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American
Reference Books Annual 2004
The
Phi Beta Kappa Key Reporter, Winter 2004
Reference
Reviews, October 2003
Review
from:
American Reference Books Annual 2004
This book, which consists
of a collection of 23 previously published articles, is a further volume
in The Reference Shelf series from the publisher H. W. Wilson. The book is
divided into sections that are entitled "Theatres of Modern
War," "Terrorism," "Chemical and Biological
Weapons," "Nuclear and Radiological Weapons,"
"Non-lethal Weapons," and "The Future of Modern War."
Each section is accompanied by a short introduction by the editor. The
majority of the articles are reprinted from newspapers and popular
magazines, such as The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal,
Business Week, and The New York Times. The articles range in
length from 3 to 18 pages. The articles are all current, with most being
published in 2002 and 2003. A brief bibliography that lists 33 books and a
further 24 articles (with annotations), 7 photographs, and an index
complete the volume. Warfare in the 21st Century presents a collection of
clear and easy- to-read articles that provide a solid introduction to this
important and topical subject. The general reader, high school student,
and college freshman will find this volume to be very useful.
Review from: The Phi Beta Kappa Key Reporter, Winter 2004
Brown's is a scary volume, its
chapters taken from today's headlines. Six sections examine the changes in
warfare during the recent past, especially in terms of how the theaters of
war have shifted from battlefields to backyards and hard drives. He
includes sections on terrorism, on chemical, biological, radiological, and
non-lethal weapons, and on what we can expect from warfare of the future.
Brown provides useful chapter introductions, which summarize the articles
he has selected from newspapers and magazines, and adds his own
observations. All of this makes for a truly readable and fascinating book
that provides much more substantial information than what you are seeing
on television.
Reviewed by:
Larry J. Zimmerman, Archaeology Department, Minnesota Historical Society,
Fort Snelling History Center
Review from:
Reference
Reviews, October 2003
The preface states that
"Warfare is as old a concept as humanity itself." Not a very
happy thought, especially when it continues with "The United States
alone has averaged a major conflict every 10-20 years since it was
founded." The chapter titles — "Theaters of Modern War,"
"Terrorism," "Chemical and Biological Weapons,"
"Nuclear and Radiological Weapons," "Non-lethal
Weapons" and "The Future of Modern War" — reflect the
landscape of warfare. With an editor's introduction to each chapter, these
carefully selected articles will help school students prepare for debates,
learn the newest terms for chemical weapons and high-tech gear, and
perhaps learn a little more about the choice of the military as a career.
One of the last articles identifies such technical gear as an advance
combat helmet, interceptor body armor and waterproof socks. A few
black-and-white photographs illustrate the text and an eight-page
annotated bibliography completes the reference.
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