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Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
Nature Guide to the Northern Forest
Peter J. Marchand
Appalachian Mountain Club Books
5 Joy Street, Boston, MA 02108
9781934028421, $19.95, www.outdoors.org
There is a natural beauty to New England that is too often forgotten. "Nature Guide to the
Northern Forest: Exploring the Ecology of the Forests of New York, New Hampshire, Vermont,
and Maine" is a study and tribute to the Northeastern United States and its forests. The
Appalachian Mountain Club grants a natural study guide for the region that includes an
encyclopedia of plants and animals of the region. "Nature Guide to the Northern Forest" is
presented in full color and is a fine pick for any nature lover or those who plan on hiking in New
England.
The Parenting Shelf
Snip, Burn, Solder, Shred
David Erik Nelson
No Starch Press
38 Ringold Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
9781593272593, $24.95, www.nostarch.com
Geekiness is genetic. "Snip, Burn, Solder, Shred: Seriously Geeky Stuff to Make With Your
Kids" is an offbeat guide for parents who want to teach their children a lesson in resourcefulness
and being technologically canny. With plenty of simple craft projects that will entertain in their
creation as well as their completion, David Erik Nelson draws on his own experience of being a
geek with a DIY streak. "Snip, Burn, Solder, Shred" is a fun and very highly recommended read,
not to be missed.
The Education Shelf
IQ and Aptitude Tests
Philip Carter
Kogan Page
525 South 4th Street, #241, Philadelphia, PA 19147
9780749461959, $14.95, www.koganpage.com
Practice makes perfect, and expanding your potential is no different. "IQ and Aptitude Tests" is a
collection of IQ and aptitude practice tests designed by Philip Cater to help readers gain a more
complete and effective understanding of IQ tests and how to better understand and perform on
them. Verbal, mathematical, and reasoning skills are all discussed effectively, and make "IQ and
Aptitude Tests" a strong pick for those who seek to be prepared for their next test that
matters.
Understanding Black Male Learning Styles
Jawanza Kunjufu
African American Images
PO Box 1799, Dept. W/SP, Chicago Heights, IL 60412
9781934155387, $15.95, www.africanamericanimages.com
What challenges does a teacher expect in educating young black men? "Understanding Black
Male Learning Styles" is an advisory from Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu as he advises educators in
special approaches they can take to reach out to young black and Hispanic students to get them
involved, and the challenges they face compared to women. "Understanding Black Male
Learning Styles" is a resourceful read on the challenges minority males face, highly
recommended for primary and secondary school teachers.
More Than Counting
Red Leaf
Sally Moomaw & Brenda Hieronymus
RedLeaf Press
10 Yorkton Court, St. Paul, MN 55117
9781605540290, $34.95, www.redleafpress.org
An early start on education is vitally important for later and tougher challenges. "More Than
Counting" is a guide to bringing a higher degree of math into early elementary school curriculum
that will help young learners get a head-start on later forms of math while still being simple
enough to grasp for most students. These concepts will go far in fostering a love of learning and
adeptness, and Sally Moomaw and Brenda Hieronymus draw on their own wide experience for
success. "More than Counting" is a strong pick for any early childhood educator.
Perfect 800
R. Brigham Lampert
Prufrock
5926 Balcones Drive, Suite 220, Austin, TX 78731
9781593634346, $16.95, www.prufrock.com
A high SAT score is a quick trip to success in college. But for the best of the best, perfection is
the minimum. "Perfect 800 SAT Verbal: Advanced Strategies for Top Students" is a guide for
those students who are pushing the limits and trying to get into that top of the line top school for
college. Hoping to equip students with what they need to know to turn a very good score into a
perfect one, "Perfect 800 SAT Verbal" is a must for anyone who wants into their desired
school.
Middle & Junior High Core Collection, tenth edition
Edited by Anne Price, assisted by Marguerita Rowland
H.W. Wilson
950 University Avenue, Bronx, NY 10452
9780824211028 $290.00 www.hwwilson.com 1-800-367-6770
Now in its tenth updated edition with 2,000 more recommended books than the ninth edition,
Middle & Junior High Core Collection is a useful compendium of plot summaries, recommended
grade levels, and quick reference information about over 8,000 books highly recommended for
middle and junior high school libraries. Sweeping revisions make Middle & Junior High Core
Collection easier to use than ever; the index covers books for young people on topics ranging
from fiction to environmental studies to terrorism and national security issues. More than
three-quarters of the recommended titles are new; the remainder are time-honored classics and
standard works. Middle & Junior High Core Collection a superb "go to" resource for library and
media specialists; like all H.W. Wilson library science reference tools, Middle & Junior High
Core Collection was created by librarians, for librarians.
The Language Studies Shelf
Thai Hit Songs: Thailand Fever: Volume 1
Paiboon Publishing
PMB 256, 1442A Walnut Street, Berkeley, CA 94709
9781887521024 $15.00 www.paiboonpublishing.com
Thai Hit Songs: Thailand Fever is a booklet and music CD combination designed especially to
help motivate and reinforce students learning the Thai language. The printed booklet contains
lyrics to the catchy songs with extensive explanations, a synopsis of each song, and meticulous
translations of all the songs' words. The songs themselves are lively, pop culture style music
featuring inventive play-on-words lyrics. Thai Hit Songs: Thailand Fever makes learning a new
language fun, and is an excellent supplementary resource for Thai language learners of all skill
and experience levels.
The Audiobook Shelf
Touched by the Extraordinary Book Two: Healing Stories of Love, Loss and Hope
Susan Barbara Apollon
Matters of the Soul
PO Box 403, Yardley, PA 19067
www.touched-by-the-extraordinary.com
9780975403617 $34.95 www.healingstoriesoflovelossandhope.com (audiobook)
9780975403693 $24.95 www.amazon.com (print)
Also available in a print version, Touched by the Extraordinary Book Two: Healing Stories of Love, Loss and Hope is the audiobook rendition of psychologist Susan Barbara Apollon's extraordinary and inspirational anthology of true stories offering hope, spiritual connection, and reassurance to those who may be facing the darkest moments of their lives. The link between our world and what lies beyond the veil of death is reflected upon, whether through messages from loved ones who have crossed the divide, the impact of near-death experiences, remembering a beloved animal companion who is no more, thoughts on the influence of angels, and the effects, purpose, and value of prayer. Healing Stories of Love, Loss and Hope is highly recommended as a profoundly moving, thought-provoking, and ultimately positive source of comfort for anyone struggling to cope with terrible loss. 4 CDs.
Lady Windermere's Brass Fantabulous
M. Fulton
ZBS Foundation
174 North River Road, Fort Edward, NJ 12828
1931654484 $15.00 www.zbs.org 1-800-662-3345
Part One of the series "A Steampunk State of Mind", Lady Windermere's Brass Fantabulous is a
brief yet fanciful audiobook adventure on CD featuring a full cast of performers. Lady
Windermere is a spy; Professor Farking Foots-Foots has hidden a recording device in the brass
cage of her bustle, so that whenever the Lady turns her back, she can record events transpiring
behind her. In Lady Windermere's Brass Fantabulous, Foots-Foots offers his recordings as a
makeshift documentary of events leading up to "The-Not-So-Great-War". Lady Windermere's
Brass Fantabulous is a satire of human greed, governmental misinformation, manipulation, and
the corrosive nature of commercial interests, wrapped into a gung-ho whole. Highly
recommended. 1 CD, 65 min.
Steam Dreamers of Inverness, Part One
ZBS Foundation
174 North River Road, Fort Edward, NJ 12828
1931654492 $22.50 www.zbs.org 1-800-662-3345
Steam Dreamers of Inverness is a brief audiobook brimming with the spirit of adventure. When
Jack, Mojo, and Claudine stumble across a steam-powered stereoscopic projector in the
venerable mansion of Invernesss, they use it to discover black-white-photographic images of a
Victorian town with a gigantic zeppelin hovering above it. Soon they discover that the device can
transport them into the town itself - but this landscape of years gone by real, or just a dream
borne of wishes and shadows? A wondrous audio fable sure to make the miles fly by in car trips,
highly recommended. 2 CDs, 2 hours.
A Heartbeat Away
Michael Palmer
Robert Petkoff, narrator
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
9781427209931 $39.99 www.macmillanaudio.com
A Heartbeat Away is the unabridged audiobook rendition of a tautly written suspense thriller. A
terrorist group has exposed people in the Capitol building to a deadly and highly contagious
virus; every human being in line for presidential succession is trapped within - except for the
Director of Homeland Security, supposedly the Designated Survivor. Virologist Griffin Rhodes,
wrongly accused for the alleged theft of the lethal microbe from the lab that employed him, must
put his mental mettle to the test to save as many lives as he can for the sake of his own freedom.
Skillfully narrated by Robert Petkoff, a Heartbeat Away is a gripping saga that remains tense to
very end. 9 CDs, 11 hours.
A Cup of Friendship
Deborah Rodriguez, author
Mozhan Marno, narrator
Random House Audio Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 8th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780307879172 $35.00 www.randomhouse.com
A Cup of Friendship is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of a unique novel about an
American woman who has found a most unusual place to belong - running The Coffee Shop in
the midst of an Afghanistan war zone, where she offers warm food and hospitality to expatriates,
missionaries, mercenaries, and much more. Working with her to keep the shop going is Halajan,
who furtively keeps his interest in a modern romance novel from his strictly traditional son;
among her clients are a British journalist, a consultant traveling abroad to earn "danger pay" in
spite of his family's worries, and a wealthy socialite whose desire to do good just might
overwhelm her better judgment. A Cup of Friendship is heartwarming, thoughtful, and gentle,
about the impact that even the smallest of kindnesses can have amidst the harshest of settings,
highly recommended. 8 CDs, 9 1/2 hours.
Surviving a Shark Attack (On Land)
Dr. Laura Schlessinger
Harper Audio
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
9780062007070 $22.99 www.harpercollins.com 1-800-242-7737
Licensed therapist and well-known radio talk show host Dr. Laura Schlessinger presents the
unabridged audiobook adaptation of Surviving a Shark Attack (On Land): Overcoming Betrayal
and Dealing with Revenge, a straightforward guide to dealing with the negative experiences of
betrayal, humiliation, pain, and the yearning for revenge. Surviving a Shark Attack (On Land)
acknowledges that such feelings are a fundamental part of being human, and offers techniques to
accept and move past them, the better to lead a contented and fulfilled life without being
disrupted by excessive bitterness. Whether one is betrayed by a spouse, a sibling, a co-worker, or
a friend, the crucible of emotion is the same; Surviving a Shark Attack (On Land) is an
invaluable resource to learning to deal with, learn from, and make the best of the fallout. Highly
recommended. 3 CDs, 3 1/2 hours.
First Grave on the Right
Darynda Jones, author
Lorelei King, narrator
www.daryndajones.com
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
9781427211309 $39.99 www.macmillanaudio.com
First Grave on the Right, the unabridged audiobook adaptation of Darynda Jones' award-winning
paranormal novel about a modern-day grim reaper. Charley Davidson works as a private
investigator part time, but her full-time job consists of guiding the spirits of dead people "into the
light". But sometimes deceased spirits are unhappy about how they died (or more specifically,
were murdered), and it's up to Charley to bring justice to the perpetrators. Furthermore, Charley
has been encountering simmering and steamy dreams about an entity following her - something
that may or may not be dead. Who is this mysterious stranger, and why does he seem so
irresistible? A deliciously involving saga blending wit, suspense, and heart, First Grave on the
Right is enthusiastically recommended. 8 CDs, 9.5 hours.
The Busy World is Hushed
Keith Bunin
L.A. Theatre Works
681 Venice Boulevard, Venice, CA 90291
1580813704 $25.95 www.latw.org 1-800-708-8863
Read aloud by the original off-Broadway cast, The Busy World is Hushed is an audio "theater of
the mind" experience following Hannah, a widowed Episcopal minister. Hannah strives to
translate a little-known gospel, but her daily way of thinking is challenged and changed through
the insights of her scholarly assistant, and a confrontation with her "black sheep" gay son. As one
dark secret after another within her family comes to light, only the unexpected insight of a
stranger can help Hannah find peace and acceptance. A spiritual and dramatic saga, The Busy
World is Hushed is highly recommended. 2 CDs, 107 min.
Doctor Chopra Says
Dr. Sanjiv Chopra & Dr. Alan Lotvin with David Fisher
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
9781427210333 $29.99 www.macmillanaudio.com
Doctor Chopra Says is the abridged audiobook adaptation of a "must-know" compendium of
medical facts assembled by expert medical doctors and presented in plain terms accessible to
listeners of all backgrounds. In a straightforward narrative style, Dr. Sanjiv Chopra and Dr. Alan
Lotvin explain what the latest medical research has to tell us, as well as how to spot and avoid
media hype. Specific topics addressed include which cancer screening methods are most
effective; whether there is a "best" diet for any given person; the one vitamin supplement people
should take (and why virtually every other supplement can be safely ignored as extraneous at
best); and much more. Dr. Chopra Says is extremely informative and an excellent, practical
giftbook for health-conscious friends and family. Highly recommended. 5 CDs, 6 hours.
The Sleepwalkers
Paul Grossman, author
Christian Contreras, narrator
Highbridge Audio Books
201 Sixth Street SE, Suite 220, Minneapolis, MN 55414
9781615731053 $34.95 www.highbridgeaudio.com 1-800-755-8532
The Sleepwalkers is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of a historical novel steeped in intrigue
and tension. Set in 1932, during the last weeks of the Weimar Republic, The Sleepwalkers
follows detective and decorated World War I hero Willi Kraus. Willi also happens to be a Jew,
who is called to identify a young woman found dead in the river, her legs unusually deformed.
He learns about a dark side to the Berlin underworld, one filled with crooked nightclubs,
close-mouthed prostitutes, and a shady hypnotist. Beautiful girls are known to go sleepwalking
along the Berlin streets, and the more Willi investigates, the more he learns of a troubling and
terrible truth, about to wreak havoc on his friends, his family, and Germany itself. The
Sleepwalkers is an enthralling presentation from beginning to end. 9 CDs, 10 hours.
American Assassin
Vince Flynn, author
George Guidall, narrator
Recorded Books, LLC
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
9781449818661 $102.75 www.recordedbooks.com 1-800-638-1304
Brought to life with the narration of Obie and Audie Award-winning theatrical and television
performer George Guidall, American Assassin is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of Vince
Flynn's exciting thriller about the violent first assignment of CIA agent Mitch Rapp. Mitch lost
his girlfriend and 35 classmates to a terrorist attack on Pan Am flight 103; recruited into the CIA
from college, Mitch takes on a mission of revenge to assassinate the Turkish arms dealer who
sold the explosives used in the attack. When Mitch's mentor and a fellow recruit are kidnapped
and tortured by the enemy, Mitch must be willing to break any and all rules to save them.
American Assassin is pure excitement beginning to end, and an especially recommended on long
car trips to counter the sedative effect of highway hypnosis. 9 CDs, 11.5 hours.
The Shadow Queen
Anne Bishop, author
John Sharian, narrator
Recorded Books, LLC
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
9781449823931 $123.75 www.recordedbooks.com 1-800-638-1304
The Shadow Queen is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of Anne Bishop's captivating novel
set in the dark realm of the Black Jewels. The land of Dena Nehele was once ruled by corrupt
Queens; now that the Queens have been exterminated, one hundred leaderless Warlord Princes
remain in the land's desiccated husk. Theran Grayhaven seeks to restore Dena Nehele to its
former greatness, believing that a true Queen who remembers the Blood's code of honor and the
Old Ways is the key. He finds Lady Cassidy, a woman who is not beautiful and has no faith in
her own strength; but she may be the only one capable of uniting a hundred divided and bitter
princes. The Shadow Queen is a sweeping, dramatic saga of the best and worst of human nature,
highly recommended. 11 CDs, 12 hours.
Autobiography of Mark Twain, Volume 1
Mark Twain, author
Grover Gardner, narrator
Blackstone Audiobooks
PO Box 969, Ashland, OR 97520
9781441778420 $140.00 www.BlackstoneAudio.com 1-800-729-2665
Autobiography of Mark Twain, Volume 1 is the audiobook adaptation of the first of three
volumes of American literary icon Mark Twain's autobiography - originally penned with strict
instructions to remain unpublished for one hundred years, so that when they were released he
would be long dead, rendering him free to frankly speak his mind. Twain spares no sensibilities
with his dry humor, insightful ideas, and strong-willed opinions. The complete, unabridged, and
authoritative edition edited by Harriet Elinor Smith, Autobiography of Mark Twain, Volume 1 is
an absolutely extraordinary glimpse into the mind of a legend, and worthy of the highest
recommendation. 20 CDs, 25 hours, tracks every 3 minutes for easy bookmarking.
America By Heart
Sarah Palin
Blackstone Audiobooks
PO Box 969, Ashland, OR 97520
9781441782403 $90.00 www.BlackstoneAudio.com 1-800-729-2665
Read aloud by author, former Alaskan governor and current television commentator Sarah Palin,
America By Heart: Reflections on Family, Faith, and Flag is an unabridged audiobook testimony
of love, dreams, patriotism, and the critical importance of family. Palin's discussion ranged from
the hearth and home to faith, American history, the current affairs that affect modern-day culture,
and affirmations of America's positive values. Brief passages from classic and contemporary
texts that inspired Palin over the course of her life round out this warm-hearted testimony from a
fiercely principled and independent woman. 6 CDs, 7 hours, tracks every 3 minutes for easy
bookmarking.
The Library DVD Shelf
Finding God
Reality Films
PO Box 91, Foresthill, CA 95631
info@reality-entertainment.com
$24.95 www.reality-entertainment.com
Finding God: The Enlightenment is a deluxe 3-DVD set about a quintessential human dilemma:
how is one to find and connect with God in a world bombarded with information spread through
constantly evolving technology, a world in which the demands of machines from pagers and cell
phones can intrude in one's meditations and follow one to the remotest of hideaways? What does
it mean to commune with God in a world increasingly saturated by fierce competition for land,
food, money, and power? Finding God suggests that part of the solution to the puzzle is to step
back and re-examine the human connection to Nature, and through the natural world, the Garden
of Eden. Invaluable approaches to the widespread spiritual conundrum range from insights
gleaned from quantum theory to philosophies of enlightenment handed down from ancient times.
Beautifully filmed and engaging presented, Finding God guides the viewer to take charge of his
or her own personal, spiritual quest and is highly recommended. 200 min.
The Nature of Existence Companion Series
Roger Nygard
Walking Shadows
$119.95 www.TheNatureOfExistence.com
The Nature of Existence Companion Series is a seven-DVD set intended to complement the
dramatic, thought-provoking, and ultimately extraordinary movie "The Nature of Existence"
($24.95 DVD/$29.95 2-disc set), an investigative documentary about the seemingly
unanswerable mysteries of life, death, the creation of the Universe, and the human search for
enlightenment. Documentary creator Roger Nygard amassed literally hundreds of hours of
footage to provoke the intellect and the spirit; in response to the movie's overwhelmingly positive
acclaim, Nygard carefully sorted through the wealth of material that the movie had no room for
to assemble a more complete and comprehensive quest to explain the unexplained. The
individual DVDs of the set cover Existence & Purpose, Religion & Spirituality, God & Devil,
Truth & Faith, Sin & Free Will, Sexuality & Morality, and Prayer & Afterlife. A "must-have" for
anyone who was moved by "The Nature of Existence" movie, The Nature of Existence
Companion Series is worthy of the highest recommendation for both personal and public library
DVD collections. 7 DVDs, 14 hours.
Angie Miller's Crave Results
Angie Miller
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$19.95 www.angiemillerfitness.com www.411videoinfo.com
Angie Miller's Crave Results is a solid fitness DVD featuring a vigorous workout that puts
multiple muscle groups to the test. Host and fitness professional Angie Miller guides the viewer
through a workout peppered with "cardio bursts" designed to get the heart going and improve
endurance. This is a total-body workout; a resistance band and step platform can be helpful, but
are ultimately optional. The viewer may use the menu options to perform the entire workout or
mix and match the workout segments, including warm up, core work, stretches, pre mixes and
more. Crave Results is a demanding yet rewarding addition to fitness DVD collections. 63
min.
Perspective Made Simple
On Air Video Inc.
8203 Westminster Rd., Elkins Park, PA 19027
$16.95 www.onairvideo.com
Perspective Made Simple: A Practical Guide for Artists is a no-nonsense tutorial DVD
concerning how to incorporate perspective into one's drawings and art. Accessible to aspiring and
practicing artists of all skill and experience levels, Perspective Made Simple covers one, two, and
three-point linear perspective; atmospheric perspective; figures in perspective; creating shadows;
equally spaced objects; measuring/dividing space, lines, and boxes; architectural features ranging
from roads to roofs to bridges and much more. Simple drawing materials such as pencils, paper, a
ruler, a drawing compass, a T-square and the like are recommended to gain the maximum benefit
from the invaluable instruction of Perspective Made Simple. Highly recommended to any
would-be artist, and an absolute "must-have" for art school DVD libraries. 78 min.
Baroque Dance Unmasked
Created by Catherine Turocy
Dancetime! Publications
c/o WC Books
1200 County Road Rt. 523, Flemington, NJ 08822
$39.95 www.DanceTime.com 1-888-854-5602
Baroque Dance Unmasked: Workshop to Performance is a DVD documentary that lives up to its
title by taking the viewer on an inside tour of Catherine Turocy's Baroque Ballet Workshop,
where 18th century dance practices are preserved and taught. Every step of the process from
studio to stage is revealed, as Turocy explains her process for reviving and preserving the
elegance of period dance. Performance excerpts with period costuming and music courtesy of
Concert Royal enhance this singularly exceptional contribution to dance DVD libraries. 48
min.
Tap Dance History from Vaudeville to Film
Andrew J. Nemr, script and narration
Dancetime! Publications
c/o WC Books
1200 County Road Rt. 523, Flemington, NJ 08822
$49.95 www.DanceTime.com 1-888-854-5602
Tap Dance History from Vaudeville to Film is an extraordinary anthology of original film
footage from the 1930's and 40's featuring tap dancing at its finest, largely from the private
collection of Mark Cantor's Celluloid Improvisations Music Film Archive (which consists of
4000 jazz-musicals preserved on 16 mm sound film, videotape, laserdisc, and DVD). Each
choice scene was carefully researched and chosen by Andrew J. Nemr of The Tap Legacy (tm)
Foundation, specifically to teach dance professionals, fans of tap, and lay viewers about this
history and evolution of this remarkable, lively, athletic and graceful form of dance.
Performances from legends such as Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, Will Mahoney, Juanita pitts, and
more including acts and chorus lines comprise this jewel of dedicated tap-dancers performing
their very best. Highly recommended both for dance school library collections and tap
aficionados everywhere. 45 min.
Man in a Suitcase, set 1
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
9781598284188 $59.99 www.acornonline.com
Man in a Suitcase, set 1 is a DVD collection chronicling the harrowing adventures of "Mac"
McGill (played by Richard Bradford), an ex-spy wrongfully terminated by U.S intelligence. He
embarks on a freelance career as a private detective based in London, yet no matter how far he
travels in his new job, he inevitably seems to conflict with British authorities, the Soviets, and
former colleagues in American espionage. Though he strives to clear his name, he's forced to
remain on the run, accepting jobs from shady contacts of European society. An exciting series of
intrigue and suspense, Man in a Suitcase is not to be missed. 15 episodes on 4 discs, 779 min.,
full screen.
The Untold Secrets of the Civil War
Questar, Inc.
307 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60601
9781594646195 $49.99 www.questarentertainment.com
The Untold Secrets of the Civil War is an extraordinary, six-DVD documentary about the
American Civil War. Encompassing the perspectives of both sides of the deadly conflict, The
Untold Secrets of the Civil War features battle reenactments and testimony from historical
experts. Disc 1: Civil War Minutes-Union features never-before-seen photographs, letters, and
artifacts suggesting clues to some of the most perplexing mysteries about the Union. Disc 2:
Civil War Minutes - Confederates explores some little-known stories of the Confederacy,
including up-close and personal looks at the ordinary men who served on the front lines. Disc 3:
Gettysburg and Stories of Valor focuses on the lynchpin battle of the Civil War, but also includes
stories from other clashes. Disc 4: Civil War Life puts the viewer in the shoes of a Civil War
soldier, sparing no detail of the hardships they suffered, complete with dramatic reenactments.
Disc 5: Horses of Gettysburg explores the crucial roles that 72,000 horses and mules played in
Gettysburg, and dares to explore the surprisingly close bonds that formed between the Civil
War's soldiers and the animals they worked with. Disc 6: Lincoln and Lee at Antietam is a close
examination of how General Robert E. Lee's battle plans came into the hands of the Union Army,
resulting in the bloodiest day of American history, with a bonus program "Great Campaigns of
the Civil War". The set is a "must-have" for Civil War enthusiasts and highly recommended for
home and library collections alike. 6 DVDs, over 18 hours.
Texas: Highways and Byways
a Dale Johnson film
Trailwood Films & Media
5806 85th Street, Lubbock, TX 79424
978188755047X $19.95 www.trailwoodfilms.com
Texas: Highways and Byways is an extraordinarily enjoyable DVD tour of the places, traditions,
and institutions that distinguish the Lone Star State. From Palo Duro, the second largest canyon
in the U.S., to the state's undying love affair with football, to the honor people pay to this day to
those who fought and died at The Alamo, to Longhorn roundups that still happen in the
springtime, to NASA and the McDonald Observatory's contributions to science, Texas:
Highways and Byways is the ultimate taste of Texas. Especially recommended for armchair
travelers, and as a souvenir to anyone who has ever been fascinated by the state that was once its
own nation. 80 min.
Who Do You Think You Are? Season 1
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
9781598284973 $39.99 www.acornonline.com
Who Do You Think You Are? Season 1 collects all seven episodes of a captivating new reality
series originally broadcast on NBC, in which celebrities work with genealogists, historians, and
researchers to travel the world and learn more about their family history. The individuals profiled
are Sarah Jessica Parker (who has an ancestral connection to the Salem witch trials!), Dallas
Cowboys superstar Emmitt Smith, Lisa Kudrow (whose great-grandmother was targeted in the
Holocaust), Matthew Broderick, Brooke Shields, Susan Sarandon, and Emmy-winning director
Spike Lee. An extraordinary documentary about the transformative power of learning more about
one's family and ancestors, Who Do You Think You Are? is utterly unforgettable. 2 DVDs, 293
min., widescreen.
Xtend Barre: Lean & Chiseled
with Andrea Rogers
Acacia
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 650, Silver Spring, MD 20910
9781598285529 $16.99 www.acacialifestyle.com
Professional dancer, choreographer, and Pilates instructor Andrea Rogers presents Xtend Barre: Lean & Chiseled, a fitness DVD that blends the joy of dance with the health benefit of toning and sculpting muscles for an improved physique. The three segments of the program focus on the upper-body, the glutes/hips/thighs, and the midsection/core. Toning and cardio aspects are well-balanced in this graceful and enjoyable workout, which includes a tutorial segment especially for anyone new to the art of barre. Access to a chair and light hand weights are recommended to gain the maximum benefit from this excellent addition to DVD fitness and toning libraries. 55 min. Also highly recommended is Acacia's yoga DVD "Shiva Rea A.M. Energy" (9781598285512, $19.99).
Power Yoga
Ashley Turner, instructor
Anchor Bay Entertainment
2401 West Big Beaver Road, Suite 200, Troy, MI 48084-3304
$14.98 www.anchorbayentertainment.com
Professional yoga instructor Ashley Turner hosts Power Yoga, a fitness DVD designed to help
the viewer experience the practice of yoga for strength building, relaxation, and general
well-being. Turner demonstrates yoga poses designed to burn calories and tone muscles, at a
captivatingly beautiful landscape overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The importance of proper
breathing to cleanse one's body, mind, and spirit is also demonstrated, in this excellent,
easy-to-follow addition to yoga and fitness DVD collections, suitable for practitioners of all ages
and backgrounds. Closed-captioned, 63 min.
Fresh Fields, set 1
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
9781598285253 $49.99 www.acornonline.com
As originally seen on PBS, Fresh Fields set 1 collects series 1 and 2 (a total of 12 episodes) of the
Emmy-winning British comedy about a couple whose two children have grown and left the
home. Suburban housewife Hester Fields (played by Julia McKenzie) is ready to plunge headlong
into any new challenge she can find - painting, jogging, cooking, pottery, even fencing all
captivate her. Her stodgy accountant husband William (played by Anton Rodgers) has no desire
to alter his set routine, yet inevitably becomes wrapped up in Hester's adventures. The witty
humor never slows down in Fresh Fields, a show without a dull episode. 2 DVDs, 294 min.,
SDH subtitles.
The Library Music CD Shelf
New Paradigm Global Music
Carlos "Go Go" Gomez
Kidlat Records
c/o FlipSwitch Publicity
PO Box 2207, Bloomington, IN 47404-2207
$9.98 www.flipswitchPR.com
Electronica artist, Latin percussionist, priest, and martial artist Carlos "Go Go" Gomez presents
New Paradigm Global Music, an album that blends the best elements of his Afro-Latin musical
heritage into an enthralling whole. From the reworking of a Santeria melody in "Aremu Odudua"
to the chiming bells of "Law of Attraction" to the "non-traditional mantra" of "Metu Neter", New
Paradigm Global Music invests heavily in pulsing beats and timeless rhythms reworked in
original ways. New Paradigm Global Music is worth dancing to out of pure joy, and is a vibrant
treasury especially recommended for rousing the spirit along with the body. The tracks are
"Water Dragon" (10:49), "Law of Attraction" (9:40), "Zen Dance" (6:04), "Aremu Odudua"
(8:38), "Metu Neter" (6:26), "Sanctuary of the Pink Diamond" (8:34), "Saraveve" (7:05), and
"Fearless Interdimensional Travelling" (7:16).
Grand Isle
Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys
Produced by CC Adcock
Rock Paper Scissors
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2, Bloomington, IN 47404
$21.96 www.rockpaperscissors.biz
Grand Isle is the latest music CD album from Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys, with aid from
their producer CC Adcock. Embodying the "survivor joy" of Cajun music - the ability to
transform the experience of suffering into heart-rending beauty and enthusiasm for life - Grand
Isle embodies human resilience, drive, and determination in its exciting Louisiana rhythms.
Vintage recording approaches distinguish this highly recommended, one-of-a-kind album. The
tracks are "Dancing Without Understanding", "Chatterbox", "This Is the Time for Change", "It's
Lonely", "No Regrets", "Pierre", "Waltz of Sorrow", "Grand Isle", "Lyons Point", "Too Much",
"Honest Papas Love Their Mamas Better", and "Au Revoir".
The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf
The Lightning Thief
Rick Riordan
Disney Hyperion
114 Fifth Avenue, 14th floor, New York, NY 10011
9781423116967, $19.99, www.percyjacksonbooks.com
Sometimes Percy wishes they stayed the stuff of myth. "Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The
Lightning Thief" is a graphic novel offering for the first time with full color artwork the best
selling young adult fantasy series, that has also been turned into a major motion picture. As series
author Rick Riordian meets with artists Robert Venditti, Atilla Futaki, & Jose Villarrubia to
bring the famed series to life in graphic novel form. "Percy Jackson & The Olympians" is a fine
way to experience the series for the first time, or to see it once more.
The Story of Lee, volume 1
Sean Michael Wilson & Chie Kutsuwada
NBM Publishing
40 Exchange Place, Suite 1308, New York, NY 10005-2742
9781561635948 $11.99 www.nbmpublishing.com
The Story of Lee is a shojo (romance) graphic novel about a twenty-four year old young woman
of the Lee family. She lives in Hong Kong and works in her parents' store, but she isn't fitting in
to the life that her father wishes for her. She doesn't want to be a dentist like he planned for her;
she isn't attracted to the young man he encourages her to date; she loves modern pop culture
bands; and her greatest dream is to travel abroad to London. When Matt, an attractive young
Scottsman visits her family store, she starts to have strong feelings for him - and the attraction
isn't just one way. Can Lee and Matt successfully cultivate a relationship despite their
pronounced cultural and background differences? Does Lee have any hope of reconciling with
her staunchly traditional father? The expressive, black-and-white manga-style artwork superbly
complements this highly recommended story of learning to adapt, grow, and change while
searching for true love. (Some mature content is present - but in this case "mature" refers to
complex cultural issues as much as sexual content). The Story of Lee is volume 1 in a potential
series chronicling the lives of Lee, Matt, and their friends and family - hopefully the sequel is
coming soon!
Comics, Manga, and Graphic Novels
Robert S. Petersen
Praeger
c/o ABC Clio
130 Cremona Drive, Santa Barbara, CA
9780313363306, $44.95, www.abc-clio.com
Graphics have been used to tell a story ever since man began scrawling pictures on cave walls.
"Comics, Manga, and Graphic Novels: A History of Graphic Narratives" studies the history that
is longer than many of us know. For centuries the format of the comic book has been alive but
has not been referred to as a comic book or graphic novel, and Robert S. Petersen gives readers a
fine assortment of history, discussing the first occurrences of repeating narratives starring the
same character to how they have evolved into a favorite of reading in the modern day. "Comics,
Manga, and Graphic Novels" is an excellent and thoughtful read for those who want to
understand the history behind these books.
The Cookbook Shelf
Gatherings
Nataniel
Human & Rousseau
c/o International Publishers Marketing
PO Box 605, Herndon, VA 20172-0605
9780798151146, $39.95, www.humanrousseau.com
With some food, the appearance matters just as much as the taste. "Gatherings: A Year of
Invitations" is a guide for producing exquisite gourmet meals that are light, pleasing the taste
buds as well as the eyes with their simple design. Aiming his entrees to be perfect for gatherings
of people, be it weddings, birthday parties, and countless others, his meals are accompanied by
full color photos and simple instructions for making the most out of the dish. With no shortage of
vegetarian ideas (as well as meat-preparation ideas such as Steak Pies), to sweet tooth ideas like
Anxiety Cake, "Gatherings" is an excellent and very highly recommended addition to any
cookbook collection.
Home Food from the Garden
Sonja Jordt
Tafelberg
International Publishers Marketing
PO Box 605, Herndon, VA 20172-0605
9780624047131, $27.95, www.tafelberg.com
A garden can be a fine source of fresh produce. "Home Food from the Garden" is a combination
cookbook and gardening guide for readers outlining how to plant and grow their own gardens, as
well as an assortment of recipes to use with the products of their labor and using these simple
home grown vegetables to the fullest. Thoughtful and accented will with an assortment of full
color photographs, "Home Food from the Garden" is a fine pick and very highly
recommended.
Vegans Know How to Party
Chef Nancy Berkoff
The Vegetarian Resource Group
PO Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203
9780931411335, $24.95
Meat is overrated for the party platter. "Vegans Know How to Party: Over 465 Vegan Recipes,
Including Desserts, Appetizers, Main Dishes, and More" is a guide to a wide assortment of easy
to prepare vegan entrees that have a wide range from baked goods to meat imitations to party
foods, to ethnic dishes, to quick and easy preparation, and much more. With easy to follow
directions aimed at better health, "Vegans Know How to Party" is a must for any vegan who
wants to be prepared to make more than just salads for their guests.
From the Olive Grove
Helen Koutalianos & Anastasia Koutalianos
Arsenal Pulp Press
#101-211 East Georgia St., Vancouver, BC V6A 1Z6
9781551523675, $21.95, www.arsenalpulp.com
The tiniest bit of oil can add so much flavor. "From the Olive Grove: Mediterranean Cooking
with Olive Oil" is a cookbook with the virtues of Olive Oil fully trumpeted. Helen & Anastasia
Koutalianos touch on many aspects where the olive oil's addition turns a good dish and takes it to
the next level. With 150 Mediterranean driven recipes and an eye for health with recipes such as
salmon & sea food pasta, beef tenderloin shish kabob, and avocado crab cakes, "From the Olive
Grove" has no shortage of great recipes to offer.
The Anthropology Shelf
The Hobbit Trap
Maciej Henneberg, Robert B. Eckhardt, & John Schofield
Left Coast Press
1630 N. Main Street, 400 Walnut Creek, CA 94596
9781598745726, $24.95, www.lcoastpress.com
What determines a classification of a new species, and how is it abused? "The Hobbit Trap: How
New Species Are Invented" is a discussion of anthropology from Maciej Henneberg offering a
study of modern anthropology and the new species theory, focusing in particular on the
Indonesian island of Flores, which was nick named the Hobbit, drawing attention from the
media. With a careful eye for the scientific method and better practice, "The Hobbit Trap" is
endlessly intriguing, fascinating, and highly recommended.
Feasting with Shellfish in the Southern Ohio Valley
Cheryl Claassen
The University of Tennessee Press
293 Communications Building, Knoxville, TN 37996-0325
1572337141, $49.00, www.utpress.org
The lives of people eight thousand years ago tells us much about our basic nature as a people.
"Feasting with Shellfish in the Southern Ohio Valley: Archaic Sacred Sites and Rituals" studies
the Southern Ohio Valley and its archeological sites. Cheryl Claassen disputes the common
assessment that the hunter gatherer society of the time had little in the way of culture, stating
there is strong evidence of ritual and tradition even with low technology and the very real fear
starvation and other primal death. "Feasting with Shellfish in the Southern Ohio Valley" is a
unique and intriguing study of ancient humanity, highly recommended.
The Judicial Studies Shelf
A Concise History of the Common Law
Theodore F. T. Plucknett
Liberty Fund
8335 Allison Pointe Trail, Suite 300, Indianapolis, IN 46250-1684
9780865978072, $14.50, www.libertyfund.org
The history of law in the western world is one that spans back centuries. "A Concise History of
the Common Law" traces the history of common law back to the time of the Romans and how it
has over the centuries developed into what it is today. The events of conquest, Christianity, the
Enlightenment, and more has seriously impacted the events, and Theodore Plucknett breaks
down these events into a fascinating study. "A Concise History of the Common Law" is a must
for any community library collection touching on the history of law.
The Library Science Shelf
The College Student's Research Companion, fifth edition
Arlene R. Quaratiello
Neal-Schuman Publishers
100 William Street, Suite 2004, New York, NY 10038
9781555707293, $49.95, www.neal-schuman.com
Research is an important skill in many avenues of life, and that is why it is so emphasized in
education. "The College Student's Research Companion: Finding, Evaluating, and Citing the
Resources You Need to Succeed" is a guide for college students to get them started on the finer
points of research. Effective and efficient research shows in papers, leading to better grades and
higher quality work. Stating that internet based sources like Google and Wikipedia can serve as
good bases, the best research comes from library use. A resource with plenty of information
complete with a web-based companion, "The College Student's Research Companion" is
a strongly-recommended resource for starting college freshmen or for library science
collections.
Best Practices for Credit-Bearing Information Literacy Courses
Christopher V. Hollister
ACRL
c/o American Library Association
50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
9780838985588, $48.00, www.ala.org
Information literacy is not knowing everything, but instead knowing how to find out everything.
"Best Practices for Credit-Bearing Information Literacy Courses" is a guide for academic
libraries which are offering information literacy courses and how to more accurately and
effectively implement them. With many writers offering their thoughts from a wide assortment of
universities throughout America, this collection proves to be a treasure trove of information and
wisdom. An absolute must for any college library seeking to implement information literacy
courses, "Best Practices for Credit-Bearing Information Literacy Courses" is a core addition to any
library science collection.
The Economics Shelf
The Doom Loop in the Financial Sector
William Leiss
University of Ottawa Press
542 King Edward Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5
9780776607382, $24.95, www.press.uottawa.ca
There is such a thing as too much risk in a market. "The Doom Loop in the Financial Sector: and
Other Black Holes of Risk" discusses the failures of the banking system and how it left the public
facing massive and unacceptable levels of risk that spun out of control and left the economy in
the condition it is now. Stating that regulation against such pitfalls needs to be implemented,
"The Doom Loop in the Financial Sector" explains why and how it needs to be done.
The Political Science Shelf
Liberty of Contract
David N. Mayer
Cato Institute
1000 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20001
9781935308393, $9.95, www.cato.org
At what extent should the law dabble in our business affairs? "Liberty of Contract: Rediscovering
a Lost Constitutional Right" discusses the increasing presence in government interference in
economic liberty. David N. Mayer makes his case for remembering this constitutional right and
why it must remain strong as we go deeper into the twenty first century. "Liberty of Contract" is a
thoughtful and highly recommended pick for community library politics and economics
collections.
The Contemporary Arab Reader on Political Islam
Ibrahim M. Abu-Rabi
The University of Alberta Press
Ring House 2, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB Canada, T6G 2EI
9780888645579, $34.95, www.plutobooks.com
In the modern world, Islam is far from just a faith, it is a political power. "The Contemporary
Arab Reader on Political Islam" discusses the politics surrounding Islam and the most important
writers who discuss the politics of Islam on the world stage. The columns discuss the changing
world and Islam, what Jihad means, the Palestinian crisis, the need for Islam to change itself, and
much more. Countless writers converge under writing from Ibrahim M. Abu-Rabi, making for a
thoughtful and insightful analysis of these major issues. "The Contemporary Arab Reader on
Political Islam" is a choice and very highly recommended addition to social issues and Islamic
studies collections.
The Psychology Shelf
Stand Up for Autism
Georgina J. Derbyshire
Jessica Kingsley
400 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781849050999, $14.95, www.jkp.com
An autism diagnosis isn't a condemnation, but it is something else. "Stand Up for Autism: A Boy,
a Dog, and a Prescription for Laughter" is a memoir from Georgina J. Derbyshire on raising her
autistic son and the adventures that life has brought her that few would know to expect from an
autistic child, hoping to comfort and inspire other parents of autistic children along the way.
Thoughtful and recommended reading, "Stand Up for Autism" is uplifting and a must for any
autism collection.
The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf
Fuzz & Fur: Japan's Costumed Characters
Edward & John Harrison
Mark Batty Publisher LLC
36 West 37th Street, Penthouse, New York, NJ 10018
9781935613121 $16.95 www.markbattypublisher.com
Featuring full-color photographs of fuzzy, surreal character costumes, Fuzz & Fur: Japan's
Costumed Characters lives up to its title with capsule descriptions and snapshots of Japanese pop
culture characters portrayed by live actors in elaborate outfits. Nearly all of these outfits cover the
entire head and body, similar to the Mickey Mouse, etc. costumes that Disney theme park
workers wear. A quick summary gives at-a-glance information of where in Japan each
mascot-type character is from. Filled with bright colors, exaggerated anime-style eyes and faces,
and simple (often wide) round shapes, Fuzz & Fur is an eye-opening glimpse into a colorful,
seemingly childlike entertainment world, one that often has its roots in tourism and attempts to
promote and revitalize local areas. Highly recommended as a supplement to any Japanese pop
culture collection.
The Buddhist Studies Shelf
Rebel Buddha
Dzogchen Ponlop
Shambhala
Horticultural Hall, 300 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
9781590308745, $21.95, www.shambhala.com
Even in the search for a more serene life, there is greater resistance. "Rebel Buddha: On the Road
to Freedom" is a guide to the simple wisdom that comes with Buddhism and the level of
rebellion that goes with it. Stating that there is a rebel Buddha within us all, Dzogchen Ponlop
seeks to educate readers with a Buddhism that defies the Asian tradition usually associated with
the philosophy. "Rebel Buddha" is a thoughtful, enlightening and highly entertaining read, that
will bring much to the table.
Buddhism Through American Women's Eyes
Karma Lekshe Tsomo, editor
Snow Lion Publications
PO Box 6483, Ithaca, NY 14851
9781559393638 $16.95 www.SnowLionPub.com
Buddhism Through American Women's Eyes is an anthology of essays by thirteen female
American authors, examining a diversity of topics about Buddhism's positive contributions and
modern-day legacy. Individual writings include "Forging a Kind Heart in an Age of Alienation",
"Reflections on Impermanence: Buddhist Practice in the Emergency Room", "Abortion: A
Respectful Meeting Ground", "Karma: Creative Responsibility", "Eastern Traditions in Western
Lands", and much more. "Recognizing that all beings are interrelated and no one wants to suffer,
Buddhist social ethics rests on creating maximum mutual benefit for all living beings. These two
objectives - the psychological welfare of the individual and the collective welfare of society - are
intimately intertwined. This gives rise to an ethic of compassion." A thought-provoking and
insightful contribution to Buddhist Studies shelves, Buddhism Through American Women's Eyes
is highly recommended.
Escape from the Land of Snows
Stephan Talty
The Crown Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, #B1, New York, NY 10019-4305
9780307460950 $26.00 www.crownpublishing.com
Escape from the Land of Snows: The Young Dalai Lama's Harrowing Flight to Freedom and the
Making of a Spiritual Hero chronicles the true story of the 14th Dalai Lama's escape from
Chinese troops in 1959. Young Gyatso was declared the reincarnation of Tibet's previous ruler
when he was only two years old; over the next twenty years, he struggled to learn complex rituals
and become a worthy leader (a process that forced him to stifle his naturally mischievous
character). But the turning point eventually came when he had no choice but to evade thousands
of Communist Chinese troops; with an escort of 300, he braved dangerous Himalayan passes on
the journey to freedom and the attempt to keep hope for Tibet's independence alive through
government in exile. Escape from the Land of Snows is moving, inspirational, heavily researched
and mesmerizingly told. Highly recommended.
The Military Shelf
Guard Wars
Michael E. Weaver
Indiana University Press
601 North Morton Street, Bloomington, IN 47404-3797
9780253355218 $34.95 www.iupress.indiana.edu 1-800-842-6796
Guard Wars: The 28th Infantry Division in World War II is the true chronicle of how a group of
citizen-soldiers we remolded into the fighting unit of the Pennsylvania National Guard's 28th
Infantry Division, from peacetime status to training to combat in Western Europe. Covering the
years 1939-1945, Guard Wars pays especial attention to General Omar Bradley's leadership, and
his role in directing a coordinated and effective, combat-ready unit. A handful of black-and-white
photographs, notes, a bibliography and an index round out this excellent contribution to
American military history shelves.
Combatant Commands
Cynthia Watson
Praeger Publishers
c/o ABC-CLIO
PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
9780313354328 $49.95 www.abc-clio.com
Combatant Commands: Origins, Structure, and Engagements is a close study of the six
geographic combatant commands that form the core of U.S. military deployment worldwide. The
commands examined are Northern Command, Pacific Command, Central Command, Southern
Command, European Command, and Africa Command; each plays a key role in maintaining
national and international security. The analyzed aspects of each command include areas of
responsibility, subcommands, priorities, threats faced, and engagement institutions. "Combatant
commands are permanent features of the U.S. security community with serious links to
communities around the world. While the commands have their challenges, they provide
conduits to groups and organizations that might otherwise be reluctant to tie themselves overtly
to the U.S. government because of domestic concerns they have." Notes, a glossary, and an index
round out this meticulous work of modern-day military scholarship.
Fragging
George Lepre
Texas Tech University Press
PO Box 41037, Lubbock, TX 79409-1037
9780896727151 $34.95 www.ttupress.org 1-800-832-4042
Fragging: Why U.S. Soldiers Assaulted Their Officers in Vietnam lives up to its title as an
in-depth, scholarly study of why and how American soldiers used violence against their officers
and/or South Vietnamese citizens during the Vietnam War - a phenomenon that was markedly
prevalent especially when the Vietnam War is compared to World War II, the Korean War, or
other American wars of the century. U.S. Army veteran and award-winning history author
George Lepre examines the many factors that made the Vietnam War darkly different - the
erosion of troop morale especially during the Vietnamization period, the increased prevalence of
a draft that sent to war more and more soldiers who genuinely did not want to be there, the
widespread use of illegal drugs (and legal drugs such as alcohol), peer pressure amid the culture
of enlisted soldiers, and more. A sobering account, heavily researched and featuring a wealth of
notes, Fragging offers invaluable lessons from American history that must be studied, lest
America's military be doomed to repeat the evils of the past.
The American History Shelf
Creating a Confederate Kentucky
Anne E. Marshall
University of North Carolina Press
116 South Boundary Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27514-3808
9780807834367 $35.00 www.uncpress.unc.edu 1-800-848-6224
Creating a Confederate Kentucky: The Lost Cause and Civil War Memory in a Border State tells
of how the state of Kentucky retained strong ties to the Confederacy, even though Kentucky
never seceded from the Union and more Kentucky citizens ostensibly fought for the North than
for the South. After the Civil War, the people of Kentucky rallied to Democratic politics, and the
racial violence and Jim Crow laws strongly associated with former Confederate states took root
in Kentucky soil. Creating a Confederate Kentucky examines all sides of Kentucky's
Union-Confederate postwar dialogue, from political and economic motivations to what the
Kentucky people's activities (public memorial ceremonies, dedications of monuments, veterans
organizations' events, and more) revealed about their motivations and drives. Chapters tell of
Kentucky sentiments from 1792 up through 1935 in this thoughtful, carefully researched and
plausibly presented historical study, illustrated with a handful of vintage black-and-white
photographs. Highly recommended, especially for Kentucky state history shelves.
The Wreck of the Red Arrow
Dennis P. McIlnay
Seven Oaks Press
826 Walnut Street, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648
9780977980536, $24.95, www.sevenoakspress.com
When something goes horribly wrong, the situation grows ever more dire. "The Wreck of the
Red Arrow" tells the story of the vicious wreck of the Red Arrow train, which on a winter
morning in 1947 left a town in disarray. Detailing the event, the immediate response, and the
long road to recovery, Dennis P. McIlnay gives a solid and complete and comprehensive history.
"The Wreck of the Red Arrow" is a fine addition to any American History collection in general,
and Railroading History reading list in particular.
Inherently Unequal
Lawrence Goldstone
Walker & Company
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
9780802717924 $26.00 www.walkerbooks.com
Inherently Unequal: The Betrayal of Equal Rights by the Supreme Court, 1865-1903 is the
riveting true story of how, after the Civil War, the conservative Supreme Court was instrumental
in sustaining the Jim Crow era of segregation and discrimination against African-Americans. In
1875, the most comprehensive civil rights legislation seen at the time promised all Americans
"the full and equal enjoyment" of public areas, but eight years later the Supreme Court voted 8 to
1 to overturn the Civil Rights Act as unconstitutional. Further rulings all but destroyed the equal
protection passages of the fourteenth amendment. Inherently Unequal examines the process by
which the United States became a nation defined by Jim Crow laws at the dawn of the twentieth
century, drawing upon court records and period testimonies. From the well-known case of Plessy
v. Ferguson to oft-overlooked cases like Williams v. Mississippi, Inherently Unequal reveals how
the sum of the Supreme Court's decisions empowered racism, prejudice, and the dismal status
quo, prompting mass migrations of African-Americans to the North to flee the tyranny of the
state as well as seek economic sustenance. Inherently Unequal is an invaluable addition to public
and college library American history shelves, and highly recommended.
The Native American Shelf
Daily Life During The Indian Wars
Clarissa W. Confer
Greenwood Press
c/o ABC-CLIO
PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
9780313364549 $49.95 www.abc-clio.com
Daily Life During The Indian Wars is packed cover to cover with true stories of how ordinary
American Indian men, women, and children experienced the tumultuous (and often deadly) clash
of cultures as Anglo-American settlers forever transformed the land upon which they lived.
Covering the colonial period through the 19th century and Wounded Knee, Daily Life During
The Indian Wars lives up to its title with tales of trade, producing and preparing food, marriage,
finding housing, and family life. An extraordinary compendium that will appeal to lay readers
and scholars alike, Daily Life During The Indian Wars is highly recommended especially for
Native American studies shelves.
Records of the Moravians Among the Cherokees, Volume 2 1802-1805
C. Daniel Crews and Richard W. Starbuck, editors
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780982690710 $50.00 www.oupress.com 1-800-627-7377
Records of the Moravians Among the Cherokees, Volume 2 1802-1805: Beginnings of the
Mission and Establishment of the School is the second volume of primary testimony, gathered
from archives documenting the Moravian Church's mission work among the Cherokee people.
Although the writings have historical bias in that they are primarily written by Moravian
missionaries, they provide a wealth of detailed information about Cherokee customs, way of life,
character, hardships, social organization and much more. The first volume in the series covered
first contact between the Moravians and the Cherokees during the French and Indian War and the
American Revolution; volume 2 tells of how the Moravians occupied Springplace and used it as
a base to spread the Gospel. The Cherokee were in need of schooling for their children, as
education was an invaluable tool to help them survive the influx of white settlers. Future
volumes are slated to continue the chronicle through the Removal, the Civil War, and the end of
the nineteenth century. Records of the Moravians Among the Cherokees is an utterly invaluable
series for college Native American history collections, and highly recommended.
The Self-Help Shelf
Make Every Second Count
Robert W. Bly
Career Press
220 West Parkway, Unit 12, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
9781601631336, $14.99, www.careerpress.com
Good time management can fix so many things. "Make Every Second Count: Time Management
Tips and Techniques for More Success with less Stress" is a guide for maximizing one's time for
efficiency and getting things done. From eliminating needless activities, the courage to say no,
the power of the to-do list, and much more, Robert Bly gives readers everything they need to
know to overachieve with their time. "Make Every Second Count" is a thoughtful and very highly
recommended read, not to be missed.
The Poetry Shelf
Two
Paul Vangelisti
Talisman House
PO Box 896, Greenfield, MA 01302
9781584980773, $14.95
With experience and love of the work, "Two" is the noted translator and prolific poet Paul Vangelisti's latest work with the focus of opposite extremes meeting. With thought and brilliance in verse, "Two" is an excellent addition to poetry collections. "II:" We always began carefully,/first settling on how many angels/and wine glasses in the deck,/how many stifling afternoons/before any posturing about/you, me or a household of words.
Mapmaking
Megan Harlan
BkMk Press
c/o University of Missouri-Kansas City
5101 Rockhill Road, Kansas City, MO 64110
9781886157774, $13.95, www.umkc.edu
Searching for what we've never had is a search few know how to properly face. "Mapmaking" is
a collection of poetry from Megan Harlan, with poetry focusing on the search for something that
is alien to us yet we so want. With a unique style that brings about thought, "Mapmaking" is a
fine read and solidly recommended. "Animal Instinct": The Morning's soft, shiny pelt./A bird's
worth of restlessness./The heart clattering like hooves on glass./Each hour's exposed, fractured
teeth.
The Poetry of William Carlos Williams of Rutherford
Wendell Berry
Counterpoint Press
2117 Fourth Street, Suite D, Berkeley, CA 94710
9781582437149 $24.00 www.counterpointpress.com
Essayist and poet Wendell Berry presents The Poetry of William Carlos Williams of Rutherford,
an in-depth examination of Williams' poetry, his love of the Rutherford surroundings, and the
indispensable, inspirational value of Williams' work especially to poets everywhere. "In his wish
for a distinctly American poetry in 'the American idiom,' Williams was theoretically if always
critically a nationalist, but his practice, of poetry as of medicine, was local. As a poet he
attempted a practicable local patriotism - if that word by now signifies anything at all." A handful
of Williams' sample poems illuminate the thoughtful suppositions and conclusions concerning
his literary genius and contributions, in this excellent addition to literary and poetry studies
shelves.
The Judaic Studies Shelf
And You Shall Tell Your Children
Ida Akerman-Tieder
Devora Publishing
3709 13th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11218
9781934440407, $21.95, www.urimpublications.com
There is a simple spirit and determination that should unite the Jewish people. "And You Shall
Tell Your Children: A Chronicle of Survival" is a story of the Jewish wisdom that should unite
all Jews through their endeavors around the world. Telling the story of the people Israel, the
meaning of the land, and their holy book, Dr. Ida Akerman-Tieder speaks in simple and profound
wisdom. "And You Shall Tell Your Children" is a fine collection of wisdom and is very highly
recommended.
Jewish Mysticism and the Spiritual Life
Lawrence Fine, Eitan Fishbane, and Or N. Rose
Jewish Lights Publishing
Sunset Farms Offices, Route 4, PO Box 237, Woodstock, VT 05091
9781580234344, $24.99, www.jewishlights.com
The Jewish mystical tradition still has much to offer the modern Jew. "Jewish Mysticism and the
Spiritual Life: Classical Texts, Contemporary Reflections" discusses this tradition and its
relevance in today's world. Offering some of these mystical texts in English for the first time,
many contributors come together to preach the value of these texts and what they mean in today's
world. Offering a good deal of thought and enlightenment, "Jewish Mysticism and the Spiritual
Life" is sure to bring many readers into an interest in the mystic tradition.
The Christian Studies Shelf
The Bible and Ecology
Richard Bauckham
Baylor University
One Bear Place, #97363, Waco, TX 76798-7363
9781602583108, $24.95, www.baylorpress.com
What is the place of religion in environmental concerns? "The Bible and Ecology: Rediscovering
the Community of Creation" states that humanity must seek reconciliation not only with God but
the rest of the creatures of creation to find a balance with the environment. Stating that human
dominion has been exploited and is not necessarily God's plan, "The Bible and Ecology" brings
faith into the environmental debates and comes to readers with a thoughtful and highly
recommended addition to the discussion.
Shadows Darkness and Dawn
Thomas R. Steagald
Upper Room Books
1908 Grand Avenue, Nashville, TN 37212
9780835810326, $15.00, www.upperroom.org
Through Jesus's journeys he experienced much in the way of problems he saw needing improved
upon. "Shadows Darkness and Dawn" are musings from Thomas R. Steagald as he reflects on
Jesus facing his own crisis in life and his encounters with others problems and the resolutions he
sought to bring himself and others. With much spirit and thought, "Shadows Darkness and
Dawn" is a thoughtful and recommended read for Christians.
Divine Signatures
Gerald N. Lund
Deseret Book
PO Box 30178, Salt Lake City, UT 84130
9781606419274, $25.99, www.deseretbook.com
It's easy to lose track of God's hand in your life. "Divine Signatures: The Confirming Hand of God" is a guide to remembering that God is there for you even when it seems as if you're abandoned. Written from a perspective of Latter-Day Saints, the wisdom within should remain simple and have quite the powerful message. For any student of Christ or those looking for God in their lives, "Divine Signatures' may well be the book for them.
Living the New Testament
Paul Enns
Kregel Publications
PO Box 2607, Grand Rapids, MI 49501-2607
9780825425363, $16.99, www.kregel.com
The New Testament is the story of the love and forgiveness of God. "Living the New Testament:
Daily Readings from Matthew to Revelation" provides a wise assortment of writings and study of
the New testament, as he uses the studies to give daily affirmations to empower the faith and help
readers remember that God is with them throughout their day. "Living the New Testament" is a
powerful and recommended read, not to be missed.
Ready, Set, Teach!
Delia Halverson
Abingdon Press
PO Box 801, 201 Eighth Avenue South, Nashville, TN 37202-0801
9781426709371, $15.00, www.abingdon.com
For any teacher, understanding students is of utmost concern. "Ready, Set, Teach!: Training and
Supporting Volunteers in Christian Education" is a guide for Christian educators outlining what
should be known as one tries to be a teacher of faith in church schools and what comes with it
all. With a thoughtful approach that breaks down the concerns for many age groups, "Ready, Set,
Teach!" is a useful resource, not to be ignored.
How Big Is Your God?
Paul Coutinho
Loyola Press
3441 N. Ashland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60657
9780829432947, $12.95, www.loyolapress.com
The only limits placed on God are created by yourself. "How Big Is Your God?: The Freedom to
Experience the Divine" is a Christian encouragement urging readers to better embrace God in
their lives by removing his limits and status and allowing him to be a bigger part of your life.
Drawn on the many faiths of the world to enhance his Christianity, "How Big Is Your God?" is
spiritual and driven, highly recommended.
Silence Speaks
Robert Nugent
Paulist Press
997 Macarthur Blvd., Mahwah, NJ 07430
9780809146499, $14.95, www.paulistpress.com
When a voice is silenced, people just listen more intently. "Silence Speaks" looks at four
theologians in the twentieth century who were known for their rebellion against the church with
their views, facing prohibition. Although being censored, they remained obedient to the church
and in some cases, were vindicated for their beliefs. "Silence Speaks" is a thoughtful and
analytical view of Catholic theology in the twentieth century, highly recommended.
The History and Heritage of African-American Churches
L.H. Whelchel, Jr.
Paragon House
1925 Oakcrest Avenue, Suite 7, St. Paul, MN 55113-2619
9781557788931 $24.95 www.paragonhouse.com
University professor, church pastor and civil rights activist L.H. Whelchel presents The History
and Heritage of African-American Churches: A Way Out of No Way, a scholarly examination of
how Africa affected the early Christian Church, and how African-American Christians labored to
create and perpetuate their churches own religious traditions. Focus is especially bestowed on the
role certain African-American churches and their ministers played crucial events in American
history. The History and Heritage of African-American Churches is highly recommended
especially for public and college library collections.
The Humor Shelf
I'm Tempted to Stop Acting Randomly
Scott Adams
Andrews & McMeel
1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
9780740778063 $12.99 www.andrewsmcmeel.com
I'm Tempted to Stop Acting Randomly is the latest collection of Dilbert comic strips, known for
their utterly ruthless mockery of cubical life, corporate greed, rampant incompetence, gadgetry
obsession, and much more. The weekday and Sunday strips from July 26, 2009 to May 2, 2010
are presented in full color (even the normally black-and-white daily strips are colored!) although
the true appeal to Dilbert has never been its minimalist art, but rather its laugh-out-loud funny
writing. "'We're getting into the financial services game. That way all of our products can be
imaginary.' 'Can you give me reliable investment advice?' 'Yes, as far as you know.'" No cow is
too sacred and no soul is too fungible for Dilbert and his compatriots, in this mercilessly
hilarious collection that makes the perfect gift for any co-worker with a wicked sense of
humor.
The Writing/Publishing Shelf
The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing
Marilyn Ross & Sue Collier
Writer's Digest Books
100 Armstrong Avenue, Georgetown, Ontario, Canada, L7G 5S4
9781582977188, $24.95, www.writersdigest.com
Getting your own work out there is more troublesome than one would think. "The Complete
Guide to Self-Publishing: Everything you need to know to Write, Publish, Promote, and Sell
Your Own Book" is a guide to those who want to get their work published through the
self-publishing avenue. Publishing a book is not as simple as getting it bound and printed, but
promoted and sold in stores. From print on demand services to PR and more, "The Complete
Guide to Self-Publishing" is a must for anyone who wants to embrace this endeavor to get their
work out there.
The Complete Guide to Hiring a Literary Agent
Laura Cross
Atlantic Publishing Group
1405 SW 6th Ave., Ocala, FL 34471-0640
9781601384034, $24.95, www.atlantic-pub.com
You can have the best book in the world, but it all comes down to the sale. "The Complete Guide to Hiring a Literary Agent: Everything You Know to Become Successfully Published" is a guide to the aspect of publishing many writers understand the least, the literary agent. Agents can help authors get their work to the next level and get it picked up and help authors turn their love and work into much more. Everything an author needs to know to find the right person with this work, "The Complete Guide to Hiring a Literary Agent" is an excellent resource, and very highly recommended. Also from Atlantic Publishing Group is "How to Publish a Kindle Book with Amazon.com" (9781601384041, $24.95), a guide to using Amazon's Kindle service and how to use it to get your work published cheaply and on the market quickly.
What's the Story?
Rudolph H. Weingartner
University Press of America
4501 Forbes Bouelvard, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
9780761852766, $16.99, www.univepress.com
Anyone can tell a story, doing it well is the real task at hand. "What's The Story?: Try Your Hand
and Learn the Art of Writing" is a creativity exercise of sorts, as Rudolph H. Weingartner gives a
description of countless characters who he has created simple little profiles for. The exercise
comes in creating stories surrounding these characters to help would be authors get a grasp on
fiction writing. "What's the Story?" is a fun and exciting way to practice the fiction writing
process.
Riding the Alligator
Pen Densham
Michael Wiese Productions
12400 Ventura Blvd. #1111, Studio City, CA 91604
9781932907841, $24.95, www.mwp.com
Everyone wants to be a screenwriter and that's what makes it so hard. "Riding the Alligator:
Strategies for a Career in Screenplay Writing" is a combination memoir and career guide by Pen
Densham for how to succeed more effectively at their careers in a cutthroat and highly
competitive industry. Densham's experience is over dozen films and many TV series, and he has
come to know the rough road to success and how success doesn't get easier because you've
succeeded once. "Riding the Alligator: Strategies for a Career in Screenplay Writing" is a choice
pick for the screenwriting aspirant.
The Global English Style Guide
John R. Kohl
SAS Publishing
SAS Campus Drive, Cary, NC 27513
9781599946573, $39.95, www.sas.com
Very few products stay in one country and be successful. "The Global English Style Guide:
Writing Clear, Translatable Documentation for a Global Market" is a guide to writing technical
manuals that translate easy across language barriers. Calling the style Global English, John R.
Kohl states how to create something that avoids questionable words and translates most clearly
and easily when a translator sets to work on it, saving time and costs. "The Global English Style
Guide" is a must for any business expanding their products abroad.
The Fiction Shelf
Lord of Misrule
Jaimy Gordon
McPherson & Company
PO Box 1126, Kingston, NY 12402
9780929701837, $25.00, www.mcphersonco.com
Tommy Hansel needed money quick. But his gambit will prove much more difficult than he
hoped. "Lord of Misrule" follows failing stable head and horseman Tommy Hansel as his last
ditch effort to save his stable comes together as a scheme to win races at long odds and huge
gain. But as luck has it, he runs face off against other intriguing characters who make his
endeavor ever more difficult. "Lord of Misrule" is an exciting read that horse racing fans and
general fiction readers should relish.
A Good Long Way
Rene Saldana
Pinata Books
c/o Arte Publico
452 Cullen Performance Hall, Houston, TX 77204-2004
9781558856073, $10.95, www.artepublicopress.com
Adulthood comes at many kids like a pile of bricks. "A Good Long Way" follows three teenagers
as they come to terms with their lives. Beto leaves home after clashing with his father one too
many times and looks to Jessy for guidance on living on his own, no longer caring for school.
Roel, Beto's brother, struggles with the conflicts of his father and trying to make his own way in
the world. A story of growing up all too quickly, "A Good Long Way" is a solid and very highly
recommended read.
Victim Rights
Norah McClintock
Red Deer Press
195 Allstate Parkway, Markham, ON L3R 4T8
97808899544472, $14.95, www.reddeerpress.com
When trust is broken, everything comes tumbling down on top of it. "Victim Rights" follows
Ryan Dooley as he tries to get himself away from his life on the shady side of life with his girl
Beth. But when Beth seems to be led astray, it may be easy to fall into what he tried so hard to
leave behind once more. A riveting tale that will prove very hard to put down, "Victim Rights" is
a thoughtful and riveting read, highly recommended.
In Winter's Grip
Brenda Chapman
Rendezvous Crime
c/o Napoleon & Company
235-1173 Dundas Street East, Toronto, ON M4M 3P1
9781926607054, $16.95, www.napoleonandcompany.com
The past you put behind you will come about soon enough. "In Winter's Grip" tells the story of
Maja Cleary, who abandons her home town after her mother's death. But when her father dies,
she finds her departure cannot be permanent as she must face the cruelty that she so desperately
tried to put behind her. A story of murder, dysfunction, and the search for truth and justice, "In
Winter's Grip" is a fine story and a very highly recommended one.
Mr. Toppit
Charles Elton
Other Press
2 Park Avenue, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10016
9781590513903, $15.95, www.otherpress.com
Everyone wants to be famous, but no one wants to be famous when they find out what it entails.
"Mr. Toppit" is a novel following the late author Arthur Hayman whose series the Hayseed
Chronicles catches aflame after his death. As his family fights another responsible for its surge of
fame, the battle becomes fierce and the fame comes hard. An entertaining novel with a grand mix
of comedy and tragedy, "Mr. Toppit" is an excellent choice, highly recommended.
The Biography Shelf
End Game
Frank Brady
Crown
c/o Random House
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780307463906, $25.99, www.crownpublishing.com
Bobby Fischer's mind was at once both brilliant and intriguing. "End Game: Bobby Fischer's
Remarkable Rise and Fall -- From America's Brightest Prodigy to the Edge of Madness" is a
biography of famed Chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer, following his prodigy status at a young
age to his increasingly bizarre political moves, paranoia, and international status as time rolled
on. Frank Brady hopes to help readers gain a better understanding of Fischer, and "End Game"
serves to be quite the fascinating read.
India Calling
Anand Giridharadas
Henry Holt & Company
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
9780805091779, $25.00, www.henryholt.com
The India of a few decades ago is not the India of today. "India Calling: An Intimate Portrait of a
Nation's Remaking" is the memoir of Anand Giridharadas, an American who returned to his
ancestral homeland of India to find something very different than what he thought. He reflects on
the rapidly changing world and the changing scope of the world is bringing apart the traditional
Indian family in a way much unlike the rest of the world. "India Calling" is a fascinating and
insightful memoir with much to ponder about the world.
The Children's War
Peter Bodo Gawenda
Brown Books Publishing Group
16200 N. Dallas Parkway, Suite 170, Dallas, TX 75248
9781934812709, $24.95, www.brownbooks.com
A child has an ever growing and fascinating perspective on war as it changes the world around
them. "The Children's War: Germany 1939-1949" is a unique memoir from Peter Bodo Gawenda
as he reflects on his childhood in this period of German history. Born in 1937, he shares his
earliest memories of a Germany on a rise to a super power, about a Reich that was understood
even by the youngest to be something major. With his father drafted into the war machine early
in his life, his perspective comes even more comprehensive. Thoughtful and intriguing reading,
"The Children's War" is a fine pick and is very highly recommended.
The Arms of the Infinite
Christopher Barker
Wilfrid Laurier University Press
Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2L 3C5
9781554582709, $29.95, www.wlupress.wlu.ca
Love can lead you into far less than ideal situations. "The Arms of the Infinite: Elizabeth Smart
& George Barker" is a memoir from Christopher Barker as he reflects on his artistically driven
parents, writer Elizabeth Smart and poet George Barker. Their romance, one of thought and
going against their own parents wishes led them to raise children in imperfect means. A
charming story of growing up under caring but pressing the word normal parents and filled with
tragedy and challenges, "The Arms of the Infinite" is a unique and thoughtful memoir, sure to
leave readers fascinated and pondering their own parents.
Only Make Believe
Howard Keel
Barricade Legends
185 Bridge Plaza North, Suite 308-A, Fort Lee, NJ 07024
1569802920, $24.95, www.barricadebooks.com
On stage and screen, he did what he loved and made a life out of it. "Only Make Believe: My
Life in Show Business" is a memoir of Howard Keel. Most known for his role as Clayton Farlow
in the beloved television series Dallas, he discusses his early career and childhood where his
father committed suicide and left him alone with his mother who moved him to Los Angeles. A
moving story of someone who really loves acting and his career, "Only Make Believe" is a fine
pick and is very highly recommended.
The Religion/Spirituality Shelf
A Time to Plant
Kyle T. Kramer
Sorin Books
PO Box 428, Notre Dame, IN 46556-0428
9781933495262, $15.95, www.sorinbooks.com
A simple life frees your mind to see what's truly important. "A Time to Plant: Life Lessons in
Work, Prayer, and Dirt" is a thoughtful spiritual memoir from Kyle T. Kramer as he ponders his
life and the world as he returns to life on a small farm and during this time comes to more
complete understanding of the world. With simple thought and a reverence to the value of hard
work, "A Time to Plant" is quite the read and is very highly recommended.
The Social Issues Shelf
Genetic Justice
Sheldon Krimsky & Tania Simoncelli
Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd Street, New York, NY 10023-7015
9780231145206, $29.95, www.cup.columbia.edu
Where does DNA fall in the debate of civil liberty? "Genetic Justice: DNA Data Banks, Criminal
Investigations, and Civil Liberties" discusses the ethics behind the DNA database, which has
been amassing since the mid 1990s. Authors Sheldon Krimsky & Tania Simoncelli voice concern
about the potentials for abuse of this system, stating that is not only the United States using this
method, and that the use of DNA evidence is not perfect and can lead to wrongful convictions
and abuse. "Genetic Justice" is a thoughtful and informative read about what is facing criminal
justice in the modern day and its relation to civil liberties.
Lives in the Balance
Charles C. Griffin & Collaborators
Brookings Institution Press
1775 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
9780815732891, $19.95, www.brookings.edu
When a country is on the verge of catching up to the modern world, every dollar counts. "Lives
in the Balance: Improving Accountability for Public Spending in Developing Countries"
discusses the importance for watching how a country spends its money when they are receiving
foreign aid. Too often money is lost to corruption, and Charles C. Griffin discusses how
countries can assert that this money goes to where it needs to go to make a difference. "Lives in
the Balance" is a vital discussion of developing countries and the money they need to succeed,
where how is more important than how much.
The Money/Finance Shelf
The Roth Revolution
James Lange
Morgan James
5 Penn Plaza, 23rd Floor, New York City, NY 10001
9781600378577, $19.95, www.morganjamespublishing.com
Taxes don't have to be an annual thing if you're smart. "The Roth Revolution: Pay Taxes Once
and Never Again" is a guide tot he Roth IRA, a special type of fund that one can pay taxes on
once and let grow freely and tax free for the rest of its existence. James Lange gives readers
everything they need to know to make a Roth IRA work for them and their families for the long
haul. For those who want to plan more effectively for a financial future, "The Roth Revolution"
is a fine resource, very highly recommended.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
The Age of Odin
James Lovegrove
Solaris
c/o BL Publishing
1525 Hulse Road, Unit 1, Pt. Pleasant, NJ 08742
9781907519413, $7.99, www.solarisbooks.com
When Ragnarok looms ahead, mortal soldiers will still be needed. "The Age of Odin" tells of
Gideon Coxall, an injured British Soldier who doesn't know much else. With nowhere to turn, he
joins Project Valhalla, and soon finds that his task isn't like any other, and that Norse mythology
will become all the more real to him very quickly. A gripping science fiction thriller, "The Age of
Odin" will prove hard to put down.
The Business Shelf
Entrepreneurial Solutions for Prosperity in BoP Markets
Eric Kacou
Wharton School Publishing
c/o Pearson Technology Group
Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458
9780137079261, $29.99, www.whartonsp.com
The crushing weight of the entire pyramid often prevents small businesses from getting
anywhere. "Entrepreneurial Solutions for Prosperity in BoP Markets: Strategies for Business and
Economic Transformation" discusses bottom-of-the-pyramid markets, where new small
businesses are often overwhelmed by the constant crisis they face in their market that they never
get the chance to succeed, when such businesses are vital for recovery of the overall economy.
Drawing on businesses around the world that have manage to break this barrier, "Entrepreneurial
Solutions for Prosperity in BoP Markets" is a thoughtful and recommended read for anyone who
may be entering such terms for their business.
The World History Shelf
Wonderful to Behold
Nicholas Bennett
Lincoln Record Society
c/o Boydell and Brewer
668 Mount Hope Avenue, Rochester, NY 14620-2731
9780901503886, $60.00, www.boydellandbrewer.com
If History is not maintained, it is quickly lost. "Wonderful to Behold: A Centenary History of the
Lincoln Record Society: 1910-2010" traces the history of this organization which has continued
to exist solely by those who seek to maintain their family history through out England's very long
history. A wide range of history dating back to medieval times produces a diverse collection of
history. Focusing on the history of the organization, its early years, the impact of the second
world war where the society struggled to maintain its existence, and remaining intact through the
second half of the focus period, "Wonderful to Behold" is an ideal pick for anyone with an eye
for importance of personal history.
The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf
Big Book of Marbles, fourth edition
Everett Grist & Lloyd Huffer
Collectors Books
PO Box 3009, Paducah, KY 42002-3009
9781574326925, $29.95, www.collectorbooks.com
These little balls have earned themselves quite the following. "Everett Grist's Big Book of
Marbles: A Comprehensive Identification & Value Guide for Both Antique and Machine-Made
Marbles" is a guide to the finest and most collect worthy marbles that have emerged over the
year, as collectors have become enraptured at the rarities and beauties that have been produced
over the past century. With plenty of full color photos and pricing for some of these rare works,
"Everett Grist's Big Book of Marbles" is a fine resource for any die-hard marble collector.
The Hunting/Fishing Shelf
The Secrets of St. Anthony's Creek
Mike Rahtz
Frank Amato Publications
PO Box 82112, Portland, OR 97282
9781571884664, $16.95, www.amatobooks.com
Fly fishing is a whole new game for many traditional fishermen. "The Secrets of St. Anthony's Creek: A Flyfisher's Manual" is a humorous guide from Mike Rahtz combing his own cartoons, humor, and information spread throughout, detailing the finer points of fly fishing. Informative as it is offbeat, "The Secrets of St. Anthony's Creek" is a choice and very highly recommended pick for any would be fly fisher.
The Gardening Shelf
The Undaunted Garden, second edition
Lauren Springer Ogden
Fulcrum Publishing
4690 Table Mountain Drive, Suite 100, Golden, CO 80403
9781555917074, $34.95, www.fulcrumbooks.com
The winter is the bane of many plants, but it doesn't mean natural beauty must die. "The
Undaunted Garden: Planting for Weather-Resilient Beauty" is a guide to making a garden that
can stand the test of the elements and their fickle nature. With design tips for the harshest regions
that can still support beautiful gardens and how to make them stand the test of time and the worst
winters, author Lauren Springer Ogden offers a guide with a slew of advice and plenty of full
color photographs. "The Undaunted Garden" is a must for anyone who doesn't think shorter days
must spell the end for their charming garden.
Basic Topiary
Dean and Geraldine Myers
Schiffer
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764336348, $16.99, www.schifferbooks.com
A garden can be a means of expression for one's home. "Basic Topiary: A Living Approach" is a
guide for turning one's bushes and foliage in their yard into something special and unique, as
Dean and Geraldine Myers give readers an excellent collection of ideas to shape their garden
using their bushes as well as potted plants and what tools to use to make their garden the best it
can be. For the creative gardener with the drive to do something special, "Basic Topiary" is a fine
and highly recommended pick.
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
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