Contemporary Authors

• A World Without "Whom": The Essential Guide to Language in the BuzzFeed Age Bloomsbury USA (New York, NY), 2017

N/A

• A World Without "Whom": The Essential Guide to Language in the BuzzFeed Age - November 14, 2017 Bloomsbury USA,

• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmyjfavilla/
• Boston Globe - https://www.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2017/11/25/should-still-say-whom-lol/VoAubXMwFdWCg7jAqUaEmJ/story.html

  IN THE INTERNET era, does it matter if every news story or kitten listicle on a given publication spells “LOL’d” and “Wi-Fi” the same way?

  BuzzFeed, among the most prominent of a new generation of news sites, publishes in-depth news reports as well as click-friendly quizzes. It was Emmy J. Favilla’s job to develop a style guide that covers both — a tough task, in light of how quickly language evolves today.

  Favilla, the site’s global copy chief, is the author of “A World Without ‘Whom’: The Essential Guide to Language in the BuzzFeed Age.” As English changes, Favilla is on the front lines. Ideas spoke with her about her book. The transcript below has been condensed and edited for clarity.

  Ideas: What’s the issue with “whom”?

  Favilla: It’s pretentious. No one ever uses it. No one asks, “Whom is this for?” It’s like how “shan’t” went out of style after a while. I think we have to accept these sorts of things and not take it as proof that our language is deteriorating. Change doesn’t equal deterioration.

  Ideas: You include four pages of ways to represent laughter. How do you decide between saying “ha” and “hahaha”?

  Favilla: I’m a fan of “haha.” It’s more genuine. It’s easy. It’s what you actually sound like when you’re laughing in real life. If it’s really hilarious, I’ll do a “hahaha.” I think “ha” comes across as sarcastic, like a response to something that wasn’t really that funny. It has an undertone of snarkiness to it.

  If someone responded to what I thought was a genuinely funny thing with a “ha,” I’d be upset. It comes across as maybe pretentious, even: “Oh, I’m going to acknowledge that what you said was only sort of funny.”

  Ideas: You’re encouraging people to think for themselves about language. You can’t always appeal to a higher authority, and the higher authorities don’t always agree.

  Favilla: There are certainly areas where black-and-white rules exist, but we’re seeing those situations dwindle. People get very caught up in Associated Press style and what “the dictionary” says, but a lot of these resources can’t keep up with the pace of change in real time.

  Ideas: Is the constant evolution of language a good thing?

  Favilla: Our world is constantly evolving, and it follows suit that our modes of communication would also evolve. It’s strange to me that people want to resist a lot of these organic changes in language. It’s a cycle that’s as old as time.

  But because of technology, we’re seeing this at a turbocharged rate. I don’t understand the resistance to loss of punctuation, for instance, in tweets or things like that. It’s something to be celebrated, the fact that we have so many more opportunities for nuanced expression with emojis and various means of communication through social media — and it’s fun!

  Ideas: How would you respond to people who say, “OK, language is evolving, so why should I even spell-check?” Why be consistent about anything?

  Favilla: In professional writing and journalism, there is something to be said for credibility. There is a right and wrong way to spell most words. For some words there may not be, like, “doughnut” and “donut,” but those are exceptions to the rule. You need to prove that you’ve put in the effort to make sure these minute details wrap up nice and neatly. If you don’t, the reader may think, “If this person didn’t make the effort with using serial commas consistently, how am I going to trust that you did the actual fact-checking here?” It’s always going to be important in the world of professional writing and journalism, but when it comes to email or posts on social media, that’s not something we should get bogged down by.

  Ideas: This is a very funny book. But in the chapter “How to Not Be a Jerk,” which discusses the language used to describe different demographic groups, I noticed a more serious tone. Why?

  Favilla: The way that we talk about other people is important. We need to make sure we are respectful and up to date in terms of how we describe people we may not have the same experiences as. Language creates a social construct, so I do think it was appropriate to be a little more serious in that chapter. If we’re going to be anxious about anything language-related, it should be about these sorts of things and not “Are we using an en dash or an em dash?”

  Ideas: “Whom” aside, what do you think is the dumbest language rule that people still think is important?

  Favilla: I hate how hung up people get on using “impact” as a verb in the “to have a direct effect on” sense. I have a running joke with one of my co-workers in LA, who flags the word “impact” whenever she sees it. She says, “You really need to talk to these writers and editors and let them know ‘impact’ is not supposed to be used as a verb.” And, why? It’s the way we’ve been using it in both print and speech for some time, and you can’t backtrack. You can’t turn back time and say, “Hey, everyone, stop doing this thing you’ve been doing for the past 10 or 20 years.” Just let it go!

  Ideas: What made you write this book?

  Favilla: A lot of my inspiration came from being fed up with wracking my brain about all these trivialities. We were doing a lot of pieces like “Reasons why Texas is the best state.” Editors would always ask me, “Is it ‘reasons’ or ‘reasons why’? Isn’t ‘reasons why’ redundant?” But we talk that way, and it’s totally fine.

• POLITICO Media - https://www.politico.com/media/story/2014/03/the-60-second-interview-emmy-favilla-buzzfeed-copy-chief-002666

  CAPITAL: Yesterday, Buzzfeed made its in-house style guide publicly available. Please provide a brief listicle of four to six style guide entries that have divided the newsroom.

  FAVILLA: This is tough. It’s extra tough because the word “listicle” — a word we never coined or used! — is just god-awful, which we can all agree on. We're a really cooperative gang, but I think I can come up with a few entries that have sparked some discussion.

  • Whether to lowercase or capitalize Juggalo. (I took to Twitter for this one.)

  • Vine, as a verb: Is someone Vine-ing, Vining, or Vineing (yikes)? We settled on Vine-ing (also thanks in large part to a Twitter consensus), but “post a Vine” is better.

  • Using spaces on either side of the em dash. (It just makes things look so much prettier, no?)

  • Using the % symbol rather than the word “percentage.” It’s been more divisive than you’d imagine.

  • This isn’t divisive, per se, it’s just really rarely used by most writers: the en dash. I think that it may be a dying dash, sadly. Only copy editors seem to appreciate its usage nowadays, and if you’re not a copy editor you probably have no idea what that hell it even is or looks like.

  CAPITAL: Before joining Buzzfeed, you copyedited at a number of print publications including Teen Vogue. What's been the biggest adjustment to copy editing online versus print? How much copy does the desk read each day? Do you edit quizzes? Listicles?

  FAVILLA: The biggest adjustment has been the sheer volume of copy that passes through the copy department and the pace at which stories need to be copyedited — which, at a place like BuzzFeed, is generally fun and exciting rather than stressful given the variety and tone of posts we publish. I learn and laugh much more on a daily basis here than I have at any other place I’ve ever worked! The copy team tries to get to as much of the site as we can each day, prioritizing longform and news stories, like big politics and world news pieces, as well as posts that are generating the most traffic — which, obviously, include lists and quizzes.

  CAPITAL: Most of the fun of language on the web, in our experience, is how pliable it is. Do you worry that codifying words like "wack" or "sideboob" might somehow take away from that?

  FAVILLA: Not really. As a media organization, we still value consistency in the work we publish, regardless of how silly a post may be. By including words like this in the guide, we’re also trying to ensure clarity in the posts we publish — “wack” and “whack” are two different things, for instance, and any system that we can put in place to make readability easier, we should. But I mean, as an individual, if you want to spell it as side-boob or sideb00b on Twitter, by all means, have a party.

  CAPITAL: The style guide tackles more serious matter. It has a detailed LGBT subsection and recommends “undocumented immigrant” over "illegal alien," for example. How long has the guide been in development. What were your models?

  FAVILLA: The guide has been a work in progress since I started at BuzzFeed as copy editor in October 2012, and we had the first version of our in-house style guide circulating by the end of 2012. Like most news publications, we generally adhere to the AP Stylebook for our writing and reporting guidelines, but this style guide was really a collaborative effort that evolved with input from BuzzFeed editors across our many verticals over the past year or so as the site has continued to grow. I think we’ve all brought bits of insight from the various publications and organizations we’ve worked at to the guide. Also, it’s wonderful to work with people from so many different backgrounds who can give us an argument, for example, for using one version of a foreign leader’s name that may have a variety of common spellings because it’s closer phonetically to the original language.

  CAPITAL: The first entry in the style guide reads "?! (never !?)" We always thought the question mark-exclamation point combo was meant to convey shocked surprise. Is it really surprised shock? Why are we wrong?

  FAVILLA: Wow, you know, I never really analyzed the rationale behind that one. Guess I'd better do that now, huh?! (See what I did there?) I think it’s because syntactically, anything punctuated with a “?!” is generally a question before it’s an exclamation. It needs that question mark, but it doesn’t necessarily need the added exclamatory emphasis, so the question mark takes priority.

Print Marked Items
A World without "Whom": The Essential
Guide to Language in the BuzzFeed Age
Emily Dziuban
Booklist.
114.4 (Oct. 15, 2017): p5+.
COPYRIGHT 2017 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
Full Text: 
A World without "Whom": The Essential Guide to Language in the BuzzFeed Age. By Emmy J. Favilla.
Nov. 2017.400p. Bloomsbury, $26 (9781632867575). 428.2.
On her way to becoming global copy chief for BuzzFeed, Favilla authored the company's style guide, which
created a splash when published openly online in 2014. Favilla's first book is a show-and-tell for that guide.
She describes the guide's evolution and BuzzFeed's stylistic choices, along with their reasoning, all in a
narrative that demonstrates those rules in action. She provides a cheat sheet for cutting-edge terms. Many
principles are ethical and moral in nature--for example, using people-first language. Others incorporate the
playful and profound effects of the Internet and social media on language, which is "alive," according to
Favilla. While it is hard not to agree, there's an irony in her argument: she chants "follow your heart" to
everyone except those whose hearts tell them to adhere to prescriptivism over the descriptivism she
espouses. (What fun it would have been to see this intelligent author take on that Gordian knot!) BuzzFeed's
style guide lifts up what matters in language, namely clarity and respect for others, and grants permission to
dismiss those hobgoblins disguised as "rules." --Emily Dziuban
Source Citation   (MLA 8th
Edition)
Dziuban, Emily. "A World without 'Whom': The Essential Guide to Language in the BuzzFeed Age."
Booklist, 15 Oct. 2017, p. 5+. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A512776017/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=107b6c5f.
Accessed 5 Mar. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A512776017
Social sciences
Library Journal.
142.15 (Sept. 15, 2017): p83+.
COPYRIGHT 2017 Library Journals, LLC. A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No
redistribution permitted.
http://www.libraryjournal.com/
Full Text: 
BIOGRAPHY
Guo Xiaolu. Nine Continents: A Memoir In and Out of China. Grove. Oct. 2017.336p. ISBN
9780802127136. $26. MEMOIR
In this forthright memoir, acclaimed writer and filmmaker Guo (honorary associate professor, Univ. of
Nottingham; I Am China) recounts the difficult, at times traumatic, circumstances she endured while
growing up in late 20th-century China. Guo's parents left her as an infant with her illiterate and
impoverished grandparents in a small fishing village on the East China Sea. Shockingly, the author
witnessed her grandfather's suicide as a young child. Additionally, her grandmother's care was inconsistent,
and owing to their limited means, hunger was Guo's constant companion. Although often overcome with
hopelessness, the author ultimately developed unwavering determination to move beyond her desolate
situation. After realizing her creative talent, Guo became steadfast in her desire to reach her potential.
Eventually reunited with her parents, she persevered against tremendous odds to attend university in
Beijing. Working within and against the complex political constraints of the Communist regime, she honed
her literary skills with the goal of immigrating to the West, where her freedoms would be greater. VERDICT
This compelling story set against the incredible growth and cultural changes of one of the world's most
powerful countries will engage those fascinated by the resolve of the human spirit to succeed.--Mary
Jennings, Camano Island Lib., WA
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
Mazower, Mark. What You Did Not Tell: A Russian Past and the Journey Home. Other. Oct. 2017.400p.
photos. maps. notes. ISBN 9781590519073. $25.95; ebk. ISBN 9781590519097. BIOG
Mazower (history, Columbia Univ.; The Balkans: A Short History) illuminates Russian revolutionary
politics and emigre life in Britain in this fascinating family history. Max Mazower, the author's Russian
grandfather, was of the same generation as Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin, but as a Bundist (member of the
secular Jewish socialist movement Bundism) was a revolutionary of a different stripe. Remarkable twists
and turns sent Max to interwar England, where he brought his wife, Frouma, and her daughter from Russia
and became a businessman. The family also included Max's son from a previous relationship, and William,
the author's father, who was born in England. Delving into these lives, Mazower shows how his father
absorbed his unique background and became a quintessential Englishman. As with David Laskin's The
Family, entire family branches disappear in the chaos of war and Joseph Stalin's Soviet Union, and famous
Chekists and anarchists make surprising appearances. Mazower lovingly explores how his father, the
youngest in a family marked by upheaval, found comfort living in a close radius of his childhood home for
most of his life. VERDICT Readers of family histories and those with an interest in the Jewish Labour Bund
will appreciate this book.--Laurie Unger Skinner, Coll. of Lake Cty., Waukegan, IL
* Mitchell, Barbara. Mapmaker: Philip Turnor in Rupert's Land in the Age of Enlightenment. Univ. of
Regina. Oct. 2017. 352p. illus. maps. notes. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780889775039. $29.95. HIST
This biography of the first inland surveyor for Canada's Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) is a testament to the
benefits of rigorous genealogical research. Mitchell's investigation of her great-great-great-great grandfather
Philip Turnor (1751-99) starts with HBC's hiring of an "observer" who was "not marry'd brot up in farming
business." The account continues through the surveyor's life in the wilderness, his encounters with the Cree
and marriage to a Cree woman, and the realities of working for the king while enduring badly provisioned
camps. Narrated in two "voices," the primary one a detailed history gleaned from material in HBC archives
and elsewhere, Mitchell's chronicle also offers "journal entries," which she composed as Turnor. Both
devices are effective; while the historical portion is marred slightly by overly frequent speculation, it is
based upon meticulous research--for example, a discussion of the canoe Turnor likely used is supported with
details on Cree vessels. There are a number of reproductions of period maps and other illustrations, as well
as high-quality notes and bibliography sections. VERDICT Where books on Canada, indigenous life,
exploration, or genealogy are favorites, this historical account is a must.--Henrietta Verma, National
Information Standards Organization, Baltimore
* Nelson, Anne. Suzanne's Children: A Daring Rescue in Nazi Paris. S. & S. Oct. 2017.336p. illus. notes.
bibliog. index. ISBN 9781501105326. $26; ebk. ISBN 9781501105340. BIOG
While researching Red Orchestra: The Story of the Berlin Underground and the Circle of Friends Who
Resisted Hitler (2009), Nelson (international & public affairs, Columbia Univ.) came across an intriguing
photograph of a woman named Suzanne Spaak within the memoirs of a Soviet agent. What Nelson learned
of Suzanne's background stoked her interest even more--a Belgian national who married into the political
and social elite of her country, but a resident of Paris during the Occupation who was later executed by
German officials in the last days of World War II. Nelson met with Suzanne's daughter in 2009. "Everyone
said Mama was a Soviet spy...I wouldn't care if she was, but she was something completely different." This
is the story of Suzanne; a heroine who saved more than 100 Jewish children from certain death and paid for
it with her life, a martyr honored decades later by Israel as one of the Righteous Among Nations. VERDICT
This heartfelt story is almost a model for how popular history should be written; it will satisfy lovers of
history, Jewish history in particular.--David Keymer. Cleveland
Stillman, Deanne. Blood Brothers: The Story of the Strange Friendship Between Sitting Bull and Buffalo
Bill. S. & S. Oct. 2017.288p. notes. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781476773520. $27; ebk. ISBN 9781476773544.
BIOG
Stillman, a writer for the Los Angeles Review of Books, utilizes a plethora of primary and secondary
sources to recount the story of two American West icons: Lakota chief Sitting Bull (1831-90), and American
scout William F. Cody, aka Buffalo Bill (1846-1917), and the time that their lives intersected. For four
months in 1885, Sitting Bull toured with Buffalo Bill's Wild West show, which traveled across the United
States and then to Europe, reenacting frontier events. Biographical information sheds light on their roles as
charismatic leaders who provided for peoples' needs. Sitting Bull was present at the Battle of the Little Big
Horn, in which Col. George Armstrong Custer was defeated; the Lakota leader ushering his people to
sanctuary in Canada. Later, Sitting Bull surrendered to the U.S. Army and took up residence on the Standing
Rock reservation. Buffalo Bill's life as a scout, fighter, and bison hunter was fodder for dime novels and
stage plays. After gaining popularity through his performances with Buffalo Bill, Sitting Bull returned to the
reservation and in the 1890s became entangled in the Ghost Dance religious movement. Both men endured
the consequences of changing times. VERDICT This well-written, poetic book will appeal to general
readers interested in Western Americana. [See Prepub Alert, 3/27/17.]--Patricia Ann Owens, formerly at
Illinois Eastern Community College, Mt. Carmel
* Weir, Alison. Queens of the Conquest: England's Medieval Queens. Bk. 1. Ballantine. Sept. 2017.592p.
illus. maps. notes. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781101966662. $30; ebk. ISBN 9781101966679. BIOG
Best-selling author Weir (The Lost Tudor Princess) pens another readable, well-researched English history,
the first in a proposed four-volume series on England's medieval queens. Starting with Matilda of Flanders
(1031-83), Weir also focuses on the lives of Matilda of Scotland (1080-1118), the wife of Henry I of
England, and Matilda of Boulogne (1113?-52), who married King Stephen of England and fought a civil war
on his behalf. The narrative ends with the death of the Empress Maud, commonly called Matilda, in 1167.
Besides examining the political life of these monarchs, Weir provides a detailed picture of the period by
describing clothing, food, religious worship, and other aspects of daily life. Along with several primary
source documents, the work includes a comprehensive royal family tree, maps, a glossary, and an annotated
bibliography. Note that this new series will not include Eleanor of Aquitaine or Isabella of France owing to
the author's previous biographies of both women. VERDICT Weir's research skills and storytelling ability
combine beautifully to tell a fascinating story supported by excellent historical research. Fans of her fiction
and nonfiction will enjoy this latest work.--Hanna Clutterbuck-Cook, Harvard Univ. Lib., Cambridge, MA
COMMUNICATIONS
Favilla, Emmy J. A World Without "Whom": The Essential Guide to Language in the BuzzFeed Age.
Bloomsbury Pr. Nov. 2017.400p. illus. notes. index. ISBN 9781632867575. $26; ebk. ISBN
9781632867599. COMM
Favilla's (global copy chief, BuzzFeed) observational guide to diction on the Internet begins with a playful,
humble introduction in which the author downplays the "dogma" of a style guide by harpooning what she
calls "the sacred prescriptivism/descriptivism dichotomy." Some featured examples are the redundancy of
"reasons why" in contrast with the tendency of language arbiters to acknowledge how people actually speak
(and thus how they may write). Favilla follows such explorations with insights on loaded diction, including
"actress" vs "actor," and suggests avoiding the term millennials completely. This work also contains an
official BuzzFeed word list with examples such as "judgy" (to stand as an adjective), "shit ton" (as two
words, not hyphenated or used as a compound), and even "mac 'n' cheese." VERDICT A smart and amusing
work that will appeal to those who enjoy the fun point of contact between language's inherent ambiguity and
its cultural and technological biases.--Jesse A. Lambertson, Georgetown Univ. Libs.
* Young, Kevin. Bunk: The Rise of Hoaxes, Humbug, Plagiarists, Phonies, Post-Facts, and Fake News.
Graywolf. Nov. 2017.480p. illus. notes. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781555977917. $30; ebk. ISBN
9781555979829. COMM
Fake news and alternative facts have a long and complex history in American culture. Young, an awardwinning
poet and director of the New York Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, explores the
deep roots of hoaxing in entertainment, literature, journalism, sports, and public life. Opening with a
discussion of P.T. Barnum's argument that people enjoy being fooled, Young examines the variety of hoaxes
that permeate daily life. He looks at the development of the penny press in the 1800s and a mix of stories,
including detailed reports of life on the moon, that made it challenging for readers to sort truth from fiction.
Young draws on many examples throughout history to argue that the false presentations of forgers,
plagiarists, euphemism-wielding public officials, and other purveyors of fraud distort our understanding of
the world. He untangles both the subtle and overt forms of racism embedded in perverted presentations of
reality. The final chapter touches on the current "post-fact" world and its rejection of expertise, raising
important questions about how we can know the truth. VERDICT This dense and wide-ranging critique
offers a fascinating view of the impact of fraud on truth. American studies scholars and readers interested in
contemporary culture will appreciate it.--Judy Solberg, Sacramento, CA
ECONOMICS
* Riel, Jennifer & Roger L. Martin. Creating Great Choices: A Leader's Guide to Integrative Thinking.
Harvard Business Review. Sept. 2017.256p. illus. notes. index. ISBN 9781633692961. $32; ebk. ISBN
9781633692978. BUS
In 2007, Martin (academic director, Martin Prosperity Inst., Rotman Sch. of Management, Univ. of Toronto)
penned the book The Opposable Mind: Winning Through Integrative Thinking. This new work, coauthored
with Riel (management, Rotman Sch. of Management, Univ. of Toronto), is an evolution of its earlier, more
conceptual predecessor, retooled as a practical how-to. Drawing on examples of integrative decision-making
from the world of LEGO to the Toronto International Film Festival to the construction of hydroelectric
power plants, the authors dive into decisions that at first glance seem to be lose-lose situations. By
presenting a system that evaluates opposing options and creatively generates alternative paths, they have
built a workable structure to assist in those no-win circumstances. They successfully present the information
in a clear fashion, which allows the reader to move toward great choices in times when there seem there be
none. While the authors make no guarantee that following their steps will work every time, they offer a solid
starting point from which anyone can benefit. VERDICT With clear steps, appropriate illustrations, and
relevant real-life examples throughout, this book is recommended for anyone seeking to improve their
personal or professional decision-making process.--Mark Hanson, Maranatha Baptist Univ. Lib., Watertown,
WI
Simon, Morgan. Real Impact: The New Economics of Social Change. Nation. Oct. 2017. 256p. notes. index.
ISBN 9781568589800. $26; ebk. ISBN 9781568589817. ECON
Impact investment is "selecting for-profit investments in light of...awareness of the social and environmental
outcomes of such investments," writes Simon (coleader, Candide Group), who sees great potential for
impact investment to foster positive, systemic economic change. This book is in part a warning to impact
investors to avoid what the author regards as the failures and limitations of philanthropy, microfinance, and
fair trade. Her critiques of these three methods are thought provoking, as is her argument that the nub of
poverty is the lack of economic autonomy. The more distinctive, second part of the volume discusses
practical ways to implement impact investment using three principles: "engage communities in design,
governance, and ownership"; "add more value than you extract"; and "fairly balance risk and return between
investors, entrepreneurs, and communities," followed by real-life examples of such implementation. One
need not share Simon's progressive political sensibility to make use of the principles and tools she proposes.
VERDICT Though at times emotional and needlessly autobiographical, this book's focused, practical
aspects are insightful and informative and will appeal to those seeking realistic ways to alleviate poverty.--
Shmuel Ben-Gad, Gelman Lib., George Washington Univ., Washington, DC
EDUCATION
*Hechinger, John. True Gentlemen: The Broken Pledge of America's Fraternities. PublicAffairs. Sept. 2017.
320p. notes. index. ISBN 9781610396820. $28; ebk. ISBN 9781610396837. ED
The film Animal House (1978) has long shaped Americans' view of fraternity members as hard partying but
ultimately harmless, nitwits. Yet there is a far more sinister side to "Greek life." This is where Bloomberg
News editor Hechinger's book comes in handy. Using the notorious fraternity Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE)
as a case study, the author focuses each chapter on a different facet of the fraternity story. This can make for
sobering reading, as Hechinger traces the racist and anti-Semitic legacy of many of today's traditionally
white fraternities to the rape culture that pervades these institutions to such an extent that on many
campuses, SAE stands for "sexual assault expected." Hechinger travels across the country to interview
individuals at places such as the University of Alabama, where the SAE's century-old chapter has yet to
"pledge" a black student. Although there are mountains of evidence linking fraternities to an outsized share
of sexual assault charges and hazing-related injuries and deaths, college administrators have been ineffective
at reining in "problem chapters." As Hechinger demonstrates, this has a lot to do with fraternities' fundraising
clout and lobbying power (including the political action committee FratPAC). VERDICT An
exemplary work of investigative reporting. Recommended for all academic libraries.--Seth Kershner,
Northwestern Connecticut Community Coll. Lib., Winsted
Koretz, Daniel. The Testing Charade: Pretending To Make Schools Better. Univ. of Chicago. Sept. 2017.
288p. illus. notes. index. ISBN 9780226408712. $25. ED
For decades, the focus of the American education system has been on high-stakes tests with policies
attached that have forced schools to take drastic measures to keep scores up. Koretz (Henry Lee Shattuck
Professor of Education, Harvard Graduate Sch. of Education; Measuring Up) breaks down the simplistic
thinking of testing culture to shed light on the ways in which educational reform has gone horribly wrong.
Illustrating how exams create an atmosphere ripe for cheating, how the concentration on test prep has
supplanted a focus on real learning, and how teachers are unfairly judged by test results, Koretz uses realworld
examples as well as analogies from other industries to convey his arguments. This zeroing in on the
grand failures of the testing culture highlights the most egregious abuses yet skims over some of the
complexities of the issues. However, his points are sound, and his arguments convincingly presented. The
two final chapters present solid principles for change that are then translated into actions for a new testing
paradigm. VERDICT For readers who want to delve into testing-based accountability systems, why they
have failed, and how educators can generate change.--Rachel Wadham, Brigham Young Univ. Libs., Provo,
UT
HISTORY
* Ayers, Edward L. The Thin Light of Freedom: The Civil War and Emancipation in the Heart of America.
Norton. Oct. 2017.640p. illus. maps. notes. index. ISBN 9780393292633. $35; ebk. ISBN 9780393292640.
HIST
Ayers's superb new Civil War history, which began with In the Presence of Mine Enemies (2003), is set in
Virginia's Great Valley and traces the stories of Augusta, VA, and Franklin, PA, counties from abolitionist
John Brown's raid in 1859 to the eve of the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863. The work begins with Confederate
troops invading Pennsylvania and two years of conflict, followed by the social and political chaos of
Reconstruction and the passage of the 15th Amendment in 1870. Ayers notes that many Americans on both
sides of the war did not anticipate the unconditional surrender of the South, the end of institutional slavery,
and the reconstruction of the country based on fundamental human rights for all. Paradoxically, Ayers
concludes that without secession, the mobilization of huge countervailing armies and the threat from initial
military successes by the Rebels, there would likely have been no early postwar attempt at emancipation for
African Americans. The author finds that "Americans made each others' history, often in ways they did not
foresee or intend." VERDICT An original contribution of unimpeachable scholarship. Highly recommended
for Civil War and regional historians, military theorists, and all readers.--John Carver Edwards, formerly
with Univ. of Georgia Libs.
* de Hamel, Christopher. Meetings with Remarkable Manuscripts: Twelve Journeys into the Medieval
World. Penguin Pr. Oct. 2017.640p. illus. notes. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781594206115. $45; ebk. ISBN
9780698163386. HIST
Librarian de Hamel (Corpus Christi Coll., Cambridge Univ.; A History of Illuminated Manuscripts), a
leading authority on medieval manuscripts, has produced a veritable feast for the mind, in this work that
fleshes out the lives of 12 manuscripts. The works are organized in chronological order, beginning with the
St. Augustine Gospels (sixth century) and concluding with the Spinola Hours (16th century). Content
includes gospels (The Booh of Kells), astrological works (The Leiden Aratea), music (Carmina Burana),
and Canterbury Tales (The Hengwrt Chaucer). High culture flows from every page, as de Hamel
interweaves the histories of these medieval artifacts with the lives of the people that intersected with them.
The author also includes autobiographical details from his extensive experience with these rare and
irreplaceable collections, including his meeting with Pope Benedict XVI and Archbishop Rowan Williams.
The writing style is delightfully tangential, leading readers through the episodes and turns of hand that led to
each manuscript's preservation through the centuries. The many full-page color facsimiles of the items are
simply stunning. VERDICT Scholarly yet personal, this book treats medievalists, art historians, bibliophiles,
and other interested parties to the closest equivalent of a seat in the great archives. A beautiful book about
beautiful books.--Jeffrey Meyer, Mt. Pleasant P.L., IA
* Freedman, Lawrence. The Future of War. Public Affairs. Oct. 2017.400p. notes. bibliog. index. ISBN
9781610393058. $30; ebk. ISBN 9781610393065. HIST
For those who favor simple answers to complex issues, this work by Freedman (emeritus professor, war
studies, King's Coll. London; Strategy: A History) comes as a historic warning that there are none. Here, the
author focuses on government predictions before, during, and after military conflicts; when diplomacy ends
the politics of war begins and opposition is a consistent factor. Freedman surveys international conflicts and
their predicted outcomes, those both "scientific" and normative, as well as those speculated by others such
as novelists. The narrative spans the end of the 19th through the 20th century, from colonial wars to both
World Wars, the Cold War. and counterinsurgency and counterterrorism. The author makes a convincing
case that the military, defense industries, government think tanks, academia, politicians, and the media are
not much better than creators of fiction when it comes to predictions of future war. VERDICT Although a
sometimes monotonous read, Freedman's latest work delivers an important message. It will most appeal to
military historians and political scientists.--William D. Pederson, Louisiana State Univ., Shreveport
Gandt, Robert. Angels in the Sky: How a Band of Volunteer Airmen Saved the New State of Israel. Norton.
Oct. 2017.464p. notes. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780393254778. $26.95; ebk. ISBN 9780393254785. HIST
Israel's 1948 war of independence consisted of a mostly air battle with a hastily arranged collection of
planes and fliers from across the world with varying motivations for fighting for Israel--some were Zionists,
while others were simply looking for an adventure. This unlikely successful conflict serves as an inspiration
for prolific military and aviation storyteller and former military and commercial pilot Gandt, who tells the
stories of those who fought. While this account is based on historical research and interviews with the pilots
and their families, the writing style has the elements of a thriller, including dramatic barroom stakeouts,
aerial shootouts, and smuggling planes via Panama and Czechoslovakia. The author's personal experience
with flying and aerial warfare is evident from the detailed descriptions of navigating a war plane and the
emotional turmoil of combat. The young country of Israel is a backdrop, but not a main player in this
narrative. VERDICT This engaging book will be an excellent nonfiction choice for aficionados of military
thrillers. General readers seeking an accessible history of the Israeli war of independence will also enjoy.--
Margaret Heller, Loyola Univ. Chicago Libs.
Lewis Jr., James E. The Burr Conspiracy: Uncovering the Story of an Early American Crisis. Princeton
Univ. Nov. 2017.728p. illus. maps. notes. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780691177168. $35; ebk. ISBN
9781400888825. HIST
In 1805, Aaron Burr, former vice president of the Republic, crossed the Appalachians on a tour of the
western United States. By 1806, he was arrested for treason. What transpired during that year has been a
topic of debate among historians. Lewis (history, Kalamazoo Coll.; The Louisiana Purchase) contributes to
the conversation with a wholly new analysis of the Burr conspiracy that focuses more on the reaction than
on the event itself. The cultural forces at work, including the dissemination of information through partisan
newspapers, the rumor mill, and Thomas Jefferson's strategic statements on the subject reveal more than just
a narrative of the conspiracy itself---but also how anxious citizens were about the newly formed government
collapsing around them. More interestingly, Lewis shows the way information circulated and shaped public
perception by preying on people's fears and biases, letting readers extrapolate how rumors and news travel
and inform society in modern times. VERDICT A meticulously researched, comprehensive analysis
essential to early American scholarship. For both academics and general readers who seek compelling
microhistories.--Jessica Holland, Univ. of Kentucky, Lexington
Manseau, Peter. The Apparitionists: A Tale of Phantoms, Fraud, Photography, and the Man Who Captured
Lincoln's Ghost. Houghton Harcourt. Oct. 2017.352p. illus. notes. bibliog. ISBN 9780544745971. $27; ebk.
ISBN 9780544745988. HIST
In 1869, "spirit photographer" William Mumler was charged with fraud for producing photographs allegedly
containing phantoms of the deceased. Widely covered in the daily papers, the case was described by
Harper's Weekly as "remarkable and without precedent in the annals of criminal jurisprudence." In the
aftermath of the Civil War, the nation was exploding with interest in making contact with lost loved ones.
According to Smithsonian curator Manseau (Songs for the Butcher's Daughter), "It was a time when rapidly
increasing scientific knowledge was regarded not as the enemy of supernatural obsessions, but an
encouragement to them.... Now came Mumler and his camera offering sight beyond sight." After Mumler
was acquitted, he made the defining picture of his career in 1872, capturing Mary Todd Lincoln with the
spirit image of husband Abraham Lincoln. VERDICT For enthusiasts and experts alike of photography
history and post--Civil War American history. Those interested in the fringes of Lincoln-related books will
want to make room on the shelf for this work.--John Muller, Washington, DC, P.L.
Plokhy, Serhii. Lost Kingdom: The Quest for Empire and the Making of the Russian Nation. Basic. Oct.
2017.432p. maps. notes. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780465098491. $32; ebk. ISBN 9780465097395. SOC SCI
In his latest work, Plokhy (history, Harvard Univ.; The Last Empire: The Final Days of the Soviet Union)
offers readers a better understanding of modern Russia by reviewing the country from its early years to the
present. The author provides an in-depth look at different eras in Soviet history, from Mongolian rule in the
1400s to the pivotal revolution in the 20th century. Along the way, he connects the motives and behaviors of
past rulers Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin to those of current president Vladimir Putin. The narrative
connects Russia's rich past to today's political and social climate and uses this history to provide context for
the nation's relationships with Crimea and Ukraine. Notably, the author offers insight into the motivations of
the present administration and shape of the region. Plokhy explains how other countries have moved on
from the desire to create and maintain empires while Russia continues to focus on re-creating its
romanticized past. VERDICT Recommended for anyone who enjoys world history, particularly relating to
Russia or Eurasia.--Sonnet Ireland, St. Tammany Parish P.L., Mandeville, LA
Ross, Steven J. Hitler in Los Angeles: How Jews Foiled Nazi Plots Against Hollywood and America.
Bloomsbury Pr. Oct. 2017.432p. illus. maps. notes. index. ISBN 9781620405628. $30; ebk. ISBN
9781620405642. HIST
Winston Churchill said of World War II that, "This is a war of the unknown warriors." Nowhere was this
truer than in the little-known story of attorney Leon Lewis and others who thwarted internal and external
threats to the security of America during this era. Ross (history, Univ. of Southern California; Working Class
Hollywood) brings his knowledge of both history and Hollywood to weave information from the
considerable archives of the Jewish Federation Council of Greater Los Angeles. From 1933 until the end of
the war in 1945, Lewis and his fellow agents risked their lives to counter Nazi and homegrown nationalist
forces plotting sabotage and mass murder. Little has been written about Lewis and his network, despite that
they helped the FBI capture and contain these forces. Because state and federal law enforcement were more
focused on anti-Communist efforts, several plots came quite close to fruition. VERDICT This rich,
academic tome lends an important aspect to the typical look at Hollywood studio acquiescence to Germany,
such as Thomas Doherty's Hollywood and Hitler, and provides a counterpoint to Ben Urwand's The
Collaboration. Readers interested in a detailed look at this spy operation can have confidence in this wellsourced
account.--Maria Bagshaw, Elgin Community Coll. Lib., IL
Rounding, Virginia. The Burning Time: Henry VIII, Bloody Mary, and the Protestant Martyrs of London.
St. Martin's. Oct. 2017.480p. illus. notes. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781250040640. $29.99; ebk. ISBN
9781466836242. HIST
With this latest work, Rounding (Catherine the Great) provides an in-depth look at the volatile conditions
Catholics and Protestants alike experienced during the reigns of Henry VIII and Mary I as people were
forced to test the strength of their faith against the constantly changing religious dogma that threatened their
lives. Through stories of the Smithfield martyrs, Rounding comprehensively examines what brought about
this dark period in history, while also making connections to the current religious climate and the possibility
of learning from the past to end these conflicts. While many books exist on some of the major players
featured in these pages, such as William Roper's The Life of Sir Thomas More, this work stands apart by
delving into the lives of Lord Chancellor Richard Rich, a protege of Thomas Cromwell intent on gaining
power, and John Deane, rector of the Anglican church St. Bartholomew's. VERDICT Recommended for
history buffs interested in religious impacts on society, as well as those wishing to learn more about the
Tudor dynasty. However, because of the many martyrs discussed, Rounding's descriptive writing may make
it difficult for some readers to get hooked.--Katie McGaha, County of Los Angeles P.L.
Van Cleve, George William. We Have Not a Government: The Articles of Confederation and the Road to the
Constitution. Univ. of Chicago. Oct. 2017.400p. notes. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780226480503. $30. HIST
Van Cleve (law, history, Seattle Univ. School of Law; A Slaveholder's Union) ably demonstrates that U.S.
political and financial difficulties culminated by 1787, after the Revolutionary War's end, in unsustainable
and irreparable conditions that caused Americans to fear that the weakened Confederation, nearing collapse,
would be subject to anarchy and foreign domination. The author describes in great detail the varied and
complicated issues faced by the impotent, insolvent Congress: lack of sovereignty, crippling debt, unfunded
military to protect settlers facing threats from Native Americans and European governments, curtailed
international trade, sectional divisiveness, local uprisings over debt relief, and high taxes. Van Cleve also
convincingly explains how and why contemporary leaders with disparate political philosophies and
economic interests, though fearful of a powerful central government, became convinced that the
Confederation was in such critical straits that it was necessary to establish the Philadelphia Convention of
May 1787 and institute far-reaching compromises to produce a strong central government under the
Constitution. In the process, he refutes some historians' conclusions about the period, most significantly that
the necessity for reform was perceived, not objective. VERDICT This detailed and well-researched history
and analysis will appeal to scholars and serious popular history buffs.--Margaret Kappanadze, Elmira Coll.
Lib., NY
LAW & CRIME
* Dawson, Kate Winkler. Death in the Air: The True Story of a Serial Killer, the Great London Smog, and
the Strangling of a City. Hachette. Oct. 2017.320p. maps. notes. index. ISBN 9780316506861. $27; ebk.
ISBN 9780316506854. CRIME
Two events occurred in London in the early 1950s that would change the law. The first became known as the
Great Smog: a fog that enveloped London in 1952 with poisonous air that seeped into every nook and
cranny of the city. Even though London was renowned for its "pea-soup" fog, the Great Smog was extreme,
caused by the smoke of over a million coal fires combining with thick fog that lingered for days. Killing
over 12,000 people, the tragedy led to clean air legislation. The second event eventually led to the abolition
of capital punishment. Dawson (journalism, Univ. of Texas at Austin) tells of how in 1950, Timothy Evans
was convicted and hanged for the murder of his wife and daughter. In 1953, John Reginald Christie, Evans's
neighbor and a serial murderer who took the lives of at least seven women, was finally apprehended.
Christie's conviction cast doubt on Evans's execution, as many wondered if Christie was the actual killer.
This doubt eventually contributed to legislation suspending the death penalty in 1965. VERDICT Tendrils
of sickening fog creep everywhere in this book, and terror lurks in the shadows. Dawson skillfully weaves
these two events into a substantial narrative that will appeal to all types of readers.--Penelope J.M. Klein,
Fayetteville, NY
James, Peter "Big Pete" with Kerrie Droban. The Last Chicago Boss: My Life with the Chicago Outlaws
Motorcycle Club. St. Martin's. Sept. 2017. 304p. photos. ISBN 9781250105912. $27.99; ebk. ISBN
9781250187307. CRIME
The Godfather meets Harley Davidson in this book that tells the story of how author James became the head
of the notorious motorcycle gang the Chicago Outlaws Motorcycle Club. With attorney and author Droban
(Prodigal Father, Pagan Son), he outlines how he rose to power with the same ambition of CEOs of major
companies; he just wanted more power. Starting at the lowest rung of the gang and working his way up,
James took tips from leaders in other industries to be an effective leader of the Outlaws. One might not think
a motorcycle gang boss would rehearse speeches, working on dramatic pauses, but he knew what worked.
With his wife by his side, James did what he could to keep his gang together, invoking a sense of family, but
once his health deteriorated, his effectiveness could not keep up. James is candid in showing a world that
oozes with power and fear but also demonstrates that crime does not always pay. VERDICT A good read for
those interested in motorcycle gangs and how they function as well as fans of Sons of Anarchy and The
Godfather. It's gritty and seedy, and gives the reader an inside look at the world of Outlaws.--Ryan
Claringbole, Wisconsin Dept. of Pub. Instruction, Madison
POLITICAL SCIENCE
Drozdiak, William. Fractured Continent: Europe's Crises and the Fate of the West. Norton. Sept. 2017.320p.
photos. notes. index. ISBN 9780393608687. $26.95; ebk. ISBN 9780393608694. POL SCI
Drozdiak's (former editor and chief European correspondent, Washington Post) book is most successful is in
its analysis of the splintering of the "United States of Europe" through the scope of the challenges facing
Europe's largest cities--from Athens to Warsaw--and how politics in the United States plays a role in its
decline. Numerous works have been released in the past few months regarding the decline of Europe, but
none captures the struggles and issues influencing individual cities in the same way as this one. Drozdiak
posits that the struggle in Europe will not be confined to its continent, but rather will impact the United
States. In addition, his book seeks to define the importance of continued progressive relationships between
Europe and its allies in order to preserve Western democracies. For those who are seeking a discussion on
the ongoing political, social, and economic issues facing Europe, this volume offers a comprehensive look
into the past and the author's perspectives on how to move forward successfully. VERDICT A strong choice
for readers interested in studying the affects of changes throughout the European continent at the city level.
[See Prepub Alert, 4/3/17.]--Mattie Cook, Lake Odessa Comm. Lib., MI
Epstein, Helen. Another Fine Mess: America, Uganda, and the War on Terror. Columbia Global Reports.
Sept. 2017.262p. maps. notes. ISBN 9780997722925. pap. $14.99; ebk. ISBN 9780997722932. POL SCI
Author (The Invisible Cure), journalist (The New York Times), public health consultant, and professor
(human rights & global public health, Bard Coll.) Epstein weaves the life story of Ugandan journalist,
political activist, and professor Kiwanuka Lawrence Nsereko into the modern history of Uganda to expose
the unconscionable decades-long support by the United States and other Western governments of President
Yoweri Museveni, a murderous dictator who has plundered foreign aid and natural resource funds to gain
wealth and power and install and maintain similar strongmen in neighboring African nations. Epstein
demonstrates how Museveni played U.S. administrations from Reagan through Obama by selling himself as
the bulwark of democracy against Islamist extremism in East and Central Africa, building an army to
intervene in (and exacerbate) conflicts in neighboring countries on behalf of "Western interests" in the "war
on terror." Though others have written about Uganda in this context (Epstein cites particularly Ogenga
Otunnu's Crisis of Legitimacy and Political Violence in Uganda), Epstein's book is well written, well
documented, and brief enough that it should be widely read. VERDICT Essential for anyone interested in
American foreign policy as it relates to Africa.--Joel Neuberg, Santa Rosa Junior Coll. Lib., CA
* Golden, Daniel. Spy Schools: How the CIA, FBI, and Foreign Intelligence Secretly Exploit America's
Universities. Holt. Oct. 2017. 352p. notes. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781627796354. $30; ebk. ISBN
9781627796361. POL SCI
Readers unfamiliar with American and foreign intelligence agencies' (mostly) covert exploitation of
America's universities doubtless will find Pulitzer Prize winner Golden's (The Price of Admission)
journalistic expose shocking. Even worse is the apparent complicity of administrative policymakers and
more than a few presidents of academia, some with intimate ties to foreign espionage. Students on the lowincome,
high-IQ side of the sociological divide reportedly are at higher risk of encountering slick recruiters
from the CIA, FBI, NSA, and other intelligence agencies, and are courted with promises of employment and
even cash payouts. The CIA, claims Golden, has gone as far as staging academic conferences in order to
coax Iranian nuclear scientists to defect; an isolated liberal arts college in southeast Ohio exchanged faculty
with an infamous Chinese spy school. These revelations sound absurd but are public record. Such
aggressive infiltration of academia wasn't tolerated during the Cold War. Academic specialists feared losing
credibility, and putting their students in danger. Foreign governments providing valuable research loathed
the CIA and understandably had zero interest in cultivating American spies--attitudes and official postures
which crumbled after 9/11. VERDICT A sobering chronicle of intelligence agencies battling under the guise
of national security for dominion over weaponized technology and its creators.--William Grabowski,
McMechen, WV
Hawley, George. Making Sense of the Alt-Right. Columbia Univ. Sept. 2017.232p. notes. index. ISBN
9780231185127. $28; ebk. ISBN 9780231546003. POL SCI
Hawley (political science, Univ. of Alabama) attempts to explain the ideology and appeal of the white
nationalist movement referring to itself as the "alt-right" in American politics. A scholar of American
conservatism, the author was caught by surprise by the "meteoric rise" of the groups supporting this
movement and the energy it received from Donald Trump's presidential campaign. He explores the influence
of white nationalist movements and traces the intellectual roots of such organizations found in the "paleoconservative"
writings of Paul Gottfried and others. In this regard, this book can be seen as a sequel to
Hawley's Right-Wing Critics of American Conservatism, with much of its assessment revolving around the
movement's attack on traditional conservatism, as well as on the religious right. Hawley asserts that the
movement "rejects liberty and equality as ideals" and describes provocative tactics used by those such as
Richard Spencer, Mike Cernovich, and Milo Yiannopoulos. He devotes an entire chapter to its role in the
2016 election and the support of the "alt-lite"--right-wing populists who do not fully embrace extremist
positions. Hawley speculates that increasing online censorship of "alt-right" views could diminish its
effectiveness in U.S. politics but does not see the movement fading in the near future. VERDICT An
important contribution to contemporary political discourse that sheds light on a disturbingly influential
group in American politics.--Thomas Karel, Franklin & Marshall Coll. Lib., Lancaster, PA
PSYCHOLOGY
* Bargh, John. Before You Know It: The Unconscious Reasons We Do What We Do. Touchstone. Oct.
2017.352p. notes. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781501101212. $26; ebk. ISBN 9781501101236. PSYCH
Bargh, a psychology professor and director of Yale University's ACME (Automaticity in Cognition,
Motivation, and Evaluation) Laboratory explores the age-old mystery of the relationship between the
conscious and unconscious. How much of what we say, feel, and do is actually under our control? Bargh
draws on theories from behaviorism and cognitive psychology in the past, and references material ranging
from Sigmund Freud to studies of Otzi (one of the world's oldest mummies who lived around 3200 BCE)
and Seinfeld. He has spent his career analyzing the power of human unconsciousness. Although the work is
girded with years of studies and research, humor and use of personal anecdotes keep the writing accessible.
Readers will finish the final chapter (helpfully entitled "You Have Mind Control") with new understanding
of the authority of the unconscious but also armed with practical tips, based on that knowledge, to use free
will to change themselves. VERDICT Readers of Angela Duckworth's Grit: The Power of Passion and
Perseverance or Malcolm Gladwell's Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking will definitely want
to read this, as will anyone seriously interested in psychology and self-improvement. Highly recommended.-
-Elizabeth Safford, Boxford Town Lib., MA
Wicks, Robert J. Night Call: Embracing Compassion and Hope in a Troubled World. Oxford Univ. Oct.
2017. 280p. bibliog. index. ISBN 9780190669638. $24.95. PSYCH
Psychologist Wicks (emeritus, Loyola Univ. Maryland; Bounce: Living the Resilient Life; Perspective: The
Calm Within the Storm) adds another work for professionals who care for others with this explanation of
lessons on how to enjoy a more rewarding life. In his own search for ways to build a rewarding life, Wicks
learned how professional helpers and healers can facilitate their care for others with self-care, maintaining a
healthy perspective, expanding one's resiliency range, and self-renewal. His lessons are purposefully brief
and not designed to be a quick fix. They require hard work, reflection, and perseverance in order to put the
ideas into practice. They include appreciating respect and learning a sense of true presence, learning from
failure, creating refreshing internal emotional space, and more. Wicks bases his ideas on insights revealed
from the lives and writings of critical thinkers from various professions and his own clinical work. While
this work borrows from Wicks's prior books on caring for caregivers, the addition of practical tools and
techniques help form a solid foundation for enlivening the lofty principles of the work. VERDICT Highly
recommended for all helping professionals and members of critical incident stress management teams.
Essential for all libraries supporting helping professions curriculum.--Dale Farris, Groves, TX
SOCIAL SCIENCE
Carlson, Gretchen. Be Fierce: Stop Harassment and Take Your Power Back. Center Street. Oct. 2017.256p.
notes. ISBN 9781478992172. $27; ebk. ISBN 9781478992158. SOC SCI
As an accomplished violinist, former Miss America, and Fox News commentator, Carlson is no stranger to
the spotlight, but she faced one of the brightest and harshest lights when she filed a sexual harassment
lawsuit against Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes in 2015. The results--a torrent of verbal abuse from critics
and thousands of messages from women sharing their own experiences--spurred her into dedicated
advocacy for fighting against sexual harassment, with Be Fierce as her latest effort. Part call to arms and
part how-to manual, the book is slightly disorganized in its presentation, but fervent in its message. The
amount of systemic abuse detailed in the narrative can pitch toward a gloomy outlook, since the stories of
women who dared to speak out often involve unhelpful HR policies and arbitration clauses, hostile
coworkers and media, and ruined careers for the harassed. However, Carlson's drive to dispel the myths
around harassment and to offer guidance as to how speak out against it remains strong throughout.
VERDICT The combination of advice and anecdote sometimes makes for an unsteady read, but Carlson's
uncompromising passion on this issue is highly welcome.--Kathleen McCallister, Tulane Univ., New
Orleans
Maron, Marc & Brendan McDonald. Waiting for the Punch: Words To Live By from the WTF Podcast.
Flatiron: Macmillan. Oct. 2017. 416p. index. ISBN 9781250088888. $27.99; ebk. ISBN 9781250088895.
SOC SCI
Maron is a stand-up comic, actor, and author, but his excellence as host of the WTF with Marc Maron
podcast has thrust him into the spotlight. In this collection, he shares the most revealing, heartfelt moments
from that (R-rated) podcast, which has featured a long list of celebrities from many walks of life. Amy
Poehler, Patton Oswalt, Terry Gross, Bruce Springsteen, Judd Apatow, and Lena Dunham are but a few of
the many luminaries Maron has interviewed. Each chapter begins with a brief meditation on a single topic--
"Growing Up," "Sexuality," "Relationships," "Parenting," etc.--and then divides further with the name of the
podcast guest above their most raw anecdotes on that topic. Some interviewees are included several times
within each chapter, so that their anecdotes build to a suspenseful, evocative climax; the punch provided by
the last piece of the story. Shining through each one is Maron's ability to coax honest and gut-wrenching
responses from his guests, whether it's Amy Schumer discussing her sexual experiences or Barack Obama
explaining the evolution of his identity. VERDICT A must-read for Maron fans and anyone curious about
his work.--Paul Stenis, Pepperdine Univ. Lib., Malibu, CA
Nasty Women: Feminism, Resistance, and Revolution in Trump's America. Picador. Oct. 2017.256 p. ed. by
Samhita Mukhopadhyay & Kate Harding. ISBN 9781250155504. pap. $16; ebk. ISBN 9781250155511.
SOC SCI
This collection of essays edited by Mukhopadhyay (senior editorial director of culture & identities, Mic) and
Harding (Asking for It) aims to present a diverse group of voices "writing at the intersection of feminism,
identity, and personal experience" with a primary focus on the 2016 presidential election. Many pieces focus
on the authors' personal reaction to the election results, with some describing their anger, fear, and
heartbreak. The contributors, including Cheryl Strayed, Rebecca Solnit, Alicia Garza, and others represent a
variety of groups who fear being marginalized under Donald Trump owing to discrimination based on their
race, ethnic background, religion, sexual orientation, or gender nonconformity. Some essays analyze the
reasons behind Hillary Clinton's loss of the presidency and the sexism that permeated the election,
presenting historical context on the struggle for gender equality. There are also chapters on current women's
issues: health care, reproductive rights, immigration, and economic inequality. Taken together, these
writings emphasize the need for an intersectional feminist movement. The final essays present a general path
forward and the importance of building an inclusive coalition focused on active resistance. Unfortunately,
these chapters lack details on specific actions, but they broadly encourage personal and public forms of
resistance. VERDICT A thought-provoking view of the election from an array of feminist perspectives that
will be of interest to many. [See Prepub Alert, 3/27/17.]--Theresa Muraski, Univ. of Wisconsin-Stevens
Point Lib.
Parry, Richard Lloyd. Ghosts of the Tsunami: Death and Life in Japan's Disaster Zone. MCD. Oct.
2017.320p. notes. index. ISBN 9780374253974. $27; ebk. ISBN 9780374710934. SOC SCI
In March 2011, Japan was struck by multiple disasters: an earthquake, a tsunami, and a nuclear catastrophe.
Parry (People Who Eat Darkness) specifically focuses on the effects of the tsunami on the severely hit
community of Okawa. At the town's primary school, 74 children lost their lives, the most deaths out of all
the primary schools in the country. This book follows families from the day the tsunami struck to the
present; documenting the momentous lawsuit residents filed against the educational district in order to
obtain the truth of what happened at the school. Through numerous interviews with the families and an
intimate knowledge of Japanese society, Parry weaves a heart-wrenchingly bittersweet but resilient story. By
focusing on one community, he deftly displays the process of grief and bureaucratic sidestepping in addition
to the strength that individuals and families showed after the tragedy. VERDICT While other books have
focused on the science behind earthquakes and tsunamis, Parry brings a human element to the disaster,
perfectly highlighting how narrative nonfiction can shed light on an otherwise unfathomable event for any
type of reader.--Laura Hiatt, Fort Collins, CO
Scutts, Joanna. The Extra Woman: How Marjorie Hillis Led a Generation of Women To Live Alone and
Like It. Liveright: Norton. Nov. 2017.288p. notes. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781631492730. $27.95; ebk. ISBN
9781631492747. SOC SCI
In 1936, Marjorie Hillis published the best-selling Live Alone and Like It: A Guide for the Extra Woman,
the first self-help manual for single women. In her first book, Scutts examines Hillis's life from her
childhood as the daughter of a famed Presbyterian minister in Brooklyn to her journalism career as an editor
at Vogue. Scutts also covers a history of single working women, particularly in New York, and other popular
self-help and cookbooks that rode on Hillis's wave of popularity. Hillis continued to write other advice
books including Orchids on Your Budget, Com Beef and Caviar, and an unsuccessful narrative poem about
the careers of seven women, Work Ends at Nightfall. After she married at age 49, to much joking about
giving up her single status, Hillis took a hiatus until after the death of her husband when she penned two
advice books: one for newly single women, You Can Start All Over and one for older women, Keep Going
and Like It. VERDICT Although readers may be over the fad of single women lit, Scutts offers a compelling
look at Hillis, a largely forgotten but important figure.--Kate Stewart, American Folklife Ctr., Washington,
DC
Women Writing Resistance: Essays on Latin America and the Caribbean. Beacon. Oct. 2017.240p. ed. by
Jennifer Browdy. illus. bibliog. ISBN 9780807088197. pap. $18; ebk. ISBN 9780807088203. SOC SCI
This anthology edited by Browdy (comparative literature, Bard Coll. at Simon's Rock) is a collection of
prose and poetry focusing on Latin America and the Caribbean, drawing attention to the theme of suffering
throughout history. Each chapter takes readers on a journey as contributors write about a personal
experience, a person in their life, or an event that made them realize they had a story worth telling, one that
would help inform others and keep memories alive. We meet a Haitian grandmother whose wise words
about remembering the past prevents anyone from dying. There is also a series of poetry, in English and
Spanish, paying homage to Cuban poet Dulce Maria Loynaz. Ruth Behar, the chapter's author, depicts the
challenges she and other Cubans have faced owing to the unpredictability of U.S.-Cuba political relations.
Together these pieces discuss injustices that have evolved from colonization, imperialism, and globalization.
They succeed in drawing attention to the plight of others and how throughout history, the majority has
suffered to benefit the few. VERDICT A wonderful compilation of works by Latinx writers commemorating
the past and aspiring to change the future.--Susan E. Montgomery, Rollins Coll., Winter Park, FL
TRAVEL & GEOGRAPHY
The Best American Travel Writing 2017. Mariner: Houghton Harcourt. Oct. 2017.320p. ed. by Lauren
Collins. ISBN 9781328745736. pap. $15.99; ebk. ISBN 9781328742339. TRAV
Travel writing has changed. As the world becomes more accessible and interconnected, clearly defined
cultures become less distinct. Take, for example the Alaskan villagers in Saki Knafo's "Waiting on a Whale
at the End of the World," who attempt to continue their tradition of whaling, while returning home to their
smart phones and reality TV. Then there is the effort to maintain one's culture while trying to avoid
"chiefing," or selling it as a commercial commodity, as Stephanie Elizondo Griest explores in "Chiefing in
Cherokee." From quirky subcultures to the overarching Syrian refugee crisis to the sameness and differences
within cultures, religions, and politics, the essays here reshape the notion of travel writing. Even Wells
Tower's hilarious sarcastic essay of a trip gone awry addresses the issue of changes in travel and the
overcrowding in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The foreword by "Best American" series editor
Jason Wilson questions whether travel writing is dead; this compilation offers a resounding no. VERDICT
This gratifying compilation jaunts across countries, cultures, religions, and history and is admirably suited
for both armchair travelers and general readers who enjoy knowledgeable writing.--Stacy Shaw, Orange, CA
Fili, Louise & Use Apatoff. The Cognoscenti's Guide to Florence: Shop and Eat Like a Florentine, rev. ed.
Princeton Architectural. Aug. 2017.224p. photos. maps. index. ISBN 9781616896362. $15.95; ebk. ISBN
9781616896904. TRAV
This is a charming, compact guide (revised and updated edition) to family- or locally owned and operated
shops and eateries in Florence, Italy. Presented through eight walking tours of different areas of the city,
each section includes brief stories about selected businesses. The artisans featured use time-honored
techniques in both traditional and contemporary ways for their work, which ranges from wigs made for
famous clients to beautifully designed chocolates, cicogna (stork) scissors, and delicate embroidery. The
shops described are irresistible. Included in each tour is a restaurant guide with descriptions of the vibe and
meals offered as well as hours and pricing. Authors Fili and Apatoff's passion for Florence and their
connection with the artisans featured shines. Fili designs food packaging and restaurant identities, while
Apatoff is an official guide for the city, and their expertise is apparent. It is worth noting that the guide itself
is beautifully designed with vibrant photographs that truly capture the lovely, varied boutiques presented
within. VERDICT Recommended for those journeying to Florence soon, or armchair travelers who are
passionate about traditional craftsmanship, family-owned businesses and off-the-beaten-path discoveries.--
Katie Lawrence, Grand Rapids, MI
Source Citation   (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Social sciences." Library Journal, 15 Sept. 2017, p. 83+. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A504543735/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=593f6e93.
Accessed 5 Mar. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A504543735
Favilla, Emmy J.: A WORLD WITHOUT
"WHOM"
Kirkus Reviews.
(Sept. 1, 2017):
COPYRIGHT 2017 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text: 
Favilla, Emmy J. A WORLD WITHOUT "WHOM" Bloomsbury (Adult Nonfiction) $26.00 11, 14 ISBN:
978-1-63286-757-5
An irreverent grammar guru advises, "follow your heart."Favilla, copy chief of the digital news site
BuzzFeed and author of its style manual, makes her literary debut in "a book about feelings, mostly--not
about rules." Language is fluid, she rightly notes, and new venues--Twitter, Snapchat, Facebook, email,
texts, blogs--have dramatically changed the way people communicate. Take the comma splice, which is
back, writes the author, "because sometimes a pause between the two clauses...just isn't what you're going
for; forgoing punctuation to indicate a breath in between may effect, for instance, an air of exasperation or
urgency." Still, Favilla advises that before deliberately creating a comma splice--or flouting any grammatical
convention--the writer should "take the temperature of a room." Much of the author's advice has to do with
BuzzFeed's style preferences, such as capitalization, formatting numbers, the use of the subjunctive ("as an
intrinsically cynical person," she writes, "I am a fan of the subjunctive mood"), the choice between "who"
and "that," and the correct use of "whom." Some readers may not need her advice about creating pithy
headlines or avoiding sexist, racist, or otherwise exclusionary language in publications, but for anyone
perplexed by the plethora of acronyms and abbreviations, Favilla offers several appendices: the BuzzFeed
Style Guide Word List (from A-list to Ziploc); the BuzzFeed UK Style Guide Word List (from aeroplane to
yoghurt); Terms You Should Know (BRB: be right back; TL;DR: too long; didn't read; and the useful IRL:
in real life). She also imparts advice about editing for an international audience. Quizzes, illustrations, and
reproductions of sometimes-whimsical chats between Favilla and her colleagues appear throughout. For
controversial grammar, spelling, or usage topics, she often includes the results of BuzzFeed reader polls--
e.g., is it roller coaster or rollercoaster? How do you make a possessive for proper names ending in S? What
about the use of literally instead of figuratively? A lighthearted take on communicating in the digital age.
Source Citation   (MLA 8th
Edition)
"Favilla, Emmy J.: A WORLD WITHOUT 'WHOM'." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Sept. 2017. General OneFile,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A502192226/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=54a6e67a.
Accessed 5 Mar. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A502192226
A World Without Whom: The Essential
Guide to Language in the BuzzFeed Age
Publishers Weekly.
264.35 (Aug. 28, 2017): p123.
COPYRIGHT 2017 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text: 
A World Without Whom: The Essential Guide to Language in the BuzzFeed Age
Emmy J. Favilla. Bloomsbury, $26 (400p) ISBN 978-1-63286-757-5
This witty and informative guide to language and contemporary usage, written by BuzzFeed copy chief
Favilla, is a refreshingly modern antidote to the staid style guides of times past. Proceeding from "the
fundamental fact that language always evolves," Favilla describes the rationale by which she created a style
guide for her employer that would accommodate the rapid shifts in language and style rampant on the
internet (which, as she notes, was until recently capitalized) and in social media. Her subjects are wideranging
and include proper forms of address and designation in our diverse society and the internet's effect
on the use of punctuation (the usually absent period in tweets becomes an indicator of aggression when
used, for example). She sides with descriptivists who believe that "language should be defined by those who
use it" against the prescriptivists who believe "there are rules you simply must follow" and supports her
recommendations with wisdom gleaned from other style guides and screen captures of email (not "e-mail")
exchanges and web memes. Favilla's style is light and breezy, which only makes it easier to absorb the
serious import of her advice. This is the rare style manual that is as entertaining as it is instructive. Agent:
Charlotte Sheedy, Charlotte Sheedy Literary Agency. (Nov.)
Source Citation   (MLA 8th
Edition)
"A World Without Whom: The Essential Guide to Language in the BuzzFeed Age." Publishers Weekly, 28
Aug. 2017, p. 123. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A502652680/ITOF?
u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=70361ef6. Accessed 5 Mar. 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A502652680

Dziuban, Emily. "A World without 'Whom': The Essential Guide to Language in the BuzzFeed Age." Booklist, 15 Oct. 2017, p. 5+. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A512776017/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF. Accessed 5 Mar. 2018. "Social sciences." Library Journal, 15 Sept. 2017, p. 83+. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A504543735/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF. Accessed 5 Mar. 2018. "Favilla, Emmy J.: A WORLD WITHOUT 'WHOM'." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Sept. 2017. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A502192226/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF. Accessed 5 Mar. 2018. "A World Without Whom: The Essential Guide to Language in the BuzzFeed Age." Publishers Weekly, 28 Aug. 2017, p. 123. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A502652680/ITOF? u=schlager&sid=ITOF. Accessed 5 Mar. 2018.

• New York Times
  https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/07/books/review/world-without-whom-emmy-favilla.html
  Word count: 609

  I don’t actually remember a world that seriously included the word “whom” — but that’s not the point of Emmy Favilla’s provocative and jaunty romp through the dos and don’ts of writing for the internet (which gets the thumbs-up over “Internet”). As chief copy editor for BuzzFeed, Favilla’s at the sharp edge of online editing. There she was tasked with creating and maintaining a style guide that had a logical integrity (but also room for considered variation); addressed those language issues that demanded a rethink; was attractive to readers; and, of course, encouraged them to click through to the all-important articles. “A World Without ‘Whom’” tells the story behind this handbook: the decisions, and how they were reached. The fast-paced, conversational tone gives the book a Chicago-Manual-of-Style-meets-cute-cat-video (aww) feel. Once you adjust to that, though, it also provides a fascinating examination of how a modern grammar guru handles the quandaries that arise out of the dialect of social media, at a time when we are afraid — or perhaps excited — that the way we communicate online may be re-engineering our language itself.

  In fact, many of these stylistic issues are chestnuts, but they demand fresh answers for each generation. Some questions Favilla raises were being debated when I started working on the Oxford English Dictionary in 1976. We whispered in corners that “alright” might be an acceptable spelling of “all right,” and we hemmed and hawed over whether abbreviations should take points (“U.S.” or “US”), or if the possessive of “Euripides” was “Euripides’s” or just “Euripides’.” I have to confess, however, that I’ve since forgotten whether we ever thought of putting two spaces rather than one between our sentences as we typed happily away in those distant days.

  But language is very much part of the culture of its day. Back when we were still living in the shadow of the postwar era, the rules were stricter and more religiously observed; you weren’t supposed to challenge time-honored authority. But the internet was a product of that era, and of a generation that demanded a new order (or disorder). Breaking the rules was part of the game, and this book witnesses the latest wave of rule-breakers reaching their own adaptation of our changing lexicon. Favilla introduces us to the online punctuation police (“comma panic,” vanity capitalization), helps us read between the lines in our inboxes (“the 48 most annoying ways to start off an email”) and steers us through the etymological minefield that is modern digital communication (“42 ways to type laughter”). She accommodates variation with alacrity, but generally advises consistency. In fact, she may be closer to the mainstream than she realizes.

  In some parts the book is a guide for the initiated, in others one for the outsider who is surprised to have landed in the online world. Despite her self-deprecation (she lives in perennial fear of “everyone in my office and my life discovering that I am a fraud”), Favilla is admirably suited to the “accidental livelihood” that has come her way at a fast-paced, high-energy digital news organization. Once she acclimates to this new speed, she is well in command of the stylistic questions she encounters in her daily ride through BuzzFeed text. Although her research involves typing questions into Google and firing microbrief questions to her editing team and friends (“glueing or gluing … both look terrible but are acceptable per MW,” the in-group abbreviation for “Merriam Webster”), Favilla always balances the results against the established style manuals, sometimes finding them deficient and sometimes not. As her own enthusiastic interoffice emails often end, “Bests.”

• Spectrum Culture
  http://spectrumculture.com/2017/12/03/world-without-emmy-j-favilla-book-review/
  Word count: 751

  ClickHole is a website owned by The Onion that’s designed to satirize clickbait sites like Upworthy and BuzzFeed. Its tagline— “Because all content deserves to go viral” —is perhaps a bit too on-the-nose, but ClickHole is nonetheless saved by absurdist quizzes like “Are You in a Cult or an Off-Broadway Production of ‘Jersey Boys’?”

  Of course, the problem with satire is that it can sometimes veer too close to reality. Sam Parker of The Guardian noted shortly after its launch that ClickHole’s “aims have started to look a little muddied” and wondered if the site is “a satire of clickbait, or good satire done as clickbait?” With BuzzFeed in particular he argued, “Part of the problem with making fun of [it] is that the site is already extremely self-aware as it is.” To wit: a recent quiz on BuzzFeed claimed “If You Can Score 10/12 on This Quiz about Random Facts, You’re a Genius,” and one of the questions asks what country Rihanna is from. That’s pretty silly and self-aware, and also pretty hard to make fun of.

  The same is (mostly) true of a style manual borne from BuzzFeed, A World Without “Whom”: The Essential Guide to Language in the BuzzFeed Age. Written by the site’s global copy chief Emmy J. Favilla, AWWW is as much a textbook on English usage and mechanics, albeit sometimes satirically so, as it is a recent historical work that traces the evolution of language in the internet era.

  Among handy information found in the book is a section on slang phrases that come from the internet (like “all the things” and “I can’t even”), an argument for the direct address comma in the modern age (i.e. “Let’s eat children” vs “Let’s eat, children”) and, in typical BF fashion, 42 different ways to express e-laughter and their respective meanings. And, because Favilla knows her audience, the book is peppered with humorous asides, as when she describes “her’s” as “so painful to type that I need to take a quick walk to center myself again. BRB. Okay, back!” Her writing style allows this to be a breezy read, and rightly so.

  Where Favilla gets into trouble is when she blurs the line between satire and straight-faced writing, and between taking a position versus not taking one. Favilla wonders in the introduction how anyone can “in good conscience create blanket rules for something as fluid, as personal, and alive as language.” She adds, “Nearly everything about the way words are strung together is open to interpretation,” and therefore to declare “a sentence structure ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ is a move that’s often subjective.” Yet, she proceeds to use those very “blanket rules” to govern how she wrote an entire book.

  Throughout AWWW, she argues that a writer should “follow your heart” (or some variation) when it comes to usage while also maintaining certainties in some areas. For example, a section of the chapter called “How Social Media Has Changed the Game” discusses the terms for adding and subtracting friends on Facebook. Of the latter she declares, “And yes, it’s unfriending rather than defriending or de-friending [because that is] what people actually say,” but then walks it back with the next sentence: “(But, hey, if you say defriending, then use that instead: What do I care?)”. Favilla spends a large chunk of the book carefully balancing on an ouroboros-shaped fence between “This is a free country” and “Since it’s what Merriam-Webster advises,” sometimes within the same chapter, and even the same page. To assert without being assertive is an odd position to take, even for BuzzFeed.

  Whether this is more of that self-awareness Parker observed is difficult to say. It’d make AWWW’s Möbius-strip-logic easier to swallow if it were—that much is clear—because there’s a highly useful text here about the intersection of grammar and cultural progression, but it’s obscured behind wishy-washy self-contradiction. Ultimately, it seems that Favilla wants her book to be both a guide and a satire to guides. However, because there’s no real position staked out due to muddied waters, the book reads less as satire than a lack of focus. You can’t take one step forward followed by one step back and then call that satirizing progress. What really happened was simply that you didn’t move, either yourself or your audience.

Word Count