Month: March 2014

Author: Frederic M. Wehray Publisher: Columbia University Press – 328 p-ages Book Review by: Sonu Chandiram What are the roots of the Shia-Sunni tensions that have dominated the Middle East region in recent years? This book investigates the thoughts and actions of these two major adherents of Islam and their divide; and discusses the causes and effects of the conflicts between them. In researching for this book, the author conducted interviews with major Shia and Sunni leaders, activists, and opinion shapers in the area, as well as consulted diverse written sources. It focuses on political events from the start...

Authors: Carl L. Hart and Charles Ksir Publisher: McGraw-Hill – 471 pages Book Review by: Nano Khilnani This book gives you an outline of, and details on the kinds of drugs being used in society, particularly in the West; what effects each kind have upon behavior; and how to prevent their misuse and abuse. It looks at drugs and drug use and abuse from several perspectives: behavioral, clinical, historical, legal, pharmacological, psychological, and social. Recent Alarming Trends The authors point out at the beginning of this book that the most alarming trend in recent years is the increasing misuse...

Authors: Gabriel A. Radvansky and Mark H. Ashcraft Publisher: Pearson (www.pearsonhighered.com) – 492 pages Book Review by: Sonu Chandiram The authors desired to make this textbook interesting and useful to students, instead of boring, because they write that (contrary to popular opinion) “the psychology of human memory and cognition is fascinating.” They express in strong terms that the study of cognition, which deals with questions and ideas, is inherently interesting. It is about how we think, reason, remember, and use language, to name a few topics under the umbrella of cognition. So why should it be boring, they seem...