Readers wanting to bone up on politics and policy issues before the November election may want to turn to 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis faculty authors for insights. The following titles, all published within the last year, cover topics ranging from political influences in popular movies to the achievement gap in K-12 schools.
鈥淐ontemporary Hollywood Masculinities: Gender, Genre and Politics鈥 by Susanne Kord and Elizabeth Krimmer (Palgrave MacMillan, 2011, $85, 290 pages): This book traces changing concepts of masculinity in popular Hollywood blockbusters during the Clinton and Bush presidencies against a backdrop of contemporary political events. The authors, who look at more than 60 films (including 鈥淭he Matrix,鈥 鈥淟ord of the Rings鈥 and 鈥40-Year-Old Virgin鈥), argue that movies respond directly to the day鈥檚 social and political realities -- and are far from mere entertainment. Krimmer is a professor of German, performance studies and cultural studies at 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis. Her co-author is a professor at University College of London.
鈥淣arrowing the Achievement Gap: Perspectives and Strategies for Challenging Times鈥 edited by Tom Timar and Julie Maxwell-Jolly (Harvard Education Press; $29.95; 336 pages): This book does not offer any quick fixes, but it lays out promising and realistic measures for helping close the achievement gap that holds back children who are poor, racially isolated or have language challenges. The authors provide thoughtful alternatives to federal policies that have failed to close this gap. Timar is a professor at the 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis School of Education and executive director of its Center for Applied Policy in Education. Maxwell-Jolly is a senior researcher and managing director at the center.
鈥淟earning to Liberate: Community-Based Solutions to the Crisis in Urban Education鈥 by Vajra Watson (Routledge, $39.35, 248 pages): Watson, director of research and policy for equity at the 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis School of Education, analyzes four nontraditional educators鈥 tactics and strategies for reaching and teaching students in this book about community-based school reform.
鈥淣ormal Organizational Wrongdoing: A Critical Analysis of Theories of Misconduct in and by Organizations鈥 by Donald Palmer (Oxford University Press, $85, 352 pages): Why good people do bad things has long been an interest of this 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis Graduate School of Management professor. Going beyond the headlines for such stories as the mortgage meltdown and energy market manipulations, he makes the case that wrongdoing by managers, seniors officials and employees is common, and often committed by ordinary people whose behavior is unwittingly shaped by the immediate social context. Palmer offers potential explanations of wrongdoing and makes policy suggestions to reduce it.
鈥淚mmigration Law and the U.S. Mexico Border鈥 by Kevin R. Johnson (University of Arizona Press, $19.95, 312 pages): Taking on issues central to the national debate on immigration, this book explores the history of discrimination against Mexican Americans, recent crackdowns on undocumented immigrants and key policy questions. Johnson is dean of the 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis School of Law and the Mabie-Apallas Professor of Public Interest Law and Chicana/o Studies. The book鈥檚 co-author is Valparaiso University School of Law Professor Bernard Trujillo. The book has relevance for anyone interested in the state of border relations. It recently placed first for Best Reference Book in English in the International Latino Book Awards competition.
鈥淒octors and Demonstrators: How Political Institutions Shape Abortion Law in the United States, Britain and Canada鈥 by Drew Halfmann (University of Chicago Press, $35, 336 pages): This book by a 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis sociology professor explores abortion as a medical and political issue in Britain, Canada and the U.S. The publisher calls it: 鈥渁 groundbreaking study of the complex legal and political factors behind the evolution of abortion policy 鈥 vital to anyone trying to understand this contentious issue.鈥 The book won the American Sociological Association鈥檚 2012 Charles Tilly Best Book Award, Section on Collective Behavior and Social Movements.
鈥淪tates of Delinquency: Race and Science in the Making of the California Justice System鈥 by Miroslava Ch谩vez-Garc铆a (University of California Press, $27.95, 314 pages): Ch谩vez-Garc铆a, a professor of Chicana/o studies at 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis, uses California as a case study for examining racism in the treatment of incarcerated young people of color. 鈥淪tates of Delinquency鈥 looks at the experiences of young Mexican Americans, African Americans and other young people of color in California correctional facilities who endured harsh treatment and abuse, including sterilization.
鈥淛ust Growth: Inclusion and Prosperity in America鈥檚 Metropolitan Regions鈥 by Chris Benner and Manuel Pastor Jr. (Routledge, $25, 248 pages): Benner, an associate professor of human and community development at 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis, and Pastor, a professor of geography and American studies at the University of Southern California, argue that some metropolitan regions achieved improved social equity and economic performance during the Great Recession and its aftermath. Seven case studies are featured. 鈥淚n certain places, key metropolitan actors 鈥 including collaboratives of business, labor, civic and community leaders 鈥 have been increasingly clear that a more inclusive economic approach could actually strengthen the social consensus and human capital needed to compete in a global economy,鈥 they write. Benner also serves on the executive committee of the 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis Center for Regional Change.
鈥淎quanomics: Water Markets and the Environment鈥 edited by B. Delworth Gardner and Randy T. Simmons (The Independent Institute, $29.95, 456 pages): This book discusses some of the instruments and policies that may be implemented to postpone or avoid the onset of water crises regionally and throughout the world. Three chapters focus on California. Gardner is an emeritus professor of agricultural economics at 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis and a long-time water expert. His co-editor is an economics professor at Utah University.
To keep up with other new books from 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis authors, subscribe to the 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis Bookstore Buzz, published by 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis trade books buyer Paul Takushi (who helped select titles for this list). Send an e-mail to pmtakushi@ucdavis.edu with 鈥渂uzz subscribe鈥 in the subject heading. Books by 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis authors are also on sale at the bookstore in the 鈥淐ampus Authors,鈥 section or can be ordered through 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis Stores. For more information, visit .
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Karen Nikos-Rose, Research news (emphasis: arts, humanities and social sciences), 530-219-5472, kmnikos@ucdavis.edu