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Telling Young Lives
Portraits of Global Youth
edited by Craig Jeffrey and Jane Dyson
Reviewed in the journal Anthropological Notebooks. The review read, "This book aims to break the mould—and it does.... The portraits are the strength of the book. They provide an excellent resource for teaching about a variety of topics, including gloablisation (sic), social change, and citizenship and youth studies." |
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I Walked with Giants
The Autobiography of Jimmy Heath
Jimmy Heath and Joseph McLaren, foreword by Bill Cosby, introduction by Wynton Marsalis
Reviewed on the website All About Jazz and JazzTimes on February 26. The review read, "What a remarkable heartwarming story about a strong resilien[t] man who not only walked with giants but whose life shows magnificently and clearly that he was and still is a giant." |
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The Coolie Speaks
Chinese Indentured Laborers and African Slaves in Cuba
Lisa Yun
Reviewed in the Winter 2009 issue of Labor. The review read, "The Coolie Speaks will bring tears to your eyes.... Lisa Yun has mined an incredible and rare source that allows us to hear the coolies in their own words." |
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I Walked with Giants
The Autobiography of Jimmy Heath
Jimmy Heath and Joseph McLaren, foreword by Bill Cosby, introduction by Wynton Marsalis
Featured in the March 2010 issue of JazzTimes. The article, which includes an interview with the author, described I Walked with Giants as "[A] compelling 336-page book [that] captures the essence of the bebop era from an insider’s view while retaining the saxophonist’s colorful storytelling style." |
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I Walked with Giants
The Autobiography of Jimmy Heath
Jimmy Heath and Joseph McLaren, foreword by Bill Cosby, introduction by Wynton Marsalis
The Philadelphia City Paper included an item about I Walked with Giants in its February 18th edition. It read, "The title of saxophonist/composer Jimmy Heath's new autobiography, I Walked with Giants (Temple University Press), is typically self-effacing, seemingly ranking his achievements somewhere below the jazz legends with whom he's worked....But the now-83-year-old diminutive giant has been a witness to a substantial portion of jazz history, and his story engagingly portrays the music's evolution — and its struggle to keep pace." |
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Sounds of the Modern Nation
Music, Culture, and Ideas in Post-Revolutionary Mexico
Alejandro L. Madrid
Reviewed in the Winter 2010 issue of Ethnomusicology. The review read, "Sounds of the Modern Nation makes an invaluable contribution to studies dealing with avant-garde and modernist music in the postrevolutionary era." |
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I Walked with Giants
The Autobiography of Jimmy Heath
Jimmy Heath and Joseph McLaren, foreword by Bill Cosby, introduction by Wynton Marsalis
Reviewed in the reviewed in the February 14th issue of The Philadelphia Inquirer. The review read, "Heath is by turns, candid and colorful.... Indeed, the man who walked with giants has been celebrated in his own right." |
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The Delinquent Girl
edited by Margaret A. Zahn
Reviewed in the The British Journal of Criminology, vol. 50, no 2, March 2010. The review read, "This is an important contribution that offers extensive data and a strong foundation for policy and research." |
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Filling the Ark
Animal Welfare in Disasters
Leslie Irvine
Reviewed in the The Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. The review read, "Irvine gives us a look at real issues regarding how we treat and use animals in everyday life, and how those decisions can impact an animal’s chance of survival in a disaster…. Irvine’s book [is] entertaining and thought provoking." |
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The End of Empires
African Americans and India
Gerald Horne
Reviewed in the The American Historical Review. The review read, "Horne's book is part of a growing body of literature that reinserts popular struggles into the narrative of world history. Richly documented , engagingly written, and attractively presented, this work helps to erase some of the arbitrary boundaries between subfields and provides a fresh look at the past." |
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Afro-Caribbean Religions
An Introduction to Their Historical, Cultural, and Sacred Traditions
Nathaniel Samuel Murrell
Reviewed in the February 1 issue of Library Journal. The review read, "It will prove invaluable for experienced readers with a deep interest in the subject, whether or not in the classroom." |
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I Walked with Giants
The Autobiography of Jimmy Heath
Jimmy Heath and Joseph McLaren, foreword by Bill Cosby, introduction by Wynton Marsalis
Reviewed in the January/February issue of Arrive magazine (Amtrak's publication). The review read, "Heath shares his transformation from a kid absorbing the big band and bebop sounds of his childhood into the elder statesman of jazz.... This candid book tells the story of an ever-surprising and always-rhythmic life in jazz. |
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James Naismith
The Man Who Invented Basketball
Rob Rains with Hellen Carpenter, Foreword by Roy Williams
Reviewed in the January 20 issue of The Washington Post. The review read, "[S]portswriter Rob Rains teamed up with the legendary coach's granddaughter Hellen Carpenter and gained access to a cache of Naismith's personal papers, making this biography a hugely valuable addition to our understanding of the sport's earliest days. |
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Black Venus 2010
They Called Her 'Hottentot'
edited by Deborah Willis
Reviewed in the January 4 issue of Publishers Weekly. The review read, "This remarkable volume satisfies the academic reader with scholarly essays and moves the general reader with its creative expression, making it fascinating and accessible to any one." |
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Legacy and Legitimacy
Black Americans and the Supreme Court
Rosalee A. Clawson and Eric N. Waltenburg
Reviewed in the Winter 2009-10 issue of Political Science Quarterly. The review read, "[This] study of black Americans and the supreme court is a must-read for students of black politics, political behavior, and judicial politics.” |
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Another Arabesque
Syrian-Lebanese Ethnicity in Neoliberal Brazil
John Tofik Karam
Reviewed in Al Jadid: A Review and Record of Arab Culture and Arts. The review read, "Another Arabesque is an impressive contribution to the field of ethnic studies in the Americas. Theoretically nuanced, this engaging ethnography is nonetheless accessible to the general reader” |
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On Any Given Sunday
A Life of Bert Bell
Robert S. Lyons, Foreword by Don Shula
Reviewed in the Philadelphia Inquirer on December 20. The review read, "Robert S. Lyons' flavorful biography captures the blustery and paternalistic Bell, portraying him as a man who worked relentlessly to keep the NFL alive and push it to thrive....[T]he book is worth reading. One has to appreciate the long string of anecdotes and colorful details Lyons has dug up. Who knew, for instance, that Bell would calm tempers at owners' meetings by taking out his false teeth and putting them in his water glass? More important, no book has detailed Bell's contributions to the NFL so thoroughly." |
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The Perfect Square
A History of Rittenhouse Square
Nancy M. Heinzen
Reviewed in the Philadelphia Inquirer on December 6. The review read, "Heinzen tells this story in nine chronologically arranged chapters, well researched and beautifully illustrated. As she tells it, she also manages to balance a fine-grained look at the history of Rittenhouse Square, filled with all sorts of terrific details, with references and connections to the city as a whole and the trajectory of its development." |
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The Cubans of Union City
Immigrants and Exiles in a New Jersey Community
Yolanda Prieto
Featured in the December 2 issue of The Miami Herald. The article read, "Yolanda Prieto draws a moving, decades-long history of Union City from a Cuban perspective.... Above all Yolanda Prieto has written a humane book on what she calls 'Cuba's northernmost province.''' |
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The Delinquent Girl
edited by Margaret A. Zahn
Reviewed in the December issue of Choice. The review read, "With great sensitivity, understanding, and clarity, this comprehensive collection will likely serve as the vanguard for better understanding of and attending to the women caught up in the universe of 'the delinquent girl.' Highly recommended." |
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Objectifying Measures
The Dominance of High-Stakes Testing and the Politics of Schooling
Amanda Walker Johnson
Reviewed in the December issue of Choice. The review read, "[C]ompelling... the exhaustive bibliography covering both Texas educational politics and supporting Johnson's political frame are as valuable as the story." |
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Lucia
Testimonies of a Brazilian Drug Dealer's Woman
Robert Gay
Reviewed in the December issue of The Journal of Latin American Studies. The review read, "Lucia can almost be read as a novel, in which the reader anxiously wants to know the outcome of Lucia’s trajectory and shares the author’s declared hope that she manages to change her life. As a result, it is inevitable that the reader ends by partaking in the melancholy expressed by Gay as the book reaches its conclusion."
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Another Arabesque
Syrian-Lebanese Ethnicity in Neoliberal Brazil
John Tofik Karam
Reviewed in the December issue of The Journal of Latin American Studies. The review read, "Karam succeeds in building an accurate and sensitive ethnography that captures nuances and stimulating insights into the understanding of Syrian and Lebanese ethnicity in Brazil today.” |
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James Naismith
The Man Who Invented Basketball
Rob Rains with Hellen Carpenter
Foreword by Roy Williams
Reviewed in the December 1 issue of Library Journal. The review read, "Rains (formerly, USA Today) and Carpenter, granddaughter of Naismith (1861–1939), offer readers a sound biography—and heartwarming study—of the man who invented one of our most popular games. Carpenter’s introduction connects readers with her family’s history, drawing them in and making them want to know more about the Canadian Naismith... Rains covers all aspects of Naismith’s life, not simply the story of basketball, and this results in a straightforward yet in-depth look at Naismith, who vowed "not [to] let anybody work harder today than I do," a mantra that many readers will find inspirational. In addition to its broad appeal to basketball aficionados, this would be an excellent addition to all local libraries seeking to enhance their biography section as well as their sports collection. It will certainly have appeal to YA readers as well." |
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Pacifica Radio
The Rise of an Alternative Network
Updated Edition
Matthew Lasar
Reviewed in the October-December 2009 issue of Communication Booknotes Quarterly. The review read, "Of the two [authors/books] Lasar is more inclusive and broader in its approach offering a macrocosmic survey of the entire station group to the mid-1960s...In many ways, this is a study of Lewis Hill, the founder of Pacifica, and those around him who gave birth to the idea of a listener-supported station, and later a network of stations." |
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The Undevelopment of Capitalism
Sectors and Markets in Fifteenth-Century Tuscany
Rebecca Jean Emigh
Reviewed in the November 2009 issue of Contemporary Sociology. The Emigh review read, "[A]n important scholarly contribution and will remain a major accomplishment speaking to a variety of disciplines for many years to come." |
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Technological Turf Wars
A Case Study of the Computer Antivirus Industry
Jessica Johnston
Reviewed in the November 2009 issue of Contemporary Sociology. The review read, "Technological Turf Wars would be of interest to STS [Science and Technology Studies] scholars and perhaps to political sociologists interested in the role of knowledge and discourse in the exercise of power." |
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I Walked with Giants
The Autobiography of Jimmy Heath
Jimmy Heath and Joseph McLaren
foreword by Bill Cosby, introduction by Wynton Marsalis
Reviewed in the November 16 issue of Publishers Weekly. The review read, "Heath puts all of the peaks and valleys of a rigorous professional life in a unique memoir that speaks volumes to the values of discipline, tradition, and perseverance. Aided by a foreword by jazz fan Bill Cosby and an introduction by top brass man Wynton Marsalis, Heath's story is told in a classic call-and-response manner.... A true jazz milestone, this bold account by Heath and Hofstra English professor McLaren further illuminates the seldom-told story of our creative homegrown music."
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The Perfect Square
A History of Rittenhouse Square
Nancy M. Heinzen
Reviewed in the November 5 issue of The Jewish Exponent. The review read, "All of [the square's] fascinating and varied history is now clearly laid out in The Perfect Square: A History of Rittenhouse Square by Nancy Heinzen, published by Temple University Press. Any born-and-bred Philadelphian who still harbors and abiding love for this very livable city will find more than just a nostalgic ride in this compact, lovingly rendered work." |
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Filling the Ark
Animal Welfare in Disasters
Leslie Irvine
Reviewed in the November 2009 issue of Natural Hazards Observer. The review read, "Irvine uses natural disasters as a springboard for discussion of the ethics of our relationships with animals.... This is a deeply felt and carefully thought out book, which will be of interest to anyone interested in animals and disasters, either together or separately." |
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Twenty-First Century Color Lines
Multiracial Change in Contemporary America
edited by Andrew Grant-Thomas and Gary Orfield
Reviewed in the November 2009 issue of Choice. The review read, "A useful edited collection of essays on diverse US racial-ethnic issues, this book grew out of a 2003 Harvard Civil Rights Project conference.... These respected scholars provide a well-documented overview of US racial-ethnic patterns and conflicts. Summing Up: Recommended." |
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Runaway Romances
Hollywood's Postwar Tour of Europe
Robert R. Shandley
Reviewed in the November 2009 issue of Choice. The review read, "In this pleasant monograph, Shandley examines Hollywood's 'European Travelogue romances, 1947-1964,' which he imagines to constitute a genre.... This is a book for those interested in specialized film and genre study."
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Música Norteña
Mexican Migrants Creating a Nation between Nations
Cathy Ragland
Reviewed in the November 2009 issue of Choice. The review read, "Ragland has written an impressive examination of the many "borderland" musics popular among Mexicans and Mexican Americans in the Tex-Mex region of the Mexico-US border. Thanks to her background as a journalist, Ragland writes in a readable style. She packs the book with thorough research, in-depth musical and lyrical analysis, and insightful theoretical discussions of social and cultural issues related to such topics as ethnic identity and transnationalization.... [A] valuable contribution to the growing body of literature on Latin American music. Summing Up: Highly recommended." |
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Sounds of the Modern Nation
Music, Culture, and Ideas in Post-Revolutionary Mexico
Alejandro Madrid
Reviewed in the November 2009 issue of the Hispanic American Historical Review. The review read, "In this compact and insightful book, Alejandro Madrid examines an elite group of early
twentieth-century Mexican composers at a critical time in the nation’s cultural history, the 1920s.... Sounds of the Modern Nation reveals much not only about the politics of culture but also about the often contentious process of writing national history." |
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I Walked with Giants
The Autobiography of Jimmy Heath
Jimmy Heath and Joseph McLaren, foreword by Bill Cosby, introduction by Wynton Marsalis
Reviewed in the November 1 issue of Library Journal. The review read, "Heath, with McLaren tells a life story that is inspiring and thoroughly enjoyable.... Beyond Heath’s storytelling, the book is interwoven with comments from a number of acquaintances (mostly musicians), which helps keep the narrative moving. Verdict: This is an entirely engaging and thoughtful autobiography from one of jazz’s true treasures. This richly told saga is highly recommended." |
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Filling the Ark
Animal Welfare in Disasters
Leslie Irvine
Reviewed in the Fall 2009 issue of Animal Welfare Institute Quarterly. The review read, "The author illustrates that humans are not the only victims in disasters and are often at fault for the perils animals suffer. She argues that it is our own decisions and actions that 'make animals so vulnerable to disasters' and offers advice on the multiple ways animals may be made less vulnerable, not the least of which is to rethink 'our uses of animals.'" |
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Oye Como Va!
Hybridity and Identity in Latino Popular Music
Deborah Pacini Hernandez
Reviewed in the October 15 issue of Library Journal. The review read, "[Pacini Hernandez] brings an anthropologist's eye to the history of Latin music and the many ways it has been hybridized in America.... Best for readers interested in music as culture and those who want to understand what forces have shaped the diverse landscape of Latin hybridized musics in America and worldwide over the last 40-plus years." |
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Frankie Manning
Ambassador of Lindy Hop
Frankie Manning and Cynthia R. Millman
Reviewed in the October issue of Dance Magazine. The review read, "Frankie Manning's story, a labor of love and commitment, makes a magnificent contribution to the history of the Lindy Hop from its beginnings in the Savoy Ballroom to its resurgence as an internationally celebrated jazz artform.... [E]ssential reading for anyone interested in this rich period in the development of America's indigenous dance and music." |
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Pictures from a Drawer
Prison and the Art of Portraiture
Bruce Jackson
Reviewed in the October 2009 issue of Photographer's Forum. The review read, "This book is a sometimes interesting... endlessly speculative set of ruminations about a random group of photographs from an Arkansas prison....[T]he photographic portraits, some entrancing and others menacing, could kindle a novel as easily as a bad dream." |
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The End of Empires
African Americans and India
Gerald Horne
Reviewed in the October 2009 Journal of American History. The review read, "Horne’s book is part of a growing body of literature that reinserts popular struggles into the narrative of world history. Richly documented, engagingly written, and attractively presented, this work helps to erase some of the arbitrary boundaries between subfields and provides a fresh look at the past." |
