Reference Book Reviews: October, 2005

-- School Library Journal, 10/1/2005

ARNOLD, James R. & Roberta Wiener. The Industrial Revolution. 10 vols. unpaged. diags. illus. maps. photos. reprods. chron. further reading. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. Grolier. 2005. Tr $299. ISBN 0-7172-6031-3. LC 2004054243.

Gr 5-10–The Industrial Revolution spanned several centuries and continents, and this set covers developments and their impact in a well-organized fashion. The first two books describe the movement's British beginnings. Three others focus on the U.S.; three cover Europe, Asia, and Latin America; and the final two volumes look at the impact of industrialization in Europe and America. This arrangement makes the names, dates, and places more manageable, with regular cross-references to related developments elsewhere, emphasizing the interconnectedness of industrial progress. Descriptions of processes and inventions provide background and general workings without getting too far into technical details. Yellow-framed sidebars, sometimes filling one or two pages, present further information on individuals, technology, and historical context. Some of the negative effects of industrialization are touched upon in the first eight volumes, but there is more emphasis on technology and the people who developed it. Volumes 9 and 10, though, look more extensively at the labor movement and the far-reaching social impact of the Industrial Revolution. The set is copiously illustrated, with a variety of art reproductions, diagrams, and historical photographs, along with modern photos from Colonial Williamsburg. Each title includes a full dateline and a cumulative index. With worldwide scope and coverage from the 18th century through the early 1900s, this is more comprehensive than single-volume histories, while the logical structure and appealing layout make it accessible to a wide range of students.–Steven Engelfried, Beaverton City Library, OR

BYNUM, W. F. & Roy Porter, eds. Oxford Dictionary of Scientific Quotations. 712p. index. Oxford Univ. 2005. PLB $50. ISBN 0-19-858409-1. LC number unavailable.

Gr 9 Up–Dian Fossey's remark, "The more you learn about the dignity of the gorilla, the more you want to avoid people" is just one of the gems in this welcome addition to collections. The easy-to-use volume is organized alphabetically by author; a thorough index includes keywords and names. Scientific arguments are represented through zingers delivered in the literature or letters of the time. Quotations from well-known scientists are listed as are those from individuals known primarily by people in their own fields. The insights offered by poets, politicians, and philosophers are not often duplicated in general quotation reference sources. Of course, there are some omissions; there are no entries by Margaret Sanger, and, while Richard Leakey is quoted, Mary Leakey isn't. Despite the few gaps, this is an outstanding book. More thorough than A. L. Mackay's A Dictionary of Scientific Quotations (Inst. of Physics, 1991) and more completely researched than Isaac Asimov's Book of Science and Nature Quotations (Grove/Atlantic, 1989), this is a first purchase.–Cass Kvenild, University of Wyoming, Laramie

CYCLOPEDIA OF YOUNG ADULT AUTHORS. 3 vols. 756p. illus. photos. reprods. index. Web sites. CIP. Salem. 2005. Tr $225. ISBN 1-58765-206-4. LC 2004027668.

Gr 5-9–This version of a database available on NoveList has been thoroughly rewritten for younger or less-practiced readers and considerably enhanced by the addition of color photos; sidebar discussions of films, awards, and other related topics; and updated lists of published (and in some cases even upcoming) titles. Two hundred fifty-one fiction authors are profiled, ranging from Charlotte Brontë and Edgar Allan Poe to the likes of Rudolfo A. Anaya, Louise Rennison, and Neil Gaiman. Each signed entry includes a general biographical overview mixed into a more detailed analysis of major works, influences and common themes, plus a relevant Web link and two sidebars. A comprehensive subject index at the end of each volume will aid readers seeking, for example, quick access to a list of African-American writers, information on a topic such as the Newbery Medal, or the author of a specific title. Despite some surprising gaps–"homosexuality" nets only three indexed mentions, and there are none at all for Tamora Pierce, Rosamund DuJardin, or even R. L. Stine–this should be as popular (and more current) a resource for assignments and readers' advisory as Grolier's multivolume Lives and Works: Young Adult Authors (1998).–John Peters, New York Public Library

FLASH FOCUS. 4 vols. unpaged. maps. photos. reprods. further reading. index. Web sites. CIP. Grolier. 2005. Tr $279. ISBN 0-7172-5935-8. LC 2004042417.

Gr 7 Up–A well-organized overview of American political history. Volume 1 contains summaries of presidential elections from 1789 to 2000. Highlighted text boxes give brief facts about the candidates and the issues, and a map shows how each state's electoral votes were cast. Volume 2 covers parties from the "Federalist Party, 1796-1816" to the Reform Party, begun in 1992. In addition to the familiar Republican, Democratic, Socialist, Populist, and Communist parties, lesser-known groups such as the Workingmen's Party of California (1877-'80) are described. Text boxes present brief biographies of politicians affiliated with the parties. Volume 3 groups biographies of Supreme Court justices under the chief justice with whom they served. Summaries of major cases decided by each court are included. The final volume summarizes struggles that have occurred in an effort to make the Constitution's words "We the People" mean more than "We the White Men." These brief histories are grouped under topics such as "The Fight against Slavery" and "The Campaign for Women's Rights." Highlighted text boxes in this volume give details of organizations, events such as raids and demonstrations, and biographies of important figures in the movements. Excerpted primary sources appear throughout the set: political platforms, writings, court opinions, and more. Each article ends with a brief list of sources, both in print and on the Web. Average-quality, black-and-white photos and reproductions illustrate these volumes. This set will be an excellent resource for both public and school libraries.–Ginny Gustin, Sonoma County Library System, Santa Rosa, CA

FROST-KNAPPMAN, Elizabeth & Kathryn Cullen-DuPont. Women's Suffrage in America: An Eyewitness History. rev. ed. 496p. (Eyewitness History Series). maps. photos. reprods. appendix. bibliog. chron. index. notes. CIP. Facts On File. 2005. Tr $75. ISBN 0-8160-5693-5. LC 2004043339.

Gr 9 Up–What was great about the first edition (1992) remains strong and fiercely alive in this one: firsthand accounts of women desperate to find their freedom and selections such as an earthy yet powerful speech from Sojourner Truth. Though this edition has lost some of the spice of the original, it makes up for that loss by adding approximately 50 pages that include new images, maps, letters, and revised introductions, and an easier-to-read layout. Thirteen chapters cover the years 1800-1920; each one begins with historical narrative followed by a "Chronicle of Events" and excerpts from books, letters, news articles, speeches, resolutions, and more. There are quibbles: the index could be more helpful (the sole entry for "court decisions" leads readers to the preface describing material added to this edition); occasionally the pictures don't illuminate the text on the page; and some early passages dealing with women finding purpose and satisfaction in their domestic life and offering another point of view have been dropped. Libraries owning Kathryn Cullen-Dupont's The Encyclopedia of Women's History in America (Facts On File, 2000) may not find this an essential purchase, but quibbles aside, this updated work remains a necessary addition to every high school collection.–Herman Sutter, Saint Agnes Academy, Houston, TX

HAMMOND, Andrew. Pop Culture Arab World!: Media, Arts, and Lifestyle. 376p. (Popular Culture in the Contemporary World Series). photos. reprods. bibliog. chron. glossary. index. Web sites. CIP. ABC-CLIO. 2005. Tr $85. ISBN 1-85109-449-0. LC 2004022608.

Gr 10 Up–This authoritative volume depicts contemporary popular culture and its interaction with the political scene in the Arabic-speaking world. After a dense and occasionally confusing overview, chapters provide fascinating and unbiased coverage of the following topics: TV and radio, the press, the movie industry, music and Arabpop, theater, religion, belly dancing, consumerism, sports, and language. Each chapter is followed by a list of books, articles, and Web sites, and, when relevant, biographies of important people. The appendix has a glossary and an excellent annotated bibliography. Chapters include some black-and-white, often fuzzy photographs; lengthy boxed information expands text material. Most of the quotations come from the author's interviews with various individuals. Because of the depth of treatment, users should have familiarity with the Arab world and its history. The volume is most appropriate for libraries serving an Arabic studies program or a large Arabic population.–Diane S. Marton, Arlington County Library, VA

HONDERICH, Ted, ed. The Oxford Companion to Philosophy. 2nd ed. 1056p. diags. reprods. chron. index. CIP. Oxford Univ. 2005. PLB $60. ISBN 0-19-926479-1. LC number unavailable.

Gr 10 Up–Opening with a stimulating preface ("Philosophy thrives….It is only the sciences and the superstitions that come and go"), Honderich presents this considerably revised and expanded update of his 1995 edition as a resource that will be equally useful to scholars and to general readers. Now including more than 2200 alphabetically arranged entries from nearly 300 contributors, it provides an encyclopedic view of philosophy's past and present, its ideas, disputes (the editor himself contributes an article on "unlikely philosophical propositions"), and key figures, living and dead. The articles range in length from several sentence definitions to meaty topical and biographical essays of several pages. Each concludes with a list of references; a scattered few are illustrated. A massive index backs up frequent cross-references to enhance ease of access. Back matter includes a time line and an absorbing series of "maps," or schematic diagrams, of types and schools of philosophy. More extensive in scope and level of detail than the Concise Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy (1999), this title makes an excellent companion for standard multivolume subject encyclopedias, and will serve college-bound students and beyond well for both quick reference and sustained enquiry.–John Peters, New York Public Library

MCCUTCHEON, Marc. Descriptionary: A Thematic Dictionary. 3rd ed. 644p. (Facts On File Library of Language and Literature Series). charts. index. CIP. Facts On File. 2005. Tr $60. ISBN 0-8160-5925-X. LC 99-089026.

Gr 8 Up–Updating the 2000 edition with revisions and a number of new or expanded sections, this topical dictionary arranges an estimated 20,000 specialized terms under a classified scheme of headers. The intent is to provide quick reference for writers looking for, say, a list of select hairstyles (bangs, Beatle cut, beehive, bob); baseball jargon (lumber, minors, moon shot, mustard); or rap lingo (mack, my nizzle, off the chain, phat). Entries are arranged alphabetically beneath each rubric and given succinct definitions. As in previous editions, McCutcheon closes with a thousand or so 50-cent words, from "abdicate" to "zenith," that he recommends to heighten the general tone of a user's discourse. Both the word choice and the indexing are arbitrary; a long list of Greek and Roman gods does not include Hestia, for instance. More problematic, however, is the lack of illustrations, as textual descriptions of clothing, body parts, architectural elements, sports gear, medical instruments, or any physical items are seldom as clear as a simple picture would be. Deeper collections, and those serving creative writing programs, will find this a helpful resource, so long as it's used in conjunction with the likes of Reg Bragonier and David Fisher's What's What: A Visual Glossary of the Physical World (Hammond, 1990; o.p. ).–John Peters, New York Public Library

MERRIAM-WEBSTER'S PRIMARY DICTIONARY. illus. by Ruth Heller. 436p. chron. CIP. Merriam-Webster. 2005. Tr $16.95. ISBN 0-87779-174-0. LC 2004028647.

K-Gr 3–This work, which displays an extraordinary level of care in its presentation, includes almost 1000 entries, each used in a sentence. Many of the main entries have "bonus words," e.g., related terms or derivations, and some offer basic information on etymology. Jokes and puns that highlight entries are set off in blue banners. The more than 750 large and colorful drawings, most by Heller, add clarity and interest. The design is excellent: large print, lots of white space, lots of visuals, and the use of icons all work together to present words and language in ways that will enlighten and engage children. Unfortunately, the introductory section lacks an explanation of alphabetical order. John Grisewood and Angela Crawley's The Kingfisher First Dictionary (2004) is also aimed at this audience but its definitions lack consistency, and some readers may find the layout confusing. Primary Dictionary has many uses: for children and parents to peruse together, for instruction, and for children to browse through and mull over. A gift to budding wordsmiths.–Ellen Loughran, Library Consultant, Brooklyn, NY

MIDDLETON, John, ed. World Monarchies and Dynasties. 3 vols. 1063p. charts. maps. photos. reprods. bibliog. chron. further reading. index. CIP. Sharpe Reference. 2005. Tr $325. ISBN 0-7656-8050-5. LC 2003023236.

Gr 9 Up–This is a unique and noteworthy contribution–there is nothing else like it. It is thorough and comprehensive, and covers individual monarchs from all continents and historical periods; royal dynasties (families); kingdoms and nations; and topics such as oaths, polygamy, taxation, myth and folklore, cooks, and etiquette. Each volume contains both a general and biographical index; volume 1 includes a chronology and volume 3 a bibliography; many articles also cite "further reading" entries, which range in length from several paragraphs to several pages, consistently begin with a short definition, and are clear and readable. Black-and-white illustrations are scattered throughout and there are many maps. The set is not without flaws; there are a number of errors, spelling variations within entries, typos, incomplete see and see-also references, and repetition of entries (for instance, Old Testament kings are covered under "Biblical Kings"; "Hebrew Kings"; "Israel, Kingdoms of"; and "Judah, Kingdom of"). Overall, though, this set will be useful for schools with strong history departments and will provide many hours of fascinating reading for those intrigued by both its general and specific topics.–Ann W. Moore, Schenectady County Public Library, NY

OLSEN, Kirstin. All Things Austen: An Encyclopedia of Austen's World. 2 vols. 804p. illus. maps. reprods. bibliog. chron. index. notes. Web sites. CIP. Greenwood. 2005. Tr $149.95. ISBN 0-313-33032-8. LC 2004028664.

Gr 9 Up–A comprehensive, well-documented encyclopedia devoted to Jane Austen's world as seen through her literature. More than 150 alphabetical entries range in length from a paragraph to many pages, include references to Austen's works, and describe the topics' historical and cultural significance, often in great detail. Some of the longer articles are divided into subtopics; for example, "Clothing" offers information on both men's and women's clothing, "Outer Garments," "Accessories," "Fabrics," and "Buying and Making Clothes." In addition, there are separate entries on "Sewing," "Shoes," "Gloves," "Hats," and "Pocketbooks and Reticules." While a number of the articles deal with politics and government, for the most part, they present a view of culture and society as reflected in Pride and Prejudice, Emma, Sense and Sensibility, Northanger Abbey, and other, minor works. The article on "Places" contains maps, lists, notes, and tables of locations mentioned in Austen's books. Street maps of London and Bath are included under those entries. Throughout the set, page references to specific titles are indicated in parentheses. Most of the black-and-white illustrations are reproductions of period cartoon drawings. An extensive time line and thematic bibliography complete this work. A valuable resource for students and teachers of Austen's works as well as a cultural study of 18th-century England.–Pat Bender, The Shipley School, Bryn Mawr, PA

ROSENBLUM, Joseph, ed. The Greenwood Companion to Shakespeare: A Comprehensive Guide for Students. 4 vols. 1372p. photos. reprods. appendix. bibliog. chron. index. Web sites. CIP. Greenwood. 2005. Tr $299.95. ISBN 0-313-32779-3. LC 2004028690.

Gr 9 Up–This extremely well done set lives up to its subtitle. The volumes are organized by genre beginning with "Overviews and the History Plays." The essays in that volume offer information on Shakespeare's life, the age and culture in which he lived, the Elizabethan and Jacobean theater, the texts and publication histories of the plays, and the English language of the era. These pieces are followed by detailed articles about the history plays. The comedies and the tragedies are discussed in volumes 2 and 3, respectively. The final volume includes articles on the romances, the sonnets, and the Bard's longer poems. The individually authored play entries each include a plot summary, publication history, sources, structure and plotting, main characters, devices and techniques, themes and meanings, critical controversies, production history (including black-and-white photographs of scenes from famous productions), and an explication of key passages. The scholarship is impressive and up-to-date and the writing is clear and accessible. Additional illustrations include average-quality black-and-white photos of sites and reproductions. This set is more comprehensive than Shakespeare for Students (Gale, 2000) and would be an excellent addition to any collection.–Kathleen E. Gruver, Burlington County Library, Westampton, NJ

THORBURN, John E., Jr. The Facts On File Companion to Classical Drama. 680p. (Facts On File Library of World Literature Series). appendix. bibliog. chron. index. CIP. Facts On File. 2005. Tr $71.50. ISBN 0-8160-5202-6. LC 2004016803.

Gr 9 Up–This one-of-a-kind compendium covers ancient Greek and Roman drama from the 500s B.C.E. through 100 C.E. Approximately 400 alphabetical entries, ranging in length from one sentence to several pages, delve into plays, authors, characters, settings, genres, themes, theatrical terms, historical events, etc. Appendixes include a chronology plus lists of all surviving and fragmentary plays; there is a detailed bibliography as well as bibliographical references within entries. Unfortunately, there are no illustrations, and the only map is of ancient Greece (what happened to Italy?). The writing tends to be complex; the lengthy play summaries in particular are both cumbersome and convoluted and would benefit from act/scene designations and lists of characters. See and see-also references are incomplete. Despite these issues, Classical Drama is a useful tool for students reading and researching ancient plays. It is thorough, and nothing similar is in print.–Ann W. Moore, Schenectady County Public Library, NY

WOJTANIK, Andrew. Afghanistan to Zimbabwe: Country Facts That Helped Me Win the National Geographic Bee. 384p. maps. bibliog. glossary. CIP. National Geographic. 2005. PLB $28.90. ISBN 0-7922-7442-3; pap. $12.95. ISBN 0-7922-7981-6. LC 2004026137.

Gr 5 Up--Alphabetically organized fast facts about each of the world's 192 independent nations are listed here. Most of the information presented, with the exception of the black-and-white maps, could just as easily be found in an encyclopedia or almanac. However, for maps, flags, and a few fast facts, a good world atlas, such as The World Almanac World Atlas (Hammond, 2005) would suffice. What Afghanistan does, and does nicely, is bring most of the information together in a no-frills package. After listing the name of the country, area, population, capital, and so on, each entry provides additional facts grouped under three headings–"Physical," "Political," and "Environmental/Economic." At the end of the book, "Geographic Extremes"–the biggest, longest, etc., for each continent are noted. Visually the volume is unremarkable. The introductory section, "Things You Need to Know," directs readers to the National Geographic Web site for printable versions of the maps in the book. This is an additional purchase, particularly useful for schools in which students participate in the National Geographic Bee or for whom geographical facts are a passion.–Linda Greengrass, Bank Street College Library, New York City

WORLD BOOK'S ENCYCLOPEDIA OF FLAGS. 12 vols. charts. illus. maps. index. CIP. World Book. 2005. Tr $339. ISBN 0-7166-7900-0. LC 2005004286.

Gr 4-9–This set is complete and current. Generally, each flag is displayed on the top half of the recto of a spread, with boxed data below. The verso summarizes quite a bit of information about the country, state, or territory whose flag is displayed opposite. A "National Data" box lists the form of government, land areas, major religions, etc. National anthems are only noted for some countries, suggesting a slight unevenness. In an introductory section, repeated in each volume, flag parts are explained, as are shapes and heraldry. States, territories, provinces, and possessions are listed alphabetically after their respective countries' listings. Volume 12 includes an extensive, useful index and much more. Here, students can find out what certain flag symbols (stars, tools, animals, etc.) mean. There are also specific flags shown, including those of the UN, Antarctica, EU, and the Olympics. This well-organized, colorful, and clearly written encyclopedia will be useful in school and public libraries.–Anne Chapman Callaghan, Racine Public Library, WI