Web Exclusive Reviews: Week of 4/27/2009
-- Publishers Weekly, 4/27/2009
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A.J. Adams. Hazelden, $14.95 paper (120p) ISBN 9781592857203NONFICTION
Animal Investigators: How the World’s First Wildlife Forensics Lab Is Solving Crimes and Saving Endangered SpeciesLaurel A. Neme. Scribner, $25 (256p) ISBN 9781416550563
Few people realize that animal parts trafficking represents a large threat to the global ecosystem; writer and natural resource management expert Neme is one of them. Trading in rare goods highly prized by many cultures, but lacking in human victims, the worldwide animal parts market remains largely invisible, and thus completely underestimated, except in the underfunded U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that's tasked with stopping it. In this engrossing look at the CSI of the animal world, Neme opens readers' eyes through three case studies: walrus tusk hunting in Alaska, an investigation that leads into serious debate over issues of native sovereignty and subsistence hunting; bears poached for their gall bladders, a cure-all in Chinese medicine; and rare Amazonian birds killed for their feathers. Explaining the science behind the work, Neme reveals concrete clues and fascinating sidelights that should keep fans of police procedurals hooked, while also focusing on cultural issues and the challenges of global regulation. Readers interested in true crime, animal rights or television's Law and Order will be fascinated, educated, and perhaps inspired to spread the word. (Apr.)
A Brain Wider Than the Sky: A Migraine Diary
Andrew Levy. Simon & Schuster, $25 (304p) ISBN 9781416572503
According to modern estimates, more than one in ten Americans suffer from migraine headaches, and author Levy has been dealing with them since childhood. Using his life story as a jumping-off point, Levy writes about learning to live with migraines and tolerate treatments on a personal level, but also about the affliction in general: the history, medical science and latest findings. Levy’s story evokes immediate compassion, in a tragicomic opening that finds Levy’s two-year-old son wrapped arms-and-legs around his father’s head “the way an octopus might embrace a rock,” trying to help with the pain. Levy looks at the work of famous migraine sufferers like Freud and Thomas Jefferson, who both wrote extensively about their affliction. He also covers the dramatic progress in migraine research over the last two decades, which includes genetic maps of the “disease” and dozens of treatments. Levy isn’t all optimism and hope, however, describing the painstaking process of maintaining his daily diary of headache triggers, and noting that just a tiny fraction of patients ever identify reliable triggers. This thoughtful examination of what migraine patients endure should do much to demystify the problem for sufferers, and especially for their loved ones. (May)
The Dangerous World of Butterflies: The Startling Subculture of Criminals, Collectors, and Conservationists
Peter Laufer. Lyons, $24.95 (288p) ISBN 9781599215556
Turning from the Iraq War, author and journalist Laufer (Mission Rejected: U.S. Soldiers Who Say No to Iraq) decided to focus on the presumably innocuous business of butterflies. There, he found yet more violence, corruption and unanswered questions, resulting in another compelling all-angles examination. Fluttering across the globe for at least 40 million years, Lepidoptera face increasing threats in modern times, largely from habitat loss and pesticides. Amateur and professional butterfly experts weigh in on everything from art to conservation, breeding and butterfly sex to development and wing colors, as well as the meaning of their fascination for humans. Lepidopterology contains a surprising stack of unsolved mysteries, including the process of metamorphosis: what goes on in the chrysalis, in which every cell of the caterpillar's body liquefies before reconstituting into a butterfly, might as well be magic. Laufer also finds controversy in commercial breeding and discovers “worldwide criminal operations” in butterfly poaching and smuggling (in which driving species to near extinction is a standard practice for pushing up specimen prices). In casual prose, Laufer delivers an absorbing science lesson for fans of the colorful bugs. (May)
Letters to President Obama: Americans Share Their Hopes and Dreams with the First African-American President
Edited by Hanes Walton Jr., Josephine A.V. Allen, Sherman Puckett and Donald R. Deskins Jr. Skyhorse, $19.95 (380p) ISBN 9781602397149
In this inspiring epistolary collection, four editor-scholars create a multivariate portrait of the first African-American President’s historic election through a populist outpouring of voices supportive, enthusiastic, hopeful, advisory, and occasionally apprehension. Gathered through a Web- and university-based project, the 600-plus letters from all kinds (including international admirers and some Obama campaign workers) are divided into 27 categories, which prove extremely useful; the letters can run together when reading straight through. Besides Obama and the election itself, contributions cover the Obama family (including the puppy), the outgoing President Bush, a number of policy issues (economic, energy, educational, etc.), patriotism and, of course, “hope.” A section of poems makes a nice break from form, and the chapter on “Opposition and Apprehension” is a solid, if too-short foil for the cheerleading that dominates the collection. Capturing a unique presidential moment with unorthodox methods (most books of letters to the president are put together post-administration, using presidential library records and other official sources), this is an Obama-era souvenir that pays fitting tribute to the thoughts, dreams and efforts of the populace who made him President. (Apr.)
Liberty and Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto
Mark R. Levin. S&S/Threshold, $25 (256p) ISBN 9781416562856
Author and conservative talk radio host Levin (Rescuing Sprite, Men in Black) takes on the Statist, a liberal straw man, in this collection of polemics against left-wing tenets (like “economic and social justice”), touchstones (like the New Deal) and institutions (strongholds of liberal thought like academia and the mainstream media). With “an insatiable appetite for control” and a veil of “moral indignation,” Levin finds the Statist not only in congressional Democrats and President Obama's White House, but in “neo-Statists” like compassionate conservative Michael Gerson, and the Fed and Treasury under G.W. Bush. Many of Levin's arguments reiterate familiar tropes, including a “strict constructionist” view of the Constitution that sees Social Security as patently un-American. Predictably, Levin opposes the extension of health benefits, derides global warming (implicating Obama’s “global warming czar” as a leader in “the Socialist International’s Commission for a Sustainable World Society”), and fights back against immigrants, whom the Statist portrays “as universally more virtuous than the citizen.” For those new to the Tea Party, Levin offers a handy roundup of conservative talking points, but anyone paying attention to talk radio over the past few years won't learn anything new. (Apr.)
Morning Drive: Things I Wish I Knew Before I Started Talking
Michael A. Smerconish. Lyons, $24.95 (304p) ISBN 9781599215174
In this memoir-cum-mission statement, radio talker Smerconish delivers a wrap-up of his punditry career mapped to a 15-point “Suburban Manifesto” he first published in a 2006 Philadelphia Daily News column. A long-time Republican upset by his party's present course, Smerconish outlines his principles and goals in the realms of politics (pushing back against the far right) and media (he claims to be mislabeled “conservative”). Instead of focusing on opinions, however, Smerconish presents memorable anecdotes from his career, illuminating life behind the mike. Readers of any political persuasion should find Smerconish's candor and style accessible and quite charming, as he demonstrates unusual respect for all kinds of political thought. His Manifesto (with entries for immigration, gays, preventing terror, Bin Laden, etc.), however, provides scatter-shot organization, derailed further by a tendency to wander (or leap) off topic. Though this volume makes Smerconish a more accessible and sympathetic figure than most pundits, it puts his strong common-sense agenda (his ostensible raison d'etre) on the back burner. (Apr.)
Out of Now: The Lifeworks of Tehching Hsieh
Adrian Heathfield. MIT, $49.95 paper (384p) ISBN 9780262012553
Tehching Hsieh first gained the attention of the NYC art scene with his piece One Year Performance 1978-1979, in which he committed himself to living an entire year in his studio with close to no human contact and no source of stimulation—no television, no books, no art. This piece was followed by One Year Performance 1980-1981, in which Hsieh had to punch a time clock every hour on the hour for a year. In another year-long piece, Hsieh travels the streets of Manhattan, determined to enter no building, structure or shelter. A passionate scholar dedicated to Hsieh’s work, Heathfield’s opening essays place the artist’s work in a tradition of “durational aesthetics” that challenge the fast-paced, stilted understanding of time codified by the demands of Capitalism, suggesting that “perceptions and understandings of time are a cultural construct, and as such, open to revision.” Heathfield’s text is well-researched, drawing from other artists and philosophers, including a fascinating comparison with Harry Houdini. Given the conceptual nature of Hsieh’s work, it’s remarkable that the 250 pages of prints provide an effective backdrop. The final section includes some of Heathfield’s interviews with Hsieh, as well as written reactions from younger conceptual artists. 173 color, 140 b&w illus. (Apr.)
The Peta Practical Guide to Animal Rights: Simple Acts of Kindness to Help Animals in Trouble
Ingrid Newkirk. St. Martin's Griffin, $17.95 paper (480p) ISBN 9780312559946
The president and cofounder of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Newkirk (One Can Make a Difference) provides philosophy, science, anecdote and action guides for "the army of the kind," defying human exceptionalism (“Humans… can do anything we please”) with a rational, compassionate plea for animal rights (a radical game-changer in our “cheese on everything” society). Newkirk covers animals as food, entertainment, medical research, clothing, and pets, looking at effects on the animals as well as the negative blowback for human beings (largely in health and environmental degradation). Newkirk makes the similarities among zoos, circuses and cockfighting chillingly clear, and elsewhere argues that there’s no significant medical value to animal research (pointing to infant mortality rates, among other stats). Solutions, resources and simple fixes abound, including vegan recipes and an FAQ in the food chapter; a lengthy dossier of health charities, grouped by their support for animal research; alternatives (like nature hikes) to caged-animal amusements; and a short chapter on “pests” (including a section on “living in harmony ith pigeons”). A wealth of information, and a fair degree of activist-standard urgency, awaits animal lovers and budding environmentalists in this encouraging guide to honoring the animal kingdom. (June)
Saltwater Buddha: A Surfer's Quest to Find Zen on the Sea
Jaimal Yogis. Wisdom (PGW, dist.), $15.95 paper (256p) ISBN 9780861715350
A journalist, photographer, surfer and Zen Master, Yogis began the life of a roving seeker his junior year of high school, when he ran away from his Sacramento, Calif. home to learn how to surf in Hawaii. His subsequent travels include a handful of prime surfing spots, but Yogis's more arresting journey is spiritual, taking him to monasteries in France and Berkley, Calif., and deep into the living tradition of Zen Buddhism. Captured here in short chapters and wonderful, visual prose, Yogis's coming-of-age odyssey also takes readers into the culture of indigenous Hawaiians, who believe the gods were surfers. Yogis's long-time surfing mentor Rom provides insight into the science of surfing, ocean swells, the bathymetry of the continental shelf, deep water canyons and sea mounts. Even land lovers will find Yogis's lessons resonant and entertaining, but surfers will find this a quick, surprisingly deep tribute to the quest for surf and serenity. (May)
Showing Up for Life: Thoughts on the Gifts of a Lifetime
Bill Gates, Sr. with Mary Ann Mackin. Doubleday, $23.95 (208p) ISBN 9780385527019
Gates, attorney, philanthropist and father of the Microsoft scion, shares thoughts and family memories in this warm collection of short essays. Counting his children—Kristi, Libby, and son Bill–—among his proudest achievements, Gates stays close to home and largely abstains from name dropping, though the Gates keep some impressive company (Gates prizes a photograph of himself, Nelson Mandela and Jimmy Carter at the Zola Clinic in South Africa). With a conversational tone, Gates enumerates his tenets for successful life—hard work, generosity and curiosity—along with what he's learned from people like his scoutmaster Dorm Braman, his son Bill, his late wife, Mary, and his current wife, Mimi, as well as friends from the Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. government. Along with some impressive moments from exotic locations, such as his many trips to Africa, Gates's cascade of small, private moments build to an impressive and very personal life survey. (May)
LIFESTYLE
Ms. Typed: Discover Your True Dating Personality and Rewrite Your Romantic Future
Michelle R. Callahan. Crown, $21.95 (256p) ISBN 9780307408006
For women who seem to make the same romance mistakes again and again, psychologist Callahan, a media presence and resident psychologist on reality TV show Queen Bees, offers a way of diagnosing and defusing dating self-sabotage. When it comes to men, most women know their type, but Callahan believes it's more useful to know your own type—or, more specifically, your mistype, as the ten personality profiles that follow all identify habits that keep you from expressing your true identity. These include Ms. Second Place, who tends to settle for less; Ms. Anaconda, the smothering type; and Ms. Bag Lady, still smarting over past relationships. A quiz helps readers find their match, and anecdotal evidence gleaned from patients demonstrate how these types work in the real world, where they fail, how they hold you back, and what may have caused the condition. Helpful tips for a “Ms. Typed Makeover” are encouraging and wise, though Callahan's concept can get in the way of clarity; “type” and “mistype” seem to be used interchangeably, and often. (May)
One Less Thing to Worry About: Uncommon Wisdom for Coping with Common Anxieties
Jerilyn Ross with Robin Cantor-Cooke. Ballantine, $25 (288p) ISBN 9780345503060
In this guide for women, author and anxiety specialist Ross (Triumph Over Fear) looks at day-by-day anxieties, the ways people tend to cope, and the ways that they should. Beginning with the idea that “each of us has a different relationship with our anxiety,” Ross's goal is to help women improve that relationship so that they can learn from their anxiety while keeping it under control. Initial chapters look at the psychology and physiology of worry, before moving on to profile four types of anxiety relationships: “reflexive-impulsive,” “pervasive-adaptive,” “primitive-preventative” and “imperative-fugitive.” The final third provides the “Ross Prescription” for managing anxiety, a number of solid ideas from focusing on what's doable (rather than what's not) to rating anxiety on a scale, as well as relaxation techniques and where to seek further help. Ross has a talky style and a tendency toward storytelling, but her detailed anecdotes are largely worthwhile, and she stops when needed to supply bulleted lists, charts and self-tests. For those who don't mind the narrative sprawl, Ross's of-the-moment self-help should provide much insight for women anxious over being anxious. (Apr.)
What Do You Say When…: Talking to People with Confidence on Any Social or Business Occasion
Florence Isaacs. Clarkson Potter, $18 (160p) ISBN 9780307405289
In her latest, lifestyle author Isaacs (When the Man you Love is Ill, Change Your Mind, Change Your Body) shares her personally-developed techniques for breaking the ice and keeping things moving, along with anecdotes and insight into the psychology, sociology and art of the conversation. Her ten rules include finding common ground, listening, complimenting, responding to body language and exiting gracefully; none are groundbreaking, but are examined carefully, with encouragement and sympathy. Introduction chapters alone should get readers ready to stretch their comfort zones and meet new people, and subsequent chapters on a thorough list of situations—parties, dates, weddings, conventions, business meetings and more—make specific, easy-to-reference recommendations. Final chapters provide brief consideration of tricky topics (illness, divorce, losing a job) and how to teach her techniques to children and teens. For even committed introverts, this sturdy primer should instill confidence and a positive attitude toward speaking in public. (May)
Why He Didn’t Call You Back: 1,000 Guys Reveal What They Really Thought About You After Your Date
Rachel Greenwald. Crown, $23.95 (288p) ISBN 9780307406538
In this dating guide for women getting nowhere fast, professional matchmaker Greenwald takes the intriguing step of interviewing a thousand men who decided not to follow up on a first date. Unfortunately, that stab at quasi-scientific methodology doesn't turn up anything new—though you wouldn't suspect it to see the volume of Greenwald's text. To her credit, she doesn't advise readers to change who they are, but how they present themselves, emphasizing the importance of first impressions and refusing to heap blame on either men or women. Detailed descriptions and checklists will help readers determine what disagreeable stereotype you may projecting (“The Boss Lady,” “The Bait & Switcher,” “The Park Avenue Princess”) and how to remedy it. Despite a direct voice and infectious confidence, Greenwald echoes much that's already been covered in countless other volumes—don’t seem desperate, show genuine interest, don’t bring up your ex—and often with more detail, examples, lists and subcategories than are necessary. Those who like their self-helps busy, or who are new to the genre, may find this book worthwhile, but in most ways it's the same story, different date. (May)
FICTION
On The Divinity Of Second Chances
Kaya McLaren. Penguin, $15 paper (352p) ISBN 9780143115182
McLaren’s touching if too busy newest weaves together a complex set of family narratives. Phil and Anna’s 30-year marriage is crumbling: Anna sleeps in the yard, and Phil busies himself with inane projects. Their oldest daughter, Olive, gets knocked up by her immature boyfriend and quits her bank job to move in with her grandmother. Son Forrest left home at 14, consumed with guilt from a tragic mistake, and could be dead for all Phil and Anna know, though youngest daughter Jade knows where Forrest is, but keeps that, and many other things, secret. As the family drifts farther apart, it will take tango lessons, bagpipes and enormous effort to bring its members back together. While the book starts slow, it picks up steam quickly, though McLaren tries to stuff too much into the narrative, switching character perspectives at an annoying clip. That aside, McLaren manages to present a rich cast dealing gracefully with spirituality and mortality, a not inconsiderable feat considering the material is ripe for kitsch. (May)
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