Encyclopedia of Rural America | Date: 19 January 2011, 08:54
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As Goreham points out, "rural sometimes is viewed as synonymous with agriculture"; but the forces that shape life in rural America are actually much more diverse. This encyclopedia covers a broad range of topics, such as agriculture, the arts, economics, the environment, health, humanities, and political and social science. The 230 alphabetically arranged entries, from addiction to worker's compensation, are listed in the front of each volume for handy reference. The introduction states that the work is intended for several audiences: the academic world, and those, such as government officials, teachers, newspaper editors, and industry leaders, whose work involves them with residents of rural areas.
Articles generally cover several pages and are very clearly organized, with a brief introduction followed by sections arranged under subheadings. Barns, for example, is divided into "history," "the decline of traditional architecture," and "preservation." Each article is signed and concludes with see also references and a bibliography. Most of the sources cited in the bibliographies are scholarly and government publications. At the end of volume 2 is a nearly 20-page bibliography of "interdisciplinary references," a list of contributors with their credentials, and an index. Black-and-white photographs enhance the text.
There is little else that deals with rural America in this comprehensive way. Because of its multidisciplinary approach, the work should be of interest to a wider audience than that suggested in the introduction. Students of American life, both enrolled and not, will appreciate the variety of topics, and the unique perspective given to subjects ranging from crop surplus, pest management, and temperate fruit industry to bank lending practices, marriage, and public libraries. Recommended for large public and academic libraries.
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