Mention of Tahiti still conjures up images of a South Pacific paradise, just as it did for 18th-century European sailors on their voyages of exploration. The reality has always been more complex. Salmond (Maori studies & anthropology, Univ. of Auckland, New Zealand) provides a superbly detailed account of life and culture in 1760s and 1770s Tahiti when the first European explorers arrived in the Society Islands. Seamlessly interweaving information gleaned from English, French, and Spanish written sources that derived from Tahitian oral tradition, she creates an insightful portrait of the complex relationships and webs of misunderstanding that developed between the Tahitians and the explorers. The narrative smoothly explores the intricacies of 18th-century Tahitian political power struggles and the impact that the arrival of European seamen, with their own priorities, ideas, and misconceptions, had on local life. VERDICT Salmond effectively merges historical and anthropological research to create a spellbinding, richly descriptive, and deeply thought-provoking account of late 18th-century Tahitian life and cultural conflict. Thoroughly documented yet highly readable, it will appeal widely to both lay readers and scholars. Highly recommended.—Elizabeth Salt, Otterbein Coll. Lib., Westerville, OH

Aab worked in the Clinton White House as an intern, first in the communications office run by George Stephanopoulos and later on the staff of consultant Paul Begala. She was fascinated by the powerful people surrounding her, and her writing indicates not just her confidence but her sense of vulnerability and need for recognition. Aab opens the book with a somewhat suggestive account of a "close encounter" with President Clinton while doing advance work for his 2000 G8 summit trip to Japan. Men in the Clinton circle did befriend her; Vernon Jordan occasionally invited her to dinner, and during the Kenneth Starr investigations, she was deposed about that relationship. Aab knew Monica Lewinsky only slightly, but her experiences provide insight into the Lewinsky scandal by showing how easily such young, ambitious women can be influenced by the powerful men they meet. VERDICT Aab's chronology is sometimes hard to follow, and her accounts of personal relationships can display a youthful naïveté. However, her descriptions of the less-than-glamorous life of a White House intern/staffer are intriguing. Recommended for readers interested in this kind of view of White House operations, especially young women considering a similar career path.—Jill Ortner, SUNY at Buffalo Libs.

After college, a Kentucky girl spends a summer in Wyoming to find herself and regroup. Thirty years later, she's still there. In this memoir, Bell vividly depicts her life out West, starting with her first job herding sheep—an occupation usually done by men. She goes on to write about her life as a ranch hand, masseuse, housewife, stepmother, and forest ranger, mixing work experiences with touching and poignant accounts of family and friends. She also describes the Wyoming landscape in brilliant detail, revealing her love for the place. In reliving some of the sadder moments of her life, Bell uses a simple writing style that strengthens this memoir while giving it a raw poignancy to which anyone can relate. VERDICT An award-winning author for her short pieces, Bell here turns in satisfying reading for ranching enthusiasts, memoir fanatics, and anyone who likes to get lost in stories about rural life and nature's beauty. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 11/1/09.]—Erica Swenson Danowitz, Delaware Cty. Community Coll., Media, PA

Founded by Henry R. Luce, Time Inc. not only helped create a new form of magazine journalism but also changed the way we receive our news. That is the main premise behind Brinkley's magisterial biography. The surefooted Brinkley (Voices of Protest: Huey Long, Father Coughlin and the Great Depression) details the formative events of the publisher's life and skillfully explains how Luce succeeded in launching Time in 1923, targeting middle-class readers through its novel format. Soon after, Luce created Fortune and Life magazines, which made him one of the most powerful publishers in the business. Moreover, he was not hesitant to use his power, whether to advocate the cause of Chiang Kai-shek in China or support Republican presidential candidate Dwight D. Eisenhower. Brinkley also vividly depicts Luce's tumultuous marriage to Clare Booth, but while he covers all the important events, Ralph G. Martin's Henry & Clare: An Intimate Portrait of the Luces is a more successful recounting of their marriage as well as of Clare Booth's own fascinating life. VERDICT In this era, with print media in crisis, Brinkley reminds us of its heyday. Thoroughly researched and well written, this outstanding biography is mandatory reading for all journalism students and will appeal to all readers of American history.—Richard Drezen, Brooklyn

The Wright Brothers may have first taken to the air in North Carolina, but it was in their home state of Ohio that Orville Wright oversaw the brothers' pioneering School of Aviation (1910–16), where they trained over 100 men. (Wilbur focused more on defending patent rights.) Edwards (former university archivist, Univ. of Georgia) presents the stories of six alumni: Arthur L. Welsh, who flourished both as flight instructor and promoter; Howard W. Gill, pilot and aviation promoter; Archibald Freeman, who went on to focus on strategic bombing; amateur flyer Grover C. Bergdoll; George Alphonso Gray, exhibition flyer, test pilot, and instructor; and the intrepid Howard Max Rinehart. After an introduction setting the school in context (and describing the three women flyers also affiliated with the program), Edwards devotes a chapter to each pilot, tracing their full lives with their school experience at the center. VERDICT Edwards's research, based on meticulous study of primary sources, marks him as very much an expert on early aviation. His book, with archival photographs, will be most valued by serious aviation history buffs (who may regret his failure to footnote sources, although there is an extensive bibliography). There will also be general readers who'll appreciate this view into the magic early years of aviation. [The author is a longtime LJ reviewer in history.—Ed.]—Richard Fraser, M.S.L.I.S., Los Angeles

Upon the death of King Edward VI in July 1553, Lady Jane Grey was proclaimed queen of England—only to be executed 13 days later. Here, Ives (The Life and Death of Anne Boleyn) addresses the accession crisis of 1553. Although Henry VIII had legally declared both of his daughters, Mary and Elizabeth, illegitimate, he then restored them to the line of succession through the Third Act of Succession, which stated that upon Edward's death the crown would pass to Mary and then to Elizabeth if Mary had no male heirs. However, Edward, who as a staunch Protestant did not wish the crown to pass to the Catholic Mary, was probably persuaded to name instead Lady Jane Grey, the Protestant daughter of Henry VIII's sister. Ives works to present Lady Jane Grey as a learned, respected, and highly intelligent woman, providing in-depth analysis as he moves through the narrative and ending by summarizing the aftermath of the brief and tragic reign of one of Britain's least-known sovereigns. VERDICT This thoroughly researched and engrossing historical analysis will appeal both to biography enthusiasts and to those interested specifically in Tudor history or the history of the monarchy. It is a masterly interpretation of the "mystery" of Lady Jane Grey's ascent to the throne.—Carrie Benbow, Toronto P.L., Ont.

Every year since 1976, Project Censored has reported on the most overlooked or misrepresented news stories of the past year. This year's volume has an additional overarching theme: corporate news is a dying system, and the public must look to other sources to understand what is happening in the world. Each chapter is written by a different contributor, with the stories covered ranging from the corruption related to the public bailouts of troubled corporations to environmental issues, international events, and the increasing segregation of U.S. schools. Other chapters examine the "junk food news" that the media did cover, such as the Brangelina twins and Octomom, and good news related to personal health and healthy communities; the final chapter shows how independent films represented homosexuality from 1980 to 2000. In addition, underreported stories from previous years are selectively updated, and key issues related to the state of contemporary media are discussed. VERDICT Essential reading for those who track the state of contemporary journalism and media, this work ranges widely and is easy to browse. Libraries with earlier volumes in the series will want to include this year's edition.—Judy Solberg, Seattle Univ. Lib.

Darnton (director, Harvard Univ. Lib.) gathers more than a decade's worth of his published work to address the essential issues surrounding the future of the book, from the genesis of ebooks and the opportunities of electronic text to early practices of book production and circulation and the nuances of reading. Darnton comes across most forcefully when he does more than just reintroduce the debate over the dangers and promises of a global digital library and instead shares instructive insights into the nature of information itself and the relationship of text to the reader. Core is his treatment of the Google Library Project and the settlement's importance. Darnton's personal opinion: digitize and democratize. VERDICT These essays bring balance and a refreshing perspective to the nervous predictions over the future of print. Highly recommended for anyone with an investment in new media, libraries, literacy, and publishing.—Katharine A. Webb, Ohio State Univ. Libs., Columbus

Fans of longtime 60 Minutes staple Rooney will find much to enjoy in his latest collection, including excerpts from his two 1940s collaborations with fellow Stars and Stripes correspondent Bud Hutton, as well as selections from more recent works such as My War (1995), Common Nonsense (2002), Years of Minutes (2003), and Out of My Mind (2006). The problem with the book, however, is that there's little here most fans haven't seen before. Apart from the three extended pieces from the long-out-of-print Air Gunner (1944) and The Story of the Stars and Stripes (1946), this is mainly a collection of short essays that have been published previously. Also included are a sort of "greatest hits" of Rooney's musings on mundane matters ranging from ice cream to wastebaskets to trips to the dump, occasionally broken up by more serious pieces, such as his moving tributes to Harry Reasoner, E.B. White, and his own mother. VERDICT Ardent fans will need to consider whether the inclusion of the rarer material from the 1940s justifies the effort; for those less familiar with Rooney's oeuvre, this solid introduction is well worth a look.—William D. Walsh, Georgia State Univ., Atlanta

Garner (Commodity Options), a market analyst and commodities broker, has written an easy-to-understand beginner's guide to commodities trading, commodities being bulk goods traded on a financial exchange, everything from coffee to cocoa, gold, platinum, and currency. She covers the history of commodities trading, the lingo (Chapter 14 does a nice job of defining "Futures Slang and Terminology"), how to choose a brokerage firm, as well as how to find a broker who will work well with your particular needs. Her coverage is international in scope, showing her extensive knowledge, although she is relatively new to the vocation. There is up-to-date information on what to look for when considering commodities trading—from margin calls to stock indexes to maintaining a balanced outlook in the face of possible fear, greed, frustration, or loss. VERDICT Highly recommended for anyone who is interested in exploring the world of commodities trading, whether to do some trading or simply to get a better understanding of this area of finance.—Helena Travka, Cleveland P.L.

Here's another set of tall tales written in purple prose from the self-proclaimed Economic Hit Man. Reading what is in many ways a retread, we again behold Perkins's pro wrestling-worthy persona. Seduced and trained by a hypersexed femme fatale in the 1970s, he circled the globe, just in advance of a CIA hit squad, hoodwinking naive foreign governments into exploitive aid agreements and thus paving the way for the "Corporatocracy," led by Milton Friedman, Ronald Reagan, and the Shah of Iran, to pillage and plunder at will. Now he travels the world promoting sustainable lifestyles and shamanism. His solution to the worldwide financial meltdown is simply to endorse the Triple Bottom Line—the idea, popular in business schools for the last decade, that businesses should consider financial, social, and ecological costs and benefits. VERDICT This can be a fun bit of infotainment for those willing to play along. Fans of Perkins's previous books will find more of the same to like here. Readers looking for serious information about the current state of the world economy will be disappointed.—Robert Perret, Univ. of Idaho Lib., Moscow

Quinn here revises her best-selling Making the Most of Your Money to reflect today's economy. This complete guide to personal finance provides not only guidance on sound financial planning but also the tools to put the planning into action. This somewhat intimidatingly large tome contains effectively six books in one, covering everything from saving for retirement, investing, insurance, and mortgages to wills and estate planning. Quinn's accessible approach helps simplify complex topics, and her standalone chapters make this both a practical and a complete guide for those tackling all their financial issues and a handy reference for those interested in particular subjects. Quinn includes worksheets throughout the text, offering the opportunity to immediately put her advice into action—although causing potential difficulties for librarians seeking to keep the book from losing pages or being marked. VERDICT This is an excellent primer, especially for those new to managing their money. Those with more experience won't find much new here.—Elizabeth Nelson, UOP Lib., Des Plaines, IL

For those of us inhabiting the globe today, it may be difficult to imagine a world without capitalism. In a profound and insightful analysis of the economic system, esteemed historian Appleby (emerita, Univ. of California, Los Angeles; Inheriting the Revolution: The First Generation of Americans) traces the genesis of the "puzzle of capitalism" back to 16th-century England in an effort to explain the development of capitalism and remove the fallacy that its triumph was inevitable. Favoring the cultural model of capitalism set forth by Max Weber over those of Karl Marx and Adam Smith, Appleby argues that by combining Dutch innovations such as banks and joint stock companies, new areas of trade, and a revolution in agriculture, the English broke through cultural barriers, transcended a world of scarcity, and introduced a new cultural system that has since revolutionized society. VERDICT Appleby's engaging narrative spans from capitalism's humble origins through industrialization, world war, depression, and into the present era of global recession, government bailouts, and the world markets. More comprehensive than Niall Ferguson's The Ascent of Money, this sound, timely study will surely find a receptive audience with both academics and those concerned with the state of the modern financial world.—Brian Odom, Pelham P.L., AL

There has been an almost untold number of books written about the Battle of Waterloo, and, with the bicentennial just around the corner (2015), there will be countless more. Enter prolific British military historian Black (history, Univ. of Exeter; War: A Short History) with an interesting approach to the battle, placing it in the broader context of its era. Black presents a short account of Waterloo set against the canvas of world events during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, focusing on the changing nature of warfare, in part a result of major power shifting across Europe at the time. Napoleon faced an entirely different alliance of enemies when he left exile on Elba to retake power than when he had originally left France for Elba. Tactics that were successful before proved not to be so at Waterloo, and Black emphasizes the military modernization occurring with the Allies who fought Napoleon there. The author also devotes some time to the subsequent treatment of the battle in the countries that had been engaged there. VERDICT One of the better short accounts of this crucial battle, done with a nice adjustment of approach. Recommended.—David Lee Poremba, Windermere, FL

Davy Crockett's political life has been covered in biographies, but it has never been subject to the close scrutiny it receives here. Boylston (Alamo Studies Forum) and Wiener (The Beatles: The Ultimate Recording Guide) dissect Crockett as a political animal, following him through the Tennessee legislature and into the halls of Congress, where he served three terms between 1827 and 1835. They show him to be a masterly campaigner and astute politician. While emphasizing his land bill, which would have allowed poor squatters in western Tennessee first claim on lands that they improved (the history of which is included in an appendix), the authors also examine his stands on Indian removal (he was against it) and the Second Bank of the United States (he favored it) and delineate his relationships with the Jacksonians and the Whigs. They let Crockett speak for himself by including all of his extant correspondence and circulars and a selection of his speeches, and they provide annotations as necessary. VERDICT This densely written analysis, with primary sources, may overwhelm all but the most ardent Crockett fan but may intrigue those wishing to study Crocket further, including advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and specialists.—Stephen H. Peters, Northern Michigan Univ. Lib., Marquette

Cartledge (Classics, Univ. of Cambridge; Ancient Greek Political Thought in Practice) ushers readers through the geopolitical atmospheres of various Greek city-states, from the Bronze Age of Knossos and Mycenae to the Archaic Sparta, the Classical Athens, and the Hellenistic Alexandria. The similarities and differences between each polis are readily apparent, and, for so brief a study, this work manages to discuss an enviable array of topics, from military engagements to women's roles, sociopolitical history, architecture, and cultural impacts on later civilizations. The explanations of Greek spellings, monetary units, and measures of distance, as well as the time line, glossary, and "Who's Who," would be especially useful for newcomers. VERDICT Aiming for a general audience, Cartledge achieves a fast-paced, highly engaging romp through ancient Greece. An excellent choice for anyone seeking an introduction to the topic; for all its readability, this book doesn't skimp on the research. —Crystal Goldman, San Jose Sate Univ., CA

Collier-Thomas (history, Temple Univ., Daughters of Thunder: Black Women Preachers and Their Sermons) has produced the first comprehensive history of African American women and their participation in religious institutions from slavery to the present. The book covers enslaved and free women preachers in the antebellum era, black women's missionary work, their struggle to gain equality with men in many denominations, and their work in their own women's organizations and in conjunction with white women's organizations to gain suffrage and civil rights. Collier-Thomas convincingly argues that religion has been a fundamental force in black women's lives, and their participation in churches has shaped public life and politics in America. Although she covers some well-worn history, such as the work of women in the African Methodist Episcopal and Baptist denominations, Collier-Thomas also surveys the untapped archives of smaller churches and organizations. The result is an almost encyclopedic chronicle. VERDICT A monumental work, this is highly recommended for academic libraries and is certainly essential for all students of African American history.—Kate Stewart, Proquest/Library of Congress

Dickstein (English & theater, CUNY Graduate Ctr.; A Mirror in the Roadway: Literature and the Real World) has written an extremely thorough cultural history of the Great Depression, primarily through analysis of the literature and film of the period. Chapters on different aspects of 1930s culture (as well as earlier significant works and cultural trends that informed Depression culture) provide detailed insights into the historical significance of a multitude of specific works of importance. Dickstein covers both well-known and more obscure works and draws interesting parallels between the Great Depression and today's economic situation. Background on the plots of films and books makes up a significant portion of each chapter, which is useful for readers unfamiliar with all the works covered or specialists in need of a refresher but can make readers feel they have a lot of material to plow through. VERDICT This book will be especially valuable for undergraduates new to cultural history of the era and will also be appreciated by general readers interested in the period. While much will be familiar to scholars, they may also appreciate it as an overview.—Madeline Mundt, Univ. of Nevada Lib., Reno

By the spring of 1944, knowledge about the Final Solution was widespread, although the details might not have been known or believed by some. Independent scholar and novelist Florence (Lawrence and Aaronsohn: T.E. Lawrence, Aaron Aaronshohn, and the Seeds of the Arab-Israeli Conflict) challenges the conventional wisdom that Hungarian Jews submitted meekly to Eichmann's deportations to Auschwitz. For example, he notes that communal leaders, with some assistance from outsiders, sought to forestall German plans through a variety of schemes, including a massive bribe. While some acted virtuously in trying to save as many as possible, the actions of others, such as Joel Brand, who was asked by Eichmann to help broker a deal for goods with Britain or the United States in exchange for Jewish lives, still generate controversy. Florence juxtaposes the German plan for a speedy destruction with Allied strategy, which refused to countenance any distractions to their campaign to defeat Hitler, even at the expense of humanitarian concerns. VERDICT This book bills itself as addressing the "little-known" story of Hungarian Jewry's annihilation, and it is certainly informative, though the story is familiar to specialists. Recommended as part of an important historiographic shift, recognizing that the Jews were not just passive victims.—Frederic Krome, Univ. of Cincinnati

Once upon a time, historians told stories about the brave and the cowardly, about heroes, villains, and the many whose lives lay somewhere in between. That's what Glass (former chief Middle East correspondent, ABC News; Tribes with Flags) has done in this extraordinary narrative of the lives of the nearly 5000 Americans who lived in Paris during the German occupation from June 1940 to August 1944. For Clara de Chambrun, related by marriage to FDR on one side and the Vichy premier Laval on the other, life went on much as before—dinners at Maxim's, fine wine, dresses from Schiaparelli. But Sumner Jackson, chief surgeon at the American Hospital, was at constant risk for his work with the Resistance, spiriting Allied soldiers out of Paris. Millionaire Pierre Bedaux carried on business as usual, only with Germany now. Eventually arrested by the United States and charged with treason, he killed himself rather than face public humiliation. Glass is scrupulously fair to his subjects: there are no clear-cut villains in this story (although there are some heroes). VERDICT This is outstanding popular history, well researched and told and never oversimplified. It's difficult to conceive of anyone who wouldn't enjoy this exceptional book.—David Keymer, Modesto, CA

In this wholly satisfying work of accessible historical scholarship, Pulitzer Prize finalist Harris (Univ. of New Hampshire; Deep Souths) explores the paradox of Colonial American slave owners fighting for freedom from British rule. His account hinges upon the tragic plight of Thomas Jeremiah. A free black man who made a successful living as a commercial fisherman and riverboat pilot in Colonial Charleston, SC, "Jerry" was publicly hanged in 1775 after being falsely accused of plotting a slave revolt, despite being a slave owner himself. Among the powerful whites convinced of Jeremiah's unproven guilt was civic and political leader Henry Laurens, whose personal letters make up the bulk of the primary-source documentation used here. Laurens's contradictory attitudes toward owning slaves while simultaneously arguing for liberty from Britain represent the broader Colonial attitude at the heart of this study. A third key player is South Carolina's royal governor William Campbell, portrayed as a feckless outsider who never grasped the depths of white Colonists' fears of slave revolt and was tragically unable to effect Jeremiah's release. VERDICT Brimming with illuminating and provocative passages, this concise, highly readable, and thoroughly annotated work will appeal to scholars of Southern slavery and colonialism and is highly recommended to anyone interested in these significant components of American history. [See also "Best Books 2009," p. 48.—Ed.]—Douglas King, Univ. of South Carolina Lib., Columbia

Say the word knight, and most people think of King Arthur, gleaming armor, and white stallions charging in jousts. While not entirely wrong, such images don't do justice to the more complex and less pretty history of knights. Dominant on the battlefields and in the courts of Europe, knighthood was both a military position and a political and social class. In this lavishly illustrated volume, Bouchard (medieval history, Univ. of Akron; Strong of Body, Brave and Noble) and a team of medievalists recount the history of knights in Europe, as well as in China, India, and Japan, and describe their armor, weapons, mounts, castles, and coats of arms. They also cover the new life of knighthood in contemporary fiction, reenactment groups, movies, and computer games. VERDICT Aimed at history and art history lovers, this work would be excellent reading for medieval history enthusiasts and should be welcomed as a library reference resource.—Robert Harbison, Western Kentucky Univ. Lib., Bowling Green

Kranish (Boston Globe; coauthor, John F. Kerry: The Complete Biography) based this book on impressive research at the International Center for Jefferson Studies at Monticello and a wide immersion in published primary and secondary works. As a journalist, he knows how to tell a good story. The book concentrates on Jefferson's time as second governor of Virginia and his narrow escapes from Richmond and Monticello during the British invasion of 1781. But Kranish also offers an excellent overview of Jefferson's entire life, from the perspectives of what prepared him for the revolution and how the revolution affected the remainder of his career. The author effectively refutes the charge that Jefferson behaved as a coward; as governor, he was more courageous than most members of the state assembly. Jefferson shares part of the blame for Virginia's lack of preparedness for the British invasion, but he always admitted that he was ill suited to be a military commander. In evenhanded fashion, Kranish shows that the bickering state assembly and a citizenry that balked at serving in the militia shared responsibility. Jefferson, though flawed, emerges as a gifted, hardworking, and well-intentioned patriot. VERDICT Crisply written and well documented, this book is popular history at its best and will appeal to a wide readership. Highly recommended.—Thomas J. Schaeper, St. Bonaventure Univ., NY

In the second volume of his series intending to document Britain from 1945 up to the start of the Thatcher era, Kynaston (Austerity Britain: 1945–51) offers a careful analysis of the political, social, cultural, and economic climate that defined Britain's postwar world. Beginning with the 1951 Festival of Britain and concluding with the invasion of the Suez Canal, Kynaston demonstrates how change came rapidly in these years, embraced by some of the general population and rejected by others. While the British were rebuilding, using more modern design, taking to commercial television, and discovering Elvis, they were also still under a wartime rationing system and holding on to an old elitism. Kynaston moves the reader deftly through the most prominent concerns of the time by means of diary entries, excerpted Mass Observation surveys, and other primary accounts. Readers will become actively immersed in the time period to an extent not often found in this kind of study. VERDICT With the previous volume, this is sure to be a staple in the British history genre. It will resonate most with serious Anglophiles and with a scholarly audience. With a comprehensive index (not seen), it could serve as an excellent source in all academic library British history collections.—Maria C. Bagshaw, Knowledge & Information Resources, Ecolab, Inc.

FDR is a natural President for conspiracy buffs since he served the longest in office and had a penchant for deviousness. Critics still accuse him of setting up the Pearl Harbor attack, although there's no smoking gun, as well as running for a fourth term in 1944 as a virtual dead man. The cause of his death early in 1945 seems to confirm this charge if not the additional one that he had "given away" Eastern Europe to Joseph Stalin at the Yalta conference in part because of his ill health. The fact that FDR was essentially the world's first paraplegic president serves to add more smoke to the fire. Lomazow, a neurologist, and journalist Fettman team up here to argue that FDR's death resulted from melanoma that had spread to his brain and abdomen, compounded by a series of strokes. His missing medical file, the duplicity of his doctors, and the belated publication of the diary of Margaret "Daisy" Suckley, FDR's distant cousin and close confidant, seem to lend support to this thesis. VERDICT Unlike most conspiracy buffs, the authors are objective enough to admit that their thesis is circumstantial and even cite the fact that FDR biographer Geoffrey C. Ward remains unconvinced. Regardless, their book is readable and interesting and should appeal to both specialists and the general public. Recommended.—William D. Pederson, Louisiana State Univ., Shreveport

The subtitle of this well-written, well-researched book makes its intentions known right away. Lord (acting historian, U.S. Public Health Service), an independent scholar and creator of Beyond Academe, a web site that helps historians find nonacademic jobs, moves easily between and among her themes, showing how the desire to "conflate" medicine and morality "or to set them up in opposition to one another" has "caused incalculable and often irreparable damage to both privately and federally funded sex education programs." Lord's plentiful sources include government documents and a judicious balance of scholarly and popular articles and books. Even her notes, which provide contextual information and suggestions for additional readings, are worth perusing. VERDICT Readers may puzzle over the punny-sounding title, lurid cover, and somewhat glib chapter titles ("Abstinence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder"), but this is a serious, substantial contribution to the social history of American sexual values that anyone who reads deeply in the subject should appreciate. It will appeal to sociologists, educators, policymakers, and historians alike.—Ellen D. Gilbert, Princeton, NJ

The year 1938 was the last before world war engulfed Europe. In reconstructing that year, MacDonogh (The Last Kaiser) here focuses on Hitler's drive to remove internal rivals, prepare for war, outmaneuver the befuddled West, and expand his empire into Austria and Czechoslovakia. He also covers the increasing efforts to remove the Jews from German life, culminating in the vicious pogrom of November 9–10, 1938, known as Kristallnacht, when Jewish synagogues and shops were looted and destroyed. A subsidiary theme in the book, which is told chronologically, is how people, usually at the direction of the state, continued to promote and enjoy traditional "German" culture as a desperate distraction from their tense environment. Readers will perceive how all year the pressure built for war and genocide. VERDICT This is not a traditional history based on dry archival sources or details about who said or did what and when. Instead, it deals more on the social and personal levels, adding a human flavor, quoting from memoirs and journals, and focusing less on Hitler and more on his entourage, which was always scheming to stay in the Führer's good graces. Interesting and easy to read, this is recommended for avid general readers of World War II history.—Daniel K. Blewett, Coll. of Du Page Lib.

In 1956, the French-born Ted Morgan, who later became a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and an author (e.g., My Battle of Algiers), served as a lieutenant in the French army. At that time, he conducted interviews, used here as source material, with veterans of the bloody battle of Dien Bien Phu, fought in 1954 between France, a nation trying to reclaim its pre-World War II Indochina empire, and the Vietminh peasant army under the determined leadership of Ho Chi Minh and Gen. Vo Nguyen Giap. Morgan is effectively providing an update to Bernard Fall's classic Hell in a Very Small Place: The Siege of Dien Bien Phu by accessing sources not available to Fall and showing that this first Indochina War in 1954 was actually a proxy fight between America, which wanted a strong France to stand against the USSR, and China, which loathed any colonial presence that threatened its supremacy. He skillfully appraises the Cold War diplomacy that led up to the battle and includes gripping and graphic accounts of the protracted fight that resulted in more than 7000 French and 20,000 Vietminh casualties. He also faults France for its ineffective strategy and poor leadership. VERDICT This compelling narrative shows how the American-led Vietnam War repeated many of France's earlier mistakes. Highly recommended for all serious readers of military history.—Karl Helicher, Upper Merion Township Lib., King of Prussia, PA

There are many books about the two atomic bombs that ended the war in the Pacific. Pellegrino's addition to that corpus brings to the 21st-century eye a clear vision of the destruction, both physical and human, that accompanied the attacks. Among them are the stories of about 30 people who are known to have survived the Hiroshima blast and fled to Nagasaki, where they were bombed again. The majority of the book is a depressing catalog of vignettes describing the horrific injuries and the fates of both immediate victims and survivors. Pellegrino (Ghosts of Vesuvius), a prolific writer of both fiction and nonfiction, explicitly intends to renew our memories of the horrors of atomic war in the hope that future ones can be avoided. VERDICT Although there is already a substantial and eloquent body of work on the subject, Pellegrino's able exposition of the mechanisms, results, aftermath, and healing will find readers among antiwar patrons, peace researchers, and some military readers, but it is an addition to a crowded genre.—Edwin B. Burgess, U.S. Army Combined Arms Research Lib., Fort Leavenworth, KS

In 1911, Ishi, the last member of the Yahi tribe, a Native American tribe of the area that is now California, was found hiding at a slaughterhouse in Oroville, CA. Ishi's tragic experiences thereafter, beautifully recounted in Theodora Kroeber's Ishi in Two Worlds, came to represent a seminal moment in the development of anthropology as a discipline in the United States. Anthropologists such as Alfred Kroeber (Theodora's husband), Thomas T. Waterman, and Edward Sapir recognized in Ishi a scientific specimen that would advance their careers. Their subsequent "research" about him was conducted in such an unethical manner as to be an embarrassment to their discipline to this day. Sackman's nuanced and thought-provoking monograph partially separates Kroeber's activities from those of his contemporaries by showing that he struggled with the ways in which Ishi was being taken advantage of in the name of science. Sackman goes to great lengths to show that there was a genuine friendship between Ishi and Kroeber, which clearly and poignantly manifested itself in relation to how Ishi's mortal remains were treated after his death. VERDICT Recommended for readers interested in Native American studies and particularly the fate of Ishi; these readers should also see Ishi in Three Centuries, edited by Karl and Clifton Kroeber, and Orin Starn's Ishi's Brain, as well as Theodora Kroeber's book, mentioned above.—John Burch, Campbellsville Univ. Lib., KY

Air Force general Bernard Schriever's most important work was on the development of the inter-continental ballistic missile (ICBM). The story of Schriever and the ICBM is as much about the rivalry between the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force as it is about the Cold War. At times it seems that Schriever and his air force associates feared the Soviets—but really hated the army. Schriever also had to navigate the rivalries between military contractors and superior officers within his own service branch. While a tale of bureaucratic wrangling could very easily be boring, Pulitzer Prize winner Sheehan (A Bright Shining Lie: John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam) has made this work exciting by weaving in fascinating personal stories of the individuals involved as well as lucid snapshots of Cold War politics. The climax is his brief synopsis of the Cuban Missile Crisis, the closest the weapons Schriever helped develop came to being deployed. VERDICT Highly accessible to lay readers, this book is for anyone interested in learning how the military industrial complex worked during the Cold War. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/1/09.]—Michael Farrell, Reformed Theological Seminary, Oviedo, FL

Stone (Fighting for the Fatherland) presents a large-format encyclopedic history, which, despite its subtitle, considers the Wehrmacht from the start of the Nazi era, approximately 1932, providing brief reviews of the major campaigns and notable battles, a superficial history of the general staff, and discussion of the roots of German militarism. Stone's descriptions of organizations, ranks, culture, recruitment, matériel, etc., are thorough and excellent, his primary concern being the design of the army rather than the outcomes of particular battles or the army's use as an instrument of state policy. He stays with the widely accepted, if glib, interpretation that the Wehrmacht was well led and strongly supported by the nation but suffered from Hitler's overreach and a shortage of industrial backing. VERDICT Though not particularly insightful regarding doctrine or history, this book is attractively presented and heavily illustrated—often with the official photos of equipment and soldiers—and offers a mass of tabular information. Readers interested in World War II history will appreciate it as a detailed and skillfully designed introduction, albeit one that may contain more information than beginners can absorb.—Edwin B. Burgess, U.S. Army Combined Arms Research Lib., Fort Leavenworth, KS

Published last year in a limited cloth edition by the American University in Cairo, this book is now made widely available with this paperback edition. Thompson (Middle Eastern studies, Colby Coll.) has masterfully undertaken the daunting task of presenting the 5000-year history of Egypt to the general reader, with each period given its due attention. Thompson captures the surprising continuity in Egyptian civilization despite the great cultural currents that have impacted the people over the millennia. The main drawback is that Thompson provides two pages of "recommended reading," though a substantial bibliography would have been a useful complement to this general historical survey. Arthur Goldschmidt Jr.'s recent A Brief History of Egypt attempts a similar scope but restricts the discussion of pre-Islamic Egypt to only two chapters. However, Goldsmith offers 24 pages of bibliographical references. VERDICT Thompson's compact, comprehensive, and balanced history of all periods of Egyptian civilization will serve a wide range of readers seeking to understand this enduring nation and people.—Edward K. Werner, St. Lucie Cty. Lib. Sys., Ft. Pierce, FL

Genghis Khan not only reigned by conquest but by using his female relatives to help expand and stabilize the Mongol Empire. Using sources that range from Chinese diplomatic reports to a text called "The Secret History of Mongols" to Italian letters to the Vatican, Weatherford (anthropology, Macalester Coll.) describes how Khan married off his daughters to the rulers of different kingdoms along the Silk Road and then sent his new sons-in-law off to war, thereby leaving his daughters to rule. From these daughters and their descendants, including the intriguing Queen Manduhai (whose raiding influenced the decision to build parts of the Great Wall of China during the Ming dynasty), we see what an important role these royal women played in Mongol and world history. VERDICT Highly recommended for all readers, especially students of history, Asian studies, or women's studies, wanting to learn more about these Mongol women, who have been studied less than their famous father.—Melissa Aho, Bio-Medical Lib., Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis

Woloson (Refined Tastes: Sugar, Consumers, and Confectionery in Nineteenth-Century American Culture) presents a detailed account of the role of the pawnshop in America. She connects pawnshops with the rise of capitalism and the city, noting that the working poor during the 19th and early 20th centuries often found it difficult to make ends meet. With no access to credit, these men and women found pawning their few valuables a necessary means of survival. Nevertheless, police and social reformers saw the practice as encouraging vice and used its connections to crime, as well as the cruel stereotype of the "Jew Broker" who feeds off the misery of others, to discourage it. Woloson argues that, like anyone else in business, pawnbrokers developed particular sets of skills and took advantage of opportunities to prosper. Her work here is based on manuscripts, family records, government documents, period periodicals, and secondary sources. VERDICT This fascinating examination of a segment of the alternative economy, one that continues in these difficult times, is recommended for all collections.—Stephen L. Hupp, West Virginia Univ., Parkersburg

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Blum (science journalism, Univ. of Wisconsin) has cleverly packaged her account of the birth of forensic medicine by addressing the use and detection of various poisons in the early 20th century. The setting is the Prohibition era, when the death toll rose with the widespread distribution of bootleg liquor containing lethal methyl alcohol and the addition of poisons deliberately added by federal government regulation to make alcohols undrinkable. Blum focuses on New York City's first chief medical examiner, Charles Norris, and his colleague, longtime chief toxicologist Alexander Gettler. Norris was relentless in his advocacy for the new profession, often railing against government policies (or the lack thereof) that allowed unregulated poisons to be blithely used in industrial products, cosmetics, and medicinals despite injuries and deaths. Gettler was the consummate workaholic professional, meticulously testing and developing new techniques for extracting the remnants of poisons in corpses. Blum interlaces true-crime stories with the history of forensic medicine and the chemistry of various poisons. VERDICT This readable and enjoyable book should appeal to history buffs interested in medicine, New York City, or the early 20th century generally. And of course scientists and true-crime aficionados will also enjoy it. Highly recommended. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 10/15/09.]—Karen Sandlin Silverman, CFAR, Philadelphia

Editors Hassan (director, Africana studies, Cornell Univ.) and Ray (history, Fordham Univ.) here demonstrate impressive scholarship on the modern history of and current political crisis in the Darfur region of the Sudan. Published in conjunction with the 2008 Darfur and the Crisis of Governance in Sudan academic conference in Ethiopia, this work is particularly notable for its inclusion of essays by leading Sudanese academics, activists, government officials, and members of rebel factions in Darfur. Unlike The World and Darfur, edited by Amanda F. Grzyb, in which Canadian and American scholars offer Western perspectives on the Darfur crisis, this collection is shaped by writers with distinctly Sudanese and African perspectives on the origins and evolution of the conflict as well as its impact on women in the region. An added bonus of primary-source material includes the Sudan Liberation Army's political declaration, UN Security Council resolutions, and the International Criminal Court's warrant of arrest for Sudanese president Omar Hassan Ahmad Al Bashir. VERDICT Although not ideal as a source for popular history readers looking for an overview, this is essential for Darfur scholars and students of African history and international relations at the graduate and undergraduate levels.—Veronica Arellano, Lexington Park, MD

President George W. Bush launched two full-scale wars and occupied Afghanistan and Iraq, seeking to reshape international relations and cement America's position as the undisputed superpower in the world. Scholars and analysts of American foreign policy will most likely debate the impact of these two wars—especially the invasion of Iraq—on the architecture of international relations and international security for years to come. What were the main reasons for Bush's preemptive attack on Iraq, and what were the broader issues affecting the course of this war? The editors of this excellent book are political scientists who have sought to answer these questions through an analysis of primary sources. They have collected an impressive array of these sources and divided them into two broad categories: documents dealing with the Bush administration's policy of preemption and those focused on explaining the consequences of a preemptive war. VERDICT Especially valuable as a tool for college professors who teach courses on the Iraq War and American foreign policy but also a useful source of information for policymakers and concerned citizens. Highly recommended.—Nader Entessar, Univ. of South Alabama, Mobile

More than half of the world's population now lives in urban areas, with the percentage of urban dwellers expected to rise over the next 50 years. Although Rio de Janeiro is known for its spectacular beaches and beautiful coastline, it has also experienced a dramatic rise in the number of informal settlements or shantytowns, known in Brazil as favelas. Perlman (president & founder, Mega-Cities Project) has been researching and studying the favelas of Rio de Janeiro for the past 40 years, conducting more than 2500 interviews with favela residents. Here she continues and expands on her first look at life in the favelas, The Myth of Marginality. Perlman follows four generations of families living in favelas, detailing how they have struggled and succeeded, shaping their communities and the greater city while striving for acceptance and respect. VERDICT Enlightening and exceptional, this book is recommended for anyone interested in the study of poverty, urban areas, human culture, and/or Brazil.—Jeremy Spencer, Univ. of California Law Lib., Davis

While some claim that President Obama's inauguration ushered in a new postracial era, Walker (history, Univ. of California, Davis) and Smithers (American history, Univ. of Aberdeen, Scotland) disagree, here demonstrating how a long history of racism in America challenged Obama's presidential campaign. In particular, the authors address the controversy surrounding Obama's relationship with his former pastor Jeremiah Wright, a relationship that almost undermined Obama's campaign. Challenging characterizations of Wright as angry and backward, the authors contextualize Wright's sermons within an American tradition of preaching that incorporates social commentary. Negative reaction to Wright's sermons against racial injustice demonstrates the persistence of racism in America. The authors also examine historical anxieties regarding racial mixing that fueled suspicions about Obama's political interests and motivations. VERDICT Readers interested in race and American history will appreciate this title, which offers an important historical perspective on race and Obama's presidential campaign. For a sociological perspective, readers may wish to turn to Adia Harvey Wingfield and Joe Feigin's Yes We Can? White Racial Framing and the 2008 Presidential Campaign.—Karen Okamoto, John Jay Coll. of Criminal Justice, New York

Wills (history, emeritus, Northwestern Univ.; Lincoln at Gettysburg) expands upon an idea he raised ten years ago in A Necessary Evil, that the atomic bomb utterly changed the nature of our government. The "monopoly on use of nuclear weaponry" first given to President Truman in 1945 has since contributed to the growth of presidential power, enveloping too many acts in an extraconstitutional secrecy grown steadily more routine. Wills starts with the story of the bomb's development at Los Alamos and other sites and goes on to outline how, as the Cold War took shape between 1945 and 1952, a national security state was constructed out of components such as the National Security Council and the Central Intelligence Agency. The consequences and further causes of official "permanent war in peace" are examined here in episodes of entwined presidential secrecy and power ranging from the Korean War to the War on Terror. In an afterword already published in the New York Review of Books, Wills expresses doubts that the presidency of Barack Obama will be much different than those of his postwar predecessors. VERDICT The original premise is often lost here, but any tract from Wills will delight his readership. This book is among his most timely, if not among his best. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 9/15/09.]—Bob Nardini, Nashville

While "God" is in the title of this latest work by best-selling author Roth (When Food Is Love), she touches only lightly on religion, focusing instead on why some people use food to mask their emotions. Overeating numbs feelings and erases unpleasant life experiences, Roth says; eating ends up being about bloating and indigestion, not about enjoying food. Through a series of inquiries, Roth helps overeaters find the underlying reasons for using food as an emotional buffer. Roth also provides seven basic guidelines for eating (which do not include counting calories) and other therapeutic self-help tools. Whether the trap is eating brownies or shopping in excess, Roth's advice could be applied to any addiction. VERDICT This is an excellent book for anyone tired of quick-fix diets. Having experienced the ups and downs of emotional eating herself, Roth offers readers genuine and heartfelt advice. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 11/1/09.]—Phyllis Goodman, West Chester P.L., OH

Board-certified psychiatrist Sophy has more than 20 years' experience working with children, teens, adults, and families from all socioeconomic strata and is particularly interested in the tremendously beneficial or destructive effects of mother-daughter relationships. Dividing the text into three sections, Sophy employs a strengths-based approach that starts with the "designated driver" (the mother), follows with the "chair strategy" for understanding and improving communication, and concluding with the "hot-button issues" of sex, money/values, and divorce. VERDICT Accessibly written and abundantly illustrated with stories taken from Sophy's extensive professional repertoire, this book would be useful for mothers of any age interested in improving their relationships with their daughters.—Paula McMillen, Univ. of Nevada, Las Vegas

As an arbiter of sophisticated consumption, urban living, and sexual pleasure, Hugh M. Hefner's iconoclastic men's magazine has influenced American society for more than 50 years. With insightful observations and extensive research, Fraterrigo (history, Univ. of Nevada, Las Vegas) deconstructs the historical and sociological context of the magazine and its creator. She shows how Playboy, which was founded in 1953, reflected Hefner's and men's interest in obtaining "The Good Life" à la James Bond or the Rat Pack. The magazine's well-respected editorial content and controversial pictorial material, including the famous "Playboy Interview" and the "Playboy Playmate Centerfold," were a marked break from traditional men's lifestyle and general-interest magazines of conservative, family-oriented postwar society, emphasizing instead individualism, singles-oriented entertainment and consumerism, and prolonged bachelorhood. Fraterrigo further discusses how this seminal publication affected gender roles, shaped attitudes toward sex, and influenced movies, television, and literature. VERDICT This fascinating, scholarly portrait of the life and times of Hefner and his magazine holds appeal for readers interested in American culture, media studies, contemporary biographies, and the Mad Men era.—Donna Marie Smith, Palm Beach Cty. Lib. Syst., FL

Popular wisdom would tell us that poverty is the breeding ground for many of society's ills. But British academics Wilkinson (emeritus, Univ. of Nottingham Medical Sch.) and Pickett (senior lecturer, Univ. of York) argue otherwise. They've woven together a great deal of international research to show that inequality, not poverty per se, is what contributes most to social problems. The authors not only compare data from a range of countries but also gather data from all 50 states to verify that relationships that exist on a national level also exist on a more local scale. The first element examined is trust as a measure of community life and social relations. Once it is established that people in unequal societies don't trust one another, the stage is set to examine a host of other dystopian problems from mental health to teenage births to social mobility. VERDICT In this fascinating sociological study, the authors do an excellent job of presenting the research, analyzing nuances, and offering policy suggestions for creating more equal and sustainable societies. For all readers, specialized or not, with an interest in understanding the dynamics today between economic and social conditions.—Carol J. Elsen, Univ. of Wisconsin-Whitewater Lib.

Too many guides to New York City sites never take readers off the usual Manhattan pathways. These two books are different. They'll inspire and enable travelers—not only those from out of town but also dyed-in-the-wool New Yorkers—to discover authentic treasures that give the city its vibrancy and depth. In Fertitta and Aresu's book, these treasures are 22 neighborhoods, arranged by borough, from Brooklyn's Little Beirut in Bay Ridge to Staten Island's Little Sri Lanka. Each neighborhood gets six or more pages, a combination of introductory narrative, vivid color photos, a basic local street map, and clearly formatted lists under the headings Eat, Shop, Nightlife/Bar (or sometimes Snack), and Visit. For example, for Little Ireland in the Bronx, the authors recommend three restaurants, three bars, four food or gift shops, and a park, museum, and church. For convenient consistency, each neighborhood's "Miles from Grand Central" and directions to it from Grand Central, usually by subway, are included. There's an MTA subway map in the back, along with a bus map only for Manhattan.

Directions are oddly absent from the Stonehills' book, but it provides street and web addresses and phone numbers for each place covered. It's a gem, inviting the reader to 51 places citywide, albeit with the majority in Manhattan. There are secret gardens, such as at St. Luke's in the Fields in Greenwich Village, surprising parks, like the Elevated Acre on the East River, charming specialty shops (e.g., for cookbooks or buttons), and museums such as at the Louis Armstrong House in Corona, Queens. Alexandra Stonehill's photographs will tempt you to visit every place. VERDICT Neither book is in conventional travel guide size, but that should not deter readers. These compelling volumes are both highly recommended for prospective new visitors and veteran New Yorkers alike.—Margaret Heilbrun, Library Journal