Books published by publisher ABC-CLIO

A unique exploration into the fascinating world of human and technological espionage, its contributions to national security, and its vital role in global politics.Espionage: A Reference Handbook illuminates the murky underworld of espionage and counterespionage efforts in the United States and around the world. Combining an academic treatment of the causes and forces that shape espionage with narrative accounts of how spying and spy catching are conducted, this is the only work of its kind to cover Benedict Arnold, J. Edgar Hoover, the CIA, the KGB, and Jay Pollard, all in one volume.Though special attention is focused on the American experience, British, Soviet, and Israeli cases are presented, along with recent world events of terrorism and ethnic conflict, providing a unique comparative perspective on the international forces behind spying.• Includes an annotated chronology of key events surrounding 20th-century espionage including individual cases of espionage, organizational developments, and important domestic and international events that provide a context for understanding espionage• Provides a selected annotated bibliography of resources arranged by format: books, journal articles, government documents, and electronic sources

The most comprehensive resource available on creation myths from around the world―their narratives, themes, motifs, similarities, and differences―and what they reveal about their cultures of origin.ABC-CLIO's breakthrough reference work on creation beliefs from around the world returns in a richly updated and expanded new edition. From the Garden of Eden, to the female creators of Acoma Indians, to the rival creators of the Basonge tribe in the Congo, Creation Myths of the World: An Encyclopedia, Second Edition examines how different cultures explain the origins of their existence.Expanded into two volumes, the new edition of Creation Myths of the World begins with introductory essays on the five basic types of creation stories, analyzing their nature and significance. Following are over 200 creation myths, each introduced with a brief discussion of its culture of origin. At the core of the new edition is its enhanced focus on creation mythology as a global human phenomenon, with greatly expanded coverage of recurring motifs, comparative themes, the influence of geography, the social impact of myths, and more.• Over 200 entries on the creation myths of various peoples, belief systems, and religions from around the world, in addition to entries on the common features of many creation myths, such as the seed, the primordial being, the creative fire, water, and stages of creation• 5 in-depth essays analyzing the nature and significance of the archetypal forms of creation myths• A series of first person retellings of creation myths from different cultures by contemporary individuals• Charts that categorize the myths according to type, theme, and geographical location• An extensive glossary of terms related to creation myths―both general and specific • An annotated bibliography of print and online resources for further exploration of all aspects of creation mythology

An award-winning and highly recommended comprehensive reference set on the political, social, and military aspects of the American Civil War.The Encyclopedia of the American Civil War is the most comprehensive reference set ever compiled on this pivotal confrontation. Its five oversized volumes, rich with illustrations, maps, and primary source documents, offer more than 1,600 authoritative entries that chart the war's strategic aims, analyze diplomatic and political maneuvering, describe key military actions, sketch important participants, assess developments in military science, and discuss the social and financial impact of the conflict.Written by scholars, the essays are both authoritative and easily accessible to history buffs, students, and general readers. Brief entry bibliographies lead curious readers to the most reliable sources for further information.• Over 1,600 signed A–Z entries, authored by notable scholars and referenced for further reading• Over 300 contributors, including some of the leading Civil War scholars at work today• More than 500 illustrations, including contemporary photographs, lithographs, and drawings• 75 maps created specifically for this encyclopedia• A chronology, glossary, and exhaustive index• Over 250 primary source documents

A substantive chronology of the different eras in Internet development, from the birth of the telephone and the first modem to the latest microchip refinement and the mouse.Try to imagine the world without the Internet. Yet not long ago, hardly any of us knew it existed. With roots in the19th century, through various twists and turns, accidents, and leaps of faith, we are now able to sit at our computers and reach practically every other computer in the world.• A substantive chronology is broken into chapters that focus on the different eras in Internet development, from the birth of the telephone to the latest microchip refinement; from the first modem to the innovation of the mouse• Includes sidebars, special features, and numerous illustrations that highlight important material

This volume addresses ten issues pertaining to energy and the environment, such as climate change, fossil fuels, endangered species, and renewable energy, and examines how these issues are affecting countries around the world.In the industrial age, first powered by coal and then more often by oil, environmental degradation nearly inevitably followed resource exploitation and energy production. This book examines environmental issues in specific countries around the world as well as solutions some of these countries have discovered in order to help save the environment.This volume includes 10 chapters, each addressing a specific issue relating to energy and the environment as it pertains to a variety of countries, including toxic chemicals, pollution, deforestation, and climate change. Each chapter begins with an introduction to the issue. Following the chapter introduction, each chapter highlights that issue in eight countries and provides historic perspective. This work provides an overview for high school students and college students at the undergraduate level on 10 important topics that address matters relating to energy and the environment in the 21st century.• Provides readers with an understanding of the complexities of environmental and energy issues, which will result in a comprehensive view of the issues certain countries face• Allows students to make cross-cultural comparisons about how countries are dealing with issues related to energy and the environment• Includes photographs that help to bring the text to life• Explains contemporary issues in an overview, allowing student readers to better understand the problems that face our society today

This exhaustive and compellingly readable reference work offers alphabetical entries on every aspect of the subject, including descriptions of hundreds of individual legends and their variations, legend themes, and scholarly approaches to the genre.Other entries discuss the relationship of urban legends to literature, film, comic books, music, and many other areas of popular culture. Coverage includes academic legends, earthquake stories, Internet resources, tabloids in urban legends, and more. All entries are cross referenced and feature brief bibliographies. A general bibliography suggests further readings on the subject. The volume is richly illustrated and is based on the latest scholarship, including materials available on the Internet.• A–Z entries provide a summary of each legend and its background• An introduction defines "urban legend" and sketches the history of urban legend studies• The book is richly illustrated with artwork by Randy Hickman• Brief bibliographies follow each entry, and a selected bibliography provides suggestions for further reading and research

This volume provides a concise but authoritative overview of the NFL national anthem protests and the fierce debates they have sparked about patriotism, constitutional rights, military service, police brutality, and social justice.This book in the 21st Century Turning Points series is a one-stop resource for understanding the people and events changing America today. This volume is devoted to the NFL national anthem protests, which have triggered both fierce condemnation and spirited defenses since August 2016, when San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick first refused to stand for the anthem to bring attention to the issues of social injustice and police brutality. NFL National Anthem Protests not only surveys the events that led to Kaepernick's decision but also traces the fallout from that choice―the decision by other players to join him, the angry response from some NFL fans and President Trump himself, and the frantic efforts of the league to keep the controversy from consuming the NFL. The book also uses those events and responses as a vehicle for deeper examinations of all of the issues they have raised, including the nature of peaceful protest, the place of the flag in American life, the constitutional parameters of free speech, and the facts about police brutality and racial discrimination in America.• Features entries devoted to specific events and milestones• Profiles highlight the contributions of important activists and other figures• Explores the lasting impact of the Kaepernick's protest on American life• Provides a bibliography of sources for further study

The author examines natural disasters around the Pacific Rim throughout history together with scientific data context to produce enlightening―and highly readable―entries.On March 11, 2011, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck off Japan's coast, triggering a powerful tsunami. The massive destruction that resulted proved that not even sophisticated, industrialized nations are immune from nature's fury. Written to take some of the mystery out of the earth's behavior, this encyclopedia chronicles major natural disasters that have occurred around the Pacific Rim, an area nicknamed the "Ring of Fire" because of the volatile earth that lies above and below. The encyclopedia offers descriptions of deadly earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis through time. The entries provide in-depth information that promotes an understanding of the structure of the earth and earth processes and shares the insights of scientists whose work helps clarify the causes and effects of these cataclysmic events. At the same time, the work examines how the people and cultures of the Pacific Rim view this active part of the earth, how they live with the threat of disaster, and how they have been affected by major events that have occurred. Readers will come away with a holistic view of what is known, how this knowledge was gained, and what its implications may be.• Features approximately 100 alphabetically arranged entries with insights into specific disasters, technology, key geographic features of the area, significant people, cultural beliefs, and more• Includes a general introduction and overview of the geography and tectonic activity in the Pacific Rim countries• Offers both historical and scientific information • Explains complex natural phenomena and scientific concepts using nontechnical language and clear illustrations• Provides relevant cross-references to related topics as well as to articles, books, and websites that offer further information

This book debunks popular myths and misconceptions about the American Civil War through primary source documents and shows how misinformation can become so widespread.The American Civil War deeply divided the nation and was a pivotal point in American history. The acrimony and bitterness of this four-year struggle, coupled with its importance to the fabric of American life, has resulted in the development and perpetuation of many myths about the conflict. This work separates myth from reality. The author examines 10 popular myths about the war, each of which is examined in terms of its origins and how it became ensconced in the American memory. It uses primary sources to explain the evolution of the myths and to inform the reader about what really happened, providing a unique quality to this work. Moreover, the book not only explains the flaws in the myth but encourages the reader to further investigate each of the topics.• Provides readers with a clear understanding of how myths about the Civil War originated and propagated in American memory• Debunks popular myths with facts supported by primary sources• Provides students with the resources to conduct their own research into each topic area• Examines controversial myths that continue to have a large impact on American politics and society today, including popular misconceptions about the very origins of the Civil War

Key battles have shaped history since time immemorial. This handy reference work spotlights 100 of the world's most important military confrontations, from 1469 B.C.–A.D. 1991.What if the Saxons had triumphed over the Normans in the Battle of Hastings? If Washington had lost the Battle of Trenton? If Lee had won at Gettysburg? If the Germans had held the Allies at bay in Normandy? The world would be a much different place today.Describes the historical context and goals of each conflict, with detailed statistics and information on every aspect of each battle