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Wisconsin Bookwatch

Volume 1, Number 3 December 2006 Home | WBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Poetry Shelf Religion/Spirituality Shelf
Writing/Publishing Shelf Military Shelf Cookbook Shelf
Jobs/Careers Shelf Science Shelf Travel Shelf
Business Shelf Philosophy Shelf Political Science Shelf
Christian Studies Shelf Fiction Shelf Literary Shelf
Sports Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf Language Studies Shelf
Economics Shelf Audiobook Shelf Hunting/Fishing Shelf
Art Shelf Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf Music Shelf
Mythology/Folklore Shelf Civil War Shelf American History Shelf
Psychology Studies Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Biography Shelf
Environmental Studies Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf Judaic Studies Shelf
Pets/Wilflife Shelf    


Reviewer's Choice

After They Were Packers
Jerry Poling
Trails Books
923 Williamson Street, Madison, WI 53703
1931599726 $19.95 www.trailsbooks.com

Written by editor and columnist Jerry Poling, After They Were Packers: The Super Bowl XXXI Champs & Other Green Bay Legends is the true story of the 1997 Superbowl champions after they left the Packers. Some returned to ordinary lives; some tragically fell victim to powerful internal demons. Filled with career highlights and behind-the-scenes glimpses of the world of professional football, as well as a handful of black-and-white photographs, After They Were Packers is enthusiastically recommended for any Packers fan curious about what became of the ultimate winning team.

Don't Flinch
Barry Alvarez & Mike Lucas
KCI Sports, LLC
3340 Whiting Avenue, #5, Stevens Point, WI 54481
097587697X, $14.95 www.kcisportsventures.com

Barry Alvarez is one of the most successful and respected coaches in the history of Wisconsin's college football. He first hired on to take over the University of Wisconsin's substandard college football program with its lackluster collegiate support. What he created over the ensuing years was a UW football program that would win three Rose Bowl engagements in the 1990s and by the time he retired after the 2005 season ended, was one of Wisconsin's all-time success records as a UW football coach. Alvarez became so well respected that a statue in his honor now stands outside the UW football stadium. With the help of Mike Lucas, "Don't Flinch" is the autobiographical story of Coach Barry Alvarez and how he came to accomplish one of the most remarkable stories in college football history. A "must" addition to the Biography and Sports History collections for all Wisconsin community libraries, no Badger fan or college football enthusiast will want to miss reading "Don't Flinch", the truly remarkable, candidly personal and occasionally inspiring story of UW football coach Barry Alvarez!

Eleven Days in August
Amatore Mille
429 Prussian Lane, Wayne, PA 19087
1412086485 $19.95 610-341-3611

The debut novel of Milwaukee native Amatore "Matt" Mille, Eleven Days in August: A Chronicle of Summers is the author's memoir and collection of anecdotes relating to his family's tradition of selling Italian sausage sandwiches at The Wisconsin State Fair. For eleven days each summer, the broad extended family would gather, share news and opportunities, and experience joy, adventures, and misadventures. From Italian immigrant grandparents whose mark blazes fiercely on subsequent generations, to the core bonds that tie family members to each other and their business, to the long-spanning history of the annual Wisconsin gathering dating back to its inception in 1932, Eleven Days in August is a robust tour that reveals beyond any shadow of doubt that blood - or sausage meat - is thicker than water.

Any Damn Fool Can Be a Farmer
Bob Knopes
Archenell Publishing
9607 Laurel Oak Pl., Fairfax Station, VA 22039
0976814609 $12.95

An Honorable Mention title of the 2006 Independent Book Publisher Awards, Any Damn Fool Can Be a Farmer: Growing Up on a Wisconsin Farm is the true-life memoir of author Bob Knopes, who matured on a small dairy farm during the lean times of the Great Depression. But even though Knopes' father was wont to stoutly declare "Any damn fool can be a farmer!" the truth was that not just any damn fool could apply the necessary money, time, resources, and 14-hour days of labor to successfully keep a farm solvent. A handful of black-and-white photographs illustrate this touching picture of farm life from barn-burning fires to block-in blizzards, and the remarkable changes wrought by technological advancements such as milking machines, threshers, and indoor plumbing. A bittersweet and hard-hitting glimpse into what farm life was really like.


The Poetry Shelf

Light Unlocked
Kevin Crossley-Holland & Lawrence Sail, editors
John Lawrence, illustrator
Dufour Editions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425 USA
1904634184 $24.95 www.defoureditions.com

Edited by award-winning authors Kevin Crossley-Holland and Lawrence Sail, Light Unlocked: Christmas Card Poems is a collection of eighty Christmas card poems by a wide variety of contemporary authors, many of them well-known. From Advent to Epiphany, these often detailed and nuanced verses reach out to capture the spirit of the Christmas season and deliver a symphony of emotional expression filled with the joy, wonder, hope, and delight of the season. Black-and-white wood engravings by expert John Lawrence beautifully illustrate this sentimental compilation, perfect for reading aloud or sharing with the family while celebrating yuletide. "Christmas": Despite the forecast's promise, / It didn't snow that night; / But in the morning, flakes began / To glade all right. / Not enough to cover roads / Or even hide the grass; / But enough to change the light.

Tacoma Narrows
Mitchell Parry
Gooselane
330-500 Beaverwood Court, Fredericton, NB, Canada E3B 5X4
086492450X $14.95 www.gooselane.com

ESL teacher and English literature expert Mitchell Parry presents Tacoma Narrows, a work of free-verse poetry about the pain of disasters, both public and private. Reflecting upon things lost with humble sensitivity, Tacoma Narrows gently touches upon the suffering of death, divorce, and the emptiness and isolation that haunts survivors of loved ones. "Balance" (-after a photo by Jin Me Yoon): She is poised forever between moments, / the vertical in a postcard landscape / of natural geometery meeting right behind / her eyes. Thousands of miles to stand / here, immobile, by a lake either freezing / or thawing, snow advancing or receding. This / is how silence looks, sung by John Denver. / If one more person walks between her / & the camera she knows she is going / to scream. In a fraction of a second / she will pull on her coat, rub her hands / together & think of circles, coils, the twist / of her mother's hair, will remember: / there are no corners in the sky.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

Finding Clarity
Jeru Kabbal, author
Leonard M. Zunin MD, Robert Strock, & Victoria Ritchie, editors
North Atlantic Books
PO Box 12327, Berkeley, CA 94712
1556436203 $16.95 www.northatlanticbooks.com

Finding Clarity: A Guide to the Deeper Levels of Your Being collects the enlightened writings and teachings of spiritual instructor Jeru Kabbal, whose explorations included delving into both Eastern traditions and Western psychology. Chapters address the nature of the subconscious, the potential trap of the self-fulfilling prophecy, the paradox of fearing the positive, the power of attaining practical enlightenment through living in the present moment, the importance of gratitude, exercises and techniques for applying Kabbal's teachings, and much more. Question-and-answer segments elucidate the finer points of Kabbal's wisdom concerning the search for happiness and fulfillment, in this profound and uplifting spiritual self-help guide, written for readers of all faiths and backgrounds.

The Manichean Debate
Saint Augustine of Hippo, author; Roland Teske, S.J., translator
New City Press
202 Cardinal Road, Hyde Park, NY 12538
1565482476 $44.00 newcitypress.com

The Manichean Debate is a skillful translation of eight works by Saint Augustine of Hippo, originally written circa 387 to 404, to counter the Manichean religion. Saint Augustine of Hippo was thoroughly knowledgeable of Manicheanism, as he had associated with Manicheans as a "Hearer" for nine years prior to his conversion to Catholic Christianity. Three of the volumes presented have never before been translated into English. An index of scripture quoted as well as general index allow for quick reference to this classic philosophical treatise, which offers a close evaluation of a system of thought that challenged orthodox Christianity in the Roman Empire especially during the third and fourth centuries. An utterly invaluable addition to religious studies bookshelves and library shelves of primary sources concerning religions and religious discourse.

Fidel & Religion
Fidel Castro and Frei Betto
Ocean Press
PO Box 1186, Old Chelsea, Station, New York, NY 10113
1920888454 $19.95 www.oceanbooks.com

Fidel & Religion is a particularly unusual theological discussion, consisting entirely of a dialogue between Brazilian liberation theologist Frei Betto and Fidel Castro. Spoken over the course of twenty-three hours, the dialogue reveals Castro's background and his views on ethics, morals, religion, and revolution. Now with a new introduction revealing how Fidel & Revolution helped open the way for Pope John Paul II's historic 1998 visit to Cuba, and the Cuban Communist Party's decision to accept as members those practicing religious faith. Of especial interest are the parallels between Socialism and Christianity that Castro astutely observes. A thought-provoking examination for the sake of the ideals spoken as well as the political and historical importance of the man who espouses them.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Writing White Papers
Michael Steizner
WhitePaperSource Publishing
13025 Danielson Street, Suite 10-8, Poway, Ca 92064
0977716937, $34.95 www.WritingWhitePapers.com

A 'White Papers' is a written presentation of information that combines aspects, formats and purposes of magazine articles and brochures. They are a standard communication form for government agencies, business organizations, academic institutions, and political group position statements. A master of the white paper format, Michael A. Stelzner draws upon his practical experience and expertise as the author of some 100 white papers for companies such as Microsoft, HP, Motorola, FedEx and others, to provide a complete and comprehensive instructional guide to creating technical and business white papers in "Writing White Papers: How To Capture Readers And Keep Them Engaged". Aspiring writers will learn how to craft white papers so as to generate their sustained and long-term sales, engage a reader's total and immediate attention, create outlines using effective and tested formulas, master techniques for interviewing and data collection, write persuasively and create compelling white paper titles. Thoroughly 'user friendly', "Writing White Papers" should be considered 'must reading' for any writer seeking to master the art, craft and science of writing effective white papers regardless of the subject matter or intended audience.

Crafty TV Writing
Alex Epstein
Henry Holt & Company
175 - 5th Avenue, Suite 400, New York, NY 10010-7725
0805080287 $15.00 www.henryholt.com 1-888-330-8477

Experienced professional television screenwriter and story editor Alex Epstein presents Crafty TV Writing: Thinking Inside the Box, a solid writer's manual that covers all the bases. From the hidden structure of TV series, to turning great story ideas into workable scripts, the many tips, tricks, and techniques of a writer's toolkit, the realities of working in TV land (including how to break into the business, get hired, and get promoted!) and much more. Appendices, resources, and spot-on advice from direct personal experience distinguish this absolute "must-have" for aspiring and practicing television writers alike.

Now Write!
Sherry Ellis, editor
Tarcher/Penguin
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014-3658
1585425222 $13.95 www.penguin.com

Edited by personal writing coach Sherry Ellis, Now Write!: Fiction Writing Exercises from Today's Best Writers and Teachers is a carefully selected collection of writing exercises from some of today's most acclaimed fiction writers such as Steve Almond, Jayne Anne Phillips, Virgil Suarez, and more. From activities just to get motivated practicing writing, to ones focusing on point of view, character development, dialogue, plot and pacing, setting and description, revisions, and more, Now Write! focuses on ideas to get aspiring and practicing writers' creative juices flowing, or engage in activities such as learning to identify the distinctions between real dialogue and smooth, fictional dialogue. Prefacing each idea is a couple pages of solid advice and concepts to keep in mind when crafting the next potential masterpiece. A highly recommended, practical guide for any aspiring writer seeking to take independent study to the next level.

Selling Your Story in 60 Seconds
Michael Hauge
Michael Wiese Productions
3940 Laurel Canyon BI. #1111, Studio City, CA 91604
1932907203 $12.95 www.mwp.com

Written by expert screenwriting coach Michael Hauge, who has consulted on projects for Warners, Disney, Columbia, New Line, CBS, and Lifetime among many others, Selling Your Story in 60 Seconds: The Guaranteed Way To Get Your Screenplay or Novel Read is a no-nonsense guide for novice to veteran novel writers and screenwriters to get noticed. Written in plain terms, Selling Your Story in 60 Seconds covers the 10 key components of a commercial story, how to design a strong pitch, targeting the right buyer, securing opportunities to pitch, what steps to take next if a potential buyer says yes or no, and much more. A no-nonsense "how-to" guide filled with industry tips, tricks, techniques and etiquette guidelines, and an absolute "must-have" for any writer trying to break into the business.

Reading Writers Reading
Danielle Schaub, photographer and editor
The University of Alberta Press
Ring House 2, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada, T6G 2EI
0888644590 $60.00 www.uap.ualberta.ca

Photographed and edited by professional lecturer and critic Danielle Schaub, Reading Writers Reading: Canadian Authors' Reflections presents an amazing cross-section of talented Candian writers of all backgrounds and from all regions of the nation. Each two-page spread of this gorgeous and insightful coffee-table book proffers a candid, black-and-white photograph of a different Canadian author on the right, and a one-page commentary by the author about reading, writing, or similar subjects on the left, such as the comments by Sharon Thesen that begin, "Reading seems so often to encompass all that my mind is or has been composed by that I find it difficult to separate my reading form myself." A superb giftbook for anyone who enjoys reading or writing for pleasure, highly recommended.

Jan Tschichold, Designer
Richard B. Doubleday
Oak Knoll Press
310 Delaware Street, New Castle, DE 19720-5038
1584561785, $39.95 www.oakknoll.com 1-800-996-2556

Jan Tschichold, Designer: The Penguin Years is a seminal and impressive contribution to the history of publishing with its focus on Jan Tschichold and his influence with respect to the typographic revolution that was applied to Penguin's mass production of books for the general populace. Author Richard B. Doubleday (Assistant Professor of Art, Department of Graphic Design, College of Fine Arts, Boston University) brings a special research-based expertise to providing an historical and analytical survey of Tschichold's contributions during the mid to late 1940s that saw the emergence of a wide ranging Penguin Book Series that included both fiction and non-fiction. Many of Tschichold's preliminary hand drawn cover and title page designs are made public for the first time in order to demonstrate and document his meticulous attention to detail and the development of his 'New Typography'. Enhanced with the inclusion of an extensive bibliography on Tschichold's writings and historical appendices of his inter-office memoranda and texts, "Jan Tschichold, Designer" is a significant addition to academic library collections on the history of publishing, and an especially recommended for students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in typography, book design, and the publishing industry.

Bylines: 2007 Writer's Desk Calendar
Sylvia Forbes
Snowflake Press
PO Box 522, Fayette, MO 65248
1933509023, $13.95 www.bylinescalendar.com

I see most of wall calendars, desk calendars, engagement calendars, diaries and journals intended for aspiring or practicing authors. Simply stated, one of the very best of them for 2007 is Sylvia Forbes' "Bylines: 2007 Writer's Desk Calendar", a superbly designed and presented weekly planner for writers that is enhanced with 53 stories specifically appropriate to encourage and inspire people to write something every day of every week of every month throughout the year. Spiral bound so as to lay flat upon a desktop or table, every week finds an author's personal anecdote (along with a photo) of a particular author on the left, with the seven day week laid out on the right. Each day also comes with a little notation of authors past and present born on that particular day. "Bylines" is an ideal gift to give any novice author because it is a perfect writing motivator. It not only makes for a great writing, things-to-do and appointment log, it's a great way to discover such writing-related holidays as Biographer's Day, National Columnist's Day, Young People's Poetry Week, and even Be Kind to Editors and Writers Month! (Shouldn't somebody also come up with a 'Be Kind to Reviewers' month?) Every dedicated author needs to keep track of deadlines, keep focused on their writing goals, keep up their morale, jog their memory by recording contact names, addresses, and websites with a highly portable and user-friendly take-along calendar like "Bylines'. When you have a daily written log book you also have an indispensably valuable document when responding to any IRS challenges to your expenses or validity as a writer. My particular advice to editors and literary agents is to give out a copy of "Bylines" to your authors and clients as way of motivating them to keep turning out their best work in a timely manner! Whether you are a beginning writer or a seasoned author, get yourself a copy of Sylvia Forbes' "Bylines: 2007 Writer's Desk Calendar" – you'll be glad you did!


The Military Shelf

Letters From The Front Lines
Rear Admiral Stuart Franklin Platt
Granville Island Publishing
c/o Planned Television Arts
1110 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10022
1894694481 $24.95 www.plannedtvarts.com

Rear Admiral Stuart Franklin Platt presents Letters From The Front Lines: Iraq and Afghanistan, a compendium of first-person testimonies of servicepeople that gives an up-close and personal perspective of what is really happening in Iraq and Afghanistan day to day. In a modern era where email and online blogging is fast supplanting the serviceman's handwritten letter, Letters From The Front Lines preserves a piece of history and tradition even as it reveals the harsh conditions under which men and women risk their lives for the sake of their country. Highly recommended.

Iraq
Rusty B. Wilson
Songbird Publications
4616 Orange Grove Avenue, Orange, CA 92869
0978711718, $14.95 www.IraqStory.net

Rusty Wilson is a professional journalist who wrote columns for the Orange County Register giving his firsthand observations of the conditions and people he met and worked with in Iraq while serving on a Forward Operating Base as a Morale, Recreation and Recreation staffer in support of the American troops. His newspaper columns ran between July and December 2004 and offered an apolitical account drawn from his observations and conversations with serving men and women, in addition to his own personal experiences and perspectives on what he saw himself. When he returned from duty in Iraq he drew from those published columns to write "Iraq: The Story You'll Never Get From The Media". Beginning with a brief review of Iraq's history, the path civilian contractors take to get there, and a collection of stories about soldiers he met, Rusty details what he learned from the Iraqis he met and his afterthoughts upon returning to the U.S. The result is a especially well-written narrative that is as informed as it is informative – and a welcome, necessary, and very highly recommended contribution to the national discourse that is as timely as today's evening news broadcasts.


The Cookbook Shelf

Best Of The Best From Idaho Cookbook
Gwen McKee & Barabara Moseley, editors
Quail Ridge Press
PO Box 123, Brandon, MS 39043
www.quailridge.com
1893062465 $16.95 1-800-343-1283

A welcome addition to the "Best of the Best" cookbook series, Best Of The Best From Idaho Cookbook: Selected Recipes From Idaho's Favorite Cookbooks is a spiral-bound compilation selected from Idaho's most popular cookbooks especially to aid cooks of all skill and experience levels in bringing a taste of Idaho country flavor to the kitchen. From Very Creamy Potato Soup to Easy Company Curry Chicken and Burnt Sugar Candy Bar Cake, Best Of The Best From Idaho Cookbook presents homestyle flavors to tease and tantalize the palate. Especially recommended for potato gourmets!

51 Fast & Fun Slow Cooker Recipes
Dolores Kostelni
Collectors Press, Inc.
PO Box 230986, Portland, OR 97281
1933112212, $7.95 www.collectorspress.com 1-800-423-1848

The crock pot is an essential kitchen tool for time pressed family cooks wanting to prepare nutritious and delectable meals for their households that are a distinctive cut above frozen foods zapped in a microwave. Slow cooker expert Dolores Kostelni has compiled wonderful, easy, palate pleasing and appetite satisfying dishes for the family kitchen that are fail-proof dishes fit for any dining occasion. These versatile recipes rang from Beef with Burgundy, Chocolate Spoon Cake, and Fiesta Cheese Dip, to Raisin and Date-Stuffed Baked Apples and Overnight Oatmeal. Inexpensive and completely 'user friendly', "51 Fast & Fun Slow Cooker Recipes" truly lives up to its title and will make an especially popular addition to any time-stressed family's kitchen cookbook collection.

Rendezvous for Dinner
Chuck Byers &Tom Berki
de Sitter Publications
1288 Ritson Road North, Suite 417, Oshawa, ON L1G 8B2, Canada
c/o ISBS
920 NE 58th Avenue, Suite 300, Portland, OR 97213-3786
1897160186 $19.95 503-287-3093

Wine entertainer and connoisseur Chuck Byers and popular cook Tom Berki present Rendezvous for Dinner: A Guide to Canadian Wine, Dining, and Dessert, an in-depth guide to tasting and pairing wines with fine cooking. Part cookbook, part history of Canadian winemaking, part suggestive guide for dinner and wine tasting themes, Rendezvous is a superb resource for anyone seeking to create just the right, unforgettable mood. The recipes range from "Easy Spinach and Crab Dip" to "Pecan Crusted Rack of Lamb", "Homemade Potato and Leek Soup", "Citrus Fruit Sauce", "Fettuccine Alfredo", and numerous signature dishes from wineries, bed & breakfasts, and chefs and restaurants. A high-class cookbook enthusiastically recommended for discriminating connoisseurs and chefs.


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

Hire Me, Inc.
Roy J. Blitzer
Entrepreneur Press
c/o The McGraw Hill Companies
Two Penn Plaza, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10121-2298
1599180235 $19.95 www.entrepreneurpress.com 1-877-833-5524

Written by Roy J. Blitzer, executive and management consultant of more than 28 years' experience, Hire Me, Inc.: Package Yourself to Get Your Dream Job is a guide to selling one's talents, for job hunters of all walks of life. Chapters overview how to assess one's own skills, package onself with concise and effective business cards, a resume, and brochures that won't be ignored, the fine art of networking, using internet job sites to maximum advantage, preparing oneself for the interview including anticipating different interview styles and what to do if improper questions come up - inquiries into one's age, martial status, ethnic origin, religious preference, sexual preference, and disabilities are prohibited by law, yet a direct "gotcha" confrontation over them is not advised prior to being hired; instead, Blitzer recommends a nonconfrontational evasion such as "I'm surprised that came up. How relevant is this to the position?" Sample letters, forms, and template guidelines round out this first-rate self help guide to getting the best out of the job market.


The Science Shelf

Hands-On Agronomy, revised edition
Neal Kinsey & Charles Walters
Acres USA
PO Box 91299, Austin, TX 78709-1299
0911311955 $30.00 www.acresusa.com

Written by agriculture technology experts Neal Kinsey and Charles Walters, Hands-On Agronomy: Understanding Soil Fertility & Fertilizer Use is an information-packed guide for soil scientists and professional farmers alike. Now in a newly revised edition, Hands-On Agronomy covers how to balance soil nutrients for maximum yield, why simple N-P-K fertilization isn't enough, how to properly use manures, compost, tillage, and micronutrients, and much more. Written in straightforward language, offering techniques and wisdom from practical experience and for practical use, Hands-On Agronomy is an absolute "must-read" for any professional in the field.

The Automotive Aerodynamics Handbook, 10th Edition
Douglas Cox Landa & Henry C. Landa
The Film Instruction Company of America
5928 W. Michigan Street, Wauwatosa, WI 53213-4248
0931974267 $68.70 (hc) 0931974186 $43.20 (sc)

Written by mechanical engineering graduate Douglas Cox Landa and registered professional engineer Henry C. Landa, the tenth edition of The Automotive Aerodynamics Handbook is the latest updated version of a highly technical and practical reference manual written especially for engineers and scientists, or advanced college and graduate studies students. Suitable for use as a curriculum guide or a self-teaching text, The Automotive Aerodynamics Handbook distinguishes itself from others addressing the complex engineering nuances of air and fluid flow, drag, force, power, shapes, lift, stability, and airflow about wheels and cylinders by offering hard data in addition to mathematical derivations and abstract theory. Numerous black-and-white diagrams illustrate examples with the data "plugged in" to precisely explicate physical processes step by step. Divided into sections discussing theory, practice and engineering applications, miscellany, downforce, economics (in particular the problem of keeping costs down), The Automotive Aerodynamics Handbook is a "must-have" for experts and aspiring experts in the field striving to keep their knowledge up-to-date and who need immediate access to a thorough and detailed reference to a complex and technical subject.


The Travel Shelf

The Disney Queue Line Survival Guidebook
Kimberly Button
Infinity Publishing
1094 New DeHaven Street, Suite 100, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2713
0741432684 $19.95 www.buybooksontheweb.com

Former Walt Disney World and Disney Cruise Line member Kimberly Button presents The Disney Queue Line Survival Guidebook, a handy guide for vacationers that distinguishes itself with a host of activities to counter boredom while waiting in line at the Walt Disney World resort. Trivia questions, suggested scavenger hunts, word finds and more pepper this matter-of-fact guide with tips for safety and courtesy while exploring Disney World or interacting with costumed characters (for example, many costumes limit hand mobility so it's important to bring a big, easy-to-use pen if asking for an autograph). Different attractions are described at length, with specific advice for each, and attractions that typically do not require a waiting period are highlighted. Black-and-white maps for easy navigation round out this "must-have" guide especially for vacationing families with small children.


The Business Shelf

Start Your Own Senior Services Business
Jacquelyn Lynn & Charlene Davis
Entrepreneur Press
c/o The McGraw Hill Companies
Two Penn Plaza, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10121-2298
1932531947 $14.95 www.entrepreneurpress.com 1-877-833-5524

Sponsored by Entrepreneur Magazine, Start Your Own Senior Services Business: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Success is a no-nonsense source of ideas and practical strategies for getting a potentially lucrative business up and running, especially in the modern era of aging baby boomers. In addition to general advice for serving seniors, running a senior care service and developing one's plan, chapters look in-depth at operating an adult day-care service, relocation service, home care and home health-care service, concierge service, transportation service, and travel service. The final portion of Start Your Own Senior Services Business is packed heavily with tips, tricks, techniques, and vital tidbits for everything from how to set up a dependable team to financial matters to when things go wrong. Perhaps the most valuable piece of advice is the warning not to take every job offered, especially not ones that are beyond one's technical skills or expertise - better to refer those to another, who may well return the favor in the future. Highly recommended for anyone considering setting up in the field.

Potent Enterprise
Leslie T. Lax
iUniverse
2021 Pine Lake Road, Suite 100, Lincoln, NE 68512
0595386792 $14.95 www.iuniverse.com

Written by former social activist, investor, advisor, and principle of Potential Inc. Leslie T. Lax, Potent Enterprise collects tidbits of wisdom, insight, and candid advice concerning ethics and responsibility as vital components for advancing a successful business from the "Potential Enterprise Newsletter". Articles from fall of 2002 to winter of 2006 discuss topics ranging from a discussion of the value of the Head Start program to the extremely deleterious effects of associating with thieving, harmful or shifty individuals in the realm of business (as one of Aesop's fables warns, "You are judged by the company you keep"), to disaster preparedness lessons that can be drawn from the devastation left by hurricane Katrina. An excellent springboard to discourse and contemplation concerning what "ethical business" really means and how it can best be achieved.


The Philosophy Shelf

Friedrich Schiller
Gail K. Hart
University of Delaware Press
c/o Associated University Presses
2010 Eastpark Boulevard, Cranbury, NJ 08512
0874138957 $42.50 www2.lib.udel.edu/udpress

Professor Gail K. Hart presents Friedrich Schiller: Crime, Aesthetics, and the Poetics of Punishment, a scholarly exploration of eighteenth-century writer, dramatist, and philosopher Friedrich Schiller's views upon punishment to crime, whether as state-sponsored retribution or simply as a means to prevent the criminal from repeating his offenses. Though Schiller's fascination with crime and criminals has bee previously explored at length, his views concerning punishment have received comparatively less scrutiny in the past; Crime, Aesthetics, and the Poetics of Punishment remedies the omission, exploring how Schiller consciously discredited retribution, his question of whether murder can ever be constructed to be "good", and the expression of Schillers thoughts and points of debate through his famous plays including "Maria Stuart", "Wilhelm Tell", and "The Maid of Orleans". A final chapter explores Schiller's intertextuality in the twentieth century, as well as the persistence of his ideals of freedom and aesthetic education in modern permutations, notably Anthony Burgess' "A Clockwork Orange" novel and movie. A welcome contribution to close analysis of philosophy and cultural expression, recommended for college library and literary studies shelves.


The Political Science Shelf

America on Notice
Glenn Schweitzer & Carole Schweitzer
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
1591024285 $28.00 www.prometheusbooks.com

AMERICA ON NOTICE: STEMMING THE TIDE OF ANTI-AMERICANISM tells how a new program can be developed to create a more positive attitude toward America, thus deterring terrorism. To do this, a history of American diplomacy and international and social issues is required: AMERICA ON NOTICE provides this background first, showing how growing American military and economic powers and questionable policy choices have earned it a negative image – especially in Muslim counties. Chapters show how to strengthen ties with developing nations, how to adjust diplomatic strategies, and more, making AMERICA ON NOTICE a welcome and important addition to governmental, academic, and community library reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Conservatives Betrayed
Richard A. Viguerie
Bonus Books
9255 W. Sunset Boulevard, Suite 711, Los Angeles, CA 90069
1566252857 $24.95 www.conservativesbetryed.com

Written by Richard A. Viguerie, who in 1999 was cited as one of the Washington Times' thirteen "Conservatives of the Century", Conservatives Betrayed: How George W. Bush and Other Big Government Republicans Hijacked the Conservative Cause is a fierce attack upon the Bush administration from the conservative point of view. Viguerie does not speak for the neo-conservatives, who have drastically inflated spending and expanded federal government; he speaks for the old conservatives who believed in the values of fiscal restraint and small government, and who recognize the threat that excessive national debt - much of which is now owed to powers overseas! - poses to national security and to America's future, as more and more of America's annual budget must be applied to interest payments alone. Viguerie is emphatically a social conservative as well as a fiscal conservative; he speaks strongly against "obese government" characterized by excessive bureaucracy, pork-barrel spending, and mounting deficits; the social ills caused by uncontrolled illegal immigration; abortion; judicial activism; and more. Though not all readers will agree with Viguerie's opinions about the "culture war" in America and some will find his antagonistic attitudes toward illegal immigrants and homosexuals distasteful, his core exhortations against wasteful government spending are a desperately needed wake-up call. Even more valuable is his suggestion that conservative voters disassociate themselves from any one party and become a block whose favor needs to be wooed by both parties, in order to exert more influence and power - a suggestion that holds merit for any political subsection. Highly recommended for its thought-provoking content, regardless of whether the reader personally agrees with Viguerie on all points.


The Christian Studies Shelf

Jesus and Archaeology
James H. Charlesworth
WM B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
255 Jefferson Avenue SE, Grande Rapids, MI 49503
080284880X $50.00 www.eerdmans.com

Edited by James H. Charles worth (Professor of New Testament Language and Literature and Director of the Dead Sea Scrolls Project at Princeton Theological Seminary), Jesus and Archaeology is an anthology of scholarly essays by learned authors, many of whom worked recently and directly in excavations at Bethsaida, Capernaum, Nazareth, and Jerusalem. Essay topics range from "Did Jesus Attend the Synagogue?" to "Jesus and Resurrection Faith in Light of Jewish Texts" to "The Christian Apocrypha and Archaeology" and much more. A handful of black-and-white photographs, a selected bibliography, an index of scripture and other ancient texts, and a glossary round out this cutting-edge compilation of what the latest archaeological findings tell us of Jesus and the era in which he lived.

Seeing in the Dark
Gary Kinnaman & Richard Jacobs, MD
Bethany House
11400 Hampshire Avenue South, Bloomington, MN 55438
0764201999 $13.99 www.bethanyhouse.com

Written by Word of Grace Church senior pastor Gary Kinnaman and Richard Jacobs MD, Seeing in the Dark: Getting the Facts on Depression & Finding Hope Again is a guide especially for Christians who suffer from depression, or who yearn to help a loved one so afflicted. Chapters cover how to recognize the serious medical condition of true depression, Biblical insights into depression, information about brain chemistry and depression, how to adopt a grace-filled lifestyle of letting go, how to recognize patterns of thinking that exacerbate depression and put a stop to them, communal strategies for combating depression that is too overwhelming to face alone, and much more. Case studies illustrate the harm depression can bring to God's faithful, and means by which one can cope while keeping warm with the flame of faith. An index for quick reference and a self-test to gauge one's own mindset round out this vital guide to rising above neurochemical and emotional misery.

Miracles of John Paul II
Pawel Zuchniewicz
Ignatius Press
PO Box 1339, Fort Collins, CO 80522
0978097904 $20.00 www.catholicradio.ca

Journalist Pawel Zuchniewicz presents Miracles of John Paul II, a bestselling title in Poland and a compendium of miracles that have occurred through the intervention of Pope John Paul II. A poignant tribute to the powers of prayer and faith, Miracles of John Paul II is illustrated throughout with colorful photographs and laced with testimonies and question-and-answer segments by those who knew and loved the late pope. A treasure enthusiastically recommended for Catholic church libraries and anyone who knew and respected the spirit of the late pope.

Spiritual Fitness
Graham Tomlin
The Continuum International Publishing Group
PO Box 1321, Harrisburg, PA 17105
0826486770 $15.95 1-800-877-0012

Written by the Principal of St. Paul's Theological Centre, Graham Tomlin, Spiritual Fitness: Christian Character in a Consumer Culture connects a parallel between physical and spiritual fitness. Both require daily maintenance and attention, and both are vital to human well being. Tomlin stresses that spiritual fitness is vital not only for the church itself, but also society as a whole, and offers guidelines to help churches transform into agents of change and spiritual renaissance. From cultivating virtue to the vital role of discipline in enacting spiritual transformation, to the necessity, power, and difficulty of forgiveness, Spiritual Fitness conceptualizes a powerful antidote to the consumption and luxury-driven culture advertised by modern media that can all too readily drown out the finer and holier aspects of life.

Anonymous
Alicia Britt Chole
Integrity Publishers
660 Bakers Bridge Avenue, Suite 200, Franklin, TN 37067
1591454212 $16.99 www.integritypublishers.com

Written by passionate Christian Alicia Britt Chole, Anonymous: Jesus' Hidden Years and Yours is an exploration into the first thirty years of Jesus Christ's life, "hidden years" in that they passed largely unnoticed by the world. Yet those years spent in anonymity prepared Jesus for true greatness, allowing him room to grow and learn. Anonymous draws parallels form Jesus' experience that can be applied to one's own life, and to appreciate the value of each day rather than slide into anxiety and despair when one's goals are delayed or deferred. A deeply spiritual message of hope and inspiration.

The Bible from Scratch
Simon Jenkins
Saint Mary's Press
702 Terrace Heights, Winona, MN 55987-1318
0884899403 $14.95 www.smp.com 1-800-533-8095

Written by Simon Jenkins, the founder of online community and "magazine of Christian unrest" shipoffools.com, The Bible from Scratch: Catholic Edition is a condensed, simplified run-through of what the Bible has to say in plain-terms English. Black-and-white cartoon illustrations add a visual dimension to the stories of the ancestors, saints, prophets, and historical figures related in the Bible. Covering both Old and New Testaments, The Bible from Scratch is accessible to readers of all ages, backgrounds, and faiths, even though as its title indicates, it presents a Catholic point of view. The Bible from Scratch is essentially a Cliff Notes version of the Bible with a small dose of cartoon humor added for good measure, enthusiastically recommended especially for anyone brand new to Biblical studies and in need of an easy-to-grasp overview.


The Fiction Shelf

Catalina
Markus Orths
The Toby Press
PO Box 8531, New Milford, CT 06776-8531
1592641652 $24.95 www.tobypress.com

Written by Markus Orths, Catalina is an amazing historical novel based on the true story of Catalina d'Erauso, a girl born in 17th century Spain, who rejected what society expected her to become and successfully disguised herself as a man. When her beloved older brother Miguel was sent to the New World to pursue the family's fortunes, Catalina longed to follow him; so, after obtaining her education in a convent, she cut her hair, dressed in men's clothing, and adopted the new identity of Francisco. Her quest would span continents, leading her from San Sebastian to New Spain, Chile, and Peru. She was drawn into violence, and even experienced love - all the while internalizing her male identity so thoroughly it effectively supplanted her natural gender. A truly fascinating read of one woman's staunch defiance.

On the Run with Dick and Jane
Robert Gover
Hopewell Publications
PO Box 11, Titusville, NJ 08650-0011
1933435127 $15.95 www.hopepubs.com

The ninth novel of former journalist Robert Gover, On The Run With Dick and Jane is the story of a truly unlikely couple - Jane, a twelve-year-old stowaway girl fleeing an overseas sex slavery operation, and Dick, a sixty-three year-old man grieving the death of his beloved wife and struggling with mounting medical bills. A distinctive feature of On the Run with Dick and Jane is that quotation marks are omitted from the spoken dialogue, lending the tale elements of a stream-of-consciousness feel. A story of a most unlikely friendship, eventually leading both to take a stand against those who would recapture Jane for their own vile profit.

Troubling Love
Elena Ferrante
Europa Editions
116 East 16 Street, New York, NY 10003
1933372168 $14.95 www.europaeditions.com

Italian author Elena Ferrante presents her second novel Troubling Love, the story of a daughter who, upon learning of her mother's untimely death, sets out on a harrowing journey through the streets of Naples in search of the truth about her family. A dark tale of sexuality, the violent dissolution of a marriage, unfulfilling relationships, threatening conditions, and the haunting quest to uncover the truth no matter how frightening it might be.

Terra Firma
Clara Orban
Florida Academic Press
PO Box 540, Gainesville, FL 32602-0540
1890357197 $24.95 352-332-5104

The second place winner for the CNW/FFWA Award for Fiction in 2003, Terra Firma is a novel about the suffering of pre-World War Italian and Hungarian families that pushed them to emigrate to America, and the reconciliation of an American daughter with the past of her proud ancestors. The debut novel of Clara Orban (professor of French and Italian at DePaul University, Chicago), Terra Firma is a rich interconnection between Old World Europe and the hectic modern day, and also a contemplation of the searches for independence, meaning, roots and balance in life both then and now. Highly recommended.

Torpedo
Jeff Edwards
iUniverse
2021 Pine Lake Road, Suite 100, Lincoln, NE 68512
0595675239 $29.95 www.thedeckplate.com www.iuniverse.com

Retired U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer and Anti-Submarine Warfare Specialist Jeff Edwards presents Torpedo, a military thriller about the escalating consequences of an accident at a German nuclear plant and a biological warfare attack on the British Embassy in Washington, D.C., combined with an illegal arms deal between a trusted NATO ally and a rogue Middle Eastern state. The threat of all-out war between America, Europe, and the Middle East casts a spectral shadow; Commander Samuel (Jim) Bowie and the crew of the USS Towers, plus a handful of navy destroyers, must work fast to end the crisis before all hell breaks loose. Their enemy is a NATO ally trained in U.S. warfare tactics, with the potential to out-gun, out-maneuver, and out-think them. A taut, fast-paced narrative brimming with edge-of-seat excitement.


The Literary Shelf

Writing to Delight
Antonia Arslan & Gabriella Romani
University of Toronto Press
10 St. Mary Street, Suite 700, Toronto, ON, M4Y 2W8
0802038107 $29.95 1-800-565-9523

Edited by Antonia Arslan (professor of contemporary Italian literature, University of Padua) and Gabriella Romani (assistant professor in the Department of Modern Languages, Seton Hill University), Writing to Delight: Italian Short Stories By Nineteenth-Century Women Writers is an anthology of selected short stories by some of the most accomplished and acclaimed female writers of nineteenth-century Italy, all translated into English for the first time. A clear window into cultural views of Italian history, particularly attesting to the restrictive concept of female domesticity that was so widespread and ingrained in the setting. Writing to Delight is especially recommended for college library shelves and students or connoisseurs of Italian literature and literary fiction.


The Sports Shelf

Game of My Life
Steve Greenberg & Laura Lanese
Sports Publishing LLC
804 North Neil Street, Champaign, IL 61820
1582618216 $24.95 sportspublishingllc.com

Newspaper reporter and editor Steve Greenberg and practiced legal expert Laura Lanese present Game of My Life: Ohio State Memorable Stories of Buckeye Football, a collection of true stories and vignettes about the individuals who gave their all to Ohio State football. Each of the thirty-six chapters relates the perspective of a different twentieth-century football player, recounting the game that was most unforgettable to him - and not necessarily because it ended in victory! Black-and-white photographs enhance this perfect holiday gift for Buckeye Football fans.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Deeksha
Kiara Windrider with Grace Sears
Inner Ocean Publishing
PO Box 1239, Makawao, Maui, Hawaii 96768
1930722702 $15.95 www.innerocean.com

Licensed psychotherapist and spiritual teacher Kiara Windrider with Canadian-born mystic Grace Sears present Deeksha: The Fire from Heaven, a guide to attaining enlightenment through deeksha, a process based on a spiritual movement originating in India's Golden City. The principle taught by the movement's founders, Sri Bhagavan and Sri Amma, is that the path to Divine Consciousness is not a disciplinary process extending across decades of discipline but rather a neurobiological process attainable to anyone who desires it. Deeksha presents the author's story of personal awakening as well as six other accounts of enlightenment, a conversation with Bhagavan, and much more. Celebrating the power of cosmic consciousness as attainable by any and all individuals, Deeksha is a highly empowering spiritual embodiment of the principle that Divinity best enlightens those who enlighten themselves.


The Language Studies Shelf

Linguistics of American Sign Language, fourth edition
Claton Valli, Ceil Lucas, & Kristin J. Mulrooney
Gallaudet University Press
800 Florida Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20002-3695
1563682834 $75.00 http://gupress.gallaudet.edu 1-800-621-2736

Written by the team of Clayton Valli, Ceil Lucas (Professor of Linguistics in the department of Linguistics as Gallaudet University), and Kristin J. Mulroney (Assistant Professor of Linguistics in the Department of Linguistics as Gallaudet University), Linguistics of American Sign Language is an in-depth reference and resource for intermediate to expert linguistic students, scholars and professionals, now in an updated fourth edition with an accompanying course DVD. The fourth edition of Linguistics of American Sign Language features an entirely revised section on morphology and syntax, the latest research on main categories of verbs in ASL, insight into artistic forms of ASL such as singing, drama, and poetry, 18 new and updated readings, and new suggested homework assignments based on the DVD, and much more. The first half of the text focuses on the nuts-and-bolts grammar and dissection of ASL; the second half is devoted to supplemental readings by a variety of learned authors, discussing nuances of ASL and its usage, variations in linguistic structure, sub-communities of the deaf such as the black deaf community, and much more. Simple black-and-white diagrams illustrate this definitive linguistic compendium and college-level education and consultation reference.


The Economics Shelf

Transforming the Development Landscape
Lael Brainard
Brookings Institution Press
1775 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20036
0815711247 $18.95 www.brookings.edu

Edited by Lael Brainard, Transforming the Development Landscape: The Role of the Private Sector presents a collection of essays that offer insight into blueprints for successful economic development. Key topics include how to shape investment climate, mobilize innovation and financing, and decrease the level of harm that could accompany development projects. Sample writings include "Leveraging the Development Impact of Business in the Fight against Global Poverty", "Venture Capital for Development", and "Financing for Global Health". An absolute "must-read" for professionals, diplomats, and multinational businesses as well as macroeconomic students and scholars.


The Audiobook Shelf

Cross
James Patterson
Hachette Audio
1271 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
1594836035, $39.98 www.hachettebookgroup.usa

The still grieving Alex Cross has the chance to capture the homicidal psychopath responsible for the murder of his wife Maria. Cross had set up practice as a psychologist and his life is finally in good order when his former partner, John Sampson calls him for a favor. Sampson is tacking a serial rapist in Georgetown who brutal modus operandi is similar to a case on which he and Cross had worked together one some years earlier. In the course of their inquiry on this Georgetown rapist, a connection to Maria's death surfaces and Cross is plunged into a complicated and dangerous pursuit. "Cross" by James Patterson is dynamically narrated in this complete and unabridged 8 hour, 7 CD edition by the team of Peter J. Fernandez and Jay O. Sanders. Highly recommended for mystery and suspense enthusiasts, "Cross" is also available in an abridged CD edition (1594835993, 5 CDs, 6 hours, $29.98) and an unabridged audio cassette edition (1594836019, 5 CS, 8 hours, $29.98).

For The Love Of A Dog
Patricia McConnell
Tantor Media, Inc.
114 Mill Rock Road East, Old Saybrook, CT 06475
1400133009 $69.99 www.tantor.com 1-877-782-6867

Flawlessly narrated by Ellen Archer, this 9 disc CD audiobook edition from Tantor Media of "For The Love of A Dog: Understanding Emotion In You And Your Best Friend" by certified animal behaviorist Patricia McConnell (Adjunct Associate professor of Zoology, University of Wisconsin-Madison) is complete and unabridged. A renowned canine expert, McConnell addresses issues common to dog enthusiasts including whether or not dogs have emotions like their human masters, and do our dogs truly love us? So much more than just another dog-training manual, listeners can learn how to accurately 'read' their canine companion, recognize important doggy signals, interpret a dog's feelings by its facial expressions, body posture, and even 'tongue flicks'. Thoroughly 'user friendly', "For The Love Of A Dog" should be considered 'must listening' for every down owner, fanciers, and trainer. Very strongly recommended for personal, professional, veterinary school, and community library Canine Studies reference collection, "For The Love of A Dog" is also available from Tantor Media in a retail format (1400103002, 9 CDs, $34.99) and an MP3 CD format (140015300X, 1 CD, $24.99).


The Hunting/Fishing Shelf

Woolly Wisdom
Gary Soucie
Frank Amato Publications
PO Box 82112, Portland, OR 97282
1571883517, $35.00 www.amatobooks.com

"Woolly Wisdom: How To Tie And Fish Woolly Worms, Woolly Buggers, And Their Fish-Catching Kin" by fly-fishing expert Gary Soucie is a superbly presented 'how to' guide to creating a special class of versatile and popular fishing flies that are experienced proven at catching fishing. "Woolly Wisdom" provides an informed and profusely illustrated documentation on tying and fishing with some 400 of these diverse, handmade flies for both fresh water and salt water fish. Fun, informative, practical, and time-tested, "Woolly Wisdom" is confidently recommended for any aspiring fly-fisher from novice anglers to seasoned experts.


The Art Shelf

Art & Context
Chris Bruce, Nella Van Dyke, Keith Wells
Museum of Arts
c/o WSU Press
PO Box 645910, Pullman, WA 99164-5910
0975566229, $24.95 www.wsupress.wsu.edu 1-800-354-7360

"Art & Context: The '50s and 60s" focuses upon artistic creations by twenty of postwar America's most influential artists ranging from Alexander Calder, Willem de Kooning, and Roy Lichtenstein, to Robert Motherwell, Jackson Pollock, and "Andy Warhol. The two decades of 1950 and 1960 saw the rise of an American counterculture with its new social, sexual, racial, and artistic freedoms. Historical context and analysis are provided by essays by Chris Bruce (Director of the Museum of Art, Washington State University, Pullman), Nella Van Dyke (Associate Professor of Socilogy, Washington State University, Pullham), and Keith Wells (Curator of Exhibitions and Collections,l Museum of Art, Washington State University, Pullham). "Art & Context" is a work of impeccible scholarship and a welcome, seminal contribution to personal, professional, and academic library 'Art History & Criticism' reference collections and supplemental reading lists


The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

A New History Of Japanese Cinema
Isolde Standish
The Continuum Publishing Group
15 East 26th Street, #17, New York, NY 10010-1505
0826417906, $24.95 www.continuumbooks.com 1-800-561-7704

"A New History Of Japanese Cinema: A Century Of Narrative Film" by Isolde Standish (Convenor of the Cinemas of Asia and Africa, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London) is a carefully compiled historical and analytical survey of Japanese filmmaking from 1896 when cinema in the form of Kinetoscope prototypes first arrived in Japan, to the end of the 20th Century. Cinema became very popular with the Japanese public and saw the first cinema theatre being opened in Tokyo in 103 and within the next thirteen years more than three hundred other cinema theatres would appear and prosper throughout the Japanese islands. "A New History Of Japanese Cinema" addresses such issues as the relationship of cinema to Japanese nationalism, empire politics, humanism, and general culture. Of special note is the chapter devoted to 'Genres and Gender' in Japanese films. Enhanced with the inclusion of a Select Filmography and a Select Bibliography, "A New History Of Japanese Cinema" is a seminal work of remarkable scholarship and should be a part of every academic library and film school International Cinema Studies reference collection.

Image + Territory: Essays On Atom Egoyan
Monique Tschofen & Jennifer Burwell, editors
Wilfrid Laurier University Press
Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2L 3C5
088920487X, $29.95 www.wlupress.wlu.ca

Atom Egoyan has made significant contributions to filmmaking, installation art and opera that contradict the widespread notion that formal experimentation and theoretical argument must, of necessity, be antithetical to the pleasures of creation and/or enjoyment of observational or experiential art. Expertly compiled and collaboratively edited by Ryerson University Department of English associate professors Monique Teschofen and Jennifer Burwell, "Image + Territory: Essays On Atom Egoyan" offers eighteen diversely informed and informative essays grouped around the themes of 'Media Technologies, Aura, and Redemption'; 'Diasporic Histories and the Exile of Meaning'; 'Pathologies/Ontologies of the Visual'; and 'Conversations'. Enhanced with the inclusion of an exhaustive Filmography, an extended Bibliography, Notes on Contributors, and an Index, "Image + Territory: Essays On Atom Egoyan" is offers impressive body of commentary pertaining to the study of theatre, film and opera which would prove to be a core contribution to university library collections and supplemental reading lists for academic studies.


The Music Shelf

Maximum Clarity And Other Writings On Music
Ben Johnston
University of Illinois Press
1325 South Oak Street, Champaign, IL 61820-6975
0252030982, $40.00 www.press.uillinois.edu 1-800-545-4703

Expertly edited by Bob Gilmore Reader in Musicology, Dartington College of Arts, England), "Maximum Clarity And Other Writings On Music" is a collection of writings on music by Professor Ben Johnston who taught theory and composition from 1951 to 1984 at the University of Illinois School of Music at Urbana-Champaign. Utilizing intonation, Professor Johnston reconceives familiar idioms ranging from neoclassicism and serialism, to jazz and southern hymns. This body of Professor Johnston's writings spans the whole of his professional career and documents him as a truly literate composer who was able to write about his own music as well as the music of others with accuracy, insight, and eloquence. "Maximum Clarity And Other Writings On Music" conforms to the highest standards of scholarship while being completely accessible to students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in music interpretation and criticism. Enhanced with a discography of all commercially available recordings of Professor Johnston's music, "Maximum Clarity And Other Writings On Music" is enthusiastically recommended for academic library and music department reference collections.


The Mythology/Folklore Shelf

A Short History Of Myth
Karen Armstrong
Canongate U.S.
841 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
Publishers Group West (distributor)
1700 Fourth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
184195800X, $12.00 www.groveatlantic.com

Myths were explanations created by human beings to help them understand and influence the world around them. In "A Short History Of Myth", Karen Armstrong presents an informed and informative overview of the history and role of myths in human belief systems from the prehistorical stone age down to the present day. Knowledgeably succinct, "A Short History Of Myth" is laid out in seven chronological groupings that include: 'The Paleolithic Period: The Mythology of the Hunters' (c. 20000 to 8000 BCE); 'The Neolithic Period: The Mythology of the Farmers' (c. 8000 to 4000 BCE); 'The Early Civilizations' (c. 4000 to 800 BCE); 'The Axial Age' (c. 800 to 200 BCE); 'The Post-Axial Period' (c. 200 BCE to c. 1500 CD); 'The Great Western Transformation' (c. 1500 to 2000 CE). Strongly recommended for both school and community library collections, "A Short History Of Mythology" is an ideal introduction for students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the study of myth, legend, folklore, and religion.


The Civil War Shelf

Blood Money
John Remington Graham
Pelican Publishing
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053-2246
1589803981 $12.95 www.pelicanpub.com

Written by professional trial lawyer and history expert John Remington Graham, Blood Money: The Civil War and the Federal Reserve is a scholarly and studious examination of an oft-neglected aspect of the American Civil War - how the great international banking houses augmented the pre-existing antagonisms between North and South, how the Federal Reserve came to be created, and the negative legacies of public debt following the Civil War. Researched with exacting precision and calculated depth, Blood Money will prove enlightening and fascinating to Civil War scholars and lay readers alike, as it exposes myths about the Civil War's origins, and reveals that the hot-button issues of the era served as a convenient means to distract Americans from the huge national debt being incurred - a crisis situation that would in turn prompt a hostile takeover of American banking and currency. Highly recommended.


The American History Shelf

Boise, Idaho 1882-1910
Carol Lynn MacGregor
Mountain Press Publishing Company
PO Box 2399, Missoula, MT 59806
0878425225 $24.00 www.mtnpress.com

Written by Boise native Carol Lynn MacGregor, Boise, Idaho 1882-1910: Prosperity in Isolation is the true story of how the community of Boise thrived at the turn of the twentieth century, despite being geographically bypassed and isolated from the main railroad lines. Boise, Idaho 1882-1910 covers the removal of the Northern Shoshoni from the land, the progress of government, infrastructure, and business, the development of arts and culture, and changes in the community's ethnic and religious makeup. Also observed is the seamier side of Boise, such as racism, prostitution, and crime that marked its growth and progress. A handful of vintage black-and-white photographs illustrate this fascinating case study of small-town America.


The Psychology Shelf

APA Dictionary of Psychology
Gary R. VandenBos, Ph.D., editor-in-chief
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NW Washington DC 20002
1591474302 $69.95

The APA Dictionary of Psychology is the American Psychological Association's definitive, cutting-edge resource for students and professionals in the field. Crystal-clear definitions of 25,000 entries, covering 90 subfields of psychology from clinical and cognitive psychology to psychopharmacology and statistics, appendices on entries from categories such as biographies, psychological tests, and psychotherapies, and a "quick guide" to easily acquaint the reader with stylistic and formatting features, and much more. A "must-have" basic reference, enthusiastically recommended for college libraries and the reference shelves of aspiring and practicing experts.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Threshold Shift
Eric Brown
Golden Gryphon Press
3002 Perkins Road, Urbana, IL 61802
1930846436 $24.95 www.goldengryphon.com

Accomplished Eric Brown presents Threshold Shift, an anthology of fantastic tales of the imagination that includes the British Science Fiction Award winning tales "The Children of Winter" about a hopeless love affair between alien kinds on an icy world in the far future, and "Hunting the Slarque" about a Hunter resurrected by the curator of an alien zoo and set against the vicious creature that killed him, the Slarque. Other stories include three set in Brown's Kehani universe, in which aliens offer the people of Earth immortality - a gift that comes with abiding moral and ethical dilemmas. Threshold Shift explores the complex problems arising from future technology, as well as constructing fantastic alien visions and worlds, and is strongly recommended for science fiction collections and reading lists.


The Biography Shelf

The Bridge Crew
Sam Shumate
Parkway Publishers
PO Box 3678, Boone, NC 28607 - 5578
1933251360 $19.95

Written by high school teacher and principal Sam Shumate, The Bridge Crew is a memoir of growing up in a Blue Ridge mountain village in the 1940's and 50's. In an era before television, video games, personal computers, and personal automobiles, the kids met under a pedestrian walkway to plan activities to entertain themselves - from building huge spider webs on the bridge to oiling the tracks to watch the "Virginia Creeper" attempt to leave the Warrensville depot. True tales of mischief, with some hijinks that were deadly serious at the time yet can be regarded with humor after years of reflection, make The Bridge Crew a nostalgic reminiscence of days of yore.

The Bear
Don Keith
Cumberland House Publishing
431 Harding Industrial Drive, Nashville, TN 37211
1581825625 $19.95

Award-wining newswriter Don Keith presents The Bear: The Legendary Life of Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant, a most unusual biography of charismatic football coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. The Bear is based upon a screenplay by Al Browning, Jr. and reads like a fluid novel, yet firmly grounded in actual events and corrects common inaccuracies or misperceptions held about Paul Bryant to this day. A handful of black-and-white photographic plates illustrate this true tale of the vivacious man who turned around a struggling football program in Alabama, led the record in career victories for a college football coach, with 323 major-college wins and had the loyalty and steadfast determination to resist a $1.7 million offer to coach for the Miami Dolphins. Enthusiastically recommended reading especially for football fans.


The Environmental Studies Shelf

Pesticides
Graham Matthews
Blackwell Publishing
PO Box 570, Ames, IA 50010-0570
1405130911 $159.99 www.blackwellprofessional.com

Written by pesticide expert Graham Matthews (Emeritus Professor, Dept. of Biosciences, Imperial College of London), Pesticides: Health, Safety and the Environment is a scholarly resource for agriculture science students and professionals concerning the history, application, hazards and future of pesticides. Pesticides: Health, Safety and the Environment seeks to balance the increased food and agricultural productivity pesticides can bring a heavily populated planet with the necessary precautions of applying pesticides only when needed and according to a strict registration process with guidelines, in order to minimize harm to human beings and the environment. Black-and-white photographs illustrate the close examination of techniques of pesticide application, how to prevent operator exposure to harmful toxins, dealing with spray drift, bystander, resident and worker exposure, and hopes for the future to keep the harmful side effects of pesticides under tight control. An expert scientific text filling a much-needed void in scholarly and instructional writings on pesticide application technology and procedures. Also highly recommended is Professor Matthews' previous book, "Pesticide Application Methods".


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Is Your Health Care Killing You?
Colleen C. Badell Ph.D.
Turning Point Press
PO Box 4111, Napa, CA 94558-0411
0976112922 $12.95 1-707-259-1155

"Blind faith and blind trust toward health care are luxuries we can no longer afford," writes Colleen Badell Ph. D., in Is Your Health Care Killing You?: 12 Ways to Survive Our Fractured Health Care System. A severe wake-up call to incompetence, mismanagement, excessive cost-cutting, and sometimes outright fraud rife within the health care industry, Is Your Health Care Killing You? describes at length how ordinary individuals can engage in preventive health self-care to improve one's lifestyle, the importance of requesting copies of records and reports, how to prepare for appointments, what to look for when being selective about health care providers, and much more. Appendices include state agency and licensing boards, consumer advocacy groups, and a list of professional associations and organizations. A highly readable, down-to-earth guide written by a medical industry insider especially for the public at the mercy of a powerful and all too often ruthless system.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

Rethinking Synagogues
Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman
Jewish Lights Publishing
PO Box 237, Sunset Farm Offices, Route 4, Woodstock, VT 05091
1580232485 $19.99 www.jewishlights.com 802-457-4004

Written by Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman, Rethinking Synagogues: A New Vocabulary for Congregational Life is a daring call for transformation in the modern synagogue, particularly the American synagogue. Chapters discuss means of reconceptualizing synagogue life in order to preserve Judaism as a religion that is taken seriously, rather than as a lingering ethnic nostalgia with trimmings of outward demonstrations and ritual observance. Hoffman acknowledges that the American synagogue is not currently in danger of falling into disuse, but compares synagogues to public schools in that they could be and do so much more than they are. A passionate call to reawaken core beliefs and life practices, and reexamine the meaning of living and passing on the Jewish faith.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

The Dog Trainer's Resource
Mychelle E. Blake, editor
Dogwise Publishing
PO Box 2778, 701B Poplar, Wenatchee, Washington 98807
1929242395 $24.95 www.dogwise.com

Edited by certified dog behavior consultant Mychelle E. Blake, The Dog Trainer's Resource: The APDT Chronicle of the Dog Collection is an anthology of 80 articles by 40 authors, all previously published by The Association of Pet Dog Trainers newsletter. Top-notch, cutting edge information on everything from puppy training to learning theory, dealing with aggression, shelter dogs, running a professional dog training business and meeting the needs of clients, and much more fill this expert-level resource. Lay people seeking to train their beloved pets will also benefit greatly from the wisdom and advice in The Dog Trainer's Resource.


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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