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Internet Bookwatch

Volume 22, Number 10 October 2012 Home | IBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Social Issues Shelf Cookbook Shelf
Music Shelf Technology Shelf Computer Shelf
Sports Shelf Martial Arts Shelf Photography Shelf
Business Shelf Education Shelf Travel Shelf
Needlecraft Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf Political Science Shelf
Health/Medicine Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf Writing/Publishing Shelf
Crafts Shelf Art Shelf Gardening Shelf
Science Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Philosophy Shelf
Audiobook Shelf Library CD Shelf Library DVD Shelf
DVD-ROM Shelf Military Shelf Native American Shelf
Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf Christian Studies Shelf
Criminology Shelf Wine Shelf Calendar Shelf
Fiction Shelf Memoir Shelf Religion/Spirituality Shelf
Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf Homeowner Shelf Antiques/Collectibles Shelf
Self-Help Shelf Biography Shelf Judaic Studies Shelf
Buddist Studies Shelf Marriage/Divorce Shelf Poetry Shelf
American History Shelf World History Shelf Money/Finance Shelf
Nautical Shelf Automotive Shelf Environmental Studies Shelf
Dance Shelf Women's Studies Shelf Gaming Shelf
Architecture Shelf Autism Shelf Geriatric Studies Shelf
Mathematics Shelf Library Science Shelf Economic Studies Shelf
Literary Studies Shelf Law/Justice Shelf Psychology Shelf
Langugage Studies Shelf Holocaust Studies Shelf Aviation Shelf
Anthropology Shelf Civil War Shelf Fashion Shelf
Wisconsin Shelf    


Reviewer's Choice

Museums And Biographies
Kate Hill, editor
Boydell & Brewer Inc
668 Mount Hope Avenue
Rochester, NY 14620-2731
www.boydellandbrewer.com
9781843837275, $99.00, www.amazon.com

A biography is the record of a life. A museum is a depository of artifacts that record a life, a community, a culture, a history. The newest addition to the outstanding Boydell & Brewer 'Heritage Matters' series, "Museums and Biographies: Stories, Objects, Identities" is a 338 page scholarly compendium compiled and edited by Kate Hill (Senior Lecturer in History, University of Lincoln, UK) and comprises twenty-one original and seminal articles by an impressive roster of contributors organized into six distinctive sections: Individual Biography and Museum History; Problematizing Individuals' Biographies; Institutional Biographies; Object Biographies; Museums of Biography; and Museums as Autobiography. Enhanced with a number of black-and-while illustrations, a list of contributors, and a comprehensive index, "Museums And Biographies: Stories, Objects, Identities" is informed, informative, and a highly recommended addition to academic library reference collections.

The Time of Youth
Alcinda Honwana
Kumarian Press, Inc.
22883 Quicksilver Drive
Sterling, VA 20166
9781565494725, $27.95, www.kpbooks.com

Africa is in a constant state of change. "The Time of Youth: Work, Social Change, and Politics in Africa" explores the dilemma faced by man within Africa, as the generations of those coming of age and should be starting careers only grow up to be stuck in limbo, an adulthood without fulfillment or work. Alcinda Honwana uses Africa as a case study, and uses it as an analyzing lens towards the rest of the world who are facing similar issues. "The Time of Youth" is insightful and intriguing read on the bigger picture of the world, highly recommended.

The Wicked Good Book
Stephen Gleasner
Down East Books
PO Box 679
Camden, ME 04843
9781608931811 $24.95 www.downeastbooks.com

The Wicked Good Book is a self-described "guide to Maine living" filled with vignettes about Maine flora, fauna, sports, pastimes, and plenty of good clean outdoors fun. In down-to-earth folksy terms, The Wicked Good Book tells of the joy of keeping chickens, hunting rats with a gun (the most effective way to control their numbers - poison is far more cruel to both the rat and anything that eats it), preparing a lobster for boiling water, how to maximize one's odds of survival upon falling through ice or encountering an aggressive bull moose, racing go-carts or skipping stones, making a long bow like Robin Hood might have once used, and much more. Black-and-white sketches illustrate this wonderful tribute to country life and wilderness recreation. The Wicked Good Book brings a little bit of outdoors splendor into the living room, and heartily encourages the reader to taste a bit of Maine-style fun on their own! "The idea for geocaching is you take an item from a cache and replace it with an item of similar value. Geocaching is really a modern, high-tech game of hide and seek. And there are more than six thousand active geocaches in the Pine Tree State, and Maine's cachers create an average of 2.5 new caches each day."

What Are You Laughing At?
Dan O'Shannon
Continuum International Publishing Group
80 Maiden Lane, Suite 704
New York, NY 10038
9781441162939, $24.95, www.continuumbooks.com

Comedy is an art, but there is comedy to be gained in treating it as a science. "What Are You Laughing At?" is a discussion of the genre of many mediums in comedy, trying to define the broad topic which can vary person to person. Attempting to gain a better understanding of the concept of comedy, writer for many hit sitcoms in the past few decades Dan O'Shannon presents an intriguing delve into the psychology and sociology behind it all. "What Are You Laughing At?" is a fine take on the meaning and purpose of comedy, highly recommended.

Charlie's Place
Michael S. Malone
History Publishing Company
PO Box 700, 15 Heyhoe Woods Road
Palisades, New York 10964-0700
9781933909400, $17.95, www.historypublishing.com

On the edge of civilization, people are always drawn to the new. "Charlie's Place: The Saga of an American Frontier Homestead" discusses the history of one such farm and homestead and how the world pushed forward beyond it and evolved forward in spite of it all. Michael S. Malone brings forth a social history that tells of a family's story and the people within it who kept a farm alive over generations. "Charlie's Place" is a fine history of Americana, very much recommended.

Special Agent Man
Steve Moore
Chicago Review Press
814 North Franklin Street, Chicago, IL 60610
9780914090700, $16.95, www.chicagoreviewpress.com

As you spend time with the cops, you do many jobs and play many roles. "Special Agent Man: My Life in the FBI as a Terrorist Hunter, Helicopter Pilot, and Certified Sniper" is a memoir from Steve Moore as she recollects his long and successful career in law enforcement, particularly the FBI and SWAT teams. An enticing true-life story about the higher end and more militarized aspect of law enforcement, "Special Agent Man" has plenty to consider, and is very highly recommended.

31 Days to Survival
M. D. Creekmore
Paladin Press
7077 Winchester Circle
Boulder, CO 80301
9781610046480, $18.00, www.paladin-press.com

A bit of survivalist knowledge can help one in many aspects of life. "31 Days to Survival: A Complete Plan for Emergency Preparedness" is a guide with tips on learning the ins and outs of basic survival techniques for use in any disaster situation, and preparing for the many potential problems that could come up in this situation including making the needed connections needed in tough times. "31 Days to Survival" is a strong pick for those who want a little survivalist training for their future.

Pushback
Selena Rezvani
Jossey Bass
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118104903, $26.95, www.josseybass.com

PUSHBACK: HOW SMART WOMEN ASK - AND STAND UP - FOR WHAT THEY WANT comes from a popular Washington Post columnist and leadership consultant who argues that self-advocacy is critical for success even as women traditionally back off from the tools of such advocacy, from negotiations to pushing ahead. This book discusses an approach for taking a firm position at home and at work, considering the best strategies for confronting an issue head-on without damaging a relationship and interviewing top female business leaders on their processes and successes. The result is a powerful account, highly recommended for any business or women's issues holding.

You're So Invited
Cheryl Najafi
St. Martin's Press
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
125001199X, $29.99, www.stmartins.com

YOU'RE SO INVITED: PANIC LESS, PLAY MORE, AND GET YOUR PARTY ON differs from most home entertainment guides, pairing twelve photographed theme parties with top tips on how to throw a memorable party. From repurposing things around the house to putting together fun food and cleaning everything at eye level before guests arrive, this covers everything from unique party themes to recipes, and provides a fun new approach to celebrating. Any home party-giver will find this an inviting entertainment guide to success.

The Other Side of the Ice
Sprague Theobald with Allan Kreda
Skyhorse Publishing
307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10018
1616086238, $24.95, www.skyhorsepublishing.com

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ICE: ONE FAMILY'S TREACHEROUS JOURNEY NEGOTIATING THE NORTHWEST PASSAGE is a powerful, multi-faceted exploration of a sailor's 8,500-mile trek to negotiate the treacherous and notorious Northwest Passage - a journey that would challenge his survival and lead to a sailor's desperate attempt to reunite his family after a messy divorce. Nautical adventure blends with personal challenges in a powerful saga that is impossible to put down, recommended for nautical and general-interest, true-adventure collections alike.


The Social Issues Shelf

Research Universities And The Future Of America
National Research Council
National Academies Press
500 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001
www.nap.edu
9780309256391, $49.00, www.amazon.com

A well-educated population is absolutely vital to America's economic, social, cultural, and national security interests. Changes in demographics, economic downturns, rising tuition costs, the growing influence of corporate funding, and some mis-adventurous national and state level public policies have had their impacts upon America's research universities. "Research Universities and the Future of America: Ten Breakthrough Actions Vital to Our Nation's Prosperity and Security" is a 227-page report focusing on the need to strengthen and expand the partnership of the university with government, business, and philanthropy in general, and proposing ten specific actions to be taken to achieve those goals. This National Research Council report is an essential and core contribution for governmental, corporate, grant-provider, and academic library reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Animal Rights Without Liberation
Alasdair Cochrane
Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd Street, NY, NY 10023-7015
http://cup.columbia.edu
9780231158275, $29.50, www.amazon.com

Thanks to local humane societies and such national groups as PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), the concept of animals having inherent rights to fair treatment has taken firm (albeit occasionally controversial) root in American society and culture. In "Animal Rights Without Liberation: Applied Ethics and Human Obligations", author Alasdair Cochrane (Lecturer in Political Theory, University of Sheffield, England) has written a 256-page compendium introducing a new theory of animal rights which is firmly grounded in their interests as sentient beings capable of thought and emotion. This is followed by his application of his theory to diverse animal-human relationships and activities ranging from genetic engineering, to pet-keeping, to hunting, to religious sacrifice, and more. Of special note is that this new theory obligates us to end practices causing suffering and death, but does not include an obligation to liberate them from human possession or exploitation for human purposes. Pragmatic, insightful, rational, iconoclastic, informed and informative, "Animal Rights Without Liberation: Applied Ethics and Human Obligations" is thoughtful and thought-provoking, making it a welcome and highly recommended addition to personal and academic library Contemporary Ethics reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Mobile Communication
Rich Ling & Scott W. Campbell, editor
Transaction Publishers
Rutgers University
35 Berrue Circle
Piscataway, NJ 08854-8042
1412849551, $34.95, www.transactionpub.com

The world is more connected than ever, but people still drift apart. "Mobile Communication: Bringing Us Together and Tearing Us Apart" explores the influence of technology in communication and our world today. Rich Ling & Scott W. Campbell compile writings that study the impact of mobile communication, and what it has done to social cohesion, for better or worse. An intriguing blend of the impacts of technology on culture, "Mobile Communication" is a fine read, a core addition to any sociology and technology collections, very much recommended reading.

Beyond Zuccotti Park
Ron Shuffnab & Collaborators
New Village Press
PO Box 3049
Oakland, CA 94609
9781613320099, $19.95, www.newvillagepress.net

The right to peacefully assemble is one of the most treasured rights of the constitution. "Beyond Zuccotti Park: Freedom of Assembly and the Occupation of Public Space" explores what the Occupy movements over recent history and how they have brought a new challenge to the concerns surrounding the right to assembly and the legal battles that have spilled forth, as people have used the right to assembly strongly in their pursuit of social justice. "Beyond Zucotti Park" is a fine collection of thoughts and articles on the movement and the change it has made in ways that have not been expected in social planning and other elements of society, highly recommended.

The Mindful Carnivore
Tovar Cerulli
Pegasus Books
80 Broad Street,5th Floor
New York, NY 10004
www.pegasusbooks.com
9781605982779, $26.95, www.amazon.com

THE MINDFUL CARNIVORE: A VEGETARIAN'S HUNT FOR SUSTENANCE tells of a boy who spent his summers fishing for trout and hunting bullfrogs. His early experiments with vegetarianism led to his becoming a vegan by the age of twenty - but ten years later, in declining health, he returned to omnivory and later found himself in the woods as a hunter. His personal journey and insights into the philosophy, ethics, and experiences of hunting, food choices, and vegetarian and vegan choices makes for an engrossing multi-faceted survey of everything from personal health to making mindful environment choices with less impact, and is a pick for any collection strong in vegetarian titles and ethical concerns.

What's The Matter With White People?
Joan Walsh
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street
Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118141069, $25.95, www.wiley.com

WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH WHITE PEOPLE? WHY WE LONG FOR A GOLDEN AGE THAT NEVER WAS comes from a popular Salon columnist who argues that the biggest divide in America today is not about ideology, but about two competing perspectives on why everything has collapsed since the 1970s. One side maintains America has spent the time bankrupting the country providing advantages to underachievers and those undeserving; the other sees a country that is being bankrupted by the very rich. Walsh follows trends that began in the 1970s and continue to modern times, using her extended family to describe how liberals have contributed to the "us vs. them" mentality rather than developing a better vision of a fairer system. This candid assessment makes for a lively discussion of both sides, perfect for any general lending library.


The Cookbook Shelf

Betty Crocker Halloween Cookbook
Jeff Nowak, editorial director
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030
9781118388945, $16.99, www.wiley.com

The "Betty Crocker Halloween Cookbook" is a festively funky adult Halloween cookbook filled with imaginative twists on favorite treats and appetizers, helpful party decorating and favor ideas, and added main dish attractions as well. Color photographs of recipes are dramatically set against dark or black backgrounds. Four main chapters present categories including "Bewitching Bites & Drinks, Mystifying Main Dishes, Spooky Cupcakes & Cakes, and Frightful Cookies & Other Treats." Some standout recipes from these chapters include Witches' Brew (lime sherbert punch with gummy worm candies), Black Cat Canapes ( an appetizer made of cat shaped pieces of white and dark pumpernickel rye bread with a garlicky, kalamata olive spread), Spiderweb Applesauce Cake, Spooky Shepherd's Pie (meat and vegetable shepherd's pie with mashed potato "ghosts" as topping), and Chocolate Bat cookies. All recipes use easily found ingredients and clear have step by step numbered instructions to the right of a list of measured ingredients. In addition, handy "terrifying tips" are listed at the bottom of most recipes, along with standard nutritional information. A metric conversion guide is found at the end of the book. A delightful feature is the introductory Ghoulish Giftable Goodies, which contains recipes for gifts such as candy corn bark and roasted pumpkin seed brittle. In all the "Betty Crocker Halloween Cookbook" is guaranteed to induce a spooky mood and inspire delicious Halloween snacking for Trick or Treat.

Standard Baking Co. Pastries
Alison Pray & Tara Smith
Down East Books
PO Box 679, Camden, ME 04843
www.downeastbooks.com
9781608931842, $29.95, www.amazon.com

Nothing is so aromatic in the home kitchen as a pastry being baked in the oven. Drawing upon their many years of experience and expertise Alison Pray (who co-founded Standard Baking Co. in Portland, Maine, with her husband where they bake artisan breads and pastries) and Tara Smith (head pastry chef at Standard Baking Co.) have co-authored "Standard Baking Co. Pastries", a nicely illustrated, thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly', 200-page compendium of simply wonderful recipes for breakfast pastries, tarts, cakes, cookies, as well as sweet and savory snacks. Of special note is the concluding section of 'Basic Recipes' fro special doughs, a caramel saucy, cream cheese filling, frangipane, brown butter streusel, toasted nuts, and poached pears. "Standard Baking Co. Pastries" will prove a welcome and enduringly popular addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections!

200 Best Canned Fish & Seafood Recipes
Susan Sampson
Robert Rose Inc.
120 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 800
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4P 1E2
www.robertrose.ca
9780778804154, $24.95, www.amazon.com

When you are too far inland to be able to avail yourself of fish freshly caught, then you must rely on what has been canned or frozen and available in your local neighborhood grocery store. But fish and other seafood from a can is the basis for many a nutritious and delicious dish easily prepared in any home kitchen. Indeed, Susan Sampson has compiled just such classic and nuevo-cuisine recipes in her 288-page culinary compendium "200 Best Canned Fish and Seafood Recipes: For Tuna, Salmon, Shrimp, Crab, Clams, Oysters, Lobster and More". There are thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes for appetizers and snacks, soups, salads, sandwiches and wraps, fish burgers, fish cakes, fishballs, curries, casseroles, pies, pizzas, pastas, and more! Of special note is Susan's comprehensive guide for selecting and utilizing canned seafood, historical information on the subject, and a very handy substitutions chart. Indeed, with "200 Best Canned Fish and Seafood Recipes: For Tuna, Salmon, Shrimp, Crab, Clams, Oysters, Lobster and More", the family chef can turn any brown bag lunch into a true gourmet experience -- and all from a can!

Country Comfort: Cooking Across America
Mary Elizabeth Roarke & Chef Nicole Roarke
Hatherleigh Press
c/o The Hatherleigh Foundation
5-22 46th Ave, Ste 200
Long Island City, NY 11101
9781578264148 $15.95 www.hatherleighpress.com

Country Comfort: Cooking Across America is a time-tested compendium filled with over 175 traditional and regional American recipes. Written in plain, accessible terms that cooks of all skill and experience levels will find easy to follow, the dishes include both universal favorites and regional dishes with hometown charm. Recipes range from "Asparagus Soup with Seasoned Dill Yogurt", "Shrimp Creole", "Springfield-Style Cashew Chicken", "Panko-Battered Hon Shimeji Mushrooms", "Berry-Good Crisps" and much more. Country Comfort: Cooking Across America lives up to its title as a repository of uniquely American flavors, and is a superb resource for preparing memorable family meals!

Afternoon Tea
Muriel Moffat
Douglas & McIntyre
2323 Quebec Street, Suite 201
Vancouver, BC, Canada, V5T 4S7
www.douglas-mcintyre.com
9781771000529, $14.95, www.amazon.com

One of the hallmarks of Victorian era culture was the custom of an afternoon tea. In "Afternoon Tea: A Timeless Tradition", author Muriel Moffat showcases the elegance of the ritual as performed for more than sixty years in the Empress Hotel. The reader is treated to a colorful historical overview of the custom and its attendant rituals, along with an impressive selection of recipes. Of special note is the chapter on 'The Art of Making and Taking Tea'. An impressive little 72-page hardcover book, "Afternoon Tea: A Timeless Tradition" is a delight to read and a welcome addition to personal and community library collections. It is also available in a Kindle ebook edition (9781771000536, $9.39).

Tart It Up!
Eric Lanlard
Publicity Department
Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue
New York NY 10017
9781845337193 $19.99 www.octopusbooksusa.com

Tart It Up! Sweet & Savory Tarts & Pies is a hardcover cookbook packed with delicious pie and tart recipes, from time-honored favorites such as "Pork and Cider Pie" or "Peanut Butter and Chocolate Pie", to adventurous and delectable creations such as "Spring Garden Green Tart", "Waldorf-Inspired Tart", "Pear and Hazelnut Tart", "Mango and Green Peppercorn Pie", and many more. Full-color photography of the majority of dishes, plus easy-to-follow instructions, an introduction to pastry and dough basics, and an index make Tart It Up! an excellent choice for novice cooks, but kitchen artists of all skill and experience levels will thoroughly appreciate the diversity of mouth-watering recipes. Highly recommended, especially for those enjoy homemade comfort food to the fullest!

Artisan Vegan Cheese
Miyoko Schinner
The Book Publishing Company
PO Box 99
Summertown, TN 38483
www.thefarm.org/businesses/bpc.html
9781570672835 $19.95

Artisan Vegan Cheese: From Everyday to Gourmet lives up to its title with instructions for preparing top-quality vegan cheeses - that is, foods that can be used as in recipes like dairy cheeses, but that are made entirely of plant-based ingredients, such as cashews, macadamia nuts, or non-dairy yogurt. Vegan cheese creations that look and taste like brie, sharp cheddar, mozzarella, ricotta, cream cheese and more, as well as recipes incorporating them like Italian Stuffed Mushrooms, Fettuccine Alfredo, Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese, Pumpkin Cheesecake and much more fill this vegan cheese-lover's delight. Methodical, step-by-step instructions make creating and using vegan cheeses easy for chefs of all skill and experience levels. A handful of full-color photographs round out this absolute "must-have" for any vegan who has ever loved or longed for cheese - as well as for those who are lactose intolerant yet who desire to sample gourmet cheese delicacies!

The Fresh & Green Table
Susie Middleton
Chronicle Books
680 Second Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
9781452102658, $24.95, www.chroniclebooks.com

The Fresh & Green Table: Delicious Ideas for Bringing Vegetables Into Every Meal pairs lovely color photos by Annabelle Breakey with dishes that feature clear step-by-step preparation techniques and two or three flavors that feature produce in a fresh new way. Thus you will find recipes for Butternut Squash, Jonagold Apple and Carmelized Onion Tian, a Chilmark Harvest Chowder with green beans, white fish, butternut squash and scallops, and Chile Rice with Green Beans and Toasted Pecans packed with fresh, new flavors not to be found elsewhere. A fine addition to any cook's vegetable harvest gathering!

Tacos, Quesadillas & Burritos
Laura Washburn
Ryland Peters & Small
20-21 Jockey's Fields, London WC1R 4BW
www.rylandpeters.com
9781849752152, $15.95, www.amazon.com

Tacos, Quesadillas & Burritos packs in a range of fillings for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike and collects recipes with modern twists on themes to invite newfound interest. From Chipotle Chicken and Chorizo, Bean and Pepper or Chicken Mole to breakfast quesadillas for sharing, this is a fine survey that includes the side dishes and salsas for finishing the taco, quesadilla or burrito offering. Easy preparation and fun dishes make this a fine collection for any wanting to expand their filling repertoire.

Quick and Easy Low-Cal Vegan Comfort Food
Alicia C. Simpson
The Experiment, LLC
260 Fifth Avenue, Suite 3 South
New York, NY 10001 - 6408
9781615190423, $17.95, www.theexperimentpublishing.com

Quick and Easy Low-Cal Vegan Comfort Food provides Southern standard comfort fare in some 150 new recipes that cover meals from breakfast to dinner. Every recipe includes detailed nutritional data to compliment daily menus for vegan adaptations low in calories. From Pinto Beans in Ancho Chile Sauce to Chik'n Pot Pie and a vegetable-based and vegan cheese White Lasagna, this provides fine color photos and easy step-by-step instructions. Only a smattering of specialty vegan ingredients substituting meats and dairy is required: most of the dishes rely on fresh spices and vegetables in this winning survey, highly recommended for any vegan cook.


The Music Shelf

Fire and Rain
David Browne
Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center
Cambridge, MA 02142
9780306820724, $16.00, www.perseusbooksgroup.com

The 1960s provided a revolution of music, and as the new decade approached, music was still changing. "Fire and Rain: The Beatles, Simon & Garfunkel, James Taylor, CSNY, and the Lost Story of 1970" analyzes this huge year in music history, which transitioned between eras. Analyzing the music among a cultural and political backdrop, David Browne provides a scholarly and informed history of legendary artists and their friendships and conflicts. "Fire and Rain" is an excellent choice for any music history collection.

Beatlemania
Andre Millard
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9781421405254, $22.95, www.press.jhu.edu

BEATLEMANIA: TECHNOLOGY, BUSINESS, AND TEEN CULTURE IN COLD WAR AMERICA is reviewed in our music section for its link to popular music, but in fact is a social history that considers the Beatles' global rise to recognition and how changes in the way music was produced, recorded, sold and marketed coincided with their meteoric rise in fame. It's a history of the Beatles and of the changes affecting music-making and playing technology, with chapters documenting the influence of world commerce and changing styles of expression around the world. Any interested in either the Beatles or the undercurrents of the music industry as a whole will find this a thought-provoking discussion especially suitable for college-level music collections strong in popular music!


The Technology Shelf

LED Lighting: A Primer to Lighting the Future
Sal Cangeloso
Maker Press
c/o O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
1005 Gravenstein, Hwy N.
Sebastopol, CA 95472-2811
9781449334765, $6.99, www.makerpress.com

LED Lighting: A Primer to Lighting the Future is a compact 58-page primer that nearly qualifies as a 'pamphlet' but holds So much more. It's a project book explaining the working parts of a 'simple' LED bulb and explains challenges electronics companies face as they market LED-style lighting. It provides keys to the drivers, circuits and applications of LED lighting, discusses non-bulb and bulb LED applications alike, and will delight homeowners and handymen who want more details on how LED actually works. Any collection strong in handy guides, homeownership and construction will find this key to understanding how LED systems work.

High-Level Information Fusion Management and Systems Design
Erik Blasch and Eloi Bose
Artech House
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
9781608071517, $149.00, www.artechhouse.com

High-Level Information Fusion Management and Systems Design offers developers, designers and users of fusion data services a clear technical exploration of alternate methods to represent and model various situations, and is a key to better design practices in fusion systems. Chapters discuss the latest theories, cover algorithms and software components of the systems, and survey the specifics of measuring results and meeting system goals. The result is a powerful technical reference highly recommended for engineering reference holdings.

Implementing Successful Building Information Modeling
Erika Epstein
Artech House
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
9781608071395, $129.00, www.artechhouse.com

BIM is the process of generating and managing building data during a structure's lifecycle, and is a system and software program used by modern architectural firms who find it allows them to produce better quality work. Case studies of firms of all sizes offer construction engineers and architects a fine survey of how to implement BIM in the field, exploring how collected data can be added to and used during the life of the building. Any collection strong in architectural modeling and BIM processes will find this a solid reference linking real-world applications to engineering design challenges.


The Computer Shelf

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

Orin Thomas, et.al.'s TRAINING KIT: ADMINISTERING MICROSOFT SQL SERVER 2012 DATABASES: EXAM 70-462 (9780735666078, $69.99) provides a fine self-paced training kit for any interested in installing and configuring SQL Server 2012 and managing databases. From monitoring and optimizing SQL Server to implementing its newest functions, this offers practice tests on a CD and provides a complete kit packed with study resources. Screen shots, lesson summaries, and lesson reviews accompany concrete, foundation-building basics key to acing the 70-462 Exam. Joseph Davies' UNDERSTANDING IPv6, 3RD EDITION (9780735659145, $49.99) covers Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012, offering up an in-depth technical guide recommended for advanced computer collections specializing in Windows operating systems specs. It's written by a networking expert and explains IPv6 features, benefits, and tweaks and tips, covering everything from experimenting with configurations to deploying IPv6 connectivity on an IPv4-only intranet. Best practices from the Microsoft corporate network case study accompany quizzes and everything needed to get IPv6 up and running successfully.

YUI 3 Cookbook
Evan Goer
Yahoo! Press
c/o O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
1005 Gravenstein, Hwy N.
Sebastopol, CA 95472-2811
9781449304195, $39.99, www.oreilly.com

YUI 3 Cookbook is for any collection catering to web developers and teaches how to solve a range of problems in web applications quickly and easily. It provides a definitive guide to version 3 of the popular open source JavaScript library and shows how to handle common programming challenges. Chapters teach how to build a YUI application anywhere, how to use YUI scales with base code, apply animations, debug and unit test a JavaScript application, and much more.

O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein, Hwy N.
Sebastopol, CA 95472-2811
www.oreilly.com

The second updated edition of Ryan Troy & Matthew Helmke's VMWARE COOKBOOK (9781449314477, $44.99) packs in step-by-step solutions in a guide designed to help virtualization programmer with VMware ESXi in a range of network applications. From the basics of handling computer clusters and storage to the latest advances in vCloud Director and cloud security, this provides system administrators with the basics of managing cloud resources and logical and physical networks alike, and is a 'must' for any seeking to automate ESXi installations. VCloud Director and vShield are included in this fine survey! Brian W. Fitzpatrick and Ben Collins-Sussman's TEAM GEEK A SOFTWARE DEVELOPER'S GUIDE TO WORKING WELL WITH OTHERS (9781449302443, $24.99) blends a career guide with advice for software engineers who produce fine code but struggle with interpersonal relations. It provides a fun guide to basic patterns and anti-patterns involved in working on teams and with users, is geared to a typical developer's assessment routines, and comes from two respected software engineers who consider the 'team' factor involved in software development. A 'must' for any who want specific insights in working on teams and with end users. Susan Prosser and Stuart Gripman's FILEMAKER PRO 12: THE MISSING MANUAL (9781449316280, $39.99) provides a fine manual that focuses on making the most of Filemaker Pro 12's many features. From a basic introduction to the program that includes keys to creating one's first database to cataloging data, creating professional documents, and using its many advanced features, this links business applications to all of Filemaker Pro 12's functions and is, quite simply, a 'must' for any planning serious use of the program. Simon St. Laurent, et.al.'s LEARNING RAILS 3 (9781449309336, $34.99) is for web developers and designers ready to learn Rails, and offers an introduction that uses the basics of the Web to explain Rails operations and logic. Programmers with this Web knowledge will this find LEARNING RAILS 3 to be an accessible, revealing survey that uses basic HTML experience to build insights on building forms, applications, and models with the Rails system. Very highly recommended for any programmer looking for a jumpstart to Rails. David Sawyer McFarland's DREAMWEAVER CS6: THE MISSING MANUAL (9781449316174, $49.99) covers all the important details of the program and offers A-Z guidance on Dreamweaver CS6's many advanced features. From using libraries and templates and learning the basics of the latest design ideas to designing sites for smartphones, tablets and desktop PCs, this offers a complete printed guide to the program from introductory to advanced features, using black and white charts, graphs, and illustrations at every step to simplify the explanations. A 'must' for any learning Dreamweaver CS6.

C++ Primer, fifth edition
Stanley B. Lippman, et.al.
Addison Wesley
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780321714114, $59.99, www.informit/com/aw

The fifth updated edition of the C++ 'bible', C++ PRIMER, has been completely rewritten for the new C++11 Standard and provides a blend of tutorial and reference fully updated for any seeking to use the core language and its standard library to write code. The standard library is completely explored here, with its functions, applications to code, and more. Examples have been revised to use the new language features and the focus is on a tutorial and reference book blend that offers at-a-glance information as well as a step-by-step instructional. Any collection strong in the latest C++ language MUST have this extensive reference!

OSX Mountain Lion for Dummies
Bob "Dr. Mac" LeVitus
For Dummies
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118394182, $24.99, www.wiley.com

OSX Mountain Lion for Dummies appears in complete color and provides all the basics of working with iCloud, Messages, email, Safari web surfing and more, teaching the basics of getting the most from OS X Mountain Lion and your Mac. Mac newcomers receive guidelines to all the basics, from the mouse to the desktop and processes unique to the OS X operating system, and receive special tips on options for customizing the process. Chapters focus on timesaving routines and tools, managing folders, handling music and video calls, and much more. The result's a powerful survey highly recommended for any Mac newcomer to OS X.

Digital Wars
Charles Arthur
Kogan Page USA
1518 Walnut Street, Suite 1100
Philadelphia, PA 19102
9780749464134, $19.95, www.koganpage.com

DIGITAL WARS: APPLE, GOOGLE, MICROSOFT AND THE BATTLE FOR THE INTERNET provides a powerful history of the rapidly-evolving digital arena or three major companies, offering an intriguing behind-the-scenes survey of their battles for control from digital music and search engines to smartphones. Chapters offer a lively discourse that charts the personalities, encounters, and oddities of the digital universe and provide many intriguing moments that are not documented elsewhere. The result, under one cover, is essentially a history of how today's digital world evolved - and how strong competition keeps it lively and filled with twists and turns for business and consumer alike. Any social issues or computer history holding will find this a vivid, interesting addition.

Think Like a Programmer
V. Anton Spraul
No Starch Press
38 Ringold Street, San Francisco, CO 94103-4403
9781593274245, $34.95, www.nostarch.com

Think Like a Programmer: An Introduction to Creative Problem Solving breaks down the ways programmers solve problems and offers step-by-step assessments of simple programming concepts, showing how to use a tool to solve real programming issues in new ways. Readers will learn strategies to apply to particular types of problems and ways to avoid frustration in a title which teaches the basics of not just writing code, but solving the real-world problems that stem from it. It shows programmers how to split problems into components to make them easier to solve, use code reuse with functions and libraries, pick a data structure suitable for a particular job, and more. Any programmer's reference library needs this practical collection of real-world solutions to common programming issues.


The Sports Shelf

Kicking The Odds
Brett Sheldon & Shaun C. Kilgore
Founders House Publishing
www.foundershousepublishing.com
9780984376445, $20.00, www.amazon.com

Brett Sheldon graduated from Indiana State University with a degree in physical education. An aspiring motivational speaker, his goal is to share his insights about life with a physical disability (born with a birth defect that left him with short arms) and the role of sports in shaping his experiences with others. Co-written by freelance writer Shaun C. Kilgore, "Kicking The Odds" is the riveting story of how he was able to excelled in athletics, first as a high school football kicker going so far as to break his school's kicking record, then in college football. . He also received other honors and awards for his roles in other sports as well. "Kicking The Odds" is inspired and inspiring, making it a highly recommended read for anyone who shares Brett Sheldon's love of sports -- despite all the odds that may confront them!

Classic Hikes of North America
Peter Potterfield
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393065138, $39.95, www.wwnorton.com

Classic Hikes of North America: 25 Breathtaking Treks in the United States and Canada comes from a veteran adventure journalist who has crossed the country assessing hiking trails, culling the potentials down to some twenty-five of the best. Lovely photos in an oversized hardcover suitable for displaying them accompanies hiking directions and assessments of each hike's attractions, pairing lovely images with "you are there" descriptions that will lure any hiker to new heights. Detailed information on each trail assures there will be no surprises for any who wish to use this 'best of the best' as a travel guide, while the lush photos and descriptions will also appeal to armchair hikers and collections catering to them.


The Martial Arts Shelf

Taekwondo
Kim, Bok Man
YMAA Publications
PO Box 480, Wolfeboro, NH 03894-0480
9781594392276, $34.95, www.ymaa.com

TAEKWONDO: DEFENSE AGAINST WEAPONS offers sparring and patterns from Taekwondo's technical founder and is an excellent addition to any serious martial arts collection. Grandmaster Kim, Bok Man is one of the most recognized authorities of the art in the world. This volume originally appeared in 1979 and here provides a review of the defense techniques taught to military and black belts alike. Beginners can view the application of their training in weapon defenses, while advanced students will learn basic training that's long been part of Taekwondo. Step-by-step black and white photos throughout follow every form and movement and accompany a history and discussion of sparring, defense against weapons, and training and hand and foot techniques. Any martial arts holding will find this a classic instructional.

Yoga Sequencing
Mark Stephens
North Atlantic Books
2526 Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Berkeley, CA 94704-2607
9781583944974, $24.95, www.northatlanticbooks.com

Yoga can be excellent for your health, but optimizing it can take quite the skill. "Yoga Sequencing: Designing Transformative Yoga Classes" is a guide for yoga teachers and instructors from Mark Stephens who presents a comprehensive guide to fully understanding how to better teach yoga. With over two thousand black and white photos all throughout the read, he presents tips on the many aspects of understanding Yoga. "Yoga Sequencing: Designing Transformative Yoga Classes" is a must for anyone who wants to more comprehensively understand Yoga and its rougher to understand details, enthusiastically recommended.


The Photography Shelf

Country
Jasper Conran
Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue
New York NY 10017
9781840916089, $19.99, www.octopusbooksusa.com

The un-urbanized areas of the United Kingdom hold relics of the past, and are a sight to see in their own right. "Country" is a photographic essay from Jasper Conran, who walks readers through the modern British countryside and the pursuits of dreams that lie all throughout it. The simple pleasures of the people, their culture, aged homes, and others. A full color coffee table book with plenty to ponder, "Country" is not a read to be overlooked.

The Sony SLT-A77
Carol F. Roullard and Brian Matsumoto
Rocky Nook
802 East Cota Street, 3rd Floor
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
9781937538019, $34.95, www.rockynook.com

The Sony SLT-A77: The Unofficial Quintessential Guide provides photographers with information about the unique features of the Sony SLT-A77 which comes with an electronic viewfinder and a fixed mirror, and teaches how to obtain exceptional photos and videos using the camera's automatic modes. It tells how to use built-in adjustments, GPS, colorization modes and more and provides keys to using the accessory Sony shoe-mount flash and third-party software and accessories. From advantages of Sony's advanced features to using the camera with the older Minolta Maxxum lenses, this is packed with outstanding tips for getting the most from a Sony SLT-A77.


The Business Shelf

Cross-Cultural Business Behavior, fifth edition
Richard R. Gesteland
Copenhagen Business School Press
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 Northeast 58th Avenue, Suite 300
Portland, OR 97213
www.globalmanagementllc.com
9788763002387 $50.00 www.isbs.com

Now in an updated fifth edition, Cross-Cultural Business Behavior: A Guide for Global Management is an absolute "must-have" educational reference and resource for business professionals. An excellent choice for college courses or self-instruction, Cross-Cultural Business Behavior explains in plain terms how cultural distinctions can make all the difference in successful business negotiations - loud or soft vocal intensity, certain gesticulations, even the number of times one offers refreshments can be polite in one culture and rude in another. For example, in many Arabic countries one should offer food or drink at least three times before expecting the guest to accept, while in many Asian countries, declining an offer to drink tea even once is an insult. Perhaps most valuable is understanding how some cultures are "relationship-focused", rather than "deal-focused" like America; "relationship-focused" means that much more extensive networking and time spent building trust with local contacts is absolutely essential for getting any business done. Other cultural dichotomies, such as monochronic versus polychronic (how important is punctuality, or avoiding interruptions?), expressive versus reserved (how vocal is one expected to be?) and formal versus informal (how critically important is it to respect hierarchical status?) are also examined at length. Cross-Cultural Business Behavior also has brief segments that specify the business cultural practices of dozens of individual countries. There is especially valuable advice for young managers, or female managers (youth or femininity can confer drastically lower status in some nations), such as the importance of having someone older and higher status make initial introductions (status is to some extent transferable). And the insights into American business practices from a foreign perspective are fascinating! "From time to time international clients who want to set up a business in the United States ask Global Management, 'What should we do first?' Our answer is always the same: 'Find a good law firm.' Sure signs of a deal-focused business culture are dependence on written agreements, reliance on the legal system and readiness to go to court to defend rights. Americans expect their business partners to adhere to the terms of the contract and are immediately suspicious if that partner expresses a wish to renegotiate an agreement." Although Cross-Cultural Business Behavior is written especially for businesspeople, international travelers of all backgrounds will find its wisdom absolutely invaluable, and worthy of the highest recommendation.

Heart, Smarts, Guts, and Luck
Anthony K. Tjan, Richard J. Harrington, & Tusan-Yan Hsieh
Harvard Business School Press
60 Harvard Way
Boston, MA 02163
9781422161944, $25.00, http://hbr.org/books

Excelling at one thing alone won't be enough to find success. "Heart, Smarts, Guts, and Luck: What it Takes to Be an Entrepreneur and Build a Great Business" as the authors focus on what one needs to succeed all in various degrees, although excelling at one is usually what's needed to push one over and find success. Profiling many individuals on their driven endeavors to decide their business success, "Heart, Smarts, Guts, and Luck" is a fantastic and much recommended advisory for those who have dreams of being the big dog int heir own company, complete with Entrepreneurial Aptitude Test.

The Eight Characteristics of the Awesome Employee
Carl Van
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street
Gretna, LA 70053-2246
978145567340, $24.95, www.pelicanpub.com

Good businesses are often fueled by good employees. "The Eight Characteristics of the Awesome Employee" is a managers guide on how to encourage the best possible performance in one's staff. Carl Van advises leaders on how to foster better attitudes, unity, and much more. These principles are what increase morale and allow employees to produce at a higher level and keep them in your roster. "The Eight Characteristics of the Awesome Employee" is a fine pick for motivational business collections, highly recommended.

Paid Owned Earned
Nick Burcher
Kogan Page USA
1518 Walnut Street, Suite 1100
Philadelphia, PA 19102
9780749465629, $26.95, www.koganpage.com

Paid Owned Earned: Maximizing Marketing Returns in a Socially Connected World offers a fine survey that will appeal to any business holding for marketing and advertising professionals, and offers a framework that reveals marketing opportunities inherent in socially connected media. Marketing options are discussed in chapters that consider the specifics of optimization, broadcasting messages, listening to considers via social media connections, and much more. College-level marketing and business holdings will find this a winner!

Stand Up For Yourself Without Getting Fired
Donna Ballman
Career Press
220 West Parkway, Unit 12
Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
9781601632357, $15.99, www.careerpress.com

Stand Up For Yourself Without Getting Fired focuses on how to resolve workplace issues without endangering one's job, and comes from an attorney who provides answers to questions surrounding making a case for discrimination or harassment, understanding privacy issues in the workplace, what it means to be an independent contractor versus an employee, and much more. It provides key advice for any career-threatening situation and offers tips that range from logical to eye-opening. Any business collection needs this!

Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc.
235 Montgomery Street, Suite 650
San Francisco, CA 94104-2916
www.bkconnection.com

Laura Stack's WHAT TO DO WHEN THERE'S TOO MUCH TO DO (9781609945404, $15.95) teaches readers how to do less and achieve more, and comes form an author who has been teaching professionals the basics of building workable organization systems for some twenty years. Activity shouldn't be confused with productivity: what counts is making sure key projects don't become lost on the task list. This introduces the basics of work triage and tells how to assign levels of urgency to different tasks in a powerful recommendation for any business collection. Hugh Sinclair's CONFESSIONS OF A MICROFINANCE HERETIC: HOW MICROLENDING LOST ITS WAY AND BETRAYED THE POOR (9781609945183, $27.95) provides the true story of a young IESE Business School grad who joined the microfinance industry in the early 2000s intending to do good in the world. His discovery of a global network of corruption and betrayals of the poor and his efforts at exposing this wrongdoing would result in death threats, aggressive retaliations, and legal action. This provides a memoir and financial detective story that could fall under many headings, from business and finance insights to social issues, true crime, political expose and more. The result is an eye-opening examination of the world of microfinance that reveals the dark side of the industry and provides a powerful account for many different kinds of collections. Soren Kaplan's LEAPFROGGING: HARNESS THE POWER OF SURPRISE FOR BUSINESS BREAKTHROUGHS (9781609944940, $27.95) combines extensive research with some 20 years in strategy and innovation to identify a process for using surprise to foster business breakthroughs. Surprise is a key in creating these breakthroughs and is inherent in the way leaders and organizations handle uncertainty. Those managers and groups willing to change to encourage and accommodate surprise will find this a magic potion for business change and success - and will find LEAPFROGGING the perfect path to business enlightenment, recommended for business and general holdings alike!

Team Turnarounds
Joe Frontiera and Daniel Leidl
Jossey Bass
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118144787, $25.95, www.josseybass.com

TEAM TURNAROUNDS: A PLAYBOOK FOR TRANSFORMING UNDERPERFORMING TEAMS discusses how turnaround works for teams and managers and uses interviews with team managers and turnaround masters in the NFL, MLB, and NCAA along with managers at top global firms who have reversed their company's decline. Chapters outline the six basic steps every team takes to undertake a turnaround, offering stories from legendary individuals and teams who successfully made the change and experienced success. The result is a winning formula a range of businesses will wish to adopt.


The Education Shelf

Getting To Graduation
Andrew P. Kelly & Mark Schneider, editors
The Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
www.press.jhu.edu
9781421406220, $45.00, www.amazn.com

With respect to a long-term economic recession and very slow recovery, combined with increasing costs and graduate debt levels, the advisability of obtaining college and university degrees is under considerable national discussion. Cooperatively compiled and edited by Andrew P. Kelly (Research Fellow in Education Policy Studies, American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy) and Mark Schneider (Vice-President of American Institutes for Research), "Getting to Graduation: The Completion Agenda in Higher Education" is a 344-page compendium comprised of eleven articulate contributions by experts in contemporary higher education policies. An impressive body of scholarship is deftly organized into four major sections: The Challenges; The Performance and Potential of Sub-Baccalaureate Programs; The Relationship between Policy and Completion; and The Lessons from Three States (Colorado, Texas, Ohio). Of special note are the informed and informative Introduction and Conclusion contributions of the editors. Enhanced with the inclusion of a comprehensive Index, "Getting to Graduation: The Completion Agenda in Higher Education" is a model body of scholarship and a highly recommended contribution to academic library Contemporary Education reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Healthy Children, Healthy Lives
Sharon Bergen & Rachel Robertson
Redleaf Press
10 Yorkton Court
St. Paul, MN 55117-1065
9781605540818, $29.95, www.redleafpress.org

A healthy start can begin a healthy life. "Healthy Children, Healthy Lives: The Wellness Guide for Early Childhood Programs" is an early childhood education guide from Sharon Bergen & Rachel Robertson, as they advise parents and early childhood caregivers to emphasize nutrition and health in its many forms to form a strong foundation for learning and for life. "Healthy Children, Healthy Lives" comes packed with practical advice and wisdom, proving to be an excellent reference that should definitely not be overlooked. Also from Redleaf about the topic of caring for young children is "Building Brains: 600 Activity Ideas for Young Children" (9781605541174, $29.95), outlining hundreds of activities to set up for young children to learn at pre-school with teachers and other students.

Reading the Whole Page
Michelle Kelley
Maupin House Publishing
PO Box 90148
Gainesville, FL 32607
9781936700554, $34.95, www.maupinhouse.com

Literacy goes beyond just reading the worlds, it comes with understanding. "Reading the Whole Page: Teaching and Assessing Text Features to Meet K-5 Core Standards" is a guide for educators to help their students learn and understand advanced reading techniques and font eccentricities like bold and italic, as well as enhancing reading comprehension on a deeper level. With plenty of activities and exercises to help the learning process, "Reading the Whole Page" is enhanced with a CD-ROM that includes additional resources, making for a very much recommended addition to educational reference collections.

Attainment's RTI Workshop
Edward Schultz
Attainment Company
Box 930160, Verona, WI 53593-0160
www.attainmentcompany.com
9781578617067, $39.00, www.amazon.com

Offering a new approach to working with students, "RTI Workshop How to Implement and Maintain a Successful Program" is a thoroughly 'user friendly", 96 page, print-based workshop whose focus is upon starting or maintaining a 'Response To Intervention' (RTI) program. Classroom teachers need not wait to address the academic and behavioral deficits of their students. By utilizing an RTI strategy they can address them beginning in kindergarten. Emphasizing the use of evidence-based practices delivered in an inclusive classroom, high quality instruction, and organized accumulation of ongoing data about each student, "Attainment's RTI Workshop" is enhanced with the inclusion of a PDF on a Win/Mac CD with a Classroom License for printouts, making it an invaluable and highly recommended instruction planning resource for both primary and secondary grade levels.

50 Games for Going Green
Carol Scaini & Carolyn Evans
Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc.
PO Box 5076
Champaign, IL 61820-5076
9781450419901, $19.00, www.HumanKinetics.com

Environmentalism can be fun. "50 Games for Going Green: Physical Activities That Teach Healthy Environmental Concepts" is a guide for physical education instructors about teaching environmental concepts along with good physical education practice for children of any age. These games are easy to teach and come with plenty of diagrams for greater success, "50 Games for Going Green" is a strong pick for sports and fitness collections, physical education reference collections, and environmental studies collections, recommended.

School Success for Kids With Dyslexia
Walter E. Dunson
Prufrock Press
PO Box 8813
Waco, TX 76714-8813
9781593639624, $16.95, www.prufrock.com

Dyslexia can be quite intimidating for a young child to attempt to overcome. "School Success for Kids with Dyslexia & Other Reading Difficulties" is an educational guide for educators and parents to help young children face this disorder and how to best conquer it. Through understanding the disorder, Dr. Walter E. Dunson advises readers on how to train dyslexic students and encourage greater literacy among these students. "School Success for Kids with Dyslexia & Other Reading Difficulties" is a core addition to any educational reference collection focusing on learning disabilities.

101 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum
Cathy Duffy
Grove Publishing
16172 Huxley Circle, Westminister, CA 92683
9780929320151, $23.99, www.grovepublishing.com

Homeschool curriculum is a whole different beast than standard curriculum. "101 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum: Choosing the Right Curriculum and Approach for Each Child's Learning Style" is a guide for homeschool teachers who want to make sure their child picks up fully everything they need to learn and how to tailor it to your child's needs. Outlining choice text books to consider for every topic, and picking choices based on a child's learning style, "101 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum for Homeschool Curriculum" is well worth considering for anyone who homeschools their child.

Island Schoolhouse
Eva Murray
Tilbury House, Publishers
103 Brunswick Avenue, Gardiner, ME 04345
9780884483403, $20.00, www.tilburyhouse.com

Isolated from much of the world, schools can still provide for their students. "Island Schoolhouse: One Room for All" explores the islands of Maine and their single room schoolhouses that have adapted over the years to meet the educational demands of the modern student, and how this interacts with the lifestyle that comes with remote island living. "Island Schoolhouse" provides an intriguing twist on education and what can be learned from these case studies.

Cracking the AP Calculus AB & BC Exams 2013
David S. Kahn
The Princeton Review
c/o Random House Inc.
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
9780307944863, $19.99, www.princetonreview.com

Cracking the AP Calculus AB & BC Exams 2013 offers proven techniques for gaining a higher score, five full-length practice tests combined with detailed explanations, a review of topics, a cheat sheet of key formulas, and much more, updating strategies to reflect the latest AP test scoring changes and providing a solid reference for any who would take the standardized exam and succeed. The practice tests are filled with problems, answers, and detailed explanations designed to enhance overall understanding, making this a top pick for any studying for the 2013 exams.

Corwin Press
2455 Teller Road
Thousand Oaks, CA 91320-2218
www.corwin.com

Howard M. Knoff's SCHOOL DISCIPLINE, CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT, & STUDENT SELF-MANAGEMENT: A PBS IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE (9781412993968, $36.95) teaches the basics of implementing a schoolwide discipline and safe schools program and is based on Project Achieve, a national model of improvement. Educators will find this offers a model for similar achievement across the board, blending academics, instruction and achievement with discipline, behavior management, and more. Classroom charts, posters, and worksheets contribute to an outstanding survey highly recommended for schools looking for an integrated, tested program of advancement. 41 ACTIVE LEARNING STRATEGIES FOR THE INCLUSIVE CLASSROOM (9781412993975, $36.95) by Diane Casale-Giannola and Linda Schwartz Green will reach educators of grades 6-12 with research motivating adolescents to learn. Strategies focus on creating a more engaged interactive classroom environment and also focus on self-directed learning processes, offering clear keys that include materials, directions, sample applications, and more. Erin E. Barton and Beth Harn's EDUCATING YOUNG CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS (9781412987288, $41.95) provides educators with all the basics needed to educate a child with autism. From improving skills for communication and socialization to including families in educational pursuits and using a student's interests to teach, this includes forms, charts, activities, and the latest research on autism and educational processes, and is a solid pick for any special education collection. Also highly recommended for this audience is Geoff Colvin and Martin R. Sheehan's MANAGING THE CYCLE OF MELTDOWNS FOR STUDENTS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER (9781412994033, $31.95), a key to keeping autistic meltdowns from taking over a classroom. Practical steps to recognizing, preventing and responding to common phases of meltdown behaviors with autism spectrum disorder students provides a guide that advocates positive behavior support and gives basic keys to achieving these goals. Teachers will find this a package for recognizing and handling the different phases of meltdown, and will find this an essential addition to any approach to teaching autistic students. Richard Sagor and Deborah Rickey's THE RELENTLESS PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE (9781412996457, $27.16) describes a leadership philosophy based on the search for wisdom and shows how to retain high-quality teachers, keep them motivated, and incorporate accountability into the school improvement quest. Chapters offer a concrete formula for bringing out the best in school leaders, presenting a proven leadership model that works well in the school environment. Principals and educational leaders will find this filled with solid leadership advice. Page Keeley, et.al.'s A LEADER'S GUIDE TO MATHEMATICS CURRICULUM TOPIC STUDY (9781412992602, $41.95) teaches the basics of linking standards and research to mathematics practice, and is a fine companion to MATHEMATICS CURRICULUM TOPIC STUDY. Here is a survey that offers designs and guidelines for common topic studies and keys to programs for half- and full-day workshops and individual coaching alike, accompanied by a CD-ROM containing handouts, slides and reproducibles. The purpose is to link standards and research to actual math practice, and chapters provide all the tools and templates needed to strengthen a math teacher's program. Nic Cooper and Betty K. Garner's DEVELOPING A LEARNING CLASSROOM (9781452203881, $28.95) explores the basics of creating a learning-centered classroom founded on relationships, relevance and rigor. From creating a safe environment for questions and interactions to pairing student learning profiles with teacher approaches, this is packed with brain-based strategies considering how we teach students and who these students are. Linda Gross Cheliotes and Marceta Fleming Reilly's OPENING THE DOOR TO COACHING CONVERSATIONS (9781452202570, $31.95) provides a fine guide to the coaching style of leadership, blending stories by coaches on the Coaching for Results team with discussions of building coaching values and practices, handling issues of accountability, and developing team loyalty and trust. The focus on coach leadership principles as they play out in real-world situations makes for a powerful guide highly recommended for any education collection interested in coaching team teaching.

Paul H. Brookes Publishing Company
PO Box 10624
Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
www.brookespublishing.com

Deborah A. Bruns and Stacy D. Thompson's FEEDING CHALLENGES IN YOUNG CHILDREN: STRATEGIES AND SPECIALIZED INTERVENTIONS FOR SUCCESS (9781598571219, $39.95) provides a new book to address feeding challenges in young children, and offers advice based on the latest research and input from professionals in resolving diverse feeding issues in kids from birth to 5. School, home and child care settings alike are covered while a CD-ROM holds nearly 50 pages of printable forms, handouts, and records for daily feeding notes. Tips on issues ranging from feeding team requirements and specialized feeding equipment to rating scales and interventions for failures to thrive, while tips for youngsters with oral motor difficulties round out all the practical details in a title highly recommended for health and education collections alike. Philippa H. Campbell, Suzanne A. Milbourne and Alexis A. Kennedy's CARA'S KIT FOR TODDLERS: CREATING ADAPTATIONS FOR ROUTINES AND ACTIVITIES (9781598572483, $24.95) is a pick for early childhood and early intervention specialists and provides a fine spiral-bound kit and CD-ROM packed with step-by-step ideas for adapting environments, activities and materials for kids ages 18-36 months. The kid focuses on toddler development and shows how to make daily activities and routines run easily through a range of techniques to help kids meet daily challenges. From music to visual supports to enhance learning, this is a creative winner.

Cracking the AP World History Exam 2013
Monty Armstrong, et.al.
The Princeton Review
c/o Random House Inc.
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
9780307944917, $19.99, www.princetonreview.com

Cracking the AP World History Exam 2013 offers a set of proven techniques for a higher score and packs in two full-length practice tests, timelines, summaries, key terms and new strategies that reflect the AP test scoring change. This isn't just a set of questions and answers: it's a powerful collection of world history reviews that help students understand the basics of world history events and questions likely to appear on the exam. Highly recommended for any collection appealing to AP test-takers.

Teach Your Children Well
Madeline Levine, PhD
Harper
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, NY, NY 10022-5299
9780061824746, $26.99, www.harpercollins.com

TEACH YOUR CHILDREN WELL: PARENTING FOR AUTHENTIC SUCCESS provides a powerful survey arguing tat we must embrace a different way of thinking about success if we're to effectively teach children values and meaningful ideals in life. Too often success in school is defined by high grades; but academic success in school doesn't necessarily lead to a better life. This book advocates allowing kids the time and energy to explore and develop coping methods and a sense of self. Chapters show how to achieve this success in conjunction with academic aims, and provide a fine guide for any teacher or parent searching for a different approach to evaluating educational goals.

Degree Mills
Allen Ezell and John Bear, PhD
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781616145071, $21.00, www.prometheusbooks.com

DEGREE MILLS: THE BILLION-DOLLAR INDUSTRY THAT HAS SOLD OVER A MILLION FAKE DIPLOMAS reviews the industry and statistics surrounding fake PhDs and provides many stunning facts - such as the revelation that over half of all new PhDs are fake. The problem has become an international epidemic as hundreds of degree mills sell thousands of fake degrees weekly. Author Allen Ezell is a long-time FBI agent specializing in diploma mills and John Bear is an expert witness on degree fraud: together they provide a top reference for any working in business, government or academic circles who must verify degree accuracy.


The Travel Shelf

Tea & Cake London
Zena Alkayat
Black Dog Publishing
10a Acton Street
London, England, WC1X 9NG
www.blackdogonline.com
9781907317484, $14.95, www.amazon.com

London is a premier tourist destination for anyone visiting Britain. While there are a great many London oriented travel guides, "Tea & Cake London" descriptively compiled by Zena Alkayat is unique. This 192-page, profusely illustrated guidebook showcases seventy of the very best restaurants, bakeries, and cafes the city has to offer for tourists and even long term residents interested in the exercising the genteel custom of having tea and cakes. Each recommended site includes a succinct description, a street address, and their web site, along with full color photography of their specialty baked goods. A wonderful browse, "Tea & Cake London" is an especially valued reference for anyone wanting to plan an itinerary for any length of stay in one of the great capital cities of Europe!

Jordan
Carole French
Bradt
c/o The Globe Pequot Press
246 Goose Lane, Suite 200
Guilford, CT 06437
9781841623986, $25.99, www.globepequot.com

Jordan holds much historical splendor for those who want to gain a cultural view of the Middle East. "Jordan" is a comprehensive travel guide from Carole French and Bradt Guides, bringing their study of local focus for travel to focus on the home of the Dead Sea. With full color photo inserts, French gives readers a full understanding of the sights, sounds, and flavors of Jordan, to make one's visit a more complete and comprehensive one. "Jordan" is not to be missed for potential world travelers. Also from Bradt Guides is "Grenada: Carriacou, Petite Martinique" (9781841624013, $25.99), a complete travel advisory for those visiting the Caribbean island, and "Madagascar Highlights" (9781841624259, $24.99) exploring fully the vast wildlife and tourism spots that rest on the African island.

New York City
Lonely Planet Publications
150 Linden Street
Oakland CA 94607
9781742200200, $19.99, www.lonelyplanet.com

One of the largest cities in the world, New York has no shortage of attractions spread throughout it. "New York City" is a Lonely Planet Travel guide, presenting a highly comprehensive guide to the city, with countless maps of the vast cities, endless restaurants to enjoy, museums, tours, lodgings, anything and everything for readers to plan with. "New York City" is a choice travel advisory guide, not to be overlooked.

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

ESTONIA, LATVIA & LITHUANIA by Brandon Presser, et.al. (9781741795813, $26.99) provides a fine survey from five expert authors who together represent three solid months of research into moving around a less-touristed travel destination. It covers three Baltic nations in detail, surveying hundreds of architectural gems, including small line maps, and practical advice on moving around and between the small countries. John Noble, et.al.'s GEORGIA, ARMENIA & AZERBAIJAN (9781741794038, $25.99) comes from three expert authors who together represent some four months of research into independent travel in each of these countries, and is a top pick for any heading to the region. It covers natural beauty and manmade attractions equally, with sidebars of at-a-glance information and small line maps throughout complimenting practical information perfect for advance travel planning and budget-oriented readers. The result is a fine guide: both are top picks for any destination-oriented traveler and collections catering to them! Nick Ray and Greg Bloom's CAMBODIA (9781741799651, $23.99) covers the entire country, packs in sidebars of information and small maps throughout, and is the item of take-along choice for any planning an independent journey through the country. It provides a lovely survey outlining the best of the country and how to make the most of a journey there whether you have weeks or months, and it's filled with all the travel insights any would need to know to navigate the country successfully. Anthony Ham, et.al.'s KENYA (9781741796735, $26.99) packs in practical keys to making the most of a visit to Kenya, with a special focus on looking for animals in the countryside. From visiting small camps with guided tours to moving easily around the country and sleeping and eating, it's a 'must' for any heading to Kenya in search of animals and culture. Even more remote is Madagascar, and Emilie Filou and Paul Stiles' MADAGASCAR (9781741791754,$27.99) provides important keys to moving around rainforest and beaches alike in a country once notorious for its rare wildlife and difficulty in seeing them. Chapters packed with small line maps and detailed destination advice offer important keys to navigating Madagascar's back roads and cities like. Mary Fitzpatrick, et.al.'s EAST AFRICA (9781741796728, $32.99) provides a fine account documenting the wildlife of East Africa and the best ways to see it, pairing small local line maps throughout with descriptions of on- and off-the-beaten path attractions and how to get to them. Any heading to East Africa must use this practical guide as a planner! Kevin Raub, et.al.'s COLUMBIA (9781741797983, $26.99) provides a fine survey representing over a hundred days of research, listing beaches, colonial cities and small towns, and numerous national parks. Information for independent travelers includes everything from accommodations and food to budgeting, creating an excellent take-along tote for any who want a specific guide to Columbia alone. China Williams, et.al.'s SOUTHEAST ASIA ON A SHOESTRING (9781741798548, $26.99) packs in nearly a thousand pages in a thick take-along tote and travel planner that reveals how to move around Southeast Asia on a budget, and is a pick for independent travelers interested in the many opportunities available for eye-opening journeys through different countries. Expert authors who live and work in Southeast Asia contribute to a volume packed with details on how to take big trips on small budgets in a pick for any who would travel independently in the region. Daniel Robinson, et.al.'s ISRAEL & THE PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES (9781741799361, $24.99) offers a pull-out map of Jerusalem and new information on all the Territories and Israel, including Petra and Siani, and is a 'must' for any heading on a trip to the region. From highlights to travel tips for getting around, this is packed with top tips for any visitor to the region and is arranged in such a way that independent travelers will learn the most about getting around and seeing sights on and off the beaten path.


The Needlecraft Shelf

60 More Quick Baby Quilts
Editorial Staff
Sixth&Spring Books
161 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 1301
New York, NY 10013
www.sixthandspringbooks.com
9781936096435, $17.95, www.amazon.com

Compiled by the staff of Sixth & Spring Books, "60 More Quick Baby Knits: Adorable Projects for Newborns to Tots in 220 Superwash Sport from Cascade Yarns" is the latest in an impressive series of needlecraft books. A profusely illustrated, 184-page compendium showcasing sixty inexpensive but utterly charming knitted garments for babies. From nap-time blankets, to a skirt dress, Mary Jane booties, ruffle-bottom pants, and more, "60 More Quick Baby Knits: Adorable Projects for Newborns to Tots in 220 Superwash Sport from Cascade Yarns" will prove to be a highly prized addition to personal and community library Needlecraft instructional reference collections.

Long-Legged Friends
Hisako and Shizue Okawa
Andrews & McMeel
1130 Walnut Street
Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
9781449417512, $16.99, www.andrewsmcmeel.com

With crochet, the possibilities are vast. "Long-Legged Friends: Crochet Creatures to Create and Cuddle" is a guide for hobbyist needleworkers who want to create cute takes on stuffed animals and critters, as Hisako and Shizue Okawa advise readers n how to create these pleasant creatures themselves. With full color photography all throughout, "Long-Legged Friends" is a strongly recommended pick for anyone who enjoys crochet.

Quilts from Grandmother's Garden
Jaynette Huff
Martingale & Company
19021 Avenue NE, Bothell, WA 98011
9781564776426, $24.99, www.shopmartingale.com

Quilts from Grandmother's Garden: A Fresh Look at English Paper Piecing provides a fine set of projects inspired by the Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt tradition, teaching how to sew hexagons into applique units for lovely floral designs. Ten projects include a wall quilt and numerous flowers, leaves and nature scenes that can all be created using 1/4" to 1/2" hexagon shapes. Patterns and color photos throughout lend to a lovely gathering of unique projects based on an old tradition, and perfect for quilters seeking something different.

American Quilter's Society
PO Box 3290
Paducah, KY 42002-3290
www.americanquilter.com

Karen S. Fisher's EASY GRID QUILTS (9781604600131, $24.95) provides some fourteen quilt projects that combine colors, contrasts and more in five simple grid formats to teach quilters the basic of grid line quilting. Easily-sewed squares and rectangles may be combined using grid quilting to create complex-looking quilts, while optional machine applique instructions and design suggestions are included. Any who would learn how to use quilt grids to maximum advantage will find this a winning set of projects teaching all the basics. Karen Linduska's CREATIVE USES FOR DECORATIVE STITCHES (9781604600278, $24.95) provides a fine book filled with some 11 projects using the built-in decorative stitching features of a home sewing machine, and is a recommended pick for any needlework collection focusing on machine basics. It shows how to apply different uses to single stitches, how to combine stitches, and how to use threads and more in a variety of projects, and teaches the basics of varying stitches by length, width, and density as well. Any who would better use their machine's built-in features will find this packed with useful information!


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Widow's Might
Sandra Brannan
Greenleaf Book Group Press
PO box 91869
Austin, TX 78709
9781608323722, $14.95, www.greenleafbookgroup.com

Justice is often subjective. "Widow's Might" is a thrilling mystery from Sandra Brannan as Liv Bergen, who after solving one tragedy may find her in the center of a new one. As she seeks to the truth, she follows the trail of the 'Crooked Man', a man whose motives are not quite fully understood. As piece by piece it comes together, she faces competition from her own police department, and the enticement of romance. An entry into the Liv Bergen series, "Widow's Might" is a treasure of a mystery that shouldn't be overlooked.

Shadow of the Rock
Thomas Mogford
Walker & Company
175 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10010
9780802779991, $25.00, www.walkerbooks.com

For a friend, one has to dig through the sands of the Sahara, and the heavy corruption of the people who live in it. "Shadow of the Rock" is a contemporary thriller from Thomas Mogford, follows Lawyer Pike Sanguinetti as he tries to aid his old friend Solomon Hassan through his accusations of murder, trying to stop an extradition. Working with a company called Dunetech to pass a deal, he finds there are few people to trust as he works with the company and finds he doesn't like what he sees. "Shadow of the Rock" is a must for those seeking a modern thriller that evokes the cities of Northern Africa well, highly recommended.

Open Meetings
Joyce T. Strand
McCloughan & Schmeltz Publishing LLC
2360 Corporate Circle, Suite 400
Henderson, NV 89074-7722
9780983926221, $7.99, http://mccloughanandschmeltz.com

What's so secret that people are willing to kill to keep it that way? "Open Meetings" is a mystery following PR Professional Jillian Hillcrest as the unusual death of a woman sends her out to find out what's going on in her town. Connecting the dots of many other unusual deaths throughout the city, "Open Meetings" is a riveting mystery and thriller that won't be easy to put down, highly recommended.

No Way to Kill a Lady
Nancy Martin
Obsidian Mystery
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780451237057, $23.95, www.penguin.com

NO WAY TO KILL A LADY: A BLACKBIRD SISTERS MYSTERY provides the long-awaited eighth book in the mystery series - the first since 2009 - and will prove an engrossing read for fans of the prior sagas. Here a great-aunt's death leaves three sisters an estate worth millions - but when they travel to claim their inheritance they find the house has been gutted and abandoned. The sisters are individually experiencing scandal, from a sex scandal to a love child - but this scene involves them all in murder as well, when a body is discovered in the abandoned mansion. Twists and turns of plot permeate a tense thriller, filled with solid characterization and unpredictable moments.

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

Peg Cochran's ALLERGIC TO DEATH (9780425251461, $7.99) centers around Gigi, whose new gourmet deli is just becoming famous when an esteemed restaurant reviewer drops dead from a severe peanut allergy right after eating one of Gigi's dishes. The trouble is, the recipe included no peanuts - and it's up to Gigi to clear her name before her business goes down in flames. Rochelle Staab's BRUJA BROUHAHA (9780425251492, $7.99) tells of a psychologist and an occult professor who form an unlikely bond and attempt to solve a mystery while investigating a witch's hex. The only trouble is, murder complicated by the hex are turning an entire neighborhood upside down - and it's up to Liz and Nick to set things right. Allison Kingsley's A SINISTER SENSE (9780425251416, $7.99) revolves around a Maine bookstore and owner Stephanie Quinn, who employs her mind reader cousin to add mystery and intrigue to the store's mix. Add a dead body and a troublesome dog and you have a vivid story hard to put down. Annette Blair's CLOAKED IN MALICE (9780425251430, $7.99) tells of Maddie's passion for vintage clothes, and the visions she gets from touching the. But a beautifully dressed girl who enters the store brings with her visions of a decades-old kidnapping and murder - and Maddie and her FBI agent boyfriend Nick find themselves hot on the trail of a killer in this engrossing story. Ellery Adams' PIES AND PREJUDICE (9780425251409, $7.99) tells of Ella Mae, who bakes pies when things become difficult. So when she catches her husband cheating she returns to her Georgia hometown to bake pies - and finds they have magical effects on their enthusiastic audience. Her ownership of a pie shop with magic lends to trouble when a fiance is found murdered by Ella's own rolling pin, casting suspicion on her name and life. All are satisfying, engrossing mysteries.


The Political Science Shelf

Who's Counting?
John Fund and Hans Von Spakovsky
Encounter Books
900 Broadway, Suite 601, New York, NY 10003
9781594036187, $16.99, www.encounterbooks.com

WHO'S COUNTING: HOW FRAUDSTERS AND BUREAUCRATS PUT YOUR VOTE AT RISK focuses on issues of our election system from voter fraud to vote counting, and is a fine pick for any interested in American elections and voter integrity. It surveys problems, public confidence issues, and the need to scrutinize our own election process to assure safe and fair voting. Many states have passed laws requiring photo ID to be shown at the polls and curbing the use of absentee ballots which lend to fraud: WHO'S COUNTING considers the many influences on voter fraud and is a key acquisition for any political studies collection strong in voter rights and democracy's issues and challenges.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Community Mental Health, second edition
Jessica Rosbenberg & Samuel J. Rosenberg
Routledge
711 - 3rd Ave., Floor 8, NY, NY 10017-9209
www.routledge.com
9780415887410, $44.95, www.amazon.com

Every urban community is home to community mental health centers tasked with providing a variety of mental health services and treatments to local residents. Now in a fully updated and expanded second edition, "Community Mental Health: Challenges for the 21st Century" is a 344 page compendium co-edited by Jessica Rosbenberg (Associate Professor of Social Work, Long Island University) and Samuel J. Rosenberg (Dean of the School of Social Science and Human Services, and Professor of Social Work and Sociology, Ramapo College of New Jersey) comprised of eighteen essays by experts in thematically relevant professions ranging from social work, nursing, psychology, and psychiatry, to public health, sociology, and law. Of special note are the newly added chapters focused on 'best practices' applied to specific groups such as veterans, Latinos, victims of the Great Recession, children and youth. Of special note the related materials such as PowerPoint slides and test blanks for teachers utilizing "Community Mental Health: Challenges for the 21st Century" as a curriculum textbook and accessible online at http://www.routledgementalhealth.com/cw/rosenberg . A seminal work of impressive scholarship, "Community Mental Health: Challenges for the 21st Century" is very highly recommended for professional and academic library Social Work reference collections and Community Mental Health Services supplemental reading lists.

Multiple Sclerosis
T. Jock Murray, Carol S. Saunders, and Nancy J. Holland
Demos Medical Publishing
11 West 42nd Street, 15th Floor
New York, NY 10036
9781936303366, $18.95, www.demosmedpub.com

To have everyday life cause pain is no way to live at all. "Multiple Sclerosis: A Guide for the Newly Diagnosed" is a guide for those ho have faced this recent diagnosis in their life and want to better understand it and how to treat it. From defining what it is, its symptoms, treatments, and how to live life to the fullest using it, "Multiple Sclerosis" is a strong and wisely recommended addition to general health collections, especially for those with a focus on senior-oriented afflictions.

Core Strength for 50+
Dr. Karl Knopf
Ulysses Press
PO Box 3440
Berkeley CA 94703-3440
9781612431017, $15.95, www.ulyssespress.com

Good health can continue for a lifetime. "Core Strength for 50+: A Customized Program for Safely Toning Ab, Back & Oblique Muscles" is a health guide from Dr. Karl Knopf, as he advises readers who are continually pass the half-century marker on how to build core strength, and how it can be more important in these later years than ever. From better posture and avoiding injury, to excelling at good sports, "Core Strength for 50+" is a strong pick for health and wellness collections.

The Natural Diabetes Cure, second edition
Roger Mason
Square One Publishers
115 Herricks Road
Garden City Park, NY 11040
www.squareonepublishers.com
9780757003691, $9.95, www.amazon.com

Diabetes is a life threatening medical condition. Today some 20 million Americas (including children) have been diagnosed with diabetes. Every year the number diabetics continues to increase. This condition is so wide spread that the pharmaceutical industry generates millions of dollars of revenue annual for the treatment of diabetes. The expense of traditional medical approaches to the treatment of diabetes is just one reason why research chemist Roger Mason's "The Natural Diabetes Cure: Curing Blood Sugar Disorders Without Drug" should be considered mandatory reading for all diabetics and their loved ones. Now in an updated and expanded second edition, "The Natural Diabetes Cure" provides a thorough and comprehensive explanation of how diabetes works within the human body, the dangerous health risks associated with diabetes, how diabetes can be successfully treated successfully with a combination of diet, exercise, and weight loss. Of special note are the chapters devoted to regulating blood sugar, hormone balance. "The Natural Diabetes Cure" is a throughly 'reader friendly', 144-page, informed and informative compendium of information and advice that is very highly recommended for personal, medical, and community library Health & Medicine reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

The 17 Day Plan to Stop Aging
Dr. Mike Moreno
The Free Press
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
9781451666250, $26.00, www.simonsays.com

Aging doesn't have to be a total inevitability. "The 17 Day Plan to Stop Aging" is a health advisory guide from Dr. Mike Moreno who advises readers on how to feel younger and more youthful for the long haul of their life, by focusing on the major contributors to aging, and how to rebuild one's vitality to stay with them for many years to come. "The 17 Day Plan to Stop Aging" is a health advisory with plenty of practical advice to keep good health well into one's senior years to come, highly recommended.

Choosing Cesarean: A Natural Birth Plan
Magnus Murphy, MD and Pauline McDonagh Hull
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781616145118, $21.00, www.prometheusbooks.com

Choosing Cesarean: A Natural Birth Plan considers the fact that cesarean delivery is often portrayed as an emergency procedure, not as a choice a woman and her physician may make for elective reasons, and it provides an argument that such perceptions of cesarean are misguided. It makes a case for surgery as a legitimate decision for informed women and collects medical evidence from around the world that readers are unlikely to find elsewhere in one place to support the idea that a planned cesarean is often the safest way for a baby to be born. Written with the general reader in mind, this will be a choice for any medical library and for general collections strong in pregnancy guides.

Legal and Ethical Issues for Health Professionals, third edition
George D. Pozgar
Jones & Bartlett Publishers
40 Tall Pine Drive, Sudbury, MA 01776
9781449672119, $31.50, www.jblearning.com

The third updated edition of Legal and Ethical Issues for Health Professionals not only updates statistics: it provides new quotes, case studies, a completely revamped Summary Case chapter offering insights on the text's principles, and a new Appendix on using Internet resources. A student companion website features crossword puzzles, interactive flashcards, and web links while instructor resources include PowerPoint presentations and more. The expanded discussions and additions of much more information in the legal and ethical realm makes this a powerful text recommended for college students in the health care professions.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Ancient Aliens on the Moon
Mike Bara
Adventures Unlimited Press
PO Box 74
Kempton, IL 60946
9781935487852, $19.95, www.adventuresunlimitedpress.com

Could the moon hold secrets that we don't fully understand? "Ancient Aliens on the Moon" explores the secrets that may lie beneath the moon, as Mike Bara discuses potential extraterrestrial influence on the Moon and how it may of influenced the development of Earth, looking at old photos that he believes suggests ruins of something very ancient. "Ancient Aliens on the Moon" is worth considering for metaphysical studies readers, recommended.

The World's Weirdest Places
Nick Redfern
New Page Books
c/o Career Press Inc.
220 West Parkway, Unit 12
Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
9781601632371, $15.99, www.newpagebooks.com

There are certain places that both intrigue and repel us, and we can't fully explain why. "The World's Weirdest Places" is a guide to the many bizarre topics all over the planet and how they intrigue us. From the well known legends of Nessie in Scotland, to lesser known places like the Han River in Vietnam, Nick Redfern provides an international tour of the unusual. "The World's Weirdest Places" is a choice and much recommended addition to paranormal studies collections.

Never Letting Go
Mark Anthony
Llewellyn Worldwide, LTD.
2143 Wooddale Drive
Woodbury, MN 55125
9780738727219, $15.95, www.llewellyn.com

Grief takes time to overcome, and our feelings for our departed loved ones never truly fades. "Never Letting Go: Heal Grief with Help from the Other Side" is a metaphysical spirituality grieving guide for those who don't believe they can truly let go of their departed loved ones. Mark Anthony explores connecting to the other side and making that bond live, to help the process heal that much more. "Never Letting Go" is worth considering for followers of the metaphysical.

The Open Path
Elias Amidon
Sentient Publications
1113 Spruce Street
Boulder, CO 80302
9781591811794, $16.95, www.sentientpublications.com

Awareness is a difficult concept to understand. "The Open Path: recognizing Nondual Awareness" explores this concept of awareness and takes it to another level, explaining the nature of nondual awareness and how to invite this realization into one's being, and better understanding the complex world around us. "The Open Path" is a strong addition to metaphysical spirituality and psychology collections, recommended.

The Mystery of Spirituality
Mark Perry
World Wisdom
1501 East Hillside Drive, Bloomington, IN 47401
9781936597130, $24.95, www.worldwisdom.com

The Mystery of Spirituality: Grandeur and Delusion of the Human Condition is a fine addition to any new age religion or psychology holding and considers what it means to be a human being created 'in the image of God'. Psychology, sociology, spirituality and more blend in a fine insightful gathering of archetypes and insights into the nature of divinity, making for a series of philosophical and studied reflections perfect for a range of spirituality holdings. The essays will neatly spill over into the realm of general spirituality, rather than being limited to new age readers alone.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

The Gutenberg Revolution
Richard Abel
Transaction Publishers
35 Berrue Circle
Piscataway, NJ 08854-8042
www.transactionpub.com
9781412849524, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Johannes Gutenberg (c. 1398 February 3, 1468) was a German blacksmith, goldsmith, printer, and publisher who introduced printing to Europe. His invention of mechanical movable type printing started the Printing Revolution and is widely regarded as the most important event of the modern period. It played a key role in the development of the Renaissance, Reformation, the Age of Enlightenment and the Scientific Revolution and laid the material basis for the modern knowledge-based economy and the spread of learning to the masses. Gutenberg was the first European to use movable type printing, in around 1439. Among his many contributions to printing are: the invention of a process for mass-producing movable type; the use of oil-based ink; and the use of a wooden printing press similar to the agricultural screw presses of the period. His truly epochal invention was the combination of these elements into a practical system which allowed the mass production of printed books and was economically viable for printers and readers alike. Gutenberg's method for making type is traditionally considered to have included a type metal alloy and a hand mould for casting type. The use of movable type was a marked improvement on the handwritten manuscript, which was the existing method of book production in Europe, and upon woodblock printing, and revolutionized European book-making. Gutenberg's printing technology spread rapidly throughout Europe and later the world. "The Gutenberg Revolution: A History Of Print Culture" by publisher Richard Abel is a 200 page descriptive history of the impact of Gutenberg's invention upon 15th and 16th century culture. Able begins with a brief overview of western culture prior to 1450, then follows with chapters specific to Gutenberg's 'printing revolution' on the last half of the 15th century, the spread of printing and its consequences during the 16th century, then the role of printing in the 17th century. Of special note is Richard Abel's 'Epilogue: Closing Remarks and Summary'. Enhanced with the inclusion of an extensive bibliography and a very useful index, "The Gutenberg Revolution: A History of Print Culture" is a truly informative read and should be considered a mandatory acquisition for academic library Writing/Publishing reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Sell Your Book Like Wildfire
Rob Eager
Writer's Digest Books
c/o F+W Media
4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236
9781599634210, $16.99, www.writersdigest.com

Sell Your Book Like Wildfire: The Writer's Guide to Marketing & Publicity provides first-time authors with a powerful reference to selling a book and comes from a marketing expert who explains how to use the best promotional methods to get a book noticed. From building a brand and securing speaking engagements to creating a fan base using social media to generate excitement, this covers all the basics to selling more books, and is a pick for any author - particularly self-published writers who need more insights on the marketing side of the biz.

2013 Writer's Market
Carol Tice, et.al.
Writer's Digest Books
c/o F+W Media
4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236
9781599635934, $27.99, www.writersdigest.com

The 2013 Writer's Market continues to remain the best printed resource available for making the most of one's writing career, identifying sources for publication that range from magazines and book publishers to contests, awards, and more. Introductory chapters provide essays on everything from self-promotion to locating freelance opportunities online, while pages packed with concrete, annually-updated information include such basics as editor names, notes on bylines and payment policies, fiction and nonfiction needs, and more. No general or public lending library should be without this key reference.

You Can't Make This Stuff Up
Lee Gutkind
Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
9780738215549, $16.00, www.dacapopress.com

You Can't Make This Stuff Up: The Complete Guide to Writing Creative Nonfiction - from memoir to Literary Journalism and Everything Between provides a comprehensive guide to creative nonfiction and pairs writing exercises and analysis of techniques used by the best writers with excerpt examples from a range of works, tips for getting published, and more. It's a top pick for writers seeking inspiring, practical accounts of how prose can be created, marketed, and more. From ethical questions on turning nonfiction into creative writing to handling the fine line between fact and fiction, this covers common pitfalls and provides concrete approaches to success.


The Crafts Shelf

Beautiful Beaded Ropes
Jill Wiseman
Lark Books
387 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10016
9781454703563, $27.95, www.larkcrafts.com

Beads are a great basis for one's own jewelry creation. "Beautiful Beaded Ropes: 24 Wearable Jewelry Projects in Multiple Stitches" is a guide to the creation of beaded jewelry from Jill Wiseman, who presents twenty four of her own projects for readers to follow or take the ideas and techniques within to create their own ideas for success. "Beautiful Beaded Ropes" is presented in full color with tons of photographs, a strong treasure trove of information for any jewelry do it yourself-er.

Side by Side
Tsia Carson
Roost Books
c/o Shambhala Publications, Inc.
300 Massachusetts Avenue
Boston, MA 02115-4544
9781590309568, $19.95, www.shambhala.com

Working with your children can educate and build bonds that last a lifetime. "Side by Side: 20 Collaborative Projects for Crafting with Your Kids" is a guide for many projects that parents and their children can embark on. From painting, gardening, weaving, art projects of curious origin, and more, Tsia Carson walks readers through countless original subjects, complete with full color photography and walkthroughs for each. "Side by Side" is a must for crafts and parenting collections.

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

Mary Wohlgemuth's METAL CLAY & COLOR: INVENTIVE TECHNIQUES FROM 20 JEWELRY DESIGNERS (9780871164414, $21.95) compiles projects from top designers who provide colorful projects and tips for adding color to silver, bronze and copper clay jewelry. Readers already versed in metalwork who want to go the next step receive instruction on how to compliment metal tones through adding ceramics, enamel, fireable gemstones, seed beads and more, with step-by-step color photos capturing techniques and a range of styles and applications. Any jewelry-crafting library needs this! Such a library also must have BeadStyle Magazine Editors' SIMPLY STYLISH CRYSTAL JEWELRY (9780871164452, $17.95), a fine guide for beginners new to crystal jewelry creation. It packs in over thirty of the top projects form the pages of Bead Style Magazine, showing how to create jewelry sets and individual pieces alike, and how to blend crystals with chain, jump rings and more. The reference chart for crystal shapes and complete guides to supplies needed for each project make this a beginner's 'bible' of crystal projects, paired with easy step-by-step and full color photos throughout.


The Art Shelf

20th Century Design
Judith Miller
Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781845337230, $19.99, www.amazon.com

Modernist art applies to much more than abstract paintings hanging on the walls of the Guggenheim Museum in New York City. "20 Century Design: The Definitive Illustrated Sourcebook" by antiques expert Judith Miller (co-founder of Miller's Antiques Price Guide and the author of more than one hundred books) is a 304-page, superbly and profusely illustrated compendium six major sections: The Birth of Modernism; The Craft Movement; The Modern Movement; Art Deco; Mid-Century Modern; Postmodernism to Contemporary. Hallmarked by a combination of idiosyncratic, functional, and esthetic values, the representative examples range from practical furniture and household wares, to posters and sculptures. Informed and informative, an encyclopedic model in the breadth and comprehensiveness of its coverage, "20th Century Design" is especially recommended for artists, craftsmen, designers, and should be acquired as a core addition to professional and academic library reference collections and supplemental reading lists. Also very highly recommended from (Octopus Publishing as a companion volume is Judith Miller's "Mid-Century Modern: Living With Mid-Century Modern Design", (978184533693, $39.99).

Graphic Design Before Graphic Designers
David Jury
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, NY, NY 10110-0017
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500516461, $60.00, www.amazon.com

Graphic design is a creative process most often involving a client and a designer and usually completed in conjunction with producers of form (i.e., printers, signmakers, etc.) undertaken in order to convey a specific message (or messages) to a targeted audience. The term "graphic design" can also refer to a number of artistic and professional disciplines that focus on visual communication and presentation. The field as a whole is also often referred to as Visual Communication or Communication Design. Various methods are used to create and combine words, symbols, and images to create a visual representation of ideas and messages. A graphic designer may use a combination of typography, visual arts and page layout techniques to produce the final result. Graphic design often refers to both the process (designing) by which the communication is created and the products (designs) which are generated. But before the modern age of contemporary graphic design there were pioneer practitioners of this visual art form for such items as handbills, signage, trade cards, games, ads, packaging, and more. In "Graphic Design Before Graphic Designers: The Printer as Designer and Craftsman: 1700-1914", David Jury (editor of the journal 'TypoGraphic') has authored a profusely and beautifully illustrated, 312-page compendium showcasing the history and evolution of graphic design in both Europe and America. Informed, informative, and a work of impressive, seminal scholarship, "Graphic Design Before Graphic Designers: The Printer as Designer and Craftsman: 1700-1914" is an indispensable and core addition to professional and academic library Graphic Design and Art History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Ori Gersht: History Repeating
Al Miner, Yoav Rinon, Ori Gersht
MFA Publications
c/o Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
www.mfa-publications.org
9780878467792, $60.00, www.amazon.com

Ori Gersht (born 1967, Tel Aviv) is an Israeli fine art photographer. He is also a professor of photography at the University for the Creative Arts in Rochester, Kent, England.. "Ori Gersht: History Repeating" is a 256-page, beautifully illustrated compendium superbly showcasing his paintings and photography with informative commentary by Al Miner and additionally instructive contributions by Ronni Baer and Yoav Rinion. Enhanced with copious notes, an Artist Biography, a Selected Bibliography, a List of Illustrations, and a roster of contributors, "Ori Gersht: History Repeating" is a strongly recommended addition to personal and academic library 20th Century Art History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

The Art Of The Illusion
Brad Honeycutt & Terry Stickels
Imagine Publishing
c/o Charlesbridge Publishing
85 Main Street, Watertown, MA 02472
www.imaginebks.com
9781936140718, $24.95, www.amazon.com

From childhood onward, we have all been treated to the phenomena of optical illusions -- the visual shifts in a two-dimensional picture. Ably compiled by visual graphics expert Brad Honeycutt and puzzle master Terry Stickels, and enhanced with an informed and informative introductory commentary by puzzle creator, computer game designer, and artist Scott Kim, "The Art of the Illusion: Deceptions to Challenge the Eye and the Mind" is a superbly illustrated, 224-page compendium showcasing more than two hundred of the finest images from around the world drawn from such illustrious artists as Rafal Olbinski, Rob Gonsalves, Octavio Ocampo, David Macdonald, Gene Levine, M. C. Escher, and a host of others. A true delight for a simple browsing or a focused study, "The Art of the Illusion: Deceptions to Challenge the Eye and the Mind" is a unique and strongly recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library Art Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Splash 13: The Best of Watercolor
Rachel Rubin Wolf, Editor
North Light Books
c/o F+W Media
4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236
9781440310355, $35.00, www.artistsnetwork.com

Splash 13: The Best of Watercolor: Alternative Approaches explores watercolor solutions and insights from over a hundred watercolor innovators and masters, and displays over a hundred paintings accompanied by artist insights into how they achieved them. From how they handled realism and abstraction to accidents that proved fortuitous and outside-the-box thinking on everything from brushes and watercolors to composition, this is a powerful presentation perfect for any watercolor artist seeking innovative approaches, and packs in color photos displaying the full potentials of the art!


The Gardening Shelf

Rosemary Verey
Barbara Paul Robinson
David R. Godine Publishing
15 Court Square, Suite 320, Boston, MA 02108
9781567924503, $30.00, www.godine.com

The full power of dedication can make anything beautiful. "Rosemary Verey: The Life & Lessons of a Legendary Gardener" analyzes the life's work of the titular individual, Rosemary Verey. Her gardens gained international renown, and she gained acclaim and clientele in both stardom and royalty seeking her green thumb, allowing her to create quite the gardening empire. "Rosemary Verey" is the story of a remarkable individual, very much recommended reading, and a core addition for international biography collections.

The Midwestern Native Garden
Charlotte Adelman & Bernard L. Schwartz
Ohio University Press
The Ridges, Building 19
Athens, OH 45701
9780821419373, $26.95, www.ohioswallow.com

The flowers of the Midwest can offer plenty of beauty by drawing on the plants that can only be found there. "The Midwestern Native Garden: Native Alternatives to Nonnative flowers and Plants" is a gardening guide from Charlotte Adelman & Bernard L. Schwartz as they advise readers on how to maximize their gardening potential by using only plants native to the Midwestern region of the United States, how to customize your garden, attracting birds and butterflies, and more. Presented in full color with glossy images all throughout, "The Midwestern Native Garden" is a strong addition to gardening floral collections, highly recommended.

The Seed Underground
Janisse Ray
Chelsea Green Publishing Company
85 North Main Street, Suite 120
White River Junction, VT 05001
9781603583060, $17.95, www.chelseagreen.com

The Seed Underground: A Growing Revolution to Save Food offers stories of ordinary gardeners who try to save open-pollinated varieties of old-time seeds, and blends their stories with that of Janisse Ray, who watched her grandmother save squash seed and who herself cultivated a garden rich in heirloom varieties and local strengths. It's a story of not just gardening, but harvesting and preserving vintage varieties of food, and will appeal to gardening and culinary collections alike with its powerful account of saving seeds and old varieties on the verge of vanishing.


The Science Shelf

Introducing Geomorphology
Adrian Harvey
Dunedin Academic Press
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 NE 58th Ave. Suite 300
Portland, OR 97213-3786
9781906716325, $19.95, www.isbs.com

The earth has many forms and it changes constantly. "Introducing Geomorphology: A Guide to Landforms and Processes" is an introduction to Geomorphology, an Earth science that studies the planet's landforms and their processes that constantly change it, and how millions of years of these changes have formed many of the Earth's landforms such as canyons, basins, glaciers, among other topics. Presented in full color with plenty of photographs and diagrams all throughout, "Introducing Geomorphology" is recommended for community and college library collections looking to expand their Earth science driven offerings.

Science for Seniors
Gloria Hoffner
Idyll Arbor
39129 264th Ave SE, Enumclaw, WA 98022
9781882883776, $28.00, www.idyllarbor.com

Age doesn't mean you have to stop learning. "Science for Seniors: Hands-On Learning Activities" is a guide to learning more about science with plenty of trivia and advice for those seniors who want to keep learning about the world around the, and are glued to their own life long love of learning. Touching on many topics and with experiments able to be done at any physical ability, "Science for Seniors" is a fine collection of knowledge and a choice pick for science-capable seniors.

Tropic of Chaos
Christian Parenti
Nation Books
116 East 16th Street, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10003
9781568587295, $16.99, www.nationbooks.com

TROPIC OF CHAOS: CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE NEW GEOGRAPHY OF VIOLENCE comes from a writer who documents the new era of climate war fostered by changing world weathers, linking climate change to social breakdown and the spreading of government failures around the world. It goes beyond the usual prediction process usually associated with discussions of world disaster potentials and hones in on how changing weather patterns in turn change people patterns, leading to new encounters and conflicts. The result is a powerful discussion that's a 'must' for science and nature and social issues collections alike!

Pantheon
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor
New York, NY 10019
www.pantheonbooks.com

Gregory Chaitin's PROVING DARWIN: MAKING BIOLOGY MATHEMATICAL (9780375423147, $24.00) provides a fine survey that shows how Darwin's theory of evolution works on a mathematical level, and is a fine pick for any math collection interested in connections between biology and math. Chapters assemble proof that Darwin's theory works on a purely mathematical level, arguing that evolution can't be proven without a mathematical theory in place as well. He's developed a paradigm that can mathematically explain life itself - and the pioneers of math and biology worlds alike come together in a fine introduction to metabiology and its foundations, perfect for science and lay collections alike. Giulio Tononi's PHI: A VOYAGE FROM THE BRAIN TO THE SOUL (9780307907219, $30.00) explores the latest scientific findings around consciousness and uses a branch of science originally applied to computers and telecommunications to brain research to provide some amazing insights providing that there is more to a human being than cellular reactions. It uses the latest science to consider a new theory of consciousness and how it develops and considers how this human consciousness is an evolving, developing facet of human personality itself. The neuroscientific account is told by Galileo and follows his journey through different ways of seeing and analyzing science and consciousness. The result blends science, art and fiction in an inviting an paradigm-challenging set of ideals perfect for new age, science and philosophy collections alike.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Brian Froud's Trolls
Brian & Wendy Froud
Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
115 West 18th Street, 6th floor
New York, NY 10011
9781419704383 $35.00 www.abramsbooks.com

Brian Froud's Trolls is an absolutely stunning, oversized hardcover filled with stylized illustrations and dreamlike fairy tales about trolls. But what exactly are trolls - predatory monsters that lurk under bridges, capricious tricksters who hide in woodlands, stone behemoths over which waterfalls pour, or beautiful maidens whose only outward sign of their otherworldly nature is the leaves and twigs growing out of their backs? Brian Froud, who worked on the concept design for the classic fantasy movies "The Dark Crystal" and "Labyrinth"; in his last conversation with Jim Henson, they talked about making a movie of trolls. Brian Froud's Trolls is essentially the movie that never was, lavish, original, strikingly beautiful, and a joy for fantasy lovers everywhere to page through. Highly recommended.

The Gnome Lexicon
Marcia Lewandowski, author
Nathan Vieland, illustrator
www.nathanvieland.com
Pukwudje Publications
c/o Kelley & Hall (publicity)
Five Briar Lane, Marblehead, MA 01945
9780983257301 $27.00 www.kelleyandhall.com

The Gnome Lexicon is a sprightly book packed exploring the folklore and fantasy about gnomes from 59 different cultures. 70 different names for wee fae creatures and the legends behind them are all explored, with charming black-and-white drawings bringing imagination to life. The Gnome Lexicon is a treasury for folktale fans of all ages, and highly recommended as a giftbook to fantasy lovers everywhere, and especially to anyone who might have their very own gnome standing guard on their lawn!

Lord Tyger
Philip Jose Farmer
Titan Books
144 Southwark Street, London SE1 OUP, UK
9780857689665, $9.95, www.titanbooks.com

Lord Tyger is the first book to be reissued from Farmer's classic grandmaster series, and follows a social experiment gone awry when Ras Tyger, kidnapped as a child and raised in a remote African valley by people he believes to be apes, goes outside his kingdom to discover an outer world governed by very different rules. This remake of Tarzan offers a twist on the theme and will continue to enthrall modern audiences with its vivid account.


The Philosophy Shelf

Living Well In Renaissance Italy
Timothy Kircher
ACMRS
Arizona State University
PO Box 874402
Tempe, AZ 85287-4402
http://acmrs.org/publications
9780866984713 $70.00

Historian Timothy Kircher presents Living Well In Renaissance Italy: The Virtues of Humanism and the Irony of Leon Battista Alberti, a scholarly study of how Leon Battista Alberti (1404-1472) viewed humanist moral philosophy, in the time and place of Renaissance Italy. Chapters examine his razor-sharp use of irony in his writing, in order to explore the humanist fallacies of equating moral virtue with scholarly learning or good public reputation. Alberti's skepticism interleaves with the viewpoints of other humanists of the era, notably Francesco Petrarch and Giovanni Boccaccio. Footnotes on nearly every page expand and clarify the nuances of cross-examining Alberti's writings and ideas in translation, in this meticulous, in-depth resource ideal for college or gradual school philosophy libraries.

A Philosophical History of Love
Wayne Cristaudo
Transaction Publishers
Rutgers University
35 Berrue Circle
Piscataway, NJ 08854-8042
1412846269, $39.95, www.transactionpub.com

Love has affected much throughout our history. "A Philosophical History of Love" discusses the long history behind of the concept of Love, its place in philosophy and religion throughout history. Wayne Cristaudo presents an intriguing break down of human history and one of the most base of emotions, from ancient philosophy of the Greeks, Christ, to the other extreme, the love of hate. "A Philosophical History of Love" is well worth considering for those musing philosophy and this unifying element of humankind, highly recommended.

Forgiving the Gift
Sean Lawrence
Duquesne University Press
600 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15282
9780820704487, $58.00, www.dupress.duq.edu

Generosity is a core virtue in many cultures and many faiths. "Forgiving the Gift: The Philosophy of Generosity in Shakespeare and Marlowe" explores the concepts of generosity in the vein of modern culture when placed against the ideas of economy and self-interest. Exploring the idea of a gift economy and how famous Renaissance playwrights Christopher Marlowe and William Shakespeare explored this concept thoroughly, author Sean Lawrence presents an intriguing twist on the ideas of generosity in modern culture. "Forgiving the Gift" is a strong addition to general philosophy and literary studies collections.

Curb Your Enthusiasm
Mark Ralkowski, editor
Open Court Publishing Company
70 East Lake Street, Suite 300
Chicago, IL 60601
9780812697667, $19.95, www.opencourtbooks.com

There's something to be learned from not getting your hopes up. "Curb Your Enthusiasm and Philosophy: Awaken the Social Assassin Within" is a collection of essays surrounding the popular TV comedy Curb Your Enthusiasm, as philosophical thinkers pick apart Larry David's work for a more comprehensive understanding of the subtle nature of the man's comedy, exploring the ideas of vengeance in its many forms. "Curb Your Enthusiasm and Philosophy" is another fine entry into the pop culture and philosophy collection, a choice pick for fans of the show.

The Walking Dead and Philosophy
Wayne Yuen, Editor
Open Court Publishing Company
70 East Lake Street, Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60601
9780812697674, $19.95, www.opencourtbooks.com

The Walking Dead and Philosophy: Zombie Apocalypse Now packs in the thinking of over twenty philosophers who explain, in twenty chapters, different philosophical applications of the zombie myth and its popularity in culture. From the moral status of zombies to rules of justice in a world infected by zombies, this combines philosophical reflections with popular science fiction horror in a lively account recommended for any philosophy, science fiction or horror library.


The Audiobook Shelf

The History Of The Peloponnesian War
Thucydides
Naxos of America, Inc.
1810 Columbia Avenue, Suite 28
Franklin, TN 37064
www.naxosaudiobooks.com
9781843795513, $41.98, www.amazon.com

The Peloponnesian War (431 to 404 BC), was an ancient Greek war fought by Athens and its empire against the Peloponnesian League led by Sparta. Justifiably dubbed the father of "scientific history", Thucydides (c. 460 c. 395 BC) was a Greek historian and author. His seminal work, "The History Of The Peloponnesian War" has proven a time honored classic which not only reports the battles by provides insightful commentary on the personalities involved on both sides of the conflict. Superbly narrated by Neville Jason, this abridged, six CD, audio book of "The History Of The Peloponnesian War" is enhanced with technically flawless production values and has a total running time of 7 hours, 17 minutes. "The History Of The Peloponnesian War" is an enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, community, and academic library audio book collections.

The Metaphysical Poets
John Donne, Andrew Marvell, George Herbert, et. al., poets
Nicholas Boulton, Jonathan Keeble, et. al., narrators
Naxos of America, Inc.
1810 Columbia Avenue, Suite 28
Franklin, TN 37064
9781843795926 $14.98 www.naxosaudiobooks.com

The Metaphysical Poets is an audiobook anthology of groundbreaking poetry of the seventeenth century. In this era, poets such as the featured John Donne, Andrew Marvell, George Herbert, Thomas Carew, and Henry Vaughan created a new form of verse: metaphysical poetry, which examined both closely held religious feelings and the pleasures of the body in a new light. Their work was largely misunderstood or ignored generations, only to be rediscovered and hailed for its originality in the twentieth century. The Metaphysical Poets introduces the listener to an eclectic group of these pioneer poets, read aloud by a variety of skilled performers. Highly recommended for poetry buffs, seekers of inspiration, and public library audiobook collections. 1 CD, 79 min. 31 sec.

Murder in the Green
Lesley Cookman, author
Patience Tomlinson, narrator
Soundings
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230
West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
9781407920382 $84.95 www.ulverscroftusa.com

Murder in the Green is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of a sinister murder mystery. When Libby Serjeant and her good friend Fran become entangled in the unusual activities of the Morris Men, both are shocked to find one of the Morris Men dead on May Day; another Morris Man seems to have disappeared entirely. Dark and ruthless manipulations lurk just beneath the surface in this intricate mystery about the machinations of an intelligent and devious killer! 9 CDs, 9 hours 30 min.

Father Night
Eric Van Lustbader
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315
New York, NY 10010
9781427226365 $39.99 www.macmillanaudio.com

Father Night is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of a sharp-edged thriller from Eric Van Lustbader, about underworld figures who seek to use the Arab Spring for evil ends. One is called Dyadya Gourdjiev; the other is only known as the Syrian. During his investigation Department of Defense special agent Jack McClure has fallen hard for Gourdjiev's siren-like daughter, Annika Dementieva. Then news of Dyadya's ill health threatens to bring a thousand lesser jackals out to fight viciously over his criminal empire. Meanwhile, Jack's surrogate daughter Alli Carson has become the target of a cyberstalker, and has only her friend Vera Bard to turn to in her search for answers. Father Night is a mind-binding tale of mystery, intrigue, and action, highly recommended to fans of suspense. 13 hours.

Tiger's Claw
Dale Brown, author
William Dufris, narrator
Harper Audio
10 East 53rd Street
New York, NY 10022-5299
9780062120489 $39.99 www.harpercollins.com

Former U.S. Air Force captain Dale Brown presents Tiger's Claw, the unabridged audiobook rendition of his heady military novel, in which one man's gumption has the potential to change history. Set in a modern-day world where Chinese aggression is pushing the Pacific to the brink of war, Tiger's Claw is an all-too-frightening "what if"? scenario. America is still struggling with the throes of a tremendous recession, and the funds to ensure naval dominance have evaporated; but retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General Patrick McLanhan has an idea. If America can refurbish long-range B-1B Lancer bombers for an AirSea battle strategy, perhaps Chinese aggression can be contained. But America's revitalized forces must face land-based antimissiles, aircraft carriers, and even a mysterious energy-based weapon in this suspenseful saga that balances on the border between a new cold war, and the outbreak of World War III! Also available in downloadable audio, Tiger's Claw is an excellent choice for fans of military-themed fiction.

The Long Walk
Brian Castner
Random House Audio Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 8th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780449806401, $35.00, www.randomhouseaudio.com

THE LONG WALK: A STORY OF WAR AND THE LIFE THAT FOLLOWS comes from an electrical engineer who served three tours in the Middle East as an officer in the U.S. Air Force, and who here recounts battles, the tolls war exacts on men and women who fight, and the ultimate price of survival. It's a riveting and moving story that comes to life in audio form, highly recommended for any military or nonfiction audio collection.


The Library CD Shelf

Agua del Sol
Hijos de Agueybana
Tumi Music
c/o Rock Paper Scissors
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2
Bloomington, IN 47404
www.rockpaperscissors.biz
$15.61 www.amazon.com

Agua del Sol is an album by Hijos de Agueybana, a rhythm-heavy band devoted to Pueto Rico's Afro-Latin musical heritage, as encompassed by the heady beats of bomba music. Originally created by African slaves in centuries past, bomba is alive and humming today; Agua del Sol dares to blend elements of bomba with genres such as salsa and jazz, creating a unique and marvelously lively experience. Highly recommended, especially for connoisseurs of international music. The tracks are "Saludo al Sol" (6:08), "Ven Ven" (3:16), "Te Invito" (3:26), "Ohami" (3:16), "Morenita" (3:40), "Agua del Sol" (4:35), "No me dejes solo" (3:34), "Orgulloso" (4:11), "Eco" (4:07), "Loren" (4:31), "Bandido" (3:25), "En la Vecinda" (3:22), and "Te Invity/Jazz ver." (4:56).

Los Angeles Blues
Ciro Hurtado
www.cirohurtado.com
Inti Productions
PO Box 3813, Hollywood, CA 90078
c/o The Creative Service Company
4360 Emerald Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
$15.00 CD / $9.99 MP3 www.thecreativeservicecompany.com

Los Angeles Blues is a stirring solo acoustic guitar album by Ciro Hurtado, an artist known for his Latin style of "Andean Blues", a name he chose to reflect his Peruvian birthplace. His love of blending Latin tradition with American jazz and even rock 'n' roll into his guitar playing shines through in this emotional collection. Listeners who love creative and original Latin guitar songs will especially appreciate the captivating rhythms of Los Angeles Blues. The tracks are "Los Angeles Blues" (4:31), "Aguas" (4:34), "Camino a Cuzco" (4:17), "Spring in the Hills" (3:39), "Tahuampita" (3:59), "IrlAndes" (2:11), "Reencuentro" (3:01), "Reflection" (4:10), "La Campanera" (2:43), "La Negrita Tomasa" (2:48), and "Bordon Triste" (5:28).

Musicas E Palavras Dos Bee Gees
Ana Gazzola
Vista Del Mar Media
c/o Press Junkie PR (publicity)
PO Box 156914
San Francisco, CA 94115
$13.50 www.AnaGazzola.com

Brazilian singer and songwriter Ana Gazzola presents Musicas E Palavras Dos Bee Gees - "The Ballads of the Bee Gees" translated in into Portuguese, with the approval of Barry and Robin Gibb. The beautiful Portuguese lyrics complement the gentle, romantic pop style performed by a piano, bass, drums, and guitar quartet. Musicas E Palavras Dos Bee Gees speaks to love and passion, resonating a deep emotional chord within the listener. An excellent choice for fans of both international and romantic pop culture music. The tracks are "Charade", "Emotion", "How Deep Is Your Love", "Guilty", "Shine Shine", "Run To Me", "First Of May", "The Only Love", "Words", "Too Much Heaven", and "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart".

Hurricane Season in Brooklyn
Analog Players Society
Studio Brooklyn
c/o Press Junkie PR
PO Box 156914
San Francisco, CA 94115
www.studiobrooklyn.net
$13.44 www.amazon.com

Hurricane Season in Brooklyn is a lively music CD that draws upon lead composer Amon and the Analog Players Society's fascinations with a multitude of musical styles. Reggae, Jamaican dance, ska, Afrobeat, hip hop and more styles are evident in this dance-friendly, vivacious anthology. The result is a charged, pulse-pounding experience that reverberates in the mind long after the last notes fade. The tracks are "Free", "Hurricane Season in Brooklyn", "Let the Music Play (Version)", "I Can't Wait", "Dance Hall Days (Version)", "Just a Day", "The Hippie Don Know", "Money Street Rain", and "Moments Combine".

Four Little Sisters
Real Vocal String Quartet
Flower Note Records
c/o Rock Paper Scissors
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2
Bloomington, IN 47404
$TBA www.rockpaperscissors.biz

Four Little Sisters is the second collaborative album of Real Vocal String Quartet, a skilled set of arrangers and composers who enjoy reinventing traditional music by drawing on inspiration from jazz, pop, the great classics, and more. An instrument-heavy medley offering a harmonious fusion of ideas and rhythms, Four Little Sisters is highly recommended as an excellent choice for music lovers looking for something different. The tracks are "Machine", "Homage to Oumou", "Elephant Dreams", "Copo Vazio", "Allons a Lafayette", "Sweet Honey Bee", "Falling Polska", "Durang's Hornpipe", "Knotty Pine", and "Grand Mammon Waltz".


The Library DVD Shelf

Food Allergies
Learning ZoneXpress
667 East Vine Street
Owatonna, MN 55060
$49.95 www.learningzonexpress.com

Ideal for both young adult and adult viewers, Food Allergies (26 min.) is an educational DVD that teaches viewers the vital basics, from the difference between food allergy and food sensitivity, to why some schools are strict about keeping peanuts out of certain zones, to what celiac disease is and how it affects people who have it, harmful effects that food dyes can have on some people, and much more. Testimony from an allergy expert as well as people who live with food allergies every day add a human element to this real and potentially life-threatening issue. Printable teaching materials are available online to complement this invaluable resource. Also highly recommended for both school and public library DVD collections is "54321 + 8 Countdown To Your Health" ($79.95, 24 min.) a program designed to teach viewers in grade 6 and up about healthy daily habits: 5 servings of fruits & veggies, 4 glasses of water, 3 good laughs, 2 hours or less screen time, 1 hour physical activity, 8 hours or more sleep.

Chasing Water
A film by Peter McBride
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149
Oley, PA 19547
1937772330 $175.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com

The winner of multiple awards, Chasing Water is a brief but enlightening documentary that shines a spotlight on the crucial environmental issue of fresh water scarcity. The once abundant Colorado River is running dry, 80 miles prior to where it used to flow into the Sea of Cortez. Why? Because human civilization is siphoning away the Colorado River's water along its length! Photographer Peter McBride travels the natural course of the Colorado River by raft, foot, and small plane, relating its story as well as revealing an ominous portent for fresh water sources worldwide, unless stronger conservation efforts are adopted (and quickly)! The story of Jon Waterman, the first man to paddle the entire length of the Colorado River, is also related. Music by Explosions in the Sky, This Will Destroy You, Jesse Cook, and Ludivico Einaudi enhances this sobering true story of an increasingly endangered watershed, highly recommended for both school and public library DVD collections. 18 min., SDH captions, subtitles.

Brave New World
Featuring Stephen Hawking
Athena
c/o Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
www.athenalearning.com
9781598288506 $49.99 www.acornonline.com

Brave New World is a five-part documentary on DVD about the cutting-edge prospects of technology that could spark humanity's the next great revolution in science. Legendary physicist Stephen Hawking (author of "A Brief History of Time") provides introductions to episodes that explore game-changers such as driverless cars (potentially safer than human-driven cars), efforts to prevent the next pandemic (perhaps by genetically engineering a mosquito that will die naturally before malaria can reside within it), brain-controlled wheelchairs (programmed to respond to the brain's electricity), exoskeletons that enable the paralyzed to walk, architecture to create the fully sustainable cities of tomorrow, and even the possibility of endless clean energy from fusion. Accessible to viewers of all backgrounds, Brave New World is nothing less than visionary. Highly recommended, especially for public library DVD collections. 5 episodes on 2 DVDs, 231 min., widescreen, SDH subtitles.

Discoveries... America National Parks series
Bennet Watt HD Productions, Inc.
13021 - 244 Avenue SE
Issaquah, WA 98027
$24.95 each www.Bennett-Watt.com

Two beautiful new additions to the Discoveries... America National Parks documentary series on DVD are simply captivating to behold. "Alaska's Wrangell-St. Elias: America's Largest National Park" (9781604901641) is a captivating slice of both Alaska's wild lands and its civilization. The viewer receives a wondrous tour of the headwaters country of the Copper & Tanana drainages, the Alaskan practice of subsistence fishing with dip nets or fish wheels, the largest glaciers of North America, the Kennecott Copper Mill (the tallest wooden structure in North America, and the historical location of a past bonanza of mineral wealth), and Kennecott's sister town of McCarthy. "Hawaii: Volcanoes, Hana Belt Road & USS Arizona Memorial" (9781604901634) explores the beauty and storied history of the most remote major island group on earth. The viewer is guided to the gravesite of famous aviator Charles Lindbergh, who called the Hawaii coast of Hana home in his final days; the Hana Highway of Maui, a winding marvel marked by waterfalls, beaches, and surf-spattered coastline; Volcanoes National Park including the perpetually erupting Kilauea Volcano that has added roughly 500 acres of land to the Big Island in the past 30 years; and the memorial of the USS Arizona, a tribute to all the civilians and servicemen who made the ultimate sacrifice for their nation during the World War II surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. Both documentaries are lush, vivid, informative, and highly recommended especially for armchair travelers and public library DVD collections.

Samuel Morris: The African Missionary to North America
Vision Video
PO Box 540
Worcester, PA 19490
$19.99 www.visionvideo.com

Samuel Morris: The African Missionary to North America is an amazing documentary about the true-life story of an African prince who became a missionary to North America. In the late 1800's, Prince Kaboo of Liberia's Kru tribe was captured and held for ransom by a rival tribe, the Grebos. Kaboo's people ultimately could not afford the endless ransom demands, so the Grebos prepared to execute Kaboo - yet what can only be described a divine miracle (a bright flash of light and an inexplicable voice calling "Run, Kaboo, run!") enabled his escape. Kaboo received aid from an American missionary outpost, converted to Christianity, and took the new name of Samuel Morris. With a desire to learn more about the Heavenly Father that saved him, Samuel traveled to America, and his faith was destined to spark a transformation within Taylor University. An unforgettable and uplifting documentary, Samuel Morris: The African Missionary to North America is highly recommended for both public library and church library DVD collections. Also a choice pick from Vision Video is the Allen Wolf film "Harlem Grace" ($9.99), based on the true story of a Harvard graduate who decided to move to Harlem and dedicate himself to helping the homeless.

Geologic Journey II
Narrated by David Suzuki
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149
Oley, PA 19547
$745.00 (5-vol. set) www.bullfrogfilms.com

An Official Honoree of the 15th Annual Webby Awards, Geologic Journey II is a five-DVD set that blends the latest geologic findings with captivating cinematography, bringing the viewer on a worldwide tour of the tectonic forces that mold the surface of our planet. Exploring the natural history of volcanoes, glaciers, mountains, hills, jagged cliffs and more, all around the globe, Geologic Journey II is a heart-stopping adventure especially ideal for classroom viewing, or high school and public library DVD collections. Highly recommended. The five episodes (52 min. each) are "Tectonic Europe", "Along the African Rift", "The Pacific Rim: Americas", "The Western Pacific Rim", and "The Collision Zone: Asia". Closed captioned for the hearing impaired.

Acupressure and Breathing for Childbirth
Laurie Binder, MS
Privately Published
www.acupunctureLA.com
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
www.natural-mother.com
$24.95 www.411videoinfo.com

Licensed acupuncturist, OB/GYN nurse practitioner, and Lamaze certified childbirth educator Laurie Binder, MS presents Acupressure and Breathing for Childbirth, a DVD created especially to teach expecting mothers how they can utilize principles of acupressure and organized breathing to improve the experience of childbirth. It must be emphasized that Acupressure and Breathing for Childbirth is intended to supplement the care of a physician or licensed medical professional, not replace it; the viewer is explicitly instructed to consult her health care provider before applying the techniques of Acupressure and Breathing for Childbirth. With that caveat in mind, Acupressure & Breathing for Childbirth is filled with valuable information on how to locate and stimulate acupoints; how breathing techniques can make labor more comfortable; how to identify pre-labor and early labor; when it's time to go to the hospital; how to stay calm during childbirth; and much more. Acupressure & Breathing for Childbirth is an excellent baby shower gift, and highly recommended especially for soon-to-be first-time moms. 1 DVD, 20 min. 8 sec.

Be Still
Lisa Chan
Publicity Department
David C. Cook
4050 Lee Vance View
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
9780781408110 $14.99 www.davidccook.com

Part of the "True Beauty: Finding Your Identity in Jesus" DVD series, Be Still is a DVD in which Lisa Chan (singer, mother of five, and cofounder of Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley) shares her insights and understanding about finding time opening oneself to God's love. In today's modern world with endless demands on people's time, and a prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depression, it is more important for ever for Christians to take control of their lives and find time to spend in stillness, and connect with God. To convey her positive message, Lisa uses the parable of Susan, a woman who learned that being still in God's presence brought her the strength she needed to survive a broken marriage. An important reminder to make time to spend with God and His eternally compassionate son Jesus Christ, Be Still is highly recommended for Christian women (and Christian men as well!) amid these turbulent and chaotic times. 23 minutes, English audio, subtitled in Afrikaans, Arabic, Dutch, English, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Script Chinese, Spanish, and Ukrainian.

Stilettos and Self Defense series
Jennifer Cassetta
www.jennifercasetta.com
c/o 411 Video Information (publicity)
PO Box 1223
Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$22.95 each www.411videoinfo.com

Stilettos and Self Defense is a series of three DVDs by self-defense expert, HapKiDo practitioner, and personal trainer Jennifer Cassetta, designed to teach women the basics of protecting themselves from assault. Volume 1 Defensive Tactics (65 min.) covers the basic strategies of awareness, maintaining one's boundaries, being aware of one's center of gravity, the three most important rules of a fight, simple strikes and blocks, and three main targets to be aware of, as well as some of the most common attacks women should be aware of and ready to counter. Volume 2 Stilettos and Self Defense (65 min.) goes into more depth on applying self-defense techniques and keeping one's physical and mental balance in a crisis, as well as the fundamentals of preventing assaults. Volume 3 Improvised Weapons (65 min.) is packed with specific details for using common items to protect oneself in an emergency, from applying a magazine to block a grab, keys to release a choke, a pen to prevent a punch, where and when to use objects to attack, and more. A fundamentals of self-defense DVD course created by a woman, for women, Stilettos and Self Defense is highly recommended not only for adult women, but also as an educational resource for parents to share with teenaged girls while preparing them to face a dangerous world on their own.

Must the Sun Set on the West?
Dr. Vishal Mangalwadi
BOM International
c/o Vision Video (distribution)
PO Box 540
Worcester, PA 19490-0540
www.vishalmangalwadi.com
$49.99 www.visionvideo.com

Dr. Vishal Mangalwadi is one of India's best-known Christian intellectuals; among his accomplishments are founding a community development organization in the 1970's to aid India's rural poor. Must the Sun Set on the West? is a DVD compilation of ten of Mangalwadi's lectures (plus a bonus lecture) given at the University of Minnesota. The common theme binding these lectures is about harmful attitudes that have permeated Western culture, and the value of Christian faith and the Bible in helping to restore Western commitments to freedom, justice, and compassion. The lectures include "From Michelangelo to Freud: The Devolution of Human Dignity", "From Science to Sorcery: Why Witchcraft Appeals More Than Science", "From Paul to Paris Hilton: Can a Defeated Messiah Save Hollywood Heroes?", "From Tolerance to Terrorism: Why Do Taxpayers Pay Advocates to Defend Lawbreakers?" and much more. Must the Sun Set on the West? is a thought-provoking cultural perspective from a thinker who admires the positive aspects of Western culture yet is unafraid the exhaustively question its negative aspects, and highly recommended to anyone concerned about current culture wars. 11 lectures, 47-66 min. per lecture, coded for all DVD regions.

Blessing Europe
Rainer Walde
Privately Published
c/o Vision Video
P.O. Box 540
Worcester, PA 19490
$19.99 www.visionvideo.com

Blessing Europe: The Legacy of Celtic Saints is a DVD documentary that takes the viewer on an enlightening tour through Europe, in the footsteps of early Celtic saints. Central to the journey are the stories of four renowned Celtic Saints, including Columbanus and his companion Gallus, founder of a monastic cell on the banks of Lake Constance. An incredible and moving account of the contributions Irish monks have brought to the Christian faith, Blessing Europe is an inspiration, highly recommended especially for Christian personal and church library DVD collections. 60 min.

Element: Accelerated Pilates with Resistance Band
Lisa Hubbard
Anchor Bay Entertainment
2401 West Big Beaver Road, Suite 200
Troy, MI 48084-3304
rhythmpilates.com tamalyoga.com
$16.98 www.anchorbayentertainment.com

Part of the excellent "Element" fitness DVD series, Element: Accelerated Pilates with Resistance Band (45 min.) is a practical workout featuring a 30-minute total body routine, plus a 10-minute abs program. Certified Pilates instructor Lisa Hubbard walks the viewer through Pilates techniques performed with a resistance band included with the DVD. Element: Accelerated Pilates is an ideal choice for toning one's muscles as well as improving posture, flexibility, and overall well-being. Also highly recommended is "Element: Yoga for Energy & Relaxation" (75 min.), in which Hawaiian yoga teacher Tamal Dodge guides the viewer through two yoga sessions and relaxation techniques perfect for increasing stamina, promoting flexibility, and improving one's sleeping habits.

New Tricks Season Eight
Starring Amanda Redman, James Bolam, Alum Armstrong, and Dennis Waterman
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
9781598288186 $39.99 www.acornonline.com

New Tricks Season Eight is the unedited, UK edition of Britain's highest-rated television drama, about a team of semi-retired (and fairly irascible) detectives whose specialty is solving cold cases. The amazingly attractive superintendent Sandra Pullman has persuaded them to join her Unsolved Crime and Open Case Squad; in Season Eight they investigate a museum, a zoo, a biker gang, and witness protection, all in search of murderers who thought they got away with the crime. Witty, biting, and superbly performed, New Tricks Season Eight is a "must" for fans of British mysteries. Bonus material includes a 19-minute behind-the-scenes featurette. 10 episodes on 3 discs, 589 min. plus bonus, widescreen, SDH subtitles.

This is Sodom
A film by Adam Sanderson and Muli Segev
SISU Home Entertainment Inc.
340 W. 39th St., 6th fl.
New York, NY 10018
$24.95 www.sisuent.com

Winner of two Israeli Academy Awards and two nominations, and the biggest Israeli box office smash of the last 30 years, This is Sodom is an uproarious comedy, set during the last days of the sinful Biblical city that became infamous for its destruction. In a wretched hive of corruption, sex, and gambling, Lot just might be the last good-natured man, struggling to raise a family amidst endless decadence. Then, when God tries to call Abraham to His service, Abraham refuses unless God can save Abraham's nephew Lot from Sodom. But God is not so easily bargained with! A wild and funny take that nevertheless captures the heart and soul of the Biblical parable, This is Sodom is unforgettably funny, and its creators rightfully earn the honor of being dubbed the "Israeli Monty Pythons"! 89 min., Hebrew language with subtitles in English, Hebrew, or French, widescreen.

Scientology: The Science of Truth or the Art of Deception?
A film by Rainer Fromm
Matthias-Film
c/o Vision Video (distribution)
PO Box 540
Worcester, PA 19490-0540
$19.99 www.visionvideo.com

Scientology: The Science of Truth or the Art of Deception? is a sobering documentary about the controversial religious organization. Why do some individuals and celebrities follow Scientology while other people accuse its leadership of false promises, theft, and abuse? Filmmaker Rainer Fromm reveals the mental tricks and emotional manipulation used by Scientology to lure adherents and keep them in the fold, and dares to openly reveal the stated goals of Scientology - goals that even its most highest-profile advocates refuse to speak openly about. Revealing and disturbing, Scientology: The Science of Truth or the Art of Deception? is a must-see. 60 min., widescreen.


The DVD-ROM Shelf

Canon 5D Mark III
Laura Ross
Peachpit
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780321859174 $34.99 www.peachpit.com

Canon 5D Mark III: From Snapshots to Great Shots is a DVD-ROM designed to help photographers of all skill and experience levels get the most out of their Canon 5D Mark III camera. Freelance photographer Ibarionex Perello walks the viewer through the concepts of exposure modes, focus and sharpness, white balance, and picture styles. Canon 5D Mark III goes beyond explaining the camera's technical specifics, and is packed with tips, tricks, and techniques for portrait composition as well as recording top-quality video. An invaluable resource, requiring only an HTML5 compatible browser to peruse, Canon 5D Mark III is a "must-have" for camera enthusiasts.


The Military Shelf

World War II US Cavalry Groups: European Theater
Gordon L. Rottman
Osprey Publishing
4402 - 23rd Street, Suite 219
Long Island City, NY 11101-5058
9781849087971, $18.95, www.ospreypublishing.com

World War II US Cavalry Groups: European Theater provides a fine history of how US Cavalry groups operated in Europe during World War II, and is a fine survey that illustrates the cars, jeeps, light tanks and more that comprised the mechanized Cavalry groups assigned to perform classic cavalry tasks on a drive from Normandy to Berlin. Chapters consider unit organization, equipment, strategies during missions, and more, and provides vintage black and white photos paired with a few color illustrations and charts by Peter Dennis. Any military collection strong in World War II equipment must have this!


The Native American Shelf

Native Performers in Wild West Shows
Linda Scarangella McNenly
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive
Norman, OK 73069
9780806142814 $34.95 www.oupress.com

Anthropology instructor Linda Scarangella McNenly presents Native Performers in Wild West Shows: From Buffalo Bill to Euro Disney, a scholarly examination of Wild West-themed performances throughout modern history that utilized Native American actors. McNenly draws upon archival materials and photographs as well as interviews with current professional performers and descendants of twentieth century performers to reveal contrary points of view. Some Native performers did not, and do not see Wild West shows as demeaning. Instead, these shows offered not only jobs and recognition, but also the opportunity to preserve and share cultural traditions. Certain Native families were even able to take creative control and construct their own Wild West shows. Chapters include "Where the Wild West Began: Buffalo Bill, Pawnee Bill, and the Miller Brothers", "Not the Only Show in Town: A Case Study of Mohawk Performers", "An Encore Presentation: Euro Disney's Spectacular Wild West Show", and much more. A handful of black-and-white photographs, copious notes, a list of references and an index round out this thoughtfully researched scrutiny, highly recommended especially for public and college library Native American studies shelves.

Terrible Justice
Doreen Chaky
The Arthur H. Clark Company
2800 Venture Drive
Norman, OK 73069
9780870624148 $39.95 www.ahclark.com

Terrible Justice: Sioux Chiefs and U.S. Soldiers on the Upper Missouri, 1854-1868 is a scholarly and thorough examination of the interactions between the Dakota (also called "Sioux", meaning "snake", by their enemies) people and the U.S. military during the 1850's and 60's, a period marked by violent conflict and the creation of the Great Sioux Reservation. Scholar and freelance journalist Doreen Chaky writes with particular focus on oft-overlooked and little-known Dakota leaders and American army officers who played key roles during these turbulent times. Drawing upon soldiers' letters and journals, military and other communications, and the speeches of Dakota leaders, Terrible Justice paints a vivid picture of a clash between sharply divided cultures with dramatically polarized concepts of justice. Terrible Justice is a "must-have" for scholarly and college library Native American studies shelves, highly recommended.

Buying America from the Indians
Blake A. Watson
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806142449, $45.00, www.oupress.com

Buying America from the Indians provides an in-depth social and legal survey of the court decision that ultimately defined Native American property rights, establishing the basic principles that govern American Indian property rights today. This examination of the Johnson v. McIntosh decision and its history provides a fine survey of the history of Native land rights in this country, offering considerations of how speculative ventures in Native lands affected not only the Indians but the outcomes of wars and encounters with others interested in American soil. The result is a powerful social and legal history recommended for any college-level holding strong in Native legal rights.


The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

Stan Without Ollie
Ted Okuda & James L. Neibaur
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
9780786447817, $38.00, www.amazon.com

One of the most enduringly popular comedy duos is the team of Stan Laurel (16 June 1890 23 February 1965) and Oliver Hardy (January 18, 1892 - August 7, 1957). But what is not known to the general public is that before Stan teamed up with Ollie he had enjoyed a lengthy and successful movie career in his own right. Born Stanley Arthur Jefferson Laurel, his film career was launched with an appearance in the 1917 film 'Nuts in May' and continued through his final solo appearance in the 1928 production of 'Should Tall Men Marry?". The collaborative work of Ted Okuda and James L. Neibaur, "Stan Without Ollie: The Stan Laurel Solo Films, 1917-1927" is an illustrated, 248-page compendium filmography of all the dozens of short comedies Stan was in and includes those film productions he wrote and directed for other stars. A comprehensive and seminal work of theatrical history, "Stan Without Ollie: The Stan Laurel Solo Films, 1917-1927" is enhanced with the inclusion of an appendix, a bibliography, and an index, making it an ideal and highly recommended contribution to academic library Cinematic Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

The Location Sound Bible
Ric Viers
Michael Wiese Productions
12400 Ventura Blvd., #1111
Studio City, CA 91604
9781615931200, $26.95, www.mwp.com

Good sound can add much to a program. "The Location Sound Bible" is a comprehensive reference for those who want to get the best sound possible on location for their shots, stating how to get that top quality sound without a top quality sound budget. From basic notes to consider on the nature of the shot, its surroundings, practical tips, boom mic use, editing, and much more, "The Location Sound Bible" is a strong and powerful reference for aspiring film makers who want to make sure it all comes together well.

True Acting Tips
Larry Silverberg
Limelight Editions
c/o Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing Group
19 West 21st Street, Suite 201
New York, NY 10010
9781458413765, $22.99, www.halleonard.com

Acting should capture the essence of life in its performances. "True Acting Tips: A Path to Aliveness, Freedom, Passion, and Vitality" is a guide to the higher level of theater, as Larry Silverberg outlines his own techniques in becoming a better actor, and bringing about genuine humanity on the stage, and communicating that humanity to the crowd. With plenty to consider for anyone who enjoys theater and wants to bring their act to greater life, "True Acting Tips" is a must for theater reference collection or any acting collection in general.

The Best Ten-Minute Plays
Lawrence Harbison, editor
Smith & Kraus Publishers
PO Box 127
Lyme NH 03768
9781575257822, $24.99, www.smithandkraus.com

Theater doesn't require a long production to get into. "The Best Ten-Minute Plays" is a collection of simple to the point plays for acting drills, with plays split into two-actor endeavors or more ensemble driven plays. Stories are varied for many topics, comedy, drama, tragedy, romance, among others. For the theatre teacher who wants a good repertoire for their students or those who want a taste of original theatre, "The Best Ten-Minute Plays" is a collection to be considered and is recommended. Also for Theatre reference from Smith & Kraus, "Directing Plays Directing People" (9781575257846, $17.95), exploring the directorial process when it comes to plays.

They Knew Marilyn Monroe
Les Harding
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611
Jefferson NC 28640
9780786466375, $29.95, www.mcfarlandpub.com

Marilyn Monroe took the world by storm in her prime, becoming the icon of Hollywood Hot. "They Knew Marilyn Monroe: Famous Persons in the Life of the Hollywood Icon" explores the key people in the life of the legend, touching on the celebrities around her and the tangled web of Hollywood throughout it all. Touching on major people throughout her short life and their work with Marilyn, "They Knew Marilyn Monroe" is a strong pick for those who want to learn more about Monroe, and her ties with Hollywood.

A Horrible Experience of Unbearable Length
Roger Ebert
Andrews McMeel Publishing
1130 Walnut Street
Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
9781449410254, $16.99, www.amuniversal.com

Why would one want to read reviews of exceptionally bad movies? Because of movie critic Roger Ebert's unerring wisdom and wit, which presents over two hundred reviews of movies given two stars or lower since 2006. His commentary is astute, lively and thought-provoking and movie buffs with a sense of humor will find this an exceptional and in-depth review of films so bad that perhaps they even will be good to rent for a laugh. There's nothing like it on the market, making this a recommendation for any movie collection.

Screen Dynamics
Gertrud Koch, et.al., Editors
Synema
c/o Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd Street
New York, NY 10023-7015
9783901644399, $29.50, www.cup.columbia.edu

SCREEN DYNAMICS: MAPPING THE BORDERS OF CINEMA attempts to reconsider the limits of film and its appearance in the movie theater versus home images, Internet displays, or IMAX super-theaters. It provides scholarly, college-level essays considering the limits of film and the theater environment, considering the idea of cinematic presentation, installation art in experimental film, and the characteristics of the high definition image. The result is a wide-ranging survey perfect for college-level film holdings.

Camera Historica
Antoine de Baecque
Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd Street
New York, NY 10023-7015
9780231156516, $35.00, www.cup.columbia.edu

CAMERA HISTORICA: THE CENTURY IN CINEMA offers a new approach to cinema history, and defines, locates and interprets cinematographic forms in seven different bodies of cinema, from 1950s modern works to French New Wave, modern Hollywood films that portray history in fictional formats, and more. It provides college-level cinema students with a theoretical framework for viewing the intersection between cinema and history, offering a critical perspective on the successes and failures of this approach and providing a fine historical overview that considers how film interprets human experience in a fine account for any college-level film history holding.

Project Runway
With Eila Mell
Weinstein Books
Weinstein Books
345 Hudson Street, 13th floor
New York, NY 10014
9781602861787, $25.00, www.weinsteinbooks.com

PROJECT RUNWAY: THE SHOW THAT CHANGED FASHION follows the TV series in which designers compete for cash, prizes and the opportunity to show their creations at New York Fashion Week, and tells how the show's birth in 2004 has brought more attention on the fashion industry, new talent, and cultural trends than ever before. Chapters pack in over a hundred original interviews and over 1,000 photos to follow how the show came to be, its evolution, and its long-time impact, with exclusive interviews with series producers, judges and more accompanying insider insights into how Project Runway evolved. Add color photos from the show and you have a wonderful addition to any fashion or television collection.

The Last Word
Tom Lazarus
Michael Wiese Productions
12400 Ventura Blvd., #1111
Studio City, CA 91604
9781615931194, $22.95, www.mwp.com

THE LAST WORD: DEFINITIVE ANSWERS TO ALL YOUR SCREENWRITING QUESTIONS provides a fine survey from a veteran screenwriter and script consultant who shares some 30 years of experience in a collection arranged by topics and offering keys to marketing scripts and producing better writing. Chapters use plenty of examples to cover endings, beginnings, and everything that happens in between, considering techniques such as playing a joke, graphing out moments where information is disclosed in the course of a script, and making characters 'fit' their roles. Any scriptwriting class or film library needs this in-depth coverage on what techniques elevate a script to marketable status.

Graphic Horror
John Edgar Browning
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764340826, $39.99, www.schifferbooks.com

GRAPHIC HORROR: MOVIE MONSTER MEMORIES is a top choice for film memorabilia and film history holdings alike; especially those strong in horror movies. This compiles monsters from major and minor horror films alike and covers domestic and international posters, movie stills, and publicity shots. Commentary from horror fiction writers, editors, and scholars accompany these movie posters and stills and provide plenty of insights into their cultural and film backgrounds, offering fans and professionals in film a fine resource to the genre and its evolution.

Never Sleep with the Director
Anneloes van Gaalen, Editor
BIS Publishers
Het Sieraad, Postjesweg 1
1057 DT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
9789063692766, $18.00, www.bispublishers.nl

Never Sleep with the Director: And 50 Other Ridiculous Film Rules is for movie-lovers and any who would understand the rules and history of Hollywood, independent film and the industry, and offer a compendium of useful tips for editors. It gathers cliches, codes of conduct, advice for struggling actors, and more under one cover and accompanies 'rules' with quotes from directors and actors who comment on the rule and its possibilities. The result is a fun and insightful collection highly recommended for any film library.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Terrier-Centric Dog Training
Dawn Antoniak-Mitchell
Dogwise Publishing
403 South Mission Street
Wenatchee WA 98801
www.dogwisepublishing.com
9781617810770 $19.95

Expert dog trainer Dawn Antoniak-Mitchell presents Terrier-Centric Dog Training: From Tenacious to Tremendous, a practical how-to guide written especially for terrier owners. Terriers were originally bred selectively to dig and kill burrowing vermin; as a result, their instincts to chase and kill other animals (including cats!) are very powerful, and they are notorious for their loud barking and low arousal thresholds. So how does one teach a "natural born killer" to behave? Chapters teach the viewer how to keep their terrier's attention and focus, use the terrier's desired behaviors as rewards (for example, if the terrier wants to bark at a squirrel and you want to train him to come when called, an effective intermittent reward is to let your terrier bark at the squirrel for a little while after he comes to you), be aware of your terrier's "bubble" (people, dogs, or things that come too close to his personal space can set off a chain reaction), and more. Perhaps most important is understanding that terriers will always be terriers, and not border collies or Labrador retrievers, and plan one's training appropriately; for example, pets that are prey animals (rabbits, birds, piglets, etc.) will never be safe when alone with a terrier, no matter his training. Terrier-Centric Dog Training lives up to its title and is highly recommended as a solid general reference for terrier owners everywhere.

Knowing Horses
Les Sellnow & Carol A. Butler
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way
North Adams, MA 01247
9781603427982, $14.95, www.storey.com

Horses have come along with mankind for generations. "Knowing Horses: Q & As to Boost Your Equine IQ" is a trivia and question and answer guide for the enthusiastic equestrian who wants to learn everything they can about horse history, competitions, genetic oddities, the horses of choice of international organizations, rodeos, and much more. "Knowing Horses" is a must for those who love horses and want to learn more about their favorite animals.

Not Fit for a Dog!
Michael W. Fox & Collaborators
Quill Driver Books
2006 South Mary
Fresno, CA 93721
9781610351492, $16.95, www.quilldriverbooks.com

Some things just aren't edible for any living creature. "Not Fit for a Dog!: The Truth About Manufactured Cat and Dog Food" discusses the issues that arise with canned and manufactured pet foods that can come from commercial pet food and often lead to veterinary pet issues. Encouraging a more natural diet for pets, the veterinary insight from within will help those concerned about the future health of their pets. "Not Fit for a Dog!" is a strong addition to pet-centered collections with a focus on their health.

AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy
Mary R. Burch
Dogwise Publishing
403 South Mission Street
Wenatchee WA 98801
9781617810978, $14.95, www.dogwisepublishing.com

A puppy is a blank slate of behavior. "AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy: A Positive Behavioral Approach to Puppy Training" is a pet training advisory from Mary R. Burch advises readers on how to more complete guide their puppies to be good dogs when in a few years. From the basics of training to good housetraining and more to get a cooperative and happy dog, "AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy" is filled with color photos, an excellent resource for who want a well trained puppy that becomes a well trained dog.

Gifts of the Crow
John Marzluff and Tony Angell
Free Press
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
9781439198735, $25.00, www.simonandschuster.com

Gifts of the Crow: How Perception, Emotion, and Thought Allow Smart Birds to Behave Like Humans provides a vivid survey from a crow expert and author who is a prominent research authority on the birds. John Marzluff teams up with artist and fellow naturalist Tony Angell to provide an in-depth, detailed look at corvids in general, considering crow behaviors, intelligence, actions, and even generosity in giving gifts to people who feed them. The fun stories of crow encounters blend with illustrations of the birds and their anatomy in a fine survey of the natural history of crows, recommended for any general lending collection.

Hawks in Flight, second edition
Pete Dunne, et.al.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10003
9780395709597, $26.00, www.hmhbooks.com

The second updated edition of HAWKS IN FLIGHT blends a range of selected photos with David Sibley's fine illustrations and offers a different approach to raptor identification, covering all of the raptors that breed in North America. It includes two decades of raptor identification refinement and offers a unique method of easily identifying a challenging bird that typically flies high and is usually seen at a distance. The first edition of this classic provided a new method of identification relying on general body shape and movements: this update offers further methods in a fine pick for any collection strong in bird identification, from general holdings to ornithological collections.

Manual of Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, second edition
Douglass K. Macintire, et.al.
Wiley-Blackwell
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148
9780813824734, $89.99, www.wiley.com/wiley-blackwell

The second updated edition of Manual of Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care Medicine provides key details on common emergencies in small animals and offers a new edition with completely new chapter on orthopedic injuries, wound management, and expanded toxicology information and treatment protocols. Chapters are packed with indexing and cross-references, offer a fine outline format for emergency reference, and includes tables, drug dosages, formulas and illustrations throughout. The result is a fine pick for any veterinary or animal medical reference library.


The Christian Studies Shelf

A Baptist Manual of Polity and Practice, revised edition
Norman H. Maring & Winthrop S. Hudson
Judson Press
PO Box 851
Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851
9780817017132, $29.99, www.judsonpress.com

The times change, and faith must change with it. "A Baptist Manual of Polity and Practice" is a revised and updated edition of the advancement of American's Baptists over the past fifty years, the original volume of the writing published in 1962. Discussing the shifts in Baptist polity since 1991, new challenges facing Baptist culture from the world around it, and updating the language, "A Baptist Manual of Polity and Practice" is well worth considering for ministers and other church leaders, highly recommended.

Show Me How to Share Christ in The Workplace
R. Larry Moyer
Kregel Publications
PO Box 2607
Grand Rapids, MI 49501
9780825442698, $12.99, www.kregelpublications.com

The love of Christ isn't something to be left strictly to the church. "Show Me How to Share Christ in the Workplace" is a guide to bringing faith into your workplace respectfully and inspire those at your workplace to bring faith into the matter. The chances to spread the word of faith in one's life emerge in the workplace, and R. Larry Moyer advises how to do it effectively. "Show Me How to Share Christ in the Workplace" is a must for Christian Life collections, recommended.

Journeys to Mother Love
Compiled by Catherine Lawton
Cladach Publishing
PO Box 336144
Greelet, CO 80633
9780981892955 $12.99 www.cladach.com

Journeys to Mother Love: Nine Women Tell their Stories of Forgiveness & Healing is an anthology of heartfelt true stories by Christian women about the healing gifts of God, and how He helped mothers bridge rifts between themselves and their children or stepchildren. Individuals speak of recovering from overwhelming guilt and stress following an abortion; caring for a mother who is affected with Alzheimer's; or even the terrible fallout of violence and separation. "Because I did not have the healthiest role model in mothering, my fears invaded my mind for a moment until my eyes locked on the truth - God's truth. I did not know how to be a parent, but I chose to trust the ultimate parent, our heavenly Father, and follow his lead." Profound, powerful, and emotionally moving, Journeys to Mother Love is highly recommended as a resource of faith, inspiration, and hope.

The God Who Sees You
Tammy Maltby
David C. Cook
4050 Lee Vance View
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
9781434767998, $14.99, www.davidccook.com

Loneliness in this world is only temporary if you remember the support always behind us. "The God Who Sees You: Look to Him When You Feel Discouraged, Forgotten, or Invisible" is a Christian inspirational from Tammy Maltby who advises faithful readers on how to remember the presence of God in our lives, cope with our plights in life, and bask in his glory. "The God Who Sees You" is a strong addition to Christian spirituality collections, highly recommended.

Laughter is Sacred Space
Ted Swartz
Herald Press
1251 Virginia Avenue
Harrisonburg, VA 22802
9780836195590, $24.99, www.heraldpress.com

The joy of laughter is never to be marginalized. "Laughter is Sacred Space: The Not-So-Typical Journey of a Mennonite Actor" discusses humor in the Mennonite community, as longtime Mennonite comedian Ted Swartz speaks of how mirth within Biblical stories and how it can reach out to many individuals for the sake of faith and bring us closer to the principles of the faith, as well as memoirs of his journey across the world. "Laughter is Sacred Space" is a strongly recommended addition to Christian memoir collections, not to be overlooked. Also from Herald Press for Christian readers is "The Power of All: Building a Multivoiced Church" (9780836196436, $15.99), focusing on allowing more voices into one's church and building community.

The Mystery of the Church
Boris Bobrinskoy
St. Vladimir's Seminary Press
575 Scarsdale Road, Yonkers, NY 10707
9780881413885, $26.00, www.svspress.com

The scripture leaves many things up for interpretation. "The Mystery of the Church: A Course in Orthodox Dogmatic Theory" is a collection of theological writing from Father Boris Bobrinskoy as he presents an Orthodox church based study of faith. Presenting a scholarly exposition into the Orthodox faith and its resurgence in Western Europe, he educates readers well in defining the faith and the Orthodox take on many Christian elements. "The Mystery of the Church" is a core addition to any religious or Christian studies collection, highly recommended.

Consequential Leadership
Mac Piet
InterVarsity Press
PO Box 1400
Downers Grove, IL 605151426
9780830837922, $16.00, www.ivpress.com

Making a difference can often be a difficult endeavor. "Consequential Leadership: 15 Leaders Fighting for Our Cities, Our Poor, Our Youth, and Our Culture" is a Christian read of how major leadership in religion can make a major difference in our society. Profiling fifteen individuals and how they are making major differences in lives, "Consequential Leadership" is a powerful read for anyone who is seeking inspiration to do what they can to help the world through their own faith-driven leadership.

Honest Wrestling
K. Howard Joslin
Westbow Press
1663 Liberty Drive, Suite 200
Bloomington, IN 47403-5161
9781449739119, $17.95, www.westbowpress.com

There are many questions we struggle with as disciples of God. "Honest Wrestling: Questions of Faith When Attacked by Life" is a book of spirituality and faith from K. Howard Joslin as the father tackles the many questions many Christians face, drawing on the difficult struggles people often face with their face, and offers his own answers to the questions of what we seek from God. "Honest Wrestling" is an enticing and much recommended addition to Christian faith and spirituality collections.

The Moral Disciple
Kent A. Van Til
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
2140 Oak Industrial Drive, NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49505
9780802866752, $18.00, www.eerdmans.com

Morality and ethics can come from the self, and our faith. "The Moral Disciple: An Introduction to Christian Ethics" discusses morality front he perspective of Christianity, and how it has changed and evolved over the years. From the concept of sin in the perspective of the Bible, the modern day, consequences, among others, "The Moral Disciple" presents an intriguing debate on the concepts of morality and what is demanded of a Christian's ethics.

Option for the Poor and the Earth
Donal Dorr
Orbis Books
PO Box 308
Maryknoll, NY 10545-0308
9781570759741, $38.00, www.orbisbooks.com

The suffering of the poor is exactly what Jesus Christ moved to save. "Option for the Poor and the Earth: Catholic Social Teaching" discusses the Catholic push against economic inequality and social justice. Donal Dorr presents a very faith driven call on theology and international ethics, discussing the politics of the Church hierarchy and what he has seen the struggle come through it all. "Option for the Poor and the Earth" is a scholarly and thoughtful read for those with great concern on social issues and the plight of the poor in the eyes of Catholic ethics.

Reading the New Testament, third edition
Pheme Perkins
Paulist Press
997 MacArthur Boulevard
Mahwah, NJ 07430
9780809147861, $18.95, www.paulistpress.com

The words of Christ guide the new testament, and its study is vital to Christian scholars. "Reading the New Testament" is a third edition update from Pheme Perkins who advises readers on better understanding the words behind the testament and the discoveries of Biblical scholars throughout recent history. Comprehensive and informative all throughout, "Reading the New Testament" is a strongly recommended addition to any Christian studies and theology collection looking for an enhanced study guide for the second half of scripture.

The End
Mark Hitchcock
Tyndale House Publishers
351 Executive Drive
Carol Stream, IL 60188
9781414353739, $22.99, www.tyndale.com

The world at some point of another, will end. But how and when is the topic of debate. "The End: A Complete Overview of Bible Prophecy and the End of Days" is discusses the Biblical views of the End times, focusing more on the book of Revelations, granting an intriguing interpretation of Biblical scripture and how we can interpret their prophecy, including the many questions people have about the coming ages. "The End" is a strong addition to Christian studies collections.

Be Beautiful Be You
Lizzie Velasquez
Liguori
1 Liguori Drive, Liguori, MO 63057-9999
9780764820793, $14.99, www.liguori.org

What is ultimately beauty in our lives? "Be Beautiful Be You" is an inspirational Christian memoir from Lizzie Velasquez, a woman who has faced much struggle in her life, faced with a long array of problems that endanger her life and her struggles to find what beauty is in her life and how she finds the strength from God to push on and reclaim a better part of her life. "Be Beautiful Be You" is a powerful and inspirational read, a strong addition to any Christian or inspirational memoir collection.

Sister Wendy's Bible Treasury
Sister Wendy Beckett
Orbis Books
PO Box 308, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0308
9781570759727, $35.00, www.orbisbooks.com

Sister Wendy's Bible Treasury: Stories and Wisdom Through the Eyes of Great Painters is suitable for art and religious collections alike and here provides a fine anthology of famous scenes and wisdom from the Bible. Paintings by all the classic artist - van Gogh, Titan, Raphael, and more - accompany discussions of traditional Bible stories that inspired them, with the color artistic illustrations throughout making this a treasure trove of detail. Sister Wendy's link between art and Biblical analysis has always been strong, and this winning pick is outstanding!


The Criminology Shelf

Shattering the Illusion
Tracy J. Trothen
Wilfrid Laurier University Press
Wilfrid Laurier University
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2L 3C5
9781554583560, $32.95, www.wlupress.wlu.ca

Religious institutions often acted with a bit of secrecy behind them, but allegations of abuse have changed that. "Shattering the Illusion: Child Sexual Abuse and Canadian Religious Institutions" chronicles the policy shifts in Canada that seek to address the grim reality of child sex abuse throughout the country, branching from the Cornwall Inquiry, favoring no faith in particular to go under the microscope. From a professor of theology and ethics, "Shattering the Illusion" Is a strong addition to religious studies and social issues collections.

Presumed Guilty
Jose Baez and Peter Golenbock
BenBella Books
10300 N. Central Expressway, Ste 400
Dallas, TX 75204
9781937856380, $26.95, www.benbellabooks.com

PRESUMED GUILTY: CASEY ANTHONY: THE INSIDE STORY comes on the one-year anniversary of the Casey Anthony verdict and tells of a missing girl and three years of investigation and trial during which her mother, Casey Anthony, was presumed guilty. Her defense attorney, author Jose Baez, succeeded in gaining a not-guilty verdict against all odds, and this true crime thriller shares secrets the defense knew but didn't reveal to anyone until now. It tells how a struggling dropout became a high-profile defense attorney and how his efforts to seek justice turned a seemingly cut-and-dry case into an astonishing legal upset, and provides a legal thriller highly recommended for any true crime collection.

Masters of True Crime
R. Barri Flowers, Editor
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781616145675, $19.00, www.prometheusbooks.com

MASTERS OF TRUE CRIME: CHILLING STORIES OF MURDER AND THE MACABRE offers a set of riveting stories assembled by criminologist R. Barri Flowers and provides, under one cover, some of the best true-crime writers in the world. There are seventeen contributors who provide not just outlines of notorious cases, but rich narratives that draw readers into the crime, history, emotions and perspectives of those surrounding the event. The result is a selection of stunning murder cases form the beginning of the 20th century to modern times: a 'must' for murder mystery and true crime collections alike.


The Wine Shelf

The Homebuilt Winery
Steve Hughes
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way
North Adams, MA 01247
9781603429900, $19.95, www.storey.com

The Homebuilt Winery: 43 Projects for Building and Using Winemaking Equipment provides step-by-step projects for building custom equipment using basic materials, and accompanies this with step-by-step instructions for setting up and maintaining a home winemaking area. From production and storage to basic equipment, this covers all the basics of making and using the equipment and storing its results, making for a fine recommendation for any home handyman interested in attempting wine-making. It's packed with clear illustrations that eliminate any guesswork, making this a powerful and useful guide!


The Calendar Shelf

365 Quilt-Block Patterns Perpetual Calendar
Judy Hopkins
That Patchwork Place
c/o Martingale & Company
19021 Avenue NE, Bothell, WA 98011
9781604882105, $29.99, www.martingale-pub.com

365 Quilt-Block Patterns Perpetual Calendar offers a spiral-bound booklet pairing lovely quilt blocks through the years with a perpetual calendar honoring the memory of quilting author Judy Hopkins. Each day features an inspiring quilt block, patterns for piecing, and a color illustration to accompany cutting instructions and a lettered line drawing. The result is a fine daily block perfect for avid quilters who need a booklet/desk calendar format.

If You See Anything Important on the Internet, Could you Write It Down for Me?
Scott Adams
Andrews McMeel Publishing
1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
9781449416959, $13.99, www.andrewsmcmeel.com

The 2013 wall calendar If You See Anything Important on the Internet, Could you Write It Down for Me is a recommendation not just for home walls, but for any cubicle or business environment where Dilbert's often-pointed comments on the ironies of business hit home. A large single color panel that stands alone well is taken from a strip featured below it, while the days of the month are laid out in a format that includes room for notes at month's end and small boxes of the prior and forthcoming month's dates. A fine guide for any cubicle resident!


The Fiction Shelf

The Sun Worshippers/Yellowleg
A. S. Fleischman
Stark House Press
4720 Herron Road
Eureka, CA 95503
9781933586403, $19.95, www.starkhousepress.com

Many people applied their talents in the years following World War II, and Sidney Fleischman gained much renown. "The Sun Worshippers/Yellowleg" is a double novel of his work demonstrating some of the best of his work in the thriller genre and where his works have influenced the films and books of the modern day. "The Sun Worshippers/Yellowleg" is a strong pick for those seeking a compilation of classic fiction, highly recommended.

The Lighthouse Road
Peter Geye
Unbridled Books
2000 Wadsworth Boulevard, #195
Lakewood, CO 80214
9781609530846, $24.95, www.unbridledbooks.com

The things we love may drive those very things away. "The Lighthouse Road" is a literary work of historical fiction, as a Norwegian immigrant woman finds herself alone with son at the turn of the twentieth century. As her son comes of age, she may find herself alone once more, as her son seeks his own path in life, and it may not be the wisest one. A novel of family drama and our bonds, "The Lighthouse Road" is a strong pick for general fiction collections, highly recommended.

Trading Dreams
J. L. Morin
Harvard Square Editions
2152 Beachwood Terrace, Hollywood, CA 90068
9780983321620, $14.95, www.harvardsquareeditions.org

Wall Street's power is often daunting. "Trading Dreams" follows Jerry as she finds herself between accepting the status quo and making a mint, or delving into the protests on Wall Street, making a difference and not much else. Faced with her own decisions and the weight that comes with such decisions, she confronts her own demons and gains a bit of vengeful streak against her employer. "Trading Dreams" is an enticing and humorous read, not to be overlooked.

River of Fire
O Chonghui
Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd Street
New York, NY 10023-7015
9780231160667, $27.50, http://cup.columbia.edu

Being a trailblazer means all the barriers are up for you to have to climb over. "River of Fire" is a collection of short fiction from Korean writer O Chonghui, as she provides an insight from a Korean woman in the last half of the twentieth century, exploring the nature of the every day individual, taking cues from Western writer Virginia Woolf with her work. Insightful and recommended reading, "River of Fire" is a strong addition to any international fiction collection, not to be overlooked.

Huddleston Road
John Toomey
Dalkey Archive Press
University of Illinois
1805 S. Wright Street, MC-011
Champaign, IL 61820
9781564787811, $15.00, www.dalkeyarchive.com

What we want may be the worst thing in the world for us. "Huddleston Road" is a novel from John Toomey, telling of Vic, a man pursuing Lali, in a relationship that won't end well for them. As forces outside them try to break their relationship, the consequences of such love come to light, and John Toomey crafts a very real read with a scene many of us know too well. An honest, down to earth, and subtly humorous read, "Huddleston Road" is an excellent pick for literary fiction collections.

Joy Takes Flight
Bonnie Leon
Revell
c/o Baker Publishing Group
PO Box 6287
Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
9780800733612, $14.99, www.bakerbooks.com

Motherhood is often at odds with the life we seek to live. "Joy Takes Flight" is a historical romance from Bonnie Leon, who writes of the bond between recently married Kate and Paul, and the choices facing Kate and her love of flying as a career and for joy as she becomes pregnant. Her decisions may lose her more than her career, they may cause her husband. Insightful and riveting works of romance and the plight of womanhood, "Joy Takes Flight" is a fine addition to general fiction and romance collections.

Sweet Crude
V. C. Thomas
Wheatmark
610 East Delano Street, Suite 104
Tucson, AZ 85705
9781604946192, $15.95, www.wheatmark.com

Profit pushes many to seek their fortunes in oil. "Sweet Crude: Taming the Sands of Libya" is a novel that takes recent history to follows TexOil President Rolan Moran as he tries to gain control of the oil fields in the newly liberated country. Trying to form strong diplomatic ties in the region, author V.C. Thomas tries to capture a very real feeling of the area. "Sweet Crude" is a strong addition to contemporary fiction collections, recommended.

Against My Will
Benjamin Berkley
Frederick Fell Publishers, Inc.
2131 Hollywood Blvd., Suite 305
Hollywood, FL 33020
9780883912799, $16.00, www.fellpub.com

Pressure from our parents forces our hands into things we may not believe are right. "Against My Will" is a novel following Danielle, pushed into a marriage with Jacob. As he tries to push his will on her, their relationship frays, and starts to fall apart, and Danielle tries to escape, something that proves hard, even as she physically leaves him. "Against My Will" is a strong pick for general fiction collections, highly recommended.

Maya Lord
John Coe Robbins
Whiskey Creek Press
PO Box 51052, Casper, WY 82605-1052
9781611600957, $17.95, www.whiskeycreekpress.com

Not every encounter between the new world and the Europeans went their way. "Maya Lord" is a historical novel following Gonzalo, whose crew is shipwrecked in the new world and taken into slavery by the local tribes. Trying to plot his escape, and sees that he may find something he never expected with the chieftain's daughter. With plenty of adventure, intrigue, and romance, "Maya Lord" is a read worth considering, highly recommended.

Black Coffee
R. L. Byrd
Llumina Press
7101 W. Commercial Blvd., Ste. 4E
Tamarac, FL 33319
9780605948614, $15.95, www.llumina.com

There are many flavors of life, but they all share a uniting trait. "Black Coffee" is a novel from R. L. Byrd as he tells the story of DK 'Love' Niles, a Dallas Disc Jockey who discusses relationships and love from a black perspective, and draws on the expertise of other people in his brotherhood to give readers a taste of the many types of love we face. "Black Coffee" is a strong pick for those looking for a novel with romance and good wisdom for any relationship.

Goodbye Emily
Michael Murphy
Koehler Books
c/o Morgan James Publishing
4410 E Claiborne Square, Suite 334
Hampton VA 23666-2071
9781938467219, $16.95, www.morganjamespublishing.com

The memories of Woodstock live on with many people in the modern day. "Goodbye Emily" is an intriguing novel following a professor as he copes with the loss of his life's love who he met at Woodstock. With age catching up with him and with others he still knows from the day, they seek one last trip to remember themselves and their lives into the twilight. "Goodbye Emily" is a fine and much recommended addition to any literary fiction collection.

Snow
Kathryn Hewitt
WestBow Press
1663 Liberty Drive, Suite 200
Bloomington, IN 47403-5161
9781449749446, $22.95, www.westbowpress.com

Love is a powerful word. "Snow" is a novel of young love with a strong religious element. Ruth was only fifteen, but she thought she had found the one. But the gauntlet of teenage ignorance faced her with many challenges and the pain of adulthood, facing the dangers of romance along with the joys. "Snow" is a fine coming of age tale, worth considering.


The Memoir Shelf

The Village Carpenter
Walter Rose
Linden Publishing
2006 South Mary
Fresno, CA 93721-9875
9781610350518, $15.95, www.woodworkerslibrary.com

Factories are a relatively new introduction to human history, much of its production laying in the hands of the artisans. "The Village Carpenter: The Classic Memoir of the Life of a Victorian Craftsman" is a republishing of the 1937 book from Walter Rose, as he describes his grandfather's work as a carpenter and craftsman, looking back from the industrialized world into the time that had long since passed. A memoir that touches on cultural legacy and the charms that may be lost, "The Village Carpenter" is not to be overlooked.

From Prison To Promise
Booker T. Huffman with Andrew William Wright
Medallion Press, Inc.
100 South River Street
Aurora, IL 60506
9781605424682, $19.99, www.medallionpress.com

May youths are troubled, but few truly get the second chance to forge a new path. "From Prison to Promise" is a memoir from Booker T. Huffman, a famed professional wrestler with decades of work in WWE and WCW. Within, Booker describes his rough childhood growing up, being raised by his older brother and later tag team partner Stevie Ray, and how he was influenced into bad decisions in his life that led to a criminal record before professional wrestling gave him a chance to make an honest living. An uplifting story of setting one's life straight, "From Prison to Promise" is well worth considering for fans of Booker's work and of memoirs about going straight.

Burying the Typewriter
Carmen Bugan
Graywolf Press
250 Third Avenue North, Suite 600
Minneapolis, MN 55401
9781555976170, $15.00, www.graywolfpress.org

When we escape oppression, we want to share our experiences with the world. "Burying the Typewriter" is a memoir from Carmen Bugan as she tells her story of growing up during the fall of Nicolae Ceausescu, the last Communist leader of Romanian before its own revolution shifted the country onto its more modern path. With an original sense of humor and sharing a very personal story of how her childhood helped her grow as a writer, "Burying the Typewriter" is a strong addition to memoir and biography collections, especially those centered around events of world history.

Always Put in a Recipe and Other Tips for Living
Evelyn Birkby
University of Iowa Press
100 Kuhl House
119 West Park Road
Iowa City, IA 52242-1000
9781609381158, $19.95, www.uiowapress.org

The experience of others can help our own lives through the tough times. "Always Put in a Recipe and Other Tips for Living" is a compilation of columns and more from Evelyn Birkby as she draws on her fifty years as a housewife to share what she has learned through it all. Still going after over fifty years, she shares her wisdom for more than those reading the Valley News. "Always Put in a Recipe and Other Tips for Living" is a fine and recommended pick those seeking a memoir of general knowledge of everyday life.

Losing My Sister
Judy Goldman
John F. Blair, Publisher
1406 Plaza Drive, Winston-Salem, NC 27103
9780895875839, $21.95, www.blairpub.com

Our sister often plays a major role in our lives as women. "Losing My Sister" is a memoir from Judy Goldman, writing in tribute to her sister, as she writes of the unbreakable bond that had formed between herself and her sister Brenda. Alike in more ways than one, family tragedy leaves them with struggles, and simultaneous breast cancer. Judy persevered, but Brenda was not so lucky. "Losing My Sister" is a powerful read of sisterhood, not to be overlooked.

A Voice to Myself Opened a Door to Life
Ma'yun Taner
Balboa Press
1663 Liberty Drive, Suite 200
Bloomington, IN 47403-5161
9781452504452, $19.99, www.balboapress.com

Things happen in our lives and we struggle to understand why too often. "A Voice to Myself Opened a Door to Life" is an inspirational memoir from Ma'yun Taner as she shares her struggles with improving her own life after everything bad that could happen happened. Encouraging one to understand that the quality of their life is under their control and appreciate the best that we have out of life and reach out and help others face their plague, "A Voice to Myself Opened a Door to Life" has much to ponder, and is much recommended.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

What's on the Other Side?
Brent L. Top
Deseret Books
57 West South Temple
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
9781609070465, $15.99, www.deseretbook.com

Mormonism disconnects with the rest of Christianity on what happens to the soul after death. "What's On the Other Side?: What the Gospel Teaches Us About the Spirit World" explores the Latter Day Saints' views on death and the afterlife, drawing from theological studies at Brigham Young University, and hopes to dispel some of the fear of death on the other side for followers of the Mormon faith. "What's On the Other Side?" is an intriguing read for those who want to better understand the Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints.

The Angel And The Sorcerer
Peter Levenda
Ibis Press
c/o Red Wheel/Weiser/Conari
65 Parker Street, Suite 7
Newburyport, MA 01950-4600
www.redwheelweiser.com
9780892542000, $18.95, www.amazon.com

Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day (commonly referred to as the Mormons and the religious affiliation of Mitt Romney, the current Republican candidate for the presidency of the United States) originated as an occult cult founded by a charismatic leader named Joseph Smith Jr. in the early 1800s. "The Angel and Sorcerer: The Remarkable Story of the Occult Origins of Mormonism and the Rise of Mormons in American Politics" by Peter Levenda is an analytical and historical survey of Mormon and ideas and practices based in ceremonial temple magic, divination, baptism of the dead, polygamy, Native American histories recorded on golden plates, celestial revelations, prophecies, anthropomorphic gods, and a great deal more. Informed and informative, "The Angel And The Sorcerer" is strongly recommended reading for anyone with an interest in the history and belief structures of the Mormon Church -- and Mit Romney.

The Core of Johnny Appleseed
Ray Silverman
Swedenborg Publishers
320 North Church Street
West Chester, PA 19380
9780877853459, $14.95, www.swedenborg.com

The story of Johnny Appleseed is known by many youths. "The Core of Johnny Appleseed: The Unknown Story of a Spiritual Trailblazer" seeks to tell the spiritual story of this early American icon and his focus on conservation. His symbolism with the apple is well known, but Ray Silverman presents a deeper understanding of his travels and contributions to the Swedenborg church. "The Core of Johnny Appleseed" is a much recommended addition to any American history collection with a focus on the Swedenborg Church and its important figures.

Pilgrimage into the Last Third of Life
Jane Marie Thibault & Richard L. Morgan
Upper Room Books
PO Box 340003
Nashville, TN 37203-0003
9780835811170, $16.00, www.upperroom.org

As we head into the final stage of life, we often want to finally find that peace that eludes us. "Pilgrimage into the Last Third of Life: 7 Gateways to Spiritual Growth" is a spiritual guide for seniors who want to live the last few decades of their life to their absolute fullest, and face whatever lies ahead of them in their future with strength, for the sake of themselves, family, and community. "Pilgrimage into the Last Third of Life" is a strong addition to spirituality collections focusing on aging.

Special Intentions
Claire Coleman
Westbow Press
1663 Liberty Drive, Suite 200
Bloomington, IN 47403-5161
9781449725952, $19.95, www.westbowpress.com

Prayers are our way of letting our wishes be known to God, and to ourselves. "Special Intentions: Remembering Others in Personal Prayer" is a guide to prayer and its power to ourselves and our spirituality, as Claire Coleman advises readers on how to remember others and pray for them as they enter this most personal of times. "Special Intentions" is a strong pick for spirituality collections, not to be overlooked.


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

Tune Book 1: Vanishing Point
Derek Kirk Kim
First Second Books
175 5th Avenue
New York, NY 10010
www.tunecomic.com
9781596435162 $16.99 www.firstsecondbooks.com

Award-winning author Derek Kirk Kim presents Tune Book 1: Vanishing Point, a black-and-white graphic novel about a young Korean-American man who drops out of college to pursue his art career, only to find the job market for artists is much rougher than he ever imagined... so rough that his best prospect is working for aliens from a parallel dimension! The perfect, eclectic blend of the foibles of everyday life (from hanging out with college friends, to struggling with a heavy crush on a female friend, to coping with hyper-achievement-focused parents) and outlandish science fiction, Tune Book 1 is the riotous kickstart to a grand adventure. Highly recommended. "'When I was a kid, I used to hoard giant cardboard boxes so I could make spaceships out of them...' 'Neat! How fast did it go?' 'What? No, it... it didn't move or anything. It was just a cardboard box...' 'Oh. When I was a kid, I made a mini dark matter hadron collider.'"

Sumo
Thien Pham
First Second Books
175 5th Avenue
New York, NY 10010
9781596435810 $14.99 www.firstsecondbooks.com

Sumo is an original graphic novel about a man named Scott, and his drive to turn his life around by becoming a professional sumo wrestler. The art is duotone, with color used to denote time. Duotone orange pages represent Scott's present struggle to move up in the ranks lest he be forced out of sumo; duotone blue pages tell of how Scott bid farewell to his friends and ex-girlfriend before leaving America for Japan; and duotone green pages tell of how Scott adapted to life in his new home, made a friend, and engaged in catch-and-release fishing with her. The simple art style is remarkably effective at conveying emotion, power, and the meticulous rigors of daily training that all sumo wrestlers undertake. Scott has the physical size and power necessary to become an excellent sumo wrestler, and the spiritual potential, but his mind keeps getting distracted by events from his past. Will Scott be able to move beyond what he was before, and learn to live in the present moment? Sumo is relatively light on text, and accessible to readers of all ages and backgrounds; fans of sumo wrestling especially are sure to enjoy it.

Halloween Classics
Tom Pomplun, editor
Eureka Productions
8778 Oak Grove Road
Mount Horeb, WI 53572
9780982563052 $17.95 www.graphicclassics.com

Volume 23 of the "Graphic Classics" series, Halloween Classics is a full-color, graphic novel adaptation of five scary stories by five renowned authors: "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" by Washington Irving, "A Curious Dream" by Mark Twain, "Lot No. 249" by Arthur Conan Doyle, "Cool Air" by H.P. Lovecraft, and "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" by Hans Janowitz & Carl Mayer. Each classic short tale is brought vividly to the page by a different adaptor and artist team. Although the stories are as frightening today as they were decades ago, their horror is primarily psychological; Halloween Classics is not excessively gory, and will appeal to readers ages 12 to adult. Highly recommended, especially for public and school library seasonal collections, and as a great choice to help young adults discover the excitement of reading time-tested works by classic authors.

The Reaper of St. George Street
Andre R. Frattino
Pineapple Press, Inc.
PO Box 3889
Sarasota, FL 34230-3889
9781561645176 $10.95 www.pineapplepress.com

The Reaper of St. George Street: The Adventures of Flagler's Few St. Augustine Ghost Hunters! is a modestly lighthearted, black-and-white graphic novel about a young man attending college in St. Augustine, Florida - a city with a storied supernatural history, and more to the shadows than meets the eye! At first he is reluctant to believe in ghosts, but chance encounters with a self-described pirate, a most unusual history professor, a beautiful woman plagued by nightmares of being cut down by a monstrous Reaper, and the occasional lonely spirit begin to change his mind! Readers of all ages will enjoy this ghostly story of a murderous past tragedy come full circle to haunt the living, brought to life in an iconic cartoon style reminiscent of the "Annie" comic strips. A choice pick for the Halloween season, The Reaper of St. George Street is highly recommended for indie comic lovers as well as for high school and public library graphic novel collections.

Journey to Port
Kileen Prather
Chauncey Park Press
735 N. Grove Avenue
Oak Park, IL 60302
9780615553429 $15.95 www.kileenprather.com

Journey to Port is a poignant romance novel spanning generations. More than one hundred and fifty years ago, a sinking ship changed the direction of Anne's life; leaving behind her native Wisconsin, she started an inn in Michigan. Her son and grandson sought to pry into her past, but it would be generations later that Alexi, Anne's descendent, uncovers the truth. Alexi is devastated by the end of her thirty-year marriage, but when she learns more about her ancestor, it points the way toward the possibilities of a wonderful future. Journey to Port is a tremendously beautiful and emotional story about the importance of keeping one's heart open.

The Tower Chronicles: GeistHawk, Volume 1
Matt Wagner, writer
Simon Bisley, penciler
Legendary Comics
4000 Warner Blvd., Bldg. 76
Burbank, CA 91522
legendary.com/comics
$7.99 www.amazon.com

The Tower Chronicles: GeistHawk, Volume 1 is the debut graphic novel (72 pages) of a thrilling new series about a shrouded mercenary... who hunts inhuman monsters! The color artwork captures a grim, vicious urban world where fiendish beasts hide, deceive, and slaughter helpless victims. Tower is the code name of a man whose mission is to cull their murderous numbers with ruthless efficiency. Striking and dynamic, The Tower Chronicles is a series to watch for fans of high-octane supernatural action.

Bill the Boy Wonder
Maarc Tyler Nobleman, author
Ty Templeton, illustrator
Charlesbridge
85 Main Street, Watertown, MA 02472
9781580892896, $17.95, www.charlesbridge.com

It is not often one man alone creates a legend. "Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman" explores the role of Bill Finger in the creation of the iconic Batman character, while not credited with his creation. Bill Finger was a confidant of credited creator Bob Kane, and Marc Tyler Nobleman & Ty Templeton come to together to give a comic based take on Finger's role in the creation of Batman's universe. "Bill the Boy Wonder" is a fine pick for those curious about this lost chapter in comic history, highly recommended.

Quality Companion
Mike Kooiman & Jim Amash
TwoMorrows Publishing
10407 Bedfordtown Drive
Raleigh, NC 27614
9781605490373, $31.95, www.twomorrows.com

In the golden age of comics, there were many comics beyond simply DC and Marvel. "Quality Companion" studies the heroes behind the Quality Comics series as they ran throughout the 1950s and forward, before being absorbed by DC in later years. For those who remember the brand in their youth, or just want to know what this period of comic history brought, "Quality Companion" is a complete and comprehensive guide for any comics aficionado, packed with reproductions and photographs all throughout.

Sparko
Karl Stephan
SLG Publishing
PO Box 26247
San Jose, CA 95159
9781593622206 $14.95 www.slgcomic.com

Sparko is a dark, urban-themed fantasy graphic novel. Set in the slums of London, Sparko follows a down-and-out ex-rock star, whose only connection to his former fame and glory is his crippling, miserable drug addiction. When he has the misfortune of being stabbed and cast into the Thames, it's only the beginning of a nightmare odyssey of ghosts and horrors. Questionably dour allies, and the even more questionably cheerful pickpocket Belle guide his convoluted journey. Sparko must ultimately confront the terrible truth about the misfortune that ended his former girlfriend's life all too soon... even as a sacrifice-seeking monstrosity begins to manifest in the physical world! Sometimes grim, sometimes wild, always unique, Sparko is a half-crazed adventure and then some.


The Homeowner Shelf

Affordable Bathroom Upgrades
Steve Cory & Diane Slavik
Creative Homeowner
24 Park Way
Saddle River, NJ 07450-2311
9781580115575, $19.95, www.creativehomeowner.com

A good bathroom can make the hygiene routine all the greater. "Affordable Bathroom Upgrades: Transform Your Bathroom on a Small Budget" is a guide for homeowners on more effectively putting together their bathrooms and saving money when one is out to upgrade the bathroom and keep up with the times and style, while still being practical. Packed cover to cover with full color photography all throughout, "Affordable Bathroom Upgrades" is a much recommended pick for any trying to expand their home. Also from Creative Homeowner and Steve Cory & Diane Slavik is "Affordable Kitchen Upgrades" (9781580115346, $19.95) providing their expertise to the realm of kitchens this time.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

Lionel Trains
Kalmbach Publishing Company
21027 Crossroads Circle
Waukesha, WI 53186
9780897785440, $19.95, www.kalmbachbooks.com

Model trains bring fascination and joy to those enthused by the hobby. "Lionel Trains: Pocket Price Guide 1901-2013" is the easy to use and carry price guide for collectible enthusiasts covering the many models and prices over the past hundred years. Arranged in a checklist format and by era, with a little practice one could find the topic they are discussing and price it quickly. "Lionel Trains Pocket Price Guide" is a must for hobbyists who often deal in the collecting aspect of model railroads.

The Smokin' Book of Cigar Box Art & Designs
John Grossman
Fox Chapel Publishing Company
1970 Broad Street N.
East Petersburg, PA 17520
9781565235465, $14.99, www.FoxChapelPublishing.com

Commercial art is usually considered on another level than art for the sake of art, but the art of the cigar box held true in the minds of antique collectors. "The Smokin' Book of Cigar Box Art & Designs" chronicles the history of what took these cigar boxes into something more than a place to stash cigars. Collecting the 100 best labels from the John & Carolyn Grossman Collection, and reproducing them in full color, and divided by subject. "The Smokin" Book of Cigar Box Art & Designs" is a must for those who enjoy the style of these late nineteenth and early twentieth century treasures.


The Self-Help Shelf

Safe Passage
Molly Fumia
Conari Press
c/o Red Wheel/Weiser
65 Parker Street, Suite 7
Newburyport, MA 01950-4600
9781573245463, $16.95, www.redwheelweiser.com

The weight of loss can drive us mad sometimes. "Safe Passage: Words to Help the Grieving" is a devotional read from Molly Fumia, as she shares thoughts of the many struggles we have to deal with losing someone very close and dear to us. Filled with wisdom and knowledge for every page and thought, "Safe Passage" is an enticing read with plenty to consider for those who are struggling to cope with life's cruelties.

The Way of Oz
Robert V. Smith
Texas Tech University Press
PO Box 41037
Lubbock, TX 79409-1037
9780896727403, $29.95, www.ttupress.org

The road to success is long, and even longer if there is no one to show us the way. "The Way of Oz: A Guide to Wisdom, Heart, and Courage" is a read of leadership and success as Robert V. Smith advises readers on finding their own path down the yellow brick road, taking notes from Oz Creator L. Frank Baum. Uplifting and positive thinking with illustrations all throughout, "The Way of Oz" is a choice and much recommended addition to any motivational collection.


The Biography Shelf

Blackbird's Song
Michigan State University Press
1405 South Harrison Road, Suite 25
East Lansing, MI 48823-5245
www.msupress.msu.edu
9781611860504 $39.95

Blackbird's Song: Andrew J. Blackbird and the Odawa People is the true-life biography of Andrew J. Blackbird (ca. 1814-7 to 1908), who is perhaps best known for presenting a Native American perspective of his people's history in his groundbreaking book "History of the Ottawa and Chippewa People". In his writing, Blackbird chronicles how the Great Lakes people struggled to protect their land and preserve their culture, first through military conflict and then later through applying their rights as citizens. An accessible, in-depth accounting of Blackbird's life, works, and efforts to improve his people's welfare through peaceful advocacy, Blackbird's Song is highly recommended especially for public and college library biography and Native American studies shelves.

The Manliest Man
James W. Trent, Jr.
University of Massachusetts Press
PO Box 429
Amherst, MA 01004
9781558499591 $28.95 www.umass.edu/umpress

James W. Trent (professor of sociology and social work, Gordon College) presents The Manliest Man: Samuel G. Howe and the Contours of Nineteenth-Century American Reform, an accessible, reader-friendly biography of notable American reformer Samuel G. Howe. A veteran of the Greek War of Independence, a committed abolitionist, and the founder of the Perkins School for the Blind as well as the Massachusetts School for Idiotic and Feeble-Minded Children, Howe spoke out in favor of progressive services for disabled Americans. Extensive notes and an index enhance this thorough biography of a passionate and dedicated man, who spent his life working for a better future for America's underprivileged and downtrodden. Highly recommended, especially for public and college library collections.

Nature's Keeper
Gary Ferguson
Sweetgrass Books
c/o Farcountry Books
PO Box 5630, Helena, MT 59604
9781591520856, $14.95, www.wildwords.net

The natural world is something to be treasured. "Nature's Keeper: John Ripley Forbes and the Children's Nature Movement" tells the story of John Ripley Forbes and his push to conserve nature for the future all across the country, connecting with the poorest individuals and letting them see nature when they would otherwise wouldn't. "Nature's Keeper" is an enticing story of one man's efforts to keep environmentalism alive through decades of service, recommended.

C. C. Slaughter
David J. Murrah
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive
Norman, OK 73069
9780806142937, $19.95, www.oupress.com

In Texas's early days, there were many people who established it as a place to watch in the future. "C. C. Slaughter: Rancher, Banker, Baptist" tells the story of Christopher Columbus Slaughter, who throughout the second half of the nineteenth century and early twentieth century helped Texas flourish. He made his fortune off the cattle industry, founded colleges in the state, and always remained a man of faith. "C. C. Slaughter" is an intriguing biography of a powerful figure of nineteenth century Texas, very much recommended reading.

Kicking & Dreaming
Ann & Nancy Wilson
It Books
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street
New York, NY 10022-5299
9780062101679, $27.99, www.harpercollins.com

Heart has become embedded in American cultural history, but it wasn't an easy route. "Kicking & Dreaming: A Story of Heart, Soul, and Rock & Roll" is the autobiography of Ann and Nancy Wilson, who climbed to the top of their careers by creating a distinctly original sound and charm, and keeping their work defined by their skills instead of their breasts. Behind the scenes, both sisters faced many of the demons typical to the 70s and 80s music scenes, and many atypical, from drugs and substance abuse to simply seeking a family. "Kicking & Dreaming" is a fine addition to any musical biography collection.

Howard Zinn
Martin Duberman
The New Press
38 Green Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10013
9781595586780, $26.95, www.thenewpress.com

Sometimes to truly hate war, you have to see it first hand. "Howard Zinn: A Life on the Left" explores the life's work of Howard Zinn, a former veteran who turned harsh anti-war activist and become an icon of the American left for his no holds barred take on politics and his controversial book 'A People's History of the United States'. Martin Duberman presents an in-depth biography of the man and presents him in many new lights. "Howard Zinn" is a strong addition to biography and political history collections.

Early Reagan, new edition
Anne Edwards
Taylor Trade Publishing
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200
Lanham, MD 20706
9781589797437, $19.95, www.rowman.com

Ronald Reagan has earned a place in history as an icon, love or hate him. "Early Reagan: The Rise to Power" is a new edition of the 1986 book from Anne Edwards, which tells the story of Reagan's rise to fame from nothing as a child to gaining Hollywood stardom and his early moves in politics. Tracing his life up to his official entry into politics as a candidate for governor of California, "Early Reagan: The Rise to Power" is a strongly recommended pick for those who want to better understand this American icon and how he became history.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

Freiing Out
Binyamin Tanny
Penina Press/Urim Publications
c/o Lambda Publishers
527 Empire Boulevard, Brooklyn, NY 11225
www.UrimPublications.com
9781936068326, $19.95, www.amazon.com

Off the derech (OTD), literally, "off the path", is a term used by Orthodox Jews to describe someone who has intentionally stopped practicing the accepted tenets of his/her branch of orthodoxy frumkeit. The phrase is often applied to rebellious teenagers. Teenagers who are not yet off the derech but who display signs of rebelliousness from Orthodox norms, such as changes in dress or associating with off the derech friends, are often referred to as "teens at risk". ub "Freiing Out: Why People Go Off the Derech & What We Can Do About It", author Binyamin Tanny descriptively examines six types of people at risk, identifies eleven key factors at play, and presents eight techniques to avert people from abandoning their Judaism. Of special note is the commentary on the value of Jewish education, finding a balance between Jewish and secular education, and the relationship of a Jewish education to both home life and school experience. Informed and informative, "Freiing Out" is highly recommended reading, especial for anyone within the Jewish community struggling with adhering to Jewish customs and principles within the larger secular, non-Jewish world.


The Buddhist Studies Shelf

Good Citizens
Thich Nhat Hanh
Parallax Press
PO Box 7355, Berkeley, CA 94707
9781935209898, $14.95, www.parallax.org

Ethics, no matter how created, seem to have lost their role in modern society. "Good Citizens: Creating Enlightened Society" is a spiritually driven read as Thich Nhat Hanh touches on the spiritual and Buddhist worldview, and the importance of creating a good ethic in society, no matter what faith one would call their own. "Good Citizens" is a driven read with much value for a greater spiritual presence in society.

Buddha Speaks
Rashmi Khilnani
Rainbow Ridge Books
c/o Square One Publishers
140 Rainbow Ridge Road, Faber, VA 22938
9781937907037, $17.95, www.squareonepublishers.com

Buddha is often misunderstood. "Buddha Speaks: To the Buddha Nature Within" is book of Buddhist philosophy and thought, as Rashmi Khilnani advises readers to bring together their energy and how to bring oneself closer to the ideals and thoughts of Buddha, finding enlightenment and strength for the tough times to come. "Buddha Speaks" is well worth considering adding to spirituality and Buddhist studies collections.


The Marriage/Divorce Shelf

Making Marriage Work
Lynn Toler
Bolden
c/o Agate Publishing
1328 Greenleaf Street
Evanston, IL 60202
9781932841657, $15.95, www.agatepublishing.com

Marriage has been a foundation of human society since there was society. "Making Marriage Work: New Rules For an Old Institution" is a discussion of modern marriage from the star of the syndicated Television show Divorce Court as she touches on how to make marriages work in today's different society, having seen much of what makes marriages fall apart. Encouraging a no-nonsense approach, "Making Marriage Work" is a strong advisory for relationship and marriage counseling collections, recommended.


The Poetry Shelf

Red Thread
Teresa Mei Chuc
Fithian Press
PO Box 2790, McKinleyville, CA 95519
9781564745286, $14.00, www.danielpublishing.com

An opportunity in America is not to be squandered. "Red Thread" is a collection of poetry from Vietnamese immigrant Teresa Mei Chuc as she shares her experiences seeking asylum after the war and through her poetry, she speaks on the unique blend of memory and culture. "Red Thread" has plenty to ponder, a fine assortment of verse. "When I First Saw Daddy": he was like an Egyptian cat;/skinny, foraging, and stern,/just released form a Vietcong prison./He told us he hated the color red./Sixteen years later,/he wears a red sweatshirt and smiles./The pin tip opening in his heart enough/to let in a driblet of red.

Selected Poems
Gig Ryan
Bloodaxe Books
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7
Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
9781852249212, $22.95, www.dufoureditions.com

Urban life is much the same everywhere, but there are elements exclusive to world as we know it. "Selected Poems" is a collection of poetry from Gig Ryan, who ponders her life as an Australian woman in this modern world where everything is rapidly changing. "Gig Ryan" is an insightful addition to general poetry collections, highly recommended. "City": A week ago you were a different person/Now soaring art sours/He works through his machines, digitalising your words/Anodised ring/we embark on normality//and protest from the glove box/of your brother's caprice/lollied trees and mountainous buildings/He's lined against the drinks/Make it a double I'll join my friends sooner/Addiction in the recycle bin/when you have to leave the cities of nostalgia. Also from Bloodaxe Books Poetry is "Stray" (9781852248925, $21.95) by Amanda Dalton tackling the lost nature of many people in the world, trying to find their way and something that resembles home.

Huang Po and the Dimensions of Love
Wally Swist
Southern Illinois University Press
1915 University Press Drive
SIUC Mail Code 6806
Carbondale, IL 62901
9780809330997, $15.95, www.siupress.com

Our simple being can bring joy if we know where to find it. "Huang Po and the Dimensions of Love" is a collection of poetry from Wally Swist, who presents poetry of a philosophical and existential nature. Asking many questions and coming at readers with a sort of religion-free spirituality, "Huang Po and the Dimension of Love" is a very much worthwhile consideration, highly recommended. "Threshold": When he remembers the beginning, he looks/out the front windows of the cabin to the hills/and the colors of autumn this afternoon/in the sunlight, and thinks of her warmth,/her laughter. He remembers what was/beyond her smile, and thinking this/is all that matters: that continuum, that going/beyond they both enter, and a door/opens across another threshold,/where there is nothing but light, pure light.

Road Scatter
Sandra Meek
Persea Books
277 Broadway, Suite 708
New York, NY 10007
9780892554195, $15.95, www.perseabooks.com

Wanderlust allows us to see many things about our life. "Road Scatter" is a collection of poetry from Sandra Meek as she touches on the nature of travel and how loss can change places we've already been. "Road Scatter" is an enticing and much recommended addition to contemporary poetry collections. "Colony of Ice": We struck south to recall winter/as grace, sky no longer constellating//the permanent frost of a country's/baroque sadness, no longer a crystalline breath//purled to whitecaps' lace, froth at the mouth/of the dog wandering the village the morning//that would end her, arrival our single shot/skidding her eyes to that milky glaze//heralding snow, rainforest and thorn desert/gnawed to one echo, a tiny listening//rippling the single sheet we kept unfolding, the white stare of home.

Crimson Crop
Peter Rose
UWA Publishing
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 NE 58th Ave., Suite 300
Portland OR 97213-3786
9781742583907, $24.95, www.isbs.com

Crimson is a shade of red, and the color come most associated with blood. "Crimson Crop" is the fifth collection of poetry from Peter Rose, as the Australian author takes a view on the nature of humanity and its unusual nature and decisions through it all. With plenty of excellent verse and things to think about, "Crimson Crop" is a fine addition to any modern poetry collection. "Memorial": Then years ago you died -/the very hour. Waking,/my fists are clenched/in an angry prayer.

Shift
Rhian Gallagher
Enitharmon
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7
Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
9781907587184, $23.95, www.dufoureditions.com

A long distance relationship presents many curious challenges in our life. "Shift" is a collection of poetry from Rhian Gallagher who touches on her own unique romance, the love within ourselves, and the search for what is truly home. "Shift" is well worth considering for contemporary poetry collections. "Bologna": What we found there.../Osterie and restaurants full/and the rain coming down, I remember,//and the light pressure of her hand/as we ran from the end/of one portico to the shelter of another,/the cobbles streaming.

Celestial Spheres
Debra Lyn Negus
Dorrance Publishing Co.
701 Smithfield Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
9781434912343, $14.00, www.dorrancebookstore.com

The potential for great positively lies within us all. "Celestial Spheres" is a collection of poetry from Debra Lyn Negus who promotes a brand of poetry that encourages purging negativity from our being and embracing humanity and love in the process. "Celestial Spheres" has plenty to ponder, very much recommended reading for spiritual poetry collections. "Once, Long Ago": A man long ago,/Did walk the Earth;/He was here to teach,/Of a spirit's birth.//He taught us to love,/To look within;/What he also taught,/Was there no sin.//For the spirit always rises,/Until at last it sees;/The truth that all are one,/For all eternity.//For ages come and go,/Yet the lesson remains the same;/Love each other as yourself,/To rise to a higher plane. Also worth considering from Dorrance Publishing Co. is "Unpremeditated Moments" (9781434914811, $15.00) by Joyce G. Bradshaw, presenting a series of haikus inspired by her native Texas.

The Book of Water
John Murphy
Salmon Poetry
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7
Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
9781908836076, $22.95, www.dufoureditions.com

Water can represent many things, and John Murphy uses its diverse nature well. "The Book of Water" is a collection of poetry from Murphy as he touches on the many aspects of life, drawing on his experience as an academic and athlete, offering many perspectives on the world. "The Book of Water" is a fine addition to contemporary poetry collections, highly recommended.

Revisited
Scott F. Parker
North Star Press of St. Cloud, Inc.
PO Box 451, St. Cloud, MN 56302
9780878395910, $9.95, www.northstarpress.com

The songs and lyrics of Bob Dylan are known to everyone, even those who don't know who Bob Dylan is. "Revisited: Notes On Bob Dylan" is a collection of poetry exploring the work and creations of the famed lyricist and his unique poetry turned music, and Scott F. Parker tries to understand his work in his own way. "Revisited" is a unique dedicated, much recommended. "The Cover of Empire Burlesque Is So Distinctly of the '80s": that I can't help but think about what I was doing/instead of protecting myself from failure/by hanging up my hope for the future and/putting on the expensive jacket of materialistic nihilism/and calling it maturity or being realistic/or some other wretched, cowardly thing: learning://right and left, how to appreciate a burrito,/and the patience it takes to draw a good flower.

Our Andromeda
Brenda Shaughnessy
Copper Canyon Press
PO Box 271
Port Townsend, WA 98368
9781556594106, $16.00, www.coppercanyonpress.org

We only get one chance, but imagining if we could have another always makes us wonder. "Our Andromeda" is a collection of poetry from Brenda Shaughnessy, who explores the possibilities of a second chance in life and what could come of it. Enticing and thoughtful, "Our Andromeda" is a fine addition to contemporary poetry shelves, recommended. "Family Trip": We never knew closer/sister, stronger trees,/tighter clans, wilder/ fires. Where can we/go if not to each other,/resenting every step.


The American History Shelf

The Poorhouse, second edition
Devereux Bowly, Jr.
Southern Illinois University Press
1915 University Press Drive
SIUC Mail Code 6806, Carbondale, IL 62901
www.siupress.com
9780809330522, $29.95, www.amazon.com

Urban government subsidized housing for low income families was originally conceived as a reform effort and is an adopted policy by most large metropolitan 20th Century American cities. Chicago was one of the earliest experiments in this field. Unfortunately, public housing meant to upgrade the standard of living for the poor and the working class has resulted in unintended adverse consequences for its residents and the larger community. "The Poorhouse: Subsidized Housing in Chicago" by Chicago history and architecture expert Devereux Bowley, Jr., is a 288-page compendium providing a comprehensively detailed historical study of subsidized housing in the Chicago from 1895 down to the present time. Now in a newly updated and expanded second edition, "The Poorhouse" includes the decline and federal takeover of the Chicago Housing Authority, the demolition of the family high-rise buildings, and the replacement of earlier public high-rise family housing blocks with low-rise mixed income housing. Enhanced with 172 illustrations, extensive notations, and a comprehensive index, "The Poorhouse" is an impressive work of analytical historical scholarship and a highly recommended addition to governmental and academic library Urban Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Contested Territories
Charles Beatty-Medina & Melissa Rinehart, eds.
Michigan State University Press
1405 South Harrison Road, Suite 25
East Lansing, MI 48823-5245
www.msupress.msu.edu
9781611860450, $39.95, www.amazon.com

Originally known as the Northwest Territory, the French, English, and later American traders and settlers of the 18th up through the mid-19th century encountered a diverse, complex, and sophisticated web of Native American communities. These encounters were sometimes peaceful, but often contested and violent. The collaborative editorial project of Charles Beatty-Medina (Associate Professor of History, University of Toledo) and Melissa Rinehart (Visiting Assistant Professor of Anthropology, Miami University-Middletown), "Contested Territories: Native Americans and Non-Natives in the Lower Great Lakes, 1700-1850" is a 256 page compendium comprised of seven scholarly contributions by experts in their fields who descriptively present analytical overviews of the evolving cultural dynamics of the region with special attention to political organization, economics, subsistence methods, religion, and kinship practices among the Native Americans. A model of seminal scholarship, "Contested Territories: Native Americans and Non-Natives in the Lower Great Lakes, 1700-1850" is strongly recommended for academic library American History reference collections in general, and Native American Studies supplemental reading lists in particular.

Journey Through America
Wolfgang Koeppen
Berghahn Books
150 Broadway, Suite 812, NY, NY 10038
www.berghahnbooks.com
9780857452313, $29.95, www.amazon.com

The late Wolfgang Koeppen (1906-1996) is one of the best known German authors of the postwar period. His most acclaimed novels include: Pigeons on the Grass (1951), The Hothouse (1953) and Death in Rome (1954). In 1958, Wolfgang Koeppen toured the United States recording his observations. The result is an insightful and engaging treatise on America's major cities, cultures, racial relations, symbols, myths, and images -- all from a distinctly mid-20th century European perspective. Originally published in German as "Amerikafahrt", Wolfgang Koeppen's work is now translated into English (and furnished with an informative introduction) by Michael Kimmage (Associate Professor of History, Catholic University of America) and published by Berghahn Books as "Journey Through America". This deftly translated, 172-page compendium is a highly recommended addition to academic library 20th Century American History & Culture reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Tracking the Texas Rangers: The Nineteenth Century
Bruce A. Glasrud and Harold J. Weiss, Jr., editors
University of North Texas Press
PO Box 311336
Denton, TX 76203-1336
9781574414653 $29.95 www.unt.edu/untpress

Tracking the Texas Rangers: The Nineteenth Century collects sixteen previously published articles and chapter excerpts from a diversity of learned authors, revealing the complex and sometimes controversial history of the Texas Rangers during the 1800's. Accessible to historians and lay reader alike, Tracking the Texas Rangers covers the Rangers' formative early years, the Comanche Raid of 1840, their use of Colt revolvers, their organization and culture, and much more. Tracking the Texas Rangers provides not only a rounded portrait of not only the Rangers' history, but also their societal impact, how pop culture viewed them, and their long-term legacy. Individual writings include "'Rip' Ford's Indian Fight on the Canadian", "Rangers and Mounties Defending the Cattleman's Empire", "The Struggle for the Individual and the Union, 1888-1903", and much more. A timeline, bibliography, and index round out this "must-read" for anyone curious to learn more about the Texas Rangers!

The American Dream
Lawrence R. Samuel
Syracuse University Press
621 Skytop Road, Suite 110
Syracuse, NY 13244-5290
9780815610076, $24.95, www.SyracuseUniversityPress.syr.edu

The concept of the American Dram is an integral part of American culture. "The American Dream: A Cultural History" is Lawrence R. Samuel, a cultural historian and his analysis of the mythology of the American Dream and what it means to the common man throughout American history since the term was christened in 1931. Looking at cultural elements and discussing the varying reality of that dream, "The American Dream" is a strong pick for American history and cultural studies collections, enthusiastically recommended.

From Sit-Ins to SNCC
Iwan Morgan & Philip Davies
University of Florida
15 Northwest 15th Street
Gainesville, FL 32611-2079
9780813041513, $69.95, www.upf.com

Every generation seeks to change the world in their own way. "From Sit-Ins to SNCC: The Student Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s" discusses the efforts of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee or the SNCC, and how they helped push for African American Civil Rights during the tumultuous 1960s. Looking at the origins of grassroots student activism in the period, the structure of these organizations, the collision with the White-dominated South, and other endeavors that helped push towards African American rights and equality during the period. A scholarly breakdown on how the college generation can make a major impact and change everything, "From Sit-Ins to SNCC" is a must for any American history or Black Studies collection.

Clash of Eagles
Carol Lea Clark
The Lyons Press
246 Goose Lane
Guilford, CT 06437
9780762778423, $22.95, www.lyonspress.com

Early America tried to reach out internationally, and it didn't exclude now defunct entities like the Ottoman Empire. "Clash of Eagles: American's Forgotten Expedition to Ottoman Palestine" delves into this oft-forgotten entry in American history. In the 1840s, an American expedition was sent East towards modern Palestine and Israel. Lt. William Francis Lynch led the expedition, and author Carol Lea Clark presents the story of this unusual journey and what it really meant for America during its conflict with Mexico, and what can be learned from it today. "Clash of Eagles" is a strong addition to any American history collection, looking for elaborations of the lesser known incidents in its two hundred fifty year existence.

The Baron in the Grand Canyon
Steven Rowan
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Boulevard
Columbia, MO 65201
9780826219824, $45.00, www.umsystem.edu/upress

The American west was mapped by many, but one particular adventurer made his impact known. "The Baron in the Grand Canyon: Friedrich Wilhelm von Egloffstein in the West" tells the story of German cartographer and explorer who did much of mapping the vast western half of the United States. Telling his life story of coming from Germany, and detailing his life using sources from across the globe, "The Baron in the Grand Canyon" is a scholarly take on the man and his work, a fine study of history with photography and imagery all throughout to enhance the study.

Room 306
Ben Kamin
Michigan State University Press
1405 South Harrison Road, Suite 25
East Lansing, MI 48823-5245
9781611860498, $24.95, www.msupress.msu.edu

The Death of Dr. King was a blow for civil rights, but his death helped in some ways his life could not have. "Room 306: The National Story of the Lorraine Motel" tells the story surrounding the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King as many figures offer their insights on the on the impact of the event, from a personal perspective to the place of the civil rights movement after his fall. "Room 306" gives many intriguing perspectives on the impact of Dr. King and how his death spurred his life's goals.


The World History Shelf

London: A History
Jeremy Black
Carnegie Publishing
c/o International Publishers Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
www.internationalpubmarket.com
9781859361726, $31.95, www.amazon.com

"London: A History" by Jeremy Black is a 440-page, illustrated compendium of the history of England's single most important and universally identifiable metropolitan city. Originally founded by the Romans to serve as their capital, "London: A History" continues the city's history under Anglo-Saxon rule (410-1066); the city's medieval era (1066-1485); city life under the Tutors (1485-1603); under the kingship of the Stuarts (1603-1714); the city as the heart of the globe spanning British Empire (1714-1815); as a 'World City' (1815-1914; the decline of the city's international influence (1914-1945); and the city's modern era (1945-2010). Of special note is the concluding chapter 'Into the Future" and the author's 'Postscript: The Biography of a City". Informed and informative, "London: A History" is enhanced with the inclusion of copious notes and references, an extensive bibliography for further study, a list of included illustrations, and a comprehensive index. An impressive work of meticulous scholarship, "London: A History" is highly recommended for community and academic library World History and British History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

The Course of Irish History, fifth edition
T. W. Moody, F. X. Martin, & Dermot Keogh, editors
Roberts Rinehart Publishers
c/o Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200
Lanham, MD 20706
9781570984495, $19.95, www.rlpgbooks.com

Ireland has had a tumultuous history, but many call their origin their and seek to understand their heritage. "The Course of Irish History" is a collection of passages covering the many periods of the Irish history, from the earliest settlers to the modern crises, added with the fifth edition. A comprehensive study of Irish events and the people who made them happen, "The Course of Irish History" is very much informative history for those who want to fully understand the culture and how it was forged.

In Defence of The Terror
Sophie Wahnich
Verso
20 Jay Street, 10th Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11201-8346
9781844678624, $19.95, www.versobooks.com

The Terror led to mass executions to those loyal to the Royalist cause during the French Revolution. "In Defence of the Terror: Liberty or Death in the French Revolution" explores the implications of the Terror, a major event that usually shades the French Revolution's place in history. Sophie Wahnich presents a different take on the period, and why the mass executions may have been politically necessary, and the parallels that can be drawn to today's crises. "In Defence of the Terror" is an intriguing take on modern social issues and history, well worth considering. Also from Verso on the subject of politics and international affairs, "Irregular Army: How the US Military Recruited Neo-Nazis, Gang Members, and Criminals to Fight the War On Terror" (9781844678808, $26.95), discussing how the US Military may have recruited racial extremists for its international conflicts.

The Greek Library Of Saints John And Paul (San Zanipolo) At Venice
Donald F. Jackson
ACMRS
Arizona State University
PO Box 874402, Tempe, AZ 85287-4402
http://acmrs.org/publications
9780866984393, $45.00, www.amazon.com

A painstaking work of original and seminal scholarship, "The Greek Library Of Saints John And Paul (San Zanipolo) At Venice" descriptively compiled by academician and Medieval Classics expert Donald F. Jackson is a 92-page compendium reconstructing the single most important collection of Greek manuscripts housed in the city of Venice around 1500 A.D. This particular collection was signally important to Renaissance era scholars. Of special note is a listing of the 'Zanipolo Manuscripts Acquired Late'; a 'Concordance of Manuscript References'; an 'Index of Greek Authors and Subjects', making "The Greek Library Of Saints John And Paul (San Zanipolo) At Venice" a very strongly recommended core addition to academic library Medieval and Renaissance Studies reference collections.

Churchill's War Lab
Taylor Downing
The Overlook Press
141 Wooster Street
New York, NY 10012
9781590208519, $20.00, www.overlookpress.com

Science is behind every modern military victory. "Churchill's War Lab: Code-Breakers, Scientists, and the Mavericks Churchill Led to Victory" tells the story of Winston Churchill, famed British Prime Minister during World War II, and how his unique leadership style allowed Britain to stay competitive in the close and combative conflicts with Nazi Germany. The advances of the period, made to protect Britain with military might, helped lead the way in the post war years in its recovery. "Churchill's War Lab" is an important look at the power of science in warfare and in peacetime, and how one man can make it go that much further.

The Complete Roman Legions
Nigel Pollard & Joanne Berry
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10110-0017
980500251836, $39.95, www.thamesandhudsonusa.com

Their discipline almost allowed them to conquer the known world. "The Complete Roman Legions" tells the story of one of history's most elite fighting forces. Throughout Europe and the Middle East, their power was known for hundreds of years, but their might was not unmatchable, facing shameful defeat on multiple occasions. Drawing on archeological and historical study, this highly illustrated and graphed guide presents a very useful study reference or serves as an excellent coffee table book for those with a strong interest in the history of the legionnaires. "The Complete Roman Legions" is not to be overlooked, enthusiastically recommended.

The Handy History Answer Book, third edition
David L. Hudson, Jr.
Visible Ink Press
43311 Joy Road #414, Canton, MI 48187-2075
9781578593729, $21.95, www.handyanswers.com

The world's history is vast, and often quite difficult to fully comprehend. "The Handy History Answer Book" is a trivia book of world history from David L. Hudson as he explores the deep end of the history from prehistory to the modern era, answering questions from deep history with a decent focus on American history and how its code of laws came into full prominence. "The Handy History Answer Book" is filled with photos throughout, a pick well worth considering.

Hitler's Plans for Global Domination
Jochen Thies
Berghahn Books
150 Broadway, Suite 812
New York, NY 10038
9780857454621, $39.95, www.berghahnbooks.com

The Nazi War Machine would not be satisfied with Europe alone. "Hitler's Plans for Global Domination: Nazi Architecture & Ultimate War Aims" explores the grand plan for the Third Reich and Hitler's ultimate dreams of a world under his heel. When victory seemed like a very near reality in 1940, he began to lay out his expanded plans, including a pre-emptive strike on New York City. "Hitler's Plans for Global Domination" explores a what-if scenario surrounding the continued wartime success of Nazi Germany.


The Money/Finance Shelf

Moods and Markets
Peter Atwater
FT Press
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780132947213, $39.99, www.mcp.com

There's a certain feel to even the most rigid of sciences. "Mood and Markets: A New Way to Invest in Good Times and in Bad" is a guide to understanding themes of the markets and how to understand the feel of the moods of the market and society to better understand when booms will come and when times we grow tough, taking cues from much of modern culture in example. "Mood and Markets" is a strong recommendation for those who want to better understand the human impact on economics as a whole, highly recommended.

What's Your Rate?
Mark Maiocca
Advantage Publishers Group
PO Box 1090
Poway, CA 92074-1090
9781599323411, $16.99, www.pgw.com

Buying a home is a huge financial endeavor, one not to be made lightly. "What's Your Rate?: How to Buy a Home and Secure Your Financial Future at the Same Time" is a comprehensive guide for those who want to approach buying their first home wisely, knowing all the hurdles that may be ahead of someone in this complex process, an dhow to do it without finding oneself in inescapable debt, and how to make it last a lifetime. "What's Your Rate?" is filled with plenty of wise financial advice that shouldn't be overlooked, highly recommended.


The Nautical Shelf

Fatal Dive
Peter F. Stevens
Regnery Publishing, Inc.
One Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20001
9781596987678 $24.95 www.regnery.com

Award-winning writer and journalist Peter F. Stevens presents Fatal Dive: Solving the World War II Mystery of the USS Grunion, which investigates the mystery of an American submarine and her seventy-man that vanished beneath the waves in 1942, never to surface again. How and why was the submarine lost? The family of Commander Jim Abele relentless searched for the truth; money was no object as they sought the lost submarine, as well as information from the Japanese naval officers who were the last to see it. More than sixty years after the Grunion's end, its remains were discovered. Fatal Dive seeks to reconstruct the events leading up to the Grunion's end, as well as pay tribute to the men aboard it who gave their lives to serve their country; an appendix gives a brief biography each crewman, illustrated with black-and-white photographs. Highly recommended, especially for public and college library nautical history shelves.

Imperial Crossroads
Jeffrey R. Macris & Saul Kelly, editors
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road
Annapolis, MD 21402
9781591144892, $34.95, www.navalinstitute.org

The cradle of civilization has been jewel of the crown of many empires. "Imperial Crossroads: The Great Powers and the Persian Gulf" looks at the history behind the Persian Gulf and how many nations throughout history have made their mark on the seas, up to the modern day. Although colonialism has not been as prevalent, but the importance of the region is felt strongly in trade. Each chapter discusses the past, present, and potential futures of the Gulf, and makes for an interesting study of international relations. "Imperial Crossroads" is a fine addition to nautical history collections, highly recommended.

Child of the Sea
Doina Cornell
Cornell Sailing Publications
c/o Paradise Cay
PO Box 29, Arcata, CA 95518-0029
9780955639692, $19.95, www.cornellsailing.com

Growing up at sea, Doina Cornell didn't exactly get the most normal of upbringings. "Child of the Sea" is a nautical memoir from Cornell as she shares her experience of being raised by sailing icon Jimmy Cornell and spending much of her young life yacht sailing, seeing countless countries and experiencing a very different view of the world. Touching on her unique isolation from other children, "Child of the Sea" is an enticing twist on the memoir, much recommended reading.


The Automotive Shelf

High-Performance GM LS-Series Cylinder Head Guide
David Grasso
CarTech
39966 Grand Avenue, North Branch, MN 55056
9781934709900, $24.95, www.cartechbooks.com

For those who want to get the next level of performance out of their vehicle, you need to optimize every part of it. "High-Performance GM LS-Series Cylinder Head Guide" is a guide to maximizing this aspect of the performance of their vehicle, as David Grasso gives a comprehensive overview of the many auto parts, evaluating their performance with easy to follow graphs and charts. For anyone who wants to get the most out of their vehicle, "High Performance GM LS-Series Cylinder Head Guide" is an excellent reference to consider when approaching the advanced stage of their plans, recommended.


The Environmental Studies Shelf

The Political Economy Of Environmental Justices
H. Spencer Banzhaf, editor
Stanford Economics and Finance
c/o Stanford University Press
1450 Page Mill Road
Palo Alto, CA 94304-1124
www.sup.org
9780804780612, $60.00, www.amazon.com

All environmental issues have economic impacts. Often those same environmental issues will have ethical and moral implications as well. Knowledgeably compiled and deftly edited by H. Spencer Banzhaf (Associate Professor of Economics, Georgia State University), "The Political Economy of Environmental Justice" is a 296-page compendium comprised of ten informed and informative articles by economic experts addressing environmental issues. These scholarly contributions are organized into four major sections: Household Behavior and Land Markets: Theoretical Considerations; Household Behavior and Land Markets: Empirical Explorations; The Behavior of Polluting Firms; and Governmental Regulation and Enforcement. Of special note is a Postscript by Terry l. Anderson: 'Who Owns the Environment?'. Enhanced with the inclusion of a comprehensive index, "The Political Economy of Environmental Justice" is an impressive body of seminal scholarship and very highly recommended for professional and academic library Environmental Studies and Economic Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Simulation Of Ecological And Environmental Models
Miguel F. Acevedo
CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300
Boca Raton, FL 33487
www.crcpress.com
9781439885062, $99.95, www.amazon.com

Environmental research and studies have long been dependent upon computer simulations as a way of understanding environmental, ecological, and human-nature interaction impacts. "Simulation Of Ecological And Environmental Models" is a 486-page textbook which shows how to implement simulations and analyze the results using an open-source software platform. Organized into three major sections: Introduction, Mathematical Review, and Software Fundamentals; One-Dimensional Models and Fundamentals of Modeling Methodology; and Multidimensional Models: Structured Populations, Communities, and Ecosystems, "Simulation Of Ecological And Environmental Models" Offers a wealth of computer examples and exercises, as well as an open-source R package developed by academician and author Miguel F. Acevedo, which enables the reader to quickly produce simulations and explore the effects of changing conditions in the model. Informed, informative, practical, and a seminal work of detailed scholarship, "Simulation Of Ecological And Environmental Models" provides a comprehensive, unified presentation of ecological and environmental models making it an invaluable and highly recommended addition to academic library Environmental Studies reference collections and as primary curriculum textbook selection.

Tidal Marsh Restoration
Charles T. Roman & David M. Burick, editors
Island Press
1718 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 300
Washington, DC 20009-1148
9781597265768, $50.00, www.islandpress.org

The Marshes are biospheres with great diversity. "Tidal Marsh Restoration: A Synthesis of Science and Management" explores the advances in the attempts to restore damaged salt marshes that have been reduced in number through human excesses. The process requires a union of science, public policy, and engineering to oversee the entire process. Many writers come together to give a scholarly review on these elements on how they have succeeded and failed throughout the world. With a great amount of information, charts, and graphs spread throughout, "Tidal Marsh Restoration" is a scholarly take on this international project, highly recommended.

Rooftop Revolution
Danny Kennedy
Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc.
235 Montgomery Street, Suite 650
San Francisco, CA 94104-2916
9781609946647, $17.95, www.bkconnection.com

The planet can only take so much abuse from us. "Rooftop Revolution: How Solar Power Can Save Our Economy -- and Our Planet -- from Dirty Energy" discusses the future of alternative energy and how it can save America in more than one way. Danny Kennedy believes that fully embracing alternative energy will create a sustainable solution for not only the environment, but the economy as well. With a foreword from retired General Wesley Clark, "Rooftop Revolution" is a must for environmental issues collections.

May the Rivers Never Sleep
Bill & John McMillan
Frank Amato Publications
PO Box 82112
Portland, OR 97282
9781571884800, $49.95, www.amatobooks.com

The rivers of the pacific northwest have a certain wonder to them. "May the Rivers Never Sleep" is a guide to the environment and region as conservation activists Bill & John McMillan, Father and Son, come together in their love of nature's splendor, and grant their perspectives on the wide variety of aquatic and landbound life that relies on the river for survival. "May the Rivers Never Sleep" is a choice pick for environmental studies collections focusing on North America's Pacific Northwest region, highly recommended.


The Dance Shelf

The Pointe Book, third edition
Janice Barringer & Sarah Schlesinger
Princeton Book Company
614 Route 130
Highstown, NJ 08520
9780871273550, $27.95, www.dancehorizons.com

Dancing can be a very strenuous activity, with more danger for injuries than many truly realize. "The Pointe Book: Shoes, Training, Technique" is the third edition that fully explores the dance, focusing on the pointe, and the shoes designed for assisting dancers in striking the pose with more technique and effect. Drawing from the expertise of many ballet masters, "The Pointe Book" is a strong pick for any dance reference collection where the pointe is central to the technique.


The Women's Studies Shelf

Amazons: A Love Story
E. J. Levy
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Boulevard
Columbia, MO 65201
9780826219756, $24.95, www.umsystem.edu/upress

The legend of the Amazon warrior has become a popular myth for the fiercely independent woman to face the world. E. J. Levy would need all of that strength. "Amazons: A Love Story" is a memoir from E. J. Levy who explores her personal expedition into the Brazilian city of Salvador and its surrounding natural environs, the and rude awakening into her adulthood she faced, facing personal tragedy and struggles as a feminist in a very different world. Discussing much surrounding the region from the serious social issues that dwell within to the strong environmental issues that are vital to the region. Enlightening and gripping reading that combines important issues with a personal journey, "Amazons: A Love Story" is a strong addition to any personal memoir collection with a focus on international social and environmental issues.

Being Fruitful Without Multiplying
Patricia Yvette, Renee Ann, Janice Lynne
Coffee Town Press
PO Box 70515, Seattle, WA 98127
9781603811552, $14.95, www.coffeetownpress.com

To abandon motherhood is a decision not fully accepted by much of society. "Being Fruitful Without Multiplying" is a collection of memoir and thoughts on the idea of going child-free in one's life, as many women come out and discuss their decision to not choose motherhood, and the other ways they have chosen to impact the world, through step-parenthood, adoption, or other ideas. As the women, and a few men as well present their ideas, "Being Fruitful Without Multiplying" is well worth considering for those who want to understand the child-free lifestyle.


The Gaming Shelf

No-Limit Tournament Hold'em
Avery Cardoza
Cardoza Publishing
5473 South Eastern Avenue
Las Vegas, NV 89119
www.cardozapub.com
9781580422468, $14.95

I've been playing online almost daily with ClubWPT for the past year and a half. I've been playing twice weekly in live tournaments in Madison, Wisconsin which are hosted by Badger Poker for almost six years. I've also had the privilege of reviewing many of the excellent instruction titles on Texas No-Limite Hold'em poker published by Cardoza Publishing over the years. So I speak with confidence when I say that Avery Cardoza's 224-page compendium, "No-Limit Tournament Hold'em" (the official World Series of Poker strategy guide) should be considered as an absolutely mandatory read for anyone wanting to play in a World Series of Poker event. Invaluable chapters range from 'The Mechanics of No-Limit Hold'em'; to 'How Tournaments Work'; to 'Tips on Managing Your Tournament Bankroll'. Of special note for World Series of Poker fans is 'Looking Back at the WSOP: 40+ Years of Exciting Growth and Gold Bracelets'. An informatively instructive and thoroughly 'user friendly' read from beginning to end, "No-Limit Tournament Hold'em" belongs on the personal reference shelf and priority reading lists of amateur leisure time poker players in general, and anyone aspiring to become a professional poker player on the WSOP circuit in particular!

Defend or Declare?
Julian Pottage
Master Point Press
331 Douglas Ave.
Toronto, ON Canada, M5M 1H2
9781897106884, $17.95, www.masterpointpress.com

Bridge takes a clear and thoughtful mind to succeed at. "Defend or Declare?: 72 Deals to Test Your Bridge Skill" is a bridge guide for those who want to better succeed at the game, as Julian Pottage presents 72 scenarios to challenge readers and invite them to improve their game and make the most of their hand. "Defend or Declare?" is a must for those who want to sharpen their bridge skills, very much recommended reading.


The Architecture Shelf

The Chapels of Notre Dame
Lawrence S. Cunningham & Matt Cashore
University of Notre Dame Press
310 Flanner Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556
www.undpress.nd.edu
9780268037352, $45.00, www.amazon.com

The University of Notre Dame is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, Indiana, The name of the university, "Notre Dame," is French meaning "Our Lady," a Catholic honorific salutation in reference to the Virgin Mary, the patron saint of the university. It was founded by Father Edward Sorin, CSC, who was also the school's first president. It was established as an all-male institution on November 26, 1842, on land donated by the Bishop of Vincennes, Indiana. The university first enrolled women undergraduates in 1972. As of 2012 about 47 percent of the student body was female. Due to Notre Dame's Catholic character many Holy Cross priests serve the school (most notably the president of the university), its explicit commitment to the Christian faith, numerous ministries funded by the school, and the architecture around campus, especially the Main Building's gold dome topped by a golden statue of St. Mary, a replica of the Lourdes grotto, the 134-foot-tall (41 m) mosaic of Christ on the side of the Hesburgh Library (entitled "The Word of Life," but often referred to as 'Touchdown Jesus' because of his upraised arms and proximity to the stadium), and the ornate Basilica of the Sacred Heart, along with numerous chapels, statuary and religious iconography. What is less familiar to the general public is that Note Dame is also home to an impressive number of beautifully constructed chapels -- several of which are to be found in relatively obscure locations around the campus. "The Chapels Of Notre Dame" is a 152-page compendium comprised of the superb full color photography of Matt Cashore, enhanced with the informative commentary of Lawrence S. Cunningham as each of Notre Dame's chapels are perfectly showcased in a truly beautiful coffee-table volume that would grace the table and enhanced the library collection of anyone or any institution with an interest in the subject.

Entre
Carlos Teixeira
Artifice
10a Acton Street
London, England, WC1X 9NG
www.artificebooksonline.com
9781907317781, $29.95, www.amazon.com

Carlos M Teixeira is an architect and founder of the studio Vazio S/A. In Portuguese, the word "entre", means "in-between" and conjures up notations that far exceed its English equivalent. Now translated into English, Compiled with commentary by Carlos Teixeira, "Entre" is a superbly illustrated, 384-page compendium showcasing the multi-disciplinary approach to Brazilian architecture as a platform for the performing arts as illustrated and represented through diverse architectural projects, including their distinctive elements including the physical, the spatial, and the temporal. Unique and a seminal work in its own right, "Entre" is a very highly recommended contribution for professional and academic library Architectural Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Autism Shelf

The Incredible 5-Point Scale, second edition
Kari Dunn Buron & Mitzi Curtis
AAPC Publishing
PO Box 23173, Shawnee Mission, KS 66283
9781937473075, $19.95, www.aapcpublishing.net

Being able to express oneself emotionally is very important. "The Incredible 5-Point Scale: The Significantly Improved and Expanded Second Edition" explores the five point scale as it's applied to many children's problems in their life, so they can understand what's appropriate and what's not and how to express themselves clearly, including how teachers and parents can correct it. Aimed at autistic children, some of the lessons within could be applied to general behavior as well. With a CD-ROM containing additional resources of scales and forms, "The Incredible 5-Point Scale" is worth considering for teacher's reference collections and any parent or teacher who has to deal with Autism.


The Geriatric Studies Shelf

Connecting with Socially Isolated Seniors
Patricia Osage
Health Professions Press
PO Box 10624
Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
9781932529739, $32.95, www.healthpropress.com

Loneliness is a fear held by many seniors. "Connecting with Socially Isolated Seniors: A Service Provider's Guide" discusses how to reach out for this seniors who may be drifting away into their own shells for the last few decades of their life. There are many factors that lead to seniors to withdraw themselves from society, stemming from depression of loss of loved ones, lack of romance, health, and other issues. Full color and filled with photography, "Connecting with Socially Isolated Seniors" is a strong reference for anyone looking after seniors, highly recommended.


The Mathematics Shelf

Mathematics Minus Fear
Lawrence Potter
Pegasus Books
80 Broad Street,5th Floor
New York, NY 10004
9781605983769, $24.95, www.pegasusbooks.com

Far too many people are intimidated by fear in their lives. "Mathematics Minus Fear: How to Make Math Fun and Beneficial to Your Everyday Life" is a guide for mastering mathematics to flourish in many topics in everyday life, from gambling to games to even the chances of survival. Along with plenty of curious facts of math and its history and how it still reigns today, "Mathematics Minus Fear" is full of curious trivia and humor for anyone who doesn't want to fear the big numbers entering their lives.

Optimal Control With Applications In Space And Quantum Dynamics
Bernard Bonnard & Dominique Sugny
American Institute of Mathematical Sciences
PO Box 2604, Springfield, MO 65801-2604
9781601330130, $60.00, www.amazon.com

In physics, quantum dynamics is the quantum version of classical dynamics. Quantum dynamics deals with the motions, and energy and momentum exchanges of systems whose behavior is governed by the laws of quantum mechanics. Quantum dynamics is relevant for burgeoning fields, such as quantum computing and atomic optics. In mathematics, quantum dynamics is the study of the mathematics behind quantum mechanics. Specifically, as a study of dynamics, this field investigates how quantum mechanical observables change over time. Most fundamentally, this involves the study of one-parameter automorphisms of the algebra of all bounded operators on the Hilbert space of observables (which are self-adjoint operators). These dynamics were understood as early as the 1930s, after Wigner, Stone, Hahn and Hellinger worked in the field. Recently, mathematicians in the field have studied irreversible quantum mechanical systems on von Neumann algebras. Volume Five in the outstanding American institute of Mathematical Sciences 'AIMS on Applied Mathematics', "Optimal Control with Applications in Space and Quantum Dynamics" is the collaborative work of Bernard Bonnard and Dominique Sugny (with the assistance of the editorial team of Benedetto Piccoli, Jose Antonio Carrillo de la Plata, Alessio Figalli, Kenneth Karlsen, James Keener, and Thaleia Zariphopoulou). This 283 page monograph is the combined result of two seminal research projects and focuses upon relevant geometric optimal control theory applied to control engineering. A model of scholarship and enhanced with reference notes and a comprehensive index, ""Optimal Control with Applications in Space and Quantum Dynamics" is strongly recommended as a core addition to professional and academic library Applied Mathematics reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Library Science Shelf

The E-Copyright Handbook
Paul Pedley
Facet Publishing
9781856048279, $49.95, www.facetpublishing.co.uk

Copyright law grows difficult to understand in the digital era. "The E-Copyright Handbook" is a guide for librarians, about the ins and outs of modern copyright in the digital and online era, which concerns the libraries branching into digital catalogs greatly. From the current debates that rage over the rights, e-books and ownership, wikis, creative commons, and other terms that often make copyright law difficult to fully understand. A scholarly and comprehensive reference, "The E-Copyright Handbook" is an absolute must for any librarian who wants to make sure their libraries legal matters are all in order.

The Newbery & Caldecott Awards
American Library Association
ALA Editions
c/o American Library Association
50 East Huron Street
Chicago, IL 60611
9780838936016, $27.00, www.alastore.ala.org

When you are shot on space in your library, it's important to make sure to get the best. "The Newbery & Caldecott Awards" is an updated guide to the award winners of the best children's literature in the past seventy plus years, analyzing the importance and value of these awards. Providing a summary for each winner as well as the honored books alongside them, "The Newbery & Caldecott Awards" is a strong and much recommended pick for library science reference collections, highly recommended.


The Economic Studies Shelf

The Good, The Bad, and The Economy
Louis Putterman
Langdon Street Press
212 3rd Avenue North, Suite 290
Minneapolis, MN 55401
9781938296017, $17.95, www.langdonstreetpress.com

There have been many utopian theories of economics, but the human element is often the most volatile one. "The Good, The Bad, and the Economy: Does Human Nature Rule Out a Better World?" discusses the economy and its failures due to the human natures in many economic systems, as Louis Putterman holds that human nature is often the biggest obstacle to a better tomorrow. With plenty to ponder on the ideas of human nature and inequality, "The Good, The Bad, and the Economy" is a solid and very much recommended read for social issues collections.

Devaluing to Prosperity
Surjit S. Bhalla
Peterson Institute for International Economics
1750 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036-1903
9780881326239, $19.95, www.piie.com

An economy flourishes or flounders on the strength of its currency. "Devaluing to Prosperity: Misaligned Currencies and Their Growth Consequences" is a scholarly study of currencies and their growth or lack their of. Author Surjit S. Bhalla applies his vast economic expertise to analyze the history of the world's currencies, the events leading up to our current problems, the place of globalization, and an informed out look on our future. "Devaluing to Prosperity" is a core addition to any community or college economic studies library collection, not to be overlooked.


The Literary Studies Shelf

The Green Thoreau
Carol Spenard LaRusso, editor
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
9781608681433, $14.00, www.newworldlibrary.com

Environmentalism isn't a modern invention, there have been strong opinions about preserving America's natural treasures for centuries. "The Green Thoreau: America's First Environmentalist on Technology, Possessions, Livelihood, and More" discusses the birth of American environmentalism from famed nineteenth century author Henry David Thoreau, who wrote much on nature, and how his writings still hold strong even today. Editor Carol Spenard LaRusso compiles Thoreau's work well for modern audiences. "The Green Thoreau" is a strong pick for a more complete literary understanding of Thoreau and his strong desires for a well guarded environment.


The Law/Justice Shelf

Privacy & Libel Law
Paul Tweed
Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315
New York, NY 10010
9781847669025, $30.00, www.bloomsbury.com

More than ever, people can know that the celebrities of the world are doing. "Privacy & Libel Law: The Clash with Press Freedom" analyzes the role of law in today's rising debate over libel and concerns over privacy, and the heavy influence of lobbyists into this debate, focusing not only on concerns in America, but as well as the United Kingdom and other areas of the world. Deftly analyzing the laws of privacy and the developments on both sides of the debate, "Privacy & Libel Law" is a core addition to law and social issues collections, recommended.


The Psychology Shelf

Coaching for Resilience
Adrienne Green & John Humphrey
Kogan Page USA
1518 Walnut Street, Suite 1100
Philadelphia, PA 19102
9780749466459, $39.95, www.koganpageusa.com

Inspiration doesn't come from shouting down and belittling one's workers. "Coaching for Resilience: A Practical Guide to Using Positive Psychology" is a guide to business coaching and success, on how to coach oneself to a positive mindset and use that mindset to spread through the work place for better productivity down the line. With plenty of tips for building a positive psychology and practical exercises on many levels, "Coaching for Resilience" is a strong addition for business psychology and management collections, highly recommended. Also from Kogan Page in human resources management is "The Professional Recruiter's Handbook: Delivering Excellence in Recruitment Practice" (9780749465414, $39.95), outlining the techniques in hiring employees that fit a business like a glove.


The Language Studies Shelf

Runes: A Handbook
Michael P. Barnes
Boydell Press
c/o Boydell & Brewer Inc
668 Mount Hope Avenue
Rochester, NY 14620-2731
www.boydellandbrewer.com
9781843837787 $80.00

Accessible to readers of all backgrounds, Runes: A Handbook is a solid reference and resource to this early alphabetic writing system, used especially among Germanic peoples to write various languages, including Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian idioms. Runic inscriptions ranged from memorials to Christian prayers to ordinary messages and even early graffiti; they were carved into stone, wood, bone, metal, and any other hard surface that would receive them. Runes: A Handbook covers the origins and diversification of runes, how they were made, how they evolved through the centuries, their readings and interpretations, and much more. It should be emphasized that Runes: A Handbook is emphatically a user-friendly scholarly reference and resource for language studies shelves, not a metaphysical book of any kind. Highly recommended, especially for college library language studies and reference collections.

The Painted Word
Phil Cousineau
Viva Editions
2246 Sixth Street
Berkeley, CA 94710-2219
9781936740178, $16.95, www.vivaeditions.com

The English language has been far from pure, as speakers have taken languages from anything and everything they encounter. "The Painted Word: A Treasure Chest of Remarkable Words and Their Origins" explores the origins of many words we use, and their evolution throughout history. From compound words that become simply words, loan words, and how words lost all meaning to pick up another one entirely. "The Painted Word" is a worthy addition to any language studies reference collection, recommended.

composing(media) = composing(embodiment)
Kristin L. Arola & Anne Frances Wysocki, eds.
Utah State University Press
7800 Old Main Hill, Logan, Utah 84322
www.USUPress.org
9780874218800, $29.95, www.amazon.com

The new technology driven media (blogs, comics, Wikipedia, online maps, videos, games, digital interfaces, Pow Wow Regalia, etc.) has dramatically impacted upon human interactions and communications. Co-compiled and edited by Kristin L. Arola and Anne Frances Wysocki, "composing(media) = composing(embodiment)" is a 288-page compendium comprised of fourteen informed and informative contributions by expert commentators. Organized into two major sections ('Media = Embodiment' and 'Mediating Bodies ^ Mediated Bodies') with each section concluding with thematically appropriate 'Activities' for the reader to engage in, "composing(media) = composing(embodiment)" is an informed and informatively seminal work that is especially recommended for inclusion into academic library Language Arts & Rhetoric Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Holocaust Studies Shelf

Visualizing the Holocaust
David Bathrick, Brad Prager, Michael D. Richardson
Camden House
668 Mount Hope Avenue
Rochester, NY 14620-2731
9781571135421, $39.95, www.boydell.co.uk

The extent of atrocity that the Holocaust wrought can make it hard to comprehend. "Visualizing the Holocaust: Documents, Aesthetics, Memory" is a collection of essays about the events of the genocide, the discovery of photographs, memories and narratives, and the relics of these events. Within, they touch on topics surrounding the Nazi's great evil and how this new generation is approaching this sensitive topic as those who have personally experienced it dwindle in number. "Visualizing the Holocaust" is a strong pick for history collections focusing on World War II and the Holocaust.

We Are Their Voice
Kathy Kacer
Second Story Press
20 Maud Street, Suite 401
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5V 2M5
9781926920771, $16.95, www.secondstorypress.on.ca

The memory of the Holocaust fades as those who experienced it perish. "We Are Their Voice: Young People Respond to the Holocaust" is a collection of letters, essays, poetry, and other art that editor Kathy Kacer has put together from the submissions of middle school students during their own education in the Holocaust and its atrocity. An intriguing look on the Holocaust's impact on young mind, "We Are Their Voice" is a choice and highly recommended pick for Holocaust history collections.


The Aviation Shelf

Heroes and Landmarks of British Aviation
Richard Edwards & Peter J. Edwards
Pen & Sword Aviation
1848846452, $34.99, www.pen-and-sword.co.uk

The skies have been sought after by mankind, and Britain has always been on the forefront of the skies. "Heroes and Landmarks of British Aviation: From Airships to the Jet Age" explores the major figures throughout the past one hundred years who have assured Britain's prominence in the industry, from pioneers and innovators to ace pilots in peacetime and war. Races, new planes, the people and companies, these stories prove intriguing for those with a fascination in aviation. "Heroes and Landmarks of British Aviation" is a strong addition to general history and aviation collections, especially those with a focus on the United Kingdom.


The Anthropology Shelf

Hunter-Gatherer Behavior
Metin I. Eren
Left Coast Press, Inc.
1630 North Main Street, #400
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
9781598746020, $79.00, www.LCoastPress.com

Even in its infancy, humanity had strong impacts on its environment. "Hunter-Gatherer Behavior: Human Response during the Younger Dryas" discusses the historical global climate event of the 'Younger Dryas' and its effects on the human population at the end of the Pleistocene era. Looking at the changes in hunter-gatherer society as the climate changes, Metin I. Eren meets with other archeologists and anthropologists to provide a study of human behavior and how it adapted to new things. "Hunter-Gatherer Behavior" is a strong addition to any study of prehistory and early human behavior for community and college library collections, highly recommended.


The Civil War Shelf

"This Terrible Struggle for Life"
Thomas S. Hawley, M.D., author
Dennis W. Belcher, editor
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611
Jefferson NC 28640
9780786466580 $45.00 www.mcfarlandpub.com

"This Terrible Struggle for Life": The Civil War Letters of a Union Regimented Surgeon gathers the Civil War correspondence of Dr. Thomas S. Hawley, who served the Union Army for four and a half years after graduating from medical school. Hawley writes of his interactions with wounded Union soldiers, captured confederate soldiers, pro-Northern and pro-Southern civilians, freed slaves, and more. Perhaps most insightful is his accounting of the early Civil War in Missouri, the Vicksburg Campaign, the Battle of Tupelo and the Battle of Nashville. Editor Dennis W. Belcher adds an immense amount of historical context to Hawley's letters, interleaving plain-spoken descriptions of important events in Hawley's life and in the unfolding war that affected his correspondence. A handful of black-and-white photographs, chapter notes, and an index round out this excellent Civil War primary source testimonial, highly recommended especially for public and college library collections.


The Fashion Shelf

A Perfect Fit
Gabriel M. Goldstein & Elizabeth E. Greenberg
Texas Tech University Press
PO Box 41037, Lubbock, TX 79409-1037
www.ttupress.org
9780896727359, $49.95, www.amazon.com

The multibillion dollar American garment industry that we have today arose out of the 19th century 'rag trade' entrepreneurial business culture of Jewish tailors, cutters, pre4ssers, peddlers, and shopkeepers. The newest addition to the outstanding Texas Tech University Press 'Costume Society of America Series", and the collaborative editorial work of Gabriel Goldstein (for two decades a curator and specialist in Jewish art and material culture for the Yeshiva University Museum) and Elizabeth Greenberg (fashion historian and curator of fine arts, Siena College, Loudonville, New York), "A Perfect Fit: The Garment Industry and American Jewry, 1860-1960" is a profusely illustrated, 264 page compendium comprised of thirteen informed and informative essays by experts. A seminal work and a truly impressive body of original scholarship, "A Perfect Fit: The Garment Industry and American Jewry, 1860-1960" is enhanced with the inclusion of extensive notations, an extensive bibliography, and a comprehensive index, making it a highly recommended and core addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library American History reference collections in general, and American Fashion History supplemental reading lists in particular.

Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com

Design Museum is a museum by the River Thames near Tower Bridge in central London, England. The museum covers product, industrial, graphic, fashion and architectural design. It was founded in 1989 and justifiably claims to be the first museum of modern design. Fashion expert Paula Reed is the style director at fashion weekly publication 'Grazia'. Reed draws upon her many years of experience and expertise in fashion to author a profusely illustrated trilogy showcasing three decades of seminal fashion history. "Fifty Fashion Looks That Changed The 1950s" (9781840916034, $20.00); "Fifty Fashion Looks That Changed The 1960s" (9781840916041, $20.00); and "Fifty Fashion Looks That Changed The 1970s" (9781840916058, $20.00). Each 112 page compendium features informed and informative commentary on the iconic fashion designs and their influence upon the popular culture. Each of these hardcover editions is also available in a Kindle edition. Although each volume is available separately, professional, community, and academic libraries should acquired all three volumes as highly recommended, core contributions to their 20th Century Fashion History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Wisconsin Shelf

The Light Keeper's Legacy
Kathleen Ernst
Midnight Ink
2143 Wooddale Drive
Woodbury, MN 55125-2989
9780738733074, $14.99, www.midnightinkbooks.com

The Light houses were beacons of hope to many sailors, but in the modern day, they fill us with wonder of the past. "The Light Keeper's Legacy" is a mystery novel following Chloe Ellefson as she leaps at the opportunity to restore an old light house in Wisconsin. But when her project is derailed by a corpse washes up, she'll have to figure out the history of the light house before fulfilling her desire to bring the light house back into prominence. "The Light Keeper's Legacy" combines modern thrillers and Nautical history well, highly recommended.


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


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