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Bookshelf

JAWS members include some wonderful authors. The thinkers and writers, the artists, editors and scholars who reach deeper than daily journalism have created an array of exceptional reading that we want to brag about and commend to you. Hence, the JAWS Bookshelf, a page devoted to the work by and about JAWS members.

To remind us of a book or author we've forgotten, please contact us.

2003

Taking Their Place: A Documentary history of Women and Journalism By Maurine H. Beasley and Sheila J. Gibbons. The book is a comprehensive history of women journalists and the battles they have fought, plus information on the way women have been depicted in journalism. Second edition; Strata Publishing Inc., State College PA, 2003; ISBN 1-891136-07-0.

Mind Over Matter: Conversations with the Cosmos.
By K.C. Cole.
Published in April 2003. Having wound up her "Mind over Matter" science column for the Los Angeles Times, journalist Cole here corrals about 90 of her serial musings. Harcourt.

2002

Lone Star Heroines: Marooned on the Pirate Coast
By Melinda Rice
Coming in the fall. Republic of Texas Press, 2002

Kitchen Table Entrepreneurs: How Eleven Women Escaped Poverty and Became Their Own Bosses
By Martha Shirk and Anna Wadia
Coming in the fall. Westview Press, 2002

2001

The Hole in the Universe: How Scientists Peered Over the Edge of Emptiness and Found Everything
By K.C. Cole
Most of science journalist K.C. Cole's journey into nothing is about physical nothing. The nothingness of the vacuum is the background to space and time. Cole shows how physicists' ideas about time, space, and reality flow out of their ideas about nothing, whether vacuum or ether. She writes with a half-smile and a glint of humor in her eye, colliding metaphors like particles at Fermilab. Harvest, 2001

Lone Star Ladies: A Travel Guide to Women's History in Texas
By Melinda Rice
Lone Star Ladies: A Travel Guide to Women’s History in Texas explores places all over the state devoted to Texas women—the famous, infamous, and obscure but quirky - from Babe Didrikson Zaharias and Bonnie Parker to the Women Airforce Service Pilots. These women include artists, authors, astronauts, and athletes, politicians, musicians, reformers, healers, and characters of all kinds. Republic of Texas Press, 2001

Lone Star Heroines: Fire on the Hillside
By Melinda Rice
Comanche Indian girl makes friends with a German immigrant during the peace negotiations in Fredericksburg in 1847. The Lone Star Heroines series creates thrilling stories by putting fictional characters in real events from Texas history. Each book ends with a non-fiction summary of the real events featured in the book. Republic of Texas Press; 2001

Lone Star Heroines: Messenger on the Battlefield
By Melinda Rice
The sentiments of a Mexican girl's family are divided during the war between Texas and Mexico. The Lone Star Heroines series creates thrilling stories by putting fictional characters in real events from Texas history. Each book ends with a non-fiction summary of events featured in the book. Republic of Texas Press; 2001

Lone Star Heroines: Secrets in the Sky
By Melinda Rice
A young girl investigates the plane crash of women test pilots at Avenger Field, Texas in WWII. The Lone Star Heroines series creates thrilling stories by putting fictional characters in real events from Texas history. Each book ends with a non-fiction summary of the real events featured in the book. Republic of Texas Press; 2001

Stepping Up to Power--the Political Journey of American Women
By Harriet Woods
This book, based on the author's own career, looks backward in order to move women forward, recalling how those excluded from public life were inspired by events and the support of other women to take risks that changed political history. Westview Press, 2001.

My Country Versus Me: The First Hand Account By the Los Alamos Scientist who was Falsely Accused
By Wen Ho Lee and Helen Zia
The Taiwanese-born American scientist accused of spying tells his side of the story. Hyperion, 2001

2000

Asian American Dreams: The Emergence of an American People
By Helen Zia
Frustrated by the relative invisibility of Asians in U.S. history and culture, Zia, the daughter of Chinese immigrants, details the diverse cultural backgrounds of Asians in America. Farrar Straus & Giroux, 2000

Gentle Medicine: Treating Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia Successfully with Natural Medicine
By Lily Casura
Written by a journalist who survived her own five-year bout with chronic fatigue syndrome and taught herself how to recover. Included are sections on "what works" and "what doesn't" about the most promising courses of natural treatment, including: diet and nutritional supplementation: vitamins, minerals and amino acids; herbal supplements; homeopathy; Chinese medicine, including acupuncture, T'ai chi and Qi Gong; Ayurveda; the mind-body connection; prayer, meditation and relaxation. Also, how to avoid ineffective treatment plans and practitioners who promise but don't deliver, and a special section entitled, "What Your Spouse Can Do to Help."
Self Health Press, 2000.

Finding Celia's Place, by Celia Morris. Celia Morris' memoir. Texas A&M University Press: College Station, 2000.

1999

First You Build a Cloud: And Other Reflections on Physics as a Way of Life
By K.C. Cole
Though physics has long been a thing of mystery and complexity, K.C. Cole transforms it into the stuff of philosophy and poetry. Cole takes us on a tour of appreciation of the wonders of physics and shares her conversations with legendary scientific minds such as Richard Feynmann, Victor Weisskopf, brothers J. Robert Oppenheimer and Frank Oppenheimer, and Philip Morrison. Harcourt Brace, 1999.

Lives on the Line: American Families and the Struggle to Make Ends Meet
By Martha Shirk, Larry Aber, Neil G. Bennett and G. Lawrence Aber
Almost half of the nation's children live in officially defined poverty or near-poverty. Putting a human face on this and other statistics, the authors present a disturbing and provocative composite portrait of 10 families struggling to make ends meet--four white, two Hispanic, three black and one Hawaiian/Samoan. Westview Press, 1999

Jewish Stars in Texas: Rabbis and their Work
By Hollace Weiner
In Texas, where Jews are only six-tenths of a percent of the population, rabbis have evolved into public personalities. They minister to all the people and serve in multiple leadership roles. Historically, they are famous for fighting the Ku Klux Klan, defending academic freedom, launching symphonies and charities, resettling thousands of refugees, and initiating interfaith services. Texas A&M University Press, 1999

1998

The Universe and the Teacup: The Mathematics of Truth and Beauty
By K.C. Cole
In a poetic and passionate book that reveals how mathematics leads to fundamental truths of the universe, noted science writer K.C. Cole demystifies mathematics, relating it to such commonplace occurrences as the O.J. Simpson verdict, the voting theories that kept Lani Guinier out of office, and the errors that undermine the Bell Curve. If you saw her well-attended panel at Fall Camp 1997, you had a preview. Harcourt Brace, 1998

Pride and Joy: The Lives and Passions of Women Without Children
By Terri Casey
This is an enlightening collection of first-person interviews with twenty-five women who have decided not to have children. This book shatters the stereotypes that surround voluntarily childless women--that they are self-centered, immature, workaholic, unfeminine, materialistic, child-hating, cold, or neurotic. Diversity is a strong suit of this book. Beyond Words Pub Co, 1998

Chicks on Film: A Guide to Videos for Women and Other Intelligent Forms of Life
By Gabrielle Cosgriff, Anne Reifenberg, Cynthia Thomas
From "Mary Poppins" to "Dracula's Daughter," from "Woman of the Year" to "The Nasty Girl," this guide showcases more than 250 rentable domestic and foreign titles on video with women as the main theme. Avon Books, 1998

Haunted City: An Unauthorized Guide to the Magical, Magnificent New Orleans of Anne Rice
By Joy Dickinson
Travel guide detailing the history, culture and minutia of sites frequented by author Anne Rice's vampires Lestat, Louis and Claudia; her fictional family of Mayfair witches; and the author's own New Orleans background. Also includes hotels, eateries, historic homes and other attractions appealing to those who favor a 19th-century ambiance. Citadel Press, 1998

The Hip Mama Survival Guide: Advice from the Trenches on Pregnancy, Childbirth, Cool Names, Clueless Doctors, Potty Training and Toddler Avengers
By Ariel Gore
"The Gen-X Dr. Spock" and the founder of "Hip Mama: The Parenting 'Zine" gives readers advice from the trenches on pregnancy, childbirth, cool names, clueless doctors, potty training, domestic mayhem, right-wing losers, the evil patriarchy, nervous breakdowns, and way more. Hyperion, 1998

Articles of Faith: The Abortion Wars: A Frontline History
By Cynthia Gorney
A meticulously researched contemporary history of the abortion wars, "a narrative so compellingly written that at times it reads like a novel," one reviewer said. Simon & Schuster, 1998

Something Better for My Children: The History and People of Head Start
By Kay Mills
As important as the issues facing Head Start may be, it is often easier to see the accomplishments of the program through the people it has affected, and this book features heartwarming stories from all over the nation. E.P. Dutton, 1998

Camelot
By Caryl Rivers
From the bestselling author of "Virgins" comes this hilarious take on the sexual politics and high seriousness of the Kennedy years. A young White House reporter's evolution from personal ambition to public spirit is brilliantly set against a background of advancing civil rights and the first stirrings of American involvement in Vietnam.
Zoland Books, 1998

1997

Cuttin' the Rug Under the Moonlit Sky: Stories and Drawings About a Bunch of Women Named Mae
By Sharony Andrews Green
A collection celebrating the strength, endurance, pride and kinship of black women, some real, some imaginary, all noteworthy. Doubleday/Anchor, 1997

Real Majority, Media Minority
By Laura Flanders
A collection of Flanders' writing and broadcast work on why women are underrepresented in American media. Common Courage Press, 1997.

Inside Ms.: 25 Years of the Magazine and the Movement
By Mary Thom
Author Mary Thom was with the magazine from its earliest days, and as she introduces the striking personalities that shaped Ms., she traces the rise of one of the most transforming movements of 20th century America. Henry Holt, 1997.

Headline Justice: Inside the Courtroom -- The Country's Most Controversial Trials
By Theo Wilson
The great New York Daily News reporter's memoir of the infamous trials she covered in a long, distinguished career. Sam Sheppard, Patty Hearst, Jean Harris and many others are all here, fresh from a remarkable memory and a lifetime of experience telling the news of the day with style and clarity. Thunder's Mouth Press, 1997.

1996

Red, White and Oh So Blue: A Memoir of a Political Depression
By Mary Kay Blakely
This fluid essay reveals disturbing truths about how political, military, business, family and religious practices have compromised America's national life. Scribner, 1996.

Verdict: The Chronicle of the O.J. Simpson Trial
By Linda Deutsch and Michael Fleeman
Illustrated highlights of the incredible Simpson criminal trial. Photos, graphics and stories by the reporters who covered the case. The Associated Press, 1996.

So You Want to be an Innkeeper: The Definitive Guide to Operating a Successful Bed-and-Breakfast or Country Inn
By Pat Hardy, with Mary E. Davies, Jo Ann M. Bell and Susan Brown
This volume contains savvy insider information on how to start, operate, and promote a successful establishment. Illustrations, charts & worksheets. Chronicle Books, 1996.

Hakeem Olajuwon
By Jane P. Marshall
Biography of the Houston Rockets superstar, written for young readers. Avon Books, 1996.

The Republican War Against Women: An Insider's Report from Behind the Lines
By Tanya Melich
An impassioned call to arms to Republicans and all Americans to reject the extremist social agenda that dominates the GOP, from a woman who's been an active player in the party for years. Bantam Books, 1996.

Slick Spins and Fractured Facts: How Cultural Myths Distort the News
By Caryl Rivers
< A compelling case for why the white, middle-age male vantage point is considered the norm when determining "what's news." Columbia University Press, 1996

She Works, He Works: How the Two-Income Family is Happier, Healthier and Better Off
By Caryl Rivers and Rosalind C. Barnett
Boston University scholar and JAWS member Rivers teams with her previous research partner to examine the evidence against the erosion of the 1950s-style family. Harper San Francisco, 1996

1995

From Pocahontas to Power Suits: Everything You Need to Know About Women's History in America
By Kay Mills
Q & A on the leading people and issues of women's history in America. Plume paperback, 1995

Super Family Vacations/Resort and Adventure Guide
By Martha Shirk and Nancy Klepper
The Los Angeles Times called this "among the best travel guide bargains for parents,"and Publishers Weekly described it as "inventive....(and) packed with nuts- and-bolts information." Super Family Vacations features more than 150 great vacation destinations in the United States, Canada, Bermuda, and the Caribbean, including resorts, guest ranches, ski areas, historical sites, cruises, adventure trips and nature places. Harperperennial, 1995

1994

American Mom: Motherhood, Politics and Humble Pie
By Mary Kay Blakely
Married in the '70s, Blakely expected to be the kind of mother society could admire. But, caught up in the women's movement--and an increasingly chaotic world--she soon lost her innocence about "expert" wisdom and began to break the rules. With humor and insight, this acclaimed journalist explodes the myths of motherhood today. Algonquin, 1994.

Adoption Crisis: The Truth behind Adoption and Foster Care
By Carole A. McKelvey and Dr. JoEllen Stevens
This book goes beyond the feel-good myths of the adoption industry to expose the desperate problems that besiege the adoption and foster care systems. The co-authors propose solutions to the paralyzing problems. Fulcrum, 1994

This Little Light of Mine: The Life of Fannie Lou Hamer
By Kay Mills
Biography of the legendary Mississippi civil rights leader captures the excitement and hope of the civil rights movement as well as the extraordinary character of unassuming and unbowed Hamer. NAL Dutton, 1993; Plume paperback, 1994.

Bearing Witness: Sexual Harassment and Beyond
By Celia Morris
A collection of stories and a road map of protest, Bearing Witness explores the ways women have been crippled by ancient fears of female sexuality and examines the cultural heritage that has led to an imbalance of power between men and women. Little, Brown and Company; 1994.

The New York Times Practical Traveler Handbook: An A to Z Guide for Being Well Prepared on the Road
By Betsy Wade
The book with the same title as her weekly column in the New York Times travel section. Facts, clearly presented. Times Books, 1994.

Running as a Woman: Gender and Power in American Politics
By Linda Witt, Karen M. Paget and Glenna Matthews
Journalist Witt and scholars Paget and Matthews examine the implications of gender in the 1992 U.S. elections. Free Press, 1994.

1992

Storming the Statehouse: Running for Governor with Ann Richards and Dianne Feinstein
By Celia Morris
An insider's examination of the 1990 campaigns when these two women ran for governor in two large, diverse, powerful states Scribners, 1992

The Girls in the Balcony: Women, Men and the New York Times
By Nan Robertson
Retired Timeswoman Robertson recounts the stories of her remarkable sisters at the Great Gray Lady. Central to the whole of this history is its exquisitely reported account of the women's class action lawsuit, Boylan vs. the New York Times, over discriminatory practices at the bastion of American liberalism. Random House, 1992.

Forward Positions: The War Correspondence of Homer Bigart
Compiled by Betsy Wade
The war correspondence of the legendary reporter Homer Bigart of the New York Herald-Tribune and the New York Times. University of Arkansas Press, 1992.

1991

The Closing Door: Conservative Policy and Black Opportunity
By Carole Ashkinaze
Analyzing evidence from Atlanta, Ga., Ashkinaze and co-author Gary Orfield refute both the neoconservative argument that government programs have hurt the poor and the liberal argument that job-growth alone will sharply reduce racial inequalities. Their evidence demonstrates that segregation and discrimination remain potent structural forces. University of Chicago Press, 1991

1990-

Blue Jean: What Young Women are Thinking, Saying, and Doing (Blue Jean Press)
by Sherry Handel
Blue Jean holds fresh and uplifting insights on topics from body image and confidence, ethnicity and racism to the pitfalls and triumphs of everyday living. It reveals the originality possible when media is created by its own demographic. No mainstream teen magazine can compare in authenticity and honesty to Blue Jean because Blue Jean is the only publication teenage girls control and write for themselves. It reads like a breath of fresh air.

Wake Me When It's Over: A Journey to the Edge and Back
By Mary Kay Blakely
In 1984, in the midst of a hectic week, feminist writer Blakely slipped into a coma that lasted nine days. The causes may be mysterious, but the lessons she took from it are crystal-clear. Times Books, 1989

A Place in the News: From the Women's Pages to the Front Page
By Kay Mills
The history of American women in the newspaper business. A classic work, entertaining as well as informative, and sprinkled liberally with quotes from the women of JAWS. Columbia University Press, 1989.

Virgins
By Caryl Rivers
St. Martin's Press, 1984