Do you know what topics are safe for discussion in Ireland or the type of gifts to avoid giving in Japan? Whether you're preparing to study abroad or gearing up for spring break, learn how to avoid embarrassing moments by reading an edition of Do's and Don'ts Around the World: A Country Guide to Cultural and Social Taboos and Etiquette. The books consist of long lists of activities and whether that activity is customary, not customary or forbidden (a crime) in each country. These books are reference guides with useful information for any international traveler.
Do's and Don'ts Around the World: Africa
(Vairo Library BJ2137.N832 1998)
Do's and Don'ts Around the World: Europe
(Vairo Library BJ2137.N8333 1998)
Do's and Don'ts Around the World: the Middle East
(Vairo Library BJ2137.N835 1998)
Do's and Don'ts Around the World: Oceania and Japan
(Vairo Library BJ2137.N8335 1998)
Do's and Don'ts Around the World: USA, Canada, and Australia
(Vairo Library BJ2137.N836 1998)
Britney and K-Fed...Nick and Jessica...Brad and Jen! Entertainment shows swarm when the marriages of hollywood couples come to an end. But the effects of divorce in general are not highly publicized. Two professors of psychology, Alison Clarke-Stewart and Cornelia Brentano, wrote a comprehensive book about the topic called Divorce: Causes and Consequences. The authors combine theory, research, and examples that explore topics from the history and trends of divorce to the postdivorce adjustments for adults and children. Some statistics may surprise you, such as: "the divorce rate is the lowest it has been in thirty years" and "the early years of marriage have the highest divorce risk" (pg 17). Whether divorce has touched you personally or you're studying the social sciences, this authoritiative book is worth the read.
(Vairo Library HQ814.C55 2006)
Have a great business venture idea? Joseph A. Michelli, founder of Lessons for Success (a training and consulting firm), describes the five key leadership principles responsible for the success of "one of the great growth companies of our time" in The Starbucks Experience: 5 Principles for Turning Ordinary into Extraordinary (pg 1). Michelli reviews the company's many accomplishments and derived the Starbucks Experience principles "in the hope that you will apply them to your own situation to enrich your leadership influence in business and beyond" (pg 16). So what are you waiting for? Check out this book, learn the principles, and try them out for yourself!
(Vairo Library HD9199.U54S736 2007)
Interested in comtemporary history? Browse the new book section in front of the circulation desk to find intriguing titles like the ones below on the Vietnam War.
Rolling Thunder in a Gentle Land: the Vietnam War Revisited offers a comprehensive look at the war from the conflict's beginning through its legacy today. This amazing resource is a great introduction for readers with little knowledge about the war and includes many pictures, maps and political cartoons.
(Vairo Library DS557.7.R6 2006)
In Debating Vietnam: Fulbright, Stennis, and Their Senate Hearings, historian Joseph A. Fry recounts the two senators' highly publicized and vastly different approaches on how to end the war.
(Vairo Library DS558.F79 2006)
The Deadly Bet: LBJ, Vietnam, and the 1968 Election argues that Lyndon B. Johnson "made a life-or-death bet that Americans could fight a long war against a determined foe, and, at the same time, maintain order and protect constitutional rights" at home (pg 1). Author Walter LaFeber explains the turmoil that resulted from what he calls LBJ's failed gamble.
(Vairo Library E851.L33 2005)
Social networks are crucial if you live in a big city like Philly. Richardson Dilworth, an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Drexel, compiled ten essays about the importance of urban social networks in Social Capital in the City: Community and Civic Life in Philadelphia. This book is the first volume of its kind to examine social capital in a wide range of contexts over time periods in one city. From education and neighborhood life to voter behavior and political activism, the wide range of topics reflect the complexity of urban life. Social Capital is a valuable resource for people interested in sociology, urban theory and local studies.
(Vairo Library HN80.P5S64 2006)
Celebrate Black History Month by reading several fascinating books on African American history and culture. The titles below and many other great ones are displayed in front of the circulation desk in the library. Come check them out.
In After the Storm: Black Intellectuals Explore the Meaning of Hurricane Katrina, "thirteen prominent black intellectuals explore the meaning of Katrina and address some of the difficult and disturbing questions raised in its wake" (book jacket).
(Vairo Library E185.615.A594 2006)
Black Lenses, Black Voices: African American Film Now discusses the history and current trends of African American and black-oriented (whose directors/screenwriters are not black) films, including the genres of family, action, horror and female-oriented films.
(Vairo Library PN1995.9.N4R43 2005)
Up South: Civil Rights and Black Power in Philadelphia captures the historic struggle for civil rights in the City of Brotherly Love and how Black Power activists altered the city's social and political landscape.
(Vairo Library F158.9.N4C68 2006)