Ein Yaakov ; the ethical and inspirational teachings of the Talmud. Compiled in the 16th century by Rabbi Yaakov ibn Chaviv. Translation and commentary by Avraham Yaakov Finkel. Northvale, N.J. : Jason Aronson, 1999. Location: Olin, +BM 516.E43 E3713x 1999 A modern translation of the classic 16th century compilation of the Aggadic material scattered throughout the Babylonian Talmud. While the Talmud is primarily a legal work, the Aggadah portions focus on the ethical and inspirational aspects of Judaism through a wealth of homilies, anecdotes, allegories, tales and interpretations of Biblical texts. Because it conveniently pulls together this widely scattered material the Ein Yaakov has enjoyed wide appeal among students of Talmudic literature. It will now be further enhanced by this first complete English translation, highly readable yet scholarly with extensive explanatory and bibliographical notes. (Yoram Szekely, ybs1@cornell.edu)

Flanagan, Owen J. Dreaming souls: sleep, dreams, and the evolution of the conscious mind. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 2000. Location: Olin, BF 1091 F58x 2000 Uris, BF 1091 F 58x 2000 A survey of the latest research on sleep and dreams, this book also offers a new theory about the nature and function of dreaming. Flanagan rejects Freud's theory of dreams being repressed wishes appearing in disguised form. He shosw how brainstem activity during sleep generates a jumbled profusion of memoires, images, thoughts, emotions and desires, which the cerebral cortex then attempts to shape into a more or less coherent story which can shed light on our mental life, ur well-being, and our sense of self. (Martha Hsu, mrh2@cornell.edu)

Weigel, George. Witness to hope : the biography of Pope John Paul II. New York: Cliff Street Books/Harper Collins, 1999. Location: Olin, BX 1378.5.W45x 1999 While not the only biography of the present Pope, this one stands out by the breadth and depth of coverage of the important events and issues of the reign. Covers the Pope's early life but most attention given to his papacy. Written in journalistic style but based on solid research in archival sources and extensive interviews with both the Pope himself and people who have worked with him throughout his life. Probably the most extensive treatment of the subject to date, of interest to anyone studying the modern Papacy and postwar world affairs in general. (Yoram Szekely, ybs1@cornell.edu)

Pérez, Louis A. On becoming Cuban: identity, nationality, & culture. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1999. Location: Olin, F 1760 P47x 1999 Pérez, whose oeuvre includes more than a dozen books on the Cuban national experience, here reflects on the peculiar relationship between the island nation and the United States. Proximity, the expansionist tendencies of the North American colossus and the progressive spirit of Cubans all combined to forge what was clearly a dependent relationship. However, for Pérez, the most important feature of US hegemony was neither commercial nor military but cultural, the way in which Cubans viewed the world, conditioned by North American influence. (David Block, db10@cornell.edu)

Breashears, David and Audrey Salkeld. Last Climb: the Legendary Everest Expeditions of George Mallory. Washington : National Geographic Society, 1999. Location: Olin, + GV 199 .92 .L44 B74x 1999 Anker, Conrad and David Roberts. The Lost Explorer : Finding Mallory on Mount Everest. New York : Simon & Schuster, 1999. Location: Olin, GV 199 .92 .L44 A54x 1999 In January, Cornellians battle the wind blasting across the Quads and assault the ice glazing the sloped paths on campus. For those exhilarated by their efforts and for readers drawn to mountaineering literature, Olin offers two new books. The subject of both is George Mallory's fatal attempt to climb Everest. In the early twentieth century, Chomolungma held a fascination for Westerners whose attitudes and ambitions about the peak differed from those held by the mountain peoples of the Himalayas. Famous for his stated reason, "Because it is there," Mallory participated in three early British summit assaults, disappearing with his partner Irvine on the third. Ever since, the West has wondered about their success and their fate. Recent Everest expeditions and their participants' published narratives have renewed popular interest. "Last Climb" was compiled by noted mountaineer Breashears and Mallory expert Salkeld and is notable for its haunting photographs from Mallory's three expeditions. "Lost Explorer" alternates contemporary accounts of the search for Mallory's remains with essays on his three attempts. Respected climber/writers, Anker chronicles the search, and Roberts describes the man. These two books and others in Olin's mountaineering collection guide readers to a heightened awareness of human aspiration. (Janie Harris, jlh9@cornell.edu)

Haustedt, Birgit. Die Wilden Jahre in Berlin: Eine Klatsch- und Kulturgeschichte der Frauen. Dortmund: Ebersbach, 1999. Location: Olin, HQ 1630 B47 H38 1999 The book design and photos engaged me in this well-made book, requiring no translation. The Wild Years in Berlin is a history of women's culture and activities in Berlin between the wars. The author, a freelance writer whose previous book treated the theme of seduction in literature, explores key scandals, considers elective affinities, investigates women's participation in the man's worlds of boxing, writing, and fast cars, and devotes a chapter to Marlene Dietrich and Leni Riefenstahl. Cornell received this book from the German vendor Harrassowitz, with which a new approval plan was established in 1999. The profile of this new plan was designed by Cornell University Library bibliographers to describe much of the German language materials on descriptive Western European social sciences, labor relations, and Marxism needed at Cornell. (Sarah How,seh4@cornell.edu)

Neaman, Elliot Yale. A dubious past: Ernst Jünger and the politics of literature after Nazism. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1999. Location: Olin, PT 2619 U43 Z719 1998 Ernst Jünger lived from 1895 to 1998, and wrote on a vast range of topics, which generated scores of controversies. Neaman's study is based on the investigation of published and unpublished material. Through his analysis of Jünger's work and its reception over the years, Neaman addresses central questions of German intellectual life, including postwar radical-conservative interpretation of the Holocaust, divided memory, German identity, critiques of civilization from both the right and the left, and the political allegiances of the German and European political right. He proposes that the intellectual interaction between Martin Heidegger, Carl Schmitt, and J¨nger was as important to the inheritance of right-wing thought from Weimar as the interaction between Adorno, Horkheimer and Benjamin was to the left. (Martha Hsu mrh2@cornell.edu)

Murchetz, Paul. Digital Culture in Europe: A selective inventory of centres of innovation in the arts and new technologies. Vienna: Council of Europe, 1999. Location: Olin Reference, ZA 3050 D54 1999 This trim, useful guide describes in detail 53 good practice model centers for digital culture distributed in 20 European countries. All of these centers are stable, vital contributors to digital culture in Europe, and have some transnational aspects. Three categories are represented: full-scale centers of innovation; art platforms and virtual networks; and research labs. The characteristics of these kinds of centers are analyzed, and lead to conclusions about sustainable digital culture. The study, completed in October 1998, was undertaken on behalf of the Council of Europe by MEDIACULT, a Vienna-based international research institute formedia, communication, and culture. Cornell University Library maintains a blanket order for all Council of Europe publications. (Sarah How; seh4@cornell.edu)

| Home Page |