Books in The Music Library series

Just as people are shaped by the time and place they come from, so is music. Readers are invited to explore music that was born from Latin America and to trace its rise to a position of global popularity. They learn about the different instruments used in music styles such as Cuban and Caribbean and how this music influences the music of other cultures. Also featured is an extensive list of recommended Latin music albums, vibrant photographs of Latin music stars such as Gloria Estefan and Daddy Yankee, and annotated quotes from writers and musicians.

What do boy bands from the 1990s have in common with the Beatles? Why are some pop artists, such as Justin Timberlake, considered controversial? Readers will discover these answers and the stories behind beloved artists from the Beach Boys to Lady Gaga through fun and fact-filled text about the roots of pop music and how it has spread around the world. Readers will gain a deeper appreciation for their favorite artists and the pop stars who came before them as they explore a discography of important albums, full-color photographs, annotated quotes from artists and journalists, and fascinating sidebars.

One criticism of history is that historians all too often study it in isolation, failing to take advantage of models and evidence from scholars in other disciplines. This is not a charge that can be laid at the door of Alfred Crosby. His book The Columbian Exchange not only incorporates the results of wide reading in the hard sciences, anthropology and geography, but also stands as one of the foundation stones of the study of environmental history. In this sense, Crosby's defining work is undoubtedly a fine example of the critical thinking skill of creativity; it comes up with new connections that explain the European success in colonizing the New World more as the product of biological catastrophe (in the shape of the introduction of new diseases) than of the actions of men, and posits that the most important consequences were not political – the establishment of new empires – but cultural and culinary; the population of China tripled, for example, as the result of the introduction of new world crops. Few new hypotheses have proved as stimulating or influential.

Hip-hop culture has shaped many facets of popular culture, including the worlds of music, politics, and business. The hip-hop movement began with New York City residents with few resources and has now turned into a billion-dollar worldwide industry. Readers will learn about the four elements of hip-hop: rapping (MCing), disc jockeying (DJing), graffiti art, and B-boying (break dancing). They'll learn how these foundational components evolved to construct what hip-hop is recognized as today. A list of essential hip-hop albums and annotated quotes from music critics and famous hip-hop artists are also included in this all-encompassing look at the history of hip-hop.

How did the popularity of the Beatles lead to the birth of metal music? What do metal artists have in common with classical composers such as Bach and Vivaldi? Readers will explore the answers to these questions and more as they journey through the history of metal music, from Black Sabbath to Slipknot. Readers will gain a deeper appreciation for this complex genre as they explore the evolution of metal and its sub-genres through annotated quotes from musicians and critics, full-color photographs, and a discography of some of the most influential albums in headbanging history.