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Reviewer's Choice
Space Pioneers In Their Own Words
Loretta Hall
Rio Grande Books
925 Salamanca NW, Los Ranchos, NM 87107
9781936744275 $39.95 www.LPDPress.com
Thoroughly accessible to readers of all backgrounds, Space Pioneers In Their Own Words is an
anthology of firsthand testimonies from ninety space pioneers, who describe their work in space
research and exploration from the 1940s up to the modern space shuttle program. Included are
extensive sections of the New Mexico Museum of Space History and International Space Hall of
Fame's oral history collections (annotated to shed light on historical context), and a handful of
historical black-and-white photographs. Space Pioneers In Their Own Words will prove
fascinating to anyone intrigued by this far-reaching field of research.
The Greatest Words You've Never Heard
Steven Kayser
Kayser Media Publishing
http://stevekayser.com
c/o News & Experts (publicity)
3748 Turman Loop, #101, Wesley Chapel, FL 33544
9781492705529 $14.99 www.newsandexperts.com
Award-winning writer Steven Kayser presents The Greatest Words You've Never Heard, an
anthology of brief, inspirational true tales about extraordinary individuals, from the genius
Nikola Tesla to reformed prisoner and cancer research executive Dr. Mark Whitacre, to military
men who sacrificed their lives to protect America, to the charismatic Native American leader
Tecumseh, who was a dangerous enemy to the U.S. government yet refuted the common tribal
practice of torturing or burying alive prisoners. Here are stories of people who suffered, who lost
family and friends, who faced down death, yet who found the inner courage to go on. "We have
crossed the boundary back from the systematic removal of the world's greatest genius [Marconi,
the "Father of Radio" among many other inventions] from the history books. And believe it or
not, it was mainly because he wasn't a good businessman. This man was altruistic - preferring to
better humanity's lot to improve living conditions for all human beings." The Greatest Words
You've Never Heard is uplifting, thought-provoking, and highly recommended.
Bright Lights of the Second City
Betsy Storm
Top Draw Communications
906 West Ainslie Street, Chicago, IL 60640
www.topdrawercommunicaitons.com
9780991417407, $19.95, 102pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: The 50 inspirational Chicagoans profiled in this portfolio provide a powerful catalyst
for jumpstarting or advancing one's own personal odyssey. These profiles, shared in the subjects'
own voices, reveal rarely explored facets of each gifted Chicagoan, including Congressman
Danny Davis; Bill Kurtis, broadcaster and documentarian; Ramsey Lewis, jazz legend; Captain
James Lovell, Apollo 13 astronaut; Martin Marty, PhD, theologian and author; and Kerry Wood,
former pitcher for the Chicago Cubs. "Bright Lights of the Second City: 50 Prominent
Chicagoans on Living with Passion and Purpose" explores these provocative questions: What
manner of influences and early-life events forged the development of these individuals? Who
challenged them to follow their passions, and how? Is it possible to identify the motivations that
enliven these movers and shakers, these midnight-oil burners who manage to make their
accomplishments look easy? (The answer is a resounding yes.) These intimate profiles
demonstrate how any one of us can leverage our life's lessons to achieve greater personal
successes, find and refine our passions, and achieve our goals.
Critique: Each of the showcased Chicagoans is featured with their black-and-white photograph
and the succinct one-page commentary is supplemented with a 'Favorites' box citing their
favorites, be they books, performers, quotations, movies, songs, places, poets, etc. Unique and
engaging, "Bright Lights of the Second City: 50 Prominent Chicagoans on Living with Passion
and Purpose" is a fascinating read. It would well serve as a template for similar projects for
prominent citizens of other major American cities. Highly recommended, it should be noted that
"Bright Lights of the Second City: 50 Prominent Chicagoans on Living with Passion and
Purpose" is also available in a Kindle edition ($7.99).
An Allegory of Divine Love
Marilyn Aronberg Lavin
Saint Joseph's University Press
5600 City Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19131-1395
www.sjupress.com
9780916101794, $85.00, 238pp., www.amazon.com
Synopsis: The Netherlandish Canticum Canticorum is a late 15th-century blockbook ordinarily
bound with larger, more impressive, and better known blockbooks, particularly the Biblia
Pauperum and the Speculum Humanae Salvationis. An Allegory of Divine Love offers the first
art-historical analysis of the Canticum Canticorum, Latin for Song of Songs, as an independent
work of art of the highest caliber: rather than the end of a long Gothic tradition, it is revealed as a
major work of Early Renaissance art, full of beautiful compositions, original ideas, and an
intellectual challenge to a devoted, reading public. This blockbook is composed of eight large
sheets of paper, stacked and gathered in the center to form sixteen folios, printed by hand rubbing
on one side only; there are four rectangular woodcut compositions involving haloed figures,
landscapes and interiors, on each opening, with thirty-two scenes in all.
As a blockbook, the Canticum's most salient feature is the fact that it has no printed
identification. The sheets bear no page-signatures or rubrics. The framed scenes contain no titles.
There is no commentary of any kind. The title page contains the words Canticum Canticorum,
but nothing more. In the rest of the book, verbal matter consists solely of Latin inscriptions that
appear in elaborately scrolling banderoles often as large as the figures. The verses quoted without
identification seemingly have been chosen at random since, in the sequence, they do not follow
the order of the biblical poem. But in fact, the characteristic of "order in disarray" relates to the
literary form known as the cento, a sophisticated literary mode handed down from antiquity in
which disparate passages from a venerable text are ingeniously selected and arranged to form a
new work. All these elements distinguish the Canticum from other contemporary
blockbooks.
In An Allegory of Divine Love: The Netherlandish Blockbook "Canticum Canticorum", Marilyn
Aronberg Lavin discusses each of the thirty-two framed scenes individually, as visual images
within the larger framework of the history of art, as poetic dialogues composed of hallowed lines
newly ordered to create a new poem, and as theological allusions in the form of human
interaction. The result, in apperceiving the thirty-two scenes as a unified whole, is new narrative
the plot of which becomes clear. It is suggested that contemporary readers were expected to do
the same using observation, study, contemplation and devotion. And what they found is the story
of the Virgin Mary's preparation for her divine role, as a model of action for every good soul in
her/his "marriage with Christ."
Critique: As informed and informative as it is stunningly beautiful, Marilyn Aronberg Lavin's An
Allegory of Divine Love: The Netherlandish Blockbook "Canticum Canticorum" is very highly
recommended for academic library collections and would be an enduringly popular Memorial
Fund acquisition for community libraries.
The Judicial Studies Shelf
Ignorance of the Law Is No Excuse, third edition
Brian J. Willett
Outskirts Press, Inc.
10940 South Parker Road, #515, Parker, CO 80134
www.outskirtspress.com www.brianwilliams.com
9781478730149, $28.95, 314pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: "Ignorance of the Law is No Excuse" is the insightful book written by Double Board
Certified attorney Brian J. Willett. "Ignorance of the Law is No Excuse" depicts a common sense
approach to understanding the Texas Criminal Justice system. "Ignorance of the Law is No
Excuse" is written for the "non attorney" and is filled with astute examples which explain many
of the common criminal laws and procedures in the State of Texas. It includes information on
topics such as family assaults, drugs, DWIs, weapon charges, sexual offenses, driver's license
suspensions, bonds, juvenile law and criminal record expunctions.
Critique: Informed, informative, and fully accessible to the non-specialist general reader with no
previous encounter with the legal system, "Ignorance of the Law is No Excuse" is now in a fully
updated and expanded third edition. Of special note is the chapter devoted to 'Traffic Violations,
Driving Offences, and Suspensions'. Other chapters deal with assault; sexual offenses; property
damage; robbery, burglary and theft; deception and false statements; disorderly conduct and
public indecency; drinking, gambling and weapons; accidents and insurance; drugs; school
offenses and juveniles. The concluding chapter is devoted to sentencing, probation, and
expunction. "Ignorance of the Law is No Excuse" is very highly recommended for personal and
community library Judicial Studies collections.
Bilingual Criminal Law Dictionary / Diccionario Juridico Penal Bilingue
Cuauhtemoc Gallegos, editor
Merl Publications
PO Box 3041, Bellingham, WA 98227
www.merlpublications.com
9781886347069, $38.95, 270pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Following the unprecedented transformation of the criminal systems of Latin America
and Spain, the "Merl Bilingual Criminal Law Dictionary" lists the most important terms and
expressions related to criminal law and procedure and their equivalents in English and Spanish as
they appear in legal sources and are used in the courts today. Following the format introduced by
the "Merl Bilingual Law Dictionary", this English/Spanish edition contains a wealth of
contextual and related background information including definitions, synonyms, antonyms,
abbreviations, specialized and background comments, comparison of terms, cross-references,
specialized glossaries and lists and, in addition, hundreds of examples and their corresponding
translations. Designed for anyone in need of criminal legal terminology, the "Merl Bilingual
Criminal Law Dictionary" is particularly useful to translators, interpreters, lawyers, educators,
government officials and those professionals dealing with bilingual legal terms and
expressions.
Critique: This alphabetically arranged dictionary features a two-column text with English on the
right and Spanish on the left. Throughly 'user friendly' in arrangement and presentation, the
"Bilingual Criminal Law Dictionary / Diccionario Juridico Penal Bilingue" should be a part of
every Law School and Academic Library Judicial Studies reference collection, and an important
addition to the reference shelf for defense attorneys and social service agencies serving an
Hispanic population.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
The Phoenix Connection
Brenda M. Asterino
CreateSpace
4900 LaCross Rd., North Charleston, SC 29406
9781491035290, $8.95, 84pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: In "The Phoenix Connection: Brain Injury and Healing through the Art of Living",
Brenda Asterino shares her essays and poetry about her brain injury and the profound
experiences, lessons, and perceptions that followed. She expands on her own journey with many
helpful suggestions for those suffering from brain injury as well as for anyone moving through a
death and rebirth (a Phoenix event) cycle in their life.
Critique: Written with impressive candor, poignancy, and artless sincerity, the commentary
comprising "The Phoenix Connection: Brain Injury and Healing through the Art of Living" is
thoughtful and thought-provoking, reflective and observative, and thoroughly engaging from
beginning to end. Especially recommended reading, it should be noted that "The Phoenix
Connection: Brain Injury and Healing through the Art of Living" is also available in a Kindle
edition ($1.99).
A Caregiver's Guide to Dementia
Laura N. Gitlin & Catherine Verrier Piersol
Camino Books, Inc.
PO Box 59026, Philadelphia, PA 19102
www.caminobooks.com
9781933822907, $22.00, 112pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Mom has nothing to do I m concerned about her quality of life. My husband gets
agitated when I need to leave the house I don t know what to do. My father keeps asking the
same questions over and over. These are some of the common challenges encountered by
individuals and families who are caring for a parent, spouse or close relative with dementia. This
easy-to-use, practical guide is designed to help at-home caregivers navigate these daily
challenges. Although there is no cure for dementia or its many behavioral symptoms, there are
clear and proven strategies that can be used to enhance the quality of life for persons diagnosed
with dementia--strategies that can make a real difference for their families.
"A Caregiver s Guide to Dementia" explores the use of activities and other techniques to prevent,
reduce and manage the behavioral symptoms of dementia. Separate sections cover daily
activities, effective communication, especially difficult behaviors, and explicit strategies to deal
with agitation, repetitive questions, acting-out, wandering, restlessness, hoarding, resistance to
care, incontinence, destructiveness, sexually and socially inappropriate acts at home and in
public, aggressiveness, depression, sleep disturbances and home safety. Worksheets are provided
to help caregivers customize the strategies that work best for them. The strategies featured in this
guide have been used by the authors in their research studies and reflect approaches and
techniques that families have found to be most helpful.
Critique: "A Caregiver's Guide to Dementia: Using Activities and Other Strategies to Prevent,
Reduce and Manage Behavioral Symptoms" is as informed and informative as it is practical and
'user friendly'. The babyboom generation has reached that stage where they are become the
primary caregivers for their parents -- the need for an exceptionally well written, organized and
presented instruction guide will only increase as time goes on. "A Caregiver's Guide to
Dementia: Using Activities and Other Strategies to Prevent, Reduce and Manage Behavioral
Symptoms" is very highly recommended for personal and community library collections, as well
as the reference collections of Senior Citizen Centers, and Social Service Agencies serving the
elderly and their caregivers.
Move Your Own DNA
Katy Bowman
Propriometrics Press
PO Box 482, Carlsborg, WA 98324
www.propriometricspress.com
9780989653947, $24.95, 244pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: "Move Your DNA" explains the science behind our need for natural movement - right
down to the cellular level. It examines the differences between the movements in a typical hunter
- gatherer's life and the movements in our own. It shows the many problems with using exercise
like movement vitamins instead of addressing the deeper issue of a poor movement diet. Best of
all, "Move Your DNA" contains the corrective exercises, habit modifications, and simple
lifestyle changes we need to make in order to free ourselves from disease and discover our
naturally healthy, reflex driven selves.
Critique: Exceptionally well informed, informative, written, organized and presented, "Move
Your Own DNA" is especially recommended to the attention of non-specialist general readers
who are having to deal with mobility issues -- especially as they grow older. It will also prove to
be of immense value for both amateur and professional athletes, as well as concerned parents
wanting their children to grow up whole and healthy. "Move Your Own DNA" is very highly
recommended for community and academic library Health & Medicine reference collections. It
should be noted that "Move Your Own DNA" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99) and as
an audio book download ($17.95).
The World History Shelf
Hydraulic Forging Press for the Blacksmith
Randy McDaniel
SkipJack Press
c/o Finney Company
5995 - 149th Street West, Suite 105, Apple Valley, MN 55124
www.astragalpress.com
9781879535299, $45.00, 200pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: The hydraulic forging press is becoming increasingly important to the any blacksmith
shop. This relatively small machine, which is often hand made, allows smiths to do many of the
same operations as a power hammer while adding more control and expanding what one can do
with hot metal. Over forty years ago a spark ignited Randy McDaniel's passion for forging hot
metal. This has been a passion that continually grows. Seven years ago his exploration of hot
metal evolved and he began specializing in work done with the hydraulic forging press. Randy
now creates all of his own tooling and dies which he uses to produce a line of unique items. He
loves how the power of his sixty ton press pushes hot metal as if it were clay in his hands.
"Hydraulic Forging Press for the Blacksmith" covers the history, the how to, and especially the
versatility of the hydraulic forging press for the blacksmith and the knife maker. It provides a
comparison between the press and other machinery, the different types of presses, which type of
press is right for your application, should you build one or buy one, focuses on tooling that you
can make to get the most out of your press and much, much more. Large, full-color drawings and
photographs of presses, items made on the press, and the tooling used are featured through out
the book and in the gallery section. Award-winning author and blacksmith, Randy McDaniel has
brought together an international group of collaborators to make "Hydraulic Forging Press for the
Blacksmith" a useful and inspirational resource for anyone forging hot metal.
Critique: An exceptional combination of history and instruction manual for the hydraulic forging
press, Randy McDaniel's "Hydraulic Forging Press for the Blacksmith" is profusely illustrated,
notably well organized and presented, with an informed and informative text that is exceptionally
accessible, making it ideal for those needing to learn how to operate an hydraulic forging press
and all the things that it can do in a manufacturing process. "Hydraulic Forging Press for the
Blacksmith" should be a part of every Technical College instructional reference collection.
The Photography Shelf
Leica M Typ 240: The Expanded Guide
David Taylor
Ammonite Press
c/o Lightening Publications
9781781450390, $19.95, www.ammonitepress.com
That there's a need for a handbook beyond the basic user's manual for the Leica M Typ 240 is
testimony not to the user's guide's failings, but to the camera's many advanced possibilities - and
Leica M Typ 240: The Expanded Guide meets these questions with tips from a professional
photographer who tells how to gain the most from the digital camera. From creating a
photographic 'story' using the Leica to understanding lens properties, assessing flash accessories,
using filters and understanding lens vulnerability to fungus in humid climates, this covers all the
basics a Leica user needs to know to get the most from the camera, and is especially
recommended for new users.
Nikon Df: The Expanded Guide
Jon Sparks
Ammonite Press
c/o Lightening Publications
9781781451007, $19.95, www.ammonitepress.com
Nikon Df: The Expanded Guide comes from a landscape photographer and outdoor enthusiast
who considers the Nikon Df's wide range of features, and is especially recommended for any new
to this Nikon model. Chapters pair color photo examples throughout with discussions of controls,
menus, picture-taking options, and more. At the end, aspiring photographers learn not only more
about the Nikon Df, but learn the basics of what differentiates a superior photo from a
snapshot.
The Criminology Shelf
Framed!: Murder, Corruption, and a Death Sentence in Florida
Marc J. Seifer & Stephen Rosati
Tantor Media, Inc.
6 Business Park Road, Old Saybrook, CT 06475
www.tantorpublishing.com
9780988349452, $19.95, 470pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Stephen Rosati had it all. A former Mr. Rhode Island and owner of a posh health club,
Stephen was the son of real estate mogul Carl Rosati. On an average September day, Stephen's
world was shattered when a Rhode Island state trooper arrested him for the murder of a drug
dealer named Joe Viscido, Jr., in Florida four years earlier. Though Stephen could prove that he
was 1,500 miles away at the time of the murder, Peter Dallas admitted to the crime and named
Stephen as his accomplice. Like something out of Kafka, Stephen found himself imprisoned for a
non-bailable offense and was whisked away to a Rhode Island jail to await transfer to Florida,
where he would be facing a death sentence for a crime he knew nothing about. He hired the most
illustrious attorney in the state, Jack Cicilline, a lawyer who represents many notorious mobsters
and is known as "one of the keenest legal minds in New England." Thus began the longest
extradition hearing in U.S. history.
Critique: A fascinating and exceptionally documented case study that reads like a best-seller
novel, "Framed!: Murder, Corruption, and a Death Sentence in Florida" is highly recommended
for the non-specialist general reader with an interest in the American justice system. "Framed!:
Murder, Corruption, and a Death Sentence in Florida" is highly recommended for academic
library Criminology Studies and American Jurisprudence reference collections and supplemental
reading lists. It should be noted that "Framed!: Murder, Corruption, and a Death Sentence in
Florida" is also available in a Kindle edition ($6.99), as well as an audio book download ($29.95)
and an MP3 CD ($25.19).
The Self-Help Shelf
Life: It Is What It Is
Lisa Sugarman
CreateSpace
4900 LaCross Rd., North Charleston, SC 29406
www.createspace.com
978149479130, $16.49, www.itiswhatitiscolumn.wordpress.com
Life: It Is What It Is comes from the long-time columnist for GateHouse Media, and considers
the importance of accepting imperfection and controlling how we react to life. It comes from an
author and columnist who offers a collection of her columns that analyze what life is and how to
understand and accept its unpredictability, and it creates a lively dialogue of the ups and downs
of living that will resonate with quite a wide audience. If it's an involving survey about life and
its processes that is desired, Lisa Sugarman holds the key to an excellent presentation with much
food for thought.
The Religion/Spirituality Shelf
What Is This Thing Called Go(o)D?
Rob Beasley
AuthorHouse
1663 Liberty Drive, Suite 200, Bloomington, IN 47403-5161
Bohlsen Group (publicity)
9781496906502, $90.99, 422pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: "What Is This Thing Called Go(o)D?: That's Religion Explained Now Let's Talk
Peace!" by Rob Beasley tackles that age old question of meaning with respect to the phenomena
of God by using the analogy of a tree. Beasley first sets out to devise the seed of the research by
giving some definitions of what the author thinks Go(o)d is. Or you might say Go(o)d's, reason
for being. It's essence. Then the earliest sources of the Jesus story are examined. The roots.
Finally, a big picture examination of history, the branches and canopy, reveals a theory with five
related corruptions to the religious story.
Critique: As informed and informative as it is thoughtful and thought-provoking, "What Is This
Thing Called Go(o)D?: That's Religion Explained Now Let's Talk Peace!" is a truly engaging
read that will have immense appeal to student of Christian theology and the Judeo-Christian
traditions respecting the nature of deity. It should be noted that "What Is This Thing Called
Go(o)D?: That's Religion Explained Now Let's Talk Peace!" is also available in a Kindle edition
($3.99).
The Military Shelf
The Spirit of Attack: Fighter Pilot Stories
Bruce Gordon
AuthorHouse
1663 Liberty Drive, Suite 200, Bloomington, IN 47403-5161
Bohlsen Group
www.authorhouse.com
9781491846032, $34.99, 116pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: 'Scramble' in the American Air force meant that in a couple of minutes Bruce Gordon
and his wingman would be airborne on an assignment. Sometimes it was to intercepted an
airliner, sometimes a misplaced B-52 bomber, and sometimes Russian bombers probing
American defenses; Russian warships; MIG fighters; or "troops in contact" in Vietnam, calling
for napalm only yards from their positions. Twice it was UFOs - Unidentified Flying Objects!
"The Spirit of Attack: Fighter Pilot Stories " is a series of short stories and supported by more
than 90 photographs. The first part has Bruce Gordon's own stories; later stories were contributed
by his fellow pilots. The last story is from WW II of American P-38 fighters attacking the
Romanian oil fields and getting badly mauled by defending Romanian fighters - and a Romanian
pilot's view of the battle! "Only the spirit of attack borne in a brave heart will bring success to
any fighter aircraft, to matter how highly developed the aircraft may be. That quote from Adolf
Galland, an Ace of the German Luftwaffe in WW II, was the motto of the American 317th
Fighter Interceptor Squadron in Alaska. The fighter pilot is a hunter, and his quarry is the most
dangerous in the world - men who want to kill him! The best defense is a good offense. The US
Air Force had a program called "Every Man a Tiger". A tiger does not kill impulsively or in
anger, but plans his attack carefully and strikes with cool ferocity. We were tigers! Fighter pilots
tell stories around the bar, but they seldom write them down. These stories were written by the
fighter pilots themselves! Come along with Bruce Gordon and hear of the beauty of flight, the
mortal danger of electrical power failure at night in a snowstorm, and the thrill of attack with
20mm cannons firing right in "The Spirit of Attack: Fighter Pilot Stories".
Critique: Informed, informative, and a fascinating read for military aviation enthusiasts, "The
Spirit of Attack: Fighter Pilot Stories" is an invaluable and highly recommended contribution to
the growing library of Military History by frontline combatants. It should also be noted that "The
Spirit of Attack: Fighter Pilot Stories " is also available in a Kindle edition ($3.99).
The Cookbook Shelf
Everyday Vegan Eats
Zsu Dever
Vegan Heritage Press
PO Box 628, Woodstock, VA 22664-0628
9780985466268 $19.95 www.veganheritagepress.com
Everyday Vegan Eats: Family Favorites from My Kitchen to Yours lives up to its title as a
compilation of meat-free, dairy-free, and egg-free recipes perfect for daily dining. The first forty
pages are devoted to vegan cooking techniques, shopping tips, and especially "basics" -
animal-free alternatives to common culinary delicacies ranging from broth to cheese sauce to
bacon tofu. The majority of Everyday Vegan Eats is devoted to soup, sandwich, main course,
pasta, casserole, snack, breakfast, and dessert recipes, including "No-Fish Filet Sandwiches"
(using seafood tofu), German Potato Salad, Scampi Pasta with Asparagus and Walnuts, Tater Tot
Casserole, Apple Crumble, and much more. Occasional full-color photography, an index,
easy-to-follow instructions, and side notations indicating which recipes are quick to make, are
gluten-free, or have a soy-free option round out this superb vegan cookbook - especially those
who want to give this healthy, animal-friendly way of life a try for the first time!
Tasting the Seasons
Kerry Dunnington
www.kerrydunnington.com
Artichoke Publishers
220 Stoneyford Road, Baltimore, Maryland 21210
9780990418504 $19.95 www.artichokepublishers.com
Tasting the Seasons: Inspired, In-Season Cuisine That's Easy, Healthy, Fresh and Fun lives up to
its title with 250 recipes for any family meal. From Autumn Orange Butter to Cheese Tortellini
Chowder, Poached Cod on Lemon Beds, Caramelized Parsnips with Roasted Pecans, Peach
Cake, Dual-Seed Cornmeal Bread, and much more, Tasting the Seasons offers a flavorful
smorgasbord perfect for holiday celebrations. An index rounds out this varied, easy-to-use,
taste-sensational cookbook!
The Calories In, Calories Out Cookbook
Catherine Jones & Elaine Trujillo
The Experiment Publishing
220 East 23rd Street, Suite 301, NY, NY 10010-4674
9781615191048, $24.95, 432pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Balancing the calories you take in and burn off is the foundation of weight control. But
actually achieving that balance between eating and exercise is a daily challenge. Now, "The
Calories In, Calories Out Cookbook provides" a fresh, sane approach for everyone seeking good
health - and great food. Here is an essential repertoire of 200 smart recipes - nutrient-rich,
delicious, foolproof, and ideal for busy individuals and families. Every recipe tells you its calorie
count - and also tells you how many minutes of walking or jogging it takes for a woman or man
to burn those calories off, so you'll be able to visualize what calories mean as never before. All
the recipes are below 400 calories per serving - and most are below 200! "The Calories In,
Calories Out Cookbook" also delivers: An introduction to the world of calories - what they are,
how our bodies use them, and why we don't have to exercise off every last calorie we eat; A
guide to determining your daily calorie and exercise needs; Helpful nutrition stats (including
diabetic exchanges) for every recipe; "Calorie combo" and "calorie cut" suggestions that help you
formulate daily and weekly menus that fit your calorie needs; Plenty of vegetarian and gluten-free
options; Dozens of tips on ingredients, equipment, prep, and cooking; an extensive appendix of
nearly 1,000 popular foods and drinks with their calorie values and nutritional info; and
more!
Critique: Profusely illustrated throughout, this is one of the most 'user friendly' combinations of
healthy recipes and fitness exercise instruction manuals available today for the non-specialist
general reader wanting to improve the health of themselves and their loved ones. Informed,
informative, immanently practical, exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "The
Calories In, Calories Out Cookbook: 200 Everyday Recipes That Take the Guesswork Out of
Counting Calories - Plus, the Exercise It Takes to Burn Them Off" is enthusiastically
recommended for personal and academic library collections. It should be noted that "The
Calories In, Calories Out Cookbook: 200 Everyday Recipes That Take the Guesswork Out of
Counting Calories - Plus, the Exercise It Takes to Burn Them Off" is also available in a Kindle
edition ($13.99).
Flex Appeal
Pat Crocker & Nettie Cronish
Whitecap Books
#210-314 West Cordova St.
Vancouver, BC Canada V6B 1E8
9781770501881 $29.95 www.whitecap.ca
Featuring color photography throughout, Flex Appeal: A Vegetarian Cookbook for Families with
Meat-Eaters is a cookbook about practical, responsible, and mindful culinary compromose. Many
featured recipes are vegetarian, but can incorporate meat as an ingredient, or as a side - ideal
when cooking for a household where some diners are vegetarian and others are not. Cooking tips,
tricks, and techniques enhance the practical-minded instructions for Cheddar Mushroom Caps
with Asparagus and Balsamic Glaze, Cheddar and Salsa Tortillas (Flex Appeal Tuna), Eggplant
Parmesan with Tomato Spinach Sauce (Flex Appeal Chicken), Mango-Avocado Rice Paper Rolls
(Flex Appeal Shrimp), Caramel Pear Tarte Tatin, and much more. An absolute "must-have" for
vegetarian chefs who also cook for meat-eating loved ones (and vice versa)!
Easy Gourmet
Stephanie Le
Page Street Publishing Co.
27 Congress Street, Suite 103, Salem, MA 01970
c/o The Trina Kaye Organization (publicity)
9781624140624 $21.99 www.pagestreetpublishing.com
Illustrated with full-color, full-page photography, Easy Gourmet: Awesome Recipes Anyone Can
Cook lives up to its title with a wealth of extraordinary, gourmet delights that cooks of all skill
and experience levels can prepare. Dishes include Pea & Bacon Risotto, Sesame Noodle Salad,
Maple-Glazed Duck, Seafood Stew, Miso Eggplant, Avocado BLT, Octopus Chips, and much
more. From twists on common favorites to unique taste sensations, Easy Gourmet is a
user-friendly stepping stone to the flavorful world of gourmet cooking, enthusiastically
recommended - and an excellent culinary giftbook, too!
The Biography Shelf
"A Race of Shipbuilders": The Hanscoms of Eliot, Maine
Richard E. Winslow III
Portsmouth Marine Society
c/o Portsmouth Historical Society
PO Box 728, Portsmouth, NH 03801
c/o Peter E. Randall Publisher
PO Box 4726, Portsmouth, NH 03802
9780915819416 $35.00 portsmouthhistory.org
Enriched with a bibliography and an index for ease of reference, "A Race of Shipbuilders": The
Hanscoms of Eliot, Maine is a biography of the Hanscom family across three hundred years,
from the pioneers who settled in Maine during the 1600's to the growing reputation of family
members as master shipbuilders and naval constructors. In both wartime and peacetime, the
Hanscoms reflected a drive for innovation, adapting to changing needs and demands, from the
era when luxury steam yachts were powerful to the rise of modern, colossal transoceanic
merchant vessels. The saga of individual Hanscoms who were accused of graft and corruption is
also explored; it's notable that even though these charges advanced to the brink of court-martial,
they were never proven. Placing the Hanscoms' efforts in the full context of the political,
military, and social environments of their times, "A Race of Shipbuilders" is a fascinating
contribution to American nautical history as well as biography shelves, highly
recommended.
The Brothers Hogan
Jacqueline Hogan Towery, Robert Towery, and Peter Barbour
TCU Press
PO Box 298300, Fort Worth, TX 76129
9780875655963 $36.95 www.prs.tcu.edu
Illustrated with vintage black-and-white photographs throughout, The Brothers Hogan: A Fort
Worth History is the biography of a golf superstar and his brother. Ben Hogan won sixty-eight
tournaments and nine major championships during the course of his career, while his brother
Royal was successful in the amateur golf circuit. The Brothers Hogan tells not only of their
exploits in sports, but also the ups and downs of their family lives, including the devastating
suicide of their father, Ben's stressed relationship with his wife Valerie, and the car crash that
almost brought Ben's golf career to an abrupt end. Ben's niece and Royal's daughter Jacque, The
Brothers Hogan is a fascinating true-life tale of personal struggle and sports history, highly
recommended.
Hugh O'Brian, Or What's Left Of Him
Hugh O'Brian & Virgina O'Brian
Book Publishers Network
PO Box 2256, Bothell, WA 98041
www.bookpublishersnetwork.com
DC Publicity
9781940598307, $17.95, 203pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: In this lively memoir of one of TV and filmdom's most memorable actors, readers are
taken on a sixty-plus-year journey that continues to this day. Hugh O'Brian's style of
self-discipline, enterprise, and tenacity, learned from his Marine Corps dad, carried him from
being the youngest Marine Corps drill instructor in history to a legendary career as TV's Wyatt
Earp, versatile movie roles, Broadway and stage shows, as well as numerous guest appearances.
But it was a life-changing trip to Africa to meet the famed humanitarian Dr. Albert Schweitzer
that set O'Brian on a new path--the founding of the Hugh O'Brian Youth (HOBY) organization to
develop young leaders, which now boasts over 425,000 alumni and growing.
Critique: An exceptionally well written and informative memoir, "Hugh O'Brian, Or What's Left
Of Him" is enhanced with the inclusion of more than one hundred photographs, a foreword by
fellow celebrities Debbie Reynolds and Hugh Hefner. Hugh O'Brian (born Hugh Charles
Krampe, April 19, 1925) is best known for his starring role in the 1955-1961 ABC western
television series, "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp" but is man whose life and
accomplishments went far beyond those popular half-hour, black-and-white, weekly TV shows
that thrilled the childhood of the baby boom generation. "Hugh O'Brian, Or What's Left Of Him"
is very highly recommended for community library American Biography collections and should
be considered mandatory reading for his legions of now aging fans!
The Fiction Shelf
The Shademakers
Paul Binford
Outskirts Press, Inc.
10940 South Parker Road, #515, Parker, CO 80134
http://www.outskirtspress.com/TheShademakers
9781432792992 $16.95 print / $5.00 ebook / $6.00 Kindle www.amazon.com
The Shademakers is an original novel about one man's efforts to break away from the monotony
of his daily routine - and the unexpected price of his success! Bored with his nearly-useless
college degree and the prospect of a dull, dead-end career, Leonard Hyrne applies to work for a
landscaping company. When Leonard accidentally buries his boss alive, he's cast headfirst into a
roller-coaster cat-and-mouse chase, desperate to evade the wrath of the law (among other
threats)! During the out-of-control scramble, Leonard befriends the oddest of characters,
including a loose-knit organization of modern Johnny Appleseeds; Leonard even encounters a
last-ditch opportunity to find love. Fun, witty, and a defiant glance askew to the drudgery of
everyday life, The Shademakers is a rollicking great read from cover to cover. Highly
recommended!
The PPP Step One
Joseph Christopher Messineo
Socrates Solutions Incorporated
PO Box 7087, San Jose, CA 95150
9780990550105 $28.95
Third in a dark trilogy about the ominous near-future, The PPP Step One is a novel grounded in
terrifying reality. PPP stands for "Population Pollution Problem", an ever-growing threat to
human survival. The brutal, nonfiction reality of population pressures contaminating the Earth's
air and water frames the dramatic narrative, which involves multiple Hollywood celebrities as
well as ordinary people struggling to get by. Is there hope for humanity to recover, and if so,
which local and governmental ideas to deal with the PPP would be most effective? Riveting to
the last page, The PPP Step One is highly recommended, as are the previous books in the trilogy:
"A Theory Why" and "Words For My Father".
Dangerous Denial
Amy Ray
Barking Rain Press
PO Box 822674, Vancouver, WA 98682
9781935460961 $13.95 pbk
9781935460046 $5.95 ebook www.barkingrainpress.org
Dangerous Denial is a dark noir novel, about terrible truths at cross purposes. BK is a woman on
the fast-track at a public relations firm. Yet she and Trevor, the one man she loves each hide a
perilous secret. Trevor's crafty, relentless father has finally caught up to him, and BK's own
denials place her relationship, her career, and possible even her life in jeopardy. Knife-edge
suspense gives way to a shocking twist, in this intensely personal balance of romance and
thriller!
Legacy
Michael Woodworth Fuller, author
Joseph Robert Cowles, editor
Tayana Apraksina, illustrator
Event Horizon Press
http://www.eventhorizonpress.com
B00KFRD848, $3.99 (Kindle), 390pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: "Legacy" refers to the legacy of war inherited by those who remain. For Peterjohn
Carlyle Morrison, it is the terror of the burned staring from two black holes reflected in hospital
windowpanes. Mom is not apple pie but a clone devastated by her son's wounds; she needs as
much care as the dying did in battle. Mrs. Warren, his former elementary schoolteacher, offers
sanctuary, but Peterjohn's ruined presence is testament to war's inexorable legacy: loss.
Peterjohn's return is not that of Mrs. Warren's son, who was killed in a previous war. Abandoned
to his life, Peterjohn must choose between suicide or reconciliation with what is left of him.
Micaela Duncan takes him into her loving house. Their relationship is too fragile to withstand the
rape of a violated world. Imprisonment is not an inevitable destination but arrival at liberation's
gate. In the glass-walled cell of sixty men, Peterjohn Carlyle Morrison experiences the
affirmation of the human spirit to transcend despair.
Critique: A superbly crafted and thoroughly original novel, "Legacy" is a fascinating read from
beginning to end and documents author Michael Woodworth Fuller has an author of considerable
and impressive talent. Very highly recommended for personal reading lists.
The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf
The Sci-Fi Movie Guide
Chris Barsanti
Visible Ink Press
43311 Joy Road #414, Canton, MI 48187-2075
c/o KT Public Relations
9781578595037 $19.95 www.visibleinkpress.com
The Sci-Fi Movie Guide: The Universe of Film from Alien to Zardoz is packed with brief
reviews of almost 1,000 notable science-fiction movies, from monster sagas to bizarre dystopias,
superhero movies, mad scientists and their shocking creations, zombie apocalypse sagas, classic
masterpieces, and much more. Each entry also lists the names of the movie's director, writer, and
main cast members. Film reviews tend to be brief (one long paragraph at most) but enlightening.
"'This Is Not A Test': When news comes of an impending nuclear attack, a state trooper at a
roadblock offers sanctuary to passing travelers. The effectiveness of the film's social commentary
is hindered by its small budget." An excellent smorgasbord sampling that sci-fi movie
connoisseurs everywhere will find useful!
The Education Shelf
Spotlight on Young Children: Exploring Language & Literacy
Amy Shillady, editor
National Association for the Education of Young Children
1313 L. Street NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20005-4101
9781938113055 $20.00 www.naeyc.org
Illustrated with color photography throughout, Spotlight on Young Children: Exploring
Language & Literacy is a guide especially for educators responsible for cultivating language and
literacy development in young children, including dual language learners. Topics covered include
how to increase children's vocabulary through conversations and storybook time, working with
developmentally delayed infants, exercises to aid fine motor development in preschoolers as a
precursor to writing skills, how to work poetry and nonfiction into the classroom, and much
more. Highly recommended as a resource for professionals, and for college library Education
shelves. "Children develop the pincher movements by pressing the thumb and index finger
together. Clipping clothespins on a plastic cup, stringing beads, and tearing paper are activities
that support this development. Pincer control is the final stage of fine motor development, With
other skills in place, children are now prepared to properly grasp markers, pencils, and other
writing utensils as they engage in authentic writing activities."
The Art Shelf
Bill Moss: Fabric Artist & Designer
Marilyn Moss
Chawezi LLC
PO Box 909, Rockport, ME 04856
9780989239301 $65.00 www.billmosstents.com
Featuring full-color photography (and a handful of vintage black-and-white photographs) on
almost every page, Bill Moss: Fabric Artist & Designer is a coffee table book showcase of the
life's work of Bill Moss, fabric architect extraordinaire and inventor of the Pop tent. His company
of Moss, Inc. earned a reputation for being socially responsible well before it was trendy to do so,
and his unique touch inspired successive generations of artists. "'Bill held weekly classes for
apprentices in a structure called the Optimum... In the first class each apprentice was given a
2-foot square of muslin and was told to cut a curve in each side. With four small stakes and some
string the student was to create a freestanding structure. A high wind that night tested all the
structures. The next morning showed which ones had been tensioned correctly to withstand the
blow.'" A superb addition to artbook collections specializing in architectural or three-dimensional
media, Bill Moss: Fabric Artist & Designer is a delight to browse, and highly recommended.
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Mysteries of the Supernatural
Darrin William Owens
4th Dimension Press
215 67th Street, Virginia Beach, VA 23451-2061
9780876047712 $12.95 AREPress.com
Psychic Darrin William Owens presents Mysteries of the Supernatural: A Psychic's Guide
Beyond the Veil, which explores dimensions beyond the physical world. Supernatural realms
discussed include the realms of earth folk and nature spirits; paranormal realms where ghosts
reside; spiritual realms where spirit guides aid human souls; divine realms that are home to
angelic beings; multidimensional realms of UFOs and "cryptid" creatures; hellish realms of
demonic beings; the source realm where the font of all creation (a.k.a. "God") resides. "The
five-pointed star is not a satanic symbol! It is an ancient symbol that has been used for centuries
as a representation of spiritual power and authority. In mystical Christian traditions, the
five-pointed star represented the secret name of God and was worn by King Solomon as a sign of
his spiritual power. In my own work with spiritual deliverance, I have experienced this symbol to
be of great use in banishing heavy and negative energies." Enthusiasts of the paranormal will
thoroughly enjoy this compact, accessible "bible" of mystic information.
Secret Voices from the Forest, Volume Two
Laura J. Merrill
laurajmerrilltreetalker.com
Myth & Magic
PO Box 612, Taos, NM 87571
9780984829927 $28.95 www.secret-voices.com
Secret Voices from the Forest Thoughts and Dreams of North American Trees, Volume Two:
The Midcontinent continues the inspirational, nature-themed series in which author and artist
Laura Merrill gives voice to the trees and wildlife. Featuring captivating, full-color artwork
throughout, Secret Voices from the Forest is filled with fascinating nature facts, lilting poetry,
and spiritually uplifting messages that resonate with the essence of the forest. "What Pecan Can
Tell You About Itself: By being a sure source of food and shelter, I create a bulwark, a check
against the inevitable challenges of life that face those who surround me. Then I am
Steadfastness, manifesting a powerful urge to love and care for all, including myself. You can see
this in mothers of all species, in the care and security they give to their offspring, and generally in
anything that shows an instinct for helping those that are weaker or enduring difficult
circumstances." Also highly recommended is the previous book in the series, Secret Voices from
the Forest Thoughts and Dreams of North American Trees, Volume One: The West
(9780984829903, $28.95).
The Business Shelf
People Tools for Business
Alan C. Fox
SelectBooks Inc.
87 Walker Street, Suite B1, New York, NY 10013
c/o Jane Wesman Public Relations Inc.
322 Eighth Avenue, Suite 1702, New York, NY 10001
9781590792872 $16.95 www.selectbooks.com
Entrepreneur and philanthropist Alan C. Fox presents People Tools for Business: 50 Strategies
for Building Success, Creating Wealth, and Finding Happiness, a guide offering fifty useful
approaches for long-term business success. True-life anecdotes bolster each insightful
inspiration. For example, one recommendation is "Ask for Pineapple Fluff" - the story that goes
with this idea illuminates the core concept: "When you are angry with someone in business it will
clearly not serve you (or anyone else) to cling to your anger. I suggest you ask the person who has
offended you for whatever it is you need to help you let go of your anger or resentment. Make it
something that they can deliver (because otherwise the request is futile). And when they do
deliver, let go of your anger or resentment and move on." People Tools for Business is an
excellent browse, and highly recommended for self-improvement in general social as well as
business-related social skills.
The Memoir Shelf
In the Valley of the Yangtze
Helen Roberts Thomas with Katherine P. Granfield
Commonwealth Books
9780985486327 $17.95 www.commonwealthbooks.org
In the Valley of the Yangtze is the memoir of author Helen Roberts Thomas, born on Chinese
soil to American Episcopal missionaries. In the first part of the 20th century, she grew up amid a
Yangtze Valley community of educators, missionaries, doctors, and technical and military
advisors to the Chinese government. Black-and-white photographs on nearly every page illustrate
this fascinating story of life between two cultures, as well as the rigors of family rivalry and
coming of age. In the Valley of the Yangtze is also an expression of love for China itself; Helen
Thomas carries the deepest respect and admiration for the land and its people. As enrapturing as
it is enlightening, In the Valley of the Yangtze is highly recommended.
The Environmental Studies Shelf
Sustainable World Sourcebook, fourth edition
Compiled by Sustainable World Coalition
Sustainable World Coaltion
PO Box 441, Fairfax, CA 94978
9780983830436 $19.95 swcoalition.org
Now in an updated fourth edition, Sustainable World Sourcebook is a manual suggesting
solutions for crucial environmental issues of the twenty-first century. Color photography
illustrates the serious-minded discussions of limited energy reserves (including the concept of
"peak oil") and the need for conservation, fallout from the global financial crisis, the positive role
of "green jobs" and sustainable business practices, the causes of promoting health, education,
food security and social justice, "green" lifestyle choices that benefit the planet, and much more.
"Every city has hundreds of acres of flat, black tar roofs, creating a heat-island effect, which
causes urban areas to get hotter than rural landscapes. Simply painting roofs with white or
solar-reflective paint could go a long way, cutting energy use by up to 40% in summer months."
As the world's population increases, placing an ever-higher demand on dwindling natural
resources, repositories of knowledge such as Sustainable World Sourcebook become increasingly
invaluable for policymakers and laypeople alike. Highly recommended.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
The Mountain Place of Knowledge
Marshall Chamberlain
The Grace Publishing Group
12 Oneida Drive, Fort Myers Beach, Florida 33931
9781493554355 $22.99 print / $9.99 Kindle www.gracepublishing.org
Also available as an ebook, The Mountain Place of Knowledge is the first in the Ancestor Series
of techno-thriller novels set in a nexus between the modern-day world and the legacy of
advanced ancients. When the burial chamber of a Mayan sorceress is discovered in western
Belize, cryptic metallic scrolls within reveal a secret mountain entrance leading to a destination
referred to as Trinium, the Place of Knowledge. But is the human world ready to weather the
impact of long-lost relics from an advanced, galactic civilization? Sudden death mysteriously
strikes down a U.N. official, and investigators are sent to Belize to find the truth... which may be
far more than they, or all of humanity, ever bargained for! Tense and exciting to the very end,
The Mountain Place of Knowledge is a "must-read" for connoisseurs of quality suspense!
James A. Cox
Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
http://www.midwestbookreview.com
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