 |
Book
Reviews,
Book Lover Resources, Advice for Writers and Publishers |
| Home / Internet
Bookwatch |
Internet Bookwatch
Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
Overtourism: Lessons for a Better Future
Martha Honey and Kelsey Frenkiel, editors
Island Press
www.islandpress.org
9781642830767 $37.00 pbk / $35.15 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Overtourism-Dr-Martha-Honey-PhD/dp/1642830763
Synopsis: Before COVID-19 hit, the biggest problem in the world of travel was overtourism. Crowds threatened to spoil
natural environments and make daily life unbearable for residents of popular travel destinations. Then, seemingly
overnight, tourism nearly ceased. Yet there is no question that travel will resume; the only question is, when it does, what
will it look like? Will we return to a world of overrun monuments, littered beaches, and gridlocked city streets? Or can we
do things differently this time?
Overtourism: Lessons for a Better Future charts a path toward tourism that is not only sustainable but regenerative for the
places we love and the people who live there. Bringing together tourism officials, city council members, travel journalists,
consultants, scholars, and trade association members, this practical book explores overcrowding from a variety of
perspectives. After examining the causes and effects of overtourism, it turns to management approaches in five distinct
types of tourism destinations:
1. Historic cities;
2. National parks and protected areas;
3. World Heritage Sites;
4. Beaches and coastal communities; and
5. Destinations governed by regional and national authorities.
While each location presents its own challenges, common mitigation strategies are emerging. Visitor education, traffic
planning, and redirection to lesser-known sites are among the measures that can protect the economic benefit of tourism
without overwhelming local communities.
As tourism revives around the world, these innovations will guide government agencies, parks officials, site managers,
civic groups, environmental NGOs, tourism operators, and others with a stake in protecting our most iconic places.
Critique: Overtourism: Lessons for a Better Future is an anthology of scholarly essays by learned authors discussing the
problems created by "overtourism" - unsustainable tourism that has detrimental effects upon the environment and the lives
of local residents. What are the best models for sustainable tourism that provides economic benefit while conserving the
environment? Individual writings focus on the challenges that specific popular tourism destinations have faced, around the
world. The ramifications that the Covid pandemic has had and continues to have on the tourism industry are also discussed
at length. An index rounds out this excellent and welcome contribution to college library Environmental Studies and Social
Issues collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that Overtourism is also available in a Kindle edition
($35.15).
"The Million Dead, Too, Summ'd Up"
Ed Folsom, author
Christopher Merrill, author
University of Iowa Press
119 West Park Road, Iowa City, IA 52242-1000
www.uiowapress.org
9781609387464, $35.00, PB, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/Million-Dead-Too-Summd-Up/dp/1609387465
Synopsis: "The Million Dead, Too, Summ'd Up": Walt Whitman's Civil War Writings" is the first to offer a
comprehensive selection of Walt Whitman's Civil War poetry and prose with a full commentary on each work. Ed Folsom
and Christopher Merrill carry on a dialogue with Whitman (and with each other) as they invite readers to trace how
Whitman's writing about the Civil War develops, shifts, and manifests itself in different genres throughout the years of the
war. "The Million Dead, Too, Summ'd Up" offers forty selections of Whitman's war writings, including not only the
well-known war poems but also his prose and personal letters. Each are followed by Folsom's critical examination and then
by Merrill's afterword, suggesting broader contexts for thinking about the selection.
The real democratic reader, Whitman said, "must himself or herself construct indeed the poem, argument, history,
metaphysical essay -- the text furnishing the hints, the clue, the start or frame-work," because what is needed for
democracy to flourish is "a nation of supple and athletic minds." Folsom and Merrill model this kind of active reading and
encourage both seasoned and new readers of Whitman's war writings to enter into the challenging and exhilarating mode of
talking back to Whitman, arguing with him, and learning from him.
Critique: An erudite, eloquent, informative, thought-provoking, unique and inherently fascinating study, "The Million
Dead, Too, Summ'd Up": Walt Whitman's Civil War Writings" is an outstanding and seminal contribution to the growing
library of Whitman Studies literature. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community, college and
university library American Poetry & Literary Criticism collections in general, and Walt Whitman supplemental studies
curriculum reading lists, it should be noted for student, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the
subject that "The Million Dead, Too, Summ'd Up" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $19.25).
Editorial Note #1: Ed Folsom is the Roy J. Carver professor of English at the University of Iowa, editor of the Walt
Whitman Quarterly Review, co-director of the online Whitman Archive, and editor of the Iowa Whitman Series at the
University of Iowa Press. He is also the author or editor of numerous books and essays on Whitman and other American writers.
Editorial Note #2: Christopher Merrill is the director of the International Writing Program at the University of Iowa. He
has published six collections of poetry, including Watch Fire, many edited volumes and books of translations, and six
works of nonfiction, among them Only the Nails Remain: Scenes from the Balkan Wars.
The Greatest College Health Guide You Never Knew You Needed
Jill Henry & Dave Henry, authors
Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.
307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018
www.skyhorsepublishing.com
9781510759091, $16.99, HC, 264pp
https://www.amazon.com/Greatest-College-Health-Guide-Needed/dp/1510759093
Synopsis: Every fall, millions of young adults crash into college fired up for the best four years of their lives, ready to
experience campus life, take classes about things they're interested in, and meet people from all over the world. Most of
these new-to-college students, however, are better prepared to pick their major or talk to strangers than they are to take care
of themselves in the college setting. College students today are more depressed, anxious, and stressed than previous waves
of students; they're also more sedentary, not really exercising, and living in a meal-plan limbo supplemented with ramen
and coffee.
"The Greatest College Health Guide You Never Knew You Needed: How to Manage Food, Booze, Stress, Sex, Sleep, and
Exercise on Campus" by high school coaches Jill and Dave Henry is comprehensive field guild that deftly break down the
facts and deliver doable, no-BS strategies for managing physical and mental health on campus. In addition to helpful,
interactive graphics, the coaches share their relatable true stories (ranging from the ridiculous to the serious) to discuss the
five biggest health obstacles students face in college. On top of research-backed tips, "The Greatest College Health Guide
You Never Knew You Needed" also features raw and personal advice from current students on college campuses across
the country.
While simply figuring out what to eat and how to exercise can be completely overwhelming, this guide goes beyond a
basic crash course on how to be healthy. Jill and Dave cover everything from crucial time-management skills to the
complex sensitivity of self-doubt, sexual assault, and depression with humor, humility, and heart. "The Greatest College
Health Guide You Never Knew You Needed" is a complete road map for how to take care of your mind and body that will
not only set students up to crush the next four years, but will also provide a foundation they can carry with them for the rest
of their lives.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, comprehensively informative, impressively well organized, and thoroughly 'user
friendly' in presentation, "The Greatest College Health Guide You Never Knew You Needed: How to Manage Food,
Booze, Stress, Sex, Sleep, and Exercise on Campus" should be on the reading list of every graduating highschool senior
about to enter college. This amazingly useful compendium of tips, tricks, insights, strategies, and alerts would also prove
invaluable to anyone returning to college or university after an absence. It should also be noted that "The Greatest College
Health Guide You Never Knew You Needed: How to Manage Food, Booze, Stress, Sex, Sleep, and Exercise on Campus"
is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.99).
A Handbook for Bullying Victims
Bruce Sherman
Independently Published
9798672980706, $9.99, PB, 48pp
https://www.amazon.com/Handbook-Bullying-Victims-Bruce-Sherman/dp/B08F6MVGX8
Given all the publicity around bullying, these days, it's notable that of all the strategies designed to address it, the majority
fall on the shoulders of adults, gatekeepers, and institutions to enact. Few are addressed to those who are potential victims;
much less offer a fresh viewpoint on how to empower and protect them, starting from within.
A Handbook for Bullying Victims achieves its goal by outlining a program Bruce Sherman names the 'International Bully
Patrol', emphasizing its world-wide applicability. The book opens with a personal story of the author's childhood
experiences with a bully. It's a familiar tale of ongoing abuse and victimization. While his solution resorted to violence to
quell the attitude of a bully who terrorized not only him but his entire class, Sherman admonishes that violence, though one
option, is indeed a last resort.
His book also covers all the choices for handling bullying in various ways, combining advice and insights with a treasure
trove of online references vetted by effectiveness and organized by subjects that range from ethnic bullying and
cyberbullying to police misconduct, elder abuse, workplace issues, prejudice, and more. The specific chapter headings
allow readers to skip through the manual, if they desire, to locate a particular area of interest; while the subjects include
overviews and list enough information about each article link to give readers an idea of its appropriateness and content
before they clink on the reference.
Take the 'Muslim Bullying' section, for example. Here, readers will find vetted references addressing such diverse
subtopics as 'Supporting Muslim Teens in Face of Islamophobia - in Their Own Schools'; a 2019 Bullying Report by the
Council on American-Islamic Relations; a CBS news story 'We're called terrorists:' HWDSB anti-bullying session hears
from Muslim community'; and the thought-provoking article, 'Singled Out: Islamophobia in the Classroom and the Impact
of Discrimination on Muslims'.
Each article brings a different focus, study, approach, and real-world statistics and insights to explore the broader nature of
the bullying problem. Each provides solutions. More importantly, each has been vetted by Bruce Sherman, in comparison
to the multitude of other writings on the subject, bringing the cream of the crop to the top and saving readers many hours
of searching. With its wide-ranging focus through all age groups (from children to elder adults), all ethnicities, and legal
and social platforms of discussion, A Handbook for Bullying Victims lives up to its promise to deliver a powerful tool for
resolution to all interested in the subject of bullying and how to identify, understand, and resolve it.
There's nothing quite like it on the market. Reference libraries, in particular, will find A Handbook for Bullying Victims a
top acquisition.
The Writing/Publishing Shelf
Becoming a Writer, Staying a Writer
J. Michael Straczynski
BenBella Books
benbellabooks.com
9781950665884 $17.95 pbk / $9.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Writer-Staying-Artistry-Storytelling/dp/1950665887
Synopsis: New York Times bestselling author and British Academy Award nominee J. Michael Straczynski knew he
wanted to be a writer ever since he was a child. What he didn't know was how to actually become, or stay, a writer.
Now, he's giving fellow writers the comprehensive guide he wishes he had all along, personalized tips and techniques that
can't be found in any other book on writing.
Becoming a Writer, Staying a Writer culls from Straczynski's more than thirty years of experience writing for film,
television, books, and comics. Designed for writers in any stage of their career, this quirky, insightful and often humorous
book provides an inside look at these industries with advice and wisdom covering such topics such as:
What fledgling writers need to know to improve and sell their work - and avoid wasting valuable time
Tips for experienced writers who want to get to the next level
Staying disciplined when writing is your day job
Why writers should never wait for inspiration
Story-planning strategies that don't kill your spontaneity
Expert techniques for effective, memorable world-building
How to get an agent and survive the writer's journey in more personal relationships
Revising and editing with precision
When and how to reinvent yourself as an artist
Becoming a Writer, Staying a Writer includes Straczynski's unique, tried-and-true methodologies that will help storytellers
sharpen their work so that it's polished and ready for publication. Part toolbox and part survival guide, this book will be an
indispensable guide throughout your entire writing career, offering fresh and practical insights every step of the way.
Critique: A professional writer of thirty years' experience, J. Michael Straczynski presents the advice book for aspiring
writers that he wished he could have read when he was young. Here are candid tips, tricks, and techniques for both the
creative and the practical side of the business. From how to craft believable characters and revise one's work with high
precision, to pitfalls to watch out for when trying to sell one's work, and much more, Becoming a Writer, Staying a Writer
is candid, thoroughly accessible, and an absolute "must-read" for aspiring and practicing professionals, and highly
recommended for public and college library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that Becoming a
Writer, Staying a Writer is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).
Reed's Homophones: A Comprehensive Book of Sound-alike Words, fourth edition
A. D. Reed
Pisgah Press, LLC
PO Box 9663, Asheville, NC 28815
www.pisgahpress.com
9781942016427, $14.95 Paper/$2.99 ebook/$19.95 Hardcover
https://www.amazon.com/Reeds-Homophones-Comprehensive-Sound-alike-Words/dp/1942016425
Reed's Homophones: A Comprehensive Book of Sound-alike Words should be in any collection strong in English
language explorations, literature, and wordsmithing, whether for school-age readers in high school to college, or
general-interest collections appealing to writers and authors. It provides a quick reference for those who would quickly
locate a homophone in a resource that complements a dictionary or thesaurus while imparting a sense of humor about what
is included in the homophone collection: "...(including some borrowed from other tongues, and a few that aren't quite
homophonic, but are awfully close) as well as frequent misspellings, mispronunciations, misused word pairs,
schizophrenic antonyms, and a few pet peeves."
The wellspring of a reference designed to thwart common word misuse came from a series of 2007 newspaper articles that
sparked "...a short list of common homophones that seem to attract newspaper reporters as honey does flies. Houses are
"raised" by fires; actors demonstrate real "flare" on stage; people wait with "baited" breath; the view through the picture
window is a "site" to behold; witnesses are rarely "fazed" but often "phased." Et cetera."
As the word rebuttal expanded to book length, A. D. Reed crafted a writer's guide to popular word pairs that should ideally
be unpaired. An A-Z dictionary identifies such homophones as "access - a way in; axis - line on a grid" and other common
follies of language misuse.
While reading a dictionary might not be everyone's cup of tea, Reed's Homophones serves as both an at-a-glance desk
reference for writers and as a word nerd's browsing delight, offering definitions and insights that tackle and correct
too-common instances of misuse, as in "segue - seamless transition" versus "Segway(R) - one-axled, two-wheeled,
gyroscopic self-propelled scooter."
Reed's Homophones is an important guide for writers who adhere to literary correctness, who will want to double-check
their reports and literary productions with this book. Reference collections strong in writer's guides should consider Reed's
Homophones a key acquisition.
Write a Poem, Save Your Life
Meredith Heller
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato CA 94949
www.newworldlibrary.com
9781608687480, $16.95 PB, $9.99 Kindle, 272pp
https://www.amazon.com/Write-Poem-Save-Your-Life/dp/1608687481
"Write a Poem, Save Your Life: A Guide for Teens, Teachers, and Writers of All Ages" by Meredith Heller comes from a
singer-songwriter and poet who believes that poetry writing is the path forward to recreating and acknowledging one's self,
and uses examples of prose from teens Heller has worked with to explore encouraging pathways to linking poetry writing
with emotional growth and exploration. Newfound connections through words can lead to growth opportunities not to be
found elsewhere. 'Recipe poems' and invitations to view ordinary and extraordinary resources for inspiration provide all the
tools needed for non-poets to explore the medium and connect it to their personal lives. Newcomers to poetry writing will
find this approach much more accessible than the usual poetry writing handbook, requiring no prior familiarity with poetry
or writing to prove accessible.
Editorial Note: Meredith Heller is a poet, singer-songwriter, educator, and the author of three poetry collections. A
California Poet in the Schools, she leads workshops in schools and juvenile detention centers and online.
The Social Issues Shelf
Domestic Violence
Frances T. Pilch, editor
Robert D. Reed Publishers
www.rdrpublishers.com
9781944297923 $11.95 pbk / $7.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Domestic-Violence-Janet-Kerr-MA/dp/1944297928
Synopsis: Beginning with a discussion of the magnitude of the problem of domestic violence, the authors present a
fictional narrative of "Suzanne," whose relationship with her intimate partner dissolves into abuse and violence, both
physical and emotional. What follows is expert commentary on her story by law enforcement, a judge and former district
attorney, victim advocate, therapist, and survivor, which provide a unique exploration of the tragedy of abuse and potential
means by which it can be addressed. The main theme of the book is the tendency to "blame the victim" for staying in an
abusive relationship and the need to understand why leaving can be so difficult and dangerous.
Critique: Domestic Violence: Tragedy and Hope is an anthology of essays by a diversity of expert authors examining
complex, difficult, and often tragic situations of domestic violence. A fictionalized case story of "Suzanne" provides a
point of references for the methodical commentaries from the perspectives of law enforcement, judges and district
attorneys, victim's advocates, and more. Domestic Violence: Tragedy and Hope is a critical-minded assessment of a deadly
serious social issue, highly recommended for both public and college library collections. It should be noted for personal
reading lists that Domestic Violence: Tragedy and Hope is also available in a Kindle edition ($7.99).
Media-Ready Feminism and Everyday Sexism
Andrea L. Press and Francesca Tripodi
State University of New York Press
www.sunypress.edu
9781438481951 $95.00 hc
9781438481968 $32.95 pbk / $32.95 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Media-Ready-Feminism-Everyday-Sexism-Audiences/dp/1438481950
Synopsis: Feminism can reflect the cultural moment, especially as media appropriate and use feminist messaging and
agenda to various ends. Yet media can also push boundaries, exposing audiences to ideas they may not be familiar with
and advancing public acceptance of concepts once considered taboo. Moreover, audiences are far from passive recipients,
especially in the digital age. In Media-Ready Feminism and Everyday Sexism, Andrea L. Press and Francesca Tripodi
focus on how audiences across platforms not only consume but also create meanings sometimes quite transgressive
meanings in engaging with media content.
If television shows such as Game of Thrones and Jersey Shore and dating apps such as Tinder are sites of persistent
everyday sexism, then so, too, are they sites of what Press and Tripodi call "media-ready feminism." In developing a
sociologically based conception of reception that encompasses media's progressive potential, as well as the processes of
domestication through which audiences and users revert to more limited cultural schemas, Press and Tripodi make a vital
contribution to gender and media studies, and help to illuminate the complexity of our current moment.
Critique: Media-Ready Feminism and Everyday Sexism is a thoughtful, scholarly examination of the impact of modern
media from a feminist viewpoint. Chapter scrutinize the pervasive power of media content to spread messages, including
both feminist and sexist messages. From television programs to social media and dating apps, Media-Ready Feminism
explores concepts for applying media's potential to positively convey philosophies. Chapters focus upon the misogyny
present in "Game of Thrones", how female sexuality is portrayed in media, how media's influence affects the discourse of
balancing work and family obligations, the interplay of "hookup culture" and structural sexism, and more. Media-Ready
Feminism and Everyday Sexism is highly recommended especially for public and college library Media Studies and
Women's Studies collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that Media-Ready Feminism and Everyday
Sexism is also available in a Kindle edition ($32.95).
Power to the Public
Tara Dawson McGuinness and Hana Schank
Princeton University Press
www.press.princeton.edu
9780691207759 $19.95 hc / $9.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Power-Public-Promise-Interest-Technology/dp/0691207755
Synopsis: A powerful new blueprint for how governments and nonprofits can harness the power of digital technology to
help solve the most serious problems of the twenty-first century
As the speed and complexity of the world increases, governments and nonprofit organizations need new ways to
effectively tackle the critical challenges of our time from pandemics and global warming to social media warfare. In Power
to the Public, Tara Dawson McGuinness and Hana Schank describe a revolutionary new approach public interest
technology that has the potential to transform the way governments and nonprofits around the world solve problems.
Through inspiring stories about successful projects ranging from a texting service for teenagers in crisis to a streamlined
foster care system, the authors show how public interest technology can make the delivery of services to the public more
effective and efficient.
At its heart, public interest technology means putting users at the center of the policymaking process, using data and
metrics in a smart way, and running small experiments and pilot programs before scaling up. And while this approach may
well involve the innovative use of digital technology, technology alone is no panacea and some of the best solutions may
even be decidedly low-tech.
Clear-eyed yet profoundly optimistic, Power to the Public presents a powerful blueprint for how government and
nonprofits can help solve society's most serious problems.
Critique: Power to the Public: The Promise of Public Interest Technology is a scholarly discussion of an exciting new tool
that governments and nonprofits can use to tackle the greatest problems of the modern era. The titular "public interest
technology" refers to gathering input from users and recipients front and center when planning policy changes. Data and
metrics should be intelligently harnessed to determine whether a given approach is wise, and small pilot programs should
be tested before scaling up a possible approach. Although modern digital technology can be enormously useful, sometimes
the best potential solutions are low-tech. Notes, a bibliography, a suggested reading selection and an index round out this
"must-read" for policy- makers from local to national level and beyond. Highly recommended! It should be noted for
personal reading lists that Power to the Public is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).
Bridge Builders
Nathan Bomey
Polity
politybooks.com
9781509545933 $25.00 hc / $15.00 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Bridge-Builders-Bringing-Together-Polarized/dp/150954593X
Synopsis: In these turbulent times, defined by ideological chasms, clashes over social justice, and a pandemic intersecting
with misinformation, Americans seem hopelessly divided along fault lines of politics, race, religion, class, and culture. Yet
not everyone is accepting the status quo.
In Bridge Builders: Bringing People Together in a Polarized Age, journalist Nathan Bomey paints a forensic portrait of
Americans who are spanning gaping divides between people of difference. From clergy fighting racism in Charlottesville
to a former Republican congressman engaging conservatives on climate change and Appalachian journalists restoring
social trust with the public, these countercultural leaders all believe in the power of forging lasting connections to bring
about profound change. Though the blueprints for political, social, and cultural bridges vary widely, bridge builders have
much in common and we have much to learn from them. In this book, Bomey dissects the transformational ways in which
bridge builders are combating polarization by pursuing reconciliation, rejecting misinformation, and rethinking the
principle of compromise.
Critique: Journalist Nathan Bomey presents Bridge Builders: Bringing People Together in a Polarized Age, a close
portrayal of the qualities America needs most in this heavily politicized and polarized era. Here are true-life stories of
Americans from opposing political backgrounds finding ideological common ground and working toward a better future.
Chapters discuss the challenges of bridge-building when different parties may not necessarily agree on what is true, how
misunderstandings can be resolved, and how a blueprint for compromise may be worked out. "The concept of mediating a
conflict without first determining which side deserves the most blame is decidedly antithetical to our hot-take culture,
which teaches us to point fingers and excoriate others for their failures. But the countercultural principles of mediation can
serve as an effective antidote to the paralysis often caused by conflict." Bridge Builders is a welcome addition to public
and college library Social Issues and Political Science shelves, highly recommended. It should be noted for personal
reading lists that Bridge Builders is also available in a Kindle edition ($15.00).
The Art Shelf
Object Lessons: Case Studies in Minimal Art
Martha Buskirk, et al.
Guggenheim Museum
c/o Distributed Art Publishers (DAP)
155 Sixth Avenue, 2nd floor, New York, NY 10013-1507
www.artbook.com
9780892075560, $55.00, HC, 324pp
https://www.amazon.com/Object-Lessons-Guggenheim-Collection-Initiative/dp/0892075562
Synopsis: Based upon the research of the Panza Collection Initiative at the Guggenheim Museum, "Object Lessons: Case
Studies in Minimal Art" is an ambitious, 10-year study project that focuses on four works by key figures of 1960s
Minimalism and Conceptual art: Dan Flavin, Donald Judd, Robert Morris and Lawrence Weiner.
Commentators and authors Francesca Esmay, Ted Mann and Jeffrey Weiss present each work from several vantages: an
exhaustive chronological account conveys the surprisingly complicated history of the work's realization, acquisition,
ownership and display. An overview addresses the broad practical and conceptual implications of this information for the
historical identity of the work and its consequences for the work's future.
A conservation narrative establishes the role of fabricators and the material and technical standards for the production of
the object. Together, the contributors explore how a previously unaddressed history of production, ownership and display
has deeply influenced the life and legacy of the radical objects of Minimal art.
A separate section, with contributions by Martha Buskirk and Virginia Rutledge, examines the topic of decommission, a
new category of collection classification for works that are contested or compromised and are therefore no longer viable
for display.
Throughout, "Object Lessons: Case Studies in Minimal Art" is copiously illustrated with photographs of the works, the
exhibitions in which they appeared, and related drawings and proposals. Rounding out this exceptional volume are
extensive excerpts of new interviews with artists and fabricators, key historical documents and previously unpublished
correspondence.
Critique: A seminal study of outstanding scholarship, informative insight, and instructive commentary, "Object Lessons:
Case Studies in Minimal Art" is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional,
community, college, and university library Conceptual Art History collections and supplemental studies curriculum reading
lists.
Fresh Paint
Flora Bowley, author
Lynzee Lynx, author
Quarry Books
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
www.quartous.com
9780760370681, $24.99, PB, 128pp
https://www.amazon.com/Fresh-Paint-Discover-Mixed-Media-Paintings/dp/0760370680
Synopsis: In "Fresh Paint: Discover Your Unique Creative Style Through 100 Small Mixed-Media Paintings", Flora
Bowley (an internationally celebrated painter, workshop facilitator, author, visionary, and inspirationalist), and her
collaborator and fellow artist, Lynzee Lynx (who enjoys creating in many mediums, including paint, beads, metal, and
fabric), offer transformational, accessible, and lasting ways to infuse more meaning and authenticity into your
artwork.
"Fresh Paint" readily enables even the most novice of artists to fully explore how finding their creative voice can translate
into a more courageous, inspired, empowered, nourishing, and world-changing way of living and making art.
"Fresh Paint" uses mixed-media art projects along with prompts for movement, meditation, and writing to explore personal
experience, individual preference, ancestry, intuition, and body wisdom. Through the process of creating 100 small
mixed-media paintings based on these inquiries, your style will reveal itself to you, and your artmaking will be more
satisfying and fun.
Critique: Profusely illustrated and thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Fresh Paint: Discover Your
Unique Creative Style Through 100 Small Mixed-Media Paintings" offers a complete course of DIY instruction that makes
it an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, art school, college, and
university library Mixed Media Painting & Creativity instructional reference collections.
Pinch Your Pottery
Jacqui Atkin
Quarry Books
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
www.quartous.com
9781589239746, $24.99, HC, 176pp
https://www.amazon.com/Pinch-Your-Pottery-Beautiful-Hand-form/dp/1589239741
Synopsis: When it comes to pottery making, Pinching is a wonderfully direct method of interacting with clay that allows
for making a range of forms and styles. The DIY projects comprising "Pinch Your Pottery: The Art & Craft of Making
Pinch Pots - 35 Beautiful Projects to Hand-form from Clay" by Jacqui Atkin are simple and small and require only a few
tools and your own hands.
Begin a new adventure with fabulous pinched ceramics and learn everything from choosing clay and a style of decoration,
to firing and beyond: Ranging from functional wares to purely decorative sculptural forms, each project is explained with
step-by-step sequences and plenty of options for surface decoration; Fully cross-referenced throughout, there is a wealth of
choice and styles to mix and match to make each project truly unique: A gallery of makers provides added inspiration and
shows the potential of this underrated making method.
"Pinch Your Pottery" proves that pinching is a way of working equal to all other methods and that it can produce items of
refinement and sophistication.
Critique: Beautifully and profusely illustrated in full color throughout, and thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and
presentation, "Pinch Your Pottery: The Art & Craft of Making Pinch Pots - 35 Beautiful Projects to Hand-form from Clay"
is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended DIY instructional guide and manual for personal, professional,
community, college, and university library Pottery & Ceramic Craft collections.
Editorial Note: Jacqui Atkin is a professional studio ceramicist, author, and gallery owner living in rural Shropshire,
England. She is currently working as editorial consultant and project editor for ClayCraft magazine. Her previous books
include 250 Tips, Techniques and Trade Secrets for Potters, Handbuilt Pottery Techniques Revealed, Pottery Basics,
Troubleshooting for Potters, and most recently Pottery You Can Use.
The Parenting Shelf
Spotting Danger Before It Spots Your Kids
Gary Quesenberry
YMAA Publications
PO Box 480, Wolfeboro, NH 03894-0480
www.ymaa.com
9781594398117, $18.95, PB, 168pp
https://www.amazon.com/Spotting-Danger-Before-Spots-Your/dp/1594398119
Synopsis: The country becomes more challenging with such atrocities as school shootings and gun violence becoming
commonplace. That's why parents need to take the time to prepare their children. Not in a threatening or scary way, but
with "Spotting Danger Before It Spots Your Kids: Teaching Situational Awareness To Keep Children Safe" by Gary
Quesenberry in a way that is fun, engaging, and will give them the best possible chance of ensuring their own
wellbeing.
"Spotting Danger Before It Spots Your Kids is a book about presenting the concepts of situational awareness to children
ages 5-12 in a way that will keep them engaged and help them take an active role in their own personal security. This
thoroughly 'user friendly' instructional guide and manual shows how to use fun, interactive games to build situational
awareness skills such as: How children can identify and understand normal environmental behaviors; How children can
spot abnormal behaviors within their given environment; How to give children a plan and a means of avoidance or escape
should a dangerous situation present itself.
Whether you're a parent, relative, or work in the childcare industry, the things you impart upon children will have a lasting
impact on the way they live their lives. Nowhere is this more important than in the area of personal safety. As caregivers,
we have a great responsibility for the security and well-being of our children, and to guide them along the path to
independence. A child's future success will depend on their ability to interact with their surroundings and make sound
decisions based on what they see. That's the foundation of situational awareness.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, comprehensively informative, impressively organized and presented, "Spotting
Danger Before It Spots Your Kids: Teaching Situational Awareness To Keep Children Safe" is an extraordinary and
unreservedly recommended addition to family and community library Parenting & Public Safety collections. It should be
noted for personal reading lists that "Spotting Danger Before It Spots Your Kids: Teaching Situational Awareness To Keep
Children Safe" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.49).
Editorial Note: Gary Quesenberry is a US Army veteran and a career Federal Air Marshal. As a defensive tactics trainer for
Federal and civilian services, he has devoted his life to studying the areas of violence and predatory behavior. Gary also
serves as the CEO of Q-Series LLC and has developed numerous basic and advanced level training courses focused on
mental toughness, marksmanship, and defensive tactics. He has an extensive background in domestic and foreign
counter-terror training and has worked in both the private and corporate sectors to help educate others on the importance of
situational awareness, and personal safety.
Raising Other People's Children
Debbie Ausburn
www.otherpeopleschildren.org
Hatherleigh Press
c/o The Hatherleigh Foundation
62545 State Highway 10, Hobart, NY 13788
www.hatherleighpress.com
9781578268993, $15.00, PB, 160pp
https://www.amazon.com/Raising-Other-Peoples-Children-Parenting/dp/1578268990
Synopsis: Drawing upon her many years of experience and expertise with every facet and aspect of the foster care system,
"Raising Other People's Children: What Foster Parenting Taught Me About Bringing Together A Blended Family" was
written by Debbie Ausburn to help foster parents, step-parents, and other care givers navigate the complicated world of
foster and step-parenting with better awareness and greater empathy, providing real-life solutions for forging strong
relationships in extraordinary circumstances.
The responsibility and complexity involved in raising someone else's child can seem overwhelming. Regardless of whether
you're a stepparent, foster parent or adoptive parent, it is on you to take on the challenge of caring for them, helping them
to move forward while also meeting their unique emotional needs -- and the first step to accomplishing all this is a careful
reading of "Raising Other People's Children: What Foster Parenting Taught Me About Bringing Together A Blended
Family".
Critique: An impressively informative and 'real world' practical compendium of experienced based instruction, advice, and
insight, "Raising Other People's Children: What Foster Parenting Taught Me About Bringing Together A Blended Family"
is unreservedly recommended reading for anyone charged with the responsibilities of being a foster parent, a step-parent, a
nannie, or any other kind of child service caregiver. While highly recommended for community, college, and university
library Parenting collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Raising Other People's Children: What
Foster Parenting Taught Me About Bringing Together A Blended Family" is also readily available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Debbie Ausburn is a social worker, foster parent, criminal prosecutor, and civil trial attorney. That diverse
background has given her unique insights into defending child care centers, camps, schools, and mentoring organizations.
She has volunteered with and defended youth-serving organizations throughout the United States in matters as diverse as
personal injury cases, intrusive government regulations, libel and slander issues, and claims of sexual abuse. She blogs
about legal topics at www.youthserviceslaw.com, and parenting issues at www.otherpeopleschildren.org
8 Secrets to Raising Successful Kids
Dr. Kevin Leman
Fleming H. Revell Company
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
www.revellbooks.com
9780800734695, $19.99, HC, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Raising-Successful-Kids-Nurturing/dp/0800734696
Synopsis: "8 Secrets to Raising Successful Kids: Nurturing Character, Respect, and a Winning Attitude" was written by
Dr. Kevin Leman specifically for parents who want their children growing up to be patient, kind, humble, thankful, and
respectful to others. Children who have a good work ethic, strong character, and a healthy self-image. Children who
succeed personally, professionally, and relationally in all areas of life to the best of their ability.
You can't force your kids to be grateful for everything you do, but you can raise successful, responsible kids who grow into
adults you can be proud of. With his signature wit and wisdom, parenting expert Dr. Kevin Leman draws upon his years of
experience and expertise to reveal eight no-nonsense strategies that build on the foundations of character, good behavior,
respect, discipline, and a winning attitude.
"8 Secrets to Raising Successful Kids" shows how to: Expect the best to get the best; Minimize friction and optimize
solutions; Put your relationship first -- and so much more! It is possible to raise a successful child in a "whatever"
generation and in the pages of "8 Secrets to Raising Successful Kids" Dr. Leman shows you just how simple it can be.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented for the benefit of the non-specialist general reader wanting to
effectively and successful parent their children at all ages and in all stages of physical, mental, and emotional growth, "8
Secrets to Raising Successful Kids: Nurturing Character, Respect, and a Winning Attitude" is especially and unreservedly
recommended for personal, professional, community, college, and university library Parenting & Child Development
collections. It should be noted for parental reading lists that that ""8 Secrets to Raising Successful Kids: Nurturing
Character, Respect, and a Winning Attitude" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
Editorial Note: Dr. Kevin Leman is an internationally known psychologist, radio and television personality, speaker,
educator, and humorist who has taught and entertained audiences worldwide with his wit and commonsense psychology.
Co-host of the popular Have a New Kid by Friday podcast, he has appeared on FOX & Friends, The List, Hallmark
Channel's Home & Family, The View, Today, The 700 Club, CBS's The Early Show, CNN, Huckabee, and Focus on the
Family, and served as a contributing family psychologist to Good Morning America.
The Biography Shelf
The Savior of Deadwood
David A. Wolff
South Dakota Historical Society Press
www.sdhspress.com
9781941813355 $29.95 hc
https://www.amazon.com/Savior-Deadwood-James-Miller-Frontier/dp/1941813356
Synopsis: Arriving in Deadwood just days after the death of Wild Bill Hickok in early August 1876, businessman James K.
P. Miller found the months\-old mining camp in turmoil. By the time of his own death in 1890, Miller had gained a
reputation as the "savior of Deadwood"; for his efforts to bring prosperity to the area. Yet, while Deadwood denizens such
as Hickok, Calamity Jane, and Seth Bullock became Western legends, Miller faded into obscurity.
After fleeing his native New York in disgrace, Miller sought to redeem himself to his family and strike it rich in the West.
Living under an assumed name in Montana Territory, Miller gained valuable experience in the grocery trade. He ventured
to Deadwood soon after its founding in 1876, and, using his birth name, opened a successful grocery firm and exchange
bank with a partner. The business endured a disastrous fire, a flood, and a series of dramatic economic ups and downs.
Eventually, Miller became the town's preeminent promoter and developer, advancing several large projects and persuading
outside investors to join him. He even played a key role in convincing railroads to build in Deadwood, bringing a
permanency that few would have predicted.
Author David A. Wolff has pieced together the largely untold story of how Miller helped turn a rugged gold camp into a
permanent settlement. The Savior of Deadwood follows Miller's career while granting fresh insight into the early history of
one of the most legendary towns of the Wild West, highlighting how violence, relations between settlers and American
Indians, economic changes, and political battles shaped the modern Black Hills.
Critique: The Savior of Deadwood is the true-life biography of a Wild West frontiersman who made history championing
the needs of a frontier town. Businessman James K. P. Miller is obscure today, perhaps because instead of being a
gunslinger or a robber, he was an economic developer with the charisma to cajole outside investors to put a stake in the
South Dakota town of Deadwood. Miller even played a role in convincing railroads to build in Deadwood. A handful of
black-and-white photographs, notes, a bibliography and an index round out this fascinating historical portrait, highly
recommended especially for public and college library Biography and American History collections.
Little and Often
Trent Preszler
William Morrow
c/o HarperCollins
https://www.harpercollins.com
9780062976642 $26.99 hc / $13.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Little-Often-Memoir-Trent-Preszler/dp/0062976648
Synopsis: Trent Preszler thought he was living the life he always wanted, with a job at a winery and a seaside Long Island
home, when he was called back to the life he left behind. After years of estrangement, his cancer-stricken father had
invited him to South Dakota for Thanksgiving. It would be the last time he saw his father alive.
Preszler's only inheritance was a beat-up wooden toolbox that had belonged to his father, who was a cattle rancher, rodeo
champion, and Vietnam War Bronze Star Medal recipient. This family heirloom befuddled Preszler. He did not work with
his hands - but maybe that was the point. In his grief, he wondered if there was still a way to understand his father, and
with that came an epiphany: he would make something with his inheritance. Having no experience or training in
woodcraft, driven only by blind will, he decided to build a wooden canoe, and he would aim to paddle it on the first
anniversary of his father's death.
While Preszler taught himself how to use his father's tools, he confronted unexpected revelations about his father's secret
history and his own struggle for self-respect. The grueling challenges of boatbuilding tested his limits, but the canoe
became his sole consolation. Gradually, Preszler learned what working with his hands offered: a different perspective on
life, and the means to change it.
Little and Often is an unflinching account of bereavement and a stirring reflection on the complexities of inheritance.
Between his past and his present, and between America's heartland and its coasts, Preszler shows how one can achieve
reconciliation through the healing power of creativity.
Critique: A powerful true-life memoir, Little and Often: A Memoir tells of author Trent Preszler's connection to his father.
After Trent's father passed away from cancer, Trent resolved to make use of his only inheritance - a wooden toolbox. He
taught himself to build a wooden canoe, with the goal of paddling it on the anniversary of his father's death. The difficult
challenge opened the way to fresh insights about the pain and beauty of life itself. A saga of working through grief, and the
transformative power of craftsmanship, Little and Often is highly recommended. It should be noted for personal reading
lists that Little and Often is available in a Kindle edition ($13.99).
Cherish - A Memoir
Tony Albano
Park Place Publications
https://parkplacepublications.com
9781953120342, $18.95, PB, 302pp
https://www.amazon.com/Cherish-Memoir-Truth-About-Where/dp/1953120342
Synopsis: A naturally gifted storyteller and a keeper of memories, in the pages of Cherish - A Memoir: The Truth About
Where I Came From and Who I Loved", Anthony (Tony) Albano tells stories that will help his readers to notice and
appreciate the magical moments of their own lives that they might have forgotten or may not think were significant.
"Cherish" is a memoir describing Tony's life from birth to the age of eighteen, the years that shaped who he is today
comprised of stories that with the passing of time and, hopefully, having gained some maturity and wisdom, he has learned
to appreciate, love, and hold close the colorful characters that made up my early life -- including their struggles and
contradictions, their joys and celebrations, their street wisdom and unique moral codes in addition to their sometimes
questionable relationship with the law, as well as their passion for baseball and love for animals.
Critique: An inherently interesting life inhabited by interesting people, times and events, "Cherish - A Memoir: The Truth
About Where I Came From and Who I Loved" is an extraordinarily thought-provoking read with themes and observations
that are both unique to the author and yet universal for the reader. With a genuine flair for the kind of narrative storytelling
style that fully engages and entertains the reader, "Cherish - A Memoir: The Truth About Where I Came From and Who I
Loved" is especially and unreservedly recommended for community, college, and university library Contemporary
American Biography collections.
From Czernowitz to China and Beyond: A 20th Century Life
Ethel Liebman Wiesinger, author
Margot W. Smith, editor
Regent Press
2747 Regent St., Berkeley, CA 94705
www.regentpress.net
9781587905537, $20.00, PB, 282pp
https://www.amazon.com/Czernowitz-China-Beyond-20th-Century/dp/1587905531
Synopsis: Deftly edited by Margot W. Smith, "From Czernowitz to China and Beyond: A 20th Century Life" is the
personal account of Ethel Liebman Wiesinger who was an extraordinary woman born of Jewish parents in 1890 in
Czernowitz, then a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. She describes her life in Czernowitz as a child, China in 1910 at
age 20, New York in 1912 and Shanghai again in 1924.
Ethel Liebman Wiesinger also tells of being married to a German entrepreneur in pre-revolutionary China and how politics
affected her life. Her husband Otto Wiesinger, a lifelong German, fought in Tsingtau, China during WWI and later sought
to import arms to support warlord Chang Tso-lin. In the 1930s, they had an Asian arts store in San Francisco that went
bankrupt during the Great Depression.
In 1938 Otto returned to Nazi Germany to support Hitler.
Now on her own, Ethel opened the Beverly Hills Hotel Gift Shop and knew many celebrities. After retirement she lived in
Charlevoix, Michigan, until her death in 1984. Additional stories of the family's life in the 20th century are written by her
daughters: Edith Gilbert (My Shanghai - At Age Seven) and Margot Smith (Growing Up In Beverly Hills).
Critique: An inherently fascinating and compelling read throughout, "From Czernowitz to China and Beyond: A 20th
Century Life" is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to personal reading lists, as well as community,
college and university library 20th Century Biography & Memoir collections.
Sand and Steel
Dorit Sasson
www.DoritSasson.com
Mascot Books
620 Herndon Parkway, #320, Herndon, VA 20170
http://mascotbooks.com
9781684018857, $16.95, PB, 296pp
https://www.amazon.com/Sand-Steel-Memoir-Longing-Finding/dp/1684018854
Synopsis: What's it like to be lost between two worlds, only to find a home in neither? "Sand and Steel: A Memoir of
Longing and Finding Home" is new memoir from Israeli-American author Dorit Sasson who draws on the narrative she
began in her first autobiography, "Accidental Soldier: A Memoir of Service and Sacrifice in the Israel Defense Forces" in
which she detailed her journey to understanding what it means to exist between two different worlds.
When Sasson, a native New Yorker, returns to her kibbutz in Israel following the second Israeli-Lebanese war, she is
confronted with the shocking reality of a country altered by an economic depression and social change. Faced with an
uncertain economic future, Sasson convinces her husband to leave the country and kibbutz that have turned their backs on
them and emigrate to the United States in search of a brighter future. In order to welcome the American dream of
professional freedom that awaits her, she must leave the land she loved and fought for as an Israel Defense Forces soldier.
But when she arrives, she finds herself more torn between two worlds than ever, changed by her time away from the
United States and out of place in a country that is not all she remembered it to be.
Critique: An inherently absorbing and deftly written memoir that will hold the reader's rapt attention from cover to cover,
"Sand and Steel: A Memoir of Longing and Finding Home" is the extraordinary account of a remarkable life lived out in
equally remarkable times and highly recommended for personal reading lists and community library Contemporary
Biography & Memoir collections.
Editorial Note: Dorit Sasson is an Israeli-American writer and the award-winning author of Accidental Soldier: A Memoir
of Service and Sacrifice in the Israel Defense Forces. Following her military service and graduate studies in English
literature in Israel, Dorit taught English before returning to the United States in 2007 with her family. Her work has been
featured in The Writer, Kveller, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Ravishly, The Wisdom Daily, SheKnows, and, most recently,
HuffPost. She is also an Author SEO Specialist with Author Branding Solutions. She supports small businesses,
companies, and organizations with their SEO copywriting needs. She teaches for Writer's Digest University and does
training on SEO for companies, non-profits, and small businesses. Those interested in becoming part of Dorit's community
can sign up for her monthly ezine at www.DoritSasson.com
Haunted by Slavery
Gwendolyn Midlo Hall
Haymarket Books
haymarketbooks.org
9781642592740 $21.95 pbk / $10.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Haunted-Slavery-Southern-Freedom-Struggle/dp/1642592749
Synopsis: The memoir of Gwendolyn Midlo Hall offers today's activists and readers an accessible and intimate
examination of a crucial era in American radical history.
Born in 1929 New Orleans to left-wing Jewish parents, Gwendolyn Midlo Hall's life has spanned nearly a century of
engagement in anti-racist, internationalist political activism. In this moving and instructive chronicle of her remarkable
life, Midlo Hall recounts her experiences as an anti-racist activist, a Communist Party militant, and a scholar of slavery in
the Americas, as well as the wife and collaborator of the renowned African-American author and Communist leader Harry
Haywood. Telling the story of her life against the backdrop of the important political and social developments of the 20th
century, Midlo Hall offers new insights about a critical period in the history of labor and civil rights movements in the
United States.
Detailing everything from Midlo Hall's co-founding of the only inter-racial youth organization in the South when she was
16-years-old, to her pioneering work establishing digital slave databases, to her own struggles against cruel and pervasive
sexism, Haunted by Slavery is a gripping account of a life defined by profound dedication to a cause.
Critique: Illustrated with a handful of vintage black-and-white photographs, Haunted by Slavery: A Southern White
Woman in the Freedom Struggle is the true-life memoir of a woman who spent her nearly century-long life engaging in
political activism. Author Gwendolyn Midlo Hall crusaded against racism, was a staunch supporter of the Communist
Party, and became a scholar of slavery in the Americas. She married African-American author and Communist leader
Harry Haywood, and took part in labor and civil rights movements in the United States. Notes and an index round out this
astonishing, first-person testimony of one woman's work for systemic change. Haunted by Slavery is a fascinating
page-turner from cover to cover, and highly recommended. It should be noted for personal reading lists that Haunted by
Slavery is also available in a Kindle edition ($10.99).
The Political Science Shelf
Diplomacy and the Future of World Order
Chester A. Crocker, et al.
Georgetown University Press
3240 Prospect Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007
www.press.georgetown.edu
9781647120931, $110.95, HC, 376pp
https://www.amazon.com/Diplomacy-Future-World-Chester-Crocker/dp/1647120934
Synopsis: Diplomacy in pursuit of peace and security today faces severe challenges that had not been seen in decades. The
reemergence of strong authoritarian states, discord in the UN Security Council, destabilizing transnational non-state actors,
diminishing space for civil society within states, and the weakening of the international liberal order all present new
obstacles to diplomacy.
In "Diplomacy and the Future of World Order", an international group of academicians, political scientists, and other
experts confronts these challenges to peace and conflict diplomacy -- defined as the effort to manage others' conflicts, cope
with great power competition, and deal with threats to the state system itself. In doing so, they consider three potential
scenarios for world order where key states decide to go it alone, return to a liberal order, or collaborate on a case-by-case
basis to address common threats and problems.
These three scenarios are then evaluated through the prism of regional perspectives from around the world and for their
potential ramifications for major security threats including peacekeeping, nuclear nonproliferation, cyber competition, and
terrorism. Editors Chester A. Crocker ( James R. Schlesinger Professor of the Practice of Strategic Studies at the Walsh
School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University), Fen Osler Hampson (Chancellor's Professor and professor of
international affairs at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs at Carleton University and president of the
World Refugee and Migration Council), and Pamela Aall (senior advisor for conflict prevention and management at the
United States Institute of Peace) conclude the volume by identifying emerging types of diplomacy that may form the
foundation for global peacemaking and conflict management in an uncertain future.
Critique: A fully absorbing and informative study, "Diplomacy and the Future of World Order" is a timely and seminal
study that should be considered as an essential, core addition to community, governmental, college, and university library
Contemporary International Diplomacy collections in general, and National/International Security supplemental studies
curriculums in particular. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, governmental policy
makers, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Diplomacy and the Future of World Order"
is also readily available in a paperback edition (9781647120948, $36.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle,
$27.99).
Profiles in Achievement
William Hershey
The University of Akron Press
120 E. Mill Street, Suite 415, Akron, OH 44308
www.uakron.edu/uapress
9781629221373, $24.95, PB, 252pp
https://www.amazon.com/Profiles-Achievement-Foibles-Politicians-Institute/dp/1629221376
Synopsis: "Profiles in Achievement: The Gifts, Quirks, and Foibles of Ohio's Best Politicians" by political journalist
William Hershey is collection of profiles highlights the careers of Ohio political trailblazers and high achievers covering
nearly a century ranging from Republican Ray Bliss' humble start as an errand boy in Akron's 1931 mayoral race, to
Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown and Republican Gov. Mike DeWine today.
Bliss worked quietly behind the scenes as Republican party chairman to elect mayors, governors and presidents.
While Democrat Howard Metzenbaum earned a reputation as a high-profile political battler in the U.S. Senate, his fellow
Democrat John Glenn, already a world hero as the first American to orbit the earth, preferred a nose-to-the-grindstone
approach in four U.S. Senate terms.
Democrats Eddie Davis from Akron and Louis Stokes from Cleveland made history -- Davis as Akron's first black city
councilman and Stokes as Ohio's first black U.S. House member.
Summit County's Maureen was a history-maker too. In 2010 she became the first woman elected chief justice of the Ohio
Supreme Court.
Akron Democrat John Seiberling, the grandson of Goodyear founder F.A. Seiberling, was a cerebral U.S. House member
who could relate to rubber workers and match up intellectually with expert witnesses.
Republican Jim Rhodes, a coal miner's son from southern Ohio, captured the governor's office four times with his unique
earthiness.
Their styles and beliefs differed but all had the discipline, patience and courage to take on challenges with no guarantees of
success. They also had resilience, the ability to rebound from defeat, none more than DeWine and Brown who have
become Ohio's political long-distance runners.
Critique: An impressively informative study of Ohio politics and politicians, "Profiles in Achievement: The Gifts, Quirks,
and Foibles of Ohio's Best Politicians" could well serve as a template for similar state political histories. Exceptionally
well written, organized and presented, "Profiles in Achievement: The Gifts, Quirks, and Foibles of Ohio's Best Politicians"
is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to community, college, and university library Political Science
collections.
Editorial Note: William Hershey spent more than 40 years reporting on Ohio government and politics at the local, state and
national levels. He was the Akron Beacon Journal's Washington correspondent and Columbus Bureau Chief for the Beacon
Journal and the Dayton Daily News. He is also the co-author with John C. Green of Mr. Chairman: The Life and Times of
Ray C. Bliss and author of Quick & Quotable, a collection of columns he wrote as the Beacon Journal's Washington
correspondent.
The Audiobook Shelf
Drunk
Edward Slingerland, author
Jordan Benlevi, narrator
Brilliance Audio
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com
9781713587378, $38.99, MP3-CD (11 Hours, 30 Minutes)
https://www.amazon.com/Drunk-Sipped-Danced-Stumbled-Civilization/dp/1713587378
Synopsis: Offering a comprehensive, convincing answer to the basic question of why humans want to get high in the first
place. "Drunk: How We Sipped, Danced, and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization" by Professor Edward Slingerland
elegantly cuts through the tangle of urban legends and anecdotal impressions that surround our notions of intoxication to
provide the first rigorous, scientifically-grounded explanation for our love of alcohol.
Drawing on evidence from archaeology, history, cognitive neuroscience, psychopharmacology, social psychology,
literature, and genetics, Slingerland shows that our taste for chemical intoxicants is not an evolutionary mistake, as we are
so often told. In fact, intoxication helps solve a number of distinctively human challenges: enhancing creativity, alleviating
stress, building trust, and pulling off the miracle of getting fiercely tribal primates to cooperate with strangers.
Our desire to get drunk, along with the individual and social benefits provided by drunkenness, played a crucial role in
sparking the rise of the first large-scale societies. We would not have civilization without intoxication.
From marauding Vikings and bacchanalian orgies to sex-starved fruit flies, blind cave fish, and problem-solving crows,
"Drunk" is simply packed with fascinating case studies and engaging science, as well as practical takeaways for individuals
and communities. The result is a captivating and long overdue investigation into humanity's oldest indulgence -- and one
that explains not only why we want to get drunk, but also how it might actually be good for us to tie one on now and
then.
Critique: A unique and inherently fascinating history of alcohol usage and its relationship to human civilizations over the
past several millennia and around the world, this complete and unabridged audio book edition of "Drunk: How We Sipped,
Danced, and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization" is ably narrated by Jordan Benievi and will prove to be an immediately
popular and enduringly appreciated addition to personal listening lists, as well as community, college, and university
library Evolutionary Psychology, Civilization, and Cultural History collections.
Editorial Note: Edward Slingerland is a Distinguished University Scholar and Professor of Philosophy at the University of
British Columbia. In addition to academic journal articles in a wide range of fields, Professor Slingerland has written
several scholarly books, including What Science Offers the Humanities, Mind and Body in Early China, and a translation
of the Analects of Confucius. He maintains an informative UBC homepage at http://eslingerland.arts.ubc.ca/
Daughter of Darkness & Light
Shannon Drake, author
Elizabeth Knowelden, narrator
Brilliance Audio
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
https://www.brilliancepublishing.com
9781713593683, $14.99, MP3-CD (7 hours, 59 minutes)
https://www.amazon.com/Daughter-Darkness-Light-Shannon-Drake/dp/1713593688
Synopsis: The Romans left Briton years before. The great King Arthur has been gone two decades as well. There were
scattered invasions, of course, but in one village, those of Celtic, Frisian, Angle, Saxon, Jutes, and even descendants of the
Roman legion lived in peace.
Kyleigh grew up there. Though she had been a foundling, she'd been taken in by a kind and learned couple and allowed all
the learning she might enjoy with Father Peter. The greatest difficulty she had to deal with day by day was gently rejecting
a dear friend who longed for marriage.
Then everything changes when the self-proclaimed Lord Brogan, set on killing the population of the island, arrives with his
hordes from the mainland. On that day, Kyleigh discovers that she is different. There is a voice that speaks to Kyleigh
about magic. A magic within her.
Lord Rowan of Kenzie needs her, as does his ally, Padraic, Laird of the Northern Celts. Though their first encounters are
contentious, Kyleigh discovers she is strangely drawn to both men. Together, they will fight the dreaded Brogan, a battle
compounded when they realize that a traitor walks within their ranks, a magical being as well.
As Kyleigh discovers the truth about herself, she will face sorcery, trickery, and bitter battles for survival before there can
be any hope for a truly magical future.
Critique: A superbly crafted historical action/adventure fantasy by an author with a genuine flair for originality and a fully
entertaining narrative storytelling style, "Daughter of Darkness & Light" by Shannon Drake is presented in as a true 'theatre
of the mind' experience with the expert narrative skills of Elizabeth Knowelden. This complete and unabridged audio book
from Brilliance Audio will prove to be an immediately welcome and enduringly popular addition to community library
audio book collections and a 'must listen' acquisition for all dedicated fantasy fans.
Bacchanal
Veronica G. Henry, author
Robin Miles, narrator
Brilliance Audio
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
https://www.brilliancepublishing.com
9781713561385, $24.95, CD (12 Hours, 8 Minutes)
https://www.amazon.com/Bacchanal-Veronica-G-Henry/dp/1713561387
Synopsis: Abandoned by her family, alone on the wrong side of the color line with little to call her own, Eliza Meeks is
coming to terms with what she does have. It's a gift for communicating with animals. To some, she's a magical tender. To
others, a she-devil. To a talent prospector, she's a crowd-drawing oddity. And the Bacchanal Carnival is Eliza's ticket out
of the swamp trap of Baton Rouge.
Among fortune-tellers, carnies, barkers, and folks even stranger than herself, Eliza finds a new home. But the Bacchanal is
no ordinary carnival. An ancient demon has a home there too. She hides behind an iridescent disguise. She feeds on
innocent souls. And she's met her match in Eliza, who's only beginning to understand the purpose of her own burgeoning
powers.
Only then can Eliza save her friends, find her family, and fight the sway of a primordial demon preying upon the human
world. Rolling across a consuming dust bowl landscape, Eliza may have found her destiny.
Critique: In this complete and unabridged audio book edition of author Veronica G. Henry's superbly crafted fantasy novel,
skilled narrator Robin Miles provides the listener with a true 'theatre of the mind' experience -- making "Bacchanal" a
welcome and enduringly appreciated addition to personal and community library Fantasy Audio Book collections.
The Ice Lion
Kathleen O'Neal Gear, author
Shaun Taylor-Corbett, narrator
Sisi Aisha Johnson, narrator
Brilliance Audio
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
https://www.brilliancepublishing.com
9781713562528, $24.99, MP3-CD (9 Hours, 37 Minutes)
https://www.amazon.com/Ice-Lion-Kathleen-ONeal-Gear/dp/1713562529
Synopsis: One thousand years in the future a thick blanket of luminous green slime called the zyme covers the oceans.
Glaciers three-miles-high rise over the continents. The old stories say that when the Jemen, godlike beings from the past,
realized their efforts to halt global warming had gone terribly wrong, they made a desperate gamble to save life on earth
and recreated species that had survived the worst of the earth's Ice Ages.
Sixteen-summers-old Lynx and his best friend Quiller are members of the Sealion People -- archaic humans known as
Denisovans. They live in a world growing colder, a world filled with monstrous predators that hunt them for food. When
they flee to a new land, they meet a strange old man who impossibly seems to be the last of the Jemen. He tells Lynx the
only way he can save his world is by sacrificing himself to the last true god, a quantum computer named Quancee.
Critique: A blend of post-apocalyptic dystopian science fiction with a coming-of-age story, "The Ice Lion" by Kathleen
O'Neal Gear is an inherently compelling and entertaining read that showcases the author's genuine flair for imaginative
originality. Ably narrated by the team of Shaun Taylor-Corbet and Sisi Aisha Johnson, this complete and unabridged audio
book edition from Brilliance Audio is very highly recommended for community library Science Fiction audio book
collections.
The Library CD Shelf
Serendipity
John Stein
Whaling City Sound
https://whalingcitysound.com
$16.99 CD / $8.99 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/Serendipity-John-Stein/dp/B0942DW48Z
Serendipity is an album recorded of a live jazz concert, featuring Jon Stein on guitar, Ed Lucie on bass guitar, and Mike
Connors on drums. Due to the global Covid-19 pandemic, the concert was broadcast virtually, yet its conditions were
deliberately similar to playing to a full house. There were no second takes, no overdubs, and no corrections; just a pure,
passionate performance. An upbeat, vivacious album superbly capturing the spirit of the stage, Serendipity is highly
recommended. The tracks are "Alfie's Theme", "On Green Dolphin Street", "Well, You Needn't", "Labor of Love",
"Insensatez (How Insensitive)", "Bing Bang Boom!", "Elvin!", "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes", "East of the Sun and
West of the Moon", and "Happy Hour".
Carolina Child
Ric Robertson
ricrobertsonmusic.com
Free Dirt Records
freedirt.net
$14.98 CD / $8.99 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/Carolina-Child-Ric-Robertson/dp/B093RHMFF8
Singer-songwriter Ric Robertson presents Carolina Child, an original album fusing elements of jazz, funk, and country into
a unique Americana perspective. Carolina is emotional and compelling; the songs range from wistful reflections on love to
a metaphorical appreciation of the natural world's perseverance. Highly recommended! The tracks are "Getting Over Our
Love", "Harmless Feeling", "Carolina Child", "Sycamore Hill", "Thinkin' About You", "Anna Rose", "My Love Never
Sleeps", "I Don't Mind", "Rollin' River", and "Julie".
Auroral Magic
Chakuna Machi Asa
www.chakuna.com
4 Directions Records
$14.99 CD / $9.49 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/Auroral-Magic-Chakuna-Machi-Asa/dp/B092H42WNF
Inspired by the auroral lights, Auroral Magic is a beautiful, relaxing music CD that blends piano, soothing chants, and
gentle wilderness sounds. Inspirational, emotionally moving, and evoking a sense of harmony with the natural world,
Auroral Magic is a welcome and highly recommended addition to New Age music collections. The tracks are "Blood of
Our Ghost", "Elven Magic", "Planet Xeron", "Dancing Reflections", "The Wind", "Time Womb", "Blue Moon", "Space
Shift", "Our Escape", "The Whale Song", "John", and "Auroral Magic".
Helsinki-Cotonou Ensemble
Helsinki-Cotonou Ensemble
Flowfish Records
$22.75 CD / $11.49 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/Helsinki-Cotonou-Ensemble/dp/B093BZD6Q5
Finnish-Beninese-Tanzanian funk band Helsinki-Cotonou Ensemble presents their self-titled fifth album, showcasing their
extraordinary blend of Finnish funk, Afrobeat rhythms, and vivacious lyrics sung in the Goun language. Helsinki-Cotonou
Ensemble is utterly entrancing, and highly recommended for international music collections. The tracks are "The One Who
Sees Today", "The Craft (feat. Synik)", "A Little Support", "The Transition", "Happiness For All", "For the One Who
Invited Me", "The Palm Lines", "You'll Return Without a Thing", and "Stay Strong".
Music Is What I See
Rhonda Vincent
www.rhondavincent.com
Upper Management Music
$TBA CD / $11.49 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/Music-What-See-Rhonda-Vincent/dp/B091WJBNF7
Rhonda Vincent presents Music Is What I See, an album draws upon both elements of bluegrass, power ballads, gospel
music, and country classics. The profound, powerful music showcases her superb talent, her deeply held faith, and her
passion for performance. Music Is What I See is a treasure for connoisseurs and also makes an excellent gift. The tracks
are "What Ain't To Be Just Might Happen", "False Hearted Love", "Music's What I See", "Like I Could", "I'd Like To Be
A Train", "I'm Still Not Over You", "It's Me Again", "Slowly", "I Ain't Been Nowhere", "Unchained Melody", "Everybody
Will Be Happy Over There", and "There's A Record Book".
Don't You Marry No Railroad Man
J.P. Harris' Dreadful Wind & Rain
Free Dirt Records
freedirt.net
$14.44 CD / $8.99 MP3
https://www.amazon.com/Dont-You-Marry-Railroad-Man/dp/B09244W19G
J.P. Harris' Don't You Marry No Railroad Man showcases his mastery of the banjo and his old- school country singing.
Don't You Marry No Railroad Man provides his sprightly rendition of beloved classics, and is a treasure especially
recommended for connoisseurs of Americana and Appalachian roots music. Highly recommended! The tracks are "House
Carpenter", "Closer to the Mill", "Mole in the Ground", "Country Blues", "Last Chance", "Old Bangum", "Barbry Ellen",
"The Little Carpenter", "Otto Wood", and "Wild Bill Jones".
The Computer Shelf
Murach's Python Programming, second edition
Michael Urban & Joel Murach, authors
Mike Murach & Associates
www.murach.com
9781943872749, $59.50, PB, 564pp
https://www.amazon.com/Murachs-Python-Programming-Joel-Murach/dp/1943872740
Synopsis: Now in a fully updated and expanded second edition, "Murach's Python Programming" is the ideal DIY
instruction manual for learning how to program with Python -- the best language ever for learning how to program a
computer because of its simplicity and breadth.
Section 1 presents an 8-chapter course that will get anyone off to a great start with Python. Section 2 builds on that base by
presenting the other essential skills that every Python programmer should have. Section 3 shows you how to develop
object-oriented programs, a critical skillset in today's world. And section 4 shows you how to apply all of the skills that
you've already learned as you build database and GUI programs for the real world.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, this new second edition of "Murach's Python Programming"
is an ideal curriculum textbook and is especially recommended for personal, professional, community, college, and
university library Object-Oriented Software Design, Data Mining, and Database Storage Design collections and
supplemental studies curriculum reading lists.
Computer Graphics from Scratch
Gabriel Gambetta
No Starch Press
245 - 8th Street, San Francisco, CO 94103-3910
www.nostarch.com
9781718500761, $49.99, PB, 248pp
https://www.amazon.com/Computer-Graphics-Scratch-Gabriel-Gambetta/dp/1718500769
Synopsis: Computer graphics programming books are often math-heavy and intimidating for newcomers. But not
"Computer Graphics from Scratch: A Programmer's Introduction to 3D Rendering" as author and professional programmer
Gabriel Gambetta takes a simpler approach by keeping the math to a minimum and focusing on only one aspect of
computer graphics, 3D rendering.
"Computer Graphics from Scratch" shows how to build two complete, fully functional renderers: a raytracer, which
simulates rays of light as they bounce off objects, and a rasterizer, which converts 3D models into 2D pixels. As the reader
progress they will learn how to create realistic reflections and shadows, and how to render a scene from any point of
view.
"Computer Graphics from Scratch" shows how to: Use perspective projection to draw 3D objects on a 2D plane; Simulate
the way rays of light interact with surfaces; Add mirror-like reflections and cast shadows to objects; Render a scene from
any camera position using clipping planes; Use flat, Gouraud, and Phong shading to mimic real surface lighting; Paint
texture details onto basic shapes to create realistic-looking objects.
Whether an aspiring graphics engineer or a novice programmer curious about how graphics algorithms work, Gabriel
Gambetta's simple, clear explanations will quickly put computer graphics concepts and rendering techniques within reach.
All that is needed is basic coding knowledge and high school math. "Computer Graphics from Scratch" will cover the
rest.
Critique: An ideal textbook on DIY computer graphic creation, "Computer Graphics from Scratch: A Programmer's
Introduction to 3D Rendering" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, school,
college, and university library Computer Programming collections and supplemental studies curriculums. It should be
noted that "Computer Graphics from Scratch: A Programmer's Introduction to 3D Rendering" is also readily available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $29.99).
Editorial Note: Gabriel Gambetta started coding games around the age of 5 on a ZX Spectrum. After studying Computer
Science and working at a respectable local company in his native Uruguay, he started a game development company and
ran it for 10 years while teaching Computer Graphics at his alma mater. More recently, Gambetta has been working at
Google Zurich, where he's been since 2011 except for a stint as an early engineer in the London-based multiplayer game
tech unicorn Improbable.
The Aviation Shelf
Building the B-17 Flying Fortress
Bill Yenne
Specialty Press
838 Lake Street S, Forest Lake, MN 55025
www.specialtypress.com
9781580072717, $34.95, PB, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/Building-B-17-Flying-Fortress-Manufacturing/dp/1580072712
Synopsis: "Building the B-17 Flying Fortress: A Detailed Look at Manufacturing Boeing's Legendary World War II
Bomber in Original Photos" by Bill Yenne reveals rare original photos and full manufacturing details of America's greatest
multi-engine combat aircraft flown in World War II.
"Building the B-17 Flying Fortress" covers building the Flying Fortress from wingtip to wingtip and from the bombardier's
Perspex nose to the tail-gunner's twin-Browning cannons. Significant aspects of B-17 production include exterior views of
each model variant from various angles, all crew stations in each B-17 type (including the entire flight deck), defensive
gun turrets used in every B-17 model, fuselage interiors, exteriors, engines, nacelles, and even control surfaces.
Factory-original color cutaway drawings as well as reproductions of original specifications sheets and other
information-packed documents created by manufacturers during the 1940s are also included for the reader. As a research
asset, the appendices feature a detailed survey of every production block of the 12,731 B-17 bombers produced during the
war in an unbelievable time span of only three-and-a-half year -- an industrial phenomenon unlike any the world had ever
seen.
What sets "Building the B-17 Flying Fortress" apart from all others in the crowded B-17 field is literally hundreds of
factory-original close-up detailed photographs and illustrations accompanied by comprehensive high-resolution
reproductions of original Boeing drawings, and all are explained in detailed yet easy to understand descriptive text.
"Building the B-17 Flying Fortress" provides valuable data for the serious Boeing B-17 aficionado as well as a compelling
story of America's aircraft manufacturing prowess for the dedicated aviation enthusiast.
Critique: Exceptionally well organized and presented, "Building the B-17 Flying Fortress: A Detailed Look at
Manufacturing Boeing's Legendary World War II Bomber in Original Photos" is an inherently fascinating and
comprehensive historical study and one that is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional,
community, college, and university library 20th Century American Military Aviation collections in general, and B-17
Flying Fortress reading lists in particular.
Editorial Note: Bill Yenne the author/photographer of more than 75 non-fiction books on a wide variety of topics ranging
from history, to popular culture, to transportation.
The General Fiction Shelf
All the World's a Stage Fright
Bob Abelman
Gray & Company, Publishers
www.grayco.com
9781938441974, $14.95, PB, 128pp
https://www.amazon.com/All-Worlds-Stage-Fright-Misadventures/dp/1938441974
Synopsis: "All the World's a Stage Fright: Misadventures of a Clandestine Critic" by Bob Abelman is a novella about what
happens when a local critic takes an acting role with a top-tier theater company in order to write about the experience --
and gets more of a story than he bargained for.
"An irrational, overriding, mind-numbing fear." is how Asher Kaufman describes his relationship with Shakespeare --
that's not what you might expect from a veteran theater critic. So when Asher learns he'll be trying out for As You Like It,
he realizes this assignment will be a very bumpy ride.
What starts out as a stunt to increase readership for the Cleveland Jewish Chronicle becomes one man's personal battle
with the Bard and ends up a laugh-out-loud tale full of twists and turns, endearing characters, and behind-the-curtain
action.
How will this clandestine critic overcome his lifelong fear -- all while sharing the stage with actors whose past
performances he panned (and without getting panned himself by his fellow critics)? It's enough to give anyone opening
night jitters!
Critique: "All the World's a Stage Fright: Misadventures of a Clandestine Critic" is a delightful entertaining and
impressively well crafted fictional memoir by novelist Bab Abelman and one that will delight theater fans who have ever
wondered what might be going on backstage during a performance -- or in the mind of a theater critic! While especially
and unreservedly recommended for community library Contemporary General Fiction collections, it should be noted for
personal reading lists that "All the World's a Stage Fright: Misadventures of a Clandestine Critic" is also readily available
in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
The Literary Fiction Shelf
American Orphan
Jimmy Santiago Baca
Arte Publico Press
University of Houston
4902 Gulf Freeway, Bldg 19, Rm 100, Houston, TX 77204-2004
www.artepublicopress.com
9781558859128, $18.95, PB, 336pp
https://www.amazon.com/American-Orphan-Baca/dp/1558859128
Synopsis: "There's no way you can do this reentry thing," Orlando Lucero tells himself after getting out of prison. He has
spent most of his life institutionalized, first in an orphanage and then in the Denver Youth Authority for smuggling weed.
Orlando knows nothing about freedom. What does one do with it? What is it?
His brother promised to teach him the carpentry trade, but Orlando quickly discovers Camilo is like their parents an addict,
robbing and stealing to feed his habit. So he turns to Lila, his prison pen pal who encouraged both his poetry writing and
sexual fantasies. Soon he moves in with her and engages in the acts he dreamed about while incarcerated, but living the
straight life seems impossible. "Freedom is full of hazards, lots of sharp edges, and they cut me at every turn." As he is
sucked back into a life of crime, he can't help but think going back to prison would be a relief.
In "American Orphan", renowned poet and author Jimmy Santiago Baca explores in lyrical prose one young man's attempts
to break free from the cycle of addiction, violence and abuse that contributed to his imprisonment and impede his search
for happiness and a productive life. In a society that considers him a criminal because of his brown skin, and where those
in authority including a parade of priests when he was just a boy take advantage of him, Orlando must learn to believe in
himself against all the odds, in spite of the institutionalized racism he has endured since boyhood.
Critique: A masterpiece of deftly crafted literary fiction that packs an impressive and memorable emotional punch for the
reader, "American Orphan" clearly showcases author Jimmy Santiago Baca's storytelling telling talents as a novelist. An
exceptional work of Hispanic Cultural Heritage fiction, "American Orphan" is especially and unreservedly recommended
for personal reading lists, as well as community, college, and university library Contemporary Literary Fiction
collections.
Editorial Note: An award-winning poet, essayist and novelist, Jimmy Santiago Baca's books include Laughing in the Light
(Museum of New Mexico Press, 2020), When I Walk through That Door, I Am: An Immigrant Mother's Quest (Beacon
Press, 2019), Healing Earthquakes (Grove Press, 2007) and A Place to Stand (Grove Press, 2002). The recipient of
numerous awards including the American Book Award and a Pushcart Prize, Baca lives and works in his native New
Mexico.
Hieroglyphics
Jill McCorkle
Algonquin Books
PO Box 2225, Chapel Hill, NC 27515-2225
www.algonquin.com
9781616209728, $19.99, HC, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Hieroglyphics-Jill-McCorkle/dp/1616209720
Synopsis: Lil and Frank married young, launched into courtship when they bonded over how they both (suddenly,
tragically) lost a parent when they were children. Over time, their marriage grew and strengthened, with each still wishing
for so much more understanding of the parents they'd lost prematurely.
Now, after many years in Boston, they've retired to North Carolina. There, Lil, determined to leave a history for their
children, sifts through letters and notes and diary entries -- perhaps revealing more secrets than Frank wants their children
to know.
Meanwhile, Frank has become obsessed with what might have been left behind at the house he lived in as a boy on the
outskirts of town, where a young single mother, Shelley, is just trying to raise her son with some sense of normalcy.
Frank's repeated visits to Shelley's house begin to trigger memories of her own family, memories that she'd hoped to keep
buried. Because, after all, not all parents are ones you wish to remember.
Critique: A deftly crafted work that is especially recommended for community, college, and university library
Contemporary Literary Fiction collections, "Hieroglyphics" reveals the difficulty of ever really knowing the intentions and
dreams and secrets of the people who raised you. In her deeply layered and masterful novel, Jill McCorkle deconstructs
and reconstructs what it means to be a father or a mother, and what it means to be a child piecing together the world
around us, a child learning to make sense of the hieroglyphics of history and memory.
A truly memorable read, and readily available for personal reading lists in a paperback edition (9781643751382, $15.99)
and in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99), "Hieorglyphics" is one of those novels that will linger in the mind and
memory long after the book itself has been finished and set back upon the shelf.
The Disappearance of Jim Sullivan
Tanguy Viel, author
Clayton McKee, translator
Dalkey Archive
www.dalkeyarchive.com
9781628973716 $13.95 pbk / $9.95 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Disappearance-Jim-Sullivan-French-Literature/dp/1628973714
Synopsis: In The Disappearance of Jim Sullivan, disappearance is both a theme and a stylistic device. Indeed, this
publication narrates the disappearance of Dwayne Koster, who, fascinated by the story of Jim Sullivan, commits suicide in
the New Mexico desert which was the setting of the rocker's disappearance in 1975. But this novel is for the most part set
in the metanarrative tale of its own genesis, and, as a result, is partially eclipsed: its -fictitious- author doesn't relate it in its
entirety and keeps adding bits and pieces of first drafts and preliminary sketches to his text, thus blurring its boundaries.
Tanguy Viel's work can therefore be perceived as a double response, existential and aesthetic, to the question of the
end.
Critique: First published in French in 2013, The Disappearance of Jim Sullivan is a thought- provoking work of literature
skillfully translated into English. The existential story tells an ordinary man's collapse into alcoholism, crime, and insanity;
his thoughts are shadowed by the unsolved disappearance of a singer-songwriter and UFO enthusiast who vanished
without a trace in 1975. The Disappearance of Jim Sullivan is compelling to the last page, and highly recommended for
public and community library Literary Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that The
Disappearance of Jim Sullivan is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.95).
Among the Hedges
Sara Mesa
Open Letter Books
c/o University of Rochester
Lattimore Hall 411, Box 270082, Rochester, NY 14627
www.openletterbooks.org
9781948830393, $14.95, PB, 120pp
https://www.amazon.com/Among-Hedges-Sara-Mesa/dp/1948830396
Synopsis: Casi, who is almost fourteen years old, has been skipping school and spending her days hidden among the
hedges in a local park, listening to music and reading women's magazines. One day, Viejo, a fifty-year-old man, stumbles
upon her hiding place, and the two strike up a friendship. He tells her about birds and Nina Simone, buys her soda and
chips, and spends almost every day talking with her.
Despite their age gap, there's something childlike about Viejo that leads Casi to believe that he's not like the other men
she's encountered, the "dangerous ones." But Viejo has a number of secrets in his past -- all of which would be of grave
concern to Casi's parents or any other adult who witnessed one of their rendezvous. As these secrets rise to the surface, the
clock is ticking, the weather is growing cold and the school is untangling Casi's set of lies, setting up a moment where
something has to give.
Critique: With spare, direct prose, and effective narrative storytelling style, "Among the Hedges" by novelist Sara Mesa
deftly and effectively invests two outcasts, an adolescent girl and a middle aged man, with a great deal of warmth, in the
face of cultural prejudices and societal assumptions regarding what would be commonly ascribed to as an inappropriate
relationship. A masterpiece of literary fiction that is ably translated from Spanish into English for an American readership
by Megan McDowell, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Among the Hedges" is also readily available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $8.69).
The Romantic Fiction Shelf
Love in Lavender Lane
Jill Barry
Linford Romance
c/o Ulverscroft Publishing
www.ulverscroft.com
9781444847338 $TBA
https://www.ulverscroft.com/title.php?sqlCmd=isbn%3D9781444847338
Synopsis: Fiona exchanges her quiet suburban world for 1970s London when she inherits her great-aunt's marriage bureau
near Marble Arch. But she has never been truly in love, so it's going to be a challenge arranging perfect pairings for her
starry-eyed clients... While Fiona's busy interviewing and arranging introductions, how will she ever find time to make her
own dream come true? And could it be that she and her most difficult client to match are actually meant for one
another?
Critique: Available in reader-friendly large print, Love in Lavender Lane is a heartwarming romance set in 1970s London.
When Fiona inherits her great-aunt's marriage bureau near Marble Arch, she takes on the challenge of running a
matchmaking business when she personally has never experienced true love. How can Fiona balance her work
responsibilities and make her own dream of finding the right life partner come true? And... could her most difficult client,
who seems to be a match for no one else, be the right match for her? Love in Lavender Lane is an excellent pick for
lending libraries and romance novel connoisseurs alike, highly recommended.
Wedding Date with the Billionaire
Andrea Bolter
Mills & Boon
c/o HarperCollins
https://www.harpercollins.com
9780263290011 $TBA hc
9780263298956 $13.39 pbk / $2.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Wedding-Date-Billionaire-Harlequin-Romance-ebook/dp/B08CSQ7H YV
Synopsis: Best man Kento Yamamoto and maid of honor Erin Barclay are thrown together at a luxury wedding years after
their heartbreaking split. Now the fire between them is set ablaze once more. Tech billionaire Kento's no longer the
penniless student Erin's controlling parents snubbed. Can she finally find the courage to break free from their hold? And
could a cunning recoupling of convenience pave the way to something unexpected but breathtakingly real?
Critique: Available in reader-friendly large print, Wedding Date with the Billionaire is a sweeping romance about reunion
after a heart-rending breakup. Best man Kento Yamamoto and maid of honor Erin Barclay see one another for the first
time in years after their ill-fated relationship crumbled. Kento is now a tech billionaire, and not the penniless student that
Erin's control-freak parents soundly rejected - but the root of their breakup involved far more than money. Erin is still
dominated by her parents; is there any hope that she and Kento can rekindle their love? A poignant, character-driven
romance, Wedding Date with the Billionaire is highly recommended for connoisseurs of the genre, and sure to prove a
popular lending library pick. It should be noted for personal reading lists that Wedding Date with the Billionaire is also
available in a Kindle edition ($2.99).
Lady in Attendance
Rachel Fordham
Fleming H. Revell Company
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
www.revellbooks.com
9780800740078, $29.99, HC, 352pp
https://www.amazon.com/Lady-Attendance-Rachel-Fordham/dp/0800740076
Synopsis: Five years in a New York state reformatory have left a blemish on Hazel's real name. So when she takes a job as
Doctor Gilbert Watts's lady in attendance in 1898, she does so under an alias. In the presence of her quiet and pious
employer, Hazel finds more than an income. She finds a friend and a hope that if she can set her tarnished past in order,
she might have a future after all.
As Gilbert becomes accustomed to the pleasant chatter of his new dental assistant, he can't help but sense something
secretive about her. Perhaps there is more to this woman than meets the eye. Can the questions that loom between them
ever be answered? Or will the deeds of days gone by forever rob the future of its possibilities?
Critique: An extraordinarily entertaining, impressively original, and compelling engaging read from first page to last, with
"A Lady in Attendance", novelist Rachel Fordham has deftly penned a tender tale of a soft-spoken man, a hardened
woman, and the friends that stand by them as they work toward a common purpose (expunging the record of someone
society deemed beyond saving) and perhaps find love along the way. While strongly recommended for community library
Historical Romance collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "A Lady in Attendance" is also readily
available in a paperback edition (9780800739737, $15.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.99).
Come Back to Me
Jody Hedlund
Fleming H. Revell Company
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
www.revellbooks.com
9780800740047, $29.99, HC, 352pp
https://www.amazon.com/Come-Back-Me-Waters-Time/dp/0800740041
Synopsis: The ultimate cure that could heal any disease? A seemingly crazy idea. But that's exactly what research scientist
Marian Creighton has always believed about her father's dedicated quest -- even if it does stem from a desire to save her
sister Ellen from the genetic disease that stole their mother from them.
But when her father falls into a coma after drinking a vial of holy water believed to contain traces of residue from the Tree
of Life, Marian must question all of her assumptions. He's left behind tantalizing clues that suggest he's crossed back in
time. Insane. Until Marian tests his theories and finds herself in the Middle Ages during a dangerous peasant uprising.
William Durham, a valiant knight comes to Marian's rescue and offers her protection -- as his wife. The longer Marian
stays in the past, the more she cares about William. Can she ever find her father and make it back to the present to heal her
sister? And when the time comes to leave, will she want to?
Critique: A unique and compelling time-travel romance, in the pages of "Come Back To Me", novelist Jody Hedlund is
deftly guides her readers down the twisting waters of time to a volatile era of superstition, revolts, and chivalry in this
suspenseful story replete with elements of mystery and suspense. While highly recommended for community library
collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Come Back To Me" is also readily available in a paperback
edition (9780800738433, $15.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.99).
A Duke in Time: The Widow Rules
Janna MacGregor
St. Martin's Press
https://us.macmillan.com/smp
9781250761590, $7.99, PB, 384pp
https://www.amazon.com/Duke-Time-Widow-Rules/dp/125076159X
Synopsis: Katherine Vareck is in for the shock of her life when she learns upon her husband Meri's accidental death that he
had married two other women. Her entire business, along with a once-in-a-lifetime chance to be a royal supplier, is
everything she's been working for and now could be destroyed if word leaks about the three wives.
Meri's far more upstanding brother, Christian, Duke of Randford has no earthly clue how to be of assistance. He spent the
better part of his adult years avoiding Meri and the rest of his good-for-nothing family, so to be dragged back into the fold
is problematic. Even more so is the intrepid and beautiful Katherine, whom he cannot be falling for because she's Meri's
widow. Or can he?
With a textile business to run and a strong friendship forming with Meri's two other wives, Katherine doesn't have time for
much else. But there's something about the warm, but compellingly taciturn Christian that draws her to him. When an
opportunity to partner in a business venture brings them even closer, they'll have to face their pasts if they want to share
each other's hearts and futures.
Critique: A deftly crafted Regency era romance novel by an author who is a true master of the genre, "A Duke In Time" by
Janna MacGregor is the first of a trilogy and will prove to be an enormously popular addition to community library
Romance Fiction collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of the legions of Regency romance fans that
"A Duke In Time" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $6.99).
The Western Fiction Shelf
Return to Blood Creek
Frank Callan
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444846713, $22.50, PB, Large Print, 216pp
https://www.amazon.com/Return-Blood-Creek-Frank-Callan/dp/144484671X
Synopsis: When the Kenny brothers break out of jail, Deputy Sheriff Ben Stile takes after them, but at that moment Cal
Roney, Pinkerton detective, is riding into town and takes a bullet meant for Stile. He is nursed back to health by Emilia
Stile and Doc Dan Heath. But in his fever, Cal speaks his real name: one that strikes hatred into the hearts of everyone in
Long Corral. Cal's secret past catches up with him, leading to a final and bloody showdown.
Critique: A superbly crafted and compelling western novel by a master of this action/adventure genre, this large print
paperback edition of Frank Callan's "Return to Blood Creek" is especially recommended for the personal reading lists of all
dedicated gun smoke western fans, and will prove to be a very welcome addition to community library Western Fiction
collections.
Bounty By Chance
J. L. Guin
Lindord Western Library
Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444846737, $22.50, PB, Large Print, 265pp
https://www.ulverscroft.com/title.php?sqlCmd=isbn%3D9781444846737
Synopsis: Jeremiah Hackett is a young man who teams up with huckster George Finimin, a tonic salesman. When Finimin
is brutally murdered in front of him, Jeremiah kills two of the three murders and then dedicates himself to a vengeance
quest seeking out the third killer. But things do not prove straightforward for Jeremiah, and he needs to mature and learn
some harsh lessons before he can finally achieve his aim. Along the way he is joined by a young man named Lester in an
incident that results in him becoming a most unusual kind of bounty hunter.
Critique: J. L. Guin is a master storyteller and "Bounty By Chance" is another of his impressively original but action
packed western stories in this large print paperback edition from the Linford Western Library series that will prove to be a
welcome and prized addition to both the personal reading lists of dedicated western fans and community library Western
Fiction collections.
The Lords of the Plains
Paul Bedford
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444846744, $22.50, PB, Large Print, 232pp
https://www.amazon.com/Lords-Plains-Paul-Bedford/dp/1444846744
Synopsis: Originally hired on to secure buffalo meat for railroad work crews, after an Indian attach on the railroad crew
Josiah Wakefield and his friend Dan Sturgis are promoted to be troubleshooters for the Union Pacific Railroad. That's
when the pair discover that someone is supplying Sioux warriors with repeating rifles, and that stolen strongbox filled with
'Double Eagles' is tied up with corruption at the very top of the Union Pacific. Recovering the gold turns out to be simple --
but keeping hold of it is something else entirely. Unsure who they can trust, they return to the railhead. Here, they make a
stand against all comers, in the hope that they can finally bring the ringleader to account.
Critique: Another rousing great western novel by one of the true masters of the genre, Paul Bedford's "The Lords of the
Plains" is a riveting and entertaining read from beginning to end. This large print edition from the Linford Western Library
series is particularly and unreservedly recommended for the personal reading lists of all dedicated western action/adventure
fans and community library Western Fiction collections.
Revenge at Powder River
John McNally
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print, Inc.
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444846690, $22.50, PB, Large Print, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/Revenge-Powder-River-John-McNally/dp/1444846698
Synopsis: Sam Heggarty returns home to hunt for the heartless gunmen who robbed and executed his father. As he makes
his way back, he witnesses another murder and stumbles across a clue to the people responsible for his father's death. He
discovers that the one person who may hold the key to the identity of his father's murderers is someone that everyone else
is intent on killing. With the help of an Indian, a pegleg marshal, a couple of neighbors, Heggarty will have to save the life
of a man involved in his father's death if he is to find who is involved and deserving of gun smoke justice.
Critique: A ripping great read with more unexpected plot twists and turns than the Colorado River in full flood, this large
print paperback edition of "Revenge at Powder River" perfectly showcases the narrative storytelling style of western
action/adventure novelist John McNally and a highly recommended addition to personal reading lists and community
library collections.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Tom Clancy's Op-Center: The Black Order
Created by Tom Clancy and Steve Pieczenik
Written by Jeff Rovin
St Martin's Group
www.stmartins.com
9781250222343 $17.99 pbk / $11.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Tom-Clancys-Op-Center-Black-Order/dp/1250222346
Synopsis: In a plot ripped from today's headlines, America's elite task force must take down a group of ruthless domestic
terrorists determined to paralyze the country through extreme acts of violence in this action-packed new thriller in the
bestselling Tom Clancy's Op-Center series.
They are known as the Black Order. Self-proclaimed patriots and survivalists, they refuse to surrender their values and
beliefs to the left-leaning cultural and progressive forces threatening their nation. Military veterans and high-tech
specialists, they've begun a savage war which includes public assassinations of politicians and celebrities and high-profile
bombings, striking without warning or mercy. The Black Order wants nothing less than complete capitulation by the US
government, giving them free rein to make their ideologies the law of the land.
Only Op-Center's Black Wasp, a skilled team of military operatives answerable to the President, can defeat these militant
revolutionaries. But even as Admiral Chase Williams and his agents force them on the run, the Black Order possesses a
weapon of mass destruction that they will not hesitate to unleash against millions of innocent civilians.
Critique: Tom Clancy's Op-Center: The Black Order is a thrilling novel about American domestic terrorism masquerading
as claims of patriotism. The Black Order consists of military veterans and high-tech specialists who assassinate politicians,
celebrities, and civilians without mercy, in a vicious crusade to overthrow the American government. The Black Wasp, a
trained team of military specialists, are America's final line of defense, tasked with wresting a weapon of mass destruction
from the Black Order before apocalypse falls! Riveting to the very end, Tom Clancy's Op-Center: The Black Order is
enthusiastically recommended for genre connoisseurs and public library military fiction collections. It should be noted for
personal reading lists that Tom Clancy's Op-Center: The Black Order is also available in a Kindle edition ($11.99).
Warn Me When It's Time
Cheryl A. Head
Bywater Books
www.bywaterbooks.com
9781612942070 $16.95 pbk / $9.49 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Warn-When-Charlie-Motown-Mystery/dp/1612942075
Synopsis: A hate group operating in Oakland County, Michigan has claimed responsibility for a six-month-long string of
arson fires and robberies at mosques, temples, and black churches around Detroit, eluding police and federal agencies. The
most recent fire, at a mosque in Dearborn, kills a respected imam. His children suspicious of law enforcement's treatment
of Muslims and afraid of reprisal hires Charlie Mack and her team of investigators to find their father's murderers.
The Mack team begins to hunt down the clues in this local hate crime, but they aren't prepared when they realize that those
clues are pointing to a widespread conspiracy that runs through elected state officials and up to the highest levels of
national leadership. FBI agent, James Saleh, returns to help the Mack Agency infiltrate and take down a homegrown
militia hell-bent on starting a race war in America.
Critique: Part of the "Charlie Mack Motown" mystery series, Warn Me When It's Time is a suspenseful novel in which
Charlie Mack and his team are drawn into the machinations of a hate group with deep hooks in the government. Charlie
Mack is in a race against time to stop arsonists, murderers, and worse from escalating hate crimes against mosques,
temples, and black churches into an all-out race war! Warn Me When It's Time is riveting to the last page, and
enthusiastically recommended especially to connoisseurs of the genre. It should be noted for personal reading lists that
Warn Me When It's Time is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.49).
A Rogue's Company
Allison Montclair
Minotaur Books
www.minotaurbooks.com
9781250750327 $26.99 hc / $13.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Rogues-Company-Sparks-Bainbridge-Mystery/dp/1250750326
Synopsis: In Allison Monclair's A Rogue's Company, business becomes personal for the Right Sort Marriage Bureau when
a new client, a brutal murder, two kidnappings, and the recently returned from Africa Lord Bainbridge threatens everything
that one of the principals holds dear.
In London, 1946, the Right Sort Marriage Bureau is getting on its feet and expanding. Miss Iris Sparks and Mrs.
Gwendolyn Bainbridge are making a go of it. That is until Lord Bainbridge the widowed Gwen's father-in-law and legal
guardian returns from a business trip to Africa and threatens to undo everything important to her, even sending her
six-year-old son away to a boarding school.
But there's more going on than that. A new client shows up at the agency, one whom Sparks and Bainbridge begin to
suspect really has a secret agenda, somehow involving the Bainbridge family. A murder and a subsequent kidnapping
sends Sparks to seek help from a dangerous quarter and now their very survival is at stake.
Critique: The latest novel in the "Sparks & Bainbridge" mystery series, A Rogue's Company follows an intrepid female
duo confronted with a deadly dilemma in 1946 London... as well as a family dilemma, when Mrs. Gwendolyn Bainbridge's
father-in-law and legal guardian uses his authority against her, even sending her six-year-old son to a boarding school.
Dark comedy and edge-of-seat suspense intertwine in this saga of murder, kidnapping, and legal double standards! A
Rogue's Company is highly recommended for connoisseurs of the genre, and sure to be a popular lending library pick. It
should be noted for personal reading lists that A Rogue's Company is also available in a Kindle edition ($13.99).
Runner
Tracy Clark
Kensington
c/o Kensington Publishing Corp.
119 West 40th Street, Floor 21, New York, NY 10018-2522
www.kensingtonbooks.com
www.highbridgeaudio.com
9781496732019, $26.00, HC, 304pp
https://www.amazon.com/Runner-Chicago-Mystery-Tracy-Clark/dp/1496732014
Synopsis: Chicago in the dead of winter can be brutal, especially when you're scouring the frigid streets for a missing girl.
Fifteen-year-old Ramona Titus has run away from her foster home. Her biological mother, Leesa Evans, is a recovering
addict who admits she failed Ramona often in the past. But now she's clean. And she's determined to make up for her
mistakes -- if Cass can only help her find her daughter.
Cass visits Ramona's foster mother, Deloris Poole, who is also desperate to bring the girl home. Ramona came to Deloris
six months ago, angry and distrustful, but was slowly opening up. The police are on the search, but Cass has sources closer
to the streets, and a network of savvy allies. Yet it seems Ramona doesn't want to be found. And Cass soon begins to
understand why.
Ramona is holding secrets dark enough to kill for, and anyone who helps her may be fair game. And if Ramona can't run
fast enough and hide well enough to keep the truth safe, she and Cass may both be out of time.
Critique: A ripping great read, "Runner" is a gritty and compulsive page turner of a read with many an unexpected plot
twist right up until the grand finale of an ending. Clearly author Tracy Clark has a genuine flair for originality and the kind
of narrative storytelling style that grips the reader's total attention and just won't let go! While very highly recommended,
especially for community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personal reading
lists of all dedicated mystery buffs that "Runner" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99) and as a
complete and unabridged audio book (HighBridge Audio, 9781696603669, $29.99, CD).
The Legal Killer
Elliot Mason
Page Publishing Inc.
101 Tyrellan Avenue Suite 100 New York, NY 10309
www.pagepublishing.com
9781662425097, $20.95, PB, 310pp
https://www.amazon.com/Legal-Killer-Elliot-Mason/dp/1662425090
Synopsis: An hour north of Los Angeles, a gruesome discovery is made. Displayed in a very unusual manner is the body of
a young promising assistant US attorney. Left next to her corpse is a cryptic note, "Find Des Cook, University of Georgia.
He has the answers."
Two thousand miles away, unassuming graduate student Desmond Cook receives an unexpected visit from the FBI. They
pepper him with questions. Bewildered, he has no answers.
Soon afterward, the killer contacts him with a task -- he must figure out a series of historical riddles and get to the
locations they designate. Failure to do so will result in more victims. Demanding to know why he is made the focus of such
a game, the killer has just one response: "You have the answers. It's all in the presentation."
Thus begins a deadly chase, as Des teams with FBI profiler Amanda Hertzel in a desperate attempt to solve the baffling
clues and put a halt to the carnage. And in this race against time, as each layer of the mystery is peeled away, the killer's
motivation becomes clearer, finally exposing a far more deadly conspiracy than they could have ever imagined.
Critique: A deftly crafted, imaginative, and compelling suspense thriller of a read from beginning to end, "The Legal
Killer" showcases author Elliot Mason as a particularly gifted novelist with a genuine flair for originality and the kind of
narrative storytelling skills that will hold the reader's total and rapt attention through many an unexpected plot twist. While
very highly recommended for community library Contemporary Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for
personal reading lists of crime fiction fans that "The Legal Killer" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$9.99).
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Alice's Nightmare in Wonderland
Jonathan Green
Winged Hussar Publishing
www.wingedhussarpublishing.com
9781909679818, $42.62, HC, 402pp
https://www.amazon.com/Alices-Nightmare-Wonderland-Jonathan-Green/dp/1909679593
Synopsis: Several years after the events of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking Glass", Alice
once again finds herself back in Wonderland and called upon to save the world of playing cards and talking animals from
the increasingly deranged Queen of Hearts. But all is not as it first appears in the fluctuating dream world and soon Alice is
battling to save herself from the nightmare that is rapidly overtaking the realm.
Have you ever wondered what would have happened if Alice hadn't drunk from the bottle labeled 'Drink Me', or if she
hadn't joined the Hatter, the March Hare, and the Dormouse for tea? Well now you can find out in "Alice's Nightmare in
Wonderland" by Jonathan Green where you as the reader will decide which route Alice should take, which perils to risk,
and which of Wonderland's strange denizens to fight.
But be warned -- whether Alice succeeds in her quest or meets a dire end as the nightmare escalates will be down to the
choices you as the reader will make as you, along with Alice, go back down the rabbit-hole!
Critique: Using a 'choose your own adventure' storytelling style, "Alice's Nightmare In Wonderland" can be read over and
over again with great and cliff-hanger style enjoyment by fantasy enthusiasts of all ages. While very highly recommended
for community library Dark Fantasy collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of all dedicated Alice in
Wonderland fans that "Alice's Nightmare In Wonderland" is also readily available in a paperback edition (9781909679597,
$19.95).
The Blacktongue Thief
Christopher Buehlman
Tor
www.tor-forge.com
9781250621191 $25.99 hc / $13.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Blacktongue-Thief-1/dp/1250621194
Synopsis: Set in a world of goblin wars, stag-sized battle ravens, and assassins who kill with deadly tattoos, Christopher
Buehlman's The Blacktongue Thief begins a 'dazzling' (Robin Hobb) fantasy adventure unlike any other.
Kinch Na Shannack owes the Takers Guild a small fortune for his education as a thief, which includes (but is not limited
to) lock-picking, knife-fighting, wall-scaling, fall-breaking, lie-weaving, trap-making, plus a few small magics. His debt
has driven him to lie in wait by the old forest road, planning to rob the next traveler that crosses his path.
But today, Kinch Na Shannack has picked the wrong mark.
Galva is a knight, a survivor of the brutal goblin wars, and handmaiden of the goddess of death. She is searching for her
queen, missing since a distant northern city fell to giants.
Unsuccessful in his robbery and lucky to escape with his life, Kinch now finds his fate entangled with Galva's. Common
enemies and uncommon dangers force thief and knight on an epic journey where goblins hunger for human flesh, krakens
hunt in dark waters, and honor is a luxury few can afford.
Critique: The Blacktongue Thief is a fast-paced fantasy adventure about a thief, Kinch Na Shannack, who owes the
"Takers Guild" that trained him a modest-sized fortune. Kinch joins forces with Galva, a knight who survived the deadly
goblin wars, on a quest to find her missing queen. An action-packed saga of fantastic beasts, man-eating goblins, and the
otherworldly equivalent of student loans that can't be discharged through bankruptcy, The Blacktongue Thief is highly
recommended for connoisseurs of the genre and public library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that
The Blacktongue Thief is also available in a Kindle edition ($13.99).
At the End of the Journey
Charles E. Gannon
Baen
https://www.baen.com
9781982125226 $25.00 hc / $9.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/End-Journey-Black-Tide-Rising/dp/1982125225
Synopsis: It was supposed to be fun. Six teenagers and their British captain aboard the ketch Crosscurrent Voyager, headed
on a senior year summer cruise to excitement and adventure. Then the world as they knew it ended.
A plague spread throughout the globe, killing millions and turning the survivors into cannibalistic rage monsters - zombies,
in so many words. Only by putting aside their differences were the young crew able to survive.
Now, they seek others like them, those fortunate souls who have made it through the zombie apocalypse. After all, maybe
it's not the end of the world so long as GPS can help survivors navigate deadly terrain, to link up, and maybe - just maybe -
ensure the continuation of the human race.
But the Earth's GPS systems are failing. It falls to those aboard the Crosscurrent Voyager to keep the unthinkable from
happening. In order to do so, they must traverse dangerous seas to a European Space Agency complex in French Guiana.
And thousands of infected stand in the way.
If they succeed, humankind has a chance of rebuilding. If they fail, humanity may well be at the end of its journey.
Critique: Award-winning author Charles Gannon presents At the End of the Journey, a novel of John Ringo's "Black Tide
Rising" series about a worldwide zombie apocalypse. Six teenagers and a British captain seek to survive amid a plague that
transforms human beings into maddened, cannibalistic monsters! Their desperate flight will take them across deadly seas,
with little more than their wits, their bravery, and a tenuously functional GPS receiver. Thrilling, action-packed, and
edge-of-seat suspenseful, At the End of the Journey is highly recommended especially for zombie fans and connoisseurs of
post-apocalyptic sagas. It should be noted for personal reading lists that At the End of the Journey is also available in a
Kindle edition ($9.99).
Star Eater
Kerstin Hall
Tordotcom
c/o Tom Doherty Associates
www.tor.com
9781250625311 $26.99 hc / $13.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Star-Eater-Kerstin-Hall/dp/1250625319
Synopsis: Elfreda Raughn will avoid pregnancy if it kills her, and one way or another, it will kill her. Though she's able to
stomach her gruesome day-to-day duties, the reality of preserving the Sisterhood of Aytrium's magical bloodline horrifies
her. She wants out, whatever the cost.
So when a shadowy faction approaches Elfreda with an offer of escape, she leaps at the opportunity. As their spy, she gains
access to the highest reaches of the Sisterhood, and enters a glittering world of opulent parties, subtle deceptions, and
unexpected bloodshed.
A phantasmagorical indictment of hereditary power, Star Eater takes readers deep into a perilous and uncanny world where
even the most powerful women are forced to choose what sacrifices they will make, so that they might have any choice at
all.
Critique: Star Eater is a dark fantasy novel about ruthless power dynamics. Elfreda Raughn lives among the Sisterhood of
Aytrium, whose magical bloodline comes at a gruesome price. Elfreda seizes her chance to escape. She becomes a spy and
gains access to the highest echelons of the Sisterhood. Her hereditary power continues has a role to play amid insidious
deceptions, betrayal, and worse in this profound and suspenseful saga. Highly recommended. It should be noted for
personal reading lists that Star Eater is also available in a Kindle edition ($13.99).
The Business Shelf
Choosing Courage
Jim Detert
Harvard Business Review Press
https://hbr.org/hbrpress
9781647820084 $30.00 hc / $21.59 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Choosing-Courage-Everyday-Guide-Being/dp/1647820081
Synopsis: Have you ever wanted to disagree with your boss? Speak up about your company's lack of diversity or unequal
pay practices? Make a tough decision you knew would be unpopular?
We all have opportunities to be courageous at work. But since courage requires risk - to our reputations, our social
standing, and, in some cases, our jobs - we often fail to act, which leaves us feeling powerless and regretful for not doing
what we know is right. There's a better way to handle these crucial moments - and Choosing Courage provides the moral
imperative and research-based tactics to help you become more competently courageous at work.
Doing for courage what Angela Duckworth has done for grit and Brene Brown for vulnerability, Jim Detert, the world's
foremost expert on workplace courage, explains that courage isn't a character trait that only a few possess; it's a virtue
developed through practice. And with the right attitude and approach, you can learn to hone it like any other skill and
incorporate it into your everyday life.
Full of stories of ordinary people who've acted courageously, Choosing Courage will give you a fresh perspective on the
power of voicing your authentic ideas and opinions. Whether you're looking to make a mark, stay true to your values, act
with more integrity, or simply grow as a professional, this is the guide you need to achieve greater impact at work.
Critique: Choosing Courage: The Everyday Guide to Being Brave at Work is a combination business and self-help guide to
mustering the strength of will to take a stand in the workplace - even if one's position is unpopular or risky. Chapters
discuss the importance of choosing the right time and setting to make one's case, how to carefully manage one's message,
how to cultivate courage, and much more. For example, one passage about voicing a problem that involves another
employee (or management) warns "Focus on the behavior only. Keep it specific. And, one last suggestion: do it in person.
It seems by now that this should go without saying, but people continue to use email or other online forums to address
challenging situations. The wisdom of "Choosing Courage" is fully applicable to practicing career professionals in all
fields, and highly recommended. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Choosing Courage" is also available in a
Kindle edition ($21.59).
Make It, Don't Fake It
Sabrina Horn
Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc.
www.bkconnection.com
9781523091492 $18.95 pbk / $9.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Make-Dont-Fake-Authenticity-Business/dp/1523091495
Synopsis: An award-winning CEO and communications expert shows how authentic leadership eliminates the need for the
shortcuts that sabotage success. "Fake it till you make it" just doesn't work - at least not long enough to build a sustainable
business.
Driven to succeed under constant pressure, entrepreneurs and business leaders alike can be tempted to exaggerate their
strengths, minimize weaknesses, and bend the truth. Through the twin lenses of running her own national public relations
firm and advising thousands of executives for a quarter-century, Sabrina Horn revisits the core of leadership; defines
authentic, reality-based business integrity; and shows readers how to attain and maintain it.
With firsthand accounts of sticky situations and painful mistakes, Horn lays out workable strategies, frameworks, and
mental maps to help leaders gain the clarity of thought necessary to make sound business decisions, even when there are no
right answers. In her straightforward, no-nonsense style, she shares the power of humility and empathy, mentorship and
self-assessment, and a strong core value system to build a leader's confidence and resilience. Horn's fake-free advice will
empower readers to disarm fear, organize risk, manage setbacks and crises, deal with losing and loneliness, and create a
culture and brand designed for long-term success.
Critique: Award-winning CEO Sabrina Horn presents Make It, Don't Fake It, a serious-minded business leadership guide.
chapters address how to manage risk, overcome setbacks and crises, create positive culture and a lasting brand, and more.
"Avoid shortcuts that promise to reduce costs or that masquerade as 'efficiency'. Any shortcut that compromises
thoroughness or quality erodes values, culture, and, inevitably, brand. Listen to what your people tell you, but make sure
you are clear on the benefits and even clearer on the downsides to any proposed shortcut." Make It, Don't Fake It is candid,
accessible, and a welcome contribution to business and leadership collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists
that Make It, Don't Fake It is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).
Taking the Lead
Dave Alpern
Tyndale Momentum
c/o Tyndale House Publishers
351 Executive Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188
www.tyndale.com
9781496444578, $17.99, PB, 272pp
https://www.amazon.com/Taking-Lead-Winning-Business-Principles/dp/1496444574
Synopsis: In NASCAR, as in life, the difference between winning and losing often comes down to being in the right place
at the right time and making the most of every opportunity.
Nobody understands that better than Dave Alpern who started his career as an unpaid intern selling T-shirts for the newly
formed Joe Gibbs Racing team. Nearly three decades later, he's now the president of JGR, a multimillion-dollar elite,
record-setting racing team with more than 500 employees.
In the pages of "Taking the Lead: Winning Business Principles That Fuel Joe Gibbs Racing", Dave shares the wisdom he's
learned along the way: key principles that will equip you with what you need to rise to the top and succeed with integrity
and purpose -- whatever team you're on!
Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Taking the Lead: Winning Business Principles That Fuel
Joe Gibbs Racing" is a motivationally inspiring, reader friendly, and potentially life-enhancing read that is especially and
unreservedly recommended for community, corporate, college, and university library Self-Help and Business Management
collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of automotive racing fans, MBA students, academia, corporate
executives, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Taking the Lead" is also readily available
in a digital book format (Kindle, $10.99).
The 7 Perspectives of Effective Leaders
Daniel Harkavy
Baker Books
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
www.bakerpublishinggroup.com
9781540900029, $26.99, HC, 188pp
https://www.amazon.com/Perspectives-Effective-Leaders-Framework-Increasing/dp/1540900029
Synopsis: According to CEO and executive coach Daniel Harkavy, effective leadership boils down to just two things: your
decisions and influence. Good decisions lead to strong results, which in turn increase your influence. If you get these two
things right, your leadership effectiveness improves.
But as all leaders know, it's not that easy, especially in today's fast-paced, complex, and connected environment. To make
the best decisions and have maximum impact, you need to see your business from seven perspectives: current reality,
long-term vision, strategic bets, the team, the customer, your role, and the outsider.
In the pages of "The 7 Perspectives of Effective Leaders: A Proven Framework for Improving Decisions and Increasing
Your Influence", drawing upon his twenty-five years of experience as a successful CEO and executive coach, and
including conversations and thinking from more than twenty well-known business and organizational leaders, Daniel
Harkavy unpacks a proven framework you can implement for immediate results in your own organization's culture and
performance. If you're looking to improve your leadership, "The 7 Perspectives of Effective Leaders" will give you a
straightforward framework to do so.
Critique: With experience based efficacious practicality and competent productiveness, "The 7 Perspectives of Effective
Leaders: A Proven Framework for Improving Decisions and Increasing Your Influence" should be mandated reading for
every corporate executive and a part of every community, corporate, college, and university library Business Management
and Leadership Self- Help collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists MBA students, academia, corporate
leaders, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "The 7 Perspectives of Effective Leadership"
is also readily available in a paperback edition (9781540901095, $16.99), in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.57), and as
a complete and unabridged audio book (Mission Audio, 9798200531097, $15.99, CD).
The Needlecraft Shelf
Cute Crocheted Woodland Creatures
Emma Yarnam
GMC Books
c/o The GMC Group
www.gmcbooks.com
9781784946036, $19.95, PB, 144pp
https://www.amazon.com/Cute-Crocheted-Woodland-Creatures-Varnam/dp/1784946036
Synopsis: With "Cute Crocheted Woodland Creatures" by crochet expert Emma Yarnam, aspirng needlecrafters can simply
immerse themselves in a magical woodland with these exciting crocheted critters! The 10 charming animals to be
crocheted range from a mischievous raccoon to a friendly fox and a wise owl. These individual projects will make ideal
gifts and also include crocheted accessories that can be shared between the woodland friends.
Of special note is the inclusion of a comprehensive techniques section, accompanied by detailed patterns will provide all
the information needed for a successful project. The stylish photography will inspire you to create your own woodland
menagerie!
Critique: Profusely illustrated with throughly 'user friendly' step-by-step instructions, "Cute Crocheted Woodland
Creatures" will prove to be a wonderfully welcome addition to personal, professional, and community library DIY
Needlecraft instructional reference collections for the crochet enthusiast. It should be noted that "Cute Crocheted
Woodland Creatures" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
Editorial Note: Inspired by the imagination of children, Emma Varnam likes to make items that bring a smile. Currently
residing in Greater Manchester, UK, Emma has written a number of popular crochet books including Granny Squares
Home, Crocheted Keyrings & Charms, Cute Crocheted Animals and How to Crochet, all published by GMC
Publications.
Crocheted Animal Rugs
Vanessa Mooncie
GMC Books
c/o The GMC Group
www.gmcbooks.com
9781784945855, $23.95, PB, 160pp
https://www.amazon.com/Crocheted-Animal-Rugs-Vanessa-Mooncie/dp/1784945854
Synopsis: All ages from 3 to 93 will go wild for the gorgeous crocheted animal rugs whose projects comprise "Crocheted
Animal Rugs" by expert crochet authority Vanessa Mooncie. Adults and children alike will adore these beautiful rugs,
which make wonderful gifts and stylish additions to any home. Each individual DIY project includes detailed patterns,
stunning photographs and helpful hand-drawn charts. There is also an extensive techniques section explaining all the
stitches and techniques you'll need to make your flat friend.
Critique: Beautifully illustrated throughout and with thoroughly 'novice friendly' step-by-step instructions, "Crocheted
Animal Rugs" is an ideal and highly recommended addition to personal, professional, and community library Needlecraft
instructional reference collections. It should be noted for all crochet enthusiasts and practitioners that "Crocheted Animal
Rugs" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Currently residing in a rural village located in the South of England, Vanessa Mooncie spent many happy
hours as a child sitting with her mother and grandmother learning to knit and crochet. She went on to study fashion and
textile design and became a children's wear designer, illustrator and interior designer. Vanessa now specializes in
silkscreen work (www.vanessamooncie.com) and designing crochet jewelry through her company Kissy Suzuki
(www.kissysuzuki.com). Vanessa has written many successful books for GMC Publications, including Animal Hats,
Crocheted Wild Animals, Sew Adorable, And Sew to Bed and Crocheted Sea Creatures. She is also a regular contributor
to other craft books and magazines.
Knitted Space
Sarah Keen
GMC Books
c/o The GMC Group
www.gmcbooks.com
9781784946050, $19.95, PB, 144pp
https://www.amazon.com/Knitted-Space-Sarah-Keen/dp/1784946052
Synopsis: "Knitted Space" by Sarah Keen is comprised of an array of cosmos-themed knitting projects ready for any
interplanetary adventure! Profusely illustrated throughout and with deftly presented step-by-step instructions, "Knitted
Space" is comprised 20 projects that include an astronaut, space rocket, flying saucer and shooting star. As well as the
projects themselves, "Knitted Space" also includes a comprehensive techniques section which makes it readily accessible
to those new to knitting. The projects make ideal gifts for any space-loving child, providing hours of constructive
needlecraft based fun.
Critique: Delightful, whimsical, and fun, "Knitted Space" is a unique and unreservedly recommended addition to personal,
professional, and community library DIY Needlecraft instructional reference collections. It should be noted for dedicated
knitters that "Knitted Space" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Editorial Note: Currently residing in Ceredigion, Wales, UK, experienced needlecrafter Sarah Keen works as a freelance
pattern designer and finds calculating rows and stitches challenging, but fascinating. She is experienced in designing
knitted toys for children and also enjoys writing patterns for charity. This is Sarah's tenth book for GMC Publications.
Fabric of a Nation: American Quilt Stories
Pamela Parmal, Jennifer M. Swope, Lauren D. Whitley, editors
MFA Publications
c/o Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
www.mfa-publications.org
9780878468768, $45.00, HC, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/Fabric-Nation-American-Quilt-Stories/dp/0878468765
Synopsis: A mother stitches a few lines of prayer into a bedcover for her son serving in the Union army during the Civil
War. A formerly enslaved African American woman creates a quilt populated by Biblical figures alongside celestial
events. A quilted Lady Liberty, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln mark the resignation of Richard Nixon. These
are just a few of the diverse and sometimes hidden stories of the American experience told by quilts and bedcovers from
the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
Compiled and co-edited by the team of Pamela Parmal, Jennifer M. Swope, and Lauren D. Whitley, and spanning more
than 400 years, the 58 works of illustrated textile art in the pages of "Fabric of a Nation: American Quilt Stories" express
the personal narratives of their makers and owners and connect to broader stories of global trade, immigration, industry,
marginalization, and territorial and cultural expansion.
Made by Americans of European, African, Native and Hispanic heritage, these quilts and bedcovers range from family
heirlooms to acts of political protest, each with its own story to tell. The needlecraft artists include: Faith Ringgold,
Sanford Biggers, Irene Williams, Bisa Butler, Harry Tyler, Harriet Powers, Marie D. Webster, Marguerite Zorach, Dorothy
Phillips Haagensen, Rachel Cary George, Florence Peto, Creola Pettway, Susan Hoffman, Molly Upton, Nancy Crasco,
Agusta Agustsson, Edward Larson, Michael James, Virginia Jacobs and Carla Hemlock.
Critique: A unique and inherently fascinating collections so beautifully showcased and supported by informed and
informative commentaries, and enhanced for academia with the inclusion of a two page Further Reading bibliography, a
five page List of Illustrations, and a four page Index, "Fabric of a Nation: American Quilt Stories" is an extraordinary and
unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, college, and university library Textile,
Costume, and Quilting collections and supplemental studies curriculum reading lists.
The Cookbook Shelf
Reader's Digest Plant Based Health Basics
Reader's Digest Press, editor
c/o Trusted Media Brand
https://www.trustedmediabrands.com
9781621455516, $19.99, PB, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Readers-Digest-Plant-Health-Basics/dp/1621455513
Synopsis: "Reader's Digest Plant Based Health Basics: Nourish Your Body and Brain with Grains, Vegetables, and More"
is a compendium of information and recipes on plant-based eating for middle America, using familiar, easy-to-find
ingredients to help readers eat more healthfully.
Eating a diet higher in plant foods and lower in animal products has been shown to provide many health benefits, including
reducing the risk of heart disease, cancer, and diabetes as well as aiding in weight loss. Dietary guidelines and
recommendations from nutrition experts reflect this, encouraging the adoption of diets such as the Mediterranean,
Flexitarian, Vegan or DASH diet that are heavy on fruits and vegetables and reduce or restrict the consumption of meat
and meat products.
Whether folks are choosing to boost their nutritional intake by consuming more plants within their meat-based diets, or
avoid animal product once a week such as Meatless Mondays, or go all out vegan, they need support in starting out with
this new way of eating. Understanding the importance of the nutrients in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains will help the
reader grasp why eating more plants will improve their overall health.
This A-Z comprehensive guide lays out all the nutrients and other compounds currently known to researchers that help
fight disease. It includes: A guide to the powerful disease-zapping nutrients in more than 40 superstar foods, from apples to
winter squash, with tips on how to maximize their dietary benefits and tasty ways to include them in your daily diet; A
specific food arsenal to manage and prevent more than 50 common ailments, from asthma to osteoporosis; 90 delicious
disease-combating recipes, including appetizers, main courses, and desserts, that make it easy to eat for good health; A
new introduction explaining how whole food plant-based eating promotes health and prevents and/or reverses
diseases.
Of special note is the inclusion of recent research boxes highlighting the latest studies that show the health effects of eating
a fruits/veggie dense diet on health conditions
Critique: Beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout, "Reader's Digest Plant Based Health Basics: Nourish Your Body
and Brain with Grains, Vegetables, and More" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).
Thoroughly 'user friendly' in style, organization and presentation, "Reader's Digest Plant Based Health Basics: Nourish
Your Body and Brain with Grains, Vegetables, and More" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal,
professional, family, and community library Vegetarian Cookbook collections. I
Editorial Note: Founded in 1922 by DeWitt and Lila Wallace, Reader's Digest is recognized worldwide and today reaches
an audience of more than 25 million in the United States. Serving up a mix of moving stories and trusted information
(often told with a good dash of fun), Reader's Digest aims to inspire the good in people and families everywhere.
Taste of Home Farm to Table Cookbook
Taste of Home, editor
c/o Trusted Media Brand
https://www.trustedmediabrands.com
9781621455318, $19.99, PB, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Taste-Home-Farm-Table-Cookbook/dp/1621455319
Synopsis: "Taste of Home Farm to Table Cookbook: 279 Recipes that Make the Most of the Season's Freshest Foods - All
Year Long!" is an impressive culinary compendium of recipes that will allow kitchen cooks and their families to relish the
goodness of garden fresh foods and make the most of their garden and their farmer's market finds all year long.
Have a bumper crop of tomatoes? Need to use up some rhubarb? Craving blueberry muffins or peach preserves? Simply
turn to the mouth-watering ideas in "Taste of Home Farm to Table Cookbook" where each of the 279 sensational recipes it
showcases take full advantage of fresh produce all year long. From apples to zucchini and from appetizers to main courses
(and, of course, all those wonderful desserts), "Taste of Home Farm to Table Cookbook" is colorful collection of dining
and menu ideas that will deliver wholesome specialties to your table every day.
Critique: Enhanced with full color photography throughout, and featuring thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly" step-by-step
instructions for each recipe, "Taste of Home Farm to Table Cookbook: 279 Recipes that Make the Most of the Season's
Freshest Foods - All Year Long!" will prove to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to every personal,
professional, family and community library cookbook collection. It should be noted that "Taste of Home Farm to Table
Cookbook: 279 Recipes that Make the Most of the Season's Freshest Foods - All Year Long!" is also readily available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).
Editorial Note: Taste of Home is the leading multi-platform producer of information on food, cooking and entertaining,
serving home cooks engaging media that capture the joy and comfort received from food that's made with love. Taste of
Home magazine has a circulation of 3.5 million and publishes best-selling cookbooks; popular bookazines; and engaging
newsstand specials.
The Griddle Cookbook
Loic Hanno
Ulysses Press
PO Box 3440, Berkeley CA 94703-3440
www.ulyssespress.com
9781646041442, $24.95, HC, 144pp
https://www.amazon.com/Griddle-Cookbook-Delicious-Flavor-Packed-Flat-Top/dp/1646041445
Synopsis: Now with "The Griddle Cookbook: Delicious, Flavor-Packed Recipes for Flat-Top Grilling" by culinary and
grilling expert Loic Hanno, even the most novice of cooks can become a true grilling master with this culinary
compendium of instructions and recipes that will teach everything needed to be known about flat-top grilling.
Indeed, "The Griddle Cookbook" offers more than forty beautifully illustrated and easy-to-follow recipes that can make on
any griddle whether its cast iron, countertop, or outdoor!
"The Griddle Cookbook" covers indoor and outdoor griddle cooking by learning the different ways to prepare meats,
which grilling utensils to use, and which grill times will achieve the perfect char. Whether you're preparing a fine dinner in
your kitchen or having a backyard barbecue, you can do it all with a griddle and "The Griddle Cookbook".
Critique: Inspiring just to browse through one beautifully illustrated page at a time, "The Griddle Cookbook: Delicious,
Flavor-Packed Recipes for Flat-Top Grilling" is the perfect combination of instruction manual and DIY griddle recipes for
any and all dining occasions. While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, family, professional, and
community library Barbecue & Grilling cookbook collections, it should be noted that "The Griddle Cookbook: Delicious,
Flavor-Packed Recipes for Flat-Top Grilling" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.99).
The Beer/Wine/Spirits Shelf
Booze Cruise
Andre Darlington
Running Press
2300 Chestnut St., Philadelphia PA 19103
www.runningpress.com
9780762497850, $24.00 HC, $11.99 Kindle, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/Booze-Cruise-Worlds-Essential-Drinks/dp/0762497858
Booze Cruise: A Tour of the World's Essential Mixed Drinks differs from the many other cocktail books on the market in
that it comes from a world traveler and drinks writer who adopts a global approach to exploring cocktails popular in
different cities around the world. Each drink feature includes not just a recipe, as competing books offer, but a survey of
local history, culture, and tasting notes that cover Europe, Africa, Asia, South America and the U.S. Readers interested in
expanding their cocktail knowledge to embrace world locales and local drinks, who are unable to make the journey in a
time when world travel is restricted, will find this cocktail survey of world destinations and drinks the perfect answer to
armchair travel and food and drink discoveries.
The Automotive Shelf
Ken Miles: The Shelby American Years
Dave Friedman
CarTech Inc.
838 Lake Street South, Forest Lake, MN 55025
www.cartechbooks.com
9781613255971, $38.95, PB, 240pp
https://www.amazon.com/Ken-Miles-Shelby-American-Years/dp/1613255977
Synopsis: Ken Miles (1 November 1918 - 17 August 1966) was one of the most famous sports car racers in history, and his
time at Shelby American was the pinnacle of his career.
In the illustrated pages of "Ken Miles: The Shelby American Years" his fans can ride along with Ken Miles through the
twists and turns of Sebring, Laguna Seca, Riverside, and Le Mans as seen through the lens of Shelby American
photographer Dave Friedman!
The hiring of Ken Miles by Carroll Shelby in February 1963 initiated arguably the greatest pairing of driver/owner
partnerships in the history of motorsports. Not only did Shelby hire Competition Manager Ken Miles as an accomplished
road racer but also Miles brought professionalism, innovation, and a keen attribute of being able to surround himself with
budding, talented individuals.
The list of race cars that Ken piloted at Shelby American is nearly unrivaled: the Shelby 289 Cobra, 390 Cobra, 427 Cobra,
King Cobra, Shelby Daytona, Mustang GT350R, and Ford GT. Ken dominated the 1964 United States Road Racing
Championship (USRRC) racing season by winning 8 of 10 races to secure the Manufacturers' Championship. However, it
was at Le Mans where Ken Miles became a worldwide household name.
The robbery that was the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans is laid out in excruciatingly accurate detail as Ford royalty Carroll
Shelby, Carroll Smith, Homer Perry, Leo Beebe, Charlie Agapiou, Bob Negstad, Carroll Smith, and Peter Miles recall the
race and the tragedy that followed two months later.
Critique: Profusely illustrated throughout with both black/white and full color photography, "Ken Miles: The Shelby
American Years" is a 'must' for the legions of Ken Miles fans and will prove to be a welcome and enduringly popular
addition to personal, community, college and university library 20th Century American Automotive Racing
collections.
Editorial Note: Dave Friedman was Shelby American's official photographer in the 1960s, accompanying the team to races
all around the world. He is a longtime motorsports and film-still photographer and the author of several motor racing
books, as well as a photography contributor to dozens more.
The Education Shelf
Schooling Teachers
Megan Blumenreich and Bethany L. Rogers
Teachers College Press
www.tcpress.com
9780807764688 $36.95 pbk / $31.49 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Schooling-Teachers-America-Teacher-Education/dp/080776468X
Synopsis: Schooling Teachers tackles the perennial and pressing issue of how this nation will attract, prepare, and retain
high-quality teachers for all students, particularly those in our most challenging classrooms.
Drawing on participant voices from the inaugural 1990 cohort of Teach For America, this book situates their experiences
within the larger context of teacher education and reform of the last three decades. Through an investigation of one of the
more influential departures from traditional teacher preparation during this period, the authors examine the "teacher
problem" and illustrate why solutions remain elusive and limited.
This book moves beyond the purported dichotomy between university-based teacher education and alternatives such as
Teach For America to consider their common challenges, suggesting a starting place from which to create a future of more
effective teacher preparation.
Critique: Schooling Teachers: Teach for America and the Future of Teacher Education is a practical-minded examination
of how to attract, prepare, and retain high-quality teachers in America. Chapters scrutinize the 1990 cohort of Teach for
America, in the context of efforts to train and improve teachers from the 1990's to the present. Extensive notes and an
index round out this thoughtful, methodical, and highly recommended study. It should be noted for personal reading lists
that Schooling Teachers is also available in ta Kindle edition ($31.49).
Teaching Race in Perilous Times
Jason E. Cohen, editor
Sharon D. Raynor, editor
Dwayne A. Mack, editor
State University of New York Press
State University Plaza, Albany, NY 12246-0001
www.sunypress.edu
9781438482255, $95.00, HC, 352pp
https://www.amazon.com/Teaching-Perilous-Critical-Studies-Education/dp/1438482256
Synopsis: The college classroom is inevitably influenced by, and in turn influences, the world around it. In the United
States, this means the complex topic of race can come into play in ways that are both explicit and implicit. "Teaching Race
in Perilous Times" highlights and confronts the challenges of teaching race in the United States -- from syllabus
development and pedagogical strategies to accreditation and curricular reform.
Comprised of fifteen original essays, the contributors to "Teaching Race in Perilous Times" draw on their experiences
teaching in different institutional contexts and adopt various qualitative methods from their home disciplines to offer
practical strategies for discussing race and racism with students while also reflecting on broader issues in higher education.
The contributors also examine how teachers can respond productively to emotionally charged contexts, recognize the roles
and pressures that faculty assume as activists in the classroom, focus a timely lens on the shifting racial politics and
economics of higher education, and call for a more historically sensitive reading of the pedagogies involved in teaching
race.
"Teaching Race in Perilous Times" offers a corrective to claims following the 2016 US presidential election that the
current moment is unprecedented, highlighting the pivotal role of the classroom in contextualizing and responding to our
perilous times.
Critique: An ideal curriculum textbook, "Teaching Race in Perilous Times" is an especially recommended addition to
college and university Cultural Anthropology collections in general, and Higher Education/Continuing Education
supplemental curriculum studies reading lists in particular. It should be noted for students and academia that "Teaching
Race in Perilous Times" is also readily available in a paperback edition (9781438482262, $26.95) and in a digital book
format (Kindle, $14.55).
Editorial Note: Jason E. Cohen Associate Professor of English at Berea College. Sharon D. Raynor is Dean of the School
of the Humanities and Social Sciences, and Professor of English at Elizabeth City State University. Dwayne A. Mack is
Professor of History and Carter G. Woodson Chair in African American History at Berea College.
Talent Development in School
Julie Dingle Swanson, editor
Meta Van Sickle, editor
Prufrock Press
PO Box 8813, Waco, TX 76714-8813
www.prufrock.com
9781646321223, 39.95, PB, 275pp
https://www.amazon.com/Talent-Development-School-Implementing-Identification/dp/1646321227
Synopsis: Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by Julie Dingle Swanson and Meta Van Sickle "Talent Development in
School: An Educator's Guide to Implementing a Culturally Responsive Talent Identification and Development Program" is
specifically designed to help educators utilize research-based curriculum and strategies to implement talent development in
the classroom.
Talent Development in School" is a practical guide that: Focuses on a talent development model that is centered on teacher
learning; Highlights talent development's impact on culturally, linguistically, and economically diverse learners; Details
how to apply the talent development model in one's school or district and opening access and opportunity to all students:
Reviews current theories, concepts, and research on talent development in the field of gifted education;
Perfect for teachers, coordinators, and administrators, "Talent Development in School" also features techniques for
culturally responsive teaching and considerations for how psychosocial skills and noncognitive influences on learning
(such as motivation, grit, resiliency, and growth mindset) affect talent development.
Critique: Exceptionally organized and throughly 'reader friendly' in presentation, "Talent Development in School: An
Educator's Guide to Implementing a Culturally Responsive Talent Identification and Development Program" is a timely
and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, professional, school district, college and university library
Educational Assessment and Gifted Education collections and supplemental studies curriculum reading lists.
Editorial Note: Julie Dingle Swanson, Ed.D. is a professor at the College of Charleston, SC and has taught in and
coordinated K - 12 gifted programs and directed federal projects focused on gifted students from low-socioeconomic
backgrounds. Meta Van Sickle is a professor at the College of Charleston, having earned a Ph.D. from the University of
South Florida. Her research interests include studying the ethics of care in science education and science for all.
Motivational Interviewing in Higher Education
Benjamin M. Ogles, et al.
Charles C. Thomas, Publisher
2600 South First Street, Springfield, IL 62704
http://www.ccthomas.com
9780398093624, $33.95, PB, 194pp
https://www.amazon.com/Motivational-Interviewing-Higher-Education-Professionals/dp/0398093628
Synopsis: The approach to motivational interviewing discussed in "Motivational Interviewing in Higher Education: A
Primer for Academic Advisors and Student Affairs Professionals " will be especially useful to student affairs professionals
and academic advisors working in a variety of higher education positions.
"Motivational Interviewing in Higher Education" begins in Chapter 1 by providing a description and a brief history of MI,
noting some of its connections to counseling and social psychology.
Chapter 2 explores in more detail the spirit of MI, the key relational components that the professional using MI is attuned
to. This interpersonal attitude can be summarized within four key principles: partnership, acceptance, compassion, and
evocation.
Chapter 3 presents an overview of some contemporary models of academic advising and student affairs practice. Chapter 4
covers the basic MI skill set, which is referred to by the shorthand OARS. Chapter 5 discusses the four processes in MI
conversations about change: engaging, focusing, evoking, and planning.
Chapter 6 elaborates on the evoking stage and provide an expanded discussion concerning change talk and sustain talk.
Change talk refers to student statements that express a desire, need, or readiness to change, while sustain talk refers to
student statements that indicate maintenance of the status quo or a reluctance to change. In addition to providing more
in\\\-depth definitions of these concepts and examples of student statements, strategies are presented for increasing or
evoking change talk and softening sustain talk.
In Chapter 7, intermediate to advanced MI skills are addressed to prepare the highly motivated staff member for
higher\\\-level training that can be obtained through workshops, observation, and coaching.
Chapter 8 puts everything together in two case examples. While Chapter 9 provides some additional exercises that can be
used to practice and develop MI basic and intermediate skills.
Lastly, some brief concluding remarks are provided in Chapter 10.
Critique: An ideal textbook and 'how to' handbook, "Motivational Interviewing in Higher Education: A Primer for
Academic Advisors and Student Affairs Professionals" should be considered as an essential instructional reference guide
and manual for professional, college and university library Educational Counseling collections and supplemental studies
curriculum reading lists. It should be noted that "Motivational Interviewing in Higher Education: A Primer for Academic
Advisors and Student Affairs Professionals" is also readily available from the publisher in a digital book format
(9780398093631, $33.95).
The Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Orca: Shared Waters, Shared Home
Lynda V. Mapes
Ulysses Press
PO Box 3440, Berkeley CA 94703-3440
www.ulyssespress.com
9781680513264, $34.95, HC, 192pp
https://www.amazon.com/Orca-Shared-Waters-Home/dp/1680513265
Synopsis: Orca whale J35, also known as "Tahlequah," gave birth in July of 2018 in the waters off British Columbia, but
her calf died soon after, leading its mother to carry her for 17 days across 1000 miles before finally releasing the calf and
rejoining her pod. This extraordinary and caring behavior sparked not only worldwide sympathy, but also a revival of our
awareness of the critical need to preserve orcas, the chinook salmon they feed on, and their habitat that together make up
the core of Pacific Northwest identity.
In the profusely illustrated pages of "Orca: Shared Waters, Shared Home", journalist Lynda V. Mapes explores the natural
history of the orca and the unique challenges for survival of the Southern Resident group that frequents Puget Sound.
These whales are among the most urban in the world, a focus of researchers, tourists, and politicians alike. Once referred to
as "blackfish" and still known as "killer whales," orcas were for generations regarded as vermin to be avoided or
exterminated, then later were captured live for aquariums all over the world. With greater exposure, scientists realized how
intelligent the mammal is and are learning about their matriarchal family groups, vocalizations, behavior, and different
subspecies.
Today only 74 Southern Resident whales are left, and they are threatened by habitat degradation, lack of chinook salmon
(their primary food source), relentless growth, and climate change. It is an open question as to wether this trend toward
extinction can be reversed.
Critique: An extraordinarily informative and beautifully illustrated account, "Orca: Shared Waters, Shared Home" is
especially and unreservedly recommended, especially for personal, professional, community, college and university library
Aquatic & Marine Wildlife collections.
Editorial Note #1: Lynda V. Mapes is a journalist, author, and close observer of the natural world. The Seattle Times has
made a point of focusing on environmental issues for its readership; Lynda has been a key part in this effort, covering
natural history, environmental topics and issues related to Pacific Northwest indigenous cultures. Her writing connects
ordinary people and nature. In 1997, while working at the Spokesman Review in Spokane, Washington, she was awarded
the Gerald Loeb award for a series on salmon recovery efforts in the Columbia Basin. It was the first time anyone looked at
what the region had spent on recovery in the basin and what had resulted from those efforts. In addition to her newspaper
career, she is the author of two books, Washington: The Spirit of the Land and Breaking Ground. Her first extended
encounter with the Elwha ecosystem, dams, Port Angeles community and Lower Elwha Klallam tribe, this latter book laid
an important groundwork of sources for reporting the forthcoming newspaper series and this proposed book on the
Elwha.
Editorial Note #2: This special project, co-published with the Pulitzer Prize winning Seattle Times newspaper, features
stunning imagery by Times photographer Steve Ringman, as well as from partner organizations including The Whale
Museum, NOAA, and Center for Whale Research.
The Natural Dog
Gwen Bailey
Hamlyn
c/o Octopus Books
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9780600636038, $24.99, HC, 224pp
https://www.amazon.com/Naturally-Healthy-Hound-wellness-friend/dp/0600636038
Synopsis: Offering a new approach to achieving a happy, healthy canine, "The Natural Dog" by Gwen Bailey focuses on
three vital considerations: Physical health: Sticks, exercise games, vaccination and more; Dietary health: Hydration, diet,
dental health, recipes and feeding; Mental health: Stimulation, socialization and canine interaction, addressing aggressive
behavior and introducing other pets.
From understanding your dog's physiognomy and analyzing the perfect diet, to keeping your dog naturally alert, spirited
and happy throughout its life, "The Natural Dog" offers a holistic approach to changing your dog's lifestyle to get the most
out of life.
Critique: Gwen Bailey's bestselling dog guides have helped hundreds of thousands of owners throughout the world and her
latest one, "The Natural Dog" is exceptionally 'user friendly' in tone, community, illustrations, organization and
presentation. Ideal and unreservedly recommended reading for anyone who has (or who is contemplating having) a canine
companion, "The Natural Dog' will prove a welcome and useful addition to personal, professional, and community library
Pet Care instructional reference collections.
Editorial Note: Gwen Bailey has written 15 books (including "The Perfect Puppy) on dog care, psychology books and
training. She is also the founder of Puppy School, the UK's largest network of puppy training classes. Early in her career
Gwen worked for a leading UK national animal welfare charity, and pioneered the use of canine behavior knowledge in the
re-homing of unwanted animals. She was also the first person to be appointed by a national animal welfare charity as a
full-time Animal Behaviourist.
The Travel Shelf
Hike The Parks: Rocky Mountain National Park
Brendan Leonard
Mountaineers Books
www.mountaineersbooks.org
9781680512984 $16.95 pbk / $9.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Hike-Parks-Mountain-National-Sights/dp/1680512986
Synopsis: Rocky Mountain National Park encompasses 415 square miles crowned by spectacular mountain environments.
Its famed Trail Ridge Road crests at over 12,000 feet elevation and includes many overlooks onto subalpine and alpine
worlds. The park also features hundreds of miles of hiking trails, stunning wildflower blooms, wildlife viewing including
the iconic Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, crystal-clear starry nights, and the highest continuous paved road in the nation.
Guide features include:
35 day hikes with detailed directions, photos, maps
Longs Peak summit route
Recommended 1- and 3-day itineraries
Park access and transportation options
Park history, geology, flora and fauna
Top 7 "must-see" sights and activities
Critique: A wealth of full-color trail maps and photographs intersperse Hike The Parks: Rocky Mountain National Park, a
guide created for hikers of all skill and experience levels. Enhanced with trailhead GPS coordinates, suggested one-day and
three-day itineraries, both US and metric measurements, information about park shuttles, campgrounds, and visitor centers,
practical advice for high-altitude hiking, and much more, Hike The Parks: Rocky Mountain National Park is a superb,
compact reference and resource for making the most out of one's excursion. Highly recommended! It should be noted for
personal reading lists that Hike The Parks: Rocky Mountain National Park is also available in a Kindle edition
($9.99).
Hiking Great Smoky Mountains National Park, third edition
Kevin Adams
Falcon Guides
falcon.com
c/o Globe Pequot Press
http://www.globepequot.com
9781493040728 $24.95 pbk / $17.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Hiking-Great-Smoky-Mountains-National/dp/1493040723
Synopsis: Completely revised and updated for 2021, Hiking Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 3rd Edition is the
must-have guide to the best trails in America's most-visited national park.
Discover the 82 greatest hikes within Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Everyone from the avid trekker to family
day-hiker will find a new trail to enjoy in the Smokies. Each hike is covered by concise descriptions, detailed maps, and
turn-by-turn directions. Set out confidently, and enjoy glorious views and peaceful wilderness.
Critique: Now in an updated third edition for 2021, Hiking Great Smoky Mountains National Park: A Guide to the Park's
Greatest Hiking Adventures lives up to its title as a thorough, reader- friendly guide for hikers of all skill and experience
levels. Offering 82 hikes with difficulty ratings, a wealth of color maps and photographs, information about fees and
permits, mile-by- mile directional cues, and more, Hiking Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the definitive practical
guide, highly recommended. It should be noted for personal hiking reference lists that Hiking Great Smoky Mountains
National Park, third edition is also available in a Kindle edition ($17.99).
Scenic Driving the Ozarks
Don Kurz
Globe Pequot Press
http://www.globepequot.com
9781493056316 $24.95 pbk / $17.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Scenic-Driving-Ozarks-Including-Mountains/dp/149305631X
Synopsis: Scenic Driving the Ozarks features thirty-three separate drives through Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma, from
the homestead of Daniel Boone and the 250-foot-deep Blue Spring in the north and central sections to the prairie
landscapes and the restorative hot springs of the western and southern Ozarks. An indispensable highway companion,
Scenic Driving the Ozarks includes route maps and in-depth descriptions of attractions.
Critique: Scenic Driving the Ozarks: Including the Ouachita Mountains lives up to its title as a user-friendly guide
suggesting thirty-five different driving routes through beautiful landscapes of Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. Striking,
full-color photographs, easy-to-read maps, detailed descriptions of memorable attractions and more make Scenic Driving
the Ozarks an excellent guide for vacationers interested in seeing the Ozarks' natural wonders. Highly recommended! It
should be noted for personal travel reference that Scenic Driving the Ozarks is also available in a Kindle edition
($17.99).
Oldest St. Louis
Nini Harris
Reedy Press
PO Box 5131, St. Louis, MO 63139
www.reedypress.com
9781681062792, $20.95, PB, 192pp
https://www.amazon.com/Oldest-St-Louis-Nini-Harris/dp/1681062798
Synopsis: St. Louis has thrived for over two hundred and fifty years from its beginnings as a French settlement in 1764 to
its rapid growth in the mid-1800s to the modern metropolis we know today. While many great structures have been lost or
demolished, much of this history still lives on.
Within the pages of "Oldest St. Louis" by Nini Harris, readers will get to know the history of the Mound City's most iconic
buildings and the stories that bring their walls to life. Included are some of the businesses and buildings from the city's
inception through the turn of the twentieth century that are examples of the living history of St. Louis like Eugene Field
House (1854), Bissell Mansion (1820s), and homes in the historic Carondelet neighborhood that may date back to the late
1700s.
Critique: Nicely illustrated with black-and-white historical images, "Oldest St. Louis" is an impressively informative DIY
guide to some of this city's remarkable history. An ideal and unreservedly recommended addition to personal, community,
college and university library American Regional History collections in general, and St. Louis travel guides in particular,
"Oldest St. Louis" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
Editorial Note: Author/historian Nini Harris has researched and written 14 books on St. Louis history and architecture. Her
education began with her grandmother recalling tales of life in the old immigrant communities as she baked cakes and pies
from scratch. Much of her time is spent digging through crumbling records, documenting the history of this great City. Her
works have explored the stories of the waves of immigrants who built St. Louis' remarkable brick neighborhoods and great
Gothic and Romanesque churches, along with the role St. Louis played in opening the American West and in the Union
victory in the Civil War.
The Self-Help Shelf
The Charisma Factor
Leesa Rowland
Hatherleigh Press
c/o The Hatherleigh Foundation
62545 State Highway 10, Hobart, NY 13788
www.hatherleighpress.com
9781578268979, $15.95, PB, 244pp
https://www.amazon.com/Charisma-Factor-Magnetic-Personal-Influence/dp/1578268974
Synopsis: Charisma is the unique quality of confidence, natural ability and personal magnetism that exists within each and
every one of us, just waiting to be unlocked. But while everyone is born with the capacity for charisma, few ever take full
advantage of this amazing personal gift.
More than just another 'how-to' guide to becoming popular or charming, "The Charisma Factor: Unlock the Secrets of
Magnetic Charm and Personal Influence in Your Life" by author, actress, and animal advocate, Leesa Rowland is part
mentor, part roadmap to embracing your individuality, discovering your authenticity and empowering yourself. By
determining what we really want in life, we ignite the drive necessary to reach new heights and become our best possible
self. This is the "it" factor (the charisma factor) that separates leaders from followers, students from teachers, and dreamers
from doers.
Critique: As informative and practical as it is inspired and inspiring, "The Charisma Factor: Unlock the Secrets of
Magnetic Charm and Personal Influence in Your Life" is the ideal DIY instructional guide and manual to achieving useful
and motivating self-esteem and leadership skills. While especially and unreservedly recommended for community, college,
and university library Self-Help/Self-Improvement collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The
Charisma Factor: Unlock the Secrets of Magnetic Charm and Personal Influence in Your Life" is also readily available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
A Woman's Guide to Claiming Space
Eliza VanCort
Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc.
www.bkconnection.com
9781523092734 $24.95 hc / $17.05 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Womans-Guide-Claiming-Space-Voice/dp/1523092734
Synopsis: For too long, women have been told to confine themselves--physically, socially, and emotionally. Eliza VanCort
says now is the time for women to stand tall, raise their voices, and claim their space.
Women fight the pressure to make themselves small in private, professional, and public spaces. Eliza VanCort, a teacher,
consultant, and speaker, provides the necessary tools for women to rewrite the rules and create the stories of their choosing
safely and without apology.
VanCort identifies the five key behaviors of all "Space Claiming Queens": use your voice and posture to project
confidence and power, end self-sabotage, forge connections, neutralize unsafe spaces, and unite across differences.
Through personal narrative, research, and actionable strategies, VanCort provides how-tos on combating challenges like
anti-mentors and microaggressions and gives advice for building up your "old girls" club, asking for what you're worth,
and owning your space without apology.
Bold, fun, and enlightening, this book is birthed from VanCort's incredible story. Having a mother with schizophrenia
forced VanCort to learn to be small and invisible at an early age, and suffering a traumatic brain injury as an adult required
her to rethink communication from the ground up. Drawing on these experiences, and those of real women everywhere,
VanCort empowers women to claim space for themselves and for their sisters with courage, empathy, and conviction
because "when we rise together, we rise so much higher."
Critique: A Woman's Guide to Claiming Space: Stand Tall. Raise Your Voice. Be Heard. lives up to its title as a self-help
guide especially for women, who are often culturally conditioned to stay quiet. Chapters discuss the importance of
disconnecting from people who would hold one back; how to establish safety particularly from anger, bullying, or sexual
harassment; and much more. Of particular interest is the examination of systemic racism, compared and contrasted to
systemic sexism, including but not limited to the frustrating behaviors of white people who claim they're "woke" yet
engage in extraordinarily annoying and thoughtless behaviors (such as touching a nonwhite person's hair without asking, or
asking a nonwhite person questions as if they speak for their entire race). A Woman's Guide to Claiming Space is
insightful, practical- minded, encouraging, and a "must-read" for women everywhere. Highly recommended! It should be
noted for personal reading lists that A Woman's Guide to Claiming Space is also available in a Kindle edition
($17.05).
The Christian Studies Shelf
40 Questions about Interpreting the Bible, second edition
Robert L. Plummer, author
Benjamin L. Merkle, series editor
Kregel Academic
https://www.kregel.com
9780825446665 $22.99 pbk / $19.66 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/40-Questions-About-Interpreting-Bible/dp/082544666X
Synopsis: 40 Questions about Interpreting the Bible, now in a revised second edition, probes the most pressing problems
encountered by churchgoers and beginning Bible students when they try to read and understand the Bible. Using feedback
received from pastors, professors, and Bible teachers, New Testament professor Robert L. Plummer includes updated
information about Bible translations, biblical interpretation, and Bible study technology and streamlines previous portions
to make room for a handful of new issues.
This second edition, updated regarding Bible translations, biblical interpretation trends, and Bible-related technology, will
continue to serve professors, pastors, and Bible study leaders as a go-to guide or textbook. New Testament scholar Robert
L. Plummer covers historical, interpretive, practical, and theological matters such as:
Were the ancient manuscripts of the Bible transmitted accurately?
Why can't people agree on what the Bible means?
How do we interpret the Psalms?
How can I use the Bible in daily devotions?
Does the Bible teach that God wants Christians to be healthy and wealthy?
40 Questions about Interpreting the Bible provides crucial assistance for students ready to engage with biblical scholarship
and for teachers eager to lead Bible studies with confidence.
Critique: New testament scholar Robert Plummer presents 40 Questions about Interpreting the Bible, now in an updated
second edition with new chapters about Bible translations, trends in interpreting the Bible, and technology related to the
Bible. Acutely edifying and enhanced with a bibliography and index, 40 Questions about Interpreting the Bible is
thoroughly accessible to lay readers and experienced scholars alike. Chapters focus on common yet vital questions such as
"Were the Ancient Manuscripts of the bible Transmitted Accurately?", "Why Can't People Agree on What the Bible
Means?", "How Can I Lead a Bible Study?" and much more. Many of the chapters focus on how to approach specific texts
including historical narratives, prophecy, proverbs, poetry, and the psalms. 40 Questions about Interpreting the Bible is a
"must" for personal, public library, and church library Christian Studies collections, highly recommended. It should be
noted for personal reading lists that 40 Questions about Interpreting the Bible is also available in a Kindle edition
($19.66).
God's Revolution
Eberhard Arnold
Plough Publishing House
www.plough.com
9781636080000 $20.00 hc / $8.49 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Gods-Revolution-Community-Eberhard-Centennial/dp/1636080006
Synopsis: A radical vision for a society transformed by the teachings and spirit of Jesus.
Do you feel powerless to change the injustice at every level of society? Are you tired of answers that ignore the root causes
of human suffering? This selection of writings by Eberhard Arnold, who left a career and the established church in order to
live out the gospel, calls us to a completely different way.
Be warned: Arnold doesn't approach discipleship as the route to some benign religious fulfillment, but as a revolution a
transformation that begins within and spreads outward to encompass every aspect of life. Arnold writes in the same
tradition of radical obedience to the gospel as his contemporaries Karl Barth and Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
Critique: God's Revolution: Justice, Community and the Coming Kingdom collects writings from author Eberhard Arnold,
who departed a career and the established church in order to live more closely to the Gospel. Most of these writings are
dated to years in the early 1930's; Arnold's philosophy of adherence to the Gospel is distilled into brief passages, and many
of these passages are paired with a specific reference to Gospel scripture. For example, Arnold's paragraph explaining why
"The Sword of the [Holy] Spirit Is Not the Sword of Wrath" has a reference to Eph. 6:17 and Rom. 13:4. Intensely reverent
and thought-provoking, God's Revolution is highly recommended for theology studies collections. It should be noted for
personal reading lists that God's Revolution is also available in a Kindle edition ($8.49).
The Judaic Studies Shelf
The Snake at the Mouth of the Cave
Moshe Sokol
Maggid Books
www.maggidbooks.com
9781592645473 $24.95 hc
https://www.amazon.com/Snake-at-Mouth-Cave/dp/159264547X
Synopsis: The Talmud is well known for its complex legal discussions and halakhic discourse, yet the Talmud also
contains a large amount of aggada, non-halalkhic teachings about theology, ethics, spirituality, psychology, health, and
many other topics, interspersed throughout the text. This fascinating material has not merited the same amount of scholarly
attention over the centuries as has the halakhic portion, and its riches are waiting to be mined.
The Snake at the Mouth of the Cave by Rabbi Dr. Moshe Sokol offers eye-opening studies of eight aggadic stories about
sages. These narratives contain dramatic explorations of human nature revolving around a common theme: the cost of
living a deeply principled life, and the complex ways in which human nature, past experiences, and future hopes shape
difficult moral choices. Rabbi Sokol sheds light on these stories, drawing on classical rabbinic commentaries,
contemporary scholarship, and insights from such diverse fields as psychology, literature, cultural studies, philosophy,
history, and more.
The Talmud has endured for millennia, and despite predictions to the contrary, the study of Talmud flourishes. The
talmudic conversation will continue long into the future, and aggadic narratives too, properly understood, have much to
teach future generations.
Critique: The Snake at the Mouth of the Cave is a scholarly examination of eight aggadic (Talmud material not pertaining
to legal matters) stories about sages in the sacred text of the Talmud. Meticulously written and expertly presented by Rabbi
Dr. Moshe Sokol, The Snake at the Mouth of the Cave is an invaluable cross-examination, drawing interpretations on
whether deathbed reconciliation is possible, conflicts between teachers and students, the excommunication of R. Eliezer,
and much more. These narratives have not been as heavily studied as the legal material of the Talmud, making The Snake
at the Mouth of the Cave an extremely welcome contribution to personal, public, and synagogue library Judaic Studies
shelves. Highly recommended.
The Religion/Spirituality Shelf
The World of the Axial Sages
John C. Stephens
Cambridge Scholars Publishing
www.cambridgescholars.com
9781527560819 $99.95
https://www.amazon.com/World-Axial-Sages-John-Stephens/dp/1527560813
Synopsis: This book presents an engaging analysis of the global spiritual changes of the first millennium BCE. Between
the sixth and fourth centuries BCE, several new, revolutionary religious and philosophic movements were born throughout
the world. Rather than using the well-known label Axial Age to refer to this time of religious change, the book argues that
a better choice would be the Age of Awakening, since it places more emphasis upon the personal, internal dimension of
religious experience lying at the core of these developments.
Earthshattering spiritual encounters with the sacred led the prophets and sages of the Age of Awakening to redirect peoples
attention away from the stagnant traditions of the past towards new forms of dynamic spirituality. The era saw the
emergence of a variety of innovative spiritual pathways in both the eastern and western worlds. In classical Greece,
Pythagoras and Plato proposed new spiritual and intellectual alternatives to the outdated religious myths and rituals of the
polis. The Middle East also played a significant role in the spiritual revolution of the first millennium BCE. As early as the
sixth century BCE, the Persian prophet Zoroasters revelatory visions about the Truth and the Lie led to the birth of a new
religious movement known as Zoroastrianism. At the time of the Babylonian Exile, ancient Judaism underwent a process
of radical spiritual renewal largely due to the inspired teachings of the Hebrew prophets. In India, the writers of the
Upanishads provided a spiritual reinterpretation of many of the old Vedic myths and rituals.
Sages including the Buddha and Mahavira rejected the old sacrificial system of the brahmins and asserted that liberation
from the cycle of birth and death could only be found through the practice of asceticism and a general withdrawal from the
illusory material world. As such, this book highlights the importance of the de-stabilizing influences of religious
experience for understanding the revolutionary spiritual developments of the first millennium BCE.
Critique: The World of the Axial Sages: The Age of Awakening is a scholarly examination of humanity's spiritual
evolution during the first millennium BCE. Chapters scrutinize the rise of Zoroastrianism, Hebrew prophets, Indian
reinterpretation of Vedic beliefs, the dawn of Buddhism, the teachings of Chinese sages and more. Notes and an index
round out this studious and thought-provoking cross-examination religious awakenings in cultures across the globe. Highly
recommended especially for college library Religious Studies collections.
The Martial Arts Shelf
Tai Chi Concepts and Experiments
Robert Chuckrow, Ph.D.
YMAA Publication Center
www.ymaa.com
9781594397417 $24.95 pbk / $9.89 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Tai-Chi-Concepts-Experiments-Strength-ebook/dp/B08DDK3RWM
Synopsis: The Tai Chi Concepts and Experiments book clarifies and makes accessible critical aspects of the art that only a
small number of high-level practitioners currently understand and manifest.
Numerous step-by-step experiments are provided for readers to experience and perfect these critical tai chi aspects.
Contents include:
The meaning and importance of releasing tension in movement for stability, health, and spirituality.
The differences between contractive and expansive strength including a promising mechanism for the nature of expansive
strength.
Numerous experiments for readers to recognize and experience expansive strength and to confirm that they have achieved
it.
Elucidation of famous master's sayings on mind, strength, and chi.
Health and martial advantages of expansion over contraction in tai chi.
Protocols using expansion including those for helping an excess curvature of the upper and lower spine and for relieving
plantar fasciitis.
Quotes from the classics and how they confirm the interpretations of the principles of tai chi.
How to achieve optimal balance through an understanding of physical, anatomical, physiological, and mental factors.
A detailed analysis of "rooting and redirecting" including physical and internal aspects.
Understanding natural movement from physical, philosophical, health, and martial points of view.
This interdisciplinary book utilizes, elementary physics, physiology, anatomy, psychology, and spirituality. It contains
detailed analyses and explanations for achieving internal, expansive strength, known as nei jin, and for attaining optimal
timing and natural movement.
Critique: Tai Chi Concepts and Experiments: Hidden Strength, Natural Movement, and Timing, is a studious guide written
expressly for skilled Tai Chi practitioners, in order to fill a gap in existing literature and studies of the art. Chapters
expressly focus upon cultivating "expansive strength", which is far more than simple muscle conditioning, and the optimal
timing of Tai Chi movements. Black-and-white photographs and diagrams help illustrate the technical points described and
step-by-step experiments, in this complex analysis of Tai Chi dynamics. Tai Chi Concepts and Experiments is highly
recommended for advanced practitioners of Tai Chi seeking to take their understanding of the art to the next level. It
should be noted for personal reading lists that Tai Chi Concepts and Experiments is also available in a Kindle edition
($9.89).
Editor's Note: Author Robert Chuckrow, Ph.D. (experimental physics NYU) has been practicing tai chi since 1970. He is
certified as a master teacher of Kinetic Awareness(R) and has authored six books, notably The Tai Chi Book (YMAA,
1998). Dr. Chuckrow has studied tai chi, chi kung (qigong), and other movement and healing arts under masters such as
Cheng Man-ch'ing, William C. C. Chen, Elaine Summers, Alice Holtman, Harvey I. Sober, Kevin Harrington, and Chin
Fan-siong.
The Gardening Shelf
Grow Your Own Mushrooms
Folko Kullmann
Green Books
www.greenbooks.co.uk
c/o Independent Publishers Group (dist.)
https://www.ipgbook.com
9780857845252 $15.99 pbk / $15.19 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Grow-Your-Own-Mushrooms-choose/dp/085784525X
Synopsis: Grow delicious edible mushrooms indoors or outdoors, in your garden or on your balcony, and enjoy them fresh
throughout the year. This practical book explains how to grow fungi, with easy-to-understand instructions:
Methods and growing-media for indoors and out
Getting your mushrooms started and caring for them
How to harvest, store, and preserve your mushrooms all year round
In-depth descriptions of the most popular varieties
This beautifully designed book is the perfect introduction to mushrooms. In it, Folko Kullmann explains what fungi are,
how they grow, their history and medicinal properties. It outlines every step of how to grow mushrooms at home, with lots
of photographs throughout.
Grow Your Own Mushrooms includes a 12-month plan and a list of the best mushrooms to grow at home. In the garden,
mushrooms thrive in areas too shady for vegetables, fruits, and herbs. Whether you grow them on logs, straw bales, or
ready-mixed growing media, with the right care you're sure of a rich crop of delicious and unusual mushrooms.
Mushrooms are completely at home on balconies, where you can grow them in the shade in pots or containers and many
are in their element indoors - in the kitchen or bathroom, on a windowsill, in a dark corner, or in the basement. Best of all,
indoors you can grow them all year round!
Critique: Grow Your Own Mushrooms lives up to its titles as a practical-minded, reader-friendly guide to growing edible
mushrooms in one's own home, enhanced with tips and recipes for cooking them in delicious dishes. Full-color
photographs on nearly every page and a handy index enhance this excellent guide for aspiring mushroom gardeners of all
backgrounds and experience levels. Highly recommended! It should be noted for personal reading lists that Grow Your
Own Mushrooms is also available in a Kindle edition ($15.19).
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
The True Nature of Tarot, tenth anniversary edition
Diane Wing, M.A.
www.DianeWingAuthor.com
Marvelous Spirit Press
www.MarvelousSpirit.com
c/o Loving Healing Press
www.LHPress.com
9781615995844 $27.95 pbk / $7.95 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/True-Nature-Tarot-Empowerment-Anniversary/dp/1615995846
Synopsis: Tarot empowers those who connect with its wisdom. As a tool of enlightenment, it guides, reveals hidden
insights, and reflects the hopes, fears, and energies of the practitioner and seeker. Based in Universal Law, the cards form a
book of metaphysics. Their interpretations change with your level of understanding to help you navigate your life path and
generate alternatives. It is a boundless tool that allows you to tap into ancient wisdom that promotes deep transformation of
the self and the way in which you experience interactions with the physical, spiritual, emotional, and mental realms.
Develop your own style of reading tarot, from choosing your deck to pulling information from the cards.
Learn how a reading is experienced from the perspectives of both the reader and the inquirer.
Understand the variables that impact the accuracy of your reading.
Discover ways to increase the amount of information pulled from the tarot.
Become expert at grounding and centering to maximize your energetic stability on a daily basis.
Learn powerful spreads that give you ways to see interactions between the cards.
Increase your awareness of the ethics of imparting information
Critique: Now in a tenth anniversary edition, The True Nature of Tarot: Your Path to Personal Empowerment lives up to
its title as a guide to using tarot as a tool to navigating one's life and connecting with timeless wisdom. Thoroughly
accessible to beginner and advanced practitioners alike, The True Nature of Tarot discusses the basics of tarot reading,
ethical considerations, the major and minor arcana and their combinations, and much more. A glossary, a bibliography, and
an index round out this excellent, user-friendly reference and resource to the art of tarot reading. It should be noted for
personal reading lists that The True Nature of Tarot is also available in a Kindle edition ($7.95).
The Dance Shelf
The Pointe Book, fourth edition
Janice Barringer and Sarah Schlesinger
Princeton Book Company, Publishers
www.dancehorizons.com
9780871273987 $45.00 pbk
https://www.amazon.com/Pointe-Book-Shoes-Training-Technique/dp/0871273985
Synopsis: New features of the fourth edition include:
updated pointe shoe size charts
new information about pointe shoe fitting
innovative ways to sew on ribbons
new shoes that compliment dark skin
the subject of touching and sexual harassment is addressed
new interviews with famous and highly respected teachers
an extensive list of colleges and universities that offer ballet and pointe classes
entirely new chapter on sample pointe classes
extensively updated medical section with surprising revelations about anti- inflammatories and ice
new flooring products to prevent harsh impact and slipping
expanded Men on Pointe section due to increased interest by male dancers
the section on Profiles of Pointe Shoemakers and Sellers is totally updated
ballerinas talk about their shoes, how they prepare them, and new products they can't live without
Critique: Now in an updated fourth edition with a wealth of new information and expanded subjects, The Pointe Book:
Shoes, Training, Technique is the definitive, in-depth guide to the art form of pointe dancing - graceful dance poses that
balance the entire body on the extreme tip of the toe, and a fundamental component of ballet. Immensely detailed, yet
thoroughly accessible to readers of all skill and experience levels, The Pointe Book discusses the history and practice of
pointe dancing, fitting and caring for pointe shoes, how pointe is taught, preventions and medical care for pointe-related
injuries, and much more. The Pointe Book, fourth edition is an absolute "must-have" for anyone interested in teaching,
practicing, or simply learning about this physically demanding yet strikingly beautiful dance art. Highly
recommended.
The American History Shelf
The Truman Court: Law and the Limits of Loyalty
Rawn James, Jr.
University of Missouri Press
201 S. 7th Street, Columbia, MO 65211
https://upress.missouri.edu
9780826222299, $36.95, HC, 320pp
https://www.amazon.com/Truman-Court-Law-Limits-Loyalty/dp/0826222293
Synopsis: Perhaps the most overlooked aspect of Harry S. Truman's presidency is his judicial legacy, with even the finest
of Truman biographies neglecting to consider the influence he had on the Supreme Court. Yet, as Rawn James Jr. lays out
in engaging detail in the pages of "The Truman Court: Law and the Limits of Loyalty", president Truman successfully
molded the high court into a judicial body that appeared to actively support his administration's political agenda.
In rulings that sparked controversy in their own time, the Supreme Court repeatedly upheld Truman's most contentious
policies, including actions to restrict free speech, expand civil rights, and manage labor union unrest.
"The Truman Court: Law and the Limits of Loyalty" also argues that the years between FDR's death in 1945 and Chief
Justice Earl Warren's confirmation in 1953 (the dawn of the Cold War) were, contrary to widespread belief, important
years in Supreme Court history. Never before or since has a president so quickly and completely changed the ideological
and temperamental composition of the Court. With remarkable swiftness and certainty, Truman constructed a Court on
which he relied to lend constitutional credence to his political agenda.
Critique: Of special and timely interest given today's political climate and calls from some quarters for expanding the
number of Supreme Court justices, "The Truman Court: Law and the Limits of Loyalty" is an especially and unreservedly
recommended addition to community, college, and university library American judicial history collections and
supplemental studies curriculums. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, political activists,
and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "The Truman Court: Law and the Limits of Loyalty"
is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $35.10).
Editorial Note: Rawn James, Jr. has practiced law in Washington, D.C. for 20 years. His previous books are Root and
Branch: Charles Hamilton Houston, Thurgood Marshall and the Struggle to End Segregation and The Double V: How
Wars, Protest and Harry Truman Desegregated America's Military.
Recovering an Irish Voice from the American Frontier
Eoin Un Cathail, author
Patrick J. Mahoney, translator and editor
University of North Texas Press
www.untpress.unt.edu
9781574418279 $24.95 hc
https://www.amazon.com/Recovering-Irish-Voice-American-Frontier/dp/1574418270
Synopsis: Recovering an Irish Voice from the American Frontier is a bilingual compilation of stories by Eoin Ua Cathail,
an Irish emigrant, based loosely on his experiences in the West and Midwest.
The author draws on the popular American Dime Novel genre throughout to offer unique reflections on nineteenth-century
American life. As a member of a government mule train accompanying the U.S. military during the Plains Indian Wars, Ua
Cathail depicts fierce encounters with Native American tribes, while also subtly commenting on the hypocrisy of many
famine-era Irish immigrants who failed to recognize the parallels between their own plight and that of dispossessed Native
peoples. These views are further challenged by his stories set in the upper Midwest.
His writings are marked by the eccentricities and bloated claims characteristic of much American Western literature of the
time, while also offering valuable transnational insights into Irish myth, history, and the Gaelic Revival movement. This
bilingual volume, with facing Irish-English pages, marks the first publication of Ua Cathail's work in both the original Irish
and in translation. It also includes a foreword from historian Richard White, a comprehensive introduction by Mahoney,
and a host of previously unpublished historical images.
Critique: Recovering an Irish Voice from the American Frontier is a bilingual compilation of stories and prose writings by
Eoin Ua Cathail, an Irish emigrant who came to America in 1863. Ua Cathail's stories, roughly based on his experiences in
the American West and Midwest, are presented both in their original Irish language and in an adept English translation by
scholar and award-winning author Patrick J. Mahoney. Ua Cathail's writings particularly focus upon violent conflicts with
displaced Native Americans, drawn from his own witness of clashes during his time as a member of a government mule
train accompanying the U.S. military during the Plains Indian Wars. The tragic parallel between Irish immigrants who fled
famine in their former nation and dispossessed Native peoples is not lost on Ua Cathail, even as he notes how it seems to
be lost on other Irish immigrants of his time. Recovering an Irish Voice from the American Frontier is a fascinating
primary testimony, given to embellishments and eccentricities, yet also providing a unique window into the American
frontier a century and a half in the past. Recovering an Irish Voice from the American Frontier is highly recommended,
especially for public and college library collections.
Buffalo Bill and the Birth of American Celebrity
Kellen Cutsforth
TwoDot
4501 Forbes Blvd. #200, Lanham MD 20706
www.twodotbooks.com
9781493047420, $29.95 HC, $23.86 Kindle, 184pp
https://www.amazon.com/Buffalo-Bill-Birth-American-Celebrity/dp/1493047426
"Buffalo Bill and the Birth of American Celebrity" by Kellen Cutsforth focuses on the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show and
the man who created it, becoming not just an entertainment phenomenon but a key reflector of the vision and perception of
the American West. Bill Cody's early entertainment efforts, how he depicted frontier life, his stage career, and those who
wrote about him and fictionalized his dramatic life are all covered in energetic history reviews that consider the evolution
of the Wild West's image and Cody's influence on it. Black and white illustrations throughout depict advertising, capture
images of the show, and add visual enhancement to a lively saga of American history designed to intrigue history and
entertainment readers alike.
The World History Shelf
American Women Report World War I
Chris Dubbs, editor
University of North Texas Press
http://untpress.unt.edu
9781574418255 $29.95 hc / $23.96 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/American-Women-Report-World-War/dp/1574418254
Synopsis: In the opening decades of the 20th century, war reporting remained one of the most well-guarded, thoroughly
male bastions of journalism. However, when war erupted in Europe in August 1914, a Boston woman, Mary Boyle
O'Reilly, became one of the first journalists to bring the war to American newspapers. A Saturday Evening Post journalist,
Mary Roberts Rinehart, became the first journalist, of any country, of any gender, to visit the trenches. These women were
only the first wave of female journalists who covered the conflict.
American Women Report World War I collects more than 35 of the best of their articles and those that highlight the
richness of their contribution to the history of the Great War. Editor Chris Dubbs provides section introductions for
background and context to stories such as "Woman Writer Sees Horrors of Battle," "Star Woman Runs Blockade," and
"America Meets France."
The work of female journalists focuses more squarely on individuals caught in the conflict - including themselves. It offers
a valuable counterpoint to the male, horror-of-the-trenches experience and demonstrates how World War I served as a
catalyst that enabled women to expand the public forum for their opinions on social and moral issues.
Critique: American Women Report World War I: An Anthology of their Journalism gathers 35 of the most crucial articles
written by female journalists during what was, at the time, called "The Great War". Editor Chris Dubbs adds contextual
information about these intrepid women and the stories they wrote. A handful of vintage black-and-white photographs, a
bibliography, and an index round out this invaluable contribution to public and college library journalism and world
history collections. Highly recommended! It should be noted for personal reading lists that American Women Report
World War I is also available in a Kindle edition ($23.96).
Old Testament Warriors
Simon Elliott
Casemate Publishers
1940 Lawrence Road, Havertown, PA 19083
www.casematepublishers.com
9781612009544, $29.95, HC, 160pp
https://www.amazon.com/Old-Testament-Warriors-Cultures-Ancient/dp/1612009549
Synopsis: The historical period covered by the Old Testament (beginning in approximately 3000 BC) was one of great
technological development and innovation in warfare, as competing cultures clashed in the ancient Middle East. The
Sumerians were the first to introduce the use of bronze into warfare, and were centuries ahead of the Egyptians in the use
of the wheel. The Assyrians developed chariot warfare and set the standard for a new equine-based military culture. The
Babylonians had an army whose people were granted land in return for army service.
Deftly combining biblical records and archaeology findings, "Old Testament Warriors: The Clash of Cultures in the
Ancient Near East" by Simon Elliott is an authoritative history that gives both academia and the non-specialist general
reader an informative overview of warfare and fighting in the age of the Old Testament, from the Akkadians, Early and
Middle Kingdom Egypt and their enemies, Mycenean and Minoan Greece and Crete, Assyrians and New Kingdom
Egyptians, the Hittites, the Sea Peoples who gave rise to the Philistines, the Hebrew kingdom, the Babylonian kingdom,
the Medes and later Persian Empires, through to early Classical Greece.
Of special note is how archaeologist and historian Simon Elliott deftly explores how archaeology can shed light on events
in the Bible including the famous tumbling walls of Jericho, the career of David the boy warrior who faced the Philistines,
and Gideon, who was able to defeat an army that vastly outnumbered his own.
Critique: Enhanced for academia with the inclusion of an informative Introduction and Conclusion, a Timeline, a two page
Further Reading bibliography, a two page listing of Acknowledgments, and a three page Index, "Old Testament Warriors:
The Clash of Cultures in the Ancient Near East" is highly and unreservedly recommended for community, college, and
university library Ancient Mesopotamian Military History collections and supplemental studies curriculums. It should be
noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, and non- specialist general readers with an interest in the subject
that "Old Testament Warriors: The Clash of Cultures in the Ancient Near East" is also readily available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $7.49).
Editorial Note: Simon Elliott is an historian, archaeologist and Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Kent where
he studied for his PhD in Archaeology on the subject of the Roman military in Britain. He also has an MA in War Studies
from KCL and an MA in Archaeology from UCL. He frequently gives talks on Roman themes and is co-Director at a
Roman villa excavation.
The Civil War Shelf
Embattled Capital
Robert M. Dunkerly, author
Doug Crenshaw, author
Savas Beatie
PO Box 4527, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
www.savasbeatie.com
9781611214918, $14.95, PB, 192pp
https://www.amazon.com/Richmond-During-Civil-War-Emerging/dp/1611214912
Synopsis: "On To Richmond!" proclaimed the editors for the New York Tribune in the spring of 1861. Thereafter, that call
became the rallying cry for the North's eastern armies as they marched, maneuvered, and fought their way toward the
capital of the Confederacy.
Just 100 miles from Washington, DC, Richmond served as a symbol of the rebellion itself. It was home to the Confederate
Congress, cabinet, president, and military leadership. And it housed not only the Confederate government but also some of
the Confederacy's most important industry and infrastructure. The city was filled with prisons, hospitals, factories, training
camps, and government offices.
Through four years of war, armies battled at its doorsteps and even penetrated its defenses. Civilians felt the impact of war
in many ways: food shortages, rising inflation, a bread riot, industrial accidents, and eventually, military occupation. To
this day, the war's legacy remains deeply written into the city and its history.
"On to Richmond!: Richmond During the Civil War" by historians Doug Crenshaw and Robert M. Dunkerly tells the story
of the Confederate capital before, during, and after the Civil War. This DIY guidebook includes a comprehensive list of
places to visit: the battlefields around the city, museums, historic sites, monuments, cemeteries, historical preservation
groups, and more.
Critique: Impressively informed and informative, thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "On to
Richmond!: Richmond During the Civil War" is a valued and enthusiastically recommended addition to community,
college and university library American Civil War histories. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students,
academicians, Civil War buffs, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "On to Richmond!:
Richmond During the Civil War" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).
Editorial Note #1: Robert M. Dunkerly is a historian, award-winning author, and speaker who is actively involved in
historic preservation and research. He works as a park ranger at Richmond National Battlefield Park. Among his several
books are two in the ECW Series: To the Bitter End: Appomattox, Bennett Place, and the Surrenders of the Confederacy
and No Turning Back: A Guide to the 1864 Overland Campaign.
Editorial Note #2: Doug Crenshaw is a volunteer historic interpreter for the Richmond National Battlefield Park. A
member of the Richmond Civil War Roundtable, he is a speaker, presenter, tour leader, and the author of books on
Glendale and Fort Harrison. Doug is a descendant of the Sydnor family, which lived at Beaver Dam Creek during that
battle, and the Binford family, which lived behind the Malvern Hill battlefield.
The Agriculture/Horticulture Shelf
From Farms to Incubators
Amy Wu
Craven Street Books
www.cravenstreetbooks.com
9781610355759, $24.95 PB, $14.49 Kindle, 230pp
https://www.amazon.com/Farms-Incubators-Women-Innovators-Revolutionizing/dp/161035575X
From Farms to Incubators: Women Innovators Revolutionizing How Our Food is Grown by Amy Wu offers agriculture
history and women's issues readers alike a business survey of women who are using technology to change agricultural
pursuits. This book packs in case studies of women entrepreneurs from different backgrounds. Each tell how they
employed agtech innovations to solve agribusiness issues, and each experience reflects a piece of change affecting the
industry as a whole. Any involved in agricultural and technological intersections or women's roles as business and
community leaders should consider this survey a winner. That it comes packed with good-sized color photos of women,
agricultural settings, and technology in action furthers its appeal not just to business leaders and agricultural collections,
but women more casually interested in the lives and careers of female innovators.
A Practical Guide to Turfgrass Fungicides, second edition
Richard Latin
APS Press
3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121
www.shopapspress.org
9780890546734, $215.00, HC, 353pp
https://www.amazon.com/Practical-Guide-Turfgrass-Fungicides-Second/dp/0890546738
Synopsis: Now in a fully updated and expanded second edition, "A Practical Guide to Turfgrass Fungicides" by Richard
Latin (Emeritus Professor of Plant Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana) is a current, comprehensive, and
hands-on resource focused specifically on the fungicides used for disease control on turfgrass.
Professor Latin developed "A Practical Guide to Turfgrass Fungicides" to be a thoroughly 'user-friendly' guide based on his
belief that if turf managers understand how and why fungicides work (and sometimes fail), they will use these products
more effectively and efficiently and communicate disease control issues with greater confidence.
Professor Latin describes this combination instructional guide and manual as "an off-season resource" that can be used to
reflect on past seasons and plan for the season ahead.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "A Practical Guide to Turfgrass Fungicides" is an
impressively comprehensive, nicely illustrated, and informative textbook that is especially and unreservedly recommended
for professional, college and university library Agriculture/Horticulture collections and supplemental studies
curriculums.
The Hunting/Fishing Shelf
The Last Wild Road
T. Edward Nickens
Lyons Press
LyonsPress.com
c/o Rowman & Littlefield
https://rowman.com
9781493059645 $27.95 hc / $19.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Field-Stream-Last-Wild-Road/dp/1493059645
Synopsis: The Last Wild Road is a raucous, gripping, sometimes terrifying, often hilarious, and deeply meditative journey
through the heart of the outdoors in the modern world. Collected from more than 20 years of hunting and fishing cover
stories, columns, and adventure tales written by T. Edward Nickens for Field & Stream, this book is a road trip that takes
in a huge sweep of the North American landscape - blackwater rivers in the wilds of eastern North Carolina, deserts and
prairies of the American West, remote tundra of northern Canada, and the wildest rivers of Alaska. Along every rutted road
and rough trail, with a rod, gun, and pen, Nickens meets unforgettable characters - old French-speaking Cajuns at
Louisiana squirrel camps, a one-armed fly-tyer in the ancient Appalachians, Pennsylvania brothers who lost their father in
a hunting accident decades ago and return to the scene for a powerful, poignant encounter with history. He explores remote
wilderness waters to chase trout and ducks, but finds rich meaning, too, in the familiar and close-to-home: fishing with his
children, plumbing the forests of local farms, and butchering deer in his basement as a thanksgiving for the gifts of the
outdoors.
When it comes to hunting and fishing, writing often falls into the categories of where-to-go, the how-do-it, and
the-what-to-bring. This book embarks on the question of "why." Why does the pursuit of game and fish, and the travel to
the wild places where they thrive, bring meaning and clarity to living in the modern world? Why do we laugh more, and
live more deeply, far from the sidewalk? If you've ever felt that way, you'll find yourself in The Last Wild Road.
Critique: Outdoorsman, columnist, and editor-at-large T. Edward Nickens presents The Last Wild Road: Adventures and
Essays from a Sporting Life is an anthology of over 20 years of cover stories, columns, and true-life adventure tales about
hunting and fishing for Field & Stream magazine. Outdoor enthusiasts and armchair travelers alike will thoroughly enjoy
these adventurous stories, enhanced with an index for a quick and easy search of favorite topics. Highly recommended! It
should be noted for personal reading lists that The Last Wild Road is also available in a Kindle edition ($19.99).
The Architecture Shelf
The Threefold Logic of Advanced Architecture
Manuel Gausa, author
Jordi Vivaldi, author
Actar D
c/o Actar Publishers
440 Park Avenue S, 17th FL, New York, NY 10016
http://actar.com
9781948765572, $44.95, PB, 360pp
https://www.amazon.com/Threefold-Logic-Advanced-Architecture-Informational/dp/1948765578
Synopsis: During the last 30 years, Advanced Architecture has consolidated an interactive and informational logic that
differs from that of Modernity and Postmodernity. This logic is threefold; it is modulated through three coexisting
protocols (modes of action) whose peaks of intensity occur in three different decades.
"The Threefold Logic of Advanced Architecture: Conformative, Distributive and Expansive Protocols for an Informational
Practice: 1990-2020" by the team of Manuel Gausa and Jordi Vivaldi proposes a threefold cultural narrative whose
interactive and informational logic differs from that of modernity and postmodernity. It positions three different ethos by
critically approaching the architectural side of a cultural mutation that has been affecting the Western experimental areas of
knowledge and practice since the end of the last century.
A transformative process constituted by a constellation of transdisciplinary manifestations, accelerations, turns, shortcuts
and clusterizations that by no means can be read under one single epistemological umbrella. In this sense, rather than
approaching the practice of architecture focusing on its disciplinary inner specificity, "The Threefold Logic of Advanced
Architecture" approaches the research of experimental architecture focusing on its extra-disciplinary entanglements.
"The Threefold Logic of Advanced Architecture" also argues that a vast multiplicity of fields of knowledge participates in
a cultural endeavour modulated through three protocols (forms of action) that singularize three decades: Conformative
Protocols (1990-2000), Distributive Protocols (2000-2010) and Expansive Protocols (2010-2020). These three periods
shouldn't be read as three hermetic and concatenated monades, but as three different modulations of the same narrative,
that is, as three overlapping and coexisting systems whose peaks of intensity occur in three different decades.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "The Threefold Logic of Advanced Architecture:
Conformative, Distributive and Expansive Protocols for an Informational Practice: 1990-2020" is an impressively
informative and comprehensive study that must be considered an essential and unreservedly recommended addition to
professional, college and university library Contemporary Architectural Studies collections and supplement curriculum
reading lists. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of architectural students, academia, and practicing architects
that "The Threefold Logic of Advanced Architecture: Conformative, Distributive and Expansive Protocols for an
Informational Practice: 1990-2020" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $19.49).
Editorial Note #1: Manuel Gausa PhD is a Full Professor of Architecture and Landscape Design, DSA- Faculty of
Architecture (UNIGE-Universit degli Studi) of Genova. He is also a Founding Member of Actar Architecture and Actar
Projects Editorials.
Editorial Note #2: Jordi Vivaldi is a writer and theorist based in Vienna. PhD Architect (IOUD, Austria, 2014-18) and PhD
Philosopher (EGS (cand.), Switzerland, 2018 - ...). Jordi's areas of research include 20th and 21st century's theory of
experimental architecture and technology, as well as various forms of Speculative Realism and New Materialism. Besides
his curatorial tasks as editor in chief of the architectural magazine "IaaC Bits", his work has crystallized in several articles,
essays and lectures.
Terra-Sorta-Firma: Reclaiming the Littoral Gradient
Fadi Masoud
Actar D
c/o Actar Publishers
440 Park Avenue S, 17th FL, New York, NY 10016
http://actar.com
9781948765381, $39.95, HC, 216pp
https://www.amazon.com/Terra-Sorta-Firma-Reclaiming-Littoral-Fadi-Masoud/dp/1948765381
Synopsis: For millennia and with the discovery of agriculture, cities have grown and expanded onto previously saturated
grounds; "reclaiming" land from estuaries, marshes, mangroves, and seabeds. While these artificial coastlines are sites of
tremendous real estate, civic, and infrastructural investments, they are also the most vulnerable to the effects of climate
change.
"Terra-Sorta-Firma: Reclaiming the Littoral Gradient" by Professor Fadi Masoud documents the global extent of reclaimed
coastal lands, and provides a framework for comparison across varying geographies, cultures, and histories. It renders
visible the ubiquity and precarity of urban coastal reclamation in an age of increased environmental and economic
indeterminacy. It challenges designers, developers, policymakers, engineers, and urbanists to reconsider the design and
construction of land itself, and to re-imagine this most fundamental of all infrastructures along a gradient of
inundation.
Critique: Profusely illustrated throughout, "Terra-Sorta-Firma: Reclaiming the Littoral Gradient" is a seminal work of
simply outstanding scholarship. Exceptionally informative, well written, organized and presented, "Terra-Sorta-Firma:
Reclaiming the Littoral Gradient" is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to college and university library
Coastal Ecosystems, Landscape Architecture, and Urban & Land Use Planning collections and supplemental studies
curriculums. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, professionals, governmental policy
makers, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Terra-Sorta-Firma: Reclaiming the Littoral
Gradient" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $27.95).
Editorial Note: Fadi Masoud is an Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture and Urbanism at the Daniels Faculty.
Prior to joining the University of Toronto, Masoud was a Lecturer in Landscape Architecture and Urban Design at
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and an affiliated faculty with the MIT Leventhal Center for Advanced
Urbanism, where he co-led research and design projects on coastal urbanism, urban codes, and the Future of Suburbia.
Towers in the City: Berlin Alexanderplatz
Hans Kollhoff, author
Kyle Dugdale, editor
Yale School of Architecture
c/o Actar Publishers
440 Park Avenue S, 17th FL, New York, NY 10016
http://actar.com
9781638409021, $20.00, PB, 156pp
https://www.amazon.com/Towers-City-Alexanderplatz-Hans-Kollhoff/dp/1638409021
Synopsis: Deftly edited by Kyle Dugdale, "Towers in the City: Berlin Alexanderplatz" by architect and academician Hans
Kollhoff examines the tower as the architectural expression of a long-term commitment to the city of Berlin, arguing that
development must be driven not only by property value and architectural ingenuity but also by a responsibility to collective
memory and to a common humanity.
These public commitments find architectural expression in a tectonic radically different to that of contemporary patterns of
development. Taking Berlin's Alexanderplatz as an opportunity for studying the role of the skyscraper within the urban
fabric, the volume presents a series of prompts, provocations, and projects to address the challenge of designing a tower
that can be understood as a monolithic whole, even if it is assembled from discrete parts.
Critique: A profusely illustrated, informative, and thought-provoking study, "Towers in the City: Berlin Alexanderplatz" is
a seminal and unreservedly recommended addition to professional, college and university library Contemporary
Architecture collections and supplemental studies curriculum reading lists.
Editorial Note #1: Hans Kollhoff is a German architect and professor. He is a representative of Postmodern and New
Classical Architecture, as well as a protagonist of New Urbanism.
Editorial Note #2: Kyle Dugdale is an architect and historian. He has taught history, theory, and design at Yale School of
Architecture and at Columbia's Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. He holds an undergraduate
degree in classics from Corpus Christi College, Oxford, a professional degree in architecture from Harvard's Graduate
School of Design, and a doctorate from Yale.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
Modern Epidemics: From the Spanish Flu to Covid-19
Salvador Macip
Polity
politybooks.com
9781509546572 $19.95 pbk / $16.00 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Modern-Epidemics-Spanish-Flu-COVID-19/dp/150954657X
Synopsis: COVID-19 has made us all aware of the fact that we live in a world full of invisible enemies. Normally, we don't
even realize they're there, but from time to time one of these microscopic creatures becomes powerful enough to turn
everything upside down. What are these invisible enemies, and how can we prepare ourselves for the pandemics of the
future?
A specialist in the cellular biology of diseases, Salvador Macip explains, in a language everyone can understand, what it
means to share the planet with millions of microbes - some wonderful allies, others terrible foes. He provides a concise
account of epidemics that changed history, and focuses on the great modern plagues that are still causing millions of deaths
every year, from influenza, TB and malaria to COVID-19. Macip also examines the methods we have used - from vaccines
to improved sanitation and social distancing - to try to control these invisible enemies.
This authoritative overview of modern epidemics and the pathogens that cause them will be essential reading for anyone
who wants to understand our world today, a world in which some of the greatest threats to the human species come from
the invisible microbes with which we share this planet.
Critique: Modern Epidemics: From the Spanish Flu to Covid-19 is written by cellular biology specialist Salvador Macip,
yet thoroughly accessible to readers of all backgrounds. Chapters discuss the history of the past century's epidemics, with
particular focus upon influenza, AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. A glossary and an index round out this highly
informative study of deadly microbes, and how human society has struggles to keep their invisible threat under control.
Highly recommended, especially for public library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that Modern
Epidemics is also available in a Kindle edition ($16.00).
Meeting the Challenge of Caring for Persons Living with Dementia and their Care Partners and Caregivers
Eric B. Larson and Clare Stroud, editors
The National Academies Press
www.nationalacademies.org
9780309154291 $60.00 pbk / $41.99 Kindle
https://www.amazon.com/Management-Effects-Coalbed-Methane-Produced/dp/0309154294
Synopsis: Millions of people are living with dementia in the United States and globally. To live well with dementia, people
need care, services, and supports that reflect their values and preferences, build on their strengths and abilities, promote
well-being, and address needs that evolve as cognitive impairment deepens.
Persons living with dementia co-manage their care with or rely on the support of a wide range of care partners and
caregivers, including spouses, other family members and friends, and direct care workers in homes or residential care
settings. While dementia care has improved since the 1970s, many individuals still lack access to high-quality care and are
not living as well as they might. Disadvantaged groups, especially racial and ethnic minorities, still face challenges in
access to care, services, and supports, due to deep and persistent inequities.
Meeting the Challenge of Caring for Persons Living with Dementia and Their Care Partners and Caregivers: A Way
Forward examines the complex body of evidence on dementia care and informs decision making about which interventions
are ready to be broadly disseminated and implemented. It also offers a blueprint to guide future research using rigorous,
cutting-edge methods that are inclusive, equitable, and yield critical information for real-world implementation, toward the
ultimate goal of better supporting persons living with dementia and their care partners and caregivers in living as well as
possible.
Critique: Meeting the Challenge of Caring for Persons Living with Dementia and their Care Partners and Caregivers: A
Way Forward is a scholarly, close examination of the societal problem of caring for people whose mental faculties have
degenerated due to dementia. Chapters discuss the current and evolving systems for dementia care, and provide guidelines
for future research in the field. The challenges faced by people in disadvantaged groups are especially scrutinized. "A lived
experience cannot be taught. Diverse, multidisciplinary research times are needed to ensure that team members collectively
have insight into and sensitivity to different perspectives and cultures." Highly recommended, especially for college and
professional library health and medicine collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that Meeting the
Challenge of Caring for Persons Living with Dementia and their Care Partners and Caregivers is also available in a Kindle
edition ($41.99).
The Parents' Guide to ADHD Medicines
Peter Hill
Jessica Kingsley Publishers, Inc.
400 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
www.jkp.com
9781787755680, $19.95, PB, 256pp
https://www.amazon.com/Parents-Guide-ADHD-Medicines/dp/1787755681
Synopsis: "The Parents' Guide to ADHD Medicines" by Peter Hill is reassuring guide explains prescribed ADHD
medicines for children in clear, everyday language. Based on questions Professor Hill has received from countless families
in his work as a Consultant Psychiatrist, the expert information in comprehensive volume answers the most pressing
questions a parent will have about ADHD medicines: how they work, what they do, what is available and how to talk
about them to your children.
"The Parents' Guide to ADHD Medicines" also sheds light on why not all medicines are easily available, the differences
between certain medications and their level of effectiveness, all based on scientific evidence. This information will support
parents in discussions with medical professionals, explaining the practicalities and demystifying the terminology around
medication and treatments.
"The Parents' Guide to ADHD Medicines" also provides insights into the decisions behind prescribing certain medicines
and how they should be taken. Armed with this guide, parents (as well as teachers and others working with kids with
ADHD) can feel confident and assured when their child is prescribed treatments for ADHD.
Critique: Thoroughly 'parent friendly' in tone, commentary, organization and presentation, "The Parents' Guide to ADHD
Medicines" is especially and unreservedly recommended for family and community, college and university library
Parenting & Health/Medicine collections in general, and ADHD supplemental studies curriculum reading lists in
particular. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of parents, caregivers, healthcare workers, and non-specialist
general readers with an interest in the subject that "The Parents' Guide to ADHD Medicines" is also readily available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $18.95).
The Philosophy Shelf
Parva Naturalia: with On the Motion of Animals
Aristotle, author
David Bolotin, translator
Mercer University Press
1501 Mercer University Drive, Macon, GA 31207-0001
www.mupress.org
9780881467833, $45.00, HC, 260pp
9780881467840, $20.00 pbk
https://www.amazon.com/Parva-Naturalia-Motion-Animals-Aristotle/dp/0881467839
Synopsis: David Bolotin's translation of Aristotle's "Parva Naturalia: with On the Motion of Animals" aims above all at
fidelity to the Greek. It treats Aristotle as a teacher regarding the topics that he discusses, and hence it tries to convey the
meaning, to the extent possible in English, of his every word.
Aristotle clearly intended these treatises as a sequel to his "De Anima" and Bolotin's translation is a sequel to his
translation of that work. The title "Parva Naturalia" goes back to the Latin Middle Ages, and though the traditional
grouping doesn't include the treatise "On The Motion Of Animals" it is included here, since there is strong manuscript
evidence that it ought to be included.
Bolotin has made a scrupulous effort to examine the manuscript tradition, and he has relied only on readings that are well
attested in the oldest manuscripts, rather than accepting conjectural emendations of modern editors, who too often
substitute a Greek text that is easy to understand for any of those from the ancient copyists.
Critique: An erudite and eloquent translation of the Greek into English for an American readership, "Parva Naturalia: with
On the Motion of Animals" is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition college and university library
Philosophy collections in general, and Aristotle supplemental curriculum studies reading lists in particular. It should be
noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Parva Naturalia: with
On the Motion of Animals" is also readily available in a paperback edition ($20.00).
Editorial Note: David Bolotin is a retired teacher from St. John's College in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is also the author
of "Plato's Dialogue On Friendship" and "An Approach to Aristotle's Physics", as well as the translator of Aristotle's "De
Anima".
The Jobs/Careers Shelf
The Ladder
Andrew Bernard
Crown House Publishing
81 Brook Hills Circle, White Plains, NY 10605
www.crownhousepublishing.com
9781781353745, $22.95, PB, 192pp
https://www.amazon.com/Ladder-Supporting-students-successful-confident/dp/1781353743
Synopsis: Many people's careers are founded on a series of chance encounters, experiences and serendipity. School,
college, university, jobs, family, sports, hobbies, friends, relationships are all fertile grounds for career-related
conversations and explorations. But what if teachers, guides, mentors, parents and peers started to notice these seemingly
unconnected happenings and, indeed, started to engineer and encourage them to happen?
Using the mantra 'every adult is a careers teacher', "The Ladder: Supporting students towards successful futures and
confident career choices" will inspire classroom teachers to explicitly link their subject area to students' futures, both in
school and outside its walls, and support them in doing so. Bernie draws upon his 30-year career in education and business
development to bring clarity, focus and ideas to educators as to how they can best start students on their own ladders to
success.
In doing so, Bernie provides a range of user-friendly, engaging and downloadable materials for teachers to use with the
young people they work with to help uncover their talents and link those talents to opportunities for growth. He also shares
invaluable advice on how best to reach out to local businesses and external organizations to support a students' careers
education.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "The Ladder: Supporting students towards successful
futures and confident career choices" is also readily available for personal reading lists in a digital book format (Kindle,
$19.90) and containing everything classroom educators and school counselors need to know in order to be effective
advocates for young people and their future aspirations, pathways and career aims is an especially and unreservedly
recommended addition to school district, college and university library Jobs/Careers Education collections and
supplemental studies curriculum reading lists.
Editorial Note: Andrew 'Bernie' Bernard is an entrepreneur, a TEDx Speaker, a director of both Innovative Enterprise and
National Careers Week, and a Fellow of the Professional Speaking Association who, since 2006, has worked with schools,
businesses, charities, universities and colleges to help over 150,000 young people bring their future to life through
enterprise and careers workshops.
The Technology Shelf
In-Band Full-Duplex Wireless Systems Handbook
Kenneth E. Kolodziej, Editor
Artech House
685 Carlton St., Norwood, MA 02062
www.artechhouse.com
9781630817893, $199.00, HC, 440pp
https://www.amazon.com/band-Full-duplex-Wireless-Systems-Handbook/dp/1630817899
In-Band Full-Duplex Wireless Systems Handbook is a mobile communications guide that reviews in-band full-duplex
technology (IBFD), covering its research, approaches, interfaces, and techniques. A variety of experts contribute to the
discussion of industry standards, designs, photonic-based methods, and processing approaches, providing the in-depth
detail needed for IBFD learners to absorb practical lessons and techniques. Chapters provide introductions and overviews,
metrics, model examples supported by mathematical formulas, and a roundup of practical considerations of problems and
solutions that use plenty of visuals (tables, charts, diagrams) to reinforce these technical discussions. The result is a survey
that should be a basic reference for any mobile communications collection or student.
Artech House
685 Carlton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
www.artechhouse.com
https://www.amazon.com/High-thoroughput-Satellites-Hector-Fenech/dp/1630818259
https://www.amazon.com/Ew-105-Electronic-Warfare-Library/dp/1630818348
Two new references from Artech House are top picks for technical collections looking for in-depth coverages.
Hector Fenech's High-Throughput Satellites (9781630818258, $159.00, HC, 274pp) surveys the latest new High
Throughput Satellites (HTS), providing a discussion of their commercial applications, technological makeup, and history
of the HTS and its operating systems. Readers involved in space technology applications will find it packed with
discussions of GEO and LEO systems and how they evolved, and discussions of HTS and other system interactions.
Tables, charts, and supporting math references round out discussions especially recommended for satellite technicians and
students.
David L. Adamy's EWE 105: Space Electronic Warfare (9781630818340, $129.00 HC, $122.55 Kindle, 250pp) belongs in
technology and military science collections alike, providing the fifth book in Artech House's EW 100 series to explore
electronic warfare in space. From signal jamming and satellite vulnerability to typical satellite problems and orbit
mechanics, readers receive a basic primer filled with calculations, satellite specifics, signal frequencies, and earth- and
space-based systems. Diagrams, figures, charts, and supporting formulas cover all the basics of this technology and its
successes and vulnerabilities.
The Holocaust Studies Shelf
The Remnant
Michael G. Kesler
Vallentine Mitchell Publishers
https://www.vmbooksusa.com
9781912676637, $22.95, PB, 168pp
https://www.amazon.com/Remnant-Burning-Displaced-Persons-Beyond/dp/191267663X
Synopsis: Because of the Nazi invasion, Michael Kesler and his sister fled their home in Dubno, Poland as panicked
Jewish teenagers in June 1941, and landed in the Soviet Union amid the raging war. A flashback catches them in
Stalingrad, besieged by the Germans. A stroke of luck landed them in Uzbekistan where Michael excelled as a veterinary
assistant.
Two years later, the Soviet Army drafted Michael and trained him to remove mines planted by retreating Germans. After a
dogged search, his sister found him and persuaded him to desert. An overnight train took them to Samarkand where they
set up shop as weavers and Michael studied Economics at night.
At war's end, they hastened home and witnessed the mass graves of Dubno's 8,000 Jews, including their parents.
Threatened, they found Moniek's mother and cousins and headed to a Displaced Persons camp in Germany. Britain dashed
Michael's hopes to go to Palestine. A year later, Hillel surprisingly awarded him a scholarship to Colby College, where he
arrived in 1947. He transferred to MIT and began to build a new life.
Critique: "The Remnant: On Burning Wings: To a Displaced Persons Camp and Beyond" is the personal biography of
Michael G. Kesler and an invaluable contribution to the growing body of Holocaust literature, World War II histories, and
20th Century Jewish Biographies. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "The Remnant: On Burning Wings:
To a Displaced Persons Camp and Beyond" is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to personal
reading lists, as well as community, college and university library collections.
Editorial Note: Michael Kesler, with a doctorate in chemical engineering, worked over fifty years in the petroleum
industry. Since his retirement in 2006, due to glaucoma-induced loss of vision, he has focused his work on his World War
II experiences. His notable Shards of War appeared on the list of bestselling eBooks in Europe for several months. Since
then, he has lectured and presented annual events to raise public awareness of East European Jewish civilization before the
Holocaust.
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