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Reader’s Roundup: Monographic Musings & Reference Reviews
Column Editor: Corey Seeman (Director, Kresge Library Services, Ross School of Business, University of Michigan) <cseeman@umich.edu>
Visit him at https://www.squirreldude.com/
Column Editor’s Note: As I am writing this at the end of another strange year in library land, I am grateful for many things.
First, I am grateful for excellent reviewers like Carolyn Filippelli (University of Arkansas – Fort Smith) and Jennifer Matthews (Rowan University) who have authored the three reviews you see in this column. As always, I want to thank them for bringing this column together.
Second, I am grateful for the fact that there are resources that let me understand the historical stigma of mental health issues, the longstanding attraction to conspiracy theories and the ways that individuals may find a career in music. These three works will be useful for libraries where patrons are hoping to find something real to help them move along.
Third, I am grateful for the newest additions to our house — Fred and Ginger. These two kittens were adopted on October 7th, 2023. So if you have asked for anything from me since that day, it is late — but there is good reason. We last had kittens in 2006 — so we are out of practice. But life is grand — they are masters of the home and get along well with our dog Runyon (often presented here in this column). The cats were supposed to be named Miss Kitty and Chester (from the old radio and TV series Gunsmoke). But we never had a tuxedo cat before and Pam thought that we needed a more elegant name. Thus, with all but a top hat, Fred and Ginger were thus named. Though he is more like a Chester — that is another story. They just turned six months old — and are a hoot!
If you would like to be a reviewer for Against the Grain, please write me at <cseeman@umich.edu> If you are a publisher and have a book you would like to see reviewed in a future column, please also write me directly. You can also find out more about the Reader’s Roundup here — https://www.squirreldude.com/ atg-readers-roundup.
Happy reading and be nutty! — Corey
Careers in the Music Industry. Ipswich, MA: Salem Press, 2021. 9781637000304. $125.00
Reviewed by Jennifer Matthews (Collection Strategy Librarian, Rowan University) <matthewsj@rowan.edu>
The music industry is rapidly growing and includes careers in areas that individuals might need more time to consider
or have yet to realize even existed. With that in mind, this reference volume was created to provide an overview of many different and varied possibilities that one can undertake as a career musician, focusing on high school and undergraduate students trying to decide on a career path. Careers range from bartender to lawyer to executive and demonstrate the wide range of possibilities for students interested in music-based fields.
Careers in Music Industry highlights 31 music occupations with a snapshot that includes features such as median pay, typical education, job prospects, working conditions, and recommended areas of interest for that field. Additionally, entries include a general overview with information about similar occupations. One of the key features of each entry is an interview with an individual currently in that occupation to provide a firsthand glance at what each professional does in their role, how they got there, essential skills for the role, what they wish they knew before their role, what the job prospects are like in their field, and where they see their profession going in the next five years.
This reference book also uses the Holland code, created by psychologist John Holland based on theories of careers and vocational choice. The work provides a guide to use in an appendix for the classification of each career. The Holland code has six categories for classification that include realistic, investigative, artistic, social, enterprising, and conventional. Applying these categories to each profession allows for a systematic rating of each occupation throughout and provides a way for individuals to better understand how different fields might compare. Additionally, there is a list of organizations and resources in an appendix that readers can utilize for further information about any of the careers in the book.
With the variety of careers in this reference book and the focus on high-school and undergraduate students, this item is worth considering for inclusion in collections that assist with career development.
ATG Reviewer Rating: I need this available somewhere in my shared network. (I probably do not need this book, but it would be nice to get it within three to five days via my network catalog.)
Issitt, Micah L. Opinions Throughout History: Conspiracy Theories. Grey House Publishing, 2022. 978-1-63700-5170. 718 pages, $195.00.
Reviewed by Carolyn Filippelli (Reference Librarian, Boreham Library, University of Arkansas-Fort Smith) <carolyn.filippelli@uafs.edu>
Many books have been published on the causes, origins, and types of conspiracies. Opinions Throughout History: Conspiracy Theories is a recent publication that presents a wide-ranging group of conspiracies that have occurred during various periods in United States history. Where appropriate, European and other historical roots of conspiracies and groups such as the Illuminati and the Rosicrucians are also included as background.
Following a thought-provoking introductory chapter on the “Nature of Belief,“ the next chapter continues with conspiracies associated with the reputed activities of Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty in fomenting colonial rebellion during the revolutionary period of American history. Additional conspiracies during these early years of U.S. history were those about Romanism and Anti-Catholic prejudices, conspiracies associated with the gold standard and coinage, and reputed intrigues of the Freemasons. Historical timelines, photos, primary sources, and cartoons provide additional context
and aid in understanding the origins behind the conspiracies presented. The “Issue Entrepreneurs” section highlights figures or organizations who represented a specific conspiracy or were important in perpetuating it.
Important discussions in this work focus on the reasons why individuals are attracted to conspiracy theories, the types of persons who become followers of conspiracy theories, and the various reasons why conspiracy theories develop. Over the various decades of U.S. history, a wide variety of factors and perspectives, including those from sociology, psychology, political science, medical science, and religion have influenced development of conspiracies. The contributions of the internet and social media in perpetuating conspiracies and the importance of critical thinking and a literate population in evaluating conspiracies are emphasized.
The range of conspiracy theories included in this volume is impressive. These include conspiracies related to the Jewish people, Holocaust Denial, Satanism and Ouija boards, the Red Scare, UFOs and aliens, the Kennedy assassination, Gays and HIV/AIDS, the suspected hoax of the moon landing, and climate change. Also included are activities of organizations such as the John Birch Society and anti- vaccine movements that preceded those surrounding those of the COVID outbreaks. Some of the most chilling conspiracies relate to government experiments with psychedelic drugs, the gun control conspiracy connected with the Sandy Hook shooting, and those conspiracies related to QAnon and the election of 2020.
The variety and quality of sources is outstanding. The section on “Works Used” provides excellent sources for further reading. Discussion Questions for each chapter are a logical starting point for debate, discussion, and critical thinking exercises in classes in psychology, political science, history, and media.
ATG Reviewer Rating: I need this in my library. (I want to be able to get up from my desk and grab this book off the shelf, if it’s not checked out.)
Issitt, Micah. Opinions Throughout History: Mental Health. Grey House Publishing, 2023. 978-1-63700-540-8. 630 pages, $195.00.
Reviewed by Carolyn Filippelli (Reference Librarian, Boreham Library, University of Arkansas-Fort Smith) <carolyn.filippelli@uafs.edu>
In Opinions Throughout History: Mental Health, the author skillfully interweaves text, primary sources, and images to chronicle changes in the attitudes and treatment of mental illness. The primary aim of the 29 essays in this book is the presentation of the why — the historical events and the causes (religious, legal, medical, and political) that contributed to changes in attitudes about mental health.
Cultural prejudices, superstition, and lack of scientific knowledge were early factors that influenced public opinion about mental illness. Originally, the focus of treatments was on keeping individuals with mental health problems locked up to protect society. If problematic individuals were locked up, they would be out of sight and mind. Society could then ignore these persons. Asylums and institutional homes for the mentally ill were some results of this way of thinking. Gradually, through scientific research and the work of many activists such as Dorothea Dix, reforms were made. Treatment philosophy on mental illness gradually changed from one of “lock up” to a more enlightened emphasis on restoring individuals to mental health.
Of particular interest in this work are discussions on the origins and treatment of hysteria, the eugenics movement, experiments with electric shock therapy and lobotomy, B. F. Skinner’s baby box or high-tech crib, and neurodiversity. Accomplishments of well-known pioneers such as Freud and Watson are included as are Dr. Benjamin Rush’s theory about alcoholism as a disease. Achievements of other scientists who produced research on behavioral psychology, conditioning, child psychology, the autism spectrum, and post- traumatic stress disorder helped to increase public awareness and knowledge about mental illness. Legal cases resulted in the insanity defense and rulings on involuntary medication and involuntary commitment.
Opinions Through History: Mental Health fills a definite need for a current and well-balanced work on this topic. Author Michael Issitt has skillfully curated text and primary sources to illustrate the causes behind events. Features such as historical snapshots, photos, a bibliography, and notes add to the usefulness of the work. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter could be appropriately used for seminars and discussion groups. A feature that might be added is a section on web resources or names of organizations for further information on mental health statistics and polls, organizations involved in mental health education, and information from government agencies such as the National Institutes of Health. Further exploration of topics such as telehealth, therapeutic uses of psychoactive drugs, and the connections of mental health to homelessness, gun violence, and crises such as COVID require additional volumes. This is a solid and versatile reference work. It has applications as a sourcebook for supplementary readings in psychology, social work, and the social sciences. It also has value as a resource for workshops and seminars on mental health awareness. Opinions Throughout History: Mental Health is the twentieth volume in a series by Grey House Publishing. It is available in both print and online format.
ATG Reviewer Rating: I need this in my library. (I want to be able to get up from my desk and grab this book off the shelf, if it’s not checked out.)
Guide to the ATG Reviewer Ratings
The ATG Reviewer Rating is being included for each book reviewed. Corey came up with this rating to reflect our collaborative collections and resource sharing means and thinks it will help to classify the importance of these books.
• I need this book on my nightstand. (This book is so good, that I want a copy close at hand when I am in bed.)
• I need this on my desk. (This book is so valuable, that I want my own copy at my desk that I will share with no one.)
• I need this in my library. (I want to be able to get up from my desk and grab this book off the shelf, if it’s not checked out.)
• I need this available somewhere in my shared network. (I probably do not need this book, but it would be nice to get it within three to five days via my network catalog.)
• I’ll use my money elsewhere. (Just not sure this is a useful book for my library or my network.)