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Wisconsin Bookwatch

Volume 4, Number 8 August 2009 Home | WBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Cookbook Shelf Business Shelf
Science Shelf World History Shelf Self-Help Shelf
Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf Gaming Shelf Photography Shelf
Christian Studies Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf Archaelogy Shelf
Aviation Shelf Biography Shelf Sports Shelf
Pets/Wildlife Shelf Military Shelf American History Shelf
Railroading Shelf Martial Arts Shelf Judaic Studies Shelf
Judicial Studies Shelf Poetry Shelf Education Shelf
Fiction Shelf Psychology Shelf Political Science Shelf
Parenting Shelf Genealogy Shelf Journalism Shelf
Religion/Spirituality Shelf Philosophy Shelf Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf


Reviewer's Choice

An Illustrated Guide To Mythical Creatures
Anita Ganeri & David West
Hammond
c/o Langenscheidt Publishing Group
PO Box 979, Spring House, PA 19477
www.langenscheidt.com
9780843716696, $15.99, www.amazon.com

Creatures of myth and legend are to be found in the cultural histories and popular beliefs of every human civilization ever recorded. In "An Illustrated Guide To Mythical Creatures", the spectacular artwork by David West perfectly illuminates the engagingly informative and descriptive commentary of Anita Ganeri. Within the pages of "An Illustrated Guide To Mythical Creatures" are to be found images of dragons, serpents, worms, chimera, water beasts, giants, all manner of flying creatures, shape-shifters, demons, ghouls and ghosts. Enhanced with the inclusion of a glossary and an index, "An Illustrated Guide To Mythical Creatures" is a thoroughly enjoyable browsing experience and a welcome, highly recommended addition to personal and community library Mythology reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

The Kitchen Linens Book
EllynAnne Geisel
Andrews & McMeel
4520 Main St., Kansas City, MO 64111
www.andrewsmcmeel.com
9780740777639, $19.99, www.amazon.com

Most people are not aware that kitchen linens had their beginnings in the years of the Great Depression when women who in better times would have had servants and cooks, were now of financial necessity having to do their own cooking and cleaning up. But being women of formerly privileged backgrounds, they found solace in having the linens associated with kitchen chores be infused with color and design, making them articles of elegance as a kind of consolation for the loss of kitchen staff to do these chores for them. Thus was born the colorful dish towel and all the other linens associated with the kitchen, along with such items as tablecloths and cloth napkins. All this history and so much more are to be found in the beautifully and profusely illustrated pages of EllynAnne Geisel's "The Kitchen Linens Book: Using, Sharing, and Cherishing the Fabrics of Our Daily Lives", a 152-page compendium of examples, photos, anecdotes, and informed commentary. As entertaining as it is informative, "The Kitchen Linens Book" is a highly recommended addition to personal and community library Americana collections.

Journeywell
Trish Herbert
Beaver's Pond Press
7104 Ohms Lane, Suite 101, Edina, MN 55439
www.BeaversPondPress.com
9781592982912, $24.95, www.amazon.com

We all of us are in the process of aging from the moment of our birth to the hour of our death. But there's nothing instinctive about aging well and getting the most out of our lives while we live. All that is a learned process picked up from examples of those that have gone before us such as our parents, and those that come after us such as our children -- and even our children's children. That's why Trish Herbert's "Journeywell: A Guide To Quality Aging" is so useful as both a source of basic information and as a workbook to help us think about, how to prepare for, engage in, and realize the best of living a long life whatever our personal circumstances might be. For a long life to be worth living it must also be meaningful, responsible, and flexible in order to deal with life's many challenges, anticipations, and opportunities. Of special note is the concluding chapter dedicated to 'Finishing Well' with attention to the inevitability of life's ending -- and how best to plan for and cope with it. Part instruction manual and part workbook, "Journeywell" is aptly named and strongly recommended reading for anyone seeking to make the most out of the days, years, and decades they have to enjoy their lives with dignity, alacrity, and enthusiasm.


The Cookbook Shelf

The Bear And Fish Family Cookbook
Yabin Yu & Jialin Tian
Jayca Inc.
PO Box 2451, Poquoson, VA 23662
www.bearandfishcookbook.com
9780615276274, $33.95, www.amazon.com

Yabin Yu was born in Beijing, China. Jialin Tian was born in Tianjin, Chinga. In "The Bear And Fish Family Cookbook" these two culinary enthusiasts collaborate to compile an impressive series of more than 130 recipes offering a new and fascinating approach to conventional Asian cuisine. There are dishes for every dining occasion and every course of a meal. Ranging from Deep-Fried Spring Rolls; Napa Cabbage, Bean Threads, and Meatball Soup; Baked Egg Custard with Ground Pork; and Braised Beef with Fermented Bean Paste; to Meat Stuffed Cabbage; Sweet and Sour Spareribs; Coconut Curry Shrimp; and Noodles with Peanut Butter Sauce, The step-by-step, 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes comprising "The Bear And Fish Family Cookbook" are beautifully illustrated, and as nutritious as they are delicious! Combining an eclectic approach to Asian cuisine with contemporary innovations on traditional themes, "The Bear And Fish Family Cookbook" is a unique and highly recommended addition to personal, family, professional, and community library cookbook collections.


The Business Shelf

Discovery-Driven Growth
Rita Gunther McGrath
Harvard Business Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
9781591396857, $27.95, www.harvardbusiness.org/press

Research and Development can either be a highly profitable venture or a complete wasteful bust - but what determines the outcome? "Discovery-Driven Growth: A Breakthrough Process to Reduce Risk and Seize Opportunity" is a business guide to new technologies and products in business. Encouraging companies to take wise risks - risks that can be profitable in lessons even if they technically turn out to be failures - and to avoid stagnation, authors Rita Gunther McGrath & Ian C. McMillan have put together a solid business book. For anyone who wants a more successful future for their company, "Discovery-Driven Growth" is a strong pick.

Online Marketing Inside Out
Brandon Eley & Shayne Tilley
SitePoint Pty., Ltd.
c/o O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
1005 Gravenstein, Hwy N., Sebastopol, CA 95472-2811
www.oreilly.com
9780980576825, $29.95, www.amazon.com

Selling on the internet is a core aspect of the modern business plan. It expands the marketplace for goods and services across the country and around the world. But online marketing has its own 'rules of the road' that must be mastered to be successful. That's why "Online Marketing Inside Out", an indispensable instruction manual and reference guide, is so timely and so welcome. The collaboration of SitePoint's marketing manager Shayne Tiley, and online shoe retailer Brandon Eley, "Online Marketing Inside Out" is a compendium of practical advise, insightful commentary, and basic information regarding the utilization of modern marketing techniques such as search engine optimization, email marketing, affiliate marketing, online advertising, the social media outlets, web site designs, and internet based public relations and media. Of special note is the chapter dedicated organizing together all the disparate elements of an online marketing plan. Thoroughly 'user friendly', "Online Marketing Inside Out" is very highly recommended and invaluable for aspiring entrepreneurs, small business owners, and corporate executives charged with the responsibility for designing, developing, and implementing a competitive and successful online marketing program.

Fueling Economic Growth
Michael Graham and Jean Woo
Practical Action Publishing
c/o Stylus Publishing
PO Box 605, Herndon, VA 20172-0605
9781853396755, $39.95, www.practicalactionpublishing.org

The rapid advancement of technology has changed the way the world's economies function. "Fueling Economic Growth: The Role of Public-Private Sector Research in Development" explores the economics of many rapidly growing countries, their approaches to research and development, and the impacts on their economies. Even when the government hasn't provided enough funding, private companies have often taken the torch in the name of profit. "Fueling Economic Growth" is a fascinating read of economics and the role of big business in technological advancement.


The Science Shelf

The Manga Guide To Physics
Hideo Nitta
No Starch Press
555 DeHaro Street, #250, San Francisco, CO 94107
www.nostarch.com
9781593271961, $19.95, www.amazon.com

You don't have to be a rocket scientist to understand the basics of physics. Not when you can read "The Manga Guide To Physics" by Hideo Nitta (Professor of Physics, Tokyo Gakugei University) who takes the novel approach of utilizing the Japanese animation image (called manga) to explaining the concepts that comprise the science of physics including momentum and impulse, the relationship between force, mass, and acceleration, Newton's three laws of motion, the movement of objects after collision, vector diagrams, kinetic energy calculations, and more! The readers are educated in the 'real world' applications of physics by Megumi, an all-star athlete who is failing in her physics class. She is distracted in her tennis matches as she worries about the questions she's missed on her physics test. That's when her friend Ryota teaches her about physics using everyday objects ranging from roller skates and slingshots, to braking cars and tennis balls. As entertaining as it is informative, "The Manga Guide To Physics" enables ordinary readers to readily grasp the basics of physics and would make an ideal curriculum supplement for a school physics class, and is ideal for anyone seeking to inform themselves about how physics works and is applied to understanding the world in which they live.


The World History Shelf

Abydos: Egypt's First Pharaohs And The Cult Of Osiris
David O'Connor
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500390306, $45.00, www.amazon.com

Every year that passes sees more and more contributions to our understanding of ancient Egypt through continuing archaeological discoveries. Drawing upon his more than forty years of experience and expertise in excavation and research at Abydos, David O'Connor (Professor of Ancient Egyptian Art, Institute of Fine Arts, New York University) presents a superbly organized and impressively illustrated history of this seminally important site positioned between the towering cliffs of the Egyptian high desert and the green agricultural floodplain of the Nile river where Egypt's ancient royalty were entombed and which became a major cult center for Osiris, the Egyptian god of the dead. The culture, history, and archaeological discoveries superbly presented in "Abydos: Egypt's First Pharaohs And The Cult Of Osiris" are informed, informative, and thoroughly 'reader friendly'. A seminal contribution to academic library Egyptology reference collections, and especially recommended to the attention of non-specialist general readers with an interest in the culture and history of ancient Egypt.

Bethsaida: Volume Four
Rami Arav
Truman State University Press
100 E. Normal Ave., Kirksville, MO 63501-4221
9781931112840, $35.00, www.tsup.truman.edu

Sites of ancient cities hold so many answers to the questions of the history of humanity. Volume four of the Bethsaida Excavations Project/Reports & Contextual Studies series, "Bethsaida: A City By the North Shore of the Sea of Galilee" outlines recent archeological finds surrounding this hotbed of ancient history. A new and updated volume, "Bethsaida" includes very recent finds from archeologists who visit this site yearly in order to uncover more knowledge about our ancestors. "Bethsaida" is a fascinating read for any who want to know more of humanity's roots.


The Self-Help Shelf

Free Yourself to Love
Jackie Kendall
Faith Words
Hachette Book Group, 237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
9780446580892, $13.99, www.faithworks.com

One can't love if one is too busy hating. "Free Yourself to Love: The Liberating Power of Forgiveness" is a self-help guide for those who are having a hard time letting go of grudges. Author Jackie Kendall brings readers tips and advice on improving their ability to forgive and forget those who have wronged them, so that they may better learn to love the world and themselves. With a Christian outlook, "Free Yourself to Love" is a recommended read for those who don't want hate in their hearts.

Emotional Black Holes
Grant Hallstrom
Clearstone Publishing
15615 Alton Parkway, Suite 175, Irvine, CA 92618
www.emotinalblackholes.com www.clearstonepublishing.com
9780982150306, $11.95, www.amazon.com

An ancient Chinese curse declaims 'May you live in interesting times.' With the world-wide recession, seemingly endless wars, global pandemics, widening gaps between the 'haves' and the 'have-nots', political scandals, talk radio demagogues, environmental degradations, a shrinking middle-class, and an increasing social alienation, it seems like today we all live under some version of that declaration. Money problems damage more marriages than infidelity. In "Emotional Black Holes", successful businessman and dedicated Christian Grant Hallstrom has compiled a series of commentaries offering insight into how we can learn to cope with the vicissitudes of life through divine assistance, common sense, timely introspection, and periodic reflection. Each illuminating chapter is prefaced with a thematically appropriate scriptural quotation. Also available in a hardcover edition (97809821503613, $19.95), "Emotional Black Holes" is replete with personal anecdotes that speak with individual examples to universal truths. As informed and informative as it is inspired and inspiring, "Emotional Black Holes" is especially recommended reading for anyone who feels they are being overwhelmed with the traumas, large and small, that affect and afflict their personal and professional lives.

Addicted to Hurry
Kirk Byron Jones, author and narrator
Judson Press
PO Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851
9780817015473, $17.00 www.judsonpress.com 1-800-458-3766

Part self-help manual, part spiritual guide, "Addicted to Hurry" is an audiobook read by author and more than twenty-year pastor Kirk Byron Jones about the "need for speed" mentality and why an excess of it is harmful to one's personal, physical, and spiritual life. Offering means by which one can break free from the pressure to rush excessively, and reclaim the spiritual side of one's life, Addicted to Hurry is an extraordinarily timely guide for assistance in coping with one aspect of the modern era of globalization. An excellent personal resource or giftbook, highly recommend. 4 CDs.


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

Modern Masters Volume 19: Mike Ploog
Roger Ash & Eric Nolen-Weathington
TwoMorrows Publishing
10407 Bedfordtown Dr, Raleigh, NC 27614
1605490075, $14.95 www.twomorrows.com

In the 1970s horror comics were big and Mike Ploog drew them better than anyone else. His artwork continues to adorn comics and this collection pairs a coverage of his life and achievements with a running interview and black and white cartoon examples and strips throughout. Any fan of fantasy art will readily recognize Ploog's name and will welcome this insightful coverage.


The Gaming Shelf

The Rifter #47
Alex Marciniszyn, editor
Palladium Books, Inc.
39074 Webb Court, Westland, MI 48185
www.palladiumbooks.com
9781574571448, $11.95, www.amazon.com

The Palladium role-gaming universe continues to be popular and to hold the loyalties of thousands of gaming fans and this forty-seventh issue of "The Rifter" continues to provide them with diverse source materials for a wide number of Palladium game settings with new module descriptions of heroes, powers, weapons, magic, and gaming adventure ideas. Ten experienced and expert gamers have contributed to this issue under the deft editor ship of Alex Marciniszyn. Also enhanced for dedicated Palladium players is the latest 'news and happenings' at Palladium including preview info on new gaming source books that are soon to be forthcoming. This 96-page edition of "The Rifter" is a highly recommended 'must' for active gamers and will aptly serve to enhance and expand their gaming experience.


The Photography Shelf

Historic Photos Of The Manhattan Project
Timothy Joseph
Turner Publishing Company
200 - 4th Avenue North, Suite 950, Nashville, TN 37219
www.turnerpublishing.com
9781596525214, $39.95, www.amazon.com

During the darkest days of World War II, it was none other than Albert Einstein who brought to President Roosevelt's attention that the Nazis were trying to create atomic weapons. That was when America's Manhattan Project was established. This research project resulted in the dawning of the Atomic Age and the destruction of two Japanese cities, ending the Second World War and ushering in the Cold War era threat of mutually assured destruction by nuclear war. Now for the first time the Manhattan Project has been compiled photographically through almost two hundred historic images of the men and women, places and events involved in one of the most expensive and urgent scientific research efforts in military history. Compiled with captions by Timothy Joseph, "Historic Photos Of The Manhattan Project" is a very welcome and highly recommended addition to personal, community, and academic library American History and Photography collections.

Reflections At Sandhill Creek
Adrian Dorst
Harbour Publishing
PO Box 219, Madeira Park, BC, Canada, V0N 2H0
www.harbourpublishing.com
9781550174748, $28.95, www.amazon.com

"Reflections At Sandhill Creek: Meditations On The Wild West Coast" is a compilation of memorable nature photos combined with thematically appropriate philosophical quotations drawn from some of the greatest minds and the most influential books. The man who hast raised nature photography to a fine art, and who selected caption quotations that are as thoughtful and thought-provoking as the images they support are inspired and inspiring, is Adrian Dorst whose professional work has appeared in numerous calendars, posters, and magazines over the past twenty years. "Reflections At Sandhill Creek" is one of those rare photography books that will induce repeated browsing and is strongly recommended for personal, academic, and community library collections.


The Christian Studies Shelf

The Next Evangelicalism
Soong-Chan Rah
IVP Books
PO Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426
9780830833603, $ 15.00, www.books.ivpress.com

Christianity is a religion that spans many races and peoples, but why is it so divided against itself? "The Next Evangelicalism: Freeing the Church From Western Cultural Captivity" is one man's call for a revolution in church going peoples to embrace the faith as a whole rather than a heavily divided assortment of faiths, with terms like 'black churches' and 'white churches'. Today's culture questions these self-segregated churches, and author Soong-Chan Rah encourages readers to embrace cultural change with their church. "The Next Evangelicalism" is a strong read for those who want to prepare their church for cultural transformation.

For God Alone
Bonnie Thurston
University of Notre Dame Press
310 Flanner Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556
9780268042332, $18.00, www.undpress.nd.edu

Prayer is a powerful thing, even if it doesn't seem like it. "For God Alone: A Primer on Prayer" is a guide to prayer and its impact on Christians. Covering many methods and practices of prayer throughout Christianity, author Bonnie Thurston presents an intriguing and educational manual that is an excellent pick even for non-Christians trying to better understand prayer's significance. "For God Alone" is a very much recommended read.

Evolution And Mormonism
Trent D. Stephens & D. Jeffrey Meldrum
Signature Books
564 West 400 North, Salt Lake City, UT 84116-3411
www.signaturebooks.com
9781560851424, $21.95, www.amazon.com

Explanations of how the world and the human race came into existence are to be found in every religion to have left a written record of its beliefs. Some stories trace from oral traditions which were ultimately recorded into sacred scriptures such as the creation story found in the Old Testament's Book of Genesis. In "Evolution And Mormonism: A Quest For Understanding", Trent D. Stephens (Professor of Anatomy and Embryology, Idaho State University) teams up with D. Jeffrey Meldrum (Associate Professor of Anatomy and Anthropology, Idaho State University), and with the assistance of Forrest B. Peterson (a professional author and film producer) review the scientific data with respect to the issue of evolution and the origin of man. Their perspective is that of the Mormon faith, and draw from LDS sacred scriptures such as the revelatory writings in the 'Pear of Great Price' which the authors feel are compatible with information drawn from such diverse sources as molecular biology and paleontology. Informed and informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Evolution And Mormonism" is highly recommended reading, especially for those who seek to understanding evolution within the contextual framework of Mormon theology and doctrine.

The Apostolic Fathers
Mark Galli, foreword
Moody Press
820 North Lasalle Dr, Chicago, IL 60610
www.moody.edu
9780802456595, $8.99, www.amazon.com

Between the deaths of the apostles and the emerging dominance of the Roman popes, the Christian movement depended upon the sermons, writings, and correspondences of an intermediate group of church leaders. This group of pious men became known as the Apostolic Fathers and their writings, while not on the same status as the canonical books of the Old and New Testament, were still regarded with great respect by their contemporaries and their successors within the Christian movement. Now modern era Christians have an excellent English translation of seven key and primary documents with the new Moody Press edition of "The Apostolic Fathers". These writings include 1 Clement (a letter to the Church); 2 Clement (an early Christian sermon); Letters of Ignatius (correspondences written by a pastor on his way to Rome to be executed for his beliefs); Letter of Polycarp to the Phillipians (a letter to the Church at Philippi); The Martyrdom of Polycarp (the oldest surviving account of a martyrdom outside of the New Testament); and The Pastor of Herman (an early form of allegorical fiction along the lines of 'Pilgrim's Progress'). Of special note is the informed and informative introduction, historical background, and succinct descriptions of these writings in Mark Galli's deftly written foreword. "The Apostolic Fathers" is very highly recommended reading for theology students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in early Church history.

All Right Now
Timothy J. Geddert
Herald Press
616 Walnut Avenue, Scottsdale, PA 15683-1999
9780836194180, $16.99, www.amazon.com

People more than ever are growing apart in religion and worldview, and unless a leader brings them together, religion won't keep them united any longer. "All Right Now: Finding Consensus on Ethical Questions" is a guide for church leaders who seek to embrace a more united church despite their congregation's tendency to pull in all directions. Encouraging a middle way, and a church which doesn't control its members through rules but does not give them total freedom, "All Right Now" is an enlightened approach to church philosophy, and highly recommended.

Correspondences of the Bible: The Animals
John Worcester
Swedenborg Foundation Publishers
320 North Church Street, West Chester, PA 19380
9780877851127, $14.95, www.swedenborg.com

If there is one thing the Christian Holy Bible has in abundance, it is metaphor. "Correspondences of the Bible: The Animals" explores the animal kingdom, its strong significance throughout the Bible, and how the Bible used these animals to further the lesson it was trying to teach. Enhancing the deeper spiritual meaning of the holy book, "Correspondences of the Bible" is a collection to be enjoyed by theologians, be they professional of amateur.

Catholic Roots, Mormon Harvest
Eric Shuster
Cedar Fort
2373 W. 700 S., Springville, UT 84663
9781599552576, $17.99, www.cedarfort.com

What makes someone leave Catholicism for Mormonism? "Catholic Roots, Mormon Harvest: A Story of Conversion and 40 Comparative Doctrines" tells the story of how one family left their roots of Catholicism to embrace the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Telling their tale and comparing the major differences between the two religions, "Catholic Roots, Mormon Harvest" is a must read for any who seek clarification between Catholicism and Mormonism.

Light for My Path
Bernardo Olivera
Cistercian Publications
Abbey of Gethsemani, 3642 Monks Road, Trappist, KY 40051
9780879070182, $19.95, www.litpress.org

God is everywhere and anywhere, ever with you. "Light for My Path: Spiritual Accompaniment" discusses God and spirituality in everyday life when dealing with a not-so spiritual world. Written by respected religious figure Dom Bernardo Olivera and expertly translated by Augustine Roberts, "Light for My Path" is a read that should be strongly considered by all Christians.

Hidden Holiness
Michael Plekon
University of Notre Dame Press
310 Flanner Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556
9780268038939, $25.00, www.undpress.nd.edu

What is 'holiness', really? "Hidden Holiness" is a scholarly examination of what is holy in modern society, and calls for people to make their own judgments on what really matters in today's world. Could what is truly holy be hidden from the public eye, unbeknownst to many? Seeking to promote discussion of this topic, author Michael Plekon presents an intriguing examination of modern day holiness, making "Hidden Holiness" a highly valued read.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Writing For Wellness
Julie Davey
Idyll Arbor
39129 - 264th Avenue SE, Enumclaw, WA 98022
www.idyllarbor.com
9781882883677, $18.00, www.amazon.com

Talking and writing about a problem can be genuinely cathartic and of positive benefit for anyone dealing with the stress of illness or injury. That's why "Writing For Wellness: A Prescription for Healing" by journalist, author, and cancer survivor Julie Davey is so much to be appreciated. Covering every aspect of the writing process from getting started, to the various categories of writing, to sharing with others, and more, "Writing For Wellness" is so much more than just another 'how to' instruction manual, it is a complete, comprehensive, deftly written, nicely organized, engagingly presented, and thoroughly 'user friendly' workshop under one cover that will enable anyone to utilize the personal processes of writing to work through their own traumas, whether they are physical or emotional, and to regain their ability to enjoy what life has to offer. "Writing For Wellness" is highly recommended for personal reference shelves and community library collections.

Liberation From Allergies
Chris D. Meletis, N.D.
Praeger Publishers
c/o ABC-CLIO
PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
www.abc-clio.com
9780313358708, $34.95, www.amazon.com

Chris Meletis is a professional naturopath and the series editor for Praeger Publisher series 'Complementary and Alternative Medicine'. The latest addition to this outstanding collection is "Liberation From Allergies: Natural Approaches To Freedom And Better Health" in which Meleits deftly examines a wide range of diverse allergies such as those to various foods, household dust, airborne irritants and pollens, synthetic materials like latex, and common chemicals. "Liberation From Allergies" explains why allergies occur and documents the statistical rise in the percentage of the general population that suffers from allergic reactions. Of special note is the discussion with respect to the 'hygiene hypothesis' which argues that over-bathing and overuse of antibiotics and antibacterial agents prevents the human immune system from building necessary resistance to various substances in youth that leave people vulnerable to the onset of allergies as they age. Very highly recommended for personal reading lists and community library Health/Medicine reference collections, "Liberation From Allergies" provides and informed and informative discussion on both naturopathic and traditional pharmaceutical approaches to the treatment of allergies and the current testing of vaccines for some food allergies.

Functional Testing In Human Performance
Michael P. Reiman & Robert C. Manske
Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc.
PO Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61820-5076
www.HumanKinetics.com
9780736068796, $75.00, www.amazon.com

In the realm of sports and athletics, as well as physiological medicine, it is necessary to test physical functioning both to establish baseline performance and to ascertain progress and/or retrogress with respect to their training. That's why "Functional Testing In Human Performance: 139 Tests for Sports, Fitness, and Occupational Settings" by Michael P. Reiman (Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy, Wichita State University) and Robert C. Manske (Associate Professor of Physical Therapy, Wichita State University) is such an invaluable addition to professional and academic library Sports & Athletics medical reference collections. Organized into three major sections, "Functional Testing In Human Performance" begins by defining explaining basic concepts and defining basic terms, administering the tests, and integrating the tests into daily practice. "Functional Testing In Human Performance" then goes on to over a variety of tests designed to address muscle, movement, balance, strength, agility, and a number of other qualities and conditions. Of special note are the chapters dedicated to Trunk Testing; Upper Extremity Testing; and Lower Extremity Anaerobic Power Testing. Enhanced with the inclusion of an accompanying DVD, an appendices of reproducible test forms, references, and an index, "Functional Testing In Human Performance" is exceptionally 'user friendly' and a highly recommended compendium of diverse human performance tests.

The Core Balance Diet
Marcelle Pick
Hay House, Inc.
PO Box 5100, Carlsbad, CA 92018-5100
www.hayhouse.com
9781401922016, $25.95, www.amazon.com

Marcelle Pick is the co-founder of 'Women to Women' and a licensed OB/GYN nurse practitioner. With the able assistance of Genevieve Morgan, Marcelle presents "The Core Balance Diet: 4 Weeks To Boost Your Metabolism And Lose Weight For Good", a complete 28-day course of step-by-step, informed and informative, practical and 'user friendly' instruction on safely, sensibly, and effectively losing weight -- and at the end of this four week course, keeping under control for the rest of your life. "The Core Balance Diet" covers the psychology of dieting, the necessity of a balance with respect to creating an eating plan and an action plan. "The Core Balance Diet" also covers such pertinent issues as digestive and hormonal imbalances, adrenal and neurotransmitter imbalances, as well as inflammatory and detoxification imbalances. Enhanced with the inclusion of a great many recipes, referrals and resource information, appendices, references and suggestions for further reading, and a comprehensive index, "The Core Balance Diet" is a complete course of life-changing study that is highly recommended for anyone struggling to lose weight -- and keep it under control forever after.


The Archaeology Shelf

The Archaeology Of Meaningful Places
Brenda J. Bowser & Maria Nieves Zedeno, editors
University of Utah Press
1795 East South Campus Drive, #101, Salt Lake City, UT 84112-9402
www.uofupress.com
9780874808827, $30.00, www.amazon.com

Archaeology is primarily concerned with helping us to understand how people lived in former eras and diverse places around the world by excavating and interpreting the artifacts and other remnants of what they created as part of that life. That's why "The Archaeology Of Meaningful Places" compiled and co-edited by Brenda J. Bowser (Assistant Professor of Anthropology, California State University - Fullerton) and Maria Nieves Zedeno (Associate Research Anthropologist, Bureau of Applied Research in Anthropology and Associate Professor of Anthropology, University of Arizona), is the latest addition to the University of Utah Press series 'Foundations of Archaeological Inquiry' and features ten informed and informative articles focused on biographical, topographic, geopolitical, ideological, cosmological, and mnemonic aspects that are necessary to understanding the development of cultural networks in Mesoamerican and Greater Southwestern peoples. A seminal contribution to the growing field of scientific literature, "The Archaeology Of Meaningful Places" is especially recommended for professional and academic library Native American Archaeology and Anthropology reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Aviation Shelf

Orville's Aviators
John Carver Edwards
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
9780786442270, $45.00, www.amazon.com

While the brothers Wilber and Orville Wright are famous for being responsible for the first manned airflight at Kittyhawk, what is not so well known is that afterwards they established the first aviator flight training school in the country. The Wright Brothers' School of Aviation was very active in Ohio from 1910 to 1916, training 113 men who shared their love of flying. The history of that flight school and the profiling of six of its graduates is the subject of "Orville's Aviators: Outstanding Alumni of the Wright Flying School, 1910-1916" by John Carver Edwards (University Archivist, University of Georgia). Here are the fascinating personal stories of Arthur L. Welsh (a Russian immigrant who rose to become Orville Wright's chief instructor); Howard Warfield Gill (heir to an international tea dynasty); Archibald Freeman (who flour-bag bombing of Boston Harbor resulted in his becoming an early exponent of the supremacy of air power in war); Grover Cleveland Bergdoll (whose promise as a pilot ultimately went unfulfilled); George A. Gray (whose wife joined him to become an aerial exhibition team); and Howard Max Rinehart (aerial mercenary, international racing competitor, Wright Brothers test pilot, South American explorer, and co-owner of one of America's premier air charter services). Informed and informative, deftly written and superbly documented, "Orville's Aviators" is a seminal work of superb scholarship and highly recommended for personal reading lists as well as academic and community library Aviation History reference collections.


The Biography Shelf

Love in Condition Yellow
Sophia Raday
Beacon Press
25 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108-2892
9780807072837, $23.95, www.beacon.org

'Opposites attract' - this proverb proves itself true in so many strange ways. "Love in Condition Yellow: A Memoir of an Unlikely Marriage" tells the tale of two opposites, a free-spirited political activist familiar with cops in riot gear, and a poster boy for what a good cop should be. Their relationship is unique; as their love grows closer, America drives itself further apart. "Love in Condition Yellow" is sure to please many a reader looking for a work of true romance.

The Real McKay
Graham Bishop
Otago University Press
c/o International Specialized Book Services (ISBS)
920 Northeast 58th Avenue, Suite 300, Portland, OR 97213
9781877372223, $40.00, www.amazon.com www.isbs.com

An early pioneer of the telephoto lens and photomicrography, Scottish immigrant Alexander McKay was a 19th century self-educated explorer who rose to the position of the New Zealand Government geologist where he laid a solid foundation for an internationally recognized reputation for New Zealand's geological science. "The Real McKay: The Remarkable Life Of Alexander McKay, Geologist" by Graham Bishop (himself an experienced regional geologist with the New Zealand Geological Survey) is the first definitive biography, a man who made over 100,000 fossil collections during his career. This was also the man whose innovative and imaginative theories about mountain-building were to form the basis for the sciences of neo-tectonics. Informed and informative, "The Real McKay" is a superbly written and highly recommended addition to academic library biography collections.


The Sports Shelf

Theology
John Frascella
Cambridge House Press
115 West 29th Street, New York, NY 10001
9780981453699, $14.95, www.amazon.com

In a decision that was to stun the faithful fans of the Boston Red Sox baseball team, Theo Epstein, their young and dynamic general manager at the age of 32 resigned from the team just a year after leading them to their first World Series title in 86 years. In "Theology", sports writer and baseball fan John Frascella provides a fascinating account of a remarkable man and his equally remarkable decision. Of special note is the chapter focused upon Epstein's best and worst management decisions that allows the reader to evaluate and make their own judgments. Replete with entertaining anecdotes, insights, and more than a few 'behind the scenes' secrets, "Theology" is a riveting read and recommended for all baseball enthusiasts in general, and Boston Red Sox fans in particular!

Headlocks And Dropkicks
Ted A. Kluck
Praeger Publishers
c/o ABC-CLIO
PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
www.abc-clio.com
9780313354816, $39.95, www.amazon.com

From the legendary days of Gorgeous George down to today's World Wrestling Federation, professional wrestling is more entertainment that sports, more choreographed physical ballet that athletic contest, more morality play than sporting event. But the one true constant amidst the colorful costumes and the equally colorful characters has been the entertainment value for the audience which has remained loyal in booing the villains and cheering on the heroes. "Headlocks And Dropkicks: A Butt-Kicking Ride Through The World Of Professional Wrestling" by author and sports enthusiast Ted A. Kluck is a fascinating history and engaging personal account of pro-wrestling's background figures, center ring personalities, and day-to-day realities. Informed and informative, "Headlocks And Dropkicks" will prove to be a popular addition to academic and community library Sports & Athletics reference collections, and is especially commended to the attention of non-specialist general readers with an interest in the colorful and raucous world of professional wrestling!


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Big Five Of Africa
Gerald Hinde
Struik
c/o International Publishers Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Dr, Dulles, VA 20166
www.internationalpubmarket.com
9781770071575, $20.00, www.amazon.com

Tourists viewing African wildlife thrill to see lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos, and water buffalos. Now, in professional wildlife photographer Gerald Hinde's "Big Five Of Africa", the armchair traveler is treated to 144 pages of full color photography showcasing these magnificent animals in their native habitats. The images are simply spectacular. An ideal gift for anyone who appreciates wildlife photography at its finest, "Big Five Of Africa" is a welcome and enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, academic, and community collections.


The Military Shelf

MiG Killers
Donald J. McCarthy
Specialty Press
99 Spring Street, 3rd fl, NY, NY 10012
www.spibooks.com
9781580071369, $29.95, www.amazon.com

Military aviation expert and U.S. Air Force veteran Donald J. McCarthy has deftly written the first book to list all 202 MiG kills of the Vietnam War in chronological order. This roster includes MiGs downed by either U.S. Air Force or U.S. Navy combat aircraft. Informed and informative, this Vietnam military air combat history is replete with a profusion of both black-and-white as well as full color aircraft photography. Each aircraft citation includes serial number, tial code, perational unit, crew member names, call sign, and specific weaponry and tactics used for every MigK made from April 1965 though January 1973. A superbly documented military aviation history, "MiG Killers" is a seminal and very highly recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library reference collections and reading lists.


The American History Shelf

Ranch Gates Of The Southwest
Daniel M. Olsen & Hank Van Assen
Trinity University Press
One Trinity Place, San Antonio, TX 78212-7200
www.trinity.edu/tupress
9781595340382, $45.00, www.amazon.com

We've all seen them in Hollywood westerns. Established ranches had an entrance to the ranch house that typically carried the name of the ranch and usually included that particular ranch's branding icon. Now Daniel M. Olsen and Hank Van Assen have collaborated to published "Ranch Gates Of The Southwest", a compilation of beautifully photographed in full color images of a series of these ranch gates that adorn the entrance ways to ranches throughout the American southwest. These are ranches so large that this unique and colorful gateways give access to long and lonely roads with the ranch house not visible in the distance. Sometimes the gateway is a 'swing bar' barrier, sometimes it is a sign hanging from a pole, sometimes it's a simple ungated arch. Always it is a hauntingly beautiful image evoking a signature icon of the Old West that continues to this very day. "Ranch Gates Of The Southwest" is a wonderful and unique browse, making it an enthusiastically recommended addition to personal and community library American Western History reference collections.

African Americans In The West
Douglas Flamming
ABC-CLIO
PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
www.abc-clio.com
9781598840025, $65.00, www.amazon.com

Not often taught in public school classes on American history is the fact that African Americans played a substantial role in the exploration and settling of the West. Beginning with runaway slaves who found refuge with Native American tribes, to post-Civil War immigration resulting in the founding of African American communities, to the rise of the cattle empires where fully one-third of all cowboys were black men. This last is particularly ironic when considering that the first few decades of Hollywood cowboy movies rarely, if ever, depicted a black man as a cowboy or ranch hand. Now the historical story of African American migration, settlement, and overall presence in the American West is presented in admirable detail in "African Americans In The West" by Douglas Flamming (Professor of History, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia). Part of the outstanding ABC-CLIO 'Cultures in the American West' series, "African Americans In The West" has as its primary focus an impressive history of African American involvement with western development from 1815 down to the present day. Of special note is the chapter on 'Historiography and Current Issues' which concludes this comprehensive and superbly written history. Enhanced with the inclusion of a chronology, a glossary, a selected bibliography, and an index, "African Americans In The West" is a seminal contribution to academic and community library African American Studies and American History reference collections, and commented to the attention of non-specialist general readers with an interest in the role of African Americans in the settling of the west.

Slavery and Public History
James Oliver Horton & Lois E. Horton
The University of North Carolina Press
116 S. Boundary St., Chapel Hill, NC 27514-3808
9780807859162, $19.95, www.uncpress.unc.edu

Slavery was a great blemish on the history of the land of the free. "Slavery and Public History: The Tough Stuff of American Memory" discusses slavery, how the topic is handled by American educators and historians to this day, and how the slavery's legacy should be managed. Many expert historians lend their own opinions to the matter, leading to a highly intriguing and entertaining read for American history enthusiasts. "Slavery and Public History" is a highly recommended pick for history readers everywhere.

Hatteras Island
Ray McAllister
John F. Blair Publisher
1406 Plaza Drive, Winston-Salem, NC 27103
9780895873637, $13.95, www.blairpub.com

When you think of the iconic light house, you're thinking of Hatteras Island, whether you know it or not. "Hatteras Island: Keeper of the Outer Banks" is an introduction to the story of Hatteras Island, the island with a famous history that stretches back to the earliest days of American colonization by the Europeans. Covering everything from lost colonies to famous catastrophes, "Hatteras Island" is of strong interest to any curious about northeastern nautical history.


The Railroading Shelf

American Passenger Trains And Locomotives Illustrated
Mark Wegman
Voyageur Press
c/o Quayside Publishing Group
400 First Avenue North, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55401
www.voyageurpress.com
9780760334751, $34.00, www.amazon.com

There was in this country a true 'Golden Age' of passenger rail service that stretched from coast to coast, border to border. It was a time of elegance, sophistication, and cutting edge technology. Now all this has been wonderfully captured for railroad buffs in "American Passenger Trains And Locomotives Illustrated" by lifelong railroading fan Mark Wegman. Organized into three major sections (1890s-1920s; 1930s; and 1940s-1950s), a visually descriptive history is provided for the major rail lines showcasing their famous (and in some cases, legendary) trains. Combining superbly produced paintings, with historical photos, period advertisements, and other railroading ephemera, "American Passenger Trains And Locomotives Illustrated" is informed, informative, a treat to simply browse through, and a very highly recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library American Railroading History reference collections and reading lists.


The Martial Arts Shelf

The Last Lama Warrior
Yogi Tchouzar Pa
Destiny books
c/o Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
www.innertraditions.com
9781594772856, $19.95, www.amazon.com

In the early 15th century, monks in the Kham region of Tibet created a martial art form they called Senguei Ngaro (the lion's roar), a body of martial arts techniques that have been passed down generation after generation until 1956 when the monastery was destroyed and the monks massacred by Chinese solders. The superior of the monastery, Lama Bui, was able to survive the holocaust and fled to the West where he taught Senguei Ngaro to Lama Tra, who in turn taught it to Yogi Tchouzar Pa, the author of "The Last Lama Warrior: The Secret Martial Art Of Tibet" and the last in a five hundred year lineage of Senguei Ngaro warrior monks. Part history, part instruction manual, part philosophical tome, "The Last Lama Warrior" is a fascinating, informed, and informative read which is strongly recommended for all dedicated studies of the martial arts in general, and Tibetan martial arts traditions and legacy in particular.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

Orestes in Progress
Roberta Kalechofsky
Micah Publications
255 Humphrey St, Marblehead, MA 01945
9780916288549, $17.00, www.micahbooks.com

Some messages are timeless. "Orestes in Progress: For the Post-Holocaust Generation" is an update of a classical Greek tragedy, using the story of a modern story of a man leaving home. "Orestes in Progress" makes reference to many elements that Jews face in today's world after the atrocities of World War II. With a solid message true to many classical Greek tales, "Orestes in Progress" is a fine read.

A Heart Afire
Zalman Schachter-Shalomi & Netanel Miles-Yepez
Jewish Publication Society
2100 Arch Street, 2nd floor, Philadelphia PA 19103-1399
www.jewishpub.org
9780827608849, $45.00, www.amazon.com

The Hasidic tradition within Judaism is a rich and complex one. In "A Heart Afire: Stories And Teachings Of The Early Hasidic Masters", Zalman Schachter-Shalomi (Reb Zalman, the father of the neo-Hasidic Jewish Renewal movement) and Netanel Miles-Yepez (co-founder of the Sufi-Hasidic Inayati-Maimuni Tariqat, which is the only Jewish order of Sufis in the world) present a 406-page compendium of teachings, stories, and commentaries by early Hasidic masters which they have translated and enhanced with additional commentary. Accessibly organized into three major sections (The Hidden Tradition and the Ba'al Shem Tov; The Circle of the Ba'al Shem and the Maggid of Mezritch; and The Circle of the Maggid and The Rebbe King). Informed and informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking, "A Heart Afire" is enriched w3ith an appendix, extensive notes, a glossary, a bibliography, an index, background information on the authors, and an explanation of how this book was written. "A Heart Afire" is a welcome and very highly recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library Judaic Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Judicial Studies Shelf

Time Does Not Heal All Wounds
Kathleen Connelly Takats
Biographical Publishing Company
95 Sycamore Drive, Prospect, CT 06712-1493
9781929882472, $14.00, www.amazon.com

The state of California is in desperate financial straits. So desperate that there are releases of thousands of convicted felons before their sentences are served and completed in order to avoid the cost of their further incarceration. This is a phenomena of our times that is becoming more and more common all across the country. That's just one reason why "Time Does Not Heal All Wounds: How To Fight A Parole" by Kathleen Connelly Takats is so timely, so important, and so urgently recommended to the attention of anyone who has ever lost a loved one to a criminal, only to be confronted by that person's early release through the process of the parole. Kathleen writes with personal experience. John Duffy murdered her fifteen-year-old brother James in 1979. He was convicted of this homicide and sentenced to '20 years to life' in prison. She has worked tirelessly and effectively to insure that her brother's killer would not walk free but remain in prison for the rest of his life in payment for the life he had ended. "Time Does Not Heal All Wounds" is the story of her research, letter writing, and media involvement to deny Duffy a parole. Her story is also a practical and strongly recommended guide for others to achieve what she has been able to do -- insure that justice is not subverted, but is carried out to the letter of the law.


The Poetry Shelf

Where Shadows Will
Norma Cole
City Lights Books
261 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94133
9780872864740, $14.95, www.citylights.com

Some poets have a wide library of works, and you'll miss the brightest gems unless you look really closely. "Where Shadows Will: Selected Poems 1988-2008" takes the best of Norma Cole's work from over twenty years, and places it all in one collection as part of City Lights' Spotlight series. An excellent collection to start the series with, "Where Shadows Will" is a poetry reader's delight. "Her and There": "Consciousness", explained More Pataphysics, rigid with emotion./The weather turned. We had not heard you come in. "Have you ever/forced a lover out of your own dream? Why can't I write a book/called Fraud? They talked about music as it forms, far away in/time, in a state of place, in all its versions. She shook until she split/the mirrored room. She shook the map-case open, terribly and ruth-/lessly. An ocean or continent of blood poured out in sheets on the/body.

One
Serge Patrice Thibodeau
Goose Lane
330-550 Beaverbrook Court, Fredericton, NB, Canada E3B 5X4
9780864925336, $16.95, www.gooselane.com

Nearly two years worth of effort, "One" is a collection from Serge Patrice Thibodeau, a French Canadian poet with much international renown. With a focus on the beauty of the natural world, Thibodeau's work is deftly translated by Jo-Anne Elder, making "One" a fine pick indeed for poetry fans. A sample: "It is said: man is born to betray his own,/to sign the confession of his acts, to contemplate nothingness, his unique creation, another way to stick out his tongue, kneeling,/black stripes knotted around his neck, a serpent in his fist,//eyes thick with yellow,/mouth ready to utter the last judgment,/ - soul stranded on the sandy floor of the arena - /weapon aimed and ready when the time comes to fire on his neighbor.

Mobility of Light
Nicole Brossard
Wilfrid Laurier University Press
75 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3C5
9781554580477, $14.95, www.wlupress.wlu.ca

Some poets deserve to be read in all languages. "Mobility of Light" is a collection of poems from revered French poet Nicole Brossard, who has been composing poetry and other writing for well over forty years. Her work is presented with the original French and the English translation side by side. "Mobility of Light" is a top pick for world poetry collections. "MY Continent": MY continent she now has/all my saliva, since, at your place, I've/forgotten the text I wanted before your reading eyes/which have watched centuries/of hallucinations, of skin, pass, the noise//detonation. (ma) * it's a space/ an hypothesis.

Eilean Ni Chuilleanain
Eilean Ni Chuilleanain
Wake Forest University
PO Box 7333, Winston-Salem, NC 27109
9781930630444, $12.95, www.wfu.edu/wfupress

Eilean Ni Chuilleanain is one of Ireland's finest poets. Poetry lovers everywhere can now read the best of one of the best in "Eilean Ni Chuilleanain: Selected Poems". Drawing poems from over three decades of prominence, "Eilean Ni Chuilleanain" gives much to enjoy and reflect on. "Eilean Ni Chuilleanain" is a fine compilation that should not be missed. "The Secret": Instead of burning the book or getting its value/They hid it and were silent, even at home,/So that the history of that lost year/Remained for each one her own delusion./As the memory faded they had to love./No one would buy their blood, but they sold/their hair, the milk from their breasts,/their signatures on slips of raveled paper,/The grazing as far as the drawing-room windows/And at last the fresh fine grass/That had started to grow under the first arch/Of the bridge beside the burnt out-paper mill.


The Education Shelf

Delivering E-Learning
Kenneth Fee
Kogan Page
525 South 4th Street, #241, Philedelphia, PA 19147
9780749453978, $49.95, www.koganpage.com

E-Learning can be a very powerful tool in the modern age, but done wrong, it can be utterly useless. "Delivering E-Learning: A Complete Strategy for Design, Application, and Assessment" is a guide to the world of E-learning and how to execute it well, so that what is taught is up to the standards of education that one would get attending a class in person. Discussing how to create a viable e-learning system, good strategies, addressing problems one has with students, and how to assess of progress, "Delivering E-Learning" is a must for anyone who is charged with making an E-learning system as successful as possible.

Learning to Write with Purpose
Karen Kuelthau Allan & Collaborators
The Guilford Press
72 Spring Street, New York, NY 10012
9781606231258, $28.00, www.guilford.com

The written word has to have a reason behind it or it is worthless. "Learning to Write With Purpose: Effective Instruction in Grades 4-8" is a guide for educators teaching elementary and middle school age students how to give their writing purpose and meaning. Writing is communication, and learning to use that communication to display thoughts and ideas is an absolutely invaluable skill. Packed cover to cover with advice for educators, "Learning to Write with Purpose" is a solid addition to community library education collections with a focus on language arts.

Play & Imagination in Children with Autism, second edition
Pamela J. Wolfberg
Teachers College Press
1234 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027
9780807749418, $24.95, www.tcpress.com

Children with autism need recess just like any other child. Now in a newly expanded and updated second edition, "Play & Imagination in Children with Autism" outlines the information educators need to know when dealing with children with autism in the developmentally important avenues of recess and creative expression. The information on development includes what to watch out for in an autistic child's social interaction, how to talk to autistic children, and much more. "Play & Imagination in Children with Autism" is an absolute must for many educators and educational administrators.


The Fiction Shelf

Second Thoughts
Bobbie O'Keefe
Gale Cengage Learning
27500 Drake Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48331
9781594147722, $25.95, www.cengage.com

Divorce may be the end of something, but that doesn't mean there can't be a new beginning. "Second Thoughts" is the story of Derek and Connie, two divorcees, as Derek tries to recapture the flame and make his divorce a thing of the past. A romance set in a busy, realistic, and entertaining world, "Second Thoughts" will entertain readers for hours.

Wave of Terror
Theodore Odrach, author
Erma Odrach, translator
Academy Chicago Publishers
363 W. Erie Street, Chicago, IL 60610
9780897335621, $19.95, www.academychicago.com

There are hidden gems behind cultural walls that are only seeping out now. "Wave of Terror" is one of those books, written by Theodore Odrach, a Russian author more than sixty years ago. Set at the very beginning of World War II, "Wave of Terror" tells the personal story of a boy in a rural village, and the prison camps under the reign of Stalin. Expertly translated by Erma Odrach, "Wave of Terror" is quite the work of literature.

Worst Nightmares
Shane Briant
Vanguard Press
387 Park Avenue South, 12th Floor, New York City, NY 10016
Hilsinger - Mendelson East (publicity)
245 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1401, New York, NY 10016
9781593155148, $23.95, www.vanguardpress.com

One crime could lead to the solving of another. "Worst Nightmares" is the story of writer's block battling successful author Dermot Nolan. Crippled by his famine of creativity and unable to think, he starts to consider stealing an unknown author's manuscript, only to find this unknown author may have not been writing strictly fiction. "Worst Nightmares" is a fascinating mystery thriller, sure to grip readers until the very end.

Khakhanate
Thomas Lankenau
Elderberry Press
1393 Old Homestead, Second Floor, Oakland, OR 97462
9781934956113, $27.95, www.elderberrypress.com

What if Ghengis Khan's hordes had turned their eyes eastward to Alaska and beyond? "Khakhanate: The Crow" is the second book in Thomas Lankenau's unique historical fiction series, telling the story of what would happen to the America, Europe, Asia, and the world as we know it if things played out differently in the fourteenth century. As Native Americans and Mongols meet, an intriguing saga unfolds.


The Psychology Shelf

Culture and Panic Disorder
Devon E. Hinton & Byron J. Good
Stanford Unviersity Press
1450 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1124
9780804761093, $29.95, www.sup.org

Humanity is generally the same, but some cultures handle psychological problems differently. "Culture and Panic Disorder" explores how culture plays a major role in classifying many panic disorders that disparate societies deals with differently. Comparing many cultures and what some cultures view as panic disorder worthy where other cultures do not, "Culture and Panic Disorder" is an intriguing look at how much culture and society matter in the realm of mental health. "Culture and Panic Disorder" is a must read for any who want to better understand the human psyche on a global scale.


The Political Science Shelf

Better Parties, Better Government
Peter J. Wallison & Joel M. Gora
American Enterprise Institute
1150 Seventeenth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036
9780844742717, $20.00, www.aei.org

Could restrictions on political spending actually be undermining America's democracy? "Better Parties, Better Government: A Realistic Program for Campaign Finance Reform" offers Peter Wallison and Joel Gora's opinion that major problems in American democracy stem from limits on campaign spending; the restrictions in place which all too often seem to protect incumbents, often giving them the election despite low approval ratings. "Better Parties, Better Government" is a must read for those looking to better understand modern American democracy.


The Parenting Shelf

Raising Intuitive Children
Caron B. Goode & Tara Paterson
New Page Books
3 Tice Road, PO Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
Warwick Associates (publicity)
18340 Sonoma Highway, Sonoma, CA 95476
9781601630513, $15.99, www.newpagebooks.com

Intuition is a powerful thing. "Raising Intuitive Children: Guide Your Children to Know and Trust Their Gifts" is a guide to nurturing intuition in a child so that they may better react to the world around them. Filled with tips and advice for parents who may not be so intuitive, "Raising Intuitive Children" is a fine and very much recommended read for parents.


The Genealogy Shelf

Census
Peter Christian & David Annal
The National Archives
c/o International Publishers Marketing Inc.
PO Box 605, Herndon, VA 20172-0605
9781905615346, $29.95, www.nationalarchives.gov.uk

The Census' records are an invaluable tool for those researching their past. "Census: The Expert Guide" presents a guide to using the census to its maximum extent in tracing one's own family history. Although "Census" hails from the United Kingdom and contains little actual census information itself, "Census" gives all the information one needs to maximize their time spent researching, making it ideal for readers of any country. For anyone who is going to research their history, "Census" is a must.


The Journalism Shelf

God and the Editor
Robert H. Phelps
Syracuse University Press
1600 Jamesville Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13244-5160
0815609140, $29.95, www.syracuseuniversitypress.syr.edu

No one would ever call the New York Times a religious newspaper. "God and the Editor: My Search for Meaning at the New York Times" is the memoir of Robert Phelps, focusing on his time as an editor for the New York Times where he served for nine years. As a man of faith, he tried to do his best to stay true to his religion while maintaining journalistic integrity. He encountered people of all sorts, and gives readers an inside look at the newspaper industry. "God and the Editor" is a highly entertaining and insightful read, recommended.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

Essence of the Upanishads
Eknath Easwaran
Nilgiri
PO Box 256, 3600 Tomales Road, Tomales, CA 94971
9781586380366, $14.95, www.amazon.com

Every culture has its fables, and the Upanishads is one of India's most treasured. "Essence of the Upanishads: A Key to Spirituality" is a westerner's guide to this vitally important Indian text and its modern relevance to the Indian mindset and spirituality. "Essence of the Upanishads" is strongly suggested reading for anyone curious about Indian philosophy.


The Philosophy Shelf

Provoking Thought
Hugh Mercer Curtler
Florida Academic Press
PO Box 540, Gainesville, FL 36202-0540
9781890357238, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Name a topic, and there's a lot of thinking to do on it. "Provoking Thought" are the thoughts of author Hugh Mercer Curtler, a retired professor of philosophy as he practices his specialty on the world around him, giving his opinions and asking questions to the reader as well. "Provoking Thought" lives up to its title, and is a read to be highly considered.


The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

Reel Rangers
Bill O'Neal
Eakin Press
PO Box 21235, Waco, TX 76702
1571688404, $22.95, www.eakinpress.com

The Texas Ranger is an iconic figure of the old west. "Reel Rangers: Texas Rangers in Movies, TV, Radio, & Other Forms of Popular Culture" is an in-depth, complete and comprehensive guide to depictions of the Texas Ranger in fictional mediums. Covering everything from Chuck Norris in Walker, Texas Ranger, to more successful ones which made the careers of people such as Clint Eastwood, Bill O'Neal presents something for anyone who has fallen in love with the Texas Ranger. "Reel Ranger" is a must for any such enthusiast.


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


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