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Library Bookwatch

Volume 5, Number 8 August 2010 Home | LBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Library Science Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf
World History Shelf Religion/Spirituality Shelf Christian Studies Shelf
Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf Fiction Shelf Education Shelf
Psychology Shelf Gardening Shelf Judaic Studies Shelf
Art Shelf Cookbook Shelf Poetry Shelf
Nautical Shelf Criminology Shelf Biography Shelf
American History Shelf Library CD Music Shelf Audiobook Shelf
Gaming Shelf Needlecraft Shelf Photography Shelf
Travel Shelf Native American Shelf Library DVD Shelf
Buddhist Studies Shelf Christian Studies Shelf Writing/Publishing Shelf
Social Issues Shelf Civil War Shelf Science Shelf
Crafts Shelf Antiques/Collectibles Shelf Self-Help Shelf
Money/Finance Shelf Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf Martial Arts Shelf


Reviewer's Choice

My New iPad
Wallace Wang
No Starch Press
38 Ringold Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
9781593272753, $24.95, www.nostarch.com

The iPad is a new technology that has taken much of the world by storm with its utility. "My New iPad: A User's Guide" is a guide to the many details and nuances of Apple's brand new iPad, Apple's newest technological innovation, placing a personal computer and organizer into a format of an easy to carry around pad. From everything from using Microsoft files to cosmetic edits to using the pad for entertainment, "My New iPad" is a strong pick for anyone who wants to use their new toy to its fullest.

Enjoying Big Bend National Park
Gary Clark
Texas A&M University Press
4354 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-4354
9781603441018, $17.95, www.tamu.edu/upress

Big Bend National Park is one of America's places of great natural beauty. "Enjoying Big Bend National Park: A Friendly Guide to Adventures for Everyone" is a guide for planning a trip to this national park for readers of all backgrounds, regardless of their age or health. Big Bend has many things to attract tourists, and author Gary Clark thoroughly describes the park's many features. "Enjoying Big Bend National Park" is a top pick for nature tourists.

The Sierra Nevada Before History
Louise A. Jackson
Mountain Press Publishing Company
PO Box 2399, Missoula, MT 59806
9780878425679 $15.00 www.mountain-press.com

The Sierra Nevada Before History: Ancient Landscapes, Early Peoples is a solid study and presentation of California's Sierra Nevada prior to written historical records. Chapters cover the land's geology, climate, vegetation, animals, and human settlement, with specific focus on the Tubatulabal, the Yokuts, the Western Monache, the Sierra Miwok, the Yosemite, and the Paiute. Black-and-white photographs on almost every other page illustrate this enthralling, reader-friendly tour of a rugged and wild land's prehistory. "The soil in the High Sierra was salt-poor and the streams were low in minerals, so animals that preferred the highlands had to adapt. Some rodents, such as the chickaree, or red squirrel, that were normally vegetarian ate meat in the highest regions in order to obtain sufficient salt. Other animals and birds searched out fire ashes or mud at mineral springs to satisfy their cravings."

Creating Special Events
Lee J. deLisle
Sagamore Publishing
1807 N. Federal Drive, Urbana, IL 61801-1051
9781571675255, $59.95

A time of celebration is a time of a lot of planning. "Creating Special Events" is a guide to the many aspects that come along with planning these events, describing the process step by step. Special events empower communities, create jobs, create cash flow, and create a positive environment. But they have to be managed right to do these things, or they can have the opposite of the intended effect. Risk management is another aspect, and Dr. Lee J. deLisle discusses it well. "Creating Special Events" is a solid handbook for anyone dealing with the details of these events.

Rising from Katrina
Kathleen Koch
John F. Blair, Publisher
1406 Plaza Drive, Winston-Salem, NC 27103
9780895873842 $14.95 www.blairpub.com 1-800-222-9796

Award-winning broadcast journalist Kathleen Koch presents Rising from Katrina: How My Mississippi Hometown Lost It All and Found What Mattered, a testimony of the devastation that the notorious 2005 hurricane wreaked upon the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Katrina's own home, as well as many others and entire communities were literally leveled in the wake of Katrina's destruction. Yet Rising from Katrina is about more than the fury of the storm; it is about the struggle to rebuild, to make sense of disaster and tragedy, and the heartwarming random acts of kindness that human beings are capable of even in the most dire circumstances. A handful of black-and-white photographs illustrates this inspirational, compelling and powerful blend of judicious reporting and heartfelt sympathy.

Florence Nightingale at First Hand
Lynn McDonald
Wilfrid Laurier University Press
Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2L 3C5
9781554581917, $24.95, www.wlupress.wlu.ca

One nurse made a major difference in the way health care worked. "Florence Nightingale at First Hand" discusses the writings of Nightingale, a nurse credited with much of the reform of public health throughout the nineteenth century, an era where much of medical practice proved highly outdated, centuries old. Looking at first hand accounts, "Florence Nightingale at First Hand" is a must for anyone studying medical history.


The Library Science Shelf

Envisioning Future Academic Library Services
Sue McKnight
Facet Publishing
c/o Neal Schuman Publishers
100 William Street, Suite 2004, New York, NY 10038
9781856046916, $125.00, www.facetpublishing.co.uk

The role of the library in society always changes, and good librarians stay on top of said changes. "Envisioning Future Academic Library Services: Initiatives, Ideas, and Challenges" discusses a slew of library ideas as Sue McKnight gives readers and library administrators a complete and comprehensive look at what lies ahead with libraries, and their brother in mass information, the internet. Social networking, online education, computer training, and more, "Envisioning Future Academic Library Services" is a complete and comprehensive discussion of the topic, enhanced by indexes, making it a core reference for any forward thinking librarian.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

After the First Full Moon In April
Josephine Grant Peters & Beverly Ortiz
Left Coast Press
1630 North Main Street, #400, Walnut Creek, CA 94596
www.locastpress.com
9781598743647, $75.00, www.amazon.com

"After the First Full Moon in April: A Sourcebook of Herbal Medicine from a California Indian Elder" is a 272-page compendium of the medicinal uses for more than 160 plants by Native American healer Josephine Grant Peters. Drawing upon northern Californian Native American plant lore and her distinctive cultural heritage, Peters also provides the perspective of her spiritual convictions on the sharing of folk herbal medicine. With information contributions by Beverly Ortiz, "After the First Full Moon in April: A Sourcebook of Herbal Medicine from a California Indian Elder" is a unique and highly prized addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library collections in the diverse fields of Ethnobotany, Ethnomedicine, Environmental Anthropology, Native American Studies, and California History.


The World History Shelf

Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD 21402
www.navalinstitute.org

A major publisher of military histories and biographies, the Naval Institute Press is also the American distributor of Seaforth Publishing's 'Seafarers' Voices' series, of which volume one "Galley Slave: The Autobiography of a Protestant Condemned to the French Galleys" (9781848320703, $27.95) and volume two "A Privateer's Voyage Round the World" (9781848320666, $27.95) are now available. Jean Marteilhe's "Galley Slave" is the memoir of a French Protestant who was condemned for his faith to serve as a galley slave in the early 18th Century and provides a vivid, eye-witness account of what the lives (and deaths) of galley slaves were like. George Shelvocke's "A Privateer's Voyage Round The World" is the personal story of buccaneering in the South Seas where the distinction between pirate outlaw and legally sanctioned privateer was often blurred -- and sometimes non-existent. Both of these outstanding and highly recommended volumes are deftly abridged and edited for modern readers by Vincent McInerney, making them enthusiastically recommended acquisitions for personal, community, and academic library reference collections and reading lists.

This is China
Haiwang Yuan
Berkshire Publishing Group
120-122 Castle Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230-1506
9781933782201, $14.95, www.berkshirepublishing.com

There are few countries with as long histories as China. "This is China: The First 5,000 Years" looks at the nation's long history through its early first unions through the Cultural revolution and Communist rule. Dealing with only the basics, Haiwang Yuan gives readers a need to know introductory to Chinese history with plenty of advice on what else to read along the way. "This is China" is a top pick for anyone who wants a more complete understanding of the history of China.

Robert Paynell's King's Bench Reports, 1625-1627
W. H. Bryson, editor
Medieval & Renaissance Texts & Studies
c/o ACMRS
Arizona State University
PO Box 874402, Tempe, AZ 85287-4402
9780866984171, $63.00, www.amazon.com

Born in 1602, Robert Paynell graduated Christ's College in Cambridge, England on December 1617, was admitted to Gray's Inn on June 2, 1619, got called to the bar on November 8, 1626, and became a full fledged barrister of English law on November 24, 1645. He was the author of a number of Reports for the Court of King's Bench during the reign of Charles I. Those 287 surviving reports created by Paynell from 1625 through 1627 are expertly compiled, organized, annotated, edited, and presented W. H. Bryson. "Robert Paynell's King's Bench Reports, 1625-1627" is a seminal work of detailed scholarship, enhanced with the inclusion of an extensively informed and informative introduction, an 'Index of Names of Persons and Places', and a comprehensive subject index, making it an essential and core addition to academic library British Judicial History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

The Parallel Doctrine and Covenants
Joseph Smith Jr., compiler
The Smith-Pettit Foundation
c/o Signature Books
564 West 400 North, Salt Lake City, UT 84116-3411
www.signaturebooks.com
9781560852056, $50.00, www.amazon.com

The 'Doctrine & Covenants' is a collection of revelations to Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, commonly referred to as the Mormon Church. The 'Doctrine & Covenants' is declared to be an essential religious text of the Mormon faith, along with the Bible, the 'Book of Mormon', and the 'Pearl of Great Price' (a collection of sacred documents translated by Joseph Smith). "The Parallel Doctrine and Covenants: The 1832-1833, 1833, and 1835 Editions of Joseph Smith's Revelations" provides side-by-side comparisons of the first three published editions permitting students, scholars, and the general public to compare these editions for their occasional variations and differences. Provided with an extensively informed and informative introduction and concluding 'Notes to the Reader' by Curt A. Bench, "The Parallel Doctrine and Covenants: The 1832-1833, and 1835 Editions of Joseph Smith's Revelations" is enhanced with four specific appendices: 'Four Others of Joseph Smith's Revelations Publishing During His Lifetime'; 'Joseph Smith's Early Published Revelations'; 'The Unauthorized 1831-1832 Publications of Several of Joseph Smith's Revelations'; and 'Current Editions of the LDS and Community of Christ/RLDS Doctrine and Covenants Compared to the 1835 Edition'. An superbly organized and presented compilation, "The Parallel Doctrine and Covenants: The 1832-1833, and 1835 Editions of Joseph Smith's Revelations" is an essential and core addition to academic library 'Mormon History' and 'Mormon Theology' reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Christian Studies Shelf

Through Fire and Water, revised edition
Harry Loewen and Steven M. Nolt
Herald Press
616 Walnut Avenue, Scottsdale, PA 15683-1999
9780836195064 $16.99 www.heraldpress.com 1-800-759-4447

Now in a revised edition, Through Fire and Water: An Overview of Mennonite History is an accessible and reader-friendly chronicle of the history of the Mennonite faith, from its roots in the radical Reformation of sixteenth-century Europe to today's worldwide Anabaptist presence. Particular emphasis is given on the evolution of the Mennonite faith in North America and in Russia. Black-and-white photographs and illustrations pepper this edifying account of a faith firmly grounded in nonviolence - despite the brutal realities that compromise survival during the turbulence of world history. An excellent addition to general-purpose religious history shelves.


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

The 500 Years of Resistance Comic Book
Gord Hill
Arsenal Pulp Press
#102-211 East Georgia St., Vancouver, BC Canada V6A 1Z6
9781551523606, $12.95, www.arsenalpulp.com

Defeat doesn't mean submission. "The 500 Years of Resistance Comic Book" discusses the many ways over the relations between Europeans and Native Americans where they have shown resistance even in defeat, in response to the terrible atrocities that have been executed upon them. All throughout the Americas, many struggles are depicted with a very anti-European slant. "The 500 Years of Resistance Comic Book" is a fascinating story of the untold history of the Native peoples of the Americas.

Eye Witness: Unknown God
Robert James Luedke
Head Press Publishing
2201 Long Prairie Road, #107-770, Flower Mound, Texas, 75022
www.headpress.info
9780975892473, $13.99, www.amazon.com

"Eye Witness: Unknown God" is the fourth and final volume of an eight year project by author and illustrator Robert James Luedke who took as his inspiration the story of how the Christian movement began as recorded in a newly discovered and hitherto unknown 'Gospel of Joseph of Arimathea'. Forensic archeologist Terry Harper was asked to translate this unusual treatise and in doing so becomes the target of assassination by modern day forces of evil seeking to suppress the discovery. As with all four volumes in this superbly illustrated and engagingly told story, the action alternates between the present day and the first century A.D. "Eye Witness: Unknown God" is the story of the Apostle Paul and his supporters as they spread Christianity throughout the Mediterranean lands of the Roman Empire. The graphic novel format presents this well known story in a wholly fresh presentation. Part action/adventure, part religious history, Although it can be rewardingly read as a 'stand alone' graphic novel, "Eye Witness: Unknown God" continues to document Robert James Luedke as a master story teller and those new to this series will want to obtain the first three volumes: "Eye Witness: A Fictional Tale of Absolute Truth" (97809875892404, $13.99); "Eye Witness: Acts of the Spirit" (9780975892428, $13.99); and "Eye Witness: Rise of the Apostle" (9780975892473, $13.99). This truly outstanding, deftly written, wonderfully illustrated, thoroughly 'reader friendly', and exceptionally entertaining four volume series will soon be available as a boxed set, making it ideal for personal gift giving and community library graphic novel collections.

Toriko, volume 1
Mitsutoshi Shimabukuro
Viz Media LLC
295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133
9781421535098 $9.99 www.viz.com

The debut volume of Toriko collects the unflipped, black-and-white Shonen Jump manga (Japanese comics) adventures of Gourmet Hunter Toriko, a man dedicated to combating and hunting the most preternaturally fierce creatures, in order to supply the most upscale gourmet restaurants with the finest delicacies! Gourmet Hunter Toriko is a superlative master of martial arts and survival skills, capable of defying gargantuan behemoths that could take down a tank! And what is the passion that drives this greatest of all gourmets? Why, to assemble nothing less than the greatest full-course meal that ever was, or will be - a meal so heavenly that he has not yet figured out what mortal ingredients could possibly compose it! With the aid of a relatively ordinary yet surprisingly courageous young follower, Toriko is out to see his dream made real regardless of the risk, in this high-spirited, exuberantly drawn and wildly action-packed manga recommended for teen and older readers.

The Royal Historian of Oz #1
SLG Publishing
577 South Market St., San Jose, CA 95113
9781593621949 $1.00 www.slgcomic.com

The first issue of the (extremely inexpensive!) black-and-white comic The Royal Historian of Oz draws readers into a different take on L. Frank Baum's classic fantasy world. In the not-too-distant future of our modern-day nation, young Frank Fizzle is the son of a man who dreams of chronicling more stories about the glorious land of Oz - despite any number of litigious threats made against him! But when Frank's father discovers magical artifacts that allow him access to the closed-off wonderland, he misuses his power to appropriate beings and artifacts, supposedly to aid in his self-driven mission to become the next Royal Historian of Oz. The denizens of Oz itself are rallied to defend their world's secrecy - and their desperate measures may include targeting young Frank Fizzle himself! Expressively drawn and smoothly presented, The Royal Historian of Oz #1 is a treat for any who have grown to love the Oz saga, and more issues in the series are eagerly anticipated!

Boneyard Volume Seven
Richard Moore
NBM Press
40 Exchange Place, Suite 1308, New York, NY 10005-2742
9781561635832 $10.99 www.nbmpublishing.com

Boneyard Volume Seven continues the black-and-white fantasy-horror-humor comic story following the (mostly) ordinary mortal Michael Paris and the lusciously beautiful vampire Abbey. The two of them are finally coming close to understanding and accepting their feelings for one another - but every time it seems as though they might be ready to progress their relationship, something seems to interrupt them. This time it's the reappearance of Lita, Michael's not-so-imaginary childhood faerie friend. Desperate to escape her betrothal to the prince of the dark faeries, Lita seeks Michael's help - drawing him into a fantastic, faraway world where humans are second-class citizens and a mysterious plague is brutally ravaging the fae folk. Michael's monstrous menagerie of friends want to help him before he literally loses his head - if they can only figure out which alternate dimension is the right one to find him! Written with charm and wit, as well as action and passion, Boneyard Volume Seven will not disappoint fans of the series yet is also a sufficiently accessible and self-contained story as to be a serviceable jumping-on point for new readers. Highly recommended.


The Fiction Shelf

Galaxy Press
7051 Hollywood Boulevard, Suite 200, Hollywood, CA 90028
www.galaxypress.com

Before he founded Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard was one of the most popular and prolific writers during the 'golden age' of pulp magazines. Galaxy Press has been reprinting and making these 'time lost' tales available to a new generation of appreciative readers. These stories are flawlessly reproduced with their original cover art and interior illustrations. These classic reprints also demonstrate Hubbard's incredible versatility and ability to write gripping stories in every genre from action/adventure, westerns, romances, and science fiction, to such pulp age genres as aviation and detective stories. Four of the latest additions to the Galaxy Press roster of L. Ron Hubbard literary gems are "Cattle King for a Day" (9781592123735, $9.95); "The Trail of the Red Diamonds" (9781592123315, $9.95); "All Frontiers are Jealous" (9781592122547, $9.95); and "Hurtling Wings" (9781592122851, $9.95). These are stories, originally published more than 70 years ago that have held up quite well and are terrific reads from beginning to end. Readers and libraries would do well to visit the Galaxy Press web site at www.galaxypress.com for a complete listing of available L. Ron Hubbard titles.

The McGillicuddy Book of Personal Records
Colleen Sydor
Red Deer Press
195 Allstate Parkway, Markham, ON L3R 4T8
9780889954342, $12.95, www.reddeerpress.com

The biggest challenge one faces in life is themselves. "The McGillicuddy Book of Personal Records" tells the tale of Lee McGillicuddy, a thirteen year old who drives himself to greatness by keeping and breaking his own personal records. But meeting challenges isn't always an easy triumph, and when the stakes of his friend's life are on the line, Lee must meet the challenge. "The McGillicuddy Book of Personal Records" is a fun and uplifting read for young readers.

O. Murray Carr
Neil Rolde
Tilbury House
103 Brunswick Avenue, Gardiner, ME 04345
9780884483328, $15.00, www.tilburyhouse.com

What drives a man to assassinate a governor? "O. Murray Carr" is the tale of Jonathan Jackson, as the governor he works for is murdered and he finds himself neck deep in conspiracy and politics, as well as romance, leading to a grand view of the American political system and its inner workings. "O. Murray Carr" is an insightful and riveting read, and is not one to be passed up.


The Education Shelf

Quality Literacy Instruction For Students With Autism Spectrum Disorders
Christina Carnahan & Pamela Williamson
AAPC Textbooks
PO Box 23173, Shawnee Mission, KS 66283-0173
www.appctextbooks.net
9781934575666, $59.00, www.amazon.com

Being able to read and write is a basic life skill and as essential for children with autism as it is for anyone else. But those with autism spectrum disorders require approaches to acquiring literacy skills that are educationally classified as Special Education services and techniques. Knowledgeably compiled and deftly edited by the team of Christina Carnahan and Pamela Williamson, "Quality Literacy Instruction For Students With Autism Spectrum Disorders" is a 466-page compendium in which eighteen specialists in the field of education and autism spectrum disorders have contributed specific chapters offering specific focus on the unique characteristics of children with autism spectrum disorders and how teachers can best interact with them to develop basic literacy skills. Each individual chapter focuses upon specific learn objectives. Vocabulary terms, chapter highlights, chapter review questions, chapter review answers, and a glossary, combine to make "Quality Literacy Instruction For Students With Autism Spectrum Disorders" an extraordinarily useful instructional guide and manual for educators and is a core addition to professional and academic library reference collections.

Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT, 2011-2012 edition
Larry Berger, Michael Colton, Alan Hatfield, Manek Mistry, and Paul Rossi, authors
Chris Kalb, illustrator
Workman Publishing Company
225 Varick Street, New York, NY 10014-4381
9780761158738 $12.95 www.workman.com 1-800-722-7202

Up Your Score: The Underground Guide to the SAT, 2011-2012 edition is an absolutely practical and user-friendly guide to preparing oneself for the SAT test. In addition to traditional study skills recommendations, Up Your Score also focuses on important test-taking tips for optimizing one's natural performance. "You have only about 40 seconds per problem... If you find yourself finishing ten minutes early, then you're probably working too fast and being careless... If you aren't finishing all the questions before time runs out, you might have to be a little less careful... In any case, it's essential that you have practiced enough to know exactly how fast you should be moving." A word list of crucial literary terms, and warnings against some of the most common test-question tricks (such as how nonanswers like "it cannot be determined from the information given" are almost always incorrect when offered for questions near the end of the test, since by that point many students will be rushed, harried, and less likely to be able to figure out the answer by the time limit) round out this savvy and thoroughly accessible guide. A "must-have" test preparation supplement for anyone whose educational future is dependent on their performance on the SAT.

Teaching with Digital Video: Watch, Analyze, Create
Glen L. Bull & Lynn Bell, editors
International Society for Technology in Education
180 West 8th Avenue, Suite 300, Eugene, OR 97401-2916
9781564842664, $37.95, www.iste.org

Digital video cameras have the benefits of being relatively cheap and thoroughly 'user friendly', making them ideal for use as a curriculum supplement technology supplement by classroom teachers in such diverse fields as social studies, language arts, the sciences, and even mathematics. "Teaching with Digital Video: Watch, Analyze, Create" is expertly compiled and deftly edited by the team of Professor Glen L. Bull (Co-Director, Center for Technology and Teacher Education) and Lynn Bell (Co-Editor of Contemporary Issues in Technology and Teacher Education). This 150-page compendium draws upon twelve experienced educators who are particularly knowledgeable in the utilization of digital video cameras as a teaching aid. After an informed introduction (which includes references), "Teaching with Digital Video: Watch, Analyze, Create" is divided into major sections on 'Using Digital Video across the Curriculum' and 'Digital Video Technology'. Every aspect is covered from creating digital video activity, to playing digital video clips on a computer, to capturing video from offline media, to making videos from still images, and so much more! Superbly organized and presented, "Teaching with Digital Video: Watch, Analyze, Create" is an extraordinary instructional guide and highly recommended.


The Psychology Shelf

Directive Family Therapy
Jay Haley & Madeleine Richeport-Haley
The Haworth Press, Inc.
10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580
www.HaworthPress.com
9780789033567, $27.50, www.amazon.com

The newest edition to the outstanding 'Haworth Series in Brief & Solution-Focused Therapies', "Directive Family Therapy" is the collaborative work of the late psychologist and directive family therapist pioneer Jay Haley and his wife Madeleine. This 156-page compendium is an ideal introduction to directive family therapy practices and principles, offering creative and tested strategies and tactics to identify problems, then craft and implement successful treatment plans. Enhanced with a complete bibliography of the Jay Haley's published works and a list of his films, "Directive Family Therapy" is thoroughly 'user friendly' and enthusiastically recommended for professional and academic library reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

History of Psychotherapy: Continuity and Change
John C. Norcross, et al.
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242
9781433807626 $89.95 www.apa.org/books

Deftly compiled and co-edited by the team of John C. Norcross, Gary R. Vandenbos, and Donald K. Freedheim, History of Psychotherapy: Continuity and Change is the newly updated edition of a classic, comprehensive resource first published twenty years ago. An extensive gathering of expert contributors delineate psychotherapy theory, research, practice, education and training. Although History of Psychotherapy is packed with extensive detail, the text is surprisingly accessible to readers of a wide variety of scientific backgrounds. History of Psychotherapy is an excellent core reference and an absolute "must-have" resource for college library collections.

Workplace Psychological Health
Paula Brough, et al.
Edward Elgar Publishing
9 Dewey Court, Northampton, MA 01060-3815
9781847207654 $100.00 www.e-elgar.com

The collaborative work of Paula Brough, Michael O'Driscoll, Thomas Kalliath, Cary L. Cooper, and Steven A.Y. Poelmans, Workplace Psychological Health: Current Research and Practice is a thorough overview of what psychology has to tell us about maintaining mental health in the workplace. Chapters relate the latest scientific advances in understanding the concepts and repercussions of job satisfaction, job support and job control, occupational stress and coping, work-family balance, work addiction, workplace violence and aggression, executive coaching, organizational counseling and fitness programs, and more. In today's modern era when workplace pressures have been known to spark tragedies ranging from poor occupational performance to disastrous accidents to incidents of violence, a thorough understanding of psychological health on the job is more vital and relevant than ever. An objective, studious and thoughtful resource, enhanced with an exhaustive list of references and an index, highly recommended especially for Psychology and college studies shelves.


The Gardening Shelf

Science And Technology Of Organic Farming
Allen V. Barker
CRC Press
Suite 300, 6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Boca Raton, FL 33487
www.crcpress.com
9781439816127, $69.95, www.amazon.com

In this age of agribusiness domination of the marketplace, one of the few ways the small family farmer can hope to compete is through organic farming. Farming (and gardening) without the use of petroleum based pesticides and fertilizers. Allen V. Barker is Professor of Plant, Soil and Insects Sciences at the University of Massachusetts. In "Science And Technology Of Organic Farming", Professor Barker draws upon his more than 45 years of experience and expertise to first identify the history and define the practices that comprise organic farming. He then goes on with specific chapters addresses such diverse issues as soil fertility, plant nutrition, the management of farm manures, composting, liming, mulching, tillage, weed control, insect control, plant diseases, 'companion planting', and produce storage. Enhanced with the inclusion of a bibliography, a glossary, and an index, "Science And Technology Of Organic Farming" is an ideal 240-page textbook and instructional guide, making it an essential, core addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library Agricultural Sciences and Gardening reference collections. Also very highly recommended from CRC Press for anyone seeking to convert from industrial agriculture to organic farming is Stephen R. Gliessman and Martha Rosemeyer's "The Conversion To Sustainable Agriculture: Principles, Processes, And Practices" (9780849319174, $89.95).


The Judaic Studies Shelf

Teach Them Diligently
Bonnie K. Stevens
Behrman House Inc.
11 Edison Place, Springfield, NJ 07081
www.behrmanhouse.com
0874411459, $18.00, www.amazon.com

It is a principle responsibility in Judaic theology and practice for children to be carefully instructed in the elements of their faith. In "Teach Them Diligently: A Midrash on the Jewish Educator's Year" author Bonnie K. Stevens draws upon her years of experience and expertise as a religious-school teacher to present a thoroughly 'user friendly' educational resource for parents, youth leaders, and teachers with respect to incorporating Jewish holidays with an educator's year-based curriculum by utilizing each holiday's core ideas and distinctive symbols. As the new school year begins the emphasis is on the fall holidays of Hanukkah and Tu B'Shevat, then as the months progress the Jewish holy days of Purim, Passover, and Shabbat are featured with the context of the classroom. Superbly organized and presented, "Teach Them Diligently" is highly recommended as a Judaic Studies curriculum supplement and instructional guide.


The Art Shelf

Flora
Janet Alling
Beaufort Books
27 West 20th Street, Suite 1102, New York, NY 10011
9780825306358 $30.00 www.beaufortbooks.com

Flora: Paintings by Janet Alling is a coffee-table artbook displaying the singularly vivid artwork of Janet Alling, who devoted herself to creating works that portrayed and preserved the rapturous beauty of nature. Outside of a brief introduction, Flora is almost entirely devoted to Alling's artworks, letting the exquisite paintings of trees, plants, and flowers speak for themselves. A captivatingly beautiful collection, and a superb giftbook for anyone who loves art of the natural world.

Alexander Calder and Contemporary Art
Lynne Warren
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500515235 $45.00 www.amazon.com

Featuring 137 illustrations (110 of which are in color) of modern sculptures and artworks from the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art, Alexander Calder and Contemporary Art: Form Balance Joy is an extraordinary portrayal of Calder's creations and the creations of those touched by his exquisite taste for balancing form, color, and movement, as well as his penchant for inventively reusing materials. Although Alexander Calder and Contemporary Art is primarily a visual showcase, the text supplements the illustrations with detailed musings on not only Calder's works themselves, but also how they influenced other modern-day artists, including Martin Boyce, Nathan Carter, Abraham Cruzvillegas, Aaron Curry, Kristi Lippire, Jason Meadows, and Jason Middlebrook. A treasury for modern art enthusiasts, Calder and Contemporary Art is the next best thing to visiting the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art in person.

Creative Glass
Danijela Kracun & Charles McFadden
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764335051 $39.99 www.schifferbooks.com

Creative Glass is an astoundingly beautiful, full-color, coffee-table art book, showcasing the glass creations of 108 artisans. From glass blowing, casting, and fusion to mosaics and stained glass, Creative Glass is an extraordinary tour of inspiration, emotion, and attention to detail, revealing nearly five hundred different art objects. Supplementing the breathtaking photography are commentaries of the various artists' individual creative journeys, and the inspirations behind the captivating works. A wonderfully worthy addition to artbook shelves everywhere.


The Cookbook Shelf

Catch of the Day
Chef John Schumacher
KP Books
c/o F&W Publications, Inc.
700 East State Street, Iola, WI 54990-0001
9781440202377 $22.99 www.fwpubs.com 1-800-289-0963

Catch of the Day: 200+ Easy Recipes for the Everyday Angler is a worthy companion to every fisherman's library, as it details a sweeping diversity of recipes to prepare and serve the fresh-caught fish. Executive Chef John Schumacher, owner of Schumacher's New Prague Hotel and Restaurant in New Prague, MN offers lean delights from Fish Kiev to Beer-Battered Fish, Tea-Smoked Fish, Spaghetti Squash Fish Boats, Coconut Pecan Trout, and much more. In addition to the methodical preparation directions and full-color photographs, Catch of the Day includes a wealth of tips, tricks, and techniques for anglers and cooks alike. Catch of the Day is especially recommended as a giftbook to anyone who loves to catch and eat their own fish.

The Zucchini Houdini
Brenda Stanley
Bonneville Books
c/o Cedar Fort, Inc.
2373 West 700 South, Springville, Utah 84663
9781599554273 $13.99 www.cedarfort.com

The Zucchini Houdini: Over 100 Delicious Recipes lives up to its title with a medley of easy-to-follow instructions for creating zucchini soups, salads, breads, desserts, and more. From Cheesy Green Chile Zucchini Soup to Zucchini Pizza Quiche, Zucchini Coconut Carrot Muffins, Sweet and Savory Skillet Zucchini, and more, The Zucchini Houdini is a wonderful way to create tasty, delightful surprises from the product of one's own garden or a farmer's market. An excellent and inexpensive addition to any cookbook collection, highly recommended.

International Menus for the Globetrotter
Dolores Freely
Citlembik
c/o National Book Network (distribution)
4270 Boston Way, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
9789944424745 $22.95 www.nbnbooks.com

International Menus for the Globetrotter is a collection of "home cooking" recipes for readers of all backgrounds, all over the globe. Straightforward, step-by-step instructions reveal how to easily create a number of international favorite dishes. French, Italian, Greek, Moroccan, Turkish, Chinese, Indian, Japanese, and more types of international menus of a delectable multi-course meal are presented for the reader's recreation, in this most enjoyable blend of easy-to-prepare trans-national delights.

The Pharaoh's Kitchen
Magda Mehdawy and Amr Hussein
The American University in Cairo Press
c/o International Publishers Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
9789774163104 $24.95 www.aucpress.com

The Pharaoh's Kitchen: Recipes from Ancient Egypt's Enduring Food Traditions is more than a cookbook - it is a wealth of culinary lore and history. Full-color photography of tomb reliefs and artifacts from museum exhibitions as well as freshly prepared reconstructions of ancient Egyptian dishes, prepared just as they were thousands of years ago, illustrate this exceptional cookbook. The text offers more than thorough, step-by-step instructions for recreating the foodstuffs that archaeology shows ancient Egyptians served at banquets and dinner tables. There is also a wealthy of history, from how ancient peoples used certain ingredients to ward away parasites or spoilage, to etiquette of the era, to notations on how many of these dishes are prepared and served in Nubia today. A truly unique and extraordinarily worthy addition to exotic cookbook shelves.

Edible Wild Plants
John Kallas, Ph.D.
Gibbs Smith, Publisher
PO Box 667, Layton UT 84041
9781423601500 $24.99 www.gibbs-smith.com

Edible Wild Plants is an in-depth guide to finding, recognizing, harvesting, and preparing wild plants to supplement one's diet. Full-color photographs on almost every page supplement the exhaustive and meticulous information about when, why, and how various wild plants are edible. From foundation greens like wild spinach or chickweed, to tart greens like curly dock or sheep sorrel, to pungent greens such as field mustard or wintercress, to bitter greens such as dandelions or sow thistle, Edible Wild Plants walks the reader through how to ensure the safety and effectively enhance the taste of foraged food. It should be noted that Edible Wild Plants is strictly a culinary foraging guide, not an herbalist or medicinal guide. An excellent, user-friendly reference, worthy of the highest recommendation for anyone considering supplementing their diet with foraged greens, whether for economic, healthful, or spiritual motives.

Be My Guest
Fay Lewis, author
Neil Corder, photographer
Struik
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
9781770077805 $27.00 www.randomhouse.com

Be My Guest is a coffee table cookbook presenting sumptuous recipes worthy for entertaining high society. Each recipe comes with a simple ingredient list, easy-to-follow directions, and many are illustrated with a sumptuously beautiful, full-color photograph of the finished dish. From Chocolate-filled French Toast, to Honey-roasted Baby Chickens, French Onion Soup, Broccoli with Walnut Dressing, and much more, Be My Guest is filled cover to cover with palate-pleasing delicacies. A truly outstanding addition to any high-class cookbook collection.

The World Goes Raw Cookbook
Lisa Mann
Square One Publishers
115 Herricks Road, Garden City Park, NY 11040
9780757003202 $16.95 www.squareonepublishers.com

The World Goes Raw Cookbook: An International Collection of Raw Vegetarian Recipes lives up to its title with an amazing collection of unprocessed, vegetarian taste-tested global cuisine - from Butternut Squash Soup with Sage and Walnut Tapenade, to Chocolate Chili Kisses, to Brazilian Cucumber Salad, to Tabouleh and much more. In addition to the diversity of recipes, The World Goes Raw Cookbook includes an in-depth tour of the basics of raw, vegan cuisine, including a brief primer on how to use basic tools to prepare it: blenders, cutting boards, graters, dehydrators, juicers, spiralizers, and more. Specific advice on buying organic ingredients, how to wash various different fruits and vegetables, and tips on growing one's own kitchen garden rounds out this delightful, easy-to-use, and handy resource for anyone aspiring to sample the flavorful and healthful benefits of raw, vegan cuisine for themselves. Highly recommended.

The Hunter's Table
Ducks Unlimited
Favorite Recipes Press
2451 Atrium Way, Nashville, TN 37214
9780871975485 $29.95 www.frpbooks.com

The Hunter's Table is a wonderful cookbook specializing in the best recipes for preparing hunted game - ducks, geese, quail, bison, venison, fish, and more. From Bull's Duck-Berry Bake to Goose Enchilada Roll-Ups, Dove Kabobs, Elk with Barley Soup, Sturgeon with Brandy Orange Sauce and much more, The Hunter's Table offers a wide variety of dishes fit for a gourmet. Step-by-step instructions and colorful photography enhance this "must-have" for anyone responsible for turning the fruits of the hunt into a delectable feast. Highly recommended.

Another Dinner Is Possible
Mike and Isy
AK Press
674-A 23rd Street, Oakland, CA 94612
9781904859994 $24.95 www.akpress.org

Another Dinner Is Possible: More than Just a Vegan Cookbook lives up to its title with not only a massive compendium of accessible, easy-to-prepare vegan recipes, but also advice on pursuing a more healthful and socially responsible diet. The enhanced tips, tricks, and techniques include suggestions for growing one's own food, recommendations to follow when cooking on a large scale, insights into pursuing proper nutrition in a world full of processed foods, and more. Nearly all the recipes use ingredients that are not difficult to find, but in addition to the inventive and unusual medley of culinary combinations are a handful of Korean recipes, vegan variations of Scandinavian cold fish delicacies, and even classic Jewish dishes. Spiral-bound to fold over on its cover as needed, Another Dinner Is Possible is a treasury for do-it-yourself vegans and highly recommended.


The Poetry Shelf

What Goes On
Stephen Dunn
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393338553 $14.95 www.wwnorton.com

Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Stephen Dunn presents What Goes On: Selected and New Poems 1995-2009, an anthology of brief, free-verse poems (and a few stream-of-consciousness paragraphs) that touch upon both the humble realities of daily life, and the captivating moments of imagination that illuminate life with breathtaking mystery and wonder. A vivid collection that smoothly interweaves elements of light and dark, What Goes On is a rapturous experience for poetry lovers everywhere. "My Ghost": The desirable place is always another place, / my father said. The restlessness continues. / His voice was calm, though disembodied. / He didn't appear to be complaining. / And it doesn't matter, he added. // Even at that moment I knew I was speaking / to myself. You were dreaming, my wife said, / and I told her the half of it / that tries to masquerade as all - his exact words, / no mention of his face being mine.

Other Poems
Jay Millar
Nightwood Editions
c/o Harbour
PO Box 1779, Gibsons, BC V0N 1V0 Canada
9780889712423, $17.95, www.nightwoodeditions.com

The poem is a direct expression of thought. "Other Poems" is a collection of poetry from Jay Millar, covering a decade of his work discussing the many subjects of life. Thought provoking and entertaining, "Other Poems" is a fine assortment, highly recommended. "Camouflage Comes Knocking": Can you see? Scientists now believe/is it not individuals that go extinct,/but the relationships between them --/doubly screwed or twice as lucky//The tree outside has been marked for destruction. Our neighbor/is hunting for slugs with a flashlight --/I am waiting for inspiration to strike.

Starting Today: 100 Poems for Obama's First 100 Days
RacheL Zukcer & Arielle Greenberg, editor
University of Iowa Press
119 West Park Road, Iowa City, IA 52242-1000
9781587298714, $20.00, www.uiowapress.org

Hope was the message, but the message is hard to deliver upon. "Starting Today: 100 Poems for Obama's First 100 Days" is a collection of poems discussing Obama's early work as President of the United States and how that message of hope and change has weathered the storm of time and politics. "Starting Today" is an insightful read, and very highly recommended. "Small Parable for the Sixtieth Day" by Catherine Barnett: A man carries an armful of dogwood into the bus,/the branches wrapped in the day's paper,/the news no longer legible or haunting/or obsolete but put to use,/damp, darkened, waterlogged, bleeding/against the early spring cuttings.


The Nautical Shelf

Cruise of the Dashing Wave
Philip Hichborn, author
William H. Thiesen
University Press of Florida
University of Florida, 15 Northwest 15th Street, Gainesville, FL 32611-2079
9780813034379 $24.95 www.upf.com

Cruise of the Dashing Wave: Rounding Cape Horn in 1860 is the authentic testimony of Philip Hichborn's first nautical voyage, in which he served as the ship's carpenter. Though Hichborn was destined to one day become an admiral and chief constructor of the U.S. Navy, but at the time of Cruise of the Dashing Wave, his unfamiliarity with shipboard life lends a vivid description to his experiences with the ship's daily routine, and the extraordinary events that disrupted it - gales, severe ice and snow, the death of a crew member, and a mutiny that almost took place. Notes, a bibliography, a few black-and-white photographs and an extensive nautical glossary round out this involving testimony - which deserves special recognition since it shows shipboard life through a (then) ordinary man's eyes, rather than those of a ship's captain or mate. Highly recommended.

The United States Navy
John C. Fredriksen
ABC-CLIO
PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
9781598844313 $85.00 www.abc-clio.com

The United States Navy: A Chronology, 1775 to the Present is a day-by-day documentation of the contributions of America's navy. Each notable day (or set of days) listed has a brief, pinpoint summary of the crucial events that took place; enhancing the essence of this chronology are an introduction, a handful of black-and-white illustrations, twenty sidebars of more extensive detail, and a 5,000-word bibliography. An excellent, astutely researched, and strikingly user-friendly resource and reference, especially recommended for naval history and college library reference shelves.

Russian Warships in the Age of Sail 1696-1860
John Tredrea & Eduard Sozaev
Seaforth
c/o Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD 21402
9781848320581 $85.00 www.navalinstitute.org

The expert collaboration of Russian naval historian Eduard Sozaev and American naval enthusiast John Tredrea, Russian Warships in the Age of Sail 1696-1860: Design, Construction, Careers and Fates is an exhaustively detailed technical reference and history, featuring a wealth of black-and-white diagrams, illustrations, and period artworks. The majority of Russian Warships in the Age of Sail is packed with information blocks listing the constructor, date laid down, date launched, dimensions, armaments, classification, and more about virtually every Russian warship created from 1696-1860. Supplementing this is an overview of the role these ships played in naval history in general, and notable battles in particular, written to be accessible to readers of all backgrounds. A solid resource and treasury for anyone seeking to research these magnificent ships, highly recommended.


The Criminology Shelf

The California Snatch Racket
James R. Smith and W. Lane Rogers
Craven Street Books
c/o Linden Publishing
2006 South Mary, Fresno, CA 93721-9875
9781884995637 $16.95 www.woodworkerslibrary.com

The California Snatch Racket: Kidnappings During the Prohibition and Depression Eras collects fifteen shocking true crime stories of brutal killers and kidnappers, who plied their ruthless trade in 1920's and 30's California. Drawn from newspaper, police, court and prison records, The California Snatch Racket particularly focuses upon the ransom artists who targeted everyone from Hollywood figures to lavish heiresses to ordinary, powerless, and penniless individuals. A scattering of vintage black-and-white photographs illustrates this vivid and harrowing collection.

Murder in their Hearts
David Thomas Murphy
Indiana Historical Society
450 W. Ohio St., Indianapolis, IN 46202
9780871952851 $13.95 www.indianahistory.org

Historian David Thomas Murphy presents Murder in their Hearts: The Fall Creek Massacre, a historical counting of a grim crime. In March of 1824, a gathering of enraged and inebriated settlers viciously murdered nine Indians along a tributary of Fall Creek. The local press seized upon the lurid crime, but what made this shocking act especially notable in American history is the repercussions visited upon the perpetrators. The white men involved in the murders were singled out, tracked down, convicted by a jury of their neighbors, and - for the first time under American law - executed for their crime. A thoughtful, detailed, and well-researched examination of the American federal government's efforts to promote regional security, economic growth and peaceful interracial coexistence (with extremely limited success, if any success can be claimed at all). A worthy case study and highly recommended addition to college library shelves.


The Biography Shelf

My Remarkable Journey
Larry King
Weinstein Books
345 Hudson Street, 13th Floor New york, NY 10014
9781602861237, $15.95, www.weinsteinbooks.com

You don't speak to the news makers without making news yourself. "Larry King: My Remarkable Journey" is the memoir of famed CNN interviewer Larry King who has captivated a nation with its call-in format for decades and has made King rub elbows with some of the biggest names in the world, but it wasn't an overnight thing as King had plenty of adventures of his own. "Larry King: My Remarkable Journey" is a fascinating and top pick for any memoir reader, especially those who are fans of King's work.

Prairie Lightning
Kerck Kelsey
Pogo Press
c/o Finney Company
8075 - 215th Street West, Lakeville, MN 55044
9781880654460 $18.95 www.pogopress.com www.finneyco.com 1-800-846-7027

Written by Kerck Kelsey, a descendant of William Washburn, Prairie Lightning: The Rise and Fall of William Drew Washburn chronicles the true-life story of an extraordinary civic leader and dedicated pillar of the church and the community. Born on a western Maine farm in the 1830's, his gumption and insight guided him to become a successful entrepreneur and politician. His noted accomplishments include the development of the Minneapolis Mill Co., the creation of the St. Louis Railroad and the Soo Line Railroad, and his marriage and six children. A handful of black-and-white photographs illustrate this resounding success story of a dedicated, charismatic, and influential man.

Dream Chasers of the West
B. L. Wettstein
Riverbend Publishing
PO Box 5833, Helena, MT 59604
9781606390214 $12.95 www.riverbendpublishing.com 1-866-787-2363

Dream Chasers of the West: A Homestead Family of Glacier Park is the biography of a proud, pioneer woman - Clara Augusta Miller, who dared to brave the untamed lands Montana's southern border of Glacier National Park in 1913. Unmarried at the age of thirty, Clara braved the dangers of frontier life in a time when survival was hard and neighbors sometimes depended on one another to survive. Dream Chasers of the West assembles Clara's story from oral interviews with people who knew Clara, as well as her letters to friends and family. Illustrated with vintage black-and-white photos of Clara, her family, and the places where she lived and toiled, Dream Chasers of the West is an unforgettable glimpse into America's wilder days as well as the true story of a steadfastly determined woman. Highly recommended.

William Clark: Indian Diplomat
Jay H. Buckley
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806141459 $19.95 www.oupress.com

William Clark: Indian Diplomat is a thoughtful and detailed biography of William Clark, with especial focus on his public career during the thirty years after the expedition with Meriwether Lewis for which he is most famous. Jay H. Buckley (Associate Professor of History, Brigham Young University) has researched treaty documents, Clark's extensive writings, and more to provide a multifaceted portrait of a complex man. Though Clark felt sympathy and compassion for Native peoples, he was unquestionably a proponent of American expansion - though he strongly and actively promoted that expansion through trade and amiable relations rather than military conflict. He was responsible for one-tenth of all Indian treaties ratified by the U.S. Senate, and arguably played a key role in dispossessing more Indians than any one other American. A handful of black-and-white illustrations enhance this engrossing portrait of a consummate diplomat, highly recommended.


The American History Shelf

Smoking Gun
Jeremy A. Agnew
Western Reflections Publishing Company
PO Box 1149, Lake City, CO 81235
9781932738933 $18.95 www.westernreflectionspub.com 970-994-0110

Old West historian Jeremy A. Agnew presents Smoking Gun: The True Story about Gunfighting in the Old West, a no-nonsense study of what real-life gunfights in the American West truly were like, what drove the gunfighter, and why gunfight battles happened between 1865 and 1900. A number of brief biographical portraits of the Old West's most famous gunfighters are included, as are portraits of certain towns that were thought to be the worst and most violent of the time. Black-and-white photographs are sparsely distributed through this well-researched yet remarkably accessible account. A fascinating read from cover to cover, Smoking Gun is especially recommended for any writer or historian seeking to separate the facts of Western gun battle legends from the fiction.


The Library CD Music Shelf

Charming Hostess
The Bowls Project
Tzadik
c/o Rock Paper Scissors
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2, Bloomington, IN 47404
$15.00 www.rockpaperscissors.biz

Charming Hostess is an extraordinary music album on CD, inspired by the earthenware "demon bowls" that have been excavated from beneath Babylonian houses. Blending the stark enlightenment of these mysterious, somewhat animalistic decorations with elements of everything from Iraqi popular to American heritage music, Charming Hostess brings to life the manipulations of mistrustful demons. Might a demon adopt an unassuming disguise, the better to trick the unprepared into an improper marriage, even compel a subsequent divorce? Are the machinations of angels truly any more benevolent? Vocals, cello, clarinet, percussion, guitar, dulcimer, harmonium and more contribute to this eclectic yet illuminating audio tour of supernatural forces. An unforgettable listening experience, all the way through.

Vranjski San
Brass Menazeri
Porto Franco Records
c/o Rock Paper Scissors
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2, Bloomington, IN 47404
CD, $13.99 www.rockpaperscissors.biz

Vranjski San is a riotously exciting music CD album by the group Brass Menazeri, blending Bosnian tradition and Balkan brass with wildly popular Bollywood stylings and homage to Rromani (Gypsy) influence. The result is an eclectic, original blend of classic and contemporary, a celebration of brass, funk, and jam. Vranjski San is as lively as it is emotionally enlightening, and a "must-have" for international music shelves. The tracks are "Vranjski San", "Hajde Fato", "Mikrokonstandinos + Zone Erotikos", "Izgubljeno Jagnje", "Cocekahedron", "Phirava, Daje", "Vranjanka", "Mejra na Tabutu", "Hasan's Dream", "E Davulja", "Mandilatos", "Lal Lal Hothon Pe", "Izgubljeno Jagnje Reprise", "Kozarica Kolo", and "Opa Cupa Fly". Also highly recommended for anyone curious to peer beyond America's borders for rapturous music is French singer Michele Choiniere's newly released album, "La Violette".


The Audiobook Shelf

The People's Dynasty
Professor Robert J. Shepherd
The Modern Scholar
c/o Recorded Books
270 Skipjack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
9781440782817 $99.99 www.modernscholar.com 1-800-636-3399

The People's Dynasty: Culture and Society in Modern China is an audio CD collection of the complete course about modern-day China, in fourteen lectures, as taught by Robert J. Shepherd (assistant professor of anthropology, George Washington University). From the monumental social and economic forces powering modern China, to the social and cultural changes that continue to affect the Chinese people in the present and future, The People's Dynasty is an absorbing and educational resource - whether for self-study or as a core addition to contemporary history course libraries. Highly recommended. The lectures are "China Today", "New Forms of Mobility", "The New Class Society", "A Home of One's Own", "Changing Family Life", "Religion and Society", "The Search for Meaning", "Ethnic Identity and Minority Rights", "Environmental Issues", "Culture, Heritage, and the Growth of Tourism", "Music, Film, and 'Soft' Rebellion", "Censorship in a Digital Society", "Culture and Identity: Is Chinese Life Becoming Westernized?" and "China, Inc.?". 7 CDs, 14 lectures.

The Ancient Future: The Dark Age
Traci Harding, author
Edwina Wren, narrator
Bolinda Publishing
186 S Long Swamp Rd, Jackson, ME 04921
9781742147222 $123.95 www.bolinda.com

The Ancient Future: The Dark Age is the complete and unabridged audiobook adaptation of a modern-day young woman thrown past the boundaries of time and space. Stranded in the Dark Age, she encounters Prince Maelgwn of Gwynedd and his loyal warriors; at first they mistake her for a nefarious witch, but soon she and steadfast fighters of a faraway time learn to rise above their fear and strive their hardest against menaces that shroud the land. A captivating saga of adventure, danger, and learning to adapt to trying times, The Ancient Future: The Dark Age is a rapturous listening experience and highly recommended. 16 CDs, 19 hours 46 min.

Super Sad True Love Story
Gary Shteyngart, author
Adam Grupper and Ali Ahn, narrators
Recorded Books, LLC
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
9781449809676 $123.75 www.recordedbooks.com 1-800-638-1304

Super Sad True Love Story is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of award-winning author Gary Shteyngart's novel about a man living in nigh-totalitarian future. Lenny Abramov is radically different from his fellow human beings in that he genuinely loves books, and is in fact writing the world's last diary. Smitten with a crush for a girl half his age, and targeted by the government for allegedly revealing secrets to a cartoon otter sporting a sombrero, Lenny has more than his share of intrigue to confide within his journal. A wry look at the modern information age taken to extremes, Super Sad True Love Story dares to live up to its title and is an utterly unforgettable listening experience. 11 CDs, 13.25 hours.

Alpha Relaxation System
Dr. Jeffrey Thompson
The Relaxation Company
c/o Sounds True Audio
413 South Arthur Avenue, Louisville, CO 80027
9781559617567 $19.98 www.soundstrue.com 1-800-333-9185

Alpha Relaxation System is an audio program grounded in 15 years of clinical research, designed to help the listener enjoy and engage in a state of deep relaxation. No spoken words or subliminal messages are within the two-CD set. CD One: Alpha Relaxation System, Deep Relaxation is meant for use while sitting or lying down with eyes closed, in order to fully experience the deep Alpha state of EEG meditation. CD Two: Alpha Relaxation System 2.0, Active Relaxation is meant for use while one is busy working, studying, or undertaking any activity in order to promote a lighter Alpha state - one that alleviates mental stress while promoting productivity. An instruction booklet is included with this soothing, enlightening, and inspiring listening experience, exquisitely and expertly designed to calm one's mind and soothe one's nerves. 2 hours.


The Gaming Shelf

Beating 1 e4 e5
John Emms
Everyman Chess
c/o The Globe Pequot Press
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
9781857446173 $26.95 www.everymanchess.com

Written by chess Grandmaster John Emms, Beating 1 e4 e5 is a chess strategy guide focusing upon the options that White has after the 1 e4 e5 set of moves, based on the Italian Game and the Bishop's Opening. From a meticulous perusal of the options a player has after 1 e4 e5, to suggestions for analyzing chess layouts, to a wealth of sample games with accompanying black-and-white diagrams to promote visualization, Beating 1 e4 e5 lives up to its title. An excellent supplementary resource for intermediate to advanced chess players, Beating 1 e4 e5 is highly recommended for improving one's skill and understanding of the game.

Bridge at the Enigma Club
Peter Winkler
Master Point Press
331 Douglas Ave., Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5M 1H2
9781897106594, $18.95, www.masterpointpress.com

A simple game of bridge can turn into so much more. "Bridge at the Enigma Club" is an intriguing delve into the world of bridge with exciting twists and turns. With a spattering of ideas and tips on the game as well as some delving into the world of cryptography, "Bridge at the Enigma Club" is a fascinating read that blends many concepts.

10 Ways to Get Better At Chess
Nigel Davies
Everyman Chess
c/o Globe Pequot
PO Box 480, 246 Goose Lane, Guilford, CT 06437-0480
9781857446333, $26.95, www.everymanchess.com

Chess is a game of skill and strategy, and can be quite overwhelming at first glance. "10 Great Ways to Get Better at Chess" is a guide to training oneself to be a better chess player and gain a greater level of skill. From how rigorously one should play, how to study one's own mistakes, and more, Written by a man with decades of high level chess playing experience, "10 Great Ways to Get Better at Chess" is a fine and solidly recommended pick for anyone with greater aspirations for their chess skills.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Yummi 'Gurumi
Christen Haden & Mariarosa Sala
Andrews & McMeel
1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
9780740792601 $14.99 www.andrewsmcmeel.com

Lavishly illustrated with beautiful, full-color photography throughout, Yummi 'Gurumi: Over 60 Gourmet Crochet Treats to make shows how to create elegant, non-edible yet insatiably cute and adorable replicas of foodstuffs, with a little hands-on skill in the art of crochet. From crocheted fruit slices to sundaes, sushi platters, sandwich bars and more, Yummi 'Gurumi is packed with meticulous, stitch-by-stitch patterns. An absolute "must-have" for anyone who loves crochet and wants to create eye-catching decorations with a difference. Highly recommended.

101 Snappy Fashions: Oodles of One-Piece Designs for Babies
Cathie Filian
Lark Books
c/o Sterling Publishing Company
387 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016-8810
9781600594946 $14.95 www.sterlingpublishing.com 1-800-805-5489

101 Snappy Fashions: Oodles of One-Piece Designs for Babies is fun, user-friendly craft guide to creating sassy, hip and savvy designs on one-piece baby outfits. Walking the reader through techniques ranging from dyeing and applique to embroidery and stamping, 101 Snappy Fashions reveals fun, fancy, and non-toxic ways to liven up baby clothes. Adorable full-color illustrations and suggestions for throwing a snapsuit-themed baby shower round out this excellent guide to unleashing one's creative flair.

Norwegian Patterns for Knitting
Mette N. Handberg
Trafalgar Square Publishing
PO Box 257, Howe Hill Road, North Pomfret, VT 05033
Independent Publishers Group (distributor)
814 North Franklin Street, Chicago, IL 60610
9781570764486 $24.95 www.trafalgarbooks.com

Norwegian Patterns for Knitting: Classic Sweaters, Hats, Vests, and Mittens is a full color guide for advanced knitters, to creating appealing and practical knitted winter clothing in the traditional Nordic style. Introducing distinct knitting techniques from the different parts of Norway, Norwegian Patterns for Knitting uses full color illustrations, meticulous directions, charts, and guidelines for crafting professional-quality garments worthy of the window of an upscale clothing store. An extraordinary, user-friendly resource perfect for any knitter determined to hone the pinnacle of her skills, Norwegian Patterns for Knitting is highly recommended.


The Photography Shelf

Camp Edwards and Otis Air Force Base
Donald J. Cann and JohnJ. Galluzzo
Arcadia Publishing
420 Wando Park Blvd., Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
9780738572147 $21.99 www.arcadiapublishing.com

Part of the "Images of America" series, Camp Edwards and Otis Air Force Base is a stunning collection of vintage black-and-white photographs portraying Massachusetts' Camp Edwards and Otis Air National Guard Base, used to train the National Guard. Each picture includes a brief accompanying caption of insightful flavor text. The result is an extraordinarily preserved visual tour of American history in the making. "The image gives a view of the rollers of the marine rollerway. Amphibious engineers had many options to get equipment on and off the beach. Which one was to be used depended on the conditions when invasions took place."

Wildlife Photography
Uwe Skrzypczak
Rocky Nook
26 West Mission Street, Suite 3, Santa Barbara, CA 93102
9781933952567 $39.95 www.rockynook.com

Professional photographer and environmentalist Uwe Skrzypczak presents Wildlife Photography On Safari with Your DSLR: Equipment, Techniques, Workflow, a solid guide to the art of capturing vividly clear, unforgettable photographic images of natural wildlife. Wildlife Photography expressly focuses upon taking pictures of the wildlife of the Serengeti National Park of East Africa, yet the recommendations for adapting to the environment, learning about the habits of one's subjects, and adjusting one's preparations accordingly are vital to undertaking wildlife photography in any environment. Skrzypczak has specifically avoided drowning the reader in a sea of detailed information specific to every possible natural environment to instead concentrate on solid general principles and practices. "River crossings are difficult to photograph in bright sunlight... The combined factors of dust, haze, and the extremely high contrast produced by the foaming water make it impossible to rely on normal or automatic exposure metering. The best way to produce well-exposed images is to take test shots or to shoot bracketing sequences, secure in the knowledge that you can correct many exposure errors later at the post-processing stage." Highly recommended, especially for anyone serious about pursuing wildlife photography as either a hobby or a profession.


The Travel Shelf

Great Smoky Mountains Trivia
Doris Gove
Riverbend Publishing
PO Box 5833, Helena, MT 59604
9781606390177 $9.95 www.riverbendpublishing.com

Written and presented in question-and-answer format, Great Smoky Mountains Trivia is a delightful collection of fascinating facts about Great Smoky Mountains National Park of Tennessee and North Carolina. Readers can discover new and exciting things about everything from the area's natural history, geology, wildlife, plants, and weather to famous celebrity visitors and notorious moonshiners. An excellent supplement for "Trivia Pursuit" games and a great way to learn more about one of America's beautiful natural preserves, Great Smoky Mountains Trivia is a delight to page through.


The Native American Shelf

The Beginning of Print Culture in Athabasca Country
Patricia Demers,
Naomi McIlwraith
Dorothy Thunder, translators
University of Alberta Press
Ring House 2, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2E1
9780888645159 $80.00 www.uap.ualberta.ca

The Beginning of Print Culture in Athabasca Country is an extraordinary compendium of primary source material revealing how the language of the Cree Native American peoples came to be adapted and preserved in written form. Reproducing the 1883 Cree Prayer Book that was the creation of Father Emile Grouard, a nineteenth-century missionary with a talent for Native American languages who used a hand printing press to further his endeavors, The Beginning of Print Culture in Athabasca Country offers both the Cree language text and the literal English translation of the prayers. The text explores in depth the story of how Father Grouard came to learn the Cree language, as well as the overt and subtle nuances that distinguish Cree from English. The result is an extraordinary tribute to the creation of a written language, as well as a fascinating linguistic tour de force of the trials and tribulations involved in translating and preserving the tongue of a unique, Canadian indigenous culture. Highly recommended.


The Library DVD Shelf

Flying Cheap
PBS Home Video
c/o SSA Public Relations
15260 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1730, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
9781608831975 $24.99 www.shopPBS.org

Flying Cheap: Is Air Travel Safety Being Compromised? is an episode on DVD of the public television documentary series "Frontline". Exposing the drastic cost-cutting measures that the modern-day air travel industry has taken - including the increasingly widespread use of low-cost "regional carriers", the tendency to separate inexperienced pilots from the experienced ones (reducing opportunities for less experienced pilots to learn from their contemporaries), corporate pressure for pilots and personnel to work long hours even when sick, and more. Thirty years after airline deregulation, terrible accidents such as the deadly crash of Continental 3407 in Buffalo, NY - a crash that all evidence points to being preventable, and caused by pilot error - are evidence of flaws in the current system, and a blood price that will continue to be paid until stricter measures to enforce the value of human life are put in place. Highly recommended. Additional eye-opening documentaries of the "Frontline" series include "The Science and Skepticism Behind The Vaccine War" (9781608832453, $24.99) and "Obama's Deal: Inside the Battle for Health Care Reform" (9781608832293, $24.99).

Well Balanced Media
Katy Bowman
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$14.95 each www.411videoinfo.com www.AlignedandWell.com

Two healthful DVDs encourage viewers to promote their own well-being through simple exercise programs designed to prevent and counter discomfort as well as improve flexibility, and foster relaxation. "From the Shoulders Up" (30 min.) warns against common movement habits that can exacerbate problems with one's chronic ailments. Host Katy Bowman guides the viewer through five prescribed movements meant to improve circulation, digestion and elimination, muscle and bone strength, and overall health. "Fix Your Feet" (30 min.) is a similar program, but with particular emphasis on the well-being of one's feet - the advice within is helpful for dealing with everything from Plantar Fasciitis to Bunions, Hammer Toes, Shin Splints, and much more. Both are gentle, user-friendly, and ideal for anyone seeking to ease into an exercise program without excessively pushing their cardio performance.

Secrets of the Great Barrier Reef
Smithsonian Networks
Infinity Entertainment Group
c/o Greenleaf & Associates (publicity)
vicki@greenleafandassociates.com
$9.98 smithsonianchannel.com

Part of the extraordinary Smithsonian Networks documentary series, Secrets of the Great Barrier Reef is a true-life exploration of the wondrous world beneath the waves of Australia's Great Barrier Reef. From the vibrantly beautiful coral, to the uniquely beautiful marine life, to the man-made perils that threaten this underwater paradise, Secrets of the Great Barrier Reef lives up to its title as a fascinating expose of this submerged natural world. A breathtaking treasury, perfect for armchair travelers as well as public library collections. 47 minutes.

Candlemaking: A Beginner's Guide
Sharyn Pak
On Air Video Inc.
8203 Westminster Rd., Elkins Park, PA 19027
$16.95 www.onairvideo.com

Candlemaking: A Beginner's Guide is a straightforward guide to the hobby, art, and craft of creating beautiful and functional candles. Crafting expert Sharyn Pak guides the viewer through step-by-step processes (and important safety precautions!) for making a wide variety of popular candles, including cold-poured, rolled, sand, container, mold, and dipped candles. A thoughtful, thorough, and accessible instructional, highly recommended especially for anyone seeking to create distinctive handmade gifts for friends or family. 82 minutes.

Dance and Be Fit Carnaval Workout
Kimberly Miguel Mullen
Acacia
c/o Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
9781598283143 $16.99 www.acornmedia.com

Dance and Be Fit Carnaval Workout is a fitness DVD divided into three segments, and based on the festive rhythms and joys of one of the biggest celebrations worldwide. Brimming with Brazilian enthusiasm, Dance and Be Fit Carnaval Workout is an exuberant cardio experience, as demonstrated by the lovely and energetic Kimberly Miguel Mullen. Dance and Be Fit Carnaval Workout is a wonderful and motivational addition to spice up any fitness DVD library. The segments are "Warm It Up", "Wind It Up!", "Step It Up!", "Jump Up!", and "Cool It Down". 47 minutes, widescreen.

Pretty Bird
Paramount Home Entertainment
mac@click-comm.com
1415749760 $22.98 www.paramount.com/homeentertainment

A Sundance Dramatic Grand Jury Prize nominee, Pretty Bird is an eyebrow-raising adventure of the lengths to which ordinary Americans may go to pursue their extraordinary dreams. When three unusual inventors - a charming entrepreneur, a compassionate mattress store proprietor, and a rocket scientist with a bleak worldview - team up to create a rocket belt company, the put everything they have on the line in hope of finding success. Pretty Bird blends skewed comedy, genuine warmth, and the drive to see the results of one's labor made real into a thoroughly engaging human saga. Highly recommended. 98 minutes, widescreen, rated R for language and a scene of sexuality.

The New Recruits
PBS Home Video
c/o SSA Public Relations
15260 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1730, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
9781608832354 $24.99 www.shopPBS.org

The New Recruits: Can Capitalism Save the World? is a one-of-a-kind documentary following an alliance of business students determined to improve quality of life for the poor and dispossessed - not by charity, but rather through capitalism, and the empowerment of having people pay an inexpensive yet sufficient monetary price in return for aid. Treating impoverished human beings as valued customers instead of charity cases promotes pride and respect on both sides. The New Recruits focuses on three individuals striving to put this principle into practice: Suraj from Mumbai, working for a company that builds pay toilets in Kenya - though the toilets are supposed to operate in slums, at the time Suraj joins they are only used by the wealthy in Nairobi. Heidi from San Diego works in India, for a company that creates solar-powered L.E.D. lights to replace kerosene among the rural inhabitants; and Joel from Tuscaloosa works with a company that sells drip irrigation systems to indigent farmers in Pakistan, but as he coaches his sales team, he discovers problems more deeply rooted than anyone could have guessed. An extraordinary and insightful documentary about realistically and practically dealing with quandaries borne of the human condition as surely as from poverty. 60 minutes. Also highly recommended is the PBS documentary "A Sense of Wonder" (9781608832460, $24.99).

Mount St. Helens: Back from the Dead
PBS Home Video
c/o SSA Public Relations
15260 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1730, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
9781608832644 $24.99 www.shopPBS.org

Mount St. Helens: Back from the Dead is a captivating episode on DVD of the award-winning public television documentary series NOVA, focusing on the very recent natural history of Mount St. Helens and its surrounding land. The catastrophic 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens completely obliterated all life in the blast zone, and inundated the area underneath 300 feet of avalanche debris. Surprisingly, natural life reclaimed the desolate area - but the mountain is also reviving itself. Lava returned to the surface soon after the eruption, and in 2004 there were a sudden set of explosions catapulting steam and ash thousands of feet into the air. Can the volcano's activity be accurately predicted, or better understood? Mount St. Helens: Back from the Dead reveals how modern geologists use GPS, magnetic mapping, and more to uncover the secret life of a fearsome volcano. An extraordinary and absorbing presentation, enthusiastically recommended especially for public library collections. 56 minutes, widescreen.

Into the Deep: America, Whaling and the World
PBS Home Video
c/o SSA Public Relations
15260 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1730, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
9781608832521 $24.99 DVD / $28.99 Blu-ray www.shopPBS.org

Available in both DVD and Blu-ray formats, Into the Deep: America, Whaling and the World is part of the "American Experience" documentary series originally aired on PBS. Presenting the striking true story of the history of whaling in America, Into the Deep chronicles the adventure, the economics, and the environmental impact of whaling since its rise in the 17th century. From the riveting story of the doomed whaling ship "Essex", to how young Herman Melville learned so much about the industry that would inspire his classic "Moby Dick", and much more, Into the Deep provides an amazing window into the lasting cultural and social impact of a nautical industry. Highly recommended. 2 hours, widescreen, English SDH subtitles.


The Buddhist Studies Shelf

The Treasury of Knowledge
Jamgon Kongtrul
Translated and introduced by Ngawang Zangpo
Snow Lion Publications
PO Box 6483, Ithaca, NY 14851
9781559393454 $49.95 www.SnowLionPub.com

The Treasury of Knowledge: Buddhism's Journey to Tibet collects books two, three and four of Jamgon Kongtrul's encyclopedic repository of Buddhist teachings as they have been handed down through the generations in Tibet. In addition to the skillfully rendered translations of the books "The Light of the World", "What the Buddha Taught", and "Buddhism Respendent in the World", there are in-depth reflections by translator Ngawang Zangpo on each chapter, as well as a bibliography and lists of various names and cited texts. An authoritative and surprisingly accessible rendition of a classic core text of Tibetan Buddhism, The Treasury of Knowledge: Buddhism's Journey to Tibet deserves the highest recommendation for personal and library Buddhist Studies shelves.


The Christian Studies Shelf

A Saint For All Reasons
Tim Muldoon
QNY
c/o Langenscheidt Publishing Group
15 Tyger River Drive, Duncan, SC 29334
9780843713817 $13.99 www.langenscheidt.com

A Saint For All Reasons: A Pocket Bible Of 100 Saints For Every Situation lives up to its title, offering a brief summary of many different saints and each saints' area of patronage. Each one-page entry of this pocket guide also includes a sample ritual and suggested prayer to invoke the guidance of the given saint. From Isidore the Farmer, patron saint of agriculture ("Lord, bless those whose hands bring forth the fruits of the Earth") to Pharaildis, patron saint of sick children ("Lord, bless this child with health"), there is a saint presented for virtually every aspect or quandary of human life. Simple black-and-white (actually dark purple-and-white) illustrations enhance this easy-to-use supplement for reinforcing one's faith and acknowledging to the wisdom, generosity, and love of noble pious human beings.

John Stone's Chronicle
John Stone
Selected, Translated, and Introduced by Meriel Connor
Medieval Institute Publications
c/o Western Michigan University
1903 W. Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5432
9781580441070 $13.00 www.wmich.edu/medieval/mip/

John Stone's Chronicle: Christ Church Priory, Canterbury, 1417-1472 offers an English translation of representative selections of Benedictine Monk John Stone's notable manuscript, "Inventories of Christchurch, Canterbury" (originally written in Latin). Stone's work primarily recorded the daily life and workings of his own monastic community, from obituaries of monks to the regular liturgy to feast days and events, even notations of the weather. The chronicle itself is presented in paragraphs, each paragraph focusing on a notable individual or event as the years passed. An exhaustive introduction acquaints the reader with background information concerning John Stone, the time in which he lived, and even a map of the monastic community he spent his life in. A firsthand testimony of immeasurable value, John Stone's Chronicle: Christ Church Priory, Canterbury, 1417-1472 is highly recommended to especially to college library and Christian Studies shelves.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Mosquito Marketing for Authors
Michelle Dunn
Never Dunn Publishing
9781453605301 $23.95 www.michelledunn.com

Industry veteran Michelle Dunn presents Mosquito Marketing for Authors, a no-nonsense guide for authors (especially self-published authors!) to effectively, efficiently, and inexpensively promoting one's book. Chapters discuss creating a niche market, identifying one's target audience, writing a press release, marketing both online and offline, networking, using a blog to promote one's business, creating a mailing list, the role of direct mail, standing out from one's competition, and much more. A practical-minded, user-friendly guide, absolutely indispensable to anyone interested in writing and publishing books for a living.


The Social Issues Shelf

Sound, Space, and the City
Marina Peterson
University of Pennsylvania Press
3905 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4112
9780812242348 $39.95 www.upenn.edu/pennpress

Anthropologist Marina Peterson presents Sound, Space, and the City: Civic Performance in Downtown Los Angeles, a study of how urban public performances transform and revitalize civic space. From hip-hop to orchestra to mariachi music, Afropop, and Chinese modern dance, these diverse expressions and celebrations affect their audience in a diversity of ways, both immediate and long term. Sound, Space, and the City draws upon archival records of urban planning and policy, the author's own extensive experience with public performances, the vocalized concerns of modern urban residents and scholars, and more. The result is a collection of the lessons that can be learned about the values, advantages, and pitfalls of urban projects for space dedicated to public performances, particularly invaluable in today's modern era when more and more cities are embracing the arts as a means to revitalize their core territory. "Representation, recognition, and participation, tenets of democracy, structure public concerts as civic performances. At civic performances these terms are at once performative and political, organizing cultural identity and civic membership."

Gender Differences at Critical Transitions in the Careers of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Faculty
National Academies Press
500 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001
9780309114639 $48.95 www.nap.edu

Researched and presented by the independent, objective organization of the National Academies, National Gender Differences at Critical Transitions in the Careers of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Faculty is the congressionally mandated culmination of research into the career differences observable between female and male full-time, tenure-track, and tenured university professors of science, engineering, and mathematics. Drawing from a survey of random samples of roughly 1,800 faculty, as well as a departmental survey concerning policies, recent tenure, promotion cases, and recent hires in nearly 500 departments, Gender Differences reports its crucial findings in meticulous detail, and scholarly terms that are nonetheless accessible to readers who may not necessarily be familiar with advanced statistics. An exhaustive assembly of appendices rounds out this studious and insightful assessment - including copies of the surveys used, charts listing percentages and estimated probabilities, a bibliography, and an index.


The Civil War Shelf

Memoirs of the Stuart Horse Artillery Battalion, Volume 2
Robert J. Trout, editor
The University of Tennessee Press
293 Communications Building, Knoxville, TN 37996-0325
9781572337060 $49.95 www.utpress.org

Memoirs of the Stuart Horse Artillery Battalion, Volume 2: Breathed's and McGregor's Batteries is the second and final volume of a set collecting Civil War veteran's memories. Volume 2 particularly focuses upon the cavalry batteries of Captain James Breathed and Captain William M. McGregor (originally a single battery led by Major John Pelham, split in September of 1862). Presented here are Henry H. Matthews' memoir, which notably glorifies Breathed to such an extent that it is far from objective, as notes from editor Robert J. Trout observe; Richard Townshend Dodson's writings, which offer insights into the lot of individual soldiers as well as the overall descriptions of marching and fighting; and George W. Shreve's previously unpublished recollections, which are notable for their matter-of-fact portrayal of how an artillery battery effectively functioned. An extraordinary primary source and testimony, Memoirs of the Stuart Horse Artillery Battalion, Volume 2 is a worthy successor to Memoirs of the Stuart Horse Artillery Battalion, Volume 1 and highly recommended especially for college library and Civil War reference shelves.


The Science Shelf

Introduction to Geometrical and Physical Geodesy
Thomas H. Meyer
ESRI Press
380 New York Street, Redlands, CA 92378-8100
9781589482159 $99.95 www.esri.com

Introduction to Geometrical and Physical Geodesy: Foundations of Geomatics is an introductory text to geodesy: the science of measuring and representing the shape and size of the Earth, which is directly applicable to solving problems in cartography, GIS, engineering, and Earth sciences. Chapters spell out the basic tools and concepts of geodesy, as well as the distinction between and fundamental problems of geometrical versus physical geodesy. From different types of map projections, to angles and point positioning, heigh systems, the influence of tides and more, Introduction to Geometrical and Physical Geodesy is a solid, user-friendly reference and resource ideal for self-teaching or as a vital science course text. Black-and-white diagrams, example problems with solutions, and appendices offering a refresher on vector algebra, linear algebra, and spherical trigonometric identities round out this absolutely indispensable addition to college library and reference shelves.

Allies and Enemies
Anne Maczulak
FT Press
1330 Avenue of the Americans, 35th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780137015467, $24.99, www.ftpress.com

Bacteria is both the basis of life and the destroyer of it. "Allies and Enemies: How the World Depends on Bacteria" analyzes bacteria's place in the greater picture, as mankind fights against it at the same time embracing it. Bacteria are one of the greatest scientific enigmas, and play a part in many levels of the world, making for a fascinating read. "Allies and Enemies" is a scholarly text, and a solid addition to community and college library science collections.


The Crafts Shelf

Making Mixed-Media Art Charms & Jewelry
Peggy Krzyzewski and Christine Hansen
Kalmbach Publishing Company
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53186
9780871164018 $21.95 www.kalmbachbooks.com

Illustrated with crystal clear, full-color photography throughout, Making Mixed-Media Art Charms & Jewelry is a guide to turning ordinary trinkets and small, commonplace items into one-of-a-kind keepsakes or jewelry perfect for display or gift-giving. The "mixed media" composing such creations can be wood, metal, glass, paper, stones, beads, found objects, recycled things, vintage treasures, game pieces, bottle caps, coins, almost anything imaginable. After a brief primer on how to use basic tools to assemble creations, Making Mixed-Media Art Charms & Jewelry offers specific suggestions for creating everything from shrink plastic art charms to resin treasures to metal jewelry, wonderfully eclectic charm bracelets and much more. A detailed, practical, easy-to-use guide perfect for the creative and enthusiastic craftmaker, Making Mixed-Media Art Charms & Jewelry is highly recommended.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

The World's Rarest Movie Posters
Todd Spoor
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764334986 $39.99 www.schifferbooks.com

Illustrated with full-color photography of astoundingly rare movie posters on practically every page, The World's Rarest Movie Posters lives up to its title as a vivid catalogue of rare and remarkable pop culture treasures. Each poster's entry features a flawless photographic representation of the poster, and detailed buying information - the number of that poster known to exist (and some of the posters are the only known ones of their kind left), the highest price that poster has been known to sell for on auction, and more. Aside from a brief introduction, The World's Rarest Movie Posters is wholly devoted to serving as a visual reference and price guide of these fragile mementos. An excellent choice not only for serious collectors, but also for anyone interested in paging through an exquisite photographic rendition of rare movie posters for a very modest price. Also highly recommended from Schiffer Publishing is the hands-on, step-by-step guide "Creating Floral Masterpieces" (9780764334597, $29.99).


The Self-Help Shelf

Ask Your Inner Voice
James Wawro
Ozark Mountain Publishing
PO Box 754, Huntsville, AR 72740
9781886940703, $14.00, www.ozarkmt.com

Ignoring yourself isn't the best way to go through life. "Ask Your Inner Voice" is a guide to listening to that voice inside your head, your conscience and using it to find your way through life and gain a greater understanding of it and everything around it. Listening to it, understanding it, and more, "Ask Your Inner Voice" is a fine pick for those who want to understand what they truly want and understand what their mind is trying to say.


The Money/Finance Shelf

Point, Click, and Save
Rachel Singer Gordon
CyberAge Books
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055
9780910965866, $19.95, www.infotoday.com

Money is something a lot of mothers don't have a lot to throw around. "Point, Click, and Save: Mashup Mom's Guide to Saving and Making Money Online" is a guide to being the budget conscious mom in world that wants to see you penniless. Saving on what's important, making money along the way, and using the internet to its full power, "Point, Click, and Save" is a powerful guide that shouldn't be missed by the mom on a budget.


The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

Boston Theater Marathon XI
Smith and Kraus Book
177 Lyme Road, Hanover, NH 03755
9781575257716, $24.95, www.smithandkraus.com

A good show is not necessarily a long show. "Boston Theater Marathon XI" is a collection of ten minute plays from a wide list of playwrights who all provide quick, concise stories that can be easily performed on the fly by any troupe, giving anyone training a troupe or simply hosting a variety show plenty of entertaining material. For the theatre performer or just a lover, "Boston Theater Marathon XI" is a fine collection, a choice addition to any theater collection.


The Martial Arts Shelf

The Fighting Staff
Dwight C. McLemore
A Paladin Press Book
7077 Winchester Circle, Boulder, CO 80301
9781581607147, $35.00, www.paladin-press.com

The simplest of weapons can be the most effective. "The Fighting Staff" discusses the principles behind the staff when used in combat. Not favoring any discipline in particular, Dwight C. McLemore hopes to give readers a wider grasping explanation on the many essentials one must know when dealing with the combat staff. With drills for training oneself and how to spar with it and the countless techniques, "The Fighting Staff" is a must for anyone who wants to better understand the details and skill that can lie beneath a simple stick.


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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