New at the Library

Description: Looks at the unfolding of some of the biggest conspiracy theories in the history of America–from the assassination of JFK, to the alleged links between vaccines and autism, to QAnon and the imagined pedophilia ring of the “deep state.” Looking deeper into the origins and development of these theories will reveal how fear and mistrust have shaped American popular culture and continue to shape attitudes about the perceived secret, hidden nature of America, the world, and even the universe. (publ.)

Description: This book detail history’s most significant diseases and epidemics and trace scientific discoveries from microbiology to germ theory to vaccination–tools that allowed a level of control over disease outbreaks. Coverage follows patterns of science skepticism and refusal by some to engage in safe practices like quarantine, social distancing, and mask-wearing. Governments who have downplayed the severity of an outbreak to avoid panic and prevent economic decline include Woodrow Wilson’s administration and their handling of the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic and Donald Trump’s administration during the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020. The changing role of the press is also examined, from Wilson’s near-total control of the flow of information to today’s near immediate public access to data and fact-checking. (publ.)

Description: Almost as soon as free speech and freedom of the press were enshrined in the Constitution with the First Amendment, the fledgling US government attempted to curtail criticism in 1798 with the passage of the Alien and Sedition Acts, citing national security interests. From that point to the present, the First Amendment has been the subject of legal challenges and public controversy. Court decisions have dealt with free speech and national security, obscenity laws and women’s reproductive rights, and self-incrimination and the law, to name a few society-defining issues. The civil disobedience and protests that occurred during the civil rights movement are another example of protected free speech, and the free speech rights of minors were established when high school students wore black armbands to protest the Vietnam War. Free speech touches on issues as wide-ranging as political campaign financing and cake-making, which can all be viewed as a form of expression and have significant consequences for American society. Also discussed in this volume are key decisions regarding new media, from films to the Internet to video games. (publ.)

Decennial census data on Iowa from 1850 to 2000 -- Iowa's population -- Natural change and migration in Iowa -- Counties and incorporated places in Iowa -- Rural and urban residents of Iowa -- Households and families in Iowa -- Gender in Iowa -- Age in Iowa -- Race and ethnicity in Iowa -- Education in Iowa -- Employment status and occupation in Iowa -- Income in Iowa -- Disability in Iowa -- Housing in Iowa -- Iowa after 2000.

Description: A textbook and reference guide that offers student writers and writing instructors guidance on creating works-cited-list entries in MLA style using the template of core elements. It features advice on punctuation, grammar, inclusive language, formatting research papers, and in-text citations. Includes an appendix of sample works-cited-list entries, illustrations, and an index.

Description: Recognized guide to smooth, orderly, and fairly conducted meetings. (publ.)

Description: With its pyramids, mummies, and sphinxes, ancient Egypt has fascinated us for centuries. It has been the setting of many films and novels, figuring prominently in popular culture. Much of what the average reader believes about this civilization, however, is mistaken. Through a unique collection of primary source documents, this book critically examines several topics related to ancient Egypt and about which misconceptions abound. Primary sources, many in new translations by the author, are drawn from ancient Egyptian, classical Greek and Roman, Muslim, early Christian, and modern European documents. These sources shed light on popular misconceptions. Such topics include the divinity of the pharaoh, the role of animals in ancient Egyptian religion, the purpose of the Egyptian pyramids, the use of slave labor, the Egyptian hieroglyphic writing system, the role of Cleopatra in the defeat of Marc Antony and the fall of the Roman Republic, and the influence of Egyptian religion on the development of early Christianity. By studying these documents, users will be able to develop their skills interpreting and evaluating primary sources. (publ.)

Description: Roman personalities and history have always had a larger-than-life profile in American popular culture, but most people think of this ancient civilization as merely decadent, cruel, and elitist. Most of our stereotypical conceptions of the empire and its people, however, are wrong. This book corrects popular misconceptions about the ancient Roman world, thus making ancient history relevant and accessible to modern readers and allowing modern critics of American politics and society to draw accurate comparisons. Each chapter discusses how a particular misconception developed, spread, and evolved into what we now believe to be the historical truth. Topics discussed include crucifixion, the destruction of Carthage, Julius Caesar’s last words, and Roman hygiene. Excerpts from primary source documents provide evidence of both the rise of the historical fictions and the truths behind the myths. (publ.)

Description: Buddhism is practiced by millions of adherents around the world. Originating in ancient India, it spread throughout Asia and then to the West, and it exists in multiple traditions. Despite its popularity, it is also the subject of many misconceptions. This book examines those misconceptions along with the historical truths behind the myths. The book begins with an introduction that places Buddhism in its historical and cultural contexts. This is followed by chapters on particular erroneous beliefs related to the religion. Chapters explore whether Buddhism is a singular tradition, if it is a religion or a philosophical system, if it is rational and scientific, whether the Buddha was an ordinary human, and other topics. Each chapter summarizes the misconception and how it spread, along with what we now believe to be the underlying truth behind the falsehood. Quotations and excerpts from primary source documents provide evidence for the mistaken beliefs and the historical truths. The book closes with a selected, general bibliography. (publ.)

Description: Why did Christianity become the largest religion in the world? Is it because it was misogynistic, pro-slavery, anti-science, and set on condemning those who didn’t join it? This book investigates many of the misconceptions about Christianity and argues that there are good reasons this faith has become the world's largest. The book includes chapters on various misconceptions related to the history of Christianity, such as the beliefs that Jesus was a meek and mild carpenter, the Roman emperor Constantine was insincere in his Christian faith, medieval Europe was devoutly Christian, and Christianity was anti-science. Each chapter explores how the historical misconception developed and spread, and offers what we now believe to be the historical truth contradicting the fiction. Excerpts from primary source documents provide evidence for the historical misconceptions and truths and help readers to respond critically to claims about Christian history. (publ.)

Description: This book is the first to present fictions about the medieval world to serious students of history. Instead of merely listing myths and stating they are wrong, this volume promotes critical historical analysis of those myths and how they came to be. Each of the ten chapters outlines a pervasive modern myth about medieval European history, describing “What People Think Happened” and “What Really Happened,” and illustrating both trends with primary source documents. The book demonstrates that historical fictions also have a history, and that while we need to replace those fictions with facts about the medieval past, we can also benefit from understanding how a fiction about the Middle Ages developed and what that says about our modern perspectives on the past. Through this innovative presentation, readers are introduced to a wide range of sources, from Roman imperial perspectives on the “Fall of Rome” to songs of chivalry and chronicles of the Crusades, scientific treatises on the shape of the Earth and the creation of the universe and early modern stories and textbooks that developed or perpetuated historical myths. (publ.)

Description: While the Victorian era captivates many today, much of what people believe about the Victorian world is actually false. This book looks at nine specific myths about Victorian Britain, explaining how the myths perpetuated and then showing why they are inaccurate. Coverage spans 1830-1914, from shortly before Victoria’s reign to World War I. The book is organized in three sections, beginning with social issues, then cultural ones, and ending with politics and war. The social sections pull in the reader by discussing the most common myths about the Victorians–their sexual prudery, strict gender roles, and infamous views of the family–while offering counterpoints to the myths. The cultural section moves into humor, criminal justice issues, and race, and the political section caps the book with discussions of the Industrial Revolution, foreign affairs, and war. Included are a large number of primary source documents showing how the misconceptions became popular, along with evidence for what scholars now believe to be the truths behind the myths. (publ.)

Description: When people think of the Vikings, they often envision marauding barbarians who lived violent lives. While a number of mistaken beliefs about the Vikings have become ingrained in popular culture, they are not grounded in historical facts. This book examines popular misconceptions related to the Vikings and the historical truths that contradict the fictions. The book discusses 11 mistaken notions about the Vikings, with each fiction treated in its own chapter. Topics include whether the Vikings wore horned helmets, whether they were unhygienic, whether they had primitive weapons, whether they drank out of skull cups, and more. Each chapter examines how the misconception proliferated and discusses what we now believe to be the facts contradicting the fictions. Excerpts from primary source documents help readers to understand how the misconceptions came to be throughout history and provide evidence for the historical truths. (publ.)

Description: Shakespeare is perhaps the most famous author in world literature. His works have attracted tremendous critical and historical attention, and the world in which he lived has been the subject of hundreds if not thousands of books. But for all the attention given to Shakespeare and his world, arguments continue about what we can say for sure concerning his life and works. This book brings a unique perspective to the ongoing fascination and debate over the life and works of the most renowned writer of all time. The book focuses on ten separate key issues, including Shakespeare’s sexuality, his religion, his marriage and family, his education, and the vexing “authorship question.” Each chapter treats a particular topic and provides a section on what people think happened, how the story developed, and what we now believe is the historical truth. (publ.)

Description: This book examines alternative healing practices in American popular culture. From traditional folk approaches to more recent developments, it discusses the rise and fall of more than 100 popular approaches to addressing both physical ailments and mental health needs. It situates each popular approach in the history and culture of health and wellness in America. Moreover, the book shows that “orthodox” medicine and unconventional approaches may have more in common than many people think, because both are subject to the changing nature of the medical understanding and the strength of their appeal to consumers. While the main focus is on remedies lying outside the medical mainstream, the book also highlights how many widely accepted therapeutic treatments of the past–for example, “the water cure” (hydrotherapy) or lobotomy (psychosurgery)–fell out of favor and were quickly forgotten. Besides examining popular healing techniques, the book also explores the changing nature of the medical market-place and how once-standard treatments (e.g., leeching, psychoanalysis) have had their ups and downs. (publ.)

Description: In their daily struggles to forge lives of dignity and meaning within an in-human system, slaves in the Antebellum South demonstrated creativity, resilience, and an insatiable desire to be free. This volume focuses on their struggles to create lives of meaning and dignity within a brutal and repressive system. It provides a comprehensive examination of the institution of slavery from the perspective of the slaves themselves. Readers can explore the family life, religious beliefs, political activities, intellectual aspirations, material possessions, and recreational pursuits of enslaved people. The book shows that enslaved people were tightly constrained by the harsh realities of the oppressive system under which they lived, but that they found ways to forge lives of their own. The book synthesizes the latest and best literature on slavery and gives readers the opportunity to examine history through the lens of daily life using primary source documents created by slaves or former slaves. (publ.)

The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Seventh Edition is the official source for APA Style. Known for its authoritative, easy-to-use reference and citation system, the Publication Manual also offers guidance on choosing the headings, tables, figures, language, and tone that will result in powerful, concise, and elegant scholarly communication. It guides users through the scholarly writing process-from the ethics of authorship to reporting research through publication.

Description: What was daily life really like for ordinary African American people in Jim Crow America, the hundred-year period of enforced legal segregation that began immediately after the Civil War and continued until the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965? What did they eat, wear, believe, and think? How did they raise their children? How did they interact with government? What did they value? What did they do for fun? This encyclopedia explores the lives of average people through the examination of social, cultural, and material history. Supported by the most current research, the multivolume set examines social history topics–including family, political, religious, and economic life–as it illuminates elements of a society’s emotional life, interactions, opinions, views, beliefs, intimate relationships, and connections between individuals and the great-er world. It is broken up into topical sections, each dealing with a different aspect of cultural life. Each section opens with an introductory essay, fol-lowed by A–Z entries on various aspects of that topic. (publ.)

Reviewed: LJ Mar. 2019 p. 70 (Best Reference 20018)
Description: This title is a comprehensive resource for understanding all aspects of the American flag and its relationship to the American people. The encyclopedia provides a thorough historical examination of key developments in the flag’s design as well as laws and court decisions related to the flag and the First Amendment. In relation to the flag’s history, it also discusses evolving public attitudes about its importance as a national symbol. The work contains illuminating scholarly essays on presentations of the flag in American politics, the military, and popular culture including art, music, and journalism. Additionally, these essays address important rules of flag etiquette and modern controversies related to them, from flag-burning to re-fusing to stand during the playing of the U.S. National Anthem. (publ.)

Reviewed: LJ Aug. 2018 p. 119.
Description: This encyclopedia offers a variety of resources for readers interested in learning more about eating disorders, including hundreds of reference en-tries, interviews, scholarly debates, and case studies. Reflects recent changes in approaches to eating disorders brought about by the publication of the latest edition of the DSM. Explores key issues related to eating dis-orders and models critical thinking and argument construction in the Controversies and Debates section. Offers insights from a variety of perspectives expounded upon in interviews with scholars, eating disorder professionals, patients, and family members. (publ.)

Reviewed: LJ March 2019 p. 69 (Best Reference 2018).
Description: Slingshotting through conspiracy theories, internet and popular culture, and perplexing psychological phenomena, this compendium illuminates deliriously diverse subjects … Encyclopedic in scope, but with an incisive voice tuned to these bedeviling times, this is the modern reference book to engage a world rife with artifice and deception. (publ.)

Reviewed: LJ March 2019 p. 72 (Best Reference 2018); Choice (Dec. 2018 vol. 56 no. 4) Top 75 books recommended for community college libraries.
Description: People involved or simply interested in politics often ask whether today's political environment is more toxic than ever before. Political science professor Lori Cox Han presents an impartial and authoritative history of invective toward the White House so readers can determine the answer for themselves. The book focuses on the most representative and common-place attacks of a vitriolic and personal nature, detailing who instigated and trafficked in the attacks and how presidents, administrations, and political parties defended themselves. It also illustrates how honest disagreements about policy–such as FDR’s New Deal, Ronald Reagan’s Central America policies, George W. Bush’s invasion of Iraq, and Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act–fueled expressions of hatred and condemnation. Finally, the book includes perspectives from both the right and left on the legitimacy of these attacks and the victims’ defenses as well as their impact on American politics and policy. (publ.)

Reviewed: Choice (Dec. 2018 vol. 56 no. 4) Top 75 books recommended for community college libraries.
Description: Some Americans have come to the conclusion that U.S. politics is dominated by money, that politicians are frequently if not routinely “bought and paid for,” and that the only entities who wield political power are America’s monied “elite” or powerful special interests like “big labor” or “Wall Street.” But other American citizens believe that proposals to limit the influence of money in politics run counter to the free speech principles enshrined in the Constitution. This book will explores this compelling and controversial issue, examining where money in American politics comes from, where it goes, and the impact of all of those millions of dollars on American society. Most entries include reference for further reading. (publ.)

Reviewed: LJ March 2019 p. 70 (Best Reference 2018)
Description: Offers in-depth analysis of seventy-five speeches, memos, letters, reports, transcripts, minutes, and testimony related to some of the nation's most notorious scandals. The set begins with the letters of the nation's most in-famous traitor, and continues through the 2018 executive order that resulted in the separation of families at the U.S./Mexico border. (publ.)

Reviewed: LJ 1 Oct. 2018 p. 78.
Description: Many of the foods we eat every day are unique to the regions of the United States in which we live. New Englanders enjoy coffee milk and whoopie pies, while Mid-Westerners indulge in deep dish pizza and Cincinnati chili. Some dishes popular in one region may even be unheard of in another region. This encyclopedia examines over 100 foods that are unique to the United States as well as dishes found only in specific American regions and individual states. Written by an established food scholar, the book covers unusual regional foods and dishes such as hoppin’ Johns, hush puppies, shoofly pie, and turducken. Readers will get the inside scoop on each food’s origins and history, details on how each food is prepared and eaten, and insights into why and how each food is celebrated in American culture. In addition, readers can follow the recipes in the book’s recipe appendix to test out some of the dishes for themselves. (publ.)

Reviewed: LJ 15 Oct. 2018 p. 74.
Description: This single-volume resource explores the five major oceans of the world, addressing current issues such as sea rise and climate change and explaining the significance of the oceans from historical, geographic, and cultural perspectives. (publ.)

Reviewed: LJ 15 Nov. 2017 p. 100
Description: These volumes select more than two hundred of the most important speeches in American history. They seek to provide examples and shed light on how the use of speeches in the nation's history have made contributions to the manner in which men and women in the United States have examined the crucial issues and concerns of their time. (publ.)
Contents: v. 1. The Colonial Period through the Early Republic -- v. 2. The 19th Century -- v. 3. The 20th and 21st Centuries.

Holdings Note: Library has 2008, 2016, & 2017 annual volumes; call no. 394.26 Cha.

The current printed edition.

Holdings: Updates 3rd ed. (1999) held by Peosta library; call no. 328.73 Con.

Reviewed: ILA
Note: First ed. published as: Encyclopedia of Global Warming (Pasadena, Calif.: Salem Pr., 2009). Currently available at NICC as e-book:

Reviewed: Choice Dec. 2001 vol. 39 no. 4 (v. 1); Oct. 2017 vol. 55 no. 2 (Outstanding Academic Title; vol. 1) (Highly Recommended; Recommended for community college libraries; vol. 2)
Note: Projected 3 vol. set.

Reviewed: LJ Aug. 2018 p. 119.
Description: Whether subtle or blatant, racially biased images and narratives erase minorities, perpetuate stereotypes, and keep alive practices of discrimination and marginalization. Even in the 21st century, the American film industry is not "color blind," evidenced by films such as Babel (2006), A Better Life (2011), and 12 Years a Slave (2013). The Encyclopedia of Racism in American Film documents one facet of racism in the film industry, wherein historically underrepresented peoples are misrepresented--through a lack of roles for actors of color, stereotyping, negative associations, and an absence of rich, nuanced characters. Offering insights and analysis from over seventy scholars, critics, and activists, the volume highlights issues such as: Hollywood's diversity crisis; White Savior films; Magic Negro tropes; & The disconnect between screen images and lived realities of African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, and Asians. (publ.)

Reviewed: Choice Jan 2018 vol. 55 no. 5 (Highly recommended; Top 75 titles recommended for community college libraries)
Description: This text explores the full history of immigration issues in America, from those early immigrants making their way through Ellis Island, to immigration issues in modern society. With in-depth analysis of a broad range of documents, researchers come away with fresh understanding and insight to study this hot button topic. (publ.)

Holdings Note: Updates 4th ed. (2010) in Peosta library. Call no. 808.02 Tur.

Holdings Note: Updates 7th ed. (2014); call no. 610 Mag.

Holdings Note: Updates 4th ed. (2010) in Peosta library. Call no. 808.02 Tur.

Reviewed: Choice Jan 2018 vol. 55 no. 5 (Highly recommended; Top 75 titles recommended for community college libraries)
Description: Investigates racial representation in film, providing an authoritative cross-section of the most racially significant films, actors, directors, and movements in American cinematic history. Provides information on hundreds of films chosen based on scholarly consensus of their importance regarding the subject, examining aspects of race and ethnicity in American film through the historical context, themes, and people involved. Highlights the most important films and artists of the era, identifying films, actors, or characterizations that were considered racist, were tremendously popular or hugely influential, attempted to be progressive, or some combination thereof. (publ.)

Reviewed: Choice Mar 2018 vol. 55 no. 7 (recommended for community college libraries)
Description: Censorship has been an ongoing phenomenon even in “the land of the free.” This examination of banned books across U.S. history examines the motivations and effects of censorship, shows us how our view of right and wrong has evolved over the years, and helps readers to under-stand the tremendous importance of books and films in our society. Provides readers with a broad understanding of the different levels of censorship. Puts challenges to books into historical context of societal standards and current events. Takes both historical and literary perspectives, recognizing the lasting cultural influences of texts and their literary significance. Presents biographical background of major authors who have been challenged. Identifies the source and explains the result of challenges to the most important or influential banned books. Compares challenges to controversial books against similar challenges to controversial films, television shows, and video games. (publ.)
Note: Includes topical list of entries (books) and several thematic essays.

Holdings: NICC has 2015 & 2016 eds.

Online Access Note: Volumes in this series from 1995-Present available online at https://ucr.fbi.gov/ucr-publications.

Reviewed: Choice Apr 2016 vol. 53 no. 8 (Recommended for Community College Libraries)

Reviewed: Choice Nov 2015 vol. 53 no. 3 (Recommended for Community College Libraries)

Note: Formerly The Bowker Annual (thru 53rd ed. 2008).