Reference Reviews, June 1, 2011
June 1, 2011ARTS & HUMANITIES
Encyclopedia of Religion and Film. ABC-CLIO. 2011. 644p. ed. by Eric Michael Mazur. photogs. filmog. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780313330728. $85. Online: ABC-CLIO eBook Collection REF
In recent years, the intersection of religion and film has become a niche field of study. To help further the discussion, Mazur (religious studies, Virginia Wesleyan Coll.) has edited a volume dedicated to the study of religion and religious themes in film. It contains 91 alphabetically organized entries that each run roughly two to five pages in length and are signed by scholars with backgrounds in religion, film, and cultural studies. Entry topics focus on religious traditions (Judaism, the Black Church, Protestantism); directors (Bergman, Fellini, Kubrick, Truffaut); geography (Bollywood, Britain, Japan); and religious characters, concepts, and symbols (angels, God, clergy, Bible films, holidays). Some entries are dedicated to particular films and film genres, including the Holocaust, The Matrix trilogy, and censorship in Hollywood. Each article concludes with See also cross-references and a short bibliography. In some cases, images from the films referenced are included. Rounding out the volume is an extensive filmography, bibliography, and index. The text primarily concentrates on the mainline religions of Catholicism, Judaism, and Islam, but it also explores films of other traditions including voodoo, Wicca, and those of Native Americans and other indigenous peoples. Although films from the English-speaking world make up most of the scope, attention is also given to non-English films from Africa, China, and Latin America. BOTTOM LINE The Routledge Companion to Religion and Film (2009) covers similar ground but is organized differently—these titles complement rather than compete with each other. Clearly written entries will offer much discussion material for anyone interested in religion and film, either as separate or combined disciplines. Recommended for academic and large public libraries.—Jackie Parascandola, Columbia Univ. Libs., New York
HISTORY
Panton, Kenneth J. Historical Dictionary of the British Monarchy. Scarecrow. 2011. 665p. bibliog. ISBN 9780810857797. $99. Online: NetLibrary, Overdrive, MyiLibrary, EBL, & Questia REF
The pomp, circumstance, and silly hats of the recent Royal Wedding put the UK monarchy back in the public eye, setting the stage for Panton’s (emeritus, Univ. of Southern Mississippi) fourth historical UK-history themed dictionary for Scarecrow Press. Largely focusing on the people who make up the historical British monarchy, this covers 495 C.E. to the present. More than 600 alphabetical entries comprise the bulk of the volume, including, e.g., Robert II (1316–90) and James I of Scotland (1394–1437). Other entries discuss items, acts, events, and places key to the monarchy, such as the Crown Estate. Articles average about a half to one page in length and are heavily cross-referenced. The volume also includes a chronology, bibliography, and family trees specifically highlighting Britain’s kings and queens, as well as the line of succession to the British throne, sure to be a persistent point of curiosity. A 14-page introduction provides a helpful overview of the subject. BOTTOM LINE Perfect for a brief biographical snapshot of a member of the British monarchy; perhaps unnecessary for those libraries owning Brewer’s British Royalty (Sterling, 1998). Recommended for larger public and academic libraries where there is demand. For more in-depth biographical material, consider Gale’s Biography in Context database.—Lura Sanborn, St. Paul’s Sch. Lib., NH
The Thirties in America. 3 vols. Salem. (Decades). 2011. 1256p. ed. by Thomas Tandy Lewis. photogs. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781587657252. $395. Online: Salem History (free with print purchase) REF
These approximately 675 signed articles ranging in length from 300 to 3000 words are authored by over 330 international scholars and practitioners. Covering some 50 subjects and categories—e.g., African Americans, Business & Economics, Literature: People, and Women’s Issues—the work focuses not only on the United States but also Canada, a welcome cross section of North American states. A list of entries by category and a glossary, bibliography, and time line are included in Volume 3, along with indexes by photographs, personage, and subject. A complete table of contents is included in Volume 1, while the contents of each volume are included at the start of the respective volume. Entries include See also references along with lists of further readings, features that make this a good starting point for advanced research. BOTTOM LINE The writing is appropriate for high school and college students seeking information about drama, entertainment, legislation, literature, music, sports, etc., with a focus on the Great Depression and events surrounding it. Similar to the other volumes in Salem’s “Decades” series, this set is welcome for its coverage of a tumultuous decade in both the United States and Canada. —Sara Rofofsky Marcus, Queens Coll., Bayside, NY
LANGUAGE & WRITING
American Heritage Dictionaries Eds. The American Heritage Student Grammar Dictionary. Houghton Harcourt. Aug. 2011. c.160p. illus. ISBN 9780547472652. pap. $13.95. REF
Although barely more than 150 pages long, this title provides a mother lode of grammatical information. The American Heritage editors introduce each grammatical term with an example sentence, followed by a definition or explanation of the term. The appropriate placement of the term in a sentence is noted with samples showing various locations—before a verb, after a noun, etc. Additional notes about the term, e.g., “attributive adjective,” “double genitive,” or “indirect discourse,” are included in a “Useful Tip” section; there are See also sections for the majority of terms along with many illustrative cartoons. Included are a pronunciation key and a list indicating the pronunciations of grammatical terms like “parse,” “idiom,” “rhetorical,” and others. BOTTOM LINE Although this title may help those with little awareness of English grammar develop a firmer grasp of topics like nouns and dangling modifiers, it will go much further toward making users cognizant of first-class grammatical usage and its terminology. Likewise, this title will be most useful for advanced-placement high school students, advanced undergraduates, and graduate students.—Marilyn S. Lary, formerly with North Georgia Coll. & State Univ., Milledgeville
SCIENCES
The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. The Handy Science Answer Book. 4th ed. Visible Ink. 2011. c.680p. illus. index. ISBN 9781578593217. pap. $21.95. REF
The eight years since this title’s last appearance constitute an era in some sciences, marking high time for a new edition. Facts are presented in brief narrative answers to questions, grouped into chapters by subject area. This results in a very browsable title, less useful in finding a particular fact without consulting the index. New to this edition are questions regarding the 2010 Gulf oil spill, Web 2.0, electronic waste, brain injuries in sports, and biofield therapies (e.g., qigong, Reiki, therapeutic touch). Topics no longer appearing are those dealing with buildings, bridges, and modes of transportation. The endangered species list is updated, with populations of the gray wolf and a dozen other species recovering enough to be removed. Dates of the next total solar and lunar eclipses extend into the years 2027 and 2021, respectively, and blue moons through 2038. Statistical notes, such as on the most frequently cited scientific journal article, have been updated throughout. Sources are not identified for each answer, however, and the widely discredited story that the condom derived its name from the physician to Charles II is presented as fact. This title has its origins in the card file of questions that had been asked in the science and technology department of Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, the first science department in a public library, established in 1902. As of a couple of years ago, that department no longer exists as a discrete unit. Visible Ink publishes other “Handy Answer” books that delve more deeply into biology, anatomy, astronomy, dinosaurs, math, oceans, physics, and weather, but all these areas are represented in the title under review. BOTTOM LINE Recommended for all public, school, and academic libraries. Consider placing it in the circulating collection.—Teresa R. Faust, Vermont Dept. of Libs., Berlin
SOCIAL SCIENCES
Encyclopedia of Family Health. 2 vols. SAGE. 2011. c.1144p. ed. by Martha Craft-Rosenberg & Shelley-Rae Pehler. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781412969185. $350. Online: SAGE Reference Online REF
This set seeks to be the first comprehensive resource on the relationship of health and families with a theoretical and public policy focus. The encyclopedia lists entries alphabetically at the beginning of each volume but also includes a “Reader’s Guide” grouping 350 entries into 11 general categories such as “At-Risk Conditions and At-Risk Situations” and “Factors Influencing Family Health.” There are even categories on families experiencing specific conditions or events such as acute physical or mental illness as well as chronic physical and mental health conditions. The “Experience with Transitions” category is distinctive for its coverage of wide-ranging topics like abortion, adoption, the empty nest, an adult child’s return home, and even illegal alien status and family health. The first volume contains a chapter offering a historical overview of the relationship of family to health, recommended for introductory reading. The appendix in Volume 2 is a resource guide listing journal articles, journal titles, books, reports, and websites (See also references at the end of each entry likewise list further resources, including websites). Although this encyclopedia is mostly geared toward the United States, it also provides a global perspective on family health issues. Both editors are nursing faculty; Craft-Rosenberg has extensive publishing experience. BOTTOM LINE Most reference works related to family health concentrate just on health concerns, such as the Mayo Clinic Family Health Book (4th ed., 2009). This set is distinctive for investigating how various health and societal issues affect the family dynamic. Recommended for academic and public libraries.—Rebecca Raszewski, Univ. of Illinois Lib. at Chicago
Encyclopedia of Power. SAGE. 2011. c.755p. ed. by Keith Dowding. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781412927482. $175. Online: SAGE Reference Online REF
This single-volume work focuses on the ways in which power is theorized in the social sciences, e.g., political science, sociology, social psychology, organization studies, and urban politics and planning. The 381 entries are arranged alphabetically, ranging from 400 to 4000 words in length and written by 157 scholars from 17 different countries. Entries cover theories such as those of consensual power, concepts like manipulation, institutions like the Central Intelligence Agency, and people such as psychology theorist David McClelland. Each entry contains cross-references and a bibliography. The “Reader’s Guide” at the outset (common to Sage works) also organizes entries into key themes, such as “Institutional Issues,” “Intrapersonal Matters,” and “Methodological Issues.” The work concludes with an index. The entries are written in a readable, concise style that can help clarify theoretical issues for students or provide quick background information on institutions, people, or events. Dowding (political science, Australian National Univ.) has published widely on the topic of power and serves as coeditor of Sage’s Journal of Theoretical Politics. BOTTOM LINE This set offers a distinctive interdisciplinary analysis of the concept of power and will prove a valuable addition for academic collections.—Samantha Schmehl Hines, Univ. of Montana Lib., Missoula
Encyclopedia of Women in Today’s World. 4 vols. SAGE. 2011. c.2016p. ed. by Mary Zeiss Stange & others. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781412976855. $450. Online: SAGE Reference Online REF
This is neither a biographical nor a historical encyclopedia, with coverage starting in 2000 and encompassing women’s contemporary status in 15 categories: “Activism,” “Arts,” “Business,” “Countries,” “Education,” “Environment,” “Government,” “Health,” “Media,” “Religion,” “Science,” “Sports,” “Sexualities,” “War,” and “Women’s Lives.” “Signal Biographies” within categories are representative; there is no attempt to be comprehensive. Access to categories is by the “Reader’s Guide,” but volumes are organized alphabetically. There are 1000 entries ranging from 600 to 2500 words. Emphasis is a bit skewed toward popular culture, and though international, the United States predominates. This may be desirable since the main competitor is the scholarly Oxford Encyclopedia of Women in World History (2008, four vols.) and organization contrasts with the other contender, Greenwood Encyclopedia of Women’s Issues Worldwide (2003, six vols.), organized geographically. The 400 contributors are feminist, women’s studies, or gender studies scholars. The editors are eminent: Stange (women’s studies, Skidmore Coll.; Hard Grass), Carol K. Oyster (psychology, Univ. of Wisconsin; Gun Women), and Jane E. Sloan (media, Rutgers Univ.; Reel Women). The bibliography, or “Resource Guide,” is eight pages, half websites. Film and video titles are critiqued in the entries and indexed by name. Photographs are good, but a few charts or graphs would have improved the coverage. BOTTOM LINE As a women’s encyclopedia, this is not comprehensive, but high school and college students will like it, especially its digital version, Multimedia Encyclopedia of Women in Today’s World, which will incorporate annual digital editions of 250 entries for $200. The electronic version will have 100 video clips and color photos. A 30-day free trial is advertised.—Janice Dunham, John Jay Coll. Lib., CUNY
SHORT TAKES
Almanac of Architecture & Design 2011, DesignIntelligence. 12th ed. Greenway Group. 2011. c.606p. ed. by James P. Cramer & Jane Paradise Wolford. illus. index. ISBN 9780984613601. pap. $149. REF
Cramer (How Firms Succeed: A Field Guide to Design Management) and architectural historian Wolford have filled this stunning look book with lush photographs of the year’s most visually arresting structures to introduce the nation’s premier architectural firms. The book’s 11 chapters—some studded with full-color illustrative charts—detail the notable figures, leading firms, awards, and interior and exterior spaces now defining the industry. While the closing chapter offers research leads, including subject-relevant book awards and a directory of architecture critics, no traditional bibliography is provided. Still, the detailed snapshot of this professional field is essential for structural design collections.
Bordman, Gerald with Richard Norton. American Musical Theatre: A Chronicle. 4th ed. Oxford Univ. 2011. 1032p. index. ISBN 9780199729708. $160. REF
This updated and revised edition (following the 2001 third edition) incorporates developments to musical theater from the last decade. Bordman (coauthor, The Oxford Companion to American Theatre) and Norton (A Chronology of American Musical Theater) open this admittedly New York–centric guide with a prolog on the late 18th-century genesis of musical theater. Throughout, sidebars offer thumbnail profiles of actors, directors, and notable figures in musical theater history. The content is organized chronologically by season, and several paragraphs detail the significance and critical reception of each year’s debuts. This is the most up-to-date subject reference available and an enjoyable read.
Craig, Robert D. Historical Dictionary of Polynesia. 3d ed.Scarecrow. (Historical Dictionaries of Asia, Oceania, and the Middle East). 2011. 440p. bibliog. ISBN 9780810867727. $90. REF
This revision to the 2002 edition by Pacific studies specialist Craig (history, emeritus, Alaska Pacific Univ.) has been fully updated to include developments as recent as early 2010. Opening with an expanded, 20-page chronology that begins with 1300 B.C.E., the book continues with a valuable 13-page introductory essay-style overview of Polynesian history, divided by major periods. A majority of the book is devoted to 400 alphabetized entries explaining the major figures, places, items, rituals, and organizations vital to the cultures of Polynesia’s 13 island states. An amazing 81-page bibliography organized by nation makes this a must-have for Pacific studies researchers.
Kronk, Gary W. & Maik Meyer. Cometography: A Catalog of Comets. Vol. 5: 1960–1982. Cambridge Univ. 2011. 820p. index. ISBN 9780521872263. $250. REF
Part of a series begun in 1999, this fifth volume covers 1960–82. Like its predecessors, it contains established data about recognized comets. Kronk (Meteor Showers) and Meyer (assistant editor, International Comet Quarterly) organize these entries by year and discovery time, rather than by comet name, allowing for easier identification of phenomenological trends. Each entry runs approximately three pages in length and contains highly specialized information, including formulas calculating path, absolute magnitude, and proximity to Earth. Entries have extensive bibliographic references. An appendix details, by date, cometlike objects about which researchers remain skeptical. Best for astrophysical and astronomy specialists.
The Oxford Handbook of Children’s Literature. Oxford Univ. 2011. 584p. ed. by Julia L. Mickenberg & Lynne Vallone. bibliog. ISBN 9780195379785. $150. REF
Mickenberg (American studies, Univ. of Texas, Austin) and Vallone (childhood studies, Rutgers Univ.) bring together essays by 26 scholars, including M.O. Grenby, coeditor of The Cambridge Companion to Children’s Literature (2010). And while the Cambridge Companion offers academic articles exploring the concepts of audience and theme, this book presents original and often complicated subject examinations, involving race and class, worldly knowledge, even image-driven stories. Organized into four thematic segments, all of the 26 essays are highly accessible and engaging, even for curious lay readers. A three-page bibliography and further reading list follows each one. An absorbing reference, valuable to literary and cultural studies collections.
Picken, Stuart D.B. Historical Dictionary of Shinto. 2d ed. Scarecrow. (Historical Dictionaries of Religions, Philosophies, and Movements). 2011. 373p. maps. bibliog. ISBN 9780810871724. $85. REF
Amid a recent explosion of texts on this ritual-dependent Japanese religion, this revised and updated historical dictionary edition seeks to define the major terms, symbols, devotional activities, figures, and places vital to Shinto practice, whose lack of doctrine and tendency toward religious blending has made consistent explanation difficult. Opening with a time line punctuated by ruling periods, Picken (philosophy, International Christian Univ., Tokyo) prefaces the lexicon with an absorbing chronological overview. Eight hundred newly expanded and alphabetized entries skillfully explain Shinto’s complex aspects. An essential subject resource and excellent companion to John Breen and Mark Teeuwen’s highly regarded A New History of Shinto (Wiley-Blackwell, 2010).
The U.S. Motor Vehicle Reference Book 2011. Business Resources Bureau. 2011. 272p. ed. by Michael L. Sankey. illus. ISBN 9781879792975. pap. $14.95. REF
Sankey’s (The MVR Access and Decoder Digest) slender but information-packed paperback is the result of collaborations with state officials to offer the most up-to-date documentation of state motor vehicle laws and license requirements. Highly detailed entries are organized alphabetically by state name and generally run four pages in length. Included are administrative contacts, descriptions of license appearance, endorsement and classification codes, violation consequences, license plate specifications, and information on public-record access. This one-stop information source—rivaling even current online information portals, like DMV.org—allows for swift location of varied and complex legal codes. —Savannah Schroll Guz, formerly with Smithsonian Libs., Washington, DC
