A survey of thirteen books on Einstein is presented. Its gives an idea on how much is written about the man and how frequent are the publications. The year 2005 saw the most publications. It is the centenary for the Miraculous Year. Interestingly some books can just sustain their readers' interest with just words. Einstein comes alive with the…

This article discusses some of the philosophical and artistic motivations behind Lorraine Hansberry's work as a playwright. (BE)

Reviews eight new adult books of interest to high school readers. The books reviewed include two novels, an anthology of selections about cats, an autobiography by a physicist, and books about Patricia Hearst, the abdication of King Edward VIII of England, naive painting, and American astronauts. (GT)

Reviews Martin Duberman's Paul Robeson (Knopf, 1988). Commends its quality and coverage, but questions whether the book meets the challenges of Robeson's opponents. Concludes that Robeson is an American hero. (DM)

Lang's biography of William Heard Kilpatrick, based largely on Kilpatrick's own previously sealed diaries, provide the opportunity to explore the nature and purpose of biography, especially educational biography. Because the sources are Kilpatrick's own works and diaries, the biography lacks the context that would explain more about Kilpatrick's…

Reviews eight new adult books of interest to high school readers. The books include biographies, works of fiction, and books about dragons, Cubism and Futurism in art, and designing, knitting, and crocheting clothes. (GT)

Discusses biographies written for young adults and describes problems with inferior writing in many of them. Examples of both good and bad biographies are given, and problems highlighted include unimportant details, a failure to make facts interesting, an absence of personal information, and an emphasis on neutrality from fear of bias. (LRW)

Anton Makarenko became a national hero for effecting education for communism in the 1920s. His book, "The Road to Life," is an artistic achievement and the most widely read and influential work on education in the Soviet Union. But Makarenko's legacy is more myth than model in present-day Russia. (Author/SJL)

This combination of intellectual, spiritual, cultural, and social biography reveals connections between the religious life, theory of religion, and intellect of J. Dewey, a major figure in educational history. In his rejection of traditional religion, Dewey turned to public human good and human service. (SLD)

Reviews 15 recent books on Shakespeare appropriate for secondary school teachers and students, including books on films of Shakespeare's plays, a teacher's guide, companions for the plays, acting editions, narrative versions of several plays, a biography, a study of Elizabethan England, and a book of trivia. An elementary-level video is also…

Two biographies of Sir Cyril Burt argue the case of Britain's most famous psychologist, accused of academic fraud relating to his studies of IQ and heredity. The verdict is unclear, but lessons abound for social science researchers, students, universities, and investigators of research fraud. Contains 62 references. (SV)

Reviews two books: (1) "The Nursery World of Dr. Blatz," by Jocelyn Matcher Raymond, describing W. E. Blatz's accomplishments in early childhood education (ECE); and (2) "Early Education: The Current Debate," by Joyce Watt, examining the purpose and effectiveness of ECE with respect to children, parents, communities, services, and curricula. (AC)

Comments on several biographies of and articles about Pope John Paul II. Argues that he has been the most ecclesiastically consequential pontiff in centuries, revitalizing the church by crafting an evangelical Catholic response to the 21st century crisis of modernity. Suggests that the Pope should be the "man of the century." (DSK)

"Kappan" editors recommend Michael Ignatieff's biography of Isaiah Berlin and insightful novels by Barbara Kingsolver, Pat Conroy, Wally Lamb, Edwidge Danticat, and Doris Lessing. Neil Postman's "The End of Education" (1995) advocates exploiting diversity to define standards. Ernest House's "Schools for Sale" (1998)…

Discussion of adolescent readers and adolescent literature focuses on adult books for adolescent readers. Topics include historical views; promoting free reading for teenagers; nonfiction, biographies, and interviews with real teens; and the need for lists of appropriate and popular adult books for teenagers. (LRW)