Nonfiction Reviews: Week of 8/6/2007

Written by renowned ocean explorer Cousteau in the 10 years before his death, this book strikes a note of caution as it celebrates the natural world: as the seas are plundered, the biosphere is polluted and the hazards of nuclear power are imposed upon nature, the human race is “unraveling complexities it took eternity to create.” As a scientist and an explorer, Cousteau laments the government's use of science as a handmaiden to profit, reproaching technocrats and military and industrial leaders who, in pursuit of power and money, make decisions and leave the rest of the world, and its ecosystems, to live with their mistakes. An informative introduction and epilogue by Schiefelbein, a former editor at the Saturday Review, updates this account with developments since Cousteau's death, including the continuing depletion of the oceans and the persistent shift of funds from scientific research to economic “priorities.” Cousteau's reverence for life's miracles—embodied by the evolutionary wonders of the human, the orchid and the octopus—shines through in this eloquent testimony on the importance of pursuing higher ideals, particularly the preservation of the oceans and the natural world for future generations. (Nov.)

The mid-Atlantic colonies of 18th-century America were home to a remarkable diversity of immigrants—Germans, Quakers, Moravians, Englishmen and French, among others. In this exhaustively researched and elegantly written study, Princeton historian Silver asks how all the Europeans lived side by side. The answer, Silver says, is that they were solidified into a single people during the Seven Years' War in the 1750s by the fear of Indian attack. The motley Europeans morphed into white people, defined in opposition to Indians. (An intriguing appendix reveals that colonial newspapers tended to use the adjective “white” to describe people principally during bouts of Indian war.) But not everyone with pale skin became part of this new people—the most fascinating sections of the book explore why some European settlers, such as Quakers (who were accused of betraying white people's interests), were excluded from the collective. Silver also shows how fears of Indian menace were taken up during the Revolution: patriots shored up a distinctive American identity and claimed that the British were engaging in Indian-like atrocities, such as scalping and cannibalism. Silver's study will change the way scholars think about whiteness and will reshape our understanding of how 13 distinct colonies were knit together into one nation. 13 illus., 2 maps. (Nov.)

Gura (Jonathan Edwards) has written possibly the best single volume on the Transcendentalists. Though he analyzes the essays and lectures of Emerson, Fuller and the Alcotts, Gura (a professor of literature at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill) also introduces lesser-known figures who were influenced by their thought. These “fellow travelers” help explain how the influence of Transcendentalism eventually spread beyond a handful of Boston intellectuals: businessman William B. Greene translated Transcendentalist values into economic thinking with the production of pamphlets like Mutual Banking and Equality, and Eliza Thayer Clapp, a Unitarian Sunday school teacher, integrated Transcendentalist ideas into girls' religious instruction. Gura situates Transcendentalism against the backdrop of American Protestantism, showing how the movement emerged in part from early–19th-century debates about how to read the Bible. He also explores Transcendentalists' involvement in all manner of reform movements, including women's rights and, in the 1850s, abolition. When the Civil War won that battle, they turned away from “social engagement” for several decades, and the individualism of Transcendentalism unwittingly underwrote the postbellum political economy of market capitalism. Gura's fresh, penetrating analysis will reshapes our understanding American of intellectual history and the 19th century. 8 pages of b&w illus. (Nov.)

Novelist Freeman (Red Water) turns her obsession with Chandler and his beautiful wife, Cissy, into a kind of voyeuristic exploration of their unusual but symbiotic marriage. The creator of Philip Marlowe and author of such classics as The Long Goodbye and Farewell, My Lovely, remains an enigma and his much older wife (she lied to him about her age) is even more of a cipher. Freeman describes researching Chandler archives at both UCLA and the Bodleian Library in Oxford, and her pilgrimages to the extraordinary number of homes and apartments (more than 30) where the peripatetic Chandlers lived in California. She also consulted printed resources and interviewed some who knew the Chandlers late in their lives. She effectively uses passages from Chandler's fiction and letters to illustrate his battles with alcoholism, boredom, manuscripts and screenplays. Less effective are the many passages where Freeman tries to read too much from scanty clues (for instance, trying to guess which woman in a photograph is the one Chandler had an affair with). The result is an uneven account, part author's journal, part biography, of an unusual couple whose marriage survived against all odds and may have been the key factor that allowed Chandler to create his tarnished knight, Marlowe. Photos. (Nov. 6)

Sustained personal documentation from those who lived and died in the Holocaust is rare. That makes this collection of letters a precious gift to historians. Written from November 1939 to December 1942, the letters collected here are from nine members of the Hollander family in the Kraków ghetto to Joseph Hollander, who had emigrated to the U.S. in 1939. Discovered by Joseph's son Richard in 1986, these vibrant letters—written in German and Polish—are helped enormously by an essay by the younger Hollander about his father's life and relationship to his family. From Joseph's 74-year-old mother wondering “Can I still hope to take you in my arms?” to his brother-in-law Salo's worry that the mail is not coming through, the letters evoke intense feeling, as we know that almost all of the correspondents died in the Holocaust. That many of these letters—co-edited and put into historical context by Browning and Tec, two leading Holocaust scholars—do not mention the increasingly dangerous political situation in Kraków but rather dwell on personal matters makes them all the more moving. (Nov. 5)

Reid's well-composed, straightforward memoir recounts the two fraught years of her adolescence when a serial killer terrorized Atlanta. Reid's mother, an investigator in the Fulton County District Attorney's Office in 1979, told her every detail of the quest for the murderer of 29 victims, mostly young black boys. Meanwhile, Reid attended a Catholic school in an all-white part of town, torn between loyalty to her black neighborhood friends and the desire to fit in with the white kids and feel safe at her private school, located far from the danger zone of her neighborhood. Her mother was strict and cracked down on her liberty while piling on adult responsibilities such as taking care of her younger sister, Bridgette. But that made her no less a hero in Reid's eyes as she hunted for the killer and supported Reid's efforts to diversify her school curriculum. Reid maintains a lively sense of dialogue and characterization, and her memoir is an affecting tale of a girl's transformation in a climate of fear and pervasive, bleak Southern racism. (Oct.)

Former U.S. deportation agent Holbrook describes his job (a combination of policeman, lawyer and diplomat) in this unsettling memoir. Among its revelations is that America routinely releases illegal aliens who have committed crimes in the U.S. when the criminal fails to confirm his nationality with an official document and foreign consuls won't cooperate. (Cuba, Vietnam and Laos refuse to accept criminal deportees, while China, India, Egypt, all former U.S.S.R. nations and many others simply stall or insist there's no evidence for that person's citizenship.) Holbrook also reveals tricks he invented to deport the worst offenders that would have gotten him fired if discovered. For example, countries show less reluctance with lesser criminals, so in the case of a convicted murderer who also trespassed, he might only mention the trespass. Holbrook stresses that Bush administration officials could force nations to take back their murderers, rapists, thieves or child abusers, but choose not to; nor does the government prevent them from being released back into American communities after they have served their prison time or a portion of it, but deportation has been thwarted. This engrossing but disturbing book may impel some readers to action. (Oct. 4)

University of Minnesota history professor Weitz takes readers on a walk through Weimar Republic–era Berlin in the footsteps of a 1920s flâneur, an urban ambler. Wandering among cafes and department stores, Weitz notices the “New Women,” the jazz bands, the prostitutes, the beggars, the war wounded. He considers how radio and motion pictures changed public gatherings, internationalizing mass entertainment. Separate chapters, with a wealth of well-chosen illustrations, explore Weimar's new theories of architecture, graphic arts, photography, theater, philosophy and sexuality. Weitz selects key exemplars of each discipline—Brecht, Weill, Mann, Bruno Taut, Erich Mendelsohn, August Sander, László Moholy-Nagy, Hannah Höch, Siegfried Kracauer, etc.—for in-depth focus before turning to the backlash that their radicalism aroused. In his closing discussion of the collapse of the republic, Weitz elaborates on the right's resistance to modernization, as well as the overall fragility of the democratic spirit. A lively style and excellent illustrations make this intellectually challenging volume accessible to both academics and armchair scholars. 8 color (not seen by PW) and 52 b&w photos. (Oct.)

This funny, insightful and compulsively readable autobiography by professional wrestling superstar “Lion Heart” Jericho matches fellow wrestler Mick Foley's bestselling Have a Nice Day! Jericho reached international stardom after joining the media juggernaut World Wrestling Entertainment (formerly WWF) in 1999, but this book neglects his many accomplishments since then, such as his legendary same-night defeat of wrestling powerhouses “the Rock” and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin to become the WWE's first undisputed heavyweight champion. Instead, Jericho recounts the fascinating story of his early years—in effect, a short history of world wrestling trends since 1960—from his “brutal” early training in his native Canada through finally being invited to join the WWE. Jericho ignores or glosses over controversial topics like steroid use, preferring to keep things light and cheery. His hilarious and detailed descriptions of his many bouts, especially his 1995 “calling card” match in Japan before 10,000 fans, will leave readers hoping for a sequel. (Oct. 25)

Literary historian Hitchcock (Mad Mary Lamb: Lunacy and Murder in Literary London) leads readers on a guided tour of Frankenstein appearances in this colorful and consistently entertaining narrative. The history begins, appropriately, with the monster's unlikely creation by Mary Shelley as a result of a ghost story challenge (also taken up by John William Polidori, whose tale of a vampyre would later inspire Bram Stoker). Hitchcock then lays bare the publishing world of the 19th century, a veritable Wild West of unauthorized stage adaptations, parodies and continuations in which Frankenstein thrived. James Whale's Karloff classic gets its due, as do the disturbing and innovative 1910 Edison Company production and the 1952 live television broadcast starring a drunk Lon Chaney Jr. Running throughout the book is the parallel story of the invocation of Frankenstein in the public discourse as a metaphor for subjects ranging from the Crimean war to genetically modified organisms. While some Frankenstein dilettantes might find the narrow focus of the book somewhat tedious, there are enough strange and delightful anecdotes to keep most readers engaged. B&w illus. (Oct.)

As a child,” writes Krabacher, Playboy Playmate and Miss May 1983, “I had promised God that if I survived, I would help other kids survive whatever situation they were in.” Abused by her family, a school dropout by 15, Krabacher was ripe for the rich and raunchy Playmate life. Her journey from pornography to philanthropy began when she divorced her abusive first husband and married Joe, a loving and supportive lawyer. A 1994 visit to Haiti led her and Joe to start and fund the Mercy and Sharing Foundation, which soon counted more than 1,800 children in its orphanages and schools. Many readers will find Krabacher's good works, perseverance and Christian faith inspirational. Some will be troubled by her lapses in memory and a disquieting sense that she dislikes adults as much as she loves children. Still, Krabacher deserves respect, having drawn unreservedly on her renown and her purse for this charitable endeavor. B&w photos not seen by PW. (Oct.)

Perry, a 33-year-old, Southern-born transplant to L.A., was shocked when her husband announced he was leaving her. Granted, he was more a “safe sedan” than a sports car, but she wasn't ready to be single. Perry started avoiding people for fear of crying in front of them and put on pounds with her divorce diet, 60% wine and 40% jalapeño potato chips and French fries. Fortunately, a friend insisted she try knitting, and Perry got hooked. Knitting not only kept her hands busy but it was reassuring: “No matter what the mistake, you could always go back and make it better.” She discovered a weekly get-together of smart and funny knitters, women who weren't just focused on finding male companionship. Slowly, Perry learned how to live without the marital safety net, enjoy her girlfriends and start dating in the brave new text-messaging, e-mailing world. Women suffering from bumpy divorces will find comfort in the self-deprecating humor and easy knitting patterns that have made Perry's “Crazy Aunt Purl” blog so popular. (Oct.)

France is often regarded as the center of elegant civilization, so it's surprising to find that as late as 1890, most of the population was far from civilized—outside the confines of sophisticated Paris, as noted biographer Robb explains in his riveting exploration of France's historical geography, great swathes of countryside were terra incognita: dark places inhabited by illiterate tribes professing pre-Christian beliefs and lethally hostile to outsiders. They spoke not French but regional dialects; much of the country had not been accurately mapped; and many in the rural areas lacked surnames. The author himself embarked on a 14,000-mile bicycle tour of the France passed over in tourist guides. The result is a curious, engrossing mix of personal observation, scholarly diligence and historical narrative as Robb discusses the formation of both the French character and the French state. Robb's biographies of Victor Hugo, Rimbaud and Balzac were all selected by the New York Times as among the best books of the year, an accolade that assures a select readership will be eager to pack his newest alongside their Michelin guides. 8 pages of b&w illus, maps. (Oct.)

The battle of Yorktown in October 1781 and the surrender of Cornwallis's army to Washington is popularly thought to have made the success of the American Revolution a done deal. True, the war officially ended two years later—but surely its conclusion was only a formality? Novelist and historian Fleming (Washington's Secret War) persuasively argues that, in fact, final victory was by no means inevitable. Indeed, even before Yorktown, the Continental Army had fallen to just 5,835 men and the country was bankrupt, while 26,000 British troops and armed Loyalists remained in North America. Ironically, the battle itself was “potentially ruinous,” writes Fleming: Washington could ill afford to keep his army in the field—as the British well knew. Their post-Yorktown policy was to drag out diplomatic negotiations for as long as possible until Americans tired of war agreed to reunite with the empire. It was left to Washington to avoid these “perils of peace” and make the republic a reality. Fleming is a narrative historian with a wide following, and his latest, while not groundbreaking in terms of scholarly research, tells an important story from an unusual perspective. 16 pages of b&w photos. (Oct.)

Hogan and Taylor, editors of the Adams Papers at the Massachusetts Historical Society, have given history buffs a treat—the most comprehensive edition of letters between two extremely lively writers, America's second president and his wife. This edition contains 289 letters covering a longer period of time than the two earlier editions of selected letters. Here are trenchant political exchanges, such as Abigail's famous plea to her husband and the Continental Congress to “Remember the Ladies,” and Adams's less famous, revealing reply: he noted that while it was well known that the Revolution had prompted children, slaves and apprentices to rebel, “your Letter was the first Intimation that another Tribe more numerous and powerfull than all the rest were grown discontented.” Many of the letters are personal, from coquettish courtship epistles to Abigail's moving premonition that the baby she was carrying would be stillborn. The letters shine a light on such aspects of daily life as illness, Sunday sermons and cuisine. Ellis's gushing foreword explains the rarity of such intimate correspondence—Martha Washington, for instance, destroyed most of the letters she and George wrote. Readers will agree that this book is a treasure. 27 b&w illus. (Oct.)

Writing is... a drug, sweet, irresistible, and exhausting,” writes Oates in this fascinating and significant record of an artist's life. She was 34 when she began this “experiment in consciousness,” which follows the gestation and writing of many of her most important works. Oates, readers come to realize, is intensely disciplined, exquisitely sensitive, unflaggingly—almost morbidly—introspective, concerned with philosophical issues, attuned to mysticism and acutely responsive to the natural world. Although she abhors being described as prolific, she writes daily, with feverish energy; she herself uses the word “obsessed.” If a day or two passes when she isn't writing, she feels “profound worthlessness.” Teaching, she reveals, is a vital component of her well-being, although it often leaves her exhausted. The journal records her relationships with contemporary authors, including Philip Roth, Susan Sontag, John Updike, Gail Godwin, Stanley Elkin, John Gardner and Donald Barthelme. She is candid about her “intensely” intimate marriage to Raymond Smith, her lack of maternal instinct and the hours she spends at the piano, an obsession almost equal to her writing. Overall, this journal immerses the reader in a complex, searching, imaginative personality—an artist who continues to refine her search for literary expression. 16 pages of b&w photos. (Oct. 2)

During 1907, Marine lieutenant James N. Sutton, a native of Oregon, died suddenly on the campus of the U. S. Naval Academy, Annapolis. In short order, a formal navy inquiry ruled Sutton's death a suicide. The Marine's mother—a devout Catholic but also a spiritualist—said she received visits from her dead son in which he challenged the navy's verdict and asked his mother to get him justice. Rosa Sutton's subsequent battle with military authorities gained headlines nationwide and sparked a formal 1909 inquiry presenting evidence that Sutton had been the victim of foul play. Author Cutler, who holds a Ph.D. in history from Columbia University, is James Sutton's great-niece and Rosa Sutton's great-granddaughter. Thus, she had complete access to a family treasure trove of documents relating to the case. However, Cutler is out of her depth in trying to narrate the complex tale. She takes her eye off the ball with long-winded tangents on the politics, media and culture of the Progressive era. The result is a captivating story delivered a deathblow by its artless telling. Photos. (Oct.)

This is not your bubbe's—or Leo Rosten's—Yiddish. Translator, novelist and performer Wex follows his witty and erudite Born to Kvetch with a colorful, uncensored guide to the idiomatic, use of Yiddish in such areas as “madness, fury, and driving,” “mob Yiddish,” insults and “thirteen designations for the human rear (in declining order of politeness).” Wex is knowledgeable about the biblical and Talmudic roots of some colloquial phrases; for example, he points out that tukhes (“ass” as he translates it) may be derived from Tuhkhes, one of the places where the Israelites sojourned on their way from Egypt to the Promised Land. While most of Wex's discussions of words and phrases are brief, he provides lengthier sections on five key, highly nuanced Yiddish words: nu (“Well?”), shoyn (“already, right away”), epes (“something, somewhat”), takeh (“precisely”) and nebakh (“alas”). Wex's advice on the complex usage of these words can help even the greenest Yiddish speaker. The book could have given more attention to regional dialects and there are a few organizational quirks. Still, Wex offers both fun and instruction for the non-maven. (Oct.)

In a chilling, if sometimes meandering, account of alleged serial killer Robert Browne, Michaud and Price paint a grisly portrait of a man with no remorse or regard for human life. (The case was also recently written about in the New York Times Magazine.) The all-volunteer cold-case squad in Colorado Springs, Colo.—headed by retired FBI agent Charlie Hess and retired police detective Lou Smit—first encountered Browne after his 1995 conviction for the abduction and murder of 13-year-old Heather Church. Convinced that the enigmatic, well-spoken Louisianan had killed before, Hess began what would become a five-year dialogue (initially through letters) with Browne at the Colorado State Penitentiary. Teasing the investigators with riddles and vague details, Browne led them on a gruesome hunt through almost 20 years of unsolved rapes, murders and dismemberments stretching from Louisiana to California. The killer proudly proclaimed the “score” to be police “one,” Browne “forty-eight.” Veteran true-crime author Michaud (Ted Bundy: Conversations with a Killer) and former Washington Post staffer Price meticulously catalogue the squad's investigation, at times inundating the reader with names, dates and case details that are difficult to keep straight. But this unsettling account of the man who may be one of the country's most prolific serial killers is a must-read for true-crime fans. (Oct. 2)

Roger Peterson (1908–1996) catapulted to fame in 1934 with the publication (after four rejections) of A Field Guide to the Birds, which almost immediately sold out its first printing of 2,000 copies. Considered the first modern guide of its kind, Peterson's book featured descriptions of nearly 500 species of birds, including plumages and characteristic behavior, as well as his own meticulous illustrations of each bird—all of which were part of what became known as the Peterson Identification System. In this excellent biography, Carlson, an editor and regular contributor to the Georgia Review, skillfully shows how Peterson used his talents as an artist and educator to make the guide a bridge between academic ornithologists and the general public, an accomplishment that has made it, after five editions, “the most important contribution to bird (and nature) study in the twentieth century,” as well as an inspiration for conservation, environmentalism and ecological studies. Carlson also provides the best look so far at the influence on Peterson's work of his youth in Jamestown, N.Y., as well as some of the difficulties, after his death, in building the Roger Tory Peterson Institute in Jamestown, where his legacy continues unabated today. 15 b&w photos. (Oct.)

This lighthearted miscellany is devoted to some of the birds that have inspired the human imagination through the ages. The authors discuss the characteristics of 16 familiar species and present intriguing stories gleaned from avian legends, poems, songs, nursery rhymes, religious stories and folktales from around the world. One learns why the eagle is a symbol of imperial power, the goose is sacred to certain gods, the ostrich is believed (mistakenly) to bury its head in the sand, the peacock and the pelican are symbols of resurrection, and the game of mah-jongg derives its name from the Chinese word for sparrow. There are morsels of information about everything from falconry and cockfighting to the origin of the Mother Goose tales. The book concludes with a brief history of birds in book illustration and a paean to the beauty of birdsong, with a list of musical compositions it has inspired. Although the authors are British—Watkins (A Book of Animals) is a vicar in West London, and Stockland is a former deputy director of education at Oxfam (Great Britain)—they include in their affectionate exploration of avian-human relations a chapter on America's state birds. 26 illus. (Oct.)

The word “courage” comes from the Latin cor, Nepo explains in a densely worded, poetic meditation on this essential quality. If to find our way to the core is to face the lion, then to stand by our core is to be the lion, he says. Nepo, a poet, philosopher and teacher, believes there are two paths to manifesting courage: going within and knowing oneself, and turning outward, steadfastly facing life, allowing oneself to be vulnerable to experiences. The cost of not doing so is numbness, or living death, Nepo believes, and he sees courage as an ongoing series of choices. Nepo relates his own experiences surviving cancer and overcoming certain fears. While the book is filled with verbal images, stories and analogies, including the archetypal tale of Jacob wrestling with the angel, some of the extended imagery is vague (for instance, big waves and water in the lungs and inhaling the smoke of burning ropes). What makes the book valuable is Nepo's quiet understanding of the constant interplay of surface and depth in our lives, the need to let go of judgments and exercise compassion as we view our own flaws and the flaws of those around us. (Oct.)

Some readers will see pessimism where others see sober appraisal in Gray's antiutopian argument that we must reconcile ourselves to a world of multiple truths and incompatible freedoms, where there is no overarching meaning and human values and desires can never be fully harmonized. The views that history progresses toward perfection and the millenarian faith in human salvation—both rooted in abiding Christian myths—are as tenacious as they have proven destructive, the renowned British political theorist and critic argues. Building succinctly on arguments developed in his previous work (including Two Faces of Liberalism and Al Qaeda and What It Means to Be Modern), Gray traces the course of apocalyptic-utopian politics from early Christianity through its secular variant in the Enlightenment and into modern political thought from Marx to Francis Fukuyama, the French Revolution to radical Islamism. Centrally, he assails the contemporary American right (and staunch neoconservative fellow traveler Tony Blair), which after 9/11 advanced into the mainstream the utopianism previously confined to the extreme right and left. His eloquent and illuminating attack also challenges a notion common to the liberal establishment: that history moves inexorably toward the universal application of U.S.-style liberal democracy. He calls it a delusional article of faith that, like the utopian variants before it, easily justifies violence in the name of a greater destiny. (Oct.)

While most business books focus on how readers can do more, better and faster, this welcome addition to the category is about taking a moment to pause and reflect. Anticipating some resistance from harried executives, Carroll, a Buddhist-trained HR executive with many years of experience in both the corporate and Zen worlds, emphasizes the renewal and perspective that can result from taking time out; he only discusses meditation directly at the end. His discussion about “Inspiring the Best in Ourselves and Others” includes anecdotes and parables addressing issues like developing openness and breaking out of routine. A series of short descriptions of “The Ten Talents of a Mindful Leader” includes poise, courage, enthusiasm and awareness. After suggesting some practical ways to test these leadership skills, he reviews the basics of meditation. Although Carroll practices what he writes, the book is more informative than preachy. By the end, stressed-out executives may be willing to read about how to give meditation a try as a way to reconnect with themselves and become more open to their colleagues. (Oct. 9)

Citrin, columnist for Yahoo! Finance and senior director for Spencer Stuart, an executive recruitment and leadership consulting firm, guides readers toward reaching their ultimate potential along the path to professional and personal success. Exploring the qualities that create star performers in both business and sports, he examines what it takes to achieve greatness, the building block behavior that forms it and how these behaviors can be learned. His “Dynamic Path” leads from individual achievement through group leadership to leaving a collective legacy, inspired along the way by “Dynamic Moments,” when change becomes essential. Citrin recounts lively anecdotes about notable figures including Jeffrey Immelt, Terry Bradshaw, Howard Schultz, Colin Powell and others, distilling the principles of the “Path”: grow or perish, build on experiences and accomplishments, focus on the success of others, play to your strengths and interests, and find a worthy and relevant cause. While Citrin's stories sometimes overshadow the practical side of his lessons, there is much of value. (Sept.)

With a style so conversational that readers will almost be able to hear the voice of the late, great Michigan Wolverines football coach, Schembechler (1929-2006), it seems as if coauthor and sportswriter Bacon did little more than push the “record” button and let Schembechler dictate this exceedingly unconventional business title. The coach—who earned the respect of practically every player, coach and fan during his 30 years as Michigan's head coach—lets loose his boisterous personality in italicized and capitalized words, exclamation points and rhetorical questions that punctuate otherwise simple statements and observations. Completed just days before the coach was brought down by heart disease, this volume spells out the leadership principles by which he lived en route to 13 Big 10 titles and 10 Rose Bowl appearances. The book contains no complicated formulas or M.B.A. treatises, but rather commonsense approaches to everything from setting goals and motivating mid-level employees to emphasizing execution and maintaining focus under fire. Along the way, Schembechler shares details from both his professional and personal lives, in which he's always prepared for anything. Schembechler's lessons are practical, well-illustrated and based on a solid legacy of determination and hard work. (Sept.)

In this fun parable written by corporate trainers Loflin and Musig, the hero, Mark, gets more than just an afternoon of family time out of a visit to the circus with his daughter—he gets a new way of organizing his life. Using the extended metaphor of the three-ring circus, this short volume is written as a dialogue between Mark and his ringmaster mentor, who teaches him how to better coordinate the activities happening in each ring. Readers who take themselves too seriously might have trouble getting past the large print, circus illustrations and a dialogue style more commonly found in children's books. But the book passes along several circus maxims that easily translate to balancing professional and personal relationships as well as one's personal pursuits, such as “the ringmaster cannot be in all three rings at once” and “the key to the success of the circus is having quality acts in all three rings.” While the advice is not new, the presentation helps it stick in your head, increasing the odds of keeping your act together. (Sept. 6)

Despite the title's implicit promise to deliver down-and-dirty marketing tactics, the advice is tame. Drawing upon the practices of his Ohio-based consultancy, Slutsky assures readers they can maintain their company's current public exposure on half the budget, but the solution turns out to be a commonsense understanding of media demographics and cost-effective purchasing. Occasionally, there's a flash of insight—like using business cards from prize drawings to collect geographic data on customers—but most of Slutsky's methods are obviously conventional. Let's face it: a business owner who has to be reminded to include a phone number on all advertising material probably needs more help than one guide can offer. The handful of “edgy” suggestions may even border on the offensive—would you want to order something from a company that tricked you into opening its direct mailing ad by disguising it as a wedding invitation? And the “let's put on a show” mentality of the final chapter on special promotional events is likely to fall beyond the resources of most small businesses. Though none of these tips are actually harmful, they don't distinguish Slutsky from the rest of the marketing pack. (Sept. 18)

Compiled over 15 years, longtime activist Parker's stark photographs of underage laborers shine a necessary if disturbing light on the “pathetic” working conditions endured by those too young to defend themselves or to know better. By Parker's count, 320 million children under the age of 16 toil under hazardous conditions. This compilation of photos highlights six egregious industries that particularly exploit children, including farming, bricklaying and garbage picking. Intriguingly, for every horror shot Parker includes—such as the closeup of a Guatemalan boy's mutilated arms—he also includes tragicomic portraits of smiling circus performers, prostitutes and cotton pickers oblivious to any other life. Interspersed between the chapters are brief introductions (and a foreword by Sen. Tom Harkin) that point out the out-of-frame dangers his subjects face: asbestos clouding the air of miners, noxious gases polluting leather tanners or rabid dogs ready to devour stricken garbage pickers. Parker's grainy, black and white images allude to the realist photojournalism style of the 1930s, as if to demonstrate what little progress has been made in the past century. (Sept.)

In what he refers to as a discursive and meditative book, humanities and American studies scholar Wells explores why Edward Hopper, whom he calls a “dour creator of suspended dreams,” created iconic images that are among the most popular of 20th-century American art. In chapters with such titles as “Vortices of Despair,” “Cold Embers” and “Isles of Refuge,” he offers close readings of thematically linked paintings, proposing interpretations that are imaginative yet well reasoned. Hopper's spare realism often approached the surreal, and he returned to certain themes throughout his career: empty urban streets at dawn; women, either clothed or nude, facing a window that bathes them in harsh light; farmhouses on the edge of woodlands that seem ready to engulf them. Wells relies heavily on the literary sources that Hopper immersed himself in, and he quotes liberally from the large body of Hopper studies. The artist's popularity remains something of a mystery. Wells suggests that Hopper's pessimism touches deep veins of shared experience in the American psyche, but he comes closest to identifying the Hopper hold on the American imagination when he describes the paintings' “ongoing interplay between a highly intellectualized ego and a volatile id.” Color and b&w illus. (Sept.)

Jones and Miley are journalists and Milton Academy graduates who dig deep into the recent sex scandal at the prestigious Massachusetts prep school, focusing claustrophobically on seven classmates (four female, three male) over the course of their 2004–2005 senior year of high school. All seven are well liked, accomplished and pressured by their families. Eagerly subscribing to an intricate hierarchy of cliques among the Pryce Girls (named for a popular boarding dorm), the Day Student Girls and the most desirable boys, the seven are also stunningly sexual. At parties laced with alcohol and drugs, the girls engage in sexual play to gain popularity points and maybe a boyfriend. The authors catalogue a numbing litany of such hookups over the year, culminating in the revelation of a 15-year-old student's sexual encounter with five older boys in the locker room. The discovery led to the boys' expulsion and national publicity, but the real shame revealed in these puerile chronicles is the degree to which bored rich youth struggle to mimic the behavior of adults. (Sept.)

This collection of reflections by the Nation essayist and poet Pollitt (Reasonable Creatures) ranges in subject from her philandering boyfriend to a general late-midlife sense of loss. The title essay is the zippiest and most successful, fashioning a canny metaphor about the importance of observation both in learning to drive for the first time at age 52 and in recognizing that her lover of seven years was cheating on her from the get-go. Pollitt plays the conflicted modern woman par excellence, both feminist and feminine; she writes of unabashedly joining a Marxist study group at the behest of her guru-like boyfriend, who padded the meetings with past and present lovers (“In the Study Group”), then wonders with wistful anticipation what kind of life it will be when she has outlived all the men who find her desirable (“After the Men Are Dead”). Familiarity seems to breed weariness, however, and her essays about motherhood (“Beautiful Screamer”) and women's tenacious collusion in men's superiority (“Sisterhood”) have the feel of oft-tread ground. (Sept. 4)

Although the recipes in Saran's aptly titled second cookbook share no unifying principle apart from their deliciousness—whoever heard of Macaroni and Cheese keeping company with Mushroom and Rice Biryani Casserole?—they complement one another in a mysterious way. Such eclecticism reflects how Saran, chef and co-owner of Dévi in New York City, cooks for his family and enormous circle of Tupperware-toting friends. Unlike many other chefs' signature dishes, which originate in a restaurant kitchen, Saran's most inspired creations begin at home. When this cooking-without-borders approach succeeds, as it mostly does, the results taste like wild siblings of the original: bolder, stronger, deeper. Seasonings for a delicious variation on harira, a traditional Moroccan soup, include Aleppo pepper and garam masala; a buttermilk brine for fried chicken is flavored with ginger, coriander and cayenne. Indian dishes like Mashed Potatoes with Mustard Oil, Cilantro and Onions and Bombay-Style Whole Snapper, in which the fish is rubbed with a spice paste before roasting, particularly stand out for their elegance and ease of preparation. 60 color photos not seen by PW. (Oct.)

With seven outposts and counting in his BLT line, it was only a matter of time before Tourondel (Go Fish: Fresh Ideas for American Seafood) wrote a cookbook to codify his credo of American-style French bistro cooking. Many of the dishes come from Tourondel's restaurant menus, but he makes them accessible to the home cook with unintimidating preparations that showcase the quality and flavors of choice ingredients. The opening chapter discusses choosing and preparing different fish and cuts of meat, while brief introductions to each recipe contribute to the pleasantly informal feeling. The cuisine is well-traveled, including Asian salads, a quintessentially American creamy corn soup, Roman-style gnocchi and a hearty, spicy Chicken-Chorizo Basquaise. BLT patrons will be eager to try menu favorites like Giant Cheese Popovers, Marinated Kobe Skirt Steak and Peanut Butter–Chocolate Parfait. Tourondel includes comments on easily substituted ingredients and wine or beer pairings. Both novices and experienced cooks will welcome this comprehensive education in Tourondel's signature style. 52 color plates (not seen by PW) and 30 b&w photos. (Oct.)

Flay is everywhere: overseeing six restaurants, appearing on four TV shows plus his own Web site and now assembling his seventh cookbook in 13 years. Flay preps the reader for culinary adventure with a tequila guide followed by four different margarita recipes, and then sets off on a whirlwind tour of flavorful dishes inspired by the American Southwest. Flay's trademark is flavoring a perfectly grilled or roasted hunk of protein with smoke or chili or fruit, exemplified by Pan-Roasted Venison with Tangerine–Roasted Jalapeño Sauce and the slightly tamer Coffee-Rubbed Filets Mignons with Ancho-Mushroom Sauce. Shrimp, snapper and tuna dominate the seafood section, though there is also the quintessentially Flayvian Grilled Swordfish with Pineapple-Mustard Glaze and Cilantro-Mint Chimichurri. A chapter on brunches turns up the heat with dishes like Egg and Aged Sirloin Tortillas with Three-Pepper Relish. Coming full circle by drawing upon recipes from Mesa Grill, his first eatery, Flay also slyly opens the door for a series of cookbooks based on his other properties. 100 color photos not seen by PW. (Oct.)

Waxman, hailed as one of the founders of New American cuisine, brought California cookery to the East Coast. After stints in Paris and at Chez Panisse in Berkeley, Calif., Waxman went on to found several prominent restaurants, including Manhattan's Jams and Sonoma's West Country Grill. In this handsome cookbook, his first, he offers recipes ranging from simple to complex, a tantalizing mix of rustic, ethnic and regional cooking that includes Wild Mushroom and Leek Soup, Pulled Beef and BBQ Sauce Sandwich, and Pork Tenderloin with Portobello Mushroom Sauce. Recipes are relatively short and easy to prepare, and instructions are clear and concise. Some dishes, such as Perfect Roast Chicken with Mashed Potatoes and Spinach, are pleasantly familiar, while others, like Pheasant with Oyster Stuffing, are somewhat beyond the standard fare but still appealing. Waxman also includes a chapter on sandwiches and pizza. Bobby Flay, a Waxman disciple, provides a foreword. More than 50 color photos not seen by PW. Author tour. (Sept.)

Curti, executive chef and cofounder of Santa Ynez, Calif., bistro Trattoria Grappolo, aims to share his expertise in both his native Italian cooking and the California wine he serves alongside it. Unfortunately, the text introducing each chapter offers little insight into the ingredients, significance or origins of the dishes. Individual recipe introductions would be helpful in explaining the inclusion of American-inflected dishes like Insalata di Pollo, a salad of fried chicken, Romaine lettuce and gorgonzola cheese, in a cookbook of traditional Italian cuisine. The recipes themselves are a solid mix of familiar (Angel Hair with Fresh Tomato and Basil; Roasted Chicken with Fresh Lemon and Herbs) and intriguing (Risotto with Lamb Ragu; Grilled Lobster with Sage and Cannellini Beans). Each concludes with a very specific local wine-pairing suggestion, and a final section features sourcing information. With so many Italian cookbooks on the market, this one is most likely to appeal to fans of the restaurant—and, perhaps, fans of celebrities like Bo Derek and Ellen DeGeneres, whose gushing blurbs adorn the cover. Over 50 color photos. (Sept.)

Two leading pediatricians at Toronto's internationally esteemed Hospital for Sick Children (aka “Sick Kids”) combine their expertise with that of five other pediatricians and a nurse practitioner in this comprehensive guide to the first 12 months of life. The book opens with a useful section on concepts and decisions that should be addressed before the baby is born, such as choosing a doctor, preparing siblings and purchasing equipment. The authors also discuss a variety of family situations, including single, same sex and adoptive parents. Following sections cover development and medical concerns in the first days, weeks and months, giving special attention to feeding, sleep issues, play, safety and how to care for a sick baby. “Frequently Asked Questions” sections will be particularly useful to first-time parents. Much like a good pediatrician, the text is straightforward and personable, and more than 200 color photos of parents and children provide an intimate, playful touch. The authors successfully create “a clear, objective, and, above all, practical guide” in this instructive and visually lively resource. (Sept.)

A science journalist and mother of two, Guernsey manages to extricate straightforward information and guidelines from the morass of research, articles and debates on screen media and child brain development. Easily digestible chapters are smartly structured around 12 pervasive concerns of interviewees from all walks of life. Guernsey explains how parents can shrewdly navigate a TV, DVD and video game market that has only begun developing its potential, much like the minds of the children it targets. Wisely sticking to manageable and legitimate solutions suitable for parents who don't see abstention as an option, Guernsey encourages parents to balance TV-watching with creative play and parent-child bonding time. The “three Cs” approach—considering content, context and child when making decisions about media-watching—is easily understood and adaptable to any family situation. (Sept.)

Signature

Reviewed by Richard Rodriguez

Susan Faludi has written a brilliant, unsentimental, often darkly humorous account of America's nervous breakdown after 9/11. “The intrusions of September 11,” she observes, “broke the dead bolt on our protective myth, the illusion that... our might makes our homeland impregnable... and women and children safe in the arms of their men.”

Drawing on political rhetoric and accounts from the New York Times and the major networks, as well as Fox and talk radio, her book makes clear just how sexually anxious Americans became in the aftermath of that terrible day. But “the tragedy had yielded no victorious heroes, so the culture wound up anointing a set of victimized men instead: the firemen who had died in the stairwells of the World Trade Center.”

The woman's role, she argues, became that of victim. Husbands had lost wives, but it was on the surviving wives of September 11 that America's grief was fixed. When some widows—“the Jersey girls”—rejected the victim's role by asking pointed questions about governmental incompetence, they were quickly ostracized by the press.

After September 11, we read that Donald Rumsfeld had been a wrestler at Princeton—and that became his legend in news accounts. Even the president clearing brush in Crawford, Tex., became the stuff of legend in the National Review, which juxtaposed Bush's “refreshingly brutish” demeanor with the way “the president sizes up the situation and says, 'You're mine, sucker.' ”

A late chapter on Jessica Lynch rehearses how the myth of the imprisoned woman rescued by male warriors was manufactured by the government and the media. But I wish Faludi had appraised the more important Abu Ghraib scandal. Arguably, the photographs of Private Lynndie England standing over naked Arab men shocked many of us out of any remaining childish belief in our own heroism.

The last third of the book traces how the American male's determination to see himself as protector (and the woman as dependent) derives from colonial Puritan wars against the Indians and the cowboy conquest of the West. In the end, Faludi judges our invasion of Afghanistan to be “inept” and tthe war in Iraq “disastrous.” It is essential, she says, not to confuse “the defense of a myth” with “the defense of a country.” A nation given to childish fantasy ends up with a president dressed like Tom Cruise, “a chest beater in a borrowed flight suit.”

Richard Rodriguez is the author of Brown: The Last Discovery of America (Penguin).