EDITOR'S NOTE: For a comprehensive library resource that brings the best general and academic reference sites together in one place, go to:
www.libraryspot.com
MEDICINE
CAMPBELL’S UROLOGY. In the 8th Edition.Patrick C. Walsh. Alan B. Retik. E. Darracott Vaughan Jr. Alan J. Wein. W.B. Saunders. Touted as the "Bible of Urology" by many a reviewer since it was initially published in 1954-- there is a reason this text is held in such high regard. Basically, everything a physician needs to know about Urologic disease is contained in these pages, the information presented in a series of chapters that build textbooks within textbooks - comprehensive and impeccably detailed, sewing together the leading voices on the subject.
In this four-volume set, readers will find full analysis of both adult and pediatric urology - developing its analysis (of Urologic disease) in aspects related to both diagnosis and treatment. It is simply impossible to note highlights here, since the book as a whole constitutes a benchmark in academic medical publishing. Volume 1 addresses the foundational basics, addressing the anatomy of the Urologic systems, including the Kidneys, Ureters and Genitalia. At this point begins the real journey into the subject, as full and in depth analysis of the myriad layers of the Urinary Tract moves into the identification and treatment of the primary Urologic afflictions (Volumes 1 through 4).
As previously noted, the authors’ analysis is not limited to adult disease. Instead, physicians will find that Pediatric Urologic dysfunction is also reviewed, including well-developed data on evaluating Pediatric Urologic patients and treating Renal disease in children.
Obviously, the fact that Campbell’s has been around for five decades evidences how invaluable this text has become to the medical community. Aside from its value to practicing physicians, Professors of Medicine have used the book as a teaching tool to help residents begin to explore the sub-specialty of Urology. The 8th edition should only continue the tradition of using Meredith Campbell’s treatise to instruct aspiring physicians.
In the end, it does not seem plausible that a Urologist would not want have Campbell’s Urology in their office as a definitive reference. Also recommended to Internists and physicians with family practices as a reference tool (Urologic disorders are common maladies and HMOs often limit the ability of the patient to seek specialty care; thus, family doctors are being called upon to treat more and more Urologic disease). Also recommended to all Health Science libraries as a general reference text.
Note:
Campbell’s is also available in CD-ROM applicable to both Windows and Macintosh systems. The CD contains the full text of the four volume set, additional images, plus the second edition of the Campbell’s Urology Study Guide (see our review of the Study Guide in the Library Advisory on the Industry News Page).
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MALE AND FEMALE SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION. Allen D. Seftel. Associate Editors: Harin Padma-Nathan. Chris G. McMahon. Francois Giuliano. Stanley E. Althof. Mosby.
Male and Female Sexual Dysfunction is a text marked by many revolutionary features, including cutting-edge analysis of new research in the field of female sexual dysfunction (and appropriate treatments). In light of the attention focused on the advent of Viagra to treat impotency, sexual dysfunction is no longer a topic that must remain hidden from view. Instead, patients are more comfortable talking to their physicians about their problems and ways to deal with them.
Accordingly, Mr. Seftel’s has written a book to assist the clinician with diagnosis and treatment plans -- his text truly comprehensive in scope, written in a succinct and economical style, always careful never to lose sight of the fact that doctors need information in a clear and straight forward manner (noting that) "...sexual medicine has matured into an almost full-fledged subspecialty of the medical sciences...which does not belong to either sex or to one specialty area of medicine It deals with one of the most common international human maladies..." (From Ira D. Sharlip’s Foreword).
Male/Female covers all facets of sexual dysfunction as they relate to both sexes, with well-developed chapters on "Prostate Cancer and Erectile Dysfunction" and Peyronie’s Disease. As previously noted, the book does not ignore female dysfunction as many of its predecessors have; instead, women’s issues are addressed in detail, with an emphasis on treatment.
Recommended for urologists, internists and primary care physicians as an in-office reference manual. Should also be considered as a class text by instructors in advanced urology programs because of its detailed analysis of the subject matter - the writing clear, concise and conducive to addressing the focus of the student. Further recommended to Health Science libraries as a general reference text.
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Of Related Interest
PELVIC FLOOR DISORDERS. Alain P. Bourcier, PT. Edward J. McGuire, MD. Paul Abrams, MD. Elsevier/Saunders. Textbook that serves as the authoritative voice on afflictions of the pelvic floor, detailing the subject from multiple angles, with comment offered from urologists, specialized physical therapists, gynecologists and nurses coming together to create a thorough analysis of all facets of this complex and often misunderstood problem. Includes comprehensive coverage of all pelvic floor disorders (damage from childbirth, urinary incontinence in the elderly patient, post-prostatectomy incontinence, pediatric bedwetting, male/female sexual dysfunction, among several others). What’s really best about Pelvic is that it includes the basics -- providing an overview of how the pelvic floor system works before exploring the myriad ways it can malfunction. By doing this, the authors stress the fact that a physician cannot competently address treatment unless he firsts understands the way this complex system of muscles is meant to function. Well-developed chapters provide direction on both diagnosis and treatment -- with the emphasis on long-term management of symptoms.
Recommended for all urologists and nurse practitioners who deal with patients presenting with pelvic floor disorders. Further recommended to all Health Science libraries as a general reference text.
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PROSTATE CANCER UNDERSTANDING. Fernand Labrie. Michael Koutsilieris. Paschalidis Medial Publications (A McGraw-Hill Professional Book). This new text addresses the affliction of prostate cancer in its entirety - -a comprehensive study of a disease that is attacking men more and more frequently today. The authors have written Prostate Cancer in a classical academic style, outlining the way this type of cancer spreads and the best ways for a physician to treat the patient after the onset of disease. However, Labrie and Koutsilieris don’t stop there; instead, they expend a great deal of effort discussing the fact that the best treatment option for this killer disease is in early detection of the cancer cells: if a doctor can begin to treat the disease before the tumor takes deep root and spreads, then the prognosis becomes more positive for the patient. As the authors point out, it is only through screening and early treatment that medicine can hope to improve the survival rate for those who fall sick with this type of cancer. In addition to these topics, prostate cancer susceptibility genes are discussed, data which can help urologists and other internists better understand the factors that make certain men more likely to present with malignancy. Well-written and impeccably researched, this is a magnificent textbook that can serve the student and practicing physician equally well. In the end, Prostate Cancer functions as both a teaching text and a treatment manual - the authors careful not to "talk down" to their readers, but instead, presenting information in an even-handed and deeply detailed manner.
As noted, the book is recommended as a teaching text in the fields of urology and urologic oncology. Further recommended as a manual for the internist or urologist to use in-office in the course of patient examinations. Finally, would be a welcome addition to all Health Science libraries as a general reference text.
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HANDBOOK OF OBESITY. George A. Bray. Claude Bouchard. Marcel Dekker. Today, more than ever, people are obsessed with their weight and how they look. The topic is foremost in everybody’s mind, and there has even been litigation in recent years over weight discrimination related to the work place.
We are simply an obsessed culture - obsessed with being fat, yet still unable to control our eating patterns.
Handbook Of Obesity by George Bray and Claude Bouchard compiles the latest information on the subject of treating obesity and lowering patient risk factors created by being over weight. The text focuses on new ways that doctors are able to treat this ever-growing problem (including drug therapies and exercise regimens designed to prevent obesity):
"Behavioral strategies help to reinforce changes in diet and physical activity. Without new habits, long term weight reduction is unlikely to succeed. Most people unfortunately return to baseline weight without continued behavior modification. Learning how to include behavior modification in weight reduction therapy is essential. Behavior therapy is designed to permanently alter eating and activity habits."
(Page- 127)
This study peers at the problem of obesity from myriad perspectives, examining the latest research in the field so that physicians can better manage the obese patient. However, the issue of weight gain is not a simple, cut-and-dried problem. As the authors note, there are many social stigmas which accompany the condition, and these have to be carefully assessed in conjunction with the way the doctor addresses treatment. Bray and Bouchard are careful not to flee from these issues, instead discussing themin relation to their medical analysis.
All facets of the condition of obesity are investigated, including patient evaluation, prevention, and treatment options. To reiterate, the authors do a nice job in dissecting the fact that this problem is both a medical and social one that requires careful consideration on the part of the health care professionalbefore treatment ensues.
Recommended for all primary care physicians as an in-office reference, providing deep insights into how doctors might deal with over-weight patients. Should also be considered as a possible teaching text for dietitians and medical students studying diabetes and in courses that deal with obesity treatment and prevention.
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SOME OF THE BEST IN NEW MEDICAL TEXTS
BREAST IMAGING: THE REQUISITES. Second Edition. Debra Ikeda. Mosby/Elsevier. New text by Debra Ikeda (Associate Professor Of Radiology at Stanford University) clearly outlines the basics on how to conduct and interpret diagnostic breast images. Ikeda’s study is truly in depth, as it covers the whole topic through illustration and careful discussion. The text includes coverage of the technology used to record images of the breast and investigation of the latest equipment used by radiologists, plus comprehensive dissertation on how to distinguish between various breast abnormalities (cancer masses, calcifications, etc.). Medical professionals will also be presented information on how to approach cancer (from diagnosis of tumor through the treatment phase). Although the natural audience for this text is Radiology Residents (and practicing Radiologists), it extends well beyond these boundaries: internists, all women’s health practitioners and primary care physicians will be well-served by Ikeda’s research, since the threat of breast cancer is one of the primary reasons many women under age fifty seek health counsel. As Breast Imaging reminds us -- the key to treatment of breast tumors is in early detection and in the ability of the radiologist to recognize potential problems. To this end, Ikeda offers vital direction.
Recommended as a teaching text in radiology programs; in addition highly recommended to Health Science libraries as a reference.
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CARDIAC PACEMAKERS STEP BY STEP. S. Serge Barold. Roland X. Stroobandt. Alfons F. Sinnaeve. Blackwell Futura. The hard-core traditional medical community may resent this text -- because of its simplified design (and these oh-so-creative graphics!) that strive to teach the basics of cardiac pacing to those new to the field. However, the charm of this text is in its readability and in the smooth and quick-moving approach it employs. Why does medicine need be dull and stale and stagnate? The authors here say it doesn’t - and they’ve come up with a fresh perspective. Wonderful full-color diagrams and illustrations take the reader ‘step-by-step’ through the foundations of heart pacing, teaching the subject from its basic beginnings - the idea here is to take a doctor with foundational knowledge of electrocardiography and expand on that knowledge so the non-cardiologist can competently care for patients with pacemakers. Well-designed, well-written, with astute use of diagrams to illustrate all written analysis, Cardiac covers many topics (including the function of DDD pacemakers and the diagnosis of tachycardias).
Recommended as a teaching text for advanced medical students who are proceeding to a clerkship in cardiology. Also recommended to Health Science libraries as general reference text.
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APPLIED BIOPHARMACEUTICS AND PHARMACOKINETICS. Leon Shargel. Susanna Wu-Pong. Andrew B.C. Yu. McGraw-Hill. Hallmark text now its 5th edition teaches the student of pharmacology about the way drugs impact the body through absorption, distribution and elimination, thus allowing proper dosing regimens to be developed. As we all should know, the ability of doctors to prescribe a wide array of drugs to the sick has revolutionized the practice of medicine during the last century. Still, most people don’t appreciate just what these advancements in treatment have entailed: without in depth research on just how much medicine a typical patient can tolerate, over-dose would occur (along with grave complications). Simply, it is not enough to have the drugs available to prescribe. Instead, the magic is in knowing how to utilize them. And it is only through repeated analysis/testing that this information can be obtained. Applied is a foundational text on the subject, covering all aspects of biopharmaceutics and pharmacokinetics, outlining the methodology used to test the full effects of different chemical compounds on the human body (so that drug therapies can be employed safely and with maximum efficiency). This edition contains vital information on the physiologic factors as they relate to drug absorption. Moreover, it features "Learning Questions" at the end of the chapters to give students the immediate opportunity to test their retention of the subject matter.
Recommended as a teaching text in the Pharmaceutical Sciences. Further recommended to all Health Sciences Libraries as a general reference text.
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ATLAS OF AESTHETIC FACE AND NECK SURGERY. Gregory LaTrenta. M.D. W.B. Saunders. This atlas provides a detailed over view of how surgeons should approach procedures of the head and neck. During a time when elective plastic surgeries are becoming more and more common place, this manual illuminates how the physician can best approach these sometimes difficult cases. Moreover, Face and Neck strives to look beyond the instant of knife cutting skin; instead, it expertly guides the surgeon on ways to approach and manage the complicated proposal of invading the delicate tissues that comprise the human face, neck and eye.
What’s best about this atlas is the way LaTrenta presents his material: well-organized chapters come complete with concluding summaries that offer the physician clearly delineated reference points. Information is further augmented by full-color illustrations that demonstrate how procedures are performed (rather than merely "lecturing" on paper). This aspect of Face and Neck is quite important because it fosters an immediate interaction between writer and reader - an in depth "hands on" demonstration of the various approaches to facial and head surgeries.
This book is written (and recommended) for the practicing plastic surgeon and for other experts dealing with treatment of the head and face. It would also prove useful to Health Science libraries as a general reference text. However, because the book is so specific, it is not recommended as a general classroom text: these outlines presuppose the reader has some mastery of a subject matter which goes beyond the skill level of the medical student.
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MEDICINE. John Axford. Chris O’Callaghan. Blackwell Publishing. Medicine marks a truly new and original concept in the world of Medical publishing: This is a book that has been partially formulated by medical students and junior doctors in collaboration with two distinguished physicians from the UK. The idea here is to offer students the information they need in a format that is conducive to the way in which they learn.
The result is a marvelous and in depth study of medicine. By melding science with clinical application, Axford and O’Callaghan begin to gradually introduce the student to the things they will encounter as doctors. Obviously, it’s not enough for a doctor to merely understand a concept, but instead, he must be able to take this understanding (of medicine) and apply it to the unique complexities of the human body:
"If you finish medical school without understanding the basics of medicine, then you will be in trouble. However, learning small print detail about a range of topics will seldom be of much use in your qualifying examinations or in clinical practise[...]The body of medical knowledge increases every day, but the capacity of the human brain does not. Therefore, we believe that it is essential to present medicine in a way that is comprehensive, but also concise and free of irrelevant details...."
(From the Introduction)
And this is exactly what the authors have produced: a text that is remarkably easy to use, promoting the ability of the student to retain what he is learning (rather than just remembering random facts in order to pass a certification exam). Axford and O’Callaghan have done a magnificent job in covering a broad range of material, writing in clear and vibrant prose - outlining data so as to facilitate deep understanding.
Topics covered include all the major organ systems, with consideration given to the basic structures and functions of each. From this point, the fledgling doctor is advised on how to address patient needs, with the importance of thorough clinical examination stressed (while the art of diagnosis and disease management are also made familiar to the student). Further, the"At a Glance" boxes allow students to immediately test their knowledge of a subject area - a feature that provides concrete direction on how they should be interpreting the course material.
As a textbook, Medicine is written for the way that the typical student approaches the classroom. Because of this, it is recommended as a teaching text/resource guide for the advanced medical student, resident and fellow. Also would be useful to the practicing physician as an in-office research tool to augment patient care.
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A PRACTICAL APPROACH TO CARDIAC ANESTHESIA. Frederick A. Hensley. Donald E. Martin. Glenn P. Gravlee. Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins. This manual is meant for the practicing anesthesiologist, nurse anesthetist, cardiologist and cardiac surgeon, surveying practical methods of anesthesia as they relate to the cardiac patient. Well-written and expertly detailed, the third edition of Practical Cardiac provides medical scientists with a first-rate reference guide that has been designed to be used - in the office and in the operating room. Simply, this text is about bringing information to the doctor so that he can apply it to the patient in the direct course of treatment.
There are many outstanding features which separate Practical Cardiac from other similar handbooks, but it’s best feature is in its outline format, a feature that allows the reader to answer questions quickly and logically and thoroughly - an in depth analysis of a complex subject matter in a simple to use package.
In the world of medicine, the idea of anesthesia isn’t very glamorous -- not when it’s compared to the work of cardiac surgeons whose very hands nurse the diseased heart back to health. However, the way that a patient is anesthetized is paramount to whether they will survive surgery. Accordingly, Practical Cardiac investigates these concepts in deep detail, examining how the anesthesiologist should approach the management of different kinds cardiac patients, exploring treatment options from converse angles. Readers will be enriched on many different levels, by information on pain management and by the very useful data that’s provided on new drugs now being used on cardiac-compromised individuals. Analysis of cardiac transplantation, circulatory support and organ preservation is also offered, with smart use of diagrams and graphs to support the authors’ point of view.
We would recommend this manual to all physicians involved in surgically treating cardiac patients. Moreover, it is a logical choice as a teaching text in the field, for it affords anesthesiology students a comprehensive and easy to use tool that brings the most up-to-date information to the classroom (and to the operating room). Would be further recommended to all Health Science libraries as a general reference text.
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or go to Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins.
FIRST EXPOSURE: EMERGENCY MEDICINE CLERKSHIP. Lance H. Hoffman. Richard A. Walker. Michael C. Wadman. Christopher C. Caudill II. Kristine L. Bott. McGraw-Hill. Just released, this handy manual has been written for advanced medical students and junior residents - a tool to prepare these fledgling doctors to competently address a rotation through the Emergency Department. Co-written by five esteemed Emergency physicians, First Exposure is meant to be a companion for the student/young doctor during their month-long tour of the ER. Rather than focus on scientific exploration into disease and acute care, this book focuses on clinical concepts - the idea here is to teach medical students how to evaluate symptoms and gauge how sick the person on the table is; only after this is done can they then begin to address treatment options. Obviously, because of the fast pace of emergency-room medicine, doctors must be able to quickly evaluate patients through careful examination of body and symptom pattern and then make decisions on a proper course of therapy:
"Emergency medicine differs from many other specialties in the degree of emphasis placed on patient disposition. The majority of the evaluation centers around determining whether the patient should be admitted to the hospital or discharged safely with outpatient follow-up. Often, the goal for the emergency room physician is not to arrive at a specific diagnosis but instead to determine the likelihood of serious illness...At the very least, the practitioner should have a good sense for whether or not the patient will need to be admitted after the initial history and physical examination, prior to performing any further studies."
-Page 5
First Exposure is a well-organized and reader friendly - a definitive textbook on emergency room medicine. Divided into four chapters (Introductory Information, Procedures, Chief Complaints and Selected Topics), it takes the student step-by-step through a stint in the ER: covering everything from the concept of emergency medicine to outlines of basic diagnostic strategies, it’s all about helping young doctors to identify dangerous symptoms and move toward proper and expedited treatment. Each chapter here is well diagrammed and the information is presented in clear and cogent form -- the student will be able to logically follow these instructions and then apply them to the treating room.
In the end, First Exposure is not so much a study guide to be read in a library as it is a pocket companion meant to be carried and referred to daily as the ER doctor moves from one patient to the next. Priced at less then $35, this is an absolute prerequisite for any medical student (not only those contemplating careers as emergency specialists), for it covers emergency diagnosis from a clinical perspective as well as any text we’ve seen this year.
Also recommended to Health Science Libraries as a general reference text.
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HANDBOOK OF THE VULNERABLE PLAQUE. Ron Waksman and Patrick W. Serruys. Taylor and Francis. This ground-breaking handbook addresses the new research that has been done in the field of cardiology regarding "vulnerable plaque." For generations, doctors had believed that heart attack and stroke were by-products of plaque build-up along an artery wall snaking its way through the heart or brain. It was believed that over time this fatty build-up would clog arteries and obstruct blood flow, ultimately starving the body for oxygenated blood, thus causing either a brain or heart attack. However, new research has shown that this phenomenon is responsible for only 30% of all heart attacks. Now, researchers think "vulnerable plaque" is just as much a threat to heart health. Vulnerable Plaque is a type of build-up caused by several reactions within the body of a cell (reactions that cause inflammation, fat absorption and clotting). Over time and when combined with other factors such as hypertension, the outer "shell" of this distinct type of plaque can rupture and spill into the blood stream, causing a clot to form and shut down an artery; the probable result is heart attack and tissue death.
Handbook offers a definitive study of this phenomenon, offering the cardiologist insight into how to evaluate heart-sick patients and determine if vulnerable plaque is indeed at the core of their disease. Waksman and Serruys have written a book that is not so much a student text but instead a manual designed for the practicing physician to use in the course of evaluating and treating patients who present with such complicating factors. Accordingly, the authors have provided a "road-map" of sorts, first defining vulnerable plaque and its construction/origins, and then moving into how it is detected and what types of patients are likely to present with this type of condition. The goal of the writers (and they have attained it beautifully) is to illuminate a relatively new concept in the world of cardiology and then take the physician through identification and treatment options.
Recommended for all cardiologists and internists who treat patients with heart disease (and those who are at high risk for heart disease). Also recommended to Health Science libraries as a reference text in cardiology. As previously noted, this material is written more for the practicing physician than the medical student.
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CANCER (Principles and Practice of Oncology). In Two Volumes. Vincent T. De Vita, Jr. Samuel Hellman. Steven A. Rosenberg. Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins. This volume is known throughout the world as the definitive resource on the treatment of cancer. In its current sixth edition, it marks the finest reference text on oncology currently available to both physicians and classroom instructors. This textbook is comprehensive in scope and covers all points of the disease, addressing the affliction of cancer from a deeply detailed molecular perspective; from this point, the authors are able to show how advances in the investigation of molecular biology and cancer can assist the clinician in diagnosis and treatment approaches.
There are many note worthy things about this volume, but what really sets it apart from other books in the field is the way De Vita, Hellman and Rosenberg are careful to address cutting edge topics like cancer vaccines and prevention - the idea here is to note that the physician’s role is not only to treat the sick but to also take definite steps to avoid the incidence of disease altogether. The inclusion of these topics cannot be under-stated, as most textbooks of this kind tend to omit such information. In addition, Cancer includes analysis of cancer management, molecular pathology, cancer and genetics, drug therapy and symptom relief. Well- written and meticulously edited, this book is simply the authority on the topic of oncology.
Recommended to all cancer specialists. Also for internists who treat patients at high risk for the development of cancer. Further recommended for all Health Science libraries as a general reference text.
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or go to Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins.
DELMAR’S FUNDAMENTAL AND ADVANCED NURSING SKILLS. Gaylene Altman. Delmar Thomson Learning. As the title implies, this text examines basic nursing skills and how they build into the ability to complete advanced procedures. Delmar’s Fundamental is note-worthy because it is centered around the day-to-day nursing process: rather than just serving as a classroom tool, the book can be used by nurses in the throes of caring for sick patients - giving the reader immediate and practical value.
In today’s world of medical care, the nurse’s role has expanded greatly. Today, nurses are expected to be able to know and do more, while taking care of many more patients. Accordingly, the stresses which affect their working environments have multiplied. Given these changes in working conditions, nurses must be better prepared to perform their duties and care for the sick.
And that’s where Delmar’s Fundamental comes into play.
In its second edition, the text offers step-by-step instruction for nurses in physical assessment/examination, safety and infection control, patient care, basic care, medication administration, nutrition, elimination, oxygenation, circulation, wound care, immobilization/ support and special procedures as related to nursing care. Within these topics area, Altman (who is an RN and Ph.D. from the University of Washington) expertly augments the basic material by discussing issues such as when a nurse should and shouldn’t delegate tasks to an unlicensed aide. This is very important information because of the legal ramifications which could result from the wrong decision (see: Library Advisory on Industry News Page for a review of the Nurse Practitioner’s Legal Reference). In addition, there is also a nice section on the typical errors nurses make and how these gaffes can be avoided.
Recommended to all nurses as a day-to-day reference. Appropriate as a teaching text for its clarity and exhaustive coverage of the topic areas. Further recommended to all college and university libraries with nursing programs as a general reference text.
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COMPREHENSIVE MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY: A COMPETENCY BASED APPROACH. Betty Davis Jones. Delmar/Thomson. This souped-up medical dictionary provides an in depth introduction to medical terminology, designed to familiarize the novice with the systems of the human body, thus preparing him to move into more advanced medical science courses.
However, readers shouldn’t be misled, for this is much more than just a glossary of medical terminology. Instead, Jones has done a remarkable job in creating a dictionary that also can be utilized as an tool in the classroom, as one special segment of the text shows specifically how combining word elements creates medical terms. Accordingly, each time a new word is introduced to the reader its components are broken down to show its root.
The design of the text - by body system and specialty area of practice - is beneficial to the young student in that it allows them to learn one system at a time without skipping around from organ to organ. This stylistic trait promotes a more complete understanding of the systems of the human body, encouraging students to note how each of these systems fit together and work in complete balance. Moreover, Jones has developed a special "Do This/Say It" chapter which forces the student to apply what’s been learned before moving to new material. This second edition also includes a section on gerontology meant to familiarize the young student with the unique problems that confront the elderly patient.
Recommended as a teaching text in all nursing courses and in any under-graduate course that begins the foundation for medical school. Further recommended to all college-level and public sector libraries as a general reference text.
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MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE. Lee W. Riley. American Society For Microbiology. A unique and revolutionary textbook, Molecular Epidemiology presents information on ways molecular biology can be used to confront the incidence and the spread of infectious disease.
The way that bacteria multiply and the ease with which infectious disease spreads has always been difficult for the health care researcher to understand. And with the new century comes a new set of challenges: SARS, HIV, the global threat of biological weapons as war tools. As the Anthrax scare in the autumn of 2001 proves, the country as a whole is susceptible to mass infection (and the death and destruction that such infection brings). Accordingly, this text has been written to show scientists how they might better approach unlocking the mysteries of how infectious organisms take over the community of a cell and then spread.
In short, Molecular Epidemiology sews together the basic concepts of epidemiology with the vocabulary of molecular biology, in turn melding these two specialties so that clinicians can more efficiently investigate disease. From this unique perspective, scientists with varied and distinct backgrounds have now been presented with a reference point from which they can begin their work. Stylistically, the book is written in a standard scientific format. First, various techniques of molecular biology are explored in detail. Once this foundation has been laid, the idea of disease is addressed, with an eye toward identifying and distinguishing the different ways that infectious organisms spread.
Recommended as a teaching text in the both the fields of molecular biology and epidemiology for its logic and clear organization. Would further be of value to all Health Science libraries as a general reference text. Would not be appropriate for the internist or primary care physician with an office practice, as this text looks at the spread of disease from a researcher’s point of view and is meant for the study of the subject matter from that perspective.
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ELSEVIER HEALTH SCIENCE
As the 2004 publishing season graduates into its third quarter, Elsevier continues its assault on the medical science market with a bevy of outstanding titles:
SAUNDERS MANUAL OF CRITICAL CARE. PDA SOFTWARE. James A. Kruse. Mitchell P. Fink. Richard W. Carlson. W.B. Saunders. This converts the Saunders Manual Of Critical Care to software, thus allowing physicians and nurses in the ICU to consult vital information in the course of treating critically ill patients. The Saunders Manual is renown as a comprehensive catalog of the most common conditions found in patients who present to the Intensive Care Unit. The software version of the manual omits nothing from the printed pages, and even adds some features. Readers will find over 200 chapters of analysis, formatted by organ system, a quick and easy one-stop electronic reference that saves doctors critical time in addressing questions. Topics covered include surgery, trauma, and post-op care, to name but a few. A wonderfully rich pharmacology chapter documents many of the drugs used in ICU wings, with full analysis on side effects, dosing and key action. The software also comes with a built-in calculator that is able to perform 39 different computations -- yet another unique feature to this product that has been designed to save doctors research time, in turn, giving them a better opportunity to save lives.
Recommended to hospitals big and small for use as an ICU supplement. Priced at only $85, this is truly a bargain and will likely pay for itself many times each day.
THE SABISTON TEXTBOOK OF SURGERY: THE BIOLOGICAL BASIS OF MODERN SURGICAL PRACTICE. Courtney M. Townsend. R. Daniel Beauchamp. B. Mark Evers. Kenneth L. Mattox. W.B. Saunders. 17th edition of a text first published in 1936. Known throughout the medical world as the definitive source on surgery, Sabiston covers the principles of surgical technique in a well-written and clear style, guiding surgeons with panache and expertise. The new edition has many new and interesting additions, including analysis of the latest techniques used in the operating room and a CD-ROM comprised of over 2,000 illustrations (and supplements) designed to provide continuing education to the experienced surgeon. There is A LOT of new information here: material on robotics; comment on surgery of the elderly, obese, pregnant and immunosuppressed; and remarks on the use of ultrasound in the operating room give new relevance to this grandfatherly textbook. Medical instructors will note that the data on the CD ROM is easily downloadable to PowerPoint, allowing the information to be used as a classroom tool.
Recommended to surgeons in all sub-specialty areas. Further recommended for use as a classroom text for courses that review the role of surgery in medical care. Would be a welcome addition to any Health Science library as a general reference text.
MASSACHUSETTS EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY ILLUSTRATED MANUAL OF OPHTHALMOLOGY. Peter K. Kaiser. Neil Friedman. Roberto Pineda II. W.B. Saunders. Written in an atlas format that allows for quick reference, Massachusetts Eye provides direction for the ophthalmologist on diagnosis and treatment of a variety of the most prevalent eye disorders. For each malady discussed, the authors provide the physician with comprehensive analysis, including definition, etiology, common symptoms, methods of diagnosis, course of treatment, prognosis and patient management. The new edition is noteworthy because it provides dissertation on advancements in treatment (along with better illustrations/graphics to better guide the doctor and his staff). A chapter on medication is also featured in this second edition, presenting recommendations for drug treatment by condition (with important guidance on dosing). The simple atlas design encourages this book to be used in the office by the physician in the course of patient care - a reference text for daily use that won’t rot away in obscurity on the shelf.
Recommended to all eye care specialists for the reasons cited. Further recommended to Health Science libraries at institutions with Optometry programs.
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or go to http://www.us.elsevierhealth.com
ACADEMIC BOOK NEWS
JOHN WILEY AUTHOR RECEIVES AWARD
Dr. Paras Prasad, who publishes with John Wiley and Sons, has recently been awarded the 2004 Morley Medal by the Cleveland section of the American Chemical Society. The Morley Medal is awarded annually to a chemist located in the Cleveland, Ohio area for major contributions to the sciences.
"Professor Prasad's research contributions are internationally recognized as outstanding," says Dr. Darla Henderson, Senior Editor at Wiley. "His two recent Wiley books, 'Nanophotonics' and 'Introduction to Biophotonics,' coupled with his many lectures around the globe, pave the way for growth and new knowledge in these areas of science."
In addition to his full-length book manuscripts, Prasad has published more than 450 scientific papers, while holding positions in the departments of chemistry, physics, medicine, and electrical engineering at the State University of New York at Buffalo (UB). Prasad, who was presented a Guggenheim Fellowship and the Excellence in the Pursuit of Knowledge Award from the State University of New York Chancellor Robert L. King in 1997, is also the founder and executive director of UB's Institute for Lasers, Photonics, and Biophontonics.
Prasad's books include:
"Nanophotonics" (Wiley; March 2004)
"Introduction to Biophotonics" (Wiley; April 2003)
"Introduction to Nonlinear Optical Effects in Molecules
and Polymers" (Wiley; January 1991)
John Wiley and Sons was founded in 1807, and it continues to provide scientific, technical, and medical journals, encyclopedias, books, and on-line products to the academic and scientific communities. Wiley has publishing, marketing, and distribution centers in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Access the Wiley site at www.wiley.com.
To order all medical science titles, go tobooksmd.com. If you don't find product there, searchamazon.com.
GEOLOGY/BIOLOGY
IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE. Andrew Parker. Basic Books. This new text marks a crossover in educational publishing. Although billed as a science text, this material also touches on theories of anthropology, biology and geology in its discussions of the Cambrian Explosion - this point in time when the number of life forms ballooned from three to thirty-eight, literally changing the face of the world.
Andrew Parker, a Zoologist from Oxford University, has written a fascinating account of this phenomenon - releasing a book that is at once spellbinding and engaging - the true essence of a "teaching text" in the best sense of the phrase:
"Some of the more spectacular dinosaurs lived seventy million years ago and were probably the victims of mosquitoes. The idea that dinosaurs could be brought back to life based on dinosaur blood preserved within ancient mosquitoes is now a distant one. What rained on this particular parade was contamination - the apparently ancient DNA from dinosaurs was in fact recent DNA, from a contaminant within the molecular lab..."
--Page 55
Much of Parker’s analysis is simply riveting, and it opens up doors to our thinking that have heretofore been locked. According to Parker, this burst in the birth of new life shapes came from vision: when the simplistic animals of the period found their eyes and focused on the light, they were left with an immediate challenge: it all came down to adaptation or death. And from that adaptation to their environment flowed forth a catalyst for the Cambrian Explosion.
Whether you agree or disagree with Parker’s "Light Switch Theory" is irrelevant; scientific theories notwithstanding, you will be consumed by this book and the way it ties together different disciplines (biology, physics, geology), taking us on a journey into our far-flung pasts. In The Blink is a brilliant accomplishment -- well written and evocative, timely and bold, escaping into the vacant rooms of idea and thought and wonder, suddenly bringing us a step closer to the sacred and the divine.
Simply, this is what academic writing should be about - informative books, piercing in their depth, forcing the student to explore the idea of himself within the context of the classroom. This is one "textbook" that should make a run at the best seller list. ~John Aiello
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VERTEBRATE PALAEONTOLOGY. Michael J. Benton. Second Edition. Blackwell Science. This fine textbook by Michael Benton (Department of Geology University of Bristol) sets the standard in the field - a well-developed and wonderfully researched book that will serve the student community in the study of Palaeontology for years to come.
Benton’s text is written in classic textbook style, juxtaposing illustrations with declarative analysis to create a teaching guide with the capability to take a student completely unfamiliar with the subject matter through its every layer. By constructing Vertebrate in this manner, Benton promotes a deeper ‘step-by-step’understanding of the data, allowing students to see the role the Vertebrate has played in our evolutionary cycle:
"The pterosaurs, relatives of the dinosaurs, filled the skies, and the birds, descendants of the carnivorous dinosaurs, also came on the scene. Other land animals included the more familiar lizards, snakes, turtles, crocodilians and mammals..."
(Page-188)
Benton’s study offers the complete history of the Vertebrate, with documented study from all points of world (including North and South America, Russia, Europe and China). This second edition presents updates from studies conducted during the 1990s, thus giving students the most recent data available.
In addition to the in depth analysis of the Vertebrate, Benton also explores the research techniques which Paleontologists use. This is quite useful to students because it begins to foster an appreciation for the discipline and encourages the investigation of the subject matter not only as a "class" but as a possible career path (see: the illuminating outline on how to dig up a dinosaur’s bones and then sift the fragments into a scientific story).
Authoritatively written and broad in scope, Vertebrate will not only teach the novice student the basics about Vertebrate Paleontology, it will surely inspire a few curious individuals to delve deeper into this fascinating material.
Recommended as a text for Biology and Geology courses with Vertebrate courses. Further recommended to both private sector and college-level libraries as a general reference text.
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THEOLOGY, PSYCHOLOGY & ART
ISLAM AND THE RELIGIOUS ARTS. Patricia L. Baker. Continuum. The Middle East is probably the most misunderstood region in the world. And the recent events that have transpired (9-11; the war in Iraq) have only widened the gap between it and other countries. However, this text (Continuum) is a major stepping-stone towards bridging that gulf. Religious Arts, written by independent lecturer/researcher Patricia Baker, is a wonderful study which illuminates many of the styles and motivations that fuel the art and people of Islam. Baker begins her study with a succinct but thorough overview of the history of the Islamic World, detailing its many fascinating aspects. From there, a thorough exploration of the interplay between this religious movement and its art takes place - demonstrating that the starkly brilliant visions of these people come steeped in a deep relationship with God. There is so much rich information here, and it is presented in an accessible way that will not intimidate the student unfamiliar with these subjects. Outstanding chapters include The Maker, The Law and Creativity (examining the complex structures of the Muslim belief system) and Visions of Paradise (analyzing the journey into death). In short, this is an outstanding text that sheds light on a most misunderstood and volatile area of our world.
Appropriate teaching text for any course that looks at the Middle East outside the concepts of war. Also would be a worthy choice for a supporting text for University-level Religions of The World courses. Recommended to libraries in the college and public sector as a general reference text.
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THE ESSENTIALS OF CONDITIONING AND LEARNING. Michael Domjan. Wadsworth. The essence of this slim handbook is in its hard-driving style -- unadorned and free of needless weight, Domjan’s text explores the ways the human mind has been conditioned to learn. As the author notes, humans confront the challenge of learning from many different angles and in relation to the environment in which they live. Essentials sets out to teach its readers to promptly recognize aspects of the learning process. Domjan begins his discourse with a summary of basic concepts and topic definitions, then expands on each subject area in well-delineated chapters. Thus, the student is taught to reach into the self and then move toward a complete understanding of the structure of behavior -- analyzing others through this deeper relationship with the self. Domjan (University of Texas) has done many smart things here in constructing this text -- but what we liked the most is the carefully drafted chapter summaries which allow the student to retest his knowledge of the information that’s just been presented.
Highly recommended for any course dealing with cognitive topics. Recommended as a general reference to all college-level libraries.
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THE CONTINUUM ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ANIMAL SYMBOLISM AND ART. Hope B. Werness. Continuum. Highly refined reference text that provides a detailed analysis of the connection between man and animal. Man -- the highest form of the mammal world -- has a tight connection to many distinct universes (the animal kingdom being one of them). Encyclopedia presents commentary on the ways aspects of the animal have meshed with the fabric of our lives. The text is laid out in "term" and "definition" form, with Werness presenting a term and then defining it through conceptual analysis and illustration. Aside from its broad coverage of the subject matter and its expert use of graphics, what’s best about this text is its writing - crisp and clear sentences build on each other to completely explain data without confusing the reader with extraneous ramblings. This is hugely important in a book of this nature because the material in and of itself is often complex (interlinking many different disciplines: history, literature, theology etc.). Students and instructors who pick up this text will find a book that has been designed for quick and repeated use - a book that readers should continue to refer to outside of the classroom in the life-long learning process. One of the most enjoyable reads in the area of textbooks we have seen this year.
Recommended as a teaching text in Anthropology and Art History courses. Recommended as a general reference text for all college-level and public sector libraries.
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COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY. In and Out Of the Laboratory. Kathleen M. a. Thomson/Wadsworth. Galotti, a Professor of Psychology from Carleton College, has authored the authoritative text in the field of Cognitive Psychology -- a textbook that looks at the way the human mind moves and absorbs and learns in its journey through life. Many unique ideas come to the student here, but there is especially meaningful material on memory and perception, visual images as a learning tool, and the interconnection between thought/reasoning/and problem solving. The underlying idea here is not to just teach the student factual data to pass a course, but instead, to teach them about how they learn so that they can come to better know themselves. Written in an accessible and clearly perceived style, this is a hallmark text that provides one-stop shopping for psych students in the area of cognitive study. With this text in hand, the student pretty much has the whole subject covered; thus, they will begin to more clearly understand how individual personalities and traits are acquired. The third edition comes with free access to InfoTrac College Edition.
Recommended as a teaching text in any course presenting fundamental cognitive topics. A must-have for all college-level libraries as a general reference text (noted for its exhaustive coverage of a terribly complex subject).
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PHYSICAL SCIENCE & CHEMISTRY
RFID. Radio Frequency Identification. Steven Shepard. McGraw-Hill.
This manuscript by Steven Shepard (a Vermont writer with deep expertise in international telecommunications) marks the first technology text to explore radio frequency identification from both the consumer’s and supplier’s perspectives.
Basically, RFID is the foundation of the wireless communications industry and it stands at the forefront of a market that is expected to boom in the next decade. Shepard’s text covers the topic in broad terms and he escorts the reader through the subject with amazing deftness - giving us an over-view of the business side of RFID and then segueing into its pertinent technical aspects: explaining each of the components of radio frequency identification and then noting how these labyrinths interlock to create a multi-layered system.
Throughout the course of his treatise, Shepard is careful to thoughtfully address security issues that could develop as a result of using high-grade radio frequency systems - especially important at a time when threats of terrorism dominate. Mr. Shepard should be commended for his work here: the writing is crisp and clear, bringing the ability to dissect an ultra-complex topic and speak to it in practical terms.
For the majority of the populous, the way theirelectronic gadgetswork is secondary to the fact that they actually work. However, RFID is written in a way that illuminates howadvances in technology have revolutionized our lives and will continue to instigate change as we move deeper into the 21st century. Since the industry is predicted to generate over 10 billion in earnings over the next decade, the information contained here is vital to beginning to understand the changing aspects of our world. Interesting not only for the wealth of technical information presented, but also for the social issues that are revealed as a result of the way we now communicate.
Recommended to all college-level libraries as a general reference text. Also should be considered by technical science instructors whose courses over-lap with this subject matter. A burgeoning area of study that is addressed in concrete and thorough terms.
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CARPENTER’S CALCULATIONS MANUAL. Roger Tarbox. R. Dodge Woodson. McGraw-Hill.
Here, Tarbox and Woodson have createda guide that speaks to the way that carpenters and contractors learn: instead of hammering out explanations in long-winded passages, Carpenter’s uses illustrations, photos and charted tables to convey its information - truly a change of pace in this era of over-explained "how-to" books.
The authors - both master carpenters - offer a manual that everyone who picks up a hammer (both professional and amateur) should own, for it provides in depth guidance on how to approach, plan and complete a building project.
The majority of the errors that carpenters make are a product of miscalculations being made and guess-work gone awry. Carpenter’s offers an answer to this, for it takes the builder step-by-step through the process of putting up an edifice. From data on how to formulate the foundation to direction on joist calculations to instruction on figuring stair rise, Tarbox and Woodson strip away the confusion and present tables and charts augmented by artful illustrations - follow the directions as they are laid our here and carpenters will circumvent potential problems before they ever occur.
The result of this will be cleaner jobs that waste less resources and come in on budget. The result will be less waste in the building trade and more efficient workmanship. Given the boom in the housing market across the country in addition tothe record number of folks applying for contractor’s licenses these days, and this text couldn’t be more timely.
Recommended as a general reference text in all libraries - both at the college level and in the public sector. Further recommended to high school instructors as a teaching text for wood shop classes at both the beginner and advanced phase.
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THE FUTURE OF SMALL TELESCOPES IN THE NEW MILLENNIUM. Editor: Terry D. Oswalt. Kluwer Academic Publishers. This 3 volume textbook with contributions from over 70 experts in the field, addresses how the telescope will be used in the new millennium.
Since the advent of more sophisticated computer systems and different laser-based technologies, the telescope has been somewhat forgotten by most of us as we rely on the digital images of the media to show us what dwells beyond the holy walls of the sky. However, the telescope is still a vital and necessary accessory to scientists across the world and it will be depended on as we move into the new century:
"...there is likely to remain a need for small telescopes, especially specialized telescopes that can be optimized for and dedicated to specific task. These can be well justified scientifically for projects ranging from solar system studies to cosmology. Small telescopes also are the heart and soul of teaching and public outreach programs..."
(From the Abstract on Page 1 of Volume 1 -- By John Huchra)
This three volume set of books is as impressive as it is exhaustive. Volume 1 is titled "Perceptions, Productivities and Policies" and begins to explore the role of the telescope in the coming years. Among the topics covered include the scientific impact of the telescope (a well assembled essay by Helmut Abt of the Kitt Peak National Observatory). Volume 2 delineates the "Telescopes We Use," examining in deep detail the different facilities now in use and detailing how these facilities have evolved (and will evolve). Volume 3 is called "Science in the Shadow of Giants," and this segment looks at the possible contributions that telescopes are prepared to make in the approaching decades, in turn demonstrating how the country might be enriched by these scientific eyes that can see into the heavens.
The Future Of Small Telescopes In The New Millennium is a remarkable text book - a truly exhaustive research project that comes to speak to the topic of small telescopes in comprehensive and complete terms. And because of the scope of this text, the material here is not limited to graduate students in astronomy, but also proves valuable to both government and private sector scientists as the world assumes the challenges of the 21st century.
Highly recommended as a classroom text for graduate level courses in astrophysics and space science. Also would prove an elegant addition to any college-level library as a general reference text.
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ILLUSTRATED POCKET DICTIONARY OF CHROMATOGRAPHY. Paul C. Sadek. Wiley. This marks a well-developed pocket dictionary of Chromatography, combining conceptual definitions with illustrations/graphics to create a multidimensional reference tool. Dictionary has been designed for use by the practicing scientist in the laboratory setting, and it covers myriad subject areas, including analysis of both liquid and gas Chromatography (in addition to capillary electrophoresis and solid phase extraction - the primary scientific techniques used to separate components for chemical analysis/investigation). Readers will also find a broad assortment of photographs depicting the instruments/equipment used in the field; also note the compilation of references to encourage further study for both student and professional.
Pocket Dictionary does a fine job in laying a "foundation of facts" so that students of the discipline can begin to explore this very complex subject. Mr. Sadek (Chemistry Group Leader at Access Business Group in Michigan) has done a note-worthy job in constructing the book, for even though it appears in dictionary form, it does not stop there: instead, scientists will also find that the author has gone to great lengths to examine vital concepts of Chromatography - intent on promoting a complete and fundamental understanding of the subject area. Notwithstanding the fact that Dictionary is a remarkable teaching text, it will serve the professional scientist equally well - similar to the way generations of lawyers have come to trust in (and rely on) Blacks Law Dictionary for direction.
Recommended to all college-level libraries as a general reference text. Would further serve as a useful study text in advanced analytical Chemistry courses.
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ELECTRONICS HANDBOOKS
FROM
MCGRAW-HILL
TEACH YOURSELF ELECTRICITY AND ELECTRONICS. Stan Gibilisco. McGraw-Hill. This is a multi-purpose text, and it serves a diverse group of readers: computer technicians, students and mechanics will find this material indispensable to their daily courses. In the end, the value of this book -- beyond its broad coverage of the subject -- is in its style: Gibilisco presents the material in a clear and compact way, emphasizing simplicity, steering his readers through these intricate concepts and toward a full and practical understanding of them. Beginning with the physical concepts of electricity and moving through its basic components, the author takes us step-by-step through the process of how current is created, transformed and moved. Careful illustrations augment his lectures, and then self-quizzes test our depth of knowledge and how well we absorbed the material. A seasoned instructor, Gibilisco recognizes that people absorb information at different rates, and thus he has designed Teach Yourself as the ultimate self-study guide -- the reader allowed to move at his own pace and learn in a way that is conducive to life-long retention.
Recommended as a teaching text for all introductory college-level courses in electronics. Also suitable as a general reference text for all college and public sector libraries.
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ELECTRIC MOTOR HANDBOOK. H. Wayne Beaty. James L. Kirtley Jr. McGraw-Hill. The advent of the personal computer has made the study of electricity and electrical components all the more important. Today, an estimated 3 out of 5 homes have implemented computer systems, and we rely on these instruments in all facets of our daily lives. Accordingly, a true understanding of this topic is necessary for students pursuing science and computer-related degree certification. And that’s just where Electric Motor comes into play: In this text students of the discipline will find a wealth of information about all kinds of electric motors and the way that they have been applied to various industries world-wide. Beaty and Kirtley have done an exemplary job in surveying the subject and then creating a manual that is logical and relatively easy to read. In the course of their analysis, the authors discuss the kinds of electrical motors in use today, the ways in which they function, tests to conduct to insure best performance, and ways that motors are designed for different applications. Simply, Electric Motor covers the full spectrum in terms of analyzing the components that drive so many different kinds of systems - from the work place to the home office, and everything between. Seasoned technicians and under-graduate students alike will be served equally well by this handbook as it offers real insight into the ways the engines of the world turn.
In short, Electric Motor should be required reading in all training courses that explore these subjects. Further recommended as a general reference text for both college and public sector libraries.
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OF RELATED INTEREST
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT HANDBOOK. Philip Kiameh. McGraw-Hill. This handbook makes a natural companion for the Electric Motor Handbook, as readers are presented with a manual that outlines the diagnosis, testing and maintenance of various forms of electrical equipment. Appropriate as a teaching text, and also as a ‘bench’ reference for the professional technician who will be able to rely on this material to assist in trouble-shooting and repairs.
Highly recommended to both college and public sector libraries as a general reference text.
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LAW AND RELATED LEGAL TOPICS
POLICE STUDIES
INTERVIEWING AND INTERROGATION: THE DISCOVERY OF TRUTH. Steven V. Gilbert. Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.
Reviewed by Hon. Paul J. Aiello (Retired)
In this text, Steven V. Gilbert has created a primer on the essentials of interviewing and interrogation techniques for law enforcement. Its basic premise is one so fundamentally necessary to effective police investigation that it is often overlooked by newer officers just entering the profession. One reason for this is that the subject matter is usually assigned to a general textbook where it is merely one of many other criminology skills being presented to the student.
Here, Professor Gilbert has eliminated those other distractions and developed a practical reference manual and field guide so that undivided attention can be focused solely on the subject of proper interviewing.
Stressing a police officer's critical need for information in every investigation, the author notes that the collection of physical evidence at a crime scene provides only partial bits of information that help to show what happened. But the real answers - the "whys" and "intents" - come from those persons involved in the events. When such information gathering is not obtained early, or when the right questions are not asked or an interviewer alienates a witness, investigations suffer and resolutions of the crime are often delayed.
In reading this text, it's obvious that Professor Gilbert has both a mastery of and passion for his subject. A former special agent with the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command, he currently is director and professor of the Bachelor of Technology Program in criminal investigations at the State University of New York. He also completed a fellowship in forensic medicine at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, DC He writes with an accumulation of over 20 years of criminal investigative experience.
Serious students will not only appreciate the scholarly value of his work, but will readily want to apply and transfer its wisdom to their practical police work. This is a man who has been there, seen it, and knows what does and does not work in the gathering of information. Accordingly, his insights can be deceptively simple but invaluable. For example, at page 52 of the book, Gilbert offers this advice in the context of interviewing the suspect of a crime:
"Perhaps the best interrogation technique to discuss first is the explanation of how investigations work. If a suspect can be convinced of the invariable success of the investigation itself, then the probability of obtaining a confession increases significantly."
Style can be critical to the success and value of any book, and this is especially true of textbooks used in an academic setting. Students will find Gilbert's book surprisingly readable: the analysis presented in a user-friendly format, the writing refreshing in its deliberate exclusion of extraneous commentary. Each chapter benefits from this simple, straight-forward design. The chapters address a single topic whereby the basic point is stated succinctly, followed by examples of techniques pertinent to the type of interview or interrogation being discussed. Also included are practice tips and applications for the officer.
A particular aspect of the book's format which should prove helpful to the student are the Real Life Scenarios which punctuate each chapter:
"A woman reported being raped while walking along a dark path at night. If not for the physical injuries she sustained during the incident, her statement would have been suspect. Her reaction to the incident, as well as her behavior during her interview, did not support her being violently rape. Her general demeanor was that of calm reflection of her actions that may have contributed."
-From "Interviewing the Victim"-
Professor Gilbert uses the scenario to instruct students in the behavioral clues common to victims of crime, and notes that their absence can indicate that the victim may be untruthful in their report of a crime. At the same time, he cautions that not all crime victims react to the trauma in the same way. Some victims may not recall the details at all. The author concludes that, when judging the victim, the police officer must take the totality of the circumstances surrounding the complaint into account.
Since this material is based on actual experiences, instructors should find the scenarios useful for interactive classroom discussion. Through them students can learn to recognize common mistakes, and appreciate the nuances and attention to detail necessary to completing an effective interview.
The substantive content of the book covers myriad topics, including ethical considerations (making deals and breaking the law in order to get a statement), preparation steps, and interrogation techniques for different types of offenders. The author expands the subject matter to include chapters on how and why false confessions happen and concludes with an interesting chapter on forensic hypnosis. An appendix offers helpful forms, including a sample interview worksheet as well as a sample rights warning and waiver certificate. On a separate level, Gilbert also discusses human motivations and influences, critical elements to knowing not only what to ask but how to ask it.
Ultimately, the discovery of truth is the primary goal of law enforcement work, and Professor Gilbert's book will assist the student in competently performing this essential police function.
Recommended for criminology students and their instructors, it would best serve as a supplemental text accompanying more general criminal justice works, or as a specific instructional module in reserve officer training.
COMMUNITY POLICING: Partnerships for Problem Solving. 4th Edition. Linda S. Miller and Karen M. Hess. Thomson-Wadsworth.
Reviewed by Hon. Paul J. Aiello (Retired)
The new edition of Community Policing is completely revised from previous editions both in terms of structure and focus. Co-authors Miller and Hess, frequent contributors to the growing body of work on police relations, have organized the text into three primary sections. Section I discusses the evolution of community policing in terms of the necessity for the police mission to include the involvement of the community. Section II addresses the communication and interpersonal skills required by police officers to gain trust and cooperation from community members. Finally, Section III concludes with a discussion of the collaborative efforts needed to manage various community problems, ranging from traffic control to workplace and domestic violence as well as hate crimes and terrorism.
Miller and Hess's study functions effectively as a textbook for serious students interested in a career in law enforcement. The material has been completely updated, with new terms, tables, figures, and photographs included. Each chapter begins with a highlight of key concepts to be covered which also doubles as a statement of objectives for the subject matter. The authors then allow further exposure to a chapter's key information by providing a detailed chapter summary. Discussion questions, references, and a suggested community project round out the instructional features of the work.
The book's scholarship blends nicely with its practical "nuts and bolts" approach to the subject matter. Its value to the reader is enhanced by clear, understandable writing. The substantive content has been designed to promote attitudes of professionalism and competency commonly expected of police officers operating in such a highly visible environment. For example, the section on developing interpersonal skills addresses the challenges inherent in interacting and communicating with individuals who are culturally, racially, or socioeconomically different. The chapter on proactive policing includes a timely discussion of how law enforcement must come to understand and be prepared to use the fundamentals of mediation as a problem-solving tool. A thought-provoking section looks at how law enforcement benefits from adopting concepts borrowed from business: networking and being service oriented, treating community members as customers.
The authors have added a new chapter which highlights the central theme of this edition, the importance of building partnerships between the police and community. Emphasizing its critical nature in the field, Miller and Hess begin this chapter by quoting the police chief of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department :
"Problem-solving without partnerships risks overlooking the most pressing community concerns. Thus, the partnership between police and the communities they service is essential for implementing a successful program in community policing."
page 173
A thoughtful concluding chapter, looking to the future of community policing, analyzes what has and has not worked in the field, forcing the student to look at the question in terms of whether community policing is a philosophy or an actual reality.
A minor weakness in the book is the absence of critical-thinking problems which would enhance its pedagogical value enormously, providing the student practical hypothetical situations against which to apply the principles learned. The book remains, however, a thorough exploration of the subject and is a recommended text for criminology students and instructors. Miller and Hess succeed at showing how, working together, the police and the community can accomplish what neither can accomplish alone.
POLICE INTEGRITY AND ETHICS. Matthew Hickman, Alex R. Piquero, and Jack R. Greene. Thomson-Wadsworth.
Reviewed by Hon. Paul J. Aiello (Retired)
Part of the Wadsworth Professionalism In Policing Series, the authors have gathered a collection of essays addressing the timely topics of police misconduct and integrity. The contributors are all noted experts and are uniformly regarded as qualified commentators in the field. As a result, the book is immensely informative and offers the prevailing theories, philosophies, and concepts on the subject.
Beginning with an examination of how to define and measure integrity, the essays then explore the theme of intervention strategies to identify "at risk" situations and conclude with a consideration of the public perception of police misconduct. In another section of the volume, discussing situational contexts and their impact on integrity, the reader will find a fascinating study of the types of situations in which police officers are most likely to find themselves corrupted. For example, in one essay, the issue of the amount of force directed against racial minorities (as compared to the force used against whites) is weighed, with the piece then identifying how such behavior can be the product of patterns of thought that seek to disregard legal standards of conduct.
Positing the book's central theme, author Jack Greene writes in the Introduction, "Police integrity is thus best conceived of as the product of both police behavior and the public perception of that behavior." Collectively, then, the insights afforded through the in-depth essays will help to illumine the complexities surrounding these competing interests. For the serious student, the volume will be a compelling read, focusing on an aspect of law enforcement for which the police have increasingly come to be judged, individually and as an organization.
As noted by the publisher, anthologies such as Police Integrity and Ethics, in exploring contemporary problems and reframing debates, perform a valuable educational function by filling in the gaps left by more general and traditional texts.
The present volume makes an effective companion reader to general criminology, sociology, or law texts. It is also recommended as a general reference text for both college and public libraries.
© Paul J. Aiello. 2004. All rights reserved Paul J. Aiello and The Electric Review.
PAUL J. AIELLO is a retired Judge from Northern California who serves as Legal Editor for The Electric Review. Educated at The University of California, Berkeley and at U.C. Berkeley’s School of Law, Aiello has conducted hundreds of mediations and arbitrations since 1992. Aiello is also on the adjunct faculty at College of The Siskiyous in Weed, California, where he has taught courses in the Social Sciences,Humanities and in Police-Community Relations. He can be reached through The Electric Review (see home page email link).
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NEW IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE
The new academic year has kicked off, with students across the country returning to the classroom to continue their courses of study. Instructors in the law or social science disciplines should take specific note of these releases from Thomson/Wadsworth, as they would make solid choices for class texts: in the end, the presentations are clear and erudite, the information here meant to be absorbed for life-long retention. ~The Editor.
Reviewed By Ted A. Bastian, Jr.
CRIMINOLOGY
THE CORE, 2nd Edition. Larry J. Siegel. Thomson/Wadsworth. Larry Siegel (a Professor at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell and a best-selling author) augments the first edition of this title, expanding and modernizing the subject matter to include such intriguing topics as eco-terrorism, globalization, human rights, the international sex trade and cybercrime. The work further touches on crime trends and the impact of race, gender and culture. In addition to coverage of these topics, Core includes a study guide and a slick interactive CD that sets out to profile persons in varied positions in the criminology field - a feature that will help educate the student contemplating advanced study in the field. Siegel’s treatise thus works well as a text and also as a "career guide." The lone weakness appearing here is the lack of in depth discussion of cultural perception or, more precisely, changes in the public’s perception of crime which have occurred over the past two decades.
Recommended for sociology/criminology students, the work is easily absorbed and, for the most part, timely. Core is also recommended to college-level libraries as a general reference text.
CRIMINAL LAW
CRIMINAL LAW, 8th Edition. Joel Samaha, J.D., Ph.D. Thomson/Wadsworth. Professor Joel Samaha teaches Criminal Law at the University of Minnesota, and the current edition of Criminal Law demonstrates an excellent understanding of his field - his work up-to-date, entertaining and professionally illustrated. In addition to the text analysis, the companion CD included highlights high-profile cases, important legislation and newsworthy events. Stylistically, the text uses a tried and true format to introduce the student to general principles of criminal law, elements of criminal offenses and defenses to crime, first defining each concept and then taking the student through the topics step-by-step. Many ingrained Democratic principles (such as individual liberties and the conceptof law) have beenplaced in a 21st Century context, the author detailing how our freedoms have been affected by new threats such as domestic/foreign terrorism. In addition to the CD, access to a companion website is available, which includes annotations, quizzes, flash cards and a well-developed glossary.
This book would be excellent for sociology, criminology, psychology, political science or pre-law students and is highly recommended to instructors as a class text. Appropriate to college-level libraries as a general reference.
RESEARCH WRITING
RESEARCH WRITER FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE. Thomson/Wadsworth. This CD, operating on Windows 98, NT4, 2000/Mac 0S 8.6.1+, is designed to demystify the writing process and to assist the student in putting research into its proper perspective. This software is clearly designed and straight-forward -- features that make it immediately useful to the entry level student. The only drawback to the material is that structured writing has gravitated to boilerplate, standardized formats, a fact which contradicts the traditional idea that student writers in all fields adopt their own style. However, any young student writer should adhere to one simple rule: if you have developed a style that works - use it. And to this end, Research Writer will still be helpful. Recommended for the undergraduate student in all social science fields.
©Ted A. Bastian. All rights reserved.
Ted Bastian is a criminal defense attorney from Yreka, California. He has also taught at the college level in the field. Mr. Bastian can reached via The Electric Review.
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW AND THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. 3rd Edition. J. Scott Harr and Karen M. Hess. Thomson-Wadsworth.
Reviewed by Hon. Paul J. Aiello (Retired)
Most constitutional law texts default to the long-established case book approach to the subject matter. Constitutional Law pleasantly surprises the reader by adopting instead a more traditional college textbook format, suitable for law enforcement students in either introductory level courses on criminal law and procedure or more specialized classes on constitutional law or search and seizure.
Co-authors J. Scott Harr and Karen M. Hess have successfully integrated several unique features which distinguish this book from similar texts in the field:
(1) First, they devote their entire treatise to the impact which constitutional imperatives have had upon the criminal justice system. Specifically limiting the book's focus in this way enables students to concentrate on a defined area of study relevant to their future police work;
(2) The book then combines a broad overview of the foundational principles of each constitutional amendment with specific legal guidelines pertinent to each;
(3) Finally, the discussion of each amendment includes the seminal case law which has interpreted it.
The authors have designed the book to make learning as enjoyable as possible. Each chapter and section serves as a building block for the next so that, at the end, the reader can stand back to survey the completed structure of constitutional limitations upon the government's power to define, prosecute, and punish crime. The writing style is basic, unadorned, shorn of legalese and easily understandable. In addition, the page layout contains wide margins for notes and references.
Discussion questions, internet assignments, and a detailed list of references and cases cited make up the instructional features of each chapter of the text. The Appendix contains a reproduction of the Constitution and each of the Amendments, the landmark cases of Marbury vs. Madison and Miranda vs. Arizona, and a detailed glossary of terms, but lacking are critical thinking exercises (practical application questions) which would assist the student-reader in testing themselves on retention. The authors do provide, however, helpful Book Companion Web Sites which include further case content tied to the chapters, as well as numerous study aids.
Given the authors' expertise and qualifications to write about the subject (Harr is a licensed attorney, police officer, private investigator, instructor in various areas of the law and licensed to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court; Hess holds degrees in English and criminal justice and has co-authored eight other books in the criminal justice field), the book's substantive content is well-selected and timely in its relevance to current events.
Moving forward, Constitutional Law naturally progresses through its subject matter. The first section begins with basic civil liberties guarantees (Equal Protection, First amendment, Second Amendment), modernizing the material to include the current gun control controversy. Section II goes into each of the amendments influencing criminal justice law and procedure (Fourth Amendment search and seizure issues, Fifth Amendment Due Process, Sixth Amendment Right to Counsel, Eighth Amendment bails, fines, and punishments). The text culminates in Section III with a discussion of the remaining amendments, primary among them being the Ninth Amendment and concepts of "zones of privacy."
In the end, the work remains a useful and effective textbook, recommended for both student and instructor in the fields of sociology, criminology, or introductory law courses. On a broader level, Constitutional Law would constitute a valuable resource to anyone interested in learning and understanding more about their legal and civil rights. Harr and Hess are to be applauded for helping readers get their bearings in this fresh and unique approach to a complex topic.
CRIMINAL LAW. 6th Edition. Sue Titus Reid. McGraw-Hill.
Reviewed by Hon. Paul J. Aiello (Retired)
Among introductory courses offered at the undergraduate level, the subject of criminal law continues to attract and fascinate a wide student audience in the social sciences. That appeal is confirmed in this latest edition of Criminal Law, written by Sue Titus Reid, a distinguished author in the field of criminal justice. In addition to contributing articles to the Encyclopedia of Crime and Justice, Reid's other works include Crime and Criminology (first published in 1976 and now in its tenth edition) and The Correctional System: An Introduction.
Reid brings to her writing an authority which reflects her diverse background as a criminologist, lawyer, and teacher. Beyond her command of the topic, however, she writes with the clear purpose of helping her students to learn, and to do so in an enjoyable way. The organization of the substantive material is not unlike other criminal law texts. The author begins with a basic introduction, discussing the nature and purpose of the criminal law. Following this is an examination of the elements of a crime. Then Reid defines each of the major crimes and defenses and analyzes its components in depth, modernizing the discussion to reflect the recent emphasis on terrorism, drugs, and white collar crime.
What sets the text apart is Reid's skillful use of current events and issues to demonstrate many of the legal principles. For example, the murder trial of Michael Skakel, nephew of the Kennedys, is used to discuss issues of jurisdiction. The case of Mary Lou Letourneau, convicted of the child rape of her 12 year old student, features in the chapter on criminal liability. Coverage of other high profile cases is included in the chapter on murder. Noteworthy are insights offered in the concepts of murder and manslaughter, using the case of the death of a neighbor by a dog with known vicious propensities (Marjorie Knoller and Robert Noel case) as the discussion vehicle. The student's familiarity with these contemporary events is likely to draw him/her immediately into the learning process.
Reid also treats the reader to a fascinating look at some of the recent innovative defenses being used in criminal trials, including the cultural defense, posttraumatic stress disorder, the Viagra defense, and postpartum depression on subsequent behavior.
New sections in the book explore many of the more timely and controversial aspects now emerging in criminal law - the United States Patriot Act, the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Response Act of 2002, and how RICO is being used to prosecute defense attorneys in order to control crimes of complicity.
Also new to this edition are several instructional aids for the student, including:
"For Debate" questions, allowing students to engage in stimulating discussion of controversial topics;
A "Case Analysis" following each chapter, providing a court holding and rationale related to the material covered, followed by cogent, critical-thinking questions;
Focus Boxes enhancing each chapter, containing a wealth of information related to each chapter topic;
An appendix containing reference information onhow to read a citation.
The combination of (1) exciting content, illustrated in an innovative, relevant approach; (2) written in a friendly, understandable style; and (3) featuring a variety of instructional tools makes this textbook a cut above similar offerings.
Recommended for both student and instructor in the disciplines of criminology, sociology, or law, the book truly has the student as the focus, centerpiece, and reason for its existence, marking and defining its value as an educational resource.
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© Paul J. Aiello. 2004. All rights reserved Paul J. Aiello and The Electric Review.
PAUL J. AIELLO is a retired Judge from Northern California who serves as Legal Editor for The Electric Review. Educated at The University of California, Berkeley and at U.C. Berkeley’s School of Law, Aiello has conducted hundreds of mediations and arbitrations since 1992. Aiello is also on the adjunct faculty at College of The Siskiyous in Weed, California, where he has taught courses in the Social Sciences,Humanities and in Police-Community Relations. He can be reached through The Electric Review (see home page email link).
MEDIATE, DON’T LITIGATE. Strategies for Successful Mediation. Peter Lovenheim and Attorney Lisa Guerin. Nolo Press.
Reviewed by Hon. Paul J. Aiello (Retired)
Mediate, Don’t Litigate is a timely, welcome and worthy addition to the Nolo library, appearing at a time when mediation has gained both acceptance and respect in both the legal and business communities.
In the fast-paced world of the 21st century, mediation clauses have become commonplace in almost every real estate, employment, and health care contract. Moreover, courts are looking to mediation as just one part of a larger ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) tool-kit that will help to reduce its caseloads and provide disputants with an inexpensive, less formal mechanism by which to resolve or settle their cases. Many counties are now establishing mandatory mediation programs for most civil cases, finding it an effective means of conflict management. For these reasons, it is essential that everyone should develop a fundamental understanding about mediation as an ADR method. Mediate, provides a one-stop resource from which that basic knowledge can be obtained.
Co-written by a longtime professional mediator and one of Nolo’s own legal editors, each of the authors are well-credentialed to write about the subject of mediation. The contents have the imprimatur of the depth of their background, experience, and scholarship. They are knowledgeable not only about the broader process of mediation, but also its "fine-tuned" nuances and the book should help both lawyers and lay persons better prepare for and participate in this particular dispute resolution format.
Mediate is written in an understandable, readable, user-friendly style that contributes to its value. It has been prepared with the clear intention to assist both lay persons and lawyers unfamiliar with mediation understand the process through a step-by-step "guided tour" where the basic principles are broken down and explained simply and directly.
Lovenheim and Guerin proceed from the premise that mediation may provide a better answer for people than the more traditional "day in court" mind-set. In comparing mediation with other forms of dispute resolution in the book’s opening chapters, readers will quickly discover the flexibility of mediation by seeing how the same techniques have been used successfully in a myriad of contexts, including complex business disputes, employment relationships, landlord-tenant, consumer-merchant, neighbor-neighbor, or divorce and custody cases. The book also explains both the factors which favor and oppose mediation to help the reader make an informed decision as to whether mediation will make sense in a specific dispute and therefore should be considered in place of litigation.
Mediate covers a wide range of important basic information, including:
Where to find a mediator and factors to help you choose the right mediator;
How to get a mediation started;
How to prepare for a mediation, including evidence gathering and deciding who should attend;
How to write an agreement that will work for all of the interested parties.
Mediate treats the reader to an in-depth discussion of mediation in three specific contexts: (1) Divorce; (2) Business Disputes; and (3) Employment disputes, noting specific types of issues likely to emerge and considerations useful to their resolution. The book is at its best, however, when it actually takes you inside the mediation room, placing the reader in one of the chairs around the conference table and actually making you one of the disputing parties:
"The caucus is a private meeting between you and the mediator, during which the mediator can talk with you more informally and candidly than if the other side were present. Some mediators consider it the "guts" of the mediation…"
(pg. 6/27)
"To help you arrive at a solution to your dispute, your mediator has to get both parties to change their positions (or simply to see that their positions don’t really conflict.) One way to do this is to question the correctness or wisdom of the position you expressed in your opening statement. The mediator’s questions will be designed to make you wonder if you are being realistic about your case."
(pg. 6/29)
"An important part of the mediator’s job is to help you think of new ways to resolve your dispute. People caught up in a conflict often get stuck seeing only one perspective…To help you move off the dime, your mediator might ask you questions like these:
" How would you really like to see this dispute resolved, from a practical perspective?"
"What are some ways of settling this dispute that would be fair to you and the other side?"
( pg. 6/31)
In this section of Mediate, the authors outline in detail the six stages of the process: (1) Mediator’s opening statement; (2) Disputants’ opening statements; (3) Joint discussion; (4) Caucus; (5) Joint discussion; and (6) Closure The authors then explain the mediator’s role in organizing the issues, challenging your position, giving you a reality check, and helping to create settlement options. Particularly valuable are insights into how can a party can use the mediator to assist in the negotiation process. After reading the material in this section, one should be able to participate meaningfully in a mediation with a full understanding of what to expect.
Lovenheim and Guerin have done an exemplary job in educating their audience on a very complex topic. Anyone contemplating mediation should make this book a must-read in preparation for what they will encounter.
________________________________
And also from Nolo:
BECOMING A MEDIATOR. Your Guide to Career Opportunities. Peter Lovenheim and Emily Doskow. Nolo Press.
Reviewed by Hon. Paul J. Aiello (Retired)
Mediation is by far the most popular of the conflict resolution methods that comprise the burgeoning ADR field. Its appeal is based upon its many distinguishing features, including confidentiality, informality, nominal or low cost, and placing the ultimate decision-making in the hands of the parties.
The current demand for mediation - from minor neighborhood squabbles to multi-party complex business disputes - has probably never been greater. As a result, there is a demand for qualified mediators in a variety of settings, creating an abundance of career opportunities.
Attorney Mediator Peter Lovenheim and Nolo Editor Emily Doskow have written this present Nolo entry as a guide for anyone considering a possible career in mediation. The authors have prepared the book with a diverse audience in mind. Both lawyers and non-lawyers alike, contemplating a move into the mediation arena, should find the book beneficial and its informational content useful. Practicing mediators interested in learning more about building up their mediation practices are also offered valuable insights and suggestions. As Lovenheim and Doskow conclude in their introduction to the work,
"Whatever your background - law, social work, teaching, psychology, business, homemaking, or parenting - if you have the skills and desire, we believe you can become a mediator and find a satisfying career."
With no requisite background necessary to become a mediator, the field remains wide open to everyone. Yet, as the book notes, about 3/4 of the people who complete mediator training never actually practice mediation, once they discover that they are not suited to the work. So, as with all good career guides, the authors begin with a reality check, a "self-evaluation" chapter, which poses the question which all prospective mediators must ask themselves: Is mediation the right career for me? To help answer that question, Lovenheim and Doskow identify and discuss skills and traits common to successful mediators. The list becomes a measureable standard by which a person can decide if (s)he possesses these fundamental qualifications, including:
good listening skills
ability to read people
a calm demeanor
facility with language
ability to understand complex facts
trustworthiness in keeping confidences
professional detachment
self-marketing skills
Lacking one or more of these traits does not necessarily preclude one from becoming a mediator. Those who possess instead what the authors describe as "intuitive peacemaking skills" can also find rewarding job opportunities without necessarily fitting the standard mediator profile. The book provides an in depth discussion of the places where mediators can find work, outlining both the positive and negative aspects of typical mediation venues, including community mediation centers, court-annexed programs, government programs, and private dispute resolution companies. The discussion then expands to offer insights into the kind of mediation training available and touches upon where that training is offered, both general training and specialized training in such areas as heath care, securities, environmental issues, real estate and employment.
By far, however, the heart of the book lies in the comprehensive information that the authors have gathered concerning the resources available for showing mediators where employment can be found. Lovenheim and Doskow have done an impressive job in both the scope and detail of their research. These are the "nuts and bolts" sections for prospective mediators, who will find great value in its practical information.
Featured in the Chapter entitled, "Job Opportunities in Mediation," for example, are an array of sample "job descriptions" for different types of mediation positions at both the state and federal level. To these the authors have included job qualifications, salary ranges, contact telephone numbers, and website addresses. Selected programs are profiled in a detailed Case Study which adds to the value of the information being placed at the reader's fingertips. Finally, the Career Resources section presents a list of resource websites that include individual job postings.
For the independent mediator in private practice, the book offers tips on making oneself better known. If a mediator has expertise in a particular area, opportunities to expand his/her practice can be found by networking, making presentations at conventions, writing and distributing a newsletter, or posting online articles of interest in the field.
Although mediator job opportunities may not be as plentiful for non-lawyers, this book can still assist them in their job search. The authors note that the new area of online mediation is providing good opportunities for mediators who are not lawyers. In addition, Lovenheim and Doskow include two sections in the book describing mediation support jobs (case management, administration, sales and development) and mediation-related fields (ombudsman, training and teaching, consulting and coaching), all of which are providing employment opportunities without requiring a law degree.
Ensuring that readers will make a truly informed decision about the mediation p
