Review of The Art of Revitalization: Improving Conditions in Distressed Inner-City Neighborhoods (Garland Reference Library of Social Science) (Hardcover)

This book offers a detailed look at the agents of change in two Chicago neighborhoods.By rigorously analyzing the measures of improvement in the quality of life of these neighborhoods, the author increases our awareness and knowledge of how neighborhood change and stability occurs.I would recommend this book to anyone working in this field who wishes to broaden their knowledge and increase their effectiveness.



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Review of Understanding the World Economy (Hardcover)

I rate this book very highly. I was a big fan of the first edition and it proved to be a good servant to many of my students. The new edition is even better and I guess it would be a very useful test for economics and business first years as well as older readers who want to get to grips with economics.



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Review of Fifty Major Economists: A Reference Guide (Key Concepts) (Hardcover)

Steven Pressman's book is the best place for anyone to start reading about economics. What you get here is neither the one-sided, smug, neoclassical viewpoint that most books on economics take nor one full of revolutionary fervour. Instead, this short book moves chronologically through the economic landscape, pausing to highlight the important economic thinkers, their lives and thoughts, and explaining both their lasting ideas and forgotten ones.



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Review of Changing Suburbs: Foundation, Form and Function (Studies in History, Planning, and the Environment) (Hardcover)

This book is of great interest to anyone who is interested in the history and current trends of suburbia in all of the top 4 English-speaking nations (i.e. the U.S., the U.K., Canada, and Australia).

I was especially interested in the one chapter about post-war suburban development in Australia, because I am interested in how Australia's suburbia compares with that of North America (the U.S. and Canada).This is the first book I have found so far that has detalied information on the history and current trends of Australia's suburbia.From what I have read in this book, it doesn't sound as if Australia's suburbia is very different from that of Canada.

I was a little surprised by the fact that the one chapter about Australia's post-war suburbia doesn't give any explanation for why the suburbs of Australia's major cities are served by more extensive networks of commuter rail service than the suburbs of comparably sized Canadian cities.I would never know that from what I read in this book, but I happen to know that from other sources.Knowing from this book that Australia's suburbs are just as spread out as those of Canada, I am surprised that they have more extensive networks of commuter rail service!I know that European cities have more extensive networks of commuter rail service (than Canada) too, but they are also more densely populated and less spread out than those of Canada or Australia.



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Review of The Use of Personal Narratives in the Helping Professions: A Teaching Casebook (Haworth Social Work Practice.) (Hardcover)

A few years ago I wrote to one of Jessica Heriot's colleagues sharing my experiences in dealing with PTSD.It came out more like an essay, and my response was an offer to be included in this book.I was so pleased!I received a copy of it upon completion, and I am honored to have been made a part of such an amazing collaboration.This book is all firsthand experience with different types of trauma.You can't get anymore real than that.



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Review of Black Wealth/ White Wealth: A New Perspective on Racial Inequality (Hardcover)

This book is a fascinating study of the differences between the wealth held by Blacks and Whites in the United States.A historical perspective is provided, yet the book makes clear how the momentum of past actions continue though the present.It was this facet of the book that provided the greatest emotional impact.The authors did an excellent job of stressing the differential effects of income and wealth, and how wealth is by far the better measure for examining economic well-being.The data was broken down and explained according to education, income, housing, and many other variables.Case studies helped to put poignant "faces" on the facts to show how Blacks have been impacted by the differing conditions that they experience.

While it is not hard to find examples to the contrary, as I was reading this book, I noticed a growing sense of discomfort with the frequency with which the two races were discussed and compared monolithically.It is not difficult to view one race as victim and the other as oppressor within a historical perspective, but I found myself wanting to believe that it is individuals and groups in the present who decide whether to overcome adversities and utilize opportunities.Unfortunately, this book shows how much further the United States must go to achieve equal opportunities of economic mobility.

Published in 1995, the data within this book is now roughly ten years old.Studies published since then indicate that any changes over the last decade have been subtle at best.This book continues to describe conditions that continue to be both important and relevant.I have no hesitation in recommending this book to anyone, regardless of color.



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Review of The American Presidents: Critical Essays (Garland Reference Library of the Humanities) (Hardcover)

The American Presidents presents a comprehensive collection of highly informative articles analyzing and evaluating the presidential careers of the men who have occupied the office since its inception in 1789 down to the present day. The contributors consider the nature of presidential greatness, examine the ways in which challenges affected presidential greatness, and discuss personal characteristics and presidential performance. Very ably edited by Melvin I. Urofsky, The American Presidents is an essential, core, benchmark reference title for students of American political history, the American presidency, and political science studies.



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