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Wisconsin Bookwatch

Volume 4, Number 7 July 2009 Home | WBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Fiction Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Religion/Spirituality Shelf Judaic Studies Shelf Poetry Shelf
Health/Medicine Shelf Science Shelf Environmental Studies Shelf
Political Science Shelf Parenting Shelf Biography Shelf
Buddhist Studies Shelf Education Shelf Judicial Studies Shelf
Business Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Psychology Shelf Travel Shelf Anthropology Shelf
American History Shelf Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf Self-Help Shelf
Native American Shelf Hunting/Fishing Shelf Cookbook Shelf
Art Shelf Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf Humor Shelf
Architecture Shelf International Studies Shelf World History Shelf
Language Studies Shelf Gardening Shelf Nautical Shelf
Civil War Shelf    


Reviewer's Choice

A Handbook Of Bioethics Terms
James B. Tubbs Jr.
Georgetown University Press
3240 Prospect Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007
www.press.georgetown.edu
9781589012592, $14.95, www.amazon.com

Laid out in alphabetical order, "A Handbook Of Bioethics Terms" by James B. Tubbs Jr. (Professor of Ethics and Religion, Department of Religious Studies, University of Detroit Mercy) is a compendium of terminology definitions in a glossary-style format with more than 400 entries on significant terms expressions, titles, and court cases that have shaped bioethical standards to what we have today. Entries are cross-referenced and thoroughly authoritative. A highly recommended and 'user friendly' basic reference for personal, professional, academic, and community library collections, "A Handbook of Bioethics Terms" is especially recommended to the attention of students in health care ethics, practicing physicians and nurses, involved and conscientious members of institutional ethics committees and review boards, as well as non-specialist general readers with an interest in bioethics relevant issues.

The Obama Menu
TasteTV
TCB Cafe Publishing
PO Box 471706, San Francisco, CA 94147
www.cafeandre.com www.tastetv.com
9780979864070, $14.95, www.amazon.com

Perhaps the most unusual and unique books written about President Barack Obama, "The Obama Menu: Dining With Barack Obama" is a chronological compilation of dinner engagements he has had from 2001 through 2007. Laced throughout with culinary quotes from President Obama, "The Obama Menu" also includes occasional menus and recipes for dishes that were served him in people's homes, in restaurants, and in hotels. These dining occasions ranged from the simple to the elaborate. Here are anecdotal stories, black-and-white photos, and a unique perspective of what his life is like from a culinary point of view. An original and inherently fascinating read, "The Obama Menu" is highly recommended reading for anyone curious about the life of an American president in the making over these past few years.

The Words of Abraham Lincoln
Larry Shapiro
Newmarket Press
18 E. 48th Street, New York, NY 10017
9781557048301, $11.95, www.newmarketpress.com

Abraham Lincoln was known for his cool demeanor, dry wit, and wisdom. "The Words of Abraham Lincoln" presents the sixteenth president and his most noted writings ranging from his personal letters and notes to his family and friends, his political writings, and important civil war texts. Lincoln's writings ring true even today and "The Words of Abraham Lincoln" is a fine compilation of his work.

The Unexpected Caregiver
Kari Berit
Attainment Company Inc.
PO Box 930160, Verona, WI 53593-0160
1578616069, $19.00 www.AttainmentCompany.com 1-800-327-4269

Written by Kari Berit, author of the Active Seniors column for "Creative Forecasting" The Unexpected Caregiver: How Boomers Can Keep Mom & Dad Active, Safe and Independent lives up to its title, as it is packed cover to cover with invaluable information for any adult finding themselves in the role of caregiver to aging loved ones. Chapters address how to better communicate across the generational divide, the quest for spiritual direction, self-sustaining activities, the value of exercise, how pets factor into the equation, and much more. "Check their insurance coverage. Some carriers (including some Medicare supplementals, though not Medicare itself, at this writing) recognize the impact on insurance claims of staying active and healthy and will reimburse, in full or in part, for health-club memberships - provided they're used on a regular basis." With a firm emphasis on practical matters, The Unexpected Caregiver is a solid and compassionate resource, and a "must-have" for any baby boomer responsible for aging relatives.

Apollo: Through The Eyes Of The Astronauts
Robert Jacobs, et al.
Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
115 W. 18th St., 6th fl, New York, NY 10011
www.abramsbooks.com
9780810921467, $24.95, www.amazon.com

July 20, 2009 is the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11's landing on the moon. In celebration of that historic event that represented 'one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind', the NASA team of Robert Jacobs (Deputy Assistant Administrator for Public Affairs), Michael Cabbage (Director of the News Services Division), Constance Moore (Head Photo Researcher), and Bertram Ulrich (Curator and Multimedia Manager) have collaborated to produce "Apollo: Through The Eyes Of The Astronauts". Each of the twenty-one astronauts from the Apollo program have selected a favorite photograph from his space flight to be included in this memorial book. Enhanced with an informative foreword by Stephen and Lucy Hawking, "Apollo: Through The Eyes Of The Astronauts" tells the individual stories of the astronauts on the Apollo missions. Profusely illustrated throughout in perfect complement to an informed and informative text, "Apollo: Through The Eyes Of The Astronauts" is an especially recommended addition to personal, school, and community library American Space & Aeronautics history and reference collections.

The Book Shopper
Murray Browne
Paul Dry Books
1616 Walnut Street, Suite 808, Philadelphia, PA 19103
www.pauldrybooks.com
9781589880566, $14.95, www.amazon.com

The two icon places around which my life has revolved have been community libraries and local bookstores. They've served me as sanctuaries from the cares and concerns of the world at large as private oasis of browsing comfort and intellectual delight. Of special memory are all those used bookstores with their distinctive clutter, aromas, and colorful characters between the checkout counters. Within the pages of "The Book Shopper" I see that I've found a kindred spirit in Murray Browne, a fellow bibliophile and connoisseur of bookstores with their crowded shelves and eclectic collections. This compilation of book and bookstore related observations, anecdotal stories, fond memories, and sage commentaries is a true delight and recognizable for any and all dedicated fans of the written word who have spend hours at a time doing nothing but browsing the bookshelves in search of diverse literary treasures, forgotten tomes, timeless classics, time-lost discoveries, and fitting gifts for friends, families, and themselves. "The Book Shopper" is a terrific read and enthusiastically recommended for personal and community library collections.

Understanding Online Piracy
Nathan W. Fisk
Praeger Publishers
c/o ABC-CLIO
PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116
www.abc-clio.com
9780313354731, $39.95, www.amazon.com

Today the computer is a ubiquitous part of every child's life in America. Just with most other commonly accessible technologies from the automobile to the telephone, there are ample opportunities for technologies to be used, abused, and misused. That's why laws, ethics, and mores must keep up with technological innovations within the lives of our children. Case in point - computer file sharing. The sharing of information from one child to another through the means of the computer and the internet to which they are linked. In an earlier technology of audio tape cassettes, the unauthorized reproduction of music was made illegal to protect the lawful copyrights of those who originally produced the music. In a subsequent decade, the unauthorized reproduction of videos was similarly banned to protect the copyrights of those who produced movies, concerts, documentaries, etc. In today's world, that same kind of prohibition has been codified into law to protect the intellectual property rights of those who create the content that is recorded on computer files from being unethically and unlawfully distributed without the express consent of those who own that file content. Of necessity, every new generation must be educated as to what copyright protections of intellectual property is such a critical necessity. That is the underlying purpose of "Understanding Online Piracy: The Truth About Illegal File Sharing" by computer crime and cyber safety expert Nathan W. Fisk. This comprehensive and up-to-date text covers all aspects of computer file sharing ranging from the technology involved to the legal consequences of unauthorized use and abuse of those files. Not only file users themselves would benefit from a careful reading of "Understanding Online Piracy", but also parents, teachers, librarians, and computer file content providers as well. Of special note is the perspective Nathan Fish provides concerning the social, economic, and technological consequences of illegal file sharing. Simply stated, "Understanding Online Piracy" is critically important reading for anyone who is sending or receiving computer files, and should be readily available in the collections of every highschool, college, university, and community library in the country.

The Beginner's Guide To Preserving Food At Home, third edition
Janet Chadwick
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247
9781603421454, $14.95, www.storey.com

In today's economy, one of family budget items that is getting more and more expensive are the expenditures for food. Therefore, one of the best ways to economize for a family's food budget is something our grandparents and great-grandparents knew well -- the home canning of fruits and vegetables in season for later consumption. For all too many modern homemakers, home canning is a lost art. That's what makes this newly updated, revised, and expanded third edition of Janet Chadwick's classic instructional manual, "The Beginner's Guide To Preserving Food At Home" is such a critically important and highly recommended addition to both family and community library collections. Here are 231-pages packed with solid and 'user friendly' instructions for canning, freezing, drying, brining, root cellaring vegetables, fruits and herbs for home consumption. Comprehensive, up-to-date, informed and informative, "The Beginner's Guide To Preserving Food At Home" will prove to be one of the most valuable additions any homemaker can acquire and one of the most popular acquisitions any librarian can add as a community resource.


The Fiction Shelf

East Garrison
G. M. Weger
Synergy Books
PO Box 80107, Austin, TX 78758
Phenix & Phenix (publicity)
2100 Kramer Lane Suite 300, Austin, TX 78758
9780981546230, $13.95, www.synergybooks.net

The pursuit of normalcy drives people far. "East Garrison" follows one woman as she strives for an ordinary life during her pregnancy. Estranged from her father, she tries to make things right, but that's not as easy as one would think, as she faces many challenges on this road, both from external sources as well as her own stubborn nature. "East Garrison" is an entertaining and moving read.

Master of the Eclipse
Etel Adnan
Interlink Publishing Group
46 Crosby Street, Northampton, MA 01060-1804
9781566567794, $15.00 www.interlinkbooks.com

Lebanese-American author and poet Etel Adnan presents Master of the Eclipse, an anthology of short stories reflecting the shadow that war and death cast upon individual lives. At times dark, giving an all-too-human glimpse of the difficulties of coping with loss, Master of Eclipse is nonetheless also gives voice to the human desire to persevere. Elements of autobiography and the author's all-too-thorough familiarity with the Lebanese Civil War are reflected in this brief yet overwhelmingly compelling tales. Highly recommended, especially to modern world literature shelves.

Transit
Bernard Share
Dalkey Archive
1805 S. Wright Street, MC-011, Champaign, IL 61820
9781564785428, $12.95, www.dalkeyarchieve.com

The confused adventure of two drunken fools can be as entertaining as any battle between good and evil. "Transit" follows two lost drunken Irishmen as they stumble lost through time, attempting to find their way home. As they look for their path, they find themselves reminiscing about their past despite only meeting hours ago. Definitively Irish, "Transit" is endlessly entertaining and highly recommended.

More Tales of Seamus the Sheltie
James Beverly
Nightengale Press
10936 N. Port Washington Road, Suite 206, Mequon, WI 53092
www.nightengalepress.com
9781933449760, $14.95, www.amazon.com

There's little that dog lovers enjoy more than a good dog story. "More Tales of Seamus the Sheltie" is an anthology of short stories from James Beverly using their beloved dog Seamus as their protagonist. Filled with fun stories that young readers will simply adore, "More Tales of Seamus the Sheltie" also teaches valuable lessons. "More Tales of Seamus the Sheltie" is a fine and highly recommended read for those who can't get enough of the canine species.

Take My Place
Beate Boeker
Avalon Books
160 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016
http://avalonbooks.com
9780803499423, $23.95, www.amazon.com

A divorced, single mother and entrepreneur, Maren's chief goal in life is to keep, maintain, and protect her independence. Something she believes is simply incompatible with getting involved with a man. Then a business acquaintance foists his twin brother on her one night and she falls for the substitute only to become enraged when she discovers this 'bait and switch' at her expense. Revenge is the order of the day -- but her daughter has something else in mind. Author Beate Boeker's "Take My Place" is an original romance that is beautifully crafted from first page to last and highly recommended for personal reading lists and community library collections.

The Death Of A Pope
Piers Paul Read
Ignatius Press
PO Box 1339, Fort Collins, CO 80522
www.ignatius.com
9781586172954, $21.95, www.amazon.com

Because handsome and outspoken peace activist Juan Uriarte is a former priest, it seems odd that he should be standing trial under an accusation of participating in acts of terrorism. His global Catholic charity outreach program is alleged to be a front for radicals engaged in violence as a political tool. Kate Ramsay is a young British reporter assigned to cover Juan's trial. What she hears leads her to seek the true story of Juan and his work. Traveling with him to Africa to investigate his work in person, Kate finds her self attracted to Juan while a conspiracy of international proportions takes root in the Vatican itself. Deftly craft by author Piers Paul Read, "The Death Of A Pope" is a riveting read from beginning to end, replete with memorable characters, detailed backgrounds, unexpected plot twists, and a thoroughly satisfying conclusion. Very highly recommended and entertaining, "The Death Of A Pope" will make a popular addition to personal reading lists and community library contemporary fiction collections.

Bright Dark Madonna
Elizabeth Cunningham
Monkfish Book Publishing Company
27 Lamoree Road, Rhinebeck, NY 12572
www.monkfishpublishing.com
9780979882876, $26.00, www.amazon.com

A superbly written historical novel by a master storyteller, Elizabeth Cunningham's 474-page novel "Bright Dark Madonna" is the tale of Maeve, a young pregnant woman who played an intimate role in the mystery of the Resurrection as the Celtic Mary Magdalen. A great controversy breaks out when Maeve seeks to preach the gospel in her own manner, giving voice to her own ideas about how to raise the daughter that Jesus of Nazareth sired with her prior to his execution on a cross by the Romans at the behest of the Jewish religious authorities. When she returns to Temple Magdalen (a holy whorehouse she founded), a custody battle breaks out over her infant daughter Sarah and Jesus' mother must flee to the remote Taurus Mountains to living in hiding among the Galatians. There is where a mysterious stranger shows up on her door step badly in need of her healing. As Maeve determines to keep her family's secret she must also deal with her now adolescent daughter's anger, strength of will, and determination to learn the truth about her father. The legions of readers who so fully enjoyed and appreciated Elizabeth Cunningham's previous two titles in the Mary Magdalene trilogy, "The Maeve Chronicles" will be equally enthralled with the further adventures of Mary Magdalene in "Bright Dark Madonna" as the journey of Maeve and her daughter Sarah continue and conclude with the third and last volume in this outstanding and superbly written series.

Sweet Money Girl / Life and Death of a Tough Guy
Benjamin Appel
Stark House Press
2200 O Street, Eureka, CA 95501
9781933586267 $19.95 www.starkhousepress.com

Sweet Money Girl / Life and Death of a Tough Guy collects a pair of two-fisted action novels by New York City Hell's Kitchen native Benjamin Appel (1907-1977). "Sweet Money Girl", originally published in 1954, is the saga of two men who are both passionately in love with the same woman - Hortense, a dance instructor who has long since lost all pretensions of idealism and always looks after herself first. "Life and Death of a Tough Guy", originally published in 1955, tells the story of Joey Kasow, a Jewish kid growing up in 1920's Hell's Kitchen who becomes increasingly entangled with an Irish gang, eventually serving as their enforcer. New York City itself comes alive in both novels, which pulse with a synergetic resonance that reflects the author's personal life experience. The result is a pair of adventures more immersive than a movie! Highly recommended.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Cockatoos
Matt Cameron
Csiro Publishing
c/o Stylus Publishing
PO Box 605, Herndon, VA 20172-0605
9780643092327, $35.00, www.publish.csiro.au

Filling the skies of Australia, cockatoos have long captured human imagination. "Cockatoos" is another entry into the Australian Natural History series, discussing this indigenous bird that battles extinction in the modern day. Tracing the story of the cockatoo from its earliest history to modern conservation efforts, "Cockatoos" is packed cover to cover with full color photographs and plenty of scientific information, making it an absolute must for bird lovers.

Blackwell's Five Minute Veterinary Consult: Laboratory Tests And Diagnostic Procedures: Canine & Feline
Shelly L. Vaden, et al.
Wiley-Blackwell
10475 Crosspoint Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46256
9780813817484, $99.99, www.wiley.com

America's two favorite domesticated pets are dogs and cats. These animal companions often become integral members of the family and whose health needs are of paramount importance to their owners. That is why most veterinary practices treat dogs and cats more than any other class of animals. It is also why "Blackwell's Five Minute Veterinary Consult: Laboratory Tests And Diagnostic Procedures: Canine & Feline" is a critically essential addition to all professional veterinary clinics. An ideal textbook for veterinary students, this superbly organized, 'user friendly', alphabetically arranged, 763-page encyclopedia reference with its focus on medical issues associated with dogs and cats includes all of the basic tools utilized in veterinary practice; diagnostic procedures; tests and treatments; medications; medical follow-up; appendices providing tables of laboratory normal values, therapeutic drug monitoring, and referral laboratories; and a comprehensive index. Also very highly recommended for veterinary student and veterinary clinic reference collections from Wiley-Blackwell is the newly updated and expanded "Manual of Clinical Procedures in Dogs, Cats, Rabbits, & Rodents" (9780813813042, $59.99) by veterinary practitioners Steven E. Crow, Sally O. Walshaw, and Jennifer E. Boyle.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

The Conversations With God Companion
Neale Donald Walsch
Hampton Roads
1125 Stoney Ridge Rd., Charlottesville, VA 22902-8719
9781571746047, $18.95, www.hrpub.com

Some books need a bit more to be fully understood. "The Conversations with God Companion: The Essential Tool for Individual and Group Study" is the companion volume for Neale Donald Walsch's acclaimed Conversations with God series. The Conversations with God series is based upon increasing one's own bond with their creator, and this companion volume further elaborates the topics touched upon the initial volume. "The Conversations with God Companion" is well worth it for those who cherish the original volumes.

A World Of Faith
Peggy Fletcher Stack & Kathleen Peterson
Signature Books
564 West 400 North, Salt Lake City, UT 84116-3411
1560851627, $24.95, www.signaturebooks.com

Enhanced with beautiful, 'museum quality' artwork throughout, "A World Of Faith: World Celebration Special Edition" by Peggy Fletcher Stack and Kathleen Petersen provides the reader with a succinct and informative description religions. Alphabetically presented these faiths range from the Amish to the Zoroastrians. Here included are Baha'is, Buddhists, Jews, and Muslims. Hindus, Shintoists, and Sikhs. The diverse sects of Christian Scientists, Episcopalians, Mormons, Lutherans, Eastern Orthodox, Quakers, and Catholics. All of these and so many more are introduced with single page entries providing a succinct description accompanied on the facing page with a beautiful image representing that highlighted faith. Created in partnership with the Interfaith Roundtable of the Sal Lake Organizing Committee for the Olympic Winter Games of 2002, "A World Of Faith" is a unique and highly recommended addition to personal, family, and community library Religion/Spirituality collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

At the Edge of Dreamland
Tsvi Eisenman, author
Barnett Zumoff, translator
KTAV Publishing House
930 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306
9781602800458, $24.95, www.ktav.com

Fables teach valuable lessons about human nature and wisdom. "At the Edge of Dreamland: The Modern Fables Tsvi Eisenman" is a collection of Jewish fables from Tsvi Eisenman, a man who grew up in Eastern Europe before World War II and the atrocities that occurred there. Offering a very different yet still relevant world view that holds many lessons, Eisenman's work is an intriguing read expertly translated by Barnett Zumoff. "At the Edge of Dreamland" deserves an entry into any literature collection with a world and religious focus.


The Poetry Shelf

Rain Inside
Ibrahim Nasrallah
Curbstone Press
321 Jackson Street, Willimantic, CT 06226
9781931896528, $14.95, www.curbstone.org

A people in constant conflict, "Rain Inside" brings a Palestinian poet's work to the world for English speakers to embrace for the first time. Simple and straightforward with the emotions set forth, poet Ibrahim Nasrallah inspires the reader with the resilience of the Palestinian spirit and the universal essence in all of us. "Rain Inside" is a top pick for world poetry collections. "Strangers": How dark how dull/Those who came and went away like strangers/Even their women and small girls were sullen/this is how the chairs sit quietly thinking/in the evening.

From the Fishouse
Camille T. Dungy, Matt O'Donnell, & Jeffrey Thomson
Persea Books
853 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
9780892553488, $25.95, www.perseabooks.com

Tomorrow's poets create classics today with the group anthology "From the Fishouse: An Anthology of Poems That Sing, Rhyme, Resound, Syncopate, Alliterate, and Just Plain Sound Great". Nearly two hundred poems by one hundred poets, it's a fine catalogue of what the world of poetry can expect in the future from this excellent, aspiring stars. The poems are set in Pittson, Maine, but they ring out well through the shared story. "From the Fishouse" is a top pick for fans of poetry anthologies. "Correspondence" by Diana Marie Delgado: Brother, deep in the moth hour and still no altar to speak of./Everyone's got a life they cannot stop. Time passes, nothing survives.//The real me slipped out like a hiccup and Z marooned/himself in the arms of another girl's couch. I have a book for you.//It's about life and a real time G doing it. Mom's fine, breaking/crooked as an eggshell. Dad the same teething crocodile.//I've never seen so much sad architecture. Remember when the field/froze white and Mom tied plastic over our shoes?//This the only place that's ever felt like home. I hope you get this/ letter before lockdown. Or have you learned how to read in the dark?

Long Division
Andrea Cohen
Salmon Poetry
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
www.dufoureditions.com
9780956128713, $21.95, www.amazon.com

Andrea Cohen is an award winning poet and short story writer whose work has been published in the pages of 'The Atlantic Monthly', 'The Threepenny Review', 'Glimmertrain', 'The Iowa Review', 'Memorious', and elsewhere. An accomplished professional and an experienced academic, Andrea Cohen directs the Blacksmith House Reading Series and writes on the subject of marine research at MIT. "Long Division" is her latest collection of free verse and is an ideal and recommended introduction for those new to her poetic style, and a welcome update for those previously familiar with her work in her Owl Creek Poetry Prize winning anthology "The Cartographer's Vacation" (Owl Creek Press, 9780937669631, $12.00). 'Detective X: Temptation to Believe': Dumbstruck in the awesome/forest, spring leaping up through loam,//fiddleheads unfurling like giddy seahorse/under the green awnings of scotch pines//that don't close shop, one wants/to applaud, to throw or to be//roses, to address a thank-you moat/to those responsible, to imagine//such splendor is never random,/and then, dizzy beneath the cornflower sky,//I apprehend how lost I am.

Her Place in These Designs
Rhina P. Espaillat
Truman State University Press
100 East Normal Street, Kirksville, MO 63501-4221
9781931112895, $15.95 http://tsup.truman.edu 1-800-916-6802

Rhina P. Espaillat draws on her life experience as a young child in the Dominican Republic as well as her talent as a poet in Her Place in These Designs, an anthology of rhyming, rhythmical poems that blend fluid pitch and evocative lyrics to illuminate the universal issues of women's lives. Applying traditional verse forms with a natural knack for expression, Her Place in These Designs is a collection to be savored and contemplated at length, whether one reads a few poems at a time or all of them at once. "Item": Escaped: one poem, / winged, half worded, / too soon flowered, / starred and birded, // simile'd / and metaphored. / Warning: author / badly gored. // Cornered, poem / will spring to bite. / No threatening moves, / no sudden light; // keep your distance; / stay behind it. / Call this number / if you find it.

Sailing on Dry Land
Burton D. Wasserman
Fithian Press
c/o Daniel & Daniel Publishers
PO Box 2790, McKinleyville, CA 95519
9781564744838, $12.00 www.danielpublishing.com

Retired businessman, social worker, and comedy writer Burton D. Wasserman presents Sailing on Dry Land, his third collection of poetry, which focuses on the question of how humans work together and individually to put together and run their lives within the boundaries set by "the incomprehensible other". The brief, free-verse poems pulse with raw insight and unbridled fervor. A highly recommended collection to browse and savor. "Recovery": I want to be / whole as / the evergreen tree // my voice to rise and fall / like the snow-topped wings / which lift the sea // my blood to spin / to the sweeping music / of the sea // my spirit to wheel / with the sun and the moon / in immutable trinity.

The Poetry Tool Kit
Rhian Williams
Continuum
80 Maiden Lane, Suite 704, New York, NY 10038
9781847060495, $39.95, www.continuumbooks.com

How does one get started in the world of poetry, either as the consumer or the producer? "The Poetry Tool Kit: The Essential Guide to Studying Poetry" hopes to educate and inspire readers to better understand the world of poetry. Chapters cover the eccentricities of truly understanding poetry from a reader's perspective, or writing good verse from a poet's perspective. Packed with advice and tips for poetry appreciation, "The Poetry Tool Kit" is an intriguing introductory dive into the world of the poet. "The Poetry Tool Kit" is just what some people need to break that daunting poetry wall.

Where We Live
Don Thompson
Parallel Press
372 Memorial Library, 728 State Street, Madison, WI 53575
9781934795064, $10.00 http://parallelpress.library.wisc.edu 1-800-636-0071

Were We Live is a chapbook of brief, free-verse poems by teacher Don Thompson, who has plied his trade at a local backroads prison for many years. The creative verse reflects the country spirit of his home, and his personal investment in the simple beauty of the eternal natural cycle that surrounds him, while acknowledging the transitory limitations of mortality. A contemplative collection, highly recommended especially for reading while taking a rest during an outdoors hike. "And Love?": If rainfall, freeze, and thaw really do / turn granite slabs into handfuls of gravel, / what chance does flesh have? / And love? What chance does love have / against the slow dripping of time / that leaches everything down to bedrock?

The Golden Underground
Anthony Butts
Wayne State University Press
4809 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201-1309
9780814333891, $19.95, www.wsupress.wayne.edu

Written by an award winning poet with many volumes to his name, "The Golden Underground" is another excellent collection from Anthony Butts. Taking the world around us and bringing it into a new light with strong classical influence, Butts will make readers think as they enjoy the verse within. "The Golden Underground" is well worth the read, highly recommended. "All Saints' Day": Black light filters over white sheets the/morning after a Halloween party, students/still somnolent after nightlong cheers for/more beer, that violet like visible silence/hanging in November winds, even the once/white curtains miming their filmy chorus//to the world.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

100 Questions & Answers About Influenza
Delthia Ricks
Jones and Bartlett Publishers
40 Tall Pine Drive, Sudbury, MA 01776
9780763745011, $19.95, www.jbpub.com

The flu is still deadly and has not yet gone away. "100 Questions & Answers About Influenza" discusses this serious ailment that kills tens of thousands of Americans yearly. Covering topics such as the history of the flu, the development of seasonal and yearly vaccines, and more, author Delthia Ricks presents much information for those who want to better understand this common yet potentially deadly ailment. "100 Questions & Answers About Influenza" is a fine read explaining the nature of this underestimated beast.

The Whole-Food Guide To Strong Bones
Annemarie Colbin
New Harbinger Press
5674 Shattuck Ave., Oakland, CA 94609
www.newharbinger.com
9781572245808, $21.95, www.amazon.com

Enhanced with the inclusion of 85 recipes, Annemarie Colbin's "The Whole-Food Guide To Strong Bones: A Holistic Approach" is an invaluable and informative guide to the role good nutrition plays in strengthen the human skeletal system and can be the key to naturally rebuilding bone mass. Among the vitally important issues comprehensively addressed are which foods can actually weaken bones, diminish bone mass, and why such approaches as estrogen therapy, calcium supplements, and even prescription medications may not be efficacious. Of special note is the information concerning what can place us at risk for bone fracture -- which is a hazard that can be increasingly dangerous as we grow older. Thoroughly 'reader friendly', "The Whole-Food Guide To Strong Bones" is a welcome and highly recommended addition to personal, family, and community library Holistic Medicine reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Living with HIV
Mark Cichocki, RN
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
9780786439218, $35.00 www.mcfarlandpub.com 1-800-253-2187

Written by HIV/AIDS registered nurse Mark Cichocki, Living with HIV: A Patient's Guide is a reader-friendly guide for those diagnosed with HIV as well as those caring for HIV positive friends and loved ones. Chapters cover HIV prevention and testing, how to communicate with one's doctor, how to monitor one's health, the basics of what one needs to know about HIV medications, dental care issues, proper exercise and nutrition, and much more. A no-nonsense practical guide for readers of all backgrounds, Living with HIV deserves the highest possible recommendation. "Nutrition and proper diet are so important to the HIV-positive person that experts recommend that HIV care programs employ a registered dietician or have a dietician available for referral - one with an expertise in HIV and AIDS. The roles of the dietician would include such things as nutrition screenings, counseling, education, and medical referral, to name just a few."


The Science Shelf

The Earthscan Reader on Risk
Ragnar E. Lofstedt and Asa Boholm, editors
Earthscan
c/o Stylus Publishing, Inc.
22883 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166-2012
9781844076871 $58.50 www.styluspub.com

The Earthscan Reader on Risk is an anthology of scholarly essays by experts in the rising field of risk theory. Though not expressly a pedagogical textbook, The Earthscan Reader on Risk is an excellent introduction for students, professionals, and even lay readers to ideas ranging from the "concept of risk", risk perception, risk communication, the idea of trust and post-trust, and more. Why do women and nonwhite males have more similar perceptions of risk than white males, which tend to have a lower estimate risk from the same situations? How can risk communicators determine precisely what information is most pertinent to laypeople? How does risk affect human decision-making? These topics and much more are explored in-depth. A background in mathematics and psychology is helpful but not absolutely required to benefit from The Earthscan Reader on Risk, which is especially recommended as a refresher text for researchers or practitioners in the field of risk management, as well as for college and university library collections.


The Environmental Studies Shelf

The Mojave Desert
Robert H. Webb, et. al., editors
University of Nevada Press
Mail Stop 0166, Reno, NV, 89557-0166
9780874177763 $65.00 www.unpress.nevada.edu

Though the Mojave Desert is a land of temperature extremes and vast spaces without water, it is also home to Native American peoples and numerous rare wildlife and plant species, including some that can be found nowhere else. The Mojave Desert: Ecosystem Processes and Sustainability is an anthology of essays by thirty-eight scientists, all specialists in desert ecology, reporting on the latest specific threats to Mojave Desert as well as options for its natural recovery and active restoration. The importance of gathering long-term data and balancing human impact on the desert are also discussed a length. Individual writings include "Human Population in the Mojave Desert: Resources and Sustainability", "Ecological Effects of Vehicular Routes in a Desert Ecosystem", "Mojave Desert Root Systems", "A Review of Selected Long-Term Ecological Studies of the Mojave Desert Ecosystem", and much more. A scholarly collection of cutting-edge research and insight, The Mojave Desert is an excellent, enthusiastically recommended addition to regional ecological studies shelves and college library collections.

The Encyclopedia Of Global Warming Science And Technology
Bruce E. Johansen
ABC-CLIO
PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
www.abc-clio.com
9780313377020, $175.00, www.amazon.com

With respect to such entities as the coal and gas producers and the politically conservative movement of the United States for all too many years there was a state of denial with respect to the presence of global warming. Now with the steady advances of scientific inquiry, those denials can no longer be supported and global warming is a high priority issue in our national political dialogue. That's why "The Encyclopedia Of Global Warming Science And Technology", a new two-volume work compiled and written by Bruce E. Johansen (Frederick W. Kayser Research professor of Communication and Native American Studies, University of Nebraska - Omaha) is such a timely and essential addition to both academic and community library Environmental Studies reference book collections. A fully updated body of work, Professor Johansen's exhaustive compendium organizes the informed and informative text under 300 headings and covers an impressive range of global warming related topics, concepts, issues, processes and scientists. Drawing from a diversity of relevant scientific and technological fields, "The Encyclopedia Of Global Warming Science And Technology" addresses atomospheric chemistry, paleoclimatology, biogeography, oceanography, geophysics, glaciology, and soil science. Covering everything from Antarctic oscillation and hydrogen fuel cells, to shoreline retreat and the methane 'burp' hypothesis, the text is as 'reader friendly' as it is up-to-date. Of special note is the section on Christianity and global warming. "The Encyclopedia Of Global Warming Science And Technology" is highly recommended as a contemporary informational resource for both academia and non-specialist general readers with an interest in Global Warming issues.


The Political Science Shelf

The Constitution of the United States of America
Mark Tushnet
Hart Publishing
c/o International Specialized Book Services (ISBS)
920 Northeast 58th Avenue, Suite 300, Portland, OR 97213
9781841137384 $28.00 www.isbs.com 1-800-944-6190

Written by Mark Tushnet (William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Law, Harvard Law School), The Constitution of the United States of America: A Contextual Analysis is an instructive reference that studies in depth the history and current status of the United States' Constitution. Two core principles about the constitution are noted: first that it is an old document, quite brief, and very difficult to amend. These traits have made constitutional "interpretation", particularly as practiced by the U.S. Supreme Court, the primary means by which the Constitution is adapted to the continually changing needs of the modern day. Second, it is readily apparent that the Constitution builds a structure of political opportunities that allows politicians and/or political parties the opportunity to pursue their policy goals to the point of changing the structure of politics. Therefore, it is politics itself that gives meaning to the Constitution. With these principles in mind, The Constitution of the United States of America examines national government structure, federalism, judicial review, individual rights, the process of constitutional change, and much more. A thoughtful and highly scholarly text, especially recommended for college and university library collections.

Realizing Freedom
Tom G. Palmer
Cato Institute
1000 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20001-5403
www.cato.org
9781935308119, $29.95, www.amazon.com

There is a very genuine distinction to be made between Libertarians and Conservatives, even when those whose formal political party affiliation is Republican. Conservatives are quite willing for there to be limited governmental involvement in American life -- except when it comes to issues of personal morality. It is the Libertarians whose mantra in wanting limited (or none) governmental influence or control in all aspects of American life -- even when it comes to issues of personal morality. In "Realizing Freedom: Libertarian Theory, History, And Practice", author and libertarian Tom G. Palmer provides a comprehensive, 496-page treatise defining and illustrating the principles and history of the libertarian philosophy and movement. Addressing from a libertarian perspective a diverse spectrum of examples and issues ranging from multiculturalism, to the concept of justice, to globalization, to religious extremism, and a great deal more "Realizing Freedom" is thoughtful, thought-provoking, articulate, insightful, occasionally iconoclastic, and a simply fascinating read from beginning to end.


The Parenting Shelf

Stop Second-Guessing Yourself: The Toddler Years
Jen Singer
Health Communications, Inc.
3201 S.W. 15th Street, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442-8190
www.MommaSaid.net 1-800-441-5569
9780757306532, $14.95 www.hcibooks.com

Award-winning website creator, blogger, Stop Second-Guessing Yourself: The Toddler Years, a no-nonsense guide to dealing with rambunctious toddlers. Though written especially for stay-at-home moms (and dads!), "Stop Second-Guessing Yourself" is an absolute must-read for all parents with toddlers (or soon-to-be toddling infants). Chapters discuss how to prepare for taking one's toddler on the go, dealing with sleep issues, potty training, how to keep one's toddler safe inside and outside the home, playdates and playgroups, how to cope when toddler is sick (and inevitably contagious), and much more. "You can't let your toddler play with your phone just so you can get through the supermarket in peace and then expect him to understand why he can't play with it elsewhere. Your phone is off-limits to your toddler all of the time, no matter how desperate you are at Stop & Shop. Rather, give him a toy cell phone." Stop Second-Guessing Yourself: The Toddler Years is especially recommended as a baby shower gifts for parents of a toddler who are expecting a second child!

The Little Book Of Values
Julie Duckworth
Crown House Publishing
6 Trowbridge Drive Suite 5, Bethel, CT 06801
www.CHPUS.com
9781845901356, $13.95, www.amazon.com

Too many parents today have left the moral and ethical education of their children to other venues of instruction such as their peer groups, television, music makers, and the internet. What is needed to insure a family's values are instilled in their children and will be passed down to their grandchildren and great-grandchildren is that the parents take the time and make the consistent effort to teach their children values through both precept and example. That's why "The Little Book Of Values: Educating Children To Become Thinking, Confident, Responsible And Caring Citizens" by Julie Duckworth is such an important book. Deftly edited by Ian Gilbert for this Crown House Publishing edition, "The Little Book Of Values" examines twenty-two values that can be taught by parents and, with the support of schools and the broader community, reinforced in the minds and behavior of children. Covered in a thoroughly 'user friendly' approach, "The Little Book Of Values" addresses sterling personal values and related issues including appreciation, caring, cooperation, courage, freedom, freedom, friendship, happiness, honesty, hope, humility, patience, peace, quality, respect, responsibility, simplicity, thoughtfulness, tolerance, trust, understanding, and unity. Of special note is the chapter dedicated to 'The Values Toolbox' that addresses such issues as being a good role model, having a positive discipline policy, creating an optimum learning environment, and more. Very highly recommended reading for all parents and anyone else charged with the responsibility of assisting children in their emotional growth and ethical behavior, "The Little Book Of Values" is packed full of wit, wisdom, and common sense.


The Biography Shelf

The Imperfect Garden
Adina Sara
Regent Press
2747 Regent Street, Berkeley, CA 94705
9781587901607, $22.00, www.regentpress.net

Gardening is more than a hobby for some. "The Imperfect Garden" explores the spiritual side of gardening from author Adina Sara's perspective; she finds much comfort in restoring her backyard garden and turning it into something beautiful. With moving anecdotes, and full color gardening photos, Sara may inspire others to create their own garden and embrace it, making "The Imperfect Garden" a strong choice.

One Man's Music
Vince Bell
University of North Texas Press
1155 Union Circle #311336, Denton, TX 76203-5017
9781574412673, $14.95, www.unt.edu/untpress

There are some people who devote their existence to music. "One Man's Music: The Life and Times of Texas Songwriter Vince Bell" tells the story of a man who loves music and has dedicated himself to its pursuit with much success. He's created five folk and country albums appreciated by critics, and he's also stepped into other venues such as ballet and Broadway. In the process he has overcome much tragedy in his life to do what he loves. "One Man's Music" is well worth the read for those who want to know more about the men behind today's music.

Bader Field
Carl David
Nightengale Press
10936 N. Port Washington Road, Suite 206, Mequon, WI 53092
9781933449661, $15.95 www.nightengalepress.com

An expert in the business of buying, selling, and caring for fine art, author Carl David presents Bader Field: A Journey of Love, Forgiveness and Acceptance, a personal memoir about his relationship with his loving father, whose sudden passing from a coronary at the age of fifty-eight left forced twenty-four-year-old Carl to quickly take the reins of the family art business. Beset by his own grief over the loss of his father (and the previous loss of his brother to suicide), the responsibility of helping his frail mother, and the monumental task of running a business, Carl had to draw upon everything his father taught him to stay afloat. A story of adaptation, determination, and (sometimes) learning tough lessons the hard way, Bader Field is nonetheless inspirational and highly recommended.

"Prohibition Is Here to Stay"
Jason S. Lantzer
University of Notre Dame Press
310 Flanner Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556
9780268033835, $35.00 www.undpress.nd.edu

Jason S. Lantzer (adjunct history faculty member, Indiana University-Purdue University) presents "Prohibition Is Here to Stay": The Reverend Edward S. Shumaker and the Dry Crusade in America, a sympathetic yet studiously researched biography of Reverend Edward Shumaker, with a focus on the Indiana prohibition movement and the role he played in it. For nearly twenty-five years, Shumaker led Indiana's highly effective chapter of the Anti Saloon League; he was one of the most powerful leaders of the Indiana movement against alcohol, and his influence extended well past Indiana's borders during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Presenting evidence that the prohibition movement in Indiana was not happenstance or abnormal, but rather an effect of the mainstream cultural currents of the era, "Prohibition Is Here to Stay" uses Indiana as a lens to further examine larger issues of America's transformation from a rural to an urban majority, as well as the consequent shift in cultural values and the repercussions of industrialization and foreign immigration. A thoughtful, well-researched and persuasively presented study, highly recommended especially for college library collections.

Yours to Command
Harold J. Weiss, Jr.
University of North Texas Press
PO Box 311336, Denton, TX 76203-1336
9781574412604, $27.95 www.unt.edu/untpress

Yours to Command: The Life and Legend of Texas Ranger Captain Bill McDonald is the biography of Captain Bill McDonald (1852-1918), the most well-known of the "Four Great Captains" of Texas Ranger history. Rangers under his command were involved in incidents ranging from the Fitzsimmons-Maher prizefight in El Paso, to the Wichita Falls bank robbery, the murders by the San Saba Mob, the Reese-Townsend feud at Columbus, the shootout with Mexican Americans near Rio Grande City, and much more. Only one Ranger ever lost his life while under McDonald's command. McDonald's marksmanship, skill at using weapons to intimidate opponents, and ability to handle unruly mobs are the stuff of legends. Yours to Command reveals the truth behind the legends. Though Yours to Command is a scholarly accounting, McDonald's amazing life story is a pleasure for anyone fascinated by true tales of the Old West to read. Highly recommended for public and college library biography shelves.


The Buddhist Studies Shelf

Buddhist Fasting Practice
Wangchen Rinpoche
Snow Lion Publications
PO Box 6483, Ithaca, NY 14851
9781559393171, $18.95 www.SnowLionPub.com

Wangchen Rinpoche presents Buddhist Fasting Practice: The Nyungne Method of Thousand-Armed Chenrezig, the first comprehensive English-language text addressing the Tibetan Buddhist practice of Nyungne, a two-and-a-half day process of meditation and strict vows (the second day is dedicated to utter silence and fasting). Literally translated as "abiding the fast", Nyungne is a process accessible to those who cannot spare extended time for a long-term retreat, and is reputed to help with recovery from illness, cultivating compassion, and undoing negative karma. Chapters analyze the process, requirements, and benefits of Nyungne at length, in this solid resource that is nonetheless accessible to Buddhist practitioners and scholars alike. A highly recommended and worthy addition to any Tibetan Buddhist Studies collection.

Study and Practice of Meditation
Leah Zahler
Snow Lion Publications
PO Box 6483, Ithaca, NY 14851
9781559393256, $39.95 www.SnowLionPub.com

Poet and scholar (with a Ph.D. in Buddhist Studies from the University of Virginia) Leah Zahler presents Study and Practice of Meditation: Tibetan Interpretations of the Concentrations & Formless Absorptions, an in-depth examination of the meditative practices applied to cultivate a calm mind capable of transcending the dimensions of reality. The Buddhist meditative states known as concentrations and formless absorptions, as spoken of in theravada scriptures and Vasubandhu's "Treasury of Manifest Knowledge", are discussed in great detail, with a specific focus on the ways in which meditative states form the base of one's spiritual path, the essence of meditative calm itself, and the necessary traits one must cultivate in oneself to successfully perform advanced meditation techniques. An excellent resource ideal for anyone devoted to the study or practice of Buddhist meditation, highly recommended.


The Education Shelf

Teaching Students with Dyslexia and Dysgraphia
Virginia W. Berninger & Beverly J. Wolf
Brookes Publishing Co.
PO Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
9781557669346, $34.95, www.brookespublishing.com

With some disorders, a slightly different approach to teaching is necessary. "Teaching Students with Dyslexia and Dysgraphia: Lessons from Teaching and Science" is a guide for educators of these students with impaired speaking and writing skills. Dyslexia and dysgraphia are challenges, but not insurmountable ones. Literacy is the primary focus, and authors Virginia Berninger & Beverly Wolf use their experience to create a very useful manual for educators, making "Teaching Students with Dyslexia and Dysgraphia" a top pick.

Seeing is Believing
Tom Buggey
Woodbine House
6510 Bells Mill Rd., Bethesda, MD 20817
9781890627881, $19.95, www.woodbinehouse.com

Video is a powerful tool that can teach and educate, and this is especially so for people with autism. "Seeing is Believing: Video Self-Modeling for People With Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities" is a guide to using videotape to teach children with autism. Autistic people can gain much from watching themselves doing many activities, and the amateur video production process is educational in and of itself. "Seeing is Believing" is a strong choice for any autism education collection.

A Handbook For The Art And Science Of Teaching
Robert J. Marzano & John L. Brown
ASCD
1703 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
www.ascd.org
9781416608189, $29.95, www.amazon.com

Every working day, a teacher's ultimate goal, regardless of the curriculum content or classroom subject matter, is to teach their students how to think, how to solve problems, how to analyze and respond to information. That's why the collaboratively developed textbook "A Handbook For The Art And Science Of Teaching" by Robert J. Marzano (Senior Scholar, Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning, Denver, Colorado) and John L. Brown (ASCD educational consultant) is so critically important for any educator tasked with the responsibility of teaching whether in the role of a simple tutorial or addressing students within the context of a classroom. As comprehensive as it is practical, "A Handbook For The Art And Science Of Teaching" addresses such issues as establishing and communicating learning goals, aiding students in effectively interacting, helping students develop practice skills, inculcating abilities to create and test hypothesis and higher-order thinking, establishing classroom rules and decorum, develop effective lesson plans, and so much more. Wether as a classroom textbook for student teacher courses, or as an instructional reference for in-service teacher training for established classroom instructors, "A Handbook For The Art And Science Of Teaching" is a very highly recommended addition to any teacher training curriculum.

Motivating & Inspiring Teachers, second edition
Todd Whitaker, Beth Whitaker, and Dale Lumpa
Eye On Education
6 Depot Way West, Larchmont, NY 10538
9781596671034, $39.95 www.eyeoneducation.com 1-888-299-5350

Now in an updated second edition with four new chapters ("Teaching Leaders", "Sharpening Your Focus", "Showing Off Your School" and "Feeling Better Through Fitness and Wellness"), Motivating & Inspiring Teachers: The Education Leader's Guide for Building Staff Morale is a guide written by experts, for professionals, to share tools and resources ideal for boosting and maintaining staff morale. From how to find above-average teachers for one's staff, to getting teachers involved, to building a shared vision, being judicious about one's use of criticism, and nonverbal factors that can affect one's communication, Motivating & Inspiring Teachers is a solid, down-to-earth guide offering invaluable advice in plain terms. "Schools can access technology, billboards, newspapers, welcome packets, and many other avenues to communicate to parents and the community. Asking parents, visiting with local businesses, and reading advertisements in newspapers are a few ways to get ideas for showing off your school. Seeing how businesses in the private sector advertise can be very informative because their financial success depends on 'showing off their businesses.'" A must-have for educational leaders everywhere.


The Judicial Studies Shelf

The Sun Climbs Slow
Erna Paris
Seven Stories Press
140 Watts Street, New York, NY 10013
9781583228791, $21.95, www.sevenstories.com

There are laws that have been agreed upon by many nations, yet the United States continues to ignore them. "The Sun Climbs Slow: The International Criminal Court and the Struggle for Justice" is a criticism of America's staunch refusal to join an international criminal court that would oppose tyrants and world leaders for the cruelties they enact on their people. Weighing America's reasons versus America's stubbornness, "The Sun Climbs Slow" is an intriguing non-fiction read about how justice tries grow past international borders.


The Business Shelf

The Truth About Pay Per Click Search Advertising
Kevin Lee
FT Press
801 East 96h Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780789738325, $18.99, www.ftpress.com

New media offers new avenues of advertising. "The Truth About Pay Per Click Search Advertising", another entry into the 'The Truth About' series, is an advice manual for those who want to maximize their use of pay per click search advertising, where one can advertise their business through search engines such as Google. Wise and cautious, "The Truth About Pay Per Click Search Advertising" also warns of fraud that occurs in this field, and where it will go in the future, and how effective the process really is. "The Truth About Pay Per Click Search Advertising" is a must for anyone looking to expand their internet advertising domain.

Mastering Web 2.0
Susan Rice Lincoln
Kogan Page USA
525 South 4th Street, #241, Philadelphia, PA 19147
www.koganpage.com
9780749454661, $24.95, www.amazon.com

The coming of the internet has altered normal business practices for ever. That's why any entrepreneur or corporate executive must become computer literate and know how to use web sites and other social media tools -- many of which did not even exist as recently as a decade ago. That's why "Mastering Web 2.0: Transform Your Business Using Key Website And Social Media Tools" by Susan Rice Lincoln is such an invaluable instruction manual. A professional online marketing consultant, Lincoln draws upon her years of experience and expertise to explain how such online social media as Google, Amazon, Facebook, and others, have altered and affected communications. Readers will learn how to insure that their web strategy is effective, search engines are optimized in their behalf, the use of articles to establish themselves as leaders in their particular niche, the use of blogs and podcasts to enhance business performance and reinforce customer loyalties, and so much more. Anyone charged with the responsibility of insuring their business can compete successfully in today's volatile and competitive marketplace in this age of the internet would be exceptionally well advised to give a close and careful reading to Susan Lincoln's "Mastering Web 2.0".

Think Like A Champion
Donald J. Trump with Meredith McIver
Vanguard Press
c/o Perseus Books Group
Eleven Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
www.vanguardpressbooks.com
9781593155308, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Written with the assistance of Meredith McIver, "Think Like A Champion" is a compilation of advice and commentary from one of the country's best known entrepreneurs -- Donald J. Trump. This outspoken and often flamboyant real estate tycoon and television impresario covers a wide spectrum of topics and issues ranging from Barack Obama as a political phenomena, to our currently troubled economy, to the necessity for entrepreneurs to take chances in the marketplace, to establishing a reputation, to the necessity for financial literacy, to the use of imagination as a tool for commercial and personal success. "Think Like A Champion" is 'must' reading for the legions of Donald Trump fans -- and a popular and very highly recommended addition to any community library collection.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Reincarnation: Stepping Stones of Life
M. Don Schorn
Ozark Mountain Publishing, Inc.
PO Box 754, Huntsville, AR 72740
9781886940628 $14.50 www.ozarkmt.com 1-800-935-0045

Reincarnation: Stepping Stones of Life is a straightforward description and explanation of the reincarnations process. Author M. Don Schorn does not strive to argue for or provide proof of reincarnation, but rather requires that readers keep an open mind as he walks them through a higher perspective of life's trials. An inspirational metaphysical guide to the matters so critically important that they transcend individual lifespans. "We tend to complicate life, but the basics are simply the universal truths of Good and Evil. One's nurtured and inherent individual core values, sometimes known as our 'conscience,' guide us in our responses to those perceived 'gray areas' of right-and-wrong that are encountered during life. In real terms, there are no 'gray areas,' only the Natural Law of absolute Good or Evil. Natural Law is theoretically a 'higher law,' a universal code or moral truth that is ever constant."


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Andean Express
Juan de Recacoechea, author
Adrian Althoff, translator
Akashic Books
PO Box 1456, New York, NY 10009
9781933354729 $15.95 www.akashicbooks.com

Set on an overnight train journey to the Chilean coast in 1952, Andean Express is a saga of murder, intrigue, and tragedy. A dozen passengers, each with their own hopes, fears, and personal demons are forced into increasingly desperate circumstances, as at least one of them appears to be a cold-blooded killer. The story reflects mid-century Bolivian life, with characters hailing from all the rungs of society. From the beautiful woman being forces into an arranged marriage she loathes, to a well-to-do high school graduate dragged into the problems of a peer, no one aboard the Andean Express is precisely what he or she seems to be. A captivating read cover to cover, highly recommended.


The Psychology Shelf

Deception
Brooke Harrington, editor
Stanford University Press
1450 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1124
9780804756495, $34.95 www.sup.org

Deception: From Ancient Empires to Internet Dating is an anthology of essays by learned scholars in branches of expertise ranging from biology and physics to archaeologists to military strategists, concerning a psychological phenomenon that affects nearly every aspect of human life up to the modern day: deception. The latest psychological research suggests that normal human beings tell at least two or three lies daily; deception also plays a critical role in the animal kingdom, both in matters of survival and reproduction. Yet despite deception's pervasive, intrinsic effect on human culture, human knowledge of it is limited - even as new tools such as the Internet have made deception more commonplace and easier to spread than ever before. Individual essays of "Deception" include "Why Most People Parse Palters, Fibs, Lies, Whoppers, and Other Deceptions Poorly", "Digital Doctoring: Can We Trust Photographs?", "Does Rumor Lie? Narrators, Trust, and the Framing of Information", "Crocodile Tears, or, Method Acting in Everyday Life", "The Pleasures of Lying", and many more. An enthusiastically recommended and much-needed addition to psychology collections. "On the positive side, the ability suspend disbelief is part of the enjoyment of art and many leisure activities... In our personal lives, we may also collude with liars who tell us what we want to believe or need to believe. In addition, we are often lazy and do not care whether something is really true or just true enough. All of these habits of perception and reaction contribute to the poor parsing of deception."


The Travel Shelf

Deep Travel
David K. Leff
University of Iowa Press
100 Kuhl House, 119 West Park Road, Iowa City, IA 52242-1000
9781587297892, $32.00 www.uiowapress.org 1-800-621-2736

Deep Travel: In Thoreau's Wake on the Concord and Merrimack is a first-person travelogue and narrative memoir about author David Leff's personal journey in 2004, undertaken in the same, open-minded spirit toward natural ecology that characterizes the classical works of American legend Henry David Thoreau. The concept of "deep travel" - seeking to better understand oneself and the world through one's journey, and therefore traveling "deep" rather than "far" - resonates through this story of the value of seeking, contemplating, and personal enrichment through being open to new experiences and perspectives. Told in first-person from the author's perspective - later with input from those who shared his journeys (his neighbor, friend, and expert city planner Alan, his eleven-year-old son Josh, and his sweetheart Pamela) - Deep Travel is an unforgettable source of inspiration and is especially recommended to armchair travelers as well as nature lovers of all backgrounds.


The Anthropology Shelf

Ancient Human Migrations
Peter N. Peregrine, et al.
University of Utah Press
1795 East South Campus Drive, #101, Salt Lake City, UT 84112-9402
www.uofupress.com
9780874809428, $30.00, www.amazon.com

From the very beginnings of our species somewhere in Africa, the history of the human race has been a history of migration. The distribution of the races and diverse ethnicity has its origins in the migration patters of antiquity materially affecting and influencing the ideologies, economies and politics of the modern world. Collaboratively compiled and edited by the team of Peter N. Peregrine (Professor and Chair of Anthropology, Lawrence University, Appleton, Wisconsin), Ilia Peiros (Department of Linguistics and Applied Linguistices, University of Melbourne, Australia), and Marcus Feldman Professor of Biology, Stanford University), "Ancient Human Migrations: A Multidisciplinary Approach" is a compendium scholarly articles by a variety of contributors from various academic disciplines. A body of original and seminal work, "Ancient Human Migrations" is a seminal contribution to the study of humanities origins and displays the fallacious notion that there are 'pure' races, cultures or languages when it comes to our species. A model of academic scholarship, "Ancient Human Migrations" is highly recommended for academic library Anthropology reference collections.

Celtic Curses
Dr. Bernard Mees
Boydell & Brewer Inc
668 Mount Hope Avenue, Rochester, NY 14620-2731
9781843834571, $105.00 www.boydellandbrewer.com

Dr. Bernard Mees (Fellow of the University of Melbourne) presents Celtic Curses, the first in-depth, scholarly assessment of early Celtic cursing, including but far from limited to the binding tablets of ancient Britain and Gaul, as well as records of early medieval Celtic stipulation and binding. Archaeological evidence such as Gaulish curse texts, Celtic Latin Curse tablets from the Alpine regions of Britain, and fragments of Old Brittonic tablets uncovered from Roman Bath is contemplated at length. The chapters address the nature and application of curses ranging from vengeful prayers to geases, incantations, and curses meant to channel infernal powers. A serious-minded and studious work that emphasizes archaeological and anthropological research rather than the metaphysical or occult aspects of its subject matter, Celtic Curses is enthusiastically recommended for any research library with a focus on Celtic history. "The Celtic use of curses and other sorts of magical charms clearly still lived on to become a central part of European life in late antiquity, the Christian Middle Ages and even, in some aspects, down until early modern times."

Bedouin Bisha'h Justice: Ordeal by Fire
Joseph Ginat
Sussex Academic Press
c/o International Specialized Book Services (ISBS)
920 Northeast 58th Avenue, Suite 300, Portland, OR 97213
9781845192693, $99.95 www.isbs.com 1-800-944-6190

Cultural-political anthropologist Joseph Ginat presents Bedouin Bisha'h Justice: Ordeal by Fire, a scholarly look at the judicial practice of trials by ordeal - where guilt or innocence is determined by forcing the accused to undergo a painful task - which originated in Bedouin societies and is still practiced in parts of rural Egypt today. When a suspect is accused of having committed a crime ranging from theft or property damage to murder, manslaughter, illicit sexual relations, rape, or witchcraft, and there are no witnesses to the alleged misdeed, one may be required to lick a ladle that has been heated to 600-900 degrees Celsius - if the suspect's tongue blisters, he or she is found guilty; if the suspect's tongue is clear, he or she is innocent. The majority of the cases applying these trials of ordeal involve peasants (not Bedouin), and sometimes even city dwellers undergo the ceremony. An extremely scholarly analysis of the phenomenon, featuring a wealth of case studies and examples, Bedouin Bisha'h Justice: Ordeal by Fire is a thoughtful and utterly invaluable contribution to anthropology and Middle Eastern Studies shelves.


The American History Shelf

Fort Laramie: Military Bastion of the High Plains
Douglas C. McChristian
The Arthur H. Clark Company
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780870623608, $45.00 www.ahclark.com 1-800-842-9286

Written by former National Park service field historian at the Fort Davis and Fort Laramie national historic sites Douglas C. McChristian, Fort Laramie: Military Bastion of the High Plains is an exhaustive history of Fort Laramie throughout its long and colorful existence, with particular emphasis upon the fort's military history. From the story of the fort's vital role in combating American Indian opposition to U.S. settlement and occupation, to the (formerly) untold story of the 1874 killing of Lieutenant Levi Robinson, to the Grattan fight of 1854 that ushered in a generation of conflict between Indians and U.S. soldiers, to how the fort was abandoned by the army in 1890, Fort Laramie: Military Bastion of the High Plains is an extraordinarily in-depth account, drawing upon a wealth of archival evidence to support its chronicle. An excellent addition to American military history shelves, highly recommended to college library collections yet accessible to history enthusiasts of all backgrounds.

Alameda
Greta Dutcher & Stephen Rowland
Arcadia Publishing
420 Wando Park Blvd., Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
www.arcadiapublishing.com
9780738530390, $19.99, www.amazon.com

Unique among publishers of American history materials is Arcadia Publishing's 'Postcard History' series which photomechanically reproduces postcards of local American communities and through them provides a kind of visual history of that village, town or city. Such is the case with "Alameda" in which co-authors Greta Dutcher (a vintage post card collector) and Stephen Rowland celebrate the history of Alameda, California. This is a community that was a major waterfront shipping port, evolved into a resort destination, was home to major military stations, and experienced the kind of growth and evolution common to many other California communities throughout the 20th century. Each black-and-white postcard image is captioned, providing the reading with background information identifying and placing into context the image displayed. "Alameda" is very highly recommended for vintage post card enthusiasts in general, and anyone with an interest in the history of Alameda in particular. Vintage post card collectors and students of regional American history would be well advised to visit the Arcadia Publishing website at www.arcadiapublishing.com for a complete title listing of their extensive 'Postcard History' series.

The American Nation
Bruce P. Frohnen, editor
Liberty Fund, Inc.
8335 Allison Pointe Trail, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46250-1684
www.libertyfund.org
9780865977303, $14.50, www.amazon.com

When compared with other nation-states, America today may seem at first glance to be an icon of stability. But it is not an accurate reflection of America today -- or at any given point in its political history. Knowledgeably compiled and deftly edited by Bruce P. Frohnen (Visiting Associate Professor of Law, Ohio Northern University College of Law), "The American Nation: Primary Sources" is a compilation of seminal documents providing insight and context for the diversity of policies and perspectives that shaped and engaged American public life and conflicts from the American Civil War to America's entrance into World War II. This was a period of time that saw the rise of mass-market corporatism, American engagement as a world power, and the establishment of those political and economic conditions that would give rise to the most successful middle-class the world had ever seen. Of special note is Professor Frohnen's in-depth study of these public documents and their effects on the public acts and governmental pronouncements that influenced the daily lives of the American public and the course of the country itself. Also available in a hardcover edition (9780865977297, $30.00), "The American Nation" is a very highly recommended addition to personal, school, and community library American History and Political Science reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Food In The United States 1890-1945
Megan J. Elias
Greenwood Press
c/o ABC-CLIO
PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
www.abc-clio.com
9780313354106, $49.95, www.amazon.com

It was in 1893 that the United States Supreme Court designated the tomato as a vegetable for the purposes of trade. In 1903 James Dole began canning pineapple in order to make it easier and more reliable to sell them elsewhere in this country and around the world. In 1923 the ice cream industry was revolutionized with the introduction of Good Humor bars. The commercial soda pop industry began with the introduction of 7-Up in 1929. Innovations where also happening in the kitchen as well with the 1930 introduction of the Sunbeam Mixmaster. The American military saw innovations as well, such as Spam from the Hormel Company in 1937 and K Rations in 1944. The federal government contributed to the regulating of the food industry with The National Pure Food and Drug Act in 1906. All of these fascinating bits of food, food industry, and domestic food preparations (and so much more!) are laid out by Megan J. Elias (Assistant Professor of History, Queensborough Community College, Bayside, New York) in the pages of "Food In The United States 1890-1945", the newest title in the outstanding Greenwood Press 'Food in American History' series. After an informed and informative introduction, "Food In The United States 1890-1945" is very nicely organized into four major sections (Food Stuffs; Food Preparation; Eating habits; Concepts of Diet and Nutrition and Food Crises). With the addition of an extensive bibliography and a comprehensive index, and a work of exceptionally impressive scholarship, "Food In The United States 1890-1945" is enthusiastically recommended as a unique and seminal addition to academic and community library American History reference collections.

Discover Colorado
Matthew Downey & Ty Bliss
Pruett Publishing Company
PO Box 2140, Boulder, CO 80306-2140
www.pruettpublishing.com
9780871082926, $35.00, 1-800-247-8224

The history and development of Colorado are aptly presented in "Discover Colorado: Its People, Places, & Times", an instructive textbook that is the collaborative work of Matthew Downey (Professor of History, University of Northern Colorado) and Ty Bliss (an experienced classroom educator and teacher consultant for the Doing History/Keeping the Past Project which promotes Colorado history education). Accessibly organized into six units of two chapters each, "Discover Colorado" provides an informative overview of Colorado geography, its prehistory, Native Americans, early settlers, miners, farmers, and ranchers. Of special note is the Unit 'Colorado in Modern Times' spanning 1890 to 2000. Enhanced with an appendices (Our State Emblems), a glossary, and an index, "Discover Colorado" is an ideal Colorado history curriculum textbook, as well as a very highly recommended addition to community library American History collections in general, and Colorado History reading lists in particular.


The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

Music in German Immigrant Theater
John Koegel
University of Rochester Press
668 Mt. Hope Avenue, Rochester, NY 14472
9781580462150, $80.00 www.urpress.com 1-800-679-2058

Music in German Immigrant Theater: New York City 1840-1940 is a scholarly, meticulously researched historical accounting of the music in German-language musical plays and light operas, which played an important role in the culture of German immigrants and their families during the era. From documented performances of plays by Shakespeare and Goethe in German, to German musical comedies that arose as early as the 1890s, to ethnic parodies, the challenges and stage flair of German American performers, stage works of notable authors such as Adolf Neuendorff and Adolf Philipp, and much more, Music in German Immigrant Theater strives to give its subject as thorough and comprehensive a treatment as possible. A solid, in-depth treatise on the subject, particularly recommended as a supplement to music and theatrical history collections.


The Self-Help Shelf

Good Choices Good Life
Michael L. Nelson
Atlas Books
30 Amberwood Parkway, Ashland, OH 44805
9780981687605, $24.95 www.AtlasBooks.com 1-800-537-6727

Good Choices Good Life: Becoming the Person You Were Intended To Be is a self-help book about the crucial importance of the choices one makes, which in turn define one's life and one's nature. Written around the tenet that our lives have an intended purpose which is revealed by the people and events that happen, Good Choices Good Life notes that developing the "signals" of these events into important guidance posts to one's destiny is completely dependent on one's ability to make good judgments in one's actions. Chapters discuss the value of honesty, how self-control improves one's available choices, the difference between experience and understanding, distractions to watch out for on the journey to become "who you are", and much more. An insightful self-help book, highly recommended.


The Native American Shelf

Canyon Records Productions
3131 West Clarendon Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85017
www.canyonrecords.com www.amazon.com

Canyon Records is the premier producer of authentic Native American music (both traditional and contemporary) for academia and the non-specialist general audiences who enjoy and appreciate that music. Four new Canyon Records CD productions have been released: Louie Gonnie's "Rhythms Within a Turquoise Dream: Peyote Songs of the Native American Church" (CR-6454, 75:33, $15.98); "Through Thick and Thin: Pow-Wow Songs Recorded Live at Mt. Pleasant" (CR-6448, 44:52, $15.98) performed by Bear Creek; Northern Cree's "True Blue: Pow-Wow Songs Recorded Live at Red Mountain" (CR-6456, 58:00, $15.98); and Many Tribes One Nation: Pow-Wow Songs Recorded Live at San Manuel" (CR-6457, 45:05, $15.98) performed by Warscout. All four of these excellent albums are flawlessly recorded and provide enduringly impressive performances that are the next best thing to having a front row seat at their respective live performances. Librarians, Native American music enthusiasts and collectors would be well advised to visit the Canyon Records website at www.canyonrecords.com for a complete listing and archive of their Native American recordings.


The Hunting/Fishing Shelf

Steelhead Fishing Essentials
Marc Davis
Frank Amato Publications
PO Box 82112, Portland, OR 97282
www.amatobooks.com
9781571884503, $29.95, www.amazon.com

There's no fishing experience quite like trying to land a steelhead salmon. That's why "Steelhead Fishing Essentials: A Complete Guide to Techniques & Equipment" by steelhead fishing expert Marc Davis will be so well appreciated by the novice angler. Included in this superbly organized and presented instruction manual is a 100-minute DVD featuring dramatic underwater footage and steelhead fishing action documenting the value of what Davis offers in the pages of this superbly written and comprehensive textbook that covers everything from where and how to find steelhead, tackle and bait, lines and leaders, hooks and leads, rods and reels, baits and lures, basic equipment, casting and catching, boats, logs and records, and even what to do with steelheads when you've caught them. Thoroughly 'user friendly', "Steelhead Fishing Essentials" is enthusiastically and confidently recommended for anyone wanting to experience one of the greatest thrills a fisherman can experience -- successfully landing a steelhead salmon.


The Cookbook Shelf

Noodle Comfort
Kentaro Kobayashi
Vertical, Inc.
1185 Avenue of the Americas, 32nd floor, New York, NY 10036
www.vertical-inc.com
9781934287576, $14.95, www.amazon.com

Japanese cuisine is one of the most popular Asian strains of ethnic culinary dining in America today. "Noodle Comfort: Easy Japanese Cooking" is a beautifully illustrated compilation of thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes showcasing some of very best Japanese dishes that would be a suited for ordinary family meals as they would be appropriate for special celebratory dining occasions. With recipes ranging from Ramen with Tofu; Pan-Fried Chicken Soba; Duck Noodle Soup with Parsley; Yakisoba with Ham; and Fried Mochi; to Shrimp Tempura Soba; Spaghetti with Egg and Ricotta Tomato Sauce; Somen with Mixed Tempura; Hot Soymilk Somen Noodles with Clams; and Hiyamugi with Pork and Sesame Sauce; "Noodle Comfort" is a welcome and certain to be enduringly popular addition to personal, family, and community library ethnic cookbook collections!

Traditional Cape Malay Cooking
Zainab Lagardien
Struik Publishers
c/o International Publishers Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
www.internationalpubmarket.com
9781770076716, $22.00, www.amazon.com

South Africa is home to a number of tribes, peoples, customs, cultures, and cuisines. In "Traditional Cape Malay Cooking", Zainab Lagardien draws upon her many years of experience and expertise as a doyenne of Malay cuisine to compile truly superb and 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes for ethnic dishes celebrating Malay cuisine. Profusely illustrated in full color, the recipes are grouped together in thematic chapters that include Soups and Light Meals; Fish and Seafood; Poultry; Meat; Curries and Breyanis; Bredies and Stews; Rice, Vegetables and Salads; Sambals, Atjars and Sauces; Puddings; Cakes, Tarts and Biscuits; Breads and Fritters. Of special note is the chapter dedicated to 'Cooking for Large Numbers'. The recipes range from Malayan Crumbed Chicken; Hout Bay Crayfish Tail Curry; Lazy Housewife's Green Bean Bredie; and Grandma's Sago Stew; to Malayan Cauliflower; Carrot and Quince Sambal; Apricot Jam Baked Pudding; and Zainab's Apple Tart. "Traditional Cape Malay Cooking" is a welcome addition to personal, family, and community library international cuisine cookbook collections. Also very highly recommended from Struik Publishers is Ramola Parbhoo's "Traditional Indian Cooking In South Africa" (9781770076563, $23.50) which reflects and showcases another of South Africa's culinary traditions.

Memorable Recipes
Renee Behnke & Cynthia Nims
Andrews & McMeel
4520 Main St., Kansas City, MO 64111
www.andrewsmcmeel.com
9780740773938, $35.00, www.amazon.com

It is the contention of professional trained chef Renee Behnke that good dining is made even better when conducted in the company of friends and family. That is the underlying premise of "Memorable Recipes To Share With Family And Friends" in which she, with the assistance of Cynthia Nims, has compiled beautiful illustrated recipes for turning any meal into a grand dining occasion with company from appetizers, to soups and salads, to main dishes, side dishes and desserts. Of special note is her insights, instructions, advices, and commentary on how to create a truly memorable dinner party (including tips on planning the evening and even 'Wine Notes'). Another distinctive feature is an extensive section dedicated to menu ideas. With each one beginning with little anecdotes, the recipes range from Fettuccine with Lemon Cream and Spicy Tomato Topping; Endive and Radicchio Salad; Rack of Lamb with Rosemary and Garlic; and Cheese Stuffed Tomatoes; to Moroccan-Style Biscotti; Party Sangria; Classic Cornbread; and Paella with Chicken and Shellfish. Enhanced with chapters on cooking techniques and kitchen tools, "Memorable Recipes" is a beautifully produced and highly recommended addition to personal and community library cookbook collections for truly fine dining!

The Bryant Family Vineyard Cookbook
Barbara Bryant & Betsy Fentress
Andrews & McMeel
4520 Main St., Kansas City, MO 64111
www.andrewsmcmeel.com
9780740769771, $50.00, www.amazon.com

Founded in 1992, the Bryant Family Vineyard has become exceptional well known and highly appreciated amongst connoisseurs of great American vintages. Now Barbar Bryant (co-founder of the vineyard) with the assistance of Betsy Fentress has compiled an impressive coffee-table style compendium of eighty superb recipes drawn from truly great chefs and culinary masters from around the country who share a delight for the Bryan Family Cabernet Sauvignon. Illustrated in full color, the recipes range from Lobster Salad with Haricots Verts; Sauteed Diver Scallops with Cauliflower, Capers, and Almonds; and Pasta with Heirloom tomatoes, Fresh Mozzarella, Basil, and Balsamic Vinaigrette; to Cavatelli with Braised Duck; Roasted Garlic and Almond Flan with Asparagus and Wild Mushrooms; and Chocolate Short Bread, "The Bryant Family Vineyard Cookbook" is a compendium of elegant, highly recommended, yet thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' dining ideas and dishes.

Nile Style
Amy Riolo
Hippocrene Books, Inc.
171 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016
www.hippocrenebooks.com
9780781812214, $29.95, www.amazon.com

Egypt is an ancient land of monuments and artifacts. It's also a country rich in distinctive culinary traditions that encompass food and dining as a fundamental element of both ancient and modern festivals, ceremonies, and celebrations. An internationally recognized culinary authority, food historian, and cooking instructor, Amy Riolo brings her many years of experience and expertise to bear when she compiled the recipes comprising "Nile Style: Egyptian Cuisine And Culture", a illustrated, 220-page compendium of superbly presented recipes that range from such exotic fare as Nubian Bread ad Hibiscus Punch; to traditional dishes like Lentils, Rice, and Pasta with Spicy Tomato Sauce; to classics like Egyptian Rice, Apricot, and Pistachio Pudding. The Egyptian names for each of the presented recipes is given along with the English translations of their names. Enhanced with the inclusion of a glossary of ingredients commonly used in Egyptian cooking, a 'Where to Buy' guide (including specific contact information for vendors of specialty ingredients not otherwise readily available), a tour-guide listing of superb Egyptian restaurants, an extensive bibliography, and a handy index, "Nile Style" is an enthusiastically recommended addition for personal and community library ethnic cookbook collections.

Cocktail Boothby's American Bar-Tender
William T. Boothby
Anchor Brewing Co.
1705 Mariposa Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
www.anchorbrewing.com
9780982247334, $14.95, www.amazon.com

Originally published in 1891, and now deftly edited by David Burkhart for this new 2009 New Anchor Distilling edition for the Anchor Brewing Company, "Cocktail Boothby's American Bar-Tender" is basically a faithful photomechanical reproduction of a true classic that has long been out of print and only available as a rare (and expensive) antiquarian book acquisition. There are 361 drink recipes listed in its pages, some of which are long forgotten preparations for esoteric beverages, while others are instantly recognizable by drink connoisseurs today. These drink recipes include instructions for mixing abinsthes, cocktails, coolers, cobblers, crustas, fixes, flips, fizzes, hot drinks, lemonades, punches, sangarees, shakes, toddies, and more. Of quaint and fascinating interest is the circa 1890s information provided regarding the retail liquor business, printed advertisements, and a sixteen page 'Addenda' that reproduces hand written notes that were found lodged in the original 1891 edition of "Cocktail Boothby's American Bar-Tender". Enhanced with such newly discovered photographs and biographical material, "Cocktail Boothby's American Bar-Tender" is a true treasure to be added to the browsing and reference shelf of any and all amateur and professional bar tenders playing the trade for friends, family, customers, and clientele.

The Barcelona Cookbook
Sasa Mahr-Batuz, et al.
Andrews & McMeel
4520 Main St., Kansas City, MO 64111
www.andrewsmcmeel.com
9780740773945, $29.99, www.amazon.com

The Connecticut restaurant Barcelona chain has a well deserved regional reputation for food that is especially elegant with flavor and cultural culinary subtext. Now the team of Sasa Mahr-Batuz and Andy Pforzheimer (with the assistance of Mary Goodbody) has compiled an equally elegant compilation of recipes for dishes served in the Barcelona restaurants. Superbly illustrated throughout, there are chapters dedicated to cocktails and wine, cold and hot tapas, main courses, party dishes, and desserts. The recipes range from a Clementine Crush; Goat Cheese with Mojo Verde; and Lobster Risotto; to Morcilla Sausage with Caramelized Onions; Grilled Sea Bass with Warm Salad of Fingerling Potatoes and Wax Beans with Broken Shallot Vinaigrette; and Crepas Salguero. Enhanced a listing of sources for Spanish ingredients and foods, an extensive metric conversions and equivalents table, and a handy index, "The Barcelona Cookbook" is a welcome and highly recommended addition to personal, professional, and community library ethnic cookbook collections!


The Art Shelf

Designing & Living With Glass Tiles
Patricia Hart McMillan, et al.
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Rd, Atglen, PA 19310
www.schifferbooks.com
9780764332661, $24.99, www.amazon.com

A favorite medium for professional interior decorators, glass tiles are one of the most versatile materials for providing light, sheen, depth, and color to any room design project. Featuring more than 290 images of glass tiles and how they've been utilized with respect to interior and exterior room designs, the team of Patricia Hart McMillan, Liz Hart McMillan, and Katharine Kaye McMillan have collaborated in producing "Designing & Living With Glass Tiles: Inspiration For Home And Garden", a compendium of information, ideas, and inspirational examples that is a perfect browse for anyone considering the use of glass tiles in their own construction or remodeling projects for any room of their home, or a patio, or an ornamental garden feature. Of special note is the exceptionally useful information and tips on selecting and installing glass tiles. "Designing & Living With Glass Tiles" is very highly recommended for personal, professional, academic, and community library Interior Design reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Kenneth Snelson: Forces Made Visible
Eleanor Heartney, essayist
Hudson Hills Press
PO Box 205, Manchester, VT 05254
www.hudsonhills.com
9781555952433, $75.00, www.amazon.com

Simply stated, Kenneth Snelson is to sculpture what Frank Lloyd Wright is to architecture -- a pioneering genius of originality, innovation, and controversy. Nicely illustrated with personal photographs, the foreword by Kenneth Snelson for this compendium of his works provides an autobiographical overview of his life. Then art historian and author Eleanor Heartney provides the reader with an informed and informative extended essay on modern sculpture in general, and the contributions of Snelson in particular. Of particular note is the illustrated commentary by Snelson of installing one of his sculptures in Berlin. The majority of "Kenneth Snelson: Forces Made Visible" beautifully showcases in full color captioned images of his diverse creations. A very highly recommended addition to professional and academic library collections, this coffee-table art book edition of "Kenneth Snelson: Forces Made Visible" will be of particular interest to students modern sculpture.

Gothic
Clemens Schmidlin & Caroline Eva Gerner
H. F. Ullmann
c/o Langenscheidt Publishing Group
PO Box 979, Spring House, PA 19477
www.langenscheidt.com
9780841603493, $16.99, www.amazon.com

One of the newest additions to H.F. Ullman's 'Art Pocket' series, "Gothic" showcases beautiful full color reproductions of the art, sculpture, and architecture of Europe's gothic era. This 287-page compendium of superbly illustrated information is a sturdily bound pocket size that is highly portable and the perfect companion to take along to either museum visits or traveling to on-site locations. With entries ranging from the Notre Dame cathedral, to obscure yet beautifully produced illuminated manuscripts, from iconic sculptures to masterpiece wall paintings, "Gothic" is as informed and informative as it is thoughtful and thought-provoking. Also very highly recommended for personal, academic, and community library Art History reference collections and Art Appreciation supplemental reading lists are two other newly released additions to the 'Art Pocket' series: "Impressionism" (9780841603516, $16.99) and "Art Nouveau" (9780841603486, $16.99).

Stephen Hannock
Jason Rosenfeld, et al.
Hudson Hills Press
74-2 Union St., Manchester, VT 05254
www.hudsonhills.com
9781555952914, $85.00, www.amazon.com

Stephen Hannock is an American artist whose artistic endeavors include painting, woodcuts, drawings, and 'photo assemblages'. His magnificent paintings are flawlessly reproduced and include scenes of flooded rivers, rockets, vistas and nocturnes in "Stephen Hannock", and impressively published coffee-table art book. Of special note are the sections dedicated to his palimpsests and self-portraits. His woodcuts are grouped thematically (Mountain Water; Travels; Figures and Friends). Enhanced with the inclusion of informed and informative articles on his work and subject matter by Mark C. Taylor ('Landscape of Self-Portraiture'); Martha Hoppin ('The Oxbow'); Jason Rosenfeld ('Stephen Hannock: New England/New York); and Garrett White ('Beneath the Light: Digital Imaging in the Art of Stephen Hannock'), "Stephen Hannock" provides a comprehensive introduction to the artist and his art. With the addition of a chronology; a list of selected exhibitions, installations, awards and collections; a selected bibliography, photography credits and an index, "Stephen Hannock" is especially recommended as an addition to personal, community, and academic library American Art History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Alan Gussow: A Painter's Nature
Martica Sawin
Hudson Hills Press
74-2 Union Street, Manchester, VT 05254
www.hudsonhills.com
9781555953089, $70.00, www.amazon.com

To say that the late Alan Gussow (1931-1997) was a good painter is the equivalent of identifying Frank Lloyd Wright as an 'okay' architect. Now under the capable editorship of, and with informative commentary and background by Martica Sawin, and prefaced with informative contributions by John Driscoll and James Kiberd, "Alan Gussow: A Painter's Nature" is a long needed, 378-page, coffee table book style compilation of Gussow's art, flawless reproduced in full color with identifying captions on the opposing page of each image. A fitting memorial to a great American artist, "Alan Gussow: A Painter's Nature" is a significant, seminal, and strongly recommended addition to personal, professional, and academic library 20th Century American Art History reference collections.


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

Underground Classics
James Danky & Denis Kitchen
Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
115 W. 18th St., 6th fl, NY, NY 10011
www.abramsbooks.com
9780810905986, $29.95, www.amazon.com

Modern comics have their origin in the newspaper illustrated cartoon strips of the late 19th century and evolved into 'comic books' in the late 1920s, becoming an indispensable part of American popular culture in the 1930s with the introduction of 'Super Hero' characters beginning with Superman and Batman. Comics then began to proliferate at a rapid pace in all the literary genres from Romance, to Westerns, to Crime and Horror. Viewed on as an inferior form of literature that was capable of 'corrupting young minds', attempts to suppress and regulate comic books through the imposition of a comic book code drove a number of innovative and iconoclastic comic book artists 'under ground'. That's when comics became 'comix' and had its own 'Golden Age' in the counter-culture communities of the 1960s and 1970s with such icons as Robert Crumb who work is still considered influential today. In "Underground Classics: The Transformation Of Comics Into Comix" is the collaborative effort of academician James Danky (School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Wisconsin - Madison) and cartoonist, and publisher Denis Kitchen who has personally worked with every important comix artist the heyday of the underground comics movement. Profusely illustrated throughout, "Underground Classics" is an informed and informative historical overview that is very highly recommended reading for all comic book enthusiasts with an interest in the history of this truly distinctive yet immensely diverse American art form.


The Humor Shelf

The Awesome Book Of Dog Humor
Bob Phillips & Jonny Hawkins
Harvest House Publishers
990 Owen Loop North, Eugene, Oregon 97402-9173
www.harvesthousepublishers.com
9780736925174, $5.99, www.amazon.com

Combining his life of dogs with his sense of humor, Bob Phillips as team up with professional cartoonist Jonny Hawkins to produce a compact 127-page compendium of jokes, puns, riddles, and quotes that will provide a wealth of wonderful entertainment for readers ages 7 to 70. Suitable for memorizing and citing at social gatherings with friends and family, and in celebration of our canine companions, the reader is treated to such witty observations as 'A sheep-herding dog that loved watermelon had a pup. It was a melon-collie baby.' As well as such pithy observations as 'Life is like a dogsled team. If you ain't the lead dog, the scenery never changes' (Lewis Grizzard). Thoroughly 'family friendly', "The Awesome Book Of Dog Humor" is highly recommended reading for all canine enthusiasts -- and certain to be a popular addition to personal and community library American Humor collections.


The Architecture Shelf

Home Work
Lloyd Kahn
Shelter Publications
PO Box 279, Bolinas, CA 94924
www.shelterpub.com
9780936070339, $26.95, www.amazon.com

Architecture at its most innovative best combines form and function with esthetics and practicality. Withing those parameters is an immense diversity of architectural styles for personal homes. Nowhere is this more evident than in homes that people build for themselves by hand as personalized inspiration and eccentricity and necessity took them. In "Home Work: Handbuilt Shelters", author Lloyd Kahn has compiled an impressive array of illustrated examples of such structures. Each superbly reproduced image in the form of full color photographs showcasing hand-made homes is enhanced for the reader with a succinct but informative caption. This 245-page compendium of beautifully presented examples makes "Home Work" a superb browse and a very highly recommended addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library Architectural Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Wonders Of World Architecture
Neil Parkyn, editor
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, NY, NY 10110-0017
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500284001, $29.95, www.amazon.com

Knowledgeably compiled and expertly edited by professional architect and experienced city planner Neil Parkyn, "Wonders Of World Architecture" is more than just beautifully illustrated global survey of architectural constructions, it is also an informed and informative text book that addresses a host of fascinating architecturally themes questions and issues such as how the Empire State Building was able to be constructed in the middle of a very crowded and bustling New York City; Why does the Leaning Tower of Pisa lean -- and not fall over; What supports the soaring, lofty vaults of Chartres Cathedral; and so much more. "Wonders Of World Architecture" draws upon contributions and commentaries of architects, engineers, and architectural historians as it presents an historical overview of architectural history, creativity, and innovation from AD 500 down to the present day. A superbly organized, 304-page compendium of 'reader friendly' facts, information, and images, "Wonders Of World Architecture" truly lives up to its title and is an enthusiastically recommended acquisition for professional, academic, and community library Architectural Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The International Studies Shelf

Iraq In Transition
Peter J. Munson
Potomac Books, Inc.
22841 Quicksilver Dr., Dulles, VA 20166
www.potomacbooksinc.com
9781597973007, $37.50, www.amazon.com

The beginning of Iraq's transformation from a single-party dictatorship to a multi-party democracy began with the U.S. invasion of Iraq and the subsequent overthrow of Saddam Hussein. As events unfolded it became clear that this was a pre-emptive 'war of choice' on the part of the Bush administration who over the next seven years were to consistently bungle the American occupation of Iraq, the ensuing civil war between warring political and religious factions within the Iraqi population, and the current continuing violence that results in the deaths of hundreds of Iraqi citizens (and the occasion American soldier) every month. That's why "Iraq In Transition: The Legacy Of Dictatorship And The Prospects For Democracy" by combat Marine officer Peter J. Munson is such a timely and useful contribution to our understanding of the political and military forces behind the nightly news headlines from that embroiled nation. "Iraq In Transitions" provides a complete history beginning with how Iraq was formed, the impact of Islam, and the 'rise of the tribes' within Iraq's power structures. Noted is the rise of the Shi'a as a political entity, the Sunni suppression under the Bath party, the post-American invasion insurgencies from 2003 to 2007, Iraq's constitution and elections, and the advances by the American and Iraqi military against the insurgents. Of special note is the concluding chapter regarding what we ourselves have learned from our experiences in Iraq over the past several years and what those 'lessons learned' mean in terms of our future relations in the Middle East and around the world. Enhanced with the inclusion of a selected bibliography, extensive footnotes, and a comprehensive index, "Iraq In Transition" is highly recommended for academic and community library Iraqi Studies and International Studies reference collections, as well as non-specialist general readers with an interest in understanding the events of the past several years in Iraq and what America can expect in the years to come.


The World History Shelf

Inventing Latin Heretics
Tia M. Kolbaba
Medieval Institute Publications
College of Arts and Sciences
Western Michigan University
1903 West Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5432
www.w.mich.edu/medieval/mip
9781580441339, $40.00, www.amazon.com

In many ways, the Byzantine Empire had as important an impact on the development of first millennia Christianity as did the Roman papacy. The writings of Roman and Byzantine scholars of the 9th Century are the subject of seminal academic research to this very day. Case in point: "Inventing Latin heretics: Byzantines And The Filioque In The Ninth Century" by Tia M. Kolbaba (Assistant Professor, Department of Religion, Rutgers University) which has as its focus the introduction of 'heresiology', defining terms, summarizing an extensive secondary scholarship, and descriptively analyzing the history of Byzantine anti-heretical texts down to the ninth century. Of special note are the three chapters dedicated to examining in detail the transmission, form, and contents of the three anti-Filoque texts attributed to Photos, as well as selected texts exemplifying what nine-century Byzantines wrote about Latin 'errors'. "Inventing Latin Heretics" is a fascinating body of seminal scholarship and a welcome, highly recommended addition to academic library Byzantine Studies and First Millennium Christian History reference collections, as well as supplemental studies reading lists.

Pocket Timeline of Islamic Civilization
Nicholas Badcott
Interlink Publishing Group
46 Crosby St., Northampton, MA 01060
www.interlinkbooks.com
9781566567589, $13.95, www.amazon.com

Prior to 9/11, what most Americans new about Islamic history and culture was derived from old movies and a bit of the crusader era from out-of-date highschool history books. But all that has changed now with the attacks of militant Islamic political factions against American targets and our military involvement in such nations as Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. "Pocket Timeline of Islamic Civilization" is a 32-page, color illustrated, hard cover compendium of information compiled by Nicholas Badcott (Arab World Education Officer, the British Museum, London, England) that provides an informed and informative overview of the history and accomplishments of Islam including the Umayyads, Bbbasids, Fatimids, Seljugs, Zengids, Ayyubids, Mamluks, Ilkhands, Ottomans, Timurids, Safavids, and Mughals. Enhanced with a twelve-page pull-out timeline format, and featuring a bibliography and website list, the "Pocket Timeline of Islamic Civilization" is very handy and highly recommended resource for anyone seeking an concise overview of Islamic history from its earliest days down to the modern era.


The Language Studies Shelf

Memoria Press
4605 Poplar Level Rd, Louisville, KY 40213
www.MemoriaPress.com 1-877-862-1097

Memoria Press is a premier publisher of instructional materials for Latin and Greek language courses. These materials come in formats that include textbooks, workbooks, teacher keys, and instructional DVDs. Prepared by academics who are experts in their fields, all of Memoria Press titles meet the highest standards of academia and can be confidently recommended as core curriculum supplements. Among the newest offers are "Roots Of English: Latin And Greek Roots For Beginners" (9781930953253, $19.95) by Paul O'Brien; "Classical Rhetoric With Aristotle: Traditional Principles Of Speaking And Writing" (1930953445, $39.95); "Classical Rhetoric With Aristotle: Teacher Key (1930953453, $4.95); "Classical Rhetoric With Aristotle: Instructional DVD (9781930953550, $55.00); and "The Latin-Centered Curriculum: A Home Educator's Guide To A Traditional Classical Education" (9781930953734, $17.95) by Andrew A. Campbell. These are all academically sound, superbly produced, highly recommended materials that are exceptionally 'user friendly' and ideal for both traditional school classroom instruction as well as self-directed personal study curriculums.


The Gardening Shelf

Diseases Of Herbaceous Perennials
Mark L. Gleason, et al.
APS Press
3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121
www.shopapspress.org
9780890543740, $79.00, www.amazon.com

Now matter where they are in the country or in what climate zone they labor, every gardener must cope with the occasional problems of disease and infestation with respect to perennials. This necessity is often compounded in critical importance by those who are professional horticulturalists or who operate plant nurseries. Expertly compiled by the editorial team of Mark L. Gleason Professor and Extension Plant Pathologist, Department of Plant Pathology, Iowa State University), Margery L. Daughtrey (Senior Extension Associate, Cornell University Department of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology), Ann R. Chase (Chase Horticultural Research), Gary W. Moorman (Pennsylvania State University Department of Plant Pathology), and Daren S. Mueller (Department of Plant Pathology, Iowa State University), "Diseases Of Herbaceous Perennials" is a profusely illustrated, encyclopedically organized compendium of detailed information on those plant diseases commonly (and in some cases, uncommonly) encountered when growing perennials. A seminal and definitive work, "Diseases Of Herbaceous Perennials" is an essential addition to academic horticultural reference collections, as well as an invaluable informational resource for plant nurseries and home gardeners.


The Nautical Shelf

Twilight Of The Great Lakes Steamer
Raymond A. Bawal, Jr.
Inland Expressions
42211 Garfield Road, #297, Clinton Township, MI 48038
www.inlandexpressions.com
9780981815725, $19.95, www.amazon.com

America's inland seas called the Great Lakes have been plied by all manner of vessels, but none more iconic that the huge steam powered freighters. Once numbered in the hundreds and the subject of both folklore and song, they have dwindled down to a last remaining twenty by the end of the 2008 shipping season. Ranging from the St. Mary's Challenger build in 1906 and representing more than one hundred years of service, to the Canadian Leader, built in 1967, these great nautical vessels are beginning to pass from the scene. That's why "Twilight Of The Great Lakes Steamer", a compendium of black-and-white photos and descriptive histories in terms of their previous and current operations of this class of ship is so impressive and appreciated. Highly recommended and appropriate for academic and community library collections, "Twilight Of The Great Lakes Steamer" is an especially welcome addition to the personal collections of nautical enthusiasts in general, and Great Lakes history buffs in particular.


The Civil War Shelf

Photographic History Of The Civil War
John Rupnow
The Edwin Mellen Press
415 Ridge Street, Lewiston, NY 14092
www.mellenpress.com
9780773455993, $299.95, www.amazon.com

The nation never suffered a worse trauma than the American civil war. This conflict lays claim to a number of 'firsts'. It was the first industrial war of the modern age. It was the first war to invent the submarine, the machine gun, aerial observation balloons, and steel clad warships. It was also the first American war to be photographed and thereby leave to posterity an incomparable visual record of the carnage and destruction of war. Visually recorded for the first time in human history was the destructive aftermath done to cities, homes, roads, and rail lines. Then there are the chillingly horrific photographs of the battlefield dead. In "Photographic History Of The Civil War", John Rupnow (director of The Edwin Mellen Press) has reproduced a ten volume collection of American Civil War photographs taken by the legendary battlefield photographer Matthew Brady, originally published in 1912, which has been out-of-print for most of the past century. This set of hard bound and hand-sewn volumes is in full compliance with library standards and a strongly recommended, unique, and core addition to personal, academic, and community library American Civil War reference collections.


James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
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Oregon, WI 53575-1129
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