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

California Bookwatch

Volume 2, Number 2 February 2007 Home | CALBW Index

Table of Contents

Donovan's Picks International Studies Shelf Criminology Shelf
Psychology Shelf Hunting Shelf Computer Shelf
Graphic Novel Shelf Cookbook Shelf Philosophy Shelf
Environmental Studies Shelf Science Shelf Travel Shelf
American History Shelf Reference Shelf Woodworking Shelf
Genealogy Shelf Education Shelf 2007 Calendar Shelf
Home & Gardening Shelf Women's Studies Shelf Music Shelf
Native American Shelf Judaic Studies Shelf Antiques/Collectibles Shelf
Religion/Spirituality Shelf Political Science Shelf Needlecraft Shelf
Literary Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Pets/Wildlife Shelf Self-Help Shelf Library Science Shelf
Biography Shelf Fiction Shelf Art Shelf
Architecture Shelf Photography Shelf Fashion Shelf
Jobs/Careers Shelf Language Studies Shelf Martial Arts Shelf
Parenting Shelf Homeowner's Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Health/Medicine Shelf Social Issues Shelf Military Shelf
Civil War Shelf Business Shelf Money/Finance Shelf
Writing/Publishing Shelf Crafts Shelf Gaming Shelf
Theatre/Cinema Shelf Audiobook Shelf California Shelf
Humor Shelf World History Shelf Library DVD


Donovan's Picks

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.

Hugh Lauter Levin Associates
9 Burr Road, Westport, CT 06880
Publishers Group West, dist.
1700 Fourth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
www.HLLA.com www.pgw.com 1-800-788-3123

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.


The Woodworking Shelf

Setting Up Shop
Sandor Nagyszalanczy
Taunton Press
P.O. Box 5507, Newtown, CT 05470-5507
1561588385 $21.95 www.taunton.com

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.

Balinese Gardens
Lucia Invernizzi Tettoni & William Warren
Periplus
c/o Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
0794604234 $34.95 www.tuttlepublishing.com

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 Needlecraft Shelf

Knitter's Handbook
Knitter's Magazine
XRX Books
Box 1525, Sioux Falls, SD 57101-1525
1893762211 $19.95 www.knittinguniverse.com

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 sound and joining the race to invent the first 'speaking telegraph'. While he's best known for inventing the telephone, he also participated in the race to develop the airplane, and invented the hydrofoil – as well as investigated a president's murder. A complex individual emerges from these pages, making for a satisfying read indeed.


The Fiction Shelf

Rust and Bone
Craig Davidson
W.W. Norton
500 – 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
0393329003 $13.95 www.wwnorton.com

Fighting is a major theme in Craig Davidson's short stories, which pack the punch of underworld fiction writing at its best. Here are visions of broken beings who struggling for meaning in life – shocking, eye-opening stories which aren't for the meek or leisure reader seeking light-hearted plots. Davidson's settings are fictional and his characters are searching out humanity in the midst of violence: perhaps this is what makes RUST AND BONE a compelling mirror image of modern times – and a recommendation for any fiction lending library strong in modern literary achievement.

What Is the What
Dave Eggers
McSweeny's
1932416641 $26.00 www.mcsweenys.net

WHAT IS THE WHAT is no light story: it's the hard-hitting novel of one Valentino, a refugee of the Sudanese civil war fleeing from his village, who becomes one of the Lost Boys – children pursued by militias and shunned by the world. His long journey to the U.S. with some 4,000 other Sudanese refugees starts a new struggle for survival in this hard-hitting story packed with real-world insights and recommended for any literary fiction holding, whether it be public lending library or personal collection with an African focus.

A Quilt of Dreams
Patricia Schonstein
William Morrow
10 East 53rd Street, New York NY 10022
0060562447 $24.95 www.harpercollins.com

A QUILT OF DREAMS is set in South Africa during the final days of apartheid and succeeds in bringing the nation's political and social concerns to light in vivid color. Here two very different strangers find their lives entwined by the events shaking their nation: one an alcoholic white man, the other the young daughter of a black activist. Violence and change permeates their lives and affects their dreams, and while it seems unlikely their very different pasts and perspectives – and griefs –will prompt an encounter much less healing, it's the sweeping changes affecting their country which will lead them to each other and some surprising revelations. A QUILT OF DREAMS is a passionate novel of change and a top pick for public libraries seeking something compellingly different.


The Art Shelf

East Coast/West Coast and Beyond
William Gerdts & Deborah Solon
Hudson Hills Press
Box 205, Manchester, VT 05254-9911
1555952690 $50.00 www.hudsonhills.com

If you don't readily recognize the name of Impressionist painter Colin Campbell Cooper, it's because his career was often overlooked – to the point that this catalog is his first in-depth study, and as such is an essential addition to any comprehensive Impressionist art history collection. Here a biography of his life blends with full-page color paintings and detailed discussions of his influences and art. A key acquisition any art library needs to add.

Masterpieces of French Jewelry
Judith Price
Running Press
125 South 22nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
0762426721 $29.95 www.runningpress.com

Author Judith Price is President of the National Jewelry Institute: her background has long been in French art and jewelry, so she's the perfect choice to write an authoritative review and history in MASTERPIECES OF FRENCH JEWELRY. Over a hundred photos of pieces owned by Americans – most never seen by the public before – accompany historical background which covers jewelry from the late 1800s to modern times. There's a thoughtful attention to the layout on each page that juxtaposes large-size photos of pieces with good-sized, clear text descriptions and commentary. Both specialty art and jewelry libraries and more general-interest holdings will find in MASTERPIECES OF FRENCH JEWELRY a welcome, popular reference.

Don't Drink & Draw: The Art & Life of Michael Godard
Michael Godard, et.al.
Publishers Design Group Inc.
P.O. Box 37, Roseville, CA 95678
1929170238, HC, $79.95; 1929170227, PB, $34.95 www.publishersdesign.com

Few art titles can rival the presentation of GODDARD: DON'T DRINK & DRAW. More than just another sketch of a modern artist's life, DON'T DRINK AND DRAW incorporates the very icons it explores, from a pop presentation blending art and cultural whimsy, as in the full-page 'Martini Reflection' piece blending olive monsters with martini exercises, to a biographical survey of the tattooed Goth-looking artist who blends social issues and commentary into his works. Art libraries will find this not only an essential acquisition, but a most popular one, attracting leisure browser as well as art student interest. Each page is a 'wow' of grabbing full-color images. This means DON'T DRINK AND DRAW also lends itself to high-profile displays. Very highly recommended.

Twin Palms Publishers
54 ½ East San Francisco Street, Santa Fe, NM 87501
www.twinpalms.com

These new modern art titles are top picks for any serious or college-level art library holding: each surveys the work of a selected artist and provides a fine oversized collection of his work. 5x7 by William Eggleston (1931885486, $65.00) accompanies an essay by Michael Almereyda with Eggleston's latest monograph of photos taken during the early 1970s using a large format 5x7 camera. From urban landscapes to portraits of individuals, these are new photos not seen in print before and use both black and white and color to convey eye-catching images and quiet drama. Robert Stivers' SANCTUM (1931885575, $65.00) pairs an essay by Eugenia Parry with artistic photos nearly surreal in their dreamy impressions. Stivers has made his career on out-of-focus photography which has made his works distinctive: oversized pages contain full-sized images in black and white and sepia and demonstrate a powerful technique and impact not to be seen elsewhere. These are both exceptional surveys: not for general-interest collections so much as specialty art libraries well grounded in modern art forms and contemporary experimental artists.

Exhibition Design
David Dernie
W.W. Norton
500 – 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
0393732118 $65.00 www.wwnorton.com

Modern exhibitions have to compete in a fast-changing leisure market and must make use of technology and techniques that in the past have been associated with film and retail worlds. It's all about the experience – and here to address these changing needs is EXHIBITION DESIGN, packed with examples of successful exhibitions from around the world from both trade fairs to fine-art holdings and smaller artist-designed displays. Both history and technique blend in a title which teaches by example and by conceptual review, making it a top pick for college-level art libraries serious about teaching the finer art of successful exhibition processes for artists or museum curators.


The Architecture Shelf

Log Houses of the World
Richard Olsen
Harry Abrams
115 West 18th Street, New York NY 10011
0810957469 $45.00 www.hnabooks.com

Radek Kurzaj's lovely color photos compliments the first chronological survey of log houses designed in Europe and the U.S. from 1890 to modern times, and covers a vast range of architectural designs and builder innovations in the process. Libraries strong in woodworking or homeowner's titles, especially general-interest public library collections, will find LOG HOUSES OF THE WORLD an eye-catching display title that fulfills its cover attraction and promise with equally compelling interior photos. But don't think it's just a picturebook coffee table addition: it's packed by Architectural Digest magazine editor Richard Olsen's commentary and history as well. The depth and coverage can't be beat.

Boathouses
John de Visser & Judy Ross
Boston Mills Press
c/o Firefly Books
Box 1338, Ellicott Station, Buffalo, NY 14205
1550464841 $49.95 www.fireflybooks.com

Building a house on the water is quite different than building one on land – and over forty of the north country's best boathouses are revealed here, from 19th century wonders to those which are modern creations. Various architects and designers have produced some outstanding boathouses which are created to blend with their environments: this offers inspiration and insight for any designer whether working at the cottage level all the way up to full-sized Victorian representations. Both public libraries and collections strong in home architecture choices will find it a popular pick.

Yurts: Living in the Round
Becky Kemery
Gibbs Smith Publisher
Box 667, Layton, UT 84041
1586858912 $24.95 www.gibbs-smith.com

YURTS: LIVING IN THE ROUND offers both a history of the nomadic yurt round house design and a survey of contemporary fabric yurts and how to build them, making it an excellent choice for any lending collection strong on alternative home-building options. Accounts from those who built and lived in yurts accompany color photos of differing styles and options, insights on how to choose and work with a yurt company, and even bear proofing a yurt. The blend of color photos and lively yet practical 'how to' advice' is unique.


The Photography Shelf

Location Lighting Solutions
Photo District News
Amphoto
c/o Watson-Guptill
770 Broadway, New York NY 10003
081745909X $29.95 www.amphotobooks.com

Location shots are often filled with uncertainty, from obtaining the right permits to shoot on location to working with existing lighting and freelance staff. LOCATION LIGHTING SOLUTIONS addresses the most frequent of these issues, going behind the scenes to see exactly how a location is shot, how professional photographers use tricks for special effects and problem-solving alike, and how successful photo shoots are set up. Over fifty professional photo shoots range from interiors to fashion and landscape and are analyzed by a professional photographer with over twenty-five years experience in the field, making LOCATION LIGHTING SOLUTIONS a top pick for any photographer who wants to learn these basics – and for any library with a strong neo-pro photography 'how to' section.

Amherst Media
Box 586, Buffalo, NY 14226
www.AmherstMedia.com

Stan Sholik's PROFESSIONAL FILTER TECHNQIUES FOR DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHERS (9781584281962, $34.95) holds something different than most: a narrowed focus on a subject typically only given cursory treatment in general photographer guides: the filter. Photographers who are beyond the novice stage receive clear directions on how to use filters to create captivating images, from choosing a filter system and developing techniques for color and polarizing effects to using advanced filters to control exposures. Color photos offer clear and fine demonstrations of filter capabilities. Bert Krages, Esq's LEGAL HANDBOOK FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS (9781584281948, $34.95) is an essential pick for any serious professional photographer's library, as well as for both legal library holdings and general interest collections strong in photography. It reviews all the laws applicable to photography on both the state and federal level, from photographer rights in shooting in public places to gaining access to private property for shoots, obtaining permissions, understanding privacy issues, and avoiding problems. Even included are tips on what to do if your equipment is seized by a law enforcement officer or private individual. A 'must' reference for any serious working photographer.

Figure and Ground
Richard Renaldi
Aperture
547 West 27th Street, New York NY 10001
1597110299 $45.00 www.aperture.org

Richard Renaldi's 8x10 camera images allow not only for portraits, but for inclusion of much of the background, so his portraits in FIGURE AND GROUND live up to its promise, blending portrait and straight landscape elements for added impact and attraction. Oversized pages and full-page representations make for a lovely set of eye-catching – and sometimes eye-opening – portraits perfect for college-level art library holdings; especially those strong in modern photography.


The Fashion Shelf

Fashion Show Paris Style
Pamela A. Parmal & Didier Grumback
MFA Publications
465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
0878467076 $65.00 www.mfa-publications.org

Paris has been the capital of style for many decades now – and while art exposes focus on the elements of this style, too many omit the historical background essential to understanding. FASHION SHOW blends this historical review of Paris' rise as a fashion capitol of the world with a survey of works from ten of the city's most famous design houses – Dior, Chanel and others. In exploring the foundations of the ideas and inspirations which have propelled Paris to the top, FASHION SHOW PARIS STYLE offers college-level fashion collections a clear history of progress and a thorough understanding of how fashion has come to be equated with Paris today.

The Lingerie Handbook
Rebecca Apsan
Workman Publishing
225 Varick Street, New York NY 10014
0761143238 $13.95 www.workman.com

Thirty years of insider tips and history come from insider Rebecca Aspan, owner of New York City's La Petite Coquette, one of the most famous lingerie stores in the world, and pack the pages of a book filled with color photos, drawing, and tips. From why bras often don't fit right to understanding the different purposes of different slips, THE LINGERIE HANDBOOK is assured to teach you more about underwear than you'd ever have thought possible. General-interest lending libraries are sure to find it a frequently-consulted reference.


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

Writer's Digest Books
4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236

Three annual references are simply 'musts' both for independent would-be artists and songwriters and public libraries who will be hard pressed to keep these in circulation. The completely revised, updated 32nd annual edition of 2007 ARTIST'S & GRAPHIC DESIGNER'S MARKET (1582974292, $26.99) packs in the latest listings for emerging artists seeking to make a name for themselves in the fine art world. From sidebars of professional advice and information from working artists and arts professionals to tips from freelancers on sales, it's packed with book and magazine publisher listings, galleries, art fairs, ad agencies and more. The 2007 Photographer's Market (1582974284, $26.99) too has been completely updated and revised, and tells how to build a successful photography career. New to this edition are over 170 art fair listings in addition to tips from those working in the field and listings of all kinds of agencies, firms and publishers who pay good money for photography. The 2007 Songwriter's Market (1582974314, $26.99) includes articles by other songwriters and musicians who have built successful songwriting careers as it provides the contacts, resources and keys to success any aspiring songwriter can use. Here are the latest contacts for record companies, music publishers, managers and more, even including how much they pay. All these references are important keys to success.


The Language Studies Shelf

Guide to Costa Rican Spanish
Christopher Howard
Costa Rica Books
Suite 2, SJO 981, P.O. Box 025216, Miami FL 33102-5216
188123388X $13.95 www.costaricabooks.com

The ideal take-along Spanish guide is very portable (i.e. fits in a standard purse), easy to use, and contains phrases lending to everyday issues. That's why destination-bound visits to Costa Rica will welcome GUIDE TO COSTA RICAN SPANISH: it's all of the above and more. The new edition comes from a Costa Rican citizen, not a U.S. teacher, though he does hold a foreign language background as a teacher – thus it includes a healthy dose of local slang and color new to even those with some rudiments of Spanish. From proverbs and sayings to a basic English/Spanish reference set, GUIDE TO COSTA RICAN SPANISH is a take-along 'must'.


The Martial Arts Shelf

Surviving Armed Assaults
Lawrence A. Kane
YMAA Publications Center
4354 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02131
1594390711 $24.95 www.ymaa.com

Surviving Armed Assaults: A Martial Artist's Guide to Weapons, Street Violence, & Countervailing Force gets to the heart of martial arts applications and safety issue, providing an entire book which focuses on proven survival skills, from awareness and avoidance to de-escalation tactics and countervailing force. In having more than just a collection of moves on hand, it encourages survival by all ways possible, making this an outstanding addition any martial arts collection must have.

Advancing in Tae Kwon Do
Richard Chun
YMAA
4354 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02131
159439072X $29.95 www.ymaa.com

ADVANCING IN TAE KWON DO was originally published in 1983 but surprisingly remains one of the few authoritative handbooks on the topic for advanced black belts. Here it's newly revised to provide both beginning and intermediate user with advanced level training – a pleasure considering how many tae kwon do books are for beginners alone – and covers everything from sparring and breaking techniques to nine black belt and eight taegeuk forms. A top pick for collections which already have plenty of beginner's introductions and seek specific details on the next levels of expertise.

Aikido: The Complete Basic Techniques
Gozo Shioda with Yasuhisa Shioda
Kodansha
575 Lexington Avenue, New York NY 10022
4770030193 $35.00 www.kodansha-intl.com

Aikido: The Complete Basic Techniques comes from a master and teacher and the top student of modern Akikido's founder, so it's backed with much experience and authority as it explains all the most important basic techniques of the martial arts and surveys their underlying teaching. The Basic Throws which are key to early Aikido practice are based on a revised edition of an earlier Japanese-only textbook: this updated version appears in English for the first time and pairs small step-by-step back and white photos with clear instruction. Both specialty martial arts and general-interest libraries will find it a fine basic reference.

Aikido: Weapons Techniques
Phong Thong Dang & Lynn Seiser
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
0804836418 $18.95 www.tuttlepublishing.com

Aikido techniques which use wooden weapons isn't just for weapons users – it provides practice moves which can translate to all forms of basic and advanced aikido tactics. AIKIDO WEAPONS TECHNIQUES therefore is recommended not just for weapons users, but for any aikido student moving beyond the basics – and for any library strong in martial arts titles.


The Parenting Shelf

Parenting a Bipolar Child: What to Do & Why
Gianni L. Faedda, MD & Nancy B. Austin, Psy.D.
New Harbinger Publications
5674 Shattuck Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609
1572244232 $16.95 www.newharbingerpublications.com

Once a child or adolescent has been diagnosed as bipolar, how can a parent help? First step is to consult Parenting a Bipolar Child: it offers the basics explaining mood disorders, treatment options, and parenting techniques for dealing with emotional instability in a child. Adolescents and their special needs are included in the definition of 'child', with a different set of tips for this age group, making it an important choice not just for parents, but for educators and any involved in working with children.

Love, Magic & Mudpies
Bernie Siegel, MD
Rodale Press
733 – 3rd Avenue, New York NY 10017
159486554X $17.95 www.rodalestore.com

Love, Magic & Mudpies: Raising Your Kids to Feel Loved, Be Kind, and Make a Difference comes from a father of five and pediatric surgeon who has long observed how parents raise kids -and how kids learn self-esteem and choices from loving parents. Any adult who would make a different in a child's life needs this: it shares the author's insights gleaned from his personal life and medical practice, and tells how to 'make the magic moment' a child will remember and learn from.


The Homeowner's Shelf

The Cottage Ownership Guide
Douglas Hunter
Cottage Life Books
Box 1338, Ellicott Station, Buffalo, NY 14205
0969692250 $35.00 www.cottagelife.com

If you've ever wanted to own a waterfront cottage, here's your chance to do it right, with The Cottage Ownership Guide: How to Buy, Sell, Rent, Share, Hand Down & Retire to Your Waterfront Getaway, a compendium of specific techniques for all phases of cottage ownership. The entire selection and purchase process is covered here, with plenty of case studies and checklists streamlining the process. A 'must' for any homeowner who dreams of owning a cottage get-away.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Suddenly Psychic: A Skeptic's Journey
Maureen Caudill
Hampton Roads Publishing
1125 Stony Ridge Road, Charlottesville, VA 22902
1571745017 $16.95 www.hrpub.com

Many books have been written about the differences in thought and perception between the rational, scientific mind and the new age thinker; but few use the personal experience of a psychic from one with a physics degree to draw connections between similarities and differences between the two. SUDDENLY PSYCHIC is both a memoir and a survey of the scientific basis for understanding how psychic abilities might function: it provides much food for thought, couched in scientific understanding, and is a pick not only for new age and metaphysical bookshelves, but for general-interest libraries and academic library science holdings, as well.

Life After Death: The Burden of Proof
Deepak Chopra
Harmony Books
c/o Random House
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
0307345785 $24.00 www.randomhouse.com

Deepak Chopra has made his name among new age circles as a leader in mind-body medicine, and his LIFE AFTER DEATH: THE BURDEN OF PROOF forges new frontiers in blending the latest physics with wisdom analysis for further enlightenment. Any collection strong in either spirituality or new age topics will find he continues his leadership role here, going beyond the usual heaven/hell scenario to examine the miracle of death – and the miracle is, we don't die. Physics holds keys to answers in a hard-hitting survey any general-interest library will want.

Weird Hauntings
Joanne Austin, Compiler, and Mark Moran and Mark Sceurman
Sterling Publishing Company
387 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016-8810
1402742266 $19.95 www.sterlingpub.com

America's most haunted places are featured in a fine survey which includes both spots well-known and open to the public and private residences alike. Each story is a firsthand tale that reviews sites ranging from haunted houses and graveyard to scary theatres, saloons and more. Besides the attention to descriptive detail, color photos and sidebars of information throughout differentiate WEIRD HAUNTINGS: TRUE TALES OF GHOSTLY PLACES from competing titles and make it particularly interesting for general-interest holdings; especially those seeking catchy covers and contents suitable for eye-catching display.

The Judaic Studies

What You Need to Know About Kabbalah
Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh
Dwelling Place Publishing, Distributors
383 Kingston Avenue suite 22, Brooklyn, NY 11213
9657146119 $21.95 www.dwellingplacepub.com

Students of Judaic studies who want a reference on Kabbalah which is a solid introduction will find answers in What You Need to Know About Kabbalah, a workbook clarifying the contemporary issues to be gleaned from Jewish mysticism. From translations of Hebrew word meanings applying to everyday life to understanding elements of wisdom and joy, What You Need to Know About Kabbalah surveys some of the foundations of Kabbalah and joins others in the fine 'Teachings of Kabbalah' series.

Days of Deliverance
Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik
KTAV Publishing House
930 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306
0881259446 $25.00 www.ktav.com
DAYS OF DELIVERANCE: ESSAYS ON PURIM AND HANUKKAH collect essays – the eighth in a series – to consider how both holidays offer religious meaning in the scheme of things. Purim and Hanukkah are the centers of faith and history and celebration: essays here offer in-depth, detailed analysis blending Jewish philosophy and religious inspection and employ classical historical analogy to probe the stories and events of the season. Jewish collections, particularly those at the college level, should not be without this spiritual analysis.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Alcoholism Sourcebook, 2nd Edition
Amy L. Sutton, Editor
Omnigraphics
615 Griswold Street, Detroit, MI 48226
0780809424 $78.00 www.omnigraphics.com

The second updated edition of a standard reference should be a basic acquisition for any serious public or college-level library including health reference titles for general-interest readers. It updates complete details on alcoholism among all age groups, describing its effects, incorporating new studies on alcoholism's recovery and treatment options, and including a glossary of terms newcomers to the topic will find invaluable. Even many a high school student assigned alcoholism as a topic will find ALCOHOLISM SOURCEBOOK holds just about anything a reader would need to know, from history to applied research.

The 36-Hour Day, 4th Edition
Nancy L. Mace, M.A. & Peter V. Rabins, MD, MPH
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218
0801885108 $20.95 www.press.jhu.edu

When THE 36-HOUR DAY appeared in its original edition it was unprecedented in its information for families struggling to care for people with Alzheimer Disease and other dementias: now this updated 4th edition in large print includes new details on diagnostic evaluation methods, new medications and research, and new social and legal issues involved, and will find a place not only on health and public library shelves, but in the home shelves of caregivers searching for information. From financial aid and nursing homes to alternatives to treatments and living arrangements, THE 36-HOUR DAY continues to be the 'bible' of recommendation for any caregiver whose family member suffers from dementia.

The Ketogenic Diet, 4th Edition
John M. Freeman, MD, et.al.
Demos
386 Park Avenue South, Suite 301, New York NY 10016
1932603182 $24.95 www.demosmedpub.com

If you have or know a child with epilepsy, THE KETOGENIC DIET: A TREATMENT FOR CHILDREN AND OTHERS WITH EPILEPSY is a 'must' for your consideration: it offers a solution beyond medication which provides a doctor-supervised diet high in fat and low in carbs and proteins, which limits calories – and is proven to control seizures. There've been many advances in the field, so this updated 4th edition is essential even for library holdings with prior editions. Besides the latest research, this book includes a new section on the Atkins diet and other alternative nutritional therapies. Very highly recommended as a top alternative to medication for kids with epilepsy.

Cheating Destiny
James S. Hirsch
Houghton Mifflin
215 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10003
0618514619 $25.00 www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com

CHEATING DESTINY: LIVING WITH DIABETES, AMERICA'S BIGGEST EPIDEMIC blends history, health, and autobiography in a hard-hitting survey of the diabetic sector of American society. It comes from a personal perspective, in that Hirsch has been a Type 1 diabetic for nearly 30 years. But it also comes from a historical, cultural and scientific level as it combines insights on studies, evolving psychological understanding, and details on a diabetic's daily lifestyle challenges. A 'must' for any concerned about diabetes and its effects on the individual and society; especially public lending libraries.

Best Choices from the People's Pharmacy
Joe Graedon MS & Teresa Graedon, Ph.D.
Rodale Press
733 – 3rd Avenue, New York NY 10017
1594864071 $29.95 www.rodale.com

The People's Pharmacy has spent over three decades developing its health information and building its reputation as a trustworthy health reference, so Best Choices from the People's Pharmacy comes with a trusted brand name attached, and both public libraries and school health collections will want to take note of their fist book. Remedies for common health concerns accompany thumbnail descriptions of good choices, ratings that allow for cross-comparison of treatment options for each condition, and discussions of pros and cons of health treatments. There are even some easy 'recipes' for solutions in this comprehensive survey. A highly recommended pick: it's the trusted name which sets this apart from any similar-sounding reference.

Intuitive Wellness
Laura Alden Kamm
Beyond Words
c/o Atria Books
20827 NW Cornell Road, Suite 500, Hillsboro, OR 97124-9808
1582701482 $15.95 www.simonsays.com

INTUITIVE WELLNESS: USING YOUR BODY'S INNER WISDOM TO HEAL began with the author's recovery from a near-death experience twenty years ago, leaving her with the ability to telepathically scan the structure of a person's body to see inner disturbances. INTUITIVE WELLNESS uses this foundation of experience plus her ability to train others in the skill, providing chapters which offer easy exercises to help readers learn about their own unique energy systems. An excellent survey expands the 'how to' world of healing and is a recommended pick for any new age collection strong in psychic knowledge or health.

The American Plague
Molly Caldwell Crosby
Berkley Publishing Group
375 Hudson Street, New York NY 10014
0425212025 $24.95 www.penguin.com

THE AMERICAN PLAGUE: THE UNTOLD STORY OF YELLOW FEVER, THE EPIDEMIC THAT SHAPED OUR HISTORY tells of a virus so destructive that one outbreak cost more lives than the Chicago Fire, the San Francisco Earthquake and the Johnstown flood combined. THE AMERICAN PLAGUE narrows the focus to Memphis' near destruction from the epidemic, and the researchers who battled to find a cure and prevention tactics. History, science and public health issues blend in a lively writing style which lends to acquisition not only by college-level holdings strong in the health sciences, but by public institutions with leisure browsers in health history.

Resistance: The Human Struggle Against Infection
Norbert Gualde, M.D.
Dana Press
900 – 15th Street, NW, Washington DC 20005
1932594000 $25.00 www.dana.org

Modern science has long searched for a way of eliminating infectious disease – but new diseases, new bacterial immunities to treatments, and new agents of delivery have thwarted these goals. Norbert Gualde reveals the process of controlling and predicting epidemic outbreaks, using the history of epidemics to chart the struggles of medicine against both new and old diseases. Two theories describe the emergence of infectious agents: Gualde forges a median path between them in suggesting interactions between man and micro-organisms will create epidemics on the same scale as past experience despite modern medicine's advancements. An intriguing study any college-level health student will want to ponder.

GIS Tutorial for Health
Kristen S. Kurland & Wilpen L. Gorr
ESRI Press
380 New York Street, Redlands, CA 92373-8100
1589481488 $69.95 www.esri.com/esripress

College-level collections strong in GIS mapping and health will want GIS Tutorial for Health: one of the few texts to apply GIS software to health profession research and objectives. Health care policy and planning within the GIS system leads students to design maps to investigate and analyze patterns of health, injuries, environmental hazards and more. The workbook helps students learn and maintain GIS software skills with specific application for the health sciences, going beyond your usual GIS focus on general geographic and population mapping information to address the specifics of the health industry. It comes with two CDs: one offers data to juxtapose with the book's exercises and case study examples; the other includes a 180-day trial of ArcGis9.1. The combination makes it a top pick for college-level health profession GIS course assignments.

Birth: The Surprising History of How We Are Born
Tina Cassidy
Atlantic Monthly Press
841 Broadway, New York NY 10003
0871139383 $24.00 www.groveatlantic.com

This history of childbirth is both a literary and a medical history achievement and belongs in any library strong in either medicine or feminist perspectives. It begins with the author's own family members' birthing experiences and moves to a history of childbirth from ancient ancestors to modern times, providing a concurrent review of changing methods, cultural influences, and childbirth experiences. An outstanding survey, this moves beyond the usual medical focus into the lives and experiences of women giving birth – many a public library will find it a popular acquisition.

Epilepsy: A Guide to Balancing Your Life
Ilo E. Leppik, MD
Demos Medical Publishing
386 Park Avenue South Suite 301, New York NY 10016
9781932603200 $19.95 www.demosmedpub.com

Epilepsy: A Guide to Balancing Your Life is a resource no epileptic or family member can be without: it offers practical answers to common questions about the condition and is especially valuable for those newly diagnosed. From handling diet to considering sports, driving, and different treatments for seizures, Epilepsy: A Guide to Balancing Your Life is a key to leading a normal life. No public or medical library should be without it.

Snack Attack!
Ruth Glick
Small Steps Press/ADA
1701 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311
1580402283 $14.95 www.store/diabetes.org

The problem with snacks which are good for you is they seldom taste good as those not so good, and are usually more time-consuming to prepare. That's why SNACK ATTACK helps on so many levels: it offers speedy tasty snacks for adults and kids alike, pairing recipes with nutritional analysis for quick choices. From pumpkin pie-spiced Hawaiian Meatballs to Bean and Pasta Soup with Sausage, dishes have been modified for healthy results and offer plenty of easy alternatives to less desirable foods. Recommended both for health libraries and diabetics.


The Social Issues Shelf

Trade, Finance and Investment in South Asia
T.N. Srinivasan
Social Science Press
c/o Berghahn Books
150 Broadway, Suite 812, New York, NY 10038
818735805X $89.95 www.berghahnbooks.com 1-800-540-8663

College-level holdings strong in international economics and social issues will be the audience for this scholarly collection of nine papers by economists writing on the nature of trade in South Asia. It's a studious treatise which sheds light on changing global trade policies on India, the country's trade with neighbors, and its plans in south Asia as a whole: as India is making headlines on its economic changes, having a book directly from knowledgeable scholars on the topic is indispensable for any college international economics reference holding.

America in the Fifties
Andrew J. Dunar
Syracuse University Press
1600 Jamesville Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13210
0815631286 $24.95 www.SyracuseUnviersityPress.syr.edu

Students who want a primer covering social issues and sentiments of the 1950s now have a fine coverage which will introduce both high school and college ages to both the promise and the dangers of the era. From the rise of the Beat Generation and the 'golden age' of TV to the threats of war and world-wide annihilation, America in the Fifties succeeds in capturing the hopes, promise and temperament of an era. Chapters cover a range of topic, from the influence of business and economic growth and changes to political figures who made a lasting impact on American society.

Deep Water
Jacques Leslie
Picador USA
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1800
0312425562 $15.00 www.picadorusa.com 1-888-330-8477

DEEP WATER: THE EPIC STRUGGLE OVER DAMS, DISPLAYED PEOPLE, AND THE ENVIRONMENT charts the emerging crisis over dams and world water resources, using three figures – an anti-dam activist, an American anthropologist and an Australian water manager – to survey sites of the world's controversial dams. It's a hard-hitting survey tracing the effects of dams upon the common person, upon social and political institutions and choices, and upon world communities, and as such makes a fine addition not just to college-level collections, but to general-interest libraries as well.

More Pathways Out of Poverty
Sam Daley-Harris & Anna Awimbo
Kumarian Press Inc.
1294 Blue Hills Avenue, Bloomfield, CT 06002
1565492293 $23.95 www.kpbooks.com

If the title sounds familiar, it's because More Pathways Out of Poverty and its companion follows out the 2002 and 2006 books respectively, and offers new practices in microfinance and economics relating to poverty and social issues. There are many books that survey the social condition of poverty – but far less which examine economic strategies for circumventing poverty in the world. That's why college-level collections must have this – it provides a roadmap for recovery and comes not from ideals but from leading microfinance leaders and institutions determined to cut poverty by as much as half.

Me to We: Finding Meaning in a Material World
Craig Kielburger & Marc Kielburger
Fireside Books
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
0743298314 $23.00 www.simonsays.com

The authors of ME TO WE are brothers who found that reaching out to others helped them be happier in their own lives: at age 12 Craig founded the international organization Free the Children, and human rights issues and work have led both to journeys around the world finding new connections. ME TO WE blends personal experiences with a philosophy geared to commitment and improving lives, offering the belief that individual action CAN make a difference in the world. ME TO WE tells exactly how and will serve as an inspirational guide especially recommended for public library collections.

Making Globalization Work
Joseph H. Stiglitz
W.W. Norton & Company
500 – 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
0393061221 $26.95 www.wwnorton.com

Fifteen years ago individuals, communities and governments alike applauded the rise of globalization as a movement which would bring with it stable governments and a better lifestyle: today it's become associated with inequality, poverty, and crisis. Making Globalization Work examines both the ideals and the realities – pro and con- of the process, identifying the management of globalization efforts as key barriers to success at the social level, and offering plenty of social and political insights on how to fix it. College-level collections, in particular, will find it a powerful acquisition which will reach both business and history students with its analysis of globalization's past, present and future.

From Counterculture to Cyberculture
Fred Turner
University of Chicago Press
0226817415 $29.00 www.press.uchicago.edu

In the early 1960s computers were rigid contributions to the military-industrial complex; by the 1990s they represented a collaborative, digitial utopia based on communal ideals and public participation. It's surprising to note that FROM COUNTERCULTURE TO CYBERCULTURE is the first book to explore the process of this transformation, charting the computer's changes and revealing a group of San Francisco Bay Area entrepreneurs whose works and efforts were keys to the change. Any college-level library – and many a public lending institution – strong in social issues and computer science needs this analysis: it fills important gaps and connections in how the Internet and computer world evolved beyond its business and military applications to include the rest of the world, and is a fascinating read. Very highly recommended.

Car Sick: Solutions for Our Car-Addicted Culture
Lynn Sloman
Chelsea Green
85 North Main Street Suite 120, White River Junction VT 05001
190399876X $20.00 www.chelseagreen.com

Lynn Sloman was Assistant Director of the environmental group Transport 2000 for ten years and now runs a transport consultancy business, helping the government and other groups find ways to cut down on traffic and car use, so her Car Sick: Solutions for Our Car-Addicted Culture comes not just from ideology but from one who has many practical years helping people through gridlock. From how to make a transition from car-oriented choices to alternatives to the larger picture of how less cars work in places of traffic, it's a winner.

Google and the Myth of Universal Knowledge
Jean-Noel Jeanneney
University of Chicago Press
1427 East 60th Street, Chicago, IL 60637-2954
0226395774 $18.00 www.press.uchicago.edu

Jean-Noel Jeanneney is president of France's Bibliotque Nationale and viewed Google's announcement of its intention to digitize the holdings of several major research libraries as the gauntlet in a future battle over libraries, books, and information's meaning to society. It's these ideas which comprise the essence of Google and the Myth of Universal Knowledge, providing thought-provoking arguments on the nature of information-gathering and representation and the idea of a central entity controlling such information, branding it with its own cultural prejudices. College-level collections concerned with literacy, freedom and the nature of information accessibility must have this: it will fuel many a classroom debate on liberty and freedom.

Illicit
Moises Naim
Anchor Books
c/o Random House
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
1400078849 $14.95 www.anchorbooks.com

Unlawful commerce is changing world economies, influencing international politics, and even undermining some of the foundations of society: this is the argument of ILLICIT: HOW SMUGGLERS, TRAFFICKERS, AND COPYCATS ARE HIJACKING THE GLOBAL ECONOMY. It's an essential discussion for modern times, surveying the links between seemingly-small illicit users around the world and how globalization is affected by their actions. Any college-level holding strong in international studies, from business to social issues, must have this.

A Time to Embrace
William Stacy Johnson
William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
255 Jefferson Avenue S.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49503
080282966X $25.00 www.eerdmans.com

A Time to Embrace: Same-Gender Relationships in Religion, Law, and Politics comes from a lawyer and theologian who provides a detailed, scholarly analysis of the religious and legal stakes at the heart of debates over gay marriages and the place of committed gay couples in the community. Pros and cons from all angles of moral and religious thinking are presented in a dialogue designed to encourage reflection and understanding between those on different sides of the issue, making it the item of choice for any social or religious course or class debate, especially at the college or adult level.


The Military Shelf

Snowbirds
Mike Sroka
Fifth House
c/o Fitzhenry & Whiteside
121 Harvard Avenue Suite 2, Allston, MA 02134
1894856864 $29.95 www.fitzhenry.ca

Mike Sroka's photographs of the Canadian Forces 'Snowbirds' fighter planes would have been treat enough, but when paired with behind-the-scenes access into Snowbird team aviation history and daily details, it becomes an outstanding pick any military or aviation collection must have. Gorgeous color photos accompany insider's details that could only have been gained from a photographer who had access to the team as one of their official photographers. The history, aviation insights and eye-catching photos make for an extraordinary package.

Just Dummies
John Clearwater
University of Calgary Press
2500 University Drive NW, Calgary Alberta T2N 1N4 Canada
1552382117 $34.95 www.uofcpress.com

The Canadian government's 1983 decision to allow U.S. cruise missile testing resulted in much criticism – it was anticipated, and thus kept secret for as long as possible. JUST DUMMIES uses recently declassified documents from government to trace the events surrounding the cruise missile program and its effects on Canadian-US relations. Chapters analyze opposition, military strategy, and major issues and are key for any military collection as well as for any holding offering insights into Canadian history and culture.

We Were One
Patrick K. O'Donnell
Da Capo Press
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
0306814692 $25.00 www.dacapopress.com

WE WERE ONE: SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH THE MARINES WHO TOOK FALLUJAH comes from a combat historian who here provides a first-hand account of the battle for Fallujah. Unlike most accounts of battle the author was with Lima Company's First Platoon as they experienced some of the most intense hand combat since the second world war five months after being deployed to Iraq: chapters capture vivid encounters between soldiers and civilians and re-create loss and combat conditions. Collections strong in military biography in general and Iraq in particular will find this an intense, revealing portrait with the power to attract a range of patrons.

Showdown With Nuclear Iran
Michael D. Evans with Jerome R. Corsi
Nelson Current
c/o Thomas Nelson Publishers
PO Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214
1595550755 $26.99 www.thomasnelson.com 1-800-251-4000

Iran has been relentless in its hunt for nuclear weapons and technology, intent on wiping out Israel, and author Michael Evans, who's worked in the Middle East for the last thirty years, offers an insider's consideration of Iran's dangerous capabilities in Showdown With Nuclear Iran. From the driving religious ideals of a fanatical president to what to do to avert the problem, SHOWDOWN is a 'must' for any who would understand and analyze the motivations and beliefs of leaders in the region, and will prove an especially popular pick for college-level holdings strong in Middle Eastern politics, as well as general public lending libraries.

Shopping for Bombs
Gordon Corera
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, New York NY 10016-4314
0195304950 $28.00 www.oup.com/us

A.Q. Khan was the world's leading black market dealer in nuclear technology and a hero in Pakistan: Khan was known as the Father of the Bomb and built a global network selling nuclear secrets to Iran, North Korea and Libya. It's surprising to note that this is the first book-length survey of the rise and fall of the man and his role in spreading nuclear technology. It use interviews with politicians and key members of his own network to survey not only Khan's life and influence on the spread of nuclear technology, but the methods and intentions of the rogue states who bought from him. New details on how the CIA penetrated his network and broke his ring makes for a unique and eye-opening analysis which is a top recommendation for both general-interest collections strong in terrorist studies and military holdings.

Finding the Target
Frederick W. Kagan
Encounter Books
900 Broadway, Suite 400, New York NY 10003-1239
1594031509 $29.95 www.encounterbooks.com

Collections strong in both military history and politics and international relations – particularly at the college level – will find FINDING THE TARGET: THE TRANSFORMATION OF AMERICAN MILITARY POLICY an important guide. It comes from a leading military analyst who reviews the history of U.S. national security strategies and the latest debates about military changes, offering a reasoned guide to analyze the problems facing the American military and the different paths it may take in the future. Such analysis is key to understanding the military's strengths, weaknesses and choices and makes FINDING THE TARGET an important pick.

Friendly Fire
Giuliana Sgrena
Haymarket Books
P.O. Box 180165, Chicago, IL 60618
1931859396 $20.00 www.haymarketbooks.org

The journalist author of FRIENDLY FIRE reported under war conditions, was kidnapped, rescued by an Italian secret agent, then shot by U.S. forces. If her name sounds familiar, it's because her story was detailed on 60 Minutes and other world media, but no show could prove the punch and impact of her memoir FRIENDLY FIRE, which chronicles her experience as a hostage. Any who would understand occupied Iraq in general and both military politics and hostage situations will find this packed with insights and answers lending to both study and browser interest. Especially recommended for military and public library collections.

Army: An Illustrated History
Chester G. Hearn
Zenith Press
c/o MBI Publishing Company
Galtier Plaza, Suite 200, 380 Jackson Street, St. Paul, MN 55101-3885
0760326800 $29.95 www.mbipublishing.com

A number of books chart U.S. Army members, achievements, and battles; but few offer the general public a fine visual overview as does Army: An Illustrated History, suitable for public library lending. Dramatic paintings, action photos and battle maps survey the army's changes, success, failures, and growth around the world, juxtaposing history and biography with technological insights on weaponry and battlefield strategies. Historian Chester Hearn covers the entire combat history of the U.S. Army from the American Revolution to modern times, making for an outstanding survey.

Hitler's Bandit Hunters
Philip W. Blood
Potomac Books
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166-2012
1597970212 $29.95 www.potomacbooksinc.com

HITLER'S BANDIT HUNTERS: THE SS AND THE NAZI OCCUPATION OF EUROPE provides an original study grounded in extensive research in German archives and tells how Hitler directed his German states to aid Heinrich Himmler, chief of the SS, to destroy armed resistance in the newly occupied lands of Eastern Europe and Russia. His efforts to eliminate bandits became the third part of his three-part strategy for German national security, joining genocide and slave labor as top priorities. HITLER'S BANDIT HUNTERS surveys these operations and shows how German forces embraced the idea, arguing against the usual view of Himmler as a passive bureaucrat and showing how his enthusiasm powered the movement. A essential recommendation for any in-depth World War II collection.

Military Base Closures
David S. Sorenson
Praeger Security International
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06681
0275991520 $55.00 www.praegr.com/psi

Between 1988 and 1995 the Base Realignment and Closure Commission closed nearly a hundred bases ands realigned over three hundred others, affecting not only soldiers but the communities which housed these bases. Military Base Closures is for both military collections and any community affected by a closure – it's the only complete reference to these closings and considers the politics and rationale behind base closures, profiling those affected by the process and those which remain.

War By Other Means
John Yoo
Atlantic Monthly Press
841 Broadway, New York NY 10003
0871139456 $24.00 www.groveatlantic.com

War By Other Means: An Insider's Account of the War on Terror comes from one who stayed beyond when most of the Washington, D.C. justice department evacuated on the aftermath of 9/11. Yoo's position working with the Office of Legal Counsel put him in the role of having to determine not only the president's legal authority to act and whether or not America was at war, but placed him in the position of helping to set reactions and policies on terror which continue to this day. WAR BY OTHER MEANS offers analysis of the facts, legalities, and individuals at work behind the scenes and is a key component of understanding the war on terror.

The Eagle's Last Triumph
Andrew Uffindell
Greenhill Books
c/o MBI, Distributors
380 Jackson Street, Suite 200, St. Paul, MN 55101-3385
1853676888 $29.95 www.mbipublishing.com

A new foreword by Napoleonic scholar Andrew Rogers compliments an extensively updated new edition which is a top pick for any serious college-level history holding strong in early European history. The maps have all been redrawn for this edition, which also holds extensive diagrams, a guide to the 1815 campaign battlefields, and battle-by-battle survey blending history and military strategic insights and analysis. It's a powerful, exact coverage perfect for in-depth study.


The Civil War Shelf

Mississippi's Civil War: A Narrative History
Ben Wynne
Mercer University Press
1400 Coleman Avenue, Macon, GA 31207
0881460397 $35.00 www.mupress.org

It's unusual to find a regional Civil War history which narrows events to one state's experience, but this provides both an introductory overview of the climate of Mississippi pre-war and concludes with its post-war changes, making Mississippi's Civil War as much a survey of the state's changes as a military history of Civil War events within the state. As such it's a top pick not just for military libraries but for any college-level collection strong in Mississippi history and culture – there are no works covering the state's overall experience in this context.


The Business Shelf

The New Capitalists
Stephen Davis, Jon Lukomnik & David Pitt-Watson
Harvard Business School Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
1422101010 $29.95 www.hbspress.org

The New Capitalists: How Citizen Investors Are Reshaping the Corporate Agenda tells of how smaller, grassroots business owners are blending the concept of value into their business, differing markedly from traditional Wall Street approaches and influencing the course of business ideas of achievement as a whole. Civil Ownership is powering a new idea of corporate structure and responsibility, and THE NEW CAPITALISTS documents this evolving change, making it an important acquisition for college-level business holdings seeking more than idealistic vision. Practical business applications that work well with value-added ideas make for a powerful coupling of philosophy, ideal and business savvy.

Conscious Business
Fred Kofman
Sounds True
Box 8010, Boulder, CO 80306-8010
1591795176 $24.95 www.soundstrue.com

A 'conscious business' is one which helps express individual values within the business environment: more books are starting to embrace this concept, but CONSCIOUS BUSINESS: HOW TO BUILD VALUE THROUGH VALUES is one of the few to focus on techniques as much as philosophy. Here are keys to fostering responsibility in self and business, integrity, real communication and truths, and more, providing business managers strong tools for improvement and change. Any manager or business library interested in the new values-driven business structure will find this imparts many basics.

From New Recruit to High Flyer
Hugh Karseras
Kogan Page
525 South 4th Street #241, Philadelphia, PA 19147
0749445645 $17.95 www.koganpage.com

Numerous guides cover how to land a job – but few focus on how to succeed as a new hire. From New Recruit to High Flyer covers everything from project and people management to understanding office structure and relationships, providing real-life examples from those who have succeeded as new hires. Common pitfalls and how to overcome them are included in a 'bible' every new hire needs to make the most of a new position.

Rich Dad's Real Estate Advantages
Sharon L. Lechter, CPA & Garrett Sutton, Esq.
Warner Business Books
1271 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
0446694118 $17.99 www.HachetteBookGroupUSA.com

The 'Rich Dad' financial advisor series is a consistent, top-rated series on investing and Rich Dad's Real Estate Advantages is no exception: it offers both first-time and seasoned real estate investors a game plan for understanding exactly how real estate investing works, from tax loopholes and financing arrangements to learning how all work together to maximize income and profits. A CPA and corporate attorney join forces here to provide a collection of real-world strategies and formulas that can reduce risks and create reliable monthly income. Public libraries with heavy lending in investment topics must have this!

Paid to Play: An Insider's Guide to Video Game Careers
David S.J. Hodgson, Bryan Stratton, Alice Rush, MD, RPCC, MCC
Prima Games
0761552847 $19.95 www.primagames.com

This is no singular treatment of the industry: over a hundred video game industry pros were interviewed and over 50 careers are profiled for Paid to Play, an insider's survey of how to obtain real jobs in the gaming industry. From self-assessment exercises and sample resumes to insights on salary, educational requirements, training, and employers, the aspiring video gamer receives everything needed to pursue their game-playing as a career. This fine guide needs to be on the shelves of any high school career library or public library strong in business and career planning.

Your Successful Real Estate Career
Kenneth W. Edwards
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019
0814473199 $18.95 www.amacombooks.org

If Your Successful Real Estate Career sounds familiar, it's because over 100,000 copies has sold thus far, and it's considered a standard 'bible' reference for any who aspire to be a real estate pro. This in itself makes the book a tested, highly recommended pick for libraries serious about adding to their career shelves – but this new, updated fifth edition promises even more, covering everything from getting a license and choosing a company to work with to finding a mentor, handling specialized properties, and more. This pick succeeds in standout from the crowd, offering much more depth and insights than your usual real estate investor's handbook or guide to making real estate sales a career choice.

Alpha Male Syndrome
Kate Ludeman & Eddie Erlandson
Harvard Business School Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
1591399130 $26.95 www.hbspress.org

The business world is packed with powerhouse people who take charge and produce amazing results: but these same winners are also often hard to get along with, running over colleagues and employees in order to pursue the best interests of their careers and corporation. ALPHA MALE SYNDROME explores and focuses on these detriments, examining the psychology of the 'alpha male' and how to better manage 'alpha' behaviors. It's not about ramping back – it's about making better choices for leadership success. Libraries strong in business management – and mangers in particular – will find it filled with insight.

199 Pre-Written Employee Performance Appraisals
Stephanie Lyster and Anne Arthur
Atlantic Publishing Group Inc.
1210 SW 23rd Place, Ocala, FL 34474
0910627762 $24.95 www.atlantic-pub.com

Plenty of books include mention or discussion of the performance appraisal in surveys of managerial success; but how many offer examples of successful written performance appraisals – much less nearly two hundred examples? These pre-written employee appraisals provides reviews of all issues, from performance evaluation structures and legal ramifications to handling problem employees. Chapters survey all angles and provide managers with plenty of concrete references for building concrete performance appraisals. Both business reference libraries and company managers will want this.

Untapped: Creating Value in Underserved Markets
John Weiser, et.al.
Berrett-Koehler Publishers
235 Montgomery Street, Suite 650, San Francisco, CA 94104-2916
1576753727 $28.95 www.bkconnection.com

Can markets representing trillions of dollars still be ignored today? These are both international and domestic markets – composed of low- to moderate-income consumers in both developing and developed nations – and who they are and why they're untapped is the subject of a guide based on seven years of research and some fifty cases. Not only are the markets identified, but five key success factors to achieving success in these markets are outlined, making UNTAPPED a top pick for business executives who want to move their companies forward.

Managing a Global Workforce
Charles M. Vance and Yongsun Paik
M.E. Sharpe Inc.
80 Business Park Drive, Armonk, NY 10504
0765610701 $59.95 www.mesharpe.com

Human resources professionals and medium- to large-sized business managers won't want to miss MANAGING A GLOBAL WORKFORCE, a survey of the international marketplace and how human resources issues are changed by the nature of interactions with different cultures. This isn't your typical survey of expatriates on the workforce: it offers insights on a broader range of issues from strategic alliances and outsourcing employees to new classes of contingent workers. From global performance management to training and developing overseas workers, MANAGING A GLOBAL WORKFORCE provides many keys and insights not available elsewhere, making it a powerful cutting-edge acquisition for any serious business library.

Truth or Delusion?
Ivan Misner, Ph.D., et.al.
Nelson Business
c/o Thomas Nelson Publishers
PO Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214
0785223207 $19.99 www.thomasnelson.com 1-800-251-4000

Plenty of business books unilaterally promote networking as a key to business success: but how many delve into the basics of cultivating a networking relationship for maximum gains? TRUTH OR DELUSION? BUSTING NETWORKING'S BIGGEST MYTHS is key to understanding the pros and cons of networking capabilities – and is also the key to a well-rounded business library. Its chapters different networking truths from delusions, from fallacies in the concept of the Golden Rule to developing the right kind of information networks – which can even include parents. An important key to understanding exactly how and why the networking relationship works – or doesn't.

1000 Best Ebay Success Secrets
Greg Holden
Sourcebooks Inc.
1935 Brookdale Road, Suite 139, Naperville, IL 60563
1402208057 $12.95 www.sourcebooks.com

EBay 'Powerseller' author Greg Holden has been so named because his Ebay business has produced proven success results, so his 1000 Best Ebay Success Secrets comes from the tested wisdom of tried techniques, not ideals. Tips on identifying hot items, attracting buyers with the best descriptions, and making all aspects of the sale from listing to feedback flow smoothly offers an excellent set of insights on not just the basics of Ebay, but how to get the most from each sale: Ebay seller just starting out will learn a tremendous amount, making 1000 Best Ebay Success Secrets a pick for virtually any public library collection.

Managing & Measuring Employee Performance
Elizabeth Houldsworth & Dilum Jirasinghe
Kogan Page
525 South 4th Street #241, Philadephia, PA 19147
0749444770 $39.95 www.kogan-page.co.uk

Performance management has traditionally been driven by a reward system or a punishment system, either of which holds possibility of division and failure. First-hand experience and research by the Henley Management College and Hay Group lends to a different approach to analyzing the practices and results of performance management, offering college-level readers and advanced administrators insights into differences between performance measurement and results. Its advice on the two aspects of performance management provides insights managers can't afford to be without, making for a strong college-level business library pick.

Boys and Their Toys
Bill Adler Jr.
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019
081447344X $19.95 www.amacombooks.org

BOYS AND THEIR TOYS: UNDERSTANDING MEN BY UNDERSTANDING THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH GADGETS provides a fun, light survey of how men use gadgets to make statements about freedom, knowledge, independence and even lost childhood. From telephones to remote controls, differences between male and female perspectives and usage offers insights into behavior, choice, and marketing to men. Academic and public library Business Studies reference collections will find it an appealing pick as suitable for business pursuits as for light general-interest reading for non-specialist general readers with an interest in the psychology of men and their attachment to technology.

Hot-Wiring Your Creative Process
Curt Cloninger
New Riders
1249 – 8th Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
0321350243 $40.00 www.newriders.com

Hot-Wiring Your Creative Process: Strategies for Print and New Media Designers could also have been featured in our Arts or Computer Shelf areas, but is surveyed here for its additional importance to business library collections, who will find it a popular lend for all these audiences. Chapters cover the basics on self-evaluation, inspirational choices, using standard software in creative ways, and experimenting with new effects. Illustrations come from everything from modern rock to 20th century French philosophy and provide artists, designers and computer pros with plenty of inspiration, making this a suitable pick for a wide range of college and public lending collections.

What People Want
Terry R. Bacon
Davies-Black Publishing
1055 Joaquin Road, 2nd Floor
Mountain View, CA 94043
0891062165 $27.95 www.daviesblack.com

WHAT PEOPLE WANT: A MANAGER'S GUIDE TO BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS THAT WORK is based on original research involving some 500 professionals across a range of industries who comment on the motivators which produce workplace results. Managers and business students will benefit from these real-world examples paired with nearly 200 applied practice tips, and will find a wealth of information applicable to nearly any middle-sized business structure.


The Money/Finance Shelf

The Millionaire Maker's Guide to Wealth Cycle Investing
Loral Langemeier
McGraw-Hill
Two Penn Plaza, New York NY 10121-2298
0071478728 $24.95 www.mcgraw-hill.com

Author Loral Langemeir has developed a proven strategy that works, and has used it to help thousands increase their wealth, so her The Millionaire Maker's Guide to Wealth Cycle Investing comes from the voice of tested experiences, not theory alone. Libraries strong in economic self-help titles will find it an excellent survey of how to get the most out of high-return investing strategies – and how to understand and control the risks. The key here is to investing using methods the wealthy use: it's a proven tactic to realizing much higher gains than more conservative approaches.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Starting & Running a Successful Newsletter or Magazine, 5th edition
Cheryl Woodard
Nolo Press
950 Parker Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
1413305237 $29.99 www.nolo.com

If you're ready to become a publisher, it would be wise to head the experience of the co-founder of three very successful magazines in Starting & Running a Successful Newsletter or Magazine: it tells everything from how to find readers and stay ahead of the competition for their interest to understanding different circulation options, from newsstands to vendors, and learning how the entire distribution process works. This 5th updated edition explores web publishing and blogging, showing how to integrate this into an overall marketing and publishing strategy. An excellent pick for both general-interest and college-level libraries.


The Crafts Shelf

The Joy of Scrapbooking
Kerry Arquette, Andrea Zocchi, Darlene D'Agostino
Lark Books
c/o Sterling Publishing Company
387 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016-8810
1579907636 $24.95 www.larkbooks.com

There are plenty of books on scrapbooking in the market, but this packs in so much more information than competitors that it's the recommended pick for any library seeking just one or two authoritative texts on the subject. Such a collection will find not only the usual tips on how to produce polished scrapbook results, but interviews and profiles of leading designers and companies, advice for newcomers on improving images and presentation, and keys to understanding a camera's advanced – often unused – capabilities. The full-page color photos of sample layouts are clear and uncluttered, and the result is packed with inspirational examples.


The Gaming Shelf

Cuebidding at Bridge: A Modern Approach
Ken Rexford
Master Point Press
331 Douglas Avenue, Toronto, Ontario Canada M5M 1H2
1897106173 $19.95 www.masterpointpress.com

Advanced bridge players are well aware that control-showing bids are the route to slam – but surprisingly few coverages review this segment of bridge, making CUEBIDDING AT BRIDGE: A MODERN APPROACH essential for any advanced bridge player or library where bridge is important. Chapters cover Asking Bid, Jump Cuebids, and more advanced topics and will satisfy anyone with a grounding in the basic moves who wishes to move on.

Go Ahead, Laugh!
Jude Goodwin
Master Point Press
331 Douglas Avenue, Toronto, Ontario Canada M5M 1H2
1897106165 $17.95 www.masterpointpress.com

Jude Goodwin's 'Table Talk' bridge cartoons have appeared for more than 30 years in the American Contract Bridge League's Bulletin – so if you recognize them and are an avid player, you'll love having them all under one cover at last. Humor is dependent on an understanding of bridge basics and such an audience will relish the zany moments and fun commentary imbedded in these cartoons.


The Theatre/Cinema Shelf

The Art of Bond
Laurent Bouzereau
Harry N. Abrams Inc.
115 West 18th Street, New York NY 10011
0810954885 $40.00 www.hanbooks.com

It's hard to easily peg this title: readers interested in James Bond, film history, and art will equally find plenty fascinating in THE ART OF BOND: FROM STORYBOARD TO SCREEN – THE CREATIVE PROCESS BEHIND THE JAMES BOND PHENOMENON. Those who have participated in the Bond ideal, from writers to designers and producers, here share their memories and experiences working on some of the major films which made Bond a popular figure. All twenty-one Bond films are included in a survey which pairs color photos with history and captures the exciting works and challenges of bringing Bond to life. It's a pick not just for film and art libraries, but for general-interest collections – and a 'must read' for all James Bond fans!

Accidental Genius
Marshall Fine
Miramax Books/Hyperion
77 West 66th Street, New York NY 10023-6298
1401360130 $18.95 www.miramax.com

The rise of independent film in Hollywood is an event which boils down to the efforts of one man: John Cassavetes. ACCIDENTAL GENIUS: HOW JOHN CASSAVETES INVENTED THE AMERICAN INDEPENDENT FILM is thus a biography any film buff will want: it holds an essential key to understanding the foundations and evolution of independent film as a whole, revealing his life and work in context of the evolving Hollywood industry. Any film library needs this.

The Best American Short Plays 2003-04
Glenn Young, Editor
Applause
19 W. 21st Street, Suite 201, New York NY 10010
1557836957 $32.95 www.applausepub.com

Continuing a tradition of publishing a series that has become the measurement of play-writing excellence over the decades, Applause produces The Best American Short Plays 2003-04, which identifies new cutting edge playwrights who've produced winners. 12 plays – half written by women – reflect the latest industry achievers and are some of the best in print, making this a top pick for any drama collection.


The Audiobook Shelf

Brilliance Corporation
Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com

Elizabeth Lowell's DESERT RAIN (1423323734, $32.95) enjoys a fine reading by Laurel Merlington and provides a powerful story of three women thwarted by love – one beautiful and famous, one haunted by her past, and one who holds an aloof distance from men. Their entwined destinies brings depth and the unexpected to an excellent romance powered with Merlington's vivid voice. Catherine Coulter's PENDRAGON (1597378410, $36.95) receives audio narrator pro Anne Flosnik's smooth style and ability to bring to life gripping plots tinged with romance. Here's a gothic mystery at its best in audio: Flosnik's voice bring to life the continuing story of the Sherbrooks, now in their next generation. Here's Meggie Sherbrook's story: pre-teen Meggie is also thwarted in romance, makes a hasty and ill-timed marriage to an earl, and finds herself in an old castle filled with dangers in this riveting story. Sandra Brown's SLOW HEAT IN HEAVEN (142332465X, $38.95) enjoys veteran narrator Dick Hill's smooth voice – a voice named a Golden Voice and which has proved award-winning – as it tells of an adopted daughter who returns home to a family in conflict and a host of secrets which draw her into danger. Hill's at his best in narrating this tense thriller. All three are top picks leisure lending libraries and avid audio listeners who enjoy romance will want.

The Punishment of Virtue
Sarah Chayes
Tantor Audio
c/o Tantor Media, Inc.
114 Mill Rock Road East, Old Saybrook, CT 06475
1400103088 $37.99 www.tantor.com 1-877-782-6867

In 2002 Sarah Chayes was a 'crisis jumper' reporter who left journalism to run an Afghan nonprofit organization, where she witnessed the return of violence in Afghanistan after the defeat of the Taliban. THE PUNISHMENT OF VIRTUE offers a damning survey of U.S. foreign policy in the country and region as a whole, and comes to life in an audio powered by the vivid reading of Renee Raudman, an award-winning reader. Very highly recommended: audio libraries will find it a popular lending option.

Hachette Audio
1271 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
www.hachettebookgroupusa.com

There are some audio listens which are virtually guaranteed to attract a large audience for libraries looking for high quality general-interest audios – and these new arrivals pair powerful authors with strong narrators. Nicholas Sparks' DEAR JOHN (1594837929, $39.98) receives Holter Graham's stage, TV and numerous audiobook background which spices the story of an angry rebel who enlists in the army after high school, meets the girl of his dreams on furlough, and finds both their lives changed by the events of 9/11. A gripping story for modern times and modern concerns promises years of patron interest. David Baldacci's THE COLLECTORS (1594835845, $39.98) receives L. J. Ganser's award-winning narrative style as it provides another Baldacci blend of intrigue and politics. Here four eccentric men with strange pasts call themselves the Camel Club and are out to find out what's going on behind the scenes of American politicians. Listeners who love political exposes and high tension will delight in a story line which pairs a murder mystery with political intrigue. THE COLLECTORS is also available abridged (1594835802, $29.98) with a satisfying dual narration by Tom Wopat, TV actor, and Maggi-Meg Reed, a New York actress – but if you want the full flavor, it's the unabridged version which loses nothing in translation. Sharon Osbourne's EXTREME: MY AUTOBIOGAPHY (1594637910, $21.89) is read by the author, who lends a practiced and charged voice to her story of personal triumph. From her upbringing as the daughter of a rock manager surrounded by some of music's most famous stars to her stormy marriage to Ozzy Osbourne and their struggle with addiction, EXTREME is an outstanding, absorbing listen. Amy Sedaris reds her own I LIKE YOU (1594835918, $29.98), which blends humor with social insights. From filling a medicine chest with marbles to catch that snoopy party attendee to pre-cracking liquor bottles before a celebration – especially at a wake – it holds many hilarious moments spiced with the author's wonderful style. All are top picks discriminating library audio holdings will want to include.

Audio Editions
Auburn, CA 95604
www.audiopartners.com

Brian Tracy's EAT THAT FROG! 2ND EDITION, REVISED AND UPDATED (1572707208, $24.95) comes from one of the top speakers in the world who addresses hundreds of thousands each year in his many seminars on leadership, strategy, and sales. He's also written sixteen books on the topic, so if EAT THAT FROG sounds familiar, this may be why. His striking style powers a survey of how to hone in on tasks and organize the day, foregoing procrastinating in the process. Hal Holbrook performs MARK TWAIN TONIGHT (1572705620, $24.95), a successful one-man comedy act which translates well to audio, and which doesn't need to stage to prove captivating. Audiences who couldn't make it to the show are given an opportunity to experience it in home or car thorough a live performance who captures Mark Twain's humor and style. Both are exceptional presentations.

Random House Audio
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
www.randomhouse.com/audio

John Grisham's THE INNOCENT MAN: MURDER AND INJUSTICE IN A SMALL TOWN (0739340484, $44.95) features actor Craig Wasson's powerful reading voice which adds depth and life to the story of one Ron, who signs with the Oakland A's, leaves his home town, and eventually returns with bad habits and a ruined life. His implication in the murder of a cocktail waitress will change lives in this story of a prosecuted case built on junk science and jailhouse convicts. Barack Obama's THE AUDACITY OF HOPE (0739334085, $29.95) receives the author's own narrative powers as it tells of the junior U.S. senator from Illinois who calls for an end to partisan rivalries and a new form of politics based on democratic problem-solving rather than special interests. Both will please non-fiction listeners who want powerful, thought-provoking audios.

Clipper Audio
270 Skipjack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678

Clipper's audio presentations are perfect for library collections: all are unabridged recordings packaged in durable cases suitable for library lending, featuring cassette packages. Errick Graham's smooth voice lends to Allan Mallinson's COMPANY OF SPEARS (1845055314, $54.95), a military novel revolving around a major who is purchasing command of his regiment and who is resolved to marry – until a fellow officer with cash threatens his dreams and offers competition on all fronts. Robert Goddard's PLAY TO THE END (1845051939, $44.95) receives Gordon Griffin's excellent and vivid narrative style as it tells of an actor visited by an estranged wife worried she's being stalked. Toby is asked to follow the man to ascertain his motives – and trouble changes his life's direction. Barbara Erskine's HIDING FROM THE LIGHT (1841797055, $59.95) receives Juanita McMahon's ability to bring a plot to life with vivid drama as she tells of one successful Emma, who finds a passion for an old cottage changes her life. Her move will take her from success to the realm of nightmares and a curious association with the cottage's original owner at the time of the witch hunt era. Reginald Hill's GOOD MORNING MIDNIGHT (1845051858, $54.95) receives Shaun Dooley's smooth narrative style which brings to life the story of a father's suicide, which mirrors his father's ten years earlier. Pal's stepmother in both cases is suspected – but Detective Dalziel believes otherwise and is prepared to go to great lengths to prove her innocence. Christine Aziz's THE OLIVE READERS (1846324939, $44.95) enjoys Laurence Bouvard's ability to inject passion and high drama into the mix as it tells of a future where massive corporations rule Earth and control all life, destroying all history, culture and art – except for a secret library. Jephazt's sister vanishes and her parents are relocated, leaving her alone – and privy to a secret which could change her life. David Hewson's THE LIZARD'S BITE (1845054474, $44.95) receives Saul Reichlin's excellent style which highlights the story of Nic and Gianni Peroni, whose exile in Venice is ending when they're ordered to investigate a simple case with many complex undertones. All are excellent lending library choices pairing diverse plots with outstanding British readers.

Great Expectations
Charles Dickens
Audio Partners Publishing
1133 High Street, Auburn, CA 95603
1572705671 $42.95 www.audiopartners.com 1-800-788-3123

GREAT EXPECTATIONS has long been acknowledged as one of Dickens' best, but it gets even better under the smooth voice of narrator Martin Jarvis, an actor who was named Reader of the Year in the UK and who lends his passionate voice to this brilliant unabridged recording. Even prior fans of the novel will discover new nuances listening here to the Cover to Cover Classics version.

True Evil
Greg Iles
Brilliance Corporation
Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
1423317939 $40.95 www.brillianceaudio.com

Veteran narrator Dick Hill's smooth and winning style brings to life the story of a divorce attorney who must face a horrible fact: his lovely new wife is plotting his murder. He agrees to act as bait to unravel the scheme – which may have cost other spouses their lives – only to find a deeper web of intrigue and danger evolve. It's a tense thriller that comes to life in audio, making it a top pick for discriminating listeners.

The Teahouse Fire
Ellis Avery
Highbridge Audio Books
201 Sixth Street SE, Suite 220, Minneapolis, MN 55414
1598870785 $39.95 www.highbridgeaudio.com 1-800-755-8532

Barbara Caruso brings to life Ellis Avery's novel THE TEAHOUSE FIRE, a story of Japan as it's opening up to the West for the first time. One Aureila Bernard, an American orphan in 1866 Koyoto, observes the changes taking place and sees the transitions women are experiencing in their culture in this outstanding, warm drama recommended for general-interest lending libraries.

Wild Fire
Nelson DeMille
Hachette Audio
1271 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 01020
1594836108 $49.99 www.hachettebookgroupusa.com

WILD FIRE's unabridged version is especially recommended for lending libraries, pairing well an excellent narrative style by Scott Brick, who has read other unabridged DeMille classics, with the story of the Custer Hill Club, a men's club designed to help its high-powered executive members relax, but which evolves a plot to gain revenge for the 9/11 attacks. A tense thriller of terrorism and anti-terrorist actions evolves, and libraries will want to consider both this unabridged version – perfect for lending – and the abridged version (159483606X, $29.98), a pick for listeners who prefer a quicker, less involved, listen.


The California Shelf

Inlandia
Gayle Wattawa, Editor
Heyday Books
Box 9145, Berkeley, CA 94709
1597140376 $18.95 www.heydaybooks.com

INLANDIA represents the first Inland Empire literary anthology – the region described as the area east of Los Angeles – and packs in stories and insights by both native and non-Inland Empire natives. Many have been inspired to write about the area; but typically these writings have been spread out over mediums and areas, so it's especially notable to see them altogether under one cover. It's a solid pick of literary reflections and images promising to reach a wide audience of the region; from college-level collections to general-interest lending libraries with special interests in the Inland Empire.

Northern California River Maps & Fishing Guide
Frank Amato Publications
P.O. Box 82112, Portland, OR 97282
1571883924 $29.95 www.amatobooks.com

Any Northern California fisher person will find thrilling the oversized atlas-like map collection of Northern California River Maps & Fishing Guide – and many a Northern California lending library will find it an excellent pick suitable for display. An eye-catching cover leads to detailed 'fishing maps' which include everything from techniques to river access notes, boat launches, salmon run timings, and more. From gear to getting there, it's a pick no area fisherman should be without.


The Humor Shelf

The Onion Presents: Homeland Insecurity
Scott Dikkers & Carol Kolb, Editors
Three Rivers Press
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
030733984X $18.95 www.randomhouse.com

The Onion is the nation's best satirical publication and here covers the headline news events from November 2004 through December 2005. HOMELAND INSECURITY offers funny editorials, news in brief, opinion polls and articles on all sides of pop and political culture, offering up its fare in a fake news form which comes complete with black and white photos throughout. A 'must' for any public library's humor section.

How Many Women Does it Take to Change a Redneck?
Jeff Foxworthy
Rutledge Hill Press
Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214
1401603297 $14.99 www.rutledgehillpress.com

Foxworthy's redneck humor never fails, and has boasted numerous books, calendars, and even a number of TV series shows. Even the most avid fan will find plenty of new funny moments in How Many Women Does it Take to Change a Redneck?, surveying male/female relationships within the redneck realm of thought. From redneck male taste preferences in food to movie etiquette, the cartoons and funny insights represents Foxworthy at his best and is a 'must' for any collection, even those well versed in Foxworthy humor.


The World History Shelf

An Illustrated History of the Knights Templar
James Wasserman
Destiny Books
c/o Inner Tradition
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
1594771170 $19.95 www.destinybooks.com

Plenty of books have been written about the Templar order founded in 1119, but the mystery surrounding them continues. Author James Wasserman is a thirty-year member of the Ordo Templi Orientis, has written other books on the topic, and here provides a history of the Order and its legends and mysteries. From images of Crusades manuscripts to interpretive paintings from the 18th and 19th centuries and modern photos of former Templar places in Europe and Jerusalem, AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR makes the most of visuals from all centuries and is a recommended pick for any new age collection, even those who already have several books on the topic. Little is duplicated, here.

In Search of Ireland's Heroes
Carmel McCaffrey
Ivan R. Dee
1332 North Halsted Street, Chicago, IL 60622-2694
1566636159 $26.95 www.ivanrdee.com

There've been plenty of books on Irish history but none quite so vivid and accessible as In Search of Ireland's Heroes: The Story of the Irish from the English Invasion to the Present Day. IN SEARCH OF ANCIENT IRELAND was published in 2002 as a companion to the PBS series of the same name: this is actually a sequel to that book, standing solidly both as a companion volume and as an innovative history by itself. Here the struggle between English and Irish in the centuries since the first English invasion of Ireland in the 12th century are documented, filling the gap with a powerful narrative history documenting the personalities and people who fought on behalf of Ireland's freedom. The focus on heroes makes for a lively documentation indeed, making this a strong pick for both Irish history holdings and especially for general-interest public libraries.

The Ghost Map
Steven Johnson
Riverhead Books
c/o The Berkley Publishing Group
375 Hudson Street, New York NY 10014
1594489254 $26.95 www.riverheadbooks.com

In the summer of 1945 cholera attacked a city of some 2 million: two men, a reverend and a scientist, were to be key in exploring how the mysterious disease was transmitted and how to prevent and halt it. Sound like a novel? It's not: it's a hard-hitting history packed with the action and pace of a novel and the science and history of nonfiction, making THE GHOST MAP: THE STORY OF LONDON'S MOST TERRIFYING EPIDEMIC – AND HOW IT CHANGED SCIENCE, CITIES, AND THE MODERN WORLD the perfect item of choice for general-interest public library holdings.

Mysteries of the Middle Ages
Thomas Cahill
Nan A. Talese
c/o Doubleday & Company
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
0385495552 $32.50 www.randomhouse.com/doubleday

MYSTERIES OF THE MIDDLE AGES: THE RISE OF FEMINISM, SCIENCE, AND ART FROM THE CULTS OF CATHOLIC EUROPE comes from an acclaimed historian and adds the fifty volume to his Hinges of History series, begun with How the Irish Saved Civilization in 1995. This addition needs no prior familiarity with other books to prove satisfying – although any reader of this volume will surely want the others. Both high school to college-level school libraries and public lending collections will find it a wonderful blend of history and spirituality, analyzing the images of Christianity and how belief changed the status of women during the Middle Ages. An excellent, wide-ranging and lively coverage receives top recommendation here.

The Rise and Fall of Alexandria
Justin Pollard and Howard Reid
Viking Press
375 Hudson Street, New York NY 10014
0670037974 $27.95 www.penguin.com

The Rise and Fall of Alexandria: Birthplace of the modern Mind tells of a city which dwarfed Athens and Rome at the height of its powers. It was legendary for its richness and safety – and its library represented the fruits of civilization. This survey chronicles not only the history of the city and its place in ancient times, but surveys its philosophy, literature, and science. Both general-interest leisure browsers with an affection for early history and college-level students of ancient cultures will want this.

Saxons, Vikings and Celts
Bryan Sykes
W.W. Norton
500 – 5th Avenue, New York NY 10014
0393062686 $26.95 www.wwnorton.com

If you're interested in the genetics behind Britain, Ireland and America, then Saxons, Vikings and Celts: The Genetic Roots of Britain and Ireland is for you. It represents the first scientific, DNA-based history of the peoples of the British isles and as such stands well apart from your usual treatment of the topic. Discussions are well grounded in DNA science and make this a top pick not just for history holdings, but for any college-level and public library strong in genetic science.

Culture and Customs of Angola
Adebayo O. Oyebade
Greenwood Press
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
0313331472 $49.95 www.greenwood.com

Joining others in the 'Culture and Customs of Africa' series is a focus on Angola – a much-needed survey perfect for both high school and college-level collections assigning reports on individual African nations. History and culture provide broad analysis and Angola's background and development, setting it apart from other African experiences in a book perfect for in-depth analysis.


The Library DVD Shelf

Paniponi Dash!
ADV Films
1413914470 $29.98 www.advfilms.com

Fans of manga and animae will relish PANIPONI DASH, a 5-episode comedy based on the antics of a 10th grade class – and their 11-year-old teacher, an MIT grad who faces her biggest challenge managing a classroom. From alien watchers to a stuffed bunny friend, Becky Miyamoto has her hands full in this zany plot which will attract all ages.

A&E Home Video
c/o A & E Television Networks
PO Box 2284, South Burlington, VT 05407-2284
www.shopaetv.com 1-888-646-3476 www.aetv.com

Three outstanding DVDs arrived too late for seasonal holiday mention but are top ongoing picks for any DVD viewer who wants something special. You have to have some grounding in British culture or humor to enjoy Monty Python: perhaps this is why the TV series had such a firm audience of fans – and had viewers who just couldn't understand the fun. Both audiences will find THE PERSONAL BEST OF MONTY PYTHON'S FLYING CIRCUS (076709140X) and THE COMPLETE MONTY PYTHON'S FLYING CIRCUS (0767085515) outstanding. These are weighty DVD packages offering an exceptional digital collection of the TV show's best. 'THE COMPLETE' contains episodes 1 through 45 plus two bonus DVDs, enabling avid fans to hone in on the Graham Chapman/Michael Palin, et.al cast's finest features. Each disc is labeled by episode titles and this makes it quite easy to locate a memorable show – or you can view from beginning to end and get the stream of zany thinking which was the Python gang's trademark. THE PERSONAL BEST OF MONTY PYTHON'S FLYING CIRCUS, in contrast, offers up six discs which contain some of the most famous, frequently quoted moments for the entire series, selected by the Python folk themselves. So if you just want the highlights, choose Set 2 – but if you want it all, THE COMPLETE is the item of choice: both are top picks for both home viewing and comedy fans. DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER: THE WEDDING SPECIAL (0767092295) will appeal, on the other hand, to series viewers and newcomers alike who will find here the Dog is marrying his long-time love and co-partner. They also face another bounty hunt for a criminal – and a family tragedy that may affect their wedding plans. This is a key episode in the series and especially recommended for prior Dog fans who won't want to miss a milestone event. These are far above your ordinary home DVD picks and promise not just single viewing pleasure, but lasting and repeated watches – making them a bargain pick.

Style Like a Pro
Sandra Taylor-Furst
093345001036 $19.95 www.stylelikeapro.com

If you love the way pros style your hair and wish to do the same at home, STYLE LIKE A PRO is an item of choice, covering everything from shampoo to hair sculpting and using finishing products. The narrator offers plenty of visual examples and is a stylist and master colorist: learn from her the step-by-step process of duplicating successful results.

Nerima Daikon Brothers V. 1: Speak Softly but Carry a Big Daikon
ADV Films
1413914535 $29.98 www.advfilms.com

What can a band do with no fame wen they want to build a fancy concert dome? The Nerima Daikon Brothers have a plan: they farm daikon by day and battle record industry woes by night, and their funny musical anime comedy comes to life in a creation which has been adapted well for American audiences. Extensive video notes and insights makes for a pick even non-anime fans will want to note.

Women's Health
GT Media
c/o Rodale Press
400 South Tenth Street, Emmaus, PA 18098-0099
$14.98 Each www.rodalestore.com

The Wedding Workout (0766227774) is a special exercise program designed for any whose wedding, reunion or other special date is coming up quickly. For such events it's important to tone and lose weight quickly, and The Wedding Workout achieves just this, offering a fun plan to burn fat and improve posture and balance. Jessica Smith's TRAIN FOR YOUR BODY TYPE (0766227782) is also a powerful pick, covering the basics of workout moves designed by fitness pros from Women's Health Magazine. The routines here, demonstrated by Smith and others, offer the most results and are provided in an interactive, customizable menu system with 3 workout strategies the key to success. Both are excellent strategies offering tested, proven routines.

Get Ripped 1000
Jari Love
Razor Digital Entertainment
12031 Ventura Boulevard Suite C, Studio City, CA 91604
159552326X $14.99 www.razorfitness.com

Here's a guarantee few other workout DVDs hold: a promise you'll burn up to 1000 calories per workout featured here – and that you'll know your calorie burn with each program exercise because it appears on the screen. This in itself is motivation to use GET RIPPED! 1000 to full advantage, which offers an easy yet challenging workout alternating between one-minute cardio bursts with compound moves to burn sugar and fat. Home users will find plenty here to admire.


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

Diane C. Donovan, Editor & Senior Reviewer
12424 Mill Street, Petaluma, CA 94952
phone: 1-707-795-4629
e-mail: donovan@sonic.net


Copyright ©2001

Site design by Williams Writing, Editing & Design