Xpress Reviews-First Look at New Books
-- Library Journal, 10/09/2009
The week of October 9, 2009
Audio | Nonfiction
Audio
Halperin, Ian.Unmasked: The Final Years of Michael Jackson. 8 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 9½ hrs. Tantor Media. 2009. ISBN 978-1-4001-4390-0; 8 CDs. retail ed.; 1 MP3-CD. retail ed.; digital download. BIOG
Celebrity biographer Halperin focuses on the last 15 years of the late pop star’s life and lifts the veil of Jackson’s private life. Because Jackson’s legal battles over allegations of child abuse are central to the narrative, the book frequently quotes from tedious trial manuscripts. Four-time Audie Award nominee Richard Allen narrates in a confident journalistic style.
Verdict Recommended for Jackson’s fans as well as for those enthralled by celebrity scandals and the machinations of the entertainment industry. Expect the late-October releases of Jackson’s final album, This Is It, and the documentary film of the same name to spur interest. An alternate purchase to consider: J. Randy Taraborrelli’s Michael Jackson (2009), which also addresses the star’s final years. [The Simon Spotlight Entertainment hc, published in July, was a No. 1 New York Times best seller.—Ed.]—Phillip Oliver, Univ. of NorthAlabama Lib., Florence
Beavan, Colin. No Impact Man: The Adventures of a Guilty Liberal Who Attempts to Save the Planet—and the Discoveries He Makes About Himself and Our Way of Life in the Process. Farrar. 2009. c.304p. index. ISBN 978-0-374-22288-8. $25. SCI
Beavan details the roller coaster that was his family’s experiment of low/no-impact living. The plot touches on all the main themes of the genre: consumerism and waste, struggles between idealism and self-righteousness, the value of time and the issue of necessity. Beavan has clearly done his homework with regard to the major writers on personal environmental issues and includes an appendix. But the book’s best attribute is its honest emotion, as well as the chapter on local food.
Verdict It’s not a fresh story, but it’s certainly aided by the fluid and admirably reflective narration, which might inspire readers to unplug their TVs. As Beavan says, just try. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/15/09; No Impact Man: The Documentary is currently playing in theaters.—Ed.]—Jaime Hammond, NaugatuckValley Community Coll., Waterbury, CT
The Best Buddhist Writing 2009. Shambhala, dist. by Random. Oct. 2009. c.336p. ed. by Melvin McLeod. ISBN 978-1-59030-734-2. pap. $17.95. REL
The sixth entry in the series of annual collections compiled by the editors of the Shambhala Sun and editor in chief McLeod, this book offers persistent threads treating mindfulness, compassion, death and dying, and current environmental and social crises. Among the 32 essay-length articles and excerpts from books, readers at all familiar with contemporary Buddhist literature will find the standard and relatively ubiquitous teachings from Buddhist guides both Eastern and Western. The most illuminating of these include Phillip Moffitt’s lucid explanation of mindfulness and Martine Batchelor’s and Joan Sutherland’s contributions on koans. The series’ greatest aspect, however, is ready access to engaging personal accounts by lesser-known authors; standouts include Calvin Malone’s “Razor-Wire Dharma,” Rabbi Rami Shapiro’s “Where Is God When Stick Hit Floor?” and Pico Iyer’s look at the Dalai Lama’s life as a simple monk.
Verdict A good bet for those seeking a quick survey of contemporary Buddhist thought and especially for readers who benefit from shared personal struggles.—James R. Kuhlman, Univ. of North Carolina at Asheville Lib.
Cheah, Elena. An Orchestra Beyond Borders: Voices of the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra. Verso, dist. by Norton. Oct. 2009. c.320p. ISBN 978-1-84467-408-4. pap. $19.95. MUSIC
Daniel Barenboim and Edward Said created the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra to promote music and bring young Israeli, Palestinian, and other Middle Easterners together to learn, cooperate, communicate, and create music. Cheah was one such student; her insightful musings, as well as selections from other Divan members, reveal how their vision has become a reality. The orchestra’s members realize their efforts will not solve all the problems of the Middle East, but they certainly pave a path toward peace that others can follow. The book also shows how an orchestra, through a great conductor, can come together and make some excellent music.
Verdict This will be of interest to music lovers, along with those seeking creative paths toward peace in the Middle East.—William G. Kenz, Minnesota State Univ. Moorhead Lib.
Deveney, Sean. The Original Curse: Did the Cubs Throw the 1918 World Series to Babe Ruth’s Red Sox and Incite the Black Sox Scandal? McGraw-Hill. Oct. 2009. c.256p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-07-162997-3. $24.95. SPORTS
Baseball is not exempt from the attentions of revisionist historians, as this remarkable study of baseball’s first curse—gambling—makes plain. Sporting News journalist Deveney’s painstaking study of the 1918 World Series between the Cubs and Red Sox argues that the Black Sox scandal was not an aberration and might have had an antecedent. Deveney’s scholarship does not detract from his ability to spin a good tale: his tendency to imagine players’ conversations will remind readers of Leigh Montville’s The Big Bam: The Life and Times of Babe Ruth.
Verdict A welcome companion to Susan Dellinger’s Red Legs and Black Sox: Edd Roush and the Untold Story of the 1919 World Series, Deveney’s book contributes greatly to our understanding of this decisive period in baseball and American morals.—Gilles Renaud, Ontario Court of Justice
Duncan, Dayton & Ken Burns. The National Parks: America’s Best Idea: An Illustrated History. Knopf. 2009. 432p. illus. maps. index. ISBN 978-0-307-26896-9. $50. NAT HIST
This lavishly illustrated companion to the authors’ five-part, 12-hour PBS documentary (which premiered Sept. 27) outlines the dramatic history of the national park system; the personalities of preservationists Theodore Roosevelt, Stephen Mather, and Horace Albright; and the scores of citizens who discovered the magic of the parks. This history features interviews with a superintendent at Mount Rushmore, park ranger Shelton Johnson, and writers Nevada Barr, Paul Schullery, Juanita Greene, and Terry Tempest Williams. Printed on 40-percent recovered fiber paper, the book also includes historic photos, many taken by park visitors with Brownie cameras.
Verdict The essays and photos eloquently argue that the national parks are America’s best idea and that they bring out our best selves. Outstanding! [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/1/09.]—Patricia Ann Owens, WabashValley Coll., Mt. Carmel, Il
Ellis, Shaun & Penny Junor. The Man Who Lives with Wolves. Harmony: Crown. Oct. 2009. c.288p. illus. index. ISBN 978-0-307-46453-8. $24.99. NAT HIST
This memoir by a wolf behavior expert and the star of Animal Planet’s Living with the Wolfman is a story of both a physical and an emotional journey, starting with his childhood in the remote English countryside, through seven years of living within a wolf pack on the Nez Perce Indian reservation in Idaho, to his current home with a wolf pack in a wildlife park. Few humans would be willing, or able, to do what Ellis has done—giving up what we would call a “normal” life to infiltrate and live within a wild wolf pack. Readers may label Ellis as obsessive or just plain crazy, but his story makes for a fascinating and very readable book. One can see why Ellis’s dedication to wolves has had an impact on his human relationships, but he remains true to his goal of helping both wild and captive wolf populations and helping to educate humans about wolf behavior.
Verdict The book will interest those who are fascinated by wolves and also anyone who sometimes questions the benefits of “progress” in our society. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/15/09.]—Deborah Emerson, Rochester Regional Lib. Council, Fairport, NY
Frost, Mark. Game Six: Cincinatti, Boston, and the 1975 World Series. Hyperion. Oct. 2009. c.416p. photogs. ISBN 978-1-4013-2310-3. $26.99. SPORTS
Game Six of the 1975 World Series between the Boston Red Sox and the Cincinnati Reds has become one of the most storied contests in the history of baseball. It may seem that there is nothing new to say about the game, but Frost (The Greatest Game Ever Played) manages to bring a fresh perspective. He captures all the excitement and tension of the game, and his book reads like a novel, full of suspense and larger-than-life characters. Frost combines play-by-play coverage with background stories on players and coaches, the history of the World Series, and info on baseball’s complicated relationship with its fans and the media. Alternating between past and present, Frost provides the context to understand the significance of this historic game.
Verdict Readers need not be baseball fanatics to appreciate this well-written account. Highly recommended.—Michele Martin, MLIS, Petaluma, CA
Greene, Alan. Feeding Baby Green: The Earth-Friendly Program for Healthy, Safe Nutrition During Pregnancy, Childhood, and Beyond. Jossey-Bass. Oct. 2009. c.298p. illus. index. ISBN 978-0-470-42524-4. pap. $16.95. HEALTH
“Babies are built from food,” writes Greene (Raising Baby Green) in this straightforward manual for eco-conscious parents. Most of the nutritional advice here will not be new to parents; it’s not specific to parents who are choosing organic or sustainable food. The strength of the book is in its personality. Greene shares his own childhood eating habits and takes a nonjudgmental approach, offering specific brand suggestions for organic baby formulas knowing that some mothers need that option. Parents of picky eaters will especially appreciate the tips for engaging toddlers in new flavors and aromas.
Verdict This title will stand out among the proliferation of organic cookbooks for babies and toddlers, as it capably tackles the why (we feed our kids healthy food) and how (to get them to eat it).—Mindy Rhiger, St. Paul, MN
Hajdu, David. Heroes and Villains: Essays on Music, Movies, Comics, and Culture. Da Capo. Oct. 2009. c.336p. index. ISBN 978-0-306-81833-2. pap. $17.95. MUSIC
In this collection of essays from a variety of sources, including the New Republic, Hajdu (The Ten-Cent Plague) uses his discerning eye to highlight controversial junctures in popular taste. Pieces on music and comic book artists are heavy on background and context and touch on issues of race, aging, authenticity, and technology. Hajdu explores the life of little-known musician Billy Eckstine and includes essays on Elvis Costello, Sting, Ray Charles, Dinah Washington, and Alan Lomax.
Verdict This collection from a popular nonfiction writer is recommended for fans and students of music and pop culture writing.—Lani Smith, Ohlone Coll. Lib., Fremont, CA
Izzard, Jon. Werewolves. ISBN 978-1-84601-346-1.
Taylor, Joules. Vampires. ISBN 978-1-84601-345-4.
ea. vol: Spruce: Octopus, dist. by Hachette. Oct. 2009. 192p. photogs. bibliog. index. pap. $14.99. FILM
These well-designed and lavishly illustrated volumes will enjoy a wide readership if the popularity of Twilight, Harry Potter, and urban fantasy are any indication. Taylor (Celtic Messages) delves into the history and origins of vampires—focusing on their evolution, influences, variations, and habits. Material about onscreen vampires portrayed by Bela Lugosi, Frank Langella, Tom Cruise, and others is especially appealing and features eye-catching photos and posters. Izzard (who, like Taylor, has written on the paranormal) offers an eclectic and informative look at werewolves, their psychology, and depiction in legends, art, television, and movies. Both volumes are filled with solidly researched historical and cultural information, complemented by beautiful illustrations, movie stills, posters, and photographs as well as glossaries, bibliographies, and suggestions for further reading.
Verdict Fans of related literature and film will be thrilled with these nicely presented cultural and historical overviews, which should ride on the current popularity of the subject matter and Halloween-related interest.—Carol J. Binkowski, Bloomfield, NJ
Kristeva, Julia. This Incredible Need To Believe. Columbia Univ. (European Perspectives). Oct. 2009. c.128p. tr. from Italian by Beverly Bie Brahic. index. ISBN 978-0-231-14784-2. $19.95. REL
Kristeva (linguistics, Université de Paris VII) is not easily categorized; a psychoanalyst, literary critic, and philosopher, she has written a number of books on different topics (e.g., Strangers to Ourselves; New Maladies of the Soul). In her most recent work, she addresses the significant role of the human propensity to believe in development, especially during the adolescent phase. She does so as a nonbeliever with a great appreciation for those who have faith. In this collection of interviews, essays, and other writings, Kristeva discusses several important figures and their ideas, such as Teresa of Avila, Hannah Arendt, and Pope John Paul II. The diverse nature of the writings detracts from the cohesiveness of the book; still, it is held together by the central theme of the human need to believe.
Verdict Far from being hostile to religion, Kristeva sees it as playing a key role in healthy development toward compassionate humanism. Particularly recommended to persons interested in religion, psychology, and philosophy.—John Jaeger, Dallas Baptist Univ. Lib., TX
Zorumski, Charles F. & Eugene Rubin. Demystifying Psychiatry: A Resource for Patients and Families. Oxford Univ.Oct. 2009. c.240p. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-19-538640-0. $29.95. PSYCH
Zorumski and Rubin, faculty members at the Washington University School of Medicine, provide a nonmedical readership with a clear description of psychiatry. The authors acknowledge their preference for and commitment to a “medical model” of psychiatry, a strong doctor-patient relationship, and a reliance on evidence-based treatment, including medications, psychotherapies, and brain stimulation. They illustrate how problems of the mind develop and can be treated and share ways that patients and families can become informed consumers. While the book is accessible, some sections, especially the discussions of brain development, are somewhat technical.
Verdict If you believe that psychiatric problems are just character flaws, read this book. If you are a mental health provider a, read this book. If you have a friend or family member suffering from psychiatric problems, reading this book will help you get them appropriate care.—Paula McMillen, Oregon State Univ. Libs., Corvallis
