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Wisconsin Bookwatch

Volume 4, Number 4 April 2009 Home | WBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Sports Shelf Hunting/Fishing Shelf
Cookbook Shelf Architecture Shelf Religion/Spirituality Shelf
American History Shelf Art Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Metaphysical Studies Shelf Poetry Shelf Environmental Studies Shelf
Health/Medicine Shelf Aviation Shelf Travel Shelf
Education Shelf Christian Studies Shelf Parenting Shelf
Self-Help Shelf Money/Finance Shelf Judicial Studies Shelf
Literary Shelf Judaic Studies Shelf Biography Shelf
Fiction Shelf Language Studies Shelf Social Issues Shelf
Mystery/Suspense Shelf Gaming Shelf Native American Shelf


Reviewer's Choice

King Arthur
Kaye D. Hennig, author
Terrance Hennig, photographer
DesignMagic Publishing
156 Madrona Drive, Friday Harbor, WA 98250
www.kingarthur-lordofthegrail.com
9780980075809, $65.00, www.amazon.com

Popular works of literature and Hollywood films have made the legend of King Arthur, Camelot, the Round Table, and the tragedy of Sir Lancelot and the Lady Guinevere well known and a part of the common folklore of the western world. What is less well known are the sources of the legends that evolved and matured down through the centuries. Was Arthur a historical figure or simply the stuff of which legends are made to serve the cultural and social needs of subsequent generations over the last 1300 years? Academician Kaye D. Hennig addresses this question with her remarkable study "King Arthur: Lord Of The Grail", a 306-page compendium of her research findings (expertly illustrated by the photography of Terrance Hennig) and provides the reader with a wealth of information of what her own explorations in Scotland and England in pursuit of the historical Arthur and his companions revealed. A superbly written, informed and informative study, "King Arthur" is an original and seminal body of work that is very highly recommended for personal, community, and academic library collections -- and a 'must' for all students of the Arthurian legends.

You Are Still Being Lied To
Russ Kick, editor
The Disinformation Company
220 E. 23rd St., Suite 500, NY, NY 10010
9781934708071, $24.95, www.disinfo.com

We live in an age of perpetual 'spin'. Information given bias by the agendas of those who produce and/or communicate it. In "You Are Still Being Lied To: The Remixed Disinformation Guide to Media Distortion, Historical Whitewashes and Cultural Myths", editor Russ Kick has compiled reports, contributions, and commentaries by investigative reporters, political dissidents, academics, media watchdogs, scientist-philosophers, social critics, and independent scholars to reveal the true and underlying stories that have been commonly suppressed, distorted, and ignored by the mainstream media, the political establishment, and the culturally conservative. Enhanced with informed and informative essays by Noam Chomsky, Ron Paul, Sydney Schanberg; Gary Webb, R. Crumb; Howard Zinn; Graham Hancock; Michael Parenti; Rian Eisler, Jim Marrs, Howard Bloom, and others, "You Are Still Being Lied To" is a remarkable and seminal compendium that should be a part of every academic and community library Social Issues, American History, and Political Science reference collection and personal reading list.

Greetings From Jacksonville, Florida
Donald D. Spencer
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Rd., Atglen, PA 19310
9780764329586, $24.99, www.schifferbooks.com

Colored post cards were a major publicity tool for communities seeking to boost their tourist and business attractions during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Such was the case with Jacksonville, Florida as evidenced by an impressive collection of such colorful images compiled by Donald D. Spencer and featured in "Greetings From Jacksonville, Florida". Considered a 'gateway' to Florida by air, land and sea, Jacksonville (originally called 'Cow Ford' until renamed by its residents after President Andrew Jackson) became established in the opening decade of the 20th century as a favorite winter resort. The postcards themselves are expertly captioned, flawlessly reproduced in full color, and provide a fascinating approach to the history of this thriving community. "Greetings From Jacksonville, Florida" is especially recommended for postcard enthusiasts and readers with an interest in the early history of this key Floridian city.

The Planer Truth
Dana Martin Batory
Astragal Press
c/o Finney Company
8075 - 215th Street West, Lakeville, MN 55044
www.astragalpress.com
9781931626255, $21.95, www.amazon.com

Woodworking is as much an art as it is a craft and has a history as old as civilization itself. "The Planer Truth: A Brief History & Guide To Servicing Vintage Single Surface Roll Feed Planers (1850-1950)" by Dana Martin Batory is a 160-page compendium of illustrations and information drawn from diverse out-of-print texts and manuals, combined with expert commentary based upon 'hands-on' experience by the author and provide readers with a succinct historical overview of this machine beginning with its invention in 1828. The planer system, from in-feed to out-feed, is presented including instructions on adjusting and fine-tuning each of the separate elements including table adjustment, chipbreaker adjustment, pressure bar adjustment, knife setting, and more. Of special note are the commentaries on troubleshooting, required horsepower, and more. Offering a wealth of practical information and helpful hints, "The Planer Truth" is replete with detailed illustrations from the author's own extensive library of period catalogs, manuals, and photograph files. Also very highly recommended for woodworking enthusiasts and historians are Dana Batory's previous titles from Astragal Press, "Vintage Woodworking Machinery" (AP751, $18.95) and "Vintage Woodworking Machinery: Volume II" (AP197, $29.00).


The Sports Shelf

Milwaukee Braves: Heroes and Heartbreak
William Povletich
Wisconsin Historical Society Press
816 State Street, Madison, WI 53575
9780870204234 $24.95 www.wisconsinhistory.org

Written by award-winning documentary producer William Povletich, Milwaukee Braves: Heroes and Heartbreak captures the astonishing rise and fall of the Milwaukee Braves baseball team. For thirteen years, the Braves never had a losing season - they won two National League pennants, and in 1957 they earned Milwaukee its only World Series championship. Attendance records surged and stars like future Hall of Fame residents Henry Aaron and Eddie Mathews captivated fans. But after their landmark 1957 win the Braves underwent a downward spiral, leading to declining attendance and finally one of the most bitter breakups between a sports team and a city. Illustrated with more than 200 vintage black-and-white photos, Milwaukee Braves: Heroes and Heartbreak is a spellbinding chronicle especially recommended for sports history scholars and fans.


The Hunting/Fishing Shelf

On The Hunt
Robert C. Willging
Wisconsin Historical Society Press
816 State Street, Madison, WI 53575
www.wisconsinhistory.org
9780870204050, $26.95, www.amazon.com

Deer hunting has been a part of Wisconsin's culture from antiquity down to the present day. Native Americans and pioneers hunting for substance. Gradually deer hunting took on an entertainment value as a sport. But even today, deer hunting continues to be a major food resource for a significant number of Wisconsin families. In "On The Hunt: The History of Deer Hunting In Wisconsin", freelance outdoor writer Robert C. Willging lays out a definitive historical survey of deer hunting in the Badger State beginning with the spear-throwing Paleo-Indians of the Upper Midwest, to the sportsmen and women of today with their scoped rifles. "On The Hunt" draws from such divers published historical resources as Wisconsin Conservation Department and Department of Natural Resources archives, hunting magazines, newspaper articles, and anecdotal stories of hunters and deer biologists. Superbly illustrated throughout with historical photos of classic deer camps, "On The Hunt" is as informed and informative, as it is engaging and insightful. Strongly recommended for personal, community, and academic library Wisconsin wildlife reference collections, "On The Hunt" is ideal for non-specialist general readers with an interest in this enduringly popular activity that has been (and continues to be) such an integral part of Wisconsin popular culture.

Bait-Fishing For Trout
Terry Sheely
Frank Amato Publications
PO Box 82112, Portland, OR 97282
9781571884282, $9.95, www.amatobooks.com

Frank Amato Publications has a well deserved reputation for being a premier publisher of especially 'user friendly' books on the art and craft fishing. Now they've come up with a new series of fishing and outdoors 'pegboard' instructional books that at 3 1/2" by 7" are perfectly sized for inserting into a pocket, a tackle box, a glove box, or a boat compartment so that they can easily and accessibly accompany fishermen anywhere and everywhere. "Here's How To...: Bait Fishing For Trout" by expert angler and outdoors writer Terry Sheely is the first of this new series and deftly covers the basics of bait-fishing including the use of rods, reels, lines, and other terminal gear. Step-by-step illustrated instructions are provided for knot tying, selecting rigging, as well as attaching weights and hooks. Also provided is such useful information as to different trout species, where they can best be found, successful baits to use and when to use them, and so much more that will prove invaluable -- especially for the novice angler. Also highly recommended and the second title in this outstanding series is "Here's How To...: Fishing Rigs" (9781571884404, $7.95) by Robert H. Campbell which is a superbly illustrated guide to rigs for salmon, steelhead, trout, kokanee, sturgeon, shad, halibut, and more.


The Cookbook Shelf

The Scandinavian Cookbook
Trina Hahnemann, author
Lars Ranek, photographer
Andrews & McMeel
4520 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111
9780740780943 $29.99 www.andrewsmcmeel.com 1-800-851-8923

Illustrated with mouth-watering full-color, full-page photography, The Scandinavian Cookbook is a compendium of sumptuous Scandinavian dishes for every month of the year, from Skagen Fish Soup in February to Smorrebrod: Smoked Cheese Salad on Rye in July to Swedish Christmas Ham in December. The step-by-step instructions are complemented by recommendations for serving various dishes in this gorgeous cookbook by Danish TV chef and food writer Trina Hahnemann. A worthy addition to any international cookbook and recipe collection.

Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053-2246
www.pelicanpub.com, 1-800-843-1724

The Pelican Publishing Company of Gretna, Louisiana, is a premier publisher of regional cookbooks showcasing cuisines of the American South. Three of their 'city oriented' titles are especially recommended additions to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections. "New Orleans Classic Gumbos & Soups" (9781589806306, $15.95) is a compendium of beautifully illustrated recipes by culinary author Kit Wohl from some of the finest restaurants New Orleans has to offer. "Dallas Classic Desserts" (9781589806245, $15.95) showcases superbly illustrated dishes selected by culinary expert Helen Thompson from some of the truly elegant restaurants of Dallas, Texas. "Atlanta Classic Desserts" (9781589806214, $15.95) provides an illustrated cornucopia of mouth-watering confections taken from renowned restaurants in Atlanta, Georgia by culinary authority Krista Reese. All three of these impressively produced and enthusiastically recommended regional cookbooks are 'kitchen cook friendly' with easy-to-follow, step-by-step recipes for dishes that would grace any table, please any palate, and satisfy any appetite!

Quick-Fix Vegetarian
Robin Robertson
Andrews & McMeel
4520 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111
www.andrewsmcmeel.com
9780740763748, $16.95, www.amazon.com

A vegetarian diet is not only healthier than a non-vegetarian diet, in this day of economic stress and shrinking domestic budgets, a vegetarian diet is less expensive than a non-vegetarian diet. What's not so generally well known is that vegetarian dishes can be prepared and served in less time than it would take to go to a 'fast food' restaurant and be served. Drawing upon her more than twenty-five years of experience and expertise as a chef, caterer, cooking teacher, food columnist, and cookbook writer, Robin Robertson has compiled 150 easy and quick to prepare vegetarian dishes that will please any palate and satisfy any appetite. Offering dishes for every dining occasion, the recipes range from Roasted Bell Peppers; Creamy Tortilla Soup; Peanut Butter and Tomato Quesadillas; and Sicilian Couscous; to Ginger Sesame Noodles with Broccoli; Roasted Winter Vegetables with Seitan Chunks and Brown Gravy; Jamaican Red Bean Stew; and Pecan Shortbread Cookies. Enthusiastically recommended, "Quick-Fix Vegetarian" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to any personal, family, or community library cookbook collection!

Wanderlust
Joe Mannke & John DeMers
Bistro Le Cep
11112 Westheimer, Houston, TX 77042
0978737105, $28.50, www.amazon.com

"Wanderlust: The Life Of A Globetrotting Chef" is the personal story of Joe Mannke and begins just prior to World War II in Omerania (a territory divided between German and Poland) and the free city of Danzig. The ravages of war necessitated Joe to begin at the age of 14 as an apprentice in the culinary arts associated with the Hotel Bayerishcher Hof in Munich in 1956. By the age of 21 Joe was in America, having previously worked in South African hotel kitchens of Durba, Johannesburg, and Port Elizabeth. Once in America he obtained employment at the Stork Club, then the Sonesta Hotels. By age 27 he assumed the position of executive chef for Anthony's Pier Four. Then in 1971 when Disney opened their 'Magic Kingdom' in Orlando, Florida, Joe became Executive Chef for the Contemporary Resort Hotel and Polynesian Village with a staff of more than 100 chefs and the production of over 20,000 meals a day. Three years later Joe was working in Houston for the Hyatt Regency as its Food and Beverage Director and Executive chef. Then in 1978 Joe opened his own restaurant, the Rotisserie for Beef and Bird in Houston, Texas. All of this impressive culinary memoir and more are laid out in "Wanderlust" along with occasional illustrations and a great many recipes ranging from Banana Rum Cake and Bermuda Fish Chowder; to Sauteed Veal Medallions in Mustard Sauce to Chilled Gazpache. Unique and memorable, "Wanderlust" is highly recommended for personal and community library collections as both a biography and a cookbook.


The Architecture Shelf

Jean-Yves Barrier: Architect and Urbanist
Andrew Ayers
Edition Axel Menges
c/o National Book Network
4270 Boston Way, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
9783932565243 $109.00 www.nbnbooks.com 1-800-462-6420

Jean-Yves Barrier: Architect and Urbanist is a showcase of thirty years of architectural work of Jean-Yves Barrier, ranging from individual houses to apartment buildings, schools, libraries, university buildings, museums, town halls, offices, public spaces and thoroughfares, to civil-engineering infrastructure. Common threads in Barrier's creations include environmentally friendly "passive" energy-saving designs, and a will to promote pragmatic urbanism without necessarily surrendering to monotonous mass-identical productions. Full color photography on almost every page (except for the sample floor plans, which are in black-and-white) complemented by extensive analytical text are the hallmark of this in-depth study. A worthy and welcome addition to architectural studies shelves, especially recommended for college libraries.

Louisville Architectural Tours
Lisa Westmoreland-Doherty
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764330384 $14.99 www.schifferbooks.com

Louisville Architectural Tours: 19th Century Gems is an eye-catching architectural tour of Louisville, Kentucky's historic districts, featuring full-color photographs on virtually every page. From the Conrad Caldwell House and the Pink Palace of Old Louisville, to the Gothic Revival-themed bed-and-breakfast at the Inn at Woodhaven, Louisville Architectural Tours features five tours that explore architectural history preserved. A beautiful book especially recommended for (architectural) armchair travelers!

A World History Of Architecture
Michael Fazio, Marian Moffett, Lawrence Wodehouse
The McGraw Hill Companies
Two Penn Plaza, 11th Fl., NY, NY 10121-2298
www.books.mcgraw-hill.com
9780071544795, $65.00, 1-877-833-5524

The making of buildings from natural materials is older than the recorded history of the human race. Even in paleolithic and neolithic eras there were remarkable, complex, and enduring structures as evidenced by archaeological discoveries. The collaborative work of the team of Michael Fazio (Professor Emeritus of Architecture, Mississippi State University), Marian Moffett and Lawrence Wodehouse (both of whom have extensive careers teaching architecture at the university level), and now in a newly updated and expanded second edition, "A World History Of Architecture" begins with the advent of the city state architecture beginning with the Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, Hittites, Assyrians, and Egyptians, then proceeds with an architectural survey of the ancient Greece, India, Southeast Asia, China, Japan, and the Romans. There are detailed chapters covering the distinctive architecture of the Early Christians and Byzantines, Islam, medieval and romanesque Europe. Also presented are informative chapters on Gothic architecture, indigenous American and African architecture, as well as the buildings and structures of the Renaissance and Baroque eras. The final four (and extensive) chapters deal with 18th, 19th, and 20th century architectural advances, as well as 'Modernisms in the Mid- and Late Twenty-First Century and Beyond'. Superbly illustrated throughout, the text is consistently informed and informative, making "A World History Of Architecture" a critically essential addition to academic and community library Architectural Studies collections -- and is especially recommended for non-specialist general readers with an interest in architectural history.

Geologics
Vicente Guallart
Actar D
158 Lafayette St., 5th fl., NY, NY 10013
9788495951618, $47.00, www.actar.com

Vicente Guallart is an accomplished Spanish architect and a expert in the subject of the new media who in "Geologics: Geography, Information And Architecture" provides the reader with a superbly illustrated and informative survey of the technological, social and cultural changes that have made our contemporary 'information society' what it is today. This 384-page compendium of information addresses architecture's contribution to the construction of systems for inhabitable environments, as well as issues presented by diverse environmental, social, and economic conditions. Addressing a synthesis and synergy of collaborations with specialists and experts in the fields of geology, anthropology, sociology, engineering, economics, software, and interface design in projects affecting urban development, "Geologics" represents a seminal and insightful body of work that will prove an invaluable addition to professional and academic Architectural Studies reference collections and reading lists.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

Crazy Faith
Susan K. Williams Smith
Judson Press
PO Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851
9780817015312, $15.00, www.judsonpress.com

It's easy to believe what is socially acceptable. But when you go outside it, you're called crazy. "Crazy Faith: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Lives" travels through history and focuses on people of many faiths who did outrageous acts for their time in the name of their faith. From Moses standing up to the leader of the Egyptians, to Mother Teresa's endless charity in India, these people were driven by faith and earned their place in history. "Crazy Faith" is a spiritual book of history, sure to inspire.

A Compendium of the Theological Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg
Samuel M. Warren
Swedenborg Publishers
320 North Church St., West Chester, PA 19380
9780877851201, $29.95, www.swedenborg.com

Originally compiled in 1875 by Samuel M. Warren, "A Compendium of the Theological Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg" includes Swedenborg's philosophical writings from the abstract nature of God, man, and the human soul, to the application of charity, free will and spiritual regeneration. Swedenborg's interests and writings on such diverse subjects as the history and rites of the Christian church to the wonders of the afterlife. Scientist, theologian, and metaphysical researcher, Emanuel Swedenborg published more than seven thousand pages of commentary based on his communication with the spiritual world. This 816-page collection of his works represent extracts of key passages from this massive body of work and are organized so as to be 'user friendly' accessible by grouping the entries according to subject areas for each reference. This new edition of "A Compendium of the Theological Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg" is an invaluable and highly recommended reference for students and scholars of Emanuel Swedenborg work.

On the Pilgrim Way to Trondheim, new edition
Stein Thue, editor
Tapir Academic Press
c/o International Specialized Book Services (ISBS)
920 NE 58th, Suite 300, Portland, OR 97213-3786
9788251923033, $30.00, www.tapirforag.com

The religious journey is not something that is entirely lost on today's world. "On the Pilgrim Way To Trondheim" is a new and updated edition helping those who want to take the religiously historic journey to Trondheim like it was during the time of Saint Olav Haraldsson, the patron saint of Norway. A unique experience, the book covers the history of the road and gives readers what they need to know in order to experience it for themselves. Historical and intriguing, "On the Pilgrim Way to Trondheim" is a fine addition to religious collections with a focus on pilgrimage.

Festal Orations
Nonna Verna Harrison, translator
St. Vladimir's Seminary Press
575 Scarsdale Road, Crestwood, NY 10707
9780881413250, $15.00, www.svspress.com

One of the earliest Saints of Christianity, St. Gregory of Nazianzus was one of the most important figures in early Christianity. "Festal Orations: Saint Gregory of Nazianzus" is a collection of the man's festal speeches, deftly translated by Nonna Verna Harrison. His orations bring to light the problems Christians faced in the day, and the book covers his life and times as well as his acts earned him posthumous sainthood. "Festal Orations" is a must for historians who focus on earlier Christianity.

The Atheist's Way
Eric Maisel
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
9781577316428, $14.00, www.newworldlibary.com

Religion is a means to an end, but not the only means. "The Atheist's Way: Living Well Without Gods": is a spiritual guide for the typically unspiritual. Encouraging atheists and agnostics to find their moral and spiritual ground in the world and telling them that they do not need God to embrace the human spirit and live a full, happy, and healthy life, "The Atheist's Way" is a must for these individuals who do not seek God, but do seek what God allegedly offers.

Miracle As Modern Conundrum In South Asian Religious Traditions
Corinne G. Dempsey & Selva J. Raj, editors
State University of New York Press
State University Plaza, Albany, NY 12246-0001
9780791476338, $65.00, www.sunypress.edu

Miracles are commonly defined as phenomena that cannot be accounted for by natural means but are the product of the supernatural or divine. Every religion has its own version of the miraculous as part of its theological and cultural history. Knowledgeably co-edited by Corinne G. Dempsey (Associate Professor of Religious Studies, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point) and Selva J. Raj (former Chair and Stanley S. Kresge Professor of Religious Studies, Albion College), "Miracle As Modern Conundrum In South Asian Religious Traditions" is a compendium of contributions by scholars who draw upon the diverse religious traditions of South Asia that includes Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, and Christianity to explore how modern miracles pose complex problems as divine proofs and sources of embarrassing expose, as well as contributing to the issues of modernity and tradition for believers and non-believers. A seminal work of impeccable and diverse scholarship, "Miracle As Modern Conundrum In South Asian Religious Traditions" is a welcome and core addition to academic library International Religious Studies reference collections and reading lists.


The American History Shelf

Facts About The Presidents, eighth edition
Joseph Nathan Kane & Janet Podell
H.W. Wilson Company
950 University Avenue, Bronx, NY 10452
0824210875, $150.00, www.hwwilson.com

Now in a fully updated eighth edition, "Facts About The Presidents From George Washington To Barack Obama" is an essential, core addition to every school and community library. Divided into two distinct parts, "Facts About The Presidents" offers biographical data on all 44 of America's presidents, as well as comparative data with respects to presidential chronology, family history, personal background, education and career, residence, physical characteristics, death and burial, commemoratives, and general statistics. Of special note is the section devoted to presidential elections, conventions, candidates, election returns, the vice-presidents, and more. "Facts About The Presidents" is an 816-page compendium of superbly researched, organized and presented information covering everything from presidential vetos to presidential salaries, making it an invaluable reference for students as well as an engaging browse for non-specialist general readers with an interest in those who have held the office and responsibility of presiding over the nation from its founding to the present day.

Oneota Flow
David S. Faldet
University of Iowa Press
100 Kuhl House, 119 West Park Road, Iowa City, IA 52242-1000
9781587297809 $27.50 www.uiowapress.org 1-800-621-2736

Written by David Faldet (Jones Professor of English, Luther College) Oneota Flow: The Upper Iowa River & Its People relates the story of Upper Iowa, while remaining mindful of the vision of great conservationist Aldo Leopold. From the Upper Iowa River's geologic origin, to the Native Americans who inhabited the region, to the American colonists who settled there, to today's modern era, Oneota Flow spans the gamut of evolution in the land's natural and human history. A positive message about the importance of maintaining the river through stewardship of the biological communities that connect to it rounds out this inviting and enjoyable historical chronicle.

Old Dominion, New Commonwealth
Ronald L. Heinemann, John G. Kolp, Anthony S. Parent Jr., & William G. Shade
University of Virginia Press
PO Box 400318, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4318
9780813927695, $29.95 www.upress.virginia.edu 1-800-831-3406

Written by four current and emeritus professors of history, Old Dominion, New Commonwealth: A History of Virginia 1607-2007 is an in-depth chronicle of the state of Virginia's history since the founding of the Jamestown colony. A handful of black-and-white photographs illustrate this fascinating chronicle of the changes that beset Virginia over the centuries, accessible to scholars and lay readers alike. A worthy and highly recommended addition to both public and college library American History shelves. "No other Southern state suffered the devastation that Virginia experienced during the [civil] war. It had been the chief battleground in the conflict. More than 40,000 citizens had perished, most of them in military service to the Confederacy. Thousands more were crippled... Six months after Appomattox thousands of black and white Virginians were surviving on rations provided by the Union army. Disease was rampant. With Confederate currency worthless and personal savings wiped out, a barter economy developed."

Ready, Booted, and Spurred
William A. Frazier & Mark K. Christ, editors
Butler Center Books
c/o Butler Center For Arkansas Studies
100 Rock Street, Little Rock, AR 72201
9780980089752, $19.95

Ready, Booted, and Spurred: Arkansas in the U.S.-Mexican War is an anthology of essays by five learned scholars discussing Arkansas' role in America's "forgotten war" with Mexico during 1846-1848. From a thoughtful examination of each phase of the war, to true stories of the personal adventures, exploits, and tragedies of those who left Arkansas to join the fight, Ready, Booted, and Spurred reveals how the consequences of the war permanently changed Arkansas' role in the nation. Endnotes and an index round out this meticulous analysis of long-standing historical repercussions. Highly recommended especially for Arkansas state history shelves.


The Art Shelf

Crossroads and Connections
Central Washington University Art Department
WSU Press
PO Box 645910, Pullman, WA 99164-5910
www.wsupress.wsu.edu
9780874223002, $29.95, www.amazon.com

Fifty-eight artists who are also alumni of Central Washington university participated in a memorable exhibition in April 2007 and held simultaneously at the Sarah Spurgeon Gallery on campus and in downtown Ellensburg, Washington, at the Gallery One Visual Arts Center. Represented in "Crossroads and Connections: Central Washington University Art Alumni Exhibition" and reproduced in full color are works from sculptors, painters, photographers, graphic designers, fiber and ceramic artists, metal smiths, professors, teachers, and graduate art students from 1954 through 1979. Informed and informative, each featured artist is provided with a succinct biographical and/or professional summary -- along with their class year designation. A superbly produced, organized and presented art catalog, "Crossroads and Connections" is a model of such publications and would well serve as a template for similar projects by other university art department and alumni associations.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Save Your Horse
Michelle Staples
Red Jeans Ink
PO Box 106, Point Arena, CA 95468
0978568508, $24.95, www.redjeansink.com

Sooner or later every horse owner or trainer is faced with having to extricate an animal from some source of entrapment or restraint. These conditions can arise from a variety of incurrences ranging from an overturned trailer, to a fall, to being mired in. Michelle Staples draws upon her many years of experience and expertise in "Save Your Horse: A Horse Owner's Guide To Large Animal Rescue" to provide step-by-step instructions on extricating a horse from such conditions, including vertical extrication from a hole or ravine, as well as diagonal extrication from a steep slope. Of special note is the horse rescue information provided for emergency responders on how to behave around a horse, how to approach and catch a horse, how to halter, lead, tie, and restrain a horse, how to keep a horse down, and how to get a downed horse up, and the information on euthanasia. Enhanced with practical information on calling for help, trailer safety for horse owners, and the use of knots with horses, "Save Your Horse" also features a number of appendices that include general tips for all other livestock, barn fire safety, training and rescue equipment, and more, "Save Your Horse" is an invaluable, thoroughly 'user friendly', and highly recommended reference and resource for all horse owners and trainers. In an ongoing effort to bring as much training to as wide an audience as possible, Michelle has written three "Teach it Yourself" classes, with a fourth expected to be released in the next few months. By way of a postscript to this review, animal safety classes are not widely available, and there are many areas that just can't get instructors. Michelle's classes are designed to fill the need for training where none is available. You don't need any special skills to teach them; just follow the instructions. Horse Awareness and Safety is an all-day class that teaches basic information about horses in both the classroom through a Powerpoint presentation, and in an arena with actual horses. Designed for emergency responders, it can also be used by any individual or group that wants to learn about horses. Intro to Large Animal Rescue for Horse Owners is a 3-4 hour class that teaches horse owners about barn fire safety, trailer safety and how to rescue a horse from entrapment. The class includes hands-on practice tying an emergency halter and a lift harness, plus information on calling 9-1-1 and a description of the Incident Command System used by responders at the scene of an incident. Emergency Pet First Aid is a 3-4 hour class based on human CPR/first aid training. Designed for pet owners (dog/cat/pocket pets/birds). Hands-on practice includes CPR and bandaging.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Death Gods
Ernest L. Abel
Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc.
88 Post Road West, P.O. Box 5007, Westport, CT 06881-5007
9780313357121, $65.00, www.greenwood.com

As recorded from antiquity down to the present day, every human culture, religion, and mythology we know of has incorporated within it beliefs, legends, folklore, and theological systems that incorporate such concepts as kingdoms of the dead, evils spirits, death gods, demons, the living dead such as vampires and zombies, apocalyptic scenarios, and the supernatural. In "Death Gods: An Encyclopedia Of The Rules, Evil Spirits, And Geographies Of The Dead", academician Ernest L. Abel has compiled an encyclopedic and alphabetically organized listing of these phenomena including the 'underworlds' from such diverse cultures as the Aztec, the Babylonians, the Celts, the Egyptians, the Christians, the Buddhists, the Greeks, the Norse, the Polynesians, and others. Also included is an impressive listing of 'death gods' and demons. Enhanced with the inclusion of extensive references and a comprehensive index, "Death Gods" is a unique and highly recommended addition for personal, community, and academic library Metaphysical Studies, Mythology, and Religious History reference collections.


The Poetry Shelf

Seaway
Todd Swift
Salmon Poetry
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
9781903392928, $24.95, www.dufoureditions.com

Poetry is a universal form of communication for thoughts, ideas, insights, and emotions expressed not only in the rhythm of the words, but in the silent pauses between the words. Such is the case with the poetry of the Canadian poet Todd Swift as presented in "Seaway: New And Selected Poems", a compendium of eighty poems of superbly written free-form verse that is enthusiastically recommended for personal, academic, and community library Poetry collections and reading lists. 'The Call': The call, when it came/Was Hong Kong quality:/Could have been from/The next room; which it was./I wasn't glad to take it/But the phone range and rang/And in reverse. The voice/Kept saying cockles-mussels./I went and took the call/And now and now/We're gathered here, that is all.

Allegheny, Monongahela
Erinn Batykefer
Red Hen Press
PO Box 3537, Granada Hills, CA 91394
9781597091343 $16.95 www.redhen.org

Winner of the 2007 Benjamin Saltman Poetry Award, Allegheny, Monongahela a poetic drama about the complex relationship of two sisters as they grow up in Western Pennsylvania. Narrated through sonnets and free verse, Allegheny, Monongahela touches upon the issues of violence within the family, and the powerful impulses for limitless creativity and limitless self-destruction. An absorbing tale of the myriad facets of human nature. "Dog Poem": In my dog skin, I am always starving. / I am wildly alert, distrustful of things that do not bleed / or otherwise die. // I've been known to drag old bones with me for miles. / If I bury them, the only question is how long / till I'm clawing the ground to feel them under my teeth again. / I never satisfy this want.

Target Practice
Jan Chronister
Parallel Press
372 Memorial Library, 728 State Street, Madison, WI 53575
9781893311893, $10.00 http://parallelpress.library.wisc.edu 1-800-636-0071

Written by award-winning poet and college teacher Jan Chronister, Target Practice is a flat-spined chapbook of brief, free-verse poems that offer a moment's contemplation about the everyday matters of life. Thoughtful and picturesque, Target Practice touches upon emotions of regret and hope, as well as the recalcitrant nature of humans to accept inevitable change. Highly recommended. "Divorce": For twenty years she carried / fragile panes of window glass / up the fire tower steps. / Why was she surprised to find / she had nothing to show; / her life sucked into the vacuum cleaner / with lost buttons, stray pins, single earrings. // Surprised, / as if she didn't know / that a bag of broken glass, / when dropped from the tower's top, / becomes a mound of crystal dust.

Arrogant Bones
Larry Schug
North Star Press St. Cloud, Inc.
PO Box 451, St. Cloud, MN 56302
9780878393060, $12.95, www.northstarpress.com

Man of the world and experienced poet Larry Schug brings readers his next volume of verse with "Arrogant Bones". Drawing upon his long life and resume, Larry brings much of his experience out in his verse, leading to down to earth work that anybody can understand and enjoy. "Arrogant Bones" is an excellent effort from Schug, and will make readers want to seek more. "Construction Accident": He'd been workin'/demolition sites/since Jericho;/thought he knew/all about/tumblin' walls./But you know/them demo sites,/so noisy sometimes/you can't hear/a trumpet blow.

Delivered
Sarah Gambito
Persea Books
853 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
9780892553464, $14.00, www.perseabooks.com

With one anthology behind her, Sarah Gambito returns for a second round with "Delivered". The work of a strong-willed, independent woman of the world, "Delivered" speaks her mind and provides entertainment alongside insight in a fine well-composed package that lets one see the world from her eyes. "Delivered" is a fine volume, sure to leave readers yearning for more. "One Minute": What would it do to curse you/in my learned languages/to curse the left leg with the right.//Semper Fi,/Il pleure dans mon coeur//Panicking and picnicking/with yourself and a bad shovel./Breaking into amethysts/sighing at last.


The Environmental Studies Shelf

Climate Change And European Emissions Trading
Michael Faure & Marjan Peeters
Edward Elgar Publishing
9 Dewey Court, Northampton, MA 01060-3815
9781847208989, $165.00, www.e-elgar.com

After decades of debate and scientific inquiry, it is now commonly acknowledged that global warming is real, and that if unchecked it will prove globally catastrophic for the human race. The latest edition to the outstanding 'New Horizons in Environmental Law' series from Edward Elgar Publishing, "Climate Change And European Emissions Trading: Lessons For Theory And Practice" is expertly co-edited by Michael Faure (Professor of Comparative and International Environmental Law, Maastricht University, The Netherlands) and Marjan Peeters (Professor of Environmental Policy and Law, Maastricht University, The Netherlands). After an informative introduction by the editors, "Climate Change And European Emissions Trading" presents a collection of twelve superbly written contributions by leading researchers and scientists on greenhouse gas emissions trading by members of the European Union, as well as alternatives and new developments in this specialized area of global warming reduction related commercial exchange. Concluding with thoughtful and thought-provoking conclusion by the editors, "Climate Change And European Emissions Trading" is a seminal and strongly recommended work of particular relevance and value for both academic and governmental reference library collections on International Environmental Studies.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Chemobrain
Stewart B. Fleishman
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, New York, 14228-2119
9781591026693, $18.95, www.prometheusbooks.com

Chemotherapy is a last resort, and its side effects are exactly why. "Chemobrain: How Cancer Therapies Can Affect Your Mind: What Patients, Families, and Doctors Need to Know" is an exploration of Chemotherapy and its effects on the human mind. Telling the story of how cancer survivors beat their cancer with the treatment, but have suffered losses in other areas, Fleishman explains the phenomenon with stories and what sufferers should do to deal with 'chemobrain'. "Chemobrain" is an exploration of the other side of cancer survival, enlightening and highly recommended.

The Human Powered Home
Tamara Dean
New Society Publishers
PO Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC V0R 1X0, Canada
9780865716018, $29.95, www.newsociety.com

With the recent rise in concerns over energy, some are looking to alternative sources for energy - such as humanity. "The Human-Powered Home: Choosing Muscles Over Motors" is a guide to the world of pedal powered and other manual devices that could save its users hundreds every year as well as get them valuable exercise that's sadly lost to most of today's society. Exploring human-powered machines that one never would have expected to be possible, Dean brings many new and useful ideas in "The Human-Powered Home", something enthusiastically recommended to those who want to trim the fat along with the power bill.

Freedom in your Relationship with Food
Myra Lewin
Synergy Books
PO Box 80107, Austin, TX 78758
Phenix & Phenix Literary Publicists (publicity)
2100 Kramer Lane, Suite 300, Austin, TX 78758
9780981546216, $16.95, www.synergybooks.net

Food is no longer a source of joy for many people, but instead a source of stress and misery. "Freedom In Your Relationship with Food" is a guide for making food what it should be - a source of enjoyment and nourishment instead of what is killing us. Using the discipline of yoga, Myra Lewin tries to inspire readers to improve their relationship with food so that other aspects of their existence may flourish. An interesting examination of the spirituality of what runs our bodies, "Freedom in Your Relationship with Food" is a strong dual choice for spirituality and health collections.

When Altruism Isn't Enough
Sally Satel
American Enterprise Institute
1150 Seventeenth Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
9780844742663, $25.00, www.aei.org

If people were willing to risk their own lives to help others universally, the world would be a better place - but it's not. "When Atruism Isn't Enough: The Case for Compensating Kidney Donors" is a look at the ethical issues around America's organ shortage. When someone needs a kidney, finding a good match is hard, and the good match is not always willing. But throwing money at the problem presents another issue - is it ethical to sell one's organs for profit to save a life? Is it ethical to deny one a kidney if it means their death? Intriguing and a very real issue many doctors face today, "When Altruism Isn't Enough" is a scholarly look at this serious ethical debate.

Medical Biostatistics
Abhaya Indrayan
Chapman & Hall/CRC Press
c/o Taylor & Francis Group
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487
1584888873, $99.95, www.crcpress.com

It is in the arena of medical research that the hopes for cures to presently intractable illnesses and improvements in the treatment of injuries are to be found. Such research must be held to and conducted under the rigorous standards as any other field of science. Such standards are firmly grounded on statistical analysis of research student results. The need for a thorough master of medical biostatistics is predicated on a mastery of the advances in this specialized field of study. That's why a newly updated and significantly expanded second edition of Abhaya Indrayan's "Medical Biostatistics" textbook has been published as part of the Chapman & Hall/CRC Biostatistic Series". In addition to a thorough coverage of basic biostatical concepts and methods including mean and standard deviation, logistic regression, and multivariate methods, this updated edition of "Medical Biostatistics" is enhanced with complete chapters on clinical trials, observational studies, laboratory experiments, survival analysis, and logistic regression. Of special note is the chapter on clinometric and evidence-based medicine. There are expanded discussions on the relevant subjects of epistemic uncertainties, crossover designs, equivalence trials and studies, hazard functions, and the log-rank test. Additionally there are sample size formulas for relative risk, odds ratio, and survival studies, illustrative examples drawn from contemporary medical literature, and numbered steps for many of the detailed procedures and remarks. "Medical Biostatistics" is an indispensable textbook and a core addition to academic library and medical school research and reference collections.


The Aviation Shelf

Flying Across America
Daniel L. Rust
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Dr., Norman, OK 73069
9780806138701, $45.00, www.oupress.com

In a single generation, civilian aviation went from a few adventure hardy men and women trying out the new transportation technology of airplanes, to a common place occurrence among a majority of the American population. What might not be obvious to the current generation whose experience with air flight transportation is one of crowded terminals, weather related delays and cancellations, missed connections and lost luggage, is that in its 'Golden Age', travel by airplane was one of elegance, luxury, and the thrill of a lifetime. "Flying Across America: The Airline Passenger Experience" by Daniel L. Rust (Assistant Director of the Center for Transportation Studies at the University of Missouri--St. Louis), is a superbly illustrated and informatively written account of the evolution of commercial passenger service from its beginnings in the 1920s through its increasing accessibility in the 1960s, to the Post 9/11 problematic conditions that are the present day norm. Laced through this deftly written history are firsthand accounts from celebrities like Will Rogers (who ultimately lost his life in an air plane crash) to ordinary American passengers. Unique and inherently entertaining, "Flying Across America" is a welcome and highly recommended addition to community, and academic library Aviation Studies and American Aviation History reference collections and personal reading lists.


The Travel Shelf

Florida
Jeff Campbell & Collaborators
Lonely Planet
150 Linden St., Oakland, CA 94607
9781741046977, $21.99, www.lonelyplanet.com

Florida is one of America's biggest vacation destinations, and Lonely Planet's "Florida" will tell travelers why. With well over five hundred pages of information, Lonely Planet has aimed to give readers a compact yet complete and comprehensive guide to traveling to Florida. With info on scuba diving, embracing the wide range of cultural exposure, finding something for the kids, and environmental tourism, author Jeff Campbell and his crew leave little out. A straight information guide for travelers or potential travelers, "Florida" is a fine acquisition to supplement one's trip to Florida.

Mount Rogers, second edition
Johnny Molloy
The University of Tennessee Press
293 Communications Building, Knoxville, TN 37996-0325
9781572336285, $24.95, www.utpress.org

Some areas of nature just have so much to offer that it can be overwhelming to enjoy it all. Now in an updated and expanded second edition, "Mount Rogers: National Recreation Area Guidebook" is a complete and comprehensive resource for the Mount Rogers region in Southern Appalachia and everything the area can offer its travelers. Molloy loves the region and wants other to develop an appreciation for it as well, and his book succeeds at this aim very well. "Mount Rogers" is a fine travel manual, and is sure to give outdoors lovers a new destination to consider.

Italy Luxury
Levinson Family Guides
Max Publications
825 Malvern Hill, Alpharetta, GA 30022
9780963357755, $25.00, www.italyluxuryfamilyhotels.com

Rome, Venice, Milan, just three of many reasons to consider a vacation to Italy. "Italy Luxury: Family Hotels & Resorts" is a travel guide for the family that wishes to see the world together, focusing on the boot shaped country of Italy. Covering a countless number of luxury hotels and resorts throughout this country and outlining which each has to offer and how family friendly it is, "Italy Luxury" is a must for any family looking towards an Italian vacation with a good deal of style thrown in for good measure.

The Little Black Book Of Florence & Tuscany
Vena Neskow
Peter Pauper Press, Inc.
202 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains, NY 10601
9781593598310, $14.95, www.peterpauper.com

Of all the popular travel destination in Italy, none rank higher than the Renaissance cities and the rolling countryside of Florence and Tuscany. That's why "The Little Black Book Of Florence & Tuscany" (the newest addition to the outstanding pocket travel guide series of 'Little Black Books' from Peter Pauper Press) is a 'must' for any business traveler or vacationer to those two colorful and history laden communities. Enhanced with the inclusion of eight fold-out maps and a wealth of 'insider tips' makes this highly portable, enthusiastically recommended, 256-page compendium of practical and 'user friendly' information on where to go, what to see, things to do, and places to eat and shop. An indispensable resource for planning itineraries and getting the most out of a visit, whether it be an extended weekend or a lengthy vacation stay.


The Education Shelf

Flip For Non-Fiction Comprehension
Emily Cayuso
Maupin House Publishing
PO Box 90148, Gainesville, FL 32607
9781934338377, $27.95, www.maupinhouse.com

The newest addition to the outstanding 'Flip' series from Maupin House Publishing, "Flip For Non-Fiction Comprehension" by Emily Cayuso (an instructional coordinator and reading specialist in San Antonio, Texas) features fifty-five 'kid friendly' lessons focused on the specific strategies, text features, and text structures appropriate for students in grades K-5. A free-standing, tabletop book, "Flip For Non-Fiction Comprehension" provides thoroughly 'user accessible' comprehension exercises specifically designed to enhance reading comprehension skills. Each of these elements can be incorporated into classroom activities before, during, or after reading. A highly recommended curriculum supplement for building student reading comprehension skills with respect to non-fiction texts, "Flip For Non-Fiction Comprehension" is ideal for home schooling as well as traditional classroom curriculums.

Assistive Technology for Students Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired
Ike Presley and Frances Mary D'Andrea
AFB Press
c/o American Foundation for the Blind
11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300, New York, NY 10001
9780891288909 $49.95 www.afb.org

Written by experts in the field, Assistive Technology for Students Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired: A Guide to Assessment is an omnibus compilation designed to inform educators of the latest technology designed to aid learning in blind or visually impaired students. Chapters cover technologies for accessing printed or electronic information, producing written communication, producing materials in alternate formats, the assistive technology assessment process, how to write a recommendations report, how to implement recommendations, and more. Copies of sample assessment forms round out this "must-have" reference and resource for anyone charged with educating visually impaired students.

Curriculum Development for Adult Learners in the Global Community, Volume II
Victor C. X. Wang
Krieger
1725 Krieger Drive, Malabar, FL 32950
9781575243009, $36.50, www.krieger-publishing.com

There are two sides to every interaction, and a way to do everything poorly and well. "Curriculum Development for Adult Learners in the Global Community Volume II: Teaching and Learning" is the second volume in Krieger's series on adult education around the world, discussing the importance of cultural needs in education. Building a method out of well-researched concept, Wang presents many ideas that are to help educators deal with the challenges adult learners face. A must if one has the previous volume, "Curriculum Development for Adult Learners in the Global Community Volume II" is a strong choice for adult educators and collections on the subject.


The Christian Studies Shelf

Taking Jesus to Work
Vera R. Jackson
Chosen
c/o Baker Publishing Group
11400 Hampshire Ave. S, Bloomington, MN 55438
9780800794613, $13.99, www.chosenbooks.com

Jesus is in your heart, and he's still there even when you're working. "Taking Jesus to Work: Living Out Your Faith on the Job" is a guide to balancing one's career and God. Encouraging people at any level of a career, be it flipping burgers or flipping on Powerpoint presentations, one can mix God with their job with much success and make themselves a better worker as more devout follower. "Taking Jesus to Work" is a fine choice for the devout career person.

A Quiet Reality
Emilio Marrero, Jr.
FaithWalk Publishing
c/o CSS Publishing Company
517 South Main Street, Lima, OH 45804
9780788026171 $15.99 www.csspub.com

A Quiet Reality: A Chaplain's Journey into Babylon, Iraq with the Marine Expeditionary Force is the true-life testimony of Navy chaplain Emilio Marrero, who has served the Navy and Marine Corps for over 29 years, including during Operation Desert Storm and two tours in Iraq. A Quiet Reality focuses upon Marrero's time in Iraq with the Marine Expeditionary Force. An up-close and personal testimony of the complex nature of the two Iraq wars and subsequent occupation, A Quiet Reality combines an understanding of practical realities with abiding faith. Especially recommended reading for Christians of all walks of life, and for church libraries. "I find it no accident that the communities that deal intimately with the quiet realities of war - death, maiming, destruction, grief, humiliation, hunger dislocation, finite mortality - are the very communities that embrace the chaplaincy and understand the need for a community of spiritually focused professionals who care for the soul and spirit of its combatants. The further we get from the intimate face of war and sanitize its process by employing weapons remotely, relegating combat to inanimate objects like missiles and never seeing or smelling the consequences of the ground war, the less conscientious we become of the effects of war and the human toll it can have."

The God I Don't Understand
Christopher J. H. Wright
Zondervan
5300 Patterson Avenue, S.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49530
B&B Media Group (publicity)
109 South Main Street Corsicana, TX 75110
9780310275466, $19.99, www.zondervan.com

God is a tough topic, for even those that believe in him unwaveringly. "The God I Don't Understand: Reflections on Tough Questions of Faith" is a Christian's doubts about his relationship with God, and pondering the unanswerable questions that so often plague him when trying to be faithful to his lord. An ultimately religious manual for those who believe but are not without wonder, "The God I Don't Understand" is an intriguing read, sure to provide much food for thought for the Christian intellectual.

Top 10 Ways to Defuse Your Congregational Time Bomb
Julianna Kristina Tenny-Brittian
The Pilgrim Press
700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115
9780829818048, $20.00, www.thepilgrimpress.com

Where people gather, drama forms, even in the house of the Lord. "Top 10 Ways to Defuse Your Congregational Time Bomb" is a guide for church leaders to become community mediators who help their congregation solve conflicts in the most peaceful and faith inspiring ways possible. If handled incorrectly, these bombs of drama will explode and lead to a dead church - which will kill the faith of its former members. "Top 10 Ways to Defuse Your Congregational Time Bomb" is highly recommended reading for any religious leader who knows their followers on a personal level.

The Life and Miracles of Saint Maurus
John B. Wickstrom, translator
Cistercian Publications
3642 Monks Road, Trappist, KY 40051
9780879073237, $16.95, www.cistercianpublications.org

A tradition is nothing if it isn't held up through the years. "The Life and Miracles of Saint Maurus: Disciple of Benedict, Apostle to France" is a biography of Saint Marus, one of the men who held up the Benedictine tradition through the dark ages. Telling this monk's story and how he ascended to sainthood through service to his brothers and God, John B. Wickstrom does a great job translating this account of the medieval church. "The Life and Miracles of Saint Maurus" is a fine recommendation to any religious collection seeking to be more complete in its information.

First Principles
David E. Crosby
Dove Inspirational Press
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053
9781589806795, $12.95, www.pelicanpub.com

Christians should aspire to be more like Jesus, but what are the man's core principles? "First Principles" is a book covering the core principles of Christianity and what they mean in today's world. Drawn from Baptist ideals, Crosby goes over many of the core principles of faith, and describes them with great detail, breaking down each statement with divisions and further elaboration. "First Principles" is a good read for those who want to get in touch with the fundamentals of faith.

Chasing Chariots
KD Weaver
CSS Publishing Company
517 S. Main Street, Lima, OH 45804
9780788026102, $10.95, www.csspub.com

The Chariot is a symbol of power and strength, things elusive to most in modern society. "Chasing Chariots: Eleven Biblical Lessons for Christian Growth" draws from the Bible to inspire Christians to seize what they are seeking so they can finally catch the Chariot. The lessons touch on coping and conquering change, and facing maturity in life, among other vital matters. "Chasing Chariots" is a must for Christians looking for a little more inspiration in life.

C.S. Lewis on the Fullness of Life
Dennis J. Billy
Paulist Press
997 Macarthur Blvd. Mahwah, NJ 07430
9780809145430, $14.95, www.paulistpress.com

C.S. Lewis was one of the most influential writers of the twentieth century. "C.S. Lewis on the Fullness of Life: Longing for Deep Heaven" takes the novelist's approach to his devout faith, as he evaluated the major aspects of Christianity from his perspective. Dennis Billy evaluates the writer's writings on the subject, and offers a look into the mind of Lewis, his faith, and perhaps the faith of the reader as well. "C.S. Lewis on the Fullness of Life" is a top pick for those who want to understand the faith behind Narnia.


The Parenting Shelf

The Parent's Guide to Baby Signs
Leann Sebrey
Gallaudet University Press
800 Florida Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20002-3695
9781563683985, $19.95, gupress.galladet.edu

There's more to human communication than the spoken word. "The Parents' Guide to Baby Signs: Early Communication with Your Infant" is a guide for parents who want their child to embrace sign language as a way of speaking with one's infant, as a method that can be used from a far younger age than verbal speech. With a step-by-step process of trying to get one's child to understand sign language, it's aimed at hearing impaired families, but the information rings true for any. "The Parents' Guide to Baby Signs" is a fine acquisition for any parent who wants to encourage their child in any way they can.

First Tears Over The Loss Of Your Child
Linda Anderson
ACTA Publications
5559 West Howard Street, Skokie, IL 60077
9780879463878 $14.95 www.actapublications.com 1-800-397-2282

First Tears Over The Loss Of Your Child is a collection of vignettes, thoughts, and comments written by parents who have unexpectedly lost a child - whether infant, toddler, preteen, teen, or adult - for the sake of others undergoing the same, heartbreaking trauma. A work of commiseration and sympathy, First Tears strives to help others through the sorrow and grief that come from devastating loss. Some of the writings are from a Christian perspective, but the majority of the contributions reach out to readers of all faiths and backgrounds. A gift of reconciliation and hope, First Tears Over The Loss Of Your Child is highly recommended. Some of the recommended "Tips for Coping" include "Identify what you're feeling", "Acknowledge your thoughts and share them with others", "Ask for what you need", "Believe in yourself", "Listen", "Set small goals in the beginning", and "Schedule specific times to do something you like".


The Self-Help Shelf

Strategic Acceleration
Tony Jeary
Vanguard Press
c/o Perseus Books Group
387 Park Avenue South, Floor 12, New York, NY 10016
Meryl L. Moss Media Relations (publicity)
155 Post Road East, Suite 8, Westport, CT 06880
9781593155018, $25.95, www.strategicaccleration.com

Speed and success often go hand in hand. "Strategic Acceleration: Succeed at the Speed of Life" is a self-help manual from Tony Jeary, a man who has advised some of the most powerful men in business today. Encouraging readers to reevaluate their life so that they can see what is important and what to focus on to better so that they can get better results at a rate they never thought possible. Communication, understanding, and using your resources to their fullest extent are all-important aspects of Leary's advice. "Strategic Acceleration" is a must for any business leader who thinks they can do much better than they are now.


The Money/Finance Shelf

Financial Survival in Uncertain Times
Deborah Smith Pegues
Harvest House Publishers
990 Owen Loop North, Eugene, Oregon 97402-9173
9780736927277, $10.99, www.harvesthousepublishers.com

When money's tight, wise spending is more important than ever. "Financial Survival in Uncertain Times" is a guide for those fearing the recession and possible depression and what it means for their own personal bank account. Solid spending habits are a must and pulling oneself out of debt is still possible even in tough times, and Pegues offers sound advice on how to accomplish this goal without living in a shack and eating ramen. "Financial Survival in Uncertain Times" is just what one needs to endure financial hardship.

Inquiries into the Nature of Slow Money
Woody Tasch
Chelsea Green Publishing
PO Box 428, 85 North Main Street, Suite 120, White River Junction, VT 05001
9781603580069, $21.95, www.chelseagreen.com

Not every way to make money has to be fast. "Inquiries into the Nature of Slow Money: Investing as if Food, Farms, and Fertility Mattered" is a look at agriculture and its power as a solid investment prospect. Agricultural is a safe, reliable business that will always be needed by society, and while it is slow, there is growth in the industry. Placing one's money there will help one's finances as well as America's food supply. "Inquiries into the Nature of Slow Money" is something to be considered for those looking for sure things amid financial turmoil.

The Smartest Way to Save
Samuel K. Freshman & Heidi E. Clingen
Straightline Publishers
25876 The Old Road, #313, Valencia, CA 91381
9781419656835, $16.99, www.thesmartestway.com

A penny saved is a penny earned, but saving is harder than Mr. Franklin knew. "The Smartest Way to Save: Why You Can't Hang on to Money and What to Do About It" discusses the big challenge many people today face - the inability to save money in the face of the rising cost of living and the need to spend. Freshman & Clingen lay out many money saving tips that one can use to cut back on the spending but not one's life. Addressing debt, living within one's means, and more, "The Smartest Way to Save" is a fine recommendation for those who keep finding themselves with an empty wallet the day after payday.

The Uncommon Investor III
Benj Gallander
Insomniac Press
192 Spadina Avenue, Suite 403, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5T 2C2
9781897178621, $19.95, www.insomiacpress.com

Wise investors don't look at a bad economy and see doom - they see opportunity. "The Uncommon Investor III: How to Earn Superior Returns in the Stock Market Despite Everything" tells the story of an unusual stock market player. Apathetic to the ever-changing ticker on news networks, he has proven successful even during down times. Hoping to pass on his cool wisdom to the small time trader, his ideas are fresh and are well worth the shot. "The Uncommon Investor III" is a solid choice for the stock trader who wants to play the market but doesn't seek to obsess.


The Judicial Studies Shelf

The Organized Lawyer
Kelly Lynn Anders
Carolina Academic Press
700 Kent St., Durham, NC 27701
9781594604300, $20.00, www.cap-press.com

Lawyers, by practice, are swarmed with paperwork. "The Organized Lawyer" is a guide for practitioners of law to getting organized in one's firm, the better to deal with the sea of paperwork that they commonly face. Covering everything from making a better home out of one's office to keeping the books balanced, using electronic devices, and more, "The Organized Lawyer" is strongly recommended for any lawyer who does more organization than actual work.

Assessing the Impact of Transitional Justice
Hugo Van Der Merwe
United States Institute of Peace Press
1200 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
9781601270368, $24.95, www.usip.org

Human rights are a horrible thing to violate, but they so often are. "Assessing the Impact of Transitional Justice: Challenges for Empirical Research" is an exploration of the justice that is administered when tyrannical regimes and governments are deposed, and the new government is charged with punishing the old for their crimes against the people. Using well over seventy case studies, "Assessing the Impact of Transitional Justice" tells the tale of very different methods of dealing with them, and discusses the effectiveness of each. "Assessing the Impact of Transitional Justice" is intriguing and highly recommended for anyone trying to understand what's the best thing to do with tyrants.


The Literary Shelf

Leafy Rivers
Jessamyn West
Indiana University Press
601 N. Morton Street, Bloomington, IN 47404
9780253353023, $14.95, iupress.indiana.edu

By the time you realize there's a problem, it may already be too late. "Leafy Rivers" tells the story of the titular character as she faces life in the later nineteenth century. One of the finest novels from Indiana's long history, it is filled with unique characters who offer a glimpse of life at the time while entertaining readers with an adventurous and great story. "Leafy Rivers" is a must for fans of literary fiction, or classical American literature.

The Lexicon
Steve Vander Ark
RDR Books
1487 Glen Avenue, Muskegon, MI 49441
9781571431745, $24.95, www.rdrbooks.com

Harry Potter has shot straight up the charts as one of the most popular fiction novels ever - no matter the age of the reader. "The Lexicon: An Unauthorized Guide to Harry Potter Fiction and Related Materials" is a deep and go to reference for those who want the best understanding of the series possible. Composed in an alphabetical dictionary format, it covers everything from abbot to zoological column, drawing info from nonstandard yet canon sources such as the video games and chat transcripts with Rowling. "The Lexicon" is simply a must have for those want to know everything they can about the young wizard.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

And From There You Shall Seek
Joseph B. Soloveitchik
KTAV
930 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306
9780881259346, $29.50, www.ktav.com

The search for God drives many people, regardless of their faith. "And From There You Shall Seek" is one Jew evaluating the search that so many embark on, and the human experience that wraps itself around its faith. "And From There You Shall Seek" was originally written in 1978; now, Naomi Goldblum has for the first time translated the volume into English for all readers to enjoy. "And From There You Shall Seek" is a must for Jews in search of God for themselves, and of interest for any religious reader.


The Biography Shelf

John Adams
Anne Husted Burleigh
Transaction Publishers
Rutgers University, 35 Berrue Circle, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8042
9781412810005 $39.95 www.transactionpub.com 1-888-999-6778

John Adams is more than a simple biography of the American Founding Father, philosopher of the Revolution, and second President of the United States. Also inherent in author Anne Husted Burleigh's study are a close analysis of Adams' political and philosophical beliefs, and the value his teachings have for today's modern society. Adams considered humans to be beings of liberty subject to God's law, and sought to balance liberty and law from that vantage point. The principles of politics and human nature that he outlined remain vividly relevant to this day. "Adams perceived sharply the intimate relation between liberty and property. He believed that without the right to acquire property, life and liberty are totally without protection and are mere abstract phrases. He believed that the right to property without liberty to acquire it is a term equally empty." Highly recommended, especially for political science and philosophy shelves.

"We'll Always Be Pals"
Tom McManus
Dog Ear Publishing
4010 W. 86th Street, Ste H, Indianapolis, IN 46268
9781598587685 $19.95 www.dogearpublishing.net

"We'll Always Be Pals": The Last Words of a Dying Father and True Hero! is the true-life memoir of a son's bond with his father. The father, Gene McManus, lived through some of the most tumultuous events in history - he grew up in the Great Depression, and became a football star, a boxer, a B-24 Liberator pilot, and a POW during World War II. His son, author Tom McManus, was fifty years his junior yet treasured his bond with the father that taught him how to play football and pursue his dreams. "We'll Always Be Pals" were the last words Gene said to his son before passing away. An involving portrait of love, sacrifice, heroism, growth, and sharing.

Sweet Nata
Gloria Zamora
University of New Mexico Press
MSC04 2820, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
9780826346346 $24.95 www.unmpress.com 1-800-249-7737

Sweet Nata: Growing Up in Rural New Mexico is the true-life memoir of author Gloria Zamora, who lived with her maternal grandparents in a rural Northern Mexico village near Mora as a young girl. Her memories of being surrounded by a large family and living among a Hispanic community are vividly brought to life - such as watching her beloved grandmother making oatmeal with sweet nata. At age six, the author left this community and went to live with her parents, encountering a complete transition as she struggled to adapt to siblings she barely knew and a thoroughly different way of life. Sweet Nata is a memoir of sharp contrasts, and the power of love to carry one through early life in two dramatically different cultures. An eminently readable account, highly recommended.

A Lovely Little War
Angus Lorenzen
History Publishing Company
PO Box 700, Palisades, NY 10964-0700
9781933909134, $24.95

Sometimes being held against your will isn't so bad. "A Lovely Little War: Life In a Japanese Prison Camp Through the Eyes of a Child" is the reflections of an Englishman who was interred by the Japanese during World War II when he was only seven years of age. A unique perspective on one of the darkest times in human history with much reflection from Lorenzen offering new insights on the war at large and the Japanese people, "A Lovely Little War" is highly recommended reading for World War II history buffs for bringing something new to the table.

Red Skelton
Wes D. Gehring
Indiana Historical Society Press
450 W. Ohio Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202
9780871952752, $19.95, www.indianahistory.org

One of the icons of early television comedy, Red Skelton was man of many layers. Mostly masks. "Red Skelton: The Mask Behind the Mask" tells the story of the man who brought joy to millions, and how there wasn't much joy for him growing up. While he was all smiles when the camera was on, Red was anything but when the cameras were off. Telling his life story in a charming tribute to one of the greats, "Red Skelton: The Mask Behind the Mask" is a must for those who want to finally get to who the man really is.

Making Friendship
Chandler B. Saint & George A. Krimsky
Wesleyan University Press
215 Long Lane, Middletown, CT 06459
9780819568540 $22.95 www.wesleyan.edu/wespress 1-800-421-1561

Making Friendship: The Extraordinary Life of Venture Smith is an amazing, in-depth biography of Venture Smith (1728-1805), a New England slave sold into slavery as a boy in Africa who worked for a quarter century, then purchased his own freedom and became a respectable and noted American citizen. Meticulously reconstructing Smith's life from years of research and documentation, Making Friendship stretches beyond Smith's life to touch upon the lives of his descendants. Smith's own 1978 narrative is also included in facsimile form, as are a proliferation of black-and-white photographs and illustrations. Highly recommended as a worthy addition to American biography shelves.

Frederic Remington
Jane Thielemann
Hendrick-Long Publishing Co.
10635 Tower Oaks, Suite D, Houston, TX 77070
9781885777485, $14.95, www.hendricklongpublishing.com

In the rough and difficult times of the old west, there was still room for art. "Frederic Remington: Artist of the West" is a biography of the man through photographs, artwork, and text chronicling his unique life. He was a man of many talents ranging from cowboy and artist to diplomat. Intriguing and beautiful to look at, "Frederic Remington" is a highly recommended read for those who enjoy western biographies.


The Fiction Shelf

Tales of Crossed Destinies
Azade Seyhan
Modern Language Association
26 Broadway, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10004-1789
9781603290319, $22.00, www.mla.org

The novel a culture enjoys can tell quite the story about the culture. "Tales of Crossed Destinies: The Modern Turkish Novel in a Comparative Context" is an examination of modern Turkish literature and how it got to where it is today. Looking at its evolution alongside the history of Turkey and how the Turkish novel has changed along with the Turkish state, "Tales of Crossed Destinies" is enhanced with a timeline and a list of Turkish terms. Outlining what the key Turkish novels are today, "Tales of Crossed Destinies" is a look at how crucial understanding Turkish fiction is to understanding Turkey.

Chest Pains
Janet Nichols Lynch
Bridge Works
Bridge Lane, PO Box 1798, Bridgehampton, NY 11932
9780981617503, $23.95, www.bridgeworksbooks.com

Sometimes that pain in your heart is an ailment more than physical. "Chest Pains" is the story of the broken dreams and aspirations of Gordon Clay. His music career failed; he is still alone in his thirties; and his life is not unfolding anything like he would have wanted it to. Driven to turn his life around, he sets his eyes on unlikely prospects for his career and may find love in the strangest of places... "Chest Pains" is a finely written novel of facing a midlife crisis, sure to please many a reader.


The Language Studies Shelf

Oxford Dictionary of Euphemisms
R. W. Holder
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016-4314
9780199235179, $14.95, www.oup.com

Cool means: low temperature. Or does it mean that's fine? Or suave? Or relaxed? "Oxford Dictionary of Euphemisms: How Not To Say What You Mean" is an adventure in the English language outlining the countless words in the English language that have so many meanings thanks to changing times and slang, that it's hard for even a native speaker to stay on top of the changes. "Oxford Dictionary of Euphemisms" is a must for anyone who speaks English or is trying to learn when everyone else is barely speaking it to begin with.


The Social Issues Shelf

Kitchen Table Sustainability
Wendy Sarkissian & collaborators
Earthscan
c/o Stylus Publishing
22883 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166-2012
9781844076147, $32.95, www.earthscan.co.uk

Sometimes the best way to handle a community is to boil it down to the simplest version of it - the kitchen table. "Kitchen Table Sustainability: Practical Recipes for Community Engagement with Sustainability" is a guide to community planning that takes an approach of the family meeting at the kitchen table as its model for success. Aiming to be user friendly yet still highly effective, the book breaks down its methods in a frank and honest, but easy to remember manner. "Kitchen Table Sustainability" is a fine pick for those in charge of their community's meetings to discuss its future.

Witnessing Whiteness
Shelly Tochluk
Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Langham, MD 20706
9781578867264, $29.95, www.rowmaneducation.com

Racial issues are a touchy subject despite the major advantages, but white people today must tread lightly to avoid the label of 'racist'. "Witnessing Whiteness: First Steps Toward an Antifascist Practice and Culture" is an exploration of the stigma that the white race carries in some fields, especially those issues dealing with race. Evaluating that racism is not a one way thing of affirmative action, author Shelly Tochluk desires to push society forward and play down the racism so that it will truly matter less in the world. "Witnessing Whiteness" is a scholarly look at whiteness and society, a fascinating read throughout.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

The Dawn of Saudi
Homa Pourasgari
Linbrook Press
PO Box 2325, Beverly Hills, CA 90213
9780977978014, $15.95

The Dawn of Saudi: In Search for Freedom is a dark mystery novel with an element of romance, and scathing critique of how Saudi Arabian culture treats women as second class citizens. One woman, Sahar Al-Hijazi, fights for the right to choose her own destiny; her best friend, Dawn Parnell, is trapped far from home because she was foolish enough to change her religion and marry a Saudi, duped into believing he was a progressive thinker. Together, the two women struggle to survive and escape Riyadh. Meanwhile, a wealthy California-based corporation reaps extravagant profits from its business ties to the Al-Hijazi family - until the heir to the fortune begins to examine the gender inequality that is the Saudi way of life, and question the betrayal of his own ethics for the sake of easy money. A tightly written suspense story sure to keep readers engrossed to the very last page.


The Gaming Shelf

The Greatest Ever Chess Tricks and Traps
Gary Lane
Everyman Chess
c/o Globe Pequot Press
PO Box 480, 246 Goose Lane, Guilford, CT 06437-0480
9781857445770, $24.95, www.everymanchess.com

Chess is a game of strategy, and maybe perhaps more so, deception. "The Greatest Ever Chess Tricks and Traps" is a guide the world of chess ruses, where one deals with playing their opponent right into their hands. Exciting and tricky, these techniques will bring advice to even the most novice player's game, making victory all the more attainable. "The Greatest Ever Chess Tricks and Traps" takes a look at how playing the game is all about playing your opponent - highly recommended.


The Native American Shelf

The Lipan Apaches
Thomas A. Britten
University of New Mexico Press
MSC04 2820, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
9780826345868 $34.95 www.unmpress.com 1-800-249-7737

The Lipan Apaches: People of Wind and Lightning is a studious examination of the history of the Lipan Apaches, a Native American tribal group that played a major role in Texas history for at least four centuries. Unlike other Apaches to the West, the Lipans had embodied a plains-oriented economy into their culture and lifestyle; in the early 1700s, they controlled the bison hide and meat trade. The arrival of the Comanches and the expansion of Spanish colonization ended their absolute dominion; they evolved their way of life from nomadic to semi-nomadic, depending on hunting, gathering, and farming for subsistence. Ultimately, their inability to form lasting alliances with the Spaniards, Comanche, Wichita, or east Texas tribes left them virtually surrounded by enemies, though some relocated to south of the Rio Grande. By the end of the twentieth century the tribe's population was gauged to be at less than forty people. A thoughtful and detailed chronicle, featuring notes, a bibliography, and an index, The Lipan Apaches is a worthy addition to college library Native American studies shelves, and thoroughly enjoyable to readers of all backgrounds.


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
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