No Impact Man:
The Adventures of a Guilty Liberal Who Attempts to Save the Planet and the Discoveries He Makes About Himself and Our Way of Life in the Process
by Colin Beaven
HD62.27 .S64 2009
New Book Island, 2nd floor
Can you imagine a year without take-out food (I would flat out die from starvation), driving (I don’t really need a job) or Tide in your laundry (smelling nice is overrated)? Well, Beaven, author and electronic engineer, not only puts himself to the test of zero environmental impact, but also his family. Surprisingly, they all made it out alive and were able to write about their experiences. The author describes the trials and tribulations of the modern conveniences, such as air conditioning and toilet paper (you’ll have to read it to find out about that side of things). If you can’t get enough of him, you can check out his No Impact Project.
(The real reason that I chose to feature this book is because of its appearance and construction. The publishers printed the book on 100% postconsumer recycled paper and utilized unbleached cardboard covers. It definitely catches your eye on the shelf.)
The Mom & Pop Store:
How the Unsung Heroes of the American
Economy Are Surviving & Thriving
By Robert Spector
HD62.27 .S64 2009
New Book Island, 2nd floor
The economic turbulence that our country is facing has put pressure on every corner of society, from the large corporations to the municipalities to the small businesses. Over the last several years, there has been a push to shop local, with organizations marketing to their fellow neighbors about the virtues of supporting communities. This week’s featured title puts the heart of the local economy in the spotlight in these difficult times.
Spector, business journalist and bestselling author, travels down America’s Main Streets to take the pulse of the nation’s economy and (surprisingly) finds it alive and beating quickly. The author provides snapshots of small business and localism movement around the country, from a bookstore on the West Coast to a deli on the East Coast and everywhere in between. While the present day is the main theme of the work, Spector brings in the history of independent merchants and their economic contributions to the growth of the colonial era. He also integrates his own stories of growing up with the family business.
Spent:
Sex, Evolution and Consumer Behavior
By Geoffrey Miller
HB801 .M493 2009
New Book Island, 2nd floor
It seems that we’re on a Darwin kick here (next week, a book about the Darwin Awards?), but this week’s featured title also deals with evolution in a different context. Besides, with the Black Friday ads already starting to pop up here and there, dropping loads of cash is on everyone’s mind.
Miller, a professor at the University of New Mexico, applies the world of evolutionary psychology to the field of marketing with intriguing results. He seeks to prove that there is a connection between buyer behavior and our biological potential as friends and mates. The author examines the Central Six, the major dimensions of variations for human behavior, and what the purchases we make, from cars to music to video games, reveal about them. If you’d like to learn what compels you to buy those suicidal high heels or the ginormous truck, this book’s for you.
Galápagos at the Crossroads:
Pirates, Biologists, Tourists and Creationists
Battle for Darwin’s Cradle of Evolution
By Carol Ann Bassett
F3741 .G2 B38 2009
New Book Island, 2nd floor
Back in grade school, I remember learning about the islands off the coast of Ecuador where thousands of species of plants and animals could be found only there. The islands also provided Darwin with the scientific evidence to support his theory of natural selection. This week’s featured book alerts readers that the birthplace of The Origin of Species is at risk due to economic exploitation.
Bassett, writing instructor at the University of Oregon, presents the case that the Galápagos Islands, known for their natural and unique beauty, could (or more accurately, will) be lost forever if something doesn’t change. She tells the history of the islands and their exploration by Spanish conquistadors and adventurous scientists and naturalists. The author then takes a chapter to discuss each stakeholder in the current situation, from the tour companies to fishermen to the pirates. If you are looking for an example of the battle between the natural environment and human encroachment, this book provides the perfect case.
One more thing, which I (as a librarian) thought was cool: Bassett not only includes a bibliography, but breaks up the sources by type, with books, magazines/journals, etc. – makes your life easy when trying to figure out citations!
Our Lot:
How Real Estate Came to Own Us
By Alyssa Katz
HD1375 .K348 2009
New Book Island, 2nd floor
The housing market these days has a lot of people worried and waiting for an economic recovery to make the next move. The real estate bubble and subsequent implosion put individuals and corporations in dire situations. This week’s featured title looks at the factors that contributed to the crash of the American dream of home ownership.
Katz, journalism instructor at New York University, examines the housing market and how we got to where we are now. The author focuses on all of the players involved, from the government to the bankers to community activists, that created the crisis that we’re currently experiencing. She writes about a somewhat complicated subject in a very accessible style and even includes a glossary of real estate terms just in case. Furthermore, she does provide notes and sources for further research.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Work:
A Research Companion
By Mustafa Özbilgin
HF5549.5 .M5 E68 2009
New Book Island, 2nd floor
Equality has become a major issue at the forefront of every debate, whether it be health care, education or civil rights. Many people strive to ensure that the voices of everyone are respected and represented, and rightfully so. Our university system has taken to gauging the campus climate at each institution, and we’re currently undergoing that process (and by the way, take the campus climate survey if you haven’t – you have until Thursday!). Of course, the workplace is another venue in which battles can still take place, and this week’s featured title examines the current state of equality in that setting.
Özbilgin, professor of HR management in the UK, has pulled together thirty-one chapters on equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI for short) in the office, which cover the sociological and psychological aspects of the topic. The edited volume includes a section on the education of others, such as diversity trainings or seminars and their effectiveness, as well as a part dealing with the role of men in EDI. With scholars contributing from all over the world, the book provides an excellent international perspective to the subject of diversity.
Paradise Found:
Nature in American at the Time of Discovery
By Steve Nicholls
QH102 .N53 2009
New Book Island, 2nd floor
How has your hometown changed over the last ten years? Your lifetime? Ever wonder what your hometown looked like before anyone actually lived there? This week’s featured title take a look at our continent and its natural history around the time that Columbus sailed the ocean blue.
Nicholls, known for his work as a wildlife filmmaker, takes the reader on a journey through North America – before the first settlers left their lasting marks. The Europeans that made the voyage across the ocean were met with untouched natural beauty, leaving behind detailed notes of the flora and fauna that they encountered. The author uses his vast knowledge of natural history and experience from directing and writing documentaries to bring the picturesque beauty of the landscape to life. He utilizes the firsthand accounts from the past and scientific research being done today to create portraits of each of the regions of the continent.
A World of Gangs:
Armed Young Men and Gangsta Culture
By John Hagedorn
HV6437 .H34 2008
New Book Island, 2nd floor
As I was catching up on all of the day’s important news through my Facebook news feeds, a few of my friends from the other side of the border posted links or referred to Derrion Albert, the sixteen year-old teen that was beaten to death on the south side of Chicago in a street melee (heads-up: if you don’t do violence, don’t watch the video). All of this was on my mind when searching for a book to feature today, and to say that this book practically jumped off of the shelf at me would be a major understatement.
Hagedorn, criminal justice professor at the University of Illinois-Chicago, delves into the urban center’s overlooked neighborhoods to research the groups of youth that have banded together to survive and/or thrive in the harsh city environment. The author looks at gangs all over the world and the reasons for the existence, how the United States isn’t the only hot bed for gang-related activity and why these violent groups will be around for a lot longer. He also provides an inside view to gang life on three continents, from Chicago to Rio de Janeiro to Cape Town, comparing and contrasting their histories. The book serves as an excellent resource and starting point when investigating urban life and its challenges.
Surrender:
Appeasing Islam, Sacrificing Freedom
By Bruce Bawer
BP171 .B35 2009
New Book Island, 2nd floor
With the eight-year anniversary of the 11 September terrorist attacks just the other day, this book naturally jumped out at me when browsing the shelves.
Bawer, a highly-respected cultural critic, looks at the effects on human rights not by former presidential administration, but by Muslim extremists. The author posits the idea that the combination of fear of radical Islam and political and social correctness threatens to silence the freedoms of speech and press. He points out that individuals that accommodate even the most illiberal aspects of the restrictive religion are helping further their cause. This book is an eye-opening account to the potential harm done to individual rights in the future.
The author’s 2006 book, While Europe Slept, a National Book Critics Circle Award finalist, is available in the Main Collection, 3rd floor, at call number D1056.2 .M87 B39 2006.
Inside the Mind of the Shopper:
The Science of Retailing
By Herb Sorensen
HF5429 .S5937 2009
New Book Island, 2nd floor
Shopping. Even in a recession, it’s sometimes impossible to pass up a good deal. Or when you go to the grocery store on an empty stomach – now that’s a dangerous idea. I always end up with way too much junk food and not enough of the good stuff. Although this week’s featured title doesn’t tackle the question of the eyes being bigger than your stomach and its impact on purchasing habits, it will make you look at your local supermarket in a whole new way.
Sorensen, widely recognized as the foremost retail consultant, offers scientific insights into the shopping experience with the purpose of improving sales for retailers. Using second-by-second analysis of consumer behavior, the author begins by boldly stating that eighty percent of shopper time is wasted. He then goes on to explain this assertion and others, like the influence of store layout on sales, the big box concept that might not always better, and the placement of products. It’s an eye-opening read that make you think the next time you head to the store.
