September news and new books

News and Notes

Hurricane Isaac may have forced the cancellation of last week’s Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association (APSA), but that didn’t stop us from putting together our own APSA Virtual Exhibit Booth!

Garrison Keillor reads X.J. Kennedy’s poem, “Décor,” from Kennedy’s collection In a Prominent Bar in Secaucus in honor of his 83rd birthday on The Writer’s Almanac.

Hot off the Press

George Washington’s EyeBased on Washington’s personal diaries and correspondence and accounts of visitors to his estate, this richly illustrated book introduces a George Washington unfamiliar to many readers—an avid art collector, amateur architect, and leading landscape designer of his time.

Tapping into The Wire: The Real Urban Crisis: Tapping into ‘The Wire’ uses the acclaimed television series as a road map for exploring connections between inner-city poverty and drug-related violence. Each chapter recounts scenes from episodes of the HBO series, placing the characters’ challenges into the broader context of public policy.


Matters of Fact in Jane Austen: History, Location, and Celebrity: In this forward-thinking and revealing investigation, Janine Barchas makes the bold assertion that Jane Austen’s novels allude to actual high-profile politicians and contemporary celebrities as well as to famous historical figures and landed estates.


African American Faces of the Civil War: An AlbumDiscover the stories of the men of color who fought for their freedom during the Civil War through profiles  illustrated with original wartime photographs.


A Parent’s Guide to Children’s Medicines: In this indispensable guide, an experienced pediatric pharmacist provides information to parents on how to give safe and effective medications to children.


Transhumanist Dreams and Dystopian Nightmares: The Promise and Peril of Genetic Engineering:  What will happen when technology allows us to direct our own evolution? It is inevitable that we will attempt to control our evolutionary future, and it is equally inevitable that in the process, we are bound to make mistakes. Our responsibility is to learn how to balance innovation with caution.

Praise and Reviews

Taking stock of the completion agenda, Inside Higher Ed interviews the editors of Getting to Graduation, Andrew P. Kelly and Mark Schneider.