ACRL College & Research Libraries News

Association of College & Research Libraries

New Publications

George M. Eberhart

All Music Guide to Rock,edited by Michael Erlewine, Vladimir Bogda- nov, and Chris Woodstra (973 pages, November 1995), is an expanded and updated version of the rock, pop, and soul chapter of Erlewine’s All-Music Guide (2d ed., 1994). Brief bio- graphical profiles of 2,500 artists and musical groups are provided, with each performer’s top CDs and al- bums listed chronologically and rated by noted music critics and journal- ists. It also offers “Music Maps” and essays chart- ing the development of heavy metal, surf mu- sic, Motown, and other subgenres. An excellent collection development tool for rock record- ings from Abba to Zappa. $24.95. Miller Free- man Books, 6600 Silacci Way, Gilroy, CA 95020. ISBN 0-87930-376-X.

The American Heritage Stedman’s Medical Dictionary(924 pages, November 1995) defines 45,000 medical terms in a clear, nontechnical style for its intended general audience. A casual comparison with the 1986 edition of Webster’s Medical Desk Dictionary reveals that each dictionary contains many entries that the other omits. Stedman’s also features 100 line drawings, charts, and tables. $24.95. Houghton Mifflin, 215 Park Ave. South, New York, NY 10003. ISBN 0-395-69955-X.

Biographical Dictionary of American Newspaper Columnists,by Sam G. Riley (411 pages, November 1995), reviews the lives of 600 columnists, both living and dead, whose writings covered such general topics as politics and humor. A short bibliography of works by and about each columnist accompanies most entries. Some individuals known for achievements other than newspaper columns are profiled here, among them James Thurber, Carl Sandburg, W. E. B. Dubois, and Oliver North. $79.50. Greenwood Press, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881. ISBN 0-313-29192-6.

Biological Anomalies: Mammals I,compiled by William R. Corliss (286 pages, November 1995), is the 15th volume in Corliss’s “Catalog of Anomalies” and the first of two devoted to mam- mals. This book focuses on anomalies in mammalian appearance and morphol- ogy, behavior, and faculties and talents. Each anomaly is rated in terms of the quality of the reported data and the degree from which it devi- ates from accepted scientific norms. The vast majority of examples are taken from sci- entific journals and books. Corliss examines such phenomena as zebra stripe reversals, microwave emissions from mammals, inheritance of eye injuries, handedness, flavor aversion, radial for- mations or “kings,” long-range navigation in the absence of recognized cues, and unusual vocalizations. $21.95. The Sourcebook Project, P.O. Box 107, Glen Arm, MD 21057. ISBN 0- 915554-30-5.

The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy,edited by Robert Audi (882 pages, October 1995), elucidates the terms, concepts, and schools of thought that are essential for understanding logic, ethics, aesthetics, epistemology, and metaphysics that form the basis of philosophical inquiry. There are also entries for great philosophers, a list of thinkers who did not warrant a major heading (with clues on where to find them by subject), and a compendium of special symbols and logical notations. The entries are of sufficient length to explain each term clearly, but shorter than the essays found in an encyclopedia of philosophy. $89 95. Cambridge University Press, 40 W. 20th St., New York, NY 10011-4211. ISBN 0-521-40224-7.

The Christmas Carol Reader,by William Studwell (221 pages, October 1995), brings together information on 140 carols, both sacred and secular. Not a thorough study, but suitable for curious carolers during the holidays. $12.95. Harrington Park Press, 10 Alice St., Binghamton, NY 13904-1580. ISBN 1-56023-872-0. ■

George Eberhart is editor and compiler of TheWhole Library Handbooks for ALA Editions (1991, 1995). He served as editor of C&RL News from 1980 to 1990.