Reference Reviews, February 15, 2011
Feb 15, 2011ARTS
Cumming, Valerie & others. The Dictionary of Fashion History. Berg. 2010. 286p. illus. bibliog. ISBN 9781847885333. pap. $29.95.
The Berg Companion to Fashion. Berg. 2010. 782p. ed. by Valerie Steele. photogs. index. ISBN 9781847885630. pap. $49.95. Online: Berg Fashion Library REF
Edited by Cumming and credited to two of the original (now deceased) editors, C.W. Cunnington and P.E. Cunnington, The Dictionary of Fashion History is an update of the classic work first published in 1960, most recently updated in 1976. This new version boasts photographs, whereas earlier editions included drawings. Concise yet detailed, academic, and fabulous, it is truly a dictionary—a compendium of fashion and fashion-related terms, defined in alphabetical order—and it covers 900 C.E. to the present day. Of a similarly high quality, The Berg Companion to Fashion—edited by Steele, director and chief curator of the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology—presents 300 alphabetically arranged articles including topical, modern coverage as well as the expected historical entries. Articles focus on clothing, textiles, adornment, and people. Most are from Gale’s 2004 Encyclopedia of Clothing and Fashion (also edited by Steele); some have been updated. While both titles are excellent, a library owning Gale’s work has little need to purchase Companion. BOTTOM LINE The Dictionary of Fashion History is an essential purchase (and great value!) for any library serving patrons with an interest in fashion, clothing, art, history, theater, anthropology, or nearly any area of the social sciences. Likewise, if a library has no fashion reference, at $49.95 The Berg Companion to Fashion is the title to get. The earlier Gale work this is based upon, mentioned above, is even better, though it retails at $540. And finally, the true showstopper in this field is the new ten-volume Berg/Oxford Encyclopedia of World Dress and Fashion (2010, $1,995). [The online work encompassing this material, Berg Fashion Library, won the 2011 RUSA Dartmouth Medal for outstanding reference.—Ed.]—Lura Sanborn, St. Paul’s Sch. Lib., Concord, NH
BIOGRAPHY
Carey, Charles W., Jr. American Inventors, Entrepreneurs, and Business Visionaries. rev. ed. Facts On File. 2010. 455p. ed. by Ian C. Friedman. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780816081462. $95; Online: Infobase eBooks REF
Revised by Friedman (Education Reform) from the 2002 edition, this biographical dictionary includes profiles of more than 300 individuals who have made significant and lasting contributions to American industry dating from the Colonial era to the present. Each entry addresses the subject chronologically through his or her life, focusing on major professional achievements as well as personal triumphs and tragedies. Most entries run between one to three pages in length. The writing is clear and concise, peppered with plenty of colorful anecdotes. Suggestions for further reading follow each entry and include websites, magazine and journal articles, and books. Two additional indexes list entries by invention/business type and by year of birth. The publisher’s recommended reading level (grades nine and up) is appropriate. Readers will enjoy finding little-known facts about such famous subjects as Thomas Alva Edison and Alexander Graham Bell as well as more obscure figures like Vito Genovese (an “entrepreneur in organized crime”) and Stephanie Louise Kwolek (the inventor of Kevlar). Additions since the 2002 version include Mark Zuckerberg, Jay-Z, Jeff Bezos, and others. BOTTOM LINE The author provides historical context for each individual’s achievements, helping readers develop a deeper understanding of his or her impact on American industry. Overall, the book paints a fascinating portrait of American ingenuity. A well-written biographical dictionary that will appeal to anyone interested in the history of American invention and entrepreneurialism.—Jennifer Michaelson, Cleveland
HEALTH & MEDICINE
Magill’s Medical Guide. 6th ed. 6 vols. Salem. 2010. 3500p. ed. by Brandon P. Brown, M.D., & others. illus. index. ISBN 9781587656774. $495; Online: Salem Health REF
Only a classic in a field warrants six editions, and this title—first produced in 1995 and updated about every three years since—is no exception. The set is feature rich, with nine appendixes listing, e.g., medical specialties, medical journal titles, websites, and health-care organizations/associations. Brown (Indiana Univ. Sch. of Medicine) and seven other medical editors include over 700 sidebar articles (many dealing with contemporary topics) that add depth to main articles as well as information boxes to accompany each entry for diseases and disorders and give a snapshot of causes, symptoms, and treatments. Each volume contains a complete table of contents for the entire set as well as two topic finders: “Entries by Anatomy or System Affected” and “Entries by Specialties and Related Fields.” The 1,178 alphabetically arranged articles make up the bulk of the set, covering maladies, procedures, anatomy, and physiology of the human being. Many entries complement one another without overlap, e.g., “Anesthesia,” on the treatment itself, and “Anesthesiology,” which presents the relevant background science and history. Designed as a midlevel reference work, this set admirably sits between exquisite but densely written professional materials (think Dorland’s dictionary or The Merck Manual) and any number of readable but oversimplified single-volume “family” medical guides. Much to the dismay of this reviewer, however, the illustrations fall short: photographs are in black and white, while sketches are grayscale, lack detail, and are often crudely drawn. BOTTOM LINE A top competitor would be The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine (3d ed., 2006). But since medicine is such a rapidly advancing field and currency is of utmost importance, that work is now outdated (though look for the fourth edition in the summer of 2011, according to Gale). Magill’s Medical Guide, by virtue of its completeness, up-to-datedness, and general authority, is highly recommended for purchase by all public and academic libraries. This should be a core collection item for medical and hospital libraries.—Michael F. Bemis, Washington Cty. Lib., Woodbury, MN
HISTORY
Conflicts in American History: A Documentary Encyclopedia. 8 vols.Facts On File. (Library of American History). 2010. 3200p. ed. by Anthony J. Connors & others. illus. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780816070930. $720; Online: InfoBase Ebooks REF
Each volume of this encyclopedia has a different editor, each with specific expertise (e.g., Eric L. Bargeron is a Ph.D. candidate in American history at the University of South Carolina). The volumes are divided chronologically and range from The Colonial and Revolutionary Era, 1492–1783 (Vol. 1) to Toward the Twenty-First Century, 1974–Present (Vol. 8). Each volume includes ten to 20 chapters, a collection of biographical sketches for individuals related to the volume subject, and an index and bibliography. Each chapter has a two- to three-page signed essay, a chronology, a collection of related documents, and a bibliography. The final volume includes a helpful master index and bibliography for the entire set. The subjects cover the expected military, political, and social conflicts as well as a variety of other issues: e.g., steroids in baseball, the Black Arts Movement, Alfred E. Smith’s presidential campaign, the Great Awakening, female mill workers in Lowell, MA, and the building of the railroads. While these are significant events or movements, they stretch the definition of conflict, though this does not diminish the overall quality of the encyclopedia. BOTTOM LINE By placing primary sources in sound historical context, the editors have created a work that will be of significant use to high school and undergraduate students. This set is recommended for libraries that serve those communities.—Ryan Johnson, Univ. of Mississippi, Oxford
Treuer, Anton & others. Indian Nations of North America. National Geographic, dist. by Random. 2010. 384p. illus. maps. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781426206641. $40. REF
Treuer (Ojibwe, Bemidji State Univ.), six other native authors, and one nonnative anthropologist examine important historical events for Indian tribes, identify contributions made by tribal leaders, and summarize contemporary cultural activities for native cultures of North America north of the Mexican border. This effective narrative covers eight major North American geographical regions. To select the native cultures, the authors utilized a list of recognized tribes developed by the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs. There are individual sections for each geographical region. Within each section, entries are in alphabetical order by tribe. Many sections have outstanding illustrations from the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian, archival and modern photographs, detailed maps, and occasional examples of native artwork. In addition, there are three appendixes: one with brief native stories and myths, another featuring maps of Federally Recognized Indian Reservations and Tribes and Alaskan Native Lands, and a listing of tribal entities recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. A bibliography of further resources includes books, articles, a DVD, and websites. At the back of this volume, there is a detailed index. BOTTOM LINE Another title with similar organization is the four-volume Gale Encyclopedia of Native American Tribes (2007), which covers 400 native groups in 13 geographic regions. However, it has only black-and-white illustrations and maps. With its extensive coverage of native tribes and outstanding graphics, this new title should appeal to individuals interested in Native American history, anthropology, and ethnic relations. Highly recommended.—Patrick Owens, Central Washington Univ. Lib., Ellensburg, WA
SCIENCES
Scientific Exploration and Expeditions: From the Age of Discovery to the Twenty-First Century. 2 vols. Sharpe Reference: M.E. Sharpe. 2010. c.416p. ed. by Neil A. Hamilton. illus. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780765680761. $165. REF
This title stands out for uniting explorers of land, sea, and space in one reference work. Eighty alphabetically arranged entries cover individuals (Jacques-Yves Cousteau), expeditions (Lewis and Clark), organizations (Explorers Club), and specific areas of exploration (Gobi Desert). Each entry begins with a basic chronology. Although the explorers who merit their own entries are from more recent centuries, the regional chronologies go further back in time. Many entries include sidebars of related information, which are listed in their own table of contents. Black-and-white photos and maps are not plentiful but do aid the text. Cross-references are clearly pointed out. Every entry ends with suggested books and an occasional website for further reading. Readers are further aided by a “Topic Finder” located after the table of contents, which groups entries by overall category. BOTTOM LINE While not by any means a comprehensive introduction to any and every intrepid explorer or expedition, this title will serve early researchers and may also rekindle the interest most of us had when we were younger. Recommended for public and school libraries. —Teresa R. Faust, Vermont Dept. of Libs., Berlin
SOCIAL SCIENCES
Victims of Sexual Assault and Abuse: Resources and Responses for Individuals and Families. 2 vols. Praeger. 2010. 840p. ed. by Michele A. Paludi & Florence L. Denmark. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780313379703. $124.95; Online: ABC-CLIO eBook Collection REF
There are regularly stories in the media regarding sex trafficking, intimate-partner violence, genital mutilation, date rape, incest, bullying, sexual harassment, and rape as war crimes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, while global statistics on sexual violence remain high. Paludi, who has written and edited many works on gender, and Denmark (Robert S. Pace Distinguished Research Professor, Graduate Ctr., CUNY) compile topical chapters—covering subjects from missing children and teen relationships to street harassment and aggression in popular pornography—written by a variety of expert authors, including reviews of the latest research and explanations of the effects assault can have on individuals in terms of emotional health, physiological health, and career/education. Part 1 covers children and adolescent abuse and assault victims, while Part 2 considers adult victims. The set’s goals are to provide information to individuals, college campuses, and employers so they may intervene when they recognize sexual assault and abuse and to encourage people to advocate for victims in hospitals, attorney offices, human resources departments, and other settings. A brief appendix lists support organizations and provides URLs. BOTTOM LINE Timely and comprehensive for all college and high school students, as well as victim advocates in any setting. These two volumes could be cataloged in adult nonfiction in addition to reference use.—Laverne Mann, Piscataway P.L., NJ
