Return to home
page Book Reviews, Book Lover Resources, Advice for Writers and Publishers
Home / The Bookwatch

The Bookwatch

Volume 7, Number 9 September 2012 Home | BW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Needlecraft Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Audiobook Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Travel Shelf Sports Shelf Dance Shelf
Military Shelf Religion/Spirituality Shelf Christian Studies Shelf
Computer Shelf Antiques/Collectibles Shelf Architecture Shelf
Fashion Shelf Photography Shelf Education Shelf
Cookbook Shelf Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf Biography Shelf
Political Science Shelf Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf Business Shelf
Music Shelf Crafts Shelf Social Issues Shelf
Health/Medicine Shelf World History Shelf Nautical Shelf
Gardening Shelf Martial Arts Shelf Aviation Shelf
Gaming Shelf    


Reviewer's Choice

Think
Lisa Bloom
Vanguard Press
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
9781593156596, $25.99, www.vanguardpressbooks.com

Think: Straight Talk for Women to Stay Smart in a Dumbed-Down World reveals the paradoxes that American girls and women are living today, from excelling in education but obsessing over celebrities and tabloid media to outperforming males in employment yet spending more time and money on appearances. The result is an admonishment to take time to reclaim focus and focuses on how rethinking common but self-limiting practices can give us more time to act in a better manner. From using time more efficiently to connecting with communities, this is filled with fine insights for women who want to make the most of their newfound freedoms and abilities.

Opening the Door to Coaching Conversations
Linda Gross Cheliotes and Marceta Fleming Reilly
Corwin Press
2455 Teller Road
Thousand Oaks, CA 91320-2218
9781452202570, $23.76, www.corwin.com

What does coach leadership look like in the real world? Opening the Door to Coaching Conversations gathers insights on coaching styles using stories from experienced coaches on the Coaching for Results team. Examples document real problems and how coaching addressed them, in the process discussing everything from accountability and core values to building high expectations and community involvement processes. Sidebars of case histories pair with concrete 'how to' information for fine insights suitable for any collection interested in coaching's potentials and applications.

The Tempo of Modernity
Gabriel R. Ricci
Transaction Publishers
35 Berrue Circle
Piscataway, NJ 08854-8042
9781412842914, $39.95, www.transactionpub.com

The Tempo of Modernity is a solid recommendation for college-level audiences studying literature, philosophy and culture alike, and provides a survey of how time began to bend in the first half of the 20th century, influenced by new physics and Halley's Comet. Perceptions of time in general and the particular concept of 'time bending' as a system of literary criticism are the theme of an excellent study that considers a range of modern concepts and writings about them. It's a recommended pick for any college-level literary and philosophy holding.

2052: A Global Forecast for the Next Forty Years
Jorgen Randers
Chelsea Green Publishing Company
85 North Main Street, Suite 120
White River Junction, VT 05001
9781603584210, $24.95, www.chelseagreen.com

2052: A Global Forecast for the Next Forty Years comes from one of the coauthors of The Limits to Growth, a study that considered how humans would adapt to the physical limitations of Earth as they pursued limitless growth. 2052 furthers the consideration, using the author's own experience in sustainability and global forecasting plus the predictions of over thirty scientists, economists and others on the subject. From issues of food and energy to endless growth cycles, this provides a fine survey essential for any collection strong in forecasting and social issues.

One Big Thing
Phil Cooke
Thomas Nelson Publishers
PO Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214
9781595554840, $22.99, www.thomasnelson.com

ONE BIG THING: DISCOVERING WHAT YOU WERE BORN TO DO provides practical strategies to help find true purpose and uses case studies from branding to consider connecting one's calling to a bigger picture. This is a blend of business and personal savvy and comes from advice the author has shared with major organizations and thousands that follow him through his blog, and offers a fine survey highly recommended for any who want a better grasp of their life and ultimate goals and connections to a bigger, better world.

America, You Sexy Bitch
Meghan McCain and Michael Ian Black
Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Books Group
44 Farnsworth Street, 3rd Floor
Boston, MA 02210
9780306821004, $26.00, www.dacapopress.com

AMERICA, YOU SEXY BITCH: A LOVE LETTER TO FREEDOM details the experiences of a Republican and Democrat who road-tripped across America to see if two people with very different political beliefs had any common meeting point. As they interacted with one another and many of the people they met, they discovered the unexpected: their polarized beliefs and biased expectations turned into respect for themselves, each other, and those they encountered. AMERICA, YOU SEXY BITCH is a social and political romp recommended for any general lending library.

Delmar
c/o Cengage Learning, Inc.
200 First Stamford Place
Stamford, CT 06902
www.cengage.com/delmar

Dr. John C. Larkin and Dr. Concetta M. Duval's PRACTICAL PROBLEMS IN MATHEMATICS DRAFTING AND CAD, 4TH EDITION (9781111316808, $37.75) updates content to include a new section on Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing, new units on 3D geometry, and new problems divided into skill problems versus CAD problems, and is a pick for any reference collection strong in drafting and engineering skills. It reviews modern drafting problems and industry practices and provides step-by-step examples linking math to applied problems, reflecting emerging drafting and CAD technologies and providing concepts geared to enhancing math skills in any drafting field. A fine classroom in a book, this will enhance any course in drafting and applied CAD. Robert H. Zedlitz's HOW TO GET A JOB IN HEALTHCARE, 2ND EDITION (9781111640088, $85.95) covers the basics of health care careers and updated employment documents, applications, and interactive software supporting the job search process. From a new activity focus on how to start and keep a job to the latest online resources, this is a 'must have' reference for any student who wants to enter the health care field. Alan J. Kalameja and Mark Voisinet's SOLIDWORKS TUTOR 2012 (9781435496781, $72.95) provides a fine step-by-step survey of SolidWorks 2012 Tutor and provides a software reference that teaches all the basics. Each chapter builds on previous chapter skills and begins with an introduction to the software and navigating its interface. From short exercises to longer tutorials, this provides a foundation in SolidWorks that is a 'must' for any user of the software.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Simple Expression Quilts
Morgan
American Quilter's Society
P.O. Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
9781604600117, $19.95, www.americanquilters.com

Simple Expression Quilts teaches how to take a single patchwork quilt and adorn it with a word to express belief, hope, faith, grace, peace, kindness and more, and is a pick for any who would choose from the word or alphabet patterns provided and adorn them with appliques. Chapters are packed with color photo examples, patterns and ideas for making the most of these inspirational quilts, highly recommended for any level of quilter.

Martingale & Company
19021 Avenue NE, Bothell, WA 98011
www.shopmartingale.com

Sheryl Thies's KNITTING BY NATURE: 19 PATTERNS FOR SCARVES, WRAPS, AND MORE (9781604681550, $24.99) provides a follow-up to her other popular books on wraps and presents followers with a new collection of nature-inspired designs. Knitting ideas embrace shawls, scarves, wraps and shrugs and reflect designs inspired by nature's flowers, grasses and vines, so the patterns are unique and fun. These modern creations require minimal or no finishing, making KNITTING BY NATURE perfect for those just entering into the knitting world. Kim Diehl's SIMPLE CHARM: 12 SCRAPPY PATCHWORK AND APPLIQUE QUILT PATTERNS (9781604680669, $28.99) pairs lovely color photos with quilt patterns packed with the author's signature mix of patchwork and applique, and is a fine addition to any quilter's collection. Tips on patterns, piecing and more turn the entire process into a step-by-step series of easy guidelines perfect for the quilter who wants to take the next step in producing creative, fun quilts blending applique into the overall design. Mary Elizabeth Kinch and Biz Storms' SMALL PIECES, SPECTACULAR QUILTS: PATTERNS INSPIRED BY ANTIQUE QUILTS (9781604680348, $26.99) provides a fine follow-up to their best-selling SMALL BLOCKS, STUNNING QUILTS and offers keys to blending antique quilt designs into modern productions. Rare photos of antique quilts and discussions of their history accompanies 10 quilt patterns that highlight reproduction fabrics and techniques, making this a top pick for quilters who would incorporate the old into the new. Cheryl Wall's AT HOME WITH COUNTRY QUILTS: 13 PATCHWORK PATTERNS (9781604681451, $26.99) teaches how to use scraps in primitive country style quilts, and is a pick for crafters who want to learn basic piecing methods and applications for crafts. Color photos blend with patterns and step-by-step instructions for cutting and creating quilts, making this a powerful pick for any who would incorporate scraps and applique into the country quilt design. The editors of SewNews offer an outstanding beginner's guide with THE SEW SIMPLE GUIDE TO EASY SEWING AND EMBELLISHING (9781604661659, $26.99), a fine sewing guidebook intended for bare-bones beginners and those needing a refresher course. Here are all the basics to marking, cutting, piping, sewing zippers and handling a variety of common and foundation stitching, teaching a variety of methods for embellishing fabric and using applique and felting. From specialty fabrics to handling tucks, edging and more, this is a key acquisition for any basic needlework collection, supplementing instructions with color illustrations throughout. 200 BLOCKS FROM QUILTMAKER MAGAZINE: ORIGINAL PATTERNS FROM TODAY'S TOP DESIGNERS (9781604681673, $26.99) provides an outstanding gathering of blocks to add to the publication's 100 Blocks collections, and is a pick for any general quilter's library, particularly those enthused about the prior blocks compilations. Blocks all finish at 12" and cover different styles and approaches, while a handy index makes it a snap to locate blocks. A 'must' for any quilter's collection of reference books! The staff at That Patchwork Place join in to provide winning new patterns in QUILTING WITH FAT QUARTERS (9781604681884, $24.99), a fine guide to making fat-quarter quilts with a minimum of fuss. Here are 17 new quilt patterns showcasing everything from batiks to modern prints and solids. Each come with expert instructions and easy step-by-step illustrations, and all pack in gorgeous projects beginners will find accessible and easy.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Obsidian Mystery
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10014
www.penguin.com

Bailey Cates' BROWNIES & BROOMSTICKS: A MAGICAL BAKERY MYSTERY (9780451236630, $7.99) deserves ongoing recommendation as the first in a projected series that blends food and intrigue. It's a supernatural thriller revolving around Katie, who helps her relatives in a bakery in downtown Savannah, only to discover that their recipes involve witchcraft. And when her uncle falls under suspicion of murder, it will take all their talents to absolve him of the crime! Elizabeth Craig's QUILT OR INNOCENCE: A SOUTHERN QUILTING MYSTERY (9780451237330, $7.99) is also first in a new quilting mystery series: this revolving around a retired folk art curator, Beatrice, who is enjoying her new quilting friends until one of them becomes suspect in a crime, involving the entire group in a battle for justice. Ella Barrick's DEAD MAN WALTZING: A BALLROOM DANCE MYSTERY (9780451237347, $7.99) is second in the ballroom dance mystery series and tells of a champion dancer Stacy, who wants to focus on ballroom dance classes but is drawn again into mystery when a dancer is poisoned at a lunch. Victoria Laurie's LETHAL OUTLOOK (9780451236951, $23.95) provides a satisfying new Psychic Eye mystery adding to the series, and follows Abigail Cooper's search for a missing person. Add a psychic issue, misconstrued intentions, and a family blend to what is really going on and you have a gripping saga that enhances and expands the others in the fine series. All are top picks, highly recommended for any mystery library.

Poisoned Pen Press
6962 E. First Ave., #103, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
www.poisonedpenpress.com

Reavis Z. Wortham's BURROWS: A RED RIVER MYSTERY (9781464200052, $24.95) provides a satisfying sequel to THE ROCK HOLE, and is especially recommended for fans of this prior mystery classic. Ned Parker retires as constable but his retirement is short-lived when a murderer on a spree hits his small Texas town. Ned's nephew and ten-year-old grandchildren are drawn into danger as bodies begin to proliferate in this powerful novel of intrigue, a top recommendation for any general mystery library. Jon Talton's POWERS OF ARREST: A CINCINNATI CASEBOOK (9781590589991, $24.95) tells of a disabled Cincinnati homicide detective who walks with a cane and now works in less dangerous areas of police work when a star cop is killed, and he's assigned to find her murderer. The crime hits close to home when he realizes the murder is frighteningly similar to prior homicides on a school campus, where his friend Cheryl is teaching nursing. The duo form an unlikely team - and find that solving a murder is just the beginning of their challenges in this riveting mystery. Jeanne Matthews' BONEREAPERS: A DINAH PELERIN MYSTERY (9781590586181, $24.95) tells of Dinah, who sets out on a journey to visit the Doomsday Seed Vault, designed to safeguard the earth's precious collection of seeds in case of disaster. Little does she suspect that her journey to Norway will result in not only her increased understanding of genetic engineering, but a personal acquaintance with the motivations for murder as a series of mishaps send bodies her way. The unusual focus sets this apart from genre writing and makes it a special recommendation for any murder mystery library. Jennifer Rowe's LOVE HONOUR AND O'BRIEN (9781590585436, $24.95) tells of Holly Love, a clerk who ends up alone and starving in a dead man's flat. Her involvement with a cheating boyfriend and her desire for revenge brings her into a dank house and a strange mystery along with a troupe of powerful and strange characters. LOVE HONOUR AND O'BRIEN offers many absorbing twists and turns of plot and is a powerful recommendation for any mystery library. John McEvoy's PHOTO FINISH: A JACK DOYLE MYSTERY (9781464200151, $14.95) tells of Jack's new job working as a jockey's agent in the thoroughbred racing circuit: a job complicated when a rider's mishap leads to an investigation of illegal substances. Add a jockey's sibling rivalry, a host of possible suspects, and some new associations and you have a riveting horse world mystery especially recommended for fans of the Dick Francis genre of horse set murder mysteries. Ann Littlewood's ENDANGERED (9781590586211, $24.95) provides a satisfying zoo mystery and revolves around exotic animals at a marijuana grow site and a call for assistance to Zoo keeper iris, who discovers an animal smuggling ring and murder alike. Her job moves quickly from animal rescue to detective as she finds her zoo full, murder suspects invading her home, and dangers that send Iris on the run with her child. A gripping, engaging mystery evolves, perfect for any who want a change of mystery scene.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Kiss the Dead
Laurell K. Hamilton
Berkeley
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780425247549, $27.95, www.penguin.com

KISS THE DEAD provides a fine Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter novel and represents the 21st installment of the Blake adventures, offering up a new mission after her Hit List adventure. Here a teen is abducted by vampires, involving U.S. Marshal Anita Blake in a strange journey that leads her to a strange group of ordinary folk recently turned into vampires - and willing to die for their freedom. Mystery, romance and vampire lore blend in a satisfying detective adventure especially recommended for any prior Blake fan!

Baen Books
PO Box 1188
Wake Forest, NC 27588
www.baen.com

Larry Correia's THE MONSTER HUNTERS (9781451637847, $24.00) packs three novels under one cover and features Owen Pitt and Earl Harbinger, Monster Hunter International participants. MONSTER HUNTER INTERNATIONAL tells of Owen's new job as a new recruit of the company, facing down the undead and struggling with romance, MONSTER HUNTER VENDETTA follows his first mission and Owen's struggles with an evil death cult after him for revenge, and MONSTER HUNTER ALPHA tells of werewolf leader earl Harbinger, who also works for Monster Hunter International but faces a dangerous foe in an ex-KGB werewolf. An outstanding set of individual stories is even more powerful as a unit, as in this set, recommended for any science fiction holding. Mark L. Van Name's NO GOING BACK (9781451638103, $22.00) provides a fine new Jon and Lobo novel and will be an eagerly-awaited pick for prior fans of the gripping adventures of a nanotech-enhanced man and his best friend, an intelligent (and mouthy) assault vehicle, Lobo. Here they are working on increasingly dangerous missions and when Jon meets a woman from his past and undertakes an illegal job, he faces more than security forces and adversity - he's facing love. A fine and spirited novel of adventure evolves, perfect for any science fiction collection, particularly those seeing excitement over the prior Jon and Lobo adventure stories. David Weber's WAR MAID'S CHOICE (9781451638356, $26.00) provides a fine fantasy novel revolving around the Dark Gods' conquest of a continent that can lead to their control of an entire universe - and a host of problems that come with it. Phrobus, ruler of the Dark Golds, and his children have tried to eliminate the opposition - and a young war maid named Leeana and her one-eyed mare may be the only two who stand in the way. Solid action and mythological battles take place that immerse readers in sorcery and battle in this fine military fantasy piece! Wen Spencer's ELFHOME (9781451637830, $24.00) tells of a world of magic and elves, a city stranded in a virgin elfin forest, and a war between some sixty thousand humans and a handful of elves. Winter is coming to this conflicted world, bringing with it human orphan genius Tinker, who is an elf princess ruling over her realm. She's determined to make her city a place of peace for elves and humans alike - but when elf children begin to vanish, she faces one of her greatest challenges in this powerful story of struggle and a clash between fantasy and human worlds.

Ace Books
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10014
www.penguin.com

Charles Stross's THE APOCALYPSE CODEX (9781937007461, $25.95) provides a new Laundry Files novel, fourth in a series that blends espionage fiction with supernatural horror, continuing the story of one Bob Howard, who is looking at promotion within the Laundry, a secret British agency that defends the land from occult threats. When a miracle healer enters the picture and becomes too close to the Prime Minister, it's Bob's job to investigate - with some unusual results. Any science fiction or horror enthusiast who appreciate detective-style intrigue in the mix will appreciate The Apocalypse Codex's twists and turns. Douglas Adams and Gareth Roberts's DOCTOR WHO: SHADA (9780425259986, $25.95) presents a "lost" Adams script in novel form, and is a solid pick for any Doctor Who enthusiast. Gareth Roberts is a veteran script-writer for the Doctor Who series - and the perfect choice to place Douglas Adams' novel in the limelight. Here Doctor Who's old friend has retired with few relics from his famous days - along with them a dangerous and powerful book which he's loaned to a simple grad student who want to use it to impress the girls. But it's the most dangerous artifact in the universe - and it's up to Doctor Who to keep it from falling into the wrong hands in this riveting adventure.


The Audiobook Shelf

The Unseen
Heather Graham
Brilliance Audio
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
9781455863099, $32.99, www.brillianceaudio.com

Luke Daniels provides a vivid and engrossing voice in this powerful presentation THE UNSEEN, recounting an 1800s San Antonio saloon where a woman is brutally murdered, her killer a mystery. In modern times another woman vanishes, leaving behind blood and a mystery. Texas Ranger Logan Raintree discovers too many young women dead in a San Antonio bloodbath, and resolves to lead a new group of elite paranormal investigators on a mission to uncover the prep. Armed with a powerful knowledge of the dead, this group will uncover powerful truths and consequences in this vivid drama, recommended for any general interest holding.

Random House Audio Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 8th floor
New York, NY 10019
www.randomhouseaudio.com

Janet Evanovich's WICKED BUSINESS (9780307932587, $32.00) provides a new Lizzy and Diesel novel narrated by Lorelei King, an actress with many awards to her name, and telling of Lizzy Tucker's life as a pastry chef in Salem which changes due to her attraction to her partner Diesel. A Harvard English professor is mysteriously murdered and the pair set aside cooking to embark on an investigation for an ancient relic hidden somewhere in Boston. Their journey leads to a path of chaos and interactions with many searching for the same relic in this powerfully-charged saga of intrigue. Lincoln Child's THE THIRD GATE (9780307877147, $35.00) receives a fine narration by Jonathan McClain, who has appeared on many television shows and who here provide an absorbing voice to heighten tension in a riveting account of a professor who is an expert in the inexplicable, and who is invited to participate in an adventure surrounding a revolutionary new discovery. His journey will bring a legendary treasure hunter into danger in this powerful saga, recommended for any audio lending library. Mary C. Neal's TO HEAVEN AND BACK: A DOCTOR'S EXTRAORDINARY ACCOUNT OF HER DEATH, HEAVEN, ANGELS, AND LIFE AGAIN (9780307731715, $14.99) provides a true story paired with a vivid narration by Rebecca Lowman, a stage and film performer who brings the story to vivid life. It details the author's spiritual journey as she moved from life to death, drowning in a kayak accident in Chile. Her account of heaven, her communications with angels, and her return to her body with additional knowledge makes for a powerful spiritual journey and first-hand account of heaven. Highly recommended for any spiritual collection. AS TEXAS GOES...: HOW THE LONE STAR STATE HIJACKED THE AMERICAN AGENDA by Gail Collins (9780307969859, $35.00) comes from an author who narrates her own novel, capturing the colorful characters and political history of Texas and, even more importantly, offering an analysis of how Texas values, sentiments and approaches have affected the rest of the nation. Chapters go beyond the cultural cliches of Texas as a state of cowboy hats and oil wealth to consider the social impact Texas has on the rest of the world, and make for a fine analysis perfect for any nonfiction American history holding.

Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10017
www.hachetteaudio.com

Elin Hildebrand's SUMMERLAND (9781607885269, $34.98) is unabridged on eleven CDs, narrated by actress Erin Bennett who lends a smooth and passionate voice to the saga, and tells of a student graduation celebration that ends in tragedy after a terrible car crash. One mother is left with a dead daughter and a long road to recovery for a twin son who had been a star athlete. Zoe's journey to discovery the truth behind the crash and her daughter's involvement in it will lead her and fellow parents to many eye-opening revelations in this story of tragedy and changes. Robert Ludlum's THE BOURNE IMPERATIVE (9781611134520, $34.98) provides a new Jason Bourne thriller written by Eric Van Lustbader, based on Ludlum's classic saga. A fine unabridged presentation narrated by Holter Graham spices the gripping story of a man who is saved from a freezing sea by Jason, who discovers the man has amnesia, much like Jason experienced years before. When he discovers the keys to this mystery and that of an agent who has gone off-grid, determined to locate his charge, are blended, Jason embarks on another journey of high drama and intrigue in a powerful thriller especially recommended for Ludlum fans and collections catering to them. Liza Klaussmann's TIGERS IN RED WEATHER (9781611130577, $29.98) receives a fine reading by Katherine Kellgren, who has recorded some 150 audiobooks, and whose fine and engrossing voice adds intimacy and insights to this story of Nick and her cousin, who grew up on the family home on Martha's Vineyard. The two women are embarking on their adult lives with a new marriage and travels, but each finds romance is challenging their sense of adventure and life's pleasures in this powerful blend of romance and change. James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge's I, MICHAEL BENNETT (9781607884044, $34.98) is a highly recommended pick for any detective story reader and follows Detective Michael Bennett who arrests a Mexican crime lord in a deadly chase that results in the death of Bennett's lifelong friend. The crime lord vows revenge for his arrest, so Bennett leaves for a family vacation cabin and a more relaxed small town atmosphere - only to discover violence hot on his train. A powerful novel with many twists and turns makes for a vivid listen!


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Clinical Small Animal Care
Kimm Wuestenberg
Wiley-Blackwell
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148
9780813805146, $54.99, www.wiley.com

Clinical Small Animal Care: Promoting Patient Health Through Preventative Nursing provides veterinary students with a fine introduction to daily practice, and is a pick for any college-level veterinary science collection. It offers specific, step-by-step advice on how to perform basic animal care, from husbandry and nutrition to caring for animals with various types of ailments, and it covers all the basics of working with and nursing small animals in a clinical setting. Best practices for promoting small animal health accompany hands-on skills for assessing and monitoring the small animal, making for a powerful review perfect for newcomers to veterinary science and clinical work.

The Black Rhinos of Namibia
Rick Bass
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10003
9780547055213, $25.00, www.hmhbooks.com

The Black Rhinos of Namibia: Searching for Survivors in the African Desert provides a powerful account by an author who made a name for himself as a seeker of rare animals in the American West. In this adventure he's off to Namib of southwest Africa searching out the elusive black rhino, and here offers a blend of personal travelogue and natural history packed with details on the natural history and threats to the black rhino. Any with an interest in African wildlife will find it a fine first-person account of hunting the elusive black rhino in the wild.

The Last Rhinos
Lawrence Anthony with Graham Spence
Thomas Dunne Books
c/o St. Martin's Press
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
9781250004512, $25.99, www.stmartins.com

THE LAST RHINOS: MY BATTLE TO SAVE ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST CREATURES tells of the author's discovery that the rare northern white rhino, living in the war-ravaged Congo, was on the brink of extinction, with a demanding black market for rhino horns turning defending the rhinos into a life-threatening endeavor. The northern white rhino's last refuge was in an area controlled by one of the most dangerous rebel groups in the world: author Lawrence Anthony made a dangerous pilgrimage to the heart of this territory to find the group and engage their help in protecting the rhino. This is his story: well worthy of any natural history holding, and a fine companion to other discussions of endangered species.

In Pursuit of Giants
Matt Rigney
Viking Books
c/o Penguin Putnam Inc.
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
978067002336, $26.95, www.penguin.com

IN PURSUIT OF GIANTS: ONE MAN'S GLOBAL SEARCH FOR THE LAST OF THE GREAT FISH tells of a veteran fisherman who sets out to track the few remaining big-game fish. While this could also have been featured in our sports section, it's reviewed here for its vivid insights on commercial fishing and the natural history of fish as a whole, and documents effort to preserve the last of the world's great fish. The sportfishing industry around the world is examined in a survey that includes numerous interviews with commercial and sportfish captains and marine biologists alike, who provide their own insights into fish conversation and related issues such as fish farmers and conservation activists. Natural history and fishing collections alike will find this a fun, popular pick!


The Travel Shelf

Philippines
Lonely Planet Publications
150 Linden Street
Oakland CA 94607
www.lonelyplanet.com

Greg Bloom, et.al.'s country guide LONELY PLANET PHILIPPINES (9781741796940, $29.99) is a take-along 'must' for any destination-oriented travel planner who wants to get the most from a trip to the Philippines. It provides the latest updated coverage to various destinations in the Philippines and candidly covers both pros and cons of travel throughout the country. Most guidebooks provide coverage of recommendations only, but this book provides clear surveys of what is good and bad about travel in the region, allowing independent travelers to make better decisions about where to go and how. LONELY PLANET PHILIPPINES is a fine guide any travel planner will want! Carolyn Bain, et.al.'s LONELY PLANET DENMARK (9781741792812, $24.99) covers the history, culture, food and attractions of Denmark and offers travelers detailed itineraries and advice on making the most of a visit to the country. From a pull-out map of Copenhagen to sidebars of information on what to see and where to go, this covers all the basics of getting around Denmark and offers independent travelers a fine take-along travel planner. The same attention to detail is provided in Becky Ohlsen, et.al.'s LONELY PLANET SWEDEN (9781741797268, $23.99), which appears in its fifth updated edition covering the entire country and its attractions. From maps of urban and town areas to advice on where to stay, what to eat and where to travel, LONELY PLANET SWEDEN is packed with information key to quick and accurate travel planning.


The Sports Shelf

Triumph of Nations
Terry Shaw & Mike Horah
Osprey Publishing
4402 - 23rd Street, Suite 219
Long Island City, NY 11101-5058
9781849089289, $34.95, www.ospreypublishing.com

TRIUMPH OF NATIONS: WARGAMING RULES FOR NAPOLEONIC TABLETOP GAMING provides a field guide for FIELD OF GLORY NAPOLEONIC and provides players with army lists and details needed to recreate the battles of the later Empire. It's a fine companion for any partaking of tabletop historical miniature war games, packing in color illustrations, unit and division coverages, military information, and details on creating a customized army. Wargamers will find this a winning survey!

Bushville Wins!
John Klima
St. Martins Press
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
9781250006073, $25.99, www.stmartins.com

BUSHVILLE WINS: THE WILD SAGA OF THE 1957 MILWAUKEE BRAVES AND THE SCREWBALLS, SLUGGERS, AND BEER SWIGGERS WHO CANNED THE NEW YORK YANKEES AND CHANGED BASEBALL is a lively, charged survey of the New York Yankees and the Boston Braves, covering the reasons behind the major league team's move to a minor league town. At the tile Milwaukee was viewed as a small redneck town where the fans were ignorant drunkards who didn't take the game seriously. One slugger made a difference and an entire team proved to New York that other towns could topple their baseball dynasty in a moving, engrossing account highly recommended for any into baseball history.

Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc.
PO Box 5076
Champaign, IL 61820-5076
www.humankinetics.com

Dick Hannula and Nort Thornton's SWIM COACHING BIBLE, VOLUME II (9780736094085, $24.95) gathers the secrets and strategies of nearly thirty of the world's best swim coaches, organizing essays under one cover and covering everything from basic swim teaching and developing winning swimmers to creating a program to refine and enhance a training program. Any who coach the sport who want to foster competitive young swimmers will find this is indeed a 'bible' packed with specifics on common issues and how to address them. Another solid, more general guide to the topic is the fourth updated edition of Rainer Martens' SUCCESSFUL COACHING (9781450400510, $49.95) and tells how to identify and develop a coaching philosophy to clarify coaching objectives and style. From blending proven coaching techniques with skills and improving athletic performance to preparing management functions all coaches must tackle, planning for teaching, and training for fitness, this is a solid sport education program in a book, and covers all the basics of general coaching.


The Dance Shelf

Ballet Beautiful
Mary Helen Bowers
Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9780736215907, $20.00, www.dacapopress.com

BALLET BEAUTIFUL: TRANSFORM YOUR BODY AND GAIN THE STRENGTH, GRACE, AND FOCUS OF A BALLET DANCER tells how to gain the body of a dancer without looking like one, and teaches how to emulate ballet moves that provide exercise to specific body parts. More than just a series of ballet exercises, though, the book targets methods, lifestyle and mindset changes alike, offering advice for setting realistic goals, achieving them with workouts based on ballet moves, and understanding ballet through step-by-step photo examples. Tips for meals are included, but the meat of the title lies in its clear examples of basic ballet movements even non-ballet readers can absorb.


The Military Shelf

Sua Sponte
Dick Couch
Berkeley Caliber
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10014
9780425247587, $26.95, www.penguin.com

Sua Sponte: The Forging of a Modern American Ranger provides a powerful examination of the Army Rangers, comes from a former Navy SEAL, and reflects unprecedented access to the training of the Rangers unit, making this a 'must' for any military collection. It comes from a retired Navy captain who tells the personal story of those who serve on Rangers missions, providing an insider's look that follows these fighters through training and action missions in Afghanistan against the Taliban. Any interested in the Special Forces will find this packed with eye-opening insights into the Rangers and how they function.

Osprey Publishing
4402 - 23rd Street, Suite 219
Long Island City, NY 11101-5058
www.ospreypublishing.com

Stephen Turnbull's TOKUGAWA IEYASU (9781849085748, $18.95) provides a fine biography of a Japanese commander of early modern Japan: a military leader who completed Japan's reunification after over a century of civil war, then placed his family in a political position they were to enjoy for two and a half centuries. Ieyasu's military career and achievements are documented along with a healthy dose of Japanese history, with color maps and photos throughout. The result is a powerful survey highly recommended for any Japanese history or military history holding. Robert Forczyk's DEMYANSK 1942-43: THE FROZEN FORTRESS (9781849085526, $21.95) joins others in Osprey's 'Campaign' series and provides powerful in-depth survey of the fighting around the town of Demyansk, one of the longest encirclement battles of World War II. From the roles played by the Luftwaffe to supply issues and illusions that led to German disaster, this is a recommendation for any World War II detail-oriented library strong in battle and strategy analysis. Andrew Thomas' DEFIANT, BLENHEIM AND HAVOC ACES (9781849086660, $22.95) provides a fine survey of some of the lesser-known fighter planes to serve with the RAF in World War II, and the pilots that flew them. The Defiant and the Blenheim were frontline day fighters during the first year of the war and enjoyed many successes before their encounter with the superior Bf109 turned them into night fighters. The little-covered planes and the aces who flew them receive in-depth coverage in this latest addition to Osprey's 'Aircraft of the Aces' series, recommended for any military or aviation history holding. David Greentree's KNIGHT'S MOVE: THE HUNT FOR MARSHAL TITO 1944 (9781849086011, $18.95) charts a 1944 event where 800 men of the 500th SS Parachute Battalion descended on a small town behind enemy lines in Bosnia with the aim to kill or capture Tito in his base. The daring assault proved unsuccessful when Tito escaped and the paratroopers were nearly destroyed: this history offers rare photos of the raid, new maps, and analyzes strategy in a fine account recommended for any military history holding. Also recommended for such a collection is Frederick C. Schneid's THE SECOND WAR OF ITALIAN UNIFICATION 1859-61 (9781849087872, $20.95), a fine survey that tells of a complex conflict in 1859 that defined and united the country we know today as 'Italy'. The conflict was a war between the Italian states and a struggle between two European powers, and this book follows the politics and military strategy of 19th century warfare in a powerful recommendation for military history and Italian history holdings alike. Bryn Hammond's EL ALAMEIN: THE BATTLE THAT TURNED THE TIDE OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR (9781849086400, $24.95) belongs in any World War II collection and tells of the battle of El Alamein in 1942, which was a turning point of the war. At Alamein the British were finally able to thwart a German advance, eventually driving the Axis forces out of North Africa. This victory represented a mass effort of soldiers from around the world, and succeeded in finally dispelling the myth of German soldier invulnerability. First-hand accounts lend a personal touch to these experiences of the battle's strategies and successes.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

Implosion
Joel C. Rosenberg
Tyndale House Publishers
351 Executive Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188
9781414319674, $26.99, www.tyndalehouse.com

IMPLOSION: CAN AMERICA RECOVER FROM ITS ECONOMIC AND SPIRITUAL CHALLENGES IN TIME provides a powerful, wide-reaching spiritual and social issues survey that considers religious concerns about the nation's choices, and draws connections between economy, society, and what the Bible says should be done next. Chapters offer insights into this particular point of our nation's history and choices, and provide an excellent survey that links social, political and spiritual options for spiritual collections.


The Christian Studies Shelf

Jesus Through Pagan Eyes
Reverend mark Townsend
Llewellyn Worldwide, LTD.
2143 Wooddale Drive
Woodbury, MN 55125
9780738721910, $19.95, www.llewellyn.com

JESUS THROUGH PAGAN EYES: BRIDGING NEOPAGAN PERSPECTIVES WITH A PROGRESSIVE VISION OF CHRIST offers a new book by a British clergyman who left the Church of England, and provides a survey on reclaiming the teachings of Christ for those in non-Christian faiths. Stories, essays, and interviews about Jesus come from some of today's most respected neo-Christian spiritual leaders, and provides a fine historical survey of the Jesus icon in relation to modern goddess worship, shamanism and more.

The Pope and I
Jerzy Kluger and Gianfranco De Simone
Orbis Books
PO Box 308, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0308
9781570759703, $26.00, www.orbisbooks.com

The Pope and I: How the Lifelong Friendship between a Polish Jew and John Paul II Advanced Jewish-Christian Relations describes a powerful friendship between a Christian pope and a Polish Jew, documenting the powerful results of a childhood friendship that led the Pope on a mission against anti-Semitism and helped change the world. While their story has been documented before, this is the first time Jerzy Kluger has provided a memoir from his perspective, and provides a powerful saga of an ongoing friendship and its world-changing impact. Any spirituality holding will find this a fine addition!

The Acting Person and Christian Moral Life
Darlene Fozard Weaver
Georgetown University Press
3240 Prospect Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007
9781589017726, $32.95, www.press.georgetown.edu

The Acting Person and Christian Moral Life provides a scholarly analysis of the effects of particular moral actions on one's Christian spiritual life, showing how people negotiate and form their relationships with God based on their interactions with others in life. Human action, choice, and neglect not only affects this relationship; it tailors and often defines it, and The Acting Person and Christian Moral Life outlines the parameters whereby the Christian believer can lead a more moral life and thus enjoy greater connections to God. Any college-level Christian collections needs this fine survey.

Divine Alignment
Squire Rushnell
Howard Books
c/o Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl.
New York, NY 10020
9781451648560, $19.99, www.simonandschuster.com

DIVINE ALIGNMENT: HOW GODWINK MOMENTS GUIDE YOUR JOURNEY provides insights into Divine Alignment; the arrangement of coincidences into a pattern of alignment that could only come from God. Moving stories from the author's own life blend with a focus on such coincidences to show how readers can use their own personal navigation systems to discover more direct connections to God in a recommended pick for any spirituality collection seeking concrete ways to link life experiences with religious insights and growth.


The Computer Shelf

Adobe Dreamweaver CS6 Classroom in a Book
Adobe Systems
Adobe Press
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780321822451, $54.99, www.adobepress.com

Adobe Dreamweaver CS6 Classroom in a Book provides a powerful and comprehensive course on learning Dreamweaver CS6, and offers 17 lessons covering the basics of Adobe Dreamweaver. All you need is Dreamweaver CS6 software for either Windows or Mac to benefit from the written instructions and the accompanying DVD-ROM of lesson files and up to two hours of video training supporting the book's lessons. From previewing files and inserting images to understanding Dreamweaver's quirks and oddities, this provides an outstanding survey for any who would learn the basics on their own.

Using Mac OS X Lion Server: Managing Mac Services at Home and Office
Charles Edge Jr.
O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
1005 Gravenstein, Hwy N.
Sebastopol, CA 95472-2811
9781449316051, $29.99, www.oreilly.com

Using Mac OS X Lion Server: Managing Mac Services at Home and Office is for any newcomer learning to use Mac OS X Lion Server for either business or a home network, and offers basic keys to configuring a network, setting up servers, handling multiple operating systems, and more. Here is a basic discussion of platforms and applications that covers the basics of Lion's web service and features, from Apple's Time Machine for network backup to using disk imaging for adding new Apple computers to the system. IT managers and systems administrators will find this a winner!

Microsoft Private Cloud Computing
Aidan Finn, et.al.
Sybex
c/o Wiley-Blackwell
10475 Crosspoint Boulevard
Indianapolis, IN 46256
www.wiley.com
9781118251478, $49.99, www.sybex.com

Microsoft Private Cloud Computing provides a fine survey guiding newcomers through the Cloud technology and its many possibilities, and is a top pick for programmers and IT managers who want to set up VMM environments for business, add library servers, and interact with a private cloud with VMM interfaces. The result is a powerful survey packed with details on the cloud and its operations, linking common business and computer practices to cloud operations. Black and white screen shot examples and sidebars of information make this a winning presentation!

John Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street
Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
www.wiley.com

Jennifer Smith, et.al. ADOBE CREATIVE SUITE 6 DESIGN & WEB PREMIUM ALL-IN-ONE FOR DUMMIES (9781118168608, $39.99) tells how to get the most out of Adobe's many tools, from 3D images and illustrations to web pages and interactive effects. Chapters show how to build better page layouts, how to use Illustrator CS6 features to present powerful illustrations, how to save documents as PDFs and get the most out of Flash on a website design, and much more. At over a thousand pages, this is a virtual bible of facts packed with black and white screen shots and step-by-step instructions throughout. Michael Alexander's 101 READY-TO-USE EXCEL MACROS (9781118281215, $39.99) is packed with details on using Excel spreadsheets and working with macros to make work easier. Where most titles offer in-depth courses on the complex topic, this book is designed to get the user up-and-running quickly without having to learn Visual Basic for Applications. Step-by-step instructions tell how to create VBA macros, how to customize them, and how to apply them. The code packs pages filled with formulas for everything from applying alternate color banding throughout a document to setting all data items to sum and closing all workbooks at once. Each macro comes with 'How it Works' and 'How to Use It' sections for quick understanding of the applications involved. An serious Excel user will consider this a powerful time-saver!

Microsoft Press
c/o O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
1005 Gravenstein, Hwy N.
Sebastopol, CA 95472-2811
www.microsoft.com/mspress

Itzik Ben-Gan's MICROSOFT SQL SERVER 2012 HIGH-PERFORMANCE T-SQL USING WINDOW FUNCTIONS (9780735658363, $36.99) teaches how to optimize and work with queries using window functions in Transact-SQL, and is a pick for any advanced programmer's library. It offers all kinds of keys to increasing query speed, improving sequencing, and more, and covers everything from rank, distribution and offset techniques to handling intervals and gaps. It's very specific - which will be especially pleasing to professionals tired of the all-in-one approaches to computer guidebooks, and it provides all the nuts and bolts needed to fine-tune and work with Microsoft SQL Server 2012. Mitch Tulloch works with the Windows Server Team to present INTRODUCING WINDOWS SERVER 2012 (9780735666795, $14.99), offering a first look at the next release of Windows Server. From evaluating Windows Server 2012 based on beta to discussions of its new features and scenario-based insights, this packs in basic keys to understanding Cloud applications and much more, and is a 'must' for any programmer working with Windows Server. John Pierce's MOS STUDY GUIDE FOR MICROSOFT OFFICE 365 (9780735669031, $11.99) provides a fine in-depth coverage for any preparing for MOS Office 365 certification, offering an official study guide that pairs objective-by-objective coverage with practice tasks and reviews designed to increase familiarity with the exam and its credential requirements. Chapters cover the basics of certification requirements in a fine guide for any interested in acing the exam. Rob Miles' START HERE! LEARN THE KINECT API (9780735603961, $34.99) is for any who would learn Kinect programming basics, showing how to build apps that use motion tracking, voice recognition, and more. From displaying Kinect video on a PC to drawing on a computer screen by moving a finger in the air and more, this offers code samples, easily-followed introductions and examples, and step-by-step insights for developers. Very highly recommended!

Pragmatic Programmers
P.O. Box 293325
Lewisville, TX 75029-3325
www.pragprog.com

Brian P. Hogan, et.al.'s WEB DEVELOPMENT RECIPES (9781934356838, $35.00) offers a range of cutting-edge web development techniques, from keys to web hosting and UI to tweaks to buttons, content, display, and building user interfaces, and is a recommendation for any web developer's collection. It is intended for front-end developers who want to add the best enhancements to their content, and requires a newer browser, a text editor, and a working knowledge of HTML and JavaScript. Recipes range from framework tools to Javascript techniques, and provide developers with some background with specific tools for customizing and enhancing their web development techniques. The result is a fine reference for any web developer who wants to improve upon an existing, basic skillset. Chad Fowler's RAILS RECIPES RAILS 3 EDITION (9781934356777, $35.00) is written for Rails developers at all level of experience, and covers some seventy common problems developers are likely to face on the job. Recipes have been updated for this second edition to reflect the latest features of Rails 3.1, and offers new solutions to problems that range from testing and deploying a site to extending Rails processes. A 'must' for any development collection catering to Rails users.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

Top 50 Most Popular Modern Coins
Eric Jordan and Tom Maban
Krause Publications
c/o F+W Media
4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236
www.krausebooks.com
9781440230677, $14.99, www.shopnumismaster.com

Top 50 Most Popular Modern Coins covers the 'best of the best' novelty collector coins that anyone can afford, and is a top recommendation for newcomers to coin collecting who want to understand the basics by starting a new collection. From choosing a collecting path by mintmark or composition to just collecting the 50 issues featured herein, Top 50 Most Popular Modern Coins provides an excellent, illustrated starting point for any avid collector.

The Encyclopedia of Glass
Mark Pickvet
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764339257, $29.99, www.schifferbooks.com

The Encyclopedia of Glass provides a new, expanded edition that updates all glass values, and is a top pick for any collector's reference library. Over four thousand listings of glassware make it a snap to look up artisans, values, styles, and designers from antiquity to modern times, while cross-referencing between topics makes it quick and easy to move between topics and approaches. All kinds of glass-related topics make discussions lively and educational in a pick recommended for any collector's reference library.


The Architecture Shelf

The Natural Building Companion
Jacob Deva Racusin and Ace McArleton
Chelsea Green Publishing Company
85 North Main Street, Suite 120
White River Junction, VT 05001
97816103583398, $59.95, www.chelseagreen.com

The Natural Building Companion: A Comprehensive Guide to Integrative Design and Construction offers homeowner builders a complete guide to natural building design, technology, ideals and applications. Here are step-by-step instructions on choosing materials, understanding code compliance, selecting paints, evaluating options and alternatives throughout the process, and much more. The book offers all the basics of building science but with a focus on natural building options, covering everything from woodchip-clay to earthen and stone wall systems and finishing options. Professionals who want to move from traditional methods and homeowners who want to work on their own green construction will find this packed with key details.

Architecture Now! 8
Philip Jodidio
Taschen America
107 Greene Street, New York, NY 10012
9783836526814, $39.99, www.taschen.com

Architecture Now! 8 reviews new projects completed and under construction throughout the world, offering color photos and focus on all styles of architecture and all manner of projects. Any collection strong in modern architectural trends needs this comprehensive survey, which features well-known architects and projects alongside lesser-knowns. Numerous color photos of exteriors and interiors accompanies plans, details on clients and costs (where known), and everything needed to understand the latest trends and innovations.

Building Code Basics, Residential
International Code Council
Delmar
c/o Cengage Learning, Inc.
200 First Stamford Place, Stamford, CT 06902
9781133283362, $42.95, www.cengage.com/delmar

Building Code Basics, Residential: Based on the 2012 International Residential Code uses easy non-code language to explain all the basics of residential building code, making for the perfect reference for any who want a review of the code without the usual complexity. Chapters are arranged by typical residential building progression so it's easy to consult a chapter during the process for a logical sequence of related code instruction. From site work and foundations to the fire and safety requirements of completed structures, this is a powerful guide highly recommended for any residential builder or for homeowner-builders.


The Fashion Shelf

A Front Row Seat
Kristin Sinclair
Antique Collectors Club
c/o ACC Distribution
6 West, 18th Street, Suite 4B, NY, NY 10011
9781851496617, $49.95, www.antique-acc.com

A Front Row Seat provides a fine set of photos from a fashion photographer who has, for the last seven years, documented many seasonal collections. It presents shots from shows, presentations and exhibitions in some of the major fashion capitals of the world, from Paris to New York City, and it provides a fine set of images showing the nuances and styles of the catwalk. Any interested in style and fashion will find this an outstanding collection suitable for fashion and photography holdings alike.

Marilyn in Fashion
Christopher Nickens and George Zeno
Running Press
2300 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103-4371
9780762443321, $30.00, www.runningpress.com

MARILYN IN FASHION: THE ENDURING INFLUENCE OF MARILYN MONROE goes beyond most Marilyn biographies to provide a narrowed focus on her fashion and the designers with whom she collaborated over the years. The first section considers these designers, while the second part more closely examines Marilyn's hats, makeup and hairstyles. Hundreds of rare and newly published photos accompany insights from fellow designers and quotes from Marilyn herself, making this a powerful recommendation for any fashion holding.


The Photography Shelf

Beyond Point-and-Shoot
Darrell Young
Rocky Nook
802 East Cota Street, 3rd Floor
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
9781933952956, $29.95, www.rockynook.com

Beyond Point-and-Shoot: Learning to Use a Digital SLR or Interchangeable-Lens Camera assumes little or know prior knowledge of photography or its terminology and is written for the novice photographer who wants to make the move from new picture-taker to 'real' photographer. It covers the basics of the camera's semi-automatic and manual settings, discussing technical applications of exposure, depth of field, metering, white balance and much more. From camera types and lens to using different preset exposures, tweaking aperture, and using the histogram to produce better pictures, this is a highly recommended guide for any who wish to move beyond the snapshot realm.

SnApp Shots
Adam Bronkhorst
Chronicle Books
680 Second Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
9781452107127, $18.95, www.chroniclebooks.com

SnApp Shots: How to Take Great Pictures with Smartphones and Apps is an outstanding resource for a generation that is increasingly using a cell phone as their major camera. It's compact, it's often on one's person, and it holds many of the capabilities of a full-sized camera - but what's previously been missing is a handbook designed to explore camera operations and apps alike. Enter SnApp Shots, a wide-ranging guide that includes all kinds of phones, from Blackberry to Android and the iPhone. It cuts the jargon, explores all kinds of photo-enhancing apps for different phones, and offers stunning pictorial support for these app-polished images. Any phone owner who uses the camera feature will want this powerful survey.

Adobe Photoshop CS6 Digital Classroom
Jennifer Smith and the AGI Creative Team
John Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118123898, $49.99, www.wiley.com

Adobe Photoshop CS6 Digital Classroom packs in a complete training package in an instructional book that pairs well with a companion DVD, and is a strong pick for any Photoshop learner who wants a complete training package under one cover. From editing images using layering and masking to using color correction, creating compositions using new tools, keeping images organized with Adobe Bride, and more, expert instructors offer some 14 lessons to help learn Photoshop CS6 skills in a step-by-step collection of instructions supported by video tutorials on the companion DVD. Any Photoshop CS6 learner will find this a winning approach to a complex program!

Complete Digital Photography, seventh edition
Ben Long
Course Technology
c/o Cengage Learning, Inc.
200 First Stamford Place, Stamford, CT 06902
www.cengage.com
9781285077260, $44.99, www.courseptr.com

The seventh updated edition of Complete Digital Photography provides an in-depth survey of the camera's controls, offering tutorials on exposure, detailed chapters on composition, instructions on how to craft a post-production workflow, tutorials on image editing, and much more. From coverage of printing and photo art to the basics of digital composition, shooting and post-production to printing, this is a virtual course in a book and teaches the basics of mastering digital works. Very highly recommended as a basic all-in-one primer for any working with digital images!


The Education Shelf

You're Going to Love This Kid
Paula Kluth
Paul H. Brookes Publishing Company
PO Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
9781598572049, $129.95, www.brookespublishing.com

You're Going to Love This Kid: A Professional Development Package for Teaching Students With Autism in the Inclusive Classroom offers a fine DVD-Rom package blending a booklet with software to discuss how to tailor a classroom for autism and inclusion. It's nearly an hour of professional development insights on video, offering clips of real teachers in inclusive classrooms that discuss the mechanics of putting together a successful learning environment for all. Viewers learn how to use positive behavior reinforcement, peer support techniques, and co-teaching methods while the accompanying booklet provides checklists, evaluation forms, and keys to teaching strategies. The package as a whole is a big plus for any education library.

Corwin Press
2455 Teller Road
Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
www.corwin.com

Deborah P. Silver's FALL DOWN 7 TIMES, GET UP 8: TEACHING KIDS TO SUCCEED (9781412998772, $33.95) is an excellent discussion of motivational theory and how it applies to classroom teachings, and is a pick for any educator's library. It offers real-world, humorous examples of the guidance teachers give to students to help them achieve and overcome obstacles, joining together success factors and their theory and applications. Personal experience blends well with this theory, making this an excellent guide for any motivational teaching approach. PLANTING THE SEEDS OF ALGEBRA, PREK-2: EXPLORATIONS FOR THE EARLY GRADES by Monica Neagoy (9781412996600, $38.95) provides in-depth strategies and grade-specific approaches for building a foundation of math skills in the early grades, and is a 'must' pick for any early childhood math teacher. The author uses her teaching experience and insights and pairs this with case history examples documenting her successes in building such a foundation: fellow teachers working with early learners will want to learn these specifics. Catlin R. Tucker's BLENDED LEARNING IN GRADES 4-12 (9781452240862, $39.95) shows teachers how to use technology and blended learning practices to blend online discussion with face-to-face classroom instruction. This guides teachers on exactly how to set up an online environment to increase student engagement, shows how to analyze online work, instructs on personalizing lessons online, and offers strategies for busy modern teachers. From individual teachings to developing curriculum for specific focus, this is a specific how-to guide packed with details for any teacher. Ellen B. Mandinach and Sharnell S. Jackson's TRANSFORMING TEACHING AND LEARNING THROUGH DATA-DRIVEN DECISION MAKING (9781412982047, $33.95) provides the nuts and bolts of how to connect data and instruction to improve practice, and translates the basics of educational psychology principles into classroom applications. It shows how to integrate assessment, statistics, psychology and classroom management and teaches the basics of data-driven decision making processes. Any teacher and many a classroom principal will find this a key title that pairs demonstrations of concepts in the classroom with keys to making the switch. Judy Storeygard's COUNT ME IN! K-5 (9781412999045, $28.95) provides teachers with a basic primer on how to use research-based and field-tested methodology to provide integrated instruction to the classroom. From strategies for teaching students with autism to helping learners organize and self-monitor in a math class, this provides resources specific to math instruction and presents field-tested, proven methods for linking children's behavior patterns to teaching math to all students. Marcia L. Tate's "SIT & GET" WON'T GROW DENDRITES (9781412999342, $27.00) provides a fine second edition packed with some twenty professional development strategies proven to engage adults in the learning process. The focus is on teaching busy adults and creating experiences that reinforce learning: new findings in brain research, learning styles, and differences between adult and younger learners make this a powerful, recommended pick for any adult education collection.


The Cookbook Shelf

Everyday Exotic: The Cookbook
Roger Mooking & Allan Magee
Whitecap Books
195 Allstate Parkway
Markham, ON, Canada, L3R 4T8
9781770500648, $29.95, www.whitecap.ca

EVERYDAY EXOTIC: THE COOKBOOK features everyday recipes with refreshingly different exotic twists, and teaches the basics of how to add color and flavor to traditional comfort foods. Roger Mooking has a reputation as one of Canada's best chefs, hosting a Food Network show and more. His cookbook is packed with color photos and inspirations, such as a roasted Malaysian-Inspired Chicken Wings and Lamb Kebabs with Tamarind Sauce and Black-Eyed Peas. Highly recommended!

Flying Pans
Bernard Guillas and Ron Oliver
Sunbelt Publications
9780982428313, $35.00, www.sunbeltbooks.com

FLYING PANS: TWO CHEFS, ONE WORLD is a top recommendation for any cookbook holding and deserves ongoing mention as a culinary library staple. It comes from two prestigious California chefs who have visited over 40 countries, and blends their travel experiences with anecdotes and cultural insights to pair with over 100 recipes. Lovely visual embellishments by New York food photographer Gregory Bertolini bring the feast to life, whether it be Marrakech Spiced Lamb Tangine from Morocco or a Molten Chuao Chocolate Timbale from Venezuela. A mouth-watering, delicious presentation, this is an ongoing recommendation for any culinary collection!

Yes, Chef
Marcus Samuelsson
Random House
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor
New York, NY 10019
9780385342605, $27.00, www.randomhouse.com

YES, CHEF provides a fine memoir and offers a blend of autobiography about food and family and culinary insights into becoming a chef. It details his experiences throughout some of the most demanding restaurants in Switzerland and France, follows his evolving career in New York City, and reveals the ups and downs of being a chef, from successes to epic failures. The result is a lively, engrossing survey highly recommended for any culinary collection and many a general-interest holding.


The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

The Art of Film Funding, updated edition
Carole Lee Dean
Michael Wiese Productions
12400 Ventura Blvd. #1111
Studio City, CA 91604
9781615930913, $26.95, www.mwp.com

The Art of Film Funding: Alternative Financing Concepts belongs in any performing arts and film reference collection and offers a second new, updated edition of a classic from a veteran fundraiser and filmmaker. It comes packed with tools for turning a dream into reality, offering keys to fundraising approaches for both individual and business donors. From Internet marketing to music licensing and public funding, this covers a wide range of effective approaches that should be in any performing arts collection's reference library.

Prometheus: The Art of the Film
Mark Salisbury
Titan Books
144 Southwark Street, London, SE1 OUP, UK
9781781161098, $39.95, www.titanbooks.com

Prometheus: The Art of the Film is a special recommendation for film and science fiction collections alike, and has been reprinted for a third run prior to its June 12th publication date. It's the only book to directly tie in to the film and provides a lavish guide that goes beyond the scenes to reveal production art and the making of the movie. Exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes material make Prometheus: The Art of the Film a powerful celebration for any who relished the movie and its director.

The Reality Shows
Karen Finley
Feminist Press
365 - 5th Avenue Suite 5406
New York, NY 10016
9781558616714, $17.95, www.feministpress.org

THE REALITY SHOWS considers ten years of political trauma, cultural change, and more and blends photos and drawings with a timeline of the past ten years to supplement the social and political commentary of a performer who has exhibited her visual work and performances internationally. It's satire and social commentary at its best, offering a fine written display of works that made her well known as a hard-hitting, funny visual performer. Any collection strong in feminist observation, social issues commentary and stage performing will find this an unpredictable treat.

Rule of Thumb
Todd Rendleman
Continuum International Publishing Group
80 Maiden Lane, Suite 704, New York, NY 10038
9781441192219, $19.95, www.continuumbooks.com

RULE OF THUMB: EBERT AT THE MOVIES offers a classic survey of movie critic Roger Ebert's lasting impact on how movies are made and watched. It blends a biography of Ebert's life and writings with a survey of Ebert's social and political impact both within the film industry and in popular American culture, considering the role of the movie reviewer and the process of movie criticism as a whole. Any film collection will find this a fine analysis of the qualities and processes of film criticism.


The Biography Shelf

A Ship Without a Sail
Gary Marmorstein
Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl.
New York, NY 10020
978141654253, $30.00, www.simonandschuster.com

A SHIP WITHOUT A SAIL: THE LIFE OF LORENZ HART considers the life of a talented but troubled producer of lyrics for film and Broadway shows, following his early childhood as the son of Jewish immigrants to his evolution as a creator of talented songs. "Manhattan", "The Lady is a Tramp" - all these and more are Hart's creations, and represented radical reflections of what made a popular song. Despite his rise to fame and career success, Hart died a broken alcoholic before he was fifty. A SHIP WITHOUT A SAIL charts his journeys, evolution, and many contributions and is a pick for biography, film, and music collections alike.

Making Piece
Beth M. Howard
Harlequin Books
225 Duncan Mill Road
Don Mills, Ontario, Canada, M3B 3K9
9780373892570, $24.95, www.eharlequin.com

MAKING PIECE: A MEMOIR OF LOVE, LOSS, AND PIE comes from a journalist and pie maker who provides a candid, emotional account of a journey out of grief after her 43-year-old husband died unexpectedly. Her husband had been just hours away from signing divorce papers and Beth, who had pushed to end a complicated marriage despite love, felt responsible for his demise. Her transcontinental journey in search of pie recipes led to many adventures, much self-discovery, and a newfound passion for life that eventually led to her opening of the Pitchfork Pie Stand in Iowa. Pie helped her recover from her husband's death and MAKING PIECE provides a fine personal and culinary journey.

When We Were the Kennedys
Monica Wood
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10003
9780547630144, $24.00, www.hmhbooks.com

WHEN WE WERE THE KENNEDYS: A MEMOIR FROM MEXICO, MAINE tells of the Wood family in 1963, a family dependent on its fathers' wages until Dad suddenly dies on his way to work - and the family is challenged emotionally and financially. This is the story of how the family pulls together after tragedy, offering a fine survey that considers one family's experiences shortly before the death of Kennedy rocked the world. A family road trip pulls them back together and provides the healing they need in this moving story, highly recommended for any general-interest holding.


The Political Science Shelf

It's Even Worse Than It Looks
Thomas E. Mann and Norman J. Ornstein
Basic Books
c/o Perseus Books Group
250 W. 57th St., 15th Floor, New York NY 10107
9780465031337, $26.00, www.perseusbooks.com

IT'S EVEN WORSE THAN IT LOOKS: HOW THE AMERICAN CONSTITUTIONAL SYSTEM COLLIDED WITH THE NEW POLITICS OF EXTREMISM examines today's political gridlock in Washington DC and uses research and insights to consider how partisan politics and law have led to a stranglehold on political process. From adversarial political parties and a governing system that makes it difficult for majorities to act to key historical points that have contributed to this moment in history, this is a solid examination of political process and its current flaws, and is a solid pick for any political collection.

The Little Blue Book
George Lakoff and Elisabeth Wehling
Free Press
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
9781476700014, $11.00, www.simonandschuster.com

The Little Blue Book: The Essential Guide to Thinking and Talking Democratic offers Democrats language to communicate their moral values clearly, discussing the underlying issues of our time from the economy to food policy and offering in-depth analysis of the ways that extreme conservative positions have permeated political discourse. It teaches the basics of how to fight back on moral grounds and provides Democrats and progressives alike with new ways of thinking about political discourse, and is a key acquisition for any political studies shelf.

The Tea Party
Ronald P. Formisano
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles St., Baltimore MD 21218
9781421405964, $19.95, www.press.jhu.edu

THE TEA PARTY: A BRIEF HISTORY provides a fine survey of the Tea Party's politics, history, and the movement's agenda and influence, and is a pick for any American history and politics collection. Couched in a small book is an entire review of the Tea Party's history and basic principles, offering surveys of it leaders and their contentions and ideals. The result is a fine and easy introduction to a brand new party and its concepts, recommended for any general collection strong in American history and politics.

China and Coexistence
Liselotte Odgaard
Woodrow Wilson Center Press
c/o Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles St., Baltimore MD 21218
9781421405636, $45.00, www.press.jhu.edu

CHINA AND COEXISTENCE: BEIJING'S NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY FOR THE 21ST CENTURY provides college-level collections with an in-depth coverage of China's program of peaceful coexistence and suggests that the nation's policy of working with the international community is a way seeking greater influence and power without military costs and involvement. Associate Professor Odgaard examines the history of the idea of peaceful coexistence in early Soviet doctrine, how it was adopted by China, and how it has influenced China's role in border disputes and involvement in international politics as a whole. The result is a powerful survey highly recommended for any serious collection on China's politics and place in the world.

A Capitalism for the People
Luigi Zingales
Basic Books
c/o Perseus Books Group
250 W. 57th St., 15th Floor, New York NY 10107
9780465029471, $26.99, www.perseusbooks.com

A Capitalism for the People: Recapturing the Lost Genius of American Prosperity outlines a blueprint for recovering the democratic process and considers connections between government, business interests, and populist anger over corruption and elitism. The author grew up in Italy where nepotism routinely rules: his is a call for action as he observes elements of his country's sad political process infecting the once-operational democracy of America. The solution, he maintains, is a rethinking of traditional political categories overall. Chapters focus on solutions to problems in this recommended pick for any political studies collection.

Fuel on the Fire
Greg Muttitt
The New Press
38 Green Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10013
9782595588050, $28.95, www.thenewpress.com

FUEL ON THE FIRE: OIL AND POLITICS IN OCCUPIED IRAQ comes from an investigative journalist who provides keys to understanding an underground conflict shaking the nation. It features hundreds of unreleased government documents, extensive interviews with senior American, British and Iraqi officials, and connections between Iraq's experience and that of surrounding nations. It's a story of oil politics at its worst, corruption, and special interests policies that dominate national interests, and it's a vivid account of the Iraqi people highly recommended for any Middle Eastern collection.

Asia's Unknown Uprisings V. 1
George Katsiaficas
PM Press
PO Box 23912, Oakland, CA 94623
9781604864571, $28.95, www.pmpress.org

Asia's Unknown Uprisings V. 1: South Korean social Movements in the 20th Century provides a powerful compendium of Asian politics and history and uses social movements as a starting point to survey the lesser-known history of, in this case, 20th century Korea. It focuses on the Gwangji Uprising and considers Korean experiences and possible Asian and global social movements using its example, considering local conflicts and relationships to Korea as a whole. This volume was ten years in the making and offers a study that analyzes similar uprisings in nine other places in Asia from the Philippines to China and Nepal. Photos, graphs and charts make this a top pick!


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Micro-Series, V. 1
Brian Lynch, et.al.
IDW Publishing
5080 Santa Fe Street, San Diego, CA 92109
9781613772324, $17.99, www.idwpublishing.com

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles V. 1 offers four new stand-alone stories centering on each Turtle and comes from a variety of writers and artists who offer a fine graphic comic collection perfect for fans of the Ninja turtles. From a holiday in New York City to a battle with the Foot Clan, this is a selection that will delight any fan of the Turtles with vivid, new stories.

Superman
Larry Tye
Random House
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
9781400066661, $27.00, www.randomhouse.com

SUPERMAN: THE HIGH-FLYING HISTORY OF AMERICA'S MOST ENDURING HERO comes from a journalist and author who charts the history of the comic book character, starting with a biography of his creator Jerry Siegel, a shy teen in Cleveland raised during the Depression who dreamed of a hero. He and his childhood chum dreamed up the character of Superman - and this uses newly revealed records - including Siegel's unpublished memoir - to detail both Siegel's creation and its evolution through the decades. Any interested in comic book history will find this a key reference to the greatest character of them all.

Spandex Fast and Hard
Martin Eden
Titan Books
144 Southwark Street, London SE1 OUP, UK
9780857689733, $19.50, www.titanbooks.com

Spandex Fast and Hard is hilarious and vivid, appears in full color, and is a graphic novel charting the adventures of a group of gay super-heroes battling 50-foot lesbians, pink ninjas, and more. Romance pairs with super feats and action centers on the superhero team Spandex with characters such as Prowler, who absorbs the abilities of gay people, and twins Mr. Muscle and Butch rounding out an unlikely and powerful cast of characters. A rollicking set of fun adventures and strange encounters makes this a different action pick for any comics or graphic novel collection.

Radioactive Man
Matt Groening
Harper Design
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
9780062089922, $25.99, www.harpercollins.com

RADIOACTIVE MAN: RADIOACTIVE REPOSITORY VOLUME ONE gathers comics from the figure who made his historic comic book debut in Bart Simpson's world of1952, battling to save Zenith City from such dangers as Lava man, Larva Girl, and many more. The comic figure often battles evil across the universe and between dimensions too, joining a fun cast of characters, and this deluxe collection of stories appears in its first volume to provide a special treat gathering comics from The Simpsons in a colorful collection packed with full-color illustrations and fun adventures.


The Business Shelf

Raising Capital, third edition
Andrew J. Sherman
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019-7420
9780814417034, $34.95, www.amacombooks.org

RAISING CAPITAL: GET THE MONEY YOU NEED TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS, 3RD EDITION is packed with tools for building business plans, preparing loan proposals, and locating revenue sources, and offers keys to effective fundraising based on the latest trends in the domestic and global capital markets. The various resources featured can offer funding to start-ups, rapid growth companies and seasoned businesses alike, and offers all kinds of resources for borrowing money from commercial banks, government and private sources alike. A fine key to any looking to build a business!

Oracles
Donald N. Thompson
Harvard Business Review Press
c/o Harvard Business School Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
9781422183175, $26.00, www.hbr.org/books

ORACLES: HOW PREDICTION MARKETS TURN EMPLOYEES INTO VISIONARIES explains how the wisdom of crowds and crowd behavior patterns has led to the evolution of prediction markets, a unique approach used by Google, Microsoft and even the CIA to tap employee insights on business. There are a range of prediction markets that can help businesses make more profitable decisions and ORACLES shows how to tap employee interests to replace surveys and gain more accurate perspectives on future trends. Retired employees also represent a gold mine of possibilities - this documents the successes and failures of real organizations, identifying their roadblocks to success and providing a fine key to future profits without the meetings and market research currently involved.

No B.S. Grassroots Marketing
Dan S. Kennedy & Jeff Slutsky
Entrepreneur Press
c/o The McGraw Hill Companies
Two Penn Plaza, 11th Floor, NY, NY 10121-2298
9781599184395, $17.95, www.entrepreneurpress.com

No B.S. Grassroots Marketing: The Ultimate No Holds Barred Take No Prisoners Guide to Growing Sales and Profit of Local Small Businesses provides a fine overview of a local grassroots marketing plan to help increase customer retention and build a thriving long-term business. From truths surrounding grassroots marketing to how to use media as an extension of personality and relationships and why most local marketing programs fail, this teaches the basics of how to use technology and personal approaches to fine-tune concrete business objectives, and is a pick for any small business holding.


The Music Shelf

Queen: The Complete Works
Georg Purvis
Titan Books
144 Southwark Street, London SE1 OUP, UK
9780857685513, $24.95, www.titanbooks.com

Queen: The Complete Works offers a fine reprint of a meticulous consideration of the rock band Queen, from its musicians and creations to its tours and videos, and is a top recommendation for any popular music collection. It provides detailed production history and analysis for all their albums, provides set lists and histories for all their live shows, and offers commentary and history on their major songs. The result is truly a 'complete' set of insights on Queen, highly recommended for any rock music library!


The Crafts Shelf

Kalmbach Books
21027 Crossroads Circle
Waukesha, WI 53186
www.kalmbachbooks.com

Bead Style Magazine's EASY BEADING V. 8 (9780871164810, $29.95) provides a complete guide to materials and techniques, pairing hundreds of step-by-step photos and directions for over 80 projects and packing in directions for jewelry-makers of all skills. From using crystals and metal to handling chain and plastic, this packs in color photos, sidebars of supplies and 'dos and don'ts', and offers jewelers an easy introduction to different styles and approaches to beading. A 'must' for any looking for definitive collections to add to a jewelry-making library! Bead&Button Magazine editors have put together CREATIVE BEADING VOLUME 7 (9780871164827, $29.95), a solid collection of projects culled from over a year of the magazine's best projects. Embellished with color photos throughout and step-by-step descriptions that lend to beginner understanding, CREATIVE BEADING VOLUME 7 is filled with projects and examples of steps, and is a pick for any beader.


The Social Issues Shelf

Strategic Contracting for Health Systems and Services
Jean Perrot and Eric de Roodenbeke, Editors
Transaction Publishers
35 Berrue Circle, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8042
9781412814997, $79.95, www.transactionpub.com

Strategic Contracting for Health Systems and Services considers vast changes in health care around the world in two areas, considering developments in the health sector that are leading to an increase in stakeholders in response to the development of the private sector, and a push for democratization and decentralization. This focus on the lasting impact of health stakeholders offers chapters of compelling argument for any college-level collection strong in health care services and analysis. Any social issues or health care collection will find this packed with analysis of health care services, financial and non-financial incentives, contracts and results measurements, and more. Any interested in the future of the health care system MUST have this in-depth analysis!

The American Spirit
Edwin J. Feulner and Brian Tracy
Thomas Nelson Publishers
PO Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214
9781595553379, $24.99, www.thomasnelson.com

THE AMERICAN SPIRIT: CELEBRATING THE VIRTUES AND VALUES THAT MAKE US GREAT considers the ideals of freedom, equality and individual rights and the ideals that make America unique in the world. Stories, profiles and statistics blend to provide a primer on the American spirit, its nature and substance, and to ultimately provide a supportive view of The Tea Party Movement and its contentions. The authors maintain that American exceptionalism is not a guarantee, but must be fostered by inquiry and ongoing assessment. Any interested in social and political issues of American freedom and spirit - especially those with special interest in The Tea Party Movement - will find this a fine pick.

The Truth Machine: A Social History of the Lie Detector
Geoffrey C. Bunn
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9781421405308, $34.95, www.press.jhu.edu

The Truth Machine: A Social History of the Lie Detector considers history and popular culture and the social and political influences on lies and truth; specifically the development of the lie detector and its role in American life. The science and fantasy surrounding the lie detector are examined in a social history that dispels myths, provides facts, and offers lively and fun insights into what the lie detector is, who uses it, and its pros and cons. Any with an interest in criminal justice or general social issues will find this a compelling account.

Victory
Linda Hirshman
Harper
c/o HarperCollins
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
9780061965500, $27.99, www.harpercollins.com

VICTORY: THE TRIUMPHANT GAY REVOLUTION tells the story of how gay-friendly civil rights efforts have achieved success throughout society, charting how the formerly despised minority pushed a movement that ended up changing laws, minds, and the highest offices in the country. It charts the evolution of a social revolution and tells of accompanying changes in American ideas of inequality, and offers in-depth social and political examination on many levels. General-interest and political and social science holdings alike will find this a captivating winner.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

The Insulin Resistance Factor
Anthony J. Haynes
Conari Press
c/o Red Wheel/Weiser
65 Parker Street, Suite 7
Newburyport, MA 01950-4600
9781573245494, $18.95, www.redwheelweiser.com

The Insulin Resistance Factor: A Nutritionist's Plan for Reversing the Effects of Syndrome X discusses the nature and many health risks of Syndrome X, which affects 1 in 5 people and which leads to heart disease, diabetes, and more. After exploring the syndrome and its health risks a nutritional plan is presented for reversing insulin resistance. The information is at times vague, but it will serve as an introduction to the topic and points readers in a direction that incorporates easy changes and meal plans. Alternative health holdings will find it a good supplement to books offering further details.

Herbal Antibiotics, second edition
Stephen Harrod Buhner
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way
North Adams, MA 01247
9781603429870, $24.95, www.storey.com

The second updated edition of HERBAL ANTIBIOTICS: NATURAL ALTERNATIVES FOR TREATING DRUG-RESISTANT BACTERIA provides a completely revised expanded and updated edition and combines in-depth profiles of herbs with a review of scientific research surrounding their health attributes, and is a fine pick for any medical collection strong in practical herbal applications. From 200 tincture ratios to medicine-making instructions, this goes beyond the descriptive focus of competing herbal guides to impart the nuts and bolts of creating medicine with them, and is a fine expanded, updated survey.

New Horizon Press
PO Box 669, Far Hills, NJ 07931
www.newhorizonpressbooks.com

Leo J. Battenhausen, MA, MSW, LCSW, LCADC's DEFEATING DEPRESSION; THE CALM AND SENSE WAY TO FIND HAPPINESS AND SATISFACTION (9780882823249, $14.95) provides a key to understanding feelings of loneliness and anger, surveying the underlying causes behind a fairly widespread phenomenon and offering practical remedies which show readers how to get better. From offering realistic self-assessments and coping with stress to achieving true happiness, DEFEATING DEPRESSION is filled with the practical tools to turn one's life around. Dr. William E. Ward's THE GOOD ENOUGH SPOUSE (9780882823645, $14.95) is a pick for any collection strong in self-help relationship studies, and is backed by Dr. Ward's own insights on how to turn marital conflict into an opportunity for growth. Some thirty years of experience counseling couples lends to a review of common issues, how to improve a relationship, and how to avoid common problems. Both are picks for health and general-interest libraries alike!

Jones & Bartlett Publishers
40 Tall Pine Drive
Sudbury, MA 01776
www.jblearning.com

The third updated edition of Janie B. Butts and Karen L. Rich's NURSING ETHICS: ACROSS THE CURRICULUM AND INTO PRACTICE (9781449649005, $74.95) provides a fine key to blending nursing ethics into the overall nursing curriculum, preparing readers for moral issues encountered in daily practice and providing new expansions on each chapter, with further updated details on genetics, cloning, and current NCLEX testing protocols. 'Ethical Formations' boxes throughout the book cite sources, include stories and case histories, and supplement details to blend theory with clinical applications and evidence, making this a solid 'must' for any nurse's reference library. Carolyn Buppert's NURSE PRACTITIONER'S BUSINESS PRACTICE AND LEGAL GUIDE (9780763799748, $119.95) appears in its fourth updated edition and includes a CD-ROM of customizable evaluation forms and plans. It's been completely updated and revised to offer the latest insights on prescribing, hospital privileges, ethics, health policy and much more, and offers in-depth legal and business insights on everything from giving testimony before the state legislature to composing a letter to an insurance company about unpaid bills. Its wide-ranging coverage makes it a 'must' for any nursing reference library. Also a 'must' is the 2012 NURSE'S DRUG HANDBOOK (9781449638641, $44.95), which appears in its eleventh updated edition to provide the latest information on drugs, dosages, and nursing considerations. From nurse-patient teaching points to special warnings, drug interactions, a controlled substance schedule, and more, this includes new drug entries and the latest information on drug interactions and nursing points, making for an invaluable 'must have' nurse's desk reference. Gail M. Wilkes and Margaret Barton-Burke's 2012 ONCOLOGY NURSING DRUG HANDBOOK (9781449644628, $93.95) provides a fine guide written for nurses working with patients with cancer, and connects drug therapy routines to nursing process from diagnosis and toxicities to key points for assessment and intervention. Updated annual, this has been completely revised to include new drug entries, revisions, descriptions of specific drugs and their interactions and effects, and the latest side effects. No oncology nurse should be without this quick desk reference at hand.


The World History Shelf

Johnson's Life of London
Boris Johnson
Riverhead Books
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9781594487477, $27.95, www.riverheadbooks.com

Johnson's Life of London: The People Who Made the City that Made the World provides a fine survey by London mayor Boris Johnson, one of the most recognized people in British politics, who offers a tour of London's history, culture, and influences. Anecdotes and fun reading supplement a history that traces the city's evolution through the ages, blending observations from the author's own experiences with discussions of the city's vivid growth. Wit and personal insight lend to a coverage that is anything but dry.

Places of Encounter
Aran MacKinnon and Elaine M. MacKinnon, Editors
Westview Press
2465 Central Avenue, Boulder, CO 80301
9780813347370, $38.00, www.westviewpress.com

PLACES OF ENCOUNTER: TIME, PLACE, AND CONNECTIVITY IN WORLD HISTORY is a fine pick for any high school to college-level world history holding, offering a place-based approach to specific locations at critical historical moments of change. It appears in two volumes to provide primary sources of first-hand materials telling of historical players of different eras, and includes questions for discussion at chapter's end. The result is a fine survey of specific locations and how they were affected by transformations in history, recommended for any world history holding.


The Nautical Shelf

Gulf Islands Cruising Guide
Peter Vassilopoulos
Pacific Marine Publishing
c/o Paradise Cay Publications
PO Box 29, Arcata, CA 95518-0029
9780919317383, $31.25, www.paracay.com

Gulf Islands Cruising Guide provides cruisers with a color cruising guide covering the waterways of the gulf islands of British Columbia, packing in charts, maps, discussions of anchorages, and hundreds of aerial color photos. Cruisers heading north will find this a 'must' packed with key information for making the most of the gulf islands, covering the villages and amenities available to mariners. This deserves ongoing recommendation as a 'must' travel planner for any cruiser.

Outfitting the Offshore Cruising Sailboat
Peter Berman
Paradise Cay Publications
PO Box 29, Arcata, CA 95518-0029
9780939837991, $19.95, www.paracay.com

Outfitting the Offshore Cruising Sailboat reviews the criteria for selecting a used fiberglass hull sailboat and shares over forty years' experience overhauling and refitting different sailboats for an offshore journey. It's packed with keys to buying and refitting a cruising sailboat and focuses on affordable used boats and how to assess and perform the work that will get it blue-water ready. Very highly recommended for any nautical collection!

Child of the Sea
Doina Cornell
Cornell Sailing/A&C Black
c/o Paradise Cay Publications
PO Box 29, Arcata, CA 95518-0029
9781408178591, $15.54, www.paracay.com

Child of the Sea offers the true story of a young girl who grows up aboard the family's 36-foot yacht while sailing over 68,000 miles around the world. Unlike competing nautical memoirs which are written by adults, this expresses a child's point of view and is written for children - including those with no sailing background. The vivid account of her coming of age on the water and growing up away from regular contact with school and peers, but in close contact with other cultures and worlds, makes for a vivid and personal account perfect for any nautical or adventure travel collection.


The Gardening Shelf

New Society Publishers
Box 189
Gabriola Island, BC, Canada, V0R 1X0
www.newsociety.com

Binda Colebrook's WINTER GARDENING IN THE MARITIME NORTHWEST (9780865717084, $17.95) covers cool-season crops the gardener can cultivate year-round, and appears in its fifth updated edition to teach the basics of preparing the ideal winter gardening site. From choosing the hardiest varieties for a year-round growing season to incorporating a monthly planting almanac, Winter Gardening in the Maritime Northwest is packed with specific guides for Pacific Northwest gardeners, focusing on winter gardening basics. The specifics on building frames and habitats to cultivate healthy and productive crops makes this a fine guide. Peter Bane's THE PERMACULTURE HANDBOOK (9780865716667, $44.95) provides an outstanding guide to sustainable agriculture and offers a practical way to apply ecological design concepts to food, housing and energy systems alike. It presents garden farming as an economic opportunity and method of living well off the land, showing how to garden with an eye to reducing dependence on fossil fuels and living off the land. Permaculture is about working with the earth in a more positive manner, and THE PERMACULTURE HANDBOOK is loaded with more than theory, tackling the nuts and bolts of gardening in either city or country environments. Case studies of four successful farmsteads and market gardens use examples from across the U.S.


The Martial Arts Shelf

Book of Knives
Hank Reinhardt
Baen Books
PO Box 1188, Wake Forest NC 27588
97801451637557, $13.00, www.baen.com

Hank Reinhardt's BOOK OF KNIVES: A PRACTICAL AND ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO KNIFE FIGHTING comes from an expert on the topic and explains what happens during a knife fight. From acquiring basic skills to histories of weapons and different kinds of fighting knives, this illustrated volume teaches all the basics of how to fight with a knife - and how to avoid it. The author participated in knife fight in his youth and developed a rare expertise, shared in this recommendation for any martial arts or reference library.


The Aviation Shelf

Attention All Passengers
William J. McGee
Harper
c/o Harper Collins
10 E. 53rd Street, New York NY 10022-5299
9780062088376, $26.99, www.harpercollins.com

ATTENTION ALL PASSENGERS: THE AIRLINES' DANGEROUS DESCENT - AND HOW TO RECLAIM OUR SKIES offers a fine survey of the world and state of affairs at commercial airlines, and comes from a journalist and consumer advocate who reveals the truth behind the airline industry snafus. For three decades he's followed numerous changes in the airline industry and close research on its issues and challenges results in a book that details how airlines are cutting costs in a dangerous process. Read about outsourced aircraft maintenance unrecorded by the FAA, the influence of airline lobbyists on politics and regulation processes, and much more in an eye-opening assessment recommended for any general lending library.


The Gaming Shelf

Getting Started With Dwarf Fortress
Peter Tyson
O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
1005 Gravenstein, Hwy N.
Sebastopol, CA 95472-2811
9781449314941, $19.99, www.oreilly.com

Getting Started With Dwarf Fortress is for any collection strong in video games and covers one of the most complex video games ever made. It comes from a Fortress player who offers insights on all the basics, covering the game's simulation mode which involves building a dwarf city. A step-by-step guide to creating and moving around the Fortress world offers keys to building the scenarios and understanding the consequences of success. Fortress is a complicated video game and having a user's manual that helps newcomers build skills will make for an even more enjoyable experience. Video game collections won't want to miss this.


James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
http://www.midwestbookreview.com


Copyright ©2001

Site design by Williams Writing, Editing & Design