Book Notes

Magazine Overview This document is a page from a publication titled "Book Notes," specifically page 209. It features reviews of recently published books, primarily from 1995, covering topics in UFO studies and social sciences.

Book Reviews

UFOs: An Insider's View of the Official Quest for Evidence by Roy Craig This section reviews Roy Craig's 1995 book published by the University of North Texas Press. The book, available in hardcover for $24.95 and paperback for $18.95, has 297 pages and ISBNs 1-57441-005-9 (hc) and 0-0929398-94-7 (pb). The review highlights that millions have witnessed unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and references the controversial U.S. Air Force "Colorado Project" from 1966-67, led by E.U. Condon of the University of Colorado, which faced media antagonism, staff dissent, and covert activity.

Roy Craig's personal experiences as a field investigator for UFO sightings are described as fascinating for both believers and skeptics. The book includes detailed case descriptions, personal reflections, a historical overview of the UFO phenomenon, the U.S. Air Force's involvement, the rise of amateur UFO study groups, and ongoing "UFO Wars." Craig's work aims to bridge science and humanities with an engaging, humorous style while maintaining a scientific attitude. The review suggests that while Craig's findings may challenge some UFOologists' beliefs, his philosophical musings open possibilities for the existence of UFOs.

Social Science Books

#### Between Philosophy and Social Sciences: Selected Early Writings by Max Horkheimer
This review covers a 1995 publication by The MIT Press, translated by G. Frederick Hunter, Matthew S. Kramer, and John Torpey. The book, with 426 pages and ISBN 0-262-58142-6, costs $42.00. It includes Horkheimer's inaugural address as director of the Institute, outlining the Frankfurt School's interdisciplinary research program. It also features his first monograph and essays from the 1930s, many not previously published in English. These essays are noted as relevant to current post-philosophy debates, particularly "On the Problem of Truth" (focusing on pragmatism) and "The Rationalism Debate in Current Philosophy" (a critique of post-Cartesian consciousness). The volume also touches on the foundations debate in Continental philosophy and the tension between rationality and relativism.

#### Counterworks: Managing the Diversity of Knowledge edited by Richard Fardon
Published by Routledge in 1995, this book has 272 pages and ISBNs 0-415-10792-X (hc) and 0-415-10793-9 (pb), with prices of $55.00 (hc) and $18.95 (pb). Ten anthropologists examine how global processes impact specific localities. They question the validity of traditional anthropological concepts of culture in light of pervasive global connections. The book proposes that culture is a representation of similarities and differences in social life, rather than solely a marker of diversity. It explores globalization through diverse histories and knowledge traditions, including the construction of cultural difference. The review notes that the book addresses specific locations like Bali, Cuba, Bolivia, Greece, Kenya, and the Maoris in New Zealand, arguing for a rethinking of culture in a contemporary world where cultural awareness is widespread.

#### The Politics of Social Research by Martyn Hammersley
This 1995 publication by Sage Publications, with 186 pages and ISBNs 0-8039-4742-2 (hc) and 0-8039-4743-0 (pb), costs $59.95 (hc) and $21.95 (pb). The review centers on the debate about whether social research should be value-neutral or inherently political. It contrasts the view that research should be governed by value neutrality with critical, feminist, antiracist, and postmodernist analyses that argue research is intrinsically political. The book is described as stimulating and addresses the political nature of research.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance The "Book Notes" section appears to be an academic or specialized publication that reviews contemporary (circa 1995) works in UFO studies and social sciences. The editorial stance is neutral, presenting summaries and key points of the reviewed books without explicit endorsement or critique, allowing readers to gauge the relevance and content of these publications. The inclusion of detailed bibliographic information and pricing suggests a readership interested in acquiring these books.