Social Science
Dec 15, 2010BIOGRAPHY
Brady, Sally Ryder. A Box of Darkness: The Story of a Marriage. St. Martin’s. Feb. 2011. c.256p. photogs. ISBN 9780312654160. $23.99. AUTOBIOG
Although her husband admitted he had sex with a male friend, it was not until finding a stash of gay porn after his death in 2008 that Brady (as Ryder Brady, Instar: A Novel) could face the realization that he was probably gay. This memoir is her attempt to understand her tumultuous marriage to Upton Brady, who became editor in chief at the Atlantic Monthly Press. Despite his alcoholism and controlling behavior, Sally admired his wit and skills in dressmaking, singing, and dancing, ignoring that they were stereotypical signs of homosexuality. She briefly considered divorce, but her financial dependence and desire to keep her family together drove her to stay with him. After Upton’s long illness, rehab, and therapy and Sally’s success as a writer, the Bradys seemed to have settled into a middle-aged companionate marriage. Although younger generations might not understand how this marriage could have survived, the author provides a vivid context: New England Catholicism, a Harvard education, the conservative 1950s, and career pressure all led Upton to believe that he could not survive without his wife. VERDICT Highly recommended, especially for fans of memoir and LGBT literature.—Kathryn Stewart, American Folklife Ctr., Washing ton, DC
Dennison, Matthew. Livia, Empress of Rome: A Biography. St. Martin’s. Jan. 2011. c.336p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780312658649. $27.99. BIOG
In his own words, Dennison (The Last Princess: The Devoted Life of Queen Victoria’s Youngest Daughter) did not seek out “undiscovered fragments, lost inscriptions or unknown papyri” for this biography, but he used the biased ancient texts and scholarly sources to compile a fuller portrait. Both vilified and deified, Livia (58 B.C.E.–29 C.E.)—wife of the Emperor Augustus and the mother of his successor, her son from her first marriage, Tiberius—was blamed by detractors for the deaths of those who would have inherited before Tiberius, though she was often hundreds of miles away when the supposed victims died. Livia presented a public persona of the virtuous Roman matron, which allowed her to accomplish significant goals by sidestepping the appearance of personal motivation within the masculine sphere of official activities. Readers are not left wondering at Dennison’s own opinion: he describes Livia as something of a prodigy. VERDICT Dense with research, this book is at times difficult to wade through, yet the richness of detail gives readers a solid foothold for understanding the complex traditions, customs, and politics of the era. Perhaps not accessible to casual readers, but academics and aficionados of Roman history, social history, women’s history, or biography will enjoy the wealth of information.—Crystal Goldman, San Jose State Univ. Lib., CA
Firstbrook, Peter. The Obamas: The Untold Story of an African Family. Crown. Jan. 2011. c.336p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780307591401. $26. GENEALOGY
Combining oral and academic history, former BBC documentarian Firstbrook (Lost on Everest) spins a story that traces President Obama’s Kenyan roots to the Luo tribe—a proud, polygamous people reputed for their high intelligence—who came to Kenya via Uganda from southern Sudan over 500 years ago. Seeking to delve far deeper than the President’s autobiography Dreams from My Father, Firstbrook traces Barack Obama’s paternal lineage back several generations—set against the backdrop of the social and political climate of Kenya, from British colonial rule to the struggle for independence. Therefore, the emphasis here is not on President Obama himself, about whom there are few new insights. There is much Kenyan history integrated into this genealogical study, which readers may find both fascinating and frustrating, as it can overshadow the information on the Obamas themselves. VERDICT Genealogy and Obama enthusiasts and students of African studies and global political history will find plenty to dissect and discuss in this book. [See Q&A with Firstbrook in BookSmack!, 10/21/10.—Ed.]—Tamela Chambers, Chicago Public Schs.
Greider, Katharine. The Archaeology of Home: An Epic Set in 1000 Square Feet of the Lower East Side. PublicAffairs: Perseus. Mar. 2011. c.352p. ISBN 9781586487126. $26.95. AUTOBIOG
Losing one’s home is at the heart of Greider’s book, but in this case, it’s not about a foreclosure. The home in question here was a historic building on Manhattan’s Lower East Side that faced physical collapse, thus forcing the author’s family and other residents to flee. Using her impressive skills as a freelance journalist, Greider has created an extraordinary narrative that brings together a chronology of events, a provenance of the once-tenement building, and even a personal memoir. In addition, she has compiled a fascinating chronicle of the previous residents, mostly newly arrived immigrants looking for a “better life in America.” Her sleuthing of public records shows how the building had evolved over the 150 years of its existence, even determining what caused its ultimate doom. VERDICT Well written and thoroughly researched, this sobering tale should resonate with many readers of our time who have also lost their homes, leaving them asking, “How could this happen to me?” While the book will certainly interest urban historians, it will appeal even more to home owners wanting clues about how to research the past of their own homes. Recommended.—Richard Drezen, Brooklyn, NY
Robinson, Peter. Ronald Reagan: A Life in Photographs. Sterling. Feb. 2011. 224p. photogs. ISBN 9781402780578. $24.95. BIOG
This large-format book is intended to showcase the life and career of the 40th President of the United States. The photographs dominate, with text and captions by former Reagan speechwriter and special assistant Robinson (fellow, Hoover Inst., Stanford Univ.; It’s My Party: A Republican’s Messy Love Affair with the GOP). Included here are six of Reagan’s speeches, mostly from his presidency, while the photographs go back to his childhood and cover his athletic youth and his Hollywood career, both of his marriages, and his full life in politics. A foreword by Newt and Callista Gingrich paints a glowing portrait, reinforcing that this book is a celebration of its subject rather than an objective popular photo-biography. A related photographic work is Pete Souza’s Unguarded Moments: Behind-the-Scenes Photographs of President Ronald Reagan (1993).VERDICT This book would be a good choice for many school and public libraries, but it is not for advanced students of Reagan and his presidency.—Danielle Fischer, C.W. Post–Long Island Univ., Brookville, NY
COMMUNICATIONS
Bad News: How America’s Business Press Missed the Story of the Century. New Pr., dist. by Perseus. Feb. 2011. c.240p. ed. by Anya Schiffrin. ISBN 9781595585493. $24.95. COMM
As Americans continue to struggle with the current recession, analysts are working to figure out how the economic crisis caught us by surprise. This collection of essays by leading media scholars and journalists examines how the business press mostly missed the coming of the crisis and explores how the media covered the recession as it progressed. Editor Schiffrin (director, media & communications program, Columbia Univ.) and Nobel Prize–winning economist Joseph Stiglitz open the volume with pieces that provide an analytical framework for understanding business journalism. After addressing what caused the failure—from conflicts of interest to lack of economics expertise to a shortage of reporters—the collection highlights some of the coverage that took place and closes with recommendations for strengthening the watchdog function of the press in covering issues of economics. VERDICT While there is some overlap, these well-written pieces provide a good overview of the challenges of covering business and economic news. The collection both critically examines the recent performance of the press and offers suggestions for improving coverage. Of interest to journalists and academics.—Judy Solberg, Seattle Univ. Lib.
ECONOMICS
Adams, Laura D. Money Girl’s Smart Moves To Grow Rich. Griffin: St. Martin’s. Jan. 2011. c.272p. ISBN 9780312662622. pap. $14.99. BUS
Adams, host of the popular Money Girl podcasts, neatly packages many of her quick and dirty personal finance tips into a comprehensive philosophy and financial plan. She offers fairly standard advice for getting your finances in order, beginning with understanding your money mind-set and creating a financial plan. Adams is big on using online tools for managing finances and cutting costs. While many readers will naturally gravitate toward this, it may not work for old-schoolers. And the time and effort to set up a nearly exclusively online personal money-management system may be a turnoff to paper-and-pencil pundits. But she also highlights websites offering free advice and resources like calculators, password managers, and budgeting tools. Her basic suggestions are sound on finding the best banking accounts, dealing with debt, and understanding basic investing principles, tax concepts, and how best to pay for education and prepare for retirement. VERDICT Though not likely to supplant Suze Orman as the personal finance diva, Adams holds her own—and her advice applies equally to men. This will appeal to neophytes looking to take charge of their financial futures.— Carol J. Elsen, Univ. of Wisconsin–Whitewater
Draper, William H., III. The Startup Game: Inside the Partnership Between Venture Capitalists and Entrepreneurs. Palgrave Macmillan. Jan. 2011. c.272p. ISBN 9780230104860. $28. BUS
Draper (founder, Sutter Hill Ventures) recounts the ups and downs of three generations of his venture capitalist family; their failure to become investors in a fledgling Yahoo!, and their success in growing an $8 million investment in the Chinese dot-com Baidu into $8 billion. The author offers distilled wisdom in the form of lists like “The Top Ten Avoidable Mistakes of Entrepreneurs” while telling the story of his Yale and Harvard education, Korean War service, and leading the Export-Import Bank of the United States and the United Nations Development Program. Draper includes the fascinating experience of being a high-level fly on the wall at the beginning of the Berlin Airlift and extols the virtues of social entrepreneurship while detailing his commitment to philanthropy by way of the Draper Richards Foundation. VERDICT Though mostly a how-to manual for venture capitalists and entrepreneurs, the book contains enough intimate reflection and engaging anecdote to make its practical business advice and Silicon Valley insider history appeal to a wide variety of readers.—Steve Wilson, Dayton Metro Lib.
Hartung, William. Prophets of War: Lockheed Martin and the Making of the Military- Industrial Complex. Nation: Perseus. Jan. 2011. c.304p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781568584201. $25.95. BUS
The history of defense contractor Lockheed Martin begins in 1916 with brothers Allan and Malcolm Loughead, who later changed their name and the company’s to Lockheed to avoid pronunciation confusion. What initially began as a San Francisco charter service ultimately grew into America’s largest military contractor. Hartung (director, Arms & Security Initiative, New America Fdn.; And Weapons for All) delves deeply into the company’s story, with each of the ten chapters covering a significant period in Lockheed Martin’s history, including the C-5A scandal, its merger with Martin Marietta, and the controversial 1971 bailout with a $250 million government loan. VERDICT This book is all action and provides a compelling mix of politics, business, and technology. While Hartung’s exposé focuses mainly on the interactions between business and politics, especially in the areas of lobbying and bribery, he does discuss some of the technologies Lockheed created over the years.—Elizabeth Nelson, UOP Lib., Des Plaines, IL
Kaufman, Josh. The Personal MBA: Master the Art of Business. Portfolio. Jan. 2011. c.402p. index. ISBN 9781591843528. $27.95. BUS
The conceit of this book is that the highly condensed information within will supplant a formal MBA program. To the contrary, it is best suited as a primer for those considering a business degree. With 226 single-page entries covering everything from profit margin to counterparty risk, this book reads like a wordy page-a-day calendar. A reader who stays engaged through the end would not be ready for the executive suite but would probably find business school an appealing prospect. That’s not to imply the text is dry. Kaufman, who bills himself as an independent business educator, provides explanations that are clear, concise, and very readable. He also uses easily relatable, everyday examples to illustrate the various principles discussed. The span of topics is too broad for a layperson, but no individual subject is delved into deeply enough for a practitioner. VERDICTThis is perfect for those pondering whether the world of business is for them. It is a great introduction for students picking a major or career-changers weighing their options. Recommended for high school, undergrad, and public library collections.—Robert Perret, Univ. of Idaho, Moscow
Milanovic, Branko. The Haves and the Have-Nots: A Brief and Idiosyncratic History of Inequality Around the Globe. Basic Bks: Perseus. Jan. 2011. c.256p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780465019748. $27.95. BUS
Milanovic, lead economist at the World Bank’s research division, offers an innovative look at price and consumption differences. His objective “is to unveil the importance that differences in income and wealth, affluence, and poverty play in our ordinary lives as well as the importance that they have had historically.” This book is divided into three parts: inequality among individuals within a single country, inequality in income among countries or nations, and global inequality or inequality among citizens of the world. Milanovic illustrates his discussion with anecdotes from fiction and fact, e.g., examining the wealth of Pride and Prejudice’s Mr. Darcy, Anna Karenina’s monetary advantage in marrying, and the wealth of individuals from different eras such as John D. Rockefeller and Bill Gates. He also considers how location shapes one’s economic future, how income determines choice of life partner, and how the inequality gap between rich and poor is created around the globe. Bibliographic references, charts, and tables are included. VERDICT Students, practitioners, and anyone interested in economics and the issue of inequality would enjoy this.—Lucy Heckman, St. John’s Univ. Lib., Jamaica, NY
Scholl, Adam T. No Sneakers at the Office: A Practical Handbook for the Business World. LandMarc. 2010. c.224p. illus. index. ISBN 9780984512904. pap. $14.95. BUS
Scholl, whose varied resúmé includes an MBA, JD, and stints as a programmer and film producer, offers a frighteningly basic guide to business etiquette and workplace dynamics, aimed at new graduates and other recent job market entrants. He discusses professionalism in dress, communication, and traveling; developing one’s own career; and how best to work with human resources departments, manage time effectively, and successfully negotiate office politics. Each chapter is clearly organized, and there are some valuable tips here for those new to the workplace: of particular note are the chapters on meeting facilitation and on documenting and charting one’s career path, goals, and growth. Scholl’s tone is sometimes unnecessarily condescending (especially because he is still rather new to the work world himself), but overall this is a quick and easy read that largely delivers what it promises. VERDICT It’s disturbing to think that such an introductory etiquette and career guide is necessary, but if it is, this is a reasonably priced and no-nonsense title for readers to consider.—Sarah Statz Cords, The Reader’s Advisor Online
EDUCATION
Saltmarsh, John & Edward Zlotkowski. Higher Education and Democracy: Essays on Service-Learning and Civic Engagement. Temple Univ. Feb. 2011. c.360p. illus. index. ISBN 9781439900376. $59.50. ED
Saltmarsh (director, New England Resource Ctr. for Higher Education, Univ. of Massachusetts, Boston) and Zlotkowski (English, Bentley Coll.) have assembled a collection of essays written over the past ten years about service learning and civic engagement in higher education. Service learning, or putting what one is learning in the classroom to work helping others, is an increasingly popular way for universities and colleges to give students a truly valuable opportunity. The book is divided into general sections that progress logically for implementing service learning: general need, antecedents, pedagogy, service learning in the first-year curriculum, considering disciplines, and engaged departments and campus. Concluding essays examine the development of service learning over the last ten years. Saltmarsh and Zlotkowski’s concept is similar to that of William Ayers and others in Teaching Toward Democracy but more in-depth, philosophical, and theoretical. Also, Ayers focuses on a variety of teaching techniques in K-12 contexts, while Saltmarsh and Zlotkowski treat higher education. VERDICT With an extremely academic tone, this is a valuable resource for professors and administrators in higher education using or supporting service learning.—Mark Bay, Univ. of the Cumberlands Lib., Williamsburg, KY
HISTORY
Blatman, Daniel. The Death Marches: The Final Phase of Nazi Genocide. Belknap: Harvard Univ. Jan. 2011. c.570p. tr. from Hebrew by Chaya Galai. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780674050495. $35. HIST
During the last months of World War II, hundreds of thousands of concentration and extermination camp inmates were forced to march from Eastern Europe to Germany in what Blatman (Jewish history, Hebrew Univ. of Jerusalem) argues was the last stage of Nazi genocidal activity. The author demonstrates that conflicting lines of authority, ambiguous orders, and administrative chaos shaped the decisions to evacuate prisoners from the camps as the Soviet army advanced. Interestingly, there were few explicit orders to murder prisoners; when it happened, it was often done either by local Nazis or was done on local initiative. While professional killers ran the death camps and focused on Jews, the death marches marked the point where many non-Jews were killed by a cross section of German society including the Volkssturm (German national militia), soldiers, and civilians. VERDICT Blatman’s assertion, not shared by all historians, that the death marches must be seen as the logical result of Nazi policies helps place the story of concentration camps more firmly into the history of the Holocaust. This is not for beginners, but it’s an important read for specialists and students of modern genocide.—Frederic Krome, Univ. of Cincinnati Clermont Coll.
Bown, Stephen R. Merchant Kings: When Companies Ruled the World, 1600–1900. Thomas Dunne Bks: St. Martin’s. Dec. 2010. c.320p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780312616113. pap. $26.99. HIST
From the tangled histories of the giant trading companies of the past, Bown (A Most Damnable Invention: Dynamite, Nitrates, and the Making of the Modern World) presents six of the most important figures: Jan Coen (Dutch East India Company), Peter Stuyvesant (Dutch West India Company), Robert Clive (British East India Company), Alexander Baranov (Russian-American Company), George Simpson (Hudson’s Bay Company), and Cecil Rhodes (British South Africa Company). The monopolistic status of these companies, driven to maximize profits, meant that each became the sole power in its territory and an unofficial extension of its country’s government, taking on duties of colonization and legal and martial powers. The leaders of these companies gained enormous influence to pursue their own goals, whether driven by personal avarice, nationalistic pride, or a need for control. Bown provides accurate summations of each man’s life and motivations, but his focus is on how the ambitions of these men combined with the force of commerce to alter history as much as any legitimate monarch did. VERDICT Bown’s treatment of each individual is succinct, so those wanting an in-depth study should look elsewhere. General readers interested in embarking on this subject will find this an excellent starting point.—Kathleen McCallister, Univ. of South Carolina, Columbia, Lib.
Budiansky, Stephen. Perilous Fight: America’s Intrepid War with Britain on the High Seas, 1812–1815. Knopf. Jan. 2011. c.448p. illus. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780307270696. $35. HIST
Both sides in the War of 1812 wanted to quickly forget this bloody three-year fight whose last costly battle took place after the peace treaty was signed—and most people have been forgetting it ever since. This second war for independence was filled with political disputes, mistaken appointments to command, and a multitude of blunders on land. Perhaps the only heroics were at sea, where the Americans had the best of the British, though the latter possessed the largest fighting fleet in the world. It was these victories at sea that silenced the debate between Republicans and Federalists over whether there should even be a U.S. Navy. Budiansky (The Bloody Shirt: Terror After the Civil War) presents the story of the war at sea in as objective an account as possible. He offers the unvarnished truth of the ineptitude—on both sides—of many of those involved. From politicians to military and naval commanders emerges the gritty story of the courage of Americans to see the conflict through to the end. VERDICT For those looking for the story behind the story, this book will enlighten and leave some shaking their heads over how this conflict even happened. Strongly recommended. Libraries should have on hand for the upcoming bicentennial.—David Lee Poremba, Keiser Univ. Lib., Orlando, FL
Huntford, Roland. Race for the South Pole: The Expedition Diaries of Scott and Amundsen. Continuum. 2010. c.364p. illus. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781441169822. $ 27.95. HIST
Huntford (The Last Place on Earth: Scott and Amundsen’s Race to the South Pole) presents the unedited diaries of explorers Roald Amundsen and Robert Falcon Scott, recounting the journeys of the separate Norwegian and British expeditions that, between 1910 and 1912, competed to be the first to reach the South Pole. The diaries are arranged chronologically, with entries from both expedition leaders for a specific day running next to each other. Additional entries from Norwegian expedition member Olav Bjaaland’s diary are also included. Huntford provides a densely written introduction, concluding epilog, and helpful critical and explanatory commentary after many of the entries. The diaries reveal the two explorers’ vastly differing strategies for reaching the pole and chillingly depict the resulting resounding success for Amundsen and fatal failure for Scott, who died along with four others on the return trip after losing the race to the Norwegians. VERDICT While the sheer contrast between Amundsen’s later jaunty, upbeat entries and the horror of Scott’s final tormented entries before his death makes for powerful, eerie reading, adventure fans may prefer the additional historical context and smoother narrative provided in Huntford??s earlier The Last Place on Earth. Best suited for history buffs, researchers, and serious readers in polar exploration.—Ingrid Levin, Salve Regina Univ. Lib., Newport, RI
Jasanoff, Maya. Liberty’s Exiles: American Loyalists in the Revolutionary World. Knopf. Feb. 2011. c.480p. illus. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781400041688. $30. HIST
In this lucidly told and engaging work, Jasanoff (history, Harvard Univ.; Edge of Empire: Lives, Culture, and Conquest in the East, 1750–1850) examines the loyalist diaspora following the American Revolution in which both white and black adherents to the British scattered across the empire to various locations including Nova Scotia, Jamaica, and Sierra Leone and attempted to reconstruct their lives in the face of tremendous obstacles. For Jasanoff, the “Spirit of 1783” was a dynamic ideological force that drove British imperial growth, was committed to liberty and humanitarian ideals, and was politically characterized by increasing centralization. One of the most compelling aspects of this well-researched work is Jasanoff’s discussion of the post-Revolutionary struggles of both British-allied Native Americans and freed blacks as they tried to carve out a place of their own in the shifting Colonial environment. VERDICT Combining compelling narrative with insightful analysis, Jasanoff has produced a work that is both distinct in perspective and groundbreaking in its originality. Strongly recommended for both students of the Revolutionary Atlantic world and British Empire generalists.—Brian Odom, Pelham P.L., AL
Meisler, Stanley. When the World Calls: The Inside Story of the Peace Corps and Its First Fifty Years. Beacon, dist. by Random. Feb. 2011. c.288p. index. ISBN 9780807050491. $26.95. HIST
Meisler (former deputy director, Office of Evaluation & Research, Peace Corps) has produced a linear history of the Peace Corps from its first stirrings in a short impromptu speech given by John F. Kennedy before the 1960 presidential election to the Corps’ status in America and the world today. Meisler not only addresses the good the Corps does, but chronicles the ups and downs and challenges that the agency has faced since its inception. It becomes clear that the Corps was not always good at avoiding politicking and bureaucracy—some Presidents sought to abolish it or use it for their own global initiatives—but its people have kept its ideals alive and worked to do good around the world. Meisler sums it up best: “I do not want to suggest that all Peace Corps Volunteers are successful agents of change….[T]he Peace Corps has its share of failure. But, the best Volunteers do accomplish a kind of magic that is not caught by the statistics of an annual report.” VERDICT A straightforward and informative account, not biased or politicized, about the birth and development of this agency, which is considered one of JFK’s greatest legacies.—Jenny Contakos, Wolford Coll. Lib., Naples, FL
Sandbrook, Dominic. Mad as Hell: The Crisis of the 1970s and the Rise of the Populist Right. Knopf. Feb. 2011. c.496p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781400042623. $35. HIST
“I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore,” screamed antihero Howard Beale in the 1976 blockbuster motion picture Network. British historian Sandbrook (Eugene McCarthy: The Rise and Fall of Postwar American Liberalism) uses this iconic jeremiad to aptly portray the decade that featured a populist resurgence against big government. The book is mostly the story of three unpopular Presidents—Nixon, Ford, and Carter—but Sandbrook describes many more outlets for public rage: Watergate, crime, busing, inflation, job loss, the Iranian hostage crisis, and antigay and antifeminist backlashes. This social turbulence led to the further demise of liberalism and the emergence of Sunbelt conservatism that continues to define the Republican Party. Sandbrook also shows how films, TV, books, music, and even the Dallas Cowboys contributed to the spirit of the times. His book compares favorably to Jefferson Cowie’s excellent Stayin’ Alive: The 1970s and the Last Days of the Working Class, which investigates the fall of labor during the decade. VERDICT A summation of the events and social upheavals would have been helpful, yet Sandbrook offers a compelling narrative, reminiscent of William Manchester and Theodore White, that will engross general readers and scholars. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 9/1/10.]—Karl Helicher, Upper Merion Township Lib., King of Prussia, PA
Sharfstein, Daniel J. The Invisible Line: Three American Families and the Secret Journey From Black to White. Penguin Pr: Penguin Group (USA). Feb. 2011. c.393p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781594202827. $27.95. HIST
Sharfstein (law, Vanderbilt Univ.) presents the saga of three families from the American South who demonstrated, in their quest for acceptance and success, the mutability of the social construct of race. The Gibsons, originally landowners from South Carolina, attained recognition as whites in the 1760s; the Spencers, Kentucky subsistence farmers, alternated between the designations of white and black; and the Walls, part of the challenged black middle class in Washington, DC, chose to pass the early 20th century as largely anonymous whites. Using archival and published records, the author details the experiences and social climates of family members. Readers realize how presumably millions of people may have similarly crossed the often permeable color line, fostering a complex, dynamic social migration that sometimes accompanied geographic movement. Sharfstein asserts that race in America involves stories of accommodation and assimilation by those of African descent, similar to European immigrants. VERDICT This annotated book, enhanced by its almost lyrical prose, explores questions of elective identity, usually based on wealth, behavior, and reputation, rather than color, as well as the often tumultuous events that led to historical and personal compromises. American social history scholars, genealogists, and general readers who wish to learn through vivid case studies will be interested. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 9/15/10.]—Frederick J. Augustyn Jr., Library of Congress
Tinniswood, Adrian. Pirates of Barbary: Corsairs, Conquests and Captivity in the 17th-Century Mediterranean. Riverhead: Penguin Group (USA). 2010. c.368p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781594487743. $26.95. HIST
Pirates have become indelibly associated with swashbuckling Caribbean adventurers, yet piracy also flourished in the 17th-century Mediterranean. From their bases in Algiers, Tunis, and Tripoli, Barbary (e.g., North African coastal) pirates wreaked havoc upon merchant ships, disrupted European trade, and enslaved passengers. In this engaging narrative history, Tinniswood (The Verneys: A True Story of Love, War, and Madness in Seventeenth-Century England) brings to life the world of these pirates and the merchants, sailors, and officials who fought against them. His choice of topic and his fluid prose style make this an entertaining if somewhat disjointed read. The book’s early chapters are better focused and organized than the later ones, in which the narrative jumps between different events. A final chapter that relates interactions between Barbary pirates and the U.S. government and trade vessels requires a 100-year leap forward in time and feels tacked on to the larger narrative. That the book has but one map is a disappointment; frequent references made to specific places in various cities would have been complemented by multiple detailed maps. VERDICT Although the book has several drawbacks, it does shed new light on an overlooked portion of 17th-century history. Recommended for academic libraries.—Sharon E. Reidt, Marlboro Coll., VT
LAW & CRIME
Cowser, Bob, Jr. Green Fields: Crime, Punishment, & a Boyhood Between. UNO Pr. 2010. c.178p. photogs. ISBN 9781608010189. pap. $15.95. CRIME
On September 2, 1979, the sleepy rural town of Greenfield, TN, was rocked by the rape and murder of eight-year-old Cary Ann Medlin. Within days, Robert Glen Coe confessed, then recanted, and was tried, convicted, and finally executed 20 years later. Cowser (English, St. Lawrence University) was Cary Ann’s classmate, and the case has continued to haunt him. Coe’s 1999 execution brought back the time and compelled the author to revisit the event, from his memories of Cary Ann and of the town through the crime and its aftermath, as he reflects on the consequences of this brutal act, not only for the families but for those, like him, who experienced the crime from a greater emotional distance. He decries the sentimental story of angelic victim and demonic killer, seeing instead a case of poverty and mental illness that turn a stark morality play into something more complex and sad. VERDICT Cowser’s poetic prose enhances this meditation on a community, a crime, and how each affected the other. Recommended for fans of true crime, Southern memoirs, and social justice.—Deirdre Bray Root, Middletown P.L., OH
Goldstone, Lawrence. Inherently Unequal: The Betrayal of Equal Rights by the Supreme Court, 1865–1903. Walker. Feb. 2011. c.256p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780802717924. $26. LAW
Goldstone (The Activist: John Marshall, Marbury v. Madison, and the Myth of Judicial Review) has written an absorbing account of the Supreme Court’s role following the Civil War. The United States faced many issues during this turbulent period, principally freedmen’s civil rights and the repatriation of the Southern states. Goldstone argues that the Supreme Court failed to enforce the laws designed to ensure freedmen’s rights, particularly in regard to the 14th Amendment. While focusing on the Court and its decisions, the book also delves into race relations, social science, and the expansion of government post-Appomattox. The author links these subjects with legal debates, painting a portrait of the postwar period that explains how and why civil rights largely were disregarded during this time. The final chapter explores the far-reaching consequences of Reconstruction, including the beginnings of the African American migration to the North and the start of an antilynching campaign. VERDICT Readers interested in the Reconstruction period and Supreme Court history will want to read this book.—Becky Kennedy, Atlanta-Fulton P.L.
Timmerman, L.C. & John H. Timmerman. The Color of Night: A Young Mother, a Missing Child and a Cold-Blooded Killer. New Horizon. Jan. 2011. c.320p. illus. ISBN 9780882823225. $24.95. CRIME
In 1997, Rachel Timmerman was the victim of a cold-blooded killer, her body found weighted down in a lake weeks after her disappearance. Her infant daughter, who was last seen with her mother, was never found. This book is authored by the victim’s father and uncle, who share their painful emotions and memories. They also provide the inside story of Timmerman’s personal life, including her brutal rape the year before her murder. She pressed charges against a defendant who allegedly claimed he would see her dead before serving jail time. Timmerman’s accused rapist ultimately was charged with the murder, tried, convicted, and sentenced to the death penalty. Yet, as of this writing, a federal appeals court is examining the conviction. VERDICT This is a harrowing story of a young woman who tried to sort out her life and do the right thing. True crime and law aficionados will take great interest in her case.—Krista Bush, West Haven, CT
PARAPSYCHOLOGY
Edward, John. Infinite Quest: Develop Your Psychic Intuition To Take Charge of Your Life. Sterling Ethos. 2 010. c.288p. ISBN 9781402778933. $22.95. parapsych
Considered one of the top ten psychics in the world today, television star Edward (After Life: Answers from the Other Side) adds a self-help book to his accomplishments. He includes sage advice such as “In order to move forward, we need to understand the past,” and “A person has to truly want to make the change before it can begin to happen.” As you can see, much of the book reads like many other self-help titles, but this one comes with an unusual twist—his belief that we all have psychic ability that can be tapped into for help from our “Spirit Guides.” To assist us in contacting the psychic side of our natures, Edward adds many exercises including meditation and visualization. He has a folksy, “one of the boys” charm, which comes across in his writing. VERDICT Unfortunately, this book has little to offer as a self-help title, and Edward’s advice on developing psychic intuition is murky. However, this should be popular with the millions of readers fascinated by psychics, so large libraries will probably want it.—Mary E. Jones, Los Angeles P.L., CA
POLITICAL SCIENCE
Brabazon, James. My Friend the Mercenary. Grove. Feb. 2011. c.496p. maps. ISBN 9780802119759. $25.95. INT AFFAIRS
Brabazon, a British journalist and documentary filmmaker, here details his two-year (2002–04) relationship with Nick du Toit, an arms dealer, mercenary, and onetime member of South Africa’s apartheid Special Forces. This memoir draws its power from du Toit’s role as Brabazon’s “bodyguard” while the author was shooting footage of the insurgency against Liberian dictator Charles Taylor. Readers here encounter an array of elements common to these wars: blood diamonds, child soldiers, and cannibalism. Less familiar is the moral ambiguity of unorthodox violence against an indicted war criminal and Brabazon’s ethical compromise in his trek with the Liberian rebels. The insurgency emerges in this book from the larger context Brabazon establishes regarding neighboring states. Only a family emergency prevents him from accompanying du Toit during an abortive coup d’état in oil-rich Equatorial Guinea. VERDICT Because of the subject and the author’s lucid writing, the book is both a gripping adventure and a valuable account of a West African tragedy. It will especially interest students of African politics and journalism. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 9/15/10.]—Zachary T. Irwin, Pennsylvania State Univ.–Erie
Polman, Linda. The Crisis Caravan: What’s Wrong with Humanitarian Aid? Metropolitan: Holt. 2010. 240p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780805092905. pap. $24. INT AFFAIRS
Dutch journalist Polman (We Did Nothing: Why the Truth Doesn’t Always Come Out When the UN Goes in) here contends that humanitarian aid agencies are unable to act impartially and independently in response to crises. Heart-wrenching examples abound: Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, aid agencies strengthening Hutu refugee warriors who then continue genocide against Rwandan Tutsis; Sierra Leone’s child amputees serving primarily as arresting visual appeals to foreign political and religious funding; and aid siphoned off from allocated projects in Afghanistan. The book, originally published in Dutch in 2008, predates Haiti’s recent earthquake, but connections may be made to those aid circumstances as well. Polman expertly compels readers to consider how, when, and at what cost humanitarian aid is provided. VERDICT This is a strongly recommended addition for readers in current global affairs and all public library collections, especially well paired with Neil Middleton’s Humanitarian Assistance?: Haiti and Beyond, publishing this month, or Delivering Aid Differently: Lessons from the Field, edited by Wolfgang Fengler and Homi Kharas.—Catherine C. McMullen, MLIS, Portland, OR
Scheuer, Michael. Osama bin Laden. Oxford Univ. Feb. 2011. c.288p. bibliog. ISBN 9780199738663. $19.95. INT AFFAIRS
Since the events of 9/11, Osama bin Laden has been the subject of numerous books and articles of varying quality, but the U.S. intelligence community’s assessment of bin Laden and al-Qaeda continues to be based on information before the attacks of 9/11. In this highly readable and jargon-free book, Scheuer (Imperial Hubris: Why the West Is Losing the War on Terror), head of the CIA’s bin Laden unit from 1996 to 1999, updates the issues he had covered in his previous publications and offers a serious and nonideological treatment and analysis of bin Laden’s thinking. Unlike many Western analysts who dismiss bin Laden as simplistic, uncouth, and incompetent, Scheuer portrays him as a patient, devout, and talented, albeit ruthless, leader who remains a formidable enemy of the West. VERDICT This informative book is one of the most detailed biographical sketches of bin Laden available in the West and is useful for both the general public and specialists.—Nader Entessar, Univ. of South Alabama, Mobile
PSYCHOLOGY
Karasu, T. Byram, M.D. Gotham Chronicles: The Culture of Sociopathy. Rowman & Littlefield. Dec. 2010. c.300p. ISBN 9781442208179. $27.95. PSYCH
Through the lives of a group of rather unlikable characters, Karasu (psychiatry & behavioral sciences dept., Albert Einstein Coll. of Medicine; The Art of Serenity: The Path to a Joyful Life in the Best and Worst of Times) suggests sociopathy has overtaken narcissism in modern culture. This novel approach to a social problem revolves around a young aspiring writer who supports herself by providing massage therapy to a few elite Manhattan customers. Her background includes abuse and continued exploitation by a parent who favors a sibling. Karasu exhibits a gift for creating believable dialog and graphic detail about an urban lifestyle favoring drugs, sex, and money. He succeeds in showing how spectacularly self-absorbed and sad such lives can be, but the result is a series of vignettes rather than an engaging, cohesive narrative. VERDICT More social commentary than clinically oriented, this book may appeal to mental health professionals and devotees of desperate TV dramas.—Antoinette Brinkman, MLS, Evansville, IN
Orsillo, Susan M. & Lizabeth Roemer. The Mindful Way Through Anxiety: Break Free from Chronic Worry and Reclaim Your Life. Guilford. Feb. 2011. c.308p. ISBN 9781606239827. $40; pap. ISBN 9781606234648. $16.95. PSYCH
Working in anxiety disorders research and treatment for 20-plus years, Orsillo (psychology, Suffolk Univ., Boston) and Roemer (psychology, Univ. of Massachusetts at Boston) present a valuable summary of their ten-year, NIH-funded focus on researching and treating anxiety. The authors developed a method that helps sufferers fundamentally change their relationship with anxiety. In clear, compassionate language, they describe how to gain awareness of anxious feelings without letting them escalate, how to reap the benefits of emotional and physical well-being, and how to open one’s life to inspiring new possibilities. Orsillo and Roemer cover understanding fear and anxiety, how anxiety can complicate one’s life, and how to change a relationship with anxiety through mindfulness. They include pragmatic chapters on developing the skills of mindfulness, using the technique to clarify emotions, and a Zen-like approach to acceptance and opening up to new possibilities. VERDICT Among the array of titles on various anxiety disorders, this book manages to add an important new clinical approach to treating anxiety that, while heavily rooted in the Buddhist spiritual tradition, will still appeal to lay readers battling with or interested in anxiety as well as professionals treating the disorder.—Dale Farris, Groves, TX
Wehrenberg, Margaret. The 10 Best-Ever Depression Management Techniques: Understanding How Your Brain Makes You Depressed & What You Can Do To Change It. Norton. Feb. 2011. c.256p. ISBN 9780393706291. pap. $19.95. PSYCH
Using the “ten best ever” outline featured in her previous works on anxiety and stress, clinical psychologist Wehrenberg offers suggestions for managing depression that are easy to understand and implement. Describing brain functions using research from neuroscience, she explains how medication and cognitive therapy change the way the brain controls depression. Wehrenberg identifies three types of depression, shows how to recognize triggering thoughts and events, and gives strategies for managing and controlling symptoms. Acknowledging that there is no standard formula for controlling depression, she urges readers to try techniques and indicates when professional intervention may be needed. Guidelines are given for checking destructive behavior, managing stress (especially stress associated with technology), reframing negative thoughts, and ending isolation. Emphasis throughout is on developing a positive worldview. Work sheets and resources are included in appendixes. VERDICT Wehrenberg offers excellent step-by-step suggestions for people suffering from depression who want to make changes in their lives.—Lucille M. Boone, San Jose P.L., CA
SOCIAL SCIENCES
Dear John, I Love Jane: Women Write About Leaving Men for Women. Seal, dist. by PGW. 2010. c.256p. ed. by Candace Walsh & Laura André. ISBN 9781580053396. pap. $16.95.SOC SCI
Editors Walsh (features editor, Mothering magazine) and book seller André suggest in their introduction that the 27 accounts they’ve printed here (after their online call for submissions netted 130 pieces) are untold stories in part of a greater gay narrative. Each is written by a lesbian who experiences a sexual awakening during or after involvement with a male partner, and this makes for some complicated and occasionally involving tales. With Margarethe Cammermeyer and Cynthia Nixon as well-known media examples, the theme will be familiar to most. Unfortunately, only a handful of these personal accounts are extraordinary or noteworthy. Kami Day’s “The Right Fit” is heartbreakingly well told. There’s as much eroticism as there is poignancy in Vanessa Fernando’s “Waiting.” Most of the essays are as glib as the collection’s title. The book is tailored for readers experiencing something similar, but what could have been a useful guidebook feels more like a squandered opportunity. VERDICT While some contributions are superb, this collection is generally hit-and-miss.—Adam Waldowski, Missouri State Univ. Lib., Springfield
Richards, Susan. Lost and Found in Russia. Other. Dec. 2010. c.352p. index. ISBN 9781590513484. pap. $15.95. SOC SCI
While an array of books investigate Russian politics, economics, and society under Yeltsin and Putin from a more academic standpoint, there is little published on post-Soviet era daily life. Richards, a British journalist who has visited Russia extensively, here picks up where she left off in her award-winning Epics of Everyday Life: Encounters in a Changing Russia almost 20 years ago. She now depicts post-Communist Russia between 1992 and 2008, following the lives of a small group of people who became her friends in a provincial Russia that was far different from Moscow or St. Petersburg. Richards chronicles tales of daily survival during a time when the much-celebrated end of communism did not guarantee a smooth transition to a more liberal, democratic, prosperous system. This book reads like a classic Russian novel, revealing a society in transition where old traditions conflict with new ways and where paganism, cults, and UFOs have surprising appeal. VERDICT Recommended for Russophiles or anyone interested in day-to-day life in post-Soviet Russia.—Leslie Lewis, Duquesne Univ. Lib., Pittsburgh
TRAVEL & GEOGRAPHY
Schalansky, Judith. Atlas of Remote Islands: Fifty Islands I Have Never Set Foot on and Never Will. Penguin. 2010. 144p. tr. from German by Christine Lo. maps. index. ISBN 9780143118206. $28. TRAV
Schalansky grew up in East Germany from which, like most of her compatriots at the time, she was not allowed to leave. Instead, she traveled the world through atlases and developed a fascination with remote islands. Her prose here is almost poetic as she paints multidimensional portraits of 50 islands to go along with her full-color, original cartographic illustrations. Credit must also be given to translator Lo for retaining the expressiveness of Schalansky’s voice. The attention to font, weight, and color in this book cannot be ignored. Schalansky’s background in typography and passion for the art of cartography are apparent on every page. While the style of the book may appeal to younger readers, caution is advised as there are references to violence and rape. VERDICT Recommended for armchair travelers, lovers of history, and anyone looking to get far, far away from it all.—Anna L. Creech, Univ. of Richmond Lib.
Wheeler, Sara. The Magnetic North: Notes from the Arctic Circle. Farrar. Feb. 2011. c.368p. illus. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780374200138. $26. TRAV
Some people can’t stay away from cold places. Wheeler here recounts her travels to the Arctic Circle, the polar opposite of the Antarctic trek recorded in her best-selling Terra Incognita. The Arctic Circle crops Canada, Alaska, regions of Siberia, Scandinavia, Greenland, and assorted islands. It is an area of fragile life, where native peoples survived in close balance with the land long before the disruption of shoe-eating explorers, missionaries, the Gulag, and geologists. The Arctic has been a last frontier, land of mythmaking, and victim of greed for the gas, oil, diamonds, and gold of the land and the blubber beneath the shrinking ice. Wheeler visits scientists doggedly studying the history of the ice and the impact of climate change and describes the isolation and beauty of their barren open laboratories. Remains of human travel and habitation, the imposition of nationhood, and the degradation of the landscape as well as less visible radioactive and chemical contamination all affect this landscape. VERDICT An eloquent, important book. Recommended for all readers. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 9/15/10.]—Melissa Stearns, Franklin Pierce Univ., Rindge, NH
CORRECTION In LJ 9/1/10 “Personal Finance & Business” short takes we incorrectly listed the subtitle and ISBN for John H. Vanston and Carrie Vanston’s MINITRENDS: How Innovators & Entrepreneurs Discover & Profit from Business & Technology Trends, ISBN 9781884154362.
