 |
Book
Reviews,
Book Lover Resources, Advice for Writers and Publishers |
| Home / Internet
Bookwatch |
Internet Bookwatch
Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
Abraham Lincoln and the Structure of Reason
David Hirsch & Dan Van Haften
Savas Beatie
PO Box 4527, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
9781932714890, $34.95, www.savasbeatie.com
Abraham Lincoln was beyond his time with his writing ability and way with words. "Abraham
Lincoln and the Structure of Reason" is an analysis of the question, what made Lincoln great? A
true orator, Lincoln's work has a certain quality that is hard to explain. David Hirsch & Dan Van
Haften seek to use classical analysis and rhetoric to understand Lincoln's work and gain a greater
understanding of what makes a good speaker. "Abraham Lincoln and the Structure of Reason" is
an excellent addition to any philosophy or historical studies collection, highly
recommended.
The Totally Out There Guide to Glacier National Park
Donna Love
Mountain Press
1301 South Third Street West, PO Box 2399, Missoula, MT 59806
9780878425662, $15.00, www.mountain-press.com
Glacier national park has not yet been corrupted by the touch of the modern world. "The Totally
Out There Guide to Glacier National Park" is a guide to the history and attractions of this famed
tourist destination and what it can offer readers and would be natural adventures. With a blend of
photographs and charming artwork from Joyce Mihran Turley, "The Totally Out There Guide to
Glacier National Park" is a fine pick and very highly recommended.
Homage to Americans
Eva Brann
Paul Dry Books
1616 Walnut Street, Suite 808, Philadelphia, PA 19103
9781589880627, $19.95, www.pauldrybooks.com
From the outside looking in, one can gain a true appreciation for America. "Homage to
Americans: Mile-High Meditations, Close Readings, and Time-Spanning Speculations" is a
collection of writings from Eva Brann who has immigrated to America early in life and has come
to love her new home fondly and strongly. She has essays on democracy and the success and
flaws of the American system. "Homage to Americans" is a patriotic and driven read with much
to think about on America as a whole.
Project Azorian
Norman Polmar & Michael White
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD 21402
9781591146902, $29.95
Salvage is a great boon for intelligence. "Project Azorian: The CIA and the Raising of the K-129"
tells the story of the CIA's attempts to salvage a Russian submarine in 1974, in an operation
which was famed by the fame billionaire and recluse Howard Hughes. This project has attracted
much discussion throughout history and provides much to ponder, with the political applications
as well as the technical applications as the deepest salvage attempt of its time. "Project Azorian"
is an all out intriguing and fascinating read, very highly recommended.
Tent Life: Haiti
Wyatt Gallery & Edwidge Danticat
Umbrage
111 Front Street #208, Brooklyn, NY 11201
9781884167478, $39.95, www.umbragebooks.com
It's been a year since nature destroyed much of Haiti, and the wounds still shine strong. "Tent
Life: Haiti" is a collection of full color photography showing how much of Haiti remains in ruin
after a year has passed, and many still call tents their only homes. With an essay by famed
Haitian writer Edwidge Danticat explaining the spirit, the photos add to it, showing a country in
ruin where tarps over frames are considered good enough shelter from the elements. With a focus
on the people and the challenges of their daily life, "Tent Life; Haiti" is inspirational at the same
time it is depressing, and makes for an excellent choice for coffee table books.
Harry Potty and the Deathly Boring
Stefan Petrucha & Rick Parker
Papercutz
40 Exchange Place, Suite 1308, New York, NY 10005
Lissy Peace & Associates LTD (publicity)
PO Box 31686, Chicago, IL 60631
9781597072175, $6.99
There are some people who seek to read tasteful lampoons of their favorite books. This is not for
you. "Harry Potty and the Deathly Boring" is a shameless and pun ridden take, in a good way, on
the more famous boy wizard and his magical school. Sure to entertain with its own unique pun
ridden style and an excellent complementary art style from Rick Parker in full color, "Harry Potty
and the Deathly Boring" is ideal for fans of the more famous series who also have a sense of
humor.
Man-Made Monsters
Bob Curran
New Page Books
220 West Parkway, Unit 12, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
9781601631367, $14.99, www.newpagebooks.com
With the power of invention, man has often trumped nature in monstrosity. "Man-Made
Monsters: A Field Guide to Golems, Patchwork Soldiers, Homunculi, and Other Created
Creatures" looks at the history of man and its abominations. From the yearning to resurrect the
dead to the lost notes of mysticism, ancient machines, and more, is a thoughtful history from Bob
Curran, with fine black and white illustrations from Ian Daniels. A fun and educational read,
"Man-Made Monsters" is not one to be missed for those with an interest in science gone wrong in
fantasy.
90 Days to Success in Grant Writing
Timothy Kachinske and Judith Kachinske
Course Technology
c/o Cengage Learning, Inc.
200 First Stamford Place, Stamford, CT 06902
1435454863, $19.99, www.courseptr.com
90 Days to Success in Grant Writing is a pick for any novice grant proposal writer who wants a
step-by-step survey of the basic skills and techniques of grant writing. From researching grant
opportunities to outlining and writing grant proposals, this offers a survey of tools and examples
perfect for a range of grant-writing possibilities.
The Uses of Pessimism
Roger Scruton
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, New York NY 10016-4314
9780199747535, $29.95, www.oup.com
THE USES OF PESSIMISM illustrates scenarios contrasting realism with pessimism in an
analysis that maintains that optimists and idealists have long wrought havoc in the world. Having
a false sense of promise can be as dangerous as having complete negativity: this illustrates and
makes a case for 'hopeful pessimism' and considers its applications in social and political
evolution in a survey highly recommended for high school to college level collections and many
a general lending library.
Don't Sing at the Table
Adriana Trigiani
Harper
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
9780061958946, $22.99, www.harpercollins.com
DON'T SING AT THE TABLE: LIFE LESSONS FROM MY GRANDMOTHERS comes from
a popular best-selling novelist who provides a blend of memoir and biography to consider her
family history and the roots of inspiration for her popular novels. Lucia Bonicelli and Yolanda
Trigiani lived through the twentieth century as working women: their choices demonstrated a
strong approach to life and living and their values and spiritual traditions receive fine attention in
this survey, recommended for any fan of Adriana Trigiani's writings.
Oh No She Didn't
Clinton Kelly
Gallery Books
c/o Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl., NY, NY 10020
9781439163160, $25.99, www.simonandschuster.com
OH NO SHE DIDN'T: THE TOP 100 STYLE MISTAKES WOMEN MAKE AND HOW TO
AVOID THEM teaches women how to outfit themselves with style and offers a fun look at
fashion snafus in this survey of 100 'fashion offenses'. From platform flip-flops to pajamas in
public, this is a fun consideration perfect for any general lending collection.
Peace Meals
Anna Badkhen
Free Press
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
9781439166482, $25.00, www.simonandschuster.com
PEACE MEALS: CANDY-WRAPPED KALASHNIKOVS AND OTHER WAR STORIES
comes from a war correspondent who has traveled to some of the most torn places in the world.
One would expect her account to be packed with violence: instead, her memories focus on ways
of life in the most violent places on earth, and presents moments of life such as sharing a meal
with friends while war rages outside the door. Her experiences with the wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan make for an eye-opening presentation.
The Secret of Chanel No. 5
Tilar J. Mazzeo
Harper
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
9780061791017, $25.99, www.harpercollins.com
The Secret of Chanel No. 5: The Intimate History of the World's Most Famous Perfume provides
a fine portrait of the evolution of a world-class perfume empire. With a focus on how No. 5
evolved from a special marketing strategy that never should have succeeded, this provides a fine
story of Coco Chanel, her connections with the scent, and the overall world of perfume making
and marketing.
Let's Bring Back
Lesley M.M. Blume
Chronicle Books
680 - 2nd St., San Francisco CA 94107
9780811874137, $19.95, www.chroniclebooks.com
LET'S BRING BACK: AN ENCYCLOPEDIA OF FORGOTTEN-YET-DELIGHTFUL, CHIC,
USEFUL, CURIOUS AND OTHERWISE COMMENDABLE THINGS FROM TIMES GONE
BY provides a lovely nostalgic encyclopedia celebrating everything from the habit of wearing a
cape to the opera or owning a cuckoo clock to parlor games, calling cards, and even a recipe for
original Girl Scout cookies. This A-Z encyclopedia packs every entry with a history and fun
reference, making this a fun pick for leisure browsing for any general lending library.
The Next Ten Minutes
Andrew Peterson, EdD
Beyond Words
20827 NW Cornell Road, Suite 500, Hillsboro, OR 97124
9781582702742, $17.99, www.beyondword.com
The Next Ten Minutes: 51 Absurdly Simple Ways to Seize the Moment offers a guide to
personal transformation through everyday routines. Original created for use in his psychotherapy
practice, these exercises use ordinary activities but stretch them to the ten-minute limit, blending
Buddhism with fine insights.
Keep the Change
Steve Dublanica
Ecco Press
19 East 53rd St., New York NY 10022
9780061787287, $24.98, www.eccobooks.com
KEEP THE CHANGE: A CLUELESS TIPPER'S QUEST TO BECOME THE GURU OF THE
GRATUITY offers an in-depth survey to the finer art of tipping, considering the tipping aspects
of the American economy and how it works. Dublanica waited on table for nine years: his survey
of tipping comes from interviews with all kinds of workers who rely on tips, and his facts about
tipping in the U.S. provides lively, practical applications for any general lending library.
The Pledge
Michael Masterson
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9780470922408, $24.95, www.wiley.com
THE PLEDGE: YOUR MASTER PLAN FOR AN ABUNDANT LIFE teaches readers how to
reinvent life by putting together a personal master plan - a contract between the 'you' of today and
the person you've decided to be. His approach is based on business principles and offers fine keys
to transforming vague ambition to concrete realities. Any library will find this a winning
presentation!
Harmony
Prince of Wales, Tony Juniper and Ian Skelly
HarperCollins
10 E. 53rd St., New York NY 10022-5299
9780061731310, $29.99, www.harpercollins.com
HARMONY: A NEW WAY OF LOOKING AT OUR WORLD comes from HRH The Prince of
Wales who outlines how humans must reconnect with Nature to restore balance in the world.
Photos, charts and illustrations explore the ancient world, the ongoing issue of world harmony,
and discuss geometry, music, early philosophy and more in a fine historical survey of how
humans have searched for - and sometimes achieved - harmony.
Proofiness
Charles Seife
Viking Books
c/o Penguin Putnam Inc.
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780670022168, $25.95, www.penguin.com
PROOFINESS: THE DARK ARTS OF MATHEMATICAL DECEPTION offers keys to
understanding how pure math can be skewed for impure ends. How statistics can be twisted and
how they become 'bad' is the topic of a fine survey that blends social issues and math, showing
how numbers and mathematical misinformation complicates and puzzles life. No library should
be without this, whether at the school or general level!
Manifesting Change
Mike Dooley
Atria Books
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
9781582702759, $21.99, www.simonandschuster.com
MANIFESTING CHANGE: IT COULDN'T BE EASIER advocates living the life of your
dreams, and building on concepts begun in Mike Dooley's INFINITE POSSIBILITIES. From
self-analysis to tell who we really are to spreading change in our lives, this breaks down
metaphysics behind daily life and outlines some important things we can to accelerate positive
change.
Glad No Matter What
SARK
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
9781577319351, $18.95, www.newworldlibrary.com
Glad No Matter What: Transforming Loss and Change into Gift and Opportunity draws direct
connections between changing what hurts into something that helps, explaining that it's what we
do with what is happening to us that counts. From new ways to live with change and loss and
handling past experience or patterns to keeping touch with ourselves in emotional times, this is
packed with handwritten, color notes easy to absorb and follow.
"All Labor Has Dignity"
Martin Luther King, Jr.
edited with an introduction by Michael K. Honey
Beacon Press
25 Beacon Street, Boston Massachusetts 02108-2892
9780807086001 $26.95 www.thekinglegacy.org
"All Labor Has Dignity" is an anthology of Martin Luther King Jr.'s speeches concerning
economic justice. In today's modern era of unemployment, a widening gap between rich and
poor, increasingly stark wealth divides along racial lines, and the near-destruction of our
financial system due to the machinations of those who put bottom line profits not only above
individuals, but also above the economic stability of the entire nation, Dr. King's words are more
timely and relevant than ever. "All Labor Has Dignity" includes King's lectures to unions in the
1960s, his addresses during the Poor People's Campaign, and his notable "Mountaintop" speech
given on behalf of striking black sanitation workers in Memphis. An introduction, epilogue, and
index by editor Michael K. Honey round out this superb addition to social issues shelves, and an
accompanying audio CD allows one to listen to two of King's speeches: "The Unresolved Race
Question" and "All Labor Has Dignity". Highly recommended.
The Writing/Publishing Shelf
A Skeptic's Guide to Writers' Houses
Anne Trubek
University of Pennsylvania Press
3905 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4112
9780812242928, $24.95, www.upenn.edu
To follow in the footsteps of another is what many do for inspiration. "A Skeptic's Guide to Writers' Houses" is a unique and humorous guide to the house museums of famous authors throughout the country and presents an unusual array of thoughts and opinions on the writing cultures reverence of these locations. With plenty of humor, "A Skeptic's Guide to Writers' Houses" is a unique blend of memoir, travelogue, and literary work analyzing the subculture of it all.
The Writer's Guide to Psychology
Carolyn Kaufman
Quill Driver Books
2006 S. Mary Street, Fresno, CA 93721-3311
9781884995682, $14.95, www.quilldriverbooks.com
The human mind is one of the most difficult thing to understand, and it's so easy for a writer to get it wrong. "The Writer's Guide to Psychology: How to Write Accurately About Psychological Disorders, Clinical Treatment, and Human Behavior" acts as a resource explaining the finer details of these disorders and what a writer should know before diving into writing such characters. Hoping to dispel commonly used tropes such as raving lunatic serial killers, the truth about schizophrenia, the problem with hypnosis, and much more. Explaining how to make psychopathic characters work, "The Writer's Guide to Psychology" is a highly useful and recommended resource.
Writing Conversations
Cherie K. Miller
Wisdom Creek Press
5814 Sailboat Pointe NW, Acworth, GA 30101
9780981875613, $14.95, www.wisdomcreekpress.com
The career of writing can be quite daunting to get in to. "Writing Conversations: Spend 365 Days
with Your Favorite Authors, Learning the Craft of Writing" is a writing advisory guide from
Cherie K. Miller who seeks to give aspiring writers tips and tricks, as well as wisdom and advice
for picking up their craft and sticking with it, and getting your work to the next level through an
agent or publisher. "Writing Conversations" is a thoughtful and useful guide for those who want
to keep themselves on task.
300 Days of Better Writing
David Bowman
Cereb Press
c/o Precise Edit
1866 Plaza del Sur, 138 Santa Fe, NM 87505
9780982267455, $13.95
No one is going to get better at writing without practice. "300 Days of Better Writing: A Daily Handbook for Improving Your Writing" is a guide for daily exercises to improve one's writing in a gradual manner, encouraging clarity, good grammar, and conveying one's thoughts and opinions effectively. For anyone seeking a daily writing exercise book, "300 Days of Better Writing" is a choice pick.
The Audiobook Shelf
Mr. Toppit
Charles Elton, author
Simon Vance, narrator
Blackstone Audiobooks
PO Box 969, Ashland, OR 97520
9781441759603 $105.00 www.BlackstoneAudio.com 1-800-729-2665
Mr. Toppit is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of an edge-of-one's-seat suspenseful novel by
masterful print and television author Charles Elton. A little-known series of children's books with
a mysterious character called "Mr. Toppit" is suddenly and inexplicably a breakout success, yet
their author, an unsuccessful screenwriter, does not live long enough to reap good fortune from
the windfall. His widow and children are set to inherit his legacy, but other greedy forces crowd
around to secure their share, and the family threatens to be destroyed by the dark side of its
inheritance. A thoughtful narrative of human limits, powerful forces, and mysterious hidden
agendas, Mr. Toppit is a choice pick. 8 CDs, 10 1/2 hours.
On the Nature of Things
Lucretius, author
Ian Johnston, translator
Hugh Ross, narrator
Naxos Audio Books
416 Mary Lindsay Polk Drive, Suite 509, Franklin, TN 37067
9781843794318 $47.98 www.naxosaudiobooks.com 1-877-629-6723
On the Nature of Things is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of the only surviving work of
the Roman philosopher Lucretius, born in 99 BC. In "On the Nature of Things", Lucretius sought
to liberate his fellow Romans from their fear of the gods, and their fear of death. Lucretius
argued that the gods are not directly involved in life, and therefore there is no need to appease
them; he also argued that death is the end of a human being's body and soul, and therefore there
is no point in fearing it. An unforgettable amalgamation of insight, now in a new English
translation by Ian Johnston and intuitively performed by theater, film, and television actor Hugh
Ross, On the Nature of Things deserves the highest recommendation especially for public and
college library collections.
She: A History of Adventure
H. Rider Haggard, author
Bill Homewood, narrator
Naxos Audio Books
416 Mary Lindsay Polk Drive, Suite 509, Franklin, TN 37067
9781843794110 $62.00 www.naxosaudiobooks.com 1-877-629-6723
She: A History of Adventure is a sensual classic of 19th-century literature, now available in a
complete and unabridged audiobook format, narrated by popular television actor Bill
Homewood. Cambridge academic Ludwig Horace Holly and his adopted son Leo embark on an
adventure in search of the legendary queen, She-who-must-be-obeyed, who rules a small,
primitive tribe amidst the ruins of a bygone Egyptian civilization. Holly and Leo swiftly
encounter depredation and danger, as a shipwreck derails their journey and they are captured by
cannibals. An exciting saga of wonder, danger, suspense, and also light erotic passion, She: A
History of Adventure is an enthralling rendition of a timeless work of literature, highly
recommended. 11 CDs, 13 hours 45 min.
Rupert of Hentzau
Anthony Hope, author
Rufus Wright, narrator
Naxos Audio Books
416 Mary Lindsay Polk Drive, Suite 509, Franklin, TN 37067
9781843794004 $34.98 www.naxosaudiobooks.com 1-877-629-6723
The sequel to "The Prisoner of Zenda", Rupert of Hentzau is the complete and unabridged
audiobook adaptation of an epic novel of diplomacy, intrigue, sword battles, and tested
allegiance. When the villainous Rupert of Hentzau intercepts a scandalous love letter written
from the Queen of Ruritania to Rudolph Rassendyll, Rassendyll has no choice but to resume his
impersonation of King Rudolph. Strife once again threatens to divide Ruritania, in this
captivating saga smoothly narrated by professional theater and film actor Rufus Wright. 7 CDs, 8 hours 13 min.
Mary MacKillop Revealed
Lesley O'Brien, author
Jenny Seedsman, narrator
Bolinda Publishing
186 S Long Swamp Rd, Jackson, ME 04921
9781742148427 $83.95 www.bolinda.com
Mary MacKillop Revealed is the only biography of Australia's first saint, Mary MacKillop, to be
authorised by the Sisters of St. Joseph. Mary MacKillop Revealed has been updated to refer to
her Beatification by Pope John Paul II, and is now presented in an unabridged audiobook
production read 1997 TDK Audio Book Award winner Jenny Seedsman, whose credentials
include stellar theater, radio, and television performances. The result is the inspirational life story
of a truly devout woman, sure to stir the hearts of Christian listeners everywhere. Highly
recommended, especially for church library audiobook collections. 7 CDs, 8 hours 30 min.,
tracks every 3 min. for easy bookmarking.
Revival: The Struggle for Survival Inside the Obama White House
Richard Wolffe
Random House Audio Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 8th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780307749895 $40.00 www.randomhouse.com
Obama biographer Richard Wolffe has been honored with exceptional access to the West Wing,
and reveals his inside knowledge in Revival: The Struggle for Survival Inside the Obama White
House, a chronicle of the President and his staff, now available in an unabridged audiobook
adaptation read by the author. Opening one year after Obama's inauguration, Revival follows his
administration's efforts to deal with challenges including health care reform, a suffering
economy, two wars, and the menace of terrorism. Revival especially focuses upon the two groups
who compete fiercely to influence the president's agenda. One is the Revivalists, who want to
champion the high-minded and sweeping promises of Obama's campaign; the other is the
Survivalists, who believe that the practical necessities of government require less commitment to
far-reaching ideals, and more willingness to compromise. And what of Obama himself? Why is
he driven to risk his presidency on health care, and what frustrations does he feel when beset by
conflicting political forces on all sides? Revival is a story of struggling to get things done in an
intractable political climate, adapt, learn from one's mistakes, and outwit one's opponents, and
highly recommended beginning to end. 7 CDs, 9 hours.
The Emperor's Tomb
Steve Berry, author
Scott Brick, narrator
Random House Audio Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 8th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780739329221 $50.00 www.randomhouse.com
Read aloud by film, television, stage and radio performer Scott Brick, The Emperor's Tomb is the
unabridged audiobook adaptation of Steve Berry's thrilling novel about the mysterious tomb of
China's first Emperor. Sealed for more than 2,000 years, and protected by an army of terra-cotta
warriors, the tombs remain closed by command of the Chinese government - why? Justice
Department operative Cotton Malone must probe the mystery when a note leads him to an
internet site where he sees Cassiopeia Vitt, a woman who has saved his life before, being
tortured. The perpetrator demands that Malone "bring the artifact she's asked you to keep safe,"
but what item could this possibly refer to? To save her and stop a psychopath, Malone must
embark on a whirlwind adventure that leads him from nation to nation - Denmark, Belgium,
Vietnam, and China - and put him at odds with a merciless ancient brotherhood. A fast-paced
adventure, especially recommended to help keep the listener awake and alert during long driving
trips. 12 CDs, 14 hours.
Straight Talk, No Chaser
Steve Harvey
Harper Audio
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
9780062006967 $29.99 www.harpercollins.com 1-800-242-7737
Comedian, philanthropist, celebrity and happily married husband Steve Harvey presents Straight
Talk, No Chaser, a no-nonsense relationship guide written especially for women. Straight Talk,
No Chaser includes how to get an honest answer out of a man, dating tips decade-by-decade, how
to promote harmony at home, and much more. A candid, perceptive, insightful, and ultimately
down-to-earth advice guide, Straight Talk, No Chaser is now in a highly accessible audiobook
format, read aloud by the author. Highly recommended especially for any woman searching for
Mr. Right. 6 CDs, 7 hours.
Distant Hours
Kate Morton, author
Caroline Lee, narrator
Bolinda Publishing
186 S Long Swamp Rd, Jackson, ME 04921
9781742149332 $123.95 www.bolinda.com
Distant Hours is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of Kate Morton's about past mysteries
coming to light, which in turn prompt soul-searching in the present day. When a long-lost letter
arrives in the mail, Edie Burchill takes a journey to Milderhurst Castle, a structure whose better
days are long since passed. Edie's mother was billeted there fifty years ago; the twin Blythe
spinsters live there now, and devote most of their time to taking care of their youngest sister, who
hasn't been quite right since her fiance abandoned her in 1941. Edie's journey teaches her more
about her mother's life, and the truth of what her mother lived through in "the distant past", then
she ever could have anticipated, in this thoughtful and evocative character drama. Highly
recommended, especially for public library audiobook collections. 18 CDs, 22 hours 44 min.
Sleeping Murder: A Miss Marple Mystery
Agatha Christie, author
Rosemary Leach, narrator
BBC Audiobooks America
42 Whitecap Drive, North Kingstown, RI 02852-7445
9780792769583 $64.95 www.BBCAudiobooksAmerica.com
Sleeping Murder: A Miss Marple Mystery is the complete and unabridged audiobook adaptation
of one of beloved mystery writer Agatha Christie's classics, featuring the unflappable Miss
Marple. When Newlywed Gwenda Reed is plagued by visions of a dead woman's body in her
supposedly haunted house, Miss Marple dedicates herself to uncovering the truth. Rosemary
Leach's narration brings this suspenseful saga to vivid life, with emotion, atmosphere, and heart.
Sleeping Murder is highly recommended especially for public library audiobook collections, and
also for fans of classic mysteries everywhere. 6 CDs, 7 hours 15 min.
Penguin Audio
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
www.penguin.com
Vicki Myron with Bret Witter's DEWEY'S NINE LIVES: THE LEGACY OF THE
SMALL-TOWN LIBRARY CAT WHO INSPIRED MILLIONS (9780142428597, $29.95)
receives Andrea Gallo's fine reading and tells of an Iowa library cat, Dewey Readmore Books,
and his ongoing adventures. The author had no intention of writing a Dewey sequel - but due to
popular demand she produced more fun stories about the library cat's antics, which come to life
in this fine audio presentation. Jan Karon's IN THE COMPANY OF OTHERS (9780142428405,
$39.95) pairs a powerful reading by Erik Singer with a Father Tim novel revolving around a
vacation, a priest, and a promise. Joining others in the Father Tim series, this fills a three-year
gap in Karon's stories and returns Cynthia to the limelight. Prior fans in particular will relish this
new story. Lewis Black's I'M DREAMING OF A BLACK CHRISTMAS (9780142428559,
$25.95) arrived too late for holiday mention but provides a fine author-narrated story anyway, in
a hilarious, pointed condemnation of the Christmas season. From his own Christmas rituals that
have nothing to do with traditions to doing a USO Christmas tour, this is hilarious any time of
year! Kathy Reichs' VIRALS (9780142428160, $26.95) receives stage actress Cristin Milioti's
dramatic flair and voice as it provides a strong adventure telling of teen Tory who moves to the
middle of nowhere to live with a marine biologist dad she's never known, only to meet a group of
science geek peers encountering strangeness at a local research institute. Dramatic action evolves
as DNA changes begin.
Brilliance Audio
Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com
DEMON SEED springs to life once again, taking an older science fiction movie about computer
horror and providing new life in Dean Koontz's audio drama (144181728X, $34.99) enhanced by
Christopher Lane's seasoned voice. When Susan's in-home computer takes more than usual
charge of her world, its sentient curiosity traps her into a dangerous experiment in this gripping
science fiction audio saga. David Weber's FLAG IN EXILE (1441866191, $29.99) receives
Allyson Johnson's entertainment background and fine smooth voice as it tells of Captain Honor
Harrington, who is trying to heal bitter wounds from past political and military conflicts. A
newborn Navy needs her experience, so she has to return to duty - and to face those who hate
here - in this interstellar science fiction drama. Jack Higgins' DRINK WITH THE DEVIL
(1441843442, $29.99) receives a fine performance by veteran Michael Pqage, who has recorded
over 50 tiles for Brilliance and is a Professor of Theatre and an actor. His dramatic voice spices
the account of a deadly treasure hunt between an Irish militant who wants to finance a war and a
former IRA enforcer who wants to retrieve the gold before he gets there. Highly dramatic action
comes to life in audio. Michael Connelly edits MURDER IN VEGAS (1441836969,
$29.99), a fine collection of new crime tales performed by audio veterans Phil Gigante and Joyce
Bean, who bring to life tales of gambling and Vegas culture. Works by James Swain, Michael
Collins and others provide a satisfyingly diverse collection of scenarios and intrigue. Pat
Conroy's THE LORDS OF DISCIPLINE (144181499X, $49.99) receives a fine audio narration
by award-winning narrator Dan John Miller, who spices and brings to life a powerful story of
four cadets who survive hazing and a proud military institute. Their loyalty and friendship will
survive dangerous tests in this brilliant, dramatic saga.
Random House Audio
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 8th floor, New York, NY 10019
www.randomhouseaudio.com
Bill Bryson's AT HOME (9780739315262, $45.00) is narrated by the author and provides a fine
survey of the author's home. While this might sound self-serving, it actually uses a
room-by-room assessment to consider history: the bathroom, for example, sparks a survey of the
history of hygiene. Social evolution and cultural influence contribute to a lively survey of how
households evolve and reflect the culture they're in. Jeff Lindsay's DEXTER IS DELICIOUS
(9780307577542, $40.00) is read by the author, who provides a spirited survey of Dexter
Morgan's homicidal life, which revolves around the idea that he only kills people who deserve it.
An investigation of the disappearance of a teen who has been abducted leads to a bizarre chain of
events in this thriller.
The Humor Shelf
You're Making That Face Again
Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman
Andrews & McMeel
1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
9780740797347 $12.99 www.andrewsmcmeel.com
You're Making That Face Again is the thirteenth collection of "Zits" newspaper comic strips,
mostly in black-and-white but with color for the Sunday strips. The jokes center on coping with
life as a teenager with overbearing parents - or as parents with an overbearing teenaged son; both
sides of the dilemma are thoroughly explored! The manner in which modern technology
(especially texting and camera phones) continues to shape human interaction further enhances the
fodder for side-splitting gags. "'Okay, I forgot your birthday. What's the big deal?' 'I'm your
mother, Jeremy! Show me a little respect!' 'Okay. Welcome to the top 100 on my speed dial list.'
'Show me a little more.'" You're Making That Face Again is a breath of fresh laughter, an
excellent giftbook, and enthusiastically recommended for anyone who needs a bit of humor to
help cope with changing times.
Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year 2011 Edition
Charles Brooks, editor
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053-2246
9781589809017 $14.95 www.pelicanpub.com 1-800-843-1724
Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year 2011 Edition continues its tradition of presenting the best of
the best political cartoons from all sides of the political spectrum. Topics covered range from the
Obama administration's struggle to reduce unemployment, to the rise of the Tea Party, to the
foibles of sports stars like Tiger Woods, to grim reminders of ongoing crises including the
Afghan war, and the drug cartel-fueled violence plaguing Mexico. "'It says here that America's
faith in practically every economic and political institution is at an all time low.' 'Yeah, but you
can't believe what you read in the paper.'" Brief summaries of notable events of the past year help
the reader to keep the cartoons in context, and a special farewell to two-time Pulitzer winning
cartoonist Paul Conrad enhance this sharp-edged compendium. Highly recommended.
The American History Shelf
Interstate 95
Dianne Perrier
University Press of Florida
15 Northwest 15th Street, Gainesville, FL 32611-2079
9780813034805, $24.95, www.upf.com
All down the east coast, Interstate 95 is one of the most famous tracks of road in America. "Interstate 95: The Road to Sun and Sand" traces the history of the road, and how it became an icon of many Northerners as the road they take for getting away from the grind of their daily lives. Many have made the road itself the attraction with much to see and do all along the way. "Interstate 95" is a fascinating read of this road, providing a grand dose of history.
Beyond the American Pale
David M. Emmons
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806141282, $34.95, www.oupress.com
BEYOND THE AMERICAN PALE: THE IRISH IN THE WEST, 1845-1910 goes against your
usual Irish-American history coverage to discuss the reality: that the Irish went everywhere in
America and had as much presence in the West as in the East. The focus on the Irish in the West
- as opposed to the East - offers a survey of western realities and experiences as the Irish
interacted with other groups, describing how they helped reshape the times and were key in the
conquering of the western frontier. College-level history holdings will welcome this fresh
perspective.
Summers with Lincoln
James A. Percoco
Fordham University Press
2546 Belmont Avenue, University Box L, Bronx, NY 10458-5172
9780823228966 $18.00 www.fordhampress.com
Award-winning high school history teacher James A. Percoco presents Summers with Lincoln:
Looking for the Man in the Monuments, a thoughtful chronicle of how seven sculpted
monuments honoring President Lincoln came to be. Blending scholarship with masterful flair,
Percoco smoothly weaves historical stories into his research; the result is a thoroughly accessible
account sure to fascinate as well as enlighten readers of all backgrounds. A handful of
black-and-white photographs illustrates this highly recommended contribution to American
history and public library shelves.
Always for the Underdog
Keagan LeJeune
University of North Texas Press
PO Box 311336, Denton, TX 76203-1336
9781574412888 $29.95 www.unt.edu/untpress
Keagan LeJeune (professor of English and Folklore, McNeese State University) presents Always
for the Underdog: Leather Britches Smith and the Grabow War blends history and biography to
relate the true story of Louisiana's Neutral Strip, particularly during the early 1900s. As a fallout
from the Louisiana Purchase, the United States and Spain clashed over the precise boundary line;
both sides withdrew militias in order to avoid intensifying conflict or prompting a war. This
forced the residents to band in tight communities and defend themselves. Shortly after the turn of
the century, the timber boom drew mill towns, land speculators, timber works, unionists and
more to the Neutral Strip. Into this volatile mix entered Leather Britches Smith, a notorious
character whose exploits practically became the stuff of legends. His deeds ranged from robbery
to generosity to a rumored involvement in a local union strike, known as the Grabow War. A
handful of vintage black-and-white photographs illustrate this fascinating, aptly researched and
vividly presented history, enthusiastically recommended especially for public and college library
collections.
Montana Moments: History On the Go
Ellen Baumler
Montana Historical Society Press
225 North Roberts Street, PO Box 201201, Helena, MT 59620-1201
9780975919682 $14.95 montanahistoricalsociety.org
Montana Historical Society interpretive historian Ellen Baumler presents Montana Moments:
History On the Go, an anthology of brief, funny, unusual, and sometimes outright shocking true
stories from Montana's colorful history. Truth is more amazing than fiction in these vignettes
(each only a page long or less), which cover everything from the gold rush to missions and
churches to horse racing and even public executions. Due to the episodic nature of its true tales,
Montana Moments is indeed ideal reading "On the Go", or for any situation where one might
have a little free time, but not necessarily a lot!
All Around the Town, second edition
Patrick Bunyan
Empire State Editions
c/o Fordham University Press
2546 Belmont Avenue, University Box L, Bronx, NY 10458-5172
9780823231744 $24.95 www.fordhampress.com
Now in a newly updated second edition, All Around the Town: Amazing Manhattan Facts and
Curiosities is an extraordinary catalogue of historic sites in New York City, illustrated with a
handful of black-and-white photographs. Literally listing notable locations street by street, each
with a paragraph describing its relevance, All Around the Town is an excellent choice for
history-minded tourists and armchair travelers alike. For example, one entry reads "Gramercy
Park West: This town house was once the home of Dr. Valentine Mott, a famous surgeon during
the Civil War, who helped to regulate Bellevue Hospital." Highly recommended.
Border War
Stanley Harrold
University of North Carolina Press
116 South Boundary Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27514-3808
9780807834312 $30.00 www.uncpress.unc.edu 1-800-848-6224
Stanley Harrold (professor of history, South Carolina State University) presents Border War:
Fighting Over Slavery Before the Civil War, a close study of the violence and tension
surrounding the thorny issue of slavery in America in the 1840s and 1850s, leading up to the
outbreak of the Civil War. Cross-border clashes included mass slave escapes, lethal battles
between antislavery and pro-slavery vigilantes, the kidnapping of free African-Americans and
violent resistance to it, conflict between fugitive slaves and those seeking to return them to
bondage, and more. Harrold shows evidence that the Kansas-Missouri warfare of the 1850s and
John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry, Virginia were only elements of a larger, more widely
entrenched border conflict that ultimately led most of the Border South to side with the Union.
Chapters cover "Southern Aggression in the Lower North", "Interstate Diplomacy", "Fighting
Over the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850", and much more. A sobering, meticulously researched and
astutely presented historical analysis, highly recommended especially for college library
collections.
Conflict in the Ozarks
David Benac
Truman State University Press
100 East Normal Street, Kirksville, MO 63501-4221
9781935503125 $32.00 http://tsup.truman.edu
Conflict in the Ozarks: Hill Folk, Industrialists, and Government in Missouri's Courtois Hills is a
studious and heavily researched history of the Scotch-Irish Ozark culture and conflicts with
governmental policy concerning environmental stewardship, particularly during the first half of
the twentieth century. Author David Benac applies research and detective work skills in
reconstructing cultural attitudes, both among the area's impoverished rural residents and the more
landed and wealthy who had the potential to benefit from turning land into enclosed pasture.
Chapters include "The Missouri Lumber and Mining Company and the Timber Industry", "The
Means of Control and Resistance", "Resistance to Governmental Involvement in the Ozarks,
1905 to 1931", "A Governmental Foothold, 1931 to 1946", and more. Conflict in the Ozarks is a
superb addition to Missouri state history shelves, highly recommended especially for college
library collections.
When Did the Statue of Liberty Turn Green?
Staff of the New-York Historical Society Library
Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd Street, New York, NY 10023-7015
9780231147439 $14.95 http://cup.columbia.edu
When Did the Statue of Liberty Turn Green? & 101 Other Questions About New York City lives
up to its title as an engaging history and trivia book, offering answers to many of the most
commonly asked questions about New York City. For example, "'Is it true that Winston Churchill
was hit by a car in New York City?' 'It is, and he assumed all blame for the accident.'" Each
question-and-answer entry is a few paragraphs long and has individual sources listed; a handful
of black-and-white photographs further enhance this engaging collection, highly recommended to
anyone curious to learn more about New York City's legacy, traditions, and amazing true
stories.
The Sports Shelf
Fitness Illustrated
Brian Sharkey
Human Kinetics
Box 5976, Champaign, IL 61825-5076
0736081585, $21.95, www.humankinetics.com
Fitness Illustrated offers more than the usual advice on diet and exercise, probing each type of
activity to show what results in better fitness and what doesn't work. From how a body changes
with different types of exercise to how aerobic activity can be gauged and how to shape and tone
your core, this is packed with color anatomy and exercise photos to clarify all explanations. A top
pick for any athlete.
Western Herbs for Martial Artists and Contact Athletes
Susan Lynn Peterson, Ph.D.
YMAA
Box 480, Wolfeboro, NH 03894
9781594391972, $20.95, www.ymaa.com
Western Herbs for Martial Artists and Contact Athletes: Effective Treatments for Common
Sports Injuries covers over sixty herbs readily available in health food stores for treating bruises,
sprains, adrenaline and any health issues common to athletic performance. Each herb is
considered for its safety, effectiveness, and includes instruction on how to use it to enhance
sports training. This should be on the shelves of any sports library, as well as many a health
collection.
Practical ECG for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine
Greg Whyte and Sanjay Sharma
Human Kinetics
Box 5976, Champaign, IL 61825-5076
0736081941, $29.00, www.humankinetics.com
Practical ECG for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine offers a fine reference for students
working with exercise electrocardiograms, and offers a basic theory applied to interpretation of
both normal and abnormal ECG traces. The authors' clinical experience and published research
combines with a fine focus on athletic hearts and sports health issues, making for a fine resource
for any working in the exercise field.
On the Way to Fun
Roberto Dillon
A.K. Peters Ltd.
888 Worcester Street, Suite 230, Wellesley, MA 02482
9781568815824, $29.00, www.akpeters.com
ON THE WAY TO FUN: AN EMOTION-BASED APPROACH TO SUCCESSFUL GAME
DESIGN outlines a fine framework linking human emotions and instincts to successful game
design, blending a theoretical framework with keys to analyzing game play. The framework is
then applied to both successful and unsuccessful games to make for a fine survey for any who
want to properly design and develop ideas to maximum benefit!
Knocking on Heaven's Door
Marty Dobrow
University of Massachusetts Press
PO Box 429, Amherst, MA 01004
9781558498433, $24.95, www.umass.edu/umpress
KNOCKING ON HEAVEN'S DOOR: SIX MINOR LEAGUERS IN SEARCH OF THE
BASEBALL DREAM considers life in baseball's minor leaves, comes from an award-winning
sportswriter, and considers the lives and culture of six minor league players all struggling to
achieve. They are all represented by the same team of agents, and their stories begin during
spring training in 2005 and ends in the fall of 2008. An outstanding survey, this will earn its
place in any baseball collection.
Jacobs Beach: The Mob, The Fights, The Fifties
Kevin Mitchell
Pegasus Books
80 Broad Street,5th Floor, New York, NY 10004
9781605981239 $26.95 www.pegasusbooks.com
Award-winning sports writer Kevin Mitchell presents Jacobs Beach: The Mob, The Fights, The
Fifties, an eye-opening tour of the sport of professional boxing in 1950s New York. This was a
time and place when the mob ruthlessly controlled matches in order to profit off of gambling.
Jacobs Beach, a strip of pavement across the road from Madison Square Garden, was the
infamous place where shady deals to control or ruin the lives of prizefighters were plotted, and
the man in control of Jacobs Beach was a charismatic yet utterly murderous Italian mobster
known as Frankie Carbo. It was under Carbo's watch, and the control he exercised over the
"International Boxing Club", that the mob became so entrenched in fighting. The rise and fall of
mob influence in New York boxing, and the stories of major players in the real-life drama, make
for an utterly compelling true story. Jacobs Beach is an absolute "must-have" especially for
boxing fans with a keen interest in learning about the darkest moments of the sport's history.
Striper Hot Spots
Frank Daignault
Burford Books
101 East State St., #301, Ithaca, NY 14850
9781580801638, $18.95, www.burfordbooks.com
The concepts may be the same, but every spot has tricks to make the most of the spot. "Striper
Hot Spots: Top Surfcasting Locations from Connecticut to Maine" is a guide for fishermen who
want to get an edge on fishing throughout New England to catch the most fish in these cooler
waters and up to coast. With tips and tricks on everything from tackle to seasons and more,
"Striper Hot Spots" is an invaluable tool for any traveling fisherman. Also recommended is the
mid-Atlantic addition of this series, "Striper Hot Spots: Mid-Atlantic: Top Surfcasting Locations
from North Carolina to Connecticut" (9781580801645, $18.95).
The Library DVD Shelf
Fun Ideas for Cardmaking and Scrapbooking
Memory Lane Videos
PO Box 41767, Eugene, OR 97404
9780970139368 $19.95 learnfunscrapbooking.com
Fun Ideas for Cardmaking and Scrapbooking lives up to its title with a dazzling array of
suggestions, insights, tools, techniques, and instructions for creating memorable handmade cards
and scrapbooks. A guide that encourages the reader to experiment and take joy in the process of
discovery, Fun Ideas for Cardmaking and Scrapbooking is a superb gift for anyone with a
creative mind. Highly recommended. 53 min.
Anatomy for Artists: Man in Motion, second edition
On Air Video Inc.
8203 Westminster Rd., Elkins Park, PA 19027
$19.95 www.onairvideo.com
Anatomy for Artists: Man in Motion is a DVD for aspiring and practicing artists focusing on how
to realistically portray human activities such as running, jumping, lifting, carrying, kicking,
throwing, pulling, and more. With live models and a variety of camera angles, Anatomy for
Artists deconstructs frame by frame how the human body, bones, and muscles work, as well as
the relationship between balance and movement. An excellent, user-friendly guide, worthy of the
highest recommendation for classroom use or self-study. 62 min.
Discovering Hamlet
Athena
c/o Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
9781598285321 $39.99 www.acornonline.com
As seen on PBS, Discovering Hamlet is a documentary following two great actors, Emmy-winner
Derek Jacobi and four-time Oscar nominee Kenneth Branagh, as they test the depths of their
performance mettle through study and presentation of Shakespeare's classic tragedy, Hamlet.
Patrick Stewart narrates this overview of the four-week rehearsal process, from first
read-throughs to opening night. Interviews with principal actors, the set designer, costume
supervisor, text advisor, and more round out this immersive behind-the-scenes look of at high
theater. Bonus features include an exclusive interview with Derek Jacobi, a bonus disc with
copious additional footage and extended interviews, a twelve-page viewer's guide, and more. An
absolute "must-have" for classic theater buffs, "Discovering Hamlet" lives up to its title and is
highly recommended. 2 DVDs, 53 min. plus 3 1/4 hours of bonus footage, SDH subtitles (bonus
features may not be subtitled).
Human Terrain: War Becomes Academic
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547
1594589720 $295.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com
Intended for high school and adult viewers, Human Terrain: War Becomes Academic is a vivid,
harrowing documentary about the controversial 'Human Terrain System' program that the U.S.
Military has initiated in response to the complexities of the long wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The program seeks to embed social scientists within combat troops. Supporters of the program
see it as a way to temper military action with greater understanding of the human conflicts
driving sectarian violence, while detractors criticize it as an unethical way to gather intelligence
and target enemies. "Human Terrain: War Becomes Academic" examines the fallout of blurring
the line between academia and combat, giving the viewer access to wargames in the Mojave
Desert and training exercises at Quantico and Fort Leavenworth. "Human Terrain" also tells the
tragic story of a brilliant young scholar named Michael Bhatia, who worked as a humanitarian
activist in the Western Sahara, Balkans, and East Timor, and who was recruited by the Human
Terrain program; he was killed by a roadside bomb while en route to mediate an intertribal
dispute. Human Terrain: War Becomes Academic is an extraordinary examination of the costs,
ethics, and effectiveness of this program, and an absolutely invaluable addition to military, social
science, public and college library DVD shelves. An 84 min. and 57 min. version is available on
the DVD. SDH captioned.
No Fears, No Tears & No Fears, No Tears - 13 Years Later
Leora Kuttner, PhD
Crown House Publishing
6 Trowbridge Drive Suite 5, Bethel, CT 06801
9781935810025 $99.95 www.CHPUS.com 1-877-925-1213
No Fears, No Tears & No Fears, No Tears - 13 Years Later is a two-DVD set about a pain
management project for children undergoing painful medical procedures, primarily developed by
Dr. Leora Kuttner. Kuttner studies how to take maximum advantage of non-pharmaceutical
techniques including self-hypnosis, imaginary involvement, and distraction to aid children,
parents, and medical professionals. The first DVD "No Fears, No Tears" (27 min.), follows eight
children with cancer, ages 3 to 12, and reveal how the natural power of the mind can be
harnessed to combat pain. The second DVD, "No Fears, No Tears" (46 min.) revisits seven of the
original children and examines the long-term value of learning how to constructively deal with
fear and pain. The people who used Kuttner's principles describe what helped them most and
least, and how they learned to deal with subsequent pain. Both films have won awards and are a
firsthand testimony to how children can improve their own welfare despite the most challenging
medical treatment. "No Fears, No Tears" and "No Fears, No Tears - 13 Years Later" have
become standard for teaching hospital staff how to help young patients through long, painful tests
and treatments, as well as how to integrate parents into the medical process, and are worthy of
the highest possible recommendation especially for medical school DVD libraries.
Tribal Energy Cardio
Suzanne Forbes-Vierling, Ph.D.
411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$19.95 www.411videoinfo.com
Tribal Energy Cardio is an energetic fitness DVD. Host Suzanne Forbes-Vierling presents an
exercise routine adapted from Western African dance movements, accessible to fitness
enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels. Featuring pounding drum rhythms and the exhilaration of
total body movement, Tribal Energy Cardio turns a solid workout into pure fun. Tribal Energy
Cardio is divided into a warmup, three workouts, and a grand finale; it's the perfect addition to
spice up any DVD fitness library. 60 min.
Tranquility Films
NTS Images (distribution)
PO Box 116, Colwich, KS 67030
411 Video Information (publicity)
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$19.95 each www.ntsimages.com www.411videoinfo.com
Two Tranquility Films DVDs offer relaxing images of the natural world, set to gently soothing
music. "Tranquility Films Volume 1: Coral Reef Odys-Sea" (80 min.) takes the viewer on a
wondrous, watery tour, through a realm inhabited by easily spooked octopi, colorful fish,
exquisite coral reefs, even sea turtles. "Tranquility Films Volume 2: Wings 'n Other Wild
Things" (66 min.) shows the viewer animal antics ranging from a leisurely iguana to the play of a
jaguar cub to the fluttering of colorful butterflies. Extreme care was taken not to harm any
animals during these beautiful, calming productions, available in DVD or Blu-ray format. Both
are superb gifts for nature lovers everywhere, ideal for unwinding after a long, hard day.
Fresh Food: What is Farm to Table?
Learning ZoneXPress
PO Box 1022, Owatonna, MN 55060
$79.95 www.learningzoneexpress.com 1-888-455-7003
Intended for viewers in grade 6 and up, Fresh Food: What is Farm to Table? is an educational
DVD about sustainable farming, and the value of eating locally grown foods that do not use
chemical pesticides or artificial hormones. Following three trained chefs who leave the big city to
grow fresh ingredients for their gourmet dishes, Fresh Food: What is Farm to Table? includes a
comparison of sustainable and organic farming, a brief history of American farms, and an
overview of how fresh food is transported from farms to one's dining table. Printable teaching
materials meant to be used in conjunction with Fresh Food are freely available online at Learning
ZoneXPress' website. In today's era of increasing overpopulation and ecological threat,
sustainable local farming is more important than ever; Fresh Food: What is Farm to Table? is
highly recommended especially for middle and highschool homeroom viewing. 20 min.
The Library Science Shelf
An Overview of the Changing Role of the Systems Librarian
Edward Iglesias, editor
Chandros Publishing
c/o Neal Schuman
100 William Street, Suite 2004, New York, NY 10038
9781843345985, $99.95, www.chandrospublishing.com
No library deals with paper alone any longer. "An Overview of the Changing Role of the Systems
Librarian: Systemic Shifts" analyzes the role of the Systems Librarian, something that didn't even
exist thirty to forty years ago. Discussing the role of the systems librarian and how their job is
rapidly changing with the endless shift of technology, and dealing with patrons of vastly differing
technological competency. Sampling ideas from today's libraries and what lies ahead for this
position, Edward Igelsias and Chandros Publishing work together in providing a highly insightful
and very useful resource on the shifting role of the systems librarian. Enhanced with plenty of
useful appendixes and a complete bibliography, "An Overview of the Changing Role of the
Systems Librarian" is a strong and very highly recommended addition to any library science
shelf.
The Libraries We Love
Karen Christensen & David Levinson, editor
Berkshire Publishing Group
314 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230
0977015920, $49.95, www.libarieswelove.org
A library can be a community center. "Heart of the Community: The Libraries We Love" looks t
three hundred libraries throughout the United States and Canada to the quaintest and most
charming libraries throughout the country. These libraries have earned their places as community
centers due to their historic and stoic nature that have withstood the test of time. Telling the
stories of many of these libraries accompanied by a fine collection of full color photos, "Heart of
the Community" is a choice pick for anyone who loves libraries and the atmosphere they can
bring to a community.
ALA Guide to Sociology & Psychology Reference
American Library Association
50 E. Hurton St., Chicago, IL 60611
9780838910252, $65.00, www.ala.org
A solid reference collection is always a cornerstone of every library. "ALA Guide to Sociology &
Psychology Reference" is a guide for librarians who want to have a complete and comprehensive
reference collection for the topic of psychology and sociology but are willing to admit that this is
not their field and could use help in making the connections they need to create a worthy
reference collection. Naming key books in particular, the ALA outlines the fundamentals,
theories of how your library should be aligned, and major books on each genre and subgenre that
should be considered for your library. Packed with plenty of resources, appendixes, and plenty of
useful information, "ALA Guide to Sociology & Psychology Reference" is a compendium that
should not be missed for the librarian who isn't also a psychologist themselves.
Camp Summer Read
C. Kay Gooch & Charlotte Massey
Libraries Unlimited
130 Cremona Drive
PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
9781598844474, $30.00, www.abc-clio.com
The summer is a lapsed period in education, but a good book can help keep those minds sharp.
"Camp Summer Read: How to Create Your Own Summer Reading Camp" is a guide for making
a summer camp that encourages reading. A how to guide that covers everything surrounding the
process form accounting, regulation, and much more, C. Kay Gooch & Charlotte Massey provide
much expert advice. These methods can encourage kids to read during the summer and prove
great fun not only for the children, but the people in charge as well. "Camp Summer Read" is a
strong resource for anyone who wants to promote the importance and value of reading during the
Summer months.
Sears List of Subject Headings, 20th edition
Joseph Miller, editor
Susan McCarthy, associate editor
H.W. Wilson
950 University Avenue, Bronx, NY 10452
9780824211059 $150.00 www.hwwilson.com 1-800-367-6770
Now in its twentieth updated edition, Sears List of Subject Headings continues to serve as an
invaluable resource for subject cataloguing in small and medium-sized libraries. More than 8,000
subject terms and recommendations for establishing further terms as needed pack this volume; its
latest update includes new headings in the rapidly growing body of literature concerning ecology
and the environment. Suggested subject headings are listed in alphabetic order for quick and easy
reference; an exhaustive preface section entitled "Principles of the Sears List" guides librarians
and data workers of all skill and experience levels in the effective use of this resource. A
"must-have" for anyone tasked with processing and cataloguing a large quantity of library
materials.
Blogging And RSS, second edition
Michael P. Sauers
Information Today, Inc.
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055
9781573873994, $35.00, www.infotoday.com
It's not just about filing musty books anymore. "Blogging and RSS: A Librarian's Guide"
discusses the value of blogging and RSS feeds and what they can do for libraries. This second
edition of the book originally published in 2006 is updated with the times to take advantage of
the new shifts in social media such as Facebook and twitter. Discussing in in depth what a
librarian is suppose to do to make the most out of Web 2.0 and social media, complete with
appendixes and plenty of informative graphics, "Blogging and RSS" is something to be at hand
for any web-savvy librarian.
The Biography Shelf
In the Shadow of the Bear
Jim McGavran
Michigan State University Press
1405 South Harrison Road, Suite 25, East Lansing, MI 58823-5202
9780870139819, $19.95, www.msupress.msu.edu
Memories of the past are still strong when revisited. "In the Shadow of the Bear" is a memoir
from Jim McGavran about his childhood visits to the Leelanau Peninsula and how this region,
unknown to most of the country but holding a special place in many Michiganite's hearts, still
holds a special place for him, to the point of seeing his daughters wedding there. With a bit
humor and wisdom, "In the Shadow of the Bear" is an excellent and finely recommended read,
not to be missed.
The Black Hole of Public Administration
Ruth Hubbard & Gilles Paquet
University of Ottawa Press
542 King Edward Ottawa ON K1N 6N5
9780776607429, $32.95, www.press.uottawa.ca
The failure of public service is not only an American thing. "The Black Hole of Public
Administration" is a call for better reform in Canadian politics from Ruth Hubbard and Giles
Paquet as they discuss the many problems with Canada's systems and how they can be improved.
Stating that many people who want to help change the system for the better join it only to have
their spirit crushed, they offer many potential solutions for improving the status of Canada. With
a healthy and thoughtful criticism, "The Black Hole of Public Administration" points out the sad
and vicious cycle of government in today's world.
Confessions, Rants, and Exploits, of a Civil Servant
Ramona Swann
Elderberry Press
1393 Old Homestead Drive, Oakland, OR 97462
9781934956359, $17.95, www.elderberrypress.com
Tax money seems so rarely well spent. "Confessions, Rants, and Exploits, of a Civil Servant" is a
memoir from Ramona Swann, who worked for the government for thirty years in various
branches. Stated that there is corruption in the system as well as heroes, she provides a unique
and thoughtful insight into the system that will help readers rethink the system as a whole.
"Confessions, Rants, and Exploits, of a Civil Servant" is a thoughtful and highly recommended
read.
One Page at a Time
Pat Carr
Texas Tech University Press
2903 4th Street Box 41037, Lubbock, TX 79409-1037
9780896727168, $25.95, www.ttupress.org
To write is to share life's experiences and, in many ways, to twist how they happened to you.
"One Page at a Time: On a Writing Life" is a memoir from Pat Carr as she reflects on her
unusual path to adulthood and how she kept her pen moving the entire way. Facing some of the
worst events of the twentieth century, she speaks in a profound manner and hopes to inspire
others to share their life and their goals. "One Page at a Time" is an excellent memoir with plenty
to soak in and contemplate.
PacMan
Gary Andrew Poole
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
9780306819490, $25.00, www.dacapopress.com
PACMAN: BEHIND THE SCENES WITH MANNY PACQUIAO, THE GREATEST
POUND-FOR-POUND FIGHTER IN THE WORLD belongs on the shelves of any boxing
collection. It blends the first major biography of Pacquiao with a survey of the entire sport of
boxing. Pacquiao is regarded as the sport's most charismatic fighter, achieving legendary status
previously afforded only Ali. He's the only fighter to win seven world championships in seven
different weight classes. His biography will draw immediate interest from any boxing fan.
The Dangerous Otto Katz
Jonathan Miles
Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
9781596916616, $26.00, www.bloomsburyusa.com
THE DANGEROUS OTTO KATZ; THE MANY LIVES OF A SOVIET SPY examines a spy
who seems to often be at the center of crucial historical moments. Katz talked Arthur Koestler
out of a life-threatening mission in the Spanish Civil War, may have married film star Marlene
Dietrich, and more. This biography blends historical background in its analysis, covering secret
meetings, Western celebrities, and more. General lending collections will find it compelling!
Is it Just Me?
Whoopi Goldberg
Hyperion
114 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10011
9781401323844, $22.99, www.hyperionbooks.com
IS IT JUST ME? OR IS IT NUTS OUT THERE? Provides an engaging, fun set of observations
blending Goldberg's experiences with her observations of life and its inconsistencies.
Observations offer a funny but pointed look on civility and how it's interfering with the quality of
life for everyone. From a list of socially-acceptable things to bring for a kid on a plane to how
role models disappoint, this is an engrossing read.
My Lie
Meredith Maran
Jossey-Bass
989 Market St., San Francisco CA 94103
9780470502143, $24.95, www.josseybass.com
MY LIE: A TRUE STORY OF FALSE MEMORY tells of a daughter who at age 37, an
award-winning journalist, accused her father of sexual abuse. Ten years later she realized, nearly
too late, that he was innocent. Meredith Maran's experience with false memory is important on
several levels: it traces her own divided life and it also closely examines the phenomenon of false
memory.
All By My Selves
Jeff Dunham
Dutton
c/o Penguin Publishing Group
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
9780525951414, $25.95, www.penguin.com
ALL BY MY SELVES: WALTER, PEANUT, ACHMED, AND ME provides a top
autobiography written by a comedian and ventriloquist whose politically-charged dummies and
comments have been a top TV hit for years. Now millions of fans will learn the story of the man
behind the dummies, and how he added different twists on the traditional ventriloquist comedy
routine. Any who love Jeff Dunham's show must have this book, and any general library
collection will see it a popular lend.
Claude Levi-Strauss
Patrick Wilcken
Penguin Press
c/o Penguin Publishing Group
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
9781594202735, $29.95, www.penguin.com
CLAUDE LEVI-STRAUSS; THE POET IN TE LABORATORY provides a fine prove into the
anthropologist's life, revealing the influence that led him to his then-radical ideas. Original
research conducted in France and Brazil and interviews with Levi-Strauss himself lend depth and
perspective to this survey of his ideas and life, making this a 'must' for any collection containing
his theories and studying his influence.
A French Aristocrat in the American West
Carl J. Ekberg
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Boulevard, Columbia, MO 65201
9780826218964 $44.95 www.umsystem.edu/upress
A French Aristocrat in the American West: The Shattered Dreams of De Lassus de Luzieres is
the biography of Pierre-Charles de Lassus de Luzieres, who left Revolutionary France with his
family to buy land in America. He was swindled by the notorious Scioto Land Company, yet he
chose to remain in North America and move to the Mississippi River Valley. He dreamed of
creating a commercial empire; though he never precisely realized his most grandiose aspirations,
he was pivotal in founding the city of New Bourbon and encouraging American settlers to move
westward across the Mississippi River. His most notable legacy is his extensive writings about
life on the Mississippi frontier during the last years of the colonial era. A French Aristocrat in the
American West is divided into two parts - a thoughtful biography of de Luzieres, and a
meticulous collection of source documents. The result is an invaluable account that
simultaneously serves as a primary and tertiary source of American colonial history, as well as of
the life and times of a truly extraordinary American. Highly recommended, especially for college
library collections.
The English Opium-Eater
Robert Morrison
Pegasus Books
80 Broad Street, Fifth Floor, New York, NY 10004
9781605981321, $35.00, www.pegasusbooks.us
The truly great writers are far from perfect people. "The English Opium-Eater: A Biography of
Thomas De Quincey" follows the literary career of one of England's most famous writers and
tries to understand his life and how it affected his writing. It also discusses his serious opium
addiction which warped his writing even more, as he battled an addiction he was simply
fascinated by. A fascinating read that will prove very hard to put down, "The English
Opium-Eater" is a read that shouldn't be overlooked for literary biography collections focusing
on nineteenth century England.
Dan Donnelly
Patrick Myler
DuFour Editions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9781843511588, $21.95, www.dufoureditions.com
Violence doesn't solve everything, but it doesn't mean it can't lead to something greater. "Dan
Donnelly, 1788-1820: Pugilist, Publican, Playboy" tells the story of this early nineteenth century
bareknuckle fighting Irishmen and how he inspired the Irish people during a tumultuous time by
simply dominating his British opponents in the ring. A fascinating and entertaining biography of
this unique unsung hero of history, "Dan Donelly" is a choice pick for any biography collection,
especially those with an Irish focus.
Flyover Country
Christopher Harper
Hamilton Books
c/o Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
9780761853329 $25.00 www.rlpgbooks.com
Flyover Country: Baby Boomers and Their Stories collects true stories from the lives of a group
of baby boomers who graduated from high school in 1969 in the Midwest. Chapters follow them
through the Vietnam War (and protests against it), the search for jobs and families, and their
contributions as doctors, business owners, ministers, politicians, and teachers. Flyover Country
also offers true stories of coping with harsh trials - divorce, being a victim of criminal activity,
the life-destroying effects of alcohol and drugs, even the loss of a spouse or a child. A candid,
collective portrait of the highs and lows of daily life, Flyover Country seeks to impart invaluable
lessons to future generations, and is highly recommended especially for public library
collections.
David Petraeus: A Biography
Bradley T. Gericke
Greenwood Press
c/o ABC-CLIO
PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
9780313383779 $35.00 www.abc-clio.com
David Petraeus: A Biography is the life story of the American general who turned the course of
the ongoing war in Iraq around with his implemented plan for a "surge". Written by military
historian and army strategist Bradley T. Gericke, David Petraeus: A Biography traces Petraeus'
life from growing up in New York to his service in the 101st Airborne Division to his
controversy with the MoveOn website, to his efforts to counter sectarian violence not only
through military but also through social and legal means. A handful of black-and-white
photographs illustrate this exceptional account of a leader who successful approached complex
warfare on multiple fronts - military, diplomatic, economic, and informational. David Petraeus:
A Biography is worthy of the highest recommendation for military biography, public, and college
library shelves.
Unstoppable in Stilettos
Lauren Ruotolo
Health Communications, Inc.
3201 S. W. 15th Street, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442
9780757315145, $14.95, www.hcibooks.com
Walking in stilettos is an accomplishment all its own. Walking in them when you're not even
suppose to be walking is another. "Unstoppable in Stilettos: A Girl's Guide to Living Tall in a
Small World" is an inspirational memoir from Lauren Ruotolo, predicted to be wheelchair bound
her entire life due to a rare disease called McCune-Albright syndrome. Instead of accepting the
diagnosis, she spat in its face and has lived a successful and driven life that would make any
'normal' person seem lame. "Unstoppable in Stilettos" is uplifting and very highly recommended
motivational reading.
My Life in Japanese Art and Gardens
Adachi Zenko
Stone Bridge Press
PO Box 8208, Berkeley, CA 94707
9781933330860, $29.95, www.stonebridge.com
From nothing, he became a baron of class and culture. "My Life in Japanese Art and Gardens:
From Entrepreneur to Connoisseur" is a biography of Adachi Zenko, a man who grew up from
nothing and carved his own place in the world. From his early days in a Japan rising to power, to
being a man of many businesses through the war and dealing with prison, betrayal, and more, his
life's work is still felt in Japan over two decades after his death. "My Life in Japanese Art and
Gardens" is a fascinating autobiography of international business, highly recommended.
The Inventor's Fortune
Suzanne G. Beyer & John S. Pfarr
Book Publishers
PO Box 2256, Bothell, WA 98041
9781935359531, $16.95, www.bookpublishersnetwork.com
The simplest of things can become the most valuable of things. "The Inventor's Fortune Up for
Grabs: The Legacy of the Expansion Bracelet" follows the estate of the expansion bracelet, a
simple invention that is worth millions that has fallen out of the familial line of Art Hadley. A
legal drama with plenty of amusing twists for a true life story, "The Inventor's Fortune Up for
Grabs" is an enticing read of the legacy of one of the most useful things most never know
about.
My Week at the Blue Angel
Matthew O'Brien
Huntington Press
3665 Procyon Street, Las Vegas, NV 89103
1935396412, $14.95, www.guanxionline.com
A sleazy cheap motel is often the headquarters of life's adventures. "My Week at the Blue Angel:
And Other Stories From the Storm Drains, Strip Clubs, and Trailer Parks of Las Vegas" is a
collection of memoirs from Matthew O'Brien about his own unique adventures in Vegas, a town
with no shortage of notoriety. His exploration however, isn't the theme park, but the city that
hides behind it that is living and breathing much like any city in America. With plenty of black
and white photos, "My Week at the Blue Angel" is a fun and intriguing read that will prove very
hard to put down.
Becoming Odyssa
Jennifer Pharr Davis
Beaufort Books
27 West 20th Street, Suite 1102, New York, NY 10011
9780825306495, $24.95, www.beaufortbooks.com
Going up the east coast on foot is quite the challenge, and going through the wilderness doesn't
make it any easier. "Becoming Odyssa: Epic Adventures on the Appalachian Trail" is a memoir
from Jennifer Pharr Davis and how in her melancholy of her life, seeking time to think about
what she wanted to do with it, she sought to hike the Appalachian trail, a path of nearly three
thousand miles stretching from Georgia to Maine. For four months she walked this path and
learned much about herself and the world, "Becoming Odyssa" is a thoughtful and intriguing
memoir, very highly recommended.
Dreams & Schemes
Steve Lopez
Camino Books
PO Box 59026, Philadelphia, PA 19102
9781933822310, $17.95, www.caminobooks.com
California has become a magnet to many intriguing characters. "Dreams & Schemes: My Decade
of Fun in the Sun" is a collection essays and memoirs from Steve Lopez on his time in Southern
California. Meeting with philosophers, millionaires, Hollywood stars, and more, he provides a
fascinating dissection of life in the region and an intriguing piece of Americana. Deftly compiled
and entertaining as well as intriguing reading, "Dreams & Schemes" is a solid addition to any
journalistic memoir collection.
It Was Out of Love
James S. Marr
Wine Press Publishing
PO Box 428, Enumclaw, WWA 98022
9781606150238, $19.99, www.itwasoutoflove.com
Not every secret is spiteful. "It Was Out of Love: A True Love Story of Deception, Grace, and
Forgiveness" is a memoir from James S. Marr about the secrets of life that his wife kept from
him over the years and how he learned about them, and their love remained strong. A memoir of
love and faith, Marr's read is a reminder that love can be unconditional, even through revelations
and that couples should remember that. "It Was Out of Love" is quite the read with a powerful
message.
The Library CD Music Shelf
Om Namo Narayanaya: Soul Call
Chandrika Krishnamurthy Tandon
Soul Chants Music
c/o Rock Paper Scissors
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2, Bloomington, IN 47404
$7.21 www.soulchants.com www.rockpaperscissors.biz
Nominated for a Grammy in the Best Contemporary World Music Album category, Om: Namo
Narayanaya: Soul Call consists of eight songs composed around the core of an eight-syllable
chant that is over six thousand years old. Each song has been created in accordance with a
different East Indian raga; arrangements using over 30 acoustic Indian classical, folk, and
Western instruments from vibraphone to acoustic guitar enrich the presentation. The eight
syllables of the central chant (Om Na Mo Na Ra Ya Na Ya) are from a Vedic tradition, and
believed to create a protective and healing armor about the body. Soul Call is a moving creation
of audible excellence, honoring ancient traditions while promoting a new way to experience
them. The result is an exceptional addition to world music shelves, highly recommended. The
tracks are "Bhoopali" (7:45), "Bageshri" (7:40), "Shuddha Sarang" (9:06), "Manj Khamaj
Medley" (9:28), "Bhatiyar" (6:28), "Malkauns" (6:12), "Basanth" (5:10), "Basanth Mukhari"
(9:53), and "Basanth Mukhari - Radio Edit" (3:20).
The Civil War Shelf
Practicing Medicine in a Black Regiment
Richard M. Reid, Editor
University of Massachusetts Press
Box 429, Amherst, MA 01004
9781558497399, www.umass.edu/umpress
Practicing Medicine in a Black Regiment: The Civil War Diary of Burt G. Wilder, 55th
Massachusetts follows an era when Massachusetts began recruiting black soldier to serve in the
Civil War. Burt Green Wilder, a Harvard-educated doctor-in-training, was among the first white
officers commissioned to staff the 55th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, and for several years
recorded his experiences in a diary. This presentation documents biased treatment and
differences in treatment between black and white troops, and offers an unusual record key to any
in-depth Civil War library.
Failure in the Saddle
David A. Powell
Savas Beatie
PO Box 4527, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
9781932714876 $34.95 www.savasbeatie.com
Failure in the Saddle: Nathan Bedford Forrest, Joseph Wheeler, and the Confederate Cavalry in
the Chickamauga Campaign is an in-depth military and historical analysis of the role of the
Confederate cavalry in the loss of Chattanooga and the problems that further undercut the South's
effectiveness up to and beyond the battle of Chickamauga. Author David A. Powell reveals that
Braxton Bragg's Army of Tennessee often received misleading information from its cavalry
generals - they neglected to fully examine critical passes and river crossings, often let petty
politics influence their decision-making, and sometimes even disobeyed specific and repeated
orders. An extraordinary account of how incidents of incompetence or insubordination can
undercut victory as well as accelerate defeat, Failure in the Saddle is a welcome addition to Civil
War military history shelves, and highly recommended especially for college library
collections.
Soldiers North and South
Paul A. Cimbala
Fordham University Press
University Box L, 2546 Belmont Ave, Bronx, NY 10458
9780823233922, $25.00, www.fordhampress.com
At war with your countryman, day to day life was something much different. "Soldiers North and
South: The Everyday Experiences of the Men Who Fought America's Civil War" looks into the
daily challenge that these men faced in their camp life, not knowing when they will be marched
off to the next battle. Covering their story from the early war to the time after the end of the war,
Paul Cimbala invites readers to get into the heads of these individuals and understand what it was
like in their situation. "Soldiers North and South" is an excellent addition to any American Civil
War history collection, enthusiastically recommended.
The Poetry Shelf
Over Autumn Rooftops
Hai Zi
Host Publications
277 Broadway, Suite 210, New York, NY 10007
9780924047756, $35.00, www.hostpublications.com
The nation of China has had a tumultuous twentieth century. "Over Autumn Rooftops" looks at
the work of Hai Zi, who has earned acclaim outside of his home country based on his focus on
the heartland of China that is away from the massively packed cities of Beijing and Shanghai. His
poetry will relate to any reader in the world, making "Over Autumn Rooftops" a treasure of
international poetry. "Autumn": deep in autumn, in the home of the god hawks gather/in the
native place of the gods hawks are speaking/deep in autumn, the king writes poetry/in the world
of deep autumn/what should be gained is not yet gained/what should be lost was long ago
lost.
The Scare in the Crow
Tammy Armstrong
Goose Lane
330-500 Beaverbrook Court, Fredericton NB Canada E3B 5X4
9780864926272, $17.95, www.gooselane.com
With a unique approach and blend of concepts, "The Scare in the Crow" is an anthology of poetry
from Tammy Armstrong as she pokes the ideas of the dark woods and rural America with her
mind and comes to some intriguing ideas and conclusions. Fun and thought provoking, "The
Scare in the Crow" is quite the read and is very highly recommended. "Living Clock": In his
horologium florae/Linnaeus lunched by goatsbeard, as scarlet pimpernel closed//and hawkbit
yellowed the hour with forked bristle/while weeds and vulneraries worked a prediction/with
time's vertebrae;/Linnaeu's star of Bethlehem motioned/from a pre-determined tilt,/his flowering
tobacco furled//voluted leaves/for dark, admitting the evening/into ground slump.//The
sow-thistle's thrive,/the botanical cog and wheel--/time through mineral seep and bloom.
Otherwise Elsewhere
David Rivard
Graywolf Press
230 Third Avenue N, Suite 600, Minneapolis, MN 55401
9781555975739, $15.00, www.graywolfpress.org
Facing the world is a daunting task without the aid of those who matter to you, and for some,
without Christ. "Otherwise Elsewhere" is a collection of poetry from David Rivard with a simple
message about the comforts of life that lie all around us. With a unique voice and plenty of
powerful messages, "Otherwise Elsewhere" is a fine pick for poetry collections. "Whose Country,
Mine or Theirs?: It's a problem as small/as a birch leaf blown against a window screen--/this
clinging bit of green/inside of which at the end of day/you can see a forest crossroad & a dim
figure halfway/between a so-called Zion & a wired so-called Babylon,/tho whether he is being
carried away or is returning from captivity/that is unclear/in those smoking piney-woods/he
appears to be/waiting to be fed--after which the leaf will fall.
English Fragments
Martin Corless-Smith
Fence Books
1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222
9781934200384, $18.95, www.fenceportal.org
Throughout time, pieces of history and life are scattered for us to put back together. "English
Fragments: A Brief History of the Soul" is a collection of poetry from Martin Corless-Smith as
he reflects on the meetings of opposites in our world and facing history in the bigger picture.
Thoughtful and thought provoking verse, "English Fragments" is a fine read and solidly
recommended. "My Picture Left": I now think language deaf/Its sentence blind unconscious
read/So much want these hundred hairs/My face his eyes her ears unsaid.
Driving to Heaven
Tracy S. Youngblom
Parallel Press
372 Memorial Library, 728 State Street, Madison, WI 53575
9781934795163 $10.00 http://parallelpress.library.wisc.edu 1-800-636-0071
Driving to Heaven is a free-verse poetry chapbook by English teacher Tracy S. Youngblom.
Some of the poems have previously appeared in a variety of different publications; their collected
gestalt revolved around family ties, the relentless march of time and age, and the importance of
taking time to reflect upon the highs and lows of life. A quiet intensity pervades this emotional
and memorable collection. "Desire": peony petals drop, // whole hanks of them / mound on the
counter, // pliant and graceful as ballerinas / settling in their skirts, // and the remaining flowers
lean // down toward them / dripping over the vase's lip
Saint Erasure
Donna de la Perriere
Talisman House
PO Box 896, Greenfield, MA 01302
9781584980766, $13.95
Something minor can quickly become something so much more. "Saint Erasure" is a collection
of poetry from Donna de la Perriere as she presents an exploration of the small victories and
miracles of life that make our world turn. Thoughtful and thought provoking, "Saint Erasure" is
not a read to be missed. "From the Root Word Meaning 'To Go'": The body carried on for
years/at that point we were alive/the moment, when driving/into the city, when crossing/the
bridge, when reaching/the apex, we saw the horizon/entire-- the scope, the sweep of/motion, of
the visible, rising. Also from Talisman House poetry, "Rosestrikes & Coffee
Grinds"(9781584980735, $14.95) from Turkish poet Seyhan Erozecelik, expertly translated by
Murat Nemet-Nejat.
Like a Man Gone Mad
Samuel Hazo
Syracuse University Press
621 Skytop Road, Suite 110, Syracuse, NY 13244-5290
9780815609575, $12.95, www.syracuseuniversitypress.syr.edu
Words used lightly and wisely impart much to ponder. "Like a Man Gone Mad" is a collection of
poetry from Samuel Hazo, a distinguished professor of English at Duquesne University. His
work looks at history and reflects in a way accessible to any reader, not just academia. "Like a
Man Gone Mad" Is a fine read, and very highly recommended. "The Merchandiser's Song": Sell
only the best for as much as you can/and make it appear like a bargain from God./It takes as
much work to sell rubies as toothpicks,/but watch how the difference quintuples your profits/and
let that convince you the difference is worth it./I've done this for years so I know what I'm
saying.
Kaleidoscope
P. K. Page
The Porcupine's Quill
68 Main St., Erin, Ontario, N0B 1T0
9780889843318, $24.95, www.porcupinesquill.ca
A lifetime's worth of passion and dedication. "Kaleidoscope: Selected Poems" is a collection of
poetry from P. K. Page covering her long line of work. Combining some of the best from her
previous volumes as well as many new poems, it's a comprehensive taste of Page's style and
work. "Kaleidoscope" is a fine addition to any poetry collection, highly recommended. "The
World": It is like a treacle, the world./I am caught in its golden threads,/a fly in a honey pot.
Where's Katie?
Elaine Feeney
Salmon Poetry
c/o DuFour Editions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9781907056437, $19.95, www.salmonpoetry.com
Our many roles in life pull us in all directions. "Where's Katie?" is a collection of poetry from
Elaine Feeney speaking as a woman of many roles in life and the constant agony and joy that life
assaults one with. Thoughtful and insightful, "Where's Katie?" is a choice collection of poetry,
not to be overlooked. "Covering Up": Lithe tight muscles,/aching groin,/tantalite dapples/on a
day for feasting./Come over, shackle her,/hobbled flesh teasing and/tantalizing frigid
froths,/screams, whines, all-merciful whispers;/those divine silence breaksers.
The Buddhist Studies Shelf
Middleway Press
606 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90401
www.middlewaypress.com
Spiritual leader Daisaku Ikeda, president of the Buddhist lay organization Soka Gakkai, presents
two volumes of "The Soka Gakkai History of Buddhism" series, offering a carefully researched
presentation of what history and testimony have to tell us of the origins and contributions of the
Buddhist faith. "The Living Buddha: An Interpretive Biography" (9780977924523, $14.95) is
both a straightforward chronicle of the Buddha's life, and also an inspirational testimony meant to
aid the reader in freeing oneself from suffering. "The Living Buddha" does not treat the Buddha
as a distant legend, but rather as a living, breathing person who rose above the harsh difficulties
of his day and age to deliver a universally crucial message, that remains immediately and directly
relevant thousands of years later. "Buddhism: The First Millennium" (9780977924530, $14.95)
chronicles the rise of a religion that had its origins in an era when few were inclined to keep
detailed historical records. It wasn't until the First Council, long after the death of the Buddha,
that any major effort to create the Buddhist cannon took place. "Buddhism: The First
Millennium" chronicles Buddhism's spread to Southeast Asia, China, Korea, and Japan, as well
as the key individuals who helped to spread its message, including the Indian king Ashoka, the
Greek philosopher-king Menander, and monks and lay believers such as Vimalakirti, Nagarjuna,
and Vasubandhu. Both volumes are thoroughly accessible to reader of all backgrounds,
invaluable contributions to Buddhist Studies shelves, and highly recommended.
The Fiction Shelf
Crazy Beautiful
Lauren Baratz-Logsted
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003
9780547403106, $7.99, www.hmhbooks.com
Hooks serve to repel most people, but there is someone out there for everyone. "Crazy Beautiful"
is the unique love story of Lucius, a man who blew his own arms off and replaced them with
claws. When Aurora enters his life and is not repulsed by his condition, Lucius is unsure of how
to respond. "Crazy Beautiful" is a fun and fast paced love story, very highly recommended.
The Overnight Socialite
Bridie Clark
Weinstein Books
345 Hudson Street, 13th Floor, New York, NY 10014
9781602861282, $14.95, www.weinsteinbooks.com
From zero to hero isn't as glorious as it sounds. "The Overnight Socialite" tells the story of small
town girl Lucy Ellis on the verge of giving up her dream for good and heading home. But when a
Dr. Hayes has a bet to win, Lucy's luck changes, and finds her entire world shifting once more.
"The Overnight Socialite" is quite the enticing read of the culture of the New York high life, very
highly recommended for any girl with big dreams of her own.
Every Bitter Thing
Hardy Jones
Black Lawrence Press
115 Center Ave, Aspinwall, PA 15215
9780982520413, $16.00, www.blacklawrence.com
Strength means a lot of things to different people, but it's all about how it's used. "Every Bitter
Thing" follows young Wesley Royal who hates his father and only desires to get stronger to stand
up for him. Feeling Tae Kwon Do may give him the strength he needs to stand up to his father. A
story of abuse and what it drives people to, "Every Bitter Thing" is a touching read and has a
strong message, enthusiastically recommended.
House of Angels
Freda Lightfoot
Magna
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
9780750532457, $35.50, www.ulverscroftusa.com
What is pristine on the outside is never what it seems. "House of Angels" is a simple story of the
early twentieth century and three daughters of an American aristocrat. Seeing their hands married
off to whoever benefits their father the most, they rebel, and search for love or live in spite of the
father. A thoughtful and riveting familial drama, "House of Angels" is presented in large print
and is an excellent and highly recommended read that shouldn't be overlooked by general fiction
readers.
Dylan's Cause
Pamela Swyers
c/o Ingram and Baker & Taylor
638 Barow Drive, Dacula, GA 30019
9780984311330, $24.99, www.swyerspublishing.com
Split between the light and the darkness, few knows which path will be taken. "Dylan's Cause" is
the first entry into the Tryta Chronicles, following a story of the angelic Diana and her broken
union with Dwyn, whose core of evil leads him to be banished from the heavenlies. Their child
however, a union of both sides, has an uncertain future. An intriguing fantasy of Heaven and hell,
"Dylan's Cause" is a fantasy read that will definitely prove hard to put down.
The Water Weavers: An Orphan's Tale or "A Wad of Gum"
Albert F. Heisenfelt
The Imagination Workshop
imaginationworkshop@gmail.com
Kindle Edition, $4.70, www.amazon.com
In "The Water Weavers: An Orphan's Tale or A Wad of Gum" author Albert F. Heisenfelt tells
the unique and engaging story of two orphans, six year old Bobby and Leano, a boy and girl who
we first find living in an inner city tenement. Two other characters are introduced into their lives
as the children become separated and then reunited in the foster care of Jon and Sylvia, an
compassionate and understanding couple who undertake to raise the children on their family farm
with sensitivity, acceptance, and challenge. When Bobby and Leano are adults they assume
responsibility for the farm when Jon and Sylvia retire. Along the way the two encounter Thomas
E., a boy of mystery who seems to be writing a book and repeatedly pops in and out of the farm,
having a kind of obscure relationship to the continuing lives of Bobby and Leano. Available only
as a digital book, "The Water Weavers: An Orphan's Tale or A Wad of Gum" is a metaphysical
novel the documents its author as a skilled and imaginative storyteller, a writer who has a
genuine flair for original poetry as well. "Rhyming words creep through this story, / Sneaking in
like holiday elves, / Exposing, blaming, cajoling glory / As they unfold our core-held selves.
"The Water Weavers: An Orphan's Tale or A Wad of Gum" is strongly recommended as a
thoughtful and thought provoking read. Also highly recommended by Albert F. Heisenfelt are the
digital books "Thames (or) I Can Hear A Candle Burning" and "The Word Warrior: Boy
Wonder-Writer".
Tales from the Yoga Studio
Rain Mitchell
Plume Book
c/o Penguin Publishing Group
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014-3658
9780452296916, $15.00, www.penguin.com
Yoga can bring more than a bit of exercise. "Tales from the Yoga Studio" tells the story of Lee, a
Yoga teacher in the small town of Silver Lake. Many of her students come into her class, and
they all have problems, in desperate need of spiritual renewal. Through their lessons, they will
learn to overcome their problems, but Lee has many that a few spiritual exercise sessions may not
be enough to solve. "Tales from the Yoga Studio" is a thoughtful and fun read for those looking
for a bit of spirituality with their fiction.
Hide and Seek
Alison Tyler & Rachel Kramer Bussel, editor
Cleis Press
2246 Sixth St., Berkeley, CA 94710
9781573444194, $14.95, www.cleispress.com
Just watching is all some people need. "Hide and Seek: Erotic Tales of Voyeurs and
Exhibitionists" is a collection of sensual short stories from assorted authors focusing on the need
to see and be seen as a sexual vice. Be it being a private porn star or seeing what the neighbors
are up to, to road adventures and many other situations where privacy is of the least concern, and
the danger of being caught only adds to the fun "Hide and Seek" is a treasure trove for those with
a little exhibition in them, highly recommended.
Waiting for No One
Beverley Brenna
Red Deer Press
195 Allstate Parkway, Markham, ON L3R 4T8
9780889954373, $12.95, www.fitzhenry.ca
Asperger's is more of a disorder than anyone truly knows. "Waiting for No One" tells the story of
Taylor, a young woman with Asperger's syndrome who is coming into adulthood. A story of
facing the world with a very different viewpoint and the challenges that are included with it all,
"Waiting for No One" is a charming yet riveting read with a lot to think about, very highly
recommended.
Haiti Noir
Edwidge Danticat
Akashic Books
PO Box 1456, New York, NY 10009
9781617750137, $24.95, www.akashicbooks.com
Noir is a gritty mystery with an eye for the bad side of life. "Haiti Noir" is a collection of stories
from assorted authors who present their tales of tracking down the truth and having some
semblance of justice when everything in the world seems to be against it. With stories from a
collection of some of Haiti's best authors, "Haiti Noir" is a riveting collection that should be hard
to put down for any reader, with a proceed being donated to the Lambi Fund of Haiti, helping to
work towards a better Haiti of tomorrow.
The Love Goddess' Cooking School
Melissa Senate
Gallery Books
c/o Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl., NY, NY 10020
9781439107232, $15.00, www.simonandschuster.com
The Love Goddess' Cooking School provides a fine novel blending romance with cuisine as it
tells of Holly, in between chef jobs and making decisions that involve fleeing food and love.
Holly's Italian grandmother's cooking was rumored to save marriages: will Holly's inherited skills
gain her love? A fine, involving story emerges.
Valley Forge: A Novel
Newt Gingrich and William R. Forstchen
Thomas Dunne Books
175 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10010-7848
9780312591076, $27.99, www.thomasdunnebooks.com
VALLEY FORGE: GEORGE WASHINGTON AND THE CRUCIBLE OF VICTORY offers a
fine novel sequel to the best-selling TO TRY MEN'S SOULS, picking up where the narrative left
off and starting a year after Washington's surprise attack on Trenton. Set in the winter of 1777,
this follows the suffering and strategies of Washington and German volunteer Baron von
Steuben, offering a vivid story highly recommended for any military or general lending
library.
The Glory Wind
Valerie Sherrard
Fitzhenry & Whiteside
311 Washington Street, Brighton, MA 02135
9781554551705, $12.95, www.fitzhenry.ca
What life has led you to believe often conflicts with how it really is. "The Glory Wind" is a novel
of facing love and the truth that comes with it. Grace, a small town girl, meets Luke. But when
her small town values are threatened, her life may change for the better and for the worse. "The
Glory Wind" is a charming read with plenty to ponder, highly recommended.
Beauties
Mary Troy
BkMk
University of Missouri-Kansas City, 5101 Rockhill Road, Kansas City, MO 64110
9781886157743, $16.95
With focus, you can find more beauty in the world than you could ever hope for. "Beauties" tells
the story of Bev and Shelley, two women running a cafe. Facing their own problems with love,
they see world filled with trouble on the surface. But for them and the men they seek, when they
look deeper, grace awaits. A novel with a driving and powerful message of devotion, "Beauties"
is a novel that would be a sage addition to general fiction collections.
A Grave in the Cotswolds
Rebecca Tope
International Publishers Marketing
PO Box 605, Herndon, VA 20172-0605
9780749008062, $29.95, www.allisonandbusby.com
An undertaker makes his business in death, but death is the last thing this one wants to deal with.
"A Grave in the Cotswolds: Death Visits a Sleepy Country Village" tells the story of Drew
Slocombe as he brings his undertaking business on the road to the small town of the Cotswolds
where he finds himself not just the burier of the dead, but the accused murderer as well. An
exciting read with a certain morbid humor, "A Grave in the Cotswolds" will prove very hard to
put down.
Journal of an Ordinary Grief
Mahmoud Darwish
Archipelago Books
232 Third Street, #A111 Brooklyn, NY 11215
9780982624647, $16.00
The Palestinian people have spent much of the last century in eternal limbo. "Journal of an
Ordinary Grief" is a translation, expertly done from the original Arabic by Ibrahim Muhawi, of
Mahmoud Darwish's papers he has written since 1973, granting insight into the minds of the
Palestinians who live in Israel and what the whole conflict means for them. Insightful and
scholarly reading, "Journal of an Ordinary Grief" is a read that really shouldn't be missed for
those intrigued by the conflict of the middle east.
Pearson Publishing Company
Corpus Christi, Texas
Info@PearsonPub.US 361-882-0070
Max Oliver's "Saga of a Comanche Warrior" series consists of five novels chronicling the life
journey of a young Comanche Native American in the 1800's. Born the smaller and weaker of
twins, he nevertheless must bravely confront one challenge after another on the long road to
adulthood. Oliver's writing draws heavily upon his own research and his lifelong interest in the
lives of the Americans who called the land home before European newcomers forced them onto
reservations. "Saga of a Comanche Warrior" begins with "Little Boy" (9780981848020, $12.95),
in which the physically frail young Comanche is protected from death by his mother, No Talks;
he grows up to be a skilled and intelligent brave of the Peneteka Comanche band. When
kidnapped by Apache, he uses his head as well as his training to escape. In "No More"
(9780981848068, $9.95), Little Boy embarks on the long journey home from the Great
Mountains, a rugged land where simply obtaining food and shelter to survive can be harsh
indeed. The challenges he overcomes transform him into a warrior and earn him the name of No
More. In "Tomo Pui" (9780981848082, $9.95) No More marries the love of his life, Tomo Pui
(meaning "Sky Eyes" in the Comanche language); living off the land is difficult, but also joyful,
until Apache warriors capture her and their infant son. In "Red Nose" (9780984332601, $9.95)
No More and his friend Red Fox (a white main that No More trained in Comanche warrior skills,
whose wife and daughter were also kidnapped by the Apache) strive to find and rescue their
families. They split up during their travels through Comancheria, Mexico, Apache Lands, and the
Great Mountains. No More's bravery in opposing the Apache and the Mexicanos earn him the
new name of Red Nose. The culmination of the saga is "Chief Red Nose" (9780984332625,
$10.95), in which Red Nose is selected to become the new chief of his Peneteka band, after the
old chief is killed. With his new responsibility comes the greatest challenge of his life: dealing
with the White Eyes who have spread throughout Comancheria. The conflict leads inexorably to
war, with terrible consequences on both sides. "Saga of a Comanche Warrior" is true to the
sometimes harsh world in while like Red Nose had to live, yet reveals that it is possible to keep
honor and dignity even under the most trying and violent of times. All five books are highly
recommended, especially for public library collections.
A Bright Soothing Noise
Peter Brown
University of North Texas Press
1155 Union Circle #311336, Denton, TX 76203-5017
9781574412918, $14.95, www.unt.edu/untpress
What may sooth the soul has also been one of Mankind's destroyers for centuries. "A Bright
Soothing Noise" is a collection of short fiction from Peter Brown. Focusing on the desire to
connect to our world to the detriment of self, Brown shows thoughtful, flawed, human characters
who struggle to relate to their world in the way many of us do. "A Bight Soothing Noise" is a
remarkable anthology with plenty to ponder within.
Portraits of a Few of the People I've Made Cry
Christine Sneed
University of Massachusetts Press
671 North Pleasant St., Amherst, MA 01003
9781558498587, $24.95, www.umass.edu/umpress
It's hard to live life without stepping on a few people along the way. "Portraits of a Few of the
People I've Made Cry" is a collection of stories from Christine Sneed telling stories of people
living carelessly, where harsh repercussions are very real. From poor decisions in romance, to
risks taken in the search for greater success, and more. The human experience and the regret and
doubt that come make for a collection of stories that proves very enticing and hard to put down.
"Portraits of a Few of the People I've Made Cry" is an all-out excellent read, sure to enlighten as
well as entertain.
Swallow
Sefi Atta
Interlink Books
46 Crosby Street, Northampton, MA 01060
9781566568333, $15.00, www.interlinkbooks.com
With the weight of the world on one's shoulders, enduring it can be quite the endeavor.
"Swallow" tells the story of two Nigerian women facing a world that seems to hate them and treat
them as second class citizens. Tolani and Rose provide the protagonists of Sefi Atta's story, as
they both face their own unique paths in their life to deal with their bad lot. Engaging and
thoughtful, Atta's "Swallow" is sure to receive the same acclaim as her previous novel and short
story collection, granting it a very high recommendation.
O Christmas Three
O. Henry, Tolstoy, Dickens
Paraclete Press
PO Box 1568, Orleans, MA 02653
9781557257765, $16.99, www.paracletepress.com
These authors gained fame by writing non-seasonal works, but their Christmas works are still not
to be missed. "O Christmas Three: Beloved Christmas Classics" is a collection of three works of
Christmas literature from famed authors O. Henry, Leo Tolstoy, and Charles Dickens. A fine
collection of these authors work, "O Christmas Three" is an excellent pick for those who want to
get in touch with the season and its events.
Outsourced
Davie Zeltserman
Serpents Tail
255 West 108th Street, Suite 901, New York, NY 10025
97818466877327, $14.95, www.serpentstail.com
No one likes being laid off, but some people rebound in more creative ways than others.
"Outsourced" tells the story of four software engineers who when faced with being outsourced,
plan their profitable vengeance on their former employers, but soon find playing on the other side
of the law has far more complications than simply being caught. A riveting thriller all too topical
in today's job market, "Outsourced" is a read that shouldn't be overlooked for thriller
readers.
The Cookbook Shelf
America Grills!
Char-Broil
Creative Homeowner
24 Park Way, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458
9781580115025, $24.95, www.creativehomeowner.com
The cookout, the barbeque, America has so many words for it because it loves it so. "America
Grills!: 222 Flavorful Recipes that Will Fire Up Your Appetite" is a jam packed collection of
recipes with all sorts of base ingredients from meats to vegetables to more and how to use the
grill as a powerful and diverse cooking tool to meet the nuances of any taste bud. From countless
original variations on the simple hamburger, to taking lamb and pork to the next level, "America
Grills!" should be on hand for anyone who can't get enough of barbeque season.
Best of the Best from the Plains Cookbook
Gwen McKee & Barbara Moseley
Quail Ridge Press
PO Box 123, Brandon, MS 39043
9781934193532, $16.95, www.quailridge.com
The plains is a simple land, and its food is simple and delicious. "Best of the Best from the Plains
Cookbook" is a guide to the best recipes from the great plains states, offering the recipes in a
quick and easy presentation that tells you what you need to know about the food to make it and
see the results for yourself. With a small collection of photos of the plains region, "Best of the
Best from the Plains" is for those who like homestyle cooking complete with the simple and
delicious touch.
Cook & Enjoy
S. J. A. De Villiers
Human & Rousseau
c/o International Publishers Marketing
PO Box 605, Herndon, VA 20172-0605
9780798149198, $35.95, www.humanrousseau.com
Good food never goes out of style. "Cook & Enjoy" is a collection of over 700 South African
recipes from S. J. A. De Villiers focusing on the many types of food that can be relished
throughout the country and with trips on preserving them and more. Originally published in the
Afrikaans language in 1951, it has sold over a million copies and is now updated to modern
cookbook standards. With dishes for any meat or vegetable, "Cook & Enjoy" is a solid tome to
have on hand for any creative chef.
The Best of Clean Eating
Clean Eating Magazine
Robert Kennedy Publishing
400 Matheson Blvd. West, Mississauga, ON L5R 3M1 Canada
9781552100851, $22.95, www.rkpubs.com
Healthy is not the antithesis of good taste. "The Best of Clean Eating: Improving Your Life One
Meal at a Time" is a collection of the best recipes from clean living magazine focusing on
creating simple and healthy meals using the best ingredients. With dishes like Caponata
sandwiches, lemon artichoke chicken, Spanish pork, and much more. With full color photos and
easy instruction, "The Best of Clean Eating" is a choice pick for any chef.
Vij's At Home
Meeru Dhalwala & Vikram Vij
Douglas & McIntyre
720 Bathurst Street, Suite 500, Toronto, ON Canada 2R4
9781553655725, $40.00, www.douglas-mcintyre.com
A flavor from another land can be the same time exotic as it is soothing. "Vij's At Home: Relax,
Honey: The Warmth & Ease of Indian Cooking" is a guide from some of America's most famous
restauranteurs on their specific and beloved craft, authentic Indian cuisine. With a wide
assortment of dishes to satisfy any pallette, be it sweet or spicy, savory or sweet, these recipes
will prove easy to prepare and provide for excellent meals. For those who want to try dishes such
as Eggplant and Paneer Pate, a great array of curries, and Indian takes on grilled beef tenderloins,
"Vij's at Home" is the cookbook for them.
The Natural Canning Resource Book
Lisa Rayner
Lifeweaver
PO Box 22325, Flagstaff, AZ 86002
9780980060829, $25.00
Canning is a time tested way to get some major life out of one's food. "The Natural Canning
Resource Book" is a guide to canning one's food. Lisa Rayner provides a complete and
comprehensive guide, outlining the various techniques one can use through jars and their pros
and cons. From canning without sugary preservatives to making one's own vinegar and much
more, "The Natural Canning Resource" is a fine resource for any do-it-yourself food
preserver.
The Buster Holmes Restaurant Cookbook
Buster Holmes
Pelican
100 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053
9781589808492, $16.95, www.pelicanpub.com
The best food comes from heart and dedication. "The Buster Holmes Restaurant Cookbook: New
Orleans Handmade Cookin'" is a collection of recipes from the unique, simple to the point
cooking of Buster Holmes who has earned fame in his French Quarter restaurant for over fifty
years. With a history of his style and cooking, the king of red beans and rice gives not just a
Louisiana flavor but plenty more on top of that. "The Buster Holmes Restaurant Cookbook" is a
strongly recommended addition to any cookbook shelf.
A Feast For All Seasons
Andrew George Jr. & Robert Gairns
Arsenal Pulp Press
#101-211 East Georgia St., Vancouver, BC Canada, V6A 1Z6
9781551523682, $21.95, www.arsenalpulp.com
Traditional American cuisine is not that of the Europeans, but of the people who claimed this
land before them. "A Feast for All Seasons: Traditional Native People's Cuisine" is a cook's
guide to the foods of the native people of the Americas. These dishes earned acclaim at the
Vancouver Olympics when Andrew George, a member of the Wet'suwet'en Nation of Canada,
offered these dishes to the millions of fans. One hundred and twenty very different and authentic
recipes, "A Feast for All Seasons" is a fine collection and is very highly recommended for those
looking for an original series of dishes to experiment with.
Kentucky Cooks
Linda Allison-Lewis
The University Press of Kentucky
663 South Limestone Street, Lexington, KY 40508-4008
9780813125374, $24.95, www.kentuckypress.com
There's more to Kentucky's cuisine than fried chicken. "Kentucky Cooks: Favorite Recipes from
Kentucky Living" draws on one of Kentucky's favored magazines and presents many
Kentucky-fashioned recipes for anyone in the country to embrace and enjoy. From year round
salsa, casseroles, soups, salads, and even a recipe or two for fried chicken, "Kentucky Cooks" is a
fine cookbook for those who want to better embrace the finer aspects of the American south and
cooking.
Bottega
Michael Chiarello
Chronicle Books
680 Second Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
9780811875394, $40.00, www.chroniclebooks.com
A little wine can go a long way in making something exquisite. "Michael Chiarello's Bottega:
Bold Italian Flavors from the Heart of California's Wine Country" is a collection of recipes from
Michael Chiarello, presenting his blend on Italian cuisine taking from the best of California and
his own ideas. Presenting his principles for a good meal as well as plenty of easy instructions and
full color photos, dishes that are presented range from Chicken Wings Agrodolce, Calabrian
Wedding Soup, Grilled Swordfish, and much more. He also presents the history that made his
Bottega restaurant so famous. "Michael Chiarello's Bottega" is a fine read with a lot to inspire the
everyday chef to make something truly magnificent for their next meal.
America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook, third edition
Daniel J. Ackere
America's Test Kitchen
DeborahPub@aol.com
9781933615486, $34.95, www.americastestkitchen.com
The third updated edition of the spiral-bound America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook packs in
well over a thousand kitchen-tested recipes, along with hundred of step-by-step photos by Carl
Tremblay. While America's Test Kitchen has churned out many a 'best of' volume based on their
foolproof and exhaustive kitchen testing, this holds several different facets. More than just a
recipe collection, it's also an instructional course and a family cookery reference under one cover.
Side bars of information cover equipment and ingredients alike, making this an outstanding home
reference.
The Family Dinner
Laurie David with Recipes by Kirstin Uhrenholdt
Grand Central Publishing
c/o Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9780446565462, $29.99, www.grandcentrallifeandstyle.com
THE FAMILY DINNER: GREAT WAYS TO CONNECT WITH YOUR KIDS, ONE MEAL
AT A TIME offer chapters that include over seventy kid-approved, easily-prepared recipes, fun
table games to help engage kids at the table, tips on teaching green values to kids, and specific
family dinner tips for divorced and single parents. The idea here is to present much more than a
recipe of quick dishes or even child-friendly dishes, but to make the dinner table a center of
family engagement - and this is admirably achieved in a pick for parental or general collections
alike.
Raw Food for Everyone
Alissa Cohen with Leah J. Dubois
Avery
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10014
9781583334034, $35.00, www.penguin.com
Raw Food for Everyone: Essential Techniques and 300 Simple-to-Sophisticated Recipes
provides a fine raw food cookbook packed with the author's best recipes, from smoothies and
juices to raw cheese, pancakes, raviolis, and even chips. The recipes are unique presentations that
all illustrate the high points of raw food cuisine in a pick for any library strong in raw food
cuisine.
Chronicle Books
680 - 2nd St., San Francisco CA 94107
www.chroniclebooks.com
Tom Hudgens' THE COMMONSENSE KITCHEN: 500 RECIPES PLUS LESSONS FOR A
HAND-CRAFTED LIFE (9780811872225, $35.00) emphasizes self-sufficiency and American
cuisine which blends regional specialties with ethnic dishes common to American cooks. From
Red Chile Enchiladas to My Mother's Polish Sausage Stew, this packs in appealing dishes and
also teaches life skills that include making homemade soaps. Joanne Chang's FLOUR:
SPECTACULAR RECIPES FORM BOSTON'S FLOUR BAKERY & CAFE (9780811869447,
$35.00) covers everything from homemade pop-tarts to chocolate croissants and comes from an
author raised in a traditional Chinese household where sweets were scarce. Her evolving interest
in sweets led to her work in some of the best pastry kitchens in the country, while her lack of a
formal culinary education actually makes this survey more accessible to average cooks than the
chef-based presentations usual in a higher-level dessert cookbook.
My Calabria
Rosetta Costantino with Janet Fletcher
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393065169, $35.00, www.wwnorton.com
MY CALABRIA: RUSTIC FAMILY COOKING FROM ITALY'S UNDISCOVERED SOUTH
is the first cookbook devoted to the cuisine of Calabria, a region separated from the rest of Italy
by a mountain range and water on three sides. This separation has resulted in a different cuisine
based on local, fresh ingredients and hot peppers - very different from the rest of Italy! Rosetta
Costantino is a popular cooking teacher specializing in Calabrian food from her family roots, so
is in the perfect position to provide this fine cookbook, highly recommended for any ethnic
cooking collection!
Falling Off the Bone
Jean Anderson
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9780470467138, $29.95, www.wiley.com
FALLING OFF THE BONE packs in over a hundred sixty recipes that take cuts of meat and
showcase their attributes. From stews and pot roasts to Swiss steaks and simple fare, this pairs
curries and chilies with roasts and basic comfort food, adds color photos throughout, and shows
how cheaper cuts of meats can be cooked to produce amazing results. Any cookbook collection
seeking a superior meat cookbook needs this mouth-watering gathering of 'best' dishes!
Penfield Books
215 Brown Street, Iowa City, IA 52245-5801
www.penfieldbooks.com 1-800-728-9998
Two spiral-bound, pocket-sized cookbooks from Penfield Books are excellent, easy-to-use
resources for any aspiring chief short on kitchen space! Miriam Canter's "Buffets and Potlucks"
(9781932043600, $7.95) is packed with user-friendly recipes for dishes best shared with large
groups of people, such as "Zucchini Lasagna", "Spinach-Rice-Cheese Casserole", "Whole-Wheat
Cottage Cheese Rolls", or "Ham and Macaroni Salad". Carol Blakely is the compiler of "Fire in
the Bowl: Favorite Chili Recipes and More!" (9781932043648, $7.95), which is filled with
recipes of chilies made from scratch, vegetarian chilies, ways to enhance canned chilies, even
recipes for chili biscuits! The result is a true chili lover's delight, and an excellent giftbook during
the cold months of winter, when hot food tastes its best.
The Science/Technology Shelf
Plain & Simple
Johnathan Lightfoot & Chris Beckett
Microsoft
c/o O'Reilly Media
1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, CA 95472
9780735642287, $24.99, www.microsoft.com
Sharing information quickly and easily is an invaluable took for success. "Plain & Simple:
Microsoft SharePoint 2010" is a guide to using Microsoft's newest tool to its furthest extent for
one's business and other venture where information is the key to victory. From creating websites
to store information to integrating it with Microsoft's other Office programs, Jonathan Lightfoot
& Chris Beckett make "Plain & Simple" provide an excellent and very highly recommended
instructional manual for any technology collection.
The Art of Image Processing
Kenny A. Hunt
AK Peters
5 Commonwealth Road, Suite 2C, Natick, MA 01760
9781568817170, $69.00, www.akpeters.com
Digital images have more presence than ever in today's world. "The Art of Image Processing with
Java" is a guide to using the common web application Java in filing and archiving vast amounts
of digital photographs for later use or use in other applications. From processing digital images
based on light, color, and more, Kenny Hunt gives a complete and comprehensive guide and
overview to just what Java can do with plenty of advanced techniques on editing and alterations,
as well as compression. "The Art of Image Processing with Java" is a strongly recommended
guide for anyone who wants to use the application to its fullest.
Massive
Ian Sample
Basic Books
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
9780465019472, $25.95, www.basicbooks.com
MASSIVE: THE MISSING PARTICLE THAT SPARKED THE GREATEST HUNT IN
SCIENCE comes from an investigative journalist who uses his experience as a science
correspondent to examine the story behind the search for the God Particle. The definition of the
Higgs boson and how it gives everything mass, and why it's important, comes alive for readers
with little prior science background. Recommended for general-interest and science collections
alike!
Roadside Geology of Maryland, Delaware, and Washington D.C.
John Means
Mountain Press Publishing
P.O. Box 2399, Missoula, MT 59806
9780878425709, $24.00, www.mountain-press.com
Roadside Geology of Maryland, Delaware, and Washington D.C. is a pick for any East Coast
collection strong in history and geology. It offers a survey of rocks and landforms key to the
region's geologic history, organizes it in such a manner that visitors to the states can readily
observe geology for themselves, and uses over thirty road guides to discuss the rocks and forms
visible from a car window or in a local park. Collections strong in East Coast travel and science
history will relish this specific guide.
Frequency Synthesizers: Concept to Product
Alexander Chenakin
Artech House Publishers
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
9781596932302 $129.00 www.artechhouse.com
Author Alexander Chenakin has led the development of advanced products for a variety of top
microwave companies. In Frequency Synthesizers: Concept to Product, Chenakin explicitly
walks the reader through modern techniques for designing frequency synthesizers (electronic
systems created to generate any of a range of frequencies from a single fixed oscillator).
Engineering students and professionals learn all aspects of how to build a synthesizer, from
creating a basic diagram to producing the final product. Familiarity with basic engineering core
competencies is presumed in this methodical text enhanced with a wealth of block diagrams,
design recipes, tips, tricks, and techniques that are otherwise hard to find. Frequency
Synthesizers: Concept to Product is an invaluable addition to engineering studies shelves, and a
"must-have" filled with invaluable suggestions and guidelines for professionals and aspiring
professionals in this specific field. Highly recommended.
The Psychology Shelf
Self Comes to Mind
Antonio Damasio
Pantheon
c/o Random House
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780307378750, $28.95, www.pantheonbooks.com
SELF COMES TO MIND; CONSTRUCTING THE CONSCIOUS BRAIN comes from a key
neuroscientist who considers the question of how consciousness is created. He's spent the last
thirty years studying and writing about brain function: here he examines new scientific evidence
that shows that consciousness is a biological process created by the brain. Science and health
collections alike will find this fascinating reading.
American Mental Health Foundation Inc.
PO Box 3, Riverdale, NY 10471-0003
www.americanmentalhealthfoundation.org
Four posthumously published titles by psychologist and social theorist Erich Fromm (1900-1980)
offer Fromm's psychology grounded in humanism. "Beyond Freud" (9781590561850, $25.00) is
now published for the first time; it's subdivided into "Man's Impulse Structure and Its Relation to
Culture" plus three lectures: "Psychic Needs and Society", "Dealing with the Unconsciousness",
and "The Relevance of Psychoanalysis for the Future". The scientific underpinnings of "Beyond
Freud" thoughtfully explore the social unconsciousness of the individual, as well as the
unconscious driving forces of social entities. "The Pathology of Normalcy" (9781590561843,
$25.00) is also published for the first time; it examines the very definitions of mental health and
mental sickness in modern-day society. Sections consisting of lectures about frame of reference
when evaluating mental health, the intersection of alienation and mental health issues, and even
the interplay between psychological and economic theory, as he deconstructs the weaknesses of
Marxist Socialism and explains why it has been largely rejected in modern America. Of
particular interest is the self-evident section "Is Man Lazy by Nature?" which strives to
understand how humankind can best overcome its own tendencies toward inertia. "The Heart of
Man" (9781590561867, $20.00) questions human nature itself, from the forms of violence that
plague it to individual and social narcissism to how the positive value of "love of life" can
potentially outweigh the destructive "syndrome of decay" caused by the love of death and other
harmful tendencies of thought. "The Revolution of Hope" (9781590561836, $20.00) lives up to
its title with an uplifting exploration of the definition of hope, what it truly means to be human,
and steps that should be taken to promote humanization in an increasingly disconnected and
technology-driven society. All four volumes are timely, directly relevant to modern psychological
and social issues, and bring absolutely invaluable humanist messages to temper psychology's
scientific and healing discipline. Highly recommended, especially for college library
collections.
The Social Issues Shelf
Ferraris for All
Daniel Ben-ami
The Policy Press
920 NE 58th Avenue, Suite 300, Portland, OR 97213-3786
9781847423467, $29.95, www.policypress.co.uk
Is a world where doing well for all even possible? "Ferraris for All" is a discussion of the social
issues of economics and prosperity for today's world. Written by British Finance Journalist
Daniel Ben-Ami, he discusses affluence and how many current notions seek to limit wealth gain.
He feels that this is not the path to a more equal world, but instead encouraging greater prosperity
to all instead of demonizing it. With plenty of thoughtful principles, "Ferraris for All" is an
excellent and insightful collection of work, very highly recommended.
Whose Crisis, Whose Future?
Susan George
Polity
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148
Wiley (distributor)
350 Main St., Malden, MA 02148
9780745651385, $19.95, www.politybooks.com
Environmental issues are not a problem of a modern day, but a problem of the future. "Whose
Crisis, Whose Future?: Towards a Greener, Fairer, Richer World" is an analysis of today's
challenges and whose shoulders they lie on. Financial crisis, environmental issues, and others.
Susan George states while that these problems may not have immediate implications, they are
major issues and working on them now can lead to a much brighter future for all of us. "Whose
Crisis, Whose Future?" looks at today's crisis on the grand scale.
Humanizing the Economy
John Restakis
New Society Publishers
Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC V0R 1X0 Canada
9780865716513, $19.95, www.newsociety.com
HUMANIZING THE ECONOMY: CO-OPERATIVES IN THE AGE OF CAPITAL is
recommended not just for college-level collections strong in business but for social issues
collections interested in knowing how corporate capitalism is failing to meet the basic demands
of people around the world. A history of the co-operative movement and its promise for a more
humane future outlines a social movement taking place and highlights its progress in this
illuminating, involving survey.
The Monster
Michael W. Hudson
Times Books
c/o Henry Holt & Company
175 - 5th Avenue, Suite 400, New York, NY 10010-7725
9780805090468, $26.00, www.henryholt.com
THE MONSTER: HOW A GANG OF PREDATORY LENDERS AND WALL STREET
BANKERS FLEECED AMERICA - AND SPAWNED A GLOBAL CRISIS offers a fine expose
of the Wall Street gang who were behind the scenes of the biggest financial scandal in American
history. From their early influences and how many learned how to forge signatures and create
fake documents to the rise of the subprime mortgage business behind the stories of Ameriquest
and Lehman Brothers, this is a 'must' for any who would understand how and why we're where
we are at today.
New Threats to Freedom
Adam Bellow, Editor
Templeton Foundation Press
300 Conshohocken State Road, Suite 670, West Conshohocken, PA 19428
1599473518, $25.95, www.templetonpress.org
NEW THREATS TO FREEDOM details a number of new threats to freedoms - threats often
largely seen as beneficial to society. Innovative thinkers challenge these new threats, offering
insights ranging from failed promises of internet freedoms to the rise of behavioral psychology
and transnationalism. More than just an outline of threats, it provides keys to intellectual
resistance of such threats and will prove a fine acquisition for any college-level social issues
collection.
Rebooting the American Dream
Thom Hartmann
Berrett-Koehler Publishers
235 Montgomery St., Suite 650, San Francisco CA 94104-2916
9781605097060, $24.95, www.bkconnections.com
REBOOTING THE AMERICAN DREAM: 11 WAYS TO REBUILD OUR COUNTRY is a top
pick not just for business collections, but for any social issues coverage. It discusses how big
business has changed the American dream and outlines 11 specific steps to remedy the problems.
Radio talk show host Thom Hartmann reveals the policies and events that have led to our current
dilemma, and tells how to change the effects produced by Reaganomics and other bad
decisions.
Disaster on the Horizon
Bob Cavnar
Chelsea Green Publishing Company
Box 428, White River Junction, VT 05001-0428
9781603583169, $14.95, www.chelseagreen.com
DISASTER ON THE HORIZON: HIGH STAKES, HIGH RISKS, AND THE STORY BEHIND
THE DEEPWATER WELL BLOWOUT discusses the history and events of Deepwater Horizon,
providing the first comprehensive book on the causes of the disaster. Bob Cavner indicts industry
and government alike as he traces roots of malpractices and political influences on poor
decisions.
Mashed Up
Aram Sinnreich
University of Massachusetts Press
PO Box 429, Amherst, MA 01004
9781558498297, $24.95, www.umass.edu/umpress
MASHED UP: MUSIC, TECHNOLOGY AND THE RISE OF CONFIGURABLE CULTURE
details the rising musical and cultural movement in modern networked communications and
presents interviews based on conversations with dozens of DJs and music industry executives to
tackle tough questions in sampling, file sharing and marketing styles. College-level collections
strong in either music or popular culture will find this a fine analysis of cultural change,
technology and music-fueled social change.
American Freak Show
Willie Geist
Hyperion Books
77 West 66th Street, New York, NY 10023-6298
9781401323943, $23.99, www.hyperionbooks.com
American Freak Show: Completely Fabricated Stories of Our New National Treasure comes
from the co-host of MSNBC's Morning Joe and offers a fun insider's perspective on today's
modern media culture. From a parade of pop culture personalities to political characters, this
offers a series of satirical essays and fun commentary perfect for any general lending collection
strong in humor and social issues alike.
The Dragonfly Effect
Jennifer Aaker, et al.
Jossey-Bass
989 Market Street, 5th floor, San Francisco, CA 94103-1741
9780470614150, $25.95, www.josseybass.com
The collaborative effort of Jennifer Aaker & Andy Smith with Carlye Adler, THE
DRAGONFLY EFFECT; QUICK, EFFECTIVE, AND POWERFUL WAYS TO USE SOCIAL
MEDIA TO DRIVE SOCIAL CHANGE offers a focus on social media and social issues,
showing how to use social media to make a difference in the world. Most books focus on
business opportunities: this reveals keys to goal achievement and shows how to focus, grab
attention, and take action to that everyone can use social media more effectively. Original case
studies of global organizations such as Gap, eBay and Facebook abound, but it's the social
implications that set this apart from competitors.
63 Alfred Street: Where Capitalism Failed
John Kossik
CreateSpace
100 Enterprise Way, Suite A200, Scotts Valley, CA 95066
9781452874951 $14.95 www.createspace.com
63 Alfred Street: Where Capitalism Failed: The Life and Times of a Venetian Gothic Mansion in
Downtown Detroit is more than the tragic history of a grand residence built 130 years ago that
has fallen into virtual ruin today, used by crack dealers and the local homeless for the past 40
years. 63 Alfred Street is an extremely critical examination of the urban decay that has plagued
Detroit's inner city, and the factors that cause it. Author John Kossik, a former resident of
Detroit, compares the inner city's social ills to a Hydra - just like the mythical monster of legend,
it has many heads (causes), which must be tackled as a whole and dealt with properly or else they
will regrow. Kossik names many culprits in Detroit's degredation, from the demolishing of
vibrant neighborhoods to create road systems that encouraged white flight, to a tax burden that
drives out young families and keeps them from returning, to a culture of entitlement amid union
auto workers that cripples Detroit's auto industry, to Detroit's unhealthy dependence on the auto
manufacturing industry in the first place, and more. Kossik doesn't have all the answers, but
through his judiciously researched blend of history and sociology, he hopes to spread greater
awareness of the problem and aid the search for solutions. A thoughtful and invaluable study of
seemingly intractable social problems, 63 Alfred Street is highly recommended.
Miracle on High Street
Thomas A. McCabe
Fordham University Press
2546 Belmont Avenue, University Box L, Bronx, NY 10458-5172
9780823233106 $21.00 www.fordhampress.com
Miracle on High Street: The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of St. Benedict's Prep in Newark, N.J. is
the captivating true story of a Catholic prep school that helped turn around a community falling
prey to urban blight. In the 1960s, deindustrialization, suburbanization, and racial violence
caused an exodus from Newark. Benedictine monks that lived, worked, and prayed on High
Street observed its decay into Newark's notorious Skid Row. Enrollment in St. Benedict's Prep
School declined, and it closed in 1972. But a few monks drew inspiration from the Benedictine
values of stability and adaptability to reopen it one year later, determined to offer young African
American and Latino males opportunities for education and a better future. Thirty years later, St.
Benedict's is an outstanding success story and an inspirational model; 95 percent of its graduates
go on to college. St Benedict's has even been termed the "Miracle on High Street", and its
contributions to the community offer invaluable lessons for turning around the difficult problems
of inner city decay. Highly recommended.
Militarizing Culture
Robert J. Gonzalez
Left Coast Press
1630 North Main Street, #400, Walnut Creek, CA 94596
9781598745603, $24.95, www.lcoastpress.com
Throughout the past decade, America has spent much of its time at war with something.
"Militarizing Culture: Essays on the Warfare State" is a collection of essays on the crisis of
modern American warfare and what it is doing to the American culture. From justifying torture to
spreading American ideas and more, there have been many things happening to American culture
without many of them even knowing it. A scholarly and thoughtful collection, "Militarizing
Culture" is a vital and very important read and addition for social issues collections.
American Foundations
Helmut K. Anheier & David C. Hammack
Brookings Institution Press
1775 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036
9780815703396, $64.94, www.brookings.edu
To push forward a goal or agenda has become quite villainized in today's world. "American
Foundations: Roles and Contributions" looks at Foundations in America and what they have
done to further America throughout history. From furthering education for hundreds of years to
push it further in the world, to health care issues, to social welfare, foreign issues, culture, and
more. Foundations have stood for issues on all of these things but today, they are attacked by
many sides for their political affiliation and status, often on the front of anti-intellectualism.
"American Foundations" is both an intriguing read and scholarly analysis of the debate, making
for a vital addition to any community or college library social issues collection.
Designing Resilience
Louise K. Comfort, Arjen Boin, & Chris C. Demchak
University of Pittsburgh Press
3400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260
9780822960614, $32.50, www.upress.pitt.edu
To stand up to the threats of nature and man is the challenge of many craftsmen. "Designing
Resilience: Preparing for Extreme Events" is a guide to how some disaster management comes
before disasters even happen, stating that a good system is one that is already prepared for the
worst before it happens, instead of requiring massive intervention after the fact. With plenty of
sage advice on encouraging companies and industries to promote competence and excellence
even in quiet times, "Designing Resilience" is a thoughtful read that has its place in every disaster
management organization's library.
Walk Myself Home
Andrea Routley, editor
Caitlin Press
8100 Alderwood Road, Halfmoon Bay, BC V0N, 1Y1
9781894759519, $22.95, www.caitlin-press.com
The best way to stand against violence against women is to empower thyself. "Walk Myself
Home: An Anthology to End Violence Against Women" is a collection of work from an
assortment of women edited by Andrea Routley. These poems, stories, essays, and more reflect
on the problem of domestic violence and other crimes against women that not only plague
Canada and the United States, but around the world as well. Thoughtful and empowering, "Walk
Myself Home" is a read that shouldn't be overlooked for those who want to fight this
violence.
The Crisis This Time
Leo Panitch, Greg Albo, and Vivek Chibber
Merlin Press
c/o Monthly Review Press
146 W 29th St, Suite 6W, New York, NY 10001
9781583672280, $25.00, www.merlinpress.co.uk
The world's financial imbalance is becoming more apparent than ever. "The Crisis This Time"
analyzes the world's economic problems as a slew of authors present their thoughts and opinions
on the future of the world's workers and business. Authors such as Noam Chomsky, Ben Fine,
Susan Newman, among many others offer their expertise on the topic. From the plight of the
working class in many key areas, to the failings and exploitation of Wall Street, "The Crisis This
Time" is a choice and solidly recommended addition to any social issues or economical studies
community or college library collection.
AIDS and Rural Livelihoods
Anke Neihof, Gabriel Rugalema, & Stuart Gillespie
Earthscan
1616 P Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036
Stylus (distribution)
PO Box 605, Herndon, VA 20172-0605
9781849711265, $49.95, www.earthscan.co.uk
AIDS has devastated many countries in Africa, and it has proven very difficult to recover. "AIDS
and Rural Livelihoods: Dynamics and Diversity in Sub-Saharan Africa" is an analysis of HIV and
the rural sections of Africa. For three decades, AIDS has proven to be a plague on Africa, having
a death toll higher than war throughout the war torn region. Agriculture is still the go to way to
make a living, but HIV and AIDS have had untold impact on it all. Analyzing the policies
international and locally to face the crisis, "AIDS and Rural Livelihoods" bridges the gap and
proves to be a scholarly and thoughtful investigation of these serious issues.
The Philosophy Shelf
The Artist in Crisis
Yaroslav Senyshyn
Platon Promotions Publishing
c/o Simon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada V5A 1S6
9780557560936, $39.99
Art has inspired and channeled philosophy all on its own. "The Artist in Crisis: Kierkegaard's
Philosophy of the Aesthetic Stage of Existence and Live Musical Performance" is an academic
and scholarly study of the philosophers work from Yaroslav Senyshyn. Discussing Kierkegaard's
views on anxiety, the artist in the bigger world, criticisms, gender issues in art, and much more,
this scholarly dissection of the work seeks to open minds on the ways of the world and what they
mean. "The Artist in Crisis" is quite the text, a must for any community or college philosophy
and art collection.
Changing Human Nature
James C. Peterson
Wm. B. Eerdmans
2140 Oak Industrial Drive NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
9780802865496, $18.00, www.eerdmans.com
For the first time in history, mankind is the keeper of its own genetic destiny. "Changing Human
Nature: Ecology, Ethics, Genes, and God" discusses humankind's control over its world and its
relationship with God. James C. Peterson comes with an original opinion that God gave us this
ability to use the world as our garden and to use it as we see fit, but there are things we should
remember in our pursuits. "Changing Human Nature" is an intriguing blend of Christianity and
science, highly recommended.
An Enlightened Philosophy
Geoff Crocker
O Books
c/o Warwick Associates
18340 Sonoma Highway, Sonoma, CA 95476
9781846944246, $13.95, www.o-books.com
Atheism is the lack of belief, but is such a thing truly possible? "An Enlightened Philosophy: Can
an Atheist Believe Anything?" discusses atheism and religious belief, and offers an intriguing
and thoughtful spin of philosophy on the subject. With much thought, anyone intrigued by
atheism or say to be atheists themselves may find "An Enlightened Philosophy" an endlessly
fascinating and enticing read.
The Christian Studies Shelf
Truth Dare
Laura Ross Greiner
Kregel Publications
733 Wealthy Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
9780825427381, $11.99, www.kregel.com
Mediocrity is nothing to settle for. "TruthDare" is an inspirational Christian book urging men and
women to reach for higher in their lives and not to settle for a life lived in shadow and doubt.
Using stories of individuals with unstoppable determination through their faith, these stories are
designed to inspire people to remember God in their lives and use his power to live greater.
"TruthDare" is a strong pick for many a Christian reader, enthusiastically recommended.
Money and the Prosperous Soul
Tipping the Scales of Favor and Blessing
Chosen
c/o Baker Publishing Group
11400 Hampshire Ave. S., Bloomington, MN 55438
9780800794965, $12.99, www.chosenbooks.com
Money has been called a great evil, but in truth it's all about its application. "Money and the
Prosperous Soul: Tipping the Scales of Favor and Blessing" is a guide to money for Christians,
and how to more excellently apply one's funds in a way that is morally and spiritually right.
Written by Financial officer for a church, there is no shortage of wisdom drawn from experience.
"Money and the Prosperous Soul" is an excellent read with plenty to ponder.
Good Manners in Minutes
Emilie Barnes
Harvest House Publishers
990 Owen Loop North, Eugene, OR 97402-9173
9780736929929, $6.99, www.harvesthousepublishers.com
Good manners are key to making a good impression. "Good Manners in Minutes: Quick Tips for
Every Occasion" is a small handbook designed to help readers know the common etiquette in
countless situations. From talking with someone you don't know, courtesies in e-mail or phone
conversations, and countless other occasions, Emilie Barnes equips readers well to deal with a
wide array of situations. "Good Manners in Minutes" is a solid addition to any self help or
Christian life collection.
Basic: Who is God?
Francis Chan
David C. Cook
c/o Cook Communications
4050 Lee Vance View, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
9781434700858, $7.99, www.davidccook.com
We revere someone who we don't even truly know. "Basic: Who is God?" is a simple book
aimed at being a simple and devoted Christian. Hoping to outline what church really is and what
it is for, and how to help Christian life be something greater for all involved, Francis Chan makes
for an excellent and inspiring quick read. "Basic" is an excellent addition to any Christian life
collection, highly recommended.
These Thy Gifts
Mark G. Boyer
ACTA Publications
4848 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60640
9780879464356, $12.95, www.actapublications.com
A bit of prayer can put some inspiration into one's day. "These Thy Gifts: A Collection of Simple
Meal Prayers" is a devotional book filled with simple prayers to inspire and remind people to
remember the simple things in life and to remember God when they appreciate the meal that they
worked so hard to acquire. With special prayers for special occasions, "These Thy Gifts" is a
thoughtful and highly recommended pick for any Christian who wants to reintroduce the
mealtime prayer into their lives.
Soundings in the Christian Mystical Tradition
Harvey D. Egan
Liturgical Press
St. John's Abbey, PO Box 7500, Collegeville, MN 56321-7500
978081456136, $29.95, www.litpress.org
To submit to God is not to admit one's own insignificance. "Soundings in the Christian Mystical
Tradition" is a Christian book with a place for humanism. Stating that believing God is the only
answer and is the answer to everything is foolish, there is much wisdom involved within. With a
philosophy that blends faith in God as an enhancement to understanding mankind and nature,
"Soundings in the Christian Mystical Tradition" is a fine read and an excellent addition to
Christian studies and mythology collections.
The Emergence of Christianity
Cynthia White
Fortress Press
PO Box 59304, Minneapolis, MN 55459-0304
9780800697471, $28.00, www.fortresspress.com
From being an outlawed cult to the religion of the largest empire in the world. "The Emergence
of Christianity: Classical Traditions in Contemporary Perspective" looks into the early history of
Christianity, a religion with a tumultuous first few years where it fought hard to simply even
exist. With timelines, illustrations, biographies of major figures, and much more, this read proves
to be an entertaining, fascinating, and scholarly read on the development of early Christianity.
"The Emergence of Christianity" is an excellent addition to any Christian studies and history
collection.
From Logos To Christos
Ellen M. Leonard & Kate Merriman, editor
Wilfrid Laurer University Press
Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2L 3C5
9781554580651, $85.00, www.wlupress.wlu.ca
Many people are concerned with the grander picture of Christianity, but the man himself is
enough for some people. "From Logos to Christos: Essays on Christology in Honour of Joanne
McWilliam" is a collection of essays on this field of study, following the man and life of Jesus
Christ as its many focus. Dedicated to Joanne McWilliam, noted for pioneering many things in
academia and breaking many barriers for women, these writers provide their own opinion one of
McWilliam's favored subjects. Ellen M. Leonard & Kate Merriman bring these thoughts together
into an educational and scholarly tribute. "From Logos to Christos" is an excellent addition to
any Christian studies or religion collection for community and college libraries.
The Biblical Roots of Mormonism
Eric Shuster & Charles Sale
Cedar Fort
2373 W. 700 S., Springville, UT 84663
9781599554068, $17.99, www.cedarfort.com
Mormonism is an oddity in Christianity, but the scripture may yet support their beliefs. "The
Biblical Roots of Mormonism" investigates the origins of Mormonism and tries to connect it to
the rest of Christianity by use of the Bible and scripture. Drawing on quotes and shared
principles, "The Biblical Roots of Mormonism" is a thoughtful and scholarly read for those
looking to understand the Church of Latter Day Saints better.
Mother of God, Similar to Fire
William Hart McNichols
Orbis Books
PO Box 302, Maryknoll, New York, NY 10545-0302
9781570758942, $25.00, www.orbisbooks.com
Almost as revered as Jesus himself, Mary has become a significant religious icon. "Mother of
God, Similar to Fire" chooses fifty iconic images of Mary seek to grant new spirit and thought to
the images of Mary and her many presentations all over the world. Brilliantly presented in full
color by William Hart McNichols and spiritual writing from Mirabai Starr. A thoughtful and
spiritual compilation, "Mother of God, Similar to Fire" is an excellent pick and is very highly
recommended.
Avery Cardinal Dulles
Patrick W. Carey
Paulist Press
997 MacArthur Blvd., Mahwah, NJ 07430
9780809105717, $49.95, www.paulistpress.com
The church always has needs for bright minds in their leadership. "Avery Cardinal Dulles, SJ, A
model Theologian" looks at the life and times of this beloved Catholic thinker and how through
his life he lived to a higher standard as a man and as a Catholic. Looking at his countless works
among other notes, Patrick W. Carey presents a very comprehensive biography surrounding
Dulles. A core addition to any biography collection focusing on the Catholic Church, "Avery
Cardinal Dulles" is very highly recommended.
The Questions Christians Hope No One Will Ask
Mark Mittelberg
Tyndale House Publishers
351 Executive Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188
9781414315911, $24.99, www.tyndalehouse.com
The Questions Christians Hope No One Will Ask (with answers) offers a survey of questions
ranging from issues of evolution and God and why Jesus is perceived as the son of God to why
abortion is a big Christian issue and how one religious book can be right and others wrong. Bible
teachers and any spreading the word will find this thought-provoking assessment packed with
questions and clear responses.
Orbis Books
Box 302, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0302
www.orbisbooks.com
Wes Howard-Brook's "COME OUT, MY PEOPLE!" GOD'S CALL OUT OF EMPIRE IN THE
BIBLE AND BEYOND (9781570758928, $30.00) provides a powerful review of two competing
religious perspectives - one of creation, the other of empire - that appear throughout the Bible.
Discussions of power and faith and how they affected empires and beliefs makes for a fine
spiritual analysis recommended for any scholarly Christian collection. Thomas H. Groome and
Michael J. Daley edit RECLAIMING CATHOLICISM: TREASURES OLD AND NEW
(9781570758638, $22.00), a fine survey of the Catholic Church before Vatican II. Key spiritual
writers and leading theologians discuss spiritual wisdom from these times and provide a resource
for regaining the foundations of American Catholicism. Terrence W. Tilley's FAITH; WHAT IT
IS AND WHAT IT ISN'T (9781570758799, $22.00) provides a slim but pointed study on the
essentials of faith. The dual coverage of its definition and what it does not embrace offers much
food for thought and makes this a fine recommendation for any spirituality collection.
Bible: The Story of the King James Version 1611-2011
Gordon Campbell
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, New York NY 10016-4314
9780199557592, $24.95, www.oup.com
Bible: The Story of the King James Version 1611-2011 reviews the evolution of the King James
Version of the Bible, which is reaching its 400th anniversary edition and remains one of the most
frequently used editions in the world. Fine illustrations from early editions accompany a history
of the King James translation in a survey highly recommended for both spiritual and general
lending libraries.
Whatever Happened to Dinner?
Melodie M. Davis
Herald Press
616 Walnut Avenue, Scottsdale, PA 15683-1999
9780836195491, $12.99, www.heraldpress.com
The dinnertime family gathering seems like a relic of the past in the modern day. "Whatever
Happened to Dinner?: Recipes and Reflections for Family Mealtime" is a read for parents who
want to understand the loss of supper time and grants ideas on how to bring it back into modern
prominence for their own family. Combining recipes with plenty of other family ideas to
encourage a dinner table meal, "Whatever Happened to Dinner?" is a thoughtful read for any
parent who dreams of supper times past.
The Dangerous Act of Loving Your Neighbor
Mark Labberton
IVP Books
PO Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426
9780830838400, $20.00, www.ivpress.com
It's one thing to say you'll act as Jesus does, it's another to actually do so. "The Dangerous Act of
Loving Your Neighbor: Seeing Others Through the Eyes of Jesus" is a guide to following the
ways of Jesus by seeing the world as he did, not passing judgment on others for being flawed
people, but as children of God. Encouraging people to look inside themselves and remember the
values of Christ, Mark Labberton says that seeing others as Jesus would leads to one seeing
themselves as Jesus would. "The Dangerous Act of Loving Your Neighbor" is a thoughtful read
for Christian readers, very highly recommended.
Choosing a Bible
Donald Kraus
Seabury Books
445 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016
9781596270435, $12.00, www.seaburybooks.org
Not all Bibles are the same. "Choosing a Bible: For Worship, Teaching, Study, and Prayer" is an
analysis of the countless Bible translations that exist throughout today's world which can be quite
overwhelming when seeking a Bible to call one's own. Analyzing the difference between the
translations and how they approach the task differently, and their qualities for the many
applications of the Holy Bible and using it in daily life, "Choosing a Bible" is a useful resource
for any Christian.
The Business Shelf
Productive Relationships
Jan Yager
Hannacroix Creek Books
1127 High Ridge Road, #110, Stamford, CT 06905
9781889262635, $22.95, www.hannacroixbooks.com
A friendly workplace is a productive workplace. "Productive Relationships: 57 Strategies for
Building Stronger Business Connections" is a guide for leaders to deal with the challenges of
business and how to get the most out partnerships in business and make the most out of good
relationships throughout the business world in a person to person manner. With tips on dealing
with the worst of people int he workplace, improving relationships on your end, and making
better networking, "Productive Relationships" is a useful and empowering read, very highly
recommended.
Sole Proprietorship
Daniel Sitarz
Nova
1103 W. College St., Carbondale, IL 62901
National Book Network (distributor)
4501 Forbes Blvd., Lanham, MD 20706
9781892949592, $29.95, www.novapublishing.com
Absolute power over one's business comes with many disadvantages. "Sole Proprietorship: Small
Business Start-Up Kit" is a guide to creating a business run by you and only you. This method of
running a business comes with the benefit of complete control, but the downfall is also complete
responsibility. With a complete resource explaining the many aspects of the business, and how to
get started and dealing with all of the legal issues that come with it, "Sole Proprietorship" is an
excellent business and legal resource for any would be lone entrepreneur.
How to Write a Marketing Plan
John Westwood
Kogan Page
525 South 4th Street, #241, Philadelphia, PA 19147
9780749461713, $14.95, www.koganpage.com
Everything can be done better with a well thought out plan. "How to Write a Marketing Plan" is a
guide to make a thorough marketing plan for one's business that can function with flexibility and
success for the product's future. From auditing the product's worth, setting realistic goals, putting
a price tag on the campaign, and pushing it into plan, John Westwood, marketing veteran, shares
much of his experience. "How to Write a Marketing Plan" is a strong resource which should be
considered to be at hand for any business person. Also from Kogan Page, "Develop Your
Marketing Skills" (9780749462420, $14.95), a guide for enhancing one's skill with this very
important avenue of business and getting the product sold.
About Face
Dan Hill
Kogan Page
525 S, 4th St #241, Philadelphia, PA 19147
9780749457570, $29.95, www.koganpage.com
ABOUT FACE: THE SECRETS OF EMOTIONALLY EFFECTIVE ADVERTISING reveals
new keys to success, covering how modern ads can target emotions using data from eye tracking
and facial coding to analyze consumer response. Ten rules for such emotionally effective
strategies pinpoint techniques and powerful results from high-impact emotion-driven
marketing.
The Social Media Bible, second edition
Lon Safko
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River St., Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9780470623978, $29.95, www.wiley.com
The second updated edition of The Social Media Bible has been revised and updated with user
feedback and content, and offers the latest techniques, platforms and technologies for
understanding and effectively using social media marketing. Interviews with 50 experts
accompany keys to winning in social media efforts in this fine survey, highly recommended for
any business collection.
King of Capital
David Carey and John E. Morris
Crown Business
c/o Crown Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
0307452999, $27.50, www.crownpublishing.com
KING OF CAPITAL: THE REMARKABLE RISE, FALL, AND RISE AGAIN OF Steve
SCHWARZMAN AND BLACKSTONE comes from two veteran financial reporters who
provide the inside story of how Schwarzman and his co-founder Pete Peterson built themselves a
financial powerhouse that weathered crises and prospered. The insider's story tells how they
controlled corporations around the globe and provides a fine account of behind-the-scenes
dealings. Financial history collections will find this though-provoking.
Get Rich with Apps!
Jesse Feiler
McGraw-Hill
Two Penn Plaza, 11th Fl., NY, NY 10121-2298
0071700293, $19.95, www.mhprofessional.com
GET RICH WITH APPS! YOUR GUIDE TO REACHING MORE CUSTOMERS AND
MAKING MONEY NOW covers the rapidly changing apps landscape and its many
opportunities for making money. In 2010 over three billion apps had been downloaded from
apple's App Store by iPhone and iPod touch users worldwide in just eighteen months - this shows
businesses how to reach more customers and expand and develop new revenue streams using the
apps market. From using old-fashioned programs to drive traffic to brick and mortar and websites
to building an effective app, this covers both integration and construction and invites business
and computer users alike to appreciate new opportunities in business development!
What Would Google Do?
Jeff Jarvis
HarperBusiness
c/o HarperCollins
10 East 53rd St., New York NY 10022-5299
9780061709715, $26.99, www.harpercollins.com
What Would Google Do? provides a bold analysis from a blogger who analyzes Google's
approaches to uncover forty clear rules to manage a company. Visionary, counterintuitive
measures identified from Google's revolutionary approaches are recommended for a range of
businesses and political scenarios in a fine blend of business and social history.
Career Press
Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
www.careerpress.com
CEO PRIORITIES: MASTER THE ART OF SURVIVING AT THE TOP by Neil Giarratana
(9781601631268, $15.99) goes beyond the usual rhetoric to provide new and potential CEOs
with an affordable blueprint for settling in and setting new strategies. The author's had decades of
experience in the CEO realm and provides here a unique book on business leadership discussing
practical, behavioral and theoretical issues CEOs regularly face. Attorney Linda Gordon
Howard's THE SEXUAL HARASSMENT HANDBOOK (9781564149121, $14.99) offers a
fine, comprehensive overview of sexual harassment from a range of perspectives, from defining
the term and the process of complaint to identifying 'hostile environment harassment' and other
forms. Lawyers, non-lawyers and all business owners need to see this!
It's Not Just Who You Know
Tommy Spaulding
Broadway Books
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
9780307589132, $23.00, www.broadwaybooks.com
It's Not Just Who You Know: Transform Your Life (And Your Organization) by Turning
Colleagues and Contacts into Lasting, Genuine Relationships provides a fine new book sharing
secrets for creating the kinds of relationships that positively impact career goals. There's lots of
books on networking, but this goes beyond the 'who you know' approach to show how building
relationships that help others result in win-win situations overall.
Organizational Culture and Leadership, fourth edition
Edgar H. Schein
Jossey-Bass
989 Market Street, 5th floor, San Francisco, CA 94103-1741
9780470190609, $45.00, www.josseybass.com
Organizational Culture and Leadership appears in its fourth updated edition to provide
management libraries with a completely updated edition of a classic, based on modern business
realities and research. Chapters consider changes in culture and business environments, how
leadership has changed within and outside of business, and how leaders transmit and reflect
culture. A top analysis for any college-level business collection!
Networking for People Who Hate Networking
Devora Zack
Berrett-Koehler Publishers
235 Montgomery St., Suite 650, San Francisco CA 94104-2916
9781605095226, $16.95, www.bkconnection.com
Networking for People Who Hate Networking: A Field Guide for Introverts, the Overwhelmed,
and the Underconnected provides a fine survey of social interactions by an avowed introvert -
and a successful consultant. This exposes the reasons why some dislike networking - and how the
common myth that networking is about small talk and constant contact doesn't necessarily reflect
reality. A fine survey, this is a pick for any business shelf.
The Extraordinary Workplace
Danna Beal
Sentient Publications
1113 Spruce Street, Boulder, CO 80302
9781591811053, $16.95, www.sentientpublications.com
The power plays of many workplaces are wasted productivity. "The Extraordinary Workplace:
Replacing Fear with Trust and Compassion" is a business guide that condemns the rat race
mentality that has taken form in many places of work, stating that it leads to more concern with
getting ahead than it does getting the job done. Stating that a friendly workplace is one that is a
productive one and the paranoia and fear of the rat race cause endless problems, "The
Extraordinary Workplace" is a thoughtful read that should be considered by any manager or
business leader.
Agency Mania
Bruno Gralpois
Select Books
1 Union Square West, Suite 909, New York, NY 10003
9781590792056, $24.95, www.selectbooks.com
An advertising agency must work well with their client, or neither will get the success they seek.
"Agency Mania: Harnessing The Madness of Client/Agency Relationships For High-Impact
Results" delves into the relationship of advertising agencies and their clients. Aimed at
advertisers, it encourages them to work with their client and use all the newest technologies and
social media to the fullest extent, bringing significant thought and ideas to the table. "Agency
Mania" is an excellent resource for any advertiser and their agency who wants to build greater
success now and in the future.
Invisible Capital
Chris Rabb
Demos
c/o Berrett-Koehler Publishers
235 Montgomery Street, Suite 650, San Francisco, CA 94104-2916
9781605093079, $16.95, www.bkconnection.com
If business were a simple science, someone would have figured it out long ago. "Invisible
Capital: How Unseen Forces Shape Entrepreneurial Opportunity" discusses the unseen
opportunities that await us all in the business world that are not often considered. Chris Rabb
explains this diverse idea and how it can be the future of business for many people, because
tomorrow's world won't be decided by competence alone. "Invisible Capital" is a vital and very
highly recommended read for those who want a better shot at success tomorrow.
The Judaic Studies Shelf
Schocken Books
c/o Random House
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
www.schocken.com
Rodger Kamanetz's BURNT BOOKS: RABBI NACHMAN OF BRATSLAV AND FRANZ
KAFKA (9780805242577, $25.00) comes from a teacher who for many years taught a course in
Prague on Franz Kafka. His consideration of the unexpected connections between Hasidic master
Rabbi Nachman and Kafka - which includes spiritual connections and even their co-invention of
new forms of storytelling that explore the search for meaning in an unjust world - makes for an
outstanding survey any Jewish studies collection should have! Rabbi Jonathan Sacks' FUTURE
TENSE: JEWS, JUDAISM, AND ISRAEL IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY
(9780805242690, $26.95) issues a call for world Jewry to reject the image of Jewish people as
being alone and surrounded by enemies in the world, and to reclaim Judaism's original
connections with God. Chapters use Judaism as a blueprint for recovery from world ills and
makes for passionate, inspirational reading.
God of Our Understanding
Shais Taub
KTAV
930 Newark Avenue, Jersity City, NJ 07306
9781602801530, $18.95, www.ktav.com
Help from higher places has helped so many in their searches. "God of Our Understanding:
Jewish Spirituality and Recovery from Addiction" is a Jewish guide to facing addiction and the
role of God in a Jew's own fight with their demons and against addiction. Stating that some
Jewish values can help even people of other faiths face these challenges and diseases, "God of
Our Understanding" is an insightful read with plenty of intriguing ideas for Jews and the people
they are trying to help.
The Holocaust Studies Shelf
On Listening to Holocaust Survivors
Henry Greenspan
Paragon House
1925 Oakcrest Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55113
9781557788771, $19.95, www.paragonhouse.com
Every individual story is part of a greater piece of a puzzle. "On Listening to Holocaust
Survivors: Beyond Testimony" is the work of Henry Greenspan, looking into the deeper story
behind the testimony of many Holocaust survivors and what it has told him about the atrocity and
humanity as a whole. Stating that more history is learned through conversation rather than a one
sided testimony, "On Listening to Holocaust Survivors" is an insightful and thoughtful addition
to any Holocaust studies collection.
The Political Science Shelf
The Anti-American Manifesto
Ted Rall
Seven Stories Press
140 Watts Street, New York, NY 10013
9781583229330, $15.95, www.sevenstoriespress.com
Through collapse, you can rebuild what fell into something greater. "The Anti-American
Manifesto" is a call from Ted Rall to take the broken system and replace with something more
modern and that works better for all Americans. Stating that the system is collapsing due to its
corruption and self-serving nature, Rall comes with many intriguing ideas, and makes "The
Anti-American Manifesto" a fascinating political read.
If We Can Put a Man on the Moon...
William D. Eggers and John O'Leary
Harvard Business School Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
9781422166369, $24.95, www.harvardbusiness.org/press
If We Can Put a Man on the Moon... Getting Big Things Done in Government argues that
partisan bickering is stalemating the entire concept of government achievement. This analyzes
how government tackles big challenges, is based on a review of over seventy-five government
undertakings in the U.S. and abroad, and shows what influences success versus failure. Lessons
from disasters provide eye-opening accounts of what went wrong and how factors influencing
failure could be avoided.
Broke
Glenn Beck
Threshold Editions
c/o Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl., NY, NY 10020
9781439187197, $29.99, www.simonandschuster.com
BROKE: THE PLAN TO RESTORE OUR TRUST, TRUTH AND TREASURE provides an
outstanding survey pairing a history of 234 years of political and economic changes with an
analysis of the Constitution and how it's been thwarted over the years. Startling revelations reveal
lies by both political parties and provide the conclusion that no single individual or party can fix
the current broken system alone. A 'must' for any social or political history collection.
Boiling Mad
Kate Zernike
Times Books
175 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10010
9780805093483, $25.00, www.nytimes.com
BOILING MAD: INSIDE TEA PARTY AMERICA offers the first definitive account of a
misunderstood movement from a New York Times reporter who has covered the Tea Party more
than any other journalist. It tells behind-the-scenes stories of activists behind the Party, considers
politics and motivations, and follows its evolution through the experiences of its participants and
originators. Any who would understand the history and influences of the Tea Party movement
need this!
Radical-in-Chief
Stanley Kurtz
Threshold Editions
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
9781439155080, $27.00, www.simonandschuster.com
RADICAL-IN-CHIEF: BARACK OBAMA AND THE UNTOLD STORY OF AMERICAN
SOCIALISM comes from an author who has dedicated the post two years to investigating the
roots of President Obama's political ideas. His conclusion: President Obama is a socialist.
Horrors! Chapters blend biography, history and political science along with social issues in a
probe many a political and social issues collection will welcome for debate.
The Essential American
Jackie Gingrich Cushman, editor
Regnery
1 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20001
9781596986435, $21.95, www.regenery.com
Several works throughout history have determined America's route through history. "The
Essential American: A Patriot's Resource: 25 Documents and Speeches Every American Should
Own" delves into history and looks at major works in writing and speech through history and
what they mean to America. With a conservative slant, many of these documents will ring true
with many readers, regardless of ideology. "The Essential American" comes with a DVD full of
useful further reading, making it a choice pick for political and historical readers.
Bureaucratic Nirvana
Hugh Montgomery
Potomac Institute for Policy Studies
901 N Stuart Street, Suite 200, Arlington, VA 22203
9780967859408, $24.95, www.potomacinstitute.org
The Pentagon is the command center for the arguably most powerful military force in the world.
"Bureaucratic Nirvana: Life in the Center of the Box: Gaining Peace, Enlightenment, & Potential
Funding in the Pentagon R&D Bureaucracy" is a memoir and expose on how the research and
development department of the Pentagon functions as Hugh Montgomery focuses on his four
decades of experience to grant insight on the problems that can plague the system as well as
where it can help. From budget all the way down, the Pentagon has a complex hierarchy.
"Bureaucratic Nirvana" is a fascinating and enlightening read into how the Pentagon is run,
highly recommended.
The Environmental Studies Shelf
Choosing a Sustainable Future
Liz Walker
New Society Publishing
PO Box 189, Gabriola Island, British Columbia, V0R 1X0, Canada
9780865716759, $19.95, www.newsociety.com
To be able to live in a constant and sustainable nature with the environment is something more
and more people are choosing. "Choosing a Sustainable Future: Ideas and Inspiration from
Ithaca, NY" looks at Ithaca, New York and how it has embraced green design and ideal. Here
they have embraced many ideas and given them a run, and Liz Walker uses Ithaca as a model to
encourage other cities and communities across the country to better embrace these ideas.
"Choosing a Sustainable Future" is a thoughtful and highly recommended read for anyone who
wants to push more environmentally friendly thought.
Convert Your Home To Solar Energy
Everrett M. Barber & Joseph R. Provey
Taunton Press
63 South Main Street, PO Box 5506, Newtown, CT 06470-5506
9781600852527, $24.95, www.taunton.com
Solar power is the wave of the future, it just requires a bit of adaption to use it to its fullest.
"Convert our Home to Solar Energy" is a guide to using solar energy for one's own home. From
where the best apply solar energy, to panel installation, understanding the costs and savings
including the tax elements and more, Everett M. Barber & Joseph R. Provey do well in giving
readers a complete and comprehensive guide to residential solar power. "Convert Our Home to
Solar Energy" is an invaluable resource on the topic, not to be overlooked.
Temperate and Boreal Rainforests of the World
Dominick A. DellaSala
Island Press
1718 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20009
9781597266765, $40.00, www.islandpress.org
The forests of the world have do more for it than most people know. "Temperate and Boreal
Rainforests of the World: Ecology and Conservation" discusses these forests and their
importance to the surrounding region, with a focus on the ecology and environment of these
forests. Wildlife and plants need these environments, as Dominick A. DellaSala, President of the
Geos institute explains in greater detail. Also included are plenty of graphs and charts, with a
good deal of full color photographs. For any community or college collection focusing on the
environment and ecology of forests, "Temperate and Boreal Rainforests of the World" is an
absolute must.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
Sex Matters So...
Lynn A. Anderson
411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
9781453859964, $9.95, www.doctorlynn.com
A good sexual health is a cornerstone to an overall healthy life. "Sex Matters So...Get Sexually
Healthy the Natural Way" is a guide to sexual health from Lynn A. Anderson stating the
importance sex in health and how it can be improved and encouraged and be the cornerstone of
good life. Discussing everything from the maturation of sexual needs and much more, "Sex
Matters So..." is a choice and powerful read for those who want to understand sexual health.
50 Ways to Sooth Yourself Without Food
Susan Albers
New Harbinger Publications
5674 Shattuck Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609
9781572246768, $16.95, www.newharbinger.com
Food is often all too relied on for comfort, and this has many consequences. "50 Ways to Soothe
Yourself Without Food" is a guide for avoiding the pit of comfort food that so often lures many
people in trying times down the road of poor health when there are other problems. Stating that
feeding the mouth when you should be feeding your emotions won't solve anything, Susan Albers
gives a wide array of simple soothing methods, from a good path to deliberately clearing one's
head. "50 Ways to Soothe Yourself Without Food" is filled with simple wisdom and is very
highly recommended.
Pain Pill Addiction
Jana Burson
Dog Ear Publishing
4010 W. 86th Street, Ste H, Indianapolis, IN 46268
9781608446988, $17.95
Injury leads to pain, pain leads to pills, pills lead to addiction. "Pain Pill Addiction: A
Prescription for Hope" is a guide for readers and loved ones who are facing addiction and how it
can take control of their lives. With plenty of information for pain pill addicts to help them shake
their addiction and free themselves to function as a clean individual. With notes from other
addicts who have cleansed themselves, "Pain Pill Addiction" is a thoughtful read with plenty of
encouragement for those who want to shake the addiction from their lives.
The Better Bladder Book
Wendy Cohan
Hunter House
PO Box 2914, Alameda, CA 94501
9780897935555, $17.95, www.hunterhouse.com
Problems that are hard to talk about are still problems nonetheless. "The Better Bladder Book: A
Holistic Approach to Healing Interstitial Cystitus & Chronic Pelvic Pain" is filled with questions
and answers for dealing with the many crises of the bladder and the pain and misery it can bring
into one's life. From diet to exercise to medicines, and other techniques, "The Better Bladder
Book" is an incredibly valuable tool for anyone trying to fight their own chronic pain in this
area.
Mayo Clinic Guide to Self-Care, sixth edition
Mayo Clinic
Good Books
PO Box 419, Intercourse, PA 17534-0419
9781561486762, www.mayoclinic.com
The sixth updated edition of Mayo Clinic Guide to Self-Care provides the latest Mayo-backed
answers for everyday health concerns. From warts and wrinkled skin to treatments for arthritis
and bursitis, this is packed with clear illustrations, sidebars of detail, and explanations lending to
a quick reference for any family or library.
Timeless Running Wisdom
Richard Benyo
Human Kinetics
PO Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61825-5076
9780736099349, $16.95, www.humankinetics.com
Speed and endurance are the goals of anyone who wants to push their runs further. "Timeless
Running Wisdom" is a guide from many runners and health professionals on what one needs to
know to gain a greater grasp of running and everything surrounding it. With tips on diets,
training, and how to push yourself further without hurting yourself, "Timeless Running Wisdom"
is a guide with much to teach any hardcore runner.
The Herbal Kitchen
Kami McBride
Conari Press
c/o Red Wheel, Weiser, Conari
65 Parker Street, Suite 7, Newburyport, MA 01950
9781573244213, $18.95, www.redwheelweiser.com
With a hint of herbs worked in, you can ensure a bit of extra health with any meal. "The Herbal
Kitchen: 50 Easy-to-Find Herbs and Over 250 Recipes to Bring Lasting Health to You and Your
Family" looks into simple herbs, oils, and other simple basics and staples of cooking and how
choosing the right types of these ingredients can make a meal considerably healthier. "The Herbal
Kitchen" is a thoughtful read with plenty of wise advice for those who cook with health firmly on
their mind.
The Education Shelf
Building a Professional Learning Community at Work
Parry Graham & William M. Ferriter
Solution-Tree
555 North Morton Street, Bloomington, IN 47404
9781934009598, $29.95, www.solution-tree.com
Education and learning is a job all of its own. "Building a Professional Learning Community at
Work: A Guide to the First Year" discusses how to form a professional learning community and
keep it afloat through the times. Professional learning communities success depends on
implementation, and Perry Graham & William M. Ferriter explain the concept well and give
great advice in understanding it and taking it to the next level. "Building a Professional Learning
Community" is a must for any PLC trying to become an early success.
What the L?
Kelsey May, Samantha Roberts, & Elizabeth Shelton
Carolina Academic Press
700 Kent Street, Durham, NC 27701
9781594608605, $20.00
Law school is a special breed of school that's hard to meet. "What the L?: 25 Things We Wish
We'd Known Before Going to Law School" is an advice guide for future lawyers and other users
of the law for a career who have to step into the unique experience of law school. Drawn from
first hand perspectives and experience, these three future lawyers explain it all, all from breaking
into the legal fraternity to trying to land that first job. "What the L?" is a fine gift to any aspiring
lawyer.
Vocabulary Games for the Classroom
Lindsay Carleton & Robert J. Marzano
Marzano Research
555 North Morton Street, Bloomington, IN 47404
9780982259269, $34.95, www.marzanosearch.com
Good vocabulary skills are an invaluable skill for coming off well in today's world. "Vocabulary
Games for the Classroom" is a guide for educators and teachers on how to emphasize the
importance of Vocabulary in today's world through classroom games and other activities that will
teach students the material while masking it under fun. Not just for language arts, these are
excellent ways to teach math and science terms as well. For educators looking for ways to
captivate their students further, "Vocabulary Games" is a useful and very highly recommended
resource.
Learning for Keeps
Rhoda Koenig
ASCD
1703 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
9781416610854, $24.95, www.ascd.org
How do you inspire a life-long love of learning? "Learning for Keeps: Teaching the Strategies
Essential for Creating Independent Learners" is an educational guide for teachers in the angles
they need to teach in for their students how to grasp the curriculum and excel with it in a way that
they understand both the why and how. With the goal of encouraging independent education
being sought out of the students own interest, "Learning for Keeps" is a thoughtful pick and will
prove an excellent and highly valuable resource.
Twice-Exceptional Gifted Children
Beverly A. Trail
Prufrock Press
PO Box 8813, Waco, TX 76714-8813
9781593634896, $24.95, www.prufrock.com
Talent is something to be nurtured, and some talents need assistance to get the help they need.
"Twice-Exceptional Gifted Children: Understanding, Teaching and Counseling Gifted Students"
is a guide for educators and teachers who want to help their gifted and talented students keep
performing at this high level, particularly those who also face disabilities, making their talents all
the more significant. "Twice-Exceptional Gifted Children" is a thoughtful and scholarly volume
that should be considered by any advanced classes teacher.
Doing Literary Criticism
Tim Gillespie
Stenhouse Publishers
PO Box 11020, Portland, ME 04104-7020
9781571108425, $35.00, www.stenhouse.com
To analyze and criticize a text is to understand it. "Doing Literary Criticism: Helping Students
Engage with Challenging Texts" is a guide for teachers who want to help their students use the
art of literary criticism to gain a greater understanding of the subject matter they are trying to
teach. Tim Gillespie breaks down the many aspects of criticism and what each genre of book
requires a different approach in teaching understanding. "Doing Literary Criticism" is a highly
useful and excellent resource for any English or language arts teacher.
A Process Approach to General Education Reform
Susan Gao-Phillips and Robert W. Barnett
Atwood Publishing
PO Box 3185, Madison, WI 53704-0185
9781891859816, $25.95, www.atwoodpublishing.com
Education has fallen behind in America, and is in dire need of change. "A Process Approach to
General Education Reform: Transforming Institutional Culture in Higher Education" discusses
the problems facing secondary and higher education in America and how it fails to live to its true
potential. Stating that the process needs revising instead of the content, Susan Gao-Phillips and
Robert W. Barnett provide a scholarly and well thought out approach to their idea of what higher
learning should be. "A Process Approach to General Education Reform" is a core addition to any
educational studies collection, especially those with a focus on higher learning.
Foundations for Teaching Excellence
Carollee Howes & Robert C. Pianta
Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.
PO Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
9781598571226, $34.95, www.brookespublishing.com
The early years lay the foundation for years of education to come. "Foundations for Teaching
Excellence: Connecting Early Childhood Quality Rating, Professional Development, and
Competency Systems in States" is for educators who want to tailor their lessons to the abilities of
their students and how to meet their needs to make them come out of their education as educated
as possible. From assessment, structuring early education, finances, motivating other staff, and
more, "Foundations for Teaching Excellence" is an important read for any educator who believes
starting early is vital to educational success.
Student-Designed Games
Peter Hastie
Human Kinetics
Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61825-5076
0736085904, $24.00 www.humankinetics.com
STUDENT DESIGNED GAMES: STRATEGIES FOR PROMOTING CREATIVITY,
COOPERATION, AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT provides a fine guide for students and
teachers, showing them how to devise games that are inclusive, educational and fun. Game
templates presented here can be adapted or used 'as is', and teaches key tactical concepts and
awareness in the design process, not just the play experience. Education and sports collections
will find this a real winner!
School, Family, and Community Partnerships, second edition
Joyce L. Epstein
Westview Press
2465 Central Avenue, Boulder, CO 80301
9780813344478, $50.00, www.westviewpress.com
School, Family, and Community Partnerships appears in its second updated edition to offer
educators and researchers a fine key to developing goal-linked programs of school, family and
community partnerships. Methods for applying theory and research accompany a historical
review and exploration of research on parent involvement. Any college-level education collection
needs this!
The Nature of College
James J. Farrell
Milkweed
101 Washington Avenue South, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55415
9781571313225, $16.00, www.milkweed.org
Beer, politics, sex... smells like independence. "The Nature of College: How a New
Understanding of Campus Life Can Change the World" is James J. Farrell's analysis of the life of
the college student and how learning to understand their place in the world and the world around
then. Understanding this unique ecology can lead to looking at the future leaders of the world and
enhance the educational experience. "The Nature of College" offers very much to ponder about
campus life, and makes for an educational and fascinating read.
Engines of Innovation
Holden Thorp & Buck Goldstein
The University of North Carolina Press
116 S. Boundary St., Chapel Hill, NC 27514-3808
9780807834381, $125.00, www.uncpress.unc.edu
Change can be a good thing or a bad thing; it's all in how it's done. "Engines of Innovation: The
Entrepreneurial University in The Twenty-First Century" analyzes the power and potential that
universities with a certain approach can do for the world in the next century where knowledge is
an all powerful resource. Universities have always been historically the places where change in
society begins to happen, and authors Holden Thorp and Buck Goldstein, two big thinkers who
have called the University of North Carolina their home for years. With entrepreneurial thought
and fundamentals, these universities can be juggernauts of change in the coming years.
Throughout the chapters, Thorp and Goldstein cover the importance of enterprise, leadership,
changing culture, responsibility, and much more. "Engines of Innovation" is a vital entry into any
community or college library collection that features scholarly insights into the future of
education and societal change.
Guiding Advanced Readers
Tersa Smith Masiello
Great Potential Press
7025 E. 1st Ave Suite 5, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
9781935067016, $19.95, www.giftedbooks.com
It's easy for the gifted to pull way ahead of the pack in middle school. "Guiding Advanced
Readers: In Middle School" is a guide for language arts and English teachers to challenge these
advanced readers in a time where the common curriculum will serve no challenge and likely bore
them, which can damage their enthusiasm for their talent. With plenty of ideas for books and an
abundance of ideas to encourage study, "Guiding Advanced Readers" is a top pick for Middle
School Language arts teachers and for teachers resource collections in general.
Ready for Take-Off
Theresa E. Laurie Maitland & Patricia O. Quinn
Magination Press
c/o American Psychological Association
PO Box 92984, Washington, DC 20090-2984
9781433808913, $19.95, www.apa.org
With college, focus is more important than ever. "Ready for Take-off: Preparing Your Teen with
ADHD or LD for College" is a guide for parents who want to prepare their children with
attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and other learning disabilities get the full benefits of their
college education, to succeed and get their diploma to be prepared for adult life. "Ready for
Take-Off" is a useful resource for parents, strongly recommended.
The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf
Elmer
Gerry Alanguilan
SLG Publishing
588 S. Market Street, San Jose, CA 95113
9781593622046, $12.95, www.slgcomic.com
Sapience can be a cruel mistress. "Elmer" is a graphic novel from Gerry Alanguilan telling the
story of Elmer, one of the first chickens to under go the transformation that shifted chickens from
livestock to intelligent beings with the capabilities for speech and other humanizing elements.
Now considered on par with humans in the eyes of the law, he must fight for the simple rights
that other minorities have faced over the years. Written with a winning combination of absurd
humor and commentary on racial issues with the vehicle of poultry, "Elmer" is quite the read, and
is enthusiastically recommended.
The World History Shelf
Holy War in China
Hodong Kim
Stanford University Press
1450 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1124
9780804773645, $24.95, www.sup.org
Islam spread far and wide, even to Asia. "Holy War in China: The Muslim Rebellion and State in
Chinese Central Asia, 1864-1877" discusses the Uyghurs, Islamic Chinese. In recent years, they
have become a source of debate in China and international news. Looking back in history,
Hodong Kim hopes to bring light to these people and how this sect has not been immune to
trouble in the past. A fascinating look at the lesser known presence of Islam in China, "Holy War
in China" is an excellent addition to any religious studies or world history collection.
Rome and Constantinople
Raymond Van Dam
Baylor University Press
One Bear Place, #97363, Waco, TX 76798-7363
9781602582019, $19.95, www.baylorpress.com
Rome was no normal empire, growing large beyond the power of one city to control. "Rome and
Constantinople: Rewriting Roman History During Late Antiquity" tries to look into the true life
of the people of the empire and how this dual empire worked, and why one continued on for
centuries as the western Empire fell into disarray. These two cities are beacons of culture in the
modern day, and Raymond Van Dam provides an insightful and solidly recommended read that
shouldn't be missed.
Celebrate People's History
Josh MacPhee, editor
Feminist Press
365 Fifth Avenue, Suite 5406, New York, NY 10016
9781558616776, $24.95, www.feministpress.org
The twentieth century has been a great upheaval of the social struggle. "Celebrate People's
History: The Poster Book of Resistance and Revolution" is a collection of writings and artwork
that celebrate the events though out history that have celebrated racial, feminist, sexual, and
movements of the working class to remind the world that they exist and are not to be tread upon.
With a powerful message and plenty of unique art, "Celebrate People's History" is a fine
collection and would do well in any history or art collection.
The Country of the Moors
Edward Rae
Garnet
c/o International Publishing Marketing
PO Box 605, Herndon, VA 20172-0605
9781859642306, $39.95, www.garnetpublishing.co.uk
An outsider looking in offers a good deal of insight. "The Country of the Moors: A Journey From
Tripoli in Barbaray to the City of Kairwan" is the work of Edward Rae who in the later
nineteenth century traveled through northern Africa and learned much about the Moors, the
dominant culture of Islam throughout the region, even visiting holy cities previously forbidden to
non-Muslims. A fascinating read of historical travel with plenty to ponder, "The Country of the
Moors" is a choice pick and a solid addition to any history collection.
History vs. Apologetics
David Cymet
Lexington Books
c/o Rowman & Littlefield
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
9780739132937, $90.00, www.lexingtonbooks.com
As Hitler rose to power and began some of the worst atrocities in history, the Catholic Church
may have did more than sit and watch. "History Vs. Apologetics: The Holocaust, the Third
Reich, and the Catholic Church" looks at the Catholic Church's involvement throughout The
Third Reich's power in Nazi Germany and their persecution of the Jews. Critical and
condemning, author David Cymet states that the Catholic Church refused to condemn the atrocity
and went as far as to help those who orchestrated the tragedy to escape when the Reich started to
fall. "History Vs. Apologetics" is a thoughtful and fascinating analysis of the alliance of Nazi
Germany and the Catholic church, making for an enthusiastically recommended read and
addition to community and college religion and history collections.
Pirate Hunting
Bennerson Little
Potomac Books
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166
9781597972918, $29.95, www.potomacbooksinc.com
PIRATE HUNTING: THE FIGHT AGAINST PIRATES, PRIVATEERS, AND SEA RAIDERS
FROM ANTIQUITY TO THE PRESENT is a top pick for a range of collections, from those
with a general interest in pirates to others covering military and nautical history. The survey
analyzes tactics, strategies, and historic battles between pirates and others, covering naval
warfare and maritime commerce alike.
Paris Between the Wars 1919-1939
Vincent Bouvet and Gerard Durozoi
The Vendome Press
1334 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021
9780865652521, $50.00, www.vendomepress.com
Paris Between the Wars 1919-1939: Art, Life & Culture provides a fine survey of Paris in the
years following World war I, when it attracted artists and intellectuals from around the world.
The melding of cultural forces in Paris during the two decades between the wars are captured in a
survey exploring achievements in all the arts, and packs in a visual feast of drawings, paintings,
period photos, ads, film stills and more. Arts and history holdings strong in French and European
history must have this.
Conquest, Tribute and Trade
Howard J. Erlichman
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2119
9781616142117, $28.00, www.prometheusbooks.com
CONQUEST, TRIBUTE, AND TRADE: THE QUEST FOR PRECIOUS METALS AND THE
BIRTH OF GLOBALIZATION tells the intertwined stories of Portugal, Spain and the Dutch
Republic, where were able to overturn centuries of Muslim commercial domination in Africa and
Asia to rise quickly to world powers. From world explorers and voyageurs to how mineral wealth
funded the first global empires, this is a pick any college-level world history collection
needs.
A Chronicle Of Jails
Darrell Figgis
University College of Dublin PRess
c/o DuFour Editions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9781906359300, $33.95, www.origin.ie
Prisons are tools of politics, both to detain opponents and as something to rally against. "A
Chronicle of Jails" was an assortment of essays and memoirs written by Darrell Figgis in 1917.
Originating as a piece of propaganda, this work has earned in its place among Irish and British
history, and "A Chronicle of Jails" proves to be a vital addition to any community or college
library European history collection.
Five Thousand Years of Slavery
Marjorie Gann & Janet Willen
Tundra Books
75 Sherbourne Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5A 2P9
9780887769146, $29.99, www.tundrabooks.com
Slavery is one of the most ancient evils that humanity has visited upon itself. "Five Thousand
Years of Slavery" looks at this dark element of human history that is sadly still not yet history.
Even to this day, the concept of slavery lives on, as children around the world are forcibly
enslaved by rebel militaries. Examining the sad history from the deepest of ancient history to the
more famous cases of American slavery to the slavery of today, "Five Thousand Years of
Slavery" proves to be a fascinating if at sometimes depressing look into humanity's dark
companion.
Politics, Culture, and Sociability in the Basque Nationalist Party
Roland Vazquez
University of Nevada Press
Morrill Hall, MS 0166, Reno, NV 89557
9780874178227, $39.95
Spain has proven a fascinating political study in recent years. "Politics, Culture, and Sociability
in the Basque Nationalist Party" looks at this development in Spanish politics covering the
development of this political philosophy and how it reflects and impacts Spanish culture. Born
out of the Basque country in Spain, author Roland Vazquez analyzes Spanish politics as a whole
from the perspective of the Basque Nationalist party. For any student of International politics and
for international studies collections, "Politics, Culture, and Sociability in the Basque Nationalist
Party" is a choice and very highly recommended pick, not to be missed.
Culture and Politics at the Court of Charles II
Matthew Jenkinson
Boydell Press
668 Mt Hope Ave., Rochester, NY 14620
9781843835905, $115.00, www.boydellandbrewer.com
The monarchy of England had returned, and what had returned with it? "Culture and Politics at
the Court of Charles II: 1660-1685" looks at England's return to Monarchy and the unusual and
chaotic times of court life. History places an eye at a period where although everyone claimed to
be honest, moral, and working for the good of the people, they seemed to be working against all
of that. A truly fascinating point in history, author Matthew Jenkinson offers chapters on the
restoration period of the monarchy, how Catholicism returned to prominence in English politics,
the culture of power, and much more. With plenty of appendixes and illustrations throughout,
"Culture and Politics at the Court of Charles II" is an excellent addition to any community or
college world history collection, enthusiastically recommended.
The Pets/Wildlife Shelf
50 Ticks to Teach Your Dog
Sophie Collins
TFH publications
Third and Union Avenues, Neptune City, NJ 07753
9780793806454, $13.95, www.tfh.com
Dogs are smart and cunning creatures, not to be underestimated. "50 Tricks to Teach Your Dog"
is a guide to teaching your old dog a whole slew of new tricks to the entertainment of yourself as
well as your dog. From the most basic of tricks like standing up, to pushing your dog's mind, "50
Tricks to Teach Your Dog" is a fine guide and very highly recommended for those just getting
into teaching and training their favorite furry friend.
The Great Penguin Rescue
Dyan DeNapoli
The Free Press
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
9781439148174, $26.00, www.simonandschuster.com
THE GREAT PENGUIN RESCUE: 40,000 PENGUINS, A DEVASTATING OIL SPILL, AND
THE INSPIRING STORY OF THE WORLD'S LARGEST ANIMAL RESCUE tells of a 2000
oil spill off south Africa which endangered the habitat of 75,000 penguins. The huge rescue
operation that evolved brought over 12,000 volunteers from around the world to save the birds:
this documents the event and comes from 'The Penguin Lady' whose extensive work with
penguins contributed to the cause. Any general interest or natural history collection will relish
this!
Fraser's Penguins
Fen Montaigne
Henry Holt & Company
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 400, NY, NY 10010-7725
9780805079425, $26.00, www.henryholt.com
FRASER'S PENGUINS: A JOURNEY TO THE FUTURE IN ANTARCTICA provides a
dramatic natural history of Antarctica's penguins and come from Bill Fraser's thirty-year study of
Adelie penguins. During this period this region of Antarctica has warmed faster than nearly any
place on earth, affecting the penguin that depends on sea ice to survive. Author Fen Montaigne
spent five months working as a member of Fraser's field team between 2005-2006: his
observations of how rising temperatures are changing life in Antarctica makes for a gripping saga
no natural history holding should be without.
What a Difference a Dog Makes
Dana Jennings
Doubleday
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
9780385532839, $21.00, www.doubleday.com
What a Difference a Dog Makes: Big Lessons on Life, Love, and Healing from a Small Pooch
comes from a New York Times editor who wrote a blog on his aging dog Bijou and how the dog
helped his cancer recovery. The post received nearly 700 comments: here a book expands on
Dana's thoughts about Bijou and other animals he's known in his life. The result is a top pick for
any collection strong in general animal accounts.
Wiley-Blackwell
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148
www.wiley.com/wiley-blackwell
Lynelle R. Johnson's CLINICAL CANINE AND FELINE RESPIRATORY MEDICINE
(9780813816715, $89.99) emphasizes a user-friendly format and offers chapters on a range of
disorders. General practitioners and vet students receive a reference that uses a consistent layout
and an easy at-a-glance format, along with black and white and color diagnosis photos. No vet's
collection should be without this! Lisa Powell, Elizabeth Rozanski and John Rush's SMALL
ANIMAL EMERGENCY AND CRITICAL CARE: CASE STUDIES IN CLIENT
COMMUNICATION, MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY (9781405167529, $49.99) uses real
case study examples to teach vet students about situations likely to arise in emergency practice.
This collection of short case studies provides a proven technique that has proved successful in
veterinary medicine for case review: each chapter presents a real case, highlights pitfalls vets can
encounter, and reinforces concepts of better communication.
The Toolbox
Terry Ryan
Dogwise Publishing
403 S Mission St., Wenatchee, WA 98801
9781929242795, $16.95, www.dogwise.com
A well trained dog is a good addition to a happy family. "The Toolbox for Building a Great
Family Dog" is a guide for those who want to help their dogs be more harmonious with their
family with simple training techniques. With tips on understanding the dog and understanding
what needs to be done for one's family and more, Terry Ryan creates a very useful compendium
of information. "The Toolbox" is not a read to be overlooked and ignored for dog and family
lovers.
The Self-Help Shelf
The Caregiver's Tao Te Ching
William and Nancy Martin
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
9781577318880, $14.00, www.newworldlibrary.com
Care is not just for others, but it is for yourself as well. "The Caregiver's Tao Te Ching:
Compassionate Caring for Your Loved Ones and Yourself" is a spiritual guide for readers who
want to give better care for their loved ones, or if their career is one of caregiving. With a simple
wisdom and drawing from the famous Chinese text Tao Te Ching, William and Nancy Martin
encourage readers to remember to care for themselves when caring for others, that selflessness to
the point of draining oneself is foolish, and that this simple wisdom will allow them to keep
giving the best care they can while retaining their own health. "The Caregiver's Tao Te Ching" is
a thoughtful and solidly recommended read, not to be missed by the caregivers of life.
Mudras
Emily Fuller Williams
Parenting Press
PO Box 75267, Seattle, WA 98175-0267
9780943990408, $14.95, www.parentingpress.com
A little focus and exercise can change the pace of your day. "Mudras: Ancient Gestures to Ease
Modern Stress" looks into the practice of Mudras, simple exercise hand gestures that Emily
Fuller Williams believes will help many take better control of their lives and push themselves
further. These exercises can be done anywhere, including an office, making them perfect for
those in a stressful work situation. "Mudras" is an excellent and very highly recommended pick
for anyone with lots of stress and no outlet.
The Rules of Life
Richard Templar
FT Press
c/o Pearson Technology Group
1330 Avenue of the Americans, 35th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780132485562, $18.95, www.ftpress.com
By understanding the rules, it's much easier to play the game. "The Rules of Life: A Personal
Code for Living a Better, Happier, More Successful Life" is an motivational guide from Richard
Templar, as he explains how to live life with your head held high, understanding how to live and
work with the many different personalities around you. With plenty of common sense and simple
wisdom, "The Rules of Life" will motivate and inspire many a reader.
The Blame Game
Neil E. Farber
Bascom Hill Publishing Group
212 N 3rd Avenue, Suite 290, Minneapolis, MN 55401
9781935098355, $15.95, www.bascomhillpublishing.com
It's easy to blame others. It's hard to blame others well. "The Blame Game: The Complete Guide
to Blaming: How to Play and How to Quit" discusses the power of blame and how to use it
accurately and well, and realize it's not always the worst thing in the world. Empowering readers
through a shift of responsibility, "The Blame Game" has a unique approach to finding peace and
encouragement, and it works, highly recommended.
Still Procrastinating?
Joseph R. Ferrari
Wiley-Blackwell
10475 Crosspoint Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46256
9780470611586, $15.95, www.wiley.com
Tomorrow is always a good time, except that it isn't. "Still Procrastinating?: The No-Regrets
Guide to Getting It Done" is a guide to kill the procrastinator in oneself and get things done
swiftly and quickly. Stating that these bad habits seep deeper into our lives and eliminating them
can lead to a wonderful transformation of life, "Still Procrastinating?" is a thoughtful and
powerful resource which shouldn't be overlooked by readers.
The Money/Finance Shelf
How to Shop for Free
Kathy Spencer
Da Capo
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
9780738214566, $14.95, www.dacapopress.com
A penny saved is a penny earned, and Kathy Spencer knows how to save a lot of pennies. "How
to Shop for Free: Shopping Secrets for Smart Women Who Love to Get Something for Nothing"
is a guide for those who like to economize their shopping and use deals, offers, and more to get
the most out of their money on countless items, her wisdom can help readers enjoy their hobby of
shopping with a more agreeable price tag of nothing. "How to Shop for Free" is a powerful and
useful resource, enthusiastically recommended.
The Religion/Spirituality Shelf
40 Days In the Desert
Paul F. Bauer
Langmarc Publishing
PO Box 90488, Austin, TX 78709-0488
9781880292372, $12.95, www.langmarc.com
Service personnel are at the front lines when things go wrong. "40 Days in the Desert: A
Devotional Guide for Uniform Services Personnel" is filled with inspiration for service
personnel, the fire fighters, paramedics, and police of the world whose action or lack thereof is
the difference between life and death for so many people. With a profound nature, "40 Days in
the Desert" will bring comfort and inspiration to these men and women struggling to make a
difference.
Decision Making & Spiritual Discernment
Nancy L. Bieber
SkyLight Paths
PO Box 237, Sunset Farms Offices, RT. 4, Woodstock, VT 05091
9781594732898, $16.99, www.skylightpaths.com
Where does one's heart and life lie? "Decision Making & Spiritual Discernment: The Sacred Art
of Finding Your Way" delves into the search for enlightenment and finding the right path for
one's life. Nancy L. Beiber encourages readers to find their inspiration and path in their lives
through the principles of being open to God's wisdom and love, truly seeing his intent, and
following through with the path that both you and God want. Simple and responsive wisdom,
"Decision Making & Spiritual Discernment" is a must for any religious and spiritual reader,
highly recommended.
Generous Justice
Timothy Keller
Dutton
c/o Penguin Publishing Group
375 Hudson St. New York NY 10014
9780525951902, $19.95, www.penguin.com
GENEROUS JUSTICE: HOW GOD'S GRACE MAKES US JUST comes from a best-selling
author who explores the idea of justice and how everyone can use the Bible as a guide for
modern day human rights issues. The core message of the Bible is doing justice for the poor in a
way that reflects the nature of God: this book provides a powerful survey of the nature of
generosity and its spiritual links.
The Power to Enlighten Now
Susan Kerr
Blue Dolphin Publishing
PO Box 8, Nevada, City, CA 95959
9781577332220, $13.00, www.bluedolphinpublishing.com
The pursuit of enlightenment can often be a long one, as many don't even know what their
looking for. "The Power to Enlighten Now" is Susan Kerr's own advice on finding enlightenment
in one's life. Hoping to help readers define their own enlightenment, pursue it, and keep on the
road, she advises readers well to understand it all. "The Power to Enlighten Now" is quite the
read, and a very solidly recommended one for spirituality readers.
The Music Shelf
Gigging
Patricia Shih
Allworth Press
10 East 23rd Street, New York, NY 10010
9781581152753, $19.95, www.allworth.com
It's a long way to the top to be successful in music. "Gigging: A Practical Guide for Musicians" is
a guide for the would be musician who doesn't know where to get started in trying to get paid
work for their talents. With advice on finding gigs, booking gigs, traveling hazards for musicians,
finding fellow band mates, networking, unions, and more, "Gigging" is an excellent resource for
the musician who has the talent but not the idea how to start.
The Gilded Stage
Daniel Snowman
Overlook Press
14 Wooster Street, New York, NY 10012
9781590203958, $60.00, www.atlantic-books.co.uk
Opera has been the chosen venue of theatre of many for years. "The Gilded Stage: A Social
History of Opera" traces opera's development as an art form as a parallel to the history of the
western world. With the rise of the Renaissance in Europe, many took to Opera to try new things
and new ideas, and it became a cultured favorite. It spread through the world, and it becoming the
work of the world in America, a clash of cultures into something new, as America often does. A
thoughtful history of drama and development, author Daniel Snowman traces this history and
makes it a riveting and intriguing read that should prove hard to put down. "The Gilded Stage" is
a vital addition to any historical or theatre history collection, very highly recommended.
Music and Media
Michael Frishkopf
The American University of Cairo Press
420 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10018
International Publishing Marketing (distributor/publicity)
PO Box 605, Herndon, VA 20172-0605
9789774162930, $29.95, www.aucpress.com
If there is any thing in the Arabic world that is misunderstood most, it is the culture. "Music and
Media in the Arab World" discusses these aspects of popular culture which is commonly a
complete unknown to the western world. But the Middle East has followed suit with the rest of
the world and its embrace of technology and the internet as a way of sharing culture and there has
been a major shift in modern Arab society. This media has had a profound impact on Arab
society, and Michael Frishkopf puts together a very eye-opening read that shouldn't be missed for
those looking to gain a better understanding of the Middle East and culture. "Music and Media in
the Arab World" is a must for any social issues or anthropology community library
collection.
Finishing the Hat
Stephen Sondheim
Alfred A. Knopf
c/o Random House
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780679439073, $39.95, www.aaknopf.com
FINISHING THE HAT: COLLECTED LYRICS offers all the lyrics from his musicals from
1954-1981, from West Side Story to Sweeney Todd, but goes far beyond this presentation,
offering never-published songs from each show that were cut out, discussing his collaborations
with Leonard Bernstein and others, and adding anecdotes, observations and history to the mix.
Behind-the-scenes photos from each production, handwritten notes, and more make this a 'must'
for any Sondheim, music or theatre collection!
Me
Ricky Martin
Celebra/New American Library
c/o Penguin Publishing Group
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
9780451234155, $26.95, www.penguin.com
ME tells of a music career spanning nearly three decades and offers a far more personal
perspective of his life and feelings for the first time. From memories of his early childhood and
family sacrifices to achieve his dreams to his controversial sexuality and its consequences, this is
a 'must' for any fan of Ricky Martin's music.
Becoming Jimi Hendrix
Steven Roby & Brad Schreiber
Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9780306819100, $17.95, www.dacapopress.com
Becoming Jimi Hendrix: From Southern Crossroads to Psychedelic London, the untold story of a
Music Genius provides the first in-depth story of the formative years of Hendrix, pairing over 20
photos and a complete sessionography with a tour itinerary and survey of Hendrix's early musical
influences. Over a hundred interviews with those who knew Hendrix best during those years
makes for a key acquisition for any rock music history holding.
Fab: An Intimate Life of Paul McCartney
Howard Sounes
DaCapo Press
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9780306817830, $29.95, www.dacapopress.com
Fab: An Intimate Life of Paul McCartney is a 'must' for any library seeking a definitive
representation of the Beatles. It provides the first in-depth biography of Paul McCartney,
following his life story from childhood to his rise to fame to his disastrous second marriage to
Heather Mills, and is based on original research including over two hundred new interviews. A
'must' for any McCartney collection.
Gone to the Country
Ray Allen
University of Illinois Press
1325 South Oak St., Champaign, IL 61820-6903
9780252077470, $25.00, www.press.uillinois.edu
GONE TO THE COUNTRY: THE NEW LOST CITY RAMBLERS & THE FOLK MUSIC
REVIVAL focuses on the cultural impact of a Northern band's Southern roots music, detailing
the evolution and music of the New Lost City Ramblers, who helped foster a resurgence of
interest in southern roots music during the folk era of the 1950s and 60s. Biography, history and
social analysis blend in a survey recommended for any music history holding.
Mozipedia
Simon Goddard
Plume
c/o Penguin Publishing Group
375 Hudson, New York NY 10014-3658
9780452296671, $30.00, www.penguin.com
MOZIPEDIA: THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF MORRISSEY AND THE SMITHS provides the first
in-depth examination of Morrissey and his music, and is a 'must' for any Morrissey fan. Years of
interviews and research into his life results in a gathering of every song, album, and idea relating
to Steven Patrick Morrissey. 600 entries and two photo inserts lend to a 'must have' for any rock
music collection or Morrissey fan.
The Ultimate Metallica
Ross Halfin
Chronicle Books
680 - 2nd St., San Francisco CA 94107
9780811875059, $35.00, www.chroniclebooks.com
THE ULTIMATE METALLICA is a 'must' for any fan of the group and any rock music history
holding. It collects the best of Ross Halfin's images, taken over the years with exclusive access to
the band. His candid photos cover both on-stage and backstage images and pack in over 250
photos, including a foreword by Lars Ulrich and an afterword by Kirk Hammett. Highly
recommended!
Big Man
Clarence Clemons & Don Reo
Grand Central Publishing
c/o Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9780446546256, $14.99, www.hachettebookgroup.com
BIG MAN: REAL LIFE & TALL TALES offers an outstanding autobiography and story of
Clarence Clemons, the saxophone player of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band. Her Clarence and
his friend and writer/producer Don Reo consider his childhood to modern times, following
Clemons' musical evolution, his friendship with Bruce Springsteen, and his encounters with other
famous musicians.
Radiohead
Marianne Letts
Indiana University Press
601 North Morton Street, Bloomington, IN 47403-3797
9780253222725, $15.95, www.iupress.indiana.edu
Radiohead has earned a unique following and fanbase unlike any other in the world. "Radiohead:
And the Resistant Concept Album, How to Disappear Completely" looks at the approach from
the British band on the their concept animals and their deeper meaning in analysis of their ideas
and opinions of alienation and anticapitalism. Stating that the band has departed from the usual
path of the concept album, Marianne Tatom Letts provides quite the intriguing analysis of the
music and the band. "Radiohead" is a must for fans of the band or students of contemporary
alternative rock and its themes.
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Orbs
Klaus Heinemann & Gundi Heinemann
Hay House
PO Box 5100, Carlsbad, CA 92018-5100
9781401928865, $16.95, www.hayhouseradio.com
Photo anomalies, or something more? "Orbs: Their Mission and Messages of Hope" is the
research of Klaus & Gundi Heinemann about how they believe that these mysterious lights that
appear often photographs have a deeper meaning than many would understand at first sight.
Explaining their theory of the deeper spiritual meaning of these lights, "Orbs" is worth
considering for metaphysical readers who have a curiosity in these strange spots of light.
Llewellyn Publications
2143 Wooddale Dr., Woodbury, MN 455125-2989
www.llewellyn.com
Gede Parma's BY LAND SKY & SEA: THREE REALMS OF SHAMANIC WITCHCRAFT
(9780738722825, $16.95) explores the ancient trinity and its Greek, Hawaiian and other customs
and roots. Methods for working in all three realms are provided in a survey that teaches basic
techniques for energy work and various expanding consciousness projects. New age collections
strong in Wiccan rituals and introductions will relish this! Cassandra Eason's ANGEL MAGIC:
A HANDS-ON GUIDE TO INVITING DIVINE HELP INTO YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE
(9780738721781, $16.95) offers quick and easy angel magic from a recognized angel authority.
Chapters focus on how to attract harmony and healing into everyday life and offer quick, easy
techniques anyone can used to enhance angelic communication processes. New age collections
strong in applied angel magic will relish this! Such collections also will consider Richard
Webster's THE COMPLETE BOOK OF AURAS: LEARN TO SEE, READ, STRENGTHEN AND
HEAL AURAS (9780738721804, $16.95) a key survey blending parapsychology with keys to
recognizing and interpreting an aura. Step-by-step directions for feeling and handling an aura
make for a very specific 'how to' guide.
Man-Made Monsters
Dr. Bob Curran
New Page Books
c/o Career Press Inc.
PO Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
9781601631367, $14.99, www.newpagebooks.com
MAN-MADE MONSTERS: A FIELD GUIDE TO GOLEMS, PATCHWORK SOLDIERS,
HOMUNCULI, AND OTHER CREATED CREATURES offers a lively survey of paranormal
mythology and keys to exploring man-made monster concepts. Major legends accompany
reflections on cloning, created life, and legends and offer many fine insights for those who would
consider myths.
The Language Studies Shelf
The Last Lingua Franca
Nicholas Ostler
Walker
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
9780802717719, $28.00, www.walkerbooks.com
People in China learn English. People in Africa learn English. English has become a massive
juggernaut of language in today's world. "The Last Lingua Franca: English Until the Return of
Babel" analyzes the development of English into the massively powerful and widely spoken
around the world. The elite and people in power have gone far in making English the lingua
franca of the world, or the language most commonly used between people of different native
languages. But could the rising powers in China and other blossoming superpowers change the
future of English's dominance? "The Last Lingua Franca" is a fascinating analysis of language
past and future.
The Economics Shelf
Tweetonomics
Nic Compton, Adam Fishwick, & Katie Huston
Barron's
250 Wireless Bouelvard, Happauge NY, 11788
9780764145650, $10.99, www.barronseduc.com
Twitter has been blamed for being an icon of the short attention span. It doesn't mean you can't
learn anything in 140 characters or less. "Tweetonomics: Everything You Need to Know About
Economics in 140 Characters or Less" is an economics history and lesson book presenting each
of its thoughts and lessons by offering them in short bite sized chunks that can be easily digested
and being far from long winded. "Tweetonomics" is entertaining and very educational, highly
recommended.
The Gaming Shelf
The Evolution of Fantasy Role-Playing Games
Michael J. Tresca
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson, NC 28640
9780786458950, $35.00, www.mcfarlandpub.com
Fantasy role playing games are the ancestors of modern video games, and their family line runs
deep. "The Evolution of Fantasy Role-Playing Games" looks at the history of these games,
drawing back to Tolkien's book and his massive construction of his world. These books spawned
war games, card games, Dungeons & Dragons, modern massively online role playing games, and
much more on top of that. A fascinating stroll through history, "The Evolution of Fantasy
Role-Playing Games" is an excellent pick and is highly recommended.
Dangerous Weapons
John Emms, Richard Palliser, Jovanka Houska
Everyman Chess
c/o Globe Pequot Press
246 Goose Lane, PO Box 480, Guilford Ct. 06437-0480
9781857446357, $27.95, www.everymanchess.com
A creative tactic can win you a match when your opponent only expects the standard
fundamentals. "Dangerous Weapons: The Caro-Kann" is a guide to the Caro-Kann Chess
strategy, explaining the plot move my move and how to more properly execute it in one's game.
Written by Chess masters John Emms, Richard Palliser, & Jovanka Houska, they lend their
experience to create a more excellent and winning strategy for one's chess matches. "Dangerous
Weapons: The Caro-Kann" is a read that should be required for every chess player taking pride in
their strategy.
Defensive Signaling at Bridge
David Bird
Master Point Press
331 Douglas Ave., Toronto, ON Canada, M5M 1H2
9781897106631, $19.95, www.masterpoint.com
Bridge is quite the game of strategy, and knowing this is winning half the battle. "Defensive
Signaling at Bridge" is a guide from David Bird on the importance of good defensive signaling as
he gives readers a complete and comprehensive break down on making the most out of one's
defensive signaling and using the strategy to its fullest success in this card game. "Defensive
Signaling at Bridge" is a strong pick for any dedicated Bridge player and for anyone intrigued by
card game strategy in general.
The Military Shelf
African Wars
William G. Thom
University of Calgary Press
2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AL Canada, T2N 1N4
9781552382738, $34.95, www.uofcpress.com
Africa has not been a stable place as a whole. "African Wars: A Defense Intelligence
Perspective" is a scholarly analysis the United States and its place in the constant conflicts that
lie in sub-Saharan Africa which have been the constant site of civil war and genocide. Author
William G. Thom brings his own experience with these nations with a personal touch. "African
Wars" is a must for those seeking to understand Africa's endless conflicts, their roots, and where
they are going.
Predator
Matt J. Martin with Charles W. Sasser
Zenith Press
c/o Quayside Publishing Group
400 First Avenue North, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55401
9780760338964, $28.00, www.zenithpress.com
PREDATOR: THE REMOTE-CONTROL AIR WAR OVER IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN: A
PILOT'S STORY offers a fine first-person account of fighting the global wars on terror. Predator
missions and personal insights into a program only recently classified as 'secret' make for
exciting stories of armed insurgency and urban warfare, bringing a 'you are there' feel to the idea
of the Predator - a remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) - as a cold killing machine. No military
collection should be without this unique assessment.
Osprey Publishing
4402 - 23rd Street, Suite 219, Long Island City, NY 11101-5058
www.ospreypublishing.com
BRITISH DREADNOUGHT VS. GERMAN DREADNOUGHT, Jutland 1916 (9781849081672,
$17.95) by Mark Stille provides a powerful story of the British and German battleships of two
great fleets. Coverage of their differing weaponry, crew, and strategies offer a
moment-by-moment reconstruction of events and analyzes the outcome of the struggle in a
military assessment perfect for collections. Stephen Bull's TRENCH: A HISTORY OF TRENCH
WARFARE ON THE WESTERN FRONT (9781846039379, $24.95) comes from a trench
expert who provides a complete picture of trench warfare on the Western Front. Specifics include
trench construction, weaponry and tactics used in defense and attack, and surveys of life in the
trenches, with plenty of vintage black and white photos enhancing the presentation. Military
collections will find this specific and key. DEFENSE OF JAPAN: 1945 by Steven J. Zaloga
(9781846036873, $18.95) joins others in the Fortress imprint and discusses the design and
history of key Japanese fortresses of 1945. The only things that stood between Japan and an
Allied invasion were their coastal defenses: this is the first book, ironically, to consider these
fortifications and provides diagrams, specially commissioned artwork, and rare sources to
explore the topic. Gordon Williamson's U-BOAT TACTICS IN WORLD WAR II
(9781849081733, $18.95) provides a fine, narrowed history of u-boat tactics that uses wartime
source material documents and manuals to explain operational tactics used by German subs
during the war. Any collection strong in military strategy will consider this a key survey. Neil
Short's THE FUHRER'S HEADQUARTERS: HITLER'S COMMAND BUNKERS 1939-45
(9781846035821, $18.95) provides a powerful map showing the locations of all of Hitler's
bunkers and fortifications on the eastern and western fronts, includes photos and specially
commissioned artwork, and provides a fine introduction to Hitler's command fortifications. The
result is a specific, in-depth feature perfect for any World War II collection! Joining other
'Men-at-Arms' series titles is Dr. Nigel Thomas' WORLD WAR II SOVIET ARMED FORCES
(1) 1939-41 (9781849084000, $17.95), a survey representing the first of three books detailing the
uniforms and organization of the forces leading to Allied victory in Europe. Color illustrations of
Army, Air Force, Navy and NKVD personnel accompany a survey of the Soviet forces to the first
months of the war.
Hanoi Jane
Jerry Lembcke
University of Massachusetts Press
PO Box 429, Amherst, MA 01004
9781558498150, www.umass.edu/umpress
HANOI JANE: WAR, SEX & FANTASIES OF BETRAYAL offers a historic and scholarly
analysis of the myth and origins of Hanoi Jane, considering fantasies of home-front betrayal and
considering how the Hanoi Jane expression and myth began. Anxieties about America's declining
global status and deteriorating economy fueled an antiwar movement and popular conflicts with
the military: this reconsiders the origins of the myth and its impact on American social and
military culture alike.
Brute
Robert Coran
Little, Brown
c/o Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9780316758468, $27.99, www.hachettebookgroup.com
BRUTE: THE LIFE OF VICTOR KRULAK, U.S. MARINE tells of a legendary Marine and is
written by a journalist and biographer who offers an intimate portrait of the Marine who led
America's victory in the Pacific and the successful D-Day landing. Robert Coram received
unique access to facts about Krulak - including his deepest secret that he feared could have
destroyed his career. BRUTE is a top pick for any military biography collection documenting a
vivid life and military career.
Hidden Battles on Unseen Fronts
Patricia P. Driscoll & Celia Straus
Casemate
908 Darby Road, Havertown, PA 19083
9781935149408, $18.95
The worst of the war for many soldiers does not come on the battle field, but at home. "Hidden
Battles on Unseen Fronts: Stories of American Soldiers with Traumatic Brain Injury and PTSD"
is an examination of what many soldiers face in today's life of a veteran where the damage isn't
immediately obvious by looking at straight physical health. Drawing from the reflections of
soldiers as well as much psychological and medical insight, "Hidden Battles on Unseen Fronts"
brings attention to the real problem facing our recent war veterans.
I-400
Henry Sakaida, Gary Nila, and Koji Takaki
Flight Recorder Publications
c/o Specialty Press
39966 Grand Ave., North Branch, NM 55056
9780955426810, $19.95, www.specialtypress.com
Submarines are sneaky things and during the second World War, Japan used them well. "I-400:
Japan's Secret Aircraft-Carrying Strike Submarine, Objective: Panama Canal" tells the story of
this massive undersea leviathan that Japan created and its purpose of being used against
American cities with the ultimate goal of destroying the Panama canal, crippling America's ease
of getting resources between its coasts by water. While this sub never completed its purpose, the
weapon has a bit of allure to many modern military enthusiasts. Discussing it at length, "I-400" is
a fascinating and intriguing read of pushing the limits of military hardware in the 1940s.
The Women's Studies Shelf
Ladies of the Field
Amanda Adams
Greystone Books
c/o D&M Publishers
2323 Quebec Street, Suite 201, Vancouver, BC Canada, V5T 4S7
9781553654339, $21.95, www.greystonebooks.com
Being prim and proper is not for everyone. "Ladies of the Field: Early Women Archeologists and
Their Search for Adventure" looks at the figures of Victorian era women who went against their
time's conceptions about women and went out for adventure and finding relics of the past. Setting
an examples for daring women in centuries to come, Amanda Adams paints them in a light of
boldness and bravery far exceeding most women's aspirations in hopes of finding something
more. "Ladies of the Field" is an enticing and riveting read, very highly recommended for
women's studies and history collections.
The Art Shelf
The Master's Hand
Dawn C. Pheysey & Richard Neitzel Holzapfel
Deseret Book
Brigham Young University Museum of Art
North Campus Drive, Provo, UT 84602
9781606419267, $32.99, www.deseretbook.com
There are artists who do more than simply produce an image. "The Master's Hand: The Art of
Carl Heinrich Bloch" looks at the religious works of Bloch, who is especially well known the
Church of Latter Day Saints. A nineteenth century artist, Bloch's work is inspired by the classics,
and is said to capture the entire essence of Christ and many other Biblical scenario he depicts.
Discussing as well as displaying his work in full color, "The Master's Hand" is an excellent
addition to any Christian art studies collection, or Art studies collections in general.
Contemporary Art on the Northwest Coast
Karen & Ralph Norris
Schiffer
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764336416, $59.99
Contemporary techniques, native styles. "Contemporary Art on the Northwest Coast: Salish
Nuu-Chah-Nulth Makah" is a collection of art that reflects on the Northwestern native American
culture as many modern artists look to embrace this classical style in homages and tradition.
Packed cover to cover with full color photographs and reproductions, Karen & Ralph Norris
provide commentary on the work and provide insight on their creation. The photographs show
both the art, and in some cases its production, and in other, its use, such as a painted canoe being
honored by being put out on the lake. "Contemporary Art on the Northwest Coast" is a fine
coffee table book for those who enjoy Native American Northwestern styled artistic work, as
well as a fine addition to any art collection.
Grant Wood: A Life
R. Tripp Evans
Alfred A. Knopf
c/o Random House
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, NY, NY 10019
9780307266293, $37.50, www.aaknopf.com
Grant Wood: A Life charts the life and influences of one of America's most famous regionalist
painters. It probes the realities of the man and his image, considering his classical training,
bohemian lifestyle, and his early influence on American painting. Any who have enjoyed his
work and wished to know more about his life will find this biography extensive, detailed, and
packed with artistic and personal revelations.
Street Sketchbooks: Journeys
Tristan Manco
Chronicle Books
680 - 2nd St., San Francisco CA 94107
9780811877282, $35.00, www.chroniclebooks.com
Street Sketchbooks: Journeys provides an appealing title for any fan of street art. Twenty-six new
artists around the world are profiled: they've opened their sketchbooks for this title and trek
around the world exploring different street art landscapes. From urban streets to highway
bypasses, this documents many different possibilities and is packed with fine color insights
throughout.
Joe Jones
Andrew Walker
University of Washington Press
PO Box 50096, Seattle, WA 98145-5096
9780891780946, $60.00, www.washington.edu/uwpress
Art is rarely simply a reproduction of reality, but instead an interpretation. "Joe Jones: Radical
Painter of the American Scene" is a collection and study of the life of this man who lived
throughout the first half of the twentieth century. Fully embracing the social battle of the time, he
embraced social progress as well as communism. With a certain style that exhibited passion and
personality from the subjects of the painting, depicted throughout in high quality color
reproductions of his work, "Joe Jones" is a coffee table art book that tells the story of a man
through his art work, and makes for a solid and vital addition to art collections. Also from the
University of Washington Press is "Lee Kelly" (9780295990750, $40.00), a sculptor with over
fifty years of activity, focusing on his creations depicted in lush full color in a coffee table art
book style.
The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf
Lend Me a Tenor
Ken Ludwig
A Smith and Kraus Book
177 Lyme Road, NH 03755
9781575257761, $19.95, www.smithandkraus.com
A good play is quite the experience, not just for the audience, but the participants. "Lend Me a
Tenor: And Other Plays" is a collection of plays from Ken Ludwig. The titular play focuses on
the rift between generations. 'Moon Over Buffalo' is about the courage to take a second chances,
'Leading Ladies' is about overcoming barriers, and 'Shakespeare' in Hollywood focuses on the
lost dreams we all have. "Lend Me a Tenor" is a fun read for lovers of the theater and is very
highly recommended.
The Etiquette of Freedom
Gary Snyder, Jim Harrison & The Practice of the Wild
Counterpoint Press
2117 Fourth Street, Suite D, Berkeley, CA 94710
9781582436296, $28.00, www.counterpointpress.com
This book companion to the film The Practice of the Wild pairs a DVD of the movie with a
survey, edited by Paul Ebenkamp, of a series of conversations between Gary Snyder and Jim
Harrison. Any collection strong in Beat generation history and culture will find this a compelling
pick.
Why? Because We Still Like You
Jennifer Armstrong
Grand Central Publishing
c/o Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9780446545952, $25.99, www.hachettebookgroup.com
Why? Because We Still Like You: An Oral History of the Mickey Mouse Club is for any who
fondly recall the TV show created by Disney in 1955, who wanted it to fund and promote his
upcoming Disneyland theme park. The Club's performers and creators offer insider accounts of
experiences in Why? Because We Still Like You, a pick for general collections and TV/film
libraries like. Original interviews with Mouseketeers accompany personal photos from the
participants that appear on a color sixteen-page insert. Any who appreciated the show will relish
this expose.
So You Think You're Funny?
The Immediate Gratification Players
Meriwether Publishing
PO Box 7710, Colorado Springs, CO 80933-7710
9781566081733, $17.95, www.meriwether.com
A quick wit is all you really need for improv. "So You Think You're Funny?: A Student's Guide
to Improve Comedy" is a guide to those who want to follow in the path of improvisational
comedy, comedy with no planning with quick thinking and creativity. With plenty of tips to hone
oneself into an improvisational machine, the Harvard group the Immediate Gratification Players
draw on how to draw in your audience, knowing the rules, and working with your fellow actors.
"So You Think You're Funny?" is a top pick for anyone who wants to try their hand at
improv.
The Needlecraft Shelf
Knitwit
Katie Boyette
Sellers Publishing
161 John Roberts Road, South Portland, ME 04106
9781416206088, $18.95, www.sellerspublishing.com
There's more to knitting to quilts and warm caps. "Knitwit: 20 Fun Projects for Beginners and
Seasoned Knitters" is a collection of offbeat and fun things for one to knit. These projects are
broken down in a step by step process, not only to allow knitters to replicate these projects that
range from lobsters to vampire pandas, but use the disciplines they learn to create their own
exciting work. "Knitwit" is filled with inspiration and is very highly recommended for those who
want to move past mittens.
American Quilter's Society
Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
www.americanquilter.com
Joe Cunningham's MEN AND THE ART OF QUILTMAKING (9781574326765, $28.95) is the
only book to provide designs by 30 modern male quilters, discussing how they think and feel
about their quilts. Interviews with these men are accompanied by over 100 photos of quilts
typical of each man's works, and 9 patterns for creating one of their designs. A 'must' for any
interested in men's participation in needlework. Judy Woodworth's FREEMOTION QUILTING
(9781574326710, $26.95) is a pick for any quilter interested in using a free-motion quilting
machine. 28 quilt patterns and closeups of the author's stitching blends how-to with patterns,
with over 200 color photos and how-to illustrations leaving nothing to puzzle. Dianne S. Hire's
VIVACIOUS CURVY QUILTS (9781574326741, $26.95) provides the author's easy curved
piecing techniques and provides eleven wall hanging projects that teach each technique. Color
photos capture the particulars of a survey that explores all the possibilities of using the curve in a
quilting project.
Sock Yarn One-Skein Wonders
Judith Durant, Editor
Storey
210 Mass Moca Way, North Adams, MA 01247
9781603425797, $18.95, www.storey.com
Sock Yarn One-Skein Wonders is edited by Judith Durant and adds to Storey's 'One-Skein
Wonders' series with the fourth book in the series. Sock yarn isn't just for knitting socks: it is
available now in many fibers and blends and offers a range of options. New ideas here come
from yarn shops and designers across North America who provide 101 patterns in a fine
guide.
Martingale & Company
20205 - 144th Avenue NE, Woodinville, WA 98072-8478
www.martingale-pub.com
Kim Diehl's SIMPLE GRACES: CHARMING QUILTS AND COMPANION PROJECTS
(9781564779922, $28.99) provides a new collection of the author's original pieced and appliqued
designs, with eight quilts accompanied by at least one additional companion project from tea
towels to pillowcases. Ideas for more projects pepper a survey that teaches how to mix prints and
colors and add easy embellishments for polished results. Claudia Plett and LeAnn Weaver's
MORE LOOSE CHANGE: 14 QUILTS FROM NICKELS, DIMES, AND FAT QUARTERS
(9781564779946, $24.99) outlines fun ways to use 5" and 10" squares and fat quarters, featuring
projects that make best use of fabric, cutting charts that show different options, and more.
Designer tips enhance this ideal pick. Lynn An Majidimehr's FLOWER SHOW QUILTS
(9781564779342, $27.99) provides a collection of applique on patchwork canvas, showing how
unusual flowers may be created from pieced backgrounds. 10 projects blend patchwork with
floral applique techniques and show how to create different flower motifs in projects ranging
from small wall hangings to lap quilts. McCall's FAST FAVORITES FROM QUILTING
(9781604680263, $24.99) offers projects from McCall's Quilting and McCall's Quick Quilts,
offering a single volume packed with 20 patterns from both magazines. Projects are flexible, can
be used with different fabrics and colors, and offer patterns that are fat quarter friendly and often
suitable for other precuts. Doreen L. Marquart's SATURDAY STYLE: CASUAL KNITS FOR
WEEKEND WEAR (9781564779182, $26.99) should be a pick for any knitter or needlework
library. It offers a selection of easy knits that need minimal finishing and range from pullovers
and cardigans to a jacket. The focus on casual, easy and stylish knits makes this a fine project
collection for knitters seeking something different. Full-page color photos of the knits on models
accompany easy materials lists and step-by-step directions.
All-Star Quilts
Helen Frost & Blanche Young
C&T Publishing
1651 Challenge Drive, Concord, CA 94520-5206
9781571209580, $24.95, www.ctpub.com
ALL-STAR QUILTS: 10 STRIP-PIECED LONG STAR SPARKLERS provides 10 quilt
projects based on stars and teaches a strip-piecing method to make stars without having to cut
diamonds. Packed with color examples, patterns, and easy step-by-step directions, this is a fine
pick for any quilter seeking an easier way of producing star quilts.
Cardigans
Louisa Harding
SixthandSpring Books
c/o SoHo Publishing Company
101 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 1301, New York, NY 10013
www.sixthandspringbooks.com
9781933027883, $24.95, www.amazon.com
CARDIGANS offers over 25 designs from Louisa Harding, who takes the popular but largely
outdated style and adds new spice to it. The designs offer adaptable options and creative
embellishments and shows how to use cables, buttons and more to add spice. Lovely color photos
accompany a fine survey of the cardigan sweater's versatile options.
Quilts en Provence
Kaffe Fassett
Taunton Press
Box 5506, Newtown, CT 06470-5506
9781600853241, $24.95, www.taunton.com
KAFFE FASSETT'S QUILTS EN PROVENCE: 20 DESIGNS FROM ROWAN FOR
PATCHWORK AND QUILTING provides a fine survey of complete instructions for creating
museum-quality quilts based on Fassett's line of Rowan fabrics. Designed by some of the world's
top quilters, this packs in directions for creating each and includes tips and techniques
representing three decades of experience: a 'must have' for any quilter's library.
New Complete Guide to Sewing, updated edition
Reader's Digest
Reader's Digest Road, Pleasantville, NY 10570-7000
9781606522080, $35.00, www.rd.com
NEW COMPLETE GUIDE TO SEWING: STEP-BY-STEP TECHNIQUES FOR MAKING
CLOTHES AND HOME ACCESSORIES appears in an updated edition that offers new projects
from Simplicity patterns and a fine, comprehensive approach to creating wardrobes and home
embellishments alike. It first appeared in 1978, but this presents 20 newly updated project and
revamps simple directions, with thousands of illustrations and diagrams covering each step of
sewing in over 350 pages. Coverage of professional shortcuts and keys to polished results make
this a special recommendation for success!
The Photography Shelf
The Art of Photography
Bruce Barnbaum
Rockynook
26 West Mission Street Ste 3, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
9781933952680, $44.95, www.rockynook.com
Photography can be more than a snapshot of reality, it can be an art form all its own. "The Art of
Photography: An Approach to Personal Expression" is a guide for those who want to use their
photography for more than a snapshot, but instead as an approach to personal expression. Bruce
Barnbaum gives a lesson in artistic photography, in how to approach it to make truly wonderful
looking images. From wise use of color or lack there of, approaches to realism, surrealism, and
the absurd, Barnbaum uses both black and white and color photography throughout to provide a
very useful introductory to art photography. "The Art of Photography" is a must for those who
want to make their photography something far more.
Welcome to Oz 2.0
Vincent Versace
New Riders
1249 Eighth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
9780321714763, $49.99, www.newriders.com
The mundane can seem extraordinary with the right approach. "Welcome to Oz 2.0: A Cinematic
Approach to Digital Still Photography with Photoshop" is a guide to renovating one's images and
taking them from a simple photograph into a work of art. The use of photoshop is more than
altering the picture from what it was, as it can enhance and make a few shots with a camera into
something truly wonderful. Discussing bokeh, a concept on creating realistic and sharp looking
images, "Welcome to Oz 2.0" is a fine blend of photography and Photoshop manual.
Olives & Lemons
Shirley Kay & Falak Shawwa
Rimal Publications
c/o International Publishers Marketing
PO Box 605, Herndon, VA 20172-0605
9789963610358, $30.95
The island of Cyprus has a unique place in Mediterranean history. "Olives & Lemons: Traces of
Cyprus Past" is a part memoir and part tribute to the Island of Cyrpus by Shirley Kay. Discussing
the long history of the island, Kay tells how she came to know it so well through her diplomat
husband and came to love the island as a home. With plenty of photography throughout, Kay
offers a heartfelt look at the island and everything connected to it, and makes "Olives & Lemons"
a very solid and recommended read, not to be missed.
Campbell River
Ian Douglas
Harbour Publishing
PO Box 219, Madeira Park, BC V0N 2H0
9781550175011, $34.95, www.harbourpublishing.com
Along the canals that connect the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean, a town has prospered in its
own unique way. "Campbell River: Gateway to the Inside Passage" examines the town of
Campbell River and its surrounding environs and how it has become quite the Canadian town.
Looking at back at its roots of thousands of years ago with the native peoples of the Americas,
and through the establishment of trade on the lakes, many people have passed through. With
plenty of full color photographs and lots of history, "Campbell River" serves as an artistic way to
look at the town and its community, making for an excellent coffee table book.
The Most Beautiful Villages and Towns of the Pacific Northwest
Joan Tapper
Thames & Hudson
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780500515341, $40.00, www.thamesandhudson.usa
There's a natural beauty that lies in the Pacific northwest, and the style of building there has only
accentuated it. "The Most Beautiful Villages and Towns of the Pacific Northwest" is a
combination photography and history book focusing on the small towns and villages that line the
Pacific coast in both the United States and Canada. Joan Tapper presents a volume filled with
gorgeous full color photographs, with plenty of quaint stories about how these towns and villages
came to be. For those with a love of small towns, "The Most Beautiful Villages and Towns of the
Pacific Northwest" is an ideal coffee table book selection.
Leroy Grannis
Jim Heimann, Editor
TASCHEN America
107 Greene Street, New York, NY 10012
9783836523974, $19.99, www.taschen.com
LEROY GRANNIS: SURF PHOTOGRAPHY OF THE 1960S AND 1970S includes an essay by
Steve Barilotti as it provides surfers and surf-oriented collections with a lavish, oversized
production blending black and white and color photos celebrating surf photography. The photos
of surfers, waves and close-ups make for a fine presentation highly recommended presentation
perfect for any sports or photography holding!
Amherst Media
Box 586, Buffalo, NY 14226
www.amherstmedia.com
Jeff Smith's STUDIO FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY: TECHNIQUES FOR DIGITAL PORTRAIT
PHOTOGRAPHERS (9781608952465, $34.95) teaches photographers who have the basics
down how to design more flattering lighting setups. From preparing for sessions and
understanding each client's objectives to testing lighting and using high and low key lighting, this
packs information into a key survey highly recommended for any serious photography holding.
Wes Kroninger's LIGHTING: DESIGN TECHNIQUES FOR DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHERS
(9781608952540, $34.95) packs in keys to fine lighting and offers strategies for handling project
planning and understanding how the properties of light affect a subject. From portrait lighting
demands and differences between that and simpler set-ups to choosing the right light sources for
different effects, this provides an excellent, specific analysis packed with color photo
examples.
Pro Secrets to Dramatic Digital Photos
Jim Zuckerman
Lark Books
387 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016
9781600596384, $19.95, www.pxiq.com
Pro Secrets to Dramatic Digital Photos teaches how to capture quality in digital images that 'pop',
offering insights into easy techniques any photographer can duplicate. Examples from Jim
Zuckerman's own collection accompany discussions of not just techniques but special equipment,
making for a clear, compelling survey.
The Fashion Shelf
The Fashion File
Janie Bryant with Monica Corcoran Harel
Grand Central Publishing
c/o Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9780446572712, $26.99, www.hachettebookgroup.com
THE FASHION FILE: ADVICE, TIPS, AND INSPIRATION FROM THE COSTUME
DESIGNER OF MAD MEN is for any fan of AMC's Mad Men, and comes from the
award-winning costume designer who creates all the outfits for the hit show. Tips on design,
dressing chic, accessories and more come from a fashion artist who uses these same tips to create
memorable figures for the big screen. Any library strong in contemporary fashion will find this
an attraction.
The Crafts Shelf
Friendship Strips & Scraps
Edyta Sitar
Landauer Publishing
3100 101st St. Ste A, Urbandale, IA 50322
9781935726012, $27.95, www.landauercop.com
A quilt is an amalgamation of may great ideas. "Friendship Strips & Scraps: 18 Beautiful
Quilting Projects, Strips & Scraps Exchange Ideas, Easy, Step-by-Step Strip Panels Technique"
is an inspiration for lovers of quilters who are looking for new ideas and concepts to apply to
their favorite pastimes. Presented in full color an detailing 18 quilt projects with plenty of advice,
this is a must have pick for anyone who wants to expand their quilting world. "Friendship Strips
& Scraps" is a fine addition to any community library crafts collection. Also recommended for
craft-enthusiasts from Landauer Publishing is "Welcome Home" by Kaffe Fassett
(9780982558683, $27.95) focusing on the ideas of design and style in many avenues of
creation.
Polymer Clay
Angela Mabray & Kim Otterbein
Creative Publishing International
400 First Avenue North, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55401
9781589234703, $24.99, www.creativepub.com
A new technique can open artistic horizons. "Polymer Clay: Look, Learn, & Create" is a guide to
using this clay as a tool in one's many crafts and using it well. Bracelets, decorations, and much
more, Polymer clay is an easy to use and versatile substance. From baking and shaping the clay to
expressing your creativity and making it durable and fit your vision, "Polymer Clay: Look, Learn,
& Create" is a strong choice for anyone looking for a new avenue to educate themselves in a new
creative medium.
Kalmbach Publishing
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53186
www.kalmbachbooks.com
Melody MacDuffee's LACY WIRE JEWELRY (9780871162939, $21.95) teaches how to make
jewelry using just a spool of wire and a few tools. From producing lacy filigree edging and
wraparound or inset bezels to producing sculptured wire centerpieces, this packs in nearly thirty
projects that each provide step-by-step instruction. Color photos enhance a collection
representing the author's some twenty years of jewelry design background: perfect for any
jewelry or crafting collection. MAKING ELEGANT JEWELRY FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS
(9780871164254, $17.95) comes from the Beadstyle Magazine and offers a range of projects for
creating classy jewelry pieces. Jewelry makers and collections catering to them receive clear
color photos and step-by-step instructions including detailed supply lists and basic tools and
techniques. An excellent choice for those who want to move to the next level of jewelry
making.
Simple Times: Crafts for Poor People
Amy Sedaris
Grand Central Publishing
c/o Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9780446557030, $27.99, www.hachettebookgroup.com
Humor and crafter's tips blend in SIMPLE TIMES, a survey that questions the creation and
makers of crafts. From the best crafting options for the criminally insane to why making rock
candy likely didn't work and producing pompom covers for the professional golfer, this is a fun,
different take on crafts highly recommended for any crafter and for humor collections alike.
Creative Paper Cutting
Shufunotomo, Editor
Trumpeter
c/o Shambhala
300 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston MA 02115
9781590307311, $19.95, www.shambhala.com
CREATIVE PAPER CUTTING: BASIC TECHNIQUES & FRESH DESIGNS FOR STENCILS,
MOBILES, CARDS & MORE packs in a fine survey on how to change a sheet of paper using
paper cutouts. A range of styles and techniques are covered with step-by-step directions and
templates offering the basics for making embellishments for cards, gift wrap, collages and
more.
The Computer Shelf
iPad Programming
Daniel H. Steinberg & Eric T. Freeman
Pragmatic Bookshelf
P.O. Box 293325, Lewisville, TX 75029-3325
9781934356579, $34.95
The iPad is Apple's latest innovation, and developers are flocking towards it. "iPad
Programming: A Quick-Start Guide for iPhone Developers" is a guide for those who have used
the iPhone well and want to take their techniques to the much more powerful and diverse iPad.
Apple has made it easier than ever to get into creating one's own apps, and doing it well can set
you above the millions of other developers out there. "iPad Programming" is an invaluable
resource for anyone seeking to jump to the bigger format, highly recommended.
The Book of PF
Peter N. M. Hansteen
No Starch Press
38 Ringold Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
9781593272746, $29.95, www.nostarch.com
Just because you're not using Windows doesn't decrease the high value of security. "The Book of
PF: A No-Nonsense Guide to the OpenBSD Firewall" seeks to educate readers and users of Open
BSD on PF, OpenBSD's firewall. Using PF to its fullest will provide a secure network, but it can
be quite overwhelming to new OpenBSD adopters who are looking to gain a better understanding
of this operating systems and its many tools. With everything you need to know to succeed, "The
Book of PF" is an invaluable tool, and highly recommended.
Murach's PHP and MySQL
Joel Murach & Ray Harris
Mike Murach and Associates, Inc.
4340 N. Knoll, Fresno, CA 93722
9781890774561, $54.50, www.murach.com
PHP and MySQL are the building blocks of the modern internet. "Murach's PHP and MySQL" is
a guide to the languages that can automate many processes in today's internet. From Murach's
long line of excellent technical advisory books, the quality continues how to speed up your
website or business through intelligent use of these functions, and gives readers all the tools they
need to understand the basics and more advanced techniques of both PHP and MySQL. With
additional tips on how to integrate it into one's website, and getting the software to make it all
easier, "Murach's PHP and MySQL" is a solid addition to any community or college library
collection dedicated to web design.
The Game Maker's Companion
Jacob Habgood, Nana Nielsen and Martin Rijks
Apress, Inc.
233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013
9781430228264, $39.99, www.apress.com
PC owners running the Windows 2000, XP or Windows 7 will appreciate this fine game
development survey in The Game Maker's Companion: Game Development: the Journey
Continues. It offers a sequel that picks up where the last book left off and is thus a recommended
pick for continuing the process of developing techniques to add depth to game characters. Any
involved in computer game development will benefit from specific tips by industry
professionals.
Using Microsoft Publisher 2010
Brien Posey
Que
c/o Pearson Technology Group
800 E. 96th St., Indianapolis, IN 46240
0789742969, $24.99, www.quepublishing.com
Using Microsoft Publisher 2010 offers an integrated package pairing video tutorials, web access
and audio sidebars with a book covering all the basics. For the price of the book you get online
access anywhere with a web connection, and get to enjoy the audio and video learning tools. A
top pick for any self-taught Microsoft Publisher 2010 beginner!
Addison-Wesley
c/o Pearson Technology Group
800 E. 96th St., Indianapolis, IN 46240
www.informit.com/ruby
Michael Daley's LEARNING IOS GAME PROGAMMING: A HANDS-ON GUIDE TO
BUILDING YOUR FIRST IPHONE GAME (0321699424, $39.99) is a pick for any iPhone or
iPad programming technician's collection. It tells how to plan high-level game design, how to use
game loops to assure logical progression, and how to build game entities and make them work
properly. From making a 2D tile map game to understanding how successful iPhone games work,
this introduces technology, terminology and more in a powerful, recommended pick! The second
edition of Paul Clements, et.al.'s DOCUMENTING SOFTWARE ARCHITECTURES: VIEWS
AND BEYOND (0321552687, $64.99) continues to be a top recommendation for software
engineering collections. This new edition offers more focus and detail than the previous,
providing the most complete, current guidance on how to capture an architecture. From what
information to document to rules for documentation processes and styles, this is a 'must'. Mocky
Habeeb's A DEVELOPER'S GUIDE TO AMAZON SIMPLEDB (0321623630, $39.99) provides
an in-depth, technical reference to building cloud computing solutions with Amazon Simple DB.
Simple DB allows any organization to use Amazon Web Services, and this offers developers an
in-depth guide to building production solutions using Amazon Simple DB. A 'must' for any
serious developer collection.
Artistic Web Design Using Adobe, Dreamweaver and Photoshop
Vickie Ellen Wolper
Jones & Bartlett Learning
40 Tall Pine Dr.,Sudbury, MA 01776
9780763785949, $59.95, www.jblearning.com
Artistic Web Design Using Adobe, Dreamweaver and Photoshop: An Introduction is a 'must' for
any who would understanding Web artistry. A CD-ROM with images, web pages and more
accompanies a discussion of design theory and applications using Photoshop with other
programs. Projects and exercises form the foundation for learning here, making this an
exceptional self-tutorial linking artistry to major programs and their features.
Ubuntu for Non-Geeks, fourth edition
Richard Grant & Phil Bull
No Starch Press
555 DeHaro Street, #250, San Francisco, CO 94107
9781593272579, $34.95, www.nostarch.com
The fourth updated edition of Ubuntu for Non-Geeks tells how to make the transition to Linux
easy, offering hands-on instruction to help users get comfortable with Ubuntu fast. The latest
features of 10.4 offers five new chapters that cover common software tasks in a top pick for any
computer collection strong in Linux information.
GIS Tutorial 1: Basic Workbook
Wilpen L. Gorr and Kristen S. Kurland
ESRI Press
380 New York Street, Redlands, CA 92373-8100
9781589482593, $79.95, www.esri.com
GIS Tutorial 1: Basic Workbook provides a fine workbook for ArcGIS 10 users, packing in
scripted exercises that present step-by-step instructions teaching the basics of GIS workflows.
Assignments encourage reviewing GIS basics and using them creatively and offer challenging
choices that help users solve common problems using GIS approaches.
Oracle Solaris 10 System Virtualization Essentials
Jeff Victor, et.al.
Prentice Hall Professional
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
013708188X, $44.99, www.informit.com
Oracle Solaris 10 System Virtualization Essentials is a pick for any college-level technical
collection strong in Oracle Solaris engineering. It provides a fine introduction to the topic of
computer virtualization and the systems that support it, offering administrators and oracle Solaris
support staff a key to understanding operating systems, migration processes, and security and
scalability of workloads. It completely covers all concepts and features of system virtualization
and is key to any in-depth understanding.
MCTS Exam 70-662: Configuring Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 Self-Paced Training Kit
Orin Thomas and Ian McLean
Microsoft Press
c/o O'Reilly Media
1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, CA 95472
9780735627161, $69.99, www.msdn.microsoft.com/practices
MCTS Exam 70-662: Configuring Microsoft Exchange Server 2010 Self-Paced Training Kit is
an exam prep guide key to seeking a paced series of lessons in an official Microsoft study guide.
From learning to prepare an Exchange Server 2010 deployment to setting up mailboxes,
distribution groups, and more, this is a top pick for any serious computer library.
The Travel Shelf
Lonely Planet
150 Linden St., Oakland CA 94607
www.lonelyplanet.com
Carolyn McCarthy, et.al.'s CENTRAL AMERICA ON A SHOESTRING: BIG TRIPS ON
SMALL BUDGETS (9781741791471, $25.99) packs in detailed itineraries to help independent,
budget-minded travelers get started on a Central American journey. From highlights of top
recommendations by fellow travelers to a 'green' index of ecofriendly alternatives, this holds
small black and white maps, extensive details on where to stay and what to experience, and
choices for off-the-beaten-path journeying perfect for young travelers in particular. Carolyn
McCarthy's PANAMA (9781741791549, $21.99) packs in tailored itineraries for a Panama trip
to combine with keys to the entire country's urban and rural attractions. Independent travelers
receive a take-along tote packed with advice on everything from recommended accommodations
and restaurants to off-the-beaten-path options. Greg Benchwick's CANCUN, COZUMEL & THE
YUCATAN (9781741794144, $21.99) offers outdoor adventure-oriented surveys of the entire
region and provides top itineraries along with coverages of local history and color. A bonus
chapter on neighboring Tabasco and Chiapas accompanies keys to the best of the Yucatan
Peninsula in a handy take-along tote 'must' for any destination-bound visitor. Also top picks are
Lucas Vidgen and Daniel C. Schechter's GUATEMALA (9781741791495, $21.99), covering the
country's towns, villages and unique culture, and Matthew D. Firestone, Carolina A. Miranda and
Cesar G. Soirano's COSTA RICA (9781741799748, $21.99) which provides an in-depth survey
of the popular travel destination packed with maps, photos and local color!
The Literary Shelf
Faulkner and His Critics
John N. Duvall
The John Hopkins University press
2715 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218
9780801896996, $30.00, www.press.jhu.edu
No one is without their critics, literary greats like Faulkner included. "Faulkner and His Critics"
draws from Modern Fiction Studies from the time where the paper was contemporary with
Faulkners work. These writings discuss Faulkner's work and their reflection of America as a
whole, the south, and more. Seventy three essays in total, this compilation will do well in
bringing much new light onto Faulkner's work. "Faulkner and His Critics" is a fine pick, and a
vital addition to any literary studies collection.
Outlaw
Miguel Pinero
Arte Publico Press
University of Houston, 452 Cullen Performance Hall, Houston, TX 77204-2004
9781558856066, $19.95, www.artepublicopress.com
Faced with a tough situation, Miguel Pinero both embraced and fought against the culture that
surrounded him. "Outlaw: The Collected Works of Miguel Pinero" tells the story and shares the
work of Miguel Pinero, who grew up in a barrio in New York City and climbed out of it a street
wise poet, writer, and playwright who has worked on famous television shows and is respected
for his work, rising above his criminal gang past. A collection of his various printed works
including some previously unpublished work, "Outlaw" is a fascinating read and excellent
addition to any literary studies collection.
Orwell: Life and Art
Jeffrey Meyers
University of Illinois Press
1325 South Oak St., Champaign, IL 61820-6903
9780252077463, $25.00, www.press.uillinois.edu
ORWELL: LIFE AND ART provides a fine assessment representing an Orwell scholar's lifetime
of work, and is a 'must' for any college-level literary collection. It covers the novelist's childhood
and pairs autobiographical writings from the beginning of his career through the Spanish Civil
War, analyzing his major works with attention to his psychology and influences. Any student of
Orwell will find this a key analysis!
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Bitter Legacy
H. Terrell Griffin
Oceanview Publishing
2817 West End Avenue, Suite 126-274, Nashville, TN 37203
9781933515960, $25.95, www.oceanviewpub.com
Murder is a good way to quickly sour anything."Bitter Legacy" follows Matt Royal as his restful
vacation ends with a sniper murder of one of his best friends. Believing himself to be next in the
scope, he has to work fast to find those responsible as he gets seeped deeper and deeper in
intrigue. A nonstop thriller of action, adventure, romance, and much more, "Bitter Legacy" will
be a hard volume to put down.
First of State
Robert Greer
North Atlantic Books
PO Box 12327, Berkeley, CA 94712
9781556439155, $24.95, www.northatlanticbooks.com
With the world crumbling around him, CJ's Floyd's own sanity may rely on finding the truth.
"First of State" follows Vietnam veteran CJ Floyd as his world crumbles as he returns from the
battlefield and finds his life in shambles. His only hope for a bit of reserve is to find out whose
responsible for a murder he stumbles upon and find some justice in a dark world. A riveting
thriller that will be hard to put down, "First of State" is an excellent read and very highly
recommended.
Dead Man's Chest
Kerry Greenwood
Poisoned Pen Press
6962 E. First Avenue #103, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
9781590587973, $24.95, www.poisonedpenpress.com
DEAD MAN'S CHEST provides a fine Phryne Fisher mystery and is especially recommended
for collections seeing avid interest in the prior Phryne books. Here Miss Phryne is off to
Queensland for a holiday with no murders: but as usual murder and danger follows close behind,
involving Phryne in a series of dangerous encounters leading to a buried treasure at sea in this
excellent, dramatic read.
A Holiday Yarn
Sally Goldenbaum
Obsidian
c/o Penguin Publishing Group
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
9780451231581, $23.95, www.penguin.com
A HOLIDAY YARN provides a fine Seaside Knitters mystery: it arrived too late for holiday
mention but is a fine year-round pick, especially for the holiday season. The Seaside Knitters are
enjoying snow and indoor knitting plans - until the death of Mary's cousin Pamela leads them to
investigate a dangerous cloud hovering over one of their members. An excellent blend of knitting
and mystery evolves.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
God King
Graham McNeill
Black Library
1525 Hulse Road, Unit 1, Point Pleasant, NJ 08742
9781844168996, $8.99, www.blacklibrary.com
For absolute rule to stand, there must be no opponents. "God King: The Legend of Sigmar" is the
third book of the Sigmar trilogy set in the famed Warhammer universe, following the first
Emperor in his triumphs over the orcs only to find a new challenge come from the world of
magic to challenge his place as the first Emperor. In a nonstop and exciting read of fantasy that
doesn't let up, "God King" is sure to be just what Warhammer fans were waiting for.
Ghost Town
Rachel Caine
NAL
c/o New American Library
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
9780451231611, $17.99, www.penguin.com
GHOST TOWN is the next book in Rachel Caine's Morganville Vampires series, and is a special
pick for any collection that has seen popular lending with its predecessors. Both young adult and
adult readers will be captivated by this survey of Morganville, where humans and vampires
coexist, and where Claire Danvers faces more trouble as both vampires and humans face
extinction.
Bones of Empire
William C. Dietz
Ace
c/o Penguin Publishing Group
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014-3658
9780441019229, $24.95, www.penguin.com
BONES OF EMPIRE is set in the far future, when the Uman Empire has colonized worlds yet is
now fragile. Jak Cato is a bioengineered cop - so his skills come to a head when he catches a
glimpse of the empire's Emperor - and realizes the leader is not human. A fine, tense thriller
evolves blending the best of mystery and science fiction worlds.
The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf
101 Classic Toy Trains: Best of the Postwar Years
Roger Carp
Kalmbach Books
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53186
9780871164100, $24.99, www.kalmbachbooks.com
Steam trains, locomotives, diesels, rail cars and more are covered in this fine survey of entries
presenting history, production facts, and more. Any toy train hobbyist will find this a treasure
trove of detail based on the popular 'Collectible Classics' column from Classic Toy Trains
Magazine. After explaining his criteria for selecting 100 classics, Roger Carp provides a fine
blend of color photos and details that include each train's latest values. Collectors must have
this!
Lionel Trains Pocket Price Guide 1901-2011
Roger Carp, Editor
Kalmbach Books
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53186
9780897785396, $18.95, www.kalmbachbooks.com
Lionel Trains Pocket Price Guide 1901-2011 is a 'must' for any Lionel collector who regularly
haunts garage sales and auctions seeking Lionels. Everything needed to know before buying,
selling or trading is included here on all Lionels and accessories, wit product listings describing
each item, variations, and suggested, latest values based on collector statistics from around the
country.
A Guide Book of Morgan Silver Dollars, third edition
Q. David Bowers
Whitman Publishing
3101 Clairmont Road Suite C, Atlanta, GA 30329
9780794822699, $19.95, www.whitmanbooks.com
A Guide Book of Morgan Silver Dollars: A Complete History and Price Guide appears in its
third updated edition to provide the latest market analysis for each date and mintmark of the
Morgan silver dollar. From exploring die varieties to grading standards and the changing
marketplace for Morgans, this is a 'must' reference for any collector's library.
Rare Coin Investing
David L. Ganz
Krause Publications
c/o F+W Media
4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236
1440213585, $24.99, www.shopnumismaster.com
Rare Coin Investing: An Affordable Way to Build Your Portfolio offers coin collectors an
excellent and different approach to collecting: one tied to investing. Tips on how coin collectors
can see a profitable return on small investments center around how a portfolio of coins gains in
value and how to build such a portfolio using low-cost coins as investments. Collectors and
investors alike will find this an excellent survey packed with the author's own successful
investment strategies.
Schroeder's Antiques Price Guide, 29th edition
Collector Books
Box 3009, Paducah, KY 42002-3009
9781574326970, $19.95, www.collectorbooks.com
This yearly updated guide represents a key acquisition by any library appealing to general
collectors. Each section is updated by a category expert to reflect the latest prices and trends,
with small full-color pictures illustrating different collectibles for easy identification. From
specialty lace and linens to various types of glass, this is packed with references to virtually every
category and makes for the perfect starting point for the general collector.
Everett Grist's Big Book of Marbles, fourth edition
Everett Grist and Lloyd Huffer
Collector Books
Box 3009, Paducah, KY 42002-3009
9781574326925, $29.95, www.collectorbooks.com
EVERETT GRIST'S BIG BOOK OF MARBLES appears in its fourth updated edition to provide a fine basic identification and value guide for both antique and machine-made marbles. Each page packs in color photos of marbles arranged by company and type, making for quick and easy identification. The result is a top pick for any marble collector seeking the latest values.
The Judicial Studies Shelf
Represent Yourself in Court
Paul Bergman & Sara Berman, attorneys
Nolo Press
950 Parker Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
1413312691, $39.99, www.nolo.com
Represent Yourself in Court: How to Prepare & Try a Winning Case tells how to file court
papers, prepare for a trial, and understand the court process as a whole. Pretrial and trial
processes are broken down into clear, easy steps for both plaintiffs and defendants, so no matter
what the purpose - from bankruptcy to divorce or renter disputes - the overall process is covered.
General lending collections must have this invaluable consumer's reference to the legal
process!
Administrative Law in the Political System, fifth edition
Kenneth F. Warren
Westview Press
2465 Central Avenue, Boulder, CO 80301
9780813344560, $75.00, www.westviewpress.com
Administrative Law in the Political System appears in its fifth updated edition to provide legal,
social science and political collections alike with a comprehensive text exploring the role of
administrative law in public policy. Chapters offer 100 new and current cases to consider the
latest political climate of the Obama administration, beginning each chapter with an edited case
and comments and questions. College-level students will find this a 'must' reference, and many
will find it an assigned classroom text!
Law Dictionary, sixth edition
Steven H. Gifis
Barron's
250 Wireless Road, Hauppauge, NY 11788
0764143573, $14.99, www.barronseduc.com
Over 5,000 legal terms are defined and documented with citations in this handy pocket guide to
law, a top pick for any law student, legal professional, or general lending library. Its take-along
tote format makes it most accessible and handy while the definitions are clearly written.
The Best 172 Law Schools, 2011 Edition
Eric Owens & Staff of Princeton Review
Princeton Review
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
9780375427893, $22.99, www.princetonreviewbooks.com
The 2011 edition of The Best 172 Law Schools uses ranking lists to reveal the top law schools
based on best professors, classroom experience, careers and more. This gathers the experiences
of over 18,000 law schools at top programs and documents key information on accredited law
schools, so none of the ranking lists is based on The Princeton Review's opinions, making this a
fine, key acquisition!
The Gender Issues Shelf
Becoming
Yishav Garbasz with Vivian Sobchak
Mark Batty Publishers
36 W. 37th St., #409, New York NY 10018
9781935613008, $21.95, www.markbattypublisher.com
Specialty, college-level gender issues collections as well as arts collections interested in photos
with movement will find this flip-page book unique and intriguing. It follows, in color photos,
the transition of Yishav Garbasz in her movement from a male to a female body. Over 900
photos were taken daily: only 87 have been selected for this flip-page survey, making it a top
visual presentation of nude shots following the changes. Specialty arts and gender collections
will find it unique.
The Native American Shelf
Southern Paiute
William Logan Hebner
Utah State University Press
7800 Old Main Hill, Logan, Utah 84322
9780874217544,$34.95, www.usupress.org
Blamed for mass murder, the Paiute Native Americans faced a special brand of challenge from
the oppression of America's regretful treatment of its Native people. "Southern Paiute: A
Portrait" analyzes the people of this nation and their long history as they reflect on their lives of
growing up as members of this tribe and they recall what has been told to them through oral
histories, their perspectives on how they are perceived, and much more. A fascinating study of
modern anthropology, "Southern Paiute" is quite the read, and with its large black and white
photography, it proves to be an excellent choice of coffee table book.
When the Other is Me
Emma LaRocque
University of Manitoba Press
301 St. John's College, Winnipeg, MB, Canada, R3T 2M5
9780887557033, $27.95, www.umanitoba.ca/uofmpress
Becoming alien in your own land is truly a unique status to the Native American Indians in the
United States and Canada. "When the Other is Me: Native Resistance Discourse: 1850-1990" is a
literary analysis of Native writing in response to the racist writing against the native people
throughout history. These writings analyze the development of popular culture and the light
Native Americans are shown in, as well as the changing Native culture throughout Canadian
history. A fascinating and scholarly analysis, "When the Other is Me" is an excellent addition to
any Native American studies collection.
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
www.oupress.com
Kristina L. Southwell and John R. Lovett's LIFE AT THE KIOWA, COMANCHE, AND
WICHITA AGENCY: THE PHOTOGRAPHS OF ANNETTE ROSS HUME (9780806141381,
$34.95) is a 'must' for any serious Native American library. It covers the rise of a sleep Oklahoma
town now billed as the 'Indian Capital of the Nation' - a frontier village when Annette Ross
Hume arrived in 1890. Her black and white photos trace an era of growth and this gathers them
under one cover for the first time, making for a fine survey of Native regional history. Mark van
de Logt's WAR PARTY IN BLUE: PAWNEE SCOUTS IN THE U.S. ARMY (9780806141398,
$34.95) documents the height of the Plains Indian wars when Pawnee Indian scouts lent their
services to the U.S. Army, leading missions into dangerous territory and organizing attacks
against enemy camps. This documents experiences from the Pawnee perspective and outlines
battles and encounters using military records and modern interviews with current Pawnee tribal
members. Military and Native American collections alike will relish the unusual, detailed
history.
The Nautical Shelf
France/Norway
John Maxtone - Graham
W. W. Norton
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393069037, $75.00, www.wwnorton.com
With a massive cruise ship, the journey is the destination. "France/Norway: France's Last
Liner/Norway's First Mega Cruise Ship" tells the story of this massive thousand foot long ship
which gained notoriety for being nearly scrapped by France due to fuel cost concerns and adopted
by a Norwegian business. Packed cover to cover with full color photos, graphs, and plenty
specifications, "France/Norway" is an excellent pick for history collections with a focus on
nautical vessels and the travel industry. It also makes for an excellent coffee table book.
Schooner
Alison Shaw and Tom Dunlop
Vineyard Stories
RR1 Box 65-B9, Edgartown, MA 02539
9780615342672, $44.95, www.vineyardstories.com
SCHOONER: BUILDING A WOODEN BOAT ON MARTHA'S VINEYARD tells of a
boat-building movement based on the past: building wooden boats in the traditional way. Nat
Benjamin and Ross Gannon are among the rare boat builders who build plank-on-frame boats,
and their experiences celebrates years of boatbuilding techniques and is captured in full color in
SCHOONER. No nautical collection should be without this unique presentation which captures
the entire art and experience of building a seaworthy wooden craft by hand.
Atlantic
Simon Winchester
Harper
c/o HarperCollins
10 E. 53rd St., New York NY 10022-5299
9780061702587, $27.99, www.harpercollins.com
ATLANTIC: GREAT SEA BATTLES, HEROIC DISCOVERIES, TITANIC STORMS, AND A
VAST OCEAN OF A MILLION STORIES blends nautical history, natural science, and more in
a discussion of the history of the Atlantic Ocean. From the geological origins of the ocean to
mankind's changing relationship with the Atlantic as it became a bridge between old and new
worlds, this provides a lively survey perfect for any general collection.
Cape Horn to Starboard
John Kretschmer
Burford Books
101 East State St. #301, Ithaca, NY 14850
9781580801621, $16.95, www.burfordbooks.com
Cape Horn to Starboard: The Classic Chronicle of Rounding the Horn in a 32-Foot Sloop
provides a new introduction by the author and first appeared in 1986. This reprint chronicling the
voyage of a college dropout who retraced the route of the clipper ships from New York to San
Francisco by way of Cape Horn makes for a fine chronicle for any nautical library.
The Digital Publishing Shelf
Thames (or) I Can Hear A Candle Burning
Albert F. Heisenfelt
The Imagination Workshop
imaginationworkshop@gmail.com
Kindle Edition, $4.70, www.amazon.com
Author Albert F. Heisenfelt is a gifted author of metaphysically flavored fiction. "Thames (or) I
Can Hear A Candle Burning" is the story of Thames, one of many Faces from the Forest at The
Imagination Workshop. In brief synopsis, Thames is created from withered and worn body parts
of abandoned wood. Thames is a hopeful icon, transcending his constructed constraints,
transmitting eloquent solutions to those who would listen to those who would believe in
themselves. From its birth on a wintry night in Bessie's garage, to a final resting place in a hidden
cove atop pine covered hills, Thames molded the hearts and minds of its maker, an elderly
neighbor, the soul of a park ranger, and united two families hundreds of years apart. Available
as a digital book only, "Thames (or) I Can Hear A Candle Burning" is not just skilled
storytelling, but an imaginative masterpiece that will offer its readers a completely satisfying
entertainment that is inspired and inspiring from beginning to end. Also very highly
recommended by Albert F. Heisenfelt are the digital books "The Water Weavers: An Orphan's
Tale or "A Wad of Gum" and " "The Water Weavers: An Orphan's Tale or "A Wad of
Gum".
The Word Warrior: Boy Wonder-Writer
Albert F. Heisenfelt
The Imagination Workshop
imaginationworkshop@gmail.com
Kindle Edition, $4.70, www.amazon.com
Trenton is a 'word-warrior' and offers four stories drawn from his life experiences in "The Word
Warrior: Boy Wonder-Writer". The first one, 'Once Upon My Summer Camp Dream' is about
Trenton as the age of nine years bonds with two other boys with whom he shares a cabin at
summer camp, including the experience of a 'conference dream' to the Spirit Children of
Storytell. The second story is about ten year old Tenton's having a hamster and the transition
from childhood fantasy to life's realities when he has to deal with loss. The third story finds
eleven year old Trenton having to deal with a bully. It's a help to have a father figure teach him
how to deal effectively with fear. The fourth and concluding story is of Trenton, having now
graduated from sixth grade, sharing an important and deeply personal secret with a girl. Taken all
together, Trenton's four stories create a memorable and complex character whose 'word warrior'
approach to sharing metaphysical insights and 'life lessons' with his readers are impressively
entertaining and insightful with the intertwining themes of relationships, camaraderie loss, fear,
and love. Author Albert F. Heisenfelt is a talented word smith able to combine imagination,
philosophy, and the human condition into short stories like those that comprise "The Word
Warrior: Boy Wonder-Writer", stories that enduringly impress the hearts and the minds of his
readers. Also highly recommended by Albert F. Heisenfelt are the digital books "The Water
Weavers: An Orphan's Tale or "A Wad of Gum" and "Thames (or) I Can Hear A Candle
Burning.
The Islamic Studies Shelf
Political Islam Observed
Frederic Volpi
Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd Street, New York, NY 10023
9780231701785, $34.50, www.cup.columbia.edu
Islam remains a hot issue in today's world. "Political Islam Observed" discusses politics and
Islam and modern social sciences to approach a picture of the faith on the world stage. Chapters
discuss Islam and how it has been demonized as well as revered throughout the world. From
Islam's status in multiculturalism, global issues, and issues of secularization, author Frederic
Volpi presents a high fascinating and scholarly read, making "Political Islam Observed" a must
for anyone discussing and seeking to understand Islamic politics around the world.
The Railroading Shelf
Model Railroading from Prototype to Layout
Tony Koester
Kalmbach
21027 Crossroads Circle, PO Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187-1612
9780890247976, $21.95, www.kalmbachbooks.com
A model railroad is the labor of love. "Model Railroading from Prototype to Layout" is a guide
for model railroad enthusiasts who favor realism and authenticity int heir work. With tips on
drawing from reality with a how to guide to simulate historical and modern railroads with
quickness and Excellency, Tony Koester translates his own love well into a read full of advice
and makes for an invaluable resource for model train realists. "Model Railroading from Prototype
to Layout" is a core addition to community library railroading collections.
The Agricultural Shelf
Chick Days
Jenna Woginrich
Storey
210 Mass Moca Way, North Adams, MA 01247
9781603425841, $14.95, www.storey.com
Food, eggs, general cuteness, there's plenty of reasons to raise chicks from birth. "Chick Days:
Raising Chickens From Hatchlings to Laying Hens" is described as an absolute beginner's guide
from Jenna Woginrich who will give readers what they need to know to get started in the world
of chicken farming, with a full array of tips and tricks from taking a newborn just out of the egg
bird into a mutually beneficial relationship between owner and laying hen. "Chick Days" is a
useful and highly recommended resource for anyone thinking of owning hens for
themselves.
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
http://www.midwestbookreview.com
Copyright ©2001
Site design by Williams Writing, Editing &
Design