Review of The American Heritage® College Dictionary, Fourth Edition Deluxe [DELUXE EDITION] (Hardcover)

BACKGROUND
I purchased this dictionary based on my experience with two older H-M dictionaries: the H-M Canadian Dictionary from 1982 and the American Heritage 3rd edition; for the most part I prefer the former.

APPEARANCE
I anticipate that anyone who first holds this beautiful example of book making will be as delighted as I was. From the deep red linen cover with its gold lettering, to layout of the entries, to the crisp resolution of both text and images, this dictionary is drop dead gorgeous. Similarly, its size and weight make it both comfortable and satisfying to hold.

CONTENTS
The amount of words is excellent for its size, thanks to H-M's choice of Minion as the body font (one of my favorites!). The definitions are clear and the etymologies are throrough. Usage notes, synonomy paragraphs and the like all add to the richness of browsing through this dictionary; that combined with the visual presentation of the entries and the addition of photos make this a very pleasant dictionary to browse through. In other words, it invites one to explore its pages, as opposed to just being used as a reference for when you want to look up a word.

EXTRAS
Other nice features which expand on the dictionary's encyclopedic character are the addition of several charts and tables, as well as some fascinating appendicies on the Indo-European roots of English and other languages.

SUMMARY
This is a dictionary for those who love to explore the riches of our language. It has ample entries, whose meanings, pronunciations and etymologies are all clearly articulated, as well as being (arguably) the most beautiful dictionary available today. Highly recommended.



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Review of Riot and Remembrance: The Tulsa Race War and Its Legacy (Hardcover)

I had only heard of the Tulsa race riot of 1921 a few years ago, even though I went to high school in the early 1980s in Bartlesville, OK, 45 miles north of Tulsa (and have driven on the highways that now run through the Greenwood section more times than I can count). I remember the fear that was passed on to me about that section of Tulsa and the dread of facing students from its high school whenever we played them in football, a darker fear than seemed warranted for a city of its size. Now, knowing the history of the race riots and the fears both sides had of sparking another one, I understand why.

Hirsch does an amazing job of piecing together from both "official" and oral history the story of the riot, as well as what led up to it, and the racial climate surrounding the event. While he clearly favors the "black" side of the story, he doesn't give in to the most extreme views, and he does give the "white" views time and space. He also points out the difficult questions of reparations, and why there are no easy answers. Most importantly, "Riot and Remembrance" shows the readers why history can never be neatly tied up and packaged. We will probably never know the details of what happened on the ugly night and day of May 31-June 1, 1921, in Tulsa. We'll never know for sure the death toll, or what exactly was in the hearts of the African-Americans, the "ruffian" white, or the city leaders who coveted the Greenwood land. But at least with Hirsch's book, we have a chance to ponder all sides and draw our own conclusions.

And, by the way, this is one Oklahoman who thinks the state and city SHOULD pay reparations in the form of scholarships and economic development in North Tulsa. I suspect I am in the minority, though!



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Review of America's Undeclared War: What's Killing Our Cities and How We Can Stop It (Hardcover)

Daniel Lazare's excellent book "America's Undeclared War" is a book that I heartily recommend. I was particularly impressed by his unique and intriguing approach to American history, from the point of view of the city.

He traces American history back to the notorious conflicts of Jefferson and Hamilton. One aspect of their feud, should the country develop a southern-agrarian or a northern-urban economy?Jefferson, despite his democratic rhetoric, was a southern slave owner. With his election as president in 1800 his party promoted policies that were anti-urban, anti-federal and jingoistic.

The north was intent on developing industry.It needed a strong infrastructure-roads, canals, and an educational system. All this was opposed by the south. As a result the development of cities, which existed almost entirely in the north, was hampered by a hostile political establishment.

With the coming of the railroad, a major social and economic revolution took place. Before the advent of the railroad, land transportation was so onerous that it was rarely attempted. It cost as much to ship goods 30 miles overland as it did across the Atlantic. The northeast was cut off from the interior--most interior traffic was confined to the Ohio and Mississippi rivers--until the Erie and other canals opened a connecting water route.

The railroad was the technological miracle that caused an expansion of the cities. Shipping costs dropped so much that water transportation, rivers and canals, could no longer compete. Cities grew like weeds. Wherever the trains stopped passenger and freight flowed and new towns and cities grew.

The advent of the Civil War broke the strangle hold that the south had on the country's policies. Laws favorable to industry that had been stymied for decades were now enacted.

But the growth of the cities brought slums, reformers, and radicals that worried the industrialists; and sex, gambling, and drinking that upset the moralists. By the late nineteenth century the middle and upper classes were very concerned. How could these problems be overcome? Disburse the troublesome masses!

Many prominent leaders could be counted on. They ran the gamut from industrialist Henry Ford to urban reformer Jacob Riis. But what could cause a reversal in the growth of the cities?

A new technological upstart. The automobile! This new mode of transportation could dilute the effects of the trains.Mass urban transportation of trains, subways and streetcars was no longer necessary for the working man to get to his job.

With the coming of the New Deal--Roosevelt was another advocate of diluting the city masses--government subsidies provided a major impetus. Changes occurred quite rapidly after World War II.The government took built roads throughout the country; and backed a new type of mortgage--low or no down payment, low interest and long (30 year) terms--a major departure from previous mortgage financing. In addition, there were the tax benefits for home ownership, deductions for real estates taxes and mortgage interest. Business increasingly expanded in the suburbs so that opportunities would increasingly be found there. Suburban living became an irresistible bargain. Accordingly, the suburbs grew and grew and grew.A mass exodus of the middle class from the cities ensued.

The threats that the establishment found in the cities were diminished. Homeowners were too busy paying off their mortgage, their car payments, fixing the house, maintaining the lawn to get involved in the civic, labor or community affairs that had occurred when they lived in the city.

The cities in the meantime being deprived of the government subsidies lavished on the suburbs were left with the poor. The tax base for the support of the cities shrank and the demands on their services grew. But in spite of their difficulties no help was afforded to them. Instead the federal and state governments with able assistance of the media placed the blame on the impoverished. Accordingly the poor lost many of their existing benefits and were victimized by a proliferation of crime that brought on harsh penal laws.

The glowing early promise of the suburbs never materialized. The automobile created sprawl, pollution, traffic congestion, and increased taxes without substantial benefits. Compared to a stimulating city with numerous cultural attractions, life in the suburbs was boring.

I was also impressed by the book because Lazare scattered a few gems through it. Complex issues that he analyzed and distilled so expertly that it was a pleasure to read! As an example--his comparison of the efficient city with the inefficient suburbs.

In the city, necessities and conveniences for every day living are short distances away, within walking distance or by mass transportation. In the suburbs, by contrast, a car trip is necessary for every little need, going to a store, the library, school, the doctor, the post office, the movies. Even minor trips are irritating, taking longer and longer as congestion, pollution, wasted fuel and time are all continually increasing.

If you are interested in history or concerned about the difficulties of everyday living in the suburbs, this is a book you should read.



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Review of The American Heritage High School Dictionary, Fourth Edition (Hardcover)

I was looking for an Amarican dictionary that could see my 7 year old son through college. I scanned the Amazon and read in detail about all available dictionaries and made this choice. Now I am using it myself also.

It presents works broken into syllables and the pronunciation keyis provided on every page. This makes correcting pronunciation easy.

Itis partially illustrated. This makes it pleasant to read.

Although it isthick, it is light. This is an important consideration for students.

Thebinding is strong, so is the paper. I am sure it will see my son throughcollege.



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Review of A Comrade Lost and Found: A Beijing Story (Hardcover)

There are many biographical narratives about life in the Cultural Revolution.There is a whole genre for survivors who find a way out of the country. Another genre like the now classic, Wild Swans : Three Daughters of China puts the Cultural Revolution in a generational context. Yet another genre represented by Chinese Lessons: Five Classmates and the Story of the New China gives a then and now report. There is also fiction for each of the categories. I believe this book is unique because it is written by a former true believer, that is, a former persecutor who admits guilt.

The writer arrived in China in 1970, one of the first foreigners to study after/during the Cultural Revolution and participated in the denunciation of a classmate. While her act was small in comparison to what others had done, being on the persecution side, she is able to give clues as to the pshchology and temper of the times.As one survivor in Chinese Lessons observes, everyone claims to be a victim, but "do the math".

The breezy narrative ("Cult Rev") and the travelogue belie the serious content. This it the first volume I've read that compares this history to other mass hysteria movements like the Holocaust, where citizens were proud to inform, to destroy and to generally participate. This is also the first volume I've read that even mentions the psychological fallout, such as the compartmentalization of the persecutors and the damaged self of the persecuted.

Also important is that this is the first story I know of that reports on an every day (not a Deng Xiouping, etc,) fully persecuted survivor who is still in China.We learn about the many years she suffered, like an abandoned child, or a victim of child abuse and/or poverty, and of her careful steps in her own rehabilitation - it did not "just happen".

The author speaks to her own psychology of joining the movement. She wanted to fit in, to prove herself to the group.With the benefit of distance, life in Canada, knowledge of history and psychology she had the tools to understand what happened. China is collectively wiping this out today. In this book, many young people don't know much about the formerly life and death issues of "left' and "right".Wanting to leave China is not a crime and the youth probably don't know that once it was.Since so much of the literature of this time is created by the persecuted survivors who have escaped to the west, it may be that the whole sad generation of "Cult Rev" persecutors takes their stories to their graves.






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Review of The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Editon: Print a nd CD-ROM Edition (.) (Hardcover)

Any lover of the English language should never be satisfied with just one dictionary in his library; all have their own strengths, weaknesses, peculiarities, biases and feel. Essentially, your decision rests between two ends of a spectrum: the Oxford English Dictionary and The American Heritage Dictionary -- regardless of which side of the pond you reside -- and a Webster's dictionary somewhere in the middle.

The AHD represents the cutting edge in American lexicography. It's hip, it's cool, and it's filled with color photos. It includes brand new verbs such as "google". It's a great book to sit down with and browse through for hours, and it is a lot of fun.

I use the American Heritage Dictionary quite a bit in my research, however I find myself asking the question; "what is the purpose of a dictionary?" Is it to preserve the English language and grammar or to simply be a repository of all the words and quirky expressions that are spoken? The AHD seems to be an advocate of the latter. Its "Our Living Language" usage notes give credence and validate dialect such as "y'all" (you all), "ax" (ask) and the continual overuse of "like" as being conversation filler. (It's not just for teenagers anymore!)

It is worthwhile to look through the list of people who comprise the Usage Panel on the American Heritage Dictionary, an eclectic (questionable?) mix of individuals to say the least: the late Carl Sagan, Molly Ivins, Robin Cooke M.D., and others including film critics, poets, and even radio commentators. Throughout the AHD there is a disconcerting acceptance of non-standard English and, as other reviewers have noted, a heavy amount of political correctness. Ultimately, this dictionary does a remarkable job of presenting current American English usage as spoken, for better or for worse.

At the opposite end of your dictionary purchase decision is the behemoth Oxford English Dictionary: the "Concise" version being comparable in size (and cost) to the American Heritage Dictionary. Here we have the keeper of our mother tongue, with a more stringent adherence to grammar -- some might say to the point of being stodgy. However, if you are concerned with the degradation of English and wish to preserve its usage and write "correctly", the OED is the better choice. Like the AHD, the Concise OED is a lot of fun to sit with and browse. Its many usage notes will clarify and take a stand on common confusions, such as "media" being a plural noun, whereas the American Heritage Dictionary seems to have given up fighting that battle and recognizes current vernacular. Which is right? I'm not sure. I like the flexibility of the AHD, but find myself referring to the OED just as often, especially in matters of grammar.

So my recommendation is to own both dictionaries if you are a true lover of English and are the type of geek like me who enjoys reading a dictionary without having anything in particular to look up. The AHD is a really cool book -- the color photos and layout make it more than worth the purchase price -- and it is on top of all language trends, slang, and dialects within the United States. The OED is to be revered and relished for its love of the language and its desire to preserve it.

Or, if you prefer, at times the American Heritage Dictionary seems flaky, and at times the Oxford English Dictionary seems stuffy.

And if you merely need to look up words from time-to-time and aren't interested in linguistic controversy, any of the Webster's line of dictionaries will make a fine, and more affordable choice.




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Review of The Economics of Innocent Fraud: Truth For Our Time (Hardcover)

This book is a 62-page essay on fraudulent aspects of the current economic and political reality in the United States as seen by an illustrious economist and one of the most influential men of our time.Noteworthy is the fact that John Kenneth Galbraith was 95-years old when he wrote this a year ago.Judging from the wisdom and clarity of his expression, I can only say (to recall a line from a Meg Ryan movie, if you will): "I'll have what he's having."

I identified ten "frauds" as I was reading, but I think I may have missed one or two.Before I list them and comment, let me quote the last line in the book because I think it is important: "War remains the decisive failure."

Why Galbraith chose the word "decisive" is something of a puzzle.Decisive for what or for whom?Is he implying some sort of "decision" as regards humankind?Does he think we are going the way of the dodos?For myself it is clear that unless the war system is ended, most human beings will never progress beyond a tribal mentality, and will continue to suffer what Galbraith calls "death and random cruelty, [and the] suspension of civilized values..." (p. 62)

The "innocent" frauds that Galbraith calls to our attention are actually not all that innocent. What he means by "innocent" is that for the perpetrators, there is "no sense of guilt or responsibility" as though the fraudulent were children.Indeed from the perspective of Professor Galbraith's extensive experience and learning, many of the people who run our economies and our political systems are children.At any rate, there is a somewhat lofty and even grandfatherly tone to this treatise.

The first "fraud" is the use of the euphemistic "market economy" instead of the slightly stained "capitalism" to describe the present economic system.(By the way, Galbraith does not number his frauds.I do it for the sake of keeping them straight in my mind.)

The second is the fact that in the modern corporation, ownership--that is, the stockholders--have little to no authority while the professional managers call all the shots including setting their own compensation (fraud #7).Galbraith attributes this to the fact that corporations have become so vast and complex that the relatively unsophisticated ownership cannot really understand how to run the enterprise and so must yield to management.

Fraud number three is one that interests me a lot.Galbraith writes, "Reference to the market system as a benign alternative to capitalism is a bland, meaningless disguise of the deeper corporate reality--of producer power extending to influence over, even control of, consumer demand." (p. 7)This really is one of the most pressing problems of our time because the corporate power, through its ability to influence and control its legions of employees and the media, also has "influence over, even control of" who runs for office and who is elected in national and state governments.Indeed, in fraud #8 Galbraith notes that "A large, vital and expanding part of what is called the public sector is for all practical effect in the private sector." (p. 34)He specifically identifies the "defense" industry as being largely controlled by defense contractors in the private sector.Elsewhere in the essay, Galbraith refers to "the control of consumer choice and sovereignty" indicating that he understands that the control extends to the electorate. (p. 13)

Fraud number four is the way we hypocritically value "work."For some it is toil and for others it is a pleasure and indeed largely the reason for living, and yet how differently we are compensated, with those who need it least often getting the most in financial reward.

Fraud five refers to the corporate bureaucracy.While corporate people sneer at government agencies as being bureaucratic, large corporations have become just as bloated or even more so.(Chapter V: "The Corporation as Bureaucracy.")

Fraud #6 is the phony celebration of small businesses and family farms in the political rhetoric.Galbraith comments, "For the small retailer, Wal-Mart awaits.For the family farm, there are the massive grain and fruit enterprise and the modern large-scale meat producer." (p. 25)

Fraud #9 (I've mentioned numbers 7 and 8 above) is the fraud of economic predictions.Galbraith observes: "The financial world sustains a large, active, well-rewarded community based on compelled but seemingly sophisticated ignorance" (i.e., stockbrokers, stock analysts and other financial prognosticators). Headds, "...those...who tell of the future financial performance of an industry or firm, given the unpredictable but controlling influence of the larger economy, do not know and normally do not know that they do not know." (p. 40)

Finally there is the quaint fraud of the actions of the Federal Reserve Board, which Galbraith claims have no real effect on the economy.

For an interesting book on the corporation as a psychopathic entity (yes, psychopathic) see, The Corporation: The Pathological Pursuit of Profit and Power by Joel Bakan.In fact Galbraith should read this book.It would further part of his thesis.

In part this modest book is a succinct warning about how corporations are becoming more and more powerful as they gain greater and greater control over our lives.Perhaps what Galbraith is saying in his laconic way is that there is a very real danger that bit by bit we are on the way to a nation controlled not by a democratic electorate or even by republican checks and balances, but by an oligarchy of corporate power.




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