Month: July 2014

Book Review: Collaboration, Consultation, and Teamwork for Students with Special Needs, 7th edition

Authors: Peggy Dettmer, PhD; Ann Knackendoffel, PhD; and Linda P. Thurston, PhD Publisher: Pearson – 462 pages Book Review by: Sonu Chandiram The focus of this book is on the who, what, when, where, why, and how of  helping students in America’s elementary and high schools – that have special challenges and needs- learn better and become productive members of society. This book aims to show teachers how they can help special needs students acquire skills such as: Communicating and collaborating with others Evaluating their own work for accountability purposes Identifying problems and solving them Knowing how to learn...

Read More

Book Review: American Social Welfare Policy – A Pluralist Approach, 7th edition

Authors: Howard Jacob Karger, and David Stoesz Publisher: Pearson – 441 pages Book Review by: Sonu Chandiram Social welfare actions aim to help the middle class in society (and those below that level) improve their economic lot, with such benefits as: greater job opportunities, higher incomes, access to credit, lower interest rates that enable them to purchase homes and other assets to enhance their wealth, income and standard of living, and the like. The financial crisis of 2008 affected people at all asset and income levels, but the ones who were most severely impacted by it were those at...

Read More

Book Review: Communication Principles for a Lifetime, 5th edition

Authors: Steven A. Beebe, Susan J. Beebe, and Diana K. Ivy Publisher: Pearson – 469 pages Book Review by: Sonu Chandiram We live in a world with people where communication is not only essential in everyday living, but when done effectively, enhances the quality of our lives. This is the central thesis of this book. Its three authors lay out and discuss the five fundamental principles of communication which they call their “integrated approach” that they point out, has not changed since the first edition of this book was published. They assert that while these five fundamental principles of...

Read More

Authors: Brain Beaulieu and Alan Beaulieu Publisher: Wiley – 232 pages Book Review by: Sonu Chandiram The authors of this wonderful book cite a lot of economic statistics (which is a positive in establishing their case) in its 15 chapters and declare that another Great Depression is inevitable. They take into account such factors as low interest rates that have wiped away income for seniors; the unsustainable level of U.S. government debt that could lead to higher taxes and / or runaway inflation or both, caused by massive currency printing; and an aging population that constantly increases burdens (e.g....

Read More

Book Review: Evaluation and Treatment of Myopathies, 2nd edition

Editors: Emma Ciafaloni, MD; Patrick F. Chinnery, FRCP; and Robert C. Griggs, MD Contemporary Neurology Series Editor: Sid Gilman, MD Publisher: Oxford University Press – 364 pages Book Review by: Bina Odhar This is a book for trainees and physicians treating patients with neuromuscular diseases such as the various types of myopathy itemized in the contents below. Its basic purpose is to arm the clinician with specific information necessary to make a diagnosis and design a treatment plan. Much of that information has been gathered in the last 20 years or so since the first edition of this book...

Read More