 |
Book
Reviews,
Book Lover Resources, Advice for Writers and Publishers |
| Home / Library Bookwatch |
Library Bookwatch
Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
What's Next For You?
Robert Gussin & Patricia Gussin
Oceanview Publishing
61 Paradise Road, Ipswich, MA 01938
www.oceanviewpub.com
9781933515731, $13.50, www.amazon.com
Blending memoir with insights into the process of personal reinvention, "What's Next . . . For
You? The Gussin Guide to Big Changes, Big Decisions, and Big Fun" is the story of the Gussins,
a husband and wife who, after long successful professional career is in science and medicine
respectively, retired to establish themselves in totally new occupations as writers, publishers, and
even winemakers. In addition to their intrinsically fascinating autobiographies, "What Next For
You?" is also a compendium of sage insights and invaluable advice on how anyone can alter their
own lives to pursue a more fulfilling lifestyle or life goal. As informed and informative as it is
inspired and inspiring, "What Next For You?" is thoroughly 'reader friendly' and highly
recommended for community library Self-Help/Self-Improvement reference collections and
personal reading lists.
The Birth and Death of the Cool
Ted Gioia
Speck Press
4690 Table Mountain Dr., Ste. 100, Golden, CO 80403
9781933108315, $25.00, www.speckpress.com
Can cool become a thing of the past? "The Birth and Death of the Cool" discusses the concept of
cool and how it has been waning over the past few decades as it has become a tool of business
and other elements. Going over the history of cool and where society may be heading next, Ted
Gioia gives readers a fascinating read of cool. "The Birth and Death of the Cool" is a choice pick
for any cultural studies collection.
The Complete Guide To A Clutter-Free Home
Philip Schmidt
Creative Publishing International
c/o Quayside Publishing Group
400 First Avenue North, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1721
www.quaysidepublishinggroup.com
9781589234789, $24.99, www.amazon.com
Unless you live in a mansion (and maybe not even then), storage space is an every present
necessity to live an uncluttered life. That's why "The Complete Guide To A Clutter-Free Home"
by environmental activist and home improvement expert Philip Schmidt offers a wealth of
creative storage space ideas and projects dealing with this ever present need. Profusely
illustrated, thoroughly 'user friendly, step-by-step instructions enable even the most novice reader
to successfully create workable, practical, and sometimes downright ingenious solutions for
everything from under the stairs shelving, towel trousers, storage cubes, and more. There are
storage development ideas for every room of the house from basements to attics. Of special note
are the 'Tip' boxes offering novel building techniques. Ideal for any do-it-yourself enthusiast,
"The Complete Guide To A Clutter-Free Home" is highly recommended for personal and
community library reference collections.
The Library Science Shelf
Document Delivery and Interlibrary Loan on a Shoestring
Emily Knox
Neal-Schuman Publishers
100 Willian Street, Suite 2004, New York, NY 10038
9781555706784, $65.00, www.neal-schuman.com
Money is always an issue for libraries, but the things expected of a modern library often seem so
out of reach. "Document Delivery and Interlibrary Loan on a Shoestring" is a library science
guide for librarians who are trying to integrate these new features into their library without
spending bankrupting their coffers. A guide to every step of the journey and how to penny pinch
a lot of it, Emily Knox draws on her own experience and gives much legal advice that libraries
must face before fully embracing these services as another feature of their library. "Document
Delivery and Interlibrary Loan on a Shoestring" is a core acquisition for librarians who are faced
with that ever decreasing budget but still want to offer everything a library can.
Hiring, Training, and Supervising Library Shelvers
Patricia Tunstall
American Library Association
50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
9780838910108, $43.20, www.alastore.ala.org
Good help is hard to find, but it's easier when you know what to look out for. "Hiring, Training,
and Supervising Library Shelvers" is a guide for the librarian who is in charge of hiring help for
their place of work. With plenty of tips on what to look for in a good shelver, the procedures of
training, and what to do when you have to let someone go, "Hiring, Training, and Supervising
Library Shelvers" is a choice pick for library science collections.
Library Mashups
Nicole C. Engard, Editor
Information Today
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055
9781573873727, $39.50 www.infotoday.com
LIBRARY MASHUPS: EXPLORING NEW WAYS TO DELIVERY LIBRARY DATA is a
pick for any library seeking to keep their website dynamically up to date. From examples of
real-world library applications to the latest Web 2.0 tools for engaging library users, LIBRARY
MASHUPS is key to any collection appealing to library science students and practicing librarians
alike.
The Complete Library Technology Planner
John M. Cohn & Ann L. Kelsey
Neal-Schuman Publishers
100 William Street, Suite 2004, New York, NY 10038-4512
www.neal-schuman.com
9781555706814, $99.95, www.amazon.com
The modern library is dependent upon technology to provide a wide range of services to its
patrons. The collaborative work of John M. Cohn (Director of the Sherman H. Masten Learning
Resource Center, County College of Morris, Randolph, New Jersey) and Ann L. Kelsey (retired
Associate Director of the Learning Resource Center), "The Complete Library Technology
Planner: A Guidebook with Sample Technology Plans and RFPs on CD-ROM" is a 163-page
instruction manual that will enable librarians for community, school, and specialty libraries to
develop and implement a coherent and coordinated technology plan for their institutions.
Covering every aspect, "The Complete Library Technology Planner" will enable librarians to
define the scope of their plan, identify and addresses its purposes and funding requirements, and
set it all down on paper. Of special note is the five-step model plan that presents a plan
development from beginning to end. Enhanced with an accompanying CD-ROM offering more
than 35 time-saving, easily adaptable technology plan samples, "The Complete Library
Technology Planner" is highly recommended for Library Science curriculum reference resources
and engaged librarians for any working library system, private or public.
The Music Shelf
Canyon Of Dreams
Harvey Kubernick
Sterling Publishing Company
387 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016-8810
www.sterlingpublishing.com
9781402765896, $29.95, www.amazon.com
A lavishly illustrated insider's look at 80 years of music and culture in Laurel Canyon (located in
Southern California just outside of Los Angeles), the area was home to such music industry icons
as Sonny & Cher, The Doors, The Turtles, Canned Heat, Monkees, Byrds, Buffalo Springfield,
Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne; Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; Eagles, and Carole King.
Covering some 80 years of popular music associated with the composers and performers who
resided and worked in Laurel Canyon, "Canyon of Dreams: The Magic and the Music of Laurel
Canyon" is the collaborative effort of author Harvey Kubernik, editor Scott Calamar, and
photographer Diltz Henry. Profusely illustrated throughout, "Canyon of Dreams: The Magic and
the Music of Laurel Canyon" provides a detailed history of this unique musical community. Of
special note are the candidly informative interviews conducted with Laurel Canyon musicians.
From the story about the Eagles first performance, to Graham Nash's comments on life with Joni
Mitchell, to behind-the-scene insights into the formation of Guns N' Roses, "Canyon of Dreams:
The Magic and the Music of Laurel Canyon" is a unique and enthusiastically recommended
repository of stories that will fascinate and inform the reader, making this an outstanding
addition to personal, academic, and community library 20th Century American Music History
reference collections and supplemental reading lists.
Analyzing Jazz
Steve Larson
Pendragon Press
PO Box 190, Hillsdale, NY 12529
www.pendragonpress.com
9781576471869, $99.00, www.amazon.com
While jazz is an original American music, it has achieved and enduring world-wide popularity,
with improvisational jazz being considered its purest form of expression. It is also the subject to
theories originating with Heinrich Schenker with respect to such factors as melody, rhythm, and
harmony. In "Analyzing Jazz: A Schenkerian Approach", the latest title in the outstanding
Pendragon Press 'Harmononologia: Studies in Music Theory' series, musicologist Steve Larson
provides analytical transcriptions into musical notation for five recorded performances of the
classic jazz composition 'Round Midnight' by the legendary improvisational jazz musician
Theolonious Monk. Of these five, two are by Monk, one by Oscar Peterson, and two by Bill
Evans, allowing the jazz student to benefit from comparisons from three different musicians.
"Analyzing Jazz" is a 204-page compendium that should be a part of every professional and
academic 20th Century American Music History reference collection in general, and American
Jazz Studies curriculum supplemental reading list in particular.
25 Razor-Sharp Blues and Boogie Guitar Solos
Larry McCabe
Red Dog Music Books
PO Box 1074, Rocky Mount, VA 24151
www.reddogmusicbooks.com
9781934777022, $19.95, www.amazon.com
Whether acoustic or electric, the guitar has been and continues to be intimately associated with
blues, jazz, and country music. In whatever musical genre he plays in, Larry McCabe is a master
guitarist and performance educator. He's also the author of thoroughly 'user friendly' instruction
manuals for aspiring guitarists seeking to improve and perfect their technique. "25 Razor-Sharp
Blues and Boogie Guitar Solos" is McCabe's newest spiral bound book/CD combination with an
especial focus on 'electric urban' Chicago style' blues showcasing twenty five guitar solos. With
each individual solo fully transcribed in standard notation and tablature, the student guitarist
operating at an early intermediate level can easily play along with the companion CD
note-for-note. Of special value are the guitar phrases providing an informative introduction to
new hand positions and fingerings, as well as chords and theoretical concepts which can be
readily adapted into personally distinctive styles. Particularly noteworthy is the succinct advice
on 'Writing Your Own Variations And Solos'. In summary, Larry McCabe's "25 Razor-Sharp
Blues and Boogie Guitar Solos" is especially recommended for anyone seeking proficiency as a
creative blues guitarist and is an excellent supplemental addition to music school curriculums for
the guitar.
The Needlecraft Shelf
Beautiful Alphabet Applique
Zena Thorpe
American Quilter's Society
PO Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
www.aqsquilt.com
9781574326543, $22.95, www.amazon.com
One of the most elegant and eloquent of the needlecraft arts applique embellishments. They can
take a variety of forms tailored to specific subjects. In the case of "Beautiful Alphabet Applique",
needlecraft expert Zena Thorpe has created a beautifully and profusely illustrated 64-page
compendium of appliques for each letter of the alphabet. Of special value, especially for the
novice, are the general directions provided on the subjects of fabric, needle and thread, patterns,
placement, applique, bias binding, yo-yo circles, embroidery, sashing, and finishing. In addition
to applique embellishments for alphabet lettering is the special step-by-step illustrated
instructions for creating an LOVE wall-hanging. While an ideal and strongly recommended
instruction manual for the beginner, Zena Thorpe's "Beautiful Alphabet Applique" also has a
great deal of value for even the more experienced needlecrafter in providing inspiration for
making creative variations for alphabet appliques.
Fabric Embellishing
Ruth Chandler, et al.
Landauer Corporation
3100 NW 101st Street, Suite A, Urbandale, Iowa 50322
www.landauercorp.com
9780981804033, $29.95, www.amazon.com
There is a very special joy in taking fabrics and creating original, beautiful, decorative pieces of
needlecraft art. The collaborative effort of needlecraft experts and artists Ruth Chandler, Liz
Kettle, Heather Thomas, and Lauren Vlcek, "Fabric Embellishing: the Basics & Beyond: More
Than 50 Techniques With Step-by-step Photos" showcases with step-by-step, 'user friendly',
illustrated instructions for fifty different techniques organized into three specific categories:
Foundations; Soft Embellishments; and Hard Embellishments. Beginning with advice for getting
started with fabric embellishment projects, making a 'technique workbook', advice on equipment
and supplies, "Fabric Embellishment" covers a wide range of issues from fabric manipulation, to
embroidery, to the use of beads, metal, paper, and more. Of special note are foam fabrications,
edge burning, melting and scoring. Enhanced with the inclusion of a list of thematically
appropriate resources, "Fabric Embellishing" is an ideal introduction for the novice, with a great
deal of practical and inspirational value for even the more experienced needlecrafter.
The Writing/Publishing Shelf
Writing And Publishing
Carol Smallwood, editor
ALA Editions
c/o American Library Association
50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
www.alastore.ala.org
9780838909966, $65.00, www.amazon.com
Most community libraries have some form of newsletter designed to provide information to their
patrons. Often these newsletters are the responsibility of an associated 'Friends of the Library'
group. Along with such information as operating hours, book sales, special events like summer
reading programs, and introductory bios of library staff members, are lists of books newly
arrived. One of the most useful things such newsletters can afford the public is the inclusion of
reviews for these new arrivals. That's why "Writing And Publishing: The Librarians' Handbook"
by professional author and editor Carol Smallwood will prove to be such an invaluable
instructional reference and resource with its succinct and thoroughly 'user friendly' information
on how to write book reviews for not only library newsletters, but library websites, librarian and
personal blogs, online book review columns, and more. Whether writing formal or informal book
reviews, from getting started to writing with others as a joint project, to compiling bibliographies
to creating news releases to writing on specific subjects, "Writing And Publishing" is an ideal
224-page compendium of practical information that will prove indispensable for the novice and
provide a great deal of value for seasoned professionals as well.
The Making of a Story
Alice LaPlante
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393337082 $18.95 www.wwnorton.com
Alice LaPlante pours her fifteen years of experience as a writer and educator into The Making of
a Story, a solid and instructional guide to writing, from inspiration to the process of getting ideas
on paper to editing and refining one's work. Presented in a format that lends to being read straight
through or used as a reference tool in response to specific issues, The Making of a Story is
accessible, user-friendly, packed with examples and an all-around solid pick for aspiring writers
everywhere. "One good way to think about openings is to think in terms of balance. Either things
are out of kilter, or they will soon be; there's an imbalance, or a missing link, some mystery about
what is happening that draws us into the story. It can be subtle... but it has to be there."
Writers And Their Notebooks
Diana M. Raab, editor
University of South Carolina Press
718 Devine Street, Columbia, SC 29208
9781570038662 $24.95 www.sc.edu/uscpress 1-800-768-2500
Writers And Their Notebooks is an anthology of essays by established and professional writers,
discussing the value of simple notebooks to collect ideas, play around with words, discover new
insights into evoking emotion with language, and much more. From sample journal entries that
evolved into published pieces, to valuable advice for aspiring writers, to individual approaches to
notebook keeping and much more, Writers And Their Notebooks is filled with tips, tricks, and
techniques for getting creative juices flowing. An excellent supplementary reference for any
would-be writer's shelf.
The Elements of Subtitles
D. Bannon
Privately Published
9780557130726, $14.95
Language is a hard thing to show through text alone, especially when you have dialogue and nothing else. The Elements of Subtitles discusses translating and subtitling modern media and explains that subtitles need to be more than literal translations, and need to truly grasp the nature of the subject. The Elements of Subtitles is a must for anyone who wants to get into the world of translation or simply gain an understanding of why things are done the way they are with foreign media. Practical, user friendly, and replete with illustrative examples, The Elements Of Subtitles will prove to be of immense and practical value for anyone engaged in translating written expressions from other languages into English.
Girl in a Library
Kelly Chery
BkMk Press
5101 Rockhill Road, Kansas City, MO 64110
9781886157668, $16.95, www.umkc.edu/bkmk
Writing is a key way of expressing oneself. "Girl in a Library: On Women Writers & the Writing
Life" reflects on the writing life and how women's face unique and special challenges that
women writers pursuing writing as a career, and the unique lifestyle that comes with this pursuit.
Profound and poignant writing which has much for readers to read into and relate to, "Girl in a
Library" is a worthwhile addition to any memoir collection focusing on the trade and life of
writing.
Bang The Keys
Jill Dearman
Alpha Books
c/o Penguin Publishing Group
375 Hudson Street, NY, NY 10014-3658
www.penguin.com
9781592579143, $16.95, www.amazon.com
Writing, whether it's the next 'Great American Novel' or an article for a local magazine or
newsletter, begins with an idea that must be arranged into an orderly presentation that will
interest, involve, and engage the reader. That's why "Bang The Keys" by writing coach
and editor Jill Dearman is such an invaluable instructional resource for the novice writer, with an
enduring and practical value for even the more experienced author. Beginning with a four-step
writing process; then proceeding with setting writing hours and goals, "Bang The Keys" covers
such diverse factors, tools, and aids as the use of a 'writing buddy', meditation, writing journals,
the natural structure of a story, utilizing dreams, writing an ending and working through a story
backwards to the beginning, meeting deadlines, and so much more. Enhanced with an extensive
ten page resource guide and a comprehensive index, "Bang The Keys" is a thoroughly 'user
friendly', highly recommended and highly rewarding read.
The Art Shelf
Marie Louise von Motesiczky
Ines Schlenker
Hudson Hills Press
PO Box 205, 74-2 Union Street, Manchester, VT 05254
www.hudsonhills.com
9781555953225, $150.00, www.amazon.com
By the time of her death in 1996, European artist Marie Louise von Motesiczky had created more
than 300 paintings and several hundred drawings in a career that stretched back some seventy
years. Considered to be one of Austria's premier artists of the 20th Century, Marie Louise von
Motesiczky's primary subjects for her paintings were portraits (including self-portraits and
still-life images). "Marie Louise von Motesiczky" is a biography of this remarkable artists
eventual life and career by Ines Schlenker who has the distinct advantage of being a researcher at
the Marie-Louise von Motesiczky Charitable Trust. Profusely and beautifully illustrated
throughout out from her first oil painting "Vase of Flowers" that she created in 1924 at the age of
17, to "Still-Life", a work of the same them that she was working on in 1996 shortly before she
died, "Marie Louise von Motesiczky" is a 560-page, superbly composed compendium of
information and example that is the definitive work on her life and work, making it a seminal and
enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library 20th
Century Art History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.
Art Of The Shoemaker
M. de Garsault, author
D. A. Saguto, translator
Texas Tech University Press
PO Box 41037, Lubbock, TX 79409-1037
www.ttup.ttu.edu
9780896726505, $65.00, www.amazon.com
In an era predating the industrial revolution and the mass production of footwear, shoes were
hand crafted one at a time. in 18th century Paris and London there were thousands and thousands
of shoemakers who labored at the craft with creating shoes by hand, sometimes transforming
ordinary footwear into works of wearable art with their basic tools and materials. With the
coming of mass production technologies, the personal art of shoemaking was in danger of being
lost because the costs of handcrafted footwear was seriously disadvantaged with the far cheaper
footwear mass produced in factory settings. That's why "M. de Garsault's 1767 Art of the
Shoemaker: An Annotated Translation" (part of the Texas Tech University Press 'Costume
Society of America Series' series is such an invaluable resource and reference. Ably translated
and with informative annotations by D. A. Saguto (a master boot- and shoemaker for the
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation since 1990 and a leader authority on 18th century footware),
"Art Of The Shoemaker" is a 304-page compendium of information on all the techniques and
tools involved in hand-making shoes. Enhanced with a facsimile of the original French text,
impressive illustrations, a glossary of 18th century terms, translations of other thematically
relevant 18th-century commentaries on shoemaking, and an extensive bibliography for further
studies, "Art Of The Shoemaker" is strongly recommended for both academic and community
library Fashion History reference collections, and the supplemental reading lists for students of
18th century period costuming.
Animation
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Disney Editions
114 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10011-5690
9781423117162, $50.00, www.amazon.com
The artists and 'imagineers' of the Walt Disney Studios have always been at the forefront of
animation technology and set constantly rising standards of excellence for all other animation
studios and artists to aspire to. Now in a illustrative 272-page compendium, that Disney flair for
animation is documented with hundreds of working sketches from Disney artists ranging from
Ub Iwerks, to Fred Moore, to Ward Kimball, to Tony Bancroft, and so many others. Drawn from
the archives of the Walt Disney Animation Research Library, "Animation" is an informative and
profusely exampled sampling of the visual magic that is the enduring and justified Disney claim
to fame for the last three generations and well into the foreseeable future! "Animation" is
especially recommended for personal, professional, art school, and community library Art
History reference collections.
Speed: Art 2003-2009
A. M. Homes & Julie Speed
University of Texas Press
PO Box 7819, Austin, TX 78713-7819
www.utexaspress.com
9780292719941, $55.00, www.amazon.com
Julie Speed is a distinctively American artist whose approach to paintings, collages, and
drawings is a kind of realism that is impacted with a unique blend of visual humor and
foreboding. Her work embodies the detailed excellences of the Dutch Masters with an avant
garde bohemian flair for incorporating ironic and iconoclastic elements of current events.
Compiled with contributions by author A. M. Holmes, an informative essay by art curator
Elizabeth Ferrer, and beautifully reproduced images of Julie Speed's work from the past six
years, "Speed: Art, 2003-2009" is clearly a significant and strongly recommended addition to
personal, professional, academic, and community library Contemporary American Art History
reference collections and supplemental studies lists.
Gaston La Touche
Selina Baring Maclennan
Antique Collectors' Club
c/o ACC Distribution
6 West 18th Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10011
www.antiquecc.com
9781851496020, $65.00, www.amazon.com
Working during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Gaston La Touch was an impressionist
painter that is just now emerging from decades of obscurity to be appreciated for his techniques
and images that range through a wide diversity of subjects from genre paintings, to balls and
fetes, to parks and fireworks, to landscapes, portraits, and mythology. This deftly written,
superbly produced, and profusely illustrated compendium of the life and work of Gaston La
Touch is the result of seventeen years of meticulous and original research. That's why "Gaston La
Touche: A Painter Of Belle Epoque Dreams" by Selina Baring Maclennan is such a superbly
informative and highly recommended addition for personal, academic, and community library
European Art History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.
The Biography Shelf
Theodore Roosevelt Hunter-Conservationist
R. L. Wilson
Boone and Crockett Club Collection
250 Station Drive, Missoula, MT 59801
www.booneandcrockettclub.com
978094086469X, $99.95, 1-888-840-4868
Theodore Roosevelt was perhaps the single most conservation oriented president America has
ever had. He launched what would become an American original -- the Federal Park system. His
appreciation of the outdoor life took root when he adventured west as a young man and his desire
for outdoor adventure never left him. A consummate sportsman and naturalist, his books and
ideas have been appreciated by every new generation of hunters, campers, fisherman, hikers, and
outdoor enthusiasts. Now historian and author R. L. Wilson has written and compiled a written a
superbly and profusely illustrated biography of the 26th President who has come to represent a
dedication to conservation and environmental issues that is nothing short of inspirational. In
crafting this 296-page compendium, Wilson draws upon original documents and historical
images from diverse archives of Roosevelt papers ranging from Harvard University and the
Library of Congress to the Sagamore Hill National Historic Site and the Theodore Roosevelt
Birthplace Historic Site to chronicle and document an extraordinary man whose influence and
ideals continue to influence our perception the great out-of-doors and all it has to offer by way of
appreciation and responsibility for the adventurous of heart. Enthusiastically recommended for
academic and community library collections, "Theodore Roosevelt Hunter Conservationist" is
also available in a paperback edition (9780940864528, $39.95).
Arctic Scientist, Gulag Survivor
A. M. Ermolaev & V. D. Dibner
University of Calgary Press
2500 University Drive, N.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4
www.uofcpress.com
9781552382561, $44.95, www.amazon.com
Expertly translated and edited by William Barr (Research Fellow, Arctic Institute of North
America), "Arctic Scientist, Gulag Survivor: The Biography of Mikhail Mikhailovich Ermolaev,
1905-1991" is the personal history of one of the Soviet Union's premier Arctic scientists of the
1920s and 1930s. A geologist, physicist, and oceanographer, Ermolaev worked in the Arctic for
thirteen years before being arrested by the Russian secret police, convicted of 'sabotage', and
incarcerated in the Gulag for ten years where he barely survived a year of hard labor in a remote
lumber camp. He was then charged with extending the railroad to coal mines in the far flung
reaches of northeast Russia. This was followed by he and his family being exiled to Syktyvkar
and Arkhangel'sk. Amazingly, he was to resume his academic career and establish a new
Department of the Geography of the Oceans at Kaliningrad State University. This is an amazing
biography of life during the worst oppressions of the communist state, it is also an invaluable
testament to the resilience of a gifted man during extraordinary times who was able to
overcoming severe and life-threatening hardship. Enhanced with family photographs, "Arctic
Scientist, Gulag Survivor" is informed, informative, thoughtful, thought-provoking, and a
critically important addition to both academic and community library Biography collections.
Ghostbread
Sonja Livingston
The University of Georgia Press
330 Research Drive, Athens, GA 30602-4901
9780820333984, $24.95, www.ugapress.com
Why do the poor stay poor? "Ghostbread" is a memoir through the avenue of creative nonfiction
from Sonja Livingston, as she reflects on her life as the seventh and youngest child of a single
mother. Following her mother and family through many homes and not so homes, she reflects on
why she believes so many find the cycle of poverty so hard to break. Poignant and touching, as
well as somewhat tragic, "Ghostbread" is a fine read that many readers will be empowered
by.
The Environmental Studies Shelf
The Spirit of Sustainability
Willis Jenkins, editor
Berkshire Publishing Group
120-122 Castle Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230-1506
www.berkshirepublishing.com
9781933782157, $135.00, www.amazon.com
One of the core issues and concerns of the modern conservation movement is the concept of
'sustainability', the ability of the environment to sustain and maintain its ecological systems for
both flora and fauna. Under the capable editorship of Willis Jenkins, the Berkshire Publishing
Group has published "The Spirit Of Sustainability", the first volume of their 'Berkshire
Encyclopedia of Sustainability'. This 469-page compendium focuses on the moral issues and
social practices related to the concept of environmental sustainability and draws from
thematically appropriate religious, philosophical, and ethical issues. Covering germane
professional practices and social movements, "The Spirit Of Sustainability" also describes and
addresses issues of ecological integrity, human values, economics, social justice, and what the
present owes to insuring the future. Each encyclopedic entry is enhanced with the inclusion of a
succinct bibliography for further reading and study. The product of numerous and highly
qualified contributors, "The Spirit Of Sustainability" is a seminal project of immense value and
strongly recommended for personal, professional, academic, and community library
Environmental Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.
Trinity
Charles Bowden & Michael P. Berman
University of Texas Press
PO Box 7819, Austin, TX 78713-7819
www.utexaspress.com
9780292719866, $55.00, www.amazon.com
The desert country of the American southwest has impacted upon the international relationship of
Mexico and the U.S. for more than 200 years. Today the area is prominently impacted by
environmental degradation, political turmoil, the smuggling of people and drugs, and yet still
presents the haunting and haunted beauty of the desert that continues to endure despite all that
has been done and continues to be done by way of human greed upon its ecological fragility.
"Trinity" is a 288-page compendium comprised of Charles Bowden's informed and informative
text with Michael P. Berman's superbly crafted photography. Enhanced with the inclusion of
extensive notes and a bibliography, "Trinity" is strongly recommended for academic and
community library Environmental Studies reference collections, as well as the supplemental
reading lists for environmentalists, policy makers, and the non-specialist general reader with an
interest in the geology, flora and fauna of the American Southwest.
The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf
Mack Sennett's Fun Factory
Brent E. Walker
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
9780786436101, $125.00, www.amazon.com
In the 'Golden Age' of silent movies, Mack Sennett was famous for both the quality and the
quantity of his physical comedy films. He co-founded Keystone Studios and his 'Keystone Cops'
became an icon as he produced, directed, wrote, and/or was featured in more than a thousand
movies beginning in 1908 and continuing to delight audiences as the 'talkies' took over the
motion picture industry, and worked as a successful filmmaker with his final production taking
place in 1955. In "Mack Sennett's Fun Factory", film historian Brent E. Walker has compiled and
published an impressively detailed 671-page compendium comprising an exhaustive and
chronologically presented filmography. Of special note is Walker's historical overview of Mack
Sennett's enduring contributions to the film industry. Also included are biographies of Keystone
and Mack Sennett Studio Personnel. Enhanced with numerous illustrations, a section of chapter
notes, an extensive bibliography, and an index, "Mack Sennett's Fun Factory" is a welcome and
seminal addition that should be a core part of personal, academic, and community library
American Film History reference collections.
The Library DVD Shelf
A Sea Change
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547
$295.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com
Winner of the Grand Prize of the FICA International Environmental Film Festival, A Sea Change
is a harrowing documentary on DVD that reveals just how drastically human impact has changed
the world's oceans. Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, there has been a 30%
increase in oceanic acidification; scientists nearly unanimously believe that burning fossil fuels is
transforming the chemistry of the world's waters. If carbon dioxide emissions steadily increase
and oceanic acidity continues to rise, most of the world's fisheries could collapse completely, and
be unrecoverable for millions of years. Framed by the protagonist Sven Huseby seeking to
explain the changes in the ocean's ecosystem to his oldest grandchild Elias, A Sea Change is both
emotionally powerful and scientifically supported in its dire warnings. Highly recommended. 85
minutes, SDH Captions.
Ride Around the World
Image Entertainment
20525 Nordhoff Street, Suite 200, Chatsworth, CA 91311-6104
www.image-entertainment.com www.ridearoundtheworld.com
$19.98 DVD $24.98 Blu-ray
Originally produced for exhibition in IMAX theaters, Ride Around the World is an
award-winning DVD documentary about the 1,200-year history of the cowboy. From the
cowboy's origins in Spanish and Moroccan history, to their transition to the New World, and the
rodeos and shows that help preserve and celebrate their cowboy way of life today, Ride Around
the World is a breathtaking appreciation of the people and their partner horses who have labored
throughout history to look after cattle. Bonus features include a trivia quiz and a making-of
featurette. Also available in a Blu-ray version, Ride Around the World is the perfect gift for
cowboy fans everywhere and an excellent addition to public library DVD collections. 40 min.
plus 23 min. featurette.
Step-by-Step BellyDance with Leilainia
Acacia
8515 Georgia Avenue Suite 650, Silver Spring, MD 20910
$16.99 acacialifestyle.com
Expert bellydancer Leilainia walks the viewer through the graceful, sexy, and fat-burning moves
of bellydance in Step-by-Step BellyDance with Leilainia, an introductory DVD to this sensual
and adventurous dance style. A tutorial guides one to the basics of bellydance; then the viewer is
free to try one, two, or all three of the 15-minute dance combinations. Bellydance moves work
the quads, glutes, arms, and back muscles in this enjoyable addition to dance instruction or
fitness DVD libraries. 57 minutes, widescreen. Also highly recommended for fitness DVD
libraries is "Fit in 5: Ultimate Body Blitz" ($16.99).
Give Me 10!
Amy Dixon
411 Video Information (publicity)
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$19.99 www.411videoinfo.com www.amydixonfitness.com
Celebrity fitness trainer Amy Dixon presents Give Me 10!, a DVD packed with five, efficient
10-minute workouts that can be taken as a whole or individually squeezed into slices of one's
busy day. The workouts are Fat Blasting Cardio, Upper Body Sculpt, Lower Body Firmer, Core
Makeover, Yoga Stretch & Flex, and a bonus segment, KettleBell ToneUp. Though 3-5 pound
dumbbells (for beginners) or 5-8 pound dumbbells (for those with a little more experience) are
recommended, no other equipment is required, for these energetic and lively exercise sessions.
Give Me 10! is an excellent choice and a great way to work fitness into one's busy routine. 61
minutes, stereo.
Dance Off the Inches: Dance It Off & Firm Up!
Bethany Lyons
Anchor Bay Entertainment
2401 West Big Beaver road, Suite 200, Troy, MI 48084-3304
$14.98 www.anchorbayentertainment.com
Dance Off the Inches: Dance It Off & Firm Up! is an invigorating exercise DVD featuring a
dance workout by expert fitness instructor Bethany Lyons. Featuring three twelve-minute,
fat-blasting dances (two promote a cardio workout, the third includes toning work), Dance Off
the Inches is a user-friendly workout program intended for use by fitness enthusiasts of all ages
and experience levels - even those who are just starting to get into shape. A great addition to
high-energy workout collections. 44 minutes plus 13-minute step guide.
Michael Jackson
Rock City
c/o MVD Entertainment Group
PO Box 280, Oaks, PA 19456
$14.95 www.MVDb2b.com 1-800-888-0486
Michael Jackson: The Life and Times of the King of Pop 1958-2009 is a DVD documentary of
the last days and memorial service of famous singer, performer, and entertainer Michael Jackson.
Born to a working-class family in the Midwest, Jackson earned legendary fame at his peak; he
leaved behind a widely beloved musical legacy. Appearances at his memorial service included
Usher, Janet Jackson, the Jacksons, Brooke Shields, Magic Johnson, Rev. Al Sharpton, Stevie
Wonder, Lionel Richie, and more. A fitting tribute to the so-called "King of Pop", and a
must-have for Michael Jackson fans.
Prima Ballerina
Featuring Ulyana Lopatkina & Svetlana Zakharova
First Run Features
630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 1213, New York, NY 10036
$24.95 www.firstrunfeatures.com
Prima Ballerina is a documentary portrait of two modern-day icons of Russian ballet: Svetlana
Zakharova of the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, and Ulyana Lopatkina of the Mariinsky Theater in
Saint Petersburg. Each has her own distinctive style; both are possessed of stellar grace and
beauty. Prima Ballerina includes interviews with Zakharova and Lopatkina, interviews with their
fellow dancers, coaches, and dance critics, as well as unforgettable sequences from classics such
as Swan Lake, Scheherazade, Sleeping Beauty, The Legend of Love, and more. Prima Ballerina a
beautiful and inspirational portrait of the best of the best of a high art form, and an absolute
"must-have" for anyone who loves ballet. 52 minutes, color, Russian with English subtitles.
Secrets of the Dead: Killer Flu
PBS Home Video
c/o SSA Public Relations
15260 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1730, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
0793695015 $29.98 www.shopPBS.org
Secrets of the Dead: Killer Flu is the true-life documentary of the 1918-1920 influenza pandemic
that ripped through the world's population, claiming an estimated 40 million victims - roughly
four times the number of fatalities from the First World War. This pandemic was unusual in that
it primarily killed young people with healthy immune systems, rather than the very young, very
old, and those with compromised immune systems. Where did this strain of the flu come from,
and why was it so lethal? Modern scientific researchers strive to answer these questions, not only
for posterity, but also to better prepare against the threat of modern-day flu pandemics. An
absorbing and educational documentary, highly recommended especially for public library
collections. 60 minutes, widescreen.
Herbs & Spices
Paulette Mitchell, host
Learning ZoneXPress
PO Box 1022, Owatonna, MN 55060
1571758364 $49.95 www.learningzoneexpress.com 1-888-455-7003
Cookbook author Paulette Mitchell hosts Herbs & Spices, an educational DVD for grade 6 to
adult viewers about how to use various herbs and spices to add flavor and zest to one's cooking.
From the difference between robust and tender herbs, to creating dishes such as Herb-Roasted
Vegetables, Caprese Salad, Basil Pesto and Pesto Butter, Herbs & Spices is an excellent
introduction to refining basic cooking skills. Highly recommended especially for viewing in
Home Economics classrooms and during study halls. 18 minutes, closed-captioned.
A Sense of Wonder
Directed by Christopher Monger
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547
$250.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com
Shot in HD by Oscar-winning cinematographer Haskell Wexler, A Sense of Wonder is a
documentary about the trailblazing environmentalist Rachel Carson (publisher of Silent Spring in
1962), who called to task the chemical industry, the government, and the press as she strived to
bring her message to Congress and the American people. Even in her final years as she fought a
personal battle with cancer, she never gave up the struggle to protect the natural world. Special
features include comments from contemporary environmental leaders about the challenges to
come, a visit with former Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall, a visit with Carson's adopted
son Roger, and much more. A Sense of Wonder is more than an environmental documentary; it is
the portrait of a strong and successful woman who made it her life's work to be an advocate for
the natural world. Highly recommended. 55 minutes, SDH captions.
Homo Toxicus
Written and Directed by Carole Poliquin
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547
$295.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com
An educational film ideal for viewers in grades 10 and up (including college students and adults),
Homo Toxicus is a thought-provoking documentary about the side effects upon humankind of
daily exposure to industrial compounds. Consistent, low-level exposure to chemicals through the
food we eat, the air we breathe, or contact with our skin has the potential to cause health
problems ranging from cancer to allergies, hyperactivity, and infertility. Homo Toxicus is
ultimately a wake-up call about the immediate need for more stringent regulations to protect
humankind as well as the environment from the deleterious effects of man-made chemical
pollutants. Highly recommended. 88 and 52 minute versions, plus eight interviews, SDH
captioned.
All In This Tea
Directed by Les Blank and Gina Leibrecht
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547
$275.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com
Co-directors Les Blank and Gina Leibrecht present All In This Tea, the true-life documentary of
one man's struggle to make the increasingly modernized nation of China aware of the value of its
ancient tea-making crafts. American tea importer David Lee Hoffman has traveled to meet
Tibetan monks in Nepal (and befriended the Dalai Lama), and coped with complicated Chinese
business codes as well as language barriers in his efforts. His mission to convince the Chinese
themselves that their traditional tea making crafts produce better tea than any factory, and that the
ways of ancient tea makers should be remembered and preserved, makes for a fascinating saga of
the importance of remembering one's roots no matter how drastically the world changes. Highly
recommended. 70 minutes, closed captioned.
Jake's Corner
Monterey Media Inc.
566 St. Charles Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360-3901
9781569943496 $26.95 www.montereymedia.com 1-800-424-2593
Inspired by a true story, Jake's Corner is a movie set in a small rest stop for travelers crossing the
harsh Arizona desert. Ex-football star Johnny Dunn left the game early in his career to live a
quiet life, but his world is turned upside down when he is suddenly responsible for his young
nephew Spence. The boy's innocence transforms this small town of adults, who get to teach him
more about the world even as they learn from him. A heartwarming narrative, enhanced with a
"behind the scenes" bonus feature, Jake's Corner is highly recommended for personal movie
collections and as an enjoyable gift. 97 min., rated PG.
Infinity: The Ultimate Trip
A film by Jay Weidner
Sacred Mysteries Distribution
PO Box 1146, Ashland, OR 97520
sales@sacredmysteries.com
$24.95 www.sacredmysteries.com
Infinity: The Ultimate Trip is a DVD exploring the question: what happens to us after we die?
Does oblivion await, or is there something else beyond? Testimony fromexperts such as Gregg
Braden, Dannion Brinkley, Dzogchen Ponlop and many more for the core of this intriguing
presentation, which offers surprising hope and insight into what mysteries might lie beyond the
veil. Gorgeous imagery, personal accounts of near-death experiences and reincarnation, and more
round out this incredible presentation that offers a remarkable level of optimism and hope to
viewers of all backgrounds. 90 min. Also highly recommended for metaphysical studies shelves
is "Sophia Returning: The Path to Planetary Tantra" (60 min.), a study of the wisdom nestled
within the ancient Gnostic sects of Europe.
Kimberly Fowler's The No OM Zone Yoga Workouts
411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$14.95 www.411videoinfo.com www.TheNoOMZone.com
Kimberly Fowler's The No OM Zone Yoga Workouts is a fitness DVD designed to make yoga
workouts accessible to all viewers - neither superhuman flexibility nor endless chanting are
required! The No OM Zone consists of three fifteen-minute workouts, each focusing on a
different portion of the body - the upper body, the core, and the lower body. Former pro
triathlete, cancer survivor, and motivational speaker Kimberly Fowler is the viewer's guide to this
fun and easy-to-follow introduction to the benefits of a solid yoga workout. 53 minutes 25
seconds.
The Path of the Wind
Vision Video
PO Box 540, Worcester, PA 19490-0540
$19.99 www.visionvideo.com 1-800-523-0226
The Path of the Wind is a dramatic movie about the difficulties of starting a new life in the wake
of past mistakes. After serving a ten-year prison sentence, Lee Ferguson (played by Joe Rowley)
returns to the small town he once called home, in hope of living a simple life. When he rescues
Katie (Liz DuChez) from attack, he begins to have and share feelings with her - but the malicious
plots of a coworker and the violence in his past threaten to destroy any hope of stability. Lee
must make a difficult choice, and decide to what lengths he is willing to take his quest for
personal redemption. A moving saga, The Path of the Wind is wholly recommended to both teen
and adult viewers. 103 minutes, English subtitles.
America's Living Constitution
MicroWerks
2042-A Armacost Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90025
Infinity Entertainment Group (publicity)
$9.98 vicki@greenleafandassociates.com
Featuring a meticulous index for ease of use, America's Living Constitution: An Oral
Presentation of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights is a DVD featuring professional narrators
reading aloud the text of two of America's most important historical documents - the Constitution
and the Bill of Rights. This oral presentation of the cornerstones of America's foundation and
core principles is further enhanced with a bonus slideshow section of America's most beloved
monuments. An inexpensive yet invaluable contribution to American history DVD shelves, and
an excellent choice for public school, library, or even home schooling collections. 53 min.
For the Love of Movies
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547
$295.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com
For the Love of Movies: The Story of American Film Criticism is an extraordinary documentary
about the art of reviewing movies as practiced in America. Featuring commentary from some of
America's most notable and popular critics including Roger Ebert (The Chicago Sun-Times),
A.O. Scott (The new York Times), Lisa Schwarzbaum (Entertainment Weekly), and Kenneth
Turan (The Los Angeles Times), For the Love of Movies traces criticism from its origins
alongside film to the modern day competition between online blogs and established print
journalism. A particularly fascinating documentary for seasoned film buffs, For the Love of
Movies is highly recommended. 80 min. (plus -40 min. bonus interviews & scenes), English and
Spanish subtitles, widescreen.
American Experience: The 1930s
PBS Home Video
c/o SSA Public Relations
15260 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1730, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
9781608831210 $39.99 www.shopPBS.org
American Experience: The 1930's is an anthology of documentaries on DVD reflecting upon
America's history during the turbulent 1930's, an era best known for the crushing impact of the
Great Depression. Individual programs examine the stock market crash of 1929 and the dire
consequences of unrestrained economic optimism; the creation of the Civilian Conservation
Corps (including personal testimonies from CCC veterans), the story of the Hoover Dam that
brought electricity and water to millions in the western U.S., the struggles of American farmers
during the severe dust bowl "blizzards" of 1931, and even the remarkable accomplishments of
the gifted thoroughbred Seabiscuit. Printable materials for educators round out this excellent and
informative collection, ideal for public library DVD shelves. 5 DVDs, 4.5 hours. "The Civilian
Conservation Corps" is also available as a stand-alone DVD (9781608831234, $24.99).
Hitler's Bodyguard
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
www.acornmedia.com
AMP-8354, $79.99, www.amazon.com
The memory Adolf Hitler leaves exists in infamy for most, and hero worship for a few. He was
the principle architect for the horror resulting in the deaths of more than 16 millions people
throughout Europe and which was only concluded by his suicide in 1945 as the nation he led fell
into the ruin and devastation of World War II. What is not so well known is that Hitler was also
the target of numerous assassination attempts, more than 40 of them, over the 25 years that he led
the Nazi party. To protect his personal safety an ever expanding network of bodyguards
developed. This is the story documented and illustrated by the thirteen episode DVD boxed set
"Hitler's Bodyguards" now available from the Acorn Media Group. Combining archival footage,
period photography, captured SS documents, and eyewitness interviews, and computer generated
illustrations, this 661 minute documentary provides a wealth of insider information into the rise of
Hitler's security services, how his unpredictable patterns of movement, his diverse strongholds,
and his transport security measures aided in his physical survival. Of special note is the detailed
background into the suitcase bomb smuggled into a high command meeting in the Wolf's Lair
that came closet to ending his life and which did result in serious and enduring physical
wounding. Enhanced with the inclusion of a 20-page viewer's guide, a 'Killing Hitler in the
Movies' filmography, photo galleries, and SDH subtitles, "Hitler's Bodyguard" is a very highly
recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library World War II reference
collections and supplemental viewing lists.
The Business Shelf
The Art Of Mastering Sales Management
Thomas A. Cook
CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487
www.crcpress.com
9781420090758, $59.95, www.amazon.com
The commercial world, once the province of locally owned family enterprises, is now dominated by the corporation. This is partly due to the evolving nature of commerce which is now global in orientation, partly from technological advancements in production, distribution, and communication, partly from increasingly sophisticated developments in management skills. That's why "The Art of Mastering Sales Management" by Thomas A. Cook (Adjunct Professor, World Trade Institute of Pace University, New York) is such a timely and appreciated instruction manual in which 'real-world' principles and practices of exemplary and practical salesmanship are laid out. But more than just a 'how to' guide for increasing salesmen effectiveness, "The Art Of Mastering Sales" identifies and analyzes world trends influencing what Cook so accurately describes as the 'art of selling'. Of special note is a proposed daily routine for developing and practicing effective selling habits. Articulate, insightful, practical, and offering a wealth of tips and techniques, "The Art Of Mastering Sales Management" is especially recommended reading for anyone engaged in a commercial enterprise of any kind or category.
The Military Shelf
British Destroyers
Norman Friedman
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD 21402
www.navalinstitute.org
9781591140818, $85.00, www.amazon.com
It could well be argued that Great Britain, as the premier sea power as a global empire, began its
decline after World War II when the U.S. achieved its own world-wide naval preeminence. In
"British Destroyers: From Earliest Days to the Second World War, military history and naval
analyst Norman Friedman presents his many years of research in providing an original and
meticulous history of the British Royal Navy's combat ship, the destroyer. Beginning with its
predecessors and prototypes from the 1880s through the First World War and on to the 1930s
before turning the focus on British destroyers during the Second World War, this compendium is
superbly enhanced with numerous photographs as well as accurately detailed ship plans drawn by
A. D. Baker III. Of special note is the development of the torpedo as both an offensive and
defensive naval weapon and hallmark of destroyer armaments. Of considerable interest is the
history of how the British utilized American provided destroyers. With a select bibliography,
extensive notes, a Data List of ship specifications, a listing of the ships with their building dates
and ultimate fates, and a comprehensive index, "British Destroyers: From Earliest Days to the
Second World War" is a seminal contribution to personal, academic, and community library
Military Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.
In the Company of Generals
Pierpont L. Stackpole
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Boulevard, Columbia, MO 65201
9780826218704 $34.95 www.umsystem.edu/upress
In the Company of Generals: The World War I Diary of Pierpont L. Stackpole is the diary of a
Boston lawyer who, in January of 1918, served as an aide to Lieutenant General Hunter Liggett,
the man who would command the first American corps in France. Now published for the first
time, Stackpole's diary offers an excellent, firsthand account of the American Expeditionary
Forces' service on the western front during World War I. Stackpole was a sharp observer, taking
note on everything from the workings of his superior's commands to ordinary day-to-day
business, to sorting through confusing situations. In the Company of Generals is particularly
valuable for its insightful portrait of Liggett, a veteran of Indian wars who successfully took note
of changes in warfare more than many other American officers, and thus was better prepared for
the revolutions in how battlers were waged in 1914-1918. Liggett's frustration at the outdated
notions and tactics of some of his fellow officers are also preserved, in this singularly fascinating
glimpse into not only one man's war experiences, but also a piece of the evolution of military
history. Highly recommended, especially for college library collections.
The Fiction Shelf
Ex-Girlfriends United
Matt Dunn
Isis Large Print
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9780753184141, $32.50, www.amazon.com
A riveting read, "Ex-Girlfriends United" by Matt Dunn is the story of Dan Davis, a skirt-chasing
man who just can't seem to succeed with the ladies on any kind of enduring level. Then he
encounters an online dating web site where women rate their experiences and learns, to his
amazement, that one of his own ex-girlfriends has rated him -- and not favorably! In an effort to
avoid having to be single forever, Dan tracks down his old girlfriends in an attempt to learn about
himself and what he must do. That's when he once again meets Polly -- the woman with whom he
would really like to spend the rest of his life with. "Ex-Girlfriends United" is a superbly crafted
story published in a large print edition and highly recommended for both community library
general fiction collections and personal reading lists for anyone who enjoys an original story
about self-discovery and the arduous challenge of change.
The Space Between
JP Rodriguez
Darkstar Fiction
c/o Napoleon & Company
235-1173 Dundas Street East, Toronto, ON M4M 3P1
9781894917889, $19.95, www.napoleonandcompany.com
Wanderlust drives people to strange things. "The Space Between" tells the story of a man beaten
down by life and the loss of his former lover to a violent death. In a search for meaning, he
travels high and low throughout the world; his tale is one of uncertainty and regret, finally
learning his own purpose and meaning in life as his travels continue. A psychological story of
redeeming oneself, "The Space Between" is a read many will relate to.
The Judaic Studies Shelf
The Zohar 5: Pritzker Edition
Daniel C. Matt, translator
Stanford University Press
1450 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1124
www.sup.org
9780804762199, $49.95, www.amazon.com
The Kabbalah is a form of Jewish mysticism that stretches back for centuries. One of the
cornerstones of Kabbalah is 'Sefer ha-Zohar (The Book of Radiance) written in medieval Spain
around the end of the 13th Century. Originally composed in Aramaic, it largely consists of
commentary on the Torah (the Five Books of Moses from Genesis through Deuteronomy). "The
Zohar 5: Pritzker Edition", translated into English with commentary by Kabbalah authority and
academician Daniel C. Matt is the fifth volume in a series and begins after the revelation is
delivered at Mount Sinai. Starting with a narrative story of two rabbis meeting and elderly
donkey-drive on the road who turns about to be a sage and provides interpretations of Kabbalah
secrets, including the reincarnation of the soul, "The Zohar 5: Pritzker Edition" continues with
Zohar's commentary on the mishkan, the desert Tabernacle, and the theme of prayer. This fifth
volume of the series concludes with a section of the Zohar called 'Sifra di-Tsni'uta' (The Book of
Concealment), which provides a descriptive commentary on God's body, the relationship
between male and female energies, and divine breath animating all life. "The Zohar 5: Pritzker
Edition" is essential reading for students of Kabbalah and a highly recommended addition to
academic library collections. Also very highly recommended are the first four volumes of "The
Zohar: Pritzker Edition" published by the Stanford University Press.
The Language Studies Shelf
Garner's Modern American Usage, third edition
Bryan A. Garner
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016-4314
www.oup.com/us
9780195382754, $45.00, www.amazon.com
Now in a significantly expanded and thoroughly up-dated third edition, "Garner's Modern
American Usage" continues to hold title to being a superb guide to the effective use of the
English language in contemporary society. Of special note is the inclusion of a language-change
index based on grammarian, lexicographer, and editor Bryan A. Garner's original research, along
with contributions drawn from a panel of more than 120 commentators helping to assess and
update the text for virtually every entry. Of special note are the newly added entries relevant to
the various elements of the internet and other electronic advances. This 942-page compendium is
an essential and strongly recommended addition to every academic and community library
English Language Studies reference collection, and an invaluable resource for both aspiring
writers and professional authors as well.
The Interior Design Shelf
Swedish Country Interiors
Rhonda Eleish & Edie Van Breems
Gibbs Smith, Publisher
PO Box 667, Layton UT 84041
www.gibbs-smith.com
9781423604426, $40.00, www.amazon.com
Compiled with commentary by Swedish interior design experts Rhonda Eleish and Edie Van
Breems, the fifteen American country dwellings showcased in "Swedish Country Interiors" large
country estates to small cottages. Showcasing a variety of interiors, each of whom are superbly
photographed, "Swedish Country Interiors" is an ideal resource for ideas and inspirations. Of
special note is a converted Connecticut antique paper factory, and a beach house in Laguna
Beach, California, each of which has been crafted into an ideal Swedish country retreat. All this
and more make "Swedish Country Interiors" a 192-page compendium of commentary and images
that is especially recommended for academic and community library Interior Design reference
collections in general, and the supplemental reading lists for non-specialist general readers
seeking interior design ideas in particular.
The Cookbook Shelf
The Diabetic Pastry Chef
Stacey Harris
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053-2246
www.pelicanpub.com
9781589807471, $24.95, www.amazon.com
Just because you or a family member has diabetes does not mean having to give up delicious
pastries. Not when you have access to "The Diabetic Pastry Chef", an impressive 192-page
culinary compendium of pastry dishes, each and every one of which is diabetic diet appropriate
and kitchen cook friendly. From breads to cakes to cookies, pies, puddings, and more, "The
Diabetic Pastry Chef" offers a wide range of delights that are as palate pleasing as they are
appetite satisfying -- some of them are downright gourmet in quality and attraction. The
easy-to-follow recipes range from Sourdough Pancakes; Apple Bundt Cake; Coconut Jellyroll;
and Double Chocolate Cookies; to a Graham Cracker Piecrust; Mexican Fruit Pies; Strawberry
Panna Cotta; and Lemon Meringue Cups. Each recipe comes with an informative 'Nutrition
Facts' sidebar. Of special note is the chapter devoted to 'Hints and Tips' that will be especially
appreciated by the novice family chef. Enhanced with an opening chapter about diabetes, another
on flours, and a fourth one on sugar and sugar substitutes, "The Diabetic Pastry Chef" is a core
collection for community library cookbook shelves in general, and family cookbook collections
for anyone having to accommodate the dietary demands and restrictions of diabetes.
The Photography Shelf
The Changing Range of Light
Elizabeth Carmel
Hawks Peak Publishing
c/o Mountain Press Publishing Company
PO Box 2399, Missoula, MT 59806
www.mountain-press.com
9780977687718, $49.95, www.amazon.com
It was the legendary American naturalist John Muir who created the phrase 'Range of Light' as a
means of conveying to others the visual beauty and changing perspectives of the Sierra Nevada
range. This was in the late 19th century. Now in the beginning of the 21st century, Sierra-based
photographer Elizabeth Carmel has created a compendium of stunningly presented full color
photographs in "The Changing Range of Light: Portraits of the Sierra Nevada", a 120-page coffee
table books of memorable images enhanced with succinct commentaries drawn from scientists on
how the landscapes presented are and will continue to be affected by global warming. Infused
throughout with the inclusion of thematically appropriate quotes and poetry, "The Changing
Range of Light" is especially and highly recommended for personal, academic, and community
library Photography collections in general, and the supplemental reading lists for nature
enthusiasts and conservationists in particular.
Mastering the Nikon D90
Darrell Young
Rocky Nook
26 W. Mission St., #3, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
9781933952505, $34.95, www.rockynook.com
What good are new features if they aren't used properly? "Mastering the Nikon D90" takes a look
at the new Nikon D90, and the changes made to the model since the popular D80 model. Darrell
Young gives readers a complete guide for both starting and experienced photographers who want
to start using their Nikon D90 to the fullest. For anyone who wants to master their camera use,
"Mastering the Nikon D90" is a fine pick and very highly recommended addition to photography
collections.
The Genealogy Shelf
Evidence Explained, second edition
Elizabeth Shown Mills
Genealogical Publishing Company
3600 Clipper Mill Road, Suite 260, Baltimore, MD 21211
www.genealogical.com
9780806318066, $59.95, www.amazon.com
Now in a newly updated and significantly expanded second edition, "Evidence Explained: Citing
History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace" by archival and genealogical expert Elizabeth
Shown Mills has brought this core instructional reference fully into the cutting edge of research
resources by including a wealth of thematically appropriate web sites, as well as the
incorporation of blogs and online discussion groups germane to locating and evaluating historical
sources of information and evidence. Of special note is the practical and insightful commentary
on evaluating source material credibility and reliability. Replete with citation models of
American and international documents, "Evidence Explained" is an ideal as a curriculum text and
highly recommended as a core addition to personal, professional, academic, and community
library Historical Research reference collections in general, and Genealogical Research
supplemental reading lists in particular.
The Civil War Shelf
The Maps of Chickamauga
David A. Powell, author
David A. Friedrichs, cartographer
Savas Beatie
PO Box 4527, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
9781932714722 $39.95 www.savasbeatie.com
The third volume of the Savas Beatie Military Atlas series, The Maps of Chickamauga sheds
light on the story of Chickamauga during the American Civil War. Featuring 126 full-color maps
drawn by expert cartographer David A. Friedrichs, The Maps of Chickamauga offers an almost
hour-by-hour depiction of the battle - virtually every two-page spread involves a careful text
reconstruction of what happened on the left, and a vivid map on the right. Endnotes, a
bibliography, and a complete orders of battle (with strengths and losses) round out this absolute
must have for Civil War historians, college library collections, historical battle re-enactors, and
anyone with a serious interest in the nitty gritty details of the Civil War's conflicts. Highly
recommended.
Lincoln Under Enemy Fire
John Henry Cramer
The University of Tennessee Press
293 Communications Building, Knoxville, TN 37996-0325
9781572336698 $35.00 www.utpress.org 1-800-621-2736
Lincoln Under Enemy Fire: The Complete Account of His Experiences During Early's Attack on
Washington is a new edition of the classic analysis of how President Lincoln observed a skirmish
near Fort Stevens, only a few miles from Washington - and was sharply instructed to retreat
immediately. Written by professor of history John Henry Cramer and first published in 1948,
Lincoln Under Enemy Fire reconstructs this fascinating event that could have changed the course
of history had Lincoln been killed. Lincoln Under Enemy Fire applies research and theory in
search of answers to two questions: who told the President to get off the parapet, and what
exactly was said to convince him? An excellent supplement to Civil War history shelves,
especially recommended for college library collections.
Indiana's War: The Civil War in Documents
Richard F. Nation and Stephen E. Towne, editors
Ohio University Press
19 Circle Drive, Athens, OH 45701
9780821418475 $18.65 www.ohioswallow.com
Edited by Richard F. Nation (Associate Professor of History, Eastern Michigan University) and
Stephen E. Towne (Associate University Archivist, Indiana University-Purdue), Indiana's War:
The Civil War in Documents is an anthology of written primary sources from residents of Indiana
during the Civil War. From private letters to official records, newspaper articles, and more,
Indiana's War is an invaluable contribution to Civil War history shelves, and particularly
recommended for college library collections. Notes, discussion questions, an extensive timeline
and an index round out this fascinating glimpse into the lives and minds of people who struggled
to survive an America divided against itself.
The American History Shelf
The Intimate Lives of the Founding Fathers
Thomas Fleming
HarperCollins
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022
9780061139123, $27.95, www.harpercollins.com
They were important, groundbreaking men, but they were still men. "The Intimate Lives of the
Founding Fathers" analyzes the women behind the men. And not just wives, but mothers, lovers,
and other women. These men were just men, and men can be heavily influenced by women in
their lives. From Franklin's love of women, the plight of Abigail Washington, to Sally Hemings,
"The Intimate Lives of the Founding Fathers" is a unique look by proxy at these men who shaped
our country and the sources that shaped them.
Asian Americans in the Twenty-First Century
Joann Faung Jean Lee
The New Press
38 Green Street, 4th floor, NY, NY 10013
9781595584786 $16.95 www.thenewpress.com
Asian Americans in the Twenty-First Century is a compilation of oral histories of first-generation
to fourth-generation Asian-Americans with roots in China, Japan, India, the Philippines,
Vietnam, or Laos. The first-person testimonies are grouped by general topic - from a passion for
music that transcends cultures, to education and work, to the difficulties involved in carrying on
after the 9/11 attacks. A handful of black-and-white photographs illustrate this compelling
anthology of riveting testimonies. Asian Americans in the Twenty-First Century is both a worthy
contribution to multicultural studies shelves and an extraordinarily fascinating experience that
readers of all backgrounds can enjoy. "More than ten years ago the conditions in China weren't
that good; it was hard to make a living, so everyone wanted to come to the united States... Today,
not everyone wants to come to the United States. It is sort of half and half. There are jobs now in
China, people have money, and life is even better than in the United States - there is a chance to
live in a nice place, earn money, and have a good job, so coming to America isn't what it used to
be in terms of demand."
Put To Work, second edition
Nancy E. Rose
Monthly Review Press
146 West 29th Street, Suite 6W, New York, NY 10001
9781583672068 $14.95 www.monthlyreview.org 1-800-670-9499
Now in an updated and expanded second edition featuring a new introduction and afterword, Put
To Work: The WPA and Public Employment in the Great Depression chronicles the history of
the juggernaut job-creation programs of the 1930's, including the Works Progress
Administration, the Federal Emergency Relief Administration, and the Civil Works
Administration. Author Nancy E. Rose (Professor of Economics, California State University)
explores the contributions each program made during the dire years of the Great Depression, and
where each program failed to live up to its potential, particularly with regard to how women and
African-Americans were treated. The new introduction offers a historical perspective of the
Obama administration's economic stimulus package, and the new conclusion offers lessons
learned from FDR's New Deal work programs that can be applied to modern day quandaries. An
excellent examination of history with solid insights for the present and future, highly
recommended especially for American history and economic studies shelves.
"Gimme Rewrite, Sweetheart..."
John H. Tidyman
Gray & Company, Publishers
1588 E.40th St., Cleveland, OH 44103
9781598510164 $24.95 www.grayco.com
"Gimme Rewrite, Sweetheart...": Tales From the Last Glory Days of Cleveland Newspapers Told
by the Men and Women Who Reported the News collects true-life testimonies from people who
worked on Cleveland's newspapers during the 1950s, '60s, and '70s - an era when severe
competition between the "Cleveland Press" and the "Plain Dealer" brought the best (or the
worst?) in professional competitive spirit. The tales range from humorous to exciting to tragic,
following individuals who worked on all aspects of the papers - the police beat, the rewrite desk,
sportswriters, critics, photographers, and more. Other chapters deal with intriguing topics such as
the life and times of women reporters, hazardous assignments on the job, and instances of
political wrangling. Most of the individual anecdotes are 1-2 pages or less, many only a
paragraph or two - a glimpse of some particularly memorable moment. "Gimme Rewrite,
Sweetheart..." is not only a welcome primary source of American History, but also utterly
fascinating to read for pleasure, and highly recommended anyone curious about heyday of
newspapers as well as for college and public library collections. "...they sent me to the
Washington bureau for two years and I covered the White House for one of those years. It was a
good experience but it was a shitty job. I don't know why anybody wants to spend their lives
covering the place. You're a captive. You're totally captive. If you're with the 'New York Times',
maybe you had some clout. The 'Plain Dealer' had no clout in Washington. One White House
secretary thought it was the 'Plane Dealer' and that I worked for an airline."
The Audiobook Shelf
How to Break Your Own Heart
Maggie Alderson, author
Catherine Milte, narrator
Bolinda Publishing
186 S Long Swamp Rd, Jackson, ME 04921
9781742143620 $103.95 www.bolinda.com
How to Break Your Own Heart is the complete and unabridged library edition audiobook on CD
of Maggie Alderson's humorous novel about a very serious life choice. Amelia Bradlow has a
loving husband, and wants a baby more than anything - but her husband is not interested in
parenthood. Amelia is quickly approaching 37 and her biological clock is going to run out very
soon - should she stay in her (mostly) happy marriage, or enter the uncertainty of single life on
the distant chance of meeting the right man with whom to start a family? Though
tongue-in-cheek witty, How to Break Your Own Heart is also thought-provoking, and overall a
thoroughly enjoyable audiobook experience. Highly recommended. 11 CDs, 12 hours 25
minutes.
The American Journey of Barack Obama
The editors of LIFE
Richard Allen, narrator
Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
www.hachettebookgroupusa.com
9781600248726 $24.98, www.amazon.com
Enhanced with a foreword by Senator Edward M. Kennedy, The American Journey of Barack
Obama is an audiobook narrative biography of America's current president, as assembled by the
editors of LIFE magazine. Original essays by writers including Gay Talese, Charles Johnson,
Melissa Fay Greene, Andrei Codrescu, Fay Weldon, Richard Norton Smith, Bob Greene and
more examine various aspects of Obama's background, character, and distinction. Above all, The
American Journey of Barack Obama seeks to provide an unbiased answer to the question: what
does Barack Obama's emergence on the political scene mean for America? An extraordinary
portrait, highly recommended for anyone curious to learn more about Obama.
George Carlin Reads to You, expanded edition
George Carlin
Highbridge Audio Books
201 Sixth Street SE, Suite 220, Minneapolis, MN 55414
9781598879247 $39.95 www.highbridgeaudio.com
Now in a new expanded edition featuring an interview from "Fresh Air" with Terry Gross,
George Carlin Reads to You is an audiobook selection of comedian George Carlin's hilarious
read-aloud musings, jokes, riffs, and (sometimes twisted) narratives from two funny books,
including three complete recordings together for the first time: Grammy winners "Brain
Droppings", "Napalm & Silly Putty," and "More Napalm & Silly Putty". A real treat for anyone
who needs a dose of laughter during car trips, air travel, or anyplace one can go with a portable
CD player, highly recommended. 8 hours, 7 CDs.
The Shortest Distance Between Two Women
Kris Radish, author
Nicole Poole, narrator
Recorded Books, LLC
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
9781440758027 $102.75 www.recordedbooks.com 1-800-638-1304
The Shortest Distance Between Two Women is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of Kris
Radish's novel about the family ties that bind. 43-year-old Emma Gilford has long been a loyal
daughter, but at her family's annual reunion, the love of her life suddenly returns. Emma ponders
whether she is finally at the phase of her life where it's time to put her own needs first. A
dramatic and engaging story populated by believable characters and marked by dilemmas drawn
from human experience, The Shortest Distance Between Two Women is an excellent addition to
public library audiobook collections. 9 CDs, 10.75 hours.
Under the Dome
Stephen King, author
Raul Esparza, narrator
Recorded Books, LLC
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
9781440758225 $123.75 www.recordedbooks.com
Under the Dome is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of legendary horror master Stephen
King's chilling saga of a small Maine town suddenly isolated from society by an invisible force
field. The field will destroy planes that collide into it, and even makes birds drop dead out of the
sky - but the truly insidious danger comes rom within. Cut off from accountability to the outside
world, the worst of human nature asserts itself in the forms of greed, corruption, and lust for
power. A taut, thrilling tale brought to vivid life through Raul Esparza's dramatic narration,
Under the Dome is enthusiastically recommended. 30 CDs, 34.5 hours.
The Ultimate Power Nap for Rapid Rest and Renewal
Carol Ginandes, PhD
Crown House Publishing
6 Trowbridge Drive Suite 5, Bethel, CT 06801
www.crownhousepublishing.com
9780982357378 $24.95, www.amazon.com
The Ultimate Power Nap for Rapid Rest and Renewal is a self-help audiobook that teaches the
listener how to plan effective and restorative naps that promote mental and physical wellness.
Author and internationally recognized health psychologist Dr. Carol Ginandes guides the listener
through the process of relaxation, and fosters an appreciation for the dynamic benefits of planned
power naps. A valuable supplement to personal health and fitness DVD libraries, The Ultimate
Power Nap for Rapid Rest and Renewal also makes a great gift. 1 hour.
The Lincoln-Douglas Debates
Starring David Strathairn and Richard Dreyfuss
BBC Audiobooks America
42 Whitecap Drive, North Kingstown, RI 02852-7445
9781602834026 $39.95 www.BBCAudiobooksAmerica.com
The Lincoln-Douglas Debates is a newly commissioned, unabridged audiobook presentation of
the epic debates between future president Abraham Lincoln (played by David Strathairn) and
Stephen Douglas (played by Richard Dreyfuss) during their 1858 senatorial campaign in Illinois,
only a few years before the outbreak of the American Civil War. In an era of rising tensions, the
main theme of these debates was slavery and its proliferation into the western territories; Douglas
felt that each territory should answer the slavery question for itself, while Lincoln refuted this
view feeling that it would nationalize and promote the continuation of the ill of slavery. Even
though Douglas was destined to win re-election to the Senate, Lincoln's oratorical prowess and
his anti-slavery viewpoint (remarkable in time when extreme racism was common) helped
broaden his reputation and pave the way to his presidential election in 1860. A superbly
performed recording, The Lincoln-Douglas Debates brings a pivotal moment in America's history
to vivid life, and is enthusiastically recommended especially for public library audiobook
collections. 14 CDs, 16 hours.
The Longest Night
Helen Engelhardt
Midsummer Sound Company, LLC
805 Kenmore Place, Brooklyn, NY 11210
www.midsummersoundcompany.com
9780980240917 $34.95, www.amazon.com
Over twenty years ago, a terrorist bombing killed 270 people aboard Pan Am 103 on a flight over
Lockerbie, Scotland. The Longest Night: A Personal History of Pan Am 103 is the audiobook
adaptation of the memoir of author Helen Engelhardt, who lost her husband Tony Hawkins on
that violent day. The Longest Night is ultimately not a memorial to death, but to life, recounting
the story of love and marriage between Engelhardt and Hawkins. Superbly produced and
directed, The Longest Night is a heartrendingly beautiful true-life love story, and a fitting tribute
to those whose lives were cut short too soon. 5 CDs, 6.5 hours.
The Library CD Music Shelf
Sing Me A Love Song
The David Berger Jazz Orchestra
Arranged by David Berger
Lyrics by Paul Mendenhall and Ira Gershwin
Such Sweet Thunder
c/o Miller Wright & Associates, Inc. (publicity)
1650 Broadway, Suite 1210, New York, NY 10019
$21.99 www.davidbergerjazz.com www.millerwright.com
The David Berger Jazz Orchestra presents Sing Me A Love Song: Harry Warren's Undiscovered
Standards, a music CD featuring vocal performances by Freda Payne and Denzal Sinclaire
bringing to life previously unrecorded and unpublished melodies by three-time Academy
Award-winning composer Harry Warren (1893-1981) - the creator of such timeless hits as
"Lullaby of Broadway", "At Last", and "Jeepers Creepers". Now featuring new lyrics written by
Paul Mendenhall, these songs span a gamut of styles from Italian waltz to Latin beat and heartfelt
ballad. A treasure trove of almost-lost music, Sing Me A Love Song is highly recommended for
public library collections, and an absolute "must" for any fan of Warren's work. The tracks are
"Me and You" (2:50), "I Wonder Who" (3:04), "With Your Hand In Mine" (4:27), "Positano
Afternoon" (4:47), "Double Trouble" (4:40), "Sing Me A Love Song" (4:20), "I'm Sorry" (3:54),
"Hard To Get" (4:03), "There Is No Music" (3:43), "But Here We Are" (3:38), "With Your Hand
In Mine" (2:48), "I'm Sorry" (3:47), "But Here We Are" (4:31), "Double Trouble" (3:02), and
"Hard To Get" (3:23).
The Poetry Shelf
Museum Crows
Ron Houchin
Salmon Poetry
c/o Dufour Editions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9781907056178, $21.95, www.salmonpoetry.com
The crow has been quite the symbolic creature through much of its existence. "Museum Crows"
is the work of Ron Houchin, using his poetry to explore the crow, and what it means to humanity
and the human spirit. With intriguing ideas on the matter, "Museum Crows" is a fine volume that
will give poetry fans much to enjoy. "The god of pepper": A checkered cloth/makes a table all the
more/a surreal painting/wherein you are hunger personified/perching on sharp elbows//Or a stage
where souffles/and soups, gravies and casseroles/struggle, Italian and French characters/sweating,
steaming in their own dilemmas.//Shakers and mill make it church -- /utensils of sacrifice and
thurible. Beside/you, a seraph with a towel on his arm.
Tips for Domestic Travel
Hayden Saunier
Black Lawrence Press
8405 Bay Parkway C8, Brooklyn, NY 11214
9781934703816, $14.00, www.blacklawrence.com
An educator with a flair for drama, Hayden Saunier brings readers a fine volume of poetry with
"Tips for Domestic Travel" is a collection of poetry drawing on her own experiences as a teacher
and actress, and gives readers her own unique view of the world through her expert verse. "Tips
for Domestic Travel" is a worthy addition to poetry collections. "Small Memory": My mother is
riding a bicycle/for the last time,//turning slow careful circles/around a sandy road//that ends
abruptly at the sea./She's seventy-three.//She lets go the handlebars,/claps twice like a
magician,//and waves goodbye to me.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
Putting Medicare Consumers in Charge
Walton Francis
American Enterprise Institute
1150 Seventeenth Street, NW Washington, DC 20036
9780844742830, $25.00, www.aei.org
Government health care has another example besides Medicare. "Putting Medicare Consumers in
Charge: Lessons from the FEHBP" takes a look at the Federal Employees Health Benefits
Program (FEHBP), and its successes, with a discussion of how it can be applied to Medicare.
FEHBP has been consistently more cost efficient than Medicare, and author Walton Francis
explains his ideas thoroughly on how to improve Medicare by following solid examples. "Putting
Medicare Consumers in Charge" is a choice read for anyone currently discussing the modern
health care debate.
The Green Pharmacy
James A. Duke
Rodale Press
733 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
0875963161, $29.95, www.rodalestore.com
Nature has been man's pharmacy before the term pharmacy existed. "The Green Pharmacy: New
Discoveries in Herbal Remedies for Common Diseases and Conditions from the World's
Foremost Authority on Healing Herbs" delves into simple natural remedies of North America
that can deal many of medicine's benefits without the side effects of much of modern medicine.
Touching on everything from general health to cosmetic issues, "The Green Pharmacy" is well
worth reading for anyone with a high faith in holistic and herbal medicine.
The Buddhist Studies Shelf
Momentary Buddhahood
Anyen Rinpoche
Wisdom Publications
199 Elm Street, Somerville, MA 02144
9780861715985, $15.95, www.wisdompubs.org
Enlightenment is not a sudden thing. "Momentary Buddhahood: Mindfulness and the Vajrayana
Path" discusses momentary Buddhahood, those moments that come when people realize a
universal truth, one bit of the giant puzzle they are trying to assemble. Author Anyen Rinpoche
uses his spiritual studies to help readers along their path and to find their own wisdom.
"Momentary Buddhahood" is a choice pick for any spirituality reader or for Buddhist studies
collections.
The Sports Shelf
More Than a Game
Jim Brown
Legacy Book Company
c/o Greenleaf Book Group
PO Box 91869, Austin, TX 78709
9780984189205, $24.95, www.more-than-a-game.com
A good coach can make all the difference in the world. "More Than a Game: A Vehicle for Child
Development" is a collection of tales and advice from Jim Brown, a successful coach for much of
his year for juvenile football games. Using short tales of fiction, Brown creates examples of the
impact a coach can have on people's lives as a child growing up into adults. Emphasizing the
power of youth sports, "More Than a Game" is a worthwhile read to anyone who is about to
delve into the world of youth coaching.
The Philosophy Shelf
What the Furies Bring
Kenneth Sherman
The Porcupine's Quill
68 Main St., Erin, ON N0B IT0
9780889843189, $19.95, www.porcupinesquill.ca
Tragedy brings most to grief; it brought Kenneth Sherman to study. "What the Furies Bring" is a
collection of essays on his musings on the world, reflecting on Judaism, poetry, other religions,
terrorism, the works of Anne Frank, and so much more. His thoughts bring many ideas to his
readers, to help them reevaluate how they look at the world themselves. "What the Furies Bring"
is a choice pick for any collection of scholarly philosophy.
John Milton: Reasoning Words
Kristin A. Pruitt & Charles W. Durham
Susquehanna University Press
c/o Associated University Presses
2010 Eastpark Blvd., Cranbury, NJ 08512
9781575911236, $49.50, www.susq.edu
The works of John Milton have inspired much philosophical debate for ages after the man
himself has passed. "John Milton: Reasoning Words" is a scholarly discussion from many
authors discussing the works of John Milton, his works on human nature and the status on man
as a creature of reason and understanding the world around him. These essays dig deep into the
themes of Milton's work, including his work on nationalism, education, religion, and more. "John
Milton" is a worthy and intriguing read that is a must for philosophy studies collections or those
intrigued with his work.
The Literary Shelf
An Angle of Vision
Lorraine M. Lopez
The University of Michigan Press
839 Greene Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104-3209
9780472050789, $22.95, www.press.umich.edu
"An Angle of Vision: Women Writers on Their Poor and Working-Class Roots" is a collection of
memoirs from women writers offering their reflections on their childhood and the rough times of
their parents struggling to make ends meet for a better future. From realizing one's poverty, to the
challenges of day-to-day lower class life and how things are different in the role of women, sex,
and the future, there is no shortage of ideas. "An Angle of Vision" is a fine and very highly
recommended read; many women will relate.
The Money/Finance Shelf
Fire Your Stock Analyst!, second edition
Harry Domash
FT Press
1330 Avenue of the Americans, 35th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780137010233, $19.99, www.ftpress.com
How can one be completely confident in stock analysts who didn't see the current crisis coming?
Now in an expanded and fully updated second edition, "Fire Your Stock Analyst! Analyzing
Stocks On Your Own" is a guide for those who want to save money and have faith in themselves
to make wise economic decisions. Harry Domash, a MSN Money investing columnist, comes to
readers with wise advice on stock trading, stating that with a little research, anyone can play the
stock market on their own, without an analyst leeching their dollars. "Fire Your Stock Analyst!"
is a choice and very recommended pick for those who look for financial success in stocks.
The Christian Studies Shelf
Reflections on St. Francis
John Michael Talbot
Liturgical Press
PO Box 7500, Collegeville, MN 56321-7500
9780814633021, $15.95, www.litpress.org
The work of St. Francis of Assisi is truly legendary. "Reflections on St. Francis" is a scholarly
look at the work of the Saint through the eyes of religious and community leader John Michael
Talbot, as he states how St. Francis of Assisi has changed his life for the better. Intriguing,
introspective, and educational reading for religious readers, "Reflections on St. Francis" is an
example of the greatness of one man inspiring others to the same.
The World History Shelf
From Ruins to Reconstruction
Karl D. Qualls
Cornell University Press
Sage House, 512 E. State Street, Ithaca, NY 14850
9780801447624, $49.95, www.cornellpress.cornell.edu
When one's city is destroyed, things are rarely the same ever again. "From Ruins to
Reconstruction: Urban Identity in Soviet Sevastopol After World War II" is the tale of this
Russian town and its people. This Russian city was rebuilt, and although Ukrainian in location,
it's a Russian city in architecture and nature. A story of how a city keeps its soul and personality
in a land where communist homogenization was the order of the day, the people of Sevastopol
resembled something closer to Czarist Russia than Communist Russia when the reconstruction
was complete. "From Ruins to Reconstruction" is a fine and solidly recommended read that
should not be ignored for history collections focusing on post World War II Soviet States.
The Humor Shelf
The Alien Invasion Survival Handbook
W. M. Mumfrey
HOW Books
c/o FW Media
4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236
9781600611629, $14.99, www.howbookstore.com
Will you be prepared to fight off the evil Alien overlords? "The Alien Invasion Survival
Handbook: A Defense Manual for the Coming Extraterrestrial Apocalypse" is a guide for those
who want to be prepared for the coming alien invasion. With tips on realizing you're a former
abductees, arming yourselves against the intergalactic interlopers, and how the aliens have
already arrived and assaulting our world, "The Alien Invasion Survival Handbook" is a humorous
journey into the world of alien invasion and is highly recommended.
The Parenting Shelf
How to Raise Kids Who Won't Hate You
Alan Thicke
Sterling & Ross Publishers
c/o Perseus Books Group
387 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016
9780981453538, $14.95, www.sterlingandross.com
Starting around age thirteen, any resentment one's child has suddenly comes out in spades. "How to Raise Kids Who Won't Hate You: Bringing Up Rockstars and Other Forms of Children" is a parenting guide from celebrity and father Alan Thicke, as he delves into the realm of parenting and how to parent without the result of your child groaning at talking to you later in life. Light hearted and plainly spoken, Thicke dives into the many problems that parents face and has sage advice, making "How to Raise Kids Who Won't Hate You" a fine and highly recommended read.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Death at Solstice
Lucha Corpi
Arte Publico Press
452 Cullen Performance Hall, Houston, TX 77204-2004
9781558855472, $15.95, www.artepublicopress.com
Sometimes, a minor crime only underscores the more serious problem. "Death at Solstice" is an
intriguing murder mystery blending California history, spirituality and mysticism to form a tale
where Detective Gloria Damasco is compelled to solve a case that starts only with the theft of a
family heirloom. Spiraling out into something far more serious, "Death at Solstice" is an intriguing
and creative mystery that will leave many readers yearning for more.
The Naked Nun
M. E. Gardner
Langdon Street Press
212 North 3rd Avenue, Suite 570, Minneapolis, MN 55401
9781934938669, $16.95, www.langdonstreetpress.com
Pain seems to follow some people around no matter where they go. "The Naked Nun" tells the
story of a young woman who endured a horrible childhood, then lived a life of happiness with
everything she could have ever wanted. But nothing good lasts forever as she soon finds herself
at a convent, and at the forefront of a deeper growing mystery. "The Naked Nun" is a fascinating
and creative mystery, highly recommended.
The Science Shelf
What Science Knows and How It Knows It
James Franklin
Encounter Books
900 Broadway, Suite 601, New York 10003-1239
9781594032073, $23.95, www.encounterbooks.com
Asking questions is the pursuit of knowledge. "What Science Knows and How It Knows It"
discusses science and its pursuit of natural truth through math, biology, and many other scientific
disciplines. With a philosophical and historical approach, author James Franklin shows the
science behind science, and so much more. "What Science Knows and How It Knows It" is a
fascinating discussion of the sciences.
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