Consumer survival : an encyclopedia of consumer rights, safety, and protection /

Consumer Survival explains the consumer protection laws, government agencies, and resources available to US citizens. Five entries for international organizations are included: World Health Organization, World Trade Organization, Consumers International, International Trade Commission, and the United Nations. This two-volume set features 224 topical essays in eight broad categories: "Dangers," "General," "Government Agencies," "Legislation," "Movements," "Organizations," "People," and "Safeguards." "Guide to Related Topics" lists the entries under these categories, and "List of Entries" presents them in alphabetical order, as arranged in the text. Entries explain pertinent facts, provide clear instructions, and reveal what consumers need to know to protect themselves and to make wise decisions. Sidebars provide additional facts, instructions, or explanations. Each entry lists additional resources; "Primary Source Appendix" and an index are included in volume 2. This well-written, easily understandable set will appeal to a general audience. Summing Up: Highly recommended. High school, academic, and public libraries; lower and upper-level undergraduates, and general readers. L. Hickey Austin College

This set serves as a good starting place for those seeking consumer information. Examples of the signed entries include Americans with Disabilities Act, Auto purchasing, Credit reporting agencies, Food labeling, Insurance, Poverty guidelines, and Renters rights. There is also information on historical consumer-focused laws and other public-related information as well as short biographies of those who have influenced or impacted consumer law or civil equality, including Erin Brockovich, Rachel Carson, John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., Ralph Nader, and Esther Peterson. Entries conclude with see also references and a selection of additional readings to guide further research.Accompanying the A-Z entries are a contextual essay on the history of the consumer movement and a time line detailing U.S. presidents and the significant consumer policies enacted during their administrations. Volume 2 concludes with a brief appendix of primary sources, a bibliography, and an index. One issue on the layout: there are 38 tables within the entries, but, unfortunately, they are not shown in the table of contents, and they appear with no delineation from the text of the entries, which is rather jarring. That issue aside, this encyclopedia is recommended for high-school and academic libraries.--Webb, Paula Copyright 2014 Booklist