More Peoples of Las Vegas: One City, Many Faces

In this compilation, Simich and Wright (political science and history, U. of Nevada, Las Vegas) extend their survey of the residents of Las Vegas in The Peoples of Las Vegas (2005) with 13 additional essays on recently arrived immigrants to the city, like Ethiopians and Guatemalans, as well as well-established groups like the Irish and Germans. They include essays on the Japanese, Cubans, Scandinavians, Muslims, Armenians, Argentines, Koreans, Thais, and Colombians. Written by contributors working in journalism, law, anthropology, social work, history, political science, and ethnic studies, mostly from Nevada, essays detail the history of each group in the city, the roles they play in its life and economy, and the roles of local institutions like clubs, religious organizations, shops, restaurants, and newspapers and other media in helping them maintain their ethnic and religious identities and disseminate their cultures, as well as the influence of modern telecommunications and accessible air travel in creating transnational identities and maintaining ties with family back home. Annotation c2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)