To highlight the wide range of publications reviewed in Choice, each month Choice editors feature some noteworthy reviews from the current issue. 

Barron, Stephanie. Magritte and contemporary art: the treachery of images, by Stephanie Barron and Michel Draguet with Sara Cochran. Los Angeles County Museum of Art and Ludion/Magritte Foundation, 2006. 255p index ISBN 9055446211, $60.00. Reviewed in 2007jul CHOICE.
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This important exhibition catalog recontextualizes the work of Belgian surrealist painter Rene  Magritte in light of Pop and Conceptual Art, as well as postmodern art and theory. As the extremely well-illustrated catalog amply demonstrates, Magritte has had a lasting influence on contemporary artists, including Eleanor Antin, John Baldessari, and Joseph Kosuth. Essays by Barron and Draguet (cocurators) provide assistance in reading Magritte’s work through the art of the past 40 years. With Draguet, several contributors (Dickran Tashjian, Teresa Papanikolas, Sara Cochran) examine Magritte’s critical reception in America and his relationship with art dealers and collectors Alexander Iolas, William Copley, Harry Torczyner, and John and Dominique de Menil. Additional essays are dedicated to the influence of Magritte on Marcel Broodthaers, Jasper Johns, Richard Artschwager, Ed Ruscha, Vija Celmins, and Robert Gober. A final essay by Noellie Roussel considers the significance that the critical debasement of Magritte (during his so-called vache period) held for Jim Shaw and Raymond Pettibon. A substantial chronology is included. Must reading for modernists and postmodernists alike, this catalog perfectly balances historical context with creative thinking. Summing Up: Essential. General readers; lower-division undergraduates through professionals. — E. K. Menon, Butler University

Borgmann, Albert. Real American ethics: taking responsibility for our country. Chicago, 2007 (c2006). 245p bibl index afp ISBN 0226066347, $25.00. Reviewed in 2007jul CHOICE.
44-6166       BJ352       2006-16449CIP

This delightful reflection on American ethics has a double appeal. On the one hand is Borgmann’s clear articulation of the predominant Kantian theoretical base and the desire for a workable practical ethics. On the other is his incisive criticism of the way ethical theory and practical ethics misses the heart of the American enterprise. A self-described liberal, Borgmann (Montana) understands the breadth of American sentiment and longs for “Jefferson reborn.” He says, “An ethical theory is put to its real test when it is applied as a comprehensive view to the subtle and complex issues of today’s typical human condition.” In pragmatic fashion, Borgmann focuses on the ethical lading of the US Constitution and on the historical developments that mark Americans’ ethical development, of which they are often “forgetful heirs.” “Real ethics” means taking responsibility for the physical and explicitly moral shape of American culture. Borgmann repeatedly interprets Churchill’s warning that “we shape our buildings, and afterwards our buildings shape us” by drawing attention to the ways in which government policies, social practices, and material infrastructure do indeed shape people. Real ethics is a plea to include all these elements as necessary features in taking ethical responsibility for the world. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-level undergraduates through faculty/researchers; general readers. — R. Ward, Georgetown College

Brophy, Alfred L. Reparations: pro & con. Oxford, 2006. 287p bibl index afp ISBN 019530408X, $29.95. Reviewed in 2007jul CHOICE.
44-6508       KF4757       2005-37620CIP

Brophy (law, Univ. of Alabama) has provided a comprehensive yet very accessible book on a controversial topic. The debate regards reparations for African Americans to compensate them for the involuntary servitude of their ancestors, which produced tangible economic benefits for white Americans. The book, which is divided into seven chapters and several helpful appendixes, begins by establishing the racially divisive nature of this issue. The author traces the idea of reparations over the past 200 years, offering numerous legal as well as practical arguments on both sides. Brophy also compares the issue of reparations for blacks with historical cases of reparations for Jews, Native Americans, and Japanese Americans. This book presents an excellent history of this issue in the US, and documents and analyzes all of the relevant court cases and proposed legislation. Overall, the book is an outstanding source on a subject that has received an increasing amount of research and discussion in recent years and will be hotly debated into the future. Summing Up: Recommended. All readership levels. — N. Kraus, University of Wisconsin–River Falls

Burbick, Joan. Gun show nation: gun culture and American democracy. New Press, 2006. 232p bibl index ISBN 1595580875, $24.95. Reviewed in 2007jul CHOICE.
44-6413       HV7436       2006-44415CIP

In this unusual combination of academic scholarship and personal journalism, Burbick (American studies and English, Washington State Univ.) provides a brief history of the gun rights movement in the US from Buffalo Bill Cody through the contemporary National Rifle Association. She points out that since the 1960s, the movement has focused on gun ownership as a way to protect decent citizens from criminal (and recently terrorist) activity; earlier, hunting and target shooting were the primary rationales for private citizens to own guns. Burbick’s journalistic segments are based on visits to dozens of gun shows nationwide during the past several years, at which she interviewed hundreds of gun owners and rabid Second Amendment supporters. She treats them fairly, noting, for example, “[W]ith religious gun owners, I often found ordinary [people] trying to make sense of a decadent and dying society.” Burdick ends, however, with a ringing critique of gun culture, concluding that “the Second Amendment has become a political weapon to stop democratic processes,” a threat to the very values that many gun owners think they are protecting. More readable and accessible than scholarly tomes like William Vizzard’s Shots in the Dark (CH, Jun’01, 38-5638). Summing Up: Highly recommended. All libraries. — A. O. Edmonds, Ball State University

The Cambridge history of Russia: v.1: From early Rus’ to 1689; v.2: Imperial Russia, 1689-1917; v.3: The twentieth century, ed. by Maureen Perrie, Dominic Lieven, and Ronald Grigor Suny. Cambridge, 2006. 3v bibl index ISBN 0521861942, $185.00. Reviewed in 2007jul CHOICE.
44-6397       DK43       MARC

This massive three-volume set is a monumental achievement and should be placed in a prominent position on the reference shelf of any library whose readers have an interest in Russian history. The edited volumes encompass the entire span of Russian history, from the origins of the Rus’ state around 900 to the present. The volumes are divided at the traditional political-dynastic breaks: volume 1 treats the period to 1689, volume 2 from 1689 to 1917, and volume 3 the 20th century. This periodization is understandable and fits well with most of the topics covered. Some topics (such as the peasantry) do not neatly fit into this structure, but this does not detract from the set’s overall logic and value. Each volume contains chapters written by a wide range of scholars that address specific aspects of the period covered. The editors’ goal was to provide comprehensive, coherent coverage of the various periods based on up-to-date scholarship and incorporating new primary and archival sources, while not imposing strict guidelines on the contributors’ interpretations of their topics. The authors of the individual chapters are mainly well-established scholars from the US and the UK (with a few from Russia and other countries), although some younger scholars who have expertise in particular areas also are represented. Each volume contains a varying balance of both thematic and chronological treatments of the different periods and topics. The coverage is quite broad and includes political, economic, social, cultural, intellectual, military, and diplomatic topics. The volumes pay particular attention to the non-Russian areas of the czarist state, Soviet empire, and post-Soviet republics. The result is a wonderfully rich and valuable resource that will provide authoritative guidance about the history of Russia for both students and professionals for many years to come. Summing Up: Essential. All levels/libraries. — N. M. Brooks, New Mexico State University

Cunningham, George B. Diversity in sport organizations. Holcomb Hathaway, 2007. 392p bibl indexes ISBN 189087177X pbk, $45.00. Reviewed in 2007jul CHOICE.
44-6297       GV713       2006-36740CIP

Cunningham (Texas A&M Univ.) provides a comprehensive view of one of the most important challenges that sport and physical-activity managers encounter–diversity. Divided into four segments, the book’s 13 chapters are grounded in research and theory and provide relevant practical applications. Part 1, “Foundations of Diversity,” addresses definitions, descriptions, and theoretical tenets surrounding diversity, prejudices, and discrimination. Part 2, “Categorical Effects of Diversity,” targets race and gender issues in sport organizations along with age and disability on the field, in leisure settings, and in the workplace. The third section, “Compositional and Relational Diversity,” which includes discussion of cross-functional team building, offers discussion of managerial theories, learning objectives, strategies, effectiveness outcomes, and legal dimensions; discrimination law, Title IX, and employment opportunity are cited and well referenced. The last segment, “Managing Workplace Diversity,” includes managing diverse organizations and groups, explores various models, and discusses diversity training. Intended primarily as a textbook, this thorough, well-constructed book will be a valuable library resource for sports, leisure, and recreation studies. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty and professionals. — M. L. Krotee, North Carolina State University

Edersheim, Elizabeth Haas. The definitive Drucker. McGraw-Hill, 2007. 289p bibl index afp ISBN 0071472339, $27.95. Reviewed in 2007jul CHOICE.
44-6323       HD31       2006-28011CIP

Edersheim has produced an informative book about Peter Drucker, widely known as the management guru of the 20th century and as the father of modern management. Drucker authored about 40 books on business practices, economics, and contemporary trends (often before mention by most other experts or authors, especially his groundbreaking ideas in the 1950s-60s about Japan). Edersheim details the essence of Drucker’s writing in seven well-written chapters. She spent 16 months with Drucker before he died in November 2005 at age 95, and she quotes him on numerous occasions in explaining his practical ideas about business management. The final chapter, “The Twenty-First Century CEO,” is particularly informative for today’s forward-looking business leaders and academics. Edersheim does a great job of explaining the overall management philosophy that Drucker articulated, and she draws from many CEO interviews (including companies such as Procter & Gamble, Toyota, and General Electric). With endnotes, a bibliography of Drucker’s books, and an index, this impressive book is loaded with practical advice and will be of interest to a wide audience. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Business practitioners, students, and academics, as well as nonbusiness leaders. — J. W. Leonard, Miami University

     
Forstater, Mathew. Little book of big ideas: economics. Chicago Review, 2007. 128p index ISBN 1556526660, $14.95. Reviewed in 2007jul CHOICE.
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Forstater (Univ. of Missouri-Kansas City) has produced a delightful volume that is brief, inexpensive, and more importantly, useful. It contains short entries, only a page or two, of key topics and individuals in economics, organized more or less chronologically into six sections: “Pre-Classical Economics,” “Classical Economics,” “Neoclassical Economics,” “Keynesian Economics,” “Historical and Institutional Economics,” and “Development Economics.” All but seven entries within these sections are of individual economists, with a brief overview of the essence of their work. The quality of this information makes this book unique. Rather than just giving a brief thumbnail sketch of each economist along with birth, death, country of origin, and a few book titles, Forstater manages to compress important analytical information in a readable form. Each entry includes a subject header as well as the name of the economist; the index identifies both. So, for example Milton Friedman is predictably “Monetarism Monitor” and Nicholas Kaldor, “Cumulative Causation and Endogenous Money.” This book will be a welcome addition to any library that serves undergraduates. Summing Up: Highly recommended. General readers; all levels of undergraduate students. — M. Perelman, California State University, Chico

Fry, Joseph A. Debating Vietnam: Fulbright, Stennis, and their Senate hearings. Rowman & Littlefield, 2006. 199p bibl index afp ISBN 0742544354, $65.00; ISBN 0742544354 pbk, $22.95. Reviewed in 2007jul CHOICE.
44-6419       DS558       2006-11367CIP

Lyndon Johnson’s decision to rescind a bombing halt over North Vietnam helped spark numerous attempts by Congress to investigate his administration’s conduct of the war. Focusing on these hearings, Fry (Univ. of Nevada, Las Vegas) gives one of the more cogent summaries of the congressional debate on the Vietnam War. Focusing on “dovish” senator J. William Fulbright and John Stennis, a “hawk,” Fry neatly illustrates the different schools of criticism of LBJ policies. Fulbright, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, decided the administration’s inability to consider any other route than escalation of the conflict a problem. Stennis, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, was an early critic of Johnson’s policy, decrying it as too soft on the North Vietnamese; LBJ was doing too little, not too much. If unwillingness to negotiate triggered Fulbright’s criticism, it was the pursuit of “limited war” that propelled Stennis’s objections. Fry’s analysis of the role played by the Senate Preparedness Subcommittee, chaired by Stennis, makes clear the strength of the “hawkish” view in 1966. The limitations of the “dovish” approach are evident in Fry’s narrative. Those interested in Congress’s role during the Vietnam War could do no better than this superb work. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries. — D. R. Turner, Davis and Elkins College

Gay life and culture: a world history, ed. by Robert Aldrich. Universe, 2006. 384p bibl index ISBN 0789315114, $49.95. Reviewed in 2007jul CHOICE.
44-6375       HQ76       2006-90320MARC

This beautifully illustrated volume is also a first-rate anthology. Chapters by 14 recognized scholars are mostly formatted in a Western civilization sequence (ancient, medieval, renaissance, etc.). Bracketing them is a fine overview by editor Aldrich (European history, Univ. of Sydney) and Gert Hekma’s conclusions on globalized gay culture. Whereas the culture’s destination is international, its march is through national narratives. Authors choose how to characterize same-sex cultures, and all treat gender implications. Two excellent chapters, the second by Leila Rupp, examine Western lesbians exclusively. Outside the sequence, a chapter on gay and lesbian intimacy in Asia follows another on homosexuality in the Middle East and North Africa. Another neatly demonstrates queer theory’s attention to heteronormativity in the stories of Europeans, upon finding among indigenous peoples in the Americas and Oceania striking departures from two-gender social models and homosexualities, forcibly compelling heteronormativity. All readers will learn much from and delight in this volume. There is an arc of inevitability in this story, of gay people assimilating and integrating into developed countries as the demographic cohort of adversaries slowly vanish in the hearse’s wake. Summing Up: Essential. All public and academic levels/libraries. — P. K. Cline, Earlham College

Gilbert, Daniel. Stumbling on happiness. Knopf, 2006. 277p index afp ISBN 1400042666, $24.95. Reviewed in 2007jul CHOICE.
44-6522       BF575       2005-44459CIP

A respected research social psychologist and well-published author (of science fiction as well as scholarly work), Gilbert (Harvard) has written a book about what makes people happy. He intends the book to be for readers without degrees in social psychology.  The book is comparable to Steven Levitt’s Freakonomics in its tone, style, and relationship to research: Gilbert’s descriptions of current research are lively and engaging. Gilbert’s central theme is that one can understand a great deal about what makes people happy by looking at three psychological illusions: perception, foresight, and hindsight. Gilbert describes social-psychological thinking on several topics as they relate to happiness: predicting future behavior, subjectivity, self-perception, filling in detail, predicting future feelings, thinking about the past and future, the limits and biases of memory, and the ability to imagine.  Although he never mentions the term “positive psychology,” this book is an excellent introduction to this field and could be a resource in beginning college courses. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-/upper-division undergraduates and general readers unfamiliar with psychology. — W. A. Ashton, CUNY York College

Gossett, Philip. Divas and scholars: performing Italian opera. Chicago, 2006. 675p bibl indexes afp ISBN 0226304825, $35.00. Reviewed in 2007jul CHOICE.
44-6153       ML1700       2005-32151CIP

Gossett (Univ. of Chicago) provides suggestions for integrating history and practice in productions of 19th-century Italian opera. His work centers on the new critical editions of the operas of Rossini, Donizetti, Bellini, and Verdi. As both advocate and apologist for these volumes, he attempts to define the concept of critical editions and provides guidelines for their use in present-day productions. Thanks to the author’s immense erudition concerning all aspects of 19th-century opera, his book provides a wealth of information not readily available elsewhere. Informative chapters devoted to ornamentation, cuts, transpositions, stage direction, and design demonstrate the practical application of Gossett’s work, and he consistently advocates a flexible approach. The author’s relaxed, chatty style–especially when discussing productions in which he has worked–makes for entertaining reading; that said, some anecdotes about behind-the-scenes workings (including subtle digs at various performers) seem self-serving and detract from the seriousness of an otherwise impressive scholarly work. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty and professionals; general readers. — S. C. Champagne, Oberlin College Conservatory of Music

Hallock, Steven M. Editorial and opinion: the dwindling marketplace of ideas in today’s news. Praeger, 2007. 195p bibl index afp ISBN 0275993302, $49.95. Reviewed in 2007jul CHOICE.
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The number of competing major newspapers has shrunk from 288 in 1930 to fewer than 30 today, and this makes media watchers suspect that something important is lacking in the marketplace of ideas that protects a free society. Hallock (Southern Illinois Univ.) confirms that suspicion here, first establishing a historical framework and then analyzing newspaper editorials past and present to establish their effectiveness. Scrupulously researched and packed with statistical charts and graphs, this book takes to task the bland, homogenized editorial offerings of the present era, demonstrating ways in which the corporate model for news diminishes public debate and dilutes the exchange of ideas in American society. Replete with examples of robust, informed opinion writing that arose from local competition in newspapers of the past, this volume in the “Democracy and the News” series makes a convincing argument in favor of strong, competing editorial voices that promote vital debate, shape public opinion, and set the political agenda for communities and the nation. A valuable companion to Kenneth Rystrom’s The Why, Who, and How of the Editorial Page (1983, now in its 4th ed.), it adds solid support in favor of independent and competitive media outlets. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty and professionals. — L. Loomis, SUNY Oswego

Halper, Stefan. The silence of the rational center: why American foreign policy is failing, by Stefan Halper and Jonathan Clarke. Basic Books, 2007. 312p index afp ISBN 0465011411, $26.95. Reviewed in 2007jul CHOICE.
44-6490       JZ1480       2006-32291CIP

This book provides an informed, dispassionate critique of contemporary American foreign policy. Halper and Clarke, both scholars with broad foreign policy experience, argue that US foreign policy is failing because the “rational center” is silent. According to the authors, two factors that greatly inhibit informed dialogue on foreign policy are the persistent influence of ideals and doctrines (“Big Ideas”) and the rise of cable news. Big Ideas–such as Exceptionalism, Manifest Destiny, Wilsonianism, and the War on Terror–get in the way of sound policy making because they inhibit rational analysis and push foreign policy specialists to the sidelines. The modern media also impedes the development of an informed foreign policy because it tends to oversimplify issues and inhibit discussion. Additionally, the authors argue that some think tanks and scholars are failing to contribute to rational, fact-based foreign policy analysis because political and ideological perspectives have excessive influence in the policy-making process. Although this study does not provide answers as to how a democratic society should structure its foreign policy debates, it raises important questions about how well American society is being served by its elites. Useful to both specialists and laypersons, recommended for all libraries. Summing Up: Highly recommended. General readers, lower-division undergraduates and above. — M. Amstutz, Wheaton College

Hudnut-Beumler, James. In pursuit of the Almighty’s dollar: a history of money and American Protestantism. North Carolina, 2007. 267p index afp Reviewed in 2007jul CHOICE.
44-6187       BR115       2006-21910CIP

What better study in material culture and the practice of religion than a history of money and Protestantism in America? Hudnut-Beumler (Vanderbilt) introduces readers to a cast of characters and an array of readings that do not appear in customary accounts of American Protestantism; here the business of religion and the rhetoric of raising and spending money take center stage. This survey, covering Puritans to the present, makes money the lens through which to view Protestants in America as they have gone about the business of finding motives and means to pursue “the Almighty’s Dollar” through pew rentals, tithing, stewardship campaigns, every-member canvases, fundraisers, Loyalty Sunday money sermons, pledge cards, and so forth–to pay for churches, programs, and clergy. This history of the economics of an important component of American religion traces the changing concepts of the business of the church and the church’s business as they intertwine with ever-changing social, political, and cultural developments. It is an overdue study of a neglected aspect of religion in America, of particular interest to theological and graduate students, and also to laypersons and church professionals. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-level undergraduates through professionals/practitioners; general readers. — B. M. Stephens, emeritus, Pennsylvania State University, Delaware County Campus

Morrison, Terri. Kiss, bow, or shake hands: Europe, by Terri Morrison and Wayne A. Conaway. Adams Media, 2007. 318p index ISBN 1598692186 pbk, $14.95. Reviewed in 2007jul CHOICE.
44-6328       HF5389       2006-10217MARC

Although we live in a constantly changing and global world, there still remain distinct European protocols and cultural mores important for conducting business and working in Europe. The authors have written a book that is quite concise and informative, yet suitable for a wide range of audiences. It is a regional adaptation of their popular Kiss, Bow, or Shake Hands: The Bestselling Guide to Doing Business in More than 60 Countries (2nd ed., CH, Jan’07, 44-2794). This new volume covers 25 European countries. Information for each includes cultural overviews, with a country IQ test; tips for doing business; things to know before arrival; negotiating strategies; and protocol. A “Cultural Orientation” section includes “Cognitive Styles: How We Organize and Process Information.” This section provides a brief but insightful picture of the cognitive style that characterizes Americans, and how Americans doing business abroad are sometimes perceived. This subject matter is explored further as it addresses individual cultural mores of all 25 European countries. An appendix provides additional resources for anyone wishing to do business or travel in Europe. Overall, an excellent resource for understanding business practices in European countries. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduate through professional collections. — T. M. Marini, Kansas State University

Rebuilding urban places after disaster: lessons from Hurricane Katrina, ed. by Eugenie L. Birch and Susan M. Wachter. Pennsylvania, 2006. 375p bibl afp ISBN 0812219805 pbk, $34.95. Reviewed in 2007jul CHOICE.
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This impressive collection of papers, with conclusions at times depressing, at times encouraging, records a symposium held in February 2006 to address the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Twenty-two papers by 39 presenters with extensive experience in their respective fields address four broad concerns: protecting vulnerable places, restoring economic viability, caring for displaced people, and restoring beloved urban and rural areas. An essential handbook for many parts of the recovery effort, it adds value by putting them into a larger framework and offering to current and future planning and activity the perspective of other recovery efforts. Photographs and plates (some in color), charts, bibliographies, biographies, and intelligent but too-short forewords and afterwords supplement the papers. In short: invaluable. Summing Up: Essential. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals. — C. W. Westfall, University of Notre Dame

Wray, Matt. Not quite white: white trash and the boundaries of whiteness. Duke University, 2006. 213p bibl index afp ISBN 0822338823, $74.95; ISBN 0822338823 pbk, $21.95. Reviewed in 2007jul CHOICE.
44-6440       E184       2006-13300CIP

Wray (Univ. Nevada-Las Vegas) provides an illuminating history of the term “white trash” and a keen analysis of its various uses in creating social differences. The author theorizes discourses of race, class, and gender through adaptation of “boundary theory,” fashioning a nuanced analysis of how such notions are used to draw lines of difference that produce social inequalities. After tracing such terms as “lubbers,” “crackers,” and “dirt-eaters” through their development in the18th- and early-19th-century US, Wray offers three chapters that show how distinctly the term “white trash” functioned in various historical periods and social problematics. The term first takes root among enslaved Africans and is picked up by abolitionists in the antebellum US, who blame white poverty on the slave system. Most fascinating are the author’s examinations of how the early-20th-century eugenics movement fashioned “white trash” as biological degeneracy, and how the subsequent campaign to rid the US of hookworm disease produced a widespread representation of “white trash” people as diseased, feeble-minded, and a drag upon the race. Written with clarity and illustrated with lively examples from history, literature, and sociology, this volume will be helpful to anyone interested in the history of race and class in the US. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries. — G. Jay, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee

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