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Wisconsin Bookwatch

Volume 5, Number 11 November 2010 Home | WBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Social Issues Shelf Native American Shelf
Civil War Shelf American History Shelf Buddhist Studies Shelf
Pets/Wildlife Shelf Art Shelf Cookbook Shelf
Biography Shelf Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf Jobs/Careers Shelf
Science Shelf Business Shelf Fiction Shelf
Metaphysical Studies Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Political Science Shelf
Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf Poetry Shelf Self-Help Shelf
Environmental Studies Shelf Christian Studies Shelf Literary Shelf
Education Shelf Fashion Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf
Religion/Spirituality Shelf Parenting Shelf Psychology Shelf
Judaic Studies Shelf Sports Shelf Economics Shelf
Music Shelf Gaming Shelf Hunting/Fishing Shelf
Woodworking Shelf Military Shelf Computer Shelf
World History Shelf Gardening Shelf  


Reviewer's Choice

The Reluctant Entertainer
Sandy Coughlin
Bethany House
c/o Baker Publishing Group
11400 Hampshire Ave. S., Bloomington, MN 55438
9780764207501, $17.99, www.bethanyhouse.com

Not everyone wants to be the hostess, but sometimes it can't be helped. "The Reluctant Entertainer: Every Woman's Guide to Simple and Gracious Hospitality" is a guide to quick and simple hospitality which can cut to the essence of the matter quickly and efficiently. Designed to help those who aren't usually playing the role of hostess to adapt and be a good one on short notice, Sandy Coughlin gives readers a far reaching and grasping outlook for making the most out of low experience. Filled with recipes and other useful resources, "The Reluctant Entertainer" is not to be missed.

A Gathering of Angels
Victoria Leland
ACTA Publications
4848 N, Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60640
9780879464271, $12.95, www.actapublications.com

The loss of a child is at most devastating when life never got a chance to begin. "A Gathering of Angels: Seeking Healing after an Infant's Death" is a grief counseling guide for mothers who are facing the ultimate loss, where they lose their infant children early in their life. Designed as a support to these mothers through the symbolism of angels that will ring true for any faith, "A Gathering of Angels" is a fine read that will support many women on these tragedies.


The Social Issues Shelf

Stockpile: The Story Behind 10,000 Strategic Nuclear Wapons
Jerry Miller
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD 21402
9781591145318 $37.95 www.navalinstitute.org 1-800-233-8764

Retired nuclear plans monitor Vice Admiral Jerry Miller, USN presents Stockpile: The Story Behind 10,000 Strategic Nuclear Weapons, a straightforward history of America's nuclear arms race, and how America's nuclear weapon stockpile grew to 3,500 in 1960, to over 10,000 in the mid-1970s, as well as modern efforts to keep the stockpile under control. Chapters chronicle the strategies, targeting and attack plans, and arms control measures connected to this proliferation of nuclear weapons, and warn against the failure of the media and academia to fully educate the general public about nuclear warfare and why such a stockpile of weapons should be a paramount concern. Stockpile ultimately examines possible dangerous scenarios and recommends steps that America needs to take in order to bring its arsenal-building under control. An absolutely indispensable commentary on one of the potentially deadliest issues facing the world today, Stockpile deserves the highest recommendation for both college and public library collections.


The Native American Shelf

Myth, Memory, and Massacre
Paul H. Carlson and Tom Crum
Texas Tech University Press
PO Box 41037, Lubbock, TX 79409-1037
9780896727076 $29.95 www.ttupress.org 1-800-832-4042

Myth, Memory, and Massacre: The Pease River Capture of Cynthia Ann Parker re-examines the Battle of Pease River, an incident that took place in December of 1860 near a creek in northwest Texas. U.S. Cavalry led by Sgt. John Spangler and Texas Rangers led by Sul Ross attacked a Comanche hunting camp, killed a number of Indians, and took three prisoners, one of whom came to be identified as Cynthia Ann Parker, who had been abducted from her white family roughly a quarter century ago. Parker lost her husband and two of her children, while Ross' political career gained momentum. A century and a half later, historians Paul Carlson and Tom Crum re-examine the "battle" as a massacre that deserves to be remembered as one the American military's infamous deeds. Myth, Memory, and Massacre points to evidence that the cruel truth of what really happened at was warped for political and racist reasons: firsthand testimony was fabricated, diaries were altered, and the official Ranger report went missing. Myth, Memory, and Massacre presents a strong case that historical accounts of the so-call battle have been based largely on fiction, and calls on the readers to re-evaluate what should appropriate be considered reliable knowledge when examining events of the past. A sober cautionary tale, highly recommended.

Sitting Bull: Prisoner of War
Dennis C. Pope
South Dakota State Historical Society Press
900 Governors Drive, Pierre, SC 57501-2217
9780982274941 $16.95 www.sdshspress.com

Sitting Bull: Prisoner of War is a historical chronicle of a pivotal yet rarely explored phase of a great leader's life. After the Hunkpapa chief Sitting Bull surrendered at Ford Buford in 1881, he was kept at Fort Randall for twenty-two months as a prisoner of war. During this time, Sitting Bull conducted tribal business, met with visitors, and spoke with those responsible for his captivity. Author and film producer Dennis C. Pope draws upon a wealth of historical references to relate Sitting Bull's story during these pivotal years. A handful of vintage black-and-white photographs illustrates this carefully researched and engagingly presented chronicle. Sitting Bull: Prisoner of War is a choice pick for Native American studies, biography, and college library reference shelves.

Records of the Moravians Among the Cherokees 1752-1802: Volume 1
C. Daniel Crews and Richard W. Starbuck, editors
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780982690703 $55.00 www.oupress.com 1-800-627-7377

Records of the Moravians Among the Cherokees 1752-1802: Volume 1: Early Contact and the Establishment of the First Mission is an anthology of primary source material - reports, minutes, diaries, correspondence, and more - penned by members of the Moravian Church who conducted mission work among the Cherokee people. Many writings give a testimony of day-to-day life among the Cherokee, as well as offering insight into their society, customs, and culture during the period. Volume 1 covers initial contact between the Moravians and the Cherokees during the French and Indian War and the Revolution, exploratory visits by Moravian missionaries, and the founding of a mission called Springplace in northern Georgia. An indispensable piece of Native American history, Records of the Moravians Among the Cherokees 1752-1802 is highly recommended for college library collections along with its companion volume, Records of the Moravians Among the Cherokees 1802-1805 Volume 2 (9780982690710, $50.00). Future volumes are slated to provide writings pertaining to the Moravians and the Cherokee through the close of the 19th century.


The Civil War Shelf

Disunion!
Elizabeth R. Varon
University of North Carolina Press
116 South Boundary Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27514-3808
9780807871591 $21.00 www.uncpress.unc.edu

Elizabeth R. Varon (professor of history, University of Virginia) presents Disunion!: The Coming of the American Civil War, 1789-1859, a scholarly historical perspective of the political, cultural, and gender debates about "disunion" in America - that is, the specter of the republic's dissolution. Though a great many Americans perceived disunion as a nightmare to be avoided at all costs, others considered it a means by which they could achieve their partisan goals. From America's inception up to the dawn of the Civil War, chapters follow the advent of abolitionism, the role of mass party politics in the ongoing debate, the divisiveness concerning slavery's expansion, events and premonitions foreshadowing the horrendous toll of the Civil War itself, and much more. A handful of black-and-white illustrations enhance this well-reasoned study of the long war of words and ideas predating the open bloodshed of the Civil War.


The American History Shelf

Domestic Broils
Elizabeth A. De Wolfe
University of Massachusetts Press
PO Box 429, Amherst, MA 01004
9781558498082, $19.95, www.umass.edu/umpress

The Shaker society is one that is incredibly strict, and by no means for everyone. "Domestic Broils: Shakes, Antebellum Marriage, and the Narratives of Mary and Joseph Dyer" is an analysis of the historical feud of divorce that erupted between Joseph and Mary Dyer. The Dyers with their children joined the Shaker community in Enfield, New Hampshire. Mary could not take the strictness of the society, and left, but could not take her children with her. Wanting to free her children from her still Shaker-loyal husband, what erupted in what was truly a nasty mudslinging contest between the couple. Looking at the place of the Shakers in early America, "Domestic Broils" is a fascinating read that is an excellent addition to New England history collections.

One Homogeneous People
Trent A. Watts
The University of Tennessee Press
293 Communications Building, Knoxville, TN 37996-0325
9781572335035 $42.00 www.utpress.org 1-800-621-2736

One Homogeneous People: Narratives of White Southern Identity, 1890-1920 is a scholarly study of the "pan-whiteness" of Southern identity during and after the turn of the 20th century. Author Trent A. Watts (assistant professor of American studies, Missouri University of Science and Technology) presents a convincing portray of turn-of-the-century white Southerners as largely unified by common history, bonds of family and community, and an firmly entrenched and shared belief in white supremacy. Watts argues that these factors surpassed divisions of religion, class and ethnicity. Chapters of "One Homogeneous People" explore the language of white Southern identity; manhood/family/white identity in "The Leopard's Spots"; how Southern history and literature have been canonized; and how the Neshoba County Fair of Mississippi demonstrated the connections of whiteness and community. A measured, critical, and solidly researched accounting of how white Southerners of a century ago perceived one another, One Homogeneous People is an excellent addition to college library American History and sociology shelves.

Forts, Fights, and Frontier Sites
Candy Moulton
High Plains Press
PO Box 123, Glendo, WY 82213
9780931271922 $17.95 www.highplainspress.com 1-800-552-7819

Journalist and historian Candy Moulton presents Forts, Fights, and Frontier Sites: Wyoming Historic Sites lives up to its title with brief yet vivid descriptions of an immense variety of hallmark historical sites that one can visit in Wyoming. From way stations to military establishments, Pony Express stations, Oregon Trail sites, ferries, hog ranches, railroad stations, and more, Forts, Fights, and Frontier Sites is packed with places to intrigue the casual history browser, or even inspire the intrepid tourist. A handful of black-and-white photographs, a bibliography, and an index round out this engaging browser reference.

Woman in the Wilderness
Nancy Bunge
Michigan State University Press
1405 South Harrison Road, Suite 25, East Lansing, MI 48823-5245
9780870139789 $24.95 www.msupress.msu.edu

Woman in the Wilderness: Letters of Harriet Wood Wheeler, Missionary Wife, 1832-1892 collects the correspondence written by a nineteenth century missionary wife, particularly notable in how they reveal the relationships between American Indians and white settlers of the Great Lakes region. Her writings also cover her experiences among the female work force at the mills in Lowell, Massachusetts, and at Ipswitch Female Seminary, one of the first schools for women teachers. An absorbing primary testimony of daily life in America well over a century ago, Woman in the Wilderness is highly recommended.

Written in Blood
Richard F. Selcer and Kevin S. Foster
University of North Texas Press
PO Box 311336, Denton, TX 76203-1336
9781574412963 $16.95 www.unt.edu/untpress

Written in Blood: The History of Fort Worth's Fallen Lawmen Volume 1 1861-1909 is more than a historical chronicle; it is also a tribute to the policemen, sheriffs, constables, "special officers", and more who gave their lives to uphold law and order in Fort Worth's early years. Vintage black-and-white photographs illustrate this stirring, true-life testimony of heroism and sacrifice. Written in Blood is highly recommended reading, and a commendable addition to both college and public library Texas history shelves.


The Buddhist Studies Shelf

Touching Peace: Practicing the Art of Mindful Living
Thich Nhat Hanh
Parallax Press
PO Box 7355, Berkeley, CA 94707
9781888375992 $12.95 www.parallaxpress.com

Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh (whose commitment to nonviolence prompted Martin Luther King Jr. to nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1967) presents Touching Peace: Practicing the Art of Mindful Living, which continues his testimony concerning how to extend the benefits of the meditation discipline into one's day-to-day life. Particular emphasis is placed on learning to focus upon the most refreshing and nourishing aspects of all that surrounds one. Chapters include "Love in Action", "Sangha Building", "Realizing Ultimate Reality", and much more. Written in plain terms accessible to readers of all backgrounds, Touching Peace is a useful and practical guide for any who would strive to find harmony and balance in their lives through the tradition of mindful living. Also highly recommended is Thich Nhat Hanh's previous testimony on mindfulness, "Being Peace".


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

How to Behave So Your Dog Behaves
Sophia Yin
TFH Publications
One TFH Plaza, Third and Union Avenues, Neptune City, NJ 07753
9780793806447, $19.95, www.tfh.com

Dogs can be a reflection of their owner in more than one way. "How to Behave so Your Dog Behaves" is a guide to dog behavior for a more harmonious relationship between pet and master. With tips on how to train your dog to behave, communicating more effectively, with graphs and tips to enhance the process, and much more, "How to Behave so Your Dog Behaves" is a read that shouldn't be missed for those seeking a more well behaved companion.

Hunters in the Trees: A Natural History of Arboreal Snakes
Richard A. Sajdak
Krieger Publishing Company
1725 Krieger Lane, Melabar, FL 32950-3323
9781575243030 $64.00 www.krieger-publishing.com

Richard A. Sajdak, formerly a reptile curator at the Milwaukee County Zoo for twenty years, presents Hunters in the Trees: A Natural History of Arboreal Snakes. This extensively researched, meticulously detailed compendium concerning the behaviors these snakes have learned to survive, and how various types of tree snakes differ from one another. Chapter notes, a bibliography, and an index of common and scientific names, and small color photographs interspersed into almost every two-age spread round out this superb addition to any herpetology library.


The Art Shelf

A Universe of Metal Sculpture
Henry Harvey
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764335549 $45.00 www.schifferbooks.com

A Universe of Metal Sculpture is an extraordinary portrait of metal creations made by artist and sculptor Henry Harvey over the course of 30-plus years. From sculpting for feature galleries, to creating commissioned work for presidents, Fortune 500 companies, and private collectors, A Universe of Metal Sculpture blends in-depth narrative text with eye-catching color photography of Harvey's masterpieces on almost every page. Harvey speaks at length about materials, techniques, and common pitfalls as well as the guidance of creative inspiration. A Universe of Metal Sculpture is a one-of-a-kind artbook, highly recommended especially for anyone who loves great metal sculpture or is intrigued by the thought of trying to learn the craft.

Contemporary Art in Eastern Europe
Artworld
Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers
151 West 19th Street, New York, NY 10011
9781906155841 $49.95 www.workman.com www.blackdogonline.com

The third title of the "Artworld" series, Contemporary Art in Eastern Europe explores some of the most culturally significant art being created by Eastern European artists today. Full color illustrations throughout offer photography, painting, sculpture, collage, and many more forms of expression; the text reveals biographical profiles of the artists as well as insight into the message conveyed by their eclectic creations. A rich treasury of discoveries, Contemporary Art in Eastern Europe is highly recommended for academic and community library art book shelves.

A Decade of Democracy
Double Storey
c/o International Publishers Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
1919930507, $51.95

Democracy and freedom are catalysts for the advancement of art. "A Decade of Democracy" looks at ten years of South African art, and how after their first democratic elections, their art world exploded into their own renaissance with artists all over the country bringing a new flare to their expression. Cover to cover, plenty of photographs on the vast array of styles with their content discussed heavily and concisely as the book rolls on. "A Decade of Democracy" is a fine book of art, very highly recommended.


The Cookbook Shelf

Fresh and Fast Vegan
Amanda Grant
Lifelong Books
c/o Perseus Books Group
387 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016
9780738214290 $15.95 www.perseusbooksgroup.com

Fresh and Fast Vegan: Quick, Delicious, and Creative Recipes to Nourish Aspiring and Devoted Vegans lives up to its title with a cornucopia of flavorful and healthy vegan recipes that can be easily prepared within a minimum of time. A brief introduction offers quick tips and tricks for properly stocking one's vegan larder and refrigerator, but nearly all of Fresh and Fast Vegan is devoted to presenting recipes ranging from "Vegetables in a Crispy Chickpea Batter" to "Grilled Eggplant with Black Olive Dressing", "Roasted Garlic and Walnut Linguine", "Moroccan Spiced Rice Pudding", and much more. Nutrition information (including calories, fat, and carbohydrates per serving), an index, and a short yet insightful sidebar of comments about each dish round out this practical cookbook, enthusiastically recommended for all busy meal providers (not just vegans)!

The Hawai'i Farmers Market Cookbook
Hawaii Farm Bureau
Watermark Publishing
1088 Bishop Street, Suite 310, Honolulu, HI 96813
9780984421282, $15.95, www.bookshawaii.net

With the excellent climate of Hawaii, one can get quite the cornucopia out of a simple farmer's market. "The Hawaii Farmers Market Cookbook: Fresh Island Products from A-Z" is the first volume of the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation's guides to the finer points of the meals one can make from locally grown foods in the Hawaiian isles. From Hawaiian grown meatloaf to staples of the more traditional pineapple, "The Hawaii Farmers Market Cookbook" is a must for any environmentally conscious Hawaiian who wants to enjoy the range Hawaii offers. Also recommended is the follow up volume, "The Hawaii Farmers Market Cookbook Volume II: The Chef's Guide to Fresh Island Foods" (9780984421206, $15.95), with more of the same wisdom.

Canning & Preserving Your Own Harvest
Carla Emery & Lorene Edwards Forkner
Sasquatch Books
119 South Main Street, Suite 400, Seattle, WA 98104
9781570615719, $16.95, www.sasquatchbooks.com

If you can grow it, you may as well know how to keep it. "Canning & Preserving Your Own Harvest" is a guide to the many details of food preservation and how one can do it on the small scale in one's own home. With tips on everything from the simpler fruit preservatives to smoking meats and how to use these stored foods to their fullest extent when it comes the time to use them, "Canning & Preserving Your Own Harvest" is an excellent resource for any who grow their own food and want to do more themselves.

Corsican Cuisine
Arthur L. Meyer
Hippocrene Books, Inc.
171 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016
9780781812481 $35.00 www.hippocrenebooks.com

A handful of gorgeous color plates illustrate Corsican Cuisine: Flavors of the Perfumed Isle, the first English-language cookbook devoted entirely to the cuisine of the Mediterranean island of Corsica (perhaps best-known as the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte). Traditional recipes are painstakingly presented with step-by-step instructions, and the occasional intriguing sidebar of Corsican culinary history. The dishes include "Red Bean and Leek Soup" to "Romaine Salad with Fresh Cheese", "Wild Herb Fritters", "Octopus with Potatoes" (the mouth-watering regional dish featured on the cover), "Leg of Kid Goat Stuffed with Roast Pork Loin", "Chestnut Beignets", and much more. A wonderfully sumptuous and user-friendly addition to international cuisine cookbooks, highly recommended for anyone curious to create and taste the rich flavors of Corsican cuisine.

Prairie Feast
Amy Jo Ehman
Coteau Books
2517 Victoria Avenue, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, S4P 0T2
9781550504132, $24.95, www.coteaubooks.com

Everything you need for a great meal isn't that far from you. "Prairie Feast: A Writer's Journey Home for Dinner" as she discusses fine and locally produced meals that one can make and often is missed when just using everything the grocery store has to offer. With thirty six recipes like Potato bells, Zucchini loaf, Chicken Cacciatore, and so much more, "Prairie Feast" is a choice pick for the locally minded chef.

Baking with Cookie Molds
Anne L. Watson
Shepard Publications
PO Box 280, Friday Harbor, Washington 98250
9780938497479 $14.00 www.shepardpub.com

Baking with Cookie Molds is a guide to using cookie molds to create aesthetic and delicious cookies. Cookie molds are notoriously difficult to use properly, but Baking with Cookie Molds walks the reader through the process step by step, from making the dough, to preparing the mold, to molding the dough, unmolding the dough, and baking the cookies. Nearly two dozen recipes and a hundred black-and-white photographs fill this excellent, spare-no-detail primer ideal for cookie bakers of all skill and experience levels.

Cafe Indiana Cookbook
Joanne Raetz Stuttgen and Jolene Ketzenberger
University of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe Street, Third Floor, Madison, WI 53711-2059
9780299249946 $24.95 www.wisc.edu/wisconsinpress 1-800-621-2736

Cafe Indiana Cookbook is a wonderful collection of 130 kitchen-tested recipes from professional cafes across the great state of Indiana. From "Banana Caramel Nut French Toast" to "Fried Bologna Sandwich", "Marinated Vegetable Bowl", "Old-Fashioned Cream Pie" and much more, Cafe Indiana Cookbook is a gustatory tour de force of quality home-town eating. Sidebars with helpful tips round out this excellent addition to any cookbook collection. "For best results, cook fresh or refrigerated hash browns in a nonstick skillet or on a griddle with a bit of cooking oil over fairly high heat. Resist the temptation to stir them around too much; allow hash browns to begin to crisp up on the bottom before carefully flipping them over."

Vicki's Vegan Kitchen
Vicki Chelf
Square One Publishers
115 Herricks Road, Garden City Park, NY 11040
9780757002519 $17.95 www.squareonepublishers.com

Vicki's Vegan Kitchen: Eating with Sanity, Compassion & Taste is packed cover to cover with over 375 kitchen-tested recipes, cooking tips, food preparation guidelines with the occasional black-and-white diagram, a glossary of ingredients, sprouting instructions, and more. All recipes are vegan and nutritionally sound, ranging from to Banana-Walnut Muffins to Tempeh Salad, Sauteed Eggplant over Fettucine, Baked Cauliflower Puree, Seitan Crumbles, and much more. The wealth of vegan food preparation information in addition to the wide array of recipes make Vicki's Vegan Kitchen an excellent first pick for anyone interested in sampling vegan cuisine.


The Biography Shelf

Black & Bulletproof
Marcus Hardie
New Horizon Press
PO Box 669, Far Hills, NJ 07931-0669
9780882823461, $24.95, www.newhorizonpressbooks.com

The Israeli army is open to those who wish to volunteer from other nations. "Black & Bulletproof: An African-American Warrior in the Israeli Army" tells the story of Marcus Hardie, a black man who traveled to Jerusalem and joined an Anti-Terrorism unit designed to stand against the constant and ever present threat that looms over Israel. With doubt and constant challenge, his tale is a unique and riveting one, hard to put down. "Black & Bulletproof" is a solid and very highly recommended read, not to be missed.

The Land, the People
Rachel Peden
Indiana University Press
601 N Morton Street, Bloomington, IN 47404
9780253222299, $19.95, www.iupress.indiana.edu

A land can host generations and in time, those generations become part of the land. "The Land, The People" is a family memoir from Rachel Peden as she reflects on her families history on a farm in Indiana, where they held it for generations. Telling a remarkable story of how the farm gained such strong emotional value, "The Land, The People" is a story of the American farm and how the spirit remains strong.

A Walk in My Shoes
Diane Karper
Alan C. Hood & Company, Inc.
PO box 775, Chambersburg, PA 17201
9780911469356, $15.00, www.hoodbooks.com

Enduring hardship is something everyone experiences in differing degrees. "A Walk in My Shoes: Our Lives of Hope" is a collection of musings from Diane Karper as she reflects on the interviews she conducted with the people of rural Honduras, sharing their stories through a stage that they would have never before shared with others. A poignant look at these unknown lives, "A Walk in My Shoes" is a read that should belong any international memoir collection.

Naked in Eden
Robin Easton
Health Communications, Inc.
3201 S. W. 15th Street, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442-8190
9780757315121, $24.95, www.hcibooks.com

Humans are animals, but the animal side seems to be long lost. "Naked in Eden: My Adventure and Awakening in the Australian Rainforest" tells the story of Robin Easton as she sought to connect with nature along with the love of her life, Ian. Living in a remote area in the rainforest, they find that their life, while different, was more refreshing than anything else they had experienced. "Naked in Eden" is a spiritual look at the human animal and its place in nature.

Countdown to Lockdown
Mick Foley
Grand Central Publishing
c/o Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
9780446564618, $26.99, www.hachettebookgroup.com

Professional wrestling legend Mick Foley has become known for as much as his memoirs as he has exploits in the ring. "Countdown to Lockdown: A Hardcore Journal" is the fourth memoir from Foley, continuing his journey through the unique onscreen and offscreen world of professional wrestling. This memoir follows Foley as he leaves the biggest company in pro wrestling the WWE, and moves to a smaller company in TNA Wrestling. He also speaks on his charity work, the challenges of aging wrestlers, his love for Tori Amos, and gives a different opinion on substance abuse in pro wrestling and sports in general. For fans of Foley's previous work as well sports memoirs, "Countdown to Lockdown" will prove a solid addition, highly recommended.

The Color of Law
Steve Babson, Dave Riddle, and David Elsila
Wayne State University Press
The Leonard N. Simons Building, 4809 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201-1309
9780814334966 $24.95 http://wsupress.wayne.edu 1-800-978-7323

The Color of Law: Ernie Goodman, Detroit, and the Struggle for Labor and Civil Rights is the in-depth biography of one of America's most dedicated defense attorneys in service to workers and the militant poor. His career involved him in the crux of social justice issues, from the sit-down strikes of the 1930s to the Red Scare of the 1950s to the anti-war demonstrations and ghetto uprisings of the 1960s and 1970s. He labored tirelessly in cases where legal precedents clashed with evolving notions of social justice, serving as an inspiration to all who wished to fight for a better world. The Color of Law spares no detail in its intimate portrayal of a real-life hero of the courtroom, and is a worthy addition to college and public library biography shelves.


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

Ratchet & Clank issues #1 & 2
Wildstorm
dc_publicity@dccomics.com
$3.99 each wildstorm.com

The heroes of Sony's popular and beloved action-platforming-armed combat video games Ratchet & Clank now debut in their very own, full-color comic series, published by Wildstorm (also known for their comics set in the World of Warcraft massively multiplayer online RPG universe). Ratchet is, of course, a humble furry Lombax with a spark of technical genius who has saved the galaxy from destruction so many times he desperately needs some peace and quiet. Yet he and his law-abiding droid friend Clank are inevitably pressed into action in issue #1, when a nefarious force that has been making entire planets disappear targets the remote world they've settled on! In issue #2, Ratchet and Clank are locked within an inescapable(?) prison complex, and the cellmate who seems to have taken the most interest in them is a fierce warrior they've clashed with in the past! Who is the mad, brilliant mind seeking to assemble a brand-new galaxy from pieces of Ratchet's galaxy? And what role did the questionably venal and incompetent Captain (now Galactic President) Quark have in starting all this madness? The Ratchet & Clank comics beautifully capture the irrepressible spirit of its dashing heroes, and the ever-so-slightly cartoony feel of the video game's wild and crazy far-flung future universe. Highly recommended, especially for fans of the video games, but also for anyone who loves sci-fi adventure comics that feature dramatic action, but don't necessarily take themselves too seriously.

Yummy
G. Neri
Lee & Low Books
95 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016
9781584302674, $16.95, www.leeandlow.com

The vicious cycle of urban life affects those closest to it the most deeply. "Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty" is the graphic novel detailing the fate of a young man who gets drawn into the troubling states of gangs. Told from the perspective of someone close, the story looks at the tragedy that causes such things and how these premature deaths create impacts in lives that has long profound effects. "Yummy" is a choice pick, not to be missed for graphic novel collections.


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

Food Stylist's Handbook
Denise Vivaldo
Gibbs Smith, Publisher
PO Box 667, Layton UT 84041
9781423606031 $50.00 www.gibbs-smith.com 1-800-748-5439

Illustrated with beautiful color photography throughout, Food Stylist's Handbook is a no-nonsense guide to the art and career of food styling - that is, making food products appear irresistibly presentable for commercials, magazine ads, infomercials, and other endeavors. Written by a food stylist professional, for professionals, Food Stylist's Handbook discusses the different niches of food styling, how to start a food styling business and build a styling kit, marketing one's food styling business, the preparation for "magic time" (when the photographer starts to shoot), tricks of the trade, and much more. Food Stylist's Handbook is an absolute "must-have" resource for those interested in pursuing a food styling career, and a fascinating browse for any reader curious about the work that goes into sumptuously appetizing advertisements!


The Science Shelf

Serious Microhydro
Scott Davis
New Society Publishers
PO Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC, Canada, V0R 1X0
9780865716384 $29.95 www.newsociety.com

Serious Microhydro: Water Power Solutions from the Experts is a close examination of how microhydro technology can be used to generate clean, inexpensive, renewable energy from local sources with little environmental impact. Chapters show how water-powered electricity can be used at high pressure sites such as skiing areas, household pressure sites (where microhydro technology can be the cheapest means to provide electricity to an off-grid residence), low-head sites, and more. Market-based, practical solutions to environmental, economic, and energy-conscious problems are discussed in this solid reader of a burgeoning technology that can only become increasingly crucial as the world's supply of fossil fuels diminishes. An excellent resource for both public and college libraries, highly recommended.

What Your Fossils Can Tell You
Robert W. Sinibaldi
University Press of Florida
15 Northwest 15th Street, Gainesville, FL 32611-2079
9780813034256, $39.95, www.upf.com

More than awe-inspiring bones of huge beasts of the past, Fossils are evidence of what was and can be an indicator of what's to come. "What Your Fossils Can Tell You: Vertebrae Morphology, Pathology, and Cultural Modification" is a guide for either new paleontologists or very enthusiastic amateurs, looking to be a guide to the many aspects of fossil hunting and learning to understand what they can tell readers. Explaining the subtle details and more, and outlined with an abundance of black and white photographs and charts, "What Your Fossils Can Tell You" is a fine text for both would be professionals and enthusiastic non-specialist general readers.


The Business Shelf

Networking for People Who Hate Networking
Devora Zack
Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc.
235 Montgomery Street, Suite 650, San Francisco, CA 94104-2916
9781605095226 $16.95 www.bkconnection.com 1-800-929-2929

Networking for People Who Hate Networking: A Field Guide for Introverts, the Overwhelmed, and the Underconnected lives up to its title as a solidly practical guide to using networking to accomplish one's own goals. Whether one is introverted or extroverted by nature, Networking for People Who Hate Networking revolves around developing a networking style that is true to one's own temperament. "People who hate networking prefer programs and events with a clear format and purpose. Good choices for them? Take a class, attend professional development seminars, coordinate a brown bag event, sign up for a lecture series, join a task force, volunteer for a non-profit board, or attend an educational outing." A user-friendly guide to cultivating social connections to benefit one's business or personal life, as well as to understanding the mindset of individuals with differing outlooks on life, highly recommended.

Latino Link
Joe Kutchera
Paramount Market Publishing
950 Danby Road, Suite 136, Ithaca, NY 14850
9780981986982, $34.95, www.paramountbooks.com

The Hispanic population is the fastest growing population in America. "Latino Link: Building Brands Online with Hispanic Communities and Content" is a guide to expanding one's internet presence to the Hispanic community, by doing more than simply offering Spanish language equivalents for their websites. Outreaching to Latino concerns, needs, and wants, one can tap this massive potential market and succeed well from it. "Latino Link" is a must for any business striving to serve the Latino community.

Managing the Older Worker
Peter Cappelli & Bill Novelli
Harvard Business
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
9781422131657, $29.95, www.hbr.org/books

Age doesn't mean a decline in quality if managed right. "Managing the Older Worker: How to prepare for the New Organizational Order" is a guide for the manager faced with today's growing population of aging people in the workplace as retirement plans are failing and people are returning to the workforce. With advice on how to use these employers to empower one's workplace, be leaders through experience, and will often work because it's what they want to do rather than what they must do. "Managing the Older Worker" is a complete and comprehensive guide for readers who want a more complete understanding of how to manage the useful and complex aging worker.

It's Not Just Who You Know
Tommy Spaulding
Broadway Books
1745 Broadway, New York, NY, 10036
9780307589132 $23.00 www.broadwaybooks.com 1-800-726-0600

There's more success than just knowing a guy who knows a guy. "It's Not Just Who You Know" is a guide for networking taken to the next level, stating that the relationships one forms with their friends and associates have be something stronger than a weak relationship, but that you have to be a leader. It's important to remember relationships are two way streets, and that a relationship that exploits one side won't last long. Friendships are better than business relationships, and so much more, "It's Not Just Who You Know" is a fine read and very highly recommended for any would be business leader.


The Fiction Shelf

The Hampton Court Murders
David Hoekenga
Xlibris Corporation
1663 South Liberty Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403-5161
www.xlibris.com
9781436383271 $34.99 (hc)
9781436383264 $23.99 (pbk)

Set in the year 1530, The Hampton Court Murders is a historical novel in which the young King Henry VIII enlists the aid of a fictional doctor Seamus Scott Weatherby, MB to solve three terrible murders at the king's favorite palace. Among the personages Weatherby encounters are the free-willed Anne Boleyn, the cunning wizard Taliesin, the curmudgeon professor Sir Rodney Shrewsbury, and the alluring and sexy witch Hepsibah. A captivating novel of intrigue, deceit, adventure, and larger-than-life characters, The Hampton Court Murders is highly recommended.

A Call From Jersey
P. F. Kluge
Overlook Press
141 Wooster Street, New York, NY 10012
9781590203613, $25.95, www.overlookpress.com

The American dream is something else entirely from what it once was. "A Call From Jersey" tells the story of the travels of elderly Hans Greifinger, a man who through his nationally syndicated newspaper column finds that he's become increasingly jaded with America from when he first migrated to America in 1928, nearly sixty years ago. "A Call From Jersey" is a profound and thought provoking read, sure to entertain many a reader and leave a lasting impact.

The Ascent
Ronald Malfi
Medallion
1020 Cedar Ave., Suite 216, Saint Charles, IL 60174
9781605420677, $24.95, www.medallionpress.com

For those who pushing the limit is the only way to live their lives, the next thrill is of particular interest. "The Ascent" tells the story of caver Tim Overleigh, who in recovering from a near fatal accident agrees to go on a mountain climbing expedition in Nepal. But in his search for adventure and retreat, Tim finds much more than he'd ever bargained for. "The Ascent" is a thoughtful and fun thriller that will prove hard to put down.

100 Whores
Mykola Demetiuk
Synergy Press
PO Box 8, Flemington, NJ 08822
0975858181, $25.00, www.syngergybookserive.com

For some, the allure of the prostitute cannot be resisted. "100 Whores: Memories of a John" is a collection of stories about the many adventures that occur between a John and his hookers. Although two sides of a common illicit transaction, both sides are people with their own quirks and interests which makes every encounter all the more enticing to the reader. "100 Whores" is a top pick for those looking for fiction with an offbeat, humorous, and somewhat sexy twist.

The Rest is Jungle
Mario Benedetti
Host Publications
277 Broadway, Suite 210, New York, NY 10007
9780924047688, $25.00, www.hostpublications.com

Perfection is something that can never be attained, and when you learn that, you can live a more perfect life. "The Rest is Jungle" is a short story collection from Latin writer Mario Benedetti as he offers a fine array of stories set in Latin America, commenting on the dark times the continent has endured throughout the twentieth century. Benedetti used his experience well with this volume, and it is expertly translated by Harry Morales. "The Rest is Jungle" is a top pick for anyone looking for a collection of short fiction set in Latin America.

Blasphemy
Mike Resnick
Golden Gryphon Press
3002 Perkins Road, Urbana, IL 61802
9781930846647, $24.95, www.goldengryphon.com

Evil has many forms and some aren't really that evil. "Blasphemy" is a collection of stories from Mike Resnick. His focus is evil and its many facets. The two novels, 'Walpurgis III' tells of a world of Satanists which finally meets the Satan they've been worshipping, and 'The Branch' tells of the Messiah of the Old Testament who brings the Old Testament with him as he appears in the twenty first century. Sprinkled throughout are other short stories, which make "Blasphemy" an endearing and delightfully evil read.

The Other Crucifix
Benjamin Kwakye
Ayebia
c/o Lynne Rienner Publishers
1800 30th Street, Suite 314, Boulder, CO 80301
9780956240125, $12.12, www.ayebia.co.uk

What's required to be an adult is taught in no school. "The Other Crucifix" is a novel from Benjamin Kwakye, as he tells the story of Jojo Badu, a Ghana man faced with adulthood and a liberal arts college in a time of sweeping social change in America. With a powerful message of the place of the modern African man, "The Other Crucifix" is a fine read that shouldn't be missed for world literary fiction collections.

Unwelcome Light
David Lehner
Fithian Press
c/o Daniel Publishing Company
PO Box 2790, McKinleyville, CA 95519
9781564744999, $12.95, www.danielpublishing.com

You go for one thing, you end up with something else entirely. "Unwelcome Light" tells the story of an individual in search of his identity, learning his father was not his true father. To find who he really is, he returns to the boarding school he grew up in as a teacher, and soon finds that romance lurks there instead. Caught in a love triangle, his first goal seems to be lost and may remain lost if he doesn't act soon. "Unwelcome Light" is an exciting novel, highly recommended and hard to put down.

The Shakespeare Conspiracy
Ted Bacino
Author House
1663 Liberty Drive, Suite 200, Bloomington, IN 47403-5161
www.authorhouse.com
9781452050652 $28.75 (hc)
9781452050669 $18.75 (pbk)

The Shakespeare Conspiracy is an engaging novel grounded in the historical speculation that Shakespeare himself did not write his legendary plays. Instead, the postulate that playwright and known spy Christopher Marlowe was the true author forms the core hypothesis of this engaging narrative. Following the worlds of William Shakespeare, and his notorious sexual escapades resulting in illegitimate children, as well as Christopher Marlowe, who found it acceptable to be homosexual as long as he kept the affiliation within his own class, The Shakespeare Conspiracy is offers wry, page-turning delight and uncountable rationales why only Christopher Marlowe could have been the true playwright behind the classics.

The Sugar Mother
Elizabeth Jolley
Persea Books
853 Broadway, Suite 604, New York, NY 10003
9780892553624 $15.00 http://www.perseabooks.com

Originally published in 1988 and recognized as a masterpiece, The Sugar Mother is Australian author Elizabeth Jolley's novel of infatuation and its consequences, now brought back into print in America by Persea Books. Middle-aged English professor Edwin Page has chosen to stay at home rather than accompany his childless, obstetrician wife Cecilia on her year-long fellowship abroad. Intending to spend a quiet year at home, he becomes the unexpected benefactor of Mrs. Botts and her alluring twenty-odd daughter Leila when they lock themselves out of their house. They stay with Edwin and refuse to leave; when Mrs. Botts' suggests that Leila become a "sugar mother" (meaning "surrogate mother"), Edwin's increasingly lustful desire for her has predictably procreative consequences. As the day of Cecilia's impending return draws closer, the tension mounts thickly in this at times stream-of-consciousness style story of human foibles. Also highly recommended is Jolley's novel of redemption through an evolving screenplay performance, "Foxybaby" (9780892553631, $15.00).

Whisper on the Wind
Maureen Lang
Tyndale
351 Executive Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188
9781414324364, $12.99, www.tyndalefiction.com

Resisting an occupying force never comes without its own challenges. "Whisper on the Wind" tells the story of Isa Lassone, a woman who fled Europe when World War I began to consume it. But in doing so, she left her love behind, who through dedication has helped keep the spirit of the Belgians resisting the Germans alive. Isa returns to Belgium, but finds that love will have no shortage of challenges for her. "Whisper in the Wind" is a riveting thriller, highly recommended.

Arsenic and Old Paint
Hailey Lind
Perseverance press
PO Box 2790, McKinleyville, CA 95519
9781564744906, $14.95, www.danielpublishing.com

The world of high art is a world of theft and deceit. "Arsenic and Old Paint" tells the story of Art forget turned legit Annie Kincaid as she's dragged back into her darker career, this time on the other side of the coin. When violence enters the picture, she finds that a copy of a fine work of art isn't worth blood. "Arsenic and Old Paint" is a fine read that shouldn't be missed by those who like a good thriller.

Teach Them Diligently
Bonnie K. Stevens
Behrman House
11 Edison Place, Springfield, NJ 07081
0874411459, $9.50

The holidays of Judaism can do much in the field of education. "Teach Them Diligently: A Midrash on the Jewish Educator's Year" reflects on the principles of the Jewish holidays and their relation to the traditional school year, from the fall holidays to Shabbat as the summer allows students to rest. For any teacher who wants to use Judaism to supplement their curriculum, "Teach Them Diligently" will prove to be an intriguing and useful read.

A Sense of Order
Jack Harrell
Signature Books
564 West 400 North, Salt Lake City, UT 84116-3411
9781560852094, $26.95, www.signaturebooks.com

Chaos seems to be more prevalent in the world than order- or does it? "A Sense of Order and Other Stories" is a collection of stories from Jack Harrell as he provides a collection of short stories with a collection of characters looking for the status of the world and the problems that lurk everywhere around them, and the order that can be found anywhere as well. "A Sense of Order" is a riveting collection, very highly recommended.

Fatal Loyalty
Sue Duffy
Kregel Publications
733 Wealthy Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
9780825425943, $12.99, www.kregel.com

When your life is threatened, you come to understand what it truly means to you. "Fatal Loyalty" tells the story of Andie Ryborg and Evan Markham, two young individuals who enter situations that aren't the most pleasing to a long and healthy life. A daughter of a governor and a doubtful young man, they look inside themselves and to God to help them through it all. "Fatal Loyalty" is a riveting read for Christian fiction readers, very highly recommended.

The Tiki King
Stacy Tintocalis
Swallow Press Book
c/o Ohio University Press
The Ridges, Athens, OH 45701
9780804011273, $18.95, www.ohioswallow.com

Modern culture is rife with opportunities for conflict. "The Tiki King" " is a collection of short stories from Stacy Tintocalis as she provides an intriguing collection of fiction with many memorable characters facing situations that one often faces with high stakes consequences. "The Tiki King" is an excellent, fun, and quite riveting read of short fiction that will prove very difficult to put down.

Pretty Little Things
Jilliane Hoffman
Vanguard Press
387 Park Avenue South, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10016
9781593156077, $25.95, www.vanguardpressbooks.com

The evil of child predators has taken the internet to the next level. "Pretty Little Things" is the story of Bobby Dees, a special agent who specializes in missing children cases. Lainey Emerson has vanished, and no one seems to care, writing her off as a runaway disillusioned with her life. Dees sees the more sinister truth behind it all, that an online predator has Lainey and he's on a race against time. A thrilling novel of facing the evil that preys on confused children, "Pretty Little Things" is an excellent read, solidly recommended.

Cranberry Red
Jerry Apps
Terrace Books
c/o University of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe Street, Third Floor, Madison, WI 53711-2059
9780299247706 $26.95 www.wisc.edu/wisconsinpress 1-800-621-2736

Genetic engineering has noble goals, but even the most noble of intentions can make mistakes. "Cranberry Red" tells the story of the chemical Cranberry Red, which imbues cranberries with many beneficial properties against the disease of age. But there are problems, and Ben Wesley, a recent hiree seems to have the truth placed on his shoulders, and is pulled between honesty and the jobs of the farmers. "Cranberry Red" is a riveting novel of the dilemma that is placed on many who know a dark truth.

Heart With Joy
Steve Cushman
Canterbury House Publishing
225 Ira Harmon Road, Vilas, NC 28692
9780982539637, $14.95, www.canterburyhousepublishing.com

A drastic change one's environment can uproot one's life entirely - or pave the way to greater understanding. "Heart with Joy" is a novel following the changed life of fifteen-year-old Julian Hale, whose mother moves to Florida yet tells him to stay with his father until the end of the school year. He experiences changes, helps his father train for a marathon, befriends an elderly neighbor who loves to observe birds, discovers the joy of cooking, and more. Even as his parents drift apart from each other, he gains a greater appreciation for them both, and a new outlook on life. He must ultimately choose between staying with his father and going to live with his mother, in this thoughtful coming of age tale. "Heart with Joy" is not a read to be missed.

The Miracle of Mercy Land
River Jordan
Water Brook Press
12265 Oracle Boulevard, Suite 200, Colorado Springs, CO 80921
9780307457059, $13.99, www.waterbrookmultinomah.com

The mistakes we make are mistakes for a reason. "The Miracle of Mercy Land" follows small town farm girl Mercy Land to the city in Alabama where she works for Doc Philips. Through her time, she learns of a book that maps the causes and effects of the lives of everyone in Bay City, as well as the power to right some wrongs. But is righting these wrongs the smartest idea? "The Miracle of Mercy Land" is a fascinating and riveting read, highly recommended.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Transforming Through 2012
Presented by Debra Giusti
Yinspire Media
c/o Eileen Duhne, Public Relations (publicity)
6-A Meadow Way, Fairfax, CA 94930
9780981970813 $17.95 www.transform2012book.com

Transforming Through 2012: Leading Perspectives on the New Global Paradigm is an anthology of essays by thirty-three experts discussing the drastic upcoming global change that will occur in 2012. Scientists, researchers, futurists, mystics, astrologers, artists, luminaries, indigenous elders and more contribute their insights on the upcoming great transformation, the prophecies about it, and how best to prepare for it. Individual writings include "Epicenter of a Cultural Earthquake", "Springing the Soul of a Stuck Species", "Connecting with the Divine Spirit", "Energy, Magic and Miracles", "A Message of Compassion" and many more. An invaluable resource offering diverse opinions, highly recommended for metaphysical studies shelves.

The Egypt Code
Robert Bauval
Disinfomation
163 Third Avenue, Suite 108, New York, NY 10003
9781934708491, $19.95, www.robetbauval.co.uk

As time goes on, more is learned about the deeper nature and meaning of Egypt's pyramids. "The Egypt Code" discusses the alignment of the pyramids and why they were aligned the way they were. Theories on it being merely a symbolic alignment, done with practicality, or did it have a deeper use, for anyone intrigued by Egypt and its massive monuments, "The Egypt Code" is an enticing collection of thought, very highly recommended.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

World of Warcraft: The Shattering
Christie Golden
Gallery Books
c/o Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl., New York, NY 10020
9781416550747 $26.00 www.simonandschuster.com

World of Warcraft: The Shattering is a new fantasy novel set in the universe of the popular massively multiplayer online role-playing game World of Warcraft. The Shattering is a prelude to the game's upcoming Cataclysm expansion, following several different leaders who are troubled by disturbing omens. Thrall, orc Warchief of the Horde and legendary spirit caller, is disturbed by the increasingly restless and rebellious attitude of the elemental spirits; for ages, shamans have communed with them and harnessed them to benefit rather than bring harm to the world of Azeroth and its people. But now the elemental spirits are increasingly confused, uncooperative, and destructive - what could be driving them to such levels of rebellion? As food and supplies dwindle, increased tensions between the orcs and the night elves may yet precipitate renewed bloodshed between the Horde and the Alliance. Meanwhile, King Varian Wrynn of Stormwind, leader of the Alliance, has taken a dim view of the increasing tensions between the Alliance and the Horde. His harsh stance against the Horde may yet play a role in sparking renewed war; even those closest to him question his darkened view of the future and what should be done about. Varian's son Anduin, who is at heart more of a thinker than a warrior, is searching for answers, but the increasing political instability of his environment is potentially as dangerous a threat to him as any battlefield. An absorbing novel of conflicted choices and problems with no easy solutions, set in a world on the brink of great and terrible changes, The Shattering is a "must-read" for World of Warcraft fans and highly recommended to anyone who loves epic fantasy.


The Political Science Shelf

Water Politics
Leah J. Wilds
University of Nevada Press
Mail Stop 0166, Reno, NV, 89557-0166
9780874178302, $21.95, www.amazon.com

Water management is important everywhere, perhaps more so in the deserts of Nevada. "Water Politics in Northern Nevada" looks the fierce politics that occur in the environmental concern for the people of Nevada whose water management is a constant and real issue to deal with. Over a century of debate and reform has led to an intriguing political landscape. "Water Politics in Northern Nevada" is a must read for those trying to understand environmental politics across America, highly recommended.


The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

The Way Back to Mayberry
Joey Fann
B&H Publishing Group
127 Ninth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37234-0143
9781433670466, $12.99, www.bhpublishinggroup.com

The Andy Griffith Show is a classic, and for more than one reason. "The Way Back to Mayberry: Lessons from a Simpler Time" looks at the Andy Griffith show and the lessons that the show and its history has inspired on fans of the show all these years later. Taking a good discussion of the show enhanced with thirty two photos from the show and cast, "The Way Back to Mayberry" is an amusing adventure of the charm of the Andy Griffith show, not commonly seen in today's television.

The Literary Angel
Amijo Comeford & Tamy Brunett
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson, NC 28640
9780786446612, $35.00, www.mcfarlandpub.com

The television series Angel has more thought put into than your typical spin off. "The Literary Angel: Essays on Influences and Traditions Reflected in the Joss Whedon Series" discusses the series literary background and the workings of the shows. From common themes of its characters to the story structures and tropes, Amijo Comeford & Tamy Brunett bring new light into many people's favorite series. "The Literary Angel" is a fine take on the show, a top pick for fans and students of the less obvious elements of television.

Mind Your Business
Michele Wallerstein
Michael Wiese
12400 Ventura Blvd #1111, Studio City, CA 91604
9781932907766, $24.95, www.mwp.com

If you can't sell it, there's really little point to it. "Mind Your Business: A Hollywood Literary Agent's Guide to Your Writing Career" discusses what's needed to write your screenplay and get it ready to have a higher chance of being sold and bought. With advice on the agent/client relationship, how to help your agent, how to find an agent, effective queries, and so much more, "Mind Your Business" is a useful guide with advice from successful screenwriters on how to get your work done in Hollywood.

101 Cult Movies You Must See Before You Die
Steven Jay Schneider
Barron's
250 Wireless Boulevard, Happauge, NY 11788
9780764163494, $14.99, www.barronseduc.com

They weren't blockbuster hits, they didn't receive a pile of awards, but they have a following of their own. "101 Cult Movies You Must See Before You Die" is a compilation of cult films that have come to prominence since the medium's inception. With films from around the world, these films have gained much infamy for their humor which pushed the limits of taste and decency during the release in the name of brutal honesty or for the sake of pushing the limit. "101 Cult Movies You Must See Before You Die" is a fine compendium for those who are searching for these films and want an understanding of their popularity.

The Great Acting Teachers
Richard Brestoff
Smith and Kraus Book
PO Box 127, Lyme NH 03768
9781575257709, $16.95

Great actors have more than one way to be great. "The Great Acting Teachers and Their Methods" is a guide to the many educators in acting and how they encourage young actors to great. Drawing from a fine collection of great acting teachers both post and present, he looks at the history of drama teaching and provides the best of what can be perused. "The Great Acting Teachers and Their Methods" is a fine collection and a top resource for drama teachers.

Scenes for Teens
Jason Pizzarello, editor
Playscripts, Inc.
450 Seventh Avenue, Suite 809, New York, NY 10123
9780981909943, $14.95, www.playscripts.com

The acting bug doesn't care what age you are. "Actor's Choice: Scenes for Teens" is a collection of simple yet fun scenes aimed at younger teen actors who want to embrace drama as a hobby or even a potential career. Designed for two actors with themes and times easily doable for any would be teen thespian, "Actor's Choice: Scenes for Teens" is a resource no drama teacher should miss.


The Poetry Shelf

Rootling
Katie Donovan
Bloodaxe Books
c/o DuFour Edtions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9781852248819, $23.95, www.dufouredtions.com

Desire for survival and so much more is what drives us through life. "Rootling" is a collection of poetry from Katie Donovan on the many types of hunger that push us through life looking for that satisfaction. Thoughtful and thought provoking, "Rootling" is a fine volume that shouldn't be overlooked. "News Photograph, Grozny, January 1995": The little dolls are covered/with smears of jam and flour,/their mouths slack,/as though left down/in a gingerbread house,/by children, baking.//Past the muzzy grains/of black and white,/I see/the dolls are children,/covered with smears/of blood and dust,/their mouths slack/with crying,/left down/in a shelled house, by adults,/fighting.


The Self-Help Shelf

Peace in the Present Moment
Eckhart Tolle & Byron Katie
Hampton Roads
c/o Red Wheel, Conari, Weiser
65 Parker Street, Suite 7, Newburyport, MA 01950
9781571746436, $16.95, www.redwheelweiser.com

A bit of peace in the now goes far in making one's life a more serene and enjoyable place. "Peace in the Present Moment" is a collection of spiritual ponderings from Eckhart Tolle and Byron Katie as they combine to give readers a collection of musings and affirmations on the world to help ponder the nature of everything. With beautiful full color nature photos throughout, "Peace in the Present Moment" will prove to be a fascinating and very highly recommended pick.


The Environmental Studies Shelf

Greenhouse Governance
Barry G. Rabe
Brookings Institution press
1775 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036
9780815703310, $34.95, www.brookings.edu

The debate over climate change is not a question of is it or is it not happening, but of countless questions within the question. "Greenhouse Governance: Addressing Climate Change in America" is an overview of the policy and politics that are debated over fiercely in today's world. Analyzing the debate from many sides as well as the place of not only America's role, but the world's as well. It also measures the effectiveness of existing policies and the policies that need to come into play to make a real difference. Scholarly and very educational, "Greenhouse Governance" is a core addition to any environmental law collection.

Look Great, Live Green
Deborah Burnes
Hunter House
PO Box 2914, Alameda CA 94501
9780897935210, $16.95, www.hunterhouse.com

There's more to gain than a cleaner planet through savvy shopping. "Look Great, Live Green" is a guide to those who want to indulge their love of beauty without destroying the planet as well as their body. Covering the misconceptions about many products and the illusions many companies try to push their products through and how to use natural and organic products for cheap, "Look Great, Live Green" comes to readers with plenty to ponder and is highly recommended reading.

Losing Our Cool
Stan Cox
The New Press
38 Greene Street, New York, NY 10013
9781595584892, $24.95, www.thenewpress.com

Air conditioning is a huge drain on our resources for a little comfort. "Losing Our Cool: Uncomfortable Truths About Our Air-Conditional World (and Finding New Ways To Get Through the Summer)" discusses the impact of air conditioning and how the energy used just to maintain simple comfort proves to be a massive drain on the world's resources. There are unforeseen effects of air conditioning, and Stan Cox looks around the world for influences and encourage a return to traditional cooling systems. "Losing Our Cool" is a much needed read, and a top pick for environmental studies collections.


The Christian Studies Shelf

Onward Christian Soldiers? fourth edition
Clyde Wilcox & Carin Robinson
Westview Press
c/o Perseus
2465 Central Avenue, Boulder, CO 80301
9780813344539, $32.00, www.westviewpress.com

What is the place of God in today's political landscape? "Onward Christian Soldiers?: The Religious Right in American Politics" looks at the power of the Christian right and the force they have become on the American political landscape. With a high voter turnout, not even Democratic candidates can completely ignore them, as Clyde Wilcox and Carin Robinson give a fine and thoughtful analysis of this political powerhouse on the landscape. Updated to reflect on recent political issues, "Onward Christian Soldiers?" is a volume that shouldn't be ignored.

Thrift Store Saints
Jane Knuth
Loyola Press
3441 N. Ashland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60657
DeChant Hughes Public Relations (publicity)
1440 N Kingsbury St., Chicago, IL 60642
9780829433012, $13.95, www.loyolapress.com

Strapped for cash, one looks to faith more than ever. "Thrift Store Saints: Meeting Jesus 25 cents at a time" is a collection of stories from Jane Knuth, reflecting on her time working at a thrift store which led her to encounter many individuals living on the edge and in need. Stating that during her time as a volunteer, she gained more spiritually than she ever gave in return, she preaches the power of volunteering, making "Thrift Store Saints" a solid and very highly recommended read.

Uncommon Decency
Richard J. Mouw
IVP Books
PO Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426
9780830833092, $16.00, www.ivpress.com/media

Love thy enemy is a virtue of Christianity that seems more and more lost. "Uncommon Decency: Christian Civility in an Uncivil World" is an urging to readers to remember the Christian values of love and respect even for those who do not follow your faith and beliefs. Stating that civility is the key to a better understanding on all sides of an argument, too often Americans fall into name calling and being truly awful to each other to get anything done. "Uncommon Decency" is a powerful read with a stronger message, very highly recommended.

Miracles of the American Revolution
Larkin Spivey
God & Country Press
c/o AMG Publishers
6815 Shallowford Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421
9780899570211, $14.99, www.AMGpublishers.com

A collection of rebels facing off against of the strongest fighting forces in their time. "Miracles of the American Revolution: Divine Intervention and the Birth of the Republic" looks at the miracles that lead to the formation of the United States, stating on the occurrences that turned the tide for the Americans throughout the war. From technical malfunctions to convenient weather to the fall of the world's most powerful Navy, "Miracles of the American Revolution" is a thoughtful look at where God may have been looking out for the success of America.


The Literary Shelf

Collecting Stamps Would Have Been More Fun
Sinclair Ross
University of Alberta Press
Ring House 2, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2E1
9780888645210, $34.95, www.uap.ualberta.ca

When great writers talk to one another, the way with words resonates loudly, even in a casual format. "Collecting Stamps Would Have Been More Fun: Canadian Publishing and the Correspondence of Sinclair 1933-1986" looks at the collection of letters to and from the legendary Canadian writer whose discussions with his contemporaries ring strong, providing much insight as well as wit. Including his only formal interview, "Collecting Stamps Would Have Been More Fun" is a thought provoking read that should be in every literary studies collection focusing on Canada.

Through a Glass Darkly
Holly Faith Nelson, Lynn R. Szabo, Jens Zimmermann
Wilfrid Laurier University Press
Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2L 3C5
9781554581849, $85.00, www.wlupress.wulu.ca

Understanding is something that is hard to obtain, yet endlessly pursued. "Through a Glass Darkly: Suffering, the Sacred, and the Sublime in Literature and Theory" is a discussion of these concepts and how they are often applied to literature and what they mean as a reflection upon society. Many authors look through the history, from ancient Greek literature and the Bible and its progression through history and society. From fantasy to contemporary general fiction, and around the world, the subjects have been used to put forth much about God and the unexplained in our lives. "Through a Glass Darkly" is an educated and scholarly read, a solid addition to any community and college library literary studies collections.


The Education Shelf

Learning to Love Math
Judy Willis
ASCD
1703 N. Beauregard St., Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
9781416610366, $23.96, www.ascd.org

Math can prove a hard topic to be enthusiastic for. "Learning to Love Math: Teaching Strategies that Change Student Attitudes and Get Results" is a guide for teachers who want to encourage students to take a stronger interest in mathematics, promoting it as a challenge that anyone can accomplish and encouraging the useful elements one would find for use in everyday life. With advice on appealing to many levels of education, "Learning to Love Math" is a key guide for teachers who want better education through enthusiasm.

The Lessons Learned Handbook
Nick Milton
Chandos Publishing
Neal-Schuman Publishers
100 William Street, Suite 2004, New York, NY 10038
9781843345879, $99.95, www.chandospublishing.com

All the information in the world won't help you if you don't know what to do with it. "The Lessons Learned Handbook" is a guide for businesses who want to promote the importance of learning from experience, a subject that often falls through the cracks of understanding. Encouraging success from failure and learning form the past, Nick Milton, a knowledge management specialists, states that everything is a learning experience, and explains this concept more completely through how one learns, and the principles of trial and error. With additional notes on technology, how to share knowledge, and experiences from other businesses, "The Lessons Learned Handbook" is full of information and makes for a highly useful and highly recommended read.

The Highly Engaged Classroom
Robert J. Marzano, Debra J. Pickering, Tammy Heflebower
Solution Tree
304 West Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, IN 47404
9780982259245 $29.95 www.solution-tree.com

Part of "The Classroom Strategies Series", The Highly Engaged Classroom is a solid guide for educators to getting high levels of attention from their students. Strategies range from refining one's pacing, to incorporating physical movement, using games or friendly controversy, connecting to students' lives, using effective verbal feedback, and more. Examples, guidelines, and more user-friendly material fill this excellent accessory of classroom-tested tactics recommended for educators of students at all grade levels, from elementary to college students.


The Fashion Shelf

Scaaasi
American Couturier
MFA Boston
465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
D.A.P.
155 Sixth Avenue, New York, NY 10013
9780878467594, $29.95, www.mfa.org

High fashion is something hard to keep on top of. "Scaasi: American Courtier" looks at the history of famed clothing designer Arnold Scaasi who has become an icon of American fashion, designing wardrobe for many American stars through the years. With plenty of full color photographs of his work where applicable, the essence and theme of Scaasi's design as it evolved with the times."Scaasi" is a fine coffee table book for anyone with a love for fashion, highly recommended.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

The Guide to Good Health
Biran Chicoine & Dannis McGuire
Woodbine House
510 Bells Mill Rd., Bethesda, MD 20817
9781890627898, $29.95, www.woodbinehouse.com

With Down Syndrome, it takes a different approach to maintain a healthy life. "The Guide to Good Health: For Teens & Adults with Down Syndrome" is a discussion of Down syndrome the problem that can occur in individuals with the disorder later in life and the special care needed to counter and prevent them from becoming serious issues. With much thought on the connection of spiritual and mental health, issues regarding the end of life, and specific conditions discussed, "The Guide to Good Health" is a fine volume for one who is caring for another with Down Syndrome.

Clinician's Guide to Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Gerald M. Rosen & B. Christopher Frueh, editor
Wiley
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030
9780470450956, $70.00, www.wiley.com

Truly terrible events sit with people for a lifetime. "Clinician's Guide to Post-traumatic Stress Disorder" is a discussion of the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder, which can ravage people's psyches in their long term health. Clinical psychologists in particular are necessary to understand its effects. Many psychologists offer their thoughts to approaching this challenge, and offer many valuable insights for understanding. Outlining the core issues and offering advice for treatments, "Clinician's Guide to Post-traumatic Stress Disorder" is a fine and scholarly advisory for psychologists and an informative text, highly recommended for community and college psychology collections.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

Living the Truth
Klaus Demmer
Georgetown University Press
3240 Prospect Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007
9781589016972, $34.95, www.press.georgetown.edu

Religion has long roots in morality throughout history. "Living the Truth: A Theory of Action" is a discussion of truth, religion, and the everyday life of people. Analyzing faith, anthropology, and the universal morality that is shared between much of us, Klaus Demmer offers scholarly thought on how they all blend together to form the moral code that is shared between many of us. Presented for the first time in the English language, "Living the Truth: A Theory of Action" is a thoughtful and scholarly analysis, a core addition to theology sections.

The Cosmic Dance
Joyce Rupp
Orbis Books
Price Bldg, Box 302, Maryknoll, NY 10545
9781570759031, $20.00, www.orbisbooks.com

No one is alone, and to live as such is a wreck on the soul. "The Cosmic Dance: An Invitation to Experience Our Oneness" discusses the unity of all peoples and how to fully embrace it further. Calling for greater compassion in life to improve one's own life, she urges people with a powerful message of the power of good and being of something greater. "The Cosmic Dance" comes with powerful inspiration and makes for a very highly recommended read.


The Parenting Shelf

A Compromised Generation
Beth Lambert
Sentient Publications
1113 Spruce Street, Boulder, CO 80302
9781591810964, $18.95, www.sentitentpublications.com

There are dangers to our growing children, and many aren't even aware of them. "A Compromised Generation: The Epidemic of Chronic Illness in America's Children" discusses the seemingly chronic illness that affect many of today's children in the wide array of forms such as autism, diabetes, and many other disorders. Placing the blame on over use of pharmaceutical drugs, vaccines, and other elements, "A Compromised Generation" is worth considering for parents who are suspicious of the things that could be the cause of sicknesses.


The Psychology Shelf

Jungian Psychoanalysis
Murray Stein
Open Court
70 East Lake Street, Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60601
9780812696684, $59.95, www.opencourtbooks.com

Different disciplines have different approaches. "Jungian Psychoanalysis" is an introductory to the common discipline of psychology made popular by C. G. Jung, and has inspired entire classes to follow his thoughts and opinions of psychology. With chapters on the basic principles of Jungian psychology, today's culture under its microscope. analyzing people and their behavior, the minds of children, and how to study the finer details of Jungian psychology. "Jungian Psychoanalysis" is a powerful read that will do much to explain the discipline, highly recommended.

Love and War
Rudolf Harmsen
Robert D. Reed Publisher
PO Box 1992, Bandon, OR 97411
9781934759462, $17.95, www.rdrpublishers.com

Humans are both social creatures and violent creatures, leading to a fascinating duality. "Love and War: Human Nature in Crisis" discusses two different stories during World War II, as Rudolf Harmsen grows up in occupied Holland and the fearful Paddy Welles, living under the threat of air raids with her family in North Carolina. An interesting look at the status of family in dangerous situations, "Love and War" is a fine take, very highly recommended.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

The Educator's Privilege
Menachem M. Schneerson
Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch
770 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11213
9780826606891, $12.95, www.kehot.com

The teacher is an important and powerful figure in educational process. "The Educator's Privilege" are musings from Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson on the pride and privilege of being an educator and spreading wisdom and thought and teaching. Although with a slant towards Jewish education, the Rabbi's wisdom should ring true even with secular or other religion's educators. "The Educator's Privilege" is a read that should not be missed for any educator.

The Relationship of Orthodox Jews with Believing Jews of Other Religious Ideologies and Non-Believing Jews
Adam Mintz, editor
KTAV
930 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306
9781602801400, $30.00, www.ktav.com

Orthodox Jews have gained a reputation for looking down on other Jews, but what is reality in these relations? "The Relationship of Orthodox Jews with Believing Jews of Other Religious Ideologies and Non-Believing Jews" discusses relationships in Judaism between the sects and those who have lapsed from their faith. Also discussing the relationship of those who have embraced Israel as well as those who continue to live in the United States and other locations, many thinkers and Jewish writers offer fascinating insight on this larger picture of relations. A fine addition to any Judaic studies collection, "The Relationship of Orthodox Jews with Believing Jews of Other Religious Ideologies and Non-Believing Jews" is an educational read, through and through.


The Sports Shelf

The Little League that Could
Ken Rappoport
Taylor Trade
c/o Rowman & Littlefield Publishing
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
9781589794627, $22.95

The National Football League was not without its competition. "The Little League That Could: A History of the American Football League" tells the story of the decade where the small league started with nearly nothing and made itself a worthy rival with the monopoly of the American football league, leading the split of the NFC and AFC we have today. "The Little League That Could" is a must for any would-be football historian.


The Economics Shelf

New Financial Horizons
Lorna Gold
New City Press
202 Comforter Blvd., Hyde Park, NY 12538
9781565483545, $16.95, www.newcitypress.com

Not every business operates with goals of getting into the Fortune 500. "New Financial Horizons: The Emergence of an Economy of Communion" examines 800 or so firms throughout the world that have united under the good ideas of sharing, caring, and justice. Examining how these businesses work and stay profitable and viable while still maintaining a high degree of ethics, "New Financial Horizons" is a fascinating look at the potential of redefining the term of good business.


The Music Shelf

DanceHall
Sonjah Stanley Niaah
University of Ottawa Press
542 King Edward, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1N 6N5
9780776607368, $65.00, www.amazon.com

Music is constantly changing and evolving through the years. "DanceHall: From Slave Ship to Ghetto" analyzes the development of DanceHall, which has both spawned a cultural movement as well as a new genre and effect on music. The styles it developed from range from American blues to reggae, and how it is linked strongly to the Jamaican ghettos of today. With connections to the growing black culture overall throughout the Americas, "DanceHall" is a fascinating and scholarly look at the music and its tie to Jamaican culture.


The Gaming Shelf

Mastering Chess Strategy
Johan Hellsten
Everyman Chess
PO Box 480, 246 Goose Lane, Guilford, CT 06437-0480
9781857446487, $29.95, www.everymanchess.com

There are few games with more complex than Chess, poking at the minds of gamers for centuries. "Mastering Chess Strategy" is a guide for those who want to attain a more perfect mastery of the game, giving the more basics of strategy to a higher and growing mastery through the book. With hundreds of pages of tips from Grandmaster players, plenty of exercises to help one drill into their head the ideas they need to win. "Mastering Chess Strategy" is a must for anyone refining their skill in the game or are just looking to get into the finer points of chess.


The Hunting/Fishing Shelf

Babine
Pierce Clegg & Peter McMullan
Frank Amato Publications, Inc.
PO Bo 82112, Portland, OR 97282
9781571884626, $49.95, www.amatobooks.com

In fishing, not only are great fish and fishermen revered, but great fishing spots. "Babine: A 50-Year Celebration of a World-Renowned Steelhead and Trout River" tells the story of this beloved river in Canada and how it has become a favored and famed fishing river known for its abundant trout and steelhead. With plenty of photographs, anecdotes, tips and so much more, Peter Clegg & Peter McMullan provide a worthy tribute to the river. "Babine" is a fine addition to any Canadian history of fishing collection, very highly recommended.


The Woodworking Shelf

Carving 18th Century American Furniture Elements
Tony Kubalak
Linden Publishing
2006 South Mary, Fresno, CA 93721-9875
9781933502328 $24.95 www.woodworkerslibrary.com

Full color photography on almost every page (plus layout diagrams and more) illustrates the woodworking instructions of Carving 18th Century American Furniture Elements: 10 Step-by-Step Projects for Furniture Makers, a beautiful how-to guide that lives up to its title. Chapters focus especially on the process of creating distinctive period features, such as "Carved Foliage on Knee", "Philadelphia Rosette", "Convex Newport Shell", and many more beautiful and integral designs. The user-friendly instructions make Carving 18th Century American Furniture Elements a "must-have" for any dedicated woodworker looking to put their skills to the test in a period piece.


The Military Shelf

The Royal Navy and the Battle of Britain
Anthony J. Cumming
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD 21402
9781591141600, $34.95, www.nip.org

The Battle of Britain was not an air battle alone. "The Royal Navy and the Battle of Britain" is the analysis of the Royal Navy's role in the Battle of Britain, a battle often glorifying the work of the Royal Air Force. Stating that the Navy's contributions are woefully underrated, he explains the details and thoughts of the battle and why the Navy was so important in this battle. "The Royal Navy and the Battle of Britain" is an important read, highly recommended for military and history collections.

Unmanned Combat Air Systems
Norman Friedman
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD 21402
9781591142850 $52.95 www.navalinstitute.org

Naval weapons expert Norman Friedman presents Unmanned Combat Air Systems: A New Kind of Carrier Aviation, a detailed examination of how the U.S. Navy's Unmanned Combat Air System aircraft, currently in development, will have enormous repercussions on naval aviation. The unmanned combat air vehicle is the size of a strike fighter, and can potentially complete intelligence missions, surveillance, reconnaissance, and time-sensitive targeting. The X-47B is the first attempt to create such an aircraft; Friedman studies how this aircraft might be used, and compares it to certain current missiles controlled by remote human operators. Black-and-white photographs illustrate this technical, in-depth study of a crucial facet of changing modern warfare.


The Computer Shelf

Unreal Game Development
Ashish Amresh and Alex Okita
A K Peters, Ltd.
888 Worcester Street, Suite 230, Wellesley, MA 02482
9781568814599 $59.00 www.akpeters.com

The Unreal engine has been used quite well to create many games, and now the method to do so is in the hands of the public. "Unreal Game Development" is a guide to using the Unreal Engine 3 to create elaborate games that may have never have seemed possible without creating one's own engine from scratch. With advice on starting with the fundamentals of design, what can be learned by dissecting Unreal Tournament games, the programming, and so much more. "Unreal Game Development" comes with advice on 3D and 2D image editors, programming advice, and other tools, making a solid guide to using the Unreal engine to make one's ideas come together.

The Facebook Era, second edition
Clara Shih
Prentice Hall Professional
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780137085125 $24.99 www.mcp.com

Facebook is another method that technology has changed the world doing business. "The Facebook Era: Tapping Online Social networks to market, Sell, and Innovate" is a guide for businesses to take marketing the to the next level, as Calara Shih discusses how to use Facebook as a new marketing tool as well as other social networking programs such as Facebook and LinkedIn. These mediums are changing how society works and understanding them is almost required for continued business success. "The Facebook Era" is a useful and very highly recommended read that shouldn't be missed for any small business or organization.

Murach's C# 2010
Joel Murach
Murach & Associates
4340 N. Knoll, Fresno, CA 93722
9781890774592, $54.50, www.murach.com

The language C# has withstood the test of time with new techniques being discovered every year. "Murach's C# 2010" is the latest edition of Murach's award winning guides on the language with the latest developments on pushing the language further in regards to the other aspects of programs like .NET, ADO, XML and so much more than that. With countless complete and comprehensive chapters covering nearly everything one would need to know, "Murach's C# 2010" is an ideal text for anyone learning or simply wants a powerful research on hand.


The World History Shelf

The Great Fire of Rome
Stephen Dando-Collins
Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Books Group
Eleven Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
9780306818905 $25.00 www.perseusbooksgroup.com

Rome, most powerful city of the ancient world has brought down by the most basic of nature's wrath - fire. "The Great Fire of Rome: The Fall of Emperor Nero and His City" looks at the history of Rome surrounding the fire that destroyed the city in the first century AD. With modern research on the great fire and its original causes, this study looks at the history of Rome's destruction and what it meant in the bigger picture of Roman history. "The Great Fire of Rome" is a fine addition to any history collection focusing on the time of antiquity.


The Gardening Shelf

The Resilient Gardener
Carol Deppe
Chelsea Green
PO Box 428, White River Junction, VT 05001
9781603580311, $29.95, www.chelseagreen.com

Self-sufficiency is a value very underrated in today's world. "The Resilient Gardener: Food Production and Self-Reliance in Uncertain Times" discusses how those with space and determination can do much to make their own crops and gardens to help deal with the worst. With additional advice on how to make one's own bread through home grown crops, livestock, and more. "The Resilient Gardener" is a must for the would be do it yourself farmer.


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


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