Book review

On the Cover of Sunday's Book Review 'That Used to Be Us' By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN AND MICHAEL MANDELBAUM Reviewed by DAVID FRUM Stepping forward as "frustrated optimists," Thomas L. Friedman and Michael Mandelbaum address the grim situation of a slumping American economy. ADVERTISEMENT Also in the Book Review 'Arguably: Essays' By CHRISTOPHER HITCHENS Reviewed by BILL KELLER Christopher Hitchens's latest essays bear "the full consciousness that they might be my very last." 'The Art of Fielding' By CHAD HARBACH Reviewed by GREGORY COWLES This first novel revolves around a gifted but vulnerable ballplayer.  Excerpt: The Art of Fielding Arab Springs 'Anatomy Of a Disappearance' By HISHAM MATAR Reviewed by ROBERT F. WORTH In the Libyan writer Hisham Matar's second novel, the protagonist's father, an exiled dissident, is kidnapped.  Up Front: Robert F. Worth  Excerpt: 'Anatomy of a Disappearance' 'Rock The Casbah ' By ROBIN WRIGHT Reviewed by MOHAMAD BAZZI Robin Wright contends that the Arab world's young people are at the vanguard of a sweeping and seductive cultural revolution.  Excerpt: 'Rock the Casbah' 'The Missing Martyrs' By CHARLES KURZMAN Reviewed by BERNARD HAYKEL A decade after 9/11, a sociologist says the mystery isn't why so many Muslims turn to terrorism, but why so few. 'Literary Brooklyn' By EVAN HUGHES Reviewed by SHARIFA RHODES-PITTS Starting with Walt Whitman, writers have flocked to Brooklyn. 'Crossbones' By NURUDDIN FARAH Reviewed by HIRSH SAWHNEY Nuruddin Farah's novel offers a close look at Somalia, and its pirates. 'Jane Fonda: The Private Life of a Public Woman' By PATRICIA BOSWORTH Reviewed by VANESSA GRIGORIADIS Actor, sex kitten, political activist, exercise guru, philanthropist: Jane Fonda is constantly evolving.  Excerpt: 'Jane Fonda: The Private Life of a Public Woman' 'Birds of Paradise' By DIANA ABU-JABER Reviewed by CRISTINA GARCÍA Diana Abu-Jaber's novel presents the lushness of Miami, and a teenager lost in it. 'Holy War' By NIGEL CLIFF Reviewed by ERIC ORMSBY Vasco da Gama hoped to recruit Indian Christians against Islam. 'The Arrogant Years' By LUCETTE LAGNADO Reviewed by DEB OLIN UNFERTH Lucette Lagnado's tenacious mother is at the heart of this memoir, a follow-up to "The Man in the White Sharkskin Suit."  Excerpt: 'The Arrogant Years' 'The Neighborhood Project' By DAVID SLOAN WILSON Reviewed by JERRY A. COYNE David Sloan Wilson wants to apply the principles of evolutionary biology to solve everyday community problems. 'The Girl In the Polka-Dot Dress' By BERYL BAINBRIDGE Reviewed by WILLIAM BOYD Robert Kennedy's assassination and a 20-something Englishwoman come together in Beryl Bainbridge's posthumous novel.