New Releases by Hal Marcovitz

The first official music videos aired in the 1970s, but the seeds for making music something more than a pleasure for the ears were planted decades earlier. This book covers the birth of the music video, starting in the 1920s and 1930s when the first great movie musicals were produced, then details how MTV revolutionized the industry by making the film production as important as song production. Author Hal Marcovitz explains the various music video styles and differences in production value. Concluding chapters highlight the Internet video sensations of today and the interactive features that will likely characterize the genre tomorrow.

A detailed biography of Ron Howard, whose acting career began when he was just two years old, grew into television and film success, and led to superstardom as a director of feature films.

This title examines dictatorships in world history from early Rome to more modern dictatorships in France, Russia, Germany, Italy, Japan, China, North Korea, Cuba, Swaziland, and Serbia. How dictatorships work, the political systems in which they thrive, and the methods dictators use to gain and maintain control are discussed. Also covered are methods to depose dictators, and life for citizens both during and after dictatorship. Important dictators are covered, including both those of ancient civilizations such as Lucius Cornelius Sulla, and Julius Caesar, as well as more modern dictators such as Napoleon Bonaparte, Joseph Stalin, Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Fulgencio Batista, Hideki Tojo, and Mao Zedong, Kim Jung-il, Muammar al-Qaddafi, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Saddam Hussein, King Mswati III, Haile Selassie, Pol Pot, and Omar al-Bashir. Critics of dictatorships such as Alexander Solzhenitsyn are also introduced. Exploring World Governments is a series in Essential Library, an imprint of ABDO Publishing Company.

This title examines one of the world''s critical issues, the arms trade. Readers will learn the historical background of this issue leading up to its current and future impact on society. Import and export nations, civilians, brokers, mercenaries, terrorists, and corrupt governments are discussed in detail, as well as licensed production, embargoes, changing alliances, and government legislation meant to control the arms trade. Also covered are types of weapons, threats to international security, the United Nations and other organizations that work to control illegal weapons and exercise law enforcement, and the arms trade related to the global economy. Engaging text, informative sidebars, and color photographs present information realistically, leaving readers with a thorough, honest interpretation of the arms trade. Features include a timeline, facts, additional resources, Web sites, a glossary, a bibliography, and an index. Essential Issues is a series in Essential Library, an imprint of ABDO Publishing Company.

Discusses the history of international trade and outlines the arguments for free trade.

Many experts believe renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power hold the answers to stemming climate change as well as reducing America''s reliance on foreign governments to provide oil. Through objective discussion, numerous direct quotes, and full-color illustrations this title examines What Are the Origins of the Controversy over Fossil Fuels? How Practical Is Renewable Energy? How Affordable Is Renewable Energy? What Policies Should Guide Renewable Energy''s future? Can People Live Without Fossil Fuels?

Stem cells can be employed to replace damaged and diseased cells, curing many diseases. As scientists pursue research into stem cells, they have unlocked many secrets about how cells form and how they affect the body. This title examines the science behind stem cell research in the following chapters: What Are Stem Cells? The Mysteries of Embryonic Stem Cells, Rebuilding Damaged Bodies with Adult Stem Cells, Therapeutic Cloning: Altering the DNA of Stem Cells, New Advancements, New Challenges.

Media bias occurs when factual journalism is spun in a particular way to appeal to either conservatives or progressives. Rather than concentrating on all of the facts, media bias has a tendency to expose facts or ideas that only tell one side of the story. This pertinent resource provides thorough and balanced information on bias in the media. Its visually appealing presentation and compelling examples provide context. Readers will be inspired to think critically about the role of objectivity in the media and reporting.

Playing sports can improve fitness and coordination and boost self-discipline and self-esteem, but these benefits sometimes come at a price; sports injuries. This detailed examination covers the causes, diagnoses, current treatments and rehabilitation for the different types of sports injuries. Since many of them are preventable, author Hal Marcovitz includes a discussion of training and safety techniques as well as changes to equipment that have been instituted as a result of common athletic injuries.

This title examines one of the worlds critical issues, biological and chemical warfare. Readers will learn the historical background of this issue leading up to its current and future impact on society. The Hague Peace Conventions, the Geneva Protocol, and the Chemical Weapons Convention are discussed in detail. Programs that protect the United States against biological or chemical attack are also introduced. Engaging text, informative sidebars, and color photographs present information realistically, leaving readers with a thorough, honest interpretation of biological and chemical warfare. Features include a timeline, facts, additional resources, Web sites, a glossary, a bibliography, and an index. Essential Issues is a series in Essential Library, an imprint of ABDO Publishing Company.

Doors fly open by themselves, dishes fall from shelves, stones fall from the sky: these are obvious signs that a poltergeist may be near. For centuries, these mischievous and often malevolent spirits have terrorized people, who often find no protection from their evil. This book provides a history of poltergeist hauntings, highlights some well-known cases and examines what may truly be behind this dark and eerie paranormal phenomenon.

Author Hal Marcovitz explores brain trauma in detail, covering its causes and effects, treatments, prevention, and medical advances. Charts and graphs share important information visually while fascinating photographs support the text. Readers will also hear from sufferers through their personal stories.

A reversible book covering issues common to both boys and girls provides helpful tips and advice to teens in dealing with feelings of loneliness in a positive, constructive, and healthy manner.

Describes the life and career of Nancy Pelosi, from her childhood in Baltimore and early political career to her rise as the first female Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Profiles Washington, D.C.''s member of the United States House of Representatives who, in a previous position as head of the Equal Employment Opportunity Council, wrote the guidelines on sexual harassment in the workplace.

Chavez won the first contract for migrant farm workers in American history, an accomplishment that upheld the dignity of Mexican-Americans, who had traditionally been treated as second-class citizens. Read about this inspiring life dedicated to the pursuit of social justice through nonviolence.

The great chief, warrior, and medicine man of the Hunkpapa Sioux helped to defeat the Seventh Cavalry under George Custer at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

Explores the controversy over the teaching of intelligent design alongside evolution in America''s public schools and describes the debate in Dover, Pennsylvania.

Bipolar disorders manifest themselves in wild mood swings that affect some 5.7 million Americans, causing many to lapse into deep states of depression or manic episodes featuring out of control behavior and overwhelming euphoria. Through objective overviews, primary sources, and full color illustrations this title examines What are Bipolar Disorders and What are the Symptoms? What Causes Bipolar Disorders? How Do Bipolar Disorders Affect People? and What Treatments are Available for Bipolar Disorders?

Through overviews, primary sources, and full color illustrations, this title examines how phobias affect people, how prevalent phobias are, the social impacts of them, and if they can be prevented.

The life of the Civil War general whose controversial fame rests chiefly on the disaster at the Little Big Horn in 1876.

The estimated cost of drug abuse in the United States exceeds 190 billion dollars, and the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence estimates that 20 million Americans ages 12 or older have used an illegal drug in the past 30 days. This timely book explores the issue of drug abuse. Readers are provided with balanced and thoughtful information on related topics such as how drugs affect behavior and the brain, how drug abuse affects society, and whether drugs should be legalized or not.

A reversible book covering issues common to both boys and girls provides helpful tips and advice to teens in dealing with feelings of anger and potentially explosive scenarios in a positive, constructive, and healthy manner.

Describes the history of anime, covering its influences, its arrival in the United States, what sets it apart from other types of animation, the role of women in anime, and messages in anime.

" Critically acclaimed biographies of history''s most notable African Americans" Straightforward and objective writing" Lavishly illustrated with photographs and memorabilia" Essential for multicultural studies

Rome, the eternal city, boasts a long and rich literary history with strong connections to the English Romantic poets Keats and Shelley, as well as Stendhal, Goether and Henry James.

Uses data from the Gallup Youth Survey and other sources to examine issues related to teens and same sex relationships.

Using data from the Gallup You Survey and other sources, examines the issue of teenage sexuality, as well as its potential consequences.

Provides an account of the terrorist attacks against Israeli athletes during the 1972 Olympic games, profiling some of the individuals involved and exploring the political and historical reasons for the acts.