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Wisconsin Bookwatch

Volume 3, Number 11 November 2008 Home | WBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Photography Shelf Biography Shelf
American History Shelf Needlecraft Shelf Architecture Shelf
Art Shelf Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf Psychology Shelf
Fiction Shelf Native American Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Political Science Shelf Genealogy Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Travel Shelf Language Studies Shelf Cookbook Shelf
Self-Help Shelf Gaming Shelf Poetry Shelf
Social Work Shelf Economics Shelf Education Shelf
World History Shelf Christian Studies Shelf Business Shelf
Islamic Studies Shelf Computer Shelf Environmental Studies Shelf
Social Issues Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf Botany Shelf
Military Shelf Literary Shelf Martial Arts Shelf
Interior Design Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf Buddhist Studies Shelf
Philosophy Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf Judicial Studies Shelf
Money/Finance Shelf    


Reviewer's Choice

Brett Favre: A Packer Fan's Tribute
Tom Kertscher
Cumberland House Publishing
431 Harding Industrial, Nashville, TN 37211
9781581826838, $24.95 www.cumberlandhouse.com

As Brett Favre's era comes to an end at Green Bay this third edition, THE FINAL SEASON, concludes a tribute to his many accomplishments. Favre fans will appreciate nearly a hundred photos from the Packers Team photographer Jim Biever to accompany era-by-era reviews of Favre's achievements and winning ways. Any collection front in Packers history or sports biographies in general will find this a popular lend.

Wisconsin Quilts
Ellen Kort, author
Revised by Maggi McCormick Gordon
Krause Publications
700 East State Street, Iola, WI 54990-0001
9780896895928, $34.99, www.fwpublications.com, 1-800-726-9966

Needlecrafts in general, and quilting in particular, were essential aspects of pioneer life in Wisconsin. Original produced for utilitarian purposes, the skills of the women who made them elevated quilting into an art. Now in an expanded second edition with revision by Maggi McCormick Gordon, "Wisconsin Quilts: History In The Stitches" by Ellen Kort features eight exclusive patterns and instructions for blocks inspired by historical quilts and which will allow today's quilters to create heirloom quality quilts for themselves and their families. Published in partnership with the Wisconsin Quilt History Project, "Wisconsin Quilts" is a combination quilting history and user friendly 'how to' guide for aspiring needlecrafters and an enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, academic, community, and local historical society library Needlecraft reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Say It Like Obama
Shel Leanne
The McGraw Hill Companies
Two Penn Plaza, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10121-2298
www.books.mcgraw-hill.com
9780071615891, $21.95, 1-877-833-5524

It was his speech at the Democratic Convention in 2004 that catapulted Barack Obama into the national spotlight. It has been his gift for oratory both in style and in substance that has propelled him into becoming the first African-American presidential candidate of a major national political party. Now leadership expert Shel Leanne explains, using Obama has a living example, how to combine oratory, body language, and the fine art of persuasion into a seamless presentation that builds trust and stimulates action in "Say It Like Obama: The Power Of Speaking With Purpose And Vision". A thoroughly 'user friendly' instructional manual on the art and craft of public speaking, "Say It Like Obama" should be read and studied by anyone who will be called upon to speak in public whether it be in church, in the board room, or from a convention platform. "Say It Like Obama" is a welcome and enthusiastically recommended addition to personal and community library Self-Help/Self-Improvement and Leadership/Management reference collections.

The Old Farmer's 2009 Almanac
Robert B. Thomas
The Old Farmer's Almanac
1121 Main Street, Dublin, NH 03444
9781571984531, $6.95, www.almanac.com

The farmer's almanac has been an American tradition since the days of Benjamin Franklin. "The Old Farmer's 2009 Almanac" is the latest edition of the yearly work, started in 1792. With predictions for sixteen different regions throughout the country, it gives readers a rough idea of what to expect in coming year. Enhanced with articles on health, livestock, gardening, and more, "The Old Farmer's 2009 Almanac" again proves to be agriculture's best friend.

Variety Is The Spice Of Life
Ernest A. Seemann
Elderberry Press
1393 Old Homestead, 2nd floor, Oakland, OR 97462
9781934956014, $19.95, www.elderberrypress.com

For more than a millennium, the German language and culture has given rise to memorable epigrams and aphorisms. Selected, compiled, organized, and translated by Ernest A. Seemann (a multi-lingual native of Germany and retired Florida attorney expert in German poetry, epigrams and aphorisms), "Variety Is The Spice Of Life: 445 German Epigrams and Aphorisms from the 11th to the 20th Centuries in German and English" is a 134-page bi-lingual compendium drawing from the writings of 131 authors. The citations reflect everyday life experiences including love, politics, relationships, ethics, and morality. An ideal browse for those interested in this form of popular wisdom, "Variety Is The Spice Of Life" is a seminal work that is very strongly recommended for academic library reference collections and to the attention of German language students.

On Tarzan
Alex Vernon
University of Georgia Press
330 Research Drive, Athens, GA, 30602-4901
9780820332055, $22.95, www.ugapress.org, 1-800-266-5842

Only Superman and Batman have had a stronger and more enduring impact on 20th century American popular culture than Edgar Rice Burroughs' literary creation of "Tarzan". The orphaned son of an English couple marooned on the shores of Africa and raised by apes captured popular attention from his first introduction in 1912 in the novel "Tarzan of the Apes". Since then the character has appeared in dozens of books (both authorized and unauthorized), been the subject of dozens of films (both American and foreign), appeared as several television series, been the mainstay of comic books, graphic novels, radio plays, and given rise to innumerable toys, fanzines, and other products. In his seminal work "On Tarzan", Alex Vernon (Associate Professor of English, Hendrix College) lays out the mythical, even archetypal status of this fictional character, the differences between Tarzan of the novels and Tarzan of the films, the 'Walt Disneyfictation' phenomenon, and so much more. Of special note is the analysis of racism in the Tarzan mythos and literature. A work of seminal and impressive scholarship, "On Tarzan" is strongly recommended for academic and community library Literary Studies and American Popular Culture reference collections, as well as a singularly important contribution to the reading lists for all dedicated Tarzan fans.

Braided Lives
June Bingham
Straus Historical Society
c/o Syracuse University Press
1600 Jamesville Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13210
www.SyracuseUniversityPress.syr.edu
9780980125023, $24.95, 1-800-365-8929

Marriage is a partnership, and so often it is neglected as such. "Braided Lives: A 20th Century Pursuit of Happiness" tells of author June Bingham and Jonathan Bingham's moving story of how marriage should be done. Taking the equality of their marriage as it should be intended, it's a wade through New York Jewish high society as June fights for women's rights and Johnathan serves as a long term congressman, with both supporting each other on each step of the way. "Braided Lives" is intriguing due to its people and its depiction of marriage; recommended.

The Jews and American Comics
Paul Buhle
The New Press
38 Greene Street, New York, NY 10013
9781595583314, $29.95, 208 pp., www.thenewpress.com

Comic strip history and the Jewish influence on comic strip writers and artists are the subject of "Jews and American Comics: An Illustrated History of an American Art Form". In a collection knowledgeably compiled and deftly edited by Paul Buhle, "Jews and American Comics: An Illustrated History of an American Art Form" is comprised of more than two hundred examples of the work of Jewish comic artists dating back a century. Paul Buhle informs readers on just how the 'People of the Book' became the 'People of the Comic Book'. Enhanced with three information packed essays written by Buhle, and with the cited comics arranged by Jewish themes and Jewish related content, readers will explore the history and discover the parallels of the comic book format with the history of Yiddish literacy culture. Readers will learn beyond the fact that many to the great talents of the comic trade who happen to be Jewish, but that the Jewish role is part of the full history of this comic (artistic) tradition. Interesting in fact, history and comics "Jews and American Comics: An Illustrated History of an American Art Form" is a fascinating exploration of the influences and traditions of comics. Recommended for public libraries and universities who teach comic book design, "Jews and American Comics: An Illustrated History of an American Art Form" will prove a fascinating read for anyone who grew up reading comics as a kid.


The Photography Shelf

Historic Photos of Ronald Reagan
Turner Publishing Company
200 4th Avenue North, Suite 950, Nashville, TN 37219
9781596524361, $39.95, 197 pages, www.turnerpublishing.com

Some leaders are memorialized by their actions, popularity, or discoveries. Ronald Reagan became a beloved president to many and is still widely referenced today as a great leader of his time. In this tasteful account of Ronald Reagan's life with text and captions by Jay Stephen Whitney, readers will discover the intimate details of one man's transformational journey from citizen and actor, to governor of California and a two-term president of the United States. Historic photos of Ronald Reagan's life from infancy until the time he left the oval office, this illustrated biographical overview is embellished with the memorable rhetoric of an influential political leader. A core addition for academic and community library 20th Century American History collections, "Historic Photos of Ronald Reagan" is very highly recommended reading -- especially for those who remember his presidency and the influence this one-time Hollywood actor had upon the nation and upon the world.

Damanhur: Temples Of Humankind
Silvia Buffagni
CoSM Press
542 West 27th Street, NY, NY, 10001
North Atlantic Books (distributor)
1435 Fourth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
www.northatlanticbooks.com, 1-800-788-3123
9781556435775, $50.00, www.cosm.org

Temples are places of metaphysical symbolism, mystery and magic, icons and imagery, ancient places of hallowed traditions, and so much more. Enhanced with the poetry of Oberto Airaudi, deftly edited by Allyson Grey, and provided with an informative foreword by Alex Grey and an introduction by Rob Calef, "Damanhur: Temples Of Humankind" is a compilation of beautifully reproduced photographs embellished with a text by Esperide Ananas and showcases the diversity of temple structures which served the needs of men and women to worship their gods. Beginning with the brief two paragraph commentary 'Temples of Humankind', "Damanhur" is divided into twelve sections of images and text that range from 'The Birth of the Temples'; 'The Battle for the Temples'; 'The Secret Doors' and 'The Blue Temple'; to 'The Hall of Water'; 'The Hall of the Earth'; 'The Hall of Metals'; 'The Labyrinth'; 'The Hall of Spheres'; 'The Future of the Temples'; and 'Federation of Damanhur: Sharing the Magic, an Invitation'. Enhanced with an extensive appendix, Informed and informative, "Damanhur: Temples Of Humankind" is a beautiful work that would grace any personal, academic, or community library Religion & Spirituality reference collection or Metaphysical Studies supplemental reading list.

Best of the Widener Collection
John C. Hemment, photographer
Eclipse Press
3101 Beaumont Centre Circle, Lexington, KY 40591-9003
9781581501940, $24.95 www.eclipsepress.com 1-800-866-2361

Best of the Widener Collection is an eye-catching collection of never-before-published, black-and-white photography from the golden age of horse racing. Taken in the years from the late nineteenth century to the inception of World War I, Best of the Widener Collection shows 200 of the most splendid photographs from the nearly 1,000 that were in a collection given to "The Blood-Horse" by Joseph E. Widener. Taken by one of the earliest and greatest names in racetrack photography, John C. Hemment, the subjects range from renowned African-American jockey Isaac Murphy to images of nigh-unbeaten racing horses such as Sysonby at work or at rest, to portraits of distinguished trainers of the day such as Frank McCabe, and more. A glorious window into the excitement-packed days of horse racing's yesteryear.


The Biography Shelf

Mary's Voyage
Mary Caldwell & Matthew M. Douglas
Sheridan House
145 Palisade Street, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
9781574092677, $19.95, www.sheridanhouse.com

Circling around the world is a feat in itself, doing it with your entire family is an adventure. "Mary's Voyage: The Adventures of John and Mary Caldwell" tells of the Caldwell family and how they began their long journey around the globe. Starting in California, Mary pregnant, one of their own was born during the trip to join their toddler and infant son to their crew. Facing the long sailing trip and the wrath of nature, "Mary's Voyage" is a true life adventure sure to please fans of unusual feats by common people.

Steamboat Springs
Marcellus Samuel Merrill, author
David Merrill Primus, editor
Western Reflections Publishing Company
PO Box 1149, Lake City, CO 81235
9781932738643, $14.95 www.westernreflectionspub.com 970-994-0110

David Merrill Primus transcribes the best of the stories his grandfather (Marcellus Samuel Merrill) has told him in Steamboat Springs: Memories of a Young Colorado Pioneer. The tales bring to life Marcellus' days in the colorful Colorado town of Steamboat Springs, which has since become a popular place for skiing. Told in the colloquial English of Marcellus' era, these turn-of the-century tales call back the heady pioneer days of the early 1900's. Enhanced with never previously published historical photographs, sketches, and maps, Steamboat Springs is a treat for anyone curious about what life in a Colorado pioneer town really was like over a hundred years ago.

Floyd Patterson: A Boxer and a Gentleman
Alan H. Levy
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
9780786439508, $35.00, www.mcfarlandpub.com 1-800-253-2187

Written by history professor Alan H. Levy, Floyd Patterson: A Boxer and a Gentleman is the first complete biography of African-American boxer and former heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson (1935-2006), whom Muhammad Ali once referred to as the most skillful fighter he ever faced. Yet there was far more to Patterson than strength and skill in the ring; he defied poverty and prejudice to become the youngest world heavyweight champion in history, and he was the first man to regain the crown after losing it. Floyd Patterson: A Boxer and a Gentleman also pays close attention to Patterson's public and personal life outside the sport, including his work as a civil rights activist and celebrity icon of the movement in the 1960s. Accessible to scholarly and lay readers alike, Floyd Patterson: A Boxer and a Gentleman is a welcome addition to African-American biography shelves.

Mary Elizabeth Garrett: Society and Philanthropy in the Gilded Age
Kathleen Waters Sander
The Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9780801888700, $45.00, www.press.jhu.edu 1-800-537-5487

Mary Elizabeth Garrett: Society and Philanthropy in the Gilded Age is the biography of a truly remarkable female philanthropist and activist, whose life and work spanned the Civil War, the difficult Reconstruction, the heady Gilded Age, and the Progressive Era of the early twentieth century. An intelligent and strong-willed woman barred by social custom from following in the footsteps of her railroad mogul father, she worked tirelessly to promote women's rights, applying her wealth and status to advance her egalitarian vision. She contributed endowments to the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine on two unprecedented conditions: that women by admitted on the same terms as men, and that the school be graduate level. A champion of advanced education for girls, and a supporter of women's suffrage, Mary Elizabeth Garrett was a genuine force for change and worthy of serving as an inspiration to girls women a century later. Highly recommended.

Thomas Ewing Jr. Frontier Lawyer and Civil War General
Ronald D. Smith
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Boulevard, Columbia, MO 65201
9780826218063, $44.95 www.umsystem.edu/upress 1-800-828-1894

Thomas Ewing Jr. Frontier Lawyer and Civil War General is a scholarly biography of former Whig senator and cabinet member destined to gain a commission in the Union Army, along with his brothers. He raised a regiment that encountered action in Arkansas and Missouri, and after William Quantrill's raid on Lawrence, Kansas, he issued the General Order No. 11 that forcibly removed residents from sections of western Missouri. A confidant of Abraham Lincoln, Ewing dared to defend three of the assassination conspirators, and even lobbied a key vote to prevent the impeachment of Andrew Johnson. Exhaustively researched, Thomas Ewing Jr. Frontier Lawyer and Civil War General presents an in-depth, crystal clear portrait of not only one Civil War general's life, but also the antebellum South in which he lived. Highly recommended for Civil War enthusiasts of all backgrounds.


The American History Shelf

Stagecoaches Across the American West 1850 to 1920
John A. Sells
Hancock House Publishers
1431 Harrison Avenue, Blaine, WA 98230-5005
9780888396051, $ 44.95, 336 pp., www.hancockhouse.com

The stagecoach is an iconic symbol of the American west. History buffs and Wild West enthusiasts will delight "Stagecoaches Across the American West 1850 to 1920", and impressively detailed and beautifully illustrated history of the stagecoach. Western history buff John A. Sells presents a well crafted, meticulously researched and deftly written treatise on the importance and impact of stagecoaches with respect to the westward expansion in the United States. A seminal work of American history, "Stagecoaches Across the American West 1850 to 1920" provides readers with a comprehensive look at stagecoach culture, the business and industries impacted by stagecoaches and the all important rules of stagecoach travel -- which could often mean the difference between life and death for its passengers, drivers and guards. A journey in time when the pony express and express mail were new, "Stagecoaches Across the American West 1850 to 1920" is replete photos and maps, making it enthusiastically recommended for personal, community, and academic library American Western Frontier History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Hunting The American West
Richard C. Rattenbury
Boone and Crockett Club
250 Station Drive, Missoula, MT 59801-2753
9780940864603, $49.95, www.booneandcrockettclub.com

During the 1800s, the American West was a magnet for men who hunted for survival, pleasure, and profit. Beautifully illustrated with period black-and-white images and full color artwork and photography, "Hunting The American West" by Richard C. Rattenbury (Curator of History, National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum) is an impressive work of meticulous scholarship that provides a comprehensive historical overview drawn from the personal accounts and journal entries of participants and observers ranging from aboriginal hunters and 'Mountain Men', to European adventurers and big game market hunters. "Hunting The American West" addresses such issues as big-game species, subsistence hunting, commercial hunting, and sport hunting; the variety of methods used from 1800 to 1900; the evolution of weaponry used in hunting; language associated with hunting in the American West; and the rise of the hunter-conservation movement -- which lead directly to the founding of the Boone and Crockett Club. Informed and informative, "Hunting The American West" is a unique and valued contribution to the growing library of historical literature with respect to frontier experiences of the west and a core addition to personal, academic, and community library collections.

Oklahoma: A History
W. David Baird and Danney Goble
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806139104, $24.95, www.oupress.com 1-800-627-7377

Historians and college professors W. David Baird and Danney Goble present Oklahoma: A History, an in-depth, narrative history of America's 46th state. From the geological and tectonic creation of Oklahoma's landscape to both well-known and oft-overlooked historical events, Oklahoma: A History narrates in a down-to-earth style accessible to historians and lay readers alike. "The collapse of the Socialist Party and the end of World War I brought no tranquility... High among the reasons for this political turmoil was the bitterness felt by former Socialists. Their party had not survived the war, but neither had the high farm prices that the war produced... On top of that, the former Socialists carried a bitter grudge against the Democrats, whom they blamed for destroying their party. Unable to vote Socialist and unwilling to vote Democratic, their first recourse was to vote for the one remaining alternative, the Republicans." A handful of black-and-white photographs illustrate this excellent addition to Oklahoma and American history collections, highly recommended especially for public libraries.

Yankees in Michigan
Brian C. Wilson
Michigan State University Press
Manly Miles Building, Suite 25
1405 South Harrison Road, East Lansing, MI 48823-5245
9780870138256, $12.95, www.msupress.msu.edu

Part of the "Discovering the Peoples of Michigan" series, Yankees in Michigan is a fascinating examination of the impact "Yankees" (as defined by their shared culture and sense of identity) had on the state of Michigan. As the ethnic label "Yankee" fell into disuse, the children of Yankees adapted the appellation "Midwesterner" instead. Chapters especially discuss the effect that Yankee immigration had on the Michigan frontier, and the industrialization of Michigan, among other subjects. Thoughtfully researched and engagingly presented by professor Brian C. Wilson, Yankees in Michigan is an excellent and worthy contribution to Michigan state history shelves.

The Birth of American Tourism
Richard H. Gassan
University of Massachusetts Press
PO Box 429, Amherst, MA 01004
9781558496651, $29.95 www.umpress.usmass.edu 1-800-537-5487

The Birth of American Tourism: New York, the Hudson Valley, and American Culture, 1790-1830 is a scholarly look at how travel for leisure first became a widespread American practice. Once, tourism was so expensive and potentially hazardous that only wealthy Americans could engage in this aristocratic luxury. Only in the 1820's could middle class tourists begin to follow the pastimes of the wealthy, by making trips up the Hudson River valley north of New York City. By 1830, tourist trips through the area had become wildly popular, signifying a major change in American culture. The Birth of American Tourism explores not only the historical accidents that initiated tourism, but also the many side developments that intersected with it, from the rise of hotels to accommodate tourists to the creation of transportation networks to carry them, to the invention of cultural attractions designed to infuse their experience with meaning. A welcome addition to American history and cultural studies collections.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Beyond the Block
Linda K. Johnson & Jane K. Wells
American Quilter's Society
P.O. Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
(800) 626.5420, www.AmericanQuilter.com
9781574329599, $26.95, 96 pp., www.amazon.com

Quilting is an enduringly popular pastime and the source of many a family legacy quilt to be handed down from generation to generation. In "Beyond the Block", quilting experts Linda K. Johnson and Jane K. Wells collaborative to present a series of new patterns and ideas for quilting projects with difficulty levels that range from the confident beginner all the way to the more experienced needlecrafter. Enhanced with tips from the 'Crafty Ol' Broads' about the basics, "Beyond the Block" then dives right in to the patterns themselves. Beautiful color photos clearly illustrate the instructions and piecing techniques for maximum comprehension and design. Techniques and resources are included. Easy to follow, great color pictures and ideas, "Beyond the Block" is enthusiastically recommended for quilters of all levels of proficiency.

Knitting 200 Q&A
Rita Taylor
Barron's
250 Wireless Boulevard, Hauppauge, NY 11788
9780764161377, $18.99, www.barronseduc.com

Knitting continues to be one of the most widespread and popular of the needlecraft pastimes. Designed for the novice but containing of wealth of practical information of interest and value to even the more experienced knitter, Rita Taylor's "Knitting 200 Q&A" is a compendium of definitive answers to some two hundred practical questions about every aspect of the knitting process from 'What is a three-needle bindoff?' to 'What is double knitting?', to 'Why do some pattern instructions contain an asterisk?'. The sturdy spiral binding will allow this unique instruction manual to lie flat upon the table for accessible study while hands are otherwise engaged with needles and yarns. Profusely illustrated with examples and step-by-step instructions throughout, "Knitting 200 Q&A" is a relatively compact and thoroughly 'user friendly' reference that is enthusiastically recommended for personal and academic library Needlecraft reference collections.


The Architecture Shelf

Roots of Home
Russell Versaci
The Tauton Press, Inc.
P.O. Box 5506, Newtown, CT 06470-5506
9781561588671, $45.00, 265 pp.

Interior designers and their clients explore the interior and exterior housing design styles for ideas they can adapt to their own visions of an ideal living space. Explore this fascinating world of new home designs based on old world styles and traditions in the profusely illustrated pages of "Roots of Home: Our Journey to a New Old House". Author and professional architect Russell Versaci, brings part architecture and part history to tell the story of the French, Spanish, English and Continental customs that shaped regional house styles around the country. Included are more than 300 old maps, drawings and photographs of both historic house and new houses in historic styles. Roots of Home presents a rich, captivating portrait of the evolution of American homes and the movement of bring to life in new homes the rich tradition and influences of the past. Beautifully displayed in text and photographs by architectural photographer Erik Kvalsvik, "Roots of Home: Our Journey to a New Old House" is an impressive and recommended addition to personal, professional, community, and academic architecture, design, history and homes reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Building New Brunswick
John Leroux
Goose Lane Editions
500 Beverbrook Court, Suite 330, Fredericton, NB, Canada, E3B 5X4
9780864925046, $50.00, www.gooselane.com, 1-800-565-9523

It is the architecture of a city that makes it distinctively recognizable. "Building New Brunswick: An Architectural History" by John Leroux (a professional architect and a native of New Brunswick) is a richly enhanced and visual history embellished with photographs, drawings, architectural renderings and engravings that portray the history of the buildings and other structures that give the Canadian city of New Brunswick its particular shape, style, and appearance to day. Leroux draws upon his interviews with many of the original architects of New Brunswick's structures created in a post-1945 era, including first-person accounts of particular buildings and working conditions at the time of their construction. An informed and informative work of meticulous research, "Building New Brunswick" is a superbly written and presented account that is strongly recommended for academic library Architectural Studies reference collections, as well as architectural student supplemental reading lists.

ACE Guide To Construction Costs: 2009 Edition
Craftsman Book Company
6058 Corte del Cedro, Carlsbad, CA 92009
9781588550927, $55.95, www.craftsman-book.com, 1-800-829-8123

Creating a profitable bid and coming in at or under budget require an expertise in figuring out reliable construction costs. This process of economic evaluation is one that all architects, contractors, and engineers must master as a fundamental aspect of their professions. The newly published 2009 Edition of the "ACE Guide To Construction Costs" is based upon the most accurate and current data for material and installation costs, labor and equipment rates, and adjusted allowances for overhead and profit margins. Thoroughly 'user friendly', this instruction manual break down unit and summary costs for all categories of structures and is organized in accordance with the 16 category CSI Masterformate ranging from general requirements and site work to furnishings and equipment, and which is the American construction industry standard. Very strongly recommended as an essential, core reference for architects, contractors, and engineers, the "ACE Guide To Construction Costs" will enable them to develop budgets, calculate change orders, prepare formal bids, draw up estimates, and be assured that every aspect and element of the process is covered.

The Guardian Building
James W. Tottis
Wayne State University Press
The Leonard N. Simons Building
4809 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201-1309
9780814333853, $50.00, http://wsupress.wayne.edu

A building can be as much of a work of art as any painting or sculpture. In the years between the end of World War I and the economic collapse in 1929 that would give rise to the Great Depression, Detroit Michigan experienced the greatest building boom in its municipal history. That was the era when the Union Trust Building (now known as the Guardian Building) was designed by Wirt C. Rowland and build by the firm of smith, Hinchman and Grylls. With its distinctive Gothic-inspired elements, orange brick facade, brightly colored ceramic accents, extravagantly detailed interior (the lobby ceiling was made entirely of multicolored tiles), with walls and floors accented by exotic marbles, platinum-color Monel metal elevator doors, gates and handrails, the Guardian was an representative example of architectural elegance and artistry. "The Guardian Building" by James W. Tottis (Associate Curator of American Art at the Detroit Institute of Arts and an Adjunct Professor in the Humanities Department of Wayne State University) provides a beautifully illustrated history and visual tour of the Guardian Building that will have special appeal to today's students of architecture. A work of seminal scholarship which is enhanced with color plates, notes, a bibliography and an index, "The Guardian Building" is confidently recommended as an informed and informative addition to professional and academic Architectural Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Art Shelf

The Printed Picture
Richard Benson
The Museum of Modern Art
11 W. 53 Street, New York, New York 10019
(212) 708-9449, www.moma.org
9780870707216, $60.00, 308 pages, 326 color illustrations

The technological evolution of distributing identical copies of a single picture has dramatically impacted upon and made practical the phenomena of mass culture. Author Richard Benson presents an informed and informative perspective and presentation of just how far the photographic printing processes have come. Beginning with the early years of relief printing which includes woodcuts, and moveable metal type, to today's digital processes. "The Printed Picture" aptly guides the reader through these subsequent and evolving processes while discussing the significance and roles each individual process has played. In this textbook each photograph is presented with a history of its impact on the processes of the time, as well as the importance of it role into the developing further techniques and processes. Displayed with an style that simplifies a complex process, the information of processes and effects is presented factually and with a sense of humor, "The Printed Picture" is especially recommended for university classroom use. All personal, professional, academic, and community libraries would find "The Printed Picture" to be a core addition to their Art, Photography, and Technological History reference collections.

Painting at the Edge of the World
Tony Foster
University of Washington Press
PO Box 50096, Seattle, WA 98145-5096
Goldberg McDuffie Communications (publicity)
444 Madison Avenue, Suite 3300, New York, NY 10022
9780295988177, $75.00 www.washington.edu/uwpress 1-206-543-4050

Painting at the Edge of the World: The Watercolours of Tony Foster is a gorgeous, coffee table artbook of artist Tony Foster's breathtaking watercolor landscapes, and even volcanoes, which were often created with a keen appreciation for the topography of their inspirational scenery. Though the art is frequently permitted to speak for itself, the text of Painting at the Edge of the World often recounts the day-by-day journal of Foster's sojourn into nature to create. The resulting paintings appear deceptively simple yet draw upon hidden depths of talent to come alive in almost iconic relief. Highly recommended, and a welcome addition to landscape artbook collections.

Paris: City Of Art
Jean-Marie Perouse de Montclos
The Vendome Press
1334 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021
Harry N. Abrams, Inc. (distributor)
115 West 18th Street, New York, NY 10011
9780865651951, $95.00, www.abramsbooks.com, 1-800-759-0190

Paris is not only 'The City of Lights', it is also a city of some of the world's most fabulous art museums, galleries, and other architectural displays of memorable artists, architects, artisans and their works ranging from gothic cathedrals to public airports. A superbly produced 714-page compendium enriched with 850 beautifully reproduced color illustrations, "Paris: City Of Art" by curator and art historian Jean-Marie Perouse de Montelos was originally published in 2003 and now a newly revised, expanded, and updated edition of this informed and informative work is available to both academia and the general public. Along with the more well known Parisian venues for fine art and memorable architecture, this new edition also features Henri Graudin's renovation of the Guimet Museum, Jean Nouvel's Quai Branly Museum, Mario Botta's Cathedral of the Resurrection at Evry, Paul Andreu's Charles de Gaulle Airport, the Simone de Beauvoir footbridge connecting the 12th and 13th arroundissements, and a great deal more! "Paris: City Of Art" is a seminal addition to academic library reference collections, and very highly recommended for community library as a Memorial Fund acquisition selection.

Courbet
Segolene Le Men
Abbeville Press
137 Varick Street, Suite 504, New York, NY 10019-1105
9780789209771, $135.00, www.abbeville.com, 1-800-343-4499

The nineteenth century French realist painter Gustave Courbet (1819-1877) is by any standard one of Europe's most accomplished artists of his time and a man whose work is enduringly popular as a subject for today's aspiring artists. Newly published by Abbeville Press, "Courbet" is a profusely illustrated monograph by Segolene Le Men (Professor of Art History, University of Zparis X-Nanterre and an instructor at the Ecole du Louvre) is a seminal work that provides an informed and informative context for this master artist's work showing how his paintings were influenced by his life experiences and cultural surroundings. Five chapters are dedicated to successive phases of Courbet's artistic career and thereby presents a complex and comprehensive context that includes his travels, friends, politics, as well as the literature and music of his time. As an artist monograph "Courbet" is a superbly written and gorgeously illustrated biography. As a slip-cased coffee table art book "Courbet" is a beautifully produced volume that would grace any personal, academic, or community library collection.

1-2-3 Draw Dogs
Freddie Levin
Peel Productions
9415 NE Woodridge Street, Vancouver, WA 98664
9780939217649, $8.99, www.peelbooks.com

Tons of books tackle drawing of the human form, but few tackle man's best friend. "1-2-3 Draw Dogs: A Step-By-Step Guide" is the twenty third title in the 1-2-3 Draw series, focusing on the wide range of dog breeds from the smallest to the ones which make some humans feel small. Simple enough for even the most novice of beginning artists to grasp, "1-2-3 Draw Dogs" is a must for any aspiring artist and dog lover.

Mexican Silver Jewelry Details
Leslie Pina
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764330810, $89.99, www.schifferbooks.com

There is far more to Mexican silver artifacts than belt buckles and bracelets. "Mexican Silver Jewelry Details" is an impressive compilation showcasing the diversity, beauty and sophistication of Mexican silver jewelry revealing them to be works of exquisite art from pre-Columbian examples down to modern pieces. The individual pieces are organized into three distinctive categories: Top Designer Pieces (hallmarked and representing technical virtuosity and artistic achievement); Popular Silver Jewelry (having artistic merit, often hallmarked, but created by relatively unknown or lesser-known artists); Tourist Trinkets (anonymously made and mass produced). Illustrated with 1150 color photos, each piece is provided with identifying information and value ranges making it an ideal reference for collectors and dealers. Enhanced with the inclusion of a bibliography, index, an illustrated glossary, and an illustrated section on hallmarks, "Mexican Silver Jewelry Details" is a seminal work of impressive expertise and a strongly recommended addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library Antique/Collectibles reference collections.


The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

Exits and Entrances
Athol Fugard
Theatre Communications Group
520 Eighth Avenue 24th Floor, New York, NY 10018-4156
9781559363198, $13.95, www.tcg.org

Recording one's memoirs does not always have to be in book form. "Exits and Entrances" is Athol Fugard's memoirs in the form of his preferred method, the theater. Set in the dressing rooms during his early career, he offers an inner look at how he got started and how the mind of the South African playwright works in his own avenue. "Exits and Entrances" is a unique and highly recommended piece of theater literature for its original approach to an autobiography.

The Cisco Kid
Francis M. Nevins & Gary D. Keller
Bilingual Review Press
Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University
PO Box 875303, Tempe, AZ 85287-5303
9781931010498, $35.00, brp@asu.edu, 1-866-965-3867

Among the cowboy heroes of American popular culture, the Cisco Kid and Zorro were the only Hispanic examples of the genre to star in novels, films, movie serials, comic books, and television series. The collaborative work of Francis M. Nevins (Professor Emeritus, St. Louis University School of Law) and Gary D. Keller (Regents' Professor, Arizona State University), "The Cisco Kid: American Hero, Hispanic Roots" provides readers with an historical overview and analytical insights into the development of fictional character first penned by O. Henry and went on to capture the popular imaginations as the embodiment of an Hispanic hero of the Old West set in a mainstream American culture. Profusely and beautifully illustrated throughout with film stills, lobby cards, poster, and television images, "The Cisco Kid" is a unique examination of this specific character within the context of iconic cowboy Hollywood heroism, other Hispanic characters, and the actors who played them so well. Also available in a hardcover edition (9781931010481, $50.00), "The Cisco Kid" is highly recommended for academic and community library collections, and will prove an informed and informative read for anyone who has ever thrilled to the adventures of the Cisco Kid and his faithful companion Pancho!


The Psychology Shelf

Cognitive-Behavior Therapy For Severe Mental Illness
Jesse H. Wright, et al.
American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc.
1000 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 1825
Arlington, VA 22209-3901
9781585623211, $65.00, www.appi.org, 1-800-368-5777

Even with the impressive advances of medications for chronic mental illness disorders, 'talk therapy' and behavioral conditioning play immensely relevant and critically important aspects of treatment programs. "Cognitive-Behavior Therapy For Severe Mental Illness: An Illustrated Guide" by the team of mental health professionals Jesse H. Wright, Douglas Turkington, David G. Kingdon, and Monica Ramirez Basco provides students and practitioners with a compendium of practical, illustrated information and applicable, illustrative insights into CBT techniques when working with schizophrenic, bipolar, and treatment-resistant depression cases. Enhanced with an accompanying DVD, and a core addition to academic library Psychiatry/Psychology collections, "Cognitive-Behavior Therapy For Severe Mental Illness" is an ideal and highly recommended instructional reference for psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, and others in the mental health field.

The Advertised Mind
Erik Du Plessis
Kogan Page
525 South 4th Street, #241, Philadelphia, PA 19147
9780749450243, $35.00, www.koganpage.com

It says something about the mind when the most easily remembered things are advertising jingles. "The Advertised Mind: Groundbreaking Insights Into How Our Brains Respond to Advertising" is a psychological look at advertising and how people deal with them. An effective advertisement is one that stays with the viewer, and creating an advertisement that does such a thing requires understanding the mind. A scientific and psychological approach to the world of advertising, "The Advertised Mind" is required reading for psychology students and business majors.


The Fiction Shelf

Out Loud
Anthony Varallo
University of Pittsburgh Press
3400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260
9780822943563, $24.95, www.upress.putt.edu

Fiction is a window to the culture. "Out Loud" is an anthology of insightful short fiction from award winning author Anthony Varallo. Touching on the loneliness of some, the exclusion and shunning of others yet the desire to be included by oneself, the stories told within are a vivid picture of the inner conflict that consumes many Americans daily. "Out Loud" is good, solid literature, something to be considered for short fiction enthusiasts.

Glamour
Brandi Barnett
Hawk Publishing Group
7107 South Yale Avenue #345, Tulsa, OK 74136
9781930709683, $19.95, www.hawkpub.com

To look fabulous to be beautiful, how far are some willing to go to attain this? "Glamour" is the story of Blaezi, a fairy who is wondering why her kind are simply vanishing. She soon finds that the culprit is a high school student known as Kat. Kat's been using the magic known to fairies as glamour something a human can only use by exploiting fairies. It's between Blaezi and the lust for beauty of a popular teenager in the future of her people. A fantasy that critiques the high emphasis of appearance in today's world, "Glamour" is original and highly recommended.

Far North & Other Dark Tales
Sara Maitland
The Maia Press Limited
c/o Dufour Editions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9781904559276, $19.95, www.dufoureditions.com

Sometimes traditional folk stories are better understood when they're put in the context of modernity. "Far North & Other Dark Tales" is a collection of short stories from Sara Maitland, an accomplished author with over twelve books to her name. Her stories are loosely based on an ancient Inuit myth, and draw inspiration from many other subjects. Sibling Rivalry, the wife of Abraham, are just two of the subjects tackled, making "Far North & Other Dark Tales" an entertaining and thought-provoking piece.

Seven Cities of Mud
Florence B. Weinberg
Twilight Times Books
PO Box 3340, Kingsport, TN 37664
9781933353463, $16.95, www.florenceweinberg.com

When two radically different cultures collide, conflict is inevitable. "Seven Cities of Mud" tells of one of the great historic examples of this, the Spanish arriving in the Americas. Telling of the 16th century meeting of the Pueblo tribe of Native Americans and the Spanish, it follows Franciscan Fray Augustin and Poli, a Pueblo Widow. At first, the meeting is amicable, but the military steps in and things start to go south quickly. "Seven Cities of Mud" is a riveting and saddening tale of Culture Clash, a read to be considered for fans of historical fiction.

The Fugitive
Menno Simons
Herald Press
619 Walnut Avenue, Scottdale, PA 15683-1999
9780836194098, $14.99, www.heraldpress.com, 1-800-759-4447

Heretic was a label that wasn't hard to earn in 1544 and one that would get you imprisoned, tortured, and killed. Although "The Fugitive: Menno Simons" by Menno Simmons is a work of historical fiction, yet the story rings true with historical accuracy in describing the times and what really happened to those branded as heretics. Menno, disillusioned with the Catholic church, seeks to form his own free church, but in a time where the Pope was not only the head of the dominant religion but the most powerful political figure in the world, any dissent was heresy. Menno becomes a heretic and flees his former church for the sake of his beliefs. "The Fugitive" is a vivid picture of the time of the reformation and highly recommended reading.

A Pretty Face
Rafael Reig
Serpent's Tail
c/o Meryl Zegarek Public Relations
255 West 108th Street, Suite 901, New York, NY 10025
9781852429225, $14.95, http://www.serpentstail.com/

Deftly translated from the original Spanish by Paul Hammond, "A Pretty Face" is an original metaphysical mystery by Rafael Reig set in a kind of alternate universe where in the city of Madrid in 1999 the oil mines have been drained dry, the Spanish Communist party has succumbed to an American army coup making Spain a part of the USA and Anglo the official language. The rich reside in the safety of gated communities, the poor survive where ever and how ever they can. Drug addicts live in fear of genetic engineers who are testing a neuroprotein called K666 which they think might even put an end to death. The story is narrated by Maria Dolores Equibar's tormented ghost after she is murdered. The daughter of the doctor who discovered K666, and with the help of an imaginary sidekick Benito (a randy, one-eyed teenage hero from her series of successful kids novels), Maria's ghost slowly unravels the tangle of events which led to her own violent demise. "A Pretty Face" is a superbly written blend of fantasy, mystery, and unconventional conventions making it a fast paced, unexpectedly conflated, terrifically entertaining read. Also very highly recommended is Rafael Reig's previous sci- fi/detective/western/literary romance/comically detailed novel "Blood On The Saddle".


The Native American Shelf

The Drum Calls Softly
David Bouchard, Shelley Willier, et al.
Red Deer Press
311 Washington Street, Brighton, MA 02135
9780889954212, $24.95, www.fitzhenry.ca, 1-800-387-9776

An elegant addition to any personal, academic, or community library Native American Studies collection, "The Drum Calls Softly" is an impressively presented picturebook co-authored by David Bouchard and Shelley Willier and superbly illustrated with beautiful paintings by Jim Poitras. The theme drawn from the drumming ceremonies of the Northern Cree and enhanced with the inclusion of an audio CD featuring singing and drumming by Cree performers. The lyrical text is bilingual and features both the original Cree and an English language translation. "The Drums Calls Softly" is a unique and thoroughly impressive work that will appeal to readers of all ages.

Taku Wadaka He? (What Do You See?)
Joanne Zacharias & Steven Smith
Beaver's Pond Press
7104 Ohms Lane, Suite 101, Edina, MN 55439
9781592982264, $20.00, www.BeaversPondPress.com

A unique and notable contribution to the growing library of Native American titles, ""Taku Wadaka He? (What Do You See?)" is a bilingual picturebook deftly written by Joanne Zacharias (a member of the Shakopee Mdewakaton Sioux Community and a certified Dakota language teacher) and superbly illustrated by Steven Smith. Each original illustration is captioned with a one sentence storyline with the English language translation under that of the Dakota inscription. Each illustration is a full page image with the one on the odd pages being a kind of 'find the image' puzzle as part of the teepee icon. Superbly published, "Taku Wadaka He? (What Do You See?)" is highly recommended for children's picture book collections in school and community libraries, and will have a great deal of interest for bilingual Native American Studies reference collections as well.

Native American Playing Cards: Set One
U.S. Games Systems, Inc.
179 Ludlow Street, Stamford, CT 06902
9781572816190, $12.00, http://www.usgamesinc.com

Playing cards can be as educational as they are recreational. Newly created by U.S. Games Systems, "Native American Playing Cards: Set One" is a complete deck of 52 cards, each of which features a beautifully painted image of a Native American taken from the McKenney and Hall collection of 19th century Native American portraits created when the Native Americans served as delegates of their respective tribes at a national gathering. Enhanced with an accompanying 124-page booklet of biographical essays on each featured Native American, "Native American Playing Cards" are a standard four suite, 13 cards series making them appropriate for any 52 card deck game, as well as ideal as a Native American Studies curriculum supplement for children. Also very highly recommended is the U.S. Games System companion series, "Native American Playing Cards: Set Two" (9781572816206, $12.00).

Sounds of Indian Summer
Smithsonian Institution
PO Box 37012, Washington, DC 20013-7012
Burnside Distribution Corporation (distributor)
CD, $14.99, www.AmericanIndian.si.edu www.bdcdistribution.com

Sounds of Indian Summer: Contemporary Native Music from the National Museum of the American Indian is a CD of live music by a variety of Native American creators representing the best of the National Museum of the American Indian's annual summer music series. Individual performers blend modern instruments such as electric guitars, drum sets, synthesizers and more with traditional instruments (such as the South American quena, sicus and charango) and vocal techniques. Some of the songs have been handed down through the generations; others reflect an original flair, or borrow elements of reggae, blues, or rock 'n' roll. The resulting medley embodies the theme of the many diverse facets Native American identity, and cultural survival amidst an ever-changing and absorptive world. Highly recommended. 79 min 10 sec.

Making Peace with Cochise
Edwin R. Sweeney, editor
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806139784, $19.95, www.oupress.com

Over a decade of bloody war makes trust difficult. "Making Peace with Conchise: The 1872 Journal of Captain Joseph Alton Sladen" is a transcript of the Captain's journal of their efforts to make peace with the chief of the Chiricahua Apache chief known as Conchise. A first person source of the white man's dealing with the red man, "Making Peace with Conchise" is a riveting and enlightening piece of history, enthusiastically recommended.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Stalking the Vampire: A Fable of Tonight
Mike Resnick
PYR
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781591026495, $25.98, www.prometheusbooks.com 1-800-421-0351

Freelance detective John Justin Mallory returns in Stalking the Vampire: A Fable of Tonight, the long-awaited sequel to veteran fantasy and sci-fi author Mike Resnick's Stalking the Unicorn. Mallory has now had ample time to become familiar with his new home of an alternate-universe Manhattan, where goblins are always trying to hawk useless wares, the street directions change if you look at them the wrong way, undead horrors are people too, and a demon responsible for most of the suffering in the world considers Mallory the next best thing to a personal friend (the view is not exactly mutual). Now, a vampire - a vicious, murdering vampire, not one of the more laid-back, five-to-nine working stiffs - has targeted Mallory's partner's nephew, and Mallory has to find and stop the fiend before All Hallows' Eve comes to a close! Aided by the morally ambiguous catgirl Felina, the short and selfish vampire Bats McGuire, and wannabe best-selling mystery writer dragon Nathan ("Scaly Jim" to no one but himself), Mallory must pit his brain against undead brawn that's at least seventeen times stronger than human brawn! Written in a flippantly humorous style perfect for bringing to life a city filled with thousands of fantastic distractions, Stalking the Vampire: A Fable of Tonight is enthusiastically recommended to fans of fantasy, humor, and mystery. Also highly recommended is Mallory's mystery debut, Stalking the Unicorn: A Fable of Tonight (9781591026488, $15.98), now back in print after twenty years.


The Political Science Shelf

The Big Book of Campaign Cartoons 2008
Daryl Cagle and Brian Fairrington, editors
Que Publishing
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780789738097, $16.99, www.quepublishing.com 1-800-428-5331

Consisting of the most side-splitting black-and-white presidential election cartoons chosen by two expert cartoonists, The Big Book of Campaign Cartoons 2008 reveals the mirthful side of the long and arduous process by which the Republican and Democrat parties chose their nominees, as well as the clash of ideas and personalities between prospective presidents McCain and Obama, right up to the moment when McCain stunned the nation by selecting "hockey mom" Palin as his running mate. These cartoons by a wide variety of artists range from sophisticated insights to hearty jabs to exposures of public figure hypocrisy. "'As my stockbroker, can you tell me ANYTHING encouraging?' 'Be glad you're not Mitt Romney investing in his own campaign.'" No right or left wing political figure is too sacred a cow to tip! The brief introductions to each chapter place the political cartoons in the context of what was happening at the time, in this highly accessible and laugh-out-loud collection. Highly recommended.

The Almanac of the Unelected Staff of the U.S. Congress 2008
Lisa Friedman, editor
Bernan Press
4611-F Assembly Drive, Lanham, MD 20706-4391
9781598881844, $289.00, www.bernanpress.com 1-800-865-3457

Now in an up-to-date 21st edition for 2008, The Almanac of the Unelected Staff of the U.S. Congress 2008 remains the ultimate reference of in-depth profiles of more than 600 senior Congressional committee staff members, as well as new members from law firms, government agencies, and the private sector. Unelected staff of the U.S. Senate are also discussed at length. All have been appointed, hired, or otherwise chosen for their task without invoking the popular vote. Each one-page entry lists a black-and-white photograph of the individual, a quick summary of their educational and professional background, and several paragraphs describing the individual's current duties, projects, and philosophies at length, including direct quotes from the person where possible. The entries are organized by committee, with a name index available for quick and easy look up. An absolute must-have for politically involved corporations, lobbyists, or any American citizen who keeps close track of their government, The Almanac of the Unelected Staff of the U.S. Congress 2008 is highly recommended as a superb, easy-to-use resource.

Indiana Political Heroes
Geoff Paddock
Indiana Historical Society Press
450 West Ohio Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202-3269
9780871952684, $12.95, www.indianahistory.org

For nearly 100 years, Indiana had one of its own running for the White House. "Indiana Political Heroes" takes a look at the major political figures the state has produced throughout its history. A look at Hoosier politics through the years and the major figures, each with essays with scholarly opinions on each of the figures. "Indiana Political Heroes" tells a story about a highly political state and the men who have came out of it.


The Genealogy Shelf

Known Military Dead During War of 1812
Ex-Lieut. Clarence Stewart Peterson, M.A., compiler
Genealogical Publishing Company
3600 Clipper Mill Road, Suite 260, Baltimore, MD 21211
9780806345260, $14.50, www.genealogical.com 1-800-296-6687

Known Military Dead During War of 1812 is a reference sure to be of use to amateur and professional genealogists alike. Although the first couple pages consist of letters written to the original compiler concerning this reference's creation circa 1955, as well as brief "acknowledgments and bibliography", the bulk of Known Military Dead During the War of 1812 simply lists the names of American soldiers in alphabetical order, along with each person's rank, division, date of death, place of death if known to have perished in a prison, and whether they simply "died" or were "killed". A no-nonsense resource that remains as valuable to researchers today as it was half a century ago.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

The Cosmic War
Joseph P. Farrell
Adventures Unlimited Press
PO Box 74, Kempton, IL 60946
www.adventuresunlimitedpress.com
9781931882750, $18.95, www.wexclub.com

From ancient astronauts to extraterrestrial artifacts, there are significant reasons to question traditional and mainstream explanations as to how our solar system in general, and the Earth in particular, have evolved -- along with their effects upon the development of the human race. "The Cosmic War" by Joseph P. Farrell focuses upon the cataclysmic and catastrophic events for which we have evidence of occurring within our solar system including the explosion of a planet as the creative cause of the asteroid belt and the speculation that the destruction of that long ago planet was the consequence of unimaginable warfare. Farrell provides fascinating iconoclastic propositions based upon texts of ancient myths, the discovering of extraterrestrial artifacts, seminal concepts in contemporary physics, the role of plasma cosmology, plasma physics, and scalar physics. Informed and informative, "The Cosmic War" is a valued and recommended addition to personal reading lists for students of alternative archaeology, paleocomology, antiquarian history, and the metaphysical sciences. Also very highly recommended reading are Farrell's earlier works: "The Giza Death Star"; "The Giza Death Star Deployed"; "The Giza Death Star Destroyed"; "Reich of the Black Sun"; and "SS Brotherhood of the Bell", all of which are available from Adventures Unlimited Press.


The Travel Shelf

Ireland
Fionn Davenport, et al.
Lonely Planet Publications
150 Linden Street, Oakland CA 94607
9781741046960, $22.99, www.lonelyplanet.com

Ireland is a land of beauty, diversity, history, adventure, and opportunity. Packed with detailed information from cover to cover, "Ireland" includes not only comprehensive yet succinct descriptions of where to go, what to see, and ideas for things to do, it also includes interviews with celebrity chefs, mural artists, musicians, suggestions for getting started, tips for itineraries, notations about the environment, regional maps, notes on language, and a glossary. Organized by counties, the cities, towns and villages are all accessible for the casual tourist or the purpose oriented business traveler. This compact, easily portable, 764-page compendium of superbly organized, readily accessible, 'user friendly' information makes "Ireland" a first-class choice for planning day trips, extended weekends, summer vacations, and more!

The Little Black Book Of Chicago
Margaret Littman
Peter Pauper Press, Inc.
202 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY 10601
9781593598129, $12.95, www.peterpauper.com

When traveling to another city it's always a good idea to have a compact and easily portable travel guide to help plan out the daily itinerary and provide background information on what is available to be seen and/or experienced. That's where the Peter Pauper Press 'Little Black Travel Book' series comes in handy. The newest addition to this outstanding travel guide series is "The Little black Book Of Chicago" which includes eleven fold-out maps and is packed from cover to cover with information on the sights and resources available when enjoying what the Windy City has to offer. Of special note are all the 'Insider Tips' making this a thoroughly 'user friendly' compendium of advice and descriptive information on everything from neighborhoods, to restaurants, parks, shops, and lodgings. "The Little Black Book Of Chicago" is especially recommended for Chicago bound visitors and has a great deal to offer even the native born Chicagoan! Also highly recommended for the 'Vegas bound' is Lark Ellen Gould's "The Little Black Book Of Las Vegas" (9781593598259, $12.95) from Peter Pauper Press.


The Language Studies Shelf

Dirty French
Adrien Clautrier & Henry Rowe
Ulysses Press
PO Box 3440, Berkeley CA 94703-3440
9781569756584, $10.00, www.ulyssespress.com, 1-800-377-2542

There are few things more satisfying in the heat of the moment that being able to cuss somebody or something out in another language. The problem is that they just don't teach you those kinds of words or expressions in a highschool or college foreign language class. That's where "Dirty French: Everyday Slang From 'What's Up?' to 'F*%# Off!' comes in handy. Co-authored by Adrien Clautrier (a self-employed mechanic born and raised in Marseille, France) and Henry Rowe (a current resident of Paris) who bring their own particular expertise in the subject, "Dirty French" is a slim paperback instruction book that is packed from cover to cover with choice expressions that will serve to punctuate conversation in French like someone native born. "Dirty French" is especially recommended to the attention of travelers to France for either business or pleasure. There will be ample occasions that warrant what "Dirty French" has to teach you!


The Cookbook Shelf

Football Food
Kellie Lawless & Maili Brocke
University Press of Florida
University of Florida
15 Northwest 15th Street, Gainesville, FL 32611-2079
9780813032443, $24.95, www.upf.com, 1-800-226-3822

Food is an integral part of the football experience whether it comes as part of a stadium parking lot tail-gate event, accompanies a home gathering to watch the big game, or smuggled in to be enjoyed with fans in the bleacher seats. Co-authored by cooking instructor, food writer, and Certified Kansas City Barbecue Judge Kellie Lawless and football enthusiast Mali Brocke (who is an Executive Chef and owner of a Santa Barbara-based catering company and has been cooking for gridiron events for decades), "Football Food is a handy little portable cookbook packed from cover to cover with 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes ranging from Rib Eye Steaks with Salsa; Fish Tacos; Philly Cheese Steak Sandwiches; and Beer Can Chicken; to Onion-Cheddar Corn Bread; Chili Chaser Soup; Tailgate Toffee; and Spiked Hot Chocolate. Enhanced with menu ideas for before the game and during half-time breaks, "Football Food" is enthusiastically recommended for personal and community library cookbook collections in general, and football fans in particular.

The Art & Soul Of Baking
Cindy Mushet
Andrews & McMeel
4520 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111
9780740773341, $40.00, www.andrewsmcmeel.com

From the selection of a recipe, to the gathering of ingredients, to the preparation of the kitchen, through the process of preparing the dish, to the aromas emanating from the stove, to the presentation of the finished work of culinary artistry, there are few things more likely to ensure total satisfaction than a baker's efforts placed before a hungry and grateful family. Drawn from the kitchen of Sur La Table, and a well deserved selection of the Gourmet Cook Book Club, this superbly illustrated and 'kitchen cook friendly' compendium of recipes and instructions compiled by professional pastry chef and baking instructor Cindy Mushet is a welcome addition to any personal, professional, or community library cookbook collection. The recipes range from yeast read and rolls, layered pastries, quick breads, and tarts, to pies, turnovers, dumplings, fruit desserts, cookies, brownies, cakes, custards, souffles and more. Of special note are the initial chapters on 'The Baker's Kitchen' and 'The Baker's Pantry', and the concluding chapter on 'Basic Recipes and Finishing Techniques. "The Art & Soul Of Baking" is one cookbook collection that truly lives up to its title!


The Self-Help Shelf

On the Road to Emmaus
Myrlene Hamilton Hess
Judson Press
PO Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851
9780817015336, $15.00, www.judsonpress.com

Inevitably, one will lose one close to them. What matters is how one deals with it. "On the Road to Emmaus: A Travel Guide for Grief" is a Christian's guide to dealing with the harsh reality of life, the time of grief. Drawing upon the Bible and Hess's own personal experiences, "On the Road to Emmaus" offers much for small group discussion. "On the Road to Emmaus" is a good gift to a friend who is recently faced with the problems of loss.

How to Be A Success
Paramhansa Yogananda
Crystal Clarity Publishers
14618 Tyler Foote Road, Nevada City, CA 95959
9781565892316, $11.95, www.crystalclarity.com

A spiritual awakening doesn't require weeks meditating upon Mount Everest. "How to Be a Success: The Wisdom of Yogananda, Volume 4" is from one of the leading spiritual teachers of the modern era, Paramhansa Yogananda. He seeks to teach readers to find the meaning of their life, develop good habits, make the most of one's time, and even includes his original writing 'The Attributes of Success' in its entirety. "How to Be a Success" is worth reading for those whose minds are open to spiritual solutions.


The Gaming Shelf

More Hold'Em Wisdom for All Players
Daniel Negreanu
Cardoza Publishing
5473 S. Eastern Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89119
1580422241, $14.95, www.cardozabooks.com

Daniel Negreanu (aka 'Kid Poker) is one of the most well known professional poker players working the big cash games and the poker tournaments today. Known as a game that can be learned in minutes but only mastered with a life time of play, and the single most popular poker game today, Texas Hold'Em is a poker game with a veritable laundry list of skills to master. Whether amateurs or professionals, the players are looking for anything they can to give them an edge on their opponents and the prospect of winning their money. "More Hold'Em Wisdom for All Players" is a second compilation of invaluable advice and insightful tips on this popular poker game from a four time champion and 2004 player of the year in Daniel Negreanu. Fifty lessons with explanations on why they work and how to use them are packed within its pages and certain to improve anyone's poker game by a good margin. "More Hold'Em Wisdom for All Players" would be worthy reading for any poker enthusiast and an essential addition to the personal reference library for anyone sitting down to a game of Texas Hold'Em.

Gary Brown's Learn to Play Bridge
Gary Brown
Master Point Press
331 Douglas Avenue Toronto, Ontario M5M 1H2 , Canada
9781897106396, $17.95, 119 pp., www.amazon.com

Know how to play Bridge or always wanted to learn? The you can easily learn some of the finer points of game from a true bridge master with "Gary Brown's Learn to Play Bridge: A Modern Approach To Standard Bidding With 5-Card Majors". This thoroughly 'user friendly' instruction manual provides the reader with the basic and techniques to playing bridge. "Gary Brown's Learn to Play Bridge" takes a no assumption approach to provide readers with the most effective information, explanations and visuals. Exercises and tips are also included. Readers can then continue expanding their knowledge by logging on to www.masterbridge.com. Designed to 'teach teachers' the tools to promote bridge to new players, as well as giving newcomers to the game the tools to get enthusiastic about Bridge, "Gary Brown's Learn to Play Bridge" is easy to follow and offers a wealth of practical and applicable information. Highly recommended for personal and community library reference collections, this winner of the American Bridge Teachers' Association 2007 Book of the Year award is sure to please anyone dedicated to learning and/or improving their play.


The Poetry Shelf

Dissipated Assets
David Zimmerman
Boian Books
121 E. Van Buren 4B, Eureka Springs, AR 72632
9780978601416, $14.95, www.boianbooks.com

To both love and hate something just another aspect of life, really. "Dissipated Assets" are the musings of an everyday man with an appreciation for history, as he looks back on the history of the world and his own life as he picks out what has antagonized him over the years, and what has made it bearable. Witticisms from an antique dealer and historian, "Dissipated Assets" is a fine and original volume of poetry. "71": Indulge yourself in letting go,//Establishing a pace whereby/You will arrive quite naked at the end.

Kinnickinnic
Thomas R. Smith
Parallel Press
372 Memorial Library
728 State Street, Madison, WI 53575
http://parallelpress.library.wisc.edu
9781934795033, $10.00, 1-800-636-0071

Poetry can be elegantly complex or accessible simple. The best of the poets are able to articulate their thoughts and emotions, their insights and feelings within whatever degree of sophistication is necessary to successfully accomplish their expressions. Such a poet is Thomas R. Smith whose anthology "Kinnickinnic" provides examples of his own distinctive style and features several pieces showcasing outdoor themes and rural places. To Summer: I sleepwalk through your heated noons and midnights./You demand my complete allegiance,/so disloyally I slip away./Your birth a thousand fields of white clover,/to scathe them down in a single day./To your intense spendthrift sun I bring/only a mister's hoarded match-flame. You/lay your burning hands all over my body,/but I can only reach to touch your face.

Dancing Fire
Marjorie Sparkman Jackson
Fithian Press
c/o Daniel Publishing
PO Box 2790, McKinleyville, CA 95519
9781564744753, $14.00, www.danielpublishing.com

Widely published poet Marjorie Sparkman Jackson brings readers "Dancing Fire". Focusing on the human spirit through a perspective of ancient and classical literature and mythology, ranging from Zeus to Adam and Ever, the scope proves effective, and leads to moving verse. Solid work all around, "Dancing Fire" is worth thinking about for poetry readers. "Immortality": Feathered wonder, prey of kings,/In flight eternally, bring/a new horizon as you wing your way/To where the angels sing.

A Necklace of Bees
Dannye Romine Powell
The University of Arkansas Press
McIlroy House, 201 Ozark Avenue, Fayetteville, AR 72701
1557288798, $16.00, www.uapress.com, 1-800-626-0090

Award winning poet Dannye Romine Powell brings readers her third anthology of poetry in "A Necklace of Bees". Focused around the potential tragedy of losing her beloved son to the poisons of alcohol, Powell's poetry contemplates the helplessness and anticipation of watching someone you love destroy themselves, making "A Necklace of Bees" worth reading for poetry fans who feel they are in a similar situation. "When He Told Her": and she knew from the beginning/he must/one day tell her,/she thought of that banyan tree he would remember/the one-- and how over the long years/it had fastened itself to the earth and the earth beneath/the earth, its long roots once suspended/in air now anchoring an orphanage of limbs, the leaves/beneath the leaves marshaling the dark, as if to say, Come,/I will hold you, you and your tears, so dense/was its shade, so bold the branches, so ferociously attached.


The Social Work Shelf

Foundations of Social Work Practice
Mark A. Mattaini & Christine T. Lowery
NASW Press
750 First Street, NE, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20002-4241
9780871013743, $54.99, www.naswpress.org

Social work exists to help people, but if done improperly, it can do just as much damage as it can prevent. "Foundations of Social Work Practice" is now in a newly expanded and updated fourth edition, and still ably serves as an ideal textbook for social work students and interested non-specialist general readers seeking to understand the basic premises, techniques, and theories of social work practice. Granting the knowledge needed to fully understand the concept of social work and the huge range of problems a counselor or other type of social worker might face in the course of the career and the right way to react, it's the training students need. Enhanced with appendixes containing a code of ethics, a universal declaration of human rights, and exercises for students, "Foundations of Social Work Practice" is a text best added to any college library or considered as curriculum.


The Economics Shelf

The World Bank and the Gods of Lending
Steve Berkman
Kumarian Press
22883 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166
9781565492592, $24.95, www.kpbooks.com

Globalization has lead to the formation of a World Bank but how has such a venture turned out? "The World Bank and the Gods of Lending" is a thorough and scholarly examination of the acts of the World Bank. Looking at its history of loans and how it has spent its money, Berkman shows a story that tells of the corruption and mismanagement of this goliath of economics. Drawn from actual world bank reports and his own experience as a bank employee, the tale is quite shocking and saddening. "The World Bank and the Gods of Lending" is a look at how bad mismanagement can be.

New Frontiers in Free Trade
Razeen Sally
Cato Institute
1000 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20001
9781933995212, $18.95, www.cato.org

With nearly half the world's population, it's no surprise Asia is a massive juggernaut in today's global economy. "New Frontiers in Free Trade: Globalization's Future and Asia's Rising Role" is a look at globalization and its true effect on the world's economy as a whole. Telling how Asia is slowly becoming the leading economic power in the world, a title once held by North America and Europe, Sally also discusses how the World Trade Organization has succeeded and failed in its job, and the effects of such. "New Frontiers in Free Trade" is a must for a solid understanding of today's world economy.


The Education Shelf

Effective School Interventions
Natalie Rathvon
Guilford Publications, Inc.
72 Spring Street , New York, NY 10012
9781572309678, $46.00, www.guilford.com

No one contests the premise that education is the bedrock upon which the economic future of the American nation is founded. What varies among contesting views on education are what strategies and approaches are best to maximize student academic performance. Now in an newly expanded and updated second edition, "Effective School Interventions: Evidence-Based Strategies For Improving Student Outcomes" by Natalie Rathvon (Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychology at The George Washington University) is a comprehensive and scholarly study organized into two major sections: 'The Intervention Assistance Approach To Improving Student Outcomes' and 'Evidence-Based School Interventions'. This new edition has been expanded to include new features and resources including additional guidance on legal issues and ethics for practitioners who are part of team-based intervention assistance programs; a 'cross-reference box' to help readers locate strategies in other sections or chapters with similar components but different targets; 'Special topics sections' highlighting key concepts, critical issues, and best practices; an appendix for each of the four intervention chapters helping readers in quickly locating appropriate strategies and comparing strategies within the same domains. Exhaustive, comprehensive, superbly organized and presented, this new edition of "Effective School Interventions" is a core and seminal addition to professional and academic library Educational Studies & Practices reference collections and reading lists.

The Handbook for Enhancing Professional Practice
Charlotte Danielson
ASCD
c/o Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
1703 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
9781416607090, $27.95, 177 pages, www.ascd.org

To be a successful educator is to commit to the concept of life long learning. For conscientious classroom teachers dedicated to improving procedures and mechanisms in their teaching practice, a newly published guide offers a practical approach and framework that emphasizes two key goals: quality assurance and professional learning. Loaded with advice, step-by-step procedures and practical tools for teachers and education administrators, this instruction manual provides a distinctive set of tools to enhance classroom instruction skills and performance. Since the original publication of Enhancing Professional Practice: A Framework for Teaching in 1996, author Charlotte Danielson, has built upon those experiences and presents a comprehensive framework in The Handbook for Enhancing Professional Practice: Using the Framework for Teaching in Your School. Teachers, administrators and other who seek to use the framework to improve their programs and practice will be delighted with the clarity and easy to use style of this guide. Practical application of this framework includes teacher preparation, teacher recruitment and hiring, mentoring and peer coaching, self-directed professional inquiry, professional development and teacher evaluation. "The Handbook for Enhancing Professional Practice" is strongly recommended for professional and academic library Education Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Real Education
Charles Murray
Crown Forum
c/o American Enterprise Institute
1150 Seventeenth Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20036
9780307405388, $24.95, www.aei.org

Education for all is one of the few things that most agree on, but to what extent? "Real Education: Four Simple Truths for Bringing America's Schools Back to Reality" is a call to revamping how America educates its children. Going on four principles that are bold enough to say that not everyone is going to be capable of becoming a rocket scientist or the next president, it calls for an education which is on level with the people who need it the most, America's academically gifted. "Real Education" may seem radical in its approach, but its ideas are definitely worth considering.

Teaching the Brain to Read
Judy Willis
ASCD
1703 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
9781416606888, $23.95, www.ascd.org/books

Mostly everyone who is reading this review is taking something for granted the simple ability to read this review. "Teaching the Brain to Read: Strategies for Improving Fluency, Vocabulary, and Comprehension" is a guide for the educators of young people and in general who want to promote reading and writing as the absolutely fundamental skills they are to reality. Taking a neuroscience approach to the topic, it offers a solid and proven method of teaching people to read. "Teaching the Brain to Read" is a high recommendation to any primary educator.


The World History Shelf

Civilization
Roger Osbourne
Pegasus Books
45 Wall Street, Suite 1021, New York, NY 10005
9781933648767, $16.95

Western civilization is something that most Americans cherish. But is it really something to be admired without analysis, criticism, or perspective? "Civilization: A New History of the Western World" by Roger Osbourne tries to take a full on scholarly approach to western civilization in its entirety. Pulling no punches, it discusses Hitler as much as it does the cure for Polio, and spans from the early Greek states to the events leading up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq. An original work of seminal scholarship, "Civilization" is educational and interesting in its content, making it a 'must' for history buffs and a welcome addition to both academic and community library World History reference collections.

The Irish Civil War 1922-23
Peter Cottrell
Osprey Publishing
443 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
9781846032707, $17.95 www.ospreypublishing.com

This sequel to the author's acclaimed THE ANGLO-IRISH WAR is a pick for any library strong in military titles or Irish history: it explores the early conflict that tore Ireland apart and considers the politics as well as the military strategies applied on all sides, focusing on the short battles that demonstrated different leadership styles and combat operations by the IRA and National Army. It's an outstanding survey perfect for Irish history and military collections alike.


The Christian Studies Shelf

When God Goes to Starbucks
Paul Copan
Baker Books
PO Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
9780801067433, $14.99, www.bakerbooks.com

Being Christian in an intellectual, secular world, comes with its own challenges. "When God Goes to Starbucks: A Guide to Everyday Apologetics" is a guide for Christians who want to deal with the pressing questions of their faith, that puts heavy guilt on their belief, such as homosexuality, religious zealots and their wars, and the acts of some more horrible individuals that claimed to be Christians. Aimed at a conservative Christian audience who wants to argue for their beliefs, "When God Goes to Starbucks" is worth for their consideration.

Unplugging from Religion
Greg Albrecht
Plain Truth Ministries
c/o Veritas Communications
PO Box 2075, Canon City, CO 81215
9781889973081, $14.99, www.veritasincorporated.com

Church is not required, but "Unplugging from Religion: Connecting with God" is not a book advocating Atheism. Instead encouraging alternative church and methods, Greg Albrecht promotes alternative solutions to worship, telling people that belief in God and his principles are what's important, not where one spends their Sunday mornings. With a checklist on staying true to Christianity without the weekly church visit, "Unplugging from Religion" is a fresh taste of a newer, more real world friendly Christianity.

The Anatomy of Grace
Peter W. Marty
Augsburg Fortress
PO Box 1209, Minneapolis, MN 55440-1209
9780806680453, $12.99, www.augsburgfortress.org

Life changes, so religion must change with it. "The Anatomy of Grace" is a collection of reflections from Peter W. Marty, a senior pastor of a Lutheran Church in the American Midwest about the changing nature of religion in this modern and rapidly changing age. Offering poignant and intelligent ideas for readers, he urges that the congregation should still be an important aspect of daily life. "The Anatomy of Grace" is current and wise, worth reading for religious readers.

Generation Hex
Dillon Burroughs & Marla Alupoaicei
Harvest House Publishers
990 Owen Loop North, Eugene, Oregon 97402-9173
9780736924016, $9.99, www.harvesthousepublishers.com

The Occult, normally regarded as nonsense, but some become devoted to it in spite of popular opinion. Co-authored by Dillon Burroughs and Marla Alupoaicei, "Generation Hex: Understanding the Subtle Dangers of Wicca" is a devout Christian's parenting guidebook to facing the growing cultural acceptance of Wicca and metaphysical new age witchcraft. Outlining just what Wicca is, and what a true Christian should do when confronted with them, "Generation Hex" offers parents practical and applicable information on dealing with this current cultural trend. Informed and informative, "Generation Hex" is especially recommended for anyone having to deal with New Age influences with respect to friends or family members.


The Business Shelf

The Star Profile
Jathan Janove
Davies-Black Publishing
1055 Joaquin Road, 2nd Floor, Mountain View, CA 94043
9780891062202, $22.95, www.daviesblack.com

Words have power, but it doesn't take a lot of words to push that power. "The Star Profile: A Management Tool to Unleash Employee Potential" is a guide to crafting communication tools that cut straight to the point, don't waste the reader's or listener's time, yet remain highly effective. Solid speaking involves a charisma that can be learned, and "The Star Profile" seeks to train speakers to have that star power they need to make themselves and their companies succeed.

Finding the Sweet Spot
Dave Pollard
Chelsea Green Publishing
85 North Main Street, Ste. 120, White River Junction, VT 05001
Caroline O'Connel Communications (publicity)
11275 La Maida Street, Suite 200, No. Hollywood, CA 91601-4514
9781933392905, $17.95, www.chelseagreen.com

Industry and Environmentalism do not have to be exclusive concepts. "Finding the Sweet Spot: The Natural Entrepreneur's Guide to Responsible, Sustainable, Joyful Work" tells readers that respecting the environment while making one's fortune is dually possible. Advice on starting these responsible businesses, finding people with similar views, sustaining when others ignore it, and many other aspects, it's good reading to establish the bases needed for a successful business. "Finding the Sweet Spot" is worth reading for any established or aspiring entrepreneur.


The Islamic Studies Shelf

Islam
Bernard Lewis
Wharton School Publishing
801 East 96h Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780132230858, $21.99, www.whartonsp.com

An understanding of Islam is key to understanding the world. "Islam: The Religion and the People" is an unabashed textbook on the religion to help western Christian readers better understand the third Abrahamic religion, and the culture that follow it. Speaking on Islam's views of several social issues important to the west, its customs and holidays, and what it means to America, "Islam" is an absolute must for any who want to best understand why the world is the way it is.


The Computer Shelf

Autocad 2009 Essentials
Munir Hamad
Infinity Science Press
11 Leavitt Street, Hingham, MA 02043
9781934015285, $49.95, www.infinitysciencepress.com

Drafting is an exact science, and little is more exact that AutoCAD 2009. "AutoCAD 2009 Essentials" is the manual that should have come with the program that offers readers everything they need to know to fully understand the program and most efficiently use it for their career and to make their jobs easier. An accompanying DVD-ROM includes trial software for the program, and many examples to get drafters started. Both Imperial and metric examples are used for maximum compatibility, making "AutoCAD 2009 Essentials" a must for anyone just getting started with the program.


The Environmental Studies Shelf

Green Up Your Cleanup
Jill Potvin Schoff
Creative Homeowner
24 Park Way, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458
9781580113953, $16.95, www.creativehomeowner.com

Revamping and cleaning one's home can take a toll on the environment, but it doesn't need to. "Green Up Your Cleanup" is something for the environmentalist who wants to keep their humble abode in good condition while keeping their carbon footprint small. With tips and advice good for the wallet as well as the Earth, even non-green freaks may find some useful information within. "Green Up Your Cleanup" is chock-full of ideas, and the very book itself is eco-friendly, spiral bound and made of recyclable materials for extra appeal to the inner environmentalist in us all.

Otero Mesa: Preserving America's Widest Grassland
Gregory McNamee
University of New Mexico Press
1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 27131-0001
(505)-277-2346, www.unmpress.com
9780826343970, $24.95, 92 pp., 41 color photos

Grasslands continue to disappear throughout the U.S. to the determine of the ecosystems and habitats where they are an essential part of a healthy and self-sustaining environment. "Otero Mesa: Preserving America's Widest Grassland" focuses upon one specific grassland with an impressively informative text by Gregory McNamee, an enlightening foreword by Governor Bill Richardson, and impressive photographs by Stephen Strom and Stephen Capra. This seminal work of meticulous scholarship brings to light the vast beauty of Otero Mesa and its alarming present day reality. Otero Mesa is in danger of becoming a drilling haven to one hundred new oil wells which will pollute the environment, decimate and contaminate groundwater and endanger the wildlife. Presented in four compelling chapters: The View from an Aplomado; The View from a Missile; Oil and Otero Mesa; and the Fate of the Land, "Otero Mesa" is certain to enlighten the non-specialist general reader and environmental activist who recognizes the value of wide open spaces and the habitat that occupies it, and clean water so necessary to plant, animal, and human life. The fate of Otero Mesa is still unknown as the case fighting to preserve it rests in the federal courts awaiting a decision. A clarion call, "Otero Mesa" is urgently recommended for all personal, community, and academic library Environmental Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Going Away to Think
Scott Slovic
University of Nevada Press
Morill Hall, MS 0166, Reno, NV 89557-0166
9780874177565, $24.95, www.unpress.nevada.edu

Personal indulgence and being environmentally friendly are often mutual exclusive. "Going Away to Think: Engagement, Retreat, and Ecocritical Responsibility" by Scott Slovic is one dedicated environmentalist's insightful ponderings about the world around him and how so often personal and societal indulgence leads to environmental turmoil, such as the high amount of jet fuel that airliners require and the damage this does to the ozone layer. A series of articulate essays pondering the importance of balance and the environment, "Going Away to Think" is informed and informative recommended reading for all environmental activists and non-specialist general readers with an interest in environmental issues.


The Social Issues Shelf

Refugee Rights
David Hollenbach
Georgetown University Press
3240 Prospect Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20007
158901202X, $26.95, www.press.georgetown.edu

Displaced from their homeland, the last thing they need is to be treated like garbage. "Refugee Rights: Ethics, Advocacy, and Africa" advocates the human rights for these displaced people, taking a stance that ignores race, creed, or nationality to give people the basic rights they deserve. Focusing on Africa and its laundry list of problems, "Refugee Rights" is of interest to anyone who thinks basic human rights should not be a nation to nation thing, but rather something to be respected worldwide.

Sex, Science, and Stem Cells
Diana DeGette
The Lyons Press
c/o The Globe Pequot Press
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
9781599214313, $27.50, www.lyonspress.com

Stem Cell research can bring many benefits to humanity, but many stand against it for religious reasons, including the Bush Administration. "Sex, Science, and Stem Cells: Inside the Right Wing Assault on Reason" is an argument that the right wing of American Politics is blinded by religion and is therefore preventing reason and medical science's advance through lack of support and wrongful bans. DeGette has been involved in Congress for more than fifteen years, and makes her case and tells her story of frustration. "Sex, Science, Stem Cells" is a great read for those who seek to best understand the Bush Administration's religious policies.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Wild Horses: Endangered Beauty
Traer Scott
Merrell Publishers Limited
740 Broadway, Suite 1202, New York, NY 10003
60 Cycle Media (publicity)
38 High Avenue, Suite1, Nyack, NY 10960
www.merrellpublishers.com
9781858944630, $24.95,144 pp., 1-212-529-2270

Every since their introduction to the Americas by the Spanish some 500 hears ago, wild horses have been a part of the western American landscape. In three powerful chapters, including an introduction, wild horses, rescue and conservation groups, author Traer Scott brings brilliant light to a darkening issue in "Wild Horses: Endangered Beauty". These are horses endanger of capture and development. From author Scott, " I want every animal lover...to know that these animals do not just exist in legends and children's stories, they are very real; they are living, breathing American history, and they are in danger." Stunning black and white photographs reveal the very nature and life of these unique animals. Enhanced with the inclusion of anecdotal stories of their daily lives, rescue and rehabilitation, "Wild Horses: Endangered Beauty" will appeal to anyone interested in horses and the welfare of wild animals. The documented plight of these gracious creatures fighting for survival, and the individuals and groups working to protect them, make "Wild Horses: Endangered Beauty" a strongly recommended addition for all personal, community, and academic library Pets & Wildlife reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Botany Shelf

International Poisonous Plants Checklist
D. Jesse Wagstaff
CRC Press
c/o Taylor & Francis Group
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300
Boca Raton, FL 33487
9781420062526, $149.95, www.crcpress.com, 1-800-272-7737

Poisonous plants are to be found in every climate zone that can grow vegetation. With its descriptive entries arranged alphabetically, the "International Poisonous Plants Checklist: An Evidence-Based Reference" compiled and arranged by plant toxicologist D. Jesse Wagstaff is a 443-page compendium that defines the known set of toxic vascular plants according to accepted botanic names, as well as drawing upon a taxonomy founded upon common ancestry and genetic connections. This comprehensive reference features referenced citations, toxicity, symptoms and circumstances of toxic exposure, dosage and potency, chemical analysis, botany, pharmacology, mechanism, metabolism, and control for each cited plant. "International Poisonous Plants Checklist" also cross-references selected synonyms and common names for these toxic plans, as well as including all their common animal feed plants, human food plants, and plants utilized as herbal products, dietary supplements, tonics, and therapeutic agents. A seminal work of meticulous scholarship, "International Poisonous Plants Checklist" is a core addition to professional and academic Botany reference collections.


The Military Shelf

Leathernecks
Merrill L. Bartlett & Jack Sweetman
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD 21402
9781591140207, $60.00, www.navalinstitute.org, 1-800-233-8764

There have been histories of the U.S. Marine Corp before. But "Leathernecks: An Illustrated History Of The United States Marine Corps" is particularly outstanding because of its thoroughly 'reader friendly' narrative style and enhancements with historic black/white photographs, maps, and full color artwork illustrations. Deftly co-authored by Merrill L. Bartlett (a Marine officer for twenty years) and military historian Jack Sweetman, "Leathernecks" provides an especially informed and informative historical overview of the Marines from their origins, to their establishment as part of America's colonial fighting forces, through the 19th and 20th century American conflicts, down to the present day. Enhanced with an extensive bibliography for further studies on and about Marine Corp history, as well as a comprehensive index, "Leathernecks" is a highly recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library American Military History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

U.S. Experimental & Prototype Aircraft Projects
Bill Norton
Specialty Press
39966 Grand Ave., North Branch, MN 55056
800-895-4585, www.specialtypress.com
9781580071093, $44.95, 264 pp.

Military aviation has advanced with a rapidity known to very few other technological areas. But those advances have taken a great many experimental trials, some of which ended with tragic consequences, and others which led to America's preeminent position as a world superpower. "U.S. Experimental & Prototype Aircraft Projects: Fighters 1939-1945" explores American fighter projects during the years of WWII that never reached combat forces or did so only in a very limited manner. Author Bill Norton presents a fascinating look at the overall development of American fighter aircraft with an emphasis on the little-known projects that matured to the point of significant design development. These projects significantly advance the science and technology of fighter aeronautics, propulsion, systems, avionic and ordnance carriage. Includes photos, glossary, acronym list and much more. Aircraft enthusiasts will love the history of the secret projects that never made it to combat to the designs that contributed to successful aircrafts used in WWII. Informed and informative, enhanced with remarkable illustrations throughout, "U.S. Experimental & Prototype Aircraft Projects: Fighters 1939-1945", is an especially recommended addition to academic and community Military Aviation History reference collections, and as an addition to the supplemental reading lists of all military aircraft buffs.


The Literary Shelf

The Incarnation Of Language
Michael O'Sullivan
The Continuum International Publishing Group
80 Maiden Lane, Suite 704, New York, NY 10038
9781847060471, $120.00, www.continuumbooks.com

The books, articles and essays of Joyce and Proust continue to hold a special interest for new generations of students of literature, philosophy, and theology. "The Incarnation Of Language: Joyce, Proust And A Philosophy Of The Flesh" by Michael O'Sullivan (Assistant Professor in English at Nagoya University of Commerce and Business, Japan) is an elegant and scholarly study of the concept of incarnation has these towering figures of western literature employed it within their writings. Considering how notions of the phenomena of incarnation are found embedded in their themes provides modern readers with fresh, fascinating, and informative insights into nuances of these two men's works hitherto overlooked. A work of meticulous and seminal scholarship of the highest order, "The Incarnation Of Language" must be considered as a critically essential contribution for academic library reference collections and an important addition to the supplemental reading lists for students of the works of both Joyce and Proust.

The Collected Letters of Edgar Allan Poe
John W. Ostrom, et al.
The Gordian Press
37 Crescent Avenue, Staten Island NY 103301
Vol. I, 9780877522478, Vol. II, 9780877522485,
Boxed Set, $100.00, xlvii + 1325 pp., roger.texier@verizon.net

One of America's preeminent and influential 19th Century authors, the short stories and poems by Edgar Allan Poe have intrigued the literary world and continue to be enjoyed by each new generation of readers. Now those readers can enjoy the revised and expanded biographical works of information available on this great author, which go beyond his literary works to give readers a view of Poe as an original thinker and major figure in American literary history. The knowledgeable and expert collaborative work of Burton R. Pollin and Jeffrey A. Savoye, "The Collected Letters of Edgar Allan Poe" have brought today's readers new and corrected information using the best available research drawn from the last four decades of Poe scholarship. Included in these handsomely designed, sturdy, and reformatted volumes are new letters, updated notes and a generous subject index with over 2,000 entries. More than double the original edition these boxed set two volumes contain 422 letters by Poe, with a number of fragments. A bonus for readers are 74 illustrations and a comprehensive check list of Poe's correspondence, also updated, to include over 1,000 entries! A core addition to academic and community library collections, "The Collected Letters of Edgar Allan Poe" is strongly recommended as an essential reference for scholars and any reader wishing to gain a better understanding of Poe.

Chaucer's The Knight's Tale And The Limits of Human Order In The Pagan World
Carl C. Curtis III, editor
The Edwin Mellen Press
415 Ridge Street , Lewiston, NY 14092
9780773450592, $109.95, www.mellenpress.com

It is as much through their literature as it is with their art and architecture that we can best understand and appreciate the nuances of other civilizations and cultures older than our own. "Chaucer's The Knight's Tale And The Limits of Human Order In The Pagan World: Athenian Order, Theban Love, Christian Cosmos", by Carl C. Curtis III (Associate Professor of English at Liberty University, Lynchburg, Virginia) is a seminal work of impressively articulate scholarship that begins with a Medieval critique of paganism in general and of modern critics to Chaucer's 'The Knight's Tale' in particular, then proceeds to explore the themes of the Heroic Ideal and the Heroic Life; the allegories of Rule and Love; the constitution of ancient Athens with respect to mercy, fortune, theater as a vehicle for life lessons; and concludes with the ultimate failure and eventual re-founding of Athens. Enhanced with copious footnotes, an eight-page bibliography, and a comprehensive index, "Chaucer's The Knight's Tale And The Limits of Human Order In The Pagan World" is a particularly recommended addition to academic library Chaucerian Studies and Literary Studies reference collections and graduate school level supplemental reading lists.


The Martial Arts Shelf

Yang Style Traditional Long Form T'ai Chi Ch'uan
Gordon Muir, author
Blue Snakes Books
c/o North Atlantic Books
P.O. Box 12327, Berkeley, CA 94712
www.bluesnakebooks.com
9781583942215, $16.95, 225 pages, (800) 733-3000

Long form of Yang T'ai Chi is not as well known as the more traditional short forms of T'ai Chi taught in this country today. In this descriptive teaching of traditional long form Yang T'ai Chi expert and author Gordon Muir provides the non-specialist general reader with an illustrated, step by step, 'beginner friendly' approach to learning the style and form which distinguishes it from other forms to T'ai Chi. Robust with illustrative content "Yang Style Traditional Long Form T'ai Chi Ch'uan As Taught by Master T.T. Liang" includes all 150 postures of the traditional Yang style long from, hand and arm positions, and moving and powering instructions. Clearly formatted with an easy reference to take the reader to each individual posture, this is a must have for those wishing to learn the technique, style and understanding of Yang Style Traditional Long Form T'ai Chi Ch'uan. Abundant with photographs and detailed descriptions providing concise and methodical explanations concerning the movements of traditional long style Yang T'ai Chi, "Yang Style Traditional Long Form T'ai Chi Ch'uan As Taught by Master T.T. Liang" is enthusiastically recommended for anyone wishing to learn and master long form T'ai Chi, as well as a core addition to both academic and community library Martial Arts and Health/Exercise reference collections.


The Interior Design Shelf

Barry Dixon Interiors
Brian D. Coleman
Gibbs Smith, Publisher
PO Box 667, Layton UT 84041
9781423601890, $40.00, www.gibbs-smith.com, 1-800-748-5439

Interior designs range from casual to formal, from eclectic to historic, from traditional to avant garde. Barry Dixon's interior design style is especially noted for his international approach incorporating classical architecture and traditional themes with elements of modern and contemporary designs. The results were elegant and individualized interior creations ranging from a Caribbean mountaintop villa, to an 18th century Virginia farmhouse, to an open-plan Manhattan loft, and so much more. Profusely illustrated with full color photography by Edward Addeo, "Barry Dixon Interiors" by historic house restoration enthusiast Brian D. Coleman is a compendium of the best of Dixon's designs and a pure pleasure to simply browse through for inspirations and examples of what can be done. Simply stated, "Barry Dixon Interiors" is an enthusiastically recommended and seminal addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library Interior Design reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Natural Style
Janet Sobesky
Creative Homeowner
24 Park Way, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458
www.creativehomeowner.com
9781580114110, $19.95, 206 pp. incl. Glossary and Index

Designing a home for maximum style, comfort which is earth friendly is an esthetically pleasing and effective way of 'going green'. Former home design and lifestyle editor of 'Woman's Day' magazine, Janet Sobesky presents "Natural Style: Decorating With An Earth-Friendly Point Of View", an impressive compendium of ideas, suggestions, recommendations, and examples for every room of the home and household. Enhanced thoroughly with the full color photography of Karyn Millet, this presentation of decorative ideas with an earth friendly tone is sure to please. Recommended for all academic interior design reference collections, community library collections, and personal reading lists for do-it-yourself homeowners, "Natural Style" is thought provoking, inspirational, and a simply beautiful source for practical ideas to live more efficiently and with greater esthetic enhancement.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Bad Vibrations
Dan Anderson
Murder, Mayhem, & Malice Press
PO Box 616869, Orlando, FL 328616869
9781601455437, $14.95, www.murdermayhemmalice.com

Murder isn't funny, but someone is obsessed with making it so. "Bad Vibrations" is about a serial killer who only targets women and does so in a way most would deem . . . strange at best. Chauncey McFadden is charged with hunting down the monster, but must cut through a strange and entertaining cast of characters on both sides of the law. Hilarious and gripping, "Bad Vibrations" is a solid and unique mystery, recommended.


The Buddhist Studies Shelf

The Best of Inquiring Mind
Barbara Gates & Wes Nisker, editors
Wisdom Publications
199 Elm Street, Somerville, MA 02144
9780861715510, $17.95, www.wisdompubs.org

Buddhism has never been the traditional religion, and has brought many different types of people and many different minds to it. "The Best of Inquiring Mind: 25 Years of Dharma, Drama, and Uncommon Insights" is an anthology of essays and writings from the Buddhist publication known as 'Inquiring Mind'. A large range of writings from dozens of authors, "The Best of Inquiring Mind" is a must for any Buddhist who seeks food for thought about their philosophy and faith.


The Philosophy Shelf

Godless
Dan Barker
Ulysses Press
PO Box 3440, Berkeley, CA 94703
9781569756775, $14.95, www.ulyssespress.com

From spreading the word of god as an ordained minister to speaking out against his existence as an atheist -- how does this happen? "Godless: How An Evangelical Preacher Became One of America's Leading Atheists" tells the personal story of Dan Barker, who was once a respected preacher and highly supportive of the Christian religion. With an unwavering candor, Dan tells his story of how he began to doubt his faith and why he thinks so many continue Christians to believe. An iconoclastic and intriguing criticism of faith, "Godless" is worth consideration for both those who want a better understanding of religion as well as those once dedicated Christians who also are feeling doubt about their faith.

Atheism Explained
David Ramsay Steele
Open Court Publishing Company
70 East Lake Street, Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60601
9780812696370, $17.95, www.opencourtbooks.com

The biggest debate of today's philosophical minds, the existence or lack thereof a supreme being. "Atheism Explained: From Folly to Philosophy" takes an examination of the debate and seeks to fully understand what rages on between secular atheists and devout Christians, Muslims, Jews, and other religious types around the world. Criticizing with scholarly knowledge and tact, he offers his own opinion on the matter and addresses the many arguments on both sides. "Atheism Explained" is solid reading for anyone who enjoys debating philosophy and religion.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

La Clinica
David P. Sklar
University of New Mexico Press
1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
9780826345240, $26.95, www.unmpress.com

The call of the healer what David Sklar heard when he left his New Mexico home to cross the border. "La Clinica: A Doctor's Journey Across Borders" is his story. With nothing left to lose in his hometown, he answers a letter to volunteer in a run down medical clinic in Sierra Madre in Mexico. His stories tell a tale of a man driven to heal, and who heals in an area with a totally different culture and a language he lacks a mastery in. A moving and inspiring story, "La Clinica" is worth reading for any.

Brain Injury Survival Kit
Cheryle Sullivan
Demos Health
386 Park Avenue South, Suite 301, New York, NY 10016
9781932603736, $16.95, www.demoshealth.com

The brain is the most important organ of the human body, and dealing with damage to it is a feat in itself. "Brain Injury Survival Kit: 365 Tips, Tools, & Tricks to Deal with Cognitive Function Loss" is a guide for those who are afflicted and those who are family to them. Touching on the many sorts of brain injury and the effects of each, it tackles subjects such as communication, struggling with memory, medication, and dealing with day to day life when it's an epic challenge to do so. "Brain Injury Survival Kit" is a must to have on hand when you or a family member is faced with this unfortunate injury.


The Judicial Studies Shelf

Reasonable Use of Force by Police
David A. May & James E. Headley
Peter Lang AG
29 Broadway, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10006
9780820469348, $29.95, www.peterlang.com

Force is necessary, as not everyone is willing to talk when the law is involved. "Reasonable Use of Force by Police: Seizures, Firearms, and High-Speed Chases" is a look at the work of the police and their use of force, and the constitutional issues that spill out from the police using this force. Using a number of examples, drawn from both the realms of hypothetical and reality, it goes over either and discusses how much force from an officer of the law is just. A text to be considered for curriculums for police academies, "Reasonable Use of Force by Police" is worth reading for nonspecialist general readers for its dissection of the justice of force.


The Money/Finance Shelf

Get Rich, Stay Rich, Pass It On
Catherine S. McBreen & George H. Walper Jr.
Portfolio
c/o Penguin Group
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9781591841753, $25.95, www.penguin.com

Wealth is nothing if one cannot sustain it. "Get Rich, Stay Rich, Pass It On: The Wealth-Accumulation Secrets of America's Richest Families" is a guide to obtaining wealth and keeping it, something most help books on finance seem to forget to address. Sensible and wise, the ideas presented within are backed up with examples and anecdotes of how the American elite used such tips to get their own piece of the financial pie. "Get Rich, Stay Rich, Pass It On" is worth reading for anyone who wants to make sound financial decisions in their life and move up to the next tax bracket.


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


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