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BookshelfThe following books by Hamilton alumni and faculty members have been added to the Burke Library collection. We welcome news of other new or recent books for annotation in upcoming issues of the Hamilton Alumni Review. Copies of books or bibliographic information for ordering purposes may be sent to editor@hamilton.edu. Robert W. Barker '67, The Devil's Chosen: A Search for Understanding (New York: iUniverse, 2005). A collection of fictional stories, allegorical in nature, vividly recapturing the horrors of the Holocaust. Derived from interviews with survivors, it focuses on both the perpetrators and their victims, and poses profound moral questions for us in our own day. The author, who lives in Lakewood, Colo., has observed that this splendidly written, sobering book did not begin its life as a comment on our times, "but because the history of conflict and genocide seems so dreadfully circular and repetitive in nature," it has become so. Matthew P. Binkewicz '86, Peaceful Journey: A Hospice Chaplain?s Guide to End of Life (Ithaca, N.Y.: Paramount Market, 2005). The author, an ordained Russian Orthodox priest and longtime hospice chaplain, treats a delicate subject with great care and compassionate concern. Drawing upon his personal conversations with terminally ill patients and their families, he discusses their spiritual concerns and the issues they confront, and offers guidance and support to others engaged in end-of-life care. The author is currently pastoral care and bereavement coordinator at Hospice of the Finger Lakes in Auburn, N.Y. Terry Brooks '66, High Druid of Shannara: Straken (New York: Ballantine, 2005). The last book in a new Shannara trilogy by the prolific and popular spinner of fantasy yarns. Replete with high adventure and daring-do in a never-never land. See also the trilogy's preceding volume, High Druid of Shannara: Tanequil (New York, Ballantine, 2004). Rachel Dickinson K'78, Tools of Navigation: A Kid's Guide to the History and Science of Finding Your Way (White River Junction, Vt.: Nomad Pr., 2005). A profusely illustrated book for youngsters on "the art and science of maneuvering safely and efficiently from one point to another." Included are chapters on the history of navigation across land and sea, to the poles and into the heavens. There is also a chapter on using maps and compasses in addition to practical assignments such as learning the constellations and making a sky chart, traveling by compass and working with a topographical map. A highly innovative, educational approach to a complex subject, presented in clear prose and an attractive format, the book is ideal for children with questioning minds. The author is a travel, nature and science writer whose articles have been published in numerous magazines, including this one. She lives in Freeville, N.Y. Carol A. Drogus, professor of government (co-author). Activist Faith: Grassroots Women in Democratic Brazil and Chile (University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press, 2005). Described by one reviewer as, "the first comprehensive study of women's grassroots religious movements since the transition to democracy in Brazil and Chile," this book examines the impact of religiously inspired activism in Latin America, including the fates of the activists and social movements that rose to prominence there during the 1980s. Amelia Devin Freedman '92, God as an Absent Character in Biblical Hebrew Narrative: A Literary-Theoretical Study (New York: Peter Lang, 2005). A volume in the "Studies in Biblical Literature" series, it utilizes four methodologies, including feminist literary criticism, in exploring the characterization of God in Hebrew Bible narrative. The revised version of a Ph.D. dissertation submitted to the University of Chicago Divinity School, the book "points to and maps out a new way to read narrative within the Hebrew Bible." Its author is an instructor at Columbia College in Chicago. Harry Hutson '69 (co-author), Leadership in Nonprofit Organizations (Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sage, 2005). Described as "a must have for anyone with either a personal or professional interest in organizational leadership," this highly sophisticated work addresses not the customarily emphasized subject of corporate leadership but that of leadership in the ever-expanding field of nonprofit organizations. Combining theory and a review of pertinent literature with case studies of exemplary leadership, it stresses the importance of individual strengths and flexibility of approach, as well as the importance of "alignment," the dynamic relationship between organization and leader. The co-author, who has a wealth of experience derived from the corporate human resources field, is a consultant on leadership and organization whose practice focuses on the human ride of strategic change. Arnold Klein '50, The Lemmies (Livonia, Mich.: First Page, 2005). A "children's book for all ages," it is the story of "six little lemmies" and their encounter with a strange creature. The encounter leads to speculation as to the creature's identity and ultimately to a lesson in appreciation of differences. The book is lavishly and beautifully illustrated by Karen Klein, who, with her husband Arnold, is co-owner of the Arnold Klein Gallery in Royal Oak, Mich. Deborah Anna Logan '88 (editor), Illustrations of Political Economy: Selected Tales by Harriet Martineau (Toronto: Broadview Eds., 2004). The editor, an associate professor of English at Western Kentucky University, has written extensively on Harriet Martineau, the early 19th century British social reformer. This volume, another in a series of Martineau's writings edited by Professor Logan, brings back into print a work, originally published in 1832, that was highly influential in popularizing "political economy" in its day. Preceded by an insightful critical introduction, this new edition makes a strong case for Martineau's significance as a pioneer in the literature of reform. Wendy Lower '87, Nazi Empire-Building and the Holocaust in Ukraine (Chapel Hill: Univ. of North Carolina Pr., 2005). Based on extensive research, this impressive work of scholarship began as a Ph.D. dissertation at American University. It recounts Nazi depredations in Ukraine during World War II, and especially those in the Zhytomyr region. In particular, it draws upon recently discovered records to cast light on Heinrich Himmler's German colonization project, Hegewald. By focusing on the Nazis' racial and population policies in the "jewel" of their empire, Ukraine, and the sufferings resulting therefrom, the work underscores in detail the core beliefs, aims and practices of the Nazi regime. The author, a former research fellow at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum's Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies, is an assistant professor of history at Towson University. Jack Henry Markowitz '69, The Practice and Other Stories and Selected Poems ([no place]: Xlibris, 2005). Five short stories supplemented by a few examples of insightful verse, this little volume by a Brooklyn native is written "with satiric wit and Jewish humor about working class New York characters he had observed during his growing-up years." The author, who movingly recaptures a time, a place and a people in all their humanity, is a former public relations consultant now residing and writing in Philadelphia. Bruce Markusen '87, Tales from the Mets Dugout (Champaign, Ill.: Sports Publishing, 2005). The author, for a decade a staff member of the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., has demonstrated his expertise as well as passion for baseball in several books on the teams and personalities associated with the Great American Game. This latest one focuses on the New York Mets, their fortunes and misfortunes through 43 seasons. The tales are told in bite-size snippets, making for a quick and enjoyable read for any inveterate baseball fan. Peter J. Rabinowitz, professor of comparative literature (co-editor). A Companion to Narrative Theory (Oxford, United Kingdom: Blackwell Publishing, 2005). This massive anthology, designed to be of interest to specialists yet accessible to readers with little prior knowledge of the field, includes 35 original essays by leading narrative theorists from the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The collection covers not only literary narrative, but also narrative in other media (including film, music and painting) and fields (such as law and medicine). The book represents all the major critical approaches to narrative and investigates and debates the relations between them. Susan Sánchez-Casal, associate professor of Hispanic studies and women's studies (co-author). Chicken Soup for the Latino Soul (Deerfield Beach, Fla.: Health Communications, Inc., 2005). The "Chicken Soup" series features inspirational, motivational and uplifting stories that have sold 80 million copies in 65 titles and 37 languages. In addition to editing the Latino Soul volume, Sánchez-Casal wrote two of its pieces, "Don't Do It Willy!" and "Vengo del mar." Sánchez-Casal says, "While respecting the inspirational formula, Latino Soul tells stories about Latino histories and experiences in the U.S. -- stories that very much need to be told and listened to. It speaks to the difficult and miraculous experiences of our daily lives, in a way that also brings visibility to and celebrates the diversity of Latino life in the United States today." Barrett Seaman '67, Binge: What Your College Student Won't Tell You (Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley, 2005). The author, a veteran journalist, former Time magazine correspondent and editor, and a charter trustee of the College, became curious about student life on college campuses today as compared with his own experiences some 40 years ago. It prompted him to spend two years living among students and closely observing their daily lives at a dozen colleges and universities ranging from Harvard and Stanford to Middlebury and Hamilton. The result is a book that draws upon his considerable reportorial skills to depict a contemporary campus culture that is both unsettling and reassuring. On the down side there is date rape and binge drinking, but there is also a generation of young people willing to be challenged and eager to make a positive contribution as adults. Although the publicity for the book has emphasized the negative, and particularly the "binge" consumption of alcohol, there is much more to be found between the book's covers that will be highly informative to anyone interested, now or in the future, in today's campus scene. Wendy B. Sharer '92 (co-editor), Rhetorical Education in America (Tuscaloosa: Univ. of Alabama Pr., 2004). A collection of scholarly essays on the past and future of rhetorical education within and outside of the American classroom. For professional educators, the essays provide valuable insight into the possibilities as well as the problems posed by the rhetorical discipline. The co-editor is an assistant professor English at East Carolina University. Eugene M. Tobin P'96 (co-author), former Hamilton president, dean and professor of history. Equity and Excellence in American Higher Education (Charlottesville: University of Virginia Pr., 2005). In order for American higher education to maintain its status as one of the world's leading educational systems, government must reinvest in the nation's schools, neighborhoods and communities, rebuilding the "educational pipeline" that supplies higher education. So say Tobin and co-authors William Bowen, former president of Princeton Universityand now president of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and Martin Kurzweil, a research associate at Mellon. This volume offers a history of higher education before delving into such issues as economic conditions that shape government and institutional policies, and the challenges facing policymakers, educational leaders, parents and students. Kimberly Troisi-Paton '91 (editor), The Right to Due Process (Detroit: Greenhaven Pr., 2005). Part of a series on the Bill of Rights, this slim volume traces the origins and evolution of the constitutional right to due process, including path-breaking Supreme Court decisions up to our own day. A concise and clearly written introduction to the subject for lawyer and layperson alike, it concludes with a discussion of current issues engendered by the war on terrorism and in Afghanistan and Iraq. The author, an attorney, is a graduate of Cornell University Law School. Christopher Whitcomb '81, White: A Novel (New York: Little, Brown, 2005). Special Agent Jeremy Walker, first introduced in Black, published in 2004, makes a return appearance in this second thriller by a former member of the FBI and veteran of its Hostage Rescue Team. Fast-paced and absorbingly suspenseful, it is a tale of terrorist plots vast in scope and reaching into the highest levels of government. Jay G. Williams '54, the Walcott-Bartlett Professor of Religious Studies. The Secret Sayings of Ye Su: A Silk Road Gospel (Lincoln, Neb.: iUniverse, Inc., 2004). Williams' amazing account of how he came to translate this previously unknown manuscript is as fascinating as the ancient document itself. The Christian gospel, though written in koine Greek, was influenced by both Buddhist and Daoist ideas and, according to Williams, derives from China's Tang dynasty. In addition to a brief introduction to the history of Buddhism and the "Religion of Light," a form of Christianity that entered China in 638 A.D., the author provides a line-by-line commentary on each of the gospel's 72 verses. Although ancient, the manuscript addresses contemporary themes and offers a unique vision of Ye Su (Jesus) and his teachings. |
 A window to the natural world Editor's note: Special thanks to author John Nichols '62, who gladly accepted our invitation to review The Nature Handbook: A Guide to Observing the Great Outdoors (Oxford University Press) by Ernest H. Williams, Jr., the Leonard C. Ferguson Professor of Biology. The two men met at a dinner six years ago when Nichols was on campus as a writer-in-residence. Knowing that much of Nichols' writing focused on the environment, Williams presented the writer with a special gift — a baggie filled with an array of animal droppings. Although it's not clear what the other guests at the table thought of the gesture, Nichols was delighted! The next day, Williams took Nichols to see the rare frosted elfin butterfly in the Rome Sand Plains, and their friendship was formed. Since then, the two have kept up a regular correspondence, sharing insights, questions and observations about the natural world. The eminent naturalist John Muir once wrote: "When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe." Put another way: In order to comprehend any specific aspect of life we need to understand the overall structure of the planet. In caveman days, most of us were naturalists trying to be in tune with our immediate overall environment; we had to be like this in order to survive. Since then, the more that science has uncovered the secrets of air, earth and water, the less a majority of our rapidly expanding species has come to understand the biology that sustains us. This handbook is an insightful, incisive and extremely instructive guide to the biology that sustains us. It compresses a vast amount of crucial science into brief descriptions that are revelatory in their comprehensiveness. In a work comprised of 227 short observations and 501 color photographs of plant and animal physiology and behavior, Ernest Williams, the Leonard C. Ferguson Professor of Biology, elucidates a complex web of behavior, ecological relationships and patterns of living organisms that make up our environment. At the top of his introduction Williams states: "The audience for this book is everyone interested in nature, including birders, gardeners, hikers, butterfliers, tree-huggers, photographers, naturalists of all kinds, wildflower enthusiasts, students, Scouts and those whose interest is just beginning to develop -- in short, anyone who finds learning more about nature interesting, worthwhile or helpful." And he suggests that, "The best way to use this book is to skim through it and find what's interesting to you." I read it front to back, every word and found all of it interesting. Granted, I am an amateur nature freak whose life was greatly enriched by a father and grandfather who were professional scientists; they copiously shared their knowledge and enthusiasms with me. Yet I learned so much that was new from every chapter of this work. It is one of the very few guidebooks I will now have on my shelves forever that offers an accessible macroscopic overview of the biology of our globe. Williams writes with an effortless grace about birds, plants, butterflies, wetlands. For a volume this rich in scientific information and ecological complexity, I was startled by the absolute clarity of the prose and by the sheer number of fine explanatory photographs, most taken by the author himself. The book has a simple and exquisite design. An effort like this opens the natural world to everyone, and it is certainly fascinating to those of us, like myself, who have spent a lifetime outdoors watching birds, identifying flowers, climbing mountains or inspecting mushrooms. I underlined much of The Nature Handbook and will browse it often because it helps me to connect those islands with other islands I want (and need) to learn about. The book is also fun. On every page I found a startling or delightful tidbit. For example: George de Mestral invented Velcro by observing the hooked seeds of plants. Bristlecone pines can grow to be almost 5,000 years old. A doctor estimated that one ounce of poison ivy toxin (urushiol) could give a rash to everybody on earth. Some insects escape predators by disguising themselves as bird droppings. Elephants are the only mammals that can't jump. The bee hummingbird of Cuba weighs "about as much as a dime." During the autumn, a Clark's nutcracker may cache in the ground up to 30,000 pine seeds within 10 miles of their source, and then remember where to find most of them over the winter. A pair of walking stick insects was once recorded stuck together mating for 79 days. The longest known delay for a moth before emergence from its pupa is 30 years. The females of one firefly species mimic the flash patterns of another species in order to attract the males of that species…and then eat them. Fir trees die and reseed themselves in waves aiming toward the prevailing winds, I imagine like a very slow-motion human wave taking place at a football game. Lichens grow slowly. One measurement taken in Alaska discovered a lichen that had grown an eighth of an inch in a century. Froghoppers, the adult molt of spittlebugs, are a quarter of an inch long, but, generating 400 times the force of gravity, they can leap more than two feet into the air. And male fiddler crabs are predominantly right-handed! You can read this book not only for knowledge but also for entertainment; it's not a biology textbook, it's much more than that. It is a marvelous paean to the diversity, beauty and tenacity of life on Earth. |
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