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Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
What We Talk About When We Talk About War
Noah Richler
Goose Lane Editions
500 Beverbrook Court, Suite 330
Fredericton, NB, Canada, E3B 5X4
9780864926227, $24.95, www.gooselane.com
War was once a distant memory for this generation, but it now seems to be a persistent state.
"What We Talk About When We Talk About War" discusses the far reaching impacts of war.
Author Noah Richler writes from a Canadian perspective, focusing on their support of America's
conflict in Afghanistan. Concerned that Canada is losing its role as a nation that only went to war
to force peace, Richler writes of the challenges Canada will face with that identity and what sits
in her future. "What We Talk About When We Talk About War" is much recommended read for
those who want to understand the impact of war on the home front, with overtones that can apply
to any modern industrialized nation.
American Copia
Javier O. Huerta
Arte Publico Press
University of Houston
4902 Gulf Fwy, Bldg 19, Rm 100
Houston, TX 77204-2004
9781558857483, $14.95, www.artepublicopress.com
A second chance is all too often taken for granted. "American Copia: An Immigrant Epic"
discusses the struggles of the immigrant in today's society. Author Javier O. Huerta presents his
own journey to citizen, offering a perspective of society of a people looking up, and the struggles
that come with immigrant culture. "American Copia" is a fine assortment of essays, poetry, and
much more, offering a clear view of a world few truly understand.
The Reference Shelf
The Lincoln Library Of Essential Information, fourth edition
Timothy L. Gall & Susan Bevan Gall, editors
Lincoln Library Press
812 Huron Road East, Suite 401
Cleveland, OH 44115-1172
9780912168227, $249.00, www.thelincolnlibrary.com
Now in an updated and expanded fourth edition, "The Lincoln Library Of Essential Information"
is a single volume, 2112-page compendium of information enhanced with the inclusion of 1251
illustrations, 167 tables, and a two year online access to the Lincoln Library information
database. Accessibly organized into major sections for Education, Language & Logic; Literature;
Arts, Entertainment & Sports; History; Government; Physical Sciences; Biological Sciences;
Social Sciences; Architecture, Engineering, Business & Law, "The Lincoln Library Of Essential
Information" is further enhanced with the inclusion of a comprehensive index. It's interesting to
note that the name comes as an homage to Abraham Lincoln with respect to the values of
self-education. A core reference work that is strongly recommended for school, community, and
academic library collections, "The Lincoln Library Of Essential Information" will also prove
invaluable as a supplement for home schooling curriculum development, as well as a self-study
and educational reference work for non-specialist general readers seeking to expand their minds
and knowledge base.
The Environmental Studies Shelf
Climate Wars
Harald Welzer
Polity
c/o Blackwell Publishing
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148
www.blackwellpublishing.com
9780745651453, $25.00, www.amazon.com
While accepted by a dominant majority of the scientific community, the very concept of
man-made climate change has been (and continues to be) anathema to whole segments of the
general population. Translated into politics, this public disbelief in climate change has stalled
governmental measures to address the impending disasters related to changes in climate brought
about by human industrial, agricultural, and technological activities. But those changes are here
and will only be exacerbated in the coming decades resulting in conflicts and struggles over
potable water and other natural but dwindling resources. Those conflicts already include
incidents of genocide (ethnic cleansing), civil wars in Third World countries, dramatic refugee
migrations, social/economic collapses, and increasingly radical political movements world wide.
That is the focus of Harald Welzer's "Climate Wars", a 288-page analytical and predictive study
and project on the impact climate change will have on human societies. Of special note are
Harald Welzer's two chapters on 'What Can and Cannot Be Done'. Translated into English by
Patrick Camiller, "Climate Wars" should be considered mandatory reading for anyone with
concerns over the impact of climate change upon their lives, their families, their communities,
their country.
Last Call at the Oasis
Karl Weber, editor
Public Affairs Books
250 West 57th Street, #1321
New York, NY 10107
9781586489786, $15.99, www.publicaffairsbooks.com
The world's population's demands for potable water may overpower its supply. "Last Call at the
Oasis: The Global Water Crisis and Where We Go From Here" discusses the growing problem
that may be water scarcity and how water access may become a very much vital issue in coming
years. Karl Weber edits a compilation of many thinkers, scientists, environmentalists, politicians,
and more as they offer insight on this growing crisis and how water scarcity will become a very
real threat. With concern mixed in with optimism for a better solution, "Last Call at the Oasis" is
a strong pick for environmental issues and studies collection and for readers who want to
understand the importance of water in coming years.
World Environmental History
William H. McNeill and collaborators
Berkshire Publishing Group
120-122 Castle Street
Great Barrington, MA 01230-1506
9781933782966, $29.95, www.berkshirepublishing.com
Man's domain over the world is unrivaled, so the interactions of man with the environment
cannot be ignored. "World Environmental History" is a collaboration from many thinkers and
writers, covering the impact that humanity has had with the environment all throughout history,
from ancient times to the industrial revolution to the modern era. They also touch on the impact
that natural disasters have also wreaked havoc on the world and has changed the world's climate
and environment. "World Environmental History" is a strong addition to any world geological
history or environmental studies collection, highly recommended.
The Cookbook Shelf
Grill This, Not That!
David Zinczenko & Matt Goulding
Rodale Press
733 Third Avenue, NY, NY 10017
www.rodalepress.com
9781609618223, $19.99, www.amazon.com
A compact, 368-page compendium that is the collaborative work of David Zinczenko and Matt
Goulding, "Grill This, Not That!" combines an instruction manual for backyard grilling with a
culinary wealth of grilling recipes that range from appetizers, snacks and small bites, to salads,
vegetables, burgers and sandwiches, pizza, poultry, red meat, fish and seafood, and even
desserts! Profusely illustrated with full color photographs of finished dishes, "Grill This, Not
That!" offers a cornucopia of palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, nutritious fare that ranges from
Artichoke Pesto Pizzas; Tandoori Chicken; Classic Baby Back Ribs; and Stuffed Flank Steak; to
Salmon with Ginger Soy Butter; Grilled Meatballs with Smoky Tomato Sauce; Vietnamese-Style
Chicken Wings; and Grilled Banana Splits. With grilling season upon us, "Grill This, Not That!"
is very highly recommended for personal, family, and community library cookbook
collections.
Great Food Fast
Bob Warden
Quail Ridge Press
PO Box 123, Brandon, MS 39043
www.quailridge.com
9781934193792, $24.95, www.amazon.com
For today's kitchen cook, time is of the essence -- so is the desire to prepare dishes that are
nutritious, palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, while simultaneously quick and easy to prepare.
That's why food enthusiast Bob Warden's "Great Food Fast" will prove to be as popular as it is
indispensable for today's family chefs! Utilizing the pressure cooker, the thoroughly 'user
friendly' illustrated recipes range from Rosemary Pot Roast; Cheeseburger Macaroni; Buffalo
Chicken Strips; and Tender Poached Salmon; to Cajun Crab Risotto; Creamy Succotash;
Traditional Minestrone Soup; and Mango Shortcake. Enhanced with a suggested Pantry List and
Cooking Time Charts, "Great Food Fast" is an ideal and highly recommended addition to
personal, family, and community library cookbook collections.
Everyday Cooking With The Halogen Oven
Paul Brodel & Carol Beckerman
Sellers Publishing
161 John Roberts Road
South Portland, ME 04106
www.makefun.com
9781416206927, $18.95, www.amazon.com
A halogen oven is a modern invention that is also referred to as an infrared or convection oven. It
is similar to a crockpot in that it is used almost exclusively for one pot meals but has the added
advantage of being able to bake, broil, saute, steam, fry, and even grill -- all on the kitchen
counter top. Powered by en electric cord plugged into an ordinary wall socket, require
significantly less power than a conventional oven. Its advantage over a microwave oven is that it
can brown foods perfectly, resulting in foods with a perfectly cooked interior and a crisp,
attractive exterior. The collaborative work of culinary enthusiasts Paul Brodel and Carol
Beckerman, "Everyday Cooking With The Halogen Oven" beautifully showcases 80 recipes
specifically designed to take full advantage of a halogen oven. Superbly illustrated in full color
the dishes range from Bacon Bagels; Jerk Chicken with Mango Salsa; Moroccan-Spiced
Butterfly Quail; and Pesto-Crusted Cod; to Grilled Asparagus Wrapped in Parma Ham; Creamy
Spinach Casserole; and even Popcorn! Informed and informative, "Everyday Cooking With The
Halogen Oven" is enhanced with clear instructions on its use, care, and specialized cooking
techniques making it very highly recommended for personal, family, and community library
specialty cookbook collections.
The Psychology Shelf
You've Earned Your Doctorate in Psychology... Now What?
Elizabeth M. Morgan & R. Eric Landrum
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242
www.apa.org/books
9781433811456, $29.95, www.amazon.com
Sometimes it seems that getting an education is harder than getting a job. Especially in a field as
crowded as that of psychology. That's why "You've Earned Your Doctorate in Psychology . Now
What?: Securing a Job As an Academic or Professional Psychologist" is so timely and timeless.
Drawing upon their many years of experience and expertise, Elizabeth M. Morgan (Assistant
Professor of Psychology, Boise State University) and R. Eric Landrum (Professor of Psychology,
Boise State University) have effectively collaborated to compile a 244-page instruction manual to
enable newly minted psychologists to successfully transfer from graduate student academia into
employment in their chosen field. Beginning with an overview of workforce trends in the field of
psychology, "You've Earned Your Doctorate in Psychology... Now What?" goes on to cover the
importance of a well crafted cover letter; preparing a 'curriculum vitae'; the role of research and
teaching statements, as well as a teaching portfolio; securing letters of recommendation;
preparing for screening interviews; dealing with on-site interviews and job-related talks; and
being a candidate for a professional position. Enhanced with the inclusion of an appendix on
'Negotiating and Deciding Among Multiple Offers'; extensive references, and a comprehensive
index, "You've Earned Your Doctorate in Psychology... Now What?" will prove an invaluable
instruction manual and should be a part of every college and university Psychology Department
and academic library reference collections.
Emerging Methods In Psychology
Emily Abbey & Seth Surgan, editors
Transaction Publishers
Rutgers University
35 Berrue Circle
Piscataway, NJ 08854-8042
www.transactionpub.com
9781412842785, $49.95, www.amazon.com
The newest addition to Transaction Publishers' outstanding 'History and Theory of Psychology'
series, "Emerging Methods in Psychology" has as the focus of its contributors the ways in which
psychology as a discipline has created and continues to develop new methods and understandings
that move it into a set of social engineering tools expanding into new areas and multiplicities of
social knowledge. Knowledgeably compiled and deftly edited by the team of Emily Abbey
(Assistant Professor of Developmental Psychology, Ramapo College, New Jersey), and Seth
Surgan (Assistant Professor of Psychology, Worcester State University, Massachusetts),
"Emerging Methods In Psychology" is a 214-page compendium showcasing six articles ranging
from 'Using Diaries and Self-Writings as Data in Psychological Research'; to 'A Dismantled
Jigsaw: Making Sense of the Complex Intertwinement of Theory, Phenomena, and Methods'; to
'Researching Scientific Modeling: Language, the Missing Artifact'. Of special note is 'General
Conclusions: Coming Closer to the Phenomenon: Better Understanding the Process of Human
Meaning-Making', the concluding chapter by penned by the editors themselves. Informed,
informative, thoughtful, and thought-provoking, "Emerging Methods In Psychology" is highly
recommended professional and academic library Contemporary Psychology reference collections,
as well as reading lists for psychology students and non-specialist general readers with an interest
in contemporary advances in the field of psychology.
The Military Shelf
The Encyclopedia Of War
Gordon Martel, editor
Wiley-Blackwell
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148
www.wiley.com
9781405190374, $950.00, www.amazon.com
Knowledgeably compiled and deftly edited by academician and historian Gordon Martel
(Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Northern British Columbia and Adjunct
Professor at the University of Victoria), "The Encyclopedia Of War" is a five volume, 3142 page
descriptive history of war everywhere and anywhere around the globe, and ranging from antiquity
down to the present day. Individual entries provide detailed descriptions and analysis of military
developments, people, ideas, and technologies of conflict, as well as their social, cultural,
political, and economic impact upon their times and peoples. A masterpiece of meticulous
scholarship, superbly organized, impressively comprehensive, and thoroughly 'user friendly',
"The Encyclopedia Of War" is an essential core addition to personal, academic, and community
library Military History and World History reference collections.
The Business Shelf
The Organizational Alignment Handbook
H. James Harrington & Frank Voehl
CRC Press
Suite 300
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW
Boca Raton, FL 33487
www.crcpress.com
9781439877326, $49.95, www.amazon.com
Organization is the key to effective and profitable business ventures. Co-authored by H. James
Harrington (Chief Executive Officer for the Harrington Institute) and Frank Voehl (Director of
Process Innovation at Nova Southeastern University), "The Organizational Alignment
Handbook: A Catalyst for Performance Acceleration" is a superbly written and presented,
282-page compendium that begins with an overview of the necessity, value, and challenges of
organizational alignment; the proceeds with chapters on alignment considerations, methodology,
strategic planning, processes and networks, structure design, staffing considerations, system
design rewards, implementation -- including outcomes and outsourcing. Enhanced with
appendices providing definitions and abbreviations; some of the 1100+ improvement tools; and a
comprehensive index, "The Organizational Alignment Handbook: A Catalyst for Performance
Acceleration" is informed and informative reading that should be considered essential for anyone
in corporate management charged with organizational development responsibilities.
Entrepreneurship
Robert A. Baron
Edward Elgar Publishing
9 Dewey Court
Northampton, MA 01060-3815
www.e-elgar.com
9781781000397, $39.95, www.amazon.com
The foundational basis for capitalism as a viable economic system is the concept of
'entrepreneur'. An entrepreneur is a person who organizes and manages any enterprise, especially
a business, usually with considerable initiative and risk. "Entrepreneurship: An Evidence-Based
Guide" by Robert A. Baron (Spears Chair of Entrepreneurship, Spears School of Business,
Oklahoma State University) is a 240-page compendium organized into three major sections: The
Foundations of Entrepreneurship; The Practice of Entrepreneurship; and Entrepreneurship
Without Boundaries. Deftly written, superbly presented, and highly recommended for community
and academic library Business Studies collections, "Entrepreneurship: An Evidence-Based
Guide" is ideal for use as a classroom textbook or as a primer for non-specialist general readers
with an interest in entrepreneurship.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Monkey Wrench
Terri Thayer
Midnight Ink
2143 Wooddale Drive
Woodbury, MN 55125-2989
9780738731261, $14.95, www.midnightinkbooks.com
Saving the shop is difficult enough already, but dealing with a murder just makes everything
harder. "Monkey Wrench" is a novel from Terri Thayer as she presents a story of Dewey
Pellicano's quilt shop which seems to be struggling in its day to day operations. But when people
start to die and Dewey's Twittering tactic places blame on her. A twirling story of social media
and quilting, "Monkey Wrench" is a strong pick for mystery novel collections, highly
recommended.
The Fiction Shelf
The Palm House
Tarek Eltayeb
American University in Cairo Press
420 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10018-2729
www.aucpress.com
9789774164828, $24.95, www.amazon.com
One of the signal hallmarks of a well crafted novel is its ability to draw the reader out of his or
her mundane world and into the storybook universe and into the lives of the fictional characters
created by the author. That is clearly the case with Tarek Eltayeb's modern Arabic novel "The
Palm House". To briefly summarize the story: After coming to Vienna from Sudan to win a
better life for himself, Hamza struggles to escape from the margins of society and the stigma of
the immigrant. Following several years of hardship, his fortunes begin to change when he meets
Sandra, a young Austrian woman, who shows him the Palm House. In this famous Viennese
greenhouse, the frost of Hamza's heart begins to thaw, and he slowly opens himself to Sandra,
revealing his bitter yet beautiful past in Sudan and beyond. Deftly translated into English by
Kareem James Abu-Zeid, this American University in Cairo Press edition wonderfully showcases
Eltayeb's storytelling skills which, in addition to his original and unique imagination, also draws
upon elements of Sudanese folk traditions. Highly recommended and entertaining reading, "The
Palm House" is an ideal summer read and a popular addition to community and academic library
international contemporary fiction collections.
By the Light of the Silvery Moon
Tricia Goyer
Barbour Publishing
P.O. Box 719
Uhrichsville, OH 44683
9781616265519, $12.99, www.barbourbooks.com
Tragedy may strike at any time in our lives, and our power to stop it feels so limited. "By the
Light of the Silvery Moon" is a novel set aboard the maiden voyage of the Titanic in 1912.
Amelia, facing a new life and a reunited family in America, is also drawn by potential love on the
other side of the Atlantic. As the ship sails across the ocean, Amelia meets many on the ship,
including Quentin, a man with out much in the way of luck. As tragedy draws closer, Amelia
must make many decisions. "By the Light of the Silvery Moon" is a strong pick for historical
romance collections looking for something with a touch of faith.
The Money/Finance Shelf
Protect and Enhance Your Estate
Robert A. Esperti, Renno L. Peterson, David K. Cahoone
The McGraw Hill Companies
Two Penn Plaza, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10121-2298
9780071787895, $30.00, www.books.mcgraw-hill.com
The legal jungle around the estate can be quite difficult to traverse. "Protect and Enhance Your
Estate: Definitive Strategies for Estate and Wealth Planning" is a guide for those who want to
better manage their estate for their families future generations more wisely and smartly. Covering
recent adjustments in estate law dealing with disability, living wills, long term planning for
health and life insurance. "Protect and Enhance Your Estate" is a strong pick for anyone who
wants to better be prepared to deal with the legal jungle pitfalls.
The Social Issues Shelf
Civic Empowerment In An Age Of Corporate Greed
Edward C. Lorenz
Michigan State University Press
1405 South Harrison Road, Suite 25
East Lansing, MI 48823-5245
www.msupress.msu.edu
9781611860252, $39.95, www.amazon.com
As evidenced by the increasing 99% movement, we are living in a new and corporate age of
Robber Barron Capitalism. That's why "Civic Empowerment In An Age Of Corporate Greed" by
Edward C. Lorenz (Reid-Knox Professor of History, Professor of Political Science, and Director
of the Public Affairs Institute, Alma College, Michigan) offers such an important and timely
descriptive and analytical examination of civic engagement with respect to the kind of unethical
and even criminal corporate activity that has resulted in the pollution, contamination, and
economic disaster on local, regional, and national scales. Using 'real world' examples arising
from seven contaminated Superfund sites, food contamination scandals, financial manipulation
debacles, and the organized public efforts to compel corporate interests to reform, readers will
find Professor Lorenz's "Civic Empowerment In An Age Of Corporate Greed" to be informed,
informative, a model of seminal research, and an instructive guide for both public and private
reform efforts -- including an applicable 'blueprint' for communities having to deal with
governmental indifference and corporate obfuscation. Thoroughly 'reader friendly' from
beginning to end, "Civic Empowerment In An Age Of Corporate Greed" is highly recommended
for community and academic library collections, as well as to the attention of non-specialist
general readers with an interest in curbing corporate corruption in our politics, in our
environment, and in our economy.
Harvest the Wind
Philip Warburg
Beacon Press
25 Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02108-2892
9780807001073, $27.95, www.beacon.org
Wind blows all over the planet every day, and embracing that energy could hold much potential.
"Harvest the Wind: America's Journey to Jobs, Energy Independence, and Climate Stability"
explores the potential of wind power, using the windy plains that blow over the Midwest and the
potential of harvesting that energy for a greater future for America, freeing it of their dependence
on foreign oil. Bringing a realistic view of wind's future, its opposition, and the rough road it has
ahead to make a difference, "Harvest the Wind" is a fine read on the potential of wind power,
very much recommended.
Strap Hanger
Taras Grescoe
Times Books
c/o Henry Holt & Company
175 - 5th Avenue, Suite 400
New York, NY 10010-7725
9780805091731, $25.00, www.henryholt.com
Public transportation fills a need for many. "Strap Hanger: Saving Our Cities and Ourselves from
the Automobile" discusses the place of public transportation and the problems it faces in modern
America. Studying the public transportation system in various massive cities all over the world,
and seeking to convey an understanding for the future of public transportation and the benefits it
can bring to society. "Strap Hanger" is a strong addition to community library social issues
collection.
The American History Shelf
Degrees of Allegiance
Petra DeWitt
Ohio University Press
The Ridges, Building 19
Athens, OH 45701
9780821420034 $49.95 www.ohioswallow.com
Degrees of Allegiance: Harassment and Loyalty in Missouri's German-American Community
during World War I is a close study of what German-Americans living in Missouri experienced
during the First World War, an event that created a strong anti-German cultural backlash in
America. Although historians have long posited that the First World War virtually extinguished
German culture in America, author and teacher Petra DeWitt reveals evidence that
German-Americans in Missouri fared significantly better than other German-Americans. Even
so, Missouri's German-Americans still had to cope with accusations of disloyalty, as well as rifts
within the German-American community. Notes, a bibliography, and an index round out this
thoughtful and well-researched scrutiny; Degrees of Allegiance is especially recommended for
college library American History shelves.
Congress and the Crisis of the 1850s
Paul Finkelman and Donald R. Kennon, editors
Ohio University Press
The Ridges, Building 19
Athens, OH 45701
9780821419779 $49.95 www.ohioswallow.com
Congress and the Crisis of the 1850s is an anthology of scholarly essays by learned authors,
examining the dire and bitterly divided state that America was in from 1848 to 1861, the years
immediately prior to Civil War. American territory acquired from Mexico drastically expanded
the nation's size, but also kindled conflict, as Southerners established slavery in these territories.
The Compromise of 1850 was a severe fugitive slave law that increased tensions between the
North and the South - even those Northerners who supported the law to preserve the Union
despised being forced into the role of slave catchers. In the 1857 Dred Scott case, the Supreme
Court held that all bans on slavery in the territories were unconstitutional; yet Northern whites,
free blacks, and escaped slaves fiercely resisted the 1850 fugitive slave law. The divide was so
bitter that members of Congress carried weapons, and one representative, Preston Brooks
notoriously brutalized Senator Charles Sumner with a cane, almost killing him. This is the
extreme climate that once polarized America; political leadership failed on a spectacular level,
but was failure the only option? Individual essays include "Politics, Patronage, and Public Policy:
The Compromise of 1850", "Dred, Panic, War: How a Slave Case Triggered Financial Crisis and
Civil Disunion", "'Hit Him Again': The Caning of Charles Sumner", and much more. Congress
and the Crisis of the 1850s is an excellent and highly recommended addition to public and
college library American History collections.
Up the Winds and Over the Tetons
Marlene Deahl Merrill and Daniel D. Merrill
University of New Mexico Press
1312 Basehart Road SE
Albuquerque NM 87106-4363
9780826350978 $34.95 www.unmpress.com
Up the Winds and Over the Tetons: Journal Entries and Images from the 1860 Raynolds
Expedition is a primary source of the last sizeable government-sponsored survey of the American
West before the Civil War that was the Raynolds Expedition, beginning in 1859. In addition to
the previously unpublished daily journal that Captain William F. Raynolds kept of the trip from
their winter lodgings near (present-day) Glenrock, Wyoming to the Three Forks of the Missouri
in southwestern Montana, Up the Winds and Over the Tetons also includes an epilogue, and
appendices offering Raynolds' published report of his activities on May 31, 1860, and a
preliminary report of Raynolds and his Topographical Engineers on the Yellow Stone Expedition
as of October 5, 1860. A handful of vintage black-and-white drawings (including reproductions
of works by expedition artists Anton Schonborn and James Hutton) and photographs enhance
Raynolds' up-close and hands-on testimony of struggling against a harsh potentially deadly
snowy climate, struggling to get horses and supplies across the fierce Snake River, and even
intra-party conflict. Up the Winds and Over the Tetons is an excellent addition to public and
college library American History collections.
The Faiths of the Postwar Presidents
David L. Holmes
University of Georgia Press
330 Research Drive
Athens, GA, 30602-4901
9780820338620, $29.95, www.ugapress.org
Faith remains an important topic in a president, even as the world grows more secular. "The
Faiths of the Postwar Presidents" chronicles the past sixty years of the presidency, from Harry S.
Truman to Barack Obama. The issues surrounding the faith of the President has been a point of
pride for some, but often a cause of scandal such as son of Jehovah's Witnesses Dwight
Eisenhower, the acceptance of a Catholic president, even more modern issues such as Jeremiah
Wright and Obama. "The Faiths of the Postwar Presidents" is a must for history and politics
collections.
The World History Shelf
Familia and Household in the Medieval Atlantic World
Benjamin T. Hudson
ACMRS
Arizona State University
PO Box 874402,Tempe, AZ 85287-4402
9780866984409, $55.00, www.amazon.com
The newest addition to the Penn State Medieval Studies series, and compiled by academician and
historian Benjamin T. Hudson (Professor of History and Medieval Studies, Pennsylvania State
University), "Familia and Household in the Medieval Atlantic Province" is a 214-page
compendium of nine erudite essays by nine academic contributors addressing the theme of family
studies within the context of medieval Atlantic studies. Thematically relevant subjects include
the use and importance of genealogy, the artificial family, literary images of kinship, the political
ramifications of family ties, the domestic family organization and structure in medieval European
culture. A model of meticulous scholarship throughout, "Familia and Household in the Medieval
Atlantic Province" is enhanced with the inclusion of a selected bibliography. Informed and
informative, "Familia and Household in the Medieval Atlantic Province" is a seminal body of
work and a strongly recommended addition to academic library Medieval Studies reference
collections and supplemental reading lists.
A European Memory?
Matgorzata Pakier & Bo Strath, editors
Berghahn Books
150 Broadway, Suite 812, NY, NY 10038
www.berghahnbooks.com
9780857454300, $37.95, www.berghahnbooks.com
Despite the successful example of the United States of America, all attempts at creating a 'United
States of Europe', complete with a common foreign policy and economic policy, has been
decisively defeated by populace of the individual European countries. Why? That is the focus and
purpose of "A European Memory?: Contested Histories and Politics of Remembrance", a
372-page descriptive and analytical history of Europe's complex and divisive past. Co-edited by
academicians Matgorzata Pakier (Assistant Professor, Institute of Sociology, Warsaw School of
Social Sciences and Humanities) and Bo Strath (Academy of Finland Distinguished Professor of
Nordic, European and World History, Helsinki University), the "A European Memory?" deftly
organizes articles by twenty-one learned contributors and ranges from Jan-Werner Muller's 'On
European Memory: Some Conceptual and Normative Remarks'; to Stefan Berger's 'Remembering
the Second World War in Western Europe'; to Arfon Rees' 'Managing the History of the Past in
the Former Communist States'; to Konrad H. Jarausch's 'Nightmares or Daydreams?: A Postscript
on the Europeanization of Memories'. An anthology of impressive and seminal scholarly
research, "A European Memory?" is a welcome addition to the Berghahn Books' outstanding
'Studies in Contemporary European History' series and highly recommended for academic library
European History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.
Africa: The Lost Decades
Samuel Decalo
Florida Academic Press
PO Box 357425, Gainesville, FL 32635
9781890357320, $24.95, www.floridaacademicpress.com
Africa is a vast continent, but is all too often shuffled under one banner by the uneducated.
"Africa: The Lost Decades" is cultural guide to the many nations of Africa and their recent
history over the past few decades. Noted scholar Samuel Decalo provides an insightful
breakdown of the nations among the civil unrest that has unfortunately defined the continent in
recent times. "Africa: The Lost Decades" is a good reference for those intrigued by the modern
state of the continent, very much recommended.
Iraq in Turmoil
Cdr. Youssef H. Aboul-Enein
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road
Annapolis, MD 21402
9781612510774, $26.95, www.navalinstitute.org
In the cradle of civilization, people have never known peace for long. "Iraq in Turmoil: Historical
Perspectives of Dr. Ali Al-Wardi, From the Ottoman Empire to King Feisal" is a historical
exploration of Iraq faced with constant change at the turn of the twentieth century. Navy man
Youssef H. Abul-Enein focuses on the work of Dr. Ali Wardi about the period and the influence
that the British had on the region in the aftermath of World War I. "Iraq in Turmoil" is a strong
addition to world history collections, very much recommended.
Animals as Domesticates
Juliet Clutton-Brock
Michigan State University Press
1405 South Harrison Road, Suite 25
East Lansing, MI 48823-5245
9781611860283, $44.95, www.msupress.msu.edu
Man was wise enough to embrace the power of its fellow creature in shaping his own world.
"Animals as Domesticates: A World View Through History" is a far reaching historical look at
the impact of domesticated animal has had on both human and animal history. Taking studies
from many fields such as archeology and anthropology as well as molecular biology and
archaezoology, Juliet Clutton-Brock presents an insightful delve into history, providing a
fascinating study of the relationship between man and animal. With black and white photography
all through out, "Animals as Domesticates" is a strong pick for history and animal studies
collections.
Setting the Truth Free
Julieann Campbell
Liberties Press
c/o DuFour Editions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9781907593376, $24.95, www.libertiespress.com
People should not let their governments commit sin against them freely. "Setting the Truth Free:
The Inside Story of the Bloody Sunday Justice Campaign" discusses the pursuits for answers
concerning the 1972 killings of citizens by the British Army. Julieann Campbell seeks to explore
the search for truth, and how the memory still remains strong forty years after the events take
place. A driven story of people facing off against the establishment, "Setting the Truth Free" is a
strong pick for history and social issues collections, highly recommended.
Reclaiming Basque
Jacqueline Urla
University of Nevada Press
Mail Stop 0166
Reno, NV, 89557-0166
978874178753, $45.00, www.unpress.nevada.edu
Although usually stuffed into a catch all banner of Spain, Basque is its own culture and language,
with roots older than its neighbors. "Reclaiming Basque: Language, Nation, and Cultural
Activism" discusses the revival of Basque activism and how they the people of the culture are
contributing in their own way for autonomy and to be recognized as their own. "Reclaiming
Basque" is an excellent study of a culture that seeks its own voice, free from the banners of
France and Spain.
The Biography Shelf
Martyr To Freedom, second edition
Zachary J. Martin
Hamilton Books
c/o Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200
Lanham, MD 20706
www.rlpgbooks.com
9780761854227, $21.99, www.amazon.com
A 19th century Atlantic coastal trader and abolitionist, Captain Daniel Drayton attempted to
transport seventy-seven fugitive slaves to freedom in the North aboard his ship the Pearl.
Arriving in New Bedford, Massachusetts in the summer of 1857, Captain Drayton committed
suicide. Now in an updated second edition, "Martyr to Freedom: The Life and Death of Captain
Daniel Drayton" by Zachary J. Martin (Adjunct Professor of History, Roger Williams University,
Salem State University, and Bristol Community College), seeks to reconstruct the life and the
reasons for his death of this obscure but remarkable man. A work of seminal and meticulous
scholarship, "Martyr To Freedom" is informed, informative, and a highly recommended
contribution to academic library 19th Century American History and American Biography
collections.
Thea's Song
Charlene Smith & John Feister
Orbis Books
PO Box 308
Maryknoll, NY 10545-0308
9781570759628, $18.00, www.orbisbooks.com
The battle for equality is fought on many fronts. "Thea's Song: The Life of Thea Bowman" tells
the story of the civil rights era through faithful Thea Bowman, who joined an all white convent as
a black woman and sought to bring about equality and fight prejudice in the process, before
facing an early death due to cancer's power. "Thea's Song" is a strong pick for biography
collections focusing on the Civil Rights era and those who tried to make a difference.
William D. Pawley
Anthony R. Carrozza
Potomac Books, Inc.
22841 Quicksilver Drive
Dulles, VA 20166-2012
9781597977142, $34.95, www.potomacbooksinc.com
Some men don't accept excellence in merely a single field. "William D. Pawley: The
Extraordinary Life of the Adventurer, Entrepreneur, and Diplomat Who Cofounded the Flying
Tigers" is a biography of William Pawley, who through his own fortune made himself a
millionaire and from that wealth brought many changes in the world. Bringing fighter pilots to
China through a volunteer program, he also served a diplomat to South America, and participated
in the Cold War in many unique ways. "William D. Pawley" is a fascinating life story of a unique
individual that has earned his own little bit in history, very much recommended reading.
The Theatre/Cinema Shelf
Dark Directions
Kendall R. Phillips
Southern Illinois University Press
1915 University Press Drive
SIUC Mail Code 6806
Carbondale, IL 62901
www.siupress.com
9780809330959, $29.95, www.amazon.com
Benefiting from the advances in computer generated imagery, special effects, and gifted
storytelling, the modern horror film continues to have a significant impact upon popular culture
under the administrations of gifted directors. In "Dark Directions: Romero, Craven, Carpenter,
and the Modern Horror Film", academician and author Kendall R. Phillips (Associate Dean for
Research and Graduate Studies, College of Visual and Performing Arts, Syracuse University)
provides an analytical survey of the work of three of the American film industries most
influential directors in horror films today: John Carpenter; Wes Craven; and George Romero.
Enhanced with the inclusion of a filmography, extensive footnotes, selected bibliography, and a
comprehensive index, "Dark Directions: Romero, Craven, Carpenter, and the Modern Horror
Film" is an informative, seminal study and a welcome addition to academic library Cinematic
History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.
Stolen Images
Raoul Peck
Seven Stories Press
140 Watts Street
New York, NY 10013
9781609803933, $24.95, www.sevenstories.com
The voice of much of the southern hemisphere of the world is not heard too often. "Stolen
Images" is four screenplays from Raoul Peck, a man who has studied in his native Haiti, focusing
on the issues of his home country but the issues of the African continent as well. Four of his
films, Lumumba, Haitian Corner, Lumumba: Death of a Prophet, and the Man by the Shore are
presented in complete screenplay here, offering easy access to the words and message within the
films. "Stolen Images" is a fine addition to any international film studies collection, highly
recommended.
The Pets/Wildlife Shelf
The Birdkeepers' Guides: Parrotlets
Nikki Moustaki
T.F.H. Publications
1 TFH Plaza, Third & Union Avenue
Neptune City, NJ 07753
9780793814817 $12.95 www.tfh.com
Beautifully illustrated with full-color photography on almost every page, The Birdkeepers'
Guides: Parrotlets lives up to its title with no-nonsense, user-friendly instructions. Parrotlets
(a.k.a. "pocket parrots") are small, gregarious bird species that have a great deal in common with
parrots but tend to be roughly the size of a budgie. Since they are social birds, they can be quite
affectionate to their human owners, but also require a sizeable amount of attention and
maintenance. "If you can't pay much attention to your parrotlet, consider getting him or her a
birdy companion - only another parrotlet - do not try to mix this bird with any non-parrotlet
species or you may come home to find that one of your birds has flown to heaven, to put it
nicely." Chapters cover proper feeding and grooming of parrotlets, keeping them healthy, and
even training them! The Birdkeepers' Guides: Parrotlets is an absolute must-have for anyone
considering owning this tiny, colorful birds as pets; even bird lovers who are not looking for a
new pet will find its gorgeous photography a joy to page through. Highly recommended.
The Rabbit Book
Samantha Johnson
Voyageur Press
c/o Quayside Publishing Group
400 First Avenue North, Suite 300
Minneapolis, MN 55401
9780760339473, $17.99, www.voyageurpress.com
Cute, fuzzy, and occasionally tasty. "The Rabbit Book: A Guide to Raising and Showing
Rabbits" is a guide for those who want to know everything they need to know about keeping and
raising rabbits, whether they be for pets, show animals, or meat. From keeping a good
environment for the creature, health concerns, and much more, "The Rabbit Book" is an excellent
resource that shouldn't be overlooked, highly recommended.
The Computer Shelf
The Universal Computer
Martin Davis
CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300
Boca Raton, FL 33487
www.crcpress.com
9781466505193, $29.95, www.amazon.com
There is an entire generation that has grown up with the personal computer. The continuous rapid
advancements in technology mean the obsolescence of computers roughly every 4 to 5 years.
"The Universal Computer: The Road from Leibniz to Turing" by Martin Davis is a 240-page
history of the computer beginning with the mathematics of Leibniz in the 17th century and
continues through the pioneer work of successive mathematicians Boole, Frege, Cantor, Hilbert,
Godel, and finally Turing's analysis of algorithmic processes laying the foundation for a machine
that could be programmed to carry out mathematical processes. "The Universal Computer" is the
story of failures as well as successes along the road to achieving modern computers which would
forever change the world as they knew it. Of special note is Professors discussion on the
achievement of the IBM Watson on Jeopardy and its impact upon the public. Deftly written,
informed and informative work of impressive scholarship, "The Universal Computer" is a superb
history and a welcome addition to personal, community, and academic library collections.
Computer Graphics, Theory and Practice
Jonas Gomes, Luiz Velho, Mario Costa Sousa
CRC Press
c/o Taylor & Francis Group
270 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
9781568815800, $89.95, www.garlandscience.com
Getting graphics out of modern technology has quickly evolved into an artistry all its own.
"Computer Graphics: Theory and Practice" is a scholarly guide to the modern science of
computer graphics. Jonas Gomes, Luiz Velho, and Mario Costa Sousa combine their expertise in
demonstrating the knowledge needed to excel at computer graphics, including the fundamentals
of calculus and limited algebra. Teaching the ideals needed to apply mathematics to the field of
computer graphics, the technology needed, as well as chapters dealing with colors, lighting,
modeling, and much more, the trio also provide many exercises to practice the lessons learned
within the book and grant access to additional resources for readers to learn further in excelling
at computer graphics. "Computer Graphics: Theory and Practice" is a strong pick for community
and college library technology collections, highly recommended.
The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf
Zombie Parents
Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman
Andrews & McMeel
1130 Walnut Street
Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
9781449409739 $12.99 www.andrewsmcmeel.com
Zombie Parents and Other Hopes For a More Perfect World is the latest anthology of "Zits"
newspaper cartoons (and the fifteenth "Zits Sketchbook" collection featuring a handful of rough
sketch originals of certain comics interspersed with the funnies). "Zits" chronicles the proud(?)
parents of teenager Jeremy, as well as his friends and his girlfriend, and gets its zeitgeist from
humor that reflects the times - from Jeremy's cell phone text obsessions to the fallout when his
parents stumble across the "full access" version of Jeremy's Facebook page on his unattended
laptop. "'Jeremy got a traffic ticket?? I didn't know he liked jazz! Who is that girl he's kissing?
We didn't know any of this!' 'Reading your kid's facebook page is like meeting him for the first
time all over again.' 'Who gave him permission to have a life?'" The titular Zombie Parents strips
are especially hilarious, showing Jeremy's imaginative speculations of how his life might be
better if his parents were flesh-eating undead monstrosities - at least there would be no pressure
to be home at mealtime! Zombie Parents is in black-and-white with color Sunday strips, and its
off-the-wall art style hits just the right blend between caricature and pure fancy. Best of all,
Zombie Parents is just plain funny from cover to cover, and highly recommended.
Atomic Comics
Ferenc Morton Szasz
University of Nevada Press
Mail Stop 0166
Reno, NV, 89557-0166
www.unpress.nevada.edu
9780874178746, $34.95, www.amazon.com
"Atomic Comics: Cartoonists Confront the Nuclear World" by Ferenc Morton Szasz (Regents
Professor of History, University of New Mexico), is an descriptive analysis and history of the
impact the 'atomic age' has had upon popular culture in terms of comic books, newspaper comic
strips, and cartoons. One of the benefits of this popularizing media was to inform the general
public of many of the political, economic, scientific, and potential hazards issues arising from
advances in nuclear technologies. The use of the 'superhero' and science fiction characters
beginning with Buck Rogers and Flash Gorden, aided in the development of a nuclear age
vocabulary and the popularizing of the positive potential of nuclear energy. A highly
recommended addition to personal reading lists, as well as community and academic library 20th
Century American History collections "Atomic Comics: Cartoonists Confront the Nuclear
World" is a seminal work identifying the perspective that cartoonists brought to nuclear issues
that was to prove enduringly influential upon public opinion -- an influence that continues be felt
to this very day.
The Mighty Alice
Richard Thompson
Andrews & McMeel
1130 Walnut Street
Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
9781449410223, $12.99, www.andrewsmcmeel.com
Bringing back charm and mischievousness to the funny pages, "The Mighty Alice" is a
compilation from Richard Thompson, multi-award winning cartoonist. His work Cul De Sac,
following the titular Alice and her family as they the challenges of everyday life and the curious
ideals of young Alice. "The Mighty Alice" is presented in full color, and a treat for those looking
for a new cartoon strip that evokes the memories of Calvin and Hobbes.
The Sports Shelf
Complete Triathlon Guide
Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc.
PO Box 5076
Champaign, IL 61820-5076
9781450412605, $21.95, www.HumanKinetics.com
A triathlon is a major test of endurance, and just completing it can be quite difficult. "Complete
Triathlon Guide" is a guide for those who want to train for this test of fitness that combines the
endurance tests of swimming, biking, and running to get better times and complete the event
more successfully. With advice from those who have made their name with triathlon success,
"Complete Triathlon Guide" is a strong pick for fitness and sports collection, a must have for
those thinking of delving into this ultimate test of endurance.
The Parenting Shelf
365 Things Every New Mom Should Know
Linda Danis
Harvest House Publishers
990 Owen Loop North
Eugene, Oregon 97402-9173
9780736923828, $12.99, www.harvesthousepublishers.com
Motherhood is a load of new responsibility, and can prove quite overwhelming. "365 Things
Every New Mom Should Know: A Daily Guide to Loving and Nurturing Your Child" is an
advisory for new mothers as Linda Danis advises with faith for mothers who can be
overwhelmed being responsible for another life. For keeping the slef and the baby healthy and
keeping one's life together, dealing with siblings, and much more, "365 Things Every New Mom
Should Know" is well worth considering for Christian mothers who can often have no clue where
to even start.
Transforming Behavior
Mary N. Cook
Paul H. Brookes Publishing Company
PO Box 10624
Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
9781598572162, $69.95, www.brookespublishing.com
Some behavior isn't appropriate, and dissuading it early is key to success. "Transforming
Behavior: Training Parents & Kids Together" is a guide to behavioral issues as they apply to
young students of the 8-12 range, and what parents and teachers can do. Issues surround
empathy, communication, assertive nature, and other problems that often young people face,
"Transforming Behavior" is a strong pick for educational and school age psychological
collections.
The Education Shelf
Welcome to Storytime!
Rob Reid
Upstart Books
c/o Highsmith Press
PO Box 5210
Janesville, WI 53547-5210
9781602130593 $15.95 www.highsmith.com
Children's literature instructor Rob Reid presents Welcome to Storytime! The Art of Story
Program Planning, a flat-spined guide to hosting story program written especially to aid teachers
and librarians in sharing their love of books with children in grades PK-1. Welcome to
Storytime! includes recommendations for selecting the best picturebooks; creating fingerplays
and song lyrics; tips, tricks, and techniques for a successful program (from discipline suggestions
to aways to avoid burnout and recommendations for the program area), and a host of sample
programs and lesson plans. "For the occasional child who is very disruptive, you need to discuss
the problem with the parent or childcare provider after the program... The parents may have to sit
in during the program with the child on their laps, or even keep the child from attending the
program for a few months until the child has matured a bit and is ready to behave." Welcome to
Storytime" is an excellent, hands-on, user-friendly resource, and highly recommended to
education and childcare professionals alike.
Empowering Teen Peers to Prevent Bullying
Arthur M. Horne & Collaborators
Research Press
PO Box 9177
Champaign, IL 61826
9780878226641, $39.95, www.researchpress.com
Bullying's effects seem to be more grim than ever. "Empowering Teen Peers to Prevent Bullying:
The Bully Busters Program for High School" is a guide to encouraging teens against and to
prevent bullying, in today's era where cruelty often extends to off school grounds dealing with
cyber-bullying and the tragic effects bullying sometimes has. "Empowering Teen Peers to
Prevent Bullying" is a strong pick for educational and social issues collections.
Critical Perspectives In Canadian Music Education
Carol A. Beynon & Karl K. Veblen, editors
Wilfrid Laurier University Press
Wilfrid Laurier University
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2L 3C5
www.wlupress.wlu.ca
9781554583669, $39.95, www.amazon.com
The teaching of music in Canadian schools is an important part of curriculums in grade schools,
high schools, colleges, universities, and community cultural groups. The collaborative editorial
selections of music education advocate Carol A. Beynon and academician Karl K. Veblen,
"Critical Perspectives In Canadian Music Education" is a 230-page compendium comprised of
thirteen informed, informative, expert contributions that range from Betty Hanley's 'The Roots of
Canadian Music Education'; to Carol Beynon's 'Looking Back at Choral Music Education in
Canada'; to Kari Veblen's 'Community Music Making'; to Betty Ann Younker's 'Focusing on
Critical Practice and Insights in the Music Teacher Education Curriculum'. Of special note are
the insights into the distinctly Canadian cultural and historical factors that have shaped and
influenced music education. A collective work of impressive seminal scholarship, "Critical
Perspectives In Canadian Music Education" is a unique and strongly recommended addition to
academic library World Music History collections in general, and Canadian Music History
collections in particular.
The Art Shelf
Sculpting The Earth
Strijdom van der Merwe
Protea
c/o International Publishers Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
www.internationalpubmarket.com
9781869194857, $41.95, www.amazon.com
One of the newest evolutions of human creativity is the deliberate sculpting of land, utilizing
natural elements of earth, stone, and flora, to create works of art that can be as enduring or
ephemeral as the elements that comprise them. Foremost among the new generation of land
artists is Strijdom van der Merwe. "Sculpting the Earth: Artistic Interventions with the
Landscape" is a beautifully illustrated, 200-page compendium of full color photography
showcasing his creations drawn from the last fifteen years of his work. Each photograph is
accompanied by a succinct commentary and the year in which the art was done, making
"Sculpting the Earth" a unique and highly prized addition to personal, professional, academic,
and community library 20th Contemporary Art collections.
Elevating Western American Art
Thomas Brent Smith, editor
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive
Norman, OK 73069
97809147387, $24.95, www.oupress.com
With the vast plains ahead of them, artists took it to heart and created a style all their own.
"Elevating Western American Art: Developing an Institute in the Cultural Capital of the
Rockies" analyzes the large range of art held in Denver's Art Museum providing a comprehensive
study of the art styles that have defined the American west. Presented in full color, it presents a
wide range of works in many styles from paintings to weaving to woodcuts, from the westward
expansion to today. "Elevating Western American Art" is a strong addition to art collections,
highly recommended.
The Economic Studies Shelf
A Short History Of Ethics And Economics: The Greeks
James E. Alvey
Edward Elgar Publishing
9 Dewey Court
Northampton, MA 01060-3815
www.e-elgar.com
9781847202017, $99.95, www.amazon.com
Economic activities without an ethical framework lead to such fiscal disasters as almost brought
down the world's economy in 2008 -- and continue to threaten the financial stability of America
and of the European Union. That's why "A Short History Of Ethics And Economics: The Greeks"
by James E. Alvey (Senior Lecturer, Massey University, New Zealand, and Research Fellow,
International Christian university, Japan) is so timely and so timeless. A 200-page compendium
of meticulous scholarship which lays out the emergence and decline of the ethical tradition of
economics and framing the crisis of modern economics, Professor Alvey showcases the thought
and teaching of four Greek philosophers of antiquity: Socrates, Xenophon, Plato, and Aristotle.
Of special note is the opening chapters providing a thoughtful introduction to the political
economy of Ancient Greece and the concluding chapter featuring Professor Alvey's insightful
conclusions. Enhanced with extensive references and a comprehensive index, "A Short History
Of Ethics And Economics: The Greeks" is informed, informative, and highly recommended for
professional and academic library Ethical Studies and History of Economics reference collections
and supplemental reading lists.
99 to 1
Chuck Collins
Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc.
235 Montgomery Street, Suite 650
San Francisco, CA 94104-2916
9781609945923, $14.95, www.bkconnection.com
Wealth inequality has far more impact than most know. "99 to 1: How Wealth Inequality is
Wrecking the World and What We Can Do About It" analyzes the wide gap in wealth in the
world and the damage it is causing to society. Advising on what can be done to create a more
balanced economic system that offers something for everyone, "99 to 1" is an intriguing break
down of current economic issues and the solution to them that may be possible to be
reached.
Appalachian Legacy
James P. Ziliak, editor
Brookings Institution Press
1775 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20036-2188
9780815722144, $34.95, www.brookings.edu
The war on poverty is one with mixed results indeed. "Appalachian Legacy: Economic
Opportunity After the War on Poverty" discusses the impact of the declaration of the war on
poverty in 1964 by Lyndon Baines Johnson. Many policies have been passed, and many thinkers
come together under editor James P. Ziliak discussing the progress that resides there and the
problems that remain there in the future. Discussing why Appalachia remains a strong focus of
study for the region, "Appalachian Legacy" is a scholarly discussion of these vital issues and their
impact on the future of the region as well as America as a whole.
The Religion/Spirituality Shelf
Understanding Each Other After 9-11
Kirk Heriot
Lost Coast Press
155 Cypress St., Fort Bragg, CA 95437
9781882897988, $29.95, www.cypresshouse.com
With a lack of understanding comes fear. "Understanding Each Other After 9-11: What Everyone
Should Know About the Religions of the World" discusses the wide array of faiths that make up
the world and how the lack of understanding on the world stage is leading to problems in the
modern dialogue between peoples and nations. Discussing the major faiths of the world in great
detail, Dr. Kirk Heriot hopes to dispel the otherness that so often is fallen back upon in our
world. "Understanding Each Other After 9-11" is a strong pick for world culture collections and
international issues collections.
The Interfaith Alternative
Steven Greenbaum
New Society Publishers
PO Box 189
Gabriola Island, BC, Canada, V0R 1X0
9780865717053, $14.95, www.newsociety.com
Every faith has something to add to the bigger picture of spirituality in our lives. "The Interfaith
Alternative: Embracing Spiritual Diversity" discusses the unifying tents of faith, and how to
embrace all faiths and try to mend the bridges that the many faiths have with one another, all over
the world. Discussing unity and encouraging how better bonds can be formed, "The Interfaith
Alternative" is a must for those who want to mend the wounds of faith and encourage greater
community between all of mankind.
The Library Science Shelf
The Librarian's Guide to Negotiation
Beth Ashmore, Jill E. Grogg, and Jeff Weddle
Information Today, Inc.
143 Old Marlton Pike
Medford, NJ 08055-8750
9781573874281, $49.50, www.infotoday.com
The advancement of technology has vastly changed the role of the librarian. "The Librarian's
Guide to Negotiation: Winning Strategies for the Digital Age" discusses the librarian as
negotiator, facing adversaries in vendors, for funding, patrons, and even among their own staff. A
librarian that knows how to get their library's needs addressed is one that is off to having a
successful library. For those librarians who want to best deal with problems and conflicts
comprehensively and effectively in the digital age, "The Librarian's Guide to Negotiation" is a
sage and much recommended pick for library science reference collections.
Picture Books for Children
Mary Northrup
ALA Editions
50 East Huron St.
Chicago, IL 60611
9780838911440, $50.00, www.alastore.ala.org
Picturebooks are the first step to inspiring a love of reading in children. "Picture books for
Children: Fiction, Folktales, and Poetry" is a guide for librarians who want to better increase their
repertoire of children's books in their library as Mary Northrup outlines the best children's
picturebooks in their many sub-genres. From storybooks for children, books meant for
read-along, books for families, and many others, This illustrated guide gives librarians a list of
books by genre, with authors, age ranges, ISBNs, and much more. "Picture Books for Children"
is a must for library science reference collections.
The Large Print Shelf
Guns of Justice
Hal Johns
Dales
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230
West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
9781842628881, $23.99, www.ulverscroftusa.com
Running is only a temporary solution, but it takes quite the determination to stand against
falsehood. "Guns of Justice" is a large print Western from Hal Johns, following the tale of Des
Willard, a man wrongfully accused of a murder of a Sheriff. Facing him is overwhelming eye
witness testimony. With few allies willing to associate with a believed murderer, clearing his
name won't be easy, but he's up to the task. "Guns of Justice" is a top pick for those with a love
for westerns, very much recommended.
The Photography Shelf
Picturing Algeria
Pierre Bourdieu
Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd Street, NY, NY 10023-7015
http://cup.columbia.edu
9780231148429, $27.50, www.amazon.com
From 1954 to 1962, Algeria was racked with a war of nationalism as it sought to break free of
French rule. Stationed in Algeria, Pierre Bourdieu was a soldier in the French army. During his
service he took thousands of photographs documenting the people and war-time conditions. In
doing so, Bourdieu became sympathetic to the Algerians and their cause. It was also the genesis
for his creating a new ethnographic/sociological approach to explaining French colonial
aggression and the ability of a poverty-stricken popular to oppose it. "Picturing Algeria" is a
248-page compendium that showcases 130 of Bourdieu's photographs along with key excerpts
from his writings. Enhanced with a 2001 interview with Bourdieu in which he talks directly
about his experiences, as well as his unique role in developing photography as a tool for social
inquiry, and the necessity to become involved in a troubled world, "Picturing Algeria" is a
seminal work that is strongly recommended reading and an invaluable addition to academic
library collections.
The River Shannon
Aiveen Cooper
The Collins Press
c/o DuFour Press
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9781848891074, $44.95, www.collinspress.ie
Civilization grows around rivers. "The River Shannon: A Journey Down Ireland's Longest River"
discusses the River Shannon, which runs throughout the country, as Aiveen Cooper travels its
lengths and collects the stories of the river, of its history of great mythology and Vikings to its
modern culture and people who have called it home for centuries. Covered cover to cover in full
color photographs, "The River Shannon" is a must for any world culture and photography
collections, highly recommended.
Blue Highways Revisited
Edgar I. Ailor III
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Boulevard
Columbia, MO 65201
9780826219695, $34.95, www.umsystem.edu/upress
The roads that crisscross America, far from the cities, are a stoic memory of the past. "Blue
Highways Revisited" is a collection of follow-up photography from Edgar I. Ailor III, who takes
the influences of the original collection of photographs capturing the serenity and unique nature
of the backroads all throughout America by William Least Heat-Moon in 1978, and presents a
modern take on the route. In thirty five years, much has changed and much has not. Presented in
full color, "Blue Highways Revisited" is an excellent analysis of backroads culture and America
in general, making an excellent pick for American history and coffee table photography book
collections.
The Science Shelf
Evolution in a Toxic World
Emily Monosson
Island Press
1718 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 300
Washington, DC 20009-1148
9781597269766, $35.00, www.islandpress.org
Biology is literally the study of life - but part of the study of life is how it dies. "Evolution in a
Toxic World: How Life Responds to Chemical Threats" discusses the toxicity that occurs in
everyday life and how biology has formed an arms race of its own, as environmental toxicologist
Emily Monosson presents a long biological history of life's responses to threats that sought to end
it. An intriguing look into the captivating and fascinating history of life and its drive to live,
"Evolution in a Toxic World" is a grade-A addition to science and biology community and
college library collections.
Planet Rock Doc
Elsa Kirsten Peters
Washington State University Press
PO Box 645910
Pullman, WA 99165-5910
9780874223101, $22.95, www.wsupress.wsu.edu
What's beneath us is millions of years of history. "Planet Rock Doc: Nuggets from Explorations
of the Natural World" is a collection of essays written by Dr. Elsa Kirsten Peters, a lifelong lover
of science who shares her love of science with her reader as she shares columns discussing many
topics within science and alongside scientific thought. "Planet Rock Doc" is a strong read for
anyone who wants a dose of scientific thought and theory to really make them think critically
about the world around us, highly recommended.
The Literary Studies Shelf
Why Do We All Love Dr. Seuss?
Lois Einhorn
Robert D. Reed Publishers
PO Box 1992
1380 Face Rock Drive
Bandon, OR 97411
9781934759585, $11.95, www.rdrpublishers.com
What makes a children's author legendary? "Why Do We All Love Dr. Seuss?: Discovering the
Mystery and Magic of an Icon" discusses the methods of the beloved Doctor and how the writer
and artist with a skill at rhyming gained a permanent place in popular culture surrounding his
children's books that many grew up on, and are now sharing with their own children. "Why Do
We All Love Dr. Seuss?" is a fine discussion of the author and his lasting work, very much
recommended.
Orpheus
Ann Wroe
The Overlook Press
141 Wooster Street
New York, NY 10012
9781590207789, $26.95, www.overlookpress.com
The legend of Orpheus captivates many who study classical history. "Orpheus: The Song of Life"
is literary historian Ann Wroe's own study of the man and the myth he has birthed over thousands
of years, influencing even modern writers, proving to many to be a long standing creative force,
with connections to many other ancient works. "Orpheus" is a choice addition to any literary
studies or world history collections, highly recommended.
The Poetry Shelf
Collected Poems of Lenore Kandel
Lenore Kandel
North Atlantic Books
2526 Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Berkeley, CA 94704-2607
9781583943724, $35.00, www.northatlanticbooks.com
Daring to break cultural norms with her work, Lenore Kandel has become quite the legend in the
poetry world. "Collected Poems of Lenore Kandel" is a poetry collection compiling the best of
the late poet's work as she attacked the ideals of her era and continued pushing her original style
all throughout her life. "Collected Poems of Lenore Kandel" is an ideal addition to any literary
poetry collection, highly recommended. "Angel": the eye sees what the mind expects/when the
mind releases expectation/vision perceives/perception varies as the eye varies/as the mind
varies/moving through Moebius infinity/until recognitions collide.
We Lit the Lamps Ourselves
Andrea Potos
Salmon Poetry
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7
Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
9781907056925, $21.95, www.dufoureditions.com
Light is needed to function in the world, but who brings the light. "We Lit the Lamps Ourselves"
is an anthology of poetry from Andrea Potos, who channels the works of past women writers,
taking the path they lit and continuing it onwards herself. With a strong sense of spirit, "We Lit
the Lamp Ourselves" is a solid anthology for poetry fans, not to be overlooked. "Two Emilys":
Who can say what happens to a woman alone in her room,/with sheer white drapes trembling in
air/rushing invisibly over her letters to the world,//or, when she leaves the walls behind her,
deskbox propped under arm,/mastiff sniffing the ground at her side,/the fierce countenance of the
crags,/the wind's holler making translations in her body.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
Boomercise
David Pargman
Fitness Information Technology
West Virginia University
262 Coliseum, WVU-PE, PO Box 6116
Morgantown, WV 26506-6116
www.fitinfotech.com
9781935412328, $16.95, www.amazon.com
In "Boomercise: Exercising as You Age", David Parman draws upon his personal experience and
professional acumen to write a 260-page instruction manual on safe and effective physical
exercises for the once 'baby boomers' who are now become senior citizens. Beginning with what
exercise is important for aging boomers, Professor Parman goes on to address issues associated
with exercise, wellness, health, and illness; the importance of good nutrition; the psychological
benefits of exercise; avoiding injury while exercising; the value of persistence; as well as
selecting and setting appropriate exercise goals. Enhanced with a glossary, references, and an
index, "Boomercise: Exercising as You Age" is thoroughly 'user friendly', practical, and even
inspiring, making it very highly recommended for personal and community library Health &
Fitness collections.
Reclaiming Your Life After Diagnosis
Kim Thiboldeaux
BenBella Books
10300 N. Central Expressway, STE 400
Dallas, TX 75204
9781936661763, $16.95, www.benbellabooks.com
A cancer diagnosis can all too often seem like a death sentence. "Reclaiming Your Life After
Diagnosis" is an inspirational read for those who have recently received the horrifying diagnosis.
Kim Thiboldeaux discusses how to find one's life once more, how to embrace the cancer support
industry, and how to better meet one's needs in times of turmoil. "Reclaiming Your Life After
Diagnosis" is a must read for those who have recently received the diagnosis or for those who
know of a loved one who has.
The Insider's Guide to Egg Donation
Wendie Wilson-Miller & Erika Napoletano
Demos Medical Publishing
11 West 42nd Street, 15th Floor
New York, NY 10036
9781936303304, $16.95, www.demoshealth.com
The demands for human eggs remain quite high in the modern era. "The Insider's Guide to Egg
Donation: A Compassionate and Comprehensive Guide for All Parents-to-Be" explores the egg
donation process from the egg donors to the women who need the assistance to realize their
dreams of motherhood. From recent developments in the process, fertility treatments, and finding
the right agency, "The Insider's Guide to Egg Donation" is a strong consideration for those who
exploring their options for their family's future.
The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf
Tips, Tools, & Techniques
Georgia Kemp Caraway
University of North Texas Press
PO Box 311336
Denton, TX 76203-1336
9781574414516, $14.95, www.unt.edu/untpress
Heirlooms become heirlooms with their age, and with age, comes a certain fragility. "Tips, Tools,
& Techniques: To Care for Antiques, Collectibles, and Other Treasures" is an advisory guide for
those who are in charge of managing aging heirlooms of their family which may be hundreds of
years old, or possibly older. With care advice as well as collectible and monetary information on
trading collectibles and antiques, "Tips, Tools, & Techniques" is a must for anyone dealing in
older antiques and collectibles who wants tips on doing it more effectively.
The Needlecraft Shelf
Barn Quilts
Suzi Parron
Swallow Press
c/o Ohio University Press
The Ridges, Building 19
Athens, OH 45701
9780804011389, $29.95, www.ohioswallow.com
Quilts have become much more than simple fabrics for much of America. "Barn Quilts: and the
American Quilt Trail Movement" is a cultural analysis of quilting all throughout North America
and the impact of the movement has had since it first got moving back in 2001. With full color
photographs all throughout, "Barn Quilts" is a strong pick for those fascinated by American and
Canadian quilts, looking for inspiration for their own designs and much more, making it a choice
addition to any needlework or hobbyist collection.
The Political Science Shelf
Open Source Intelligence in a Networked World
Anthony Olcott
Continuum International Publishing Group
80 Maiden Lane, Suite 704, NY, NY 10038
www.continuumbooks.com
9781441166081, $29.95, www.amazon.com
Intelligence in the world of governments and corporations means 'information'. The kind of
information that lets you know what your opponents or competitors are up to. There are two
general categories of intelligence: overt or open, and covert or clandestine. In "Open Source
Intelligence in a Networked World" Anthony Olcott draws upon his many years of experience
and expertise as a Senior Fellow at the Center for the Study of Intelligence, as an Officer in
Residence at Georgetown University's Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, as the Director of
National Intelligence's Open Source Center, as Senior Analyst in the Emerging Media Group, and
as an Expert Analyst covering Russia and Central Asia, to provide an instructive study on how
information or intelligence can be gleaned from the profusion of public and often freely available
sources such as magazines, journals, internet web sites and databases, 'think tank' white papers,
and all manner of published books. Enhanced with an extensive bibliography and a
comprehensive index, "Open Source Intelligence in a Networked World" should be considered
mandatory reading for anyone engaged in governmental or corporate intelligence gathering, as
well as non-specialist general readers with an interest in the politics and processes of intelligence
gathering from public sources.
The Autism Shelf
Siblings of Children with Autism
Sandra L. Harris, Ph.D., Beth A. Glasberg, Ph.D.
Woodbine House
6510 Bells Mill Road
Bethesda, MD 20817
9781606130742, $21.95, www.woodbinehouse.com
A sibling can be a powerful and positive force in one's life. "Siblings of Children with Autism: A
Guide for Families" discusses the impacts that a child with autism and their sibling can have on
one another. For parents of such a group, it includes advice for dealing with responsibility,
misunderstandings that may go on between them, and how to better educate children. "Siblings
of Children with Autism" is a strong read for parents, very much recommended reading.
The Language Studies Shelf
Caesar
Hans-Friedrich Mueller
Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers
1570 Baskin Road, Mundelein, IL 60060
www.bolchazy.com
9780865167520, $37.00, www.amazon.com
Written by Hans-Friedrich Mueller and edited by Donald Sprague, "Caesar: Selections from his
Commentarii De Bello Gallico" is a 414-page compendium presenting unadapted Latin passages
from the Commentarii De Bello Gallico: Book 1.1 7; Book 4.24 35 and the first sentence of
Chapter 36; Book 5.24 48; Book 6.13 20 and the English of Books 1, 6, and 7. "Caesar"
Selections from his Commentarii De Bello Gallico" includes all the required English and Latin
selections from Caesar's De Bello Gallico for the 2012-2013 AP* Curriculum. Features:
Introduction includes historical context, an overview of the Roman army, and Caesar as General,
Politician, and Writer Latin text accompanied by same-page notes (grammatical, literary,
historical, contextual) Of special note is the 'same-page' running vocabulary, the 'pull-out'
vocabulary, and the complete Latin-English glossary. Enhanced with the inclusion of an online
grammatical appendix, a select bibliography, eight newly-created maps, 19 black-and-white
illustrations, and an appendix (Figures of Speech), "Caesar Selections from his Commentarii De
Bello Gallico" is an ideal, 'student friendly' text book and curriculum supplement for personal
and academic library Latin Language Studies reference collections and instructional reading
lists.
The Self-Help Shelf
Clutter Busting Your Life
Brooks Palmer
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way
Novato, CA 94949
9781608680795, $14.95, www.newworldlibrary.com
One needs a clear mind to see through to the future they want out of their life. "Clutter Busting
Your Life: Clearing Physical and Emotional Clutter to Reconnect With Yourself and Others" is
an inspirational book from Brooks Palmer as he advises readers on how to clear out the clutter in
one's life, and in more than a physical way, citing lingering attachments to the past that often
hold us back. "Clutter Busting Your Life" is a fine addition to any motivational collection for
those who want to see a clear road to a better future.
The Women's Studies Shelf
Finding A Way To The Heart
Robin Jarvis Brownlie & Valerie J. Korinek
University of Manitoba Press
301 St. John's College
Winnipeg, MB, Canada, R3T 2M5
9780887557324, $31.95, www.uofmpress.ca
Canadian issues of race and gender are the subject of "Finding a Way to the Heart: Feminist
Writings on Aboriginal and Women's History in Canada", a 280-page compendium of erudite
essays by twelve scholar's whose contributions range from Jennifer S.H. Brown's 'All These
Stories About Women: Many Tender Ties and a New Fur Trade History'; to Katrina Srigley's 'I
am a proud Anishinaabekwe: Issues of Identity and Status in Northern Ontario after Bill C-31'.
All of these essays are seminal works that have been deftly edited by the collaborative effort of
academicians Robin Jarvis Brownlie and Valerie J. Korinek. The result is an informed and
informative body of work that is a valued contribution to, and highly recommended for, academic
library Canadian History, Ethnic Studies, and Women's Studies reference collections and
supplemental reading lists.
The Audiobook Shelf
CyberSafety for Families
Paul O'Briant
Discipleship Resources
130 East Washington Street
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
9780881775921 $35.00 www.upperroom.com
Although author Paul O'Briant speaks from a devout Christian perspective, his audiobook
CyberSafety for Families is a practical and invaluable kit that families of all faiths would do well
to study at length. In today's internet-dominated world, it's more important than ever for parents
to educate their children and teens about online safety - from the basics of never giving out
personal information, to realizing that anything on the internet is "written in ink" (anything
uploaded online is capable of turning up in someone's Google search 20 or 50 years later), to
protecting oneself from viruses and scam artists, and much more. Computers, cellphones, video
games, and social networking sites are all covered; CyberSafety for Families also includes
teaching plans, handouts, and a slide presentation to drill its essential safety procedures in
classroom-style lessons. (All print materials are in pdf format and need Adobe Acrobat Reader to
be viewed; however, CyberSafety for Families is compatible with both the Mac and the PC).
CyberSafety for Families is absolutely essential addition to not only every public library every
family household, and an absolutely invaluable resource for teaching one's children important
safety topics that may or may not be fully covered in public school. Highly recommended.
The Pickwick Papers
Charles Dickens, author
David Timson, narrator
Naxos of America, Inc.
1810 Columbia Avenue, Suite 28
Franklin, TN 37064
9781843795551 $137.98 www.naxosaudiobooks.com
Superbly performed by BBC Radio Drama veteran David Timson, The Pickwick Papers is an
unabridged audiobook adaptation of Charles Dickens' debut novel, now justly recognized as a
classic. Set in England shortly before the advent of the railroad, The Pickwick Papers follows the
upper-class Mr. Pickwick and his caustically comedic cockney servant Sam Weller, as they travel
the nation in search of adventure and learning. From comic moments such as the Eatanswill
election and the trial of Mrs. Bardell vs. Pickwick to the stark atrocity that was debtors prison,
The Pickwick Papers is a superb rendition of Dickens' grand and thoroughly engaging adventure.
The Pickwick Papers is worthy of the highest recommendation for public library audiobook
collections, and as a special gift for audiobook lovers who especially enjoy great literary
treasures. 25 CDs, 32 hours 13 min.
Bram Stoker Dracula
Adapted by Charles Morey
L.A. Theatre Works
681 Venice Boulevard
Venice, CA 90291
9781580818322 $25.95 www.latw.org
Performed by a full cast of talented actors, Bram Stoker Dracula is audiobook adaptation of Bram
Stoker's legendary horror novel that solidified the vampire Dracula's immortal role in popular
culture. The monster Dracula has come to Victorian London with a cargo of his native
Transylvanian soil, and preys without remorse upon helpless victims; only one man, Dr. Van
Helsing, is courageous and clever enough to defy Dracula's murderous rampage. Van Helsing's
crusade will ultimately lead him to brave the vampire's lair with one of the only weapons that can
inflict lasting harm - a wooden stake! An extraordinary adaptation worthy of the timeless legend,
Bram Stoker Dracula is an absolute must-have for vampire and horror fans, and the perfect gift
for any reader of vampire fiction who has yet to connect with their favored genre's roots. 2 CDs,
1 hour 48 min.
Wildflower Hill
Kimberley Freeman, author
Caroline Lee, narrator
Bolinda Publishing
186 S Long Swamp Rd
Jackson, ME 04921
9781743108604 $24.99 www.bolinda.com
Wildflower Hill is an unabridged audiobook adaptation of Kimberley Freeman's novel that charts
the parallels in the lives between women in different eras. In 1920s Glasgow, eighteen-year-old
Beattie Blaxland and her married lover Henry incite the ire of their families when Blaxland
becomes pregnant; they venture to Australia in search of a new life, unaware of the hardships that
await. In 2009 London, the ballerina Lydia Blaxland-Hunter is struggling with a rough patch in
her career; when she returns to visit her Australian home, she learns that her beloved and recently
passed-on grandmother Beattie Blaxland has left her Tasmanian property. An unfolding saga of
discovery, awakening, love, seduction, and learning to adapt to the towering challenges of daily
life, Wildflower Hill is a thoughtful and highly recommended audiobook, superbly performed by
award-winning actress Caroline Lee. 13 CDs, 10 hours 35 min.
My Extraordinary Ordinary Life
Sissy Spacek with Maryanne Vollers
Hyperion Books
77 West 66th Street
New York, NY 10023-6298
9781401326241 $39.99 www.hyperionbooks.com
My Extraordinary Ordinary Life is the unabridged audiobook rendition of the memoir of
Academy Award-winning actress Sissy Spacek, read by Spacek herself. From the lessons of her
incredible parents, who taught her to reach for her dreams, to surviving the heartbreak of family
tragedy, and the labor of building her professional career from the ground up in New York. Yet at
the peak of her career, she and her family chose to abandon big-city life and move to a farm in
rural Virginia. My Extraordinary Ordinary Life is a thought-provoking journey, as much about
life's simple pleasures as it is about overcoming challenges, and highly recommended. 9 CDs, 10
hours.
The Real Crash
Peter D. Schiff, author
Oliver Wyman, narrator
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315
New York, NY 10010
9781427226693 $39.99 www.macmillanaudio.com
The unabridged audiobook adaptation of The Real Crash: How to Save Yourself and Your
Country is a stark wake-up call by author, investment broker, financial commentator, recurring
CNBC and Fox News guest Peter D. Schiff (also known as the host of the radio show and
podcast "The Peter Schiff Show"). Schiff warns his fellow Americans that the next bubble
destined to burst and kick off a horrendous market crash will be a government-inflated bubble -
too much government spending and a mountain of amassed debt is fast reaching the breaking
point, with dire economic implications for everyone. The Real Crash examines not only how
America got into this mess, but also proposes a bold plan for getting out of it: Schiff advocates
extreme government cuts including the elimination of entire agencies, an end to expensive
foreign military escapades, the termination of mortgage interest or student loan deductions, and
the abandonment of useless drug wars and moral hazard-inducing bank bailouts. Perhaps most
controversial, Schiff proposes that America should declare bankruptcy, default on its debts, and
rebuild itself from square one! Though the listener might not agree with Schiff's more draconian
proposals, his call to take immediate action against a mounting debt that threatens our children's
future deserves to be heeded, and his recommendations for protecting one's family against the
next bubble-induced recession are quite welcome. Highly recommended. 10 CDs, 13 hours.
The Stonecutter
Camilla Lackberg, author
Steven T. Murray, translator
David Thorn, narrator
Highbridge Audio Books
201 Sixth Street SE, Suite 220
Minneapolis, MN 55414
9781615735501 $39.95 www.highbridgeaudio.com
Adeptly translated into English by Steven T. Murray and smoothly performed by David Thorn,
The Stonecutter is an unabridged audiobook rendition of Swedish author Camilla Lackberg's
suspenseful murder mystery. Set in the remote tourist resort town of Fjallbacka, The Stonecutter
opens with discovery of a murdered little girl, and follows local detective Patrick Hedstrom in his
grim quest for justice. Hedstrom is himself a soon-to-be father, and wrestles with the difficulty of
probing the past of a victim who died far too young, and her grief-stricken family. The darkness
that Hedstrom uncovers may well tarnish Fjallbacka forever - but to allow the perpetrator of the
heinous crime to remain unpunished would surely be even worse! The Stonecutter is a gripping
novel of the dark side of human nature, unforgettable to the very end. 14 CDs, 17 hours.
The Library CD Shelf
Love Travels
Julie Reiber
Privately Published
c/o Dan Fortune (publicity)
$12.99 CD / $9.99 MP3 www.juliereiber.com www.cdbaby.com
Love Travels is the debut solo music CD by singer and actress Julie Reiber, currently playing the
role of Marion in "Priscilla Queen of the Desert" on Broadway. Consisting of a blend of original
songs and beloved musical theater tunes by a variety of composers, Love Travels has the binding
theme of the emotion, beauty, and power of love itself. A glowing, vibrant performance that
soothes the soul and lifts up the spirit, Love Travels is highly recommended. The tracks are "I
Got Love", "Knocks Me Off My Feet", "Little Green", "When You're Around", "Through the
Mountain", "Still Hurting", "Walk On By", "Back To You", "Let Him Fly", "Be My Love",
"Stay", "There's a Way", "Hold Out, Hold Up, Hold On", and "Bonus Track - Defying
Gravity".
To Carmen with Love
Shawnn Monteiro
www.shawnnmonteiro.com
Whaling City Sound
1310 Tucker Road, No. Dartmouth, MA 02747
Mixed Media (publicity)
20 Lockmere Road, Cranston, RI 02910
$15.00 www.mixedmediapromo.com www.whalingcitysound.com
Shawnn Monteiro offers tribute the wonderful and all-too-overlooked jazz singer Carmen McRae
in To Carmen with Love, a soulfully beautiful album. Monteiro sings in the same style as McRae
once did, accompanied by a spare three-piece band; the songs are carefully selected from among
McRae's personal favorites. To Carmen with Love is a joy to experience for fans of jazz, and
highly recommended. The tracks are "Old Devil Moon" (9:46), "Yesterdays" (6:18), "I
Concentrate On You" (5:20), "Old Black Magic" (4:20), "You're Looking At Me" (5:51), "Mean
To Me" (3:50), "Come In From The Rain" (3:38), "Miss Brown (to you)" (3:36), "Speak Low"
(4:37), "Nice Work" (3:40), "I Have The Feeling I've Been Here Before" (6:39), and "Nature
Boy" (6:25).
The Library DVD Shelf
Money & Medicine
a film by Roger Weisberg
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149
Oley, PA 19547
$295.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com
Winner of the Remi Award in the WorldFest at Houston, Money & Medicine is a documentary
that scrutinizes one of the reasons American health care costs are skyrocketing out of control -
overtreatment. The health care field is rife with moral, ethical, and financial dilemmas, that
manifest as radically different rates in which certain expensive treatments (that just might be
unnecessary!) are performed across the country. For example, some states have a much higher
incidence of elective Cesarean Section deliveries than others, even though the procedure is a
major surgery with significant risks. Money & Medicine also examines heartbreaking end-of-life
choices, including the modern tendency to prolong the deaths of people whose severe organ
failure means that it is almost impossible for them to recover. Other controversies arise over
cancer screenings; should women start getting mammograms at age 40 or 50, given that the
procedure has a small amount of risk? How aggressively should men screen for and treat prostate
cancer, especially when surgically removing an anomaly that is statistically likely to be nonfatal
can have lifelong negative side effects such as impotence or incontinence? There is no
one-size-fits-all answer, but as health care costs continue to soar, these crucial questions and
related problems concerning the phenomenon of overtreatment need to be faced head-on. Perhaps
Money & Medicine's most important lesson lies in its emphasis on the importance of peer review
and the group pooling of information among medical professionals; when doctors share what
they know among themselves and collect aggregate data, they are better empowered to help their
patients make difficult, life-changing decisions. Highly recommended. 83 min.
This is Civilization
Matthew Collings, host
Athena
c/o Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
9781598288162 $39.99 www.acornonline.com
A modern update of BBC's notable 1969 series "Civilization", This is Civilization is a four-part
documentary on two DVDs that explores what art has to say about humanity throughout the
centuries. Spotlighting on masterpieces ranging from ancient Greek sculpture and the temples of
Egypt to the geometric patterns of mosques, the fiery art of the French Revolution, pioneers of
modern art such as Picasso and Pollack, and even the stinging indictments of commercialized
pop culture crafted by Chinese artist and photographer Wang Qingsong. A grand showcase of
artistic masterpieces, This is Civilization is the next best thing to attending museums in person,
further enriched by host Matthew Collings extensive commentary on the rich interplay between
art and human culture. Bonus features include a 12-page viewer's guide peppered with articles,
and biographies of profiled artists, This is Civilization is an absolute must-see for art lovers, and
highly recommended for public library DVD collections. 2 DVDs, 192 min., widescreen, SDH
subtitles.
Programmed To Be Fat?
A documentary from Dreamfilm
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149
Oley, PA 19547
1937772160 $250.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com
Licensed for public performance, Programmed To Be Fat? observes that first-world nations with
a modern American lifestyle have populations that are heavier than ever. Is this entirely due to
unhealthy diet and exercise habits? Programmed To Be Fat? explores the research that multiple
scientists have done implying that man-made chemicals might have compounded the obesity
epidemic. Could exposure to certain chemicals in the womb result in children who are genetically
programmed to be fatter? Experiments with lab mice seem to indicate as much. The chemical
BPA, which can be absorbed through the skin simply from handling printed receipts or ingested
by drinking/eating from certain plastic containers, has been linked to weight gain, and is
extraordinarily prevalent in our modern culture. Programmed To Be Fat? raises disturbing but
vital questions about whether our current procedures for testing the safety of chemicals are
comprehensive enough (especially when new chemicals seem to be "innocent until proven
guilty"), and is highly recommended. 45 min., SDH captions.
Monroe Series 1
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
9781598287868 $39.99 www.acornonline.com
Monroe Series 1 is a collection on DVD of the British drama following Dr. Gabriel Monroe
(played by James Nesbitt, known for his work in "Murphy's Law"), a witty neurosurgical genius
with a strong sense of right and wrong, and a maverick penchant for arrogantly defying the rules.
An outrage to his colleagues, a terror to his interns, and yet a savior to his patients, Monroe and
the rest of his surgical team must navigate thorny challenges in their personal lives as well as
challenging life-or-death cases in their professional work. The extra twists of tight plotting and
dry, unforgettable British humor cement "Monroe" as an absolute "must-see" for fans of medical
drama! 6 episodes on 2 DVDs, 274 min., 16:9 widescreen, SDH subtitles.
Biophilic Design
a documentary by Stephen R. Kellert & Bill Finnegan
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149
Oley, PA 19547
1937772101 $250.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com
Licensed for public performance, Biophilic Design: The Architecture of Life is a documentary
that explores the intrinsic value of incorporating elements of nature and natural life into human
living, working, and educational environments. "Green" architecture, which often allows spaces
for living trees or even ecosystems, is not only environmentally friendly but also refreshing to the
body and soul. Patients in hospitals with biophilic design recover more quickly and have less
stress; workers in environments with biophilic design enjoy themselves more and find it easier to
concentrate; and students in schools with biophilic design can benefit from whole new ways of
learning that teach them about the value of nature. A thought-provoking study brimming with
invaluable ideas especially for architects, policy makers, and interior designers, Biophilic Design
is highly recommended. 60 min., SDH captioned.
The Dance Shelf
The Basse Dance Handbook
David Wilson
Pendragon Press
PO Box 190, Hillsdale, NY 12529
www.pendragonpress.com
9781876471609, $84.00, www.amazon.com
The newest addition to the outstanding Pendragon Press 'Wendy Hilton Dance & Music' series,
"The Basse Dance Handbook, Text and Context: Seventeen Original Sources" transcribed and
compiled by the late David Wilson and with informed commentary by Veronique Daniels, stands
unique in the annals of academia. This 311-page compendium comprises major chapters
providing an introduction and summary, addresses the social context of the French Basse Dance,
provides a review of the sources, and offers informed conclusions on the structure of the Basse
Dance, observations on other contemporary French dance forms, and comparison with
fifteenth-century Italian Bassadanza. Enhanced with appendices on its name, instructions on its
performance, 'The French Basse Dance in Art', and 'Two Contracts', as well as a bibliography and
an Index, "The Basse Dance Handbook" is a seminal work of superb scholarship and a core
addition to academic library European Dance History reference collections and supplemental
reading lists.
The Fashion Shelf
Costume and Fashion, A Concise History, fifth edition
James Laver, author
Thames & Hudson Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780500204122 $24.95 www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
"Costume and Fashion, A Concise History" is presented in a new fifth edition with a new chapter
by Amy de la Haye called Fashion in the Twenty-First Century which takes account of not only
modern fashion trends and design but also the impact of the virtual shopping world, e-commerce,
online advertising and sales, related blogs and sites, etc. A stunning total of 348 illustrations, 85
in color, present fashion design images through history. "Costume and Fashion" is a costume and
dress Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, indispensable to the student of costume design, fashion
history, or theater production costumer. The relationship between fashion history and art history
is frequently explored in both illustrations and discussion. "Costume and Fashion, A Concise
History" covers known Western costume history in 11 brief chapters with scintillating clarity and
brevity. No fashion library should lack this gem of a thumbnail documentary of Western clothing
and accessories trends.
The Humor Shelf
Prizewinning Political Cartoons 2012 Edition
Dean P. Turnbloom, editor
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street
Gretna, LA 70053-2246
9781455616114 $19.95 www.pelicanpub.com
Prizewinning Political Cartoons 2012 Edition is packed cover to cover with political cartoons
that have earned a variety of prestigious awards - from the Pulitzer Prize and the National
Headliner Awards to the National Cartoonists Society's Reuben Award, the Robert F. Kennedy
Journalism Award, and more. A sizeable number of the cartoons are printed in color as well!
Perhaps the most striking is "The Path to Hope" excerpt, which is different from the usual set of
cartoon gags in that they tell of children living in poverty an struggling to succeed. "It is not
unusual for families living in poverty to discourage family members from seeking upward
mobility. Pursuing an education can be viewed as a rejection of the family. Parents also fear that
a child's success would sever their relationship. In reality, however, upward mobility by one
member of the family can help the rest of the family break the cycle of poverty." Vivid, powerful,
sometimes uncomfortable, but always thought-provoking and often with a wicked sense of
humor, Prizewinning Political Cartoons 2012 Edition is worthy of the highest
recommendation.
The Writing/Publishing Shelf
Wild Ink
Victoria Hanley
Prufrock Press
PO Box 8813, Waco, TX 76714-8813
www.prufrock.com
9781593638641, $17.95, www.amazon.com
The young adult market is a primary source of revenue for the publishing industry and requires
aspiring authors creating fiction and non-fiction works for a YA audience to be able
communicate and connect with their audience if their books are to be successful in a highly
competitive marketplace that includes school and community librarians, booksellers, and the
adolescent to young adult reading public. "Wild Ink: Success Secrets to Writing and Publishing
for the Young Adult Market" by successful YA novelist Victoria Hanley is a 302-page
instruction manual that will prove indispensable to writers as she descriptively discusses the
special needs of the YA genre, tips on staying inspired when writing for this specialized
audience, as well as avoiding common mistakes when writing for teens. Of special note are the
provision of writing exercises to hone skills necessary to capture the interest of teen readers,
interviews with YA authors, bloggers, editors, and agents within the YA genre, and self-editing
techniques appropriate for the YA genre. Of special note is Victoria Hanley's observations on
dealing with rejection and time constraints. Informed, practical, and offering a wealth of superbly
presented constructive information, "Wild Ink" should be considered mandatory reading for
anyone seeking to write for a YA readership.
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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