Enchanted Places: The Use of Setting in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Fiction, Number 2 in the Contributions to the Study of American Literature Series, by Aiping Zhang, Department of English (Greenwood Press, 1997; 193 pages; $49.99 hard cover)

Aiping Zhang examines Fitzgerald’s use of domestic and urban settings in his fiction. Arguing that setting is “a primary indicator of [an] author’s artistry,” Zhang presents Fitzgerald’s skilled use of setting to dramatize his perspectives of life as evidence of his artistic achievement. “Through his powerful visions and descriptive skills, settings in his fiction are always featured as what I would call ‘enchanted places,’ charming but elusive, heavily weighted with symbolic connotation,” writes Zhang in the introduction.

Lebesgue Measure and Integration, by Frank Burk, Department of Mathematics and Statistics (Wiley-Interscience, 1998; 292 pages; $59.95 hard cover)

“Lebesgue measure and integration, presented properly, reveals mathematical creation in its highest form,” writes Frank Burk in the book’s preface. Burk focuses on the fundamental concepts of Lebesgue measure for R and Lebesgue integration for extended real-valued functions on R. The book, well-suited for advanced courses in mathematics, statistics, probability, and other applied areas, includes measure theory, measurable functions, and integration. Burk also explains the historical context for the struggle to define “area” and “area under a curve” that preceded Lebesgue measure and integration.

The End Of Economics, Routledge Frontiers of Political Economy Series, by Michael Perelman, Department of Economics (Routledge, 1996; 204 pages; $59.95 hard cover)

Michael Perelman examines the history of markets in the United States and a central element of the problem with markets: “that market economies frequently careen out of control when competition becomes too strong.” The book begins with an overview of conventional economic theory and the training of economists to argue that most contemporary economists fail to recognize the primary theoretical defect of conventional economics. “One major gap in conventional economy theory is the absence of any theory that addresses the role of long-lived fixed capital,” Perelman writes. “Instead, conventional economic theory treats investment behavior as if the economic problem were similar to a game of poker.”

Mass Media in Revolution and National Development: The Romanian Laboratory, by Peter Gross, Department of Journalism (Iowa State University Press, 1996; 206 pages; $42.95 hard cover)

“In the aftermath of the Ceausescu regime’s destruction, where does one begin the remaking of society and its mass media? What kind of journalism and mass media can be established? How and what can they do to contribute to the transition? What effects does the transition have on journalism and mass media?” Peter Gross poses these questions in his preface. His book provides some answers—“one small part of an overall puzzle of the landscape of the new Romania”—through its analysis of the nature and influence of mass media in Romania before, during, and after the 1989 revolution.

Valley for Dreams: Life and Landscape in the Sacramento Valley, by Donald G. Holtgrieve, Department of Geography and Planning, with Susan Wiley Hardwick, professor of geography at Southwest Texas State University (Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 1996; 324 pages; $24.95 paperback)

Donald Holtgrieve and Susan Wiley Hardwick describe the people, economy, and environment of the diverse Sacramento Valley. The book examines early exploration and immigration patterns, as well as agricultural and economic expansion in California’s central valley. It explores the great ethnic diversity of the valley’s past and present and describes environmental and land use issues of continuing importance to the residents of the Sacramento Valley. The conclusion offers a promising future: “The social and cultural context of the Sacramento Valley in the future will no doubt continue to reflect a fascinating mix of environments, economic activities, languages, foods, customs, and lifeways.”

Teaching about Culture, Ethnicity, and Diversity: Exercises and Planned Activities, edited by Ted Singelis, Department of Psychology (Sage Publications, 1997; 256 pages; $24.95 paperback)

This resource book edited by Ted Singelis for teachers contains twenty-eight chapters, each one pairing an essay on an important concept with a classroom exercise or activity. Several CSU, Chico faculty contributed chapters. Miriam Ma’at-Ka-Re Monges, Sociology and Social Work and Multicultural and Gender Studies, wrote “Beyond the Melting Pot: A Values Clarification Exercise for Teachers and Human Service Professionals,” which helps readers recognize and focus their priorities. James Jacob, dean of the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, contributed to a chapter titled “The Barnyard,” which includes an exercise to help students experience some of the emotional and cognitive reactions common to culture shock. Elizabeth Renfro, Multicultural and Gender Studies, with Susan Wiley Hardwick, professor of geography at Southwest Texas State University, wrote “Cognitive Site Mapping: Placing Yourself in (Con)Text,” which helps teachers make clear the social construction of reality.

Casey Huff, University Publications, compiled both Open Book and Book Marks.