Reference Reviews, November 1, 2010
Nov 1, 2010Atlases
Hayes, Derek. Historical Atlas of the North American Railroad. Univ. of California. 2010. c.224p. illus. maps. index. ISBN 9780520266162. $39.95. REF
Consider this another spectacular atlas from accomplished geographer Hayes, author of a number of historical works, including these recently published by the University of California Press: Historical Atlas of the United States (2006), Historical Atlas of California (2007), and Historical Atlas of the American West (2009)—the LJ review for the latter notes that “among the most interesting [maps] are those that were part of promotionals produced by the regional railroads and real estate interests to entice easterners to go west.” Hayes has now assembled nearly 400 similar maps, beautifully reproduced in full color, that trace the development of railroads in the United States and Canada from their local and regional beginnings in the early 19th century, through their heyday in the early and mid-20th century, to the era of mergers for survival as the century drew to a close. They provide the primary-source documentation, along with other illustrations, for the historical narrative written for general readers. In addition to extensive captions, there is a “Map Catalog” that lists all the maps with their sources and accession numbers when applicable. BOTTOM LINE Similar in scope is Bill Yenne’s Atlas of North American Railroads (MBI, 2005), while John Westwood’s The Historical Atlas of World Railroads (Firefly Books, 2009) expands the geographical bounds. Hayes’s latest atlas is a delight—highly recommended for all public and academic libraries, railroad buffs, and map enthusiasts.—Edward K. Werner, St. Lucie Cty. Lib. Syst., Ft. Pierce, FL
Communications
World Press Trends 2010. 21st ed. World Assn. of Newspapers & News Publishers. 2010. 1230p. illus. ISBN 9782918652014. pap. $407; Online: World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers REF
This 21st annual directory and guide provides both narrative and statistical information on 233 countries and territories. Arranged alphabetically by country, the entries offer very brief media market summaries (covering, e.g., general economic situation, ownership, media/press laws, newspaper launches) and statistical information for the last five years (number of readers, cumulative ad revenues, online editions, etc.). In addition, many entries include the most popular daily newspaper websites, top free dailies, and top newspaper advertisers, among other data. Some descriptive information is derived from open-access sources including the CIA World Factbook and the U.S. State Department. Original content includes comparative country statistical charts for daily and nondaily newspapers. Although the Editor and Publisher International Year Book provides some information on specific foreign newspapers, this title presents a much wider view of newspaper trends in different countries along with useful statistical background material. However, the print price tag is exorbitant, and the online database can be purchased only in combination with the paper copy. BOTTOM LINE Recommended specifically for the largest metropolitan public libraries and major academic research libraries with extensive journalism collections. [Regional editions are also available for Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas.—Ed.]—Donald Altschiller, Boston Univ. Libs.
economics
Booms and Busts: An Encyclopedia of Economic History from Tulipmania of the 1630s to the Global Financial Crisis of the 21st Century. 3 vols. Sharpe Reference: M.E. Sharpe. 2010. c.1032p. ed. by James Ciment. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780765682246. $339. REF
This three-volume set covers a broad spectrum of topics relating to the economic cycles known as booms and busts. The encyclopedia is international in scope with an emphasis on the recent U.S. financial crisis and its key players. Topics span approximately 400 years of relevant economic history and schools of thought, and this makes the set useful to those seeking both a practical and a theoretical foundation for examining the economic boom and bust cycle. It’s composed of 364 signed entries presented alphabetically by subject matter, name of entity, or name of individual. The entries run between one and ten pages in length and are well written and clearly presented, though readers should be prepared for varying levels of difficulty of the subject matter and supporting text. Suggestions for further reading via books, articles, and websites follow every entry; a limited glossary is also included (readers will find it necessary to consult the suggested resources for more nuanced explanations of certain concepts). BOTTOM LINE A highly informative work that can serve a significant range of patrons seeking an overview of economic trends like those dominating current events coverage. Recommended for academic and large public libraries.—Jennifer Michaelson, Cleveland
education
Encyclopedia of Curriculum Studies. 2 vols. SAGE. 2010. 1064p. ed. by Craig Kridel. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781412958837. $350; Online: SAGE Reference Online REF
Addressing curriculum development as a fundamental part of pedagogy, this set collects materials from across a variety of disciplines relevant to the support of educational programs. Editor Kridel (E.S. Gambrell Professor of Educational Studies & curator, Museum of Education, Univ. of South Carolina), a frequent writer on education topics, compiles 50 long essays (about 5000 words each), 250 entries (about 1500 words each), and 250 short entries (about 500 words each) from over 200 contributors. The entries are arranged alphabetically across the two volumes. Each volume contains in the front a list of entries and a “Reader’s Guide” to assist readers in locating articles on related topics by classifying entries into ten topical areas, such as “Content Descriptions,” “Inquiry and Research,” and “Theoretical Perspectives.” Entries are cross-referenced and offer a list of further readings. The set concludes with an appendix addressing fundamental curriculum questions by Timothy Leonard (education, emeritus, Saint Xavier Univ.) and Peter M. Hilton (education, Saint Xavier Univ.), as well as an index. BOTTOM LINE The entries cover common topics, written works, theories, events, and persons in curriculum studies in a concise, readable manner. This work provides a good encyclopedic approach to a newer discipline and will be useful for institutions offering programs in education.—Samantha Schmehl Hines, Univ. of Montana Lib., Missoula
Health & Medicine
The Ultimate Medical Encyclopedia: Understanding, Preventing, and Treating Medical Conditions. Firefly. 2010. 608p. ed. by Martine Podesto. illus. index. ISBN 9781554077311. $49.95. REF
This lively illustrated title aims to be a visual knowledge base for people looking for quick answers to medical questions. Podesto, who has been writing and editing reference books for over 15 years, has organized the contents into 20 themes that each correspond to a mechanism or system in the human body. The themes are then divided into subthemes followed by subjects about anatomy, physiology, and related diseases. The book begins with a chapter on the prevention of disease through exercise or visiting a doctor. Following is an overview of anatomy, then a discussion of the role of cells in the body and disease. In addition to the themes organized by system, there are sections dealing with childhood and adolescence, alternative medicine, and first aid. Footnotes located throughout refer to other sections for additional information. The encyclopedia concludes with a directory of symptoms divided into nine sections, a glossary, and a page of URLs for and details on emergency and support resources, government organizations, and general information. This encyclopedia will appeal to readers of all ages because of its colorful layout of more than 1000 photos and lifelike illustrations. Yet, unlike other reference titles, it does not list references or recommendations for further reading. BOTTOM LINE This will serve best as an introductory resource, especially for those who need images. A more comprehensive purchase would be the Mayo Clinic Family Health Book (4th ed. 2009). Podesto’s book is recommended for public and consumer health libraries.—Rebecca Raszewski, Univ. of Illinois at Chicago Lib.
Law & Crime
U.S. Court Cases. 2d ed. 3 vols. Salem. (Magill’s Choice). 2010. 1020p. ed. by Thomas Tandy Lewis. illus. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781587656729. $225. REF
Shedding light on U.S. court decisions, this set of 700 signed essays has been compiled to make important federal and state court cases readily accessible to students, teachers, and other readers. Eleven informative introductory essays present a basic but incomplete review of the judicial system. For example, the selection on Anglo-American legal systems discusses Anglo-American, Roman, and common law but fails to mention the Napoleonic Code, fundamental to Louisiana’s legal system; the underscore in a slip-opinion citation is incorrectly described as the as-yet-unassigned volume number (it should be page number, not volume). Signed essays and case reviews range from 11 pages (Roe v. Wade) to one page (Kansas v. Hendricks). Since this is part of the “Magill’s Choice” series, many of the cases have been reprinted from previously published titles; editor Lewis (history, St. Cloud State Univ.) also edited The U.S. Supreme Court (2007), among other titles for Salem Press. A few essays have their own bibliographies. Particularly helpful appendixes include a comprehensive bibliography, a list of the Supreme Court justices (Elena Kagan, mentioned in the entry on John Paul Stevens, does not have her own entry), a case time line, and a categorized list of entries. The glossary is brief and extremely selective (“codification” does not appear in the glossary). BOTTOM LINE This volume presents a cursory view of information available elsewhere, though appendixes provide valuable information that would otherwise require some digging to locate. May be useful for those public libraries in need of basic legal system material. Purchase where needed.—Laurie Selwyn, formerly with Grayson Cty. Law Lib., Sherman, TX
Sciences
American Astronautical Society. Space Exploration and Humanity: A Historical Encyclopedia. 2 vols. ABC-CLIO. 2010. c.845p. ed. by Stephen B. Johnson. illus. index. ISBN 9781851095148. $180; Online: ABC-CLIO eBook Collection REF
This encyclopedia, billed as a work of space history, contains prefatory material that stresses the titular word humanity, emphasizing the political, social, cultural, and economic aspects that space flight entails. Some unusual topics are covered, such as “Burial Services” (Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry’s ashes are in orbit), “Space Art,” “Space Music,” and a host of other subjects. Also present are more expected entries on, e.g., artificial satellites, manned space missions, and space agencies. Articles are alphabetically arranged under six broad categories: “Astrophysics and Planetary Science,” “Civilian and Commercial Space Applications,” “Human Spaceflight and Microgravity Science,” “Military Applications,” “Space and Society,” and “Technology and Engineering.” Special features like tables, chronologies, and biographical sketches abound, and the volume is illustrated throughout with monochrome photos. Published under the auspices of the History Committee of the American Astronautical Society, this is a solid work of scholarship compiled by Johnson (National Inst. for Science, Space, and Security Ctrs., Univ. of Colorado) and his crew of space historians and experts. The editorial team went to great lengths to describe their process of enlisting contributors, fact checking, ensuring accuracy, and so forth, in a dedicated section. BOTTOM LINE While there is a fair amount of overlap between this work and the recently reviewed Spaceflight: A Historical Encyclopedia (3 vols., Greenwood), Johnson examines social aspects of voyages to other worlds, whereas Spaceflight focuses on technical/scientific details. Not a question of either/or, but both, if budgets allow, as these twin sets are highly recommended for all public and academic libraries.—Michael F. Bemis, Washington Cty. Lib., Woodbury, MN
social sciences
The New Encyclopedia of Southern Culture. Vol. 15: Urbanization. 2010. 288p. ed. by Wanda Rushing. maps. ISBN 9780807833704; pap. ISBN 9780807871393. REF
The New Encyclopedia of Southern Culture. Vol. 16: Sports & Recreation. Jan. 2011. c.368p. ed. by Harvey H. Jackson III. ISBN 9780807834411; pap. ISBN 9780807871737. ea. vol: Univ. of North Carolina. illus. bibliog. index. $45; pap. $22.95. REF
The myth and the reality of the South in literature, environmental, and geographic landscape reflect the American story. In 1989, the Encyclopedia of Southern Culture (ESC) was released to widespread acclaim. The New Encyclopedia of Southern Culture, sponsored by the Center for Study of Southern Culture at the University of Mississippi, builds on the 24 subjects of the original ESC with stand-alone volumes. The volume editors are respected figures with expertise and a network of scholars, and series editor Charles Reagan Wilson (director, Ctr. for the Study of Southern Culture) coedited, with William Ferris, the original ESC. Volume 15, Urbanization, is an authoritative reference to the rapid pace of change in the American South from the 18th century to the present. In 48 thematic essays, the urban South, immigration, white flight, and the global rise of CNN and FedEx show growth and population changes. Important issues such as gentrification and urban sprawl are addressed, as are 31 topical entries on individual cities, Mardi Gras, Dollywood, and more. This New South includes Hispanic workers, Asian and Middle Eastern religions, and dirty South hip-hop, far removed from the cotton field Southern plantation life. A fisherman holding a largemouth bass graces the cover of Volume 16, Sports & Recreation, which has 74 alphabetically organized thematic essays on the essential sports (college football, NASCAR, baseball) and recreations (Civil War reenactments, debutantes, golf, juke joints). Professional sports were slower to come to the South but led to modern mass-culture teams like the Atlanta Braves and Dallas Cowboys. Seventy-eight topical entries enhance the breadth of the volume. BOTTOM LINE The inexpensive paperback versions of these volumes fit most reference budgets. Recommended for all reference collections in the Southern region and for colleges with strong sports communication programs.—Laverne Mann, Piscataway P.L., NJ
Natural History Up Close
Marren, Peter & Richard Mabey. Bugs Britannica. Chatto & Windus: Random UK, dist. by Trafalgar Square. Dec. 2010. 512p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780701181802. $49.95.
Natural History: The Ultimate Visual Guide to Everything on Earth. DK. 2010. 648p. illus. maps. index. ISBN 9780756667528. $50. REF
Magnificent and intriguing photographs and illustrations put these titles on par with works of art and not just coffee-table art. Natural History was produced by Smithsonian scholars and other experts to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. This is an international encyclopedia of life-forms—e.g., fossils, fungi, plants, animals, mammals—that includes vital facts and two to three sentences about each as well as more than 5000 color illustrations in all. Each grouping is introduced by an essay that puts it in biological and evolutionary perspective. The initial introduction considers life on Earth, including basic principles of evolution, cladogram principles, and a large “Tree of Life.” Invertebrates are given 65 pages in the Smithsonian volume, but take up the whole of Bugs Britannica’s 500-plus pages. Even so, the volume considers just a portion of the 40,000 British species lacking a backbone: spiders, snails, worms, crabs, starfish, butterflies, and more. The arrangement is evolutionary order by common name; Latin names are in an appendix, and alternate forms of the common name are listed, as for instance, the penis worm. As with the preceding volumes in this series—Birds Britannica (2005) and Flora Britannica (1996), also coauthored by Mabey, “Britain’s greatest living nature writer”—this is a quality product. Pictures are wonderful and intriguing, Marren’s (Britain’s Rare Flowers) writing is grand, and the paper is fine. There is another dimension here, too, documenting what we imagine and believe about invertebrates as illustrated by art, folklore, stories, literature, poetry, and advertising. For example, Botticelli’s Birth of Venus illustrates the scallop shell, a 1900 ad for tapeworms touts their value for dieting, and a malaria awareness poster accompanies the mosquito article. These make the book fun to sit down with and simply page through. BOTTOM LINE Both books are gorgeous, fun, and so inexpensive it seems the publishers are prepared to lose money on each copy. Each page brings together illustration and develops information much better than a computer screen. Though Bugs is British, most of the species are also found in the United States. Everyone with eyesight, from children through scholars, will find something to enjoy. Buy with your allowance if you have to.—Janice Dunham, John Jay Coll. Lib., CUNY
REFERENCE SHORT TAKES
By Savannah Schroll Guz, formerly with Smithsonian Lib., Washington, DC
Answer Book: Fast Facts About Our World. National Geographic. 2010. 448p. illus. maps. index. ISBN 9781426203459. $40. REF
Visually appealing and tremendous in scope, this book surveys life on Earth through a series of thematically organized questions and answers. In the foreword, NASA astronaut Kathryn Thornton sets the prevailing tone as she describes Earth’s incredible vitality, witnessed during her first Hubble Space Telescope service mission. Nine subsequent chapters, to which five field specialists have contributed, move from the wider universe through human history and into science, technology, and political geography. Each double-page spread poses a question and provides a highly engaging answer, a hyperlink to supplementary reading, and a fast-fact sidebar. Over 600 stunning photographs and illustrations further enhance its didactic power.
Encyclopedia of American Gospel Music. 2d ed. Routledge: Taylor & Francis Group. 2010. 488p. ed. by W.K. McNeil. discog. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780415875691. pap. $54.95. REF
This revision of the first edition—which was published in 2005, the year of McNeil’s (Southern Folk Ballads) death—has been fully updated under the supervision of an editorial advisory board. The new edition includes the scholarship of 61 field specialists and incorporates profile updates and field developments. Organized alphabetically by surname, title, or term, the entries cover the principal figures, groups, songbooks, publications, companies, and broadcasting outlets that determined the industry’s course. Running multiple paragraphs or, occasionally, multiple pages, the entries are signed by a single contributor and close with a further reading list and discography. Still the definitive, wide-angle quick reference for American gospel history.
First Encounters: Native Voices on the Coming of the Europeans. Greenwood. 2010. 268p. ed. by Howard B. Leavitt. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780313351310. $85. REF
In this landmark anthology of critical essays and first-person narratives, Leavitt (Issues and Problems in Teacher Education) amplifies the often silenced voices of indigenous cultures around the globe, thus balancing the standard historical accounts of conquering forces and cultural majorities. The book is divided into five parts, covering various regions in Africa, North America, South America, Australia, and Asia. Each essay opens with editor’s notes, offering details about the essay author and the original publication context. Every geographic segment closes with a first encounter chronology. An absolutely essential volume for world literature, history, and cultural studies collections.
Gray, John. From Vodou to Zouk: A Bibliographic Guide to Music of the French-Speaking Caribbean and Its Diaspora. African Diaspora Pr. (Black Music Reference, Vol. 1). 2010. 204p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780984413409. $79.95. REF
Caribbean music scholarship has long been divided by language, with less attention paid to works produced on French-speaking islands like Guadeloupe, French Guiana, and Martinique. However, Gray’s (Blacks in Classical Music) 1200-entry bibliography reveals an expansion of such scholarship and growing consideration of diasporic contact. Divided into four thematic segments, the consecutively numbered bibliography lists works discussing French or Creole religious and secular music. Each segment is further divided by region and then source type, including books, articles, and documentary multimedia. While source categories are initially difficult to navigate, the book will prove an indispensable, in-hand reference to current French Caribbean music scholarship.
Maltin, Leonard. Leonard Maltin’s 2011 Movie Guide. 31st ed. Plume: Penguin Group (USA). 2010. 1646p. index. ISBN 9780452296268. pap. $20. REF
In this annually published, newly updated reference, renowned critic and Entertainment Tonight regular Maltin offers 17,000 summary movie reviews, with 300 new entries. Also included are more than 25,000 combined DVD and video listings. Happily, less commercially familiar works, like foreign films, indies, and cult classics, are given equal billing. Rated on a star system, including a category for “bomb,” paragraph-long reviews contain actor listings and concise narrative synopses, along with incisive critical considerations. A highly useful, quick reference for film studies and general collections.
The Politics of Sexuality: A Documentary and Reference Guide. Greenwood. 2010. 292p. ed. by Raymond A. Smith. photogs. index. ISBN 9780313346842. $95. REF
Divided into six thematic chapters, including “Women’s Equality” and “Changing Definitions of Marriage,” this guide offers a rich array of primary-source documents on politicized sexuality. Yet while Smith (coauthor, Gay and Lesbian Americans and Political Participation) provides direct transcriptions and testimonials, the book’s sweeping topic inclusion—which gathers up, side by side, subjects as loaded and disparate as abortion and transgender identity—appears to advance tacitly the notion that there is a direct correlation between women’s rights and same-sex marriage, based on historical precedents like suffrage and equal pay. While this flattens each issue’s complexities and may arch eyebrows, it is still an interesting collection of primary documents.
Staten, Clifford L. The History of Nicaragua. Greenwood. (Histories of the Modern Nations). 2010. 180p. illus. index. ISBN 9780313360374. $49.95. REF
Staten (The History of Cuba) opens this indispensable guide with a chronology of Nicaraguan history and follows with six chapters expanding on these historical details, from precolonization through the revolution and into its democratic present. Other chapter essays beautifully illuminate the country and its people, while still another segment profiles notable Nicaraguan figures. In lieu of a standard bibliography, a bibliographical essay—spatially condensed and consequently somewhat less accessible—details further reading titles. This represents a meticulous, more historically focused update to and broadening of Hazel Plunkett’s 2001 Nicaragua in Focus (2d ed.) and will prove a vital resource to Mesoamerican scholarship.
Wood, Rebecca (text) & Peggy Markel (illus.). The New Whole Foods Encyclopedia: A Comprehensive Resource for Healthy Eating. 3d ed. Penguin. 2010. 450p. illus. index. ISBN 9780143117438. pap. $20. REF
A revision to the 1998 second edition, this delightful foodstuff field guide includes the most updated information on the nutritional value, curative influence, and general lore associated with natural foods like gooseberries, lotus root, and seaweed. It is important to note that this is not a cookbook but a nutritional reference, complementing Paul Pitchford’s essay-style Healing with Whole Foods. Entries run several paragraphs in length and include helpful subheadings concerning use, purchase and foraging hints, storage tips, purported medicinal benefits, and the occasional “Be Mindful” section. Wood (The Splendid Grain) also offers insightful, humorously frank sidebars detailing the pitfalls or forgotten benefits of particular ingredients.—Savannah Schroll Guz, formerly with Smithsonian Lib., Washington, DC
