Promotions - Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles 2017 -

Cold War historians' focus on the competition between East and West extends beyond politics and economics to culture, but the role of sport as a reflection of the potency of each bloc's ideology is underappreciated. Rider (kinesiology, California State Univ., Fullerton) provides an in-depth expose of the considerable value granted to athletic success. Historians have documented Soviet reliance on propaganda and the quest for Olympic triumph, but Rider argues that the US government was far from passive in this regard. Utilizing a wealth of archival material, this book examines a series of US strategies, from the creation of the Union of Free Eastern European Sportsmen to State Department support of mass defections, to present a compelling catalog of US government complicity in undermining the Soviet sports machine. Though Rider does not apply a general theoretical framework for propaganda or psychological warfare, he avoids the pitfall of focusing solely on sport. Rather, the book situates each case within the larger context of Cold War politics, making the information readily accessible to those interested in constructing larger arguments about foreign policy and propaganda.Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduates and above; researchers and general readers.

Kashatus, a historian, educator, and amateur baseball coach, investigates the tragic stories of two extremely talented young male student-athletes, Taylor Hooton and Rob Garibaldi, who abused anabolic steroids, supplements, and other appearance and performance-enhancing drugs (APEDs) to get bigger and stronger, and become better baseball players. Inspired by major league sluggers like Mark McGwire, Alex Rodriguez, and Barry Bonds, these teens added weight and muscle strength, but their personalities and behavior drastically changed. There were warning signs, but their parents and coaches did not recognize nor suspect steroid abuse; the concerned parents eventually did get psychiatric help for their sons, but the medical profession was unfamiliar with withdrawal treatment for the combination of APEDs with antidepressants and/or other medications. Hooton and Garibaldi's parents each testified before Congress and worked to educate parents, coaches, teachers, students, legislators, Major League Baseball, etc., to try to prevent the teen misuse of APEDs that led to their sons' suicides. Kashatus thoroughly reviews student-use surveys, testing issues, and signs and symptoms of APED use and dependence, and makes important recommendations for parents, school administrators, legislators, and law enforcement. This work is strongly recommended for an array of readers.Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readers.