AUC Reference

New Reference Books, Issue 1, 2006

1- Historical dictionary of Western Sahara / Anthony G. Pazzanita.Published Lanham, Md. : Scarecrow Press, 2006. Edition: 3rd ed.
Call# Ref DT 346 S7 P38 2006

 

The most recent edition of a dictionary that started in 1982. Quite interesting! has some distinctive features:

-Has a chronology that ranges from 5000 BC all the way till 28th of October 2005!! (19 pages!) extremely useful too.

-Here is the most striking (for me): The extensive bibliography that ranges from page 459 till page 521 has its own table of contents! there is even an introduction there!

Apart from this, the dictionary itself is a very strong and useful tool for anybody interested in this part of the MENA region and its dynamics.

easy to manage format, could follow you easily to any conference (if you ever needed it)

2- Encyclopedia of the Palestinians / edited by Philip Mattar. Published New York : Facts on File, c2005. Edition Rev. ed.
Call# DS 113.6 E53 2005

 

It's another Facts on File good source, not too big to handle yet not so convenient to carry around for too long.

Has Maps, Illustrations, tables and charts..., a good chronology (very useful Year 638-Jan 9 2005) and an annotated bibliography that is indeed quite useful! Also you want to check the part entitled "Documents" pages 605 till 665...what any student would eventually need! extremely interesting!!

3- Encyclopedia of Arab and Islamic units of measurement ,With Their Modern Equivalents, (lengths, Areas, Weights, Measure) (Arabic source) Published Bayrut : Maktabat Lubnan Nashirun, 2002. (Librairie Du Liban Publishers)
Call# QC 89 A65 F35 2002   

 

A heads up: Watch out for these publishers: "Librairie Du Liban Publishers" They issue extremely interesting material concerning Arabic language and linguistics!!

 

This is a first of its kind source according to the description given inside, of an extremely interesting subject. The rather "long" title says it all.
However, inside, you will also find records the job-related units of measure like for men of medicine and Arab pharmacologists...fascinating!
I had the chance of handling some of the Arab glass weights that belonged to a friend of the family and I must say they were really like little precious things! captivating!
Carries explanations and comparisons to more than 400 units of measurement!!
Great resource!

 

4- Dictionary of Expressions (Arabic source) Published Bayrut : Maktabat Lubnan Nashirun, 2002. (Librairie Du Liban Publishers)
Call# PJ 6167 Q25 2002 

 

Another great resource from Librairie du Liban publishers! Arabic expressions explained. the real control of a language (or how to blend in) rests in its expressions (in my humble opinion). So there you have it: Idioms, Terms and phrases,...etc.
very convenient tool.

 

5- Dictionary of confusable words / [edited by] Adrian Room ; acquisition director, Anne-Lucie Norton. Published Chicago, IL : Fitzroy Dearborn Publ., 2000
Call# PE 1591 D53 2000

 

Another helpful tool but this time for the English language. Exposes some errors of usage in the English language. For instance: Complement & Compliment, Grand & Great, Obstacle & Obstruction, Naked & Nude (there is a difference??), Tortuous & Torturous, and the curious Arabic origins of Zenith & Nadir (highest & lowest points)
I enjoyed this one as you might suspect...

 

6- Women and Islam : critical concepts in sociology / edited by Haideh Moghissi. 
Published New York : Routledge, c2005
call# HQ1170 .W555 2005

 

3 volumes of everything you wanted to know about Women and Islam!! quite an important resource! Tackles subjects like social conditions, legal status, laws, etc. Also Feminism and the like, all concerning Muslim women.
vol 1 talks about "Images and realities", vol 2 is about "Social conditions, obstacles, and prospects", and finally, vol 3 works on the issues of "Womens's movements in Muslim societies".
Very very interesting and useful!!

 

7- Human rights and the world's major religions. Published Westport, CT : Praeger, 2005.
Call# BL 65 H78 H8595 2005

 

5 volumes taking up the many issues of human rights and pitting these against the world's major religions! vol. 1, The Jewish tradition, v. 2, The Christian tradition, v. 3, The Islamic tradition, v. 4, The Hindu tradition, v. 5, The Buddhist tradition.
Very extensive, covers historical periods as well as present issues: Life, Women, slavery, War...
Has primary sources, biographies and annotated bibliographies that: "offer excellent resources for further study".
Also the major religious views vis-a-vis human rights are duly related.
quite good and useful.

 

8- The destructive power of religion : violence in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam / J. Harold Ellens, editor. Published Westport, Conn. : Praeger, 2004
Call# BL 65 V55 D47 2004 

 

4 volumes entitled as follows: v. 1. Sacred scriptures, ideology, and violence. v. 2. Religion, psychology, and violence. v. 3. Models and cases of violence in religion. v. 4. Contemporary views on spirituality and violence.
Fits extremely well with the previous resource (Human rights and the world's major religions)
Printed on the back cover is a very precise annotation, and here it is: "Dozens of studies by 30 senior experts from five nations examine the influence of sacred texts shaping human nature, society, and political and military strategies in the Western world over the last 3,000 years."

The contributors backgrounds and the religions they wrote about seem to be an interesting angle when tackling such a work in my humble opinion...don't know why I wrote that...

 

9- Encyclopedia of religion and war / Gabriel Palmer-Fernandez, editor. Published New York, NY : Routledge, 2004.
Call# BL 80.3 E53 2004

 

Another resource dealing with religion and violence...seems to be very popular here!
Indeed the connection between war and religions is a hot topic at the moment...
The pictures on the cover however (for me) convey a somewhat different meaning...7 out of 8 pics are making me think more of Martial Arts, Racial Violence and Civil War rather than linking war and religion together, but that's maybe just me.
This work is of but one volume and presents about 130 entries that analyze why religious beliefs can and did generate and fuel wars. Many past & present conflict's religious roots are examined here. Very useful and interesting.

New Ref Books, Mar 2005

Holy people of the world : a cross-cultural encyclopedia
Call# BL 72 H65 2004 v.1-3 

1,100 biographies and 64 comparative articles. how do you become holy? who was/is holy?, where and when? all these are answered by this 'not so usual' encyclopedia that gives a holistic view across the world of what is to be considered holy in different cultures. Detailed info about the lives of venerable/holy people and their legacies, written by more than 200 religious studies experts and historians. this encyclopedia is bound to satisfy more than one patron/researcher.
Very very good!

Encyclopedia of food and culture
Call# GT2850 .E53 2003  v.1-3

Another one of those "not so usual" encyclopedias...you get a feeling things have become a bit more multidisciplinary don't you?...Anyway, this encyclopedia is very good it is presented in 3 big volumes so plenty of 'food for thought' (exactly the case). deals with the subject from prehistory to the future of food. History, science, health, anthropology, psychology...all related to food and culture are used here to give a most complete picture.
really a very good source.

New Ref Books, Jan 2005

The New Encyclopedia of the Occult:
Call# BF 1407 G74 2003
Claims to be the most complete reference work on the Occult ever! Focuses on Western occultism. Contains over 1500 entries in the field of the occult.
Included are: History, philosophies, personalities, important individuals, and traditions. This work presents the latest scholarly research, as well as points out errors in previous writings. Magic, alchemy, astrology, tarot, palmistry and others, are all explained in detail.  Well, you name it, you'll probably find it in there! Works well as a repertoire of the occult. So now you know where to go for directions on how to look a bit into your future...?

A Dictionary of African Mythology : The Mythmaker as Storyteller:
Call# BL 2400 S24 2002
Quite small, almost the size of a pocket book, soft cover, full of stories...very "couleur locale", unusual markings, Strange, and fascinating to say the least. a must see/have for anybody interested in the hypnotizing genre of story telling especially coming from African mythology.

Symbols of Egypt:
Call# DT 61 O8713 2000
More than 300 Ancient Egyptian symbols are duly documented and explained here! A great reference guide for anybody interested in the symbolism of Egypt's past! Very clearly illustrated & the format is very convenient.The left page has the illustration and the right the comments. Very simple to use.Great for jewelry that has a meaning!

The Book of the Pharaohs:
Call# DT 58 V4713 2003
I know, I know, what do we need another book on the Pharaohs most of you will say,...but this book has a 'twist' to it.
This book enters the realm of the Private lives of the Pharaohs! The palace, the workings of the Government, the royal family, in brief, the human side of royal Egypt!Themes relating to the kings themselves and their entourage.

Encyclopedia of modern worldwide extremists and extremist groups:
Call# HN 49 R33 A85 2004
Very well documented, has a few illustrations, but the real good thing about it is that it is a 2004 edition! Very up-to-date. 290 entries relate the history, activity and beliefs of
the most active extremists groups out there. Basically focuses on extremist activity since 1980.

Encyclopedia of the stateless nations : ethnic and national groups around the world:
Call# D 860 M56 2002
First of all I must say I didn't know they were so many! An encyclopedia that is 4 volumes of a 'fair' size is quite an important work. This set is very well done, very detailed and even a flag is listed for each group! Each entry has a quite substantial essay helping the reader to better understand the different situations of the various groups.

New Ref Books, Oct 2004

1- Encyclopedia of Westerns:
Call# PN 1995.9 W4 F27 2003

Right there on the cover! The Magnificent 7 (taken from the 7 Samourais by Akira Kurosawa), John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, and a scene of Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid just as they were taking on the Mexican army by themselves...
All real fans of westerns will recognise the cover of this excellent encyclopedia.
Mentioned in there, are the "Spaghetti Westerns" (arguably the best westerns ever with incredible music) a trilogy by the genius of Italian director Sergio Leone, as well as every other genre. Did you know that there has been more westerns made than any other type of movie? The stuff of dreams and endless games for kids!

2- The Complete Guide to Herbal Medicines:
Call# RS 164 F435 2000
Herbal medicine has been a hot topic ever since it was discovered that plants can cure illnesses.  Every entry in this guide contains information on usage, research, dosage, side effects,...etc. Very good details and not complicated to use! Very convenient to carry, and has the advantage of having two "experienced clinical pharmacists" as authors.

3- The Encyclopedia of Work-related illnesses, Injuries, and Health issues:
Call# RC 963 A3 K348 2004   
Excellent and much usefull source of such an important topic. Benefits every one from Human resources personnel to employers to employees. Provides more than 350 entries  that hopefully can improve the safety and stress relief in the workplace.

4- The Encyclopedia of Suicide
Call# HV 6545 E87 2003
Presents the latest up-to-date information drawn from the newest research and statistics on the matter.  Suicidology, the law, gender, school violence and terrorism and suicide.  Also, very usefull and important, is a list of associations, government agencies, suicide prevention agencies, and crisis hot lines in the United States.

5- Encyclopedia of Women in the Middle Ages:
Call# HQ 1143 L38 2001 
Along with 62 pages of genealogies and 28 pages of bibliography, (fine print & double column) this excellent encyclopedia about women leaders from 500 to 1500 AD. provides usefull information about the culture, history and circumstances that led to such leadership.  Marriage, family, work, religion, are a few of the many aspects of women's lives in the middle ages that are discussed here.

6- World atlas of biodiversity : earth's living resources in the 21st century:

Call# QH 541.15 B56 G767 2002

Very detailed and very well researched! Global biological diversity is described with much attention to detail here. Really indispensable as an excellent source of information.  Survival and well being of the human as well as all the other species is the ultimate focus of this volume.  Has excellent statistics and maps that illustrate and give another dimension to the text.

7- The Oxford classical dictionary:
Call#  DE 5 O9 2003
This is 'The' authority (in one volume) on the Classical World. The 'classical world' is non other than the Greco-Roman era with all its aspects.  More than 6200 entries (by the best scholars on the globe) with bibliographical records for almost all.
Politics, mythology, philosophy, science, art, literature, architecture, military, gender,...etc, are a few of the subjects discussed here.
Outstanding work from Oxford University Press.

New Ref Books, Sept 2004

1. Field guide to the birds of East Africa:
Call # QL 692 A353 S74 2002

Birds in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi will become familiar for you with this field guide!
Beautiful pictures and colors! very detailed with indications on how to find the birds and a map with each explanation for easy orientation!
Compact size and ideal for bird watchers!
Excellent!!

2. Encyclopedia of 20th century architecture:
Call # NA 680 E495 2004 

A 3-volume set on a hundred years (1900-2000) of architecture. quite detailed, covers cities and countries of the world.
3 main broad areas (among others) constitute this work: Persons, Places and architecture topics.
many other facets are studied here, building types, schools and movements, stylistic and theoretical terms, critics and historians...etc.
Very detailed and opens up new ways of looking at the subject, not just plans and numbers.
Good addition to the collection.

3. Encyclopedia of women social reformers:
Call # HQ 1236 R29 2001

"...Includes the stories of more than 400 women from 64 countries....many forgotten movements and personalities that have had major impacts on history
...fascinating biographies" By "Outstanding Reference Sources," American Libraries, May 2002.
Well, it is presented in 2 volumes, and covers most countries around the world where these outstanding women live or lived.
In the first volume there is a neat and useful list of the women by country and another by cause. (very useful!! excellent reference!)
a very good work!

4. Concise encyclopedia of robotics:

Call # TJ 210.4 C65 2003

Very simple and precise with many 'not complicated' drawings (over 150) designed to clearly explain how 'it' works.
up-to-date (till 2003 that is) definitions on many of the 'complex concepts' used in this field made reader-friendly!
a bit small but nice for a quick look.

5. Encyclopedia of water science:
Call # S 494.5 W3 E54 2003

In one volume that is quite big, the reader can find everything one wants to know (or not to know) about the different usages, kinds and fields of water.
The importance of water management is very clear as right now, one person in five does not have access to safe and affordable drinking water
and the population of the world is about 6 billion. In 2025 the population will reach an estimate of 8 billion!!
Agriculture, aquatic biology, environmental engineering, forestry, hydro-geology and other fields of water are all discussed here.
Very useful!

6. Encyclopedia of religious freedom:
Call # BV 741 E47 2003

Sort of the "subject of the hour" nowadays...very good, presented in one volume.
Maybe a bit small for such a subject but really covers a great diversity!
Religious tolerance, state-church relations, the Roman empire, the Islamic empire, Imperial China, Tibet...etc, laws declarations and conventions concerning religious rights,
and off course the hot topic of school prayer and political attitude.
Also contains over 140 entries by scholars from international universities and institutions.

7. A century of Nobel Prizes recipients:
Call # Q 141 C252 2003

Only the chemistry, physics, and medicine prize winners are here...
very nice to see Ahmed Wail there!!
Done as a sort of tribute for all those scientists. Nice colorful illustrations.

8. The complete natural medicine guide to the 50 most common medicinal herbs:
Call # RS 164 B66 2004

Very good reference on herbs and their therapeutic use in various health conditions!
Nice drawings and very detailed explanations, written by licensed pharmacists!
includes the most current research information available.

9. The book of assassins:
Call # HV 6245 F44 2001

Information on Assassins from ancient times to the present.
Concentrates on the assassins themselves rather than on the victims!
found it entertaining! maybe it is just me...
Has also 'least successful' assassins in there or would-be' assassins if you prefer.