Book Reviews
“Dr. Huaiyu Shao has been working in the hydrogen storage field for almost 15 years. I believe he just skillfully edited a must-read book for anyone in the hydrogen energy research community. Read it and get some fresh ideas from some of the most active contributors in the world.” – Xingguo Li, Professor and Director, Institute of Inorganic Chemistry in Peking University, World Famous Scientist in the Field of Hydrogen Storage, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
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“The author introduces new concepts that are relevant both to trauma researchers and to those who investigate culture, stories and our deepest need for narratives for our survival. The book is unquestionably innovative and well written, coherent and a pleasure to read…is full of hand-on exercises that are helping the reader to experiment with the topics of each chapter, thus making the book not only extremely interesting but also tangible.” – Daphna Slonim, M.D. Psychiatrist, Director of DSA Clinic Los Angeles
“The content of this book is extremely valuable and integrates theory and philosophy from several perspectives. This book would be new in the field and would pave the way forward n new ideas and concepts. It takes a novel approach to the subject and challenges us to think again, about what might be dismissed as ‘just a story’.” – Sue Jennings PhD, Professor, University of Derby, UK, Founder of Dramatherapy Federation, Social Anthropologist, Specialist in Neuro-Dramatic-Play
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“Having read George Steiner’s monograph I can confirm that I find it a most impressive achievement. This volume is on the very cutting edge of research in the field it addresses. Its author is certainly one of the most innovative writers on the subject of cognitive human evolution. Here he proposes a volume dedicated to the role of neoteny in hominin evolution, particularly its cultural dimensions. What is from my perspective the most impressive aspect of the work is the exploration of the role exograms played in this. Exograms, ‘memory traces’ stored outside the brain, are the most significant factor in cognitive evolution, and yet they are arguably the most neglected. So far, only two authors have ever considered them in any detail since the late 1980s, despite their fundamental importance in the question of what makes us human, and how we managed to experience the world in a conscious format. Steiner corrects this imbalance, and for that reason alone his book holds great promise. His encyclopaedic knowledge of the generic subject and his most innovative patterns of reasoning have produced a truly worthwhile addition to the rather limited literature on the topic. An aspect I find particularly important is that Steiner did not approach this discipline from the evolutionary perspective initially, but from the direction of a desire to understand the products of human cognition, through his work with paleoart, specifically rock art. Therefore he is not stuck in a particular epistemological groove, but has cultivated the ability to see the issues in an inter-disciplinary perspective.” – Professor Robert G. Bednarik, Convener and Editor-in-Chief, IFRAO; Australian Rock Art Research Association (AURA), Australia
“I have read the manuscript of the proposed book by George Steiner entitled Neanderthals in Plato’s Cave: A Relativistic Approach to Cultural Evolution, and found it to be an extremely thought provoking piece of work. It is well written, clearly organized and well referenced. The author shows a good grasp of the relevant literature on cultural evolution and prehistory and offers a range of interesting and original ideas on the origin of culture in early humans.” – Dr. Liora Kolska Horwitz, Head of Research, Negev Rock Art Center and The National Natural History Collections, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Safra Campus, Jerusalem, Israel
“Steiner begins with an exhaustive review of the literature on human cultural evolution and proceeds to lay out a paradigm for the study where the tenets of dual inheritance theory are viewed through non-synchronous temporal changes toward modernity in three distinct areas: Anatomical Modernity. The first area is anatomical where modernity is identified as a biologically, respectively, culturally-conditioned transition moving from robust to gracile with globular braincase development as its main signature and outcome.” READ MORE… – Bonnye Matthews, Author of The Winds of Change, Alaska. Published in Midwest Book Reviews-October 2017
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“Dr. Michael Zimmerman has written a fascinating account of his globe-trotting adventures in the field of paleopathology – the study of mummies and other ancient human remains and what they can teach us about modern-day human diseases. As he explains the process of unwrapping and analyzing mummies found everywhere from the deserts of Egypt to the frozen tundra of Alaska, this renowned pathologist and archaeologist proves himself a true Indiana Jones of the medical profession.” – Philip Shenon, former Washington correspondent for The New York Times for more than twenty years, bestselling author of The Commission: The Uncensored History of the 9/11 Investigation
“This autobiographical book chronicles the career of one of the world’s most respected mummy experts, but it is more than that. It is a mini-history of paleopathology, the study of disease in the ancient world. Dr. Zimmerman is doubly qualified for this task, he is a pathologist, specifically trained to detect disease, but also a physical anthropologist, qualified to examine skeletal material of the long dead and see what can be read from the bones.” READ MORE… – Bob Brier, Senior Research Fellow, Long Island University, NY, USA
“Michael Zimmerman’s book consists of a series of essays recounting his research experiences with mummies. The book is not written for an academic audience; there are no in- text citations and the bibliography is limited. The book is generally a memoir, both in writing style and the presence of personal anecdotes. Given its construction, it appears intended for both general audiences and as a supplemental text for bioanthropology, paleopathology, or mummy studies courses.” READ MORE… – Ken Nystrom, Department of Anthropology, State University of New York, New Paltz, USA. Published in the International Journal of Paleopathology
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“Essays in Political Anthropology: Reviewing the Essence of Capitalism is a valuable book that inscribes in the fields of emotions, where the dichotomies of fear/terror/risk captivate scholars as the signs of our times. Essays in Political Anthropology… as a very attractive way of understanding political anthropology leaves the reader in a position to understand the role of fear as an emotion prevalent on the planet. Likewise, it allows capturing the restructuring potential of terror as a feature of consumer societies as a tool of power. With this book, Korstanje shows how the radicalization of risk in fear/terror “made the body” allows us to understand how “…the risk is dead, long live the risk”. Definitely: a must-read book.” – Adrian Scribano CONICET-UBA //CIES
“Kostanje’s latest book brings anthropology’s comparative cultural perspective to contemporary global politics. This approach offers a fresh analysis of the chaotic violence which has characterized the first decades of the twenty-first century. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the present circumstances of world politics.” – Geoffrey Skoll, Emeritus Professor at SUNY Buffalo, USA
“How should government leaders and corporate investors make the hardest decisions like whether to risk helping sick people or hostages in another country? This is not actually a moral decision – the easy answer of yes is not what is at stake anymore in the era of global terrorism. If it were, that would be a psychology study. To better understand the relevant global decision-making factors that leaders must learn about the social-cultural philosophy and behavioral impacts. Groups make decisions differently as compared to individuals. When actions in one country can be discovered so quickly using today’s technology, leaders of businesses and government must go back to political anthropology school to learn about the underlying theories and how the philosophical factors can be integrated into contemporary decision-making models. Likewise, researchers and professors must also go back to political anthropology school so they can update the body of knowledge and revise what is taught to students. This is where Max Korstanje’s book comes into play as he explains the domain of knowledge and impacts about political anthropology in the modern global terrorism era. It is valuable and relevant.” – Kenneth David Strang, Associate Professor at SUNY Plattsburgh, US (Founder/Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Risk and Contingency Management IGI Global USA)
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“Nutrition plays an important role in our complementary approach to health. This uniquely comprehensive and evidence-based book delivers detailed and systematic guidelines for healthier and beneficial dietary habits. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggest that the consumption of a diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables is essential to maintain health. USDA’s dietary guidance system ‘MyPlate’ states that half of our plate should consist of fruits and veggies. For a 2,000-calorie diet, it is advised that our daily diet should contain two cups of fruit and 2.5 cups of veggies. The types of supplements available together with dietary sources are also explored.
A daily diet with sufficient quantity of fruits and vegetables has been linked to improved health. Veggies and fruits are a rich source of vitamins, minerals, fibre and antioxidants, which play an important function in protecting against chronic diseases like cardiovascular diseases and cancer. They are low in calories, making them a great choice to reduce one’s waistline. Selecting a colorful assortment of fruits and vegetables is preeminent, as different benefits exist in the different color spectrum. Volume 11 is comprised of four chapters dedicated to describing the health benefits of 1. Turmeric (Curcuma longa); 2. Cardiometabolic effects of functional foods and phytochemicals within Mexican Folklore Medicine (Part 1); 3. Cardiometabolic effects of functional foods and phytochemicals within Mexican Folklore Medicine (Part 2), and 4. Arthospira maxima (spirulina): Protection against mitomycin C-induced dominant lethal mutations.
In the first chapter, the author discusses the orthodox secondary metabolites present in turmeric rhizomes and other parts of the plant. Turmeric rhizomes and leaves are a rich source of terpenoids and polyphenols including curcumonoids. The authors suggested that the acceptable quantity of turmeric consumption does not meet our daily nutritional requirements vital for health. Hence, the health benefits of turmeric are experienced primarily from its secondary metabolites. Curcumin present as major constituents in rhizomes recently gained prominence for its anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities. Thus, this chapter describes how turmeric is recognized as a valuable produce in reducing or preventing microbial infections and cancers like colon and breast cancer.
The second and third chapters describe the cardiometabolic effects of functional foods and phytochemicals from Mexican Folklore Medicine. In these, the authors covered the chemistry and biological activities of cimmon bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), avocado (Persea Americana), maize (Zea mays), vanilla (Vanilla planifolia), chilli peppers (Capsicum spp) (Chapter 2) and chayote (Sechium edule), calabaza (Curcubata spp), agave (Agave spp) and Palama enana (Serona repens) (Chapter 3). In particular, the authors described the various products made from the agave plant and their constituents as well as their health benefits in greater detail. Agave is a valuable source in preparation of various products in Mexico. The plant is underutilized in other parts of the world.
In the final chapter, the authors present original research on antigenotoxic spirulina (Anthrozspira maxima). The protective effect of spirulina is linked to its antioxidant capacity and protection from anti-mutagenicity caused by mitomycin C. This chapter is comprised of original research findings which are usually found in journals.
In total, Volume 11 is an excellent source of information describing the health benefits of various components present in vegetables and fruits. All chapters include reliable information, collected from various research sources including some original findings. With such copious information, Volume 11 is an essential reference for everyone studying nutrition with a complementary health perspective as well as in libraries.” – Rao Gollapudi, Ph.D., University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA.
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“The topic of dark tourism is growing in attention globally. Dr. Korstanje has dedicated this book to understanding the phenomena of travel surrounding death, disasters and terror. This book provides a one-stop shop for understanding a number of key areas of research within dark tourism: the motivations and behaviors surrounding dark travel, smart tourism for dark sites, as well as the economic impact of dark tourism. This book fills a gap in the literature which can be used by students, academics and practitioners alike.” – Professor Dr. Lori Pennington-Gray, University of Florida, USA
“This is a must-read book which starts a new discussion not only on dark tourism issues but on the role of death in modern society. A much deep-seated issue that merits to be investigated in the years to come.” – Abraham Abe Pizam, University of Central Florida, USA
“Dr. Max Korstankje is one of the great minds of our young century. You may agree or disagree with his conclusions but this book, like much of his work makes the careful reader ponder his points and consider his positions. Korstankje is more than a thinker, he is the best type of academic, one who makes us question even the simplest of assumptions. Encountering his ideas is more than a mere journey into another academic work, but a chance to come face to face with multiple questions and academic challenges.” – Peter Tarlow – Texas A&M University, USA
“Gazing Death draws together the latest research in the field by presenting new and important insights in a well-crafted meticulously researched book. The chapters in this volume employ a multidisciplinary perspective to address the social, political, ethical, philosophical and cultural perspectives of dark tourism. It is an indispensable guide that will satisfy the novice and more experienced dark tourism scholar seeking to understand the tourism of macabre spectacles, places of disaster and sites on the darker side of life.” – Demond S. Miller, Rowan University, USA
“Gazing at Death is a must-read book, which allows a restructuration in the ways global tourism should be thought. This represents a fertile invitation to build a new theoretical framework of tourism in this new millenium.” – Associate Professor Celeste Nava – University of Guanajuato, Mexico
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“Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a crucial and challenging aim for the tourism and hospitality industry. This book critically engages with the multidimensional and often ambiguous idea of CSR with an integrated and conceptually sophisticated but still practically driven approach. The book brings into focus the practices of CSR in Global South contexts which is a highly valuable contribution for academic and policy-oriented debates on sustainability and responsibility in tourism development.” – Jarkko Saarinen, University of Oulu, Finland, and University of Johannesburg, South Africa
“This book provides some serious food for thought. It examines a range of case studies and assists the reader to learn from the best practices from around the world. CSR is presented as a methodology to enable different actors to contribute towards value cocreation and happiness. Tourism and hospitality are particularly critical for peripheral, remote and insular places as they are often the only source of income for communities and individuals. The chapters provide a wealth of information and offer a starting point for understanding these themes. They challenge the reader to see different perspectives especially in the context of developing countries.” – Professor Dimitrios Buhalis, Head of Department of Tourism and Hospitality, Bournemouth University, Poole, England
“This volume offers an authoritative set of contributions steering through the complex domain of Corporate Socially Responsibility (CSR) in tourism and hospitality in developing and emerging destinations. It offers a sound collection of critical pieces discussing CSR in its different forms, dimensions and context specific applications, constituting a must read not only for undergraduate and postgraduate students, but also for those who have an interest in the subject both in the academic and practitioners’ world.” – Marina Novelli, Professor of Tourism and International Development, Academic Lead for ‘Responsible Futures’, University of Brighton, England
“The field of this edited book concerns the association of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) with tourism and hospitality industry in the developing world. Overall, the book includes seven chapters, each of them well articulating the thematic of reference. The provided insights are very helpful for the reader to contextualize and understand CSR issues related with tourism and hospitality in developing communities. The editorial introduction is efficiently presenting and explaining the aspects elaborated in the edited book, as well as the main CSR issues that need to be taken under consideration for tourism and hospitality development.
Within its seven chapters, this edited book tries to provide a more internationalized perspective concerning CSR in the developing world. It successfully documents several challenges in CSR activities and regional development connecting theoretical with practical domains. In addition, the chapters individually provide a basic understanding for the areas they elaborate. This edited book can be valuable for students and practitioners especially in the field of CSR and tourism development. The illustrated diverse disciplines contribute to the provision of an understanding in terms of tourism and hospitality in the developing world and CSR’s current trends and issues. As a result, the general reader has the ability not only to attempt reading the whole book but to select the chapter(s) of interest. Additionally, it is up to the reader’s interest whether to focus on a specific part of the book or in individual chapters.” – Dr. Nikolaos Pappas, Director of CERTE (Centre for Research in Tourism Excellence), University of Sanderland, England
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“Tourism is widely recognized as a basic determinant of economic growth at the national, regional and global level. Moreover, it constitutes a basic pillar of social development. Tourism exerts a great impact on employment and output, especially when it is examined in the context of the current economic and financial crisis. However, in an increasingly integrated economic environment a coherent scientific framework is required in order to identify emerging issues as well as latest trends and synergies concerning new policy perspectives. It must be realized that to a large extent tourism has successfully confronted the global crisis and external shocks demonstrating its resilience in terms of stimulating economies. Active tourism policies have played an essential role in supporting a competitive and sustainable tourism economy. However, addressing major challenges and maximizing tourism’s full economic potential, requires a multidimensional and operational approach in terms of policy design. The book “Modeling and New Trends in Tourism: A Contribution to Social and Economic Development” captures these ongoing tendencies and implications based on scientific methodologies in order to model and explain tourism competitiveness, local conditions of tourism and territories’ viability. Moreover, the book analyses tourism performance and recent policy trends, objectives, initiatives and reforms contributing to a new vision for contemporary tourism industry. The book highlights the need for active, innovative and consistent policy responses to ensure that tourism remains a sustainable and a competitive sector. As a result, the book may serve as an international reference and benchmark regarding the enhancement of sustainable tourism with the aim to support agents’ decisions either in the public or in the private sector.” – Ioannis Vavouras, Professor Economic Policy, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, Greece
“Going through this book the readers will surely notice the commitment, and even passion, put into its design and enhancement. Indeed, contributors, editors and authors, were able to align a set of models giving a new insight for the contemporary tourism economy in a clear and well-structured way following a scientific approach, aiming to supply tools to decision makers, public or private. It is to highlight that the text evidences there was really much reflection and research on the current reality to base the opinions expressed in this work as well as possible. This gave rise to that “Modeling and New Trends in Tourism: A Contribution to Social and Economic Development” is a high quality scientific book, with a very pleasant reading, fundamental for professionals and researchers of the problematic of tourism and also accessible to anyone curious about this subject.” – Professor Manuel Alberto M. Ferreira, ISCTE-IUL, Lisboa
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“Event management has become a fashionable topic over the last few decades, so there have been enormous efforts in contributing to its applications in research, education and practice. Event management is diversified encompassing academic (meetings, forums etc), social (wedding parties, concerts etc), economic (mega events, fairs, football etc), and geographical (hiking, skiing, water sports etc) dimensions; all has become a brand name in many societies. It is pleasing to see that the academia has paid much more attention to advance the limits of event management to make it as one of the most significant elements of the new millennium’s economic activities worldwide. In this context, Event Management is a nice contribution to introduce its association with some other subjects such as image, planning, policies and education and also provide case studies representing various countries worldwide. It is a useful reference for both the academia and practice.” – Professor Metin Kozak, Dokuz Eylul University, Turkey
“I welcome this edited book on event management. We need to constantly add to knowledge and these diverse, contributed chapters will be of interest to everyone in the field.” – Don Getz – University of Calgary, Canada
“This edited collection features contributions from a highly experienced and diverse group of international scholars with it representing an authoritative and timely contribution to the domain of international event management. In seeking to bridge the gap between theory and practice the contribution includes a good range of event destination scenarios with examples drawn from the UK, Caribbean, Greece, South Africa and the Middle East. An invaluable read for all those engaged in the management of events internationally.” – Dr Alan Fyall, Orange County Endowed Professor of Tourism Marketing, Rosen College of Hospitality Management, University of Central Florida
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