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Library Bookwatch

Volume 5, Number 11 November 2010 Home | LBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Library CD Music Shelf Library DVD Shelf
Audiobook Shelf Cookbook Shelf Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf
Native American Shelf Business Shelf Biography Shelf
Writing/Publishing Shelf Criminology Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf
Judaic Studies Shelf Philosophy Shelf Agriculture Shelf
Holocaust Studies Shelf Literary Shelf Military Shelf
Christian Studies Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf Social Issues Shelf
Photography Shelf Education Shelf Humor Shelf
Fiction Shelf Poetry Shelf Library Science Shelf
Money/Finance Shelf Economics Shelf Civil War Shelf
Railroading Shelf Self-Help Shelf Political Science Shelf
Travel Shelf Mythology Shelf Computer Shelf
Art Shelf Sports Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf
World History Shelf Language Studies Shelf Environmental Studies Shelf
Needlecraft Shelf    


Reviewer's Choice

Pioneers
Stephen MacDonosh
Brandon
c/o DuFour Editions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9780863224331, $34.95, www.brandonbooks.com

The family of Barack Obama is one that delves deep into history and has many differing routes. "Pioneers: The Frontier Family of Barack Obama" looks into the roots of the president's maternal family, and the history of the Dunhams. Looking to gain perspective on the individual through his deep family history, an understanding of Obama's mixed roots provides an educational and thoughtful read. "Pioneers" is a unique addition to any history collection focusing on genealogy.

Handmade Living
Lotta Jansdotter
Chronicle Books
680 Second Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
9780811865470, $29.95, www.chroniclebooks.com

Home crafts can be more than personally fulfilling, it can be very useful, and an outlet for creativity. "Handmade Living: A Fresh Take on Scandinavian Style" is a tour of the home of famed designer Lotta Jansdotter as she gives readers a tour of her home and shows off her take on the traditional Swedish with n n emphasis on handcrafting. Hoping to inspire others to take up the craft with plenty of full color photographs, "Handmade Living" is an excellent design and coffee table book.

Madness at the Gates of the City
Barry Spector
Regent Press
2747 Regent Street, Berkeley, CA 94705
9781587901737, $22.00, www.regentpress.net

Through the classics, one can gain a intriguing look at the status of modern America. "Madness at the Gates of the City: The Myth of American Innocence" uses the lens of Greek Mythology to analyze America and its history. From the mythology created in the modern day about the past to the truth of the same past, America has much in common with the ancient Greek mythology that Western culture draws so much from. "Madness at the Gates of the City" is an excellent read with very much to think about.

Aunting
Laura L. Ellingson & Patricia J. Sotirin
Baylor University
PO Box 97363, Waco, TX 76798
9781602581524, $24.95, www.baylorpress.com

Plenty of books look toward the role of the mother and father, but what of the aunt? "Aunting: Cultural Practices That Sustain Family and Community Life"looks at the role of the aunt, a role that is not necessarily relegated entirely to the sister of a parent. This place of kinship is a major role in the lives of many young people as they grow, and Laura Ellingson and Patricia J. Sotirin provide an expert analysis of this dynamic and its importance. "Aunting" is a fascinating twist on familial life, and makes for a very highly recommended read.

Map Scripting 101
Adam Duvander
No Starch Press
38 Ringold Street, San Francisco, CA 94103
9781593272715, $34.95, www.nostarch.com

Maps are wonderful ways to display information, and with the advancement of the information age, interactivity has made them even greater sources of information. "Map Scripting 101: An Example-Driven Guide to Building Interactive Maps with Bing, Yahoo! and Google Maps" delves on how create online maps using the many internet map services available through popular providers. Covering the process from start to finish and how to use many advanced languages to enhance one's use, "Map Scripting 101" is a useful resource which shouldn't be missed for any business looking to use interactive maps as a major tool.


The Library CD Music Shelf

Mira
Jienat
Self-Published
c/o Rock Paper Scissors (publicity)
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2, Bloomington, IN 47404
JNCD002 $29.00 Blu-ray CD www.rockpaperscissors.biz www.jienat.com

Mira is a self-released album from the international band Jienat, mixed and mastered on two crystal-clear Blu-ray CDs. One CD offers the album as an audio-only Blu-ray disc; the second presents the album as a standard CD/high-definition SACD. The music plays beautifully on standard CD players as well as SACD or Blu-ray players. Mira is an eclectic celebration of international musical influences from West Africa, Sami culture, and Bahia, yet ultimately embodies the Arctic world music and culture dear to Jienat's collective heart. A love for the land, from its unpredictable weather to its inquisitive wild reindeer, runs through the passionate strains of this unforgettable album. Highly recommended. The tracks are "Sissel" (3:25), "Andreas/Andre" (4:21), "Angelique" (3:56), "Dancehall" (4:01), "Radio Belgrano" (3:26), "Fredrik Albert" (4:57), "Mira" (4:17), "Adama" (5:42), "Tudeer" (2:24), "Gille" (4:32) and "August Samuel" (6:22).

Margie Baker and Friends Live at Rasselas
Produced by Margie Baker
Engineered by Adrian Wong
c/o The Creative Service Company
4360 Emerald Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
$34.99 www.myspace.com/creativeservicecompany

African-American stage singer Margie Baker and her eclectic band present Margie Baker and Friends Live at Rasselas: A Musical History of San Francisco's Fabulous Fillmore District of the Forties, which features their renditions of some of the most beloved and enduring songs by top-of-the-line black musicians. Embracing the spirit of jazz, soul, and blues, Margie Baker and Friends Live at Rasselas is as much a tribute to African-American popular music as it is pure listening pleasure. The tracks are "Let the Good Times Roll", "Shake A Hand", "Don't Get Around Much Anymore", "I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good", "Early In The Morning", "Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying", "I Got A Right To Cry", "Please Send Me Someone To Love", "Fine Brown Frame", "Instrumental", "I'm Falling For You", "R.M. Blues", "Jelly, Jelly", "Parker's Mood", "Straighten Up And Fly Right", "Since I Fell For You", "Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby?", "I Wonder Where Our Love Has Gone", "God Bless The Child", and "Encore - Route 66". Highly recommended.


The Library DVD Shelf

Down Under the Sea
Smithsonian Networks
Infinity Entertainment Group
c/o Greenleaf & Associates (publicity)
vicki@greenleafandassociates.com
$19.98 smithsonianchannel.com

Down Under the Sea is a two-DVD documentary collection revealing mysteries and wonders of the deep. "The Big Blue" focuses on the planet's largest living creature, the majestic Blue Whale, with a bonus "Footprints on Water: The Nan Hauser Story" episode about the efforts of a tireless American conservationist. "Secrets of the Great Barrier Reef" reveals Australia's 1,200 mile-long treasure and the unique marine life that inhabit it. Colorful, wondrous, inspirational, and yet also a sadly cautionary tale about the depredations humanity continues to inflict upon the natural environment, Down Under the Sea is a top-notch pick and highly recommended as a gift for nature lovers as well as for public library collections. 2 DVDs, 140 minutes.

Jean-Michel Cousteau: Ocean Adventures
PBS Home Video
c/o SSA Public Relations
15260 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1730, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
9781608833078 $49.99 www.shopPBS.org

Jean-Michel Cousteau: Ocean Adventures collects a medley of documentaries featuring Peabody and Emmy Award-winning host Jean-Michel Cousteau and his top-notch diving team. Ocean Adventures is not only about the mysteries and wonders of the deep, but also about the need to better understand the ocean as well as practice sustainable management of its wealth and offerings. The documentaries presented are "Sharks at Risk & Gray Whale Obstacle Course", "Sea Ghosts & Call of the Killer Whale", "Return to the Amazon", "Voyage to Kure Parts 1 & 2" (referring to the outermost islands of the Northwest Hawaiian Island Archipelago), and "America's Underwater Treasures Parts 1 and 2". Highly recommended, especially as a gift for nature lovers and for public library collections. 5 DVDs, 11 hours, closed-captioned, widescreen.

The Decade of Destruction: The Indians
Adrian Cowell, producer
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547
$59.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com

The Decade of Destruction: The Indians (Classroom Version) is part of an educational DVD documentary series chronicling how the Amazonian rainforest has been under siege from 1980 to 1990. "The Indians" specifically focuses upon the hardships endured by the many forest Indian tribes, who have suffered immensely from colonists, loggers, and the many unfamiliar diseases brought by both. Despite the Brazilian Government's Indian Agency's efforts to protect native peoples from devastation, many tribes have succumbed to or are threatened by extinction. A sobering true story of human rapacity, The Decade of Destruction: The Indians is highly recommended for classroom viewing, along with the rest of The Decade of Destruction series: "The Rainforest", "The Colonists", "The Development Road", "The Rubber Tappers" and "The Politicians." 16 minutes.

The Storytelling Class
A film by John Paskievich and John Whiteway
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547
1594589631 $295.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com

The Storytelling Class is a DVD documentary following Gordon Bell High School, located in Winnipeg. Gorden Bell is quite culturally diverse, teaching students from around the world as well as native Canadians - many of the student body are from locations plagued by war and other ravages. The students' reading of the memoir "A Long Way Gone" by Ishmael Beah, an accounting of his nightmarish days as a child soldier, prompts the creation of a voluntary, after-school storytelling project through which immigrant students can share their stories with their fellow Canadian students. The climax of the documentary involves Ishmael Beah and professional storyteller Laura Simms traveling all the way from New York, in this heartwarming documentary of finding commonality and learning to listen to one another. 47 and 59 minute versions on one DVD, English SDH captions or Spanish subtitles available.

Smith Show Entertainment
info@smithshowent.com
$24.99 each amazon.com

The "Careers for Teens" series of educational DVDs ideal for introducing young adults to different prospective employment fields. Each brief yet enlightening short film gives an up-close and personal look at the hands-on work men and women do each day in their chosen field. "Surgeon" includes a glimpse of real-life surgeons at work in the operating room before orthopedic and cardiac surgeries, as well as the challenges of balancing work and home life. "Researcher" tells of biomedical researchers who dedicate their time and effort to learning more about what makes living beings tick, and offers suggestions for pursuing scientific research as a career. "Scientist for Disabled Teens" follows three scientists who pursued their respective dreams of clinical psychology, neurosurgery, and psychiatry despite personal disabilities. "Pathologist" follows a teenage girl who becomes involved in the study of pathology when she learns her sister has cervical cancer. The "Careers for Teens" series are inspirational and involving viewing, highly recommended for high school and public library collections. 25 minutes each.

Cook's Country from America's Test Kitchen, season three
hosted by Christopher Kimball, et. al.
America's Test Kitchen
c/o SSA Public Relations (publicity)
15260 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1730, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
9781608832705 $29.99 www.ssapr.com

The third season of Cook's Country from America's Test Kitchen collects all thirteen episodes of the popular cooking show, as seen on public television. Filmed in a beautifully renovated nineteenth-century farmhouse, Cook's Country features classic, family-friendly recipes adjusted for the needs of the modern-day cook. In addition to the easy-to-follow, how-to instructions for preparing delectable dishes (with printable versions of all 29 recipes included), Cook's Country offers tips on selected the best cookware and kitchen tools, as well as tricks and techniques for savvy shopping at the supermarket. Cook's Country is a delight for cooks of all skill and experience levels, and an excellent gift for anyone responsible for making meals to remember! The episodes are "Two Perfect Pies", "Family Supper", "Old Fashioned Park", "Southern Comfort Food", "Beef Meets Grill", "Everybody Loves Chocolate", "Hearty Italian Meals", "Northern Cookout", "Southwestern Suppers", "Breakfast Show Stoppers", "Chicken Two Ways" and "Ultimate Ham Dinner". 2 DVDs.

Core Fusion Bootcamp with Elisabeth Halfpapp and Fred DeVito
Acacia
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 650, Silver Spring, MD 20910
9781598284522 $16.99 www.acacialifestyle.com

Core Fusion Bootcamp with Elisabeth Halfpapp and Fred DeVito is a cardio and strength training fitness DVD, featuring five ten-minute workouts that can be mixed, matched, and combined as desired. Featuring fast-paced exercise sequences from the Exhale mind/body spa's nationally renowned Core Fusion classes, Core Fusion Bootcamp is best used with a little inexpensive equipment (light hand weights, a mat, and a playground ball are recommended). Core Fusion co-creators Elisabeth Halfpapp and Fred DeVito host this excellent fat-burning, heart-strengthening workout, ideal for home DVD fitness libraries. 60 minutes, widescreen. Also highly recommended for the health-conscious is "Shiva Rea Power Flow Yoga" (9781598285062, $24.99 185 min.), which is packed with thirteen of the best segments from Shiva Rea's previous Yoga DVDs, allowing viewers to tailor the length and focus of a flexibility-building yoga workout to their personal needs.

Dance with Julianne: Just Dance!
Julianne Hough
Anchor Bay Entertainment
2401 West Big Beaver Road, Suite 200, Troy, MI 48084-3304
$14.98 www.anchorbayentertainment.com

Choreographer and two-time "Dancing with the Stars" champion Julianne Hough presents Dance with Julianne: Just Dance!, a fitness DVD featuring three energetic routines great for burning fat, toning muscles, and feeling good. Dance with Julianne is designed to work the whole body to vigorous and catchy music; it's a great way to have fun while staying active and healthy. In a special bonus feature, Julianne offers a one-on-one personal dance lesson, demonstrating key dance steps at a slower pace and offering helpful tips to improve one's technique and personal style. A "Behind the Scenes" featurette rounds out this enriching addition to exercise and fitness DVD libraries. 46 minutes plus 7 minutes dance lesson.

Building the Great Cathedrals
PBS
c/o SSA Public Relations
15260 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1730, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
9781608833030 $24.99 www.ssapr.com

Building the Great Cathedrals ($24.99, 56 min.) is an episode of the award-winning public television series NOVA on DVD, exploring the extraordinary medieval architectural achievements that were the grand Gothic cathedrals. Some of these institutions took the effort of entire towns, and as long as hundred years to build; many are on the verge of collapse today. Modern engineers, architects, art historians, and computer scientists study the great cathedrals today - both to learn more about how such incredible temples were created, and to devise ways to save them from ruin. An amazing study of the genius of medieval builders and the beautiful fruits of their labors, Building the Great Cathedrals is a choice pick for public library DVD collections. Also highly recommended is NOVA episode "Crash of Flight 447" ($24.99, 56 min.), which explores the mysterious 2009 tragedy of Flight AF447, which was lost over the Atlantic Ocean despite its many elaborate safety and navigation features, as well as a pristine safety record.

The Nature of Existence
Roger Nygard, filmmaker
Walking Shadows
www.walking-shadows.com www.TheNatureOfExistence.com
c/o Greenleaf & Associates (publicity)
vicki@greenleafandassociates.com
$24.95 DVD / $29.95 DVD 2-disc collector's set / $29.95 Blu-ray

"Trekkies" filmmaker Roger Nygard presents The Nature of Existence, an extraordinary documentary about The Big Questions - why are we here? Who or what created the Universe? Does God exist? What are morality, and spirituality? The Nature of Existence explores all these mysteries from a multitude of scientific and spiritual perspectives - the people giving testimonies range from physicist Dr. Steve Biller, to Rabbi Boruch Kaplan, to notable author and atheist Richard Dawkins, and many more. The result is a film festival award-winning voyage of ultimate discovery, highly recommended for anyone who has ever wondered: Why? 204 minutes (2-disc collector's set), English subtitles, widescreen.

The Seekers Guide to Harry Potter
Dr. Geo Athena Trevarthen
Reality Films
21321 Oakwood Lane, Foresthill, CA 95631
$19.95 www.reality-entertainment.com

Dr. Geo Athena Trevarthen has extensively and independently researched the lore of the popular Harry Potter fantasy series; now she shares her findings in The Seekers Guide to Harry Potter: The Secrets and Symbols Behind Harry Potter's World, a DVD exploring the hidden secrets of J.K. Rowling's captivating fantasy world. The Seekers Guide to Harry Potter is a completely unauthorized account (not licensed, endorsed, or affiliated with J.K. Rowling or Warner Bros.) that delves into the mythos of the magic in Harry Potter's world, and its shamanic history. A wonderfully enriching supplement to the widely beloved books and movies, highly recommended to devoted Harry Potter fans.

The Legend of Tillamook's Gold
Questar
307 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60601
9781594643736 $14.99 www.questarentertainment.com

The Legend of Tillamook's Gold is an amazing, family-friendly adventure following a Julie (played by Suzanne Marie Doyon), an ordinary 14-year-old girl who stumbles across an ancient coin on the beach connected to a Native American legend about a lost treasure. With the aid of her grandfather (played by Emmy nominee Max Gail) and his friend Standing Elk (played by Floyd "Red Crow" Westerman), she sets out on her quest to discover Tillamook's forgotten gold. An unforgettable journey ensues, in this enthralling saga highly recommended for family and public library collections alike. 107 minutes.


The Audiobook Shelf

A River Runs Through It and Other Stories
Norman Maclean, author
David Manis, narrator
Highbridge Audio Books
201 Sixth Street SE, Suite 220, Minneapolis, MN 55414
9781615731121 $26.95 www.highbridgeaudio.com 1-800-755-8532

A River Runs Through It and Other Stories is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of Norman Maclean's classic autobiographical novella of a generational, family love of fly-fishing that borders on religion. The river itself is a metaphor for how life flows onward, and the interconnection of all things. In addition to the Maclean's timeless classic, two more of his stories are performed on audio for the first time: "Logging and Pimping and 'Your Pal, Jim'" and "USFS 1919: The Ranger, the Cook, and a Hole in the Sky". Smoothly narrated by network television actor David Manis, A River Runs Through It and Other Stories is an excellent addition to public library audiobook collections, sure to be enduringly popular. 7 CDs, 8 hours.

Gingerbread Cookie Murder
Joanne Fluke, Laura Levine, and Leslie Meier
Recorded Books, LLC
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
9781449840907 $123.75 www.recordedbooks.com 1-800-638-1304

Multiple voice actors lend their talents to bring the unabridged audiobook rendition of Gingerbread Cookie Murder to vivid life. Gingerbread Cookie Murder is actually an anthology of three murder mysteries: "Gingerbread Cookie Murder" by Joanne Fluke (when a neighbor is murdered there are suspects aplenty to go around), "The Dangers of Gingerbread Cookies" by Laura Levine (which one of a good doctor's jealous lovers could have been willing and able to kill him?), and "Gingerbread Cookies and +Gunshots" by Leslie Meier (a five-year-old has disappeared, his father turns up dead, and a killer could strike again at any moment). Suspenseful and engaging all the way through, Gingerbread Cookie Murder is a holiday-themed mystery lover's delight, and sure to prove a popular lend for any audiobook library. 10 CDs, 11.5 hours.

The Kitchen House
Kathleen Grissom, author
Orlagh Cassidy and Bahni Turpin, narrators
Blackstone Audiobooks
PO Box 969, Ashland, OR 97520
9781441761248 $105.00 www.BlackstoneAudio.com 1-800-729-2665

A National Blue Ribbon Book, The Kitchen House is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of Kathleen Grissom's antebellum novel of tragedy, family bonds, love, loyalty, prejudice, and ruin. Orphaned as a seven-year-old Irish immigrant, Lavinia grows up living and working with the slaves of a kitchen house on a tobacco plantation. Cared for by Belle, the master's illegitimate daughter, Lavinia shares a strong tie with her adoptive family even though the color of her skin sets her apart. When Lavinia is allowed into the "big house", she finds herself on the border between severely different and utterly unequal worlds. Lavinia must make drastic choices with cruel consequences, in this captivating and suspenseful chronicle. Highly recommended. 10 CDs, 13 hours, tracks every three minutes for easy bookmarking.

The Lost World
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
adapted by John de Lancie & Nat Segaloff
directed by Brendon Fox
L.A. Theatre Works
681 Venice Boulevard, Venice, CA 90291
1580815855 $16.95 www.latw.org 1-800-708-8863

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's classic adventure about a scientific expedition in the heart of the Amazon jungle - where they encounter a land untouched by time, populated with dinosaurs and cave men - comes alive in The Lost World, a full-cast audiobook presentation. Adapted by veteran actor John de Lancie and Nat Segaloff, The Lost World is read aloud by seven major voice actors and beautifully recreates a forgotten time of danger and excitement. A sound tour of the Dino Lab at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County rounds out this grand adventure, highly recommended especially for audiobook connoisseurs. 1 CD, 58 minutes.


The Cookbook Shelf

Tastes Of Africa
Justice Kamanga
Struik Lifestyle
c/o International Publishers Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Dr., Dulles, VA 20166
www.internationalpubmarket.com
9781770078024, $30.00, www.amazon.com

For culinary enthusiasts, browsing through a superbly presented and unique cookbook is a pleasure second only to preparing and consuming the exotic dishes pictured and described. Such is the case with "Tastes Of Africa", a 192-page, profusely illustrated compendium of authentic African dishes deftly compiled and expertly presented by Justice Kamanga. Organized into distinctive sections beginning with Starters (appetizers); Fish and Seafood; Polutry and Meats; and concluding with Side Dishes; Breads; and Desserts, this cornucopia of delectable meal-time offerings is provided with thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' instructions. Of special note is an entire section devoted to vegetarian dishes. From Fish Frikkadels with Wasabi Tartare Sauce; Moroccan Lemon Chicken with Olives; and Roast Loin of Pork with Fennel Bulbs; to Baked Mushrooms with Avocado, Asparagus and Cheese; and South African Health Bread; "Tastes Of Africa" ranges the whole continent and offers truly memorable dining experiences for the adventurous. Enhanced with the inclusion of a Glossary; a Conversion Chart and Oven Temperatures; and a comprehensive Index, "Tastes Of Africa" is an enthusiastically recommended addition to personal and community library cookbook collections.

Anybody Can Cook in a Crockpot!
Debbie Thornton
Quail Ridge Press
PO Box 123, Brandon, MS 39043
9780974497242, $19.95, www.quailridge.com

A Crockpot can prove to be a very diverse, useful, and easy to use tool. "Anybody Can Cook in a Crockpot!: Slow Cooking Your Way to Heaven" blends Christian affirmation with an assortment of simple yet delicious meals that anyone can prepare through the use of the crockpot. For any Christian who may be cooking-impaired, "Anybody Can Cook in a Crockpot!" may be the book for them.

Cooking With The Movies
Anthony F. Chiffolo & Rayner W. Hesse, Jr.
Greenwood Press
c/o ABC-CLIO
Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
www.abc-clio.com
9780313350306, $55.00, www.amazon.com

The collaborative work of film buffs and culinary enthusiasts Anthony F. Chiffolo and Rayner W. Hesse, Jr., "Cooking with the Movies: Meals on Reels" is a 227-page compendium showcasing recipes associated with on-screen dishes featured in fourteen Hollywood movies. The genres of these films ranges from Mafia gangster epics to romantic comedies to doomed ships at sea. Enhanced throughout with black and white illustrations, each selected work of cinematic art is provided with a succinctly descriptive introduction and synopsis, with occasional 'spoiler alerts' and 'fun facts', as well as an 'In Brief' summary included release dates, director, writer, and cast citations, as well as awards won. The recipes themselves (again, each one being taken directly from meals served as part of the featured film) span an impressive culinary spectrum ranging from Pan-seared Rare Steak (Babette's Feast); Salmon with Mousseline Sauce and Cucumber (Titanic); and Barbequed Sweet Potatoes with Spicy Walnuts (What's Cooking?); to Cherry Tomatoes Stuffed with Guacamole (Tortilla Soup); Florentines with Whipped Cream and Fruit (Mostly Martha); and Lemon Poppy Seed Cake (Gosford Park). Supplemented with an informed and informative introduction, a list of abbreviations, a substantial bibliography, and a comprehensive index, a film enthusiast's delight and thoroughly kitchen cook friendly, "Cooking with the Movies: Meals on Reels" is especially recommended for film buff culinary shelves and community library cookbook collections.

Flavors of Malaysia
Susheela Raghavan
Hippocrene Books, Inc.
171 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016
9780781812498, $40.00, www.hippocrenebooks.com

The traditional foods of Malaysia utilize the regional resources incredibly well. "Flavors of Malaysia: A Journey Through Time, Tastes, and Traditions" is a cookbook guiding readers through how to embrace Malaysian cooking to their own ends and enjoy the very unique flavors that the country has produced over the years, using its power as a spice trading capital to its fullest. With excellent recipes like spicy peanut sausage, Chicken Rendang, Savory Red Rice, and so much more, "Flavors of Malaysia" is a top pick and very highly recommended addition to any cookbook collection focusing on international gourmet.


The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

Audio Production & Postproduction
Woody Woodhall
Jones & Bartlett Learning
40 Tall Pine Drive, Sudbury, MA 01776
9780763790714, $41.95, www.jblearning.com

A movie can look great, but it'll be shoddy if the audio is shoddy. "Audio Production & Postproduction" is a guide to capturing the sound of films to the most excellent extent possible and how production can make or break a film's audio. With advice on tools to use in audio production, things to do while shooting, dialogue editing and voice overs, and much more, Woody Woodhall compiles a a can't miss resource for any film maker who wants the best audio production possible. "Audio Production & Postproduction" comes with a CD with many useful resources, proving to be a choice pick for any film maker.

Millicent Scowlworthy
Rob Handel
Samuel French, Inc.
45 West 25th Street, NY, NY 10010-2751
www.samuelfrench.com
9780573698781, $8.95, www.amazon.com

Few things are so traumatic to a community as the murder of a child. "Millicent Scowlworthy" by Rob Handel is a deftly written play employing and exploring that theme. A simple synopsis is that a girl is found murdered in a cellar on Christmas morning. Compounding this tragedy is a massacre at the high school. Most of the community simply want to forget the tragedy and move on with their lives. But nine teenagers can't do that. They gather at a neglected memorial and reenact the events that so traumatized their town. A compelling play for twelve actors (seven males, five females), "Millicent Scowlworthy" is a deftly written treatment of a sensitive subject that is as compelling as it is engaging, making it an especially ideal selection for community theatre groups and acting school workshop productions.

Barrier-Free Theatre
Sally Bailey
Idyll Arbor
39129 264th Ave SE, Enumclaw, WA 98022
9781882883783, $36.00

There are aspects of drama that will attract everyone. "Barrier-Free Theatre: Including Everyone in Theatre Arts -- In Schools, Recreation, and Arts Programs -- Regardless of (Dis)Ability" is a guide for theatre instructors to create a more inclusive process that can get everyone involved and spark fun and new interests in many. With extra chapters focusing on theater for special education students, "Barrier-Free Theatre" is a read that covers much, a top pick for any community or school theatre leader.

Sergi Belbel & Catalan Theatre
David George
Tamesis
c/o Boydell & Brewer Inc
668 Mount Hope Avenue, Rochester, NY 14620-2731
www.boydellandbrewer.com
9781855662209, $95.00, www.amazon.com

Sergi Belbel is a Catalan playwright, director, and literary translator, as well as serving as the Artistic Director of the National Theatre of Catalonia. "Sergi Belbel and Catalan Theatre: Text, Performance and Identity" by David George (Professor of Hispanic Studies at Swansea University, Wales, UK) is a detailed and scholarly study of Belbel and his influential career, his relationship with critics both at home and abroad, the reception of his own plays, as well as the plays he translated and adapted. Enhanced with an appendix providing plot summaries of selected Belbel plays, an extensive bibliography, and a comprehensive index, "Sergi Belbel & Catalan Theatre" is a 230-page compendium of seminal and meticulous scholarship and research that will prove to be a seminal contribution for professional and academic reference collections and 20th Century Theatrical Studies study lists.


The Native American Shelf

Thinking In Indian
Jose Barreiro
Fulcrum Publishing
4690 Table Mountain Drive, Suite 100, Golden, Colorado 80403
www.fulcrum-books.com
9781555917388, $19.95, www.amazon.com

John Mohawk is an elder of the Seneca Nation and an Iroquois traditionalist. He is also an accomplished philosopher and Native American issues activist whose impact and influence of 20th Century Native American affairs over the past three decades has been exceptionally influential. "Thinking in Indian: A John Mohawk Reader" is a 320-page compendium of John Mohawk's writings that has been deftly compiled and expertly edited by novelist, essayist, Native American activist Jose Barreiro. Barreiro first became involved with John Mohawk when he was recruited by Mohawk to help publish the national Native American newspaper 'Akwesasne Notes' (published for the Mohawk Nation. Drawing upon his considerable experience and expertise (Barreiro has also published dozens of Mohawk's essays and columns), in "Thinking in Indian: A John Mohawk Reader", Barreiro and Fulcrum Publishing are providing a seminal and valued contribution to Contemporary Native American Studies collections for personal reading lists, as well as academic and community library collections.


The Business Shelf

Entrepreneurship
Mark Casson
Edward Elgar Publishing
9 Dewey Court, Northampton, MA 01060-3815
www.e-elgar.com
9781849800396, $140.00, www.amazon.com

Entrepreneurship originated in prehistory when people first realized that they could trade something they had for something they wanted. Historically, successful entrepreneurship has depended upon a level of trust between trading partners, between merchants and their customers, between vendors and the manufacturers. "Entrepreneurship: Theory, Networks, History" by Mark Casson (Professor of Economics, University of Reading, UK) is a 400-page compendium providing a detailed, informative, insightful, and comprehensive descriptive explanation of the reliance of entrepreneurship upon the social sciences of economics, sociology, and business innovations such as networking and information gathering, the rise of trading companies, modern corporate globalization, and more. Divided into three main sections (Theory; Networks and Institutions; History), "Entrepreneurship" is a work of impressively painstaking scholarship and enhanced with the inclusion of a comprehensive Index, making it an ideal text for academia and invaluable reading for students studying the role of entrepreneurs as a fundamental factor in local, national, and international economic performance.

199 Fun and Effective Fund-raising Events
Eileen Figure Sandlin & Richard Helweg
Atlantic Publishing Group
1405 SW 6th Ave, Ocala, FL 34471-0640
9781601381484, $24.95,w ww.atlantic-pub.com

The hardest part of a nonprofit organization is finding the money. "199 Fun and Effective Fundraising Events for Nonprofit Organizations" is a guide for non-profit organizations who want to host fundraisers and want it to prove a boon to the community and a boon to the organization. Breaking the events into different levels and types, one is sure to find the ideal way to make ends meet and further the cause. "199 Fun and Effective Fundraising Events for Nonprofit Organizations" is a strong resource for any nonprofit in need of aid to further its goals.

Guerrilla Marketing Goes Green
Jay Conrad Levinson & Shel Horowitz
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
www.wiley.com
9780470409510, $21.95, www.amazon.com

The collaborative work of Jay Conrad Levinson and Shel Horowitz, "Guerrilla Marketing Goes Green: Winning Strategies to Improve Your Profits and Your Planet" is a 236-page compendium of insightful commentary and sound advice for the entrepreneur and small business owner on marketing strategies in these difficult and volatile economic times. With 'real world practicality', readers will learn how to significantly reduce their marketing costs and while increasing their profit margins by employing environmentally sound and ethically founded policies and practices; convert their vendors, customers, and competitors into a kind of auxiliary sales resource; successfully persuading business acquaintances to become joint-venture partners; utilizing social media, traditional media, and their own imagination to reduce advertising costs while employing alternative marketing practices. Simply stated, "Guerrilla Marketing Goes Green" is the distilled and effective wisdom of two of the most successful yet frugal entrepreneurs who have combined their many years of experience and expertise in a single volume that should be considered mandatory reading by anyone charged with the responsibility of insuring a healthy financial bottom line for their business while adhering to environmentally and ethically sound principles and practices. "Guerrilla Marketing Goes Green" is a strongly recommended addition to personal, professional, corporate, academic, and community library Business Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Rand Media Co.
265 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06880
http://theskinnyon.com

'The Skinny On' is a five volume series of instructional books by Jim Randel covering personal and financial achievement issues. Each title is an effective combination of illustration and text making them especially 'user friendly', concise, informed, informative, deftly written, and thoroughly accessible to the non-specialist general reader. This outstanding and superbly presented series includes "The Skinny On Time Management: How To Maximize Your 24-Hour Gift" (9780984139392, $14.95); "The Skinny On Direct Sales: Your First 100 Days" (9780982439098, $14.95); "The Skinny On Creativity: Thinking Outside The Box" (9780984441884, $14.95); "The Skinny On The Art Of Persuasion: How To Move Minds" (9780982439005, $14.95); "The Skinny On Networking: Maximizing The Power Of Numbers" (9780984441815, $14.95). Of special note is that each title includes a thematically appropriate bibliography for further study. While each title is independent and strongly recommended for personal reading lists, both school and community libraries would be well advised to acquire all five titles for their Business Studies instructional reference collections.

Chinese Business Etiquette
Stefan H. Verstappen
Stone Bridge Press
PO Box 8208, Berkeley, CA 94707
www.stonebridge.com
9781933330631, $9.95, www.amazon.com

China is one of our country's major trading partners. Every year more and more American firms are doing business with China, soliciting business with the Chinese, developing contacts with China's political establishment and business community. The Chinese business culture has many significant differences with the American business culture. That's why "Chinese Business Etiquette: The Practical Pocket Guide" will prove to be an invaluable and indispensable resource for American entrepreneurs and corporate executives seeking to business with the Chinese. Author Stefan Verstappen draws upon his years of experience and expertise traveling and working in China, as well as exploring internet investment opportunities in China, to compile this handy, pocket-sized, 148-page compendium of etiquette rules for networking, attending meetings, negotiating, and entertaining Chinese businessmen here in the United States or over in China. Of special note is the highly practical information on business gift-giving and language issues. No one doing business with the Chinese should be without their own personal and well-studied copy of Stefan H. Verstappen's "Chinese Business Etiquette: The Practical Pocket Guide"!


The Biography Shelf

A New York Memoir
Richard Goodman
Transaction
300 McGaw Drive-Raritan CTR, Edison, NJ 08837
9781412814928, $29.95, www.transactionpub.com

The massiveness of New York is hard for anyone to take head on. "A New York Memoir" is a memoir from Richard Goodman as he reflects on arriving in New York in 1975 and the challenges he faced in living in the city that never sleeps. A story of chasing one's dream and the constant array of challenges that are tossed at someone over three decades, "A New York Memoir" is an excellent read that will be hard to put down.

The Hard Way Home
Steve Kahn
University of Nebraska Press
1111 Lincoln Mall Ste. 400, Lincoln, NE 68588-0630
9780803232686, $22.95, www.nebraska.unl.edu

Alaska is a state like none other in the union. "The Hard Way Home: Alaska Stories of Adventure, Friendship, and the Hunt" is a memoir from Steve Kahn reflecting on the staples of Alaskan life, as eh shares a collection of essays on his time in Alaska, bringing readers a fine collection of thoughts on Alaska through many important events and natural disasters. A fine read for anyone who wants to understand Alaska better, "The Hard Way Home" is a solid addition to any memoir collection, highly recommended.

Adventures in Global Selling
Gayle Hickok & Bill Wilson
Red Anvil Books
c/o Elderberry Press
1393 Old Homestead Drive, Oakland, OR 97462
9781934956342, $19.95, www.elderberrypress.com

Everyday, you're trying to sell something whether you know it or not. "Adventures in Global Selling" tells the story of Gayle Hickok and his stories of traveling the world as a salesman and what he has learned as his own universal selling truths. He hopes his stories will inspire readers to reach for something greater in their own sales in life, even if they never work retail ever. "Adventures in Global Selling" is a fine read, solidly recommended for memoir collections.

Half Baked
Alexa Stevenson
Running Press
2300 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
9780762439461, $14.95, www.runningpress.com

The worst thing that ever happened may be the best thing that's ever happened. "Half Baked: The Story of My Nerves, My Newborn, and How We Both Learned to Breathe" is the memoir of Alexa Stevenson and her adventuress with her premature child changed her life, more than a typical child entering a mother's life would. Through her time in intensive care, she came to a new view on life, and "Half Baked" is a humorous and enlightening read that's an excellent addition to any memoir collection.

Writer in Residence
Mark Spitzer
Uno Press
c/o University of New Orleans Publishing
Education Building 210, New Orleans, LA 70148
9781608010202, $15.95, www.unopress.org

Academia isn't simply relegated to dusty old libraries "Writer in Residence" is the quirky memoir from Mark Spitzer as he tells a story of the famous bookstore Shakespeare & Co., and the writer that came through their and the unusual experiences of life that occur along the way. Offbeat, humorous, and endlessly entertaining, Spitzer has a way with words that makes "Writer in Residence" so hilarious and highly entertaining.

To The Rescue
Heidi S. Swinton
Deseret Books
Box 30178, Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0178
www.deseretbook.com
9781606418987, $34.99, www.amazon.com

"To the Rescue: The Biography of Thomas S. Monson" is a 588-page compendium covering the life, trials and accomplishments of the man who would become the 16th president of The Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints (commonly referred to as the Mormons). The current leader of the church founded by Joseph Smith and which today has members in every country of the world, is a man whose life is as dramatic as his calling. Replete with personal stories of his childhood, his advances within the Mormon Church hierarchy (he was made a Bishop at the age of 22 and became a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles at 36), and his willingness to endure hazards, dangers, and travels to the ends of the earth in service to individuals and groups in need of what he had to offer as an emissary of his faith and his people, "To the Rescue - the Biography of Thomas S. Monson" is an informed and informative, inspired and inspiring read from beginning to end. Enhanced with color photographs as well as black-and-white images, and including a Timeline, extensive footnotes, and a comprehensive index, "To the Rescue - the Biography of Thomas S. Monson" should be considered mandatory reading for all members of the Mormon faith, as well as anyone with an interest in a truly extraordinary life during extraordinary times.

The Story of One Life
Ludwik Hirszfeld
University of Rochester Press
668 Mt. Hope Avenue, Rochester, NY 14620-2731
9781580463386, $49.95, www.urpress.com

Where we come from and what drives us is a question that is asked often, but Hirszfeld did much to turn it into a science, among other things in his life "The Story of One Life: Ludwik Hirszfeld" is a republishing of the famed geneticist's autobiography with added content from editors Marta A. Balinska & William H. Schneider. A holocaust survivor and great contributor to the study of human genetics, this story blends history with science, following his life as a war physician in World War I to his utter disgust with the events of World War II. Brilliantly translated by Balinska, "The Story of One Life" is a thoughtful and highly historical read that belongs in any biography collection.

The Life of John Milne of Perth
Horatius Bonar
The Banner of Truth Trust
PO Box 621, Carlisle, PA 17013
9780851519616, $28.00, www.banneroftruth.co.uk

One of the most famous ministers of Australia, John Milne has a certain bit of reverence to the Christians of Australia. "The Life of John Milne of Perth" is a biography of one of the most famous evangelical ministers in the history. A revision and reprinting of contemporary and friend Horatius Bonar's biography from 1869, the biography has been expended to cover Milne and his close companions as well to provide a vivid picture of the religious time of mid-nineteenth century Australia. "The Life of John Mile of Perth" is a fine addition to community library collections focusing on Australian or Christian history.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

The Nighttime Novelist
Joseph Bates
Writer's Digest Books
c/o F+W Media
4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236
www.fwpublications.com
9781582978468, $22.99, www.amazon.com

Most writers have 'day jobs' unrelated to their literary activities and must do their creative writing during times of leisure -- a very limited commodity in these hectic times. Joseph Bates draws upon his extensive experience and considerable expertise as a published writer of both fiction and nonfiction to write "The Nighttime Novelist: Finish Your Novel in Your Spare Time", a 272-page compendium of practical advice and considerable insight into how any aspiring author can write their novel by utilizing the bits and pieces of available time throughout their day (and night). Superbly organized into quick and easy 'mini lessons', "The Nighttime Novelist" offers techniques for breaking down and dealing with the various elements of the novel; overcome commonly encountered obstacles to writing productively; and consistently enhancing the quality of the novel as the writing process progresses. Of special note are the 'Try It Out' assignments and more than twenty-five interactive worksheets that will prove to be of invaluable assistance for the 'spare time author' for starting to write, keeping on with writing, and completing the writing of a novel. With its 'notebook' style spiral binding allowing "The Nighttime Novelist" to lay out flat on a desk or table, this thoroughly 'user friendly' instructional guide is especially recommended to anyone and everyone trying to write a novel while holding down a day job and meeting their responsibilities to family and friends.

Memoirs of the Soul
Nan Merrick Phifer
Ingot Press
PO Box 40025, Eugene, OR 97404
Blessingway Author's Services (publicity)
134 East Lupita Road, Santa Fe, NM 87505
9780984206001, $19.95, www.ingotpress.com

Everyone has a story; it's getting the story out that's the challenge. "Memoirs of the Soul: A Writing Guide" serves a s a guide to help writers get their feelings and experiences out and on paper and make them into a coherent story easily understood by readers. For those who aren't sure of how to put a pen to paper with meaning, "Memoirs of the Soul" may be the guide that they need.

Make Me a Story
Lisa C. Miller
Stenhouse Publishers
477 Congress Street, Suite 4B, Portland, ME 04101-3451
9781571107893, $20.00, www.stenhouse.com

Stories have always been excellent educational mediums, and today is no different. "Make Me a Story: Teaching Writing Through Digital Storytelling" is a guide to teaching young writers the importance of good writing by showing that good writing is the key to a visual presentation of a story. The art and music should empower the writing, and Lisa Miller gives good advice on teaching this writing lesson. "Make Me a Story" is an excellent resource for English and Language arts teachers of elementary students, highly recommended.

Writing To Make a Difference
Dalya F. Massachi
Writing for Community Success
PO Box 5607, Berkeley, CA 94705
9780978883607, $29.95, www.dfmassachi.net

The pen is very mighty indeed if applied right. "Writing to Make a Difference: 25 Powerful Techniques to Boost Your Community Impact" is a guide to writing to make a difference, giving readers a thoughtful and concise guide to make the most out of their writing. With advice on keeping your message clear, concise, and powerful, Dalya F. Massachi gives readers a solid and educational read with plenty of real world examples on the power of the writer in making a difference. "Writing to Make a Difference" is an excellent read and a top pick for the concerned person with a way with the pen.


The Criminology Shelf

System Forensics, Investigation, and Response
John R. Vacca & K. Rudolph
Jones & Bartlett Publishers
40 Tall Pine Drive, Sudbury, MA 01776
www.jbpub.com
9780763791346, $82.95, www.amazon.com

From gun powder to the automobile to the computer, every advance in human technology has been co-opted for criminal use and required law enforcement authorities to evolve the means and resources to counteract them. We now live in an age of computer crime requiring forensic investigators who can find and interpret cyberspace evidence that will identify, capture, and successfully try computer criminals in a court of law. The newest addition to the Jones & Bartlett 'Learning Information Systems Security & Assurance' series, "System Forensics, Investigation, And Response" is a 460-page compendium that includes an overview of computer crime, computer system forensic methods and laboratories, investigatory tools, techniques and methods, and the role of the computer forensic specialist in solving crimes. Of special note is the summary inquiry into the newly emerging technologies and expectations for one of law enforcement's newest areas of involvement. An ideal textbook for academic Criminology courses, each individual chapter concludes with a 'chapter summary', key concepts and terms, and a 'chapter assessment'. Enhanced with a Standard Acronyms, a Glossary, extensive References, and a comprehensive Index, "System Forensics, Investigation, And Response" is an indispensable and valued addition to professional and academic library Criminology Studies instructional reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Health Care Emergency Management
Michael J. Reilly & David S. Markenson
Jones & Bartlett Publishers
40 Tall Pine Drive, Sudbury, MA 01776
www.jbpub.com
9780763755133, $74.95, www.amazon.com

Every year finds news stories of hospital deficiencies with respect to their emergency services, especially when tested by an unexpected disaster event. That's why "Health Care Emergency Management: Principles and Practice", the collaborative editorial work of Michael J. Reilly and David S. Markenson, is a welcome and comprehensive instructional text for hospital and emergency services administrators and staff members. This superbly organized and presented, 512-page compendium covers all aspects of emergency care management and disaster planning with chapters written by leading and seasoned experts. Utilizing case studies and 'real world' scenarios, "Health Care Emergency Management" provides an informed and informative text that is embellished with practical examples. There are even downloadable resources (including PowerPoints and a TestBank) for emergency management course instructors, making "Health Care Emergency Management" an ideal and 'user friendly' textbook, as well as being very highly recommended for both personal study and academic reference libraries.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

Byron And The Jews
Sheila A. Spector
Wayne State University Press
4809 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201-1309
http://wsupress.wayne.edu
9780814334423, $59.95, www.amazon.com

Lord Byron is best known as a leading British Romantic poet and his iconoclastic life style. What is not widely known is how popular his writings were with Jewish readers and that his works were translated into Hebrew, enjoying a continuing popularity with the leadership of Jewish cultural and political movements of the 19th and 20th centuries that continues down to the present day. "Byron and the Jews" is a superbly researched and deftly written 244-page compendium authored by independent scholar Sheila A. Spector focusing specifically on Byron's influence and impact on Jewish readers and academics with individual chapters respectively devoted to Bryon and the English Jews, the Maskilim, the Yiddishists, and the Zionists. Of special note is an informed and informative introduction to 'Translation and Identity' and concluding notes on 'Translation and Allegoresis'. Enhanced with the including of an appendix, extensive footnotes, a substantial bibliography, and a comprehensive index, "Byron and the Jews" is a informed and informative seminal study, making it highly recommended for students of the life and works of Lord Byron, as well as a valued addition to academic library Judaic Studies and Literary Studies reference collections.

Tropical Diaspora
Robert M. Levine
Markus Wiener Publishers
231 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ 08542
9781558765214, $28.95, www.markuswiener.com

Cuba has had a unique history with Judaism all its own. "Tropical Diaspora: The Jewish Experience in Cuba" is a history examining this history of how Cuba once was an immigration stop on the way to America for many European Jews coming to America during the 1920s, as well as how many fled the Nazi onslaught in Cuba during the second World War. Even as Castro rose to power, the history continues, as Castro has tried to keep accusations of Anti-Semitism down despite rough relations with the populace as well as Israel. "Tropical Diaspora" is a excellent and scholarly read, a fine addition to any history and Judaic studies collection.


The Philosophy Shelf

Existential Aspirations
Charles D. Hayes
Autodidactic Press
575 South Begich Drive, Wasilla, Alaska, 99687
www.autodidactic.com
9780962197987, $16.95, www.amazon.com

Philosophy is not just an cognitive abstract pastime for ivory tower intellectuals. It is a body of knowledge, ideas, concepts, and problem solving approaches that have a genuine value and practical 'real world applications for human life and civilized conduct. At its very best, philosophical insights arise from real life experiences examined carefully and with a minimum of cultural bias. "Existential Aspirations: Reflections of a Self-Taught Philosopher" by Charles D. Hayes is a thoroughly 'reader friendly' 224-page compendium of reflective observation and insightful analysis of a series of contemporary issues ranging from a citizen's responsibility within the framework of a political democracy, to the relationship of our perception of happiness, to the ever present factor of our own mortality, and so much more. Of special note are a featured collection of aphorisms. Deftly written and superbly presented, "Existential Aspirations: Reflections of a Self-Taught Philosopher" is thoughtful and thought-provoking from first page to last, making it an excellent and prized addition to personal reading lists, as well as academic and community library Contemporary Philosophy collections.


The Agriculture Shelf

Rice Biofortification
Sally Brooks
Earthscan
1616 P Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036
9781849711005 $34.95 www.earthscan.co.uk

Rice alone isn't going to be enough for people to survive on. "Rice Biofortification: Lessons for a Global Science and Development" looks at Biofortification, the act of enriching staple food crops with extra nutrients for nutrition to deliver those in need the additional nutrients they need to survive and get by in life. Looking at this method of health promotion and the problems it can bring in addressing world hunger, it's a scholarly dissection of genetic engineering and much more. "Rice Biofortification" is a much needed and highly recommended analysis.


The Holocaust Studies Shelf

I Shall Live
Henry Orenstein
Beaufort Books
27 West 20th Street, Suite 1102, New York, NY 10011
9780825305979 $15.95 www.beaufortbooks.com

When you label people subhuman, you may find yourself at the mercy of their very human cunning. "I Shall Live: Surviving the Holocaust Against All Odds" reflects on the Orensteins, who survived their ordeal in World War II by defying the higher Nazi plan with a brilliant hoax. A unique holocaust survival story based on wise scheming and determination, "I Shall Live" is not a read to be overlooked for history collections focusing on the Holocaust.


The Literary Shelf

Southern Frontier Humor: An Anthology
M. Thomas Inge and Ed Piacentino, editors
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Boulevard, Columbia, MO 65201
9780826218865 $26.95 www.umsystem.edu/upress

Mark Twain was not the originator of Southern humor. "Southern Frontier Humor: An Anthology" is a collection of the southern humor that Twain studied to gain his own writing chops. Looking at the work of many frontiers writers who put their own thoughts and opinions on America's frontiers. With names such as Samuel Clemens, Thomas Thorpe, David Crockett and others, "Southern Frontier Humor" is a must have to anyone who wants a better understanding of southern thought throughout the civil war.


The Military Shelf

The Israeli Secret Services and the Struggle Against Terrorism
Ami Pedahzur
Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd Street, New York, NY 10023-7015
9780231140430, $22.50, www.cup.columbia.edu

Military might alone is not what's needed to win the war on Terror. "The Israeli Secret Services & the Struggle Against Terrorism" discusses the reliance of Israel on its elite military units to counter terror throughout Israel and the chaotic middle East. Often, this force has been used wrongly or excessively, and Ami Pedahzur speaks out against this misdirected use, and provides a thoughtful and detailed analysis. "The Israeli Secret Services & the Struggle Against Terrorism" is a fine read and solidly recommended.

Between Threats and War
Micah Zenko
Stanford Security Studies
c/o Stanford University Press
1450 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1124
9780804771917 $22.95 www.sup.org

The Cold War is over, but the call for under the radar military operations are not done yet. "Between Threats and War: U. S. Discrete Military Operations in the Post-Cold War World" is an analysis of the military's actions around the world which are not often announced or heard about in the media. Author Micah Zenko presents twenty of these operations and criticizes them for the efficiency or lack their of accomplishing the U.S.'s security goals. "Between Threats and War" is a thoughtful read on the actions of the military during peacetime.


The Christian Studies Shelf

The Melody of Faith
Vigen Guroian
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
2140 Oak Industrial Drive, NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
9780802864963 $14.00 www.eerdmans.com 1-800-253-7521

Art and music have gained a cherished place in Orthodox Christianity. "The Melody of Faith: Theology in an Orthodox Key" analyzes the use of music as a metaphor in Orthodox Christianity and how the many themes that are important to Orthodoxy ring strong in their traditional music throughout the countries where Orthodox Christianity is prominent. Thoughtful and intriguing, "The Melody of Faith" is quite the read and is a fine addition to any Christian and musical studies collection.

Follow
Floyd McClung
David C. Cook
c/o Cook Communications
4050 Lee Vance View, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
9781434701923, $14.95, www.amazon.com

Following the way of Jesus is not a white bread life, it is something far greater. "Follow: A Simple and Profound Call to Live Like Jesus" is a thoughtful take on the teachings of Christ in today's world, encouraging readers to come to understand the new testament as not a safe and sterile life, but a life of passion, caring, and not being restrained by society. "Follow" comes with a simple, yet powerful message, highly recommended.

Introducing the Practice of Ministry
Kathleen A. Cahalan
Liturgical Press
St. John's Abbey, PO Box 7500, Collegeville, Minnesota, 56321-7500
9780814631690, $19.95, www.amazon.com

A ministry is more than one man. "Introducing the Practice of Ministry" discusses that ministry as a whole, and the role of the minister in that community. Kathleen A. Cahalan discusses ministry in this fashion, with an eye for disciples, vocation, leadership, and countless other important practices that are vital to being a good community leader and minister that can help the faith strong in a community with solid values. "Introducing the Practice of Ministry" is a top pick for any minister with doubts on their ability.

Christmas
Donald Heinz
Fortress Press
PO Box 1209, Minneapolis, MN 55440
9780800697334, $25.00, www.fortresspress.com

Jesus had very little to say about Christmas in the New Testament, but why is it such a big deal. "Christmas: A Festival of Incarnation" tells the story of Christmas, looking at the history and how it came to be. An originally much more raunchy and chaotic celebration, Christmas has one of the most unique and riveting histories of any religious holiday, morphing very much over its centuries of existence into the commercial juggernaut of the modern day. "Christmas" is a fine addition to any Christian studies or history collection.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Nostradamus, Bibliomancer
Peter Lemesurier
New Page Books
c/o Career Press Inc.
PO Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
9781601631329 $18.99 www.newpagebooks.com

Nostradamus is a polarizing figure that divides the believers of mysticism and those who defend rational thought. "Nostradamus, Bibliomancer" looks into the process that Nostradamus used to divine his prophecies, as author Peter Lemesurier claims that Nostradamus simply believed history repeated itself and used his own knowledge of history to make his own prediction of the future, and despite this logic, he has rarely been correct. "Nostradamus, Bibliomancer" is a thoughtful expose on the physician's work, highly recommended.


The Social Issues Shelf

Reimagining Detroit
John Gallagher
Painted Turtle Press
c/o Wayne State University Press
4809 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201-1309
9780814334690 $19.95 http://wsupress.wayne.edu

Detroit was once known as the motor city. It has now become known for crime. "Reimagining Detroit" examines the decline of Detroit and what can be done to turn the city around and make it rise far ad above what it has become in recent years. Calling for social, economic, and political revitalization the city has a chance of recovering and returning to the greatness it once had. Thoughtful with no shortage of ideas to save Detroit, "Reimagining Detroit" is a solid addition to any social issues collection.

Property Rights
Bruce L. Benson, editor
Palgrave Macmillan
c/o The Independent Institute
100 Swan Way, Oakland, CA 94621-1428
9780230102477, $30.00, www.palgrave.com

Property law can be something hard to understand, even when you're a lawyer. "Property Rights; Eminent Domain and Regulatory Takings Re-Examined" examines property developments in recent years and the status of eminent domain and how the Kelo v. New London changed a lot on the table about politics. Drawing through many who have practiced property law and what it means for the future of property rights, "Property Rights" is a key read and a solid addition to any political or law collection focused on land ownership.

Reefer Gladness
Michael Konik
Huntington Press
3665 South Procyon Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 29103
1935396404, $15.95, www.huntingtonpress.com

Marijuana is demonized for some, and a saint for others. "Reefer Gladness: Stories, Essays, and Riffs on Marijuana" is a collection of memoirs from Michael Konik as he becomes enlightened on the truth behind marijuana - that it isn't the greatest evil the plague mankind and it has plenty of good use. Thoughtful and persuasive, Konik's style is sure to make the choir and skeptics alike on the issue gain a new thought and intrigue along with it. "Reefer Gladness" is a choice and solidly recommended read, not to be missed.

Do It Anyway
Courtney E. Martin
Beacon Press
25 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108-2892
9780807000472, $16.00, www.beacon.org

Doing good is about more than feeling good about yourself. "Do It Anyway: The New Generation of Activists" is a guide to Activism that encourages getting it done over all else. Courtney Martin comes to readers with her fierce inspiration for would be activists and gives them plenty to do and say to make a bigger difference in life. Drawing on the experiences of activists and others charged with getting it done, "Do It Anyway" is a top pick for those who want meaning in their life.

A Guide to Essential Human Services, second edition
Frederic G. Reamer
NASW Press
750 First Street NE, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20002-4241
9780871013972, $25.99, www.naswpress.org

There is help, it is just a matter of knowing how to get it. "A Guide to Essential Human Services" discusses the many services available to all Americans to help them find the help that they need that is often hard to find. From everything from child protection services, to education, legal action, to knowing about rights many Americans never knew they had, "A Guide to Essential Human Services" is a very useful and highly recommended resource.


The Photography Shelf

H. H. Bennett Photographer: His American Landscapes
Sara Rath
Terrace Books
c/o University of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe Street, 3rd Floor, Madison, WI 53711-2059
9780299237042 $24.95 www.wisc.edu/wisconsinpress

When photography was new, there were many who took it as far as they could for their own legacy. "H. H. Bennett: His American Landscape" looks at this pioneer of photography who not only innovating the technical side of photography but came to use it as his own form of art in the second half of the nineteenth century of Chicago. With plenty of his work, "H. H. Bennett" is a fine biography of a man's work and his lasting legacy.

Horses in Living Color
Barbara D. Livingston
Eclipse Press
3102 Beaumont Centre Circle, Lexington, KY 40591-9003
9781581502176, $29.95, www.amazon.com

Horses are beautiful in their variation, which has earned them idolization by many. "Horses in Living Color" is a collection of full color photography on the beauty and majesty that is held by many of the world's horses. With descriptive text further pointing out the details of the pictures, Barbara D. Livingston mostly lets the pictures talk for themselves. "Horses in Living Color" is the ideal coffee table book for the horse fan, highly recommended.

Shadow Catchers
Martin Barnes
Merrell Publishers
60 Cycle Media, 38 High Ave #1, Nyack, NY 10960
9781858945385, $69.96, www.merrellpublishers.com

In what you need for photography, a camera isn't on the list. "Shadow Catchers: Camera-Less Photography" is an analysis and study of camera-free photography outlining how it's done and its long history, and how modern artists are taking up the path of camera-free photography once more to produce things that are truly unique. Looking at the work of several artists, with a blend of black and white artwork reproductions and full color photographs throughout, "Shadow Catchers" is a fascinating look at this unique artistic method, very highly recommended.


The Education Shelf

Democracy and Higher Education
Scott J. Peters,Theodore R. Alter, Neil Schwartzbach
Michigan State University Press
Manly Miles Building, Suite 25, 1405 South Harrison Road, East Lansing, MI 48823-5245
9780870139765 $44.95 www.msupress.msu.edu

What is the purpose of academia in today's system of democracy. "Democracy and Higher Education: Traditions and Stories of Civic Engagement" discusses the role of higher education in civics. From the questions asked and their many answers, he details many of those involved in this practice and provides a insightful discussion all the way through. Drawing on many lessons and thoughts, "Democracy and Higher Education" is a scholarly and well composed volume, sure to add to the discussion on the value of academia in the democratic system.

Digital Tools for Teaching
Steve Johnson
Maupin House
2416 NW 71st Plae, Gainesville, FL 32653
9781934338841, $23.95, www.maupinhouse.com

More than every, technological literacy is very important. "Digital Tools for Teaching: 30 E-Tools for Collaborating, Creating, and Publishing Across the Curriculum" is a guide fo using Web 2.0 as a powerful tool for education and how to use it to its fullest. Describing the educational potential from the obvious like Google Earth to the not so obvious like Twitter, Steve Johnson gives a strong and very useful resource that shouldn't be overlooked. "Digital Tools for Teaching" is a must for any technology-minded educator.

MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers
Modern Language Association
26 Broadway, New York, NY 10004-1789
9781603290241, $22.00, www.mla.og

In college, a certain level of skill and style is required in one's work. "MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers" is a guide for college students who want to troubleshoot their own research papers and create something truly magnificent and excellently written. A resource that touches on much in working with the English language and what is expected of potentially publishable material, "MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers" is an incredibly useful resource for any college student who wants to go that extra mile with their work.


The Humor Shelf

It's Taken Years to Get This Old
Karen O'Connor
Harvest House Publishers
990 Owen Loop North, Eugene, Oregon 97402-9173
9780736929530, $6.99, www.harvesthousepublishers.com

With age comes wisdom, or at least that's what they say. "It's Taken Years to Get This Old" is a collection of wit and wisdom for the aging individual who is bound to have their life filled wit the beloved senior moments. Encouraging readers to never stop laughing, never stop loving, and never be afraid something new, "It's Taken Years to Get This Old" will prove a wonderful gift for those just passing the half century mark.


The Fiction Shelf

Bearing the Saint
Donna Farley
Conciliar Press
PO Box 748, Chesterton, IN 46304
9781936270040, $16.95, www.conciliarpress.com

Running was the one thing Edmund knew he was good at, but his other talents he would soon learn of. "Bearing the Saint" is an adventure set in ninth century England, as young Edmund, messenger for the Bishop, is charged with protecting the relics of St. Cuthbert from Viking invaders. A coming of age read for young Christian readers, "Bearing the Saint" is a read that will prove hard to put down.

My Name is Eric
Rei Kimura
Hannacroix Creek Books
1127 High Ridge Road #110, Stamford, CT 06905
9781889262840, $19.95, www.hannacroixcreekbooks.com

The love a dog to his family is hard to match. "My Name is Eric... and This is My Story" is a novel of family and kindness throughout Oceania from Rei Kimura told from the perspective of Eric, a Pomeranian dog. Thoughtful and charming, "My Name is Eric" is a tale that will make many a dog lover very happy, highly recommended.

Almost Lost, Nearly Found
Nancy Hammerslough
Brown Barn Books
119 Kettle Creek Road, Weston, CT 06883
9780979882425, $9.95, www.brownbarnbooks.com

It can be hard to come to terms with the consequences and weight of adulthood. "Almost Lost, Nearly Found" tells the story of Peggy, a troubled youth in a small town after the end of the World War II. Peggy's experiences leave her unsure of her future and leads her into lessons of sisterhood and friendship. "Almost Lost, Nearly Found" is a riveting read and solidly recommended for younger readers.

Gods of Manhattan
Al Ewing
Abaddon Books
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl., New York, NY 10020
9781906735869, $9.99, www.abaddonbooks.com

On the same side is only a temporary status. "Gods of Manhattan" is set in a unique world of science fiction with plenty of strange takes and originality. A world with superheroes of sorts but where they are not entirely virtuous, but are still seemingly on the side of the hero. A fascinating story with plenty of twists and original characters, "Gods of Manhattan" will be hard to put down.

Perseus
Richard Matturro
Livingston Press
University of West Alabama, Station 22, Livingston, AL 35470
9781604890532, $16.95, www.livingstonpress.com

Not every hero sets out to be a legend. "Perseus" is an original take on the tale of Perseus, serving as all a lampooning, a tribute, and a modernizing. Casting Perseus as an unwilling and unlikely individual who can't catch a break, the journey of Perseus is one of coming of age and coming to understanding with the disappointments of life. "Perseus" is not a read to be missed.

The Twisted Path Home
Fae Bidgoli
Dog Ear Publishing
4010 W. 86th Street, Ste. H, Indianapolis, IN 46268
9781608445172, $15.95, www.bidgoli.info

The past can make it hard to face the future. "The Twisted Path Home" is the story of Arezoo, an Iranian immigrant who has found love and a seemingly charming life in California, but is plagued by nightmares. Through therapy, she finds haunt evidence of her past in Iran and of a woman with a similar past one hundred years ago. "The Twisted Path Home" is a remarkable story of the pain of the past and the remarkable things we're capable of when overcoming adversity.


The Poetry Shelf

Blue Abundance
Noel Hanlon
Salmon Poetry
c/o DuFour Edtions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9781907056475, $19.95, www.salmonpoetry.com

In the farms of Oregon, there is no such thing as claustrophobia. "Blue Abundance" is a collection of poetry from Noel Hanlon, reflecting on her life in rural Oregon, musing on the lessons she has learned over the years. "Blue Abundance" is a fine collection with a good deal of humor, highly recommended. "Manual Labor": In spring, my hands/gripping the handle/of a spade each day/to soften the earth,/are growing numb.//As I work, I think/of it as a form/of prayer, feeding/some, saving no one.

Break the Glass
Jean Valentine
Copper Canyon Press
PO Box 271, Port Townsend, WA 98368
9781556593215, $22.00, www.coppercanyonpress.com

With plenty of experience, Jean Valentine keeps on chugging with her eleventh volume, "Break the Glass". A National Book Award winner, she focuses on remembering the tragedies of the past and what they have left behind. Thoughtful poetry, "Break the Glass" is a solid addition to any poetry collection. "Who Watches": Who watches/on a moon-surface hillside/the soon-dead children's rubber ball/circle in an oval/sunstruck orbit,/from hand to hand.../Cange, Haiti, Earth.


The Library Science Shelf

Managing the Small College Library
Rachel Applegate
Libraries Unlimited
c/o ABC CLIO
130 Cremona Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
9781591589174, $55.00, www.abc-clio.com

Not every library can afford to be a grand repository of all knowledge. "Managing the Small College Library" is a guide to running a library in a college where space is one of the most costly luxuries. These libraries must manage their smaller resources more efficiently, as they often cater to the same grueling requirements as their larger college brethren but with a fraction of the money and space. For anyone who is in charge of such libraries, "Managing the Small College Library" is a choice guide with no shortage of advice, a must for any small college librarian.

LibrarySparks
Diane Findlay, editor
Upstart Books
401 S. Wright Road, Janesville, WI 53547
9781602130524, $17.95

Learning in the library comes from more than books. "LibrarySparks Library Lessons: A Collection of the Finest Library Lessons from LibrarySparks Magazine" provides lessons for librarians who want ot educate their younger patrons in the library using a fascinating assortment of activities that goes from reading aloud, teaching technology and crafts, and so much more. A must for any librarian looking for good ideas, "LibrarySparks Library Lessons" is a top pick and very highly recommended.

Web Research in Academic Libraries
Rebecca Sullivan
ACRL
50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
9780838999264, $48.00, www.acrl.org

The internet is a great tool for research, but there are catches. "Web Research in Academic Libraries" is a guide for librarian and teachers who want to teach how to accurately use the internet for web research and an educational tool. With plenty of examples, Rebecca Sullivan has constructed a curriculum that is usable both for libraries and colleges who want to promote the Internet as the useful tool that it can be. An important resource that should be on hand for every library-based educator, "Web Research in Academic Libraries" is a must for community and college library collections.


The Money/Finance Shelf

Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half
Steve & Annette Economides
Thomas Nelson
PO Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214
9781400202836, $16.99, www.thomasnelson.com

No one likes going broke on groceries. "Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half: With America's Cheapest Family" is a guide from the appropriately named Economides family as they give readers the advice they need for the family that wants to trim down that grocery bill for money to spend on other things. It also gives advice for trimming down that cooking time, preparing for the picky eater, saving money when eating out, and making money with one's own freezer. "Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half" is a top pick for the family on a budget.


The Economics Shelf

Contemporary Economics, sixth edition
Robert J.Carbaugh
M. E. Sharpe Inc.
80 Business Park Drive, Armonk, NY 10504
9780765624888, $95.00, www.mesharpe.com

Economics can prove hard to understand for many, but it can be learned. "Contemporary Economics: An Applications Approach" is a lesson on economics that uses applicative methods to teach readers what they need to know about economics. In this sixth edition, each chapter provides a textual lesson the subject then gives plenty of examples and plenty of ways to test oneself on the subject at hand complete with answers to help gain a more complete understanding of the topic at hand. "Contemporary Economics" is a valuable read which should be at hands of any economics student.


The Civil War Shelf

Summer Thunder
Matt Spruill
The University of Tennessee Press
293 Communications Building, Knoxville, TN 37996-0325
9781572337275, $29.95, www.utpress.org

Artillery has since its inception played a powerful role in warfare. "Summer Thunder: A Battlefield Guide to the Artillery at Gettysburg" discusses Civil War era artillery and the major role it played in many battles surrounding and at the famous Battle at Gettysburg. With plenty of black and white photographs spread throughout the writing as well as technical descriptions and maps, "Summer Thunder" is a fascinating read on civil war artillery, very highly recommended.


The Railroading Shelf

101 Classic Toy Trains
Roger Carp
Kalmbach Books
21027 Crossroads Circle, PO Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187-1612
9780871164100, $24.95, www.kalmbachbooks.com

Model trains have been innovated well over the years. "101 Classic Toy Trains: Best of the Postwar Years" is a guide to the finest model trains and buildings created throughout the 1945 to 1969 years. Trains from many makers, these trains captivated the youth of America and some of the not so youthful as well to provide quite the hobby for many Americans. Packed with full color photographs and much information for buyers, "101 Classic Toy Trains" is a useful and highly recommended pick for model train enthusiasts.


The Self-Help Shelf

Among Angels
Jane Seymour
Guideposts
16 East 34th Street, New York, NY 10016
9780824948504, $14.99

It can be hard to remember there are those who will be there for you. "Among Angels" is a collection of inspiration from Jane Seymour as she discusses the angels, both those of faith and those in everyday life. Hoping to help readers keep their own heads up and drive themselves with faith, "Among Angels" is an excellent collection and a solid recommendation.

You Get to Say
Randy J. Gibbs
Cedar Fort
2373 W. 700 S. Springville, UT 84663
9781599554617, $11.99, www.cedarfort.com

The first step to solving your problems is to stop thinking of them as problems. "You Get to Say: Making Sense of Trials, Setbacks, and Negative Surprises" is an inspirational read from Randy Gibbs, a legally blind man who has ignored his disability to live his life to the fullest and how to make the most of it despite one's problems. With a positive attitude that's hard to overlook, "You Get to Say" is an excellent read, very highly recommended.


The Political Science Shelf

Reclaim Liberty
Robert J. Thorpe
Veritas Communications
PO Box 2075, Canon City, CO 81215
9780615380445, $14.95, www.veritasincorporated.com

The problems that America faces are bigger than simply electing the other guy. "Reclaim Liberty: 3-Step Plan for Restoring Our Constitutional Government" is Robert J. Thorpe's call for reform of our government and how it has lost its way over the years. Saying that both big parties have lost sight of the bigger problem, Thorpe comes to readers with many ideas to make a brighter future for America. "Reclaim Liberty" is a worthwhile addition to political collections.


The Travel Shelf

Universal Orlando 2011
Seth Kubersky
The Intrepid Traveler
PO Box 531, Branford, CT 06405
9781887140904, $15.95, www.intepidtraveler.com

Universal Studios is an experience like none other. "Universal Orlando 2011: The Ultimate Guide to the Ultimate Theme Park Adventure" is a guide to the many sights and sounds of one of Florida's most famous amusement parks, as the grand assortment of movie memorabilia and those things inspired by it are scattered throughout. With plenty of entries explaining the details of lodgings, attractions, and more, as well as entries on the many other branches of the park, "Universal Orlando 2011" is a guide that any traveler should pick up before making the trip.


The Mythology Shelf

The Greek & Roman Myths
Philip Matyszak
Thames & Hudson
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780500251737, $24.95, www.thamesandhudsonusa.com

The mythology of the Greeks has more impact on today's society than any other literature. "The Greek & Roman Myths: A Guide to the Classical Stories" is a literary introduction to the mythology of the Greeks, and its impact on the Roman legends and their strong impact on the world today. Outlining the common and known characters of these tales and their complex relations, "The Greek & Roman Myths" is an educational and very useful resource and literary guide for anyone who wants or needs to know about the classics.


The Computer Shelf

2011 Social Media Directory
Jeffrey A. Riley
Que
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780789747112 $19.99 www.mcp.com

Phone numbers and street addresses aren't what you need anymore. "2011 Social Media Directory: The Ultimate Guide to Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn Resources" serves as a guide for readers to find the networking and answers they need in today's world where there's something out there for everyone, no matter what you are planning to do. "2011 Social Media Directory" is a treasure trove of information, highly recommended.

Sams Teach Yourself Facebook in 10 Minutes
Sherry Kinkoph Gunter
Sams
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780672333408, $14.99, www.informit.com/sams

Facebook has quickly made itself a household name. "Sams Teach Yourself Facebook in 10 Minutes" is a guide to quickly gaining a grasp to the social networking tool that Facebook is quickly and efficiently to begin to understand how to use it to its fullest. With plenty of quick ten minute lessons, anyone can learn the most about Facebook and its many features. "Sams Teach Yourself Facebook in 10 Minutes" is a choice pick for anyone who isn't the greatest at technology.


The Art Shelf

Create Dangerously
Edwidge Danticat
Princeton University Press
41 William Street, Princeton, NJ 08540
9780691140186, $19.95, www.press.princeton.edu

To be understood, you have to explain why. "Create Dangerously: The Immigrant Artist at Work" is a call from Edwidge Danticat as he urges immigrants to use their artistry to explain why they left their country of origin. So often, the abuses, corruption, and poor condition of the country of origin are not in discussion about immigration, and Danticat uses his own country of Haiti as an example to explain his own immigration. "Create Dangerously" has an important message that shouldn't be overlooked, highly recommended.

A Chosen Path
Mark Shapiro
The University of North Carolina Press
116 S. Boundary St., Chapel Hill, NC 27514-3808
9780807834275, $40.00, www.uncpress.unc.edu

Ceramics aren't just Art for the past, they have a place in the present and future as well "A Chosen path: The Ceramic Art of Karen Karnes" analyzes the career of Karen Karnes as she has taken pottery and kept it a force in the art world, using her work to tell a story and deliver a message in ways one never thought possible with pottery. With a blend of both black and white and full color photos throughout, Karnes career is followed well, making "A Chosen Path" an excellent read for art biographies and art libraries in general, highly recommended.


The Sports Shelf

Dallas Cowboys
Ed Housewright
Associated Press
450 West 33rd Street, New York, NY 10001
Cardinal Publishers Group (publicity)
2402 N. Shadeland Ave., Suite A, Indianapolis, IN 46219
9780984192717, $27.00, www.cardinalpub.com

There are people who have never even been near Dallas who love the Cowboys. "Dallas Cowboys: America's Team" looks at the Dallas Cowboys and their strong history in the game of football. Under the guidance of legends such of Tom Landry and Jerry Jones, the Dallas Cowboys have become house hold names. With a history of super bowl appearances, a fantasy dream team of Cowboy All stars, and plenty of black and white and full color photos throughout, "Dallas Cowboys: America's Team" is a must for any football fan celebrating their favorite team as a coffee table book.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Going to the Dogs
Jan Nieman
New Chapter Publisher
1765 Ringling Blvd, Ste 300, Sarasota, FL 34236
9780984174577, $22.95, www.newchapterpublisher.com

It's not easy dealing with dogs, especially when traveling. "Going to the Dogs: Confessions of a Mobile Pet Groomer" is a memoir of mobile pet groomer, as author Jan Nieman spent over two decades dealing with the endeavor, giving a unique collection of experiences dealing with raging and somewhat annoying pets of others in order to spruce them up. A tale filled with horror and humor, "Going to the Dogs" is a fine read that will be hard to ignore, highly recommended.


The World History Shelf

A History of the Middle East
Corm
Garnet Publishing
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 NE 58th Ave. Suite 300, Portland, OR 97213-3786
9781859642207, $34.95, www.garnetpublishing.co.uk

The Middle East is one of the oldest regions in the world as far as civilization goes, and it holds many of the world's problems at the same time. "A History of the Middle East: From Antiquity to the Present Day" traces the long history of the region to gain a better understanding of the Islamic world, which since the fall of the Roman Empire has grown apart from Europe and its Christian- driven values. These two very different cultures now come to a forefront in the world stage, and "A History of the Middle East" seeks to explain why.


The Language Studies Shelf

Giveaways
Linda Boyden
University of New Mexico Press
1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
9780826347268, $17.95, www.unmpress.com

American English is a linguist's Frankenstein. "Giveaways: An ABC Book of Loanwords" looks at how many words in American English find their roots in decidedly non-American roots. From the native Americans, to Africa, and much more, a thoughtful passage on many of these words with plenty of colorful art accompanying them is a fine pick for younger readers to understand the details of language. "Giveaways" is a fine picture book, very highly recommended.


The Environmental Studies Shelf

The Hybrid House
Catherine Wanek
Gibbs Smith
PO Box 667, Layton, UT 84041
9781423603160, $24.99, www.gibbs-smith.com

There's plenty of renewable resources all around one's home, so may as well use them to their fullest. "The Hybrid House: Designing with Sun, Wind, Water, and Earth" is a guide to those who want to tap into these powerful resources to help save the planet and even save themselves money in the bigger picture. From winds to sunlight to rain, and much more, "The Hybrid House" tells how anyone can make the most out of Nature's abundant bounty and leave her better off for doing so.

Practical Green Remodeling
Barry Katz
The Taunton Press
63 South Main Street, PO Box 5507, Newtown, CT 06470-5507
9781600850882, $24.95, www.taunton.com

Environmentalism can be very fashionable in more than one way. "Practical Green Remodeling" is a guide is a guide to remodeling one's home to take advantage of the latest in green technology and design to make the most out of one's home when considering a remodeling job. With plenty of advice for making simple and to the point design decisions, "Practical Green Remodeling" is a very useful resource, not to be missed.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Twinkie Chan's Crochet Goodies for Fashion Foodies
Twinkie Chan
Andrews McMeel Publishing
1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
9780740797583, $14.99, www.andrewsmcmeel.com

When looking for inspiration, one doesn't have to look far past dessert. "Twinkie Chan's Crochet Goodies for Fashion Foodies: 20 Yummy Treats to Wear" is a guide to creating twenty confection-driven crochet projects. Complete with material lists, techniques, and plenty of advice and tips, "Twinkie Chan's Crochet Goodies for Fashion Foodies" is full of plenty of sage advice, very highly recommended.

Knit Wit
Katie Boyette
Sellers Publishing
161 John Roberts Road, South Portland, ME 04106
9781416206088, $18.95, www.sellerspublishing.com

Knitting is more than a useful skill, it can be an artistic outlet. "Knit Wit: 20 Fun Projects for Beginners and Seasoned Knitters" is a guide for those who both want to get started and who already have sewn a sock or two in their day. Focusing on the offbeat and original, Katie Boyette gives readers a fine introduction into the fun and exciting side of knitting. "Knit Wit" is an excellent resource with plenty to teach for the hobbyist knitter, highly recommended.


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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