Greenwood Press

African American chronology; chronologies of the American mosaic.

Kinshasa (sociology and African American studies, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City U. of New York) presents a compilation of events and circumstances experienced by people of African ancestry within the American social and political construct, from the 15th century to the early years of the 21st century. The material is organized into chapters by century, with each chapter subdivided into years, subject areas, and dates. An array of experiences is inserted into 49 subject areas, including religion, migration, slavery, war, business, media, and education. Academic but accessible to the general reader. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

American cultural pluralism and law, 3d ed.

As in previous editions, the central theme of this work concerns the negotiations between the law and the many subcultures that make up US society. The authors (emeriti professors of government and anthropology at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice) present the material thematically. They address issues of race and ethnicity by looking at Native Americans and land issues, issues of Native Hawaiian and Puerto Rican sovereignty, the struggle for African American civil rights, and Latino immigration. Religion is discussed as it relates to legal struggles of the Mormons and the Amish to define their own ways of life, the "culture wars" in American Schools, and Rastafarian and Native American ritual use of illicit drugs. Addressing gender, two chapters discuss women's rights and gay marriage. A final section on community and citizenship discusses anti-discrimination campaigns by people with disabilities and homeless people, Japanese internment, and the antagonistic relationship between cultural pluralism and the "war on terror." (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

American icons; an encyclopedia of the people, places, and things that have shaped our culture; 3v.

Aimed at students and general readers, this three-volume reference examines a variety of "icons" that exemplify American culture. Each essay reveals a particular icon's origins and changes, discusses its influences, and considers the meaning of its enduring appeal or negative connotations. Organized alphabetically by topic, the entries cover a diverse range of subjects, including (for example) the banjo, flea markets, Oprah Winfrey, guns, Wal-Mart, the Muppets, John Wayne, suburbia, the Golden Gate Bridge, and cell phones. Editor Dennis Hall teaches writing and popular culture at the U. of Louisville, and Susan Grove Hall is an independent scholar. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

The America that Reagan built.

With so many of us born after 1980 and many more of us losing our memory of that hinge year, Woodard (political science, Clemson U.) recalls how politics used to be and how it evolved, right up to the second administration of George W. Bush. He takes the temperature of the electorate and the great consuming public, exploring how economics, art, literature, science, society, fads and customs became part of American life and even became interwoven into its future. He considers the enigmas and the certainties of the Reagan years, the thousand points of light of George H.W. Bush, the varying degrees of separation between the Clinton administration and disaster, the postmodern nineties, and the effects of 9/ll on what seemed to be merely evolutionary. The photographs scattered through the text are particularly telling. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

The American vice presidency reconsidered.

In an era in which Dick Cheney's political prominence in the executive branch has led some political wags to refer to the policies and actions of the "Cheney administration," it is perhaps not surprising to find a text that seeks to reassess the role of the vice presidency in American politics. Baumgartner (political science, East Carolina U.) begins with a characterization of the evolution of the office, focusing for the rest of the work only on the modern era (1956 to the present). He then offers chapters discussing the pre- office attributes and qualifications of vice presidential candidates, the reasons candidates are selected, and the role they play in presidential political campaigns. Next, he analyzes the formal constitutional, statutory, and appointive roles of the vice presidency and its informal ceremonial, diplomatic, political, and advisory roles. The final chapter discusses what happens to vice presidential candidates after they have left office or lost their campaigns. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Are there any good jobs left?; career management in the age of the disposable worker.

Holland (principal owner of a human resources consulting firm specializing in executive coaching, career management, and executive team alignment) describes general trends impacting the American workforce and provides advice on career management. The material is presented in two parts, the first of which discusses company behavior in the global market place, the work experiences of his immediate social circle during recent economic transitions, the rise of "outplacement" in the American economy, and the impact of race and gender on the job search arena. The second half of the text presents advice on résumeés, networking, interviewing, negotiations, and entrepreneurial opportunities and concludes with broad advice about overall career management. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Babe Ruth; a biography.

Stewart, a baseball historian, details the life of baseball great Babe Ruth, from his formative years through his lasting legacy. B&w historical photos and a chronology are included. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Blockbusters; a reference guide to film genres.

Two English professors at Morehead State University define the most recognizable features of films in 12 film genres, chronicle the history of each genre as it has evolved throughout the decades, and describe the various sub-genres within each genre. The exposition identifies significant or innovative examples of primarily American films in each genre, often summarizing the plot and noting the cast. Among the genres are costume film, epic, film noir, war film, and woman's film. Approximately 30 black and white movie stills are provided. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Borderless business; managing the far-flung enterprise.

Mann (international management, U. of Maryland, US) and Götz (Center for Human Resource Management, U. of Koblenz-Landau, Germany) present 14 papers in which authors from varied branches of management studies explore the challenges of globalization, whether those challenges call for a shift in management thinking, and the particular competencies and skills needed to address such challenges. Individual chapters explore these questions from the perspectives of marketing; supply networks; human resources development; trade and government regulations; the business legal environment; risk management; knowledge management; accounting, taxation, and corporate governance; finances; diversity management; corporate culture; and ethics and corporate social responsibility. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Civil-military relations on the frontier and beyond, 1865-1917.

The period between the Civil War and World War I was one of major transformation and growth for the US military. In this work, Byler (history, Carroll College) provides a broad overview of changes and continuities in civil-military relations during this period in the form of thematic chapters discussing public views of the military, military-congressional relations, the experiences of officers and enlisted men (in particular looking at desertion, officer promotions, and the role of African Americans in the military), the military's acceptance of the principle of civilian supremacy, military lobbying for the creation of a general staff for the army and the navy, and discontent within the military regarding the political system and other aspects of civil society. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

A clash of cultures; civil-military relations during the Vietnam War.

"Two cultures, one grounded in military history and institutions, the other, founded in the political and social milieu of post-Second World War America, diverged over the Vietnam War," argues Schwab (a visiting scholar at the U. of Chicago) in his examination of the evolution of civil-military relations in the American government over the course of the war. This clash between these two ideologies and cultures resulted in a situation where military solutions to the conflict became irreconcilable with political solutions, forcing strategic and operational compromises that led inexorably to defeat for the United States and damage to both the military and wider civilian cultures. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Collateral damage; the psychological consequences of America's war on terrorism.

Kimmel, chair of the American Psychological Association's Task Force on the Psychological Effects of Efforts to Prevent Terrorism, together with his fellow psychiatrist Stout (U. of Illinois), present research conducted by the Task Force on the psychological effects of efforts to prevent terrorism and on programs that provide alternatives to terrorism. Contributors discuss the importance of overhauling the diplomatic approach to terrorism; the ways that the US reaction to 9/11 set conditions conducive to hate crimes; the social psychology of punishing antiwar dissent; relationships between threat, ideology, and political behavior; psychological effects of media coverage of the Iraq war; the impact of US activities in Afghanistan and Iraq on terrorist motivation; public mental health; and other aspects of the "War on Terror" that can explored through psychological investigation. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Communist revolutionary warfare; from the Vietminh to the Viet Cong. (reprint, 1961)

The late Tanham, who managed the US rural development program in South Vietnam during the Vietnam war, first published this work in 1961 in an effort to understand the describe and analyze the military strategy, operations, and tactics of the Vietminh nationalist fight against the French from 1946 to 1954. Not many years after, he updated the work to describe the military aspects of the Viet Cong struggle against the US up to 1967. The two parts are united by the central theme: the Communist integration or orchestration of political, economic, psychological, and military means in order to achieve their goals. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Condoleeza Rice; a biography.

This accessibly written biography provides an overview of the life and career of Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice. Edmondson (education, Pennsylvania State U.) also places these events within a larger historical context that includes the civil rights movement, the Cold War, and the Bush administration's war on terror. Supplemental materials include a timeline and a description of the duties of the Secretary of State. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Contemporary Supreme Court cases; landmark decisions since Roe v. Wade.

This collection of cases since Roe v. Wade emphasizes landmark decisions regarding separation and distribution of powers, federal commerce power, equality and discrimination in terms of race and gender, and individual rights such as freedom of the press, speech, and religion. Cases are described and the issue, year of decision, outcome, author of opinion, and vote are singled out in separate boxes. Cases were chosen based on their influence on both society and the boundaries of government power and individual rights. Lively is a legal educator and associated with the Florida Coastal School of Law and Phoenix International School of Law. Weaver is an author, consultant, and speaker on the US Constitution and other subjects. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Cooking in America, 1590-1840.

For novice cooks, Eden (history, U. of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls) provides 240 recipes taken from early American primary sources, presented in their original wording. Recipes are arranged by period and then by their main ingredient and are accompanied by explanations of terminology and context, historical information, and descriptions of ingredients, eating habits, and preparation. Illustrations and facsimiles, as well as sample menus, are included. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Cooking in Europe: 1250-1650.

For cooks with a curiousity about history and for student historians with an interest in cooking, this volume offers a broad sampling of authentic recipes that were used in Europe during the period 1250-1650. Presented in the same form in which they first appeared, the recipes are accompanied by explanations of unfamiliar terms and basic guidelines for preparation. Albala (U. of the Pacific) is a teacher and author specializing in the culinary history of Early Modern Europe. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Cooking with the Bible; biblical food, feasts, and lore.

This biblically themed cookbook contains 18 meals found in the scriptures along with other recipes to make complete menus. Modern recipes are added to go with the theme of each chapter, which begins with a biblical text and its history. In the second section of the volume, ingredients and their historical background are described. The book includes maps and a table of biblical weights and measures. Both subject and recipe indexes are provided. Chiffolo works for a publishing company and is the author of several other religious books. Hesse is an ordained Episcopal priest. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Culture and customs of Uganda.

Otiso (geography, Bowling Green State U., Ohio) presents an introductory overview of the East African nation of Uganda, suitable as a reference for high school and college students and general readers. An opening chapter provides a concise treatment of basic information including the land, peoples, languages, education system, resources, occupations, economy, government, and history. Subsequent chapters cover, in more depth, various aspects of the Ugandan people and their culture, including their religion and worldview; literature, film, and media; art, architecture, and housing; cuisine and traditional dress; gender roles, marriage and family; social customs and lifestyle; and music, dance, and drama. The text also contains a chronology, glossary, and bibliographic essay. Illustrated with b&w photographs. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)

Culture and customs of the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Aimed at students and general readers, this volume explores the contemporary culture and customs of Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Cravens (Czech studies, U. of Texas, Austin) begins with a brief exposition on the geography, language, and population of the two countries, followed by an overview of their intertwined histories. Subsequent chapters discuss such topics as religion, marriage, holidays, cuisine, literature, performing arts, and architecture. (Annotation ©2006 Book News Inc. Portland, OR)