considers ‘Exceptions to the Rules’ (p. 135), primarily through judicial rulings. While these later chapters are interesting, their relevance in exploring the long-term evolution of the Medal of Honour can be sometimes minor and, consequently, they can disrupt the flow of analysis. Moreover, the focus on policymaking is often dealt with in a vacuum, with very little attention paid to commentary of the award within the media and other outlets of American popular culture. Indeed, media commentary during crucial events such as the Vietnam War is briefly referred to, but it is rarely elaborated upon. Hence, the significance of unfolding policy developments upon the US public remains largely unclear. It could be argued that medals policy often results from an interaction between State and society. Mears’ analysis, while understandably distinguishing itself through a focus on policymaking, requires more of a balance with cultural forces rising from the societal level. Ultimately, Mears’ book constitutes a major advancement in academic understandings of the Medal of Honour and the US awards system more generally. However, in significantly contributing to one expanding area of phaleristics – policymaking – he neglects the other growing field in this historiography, the social and cultural history of medals. Nevertheless, it is an interesting read and, in terms of an administrative history, is unlikely to be surpassed in the near future.

中文翻译：

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书评：朗姆酒、鸡奸、祈祷和鞭刑重温：温斯顿丘吉尔和皇家海军的社会改革，1900-1915

考虑“规则的例外”（第 135 页），主要是通过司法裁决。虽然这些后面的章节很有趣，但它们在探索荣誉勋章的长期演变方面的相关性有时可能很小，因此，它们可能会扰乱分析流程。此外，对政策制定的关注往往是在真空中处理的，很少关注媒体和其他美国流行文化媒体对奖项的评论。事实上，在越南战争等重大事件中的媒体评论被简要提及，但很少详细阐述。因此，在美国公众面前展开政策发展的意义在很大程度上仍不清楚。可以说，奖牌政策往往是国家与社会互动的结果。米尔斯的分析，可以理解的是，通过专注于政策制定而脱颖而出，需要更多地与来自社会层面的文化力量保持平衡。最终，米尔斯的书构成了对荣誉勋章和更普遍的美国奖励制度的学术理解的重大进步。然而，在对一个不断扩大的 phaleristics 领域——决策制定做出重大贡献时，他忽略了这个史学中另一个不断发展的领域，即奖牌的社会和文化史。然而，这是一个有趣的阅读，就行政历史而言，在不久的将来不太可能被超越。米尔斯的书构成了对荣誉勋章和更普遍的美国奖励制度的学术理解的重大进步。然而，在对一个不断扩大的 phaleristics 领域——决策制定做出重大贡献时，他忽略了这个史学中另一个不断发展的领域，即奖牌的社会和文化史。然而，这是一个有趣的阅读，就行政历史而言，在不久的将来不太可能被超越。Mears 的书构成了对荣誉勋章和更普遍的美国奖励制度的学术理解的重大进步。然而，在对一个不断扩大的 phaleristics 领域——决策制定做出重大贡献时，他忽略了这个史学中另一个不断发展的领域，即奖牌的社会和文化史。然而，这是一个有趣的读物，就行政历史而言，在不久的将来不太可能被超越。