Gray Matter
Bob Elsdale
Andrews McMeel Publishing
4520 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111
0740762095 $14.95 www.amuniversal.com
Why is it good to be old? Photographer Bob Elsdale uses elephants to blend a whimsical perspective with advice on aging gracefully, providing a fun blend of color photos and funny insights on the advantages of growing old. It's the perfect gift for that aging person who 'has everything' and wants to laugh.
Triple Cross
Peter Lance
Regan Books
10100 Santa Monica Blvd, 10th Floor, Los Angeles CA 90067-4120
0060886889 $27.95 www.reganbooks.com
TRIPLE CROSS: HOW BIN LADEN'S MASTER SPY PENETRATED THE CIA, THE GREEN BERETS, AND THE FBI AND WHY PATRICK FITZGERALD FAILED TO STOP HIM is no light read: over 600 pages chart the evolution of one of the most dangerous men in history: a single agent of al Qaeda who compromised some of the top forces in U.S. intelligence. TRIPLE CROSS traces the untold story of al Qaeda's rise and the evolution of Ali Mohamed, who led a successful double life. In-depth chapters chart his espionage and pack in details missing in more general surveys of al Qaeda, making TRIPLE CROSS top pick for any library strong in either contemporary espionage in general or al Qaeda events in particular.
THE UFFIZI GALLERY MUSEUM (0883635151, $75.00) by Alexandra Bonfante-Warren is a top recommendation for any arts library serious about representing museums and their holdings: it provides an oversized format surveying the world's oldest museum, the Galleria Delgi Uffizi, which holds many painting masterpieces. Collections intrinsic to the museum were begun in the mid-1500s by the Medici family and THE UFFIZI GALLERY MUSEUM captures their collection, Renaissance days in Florence, Italy, and some of the richest museum holdings in print. It may seem strange of include CORVETTE: AMERICA'S SPORTS CAR YESTERDAY, TODAY AND TOMORROW (0883631210, $75.00) as a recommendation for an art library holding, but it's a top pick both for an art gathering and any library strong in sports car history. The Corvette has gained a solid following in the fifty-some years since its development, and its changing design reflects popular cultural icons and evolution. Chapters document this evolution and offer up many photos new to this collection, gleaned from the archives of General Motors: blend this with interviews of the car's top engineers and you have an outstanding pick suitable for art libraries, car collections or even the general-interest lending library.
The Complete Guide to Calligraphy
Professor Ralph Cleminson, General Editor
Firefly Books
P.O. Box 1338, Ellicott Station, Buffalo, NY 14205
1554071798 $35.00 www.fireflybooks.com
Plenty of basic guides to calligraphy have been written, but few are backed by a team of world-renowned experts, as is The Complete Guide to Calligraphy. Spiral binding with spine lettering here lends to both lay-flat practical use and library shelving, while photos offer step-by-step surveys of the key scripts of the world, from Latin to ancient Greek, Hebrew and Arabic. The added history of world calligraphy also provides plenty of background. It's a detailed, in-depth reference not to be missed by any general library or specialty collection looking for more than a casual treatment of calligraphy.
Inner Traditions/Healing Arts/Park Street Press
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
www.InnerTraditions.com
Martin Lings's MUHAMMAD: HIS LIFE BASED ON THE EARLIEST SOURCES (1594771537, $19.95) is one of the most readable accounts on Muhammad in print: it is based on the sira the 8th and 9th century Arabic biographies which recount events in his life, and offers original English translations of many important passages. You'd think this would have weighty results, but the author's added a light narrative style to bring the threads together. MUHAMMAD: HIS LIFE has been published in twelve languages: this revised edition incorporates the author's final updates made before his 2005 death and contains numerous important additions about modern Islam; so even if you have a prior volume, don't miss this. Alex Grey's SACRED MIRRORS CARDS (1594771626, $19.95) provides a deck which features visionary poetry for each system. The twenty-three cards are geared to coming closer to God through iconic archetypes and seeing the world as a reflection of the divine: they're wonderful keys to self-understanding, operating in a manner similar to other decks but with a specific focus not available elsewhere. Tarot readers will relish their approach. Otto Rahn's CRUSADE AGAINST THE GRAIL: THE STRUGGLE BETWEEN THE CATHARS, THE TEMPLARS, AND THE CHURCH OF ROME (1594771359, $16.95) is the book that popularized the legend of the Holy Grail: its first edition appeared in Germany in 1933 and presented the author's own account of his explorations. Its appearance in a new updated edition is a 'must' for understanding the history and legend of the Gail, searches for its truth, and the involvement of the medieval epic Parzival in the Cathar/Grail saga. Laird Scranton's THE SCIENCE OF THE DOGON: DECODING THE AFRICAN MYSTERY TRADITION (1594771332, $16.95) tells of the West African tribe famous for their creation story and art, which describes how one true god created the universe. Surprisingly, many of the Dogon words and symbols are similar to myths evolved from Judaism and ancient Egypt, and a study of THE SCIENCE OF THE DOGON is thus essential to understanding its importance. J. Douglas Kenyon edits FORBIDDEN RELIGION: SUPPRESSED HERESIES OF THE WEST (15914300674, $18.00), a re-gathering of materials from his bi-monthy journal Atlantis Rising. It's an important acquisition for any seeking to understand religions banned by the orthodox Church, from pre-Christ times to early Christianity. Here are insights on the Cathars, Templars, and Masons and probes of how hidden religions still operate in modern times. Bret Stephenson's FROM BOYS TO MEN: SPIRITUAL RITES OF PASSAGE IN AN INDULGENT AGE (1594771405, $18.95) offers up something different: a book which blends cultural and magical insights with parenting and youth reflections for maximum benefit. Any who want an alternative way of coping with adolescents will find FROM BOYS TO MEN packed with spiritual and social insights taken from older cultures versed in rites of passage. THE TAO OF DETOX: SECRETS OF YANG-SHENG DAO by Daniel Reid (1594771421, $18.95) surveys techniques for ridding the body of the toxins and acid waste from contaminated air and water. Here traditional Eastern practices blend with Western medical thought to provide an integrated system of breathing exercises, massage and soft exercises promoting body healing and endurance: especially invaluable for alternative healing libraries. Kenaz Filan's THE HAITIAN VODOU HANDBOOK: PROTOCOLS FOR RIDING WITH THE IWA (1594771251, $16.95) explains how to build relationships with the Iwa spirits honored in Haitian Vodou. There's a lot of misrepresentation thus lots of fear - surrounding vodou: THE HAITIAN VODOU HANDBOOK blends history with spiritual insights and comes from an initiate of the Societe la Belle Venus, covering both mythology and instructions for the solitary practitioner not near a supportive society structure. Alain Danielou with Jean-Lous Gabin's SHIVA AND THE PRIMORDIAL TRADITION: FROM THE TANTRAS TO THE SCIENCE OF DREAMS (1594771413, $14.95) discusses Shaivism and the Western world, from its cosmological ideals to its connections between science and religion something Westerners are only just beginning to probe. This holds the late author's writings and have been edited by Jean-Lous Gabin to provide a foundation work in Hindu belief. Alvin Schwartz's A GATHERING OF SELVES: THE SPIRITUAL JOURNEY OF THE LEGENDARY WRITER OF SUPERMAN AND BATMAN (159477109X, $14.95) exposes the double life of a man who write comic adventures as well as novels and intellectual works. His autobiography examines the nature of multiple personalities and fantasy writing, considering how the adventures of the comic heroes became melded into and reflected his own life. Readers interested in both comic hero history and autobiography will find it absorbing; especially those with prior affinity for Superman. All these titles are top picks for any comprehensive spirituality or new age collection.
Past Tents: The Way We Camped
Susan Snyder
Heyday Books
Box 9145, Berkeley, CA 94709
1597140392 $17.95 www.heydaybooks.com
It's hard to neatly peg this attractive, even whimsical survey of camping: part Western history and part survey of camping's changing environment and methods, PAST TENTS blends both vintage and contemporary black and white photos of outings with historical background on the changing nature and perception of the American camper in the West. Both history and general-interest collections, especially those where camping and outdoors topics are a popular lend, will find this an excellent acquisition and perfect, eye-catching display choice.
Fair Play: The Moral Dilemmas of Spying
James M. Olson
Potomac Books
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
1574889494 $28.95 www.potomacbooksinc.com
FAIR PLAY could've been featured in our Military Shelf section after all, it's by the former chief of CIA counterintelligence but deserves a much broader reading audience than those who frequent military libraries. FAIR PLAY presents both a survey of the real world of spying and espionage and a concurrent survey of moral and ethical issues involved in spying, and dilemmas which come from field experience every day. The blend of intelligence history, political insights, and social issues makes for a survey which advocates a clearer moral sense in U.S. intelligence officers and that holds many lessons for civilians as well. Even the general-interest lending library will find it a unique, compelling read.
The International Studies Shelf
Culture and Customs of Zambia
Scott D. Taylor
Greenwood Press
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
0313332460 $49.95 www.greenwood.com
You never hear much about Africa's Zambia because it's one of the continent's most peaceful countries that alone will attract any high school or college-level student to a research project assigning an African country making CULTURE AND CUSTOMS OF ZAMBIA a top recommendation despite its quiet appearance. Zambia is home to many diverse cultures and thus holds far more variety than many African nations: CULTURE AND CUSTOMS OF ZAMBIA is the high school or college-level student's key to understanding the complex nation and it's a perfect choice for reports.
The Criminology Shelf
Death's Door
Steve Lehto
Momentum Books
2145 Crooks Road Suite 208, Troy MI 48084
1879094770 $19.95 www.momentumbooks.com
On Christmas Eve over six dozen people were crushed as they scrambled to flee the Italian Hall in Calumet, Michigan. The call of 'Fire' had led to panic and death and to the question of whether it was a purposeful call. DEATH'S DOOR: THE TRUTH BEHIND MICHIGAN'S LARGEST MASS MURDER is outstanding: it reaches beyond regional Michigan history to provide an intense crime probe into a long-unsolved murder mystery and in so doing involves even readers with little interest in Michigan affairs. General-interest holdings will find it a fine survey indeed, especially for collections where true crime is a popular category.
The Zebra Murders
Prentice Earl Sanders and Bennett Cohen
Arcade Publishing
141 Fifth Avenue, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10010
1559708069 $26.00 www.arcadepublishing.com 1-800-759-0190
Any long-time resident of the San Francisco Bay Area will recall the Zebra killer, whose racially motivated drive-by shootings terrorized the city in 1973-74, and how they were eventually solved by a team led by two black detectives. This story comes alive under the hand of the city's first Afro-American police chief, who was one of these detectives, and pro ides behind-the-scenes expose information about the reign of terror and its investigation. The underlying politics and discrimination within the SFPD comes to life, as does the time of social turmoil, in this riveting story of a crime spree thwarted. Any California collection must have it.
The Psychology Shelf
Depression: The Mood Disease, 3rd Edition
Francis Mark Mondimore, M.D.
Johns Hopkins Press
2715 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218
0801884519 $19.95 www.press.jhu.edu
One in ten Americans suffer from depression, so today it's widely acknowledged and discussed: this updated coverage of an acclaimed survey includes over ten years of new research, from advances in medical treatments to changes in public perception and understanding of depression, and is key to any in-depth health collection seeking to provide the latest details. From its survey of the latest antidepressants to new approaches in psychology, Depression: The Mood Disease is a recommended pick for both public and college-level libraries.
The Strangest Song
Teri Sforza with Howard & Sylvia Lenhoff
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
1591024781 $24.00 www.prometheusbooks.com
This is the first book to cover Williams syndrome and the genius musical abilities of many who have it. Science blends with autobiography in the moving story of a father's quest to help his mentally handicapped daughter and his discovery of her musical gifts, which eventually convinced him that people with her disorder can be musical geniuses despite their impairments. His quest for understanding of the chemistry involved in her impairment and to make the most of her abilities leads Lenhoff to not only help his daughter become a musician, but to the establishment of the first residential college for mentally disabled musicians. Any collection strong in either biography, psychology or medical insights will want this; especially general-interest lending libraries.
The Hunting Shelf
Legendary Hunts
Boone & Crockett Club
250 Station Drive, Missoula, MT 59801
9780940864542 $19.95 www.booneandcrockettclub.com
LEGENDARY HUNTS: SHORT STORIES FROM THE BOONE AND CROCKETT AWARDS is a compilation of over forty short stories recounting big game trophy hunts experienced in North America. It's the item of choice for any hunting book collection; particularly those already stocking popular gun, rifle and bird dog 'how to' guides and who want something different for the armchair hunter. Each story has been handpicked for the special writing involved and each allows readers to experience the thrill of the hunt vicariously. Where else will the armchair hunter receive such action?
Dangerous-Game Rifles
Terry Wieland
Countrysport Press
Box 679, Camden, ME 04843
0892726911 $40.00 www.countrysportpress.com
Terry Wieland is shooting editor of Gray's Sporting Journal and has contributed numerous articles to other shooting magazines, but his DANGEROUS-GAME RIFLES is an even more important survey and a top pick for any library including books on big game hunting. Packed with specifics about big-bore rifles, DANGEROUS-GAME RIFLES discusses legendary gunmakers, gun-making history, specs, and more, exploring their action, performance, and field applications. Descriptions include insights on developers of these notable rifles and offer a satisfying blend of practical field insights and historical notes, making this a 'must' acquisition for any serious hunting library.
The Computer Shelf
IPod: The Missing Manual
J.D. Biersdorfer
Pogue Press/O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, CA 95472
0596529783 $19.99 www.missingmanuls.com
iPod and iTunes are some of Apple's most successful products: that said, it's amazing Apple hasn't provided its own easy guide for getting the most from an iPod. Here to remedy that lack is IPod: The Missing Manual: a handy guide which uses clear color graphics and explanations to cover all the options iPods offer, from creating and burning a playlist to cd to manually adding music to the ipod shuffle. IPod owners and general-interest libraries will find it an indispensable, popular reference.
Live Linux CDs
Christopher Negus
Prentice Hall
75 Arlington Street #300, Boston, MA 02116
0132432749 $39.99 www.prenhallprofessional.com
A Linux live CD is more than just a portable Linux system: it is quite versatile, offering a live CD with photo slideshows, presentation capabilities, and customization options and can run on nearly any PC. LIVE LINUX CDS tells how to use the free software and tools needed to create a customized Linux live SD. Its instructions are step-by-step and specific and offers plenty of tips on configuration and customization. An accompanying DVD includes a bootable live Linux CD set, too, making it a top pick for any user seeking the most versatility from a portable system.
Addison-Wesley
75 Arlington Street, Suite 300, Boston, MA 02116
www.awprofessional.com 1-800-428-5331
Two excellent new titles from Addison-Wesley's 'Eclipse' imprint are powerful guides to BIRT, a foundation built on the Eclipse platform and presenting programmers with the ability to provide businesses with powerful reports in a minimum of time. Diana Peh, Alethea Hannemann and Nola Hague's BIRT: A FIELD GUIDE TO REPORTING (0321442598, $49.99) covers the basics of report designs, technology, data access, and formatting. It comes from authors who are members of the extended BIRT development team and uses tables, charts and more to present a foundation of knowledge. With this foundation in place choose Jason Weathersby, Don French, Tom Bondur, Jane Tatchell and Iana Chatalbasheva's INTEGRATING AND EXTENDING BIRT (0321443853, $49.99), a companion volume which provides BIRT programmers with more insights on its applications, engines, and basic installation and troubleshooting techniques. Here are the details on understanding BIRT's underlying architecture and how to work with it, integrating its capabilities to other applications. The two together provide an excellent foundation any advanced computer library especially those strong in business applications will want.
Second Life: The Official Guide
Michael Rymaszewski, et.al.
John Wiley
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030
047009608X $34.99 www.wiley.com
Second Life is the 3D virtual world inhabited by nearly a million residents, and visitors to this world whether they be newcomers or experienced will find Second Life: The Official Guide packs in details on its history and functions. From creating and customizing an avatar to touring Second Life locales, partaking of its online social scene, and creating your own world through Second Life, this is an excellent guide to an online phenomenon unique in its concept and connections to the real world. Gamers and computer holdings will find it a popular, lasting pick.
Cryptography for Developers
Tom St. Denis
Syngress
800 Hingham Street, Rockland, MA 02370
1597491047 $59.95 www.syngress.com
This is the only cryptography guide written for software developers, and offers complete coverage of symmetric ciphers, codes and modules, public key cryptography and more. Here are examples of specifics paired with overall code insights and generalities that take the developer to a more advanced level of understanding. An excellent survey recommended for any college-level computer library.
Agile Software Development: Cooperative Game, 2nd Edn
Addison Wesley
75 Arlington Street #300, Boston, MA 02116
0321482751 $44.99 www.awprofessional.com
The agile model of software development has become an industry leader, making the second updated edition of Agile Software Development: Cooperative Game an even more essential reference. Agile's pioneering developer updates his Jolt Productivity winner to cover all aspects of the agile model, from its applications in an organizational structure to how to blend agile ideas with others. Any needing a basic introduction to Agile principles, history, and construction must have this.
Skin
Lee Varis
Sybex
c/o John Wiley & Sons
111 River Street, 4th Floor, Hoboken, NJ 07030
047004733X $40.00 www.sybex.com
SKIN: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO DIGITALLY LIGHTING, PHOTOGRAPHING, AND RETOUCHING FACES AND BODIES is much more than just another photo/computer guide to photo editing: it's packed with step-by-step tutorials and color examples from an industry expert who teaches all the basics key to manipulating hardware and software for the best color photos. From adjusting skin tones to compete well with backgrounds to adding softening, lines, or working with layers which offer blur and special effects, SKIN delves into the heart of most basic Photoshop and photography manipulation challenges and offers a set of concrete tips for resolving specific problems. Any collection strong in either photography or computer editing programs such as Photoshop must have this 'bible' of portrait photography.
Practical Color Management
Eddie Tapp
O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, CA 95472
0596527683 $29.99 www.oreilly.com
Plenty of how-to books discuss color photography basics but how many narrow the focus to assuring that color will retain uniform features when viewed across mediums and on different desktops? PRACTICAL COLOR MANAGEMENT is the key to assuring such continuity of quality, using simple language to provide solutions to common color challenges. Chapters tell how to calibrate devices, convert device output more effectively, prepare files for printing, and more. Plenty of color screen shots and examples emphasize the step-by-step technical explanations, which require no prior knowledge of either digital photography or color or art to prove accessible. General-interest library lending collections will find PRACTICAL COLOR MANAGEMENT a very popular pick, offering not only a more visual approach than most, but including easy instructions even novices can readily understand.
Maya Character Modeling & Animation Principles & Practices
Tereza Flaxman
Charles River Media
25 Thomson Place, Boston, MA 02210
1584504404 $49.95 www.charlesriver.com
Both beginners and intermediate designers and 3D artists who want to learn the basics of character modeling and animation with Maya will relish the blend of step-by-step instruction, an accompanying cd-rom filled with chapter-oriented details and backup movies and presentations, and an attention to clear explanations of the animation process from start to finish. Screen shots and step-by-step examples on building a character model make MAYA CHARACTER MODELING & ANIMATION a top pick, especially for college-level art and computer libraries strong in Maya references.
Blogging and RSS: A Librarian's Guide
Michael P. Sauers
Information Today Inc.
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055
1573872687 $29.50 www.infotoday.com
Author Michael Sauers is an internet trainer, blogger and how-to resource and packs his title with examples, web sites, screen shots, references and more geared to librarians and information professionals who want to integrate blogging and RSS technology into their work. He uses his favorite blogs as examples, offers step-by-step real-world directions for creating, publishing and syndicating a blog using free web services, and offers plenty of examples of good and bad approaches throughout. Very highly recommended, BLOGGING AND RSS will reach beyond the professional librarian's bookshelf into the community at large.
Dispatches from Blogistan
Suzanne Stefanac
New Riders
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
0321395557 $24.99 www.newriders.com 1-800-428-5331
What is it about blogging that inspires millions to commit their feelings to a public place? The author of Dispatches from Blogistan : A Travel Guide for the Modern Blogger is a technology journalist and media pioneer who here surveys the culture of blogs, reviews its tools and design features, and considers related issues of privacy, trust, and safeguards on the Net. While it's a cultural and social overview, it also provides novice bloggers with plenty of facts about the online self-publishing revolution and the hot topic will prove popular not only for computer libraries, but for general-interest holdings and college collections interested in the culture of the Internet.
Film, Stage and TV
Strange Duets
Kim Marra
University of Iowa Press
100 Kuhl House, Iowa City, IA 52242
0877459932 $47.95 www.uiowa.edu
STRANGE DUETS: IMPRESARIOS & ACTRESSES IN THE AMERICAN THEATRE, 1865-1914 is particularly notable for its survey of males who made stars of females in the stage of the times. These male sponsors and their female talents challenged conventional theatre and these protegees gained wealth and celebrity status comparable to Hollywood stars today. Associate professor Kim Marra's college-level, scholarly analysis uses the lives and experiences of three impresario-actresses to discuss and analyze the social and theatre conditions of their times. Chapters survey their achievements, ground-breaking routines, and breakthroughs into Broadway theatre, making for an essential theatre history survey for any college-level holding strong in theatre history.
A Star is Found
Janet Hirshenson & Jane Jenkins with Rachel Kranz
Harcourt Trade
15 East 26th Street, New York NY 10010
0151012342 $25.00 www.harcourt.com
A Star is Found: Our Adventures Casting Some of Hollywood's Biggest Movies is a rarity among the flood of acting and Hollywood guides on the market: a survey which examines how actors are chosen and careers made, coming from two of the top casting directors in the business. You can't get much more authoritative than this: the two review their craft, reflect on stars they helped build, and offer specific tips actors can use to catch attention and interest. Any collection strong in acting guides, drama or Hollywood insights will welcome this expose.
Independent Film Distribution
Phil Hall
Michael Wiese Productions
3940 Laurel Canyon Boulevard #1111, Studio City, CA 91604
1932907165 $26.95 www.mwp.com
Independent Film Distribution: How to Make a Successful End Run Around the Big Guys is all about distribution for those on a low budget and distribution is so key to movie success that any and all film library holdings needs this as a basic reference. Chapters introduce all the basics of distribution and blend these with tips from leading marketing experts, festival programmers, film critics and more. From what should be considered for a web site promotion effort to understanding the film publicist's role, all aspects of marketing success are covered in depth in this 'must' guide for any involved in film production.
The Actor's Other Career Book
Lisa Mulcahy
Allworth Press
10 East 23rd Street, Suite 510, New York NY 10010
1581154534 $19.95 www.allworth.com
Plenty of books tell how to get an acting job; but what about those aspiring actors who want to explore something different, or supplement acting pursuits? The Actor's Other Career Book: Using Your Chops to Survive and Thrive is for that other actor who wants to try something new, whether it be voiceovers, teaching, or something in an entirely different field. Professional actors who also work in other trades here share their insights, experiences and recommendations on how to use the talents of acting in alternative roles. Any library strong in acting, drama, or career management must have this: it pairs interviews with over fifty such successful actors with tips on how to make transitions work.
James Bond: The Secret World of 007
Alasdair Dougall
DK Publishing Inc.
375 Hudson Street, New York NY 10014-3658
0756623049 $24.99 www.dk.com
James Bond fans, take note: this is a revised edition of a best-seller on the superspy created in colalboration with EON Productions, producer of his films, and has been updated to add his most recent movies. Newcomers as well as avid fans receive an oversized presentation which covers all his exciting missions, pairing plot with color photos throughout and offering new narrative scenes from his newest adventures. An updated James Bond filmography adds to the information. If you're a general-interest public library and have room for only one James bond moviebook, it should be James Bond: The Secret World of 007: it wins hands down over the competition.
The Graphic Novel Shelf
Barron's
250 Wireless Boulevard, Hauppauge, NY 11788
www.barronseduc.com
Mike Chinn and Chris McLoughlin's CREATE YOUR OWN GRAPHIC NOVEL USING DIGITAL TECHNIQUES (0764134655, $23.99) teaches would-be graphic novelists how to create using digital resources which save on the usual pen/ink approach. Here are tips from pros on finding inspiration, networking, and sketching art with an emphasis on using digital techniques each step of the way. The presentation in graphic novel format is especially inviting to those working in the field. Steve Marchant's THE COMPUTER CARTOON KIT: ALL YOU NEED TO MAKE YOUR OWN COMIC STRIPS (0764179403, $22.99) comes with a cd of over 100 cartoon images of people, places and objects and provides even those who can't draw with a means for creating their own comic strip. But you needn't be a comic strip artist to want this: any who want to use comic art in business or personal pursuits, whether it be to enhance a report or for personal fun, will find THE COMPUTER CARTOON KIT holds everything needed to succeed.
Popeye: "I Yam What I Yam!"
E.C. Segar
Fantagraphics Books
7563 Lake City way NE, Seattle, WA 98115
1560977795 $29.95 www.fantagraphics.com
Popeye was created by E.C. Segar for his 'Thimble Theatre' and was actually an accident, never meant to be a hit. But his Popeye character took off and today is a standard well-known icon around the world. Here to celebrate his evolution is Popeye: "I Yam What I Yam!": an oversized, eye-catching catalog of strips in full color, the first of six projected volumes, showing his evolution from a background prop to a main character. A biographical article by historian Bill Blackbeard and a foreword by cartoonist Jules Feiffer completes an outstanding evolutionary survey recommended both for art libraries and general-interest public holdings the latter may find the oversized volume a shelving challenge but no matter it lends particularly well to display.
Wally's World
Steve Starger & J. David Spurlock
Vanguard Productions
390 Campus Drive, Somerset, NJ 08873
188759180X $24.95 www.vanguardproductions.net
Wally's World: The Brilliant Life and Death of Wally Wood, the World's 2nd-Best Comic Book Artist is a pick for any interested in cartooning history. His life reads like drama and he was shot in 1981 on Halloween night in a rough neighborhood, ending his life and career but in his time he was a rebel genius whose works and approach inspired a generation of underground comic artists such as Robert Crumb and Art Spiegelman. Pack color cartoon examples throughout a biography which covers his politics, cartooning skills and influences and you have an essential pick no collection strong in graphic novel history should be without.
Dark Horse Books
10956 S.E. Main Street, Milwaukee, OR 97222
www.darkhorse.com
Steve Kiwus and Eightball Studios' BABES, BEASTS AND BRAWN: SCULPTURE OF THE FANTASTIC (1593070136, $19.95) considers the history of toy action figures in movies and the works of toy sculptor Steve Kiwus of Eightball Studios, a key player in this genre development. He's created some of the most memorable limited-edition toys of comics and fantasy figures available, and his BABES, BEASTS AND BRAWN is packed with full-page color pictures, an in-depth 'how to' section on making these figures, and insights into the toy and comic collector worlds alike. No comic artist or definitive comic collection should be without this expose of the artist, his works, and the genre of toy comic representation. LONELY HEART: THE ART OF TARA MCPHERSON (159852103, $19.95) surveys paintings and posters by an artist who used her childhood and adult life experiences to explore relationships in comic form. You'll readily recognize her works displayed here, from rock band gig posters to ads but this represents the first printed collection of the entirety of her works, and as such is a 'must' for any authoritative contemporary comic art holding.
The Cookbook Shelf
Seduced By Bacon
Joanna Pruess with Bob Lape
Lyons Press
Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
1592288510 $24.95 www.LyonsPress.com
A whole cookbook just about bacon sounds rather odd; but when you factor in the idea that bacon can be served to compliment sweets, as well as form a component of savory dishes, you can see why a whole book dedicated to this culinary topic would be well warranted. Full-page color close-up photos blend with dishes ranging from Firecrackers a cheese and shallot-enhanced bacon dish to Old-Fashioned Shepard's Pie which includes bacon with its other ingredients. Even Pecan Waffles come with a Caramel-Bacon Sauce in this delicious survey expanding the dishes that can be enhanced by bacon. Dedicated bacon lovers and general-interest libraries strong in cookbooks will love Joanna Pruess and Bob Lape's "Seduced By Bacon"!.
Edible Art
Narahenapitage Sumith Premalal De Costa
Schiffer Books
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
0764325132 $19.95 www.schifferbooks.com
Sculpture created from fruit and vegetables sounds too challenging for most home cooks; but not if you have a copy of EDIBLE ART: TRICKS & TOOLS FOR MASTER CENTERPIECES FORM CARVED VEGETABLES. Here are all the hints needed given in a series of step-by-step color photos with pairs a large-sized photo of the finished product with smaller 1-4 step photos accompanied by text. The approach makes it a snap to produce works of art with a minimum of tools and no knowledge, making it a top pick for culinary libraries at all levels. EDIBLE ART is especially recommended for the cookbook collections of dedicated gourmets!
Whole Grain Baking
King Arthur Flour
Countryman Press
Box 748, Woodstock, VT 05091
0881507199 $35.00 www.countrymanpress.com
"Whole Grain Baking: Delicious Recipes Using Nutritious Whole Grains" defies the common idea of whole grain baked goods as being heavy, dense items. Instead here are light pastries, croissants, and more which offers up a blend of whole grain baking and the attraction of light, fluffy fare. From Milk and Honey Corn Muffins made with whole wheat pastry flour to a beer-infused Micro-Brewery Honey-Wheat Bread or a Sesame-Barley Bread, recipes focus on flavorful, appealing uses of whole wheat and grains and come with introductions describing each bread's special qualities and background. A centerfold of color photos adds interest, but it's the recipes which are the heart here, not the illustration. Family bakers and lending libraries appealing to kitchen cooks will welcome it as a cut above the usual whole wheat or grain cookbook.
Climbing the Mango Trees
Madhur Jaffrey
Alfred A. Knopf
c/o Random House
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
140004295X $25.00 www.aaknopf.com
Any fan of Indian cooking well knows the name of Madhur Jaffrey: in addition to hosting a TV show she's also published numerous cookbooks and acted in many major motion pictures. Here's something different for the Jaffrey fan: a memoir of how she came to be equated with Indian cuisine in "Climbing the Mango Trees: A Memoir of a Childhood in India". Her memoir blends food memories with overall impressions of India's social and political changes, making for a wide-ranging coverage recommended as a pick not just for cooks, but for anyone with an interest in India's complex history, culture, and cuisine.
The Best 30-Minute Recipe
Cook's Illustrated Editors
America's Test Kitchen
17 Station Street, Brookline, MA 02445
0936184981 $35.00 www.americastestkitchen.com
Plenty of cookbooks promise quick recipes, then either add time or skimp on flavor. Not so in The Best 30-Minute Recipe: each and every recipe here has been tested time and again some 300 of them and paired with overall time-saving techniques busy cooks will appreciate. The 'got extra time?' sidebars offer ideas for embellishments such as sauces which may be made when there's need for a little more zip, while recipes blend quick techniques (such as microwaving long-grain rice) with adaptations which retain flavor while speeding prep time. It also includes shopping hints as a way of speeding things all the way around. Any general-interest public library, especially those catering to busy professionals, will find it a popular lend.
Breakfast Lunch Tea
Rose Bakery
Phaidon Press Inc.
180 Varick Street, New York NY 10014
0714844659 $29.95 www.phaidon.com
BREAKFAST, LUNCH, TEA: THE MANY LITTLE MEALS OF ROSE BAKERY comes from a trendy modern Parisian bakery which blends the tastes of home cooking with the style of a restaurant: now home cooks will have access to 100 of Rose Baker's most popular dishes and innovations dishes not to be found elsewhere. Here are Blueberry Scones, Honey Granola, Carrot and Seed Salad, and Chestnut and Chocolate Tartlet with full-page color photos peppered throughout. Cooks interested in breakfast, lunch and tea specialties will find plenty to like here and collections strong in original cookbooks will find little duplication of recipes elsewhere.
Chocolate: A Bittersweet Saga of Dark and Light
Mort Rosenblum
North Point Press
c/o Farrar, Straus, Giroux
19 Union Square West, New York NY 10003
0865477302 $14.00 www.fsgbooks.com
The uses and innovations of chocolate in foods from around the world at last receives embellishment in Mort Rosenblum's "Chocolate: A Bittersweet Saga of Dark and Light", a lively survey blending a travelogue with culinary history and industry insights. From chocolate's health promises to its various renditions, the pages pack in plenty of mouth-watering detail and will appeal both to cooks and to chocolate fans who just like reading about it.
Lobel's Meat and Wine
Stanley, Leon, Evan, Mark & David Lobel
Chronicle Books
85 2nd Street, San Francisco CA 94105
0811847322 $35.00 www.chroniclebooks.com
"Lobel's Meat and Wine: Great Recipes for Cooking and Pairing" comes from the Lobel family of New York, purveyors of meats. Their knowledge allows for more than just another meat cookbook: "Lobel's Meat and Wine" covers all the basics, ranging from if one should marinate before cooking meat, to understanding how salt affects meat flavorings, to what happens during browning. Additionally, this basic knowledge is accompanied with fail-safe, tested recipes paired with detailed wine notes . Add color photos throughout and you have a winner any public lending library will want and one which would grace any dedicated kitchen cook's personal reference collection.
Spanish Kitchen
Jane Lawson
Thunder Bay Press
5880 Oberlin Drive, San Diego, Ca 92121
1592233716 www.thunderbaybooks.com
Jane Lawson takes a traditional dish and adds modern innovations, and her SPANISH KITCHEN reflects the new Spanish kitchen idea, so rather than the usual focus on paella, there are dishes here you won't find anywhere else but based on classics. A 'Seafood Fideula' thus mirrors paella but is made with noodles, and a 'Shrimp Tortillas with Herbed Yogurt' reflects Moorish influences. Color photos and dishes which are surprisingly easy to prepare with familiar ingredients make this a winning pick for any ethnic cookbook collection, while the focus on innovations offers up something different to cooks who already own Spanish cuisine guides.
My Egyptian Grandmother's Kitchen
Magda Mehdawy
American University in Cairo Press
420 5th Avenue, New York NY 10018
9774249275 $24.95 www.aucpress.com
"My Egyptian Grandmother's Kitchen: Traditional Dishes Sweet & Savory" is one of the nicest cookbooks we've seen, pairing gorgeous, good-size and clear color photos on every page with a range of traditional Egyptian dishes many not seen in the few competing Egyptian-only cookbooks on the market. Most Egyptian food is tossed into more general Middle Eastern cookbooks, so it's a treat to see a survey of the country's unique cuisine, and one taken from an elder's recipes. Measurements in metric will require American users to convert but with Catfish Casserole with Cracked Wheat and Grilled Fish With Oil and Lime on the menu, the recipes motivate users to learn. A top pick for any avid cook and sure to be a hit for any public library with a strong ethnic cookbook section.
375 Sensational Splenda Recipes
Marlene Koch
Whitecap
351 Lynne Avenue, N. Vancouver, BC V7J 2C4, Canada
1552857522 $22.95 www.whitecap.ca
Marlene Koch is a registered dietitian and cooking instruction who has cooked with Spenda for years: hers blends Spenda, the latest sugar substitute, with meal ideas and recipes for everything from breakfast to desserts and even cocktails, showing how to cook and book with all types of Splenda. From muffins and scones to puddings and custards, 375 SENSATIONAL SPLENDA RECIPES features choices low in sugar, far and calories. The result combines high-quality taste experiences with dishes perfect for diabetics and those watching their weight. No color photos but the very easy dishes don't need embellishment! General cookbook collections will want this.
Oxmoor House
Box 2262, Birmingham, AL 35201
$17.95 Each www.oxmoorhouse.com
If you're looking for a more comprehensive coverage than most one-volume cookbooks can cover on the topic of cooking light and converting old favorites to 'lighter' dishes, then the 'Cooking Light' series is for you. Each book holds around sixty recipes that balance nutritional contents, focus on maximum flavor with less fat and fewer calories, and represent many kitchen-tested favorites with not a few surprises. You wouldn't think PASTA (0848730658), for example, would be included in a 'light' consideration, but the authors have revamped many old calorie-laden favorites to produce fresh new dishes, including a Chili and Cheddar Farfalle Casserole. SOUP (084873064X) also includes some surprises, as in how to produce a creamy soup without the fattening creams of the past, and holds Quick Chicken-Corn Chowder and Cream of Asparagus Soup; SLOW COOKER (0848730682) offers up a range of options new and old, from Polynesian Chicken to Osso Buco; CHICKEN (0848730631) unveils the best of literally hundreds of chicken dishes tested, and includes Moroccan Chicken Thighs and Arroz con Pollo in a compendium of dishes which include many easy international choices, DESSERT (0848730666) even includes a German Chocolate Cake and a Triple-Chocolate Cheesecake which have been 'lightened' and come with notes for success such as how to overcome the drying effect of lower-fat baking; and ITALIAN (08487430674) presents many staff favorites: Beet and Fennel Soup and Lamb Shanks on Canneloni Beans among them. It's rare to find a 'light' collection which spans a number of individual titles geared to in-depth coverage, making this entire set worthy of any public library or home collection. The bright color photos throughout are major attractions, too.
The Sonoma Diet Cookbook
Dr. Connie Guttersen, RD, PhD
Meredith Books
1716 Locust Street, Des Moines, IA 50309-3023
0696231859 $24.95 www.meredithbooks.com
The key to successful weight loss is diet control and the key to successful diet control is packing flavor into diet foods. The Sonoma diet focuses on fresh and flavorful foods, offering soups, salads, herb-rubbed meats and fish, and roasted vegetables to make the most of flavor and to make it easy for the busy cook to stay on the diet course. Color photos abound in a book that shows you don't have to live in California to enjoy an easy diet plan and you don't even have to have prior familiarity with the Sonoma Diet to enjoy the dishes herein.
Diabetes Meal Planning Made Easy, 3rd Edition
Hope S. Warshaw, MMSc, RD, CDE, BC-ADM
American Diabetes Association
1701 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311
1580402518 $14.95 www.diabetes.org
Meal planning can challenge even the most informed diabetic, but this newly updated edition of Hope Warshaw's basic planning guide has been updated to include the latest nutrition recommendations from the ADA and offers both diabetics and pre-diabetics a foundation for understanding how meal preparations can easily work. From major food groups and their impacts on diabetes to setting and meeting nutrition goals, Diabetes Meal Planning Made Easy is filled with important keys to understanding meal planning goals.
A Hedonist in the Cellar: Adventures in Wine
Jay McInerney
Alfred A. Knopf
c/o Random House
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
1400044820 $24.00 www.aaknopf.com
Wine columnist Jay McInerney has been billed the 'best wine writer in America' and his previous collection BACCHUS AND ME earned him much praise: so it's right to expect much from his sequel A HEDONIST IN THE CELLAR and his memoir doesn't disappoint. Here are over five years' worth of essays and explorations in the wine world and we do mean 'world' - following passions, people, and wines around the globe. It's a fine, literary choice any general-interest public library strong in food and wine lending will want.
The 150 Best American Recipes
Fran McCullough & Molly Stevens
Houghton Mifflin
222 Berkeley Street, Boston MA 02116
0618718656 $30.00 www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com
THE BEST AMERICAN RECIPES has received much acclaim over the decades from both home cooks and pros, so public libraries must have THE 150 BEST AMERICAN RECIPES, put together by two food professionals who gather 'foundation' recipes proven to be huge successes. Such dishes have been culled from the pages of cookbooks, magazines, newspapers, and even the Internet: all were tested in the authors' own kitchens, so they're fail-safe. Sidebars of tips, color photos, and an attention to ease of use makes THE 150 BEST AMERICAN RECIPES a top pick.
The Essence of Chocolate
John Scharffenberger and Robert Steinberg, et.al.
Hyperion Books
77 West 66th Street, 12th Floor, New York NY 10023
1401302386 $35.00 www.hyperionbooks.com
The Essence of Chocolate: Recipes for Baking and Cooking with Fine Chocolate offers up the first cookbook from the founders of Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker, pairing a gorgeous and unusual history of chocolate production and use with recipes from Scharfen Berger Company's own kitchens. These facets themselves make for a unique presentation which stands out well from the wealth of chocolate cookbooks on the market: add rich color photos by food photographer Deborah Jones throughout, discussions of chocolate's use in savory and sweet dishes alike, and contributions as child-friendly as a unique grilled peanut butter and chocolate sandwich and you have an extraordinary achievement which is a top pick: a 'must' for any public or culinary school library.
The Turkish Dining Table
H. Guler Vural
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster, Gretna, LA 70053
97181589804197 $35.00 www.pelicanpub.com
The best cookbooks are packed with color photos but even the best usually don't pack them as densely as the lovely TURKISH DINING TABLE: RECIPES FOR HEALTH AND HAPPINESS. This is just one aspect the aspiring cook will relish in a book packed with Turkish inspiration with roots in French, Italian, Persian and Arab cuisines. Over six hundred recipes are provided in over twenty categories, but novices new to Turkish or international cooking as a whole will still find it an easy, appealing introduction. The Turkish native author has selected and personally tested all recipes, presenting here those with the best regional representation of her country. An outstanding, unique addition to any public library strong in international or Middle Eastern cooking.
Small Plates: Appetizers As Meals
Marguerite Marceau Henderson
Gibbs Smith, Publisher
Box 667, Layton, UT 84041
1586857819 $18.95 www.gibbs-smith.com
If you want to lose weight, one of the best ways to do so is by ordering appetizers or cooking appetizer-size meals. That's where the idea of 'small plates' comes in, and where SMALL PLATES: APPETIZERS AS MEALS makes its impact. Gourmet food is typically presented in full meal style, but SMALL PLATES offers up something different: portions that lend to dieting. From Free-Form Ravioli with Crabmeat and Shrimp to Roasted Beet, Spinach and Orange Salad, these are packed with flavor and innovative presentation. A top pick, loaded with color photos.
Super Suppers Cookbook
Judie Byrd
Meredith Books
1716 Locust Street, Des Moines, IA 50309-3023
0696230542 $19.95 www.meredithbooks.com
Too busy to serve homemade food? Not with SUPPER SUPPERS COOKBOOK: MORE THAN 180 EASY FAMILY RECIPES TO ENJOY TONIGHT OR FREEZE FOR LATER in hand. Here are dishes which lend to plan ahead, freeze-ahead methods, menus for the meals, tricks on cutting steps without sacrificing results, and color photos to spice the package. Here, too, are the sidebars of detail and easy one-two-three instruction format that encourages even the newest cook to try something different, such as a Hot Orzo Salad. Public libraries will find it a most popular pick.
The Philosophy Shelf
Responsibility and Judgment
Hannah Arendt
Schocken Books
c/o Random House Trade Group Publicity
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
0805211624 $16.00 www.schocken.com 1-800-726-0600
Academic libraries strong in modern philosophy and ethics particularly at the college level need to add RESPONSIBILITY AND JUDGEMENT, a survey of the traditional moral idea and the standards that affect analysis of good and evil in society, to the Philosophy & Ethics reference collections. Chapters analyze right, wrong, issues of good/evil and their definition and influence in society: it'll also make an excellent recommendation for high school courses in philosophy, but college-level collections and supplemental reading lists shouldn't miss out either.
James Bond and Philosophy
James B. South & Jacob M. Held, Editors
Open Court
Box 300, Peru, IL 61354-3000
0812696077 $17.95 www.opencourtbooks.com
'Questions are Forever' in James Bond and Philosophy, another addition to Open Court's popular 'pop philosophy' series linking popular culture with philosophical ideas and insights. This is no light read, however: seventeen philosopher scholars examine the underlying philosophical issues in the Bond universe, providing weighty connections, reflections, and insights relating Bond to Nietzsche and others. College-level courses in philosophy seeking such connections between the genre and modern life will find this sparks classroom interest and debate.
The Environmental Studies Shelf
Intimate Universality
James Rodger Fleming, et.al., Editors
Science History Publications
c/o Watson Publishing
Box 1240, Sagamore Beach, MA 02562-1240
0881353671 $39.95 www.shpusa.com
Human beings interact with the climate constantly, but the science of meteorology is often routine and quiet. INTIMATE UNIVERSALITY: LOCAL AND GLOBAL THEMES IN THE HISTORY OF WEATHER AND CLIMATE traces the history of meteorology and how its strategies, methodology and findings have mirrored and influenced human attempts to understand and control phenomenon on a world-wide basis. College-level students receive essays from eight leading historians of weather and climate, making for a top pick for college holdings strong in science in general and climate history in particular.
Leveraging the Private Sector
Cary Coglianese & Jennifer Nash
Resources for the Future
1616 P Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20036-1400
1891853961 $24.95 www.rffpress.org
Leveraging the Private Sector: Management-Based Strategies for Improving Environmental Performance is a 'must' recommendation for any college-level or business collection serious about titles on environmental business responsibility. It offers analysis on how to think about and evaluate corporate behavior and responsibility, considering alternatives to traditional problems between allowing a free market system and regulation, and also offers firms details on how to develop practical management-based strategies that compliment environmental protection goals. An outstanding survey.
The Science Shelf
Science Business
Gary P. Pisano
Harvard Business School Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
1591398401 $29.95 www.HBSPress.com
SCIENCE BUSINESS: THE PROMISE, THE REALITY, AND THE FUTURE OF BIOTECH tells why the biotech industry is falling short of its bright promises; in the process analyzing how the industry works and how companies and policymakers can improve its performance. From the business challenge of translating biotech products to profitable ventures to financing risky investments with long-term uncertainty, SCIENCE BUSINESS draws important connections between science research and business products. This could've been featured equally well in our business section but no science student should miss it, and college-level holdings strong in either or both topics must have it.
Imperialism and Science: Social Impact and Interaction
George N. Vlahakis, et.al.
ABC- CLIO
Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
1851096736 $75.00 www.abc-clio.com
Think 'imperialism' and economic and political exploitation come to mind but very seldom is science's role considered. College-level audiences seeking references in science and political history will welcome IMPERIALISM AND SCIENCE, where a gathering of international experts analyze the connections between imperialism and scientific progress over two centuries. Its revelations and insights are important for understanding the paths, progress and international influences upon the scientific community as a whole, so college-level holdings shouldn't be without it.
Postcards from Mars: The First Photographer On the Red Planet
Jim Bell
Dutton
375 Hudson Street, New York NY 10014-3658
0525949852 $55.00 www.penguin.com
Author Jim Bell's been a landscape photographer since childhood and was the leader of a team of scientists who designed and operated the color camera on the Mars rovers. POSTCARDS FROM MARS is thus more than your usual science presentation of planetary bodies: it incorporates a photographer's artistic bent right down to the camera choice, and provides a powerful history of robotic interplanetary exploration and astronomy photography combined. Bell and his team acquired over 150,000 color photos of the Red Planet: here 150 of the top pics translate to an outstanding package recommended not just for science collections, but for college-level photography and art holdings and public libraries, as well.
Junk Science
Dan Agin, Ph.D.
Thomas Dunne Books
175 5th Avenue, New York NY 10010-7848
0312352417 $24.95 www.stmartins.com
JUNK SCIENCE: HOW POLITICIANS, CORPORATIONS AND OTHER HUCKSTERS BETRAY US surveys the invasion of special interests into the impartial research ideals of science, condemning the warping of scientific method for ideological gain and arguing that this invasion goes beyond influencing public decision and perception, affecting the very foundations of scientific research itself. Chapters separate scientific fact from fiction and expose methods of data faking and public lying in this hard-hitting survey of 'junk science' and its methods: a most not only for general-interest public libraries, but for any college-level holding strong in the sciences.
The Travel Shelf
The Hassle-Free Walt Disney World Vacation, 2007 Edition
Steven M. Barrett
Intrepid Traveler
P.O. Box 531, Branford, CT 06405
1887140654 $14.95 www.intrepidtraveler.com
Walt Disney theme parks are often also associated with much expense and hassle: simplify a journey to any of them with the invaluable The Hassle-Free Walt Disney World Vacation, 2007 Edition: it offers detailed touring plans which can be easily customized for a special need, whether it be a senior visit or families with young kids, it surveys the best attractions, least crowded bathrooms, and rest areas in the parks, and it includes additional tips on taking the best photos and assessing sit-down restaurants with minimum waits. The whole idea ease of park use is not treated this way in any other competing Disney handbook making this an item of choice for any public lending library where patrons love Disney travel.
Rough Guides
www.roughguides.com
Rough Guide's travel series isn't for those seeking plush arrangements: it's for the destination-bound adventure traveler who would gain all the local insider's information to visit a country, venturing off the well-beaten tourist route to that of cultural revelation. THE ROUGH GUIDE TO ECUADOR INCLUDING THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS (1843536943, $21.99) By Harry Ades and Melissa Graham packs in practicalities, hiking tips, cultural insights, and advice for all aspects of Ecuador and the Galapagos. From moving beyond visiting markets to moving into the countryside and its diverse peoples, it's a fine planner guide as is ROUGH GUIDE TO BRAZIL (1843536595, $26.99) by David Cleary, Dilwyn Jenkins and Oliver Marshall. Rosalba O'Brien provides further contributions in a handbook packed with fine descriptions of both urban area and countryside. THE ROUGH GUIDE TO THE GAMBIA (1843537036, $19.99) by Emma Gregg and Richard Trillo also is a guide for all budgets, covering where to go and what to see, packing in color photos and maps all the way, and covering the whole of the Gambia. Color-coded sidebars of information make it easy to enjoy segments of information and facts. All are top picks any library strong in overseas travel references especially those catering to students will want.
Micronations
John Ryan, George Dunford and Simon Sellars
Lonely Planet Publications
150 Linden Street, Oakland, CA 94607
1741047307 $14.99 www.lonelyplanet.com
Here's the perfect recommendation for that world traveler who has seen the ordinary -an extraordinary set of recommendations for nations which are self-proclaimed and seldom visited. From zany nations within nations such as Whangamomona within New Zealand where its president is elected by votes cast into a ceremonial toilet to the Empire of Atlantium, surrounded on all sides by Sydney, this is a compendium of the truly zany and 100% real independent 'micro nations' and as fun an armchair reader as it is a destination guide, complete with maps, places to stay, and everything you need to know to locate and enjoy the 'micro nation'. There's no other book with such a focus, making it a 'must' for any comprehensive travel library.
The American History Shelf
Big Dams of the New Deal Era
David P. Billington and Donald C. Jackson
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
0806137959 $36.95 www.oupress.com 1-800-627-7377
BIG DAMS OF THE NEW DEAL ERA: A CONFLUENCE OF ENGINEERING AND POLITICS provides a history of the design and construction of the American West's biggest dams and as such is an important key to understanding the growth and development of the West as a whole. College-level collections will readily find this a 'must have' acquisition, whether they're buying for engineering students, or those studying the evolution and development of the West as a whole: chapters survey engineering science, local politics, public needs, and how these damn were constructed.
Driving with the Devil
Neal Thompson
Crown Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
1400082250 $25.00 www.randomhouse.com
DRIVING WITH THE DEVIL: SOUTHERN MOONSHINE, DETROIT WHEELS, AND THE BIRTH OF NASCAR tells of the evolution of car racing as a passion in the South, charting the evolution of NASCAR and its early connections to moonshine whiskey and stock car driver talents. Here are surveys of the sports' early heroes and pioneering founders, using the lives of key stock car racers and teams to show how NASCAR rose to become the biggest money-making competition in America. It's a lively vignette and a top pick for any collection, whether person or lending library, strong in car racing history and culture in general and NASCAR and Southern history in particular.'
River of Dreams: The Hudson Valley in Historic Postcards
George J. Lankevich
Fordham University Press
2546 Belmont Avenue, University Box L, Bronx, NY 10458-5172
0823225798 $21.95 www.fordhampress.com 1-800-247-6553
Both postcard collectors in general and Hudson Valley history buffs in particular won't want to miss this unusual pictorial journey, undertaken by George Lankevich who presents over sixty old postcards to document the changing Hudson River Valley area. Color reproductions of these old photos accompany a narrative history documenting the many changes the Hudson Valley's seen over the decades, making for a fine keepsake.
The Reference Shelf
(The Nest) Newlywed Handbook
Carley Roney & Editors of The Nest.com
Clarkson Potter Publishers
c/o The Crown Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, #B1, New York, NY 10019-4305
0307340228 $22.50 www.clarksonpotter.com
From the pros and cons of merging money and finances to handling in-law problems and etiquette and considering chores and the basics of daily living, this is the pre-nuptial guide any would-be newlywed should have well before the wedding day. Checklists, quizzes, and worksheets designed to spark dialogue between newlyweds help outline the newfound obligations of married life and is an important key to building a strong foundation of shared responsibilities. It'll make a wonderful gift for any newlywed.
Advanced Tattoo Art
Doug Mitchell
Wolfgang Publishing
217 2nd Street North, Stillwater, MN 55082
1929133332 $24.95 www.wolfpub.com
There are surprisingly few tattoo art books on the market considering the current popularity of the skin decorative art, much less a book on advanced techniques: perhaps this is because tattoo artists wish to preserve their secrets. Now such artists can learn from a step-by-step treatment in ADVANCED TATTOO ART: HOW-TO SECRETS FROM THE MASTERS. Ten well-known, very respected artists across the country reveal their knowledge and secrets for this title, documenting techniques, inks, tools, and materials. Over five hundred color image and ten start-to-finish tattoo techniques display exact approaches the novice can easily learn from. Any such learner will welcome this exceptional technique manual.
Sandor Nagyszalanczy is a professional furniture designer, photographer and tool consultant: his multi-faceted expertise lends well to the completely revised, updated new edition of SETTING UP SHOP: THE PRACTICAL GUIDE TO DESIGNING AND BUILDING YOUR DREAM SHOP. From assessing the pros and cons of battery-powered new equipment on the market and upgrading an electrical system to accommodate plugged-in devices to gaining more space and setting up workplaces that function well, SETTING UP SHOP will appeal to all levels of woodworker and homeowner handyman and is a top reference promising repeated consultation for home users, and repeated lending attraction to general-interest libraries.
Fox Chapel Publishing
1970 Broad Street, East Petersburg, PA 17520
www.FoxChapelPublishing.com
Plenty of books have been published on the art of wood finishing; but what other than Teri Masaschi's FOOLPROOF WOOD FINISHING FOR THOSE WHO LOVE TO BUILD & HATE TO FINISH (1565233034, $19.95) offers a virtual guarantee of success and acknowledges the reluctance of many woodworkers to attend to finishing? Restorer and finishers know how to get the most out of pieces or so they think: expert Masaschi here explores all the basics, from determining the best finish for a project to fixing minor defects and understanding common problems and errors. Woodworkers will find it a key to constant, reliable success. Cyndi Joslyn's EASY WOODCARVING: SIMPLE TECHNIQUES FOR CARVING & PAINTING WOOD (1565232887, $14.95) comes from a woodcarving teacher and offers beginners important steps to learning the easy art of woodcarving. Such an audience will learn from patterns incorporated into the instruction book, and will receive step-by-step, photo-enhanced coverage for all simple shapes. Woodworking libraries especially those strong on wood crafts for novices - need this approach.
The Genealogy Shelf
Getting Started in Genealogy Online
William Dollarhide
Genealogical Publishing
3600 Clipper Mill Road, Suite 260, Baltimore, MD 21211-1953
0806317701 $12.95 www.genealogicalpublishing.com
If you want to research your family tree online, there's no better place to begin than with Getting Started in Genealogy Online, a novice's simple 64-page guide which packs an amazing amount of detail into a non-threatening guide. Most genealogy titles are weighty and scary to newcomers: this invites novice attention with its basics on how to get up to speed online, which resources will prove important, and how to locate the essential record repositories key to genealogical research.
The Education Shelf
Princeton Review Books
2315 Broadway, New York NY 10014
www.princetonreview.com
Two exceptional picks are top recommendations for college-level collections strong in educational references, each offering students keys to continuing education choices and success. Nedda Gilbert's BUSINESS SCHOOL ESSAYS THAT MADE A DIFFERENCE (0375765697, $13.95) offers up over fifty essays, critiqued by admissions officers from top colleges, which helped students enter the best. These critiques offer plenty of insights into what schools are looking for in student essay presentations, comes from admissions officers and current MBA students, and features application essays which made the grade. A 'must' for ongoing students seeking keys to success. The 2007 edition of BEST 170 LAW SCHOOLS by Eric Owens and the Staff of The Princeton Review (0375765654, $22.95) offers profiles of the nation's top law schools, blending statistical details with student insights to provide specific insider information you can't get from the usual college manual. From job placement rates and financial aid packages to college life, getting in, and special perks, BEST 170 LAW SCHOOLS is essential to students looking to narrow the school prospects.
Writing White Papers
Michael A. Stelzner
WhitePaperSource Publishing
13025 Danielson Street, Suite 108, Poway, CA 92064
0977716937 $34.95 www.whitepapersource.com
Writing White Papers: How to Capture Readers and Keep Them Engaged is a top pick for any college-level or business collection strong in technical and business writing references. There's nothing quite like it on the market: it documents the history, nature and creation of the 'white paper', a strong tool for teaching which can market, influence and inform when done right. This 'how to' guide delves at the core strengths of the white paper, from using interviews and documents to create its foundation to using formulas for identifying and grabbing readers. Not quite an article and more than a brochure, the white paper is a technical piece commanding attention and interest and no other book delves into the essence of what makes a 'white paper' and how to put one together than Writing White Papers. Very highly recommended.
The 2007 Calendar Shelf
The Far Side Gallery: 2007 Off-the-Wall Calendar
Lary Larson
Andrews McMeel Publishing
4520 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111
0740759248 $13.99 www.andrewsmcmeel.com
We're just finishing up our annual calendar round-up and with a bang, for the 'encore exhibit' of Far Side classics is released here, featuring the same cartoons as the FAR SIDE GALLERY 2001 OFF-THE-WALL CALENDAR. Here are 365 cartoons for the entire year proceeds to go to Conservation International, the nonprofit group working to protect habitats worldwide. So Far Side fans can rejoice: the calendar's back, Larson's classics are back for the year- and the result's an outstanding presentation blending Larson's humor with practical calendar applications.
The Home & Gardening Shelf
Wild Gardens
Robert Kushner
Pomegranate
Box 808022, Petaluma, CA 94975-8022
0764937693 $35.00 www.pomegranate.com
New York painter Robert Kushner is known for his floral paintings and has achieved international acclaim: now a wider audience can enjoy these works with the appearance of WILD GARDENS, featuring the extent of works, many of which are painted directly on antique Japanese screens and sliding doors. An essay by Kushner explains his philosophy and love of nontraditional surfaces, while historical background is supplied by Michael Duncan, contributing editor to Art in America Magazine. It's a 'must have' for any art library featuring modern artists in general and floral artists in particular.
Bali's challenging and wild landscape nonetheless lends to cultivated gardens, with its abundance of rain making for a natural watering system and its hot climate encouraging many flowers. Landscape gardener/author William Warren introduces Bali and its landscapes: while one might think his gardening observations largely specific to the region, any who live in a hot, humid, rain-abundance climate will find plenty of insights and tips for both design and Balinese influence tips easily transportable to a similar environmental condition, making this a top pick for Florida and other areas with tropical environments and libraries strong in gardening inspiration.
Homekeeping Book
Martha Stewart
Clarkson Potter
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
0517577033 $45.00 www.randomhouse.com
If you aren't used to a book on homekeeping holding over seven hundred pages of detail, perhaps that's because you have to have a number of homekeeping titles on hand to equal the all-in-one format of Martha Stewart's latest HOMEKEEPING HANDBOOK: THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO CARING FOR EVERYTHING IN YOUR HOME. Her reference has been in the works for over fifteen years and offers a handy at-a-glance set of guidelines to everything from caring for laminate kitchen cabinets and considering homeowner's insurance to preventing mildew in a clothes closet. A highly recommended, top pick for any who wish for a one-volume reference to home maintenance.
The Women's Studies Shelf
If Women Ran the World Sh*t Would Get Done
Shelly Rachanow
Red Wheel Weiser/Conari
65 Parker Street Suite 7, Newburyport, MA 01950
1573242896 $12.95 www.redwheelweiser.com
If Women Ran the World Sh*t Would Get Done: Celebrating all the Wonderful, Amazing, Stupendous, Inspiring, Butt-Kicking Things Women Do is a celebration of women's strengths, and the perfect gift to give someone in self-doubt. It lists many of the things women do, offers biographies of women who are respected by families and circles of friends, and pairs real life stories and lists of achievements with details on organizations founded by women, leaving space for the reader's own individual accomplishments. It's an inspirational guide which makes the perfect gift.
Handbook of Feminist Research
Sharlene Hagy Hesse-Biber, Editor
Sage Publications
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
1412905451 $125.00 www.sagepub.com
How does feminist research differ from traditional research approaches, and why are their foundation concepts of praxis and activism scattered throughout the research community with little cross-connections to social research as a whole? These and other issues are answered in HANDBOOK OF FEMINIST RESEARCH, a college-level pick presenting a survey of how feminist research is implemented and connected. Feminist researchers describe the process, its connections, and its range of approaches many of which have resulted in cutting-edge breakthroughs in the research community. Issues of race, class, geography and more are surveyed in chapters that cover such research around the world, while future trends are analyzed. College-level libraries strong in women's studies or social science can't afford to be without this in-depth set of articles for students and scholars at the graduate level.
The Music Shelf
Acoustic Guitars: The Illustrated Encyclopedia
Dave Hunter
Thunder Bay Press
5880 Oberlin Drive, San Diego, CA 92121-4794
1592236766 $19.95 www.thunderbaybooks.com
Gorgeous full-page and large-sized color photos throughout pack an illustrated encyclopedia of acoustic guitars which surveys the history, changing styles, and evolution of both acoustic guitars and playing methods. Here is a book any music history library will want: its oversized presentation allows for some lovely displays, its chapters organized by guitar maker encourages audiences to browse by specialty, and its lively interviews with major guitar players and makers alike are both fun and informative.
Rodale Press
400 South Tenth Street, Emmaus, PA 18098-0099
$16.95 Each www.rodale.com
Two excellent new titles in the Rodale Press 'Rock of Ages' series are solid picks for any rock music collection, offering the in-depth focus so essential to fans. Barney Hoskyns' LED ZEPPELIN IV (1594863709) focuses on one of the group's most puzzling and confusing albums one which stayed 2nd place on the charts for 259 weeks in the U.S. LED ZEPPELIN IV analyzes the mystical symbols that identify the collection, surveys the band's history and Tolkien influences, and includes quotes from band members as it surveys Led Zeppelin facts. Jan Reid's LAYLA AND OTHER ASSORTED LOVE SONGS BY DEREK AND THE DOMINOS (1598463695) is more than the usual biography of leader Eric Clapton: it surveys his career both individually and as a member of Derek and the Dominos, includes insights on the underlying politics of the Nashville music scene, and tells of a musician's passion for musical differences. Both are solid picks recommended for fans who can't get enough detail.
U2 and Philosophy
Mark A. Wrathall, Editor
Open Court Books
140 S. Dearborn, Suite 1450, Chicago, IL 60603
0812695992 $17.95 www.opencourtbooks.com
U2 AND PHILOSOPHY: HOW TO DECIPHER AN ATOMIC BAND is a top pick for fans of the group, introducing philosophy in the context of a popular music venue review to make it more understandable to modern audiences. What does U2 have to do with Plato, existentialism, and Nietzsche, among others? This is the perfect pick for a high school collection wishing to introduce students to philosophy without appearing dry or dull in the process!
Bob Dylan: The Essential Interviews
Jonathan Cott, Editor
Wenner Media
1290 Avenue of Americas, New York, NY 10104-0012
1932958096 $23.95 www.wennerbooks.com
Jonathan Cott has written sixteen books including others on Dylan and both rock and classical musicians: his depth and experience is perfect for BOB DYLAN: THE ESSENTIAL INTERVIEWS, a compilation of interviews following Dylan from the early sixties to today. There are over thirty such interviews gathered here which when taken as a unit provide a smooth historical and psychological progression you won't find in the many Dylan biographies on the market. Also included are all six major interviews Rolling Stone Magazine conducted with Dylan, including Cott's own interview. This is no light overview as many Dylan titles offer, but an in-depth account of his life, perspective and art which is a recommended 'must' for any authoritative Dylan collection even those already stuffed with books.
Alive at the Village Vanguard
Lorraine Gordon as told to Barry Singer
Hal Leonard
19 West 21st Street, Suite 201, New York NY 10010
0634073990 $27.95 www.halleonard.com
Alive at the Village Vanguard: My Life In and Out of Jazz Time captures the life of jazz artist Lorraine Gordon, who knew virtually all the big names of jazz. She was not only a business woman and mother, but owned the most famous jazz club in the world, the Village Vanguard: this is the story of the rise of that club, her encounters with Miles Davis, Monk, and more, and vignettes of their personalities and encounters. Black and white photos blend with music history and cultural insights to make for a lively survey of the Village scene and the artists who made up the jazz world. A 'must' for any avid jazz fan who relishes a 'you are there' experiential survey.
Dixie Lullaby
Mark Kemp
University of Georgia Press
330 Research Drive, Athens, GA 30602-4901
0820328723 $19.95 www.ugapress.org
New in paperback is a book not to be limited to Dixie collections, but a 'must' for any who would understand the concurrent stories of music and race in the South. DIXIE LULLABY: A STORY OF MUSIC, RACE, AND NEW BEGINNINGS IN A NEW SOUTH traces the history and rise of Southern rock, comes from a veteran journalist who considers the effects of white southern rock on future generations, and provides a survey of regional and racial influences on this music. The author's own personal involvement with the music imparts the basics of growing up with rock and loving it and supplements a survey of Southern rock history with a personal anecdotal style leisure browsers will find appealing and absorbing. No rock music history holding should miss it.
Revolver: The Secret History of the Beatles
Geoffrey Giuliano & Avalon Giuliano
John Blake
c/o Trafalgar Square Publishing
P.O. Box 257, North Pomfret, VT 05053
1844541606 $24.95 www.trafalgarsquarebooks.com
There've been so many book on the Beatles picturebooks, biographies, group portraits that another seems overkill, but Revolver: The Secret History of the Beatles promises something different: it comes from a long-time Beatles author/historian and gathers interviews with the group's inner circle and rare tapes of the band's private conversations to prove a unique insider's focus on the group. From adultery of Beatles members with each other's wives to stormy family encounters, Revolver: The Secret History of the Beatles is intimacy like you've not seen elsewhere and deserves a place in any serious Beatles library.
Chopin: A Listener's Guide to The Master of the Piano
Victor Lederer
Amadeus Press
c/o Limelight Editions
512 Newark Pompton Turnpike, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
1574671480 $22.95 www.amadeuspress.com
Pair a full-length classical cd from the classical music publisher Naxos with a book surveying Chopin's biography and influences and you have the perfect introduction to Chopin and a pick recommended not just for public library holdings, but for schools seeking to introduce students to Chopin. Descriptions of his works, styles, and diversity come from a New York-based critical music writer whose addition to the 'Unlocking the Masters' series provides newcomers with a most accessible way of understanding Chopin's music.
Music Law: How to Run Your Band's Business, 5th Edition
Attorney Rich Stim
Nolo Press
950 Parker Street, Berkeley, CA 94010
1413305172 $39.99 www.nolo.com
If you're a recording musician serious about entering the business, you can't be without the 5th updated edition of Music Law: How to Run Your Band's Business. It covers all aspects of music protection and music making, whether you're budgeting a tour, making an album, protecting songwriting efforts, or entering into a partnership with band members. Here under one cover is everything you need to do it right, from sample contracts and explanations of legal issues to handling taxes and choosing a recording studio. Libraries from public to college collections who obtain this book will want to keep it in the reference section: it will prove that practical and popular a pick.
The Native American Shelf
Chickasaw: Unconquered and Unconquerable
Jeanne Barbour, Amanda Cobb, Linda Hogan
Chickasaw Press
c/o Graphic Arts Center Publishing
Box 1548, Ada, OK 74850
1558689923 $45.00 www.gacp.com
David Fitzgerald's full-page color photos lends to essays surveying the Chickasaw Nation a story of survival. The Chickasaw story has been explored before, true but not with such a vivid blend of color art and historical review, which deftly captures the history, culture and trials of the Chickasaw peoples. A 'must' for both serious Native American history holdings high school to college levels and for public lending collections seeking powerful visual histories.
Alaska's Totem Poles
Pat Kramer
Alaska Northwest Books
Box 10306, Portland, OR 9729600306
0882405853 $12.95 www.gacpc.com
Weightier books have been written on the subject, but Pat Kramer's ALASKA'S TOTEM POLES offer a difference: a format a little under a hundred pages, packed with color, affordable, and accompanying color photo with stories about the totems and tips on where to view them. As such, it's an excellent introduction which offers colorful, accessible information perfect for the general-interest library.
Alaska Native Ways
Ray Corral, Will Mayo & Natives of Alaska
Graphic Arts Publishing Company
Box 10306, Portland, OR 97296-0306
1558685006 $39.95 www.gapc.com
As Alaska's natives confront the realities of modern living which are changing not only their culture but their familiar environment, they're drawing strength in renewed attention to their heritage and Alaska Native Ways: What the Elders Have Taught Us is an important tribute to this strength. General-interest libraries as well as Native American specialty collections receive an oversized, coffee-table-type display of gorgeous full-page color photos by Roy Corral, with accompany text by Natives and an introduction by Will Mayo. The text is ten essays, one from each of Alaska's Native cultures, which explores and teaches one special value common to their teachings over the generations: as such they provide not only a tribute to, but a celebration and re-affirmation of Alaskan Native ways in a lovely, highly recommended display piece.
The Judaic Studies Shelf
Questions Christians Ask the Rabbi
Rabbi Ron Isaacs
KTAV Publishing House Inc.
930 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306
0881259241 $22.95 www.ktav.com
What do Jewish people believe and how do their beliefs differ from Christian perspectives on subjects ranging from heaven and hell to Jesus' importance? The author has long run his own web site answering hundreds of such subjects in a warm analytical manner, which translates well to Questions Christians Ask the Rabbi, a book compilation of his website questions and answers. Jewish and Christian thinkers alike will find these surveys lend to discussion both within families and within religious groups.
Folktales of the Jews V. 1: Tales from the Sephardic Dispersion
Dan Ben-Amos, Editor
Jewish Publication Society
Box 960, Herndon, VA 20172-0960
9780827608290 $75.00 www.jewishpub.org
In 1909 the Jewish Publication Society published the first volume of Ginzberg's LEGENDS OF THE JEWS, a collection of rabbinic stories still a foundation pick today here is a gathering of the folktales of ordinary Jewish people the first in a projected 6-volume set which also serves as a landmark publication key to any comprehensive Jewish literature collection. It gathers stories which have been passed down between generations and which hold wisdom and insights into moral, ethical and cultural struggles. Highly recommended.
The Way Into Judaism and the Environment
Jeremy Benstein, Ph.D.
Jewish Lights Publishing
P.O. Box 237, Woodstock, VT 05091
158023268X $24.99 www.jewishlights.com
Jewish social issues library holdings at either the college or specialty collection levels will want to include The Way Into Judaism and the Environment in their holdings: it provides an important set of connections between Judaism and modern social and environmental issues, considering how Judaism is both part of the problem and part of the solution. From how Jews view environmental stewardship to how sacred texts relate to growing social concerns, Dr. Bernstein's analysis provides an unusual environmental focus of Judaism and Jewish living, making for an important analytical survey.
Invoking Angels
Rabbi David A. Cooper
Sounds True
P.O. Box 8010, Boulder, CO 80306-8010
1591795184 $19.95 www.soundstrue.com
You wouldn't think a title on angels would also come from a Rabbi scholar, but the teachings of the Torah and other sacred texts do support the presence of angels in Jewish belief, and the inspirational INVOKING ANGELS provides a program of daily meditations and prayers to help both Jewish and non-Jewish people in their efforts to connect spirituality with empowerment. Spiritual collections will find the book/cd combination a popular read, using the skills of a kabbalist and storyteller to bring to life daily meditations on cd, from an Archangel mediation for courage to a Guardian Angel one for protection. Biblical insights and support throughout make for a fine survey.
The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf
Modern Guns: Identification & Values, 16th Edition
Russell and Steve Quertermous
Collector Books
Box 3009, Paducah, KY 42002-3009
1574325221 $16.95 www.collectorbooks.com
The sixteenth updated edition of MODERN GUNS is a 'must' reference for any serious gun collector, whether it be of pistols, rifles, or shotguns. Such an audience will find the format hasn't changed, but has been redesigned for quicker reference, with each gun receiving in-depth details, the latest values, and pricings in categories ranging from good to very good condition. Add the black and white photos throughout and you have a reference collectors can't be without.
Strike It Rich With Pocket Change
Brian Allen & Ken Potter
Krause Publications
700 East State Street, Iola, WI 54990-2873
0896894428 $16.99 www.fwpublications.com
STRIKE IT RICH WITH POCKET CHANGE: ERROR COINS BRING BIG MONEY shows how even a penny the right penny, that is can be worth thousands and how to locate and value rare coins which represent minting mistakes. Here are important lists of common and known minting errors, along with tips on identifying and valuing these coins. Good-sized color photos often very detailed close-ups, as needed permeate a title that will prove a key acquisition for any professional or new coin collector.
The Religion/Spirituality Shelf
Doing God's Business
R. Paul Stevens
William B. Eerdmans Publishing
2140 Oak Industrial Drive NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
0802833985 $14.00 www.eerdmans.com
Christians have long struggled with business pursuits and faith's place in such affairs, and Doing God's Business: Meaning and Motivation for the Marketplace surveys this struggle, considering how to honor God in the marketplace. From practicing everyday disciplines to cultivating integrity and handling global challenges to God's mission, Doing God's Business is a guide for personal, spiritual and business achievement and any Christian library collection will find it a top pick.
Words of Wisdom: Daily Affirmations of Faith
Rev Run
Amistad/HarperCollins
10 E. 53rd Street, New York NY 10022
0061144878 $19.95 www.amistadbooks.com
WORDS OF WISDOM represents the daily affirmations Rev Run sends to his closest friends each day, which entered into the public realm when his TV show became such a hit. Rev Run is an ordained minister who closes each episode of his show by reading philosophical, Christian and inspirational books in the bathtub before writing his own motivations: his title arrives just in time for the second season and offers both avid fans and newcomers easy admonitions to live by.
Women Saints: 365 Daily Readings
Madonna Sophia Compton, et.al.
Crossroad Publishing
481 8th Avenue, 16 Penn Plaza, New York NY 10001
0824524136 $19.95 www.cpcbooks.com
365 Christian saints from both Eastern and Western traditions are surveyed in a set of daily readings which pairs a biographical review of the saint's life with scriptures and original prayers to honor them. This makes for a powerful set of daily reflections and new information: perfect for the collection and spirit of any avid Catholic reader, especially those with an interest in the women saints.
Brazos Press/Baker Publishing Group
Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
www.brazospress.com
An eight-year-old and her theologian grandfather exchange ideas and questions in the gentle spiritual primer by Robert W. Jenson and Solveig Lucia Gold, Conversations with Poppi About God (1587431869, $18.99). A bedtime conversation turns into a series of spiritual, spontaneous discussions about the nature of God and worship and invites readers to new insights on the nature of Christian faith. It'll make a lovely gift for a family member or a fine addition to a Christian spiritual collection. Jonathan R. Wilson's WHY CHURCH MATTERS WORSHIP, MINISTRY, AND MISSION IN PRACTICE (1587430374, $19.99) is written from and for American evangelicalism, offering up a fine and critical discussion of current church practices and better alternatives. How can a church's mission be measured? Jonathan Wilson maintains it's the ministry that counts and chapters move through devotions and practices that affect the entire community. An excellent starting point for discussions of worship and practicing missions both within and outside of the church walls.
The Law of Attraction
Esther and Jerry Hicks
Hay House
Box 5100, Carlsbad, CA 92018-5100
1401917593 $23.95 www.hayhouse.com
The original Teachings of Abraham form the foundation of a guide that explains the religious sources of attraction and its potential to evoke change. From making universal spiritual laws work to advantage to understanding the science of deliberate creation and its purpose, THE LAW OF ATTRACTION: THE BASICS OF THE TEACHINGS OF ABRAHAM, co-authored by Esther and Jerry Hicks, is a top pick for both individual introspection and Religion/Spirituality library reference collections alike.
Sea of Faith
Stephen O'Shea
Walker & Company
175 5th Avenue, New York NY 10010
0802714986 $26.95 www.walkerbooks.com
SEA OF FAITH: ISLAM AND CHRISTIANITY IN THE MEDIEVAL MEDITERRANEAN WORLD is religious history at its best and a top pick for both spirituality and public library collections: it tells of the concurrent rise of Islam and Christianity in the Medieval Mediterranean worlds between the 7th and 7 centuries which shaped modern beliefs, examining the religious battles over who would inherit the Greco-Roman world beyond the crusades. Seven battles served as decision-makers for today's spiritual arena in the world: these holy wars are key for any understanding of modern spiritual issues yet until now they've been little-covered for general-interest readers. SEA OF FAITH is at once scholarly and lively and will attract a wide audience, making it a suitable acquisition for both general-interest public libraries and college-level holdings strong in Medieval or spiritual history.
Spotting the Sacred
Bruce Main
Baker Publishing Group
Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
080106631X $15.99 www.bakerbooks.com
In today's busy modern world even the most spiritual person is usually too busy to acknowledge signs of God's presence in daily life. Jesus, in contrast, led a full life that was never too busy to observe such and this is the point and teaching of Spotting the Sacred: Noticing god in the Most Unlikely Places. Case histories and stories accompany discussions of how to slow down and perceive evidences of God in the everyday even in the slum or in an act of compassion. From experiencing and giving gratitude to the acts of children, SPOTTING THE SACRED blends scriptural references to everyday life experiences in an inspirational piece readers of modern spiritual literature will find thoughtful.
The Political Science Shelf
Foreign Affairs and the Constitution in the Age of Fighting Sail
William R. Casto
University of South Carolina Press
1600 Hampton Street, 5th Floor, Columbia, SC 29208
1570036292 $34.95 www.sc.edu/uscpress
College-level collections strong in foreign affairs history must have Foreign Affairs and the Constitution in the Age of Fighting Sail: it brings to life events of 1793 and the first test of President George Washington's efforts to establish a foreign policy and to enforce the Constitution's separation of powers statute. It outlines the underlying politics of a confrontation in which the French revolutionary republic sought to obtain support from the U.S. in its war with great Britain, forcing the founding fathers to test the Constitution's separation of powers sections. Understanding their dilemma is key to understanding an important piece of the Constitution and is key to any college-level collection strong in American political history
The Arrogance of American Power
Nancy Snow
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
4501 Forbes Blvd. #200, Lanham, MD 20706
0742553744 $22.95 www.rowmanlittlefield.com
The Arrogance of American Power: What U.S. Leaders are Doing Wrong and Why It's Our Duty to Dissent narrows the focus to government propaganda techniques of both past and present administrations, creating a survey which is a top pick for both high school and college holdings on political science particularly those interested in fostering debates on freedom. Professor Snow here argues America needs to get over itself as the 'number-one country', that it needs to enlist citizens to help improve foreign relations, and that it's the public's duty to participate by dissenting. An excellent primer and a top pick for any debate on foreign relations policy past or present.
THE KNITTER'S HANDBOOK: ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND HELPFUL HINTS FROM KNITTER'S MAGAZINE is a highly recommended pick for knitters: it features lay-flat spiral binding, spine lettering for easy shelving, and packs in tips enhanced by both diagrams and drawings and small color photos. From handling buttonhole placement and knitting in rounds to using cables, these tips are especially invaluable for relative beginners as well as knitters seeking to advance their skills to the next level.
Birds 'n Roses
Margaret Docherty
American Quilter's Society
P.O. Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
9781574329148 $24.95 www.aqsquilt.com
Real flowers and birds from an award-winning quilt are presented in a survey of how a masterpiece was created and how any applique method can duplicate it. Full-sized patterns are provided for all elements of the quilt, providing keys to success not just for reproducing this winner, but for blending into independent projects. It's these elements which make BIRDS N ROSES by needlecraft expert Margaret Docherty an exceptional pick for any experienced quilter who likes to use applique as more of a central theme than a side embellishment: Personal, professional, and community library libraries simply must have this one if their needlecraft reference collections are to be considered comprehensive or complete.
Nomad Press
P.O. Box 484, Fort Collins, CO 80522-0484
www.nomad-press.com
Two outstanding titles on spinning and knitting offer craftspeople exceptional coverages. Priscilla A. Gibson-Roberts's SPINNING IN THE OLD WAY: HOW AND WHY TO MAKE YOUR OWN YARN WITH A HIGH-WHORL HANDSPINDLE (0966828984, $14.95) takes a complex-sounding art and makes it accessible to the ordinary yarn worker. Other books tell how to work with fiber, but few discuss the related art of spinning; much less how to use new methods to spin more effectively. Any fiber arts library will welcome the opportunity to present this clear, step-by-step 'how to' manual to beginners and knitters who want to explore other directions. Knitters will also relish Donna Druchunas' ARCTIC LACE: KNITTING PROJECTS AND STORIES INSPIRED BY ALASKA'S NATIVE KNITTERS (0966838976. $26.95): it covers the unique art of working with qiviut, or musk ox down, and tells how to locate it, work with it, and reproduce laces from the knitters of the Oomingmak Musk Ox producers's Co-Operative. A unique and lovely presentation offers projects, approaches and fiber arts insights not seen anywhere else! Both are essential picks any authoritative knitting collection must have.
Sublime Stitching
Jenny Hart
Chronicle Books
85 2nd Street, San Francisco, CA 94105
0811850110 $19.95 www.chroniclebooks.com
SUBLIME STITCHING: HUNDREDS OF HIP EMBROIDERY PATTERNS AND HOW-TO pairs lovely color photos throughout by Alexandra Grablewski with an outstanding, assessable embroiderer's guide which novices will find especially helpful and inviting. The author offers ideas for all kinds of projects, from tea towels to jeans and handbags, and provides supporting patterns and instructions to back each idea in fact, each of the original iron-on patterns within can be used up to nine times. It's an acquisition any beginning embroiderer will love.
The Fine Art of Kimono Embroidery
Shizuka Kusano
Kodansha International
575 Lexington Avenue, New York NY 10022
477003024X $39.95 www.kodansha-intl.com
Any with more than a light interest in Japanese embroidery will readily recognize the author's name, for Shizuka Kusano is one of Japan's premiere textile artists, and her 'canvases' are the kimono, obi, and tapestries. Dozens of her works are featured in a color guide that also covers the techniques used on each of her pieces. Kusano's essay on how she began in and developed her talents includes a history of embroidery in Japan. The pairing of history, art, and how-to will make FINE ART OF KIMONO EMBROIDERY a recommendation for not only art and needlework libraries, but for general-interest collections as well.
Hooked on Rugs
Jessie A. Turbayne
Schiffer Publishing
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
0764325027 $39.95 www.schifferbooks.com
HOOKED ON RUGS: OUTSTANDING CONTEMPORARY DESIGNS covers rug hooking, portraying over five hundred examples of different rug hooking projects in full color photos and gathering the works of modern hooking artists from all over the US and Canada. Think 'rug hooking' and you're likely to think it a lost art: look at HOOKED ON RUGS and you'll realize it's a thriving contemporary hobby with thousands of needleworkers across the country. Don't think just floor coverings either: projects include wall hangings and furniture, hold a vast variety of approaches, and serve as inspiration for aspiring rug workers. Any general-interest library with a section strong in crafts or needlework and any specialty collection of needlework and crafting projects will want HOOKED ON RUGS.
Domiknitrix
Jennifer Stafford
North Light Books
c/o F&W Publications, Inc.
4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236
1581808534 $19.99 www.artistsnetwork.com www.fwpublications.com 1-800-726-9966
DOMIKNITRIX: WHIP YOUR KNITTING INTO SHAPE doesn't hold your usual saccharine vests and sweaters: it's a contemporary guide for the modern knitter who wants to produce something as original as a 'skull vest' or a 'widow's peak' hair piece for a Mohawk haircut, and as such will uniquely appeal to the younger generation with fresh, contemporary ideas for knitting. Step-by-step directions allow newcomers to move easily from the beginner to the advanced knitter level and offer a range of projects not to be found even remotely in any similar knitting guide and there's lots on the market, so this is saying much. Any public library appealing to younger needlework artists will want this.
Veggies from the Good Earth Applique Album
Bea Oglesby
American Quilter's Society
Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
1574329219 $21.95 www.AmericanQuilter.com
Veggies from the Good Earth Applique Album offers a theme and something different in an applique world often dominated by birds and flower designs: it selects vegetable applique designs from the garden, offers 15 full-size patterns for producing them, and also offers tips on blending them into a larger quilting project. From yardage to fabrics, tips are specific and offer everything from a every simple pepper piece to a more challenging 77-piece artichoke. Any who use applique will relish the different designs and subject here.
The Literary Shelf
Writing to Change the World
Mary Pipher
Riverhead Books
c/o The Berkley Publishing Group
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
1594489203 $24.95 www.riverheadbooks.com
Words are powerful tools many a writer has used to spark revolutions, but not every would-be writer has the fire built in for such an endeavor. Plenty of how-to titles discuss how to write an essay; but very few discuss how to incorporate world-changing language and ideas into a smooth text that inspires. That's where Writing to Change the World comes in, offering a manual for those who want to inspire social change and blending personal anecdotes and quotes form other writers who have successfully achieved such transformation with success. A 'must' for any public or school library strong in writer's guides.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
1824: The Arkansas War
Eric Flint
DelRey Books
c/o Ballantine Books
1540 Broadway, New York, NY 10036
0345465695 $25.95 www.delreybooks.com
This latest volume of an 'alternative America' time slip series continues to trace the events which are influencing a different America. Here Arkansas has become its own country populated by former slaves, Native Americans and white abolitionists and one Patrick is building his fortune and an army in the Arkansas Confederacy. President James Monroe's caught in the middle of two forces and soon his dilemma will be shared by all public officials as slavery is newly raised as a controversial choice. Fans of alternative historical science fiction must have this.
The Armour of Contempt
Dan Abettt
BL Publishing
1525 Hulse Road, Unit 1, Mt. Pleasant, NJ 08742
1844164004 $19.95 www.blacklibrary.com
This represents the 10th novel in Dan Abbett's popular 'Gaunt's Ghosts' series: as such familiarity with the prior books will lend appreciation and quick understanding of the ongoing saga. Gaunt and Tanith discover the liberation's brutality is pitting them against their own commanders who believe victory is worth cruelty. Gaunt and his men thus find themselves on no side, fighting with all. Fans of military science fiction will appreciate the fast-paced drama and highly-charged energy here.
Starship: Pirate Book 2
Mike Resnick
PYR
c/o Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
1591024900 $25.00 www.prysf.com
It's 1967 of the Galactic Era, nearly three thousand years from our times, and the human-created Republic is in the middle of a war against an alien federation of races. Captain Wilson Cole is a political scapegoat despite his dedicated military career, facing a court-martial when he's rescued by his ship's crew and they all flee to the lawless Interior Frontier. Fans of military science fiction and especially libraries with the prior introductory STARSHIP: MUTINY in the stacks will find plenty to like in this fast-paced saga.
Baen Books
Box 1403, Riverdale, NY 10471
www.baen.com
Eric Flint and Andrew Dennis's 1633: THE CANNON LAW (1416509380, $26.00) is set in 1635 Rome and provides another satisfying political drama based on Americans trapped in the past. Here Sharon is both planning a wedding and heading the town's diplomatic team even as Spanish armies are amassing on the borders in Naples. Add a secret agent's efforts and plenty of intrigue and you have a time-slip story with much more social and political 'meat' than most, promising appeal to both prior Flint fans and newcomers with an affection for science fiction time travel scenarios particularly complicated plots with plenty of twists and turns. Martin Scott's THRAXAS UNDER SIEGE (1416520880, $24.00) is another fantasy adventure about one Thraxas, an overweight private eye working in a seedy neighborhood. But it's not just a story of investigation: add Orcs which take the city by siege, a magical talisman, and a world-changing search and you have a fine, fast-paced story indeed!
Star Trek: Constellations
Marco Palmieri, Editor
Pocket Books
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
0743492544 $14.00 www.startrekbooks.com
Fans of Star Trek can't get enough, and STAR TREK: CONSTELLATIONS is a collection of stories that adds to the adventures of the cast of the Star Trek universe. Here are untold tales from such notable contributors as Stuart Moore, Jeff Bond, and more. There's even a story from Tokyopop's latest Star Trek manga. Unlike other single-book stories this is designed as part of the series' fortieth anniversary celebration and gathers new original tales designed to feel like 'lost' episodes and in this endeavor it succeeds well: any who miss Star Trek will want this book!
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Death on the Diagonal
Nero Blanc
Berkley Prime Crime
375 Hudson street, New York NY 10014-3658
0425209989 $14.00 www.penguin.com
Crossword puzzle fans as well as mystery readers will thrill to another Nero Blanc puzzler that includes six crossword puzzles within its story of intrigue. Crossword editor Belle Graham faces new intrigue as she investigates the fire at the Collins family stables, drawing suspicion on a newly rich family. The blaze is blamed on a hard drinking barn manager but as Belle and her P.I. husband Rosco probe further they uncover a complex net of lies which yields many possibilities. An outstanding mystery draws in even seasoned readers with a vivid plot.
The Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Skin Diseases of the Dog and Cat
Thelma Lee Gross, et.al.
Blackwell Publishing
2121 State Avenue, Ames, IA 50014-8300
0632064528 www.blackwellpublishing.com
Working vets and any college-level holding strong in advanced veterinary science must have Skin Diseases of the Dog and Cat: Clinical and Histopathologic Diagnosis, now updated to its second edition and including black and white and color photos to aid in diagnosis and treatment. From close-up photos of skin conditions to detailed treatment analysis and procedures, this is a working reference any vet must have; particularly as skin diseases are the most common complaint bringing a dog or cat owner into the vet's office.
Relentless Enemies: Lions and Buffalo
Berverly Joubert & Dereck Joubert
National Geographic
1145 17th Street NW, Washington DC 20036-4688
1426200048 $40.00 www.nationalgeographic.com
The gorgeous photos and elongated size of Relentless Enemies: Lions and Buffalo lends particularly well to public library display as does the way natural history which surveys the back-and-forth interplay between lions and buffalo. The focus here is the Duba area of Botswana's Okavango Delta, with the ecology of lion and buffalo the object of a striking blend of full-page color photos and naturalist observations. A top pick any public library strong in visual natural history displays must have.
Return of the Condor
John Moir
Lyons Press
Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
1592289495 $24.95 www.lyonspress.com
The California condor is the continent's largest birds, lives 50 years or more, often mates for life, and can fly some 150 miles in a day. Despite all these talents, the condor has trembled on the brink of extinction and only extraordinary measures have brought it back from its low of 22 individuals in the 1980s. The efforts to save the condor are chronicled in RETURN OF THE CONDOR: THE RACE TO SAVE OUR LARGEST BIRD FROM EXTINCTION, from the biologist who decided to capture the last remaining living wild condor to the controversial development of a captive breeding program and beyond. Both general-interest collections and those strong in natural history must have RETURN OF THE CONDOR: it's a riveting, readable story of a bird's rescue and offers inspiration to any who read about human-influenced extinctions.
The World of the Polar Bear
Norbert Rosing
Firefly
Box 1338, Ellicott Station, Buffalo, NY 14205
1554071550 $45.00 www.fireflybooks.com
Norbert Rosing's gorgeous full-page polar bear photos capture the world of the Far North like no other, appearing in an oversized presentation to properly display the full-page color photos and polar bear information. Here are seasonal shots accompanied by a lively text melding personal observation and experience with natural history fact. Sure to be a popular browsing choice for any public lending library with patrons interested in bears or wildlife, "The World of the Polar Bear" is a highly recommended acquisition.
Animal Biology and Care, 2nd edition
Sue Dallas
Blackwell Publishing
2121 State Avenue, Ames, IA 50014-8300
1405137959 $39.99 www.blackwellpublishing.com
The second updated edition of Animal Biology and Care is a recommendation for any college-level library strong in animal management and vet care: it's been designed for vet assistant students and offers not only the basics on animal biology and care based on the latest studies and facts, but a new chapter on fish and birds. Over a hundred illustrations include the anatomical details missing from lighter, more general coverages making this an excellent standard acquisition.
Choosing and Keeping Chickens
Chris Graham
TFH
One TFH Plaza, Neptune City, NJ 07753
0793806011 $18.95 www.tfh.com
At-a-glance information accompanies color photos of all kinds of chickens, offering the details one needs to know right away: maintenance levels, looks, exhibition possibilities, and temperament. Read further to find out care requirements, daily management and secrets of success. While CHOOSING AND KEEPING CHICKENS isn't likely to be found in many urban collections, any holding strong in farm management at all levels, including the small home farmer, will want this; as will any individual interested in making the right chicken choices and keeping them healthy.
The Self-Help Shelf
The Secrets of Happiness
Richard Schoch
Scribner
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
0743292928 $23.00 www.simonsays.com
Is the new 'science' of happiness resulting in further dissatisfaction in life? New age teachers would offer up happiness as a consumer right, but The Secrets of Happiness by Richard Schoch shows it isn't that easy and contends such happiness must be found from within. Philosophy and religion blend in a survey which considers how happiness is conceived, pursued, and misconstrued. "The Secrets of Happiness" is an insightful, informed, thoughtful and though-provoking self-help book that is especially commended to the attention of non-specialist general readers seeking simple happiness in an ever increasingly complicated world.
The Mr. & Mrs. Happy Handbook
Steve Doocy
William Morrow
10 East 53rd Street, New York NY 10022
0060854057 $23.95 www.harpercollins.com
The Mr. & Mrs. Happy Handbook: Everything I Know About Love and Marriage is more than another marriage manual: it pairs a healthy dose of humor, history, and insights with perspectives on harmonious love, marriage and family life and will prove a popular attraction for public libraries. The author and his family and friends have already made marriage mistakes their experiences offer slices-of-life vignettes based on 20 years of continuous marriage, and even includes a 'troubleshooting' section. It will prove a fun, popular general library pick.
The Secret
Rhonda Byrne
Atria Books
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
1582701709 $23.95 www.simonsays.com
THE SECRET offers its readers the key to relationships, money and wealth. This is an insight which has been understood by Plato, Einstein and other great thinkers and scientists down through the ages and now the general public has access in a survey of a Great Secret embedded in oral traditions, religion and philosophy around the world. Learn what it is and how to use it in your personal life in a title which transcends the usual spiritual shelf boundaries and offers insights and inspiration to general interest readers, making it a suitable public library lending acquisition. THE SECRET is a highly recommended addition to the reading list of anyone seeking to improve the quality of their personal and professional lives!
The Library Science Shelf
Exploring the Bancroft Library
Charles B. Faulhaber & Stephen Vincent, Editors
Signature Books
564 West 400 North, Salt Lake City, UT 84116-3411
1893663191 $39.95 www.signaturebooks.com 1-800-356-5687
EXPLORING THE BANCROFT LIBRARY: THE CENTENNIAL GUIDE TO ITS EXTRAORDINARY HISTORY, SPECTACULAR SPECIAL COLLECTIONS, RESEARCH PLEASURES, ITS AMAZING FUTURE, AND HOW IT ALL WORKS is a spectacular survey of one of the foremost research institutions in the world, founded in 1860 by San Francisco bookseller and collector Hubert Bancroft. Its holdings are extensive and something the general public is unlikely to know much about, making EXPLORING THE BANCROFT LIBRARY a 'must' for any literary enthusiast. It both celebrates the centennial of the library acquired by the University of California in 1906 and covers its rare, unparalleled holdings. Side topics include how material is acquired and conserved and how individual curators have contributed to the effort. While specialty collections are the likely audience, EXPLORING THE BANCROFT LIBRARY also contains plenty of general collection history and reference lending to its interest to public library patrons.
The Biography Shelf
Challenging the Pacific
Maud Fontenoy
Arcade Publishing
141 Fifth Avenue, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10010
1559708182 $24.00 www.arcadepub.com
In 2003 the author became the first woman to row alone cross the North Atlantic ocean: in 2005 she challenged the Pacific and won again. CHALLENGING THE PACIFIC tells of her journey, capturing both daily sailing challenges and long-term motivation and goals. Her story is true adventure at its best; perfect for any general-interest public library lending holding or for nautical collections.
Live Until You Die
Helen Daniel
Trafford Publishing
2333 Government Street, 6E, Victoria, BC V8T 4P4
1412082846 $22.52 www.muragai.com
Author Helen Daniel experienced a violent childhood, murdered sister, head injury these experiences only taught her to be tough and to live life now. Her autobiography blends self-help insights and survival techniques with surveys of her life, offering up a powerful message on how to live life to its fullest. Any with an interest in making the most of their life will want this and any library concerned with inspirational autobiography will find it a popular pick.
The Prince
William Simpson
Regan Books
10 East 53rd Street, New York NY 10022
0060899867 $32.50 www.reganbooks.com
THE PRINCE: THE SECRET STORY OF THE WORLD'S MOST INTRIGUING ROYAL PRINCE BANDAR BIN SULTAN might at first glance seem to be a special interest title but it's actually much more. Any reader interested in Middle East issues should read THE PRINCE, as it surveys the life, political rise and richness of the Saudi Arabian prince who today is Ambassador to the U.S. His life reflects social and political changes in the country and his work has led him to play pivotal roles in emerging politics of the entire region, making THE PRINCE a recommended pick for a wide range of collections, from college to general-interest public libraries.
Under the Rainbow
John Carlyle
Carroll & Graf
c/o Avalon Publishing Group
245 West 17th Street, 11th floor, New York, NY 10011-5300
0786718536 $26.95 www.carrollandgraf.com
Author John Carlyle isn't just a researcher doing yet another Hollywood expose: his UNDER THE RAINBOW: AN INTIMATE MEMOIR OF JUDY GARLAND, ROCK HUDSON & MY LIFE IN OLD HOLLYWOOD comes from an insider who was Judy Garland's on/off lover, and who tells of his life with her and encounters with her contemporaries. UNDER THE RAINBOW recreates the atmosphere, involvements and drama of the Hollywood of the 1950s, 60s and 70s: as such it's a top pick not only for fans of Judy Garland, but for broader audiences and library collections interested in Hollywood history and culture as a whole.
Queen of Fashion
Caroline Weber
Henry Holt
175 5th Avenue, New York NY 10010
0805079491 $27.50 www.henryholt.com
QUEEN OF FASHION: WHAT MARIE ANTOINETTE WORE TO THE REVOLUTION could also have been featured in our 'Arts' section for its fashion emphasis, but its extensive biographical detail doesn't pale beside it and the combination of the two makes it a pick for both general interest collections and art libraries strong in historical fashion. Her wardrobe had as much an impact on politics as her actions, and QUEEN OF FASHION surveys both as equally important keys to understand the flavor and events of her times.
Jane Goodall
Dale Peterson
Houghton Mifflin
222 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116
0395854059 $35.00 www.hmco.com
Coverages of Jane Goodall and her work with chimps usually focus on her role as a scientist, her discoveries, and her contributions: now receive a better-rounded survey of her entire life in a title not for the casual reader. JANE GOODALL: THE WOMAN WHO REDEFINED MAN holds some 700 pages packed with insights bout her life, surveying her work, her ability to set radically new standards, and her private journey. Even if you're an avid Goodall fan who has read prior coverages, be prepared to be surprised at the depth here: JANE GOODALL is for any avid enthusiast who has always wanted more and is a top pick not just for public libraries, but for high school to college collections strong in science biography.
Descartes: The Life and Times of a Genius
A.C. Grayling
Walker & Company
175 5th Avenue, New York NY 10010
080271501X $26.95 www.walkerbooks.com
As A.C. Grayling reveals here we live in a world largely made by Descartes' ideas and philosophy, which have changed how we view nature and scientific inquiry itself. Given his importance it's amazing to note relatively few biographies cover his life, so college-level and public lending libraries will want to add DESCARTES to any serious collection strong in science or philosophy. A highly recommended addition to biography collections, DESCARTES consists of deftly written chapters consider his life, influences, contributions and approach and offers up a well-rounded view of his many achievements.
Reluctant Genius: Alexander Graham Bell and the Passion for Invention
Charlotte Gray
Arcade Publishing
141 Fifth Avenue, 8th Floor , New York, NY 10010
1559708093 $29.95 www.arcadepub.com 1-800-759-0190
Both general-interest libraries strong in biographical representation and college-level science collections where inventor biographies are strong will want Reluctant Genius: Alexander Graham Bell and the Passion for Invention. It represents the first major biography on Bell in thirty years and probes the life of a man whose inventions changed the world. Born of a deaf mother, Bell developed a passion for sound at an early age, investigating the science of
