Reference Reviews, September 1, 2011
Sept. 1, 2011| In this Article |
| Short Takes |
ECONOMICS
Weiss Ratings. Weiss Ratings Consumer Box Set Spring 2011. 9 vols. 601p. ISBN 9781592378104. single issue: $359; biannual subscription: $499.
Weiss Ratings. Weiss Ratings Guide to Health Insurers Spring 2011. 460p. ISBN 9781592377879. single issue: $249; quarterly subscription: $499. REF
ea. vol: Grey House. 2011. Online: financialratingsseries.com REF
Using an A+ to F system, the Guide to Health Insurers rates each U.S. insurer for which Weiss has sufficient information, including HMOs and companies providing long-term care, Medicare Managed Care, Medicare Supplements, and dental plans. It includes a chart allowing readers to compare a Moody’s or Fitch rating to the Weiss one. All companies, even the unrated, appear in the index, with the largest businesses receiving a financial analysis of approximately one-third of a page. Another section includes average premiums along with 2010/2011 plan outlines for Medicare and Medicare Supplements. The appendix offers worksheets for consumer use, comparisons of various companies’ products, contact information for health insurers with A+ to B+ ratings and for all State Insurance Commissioners, and a glossary. The boxed set covers various services: insurance (long-term care, auto, health savings accounts, home owners’, Medicare Part D, Medicare Supplements, term-life), elder care options, and variable annuities. Although much of the Medicare Supplement volume duplicates the information in the ratings guide, the other titles provide new or additional information. All of the boxed-set titles include consumer worksheets and glossaries. While the set complements the ratings guide, it is more appropriate for the circulating collection than for reference. BOTTOM LINE The elderly and those with vision difficulties will find these large print, consumer-friendly volumes easier to use than the Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s, Fitch, and A.M. Best titles.—Laurie Selwyn, formerly with Grayson Cty. Law Lib., Sherman, TX
HEALTH & MEDICINE
Kroner, Zina. Vitamins and Minerals. Greenwood. 2011. 383p. illus. index. ISBN 9780313382246. $85. Online: ABC-CLIO eBook Collection REF
As described by Kroner (an internal medicine physician) in her introduction, “Proactive Versus Reactive Medicine: Putting Yourself in the Driver’s Seat,” part of the motivation for writing this resource was to help open communication between patient and physician. The 39 alphabetically arranged entries each cover a supplement, from vitamins to more obscure substances such as Glutathione. Entries describe how the supplement works, related research and/or recent studies, and positive and negative effects on the body and on specific conditions. While the language sticks to medical processes rather than consumer-friendly recommendations about brand-name multivitamins, this approach effectively separates facts from propaganda—entries even boast a “Fact Versus Fiction” section. BOTTOM LINE Armed with the information provided in this detailed work, patients will be better able to navigate the aisles of health food stores and/or ask their doctors informed questions. Ideal for public library collections.—Joanna Fabicon, Los Angeles P.L.
Petit, William A., Jr., M.D., & Christine Adamec. The Encyclopedia of Diabetes. 2d ed. Facts On File. (Library of Health and Living). 2011. 436p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780816079483. $75. Online: Infobase eBooks REF
This update of the 2002 edition is by the original authors. Petit (The Natural Solution to Diabetes; The Encyclopedia of Endocrine Diseases and Disorders) is the medical director of the Joslin Diabetes Center at the Hospital of Central Connecticut. Adamec, a medical writer, has coauthored several Facts On File publications. In the foreword, Petit writes that many entries have been revised and new topic overviews added, covering subjects such as diabetic eye diseases, alternative medicine, and lifestyle adaptation to diabetes. An introduction outlines the history of the condition from ancient times to today, including information on the discovery of insulin. Most of the 246 entries have references, the majority of which are to books and journal articles. In addition to a bibliography, 11 appendixes include listings of websites, periodicals, organizations, and research centers. The encyclopedia is geared toward a high school reading level and above because of its easy-to-read format. There is an alphabetical list of entries, but none by category—a feature that could give readers a better idea of the book’s contents. BOTTOM LINE Since it has been almost ten years since the first edition, libraries that own that work should consider purchasing this title as well as Omnigraphics’s Diabetes Sourcebook (5th ed., 2011) or the American Diabetes Association Complete Guide to Diabetes (5th ed., 2011). Recommended for academic and public libraries.—Rebecca Raszewski, Univ. of Illinois at Chicago
HISTORY
The Encyclopedia of the Vietnam War: A Political, Social, and Military History. 2d ed. 4 vols. ABC-CLIO. 2011. 1804p. ed. by Spencer C. Tucker. photogs. maps. index. ISBN 9781851099603. $395. Online: ABC-CLIO eBook Collection
Frankum, Ronald B., Jr. Historical Dictionary of the War in Vietnam. Scarecrow. (Historical Dictionaries of War, Revolution, and Civil Unrest). 2011. 650p. photogs. maps. bibliog. ISBN 9780810867963. $99. Online: NetLibrary, Overdrive, MyiLibrary, EBL, & Questia REF
Tucker’s update of the 1999 edition claims to be “the most comprehensive reference work on the war to appear in print.” The first three volumes feature 1200-plus alphabetically arranged, plainly written entries on the people, events, places, and battles of the conflict, as well as black-and-white maps and photographs. Some entries are as short as a few paragraphs, while others continue for several pages. The fourth volume, “Documents,” contains 225 primary sources or excerpts from them, such as a letter from Ho Chi Minh to Secretary of State James F. Byrnes and memoranda from Defense Secretary Robert McNamara to President Kennedy. The volume also includes appendixes providing, for example, lists of military ranks and unit designations, a chronology, and a selected bibliography. While the volumes are large, they are user-friendly. Frankum’s Dictionary is a first-rate companion to Tucker’s set. Like the encyclopedia, it contains maps, cross-references, acronyms, and a photo section. However, the 600-plus-entry dictionary focuses on the conflict and not on other events, such as the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago (which Tucker covers). Frankum’s book also contains a solid bibliography subdivided by subject. The “Readers Notes” will help in navigating the material, and the author states that he made a conscious attempt to make the work accessible to novices as well as experts. Both texts are unbiased and factual. BOTTOM LINE Together or individually, these works are excellent starting points for general readers with an interest in military history and for researchers.—Beth Bland, Milwaukee
LAW & CRIME
Corrections. ISBN 9781412978569. 327p.
Courts, Law, and Justice. ISBN 9781412978576. 317p. Crime and Criminal Behavior.
ISBN 9781412978552. 323p. Juvenile Crime and Justice.
ISBN 9781412978583. 336p. Police and Law Enforcement.
ISBN 9781412978590. 320p.
ea. vol: (Key Issues in Crime and Punishment). SAGE. 2011. ed. by William J. Chambliss. index. $80. Online: SAGE Reference Online REF }
These volumes each cover a broad area of the American criminal justice system. Within each book, about 20 chapters further subdivide material by topic. “Corrections,” for example, discusses overcrowding, gangs, and violence in prison; the debate over punishment vs. rehabilitation; and so on. Chapters open with historical background, advance to legal concepts/social context, and present clearly worded point/counterpoint sections on controversies such as capital punishment. See also references and a short bibliography conclude each discussion. Chambliss (sociology, George Washington Univ.) has been published extensively in the field of criminology over the past four decades and is a solid pick for this project. His grasp of subject matter is evident in each volume’s introductory essay. BOTTOM LINE Although it covers much the same territory as Criminal Justice (Salem, 2005), this excellent overview features more recent scholarship and has a slight edge in currency. Clearly written, solidly researched, and well balanced in its coverage of hot topics, it is an appropriate purchase for public and academic libraries and is highly recommended for institutions that support criminal justice programs.—Michael Bemis, Washington Cty. Lib., Woodbury, MN
POLITICAL SCIENCE
Condé, H. Victor. Human Rights in the United States: A Dictionary and Documents. 2d ed. 2 vols. Grey House. 2010. 750p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781592372904. $225. Online: Ebrary, Gale, MyiLibrary, NetLibrary, OverDrive REF
Condé’s accessible work features a 40-page introductory essay that imparts a basic understanding of the concept and characteristics of human rights and a history of those rights in the United States. The set also includes a detailed table of contents and an extensive bibliography by subject. The first volume features an alphabetical list of terms and documents, with each term numbered, allowing users to jump to other relevant material in the set. Each of the 240 entries also features a definition and the human rights significance of the term. Some pieces are very short, while others top out at 12 pages. Primary documents such as the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Universal Declaration on Human Rights are a feature of the first volume. The second volume offers 60 “Human Rights Primary Documents” from the United States and abroad and some that are related to the United Nations. The volume also contains an appendix of reference materials such as treaty analyses, charts, and selected case law. A second table of contents to these documents in the appendix would be helpful. Also, the two volumes are as thick and heavy as a telephone book, and smaller volumes might be easier to manage. However, these minor problems are not enough to dismiss the merits of the set. BOTTOM LINE An excellent, if not always user-friendly, all-in-one resource.—Beth Bland, Milwaukee
The 9/11 Encyclopedia. 2d ed. 2 vols. ABC-CLIO. 2011. c.872p. ed. by Stephen E. Atkins. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781598849219. $180. Online: ABC-CLIO eBook Collection REF
Atkins, editor of the first edition of The 9/11 Encyclopedia, died in March 2010 but is still listed as the editor of this work. The first volume opens with three essays examining the impact of 9/11 on public opinion, presidential powers, and U.S. foreign policy. Following those are 173 alphabetically arranged entries on related people, events, and issues, such as “anthrax attacks,” “Bush doctrine,” and “Madrid bombings”; numerous pieces also cover individual victims. Sidebars frequently accompany entries, and there are many black-and-white photographs throughout the material. Each entry is 300 to 3000 words in length and closes with a further-reading list. Several scholars contributed essays with updated perspectives about the impact of 9/11 on the people of the United States and on its foreign and domestic policies, and Spencer C. Tucker, senior fellow for military history at ABC-CLIO, provides new entries about recent events such as the debate about the building of a mosque near Ground Zero and the attempted car bombing in Times Square. Volume I also offers a time line surrounding 9/11 events and an annotated bibliography. Volume II is a rich collection of 55 primary-source documents—letters to, and speeches and testimony before, the United States Congress; eyewitness accounts; and daily presidential briefings. BOTTOM LINE An excellent source of information on the attacks and a valuable update of the first edition for public, school, and academic libraries.—Diane Fulkerson, Univ. of South Florida Polytechnic, Lakeland
SCIENCES
Maczulak, Anne. Encyclopedia of Microbiology. Facts On File. (Science Library). 2011. 858p. illus. index. ISBN 9780816073641. $95. Online: Infobase eBooks REF
Maczulak has over two decades of experience as a microbiologist in university laboratories. Her dual intention with this book is to show how microorganisms impact our daily lives as well as to highlight their diversity. The book is rich in information, with more than 200 entries pertaining to microorganisms from viruses to prions, and boasts biographical sections on scientists, such as Louis Pasteur and Edward Jenner, who impacted the field. The latest techniques in microbiological research and items of recent interest such as gene therapy, global warming, and the issue of vaccinations are covered in ways that are easy for nonscientists to understand. Essays throughout show the relevance of microbiology to current events, with news stories on the realities of bioterrorism, sanitation in restaurants, and whether disinfectants cause antibiotic resistance as just some of the issues explained. The encyclopedia has more in-depth coverage than other works of this type and provides further-reading suggestions for almost all of the topics covered. This book is great for those interested in microbiology, whether they are a student, looking for further information on an issue in the news, or just interested in the science. The numerous charts and illustrations are accessible to newcomers to the field. BOTTOM LINE This is an eminently readable, interesting work. Information and examples are clear and are made relevant to today’s concerns about the well-being of Earth and its inhabitants.—Christine Sharbrough, Derry P.L., NH
Marvin, Stephen. Dictionary of Scientific Principles. Wiley. 2011. 631p. ISBN 9780470146804. $195. REF
Marvin, reference coordinator at West Chester University and an adjunct professor at the graduate library school of Clarion University, attempts to provide a comprehensive list of known rules or laws, called principles, throughout the history of scientific development and ranging across the sciences, literature, business, philosophy, medicine, and sociology. More than 2000 entries, most of them under 200 words in length, are arranged alphabetically in two sections. Many of the entries in the first section, which defines principles, feature further-reading suggestions as well as cross-references. The second part concerns application, allowing readers to investigate principles as they relate to a particular subject. This work’s ambitious goal of unifying scientific rules into a single volume mostly succeeds, though it suffers from a lack of indexes by discipline and by the principle’s discoverer/creator. The entries are written in a readable, concise style that provides quick information on the rules or laws in question. The material is interesting to browse, and serves as a valuable quick reference for students who are attempting to decipher laws from various disciplines. BOTTOM LINE A useful quick reference for supporting students in higher education.—Samantha Schmehl Hines, Mansfield Lib., Univ. of Montana–Missoula
SOCIAL SCIENCES
A Cultural History of Sexuality. 6 vols. Berg. 2011. c.1600p. ed. by Julie Peakman. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781845207021. $550. Online: Credo Reference REF
Series editor Peakman (history, Birkbeck Coll., Univ. of London) and volume editors Mark Golden, Peter Toohey, Ruth Evans, Bette Talvacchia, Chiara Beccalossi, Ivan Crozier, and Gert Hekma have collected substantive, scholarly essays, each written by academic specialists, mostly from western Europe. Each volume focuses on sexuality in a particular era from classical to modern times and contains scholarly essays on the same subjects: heterosexuality, homosexuality, sexual variations, religion and the law, medicine and disease, popular beliefs and culture, prostitution, and erotica. This consistent organizational structure, an outstanding feature of the work, enables readers to follow a theme chronologically or to focus on a particular era. Also, each volume includes illustrations and an index plus extensive notes and bibliographies. However, the quality and usefulness of the set is limited by the Eurocentricity of its scope and content. BOTTOM LINE Upper-division undergraduate and graduate students will find this overview of the progression of thought about sexuality in the Western world helpful in their studies of social history, cultural history, and gender. Readers seeking a more comprehensive perspective, though, will prefer Fedwa Malti-Douglas’s Encyclopedia of Sex & Gender (Macmillan Reference, 2007).—Martha Hardy, Metropolitan State Univ. Lib., St. Paul, MN
The Complete Directory for People with Chronic Illness, 2011/2012. 10th ed.Grey House. 2011. c.868p. ed. by Richard Gottlieb. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781592377411. pap. $165. REF
Updated to reflect changes in disease research and organizational contacts, Gottlieb's (Grey House Performing Arts Directory) reference devotes a chapter each to 92 chronic illnesses. Organized alphabetically by condition name, these chapters open with multiparagraph illness descriptions followed by contact information for related organizations, book publishers, periodicals, and websites. Now boasting the inclusion of nearly 11,000 organizational contacts and further reading suggestions, this one-stop guide to finding support networks and further information for coping with chronic illness will prove highly valuable to public and community libraries.
Craughwell, Thomas J. Saints Preserved: An Encyclopedia of Relics. Image: Crown. 2011. c.313p. photogs. bibliog. ISBN 9780307590732. pap. $16. REF
Craughwell (Saints Behaving Badly) has compiled the first comprehensive guide to Catholic relics. More than 300 multiparagraph entries are organized alphabetically by saint name or recognized relic title, such as Christ's Crown of Thorns. While the location of saintly remains is discussed, the bulk of each entry is dedicated to thumbnail biographies explaining each saint's significance and plight. Although too infrequent, photographs of intricately wrought reliquaries provide a more vivid understanding of the relic's value and wealthy devotees' reverence. Both a fascinating and an essential addition to collections focusing on Catholicism and religious studies.
Garthwaite, Rosie. How To Avoid Being Killed in a War Zone: The Essential Survival Guide for Dangerous Places. Bloomsbury, dist. by Macmillan. 2011. c.304p. illus. index. ISBN 9781608195855. pap. $16. REF
Although a highly practical survival guide, this book also offers a startling glimpse into a journalist's experience within inhospitable regions. While some chapters, such as that detailing emergency medicine, might be applicable to domestic survivalists, much of the contents, like "Avoiding Misunderstandings," deal with foreign conditions. Over the course of 15 chapters, Garthwaite, a young journalist often dispatched to unstable territories, brings together the knowledge of 57 colleagues, whose experiences and advice are often directly quoted. Topics covered include everything from dealing with inconvenient feminine issues to surviving IEDs. Handy for intrepid explorers, journalists, even soldiers; engaging for lay readers.
Gillespie, Carmen. Critical Companion to Alice Walker: A Literary Reference to Her Life and Work. Facts On File. (Library of American Literature). 2011. c.452p. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780816075300. $75. REF
In this enlightening reference, Gillespie (Critical Companion to Toni Morrison) offers a revealing 15-page biographical overview that facilitates a better understanding of Alice Walker's personal development and literary evolution. A bulk of the reference is devoted to incisive, multipage analyses of the author's writing, including novels, stories, poetry, nonfiction, and audio recordings. Grouped first by genre and then by alphabetized work title, Gillespie's analyses offer individual chapter synopses, broader critical commentary, character outlines, and explanatory paragraphs devoted to hidden themes. A bibliography follows each lengthy entry. A vital resource for literature and civil rights–oriented collections.
Hines, James R. Historical Dictionary of Figure Skating. Scarecrow. (Historical Dictionaries of Sports). 2011. c.375p. bibliog. ISBN 9780810868595. $85. REF
Author of the lauded subject monograph, Figure Skating: A History, Hines applies his substantial subject knowledge to profiling the sport's medal-winning pairs, singles, governing bodies, and organizations. Also clearly explained, among the 800 alphabetically ordered, paragraph-long entries, are the mechanics of specific skating styles and techniques. Notable is the opening chronology, which is studded with detailed events and extends to include 15 field-defining moments. Eleven appendixes detail International Skating Union members and record medal winners by competition, while a 16-page bibliography offers further-research titles. This most-updated subject lexicon supplants John Williams Malone's The Encyclopedia of Figure Skating(Facts On File, 1998).
Medical Device Register: The Official Directory of Medical Manufacturers, 2011. 31st ed. 2 vols.Grey House. 2011. c.1645p. index. ISBN 9781592375882. $350. REF
Updated annually, these sizeable volumes contain the most current information on the manufacturers and products created for the rapidly advancing field of medicine. Grey House Publishing devotes the first volume to two segments: alphabetized keywords, under which standard product names can be found; and a product directory, which details suppliers and pricing. Volume 2 provides manufacturers' business profiles, a geographically organized index to these suppliers, and a trade name index, which lists product lines alphabetically and references their corresponding manufacturer. A handy, no-frills reference for hospitals and medical practices.
Mullaney, James & Wil Tirion. The Cambridge Atlas of Herschel Objects. Cambridge Univ.2011. c.183p. illus. bibliog. ISBN 9780521138178. pap. $35. REF
This meticulously composed, spiral-bound reference opens with an introduction to the three Herschels who shaped astronomical practice, their various telescopic inventions, and an explanation of Herschel designations. Mullaney and Tirion (coauthors, Cambridge Double Star Atlas) present a chart of 215 exceptional Herschel objects and round out the segment with a two-page "Suggested Reading" list. Following this are 30 star-chart spreads; a short, alphabetized table of constellations; and an object target list, which details brilliance magnitude. Rich with technical language and field-specific measurements, this is not a layperson's guide, but the highly organized data will prove valuable to both amateur and professional astronomers.
Wagner, Frederic C., III. Participants in the Battle of the Little Big Horn: A Biographical Dictionary of Sioux, Cheyenne and United States Military Personnel. McFarland. 2011. c.248p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780786462896. $75. REF
With a view to giving faces to the anonymous, Wagner (an independent historian) is the first to piece together, through various oral histories and historical ledgers, an encyclopedia of the battle's scores of combatants. The book's contents are divided into three major segments—Seventh Cavalry men, civilians, and Native Americans—with each entry listed alphabetically by surname or Indian name. Each military or civilian profile contains birth and death dates, rank, and a specific physical description involving height and eye and hair color. Entries on Native Americans list tribe, aliases, relatives, battle role, and quotes. An essential resource for American history collections.—Savannah Schroll Guz, formerly with Smithsonian Libs., Washington, DC
