Reviewed by Renée Bosman, Government Information Librarian
This book caught my eye while reading Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner. After reading the interesting chapter on baby-naming patterns, I found this book in the footnotes, and thought I'd explore the topic further. Lieberson, a sociologist at Harvard, became fascinated with the social process behind baby names when he and his wife named their daughter Rebecca, which, unbeknownst to them, was a very popular name at the time. Years later, he began research on the concept of naming patterns as fashion, though unlike other cultural fashions such as clothing and entertainment, there are no ties to commercial influences. (After all, there are no corporations with "Emma" advertising campaigns). Lieberson explores two influences on changes in baby name tastes — social forces and internal mechanisms — and creates a compelling, entertaining, and well-researched study. Over the course of the book, he tackles such interesting issues as the rise in popularity of the name Jennifer in the 1970s and the influence of the entertainment industry on naming patterns (which is not as pervasive as you might think). Due to both the surprising subject matter and Lieberson's engaging writing style, this is one scholarly publication that is a pleasure to read.
August 2006 Archives
Reviewed by April West, Community Health Education Center Intern
The Right Moves: A Girl's Guide to Getting Fit and Feeling Good, written by a certified athletic trainer, is a teen's guide to learning about attitude, eating right, and exercising in order to be totally fit and healthy inside and out. This book reaches directly into the minds of teen girls and addresses topics of their concerns.
The Right Moves: A Girl's Guide to Getting Fit and Feeling Good is filled with pictures, cartoons, tips, advice, and facts. The authors' use of direct language allows the reader to completely understand and relate to the information and views provided. This book also nails the concept that being totally fit is about being healthy on the inside and out. It covers how attitude, nutrition, and exercise all incorporate into a healthy lifestyle. This book is a great starting point for teens who are concerned with getting fit.
Community Health Education Center RA777.25 .S39 1998
To view this title or other health-related books visit the Community Health Education Center (CHEC). The CHEC is located on the ground floor of the VCUHS Gateway Building on the MCV campus.
