[book reviews] sciences-sociales_06/04/2009

(source: Library Journal, 01/04/2009)

Communications

Phelps, Robert H. God and the Editor: My Search for Meaning at the New York Times. Syracuse Univ. Apr. 2009. c.272p. photogs. index. ISBN 978-0-8156-0914-8. $29.95. COMM

Early in his memoir, Phelps explains that he wants to show how his religious or moral concerns have informed his journalism. In that respect, his book falls flat: Phelps’s recounting of his spiritual journey seems tacked onto what is at heart the story of his life at the New York Times, a narrative that illuminates the pressures that can drive a news story. Phelps, who served as the Times’s Washington news editor from 1965 to 1974, has much to say about journalistic ethics and the relationship between editors and reporters. With grace and charm, he navigates the minefield of infighting between the New York and Washington bureaus, and he describes some of the paper’s most influential personalities. Of special interest is his treatment of the Watergate scandal, an event that fundamentally altered the role of journalism in America. For Phelps, highly placed in a bureau widely viewed as having been beaten on the story, it’s a charged subject. His take on that watershed moment in his craft will be illuminating to readers with an interest in journalism, professionally or otherwise. —Fred Baerkircher, Twinsburg P.L., OH

Economics

Janik, Carolyn. The Monopoly Guide to Real Estate: Rules and Strategies for Profitable Investing. Sterling. Apr. 2009. 256p. illus. index. ISBN 978-1-4027-5254-4. $19.95. BUS

There are lots of books on strategies for playing the actual Parker Brothers game of Monopoly™, but Janik, a realtor, recognized expert, and veteran real estate author, uses the board game’s familiar features as an extended metaphor in a guide that advises readers on getting into the real real estate game. She covers the territory in sections titled “Getting In,” “Getting Around,” and “Getting Out,” where she explores how the market works for investing purposes, as well as for buying and selling a family home. Readers will learn how to manage offers and counteroffers, the nature of purchase and sale contracts, the ins and outs of tax sales and foreclosures, and what it takes to be a landlord. Janik uses familiar Monopoly™ icons such as Community Chest and Chance to highlight tips, cautions, and definitions. Her excellent coverage on both hot and cold markets is particularly timely and makes this a recommended title for general readers looking for a good grounding on the subject.—Joan Pedzich, Harris Beach PLLC, Rochester, NY

Miller, Geoffrey. Spent: Sex, Evolution, and Consumer Behavior. Viking. May 2009. c.493p. index. ISBN 978-0-670-02062-1. $26.95. BUS

Evolutionary psychologist Miller (The Mating Mind) digs deep into the primal past of humankind to discover the roots of…modern marketing? Actually, his focus is more on the makings of modern consumer culture—of which marketing is, he argues, a dominant force. Since evolutionary psychology seeks to examine how natural selection acts on psychological and mental traits, Miller applies this knowledge to help us understand what actually motivates us to buy. He pokes fun at popular culture and at the things we buy and flaunt to inflate our self-esteem and try to make ourselves more attractive. Personality research can inform the study of consumer behavior, and Miller shows us how having a better understanding of our own personalities will help us avoid the pitfalls of runaway consumerism. After all, millions of years of evolution have honed humans’ natural abilities to win friends and mates, so why resort to expensive and ridiculous substitutes for our true identities and personalities? For both lay readers and academics, reading this book should be considered time well “spent.”—Carol J. Elsen, Univ. of Wisconsin, Whitewater

Perman, Stacy. In-N-Out Burger: A Behind-the-Counter Look at the Fast-Food Chain That Breaks All the Rules. Collins Business: HarperCollins. Apr. 2009. c.352p. photogs. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-06-134671-2. $24.99. BUS

In-N-Out Burger is a regional hamburger chain (California, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah) with a cult following. The chain is known for its eccentricities—e.g., a secret menu and tiny Bible verses printed on almost everything—but its strangeness contributes to its appeal. In this dense history, Perman (Spies, Inc.: Business Innovation from Israel’s Masters of Espionage) follows three generations of the Snyder family as they expand their business from a hot dog stand to a chain found in 200 locations. Perman lays the groundwork for contrasting family-owned In-N-Out with megacorporation McDonald’s, but this appealing theme simply disappears. Founder Harry Snyder was simultaneously a fast-food innovator (he invented the two-way speaker box) and a micromanaging Luddite who seemingly succeeded in spite of himself by being in the right place at the right time. As Perman details two more generations of family dysfunction, her dry tone keeps the reader from the more engaging episodes. Interest in this sometimes plodding text will be proportionate to the reader’s affinity for the brand. Recommended for local devotees of the chain and for some readers in American popular culture.—Robert Perret, Univ. of Idaho, Moscow

Rohatyn, Felix G. Bold Endeavors: How Our Government Built America, and Why It Must Rebuild Now. S. & S. 2009. 336p. maps. index. ISBN 978-1-4165-3312-2. $26. ECON

Rohatyn (former managing director, Lazard Frères & Co.) retells ten major events in U.S. history from a banker’s perspective. He aims both to engender an understanding of how important national leadership has been to the development of our country and to sound a call for national investment in renewing our nation’s infrastructure. Organized as a series of case studies, the book explores federally funded undertakings such as the Louisiana Purchase and the Reconstruction Finance Corporation and describes the circumstances through which each came to pass. Rohatyn nicely summarizes quite complex historical events, some of which (e.g., the GI Bill) make a more compelling case than others (e.g., the Homestead Act) for the unequivocal success of federally supported national development endeavors. Ultimately, Rohatyn proposes the creation of a National Infrastructure Bank to guide federal funds for public works projects (roads, bridges, schools, etc.) to go to the most critical needs, then details how such a bank might improve upon current means of distributing federal funds for such projects. Maps would have been beneficial for some chapters. Recommended for all interested readers in U.S. history or current affairs.—Elizabeth L. Winter, Georgia Inst. of Technology, Atlanta

Schawbel, Dan. Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand To Achieve Career Success. Kaplan. Apr. 2009. c.256p. ISBN 978-1-4277-9820-6. pap. $16.95. BUS

In these uncertain times, new graduates and the newly unemployed need to manage their online images to find employment. This outstanding, easy-to-read guide shows millennial job seekers how to promote themselves both online and offline via Schawbel’s concept of personal branding, or “how we market ourselves to others.” Although he did not create the concept, Schawbel has successfully used e-marketing strategies, including many web 2.0 social networking technologies, such as blogs, wikis, and podcasts, to advance his career. He has also established himself as an authority in assisting others with these goals through his four-step method, i.e., discovering, creating, communicating, and maintaining individuals’ personal brands. This enjoyable read is enhanced by gray-shaded informational sidebars, a glossary, and many testimonials about the success of Schawbel’s method. Well suited to both students and the general public, this timely title is also recommended for human resource and recruiting professionals.—Caroline Geck, Lib. Media Specialist, Newark Public Schs., NJ

Van Overtveldt, Johan. Bernanke’s Test: Ben Bernanke, Alan Greenspan, and the Drama of the Central Banker. Agate. 2009. c.273p. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-1-932841-37-4. $26. ECON

In this study of the Alan Greenspan and Ben Bernanke Federal Reserve eras, Overtveldt (director, VKW Metena, Belgium) provides insight into the current financial crisis. He says that Greenspan was generally successful in keeping the economy vibrant and ameliorating financial shocks but that his use of low interest rates and his opposition to financial regulation fostered the growth of the housing and credit bubble. In 2007 the bubble burst, becoming first a liquidity and then a solvency crisis that could lead not simply to a severe recession but to a depression. Overtveldt examines Bernanke’s life and economic thinking, especially on the Great Depression, to show he was equipped for this crisis. Though he admits that it is too early to predict success, he praises Bernanke’s early recognition of the crisis, his interest-rate cuts, the innovative ways he injected liquidity into the system, and his push for greater transparency and regulation. Overtveldt’s serious examination of how we got into this mess and what the Federal Reserve can do to get us out brings clarity to this period of financial chaos. Highly recommended for all interested readers, many of whom will have liked Mark Zandi’s Financial Shock.—Lawrence Maxted, Gannon Univ., Erie, PA

Political Science

Allawi, Ali A. The Crisis of Islamic Civilization. Yale Univ. Apr. 2009. c.320p. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-300-13931-0. $27.50. POL SCI

Allawi (The Occupation of Iraq) investigates the pathways that led to the deterioration of the Islamic civilization, known for its splendid culture between the eighth and 12th centuries. The inadaptability of Islam to modern life, the author argues, stems from its deep roots in the sacred. To be modern, according to Allawi, is to be liberated from the divine as the sole source of ethics and virtues. Allawi demonstrates that the individual in Islam is not an autonomous entity—a common principle in all religions—rather, its essence is driven from a complete submission to the godly creeds. He notes that the secularization of Muslim societies, which seemed to be on track until the mid-1970s, has shattered, giving way to political Islam. He suggests that the failure of Muslim societies to address the challenges and the threat of fast-growing Western cultural imperialism deepened their crisis. In an analytic, journalistic style, Allawi presents views about modern Islam that are both stimulating and informative. This provocative book is recommended for informed readers.—Sadiq Alkoriji, South Regional Lib., Broward Cty., FL

Dhume, Sadanand. My Friend the Fanatic: Travels with a Radical Islamist. Skyhorse, dist. by Norton. May 2009. c.288p. illus. ISBN 978-1-60239-643-2. $24.95. POL SCI

Indonesia is the most populous Islamic country in the world, but Indonesian Islam rests lightly on the nation’s rich mixture of Hindu-Buddhist history and culture. Indian-born Dhume, educated in the United States, worked as a mainstream journalist throughout Southeast Asia before moving to Jakarta, Indonesia, in 2000. Intrigued with the displacement of Indonesia’s tolerant past by the expanding impact of conservative Islam, he traveled to different regions and interviewed a wide range of Islamists to prepare this book, his guide a young editor committed to building an Islamic community reflecting the challenge facing his country. Dhume conveys his frustration with his companion’s mix of kindness and rigidity. He weaves discussion of recent Indonesian history and politics with his confusion over the contrast between the cosmopolitan, hedonist elite and popular culture in Jakarta and the austere intolerance and sometimes violence intrinsic in the push toward Sharia law. Even as he respects the opportunity and discipline that Islamic organizations bring to Indonesians, Dhume despairs over the loss of curiosity and empathy that results. Dhume’s lively writing creates an impressionistic array of personalities and settings, but some readers might hope for more structure and balance. Recommended for general readers.—Elizabeth R. Hayford, Associated Coll. of the Midwest, Evanston, IL

McGough, Michael. A Field Guide to the Culture Wars: The Battle over Values from the Campaign Trail to the Classroom. Praeger. (Religion, Politics, & Public Life). 2009. 150p. index. ISBN 978-0-313-35107-5. $34.95. POL SCI

The phrase culture wars has come to encompass the subjects, persons, and institutions involved in the more polarizing conflicts in American public values of recent decades. In typical discussions of the culture wars, such subject areas as religion, abortion, immigration, and education are well explained and balanced with an emphasis on recent decisions of the Supreme Court. McGough (senior editorial writer, Los Angeles Times) more often simply relates the content and development of antagonistic views in an evenhanded, if pat, presentation. His sketches of persons, foundations, and institutions that furnish the effort, ideas, and resources behind the debates are useful and set this volume apart from others like it. In keeping with the promise of a field guide, McGough includes the mission statements, funding sources, and issues for the most important liberal and conservative foundations. Many authors treat the same areas, but McGough’s contribution is a usefully brief research tool.—Zachary T. Irwin, Pennsylvania State Univ., Erie

Moyo, Dambisa. Dead Aid: Why Aid Is Not Working and How There Is a Better Way for Africa. Farrar. 2009. c.192p. bibliog. index. ISBN 978-0-374-13956-8. $24. INT AfFAIRS

Economist Moyo (former head, Economic Research and Strategy for Sub-Saharan Africa, Goldman Sachs) makes a startling assertion: charitable aid to African nations is not just ineffective—it is worse than no aid. Moyo, who was born and raised in Zambia, joins a small but growing number of observers (including microfinance expert Muhammad Yunnus) who argue that charity from Western nations cripples African governments by fostering dependency and corruption without requiring positive change. Deriding efforts to increase giving by foreign celebrities like U2 singer Bono as out of touch with the real needs of African countries, Moyo instead proposes solutions like new bond markets, microfinancing, and revised property laws. Moyo also singles out commercial investment from the Chinese (rather than general aid) and holds it up as an example for other nations to follow in the future. Whether one agrees or disagrees with Moyo’s argument for such capitalist intervention in Africa, this straightforward and readable work should provide some food for thought.—April Younglove, Linfield Coll. Lib., Portland, OR

O’Sullivan, Christopher D. Colin Powell: American Power and Intervention from Vietnam to Iraq. Rowman & Littlefield. 2009. c.224p. photogs. ISBN 978-0-7425-5186-2. $34.95. INT AFFAIRS

O’Sullivan (history, adjunct, Univ. of San Francisco; Sumner Welles, Postwar Planning, and the Quest for a New World Order) has written a brief interpretive analysis of Colin Powell’s public career, focusing on his years as national security advisor under President Reagan, as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under George H.W. Bush and briefly under Bill Clinton, and finally as George W. Bush’s secretary of state until 2005. The author argues that Powell’s major accomplishment was the so-called Powell Doctrine, which emphasized the use of caution and diplomacy before going to war; when war was necessary, it should be fought with clear objectives, coalition building, and public support. Powell’s greatest failure, O’Sullivan states, was his inability to convince President George W. Bush to implement this doctrine in the case of the Iraq War, owing partly to Powell’s unwillingness to step outside the chain of command and partly to the ability of Vice President Cheney and Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld to influence the President. O’Sullivan’s work will be of interest to all students of Colin Powell’s career and all who are looking at George W. Bush’s military policies.—A.O. Edmonds, Ball State Univ., Muncie, IN

Paglen, Trevor. Blank Spots on the Map: The Dark Geography of the Pentagon’s Secret World. Dutton. 2009. c.310p. ISBN 978-0-525-95101-8. $25.95. INT AFFAIRS

As in his previous books, artist and geographer Paglen (Torture Taxi: On the Trail of the CIA’s Rendition Flights) explores the clandestine activities of the U.S. military and the CIA, giving readers a thorough and provocative tour of places that officially do not exist. Paglen has a brisk reporting style and is an engaging storyteller. His journey into what he calls the “black world” of classified locations—from research facilities to secret prisons—this time takes him across the country and around the world. The classified region he describes is shockingly vast, well funded, and not accountable for its activities. At times, Paglen has a subtle touch, allowing the facts he describes gradually to convince the reader of how essentially undemocratic all this secrecy is. Unfortunately, his approach at other times seems unnecessarily theatrical. For example, his description of camping out in a hotel room in Las Vegas to watch planes come and go comes off as a bit gimmicky. Such narrative is likely meant to make the book more readable, but the story Paglen is telling is gripping enough without any stunts. Highly recommended.—Rachel Bridgewater, Reed Coll., OR

Rahe, Paul A. Soft Despotism, Democracy’s Drift: Montesquieu, Rousseau, Tocqueville and the Modern Prospect. Yale Univ.. Apr. 2009. c.384p. index. ISBN 978-0-300-14492-5. $38. POL SCI

Rahe (history & political science, Hillsdale Coll.; Republics Ancient and Modern) has actually written two books in one: the first three quarters are a detailed reading of the great 18th- and 19th-century political and social theorists Montesquieu, Rousseau, and Tocqueville on the nature of government, the glue that holds the polity together, and the difficulty maintaining political virtue and, with it, individual freedom, in a democratic republic. The threat to liberty and civic virtue, as Tocqueville saw it, lay in the elimination of intermediate bodies (like townships) that directly involved citizens in governing. Without such intermediate bodies, democracy would drift into soft despotism, with a central government regulating the smallest details of the citizen’s life. This part of the book is tightly reasoned, relying on a thoughtful reading of texts that still have great merit for our own age. The final section of the book is an impassioned, occasionally intemperate, but largely successful attempt to describe the malaise gripping democratic governments today, combined with a plea to limit government’s intrusion into our lives. (The author quite evidently holds libertarian views.) Many scholars and serious readers will find this essential reading.—David Keymer, Modesto, CA

Schoultz, Lars. That Infernal Little Cuban Republic: The United States and the Cuban Revolution. Univ. of North Carolina. Apr. 2009. c.768p. index. ISBN 978-0-8078-3260-8. $35. POL SCI

The Obama administration would be wise to consider Schoultz’s latest book essential reading. In a massive text, Schoultz (political science, Univ. of North Carolina) tracks the failures of ten U.S. Presidents to come to grips with and understand Cuba and Castro’s Cuban Revolution, illuminating this grave and persistent flaw in American diplomacy. Schoultz concludes that American attempts to “uplift” Cuba and Cubans reflect arrogance and ultimately cross the line to ignorance, attitudes he terms delusional. One President after another has approached Cuba with the “parking lot mentality,” the belief that the United States could decimate and destroy Cuba at any time. Utilizing an impressive variety of primary and secondary sources (with more than 150 pages of notes), he details Cuban-American relations administration by administration, from assassination attempts on Castro’s life to messages displayed to the people at large, always returning to America’s lack of respect for Cuban sovereignty and right to self-determination. Ultimately, he proffers advice for how U.S. policy should adapt. This impressive new book is highly recommended; after all, neither nation is going to be moving any time soon.—Boyd Childress, Auburn Univ. Lib., AL