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Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
The Role of the Postal and Delivery Sector in a Digital Age
Michael A. Crew & Timothy J. Brennan, editors
Edward Elgar Publishing
9 Dewey Court, Northampton, MA 01060-3815
www.e-elgar.com
9781782546337, $145.00, www.amazon.com
Few sectors of the U.S. economy has been so dramatically affected by the impact of the
Computer Age as the U. S. Postal Service. Knowledgeably compiled by the editorial team of
Michael A. Crew (CRRI Professor of Regulatory Economics, Rutgers Business School, Rutgers
University) and Timothy J. Brennan (Professor of Public Policy and Economics, University of
Maryland), "The Role of the Postal and Delivery Sector in a Digital Age" is a 360 page
compendium comprised of twenty-five descriptively analytical papers by experts on the decline
of traditional postal mail due directly and indirectly from the electronic competition (which can
be succinctly summed up by the terms "snail-mail" vs. "email") and offering practical strategies
by which traditional mail services can survive in a dominate and dominating digital age. A
seminal body of impressive scholarship, "The Role of the Postal and Delivery Sector in a Digital
Age" is as informed and informative as it is thoughtful, and thought-provoking, making it very
highly recommended reading for governmental policy makers, and a critically important addition
to academic library reference collections.
The Gender Communication Connection, second edition
Teri Kwal Gamble & Michael W. Gamble
M.E. Sharpe, Inc.
80 Business Park Drive, Armonk, NY 10504
www.mesharpe.com
9780765642226, $49.95, www.amazon.com
There are subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) differences between the way men and women
communicate among themselves and with each other. Now in a fully updated and revised second
edition, "The Gender Communication Connection" is a 376 page compendium collaboratively
written by the team of Teri Kwal Gamble (Professor of Communication, The College of New
Rochelle) and Michael W. Gamble (Professor of Communication Arts, New York Institute of
Technology) and provides a detailed inquiry into how gender attitudes and practices have in the
past, as well as in the present, influence our gender based perceptions of what constitutes the
feminine and the masculine. The exceptionally well written text is enhanced with the inclusion of
'instant recall boxes', 'talk it out' boxes, bibliographic references, and an index. Exceptionally
qualified and highly recommended for academic library Communication Studies reference
collections, "The Gender Communication Connection" is also commended for Gender Studies
supplemental reading lists.
The Education Shelf
What Excellent Community Colleges Do
Joshua S. Wyner
Harvard Education Press
8 Story Street, 1st floor, Cambridge, MA 02138
www.harvardeducationpress.org
9781612506494, $26.95, www.amazon.com
In the United States, community colleges, sometimes called junior colleges, technical colleges,
two-year colleges, or city colleges, are primarily two-year public institutions providing higher
education and lower-level tertiary education, granting certificates, diplomas, and associate's
degrees. Many also offer continuing and adult education. After graduating from a community
college, some students transfer to a four-year liberal arts college or university for two to three
years to complete a bachelor's degree. Community colleges primarily attract and accept students
from the local community, and are often supported by local tax revenue. "What Excellent
Community Colleges Do: Preparing All Students for Success" by Joshua S. Wyner (Founder and
Executive Director of The Aspen Institute's College Excellence Program) is a 200 page
compendium providing prospective and current students and their families with a comprehensive
and descriptive overview of the policies and practices that have ensured the continued
importance and relevance of community colleges within the framework of American education.
Organized into five major chapters (Completion and Transfer; Equity and Developmental
Education; Learning Outcomes; Labor Markets; The Community College President), "What
Excellent Community Colleges Do: Preparing All Students for Success" includes an informative
Introduction and Conclusion, along with two appendices, extensive notes, and a comprehensive
index. Very highly recommended for community and academic library Educational Studies
reference collections, it should be noted that "What Excellent Community Colleges Do:
Preparing All Students for Success " is also available in a Library Binding edition
(9781612506500, $60.00).
Let's Find Out!
Susan Kempton
Stenhouse Publishers
477 Congress Street, Suite 4B
Portland, ME 04101-3451
9781571109514 $28.00 www.stenhouse.com
Susan Kempton, an educator with thirty years' professional experience specializing in the field of
childhood literacy, presents Let's Find Out! Building Content with Young Children, a resource
especially for educators of pre-K through second grade students. Chapters discuss the critical role
of developing schema (guiding principles that underlie instruction) and offer both examples from
her practice and solid strategies for helping children read, write, and communicate more
effectively. Black-and-white photographs and an online video enhance this practical minded
guide, filled with examples of Kempton's methods put into practice. Sections rotate through
"Story" (Kempton's conversations with children), "Unpack" (the reasoning behind Kempton's
teaching method), "Conference/Reflection" (the children's thoughts), and "Original Writing"
(samples of writing from the children). Highly recommended.
Intentional Talk
Elham Kazemi & Allison Hintz
Stenhouse Publishers
477 Congress Street, Suite 4B
Portland, ME 04101-3451
www.stenhouse.com
9781571109767, $20.00, www.amazon.com
Math phobias are common place, primarily because of the way children encountered the subject
in their school classes. One major way to get past an aversion to mathematics is to have effective
discussions about math in all of its aspects. The collaborative work of Elham Kazemi (Professor
of Mathematics Education, University of Washington) and Allison Hintz (Assistant Professor of
Mathematics Education, University of Washington), "Intentional Talk: How to Structure and
Lead Productive Mathematical Discussions" is a 168 page compendium comprised of
informative instruction on holding a math oriented or targeted discussion group beginning with a
chapter on Open Strategy Sharing. Enhanced with a number of Appendices, an extended list of
References, and a comprehensive Index, "Intentional Talk: How to Structure and Lead
Productive Mathematical Discussions" is highly recommended for academic library collections
as a unique and seminal contribution to the field of mathematical education.
The Writing/Publishing Shelf
Book Publishing 101
Martha Maeda
Atlantic Publishing Group, Inc.
1405 S.W. 6th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471
www.atlantic-pub.com
9781601385642, $24.95, www.amazon.com
"Book Publishing 101: Inside Information to Getting Your First Book or Novel Published" is a
complete course of instruction on how to turn a manuscript into a book -- and then bring book to
the attention of the author' intended readership. This comprehensive, deftly organized,
exceptionally well written instruction manual begins with an overview of the business of
publishing. The follows a chapter covering the options of traditional publishing, self-publishing,
and the subsidy, co-op, and vanity presses. Practical information is provided on how to craft a
financially successful book; publishing fiction and non-fiction; writing proposal and query
letters; working with a literary agent; understanding publisher contracts; a comprehensive
explanation of self-publishing; and book designing. Of immense importance is are the two
chapters devoted to marketing resources and strategies. Enhanced with an impressive number of
sample documents, a glossary, genre definitions, bibliography, and index, "Book Publishing 101:
Inside Information to Getting Your First Book or Novel Published" should be considered
mandatory reading for every aspiring author seeking to publish their work in today's highly
competitive and volatile publishing world.
Playwriting
Shelly Frome
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
9780786477470, $25.00, www.amazon.com
A playwright, also known as a dramatist, is a person who writes dramatic literature or drama.
These works may be written specifically to be performed by actors, or they may be closet dramas
- simple literary works - written using dramatic forms, but not meant for performance. Every
play, whether for the stage, the movies, or for television, begins with the written word. The
playwright's work is the foundation upon which actors, directors, producers, and everyone else
must base their productions. "Playwriting: A Complete Guide to Creating Theater" by Shelly
Frome (Professor of Dramatic Arts Emeritus, University of Connecticut) is a 191 page
compendium that succinctly covers every facet of writing plays. Professor Frome's commentary
is enhanced with the inclusion of quotations from noted playwrights, excerpts from classic plays,
and her own personal anecdotes as a former professional actor, as a teacher of acting, and as a
writer of both fiction and non-fiction. Informed and informative, thoroughly 'reader friendly'
from first page to last, and offering a wealth of practical advice and insight, "Playwriting: A
Complete Guide to Creating Theater" is strongly recommended for community and academic
library Theatre Arts reference collections, and a 'must read' for anyone aspiring to become a
successful playwright in their own right.
The Fiction Shelf
The Empty House/The Listener
Algernon Blackwood
Stark House Press
1315 H Street, Eureka, CA 95501
www.starkhousepress.com
9781933586458, $19.95, www.amazon.com
Algernon Henry Blackwood, CBE (14 March 1869 - 10 December 1951) was an English short
story writer and novelist, one of the most prolific writers of ghost stories in the history of the
genre. He was also a journalist and a broadcasting narrator. "The Empty House & Other Ghost
Stories / The Listener & Other Stories" from Stark House Press is a 352 page compendium
comprised of Blackwood's first two short story anthologies originally published in 1906 and
1907. It is remarkable how well these 'time lost classics' hold up for the contemporary reader. A
true master of his craft, Blackwood's supernatural stories are superbly written entertainments that
engage the reader's full attention from beginning to end. The 'two-books-under-one cover' is a
literary bargain and very highly recommended reading. Indeed, "The Empty House & Other
Ghost Stories / The Listener & Other Stories" would make an enduringly popular addition to
community library collections and well serve to introduce a whole new generation appreciative
readers to the literary talents of Algernon Blackwood.
Outside
Stories by Barry Lopez
Engravings by Barry Moser
Trinity University Press
One Trinity Place, San Antonio, TX 78212-7200
c/o Publishers Group West
1700 Fourth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
www.pgw.com
9781595341891 $18.95 www.tupress.org
Outside is an anthology of six short stories, illustrated with striking black-and-white engravings.
Each tale touches upon the crossroads between mundane and magical. Stories center upon a boy
who can exchange his spirit with that of a half-coyote dog, a teacher who reveals the true
meaning of friendship, and the nexus between humans and the natural world. Beautiful,
thoughtful, and reverent of the natural world, Outside is a unique experience, highly
recommended.
The Cookbook Shelf
Better Homes & Gardens: The Ultimate Quick & Healthy Book
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10003
9780544245792 $19.99 www.hmhpub.com
Illustrated with full-color photography on nearly every page, Better Homes & Gardens: The
Ultimate Quick & Healthy Book is a softcover omnibus cookbook packed with over 400 recipes,
each with 15 grams of fat or less, each of which can be prepared within 30 minutes.
User-friendly, step-by-step instructions plus helpful tips and tricks make preparing snacks or
meals from The Ultimate Quick & Health Book a snap. Dishes suitable for just about every
possible meal or occasion are offered, including Almond Breakfast Risotto with Dried Fruit, Two
Tomato Bruschetta, Sweet and Spicy Edamame-Beef Stir-Fry, Southwest Kale Salad, Vegetable
Curry, Cherry-Pistachio Cannoli, and much more. Highly recommended for cooks of all skill and
experience levels!
The Complete Mediterranean Diet
Michael Ozner, MD
BenBella Books
10300 N. Central Expressway, STE 400
Dallas, TX 75204
9781939529954 $19.95 www.benbellabooks.com
Expert cardiologist Michael Ozner, MD presents The Complete Mediterranean Diet: Everything
You Need to Know to Lose Weight and Lower Your Risk of Heart Disease... with 500 Delicious
Recipes, a cookbook compendium brimming with healthy offerings from the traditional
Mediterranean diet, which is well-known and clinically proven to reduce one's risk of heart
disease and cancer. Sample recipes include Broiled Artichoke Salad, Quinoa and Raisins
Porridge, Peppered Fillet of Sole, Baked Eggplant with Garlic and Basil, Strawberry Sundae
Whey Smoothie, and much more. Suggested 14-day meal plans, a glossary and index, and
general dietary advice round out this excellent reference and resource for healthier living!
Vegan Finger Foods
Celine Steen & Tamasin Noyes
Fair Winds Press
c/o Quayside Publishing Group
400 First Avenue North, Suite 300
Minneapolis, MN 55401-1721
www.quaysidepublishinggroup.com
9781592335947, $22.99, www.amazon.com
A vegan diet can be as fun and tasty as called for by any celebratory occasion. Case in point --
"Vegan Finger Foods: More Than 100 Crowd-Pleasing Recipes for Bite-Size Eats Everyone Will
Love", a 176 page compendium collaboratively compiled and co-edited by the vegan team of
Celine Steen and Tamasin Noyes. The more than one hundred, thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly'
recipes range from Kimchi-Stuffed Sausages; Red Pepper Hummus Tartlets; Pull-Apart Pesto
Bread; and Eggplant Stackers; to Carmelized Bananas with Chocolate Chipotle Sauce;
Three-Spice Snickerdoodles; Tiny Tomato Pies; Brewpub Cauliflower Dip and Chips; and Baked
Jalapenos. A special feature includes a section of Menu Suggestions. Beautifully illustrated in
full color throughout, "Vegan Finger Foods: More Than 100 Crowd-Pleasing Recipes for
Bite-Size Eats Everyone Will Love" is truly extraordinary and very highly recommended for
personal, family, and community library Vegan cookbook collections.
The China Study All-Star Collection
Leanne Campbell
BenBella Books
10300 N. Central Expressway, STE 400, Dallas, TX 75204
www.benbellabooks.com
9781939529978, $19.95, www.amazon.com
Vegan cuisine has been steadily growing in popularity. "The China Study All-Star Collection:
Whole Food, Plant-Based Recipes from Your Favorite Vegan Chefs" is a beautifully illustrated,
304 page compendium of recipes contributed by professional vegan chefs and compiled by vegan
cuisine expert Leanne Campbell. This outstanding collection of vegan recipes ranges from a
Fresh Corn and Zucchini Frittata; to a Carrot and Maple-Walnut Salad; to Shredded Brussels
Sprouts & Kale with Miso-Dijon Sauce; to Strawberry Babycakes. Thoroughly kitchen cook
friendly, a great many of these wonderful recipes also feature a 'Tips' section of practical culinary
preparation advice. Simply stated, "The China Study All-Star Collection: Whole Food,
Plant-Based Recipes from Your Favorite Vegan Chefs" is an extraordinary collection and highly
recommended for personal, family, professional, and community library Vegan, Vegetarian, and
Chinese cuisine cookbook collections. It should be noted that "The China Study All-Star
Collection: Whole Food, Plant-Based Recipes from Your Favorite Vegan Chefs" is also available
in a Kindle edition ($9.99).
Idiot's Guides: The Mediterranean Diet Cookbook
Denise Hazime
Alpha Books
c/o Penguin Publishing Group
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014-3658
www.penguin.com
9781615644452, $18.95, www.amazon.com
The Mediterranean diet is a modern nutritional recommendation inspired by the traditional
dietary patterns of Greece, Palestine, Lebanon, Spain, Portugal and Southern Italy. The principal
aspects of this diet include proportionally high consumption of olive oil, legumes, unrefined
cereals, fruits, and vegetables, moderate to high consumption of fish, moderate consumption of
dairy products (mostly as cheese and yogurt), moderate wine consumption, and low consumption
of meat and meat products. Compiled and presented by Denise Hazime, the "Idiot's Guides: The
Mediterranean Diet Cookbook" is a 288 page compendium of more than 200 'kitchen cook
friendly' recipes for dishes that arise from the nutritional principles underlying the Mediterranean
Diet. Featuring practical advise and commentary on cooking within the Mediterranean Diet
framework, plus comprehensive coverage of the key ingredients upon which the Mediterranean
Diet is based, the recipes comprising this outstanding collection range from Herbed Potatoes and
Eggs; Mediterranean Pasta Salad; Beef-Stuffed Squash; Pickled Persian Cucumbers; and
Mediterranean Grilled Cheese Sandwiches; to Homemade Greek Yogurt; Spiced Chicken and
Rice; Vegetarian Quinoa Pilaf; Lemon Basil Garlic Sauce.; and Ashta Custard. Enhanced with
the inclusion of a culinary glossary and a quite useful index, "Idiot's Guides: The Mediterranean
Diet Cookbook" is strongly recommended for personal, family, and community library cookbook
collections. It should be noted that "Idiot's Guides: The Mediterranean Diet Cookbook" is also
available in a Kindle edition ($7.69).
The Audiobook Shelf
Silas Marner
George Eliot
Naxos of America, Inc.
1810 Columbia Avenue, Suite 28, Franklin, TN 37064
www.naxosaudiobooks.com
9781843798118, $47.98, www.amazon.com
"Silas Marner: The Weaver of Raveloe" is the third novel by George Eliot, published in 1861. An
outwardly simple tale of a linen weaver, it is notable for its strong realism and its sophisticated
treatment of a variety of issues ranging from religion to industrialization to community. This
complete and unabridged audiobook edition from Naxos is expertly narrated by Anna Bentinck.
Flawless production values, seven CDs, and a total running time of 8 hours, 34 minutes, 15
seconds, all combine to make this classic work of English literature a "must" for community and
academic library Audio Book collections, and a highly recommended 'theatre of the mind'
listening experience for the general public.
The Library CD Shelf
Long Time... Seldom Scene
Seldom Scene
Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
www.folkways.si.edu
c/o Shore Fire Media
$13.99 CD / $8.99 MP3 www.amazon.com
Long Time... Seldom Scene is a new album from Seldom Scene, a talented, Grammy-nominated
bluegrass band whose musical exuberance has remained popular for over four decades. The
sixteen songs are each reworkings of beloved bluegrass treasures. A "must-hear" for fans of the
genre, Long Time... Seldom Scene is highly recommended. The tracks are "California
Cottonfields" (3:04), "Wait a Minute" (5:13), "What Am I Doing Hangin' 'Round" (2:50),
"Hickory Wind" (4:02), "I'll Be No Stranger There" (2:20), "Walk Through This World with Me"
(2:32), "Big Train (from Memphis)" (2:46), "With Body and Soul" (3:22), "Paradise" (2:57), "It's
All Over Now, Baby Blue" (3:20), "Mean Mother Blues" (3:08), "My Better Years" (3:08),
"Little Georgia Rose" (2:54), "Like I Used to Do" (4:09), "Through the Bottom of the Glass"
(2:43), and "Lorena" (5:27).
Dot the Dragon's Eyes
Hanneke Cassel
www.hannekecassel.com
Hearth Music
14879 6th Ave. NE, Shoreline, WA 98155
www.hearthmusic.com
$19.09 CD / $8.99 MP3 www.amazon.com
Inspired by the Chinese parable of an artist who resisted finishing the eyes of the dragon he had
painted, for fear that it would spring to life and fly away, Dot the Dragon's Eyes is an album of
violin and fiddle music by Hanneke Cassel, with assistance from cellist Rushad Eggleston,
fiddler/violinist Jeremy Kittell, cellist (and husband) Mike Block, New England guitarist Keith
Murphy, and vocals from Aoife O'Donovan. Uplifting, adventurous, and exquisite, Dot the
Dragon's Eyes is a far-reaching facet of musical genius, the meeting point of tradition and
innovation. Highly recommended! The tracks are "Dot the Dragon's Eyes" (3:49), "Katrina
McCoy's Jig" (3:55), "The Captain" (4:36), "Natasha McCoy's Reel" (4:16), "Jig for Christina"
(3:10), "Eliana Grace" (5:25), "The Marathon (for Boston)" (3:05), "Lissa and Corey" (5:24),
"The Important Thing Is" (4:00), "Religulous" (4:57), "Dianne's Waltz" (4:18), and "The Lime
Hill Strathspey" (4:29).
Canyon Records Productions
3131 West Clarendon Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85017
$14.98 each www.canyonrecords.com
Canyon Records upholds its fine tradition of sharing authentic Native American music with the
public in three vivid new releases. "Piciciwin: Cree Round Dance Songs" (53 min.) by Cree
Confederation hums with energy, vibrance, and contagious enthusiasm; "Ewipihcihk" (57 min.)
by six-time Grammy nominees Northern Cree offers more round dance, social gathering songs
that energize the hearts, minds, and souls of listeners. "Nitehe Ohci - 'From the Heart'" (57 min.)
by 2013 singing champions Young Spirit offers Round Dance songs invested in the strong beat
of drums and the stylings of vocals in the Plains Cree language. All three are excellent additions
to Native American music collections!
Arctic Sunrise
Kerani
www.kerani.nl
Privately Published
c/o The Creative Service Company
4360 Emerald Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
www.thecreativeservicecompany.com
$TBA CD / $8.99 MP3 www.amazon.com
The third album by European keyboardist Kerani, Arctic Sunrise captures the breathless beauty
of witnessing the first arctic sunrise after six months of sustained darkness. Instrumental pieces
performed on piano and synthesizers, with orchestral support, convey the depths of wonder and
mystery permeating wintry lands. Highly recommended, especially for connoisseurs of unique
and original compositions. The tracks are "Arctic Sunrise" (7:40), "Ice Kingdom" (6:46), "Far
Away From Home" (10:25), "Norway" (8:27), "Drifting Ice" (5:20), "Aurora Sky" (8:05),
"Discovery" (5:12), and "Spirit of the Last Wilderness" (6:27).
The Library DVD Shelf
The Human Scale
A film by Andreas M. Dalsgaard
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149
Oley, PA 19547
1594584168 $295.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com
The work of Danish urban planner and open space architect Jan Gehl forms the core of The
Human Scale: Bringing Cities to Life, a documentary about revolutionary new approaches to the
problems confronting the world's largest and growing megacities. Instead of endlessly displacing
people with cars and gigantic building projects, Human Scale reveals ideas adhering to
human-centric, sustainable, and health-promoting principles. Optimistic and uplifting, The
Human Scale is literally about building a better and brighter future, highly recommended. 77
min., licensed for public performance.
Addiction Incorporated
Directed by Charles Evans Jr.
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149
Oley, PA 19547
1594583587 $295.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com
Addiction Incorporated is an eye-opening documentary about the sordid history of tobacco
marketing - especially after once tobacco's addictive qualities and marked influence on the
human brain came to light. Victor DeNoble's happenchance discovery of an addictive ingredient
in cigarettes prompted an avalanche of reactions. On the one hand, cigarette companies learned
how to deliberately make their product more addictive; on the other, journalists, politicians,
attorneys, and more cooperated to ensure that the tobacco industry would be regulated for the
first time in America. A thought-provoking examination of what modern history has to tell us
about the commercialization of legal addition, Addiction Incorporated is highly recommended.
76 and 35 minute versions on one DVD, SDH captions, rated PG.
Valentine Road
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149
Oley, PA 19547
1560290870 $295.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com
Licensed for public performance, Valentine Road is a documentary about a horrific and tragic
crime. In a 2008 California classroom, 14-year-old Brandon McInerney shot classmate Larry
King in the head; King died two days later. King was an openly gay youth of color, who liked to
wear makeup and heels to school, and had repeatedly declared a crush on McInerney, even
claiming to be McInerney's valentine. After numerous delays, McInerney was tried as an adult
and sentenced to 21 years behind bars in 2011, with no credit for time served before the trial and
no credit for good behavior. Valentine Road examines the consequences of homophobia, the
facts of a murder that destroyed King's life and condemned McInerney to prison, and the
community-wide poisons of bigotry and prejudice. How can schools better prepare themselves to
react to the difficult problems surrounding their students' lives? How can homophobia and
prejudice be countered in today's communities? A teacher's guide and viewer's guide enhance this
hard, serious look at dire quandaries. 88 min. and 52 min. versions both on one DVD, SDH
captions, recommended for grades 8-12 and adults.
Florida Everglades & Biscayne
Bennet Watt HD Productions, Inc.
13021 - 244 Avenue SE
Issaquah, WA 98027
9781604901757 $24.95 www.Bennett-Watt.com
Part of the Discoveries... America National Parks series of DVDs, Florida Everglades &
Biscayne is a breathtaking documentary of Everglades National Park (the largest subtropical
wilderness in the United States) and Biscayne National Park (a rare haven of aquamarine waters,
islands, and coral reefs). Astoundingly beautiful footage of natural landscapes/waterscapes, as
well as rare and endangered species, fill this wonderful showcase. Florida Everglades & Biscayne
is the next best thing to visiting these national preserves in person, and highly recommended
especially for wildlife lovers and armchair travelers everywhere. 50 min.
The Money/Finance Shelf
Finance Basics
Harvard Business School Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
http://hbr.org/books
9781625270856, $12.95, www.amazon.com
The newest addition to the outstanding '20 Minute Manager' series from the Harvard Business
School Press, "Finance Basics" is a compact, succinct, practical, thoroughly 'user friendly', 144
page compendium that will show even the most novice reader just how to peruse and understand
financial statements, weight costs and benefits, figure out budgets and financial forecasting, and
most especially, how to effectively gage a company's financial health. Enhanced with a section of
tests (and the answers to those test questions), a glossary, a bibliography, a list of Sources, and a
useful index, "Finance Basics" is an ideal introduction that is especially appropriate for the
non-specialist general reader wanting to grasp and apply the fundamentals of financial
management and decision making. It should be noted that "Financial Basics" is also available in a
Kindle edition ($9.22).
The Biography Shelf
Charles M. Russell: Photographing the Legend
Larry Len Peterson
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive
Norman, OK 73069
9780806144733 $60.00 www.oupress.com
Charles M. Russell: Photographing the Legend is a coffee-table book offering both an in-depth
biography and a wealth of photography about Charles M. Russell (1864-1926), an artist,
storyteller, and author also known as the "Cowboy Artist", famous for capturing iconic memories
of the American West. Most of the vintage photographs are in black-and-white, given the
technological limitations of Russell's time; occasional reproductions of art and other images are
in color. Many of the hundreds of photographs of Russell have never before been published; they
capture him riding horses, at his log cabin studio, "almost cracking a smile" with his infant
adopted son, and much more. Thoroughly accessible to readers of all backgrounds, Charles M.
Russell: Photographing the Legend is captivating from cover to cover, and a welcome
contribution to public and college library biography shelves - as well as a fine giftbook for any
connoisseur of Russell's classic works. Highly recommended.
Winnie Davis
Heath Hardage Lee
Potomac Books, Inc.
c/o University of Nebraska Press
22841 Quicksilver Drive
Dulles, VA 20166-2012
9781612346373 $29.95 www.potomacbooksinc.com
Winnie Davis: Daughter of the Lost Cause is a biography of Varina Anne "Winnie" Davis, the
youngest daughter of Confederate president Jefferson Davis, born in 1864 amidst the throes of
the Civil War. After the South's defeat, she would spend a large part of her life abroad as an
American expatriate. Christened the "Daughter of the Confederacy" in 1886, she was idolized by
a Southern culture still affected by the bitterness of defeat. Her status as an icon of the Lost
Cause threatened to overshadow her life, despite her talents as a professional writer, and caused
great uproar over her engagement in 1890 to a Northern lawyer and grandson of a famous
abolitionist. A fascinating story of a woman who sought to reconcile her own family history with
her own beliefs in the virtue of tolerance, Winnie Davis: Daughter of the Lost Cause is highly
recommended especially for personal and public library biography collections.
An American Scientist
Gabor A. Somoraji
Archway
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, NY, NY 10020
9781480801479, $27.95, www.amazon.com
Gabor A. Somorjai (born May 4, 1935) is a professor at the University of California, Berkeley
and is a leading researcher in the field of surface chemistry and catalysis. For his contributions to
the field, Somorjai won the Wolf Prize in Chemistry in 1998, the Linus Pauling Award in 2000,
the National Medal of Science in 2002, the Priestley Medal in 2008, and the NAS Award in
Chemical Sciences in 2013. "An American Scientist: The Autobiography of Gabor A. Somorjai"
is a 268 page compendium comprised of the life story of Professor Somorjai that includes his
escape from the Holocaust in Hungary, his work in the fields of chemistry, physics, medical
technology, and more. Exceptionally well written with the assistance of Mitch Jacoby, "An
American Scientist: The Autobiography of Gabor A. Somorjai" is a candid, informative, and
engaging read, making it highly recommended for academic library American Biography
collections.
The Pets/Wildlife Shelf
A Dog's History of the World
Laura Hobgood-Oster
Baylor University Press
One Bear Place, #97363, Waco, TX 76798-7363
www.baylorpress.com
9781481300193, $29.95, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: In "A Dog's History of the World: Canines and the Domestication of Humans", Laura
Hobgood-Oster (Professor of Religion and Environmental Studies, Southwestern University)
presents a 188 page history of the relationship of canines to humans. Ranging from the earliest
cave paintings depicting the primitive canine-human relationship to the modern model of dogs as
family members, "A Dog's History of the World" showcases how the relationship between dogs
and their masters have exemplified both love and exploitation. As Professor Hobgood-Oster
shows how dogs helped humans make scientific advancements, engage in empire building, and
provide immense personal satisfaction. Dogs have been used for testing equipment for space
exploration, for war, for hunting, and for industries. "A Dog's History of the World" documents
that dogs have needed humans to survive just as much as humans have needed their canine
companions. Combining archaeology, history, and literature, Professor Hobgood-Oster has
illuminated the canine-human dynamic is clear, accessible, documented commentary. Enhanced
with extensive notes, an impressive twenty-two page bibliography, and a comprehensive index,
"A Dog's History of the World" is a strongly recommended addition to both community and
academic library collections. It should be noted that "A Dog's History of the World" is also
available in a Kindle edition ($15.54). It should be noted that "A Dog's History of the World:
Canines and the Domestication of Humans" is also available in a Kindle edition ($14.54).
Ferret Ecology
Shelah A. Gallagher & Dana L. Plowden
Royal Fireworks Press
First Avenue, PO Box 399, Unionville, NY 10988
www.rfwp.com
Studies for One: Parent Manual, 9780898245745, $35.00
Studies for One: Problem Log, 9780898245752, $5.00
The ferret is the domesticated form of the European Polecat, a mammal belonging to the weasel
genus of the family Mustelidae. They typically have brown, black, white, or mixed fur. They
have an average length of 20 inches including a 5 inch tail, weigh about 1.5 to 4 pounds, and
have a natural lifespan of 7 to 10 years. Ferrets are sexually dimorphic predators with males
being substantially larger than females. Several other Mustelids also have the word ferret in their
common names, including an endangered species, the Black-footed Ferret. The history of the
ferret's domestication is uncertain, like that of most other domestic animals, but it is likely that
ferrets have been domesticated for at least 2,500 years. They are still used for hunting rabbits in
some parts of the world today, but increasingly they are kept simply as pets. The "Ferret
Ecology" set from Royal Fireworks Press is specifically designed for home school curriculums.
Thoroughly 'user friendly', students will receive a complete presentation on the history and
biology of the ferret. Of special note is the inclusion of a section devoted to thematically relevant
internet sources. Informed, comprehensive, and highly recommended -- especially for anyone
with an interest in raising ferrets.
The Social Issues Shelf
The Routledge International Handbook of Social Justice
Michael Reisch, editor
Routledge
711 - 3rd Avenue, Floor 8, NY, NY 10017-9209
www.routledge.com
9780415620437, $205.00, www.amazon.com
At its core, 'Social Justice' is basically the ability people have to realize their potential in the
society where they live. Ably compiled and deftly edited by Michael Reisch (Daniel Thursz
Distinguished Professor of Social Justice, University of Maryland), "The Routledge International
Handbook of Social Justice" is a 560 page compendium comprised of thirty-three major papers
by experts in the field of social justice and organized into four major sections: Historical and
Cultural Concepts of Social Justice; Theoretical and Conceptual Frameworks; Social Justice
Issues and Practice; Cultural Reflections on Social Justice. Professor Reisch provides succinct
and informative introductions to each section. Enhanced with occasional figures, a table on class
differences in infant mortality, and a box presenting key features of social justice feminism, "The
Routledge International Handbook of Social Justice" is a seminal work and strongly
recommended for academic library Social Justice/Social Issues reference collections and
academic social justice studies supplemental reading lists. It should be noted that "The Routledge
International Handbook of Social Justice" is also available in a Kindle edition ($164.00).
The Library Science Shelf
The ALA Book of Library Grant Money, ninth edition
Nancy Kalikow Maxwell, editor
ALA Editions
50 East Huron St.
Chicago, IL 60611
9780838912119 $175.00 www.alastore.ala.org
Now in an updated ninth edition for 2014, The ALA Book of Library Grant Money is an
all-purpose resource especially for researching and applying for library or school grants. Nancy
Kalikow Maxwell, a grantwriter of 35 years' experience applies her expertise to refining the
practical-minded guidelines to the concept of "grant readiness", the steps of preparing one's
institution for a grant projects (including strategic planning, needs assessment, and identifying
possible partners), a thorough grant directory cross-referenced by multiple indexes, a brand new
section all about grant-related organizations and sources, and much more. The ALA Book of
Library Grant Money is an absolute "must-have" for any institution seeking to apply for grant
money!
Reference Sources For Small And Medium-Sized Libraries, eighth edition
Jack O'Gorman, editor
ALA Editions
c/o American Library Association
50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
www.alastore.ala.org
9780838912126, $125.00, www.amazon.com
Knowledgeably compiled and expertly edited by Jack O'Gorman (Reference and instruction
Librarian, Roesch Library, University of Dayton, Ohio), "Reference Sources For Small And
Medium-Sized Libraries" is a 312 page instructional compendium now in a fully updated and
significantly expanded eighth edition that covers a number of key subject areas ranging from
General Reference, to philosophy, Religion, Ethics, to the Performing Arts, and more. Of special
note is the coverage of database products, CD-ROMs, websites, and other electronic resources
for library systems. Each noted source is annotated with information on author/editor, publisher,
cost, format, Dewey and LC classification numbers. Informed and informative, "Reference
Sources For Small And Medium-Sized Libraries" is an ideal and core reference title for library
staff members as well as interested library patrons.
The Political Science Shelf
Subsidizing Democracy
Michael G. Miller
Cornell University Press
512 East State Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
9780801452277 $39.95 www.cornellpress.cornell.edu
The Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010) court decision enabled virtually
unlimited private, union, and anonymous spending upon advertisements in American political
elections. The McComish v. Bennett (2011) decision struck down the "matching funds" aspect of
so-called Clean Elections public financing laws. As of this writing, though, the broader concept
of public campaign financing remains legal, and has not had any severe constitutional challenges.
Subsidizing Democracy: How Public Funding Changes Elections and How It Can Work in the
Future is a close study of how public funding can change elections for the better, drawn from
extensive interview testimony and twenty years' worth of election data. Author Michal G. Miller
(Assistant Professor of the Dept. of Political Science, University of Illinois, Springfield) seeks to
answer the question: why public funding? How can it reduce the influence of special interests,
encourage greater participation in the political process, improve the quality of candidates
(especially challengers), and promote democratic values? Thoughtful, well-reasoned, and heavily
grounded in research, Subsidizing Democracy is highly recommended especially for public and
college library Political Science shelves.
Poor Leadership and Bad Governance
Ludger Helms, editor
Edward Elgar Publishing
9 Dewey Court
Northampton, MA 01060-3815
9780857932723 $110.00 www.e-elgar.com
If we do not study the political mistakes of today, are we doomed to repeat them? Poor
Leadership and Bad Governance: Reassessing Presidents and Prime Ministers in North America,
Europe and Japan is an anthology of scholarly essays by learned authors scrutinizing weaknesses
in leadership among heads of state in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France,
Germany, Italy, Russia, and Japan. A comparative look at bad policies, undemocratic aspects of
leadership, and the question of what makes a leader weak in different contexts, Poor Leadership
and Bad Governance is an invaluable contribution to modern political science shelves. Highly
recommended.
The Nautical Shelf
Home Squadron
Cdr. James C. Rentfrow, USN
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road
Annapolis, MD 21402
9781612514475 $54.95 www.nip.org
Cdr. James C. Rentfrow of the United States Navy presents Home Squadron: The U.S. Navy on
the North Atlantic Station, a historical examination of how the U.S. Navy changed into a fierce
fighting force between 1874 and 1897. This change was difficult and not always linear; it
involved not only the creation of battleships, but also exercises and training in fleet tactics, some
of which was practiced with wooden cruising vessels. Exhaustive notes, a bibliography, and an
index round out this exceptional addition to nautical and military history shelves, highly
recommended especially for college library collections.
The Art Shelf
Julian Onderdonk in New York
James Graham Baker
Texas State Historical Association
1155 Union Circle #311580
Denton, TX 76203-5017
9781625110206 $49.95 www.TSHAonline.org
Julian Onderdonk in New York: The Lost Years - The Lost Paintings is a coffee-table artbook
showcasing the lesser-known paintings of Texas artist Julian Onderdonk (1882-1922), created
during the years when Onderdonk lived in New York and worked under numerous pseudonyms.
The striking images of landscapes, marine scenes, and the dwindling rural areas and shorelines
about New York City are testament to Onderdonk's skill and inspiration. Full-color reproductions
of Onderdonk's work fill this captivating slice of American art history, parallel to the involved
biographical, historical, and descriptive text. Highly recommended, especially for both private
and public library artbook collections.
Canvas Detroit
Julie Pincus and Nichole Christian
Wayne State University Press
The Leonard N. Simons Building
4809 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, MI 48201-1309
9780814340233 $34.99 http://wsupress.wayne.edu
Also available as an ebook, Canvas Detroit is an astonishing survey of Detroit's modern-day art
scene. Though Detroit has been notorious for deindustrialization, abandonment, urban decay, and
economic decline, today's artists strive to bring hope through creativity. Canvas Detroit presents
full-color photographs of the city's art in almost every imaginable medium - wood, glass, living
plants, fiber, fabric, sculptures, portraits, wearable art, murals, and much more. Captions and a
small amount of text provide context to the works, but the majority of Canvas Detroit is given
over to the city's art itself, in all its striking glory. An absolute "must-have" for twenty-first
century artbook shelves!
Nature as Muse
Christoph Heinrich
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive
Norman, OK 73069
9780914738916 $50.00 www.oupress.com
Nature as Muse: Inventing Impressionist Landscape is a coffee-table artbook featuring full-color
reproductions of rarely seen paintings from the collection of Frederic C. Hamilton, as well as a
selection of works from the Denver Art Museum, in order to illuminate the storied history of
Impressionist landscape art. Author Christoph Heinrich discusses the contributions of pioneering
artists and teachers including Courbet, Corot, Pissarro, Monet, Cezanne, van Gogh, and many
more; the text also touches upon the major events of history that shaped and impacted these
artists. As beautiful to browse as it is enlightening to read, Nature as Muse is highly
recommended, especially for personal and public library artbook collections.
The Gardening Shelf
Gardening with Young Children, second edition
Sara Starbuck, Marla Olthof, & Karen Midden
Redleaf Press
10 Yorkton Court
St. Paul, MN 55117-1065
9781605541570 $25.95 www.redleafpress.org
The updated second edition of the authors' "Hollyhocks and Honeybees" curriculum, Gardening
with Young Children is a resource created especially to help educators use gardening and outdoor
learning to instruct children from infancy through third grade. Full-color photography and
true-life classroom stories embellish the 60+ hands-on learning activities for little ones.
Gardening with Young Children is also an excellent pick for Sunday school teachers,
homeschoolers, and parents or babysitters who want to work some educational gardening fun into
their childcare schedule. Highly recommended!
The Railroading Shelf
The Historical Guide to North American Railroads, third edition
Kalmbach Books
21027 Crossroads Circle
Waukesha, WI 53187-1612
9780890249703 $24.99 www.kalmbachbooks.com
Now in an updated third edition, The Historical Guide to North American Railroads spotlights
more than 170 historical, current, and former railroad systems of the United States, Canada, and
Mexico. Railroad-by-railroad listings (some only a single page long, others consisting of multiple
pages) are packed with full-color photographs, maps, historical data, the history of predecessor
lines, railway merger information, and much more. An index rounds out this detailed, top-notch
resource highly recommended for hobbyists, railway enthusiasts, railroad researchers and public
library collections.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
When Your Life Is Touched by Cancer
Bob Riter
Hunter House Publishers
PO Box 2914
Alameda, CA 94501-2914
9780897936798 $14.95 www.hunterhouse.com
Cancer expert and educator Bob Riter presents When Your Life Is Touched by Cancer: Practical
Advice and Insights for Patients, Professionals, and Those Who Care, a resource that lives up to
its title with straightforward, practical advice for dealing with a cancer diagnosis, whether
pronounced on oneself or a friend or loved one. Chapters address how to tell one's
children/family/friends about a cancer diagnosis, the pros and cons of different treatment choices,
how to take care of oneself during treatment, how to most effectively support others with cancer,
and much more. "Don't ask 'How can I help?' That puts the burden on the patient to think of
things. It's better to call and offer something concrete such as, 'I'm heading to the grocery store
this afternoon. Can I pick up something for you?'" When Your Life Is Touched by Cancer is a
"must-read" for anyone who knows a person with this dangerous disease, and is highly
recommended.
The Literary Studies Shelf
ACMRS
Arizona State University
PO Box 874402
Tempe, AZ 85287-4402
http://acmrs.org/publications
The Arizona Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies continues its tradition of studying and
preserving classic works of literature in three new titles. "Bertha of the Big Foot"
(9780866984652, $45.00) is the first translation of Adenet le Roi's thirteenth-century saga from
Old French into modern-day English, a feat skillfully accomplished by Anna Moore Morton.
"Bertha of the Big Foot" is particularly notable in that it was once a popular story in which
female characters played prominent roles, especially in comparison to the male characters! Elsa
Strietman and Peter Happe have edited For Pleasure and Profit Six Dutch Rhetoricians Plays
Volume Two: Three Classical Plays (9780866984782, $60.00), which compiles original Dutch
texts and English translations of three plays widely shared in the Low Countries from
c.1440-c.1625. The result is a wonderful preservation of literary and cultural history, sure to
prove especially valuable to any interested in scrutinizing the evolution of theater. Adrian
Armstrong's "The Virtuoso Circle: Competition, Collaboration, and Complexity in Late
Medieval French Poetry" (9780866984638, $58.00) is an in-depth exploration of
multigenerational poetic communities in medieval France, and how the poets that comprised
them shared ideas, competed with one another, and cooperated to improve their craft. All three
titles are excellent additions to college library literary or poetry shelves!
The World History Shelf
Negotiating the Political in Northern European Urban Society, c.1400-c.1600
Sheila Sweetinburgh, editor
ACMRS
Arizona State University
PO Box 874402
Tempe, AZ 85287-4402
9780866984829 $60.00 http://acmrs.org/publications
Negotiating the Political in Northern European Urban Society, c.1400-c.1600 is an anthology of
case study essays by learned historians, about political identity in cities during late medieval and
Renaissance Europe. Towns had to negotiate with the overwhelming power of the Church and
national rulers; essays are divided into the townspeople's "view from the inside", and the Crown's
"view from the outside". A fascinating study of historic political and community developments,
Negotiating the Political in Northern European Urban Society is a welcome addition to college
library collections.
The Photography Shelf
New Mexico's High Peaks
Mike Butterfield
University of New Mexico Press
1312 Basehart Road SE, Albuquerque NM 87106-4363
www.unmpress.com
9780826354402, $39.95, www.amazon.com
"New Mexico's High Peaks: A Photographic Celebration" is a beautifully reproduced, 188 page
compendium showcasing expert photographer Mike Butterfield's full color images of New
Mexico's natural mountain splendor. Each visually impressive photograph is enhanced with an
informed and informative commentary. A simple joy to browse through from first page to last,
"New Mexico's High Peaks: A Photographic Celebration" is highly recommended for personal,
community, and academic library Contemporary American Photography collections.
The Architecture Shelf
Understanding Architecture, third edition
Leland M. Roth & Amanda C. Roth Clark
Westview Press
2465 Central Avenue, Boulder, CO 80301
www.westviewpress.com
9780813349039, $80.00, www.amazon.com
Architecture is both the process and the product of planning, designing, and constructing
buildings and other physical structures. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings,
are often perceived as cultural symbols and as works of art. Historical civilizations are often
identified with their surviving architectural achievements. Now in a thoroughly updated and
revised third edition, "Understanding Architecture: Its Elements, History, and Meaning" by
Leland M. Morth (Marion Dean Ross Professor of Architectural history Emeritus, University of
Oregon) with the assistance of his daughter Amanda C. Roth Clark is an 816 page compendium
offering a global perspective on the history of architecture with new essays on the contributions
of Africa, Japan, China, India, and the Islamic world, as well as North and South America.
Superbly illustrated throughout, and featuring a new full color, 32-page insert offering more than
fifty new architectural images, "Understanding Architecture: Its Elements, History, and Meaning"
is enhanced with the inclusion of an extensive list of suggested readings for further study, a
wealth of informative notes, a useful glossary of specialized architectural terminology, and a
comprehensive index. "Understanding Architecture: Its Elements, History, and Meaning" is the
ideal textbook for classroom curriculums and a very strongly recommended addition to both
community and academic Architectural Studies reference collections.
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
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Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
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