General Reference

New Oxford American Dictionary. 3d ed.Oxford Univ. 2010. c.2096p. ed. by Angus Stevenson & Christine A. Lindberg. illus. ISBN 9780195392883. $60. REF
Providing the most thorough coverage of American English, the third edition of this dictionary from Oxford is a welcome arrival. With an emphasis on English as an international language, the dictionary has been updated with 2000 new words, senses, and phrases, including words whose meanings have undergone societal and technological change, such as bookmark, browse, and favorite. Updated proper names are also included (Mumbai instead of Bombay), as are entries for informal language and slang. The Oxford English Corpus with its two-million-word database has been fruitfully mined to offer a greater number of words currently in use than in any other comparable dictionary. Unlike the traditional arrangement of definitions by historical usage, this dictionary arranges definitions by most current usage and provides additional guidance in usage notes. Although U.S. English is the focus here, regionalisms from other English-speaking areas are also included. More than 1000 illustrations (e.g., photos, drawings, diagrams) clarify definitions. To construct this tome, a wide variety of subject consultants shared their expertise with Oxford's able staff. BOTTOM LINE A labor of love and an unparalleled gift to writers and readers worldwide, the New Oxford American Dictionary should be on the reference shelves of every library.—Marilyn Searson Lary, formerly with North Georgia Coll. & State Univ., Dahlonega

The Quotable Woman: The First 5,000 Years. rev. ed. Facts On File. (Library of Language & Literature). 2010. 1038p. ed. by Elaine Bernstein Partnow. index. ISBN 9780816077250. $95; Online: Infobase eBooks. REF
This edition is an update of a classic reference work. While the print version will prove useful to library users browsing for quotations, the changes in the reference milieu since the 1992 and 2001 editions make this edition less likely to be used for locating specific quotations. Entries are arranged chronologically then alphabetically by the names of the women quoted. Indexing is by name, career and occupation, ethnicity and nationality, and subject. The subject indexing is adequate but not exhaustive. The quotations section makes up the first 832 pages of the book, and the bulk of the quotations are from the 20th century. The quotations are interesting and thoughtfully chosen; the women quoted are delightfully varied. BOTTOM LINE The searchability of the ebook version (ISBN 9781438131924) makes it a better choice for many libraries. The print version would be preferable for libraries where writers or speakers are likely to be browsing through quotation books for appropriate quotations to enhance their work. Libraries owning the 2001 edition may want to consider purchasing the ebook rather than the print version. Overall, a recommended purchase.—Denise Johnson, Bradley Univ. Lib., Peoria, IL

Health & Medicine

Anatomica: The Complete Home Medicine Reference. Firefly. 2010. 848p. illus. index. ISBN 9781554076420. $39.95. REF
This title, a revised edition of a book published in 2000 by Global Book Publishing, serves as both a medical encyclopedia and a textbook of anatomy. Ken Ashwell (anatomy, Univ. of South Wales, Australia) again acts as the chief consultant to this book, which is divided into 16 chapters. The extensive first chapter covers the body systems' anatomy and physiology. Then individual organs of the body are detailed, including entries about how these organs work and diseases plaguing the various systems. Some entries include cross-references. There are also chapters on diagnostic tests and procedures, the stages of human life, emotional and behavioral disorders, and a "staying healthy" chapter covering alternative therapies, exercise, and nutrition. A first-aid section and a guide to common symptoms and associated diseases round out this title's offerings. Although the book has entries interwoven with beautifully detailed color illustrations that will appeal to readers of all ages, it disappointingly does not have any references or further reading suggestions. BOTTOM LINE At less than $50, this would be an affordable purchase for most libraries needing an anatomy book geared toward the public. A more robust purchase would be the anatomy classic Grant's Atlas of Anatomy (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2008. 12th ed.). A more compact but similarly detailed illustrated book is Sarah Brewer's The Human Body: A Visual Guide to Human Anatomy (Quercus, 2010). Anatomica is recommended for public and consumer health libraries.—Rebecca Raszewski, Univ. of Illinois at Chicago Lib.

Goldstein, Myrna Chandler & Mark A. Goldstein, M.D. Healthy Foods: Fact Versus Fiction. Greenwood.2010. 310p. photogs. index. ISBN 9780313380969. $55; Online: ABC-CLIO eBook Collection REF
This highly accessible guide reviews research regarding the health benefits of 50 common foods. It is a quick read but does not need to be read cover to cover; users are likely to flip directly to entries on their favorite foods. Entries for each food are three to five pages in length and arranged alphabetically. Written for laypeople as much as possible, each entry begins with a brief history of the food and then summarizes medical and nutritional research regarding its potential health benefits and potential disadvantages. For example, based on medial and nutritional research, eggs are identified as contributing to a healthy weight-loss program and kiwis as beneficial to cardiovascular health. Entries end with a list of references to further reading and resources for more information about the food item under discussion. A useful glossary of medical and nutritional terms is included. The coauthors have previously written books both together and separately on the topic of food, nutrition, and medicine, including their award-winning Food and Nutrition Controversies Today: A Reference Guide (Greenwood, 2009). BOTTOM LINE This book will appeal to a wide range of health-conscious readers, even those with little time for in-depth study. It is highly recommended for public libraries, although school and even academic libraries will likely see it circulate widely.—Sarah Sutton, Texas A&M Univ.-Corpus Christi

History

The Forties in America. 3 vols. Salem. 2010. 1296p. ed. by Thomas Tandy Lewis. illus. maps. index. ISBN 9781587656590. $364; Online: Salem History
Young, William H. & Nancy K. Young. World War II and the Postwar Years in America: A Historical and Cultural Encyclopedia. 2 vols. ABC-CLIO. 2010. 720p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780313356520. $180; Online: ABC-CLIO eBook Collection. REF
History isn't the only thing that repeats itself; the same can be said of history reference books. Here, two titles examine the major events of the 1940s, detailing the transformation of the United States from World War II to a nuclear superpower. Comparison of article lists reveals surprisingly little overlap. Though this is an oversimplification, Forties may be viewed as the "serious" set, with entries covering the social scene ("Bobby-soxers"), literature ("Literature in the United States"), music ("Andrews Sisters"), law ("Cantwell v. Connecticut"), and many other contemporary topics. Postwar Years is the "silly" set, looking at fads and fashions, movies, comic books, television shows, and all the other ephemeral themes that comprise so-called popular culture. While the former set has more numerous (650) articles of shorter length, the latter has fewer (175) but more comprehensive entries. Each Forties article features fast facts regarding who/what/where, an italicized sentence or two giving the gist of the entry, the article body, and a concluding "Impact" paragraph that explains lasting significance. Longer entries have a "Further Reading" list; regardless of length, all are signed and contain cross-references. Crisp black-and-white photographs, sidebar articles, and 17 appendixes round out the set. (Roughly com parable is the 1940s set from Gale's American Decades series, which takes a more narrative approach, though the encyclopedic format of Forties is likely preferable.) Postwar Years similarly presents well-written and interesting material supplemented with black-and-white photographs. An especially appealing feature is a series of tables (103 total) listing Broadway musicals, films, best-selling books, etc., along with pertinent commentary that helps to recall the temper of the times. Rounding out the volumes is a chronology of the decade and an extensive bibliography. BOTTOM LINE These two sets should be seen as a complement to each other—what can't be found in one title may generally be found in the other. Therefore, both are highly recommended for purchase by all public and academic libraries. However, should tight budgets allow only one choice, this reviewer sides with Forties, as its broader scope presents a bigger slice of that decade's pie.—Michael F. Bemis, Washington Cty. Lib., Woodbury, MN

Performing Arts

The Oxford Companion to Theatre & Performance. Oxford Univ. 2010. 689p. ed. by Dennis Kennedy. ISBN 9780199574193. $45. REF
This is a one-volume updated version of the two-volume Oxford Encyclopedia of Theatre & Performance published in 2003. Kennedy (former Samuel Beckett Professor, Trinity Coll., Dublin) has succeeded in pulling together 2400 entries intended to educate, delight, and encourage the reader to pursue more in-depth information. The focus of the material is reflected in the title, and literary issues are wisely left to other texts. An impressive number of topics are covered, including plays, practitioners, and movements from other countries and cultures; dance and dance-drama; opera; ritual; the circus; lesbian theater; and Wild West shows. As with any one-volume work, many names and topics must be left out, and selections often appear arbitrary. For example, there is no entry for British playwright Dodie Smith, one of the few commercially successful female playwrights in the Twenties and Thirties, but her contemporary John Van Druten is included. Broadway star and two-time Tony Award winner Bernadette Peters, too, is not profiled, while British actress Maureen Lipman is. BOTTOM LINE Recommended for students who are beginning research in this area and for lovers of theater and performance, who will find much here to value.—Susan L. Peters, Univ. of Texas, Galveston

Political Science

Buckman, Robert T. Latin America 2010. 44th ed. ISBN 9781935264125.

Dickovick, J. Tyler. Africa 2010. 45th ed. ISBN 9781935264095.

Keithly, David M. The USA and the World 2010. 6th ed. ISBN 9781935264163.

Leibo, Steven A. East & Southeast Asia 2010. 43rd ed. ISBN 9781935264118.

Russell, Malcolm B. The Middle East and South Asia 2010. 44th ed. ISBN 9781935264132.

Shoemaker, M. Wesley. Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States 2010. 41st ed. ISBN 9781935264156.

Thompson, Wayne C. Canada 2010. 26th ed. ISBN 9781935264101.

Thompson, Wayne C. Nordic, Central, and Southeastern Europe 2010. 10th ed. ISBN 9781935264149.

Thompson, Wayne C. Western Europe 2010. 29th ed. ISBN 9781935264170.

ea. vol: Stryker-Post. (World Today). 2010. illus. maps. bibliog. 204p.-568p. pap. $18-$19. REF
Around since 1966, this soft cover set now features nine volumes, each focusing on a particular area of the world. Individual volumes have been updated by Ph.D.-holding professors all associated with a college or university. The articles, which have depth and length but are not bogged with academic terminology, focus on geography, history, government, economics, and current events. One can sense the author in certain articles. For example, the article on Paraguay, in the Latin America volume, includes an exclamation point (a type of punctuation rarely seen in reference works), and, in summing up the first year of President Fernando Lugo, it reads: "So much for promises." However, the content is still quite helpful, fresh, and readable. Monochrome images and maps (noncredited) are included. Reading level is for high school and up. While this is certainly a reference set, these volumes could also be appropriately added to circulating collections. Surprisingly, there is no index to any of the volumes. BOTTOM LINE A thoughtful index at the end of each volume would be a huge and helpful improvement, as would easily searchable online editions. Were these two features in place, these volumes, owing to the content and price of the set, would be almost essential. Particularly helpful for those libraries not owning a subject set on a given region. For high school, public, and academic libraries. —Lura Sanborn, St. Paul's Sch. Lib., Concord, NH

French, Mary Mel. United States Protocol: The Guide to Official Diplomatic Etiquette. Rowman & Littlefield. 2010. 472p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781442203198. $44.95. REF
Ambassador French, former chief of protocol for the United States during President Clinton's administration, has written an in-depth book covering diplomatic protocol. The book is well organized and covers everything from the order of precedence (the order or ranking of a country's diplomats) to embassy names and addresses. In addition French discusses some of the finer points of entertaining or meeting with diplomats such as forms of address, table settings, flag etiquette, and even Internet protocol. At the end, a list of government websites, a glossary of protocol terms, and a bibliography are included. This title could easily prove useful not only for members of the U.S. government but also for state government officials when meeting with foreign dignitaries and even business leaders working with foreign government officials. A book of this nature may also benefit undergraduate and graduate students who need to contact the embassy of a foreign country to obtain information about that particular country or to request a meeting with the ambassador of that country. BOTTOM LINE This book would be a welcome addition to libraries with any international scope.—Diane Fulkerson, Univ. of West Georgia Lib., Carrollton

Religion

Mormonism: A Historical Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. 2010. 449p. ed. by W. Paul Reeve & Ardis E. Parshall. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781598841077. $85; Online: ABC-CLIO eBook Collection. REF
Scholars of Mormonism have been well served by encyclopedias and dictionaries in the past few decades. The Encyclopedia of Mormonism (Macmillan, 1992), at four volumes, is the largest, while Davis Bitton and Thomas G. Alexander's single-volume Historical Dictionary of Mormonism (Scarecrow, 2008. 3d ed.) covers similar territory with much shorter entries. Between these two comes this volume from ABC-CLIO. With over 50 contributors from a variety of backgrounds, it is divided into four sections: eras, events, people, and issues. Reeve (history, Univ. of Utah) and independent researcher and historian Parshall also include a chronology and a selected bibliography. The problem, however, is that many entries only tangentially deal with controversial issues, often presenting the Church's point of view to the near exclusion of alternative explanations or interpretations. Some issues—such as those dealing with women's relationship to the Church, for example —would benefit from the representation of several differing viewpoints. Overall, however, this issue is mitigated by the reliance on contributors from a broad array of institutions, and the article on the controversial Smoot Hearings of 1904 is an excellent example of dealing with a topic more neutrally. BOTTOM LINE Recommended for larger public and academic libraries serving patrons and students needing basic historical background on Mormonism.—David Azzolina, Univ. of Pennsylvania Libs., Philadelphia

Social Sciences

Newton, David E. Same-Sex Marriage: A Reference Handbook. ABC-CLIO. (Contemporary World Issues). 2010. 295p. index. ISBN 9781598847079. $55; Online: ABC-CLIO eBook Collection. REF
Part of the "Contemporary World Issues" series, this volume provides a good starting point for high school and college students researching the issues surrounding same-sex marriage. The book is organized into eight sections, following the same format used by other titles in the series. Newton, author of over 400 other works including ABC-CLIO's Gay and Lesbian Rights: A Resource Handbook, frames the debate by presenting both sides of the issue with a worldwide and unbiased perspective. The book includes 24 biographies, secondary materials on the issues, and primary sources of legislation, reports, organizations, court cases, and data and statistics organized into pro, con, and neutral, all of which a user will be able to quickly locate by using either the table of contents or the index. The last section on resources is organized into print and nonprint, each separated into history, civil rights issues, arguments for and against same-sex marriage, and general reviews. BOTTOM LINE A glossary makes this approachable for anyone in search of research and understanding. This is an invaluable addition to any college, high school, or public library collection serving patrons seeking information on any aspect of same-sex marriage.—Sara Rofofsky Marcus, Queensborough Community Coll. Lib., Bayside, NY

September 11 in Popular Culture: A Guide. Greenwood. 2010. 336p. ed. by Sara E. Quay & Amy M. Damico. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780313355059. $85; Online: ABC-CLIO eBook CollectionREF
"Life as it had been prior to 9/11 seemed, at least momentarily, no longer possible to ordinary Americans," begins this guide, setting forth an idea reflected back at us in popular culture through every medium of communication. Covering seven different areas of American life (Everyday Life, News and Information, Books, TV, Film, Music, and Visual Culture), this reference chronicles the impact of 9/11 in popular expression. The fear and uncertainty following that day left us wondering about our current lives, country, and relationships, and short essays within the chapters highlight responses in songs, books, and TV shows such as Sesame Street, Green Day's American Idiot, and Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11. An index grants access to the topics within while a selected 9/11 print and multimedia bibliography and a "Further Reading" guide pave the way toward an expanded view of this cultural memory tragedy. BOTTOM LINE Two similar publications cover essentially the same topics and may be of interest to libraries considering this title: Jeff Birkenstein and others' Reframing 9/11: Film, Popular Culture and the "War on Terror" (Continuum, 2010) and Matthew J. Morgan and Rory Stewart's The Impact of 9/11 on the Media, Arts, and Entertainment: The Day That Changed Everything'(Palgrave Macmillan, 2009). With the upcoming tenth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, this guide is suggested for midsized and larger public libraries, middle grade to high school libraries, and academic popular collections.—Laverne Mann, Piscataway P.L., NJ

short takes

American Buyers: Demographics of Shopping. New Strategist.Dec. 2010. 396p. ed. by New Strategist Eds. index. ISBN 9781935114932. $125; pap. ISBN 9781935114949. $94.95. REF
Dubbing themselves "demographers of the American Consumer," New Strategist Editors (Who's Buying Entertainment) add to a series that considers American incomes, attitudes, household spending, and time use. This reference appears to be a single-volume encapsulation of the entire Who's Buying series, which breaks down consumer statistics by broader commodity or service categories. Here, monetary outlay for "apparel," "entertainment," "food and alcohol," and "health care" in 2008 is sharply delineated. Quarterly statistics on specific purchases are broken down by consumer age, gender, income, marital status, race, region, and education. A fascinating, if alarmingly detailed, portrait of the American consumer's purchasing behavior.

Ash, Russell. Top Ten of Everything 2011. Sterling. 2010. 256p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780600621973. $24.95. REF
Boasting over 200,000 copies sold each year, this slender annual offers 7000 fascinating statistics on nine subjects ranging from the broader universe to the minutiae of contemporary sports. Although absorbing, the data is frequently without citation and offers only a double-spread list of further readings and a one-page record of general source material, without specific bibliographic records. With the book's array of appealing superlatives, dazzling full-color images, and striking design, Ash (coauthor, Bizarre Books) has produced a fun, visually stunning book better suited to casual entertainment than to scholarly rigor.

Cancer Sourcebook for Women. 4th ed. Omnigraphics. (Health Reference). 2010. 729p. ed. by Karen Bellenir. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780780811393. $85. REF
A revision to the 2006 edition, this vital resource—written for cancer patients rather than medical professionals—incorporates the most current information needed for easing passage through diagnosis, treatment, and life with breast or gynecological cancers. Bellenir (Mental Health Information for Teens) divides the book's 57 chapters into eight segments, offering detailed information on risk factors, cancer types, treatment methods, side effects, and support resources. Chapters are easily navigable by headings posted in a Q&A format. Without graphic embellishment, the text-heavy content may appear daunting but is well organized, accessibly written, and filled with valuable definitions and counsel.

Contemporary Japan: History, Politics, and Social Change Since the 1980s. Wiley-Blackwell. (Blackwell Histories of the Contemporary World). 2010. 328p. ed. by Jeff Kingston. illus. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781405191944. $89.95. REF
Building on his previous examinations, Kingston (Japan's Quiet Transformation; Japan in Transformation) divides this incisive contemporary portrait into five essay-style chapters, emphasizing the menace rampant in Japanese culture through inspection of the sharp rise in familial abuse cases, the imminent demise of stabilizing traditions, and the increase in gang activity. Also included is an essential consideration of the factors contributing to the underreported but decisive 2009 political ascension of the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ). As the most current and definitive topic analysis available, this accessible and engaging study is highly recommended for both political science and Asia-focused collections.

The Francis Ford Coppola Encyclopedia. Scarecrow. 2010. 320p. ed. by James M. Welsh & others. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780810876507. $70. REF
Welsh (coauthor, Literature into Film) and Gene D. Phillips and Rodney F. Hill (coauthors,The Encyclopedia of Stanley Kubrick) have compiled a definitive reference on the actors, characters, movies, programs, influences, and other significant elements impacting the work of Francis Ford Coppola. Figure profiles offer individual biographical details and an examination of professional trajectories. Movie-related entries provide fabulous, little-known backstories. Each entry is signed and followed by bibliographic references. Sadly, film stills and production shots are all too infrequent. However, this is more than compensated for by the quality of the written content. Essential for Coppola enthusiasts and film studies collections.

Jones, Bruce. The Complete Encyclopedia of Formula One. 12th ed. Carlton, dist. by Sterling. 2010. 288p. illus. index. ISBN 9781847326553. pap. $29.95. REF
An exuberant foreword by British racer Nigel Mansell opens this slim yet topically expansive update to the 2009 edition. Jones (The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Formula One) subsequently divides the book's content into four segments, offering a picture-rich subject history, driver biographies, builder profiles, and famous course descriptions. Sidebar insets contain annual world-championship results, while detailed time lines present subjects in historical context. Compared to Mark Hughes's Unofficial Complete Encyclopedia of Formula One, this volume merely mentions rather than fully profiles early racers like first British Grand Prix winner Henry Segrave, an exclusion that suggests readers be wary of similar omissions.

Lohn, John. Historical Dictionary of Competitive Swimming. Scarecrow. (Historical Dictionaries of Sports, Vol. 1). 2010. 356p. illus. bibliog. ISBN 9780810867758. $80. REF
This inaugural volume in Scarecrow Press' sports reference series provides a glimpse of competitive swimming's rapid evolution. In his opening chronology, Lohn (coauthor, Swimmers: Courage and Triumph) locates his subject's genesis not in ancient Olympic Games, but in the 1875 English Channel crossing. Puzzling is the chronology devoted entirely to Michael Phelps, who also enjoys a lengthy standard entry and seems otherwise to dominate the book's content. Alphabetically organized, brief entries profile the people, organizations, championships, and locations defining competitive swimming. A series of appendixes detailing competitions, finalist names, and medals rounds out the book. A handy who's who for aquatic sports collections.

Screen World. Vol. 61: The Films of 2009. Applause: Hal Leonard. 2010. 452p. ed. by Barry Monush. illus. index. ISBN 9781423492726. $49.99. REF
Focusing on 2009 cinema releases, Monush (Encyclopedia of Hollywood Film Actors) divides this annually published reference work into nine chapters, the broadest of which are devoted to domestic and foreign films, subdivided by A and B budgets. Movies are organized alphabetically by title, and entries are studded with black-and-white captioned film stills. Accompanying the photos are one-sentence plot synopses and details on production companies, crew, and cast members. Subsequent chapters offer photos of talented emerging actors, lists of Academy Award winners and nominees, brief biographies of 2500 living actors, and concise obituaries for stars who passed in 2009. An indispensable reference resource for film studies collections.—Savannah Schroll Guz, formerly with Smithsonian Lib., Washington, DC