is anti-immigration, anti-Beatles, anti-death penalty, and pro-gay rights. His book will appeal most to those looking for a sweeping history of postwar Great Britain and who concur that, with a few exceptions, Britain has changed for the worse since World War II.—Michael Farrell, Reformed Theological Seminary Lib., Oviedo, FL

In tackling the turbulent years of America's early republic, Wood (Alva O. Way Professor of History Emeritus, Brown Univ.; The Radicalism of the American Revolution) brings his considerable talents to a series that has already produced three Pulitzer Prize winners. Wood's outstandingly eloquent and cerebral analysis commences in the aftermath of the contentious ratification of the U.S. Constitution, a time when republican ideals, from classical virtue to "disinterestedness," remained the principal animating force in the political life of the fledgling republic. Wood sees the initial optimism quickly dashed in the fiery confrontation between the Hamiltonian Federalists seeking to establish an energetic national government and the Jeffersonian Republicans and their "Empire of Liberty." Skillfully traversing seminal topics such as slavery, westward expansion, social leveling, diplomacy, evangelicalism, the arts and sciences, and the transformation of the American legal system, Wood's authoritative and compelling narrative presents a picture of early Americans engaged in pursuit of cultural, social, and economic self-discovery. Most distinctively, Wood avoids the mere celebratory retelling of big events such as the Louisiana Purchase, instead conveying the currents and contours of the era as a whole. VERDICT Wood has provided academics and general readers alike with a brilliant, definitive, and thought-provoking historical synthesis; sure to become indispensable to any study of the era.—Brian Odom, Pelham P.L., AL

Series guest editor Toobin (staff writer, The New Yorker; The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court) here brings together his selection of the year's best articles on crime and criminals, the eighth annual compilation. As editor, he maintains the high quality for which the series is known. The subjects are diverse: lighthearted stories of cons and shoplifters are interspersed with horrific political killings, domestic disputes turned deadly, and the grisly story of the trade in human body parts. The murders covered in these pieces are both famous (Robert A Hawkins, the Nebraska Christmas gunman) and obscure (the senseless murder of Thien Minh Ly by Gunner Lindberg), recent (hedge-fund manager Seth Tobias) and historical (JFK). Fascinating as the criminals are, the best articles are about the crime stoppers. In "Mr. Non-Lethal Weapons," Sid Heal examines the difficulty of stopping a criminal without using deadly force. And "American Murder Mystery" documents the depressing failure of one of the most celebrated urban antipoverty programs. VERDICT With consistently interesting content and beautiful writing, this collection will be devoured by fans of true crime and narrative nonfiction. Highly recommended.—Deirdre Bray Root, Middletown P.L., OH

Justice Anthony Kennedy has been a controversial swing vote since his appointment to the Supreme Court in 1987. Critics have called his approach to judicial decision making inconsistent, undefined, and confused. Colucci (political science, Purdue Univ. Calumet) takes a deeper look at Justice Kennedy's decision-making process, examining his opinions on issues such as free speech, affirmative action, and governmental power. Colucci believes that all of Kennedy's opinions reflect his absolute belief in personal liberty. For instance, in the majority opinion for Lawrence v. Texas, which struck down a Texas antisodomy law and is considered a landmark in gay rights, Kennedy wrote that "liberty presumes an autonomy of self that includes freedom of thought, belief, expression and certain intimate conduct." In Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992) he wrote that "our obligation is to define the liberty of all, not mandate our own moral code." The author argues that Kennedy's "judicial flexibility" in the interest of liberty may draw criticism but that it is an asset to the Court. VERDICT Recommended especially for law and academic libraries, this work will appeal to those interested in legal theory but will be hard going for many general readers. [The reviewer is no relation to Justice Kennedy.—Ed.]—Becky Kennedy, Atlanta-Fulton P.L.

In secret, often late-night sessions, Pulitzer Prize winner Branch (America in the King Years) met with Bill Clinton almost 80 times during his presidency to tape record Clinton's ruminations across a variety of topics. The author would direct the discussions by asking poignant questions and would follow up by recording his own take on the conversations. Branch now presents the results of this collaboration (with Clinton also having used his recorded thoughts for his own memoir, My Life). Covered here, in what the author acknowledges is neither history nor autobiography, are all the major topics—e.g., foreign policy, NAFTA, sex scandals, and Whitewater—along with many personal and political anecdotes. Branch excellently captures Clinton's emotions, notably frustration with speaker of the house Newt Gingrich and the Republican Congress, and anger over his impeachment and with the media's emphasizing the salacious details of the Paula Jones and Monica Lewinsky matters. Especially revealing is Clinton's speaking of a bitter argument with Vice President Al Gore over the reasons Gore lost the 2000 election. VERDICT Branch's lucid writing and keen interviewing skills keep this book from being a disjointed series of ramblings. The unique format of presidential recollections and the author's follow-up form a narrative that will fascinate informed readers and American presidency scholars. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 1/09.]—Karl Helicher, Upper Merion Twp. Lib., King of Prussia, PA

Ratnesar (deputy managing editor, Time) captures the full historical context and bricks-and-mortar development of Ronald Reagan's memorable yet controversial1987 speech at the Berlin Wall. His presentation of the recollections of residents of East and West Berlin at the time vividly show how controlling the East German Communist government and its secret police were in monitoring East Germans and trying (yet often failing) to shield them from Western political and cultural influence. Ratnesar does a very good job of exploring Reagan's life, showing how the Berlin speech integrated Reagan's personal beliefs and public persona. The author gives due credit to the speechwriters, particularly Peter Robinson. Ratnesar's portrayal of Gorbachev is also first rate. This book, in effect, builds on James Mann's insightful The Rebellion of Ronald Reagan in showing why Reagan's Berlin speech is seen as historically significant. VERDICT This book may be read with pleasure by many, from trained historians to curious general readers. Generally objective in its approach, it will yet lead readers to understand why Reagan is remembered fondly by many and why both he and Gorbachev were key figures in this significant element of 20th-century history.—Rob Langenderfer, Brown Mackie Coll. Lib. Ft. Mitchell, KY

The recruitment of upper-crust young Englishmen (the "Cambridge Spy Ring") and their subsequent penetration of British intelligence is perhaps the best-known espionage feat of the Soviets against the United Kingdom, with five agents operating at the heart of Whitehall. As a companion to their previous collaboration, The Crown Jewels: The British Secrets at the Heart of the KGB Archives, West and Tsarev, a retired KGB officer, here collect the reports sent to Moscow during World War II, later retrieved from the Russian archives. The bulk of these were sent by former journalist Kim Philby, the most skilled of the bunch. There are interesting details about British contacts in foreign embassies, the organization of the Secret Intelligence Service, and London's valid concerns with extensive Soviet espionage in the U.K. While the outlines of many events are well known, here one can find documentary evidence of the betrayals that led to loss of life and the frustration of British efforts to spy on the USSR. There is a list of abbreviations but no bibliography, chronology, or photographs. VERDICT Of interest to specialists and for historical espionage collections in academic libraries and ideally to be read in conjunction with The Crown Jewels. (Index not seen.)—Daniel K. Blewett, Coll. of DuPage Lib., Glen Ellyn, IL

Poet Lemon (Mosquito; Hallelujah Blackout) packs the poignant wallop of a sprawling Dickensian novel with his taut, speedy memoir. As a freshman at Macalester College in Northfield, MN, in 1997, he begins experiencing nystagmus (jumping vision) and poor balance—symptoms that lead to the diagnosis of an aneurysm. Lucky for Lemon, the bleeding stops, but he must take care not to agitate the lesion in the delicate pons area of his brain. Translation: no partying, no sex, which he does in excess to deny a condition that hinders his baseball career and rouses unresolved feelings about his sexual abuse by a cousin. Readers will bite down nails and knuckles waiting for another inevitable health emergency. It comes, along with the beyond-risky decision to have the lesion removed. VERDICT This story of self-acceptance and the power of love maternal enraptures with its singular language. Lemon turns out strange and beautiful metaphors, and his dialog perfectly conjures the hip-hop-inflected speech of white suburban kids on their liberal arts idyll. For anyone who loves a great story, period. [Previewed in Prepub Alert & Editors' Fall Picks, LJ 9/1/09.]—Heather McCormack, Library Journal

In this era of diminishing resources and calls for reform, combat-related mental illness appears to be increasing. As cited here, 30 percent of returning veterans show signs of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or traumatic brain injury (TBI), and suicides among veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq increased dramatically in 2007. Montgomery, a Vietnam-era veteran and experienced practitioner in crisis intervention and addiction therapy, presents true stories of vets in crisis, including callers to the National Veterans Suicide Crisis Hotline. These vets have participated in wars ranging from the Korean to the Middle East conflicts, and the specific problems of women are also covered. The author notes warning signs, suggests helping strategies, and presents his own novel approach: a "heart-to-heart resuscitation" model relying on psychological theories of emotional communication and incorporating the strengths of the military's traditional "buddy system." Explanatory information about combat-related trauma and useful resource materials and contacts are provided. VERDICT This straightforward yet intense call to action by a committed advocate for change in the VA health-care system is timely and recommended for vets and others.—Antoinette Brinkman, M.L.S., Evansville, IN

As Roberts (My Fathers' Houses) recognizes, no single story—or even collection of stories—can tell a reader the entire immigrant experience. The 13 families highlighted in this book, however, voice a diverse group of immigrant experiences, which will be enlightening for readers who want to learn more about the human side of what is often a highly polarizing issue. Their stories range from an escape from Vietnam to a choice to attend graduate school in the United States. Each family's account is fairly short, contributing to the book's readability but at the same time requiring Roberts to summarize years of people's lives and at times simplify the complex histories of their countries of origin. Numerous rich quotes from each family allow them to speak for themselves, and their inclusion is one of the highlights of the book. VERDICT This will appeal to general readers, particularly those who enjoy family histories, biographies, and memoirs as well as anyone interested in immigration.—Madeline Mundt, Univ. of Nevada, Reno Libs.

Savacool (articles director, Fitness magazine) has written a breezy exploration of the search for the ideal female body, examining the lengths to which women worldwide will go to achieve one. Unfortunately, many of her arguments are problematic; the book is at times contradictory (particularly in Savacool's readings of globalization), and it contains numerous claims with little backing or with selective readings of supporting texts. Rejecting the notion of a male-dominated system that dictates standards of female beauty without providing any cogent alternatives, Savacool merely trades the concept of an ideal body reached through dieting and plastic surgery for one achieved through exercise and fitness. VERDICT While there are some attention-grabbing examinations of beauty around the world, and while this is certainly a topic of interest to many readers, Savacool often adopts the language of the multibillion-dollar beauty industry to claim that striving for the body ideal through devotion to fitness is, in the 21st century, about empowerment rather than consumerism. (Endnotes and index not seen.) Optional.—Julie Biando Edwards, Univ. of Montana Lib., Missoula

This splendid, timely history and apologia corrects any misplaced nostalgia for a simpler, thriftier age. Business journalist Weber demonstrates that, from the Puritan settlers to today's economic stimulus measures, America has endured continual cycles of thrift and consumption, an endless battle for behavioral dominance between saving and spending. Among expected topics (wars, the Great Depression, industrial advances, and the explosion of consumer credit), she makes interesting forays into the origins of savings banks, the field of home economics, and the checkered history of National Thrift Week. The final third of the book includes a macroeconomic argument for increased savings and a collection of chapters on the voluntary simplicity and freegan movements, the psychology of frugality, and suggestions for learning the art of thrift. While this may seem a bit of a mishmash, the book is thematically consistent and convincing. VERDICT Weber manages, with panache, to combine a socioeconomic historical exploration that is readable and fun for the lay reader and a thoughtful defense of frugality that doesn't succumb to preachiness. For a sobering, supply-side view of the consumerist conundrum, pair this with Ellen Ruppel Shell's differently themed Cheap: The High Cost of Discount Culture.—Janet Ingraham Dwyer, Worthington Libs., OH