ABC-CLIO
Abortion in the United States; a reference handbook.
In a balanced treatment of this highly contentious issue, McBride (emeritus, political science, Florida Atlantic U.; U. of Washington. 2006-2008) presents both sides of the debate over abortion in the U.S. in historical, international, and relevant medical issue contexts. The book includes a chapter-long chronology of the policy debates; biographical sketches of the key players; summaries of/excerpts from historical documents, Supreme Court cases, and state regulations; data on current abortion incidence and practice; an annotated directory of resources; and a glossary. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
Adoption; a reference handbook, 2d ed.
This reference appropriate for a general audience surveys current issues surrounding adoption, including the debate over same-sex couples' adoption rights and country-specific legislation conditions that contribute to inter-country adoption. Other topics include open vs. closed adoptions, infant abandonment laws, possible emotional and health problems of adopted children, international and US adoption data, and biographical sketches of key figures in adoption practice and advocacy. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
Cold War; a student encyclopedia; 5v.
The Cold War, declares Tucker (Senior Fellow in Military History at ABC-CLIO and formerly of Virginia Military Institute), was "the single most important event of the second half of the twentieth century." In this five-volume encyclopedia containing some 1000 alphabetical entries from Abdullah, King of Jordan, to Zorin, Valerian Aleksandrovich (1902-1986), a Soviet diplomat, the focus is on diplomatic and military developments and issues, but some coverage has been included of social and economic implications as well. Entries on prominent people, major institutions and organizations, wars and diplomatic conferences, and political movements are included. Entries on most countries of the world are included and, for the most significant, separate entries on their military establishments are presented as well. The first volume opens with eight general maps, but a number of additional maps are included with the entries. Also included in the first volume are three general essays, two of which provide general narratives concerning the origins and course of the Cold War, and another of which provides a personal perspective on the Cold War from John S. D. Eisenhower, a retired US military officer who is the son of American President Dwight Eisenhower. The fifth volume, which is separately edited by Priscilla Roberts (Centre for American Studies, U. of Hong Kong, China) is a documentary reader of 171 primary source documents, ranging from Henry R. Luce's influential essay "The American Century" to Mikhail Gorbachev's declaration of Perestroika and Glasnost. A preponderance of documents, naturally enough, come from Soviet and American leaders, but other documents such as Ho Chi Minh's declaration of Vietnamese independence do find inclusion. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
Cuba; a global studies handbook.
Henken (sociology, Black and Hispanic studies, Baruch College, city U. of New York) provides narratives and references in this review of Cuban history, politics, and society. He reviews Cuba's geography and history, beginning with indigenous cultures and eventual colonization, up to its becoming a sovereign nation and a bastion of communism. He shows how industries developed and the society became increasingly hierarchical, the rise of the collectives and decentralization, and the return to centralization since 1996, the institutions of power, including those involved with defense and education, the culture, including faith, family and music. References include listings of key events and people, directories of organizations and an annotated bibliography. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
Encyclopedia of love in world religions; 2v.
Greenberg (religion and Jewish studies, Rollins College, Winter Park, Florida) and a team of academics in the study of religion at universities in Israel, North America, and Europe, offer entries on the world religions that focus on various aspects of love and sexuality. Among the topics are adultery, beauty, body, charity, compassion, filial love, love of neighbor, and motherhood, each in separate entries for Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism. The entries are written for the general reader and high school or undergraduate student. Each concludes with a short bibliography. A selection of brief readings excerpted from longer works by various religious leaders and academics are included at the beginning of volume one. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
Material culture in America; understanding everyday life.
Sheumaker (American studies, Miami U., Ohio) and Wajda (history, Kent State U., Ohio) have compiled an encyclopedic survey of American cultural studies topics and how they are expressed and understood through material culture. Approximately 200 entries shed light on historical and modern material connections with topics as varied as adolescence, ethnicity, mourning, Art Deco, graphic design, and gay consumerism. Certain objects themselves, including attics, textiles, and fanzines, are included as marks of American cultural identity and legacy. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
Military communications; from ancient times to the 21st century.
The 322 entries in this encyclopedia chronicle the modes and means of message transmission among armed troops involved in battles and reconnaissance since the beginning of civilization. Writing for the general reader, the contributors discuss specific battles where communication played a central part, periods of military history on different continents, important scientists and leaders, national military organizations, and command headquarters. Topics include code breaking, dogs, field wire and cable, high-speed Morse, the Japanese army, medieval military signaling, pigeons, telegraph, and the Battle of Waterloo. The editor is professor of media and public affairs at George Washington University. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
Organized crime; from trafficking to terrorism; 2v.
This is a two-volume reference providing an overview of organized crime and related issues around the world. In the first volume, Shany (director of research, the COBRA Institute, a private research firm in the US) and Mishra (history, Sambalpur U., India) present articles that discuss the historical antecedents of organized crime; examine definitions, theories, and concepts of organized crime; and explore the manifestations of organized crime in different regional and national settings. They also provide coverage of the range of activities organized crime is engaged in, including copyright infringement, counterfeiting, drug trafficking, fuel racketeering, illegal gambling, labor racketeering, economic espionage, international money laundering, and securities fraud, to cite some examples. Finally, the entries discuss the global impact of organized crime in articles that explore the globalization of organized crime activities, smuggling networks, connections between organized crime and terrorism, and international measures to combat organized crime and corruption. The second volume contains 38 primary source documents, examples of which include the United Nations Convention against Corruption and other international treaties, national legislative acts, and Council of Europe Conventions. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
The Reagan era from the Iran crisis to Kosovo.
What if Reagan had not been elected? Would the hostages held in Iran ever be returned? Would the US still turn to supply-side economics? Would there have been the first Persian Gulf War? This collection of 11 essays focuses on main events and trends of Reagan's term in office, exploring the alternatives and outlining the possible repercussions to future history. What if Carter was re-elected in 1980? What if stagflation led to a depression? What if the USSR reacted to new US missiles in Europe? Contributors ask similar questions about the assassination attempt of 1981 (what if George H. W. Bush became president), the challenge to Gorbachev from both Reagan and his internal enemies (the possibility of furtherance of the Cold War and Gorbachev's defeat by hard-liners), the Iran-Contra affair (leading to a successful coup in Cuba), Roe v. Wade, Middle Eastern politics, and USSR involvement in Kosovo. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
U.S. military service; a reference handbook.
This reference for a general audience addresses recent history and contemporary issues regarding military service in the U.S. Along with brief discussions of topics such as mandatory vs. voluntary service, women and homosexuals in the military, and whether the military relies too heavily on minority participation, this volume also excerpts major documents on U.S. military service and lists further resources for framing debates and organizations concerned with the subject. Also included are biographical sketches of significant figures. (Annotation ©2008 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)
