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Selected New Reference Books

December 2004

The New A-Z of the Middle East

Handbook of International Health Care Systems
edited by Khi V. Thai, Edward T. Wimberley, and Sharon M. McManus.
Olin Reference RA441 .H36x 2002

"Presents a comprehensive overview of the current state of health care and availability worldwide focusing on the approach to the provision of quality, cost-effective health care systems by "established" and developing member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Exploring the cultural, social, historical, economic, and epidemiologic factors that shape health care policy, the Handbook of International Health Care Systems details the limitations and benefits of each nation's health care program as well as issues particular to that region such as aging populations, decline in birthrate, demographics, and governmental restructuring; the competition among nations for emerging medical technology, pharmaceuticals, human resources, and service financing; the imbalance between citizen expectations and economic realities; the rationing, reengineering, and reform of health care systems under the "managed care" philosophy; and the prevention and management of acute and chronic diseases in economically unstable countries and in disenfranchised populations." --From the publisher's website (http://www.dekker.com)

Click here to view the Table of Contents on the publisher's homepage.

African American Dramatists: An A-Z Guide
edited by Emmanuel S. Nelson
Olin Reference PS338 .N4 A69 2004

"This reference offers thorough critical assessments of more than 60 African American dramatists from the 19th century to the present. Included are alphabetically arranged entries on such playwrights as Ira Aldridge, James Baldwin, Arna Bontemps, Ed Bullins, Zora Neale Hurston, Willis Richardson, and Richard Wright. Each entry is written by an expert contributor and provides a biography, a discussion of major works and themes, a survey of the dramatist's critical reception, and primary and secondary bibliographies. The volume closes with a selected, general bibliography."
--from the publisher's website (http://www.greenwood.com)

A Dictionary of the History of Medicine
Sebastian, Anton
Olin Reference R121 .S398x 1999

"This is a unique, extensively illustrated dictionary of terms, people, events, and dates spanning the entire history of medicine...It is a major resource of hard-to-find information about notable medical figures, instruments, conditions, procedures, and dates and a storehouse of captivating anecdotes and background material...The entries range widely from such as abacterial pyuria to zygote, including Latin and Greek origins of terms, compact biographies with dates, eponymic information of all kinds, and rarely seen drawings and photographs of antique medical instruments and little-known conditions." --from the publisher's website (http://www.parthpub.com)

The Continuum Encyclopedia of Modern Criticism and Theory
general editor Julian Wolfreys
Olin Reference PN94 .C695 2002+

"...this major reference work takes the reader through introductions to historically influential philosophers, literary critics, schools of thought and movements from Spinoza and Descartes to Phenomenology and Heidegger, before turning to its three principal areas of critical attention: Europe, North America and Great Britain."
--from the publisher's website (http://www.continuumbooks.com)

Encyclopedia of Social Theory
editor George Ritzer
Olin Reference HM425 .E47 2005+

This two volume set covers the developments, achievements, and prospects of Social Theory from the 18th century to the present. Includes over 300 entries (most with a list of further readings and references), a 50-page Master Bibliography, chronology of Social Theory, alphabetical list of entries. and a Readers Guide.

The Literary and Historical Index to American Magazines, 1800-1850
Wells, Daniel A.
Olin Reference Z1225 .W38x 2004

"Every major and minor writer who made a contribution to the early development of American Literature, from Charles Brockden Brown to Walt Whitman, wrote at one time or another for the magazines, and many of them, including most of the major ones, edured at least a short stint as editor...It is hoped that these indexes, along with the combined efforts of the University of Michigan and Cornell University through the 'Making of America' series and the wonderfully ambitious project of University Microfilms to make available online the entire American Periodical Series, will open up the American magazines of the first half of the nineteenth century to the scholary scrutiny they deserve. In part, this book is a guide and an aid to what can be found there."
--from the preface

A solid source for looking up articles by popular American authors like Emerson, Thoreau, Hawthorne, Melville, and Poe. Also useful for subjects or topics. There is a substantial entry on Slavery and the Black Experience in America, for example.

Last updated January 6, 2005. [MP]