Blackwell Publishing

Always I am Caesar.

Over the past two millennia, Caesar has become such an icon, such a symbol of tyranny, or strength, or decadence, or any number of other vices and virtues, says Tatum (classics and ancient history, U. of Sydney) that the man Julius has been obscured nearly to invisibility. He ferrets out the politician, orator, writer, reformer, and husband examining his career through a variety of perspectives in an effort to complicate the simplification time and fame have bestowed on the god. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Battlestar Galactica and philosophy; knowledge here begins out there.

Eberl (Indiana U.-Purdue U. Indianapolis) explores the television show Battlestar Galactica from a purely philosophical standpoint, asking the important question, "What's the point of living after your world has been destroyed?" Many of the show's themes revolve around existential and moral dilemmas and touch upon many basic philosophical discussions, such as whether or not man is a truly flawed creation. This is an unusual perspective that should be enjoyed by both philosophy students and fans of the TV show. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Cleopatra and Egypt.

Ashton (antiquities, Fitzwillliam Museum, U. of Cambridge) searches for the famous queen Cleopatra VII as she fit into the history, culture, and politics of her native Egypt, rather than the part she played in Roman history and subsequent European literature. Determined not to rely on Roman literature as her main source, she calls on archaeological evidence and the scant written record from contemporary Egypt itself. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

A companion to American cultural history.

Cultural history is concerned not just with art, literature and entertainment, but the understanding of the consciousness of a cultural group. In this summary of American cultural history, the authors study various aspects of culture from the sixteenth century to the present. Editor Halttunen (history and American studies, USC) arranges the work firstly in chronological order, tracing the transformation of America from a British colony to an independent entity to a pluralistic society searching for a common voice. The fourth section covers the topic by themes and methods of approach: visual culture, material, performance, gender, race, ethnicity, Popular culture and the way America chooses to remember its past. The final section discusses the application of cultural history to other areas of historical research. If this book could be printed in a less expensive format, it would appeal to professors of upper division classes. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

A companion to Greek tragedy. (reprint, 2005)

First published in 2005 and here reprinted without changes, this companion strives to be accessible to those without detailed knowledge of the language or genre; however, the tome is still best suited for undergraduate students or higher with some background in the subject. Gregory (Classical languages and literature, Smith College) divides essays into thematic sections of contexts, elements, approaches, and reception, providing grounding in the topic as well as an introduction to various methodologies and critical dialogues current in the study of Greek tragedy. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

A companion to Restoration drama.

Owen (English literature, U. of Sheffield, UK) assembles 25 essays by scholars on practices and innovation in drama from 1660 to 1710. Drama, literature, and English scholars from the UK, US, and Canada offer a range of criticism and consider the theatrical and social context, looking at aspects such as libertinism and sexuality, masculinity, images of monarchy, and theatrical regulation. They then focus on genres of Restoration drama, including heroic drama and tragicomedy, serious varieties, theater music, and Shakespeare and other adaptations, followed by a section on specific dramatists, such as William Davenant, Thomas Shadwell, John Crown, Aphra Behn, and Susanna Centlivre. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

A companion to the anthropology of American Indians.

This substantial volume on anthropological studies on American Indians focuses on the communities, knowledge and history of these people. Biolsi (U. of California, Berkeley) has edited 27 contributions from anthropologists concerning the ecological, political, economic and theological concerns of Native Americans, with topics ranging from the current political environment in the lower 48 states to recent archaeological finds. These papers have a strong basis in ethnography and historical data, and should appeal to advanced students of Native American Studies. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

A companion to the anthropology of Japan. (reprint, 2005)

This is a paperbound reprint of a 2005 book. Japanese and western anthropologists draw on a wide range of approaches and theories and the perspective of their particular specialties to offer a broad view of Japan, the country, the cultures, and the peoples. They cover cultures, histories, and identities; geographies and boundaries, spaces and sentiments; socialization, assimilation, and identification; body, blood, self, and nation; and religion and science, beliefs and bioethics. Among specific topics are the imperial past of anthropology in Japan, whether there is a Japanese sense of nature, theorizing the cultural importance of sports and recreation, culinary culture and the making of a national cuisine, and women scientists and gender ideology. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

A companion to the literature and culture of the American south. (reprint, 2004)

First published in 2004, Gray and Robinson's (both literature, U. of Essex, UK) text contains 33 original contributions by 34 international academics examining aspects of the literature and culture of the American South — its visual arts, music, society, history, and politics — as well as the major writers who have made significant contributions to Southern thinking and the reinvention of the South, from the earliest writers in the region to current authors. Designed as a resource for undergraduate and graduate students, the text was republished in paperback form in 2007. The current paperback reprint contains no additional material. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Cultural studies; an anthology.

This anthology brings together classic and contemporary essays in the diverse field of cultural studies. With an international scope and interdisciplinary approach, the book represents the leading scholarship in the field. It provides an overview of the history of the discipline and argues for better placement of cultural studies within the academy. Sections offer a range of perspectives on key topics such as policy, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, identity, and visual culture. The book is designed for classroom use in a variety of settings and departments, from communications to film studies, literature, and anthropology. Ryan is founder of the Cultural Studies Association. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Diaspora; an introduction.

Braziel (English and comparative literature, U. of Cincinnati) presents a critical introduction to diaspora and the field of diasporic studies, with a particular focus on diasporic shifts post-1989 and post-9/11. The text analyzes patterns of diasporic movement, the issues impacting various diasporic communities globally, and key issues that are significant to contemporary discussions of diaspora or diasporic studies, including labor, gender, sexuality, race, transnational activism, and global capitalism. Braziel puts forward a specific thesis throughout the book: that diasporas write counter- globalization narratives to the "master" narratives of nationalism, imperialisms, and global capitalism. Suitable for use as a textbook and as a resource for general readers interested in issues of citizenship, nationality, and immigration. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Doing optimality theory; applying theory to data.

Optimality theory is a linguistic model largely associated with phonology, though not without other application, that holds that observed forms of language arise from the interaction between conflicting constraints. In this volume, McCarthy (linguistics, U. of Massachusetts), one of the major developers of optimality theory, explains its application. He reviews the core concepts; explains how to construct, justify, and test an analysis; provides a model for writing up optimality theory analyses; describes how to posit new constraints or modify old ones and how to modify typological predictions in accord with such changes; and reviews areas of recent research. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Galatians through the centuries.

Riches (divinity and biblical criticism, Glasgow U.) takes Paul's letter to the Galatians passage by passage, looking at its reception by scholars over the past two millennia. He finds such aspects as Paul's argument for his independence as an apostle, the purpose of the law and the new life of sonship of God, and life beyond the law. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Gender myths and feminist fables; the struggle for interpretive power in gender and development.

Activists and academics from the South and the North, and representatives of bilateral and multilateral development agencies gathered in Sussex, England, at an undisclosed date in response to disillusionment with the simplistic slogans and lack of concrete progress on considering gender in development. Eight papers from that conference examine such aspects as the construction of the myth of survival, Earth Mother myths and other ecofeminist fables, women as the new anti-corruption force, and marriage and creative conjugality. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

The global justice reader.

Thom (political and legal philosophy, U. of Newcastle, UK) presents a collection of the best work in political philosophy concerning global justice from both antiquity and the modern day. Designed for course use, the text contains 38 chapters organized into 11 thematic sections: sovereignty, rights to self-determination, human rights, Rawls' The Law of Peoples, nationalism and patriotism, cosmopolitanism, global poverty and international distributive justice, just war, terrorism, woman and global justice, and international environmental justice. Each section includes a brief introduction outlining the topic and the featured articles. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

God, evil, and design; an introduction to the philosophical issues.

O'Connor (philosophy, Seton Hall U., South Orange, New Jersey) presents an impartial introduction to arguments relating to the questions of how the idea of a perfect God squares with all the suffering in the world, and how that reality can attest to a divine origin. Drawing upon sources/examples including philosopher J.L. Mackie (who concluded that the existence of God is logically impossible), Yeat's poems, and Bill Gates, he discusses concepts of God and ways to evaluate rival arguments. Chapters include suggested reading. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

A guide to econometrics, 6th ed.

Kennedy (economics, Simon Fraser U.) presents a revised reference text for undergraduate, masters, and Ph.D. students. Serving as a supplement to econometrics textbooks, it offers an overview of the subject and provides an intuitive feel for its concepts and techniques. The sixth edition has been updated and revised throughout to improve the explanation of numerous topics, and also features a new chapter on instrumental variable estimation and a new chapter on computational considerations. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

A guide to teaching introductory psychology.

This most ubiquitous of courses may be the bread-and-butter of social science programs, but the instructors (often adjunct) and graduate students charged with teaching undergraduates often do so without sufficient support. Goss Lucas (psychology, U. of Illinois) provides that support in the forms of guidance and a functional toolbox both they and the teachers of more advanced courses can use in every class session. She describes how to manage the classroom, prepare content, and create exercises, covering human development, biological psychology, sensation and perception, consciousness, motivation, emotion, learning and memory, cognition and cognitive abilities, language, health, stress, coping, therapies, and social psychology. She is amongst the very few teachers of teachers to offer a full chapter on ending the course, assessing it, and using that data to help get ready for the next semester. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

A history of broadcasting in the United States.

Gomery (U. of Maryland) offers a useful perspective on the history of broadcasting in the United States by focusing on the social, political and cultural impact of the medium. By examining four different periods of broadcasting during the 20th century, this book uses information newly discovered at the Library of Congress to observe race, class and gender issues in the medium. While written for students of broadcasting and communications, this volume should also appeal to general audiences. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

A history of Florence 1200-1575. (reprint, 2006)

The city of Florence is idealized by many as the cradle of the Renaissance, a place of art and beauty ruled by enlightened men. Najemy (history, Cornell University) acknowledges the allure of Florence but reminds the reader that the families who supported the arts were also politicians. In the almost four-hundred year span of this book, Najemy takes Florence from a republic ruled by an oligarchy to a Medici princedom in all but name, through anarchy and the theocracy of Savonarola and back to a quasi-republic and a Medici resurgence. The importance of family alliances among the elite is a continuing thread but Najemy also emphasizes the role of the populace in the politics of Florence. This is a fine balance to art histories that only see Lorenzo de Medici as a magnificent patron and ignoring the intrigues and plots that kept him in power and made the art possible. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)