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Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
Curvology
David Bainbridge, PhD
The Overlook Press
141 Wooster Street, New York, NY 10012
www.overlookpress.com
9781468312027 $26.95 hc / $12.99 Kindle www.amazon.com
Accessible to readers of all backgrounds, Curvology: The Origins and Power of Female Body
Shape applies evolutionary biology, cultural observation, and the latest findings in human
psychology to a question that has perplexed anthropologists for generations: why are humans the
only mammals on earth whose females have curvy bodies? Author and researcher David
Bainbridge, PhD examines how wider hips improved women's ability to survive giving birth to
babies with large brains; how storing body fat is both a survival tool and a means to signal to
potential mates that one is well-nourished; and perhaps most interestingly, the ramifications of
competition for social status and desirable mates between members of the same sex. "There is a
huge amount of psychological data showing that women exist within a tumult of social
competition, fueled by an indirect verbal aggression which contrasts strongly with the good old
violence which makes men's lives so straightforward. And the evidence strongly suggests that
indirect aggression works. The recipients of within-sex indirect aggression tend to start dating
later in life, they flirt less, they find it harder to find romantic and sexual partners, and their
romantic relationships do not last as long." Curvology does not shy from unpalatable
psychological, social, or biological deductions in its science; yet in order to create a better world
for humanity today and tomorrow, it is essential to understand the drives that have affected both
male and female humans since prehistory. For its contributions to social science and
anthropology, Curvology is highly recommended especially for public and college library
collections.
Safe and Fun Playgrounds: A Handbook
Heather M. Olsen, EdD, Susan D. Hudson, PhD, and Donna Thompson, PhD
Redleaf Press
10 Yorkton Court, St. Paul, MN 55117-1065
9781605544601 $29.95 www.redleafpress.org
Written by the founders of the National Program for Playground Safety, who share over 80 years
of combined professional experience, Safe and Fun Playgrounds: A Handbook is a
straightforward guide to creating, maintaining, and supervising children's playgrounds that foster
healthy cognitive, social-emotional, and physical development. Physical safety is given
paramount importance (and incorporated into age-appropriate design choices as well as
recommendations for fall surfacing), but the "fun" part of "safe and fun" is given its due as well.
A wealth of appendices, including a supervisory checklist, an ADA accessibility checklist,
routine safety/maintenance inspection checklists, and more round out this practical, "must-have"
resource for schools, day care centers, and anyone involved in the creation of a public
playground. Highly recommended!
Speaking Well: A Pocket Guide
Adam Hamilton
Abingdon Press
2222 Rosa L. Parks Blvd.
PO Box 280988, Nashville, TN 37228-0988
9781501809934 $14.99 www.abingdonpress.com
Speaking Well: A Pocket Guide lives up to its title as a first-class guide for anyone tasked with
public speaking, including business leaders, preachers, and educators. Chapters are filled with
tips, tricks, and techniques for staying relaxed, the judicious use of humor, encouraging audience
participation, dealing with ambivalent questions, and most importantly of all, conveying one's
core message in a clear and memorable fashion. "...Many who sit in the audience believe that
speakers who rely too heavily on presentation slides are masking the lack of content in the
message or the speaker's ineffectiveness as a speaker. Graphics, photos, and video can be
effective, as we'll see in the next chapter. But there are several reasons to minimize your use of
text-based presentation slides." An absolute "must" for anyone whose chosen career path requires
adroit public speaking!
The American History Shelf
Beyond Rust: Metropolitan Pittsburgh and the Fate of Industrial America
Allen Dieterich-Ward
University of Pennsylvania Press
3905 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4112
9780812247671 $39.95 www.upenn.edu/pennpress
Beyond Rust: Metropolitan Pittsburgh and the Fate of Industrial America is an in-depth history
about the rise, fall, and renewal of the city of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania. Once a bastion of steel
production worldwide, Pittsburgh suffered from deindustrialization along with other American
cities of the "Rust Belt". The story of the "Pittsburgh Renaissance", a public-private partnership
that fueled ambitious goals of pollution control and infrastructure development, offers a positive
model for other cities struggling with similar challenges. Enhanced with extensive notes and an
index, Beyond Rust is a valuable economic case study as well as a detailed and vivid exploration
of Pittsburgh's modern history, highly recommended for both public and college library
collections. "There are both costs and limits to Pittsburgh's success, however, that pose a
cautionary tale to those attempting to recreate its neoliberal model. First, the city has remained in
Pennsylvania's 'temporary' distressed communities program, known as Act 47, since December
2003 in part due to decisions Murphy made, including diverting millions of dollars from the
operating budget to a development fund... Forty percent of Pittsburgh's land area is now
tax-exempt, a fact that has led to nearly three decades of tension...."
Moonfire: The Epic Journey of Apollo 11
Norman Mailer
TASCHEN America
107 Greene Street, New York, NY 10012
www.taschen.com
9783836556224, $19.99, HC, 624pp, www.amazon.com
Norman Mailer (1923 - 2007) was one of the 20th century's greatest and most influential writers,
as well as one of America's most renowned and controversial literary figures. On July 20, 1969,
after a decade of tests and training, supported by a staff of 400,000 engineers and scientists, and
with a budget of billions, the most powerful rocket ever launched brought Neil Armstrong, Buzz
Aldrin, and Michael Collins to the moon. Nobody captured the men, the mood, and the
machinery like Norman Mailer, hired by LIFE magazine to cover the mission in a dazzling
reportage he later enhanced into the brilliantly crafted book, "Of a Fire on the Moon". Now a new
generation of appreciative readers will be able to rediscover this epoch-making event with
"Moonfire: The Epic Journey of Apollo 11", the TASCHEN adaptation of Mailer's account. The
text is accompanied by hundreds of photographs from the NASA vaults, the archives of LIFE,
and other leading magazines of the day, documenting the development of the agency and the
mission, life inside the command module and on the moon's surface, as well as the world's
jubilant reaction to the landing. Captions by leading Apollo 11 experts explain the history and
science behind the images, citing the mission log, publications of the day, and post-flight
astronaut interviews. "Moonfire: The Epic Journey of Apollo 11" is very highly recommended
for personal reading lists, and will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to community and
academic library 20th Century American History collections.
The World History Shelf
From Versailles to Mers el-Kebir
George E. Melton
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD 21402
www.nip.org
9781612518794 $42.95 hc / $28.99 Kindle www.amazon.com
From Versailles to Mers el-Kebir: The Promise of Anglo-French Naval Cooperation, 1919-40 is
a close examination of the nautical alliance between British Royal Navy and the French fleet in
the two decades before World War II. This alliance, created in part to balance both powers'
overextended defense commitments, was notably successful in keeping both Italy and Japan
neutral early in WW II. Although there were squabbles between their allies, it was not until the
French armistice with Germany in 1940 that the naval cooperation came to a violent end. Fearful
that the French navy would be used against Britain, the British engaged in a surprise attack
against the French squadron at Mers el-Kebir. 1,297 French servicemen were killed; one
battleship was sunk; five other ships were damaged. Divided opinions on the attack linger to this
day - was it a draconian but necessary defensive measure for desperate times, or a cruel and
unnecessary slaughter? From Versailles to Mers el-Kebir argues the latter perspective, openly
challenging the alleged necessity of the attack on Mers el-Kebir with meticulous research and
documentation, and ultimately concluding that the attack was a disastrous failure. Notes, a
bibliography, and an index round out this excellent contribution to public and college library
nautical, military, and world history collections.
The Cookbook Shelf
Plant-Based Cookbook
Trish Sebben-Krupka
DK Publishing, Inc.
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
www.dk.com
9781465435361, $25.00, HC, www.amazon.com
Trish Sebben-Krupka is a chef, culinary educator, cookbook author, and freelance editor. She is
also the owner of Local Girl Makes Food, a personal chef and culinary education business
catering to clients interested in vegan, vegetarian, and eco-friendly diets. In "Plant-Based
Cookbook" Trish has compiled a 256 page, beautifully illustrated, culinary compendium
showcasing some two hundred thoroughly kitchen cook friendly recipes that are as palate
pleasing and appetite satisfying as they are healthy and nutritious. The recipes range from
Whole-Wheat Banana Pecan Pancakes; Ginger Kale Soup; Roasted Beet Salad; and Braised
Brussels Sprouts with Chestnuts; to Eggplant and Roasted Tomato Polenta Lasagna; Farror
Risotta with Roasted Fennel and Mushrooms; Easy Slow-Rise Oatmeal Bread; and Triple Ginger
Molasses Cookies. A simple pleasure to browse through and ideal for menu planning, the
"Plant-Based Cookbook" is enthusiastically recommended for personal, family, and community
library cookbook collections. It should be noted that the "Plant-Based Cookbook" is also
available in a Kindle edition ($4.99).
Better Homes and Gardens I Didn't Know My Slow Cooker Could Do That
Better Homes and Gardens
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003
www.hmhco.com
9780544569812, $19.99, PB, www.amazon.com
A slow cooker or crock-pot is an indispensable kitchen tool, especially for the time-stressed
kitchen cook wanting to make nutritious and delicious meals with a minimum of effort and a
maximum of insured success. The "Better Homes and Gardens I Didn't Know My Slow Cooker
Could Do That" is a 304 page, beautifully illustrated compendium showcasing 150 outstanding
recipes for dishes not ordinarily associated with a slow cooker or crock-pot, but that would grace
any dining occasion from simply family meals to elegant culinary celebrations. The recipes range
from Dried Cherry Scones; Double-Berry Cobbler; Greek Stuffed Meatballs; Ham Steaks with
Kickin' Red-Eyed Gravy; and Southern Corn Pudding; Chile Verde Breakfast Lasagna; Cajun
Riblets; Brat Meatballs with Mustard Sauce; Shrimp and Grits with BLT Relish; and Lentil Taco
Salad. Full nutritional information is provided for each individual recipes, along with prep time,
cooking time, and serving size. Thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly', "Better Homes and Gardens I
Didn't Know My Slow Cooker Could Do That" will prove to be an enduringly popular addition
to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections. It should be noted that "Better
Homes and Gardens I Didn't Know My Slow Cooker Could Do That" is also available in a
Kindle edition ($9.99).
The Magic of Spice Blends
Aliza Green
Quarry Books
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
www.quartous.com
9781631590740, $24.99, 160pp, www.amazon.com
"The Magic of Spice Blends: A Guide to the Art, Science, and Lore of Combining Flavors" by
chef and food industry consultant Aliza Green reveals the secrets of creating and cooking with
the world's classic spice blends from seven regions: Africa, the Far East, Europe, India, the
Middle East, North America and the Caribbean, Mexico, and South America. Chef Aliza Green
guides you through the principles of choosing, working with, and blending spices. Join the fun of
creating personalized spice and herb blends and knowing just what goes into them--no ancient,
bitter, musty dust here! Find resources on where to purchase great quality herds and spices, even
organic, non-irradiated. You can even grow your own and use them to make those wonderful
spice blends. Along with background information on the history, culture, and culinary uses of
each blend, "The Magic of Spice Blends" includes recipes and variations for 50 spice blends and
an additional 50 recipes featuring the blends ranging from Spicy Moroccan Steamed Mussels
with Charmoula (Africa); to Vietnamese Chicken Bahn-Mi Sandwich with Chinese Five Spice
(the Far East); to Swedish Gingerbread Cookies (Europe); to Grilled Vadouvan Salmon with
Date-Tamarind Chutney (India); to Watermelon, Labne, and Mint Salad with Lime-Advieh
Dressing (the Middle East); to Louisiana Spicy Boiled Crayfish (North America); and to
Jerk-Spiced Turkey Wings (the Caribbean, Mexico, and South America), and so many more!
Profusely and beautifully illustrated throughout, "The Magic of Spice Blends" is thoroughly
'kitchen cook friendly' in tone, content, organization, and presentation, making it very highly
recommended for personal, family, and community library cookbook collections.
Liquid Health
Lisa Montgomery
Hatherleigh Press
c/o The Hatherleigh Foundation
62545 State Highway 10, Hobart, NY 13788
www.hatherleighpress.com
9781578265770, $16.50, www.amazon.com
Compiled by Lisa Montgomery, "Liquid Health: Over 100 Juices and Smoothies Including Paleo,
Raw, Vegan, and Gluten-Free Recipes" is 192 page compendium comprised of more than 100
tantalizing recipes suitable for everything from the raw food diet to the Paleo and vegan diets. All
that is needed to take advantage of what "Liquid Health" has to offer is a blender and a juicer!
"Liquid Health" includes: Simple, easy-to-follow instructions for each recipe, including unique
tips from author Lisa Montgomery; The benefits of superfoods, and how to include them in your
diet today; Easy-to-prepare smoothies and juices to help you stay energized throughout the day;
The building blocks to a perfect smoothie - what each ingredient does for your body, and why.
The recipes range from Tangible Life Orange Drink; Pomaberry Slushee; African Sweet Potato
Peanut Soup; and Coconut Water Kefir; to Tropical Amazement Smoothie; Steamy Basil Soup;
Raw Sesame Power Drink; Peach Raspberry Smoothie; Lisa's SuperGreen Smoothie/Juice and
many more! "Liquid Health" removes the worry and stress of trying a new diet for the first time
with dishes that are as easy to love as they are to make. Very highly recommended for personal,
family, and community library collections, it should be noted that "Liquid Health" is also
available in a Kindle edition ($7.99).
The Great Vegan Grains Book
Celine Steen & Tamasin Noyes
Fair Winds Press
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
www.quartous.com
9781592336999, $22.99, www.amazon.com
Whole grains are a great source of protein and other nutrients that are typically found in meat and
eggs, making them a valuable part of any plant-based diet. While naturally vegan by nature,
grains are often paired with non-vegan ingredients, making many recipes off-limits to vegans.
That's where "The Great Vegan Grains Book" comes the rescue, taking you step-by-step through
the myriad grains available today, and providing you with more than 100 delicious and easy
plant-based, whole-grain recipes (many of them low-fat, soy free, and even gluten-free!). Each
recipe uses whole-food ingredients that can be easily found at most grocery stores, so you can say
yes to grains and eating better too! Beautifully illustrated and thoroughly kitchen cook friendly in
organization and presentation, "The Great Vegan Grains Book" is an ideal, 176 page culinary
compendium offering vegan dishes that range from Apples and Oates French Toast; Creamy
Amaranth Polenta with Marinara; Teff and Pea Fritters; Pepper Grain Sausages; and Cajun Rice
Patties; to Burst Tomato Farro; Turkish Bride Soup; Roasted Corn and Sorghum Salad with
Chipotle Dressing; and Wheat Berry Mechwia. Of special note are the recipes for Basic Cashew
Cream and Slightly Cheesy Cashew Sauce. As much fun to browse through as it is useful to plan
vegan menus with, "The Great Vegan Grains Book" is very highly recommended for personal,
professional and community library Vegan/Vegetarian cookbook collections. It should be noted
that "The Great Vegan Grains Book" is also available in a Kindle edition ($14.49).
Cook the Pantry
Robin Robertson, author
Annie Oliverio, photographer
Vegan Heritage Press
P.O. Box 628, Woodstock, VA 22664
9781941252185 $21.95 www.VeganHeritagePress.com
"Cook the Pantry" is a collection of over 60 vegan recipes, described as "Vegan Pantry -to -Plate
Recipes in 20 Minutes (or Less!)" A handy introduction and beginning chapter introduces the
reader/cook to the concept of vegan pantry perfect cooking, with added information about plant
proteins, dairy-free products, suggestions for vegetable broth, use of herbs, kitchen time savers,
and more. A dazzling array of quick and easy vegan recipes follow in six chapters including:
Soups, Stews, and Chilis, Salad Savvy, Pizza, Burgers, Sandwiches, Stovetop Suppers, Pantry
Pasta Plus, and Sweet Treats. Relying on all kinds of spices and herbs for flavor, fresh fruits and
vegetables, and many common pantry staples, these recipes are both tempting to the palate and to
the eye. Color photos of most of the recipes are deliciously appealing. Some examples of recipes
from the Soups and Stews chapter include: Black Bean Soup with a Whisper of Sherry,
Curry-Spiced Pumpkin Bisque, and Vegetable Bricolage, "the stew you make when you're down
to your last bits of produce and grocery day isn't until tomorrow." The chapter on salads, Salad
Savvy, has some classics plus some fresh ideas for vegan salads, such as "Hearts of Palm
Ceviche, Moroccan Couscous Salad, Tabbouleh Salad, even something called Southwest
Salmagundi, a vegan salad based on seven layer dips, featuring pinto beans, chiles, cilantro olive
oil, lime juice, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, and vegetarian refried beans, a ripe Hass
avocado, and mild or hot salsa and tortilla chips as desired. Chapter 4 covers Pizza, Burgers, and
Sandwiches, a challenge for vegan cuisine. Here are Texas Caviar Wraps, Samosadillas,
Artichoke Muffaleta Po' Boys, and Black Bean and Walnut Burgers. There is even a recipe for
Jalapeno-Hummus Pizza! Stovetop Suppers chapter 5 offers Southwest Polenta, Greek Freekeh
and Spinach with White Beans, Tuscan Chickpea Frittata, and Jerk Tempeh with Coconut
Quinoa, not to mention Cheesy Grits and Greens with Smoky Mushroom. This is followed by
chapter 6, Pantry Pasta Plus, which offers Penne and Broccoli with Red Bell Pepper-Walnut
Sauce, Manchurian Black Bean Noodles, and Spaghetti Lo-Mein, among other tasty tidbits. The
final touch, chapter 7 or Sweet Treats, offers surpassing desserts and special treats. Some of these
are Coconut Lime Drops, Mangos with Pistachios and Cranberries, Pecan Pie Squares, and even
Easy as Chocolate Pie! "Cook the Pantry" is a versatile, modern approach to healthy vegan eating
and cooking which appeals to the senses as well as the pocketbook, all easily prepared in 20
minutes or less. What's not to like?
Vegan Bowls
Zsu Dever, author/photographer
Vegan Heritage Press
P.O. Box 628, Woodstock, VA 22664
9781941252154 $21.95 www.VeganHeritagePress.com
"Vegan Bowls: Perfect Flavor Harmony in Cozy One-Bowl Meals" is a delightfully presented
fresh assortment of healthy, appealing, one dish meals. Recipes combine a variety of color,
flavor, texture and taste in ingredients that fairly sing on the page. Different cuisines and flavors
are explored for a variety of tasty vegan casual dining. A little vegan cooking experience would
be helpful, but the recipes are generally clear and accessible. The cookbook begins with a brief
overview of the traditions of bowl food, dividing the components of a bowl recipe into texture,
aroma, color, flavor combinations, and taste. A Just-in-Case Basics chapter provides basic
recipes for such homemade staples as vegetable broth, slow simmered seitan, chapatis, corn
tortillas, 30-minute brown rice, and more. These are not necessarily required for most recipes, but
can really enhance the taste experience. Chapter 3 is all about Grain Bowls, from Southern Beans
and Grits Bowl with Collards to Spicy Ginger Polenta Bowl with Bok Choy and Chickpeas.
There is even a recipe for Tex-Mex Risotto Bowl. Bowl recipes continue with chapters on
Sauteed Bowls, Grilled Bowls, Salad Bowls, Soup Bowls, Breakfast Bowls, and even Build Your
Own Bowls. Perhaps the last chapter is for graduates of the philosophy and application of bowl
cooking. This last chapter describes the ingredients of bowl cooking as consisting of starch,
protein, sauce, and vegetables. Methods of cooking include stir-fry, roasting, and steaming.
Assembly is simple: "Divide the starch, protein and vegetables among 4 bowls... and top with
sauce and garnish as desired." A helpful table divides the starch, protein, sauce, vegetables and
garnish ingredients into three cuisine categories: Asian, European, and Latin American. Each
cuisine has recipe examples with page numbers from "Vegan Bowls," to make original bowl
creation fun and easy for the adventurous vegan cook. "Vegan Bowls" is a fun, fresh approach to
creating adventurous vegan eating with a minimum of fuss. The color photographs of bowl
recipes is stunning, tempting, and lush. Those with a yearning for exotic roots in their vegan
cuisine will find fresh ideas hard to ignore in "Vegan Bowls."
The Education Shelf
Master the Media
Julie Smith
Dave Burgess Consulting, Inc.
9780986155444 $24.95 pbk / $9.97 Kindle www.amazon.com
Master the Media: How Teaching Media Literacy Can Save Our Plugged-In World is a guide
created especially to help parents and educators teach children how to objectively regard the
modern-day flood of information on the internet and in mass media. Topics include learning how
advertising targets consumers, knowing precisely how movies are rated, understanding the pros,
cons, and risks of engaging in social media, and much more. "...one of my students showed me
an Instagram photo of her that had been used to advertise a 'lesbian sex party.' The photo had
been downloaded from Instagram and placed in a Craigslist ad promoting the party at a particular
address. It turned out the post was a practical joke played on those who lived at the address. But
the photo, stolen from the Web by strangers, was definitely of my student. She has since made
her Instagram account private so that only people who have permission can access her photos."
Master the Media is an indispensable educational resource for the twenty-first century, highly
recommended.
Probability for Kids
Scott A. Chamberlin
Lacy Compton, Senior Editor
Prufrock Press
PO Box 8813, Waco, TX 76714-8813
www.prufrock.com
978161821527, $29.95, PB, 134pp, www.amazon.com
Scott A. Chamberlin is a Professor of Elementary and Early Childhood Education at the
University of Wyoming. His research interests concern how learners solve problems, their
affective ratings during the activities, and creative products generated during such episodes. His
main discipline interest in mathematics is statistics and probability. In the pages of "Probability
for Kids: Using Model-Eliciting Activities to Investigate Probability Concepts", Professor
Chamberlin draws upon his many years of experience and expertise to feature real-world
probability scenarios for students in grades 4 - 6. Students will encounter problems in which they
read about students their age selling magazines for a school fund raiser, concerned about their
homeroom assignments, and trying to decode the combination to a safe that their grandfather
abandoned, among others, all of which maximizes learning so students gain a deep understanding
of concepts in probability. "Probability for Kids" will help teachers, parents, and other educators
to employ best practices in implementing challenging math activities based on standards.
Problem solvers who complete all six activities in "Probability for Kids" will understand the six
basic principles of probability and be high school ready for discussions in probability.
Thoroughly 'user friendly' in tone, content and presentation, "Probability for Kids" is an ideal and
highly recommended addition to elementary school classroom curriculums and for use by home
schooling parents.
Emotional Intensity in Gifted Students, second edition
Christine Fonseca
Prufrock Press
PO Box 8813, Waco, TX 76714-8813
9781618214577 $19.95 www.prufrock.com
Expert school psychologist Christine Fonseca presents Emotional Intensity in Gifted Students:
Helping Kids Cope With Explosive Feelings, a resource created especially for parents and
teachers now in its second edition with additional chapters discussing temperament and
personality development, as well as updated resources and worksheets. Chapters discuss why
gifted children often have extreme highs and lows, and offer role-plays and strategies for
showing gifted children how to recognize, monitor, and adjust their own behavior. Written in an
accessible, conversational style, Emotional Intensity in Gifted Students is a "must" for educators
and parents of gifted children at all levels of grade school.
The New Normal
Denise Tillery and Ed Nagelhout, editors
Baywood Publishing
26 Austin Avenue, Box 337, Amityville, NY 11701
9780895039149 $79.95 hc
9780895039156 $59.95 pbk
9780895039163 $47.95 e-pub
9780895039170 $47.95 e-pdf www.baywood.com
The New Normal: Pressures on Technical Communication Programs in the Age of Austerity is
an anthology of scholarly essays by learned authors discussing how the technical communication
programs of colleges and universities across America have been forced to adapt to regular
decreases in state funding. Pushed to "do more with less", technical communication programs
have had to accept that budget cuts are their "new normal". How do these programs, especially
smaller programs hid hardest by limited resources, adapt to increased student demand? Individual
writings include "A Response to Austerity: Using Ecopreneurship to Build a Sustainable Writing
Major", "Working Conditions, Austerity, and Faculty Development in Technical Writing
Programs", "Strategic Partnerships Promote High-Demand Technical Communication Courses",
and more. In the increasingly interconnected twenty-first century, the ability to communicate
succinctly and effectively remains a paramount skill for professionals in virtually every field of
work; The New Normal is an invaluable resource especially for program administrators seeking
to meet the needs of the next generation even as they search for sustainable solutions to
budgetary challenges.
The Fiction Shelf
My Sweet Audrina
V. C. Andrews
Pocket Books
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 13th fl., New York, NY 10020
www.pocketbooks.com
9781501138843, $7.99, PB, 560pp, www.amazon.com
The idea of her sister hovered above them all. Audrina fiercely desired to be as good as her sister.
She knew her father could not love her as he loved that other girl, for her sister was so special, so
perfect -- and dead. Upstairs in a locked room awaited her sister's clothes and dolls, her animals
and games, and her sacred rocking chair. Now Audrina will rock and rock and rock to reclaim all
of her gone sister's special gifts. And then finally she'll learn the secrets everyone else knows but
her. "My Sweet Audrina" by V. C. Andrews is a truly haunting story of love and deceit,
innocence and betrayal, and the suffocating power of parental love. Andrews is a master of the
genre and never fails to impress or entertain. "My Sweet Audrina" is a "must read" selection for
the legions of V. C. Andrews fans. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "My Sweet
Audrina" is also available in a Kindle edition ($5.99).
The Drunken Spelunker's Guide to Plato
Kathy Giuffre
John F. Blair, Publisher
1406 Plaza Drive, Winston-Salem, NC 27103
www.blairpub.com
9780895876515, $26.95, HC, 240pp, www.amazon.com
"The Drunken Spelunker s Guide to Plato" is a novel based on Plato's 'Allegory of the Cave' from
"The Republic". In this deftly crafted work contemporary fiction, the Cave is a dank basement
bar in the small Southern town of Waterville, overflowing with cheap beer, good blues, and local
oddballs. There s Vera, the tough but tender owner; Pancho, the philosophical piano tuner; Billy
Joe, the former rising star back home after a stop in Memphis; and Commie Tom, the
exceedingly generous proprietor of the Hammer and Sickle Bookstore. The newest bartender is
whip-smart tomboy Josie, who hopped a bus from the Appalachian backwoods on a quest to
discover who she is and where she belongs. What she finds is the Cave and the love of a
charming regular named Danny. Armed with lessons from mythology and Plato s philosophy,
Josie navigates the ups and downs of first love and begins to understand that something much
greater is waiting for her just outside the Cave. With Josie as our brave guide, we are submerged
in a rarely explored subculture. Her journey into the Cave and back out is filled with trials and
tragedy, but Josie is helped along by her newfound community of large-hearted hard drinkers. A
compelling read from beginning to end, "The Drunken Spelunker s Guide to Plato" is a love
letter to the families we build for ourselves and the unexpected ways life can answer the
question, what if? Very highly recommended for both community and academic library Literary
Fiction collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Drunken Spelunker's
Guide to Plato" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).
King of the Gypsies: Stories
Lenore Myka
BkMk Press
University of Missouri-Kansas City
University House, Room 224
5100 Rockhill Road, Kansas City, MO 64110-2446
www.umkc.edu/bkmk
9781886157996, $15.95, PB, 215pp, www.amazon.com
Set against a wild and haunting landscape, the award-winning short story fiction comprising in
this anthology by Lenore Myka spotlights the struggles of everyday individuals to overcome the
ghosts they have inherited from Romania's communist past. The stories comprising this
outstanding collection include: Lessons in Romanian; Real Family, Rol Dobos; Manna from
Heaven; National Cherry Blossom Day; Palace Girls; Wood Houses; Day of Lasts; Song of
Sleep; Tutors; and the title piece, King of the Gypsies. Of special note is the inclusion of a
Reading Guide and an informative Foreword by Lorraine M. Lopez. "King of the Gypsies" is
very highly recommended for personal reading lists, as well as the Literary Fiction collections of
community and academic libraries.
Court Appointed
Priscilla Audette
Sunstone Press
PO Box 2321, Santa Fe, NM 87504-2321
www.sunstonepress.com
9781632930675, $22.95, PB, 230pp, www.amazon.com
The novel "Court Appointed" by Priscilla Audette deals with the ever-present reality of death
while concurrently embracing life. It celebrates the lives of the greatest generation while alerting
aging baby boomers to be aware of what is waiting for them around the next corner. As the
clients presented in the pages of "Court Appointed" journey through the final stages of their lives
toward death and the feeling that time is running out, Hope, the protagonist, conversely journeys
toward a richer and fuller life. "In "Court Appointed", Priscilla Audette deftly encourages her
readers to celebrate life and to live each day as the gift it is. An imaginative, riveting, and
ultimately fulfilling read, "Court Appointed" is very highly recommended and certain to be an
enduringly popular addition to community library General Fiction collections. For personal
reading lists it should be noted that "Court Appointed" is also available in a Kindle edition
($4.99).
The Literary Studies Shelf
The Art of Vision
Andrew James Johnston, Ethan Knapp, and Margitta Rouse, editors
Ohio State University Press
180 Pressey Hall, 1070 Carmack Road
Columbus, OH 43210-1002
9780814212943 $72.95 https://ohiostatepress.org
Part of the "Interventions: New Studies in Medieval Culture" series of scholarly publications,
The Art of Vision: Ekphrasis in Medieval Literature and Culture is an anthology of essays by
learned authors discussing ekphrasis - detailed and dramatic descriptions of works of art, or other
concepts - in medieval literature and society. Specific examples studied range from the eleventh
through seventeenth centuries, including texts written in Medieval Latin, Medieval French,
Middle English, Middle Scots, Middle High German, and Early Modern English. Individual
writings include "Vision and Desire in 'Mary Magdalene' and 'The Winter's Tale'", "Ekphrasis
and religious ideology in Spenser's 'Legend of Holiness'", "The Soul of Ekphrasis: Chaucer's
'Merchant's Tale' and the Marriage of the Senses", and much more. An extensive bibliography
and index round out this studious collection, especially recommended for college library Literary
Studies and Medieval History collections.
A Comprehensive Guide to Bhagavad-Gita with Literal Translation
H.D. Goswami
Torchlight Publishing, Inc.
50616 Hwy 245, Badger, CA 93603
www.torchlight.com
9780986240300 $9.95 pbk / $7.95 Kindle www.amazon.com
H.D. Goswami (Howard Resnick), an expert teacher of Bhagavad-gita, presents A
Comprehensive Guide to Bhagavad-Gita with Literal Translation, an in-depth analysis of this
sacred Hindu text. The Bhagavad-Gita (literally, "Song of the Lord") is a 700-verse scripture
within the Hindu epic "Mahabharata". It chronicles a dialogue between the warrior-prince Arjuna
and his guide and charioteer, Lord Krishna. Bhagavad-Gita explores life's primordial and
existential questions: Why do humans exist? What is the universe? What is God? What is real?
Created to be accessible to scholars and lay readers alike, A Comprehensive Guide to
Bhagavad-Gita with Literal Translation explores the essence of the reasoning and conclusions
within the Bhagavad-Gita. The result is a "must-have" for public and college library literary and
Religious Studies shelves!
Approaches to Teaching the Works of Italo Calvino
Franco Ricci
Modern Language Association
26 Broadway, 3rd floor, New York, NY 10004-1789
www.mla.org
9781603291231, $37.50, 159pp, www.amazon.com
Italo Calvino (15 October 1923 - 19 September 1985) was an Italian journalist and writer of short
stories and novels. His best known works include the Our Ancestors trilogy (1952 - 1959), the
Cosmicomics collection of short stories (1965), and the novels Invisible Cities (1972) and If on a
winter's night a traveler (1979). Admired in Britain and the United States, he was the
most-translated contemporary Italian writer at the time of his death, and a contender for the
Nobel Prize for Literature. His works reflect the major literary and cultural trends of the second
half of the twentieth century. He is known for his imagination, humor, and technical virtuosity.
He explored topics such as neorealism, folktale, fantasy, and social and political allegory and
experiments with narrative style and structure. Compiled and edited by Franco Ricci,
"Approaches to Teaching the Works of Italo Calvino" aims to help classroom teachers develop
creative and engaging classroom strategies. The twenty articles presented by the contributors are
deftly organized and presented in two major sections. Part 1, "Materials," presents an overview of
Calvino's writings, nearly all of which are available in English translation, as well as critical
works and online resources. The essays in part 2, "Approaches," focus on general themes and
cultural contexts, address theoretical issues, and provide practical classroom applications. The
contributors describe strategies for teaching Calvino that are as varied as his writings, whether
having students study narrative theory through If on a winter's night a traveler, explore literary
genre with Cosmicomics, improve their writing using Six Memos for the Next Millennium, or
read Mr. Palomar in a general education humanities course. "Approaches to Teaching the Works
of Italo Calvino" is very highly recommended for professional and academic library Literary
Studies collections in general, and Ialo Calvino supplemental studies reading lists in particular. It
should be noted that "Approaches to Teaching the Works of Italo Calvino" is also available in a
paperback edition (9781603291248, $19.75) and in a Kindle format ($18.76).
The Political Science Shelf
Run: Your Personal Guide to Winning Public Office
Senator Marian Walsh
Grand Cove Publishing
www.marianwalsh.com
9780989344005, $18.95, PB, 216pp, www.amazon.com
State Senator Marian Walsh has never lost an election. Beginning with her first run for the
Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1988 as a political unknown, Walsh was re-elected to
a second term then went on to serve nine consecutive terms in the Massachusetts State Senate
until 2011. She was the first woman to hold her House and Senate seats and also held ranking
positions, including Majority Whip. In "Run: Your Personal Guide to Winning Public Office"
Massachusetts State Senator Walsh draws upon her many years of experience and expertise to
create an impressive and comprehensive instructional guide to successfully running for political
office be it on the local, state, or federal level. Informative, exceptionally well written, organized
and presented, and above all, real world practical, "Run: Your Personal Guide to Winning Public
Office" should be a part of every community and academic library Political Science reference
collection and supplemental studies list in the country. For personal reading lists it should be
noted that "Run: Your Personal Guide to Winning Public Office" is also available in a Kindle
edition ($4.99).
Commentary on Filangieri's Work
Benjamin Constant
Liberty Fund, Inc.
8335 Allison Pointe Trail, Indianapolis, IN 46250
www.libertyfund.org
9780865978829, $24.05, HC, 496pp, www.amazon.com
Henri-Benjamin Constant de Rebecque (25 October 1767 - 8 December 1830), or simply
Benjamin Constant, was a Swiss-French political activist and writer on politics and religion. He
was a fervent liberal of the early 19th century who influenced the Trienio Liberal movement in
Spain, the Liberal Revolution of 1820 in Portugal, the Greek War of Independence, the
November Uprising in Poland, the Belgian Revolution, and Liberalism in Brazil and Mexico. In
"Commentary on Filangieri's Work" Constant addresses the principal political and social
questions of the early 19th Century. This translation of "Commentary on Filangieri's Work" by
Alan S. Kahan (Professor of British Civilization at the Universite de Versailles/St.
Quentin-en-Yvelines in France) will help give the work its deserved importance in political
theory. "Commentary on Filangieri's Work" is very highly recommended reading, especially for
students of 19th Century political science with respect to the principle social issues of the day. A
critically important addition to academic library 19th Century Political Science History reference
collections and supplemental studies curriculums, it should be noted for personal reading lists
that "Commentary on Filangieri's Work" is also available in a paperback edition
(9780865978836, $18.37).
The Meaning of Citizenship
Edited by Richard Marback and Marc W. Kruman
Wayne State University Press
The Leonard N. Simons Building
4809 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, MI 48201-1309
9780814341308 $34.99 http://wsupress.wayne.edu
The Meaning of Citizenship is an anthology of fifteen scholarly essays by learned authors
selected from the tenth anniversary conference of the Center for the Study of Citizenship at
Wayne State University, during which the theme "The Meaning of Citizenship" was suggested as
a concept to reflect upon when evaluating the past decade of research in the field. Writings
discuss the four dimensions of citizenship: the divide between citizenship in theory versus
practice, the limits of citizenship, the nature of connections that bond citizens, and how civic and
personal obligations are resolved. Contributors draw upon ethnography, history, literary analysis
and more. Specific essays include "State, Citizenship, and Health in an Age of Global Mobility:
A Comparative Study of Labor Migrans' Health Rights in Germany and Israel"; "Justice for
Border-Crossing Peoples"; and "French Citizens and Muslim Law: The Tensions of Citizenship
in Early Twentieth-Century Senegal". Reflective, erudite, and insightful, The Meaning of
Citizenship is a welcome contribution to public and college library political science
collections.
The Agriculture Shelf
Compendium of Soybean Diseases, fifth edition
APS Press
3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121
9780890544730, $119.00, 201pp, www.shopapspress.org
Now in a fully updated fifth and expanded edition, the "Compendium of Soybean Diseases"
combines the finest qualities of the four previous editions with new sections which continue to
make it a thorough, authoritative and practical reference that will prove indispensable for
academia and agriculturalists alike in diagnosing and treating the full range of major and minor
insect pests, diseases, abiotic stresses and disorders. Profusely illustrated throughout,
"Compendium of Soybean Diseases" is enhanced with the inclusion of an introduction providing
background information about the history and growth of the soybean plant along with a
contemporary discussion of the importance of soybean pathogens and presents in the world's
chief soybean-producing countries. An essential and comprehensive reference for researchers and
growers, "Compendium of Soybean Diseases" is very highly recommended for personal farming,
professional agricultural extension, agribusiness corporate, governmental, and academic library
agriculture soybean instructional reference collections and supplemental studies reading
lists.
Virulence Mechanisms of Plant-Pathogenic Bacteria
Nian Wange, et al.
APS Press
3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121
www.shopapspress.org
9780890544440, $395.00, 492pp, www.amazon.com
Providing a complete course of instruction, "Virulence Mechanisms of Plant-Pathogenic
Bacteria" is an ideal textbook for agricultural studies students and a deftly organized and
presented reference guide for agricultural pathology researchers. "Virulence Mechanisms of
Plant-Pathogenic Bacteria" reviews individual virulence traits and how each pathogen uses
different traits to cause some of the most important bacterial diseases in agriculture today.
Comprised of twenty-three major papers by experts in the field of plant pathology, "Virulence
Mechanisms of Plant-Pathogenic Bacteria" is presented in two principle sections: Virulence
Mechanisms and Important Bacterial Diseases in Agriculture. Enhanced with the inclusion of a
thirty-five page Index, "Virulence Mechanisms of Plant-Pathogenic Bacteria" is a critically
important and highly recommended core collection addition to country agricultural center,
corporate agribusiness, and academic library Agricultural Pathology Studies reference collections
and supplemental studies lists.
The Theatre/Cinema Shelf
An Actor's Companion
Seth Barrish
Theatre Communications Group
520 Eighth Avenue, 24th floor, New York, NY 10018-4156
http://www.tcg.org/publications
9781559367967, $15.95, PB, www.amazon.com
In "An Actor's Companion: Tools for the Working Actor", Seth Barrish (Co-Founder and
Co-Artistic Director of The Barrow Group, a New York - based theater company and school)
draws upon his four decades of experience and expertise to deftly craft a thoroughly 'user
friendly' instructional guide for anyone who aspires to be an actor on stage, screen, or television.
Presented as a 216 page compendium comprised of "tips" covering all aspects of the acting
profession, "An Actor's Companion" will prove to be of enduring value for amateurs in a
community theatre project, as well as for seasoned professionals wanting to 'brush up' and
present their best efforts from audition to production. Of special note is the succinct introduction
by the professional film actress Anne Hathaway (herself a former student of Barrish). Informed
and informative, "An Actor's Companion" is very highly recommended for community theatre,
community library, and university library instructional reference collections. It should be noted
for personal reading lists that "An Actor's Companion" is also available in a Kindle edition
($9.99).
The Existential Actor: Life and Death Onstage and Off
Jeff Zin
Smith & Kraus Publishers
177 Lyme Road, Lyme NH 03755-6610
www.smithandkraus.com
9781575259000, $17.95, PB, 232pp, www.amazon.com
In "The Existential Actor: Life and Death Onstage and Off", actor, director of more than 150
productions, and theatrical teacher to a generation of students, Jeff Zinn draws upon his more
than thirty years of experience and expertise to write "The Existential Actor: Life and Death
Onstage and Off", a 232 page instruction manual that begins with the informative introduction
"Four Elements: A new Theory for the Theater". Deftly organized into four major sections: Life
and Death (Mortality Salience - Awareness of Death); A Brief History (Why We need a System;
Aristotle, Diderot, Delsarte, & Fey; The Move Toward Truth; Beyond Stanislavski - The
Post-Modern); The Four Elements (Shape; Action; Transaction; Surrender; Putting It All
Together); Plays (Death of a Salesman; Ibsen's Heroic Women - Hedda and Nora; Chekhov's
People - A Search for Meaning; Hamlet - Gods and Ghosts; The Existential Actor). Enhanced
with the inclusion of a six page Bibliography and a three page Index, "The Existential Actor: Life
and Death Onstage and Off" is very highly recommended for community theatre, community
library, and academic library Theatre/Cinema Studies reference collections and supplemental
instructional reading list. It should be noted for those aspiring to become professional actors that
"The Existential Actor: Life and Death Onstage and Off" is also available in a Kindle edition
($9.99).
The Health/Medicine Shelf
Communicating to Advance the Public's Health
Institute of Medicine
http://iom.nationalacademies.org
c/o National Academies Press
500 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001
www.nap.edu
9780309368674 $42.00 hc / $34.99 Kindle www.amazon.com
Communicating to Advance the Public's Health: Workshop Summary presents a succinct
encapsulation of The Institute of Medicine's Roundtable on Population Health Improvement, a
gathering and workshop held on September of 2014 to discuss how health communication can be
improved. Topics discussed include influencing public policy on the matter of obesity, promoting
community engagement to lower infant mortality and homicide rates in Detroit, keys to engaging
a lay audience, the value of television, film, and documentaries in promoting public health
policies, adapting to the 21st-Century media environment, and much more. Education through
effective communication is key to disease prevention and encouraging healthier lifestyles;
Communicating to Advance the Public's Health is a "must-read" for its recommendations in
tackling the challenges of the present and the future. Highly recommended, especially for college
and graduate school medical and communications libraries.
The First Year: Type 2 Diabetes, third edition
Gretchen Becker
Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Book Group
250 W. 57th St., Suite 1500, New York, NY 10107
9780738218601 $17.99 www.perseusbooksgroup.com
Now in a completely revised and updated third edition, The First Year: Type 2 Diabetes, An
Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed lives up to its title as a practical resource, both
comprehensive and accessible to readers of all backgrounds. Chapters address how to measure
one's blood glucose levels, talk to friends and colleagues, modify one's diet to help manage
diabetes, basic information about diabetes drugs, how insulin can be used, the importance of
exercise, tracking one's progress and much more. A glossary, a list of resources, and an index
round out this "must-have" for anyone who has recently been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Although neither The First Year: Type 2 Diabetes nor any other book can substitute for the
counsel of a trained physician, The First Year is packed with more invaluable recommendations,
definitions, and management strategies than can be described in the length of a brief doctor's
visit. Highly recommended.
Oh, My Body!
Luz Delia Gerber
Michael E. Gerber Companies
c/o Prodigy Living Books
PO Box 130384, Carlsbad, CA 92013
www.LuzDeliaGerber.com
9781618350459, $70.00, HC, www.amazon.com
Within our bodies are eleven divine systems that allow us to function as harmonious human
beings. these eleven systems are taught in medical schools, but few outside the medical system
understand how these eleven systems orchestrate our lives. In the pages of "Oh, My Body!", Luz
Delia Gerber (Principal and CEO of the Michael E. Gerber Companies) covers eleven different
systems of the human body including: The Nervous System; The Endocrine System; The
Immune System; The Circulatory System; The Digestive System; The Respiratory System; The
Lymphatic System; The Musculoskeletal System; The Urinary/Excretory System; The
Integumentary System; and the Reproductive System. Informatively illustrated throughout, "Oh,
My Body!" is exceptionally well written, organized and presented, as well as impressively and
thoroughly 'reader friendly' in tone, content and commentary. A 262 page compendium of
detailed information, "Oh, My Body!" is very highly recommended for personal reading lists, as
well as community and academic library Health/Medicine reference collections and supplemental
studies lists.
The Economic Studies Shelf
The Economics of Immigration
Benjamin Powell, editor
Independent Institute
c/o Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016-4314
9780190258795 $34.95 www.oup.com
Political rhetoric and personal temperaments run high in response to immigration issues, but do
immigrants truly cost jobs, or induce an economic burden? The Economics of Immigration offers
a variety of scholarly essays by expert social scientists and economists with surprising answers.
Meticulous analysis of existing studies reveals immigration can slightly increase the wealth of
natives born in destination countries, while doing relatively little harm to job prospects or wages.
Current generations of immigrants do not appear to be resisting assimilation more than previous
generations. Yet different professionals in the field present dramatically different interpretations
and policy proposals. One argues to reduce current levels of immigration; one suggests an
auction market model for immigration permits; and one makes a case for open borders. An index
rounds out this nuanced, serious-minded effort to examine the facts behind a complex and
contentious social issue. The Economics of Immigration is especially recommended for college
and public library Economic Studies shelves.
The Midas Paradox
Scott Sumner
The Independent Institute
100 Swan Way, Oakland, CA 94621-1428
9781598131505 $37.95 www.independent.org
The Midas Paradox: Financial Markets, Government Policy Shocks, and the Great Depression is
a sweeping, ambitious, and studious endeavor to fully explain both the monetary and
non-monetary causes of the cataclysmic Great Depression. Author Scott Sumner (Professor of
Economics, Bentley University) uses financial market data and news stories of the era to reveal
that the Great Depression ultimately came from bad policymaking on all sides - the mistakes of
central bankers, legislators, and two presidents all contributed toxins to the brewing disaster,
particularly their errors with regard to monetary policy and wage rates. The title of "The Midas
Paradox" refers to how the world economy was destabilized through the hoarding of gold -
including both hoarding by central banks, and eventually episodes of private gold-hoarding
induced by the persistent (and often justified) fears of currency devaluation. Sumner also
examines wage cyclicality as a key to understanding the Great Depression, in particular the
conundrum of why U.S. industrial output rose and fell more than dozen times during the Great
Depression's course. The Midas Paradox is an astutely researched and presented analysis;
whether one agrees or disagrees with its economic conclusions, it provides extensive grounds for
examining macroeconomics from a different perspective. Highly recommended, especially for
public and college library Economic Studies shelves.
Best Customers: Demographics of Consumer Demand, 11th edition
New Strategist Press, LLC
26 Austin Avenue, PO Box 635, Amityville, NY 11701
www.newstrategist.com
9781933588070 $138.00 hc
9781933588179 $103.95 pbk
9781933588216 $103.95 single-user PDF / $310.00 multi-user PDF
Corporate executives, entrepreneurs, academicians, and the general reading public can now find
out how the American marketplace has been transformed by the Great Recession in the newly
updated and expanded 11th edition of "Best Customers: Demographics of Consumer Demand",
that includes 2013 spending data. "Best Customers" provides a unique and comprehensive
overview of who the best and biggest customers are for hundreds of individual products and
services. The new edition of "Best Customers" includes analyses of spending trends before (2000
to 2006) and after (2006 to 2013) the Great Recession, product by product. "Best Customers"
also analyzes household spending on more than 300 products and services by age of householder,
household income, household type, race and Hispanic origin of householder, region of residence,
and educational attainment of householder. Based on unpublished data from the 2013 Consumer
Expenditure Survey that is not available on the internet, "Best Customers" identifies which
households spend the most on a product or service (the best customers) and which control the
largest share of spending (the biggest customers). "Best Customers" is divided into 21 chapters,
arranged alphabetically. Within each chapter, individual products and services are arranged
alphabetically. The chapters are: alcoholic beverages, apparel, computers, education,
entertainment, financial products and services, household furnishings, gifts to non-household
members, groceries, health care, household services, housekeeping supplies, personal care
products and services, reading material, restaurants and carry-outs, shelter and utilities,
telephone, tobacco, transportation, travel, and utilities. Each table in "Best Customers" deftly
analyzes household spending on a particular product or service and is accompanied by text
identifying the best and biggest customers, analyzing spending patterns, describing spending
trends before and after the Great Recession, and predicting future trends based on the nation's
changing demographics. "Best Customers" is an essential and highly recommended addition to
school, community, corporate, and university library Contemporary American Economics and
Contemporary American Demographics reference collections and supplemental studies reading
lists. It should be noted that "Best Customers" is also available in a paperback and Singler-User
PDF edition ($103.00), and in a Multi-User PDF edition ($310.00).
The Poetry Shelf
Errata
Lisa Fay Coutley
Southern Illinois University Press
1915 University Press Drive
SIUC Mail Code 6806, Carbondale, IL 62901
www.siupress.com
9780809334483, $15.95, 88pp, www.amazon.com
Lisa Fay Coutley's lyrical debut collection, "Errata", investigates the delicate balance between
parent and child, love and loss, hope and grief. Errata's narrator reflects on struggles and fears
that span generations in compositions that are at once musical and bleak. Coutley's narrative
journey is often a dark one, exploring not only the loss of loved ones but also the potential to lose
one's very self. The collection unravels the lingering consequences of abuse and addiction, yet
threads of hope and determination weave a finely wrought path through the dark side of human
relationships, illuminating the power of the will to survive. Coutley's sharp yet tender collection
will both haunt readers and move them to reflect, to remember, and most of all, to persevere.
Also available in a Kindle edition ($12.28), "Errata" is the latest addition to the outstanding Crab
Orchard Series in Poetry from the Southern Illinois University Press and very highly
recommended for personal reading lists, as well as community and academic library
Contemporary Poetry collections. 'Commute': It happens when I'm Driving. / I see a woman at a
bus stop, // gray & frail, frump- / backed in a tattered coat, // looking older than she should. / In
the space of a shallow breath, // I'm certain she's you -- / pinning shame, chin to chest, // tugging
an outgrowth of witchy bangs, / one hand fisted, tucked against tweed. // I know that woman
cannot be you. Still, / some mornings, I slip my feelings // into the pockets of a stranger / & send
them off on a bus.
The Architecture Shelf
Checklist of Library Building Design Considerations, sixth edition
William W. Sannwald
ALA Editions
c/o American Library Association
50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
www.alastore.ala.org
9780838913710, $72.00, www.amazon.com
The needs and functions of library buildings have certainly changed over the last decade, but the
necessity for planning intelligently and thoroughly hasn't. In fact, tighter budgets and the
complex demands of both library users and staff call for careful preparation now more than ever.
Whether building from the ground up or simply remodeling, the success of any library building
project hinges on planning, coordination, and communication. This newly updated and expanded
sixth edition of William Sannwald's "Checklist of Library Building Design Considerations" is a
classic 288 page guide will help librarians and their planning boards stay prepared and organized
for every phase of your undertaking from conception through the dedication ceremony. Using a
popular checklist format that ensures no detail is overlooked, this planner covers crucial
considerations like: the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) factors, structured to match the
federal code; sustainable design features, including sensors that save energy and water; designing
makerspaces, digital media labs, or leased library enterprises; disaster and recovery planning;
creating quiet spaces; collaborative collections and materials-handling efficiency; and important
virtual presence aspects to bear in mind during physical space decisions. Library managers,
administrators, and facilities staff will find this sixth edition of "Checklist of Library Building
Design Considerations" a invaluable and practical tool for any library construction project
regardless of size or complexity.
The Graphic Novel Shelf
Persia Blues: Love and War
Dara Naraghi, author
Brent Bowman, artist
NBM Publishing
160 Broadway, Ste. 700, East Wing, New York, NY 10038
9781561639779 $12.99 www.nbmpub.com
Volume 2 of the "Persia Blues" series, Persia Blues: Love and War is a black-and-white graphic
novel about a woman's dual life. In one incarnation, Minoo lives in modern-day Iran; she clashes
with her more traditional-minded father yet loves him deeply, and she crosses the ocean to begin
her graduate studies in America. In her other incarnation, marked by enhanced shading and
texture to the distinctive art, Minoo is a woman-warrior champion of ancient Persia, who strives
to protect the land from the Ahriman's invading armies. The saga of ancient-Minoo, who is
shocked to discover the truth of her heritage, plays alongside the trials and tragedies of
modern-Minoo, who carries bitter memories of the loss of beloved family members.
Modern-Minoo also awakens to a potential romance with an African-American colleague... but
how will her father react to her blossoming relationship? Multilayered and nuanced, Persia Blues
transcends genre-based classification and is a "must-read" work of comic book literature. Also
highly recommended is the first volume of Minoo's story, "Persia Blues: Leaving Home"
(9781561637065, $12.99 pbk / $8.99 Kindle).
The Audiobook Shelf
The Sound of Gravel
Ruth Wariner
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
9781427268143 $34.99 www.macmillanaudio.com
Read by author Ruth Wariner, The Sound of Gravel is the unabridged audiobook rendition of
daily life growing up in a polygamous cult. Ruth was the thirty-ninth of her father's forty-two
children, and spent her early life on a rural farm in Mexico. After her father (the founder and
prophet of the colony) was murdered by his own brother in a bid for church power, Ruth's mother
remarried. Shuttled back and forth between Mexico and the United States, Ruth watched her
mother collect welfare while her stepfather worked odd jobs. More and more, Ruth came to
doubt her family's way of life - including the church teaching that women can only ascent to
Heaven by giving birth to as many children as possible. At the same time, Ruth felt close to her
siblings and worried greatly about them. Ruth's memoir of discovery, courage, and the will to
find her own path is vivid, powerful, and captivating to the very end. Highly recommended,
especially for public library audiobook collections. 7 CDs, 9.5 hours.
Dragon Marked
Jaymin Eve
Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com
9781511327435, $14.99, www.amazon.com
As a wolf shifter with razor-sharp senses, Jessa Lebron can perceive the slightest change in the
air. And her lupine instincts go into overdrive right before her mother, who abandoned her years
ago, returns to the pack bearing secrets that change everything. The biggest secret of all: Jessa is
dragon marked, a designation that places her in grave danger. The dragon marked are destined to
resurrect the dragon king, a fearsome ancient warmonger. And they must be eliminated. Soon
Jessa is locked up in Vanguard, the notorious paranormal prison that houses criminal vampires,
feys, and magic users. Thankfully, she's not alone: Braxton Compass, her best friend and a
dragon shifter, has her back. Jessa and Braxton must find a way to free themselves and the rest of
the dragon marked. But can her pack mates help her stop the dragon king before his deadly
return? Vividly brought to life by the superb narrative skills of Dara Rosenber in a complete and
unabridged performance, "Dragon Marked" by Jaymin Eve is an original and riveting fantasy
novel that will be appreciated by fantasy fans, while proving to be an enduringly popular addition
to community library audio book collections. 8 CDs, 9 Hours 29 Minutes.
The Library CD Shelf
Atma Bhakti
Manish Vyas
New Earth Records
c/o Sounds True
413 South Arthur Avenue, Louisville, CO 80027
c/o The Creative Service Company
$16.98 CD / $11.89 download www.soundstrue.com
India-born composer, musician, and singer Manish Vyas presents Atma Bhakti, a music album
created especially for prayer, meditation, and mind-body devotional practices such as yoga.
Manish's balanced vocals complement his talent with multiple instruments, including the
swar-mandal (a harp from India), tanpura (a long-necked, plucked-string instrument from India),
keyboards, gong, and bells. Manish's friend Milind Date lends lilting bamboo flute strains; Jay
Dave, Krishna Jani, and Singdha Pious contribute choir vocals. The result is a beautifully flowing
treasure for new age collections. The tracks are "Atma (mantra 'mangalam')" (32:16), "Bhakti
(mantra 'shivaya namaha om')" (29:15), and "Vedic Chanting" (5:16). 66 min, 47 sec.
Mystical Morning
Uwe Gronau
Privately Published
c/o The Creative Service Company
$12.97 CD / $9.99 download www.cdbaby.com
German keyboardist Uwe Gronau presents Mystical Morning, an instrumental album that draws
influence from new age, jazz, prog-rock and more. Gronau's choice of keyboards range from solo
piano to synthesizer, organ, and sometimes a mix of multiple keyboards enhanced with guitar,
bass, or percussion. Beautiful and upbeat, Mystical Morning is an album of celebration, and
opening one's mind and heart to new experiences. Highly recommended! The tracks are "Turn It
On!" (3:38), "A Day In Sri Lanka" (3:01), "Mystical Morning" (3:03), "Shy (1)", (1:56),
"Metamorphose" (3:13), "The Day We Met" (2:34), "Letter To Emerson" (2:58), "Special
Romance" (3:29), "Shy (2)" (1:56), "Mountain So High" (4:17), "Light Behind The Door" (5:40),
"A Step Into Your Heart" (5:34), "Colors Of Spring" (2:30), "Over The Bridge" (4:42), and
"Triumvirat" (2:22).
The Library DVD Shelf
Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime
Starring David Walliams and Jessica Raine
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
www.acornonline.com
9781621724490 $39.99 DVD / $39.99 Blu-ray
Available in both DVD and Blu-ray formats, Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime is a collection
of the episodic BBC adaptations of two Agatha mystery novels. Both sagas are set in the 1950's
during the start of the Cold War, and feature the sharp-minded married couple of Tommy and
Tuppence Beresford. The Beresfords are ordinary people thrust into extraordinary circumstances,
who turn out to have a hidden talent for dangerous espionage! In "The Secret Adversary", they
search for a missing woman and the key to identifying a Soviet hit man. In "N or M?" they have a
limited amount of time to discern which person at a seaside guesthouse has stolen a nuclear
bomb! Brought to life with superb performances by David Walliams (known for his role in
"Little Britain") and Jessica Raine (known for "Call the Midwife"), as well as captivating
recreations of the time period's accouterments and fashion, Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime is
a "must-see" for connoisseurs of Christie's classic works. Bonus content includes two
behind-the-scenes featurettes, and an interview with guest star Clarke Peters. 6 episodes on 2
DVDs (or 2 Blu-ray discs), 355 min. plus bonus content, widescreen, SDH subtitles.
Entrepreneurship: Be Your Own Boss
Learning ZoneXpress
667 East Vine Street, Owatonna, MN 55060
$49.95 www.learningzonexpress.com
Intended for viewers ranging from Grade 6 to adult, Entrepreneurship: Be Your Own Boss is an
educational DVD about what it takes to own and run a business. Important aspects touched upon
include motivation, time management, support systems, communication, teamwork, the risks and
challenges of being one's own boss, and more. Brief interviews with entrepreneurs including a
baker, videographer, children's clothing designer and a president of a charitable running event
company round out this edifying and inspirational presentation, ideal for public and school DVD
libraries or viewing during homeroom. Highly recommended! The website
www.learningzoneexpress.com/worksheets features printable teaching materials that complement
Entrepreneurship: Be Your Own Boss. 20 min., closed captioned.
The Art Shelf
Monet's Trees
Ralph Skea
Artwork by Claude Monet
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
9780500239407 $19.95 www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
Featuring full-color illustrations of Monet's oil, pastel, and pencil artwork on virtually every
page, Monet's Trees: Paintings and Drawings by Claude Monet is a showcase of more than
seventy works by Claude Monet (1840-1926), one of the principle founders of French
impressionist painting. Trees and nature scenes are especially prominent in these selected
artworks; the text offers both history and philosophical insight. Monet's Trees is simply beautiful
to page through, as well as scholarly and edifying. Highly recommended not only for college and
public library art history collections, but also as a giftbook to anyone who loves fine
painting.
The Pets/Wildlife Shelf
John Muir's Book of Animals
John Muir, author
Lisel Jane Ashlock, illustrator
Heyday Books
PO Box 9145, Berkeley, CA 94709
9781597143189 $18.00 www.heydaybooks.com
John Muir's Book of Animals combines excerpts about animals from the writings and journals of
storied Scottish-American naturalist and conservationist John Muir with Lisel Jane Ashlock's
striking color artwork. The result is an introduction to Muir's writings that is accessible to readers
of all backgrounds. Organized by animal - each creature from "ant" to "grouse" to "woodchuck"
has a captivating, full-page artwork portrait and a few pages of text associated with it - John
Muir's Book of Animals is a joy to browse. Highly recommended, especially for nature
lovers!
Complete Guide to a Healthy Dog
Eve Adamson
T.F.H. Publications
1 TFH Plaza, Third & Union Avenue, Neptune City, NJ 07753
www.tfh.com
9780793837373 $24.95 hc / $14.99 Kindle www.amazon.com
Part of the "Animal Planet" series of authoritative, user-friendly guidebooks, Complete Guide to
a Healthy Dog lives up to its title as an all-purpose reference and resource for dog owners
everywhere. Chapters discuss how to ensure that one adopts a healthy dog from breeders or
shelters, grooming and hygiene recommendations, choosing a proper diet, identifying common
symptoms and applying first aid, discerning when to see a veterinarian (both for routine care
milestones and emergency treatment for specific problems), and much more. Illustrated with
captivating full-color photography throughout, Complete Guide to a Healthy Dog is an absolute
"must-read" for anyone even considering a dog of their own, and highly recommended for public
library collections.
The Aviation Shelf
The Royal Air Force in American Skies
Tom Killebrew
University of North Texas Press
1155 Union Circle #311336, Denton, TX 76203-5017
9781574416152 $32.95 hc / $26.36 Kindle www.unt.edu/untpress
The Royal Air Force in American Skies: The Seven British Flight Schools in the United States
during World War II chronicles how, during the desperate days of WW II, British pilots trained
in the United States (in accordance with the Lend-Lease Act). British Flying Schools were
created in America; these institutions were owned by American operators, staffed with American
civilian instructors, supervised by British Royal Air Force officers, used aircraft supplied by the
U.S. Army Air Corps, and relied on the RAF training syllabus. The Royal Air Force in American
Skies is a thorough history of all seven of these schools. Training was dangerous; some students
died in accidents and were buried in local cemeteries. Those who successfully finished the
regimen became RAF pilots, and in the process, often formed strong friendships with individual
Americans. Endnotes, a bibliography, and an index round out this studious, thoroughly
researched, and highly recommended contribution to public and college library collections.
The Judicial Studies Shelf
Avenging Lincoln's Death
Thomas J. Reed
Fairleigh Dickinson University Press
The Gatehouse M010C, 285 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ 07940
9781611478273 $75.00 www.fdupress.org
Avenging Lincoln's Death: The Trial of John Wilkes Booth's Accomplices is an in-depth scrutiny
of the 1865 military commission trial of eight alleged accomplices of John Wilkes Booth, the
assassin who murdered President Abraham Lincoln. Chapters analyze the trial transcript and
other evidence used against Booth's alleged accomplices. Author Thomas J. Reed (professor
emeritus of law, Widener University School of Law) argues that the trial was inherently
unconstitutional and unfair because Congress never authorized trial by military commission for
the eight accused civilians; by demanding that the accused be tried in this fashion, President
Andrew Johnson exceeded his legal authority, and defied the Habeas Corpus Act of 1863 which
required him to turn over the accused to civilian authorities for prosecution. Furthermore,
Avenging Lincoln's Death reveals that the accomplices were convicted on perjured testimony,
and that the government submitted unrelated evidence of Confederate atrocities to cognitively
capture the minds of the panel of officers. Exhaustively researched, and enhanced with a
bibliography and an index, Avenging Lincoln's Death is a studious and welcome contribution to
public and college library judicial studies shelves.
The Civil War Shelf
A Confederate Biography
Dwight Sturtevant Hughes
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD 21402
www.nip.org
9781612518411 $41.95 hc / $26.49 Kindle www.amazon.com
A Confederate Biography is the story of the CSS Shenandoah, a cruiser in service to the
Confederate States during the American Civil War. Shenandoah engaged in commerce raiding, a
contentious diplomatic visit to Melbourne, Australia, and even carried Southern gentlemen a
tropical vacation on the Pacific island of Pohnpei. The Shenandoah fired the last shots of the
Civil War in the Bering Sea, contesting against Yankee whalers. Seven moths after Lee's
surrender, Shenandoah returned to Liverpool undefeated, and Captain Waddell lowered the last
Confederate banner. A fascinating saga of the far-flung fringes of the Civil War, A Confederate
Biography will captivate scholarly historians and lay readers alike, and is a choice pick for public
and college library collections.
The Native American Studies Shelf
The Indian Tribes of North America
John R. Swanton
Genealogical Publishing Company
3600 Clipper Mill Road, Suite 260
Baltimore, MD 21211
9780806317304 $75.00 www.genealogical.com
Originally published in 1952, The Indian Tribes of North America is the definitive one-volume
reference to North American Indian tribes, created for use by researchers, scholars, genealogists,
anthropologists, and anyone else with an interest in better understanding the many native peoples
of the North American continent. Organized by state (the primary focus is on Native peoples who
live inside the U.S.), The Indian Tribes of North America lists nations, confederations, tribes,
subtribes, and bands; known tribal groupings in each state; the origins of tribal names and their
most important synonyms; tribal linguistic connections; a brief overview of each tribe's history;
and much more. Multiple fold-out maps are interleaved within the text of this heavily researched,
historic resource.
The Psychology Shelf
The Wisest One in the Room
Thomas Gilovich and Lee Ross
The Free Press
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
9781451677546 $26.00 www.simonsays.com
Written to be accessible to readers of all backgrounds, The Wisest One in the Room: How You
Can Benefit from Social Psychology's Most Powerful Insights is a thoughtful distillation of what
modern psychology tells us about why human beings act the way they do. Defining "wisdom" as
insight into what makes people tick, authors Thomas Gilovich (professor of psychology, Cornell
University) and Lee Ross (professor of psychology, Stanford University) explore how one nation
has an astonishingly higher organ donation rate than other due to the simple difference of
allowing people to "opt out" rather than "opt in"; how controlling one's food intake is best done
via "mindless" methods rather than mindful eating (such as simply using smaller plates that
reduce portion size, reducing the quantity and variety of high-calorie foods inside one's house,
and storing junk food physically out of sight); why certain human conflicts appear to have a
depressing trans-generational longevity (the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in particular is discussed
at length); and much more. The Wisest One in the Room may not have the answers to all of life's
questions, but it definitely helps the reader understand their own minds, cognitive biases, and
fellow human beings better. Highly recommended, especially for public and college library
psychology collections, and also for anyone seeking to improve their own life starting with a
better grasp of the forces that drive human thoughts.
The Language Studies Shelf
Latin of New Spain
Rose Williams
Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers
1570 Baskin Road, Mundelein, IL 60060
9780865168336 $19.00 www.bolchazy.com
Latin of New Spain is a selection of authentic, neo-Latin works of New Spain chosen especially
for the Latin classroom. The works of four prose writers (Acosta, Columbus, Cortes, and Salazar)
as well as two epic poets (Landivar and Cabrera) all offer a testimony of the European's first
experience with lands that would eventually become New Spain. Synopses, comprehension
questions, vocabulary aids, grammar and word use questions, and more round out this excellent
reference and resource for Latin instructors.
The Photography Shelf
The Spring Creek Chronicles
Dick Kettlewell
Farcountry Press
PO Box 5630, Helena, MT 59604
www.farcountrypress.com
9781560376361, $26.95, 232pp, www.amazon.com
Dick Kettlewell has been a professional, award-winning photographer for 28 years. "The Spring
Creek Chronicles" is his latest anthology showcasing some 282 color photographs of wildlife
taken with a true artists eye using the combined medium of a camera, patience, and talent.
Enhanced with informative commentary, "The Spring Creek Chronicles" is an exceptional and
absorbing browse from first page to last and very highly recommended for personal, professional,
community and academic library Wildlife Photography collections.
The Sports Shelf
Developing Successful Social Media Plans in Sport Organizations
Jimmy Sanderson and Christopher Yandle
Fitness Information Technology
West Virginia University
262 Coliseum, WVU-PE, PO Box 6116
Morgantown, WV 26506-6116
9781935412977 $35.00 www.fitinfotech.com
Developing Successful Social Media Plans in Sport Organizations combines useful examples and
academic research to recommend ways to integrate social media into sport organizations. Ideal
for sport management and sport communication professionals, faculty, and students, Developing
Successful Social Media Plans in Sport Organizations addresses far-reaching concerns; the use of
social media by athletes, coaches, and administrators; tools for measuring the success of one's
plan; and more. "As users become more familiar with the norms and expectations for using social
media (e.g., not sharing every feeling/thought, avoiding problematic language, using social media
purposefully and to achieve goals), this can help correct problematic behavior (e.g., getting into
arguments with fans/other players, posting insensitive comments that may have racial and/or
homophobic overtones). To be sure, there will continue to be incidents, but education (something
we discuss in more detail later) can be helpful in minimizing these occurrences." Developing
Successful Social Media Plans in Sport Organizations is potentially a consumable book, as it
includes chapter questions with blank lines that allow the reader to fill in their answer, but it can
also be used as an excellent reference text or self-teaching tool. Highly recommended, given
today's increasingly social media-saturated world.
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
http://www.midwestbookreview.com
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