Library Advisory

New Releases from Wiley & Sons in Medical Reference, General Science & Psychology

From the Editor: Even though the following selections (divided by discipline and or genre) have not seen full-length features on the pages of The Electric Review, they are still among the strongest selections we have seen. Accordingly, we would recommend these books to libraries considering new acquisitions (for the reasons specified). In the case of reference material or textbooks, recommendations are made to help guide academic librarians who serve the student and professional reader.

Medical Reference

100 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT MYELOMA. Asad Bashey. James W. Huston. Jones and Bartlett.

Synopsis: A slim and portable volume designed for the general audience, 100 Questions provides basic information about Myeloma, including discussion on treatment and quality of life issues in the wake of diagnosis. Juxtaposed with the medical data are patient views on the subject, giving the reader an “insider’s look” at the disease and ways that they can cope with treatment (and life after treatment). Formatted in simple sections, topics include basic information on Myeloma, diagnosis and disease staging, options for treatment, complications arising from treatment, and patient support.

Recommended because: This book advocates patient knowledge and encourages us to become familiar with our bodies and with the disease we might be confronting. A diagnosis of cancer is often devastating, rendering a person helpless. However, the shock can be markedly lessened when a patient becomes familiar with their condition and how it is likely to progress and impact the conditions of daily life. The common problem with these types of books in the past has been readability: either they have been over-simplified and lack in substance, or they are written by an author presuming a certain expertise in the field. Here, Bashey and Huston have avoided these pitfalls and created a book that is immediately accessible to the patient and general reader. The idea here is to lessen the fear of disease through knowledge, and the authors have accomplished their mission completely.

Recommended to all libraries as a general reference text in the area of health science. Further recommended to pharmacies for the patient reference rack — this is the kind of book that is of real value in terms of education, providing useful information in a way that is conducive to lay understanding.

FUNDAMENTALS OF ONCOLOGY. 4th edition. Henry C. Pitot. Marcel Dekker.

Synopsis: Pitot, Professor Emeritus of Oncology and Pathology at the University of Wisconsin, provides a primer course on Oncology with this stout text. Fundamentals is a thorough over-view on the subject of cancer, with insightful analysis of the origin and behavior of cancer cells within the human body. In addition to this study of oncology, Pitot makes it clear that an understanding of this disease must progress towards the development of more effective treatments for tumors that afflict the major organ systems, including lung, breast and prostate cancers. Finally, this edition offers much new information on new chemotherapy drugs (taxols and topoisomerase inhibitors) which can be used to help the physician reduce progression of the disease and maintain a patient’s quality of life.

Recommended because: Of the comprehensive scope of this text and Pitot’s ability to thoroughly analyze his subject. Especially important are the sections devoted to the etiology of cancer as an infectious disease and the role that environmental factors play in the growth of cancer cells. In the first section of the text, Pitot takes time to discuss how this disease has changed over time, allowing the reader to begin preponderance of just what factors are having the greatest impact on the incidence of malignancy. Once the researcher has pinpointed these factors, he can then begin to look towards unraveling the mysteries of this devastating disease, formulating better ways to combat it. To this end, the new edition of Fundamentals offers discussion of the use of genetic information to unlock the components of the cancerous cell: if the scientific community continues to investigate cancer in relation to genetics, it is likely that a cure will someday be viable.

Recommended to all health Science libraries as a general reference text in the area of oncology study. Further recommended as a viable text for cancer researchers because of its detailed discussion of the varied etiologies of cancer.

THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO PRESCRIPTION DRUGS 2005. James J. Rybacki, Pharm. D. Harper Collins.

Synopsis: Designed for the general consumer, this tightly written manual provides answers to questions about prescription medications. The 2005 updated edition surveys the most important and widely used drugs now on the market, offering in depth analysis on how these medicines impact the body, offering keen insight on how they might counteract other drugs a person may be taking. Rybacki has developed a nice format here in that he begins each entry with a“Benefits versus Risks” segment, weighing the possible benefits of a drug against the risk of complications and adverse reaction. By doing this, the patient/reader is allowed to develop a sense of what a particular medication does and what they can expect to experience after taking it. From this point, the author covers dosing and basic use topics, while also discussing how each specific drug impacts the body. Full and comprehensive discussion of side effects is also included, as well as a segment on what patients should be aware of while taking their medication.

Recommended because: Of its importance to consumers and its immediate reference value. Events in late 2004 raised real questions as to the long-term safety of certain widely used pain medications. Consequently, the FDA and some health care professionals have come under fire, with many saying that more thorough research needs to take place before drugs are allowed to reach the public. Essential, which has been printed for over a quarter century (with over 2,000,000 copies in circulation), enables the patient to research the effects of a medicine on his own, thereby helping to avert complications and potential dangerous interactions. In this day and age, when things move so fast, the burden has fallen back on the individual to protect himself. The Essential Guide To Prescription Drugs allows us to bear this burden most effortlessly.

Recommended to libraries on the college level and in the public sector as a general reference text: this information is vital to the public at large, who now need to take a more active role in protecting themselves and their bodies.

TINNITUS. THEORY AND MANAGEMENT. Includes companion CD-ROM. James B. Snow, Editor. BC Decker.

Synopsis: This text (written by Doctor James Snow, former director of the NIH National Institute on Deafness) brings together analysis from the best minds in the field on the phenomenon of tinnitus. The four section manual offers deep critical insight into the affliction, with part one focused on the clinical implications of the problem and its epidemiology. From there, Snow and his writers move into the basis of the disease, analyzing tinnitus in relation to the mechanics of hearing and the structure of the ear (with insightful comment from Dr. Snow). Part three looks at management of the patient who presents with the disease, including Otologic and Audiologic evaluation. The book closes with ways the physician should approach treatment, with valuable dissertation on administering antidepressants to help control symptoms.

Recommended because: Tinnitus brings deep insight to a common disorder that encumbers thousands of patients world-wide (many of whom go undiagnosed and untreated). Although geared toward the work of the practicing Otolaryngologist, this book is also accessible for the primary care physician and the internist — well-written and impeccably edited, these essays function on multiple levels: in addition to their research value, guidance is offered toward meeting the specific needs of the patient who presents with this frustrating ailment. For a time, tinnitus was not recognized as a serious disorder by many doctors – the stamp “Hypochondriac” accompanying that patient who complained repeatedly of prolonged ear-ringing. However, here, Snow has broken the complication of tinnitus down to its finite points, analyzing it in relation to the mechanical composition of the human ear.

Recommended to Health Science libraries because it has been written on a broad plane — serving ear specialists and internists equally well, creating obvious reference value in the process. Would further be an appropriate teaching text in advanced courses predicated on training physicians for careers as Otolaryngologists.

DIAGNOSTIC IMAGING. HEAD AND NECK. H. Ric Harnsberger. Patricia A. Hudgins. Richard H. Wiggins III. H. Christian Davidson. W.B. Saunders.

Synopsis: Diagnostic Imaging marks the ultimate resource in surveying and identifying diseases of the head and neck. Readers of Harnsberger (Willey Chair in Neuroradiology, University of Utah School of Medicine) will find a reference book designed for practical use by radiologists and physicians in the course of patient diagnosis and treatment. The authors have spent considerable time in discussing the anatomical hurdles the clinician will face in the course of creating useful images for diagnostic purposes; the lesson here is for the technician to realize that this region of the body is unlike any other and everything has to be perfect in order for the pictures to process. Accordingly, the radiologist needs to have an exact idea of where he’s going before the testing ever begins, so as not to prolong the procedure for the patient. Diagnostic is comprehensive in scope, including information on terminology, interpretation of findings, differential diagnosis and pathology.

Recommended because: of its complete and comprehensive coverage of a complicated aspect of medicine. Harnsberger and his co-authors have done a superb job in taking their readers step-by-step through the material, stressing the fact that the radiologist must remain attentive to each and every detail of the process so that diagnosis can be rendered with certainty. Diseases in this region tend to be difficult to identify and treat and it is because of this that the physician must rely on diagnostic images before proceeding toward medical therapy (which often involves surgical intervention). Thus, this text offers keen insight into how the radiologist should approach the filming of the patient. Moreover, the text has been designed for absolute readability, with smart organization and expert use of illustrations to help physicians through issues of diagnosis and pathology.

Recommended to all Health Science libraries as a general reference text. Would further be appropriate as a teaching text in courses that address surgical and radiologic exploration of the head and neck. Also would be useful as an in-office reference for Otolaryngologists and surgeons of the head and neck.

MANAGEMENT OF NAUSEA AND VOMITING IN CANCER AND CANCER TREATMENT. Edited by Paul J. Hesketh. Jones and Bartlett.

Synopsis: One of the first texts of its kind to be devoted to the problem of nausea and vomiting in the oncology patient, Management of Nausea builds a comprehensive study of the side effects endemic to the treatment of cancer. Hesketh (a noted Professor of Medicine from Caritas St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Boston), has done a fine job in editing this series of essays with an editorial focus on the causes and treatments of cancer-related vomiting and nausea. Oncologists who explore this text are presented with a in depth review of the types of nausea and vomiting that flow forth from cancer treatment; new approaches to treatment meant to mitigate patient emesis; and valuable analysis of the mind-body connection regarding these symptoms. Also included is information that allows the physician to evaluate pre-existing factors as a means to predict treatment-induced vomiting.

Recommended because: The focus of this text is on lessening the severity of symptoms for the patient and increasing the quality of life during cancer treatment. Probably more than anything else (save hair loss), the fear of indefinite vomiting is the predominant thought that accompanies a diagnosis of cancer. No one wants to be sick to their stomach – the fear of it goes back to childhood and is born in the feeling that the body is out of control. Sometimes, in the course of trying to eradicate the cancer, doctors forget this all-too-important fact. However, in Management of Nausea, Hesketh has edited the text so that the reader never loses sight of this, in the process creating a book that puts the comfort of the patient first.

Recommended to all Health Science libraries as a general reference text. Would further be an appropriate an in-office reference manual for the practicing Oncologist, presenting the most recent research on the subject.

PRIONS AND MAD COW DISEASE. Edited by Brian K. Nunnally. Ira S. Krull. Marcel Dekker.

Synopsis: This text is dedicated to the analysis of prion proteins – believed by scientists to be the catalyst in the development of Mad Cow Disease. Here, Nunnally (a researcher stationed in Indiana), and Krull (a Chemistry Professor from Northeastern University in Boston) have compiled a group of essays that thoroughly explore the prion protein and ways it can be detected through various scientific testing methods (including bioassay, immunoassay and fluorescence). From information obtained in the testing process, scientists will then be able to take steps to evaluate the future potential for spread of the disease from animals to the human populous.

Recommended because: Of its relevance to the idea of food safety throughout the world. Like the Botulism outbreaks that plagued cultures in previous centuries, Mad Cow Disease is now a very real problem throughout the world — with cases detected in Europe, Canada and the United States. Given the relative dearth of concrete information available on the subject of Mad Cow Disease and its origins, this text is a terribly important research tool that might hold the key to finally figuring out was to corral Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy before more widespread outbreaks occur. It should be noted that the editors have take particular care to address Mad Cow Disease in relation to other syndromes, including erudite comment on Chronic Wasting Syndrome that has afflicted North American deer and elk populations during recent decades. In light of the recent incidence of Mad Cow Disease in America – where the beef industry drives the agricultural economy – Prions is now of absolute importance to scientific communities across the globe.

Recommended to all Health Science libraries as a general reference text. Would further be an invaluable resource for biologists and immunologists who investigate the way that disease spreads from animal communities to the human populous.

VASCULAR ANESTHESIA. Joel A. Kaplan. Carol L. Lake. Michael J. Murray. Churchill Livingstone.

Synopsis: This benchmark text sets the standard for surgeons and clinicians dedicated to the treatment of vascular surgery patients. Doctor Kaplan (Department of Anesthesiology, University of Louisville) and his co-authors have put together a comprehensive resource with true reference value – a thorough exploration of the methods that should employed to effectively and safely anesthetize any patient with cardiac complications who is facing major non-cardiac surgery. In terms of helping a doctor prepare for such surgery, this text contains a veritable stockpile of data to allow for preoperative and postoperative assessment of patients. Discussion includes management of patients with severe respiratory complications, myriad interventional vascular radiologic procedures, and analysis on how to ethically and thoughtfully make medical decisions concerning individuals with end stage vascular disease.

Recommended because: Of the scope and reference value of this material. Although the primary focus of the text is on Vascular Anesthesia, the authors have done a remarkable job in tying together advancements in cardiology, critical care medicine, vascular surgery, cardiovascular pharmacology and anesthesiology to create a medical reference that paints a picture of the whole body: the idea here is to show that a physician cannot adequately treat the patient unless he manages these complicated and interwoven systems. While most texts of this nature tend to focus on the primary editorial ‘plot line,’ Kaplan and co-authors are careful to address the body as a whole, in turn offering anesthesiologists and vascular physicians a road map to begin surgical treatment of a patient compromised by heart disease. Also note-worthy for its inclusion of the most up-to-date advances in the field in terms of drug therapies and minimally invasive surgical procedures.

Recommended to all Health Science libraries as a general reference text. Would further be an invaluable resource for the vascular surgeon and cardiologist as a supporting reference. Obviously a ‘must have’ for all radiology departments and anesthesiologists because of its breadth and depth.  

CURRENT SURGICAL THERAPY. 8th Edition. JOHN L. CAMERON. ELSEVIER/MOSBY.

Synopsis: Major surgical reference presenting research and commentary from over 300 contributors in the field of general and vascular surgery. This revised edition is dedicated to the topic of contemporary surgical management – thus making it an ideal resource for the practicing surgeon as it addresses many of the most recent advances in the field. Dr. Cameron (Johns Hopkins School of Medicine) has done a distinguished job in editing and formatting this massive text — covering various techniques and approaches to the surgery process, including an in depth chapter on minimally invasive Laparoscopic procedures (a technique which cuts down on hospital stays and patient recovery time). Wonderfully illustrated with over one thousand graphics which further assist the surgeon in practical preparation for the operating room.

Recommended because: Of the scope of its coverage. In terms of surgery manuals, Current sets the standard – its writing, so clear and detailed, is well-suited to any physician who performs a variety of surgeries under myriad circumstances. For the surgeon and the student of surgery, having the most recent research at hand is imperative to being able to help patients and treat disease. And this text sews together the most current thoughts on the subject and presents them in a single volume. By formatting the book in this way, Cameron (and contributors) have made the material easily accessible and thus more practical for doctors and students to use on a regular basis. Especially note-worthy for its coverage of ways the surgeon should approach treatment of GERD, Barrett’s Esophagus and Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome (as well as other GI afflictions). Moreover, because of its wealth of illustrations and clear-focused design, Current marks an attractive study tool for doctors to consult in preparation for board examinations and certifications.

Recommended to all Health Science libraries as a general reference text; in short, this is the kind of book that belongs in medical libraries for its long-lasting value and in depth analysis. Practicing surgeons would also be well-served to consider it as an in-office reference for its up-to-date coverage of myriad surgical topics.

WELCOME TO THE GENOME. A User’s Guide to the Genetic Past, Present and Future. Rob DeSalle. Michael Yudell. Wiley-Liss.

Synopsis: Important new text building into the study of the genome – the center of the cell which contains the complete genetic composite of an organism. DeSalle and Yudell have authored a detailed and thorough analysis of the genomic structure of the human cell, exploring and dissecting its layers to reveal the many dimensions of our makeup. Welcome To is both timely and cutting-edge – looking at how recent discoveries within the study of genetics can be applied to medical science and to agriculture in ways that will further our survival (and evolution).

Recommended because: Of its readability and clear presentation. DeSalle and Yudell have done a remarkable job in presenting this complex material so as to make it equally meaningful for the scientist, instructor and student. Probably one of the biggest hurdles with the study of this subject matter is in the intimidation factor – because of its inherent complexities, undergraduate students tend to be scared away from the topic. Welcome To offers a comprehensive text that benefits greatly from the writing and editing. Obvious steps have been taken to make this material clear and comprehensible, as well as thought-inducing and interesting. The result is the first text we’ve seen to cover new discoveries in DNA research in a way that has the potential to capture a broad audience.

Recommended for all college-level libraries as a general reference text. Should further be considered as a class text in any course that investigates genetics and cell research.

BIOSTATISTICS (A Methodology For The Health Sciences). Gerald van Belle, Lloyd D. Fisher, Patrick J. Heagerty, Thomas Lumley. Wiley.

Synopsis: This text, now in its second edition, allows both students and medical professionals to begin to understand how to use statistics in conjunction with the health sciences. Bio is chock full of information and careful examination, and readers will discover a complete course of study in these pages – with the introductory chapter leading into direct analysis of the various ways that statistics can be applied to medicine to better help doctors and researchers synthesize/interpret data. As this text teaches us, the goal is to apply statistical ideologies directly to the treatment of patients.

Recommended because: The authors have dealt with the subject matter in truly comprehensive terms: what is especially valuable here is the way van Belle and his co-writers have designed the book — dissecting topics by defining them and then applying each definition — with graphics used to help build the reader’s understanding of each under-lying concept. Even though the study of statistical methodology has often been looked upon as “dry” and hard to decipher, the authors have taken steps to make it meaningful to the unique problems the new millennium presents (such as AIDS and Cholesterol – topics that comprise some of the great hurdles facing medicine today). Further, scientists and researchers who access this information will gain much new insight into ways that probability theory can be applied to better predict the rate at which disease spreads.

Recommended to all college-level libraries as a general reference text. Would be especially useful to Health Science libraries for its comprehensive analysis of statistics relating to medical study. Instructors will also want to consider it as class text for courses that focus on how to apply statistical methods to the study and treatment of disease.

THE ATLAS OF ATHEROSCLEROSIS (Progression and Regression). Second Edition. Herbert C. Stary. Parthenon Publishing (Taylor and Francis Group). On CD-ROM. (Requires a Windows 95 operating system or higher).

Synopsis: This selection comprises the CD-ROM version of the textbook of the same name, providing a thorough exploration into the different (primary) stages of Atherosclerosis. Dr. Stary (from the Louisiana State Health Sciences Center) has created a well-developed study that is meant to illuminate the practicing physician on the different masks these all too-common vascular lesions wear. Moreover, the CD allows the physician a more interactive learning approach, as these detailed color illustrations give the reader the chance to truly understand how this disease proceeds to attack human tissue.

Recommended because: of the in depth nature of the text. Rather than only deal with symptoms and treatment, Stary instead chooses to investigate the nature and form and structure of Atherosclerosis lesions and the way that they change over time and according to medical intervention. By taking this approach, Stary promotes a more thorough understanding of the disease and its impact on the patient, promoting the ability of the physician to more readily identify whether the disease is regressing, worsening, or remaining stable. Further, the illustrations augment the author’s analysis and allow both doctor (and student) to examine the subject at length and in detail (the CD affording the reader multiple options for viewing and enlarging each slide).

Recommended to all Health Science libraries as a research tool in the discipline of cardiovascular study. Further recommended to all cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons as an in-office reference. However, the subject material is most likely far too advanced for lower-division medical students, and instead is written with the experienced physician in mind.

IMMUNOLOGY, INFECTION, AND IMMUNITY. Gerald B. Pier. Jeffrey B. Lyczak. Lee M. Wetzler. American Society For Microbiology.

Synopsis: Fine text that provides a comprehensive overview of immunology, this book is meant to be immediately applied by the physician/researcher in the day-to-day treatment of disease. A complete discussion of how the immune system functions is included, allowing the physician to build a foundation of knowledge from which he will be able to explore the many ways infectious agents attack the body’s natural defense system.

Recommended because: Immunology is a well-written and well-illustrated text designed to serve a varied audience, including physicians, dentists, medical students and advanced biology majors. Given the changing terrain of modern society, doctors now more than ever must take steps to thoroughly understand how the body’s system of defense functions. The equation is simple: the world is under the threat of bioterrorism, and information on how to keep the human body safe is at a premium. As researchers grapple with these questions, Immunology marks a starting point — providing a thorough analysis of a complex and fluctuating area of study.

Priced at only $80, Immunology is a bargain, and a natural fit for all Health Science libraries. Instructors at the college level in the field of immunology would also be well-served to consider this title as a classroom text for each of the reasons previously noted.

FUNDAMENTAL IMMUNOLOGY. William E. Paul. Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins.

Synopsis: This authoritative text covers the entire study of immunology, including analysis of recent research on events within the molecule that trigger immune response. Other topics covered include antigen processing, cytokines, and the way the immune system responds when presented with infectious agents. Also in depth analysis on immunosuppression and intracellular bacteria, as Paul (and contributors) investigate the oscillating factors that affect the body’s ability to respond to predators and protect itself.

Recommended because: Fundamental Immunology sets the standard in the field for its analysis of these complicated and ever-changing topics. Recommended because of the ground it covers and the way it moves — well-edited chapters along with plentiful illustrations serve to walk the reader through the interwoven subjects that comprise immunology. Chapters on HIV, allergy and primary immunodeficiency diseases begin to explore the most important challenges facing doctors who treat immunosuppressed patients. Written in a logical and erudite style that is meant to teach – serving both the practicing physician and medical student equally well.

Recommended for all Health Science libraries as a reference text. If budgets are limited, this title covers immunology in broad and comprehensive terms.

CLINICAL HANDBOOK OF PSYCHOTROPIC DRUGS. Edited by Kalyna Z. Bezchlibnyk-Butler and J. Joel Jeffries. Hogrefe and Huber.

Synopsis: This reference guide provides a detailed summary of all psychotropic drugs being used today. This book, meant primarily for the practicing physician, is the ultimate reference tool in that it allows the doctor access to vital information so that he does not blindly prescribe drugs to a patient without fully examining the ramifications of his decisions. Exhaustive in the ground it covers, Clinical reports on the therapeutic effects of each drug; also expands on product indications, proper dosing, onset and duration of effect, adverse effects, special precautions, toxicity risks, geriatric considerations and patient instructions (among other information).

Recommended because: Clinical Handbook is a necessary reference book that should be readily available to both physicians and patients alike. Too many times, doctors will prescribe drugs to a patient without fully analyzing the effect the medicine is likely to have. This handbook provides an affordable reference guide for physicians to have in their offices – -something to be consulted before they prescribe medication to any individual. Moreover, Clinical is recommended reading for patients who want to know about the drugs they are ingesting. Although written in a technical format (this is unavoidable because of the scientific subject matter), most patients will at least be able to gain a working knowledge of the data, thus allowing them to formulate questions for their physicians.

Appropriate for Health Science libraries as a general reference text. Further recommended to public sector libraries as a consumer health reference guide. Invaluable for all internists, psychiatrists and primary care physicians as a handy office reference.

General Science Topics

SAX’S DANGEROUS PROPERTIES OF INDUSTRIAL MATERIALS. 11th Edition. Richard J. Lewis Sr. Wiley.

Synopsis: Now in its 11th edition, Sax’s is a textbook known to many academicians as the definitive source analyzing some 26,000 hazardous substances found in commercial use today. This in depth analysis offers myriad insights, providing information on toxicological, reactive, explosive and regulatory levels. In Sax’s, Lewis (a noted chemist) has compiled the ultimate resource for those who come in contact with potentially life-threatening materials, analyzing the Immediate Life or Health levels for over 1,000 chemicals, with vital analysis of toxicity effects and carcinogenic potential relating to human tissue. With comprehensive regulatory data included, representing agencies such as OSHA and the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Recommended because: Of its obvious and long-term reference value. Now in its sixth decade, Sax’s couldn’t be more relevant. In this age of terrorism and bioterrorism, communities in both urban and rural settings need to have the most up-to-date information available for dealing with dangerous properties. Here, the data is all in one place — meticulously researched and laid out for quick and easy reference. Aside from its teaching value, Sax’s is appropriate for use by fire departments (city and forestry), transportation clean-up crews and law enforcement, for it provides guidance on how to evaluate dangerous industrial substances and how to withstand exposure.

Recommended to libraries on the college level and in the public sector as a general reference text. Also recommended as a class text in chemistry, fire science and industrial management courses. Should further be considered as a reference manual in government and transportation offices for use by any individuals who may encounter hazardous materials. A major resource building the indisputable voice on the subject.

THE HANDBOOK OF FLUOROUS CHEMISTRY. John A. Gladysz. Dennis P. Curran. Istvan T. Horvath. Wiley-Vch.

Synopsis: This handbook is one of the first of its kind to cover the complete spectrum of fluorous chemistry – a process of investigation that allows a chemical compound to be analyzed via “single pot” reactions, thus allowing the chemist to look at properties in their most pristine form. Accordingly, The Handbook offers insight into the basic concepts of this ground-breaking research technique, an in depth study of solvation and material properties that ignites the mind and imagination of  the advanced student of chemistry. Commentary from the leading researchers in the field addresses all facets of fluorous chemistry, including up-to-date analysis on fluorous mixture separation techniques and invaluable counsel on laboratory procedures for applying the text material.

Recommended because: Of the scope of its coverage and its cutting-edge subject matter. Gladysz, Curran and Horvath have not only compiled one of the first handbooks focused on the task of demystifying fluorous chemistry, but they have written their text in a way to encourage the laboratory chemist to be creative and embark on his own investigation: in the true spirit of science the reader is called on to take the material, personalize it, and then make it his own. Also note worthy for the way it cuts down on preparation time so that the chemist’s energies can be devoted to exploration and experimentation.

Recommended to all college-level libraries as a general reference text. Also would be an appropriate teaching text in advanced chemistry courses at the university level. We further suggest this as an in-lab manual for the practicing chemist; however, because of the advanced nature of the analysis, we cannot recommend the text for the entry level science student.

THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS. Per Enghag. Wiley-Vch.

Synopsis: This text marks a comprehensive study of the elements. In addition to multidimensional investigation of the elemental tables, Enghag (a world renown chemist and one of the leading researchers in the field) has taken the study a step further and delved into the history of this area of science – analyzing how the elements apply to daily life (as well as to the study of biology, chemistry and physics). Here, in an encyclopedia that brims with life-long reference value, the student has the whole and complete record of the elements at his fingertips. Includes invaluable data on isotope lists and thermodynamics.

Recommended because: Enghag has attempted to personalize this often “dry” area by including in his study both historical and practical aspects of the subject matter. Unfortunately, many scientists tend to be myopic in their teaching and thus students are driven away. In Encyclopedia, Enghag has included information about how we apply this data to our daily lives without even knowing it, addressing the ways that the elements impact modern engineering and the course of industry. By personalizing the material in this way, Enghag captures the reader’s complete attention.

Recommended to all college-level and public sector libraries as a general reference text. Would further be an appropriate teaching text in chemistry courses at both the university and community college levels (and in private high schools where scientific studies are more accelerated). Would also be useful as an in-lab manual for the practicing chemist.

THE CENTURY OF SPACE SCIENCE. Edited by Johan A.M. Bleeker. Johannes Geiss. Martin C.E. Huber. Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Synopsis: This is the authoritative text on space science, examining the history of space study during the past century. Magnificent illustrations augment the text that takes us step-by-step from the beginning of space research to the present. All major topics are analyzed in detail, including a wonderful chapter onThe Moon before Apollo by James R. Arnold. Also, in depth discussions of the Milky Way, Solar System (see The Active Sun by Alexander and Acton) and early space research come together to build the ultimate reference text. Masterfully edited and perfectly complete.

Recommended because: There is no finer text available covering these subject areas. What we have here is the comprehensive chronicle of man in pursuit of the heavens. Simply, Century Of Space is exhaustive in its scope and flawless in its presentation. Written by the foremost experts in the field, students will find in this text the most accurate reportage available.

Recommended to all libraries as a general reference text, collecting essays from the leading thinkers in space science. College libraries ( junior college through university level) should have this text available to its students for research purposes. Public sector libraries should also have on hand for the general reader: I venture to say that such a research tool will most likely never again be duplicated in the field.

Psychology Texts

THE CONCISE CORSINI ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PSYCHOLOGY AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCE. Third Edition. W. Edward Craighead and Charles B. Nemeroff, Editors. Wiley.

Synopsis: This encyclopedia, in a convenient single volume, provides short summaries of the most relevant subject matter related to the study of Psychology and Behavioral Science. In its 3rd edition, Corsini collects comment from 800 contributing writers who dissect a myriad of topics, including addiction; Differential Psychology; psychological trauma as related to homelessness; grief; and the history of psychological assessment. Many chapters contain a list of subject references and suggested readings for further understanding, thus broadening the scope of the text and increasing its study value.

Recommended because: The encyclopedic format serves the material well – rather than fall into the over-writing trap that many psychology texts do, Corsini instead provides well-developed essays on the basis of all major psychological topics, with expert editing and subject development coming together to create a useful and up-to-date reference guide. The writers here get to the core of their subjects and outline them with cogent detail. From that point, the reader (should he have a deeper interest and crave more data), will have a foundational understanding to pursue a more in depth study.

Recommended to libraries on the college level and in the public sector as a general reference text. Would serve the under-graduate community well in that the writing provides basic foundational definition of topic and concept as a means to begin the investigative process for the student. The heavy-duty hard binding of this edition is quite durable and should hold up nicely to repeated research use.