Yale Bulletin and Calendar

February 22, 2002

Volume 30, Number 19

Yale Books in Brief

The following is a list of books published recently by members of the Yale community. Descriptions are based on material provided by the publishers.

To submit information about books for this column, send e-mail to opa@yale.edu.

Telephone Medicine: A Guide for the Practicing Physician
edited by Dr. Anna Reisman, Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine, and Dr. David L. Stevens
(American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, 2002)

"Telephone Medicine" aims to provide an understanding of how telephone medicine can improve patient care. Designed to focus on reacting to calls from patients, the book is specifically developed for internists but is applicable to other primary care physicians. It covers medicolegal considerations and the challenges of the telephone interview. A clinical section of the book provides evidence-based guidance for the management of 13 common medical problems over the phone. The book also gives guidance on incorporating telephone medicine in the workplace and includes a teaching curriculum.

How Democratic Is the American Constitution?
Robert A. Dahl, Sterling Professor Emeritus of Political Science
(Yale University Press, 2002)

In this book, political scientist Robert Dahl poses the question, "Why should we uphold our Constitution?" The vast majority of Americans venerate the American Constitution and the principles it embodies, but many also worry that the United States has fallen behind other nations on crucial democratic issues, including economic equality, racial integration and women's rights. Dahl explores this tension between Americans' belief in the legitimacy of their Constitution and their belief in the principles of democracy. Refusing to accept the status of the American Constitution as a sacred text, he challenges readers to think critically about the origins of the U.S. political system and to consider the opportunities for creating a more democratic society.

The Policy Process: A Practical Guide for Natural Resources
Tim W. Clark, Professor (Adjunct) at the School of Forestry & Environmental Studies
(Yale University Press, 2002)

This book is designed to teach natural resources professionals how to be more effective in solving conservation and environmental policy problems. Its presentation of basic concepts, case studies and "real world concerns" provides a deeper understanding of the policy process for students and practitioners in such fields as wildlife biology, conservation biology, forestry, range management, ecosystem management and sustainable development.

Art as Evidence: Writings on Art and Material Culture
Jules David Prown, the Paul Mellon Professor Emeritus of the History of Art
(Yale University Press, 2002)

Jules Prown is renowned as a leading historian of American art and a pioneer in the study of material culture, a discipline that attempts to achieve a more profound understanding of individuals and societies using works of art as tangible evidence. This book celebrates Prown's career, bringing together 18 of his most influential essays. The volume begins with theoretical essays followed by writings on the work of key 18th-century American artists -- Benjamin West, John Singleton Copley, Charles Wilson Peale and John Trumbull -- who painted in England as well as in America, and on the work of such major 19th-century artists as Winslow Homer and Thomas Eakins.

Notes from the Pianist's Bench
Boris Berman, Professor (Adjunct) of Piano at the School of Music
(Yale University Press, paperback, 2002)

Concert pianist Boris Berman here offers an exploration of both piano technique and music interpretation. He combines explanations and practical advice with anecdotes about students, colleagues and former teachers, along the way providing many insights into the psychological aspects of performing and teaching music.

America's Congress: Actions in the Public Sphere, James Madison Through Newt Gingrich
David R. Mayhew, Sterling Professor of Political Science
(Yale University Press, paperback, 2002)

David Mayhew argues that to understand American politics and government, it is necessary to recognize that members of Congress are more than agents of societal interests and preferences -- they also act with some autonomy and consequence in the public sphere. In this book, Mayhew examines the actions of members of Congress throughout American history, assessing their patterns and importance and their role in the U.S. system of separation of powers.

T H I SW E E K ' SS T O R I E S

Yale architect leading effort to rebuild Twin Tower site

Cellist will tour nation as winner of Sphinx Prize

University awards sailing varsity status

Town-gown project aims to bring health information to underserved

Nurse warns against repeating Tuskegee abuses

Unique program will assess democracy at work

Doing good is good for you, Yale chaplain tells students

Speakers to explore interrelationship of 'Law and Truth'

Exhibition explores ever-expanding art of collage

Fourth annual Klezmerpalooza festival returns home to Yale

Policy Statement: Adding Varsity Opportunities

Yale Books in Brief

Campus Notes