Return to home
page Book Reviews, Book Lover Resources, Advice for Writers and Publishers
Home / Wisconsin Bookwatch

Wisconsin Bookwatch

Volume 5, Number 8 August 2010 Home | WBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Money/Finance Shelf Poetry Shelf
Education Shelf Military Shelf Fiction Shelf
Photography Shelf American History Shelf Criminology Shelf
Business Shelf Psychology Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf
Christian Studies Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf Literary Shelf
World History Shelf Folklore/Mythology Shelf Science Shelf
Music Shelf Cookbook Shelf Real Estate Shelf
Writing/Publishing Shelf Agriculture Shelf Biography Shelf
Judaic Studies Shelf Railroading Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Parenting Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Self-Help Shelf
Sports Shelf International Studies Shelf Economics Shelf
Judicial Studies Shelf Environmental Studies Shelf  


Reviewer's Choice

Lighthouses of the Pacific Coast
Elinor DeWire
Paradise Cay Publications, Inc.
PO Box 29, Arcata, CA 95518-0029
9780939837861, $19.95, www.paracay.com

The lighthouse is an icon that has fascinated many over the years. "Lighthouses of the Pacific Coast: California, Oregon, and Washington" is a DeWire Guide acting as a guide to sixty four light houses along the Pacific coast of America, filled with historical stories of men and women living at these light houses and the experiences they faced. For anyone with a fascination of light houses, "Lighthouses of the Pacific Coast" is a fine collection, not to be missed.

Death for Beginners
Karen Jones
Quill Driver Books
2006 S. Mary Street, Fresno, CA 93721
9781884995613, $12.95, www.quilldriverbooks.com

Death has an annoying habit of sneaking up on you. "Death for Beginners: Your No-Nonsense, Money Saving Guide to Planning for the Inevitable" is a both useful and tongue and cheek guide to the final event of one's life, outlining how to plan and be prepared for the unexpected to avoid the endless legalities and annoyances that often come with a recent passing. Complete and comprehensive, "Death for Beginners" is a top pick for anyone who wants to spare their loved one's paperwork when they want it the least.


The Money/Finance Shelf

Don't Buy the Bull
Cassandra Toroian
Sterling & Ross
115 W. 29th St. New York, NY 10001
9780982139264, $19.95, www.sterlingandross.com

The economy of the United States has radically changed, and the old ways won't work anymore. "Don't Buy the Bull: Dispelling Disastrous Investment Advice and Money-Myths in Our New Economy" is a guide to the new rules of finance, which encourages staying debt free, much more cautious actions, working with others, planning for the long term, and more. "Don't Buy the Bull" is a book of sage, and very highly recommended advice for anyone fearful of the new economy.


The Poetry Shelf

St. Cecilia's Daze
Katrin Talbot
Parallel Press
372 Memorial Library, 728 State Street, Madison, WI 53575
9781934795132 $10.00 http://parallelpress.library.wisc.edu

St. Cecilia's Daze is an original chapbook collection of brief, free-verse poems revolving about the liberating influence of music. Named after the patron saint of Music, St. Cecilia's Daze evokes wonder and beauty, as it touches upon the role of music in supplanting the gamut of emotions that make up the human experience, from joy to sorrow to pain and all the medley of feelings in between. "Mazurka vs. the Day": There are mornings, / Autumn Mornings so brilliant / so articulated / so crisp / When a Chopin Mazurka / silently collides with / the Day spirit // A day so radiant and joyful that / a melancholy dance can / only tug at the beauty // yearning for a joining, / a fusion of unmeasurable / sadness / with dazzling spirit // and the Day / Resists

The Breakfast Room
Stewart Conn
Bloodaxe Books
c/o DuFour Editions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9781852248567, $21.95, www.dufoureditions.com

With much age and expertise, a bit of wisdom never does any harm. "The Breakfast Room" is a collection of poetry from Stuart Conn. Famed around Scotland for his ability, he gives readers a fine taste of Scot life and brings no shortage of entertainment. "The Breakfast Room" is a top pick for any world poetry collection. "Prize": Two writers agree that the prize doesn't/matter: one has won it, the other hasn't.//At my age, surely no one supposes/I give a toss who wins the prize//or that. Tell the, if the phone goes,/I'm outside -- dead-heading the roses.

Art and Politics, Politics and Art
D. H. Melhem
Syracuse University Press
621 Skytop Road, Suite 110, Syracuse, NY 13244-5290
9780815609766, $9.95, www.syracuseuniversypress.syr.edu

The world of art and politics have a unique history with one another. "Art and Politics, Politics and Art" is a collection of poetry form D. H. Melhem as she presents a unique collection of poetry focusing on this history, presenting many new perspectives and thoughts on these events. "Art and Politics, Politics and Art" is a thoughtful and entertaining read, highly recommended. "Email Surveillance": hops/on my shoulder/looks over it/swims through my gaze/waves from computer screen/floats/on my surfride/dives/into my hard drive.

He and I
Emmanuel Moses
Oberlin College Press
50 N Professor St., Oberlin, OH 44074-1091
0932440371, $15.95

Understanding history is understanding life. "He and I" is a collection of poetry from Emmanuel Moses, a French poet who discusses the figures of history through his verse and makes some fascinating deductions. "He and I" is a fine addition to any poetry collection. "Note from Burgundy": The bust burnt to ash/is more of a gossip than ever/all the neighborhood passes by/from canal-lock to bell-tower/diluting however slightly its blackness/in the season's illumination.

Lovely, Raspberry
Aaron Belz
Persea Books
853 Broadway, NY 10003
9780892553594, $15.00, www.perseabooks.com

You can be philosophical without ruining someone's day. "Lovely, Raspberry" is a collection of poetry from Aaron Beltz, designed to be light in nature with a powerful message lying beneath. "Lovely, Raspberry" is a fine set of poetry, and a solid addition to any collection. "Smocks": "Bella et her smock, what had paint on it,"/grumbled Ferocio. He had been/omitting cadavers all night//Trial by Ferocio, epoxy nightmare (feminism).

The Salt Ecstasies
James L. White
Graywolf Press
250 Third Avenue N, Suite 600, Minneapolis, MN 55401
9781555975616, $15.00, www.graywolfpress.org

Some people change the direction of American poetry, even if they fail to get the credit they deserve. "The Salt Ecstasies" is a collection of poetry from James L. White, an individual regarded by many poetic critics as an unsung hero of poetry. With insight into his work, "The Salt Ecstasies" is a fine collection for any hardcore poetry lover. "The Clay Dancer": You are buried in so many places/like the scattering of diseased ivory./The infamous motels of quick nights,/the way you like it and do it best.//The morning star says you didn;'t sleep well into spring/and finally gave everything away on blue paper/like the hunter's bow and ashes.//He wakes, touches himself there, looks/at the skin magazine and can't sleep.

To the New World
Valerie Duff
Salmon Poetry
c/o DuFour Editions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9781907056284, $15.95, www.salmonpoetry.com

What is here today may not be here tomorrow. "To the New World" is a collection of poetry from Valerie Duff, discussing the passing of time of the world and the constant changes that can make the future so drastically different from the past. "To the New World" is an insightful and entertaining collection, not to be missed. "Proverb": A room with a roof is all bed/as you are bed, botanical gardens, breath/on the face. A room with no roof/in low cloud, dissolves in smoke,/the lone mound in the field, and the worst/kind offers collect. The road defrocks you.

The World in a Minute
Gary Lenhart
Hanging Loose Press
231 Wyckoff Street, Brooklyn, NY 11217
9781934909126, $18.00, www.hangingloosepress.com

With three previous volumes, Gary Lenhart gives his fans another taste with "The World in a Minute", following up with his own wit and wisdom on the world around us as well as his travels through history, using both poetry and prose as his mediums. "The World in a Minute" is an entertaining read and a top pick for poetry lovers. "Headwind": A crow above a ballfield/into the wind flaps/To little gain. A yellow ball/Beyond the baseline/Blows back; we call a let./The sun stops in its track/To worry and burn./Nothing changes/except the clock./A guy my age, I call him "Pop"./He calls me a herald/of Aborted paradigms.


The Education Shelf

Let's Read
Cynthia A. Barnhart & Robert K. Barnhart
Wayne State University Press
4809 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201-1309
9780814334553, $24.95, www.wsupress.wayne.edu

Literacy is something no easier learned than just by doing. "Let's Read: A Linguistic Approach" is a guide to teaching reading and its comprehension, using a simple linguistic approach that encourages breaking down words to understand them and using this simplistic approach to understanding a lot of the words one would commonly read. "Let's Read" is a valuable resource to any literacy teacher, very highly recommended.

Inspiring the Best in Students
Jonathan C. Erwin
ASCD
1703 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
9781416609797, $25.95, www.ascd.org

Everyone is capable of something great, they just need that drive. "Inspiring the Best in Students" is a discussion on how teachers can drive their students to perform better and further their potential and goals in life. How to encourage students to make wiser choices that improve their academics and potential as people, and more. "Inspiring the Best in Students" is a guide to be read by any teacher who wants something better from their kids.

Kids, Computers, and Learning
Holly Poteete
ISTE
1710 Rhode Island Ave., NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20036-3132
9781564842657, $34.95, www.iste.org

Computers have become a cornerstone of modern American life, and learning these machines ia key to a good future. "Kids, Computers, and Learning: An Activity Guide for Parents" is a guide for parents to encourage technology skills in their children and push them to be better learners with a greater understanding of computers, and how even the least tech savvy parents can give their children a leg up in the world. With plenty of activities and a CD full of additional information and resources, "Kids, Computers, and Learning" is a fine choice for education and technology collections.

Survive and Thrive
The College of William & Mary's Center for Gifted Education
Prufrock Press Inc.
5926 Balcones Drive, Suite 220, Austin, TX 78731
9781593633936, $39.95, www.prufrock.com

A keen interest in science is something that should be nurtured. "Survive and Thrive: Project Clarion Science Unit for Primary Grades" is a guide for teachers and administrators on how to emphasize science for gifted and talented students who have just started their schooling in kindergarten and first grades. These years are vital, and much info is provided to nurture the students during this time. "Survive and Thrive" is a fine resource for any elementary school science teacher or administrator.


The Military Shelf

My 39 1/2 Years in the US Army Reserve
Douglas S. McLaughlin
Elderberry Press, Inc.
1393 Old Homestead, Second Floor, Oakland, OR 97462
9781934956298, $19.95, www.elderberrypress.com

Nearly four decades of military service certainly gives a man his own set of challenges in life. "My 39 1/2 Years in the US Army Reserve" is the memoir of Douglas S. McLaughlin, Sergeant First Class. Through many wars, he stayed available to the military, serving on many tours of duty and seeing much of the world along the way. A unique take on military life, "My 39 1/2 years in the US Army Reserve" is a fine pick for any military memoir collection.

Notes of a Russian Sniper
Vassili Zaitsev
Frontline / Pen & Sword
c/o Casemate Publishers
908 Darby Road, Havertown, PA19083
9781848325654 $32.95 www.casematepublishing.com

The true-life inspiration for the film "Enemy at the Gates", Notes of a Russian Sniper is the firsthand testimony of Vassili Zaitsev, an expert hunter who became a skilled and talented sniper during World War II. Volunteering to fight in the battle of Stalingrad, he quickly learned how to use a rifle with a telescopic sight, and invented masterful tactics that are still studied in sniper schools worldwide. Zaitsev's legendary efforts made him a symbol of Russian resistance against the Nazis, and his own words reveal how a dedicated and determined man could hold out and fight back even in the most severe situations. Notes of a Russian Sniper is highly recommended especially for college library, military history, and military biography collections.

The Bomb
Howard Zinn
Open Media Series
c/o City Lights
261 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94133
9780872865099, $8.95, www.citylights.com

A bomb is highly impersonal. The dropper can kill hundreds, and never see any of them. "The Bomb" is the memoir of Howard Zinn, a bomber in World War II who dropped bombs along the French countryside while campaigning against Germany. After learning of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Zinn now speaks out against the use of bombs and what it can do the warfare. Thoughtful and full of stories of an old soldier who regrets what he has done, "The Bomb" is a fine posthumous release that shares much of the lost wisdom of World War II.


The Fiction Shelf

The Book of Obeah
Sandra Carrington-Smith
O Books
c/o National Book Network
PO Box 62188, Baltimore, MD 21264-2188
9781846942990, $22.95, www.o-books.net

To fulfill the wishes of a loved one, one sometimes finds something far more along the way. "The Book of Obeah" tells the story of Melody Bennet, a North Carolina woman venturing to New Orleans to fulfill the wishes of her grandmother. She soon finds much more than she bargains for and learns much about a new life and new cultures. A fish out of water story with much to think about, "The Book of Obeah" is a fine choice and highly recommended read.

2013
N. Nosirrah
Sentient Publications
1113 Spruce Street, Boulder, CO 80302
9781591810957, $9.95, www.sentientpublications.com

Just because the world has ended, doesn't mean you can't make a shiny profit. "2013: How to Profit From the Prophets in the Coming End of the World" is a unique take on the apocalypse as author N. Nosirrah tells a humorous story of the apocalypse and how to enterprise off it and make yourself a nice chunk of change in a sea of death. Hilarious and thoughtful, "2013" is a read that shouldn't be missed, highly recommended.

The Anniversary Man
R. J. Ellory
Overlook Press
141 Wooster Street, New York, NY 10012
9781590203279, $24.95, www.overlookpress.com

History has a tendency to repeat itself, and few can truly understand the patterns. "The Anniversary Man" is the story of John Costello and the tragic attack on him and his girlfriend to the killer who called himself the hammer of God. His girlfriend killed, him surviving, the killing subsides for awhile, only for years later for it to start again. It's up to him, burdened with his survival, to uncover the killer's motives and pattern. "The Anniversary Man" is an enticing and fun mystery, not to be missed.

One Day the Wind Changed
Tracy Daugherty
Southern Methodist University Press
PO Box 750415, Dallas, TX 75275-0415
9780870745591, $22.95, www.tamupress.com

The desert is a vast empty place - or is it? "One Day the Wind Changed" is a collection of short stories from Tracy Daugherty, as she reflects on the desert, using it as a metaphor for the emptiness of life and the search for something more. Profound and thoughtful, Daugherty gives readers a lot to expect and enjoy with her writing, leading to a fulfilling read that will be hard to put down. "One Day the Wind Changed" is a fine addition to community library collection focusing on short stories.

Night of Flames
Douglas W. Jacobson
McBooks Press
520 North Meadow Street, Ithaca, NY 14850
9781590131664, $16.95, www.mcbooks.com

For one's wife, one would endure a war itself. "Night of Flames" tells the tale of a man separated from his wife during Germany's invasion of Poland during World War II. When an opportunity to return to Poland working with British Intelligence presents itself, Jan seizes it to find his wife and save her from the Nazi oppression. A military intrigue novel wrapped in a love story, "Night of Flames" is quite the read and a top pick.

Match to the Heart
Ken Luber
Dog Ear Publishing
4010 W. 86th Street, Ste H, Indianapolis, IN 46268
9781598589092, $12.95, www.dogearpublishing.com

When leaving a world devoid of love, finding love can prove terrifying. "Match to the Heart: A Novel of Love, Angels, and Reincarnation" tells the story of Michael Tranier, as he flees his life of crime and finds himself in the care of a caring woman. But such a transition isn't so easy, as Ken Luber tells a story of adjusting and changing one's view of the world after it has been abused for so long. "Match to the Heart" is an insightful and thoughtful read, highly recommended.

Women Who Live in Coffee Shops and Other Stories
Stella Pope Duarate
Arte Publico Press
452 Cullen Performance Hall, Houston, TX 77204-2004
9781558856004, $15.95, www.artepublicoprress.com

Dangers lurk around every corner, no matter how innocent you are. "Women Who Live in Coffee Shops and Other Stories" is a collection of short stories from Stella Pope Duarte, reflecting mainly on the tragedies that face young people, exposed to the darkness of the world for the first time. From shameful fathers, from accusations of murder, to the dangers of evil people. "Women Who Live in Coffee Shops and Other Stories" is a fine and poignant read, highly recommended.

Strange Heaven
Lynn Coady
Goose Lane
330-500 Beaverbrook Court, Fredericton, NB Canada E3B 5X4
9780864926173, $17.9, www.gooselane.com

A single teen mother never comes without their baggage. "Strange Heaven" tells the story of Bridget Murphy, marauded by her fates and trying to find her place in life, she puts her unwanted child up for adoption and trying to come to terms with her strange and unusual family. Family isn't something you can't just leave behind, and Bridget slowly comes to term with it. With plenty of black humor, "Strange Heaven" is an entertaining and insightful read, not to be missed.

Black Moonlight
Amy Patricia Meade
Midnight Ink
2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125-2989
9780738715599, $14.95, www.midnightinkbooks.com

When you have an eye for a mystery, they can be hard to avoid. "Black Moonlight" is a tale set in the honeymoon of mystery writer Marjorie and her new husband Creighton Ashcroft in the 1930s. Meeting with family, Marjorie's honeymoon turns sour quick, and when murder enters into it, her expertise suddenly turns it into a working vacation. "Black Moonlight" is a fascinating and fun mystery, not to be missed.

Forbidden
Elizabeth Victoria Wallace
Black Rose Writing
2250 Military Road, Tonawanda, NY 14225
9781935605348, $18.95, www.blackrosewriting.com

Finding the truth is not always brightness and sunshine. "Forbidden" tells the story of Catherine MacDonald, a woman of seventeenth century Scotland looking for the truth behind the disappearance of her mother all those years ago. When she finds the truth, it may just be stranger than fiction. A remarkable and exciting work of historical fiction. "Forbidden" is not a work to be overlooked.

Rajmahal
Kamalini Sengupta
The Feminist press
365 Fifth Avenue, Suite 4506, New York, NY 10016
9781558616080, $16.65, www.feminestpress.org

When revolutions boil, revolutions of life don't stop. "Rajmahal" tells a personal story of life and love and all the chaos behind it all in an India struggling for its own independence from the British Empire and how much a conflict on the world stage can affect life on the personal front. Profound with plenty of history intertwined in it all, "Rajmahal" is a fine read that shouldn't be missed by any literary fiction collection.

Freedom's Call
John Walker
Synergy Books
PO Box 80107, Austin, TX 78758
Phenix & Phenix (publicity)
8716 Mopac Suite 330, Autin, TX 78759
9780984076086, $19.95, www.synergybooks.net

Revolution for our freedoms isn't as pure and good as it always seems. "Freedom's Call" tells the story of Johnny Locker, a lawmaker revamping America's social security problems. But when the call for greater revolution and to overthrow the current government for a reversion to the Constitution, he soon finds that the Constitution can corrupt just as much as anything else. "Freedom's Call" is a fascinating look at politics and leadership through fiction, a riveting and highly recommended read.

The Private Lives of Trees
Alejandro Zambra
Open Letter
University of Rochester, Lattimore Hall 4100,
PO Box 270082, Rochester, NY 14627
9781934824245, $12.95, www.openletterbooks.org

The impression that one leaves behind on their children is something that picks at parent's minds for ages. "The Private Lives of Trees" is a novel from Chilean writer Alejandro Zambra, masterfully translated by Megan McDowell. Julian is a father who tells a story to his daughter every night, awaiting the return of his wife. Fearing that his wife is lost, he ponders what his daughter will think of his writing and him as she grows into an adult. Poignant and thought provoking "The Private Lives of Trees" is a fine piece of international fiction.

The Labyrinth of the Dead
Sara M. Harvey
Apex Publications
PO Box 24323, Lexington, KY 40524
9780984553501, $13.95, www.apexdigest.com

The dead want to return to life, but balance must be maintained. "The Labyrinth of the Dead" tells the story of Portia Gyony, protector of humanity who over sees the border of the shadow world and the world of the living. When his lover tries to cross over he finds himself stuck in a conflict. A unique setting with unique characters, "The Labyrinth of the Dead" is a fine and exciting fantasy not to be missed.


The Photography Shelf

Phantoms of the Hudson Valley
Monica Randall
The Overlook Press
141 Wooster Street, New York, NY 10012
0879516178 $65.00 www.overlookpress.com

Phantoms of the Hudson Valley: The Glorious Estates of a Lost Era has been out of print for a long time; now this captivating compendium of black-and-white (actually, sepia-tinted) photography of deserted homes and castles, paired with spooky ghost stories and secrets of lost splendor. The result is a one-of-a-kind coffee table book that strongly encapsulates these formerly lavish living areas. A truly extraordinary book, Phantoms of the Hudson Valley is the next best thing to personally sightseeing the lost opulence and forgotten spirits of the area, and deserves the highest outstanding recommendation.

Barns of Wisconsin
Jerry Apps
Wisconsin Historical Society Press
816 State Street, Madison, WI 53706
9780870204531, $29.95, www.wisconsinhistory.org

Barns have become more than functional buildings, they've become symbols of pride. "Barns of Wisconsin" delves into the history and style of Wisconsin's barns that have been built through the centuries and the reverence they have gained from barn aficionados. With plenty of black and white and full color photography, Jerry and Steve Apps give a fine history of brand and other things, making "Barns of Wisconsin" a top pick for anyone else fascinated by these monuments to agriculture.

The Canon Camera Hackers Manual
Berthold Daum
RockyNook
26 W. Mission St., #3, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
9781933952581, $29.95, www.rockynook.com

Many cameras have potential that even the creators don't know is there. "The Canon Camera Hackers Manual: Teach Your Camera New Tricks" is a guide to maximizing the opportunities one can do with their Canon cameras by going with what isn't in the instruction manual. From other file formats, setting you normally can't use, pushing the camera's limits, and more, "The Canon Camera Hackers Manual" is a guide any photography buff will love.

The Photographer's Guide to Marketing and Self-Promotion
Maria Piscopo
Allworth Press
10 East 23rd Street, New York, NY 10010
9781581157147, $24.95, www.allworth.com

A good photographer can sell what they love to do, you just have to be smart about it. "The Photographer's Guide to Marketing and Self-Promotion" is a guide for photographers who want to become either a freelance photographer or land a job with an organization. A photography career is about how your work presents itself as much as the quality of the work, and Maria Piscopo equips readers well with knowledge to get them off on the right start for their career. "The Photographer's Guide to Marketing and Self-Promotion" is a key volume for any photography or career collection.


The American History Shelf

Juneteenth Texas
Francis E. Abernethy, Patrick B. Mullen, Alan B. Govenar
University of North Texas Press
PO Box 13856, Denton, TX 76203
9781574412833, $29.95, www.unt.edu

When you keep a people separated for so long, they develop their own culture. "Juneteenth Texas: Essays in African-American Folklore" explores the legends that have developed from African Americans secluded from the white culture for so long, and how their own deeper African traditions blended with their new lives away from their home continent. A fascinating read of a culture too often ignored, "Juneteenth Texas" is a fine addition to any historical or cultural studies collection.

Industrial Pioneers
Patrick Brown
Tribute Books
PO Box 95, Archbald, PA 18403
9780982256558 $19.95 www.tribute-books.com

Industrial Pioneers: Scranton, Pennsylvania and the Transformation of America, 1840-1902 tells of the industrial transformation of the city of Scranton - once a small, backwoods community, Scranton grew in size to a modern-day city with 100,000 residents. Chapters reveal the phases of Scranton's transformation in chronological order, with close heed paid to how individual residents had to learn how to adapt to the forces of technology and globalization. A timeline, bibliography, and index round out this absorbing true history of a bustling city's resilient and adaptable residents, and the lessons that can be learned from their lives.

The Johnson-Sims Feud
Bill O'Neal
University of North Texas Press
PO Box 311336, Denton, TX 76203-1336
9781574412901 $24.95 www.unt.edu/untpress

The Johnson-Sims Feud: Romeo and Juliet, West Texas Style is the true story of the last traditional family feud in Texas. The Johnson-Sims Feud had its roots in a marriage turned sour: when Gladys Johnson and Ed Sims shared a bitter divorce, and the custody dispute of their two daughters turned lethal. When Ed Sims tried to take his daughters for a prearranged Christmas visit in 1916, Gladys shot him twice in broad daylight, before a host of witnesses, and then Gladys' brother Sid ended Ed's life. Both of Ed's killers were acquitted in a court of law, prompting escalating attempts at enacting blood justice. A violent, sordid, and utterly fascinating true account, carefully researched and presented with excitement and flair as well as meticulous accuracy.


The Criminology Shelf

The Battle for Las Vegas
Dennis N. Griffin
Huntington Press Publishing
3665 South Procyon Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89103
0929712374 $14.95 www.huntingpress.com

The Battle for Las Vegas: The Law vs. the Mob is the suspenseful true story of the Chicago Outfit's organized, criminal stranglehold on Las Vegas - both its casinos and its streets. The Outfit set up a front man with no criminal record as the owner of their casinos, but Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal was the real power, and Tony Spilotro was the brutal and ruthless Outfit enforcer. Spilotro also the controlling power behind Vegas street crime, soon came to be known as "King of the Strip". Federal and local law enforcement declared war on organized crime, and on the Outfit, sparking a deadly clash from the 1970s through the mid-1980s. The Battle for Las Vegas is a captivating, up-close and personal account of the bitter struggle from both sides, featuring testimony from the agents and detectives driven to uphold the rule of law. Black-and-white vintage photographs illustrate this captivating account, highly recommended especially for fans of true crime.


The Business Shelf

Bootstrap Leadership
Steve Arneson
Berrett-Koehler Publishers
235 Montgomery Street, Suite 650, San Francisco, CA 94104-2916
9781605093451, $17.95, www.bkconnection.com

A good leader always thinks of a way to make their business succeed. "Bootstrap Leadership: 50 Ways to Break Out, Take Charge, and Move Up" is a guide to pushing oneself further to the next level of business through your own determination and will. Stating that businesses that encourage leadership and ideas often flourish further, "Bootstrap Leadership" is an uplifting and sensible business guide that encourages readers to never shun a good idea or potential leader.

Limited Liability Company
Daniel Sitarz
Nova
1103 W. College St., Carbondale, IL 62901
9781892949547, $29.95, www.novapublishing.com

It can be daunting diving into the world of business. "Limited Liability Company: Small Business Start-Up Kit" is a guide for readers who want to understand what a Limited liability company is and how to break into business using one for their own personal business. Highly detailed with no shortage of tips for establishing it, and enhanced with a CD-ROM full of resources, "Limited Liability Company" is an invaluable read for any starting independent business person.

Copycats
Oded Shenkar
Harvard Business Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
9781422126738, $29.95, www.hbr.org

Imitation is not only the sincerest form of flattery, but can also be very useful business wise. "Copycats: How Smart Companies use Imitation to Gain a Strategic Edge" is a guide to why the sometimes derided imitation can prove to be a good and useful thing in business, stating that a good proven idea can be useful if done right, although it's easy to fall into the mistaken pit of knock offs. With plenty of strategy and thought on the matter, "Copycats" is a useful resource for any business who sees innovation as creative theft.

Innovation X
Adam Richardson
Jossey-Bass
c/o Wiley
989 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94103-1741
9780470482193, $27.95, www.josseybass.com

Innovation can be a massive key to success, but it can also be the greatest downfall. "Innovation X: Why a Company's Toughest Problems Are Its Greatest Advantage" is a discussion of innovation and how to avoid misusing it to the point of it becoming an active problem to businesses. Outlining how to use innovation effectively as its place a problem solver and bringing a whole new slew of thoughts and ideas along the way, "Innovation X" is a choice read for any business leader who has been looking at innovation as a dilemma, rather than a solution.


The Psychology Shelf

Live Your Nonsense
Daryl Sharp
Inner City Books
PO Box 1271, Station Q, Toronto, ON M4T 2P4
9781894574310, $25.00

It may absurd, it may not make any sense, but that's what life is about. "Live Your Nonsense: Halfway to Dawn with Eros" discusses the concept of nonsense and how it may be a natural thing, and how people try to shove it out of their lives in their attempts to make sense of it all. Thought provoking and a fascinating delve into personality, thought, and reactions to it all. Jungian in nature, "Live Your Nonsense" is an intriguing exploration of the concept.

The Art of Hypnosis
C. Roy Hunter
Crown House Publishing
6 Trowbridge Drive, Suite 5, Bethel, CT 06801
9781845904395, $29.95, www.crownhousepublishing.com

Hypnosis has more to it than being a parlor trick. "The Art of Hypnosis: Mastering Basic Techniques" discusses hypnotherapy and the secrets and details that intertwine with it. Outlining the definition of hypnotherapy, what it's used for clinically, the power of the hypnotic state, self-hypnosis and more, "The Art of Hypnosis" is a fascinating and highly useful read.

Autism's False Prophets
Paul A. Offit
Columbia University Press
c/o Perseus Distribution
193 Edwards Drive, Jackson, TN 38301-7716
97802311446371, $16.95, www.cup.columbia.edu

Autism is a debate that has plenty of bad information flying around. "Autism's False Prophets: Bad Science, Risky Medicine, and The Search for a Cure" discusses autism and how bad information is leading to a generation of misinformed parents who don't understand their own children's problems and underestimating (or overestimating) their children's potential. Seeking to help readers realize the truth about Autism, "Autism's False Prophets" is a much needed read, not to be missed.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Living Well with Heart Failure
Edward K. Kasper & Mary Knudson
The John Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9780801894237, $18.85, www.press.jhu.edu

A bad ticker doesn't mean a bad life. "Living Well with Heart Failure: The Misnamed, Misunderstood Condition" is a complete and comprehensive guide to heart failure, which Edward K. Kasper & Mary Knudson guide readers through for a fuller and more complete understanding of the matter. Causes, diagnosis, treatments, and how to live well with it, "Living Well with Heart Failure" executes its purpose well. Highly recommended.


The Christian Studies Shelf

In God We Trust
Steve Ham
Master Books
c/o New Leaf Publishing
PO Box 726, Green Forest, AR 72638
9780890515839, $12.99, www.masterbooks.net

The Bible seems to have lost a lot of power in today's society. "In God We Trust: Why Biblical Authority Matters for Every Believer" is a Christian's guide for keeping the faith and standing against those who would undermine the word of God in the name of secular authority. Empowering Christians to keep their beliefs and not to follow false leaders, "In God We Trust" is a worthy read for anyone fearful of the decline of Christian faith.

St John of the Cross
Peter Tyler
Continuum
80 Maiden Lane, Suite 704, New York, NY 10038
9780826475619, $21.95, www.continuumbooks.com

The sainthood of many in Catholicism is to many a debate, and St. John of the Cross is no different. "St. John of the Cross" delves into the life of the titular man, and discusses what he brought to the faith and did for Christianity. A man of practicality, a trait not always there for many big believers, he kept his faith high and his words sound. "St. John of the Cross" is a top pick for any religious readers looking for a scholarly discussion of a saint.

Making Confession, Hearing Confession
Annemarie S. Kidder
Liturgical Press
St. John's Abbey, PO Box 7500, Collegeville, MN 56321-7500
9780814654972, $34.95

Confession is more than admitting wrong doing. "Making Confession, Hearing Confession: A History of the Cure of Souls" is an analysis of confession in modern Christianity and reviews the history of confession, looking at how it has changed in recent years and its place in modern faith. With advice for priests trying to find their own understanding of confession and its value, "Making Confession, Hearing Confession" is a highly spiritual and thoughtful addition to any Christian studies collection.

Saint Augustine of Hippo
Joseph T. Kelley
Skylight Paths
Sunset Farm Offices, Route 4, PO Box 237, Woodstock, Vt 05091
9781594732829, $16.99, www.skylightpaths.com

Faith is not something you're born with; faith is something you find. "Saint Augustine of Hippo: Selections from Confessions and Other Essential Writings" delves into Augustine of Hippo, a man who was known for his inner conflict and life until he adopted Christianity and was baptized at age 32, and his writings show a unique view of the world that knows life outside Christianity while discussing what Christian life should be. "Saint Augustine of Hippo" is a fine addition to any theology discussion.

Church Fathers and Teachers
Pope Benedict XVI
Ignatius
PO Box 1339, Fort Collins, CO 80522
9781586173173, $16.95

A teacher and are two things that can not be done without. "Church Fathers and Teachers: From Saint Leo the Great to Peter Lombard" is a discussion from Pope Benedict XVI on the greatest Catholic leaders and teachers through the start of Catholicism's dominance in Europe, from the fifth through twelfth centuries and their lasting impact on the faith. "Church Fathers and Teachers" is a top pick for any theology collection, highly recommended.

When Values Collide
Joseph P. Chinnici
Orbis Books
Price Bldg., Box 302, Maryknoll, NY 10545
9781570758737, $25.00, www.orbisbooks.com

The scandals that the Catholic church has been facing have proved to be daunting for this millennia year old institution. "When Values Collide: The Catholic Church, Sexual Abuse, and the Challenges of Leadership" discusses the challenges that the Catholic Church faces with the recent allegations of child abuse and how it has lead to a more vehement debate of the fallibility of the Catholic Church and its leadership. A fascinating debate with much to think about, "When Values Collide" is a key read for anyone pondering the future of the Catholic church.

Faith Set Free
Will Davis Jr.
Revell Books
c/o Baker Publishing Group
109 South Main Street, Corsicana, TX 75110
9780800732479, $12.99, www.revellbooks.com

Being selfless doesn't mean you have to stop being selfish. "Faith Set Free" is a book of faith and prayer aimed at not forgetting oneself in their prayers and desires to succeed and that it's not a sin to think of oneself in life. With plenty of example prayers to take thought from, "Faith Set Free" is a fine take on faith that is commonly forgotten.

What's Your Decision?
J. Michael Sparough, Jim Manney, Tim Hipskind
Loyola Press
3441 N. Ashland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60657
9780829431483, $10.95, www.loyolapress.com

Good decision making is a key to a good life. "What's Your Decision?: How to Make Choices with Confidence and Clarity, An Ignatian Approach to Decision Making" is a guide to making these decisions with the help of one's faith in God, trying to find what your heart wants and deciphering God's plan for you. With plenty of tools and thoughts on the matter, "What's Your Decision?" is a choice pick for the indecisive Christian.

Intelligent Design
William A. Dembski & Jonathan Witt
IVP Books
PO Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60615-1426
9780830837427, $15.00, ivpress.com

What is intelligent design, truly? "Intelligent Design: Uncensored" is a discussion of intelligent design and what it truly means in regards to Christianity and the scientific debate that rages on in today's debate. God in the classroom, the principles of faith, its relation to evolution, and more, "Intelligent Design: Uncensored" is not a read to be overlooked in this spiritual and scientific debate.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Hidden Realms, Lost Civilizations, and Beings from Other Worlds
Jerome Clark
Visible Ink
43311 Joy Road #414, Canton, MI 48187-2075
9781578591756, $24.95

The elements of fantasy all have basis in reality. "Hidden Realms, Lost Civilizations, and Beings from other Worlds" discusses the roots of many of the mythos and potential realties of the world, such as life within the solar system, fairies in our world, lunar civilizations, and so much more. Offering accounts on many of these supposed real encounters, "Hidden Realms, Lost Civilizations, and Beings form Other Worlds" serves as an endlessly fascinating and hard to put down read.


The Literary Shelf

Where the Wild Books Are A Field Guide to Ecofiction
Jim Dwyer
University of Nevada Press
Morill Hall/MS 0166, Reno NV, 89557
9780874178111, $29.95, www.unpress.nevada.edu

To have books, we need trees, so it's in the best interests of books to protect the environment. "Where the Wild Books Are: A Field Guide to Ecofiction" is a discussion of ecological and environmentally driven fiction throughout the years and around the world. Jim Dwyer discusses these books since they started appearing in force in the 1970s. For anyone looking for fiction with strong environmental messages, "Where the Wild Books Are" is a fine addition to any literary studies collection.

The Newbery and Caldecott Awards
American Library Association
50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
9780838935958, $22.50, www.alastore.ala.org

These books are the best of the best; it's always a good idea to have them on hand for your library. "The Newbery and Caldecott Awards: 2010 Edition" is a guide to award winners of these prestigious awards so that one can find these books for their library and make them available to the public. Covering most of both awards history with extended features for the current winners, "The Newbery and Caldecott Awards" is a must for anyone who wants a complete and comprehensive collection for their children's library.

The Creative Crone
Sylvia Henneberg
Missouri University Press
2910 LeMone Blvd., Columbia, MO 65202
9780826218612, $44.95

The creative mind ages, but it's never dead until the body is. "The Creative Crone: Aging and the Poetry of May Sarton and Adrienne Rich" looks at the work of two poets who kept writing long into their senior years, providing a poignant insight into the mind of the elder woman and how age discrimination the plight of the elderly affects them, allowing readers to gain of understanding on the effects of age. The discussion found within is scholarly and fascinating, debating subjects such as death, being forgotten, and more. "The Creative Crone" is a choice addition to any community or college literary studies collection, highly recommended.


The World History Shelf

A Passion for History
Natalie Zemon Davis
Truman State University Press
100 East Normal Street, Kirksville, MO 63501-4221
9781931112970, $24.95, www.tsup.truman.edu

History is a passion that pulses strong for many, and both Natalie Zemon Davis and Denis Crouzet share this passion. "A Passion for History" is a dialogue between historian Davis and professor of history Denis Crouzet. Through their conversations, they discuss a wide variety of history, with a special focus on French Wars, the ancient tensions between the Christian and Muslim worlds, and more, "A Passion for History" is an endlessly informative and riveting read, a top pick for anyone with an interest in history as a whole.

Death and Conversion in the Andes
Gabriela Ramos
University of Notre Dame Press
310 Flanner Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556
9780268040284, $39.00, www.undpress.nd.edu

The push of faith was a hard one when the Spaniards came to South America. "Death and Conversion in the Andes: Lima and Cuzco, 1532-1670" looks at death rituals of the people of South America during this time and how traditional native American beliefs fell to the wayside and how Christian rituals came into power. Another aspect of the Christianization of the natives and the force of the Spanish culture, Gabriela Ramos executes this history well and provides much insight into the period. "Death and Conversion in the Andes" is a solid addition to any world or Native American history collection.


The Folklore/Mythology Shelf

Dark Fairies
Bob Curran
New Page Books
220 West Parkway, Unit 12, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
9781601631107, $14.99, www.newpagebooks.com

Tinkerbell is not the iconic fairy of myth. "Dark Fairies" looks into the history of fairies, and their roots as evil tricksters who were out to deceive and bring people to their doom, and to be feared. Looking at their roots in folklore and fairy tales, Dr. Bob Curran discusses how they developed and how they spun into the family friendly fairy of today. "Dark Fairies" is a fascinating read for anyone excited by mythology.


The Science Shelf

Interactive Data Visualization
Matthew Ward, Georges Grinstein, & Daniel Keim
AK Peters
First Commonwealth Rd, Suite 2C, Natick, MA 01760
9781568814735, $89.00, www.akpeters.com

A visualization is a quick and efficient way to understand what may be otherwise indecipherable data. "Interactive Data Visualization: Foundations, Techniques, and Applications" is a textbook focusing on the importance of visualizing data and how to do so. With chapters on elaborating on the importance of visualization, understanding the data without it, the relation to the human eyes and mind, what technology has brought in the avenues of displaying and interacting data, no concept is really left untouched. Enhanced with example data, samples, a history of computer graphics, and more, "Interactive Data Visualization" is a solid text to have on hand for any community or college library collection.

Game Engine Design and Implementation
Alan Thorn
Jones & Bartlett Learning
40 Tall Pine Drive, Sudbury, MA 01776
9780763784515, $69.96, www.jblearning.com

Having an idea is great, but the hard part is implementation. "Game Engine Design and Implementation" is a guide to implementing one's ideas into their projects, and gaining a greater mastery of their programming language and design methods. Covering ideas for any genre, any graphical style, and more, Alan Thorn makes another excellent and complete and comprehensive entry into the Foundations of Game Development series, which serve well in helping hopeful game designers understand and pursue their dreams. "Game Engine Design and Implementation" is a fine pick and valuable resource, highly recommended.


The Music Shelf

Mel Bay's Modern Guitar Method
William Bay
Mel Bay Publications, Inc.
#4 Industrial Drive, Pacific, MO 63069
9780786678709, $9.95, www.melbay.com

The guitar is a complex instrument that is difficult, but fun, to master. "Mel Bay's Modern Guitar Method: Chords in Position" serves as a chord positioning guide, covering many chords and their progression to help readers practice their methods and gain a greater grasp of chords. For any guitar student, "Mel Bay's Modern Guitar Method" serves as a solid resource.


The Cookbook Shelf

It's in the Bag
Michelle & Trent Snow
Cedar Fort
2373 West 700 South, Springville, UT 84663
9781599553856, $14.95, www.cedarfort.com

Having an emergency supply on hand isn't being paranoid; it's being smart. "It's in the Bag: A New, Easy, Affordable, and Doable Approach to Food Storage" is a guide to keeping a storage supply ready, a sort of grain silo and preparedness that one can have even in areas without miles of farm land. With plenty of recipes and tips from everything form canning, preserving, and chicken coops, "It's in the Bag" is a unique approach to food storage and can prove highly useful.

How to Build a Gingerbread House
Christina Banner
Penny Publishing
PO Box 1265, Newland, NC 28657
9780981580616, $19.95

A delectable work of art. "How to Build a Gingerbread House: A Step-by-Step Guide to Sweet Results" is a guide to crafting one's very own work of art through useful tips and tricks to turning simple candles into something that's quite the show. With plenty of ideas for making the techniques work, transforming basic concepts into something greater, and plenty of recipes, "How to Build a Gingerbread House" is quite the resource for anyone who wants to embrace gingerbread house construction.


The Real Estate Shelf

The Skinny on The Housing Crisis
Jim Randel
Rand
265 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06880
9780981893525, $14.95, www.theskinnyon.com

When the finances crumble, being smart is the only thing that will keep one afloat. "The Skinny on the Housing Crisis: What Every Homeowner and Homebuyer Needs to Know" is a quick and comprehensive guide to the details of the recent housing crash and how the homeowner or those seeking to buy one can stay smart, keep their home, or attain that dream home in spite of it all. Negotiations, avoiding bad product, understanding the language, and more, "The Skinny on the Housing Crisis" is a fine pick for anyone treading the current minefield of real estate.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

The Virgin's Promise
Kim Hudson
Michael Wiese Productions
12400 Ventura Blvd., #1111, Studio City, CA 91604
9781932907728, $19.95, www.mwp.com

The journey from innocence and into womanhood is a major topic in modern fiction. "The Virgin's Promise" discusses this archetypal character and how to intertwine it with the hero and tell an engaging and riveting story unlike any other in today's avenues of performing arts. "The Virgin's Promise" is a solid addition to any stage writing collection, highly recommended.


The Agriculture Shelf

The World According to Monsanto
Marie-Monique Robin
The New Press
38 Greene Street, New York, NY 10013
9781595584267, $26.95, www.thenewpress.com

Power corrupts, and when it comes to food, Monsanto has much power in the world. "The World According to Monsanto: Pollution, Corruption, and the Control of Our Food Supply" looks at Monsanto, a company promoting itself as a life science company and claiming strict and litigious ownership over genetic modifications of much of America's food supply in the form of corn and soy. Controversial and truthful, "The World According to Monsanto" gives a direct discussion of the company's practices and what it could mean for the future of food.


The Biography Shelf

The Lelewer Legacy
Nancy Lelewer
Ivy House Pulishing
5122 Bur Oak Circle, Raleigh, NC 27612
9781571975034, $19.95, www.ivyhousebooks.com

Some families are not torn apart by strife, but find lasting happiness. "The Lelewer Legacy: Traditions of a Loving Family" tells a more upbeat and positive story of an American family, starting with a man who immigrated to America in 1861. Through the decades, his legacy of kindness and family has stayed strong, and through the writing, Nancy Lelewer hopes other families will take heed and embrace these values. "The Lelewer Legacy" is a charming and inspirational read.

Season of Suffering
Nicole H. Taflinger
Washington State University Press
PO Box 645910, Pullman, WA 99164-5910
9780874223057, $22.95, www.wsupress.wsu.edu 1-800-354-7360

The Nazis reign brought many challenges to many lives or varying extremes. "Season of Suffering: Coming of Age in Occupied France, 1940-45" tells the story of the lives of French citizens under the reign of the Nazis in World War II. The French people, although conquered, still quietly resisted their occupiers and Nicole H. Taflinger tells the story of the people of occupied France and the occupation's effect on the children. "Seasons of Suffering" is a fine addition to any historical memoir collection.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

Wisdom of the Heart
Ora Wiskind Elper
The Jewish Publication Society
PO Box 960, Herndon, VA 92072-0960
9780827608948, $35.00, www.jewishpub.com

Every generation has its great thinkers, and every generation should not forget the previous thinkers. "Wisdom of the Heart: The Teachings of Rabbi Ya'akov of Izbica-Radzyn" looks into the work of this nineteenth century rabbi and how he brought new thought and opinion to Hasidic Jewish thought that remains strong to this day, despite its controversial nature of the time. Written by a professor of Judaic studies in Jerusalem, "Wisdom of the Heart" proves itself a powerful read that shouldn't be overlooked.


The Railroading Shelf

Building Structures for Your Garden Railway
Jack Verducci
Kalmbach Books
21027 Crossroads Circle, PO Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187
9780890247198, $21.95, www.kalmbachbooks.com

Some people choose garden gnomes for decorations, but others prefer something a bit more historic. "Building Structures for Your Garden Railway" is a guide for customizing the mini railway you place in your garden with a railway and structures for a bit more realism and sampling for it. With ideas and advice for making these structures look as realistic as possible with plenty of effects and details, "Building Structures for Your Garden Railway" is a top pick for anyone who wants to make their garden a model of history.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Retriever Puppy Training
Cherylon Loveland & Clarice Rutherford
Alpine Publications
38262 Linman Rd., Crawford, CO 81415
9781577790952, $19.95, www.alpinepub.com

A good dog can not only be a good companion, but a good partner. "Retriever Puppy Training: The Right Start for Hunting" is a guide for training one's retriever for work with hunting on the field, how to encourage them and work with the dog's personalities to get them to help you in the way you want. From exercises to retriever health and plenty of training tips, "Retriever Puppy Training" is a choice pick for anyone who wants to train their puppy to be their future hunting buddy.


The Parenting Shelf

Developmentally Appropriate Play
Gaye Gronlund
Red Leaf Press
10 Yorkton Court, St. Paul, MN 55117-1065
9781605540375, $32.95, www.redleafpress.org

Play is more than just wasting time; it's learning. "Developmentally Appropriate Play: Guiding Young Children to a Higher Level" is a guide for encouraging smart play in one's children and encouraging them to have more fulfilling experiences through their play. From weaving in education, interactions, and more, Gaye Gronlund offers much perspective on the power of play, and makes for quite the enlightening read for parents and early education teachers. "Developmentally Appropriate Play" is a treasure of information, highly recommended.

Every Natural Fact
Amy Lou Jenkins
Holy Cow!
PO Box 3170, Mount Royal Station, Duluth, MN 55803
9780982354513, $14.95, www.holycowpress.org

The great outdoors have a lot to offer the world and a parent should try to teach their children that. "Every Natural Fact: Five Seasons of Open-Air Parenting" is a collection of reflections on five seasons where Amy Lou spent with her son in the outdoors of Wisconsin and the lessons that she and her son learned along the way. With plenty of poignancy and thought, "Every Natural Fact" is a read that any nature loving parent will want to consider when sharing that nature with their children.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Healer
Linda Windsor
David C. Cook
4050 Lee Vance View, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
9781434764782, $14.99

To heal is more than removing injury from the body. "Healer" is a tale of Arthurian Scotland and Brenna of Gowrys, a woman who seems destined to be the queen of her people, but wanting none of it, preferring her skills as a healer. Finding an injured man and helping him recover, she finds more than healing, she finds love. But her tasks may be more than living as a hermit, and she may have to restore her kingdom yet. "Healer" is an enthralling read of dark age Scotland that will be hard to put down.


The Self-Help Shelf

Runaway Husbands
Vikki Stark
Green Light Press
c/o KSB Promotions
55 Honey Creek Ave NE, Ada, MI 49301
9780986472107, $16.95, www.runawayhusbands.com

Betrayal is most devastating when it comes from nowhere. "Runaway Husbands" The Abandoned Wife's Guide to Recovery and Renewal" is a discussion of wife abandonment syndrome, when a Husband leaves their wives suddenly with no previous explanation of unhappiness. Encouraging wives to find their own peace and move forward with their lives and deal with this sudden change of life, "Runaway Husbands" is a fine and thoughtful read, and a pick for wives who may be wrongly blaming themselves.


The Sports Shelf

The Ultimate Guide to Trail Running
Adam W. Chase & Nancy Hobbs
Falcon Guides
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
9780762755370, $19.95, www.falcon.com

Running is great exercise, fun, and can be the way to see some sights up close. "The Ultimate Guide to Trail Running: Everything You Need to Know About" is a complete and comprehensive guide for those who want to get into the hobby of trail running and want to be equipped with knowledge to keep it a safe and pleasant experience. From exercises to gear, "The Ultimate Guide to Trail Running" is a starting runner's best friend.


The International Studies Shelf

The Caged Phoenix
Dipankar Gupta
Woodrow Wilson Center Press
One Woodrow Wilson Plaza, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004-3027
Stanford University Press (distributor)
11030 South Langley Avenue, Chicago, IL 60628
9780804771894, $27.95, www.sup.org

India's history is a very strange one in the global scene. "The Caged Phoenix: Can India Fly?" discusses India and its potential in the future. From its culture to its massive population to its unique way of gaining independence from Great Britain to its longer history before the English, and more, Dipankar Gupta brings readers a view of India that is truly wide in scope. "The Caged Phoenix" is a fine pick for anyone intrigued with modern India.


The Economics Shelf

Russia after the Global Economic Crisis
Anders Aslund, Sergei Guriev, & Andrew C. Kuchins
Peterson Institute for International Economics
1750 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036-1903
Center for Strategic & Internal Studies
1800 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20006
9780881324976, $22.95, www.csis.org

Abandoning communism, Russia has taken to capitalism and revitalizing its economy with much gusto. "Russia after the Global Economic Crisis" delves into the rise and development of Russia as an economic power, and how it's contending against America once more after the current economic crisis around the world settles. Russia has its problems, but its future as an economic powerhouse is assured. "Russia after the Global Economic Crisis" is a fine and very highly recommended pick for anyone who likes to think about world economics.


The Judicial Studies Shelf

Everybody's Guide to Small Claims Court, thirteenth edition
Ralph Warner
Nolo
950 Parker Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
9781413311020, $29.99, www.nolo.com

Not everything calls for a massive courtroom drama. "Everybody's Guide to Small Claims Court" is the thirteenth edition of a long running resource to help those who want to prepared for the small court system. From everything from starting the litigation process to defending one self to the court room itself, to reaping victory or dealing with defeat. "Everybody's Guide to Small Claims Court" is an invaluable resource for those who want justice served but don't know how.


The Environmental Studies Shelf

Boundaries
Christine E. Gudorf & James E. Huchingson
Georgetown University Press
3240 Prospect Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007
9781589016361, $29.95, www.press.georgetown.edu

As the world expands, its natural resources are in more debate than ever. "Boundaries: A Casebook in Environmental Ethics" discusses the current environmental landscape in the eyes of business and the law and how respect for the environment and maintaining its integrity and allowing it to continue to provide for it in the future. But privately owned water, climate change, forests, and more are the topics that will plan the world and its growth in the future. "Boundaries" is an insightful and scholarly read, highly recommended.

Coal Country
Shirley Stewart
Sierra Club Books
85 Second Street, San Francisco, CA 94105
9781578051663, $25.95, www.sierraclubbooks.org

Mining is a dangerous thing, but some take it to the next level. "Coal Country: Rising Up Against Mountaintop Removal Mining" discusses the rise against mountain top removal mining and the dangers it poses to the miners as well as the environment. Based on the documentary film, Coal Country discusses the harmful effects coal mining has had throughout the country, and why some people are standing up and opposing the practice. "Coal Country" is a must read for those concerned about mining in America.

The Wolf's Tooth
Cristina Eisenberg
Island Press
1718 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20009
9781597263979, $90.00, www.islandpress.org

There are rarely pleas to save the predator. "The Wolf's Tooth: Keystone Predators, Trophic Cascades, and Biodiversity" discusses predators and their importance to the environment and its balance. Focusing on the predator as a cornerstone of the ecosystem, Cristina Eisenberg brings a scholarly scientific treatise on the subject, to provide much in way of research and opinion on the matter. With chapters analyzing patterns in ecosystems, the ocean, how humanity has interrupted the ecosystem and how it can contribute to its repair, Eisenberg does well in presenting much food for thought. Enhanced with plenty of resources and appendixes for ease of use, "The Wolf's Tooth" deserves a place in every community and college library environmental studies collection.


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


Copyright ©2001

Site design by Williams Writing, Editing & Design