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Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
The African
J.M.G. Le Clezio, author
C. Dickson, translator
David R. Godine, Publisher
PO Box 450
Jaffrey, NH 03452
9781567924602 $22.95 www.godine.com
Skillfully translated from the original French by C. Dickson, The African is the memoir of
J.M.G. Le Clezio, winner of the 2008 Nobel Prize for Literature. Le Clezio recounts how, in
1948, he and his mother left behind Europe (which was still reeling from the aftershocks of war)
to rejoin his father, a military doctor in Nigeria. Adapting to his new life in Nigeria, Le Clezio
enjoyed the breathtaking freedom and beauty of the African savannah, yet struggled to connect
with his authoritarian and rigidly formal father, whom he'd met only once before. The African is
a story of complex human beings, driven by their beliefs and perceptions. The final chapters also
touch upon the horrifying war and genocide that swept Nigeria in 1968 (Le Clezio lived in
Mexico at the time). A unique story about the bond between father and son, The African is
unforgettable and a welcome addition to public and college library literary memoir
collections.
The Economic Studies Shelf
Geographies of the Super-Rich
Iain Hay, editor
Edward Elgar Publishing
9 Dewey Court
Northampton, MA 01060-3815
9780857935687 $120.00 www.e-elgar.com
Geographies of the Super-Rich is an anthology of twelve scholarly essays by various
international scholars, examining the rise of the super-rich - the minuscule percentage of the
world's population who control roughly two-thirds of the global GDP. Although the text is
academic, most contributors avoid an excess of higher mathematics or technical jargon in their
point-by-point analyses and insights. What are the geographical patterns of the super-rich, and
how do they shape economics and history in today's new Gilded Age? Individual essays include
"Overseeing the fortunes of the global super-rich: the nature of private wealth management in
London's financial district", "The homes of the super-rich: multiple residences, hyper-mobility
and decoupling of prime residential housing in global cities", "Making art history - wealthy
private collectors and contemporary visual art", "Islanders, immigrants and millionaires: the
dynamics of upper-class segregation in St Barts, French West Indies" and much more. "The very
wealthy can, in the right circumstances, shift the agenda of political discourse. In a political
system like the US where there are no real limits on campaign contributions and a very expensive
and constant cycle of campaigns, the very rich through bankrolling candidates and funding
campaigns have great political power in electing politicians and influencing the tenor of the
political debate. While voters exercise political choice the very rich wield political power."
Geographies of the Super-Rich is an absolute must-have for college library economic studies
shelves, and highly recommended for public library collections as well.
The Political Science Shelf
The System Of Liberty
George H. Smith
Cambridge University Press
32 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10013-2473
www.cambridge.org
9780521182096, $29.99, www.amazon.com
Classical liberalism is a political philosophy and ideology that emerged as a response to the
Industrial Revolution and urbanization in the 19th century in Europe and the United States. It
shares a number of beliefs with other belief systems belonging to liberalism, advocating civil
liberties and political freedom, limited government, rule of law, and belief in free market.
Classical liberalism is built on ideas that had already arisen by the end of the 18th century, such
as selected ideas of Adam Smith, John Locke, Jean-Baptiste Say, Thomas Malthus, and David
Ricardo, stressing the belief in free market and natural law, utilitarianism, and progress. Classical
liberals were more suspicious than conservatives of all but the most minimal government and,
adopting Thomas Hobbes's theory of government, they believed government had been created by
individuals to protect themselves from one another. In the past few decades of the 20th Century,
the political term 'liberalism' which was once promoted and lauded on the national scene has
become defamed and denounced. That's one reason why "The System of Liberty: Themes in the
History of Classical Liberalism" by George Hamilton Smith (American author, editor, educator,
speaker, independent scholar, and columnist for the Cato Institute), is a welcome historical
overview into the political philosophy known as 'classical liberalism'. Also available in a Kindle
edition ($16.46) and a hard cover format ($76.50), "The System Of Liberty is a highly
recommended addition to community and academic library Political Science reference
collections, and should be considered significant and critically important reading for collegiate
level political science students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in political
philosophy.
The Jobs/Careers Shelf
How to Write Better Resumes and Cover Letters, third edition
Patricia K. Criscito, CPRW
Barron's
250 Wireless Boulevard
Hauppauge, NY 11788
9781438001470 $16.99 www.barronseduc.com
Now in an updated third edition, How to Write Better Resumes and Cover Letters is a
no-nonsense, twelve-step approach to crafting a polished, professional resume. Author and career
advisor Patricia K. Criscito teaches the reader the basics of using word processing software to
give one's resume panache; how to organize one's career information; how to make a resume
easy-to-read and Internet-friendly; the value of using "power verbs"; and much more. "Without
the right keywords, your resume will float in cyberspace forever, waiting for a hiring manager to
find it... Remember, your keywords are the specific terminology used in your job that reflect your
experience and skills. For instance, 'operating room' and 'ICU' immediately classify the
experience of a nurse, but 'pediatric ICU' narrows it down even further." Accessible and
user-friendly, How to Write Better Resumes and Cover Letters is worthy of the highest
recommendation for everyone in today's chaotic and competitive job market.
The Photography Shelf
Photography Q&A
Zack Arias
New Riders
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.newriders.com
9780321929501, $29.99, www.amazon.com
In "Photography Q&A: Real Questions. Real Answers", editorial and commercial photographer
Zack Arias draws upon his many years of experience and expertise in the photography industry to
produce a 312 page compendium of commentary and instruction for the practical benefit of the
novice and amateur photographer while having an immense value for even the more experienced
and professional photographer. Profusely illustrated throughout, "Photography Q&A" is as
informed and informative as it is 'user friendly'. Of special note is what Arias has to offer with
'How do I sell stuff that people don't buy?' and 'Basic checklist for permanent studio space'.
Enhanced with the inclusion of worksheets and a comprehensive index, "Photography Q&A" is a
very highly recommended addition to personal, professional, and community library photography
reference collections and supplemental reading lists.
Images of War: Armoured Warfare in Northwest Europe 1944-1945
Anthony Tucker-Jones
Pen & Sword Books Limited
9781781591758 $24.95 www.pen-and-sword.co.uk
Part of author Anthony Tucker-Jones' series of photographic military histories, Images of War:
Armoured Warfare in Northwest Europe 1944-1945 is a repository of rare, black-and-white
photographs from World War II archives. Complementing the images is a detailed narrative text
placing the pictures in full historical context, including armored engagements atthe D-Day
landings, Operation Goodwood, the Rhine crossing, in the Reichswald and more. A treasure
trove of visual military history, Images of War: Armoured Warfare in Northwest Europe
1944-1945 is an excellent addition to reference and college library collections.
People Apart: 1950's Cape Town Revisited
Darren Newbury, author
Photographs by Bryan Heseltine
Black Dog Publishing
10a Acton Street
London, England, WC1X 9NG
9781907317859 $29.95 www.blackdogonline.com
People Apart: 1950's Cape Town Revisited is a rich repository of previously unpublished
black-and-white photographs of South Africa at the beginning of the apartheid era. South
African-born, English-educated photographer Bryan Heseltine captured images revealing the
social and cultural life of Cape Town, and also express emergent anti-apartheid sentiments. The
text by Darren Newbury grounds Heseltine's photographs in an extensive historical background
and contemporary context. Some of the images show survival in poverty conditions; others offer
glimpses into the day-to-day life of ordinary citizens. People Apart: 1950's Cape Town Revisited
is not only a visual history, but speaks to the possible future, and is highly recommended
especially for public and college library photography collections.
The Conquest of Everest
George Lowe and Huw Lewis-Jones
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10110-0017
9780500544235 $39.95 www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
Commemorating the 60th anniversary of the first ascent to the peak of Mount Everest on May 29,
1953, The Conquest of Everest: Original Photographs from the Legendary First Ascent is an
eye-catching coffee table book filled with black-and-white photographs and other archival
material from the George Lowe collection, some of which has never previously been published.
The text retells the story of the milestone ascent from the point of view of author George Lowe,
the New Zealand mountaineer, photographer, and filmmaker who was part of the 1953 British
Everest expedition. Chapters also feature contributions from many other notable mountaineers
and explorers, and offer harrowing true stories of pre- and post-1953 attempts to scale Mount
Everest. The Conquest of Everest is a historic turning point in mountain climbing history
captured on the printed page, highly recommended.
The Education Shelf
Think It, Show It Science
Gregory A. Denman
Shell Education
5301 Oceanus Drive
Huntington Beach, CA 92649-1030
9781425810535, $39.99, www.amazon.com
It's not enough to teach student the facts and processes of science, it is equally important to teach
students how to effective write and communicate those facts, processes and results. In "Think It,
Show It Science: Strategies for Demonstrating Knowledge", Gregory A. Denman draws upon his
many years of experience and expertise as an instructor at Lesley University and the University
of Colorado at Colorado Springs to create a 176 page manual of instructive lessons specifically
designed to enable student to accurately and informatively write and record their scientific
thinking. This highly educational compendium features practical, 'user friendly', strategies that
will significantly aid students to explain and write about their ideas and scientific content
knowledge in either a classroom or a laboratory setting. Enhanced with the inclusion of rubrics,
mentor texts, and student examples, "Think It, Show It Science: Strategies for Demonstrating
Knowledge" is an ideal and highly recommended curriculum supplement for teachers charged
with the responsibility for instructing students with respect to any and all of the sciences.
Teacher Evaluation That Makes A Difference
Robert J. Marzano and Michael D. Toth
Publicity Department
ASCD
1703 North Beauregard Street
Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
9781416615736 $28.95 www.ascd.org
Educational experts and researchers Robert J. Marzano and Michael D. Toth present Teacher
Evaluation That Makes A Difference: A New Model for Teacher Growth and Student
Achievement, a practical-minded guide to their model for improving the art and science of
teacher evaluation, with the goal of helping educators improve. Chapters cover standards,
rubrics, and methodologies; step-by-step guidelines for implementing the suggested model; how
to create coaching programs for the teachers who need them; ideas for taking advantage of the
latest technologies to facilitate teacher collaboration; and more. "One way to counteract this
tendency toward score inflation [when evaluating teachers] is to use different standards for
different levels of experience - that is, holding teachers in the early stages of their careers to
different criteria than those in the later stages. In this way, even relatively inexperienced teachers
could be assigned high scores, since in their cases the criteria for those scores would be less
stringent than those applied to more experienced teachers." Teacher Evaluation That Makes A
Difference is a valuable, hands-on reference and resource for principals and educators
confronting real-world challenges, and highly recommended.
The Almanac Of American Education 2013
Deirdre A. Gaquin & Gwenavere W. Dunn, editors
Bernan Press
4611-F Assembly Drive
Lanham, MD 20706-4391
www.bernanpress.com
9781598886016, $79.00, www.amazon.com
Collaboratively edited by Deirdre A. Gaquin and Gwenavere W. Dunn, this seventh edition of
"The Almanac Of American Education 2013" is a 578 page compendium of contemporary
statistical data on American education systems at the county, state, and national levels. This
expanded seventh edition for 2013 includes new data such as the percentage of high school and
college graduates in the population, and enrollment status by age and by level of education. From
determining nationwide trends in earnings by educational attainment levels; to earnings gaps
between high school graduates and college graduates; to ranking the states accordingly to teacher
salaries; to comparing student poverty rates and county-level expenditures per students; to free
lunch eligibility, "The Almanac Of American Education 2013" will prove to be an invaluable,
indispensable, and reliable resource and reference and highly recommended for professional,
governmental, NGO, academic, and community library Educational Studies collections.
The American History Shelf
Why We Fight
Nancy Beck Young
University Press of Kansas
2501 West 15th Street
Lawrence, KS 66049
9780700619177 $39.95 www.kansaspress.ku.edu
Why We Fight: Congress and the Politics of World War II is a close examination of the bitter
political battles fought among members of America's Congress during the era in which history
claims that going to war united the nation. Of particular interest is the key role that moderates
played; Why We Fight advocates that it was the moderates, not the conservatives, who would
ultimately drive crucial policy debates, with repercussions that would echo for the next
twenty-five years. Amid today's bitterly divided and partisan American politics, Why We Fight is
an extremely valuable window into the lessons learned from political machinations of the past.
Highly recommended, especially for public and college library American History shelves.
Manners and Southern History
Ted Ownby, editor
University Press of Mississippi
3825 Ridgewood Road
Jackson, MS 39211
www.upress.state.ms.us
9781617030406, $30.00, www.amazon.com
Pretty much all that most people know about the manners and etiquette of the antebellum South
is what they've seen in movies or read in romance novels. Drawn from contributions to the
Chancellor Porter L. Fortune Symposium in Southern History Series, and compiled by Ted
Owney (History & Southern Studies, University of Mississippi), "Manners and Southern History"
is a 186 page compendium comprised of eight seminal and erudite essays by experts in the
cultural history of the American south. Of special note is Joseph Crespino's "Civilities and Civil
Rights in Mississippi". Also available in both a hardcover ($47.50) and a Kindle edition
($16.50), informed and informative, "Manners and Southern History" is a body of impressive
scholarship and highly recommended for academic library American History reference
collections and to the non-specialist general reader with an interest in pre-Civil War southern
culture and society.
The Engraving Trade in Early Cincinnati
Donald C. O'Brien
Ohio University Press
The Ridges, Building 19
Athens, OH 45701
9780821420140 $39.95 www.ohioswallow.com
Illustrated with color images of vintage engravings throughout (some of the engravings were
originally black-and-white; others were highlighted with color, an extraordinary feat for the
time), The Engraving Trade in Early Cincinnati: With a Brief Account of the Beginning of the
Lithographic Trade is a thoughtful study of how the engraving industry advanced the growth of
Cincinnati in the nineteenth century. Chapters cover the works of early engravers, engraving
company Doolittle & Munson, the evolution of banknote engraving, the popular publication
"Ladies' Repository", the wood-engraving trade, and the origins of the lithographic trade. An
index rounds out this excellent and finely detailed history, presenting a professional artisan
legacy in accessible, user-friendly terms.
The World History Shelf
Matamoros and the Texas Revolution
Craig H. Roell
Texas State Historical Association
1155 Union Circle #311580
Denton, TX 76203-5017
9780876112601 $15.95 www.TSHAonline.org
Matamoros and the Texas Revolution shines light on a lesser-known event of the Texas
Revolution - the controversial attempt of an American volunteer army to capture the Mexican
port city of Matamoros. The campaign was divisive, and ended in a complete debacle; Mexican
General Jose de Urrea successfully united his fellow Mexicans and soundly defeated the
American invaders. Thus Matamoros remained a part of Mexico; and the spirit of independence
remains strong in Mexico's northern borderlands to the present day. Extensive notes and an index
round out this scholarly scrutiny, highly recommended especially for college library history
shelves.
Castration and Culture in the Middle Ages
Larissa Tracy, editor
D. S. Brewer
c/o Boydell & Brewer Inc
668 Mount Hope Avenue
Rochester, NY 14620-2731
www.boydellandbrewer.com
9781843843511, $99.00, www.amazon.com
Castration (also known as neutering) is any action, surgical, chemical or otherwise, by which a
biological male loses use of the testes (orchiectomy). This causes sterilization, i.e. prevents them
from reproducing; it also greatly reduces the production of certain hormones, such as
testosterone. A castrato (Italian, plural: castrati) is a type of classical male singing voice
equivalent to that of a soprano, mezzo-soprano, or contralto. The voice is produced by castration
of the singer before puberty, or it occurs in one who, due to an endocrinological condition, never
reaches sexual maturity. Castration and castrati have always been facets of western culture, from
myth and legend to law and theology, from eunuchs guarding harems to the seventeenth- and
eighteenth-century castrati singers. Compiled and edited by Larissa Tracy (Associate Professor of
Medieval Literature, Longwood University), "Castration and Culture in the Middle Ages" is a
365 page compendium comprised of fourteen scholarly articles focusing on the implications of
the literal act of castration as recorded in historical accounts, as well as its use in Medieval
literature. Of special note is the concluding article 'The Dismemberment of Will: Early Modern
Fear of Castration' by Karin Sellberg and Lena Wanngren. Enhanced with the inclusion of a 30
page bibliography and a comprehensive index, "Castration and Culture in the Middle Ages" is
highly recommended for academic library Medieval Studies reference collections and
supplemental reading lists.
The Military Shelf
The Battle of Midway
Thomas C. Hone, editor
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road
Annapolis, MD 21402
9781612511269 $28.95 www.nip.org
The Battle of Midway: The Naval Institute Guide to the U.S. Navy's Greatest Victory is an
anthology of over fifty scholarly essays about the crucial Battle of Midway during World War II,
widely considered to be one of the most important naval battles of all time. Essays discuss the
approach to the battle, the battle itself, the battle's end, the commanders, and the code-breaking
that may well have turned the tides of war. A handful of black-and-white photographs and charts
illustrate this superb anthology, highly recommended especially for public and college library
collections.
The Biography Shelf
Murder in the State Capitol
Pamela Chase Hain
Mercer University Press
1400 Coleman Avenue
Macon, GA 31207-0001
9780881464306 $35.00 www.mupress.org
Murder in the State Capitol: The Biography of Lieutenant Colonel Robert Augustus Alston
1832-1879 is a scholarly, in-depth profile of a truly principled man - who was also a slaveholder.
In his own words, Robert Augustus Alson went to war to defend his right to own slaves. During
the American Civil War, Alston served under General John Hunt Morgan, and later in command
of a brigade. Alston's sense of right and wrong caused him to feel disgust at the robberies (and
worse) committed by Morgan's troops; he reported Morgan to the authorities for turning a blind
eye to these depredations. After the Civil War, Alston employed freedmen to farm cotton,
practiced law, sold insurance, and became the editor of the "Atlanta Herald". He worked to
restore the Democrats to power, but his sense of justice would ultimately be the death of him. As
a state representative and chairman of the penitentiary committee, he spread word of the
reprehensible conditions of convict camps leased by private companies, exposing the dark side of
the convict lease system (which at its worst, was effectively a continuation of slavery). Alston
was threatened and eventually murdered for his bravery and moral outrage. Even though Alston
did not personally end the corrupt system, his efforts are historically regarded as the spark that
led to its abolition. Murder in the State Capitol is a fascinating read from cover to cover, and
proof that human morality is not so easily cast in shades of black and white. Highly
recommended!
The Civil War Shelf
A Season of Slaughter
Chris Mackowski and Kristopher D. White
Savas Beatie
PO Box 4527
El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
9781611211481 $12.95 www.savasbeatie.com
Part of the "Emerging Civil War Series", A Season of Slaughter: The Battle of Spotsylvania
Court House May 8-21, 1864 is an in-depth examination of how General Ulysses S. Grant's
determination transformed the course of a wilderness battle, and ultimately the outcome of the
American Civil War. Unlike his predecessors, the newly promoted Union commander had the
will to use the North's advantage of superior numbers, relentlessly pressing General Lee
regardless of setbacks. In this way, the battle of Spotsylvania became a brutal clash in the mud,
noted in history for its 22-hours of hand-to-hand combat during a torrential downpour at the
Bloody Angle. Readers of all background will appreciate the vivid reconstruction of the extended
and punishing battle, illustrated with black-and-white photographs and maps on virtually every
page. Highly recommended, especially for public and college library Civil War collections.
The Native American Studies Shelf
I Fought A Good Fight
Sherry Robinson
University of North Texas Press
PO Box 311336
Denton, TX 76203-1336
9781574415063 $32.95 www.unt.edu/untpress
I Fought A Good Fight: History of the Lipan Apaches is a thoroughly researched, scholarly
examination of the Lipan Apaches (one of multiple Apache groups) of the American Southwest,
from the earliest archaeological evidence to the diaspora that spread surviving Lipans amid a
variety of other ethnic groups across a wide geographical range. The Lipans were never a large
tribe to begin with; yet for three centuries, they made their mark though fearless fighting, guerilla
tactics, and savvy alliances. The held on to their freedom for generations after their most
stringent enemies (particularly the Comanches) were forced onto reservations, and they
ultimately never surrendered. I Fought A Good Fight is fascinating from cover to cover, and a
welcome addition to public and college library Native American studies shelves.
The Computer Shelf
Cloud Computing
Thomas Erl
Prentice Hall Professional
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.mcp.com
9780133387520, $49.99, www.amazon.com
Cloud computing is a colloquial expression used to describe a variety of different computing
concepts that involve a large number of computers that are connected through a real-time
communication network (typically the Internet). Cloud computing is a jargon term without a
commonly accepted non-ambiguous scientific or technical definition. In science, cloud
computing is a synonym for distributed computing over a network and means the ability to run a
program on many connected computers at the same time. The popularity of the term can be
attributed to its use in marketing to sell hosted services in the sense of application service
provisioning that run client server software on a remote location. The collaborative work of
computer experts Thomas Erl, Ricardo Puttini, and Zaigham Mahmood, "Cloud Computing:
Concepts, Technology & Architecture" is a 528 page instruction manual covering every aspect
from fundamental concepts, to infrastructure mechanisms, to delivery model considerations.
Enhanced with the inclusion of seven appendices and a comprehensive index, ""Cloud
Computing: Concepts, Technology & Architecture" is also available in a Kindle edition ($31.19)
and should be considered as a core addition to professional and academic library Computer
Science reference collections.
2D Graphics Programming for Games
John Pile Jr.
CRC Press
Suite 300
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW
Boca Raton, FL 33487
9781466501898 $49.95 www.crcpress.com
Ideal for self-teaching or reference, 2D Graphics Programming for Games is a straightforward
guide to the programming concepts and techniques used to create attractive two-dimensional
graphics in video games. The ideas can be applied to games created on a multitude of platforms,
including iOS, Andriod, Xbox 360, and the PlayStation Suite. Chapters walk the reader through
motion and depth, cel animation, tiling, layering, particle systems, shader, splines, and more.
Enhanced with a wealth of sample code and full-color screenshots, 2D Graphics Programming
for Games encourages readers to apply its lessons to sample exercises and experiment with code.
Tips, tricks, and techniques abound in this "must-have" for any aspiring 2D video game
creator!
The Graphic Novel Shelf
Persia Blues Volume 1: Leaving Home
Dara Naraghi & Brent Bowman
www.DaraNaraghi.com
NBM Publishing
160 Broadway, Ste. 700, East Wing
New York, NY 10038
www.PersiaBlues.com
9781561637065 $12.99 www.nbmpublishing.com
Iranian-born, US-educated author Dara Naraghi and prize-nominated artist Brent Bowman
present Persia Blues Volume 1: Leaving Home, a black-and-white graphic novel for readers of all
ages, about a young woman searching for her place in two worlds. Minoo Shirazi is strong-willed
and a talented artist, majoring in architecture as a compromise; she chafes at having to live under
the oppressive, male-dominated Iranian government, where for a woman to show too much hair
is literally a crime, punished severely by the morality police. Yet Minoo is also living a fantastic,
sword-and-sorcery adventure in a mystic rendition of ancient Persia, where she and the man she
loves battle the evil monsters of Ahriman. The art shifts significantly with the juxtaposed stories,
tracing stark, simple lines to portray the modern-day world, while enhancing the fantasy world
with rich shading. Minoo's complicated relationship with her father - a progressive man by
Iranian standards, yet frustratingly protective and principled to a fault - adds an unforgettable
touch to this unique, original, and highly recommended contribution to public library graphic
novel shelves.
Delilah Dirk and the Turkish Lieutenant
Tony Cliff
First Second
175 5th Avenue
New York, NY 10010
9781596438132 $15.99 www.firstsecondbooks.com
Opening in 1807 Constantinople (known as Istanbul today), Delilah Dirk and the Turkish
Lieutenant is a high-spirited, full-color graphic novel about the good, the bad, and the ugly of
living an adventurous life. Erdemoglu Selim is a loyal and honorable lieutenant in the Turkish
Janissary Corps, whose personal passions include a lifelong love of the the finest gourmet teas.
His life turns upside-down, among other directions, when he crosses paths with Delilah Dirk - an
ex-noblewoman turned wandering thief, troublemaker, gadgeteer, swordmaster, acrobat, and
more, determined to pay back an evil pirate captain's robbery with robbery! "'What about your
royal courts and your English family? ...Or those English balls - I hear they're very extravagant.'
'They're hot, sweaty, the air stinks - candle wax, sweat, perfume - blech, and the jewelry and the
fashion are all a horrible game of one-upmanship... No one says what they mean, and everyone
pretends to be something they're not.'" Readers of all ages and backgrounds will enjoy this
upbeat, lively and wonderful graphic novel, highly recommended especially for adventure
connoisseurs and public library collections.
The Audiobook Shelf
The Honest Toddler
Bunmi Laditan, author
Kyle McCarley, narrator
Tantor Media, Inc.
2 Business Park Road, Unit 2
Old Saybrook, CT 06475
9781452613758 $34.99 www.tantor.com
The Honest Toddler: A Child's Guide To Parenting is the unabridged audiobook rendition of a
laugh-out-loud candid guide to the trials and travails of raising a toddler. Very much from a
toddler's point of view (as penned "under the supervision" of author Bunmi Laditan), The Honest
Toddler warns the listener about what to expect from aggressive playground outbursts (justice
naturally comes swift, severe, and messy), the importance of unconditional love (pants optional),
and lying (expect it to happen often; toddlers are just less savvy at it than adults). The Honest
Toddler is an unforgettably funny, heart-touching, practical-minded and realistic portrait of hectic
parenthood, highly recommended! 7 CDs, 8.5 hours.
The Library CD Shelf
George Shearing at Home
George Shearing & Don Thompson
Jazzknight Records
c/o Distribution 13
PO Box 52345
Irvine, CA 92619
$15.98 distribution13.com
George Shearing at Home is a treasure almost lost - the tapes by renowned jazz pianist George
Shearing (1919-2011) and bassist Don Thompson were originally created in 1983, just for fun
and the pleasure of making music, at Shearing's home. Thirty years later, Thompson found the
tapes hidden in a drawer, and resolved to share them with the world. Beautiful and timeless,
George Shearing at Home is a sparkling memento of the joy of music for music's sake. Highly
recommended! The tracks are "I Didn't Know What Time It Was" (4:36), "A Time For Love"
(2:49), "Ghoti" (5:51), "The Things We Did Last Summer" (3:02), "Laura" (4:48), "The Skye
Boat Song" (4:11), "Confirmation" (5:41), "The Girl Next Door" (2:50), "Can't We Be Friends?"
(2:22), "I Cover The Waterfront" (5:06), "Out Of Nowhere" (3:17), "That Old Devil Called
Love" (3:07), "SubconsciousLee" (5:10), and "Beautiful Love" (3:58).
In the Gallery
Jason Seed Stringtet
c/o Rock Paper Scissors (publicity)
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2
Bloomington, IN 47404
www.rockpaperscissors.biz
$TBA www.jasonseedmusic.com
Composer and guitarist Jason Seed Stringtet presents In the Gallery, who applies his knowledge
of jazz and chamber music to original, orchestral compositions that explore uncharted audio
territory. An instrumental masterpiece that eschews formality for freedom in its celebration of
stringed and acoustic instruments, In the Gallery alternately highlights solos and ensembles in its
creative approach. Highly recommended! The tracks are "Invocation", "Goulash Rag",
"Tangoesque" "Pictures of an Exhibitionist", "Ishtar", "Krakow", "Where the Corners Meet", "In
the Right Light", "Caterpillar Kif", "One in Five", and "In the Gallery".
Lineage
Dave Liebman and Michael Stephans
Whaling City Sound
1310 Tucker Road, No. Dartmouth, MA 02747
c/o Mixed Media
20 Lockmere Road, Cranston, RI 02910
www.mixedmediapromo.com
$14.99 www.whalingcitysound.com
Veteran jazz artist Dave Liebman and drummer Michael Stephans present Lineage, a
collaborative project to deconstruct and recreate some of the greatest and most beloved pop
classics. Each tune is re-imagined with new counterpoint arrangements, soulful saxophone, or
other insightful and intriguing new twists that reach out to pop and jazz fans alike. Highly
recommended! The tracks are "Mr. Sandman" (6:25), "Eleanor Rigby" (7:15), "Visions" (6:26),
"Tequila" (4:38), "I Only Have Eyes For You" (6:41), "Walk, Don't Run" (4:40), "Woodstock"
(6:05), "Wipe Out" (5:13), "Here, There and Everywhere" (3:28), and "Love Me Tender"
(4:17).
Ayo
The Garifuna Collective
Stonetree Records
c/o Cumbancha
413 Carpenter Road, Charlotte, VT 05445
www.cumbancha.com
c/o Press Junkie PR
9901 Brodie Lane, Suite 160, PMB 221
Austin, TX 78748
$TBA www.stonetreerecords.com
Ayo ("Goodbye" in the Garifuna language) is the first album that The Garifuna Collective has
released since the passing of beloved performer Andy Palacio. An original and worthy
celebration of the contemporary Garifuna music that Palacio loved, Ayo blends the rich cultural
legacy of musical traditions with modern technical panache, and the smooth harmony of a group's
unified vision. Several of the songs are direct tributes to Palacio, performed with the highest
respect and fondest memories. Ayo is a tresure for multicultural music collections. The tracks are
"Ayo" (2:35), "Galuma" (2:50), "Kame Bawara" (3:18), "Ubou" (3:40), "Mongulu" (3:18),
"Pomona" (3:05), "Beiba Nuwari" (2:48), "Gudemei" (4:22), "Dungua" (3:12), "Aganba" (3:46),
"Alagan" (3:12), and "Seremei Buguya" (4:12). Also highly recommended for fans of The
Garifuna Collective's extraordinary tropical rhythms is "Danny Michel with The Garifuna
Collective" ($TBA, www.dannymichel.com).
Walk A Mile In My Shoes
Barefoot Divas
Privately Published
c/o Rock Paper Scissors (publicity)
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2
Bloomington, IN 47404
www.barefootdivas.com.au
$TBA www.rockpaperscissors.biz
Walk A Mile In My Shoes is an original album by Barefoot Divas, a group of six bold women
who trace their ethnic and musical heritage to Australia's, New Zealand's, and Papua New
Guinea's indigenous peoples. Their collaborations draw upon the vibrance of assorted other
genres as well, from acoustic to jazz, R&B, soul, even a touch of Latin rhythm. Uplifting and
extraordinary, Walk A Mile In My Shoes is a choice pick for multicultural music shelves, and
also highly recommended for public library CD collections. The tracks are "Te Matipiko",
"Never Forget", "Fortuna", "This One Be Killa", "Lullaby", "Within These Walls", "Wahine
Whakairo", "Two Minds", "Without You", "Children of Romania", "Reconnect", "Do I Belong",
"Ngarraanga", and "Repeat Offender".
The Library DVD Shelf
Extreme By Design
A film by Ralph King Jr. and Michael Schwarz
Hawkview Pictures
c/o Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149
Oley, PA 19547
www.extremebydesignmovie.com
1937772535 $295.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com
Extreme By Design is a DVD documentary following teams of Stanford University business,
engineering, and medical students on a mission. They all signed up for the Design for Extreme
Affordability course, a "hands-on" educational program that challenges enrollees to improve the
lives of the world's poor. Students fly across the world to Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Cambodia,
where they design projects such as an IV medicine infusion pump, a ventilator to help keep
babies with pneumonia alive, or a means to more effectively store drinking water collected
during the rainy season. The most difficult part? Since their efforts are meant to serve the poor,
the students must strive to invent the most inexpensive solutions possible! Best of all, if they
succeed, their ideas might turn into startups that put theory into practice, and make the world a
better place. A masterful testimony of the trials and travails of teamwork, as well as the personal
calling to serve the less fortunate, Extreme By Design in an inspirational film especially
recommended for public, high school, and college library DVD collections. 57 min., SDH
captions.
North & South
Starring Patrick Stewart
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
9781598289640 $39.99 www.acornonline.com
Based on the classic Victorian love story by Elizabeth Gaskell, North & South is the debut U.S.
DVD release of the four-episode BBC drama originally broadcast in Great Britain in 1975. Set
during the Victorian era, when a changing world challenged rigid, class-based traditions, North &
South follows Margaret Hale (played by Rosalind Shanks), a resourceful young woman forced to
adapt from life in the slow-paced British South to the heavily industrialized and soot-laden north.
At first she is leery of the strict mill owner, John Thornton (Patrick Stewart), but her perspective
evolves in the wake of a worker's strike and family misfortune. At once both a powerful romance
and an eye-opening portrait of Britain during the Industrial Revolution, North & South is highly
recommended especially for fans of British drama - and of Patrick Stewart's legendary
performances! 4 episodes on 2 DVDs, 207 min., full screen, SDH subtitles.
Joanna Lumley's Nile
Athena Learning
c/o Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
9781621720638 $39.99 www.acornonline.com
"Absolutely Fabulous" star Joanna Lumley presents Joanna Lumley's Nile, a beautiful DVD
documentary of her journey along the historic, 4000-mile Nile River from mouth to source. Her
travels take her past the bustling hub of civilization that is Alexandria, to Rwandan forests,
Sudanese desert, and Ethiopian highlands. On the way, Joanna befriends ship captains, crocodile
hunters, nomads, Sudanese beauty queens, and more. A 16-page viewer's guide enhances this
armchair traveler's delight, enthusiastically recommended especially for public library DVD
collections. 4 episodes on 2 DVDs, 184 min., widescreen, SDH subtitles.
The Genealogy Shelf
Generations Volume I
Dr. James M. Rose
Clearfield Company
3600 Clipper Mill Road, Suite 260
Baltimore, MD 21211
9780806380544 $39.99 www.genealogical.com
Generations Volume I: Ex-Slaves with Virginia Origins is a DVD-ROM (a PC with a DVD drive
and Adobe Reader software 9.0 or later is required to view its PDF file contents) collecting the
information gathered about thousands of former African-American slaves from 1937-38, as part
of the Federal Writers' Project of the Works Project Administration. It is a treasure trove of both
genealogical data and primary historical testimonies, filled with information from census records,
death certificates, probate records, plantation records, pictures of plantations, biographical
information of slaveowners, pictures of ex-slaves, and personal accounts of daily life under
slavery. The first volume focuses primarily on ex-slaves with ties to Virginia (many of whom had
relocated to other states), and is enhanced with an article by and video commentary with one
ex-slave's descendants. Generations Volume I and all successive installments in the series are
highly recommended, especially for historical or genealogical archives.
The Judicial Studies Shelf
Father, Son, and Constitution
Alexander Wohl
University Press of Kansas
2501 West 15th Street
Lawrence, KS 66049
9780700619160 $39.95 www.kansaspress.ku.edu
Former Supreme Court Judicial Fellow and "San Francisco Chronicle" Supreme Court
correspondent Alexander Wohl presents Father, Son, and Constitution: How Justice Tom Clark
and Attorney General Ramsey Clark Shaped American Democracy, a revealing portrait of the
legal and judicial careers of father-and-son duo Thomas Campbell Clark (1899-1977) and
Ramsey Clark (b. 1927). The two may perhaps be best known for making history when Tom
Clark resigned his seat on the Supreme Court so as to avoid a conflict of interest when his son
Ramsey Clark was nominated for the post of attorney general. This dual career biography covers
Tom Clark's involvement in forcing the imprisonment and relocation of Japanese-Americans
during WW II; his conservative Cold War policies; and his progressive outlook upon civil rights;
Ramsey's enforcement of civil rights laws in the 1960s; his quest to expand protections of
individual rights; and his efforts as a private attorney to represent clients ranging from political
protestors to alleged war criminals. The legal decisions, actions, and careers of father and son are
framed in the context of their impact on American history, in this excellent, thought-provoking
analysis, highly recommended for public and college library judicial studies collections.
The Botany Shelf
A Celebration of Wattle
Maria Hitchcock
Rosenberg Publishing
International Specialized Book Services
920 Northeast 58th Avenue, Suite 300
Portland, OR 97213
9781921719561 $29.95 www.isbs.com
Featuring a wealth of full-color photography throughout, A Celebration of Wattle: Australia's
National Floral Emblem is a revised and greatly expanded edition of the 1991 publication
"Wattle", an in-depth scrutiny of Australia's beloved flowering plant, from its natural history and
propagation to its cherished role in Australian culture. Chapters present a history of Australia's
Wattle Day, ideas for celebrating the holiday in schools and among community groups, and even
Wattle-themed songs and poetry. A Celebration of Wattle is a treasury for botany enthusiasts and
Australian patriots alike!
The Literary Studies Shelf
Fiction & Physicians
Stephen McWilliams
The Liffey Press Ltd.
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7
Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
www.dufoureditions.com
9781908308269 $29.95
Fiction & Physicians: Medicine through the Eyes of Writers is a scholarly examination of the
intersection between the worlds of literature and medicine. Divided into two parts, one about
doctors who write fiction and one surveying fictional literature written about doctors, Fiction &
Physicians re-examines classic and iconic works (including Sherlock Holmes mysteries,
"Frankenstein", "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde", and many more) with a keen
eye, backed by thorough research in both medical and literary fields. Highly recommended,
especially for college library literary studies shelves.
The Poetry Shelf
Bones Will Crow
Ko Ko Thett & James Byrne, editors
Northern Illinois University Press
2280 Bethany Road, DeKalb, IL 60115
www.niupress.niu.edu
9780875806914, $18.95, www.amazon.com
Poetry and song have been the mainstays of oppressed peoples throughout recorded human
history. Nowhere has this been more salient an observation than with the Burmese people
throughout the 20th Century. Knowledgeably compiled, translated into English, and deftly edited
by the team of Ko Ko Thett and James Byrne, "Bones Will Crow: An Anthology of Burmese
Poetry" is a 172 page compilation that presents the poetry of men and women that have suffered
exile and imprisonment by the Burmese government. Each poem is presented in both the
Burmese language on one page and the English translation of that poem on the facing page. Each
poet is presented with their photograph and a succinct one-page biography. Of special note is the
amazing diversity of poetic styles and the universal themes expressing the human condition that
western readers can readily identify with. Unique and compelling, "Bones Will Crow" is highly
recommended for personal, academic, and community library poetry collections.
The Mythology Shelf
Among the Mermaids
Varla Ventura
Red Wheel/Weiser/Conari
665 Third Street
San Francisco, CA 94107
9781578635450 $15.95 www.redwheelweiser.com
Thoroughly accessible to readers of all backgrounds, Among the Mermaids: Facts, Myths, and
Enchantments from the Sirens of the Sea is an anthology of classic fantasy stories and folklore
vignettes about mermaids - female, half-fish sea-borne beauties alleged to lure sailors to their
doom. A handful of black-and-white drawings illustrate this delightful collection of myths and
trivia. Highly recommended, especially for fans of legends and fantasy as well as for public
library mythology collections.
The Library Science Shelf
Envisioning Future Academic Library Services
Sue McKnight, editor
Facet Publishing
7 Ridgmount Street
London, England, WC1E 7AE
www.facetpublishing.co.uk
9781856046916, $105.00, www.amazon.com
No where is technology making faster advances than in the information field -- and that
especially affects community, corporate, government, and academic library systems. Compiled
and deftly edited by Sue McKnight (Professor of Knowledge and Learning Management and
Resources, Nottingham Trent University, UK) is a 288 page compendium comprised of twelve
seminal articles by experts in the field of communications and information technology covering
such issues as e-learning and social networking; institutional knowledge and information
management strategies; supporting library patrons (especially students and academic staff) in
virtual learning space, as well as the library and on the web; acquiring, managing, and enhancing
accessible information that is outside the normal province of the traditional 'brick & board'
library; and new leadership paradigms for the digital age. Erudite, informed, informative,
"Envisioning Future Academic Library Services: Initiatives, Ideas and Challenges" is essential
reading for anyone and everyone in the field of library and information science and an absolutely
indispensable addition to professional and academic library "Library Science" reference
collections and supplemental reading lists.
The Environmental Studies Shelf
Environmental Anthropology Engaging Ecotopia
Joshua Lockyer and James R. Veteto, editors
Berghahn Books
20 Jay Street, Suite 512
Brooklyn, NY 11201
9780857458797 $110.00 www.berghahnbooks.com
Environmental Anthropology Engaging Ecotopia: Bioregionalism, Permaculture, and Ecovillages
is an anthology of scholarly essays by diverse and erudite authors, about the meeting point
between environmental studies, anthropology, and the will to make the world a better place.
How, specifically, can global communities move toward a sustainable "ecotopia", that is better
able to keep human beings fed and environments preserved? Essays focus on the topics of
bioregionalism (cultural and political views common to a given environmental area, which may
transcend national borders), permaculture (ecological engineering with the goal of creating
long-term, self-maintained agricultural systems based on natural ecosystems), and ecovillages
(international communities created with the goal of being socially, economically, and
ecologically sustainable). For example, one essay is about the inherent problems besetting the
Ontario, Canada ecovillage named Whole Village: "Most people who came to Whole Village
interested in ecovillage living but who later decided not to join explained that their decision, in
part, came down to one of financial considerations. They felt they could not contribute to the
community in a sufficient manner while also trying to work a full-time job." Environmental
Anthropology Engaging Ecotopia is an absolutely invaluable contribution to discussions about a
very real and ongoing problem - how to effectively promote long-term sustainability amid an
increasing global population (over 7 billion as of this writing). Highly recommended.
The Art Shelf
Emotional Impact
April Kingsley
Michigan State University Press
1405 South Harrison Road, Suite 25
East Lansing, MI 48823-5245
www.msupress.msu.edu
9781611860849, $29.95, www.amazon.com
Works of art can evoke profound and diverse emotional responses within those who view them.
"Emotional Impact: American Figurative Expressionism" by April Kingsley (Emeritus Curator,
Kresge Art Museum, Michigan State University), is a 154 page descriptive exploration and
commentary on the American Figurative Expressionism movement. Nicely enhanced with the
inclusion of color photos of selected artworks, an informative introduction and afterword,
selected notes on the featured artists, and a handy index, "Emotional Impact: American
Figurative Expressionism" is a seminal work of impressive scholarship and a highly
recommended addition to academic library American Art History reference collections and
supplemental reading lists.
The Philosophy Shelf
Human Rights As A Way Of Life
Alexander Lefebvre
Stanford University Press
1450 Page Mill Road
Palo Alto, CA 94304-1124
www.sup.org
9780804785792, $24.95, www.amazon.com
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is
inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived
as universal (applicable everywhere) and egalitarian (the same for everyone). These rights may
exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in local, regional, national, and international law. The
doctrine of human rights in international practice, within international law, global and regional
institutions, in the policies of states and in the activities of non-governmental organizations, has
been a cornerstone of public policy around the world. The idea of human rights states, "if the
public discourse of peacetime global society can be said to have a common moral language, it is
that of human rights." Despite this, the strong claims made by the doctrine of human rights
continue to provoke considerable skepticism and debates about the content, nature and
justifications of human rights to this day. Indeed, the question of what is meant by a "right" is
itself controversial and the subject of continued philosophical debate. "Human Rights as a Way
of Life: On Bergson's Political Philosophy" by Alexander Lefebvre (Senior Lecturer in the
Department of Government and International Relatons and the Department of Philosophy,
University of Sydney, Australia), is a 216 page compendium presenting and commenting on the
French philosopher Henri Bergson and his contributions to the concept of human rights. An
informed, informative, detailed, and impressive work of seminal scholarship, "Human Rights As
A Way Of Life" is an important contribution and a highly recommended addition to academic
library Political Philosophy reference collections and supplemental reading lists.
The Language Studies Shelf
Latin For The New Millennium: Latin 3
Helena Dettmer & LeaAnn A. Osburn, editors
Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers
1570 Baskin Road, Mundelein, IL 60060
9780865167971, $14.00, www.bolchazy.com
Collaboratively compiled and deftly edited by Latin scholars Helena Dettmer and LeaAnn A.
Osburn, "Latin For The New Millennium: Latin 3 - Select Latin Enrichment Readings is a 160
page compendium of supplemental readings drawn from the works of Roman authors ranging
from Caesar, Catullus, and Cicero, to Horace, Ovid, and Vergil. Also included are readings
drawn from baroque-era poets Lieven De Meyere and Mathias Casimir Sarbiewski. Enhanced
with 'same page' notes, vocabulary aids, appendices on meter and rhetorical terms, as well as an
extensive Latin to English glossary, "Latin For The New Millennium: Latin 3" is a strongly
recommended curriculum supplement for Latin language studies programs.
The International Studies Shelf
Madmen At The Helm
Muriel Mirak-Weissbach
Garnet Publishing
c/o International Publishers Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Drive
Dulles, VA 20166
www.internationalpubmarket.com
9781859643358, $14.95, www.amazon.com
One of the unfortunate realities is that at one time or another the United States of America has
allied itself with dictators. This is especially true of the nations comprising the Middle East.
That's one reason why "Madmen at the Helm: Pathology and Politics in the Arab Spring" is a
particularly informed and informative book that deserves the widest possible readership in this
country. Author and political journalist Muriel Mirak-Weissbach's 164 page compendium
profiles key political leaders whose once iron-clad control of their respective countries finally
lost their control (and sometimes their lives) in response to the revolt of their citizenry in what
has been popularly termed the 'Arab Spring'. Also available in hard cover ($37.56) and Kindle
($8.99) editions, "Madmen at the Helm: Pathology and Politics in the Arab Spring" is insightful,
astute, observant, and impressively knowledgeable, and should be considered mandatory reading
for anyone seeking to understand the mind-sets of the leaders of these Middle Eastern countries
whose sudden downfall was completely unexpected by most western observers in such places as
the American state department and oil company headquarters.
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
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