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Wisconsin Bookwatch

Volume 2, Number 12 December 2007 Home | WBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Environmental Studies Shelf Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf
Mythology/Folklore Shelf Philosophy Shelf Christian Studies Shelf
Health/Medicine Shelf Writing/Publishing Shelf Social Issues Shelf
Library DVD Shelf Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Architecture Shelf American History Shelf Civil War Shelf
Psychology Shelf World History Shelf Literary Shelf
Poetry Shelf Art Shelf Self-Help Shelf
Judaic Studies Shelf Education Shelf Music Shelf
Gardening Shelf Cookbook Shelf Needlecraft Shelf
Model Railroading Shelf Gaming Shelf Military Shelf


Reviewer's Choice

Strange Wisconsin
Linda S. Godfrey
Tails Books
c/o Big Earth Publishing
145 North Commercial Street, Suite 100, Neenah, WI 54956
9781931599856, $421.95 www.bigearthpublishing.com 1-800-258-5830

Wisconsin is popularly known as the Badger State. It also has a checkered history of eccentrics, paranormal events, oddities, and the macabre. That's just what Linda S. Godfrey (writer, illustrator, and paranormal investigator) has collected, illustrated, and documented in the pages of "Strange Wisconsin: More Badger State Weirdness". This 200 page compendium is a showcase of bizarre stories ranging from pig men, to trolls, to pancakes from space, to the Mormon King of Voree! Profusely illustrated throughout, the text is organized geographically and alphabetically from Abbotsford to the Wisconsin Dells. Offering the reader a unique and phenomenal perspective showcasing all manner of oddities, "Strange Wisconsin" is thoroughly entertaining, occasionally iconoclastic, and highly recommended as a 'must' for all Wisconsin school and community library collections.

An Adventure For Your Palate
Judith E. Sulik
Finally Finished Press
4317 Goldfinch Circle, Middleton, WI 53562
9780965719353, $19.99 yduj@juno.com 1-608-833-1925

"An Adventure For Your Palate: An Eclectic Restaurant Tour In And Around Madison, Wisconsin With Chefs' Recipes", journalist, author, and food enthusiast Judith Sulik has compiled a list of some of the best restaurants, cafes, diners, and eateries to be found in the capital city of the Badger State and the smaller communities that collectively comprise Dane County, Wisconsin. Each featured establishment is given a one-page descriptive commentary, followed by a choice selection of recipes associated with their particular menus and kitchens. From the Admiralty Room at the elegant Edgewater Hotel in downtown Madison; to the Imperial Garden on Madison's eastside; to the Old Feed Mill on the city's westside; to the Main Street Diner and Ice Cream parlor on the north side; to Jada Soul Food 'south of downtown', "An Adventure For Your Palate" showcases dozens and dozens of great places to eat out. For example, in the little Village of Oregon just 12 miles south of Madison there is BrouxNellies, which offers good service combined with great food. Featured BrouxNellies recipes include Honey Mustard Dressing; Meatloaf; and 15 Bean Soup. Peppered throughout the pages of "An Adventure For Your Palate" are little vignettes of trivia about the communities and places within and around Madison. Sadly, a few of the restaurants featured have subsequently closed their doors -- but within this enthusiastically recommended addition to family cookbook collections in general, and Dane County residents in particular, those now yesteryear restaurants will live on in nostalgic memory.

Renewing The Countryside: Wisconsin
Jerry Hembd, et al.
Renewing The Countryside
c/o University of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe Street, Third Floor, Madison, WI 53711-2059
9780979545818, $26.95 www.wisc.edu/wisconsinpress 1-800-621-2736

Compiled and co-edited by the team of Jerry Hembd, Jody Padgham, and Jan Joannides, and enhanced with an informative foreword by Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle, "Renewing The Countryside: Wisconsin" beautifully and informatively showcases thirty-nine creative, hard-working people, organization and business that are infusing the Wisconsin countryside with life and activity. "Renewing The Countryside: Wisconsin " is organized into seven chapters covering arts and culture, farming, green business, conservation, tourism, community development, and education. From the story of how the city of Washburn on Wisconsin's Chequamegon Bay became the country's first eco-municipality; to how 'Growing Power' is connecting urban Milwaukee kids to fresh food and country side; to how innovative farmers and artisan food makers are bringing sustainability and organically grown products to consumers throughout Wisconsin, "Renewing The Countryside: Wisconsin" offers inspiring examples of what the reader can do in his or her own part of the Badger state. Simply stated, "Renewing The Countryside: Wisconsin ", which is also available in a hardcover edition (9780979545801, $39.95), should be a part of every Wisconsin school and community library -- and would ably serve as a template for similar books featuring similar efforts with respect to the rural economies and conditions in other states.

Green, Gold, And Proud
Curt Knoke, et al.
Triumph Books
542 South Dearborn Street, Suite 750, Chicago, IL 60605
9781600780431, $16.95 www.triumphbooks.com

Enhanced with an informative introduction by Bob Harlan, reflections by Bart Starr, and the accompanying full length DVD 'The Legends of Lambeau Field'; "Green, Gold, And Proud: Portraits, Stories, And Traditions Of The Greatest Fans In The World" is a photo album featuring the full color photography of Curt Knoke showcases Wisconsin's Green Bay Packer football team's legions of colorful and enthusiastic fans. Readers will be treated to a spectrum of memorable fan costumes worn in support of their favorite team. A fitting tribute to Packer fan enthusiasm and loyalty, "Green, Gold, And Proud" is highly recommended browsing and would make a very popular addition to any Wisconsin school or community library collection.


The Environmental Studies Shelf

The Sacred Balance
David Suzuki with Amanda McConnell and Adrienne Mason
Greystone Books
c/o Douglas & McIntyre Publishing Group
2323 Quebeck Street, Suite 201, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V5T 4S7
9781553651666, $17.95 www.douglas-mcintyre.com 1-800-367-9692

Now in an updated and expanded edition ten years after its initial publication, The Sacred Balance: Rediscovering Our Place in Nature remains a monumental testimony concerning the repercussions of human society's impact on the natural world, both for the planet and the people living on it. Geneticist and environmentalist David Suzuki reveals how connected and dependent humankind is upon the planet's water, soil, sunlight, and the breath of its vegetation; as well as the threats to the planet's balance ranging from toxic pollution to the impending cataclysm of global warming. Extensive notes and an index round out this powerful treatise concerning the immediate need to rethink human behavior and find a new way to live in balance with the planet's ecosystem. Highly recommended.


The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

Film Talk
Wheeler Winston Dixon
Rutgers University Press
100 Joyce Kilmer Avenue, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8099
9780813540788, $22.95 http://rutgerspress.rutgers.edu 1-800-446-9323

Film Talk: Directors at Work is an amazing, behind-the-scenes glimpse of filmmaking from the 1940s to the modern day. Eleven up-close-and-personal interviews with contemporary film directors, speaking frankly about their work, comprise frank-talk this insider's view of the industry. The directors interviewed are "old masters" Ronald Neame, Val Guest, Budd Boetticher, and Albert Maysles; "cult visions" Jack Hill, Monte Hellman, and Robert Downey Sr.; and "new voices" Takashi Shimizu, Jamie Babbit, Bennett Miller, and Kasi Lemmons. More than fifty rare photographs illustrate this one-of-a-kind testimony sure to appeal to movie lovers of all walks of life.

Cinema of Obsession
Dominique Mainon and James Ursini
Limelight Editions
c/o Hal Leonard Corporation
777 West Bluemound Road, Milwaukee, WI 53213
9780879103477, $24.95 www.halleonard.com 1-800-637-2852

Filmmaker Dominique Mainon and film journalist James Ursini present Cinema of Obsession: Erotic Fixation and Love Gone Wrong in the Movies, an in-depth discussion and analysis of modern cinema that revolves around the dark side of human attraction, from erotic obsession to heartbreak and jealousy to deception and even murder in the name of love. Black-and-white photographs illustrate Cinema of Obsession throughout, and the text offers commentary on numerous specific films including "Fatal Attraction", "Basic Instinct", "The Killers", "Wild at Heart", "Last Tango in Paris", "Vertigo", and many more. Accessible to lay readers and cinema scholars alike, Cinema of Obsession lives up to its title and is indispensable for connoisseurs of movies that deconstruct human romantic bonds.

Sitcoms
Ken Bloom & Frank Vlastnik
Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers
151 West 19th Street, New York, NY 10011
9781579127527, $29.95 www.blackdogandleventhal.com 1-800-722-7202

The collaboration of Ken Bloom (playwright, theater director, radio host, arts consultant, and president of Harbinger Records) and Frank Vlastnik (actor, photo researcher, and editor), "Sitcom: The 101 Greatest TV Comedies Of All Time" is an illustrated showcase of the television situation comedy alphabetically ranging from 'The Adams Family' to 'WRKP in Cincinnati'. Profusely illustrated with some 400 photographs of the stars and the sets, "Sitcom" offers so much more than a simple recitation of statistics and trivia to inform the reader as to everything that went into the creation of a truly classic sitcom beginning with the writing and casting, thorough to the directing and acting. In addition to the photos (some taken behind-the-scenes), there is an abundance of expert commentary; biographies of directors, writers, and actors; 'off-set' infobits; and insights into what made these shows so popular with the public. Very highly recommended for both personal and community library Television History collections as a work of seminal research and meticulous effort, "Sitcoms" is a fascinating, informative, entertaining, and engaging read.


The Mythology/Folklore Shelf

Arab Folklore: A Handbook
Dwight F. Reynolds
Greenwood Publishing Group
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
9780313333118, $55.00 www.greenwood.com 1-800-225-5800

Dwight F. Reynolds (Professor of Religious Studies, University of California Santa Barbara) presents Arab Folklore: A Handbook, a scholarly exploration of classic Arab folklore, myths, and tales. An introductory chapter teaches the reader the bare-bones basics about Arabs and Arab history and language, followed by in-depth scrutiny of traditional oral poetry; an evaluation of the classic "Thousand and One Nights" Arab folk narrative; discussion of proverbs, riddles, jokes, and curses; folk music; customs and traditions; scholarship and approaches toward Arab folklore; and much more. A handful of black-an-white illustrations enhance this thoughtful guide for college-level students of mythography and Arab culture, highly recommended for college library shelves.

Slavic Folklore
Natalie Kononenko
Greenwood Publishing Group
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
9780313336102, $55.00 www.greenwood.com 1-800-225-5800

Written by Natalie Kononenko (Kule Chair of Ukranian Ethnography, University of Alberta), Slavic Folklore: A Handbook is a meticulous study of its subject matter rather than a fairy-tale book of stories. Accessible to general readers, Slavic Folklore discusses the definitions and classifications of Slavic mythography, various scholarly approaches and contexts for understanding these enduring works, and a handful of sample texts. Slavic Folklore requires no prior knowledge of Slavic history, folklore, or linguistics, and all transliterations of Slavic names, places, and other words have been carried out with an eye toward practicality and ease of use. A glossary, bibliography, and index round out this welcome addition to folklore and mythology studies shelves, as well as college library reference shelves.


The Philosophy Shelf

Adorno and the Need in Thinking
Donald A. Burke, et. al., editors
University of Toronto Press
10 St. Mary Street, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4Y 2W8
9780802092144, $65.00 www.utppublishing.com 1-800-565-9523

Adorno and the Need in Thinking: New Critical Essays is an exploration of the contemporary issues that intellectual and philosopher Theodor Adorno (1903-1969) confronted during the course of his work and writings. Presenting an anthology of essays written by learned contributors, Adorno and the Need in Thinking covers topics ranging from "From the Actual to the Possible: Non-identity Thinking" to "Politics beyond Speech: Communication and the Non-identical", and "On Adorno's Aesthetics of the Ugly". Also presented for the first time in English is one of Adorno's early essays, "Theses on the Language of the Philosopher". The advanced critical discourse is best suited for college or graduate-level philosophy students and practitioners, in this meticulous and thoughtful collection. "Disparaging the seductiveness of classical beauty, modern art depicts human alienation and indicts contemporary society. Yet Adorno attests that, through its autonomy and radical truth content, such art witnesses to a world that can and should be other than it is. 'Works of art, even literary ones, point to a practice from which they abstain: the creation of a just life.'" Highly recommended for philosophy and college library shelves.


The Christian Studies Shelf

Norbert and Early Norbertine Spirituality
Theodore J. Antry, O. Praem, and Carol Neel, selectors
Paulist Press
997 MacArthur Boulevard, Mahwah, NJ 07430
9780809144686, $27.95 www.paulistpress.com 1-800-218-1903

Norbert (ca. 1080-1134) met staunch resistance in his attempt to reform the clergy in his native Xanten, and founded a religious community in France. His establishment became the beginning of a successful order, the Canons Regular of Premontre, also known as the Premonstratensians or Norbertines. Though Norbert himself left no writings, his followers created a wealth of texts in their efforts to reform the clergy. Norbert and Early Norbertine Spirituality gathers a cross-section of these writings, as part of "The Classics of Western Spirituality" series published by Paulist Press. Included are the "Apologetic Letter" of Anselm of Havelberg, excerpts from "Miracles of St. Mary of Laon" by Herman of Tournai, "Life of Godfrey of Cappenberg", "On the Knowledge of Clerics" by Philip of Harvengt, and more. Flawlessly translated, Norbert and Early Norbertine Spirituality succinctly captures the essence of a religious movement's faith, in the words of its own believers, and is an excellent primary source for Christian studies shelves.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

The Vegetarian Solution
Stewart Rose
Healthy Living Publications
c/o The Book Publishing Company
PO Box 99, Summertown, TN 38483
9781570672057, $12.95 www.bookpub.com 1-800-695-2241

Medical studies and the personal experiences of hundreds of thousands of people have demonstrated that plant-based diets can prevent or improve the conditions of high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, obesity, and osteoporosis. Moreover, plant-based diets avoid such meat-borne diseases as E. coli infections and outbreaks that seem to be constantly in the news today. Additionally, turning to plant-based diets has a positive effect on such environmental issues as global warming, rainforest depletion, animal abuse, and world-wide hunger. "The Vegetarian Solution" by Stewart Rose (vice president of the non-profit Vegetarians of Washington, the largest regional vegetarian organization in the United States) provides up-to-date information documenting the nutritional benefits of a plant-based diet for children, athletes, and senior citizens; preventing and improving a wide variety of medical illnesses; how plant-based diets require fewer natural resources than meat-based diets; and a wealth of advice and suggestions on making a transition to a plant-based diet. An informed and informative, inspired and inspiring read for anyone contemplating changing over to a plant-based diet which entails giving up meat and meat products in their meals, "The Vegetarian Solution" is highly recommended and thoroughly 'user friendly' read.

Coming to Term
John Cohen
Rutgers University Press
100 Joyce Kilmer Avenue, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8099
9780813540535, $18.95 http://rutgerspress.rutgers.edu 1-800-446-9323

After his wife miscarried four pregnancies, author Jon Cohen poured effort into assembling a comprehensive, accurate, and user-friendly repository of information on miscarriage. Now in a new paperback edition that corrects a few errors found in the original, Coming to Term: Uncovering the Truth About Miscarriage explores the latest research and findings on the phenomenon, debunks myths and hype, and shines a spotlight on real problems that could be making the occurrence worse in today's world - such as federally unacceptable nitrate levels (which fluctuate seasonally, often influenced by agriculture and animal waste disposal) found in some American wells. Cohen also explores a diverse array of medical treatments, from drugs to surrogate parent contracts to "touchy-feely" emotional therapy methods that can offer surprisingly positive results. Steeped in compassion as well as wisdom and solid information, Coming to Term is highly recommended.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Writing Begins With The Breath
Laraine Herring
Shambhala Publications, Inc.
300 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02115-4544
9781590304730, $12.95 www.shambhala.com 1-800-733-3000

In "Writing Begins With The Breath: Embodying Your Authentic Voice" academician, creative writing instructor, and award winning fiction author Laraine Herring provides aspiring writers with a unique approach and distinctive guide to the craft of writing. The focus and message is how authors can tune into their bodies and connect with their emotions so that what they write becomes an expression of their whole being -- and not just an intellectual exercise. In "Writing Begins With The Breath" Laraine Herring has clearly practices what she's preached. The result is a text that is not only informed and informative, but inspired and inspiring. If you seek to write the next Great American Novel, then begin by reading what Laraine Herring has to say in "Writing Begins With The Breath"!

The Way Of Story
Catherine Ann Jones
Michael Wiese Productions
3940 Laurel Canyon Boulevard, #1111, Studio City, CA 91604
9781932907322, $22.95 www.mwp.com 1-800-833-5738

The script is the first basic building block of any film, theatre, or television project. "The Way Of Story: The Craft & Soul Of Writing" by award-winning playwright and screenwriter Catherine Ann Jones offers aspiring authors an integrative approach to writing all the various forms of narrative storytelling. Laced with anecdotal stories and personal insights from her own professional experiences as a writer of scripts, Catherine Ann Jones persuasively argues that craft alone is not enough for success in this highly competitive, highly volatile business. There must be an effective integration of storytelling technique and experiential inner discovery as a writer in order to produce scripts that are commercially viable and persuasive when it comes time to pitch them to producers. Of special note are the wealth of practical tips for writing a successful script whether it is for a play, a movie, or a television show. "The Way of Story" is especially recommended reading for anyone who aspires to writing a screenplay, and will provide invaluable insights into both the process and the marketplace.


The Social Issues Shelf

Work Options for Older Americans
Teresa Ghilarducci and John Turner, editors
University of Notre Dame Press
310 Flanner Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556
9780268029708, $45.00 www.undpress.nd.edu 1-800-621-2736

Edited by professor of economics Teresa Ghilarducci and AARP Public Policy Institute senior advisor John Turner, Work Options for Older Americans is a collection of essays by learned authors concerning the repercussions of demographic shifts and social forces that result in more and more Americans having to abandon the social expectation of retiring in their sixties and continue working later in life. Individual essays include "The Transformation of the American Pension System", "The Interaction between Health, Health Insurance, and Retirement", "International Responses to an Aging Labor Force: Lessons for U.S. Policy", and much more. It should be noted that Work Options for Older Americans is primarily a reference for economic scholars, policymakers, and problem-solvers, not a "how-to" guide for seniors. Black-and-white tables, charts, and graphics illustrate this serious-minded assessment grounded in hard data and extensive research.



The Library DVD Shelf

The Inspector Lynley Mysteries 5
Acorn Media Group
801 Roeder Road, Suite 700, Silver Spring, MD 20910
WG42129, $39.95 www.acornmedia.com 1-800-949-8670

The fifth volume in the acclaimed British mystery series starring Nathaniel Parker as Detective Inspector Lynley and Sharon Small as his colleague Detective Sergeant Havers, "The Inspector Lynley Mysteries 5" is a DVD boxed set comprising four full-length and expertly produced adaptations of Elizabeth George's superbly written 'whodunnit' mystery novels 'Natural Causes'; 'One Guilty Deed'; 'Chinese Walls'; and 'In The Blink Of An Eye'. As with all BBC productions that have aired on the popular PBS series "Mystery!", this fifth season of the Inspector Lynley stories are complex, beautifully photographed, expertly enacted, and thoroughly engaging. A 'must' for the legion of British mystery fans, "The Inspector Lynley Mysteries 5" will prove to be a thoroughly entertaining and satisfying collection as any of the earlier DVD volumes of this series which are all available from the Acorn Media Group. One warning -- be sure to watch these four episodes in their proper chronological order. The individual discs are not numbered, and if viewed out of sequence, could prove have be an unfortunate 'spoiler' effect with respect to one of the major running characters in the series.

The Gateway Arch
Janson Media
88 Semmens Road, Harrington Park, NJ 07640
Cat. #20349, $24.95 www.janson.com

Located in St. Louis, Missouri, the Gateway Arch is the largest stainless steel structure every to be erected. Enhanced with an informed and informative narration by Kevin Kline, "The Gateway Arch: A Reflection Of America" is a one hour, full color DVD that tells the story of this architectural wonder in terms of its design, its construction, its history, and its symbolism. Drawing upon more than 10,000 documents and images (including the private papers of its architect, Eero Saarinen and the earliest conceptual drawings held in the archives of Yale University), "The Gateway Arch" also features interviews with World Trade Center memorial architect Daniel Libeskind, New York-based architecture critic Jayne Merkel, and Eero Saarinen's daughter Susan. The DVD format allows for the inclusion of an extra 30 minutes of relevant and appropriate special features. The result is a superbly produced and entertaining historical documentary that is confidently and enthusiastically recommended for inclusion in both school and community library DVD collections.


The Comix/Gaphic Novel Shelf

Beowulf
Neil Gaiman, Roger Avary, Chris Ryhall
IDW Publishing
9781600101281, $17.99 www.idwpublishing.com

Adapted from the film screenplay of Neil Gaiman and Roger Avary, "Beowulf" is the graphic novel adaptation of the major action/adventure film released by Paramount Picture and is the story of how a legendary Scandinavian warrior of the sixth century sought out and fought the man killing monster Grendel, Grendel's horrific mother, and a gold hoarding dragon. A timeless tale of honor, loyalty, love, and betrayal, "Beowulf" is a true classic that is perfectly adapted to the graphic novel format by writer Chis Ryalo, artist Gabriel Rodriguez, and a team of support that includes colorist Jay Folos, letterer Robbie Robbins, editor Justin Eisinger, and book designer Neil Uyetake. Flawless production values and an inherently gripping story combine to make "Beowulf" an enthusiastic recommendation for personal and community library Graphic Novel collections.

Dream Of The Rarebit Fiend: The Saturdays
Winsor McCay
Checker Book Publishing Group
2044-A South Alex Road, West Carrollton, OH 45449
9781933160658, $19.95 www.checkerbpg.com

Winsor McCay began his career as a professional artist and illustrator in the late 1800s. In 1904 he created what became a landmark newspaper comic strip series called 'Dream of the Rarebit Fiend' which ran until 1911 and was based on a one knock joke about consuming a mildly hallucinogenic food popularly called 'Welsh Rarebit'. McCay was among the first to explore visual sequential art and his gifted originality gained him legions of readers and fans. The strip soon split into two distinct formats: The Dailies (which appeared nearly every Tuesday and Thursday in the New York Evening Telegram) and The Saturday (which expanded to take up roughly twice the Daily square inches which constituted almost all of the newspaper page above the fold). This expanded space in the Saturday strip permitted McCay to become even more vivid and detailed in his visual storytelling. Now photomechanically reproduced from original sources, the Checker Book Publishing Group has brought out under one cover the majority of those Saturday strips featuring 98% of their original format in "Renewing The Countryside: Wisconsin". Readers for whom this very highly recommended collection will be their first exposure to McCay's legendary newspaper comic strip, will also be interested in reading the Daily strips collected in the Checker series "Winsor McCay: The Early Works" (along with other material from the period). For a complete listing of all the early twentieth century newspaper comic strips offered by the Check Book Publishing Group, readers and librarians should visit their website at www.checkerbpg.com


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Bird Care
Diane Morgan
T.F.H. Publications
1 TFH Plaza, 3rd & Union Avenue, Neptune City, NJ 07753
0793810329, $4.95 www.tfh.com 1-800-631-2188

From canaries to parakeets to parrots, Diane Morgan's "Bird Care" offers quick and easy, step-by-step instructions in the selection, care, feeding, and training of birds. The informed and informative text is enhanced with the inclusion of 'quick-tip' boxes and full-color photography throughout. Of special note is the practical advice about keeping the birds well groomed and healthy while living a long and happy life. The addition of a list of resources and an index, make "Bird Care" a particularly 'user friendly', comprehensive, inexpensive instruction guide -- and ideal for novice bird owners and community library Pets & Wildlife reference collections.


The Architecture Shelf

Designing The Good Life
Norman M. Giller & Sarah Giller Nelson
University Press of Florida
University of Florida
15 Northwest 15th Street, Gainesville, FL 32611-2079
9780813030715, $39.95 www.upf.com 1-800-226-3822

It is Norman M. Giller's vision that fundamentally influenced Floridian architecture during the decades that followed the end of World War II. His perspective came to be known as 'Miami Modernism' or 'MiMo' for short. Now in collaboration with Sarah Giller Nelson, Norman Giller has written a personal account of the architectural movement associated with himself and with Florida in "Designing the Good Life: Norman M. Giller & The Development Of Miami Modernism", a 176-page, nicely illustrated (76 color photos, 80 black-and-white photos), informed and informative story that will be read with interest by architectural students and professionals, as well as non-specialist general readers with an interest in Florida's architectural history and development. Enhanced with an appendix and an index, "Designing The Good Life" is an important and seminal addition to academic library American Architectural History reference collections.


The American History Shelf

Boss-Busters & Sin Hounds
Harry Haskell
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Boulevard, Columbia, MO 65201
9780826217691, $34.95 www.umsystem.edu/upress 1-800-828-1894

As the grandson of Henry J. Haskell and as a former music critic for the 'Kansas City Star', author and editor Harry Haskell brings a very special expertise to "Boss-Busters & Sin Hounds: Kansas City And Its Star", his history of the rise and decline of the crusading, trust-busting American newspaper, the 'Kansas City Star'. Readers will appreciate how Haskell is able to open up a window in time to present the inner workings of a great newspaper, and traces its influence and leadership of the progressive moment from its beginnings in the 1880s through to the 1950s. Haskell uses as his templates three particular men who were at the core of the life and times of the 'Kansas City Star': William Rockhill Nelson, Henry J. Haskell, and Roy A. Roberts. "Boss-Busters & Sin Hounds" is a seminal contribution and recommended reading for scholars and students of Journalism, as well as non-specialist general readers with an interest in American journalism in general, and the history of the 'Kansas City Star' in particular.

Texas Dance Halls
Gail Folkins
Texas Tech University Press
PO Box 41037, Lubbock, TX 79409-1037
9780896726031, $34.95 www.ttup.ttu.edu 1-800-832-4042

Texas Dance Halls: A Two Step Circuit is an amazing history and showcase of the cultural legacy of Texas dance floors. Black-and-white photography throughout illustrates the motion and life that fills these gathering places, while the text traces the history, construction, and high events of the halls, as well as what goes into making Texas music and much more. A wonderful addition to American culture and Texas history collections.

Boomburbs
Robert E. Lang & Jennifer B. LeFurgy
Brookings Institution Press
1775 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20036-2188
9780815751144, $26.95 www.brookings.edu 1-800-275-1447

Co-director of the Metropolitan Institute Robert E. Lang and former deputy director of the Metropolitan Institute at Virginia Tech Jennifer B. LeFurgy present Boomburbs: The Rise of America's Accidental Cities, the amazing true story of how America's suburbs have swelled to sudden big-city size, transforming the face of the nation. Dubbed "accidental cities", not because they lack planning, but because they are composed of communities that have grown into one another even though few anticipated as much happening, these boomburbs lack the large downtown areas of other cities, and aren't as pedestrian-friendly as most other suburbs. Nor are they necessarily rich or elitist; poverty is all too common in boomburb single-home families. A meticulously researched and study written in terms accessible to lay readers and scholars alike.


The Civil War Shelf

George Thomas: Virginian for the Union
Christopher J. Einolf
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806138671, $29.95 www.oupress.com 1-800-627-7377

Volume 13 of the "Campaigns and Commanders" series, George Thomas: Virginian for the Union is the in-depth biography of one of the Union's most prominent and successful generals, who was at one time considered for overall command of the Union Army. Remembered today as the "Rock of Chickamauga", George H. Thomas was a slaveholding Southerner who chose to fight for the North, and his experience with the heroism of black soldiers on the battlefield forever changed his view of African-Americans, transforming him into a defender of civil rights. While George Thomas: Virginian for the Union makes a solid case for Thomas' integrity and competence, neither are Thomas' flaws and ill decisions neglected. Notes, a bibliography, and an index enhance this evenhanded appraisal of a truly remarkable commander.


The Psychology Shelf

Adult Development and Aging
Bert Hayslip Jr., Paul E. Panek, & Julie Hicks Patrick
Krieger Publishing Company
PO Box 9542, Melbourne, FL 32902-9542
9781575242453, $44.50 www.krieger-publishing.com 1-800-724-0025

Now in an updated and expanded fourth edition, Adult Development and Aging by the team of Expert psychologists Bert Hayslip Jr., Paul E. Panek, and Julie Hicks Patrick, is an academic examination of the psychological development of adults of all pages. Presenting its findings grouped through topicality rather than chronology, Adult Development and Aging covers socialization and interpersonal relationships, occupational selection and work, mental health and psychopathology, intervention and therapy, death and dying, and much more. An extensive bibliography, glossary and index round out this excellent educational text, ideal for students and professionals in the field.

Contingency Management in Substance Abuse Treatment
Stephen T. Higgins, Kenneth Silverman, and Sarah H. Heil
Guilford Publications, Inc.
72 Spring Street, New York, NY 10012
9781593855710, $45.00 www.guilford.com 1-800-365-7006

Edited by psychiatry professors Stephen T. Higgins, Kenneth Silverman, and Sarah H. Heil, Contingency Management in Substance Abuse Treatment is an anthology of essays by learned contributors concerning the contingency management (CM) approach to substance abuse treatment. CM applies a system of incentives and disincentives to help people meet their goals on the road to recovery; a simple yet practical and strongly needed precept especially when the natural benefits of stopping drug use are slow to materialize while the harsh consequences of stopping use (especially withdrawal symptoms) manifest immediately. The essays are organized around a core, comprehensive theme. Issues in treating addiction to different substances (cocaine, opioids, marijuana, tobacco, & alcohol) are covered, as are the unique challenges involved in treating the homeless, pregnant and postpartum women, people with mental illness, and adolescents. The final section discusses a more varied range of issues, such as "Lowering Costs in Drug Abuse Treatment Clinics", "Employment-Based Reinforcement in the Treatment of Drug Addiction", and "Contingency Management in Adult Criminal Drug Courts", and more. Above all, Contingency Management in Substance Abuse Treatment explores how CM can be and is used with an astonishing degree of success, scrutinizing lessons learned from practical implication in community treatment clinics and offering suggestions for maximizing resources and foster positive innovations. Enthusiastically recommended reading for students, educators, and professionals in the field of substance abuse treatment.

Coercion as Cure
Thomas Szasz
Transaction Publishers
Rutgers University, 35 Berrue Circle, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8042
9780765803795, $34.95 www.transactionpub.com 1-888-999-6778

Thomas Szasz (Professor of Psychiatry emeritus, State University of New York) presents Coercion as Cure: A Critical History of Psychiatry, a stinging indictment that dares to question conventional beliefs, and deconstructs modern psychiatry itself, arguing that it has no right to be dubbed a medical science. Coercion as Cure takes its title from Szasz's observation that the defining features of psychiatry is its use of force - though sometimes psychiatrists deal with voluntary patients, all too often psychiatrists "diagnose" and "treat" people without their consent or against their clearly expressed wishes. "The psychiatrist's basic social mandate is the coercive-paternalistic protection of the mental patient from himself and the public from the mental patient. Yet, in the professional literature as well as the popular media, this is the least noted feature of psychiatry as a medical specialty... It would be difficult to exaggerate the extent to which historians of psychiatry as well as mental health professionals and journalists ignore, deny, and rationalize the involuntary, coerced, forcibly imposed nature of psychiatric treatments." A harshly critical assessment of the modern psychiatric medical system.

Addressing Cultural Complexities in Practice
Pamela A. Hays, Ph.D.
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242
9781433802195, $59.95 www.apa.org/books 1-800-368-5777

Now in a fully updated and expanded second edition, Addressing Cultural Complexities in Practice: Assessment, Diagnosis, and Therapy is a guide for clinicians, counselors, and psychologists to taking into account issues what author Pamela A. Hays, Ph.D. refers to as the "ADDRESSING" framework - Age, Developmental and acquired Disabilities, Religion, Ethnicity, Socioeconomic status, Sexual orientation, Indigenous heritage, Native origin, and Gender. All these factors can have an important influence on how best to interact with and aid a patient. Addressing Cultural Complexities in Practice offers an overall framework that can be used with a person of any cultural identity, now in an updated second edition with new sections on cross-cultural assessment of trauma, psychotherapy with people living in poverty, and ethical boundaries and complex relationships in rural and minority communities. Organized in accordance with the flow of clinical work rather than a one-chapter-per-group style, and featuring "key ideas" summaries at the close of each chapter to facilitate educational use and self-study, Addressing Cultural Complexities in Practice is a "must-have" for any practicing or aspiring therapist in today's increasingly diverse America.


The World History Shelf

Heresy and the English Reformation
Georgi Vasilev
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
9780786430055, $45.00 www.mcfarlandpub.com 1-800-253-2187

Written by Georgi Vasilev (senior research fellow at the State Agency for Bulgarians Abroad), Heresy and the English Reformation: Bogomil-Cathar Influence on Wycliffe, Langland, Tyndale and Milton is a fascinating exploration of the dualist religious movement that evolved as a culture of the masses from the 12th to 17th centuries. Medieval Europe fostered a wealth of revolt against religious dogma, to the dismay of established churches; the Cathar's beliefs in particular left the Roman Catholic church so aghast it condemned them as heretical. Chapters discuss the remnants of the Bogomil movement in the English Language (including the linguistic history of the word "bugger"), the heresy's views of women, John Wycliffe and the Dualists, Bogomil-Cathar imagery and theology in "The Vision of Piers Plowman", the spiritual kinship between "Paradise Lost" and the secret book of the Bogomils, and more. Exhaustive notes, a bibliography and index complement this thoughtful examination of the interconnection between medieval religious counterculture and classic literature.


The Literary Shelf

The Author-Cat
Forrest G. Robinson
Fordham University Press
2546 Belmont Avenue, University Box L, Bronx, NY 10458-5172
9780823227877, $45.00 www.fordhampress.com 1-800-247-6553

Forrest G. Robinson (Professor of American Studies, University of California) presents The Author-Cat: Clemens's Life in Fiction, a bold claim that renowned American author Samuel Clemens a.k.a. Mark Twain reveals himself most fully, if at times inadvertently, through his fiction writing. Even though Clemens left behind a wealth of autobiographical dictations at the close of his life, The Author-Cat reveals the Clemens' most powerful emotions permeated his writing, most notably his guilt; he could not forgive himself for the deaths of those closest to him, including his siblings and his own children, his role in the Civil War, his involvement in the duel that caused him to leave Virginia City in 1864, and his sense of moral complicity in the crime of slavery. A revealing insight into Clemens' personal torments, which dares to challenge conventional assumptions on the celebrated humorist's personality, The Author-Cat (named after Clemens' own confession that he is like the cat who labors vainly to bury the waste he has left behind) is enthusiastically recommended for lay readers and literary scholars alike seeking to better understand Samuel Clemens and his works.

Mark Twain and Human Nature
Tom Quirk
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Boulevard, Columbia, MO 65201
9780826217585, $39.95 www.umsystem.edu/upress 1-800-828-1894

Tom Quirk (Professor of English, University of Missouri-Columbia) presents Mark Twain and Human Nature, a study of the famous American author that intertwines his life story with his writings to reveal how his understanding of human nature grew and evolved. Twain's great classics and minor works are all taken into consideration; the discourse is organized chronologically, from 1852 to 1910. "The point of view Twain chose for his novel in progress was not simply a matter of stylistic innovation but also a position from which to regard and to unself-consciously assess existing institutions and cultural influences. Huck's ignorance is often the reader's insight. If Huck has not been inoculated against each and every one of the contaminating influences of civilized life, he has kept clear of the more virulent forms of the viruses that perpetuate themselves from one generation to the next." Highly recommended for serious enthusiasts and scholars of Mark Twain's literary classics.


The Poetry Shelf

Japanese Women Poets
Hiroaki Sato, translator
M.E. Sharpe, Inc.
80 Business Park Drive, Armonk, NY 10504
9780765617842, $34.95 www.mesharpe.com 1-800-541-6563

Translated with an introduction by award-winning translator Hiroaki Sato, Japanese Women Poets is an anthology of Japanese women's poetry from the earliest folk songs to the 7th century up through the close of World War II. The translations include extensive notes that explain subtle references, such as "knowing what fine feelings are" as an allusion to a tale in which having children is equated with the development of fine feelings such as compassion. A handful of black-and-white illustrations grace this "must-have" addition to international poetry shelves. Highly recommended.


The Art Shelf

Roger Brown: Southern Exposure
Sidney Lawrence
University of Alabama Press
PO Box 870380, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0380
9780817354695, $25.00 www.uapress.ua.edu 1-800-621-2736

Southern Exposure is a dazzling, full-color visual showcase of the unforgettable art of Roger Brown. Sidney Lawrence a brief biography of Brown shedding insight on how he formed his visual style, and Lee Gray contributes a foreword while Lisa Stone offers an afterword, but the highest appeal lies in the stunning color photographs of Brown's art. Many of the works are three-dimensional sculptures that almost leap off the page. Brown is unafraid of tackling serious topics in his works, such as the twin towers that were destroyed in the September 11th attacks. His style is simplistic yet bold, creating images that burn themselves into the consciousness. Highly recommended for artbook collections.


The Self-Help Shelf

The Thinking Man's Guide to Success With Women
Tony Rome
Seven Locks Press
3100 West Warner Avenue, Suite 8, Santa Ana, CA 92704
9780970703729, $14.95 www.sevenlockspublishing.com 1-800-354-5348

The Thinking Man's Guide to Success with Women: Proven Tips to Help You Approach, Meet, & Seduce Any Woman, Anywhere, Anytime! is a surprisingly practical guide for men to meeting and dating women. Chapters cover everything from basics in appearance and presentation (good grooming is critically important, and one should never look away first when engaged in eye contact with a desirable and interested women) to which women to avoid (two women together are unlikely to yield results, since no woman wants to be left behind while her friend goes off with a man), and even so-called "props" one can use. "Your t-shirt with 'Amateur Gynecologist' on the front may attract the right type of attention at a dive bar frequented by 21-year-olds, but it won't be acceptable at an upscale nightclub. Along the same lines, it probably wouldn't be wise to take your infant nephew along with you as a prop if you plan on going out drinking. Instead of having girls approach you, they'll call the cops on you. So, choose your props appropriately depending on your circumstances." Though somewhat geared toward men looking for Ms. Right Now rather than Ms. Right, The Thinking Man's Guide to Success with Women is packed cover to cover with solid pointers for getting along with women and is just as strongly recommended for men in search of a lifetime female partner - and even for women who want to be more aware of the techniques skilled pickup artists use! Highly recommended.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

William & Rosalie
William Schiff, Rosalie Schiff, Craig Hanley
University of North Texas Press
PO Box 311336, Denton, TX 76203-1336
9781574412376, $19.95 www.tamu.edu/upress 1-800-826-8911

"William & Rosalie: A Holocaust Testimony" is the personal story of William and Rosalie Schiff who were a young couple struggling to stay alive during the Nazi holocaust in which German antisemitism motivated the torture and murder of their families, friends, and neighbors. Now both in their eighties and living in Dallas, Texas, their story is effectively and accurately narrated by Craig Hanley is a seminal biography detailing their experiences, the loss of their families, their years of torture at the hands of their Nazi captors, and their struggle to find each other after the war ended. This is a riveting, harrowing, dramatic, true story, the stuff of which block buster movies and television mini-series are made from. "William & Rosalie" is a welcome and informative addition to the growing body of Holocaust literature, made even more valuable as the survivors of that generation are now dying off and the attempts by neo-fascist, neo-Nazi, and Islamic anti-Semites at denying the Holocaust are continuing unabated. Enhanced with family photographs, a 'Key to Inter-Chapter Photos', and a selected bibliography of suggested further readings, "Williams & Rosalie" is particularly distinguished by an underlying message warning of the dangers of prejudice and ethnic hatred. Now academic or community library should fail to include a copy of "William & Rosalie" in the Judaic Studies or Holocaust Studies reference collections.

The Jewish Songbook
Velvel Pasternak
Tara Publications
29 Derby Avenue, Cedarhurst, NY 11516
0933676395, $29.95 www.jewishmusic.com 1-800-827-2400

One of the distinctive features of Judaic culture is its music. Expertly compiled, edited, and arranged by Velvel Pasternak, "The Jewish Songbook" is a 255-page compendium of music complete with scores and lyrics. The songs themselves are organized into sections: Songs of Israel; Songs in Yiddish; Sephardic & Oriental; Songs in English; Sabbath & Holidays; Chassidic & Liturgical. Each individual selection has a brief descriptive meaning of the words in the featured Hebrew or Yiddish songs is provided in English. Enhanced with the inclusion of a selected bibliography, an index of the first lines, a selected discography, and an alphabetical index, "The Jewish Songbook" is a veritable showcase of the rich cultural legacies, traditions, and beauty of Jewish vocal music and a seminal, enthusiastically recommended contribution to personal, professional, academic, community, and synagogue library collections.

Three Times Chai
Laney Katz Becker
Behrman House Inc.
11 Edison Place, Springfield, NJ 07081
9780874418101, $22.00 www.behrmanhouse.com 1-800-221-2755

Three Times Chai: 54 Rabbis Tell Their Favorite Stories offers fifty-four stories in the Jewish storytelling tradition, each narrated by a different rabbi. A sidebar explains why the rabbi who presents the tale is so fond of it. Ideal for inspiring congregations, reading aloud to class, sharing with one's children, or inspiring readers of all backgrounds, Three Times Chai is a resource sure to please. Highly recommended.

Celebrating the Jewish Year
Paul Steinberg, author
Janet Greenstein Potter, editor
Jewish Publication Society
2100 Arch Street, 2nd floor, Philadelphia PA 19103-1399
9780827608429, $22.00 www.jewishpub.org 1-800-234-3151

Celebrating the Jewish Year: The Fall Holidays tells the story behind three fall holidays celebrated in the Jewish tradition: Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot. Written in plain terms and accessible to readers of all backgrounds, chapters cover the origins of these holidays, modern perspectives upon their significance, interpretations of sacred texts, alternative meditations, and much more. Endnotes, a glossary, and an index round out this superb introduction especially recommended for anyone seeking to enrich their personal understanding before attending a Jewish holiday celebration.


The Education Shelf

Children Tell Stories
Martha Hamilton & Mitch Weiss
Richard C. Owen Publishers, Inc.
PO Box 585, Katonah, New York 10536
9781572746633, $29.95

Now in a new second edition, Children Tell Stories: Teaching and Using Storytelling in the Classroom is the award-winning creation of Martha Hamilton and Mitch Weiss, who have been telling stories as "Beauty and the Beast Storytellers" for twenty-five years (and they never say who is the beauty and who is the beast). Chapters reveal the educational benefits of storytelling, how to get started with storytelling in the classroom, helping students choose stories to tell, assessing student storytellers, and much more. An accompanying DVD of helpful videos, web links, and stories to print out enhances this wonderful resource especially for educators, but also useful to home schoolers and child care providers.

The Principal's Purpose
Leanna Stohr Isaacson
Eye On Education
6 Depot Way West, Larchmont, NY 10538
9781596670488, $34.95 www.eyeoneducation.com 1-888-299-5350

The Principal's Purpose: A Practical Guide to Moral and Ethical School Leadership is a helpful guide packed cover to cover with "survival tips" for school leaders, especially when confronted with ethical and moral dilemmas common to their field. Question-and-Answer sections, "Key Words", "Key Questions" and more aid the professional in committing the wisdom within The Principal's Purpose to memory. "Put time and money into staff development decisions. Faculty members do not have the energy to consistently work on staff development after school. Time to think together and plan together within the school day becomes the most valuable support a leader provides." Highly recommended.

Environments for Outdoor Play
Theresa Casey
Sage Publications
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320-2218
9781412929370, $27.95 www.sagepub.com 1-800-818-7243

Environments for Outdoor Play: A Practical Guide to Making Space for Children is a a how-to guide written for anyone responsible for children's outdoor play settings at schools or child care institutions. Recommending solid ideas for developing play environments that meet children's needs, chapters discuss frameworks for designing play environments, case studies offering examples of how play environments can be developed, ideas and activities, research evidence pointing toward the importance of good play environments, and more. Black-and-white illustrations add a visual touch to this handy resource, indexed for quick reference.

Break The Bully Cycle
SiriNam S. Khalsa, NBCT
Good Year Books
PO Box 91858, Tucson, AZ 85752-1858
9781596471191, $19.95 www.goodyearbooks.com 1-888-511-1530

The problem of bullying in public schools is endemic and universal. If left unchecked and undealt with, the consequences can become catastrophic -- even lethal to students, teachers, and staff. "Break The Bully Cycle: Intervention Techniques & Activities To Create A Respectful School Community" by SiriNam S. Khalsa (a dedicated teacher with more than twenty years of experience in working with a diverse population of children) is a compilation of the tools a teacher will need to recognize and deal with bullying behavior in the classroom, on playground, or anywhere else at school. "Beyond The Bully Cycles' shows how to create a secure and safe school for all students, offers insight into why some students become violent, how to become aware of the early warning signs associated with bullies, and useful strategies for dealing with potentially violent students. Very highly recommended reading for all educators, "Break The Bully Cycle" will enable teachers and school staff members to help not only the victims of bullies, but the bullies themselves.


The Music Shelf

Santorella Publications, Ltd.
13 Pleasant Avenue, Danvers, MA 01923
www.santorellapublication.com 1-877-600-0049

Expertly arranged by Denise A. Gendron, 'Traditional Christmas Duets For Brass And Reeds' is a six volume series of timeless songs and carols that have been a basic part of traditional Christmas celebratory occasions. Deftly articulated in rich arrangements written in accommodating keys, each volume in this outstanding series will enable even the most novice musician to perform the pieces either as a solo act, in a duet, or as part of a group performance. "Traditional Christmas Duets For Brass And Reeds: For Clarinet" (TS380, $14.95); "Traditional Christmas Duets For Brass And Reeds: For Trumpet" (TS381, $14.95); "Traditional Christmas Duets For Brass And Reeds: For Flute" (TS382, $14.95); "Traditional Christmas Duets For Brass And Reeds: For Alto Sax" (TS383, $14.95); "Traditional Christmas Duets For Brass And Reeds For Trombone" (TS384, $14.95) all come with an accompanying CD expertly recorded by Craig Stevens. The sixth volume, ""Traditional Christmas Duets For Brass And Reeds: Piano Accompaniment For Brass and Reed" (TS385, $14.95) does not. Ideal for the student musician, and qualifying for use by seasoned professionals, the 'Traditional Christmas Duets For Brass And Reeds' series from Santorella Publications is enthusiastically recommended.


The Gardening Shelf

Native Plants For Prairie Gardens
June Flanagan
Fitzhenry & Whiteside
311 Washington Street, Brighton, MA 02135-3303
1894856139, $21.00 www.fitzhenry.ca 1-800-387-9776

Native prairie plants are plants that originated naturally on the prairies of Canada and the United States. Gardeners, landscapers, and horticulturalists have come to appreciate the benefits of these plants in creating beautiful, environmentally friendly, disease resistant, low maintenance gardens in America's Upper Midwest regions and throughout the Canadian provinces. An important volume in the impressive 'Fifth House Gardening on the Level' series from the Fitzhenry & Whiteside Company, "Native Plants For Prairie Gardens" by gardening and horticultural expert June Flanagan provides the aspiring gardener with practical advice on landscaping with native prairie plants; valuable tips on acquiring, growing, and propagating native prairie plants; beautifully illustrated descriptions of native prairie wild flowers, grasses, trees, and shrubs; and a native prairie plant bloom chart. Enhanced with the inclusion of lists of seed and plant sources, native plant organizations, and even public gardens featuring or specializing in native prairie plants, "Native Plants For Prairie Gardens" is the ideal introduction and instruction manual for beginning gardens and should be a part of every personal, professional, academic, and community library Gardening Guides & Studies reference collections.

The Walled Garden
Leslie Geddes-Brown
Merrell Publishers Limited
740 Broadway, Suite 1202, New York, NY 10003
9781858943633, $49.95 www.merrellpublishers.com 1-212-529-2270

Walled gardens have been around from the very beginnings of human horticulture in just about every recorded civilization that we have an archaeological record. They continue to be popular among landscapers and family gardeners today as new advances in gardening continue the evolution of walled garden designs. Contemporary walled garden designs incorporate such materials as willow branches, wooden plans and panels, stone and brick work, as well as glass and metals that are rendered and painted in brilliant colors. In "The Walled Garden", horticultural expert and author Leslie Geddes-Brown (who is acknowledged as one of Britain's leading writers and authorities on gardening and interior design) has compiled a showcase of thirty-five historical and contemporary walled gardens around the world. After a succinct historical overview of walled gardens, "The Walled Garden" is divided into a range of thematically appropriate subjects including formal walled gardens, walled vegetable gardens, walled herb gardens, walled flower gardens, and walled gardens by famous designers. Each chapter and section is superbly illustrated with a collective total of 250 full color images. Enhanced with an international directory of plants suitable for walled gardens, contact and website details of all the featured gardens open to the public, as well as the living garden designers featured, "The Walled Garden" is enthusiastically recommended to the attention of professional and amateur gardeners, landscape and garden designers, as well as academic horticultural reference shelves and community library gardening collections.


The Cookbook Shelf

The All-Natural Diabetes Cookbook
Jackie Newgent
American Diabetes Association
1701 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311
9781580402750, $18.95 www.diabetes.org 1-800-342-2383

Compiled by nutrition expert Jackie Newgent (a regular contributor to 'Weight Watchers Magazine', a chef instructor at the Institute of Culinary Education, and former American Dietetic Association National media spokesperson), "The All-Natural Diabetes Cookbook: The Whole food Approach To Great Tastes And Healthy Eating" features more than 150 dishes, the recipes for which avoid any artificial elements or ingredients. This impressive and thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' compendium of recipes are specifically designed for people with diabetes and ranges from Homemade Granola-Raspberry Parfaits; Scallion Yogurt Cheese; Mesclun Salad with Bosc pears, Pecans, and Blue Cheese; and Sweet Potato Burrito Spirals with Bell Pepper-Avocado 'Creme' Sauce; to Lemony Stuffed Grape Leaves; Creole-Style Red Beans and Rice; Honey Hot Cocoa Au Lait; and Mini Vanilli Cupcakes with Cherries on Top. Enhanced with facts, tips, and ideas to give good food a great flair, "The All-Natural Diabetes Cookbook" is a 'must' for diabetics wanting gourmet quality cuisine that they can prepare and consume with safety and gusto.

The Low-Cholesterol Cookbook
Angelika Ilies, Doris Muliar, Edita Pospisil
Key Porter Books
Six AdelaideStreet East, 10th floor, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5C 1H6
Publishers Group West (distributor)
1700 Fourth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
1552637093, $29.95 www.keyporter.com 1-800-788-3123 www.pgw.com

The collaborative work of food writers Angelika Ilies, Edita Pospisil, and Doris Muliar, "The Low-Cholesterol Cookbook" showcases more than 170 recipes that are as nutritionally balanced and 'heart healthy' as they are delicious and kitchen cook friendly to prepare. Ranging from Cottage Cheese with Peppers and Curry; Perch with Puy Lentils and Vegetables; Chicken Cutlets with Mango Chutney; and Thai Curry with Toasted Pistachios; to Bulgur Salad with Turkey; Fish Fillets with Pineapple and Zucchini; Spiced Potato Bread with Red Pepper, Red Onion, and Leek; Coconut Bundt Cake, each featured and beautifully illustrated recipe is provided with a sidebar providing information on Fat, Cholesterol, fiber, and estimated preparation time. "The Low-Cholesterol Cookbook" is enthusiastically recommended for its gourmet quality low-fat cuisine and would make a popular addition to any personal, family, or community library cookbook collection.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Modern Hooked Rugs
Linda Rae Coughlin
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764326318, $29.95 www.schifferbooks.com

In "Modern Hooked Rugs", needlecraft historian and expert Linda Rae Coughlin has created a compendium of 540 rugs crafted by 292 of the very best contemporary rug hooking artists. A veritable treasury of beautiful images, here featured are rugs made by a group of needlecraft artisans exploring common themes, as well as series or topic-related rugs by individual artists. Some of the rugs showcased are from The American Folk Art Museum's 'Icons of America' contest, others are rugs from noted and notable rug hooking needlecrafters right along side rug hooking fiber artists making their debut. Each photo example comes with a succinct and informative caption making "Modern Hooked Rugs" a compelling addition for personal, professional, academic, and community library Needlecraft collections in general, and Hooked Rug reference lists in particular.


The Model Railroading Shelf

Lionel Trains
Turner Publishing Company
200 - 4th Avenue North, Suite 950, Nashville, TN 37219
1563119587, $69.95 www.turnerpublishing.com

A production of the combined efforts of the Turner Publishing Company staff under the editorship of Randy Baumgardner and designer Frene Melton, "Lionel Trains: A Pictorial History of Trains And Their Collectors" is a magnificently illustrated history of America's most popular manufacturer of model trains and model train accessories. A unique compendium of illustrations and information, "Lionel Trains" begins with an informed and informative introduction, the goes on the feature a 'Lionel Timeline', an extended interview with Richard Kughn, and succinct profiles of an extensive roster of Lionel Train collectors. A throughly user friendly index completes this seminal and visually impressive reference which is most especially recommended to the attention of the legions of model railroading enthusiasts in general, and Lionel Train collectors in particular.

Planning Scenery For Your Model Railroad
Tony Koester
Kalmbach Publishing Company
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53186
9780890246573, $21.95 www.kalmbachbooks.com 1-800-533-6644

In "Planning Scenery For Your Model Railroad" model railroading enthusiasts draws upon his considerable and impressive expertise to demonstrate how even the most novice model railroader can recreate the scenery they see in real life to modeling more natural appearing lakes, rocks, trees, clouds, and other scenery elements for the model railroad track layouts. Profusely illustrated with more than 240 illustrations and photos, "Planning Scenery For Your Model Railroad" details just how to create signature scenes through re-creating scenic elements, including making models of still and rushing water, identify and model different types of rock, model the seasons, paint realistic backdrops, build realistic trees, effectively model snow, and even how to use topographic maps to plan railroad routes. Thoroughly 'user friendly', "Planning Scenery For Your Model Railroad" is a very highly recommended addition to dedicated railroading instructional reference collections.


The Gaming Shelf

Practical Endgame Play - Beyond The Basics
Glenn Flear
Everyman Chess
c/o The Globe Pequot Press
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
9781857445558, $32.95 www.everymanchess.com 1-800-243-0495

Living up to its subtitle, 'The definitive guide to the endgames that really matter', "Practical Endgame Play - Beyond The Basics" by English Grandmaster Glenn Flear" is a 544-page compendium dedicated solely to endgame plays in chess. Included are the most commonly encountered endgames; illustrative examinations of material balances found in roughly half of the endgames played; and sound advice, practical analysis, and endgame insights assisted by currently available computer software. Mastering the intricacies of the endgame is a fundamental chess skill. Without it, players are doomed to frustration and failure. With it, players can achieve the very heights of success. "Practical Endgame Play - Beyond The Basics" is a seminal and strongly recommended addition to personal, professional, and community library chess reference book collections.


The Military Shelf

Stalingrad: How the Red Army Survived the German Onslaught
Michael K. Jones
Casemate
1016 Warrior Road, Suite C, Drexel Hill, PA 19026
9781932033724, $32.95 www.casematepublishing.com 1-610-853-9131

Former university lecturer and battlefield tour guide Michael K. Jones presents Stalingrad: How the Red Army Survived the German Onslaught, a compelling military history and analysis that lives up to its title. Based heavily upon Jones' extensive interviews with Russian veterans, Stalingrad especially emphasizes the role of psychology - including leadership, morale, and motivation - in turning the tide of war. Of especial interest is the testimony of former deputy commander of the Warsaw Pact, Colonel-General Anatoly Mereshko, who was staff officer to the 62nd Army's commander Chuikov and one of the principal surviving witnesses to historical events. Stalingrad reveals how desperate the defenders truly were, especially when the Germans broke into the city in 1942, painting the city's defense as more than solid tactics, but also a triumph of resolute human spirit. A "further reading" list and an index round out this one-of-a-kind testimony grounded in the words of the people who witnessed history itself.

Military Reform
Winslow T. Wheeler and Lawrence J. Korb
Praeger Security International
c/o Greenwood Publishing Group
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
9780275993498, $55.00 www.praeger.com

Authors Lawrence J. Korb (Senior Adviser to the Center for Defense Information) and Winslow T. Wheeler (worked on national security issues for 31 years for members of the U.S. Senate) combine their expertise in Military Reform: A Reference Handbook, a straightforward guide to understanding fundamental strengths and weaknesses in America's military forces, and therefore understanding what genuine military reform is, what it is not, and what needs to be done. Denouncing so-called "cosmetic dabbling", which essentially improves nothing, Military Reform examines the history of various efforts to improve the American armed forces, from the actions of the Continental Congress during the American Revolution to the modern day. Each advocated reform is examined, and its relative degree of success analyzed; Operations Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom, as well as the subsequent insurgency in Iraq, are scrutinized to reveal what has successfully been reformed in the U.S. armed forces and what has not. A serious-minded, number-crunching, cost-conscious analysis heavily grounded in scientific-minded observation and practical experience, highly recommended for military history and studies shelves, and a "must-read" for anyone involved in overseeing military operations or structure.

Inferno
Joseph A. Springer
Zenith Books
c/o MBI Publishing Company
Galtier Plaza, Suite 200, 380 Jackson Street, St. Paul, MN 55101-3885
9780760329825, $24.95 www.mbipublishing.com 1-800-458-0454

Retired Aircraft Weapons Specialist of the United States Air Force Joseph A. Springer presents Inferno: The Epic Life and Death Struggle of the USS Franklin in World War II, the true story of the aircraft carrier USS Franklin (CV-13), known throughout the fleet as "Big Ben". One of twenty-four Essex-class fast carriers built during World War II and formed the backbone of the U.S. Navy during the war against Japan, Big Ben participated in island campaigns of the central and western Pacific, the Battle for Leyte Gulf in the Philippines, and strikes against Honshu and Kobe Harbor. Big Ben suffered casualties from the dreaded Japanese kamikaze, and was nearly sunk by a 250-kilogram bomb that set off a chain reaction of exploding aviation fuel and ordnance. Though Big Ben appeared mortally wounded and endured severe loss of life - a loss that would have been even greater if not for the heroism of the remaining crewmembers and the efforts of the USS Santa Fe to take the wounded to safety. A gripping true story of bravery and sacrifice, featuring the words of men who served aboard "Big Ben" as well as a handful of black-and-white photographs. A welcome addition to naval and World War II history shelves.


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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