The science of saving Venice /

With New Orleans's storm-soaked streets still fresh in the minds of many, this informative, well-written book on the frequent flooding (60 times a year) that threatens to destroy Venice is indeed a timely offering. Drawing on a three-year Cambridge University research project and a 2003 conference, the authors compare Venice's history and progress in the areas of flood prevention and protection with other flood-prone cities like Rotterdam and St. Petersburg. While this is an interesting and inexpensive text for any special library with a focus on the engineering sciences or a particularly large academic library with a strong engineering program, the lack of bibliographic sources weakens it. However, the strikingly powerful black-and-white and color photographs could alone justify the small outlay of funds needed for purchase.-Susan E. Brazer, Salisbury Univ. Lib., MD (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.