What led to Margaret Mead's becoming the best-known anthropologist of the 20th century and an iconic public figure? Lutkehaus (anthropology, Univ. of Southern California), who worked for Mead as a graduate student, attempts to answer these questions in this engaging exploration of Mead's life and work. Lutkehaus is quick to point out that her book is not strictly a biography but instead focuses on public perceptions of Mead. Multiple chapters cover four major themes: Mead as modern woman, as anthropologist, as scientist, and as public intellectual and celebrity. Lutkehaus presents a wealth of information on how Mead's public persona developed and was maintained through the numerous books she wrote about her anthropological fieldwork and through her extensive public speaking. She also presents a fascinating look at Mead's posthumous influence. Lutkehaus effectively and perceptively examines Mead's impact (both subtle and overt) on anthropology and American popular culture from the 1928 publication of her first book, Coming of Age in Samoa, to the present day. With its fresh approach, this work is a valuable addition to the body of literature on Mead. Highly recommended for anthropology and popular culture collections in academic and large public libraries.—Elizabeth Salt, Otterbein Coll. Lib., Westerville, OH

This touching memoir from Baszile (formerly history, Yale) competently argues that the emotional distress of the post-Civil Rights integration of the 1970s and 1980s was often as damaging as the physical brutality of racial segregation in the years preceding. Baszile pieces together a personal narrative about her childhood spent struggling to make sense of race and class, amid all the expected chaos of American adolescence. As the family helps integrate an affluent, suburban California neighborhood dominated by white privilege, Baszile coped with the isolation of "otherness" in a variety of ways. Though outwardly living the American dream, her family became increasingly dysfunctional, leaving her to navigate the teen years with infrequent and conflicting guidance. Baszile's story portrays the isolation of being "The Black Girl Next Door" in a way that many readers will appreciate, including YA readers facing similar challenges. This poignant autobiography is both a tender coming-of-age story and a strong reminder that the wounds of racial injustice in the United States run deep and are slow to heal. Recommended for public and undergraduate libraries.—Allen McGinley, Piscataway P.L., NJ

Ida B. Wells, the civil rights and antilynching crusader all but forgotten for most of the 20th century, has received a great deal of scholarly interest over the past 30 years. Bay (history, Rutgers Univ.; The White Image in the Black Mind: African-American Ideas about White People, 1830–1925) adds to this scholarship by examining Wells in the context of her social and political milieu as an African American woman in a predominantly white, male-dominated society. The sexism Wells faced within the Civil Rights Movement and the added domestic responsibilities she faced as a woman held her back from claiming her rightful place at the top of the Civil Rights hierarchy. Bay relies heavily on Wells's own autobiography (published as Crusade for Justice in 1970) and a diary that Wells kept in Memphis from 1885 to 1887 (published in book form in 1995), as well as contemporary magazine and newspaper articles. With almost 30 pages of notes, this book is well suited to academic libraries, while its efficient length and accessible style make it good for public libraries as well. Recommended.—Jason Martin, Univ. of Central Florida, Orlando

Bussel was an unsophisticated Memphis boy who got drafted in 1943 and turned into a B-17 radioman. Military life was fine until the night in 1944 when his plane was cut in half over Berlin. He was 19 years old. Rescued from a German lynch mob, he spent a year starving and freezing in a stalag before being rescued by the Allied armies. Bussel returned to his life, or tried to, but suffered from lingering psychological trauma. Confused, claustrophobic, easily startled, short-tempered, and angry, he muddled along for a while, married twice, and eventually made a good career and life for himself. It was in his eighties that he tried writing about his experiences and produced this book, his first despite having been in publishing most of his life. While his wartime experiences are interesting but not exceptional, his descriptions of his struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and his work with other afflicted veterans are both. This is a strong narrative of a man who has been through much and has come through it not stronger but with greater self-knowledge. Simply and directly written; a fine candidate for any military collection.—Edwin B. Burgess, U.S. Army Combined Arms Research Lib., Fort Leavenworth, KS

Crais (history, Emory Univ.; The Politics of Evil) and Scully (women's studies & African studies, Emory Univ.; Liberating the Family) explore the personal life of Sara Baartman, a woman taken from Africa to Europe in the early 19th century and exhibited as the Hottentot Venus. The authors stitch together the pieces of Baartman's life—no small task with so little known about the woman herself—and at times veer necessarily toward the speculative. They point out that in both Baartman's incarnation as the Hottentot Venus and in the debate surrounding her repatriation to Africa nearly two centuries after her death, people clearly prefer to see her not as an individual but as a symbol—of the primitive, of hypersexualized woman, of indigenous rights, and of the appropriation and colonization of the body. In their book, the authors admirably attempt to look past the symbol to the woman herself, who led an extraordinary life amid rapidly shifting social and scientific cultures. Despite the occasional unwieldy or overwrought sentence, this book remains extremely readable and is recommended for academic libraries and larger public libraries seeking strong African history collections.—Julie Biando Edwards, Univ. of Montana Lib., Missoula

The public recognition of historical figures ebbs and flows, not least for women who succeeded during times of rampant sexism; often, their popularity dwindles once interest has died down. With issues of sexism rising again, women who broke glass ceilings are now being reconsidered. Take Frances Perkins, one of FDR's confidants and the first female secretary of labor in U.S. history. In the late 1970s, a handful of Perkins biographies appeared, most notably George Martin's Madam Secretary, and now we have Downey's adept psychobiography. Like many biographers, Downey (Washington Post) is enamored of her subject. But her fascination serves her well, allowing her to construct an intriguing catalog of Perkins's achievements and explore the influences that held sway in her life, a psychological approach lacking in previous Perkins biographies. Here Perkins's triumphs and tragedies are compiled into a compelling narrative that never loses its scholarly touch. Recommended for larger public libraries and academic libraries.—Suzan Alteri, Wayne State Univ. Lib., Detroit

Former U.S. senator McGovern—who is also a Ph.D. historian—knows something about presidential leadership and the potential and actual abuses of power that come especially during wartime. In this compact but convincing portrait, he assesses Lincoln's greatness in terms of his ability to use his humble origins, empathy, keen sense of justice, uncommon skill in seeing the essence of an issue, faith in American democracy, gifts of language, and personal self-confidence—all to become a masterly lawyer, a party leader, commander in chief, and a heroic figure with both the vision and the practicality to realize his purposes. McGovern breaks no new interpretive ground here, but he knows the recent scholarship well enough and kneads it into his book. Given his own politics, McGovern not surprisingly examines Lincoln's use of war powers in suspending habeas corpus, suppressing dissent, and freeing the slaves, finally conceding that the great crisis of secession and the prospect of ending slavery justified Lincoln's overstepping constitutional bounds—for the moment. This biography warrants reading to catch the sense of Lincoln's greatness, both for his own day and ours. Recommended for public and university libraries.

McPherson, America's leading authority on Lincoln and his times, demonstrates his complete command of his subject in this concise but remarkably rich and perceptive biography. With deft strokes, McPherson draws his Lincoln as a man moved always by the double lodestar of Union and freedom, with each contingent upon the other. McPherson's Lincoln has his priorities right, never confusing means and ends and ever mindful of his own limitations even as he acted confidently on his own good judgment. Readers of McPherson's many books on Lincoln will not find any surprises here, though McPherson does add a few new insights into Lincoln's character, but all will appreciate how the author reveals Lincoln's genius in leading people to the better angels of their nature and the nation to a new birth of freedom. This little book is bigger than its pages and should be in every library, schoolhouse, and home as a bicentennial birthday present to ourselves to remind us why Lincoln does indeed "belong to the ages."—Randall M. Miller, Saint Joseph's Univ., Philadelphia

Former U.S. senator McGovern—who is also a Ph.D. historian—knows something about presidential leadership and the potential and actual abuses of power that come especially during wartime. In this compact but convincing portrait, he assesses Lincoln's greatness in terms of his ability to use his humble origins, empathy, keen sense of justice, uncommon skill in seeing the essence of an issue, faith in American democracy, gifts of language, and personal self-confidence—all to become a masterly lawyer, a party leader, commander in chief, and a heroic figure with both the vision and the practicality to realize his purposes. McGovern breaks no new interpretive ground here, but he knows the recent scholarship well enough and kneads it into his book. Given his own politics, McGovern not surprisingly examines Lincoln's use of war powers in suspending habeas corpus, suppressing dissent, and freeing the slaves, finally conceding that the great crisis of secession and the prospect of ending slavery justified Lincoln's overstepping constitutional bounds—for the moment. This biography warrants reading to catch the sense of Lincoln's greatness, both for his own day and ours. Recommended for public and university libraries.

McPherson, America's leading authority on Lincoln and his times, demonstrates his complete command of his subject in this concise but remarkably rich and perceptive biography. With deft strokes, McPherson draws his Lincoln as a man moved always by the double lodestar of Union and freedom, with each contingent upon the other. McPherson's Lincoln has his priorities right, never confusing means and ends and ever mindful of his own limitations even as he acted confidently on his own good judgment. Readers of McPherson's many books on Lincoln will not find any surprises here, though McPherson does add a few new insights into Lincoln's character, but all will appreciate how the author reveals Lincoln's genius in leading people to the better angels of their nature and the nation to a new birth of freedom. This little book is bigger than its pages and should be in every library, schoolhouse, and home as a bicentennial birthday present to ourselves to remind us why Lincoln does indeed "belong to the ages."—Randall M. Miller, Saint Joseph's Univ., Philadelphia

Recent college graduate Shepard is tired of hearing people complain about what they don't have. In this rebuttal to Barbara Ehrenreich's Nickel and Dimed and Bait and Switch, he sets off to see how far he can get by starting in Charleston, SC, with $25 and the clothes on his back. His goal is to finish 365 days later with a functioning car, a furnished apartment, and $2500 and be in a position to continue improving his circumstances. Along the way, he lives in a homeless shelter, befriends some interesting characters, and learns things the hard way. Shepard is wise to acknowledge the factors that play to his advantage in his experiment (e.g., he's healthy and does not have a dependent family). This story may inspire young people to realize how one's attitudes and foundational beliefs about society can influence where one goes in life. Shepard's conclusions and recommendations seem a bit simplistic but do not significantly detract from the book's overall impact. Recommended for public, high school, and undergraduate libraries.—Elizabeth L. Winter, Georgia Inst. of Technology, Atlanta

Few royal mistresses have emerged from the historical pages of obscurity, and even fewer have made the transition from royal mistress to royal wife. Katherine Swynford (1350–1403), whose relationship with John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (1340–99), spanned over 25 years, was the exception. In this meticulously researched and highly engaging biography, prolific historian and novelist Weir (Queen Isabella: Treachery, Adultery, and Murder in Medieval England) shows that Katherine was a cultivated, intelligent woman who was able to hold the love and esteem of one of the most powerful men in England and eventually marry him. Their marriage was of immense dynastic importance: all subsequent English monarchs were descended from them. Because Katherine left no written records or correspondence, Weir relies on informed judgment to fill in some of the historical gaps. Few books have been written about Katherine, apart from Jeannette Lucraft's academic study, Katherine Swynford: The History of a Medieval Mistress and of course Anya Seton's famous historical novel, Katherine, which Weir admits inspired her to write this biography. Genealogical tables at the end of the book are a valuable point of interest. Recommended for both public and academic libraries. (Illustrations not seen.)—Carrie Benbow, Toronto P.L., Ontario

White (history, visiting, Univ. of California, Los Angeles; Lincoln's Greatest Speech) offers a massive biography for the upcoming bicentennial of Lincoln's birth. He follows the familiar trajectory of the 16th President's life; what's unique is his insight into the moral and intellectual framework of Lincoln's thinking. White asserts that Lincoln was deeply suspicious of anyone who embraced absolutes; in true lawyer fashion, he could present all sides of an issue with equal force. Yet when it came to theological and political convictions Lincoln possessed guiding principles: he believed in an omnipotent and active Supreme Being and the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as expressed in the Declaration of Independence. Through a careful analysis of Lincoln's speeches, public and private letters, and personal notes, White skillfully evokes Lincoln's working out of these principles. He reveals a Lincoln whose evolving attitudes toward race, slavery, and war aims culminated in his magisterial second inaugural address on March 4, 1864, which proclaimed that slavery was at the heart of the fraternal holocaust and that the time had come for all Americans to bring forth a new nation "with malice toward none; with charity for all." An exceptional work that belongs in every public and academic library.—Jim Doyle, Rome, GA

Burrough (special correspondent, Vanity Fair; coauthor, with John Helyar, Barbarians at the Gate) details the multigenerational saga of the "Big Four" Texas oil families of Roy Cullen, H.L. Hunt, Clint Murchison, and Sid Richardson, from the discovery of oil under Beaumont, TX, in 1901 to the demolition of the infamous Shamrock Hotel, the last bastion of oil-fueled Texas excess, in 1987. Since Burrough favors the human-interest angle, the narrative really hits its stride when the focus moves to the Hunt family in the 1960s. The real-life inspiration for the television show Dallas, the Hunts prove the adage that truth is stranger than fiction. In addition to splurging and feuding as only billionaires can, they (allegedly) masterminded the JFK assassination and later threw Wall Street into chaos with their fixation on converting their family fortune into silver ingots, precipitating what at the time was the largest bailout in U.S. history. This book is an entertaining look at the larger-than-life histories of the incomprehensibly rich and powerful. While it's an extensively researched synthesis of a time and a place, it avoids a dry, academic tone through the natural drama of these miniature empires and the truly bizarre characters that inhabited them. Recommended for all libraries.—Robert Perret, Univ. of Idaho, Moscow

Lewis (Liar's Poker) has compiled an anthology of articles related to five major financial crises in recent decades: the 1987 stock market crash, the Russian default, the Asian currency crisis, the Internet bubble and, most recently, the subprime mortgage collapse (the final article included is from January 2008). For each crisis, Lewis offers articles from journals, books, transcripts, and newspapers, all written immediately before, during, or after the event. He provides an introduction to each group of articles on a specific crisis and analyzes the crisis in hindsight. Articles included are from such estimable writers as Paul Krugman, Tim Metz, Joseph Stiglitz, Robert Shiller, Lester C. Thurow, and Gregory Zuckerman, with Lewis's own articles appearing as well. He also provides biographies of the contributors and a glossary of terms. Timely and highly readable, this work includes in one accessible source two decades' worth of some of the best writing on the various crises and panics. Highly recommended for public and academic libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 8/08.]—Lucy Heckman, St. John's Univ. Lib., Jamaica, NY

Miller (senior fellow, Ctr. for American Progress; The Two Percent Solution: Fixing America's Problems in Ways Liberals and Conservatives Can Love) has written an energetic polemic. A political progressive, he highlights what he terms "dead ideas" that hamper American life through our failure to let go of them. He isolates six such examples of enduring conventional wisdom in America. In the first part of his book, he deconstructs these ideas, explaining their detrimental effects upon American economic progress. Not surprisingly, given his academic background, he writes well and authoritatively on economic issues. In the second part of his book, he identifies and explores what he terms "destined ideas." According to the author, embracing these ideas will make America economically and emotionally healthy as well as internationally competitive. The problem here is the assumption that all Americans hold these old ideas, let alone agree that they are dead; readers who don't follow the author's line of thinking will feel disconnected from the text. The writing style and layout are extremely informal; there are no endnotes, bibliography, or suggested further readings. Ultimately, this is an optional purchase for public libraries catering to readers interested in current economic and political topics.—Melissa Johnson, Fairfax, VA

Middle school is the Rodney Dangerfield of the education system—it gets no respect. We've all heard disparaging comments about it; in fact, we've all lived through it, and most of us would probably never choose to go back to that point in time. But some people actually choose to teach middle schoolers, while others are assigned that level when they enter the profession. Now there's a manual to help middle-school teachers, especially those just beginning their careers. First-time author Averitt writes from experience—she's been an educator since 1997—here offering a step-by-step guide that deals with all areas of teaching, from organizing the classroom to establishing order to gaining students' respect. Perhaps too basic for some in the profession, this work could be a godsend to others. Recommended for both academic and public libraries.—Terry Christner, Hutchinson P.L., KS

In this work, editor Glickman (president, Inst. for Schools, Education, and Democracy, Univ. of Georgia) brings together essays from five educational leaders—Deborah Meier, who has been instrumental in the small schools movement; Henry M. Levin, William H Kilpatrick Professor of Economics & Education at Teachers College; James P. Comer, Maurice Falk Professor of Child Psychiatry at the Yale University School of Medicine's Child Study Center; John I. Goodland, president, Institute for Educational Inquiry; Theodore R. Sizer, founding director of the Annenberg Institute for School Reform; and George Wood, executive director, Forum for Education and Democracy. Each describes with the utmost humility his or her career, achievements, and views about American education. Though evidently a series of scholarly essays, this book is more autobiographical, with the authors reflecting on their past careers and research devoted to improving American education. Meant to record their personal stories, these pieces foster a deep respect for those involved in the process of educating. A fascinating look into the careers of some of the greatest educational leaders of our time; recommended for academic libraries.—Jenny Emanuel, Univ. of Illinois, Urbana

The ruins of Pompeii, remarkably preserved after the violent eruption of Vesuvius in 79 C.E., have long been used as a basis for theories concerning life throughout the Roman Empire as a whole. In this vivid historical examination, however, Beard (classics, Univ. of Cambridge; The Roman Triumph) is more interested in digging into the world of Pompeii itself. While centering each chapter on general topics such as architecture, religion, and commerce, she sifts through archaeological observations in order to provide reconstructions of such everyday details as the flow of cart traffic through a particular street or what sort of plants grew in a house's kitchen garden. It's an entertaining study that demonstrates just how much we can learn from the city's remains—and how much information is still absent, for Beard is always careful to point out gaps in the evidence and casts a critical eye on several conjectural ideas about Pompeii and Roman life in general. Included are an extensive bibliography of sources for further reading and a short chapter of suggestions for those who wish to visit Pompeii themselves. Recommended for academic and public libraries, especially those with sections on Roman or Classical history.—Kathleen McCallister, Univ. of South Carolina, Columbia

This year marks the 75th anniversary of "The Hundred Days" in 1933 that signified the beginning of Franklin D. Roosevelt's assumption of the presidency. Cohen (assistant editorial page editor, New York Times; American Pharaoh: Mayor Richard J. Dailey) displays his strong prose style and research skills in this story of the precedent set by FDR against which later Presidents are judged: the so-called honeymoon period after inauguration and before the media and the opposition inevitably begin to critique and attack. Cohen wisely tells the New Deal story through the biographies of five of its most important players: Raymond Moley and Lewis Douglas (director, bureau of the budget)—both of whom broke with FDR rather early on—and the more liberal Henry Wallace (secretary of agriculture), Frances Perkins (secretary of labor), and Harry Hopkins. The author presents FDR as a nonideological pragmatist who adapted to the times and the New Deal as an ad hoc program rather than a blueprint for the social welfare state. Frances Perkins, who served FDR the longest, emerges as the hero of the story. Though disliking the media and showing little interest in aiding congressional patronage, Perkins was the driving soul behind the New Deal. Cohen does not uncover new information, but he presents a crucial human story which goes beyond that found in most FDR biographies. Superbly readable and informative, this is an essential purchase for all public and academic libraries. The current financial meltdown and the eve of inaugurating a new president make it that much more timely a purchase.—William D. Pederson, Louisiana State Univ., Shreveport

As 1864 dawned and the Civil War dragged on, war weariness swept the North. President Lincoln was faced with the duel task of turning the war toward a Union victory and being reelected to the presidency. Flood, who has written many previous studies of aspects of the Civil War era (e.g., Grant and Sherman: The Friendship That Won the War), here turns to the personal and public story of Lincoln himself during his last full year of life. Drawing upon extensive primary and secondary sources, Flood weaves a compelling narrative of this brilliant, compassionate, but haunted leader as he deals with political rivals, military commanders, battlefield reverses, and his troubled personal life. Including as it does a mixture of military, social, and political history and many voices from the period, the tale is both engagingly spun and well documented. However, libraries that already have other recent, more rigorously focused books on these ultimate aspects of Lincoln's presidency, such as John Waugh's Reelecting Lincoln: The Battle for the 1864 Presidency, may choose to pass on this one. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 10/15/08.]—Theresa McDevitt, Indiana Univ. of Pennsylvania Lib.

In 1307, Philip IV of France arrested the Knights Templar, a holy order dedicated to retaking Jerusalem, on charges of blasphemy, idolatry, and sodomy. Since then, speculation about the order's practices has been widespread, with various authors calling them either martyrs or sorcerers. Here, Frale, a historian at the Vatican Secret Archives, provides a new history of this mysterious order. Though other books, most notably Malcolm Barber's The New Knighthood, provide a more comprehensive examination, Frale draws on newly discovered legal documents from the archives relating to the Templars' initiation ceremony. These documents are crucial for understanding the charges against the knights. Frale tantalizes us with hints of further research underway on her part, relating to other aspects of the legend, but the bibliographic notes in this book are insufficient for tracking down what information came from which source heretofore. Overall, though, the work is a solid contribution on a topic where misinformation is rife and where there is little comparable material available in English. Readers interested in the history behind Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code will find this book illuminating. Suitable for public and academic libraries.—Daniel Harms, SUNY at Cortland Lib.

Lord (The Knights Templar in Britain) presents a history of several mysterious and exclusive societies that began in 18th-century Britain. These hellfire clubs purportedly encouraged their members, men who were usually of upper-class persuasion, to participate in immoral and sometimes dangerous activities. In an attempt to demystify the hellfire clubs, Lord scrutinizes their emergence in British society and looks closely at specific ones, including the Divan Club, the Society of Dilettanti, and the Medmenham Friars, as well as some of their more prominent members. One chapter, tellingly titled "Public Men and Private Vices," sums up the whole premise of these clubs. Lord states that her goal is to sift fact from fiction, and she does so quite well; her thorough research relies heavily on both primary and secondary sources. She makes it clear that these clubs were neither as satanic nor as sexually depraved as previously thought—readers looking for the decadence and immorality that the name of the book implies may be disappointed. An optional purchase for academic libraries.—Susanne Markgren, SUNY at Purchase Lib.

In the 21st century, we are concerned with economic and social inequalities and rapid technological change—but so were those living in 1890s Europe. With tension building between "haves" and "have-nots," strong anarchist movements had gained momentum there, paving the way, says Merriman, for the tactics used in today's age of modern terror. Merriman (history, Yale Univ.; A History of Modern Europe) leads the reader through a succinct history of anarchism and the rise of dynamite during this period. He uses young anarchist Emile Henry to epitomize this troubled period. Henry was the first individual to use indiscriminate terrorist means (by throwing dynamite into a crowd) to promote a particular social agenda; previously, most acts of violence by anarchists and other groups were directed at the police, heads of state, or the upper classes. Merriman's account complements other sources on the history of terrorism (e.g., Walter Laqueur's History of Terrorism) by putting a human face on this and other anarchist acts. Well told and thoroughly researched at the National Archives of Britain and France, this work is recommended for academic collections or public libraries collecting comprehensively on this aspect of history.—Maria C. Bagshaw, Knowledge & Information Resources, Ecolab, Inc., St. Paul, MN

Mrazek (Stonewall's Gold) brilliantly captures the bravery of Squadron Eight in World War II's pivotal battle of Midway and the unit's subsequent involvement at Guadalcanal. Presented in logbook format, the author's clipped narrative offers fascinating vignettes of the aviators' prewar lives. At Midway the squadron, in obsolete torpedo bombers without fighter protection, was ordered to attack Japanese carriers—and was nearly decimated. Mrazek indicts the captain and air commander of the formation's carrier, the USS Hornet, for this fiasco and intimates that the squadron may have been used as a decoy to benefit high-altitude dive bombers as they took the greatest toll on the enemy flattops. Following Midway, Squadron Eight was reassigned to the USS Saratoga as part of a task force charged with expelling the Japanese from Guadalcanal. Mrazek's gripping account of the group's bombing activities is rich in detail and tactical analysis. A special treat is Mrazek's winsome epilog, which details the postwar achievements of the surviving squadron officers and men. A well-written and meticulously researched account of one of America's most distinguished World War II aerial groups; recommended for general military and aviation collections and all libraries.—John Carver Edwards, Univ. of Georgia Libs.

Compiled by several anonymous contributors from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), this massive coffee-table book chronicles the history of the NAACP, arguably the most important civil rights organization in recent American history. A foreword by current board chair Julian Bond, an introduction by former chair Roy Wilkins, and an essay written in 1914 by cofounder Mary White Ovington put the organization in historical context. Ten chapters follow, each covering a decade of the association's history. The text is essentially a year-by-year factual account of NAACP activity in the cause of advancing civil rights for African Americans, with little analysis or interpretation. The work is highlighted by hundreds of illustrations, mainly photographs of members and their activities. Essentially a massive chronicle of events, this compilation is most appropriate for large libraries with a substantial African American history collection.—A.O. Edmonds, Ball State Univ., Muncie, IN

Pimpare (political science, Yeshiva Coll.; The New Victorians: Poverty, Politics, and Propaganda in Two Gilded Ages) has written a concise and distinctive bottom-up history, arguing that there are myths about America's poor that have been around since our country's founding. Some of the myths include the belief that being poor is a moral failure and that the poor are lazy, buy too many "luxury" items, and have more children just to stay on welfare. Pimpare knocks down these myths one by one, lifting us from our ignorance in the process. The book's strength is the use of firsthand accounts from the poor, but while this is not a comprehensive history of policy, policy is not ignored. Pimpare is honest about his viewpoints, which might put off some politically conservative readers. He supports an improved welfare state, noting that historically, the United States has done a bad job of helping the poor, especially in the last 40 years. His arguments are provocative and are welcome in the study of public policy. Recommended for academic libraries.—Bryan Craig, MLS, Nellysford, VA

Using a wide range of primary sources in English and Russian, Rappaport (Queen Victoria: A Biographical Companion), a British author who specializes in Russian studies, concentrates on the final weeks of the Romanov family's house arrest before their execution in Ekaterinburg in July 1918. Weaving in political and historical context, the author deftly conveys the tense and claustrophobic atmosphere in the "House of Special Purpose," as the family's place of detention was euphemistically called. The most engaging sections of the narrative are those that delve into the personalities of the family, showing them as flawed but sympathetic. The author details how their utter devotion to one another, their country, and their religion sustained them in their final days and contrasts their state of resigned calm with their jailers' merciless plans to "liquidate" the family. An epilog touches on the canonization of the family as saints in Russian Orthodoxy and their enduring mystique. Poignant but never maudlin, this book is an absorbing read, though the more serious reader might wish for more detailed notes on sources. Recommended for academic and large public libraries. (Illustrations not seen.)—Megan Hahn Fraser, Young Research Lib., Univ. of California, Los Angeles

Probing the puzzle of race in U.S. history, Roediger (history, Univ. of Illinois; The Wages of Whiteness) quickly examines patterns of race thinking and exploitation in America from settler colonialism to slavery, Jim Crow segregation, overseas empire, globalization, and "Obamamania." He explains race's persistence and power as a defining and distributive social category in American life as the conscious and intentional result of white supremacy. Race-based practices and principles of oppression in America have not been unthinking accidents. Nor have their results been marginal. Race has defined every significant opportunity for Americans from life to premature death, wealth to poverty, confinement to freedom, citizenship to alienation, Roediger argues. Continually repelling forces pushing against the logic of racism, white supremacy has diverted the freedom and openness that might have ensued in America from emancipation, industrialization, mass immigration, modern liberalism, industrial unionism, and civil rights. His incisive analysis and accessible explanation aim to promote an activist consciousness to abolish race-based oppression. Whether cast as splendid or seditious, this provocative little book, while lacking scholarly apparatus, will be much referenced in any serious discussion of U.S. history and political economy, past and present. Essential for all U.S. history collections.—Thomas J. Davis, Arizona State Univ., Tempe

During the 1970s, it was fashionable for environmental groups to utilize Native Americans, such as Chief Seattle and Iron Eyes Cody (actually an Italian American actor who purported to be Native American), to further their political agendas. Journalist Schofield taps into that tradition in his first book. Following the 1700-mile path the Nez Percé took when fleeing the U.S. Army in 1877, he uses the tragic but oft-told story of the Nez Percé as a platform to discuss such varied topics as dam building, pollution, logging, the Clean Water Act, and mining. Readers interested in the Nez Percé will find little here that cannot readily be found in a number of other books. Public libraries in the Pacific Northwest region may want to acquire this for Schofield's observations on the environmental damage wrought by the federal government and private companies in that area; libraries seeking books about the Nez Percé should instead consider Alvin M. Josephy Jr.'s Nez Perce Country. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 10/15/08.]—John Burch, Campbellsville Univ. Lib., KY

How can both those currently in favor of and those against affirmative action claim that Martin Luther King Jr.'s famous words about black and white children being judged "not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character" support their causes? Sundquist (UCLA Foundation Professor of Literature, UCLA; To Wake the Nations: Race in the Making of American Literature) argues that our over-familiarity with the words of King's "I Have a Dream" speech actually prevents us from understanding it. Phrases from the speech are now so ubiquitous that they have appeared in Apple computer advertisements and on women's thongs. Sundquist reestablishes King's speech within the larger cultural dialog that it originally belonged to by examining sources such as King's other speeches, the language of cultural debates about race in America at the time that King spoke, and the original audience's probable understanding of King's biblical, political, and constitutional references. An academically strong, readable, and fascinating book; highly recommended.—April Younglove, Linfield Coll. Lib., Portland, OR

During World War I, the Espionage Act (1917) and the Sedition Act (1918) were used to prosecute men such as the socialist Eugene Debs for subversion. Thomas, an independent scholar, argues that in fact such high-profile trials were only a small part of the government's effort to suppress dissent. Thomas details how Justice Department officials, including the relatively new Federal Bureau of Investigation (pre-J. Edgar Hoover) took an active role in monitoring citizens and routinely sent agents to interview suspects. Those who were deemed to be insufficiently patriotic were threatened with legal action. Thomas's focus on the process of intimidation is an important addition to the historical literature, as it reveals that actual prosecution was merely the tip of a very large iceberg of political browbeating. Of particular interest is the author's analysis of how agents conflated certain ethnic groups, such as Jews, with political subversion, and how African American opposition to Jim Crow laws was considered pro-German sedition. While Thomas's assertion that the war years marked a kind of rehearsal for later FBI attacks on dissidents during the Red Scare is probably true, it is less well documented than the rest of the book. Recommended for all libraries.—Frederic Krome, Univ. of Cincinnati Clermont Coll.

The U.S. Supreme Court's Earl Warren-era revolution in the areas of civil, individual, and privacy rights is the focus of this historical and statistical treatise, which combines sociology with survey analysis in a successful effort to prove that Brown v. Board of Education and related Supreme Court decisions of the 1950s and 1960s have created a well of goodwill toward the Court among African Americans. The Court therefore enjoys a legacy of legitimacy among black Americans, according to Clawson and Waltenburg (both political science, Purdue Univ.). The concept of political legitimacy as a stabilizing force is central to the book's theme and is particularly important in a pluralist democracy such as the United States, where constituents regularly lodge competing demands, thereby placing stresses upon the political system. The authors seek to measure, through a series of extended surveys and intricate statistical analysis, the one institution of government that most effectively regulates pluralist conflicts and rallies support for the regime. They then conclude that relative to other institutions, the Supreme Court has the greatest capacity to legitimize policies. Recommended for academic libraries.—Philip Y. Blue, New York State Supreme Court Criminal Branch Law Lib., First Judicial Dist.

Del Ponte was the attorney general of Switzerland, aggressively prosecuting money-laundering cases against the Mafia, when she was tapped for the UN's International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and for the former Yugoslavia. The job of chief prosecutor was tailor-made for Del Ponte, who had taken on what she calls the "culture of impunity" that made Mafia bosses almost impossible to prosecute, and she was equally determined to bring those responsible for genocide to justice. But she soon found herself fighting not only criminals but governments, the UN, and even her own staff. She had triumphs (Milan Babic´ took a plea bargain) and disappointments (Slobodan Miloševic´ died during trial; Radovan Karadzic´ was arrested only after her tenure was up). The writing is dry and awkward, probably because English is not Del Ponte's first language, but her strength and determination to break through the muro di gomma (wall of rubber, or diplomatic doubletalk) and fight the culture of impunity shine through. An important story that belongs in all academic libraries and in large public libraries where there is interest.—Deirdre Bray Root, Middletown P.L., OH

Based on 200-plus exonerations in fewer than 20 years, this book argues that wrongful convictions are not an anomaly but rather the outcome of a legal system that commonly fails. Part of a series originating with Harvard Law School's Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race & Justice (CHHIRJ), these ten essays discuss legal system shortcomings, their basis, and possible ways that inherent mechanisms of the law contribute to injustice. Each essay delves into a different way of looking at the miscarriage of justice, be it legal, political, or cultural. Ogletree (Jesse Climenko Professor of Law & executive director, CHHIRJ, Harvard Law Sch.; From Lynch Mobs to the Killing State) and Sarat (William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Jurisprudence and Political Science, Amherst Coll.; Pain, Death, and the Law) have assembled an outstanding group of contributors for these original essays. Recommended for academic and large public libraries.—Krista Bush, Univ. of New Haven Lib., West Haven, CT

In the 1990s, as ambassador to Israel and a central player on President Clinton's diplomatic team, Indyk, a Middle East expert and scholar, played a key role in American efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. His memoir focuses on these years and recounts in detail the series of negotiations that in 1993 and 1995 came close to reaching a settlement, until the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995 destroyed momentum and confidence. Further negotiations took place, but President Clinton's investment of time and political influence failed to achieve peace. Instead, violence reignited in the second intifada, and mistrust and recriminations replaced diplomatic outreach. Indyk presents a rich analysis of the intricate, multisided negotiations and clearly demonstrates that relations with other Middle Eastern states, including Iran and Iraq, were affected by the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. He contrasts Clinton's focused commitment with George W. Bush's reluctance to build on the work of his predecessor and Bush's ultimate preference for war. Through his title, Indyk suggests that American idealism, linked with a troubling naïveté, inspired both of the above approaches to remaking the Middle East. Highly recommended for both academic and general libraries.—Elizabeth R. Hayford, president, ret., Assoc. Colls. of the Midwest, Evanston, IL

Maddox, an army staff sergeant, was an interrogator stationed in Tikrit, Iraq. In these pages he details the long and torturous process of interrogating detainees with the intention of discovering Saddam Hussein's whereabouts. The work involved following up leads developed from Iraqi bodyguards or officials captured during dangerous nighttime raids, listening both to what frightened people said and to what they left unsaid, i.e., understanding human nature as well as family and tribal relationships. Maddox and his team questioned everyone about everything, never knowing what might turn up. The keys to success in this operation were skill, luck, long hours of hard work, good notes, patience, and sheer brain power, that is, being able to put together disparate scraps of intelligence and make educated guesses. In the end, Maddox was in Heathrow Airport when he heard the announcement that Hussein had been captured. Focusing on a specific aspect of the hunt for Hussein, this work supplements but does not replace Robin Moore's earlier Hunting Down Saddam: The Inside Story of the Search and Capture. Suitable for all public and academic libraries. (Maps and photos not seen.)—Daniel K. Blewett, Coll. of DuPage Lib., Glen Ellyn, IL

In this long essay, Simons (The End of the Cold War?), a Foreign Service veteran and former ambassador to Poland and Pakistan, addresses one of the most vexing intellectual challenges of the post-Soviet world: recognizing political coherence in the "confused and confusing intermingling of empire and nation" represented in the 15 Soviet successor states. The author identifies some of the most fundamental political legacies that define present-day Eurasia. Readers should reflect carefully on assertions such as "[Post Soviet] ethnocultural nationality was not much of a building block for nationalism" in the Russian Federation. Discussing the consequences of this and other conditions, affecting all but the Baltic states, Simons contextualizes more obvious political features like the general weakness of civil society, the intra-elite struggle to control the export of raw materials, and the fundamental significance of Vladimir Putin. The author concludes with a perceptive account of U.S.-Eurasian policy in the current Bush administration with such caveats as an awareness that "neo-containment" may not be as appropriate for Russia as it was for the Soviet Union and the importance of shaping Russia's status in the "far abroad" beyond its neighbors. Highly recommended for all academic and larger public libraries.—Zachary T. Irwin, Sch. of Humanities & Social Science, Pennsylvania State Univ., Erie

Felchner, an editor at U.S. News & World Report, has assembled a group of academics—political science and law professors—pollsters, and a few journalists for this wide-ranging look at American elections. Chapters delve into the nitty-gritty details of how elections and voting work, such as Oregon's all-mail balloting and the mechanics of voter registration. Some of the chapters investigate slices of the electorate (e.g., Hispanics, women) and voting behavior such as the ever-asked question of why young people do not readily vote. Some material covers the role of issues like abortion, immigration, and stem cells in getting voters to turn out. The contributors try to avoid typical political science writing—usually filled with chi-square tests and jargon—but the set is not interesting enough for most public libraries to purchase. While the scope is to be commended, the depth of the material in most instances is inadequate for research and academic collections. This should be considered only by the largest public libraries if their budgets allow.—Michael O. Eshleman, Kings Mills, OH

With blogs ever proliferating, what we need now is a thoughtful analysis of their impact on public opinion as a new form of mass communication. Wallace (CEO, Wallace Bajjali Development Partners), a former mayor of Sugar Land, TX, and an Internet safety advocate, attempts to provide such an analysis but is mostly unsuccessful. As the subtitle implies, he has clearly taken a side on the issue. In his three terms as mayor of Sugar Land he was personally attacked in the blogosphere, accused of being both corrupt and incompetent. He uses this book as an opportunity to defend himself (at least 15 pages are devoted to this exclusively) and to raise awareness of the enormous impact of blogs and their potentially damaging effects on the lives of public and private citizens. Each chapter starts with an excerpt from the blogger's code, a list of guidelines for responsible blogging that he outlines in the last chapter. While he brings up some valid concerns about this new medium, the book raises more questions than it answers and is uneven in its execution. Not recommended.—Jennifer Zarr, NYPL

Hood (director, Bristol Cognitive Development Ctr., Univ. of Bristol) presents an intriguing study of an undefined sense apart from the five human senses with which we are familiar. He most often characterizes it as "supersense," something that all cultures appear to have in order to explain the unexplainable. He methodically makes his case, often referring to things that children universally believe. The human penchant for sorting and imbuing objects with a special essence, the mind-body problem, and human disgust are just some of the topics he tackles. Hood demonstrates that in many cultures, religions are based on the idea that there is a reality outside what we can scientifically document. This "extra" reality is also relied upon by those who claim that ESP, the paranormal, and magic are real. In the end, he posits that this supersense, even though it is not scientifically measurable, is important for society to function; it is part of the glue that binds us and makes us care about one another. This recommended title should spark discussion in both academic and public libraries.—Margaret Cardwell, Memphis

Motivational speaker and educational consultant Robinson (Out of Our Minds: Learning To Be Creative) argues that modern educational methods from the time of the industrial revolution are stifling innovation and creativity when these are most needed. He calls for an end to specialization and recognition of the diversity of intelligence. For Robinson, the goal of education should be finding one's "Element," the meeting of one's individual passion and talent. When supported by people who nurture and encourage creativity, individuals are more likely to discover their Element, discern their life ambitions, and find ways of reaching them. It's never too late to reconsider roads not taken and change course, even if it means becoming an amateur, that is, one who finds fulfillment in something other than a job. This holistic view of human potential, educational reform, and self-realization is illustrated with stories of famous and everyday people who overcame obstacles to discover their Element. This is not a self-help book—Robinson's goal is "to illuminate...concepts that you might have sensed intuitively"—but it doesn't succeed at being something larger. Recommended for large public and academic libraries where there is interest, but not essential.—Lucille M. Boone, San Jose P.L., CASocial Sciences

Beresford's short history of the evolution of the vampire myth from neolithic times to today starts disappointingly and then runs downhill. He argues that the fear of vampires stretches back into prehistory and that in its modern form it dates to the 18th and 19th centuries and culminates in the publication of Bram Stoker's Dracula (1897). For the most part, Beresford reminds us, people don't take vampires seriously today: except among a fringe culture, they are no longer objects of terror but rather of fun. Often, however, it's difficult to judge Beresford's claims: he fails to present the evidence and reasoning that support his conclusions, and his observations often are ingenuous. The chapter on the search for the Highgate Vampire in London (1960s through 1990s) is especially limp. The author pulls in Ernest Jones on nightmares and Richard Dawkins on our genetic inheritance in the concluding chapter, but he doesn't really conclude much of anything. Two of Beresford's principal sources, 1920s occultist Montague Summers and present-day "vampire hunter" Sean Manchester, are highly suspect. It is difficult to see who the audience is for this book. Not recommended.—David Keymer, Modesto, CA

While Indiana might not be as well known as his namesake city, his reputation is growing. In a career spanning 25 years he has published 32 books and has been described as a "postmodern Emerson." It is hard to pin him down and fit him into one area of specialization. As a member of a new generation of public intellectuals, he brings a fresh and unpredictable response to a variety of topics: art, film, literature, politics, and social issues. This new work is a sequel, of sorts, to Let It Bleed: Essays, 1985–1995 and contains articles published since 1996 in the London Review of Books, Artforum, and the Village Voice, among others. Highlights from these pieces include appreciations of Susan Sontag and the writer/director Gavin Lambert, a dissection of Arnold Schwarzenegger's rise to power, and a long reflection on Wittgenstein's house. He writes about the Black Dahlia case in Los Angeles and tips his hat to the novel Valley of the Dolls. He is outraged by Robert McNamara's lack of remorse over the Vietnam War yet casts a sympathetic eye on Leni Riefenstahl's career. Indiana provides a true service in championing lesser-known writers and artists as well, such as Mary Woronov, Curzio Malaparte, Clive Piercy, and Barbara Kruger. An excellent introduction to the work of a unique talent; recommended for academic and large public libraries.—Thomas A. Karel, Shadek-Fackenthal Lib., Franklin & Marshall Coll., Lancaster, PA

Barich (A Fine Place To Daydream: Racehorses, Romance, and the Irish) is a "blow-in" to the Irish pub scene, an American who married an Irishwoman and went in search of a pub to call his own. What he found was a bit of a disappointment to someone raised on the stories of James Joyce and Brendan Behan, which extol the virtues of the dingy, dark, yet cheery pubs of yore. Today "McPubs," as they've been disparagingly nicknamed, are brightly lit, cater to families, and scatter around ersatz Irish traditions. Barich tracks their export to countries around the world—you can sample bread and drippings and sip an Irish Car Bomb in such places as Beirut, Ho Chi Minh City, and Guam. Barich did find a favorite pub, and, even in an age of early closings and cigarette smoking bans, he manages to explain the lure and lore of an Irish pub with wit and insight. There are several books on the market concerning Irish pubs, many of which contain color photos (Barich's features black-and-white illustrations), so large public libraries might want to consider this a prime optional purchase.—Joseph L. Carlson, Vandenberg Air Force Base Lib., Lompoc, CA

The phrase "gay travel writing" suggests exotic climes or more familiar stomping grounds like P-Town or Fire Island, Speedo-clad hardbodies serving mai tais, and the sort of cruising that doesn't necessarily take place on a boat. There's little of that, though, in this sequel to the editor's Wonderlands: Good Gay Travel Writing. As in his previous volume, Kadushin, a food and travel writer, offers an array of well-crafted essays, stories, and even a short play, a few previously published, from a distinguished canon of contributors, some of whom (Edmund White, Philip Gambone, the editor) were included in the earlier work, and again covering most of the continents. The collection also has most of the same virtues and faults. The virtues: the sense of time and place, of pleasure and immediacy, and sometimes melancholy, loneliness, and, yes, romance, that the best travel writing incites. The faults—a certain lack of consistency, coherence, and point—seem somehow less prominent here than in the first volume. Either that, or this reviewer has finally been bitten by the travel bug. Recommended for public libraries serving a gay clientele.—Richard J. Violette, Special Libraries Cataloguing, Inc. and Greater Victoria P.L., B.C.

With this handsome volume, Lonely Planet expands its line of large-format travel books (e.g., The Asia Book). Each of the 52 countries featured here gets a two- to six-page spread of photographs, along with short paragraphs of random information, from the commonplace to the curious, on landscape, history, people, tradition, cuisine, and essential experiences. They read like sound bites from a travelog (e.g., 13 percent of the population of Scotland are natural redheads). The gorgeous photographs with highly saturated colors testify to the varied landscape and peoples of Europe and are the primary reason, along with the breadth of its coverage, to purchase the book. Also included are four essays, one on Europe's "outrageous landmarks," such as the London Eye and Frank Gehry's museum building in Spain, one on its unrecognized nations, and then pieces on the new Europe and on European-born ideas, such as the Enlightenment, that changed the world. Practical travel information (hotels, restaurants, transportation) is entirely absent. An appealing supplement to more useful volumes, including Lonely Planet's many fine country and regional travel guides; for large public libraries.—Linda M. Kaufmann, Massachusetts Coll. of Liberal Arts Lib., North Adams

Jumping into the hot topic of green travel, author and sustainable design consultant Fuad-Luke (EcoDesign: The Sourcebook) provides an overview of eco-travel, from exactly what it is to destination and some gear information. The bulk of the book is devoted to destinations having resorts and hotels, which are divided into urban, nature, adventure, leisure, and culture sections. One-page overviews of the destinations focus on how the lodge or resort uses eco-architecture and environmental management systems and benefits the local culture and environment. Descriptions are complemented with colorful and alluring photographs. Unlike other titles, such as Green Travel, from Fodor's, destinations are not reviewed or rated here. Contact information and price ranges are in the resource section in the back of the book and not on the destination page, which may be a hindrance to those seeking one-stop information, especially the budget conscious. Still, this is a good addition to the eco-travel literature. Recommended for all libraries with travel collections.—Louise Feldmann, Colorado State Univ., Fort Collins

This charming book, a tribute to trusting one's fellow humans and to the French love of problem solving, describes Greenside's construction of a life in France despite his minimal knowledge of the language. Led to a rental house in a Brittany village by a female companion and fellow writer, Greenside ended up purchasing a house, thanks to strong-willed neighbor Madame P., and staying long after the relationship with his companion had fallen apart. The reader will recognize themes common to accounts by other Anglo-American owners of French property: the speaker of "a little" English actually speaks none at all; the worker shows up when he wants to. Unlike other books, however, all of the main characters are portrayed positively, in some cases surprisingly so, as when the home's previous owner gives Greenside a car. The author describes denying his "American" self while in France and presents his childlike "French" self with honest humility. In contrast, for example, to David Sedaris in Me Talk Pretty One Day, Greenside presents his fractured French in the original, leaving some readers out of the joke. For larger public libraries.—Heidi Senior, Univ. of Portland Lib., OR

Nearly 40 years after the first pioneering hippies of the 1960s traveled the overland route to India and Nepal via Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, travel writer Mac-Lean (Falling for Icarus) follows in their footsteps. These countries have changed in the intervening years, and MacLean's descriptions of the locals and their present circumstances are vivid and compelling. Contrasting the past with the present, MacLean ruminates on how the hippies perceived travel as a means to transformation rather than simply a change of scene. According to MacLean, today a hippie in Afghanistan would probably end up dead. While MacLean romanticizes the past—the ghosts of the Beatles, Jack Kerouac, and Allen Ginsberg linger over the narrative—he also provides information about the first budget-minded travel guides introduced by Lonely Planet and other publishers back in the Sixties. This book is an outsider's account, but, especially considering the paucity of travel narratives that include Iran and Afghanistan, it is recommended for armchair travelers at all public libraries.—Ravi Shenoy, Naperville P.L., IL

Porter (Road to Heaven: Encounters with Chinese Hermits) has carved out a niche as a translator of classic Zen poetry, sometimes under the name Red Pine. He has lived and traveled extensively in Asia, pursuing his understanding of Zen Buddhism. In his 2006 trip, he visited (and revisited in some cases) several rather remote historical sites that were key to the spread of Buddhism in China. He writes of a China that is not only embracing the future but also regenerating its heritage. Temples and monasteries are being repaired and expanded, and more people are returning to traditional religious practices. Porter takes the reader to places far off the tourist track and far from the economic and political frenzy of major cities, traveling on buses and sleeping rough in monasteries. He does it without pedantry or zeal and with some humor. This book reveals another China and will provide balance to public library travel collections.—Harold M. Otness, formerly with Southern Oregon Univ. Lib., Ashland

This book features more than 350 ideas for traveling throughout the Americas. Rosendo, host of Travelscope on PBS, organizes this large-format book by month of the year and then divides each chapter into sections—"Festivals and Culture," "Unforgettable Journeys," "Natural Wonders," "Luxury and Romance," "Active Adventures," and "Family Getaways." The chapter devoted to January, for example, includes appealing tidbits about familiar and less familiar locales such as Las Vegas, the Mayan Riviera in Mexico; Cartagena, Colombia; Orlando, FL; Jackson Hole, WY; Vieques, off the east coast of Puerto Rico; Chile's Lake District; and Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico. A typical entry includes advice for getting to a specific region, expected daytime temperatures, approximate costs for accommodations, a brief travel itinerary, and dos and don'ts for travelers. Including a handy four-page section devoted to festivals and full-color illustrations, photographs, and full-page maps, this gorgeous work serves as a perfect starting point for readers interested in exploring the Americas during any month of the year as well as for those who need more inspiration than details. Recommended for all libraries with travel collections.—Elizabeth Connor, The Citadel, Military Coll. of South Carolina, Lib., Charleston