Web Exclusive Reviews: Week of 1/28/2008

-- Publishers Weekly, 1/28/2008

NONFICTION

The 25 Greatest Sports Conspiracy Theories of All Time: Ranking Sports’ Most Notorious Fixes, Cover-ups, and Scandals
Elliott Kalb, foreword by Cris Collinsworth. Skyhorse (Norton, dist.), $17.95 paper (320p) ISBN 9781602390898
The old-fashioned concept of sportsmanship takes a beating in these essays by Kalb, known as “Mr. Stats” for his broadcast work with NBC, HBO Sports and more. Scrutinizing more than two dozen famous incidents—from Cassius Clay’s triumph over Sonny Liston to Pete Rose’s considerable gambling woes to Michael Jordan’s first retirement—the savvy author parses the ins and outs, as well as the insiders and outsiders, of each predicament, backing up his contentions with numbers, interviews and outside reporting. In each chapter, Kalb provides the background, the possible fix, and his own conclusions, including a one-to-five scale rating a given conspiracy theory’s likelihood. Kalb’s skepticism can be overbearing at times (“At Daytona… to go from seventh place all the way to first, seems almost unreal. In fact, I wouldn’t believe it if I saw it in a movie”) but his analysis is reasoned and the stories, from steroids stats to Howard Cosell testifying for the USFL to racial stonewalling in major league baseball to a meticulously detailed account of Superbowl III (did the Colts throw the game?) are largely fascinating. (Jan.)

A Banker for All Seasons: Bank of Crooks and Cheats Incorporated
Tariq Ali. Seagull (Palgrave, dist.), $24.95 (254p) ISBN 9781905422654
A writer, filmmaker and activist, Ali (Bush in Babylon) was present at one of the biggest financial scandals in history, the 1991 demise of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (BCCI, widely referred to as the Bank of Crooks and Cheats Incorporated), an organization populated by smooth operators, greedy geniuses and brutal henchmen, all under the imprimatur of high government officials across the globe, that went down amidst a flurry of criminal activity: money laundering, smuggling, covert sales of nuclear technology and murder. This mesmerizing screenplay, resurrected from the author’s filing cabinets by a publisher friend, is a thinly fictionalized expose that provides a fast-moving, clear-cut account of the crimes and shenanigans committed under Agha Hassan Abedi, the rags-to-riches chief executive. The grim story follows multiple threads, uncovering the machinations of the CIA, Downing Street, and a number of Saudi palaces; the ways in which leaders and governments can be manipulated and, more precisely, be bought, prove the most startling and stomach-churning of Ali’s revelations. An appendix provides the anonymous articles Ali wrote for the New Statesmen in the years before BCCI’s collapse, documenting the bank’s suspicious deals and warning of its instability. (Feb.)

The Broken American Male: And How to Fix Him
Shmuley Boteach. St. Martin’s, $24.95 (304p) ISBN 9780312379247
From a very young age, Boteach explains, men are bombarded with messages defining success “exclusively by money, power, fame, and preferably a corrosive amalgamation of all three” (think Donald Trump); for the average American man, this definition results in a deep but hard-to-pin-down sense of failure that stains his perception—of himself and his environment—and inevitably corrodes his relationships, “bringing down the American female and family with him.” Boteach, Rabbi of Oxford University, author of Kosher Sex and star of the Learning Channel’s “Shalom in the Home,” offers a detailed prognosis of the current state of the American family based on his work with families facing familiar crises (constant fighting, depression, anorexia, sexless marriage), “approximately 70 percent” of whom suffer from “Broken American Male syndrome.” The book’s first third takes a hard but sympathetic look at the syndrome’s symptoms and effects (such as waning libido, empty ambition, escapism and substance abuse); the middle third examines underlying causes (“soulless capitalism”) and collateral damage (“The Inadequate American Female,” “The Uninspired Child”) on the way to chapters providing sound advice and practical solutions—beginning with a “New Definition of Success,” one measured “by the quality of our relationships.” Though rooted in Judaism, Boteach’s lessons are applicable to anyone hoping to understand and overcome feelings of failure in themselves or their loved ones. (Jan.)

Declaring Independence: The Beginning of the End of the Two-Party System
Douglas E. Schoen. Random, $24 (272) ISBN 9781400067336
Is the U.S. ready to elect a third-party president? Campaign consultant Schoen, who calls American politics “dangerously mired in a dysfunctional two-party system,” gives the question a tentative “yes,” and he is in a position to know: his firm has advised top presidential campaigns for over 30 years, and is currently helping New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg weigh his options as a potential independent candidate. Looking at the “large-scale trend that could open the door for a major third-party candidate,” Schoen uses extensive polling to contend that the next election will be decided by the 35-40 percent of the electorate fed up with “partisanship and the extremist wings of either party,” a group Schoen calls “Restless and Anxious Moderates.” He also considers other factors bolstering a third-party effort, including the rising importance of the internet and the 24-hour news cycle, and looks back at the history of third-party candidates, especially 1992 independent presidential hopeful Ross Perot. While a third-party candidate might not win in 2008, Schoen shows, he would provide—as Perot did—an important role in shaping the political agenda, invigorating debates and encouraging consensus between the two major parties. A cagey and comprehensive look at the weaknesses, and promises, of the American political system, Schoen’s analysis is as convincing as it is timely. (Feb.)

Grave Secrets of Dinosaurs: Soft Tissues and Hard Science
Phillip Manning. National Geographic, $28 (320p) ISBN 9781426202193
In 1999, Tyler Lyson, a high school student with a passion for fossils, stumbled upon an extremely rare find, a nearly-complete dinosaur mummy; once excavated, its remarkably preserved tissue—“skin, bone, ligaments and tendons”—would give scientists their first opportunity to observe the structure and orientation of dinosaur muscles. Lyson called in University of Manchester paleontologist Manning to help extract Dakota the hadrosaur, and here Manning tells the story of the North Dakota discovery, making a detailed account of a paleontologist’s day-by-day work with interesting jaunts into the history of fossil-hunting (a little-known pastime in the Wild West) from the Sternberg family in the 19th century up through the 2000 discovery of Leonardo the hadrosaur in Montana. The core of the book describes the extensive preparations and the excruciating care by which the team liberated their quarry; wrinkles along the way include the fossil of a crocodilian creature lodged in the hadrosaur’s abdomen, an enormous NASA CT scanner employed to examine the mummy’s interior, and intact pollen found in the dino’s stomach. While work on Dakota will continue for years, Manning’s description of the job so far gives readers a satisfying look at paleontology in (laborious, exacting) action. (Jan.)

The Mystery of the Missing Antimatter
Helen R. Quinn and Yossi Nir. Princeton Univ., $29.95 (286p) ISBN 9780691133096
Using remarkably clear prose and analogies drawn from everyday experience (hunting for rabbits, waves crashing into a sea wall), physicists Quinn and Nir (of the Stanford Linear Accelerator and the Weizman Institute in Israel, respectively) examine both historical and cutting-edge research into particle physics, the study of the most basic components of the universe—including both matter and antimatter, the universal imbalance of which provides one of the discipline’s central puzzles (and this book’s title). A thorough account, this examination takes readers through the basics (physical constants, the expanding universe, “What is Matter?”) before breaking out concepts like neutrinos and quarks, rules of energy and symmetry, and dark matter. Quinn, an active participant in the particle physics community since the 1960s, contributes charming personal accounts that present pioneering researchers and their work in endearingly human terms, capturing well the club’s excitement over particularly important discoveries. Though it’s far from light reading, this book is will prove highly stimulating and illuminating for anyone who ever wondered, “Just what is dark matter anyway?” without realizing that even physicists don’t know yet. A time line of particle physics discoveries is usefully appended, but a bibliography is missed. (Jan.)

Striking at the Roots: A Practical Guide to Animal Activism
Mark Hawthorne, foreword by Bruce Friedrich. O Books (NDN, dist.), $19.95 paper (304p) ISBN 9781846940910
From publicizing an issue to taking action, from feeding a large group to running a rescue center, activists will find this guide from veteran animal-rights crusader Hawthorne detailed, straightforward and highly practical, even if your cause isn’t animal rights. Drawing on his own experience and those of his colleagues, Hawthorne provides advice from a number of perspectives on a long list of methods: leafleting, letters and articles, protests, corporate campaigning, internet outreach, direct action and government lobbying. Though it’s concerned throughout with inter-species justice, providing an adequate introduction to the principles, history and progress of the animal rights movement, as well as numerous animal rights resources, the book’s tips on tabling, organizing protests, effective letter-writing and other matters are just as easily applied to any cause. Concise guidance, an empowering tone and a large, global community of voices make this book eminently useful for anyone organizing a movement, though Hawthorne’s optimism can belie the often difficult path to change. (Jan.)

LIFESTYLE

Body Signs: From Warning Signs to False Alarms… How to Be Your Own Detective
Joan Liebmann-Smith and Jacqueline Nardi Egan. Bantam, $25 (336p) ISBN 9780553805079
Despite today’s sophisticated diagnostic tools, doctors still rely on the same powers of observation they’ve used for hundreds of years, parsing visual and olfactory clues for information about their patients’ health. In their latest collaboration (after 2005’s The Unoffical Guide to Getting Pregnant), medical sociologist Liebmann-Smith and medical journalist Egan, with help from a panel of experts, discuss a huge list of garden variety symptoms like dry skin, persistent coughs, embarrassing flatulence and strange body odors, none of which are necessarily worrying, but which may indicate something more serious afoot. For example, dry eyes are easily treated with lubricants, but may signal an adverse reaction to medication or the onset of autoimmune disease; likewise, scaly red patches on the skin may signal relatively benign, squamous-cell skin cancer, but dark spots resembling moles can indicate life-threatening melanomas. Though they do not deal with children’s diseases or obvious call-the-doctor-now signs like high fever and vomiting, this volume is otherwise quite thorough and packed with information, a handy and entertaining resource that fulfills its mission “to alert you, warn you, and maybe even scare you into going to the doctor… and save you the time, expense and anxiety of going” when one isn’t needed. (Jan.)

Complete Traditional Recipe Book
Sarah Edington. National Trust (Trafalgar Sq., dist.), $35 (384p) ISBN 9781905400423
Anyone interested in British regional cooking could do no better than this well-rounded volume. Treasures include Herring Fried in Oatmeal, a briny, crispy Scottish breakfast dish, perfect with buttered potatoes. Vegetable and Nut Greate Pye, which dates from the Middle Ages, is a hearty vegetarian dish stuffed with mushrooms, nuts, dates and spices. The British are known for comforting desserts, and food writer Edington wisely devotes several chapters to them. A few of the best come from famed English universities: Eton Mess or Clare College Mush is a strawberry-flavored cream kicked up with Kirsch, and Trinity Pudding, a crème brulee-style dessert, is a showcase for delicious British dairy. Other recipes showcase the multi-ethnic side of British traditions: Mulligatawny Soup hails from Kerala, India, but the version here is much less spicy than the native one; Almondines descend from French cookies, here made dense with mashed potatoes. While full-color photographs accompany some recipes, they tend to be darkly lit and overwhelmingly brown, stirring not-entirely-appetizing memories of U.K. in the 1970s. Otherwise, this collection proves that traditional British food is much more than mushy vegetables and overcooked meat, and deserves a place at the epicurean table. (Jan.)

Excuse Me, Your Soul Mate is Waiting
Marla Martenson. Hampton Roads, $15.95 paper (208p) ISBN 9781571745606
Professional matchmaker Martenson, who successfully landed her own soul mate, presents a chatty advice book that shows readers how to “stop searching and start attracting” your ideal partner. Though peppy, welcoming and entirely encouraging, there’s much here that will ring familiar (you’ve got to love yourself before you can love someone else, “You cannot change someone”); Martenson also leans heavily on the “law of attraction” most recently popularized in Rhonda Byrne’sThe Secret, instructing readers to “identify what I do want” and then “expect, listen, and allow it to happen.” Throughout, Martenson provides personal stories, anecdotes and exercises that reveal strategies for understanding and making the most of yourself, including plenty of self-affirmation and self-assessment. A Q&A chapter covers overlooked odds and ends and specific problems, such as how to impress over the phone, why sex on the first date is a bad idea, and whether it’s permissible to slip out the back door “if my date is creepy.” Entirely optimistic, if occasionally self-serving (an appendix on “How a Matchmaking Service Can Help”), this guide makes a dependable cheerleader for those falling behind in the game of love. (Feb.)

Just Try It On: A Month-By-Month Guide to Shopping and Style
Susan Redstone. Citadel, $15.95 paper (256p) ISBN 9780806528410
After a decade working behind the scenes among stylists, designers and other industry pros, fashion reporter Redstone “finally learned step by step how to navigate all the fashion faux pas.” In this chatty reference, Redstone bestows her insider’s knowledge in a handy month-by-month guide to shopping, outfit coordinating and self-styling. Highlights include a useful list of fashion retailers’ merchandising schedules to aid in shopping, tips for developing your own “iconic” look, and a lively discussion on fashion etiquette with a gaggle of designers including Nicole Miller, Marc Bouwer and Betsey Johnson. More thorough illustrations would have greatly increased the utility of, say, a primer on sunglass buying by face-shape; still, Redstone’s lighthearted, down-to-earth advice, if occasionally frivolous (there’s more about swimsuit shopping than swimsuits), makes this a lively fashion go-to. (Jan.)

Make This Your Lucky Day: Fun and Easy Feng Shui Secrets to Success, Romance, Health and Harmony
Ellen Whitehurst. Ballantine, $13.95 paper (256p) ISBN 9780345500540
This introduction to Feng Shui expert Whitehurst’s own brand of the ancient Chinese art, “Lucky Day Shui,” largely makes good on its promise of fun and ease with simple methods and implementations that won’t cost you much money (no need to invest in teak furniture or a burbling fountain), though certain elaborate and seemingly nonsensical rituals may prove less than helpful. Whitehurst starts with the Bagua map, a fundamental Feng Shui tool that divides any given environment into nine different sectors, each representing “a specific life situation” (wealth, knowledge/self-cultivation, marriage/partnership, etc.). Each chapter provides simple “cures” to apply in each map sector, some more involved and esoteric than others: for instance, eliminating clutter from the wealth area results in clearer thinking about finances, while a cure for debt prescribes a weekly ritual involving transferring one’s burden to unripened limes, dipping them in a mix of salt and red spice and then tossing them over one’s left shoulder into running water. Though it will prove frustrating for anyone looking to parse practical advice from superstition, those with an open mind will get a fun, rigorous introduction to Whitehurst’s variant on Black Hat Feng Shui, and at the very least gain some sound organizational advice and a better appreciation for houseplants. (Jan.)

RELIGION

Happier Than God: Turn Ordinary Life into an Extraordinary Experience
Neale Donald Walsch. Hampton Roads, $18.95 (272p) ISBN 9781571745767
A self-described “modern day spiritual messenger,” Walsch is known for his Conversations with God books, national bestsellers translated into more than 30 languages. This new offering recaps some of that content, but chiefly expounds upon the “law of attraction” school of thought, brought to market most notably by Rhonda Byrne’s The Secret. Walsch carves big real estate, asserting that “this book offers a complete explanation of How Life Works.” At once altruistic and self-serving, his framework is a multi-step “Process of Personal Creation”: he claims to augment the energy of attraction with the law of opposites, the gift of wisdom, the joy of wonder and the presence of cycles. What Walsch asserts to be a revelation—that the Divine exists in all, thus all is a manifestation of the Divine—is really an age-old tenet of Hinduism. His well-intentioned content, though hard for many mainline believers to swallow, is nonetheless flavored with Christian sensibilities, e.g. “The kingdom of God is within you.” No doubt, however, his arguments will find great success with the Conversation and Secret crowds who can find sustenance here in short chapters and 17 steps to happiness, including the notion that readers should give others every experience they seek themselves; understand sadness; and smile. (Feb.)

ILLUSTRATED

Now Is Then: Snapshots from the Maresca Collection
Marvin Heiferman. Princeton Architectural, $29.95 (192p) ISBN 9781568987484
This delightful, small-scale coffee table tome is perfect for anyone whose curiosity has been piqued while sifting through abandoned family snapshots in an antique store. Offering highlights from the Maresca collection of photographs housed at the Newark Musuem, each of these anonymous, care-worn photographs provides a potent glimpse of America between the 1920s and ’60s, long before throw-away digital photography rendered amateur picture-taking less deliberate, more ephemeral. Among three essays and an interview with Frank Maresca, the standout is English professor Nancy Martha West’s, in which she confides a desire to “invent a story for almost every snapshot in this catalog”; it’s a sentiment readers will find contagious. Ultimately, the book proves not only a tour-de-force social document of the 20th century, but also a testament to the power of even the most amateur of photographers to capture and preserve a singular moment of long-forgotten life. (Feb.)

AUDIO

The Devil You Know
Mike Carey, read by Michael Kramer. Tantor Audio, unabridged, 11 CDs, 14 hrs., $39.99 ISBN 9781400105151
Kramer easily creates the persona of the novel’s narrator, Felix Castor. Castor is a practicing exorcist in London, where he is able to see the ghosts of a small number of British dead. Kramer, using a mild nasal tone with emphasis on vowels, plays Castor with a light British accent that establishes the character’s humor, first demonstrated at a party. The exorcist and the dead are each credible, no small feat for Kramer as he wends a smooth path over the thickets of Carey’s overlong plot. If his voice is less successful for the female characters and for some of the weird characters Castor must encounter, Kramer is still quite capable. Simultaneous release with the Grand Central hardcover (Reviews, June 4). (Nov.)

A Spy by Nature
Charles Cumming, read by Simon Vance. Tantor Audio, unabridged, 10 CDs, 12 hrs., $39.99 ISBN 9781400105175
This incredibly atmospheric spy-thriller is read wonderfully by Vance. Cumming’s debut—part fiction and part memoir—is beautifully realized by Vance, whose rich British accent seems perfectly suited for this appealing tale. With a variety of pitch-perfect dialects and accents, Vance brings a stark realism to the many mysterious characters that protagonist Alec Milius comes across in this sprawling account. Entrenched in the story, Vance captures Milius’s hesitation and excitement upon being accepted in the secretive MI6 unit. There is something innately believable about Vance’s Milius as well as just about every other character that pops up in this taut performance. Vance captures his audience’s attention in a virtuoso one-man show that has all the power and variety of a big-budget theater production. He makes this intense story a memorable experience. Simultaneous release with the St. Martin’s hardcover (Reviews, May 14). (Nov.)

Stone Cold
David Baldacci, read by Ron McLarty. Hachette Audio, unabridged, nine CDs, 10.5 hrs., $49.98 ISBN 9781600240522
Baldacci may not be a literary stylist, but he really knows how to spin a yarn, and with McLarty he gets a narrator who adds emotional depth to his characters without slowing down the breathless pace of his prose. McLarty uses his distinctive, almost avuncular delivery to excellent purpose in this action-packed thriller that finds the Camel Club members attacked by three tough customers seeking revenge. Washington power broker Carter Gray blames them for the loss of his White House job. Thuggish casino operator Jerry Bagger wants con woman extraordinaire Annabelle Conroy and his stolen $40 million. And an old Cold War wrong has placed former U.S. government assassin and club founder Oliver Stone in the path of world-class hit man Harry Finn. Middle-aged baritones offer no great challenge to McLarty’s talent, yet his subtle shifts are admirable, from the thoughtful, slightly rough-edged Stone to the rougher-edged Bagger to Gray’s sneeringly perfect locution. But his art becomes more apparent as he effectively captures the voices of Annabelle, Finn and a gallery of other characters, including a bitter elderly Russian woman and a world-weary Irish-American man, providing them all a dimension not always on the page. Simultaneous release with the Grand Central hardcover (Reviews, Aug. 22). (Nov.)