USA — General

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9780321395757

America Through the Eyes of Its People Vol 1

This collection of primary sources includes both classic and lesser-known documents. The sources, both public and private documents, range from letters, diary excerpts, stories, novels, to speeches, court cases, and government reports and tell the story of American history in the words of those who lived it. (324 pages)
Click on Flere Oplysninger to view the Table of Contents.
Level: Gymnasiet/Library/Depot/Interdisciplinary projects with History
9780321395764

America Through the Eyes of Its People Vol 2

This collection of primary sources includes both classic and lesser-known documents. The sources, both public and private documents, range from letters, diary excerpts, stories, novels, to speeches, court cases, and government reports and tell the story of American history in the words of those who lived it. (314 pages)
Click on Flere Oplysninger to view the Table of Contents.
Level: Gymnasiet/Library/Depot/Interdisciplinary projects with History
0714841196

American Art Book

A fascinating dip into the world of American art. 500 artists in an A-Z format — each represented by a full-page colour plate and an informative text placing them in the context of movements and traditions. They are all here: Jackson Pollock, John Singer Sargent, Grandma Moses etc. Useful glossary of artistic terms and movements.520 pages
9780415481625

American Civilization

2009 edition: An attractive and informative book — not to be missed! This book introduces all the important aspects of the USA. Each chapter has one theme with descriptive material and illustrations, a section on popular attitudes, and short sections of Exercises, Further Reading and Web sites. This new edition has coverage that includes the successful Obama election campaign, the impact of climate change, and the shifting economic situation. It covers all dimensions of American society from geography and the environment, government and politics, to religion, education, media and the arts ... with essential historical background. It analyzes gender, class and race, and America's cosmopolitan population. The American Civilization companion website has biographies of major historical and contemporary figures, filmographies, links to key primary sources, worked answers to essay questions, and suggestions for classroom activities and discussions. (400 pages)
Level: A/Linjefag etc.

Contents: Chronology of Significant Dates in American History; 1. The American Context; 2. The Country; 3. The People: Settlement and Immigration; 4. The People: Women and Minorities; 5. Political Institutions: The Federal Government; 6. Political Institutions: Local Government; 7. Foreign Policy; 8. The Legal System; 9. The Economy; 10. Social Services; 11. Education; 12. The Media; 13. Religion; 14. The Arts, Sports and Leisure; Further Reading; Websites; Appendix: Declaration of Independence in Congress, 4th July 1776; The Constitution of the United States of America and Amendments; Index

9780415360937

American Culture: An Anthology

20% Discount in 2012!

American Culture: An Anthology brings together primary texts from 1600 to the present day to provide a comprehensive introduction to American culture. The 130 texts are taken from sources such as political addresses, articles, interviews, oral histories, songs and advertisements. The documents throughout the volume are quite short, typically three or four pages and are organized into 13 sections. Each section is organized chronologically and begins with a 2-3 page introduction of relevant issues and debates. A highly recommended title! The book provides:

  • texts that introduce aspects of American society in an historical perspective
  • primary sources and images that can be used as the basis for illustration, analysis and discussion
  • linking texts which stress themes rather than offering a simple chronological survey.

    Contents: Introduction 1. American Indians 2. Immigration 3. African Americans 4. Women's Studies 5. Govermnent and Politics 6. Economy, Enterprise, Class 7. Geography, Regions and the Environment 8. Art, Film, Music and Popular Culture 9. Religion 10. Education 11. Language and the Media 12. Foreign Affairs 13. Ideology: Dominant Beliefs and Values

    The editors are experienced in the study and teaching of American Studies at Norwegian universities: Professor Anders Breidlid, Professor Fredrik Chr. Brøgger, Professor Oyvind T. Gulliksen and Professor Torbjorn Sirevag. (434 pages)

    Level:  A/A great resource for gymnasium English teachers/Linjefag and post-gymnnasium levels

    • 0195173252

    American Dream

    New, cheaper edition. Jim Cullen explores the meaning of the American Dream(s) that have both reflected and shaped American identity from the Pilgrims onwards. Background for teachers or the very cleverest pupils. Hardback. (214 pages)
    Level: Library/Depot
    AV81008

    American Dream DVD

    A history of America in the Twentieth Century: Life in 1900 – The Gold Rush – The Klan and the Persecution of the Blacks – The Mafia – The Wall Street Crash – World War II – The Bay of Pigs – The Kennedy Assassination – The Space Race etc.
    • Running time: 60 mins
    9780415958219

    American Families: A Multicultural Reader

    This collection of essays explores the way race-ethnicity, class, gender, locale, historical background and sexuality interact in shaping the diversity of modern American family life. The essays are written by many of the most important scholars of our time. There are chapters about African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Filipinas, Vietnamese, Chinese, immigrants, lesbians, motherhood, the poor, teenage mothers, and class consciousness in various times and places. This is an academic book, but there is lots of inspiration for the teacher and excerpts will be usable at the top end of the gymnasium. Editor: Stephanie Coontz. (475 pages)
    Level: Library/Depot/2nd and 3rd years of the gymnasium

    HVTAL635

    American Legacy DVD

    *NEW IN FEBRUARY 2011*
    Documentary examining the development of the United States as a nation and its far-reaching effect on world politics, culture and economics. Through a quarter millennia of revolution, civil war, great explorations, world wars, industrialization, high civic achievements, political deceptions, historic social upheavals, and great discoveries and inventions, the American nation has continued to grow and flourish. This is its story.
    • Running time: 120 minutes
    9780195301229

    American Political Parties and Elections: A Very Short Introduction

    There are elections of the way in the USA. Few students understand the electoral process in the United States — even fewer understand the role played by political parties in the electoral process. Participation in elections in the United States is much lower than in the vast majority of mature democracies. Perhaps because of the lack of competition, perhaps because campaign funding disproportionately favors incumbents, perhaps because of the powerful influence of unregulated presuure groups. This Very Short Introduction introduces the reader to these issues and many more, and shines a light on some of the flaws of the system. Author: L. Sandy Maisel. (175 pages)
    Level: Library/Depot/Interdisciplinary projects

    Contents: 1. The context of American elections and political parties;  2. A brief history of American political parties;  3. Party organizations: What do they look like? What do they do?  4. Who are Republicans? Who are Democrats? Who are the “others”?;  5. Presidential elections: Nominating campåaigns and general elections;  6. Subnational nominations and elections;  7. Far from the perfect democracy;  Notes;  For further reading;  Index.

    9781851688173

    American Politics: A Beginner's Guide

    *NEW IN DECEMBER 2011*
    Jon Roper provides a sharp analysis of how history has shaped the way America governs itself. Examining the recent emergence of the right-wing Tea Party movement, President Obama's administration, American foreign policy, and the role of powerful lobbies, this is the perfect primer for students of the world's most powerful country. Author: Jon Roper. (224 pages)
    Level: Gymnasiet etc. / Library / Depot / A Teacher's Resource
    OPTD1561
    sm_american_teen_dvd

    American Teen DVD

    Nanette Burstein directs this documentary tracing a year in the life of five ordinary senior-year students at a small-town Indiana high school. Follow the Prom Queen, the Heartthrob, the Jock, the Rebel and the Geek as they navigate their way through the minefield of life as a teenager: the clique system, applying for college, the jubilation of getting together and the heartbreak of breaking up, and the bitter agonies of a wrongly-forwarded email or a missed jump-shot.
  • Directed by: Nanette Burstein
  • Running time: 97 minutes
  • Widescreen
  • Extras: Interviews with the boys and girls
    • 0131500864

    American Ways

    Special Price in 2012!

    20% Discount in 2012!

    An Introduction to American Culture.
    New edition: Readings and facts, figures and events have been updated. The discussion of American Values has been completely re-written in the light of the challenges posed by September 11. Web-based activities have been added.
    A 296-page collection of original texts explaining American values, attitudes and cultural patterns. The book shows how religion, the frontier and a heritage of abundant resources helped shape American values, and how these values are reflected in business, government, race relations, education and the family today. Major emphasis on America’s multi-cultural diversity and new lifestyles. Each text is followed up by good activities to bring out cross-cultural comparisons and stimulate discussion, and exercises in vocabulary (especially standard academic vocabulary) — as well as a list of recommended films and internet activities for further study.
    Contents: Understanding the Culture of the United States — Traditional American Values and Beliefs — The American Religious heritage — The Frontier Heritage — The Heritage of Abundance — The World of American Business — Government and Politics in the USA — Ethnic and Racial Diversity in the United States — Education in the United States — How American Spend Their Leisure Time — The American Family — American Values at the Crossroads
    Level: A-B/Linjefag

    9780131924185

    American Ways – Teacher's Resource Manual

    20% Discount in 2012!

    New edition. Includes:
  • A detailed discussion of what culture is and suggestions for opening cross-cultural dialogues in the classroom
  • Instructions on how to use the textbook exercises in the classroom
  • Expansion activities that go beyond the textbook
  • Over 50 photocopiable masters
  • Answer key
    • 058247390X

    American West 1840-95

    A useful resource book for the teacher. This books contains lots of units about the American West that can be used as background material as the need arises. Each unit has a clear layout, short historical sources and lots of photos, maps and tables. So if you want a few pages of background material about: Manifest Destiny, How did white American interpret Indian life? or The Plains wars, then this is the place to look. (154 pages)
    Level: C-A
    9780737750881

    Are America's Wealthy too Powerful? (At Issue)

    Is American society dominated by Wall Streeet financiers, wealthy individuals, rich celebrities and powerful corporations who have shaped a society and a tax system that benefits them and discriminates against the poor? Editor: Ronnie D. Lankford (133 pages)
    Level: Mainly Second and Third year Gymnasium

    Contents: Introduction; American Beliefs About the Wealthy Are Changing (Michael Hiltzik); Investment Bankers Are Responsible for the American Financial Crisis (Bill Buzenberg); Investment Bankers Are Not Responsible for the American Financial Crisis (Jim Reynolds Jr.); Rich White Men—Not Minorities—Caused the American Financial Crisis (Alex Blaze); Loans to Minorities Fueled the American Financial Crisis (Michelle Malkin); Wall Street Financiers Manipulate the Stock Market to Benefit Themselves (David C. Korten); Wall Street Bailout Recipients Should Not Pay Bonuses to Employees (Ruth Conniff); It Is Necessary to Pay Bonuses to Wall Street Employees (Edward M. Liddy); The Wealthy Profit at the Expense of the Poor and Middle Classes (Leslie Davis); The Wealthy Should Pay Taxes at a Higher Rate (George Lakoff and Bruce Budner); Raising Taxes on the Wealthy Is Bad for the Economy (George F. Will); Raising State Taxes on the Wealthy Harms State Economies (Arthur Laffer and Stephen Moore); The Health Care System Favors the Wealthy and Harms the Poor (Guy Adams); The Wealthy Are Monopolizing Prime Living Space (Barbara Ehrenreich); The Addictive Striving for Wealth Has Negative Social Repercussions (Peter C. Whybrow); Bibliography; Index.

    Sample Pages (PDF)
    9780737733792

    Are American Elections Fair? (At Issue)

    In recent years, the methods used to select political candidates in the United States have come under intense scrutiny. Are American Elections Fair? examines many contentious issues surrounding elections including electronic voting machines, “redistricting”, the electoral college, and whether or not non-citizens should be allowed to participate in elections. Editor: Stuart A. Kallen (90 pages)
    Level: Mainly Second and Third year Gymnasium

    Contents: Introduction; Political Fundraising Has Corrupted the Electoral Process (Mark Green); Restricting Campaign Donations Violates Free Speech Rights (Sheldon Richman); The Electoral College Should Be Abolished (Lewis H. Lapham); The Electoral College Should Not Be Abolished (Michael M. Uhlmann); Electronic Voting Machines Pose a Threat to Electoral Fairness (Bev Harris and David Allen); Fears About Electronic Voting Machines are Greatly Exaggerated (John Fund); Felons Who Have Served Their Time Should be Allowed to Vote (Elizabeth Hull); Felons Should Not be Allowed to Vote (Christopher M. Tozzo); Illegal Aliens Should Not Allowed to Vote (Michelle Malkin); Noncitizens Should Be Allowed to Participate in Elections (Joaquin Avila); Organizations to Contact; Bibliography; Index.

    9780307455871

    Audacity of Hope

    Barack Obama discusses the importance of empathy in politics, his hopes for a different America with different policies, and how the ideals of its democracy can be renewed.With intimacy and self-deprecating humour, Obama writes about his experiences as a politician and balancing his family life and his public vocation. His search for consensus and his respect for the democratic process inform every sentence. A politician and a lawyer, a professor and a father, a Christian and a sceptic, Barack Obama has written a book that has already inspired people the world over. At the heart of The Audacity of Hope is his vision of how his country can move beyond its divisions to tackle concrete problems. He examines the growing economic insecurity of American families and the racial and religious tensions within the body politic, and considers the nature of threats from outside America's borders. By returning to the principles that gave birth to the US Constitution, he says, Americans have a chance to repair a political process that is broken, and restore to working order a government that has fallen dangerously out of touch with millions of ordinary Americans. Obama's politics are rooted in the faith, inclusiveness, and nobility of spirit at the heart of “our improbable experiment in democracy.” (448 pages)
    Level: Library/Depot/Interdisciplinary projects/SRP

    DIG3748

    Barack Obama: His Story DVD

    The race to decide the democratic nominee for the 2008 US Presidential Election was a stirring moment in history. It seemed likely that for the first time ever the nominee would be a woman — but that dream ride to the White House was not to be, because Hilary Clinton had the misfortune to face a politician who is truly one of a kind! So how did a man named Barack Hussein Obama, born to an American mother and Kenyan father get to this position? In three short years as a senator he has made an indelible impression on the world political landscape. This is his story!
  • Running time: 92 minutes
  • Extras: Hilary and Bill Clinton; Black Civil Rights in the USA; Dangers of becoming President; Nixon vs Kennedy; Black Power; Know Your Candidate; Famous Campaigns; First Ladies
  • Subtitle options: none
    • 9781600105302

    Barack Obama (The Comic Book Biography)

    This is the life-story of Barack Obama in comic book form, following him from infancy to the first 100 days of his administration as the 44th President of the United States of America. It contains, in fact, 3 separate comic books:
    Presidential Material follows him from childhood to winning the Democratic nomination. This best-selling comic book was quite a media sensation.
    The Road to the Whitehouse follows Obama and his campaign from the Democratic National Convention through his election as President on November 4th, 2008, and then on to the inauguration.
    The First 100 Days continues the story with the most relevant details of his first 100 Days in office, documenting the facts without bias.
    Excellent language is used throughout, including many of Obama's own words.
    Author: Jeff Mariotte. Artists: Tom Morgan and J.Scott Campbell. Hardback. (80 pages)
    Level: Gymnasiet etc.

    9780737747003

    Capitalism (Current Controversies)

    Current Controversies: Essays from periodicals, newspapers, books, government documents, and public and private organizations give students a balanced presentation of controversial issues:

    Is capitalism good? Is it responsible for the economic crisis? This book examines whether capitalism is a good, practical, moral, and sustainable economic system. It explores concerns about the relationships between capitalism and democracy, poverty, and personal freedom, and looks at the role of capitalism in the global economic crisis. It also looks at whether and when the public good warrants intervention by the government in a capitalist system. Click “Flere oplysninger” to view the Contents. Author Noël Merino. (229 pages)
    Level: Mainly Second and Third year Gymnasium

    Sample Pages

    PHE1296

    Capitalism: A Love Story DVD

    Michael Moore sets out to examine the roots of the financial collapse of the late 2000s. In this outspoken documentary, Moore explores the negative impact of corporate dominance on the everyday lives of Americans. The film shows how the wages, pensions and healthcare of America's working classes have been undermined in recent years as a result of a huge transfer of wealth to the financial elite, and offers a fierce critique of the conspicuous consumerism that lies at the heart of the American Dream.
  • Directed by: Michael Moore 
  • Running time: 122 minutes
  • Widescreen
  • Extras: A wide range of extra documentary material by Michael Moore
  • Subtitle option: English
    • 9780313337512

    Censorship (Historical Guides to Controversial Issues in America)

    Ever since the Bill of Rights of 1791 became the cornerstone on which individual Americans’ rights and liberties rest, the practical realities of honouring the grand principles of the First Amendment have been hotly contested, and none more so than freedom of expression. From governmental limits on vicious, colonial- and Federal-era newspaper attacks, to the 2001 “Patriot Act”, to efforts to rein in the vast and anarchic Internet, the First Amendment protection of free expression has been under siege by various forms of censorship, some clearly pernicious and others evidently benign. This book guides the reader through these many-faceted historical controversies, always with an eye on contemporary and future challenges. Author: Mark Paxton. Hardback. (154 pages + Introduction)
    Level: Library/Depot — a great resource especially for 2nd and 3rd years of the gymnasium

    Contents: 1: Censorship of Dissent; 2: Censorship of the Media during Wartime; 3: Censorship of Books; 4: Censorship of Visual and Performing Arts; 5: Censorship and Sexually Explicit Material; 6: Regulation of Student Expression; 7: The Future of Censorship; Apendix: Timeline of Censorship in the United States; Annotated bibliography of print and electronic sources for further study
    9780737736786

    The CIA (At Issue)

    The CIA has been heavily criticized in recent years — for its treatment of terrorism suspects and for failures of intelligence gathering before the invasion of Iraq. Should it be reformed? Merged with other agencies? Or even abolished? Articles by amongst others Condoleeza Rice. Editor: Julia Bauder. (144 pages)
    Level: Mainly Second and Third year Gymnasium

    Contents: Introduction; The CIA: An Overview (Office of the Director of National Intelligence); The CIA Tortures Prisoners in the War on Terror (Jane Mayer); The CIA Kidnaps Suspects and Sends Them to Third Countries to Be Tortured (Stephen Grey); The CIA’s Treatment of Terrorism Suspects in the War on Terror is Justified (Condoleezza Rice); The CIA Politicized Evidence About Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq (James Risen); The CIA Did a Poor Job of Gathering Intelligence about WMDs in Iraq (Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the United States Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction); The American Intelligence System Needs Serious Reform (Economist); The CIA Should Change the Way It Analyzes Intelligence (Gary J. Schmitt) The CIA Should Reform Its Clandestine Service (Reuel Marc Gerecht); The CIA Should Implement Modest Reforms, Not a Massive Overhaul (Bruce Berkowitz); The CIA Should Be Consolidated with Other U.S. Intelligence Agencies (National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States); The CIA Should Remain an Independent Agency (Richard A. Posner); The CIA Should Be Abolished (Chalmers Johnson); Organizations to Contact; Bibliography; Index.

    Sample Pages (PDF)
    9781847673183
    smcorner

    The Corner

    A year in the Life of an Inner-City Neighbourhood
    (from the creators of “The Wire”)

    The crime-infested intersection of West Fayette and Monroe Streets is well-known — and avoided — by most citizens of Baltimore. But this corner's 24-hour open-air drug market provides the economic fuel for a dying neighborhood. This book tells the chilling story of this desolate crossroad. Through the eyes of one broken family — two drug-addicted adults and their smart, vulnerable 15-year-old son, DeAndre McCollough — it examines the realities of inner cities across the country. It assesses why law enforcement policies, moral crusades, and the welfare system have accomplished so little. It looks at the price of the drug culture but also the poignant scenes of hope, caring, and love that rise in the midst of a place America has abandoned. Film available. Authors: Edward Burns and David Simon. (576 pages)
    Level: A great resource for the Gymnasium etc.

    D025419

    The Corner (2 discs) DVD

    This excellent mini-series (from the creators of The Wire) is based on the book The Corner: A Year in the Life of an Inner-City Neighborhood. It tells the true story of men, women, and children living amid the open-air drug markets of West Baltimore. It chronicles a year in the lives of 15-year old DeAndre McCullough, his mother Fran Boyd, and his father Gary McCullough, as well as other addicts and low-level drug dealers caught up in the economy of heroin and cocaine. Acting performances are superb. While we see the explicit fallout of addiction, the series pictures the humanity and neglected potential of lost souls. The Corner is riveting, rather than depressing.

    • Directed by: Charles S. Dutton
    • Starring: T.K. Carter, Khandi Alexander & Sean Nelson
    • Running time: 6 hours
    • Subtitle options: English, Danish
    ARTF0146

    Crips and Bloods — Made in America DVD

    This documentary charts the history of the deadly feud between two of Los Angeles' most notorious gangs — The Crips and The Bloods. Tracing the history of gang society in the city, this film goes on to examine the four decade-old feud itself, along with the heirarchy of the gangs, the territoriality and the strict codes of conduct members must not break. Using interviews with members past and present, the film highlights the devastating social issues that have arisen as a result of the feud, and asks if there is any hope for future generations of African-Americans in the city. It finds promising solutions in the neighborhoods themselves.
  • Presented by: Forest Whitaker
  • Directed by: Stacy Peralta 
  • Running time: 77 minutes (main feature) 
  • Widescreen
  • Extras: Making of; Interviews; Conditioning; The Penal System; Fatherhood; Shame, Self-Hatred and Violence; Gangasta Rap; Slavery
  • Subtitle options: none
    • 9780822349075

    Cult of Pharmacology

    *NEW IN DECEMBER 2011*
    How American Became the World's Most Troubled Drug Culture

    America had a radically different relationship with drugs a century ago. Drug prohibitions were few, and while alcohol was considered a menace, the public regularly consumed substances that are widely demonized today. Heroin was marketed by Bayer Pharmaceuticals and marijuana was available as a tincture of cannabis sold by Parke Davis and Company. This rather benign relationship with psychoactive drugs was transformed into one of confusion and chaos. This book tells the dramatic story of how, as one legal drug after another fell from grace, new pharmaceutical substances took their place. Whether Valium or OxyContin bought at the pharmacy, cocaine purchased on the street, or alcohol from the corner store, drugs and drug use proliferated in twentieth-century America despite an escalating war on drugs. This book looks at the ill-fated belief that drugs are chemically predestined to be either good or evil. The determination to treat the medically sanctioned use of drugs separately from illicit use of substances like heroin or ecstasy has blinded America to how drug effects are transformed by the way in which society deals with them. DeGrandpre demonstrates that psychoactive substances are not angels or demons irrespective of why, how, or by whom they are used. Author: Richard: DeGrandpre. (312 pages)
    Level: Gymnasiet etc. / An inspiration and resource for Teachers

    9780761454007

    Culture Shock! Chicago

    9780761454151

    Culture Shock! San Francisco

    9780761455035

    Culture Shock! USA

     

    1857333217

    Culture Smart! USA

    0312956207

    Dangerous Minds

    An inner-city teacher high school teacher describes her experiences teaching a class of students whose attitudes toward their education range from apathetic to openly hostile. Her predecessor has been "pushed over the edge" ... "those kids have tasted blood. They're dangerous." Ex-marine LouAnne Johnson bullies and bribes "the class from Hell" and if that doesn't work tells them she's been trained to kill with her bare hands. Where the school system sees thirty-four unreachable kids, she sees young men and women with intelligence and dreams ... and breaks the rules to give them the best things a teacher can give — hope and belief in themselves. Slightly romanticized at times, but ... Chapters can be read individually. (278 pages)
    Level: B/Excerpts: c+/Student's papers/Projects
    9780195179804

    Debating the Death Penalty

    When news breaks that a convicted murderer, released from prison, has killed again, or that an innocent person has escaped the death chamber in light of new DNA evidence, arguments about capital punishment inevitably heat up — few controversies continue to stir as much emotion. This book brings together judges, lawyers, prosecutors, and philosophers to debate the death penalty in a spirit of informed discussion. The reasons for or against capital punishment are revealed in clear and thought-provoking detail. Is the death penalty a viable deterrent to future crimes? Does the imposition of lesser penalties, such as life imprisonment, serve justice in the case of the worst offences? Does the legal system discriminate against poor or minority defendants? Is the possibility of executing innocent persons sufficient grounds for abolition? The contributors marshal an impressive array of evidence, both statistical and from their own experiences working on death penalty cases. The book also includes Governor George Ryan's March 2002 speech in which he explained why he had commuted the sentences of all prisoners on Illinois' death row. Editors: Hugo bedau and Paul Cassell. (242 pages)
    Level: Library/Depot/Gymnasium (esp. 3rd year)/SRP/SSO

    Contents: Introduction; Tinkering with Death (Alex Kozinsk); An Abolitionist's Survey of the Death Penalty in America Today (Hugo Adam Bedau); Why the Death Penalty Is Morally Permissible (Louis P. Pojman); Close to Death: Reflections on Race and Capital Punishment in America (Bryan Stevenson); Truth and Consequences: The Penalty of Death (Joshua K. Marquis); Why the United States Will Join the Rest of the World in Abandoning Capital Punishment (Stephen B. Bright); In Defense of the Death Penalty (Paul G. Cassell); “I Must Act” (George Ryan).

    9780737746747

    Does Outsourcing Harm America? (At Issue)

    Is outsourcing good or bad for American business? For American jobs? For the quality of consumer goods? For American prosperity? Here are the arguments for and against. Click “Flere oplysninger” to view the Contents. Editors: Lisa Krueger. (118 pages)
    Level: Mainly Second and Third year Gymnasium

    Sample Pages (PDF)

    9780737746457

    Does the U.S. Two-Party System Still Work? (At Issue)

    The articles in this book discuss the extreme polarization of American politics, the perils faced by third parties, gerrymandering, the overuse of the filibuster in the Senate etc. Differing opinions are well represented and given equal weight. Click “Flere oplysninger” to view the Contents. Editors: Noah Berlatsky. (97 pages)
    Level: Mainly Second and Third year Gymnasium

    Sample Pages (PDF)

    9780737740974

    Does the World Hate the U.S.? (At Issue)

    Has America created a wave of Anti-Americanism around the globe? And if it has, is it America's own fault? Articles by Robert Kagan, Paul Johnson and others. Editor: Roman Espejo. (120 pages)
    Level: Mainly Second and Third year Gymnasium

    Contents: Introduction; What Is Anti-Americanism? (Nicole Speulda); Poor U.S. Public Diplomacy and Foreign Policies Create Anti-Americanism (Nancy Snow); U.S. Power Creates Anti-Americanism (Soeren Kern); The Prevalence of American Culture Creates Anti-Americanism (Mortimer B. Zuckerman); Hollywood Creates Anti-Americanism (Robert J. Bresler); Hollywood Does Not Create Anti-Americanism (Robin Bronk); Many Intellectuals Are Anti-American (Paul Johnson); The U.S.’s Position as the Sole Superpower Creates Anti-Americanism (Robert Kagan); The Hypocrisy of the U.S. Creates Anti-Americanism (Gamil Mattar); Europe Is Anti-American (Andrei S. Markovits); Europe Is Not Anti-American (Jonathan Rauch); Islamic Militants Hate the U.S. Because of Its Freedom (Joseph Loconte); Anti-Americanism Is a Trend (Claudio Veliz); Organizations to Contact; Bibliography; Index.

    0141013001

    Dude, Where's My Country?

    Well, now the world's Bushwhacked. It's time for the good ol' boy to head for the hills, and Mike's on a mission to smoke him out — and help ordinary people get their country back. He wants us to get us off our behinds and kick out the corrupt political elites who rule our lives ... that's what he says at least. Level: Sections can be used in gymnasium-level teaching/Students writing papers
    COL922693VD

    Fight for the White House (3 discs) DVD

    A great source of material about recent American political history — presidential campaign commercials, debates and speeches.
  • Running time: 498 minutes
  • Extras: Campaign Galleries
  • Subtitle options: none

    Disc 1 – The Early Years: 1950's
    A retrospective on the early years of televised campaigns and debates, as presidential politics emerged into the living rooms of America for the first time ever.
    Eisenhower v Stevenson (twice).

    Disc 2 – Change Begins: 1960s and 70s
    The influence of television grows — politicians and their advisors hone their TV media skills, reaching out to voters during the tumultuous decades of the 60s and 70s.
    Kennedy v Nixon; Johnson v Goldwater; Nixon v Humphrey; Nixon v McGovern; Carter v Ford.

    Disc 3 – Refining the Process: 1980s to Today
    The new world of presidential campaigns, in which writers, camera men, stylists, marketing experts and others play an integral role in selling the president on TV.
    Carter v Reagan; Reagan v Mondale; G.H.W.Bush v Dukakis; Clinton v G.H.W.Bush; Clinton v Dole; Bush v Gore; Kerry v Bush; 2008 primary commercials: Obama/Clinton/McCain.

    • 9780737740615

    Foreign Oil Dependence (At Issue)

    Should America be independent of foreign oil and the often unattractive regimes that supply it? And if that is the aim, how can it be achieved? Articles by Barack Obama and others. Editor: Susan C. Hunnicutt. (120 pages)
    Level: Mainly Second and Third year Gymnasium

    Contents: Introduction; Good Energy Policy Is the Key to America’s Energy Future (Barack Obama); Government Interference in the Energy Industry Is Bad Policy (Ben Lieberman); Energy Independence Is a Worthwhile and Achievable Goal (Patrick Mazza and Rich Feldman); Energy Independence Is a Misguided and Unrealistic Goal (Julia A. Seymour); Dependence On Oil Threatens America’s Interests (Frederick W. Smith and P.X. Kelley); Dependence On Oil Is Not a Threat to National Security (Shikha Dalmia); Good Relations with Venezuela Is the Key to U.S. Energy Security (Bernardo Alvarez); The United States Should Not Seek to Control Iraqi Oil (Jerry M. Landay); The United States Should Be More Involved in Iraqi Oil Development (Michael Makovsky); Coal Is the Key to America’s Energy Future (Craig Thomas); Coal-Based Energy Independence Threatens the Environment (Bradford Plumer); Using Home-Grown Ethanol Can Contribute to Energy Independence (Joel Makower); Ethanol Will Not Contribute to U.S. Energy Independence (Robert Bryce); Energy-Efficient Transportation Can Reduce America’s Foreign Oil Dependence (Chris Wolf); Organizations to Contact; Bibliography; Index.

    9780737739190

    Guns and Crime (At Issue)

    Thirty two students and teachers died at Virginia Tech in 2007. What is the cause of this type of crime? Weak gun laws? Or poor cultural morality? What would prevent it happening again? New gun laws or allowing more citizens to carry concealed weapons? Editor: Louise Gerdes. (120 pages)
    Level: Mainly Second and Third year Gymnasium

    Contents: Introduction; An Overview of Guns and Crime (Kenneth Jost); Gun Violence Is a Serious Problem (Juliet Leftwich); The Media Overlook the Role of Guns in Preventing Crime (John Lott); America’s Gun-Centered Culture Is Responsible for Mass Shootings (Robert Jay Lifton); A Weak Cultural Morality Can Be Blamed for Gun Crime (Kurt Williamsen; A Lack of Gun Control Leads to Gun Crime (Lillian Rubin); Gun Control Does Not Reduce Violent Crime (Richard Levy); The Increased Availability of Guns Reduces Crime (John Luik); The Claim That Increased Gun Availability Reduces Crime Is Unfounded (Sabina Thaler); Concealed-Carry Laws Make People Safer (Michael Barone); The Gun Industry Uses Fear to Promote Unnecessary Concealed-Carry Laws (Kris Berggren; Gun-Free Zone Laws Prevent Gun Crime at Schools (Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence); Gun-Free Zone Laws Increase Gun Crime at Schools (Ann Coulter); Bans on Assault Weapons Increase Public Safety (Nicholas Kristof); Bans on Assault Weapons Will Not Reduce Crime (Robert Caldwell); People Have the Right to Defend Themselves with Guns (Alan Contreras); Freedom Does Not Include Unrestricted Access to Guns (Philadelphia Inquirer); Organizations to Contact; Bibliography; Index.

    0451527445

    Haves and Have-Nots

    20% Discount in 2012!

    30 stories about money and class in America. What happens: when the Have-nots pursue the American Dream? - when the rich meet the poor? - when people get so mired in poverty that the American Dream is meaningless? Stories by: Theodore Dreiser, James T. Farrell, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Raymond Carver, Jack London, Alice Walker, John Cheever, Katherine Anne Porter etc. (480 pages)
    Level: (C)/B/A

    9780737744217

    Homeland Security (At Issue)

    After the foundation of the Department of Homeland Security in 2002 after the 2001 terrorist attacks, Homeland Security policy has become a major area of controversy in America. What is necessary? What works? What doesn't work? And what are the costs? Editor: Myra Immell. (130 pages)
    Level: Mainly Second and Third year Gymnasium

    Contents: Introduction: REAL ID Will Enhance U.S. Security (Richard C. Barth); REAL ID Will Not Make Americans Safer; (Jim Harper); New Regulations Will Increase the Security and Efficiency of Air Travel (Michael Chertoff and Kip Hawley); U.S. Airport Security Measures Are Ineffective and Purely Symbolic (Jeffrey Goldberg); Expanding the Visa Waiver Program Will Enhance National Security (Daniel Griswold); Expansion of the Visa Waiver Program Poses a Threat to Homeland Security (Michael Cutler); The Terrorist Threat to the U.S. Is Exaggerated (George C. Fidas); Terrorism Is a Persistent and Evolving Threat to U.S. Security (Michael Chertoff); Border Fencing Is Crucial to Ensure American Security (Duncan Hunter); Border Fencing Is Bad Policy (Melanie Mason); U.S. Immigration Laws Are Being Enforced Fairly (Gary E. Mead); U.S. Immigration Laws Are Not Being Enforced Fairly (Jennifer Bennett); Organizations to Contact; Bibliography; Index.

    Sample Pages (PDF)

    9780737746761

    How Does Religion Influence Politics? (At Issue)

    Should religion and politics be separate? Is religion's role growing? What roles do Christian Fundamentalists and Black Evangelists play? Should pastors be allowed to endorse political candidates in sermons? The articles in this book look at the issues. Editor: Stefan Kiesbye. Click “Flere oplysninger” to view the Contents. (114 pages)
    Level: Mainly Second and Third year Gymnasium

    Sample Pages
    9780470222775

    I.O.U.S.A.: One Nation – Under Stress – In Debt

    The United States has been spending its way deeper and deeper into the red, and saddling future generations with the mess — but who's paying attention? To answer that question, this companion book to the critically acclaimed documentary talks with some of the most respected voices in the USA, including Warren Buffett; former Treasury Secretaries Paul O'Neill and Robert Rubin; and Pete Peterson, CEO of The Blackstone Group. A defiantly non-partisan book, it offers empowering solutions to Americans concerned about the mess. Many useable excerpts. Author: Addison Wiggin. (288 pages)
    Level: Gymnasium/HHX — a resource for the teacher/Library/Depot

    Contents: I.O.U.S.A. Cast of Characters. Part One: The Mission: Chapter 1: The Real State of the Union. Chapter 2: The Budget Deficit. Chapter 3: The Savings Deficit. Chapter 4: The Trade Deficit. Chapter 5: The Leadership Deficit. Epilogue. Part Two: The Interviews. Alice Rivlin; William Bonner; Robert Rubin; Peter G. Peterson; Ron Paul; Paul A. Volcker; Dr. Alan Greenspan; Warren Buffett; James Areddy; Paul O'Neill; Arthur Laffer; Steve Forbes. Additional Resources.

    MERC002

    I.O.U.S.A. DVD

    The accompanying book with the same title is available from Futurum:
    Independent filmmaker Patrick Creadon details the enormous financial problems America is storing up for itself, as years of mismanagement and fiscal incompetence come home to roost. After years of ever-increasing spending on government and the military, over-generous welfare programmes, and runaway borrowing, Creadon argues that America faces an economic meltdown unless it adopts a sea-change in its approach to its finances. He cuts through the jargon to show where the problems have arisen, and, unusually for this type of film, offers plausible solutions for creating a fiscally sound future nation for future generations.
  • Directed by: Patrick Creadon
  • Running time: 85 mins
  • Widescreen
  • Extra: New updated international version, produced with the BBC
    • 9780520250413

    Immigrant America: A Portrait

    This classic book, now in a completely revised edition, is a great resource for one of the most studied subjects in the gymnasium today:
    This book combines vivid storiesof newcomers' personal journeys from distant homelands with analysis of current demographic, economic, and political realities. Drawing on recent census data and other primary sources, the authors have infused the text with up-to-date information and a range of new vignettes and illustrations. It offers a superb portrayal of immigration and immigrant lives in the United States.  It looks at the dynamics of immigrant politics, examining questions of identity and loyalty among newcomers, and explores the consequences of varying modes of migration and acculturation. The authors look at patterns of settlement in urban America, discuss the problems of English-language acquisition and bilingual education, explain how immigrants integrate themselves into the American economy, and examine the lives of their children from adolescence to early adulthood. There are analyses of topics ranging from patterns of incarceration to the mobility of the second generation. This is a major portrait of the diversity of American life, its pressures, difficulties, repressions and possibilities, as seen through the eyes of those struggling for a place in the society. Authors: Alejandro Portes and Ruben G. Rumbaut. (460 pages)
    Level: A-B/A great resource for projects (especially interdisciplinary) about American immigrants and their culture

    Contents: 1. Nine Stories  2. Who They Are and Why They Come  3. Moving: Patterns of Immigrant Settlement and Spatial Mobility  4. Making It in America: Occupational and Economic Adaptation  5. From Immigrants to Ethnics: Identity, Citizenship, and Political Participation  6. A Foreign World: Immigration, Mental Health, and Acculturation  7. Learning the Ropes: Language and Education  8. Growing Up American: The New Second Generation  9. Religion: The Enduring Presence  Conclusion  Notes  References  Index

    9780814775530

    Immigration and American Popular Culture

    A specialized but fascinating resource abou the interaction between American immigrants and popular culture:
    This is an account of the role immigrants have played as performers, entrepreneurs, and as the subjects of the mass culture industry in America. This book asks the questions:  How does a 'national' popular culture form and grow over time in a nation comprised of immigrants? How have immigrants used popular culture in America, and how has it used them? Through a series of case studies Immigration and American Popular Culture uncovers how specific trends in popular culture — such as portrayals of European immigrants as gangsters in 1930s cinema, the zoot suits of the 1940s, the influence of Jamaican Americans on rap in the 1970s, and cyberpunk and Asian American “zines” in the 1990s — have their roots in the nature of immigration in America. Immigration and American Popular Culture is a unique history of 20th century U.S. immigration with major insights in the field of popular culture. Immigration and cultural production have been completely intertwined in America and we cannot understand one without the other. Authors: Rachel Rubin and Jeffrey Melnick. (302 pages)Level: A-B/A resource for projects (especially interdisciplinary) about American immigrants and their culture

     

    9780737734942

    Is the American Dream a Myth? (At Issue)

    Is the American Dream of economic opportunity, personal liberty and civil rights — not least for those from poor and persecuted backgrounds — still a reality in the America of today? Among the authors are Barack Obama and Rupert Murdoch. Editor: Amy Keyzer. (100 pages)
    Level: Mainly Second and Third year Gymnasium

    Contents: Introduction;  The American Dream Still Exists (Matthew Warshauer); The American Dream Does Not Exist (Lorie A. Johnson); Today's Economy Is Killing the American Dream (Robert D. Atkinson); The American Dream is Possible in Today's Economy (Barack Obama); Affirmative Action Ensures Equal Access to the American Dream (Philip M. Deutsch); Affirmative Action Goes Against the Spirit of the American Dream (Fritz Vaughn); The Dream of Home Ownership Is Still Possible (Alphonso Jackson); The Dream of Home Ownership Is Unattainable for Many Americans (Barbara J. Lipman); Immigration Keeps the American Dream Alive (Robert Murdoch); Immigration Destroys the American Dream (John C. Vinson); Immigrants Face Barriers in Realizing the American Dream (Patricia Maldonado, Maria Rodriguez, Priya Sampath and Elizabeth Tracy); Organizations to Contact; Bibliography; Index.
    ICA006DVD

    Jesus Camp DVD

    A documentary that gives a fascinating insight into the roots of Christian fundamentalism in the USA:
    A growing number of evangelical Christians believe there is a revival underway in America that requires Christian youth to assume leadership roles in advocating the causes of their religious movement.
    Jesus Camp follows Levi, Rachel and Tory to Pastor Becky Fischer's “Kids on Fire” summer camp in Devil's Lake, North Dakota, where kids as young as six are taught to become dedicated Christian soldiers in “God's army”. The film follows these children at camp as they hone their “prophetic gifts” and are schooled in how to “take back America for Christ”. The highly praised documentary is a first-ever look into an intense training ground that recruits born-again Christian children to become an active part of America's political future.
  • Directed by: Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady
  • Running time: 87 mins
  • Subtitle options: none
    • 2531

    JFK: The Day the Nation Cried DVD

    This documentary is an insight into John Fitzgerald Kennedy who was assassinated on 22 November 1963 — his triumphs, his failures, his inspiration and contribution to history. It features people who knew him or whose lives were touched by him.
  • Narrator: James Earl Jones
  • Running time: 52 mins
  • Subtitle options: none
  • Extras: JFK Biography; footage from 21 Speeches and Press Conferences etc.
    • JRDVD8807

    Kennedy's (3 discs) DVD

    Three documentaries about America's foremost political family. The films are:

    JFK: The Presidential Years 57 minutes
    Robert F. Kennedy: Legacy 50 minutes
    Edward M. Kennedy: Lion of the Senate 65 minutes

    Contents: Highlights of major speeches, debates, campaign appearances.

    FU12

    Ku Klux Klan Cassette

    Cassette published in connection with “Born in the USA” (now out of print).
    BBCDVD3027

    Law and Disorder (Louis Theroux) (2 discs) DVD

    A series of four documentaries with the wide-eyed, inquisitive broadcaster examining different approaches to law and order:
    In Law and Disorder in Johannesburg he travels to one of the most dangeous cities in the world to see how the residents and authorities cope with the rising violence.
    In Law and Disorder in Philadelphia he joins the local police department as they patrol the streets where spiralling drug use and violent crime account for 400 murders a year.
    In A Place for Paedophiles he visits the Coalinga Mental Hospital in California, where 500 convicted paedophiles are housed and talks to offenders and therapists.
    In The City Addicted to Crystal Meth he examines the history of this highly addictive drug and the debilitating effect it has on communities by visiting California's Central Valley.
  • Presented by: Louis Theroux
  • Running time: 235 mins
  • Widescreen
  • Subtitle option: English
    • 9780230304598

    Legacy of the Crash

    How the Financial Crisis Changed Britain and America
    September 2008 saw the most spectacular financial crash since the Great Depression of the 1930s. The crisis prompted record-breaking financial bail-outs in America and Britain. The legacy is record government debt and low growth on both sides of the Atlantic, which is profoundly reshaping society. The Legacy of the Crash brings together a cast of major contributors to provide a sophisticated account of how the administrations are faring. They explore the impact of the crisis and assess how political leaders in both countries have responded, whilst also looking at the challenges of governing in the new 'age of austerity'. Author: Terrence Casey. (312 pages)
    Level: Gymnasiet etc. / An inspiration and resource for Teachers
    9780742558113

    Lift Every Voice

    *NEW IN APRIL 2009*

    Lift Every Voice traces the roots of black music in Africa and slavery and its evolution in the United States from the end of slavery to the present day — and its entwining with black peoples' religious, community and individual identities. The music's creators, consumers, and distributors are all part of the story. The book covers musical genres such as spirituals, ragtime, the blues, jazz, gospel, rhythm and blues, rock, soul, and hip-hop-as well as black contributions to classical, country, and other American music forms. It depicts the continuities and innovations that mark both the music and the history of African Americans. An excellent selection of documents (articles, lyrics etc.) help to define the place of music within African American communities and the nation as a whole. Author: Burton W. Peretti. Hardback. (222 pages)
    Level: Library/Depot/Gymnasium/SRP/SSO

    Contents: From West Africa to Slavery — Jubilee and Tin Pan Alley: Contrasting Sounds of Freedom — The Rise of Ragtime and the Blues — The Rise of Jazz, 1915-1935 — Jazz at the Philharmonic: the Jazz Avant-Garde and Black Classical Expression  — Gospel, Freedom Songs, and the Struggle for Equality — Black Popular Music as Big Business.

    9781741795912

    Lonely Planet: New York City

    Revised 2010.
    9781741799002

    Lonely Planet: USA

    Revised 2012.

    Features:

    • 26 authors
    • 65 scenic drives
    • 103 maps
    • 105 weeks of research
    • Inspirational photos
    • Clear, easy-to-use maps
    • Road Trips & Scenic Drives
    • In-depth background
    • Comprehensive planning tools
    • At-a-glance practical info
    041593267X

    Machinery of Death

    The Reality of America's Death Penalty Regime
    This book is unashamedly critical of the death penalty. It brings together in a series of essays the diverse views of lawyers, wardens, victim’ families, executioners and inmates to show how America's death penalty system actually works, and what it does to those who come in contact with it. It is racist, unfair to poor people and the mentally retarded, and far too often ends horribly in the state-sanctioned murder of innocents. The book offers harrowing story after story of racist juries and unjust rulings, of backward judges and public defenders, and of families facing the ultimate decision. They paint a picture of a penalty that is impossible to administer in a fair, workable manner and should not be used even against the guilty.
    Examples of Contents: How the Death Penalty Really Works; Death and Denial: Race and the Death Penalty; The Politics of Finality and the Execution of the Innocent; The Stopping Point: Interview with a Tie-Down Officer; Is the Death Penalty Good for Women? (312 pages)
    Level: Library/Depot/Students writing papers/Extracts can be used at A/B
    9780582894372

    New Introduction to American Studies

    A New Introduction to American Studies provides a coherent portrait of American history, literature, culture and society, and also deals with some of the central themes and preoccupations of American life. It provides a comprehensive re-evaluation of America's place in the world and the often tangled paths that led her there. Fundamental American ideals such as the commitment to liberty, equality and material progress are fully examined and light is shed on the sometime contradictory ways in which these ideals have informed the nation's history and culture. Using fundamental influences like the machine and the city, and subjects such as imagery and icongraphy, myth, national identity, ideology, popular culture and painting are analysed in order to provoke students into thinking about what it actually means to study a culture. Editors: Howard Temperley and Christopher Bigsby. (413 pages)
    Level: Velegnet til Linjefag/Enkelte kapitler kan bruges i gymnasiet

    Contents: The human and natural environment — From settlement to independence — American political culture — Slavery and secession — Native Americans — Revisiting the American West — American immigration — Nineteenth-century American literature — Industry and technology — The twentieth-century American novel — Twentieth-century American poetry — Twentieth-century American drama — America and war — American women — Popular culture — America at the millennium

    ARTF0160

    October Country DVD

    A documentary portrait of a poor American family struggling for stability and the American Dream while haunted by traumas. A collaboration between filmmaker Michael Palmieri and photographer and family member Donal Mosher, it examines the forces that face  the American working poor and the violence that lurks beneath the surface of American life. The film gives a personal voice to issues such as economic instability, domestic abuse, war trauma, and sexual molestation. The film is a portrait of a family who are unique but also sadly representative of the struggles of America's working class.

    • Directors: Michael Palmieri and Donal Mosher
    • Running time: 85 mins
    • Widescreen
    • Subtitle options: none
    0141021381

    Official Fahrenheit 9/11 Reader

    This companion to Michael Moore's documentary includes a full transcript of the film (including extra outtakes), a collection of source materials for the movie, and critical responses to the film, including reviews, cartoons, editorials, and articles. Mike fires back at the critics with this “Fact Bible” to prove that it's all true. (342 pages)
    Level: B/A
    0194311295

    Oxford Guide to British and American Culture

    A guide to everything important in British and US life, society and culture. (534 pages)

  • Over 10,000 encyclopedic entries: what's popular; what people feel strongly about; sport; soap operas; advertising; the rich; the famous; the infamous; legends; music; food ... and much more
  • Over 250 longer articles on topics such as Education, Politics, Religion, Industry, Crime etc.
  • Over 500 b/wphoto
  • 32 theme pages in colour: Education; The Legal System; Political Parties etc.

    Level: Liniefag/GYM/HH/HTX/Library/Depot

    • 9781556528057

    Post Black

    *NEW IN DECEMBER 2011*
    How a New Generation is Redefining African American Identity
    This book describes the new dynamics shaping the lives of African Americans today. Using information from conversations with mavericks within black communities – such as entrepreneurs, artists, scholars, and activists as well as members of both the working and upper classes – it gives voice to what the author calls ‘post black' approaches to business, lifestyles, and religion. This new black identity is strikingly different from the images handed down from previous generations. It offers new types of behaviour, such as those shown by President Obama, gays and lesbians, young professionals, and black Buddhists. Contending that this new generation feels as unwelcome in traditional black churches as in hip-hop clubs, this provocative book dispels myths about current black identity. Authors: Derek T. Dingle and Ytasha L. Womack. (206 pages)
    Level: 2nd and 3rd Years of Gymnasium / A Teacher's Resource
    9780313333989

    Poverty in America — an encyclopedia

    How has the U.S. dealt with poverty throughout its history? Responses to it have been very varied. Poverty in America has its own turbulent history of causes, effects, and remedies, from Debtor's Prison and Social Darwinism to Food Stamps and the War on Poverty. This encyclopedia covers the history of American poverty from all angles — historical, social, cultural, political, spiritual, and literary. How has poverty been defined in America? What has been done to prevent it? How have minority groups been affected? How has the church reacted? And what, if anything, can be done to eliminate it? These issues are covered in vivid detail, from the colonial period to the global economy of the 21st century. Authors: Russell M. Lawson and Benjamin A. Lawson. Hardback. (223 + 26 pages)
    Level: Library/Depot/Gymnasium/SRP/SSO

    Examples of entries: Affirmative Action — American Indians and Poverty — Clinton Welfare Reform — Drugs, Alcohol, and the Poor — Equal Employment Opportunity — The Grapes of Wrath — Head Start — No Child Left Behind — Protest Movements — Welfare State.

    Primary document excerpts from key periods throughout American history are also included, providing firsthand accounts from all sides of the issue.

    Examples of documents: Poor Whites in the Mid-Nineteenth Century South (Emily Burke); How the Other Half Lives (Jacob Riis); Jane Adams's Autobiography (Jane Adams); Fireside Chat 1937 (Franklin Delano Roosevelt); Great Society Speech 1964 (Lyndon B. Johnson); Speech at the Republican National Convention 1984 (Ronald Reagan);  State of the Union Address 1997 (Bill Clinton).

    GOHCSL5022

    The Presidents (4 discs) DVD

    The Lives and Legacies of the 44 Leaders of The United States

    4 History Channel documentaries (8¼ hours):

    The Presidents features insight from journalists, scholars and politicians including Walter Cronkite, Wesley Clark, Bob Dole, and former President Jimmy Carter, as well as rare and unseen photographs and footage.

    Disc One:  Washingon to Monroe: 1789-1825; John Q. Adams to Polk: 1825-1849; Taylor to Lincoln: 1849-1865 .

    Disc Two:  Andrew Johnson to Arthur: 1865-1885; Cleveland to Taft: 1885-1913; Wilson to Franklin D. Roosevelt: 1913-1945.

    Disc Three:  Truman to Ford: 1945-1977; Carter to George W. Bush : 1977-Present.

    Disc Four:  Barack Obama

    Extra:
    Feature-Length Documentary: All the Presidents Wives.

    9780195321074

    Religion in America: A Very Short Introduction

    It's hard to think of a single aspect of American culture, past or present, in which religion has not played a major role. The roles religion plays, moreover, become more bewilderingly complex and diverse every day. For all those who want a fuller understanding of the current reality of religion in America, this Very Short Introduction is the book they need. Timothy Beal describes many aspects of religion in contemporary America that are typically ignored in other books on the subject, including religion in popular culture and counter-cultural groups; the growing phenomenon of "hybrid" religious identities, both individual and collective; the expanding numbers of new religious movements, or NRMs, in America; and interesting examples of "outsider religion," such as Paradise Gardens in Georgia and the People Love People House of God in Ohio. He also offers an overview of the history of religion in America, from Native American traditions to the present day. Beal sees three major forces shaping the present and future of religion in America: first, unprecedented religious diversity, which will continue to grow; second, the information revolution and the emergence of a new network society; and third, the rise of consumer culture. These forces offer the potential to create a new American pluralism that would enrich society ... but also also threaten the great ideal of e pluribus unum.

    Contents: Local landscapes: exploring the neighborhood — The big picture: religion in America by the numbers, and then some — Looking back: uneasy inheritances — Looking ahead: forces of change — To coin a phrase: e pluribus unum as ideal and dilemma. 

    9780737724172

    School Shootings (At Issue)

    Since the late 1990s a series of lethal, multiple-victim school shooting incidents have shocked America. Do these tragic events constitute an epidemic, or has media coverage distorted the magnitude of the problem? This anthology explores various explanations for rampage school shootings, and examines ways communities have responded. Editor: Susan Hunnicutt. (102 pages)
    Level: Mainly Second and Third year Gymnasium

    Contents: Introduction; School Shootings Are a Serious Problem (Katherine S. Newman); The Media Exaggerate the School-Shooting Problem (Joel Best); Violent Video Games Train School Shooters (Jack Thomsen); Violent Video Games Do Not Create School Shooters (Henry Jenkins); Protecting Athletes Who Bully Other Students Promotes School Shootings (Gary K. Clabaugh and Alison A. Clabaugh); Antidepressants May Trigger School Shootings (Kelly Patricia O' Meara); Teaching Boys to Solve Problems with Violence Promotes School Shootings (Seth Hicks); Overreacting to School Shootings Intensifies the Problem (James Alan Fox and Jack Levin); Arming Teachers and Parents Will Prevent School Shootings (Doug Hagin); Designing Safer Guns Will Reduce School Shootings (Ronald Brownstein); Gun Control Laws Will Not Stop School Shootings (Steve Chapman); School Testing Programs Overshadow School Shooting Prevention Programs (Margaret McKenna and David Haselkorn); Victims of School Shootings Struggle to Rebuild Their Lives (Vickie Bane and Jason Bane); Organizations to Contact; Bibliography; Index.

    9780313338182

    Science and Technology in 20th Century American Life

    The twentieth century witnessed the greatest changes in technology and science that humans have ever witnessed. These occurred rapidly and affected such a broad range of people. Scientists, inventors, and engineers built upon the great inventions of the 19th century to expand the reach of modern technology — for a citizen in 1900, communication, transportation, and agricultural were still primarily local activities; by 2000, an American citizen was part of an interconnected global community. These developments in science and technology were also important in the social and cultural changes of the period. The Great Depression, the World Wars and the Cold War, the Civil Rights and Women's Rights movements — all were greatly impacted by the rapid scientific and technological advancements in the universities and industry.
    Science and Technology in Twentieth-Century American Life chronicles this relationship between science and technology and the revolutions in the lives of everyday Americans. The volume includes a discussion of:
  • Transportation — the 20th century marked the transition from the railroad to the automobile and airplane. The mass production of the automobile and the building of roads and highways made it possible for Americans to travel the United States by car.
  • Communication — radio and television brought news and entertainment into the home. At the end of the century the World Wide Web linked people, news and entertainment by personal computer.
  • Agriculture — the 20th century was an era of scientific farming. The techniques of animal and plant breeding combined with the science of genetics to produce high yielding varieties of crops and livestock to suit consumers.
  • Other subjects covered are: Health and Disease; The City; The Home; Science, Technology and the Military; Education; Leisure.
  • Also included: Chronology, Epilogue (Towards the Future); Further Reading and over two dozen photos that illustrate the daily lives of Americans in the 19th Century.

    Author: Christopher Cumo. Hardback. (182 pages)
    Level: Library/Depot — a great resource especially for 2nd and 3rd years of the gymnasium/HTX

    • 1843545047

    Self-Made Man

    Former Los Angeles Times columnist Norah Vincent spent a year and a half posing as a man. Her account of that period is sympathetic and full of good observations of the small triumphs and tragedies in the lives of common men. As “Ned”, she joins an all-male bowling league, dates women, works for a door-to-door sales force, hangs out in strip clubs and retreats to a monastery. Norah could not predict how crucial the relationships Ned forged would be and how the burden of being an impostor would became almost too much to bear. The result is a constantly surprising and humane account of what it is to be a man — and a woman — in the modern world. She observes the ways men disrespect women, but also the pressure men feel to perform and compete in our culture. One of her main conclusions is that it is difficult to be a man! She experiences dating, in particular, as a horrible experience, with neither sex having there guard down.  (290 pages)
    Level: B (kan læses i uddrag)

     

    9780571232208

    Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs

    *NEW IN DECEMBER 2011*
    A Low Culture Manifesto
    Chuck Klosterman has an exhaustive knowledge of popular culture and he writes about it in humorous and biting prose. Klosterman attacks the entire spectrum of postmodern America: reality TV, Internet porn, breakfast cereal, serial killers, Pamela Anderson, literary Jesus Freaks etc.  Sex, Drugs and Coca Puffs is ostensibly about movies, sport, television, music, books, video games and kittens, but really it's about all of us. Author: Chuck Klosterman. (272 pages)
    Level: Gymnasiet etc. / A Teacher's Resource
    AH1004

    Shooting Michael Moore DVD

    Kevin Leffler is a former high school classmate of award-winning documentary filmmaker Michael Moore. In this documentary, he sets out to hoist Moore with his own petard, employing many of Moore's own interrogative filmmaking techniques to highlight what he sees as Moore's questionable ethics and flawed arguments. This is an exposé of hypocrisy and misleading information.
  • Director: Kevin Leffler
  • Running time: 80 minutes
  • Widescreen
  • Subtitle options: none
    • 9780737746907

    Should the United States Close Its Borders? (At Issue)

    Should America close its borders? Perhaps a border fence? Would it protect the U.S. from terrorism? Would it be good for American workers? Would it help protect against pandemics? Would a fence reduce illegal crossings? Click “Flere oplysninger” to view the Contents. Editors: David Hagen, Susan Musser and kacy Lovelace. (160 pages)
    Level: Mainly Second and Third year Gymnasium

    Sample Pages (PDF)

    9783791344287

    Street Art New York

    *NEW IN DECEMBER 2011*
    New York is a street art Mecca, boasting a vast outdoor gallery which encompasses walls, fences, sidewalks and just about any other available surface. Featured in this book are approximately 200 images of works by exciting newcomers and old masters, including New Yorkers Swoon, Judith Supine, Dan Witz, Skewville, WK Interact, L.A.'s Shepard Fairey, Brazil's Os Gemeos, Denmark's Armsrock, France's Space Invader, C215, Mr. Brainwash, Germany's Herakut, London's Nick Walker and the infamous Banksy. It is a compelling portrait of the state of urban art in one of its most important communities. Authors: Steven P. Harrington and Jamie Rojo. Hardback (176 pages)
    Level: Gymnasiet etc. / A Teacher's Resource
    9780141019994

    Stupid White Men

    Michael Moore’s critique of George Bush’s America. It’s no secret that Michael doesn’t like George and his critique is scathing, often immensely funny and frequently penetrating ... at times silly and superficial. But there are lots of good sections that can be used to provoke your students. (278 pages)
    Level: Students writing papers. Excerpts can be read at Levels A/B.
    9781603209014

    Time Almanac 2012

    Completely revised 2012 edition. US and world statistics and information. From outer space to cyberspace ... from the past to the present ... here are all the comprehensive up-to-the-minute facts, statistics, dates and information you need. Highlights include world statistics and countries, astronomy and space, calendar and holidays, health and nutrition, sports results, business, economy, personal finance, the Internet, web-site guide, and much more! (864 pages)
    Level: Library/Depot

    1905214189

    Traveller’s History of USA

    The history of the USA — in this highly accessible series of histories.
    0571214630

    True Tales of American Life

     SPECIAL PRICE 
    180 short tales of American Life collected by Paul Auster and National Public Radio from NPR's listeners. A unique collection of tales of Death, Dreams, War, Families etc. by men and women of all ages, backgrounds, and walks of life — and a great resource for the teacher. (480 pages)
    Level: All levels of the gymnasium
    JRDVD8802

    U.S. Presidents 1929-2008 (3 discs) DVD

    3 DVD Box Set containing over 4 hours of original speeches from the Presidents of the United States that impacted on the world.
    “... a day that will live in infamy” — “... nothing to fear but fear itself” — “... ask not what your country” — “Ich Bin Ein Berliner” — “Mr. Gorbachov tear down this wall”

    Disc 1. - U.S. Presidents Vol. 1. 1929 - 1974:
    Includes: Herbert Hoover, FDR Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman announcing the bombing of Hiroshima, Eisenhower's First Inauguration Address, John F. Kennedy addresses millions of West Berliners, Lyndon Baines Johnson and V.P. Richard Nixon and Nikita Khrushchev at American Embassy
  • Running time: 76 mins
    Disc 2. - U.S. Presidents Vol. 2 1974 - 1989:
    Includes: Gerald R. Ford announces to the Nation the pardon of Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter's Inauguration, President Reagan at the Brandenburg Gate
  • Running time: 93 mins
    Disc 3. - U.S. Presidents Vol. 3 1989 - 2008:
    Includes: George H.W. Bush announces the end of the Gulf War, President Clinton at the anniversary of the Normandy Landing, George W. Bush gives the State of the Union
  • Running time: 78 mins
  • Subtitle options: none
    • FU13

    Vietnam Veterans Cassette

    Cassette published in connection with “Born in the USA” (now out of print).
    PPD232

    We Were Here DVD

    *NEW IN FEBRUARY 2012*

    Documentary about the breakout of AIDS in San Francisco in the early 1980s. During the 1970s, San Francisco had a very open gay community where men and women were able to enjoy a sense of freedom denied them in most other cities in America. However, when AIDS began to spread, it caused a huge increase in deaths in the city. The film focuses on the impact of the disease on the people of San Francisco and how the community rallied together to support one another through the crisis. It is told by the people who lived through the crisis from the very beginning in a less enlightened era when no one knew what AIDS was or where it came from, and it was only known as “the gay disease”. Short-listed for an Oscar.

    • Directed by: David Weissman, Bill Weber
    • Running time: 90 minutes
    • Subtitle options: none
    9781906042196

    Xenophobe's Guide to the Americans

    NEW edition!
    A guide to understanding the Americans which dispels or confirms preconceived prejudices with humour and insight:

    Extracts from the book:
    Friends without friendship: “Americans are friendly because they just can't help it; they like to be neighbourly and want to be liked. However, a wise traveller realises that a few happy moments with an American do not translate into a permanent commitment of any kind. Indeed, permanent commitments are what Americans fear the most. This is a nation whose fundamental social relationship is the casual acquaintance.”
    It's not a ‘good day’ unless it's a ‘good hair day’: “When asked in a survey what they notice first in a potential mate, the answer from both men and women was hair. Having good hair is more important than having a college education or a happy family.”
    Americans shoot from the lip: “American speech is remarkably straightforward. They tell it as it is, even when it's not a particularly good idea to do so. Linguistic subtlety, innuendo, and irony that other nations find delightful puzzle the Americans, who take all statements at face value, weigh them for accuracy, and reject anything they don't understand.”
    Always aim to win: “Winning is central to the American psyche. As American football coach Vince Lombardi put it, ‘Winning isn't everything. It's the only thing’. Virtually every event in American life, from school graduation to marriage to buying an automobile, is structured so that one party wins, or at least comes out looking better than any of the other participants.”

    Table of Contents:     Nationalism and Identity — Character — Attitudes and Values — Happy Families — Manners and Behaviour — Leisure and Pleasure — Drinking and Eating — Custom and Tradition — Sense of Humour — Culture — Systems — Business and Commerce — Government — Language