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Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
El Greco: Life and Work - A New History
Fernando Marias
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500093771, $100.00, HC, 352pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Domenikos Theotokopoulos (1 October 1541 - 7 April 1614), the man known to
history as El Greco, was one of the seminal painters of the Spanish golden age. This magnificent
volume features superb new reproductions of his most famous works, some of which have been
cleaned and restored, revealing unknown facets of his art.
Born in Crete under Venetian rule, raised in the iconographic traditions of Byzantine art, and
acquainted with both Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic practice, El Greco journeyed to
Venice and Rome in the late Renaissance, before finding patronage in Spain at the court of Philip
II. He was a painter not only of religious subjects but also of idiosyncratic portraits executed in
his own dramatic and expressionistic style.
He spent approximately half his life in Toledo, a city with which his name has become indelibly
linked, although he was never fully accepted and was known there as a disputatious outsider. All
this and more is detailed in this illustrated edition of "El Greco: Life and Work - A New
History". Many of El Greco's most famous works are included: View of Toledo, The Adoration
of the Shepherds, The Gentleman with His Hand on His Chest, Christ on the Cross Adored by
Donors, as well as many others.
Critique: Showcasing 215 beautifully reproduced illustrations, "El Greco: Life and Work - A
New History" is an extraordinary combination of biography and art, making this coffee table
style volume (11.1 x 1.4 x 12.6 inches) an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to
personal, community, college, and university library Art History collections in general, and El
Greco supplemental studies reading lists in particular.
The Joyful Vegan
Colleen Patrick-Goudreau
joyfulvegan.com
BenBella Books
benbellabooks.com
9781948836463 $16.95 pbk / $9.99 Kindle amazon.com
Synopsis: Many people choose veganism as a logical and sensible response to their concerns
about animals, the environment, and/or their health. But despite their positive intentions and the
personal benefits they experience, they're often met with resistance from friends, family
members, and society at large. These external factors can make veganism socially difficult - and
emotionally exhausting - to sustain.
This leads to an unfortunate reality: the majority of vegans (and vegetarians) revert back to
consuming meat, dairy, or eggs - breaching their own values and sabotaging their own goals in
the process.
People stay vegan or not depending on how well they navigate the social, cultural, and emotional
aspects of being vegan: constantly being asked to defend your eating choices, living with the
awareness of animal suffering, feeling the pressure (often self-inflicted) to be perfect, and
experiencing guilt, remorse, and anger.
In these pages, Colleen shares her wisdom for managing these challenges and arms readers - both
vegan and plant-based - with solutions and strategies for "coming out vegan" to family, friends,
and colleagues; cultivating healthy relationships (with vegans and non-vegans); communicating
effectively; sharing enthusiasm without proselytizing; finding like-minded community; and
experiencing peace of mind as a vegan in a non-vegan world.
Critique: The Joyful Vegan: How to Stay Vegan in a World That Wants You to Eat Meat, Dairy,
and Eggs lives up to its title as a guide for vegans living in a decidedly nonvegan world. Author
and vegan Colleen Patrick-Goudreau shares her wisdom in how to share one's love of a vegan
lifestyle without coming across as preachy; how to find harmony with non-vegan friends and
family members, how to let go of guilt, regret, and remorse; and much more. The Joyful Vegan is
a "must-read" for anyone contemplating or pursuing a vegan lifestyle, highly recommended. It
should be noted for personal reading lists that The Joyful Vegan is also available in a Kindle
edition ($9.99).
Editor's Note: A recognized expert and thought leader on the culinary, social, ethical, and
practical aspects of living vegan, Colleen Patrick-Goudreau is an award-winning author of seven
books, including the bestselling The Joy of Vegan Baking, The Vegan Table, Color Me Vegan,
Vegan's Daily Companion, On Being Vegan, and The 30-Day Vegan Challenge. She is an
acclaimed speaker and beloved host of the podcast Food for Thought, which has been voted
Favorite Podcast by VegNews magazine readers several years in a row, and Animalogy, which is
about the animal-related words and expressions we use every day. She also co-founded the East
Bay Animal PAC to work with government officials on animal issues in the San Francisco Bay
Area.
The Education Shelf
From Able to Remarkable
Robert Massey
Crown House Publishing
81 Brook Hills Circle, White Plains, NY 10605
www.crownhousepublishing.com
9781785834356, $27.95, PB, 288pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: In "From Able to Remarkable: Help your students become expert learners", Robert
Massey provides a pathway to help teachers guide their students through the gauntlets of the
gifted, the underpasses of underachievement and the roadblocks to remarkable on their learning
journeys.
What makes remarkable students remarkable? Attributes such as resilience, curiosity and
intelligence may come to mind and we might also add others, such as intuition and tenacity. But
what has helped make them what they are? Were they born this way, or did their remarkabilities
emerge during their schooling? Such questions may make teachers feel uneasy, prompting them
to reflect on the sometimes limiting scope of what is often labeled as gifted and talented
provision in their school.
Massey argues, however, that these remarkabilities are there, latent and dormant, in many more
students than we might at first acknowledge. In "From Able to Remarkable" he shares a rich
variety of practical, cross-curricular strategies designed to help teachers unearth and nurture these
capabilities and signpost a route to the top for every learner.
Informed by educational research and evidence from the field of cognitive science, "From Able
to Remarkable:" talks teachers through a wide range of effective teaching and learning
techniques all of which are appropriate for use with all pupils and not only with top sets or high
attainers. "From Able to Remarkable" also shares ideas on how teachers can improve their
students abilities to receive, respond to and then deliver feedback on both their own work and
that of others. To complement the feedback process, "From Able to Remarkable" presents
practical methods to help teachers make questioning, self-review and greater student ownership
of their questioning within lessons a staple of day-to-day classroom interaction.
Venturing beyond the classroom, "From Able to Remarkable" also explores approaches to
whole-school provision for high-attaining students and offers some robust stretch and challenge
to educational leaders in considering what widespread excellence in education might look
like.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "From Able to Remarkable: Help
your students become expert learners" is especially and unreservedly recommended as a school
district in-service training textbook, and will prove to be an enduringly valued and appreciated
addition to college and university library Teacher Education collections and supplemental studies
reading lists. It should be noted that "From Able to Remarkable" is also available in a digital
book format (Kindle, $23.49).
Editorial Note: With over two decades worth of experience as a history teacher, Robert Massey
has for the past six years led the Scholars Programme at Bristol Grammar School. He has a
particular interest in supporting his colleagues in the provision of stretch and challenge
opportunities for high-attaining students. He tweets @DoctorMassey and regularly speaks at
education conferences.
An Education Crisis Is a Terrible Thing to Waste
Yong Zhao, et al.
Teachers College Press
1234 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027
www.tcpress.com
9780807763407, $90.00, HC, 160pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: The educators featured in the pages of "An Education Crisis Is a Terrible Thing to
Waste: How Radical Changes Can Spark Student Excitement and Success" were motivated by
the conviction that even the best status quo education was not serving current student needs.
They responded with radical changes that tap into recent ideas about educational transformation:
personalization, student-driven curriculum, student agency and co-ownership of learning
direction, school-sheltered student entrepreneurship, student-led civic projects, creativity
education, and product-oriented learning.
"An Education Crisis Is a Terrible Thing to Waste " features: Real-life stories of students,
teachers, school principals, and school networks that have made radical innovations in education;
Cutting-edge innovations that took place in a broad range of schools - public and private,
elementary to high school; Specific strategies and tactics educators can use to counter
preconceived or real concerns that prevent them from taking action to change.
Readers will find carefully researched and detailed stories of on-the-ground models where
students learn empathy, cooperation, creativity, and self-management, alongside rigorous
academics. Together these stories provide insight into the process of innovation and the elements
that can make change successful.
Critique: An impressively organized and seminal work of collective scholarship, "An Education
Crisis Is a Terrible Thing to Waste: How Radical Changes Can Spark Student Excitement and
Success" is unreservedly recommended for both college and university library Contemporary
Educational Issues collections and supplemental curriculum reading lists. It should be noted for
students, academia, teachers, school administrators, and non-specialist general readers with an
interest in the subject that "An Education Crisis Is a Terrible Thing to Waste" is also available in
a paperback edition (9780807763391, $29.95).
Editorial Note: Yong Zhao is a Foundation Distinguished Professor in the School of Education at
the University of Kansas and a professorial fellow at the Mitchell Institute for Health and
Education Policy at Victoria University in Australia. Trina E. Emler is a doctoral candidate and a
multidisciplinary research assistant at the University of Kansas and an international education
consultant for YEE Education. Anthony Snethen is a doctoral candidate at the University of
Kansas and a middle school English teacher. Danqing Yin is a doctoral student and a first-year
experience instructor at the University of Kansas.
Read, Write, Inquire
Hiller A. Spires, Shea N. Kerkhoff, and Casey Medlock Paul
Teachers College Press
1234 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027
www.tcpress.com
9780807763346, $105.00, HC, 168pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: "Read, Write, Inquire: Disciplinary Literacy in Grades 6-12" is a practical guide in
which three literacy experts show classroom teachers how to best use project-based inquiry to
build a students' discipline-specific skills and knowledge in grades 6-12.
"Read, Write, Inquire" deftly presents a five-phase framework that incorporates their professional
development experience working with over 3,000 teachers. By making the intuitive practices of
the disciplines explicit within an inquiry process, students have opportunities to construct new
knowledge by employing practices used by literary critics, scientists, historians, and
mathematicians. "Read, Write, Inquire" also responds to the current focus on disciplinary literacy
across multiple sets of standards, offering a clear blueprint to help teachers meet these standards
while also providing students with deep learning across the curriculum.
"Read, Write, Inquire" features: A model that connects project-based inquiry and disciplinary
literacy for deeper learning among teachers and students; Classroom vignettes and practical
examples are used to illustrate the model; A chapter on connecting digital and global literacies
with the inquiry model; Appropriate for multiple sets of standards, including the Next Generation
Science Standards, the 3C Framework for Social Studies, and the Common Core State
Standards.
Critique: Exceptionally well organized and presented, "Read, Write, Inquire: Disciplinary
Literacy in Grades 6-12" is an ideal choice for teacher in-service training programs and is
unreservedly recommended for school district, college, and university library Teacher Education
instructional reference collections and supplemental studies lists. It should be noted that "Read,
Write, Inquire" is also available in a paperback edition (9780807763339, $34.95).
Editorial Note: Hiller A. Spires is an alumni distinguished graduate professor at the College of
Education and senior research fellow at the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation at North
Carolina State University. Shea N. Kerkhoff is an assistant professor of secondary education at
the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Casey Medlock Paul is a lecturer at the College of
Education, North Carolina State University.
Between the Commas
Martin Brandt
Heinemann
PO Box 6926, Portsmouth, NH 03802-6926
www.heinemann.com
9780325108209, $30.00, PB, 184pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: For too long, sentence instruction has been heavy on correctness and terminology (as
in "mind your grammar") and light on play and experimentation. Or it has been abandoned
altogether. But in "Between the Commas: Sentence Instruction That Builds Confident Writers
(and Writing Teachers)", Marty Brandt sets out to change all that.
"Between the Commas" is partly the story of a teacher hitting a plateau in mid-career, deeply
frustrated by the flatness of his students' writing, particularly as they struggled with more
academic tasks. But it is also the story of important but neglected research in sentence
instruction, which Brandt revives, reinventing his instruction by explicitly teaching the
possibilities of sentences.
"Between the Commas" three "pillars" of sentence instruction: Sentence Focus: Identifying the
true subject of the sentence; Sentence Development: Finding ways to expand and modify,
"between the commas"; Sentence Coherence: Connecting sentences to show the flow of
thought.
To help his students understand these concepts, Brandt invents his own terms-the Dime-
Dropper, Smack-Talker, ingBomb, Sentence Wannabe, and the Not/But-to describe key moves a
writer can make, illustrating them with both student and professional examples. "Between the
Commas" is also filled with practical exercises in sentence manipulation that can be used directly
in your classroom or modified for your students. -- At long last, sentence instruction that can
really help young writers and their teachers!
Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Between the Commas: Sentence
Instruction That Builds Confident Writers (and Writing Teachers)" is a unique and unreservedly
recommended addition to school district, college, and university library Teacher Education
collections, as well as the personal reading lists of classroom teachers and anyone of any age
wanting to hone their skills as a writer.
Editorial Note: Martin Brandt teaches English at San Jose's Independence High School, a large
urban school with a diverse student population. He is a teacher consultant with the San Jose Area
Writing Project and former winner of the California Teachers of English Award for Classroom
Excellence.
Lisa Murphy on Being Child Centered
Lisa Murphy, MEd
Redleaf Press
10 Yorkton Court, St. Paul, MN 55117-1065
www.redleafpress.org
9781605546155, $24.95, PB, 208pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: "Lisa Murphy on Being Child Centered" provides an in-depth exploration of the
author's approach to working with children. Lisa Murphy outlines nine characteristics programs
need to build an environment that's child-centered, where play, developmentally appropriate
practice, and academic standards all come together under one roof.
These nine characteristics of a child-centered environment include: Children are provided long
periods of uninterrupted free time to explore their environment; Children are provided lots of
time outdoors; Children are able to explore the environment with few restrictions; Adults
controlling the environment, not the children; Adults serving as facilitators within the space;
Adults articulating the intention behind their words and actions; Adults are familiar with current
research and the key contributions of historical child development theorists; Adults are aware of
the importance of keeping it real; Children are provided time and opportunity to create, move,
sing, discuss, observe, read, and play every day.
Using true-to-life examples, anecdotes, and Lisa Murphy's signature conversational style, "Lisa
Murphy on Being Child Centered" presents and explores the true identifying characteristics of a
hands-on, play-based, child-centered environment.
Critique: Basically a classroom management instructional guide and manual, "Lisa Murphy on
Being Child Centered" is extraordinary, practical, insightful, and effective. An ideal curriculum
text for school district in-service training programs, "Lisa Murphy on Being Child Centered" is
unreservedly recommended for both college and university library Teacher Education collections.
It should be noted for the personal reading lists of student teachers, practicing classroom
instructors, school board members, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest
in the subject that "Lisa Murphy on Being Child Centered" is also available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $16.99).
Editorial Note: Lisa Murphy, MEd, has been involved with early childhood education for over 30
years, teaching and working with children in various environments including Head Start,
kindergarten, private preschools, family child care, parks and recreation centers, group homes,
and many child care centers. As the founder and CEO of Ooey Gooey, Inc., Lisa's mission is to
assist in the transformation of early childhood education by offering the best workshops and
trainings, the most up-to-date materials and resources, and insightful conversations and
connections through the power of social media.
The Science Shelf
The Biology of Reproduction
Giuseppe Fusco & Alessandro Minelli
Cambridge University Press
One Liberty Plaza, Fl. 20, New York, NY 10006
www.cambridge.org
9781108499859, $105.00, HC, 490pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Reproduction is a fundamental feature of life, it is the way life persists across the ages.
The collaborative effort of Giuseppe Fusco (Associate Professor of Zoology in the Department of
Biology at the University of Padova, Italy) and Alessandro Minelli (formerly a Full Professor of
Zoology at the University of Padova, Italy), "The Biology of Reproduction" offers new, wider
vistas on this fundamental biological phenomenon, exploring how it works through the whole
tree of life.
Effectively illustrated throughout, "The Biology of Reproduction" explores facets such as asexual
reproduction, parthenogenesis, sex determination and reproductive investment, with a taxonomic
coverage extended over all the main groups - animals, plants including 'algae', fungi, protists and
bacteria.
"The Biology of Reproduction" collates into one volume perspectives from varied disciplines -
including zoology, botany, microbiology, genetics, cell biology, developmental biology,
evolutionary biology, animal and plant physiology, and ethology - integrating information into a
common language.
Crucially, "The Biology of Reproduction" successfully identifies the commonalties among
reproductive phenomena, while demonstrating the diversity even amongst closely related taxa. Its
integrated approach makes "The Biology of Reproduction" a valuable reference book for students
and researchers, as well as an effective entry point for deeper study on specific topics.
Critique: Enhanced for academia with the inclusion of an Appendix (A Classification of Living
Organisms), a twenty-two page listing of References, a twenty-one page Taxonomic Index, and
fourteen page Subject Index, "The Biology of Reproduction" is an ideal Biology curriculum
textbook and unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library Biology
collections and supplemental studies reading lists. Impressively informative and expertly
organized, it should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers that "The
Biology of Reproduction" is also available in a paperback edition (9781108731713, $44.99) and
in a digital book format (eTextbook, $27.49).
The Native American Studies Shelf
Indigenous Food Sovereignty in the United States
Devon A. Mihesuah & Elizabeth Hoover, editors
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
www.oupress.com
9780806163215, $29.95, PB, 390pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Centuries of European colonization and other factors have disrupted indigenous
communities' ability to control their own food systems. Collaboratively compiled and co-edited
by Devon A. Mihesuah (a member of the Choctaw Nation, and the Cora Lee Beers Price
Professor in International Cultural Understanding at the University of Kansas) and Elizabeth
Hoover, (the Manning Associate Professor of American Studies at Brown University),
"Indigenous Food Sovereignty in the United States: Restoring Cultural Knowledge, Protecting
Environments, and Regaining Health" explores the meaning and importance of food sovereignty
for Native peoples in the United States, and asks whether and how it might be achieved and
sustained.
Unprecedented in its focus and scope, this collection of fourteen erudite and informative articles
addresses nearly every aspect of indigenous food sovereignty, from revitalizing ancestral gardens
and traditional ways of hunting, gathering, and seed saving to the difficult realities of racism,
treaty abrogation, tribal sociopolitical factionalism, and the entrenched beliefs that processed
foods are superior to traditional tribal fare.
The contributors include scholar-activists in the fields of ethnobotany, history, anthropology,
nutrition, insect ecology, biology, marine environmentalism, and federal Indian law, as well as
indigenous seed savers and keepers, cooks, farmers, spearfishers, and community activists. After
identifying the challenges involved in revitalizing and maintaining traditional food systems, these
writers offer advice and encouragement to those concerned about tribal health, environmental
destruction, loss of species habitat, and governmental food control.
Critique: Enhanced for academia with the inclusion of an informative foreword by Winona
LaDuke, (who is an Anishinaabe writer and economist from the White Earth reservation in
Minnesota, and the Executive Director of Honor the Earth, a national Native advocacy and
environmental organization), as well as illustrations, tables, eight pages of Study Questions, an
eight page listing of the contributors and their credentials, and a fifteen page Index, "Indigenous
Food Sovereignty in the United States" is a unique volume of seminal and meticulous
scholarship. While unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library Native
American Studies collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of students,
academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Indigenous Food
Sovereignty in the United States" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $24.95).
The Political Science Shelf
Smarter Government
Martin O'Malley
ESRI Press
380 New York Street, Redlands, CA 92378-8100
https://www.esri.com/esripress
https://www.smartergovernment.com
9781589485242, $39.99, PB, 332pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Given how politically deeply divided the American people currently are, the time has
come for the rise of the tech savvy executive: an individual who innately understands the need to
help the use of technology rise at the same level across the entire organization. In Baltimore and
in Maryland, Governor Martin O'Malley has done all of these things and more and in "Smarter
Government: How to Govern for Results in the Information Age" he draws upon his years of
experience and expertise to show what can and needs to be done if we are to heal the present
schisms that so badly afflict nation today.
"Smarter Government: Governing for Results in the Information Age" is about a more effective
way to lead that is emerging, enabled by the Information Age. It provides real solutions to real
problems using GIS technology and helps develop a management strategy using data that will
profoundly change an organization.
Critique: Featuring a two page listing of the contributors and their credentials, "Smarter
Government: Governing for Results in the Information Age" is an impressively informative study
that is unreservedly recommended for community, corporate, political think tank, college, and
university library Contemporary Political Science collections and supplemental curriculum
studies lists. Exceptionally well organized and presented, it should be noted for personal reading
lists of students, academia, political activists, state and federal politicians, governmental policy
makers and implementers, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that
"Smarter Government: Governing for Results in the Information Age" is also available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $23.99).
The U.S. Antifascism Reader
Bill V. Mullen & Christopher Vials, editors
Verso
20 Jay Street, 10th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201-8346
www.versobooks.com
9781788733502, $29.95, PB, 384pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Fascism is a form of far-right, authoritarian ultranationalism characterized by
dictatorial power, forcible suppression of opposition, and strong regimentation of society and of
the economy which first came to prominence in early 20th-century Europe. The first fascist
movements emerged in Italy during World War I, before spreading to other European countries.
Opposed to liberalism, Marxism, and anarchism, fascism is placed on the far-right within the
traditional left-right political spectrum. (Wikipedia)
Since the birth of fascism in the 1920s, well before the global renaissance of "white nationalism,"
the United States has been home to its own distinct fascist movements, some of which decisively
influenced the course of US history. They were met, time and again, by an equally deep
antifascist current. Many on the left are unaware that the United States has a rich antifascist
tradition, because it has rarely been discussed as such, nor has it been accessible in one place.
This reader reconstructs the history of US antifascism into the twenty-first century, showing how
generations of writers, organizers, and fighters spoke to each other over time.
Spanning the 1930s to the present day, "The U.S. Antifascism Reader" is a chronologically
arranged, primary source reader is made up of antifascist writings by Americans and by exiles in
the US, some instantly recognizable, others long-forgotten. It also includes a sampling of
influential writings from the US fascist, white nationalist, and proto-fascist traditions. Its
contents, mostly written by people embedded in antifascist movements, include a number of
pieces produced abroad that deeply influenced the US left. The collection thus places US
antifascism in a global context.
Critique: Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by Bill V. Mullen) Professor of American
Studies at Purdue University and a founding member of the Campus Antifascist Network) and
Chris Vials (Associate Professor of English and Director of American Studies at the University
of Connecticut-Storrs and co-founder of the Neighbor Fund, a non-profit devoted to legal defense
for undocumented immigrants in Connecticut), "The U.S. Antifascism Reader" is exceptionally
well organized and presented, making it a critically important and unreservedly recommended
addition to community, college, and university library Political Science collections in general,
and American Fascism Studies reader lists in particular. It should be noted for students,
academia, political activists, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that
"The U.S. Antifascism Reader" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
The American History Shelf
Equality at the Ballot Box
Lori Ann Lahlum & Molly P. Rozum, editors
South Dakota Historical Society Press
900 Governors Drive, Pierre, SC 57501-2217
https://www.sdhspress.com
9781941813263, $29.95, HC, 410pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: On 10 December 1869, the governor of Wyoming Territory signed the first full woman
suffrage bill in the history of the United States. Suffragists in the neighboring territories of
Montana and Dakota believed their prospects were similarly bright. Over the next twenty years,
however, organizers efforts to secure votes for women met only limited success.
While suffragists hoped the territories respective bids for statehood in 1889 and 1890 would
change their fortunes, only Wyoming enshrined voting rights for all in its state constitution. The
fight for full woman suffrage on the Northern Great Plains would take another three
decades.
In "Equality at the Ballot Box: Votes for Women on the Northern Great Plains", the collaborative
editorial team of Lori Ann Lahlum (Professor of history, Minnesota State University - Mankatoo)
and Molly P. Rozum (Associate professor and Ronald M. Nelson Chair of Great Plains and
South Dakota History, University of South Dakota - Vermillion) have compiled a set of original
essays that illuminate key aspects of the movement. Here, scholars uncover previously untold
stories of the women who traveled immense distances to win over a diverse, often contentious
public.
Essential for understanding the larger picture of woman suffrage, including the significance of
the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, school suffrage, and the anti-suffrage movement,
"Equality at the Ballot Box" reveals the impact this isolated, rural region had on women's rights
nationwide. The contributors to "Equality at the Ballot Box" build upon classic woman suffrage
scholarship and develop new ideas that capture the spirit of suffrage on the Northern Great
Plains. For the first time, the region's unique circumstances are considered, including significant
populations of European immigrants and American Indians as well as harsh climates and
sprawling landscapes. By turning scholarly attention to this understudied area, Professors Lahlum
and Rozum start a long-needed conversation and point to rich avenues for further
exploration.
Critique: A masterpiece of collective scholarship, "Equality at the Ballot Box: Votes for Women
on the Northern Great Plains" is an original, seminal and unreservedly recommended addition to
community, college, and university library American History, Women's Studies, and Political
Science collections, as well as the personal reading lists of students, academia, and non-specialist
general readers with an interest in the subject of Women's Suffrage.
The Federalist Frontier
Kristopher Maulden
University of Missouri Press
113 Heinkel Bldg., 201 S. 7th Street, Columbia, MO 65211
https://upress.missouri.edu
9780826221964, $40.00, HC, 278pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: "The Federalist Frontier: Settler Politics in the Old Northwest, 1783-1840" by
Kristopher Maulden (who teaches history at Versailles High School, Jefferson City, Missouri)
traces the development of Federalist policies and the Federalist Party in the first three states of
the Northwest Territory (Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois) from the nation's first years until the rise of
the Second Party System in the 1820s and 1830s.
Relying on government records, private correspondence, and newspapers, Maulden argues that
Federalists originated many of the policies and institutions that helped the young United States
government take a leading role in the American people's expansion and settlement westward
across the Appalachians. It was primarily they who placed the U.S. Army at the fore of the white
westward movement, created and executed the institutions to survey and sell public lands, and
advocated for transportation projects to aid commerce and further migration into the region.
Ultimately, the relationship between government and settlers evolved as citizens raised their
expectations of what the federal government should provide, and the region embraced
transportation infrastructure and innovation in public education.
Historians of early American politics will have a chance to read about Federalists in the
Northwest, and they will see the early American state in action in fighting Indians, shaping settler
understandings of space and social advancement, and influencing political ideals among the
citizens. For historians of the early American West, "The Federalist Frontier" documents and
demonstrates that the origins of state-led expansion reach much further back in time than
generally understood.
Critique: Enhanced for academia with the inclusion a twenty-two page Bibliography, forty pages
of Notes, Illustrations, Tables, and a six page Index, "The Federalist Frontier: Settler Politics in
the Old Northwest, 1783-1840" is a seminal work of meticulous scholarship. Exceptionally
informative and impressively presented that is unreservedly recommended as a core addition to
community and academic library American History collections and supplemental curriculum
studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an
interest in the subject that "The Federalist Frontier" is also available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $38.00).
The World History Shelf
A New World Begins
Jeremy D. Popkin
Basic Books
www.basicbooks.com
c/o Perseus Books Group
250 W. 57th St., Suite 1500, New York, NY 10107
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9780465096664, $35.00, HC, 640pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: The principles of the French Revolution remain the only possible basis for a just
society -- even if, after more than two hundred years (including the bloody removal of the
formally ruling aristocracy, two world wars, and the slow and violent loss of empire ranging from
Morocco to Viet Nam), they are more contested than ever before.
Based on decades of scholarship, "A New World Begins: The History of the French Revolution",
by Jeremy D. Popkin (who holds the William T. Bryan Chair of History at the University of
Kentucky) offers a riveting account of the revolution that puts the reader in the thick of the
debates and the violence that led to the overthrow of the monarchy and the establishment of a
new society.
We meet Mirabeau, Robespierre, and Danton, in all of their brilliance and vengefulness; we
witness the failed escape and execution of Louis XVI; we see women demanding equal rights
and black slaves wresting freedom from revolutionaries who hesitated to act on their own
principles; and we follow the rise of Napoleon out of the ashes of the Reign of Terror.
Critique: Enhanced for academia with the inclusion of thirty-two pages of Notes and a twenty-
eight page Index, "A New World Begins: The History of the French Revolution" is an
exceptionally well written, deftly organized, accessibly presented, definitive treatment of the
French Revolution. While unreservedly recommended for community, college, and university
library French History collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists, it should be noted
for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject of the
French Revolution that "A New World Begins" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$19.99).
Army of the Roman Emperors
Thomas Fischer
Casemate Publishers
1940 Lawrence Road, Havertown, PA 19083
www.casematepublishers.com
9781612008103, $45.00, HC, 464pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Compared to modern standard, the Roman army of the imperial era was surprisingly
small. However, when assessed in terms of their various tasks, they by far outstrip modern armies
-- acting not only as an armed power of the state in external and internal conflicts, but also
carrying out functions which nowadays are performed by police, local government, customs and
tax authorities, as well as constructing roads, ships, and buildings.
"Army of the Roman Emperors" is an informed and informative history in which Thomas Fischer
presents a comprehensive and unique exploration of the Roman military of the imperial era.
Featuring more than 600 illustrations, the costumes, weapons and equipment of the Roman army
are explored in detail using archaeological finds dating from the late Republic to Late Antiquity,
and from all over the Roman Empire. The buildings and fortifications associated with the Roman
army are also discussed. By comparing conflicts, border security, weaponry and artefacts, the
development of the army through time is traced.
Critique: Expertly organized and presented, while "Army of the Roman Emperors" is intended
for academia, it will also have immense appeal for the non-specialist general readers with an
interest in Roman history. "Army of the Roman Emperors" is also a informational treasure-trove
for re-enactment groups, as it puts many common perceptions of the weaponry, equipment and
dress of the Roman army to the test -- making it an ideal and unreservedly recommended addition
to personal, professional, community, college, and university library Roman History collections
and supplemental studies reading lists. It should be noted that "Army of the Roman Emperors" is
also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.49).
Troy: Myth And Reality
The British Museum
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500480557, $60.00, HC, 312pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: From the epic tales of Homer's Iliad and Virgil's Aeneid to retellings from Chaucer to
Madeline Miller, and stagings from Shakespeare's Troilus and Cressida to Brad Pitt's rendering
of the hero Achilles, for over 3,000 years the myth of Troy has fascinated artists and audiences
alike. But what is it about this tale that makes it so eternally appealing, and what do we actually
know about historical Troy? Drawing from the British Museum, "Troy: Myth And Reality" is a
richly illustrated coffee table style volume (10.2 x 1.1 x 11.3 inches ) that tells the story of Troy
and the great Trojan War through the lens of objects from the Greek Bronze Age to the
twenty-first century.
Shedding new light on a legendary story that has resonated for millennia by using the Classical
works of art for which the British Museum is internationally known, "Troy: Myth And Reality"
considers the ancient myth through the eyes of Greek and Roman artists. Drawing on the latest
research, it chronicles the search for Troy that convinced the world of the city's existence,
beginning with the nineteenth-century excavations by Heinrich Schliemann. Focusing on the
major characters in the story (Helen of Troy, Achilles and Hector, Aeneas and Odysseus) "Troy:
Myth And Reality" illustrates how artists from Cranach and Rubens to Romare Bearden and Cy
Twombly have been inspired to explore contemporary themes of war and heroism, love and
beauty.
Critique: Beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout, "Troy: Myth And Reality" is an
inherently fascinating, impressively informative, and exceptionally detailed study -- and one that
is unreservedly recommended for personal, community, college, and university library Ancient
History collections in general, and Troy supplemental studies lists in particular. The collaborative
work of Lesley Fitton (who is an Honorary Research Fellow and is based in the Department of
Greece and Rome at the British Museum); Andrew Shapland (who is Curator of the Aegean
World and Classical Greek collections at the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford); Alexandra Villing
(who is the Curator of Greek collections, and is based in the Department of Greece and Rome at
the British Museum); Victoria Donnellan (who is Project Curator, Troy exhibition, and is based
in the Department of Greece and Rome at the British Museum), it should be noted for students,
academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Troy: Myth And
Reality" is also available in a paperback edition (9780500480588, $30.55).
From Berber State to Moroccan Empire
Maya Shatzmiller
Markus Wiener Publishers
231 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ 08542
www.markuswiener.com
9781558769519, $26.95, PB, 246pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Medieval Fez was a main center of education, art, and commerce from the 13th to the
16th centuries after the Berber tribe of the Marinids seized power in Morocco and moved the
capital from Marrakesh to Fez.
As non-Arabs they gained legitimacy by founding religious universities called medresas. They
also supported the arts and commerce, and expanded their state into an empire. It was the Golden
Age of Fez.
In "From Berber State to Moroccan Empire: The Glory of Fez Under the Marinids", Professor
Maya Shatzmiller (University of Western Ontario) draws a historical panorama of this era,
highlighting its movers and shakers in locations from North Africa to the Mediterranean
world.
Critique: This newly published second edition of "From Berber State to Moroccan Empire: The
Glory of Fez Under the Marinids" continues to be a seminal and comprehensive study of Marinid
history that is enhanced for academia with the inclusion of illustrations, two appendices, forty-
four pages of notes, a twelve page bibliography, and a three page index. Impressively
comprehensive, detailed, documented, informative and exceptionally well organized and
presented, "From Berber State to Moroccan Empire: The Glory of Fez Under the Marinids" is
unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library collections, as well as the
personal reading list of students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in
the subject.
The Civil War Shelf
Such Anxious Hours
Jo Ann Daly Carr, editor
University of Wisconsin Press
728 State Street, Suite 443, Madison, WI 53706-1418
www.uwpress.wisc.edu
9780299324209, $34.95, HC, 368pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Letters from soldiers to their families often provide prominent narratives of the Civil
War. But what about the messages from the women who maintained homes and farmsteads
alone, all while providing significant emotional support to their loved ones at the front?
Compiled and edited by Jo Ann Daly Carr (who is a librarian and director emerita of Media,
Education Resources, and Information Technology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
School of Education), "Such Anxious Hours: Wisconsin Women's Voices from the Civil War" is
comprised of the letters and diary entrees of eight women echo the ever-growing horrors of the
conflict and reveal the stories of the Wisconsin home front during the American Civil War.
Twenty-one-year-old Emily Quiner sought a way to join the war effort that would feed her heart
and mind. Annie Cox wrote to her pro-slavery fiance to staunchly defend her abolitionist
principles. Sisters Susan Brown and Ann Waldo faced the unexpected devastation that each
battle brought to families.
In "Such Anxious Hours", Carr places this material in historical context, detailing what was
happening simultaneously in the nation, state, and local communities. Civil War history
enthusiasts will particularly appreciate these enlightening perspectives that demonstrate the
variety of experiences in the Midwest during the bloody conflict.
Critique: An impressively informative and exceptionally well organized and presented
compendium of first hand accounts that is further enhanced for academia with the inclusion of an
eight page Bibliography, twenty-four pages of Notes, and a fourteen page Index, "Such Anxious
Hours: Wisconsin Women's Voices from the Civil War" is an essential and core addition to
personal, professional, community and academic library American Civil War History collections
in general, and Wisconsin History and 19th Century Women's Studies supplemental reading lists
in particular.
The Petersburg Regiment in the Civil War
John Horn
Savas Beatie
PO Box 4527, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
www.savasbeatie.com
9781611214369, $39.95, HC, 452pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: The 12th Virginia has an amazing history. John Wilkes Booth stood in the ranks of one
of its future companies at John Brown's hanging. The regiment refused to have Stonewall
Jackson appointed its first colonel. Its men first saw combat in naval battles, including Hampton
Roads and First Drewry's Bluff, before embarrassing themselves at Seven Pines (their first land
battle) just outside Richmond. Thereafter, the 12th's record is one of hard-fighting from the
Seven Days' Battles all the way to Appomattox. Its remarkable story is told here in full for the
first time in John Horn's "The Petersburg Regiment in the Civil War: A History of the 12th
Virginia Infantry from John Brown's Hanging to Appomattox, 1859-1865".
The Virginians of the 12th found themselves in some of the most pivotal battles of the war under
Generals William Mahone and later, David Weisiger. After distinguishing themselves at Second
Manassas, they were hit hard at Crampton's Gap in the South Mountain fighting and were only
able to field 25 men three days later at Sharpsburg. Good service at Chancellorsville followed. Its
Gettysburg performance, however, tied to General Mahone's mysterious behavior there, remains
controversial. The Virginians played a key role in Longstreet's flank attack at the Wilderness as
well as in his near-fatal wounding, launched a bayonet charge at Spotsylvania, and captured their
first enemy flag. The regiment truly came into its own during the nine-month siege of Petersburg,
where it fought in a host of bloody battles including the Crater, Jerusalem Plank Road, Globe
Tavern, Second Reams Station, Burgess Mill, and Hatcher's Run. Two days before the surrender
at Appomattox the regiment fought in the rear guard action at Cumberland Church - General
Lee's final victory of the war.
Horn's definitive history is grounded in decades of archival research that uncovered scores of
previously unused accounts. The result is a lively, driving, up-tempo regimental history that not
only describes the unit's marches and battles, but includes personal glimpses into the lives of the
Virginians who made up the 12th regiment. Tables compare the 12th's fighting prowess with
friend and foe, and an appendix resolves the lingering controversy over the fate of the regiment's
last battle flag.
Critique: Enhanced with the inclusion of thirty-two original maps, numerous photos, diagrams,
tables, and appendices, a glossary, and a wealth of explanatory footnotes, "The Petersburg
Regiment in the Civil War" by civil war historian and author John Horn is an extraordinarily
informative, exhaustively researched, exceptionally detailed, impressively informative work of
Civil War scholarship. While certain to be a valued addition to community, college, and
university library American Civil War history collections in general, and supplemental
curriculum studies reading lists, it should be noted for students, academia, Civil War buffs and
non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "The Petersburg Regiment in the
Civil War" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99).
The Library Science Shelf
Copyright for Archivists and Records Managers
Tim Padfield
Facet Publishing
www.facetpublishing.co.uk
9781783304493, $149.41, HC, 384pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: As an archivist or records manager it is essential to keep up to date with the
complexities of copyright legislation, and now in a significantly revised and fully updated sixth
edition, "Copyright for Archivists and Records Managers" is justifiably described as a core and
ideal resource for just that purpose.
"Copyright for Archivists and Records Managers" deals with such common questions as: What is
copyright? Who owns it and for how long? What rights does it confer, and what are the
limitations and exceptions?
A truly comprehensive instructional manual that uniquely outlines copyright law in the UK with
special reference to the unpublished materials commonly found in archive and records collections
such as maps, legal records, records of local authorities and parish registers, "Copyright for
Archivists and Records Managers" also provides comprehensive information on authorship and
duration of copyright in older as well as modern works and on the wide range of exceptions and
limitations to copyright, particularly those relevant to archivists, records managers, librarians and
curators.
This new edition also offers advice on rights in the electronic environment, moral rights and
rights in databases and contains extensive tables of duration of copyright in other countries.
Critique: Thoroughly 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, "Copyright for Archivists
and Records Managers" is an ideal Library Science curriculum textbook and unreservedly
recommended as a community, academic, and governmental library staff in-service training
instructional reference collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students,
academia, and practicing librarians that "Copyright for Archivists and Records Managers" is also
available in a paperback edition (9781783304486, $78.99).
Copyright
Graham P. Cornish
Facet Publishing
www.facetpublishing.co.uk
9781856049702, $59.95, PB, 224pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Now in a newly revised and fully updated sixth edition, "Copyright: Interpreting the
Law for Libraries, Archives and Information Services" employs a question-and-answer style
format to explain the provisions of the United Kingdom Copyright Act and supporting
legislation. This new edition covers copyright issues for literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic
works. Using practical examples it also covers copyright issues for sound recordings, films,
video, broadcasts, databases, computer programs and websites.
Critique: Expertly organized and presented, this new sixth edition of "Copyright: Interpreting the
Law for Libraries, Archives and Information Services" is an ideal Library Science curriculum
textbook on the subject of copyright and should be a core part of professional, community,
academic, and governmental library reference collections.
Participatory Archives: Theory and Practice
Edward Benoit III & Alexandra Eveleigh, editors
Facet Publishing
9781783303564, $64.95, PB, 263pp, www.facetpublishing.co.uk
Synopsis: Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by Edward Benoit, III (Assistant Professor at
the School of Library & Information Science at Louisiana State University) and Alexandra
Eveleigh (Collections Information Manager at Wellcome Collection, London, England)
"Participatory Archives: Theory and Practice" is divided into four sections with each one
specifically focused upon a particular aspect of participatory archives: social tagging and
commenting; transcription; crowdfunding; and outreach & activist communities.
Each section includes chapters summarizing the existing literature, a discussion of theoretical
challenges and benefits, and a series of case studies. The case studies are written by a range of
international practitioners and provide a wide range of examples in practice, whilst the remaining
chapters are supplied by leading scholars from Australia, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands,
Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
"Participatory Archives: Theory and Practice" will be useful for students on archival studies
programs, scholarly researchers in archival studies who could use this book to frame their own
research projects, as well as practitioners who might be most interested in the case studies to see
how participatory archives function in practice. "Participatory Archives: Theory and Practice"
will also be of interest to other library and information science students, and similar audiences
within the broader cultural heritage institution fields of museums, libraries, and galleries.
Critique: Enhanced for academia with the inclusion of a listing of the contributors and their
credentials, thirty-eight pages of notes, and a six page index, "Participatory Archives: Theory and
Practice" would well serve as a Library Science supplemental studies curriculum textbook.
Impressively informative, exceptionally well organized and presented, "Participatory Archives:
Theory and Practice" is unreservedly recommended for library staff in-service training programs,
as well as the Library Science collections of corporate, governmental, college and university
libraries and library systems.
The Graphic Novel Shelf
Manga Classics: Hamlet
William Shakespeare
Adapted by Crystal S. Chan
Illustrated by Julien Choy
Udon Entertainment
www.mangaclassics.com
9781947808119 $24.99 hc
9781947808126 $17.99 pbk amazon.com
Synopsis: Hamlet is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and
1602. Set in Denmark, and originally titled The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, the play
tells the story of Prince Hamlet who is ordered by the ghost of his own father to seek revenge on
his uncle Claudius. In his hunger to seize the throne, Claudius had murdered Hamlet's father (the
king of Denmark) and then went on to marry his deceased brother's widow.
Hamlet is Shakespeare's longest play and is considered among the most powerful and influential
works of world literature. Hamlet was one of Shakespeare's most popular works during his
lifetime, and still ranks among his most performed, adapted and filmed plays of his
collection.
Critique: Manga Classics: Hamlet is a black-and-white graphic novel adaptation of William Shakespeare's classic tragedy about regicide and revenge. Manga Classics: Hamlet uses the complete, unaltered text of the original play, dynamically brought to life with striking artwork in the style of Japanese anime and manga. Because the illustrations add so much contextual clarity to what the characters do and say, Manga Classics: Hamlet is both a superb tool for teaching great literature, and one of the best ways to experience Shakespeare's longest play (other than seeing it performed in a theater, of course). A brief postscript offers additional insights into how Manga Classics: Hamlet was adapted to graphic novel format. Manga Classics: Hamlet is a "must-have" for school and public library graphic novel collections, highly recommended.
The Audiobook Shelf
Oslo
J. T. Rogers, author
Brian Kite, director
L.A. Theatre Works
681 Venice Boulevard, Venice, CA 90291
www.latw.org
9781682660959, $29.95, CD, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: "Oslo" by J. T. Rogers is a rollicking take on modern diplomacy and set in 1993. A
Norwegian social scientist and his diplomat wife are determined to try a new tactic to break the
long-standing deadlock of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. A secret back channel in Norway
leads to unexpected breakthroughs as negotiators find common ground. When the political
becomes personal, relationships are forged that offer a chance to alter the course of history.
This audio book edition of "Oslo" includes a conversation about the Oslo Accords with Steven
Spiegel, director of the Center for Middle East Development at UCLA. Recorded before a live
audience at the UCLA James Bridges Theater in April 2019, "Oslo" is directed by Brian Kite,
and features a talented cast that includes: Anthony Azizi as Ahmed Qurie (Abu Ala); Josh Bitton
as Uri Savir and others; Edita Brychta as Marianne Heiberg, Toril Grandal, Swedish Hostess,
German Wife; J. D. Cullum as Terje Rod-Larsen; Matthew Floyd Miller as Johan Jorgen Holst,
Joel Singer; Darren Richardson as Jan Egeland, Ron Pundak, Trond Gunderson; Andre
Sogliuzzo as Yossi Beilin, Finn Grandal, Thor Bjornevog, American Diplomat, German
Husband; Devon Sorvari as Mona Juul; Michel Wakim as Hassan Asfour and others; and Kevin
Weisman as Yair Hirschfeld, Shimon Peres
Critique: Oslo is an award-winning political play, about the behind-the-scenes talks in 1992-93 that led to the Oslo Accords between the Israelis and the Palestinians. The Oslo Accords enabled limited Palestinian self-governance, but did not create a Palestinian state. Sterling performances create a genuine theatre of the mind experience, making this audio book edition of Oslo certain to be a popular addition to personal, community, and academic library audio book collections. (3 CDs, 2 Hours, 21 Minutes).
The Library CD Shelf
Frozen Moments
Don Latarski
Heart Dance Records
www.heartdancerecords.com
$13.98 CD / $9.49 MP3 amazon.com
Frozen Moments is Don Latarski's beautiful, ambient new age album performed on his collection
of baritone, classical, and water guitars, enriched with sounds from a water guitar in different
streams and rivers of Oregon and California. The relaxing acoustic music flows in a wondrous
soundscape that soothes the mind and nourishes the spirit. Highly recommended. The tracks are
"The Dawning Moment", "Shadow Crossing", "River Speak pt. 1", "Sarabande Migration",
"Bimble", "Mima", "Xienna", "On Winter", and "River Speak pt. 2".
The General Fiction Shelf
Captives
Reiner Prochaska
The Permanent Press
http://thepermanentpress.com
9781579625764, $29.95, HC, 217pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Frederick County, Maryland, September 1944. Florian Schneider, a code breaker for
the German Army, is interned at POW Branch Camp 6. Many of his fellow inmates (most of
them seasoned Afrika Korps veterans) mistrust the taciturn soldier, whose rank belies his
education and his excellent command of the English language.
He is assigned to work on the farm of Vivian Klein, whose daughter, Mary, has moved back
home for the remainder of the war while her husband is fighting in the Pacific. An unlikely,
complicated romance ensues between Mary and Schneider.
Once Schneider earns the trust of his peers by saving the life of Bernd Wagner, he dares to
propose to them the impossible a plan for escape: After a performance of Coriolanus by the
German soldiers for their American captors on New Year's Eve, a group of German soldiers will
steal a car and head for the New Jersey coast. Schneider knows that two spies enlisted to
sabotage the Manhattan Project are scheduled to be delivered via submarine to the coast off
Maine around New Years Day 1945. Schneider believes in the slight chance that he and his
fellow escapees may be able to radio the sub to pick them up off the East Coast.
On New Years Eve, everything starts out as planned, but shortly after midnight, as the men are
stealing a truck on Vivian Klein's Farm, Mary surprises them. Unwilling to harm Mary or
jeopardize the escape, Schneider tells the men to leave without him. Without Schneider's
language skills, they are captured trying to cross the Susquehanna Bridge, and Wagner is killed.
Blaming Schneider for the failed escape, the men convene a Court of Honor to decide his
fate.
Critique: An elegant and deftly crafted novel by an author with a genuine flair for originality and
a style of narrative storytelling that fully engages the reader from cover to cover, "Captives" by
Reiner Prochaska is an especially and unreservedly recommended addition to both community
and academic library Contemporary Literary Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal
reading lists that "Captives" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Reiner Prochaska is an actor and a playwright, whose plays have been produced
regionally and published internationally. A former longtime member of Maryland Ensemble
Theatre, he is the Artistic Director of Frederick Classical Ensemble, a theater company dedicated
to classical, Medieval, and Renaissance drama. A graduate of Towson University, Reiner teaches
writing at his alma mater and acting at McDaniel College.
The Western Fiction Shelf
Fast Ride to Boot Hill: The Legend of Ben Hawks
Lee Martin
Five Star Publishing
10 Water Street, Suite 310, Waterville, ME 04901
http://gale.cengage.com/fivestar
9781432860073, $21.95, HC, 205pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Tricked into believing his fiancee had died in a stage robbery, Ben Hawks is a vengeful
Texas Ranger trails the gang for years as he becomes a legend in song and dime novels before
ending up on the side of a former outlaw with a sharpshooting niece -- even as the truth unfolds
in a violent climax.
Critique: With more plot twists and turns than a Grand Canyon hiking trail, "Fast Ride to Boot
Hill: The Legend of Ben Hawks" is an inherently riveting read from cover to cover -- and
showcases author Lee Martin's impressively mastery of the western action/adventure genre.
Certain to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library Western
Fiction collections, "Fast Ride to Boot Hill: The Legend of Ben Hawks" is an especially
recommended addition to the personal reading lists of all dedicated western novel fans.
Way of the Lawless
P. McCormac
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444842746, $20.99, PB, Large Print, 268pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Joe Peters and his partner Butch Shilton have been on the run for a year. On their way
to prison for shooting a cheating gambler, a gang of outlaws murdered their escort - a crime for
which the pair of them have been blamed. Trouble follows them everywhere, and they end up in
the brutal Los Pecos penitentiary. Breaking out, they flee to Mexico, only to fall foul of the
notorious bandit Barca. With enemies closing in on all sides, could this be the end of the trail for
two men who ride a lawless trail.
Critique: Replete with an amazing number of cliff-hanger twists and turns, "Way of the Lawless"
is a unique western action/adventure novel that ultimately concludes with an unforeseeable
finish. No personal reading lists or community library Western Fiction collection would be
complete without a copy of this large print edition of P. McCormac's riveting "Way of the
Lawless".
Devine's Mission
I. J. Parnham
Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444842388, $20.99, PB, Large Print, 216pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: When Lachlan McKinley raids Fairmount Town's bank, the bounty on his head attracts
plenty of manhunters -- but everyone who goes after him ends up dead. When bounty hunter
Jonathon Lynch, Lachlan's stepbrother, joins the hunt, he soon discovers that all is not as it
seems, and Lachlan may in fact be innocent. Worse, a ruthlessly murderous US Marshal Jake
Devine is also after Lachlan. Despising bounty hunters with a lethal intent, Devine is more likely
to destroy the peace than to keep it, so can Jonathon bring the guilty to justice before Devine
does his worst?
Critique: A fully engaging and entertaining western novel by an author with an impressive talent
for the genre, "Devine's Mission" is enthusiastically recommended reading for all dedicated
western buffs -- and this large print edition will prove to be an enduringly popular addition to
community library Western Fiction collections.
The Drygulch Trail
Ned Oaks
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444840124, $20.99, PB, Large Print, 240pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: When Will Curtis rides into Junction City on a cold rainy night, all he wants is a shot
of whiskey and a place to dry off. Instead, he finds himself dragged into a feud between a
land-hungry banker and the tough homesteaders who are desperate to keep their ranches. But
when rich bully Clem Dawson brings in hired guns to force the ranchers off their land (and
whose hired gunslingers try to murder the children of one small ranch owner), Curtis decides
there is only one thing a decent man can do under the circumstances -- and that is to fight.
Critique: Another deftly crafted and riveting western from author Ned Oaks, "The Drygulch
Trail" is a compelling page-turner of a read from cover to cover. This large print edition is an
especially recommended addition to both community library collections and the personal reading
lists of any and all dedicated western novel fans.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
The Attempted Murder of Teddy Roosevelt
Burt Solomon
Forge
c/o Tor/Forge Books
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
www.tor-forge.com
9780765392671, $27.99, HC, 304pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Theodore Roosevelt had been president for less than a year when on a tour in New
England his horse-drawn carriage was broadsided by an electric trolley. TR was thrown clear but
his Secret Service bodyguard was killed instantly. The trolley's motorman pleaded guilty to
manslaughter and the matter was quietly put to rest. But was it an accident or an assassination
attempt -- and would there be another "accident" soon?
"The Attempted Murder of Teddy Roosevelt" casts this event in a darker light. John Hay, the
Secretary of State, finds himself in pursuit of a would-be assassin, investigating the motives of
TR's many enemies, including political rivals and the industrial trusts. He crosses paths with
luminaries of the day, such as best-pal Henry Adams, Emma Goldman, J.P. Morgan, Mark
Hanna, and (as an investigatory sidekick) the infamous Nellie Bly, who will help Hay protect the
man who wants to transform a nation.
Critique: An inherently riveting historical mystery by an author who is a master of the genre,
"The Attempted Murder of Teddy Roosevelt" showcases novelist Burt Solomon's genuine flair
for originality and a thoroughly reader engaging narrative storytelling style. Certain to be an
immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections,
it should be noted for the personal reading lists of dedicated mystery buffs that "The Attempted
Murder of Teddy Roosevelt" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99).
Beating About the Bush
M. C. Beaton
Minotaur Books
c/o St. Martin's Publishing Group
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
www.minotaurbooks.com
9781250157720, $26.99, HC, 256pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: When private detective Agatha Raisin comes across a severed leg in a roadside hedge,
it looks like she is about to become involved in a particularly gruesome murder. Looks, however,
can be deceiving, as Agatha discovers when she is employed to investigate a case of industrial
espionage at a factory where nothing is quite what it seems.
The factory mystery soon turns to murder and a bad-tempered donkey turns Agatha into a
national celebrity, before bringing her ridicule and shame. To add to her woes, Agatha finds
herself grappling with growing feelings for her friend and occasional lover, Sir Charles Fraith.
Then, as a possible solution to the factory murder unfolds, her own life is thrown into deadly
peril. Will Agatha get her man at last? Or will the killer get her first?
Critique: Another beautifully scripted mystery by a true master of the genre, "Beating About the
Bush" by M. C. Beaton is the latest Agatha Raisin novel and will prove to be an immediate and
enduringly popular addition to community library Mystery/Suspense collections. Unreservedly
recommended for the personal reading lists of all dedicated mystery buffs, it should be noted that
"Beating About the Bush" is also available in a paperback edition (9781250157737, $7.99) and
in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99).
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Accepting the Lance
Sharon Lee & Steve Miller
Baen Books
PO Box 1188, Wake Forest NC 27588
www.baen.com
9781982124212, $25.00, HC, 448pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Exiled from Liad after bombing a city to save it from The Department of the Interior's
infernal weapons and plans, Clan Korval has gone to ground on the back water planet Surebleak,
whose people are as untamed as its weather.
Far beyond the surface of frigid Surebleak, Korval's far-flung trade network needs a serious reset.
From flagship Dutiful Passage to the experimental self-aware Bechimo, the clan's ships are
prowling space lanes seeking trade. Meanwhile, old tech from a failed universe and the
machinations of the mysterious Uncle are coalescing into dangerous opportunity or nefarious
trap.
And the Department of the Interior is not done with Clan Korval yet. They seek a final fully
reckoned revenge, with Surebleak and Korval's ships and people everywhere in the
crosshairs.
Critique: An inherently riveting saga of a science fiction novel by two authors who share a
genuine flair for originality combined with a distinctively entertaining narrative storytelling style,
"Accepting The Lance" by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller is especially and unreservedly
recommended -- especially for community library Science Fiction collections. It should be noted
for the personal reading lists of all dedicated SciFi buffs that "Accepting The Lance" is also
readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
The Computer Shelf
Data Breaches: Crisis and Opportunity
Sherri Davidoff
Addison Wesley
c/o Pearson Education
221 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030
http://www.informit.com
9780134506784, $44.99, PB, 464pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Data breaches can be catastrophic, but they remain mysterious because their targeted
victims don't want to talk about them. In "Data Breaches: Crisis and Opportunity", cyber security
expert Sherri Davidoff shines a light on these events, offering practical guidance for reducing
risk and mitigating consequences. Reflecting extensive personal experience and lessons from the
world's most damaging breaches, Davidoff identifies proven tactics for reducing damage caused
by breaches and avoiding common mistakes that cause them to spiral out of control.
"Data Breaches" shows how to manage data breaches as the true crises they are; minimize
reputational damage and legal exposure; address unique challenges associated with health and
payment card data; respond to hacktivism, ransomware, and cyber extortion; and prepare for the
emerging battlefront of cloud-based breaches.
"Data Breaches" provides what everyone needs to know about data breaches, the dark web, and
markets for stolen data; shows how to limit damage by going beyond conventional incident
response; covers the navigation of high-risk payment card breaches in the context of PCI DSS;
Assesses and mitigates data breach risks associated with vendors and third-party suppliers;
Manages compliance requirements associated with healthcare and HIPAA; Quickly respond to
ransomware and data exposure cases; Make better decisions about cyber insurance and maximize
the value of your policy; Reduce cloud risks and properly prepare for cloud-based data
breaches.
Critique: Attacks on corporate, governmental, institutional, and personal computer data files and
systems is happening every minute of every day. "Data Breaches" should be considered essential
and high priority reading for anyone charged with cyber security, including executives, managers, IT staff, consultants, investigators,
students, and governmental policy makers. While unreserved recommended for community,
corporate, governmental, and academic library Cyber Security collections and supplemental
studies lists, it should be noted that "Data Breaches" is also available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $19.79).
Editorial Note: Sherri Davidoff is a cybersecurity expert, author, speaker, and CEO of both LMG
Security and BrightWise, Inc. She is a recognized expert in digital forensics and cybersecurity,
and is coauthor of Network Forensics: Tracking Hackers Through Cyberspace (Prentice Hall,
2012). Sherri has consulted and/or conducted cybersecurity training for many distinguished
organizations, including the Department of Defense, the American Bar Association,
FFIEC/FDIC, and many more. She is a faculty member at the Pacific Coast Banking School, and
is a frequent contributor of education articles and webinars. She is a GIAC-certified forensic
examiner (GCFA) and penetration tester (GPEN), and holds a degree in computer science and
electrical engineering from MIT.
The Sports Shelf
The Durable Runner
Alison Heilig
Toplight
www.toplightbooks.com
c/o McFarland & Company
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476678337 $19.99 pbk / $9.99 Kindle amazon.com
Synopsis: Part sport and part exercise, running boosts health, longevity, and mental well-being.
However, running is a demanding activity that can potentially tax the runner's body and mind.
Therefore, possessing durability for running--a fusion of toughness and flexibility--is desirable to
enhance a runner's physical and mental experience.
This book--the first of its kind to combine corrective exercise, self-myofascial release, and
yoga--empowers runners with measures to avoid unnecessary pain, injury, and burnout. It is a
comprehensive guide to creating a simple and efficient system of personalized supplemental
training in which runners learn to identify and address areas of imbalance and overuse. These
training methods increase strength, stability, mobility, and resiliency, and require as little as 15
minutes per day to implement. (For each technique, the author has produced a video, and these
are included in the enhanced ebook edition.) Runners can decrease the risk of injury, improve
running performance, and maintain joint health. The result: a more durable body and mind that
will support your running--and your life--for years to come.
Critique: Certified running coach and registered yoga teacher Alison Heilig presents The Durable
Runner: A Guide to Injury-Free Running, a guide to using corrective exercise, self-myofascial
release (an alternative therapy for treating skeletal muscle immobility and pain), and yoga to help
runners prevent problems with physical pain, injury, or burnout. Chapters offer simple training
routines that can be performed in fifteen minutes to improve one's running ability as well as
promote personal flexibility and resilience. The Durable Runner is a "must-have" for runners of
all ages and backgrounds, from prospective racers to everyday joggers. Highly recommended! It
should be noted for personal reading lists that The Durable Runner is also available in a Kindle
edition ($9.99).
Editor's Note: Author Alison Heilig is a Level 2 RRCA-Certified running coach, a registered
yoga teacher (E-RYT 200, YACEP), corrective exercise specialist, and certified personal trainer
through the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Her personal blog The Pursuit of Awesome
has been recognized as a top running blog for the past several years. She is a regular contributor
to Fit Bottomed Girls and her work and expertise have also been featured on websites such as
Women's Running, Competitor, POPSUGAR Fitness, MyFitnessPal, SparkPeople, LiveStrong,
and Prevention.
The High School Athlete: Basketball
Mike Volkmar
Hatherleigh Press
c/o The Hatherleigh Foundation
62545 State Highway 10, Hobart, NY 13788
www.hatherleighpress.com
9781578268054, $19.95, PB, 304pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Developed by fitness author and strength and conditioning expert Mike Volkmar, "The
High School Athlete: Basketball" provides a comprehensive and essential program for any high
school student wanting to train and play basketball in their school.
Offering a unique and 'real world practical' program that features training fundamentals for
different levels of player development from pre-freshman all the way to varsity level getting
ready to play in college, "The High School Athlete: Basketball" also contains information geared
towards a young athlete's goals and includes information on player development, motivation, and
nutrition.
Critique: With over 100 workouts as part of a complete and methodical fitness program for
development and conditioning, "The High School Athlete: Basketball" is unreservedly
recommended as a highschool physical education curriculum textbook. It should be noted for
personal reading lists of highschool coaches and teenage athletes that "The High School Athlete:
Basketball" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Roaring Back
Curt Sampson
Diversion Books
443 Park Avenue South, Suite #1004, New York, NY 10016
www.diversionbooks.com
9781635766837, $26.00, HC, 264pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: "Roaring Back: The Fall and Rise of Tiger Woods" by sports author and biographer
Curt Sampson is the incredible true story of Tiger Woods' dramatic return to glory at the 2019
Masters following his humbling and very public personal, physical, and professional
setbacks.
One publicly imploded marriage. Two car accidents. Eight surgeries. And now, a miracle of hard
work and storied talent: five Masters wins. Once hailed as "the greatest closer in history" before
he fell further than any beloved athlete in America's memory, Tiger swung at the world's wildest
expectations and beat the skeptics with his April 2019 championship. "Roaring Back" deftly
traces his road to Augusta and the improbable, phenomenal comeback of one of the greatest
golfers in history.
"Roaring Back" informatively details the highs and lows of Woods's career in three gripping acts.
From his startling loss at the 2009 PGA Championship, detrimental obsession with his swing,
and that infamous night involving an ex-wife and a nine-iron... to adoring fans and lucrative
sponsors turning their backs, exclusive interviews with past instructors and PGA tour peers, and
an arrest complete with a toxicology report... finally to Tiger coming from behind for his fifth
green jacket as the crowd rumbled in Georgia, and how his comeback rivals those of the most
dramatic in his sport.
"Roaring Back" also places Woods's defeats and triumphs in the context of historic comebacks
by other notable golfers like Ben Hogan, Skip Alexander, Aaron Silton, and Charlie Beljan,
finding the forty-three-year-old alone on the green for his trajectory of victory against all
odds.
Critique: An impressively informative and inherently fascinating read, "Roaring Back: The Fall
and Rise of Tiger Woods" is a 'must' for the legions of Tiger Woods fans and will prove to be an
immediate and enduringly popular addition to community and academic library collections. It
should be noted for personal reading lists that "Roaring Back" is available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $15.29) and as a complete and unabridged audio book (Tantor Audio,
9781618034786, $24.99, CD).
The Environmental Studies Shelf
Primer of Ecological Restoration
Karen D. Holl
Island Press
2000 M Street NW, Suite 650, Washington, DC 20036
www.islandpress.org
9781610919722, $35.00, PB, 224pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: The pace, intensity, and scale at which humans have altered our planet in recent
decades is unprecedented in Earth's geological history. Humans have dramatically transformed
landscapes and waterways through agriculture, logging, mining, and fire suppression, with drastic
impacts on public health and human well-being. What can we do to counteract and even reverse
the worst of these effects?
This "Primer of Ecological Restoration" by Karen D. Holl is a succinct introduction to the theory
and practice of ecological restoration as a strategy to conserve biodiversity and ecosystems. In
twelve brief chapters, the "Primer of Ecological Restoration" introduces readers to the basics of
restoration project planning, monitoring, and adaptive management. It explains abiotic factors
such as landforms, soil, and hydrology that are the building blocks to successfully recovering
microorganism, plant, and animal communities. Additional chapters cover topics such as
invasive species and legal and financial considerations. Each chapter concludes with
recommended reading and reference lists, and the book can be paired with online resources for
teaching.
Perfect for introductory classes in ecological restoration or for practitioners seeking constructive
guidance for real-world projects, "Primer of Ecological Restoration" offers accessible, practical
information on recent trends in the field.
Critique: Enhanced for academia and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject
that the "Primer of Ecological Restoration" features a fourteen page Glossary, twenty pages of
References, a two page listing of Case Studies and Other Online Resources, and a seven page
Index. Exceptionally informative and deftly organized, the "Primer of Ecological Restoration" is
unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library
Environmental Sciences collections in general, and ecosystem restoration supplemental studies
reading lists in particular. It should be noted for students, academia, governmental policy makers,
and environmental activists that the "Primer of Ecological Restoration" is also available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $33.25).
Editorial Note: Karen D. Holl is Professor of Environmental Studies at the University of
California, Santa Cruz, where she teaches ecological restoration. She conducts research in the
rainforests of Latin America and the chaparral, grassland, and riparian systems in California. She
is an Aldo Leopold Leadership Fellow, Fellow of the California Academy of Sciences, and a
co-winner of the Theodore Sperry Award of the Society for Ecological Restoration.
The Parenting Shelf
The Essential Guidebook for Parents of Gifted Children
Jennifer Ault
Royal Fireworks Press
First Avenue, PO Box 399, Unionville, NY 10988
www.rfwp.com
9780880928410, $22.50, PB, 141pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Gifted children often exhibit characteristics and behaviors that are different from those
of other children. Giftedness, after all, is not just about being smart. Being gifted affects
everything a person says, does, thinks, and feels. Parents who discover that their child is gifted
can be relieved to learn the reason for their child's differences, but they also often feel anxious
and apprehensive about the parenting journey that lies ahead for them.
That journey will not look like the ones that other parents travel. When they seek out information
to guide them along the way, they find that there is a tremendous amount of it available, and it
can be overwhelming to try to weed through it to learn what they need to know to parent a gifted
child effectively and compassionately-a child who most likely is not just different from other kids
but who is different from other gifted kids as well. Where does one even begin?
"The Essential Guidebook for Parents of Gifted Children" is specifically and effectively designed
to introduce parents to the topic of giftedness in a way that is both preliminary and sophisticated.
This instructional guide is not just for those new to the subject of giftedness, however; it also
breaks new ground in its discussions of gifted children's intensity, sensitivity, and asynchrony,
shedding new light on these topics for those who are already familiar with them.
Further more, it examines the concepts of identification, multiple intelligences,
twice-exceptionality, underachievement, perfectionism, idealism, and more, including
educational practices that both help and harm gifted children, all at a level that is both advanced
and yet accessible to everyone. It offers parents the opportunity to learn the fundamental truths
about giftedness in the same way that we want to provide information to our gifted children-a
way that is intelligent and innovative and never dumbed down. It speaks to parents directly to
help them become the best possible stewards of complex, precocious, amazing children.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "The Essential Guidebook for
Parents of Gifted Children" is thoroughly 'reader friendly' in tone, commentary, and
informational content, making it an ideal and unreservedly recommended addition to community
and academic library Parenting instructional reference collections -- and essential, invaluable
reading for anyone parent or guardian of a gifted child of any age or background.
The Biography Shelf
Sophia: Mother of Kings
Catherine Curzon
Pen & Sword Books
c/o Casemate (distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk
9781526755346, $39.95, HC, 208pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Sophia, Electress of Hanover, was born to greatness. Granddaughter of James I and
mother to George I, she was perhaps the finest queen that Britain never had.
As daughter of Frederick V of the Palatinate and Elizabeth Stuart, Sophia emerged from an
impoverished, exiled childhood as the Winter Princess, a young woman of sparky intelligence,
cutting wit and admirable determination. Once courted by Charles II, Sophia eventually gave her
heart to Ernest Augustus, at whose side she became the first Electress of Hanover and the mother
of the first Georgian king of Great Britain.
In "Sophia: Mother of Kings: The Finest Queen Britain Never Had", biographer and historian
Catherine Curzon brings this remarkable woman and her tumultuous era vividly to life. In a
world where battles raged across the continent and courtiers fought behind closed doors, Sophia
kept the home fires burning. Through personal tragedy and public triumph, Sophia raised a
family, survived illness, miscarriage, and accusations of conspiracy, and missed out on the
British throne by a matter of weeks.
Sophia of Hanover (14 October 1630 - 8 June 1714) became the mother of one of the most
glittering dynasties the world has ever known.
Critique: A singularly informative and impressive work of researched based scholarship,
"Sophia: Mother of Kings: The Finest Queen Britain Never Had" is an extraordinary and
unreservedly recommended addition to both community and academic library British History &
Royal Biography collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Sophia: Mother of
Kings" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $19.99).
Editorial Note: Catherine Curzon is a royal historian who writes on all matters 18th century at
www.madamegilflurt.com. Her work has been featured on HistoryExtra.com, the official website
of BBC History Magazine, and in publications such as Explore History, All About History,
History of Royals, and Jane Austen's Regency World. She has spoken at venues including
Kenwood House, Wellington College, the Royal Pavilion, the Hurlingham Club, the National
Maritime Museum and Dr Johnson's House.
Ian McKellen: A Biography
Garry O'Connor
St. Martin's Press
www.stmartins.com
9781250223883 $29.99 hc / $14.99 Kindle amazon.com
Synopsis: In 2001, Ian McKellen put on the robe and pointed hat of a wizard named Gandalf and
won a place in the hearts of Tolkien fans worldwide. Though his role in the film adaptation of
Lord of the Rings introduced him to a new audience, McKellen had a thriving career a lifetime
before his visit to Middle Earth. He made his West End acting debut in 1964 in James Saunders's
A Scent of Flowers, but it was in 1980 that he took Broadway by storm when he played Antonio
Salieri in Peter Shaffer's Tony-Award-winning play Amadeus.
He has starred in over four hundred plays and films and he is that rare character: a celebrity
whose distinguished political and social service has transcended his international fame to reach
beyond the stage and screen. The breadth of his career - professional, personal and political - has
been truly staggering: Macbeth (opposite Judi Dench), Iago, King Lear, Chekhov's Sorin in The
Seagull and Becket's tramp Estragon (opposite Patrick Stewart) in Waiting for Godot. Add to all
this his tireless political activism in the cause of gay equality and you have a veritable
phenomenon. Garry O'Connor's Ian McKellen: A Biography probes the heart of the actor,
recreating his greatest stage roles and exploring his personal life. Ian McKellen will show readers
what makes a great actor tick. His life story has been a constantly developing drama and this
biography is the next chapter.
Critique: Ian McKellen: A Biography is an in-depth, thoroughly accessible biography of British
stage/film actor and activist Ian McKellen (b. 1939). McKellen has been openly gay since 1988,
and is well-known worldwide as a champion of LGBT social movements. A handful of inset
color photographs and an extensive index round out this in-depth, true-life story that reads like a
fascinating novel. Ian McKellen: A Biography is a welcome addition to public library biography
collections, highly recommended. It should be noted for personal reading lists that Ian McKellen:
A Biography is also available in a Kindle edition ($14.99).
Josiah Wedgwood
Anthony Burton
Pen & Sword Books
c/o Casemate (distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk
9781526755025, $49.95, HC, 160pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Josiah Wedgwood (12 July 1730 - 3 January 1795) was born in the Staffordshire
Potteries and lived in the area all his life. His family were all potters, working in traditional ways,
but Josiah was to revolutionise the industry. When he started work, the local ware was either
rather rustic, or made to look a little more sophisticated by the addition of heavy glazes. He
worked to produce a lighter coloured body and to use designs made to appeal to aristocratic
tastes, convinced that where they led the rapidly growing middle class would follow. The result
was cream ware which, when a whole service was ordered by the royal family, was soon
christened queens ware.
Josiah needed to import new materials (flint from East Anglia, light clays from the West
Country), so he became an ardent promoter of the Trent and Mersey Canal, and built a new
factory and family home on its banks, naming the area Etruria In the new works, he abandoned
the old systems where individual craftsmen produced whole pieces for an early form of mass
production. From these works came the ceramics that are still world famous, such as the
distinctive jasper ware.
Josiah had many outside interests and was one of the earliest supporters of the ant-slavery
movement. He studied science and was made a Fellow of the Royal Society for his work on high
temperature thermometers. He was a loving family man and an enthusiastic correspondent, and
his many letters reveal a character that was attractive, enthusiastic and always eager to learn.
Critique: A superbly presented, impressively informative, exhaustively researched and
meticulously documented study, "Josiah Wedgwood: A New Biography" by Anthony Burton is a
very special and unreservedly recommended addition to community, college, and university
library 18th Century biography collections. Enhanced for academia with the inclusion of a two
page Select Bibliography, eight pages of Notes, and a five page Bibliography, it should be noted
for personal reading lists that "Josiah Wedgwood: A New Biography" is also available in a digital
book format (Kindle, $24.99).
Editorial Note: Anthony Burton is a freelance author and broadcaster, who has specialized in
industrial and transport history. He has been involved in around a hundred TV documentaries on
these subjects, appearing on all the major networks. He has written biographies of some of the
leading characters of the early industrial age: Thomas Telford, Richard Trevithick, Joseph Locke
and Matthew Boulton, the latter with co-author Jennifer Tann.
The Cookbook Shelf
The Anti-Anxiety Diet Cookbook
Ali Miller
Ulysses Press
PO Box 3440, Berkeley CA 94703-3440
www.ulyssespress.com
9781612439358, $16.95, PB, 144pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: In these troubled times, stress and anxiety afflict us all. What we eat can either help or
hinder our dealing with the anxiety that is an inevitable part of our lives today.
In the pages of "The Anti-Anxiety Diet Cookbook: Stress-Free Recipes to Mellow Your Mood",
dietitian and food-as-medicine guru Ali Miller features over 75 tasty recipes that will reduce
inflammation, strengthen your gut, and nourish your body, all while helping balance your mood
and emotions. The carefully selected and showcased recipes serve up a wide variety of new and
delicious meals that follow a ketogenic, low-carb approach to addressing anxiety. With beautiful
full-color photographs and easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions, anyone can be eating their
way to calm in no time!
Critique: "The Anti-Anxiety Diet Cookbook: Stress-Free Recipes to Mellow Your Mood",
features dishes that range from a Matcha Lime Pudding with Blackberries; Kale Salad with
Squash and Pomegranate; Chicken Thighs with Braised Greens; and Macadamia Coconut
Crusted Halibut; to Crisphy Fish Tacos in Cabbage Cups; Turkey Apple Kale Patties; Lemon
Lavender CBD Balls; and Cacao Walnut Fudge. While especially and unreservedly
recommended for family and community library cookbook collections, it should be noted for
personal and professional reading lists that The Anti-Anxiety Diet Cookbook: Stress-Free
Recipes to Mellow Your Mood" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$12.18).
Editorial Note: Ali Miller is a registered dietitian (RD), certified diabetes educator (CDE),
certified weight management specialist, and therapeutic lifestyle healthcare practitioner. Ali has
dedicated her career to revolutionizing food as medicine in treatment and prevention of disease.
She has a passion to create public awareness regarding the significant role diet plays in our
overall health with her philosophy of food as medicine. She is the author of The Anti-Anxiety
Diet, Naturally Nourished: Food-as-Medicine for Optimal Health Cookbook and founder of the
Reset, Restore, Renew: Real Food Detox program.
The Military Shelf
My Rich Uncle
A.J. Kehl
Savas Beatie
www.savasbeatie.com
9781611214673 $18.95 pbk / $9.79 Kindle amazon.com
Synopsis: Want to maximize your time in the military? Want to know what it really takes to be
successful while serving your country? Ever just want someone to keep it real on the topics that
mean the most to you? A.J. Kehl, a Senior Master Sergeant (SMSgt) in the U.S. Air Force, does
just that and more in My Rich Uncle: An Informal Guide to Maximizing Your Enlistment.
Kehl's well-crafted guide is designed with one purpose in mind: To make sure you make the most
out of your time in the armed forces. Sgt. Kehl distinguishes his book from any other you will
read, pointing out all the important things that rarely, if ever, make it to print. Hot items such as
promotion, leadership, networking, and traveling make this a must-read for anyone now on active
duty, thinking of joining the military, or who has spent time within this unique lifestyle.
My Rich Uncle includes an invaluable collection of knowledge, wisdom, and insight from
numerous military leaders, all of which is geared toward helping fellow military members find
success in their careers. It highlights the cultural things we expect men and women to know, or at
least figure out, but which are rarely taught. This book will help you successfully navigate a
military career by providing insight into the expectations and the steps for YOU to take in order
to maximize your service time and set yourself up for success. It also highlights little known
programs, like Air Force Lean and Continuous Process Improvement, that empower members to
find root cause solutions and reduce time-wasting practices that do not further your career.
Critique: My Rich Uncle: An Informal Guide to Maximizing Your Enlistment lives up to its title
as a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is guide to pursuing a successful military career. Chapters discuss
how to make the most of military benefits, how to demonstrate leadership in a follower's world,
recommended education paths while enlisted, and much more. My Rich Uncle is an absolute
must-read for anyone contemplating enlistment, highly recommended. It should be noted for
personal reading lists that My Rich Uncle is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.79).
The USS Swordfish
George J. Billy
McFarland
McFarlandBooks.com
9781476677743 $35.00
Synopsis: Among the more than 260 American submarines that patrolled the Pacific during
World War II, the USS Swordfish in 1941 was the first to sink a Japanese armed merchant ship,
marking the beginning of the submarine's colorful history.
A series of seven commanders led Swordfish's 13 war patrols. Each skipper had a distinct
leadership style. Some were successful in sinking enemy ships; others returned to port
empty-handed. Yet all patrols risked dangerously close encounters with the enemy and the
unforgiving nature of the open sea.
Drawing on archival sources and interviews with veteran sailors, this first full-length history of
the Swordfish provides detailed accounts of each patrol and covers the mysterious disappearance
of the legendary submarine on its final mission.
Critique: The USS Swordfish: The World War II Patrols of the First American Submarine to
Sink a Japanese Ship is a nautical and military history of the USS Swordfish, the first American
submarine to sink a Japanese armed merchant ship during World War II. Vintage black-and-
white photographs, appendices, extensive notes, a bibliography, and an index round out this
extensively detailed history of the Swordfish's voyages, captains, and crews. Presenting
information gleaned from archival sources and interviews with veteran sailors distilled into a
concise and accessible work of scholarship, The USS Swordfish is highly recommended for both
college and public library collections.
Deep Space Warfare
John C. Wright
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476679266, $45.00, PB, 208pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Since the Cold War, outer space has become of strategic importance for nations
looking to seize the ultimate high ground. World powers establishing a presence there must
consider, among other things, how they will conduct warfare in orbit. Leaders must dispense with
"Buck Rogers" notions about operations in space and realize that policies there will have serious
ramifications for geopolitics.
How should nations view space? How should they fight there? What would space warfare look
like and how should strategists approach it? Offering critical observations regarding this unique
theater of international relations, "Deep Space Warfare: Military Strategy Beyond Orbit" by
military professional John C. Wright explores the strategic implications as human affairs move
beyond Earth's atmosphere.
Critique: As informed and informative as it is thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Deep Space
Warfare: Military Strategy Beyond Orbit" is an extraordinary study that is exceptionally well
written, organized and presented -- making it an especially and unreservedly recommended
addition to personal, professional, community, governmental, college, and university library
Contemporary Military Studies collections.
Editorial Note: Major John C. Wright is a US Air Force officer and pilot. He has published
multiple articles on Pacific region political-military affairs in a variety of journals and online
publications. He specializes in Japanese language, culture, and US-Japan military-diplomatic
affairs
Fire Mission! Fire Mission!
Captain Larry Kenneth Hunter
Koehler Books
210 - 60th Street, Virginia Beach, VA 23451
www.koehlerbooks.com
9781633939349, $23.95, HC, 172pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: "Fire Mission! Fire Mission!: A Forward Observer's Experiences in Vietnam" is the
fully documented experience of a green artillery forward observer with the First Cav in
Vietnam.
Along with his topographical map, M-16 and backpack, Lt. Larry Hunter carried an Instamatic
camera to preserve his comrades and patrols.
Letters from home illuminate his struggle to survive in Vietnam while his wife battles at home to
make ends meet financially as a mother. Her faith and prayers to God strengthen and encourage
him during days of losing close friends, and again, years later, when his faith is challenged by a
new, unseen foe after his exposure to Agent Orange.
From jumping out of his first helicopter ride directly into battle, through at least twenty-five
combat assaults, and finally an overwhelming ambush on Company A, First Battalion, Twelfth
Cavalry on March 31, 1966, for which he is awarded a Bronze Star for heroism, Lt. Larry Hunter
documents and describes this new kind of war with no front lines in the pages of "Fire Mission!
Fire Mission!: A Forward Observer's Experiences in Vietnam".
Critique: An inherently riveting read from beginning to end, "Fire Mission! Fire Mission!: A
Forward Observer's Experiences in Vietnam" will prove to be a welcome and impressively
informative addition to the growing body of Vietnam War literature, histories, and memoirs.
While unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library 20th Century
American Military History collections in general, and Vietnam War supplemental studies lists in
particular, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, military history
buffs, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Fire Mission! Fire
Mission!" is also available in a paperback edition (9781633939325, $15.95) and in digital book
format (Kindle, $7.99).
Editorial Note: Larry Hunter began his military service as an ROTC cadet in 1961 at Florence
State College, now the University of North Alabama. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as
a second lieutenant in the US Army, then completed Officer Basic Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
During his assignment at Fort Benning, Georgia, he received orders for First Air Cavalry
Division, First Battalion, Twenty-First Artillery as a forward observer. Following a year's service
in Vietnam, he was an instructor for two years at the US Army Artillery and Missile School at
Fort Sill before returning to civilian life. He is retired after thirty years in management in the
manufactured housing industry. Stories of his battles in Vietnam have been presented over the
years by request from civic clubs, Veterans Day programs, the American Legion, schools and
churches.
The Economic Studies Shelf
Capitalism in Transformation
Roland Atzmuller, et al.
Edward Elgar Publishing
9 Dewey Court, Northampton, MA 01060-3815
www.e-elgar.com
9781788974233, $155.00, HC, 336pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Presenting a profound and far-reaching analysis of economic, ecological, social,
cultural and political developments of contemporary capitalism, "Capitalism in Transformation:
Movements and Countermovements in the 21st Century" draws on the work of Karl Polanyi, and
re-reads it for our times. "Capitalism in Transformation" offers key insights to current changes in
the relations between the economy, politics and society, and their ecological and social
effects.
Critique: Enhanced with the inclusion of a complete listing of the contributors and their
credentials and a nine page Index, "Capitalism in Transformation: Movements and
Countermovements in the 21st Century" is comprised of nineteen erudite and insightfully
informative articles deftly presented in three major sections: Historical and Theoretical
Reflections: Karl Polanyi, Capitalism and Society; Contemporary Developments of Society and
Capitalism in Europe and Beyond; Fictitious Commodities and the Challenges of Our Time.
"Capitalism in Transformation" is an outstanding work of collective scholarship and
unreservedly recommended for both college and university library Contemporary Economics
collections and supplemental curriculum reading lists.
The Business Shelf
Competing in the Age of AI
Marco Iansiti & Karim Lakhani
Harvard Business Review Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
http://hbr.org/books
9781633697621, $32.00, HC, 288pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: AI-centric organizations exhibit a new operating architecture, redefining how they
create, capture, share, and deliver value.
Marco Iansiti is the David Sarnoff Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business
School, also heads the school's Technology and Operations Management Unit and the Digital
Initiative. Iansiti is also an expert on digital innovation, with a special focus on strategy and
business and operating model transformation.
Karim R. Lakhani is the Charles E. Wilson Professor of Business Administration and the
Dorothy and Michael Hintze Fellow at Harvard Business School. He is the founder and
codirector of the Laboratory for Innovation Science at Harvard, the principal investigator of the
NASA Tournament Laboratory at the Harvard Institute for Quantitative Social Science, and the
faculty cofounder of the Digital Initiative at HBS. He is also Chair of the Harvard Business
Analytics Program.
In "Competing in the Age of AI: Strategy and Leadership When Algorithms and Networks Run
the World", Professors Iansiti and Lakhani show how reinventing the firm around data, analytics,
and AI removes traditional constraints on scale, scope, and learning that have restricted business
growth for hundreds of years. From Airbnb to Ant Financial, Microsoft to Amazon, research
shows how AI-driven processes are vastly more scalable than traditional processes, allow
massive scope increase, enabling companies to straddle industry boundaries, and create powerful
opportunities for learning -- to drive ever more accurate, complex, and sophisticated
predictions.
When traditional operating constraints are removed, strategy becomes a whole new game, one
whose rules and likely outcomes "Competing In The Ages Of AI will make clear by: Presenting a
framework for rethinking business and operating models; Explaining how "collisions" between
AI-driven/digital and traditional/analog firms are reshaping competition, altering the structure of
our economy, and forcing traditional companies to rearchitect their operating models; Explaining
the opportunities and risks created by digital firms; Describing the new challenges and
responsibilities for the leaders of both digital and traditional firms
Critique: Packed from cover to cover with examples (including many from the most powerful
and innovative global, AI-driven competitors) and based on research in hundreds of firms across
many sectors, "Competing In The Age Of AI" should be considered essential reading for all
corporate executives and governmental policy makers. Enhanced for academia with the inclusion
of twelve pages of Notes and a fourteen page Index, "Competing In The Age Of AI" is
unreservedly recommended for community, corporate, and academic library collections. It should
be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, corporate executives, and non-
specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Competing In The Age Of AI" is
also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $18.49).
The Pets/Wildlife Shelf
The Golden Rules of Positive Puppy Training
Jean Cuvelier & Jean-Yves Grall
CompanionHouse Books
c/o Fox Chapel Publishing Company
1970 Broad Street N., East Petersburg, PA 17520
www.FoxChapelPublishing.com
9781621871873, $19.99, PB, 208pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Whether you've had a puppy before, it's been awhile, or you're totally new to having a
furry friend, "The Golden Rules of Positive Puppy Training: Everything You Need to Know for
Your Puppy's First Year" is an ideal go-to instructional guide and reference a deftly organized
and thoroughly user friendly compendium of essential information. Providing easy step-by-step
instructions on training methods and how to best care for a puppy, "The Golden Rules of Positive
Puppy Training" is an enjoyable read with a wealth of helpful tips and charming drawings and
photographs to prepare you and your new puppy for a wonderful first year
Critique: An ideal gift for anyone with a new puppy in the house, "The Golden Rules of Positive
Puppy Training: Everything You Need to Know for Your Puppy's First Year" is unreservedly
recommended for personal, professional, and community library collections. It should be noted
for the personal reading lists of anyone with a newly acquired canine companion that "The
Golden Rules of Positive Puppy Training" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$11.99).
Editorial Note: Jean Cuvelier is a veterinarian. He writes articles on animals in many magazines
and is the author of several books including the Mini Dictionary bilingual French-dog /
dog-French and the Mini dictionary bilingual French-cat / cat-French Larousse.
Mental Health and Well-Being in Animals
Franklin D. McMillan, editor
CABI
c/o Stylus Publishing, Inc.
22883 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166-2012
www.styluspub.com
9781786393401, $125.00, HC, 384pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Fully revised, expanded, and comprehensively updated with the most current
knowledge about the full array of mental health issues seen in animals, this new second edition of
"Mental Health and Well-Being in Animals" is comprised of contributions by key opinion
leaders, internationally-recognized experts and specialists, and deftly edited by Franklin D.
McMillan (who is with Best Friends Animal Society).
Featuring twenty-five articles organized into five major sections, "Mental Health and Well-Being
in Animals" collectively covers basic principles regarding the mental wellness, emotional
distress, suffering and mental illness of animals, including both measurement and treatment.
With even more practical information and clinical pearls, this new edition of "Mental Health and
Well-Being in Animals" remains invaluable to veterinary professionals, animal welfare
researchers and advocates, and other animal caregivers.
Critique: Exceptionally well organized and featuring a complete listing of the contributors and
their credentials, "Mental Health and Well-Being in Animals" is ideal as a veterinary curriculum
textbook and is unreservedly recommended for college and university library Veterinary
Medicine collections and supplemental studies reading lists. It should be noted for students,
academia, and practicing veterinarians that "Mental Health and Well-Being in Animals" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $99.99).
The Art Shelf
Hokusai's Landscapes: The Complete Series
Sarah Thompson, author
Katsushika Hokusai, artist
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
www.mfa-publications.org
9780878468669, $41.00, HC, 224pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: The best known of all Japanese artists, Katsushika Hokusai (31 October 1760 - 10 May
1849) was active as a painter, book illustrator and print designer throughout his 90-year lifespan.
Yet his most famous works (the color woodblock landscape prints issued in series) were
produced within a relatively short time, in an amazing burst of creative energy that lasted from
about 1830 to 1836.
Hokusai's landscapes revolutionized Japanese printmaking and became icons of world art within
a few decades of the artist's death. Hokusai's Landscapes focuses exclusively on this pivotal body
of the artist's work, the first book to do so. Featuring stunning color reproductions of works from
the incomparable Japanese art collection at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (the largest
collection of Japanese prints outside Japan), Hokusai's Landscapes examines the magnetic appeal
of Hokusai's designs and the circumstances of their creation.
"Hokusai's Landscapes: The Complete Series" includes all published prints of the artist's eight
major landscape series: Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji (1830-32), A Tour of Waterfalls in
Various Provinces (1833-34), Snow, Moon and Flowers (1833), Eight Views of the Ryukyu
Islands (1832-33), One Thousand Pictures of the Ocean (1832-33), Remarkable Views of Bridges
in Various Provinces (1834), A True Mirror of Chinese and Japanese Poetry (1833) and One
Hundred Poems Explained by the Nurse (1835).
Working prolifically in the years just before Japan opened to the West in 1853, Katsushika
Hokusai was the first Japanese artist to be internationally recognized. His cleverly composed
ukiyo-e prints of everyday life and the landscapes of Edo Japan arrived in a 19th-century Europe
gripped by Japonisme-mania, where they influenced artists such as Degas, Gauguin, Manet and
Van Gogh.
Critique: An inherently fascinating, exceptionally informative, expertly organized and presented
study, "Hokusai's Landscapes: The Complete Series" is an extraordinary and unreservedly
recommended addition to personal, professional, community, college, and academic library
Japanese Art History collections in general, and Katsushika Hokusai supplemental studies
reading lists in particular.
The Photography Shelf
Viewpoints
Kristen Gresh & Anne Havinga
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
www.mfa-publications.org
9780878468676, $65.00, HC, 192pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Over the course of the 20th century, photography evolved as an art form while serving
as an eyewitness to social, cultural and political change. "Viewpoints: Photographs from the
Howard Greenberg Collection" presents more than 80 significant images (many from unique
vintage prints) that came to define their times, and invites us to take a fresh look at celebrated
photographs by such masters of the medium as Berenice Abbott, Margaret Bourke-White, Robert
Capa, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Walker Evans, Robert Frank, Consuelo Kanaga, Dorothea Lange,
Gordon Parks and Edward Steichen.
Drawing on the unparalleled Howard Greenberg Collection (446 photographs recently acquired
by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston) "Viewpoints" brings to vivid life the transformative power
of photography, and invites the reader into a collection assembled with a connoisseur's eye by a
former photographer who is also a gallery dealer and a strong advocate for artists.
Critique: A splendid coffee-table style volume (10 x 1.2 x 11.2 inches), "Viewpoints:
Photographs from the Howard Greenberg Collection" is an extraordinary and unreservedly
recommended addition to personal, professional, community, college, and academic library
History of Photography collections and supplemental studies lists.
The Architecture Shelf
A Chronology of Architecture
John Zukowsky
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500343562, $29.95, HC, 272pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Roman architect and engineer Vitruvius defined architecture's characteristics to include
firmitas, utilitas, and venustas -- essentially, structural integrity, usefulness, and beauty.
Amazingly, all three Vitruvian characteristics can be found one way or another in most buildings
and constructions from antiquity through the present.
"A Chronology of Architecture: A Cultural Timeline from Stone Circles to Skyscrapers" by John
Zukowsky (who is an architectural historian and retired museum professional with an MA and
PhD in art and architectural history from Binghamton University, and who has taught university
level courses in Chicago, New York, and Hamburg) is a groundbreaking survey that examines
together both engineering and architectural accomplishments.
Specific sites are deftly arranged within a sociocultural timeline that examines them in terms of
historic events and trends, social change, economic developments, and technological innovations
-- factors that all helped shape architecture and engineering design solutions over millennia. The
profusely illustrated text of "A Chronology of Architecture" is informatively organized into seven
chapters that chronicle these achievements -- with each chapter includes snappy "In Focus"
sections that target sociocultural observations and technological developments related to
particular sites and people.
Critique: An impressively informed and informative study that provides a truly comprehensive
overview of the history of architecture, "A Chronology of Architecture: A Cultural Timeline
from Stone Circles to Skyscrapers" is an ideal and unreservedly recommended resource for
students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the art, science, craft and history
architecture -- and a core addition to personal, professional, corporate, community, college, and
university library Architectural History collections and supplemental curriculum studies reading
lists.
The Language Studies Shelf
Learn to Read Hebrew in 6 Weeks!
Miiko Shaffier
Shefer Publishing
www.SheferPublishing.com
9780997867503 $27.99 pbk / $7.70 Kindle amazon.com
Synopsis: This proven method will have you reading the Hebrew Alphabet in 6 weeks or less.
The Hebrew Alphabet can look intimidating, but this book will have you reading it in 6 weeks.
Even people who have tried other books without success have learned to read Hebrew using this
book. Here's what makes it different:
* Fun memory tricks make it super simple to remember the sounds of the letters
* Pace - The book is divided into 12 simple lessons. Two a week for 6 weeks.
* The cheerful style of the book is great for adults and children alike.
* From week one you are given words you can read from the Hebrew Bible!
* The charming illustrations make learning Hebrew a pleasure.
At the end of six weeks you WILL be able to read from the original Hebrew Bible, Psalms or the
Siddur (Jewish prayer book) and you will have taken the first big step towards learning the
Hebrew Language!
This method has already been used by thousands of students who have successfully learned to
read Hebrew.
Critique: Learn to Read Hebrew in 6 Weeks! is a straightforward, user-friendly, lesson-based
guide to quickly learning the Hebrew alphabet and start reading Hebrew. Learn to Read Hebrew
in 6 Weeks! is not a consumable workbook; the focus is on learning to read Hebrew letters, not
write them. The lessons take advantage of mnemonic devices to simplify and streamline the
process of memorizing Hebrew letters, and is an excellent supplementary resource for anyone
studying Hebrew for use in Israel (where it is an official language), for the perusal of religious
texts, or for any other purpose. It should be noted for personal reading lists that Learn to Read
Hebrew in 6 Weeks! is also available in a Kindle edition ($7.70).
The Autism Shelf
The Little Book of Autism FAQs
Davida Hartman, author
Illustrated by Margaret Anne Suggs
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
www.jkp.com
9781785924491 $15.95 pbk / $9.99 Kindle amazon.com
Synopsis: Empowering and practical, this guide is the perfect companion for parents who are
finding it difficult to tell their children about their autism diagnosis. It provides a realistic yet
uplifting approach to autism, treating it not as a disability but as a difference.
Not telling children about their autism diagnosis can have a significant negative impact on their
mental health; by equipping parents with a language of positivity around autism, the book will
make a difference to many children on the spectrum. It advises on how and when to talk to
autistic children with both high and low care needs, and provides guidance on supporting
children's relationships with peers at school, as well as how to broach the conversation with the
child's siblings.
Concise and easy to read, The Little Book of Autism FAQs answers parents' questions with
accessible language, preparing them to approach this difficult conversation in a constructive
manner.
Critique: Child psychologist Davida Hartman presents The Little Book of Autism FAQs: How to
Talk with Your Child about their Diagnosis & Other Conversations, an absolute "must-have"
especially for parents of children who have been diagnosed with autism or Asperger syndrome.
In plain terms thoroughly accessible to readers of all backgrounds, The Little Book of Autism
FAQs explains why young children need to be told about their diagnosis, recommends ways to
discuss the matter, and much more. "It is very important that to your child you make clear the
distinction between wanting to take away any pain from their life, and wanting them to be a
completely different person (which is what they hear when they hear you wish they had not been
born with autism)." The Little Book of Autism FAQs is highly recommended, especially for
public library collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that The Little Book of
Autism FAQs is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).
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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