 |
Book
Reviews,
Book Lover Resources, Advice for Writers and Publishers |
| Home / Library Bookwatch |
Library Bookwatch
Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
We Are What We Pretend To Be
Kurt Vonnegut, author
With special commentary from Nanette Vonnegut
Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center
Cambridge, MA 02142
9780306822780 $12.99 www.perseusbooksgroup.com
Kurt Vonnegut (1922-2007) is one of the quintessential twentieth-century American writers,
perhaps best known for his classic novels "Slaughterhouse Five" and "Breakfast of Champions".
We Are What We Pretend To Be presents two of Vonnegut's little-known works: his unpublished
first novella, "Basic Training" (a quasi-autobiographical story about a young man struggling to
adapt to life on an Indiana farm, despite unrequited love and an oppressive patriarchal hierarchy),
and his unfinished last novel, "If God Were Alive Today" (a sharply satirical work in which
dependence on fossil fuels has provoked an apocalypse of Biblical proportions). An introduction
by Vonnegut's daughter rounds out this "must-read" for fans, connoisseurs, and literary students
of Vonnegut's classic works. Highly recommended for personal, public library, and college
literature library collections.
The Economic Studies Shelf
Defending The History Of Economic Thought
Steven Kates
Edward Elgar Publishing
9 Dewey Court, Northampton, MA 01060-3815
www.e-elgar.com
9781848448209, $99.95, www.amazon.com
The principle focus of "Defending the History of Economic Thought" is the crucial importance of
the history of economic thought in the study of economics itself; without its history at the core of
the curriculum, academician and economist Steven Kates (School of Economics, Finance and
Marketing, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia) persuasively contends that economics is "a
lesser subject, less penetrating, less interesting and of much less social value". A 160 page
treatise, "Defending The History Of Economic Thought" is organized and presented in five major
chapters (Preliminary thoughts; Why study the history of economic thought; Debating the role of
the history of economic thought; Teaching the history of economic thought; and Defending the
history of economic thought. As informed and informative as it is thoughtful and
thought-provoking, "Defending The History Of Economic Thought" is enhanced with an
bibliography and a comprehensive index, making it an impressive contribution to professional
and academic library Economic Studies collections and supplemental reading lists.
The Social Issues Shelf
The Right To Stay Home
David Bacon
Beacon Press
25 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108-2892
www.beacon.org
9780807001615, $27.95, www.amazon.com
Mexican immigration into the United States continues to be a national 'hot button' political issue.
"The Right to Stay Home: How US Policy Drives Mexican Migration" by photojournalist,
author, and immigrant rights activist David Bacon is a 328 page compendium that focuses on the
impact American domestic and foreign policies, as well as the status of the American economy
have upon Mexican migrations to and from the continental United States. Of special note is the
documented commentary in the section on 'Mass Firings: The Obama Administration's
Workplace Enforcement Policy'. An impressive work of detailed research and cogently argued
views, "The Right to Stay Home: How US Policy Drives Mexican Migration" is an informed,
informative, and significant contribution to the national debate over Mexican immigration issues.
Very highly recommended for both academic and community library Contemporary Social Issues
reference collections, it should also be noted that "The Right to Stay Home: How US Policy
Drives Mexican Migration" is also available in a Kindle edition ($15.37).
The Cookbook Shelf
Chef Del's Better Than Vegan
Del Sroufe
BenBella Books
10300 N. Central Expressway, Ste 400
Dallas, TX 75204
www.benbellabooks.com
9781939529428, $19.95, www.amazon.com
A vegan is one who abstains from the use of animal products, particularly in their diet. Compiled
by vegetarian expert Del Sroufe, "Better Than Vegan: 101 Favorite Low-Fat, Plant-Based
Recipes That Helped Me Lose Over 200 Pounds" is a 304 page compendium showcasing a
culinary wealth of vegan recipes that will please palates, satisfy appetites, and adhere to vegan
principles in both their preparation and their consumption. The recipes range from Chili Gravy;
Turkish Red Lentil Soup; Sweet Potato-Black Bean Enchiladas; and Chocolate Pudding; to
Spinach-Wasabi Hummus; Smoky Black Bean Flatbread; and Balsamic-Glazed Brussels Sprouts.
"Better Than Vegan: 101 Favorite Low-Fat, Plant-Based Recipes That Helped Me Lose Over 200
Pounds" is strongly recommended for personal, family, professional, and community library
Vegetarian and Vegan cookbook collections. It should be noted that "Better Than Vegan: 101
Favorite Low-Fat, Plant-Based Recipes That Helped Me Lose Over 200 Pounds" is also available
in a Kindle edition ($9.99).
My Vietnamese Kitchen
Uyen Luu
Cico Books
c/o Ryland Peters & Small
519 Broadway, 5th floor, New York, NY 10012
www.rylandpeters.com
9781849754439, $24.95, www.amazon.com
"My Vietnamese Kitchen: Recipes and Stories to Bring Vietnamese Food to Life on Your Plate"
is a wonderfully illustrated, 144 page compendium compiled by Uylen Luu to showcase authentic
Vietnamese recipes passed down through generations of her family. After an opening section on
Ingredients, the recipes themselves are nicely organized and presented in six thematic chapters
(Breakfast; Soups; Snacks; Noodles; Lunch & Dinner; Sweets. From Canh Chua Ca (Hot and
Sour Fish Soup); to Bo La Lot (Lemongrass Beef in Betel Leaves); to Com Tam Suon Nuong
Trung Hap (Pork, Egg Pudding and Broken Rice); to Kem Bo (Avocado Ice Cream), these
elegant and exotic dishes are palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, and will turn any dining
occasion into something extra special -- making "My Vietnamese Kitchen" a highly valued
addition to family and community library Ethnic Cookbook collections.
The Sardinian Cookbook
Viktorija Todorovska
Surrey Books
c/o Agate Publishing
1328 Greenleaf Street
Evanston, IL 60202
9781572841475 $22.95 www.agatepublishing.com
Illustrated with full-color photography of its mouth-watering dishes throughout, The Sardinian
Cookbook: The Cooking and Culture of a Mediterranean Island is a showcase of the culinary
traditions of the Italian island of Sardinia - which draws upon the legacy of Spanish, French, and
Moorish as well as Italian cuisine. An extensive introduction offers an overview of enduring
traditions of Sardinian cuisine - including some that were grounded in practical necessity (such as
crunchy sheet bread that wouldn't spoil for shepherds who spent months out at pasture, or the
proud local tradition of letting nothing edible go to waste). The Sardinian Cookbook is as much
about communicating and reveling tradition and camaraderie as it is about creating sumptuous
regional delights such as Malloreddus alla Campidanese (with Sausage), Lamb with Fennel and
Sundried Tomatoes, Foccacia Sarda, Artichoke Heart Soup, and much more. A superb treasury or
gift cookbook for any connoisseur of international cuisine!
The New Southwest
Megan Micozzi
Hippocrene Books, Inc.
171 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016
www.hippocrenebooks.com
9780781813150, $35.00, www.amazon.com
Best known in culinary circles for her popular blog 'Scarletta Bakes', Megan Micozzi has
compiled a 232 page and beautifully illustrated compendium celebrating America's southwestern
cuisine with "The New Southwest: Classic Flavors with a Modern Twist". The thoroughly
'kitchen cook friendly' recipes range from a Roasted Garlic Guacamole, to a Sonoran Honey
Streusel Coffee Cake, to a Fancified Frito Pie. These are superbly presented recipes for regional
dishes that will please any palate and satisfy any appetite. "The New Southwest: Classic Flavors
with a Modern Twist" is enthusiastically recommended for personal, family, and community
library cookbook collections!
The Library Science Shelf
Beyond Book Sales
Susan Dowd, editor
ALA Editions
c/o American Library Association
50 East Huron Street
Chicago, IL 60611
9781555709129 $75.00 www.alastore.ala.org
Beyond Book Sales: The Complete Guide to Raising Real Money for Your Library lives up to its
title as a how-to manual for library fundraising. As library use increases and government budgets
squeeze ever tighter, fundraising skills become more and more essential for enabling the library's
public service. Beyond Book Sales covers how to foster a culture of giving through annual and
special appeals, effective use of membership programs, handling tribute and memorial gifts, how
to solicit major gifts, developing a "planned giving" program (which provides benefits to a
library long after a donor's death), special types of fundraising events, getting started with online
giving, securing grants, capital campaigns, and more. Charts and some black-and-white
illustrations, particularly of successful brochures, round out this absolute "must-have" for library
professionals in today's rough economic times.
M-libraries 4
Mohamed Ally & Gill Needham, editors
Facet Publishing
www.facetpublishing.co.uk
9781856049443, $80.00, www.amazon.com
"M-libraries 4: From Margin to Mainstream - Mobile Technologies Transforming Lives and
Libraries" is collaboratively compiled and jointly edited by the team of Mohamed Ally Professor,
Centre for Distance Education, Althabasca University, Canada) and Gill Needham (Associate
Director, Information Management and Innovation at the Open University Library and Learning
Resources Centre, UK). "M-libraries 4" is a 224 page compendium that offers erudite and
international contributions from the leading authorities in the field. Based on the proceedings of
the Fourth International M-Libraries Conference held in Milton Keynes in 2012, "M-libraries 4"
explores the variety of work that libraries are doing across the world to deliver resources to users
via mobile and hand-held devices. "M-libraries 4" is a unique contribution and a highly
recommended addition to Library Science reference collections will especially useful and of
interest to students of library and information science, as well as academic and community
librarians and library staff.
The Education Shelf
Number Sense Interventions
Nancy C. Jordan & Nancy Dyson
Brookes Publishing Company
PO Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
www.brookespublishing.com
9781598572919, $34.95, www.amazon.com
Designed specifically for use with kindergarten students, "Number Sense Interventions" is the
collaborative work of Nancy C. Jordan (Professor of Education, University of Delaware) and
Nancy Dyson (classroom teacher and parent cooperative school director). This spiral bound, 238
page compendium will help math impaired children learn to count to 100, recognize quantities
and numerals, connect quantities to numerals, write numbers, solve story problems and written
equations, perform number operations on fingers, and a great deal more! Comprised of 24
scripted lessons plus extension activities, "Number Sense Interventions" is an ideal, 'user
friendly', and very highly recommended kindergarten level mathematics curriculum
supplement.
Succeeding With Inquiry
Jeff C. Marshall
ASCD
1703 North Beauregard Street
Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
www.ascd.org/books
9781416616085, $27.95, www.amazon.com
Along with mastering data and concepts in math and the sciences, students also need to be able to
think critically, communicate effectively, and collaborate productively if they are to succeed in
their chosen disciplines over the course of their careers. That is the focus of "Succeeding with
Inquiry in Science and Math Classrooms" by Jeff C. Marshall (Associate Professor, Science
Education, Clemson university). This 162 page compendium is organized into three major
sections: Need for Inquiry in Your Classroom; Details of Inquiry Instruction; and Succeeding
with Inquiry Instruction. Enhanced with the inclusion of an appendix (EQUIP), references, and
an index, "Succeeding with Inquiry in Science and Math Classrooms" is a model instruction
guide and highly recommended, practical, 'user friendly' reading for anyone charged with the
responsibility of educating future generations of mathematicians and scientists. It should be noted
that "Succeeding with Inquiry in Science and Math Classrooms" is also available in a Kindle
edition ($15.37).
The Native American Studies Shelf
The Nature of Empires and the Empires of Nature
Karl S. Hele, editor
Wilfrid Laurier University Press
Wilfrid Laurier University
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2L 3C5
www.wlupress.wlu.ca
9781554583287, $85.00, www.amazon.com
The newest addition to the outstanding Wilfrid Laurier University Press 'Indigenous Studies'
series, "The Nature of Empires and the Empires of Nature: Indigenous Peoples and the Great
Lakes Environment" is a 372 page compendium comprised of fifteen seminal articles offering
Native American and Native American-influenced perspectives on the power of nature and the
attempts by the United States, Canada, and Britain to control it in the region of the Great Lakes.
Knowledgeably compiled and deftly edited by Karl S. Hele (Associate Profess and Director of
First Peoples Studies, Concordia university and a member of the Garden River First Nation
community of Anishinaabeg), "The Nature of Empires and the Empires of Nature: Indigenous
Peoples and the Great Lakes Environment" is enhanced with inclusion of an extensive
bibliography, an identifying list of the contributors and their credentials, and a comprehensive
index. Of special note is Johyn MacKenzie's introductory commentary 'A Meditation on
Environmental History'. Very highly recommended for academic library Native American and
Environmental Studies reference collections, it should also be noted that "The Nature of Empires
and the Empires of Nature: Indigenous Peoples and the Great Lakes Environment" is also
available in a Kindle edition ($39.96).
The Religion/Spirituality Shelf
Introduction to the History of Christianity, second edition
Tim Dowley, editor
Fortress Press
P.O. Box 1209, Minneapolis, MN 55440-1209
http://fortresspress.com
9780800699697, $55.00, www.amazon.com
Compiled, organized and edited by historian Tim Dowley, and now presented in a significantly
expanded and updated second edition, "Introduction to the History of Christianity" is a 688 page,
nicely illustrated, 2100 year history of the Christian movement beginning with the birth, life and
ministry of Jesus (1-325 AD), to the acceptance and conquest based expansion of Christianity
(325-600 AD), to the emergence and evolution of Christian society (600-1500 AD); to the age of
reform and renewal of the Christian churches (1500-1650 AD); to the age of reason, revival and
revolution with the Christian world (1650-1789 AD), to the time of the Christian cities and
empires (1789-1914 AD), to a century of continuing conflict with respect to Christianity
(1914-2001 AD). Of special note is the concluding epilogue 'A New Millennium'. A work of
impeccable historical scholarship from first page to last, "Introduction to the History of
Christianity" is enhanced with the inclusion of maps, time charts, photographs, a list of resources
on the history of Christianity, a glossary, and a comprehensive index. "Introduction to the History
of Christianity" is very strongly recommended for personal, family, seminary, church, academic,
and community library reference collections and supplemental Christian Studies reading
lists.
Spirituality In Hospice Palliative Care
Paul Bramadat, Harold Coward, Kelli I. Stajduhar
State University of New York Press
State University Plaza, Albany, NY 12246-0001
www.sunypress.edu
9781438447780, $24.95, www.amazon.com
Hospice care is a type and philosophy of care that focuses on the palliation of a terminally ill or
seriously ill patient's pain and symptoms, and attending to their emotional and spiritual needs.
The concept of hospice has been evolving since the 11th century. Then, and for centuries
thereafter, hospices were places of hospitality for the sick, wounded, or dying, as well as those
for travelers and pilgrims. The modern concept of hospice includes palliative care for the
incurably ill given in such institutions as hospitals or nursing homes, but also care provided to
those who would rather spend their last months and days of life in their own homes. Compiled by
editorial team of Paul Bramadat (Director of the Centre for Studies in Religion and Society,
University of Victoria), Harold Coward Professor Emeritus of History, University of Victoria),
and Kelli I. Stajduhar (Associate Professor, School of Nursing and Centre on Aging, University
of Victoria), "Spirituality in Hospice Palliative Care" is a 214 page compendium comprised of
eight seminal contributions from diverse academic disciplines and perspectives on the spiritual
aspects of hospice care for those who do not easily fit within the traditional religious beliefs and
categories. as informed and informative as it is thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Spirituality In
Hospice Palliative Care" is a welcome and highly recommended contribution to professional and
academic library Religious/Spirituality Studies and Health/Medicine Hospice Care reference
collections and supplemental reading lists. It should be noted that "Spirituality In Hospice
Palliative Care" is also available in a Kindle edition ($14.72).
The Psychology Shelf
Life and Loss, third edition
Linda Goldman
Routledge
711 - 3rd Avenue, Floor 8
NY, NY 10017-9209
www.routledge.com
9780415630801, $39.95, www.amazon.com
Now in a completely updated and significantly expanded third edition, "Life and Loss: A Guide
to Help Grieving Children" by grief counselor and therapist Linda Goldman is a 288 page
compendium designed to provide psychology students and counseling professionals with a
detailed instruction guide and manual for dealing with loss and grief in children. Revealing
common myths concerning grief and providing four psychological tasks of grief, "Life and Loss:
A Guide to Help Grieving Children" goes on to describe techniques for working with grieving
children, preparing a child for a 'goodbye visit', dealing with the loss of a pet, the role
communication technology now plays in the lives of grieving children, the impact of separation,
and much more. Of special note is the chapter on 'Especially for Educators' and how teachers can
make a substantial difference in the lives of grieving children and the concluding chapter 'Let's
Explore Resources' including the Sesame Street Initiative and an annotated bibliography for
children. "Life and Loss: A Guide to Help Grieving Children" continues to be a very highly
recommended and respected resource and should be a part of every professional and academic
library Child Psychology reference collection.
The Language Studies Shelf
A Roman Army Reader
Dexter Hoyos
Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers
1570 Baskin Road, Mundelein, IL 60060
www.bolchazy.com
9780865167155, $19.00, www.amazon.com
Compiled with commentary by Dexter Hoyos (Honorary Associate Professor and Research
Affiliate, Sydney University, Australia), "A Roman Army Reader: Twenty-One Selections from
Literary, Epigraphic, and Other Documents" is a 264 page compendium that includes an
informative introduction to the Roman army; 858 lines of unadapted Latin text in 21 selections
taken from 12 literary works of antiquity; extensive notations in the back of the book; a complete
vocabulary; suggested 4readings; appendices of original texts and chronologies; two maps; and
seven illustrations. A welcome addition to Latin Studies supplemental reading lists, "A Roman
Army Reader: Twenty-One Selections from Literary, Epigraphic, and Other Documents" will
prove to be an enduringly popular contribution to academic Latin Language Studies curriculums.
For teachers and librarians seeking to build up Latin Language Instruction materials in their
collections, Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers is a primary source for such materials. Visit their
web site at www.bolchazy.com for a complete listing of their extensive Latin Language
Instruction titles.
The American History Shelf
Emigrants In Chains
Peter Wilson Coldham
Genealogical Publishing Company
3600 Clipper Mill Road, Suite 260
Baltimore, MD 21211
www.genealogical.com
9780806317786, $18.95, www.amazon.com
One of the little known facets of American colonial history is that those colonies weren't all
populated by people fleeing England in search of religious freedom and economic opportunity.
The need for labor was so intense that England's jails, workhouses, brothels, and 'houses of
correction' were emptied out and their inhabitants forcibly shipped to America to work out their
sentences as indentured servants and convicted felons. "Emigrants in Chains. a Social History of
the Forced Emigration to the Americas of Felons, Destitute Children, Political and Religious
Non-Conformists, Vagabonds, Beggars and Other Undesirables: 1607-1776" by Peter Wilson
Coldham is a 198 page compendium that provides an informed and informative history of how
this came about and the impact it had on colonial society. Enhanced with eight appendices and a
select bibliography, "Emigrants In Chains" is a seminal study of impressively detailed
scholarship and an important contribution to both community and academic library American
Colonial Studies reference collections and supplemental studies lists.
Thomas Jefferson's Qur'an
Denise A. Spellberg
Alfred A. Knopf
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
Gulotta Communications (publicity)
341 Lexinton Street, Newton, MA 02466
www.randomhouse.com
9780307268228, $27.95, www.amazon.com
One of our country's 'Founding Fathers' and the third president of the United States (1801-1809),
Thomas Jefferson was also a renowned bibliophile who bought his English translation of the
Qur'an in 1765, some eleven years before he wrote the Declaration of Independence (1776). It
was his study of Islam that helped to confirm his insistence that America should be a country of
religious freedom with no state imposed or sanctioned Christianity holding sway over any other
religious belief systems. "Thomas Jefferson's Qur'an: Islam and the Founders" by Denise A.
Spellberg (Associate Professor of History and Middle Eastern Studies, University of Texas,
Austin) is a 416 page compendium that is an extraordinarily well written, researched, and
seminal work that should be considered mandatory reading for anyone who believes America
was founded to be a Christian nation to the denigration or exclusion of all other belief systems
including Islam. Informed and informative, "Thomas Jefferson's Qur'an: Islam and the Founders"
is a strongly recommended addition to both community and academic library American History
collections, and is a unique and invaluable contribution to Jeffersonian Studies supplemental
reading lists. It should be noted that "Thomas Jefferson's Qur'an" is also available in a Kindle
edition ($11.47).
Death Valley National Park
Hal K. Rothman and Char Miller
University of Nevada Press
Mail Stop 0166
Reno, NV, 89557-0166
9780874179255 $24.95 www.unpress.nevada.edu
Death Valley National Park: A History chronicles the environmental and modern-day history of
America's most notoriously named desert, including the tangled tale of its preservation. From the
numerous debates over how big the park should be; to the conflicting interests of miners,
farmers, the military, and conservationists; to its tourism value; and how it eventually became a
national park in 1994, Death Valley National Park is a remarkable, in-depth saga. Notes and an
index round out this superb, accessible addition to American and environmental history
shelves.
Remembering the Revolution
Michael A. McDonnell, Clare Corbould, Frances M. Clarke, and W. Fitzhugh Brundage,
editors
University of Massachusetts Press
PO Box 429
Amherst, MA 01004
9781625340337 $27.95 www.umass.edu/umpress
Remembering the Revolution: Memory, History, and Nation Making from Independence to the
Civil War is an anthology of essays by learned authors about the Revolutionary War as
interpreted by the first three generations of American citizens. The history and memory of the
Revolution quickly became thoroughly politicized; different and often conflicting interests
sought to tap into popular reverence for the nation's founding to serve their own goals. No single
faction gained complete dominance over the Revolutionary War narrative; indeed, America
remained sharply divided as a whole, heralding the rift of the Civil War. Individual writings in
"Remembering the Revolution" include "Plagiarism in Pursuit of Historical Truth", "Martyred
Blood and Avenging Spirits: Revolutionary Martyers and Heroes as Inspiration for the U.S. Civil
War", "Forgotten Founder: Revolutionary Memory and John Dickenson's Reputation", and much
more. A welcome contribution to public and college library American History shelves.
The Long Shadow of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address
Jared Peatman
Southern Illinois University Press
1915 University Press Drive
SIUC Mail Code 6806
Carbondale, IL 62901
9780809333103 $34.50 www.siupress.com
The Long Shadow of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address commemorates the sesquicentennial
anniversary of President Licoln's historic Civil War speech with an examination of its legacy -
not only the words themselves, but how people chose to interpret them at the time, and in the
decades that followed. Lincoln's speech placed eloquent emphasis on the indissoulable
connection between equality and democracy, yet his words were often selectively quoted to
conveniently leave that message out. Chapters draw upon historical records to examine responses
to the Gettysburg Address in 1863, wartime usages of the Gettysburg Address, its relevance to
the Civil Rights movement in the 1960's and much more. The Long Shadow of Lincoln's
Gettysburg Address is an excellent and welcome addition to public and college library American
History shelves.
Concise Lincoln Library series
Southern Illinois University Press
1915 University Press Drive
SIUC Mail Code 6806
Carbondale, IL 62901
www.conciselincolnlibrary.com
$24.95 www.siupress.com
Two books in the Concise Lincoln Library series examine how America's President during the
Civil War shaped the course of national history. John David Smith's "Lincoln and the Colored
Troops" (9780809332908) examines President Lincoln's invitation to feed slaves and free
persons of color to join the U.S. Army as part of the U.S. Colored Troops - the first systematic
effort of the American government to arm African-Americans for the sake of national defense.
Lincoln's bold decision was nothing less than revolutionary for the era, though
African-Americans who served will still plagued by discrimination. Racial prejudice also played
a key role in notorious massacres on both sides, when Confederate soldiers executed
African-American troops rather than honor prisoner of war conventions - and African-American
troops responded in kind. 2012 Lincoln Prize winner William C. Harris' "Lincoln and the Union
Governors" (9780809332885) studies the fine balancing act Lincoln followed between
accommodating the different needs of various Union governors, and maintaining a concentrated
war effort. Of particular note is the historic Altoona Conference, also called The Loyal War
Governors' Conference, in which thirteen Union governors discussed state troop quotas, the
Emancipations Proclamation, and ultimate support for the President. Yet as the war dragged on,
it placed ever greater strains on the President's relationship with the Union governors, and the
Union's eventual triumph ultimately heralded even greater political challenges. Both volumes are
aptly researched and eloquently presented, and choice picks for public or college library
American History collections.
The World History Shelf
With Commodore Perry to Japan
John A. Wolter, David A. Ranzan, and John J. McDonough, editors
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road
Annapolis, MD 21402
9781612512389 $39.95 www.nip.org
Enhanced with an extensive introduction, illuminating notes, a bibliography, and more, With
Commodore Perry to Japan: The Journal of William Speiden Jr., 1852-1855 collects the personal
journal writings of William Speiden Jr., the sixteen-year-old purser's clerk of the USS
Mississippi as he accompanied Commodore Perry on his historic voyage to force an end to
Japan's centuries of isolationism. Black-and-white reproductions of the hand-drawn, pen-and-ink
scenes of daily life that Speiden and other crew members sketched, as well as pith paintings by
Chinese artists, intersperse this invaluable primary testimony. Highly recommended, especially
for public and college library world history collections.
The Lost World of Bletchley Park
Sinclair McKay
Aurum Publishing Group
c/o Quayside Publishing Group (distribution)
400 First Avenue North, Suite 300
Minneapolis, MN 55401-1721
9781781311912 $29.95 www.quaysidepublishinggroup.com
Featuring vintage black-and-white as well as full-color photography throughout - over 200
photographs total, including many previously unpublished images from Bletchley Park's archives
- The Lost World of Bletchley Park: An Illustrated History of the Wartime Codebreaking Centre
lives up to its title as the definitive history of the Buckinghamshire codebreaking centre that
achieved the nigh-unimaginable accomplishment of cracking the German Enigma codes. Their
achievement had a crucial, possibly even decisive impact on the course of World War Two. Even
before the war, Bletchley Park was a fashionable location for intellectuals, engineers, and the
noblest of aristocratic traditions, as the holding of Liberal MP Sir Herbert Leon. After the war,
Bletchley Park was first abandoned, then eventually transformed into a thriving museum and
testament to British ingenuity and resilience. The Lost World of Bletchley Park not only covers
the famous personages and codebreakers of the park, but also day-to-day life in Bletchley as a
wartime town. An extensively researched visual as well as informational treasury, The Lost
World of Bletchley Park is highly recommended, particularly for public and college library world
history collections.
The Civil War Shelf
Emancipating Slaves, Enslaving Free Men, second edition
Jeffrey Rogers Hummel
Open Court Publishing Company
70 East Lake Street, Suite 300
Chicago, IL 60601
9780812698435 $29.95 www.opencourtbooks.com
Now in a second edition with a new introduction by author Jeffrey Rogers Hummel (Professor of
Economics, San Jose State University) and a foreword by Civil War historian John Majewski,
Emancipating Slaves, Enslaving Free Men: A History of the American Civil War offers an
exhaustive overview of the American Civil War as well as a close examination of the war's
impact upon American society. Chapters address the political economy of slavery - including the
"deadweight loss" the South inflicted upon itself, by mandating a system that conscripted
virtually every able-bodied white man (the majority of whom were poor people who owned no
slaves) into "slave patrols" that enforced slavery laws, and devalued the productive ability of the
slaves themselves through overwork, maltreatment, and laws that forbid slaves to read or write.
The overview continues with the emergence of the Republican party, the beginnings of conflict,
the horrific cost of total war, the politics of Reconstruction, and much more. Accessible to
readers of all backgrounds, Emancipating Slaves, Enslaving Free Men is highly recommended
not only for public and college library collections, but also for any lay reader interested in gaining
a solid understanding of the Civil War from economic, political, social, and military
perspectives.
The Music Shelf
Schubert's Dances For Family, Friends, & Posterity
Martin Chusid
Pendragon Press
PO Box 190, Hillsdale, NY 12529
www.pendragonpress.com
9781576472392, $48.00, www.amazon.com
Franz Peter Schubert (31 January 1797 - 19 November 1828) was an Austrian composer. In a
short lifespan of less than 32 years, Schubert was a prolific composer, writing some 600 Lieder,
ten complete or nearly complete symphonies (including the most famous of the incomplete ones,
the "Unfinished Symphony"), liturgical music, operas, incidental music and a large body of
chamber and solo piano music. Appreciation of his music while he was alive was limited to a
relatively small circle of admirers in Vienna, but interest in his work increased significantly in
the decades immediately after his death. Felix Mendelssohn, Robert Schumann, Franz Liszt and
Johannes Brahms, along with other lesser lights, discovered and championed his works through
the remainder of the century. Today, Schubert is ranked among the greatest composers of the
early Romantic era and, as such, is one of the most frequently performed composers of the early
nineteenth century. Schubert composed some 500 dances, of which about 200 were published in
his lifetime. "Schubert's Dances: For Family, Friends and Posterity" by Martin Chusid is a 294
page compendium that provides an informed, informative, and long overdue study of this aspect
of Schubert's compositional career. Of special note is the epilogue "Schumann, Liszt, and
Brahms on Schubert and His Dances". Enhanced with a glossary of terms, a list of Schuberts
dances, an extensive bibliography, and indices, "Schubert's Dances: For Family, Friends and
Posterity" is an impressive and seminal work of scholarship, making it an extraordinary addition
to academic library and collegiate musical department reference collections in general and
Schubert Studies supplemental study reading lists in particular.
The Audiobook Shelf
The Everything Store
Brad Stone, author
Pete Larkin, narrator
Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10017
9781619690295 $30.00 www.HachetteAudio.com
Also available in print or as an ebook, The Everything Store: Jeff Bezos and the Age of Amazon
is the audiobook biography of a revolutionary businessman. Jeff Bezos, the founder of
Amazon.com, achieved success as an online bookseller, but dreamed of more. He wanted
Amazon to become a go-to marketplace for limitless goods and competitive low prices - the
"everything store". The logistic and technical marvels continued, as Bezos boldly dared to take
risks on unproven ventures such as Kindle and cloud computing. Amazon would ultimately spur
a retail revolution that continues to this day. The Everything Store is an unforgettable tour of the
life and business accomplishments of a modern-day Henry Ford, and is highly recommended for
both personal and public library audiobook shelves. 11 CDs, 13 hours.
The Birth of Tragedy
Friedrich Nietzsche, author
Ian Johnston, translator
Duncan Steen, narrator
Naxos of America, Inc.
1810 Columbia Avenue, Suite 28
Franklin, TN 37064
9781843797272 $34.98 www.naxosaudiobooks.com
The Birth of Tragedy is the unabridged audiobook rendition of the classic treatise by famous
philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900), first published in 1872 as "The Birth of Tragedy
out of the Spirit of Music". It was Nietzsche's first notable publication, yet poorly received by his
contemporaries. At the time, Nietzsche was a professor of classical philology (the study of
language in written historical sources); in The Birth of Tragedy, he contemplated the Apollonian
and Dionysian elements of classical Athenian tragedy, viewing ancient plays as an art form that
rose above the fundamental hopelessness, meaninglessness, and nihilism that surrounds life.
Nietzsche saw the Greeks as battling with eternal pessimism, and saw an opportunity to recreate
the emotional catharsis of their great works through current art forms such as Richard Wagner's
operas. Now in a new translations by Ian Johnston, The Birth of Tragedy includes Nietzsche's
1871 "Preface to Richard Wagner" as well as the original book. The Birth of Tragedy remains a
fascinating contribution to philosophy shelves, and is especially recommended for public and
college library audiobook collections. 5 CDs, 6 hours 5 min.
Dracula's Guest And Other Stories
Bram Stoker
Naxos of America, Inc.
1810 Columbia Avenue, Suite 28, Franklin, TN 37064
www.naxosaudiobooks.com
9781843795636, $34.98, www.amazon.com
Abraham "Bram" Stoker (8 November 1847 - 20 April 1912) was an Irish novelist and short
story writer, best known today for his 1897 Gothic novel Dracula. During his lifetime, he was
better known as personal assistant of actor Henry Irving and business manager of the Lyceum
Theatre in London, which Irving owned. Although his novel "Dracula" is his best known work
today, Stoker was a prolific writer who wrote a number of other chilling tales of suspense. Under
the expert readership of Rupert Degas, nine of those stories have been collected in a 5 CD audio
book edition. These anthologized stories include The Judge's house; The Squaw; The Secret of
the Growing Gold; The Gypsy Prophecy; The Coming of Abel Behenna; The Burial of the Rats;
A Dream of Red hands and Crooked Sands; and the title piece, Dracula's Guest. With its superb
production values and total running time of 5 hours, 41 minutes, 36 seconds, "Dracula's Guest
and other Stories" is pure entertainment and a highly recommended addition to personal and
community library audio book collections!
The Library DVD Shelf
Masters of Money
Stephanie Flanders, writer and editor
Athena Learning
c/o Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
RLJ Entertainment (publicity)
9781621720669 $39.99 www.acornonline.com
BBC economics editor and senior advisor to the U.S. Treasury secretary Setphanie Flanders
presents Masters of Money, a documentary examining the lives and ideas of three prominent
economic theorists, whose concepts (and reactions against them) have had a profound effect on
modern history: John Maynard Keynes, Friedrich Hayek, and Karl Marx. Each man held sharply
disparate, often flatly contradicting beliefs. At the close of World War I, Keynes resigned a
prestigious position in disgust when the Allies opted to economically punish Germany with
burdensome reparations. Keynes correctly predicted that nothing good would come of the
vengeful reparation demands, which caused runaway German hyperinflation, and ultimately
kindled a crisis that fueled Adolf Hitler's rise to power. Furthermore, Keynes evaluated the Great
Depression as a negative spiral - as more workers lost their jobs, they had less money to spend,
which lowered demand, which caused more layoffs, and so on - that only government spending
and/or job creation could reverse. Austrian-born Friedrich Hayek held a much more conservative
view, believing that government attempts to alleviate recessions and depressions would only
make them worse. In particular, he warned against artificially keeping interest rates low via the
Federal Reserve, arguing that such a distortion would only fuel artificial bubbles and make their
busts even more painful. (However, Hayek did believe in the need for safety nets). Karl Marx is
remembered as the economist who inspired Communism; what is less known is that he had many
good things to say about capitalism. However, Marx predicted that capitalism was ultimately
doomed because bosses always forced the wages of workers ever lower, meaning that the
workers could afford to buy less, eventually prompting recessions and depressions until
widespread misery sparked revolution. What would each of these great thinkers say today, in
response to the global economic crisis of 2009? And what lessons can be drawn from how their
ideas shaped history, for good or for ill? Enlightening, accessible, and abstaining from blatant
value judgments - the viewer is left to ponder the political and moral dimensions of each
economic philosophy for themselves - Masters of Money is highly recommended, especially for
public and college library DVD collections. 3 DVDs, 149 min. plus bonus shorts and 12-page
viewer's guide, SDH subtitles, widescreen.
Photo: A History from Behind the Lens
Athena
c/o Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
9781621720652 $49.99 www.acornonline.com
Photo: A History from Behind the Lens is a twelve-episode DVD documentary that explores the
history and development of photography up to recent times. From examining the discoveries of
European and American photography, to how advances in technology created new ways to
manipulate images, to the artistry of an evolving discipline - photographs created to interpret
rather than simply freeze-frame capture the timeless moment - Photo: A History from Behind the
Lens is sure to intrigue viewers of all backgrounds. An accompanying 12-page booklet rounds
out this excellent choice for public library DVD collections. 12 episodes on 2 DVDs, 312 min.,
widescreen, SDH subtitles, contains nudity and sexual content.
Hot Coffee
A film by Susan Saladoff
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149
Oley, PA 19547
1937772926 $350.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com
Licensed for public performance, Hot Coffee: Is Justice Being Served? is a cautionary
documentary about the notorious legal case that supposedly embodied "frivolous" lawsuits - or
did it? Just why did the case of spilled hot coffee from a McDonald's drive-through - which
caused the plaintiff severe burns, excruciating pain, and an expensive hospital stay - spark so
much media scrutiny and anti-lawsuit hostility? Who benefits most from "tort reform"? Hot
Coffee follows four people embroiled in four different court cases, and questions whether
"jackpot justice" is truly as great a threat as the power wielded by corporate entities with access
to the best lawyers that money can buy. Bonus material includes five short extra segments, and a
discussion guide on the DVD-ROM part of the disc. Both the 86 and 50-minute versions are on
one DVD, with SDH captions.
La Camioneta
A film by Mark Kendall
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149
Oley, PA 19547
www.bullfrogfilms.com
1937772845 $295.00 www.lacamionetafilm.com
Licensed for public performance, La Camioneta is a true-life documentary about transportation,
hardships, and criminal gangs in Guatemala. Decommissioned American school buses are
regularly sent to Guatemala, where they are repaired, painted bright colors, and used as
"camionetas" to carry the majority of Guatemalans to work. But operating a camioneta is
dangerous business; local Guatemalan gangs ruthlessly extort protection money, and nearly 1,000
camioneta drivers and fare collectors have been murdered since 2006 for being unwilling or
unable to pay. La Camioneta follows a single bus on the journey from serving American
schoolchildren to serving the Guatemalan workforce, and offers an unforgettable glimpse into
humanity's daily struggles. Highly recommended. Both a 72-minute and a 52-minute classroom
version are present on the same DVD; English & Spanish languages; closed captioned.
Future Food series
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149
Oley, PA 19547
$695.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com
Future Food is a six-part DVD series that grapples with a pressing question - how is the world to feed a global population projected to be nine billion by the year 2050? The search for answers takes the viewer worldwide, to six different nations. "Old or New?" surveys Peru, a land gradually recovering from the murderous depredations of the Shining Path terrorist organization. Great chefs and agricultural scientists warn against neglecting old wisdom and traditional methods of agriculture, since modern agriculture is dependent on fossil fuels that will eventually run out. "Food or Fuel?" is set in Kenya, a land with a history of famine; can cultivating biofuels be justified when the nation cannot grow enough food for its own people? Perhaps so, if the biofuels are grown specifically on "marginal lands" that are hostile to traditional food crops. Could the biofuel plant jatropha, which thrives in arid conditions, bring a better life to subsistence farmers on marginal lands? "Big or Small?" explores how agribusiness has come to dominate the USA; is "going big" truly the best way to farm food for the next generation? "Fat or Skinny?" confronts a dilemma facing India - as Western-style fast food diets spread, so does obesity, and the health problems such diets are linked to. The best answers may lie in healthy, indigenous alternatives to food selection and preparation. "Near or Far?" examines why the Nigerian Minister of Agriculture wants Nigerians to eat locally grown food, and the economic, social, and health ramifications. "Stay or Go?" travels to China, where young people are leaving the countryside for the allure of the cities; as more and more of them migrate, who will stay and grow food? All programs are thought-provoking and educational, with a strong emphasis on sustainability, and excellent choices for high school, college, and public library DVD collections. 6 DVDs, approx. 29 min. each.
The Biography Shelf
Brigham Young
Ed Breslin
Regnery Publishing, Inc.
One Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20001
www.regnery.com
9781621570400, $24.95, www.amazon.com
Brigham Young (June 1, 1801 - August 29, 1877) was an American leader in the Latter Day
Saint movement and a settler of the Western United States. He succeded Mormonism's founder
Joseph Smith as the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church)
from 1847 until his death in 1877. He founded Salt Lake City and he served as the first governor
of the Utah Territory, United States. Young was a polygamist and was involved in controversies
regarding black people and the Priesthood, the Utah War, and the Mountain Meadows massacre.
A man of great accomplishment and great controversy, Brigham Young was a profound influence
upon the people and the politics of his day. "Brigham Young: A Concise Biography of the
Mormon Moses" by Ed Breslin is a 208 page biographical study that is a work of impeccable
scholarship and attention to historical accuracy. Of special note is the concluding chapter 'Legacy'
on Brigham Young's enduring influences long after his passing. Enhanced with an extended
bibliography and a comprehensive index, "Brigham Young: A Concise Biography of the Mormon
Moses" is informed, informative, and a welcome addition to personal, community, and academic
library 20th Century American Biography reference collections and Mormon Studies
supplemental reading lists. It should also be noted that "Brigham Young: A Concise history of
the Mormon Moses" is also available in a Kindle edition ($11.99).
The Military Shelf
The Lucky Few
Jan K. Herman
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road
Annapolis, MD 21402
9780870210396 $39.95 www.nip.org
Navy Medical Department historian Jan K. Herman presents The Lucky Few: The Fall of Saigon
and the Rescue Mission of the USS Kirk, a heavily researched accounting of one U.S. Navy
warship, the USS Kirk, that worked with a task force of U.S. Navy ships to aid the evacuation of
not only American embassy personnel, but also 32,000 South Vietnamese refugees at the close of
the Vietnam War. Amid the chaos of a crumbling defeat, the USS Kirk and other ships like her
underwent a stunning transformation to carry out a large-scale humanitarian mission, including
giving medical care, accommodating infants, and calming people's fears. Notes and an index
round out this highly recommended contribution to American military and naval history shelves,
particularly those with a focus on the Vietnam War. (Jan K. Herman has also produced an
hour-long documentary in 2010 titled "The Lucky Few", but his book is innately capable
exploring the USS Kirk's story in far more detail).
Proceed to Peshawar
George J. Hill
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road
Annapolis, MD 21402
9781612512808 $36.95 www.nip.org
Proceed to Peshawar: The Story of a U.S. Navy Intelligence Mission of the Afghan Border, 1943
is the exciting, true-life chronicle of the World War II mission of two U.S. military intelligence
officers. They trekked through rugged terrain (sometimes by jeep) and navigated the deadly
tension of cultural clashes, political infighting, and ethnic tensions. The meticulous notes and
papers of one of the officers forms the core of the fascinating, close-up analysis of an
extraordinarily difficult task, offering a glimpse into the historic complexities of a region that
American foreign and military policy continue to wrestle with to this day. Highly recommended,
especially for public and college library Military History shelves.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
Stretching Anatomy, second edition
Arnold G. Nelson and Jouko Kokkonen
Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc.
PO Box 5076
Champaign, IL 61820-5076
9781450438155 $19.95 www.HumanKinetics.com
Now in an expanded and updated second edition, Stretching Anatomy is an in-depth,
user-friendly guide to effective stretching. The tips, tricks, and techniques will prove invaluable
to everyone, from practicing athletes who need to stay flexible, to those who suffer from arthritis
and need a gentle, regular stretching regiment to maintain mobility. New chapters for the second
edition focus on the best stretches for athletic warm-ups, customizing one's personal fitness
program, and even coverage of passive static stretches that will help lower blood glucose. Filled
with two-color illustrations revealing how the muscles behave in different types of stretches,
Stretching Anatomy is an excellent addition to athletic, academic, and personal health
collections, as well as public and college library shelves.
The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf
Stop Motion Animation
Melvyn Ternan
Barron's
250 Wireless Boulevard
Hauppauge, NY 11788
9781438002552 $23.99 www.barronseduc.com
Illustrated with full-color photography on virtually every page, Stop Motion Animation: How to
Make and Share Creative Videos lives up to its title as a hands-on, how-to guide for everyone
from media students and professionals to amateurs seeking to craft memorable stop-motion
internet videos. Chapters cover the basics of equipment, setup, storyboards, editing, and
postproduction, as well as techniques specific to claymation, puppet animation,
chalkboard/whiteboard animation, cutout and silhouette animation, Lego(R) animation, Post-It
Note animation, and smartphone animation. An easy-to-follow, absolute must-have reference and
resource for anyone intrigued by the field, whether as a hobby or a full-time career!
The Sports Shelf
The Ghosts of NASCAR
John Havick
University of Iowa Press
100 Kuhl House
119 West Park Road
Iowa City, IA 52242-1000
9781609381974 $19.95 www.uiowapress.org
The Ghosts of NASCAR: The Harlan Boys and the First Daytona 500 explores a legendary
mystery in the world of sports. Who truly won the first Daytona 500 race - Johnny Beauchamp,
the declared winner at the finish line, or NASCAR veteran Lee Petty, who was announced to be
the winner a few days later? Author John Havick, who has had a lifetime fascination with racing
since his grandfather sold a car to Johnny Beauchamp, reconstructs what happened and the most
likely outcome from historical records, scores of interviews, film of the race, and newspaper
accounts. The Ghosts of NASCAR also gives a close-up insight into how racers of the day
worked together, and particularly how Jonny Beauchamp, mechanic Dale Swanson, and driver
Tiny Lund acted as a team. As much as a racing lover's trip down memory lane as it is a
serious-minded, heavily-researched contribution to sports history, The Ghosts of NASCAR is
highly recommended.
The Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Penguin Planet, second edition
Kevin Schafer
Taylor Trade Publishing
c/o Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.rowman.com
c/o National Book Network (distribution)
4270 Boston Way, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
9781589797918 $24.95 www.nbnbooks.com
Now in an eye-catching second edition with even more striking, full-color photography as well as
up-to-date information, Penguin Planet: Their World, Our World is a captivating softcover coffee
table book pairing on-location photography with insightful essays about the harsh daily lives of
penguins. Showcasing a multitude of species at all stages of life, Penguin Planet tells of the
natural history that prompted penguin evolution (only a lack of land-based predators made their
reproduction cycle possible), the hazards they endure from natural predators to the depredations
of man, their extreme perseverance when raising chicks (some species literally go for months
without food while incubating eggs), and much more. The next best thing to traveling to the
southern hemisphere to observe wild penguins in person, Penguin Planet is highly
recommended!
The Art Shelf
Charles A.A. Dellschau
Marquand Books
www.marquand.com
c/o Distributed Art Publishers
155 Sixth Avenue, 2nd floor
New York, NY 10013-1507
9781935202905 $55.00 www.artbook.com
"Charles A.A. Dellschau" is an extraordinary, oversized hardcover artbook showcasing the works
of Prussian-American, self-taught visionary artist Charles Dellschau (1830-1923) in full color.
Dellschau's personal project of creating an illustrated manuscript about his experience in the
California Gold Rush evolved into a collection of twelve, hard-bound books filled with more
than 2,500 drawings imagining airships and the development of flight, before such things were
reality. After Dellschau's death, the books were nearly destroyed by a fire, and saved from the
garbage heap almost by chance when a junk dealer discovered them. Some have been displayed
by museums, others kept by private collectors; this captivating artbook is the first monograph of
Dellschau's life work, enhanced with essays from art writers, scholars, curators, and Tom D.
Crouch of the Smithsonian Institution's Museum of Air and Space. An absolute "must-have" for
anyone intrigued by the inspirational artworks of the American counterpart to Jules Verne (who
wrote science fiction about submarines decades before they were invented), "Charles A.A.
Dellschau" is highly recommended, especially for public library artbook collections.
The Biology Shelf
Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, second edition
Edward A. Greenfield, editor
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press
500 Sunnyside Boulevard
Woodbury NY 11797-2924
9781936113811 $175.00 www.cshlpress.com
Twenty-five years after its original publication, Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual has now been
revised and updated in a second edition, reflecting advances in understanding of the immune
system and evolving methods of studying it. Chapters include "Immunizing Animals", "Antibody
Purification and Storage", "Immunoblotting", "Cell Staining", "Electrophoresis", "Protein
Techniques", and much more. Charts and some black-and-white photographs enhance this highly
technical, in-depth, comprehensive reference and resource for advanced students, instructors, and
professionals in the field, Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual is an absolute "must-have" for
hospital and college library medical bookshelves.
The Environmental Studies Shelf
Ecosystem Services for Sustainability
Judith L. Bronstein, et al., authors
Ray C. Anderson, et al. editors
Berkshire Publishing Group
120-122 Castle Street
Great Barrington, MA 01230-1506
9781614729662 $29.95 www.berkshirepublishing.com
Also available in ebook format, Ecosystem Services for Sustainability examines different ways in
which humankind can protect dwindling natural resources and ecosystem services - the bounty of
nature that provides goods (such as drinking water from glaciers, or timber from forests),
stabilize climate or water quality, offer recreational and aesthetic benefits (such as national
parks), or natural processes that support the other services (such as photosynthesis and nutrient
cycling). Since no one method for sustainability can cover all the needs of seven billion human
beings, Ecosystem Services for Sustainability discusses a wealth of options: aquifers, the Clean
Air Act, coastal management, permaculture, nutrient and biogeochemical cycling, and much
more. "Using microorganisms to treat waste or pollution is called bioremediation, and
understanding how microbial processes work is crucial to its success. For instance, certain
organisms can be encouraged to grow by providing more or less oxygen, by adding nutrients, or
by simply adding the desired organism to a contaminated soil." Economic as well as
environmental impact is weighed at every turn, in this thoroughly accessible resource, written
help students, professionals, and lay people alike understand the many options to maintain a
flourishing, sustainable planet. Highly recommended!
The Journalism Shelf
Out of Print
George Brock
Kogan Page USA
1518 Walnut Street, Suite 1100
Philadelphia, PA 19102
9780749466510 $24.95 www.koganpageusa.com
Out of Print: Newspapers, Journalism and the Business of News in the Digital Age examines the
past, present, and future of the journalism and periodical industry. A brief survey of journalism's
history and evolution leads toward modern transformations that are forcing people to rethink how
journalism can be accomplished, both ethically and profitably. As newspaper and magazine
subscriptions crumble and website hits rise, the growing ubiquity of digital technology demands
a change in business models. "This does not mean that 'print' will die. It means that the business
model for daily newspapers is in trouble and that trouble is most acute for general-interest
newspapers. What applies to the time-sensitive, advertising-dependent economics of newspapers
does not automatically apply to books, directories or magazines. All supply different demands in
different ways." Out of Print also examines multiple recent scandals that have been undermining
journalistic credibility, notably the phone-hacking scandal that blackened the reputation of
Rupert Murdoch's media empire. The pros and cons of possible future revenue sources are also
weighed, from digital "paywalls" (which tend to be effective only for online publications with
specific data that people crave and that cannot be easily replicated, such as sports statistics), to
advertising-dependent models, to philanthropic giving, to public funding or tacit governmental
support. Out of Print is a "must-read" for anyone in today's journalism or periodical industries,
and is worthy of the highest recommendation for public or college library Media Studies
shelves.
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
http://www.midwestbookreview.com
Copyright ©2001
Site design by Williams Writing, Editing &
Design