New Books - February 2009

F549 .E2 B37 2008
Never Been a Time: The 1917 Race Riot that Sparked the Civil Rights Movement
Barnes, Harper, 1937-

From the Publisher:
The dramatic and first popular account of one of the deadliest racial confrontations in the 20th century—in East St. Louis in the summer of 1917—which paved the way for the civil rights movement.

In the 1910s, half a million African Americans moved from the impoverished rural South to booming industrial cities of the North in search of jobs and freedom from Jim Crow laws. But Northern whites responded with rage, attacking blacks in the streets and laying waste to black neighborhoods in a horrific series of deadly race riots that broke out in dozens of cities across the nation, including Philadelphia, Chicago, Tulsa, Houston, and Washington, D.C. In East St. Louis, Illinois, corrupt city officials and industrialists had openly courted Southern blacks, luring them North to replace striking white laborers. This tinderbox erupted on July 2, 1917 into what would become one of the bloodiest American riots of the World War era. Its impact was enormous. “There has never been a time when the riot was not alive in the oral tradition,” remarks Professor Eugene Redmond. Indeed, prominent blacks like W.E.B. Du Bois, Marcus Garvey, and Josephine Baker were forever influenced by it.

Celebrated St. Louis journalist Harper Barnes has written the first full account of this dramatic turning point in American history, decisively placing it in the continuum of racial tensions flowing from Reconstruction and as a catalyst of civil rights action in the decades to come. Drawing from accounts and sources never before utilized, Harper Barnes has crafted a compelling and definitive story that enshrines the riot as an historical rallying cry for all who deplore racialviolence.

New Books - February 2009

TR465 .H445 2008
Scrapbooks: An American History
Helfand, Jessica

From the Publisher:
Combining pictures, words, and a wealth of personal ephemera, scrapbook makers preserve on the pages of their books a moment, a day, or a lifetime. Highly subjective and rich in emotional content, the scrapbook is a unique and often quirky form of expression in which a person gathers and arranges meaningful materials to create a personal narrative. This lavishly illustrated book is the first to focus attention on the history of American scrapbooks—their origins, their makers, their diverse forms, the reasons for their popularity, and their place in American culture.

Jessica Helfand, a graphic designer and scrapbook collector, examines the evolution of scrapbooks from the beginning of the nineteenth century to the present, concentrating on the first half of the twentieth century. She includes color photographs from more than two hundred scrapbooks, some made by private individuals and others by the famous, including Zelda Fitzgerald, Lillian Hellman, Anne Sexton, Hilda Doolittle, and Carl Van Vechten. Scrapbooks, while generally made by amateurs, represent a striking and authoritative form of visual autobiography, Helfand finds, and when viewed collectively they offer a unique perspective on the changing pulses of American cultural life.

Published with assistance from Furthermore: a program of the J. M. Kaplan Fund

New Books - February 2009

VE23 .B368 2008
Leathernecks: An Illustrated History of the U.S. Marine Corps
Bartlett, Merrill L.

Publishers Weekly Review:
Bartlett and Sweetman, respected authorities on naval and Marine Corps history, collaborate on a significantly updated version of The U.S. Marine Corps: An Illustrated History. Owners of that volume need not shy away from this one. The illustrations in particular have been overhauled, incorporating many new photos and prints from unfamiliar sources. The text adds a final chapter perceptively analyzing the corps's spectrum of contributions to the war on terror, from peacekeeping operations in Africa to pitched battles in Iraq and Afghanistan. The authors' treatment of the two battles for Fallujah merit particular attention. Newcomers will find even more useful the initial chapter, a survey of marine forces since antiquity, and the body of the text, which surveys the U.S. Marines' protean history. The book, and the Corps it celebrates, are best defined by a photo: this candid shot, taken during the battle for Okinawa, shows two men of the 29th Marines sleeping, an Okinawan orphan cuddled safely between them in their fighting hole. 145 b&w photos, 112 color illus., 30 maps. (Oct.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

New Books - February 2009

GV884 .M65 A3 2008
Resilience: Faith, Focus, Triumph
Mourning, Alonzo, 1970-

Summary:
"Alonzo Mourning's return to basketball glory, already familiar to sports fans and non-sports fans alike, has inspired millions of patients suffering from kidney disease and living with dialysis, as well as organ donors around the world. By sharing his experiences of the physical, emotional, and spiritual roller coaster of illness and recovery, Mourning delivers a message of faith and fire, hurdles and hope, trust and triumph. Resilience is a story of both meaningful everyday lessons and the things, great and small, that truly matter in life."--BOOK JACKET. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

From the Publisher:
Resilience. It’s not just the title of Alonzo Mourning’s stirring memoir; it’s the stuff he’s made of. Whether petitioning himself into foster care as an eleven-year-old, tirelessly studying his way onto the dean’s list at Georgetown University, making it as an all-star center in the NBA, or returning to peak form after organ-transplant surgery, Mourning has shown enormous inner strength. His faith, his determination, and his courage are what have driven and sustained him throughout his extraordinary life. In 2000, Mourning was on top of the world: He had a fat new contract, an Olympic gold medal, and a second beautiful child–all that and the fame and wealth he had earned playing the game he loved. But in September of that year, he was diagnosed with a rare and fatal kidney disease. Over the next couple of years, as his health faltered, he retired, unretired, and retired again–and sought to make sense of the rest of his life. Finally in 2003, after a frantic search for a donor match, Mourning had a new kidney and a new outlook. He vowed to make this second chance count by dedicating his life to others. He resolved that he would consider the disease a blessing, a revelation of God’s plan for him. Although he battled his way back to the NBA, winning a championship with the Miami Heat in 2006, Mourning believed that the most important and fulfilling part of his life still lay ahead. Basketball, it turned out, was just the vehicle that would allow him to devote his talents and energies to a greater cause.Alonzo Mourning’s return to basketball glory, already familiar to sports fans and non-sports fansalike, has inspired millions of patients suffering from kidney disease and living with dialysis, as well as organ donors around the world. By sharing his experiences of the physical, emotional, and spiritual roller coaster of illness and recovery, Mourning hopes to deliver a message of faith and fire, hurdles and hope, trust and triumph. Resilience is a story about the meaningful everyday lessons that he longs to share and about the things that truly matter in life.

New Books - February 2009

GE180 .J66 2008
The Green-Collar Economy: How One Solution Can Fix Our Two Biggest Problems
Jones, Van, 1968-

Library Journal Review:
With climate change, skyrocketing energy costs, and a bad economy on everyone's minds, these two books offer different takes on these circumstances and consequently quite different solutions. While in The Green Collar Economy, Jones (founder & president, Green for All) addresses ongoing issues of social inequality as well as the environment and arrives at large-scale solutions aimed at both, Makower (executive editor, GreenBiz.com) in Strategies for the Green Economy focuses more on improving the "greenness" of individual corporations. By examining case studies of companies' green initiatives and their effects on marketing and consumers, he demonstrates how going green can be a win-win for both the bottom line and the environment.In looking at the bigger picture, Jones provides ideas for rebuilding infrastructure and creating alternative energy sources, which would have the double bonus of boosting the economy through increased employment and higher wages while decreasing our dependence on fossil fuels. With a blurb by Al Gore and a foreword by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., this is a much more forward-thinking and far-reaching work that considers concrete ways to improve our current situation, rather than offering only rhetoric. Action items and a resource list at the end of the book provide ways for individuals to get involved immediately.Makower's is a more typical "business" book, looking at specific companies and their approaches to environmentalism. It focuses on corporate success and how to use the environment as a marketing tool rather than on strategies to save the country and the planet. While both books are highly readable and very timely, the big picture presented in The Green Collar Economy seems more optimistic and useful than the marketing techniques outlined in Strategies. The Green Collar Economy is recommended for all libraries, while Strategies is recommended more specifically for business collections. Susan Hurst, Miami Univ. of Ohio Libs., Oxford Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

New Books - February 2009

HV6439 .U5 E53 2008
Encyclopedia of Gangs
Kontos, Louis

Summary:
"In light of Los Angeles' gang "state of emergency," ethnic and minority gangs are arguably more high profile now than at any other time in our history. News media typically focus on the crime and violence associated with gangs, but not much else. This encyclopedia seeks to illuminate the world of gangs, including gang formations, routine gang activities, aberrations and current developments. One hundred essay entries related to gangs in the United States and worldwide provide a diffuse overview of the gang phenomenon. Each entry defines and explains the term, provides an historical overview, and explains its significance today. As the following entries demonstrate, gangs are part of the fabric of American society. They are not only in our communities but also our schools and other social institutions. Understanding the world of gangs is therefore needed to understand American society." "Entries include: Bikers, Bloods, Cholas, Crips, gang mythology, gang warfare, graffiti, Hell's Angels, Hong Kong Triads, Latin Kings, law enforcement, occultic gangs, mafia, media, prison gangs, rites, Skinheads, Streetgang Terrorism Omnibus Prevention Act, tattoos, trafficking, Wanna-bes, West Side Story, Witness Protection programs, and youth gangs."--BOOK JACKET. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

New Books - February 2009

JV6483 .R55 2008

Let Them In: The Case for Open Borders

Riley, Jason

Summary:
"Jason Riley explains how a liberal immigration policy is consistent not only with our traditions and morals but also with a more secure United States. By providing more legal ways for people to immigrate here to work, we will reduce illegal entries and free up border security resources to concentrate on real threats. But an open-border policy is also in our economic interests. Immigrants, including low-skill immigrants, are a net gain to America. They help facilitate flexible labor markets, which increase overall productivity. Immigrants also keep our workforce younger and stronger than our overseas competitors. The human capital they provide is vital if the United States is to retain its edge in a twenty-first-century global marketplace. Ultimately open immigration is an American tradition that has served us quite well over the past two centuries and should continue. Today's migrants aren't different, just newer. We seal the border at our peril."--BOOK JACKET. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

Booklist Review:
The argument that immigrants depress wages, displace workers, boost crime and disease, and pose a threat to the national security of the U.S. runs counter to political ideals of free trade and the views of conservative hero President Ronald Reagan, who supported amnesty for illegal immigrants and open borders, according to Riley, a conservative columnist. He briefly examines the long and sordid history of opposition to immigrants from Germany, Ireland, China, and, more recently, Latin America. Riley notes that immigration opponents are joined in their resistance to open borders by some environmentalists concerned about the impact on the earth of a burgeoning U.S. population. He challenges the notion that the current targets of immigrant ire-Hispanics-are somehow different from immigrants of the past. Riley also explores the compatibility between open immigration and free-market conservatism and homeland security. Because immigrants strengthen the economy through their labor and entrepreneurism, our policy on immigration should recognize economic realities and focus on providing legal ways for immigrants to enter the country through guest-worker programs, according to Riley. An illuminating look at immigration. Bush, Vanessa. From: Syndetics Solutions, Inc. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

New Books - February 2009

KF9779 .S36 2008
Rethinking Juvenile Justice
Scott, Elizabeth S., 1945-

Booklist Review:
After decades of reading about juvenile "predators" and life sentences imposed on 15-year-old murderers, the public sentiment is swinging away from a policy of zero tolerance for young lawbreakers, according to Scott and Steinberg. The authors combine their legal and psychology backgrounds to offer a new approach to juvenile justice, based on their exploration of research not available when the punitive laws now in effect were enacted and on their review of current legal standards. They advocate a developmental model under which adolescents are treated somewhere between juveniles and adults. They offer a historical perspective, ranging from the progressive era with its emphasis on rehabilitation to the "moral panic" of the 1980s that emphasized punishment. Citing research on brain development, Scott and Steinberg detail a model that recognizes the physiological immaturity of adolescent brains but still holds them accountable for their actions. And, following examination of harsh laws, such as California's Proposition 21, the authors argue that a developmental model for juvenile justice promises better returns for public safety and cost when compared to the ineffective system currently in place. Bush, Vanessa. From: Syndetics Solutions, Inc.

New Books - February 2009

QA269 .F49 2008
Rock, Paper, Scissors: Game Theory in Everyday Life
Fisher, Len

Review:

Praised by Entertainment Weekly as “the man who put the fizz into physics,” Dr. Len Fisher turns his attention to the science of cooperation in his lively and thought-provoking book. Fisher shows how the modern science of game theory has helped biologists to understand the evolution of cooperation in nature, and investigates how we might apply those lessons to our own society. In a series of experiments that take him from the polite confines of an English dinner party to crowded supermarkets, congested Indian roads, and the wilds of outback Australia, not to mention baseball strategies and the intricacies of quantum mechanics, Fisher sheds light on the problem of global cooperation. The outcomes are sometimes hilarious, sometimes alarming, but always revealing. A witty romp through a serious science, Rock, Paper, Scissors will both teach and delight anyone interested in what it what it takes to get people to work together.

New Books - February 2009

GV1065 .R63 2008

A Race Like No Other: 26.2 Miles Through the Streets of New York

Robbins, Liz

Summary:

A narrative account of the 2007 New York City marathon interweaves the stories of professional and amateur participants, from Great Britain's world-record holder Paula Radcliffe and Latvian two-time winner Jelena Prokopcuka to South African former champion Hendrick Ramaala and a young cancer survivor running his first race.

New Books - February 2009

HF1359 .S736513 2008
The War for Wealth: The True Story of Globalization or Why the Flat World is Broken
Steingart, Gabor, 1962-

From the Publisher:
A rallying cry to renew the position of the West in the global economy. If globalization's cheerleaders are right and the world is indeed flat, then it's tilted heavily toward the East. In this provocative look at globalization and its discontents, agenda-setting journalist Gabor Steingart challenges the cadre of well-known globalization supporters-from Thomas Friedman and other media personalities to economists to the politicians that are enabling this transfer of jobs and wealth-to show how the same free-trade policies that are responsible for the Asian economic miracle are destroying the West's way of life and standard of living.

Using numerous examples, The War for Wealth demonstrates how China and other Asian powerhouses have turned the sources of our economic might against us, and shows how we will continue to lose wealth and prosperity if we continue down the current path. To resolve these issues, Steingart makes a strong case for controversial fixes, such as a NATO-like trans-Atlantic trade agreement and a rethinking of our most basic trade policies.