William Russell became one of the most influential educators in the field of international and comparative education in the first half of the 20th century. In 1914, William Russell obtained his PhD from Teachers College and, within few years, became a prominent figure internationally. He traveled through Europe and taught in Japan and Siberia, as…

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…

Critically reviews three biographies of early American educators: Frederic Augustus Porter Barnard, Henry Barnard, and Joseph Ness. Suggests directions for further investigation. (RH)

The author has included considerable biographical information in this favorite review of Lenin and Simbirsk", a collection of documents, materials, and reminisences bearing on the childhood and youth of Lenin in the city then known as Simbirsk. (JB)

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

Reviews three books about John Coltrane and notes that these three works illustrate that the field of black music biography is marred by an unconscionable trendiness. (Author/AM)

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 of 41 recently published books in the communications field are presented. (TO)

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)