Promotions - Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles 2020 -

In this scrupulous excavation of the traditions of modern Western philosophy, Herdt (Yale Divinity School) brings into the light an often-ignored aspect of modern normative theories, namely, the deep-rooted ties between Christian moral theology and the Bildung tradition. According to Herdt, Bildung, or ethical formation, is not merely a secular striving toward enlightenment or maturity; rather, it is inseparable from understanding humanity as being in the image of God. In arguing against conventional accounts of the Bildung tradition, Herdt's original contribution is likely to push debates in new directions. Forming Humanity is a splendid resource for those working in 18th- and 19th-century German philosophy, Christian theology, ethics, literature, and education. Those with an appreciation for European history and the history of ideas more generally will also appreciate Herdt's efforts.Summing Up: Essential. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty.

This volume bristles with erudition--which is what Umberto Eco (1932-2016) has been known for ever since the appearance of his famous and brilliantly maddening debut novel The Name of the Rose (1980). In these essays, which Eco adapted from talks he delivered at Milan's La Milanesiana festival during the last 15 years of his life, he shared his vision of how the classics remain relevant and how much work yet remains for intellectuals. The metaphor evoked in the book's title goes back to the 12th century and, appropriately, the themes and topics Eco explores range from the foundations of Western culture, the origins of language, and the quality of the beautiful and the ugly to the power of conspiracies and the allure of mysteries. Among the subjects addressed are beauty and ugliness, fire, the invisible, imperfections in art, and secrecy and conspiracy. A whirlwind of citations is included, and one will find references ranging from pianist Arturo Rubinstein to Hegel, from Dante to Giacomo Leopardi, and from the pseudo-Dionysius to Mallarme. Looking at counterfeits, Eco evokes the fake Parthenon in Nashville, Tennessee. These essays appear here in English for the first time.Summing Up: Essential. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty; general readers.

Miles-Watson and Asimos (both, Durham Univ., UK) offer a rich collection of readings to aid in the study of "the origin, form, function, and future of mythology" (p. 3). Each of the four parts comprises profiles and essays of well-known scholars, summaries of selected myths, and critical analysis of the myths appropriate for contemporary students. An outline of the book's organization will be helpful for instructors who want to incorporate additional resources in their teachings. What may be the most enticing feature for readers is how analyses are written to connect ancient mythology with contemporary stories. For example, when discussing myths and popular culture, Miles-Watson and Asimos examine themes in Disney's Frozen in which "Elsa's command of storms ... is imitative of the symbolism of Zeus." The deliberate comparison of a Disney princess to the king of the Greek gods is a clear indicator of a modern classroom in which feminism, and diversity in general, is valued. Using contemporary popular culture to teach themes, imagery, and symbolism of mythology serves to engage students. Appropriate for those new to mythology and for those teaching it, this reader will be an invaluable tool for study of mythology.Summing Up: Essential. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates; faculty.

How best to explore one's subversive positions, express rage at the status quo, and encourage others to think, see, and act differently? For many avant-garde writers, painters, photographers, filmmakers, and intellectuals of the 20th and 21st centuries, the answer lies in the life and works of the Marquis de Sade. Focusing on the dynamic between body and the body politic, Mahon (art history, Univ. of Cambridge, UK) argues that generations of artists have found their voices by adapting the Sadean imagination, which challenges restrictive codes of behavior and glorifies the ethics and aesthetics of transgression. She shows how Sade's "philosophy in the bedroom" is reflected in multiple new forms depending on sociohistorical circumstances: the writings of Guillaume Apollinaire, Robert Desnos, and Anne Desclos; the surrealistic art of Andre Masson, Leonor Fini, and Man Ray; the experimental theater of Peter Brook, the cinema of Pier Paolo Pasolini, the multimedia creations of Paul Chan. In a particularly illuminating discussion of gender politics, Mahon explains how Sade influenced feminist theorists, including Simone de Beauvoir, Susan Sontag, and Angela Carter. Beautifully written and illustrated, this is a magnificent book on freedom and the legacy of the divine marquis.Summing Up: Essential. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty and professionals; general readers.