Return to home
page Book Reviews, Book Lover Resources, Advice for Writers and Publishers
Home / Library Bookwatch

Library Bookwatch

Volume 4, Number 10 October 2009 Home | LBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Photography Shelf Needlecraft Shelf
Woodworking Shelf Cookbook Shelf World History Shelf
Martial Arts Shelf Music Shelf Library DVD Shelf
Library Science Shelf Writing/Publishing Shelf Library CD Music Shelf
Biography Shelf International Studies Shelf Art Shelf
Buddhist Studies Shelf American History Shelf Military Shelf
Metaphysical Studies Shelf Travel Shelf Environmental Studies Shelf
Literary Shelf Sports Shelf Audiobook Shelf
Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf Native American Shelf Islamic Studies Shelf
Social Issues Shelf Humor Shelf Computer Shelf
Business Shelf Parenting Shelf Archaeology Shelf
Christian Studies Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf Jobs/Careers Shelf
Religion/Spirituality Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf Fiction Shelf
Political Science Shelf Psychology Shelf Education Shelf
Railroading Shelf Poetry Shelf Large Print Shelf
Self-Help Shelf Language Studies Shelf Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf
Science Shelf    


Reviewer's Choice

Yoknapatawpha
George G. Stewart
The University of South Carolina Press
718 Devine Street, Columbia, SC 29208
9781570038419, $49.95, www.sc.edu/uscpress

To understand a classical writer, you have to understand where they came from. "Yoknapatawpha: A Photographic Study of Faulkner's Country" is a photographic journey through the hometown of acclaimed southern classical author William Faulkner. Drawing from Faulkner's work, author George G. Stewart tries to connect it with what potentially inspired it from Faulkner's surroundings. A blend of literary merit, fine black and white photography, biography and more, "Yoknapatawpha" is a scholarly addition to any Faulkner collection.

Overqualified
Joey Comeau
ECW Press
2120 Queen Street East, Suite 200, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4E IE2
9781550228588, $14.95, www.ecwpress.com

The mundane approach to cover letters using the same tired jargon can almost drive a person sane. "Overqualified" is Joey Comeau firing back at the cliche of the cover letter, using them as a medium like any other. Although not true cover letters, he tells his stories in a unique way and makes for a memoir like no other. "Overqualified" is a charming read that will entertain many for hours on end, enthusiastically recommended.

Drops Like Stars
Rob Bell
Zondervan
5300 Patterson Avenue SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49530
9780310275039, $34.99, www.zondervan.com

Art is not bound by tradition, only creativity of the human mind. "Drops Like Stars" is a blend of words and the unique photography style of Rob Bell to bring readers a delight for the senses. Full color photographs sit alongside stories which are meant to help the reader question life, enjoy the smaller things, and more. Bell brings readers and viewers all through the emotional spectrum. A truly unique coffee table book, "Drops Like Stars" is a top pick for any library art collection.

Makeshift Workshop Skills For Survival And Self-Reliance
James Ballou
Paladin Press
7077 Winchester Circle, Boulder, CO 80301
9781581607055, $29.00, www.amazon.com

In these economically distressed times, the mantra of 'reuse, recycle, repair, re-purpose' has never been more applicable. That's why James Ballou's 'do-it-yourself' instruction guide, the "Makeshift Workshop Skills For Survival And Self-Reliance: Expedient Ways to Make Your Own Tools, Do Your Own Repairs and Construct Useful Things Out of Raw and Salvaged Materials" is so timely and so valuable. Profusely illustrated, this 'how-to' instruction guide will enable anyone to create homemade tools (hammers, drills, screwdrivers, wrenches, pliers, saws, files, chisels, vises, clamps, and more!); make successful repairs using glue, tape, cord, wire, dowels, nuts and bolts); construct useful items out of coat hangers, old care parts, 2 x 4s, wooden dowels, nails, rebar, coffee cans, and other readily available materials); "Makeshift Workshop Skills For Survival And Self-Reliance" even shows how to build a homemade forge out of an old barbeque, perform soldering using a road flare, and do quick weld repairs using care batters, jumper cables, and a pair of pliers. From makeshift metalworking, to practical calculating, to salvaging, along with a wealth of practical tips, tricks and techniques, "Makeshift Workshop Skills For Survival And Self-Reliance" is a welcome, thoroughly 'user friendly', and highly recommended addition to personal, family, and community library collections.

Art Nouveau & Art Deco Fashion Postcards
Edith Weber
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
www.schifferbooks.com
9780764332708, $29.99, www.amazon.com

Typically associated with the time frame separating two world wars, the art nouveau and art deco periods of the 1920s and early 30s is quite distinctive and readily recognizable. These art movements were wide spread and influenced everything from architecture, to interior design, to furniture, to fashion. One of the areas of influence was the ephemeral artifact of the postcard. Now in "Art Nouveau & Art Deco Fashion Postcards", Edith Weber (nationally known for identifying and appraising antique jewelry) turns her years of experience and expertise to compiling an impressively illustrated compendium identifying postcards picturing art nouveau and art deco women's fashions. Showcasing the work of some twenty artists of the time period covered, "Art Nouveau & Art Deco Fashion Postcards" is enhanced with more than 230 beautifully reproduced images. As informed and informative as it is simply entertaining to browse through, "Art Nouveau & Art Deco Fashion Postcards" is highly recommended as a superlative addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library 20th Century Popular Culture reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

The Life And Legend Of Sheridan R. Jones
Joseph Hilko
The Whitefish Press
c/o Hilko Library & Media Service
PO Box 225, Ballston Spa, NY 12020
9780981510286, $54.95, www.amazon.com

Sheridan R. Jones (1881-1956) was to fishing lures what Henry Ford was to automobile production. The Fishing Editor of Outer's Recreation Magazine in the 1910s through the 1920s, Jones helped to create a fishing and camping culture for America's growing middle class. His endorsement was avidly sought by manufactures of fishing and camping equipment, his articles extolling the joys and challenges of fishing were exceedingly popular with the public. Upon his death he had the largest collection of fishing lures in private hands. "The Life And Legend Of Sheridan R. Jones: America's Pioneering Outdoor Writer & His Search For The Perfect Fishing Lure" is the story of this leading figure of earlier twentieth-century American fishing, including his pioneering contributions and enduring legacy to recreational fishing that continue to this very day. Profusely illustrated throughout with color photography, "The Life And Legend Of Sheridan R. Jones" is deftly written and thoroughly 'reader friendly' making it an ideal acquisition choice for personal, academic, and community library collections.

Voices On The Wind
Bonnie McGee
Skylark Publications
Box 772592, Steamboat Springs, CO 80477
9780615250595, $44.95, www.amazon.com

Bonnie McGee was one of two highschool teachers who decided to embark upon a trip around the world in a 33 foot sailboat. This extraordinary trip was to last four years, six months and take them to places and introduce them to people from natives of Polynesia, to the island inhabitants of New Guinea, to the aborigines of Australia, to the coastal tribes of Africa. "Voices On The Wind" is the story of this memorable adventure -- and the stories of the men and women they encountered along the way. Profusely and beautifully illustrated with full color photography, browsing through the pages of "Voices Of The Wind" is the next best thing to having been there oneself -- making a perfect read for armchair world travelers, as well as a highly prized and recommended addition to personal and community library collections.

Public Sector Leadership
Jeffrey A. Raffel, et al.
Edward Elgar Publishing
9 Dewey Court, Northampton, MA 01060-3815
www.e-elgar.com
9781848440890, $160.00, www.amazon.com

Just as in the private sector, experienced and capable leadership is a fundamental necessity in the public sector as well. Knowledgeably compiled and deftly edited by the team of Jeffrey A. Raffel (Charles P. Messick Professor of Public Administration, University of Delaware), Peter Leisink Professor of Public Management and Organization Studies, Utrecht University, The Netherlands), and Anthony E. Middlebrooks (Assistant Professor of Leadership, University of Delaware), "Public Sector Leadership: International challenges And Perspectives" presents eighteen informed and informative essays by experts in the field and covering a multitude of thematically relevant issues addressing challenges confronting public management today on an international scale; political-administrative relations in the U.S. and Europe; the role of leadership within interorganizational networks; considerations of ethics, values and diversity (of special note is the article on 'Leadership, administrative evil and the ethics of incompetence: the failed response to Hurricane Katrina' by Guy B. Adams and Danny L. Balfour); and leadership training and development. Representing a body of impressive and impeccable scholarship, "Public Sector Leadership" is especially recommended for academic library international leadership reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Photography Shelf

Enough To Go Around
Chip Duncan
SelectBooks Inc.
One Union Square West, Suite 909, New York, NY 10003
www.selectbooks.com
9781590791981, $34.95, www.amazon.com

When Afghanistan, Pakistan and Darfur make the news it is almost always with stories of atrocity, war, refugees, death and dying. Quite regularly stories of humanitarian activities and the enduring kindness of a majority of the ordinary people in these extraordinary times gives way to vivid accounts of the tragedies that have resulted in so much misery for so many. That's why "Enough To Go Around: Searching for Hope in Afghanistan, Pakistan & Darfur" by writer and photojournalist Chip Duncan is such a welcome documentary showcasing men and women, although having to reside in refugee camps and/or who have had family members slain, yet refuse to give in to victimhood but hold out hope and endurance and simple acts of kindness. With an informed and informative text, profusely embellished with memorable images, "Enough To Go Around" is a phenomenal read and highly recommended addition to personal, school, academic, and community library collections.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Swing Swagger Drape
Jane Slicer-Smith, author
Alexis Xenakis, photographer
XRX Books
PO Box 1525, Sioux Falls, SD 57101
www.knittinguniverse.com
9781933064178, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Jane Slicer-Smith is an Australian knitwear designer whose garment creations exhibit a masterful use of color, fabrics that move easily with the human form, yet present a customized and flattering fit. Profusely illustrated with full color photography by Alexis Xenakis, "Swing Swagger Drape: Knit The Colors Of Australia" is a compendium of patterns showcasing her creations and offering step-by-step projects that can be expertly accomplished by even the most novice needlecrafter. From jackets to vests to sweaters and more, "Swing Swagger Drape" is an ideal and highly recommended addition to personal and community library needlecraft instructional reference collections.

The Big Book Of Socks
Kathleen Taylor
The Taunton Press
63 South Main St., Newtown, CT 06470
www.taunton.com
9781600850851, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Knitting is not only a recreational activity, it is also a practical and functional one producing items for wear that are as useful as they are attractive. This is especially the case with socks. That's why Kathleen Taylor's "The Big Book Of Socks: The Ultimate Beyond-the-Basics Guide to Knitting Socks" is such a treasure for both novice and experienced needlecrafters! Featuring seventy-five illustrated and thoroughly 'user friendly' patterns, anyone can make socks to be proud of! "The Big Book Of Socks" covers all aspects from sock styles and yarn selection, to needles, gauges, swatching, and even sock repair. Among the various sock styles are included Tweed Tube Socks; Basic Child Flap and Gusset Socks; Easy Basket Weave Heel Socks; Nordic-Style Adult Socks; Alpaca Striped Kneedsocks, Easy Lace Socks; Holiday Garland Socks; Beaded Anklets; Knees and Toes Toe Socks. From stripes and cables, to argyle and lace, each pattern provides clear instructions from beginning to end. Enhanced throughout with a wealth of practical tips and shortcut suggestions, "The Big Book Of Socks" is enthusiastically recommended for personal and community library needlecraft instructional and reference collections.


The Woodworking Shelf

Cabinetmaking, second edition
Alan Peters
2006 South Mary, Fresno, CA 93721-9875
www.woodworkerslibrary.com
9781933502267, $27.95, www.amazon.com

Now in a newly revised and expanded second edition, Alan Peters' "Cabinetmaking: The Professional Approach" continues to be an ideal illustrated instructional text for anyone who aspires to becoming a professional furniture designer and craftsman. "Cabinetmaking: The Professional Approach" covers every aspect of setting up a professional shop, the equipment required to produce professional quality work, the finances and other business aspects of professional and customized furniture making, furniture making techniques, individualized commission work, batch production, and so much more. Of special note is the practical advice and commentary on exhibitions, publicity, gallery display, and the role of photography. Informed and informative, "Cabinetmaking: The Professional Approach" is expressly recommended for anyone aspiring to, or engaged in, cabinetry and furniture manufacture on a professional level.


The Cookbook Shelf

Chefs Of The Triangle
Ann Prospero
John F. Blair, Publisher
1406 Plaza Drive, Winston-Salem, NC 27103
www.blairpub.com
9780895873705, $16.95, www.amazon.com

The Triangle region of North Carolina is comprised of Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Hillsborough, Cary, and Pittsboro. "Chefs Of The Triangle: Their Lives, Recipes, And Restaurants" by Ann Prospero is a compendium of interview based profiles showcasing the prominent chefs with each entry reveals that particular chef's cooking philosophy, influences, and personality. Each illustrative profile also includes their restaurant and offers two or three of the chef's favorite recipes, each of which is thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' and suitable for family dining occasions. With recipes ranging from Pan-Seared Black Sea Bass with Stew of White Beans, Pancetta, Wild Mushrooms, and Glazed Beets (Executive Chef Alex Gallis, 'Cypress on the Hill'); to Lamb Tagine with Apricots, Olives, and Buttered Almonds (Chef Amy Tornquist, 'Watts Groceries'); to Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Breast, Savory Cabbage, and Sage Risotto (Executive Chef Colin Bedford, 'Fearrington House Restaurant'), "Chefs Of The Triangle" is informative, fun, and a highly recommended addition to both personal and community library cookbook collections.

The Frugal Foodie Cookbook
Lara Starr & Lynette Shirk
Viva Editions
c/o Cleis Press
PO Box 14697, San Francisco, CA 94114
www.cleispress.com
9781573443630, $15.95, www.amazon.com

Not since "The Supermarket Handbook" by Nikki and David Goldbeck has there been such an invaluable and highly recommended guide to making the most of one's food purchasing dollars. But just in time to deal with the budgetary pressures of increases in food costs combined with the currently dismal economic conditions of the country is Lara Starr and Lynette Shirk's "The Frugal Foodie Cookbook", A compendium of practical, useable advice on stretching the food budget by the creative (and delicious!) use of ingredients and left-overs. Of special note is that at the end of each chapter of thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes, are tips for saving money at the grocery story, the restaurant, and when dining at home. Enhanced with recipes for beauty treatments that can be inexpensively created at home for pennies on the dollar of what those same treatments would cost 'store bought', "The Frugal Foodie Cookbook", with recipes ranging from Sweet-and-Sour Glazed Meatloaf", to a Mushroom and Goat Cheese Pizza, to Ted's Grilled Cheese Sandwich, is the perfect addition to the cookbook collections of budget stressed families.

250 Treasured Country Desserts
Andrea Chesman & Fran Raboff
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247
www.storey.com
9781603421522, $16.95, www.amazon.com

Nothing tops off a meal like a good desert. That's why "250 Treasured Country Desserts: Mouthwatering, Time-Honored, Tries & True, Soul-Satisfying, Handed-Down Sweet Comforts" is such a desired and desirable addition to any family cookbook shelf. The collaborative project of noted cookbook author Andrea Chesman and culinary arts instructor Fran Raboff (herself the co-author of several successful cookbooks), "250 Treasured Country Desserts" truly lives up to its extended title with such culinary delights as Rich Chocolate Crinkles; Black Walnut Cake; Coconut Cream Pie; Charlotte Russe with Strawberry Sauce; Lime Sorbet; and 245 more 'kitchen cook friendly' traditional desserts. Enhanced with listings on metric conversions, egg information, volume and weight equivalents, "250 Treasured Country Desserts" will prove a welcome and popular addition to any personal, family, or community library cookbook collection!

Bobbie's Organic Planet
Bobbie Williamson
A.R.E. Press
215 - 67th Street, Virginia Beach, VA 23451
www.edgarcayce.org
9780876045756, $24.95, www.amazon.com

The late Edgar Cayce is chiefly noted as an American mystic. What is not so commonly known is that he also had a great deal to share about the value of holistic medicine, including the critical importance of the diet to good health. In "Bobbie's Organic Planet: How To Buy Local And Cook Global", author Bobbie Williamson draws upon advice from Edgar Cayce, her life abroad living abroad in six countries on three continents, and her many years of experience and expertise with the culinary traditions of foreign cultures to write instructional commentaries and compile the organic recipes comprising this treasure trove of nutritious, delicious, seasonal recipes. Enhanced for the novice kitchen cook with practical advice on stocking a pantry, identifying essential ingredients for the modern kitchen cupboard, and even useful food combinations, "Bobbie's Organic Planet" showcases not just individual recipes but also has a section dedicated to menu suggestions. With recipes ranging from Black Bean Hummus; Mediterranean Anchovy Vinaigrette; Chilled Melon Soup; and Lake Geneva Perch Filets; to Moroccan Chicken Tagine; French Tarte Tatin; Cinnamon Applesauce; and Grilled Portobello Mushroom Canapes, "Bobbie's Organic Planet" is a welcome and highly recommended addition to personal, family, and community library multinational cookbook collections.

Southern Farmers Market Cookbook
Holly Herrick
Gibbs Smith, Publisher
PO Box 667, Layton UT 84041
www.gibbs-smith.com
9781423604747, $19.99, www.amazon.com

Farmer's markets are a very special and appreciation local community event where people can access all manner of seasonal produce that because they are locally grown and marketed tend to be fresher and generally better than their counterparts for sale in the major chain supermarkets. What Holly Herrick has done in "Southern Farmers Market Cookbook" is to compile nutritious, delicious, 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes incorporating locally purchased and fresh seasonal produce. The recipes are drawn from the farmers market communities from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. From Cantaloupe Balls with Prosciutto, Lime, and Basil; Fresh Sweet Onion and Corn Chowder; Spinach and Radish Salad with Candied Pecans and Red Wine Vinaigrette; and Red Cabbage Slaw with Bacon, Scallions, Toasted Pecans and Roquefort; to Sweet River Run Farms Grass-Feed Beef Meatloaf; Soulful Braised Pork with Fresh Cider and Winesap Apples; Strawberry Mint Clafoutis; and Berry Coddled Cobbler, "Southern Farmers Market Cookbook" showcases superbly illustrated dishes that will please any palate, satisfy any appetite, and grace any dining occasion from family to formal.

Simply Quince
Barbara Ghazarian
Mayreni Publishing
PO Box 5881, Monterey, CA 93944-5881
www.mayreni.com
9781931834315, $21.95, www.amazon.com

The quince is a seriously underestimated and all-to-often underappreciated fruit that, culinarily speaking, is as versatile as the apple, is a staple in the orchards and kitchens of many different countries and cultures around the world. It was first cultivated in American by the early European colonists. A fuzz-covered and aromatic cousin of pears and apples, most of us know the quince primarily as a jam. But as Barbara Ghazarian amply demonstrated in "Simply Quince", it can be so much more! Comprising seventy 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes that range from Quince-Orange Pickles; Quince-Cranberry Sauce; Veal Shanks with Prunes, Apricots, and Quince; and Brandied-Quince Buckle; to Buttery Almond-Quince Phyllo Tarts; Quick Quince Chutney; and White Pizza with Quince, Prosciutto, Asiago Cheese and Chives; Quince-Infused Spirits Grappa and Vodka, "Simply Quince" offers an impressively broad spectrum of quince oriented dishes that will satisfy even the most gourmet of tastes and is a highly recommended and unique addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections.

Sweet Utopia
Sharon Valencik
The Book Publishing Company
PO Box 99, Summertown, TN 38483
www.thefarm.org/businesses/bpc.html
9781570672330, $19.95, www.amazon.com

Being a vegan means eating healthy. That most assuredly includes desserts as evidenced by Sharon Valencik's "Sweet Utopia: Simply Stunning Vegan Desserts". And 'simply stunning' is no mere exaggeration! Not with such luscious, mouth-watering delights ranging from Strawberry Fields Cake with Unbeetable Buttercream Frosting; Chocolate-Glazed Almond Cookies; Pumpkin-Nut Pie; Coconut Tiramisu; and Fruity-Berry Cookie Cobbler! Enhanced throughout with the full color photography of Milan Valencik, "Sweet Utopia" offers recipes that are ideal for anyone having allergies to dairy or eggs, need to be concerned with respect to their cholesterol or exposure to saturated fats, or simply appreciate a vegan twist on traditional desserts. "Sweet Utopia" is an impressive and strongly recommended addition to any and all personal, family, and community library cookbook collections!


The World History Shelf

The Cult of St. George in Medieval England
Jonathan Good
Boydell Press
c/o Boydell & Brewer Inc
668 Mount Hope Avenue, Rochester, NY 14620-2731
9781843834694 $95.00 www.boydellandbrewer.com

Written by Jonathan Good (Assistant Professor of History, Reinhardt College, Georgia) The Cult of St. George in Medieval England is an in-depth, scholarly assessment of the origins, development, and overall history of the Cult of St. George, from its inception and arrival in England (and St. George's ascendance to a patron of England when he was not English and his principal shrine was not located in England) to its influence through the Middle Ages and beyond. Good presents the well-researched hypothesis that St. George became a means for the people to chastise misgovernance, and reclaim influence in their communities. Good also traces the role St. George played in the development of English national identity during the Middle ages, with a brief examination of the changes that occurred after the Middle Ages. An excellent, methodical study, highly recommended to academics and curious lay readers alike.

Cults, Conspiracies, & Secret Societies
Arthur Goldwag
Vintage Books
c/o Random House
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780307390677 $16.00 www.randomhouse.com 1-800-726-0600

Cults, Conspiracies, & Secret Societies: The Straight Scoop on Freemasons, the Illuminati, Skull & Bones, Black Helicopters, the New World Order, and Many, Many More lives up to its title as an indispensable overview of the histories and practices of numerous secret societies, some from antiquity, some persisting into the modern day. From Satanism to The Benevolent Protective Order of Elks to Weather Underground and its many sub-factions, and more, each of the multitude of secret orders is given a brief yet thoroughly descriptive entry. An excellent, broad-ranged survey sure to pique any reader's curiosity.

Rebellious Satellite: Poland 1956
Pawel Machcewicz
Stanford University Press
1450 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1124
www.sup.org
9780804762052, $55.00, www.amazon.com

In 1956 most of eastern Europe in general, and Poland in particular, was firmly under the control of the Soviet Union and had been from the last year of the World War II as the Russian army pushed back the German occupation troops from Polish territory. But that year also saw a mass political movement as Polish citizens sought to change Polish-Soviet relations while averting a Soviet military-backed Communist Party suppression. Drawing upon newly available archival documents of the Polish communist party leadership (including photographs from Pozan in June 1956 taken by the police), "Rebellious Satellite: Poland 1956" by Pawel Machecwicz (Institute of Political Studies, Warsaw, Poland) provides an informed and informative history of the political opposition movements that took place in Pozan in June of 1956 and continued elsewhere in Poland through October and November. A superbly researched and deftly written detailed account, "Rebellious Satellite: Poland 1956" is a very highly recommended addition to academic library 20th Century European History collections.

Famous Men Of Rome
Cheryl Lowe & Leigh Lowe
Memoria Press
4605 Poplar Level Road, Louisville, KY 40213
www.MemoriaPress.com
193095381X, $17.95, www.amazon.com

The 'Teacher Guide' for the Memoria Press history curriculum textbook "Famous Men Of Rome", classroom instructors are provided with overlaid answers which avoids having to deal with a separate answer key to the student workbook. The result is a complete and thoroughly 'user friendly' combination for the classroom teacher. It should be noted that Cheryl and Leigh Lowe's "Famous Men Of Rome" is an excellent introduction to key figures of the Roman Republic and Empire. Also very highly recommended as a thematic companion from Memoria Press to a Roman History class curriculum is Teacher Manual edition of "Latina Christiana: An Introduction To Christian Latin: Book I" (B0015GE7RK, $19.50); "Latina Christiana: Introduction to Christian Latin, Book II" (9781930953062, $20.00). An instructional DVD, flashcards, and pronunciation CD are also available.


The Martial Arts Shelf

Passing The Guard, second edition
Ed Beneville & Tim Cartmell
Grappling Arts Publications
c/o Cardinal Publishers Group
2402 North Shadeland Avenue, Suite A, Indianapolis, IN 46219
www.grapplingarts.net www.cardinalpub.com
9780972109765, $36.95, www.amazon.com

Now in a newly revised and expanded second edition, "Passing the Guard: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Details and Techniques" by martial arts experts Ed Beneville (a student of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu since 1996 and studied under 7th Degree Black Belt holder Joe Moreira for the past eight years) and Tim Cartmell (Shen Wu Academy of Martial Arts in Southern California) continues to be an ideal instructional introduction and reference with this new edition including more than sixty guard passing techniques, submissions and submission counters, as numerous drills. Of special note is how the showcased techniques are viewed from different angles with each key point fully illustrated, including photo sequences demonstrating such relevant factors as application, timing and strategy. Expertly organized and superbly presented, "Passing the Guard" is a fundamental and strongly recommended instruction guide and reference for students and practitioners of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Transparent Power
Tatsuo Kimura
MAAT Press
130 East Grand Avenue, South San Francisco, CA 94080
9781893447103, $34.95, www.amazon.com

"Transparent Power: A Secret Teaching Revealed" is the first complete English translation of the martial arts philosophy Yukiyoshi Sagawa by one of his dedicated students, Tatsuo Kimura, and now made available in this country from MAAT Press. Arguably considered to be the true heir of the body of martial arts traditions known as Aikido, the focus of "Transparent Power" is on the internal personal force and how it is transmitted to the student by the teacher (sensei) as the disciple is taught by the master to develop it and use it as life's circumstances dictate. "Transparent Power" is not a martial arts instruction manual of physical techniques on overpowering opponents, but how the will develops -- information that is as relevant to any human activity well beyond the boundaries of martial arts combat. As informed and informative and it is thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Transparent Power" is very strongly recommended reading for all martial arts students regardless of the particular discipline in which they are training, and a welcome addition to both academic and community library Martial Arts reference collections as well.


The Music Shelf

Travelin' Man
Tom Weschler & Gary Graff
Painted Turtle Books
c/o Wayne State University Press
4809 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201-1309
http://wsupress.wayne.edu
9780814334591, $27.95, www.amazon.com

"Travelin' Man: On the Road and Behind the Scenes With Bob Seger" by the team of writer and photographer Tom Weschler and music journalist Gary Graff is a superbly illustrated history of musician Bob Seger's career. During the late 1960s through the 1970s, Weschler had a special vantage pint as Seger's tour manager and photographer. The result is an impressive behind-the-scenes documentary that is further enhanced for the reader's benefit with eight Seger album covers, an informative forward by John Mellencamp, and an insightful afterword by Kid Rock. Of special note for Bob Seger fans is the inclusion of a comprehensive discography making "Travelin' Man: On the Road and Behind the Scenes With Bob Seger" a 'must' for Seger fans and a recommended addition for academic and community library American 20th Century Music history and reference collections.


The Library DVD Shelf

Elsewhere DVD
E1 Entertainment
c/o Koch Vision
VideoSales@kochent.com
141723203X, $24.98 www.kochvision.com

Teens seeking suspense and many an adult viewer looking for something different will find the movie ELSEWHERE an avid show. Sarah and Jillian have been long-time best friends although very different. Sarah is shocked to find her friend has started meeting anonymous men over the internet in search of excitement - and when Jillian vanishes, she and her friend search for their missing friend and the reason why nobody in town seems to want her found. Deleted scenes, audio commentary with the film's director and producer, and a featurette enhance a gripping saga highly recommended for teen to adult viewers.

On the Road with Charles Kuralt, set 1
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
DVD, $39.99 www.acornmedia.com

On the Road with Charles Kuralt is a three-DVD thinpack collection the wonderful, Emmy-winning series following Charles Kuralt down America's byways, in a quest for the oft-overlooked moments, aspects, and unique individuals. From horse traders to worm hunters, mailmen who carry a tune to sharecroppers who put their families through college, On the Road with Charles Kuralt reveals up close and personal portraits of salt-of-the-earth Americans with unique talents, aspirations, and dreams. A wonderful, family-friendly documentary collection, On the Road with Charles Kuralt is an excellent DVD gift set and also recommended for public library DVD shelves. 3 DVDs, 18 episodes, 378 min.,4:3 full screen, subtitled.

10 Minute Solution: Quick Sculpt Pilates
Anchor Bay Entertainment
2401 West Big Beaver road, Suite 200, Troy, MI 48084-3304
$24.97 www.anchorbayentertainment.com

10 Minute Solution: Quick Sculpt Pilates is an exercise kit consisting of an instructional DVD plus an inflatable toning ball with an easy-to-use inflation device. The DVD shows the viewer how to use the inflated toning ball in five simple Pilates workouts, each only ten minutes long, which can be easily mixed and matched to suit one's tastes. The five workouts are "Total Body Toner" which warms up the abdominals and focuses on a toned overall body; "Buns & Thigh Sculptor" which shows one how to use the ball to strengthen one's lower body without adding bulk; "Strength & Flexibility Pilates" which is a routine designed to help one become more limber; "Core Conditioning" which helps improve one's posture as well as strengthen the core; and "Standing Pilates Sculpt" which uses Pilates mat exercises in standing positions to improve both the upper and lower body. Hosted by ACE certified instructor Leigh Rogers, 10 Minute Solution: Quick Sculpt Pilates is a superb fitness and body toning choice time-strapped individuals! 56 minutes.

What On Earth? Inside the Crop Circle Mystery
c/o Warwick Associates (publicity)
18340 Sonoma Highway, Sonoma, CA 95476
DVD, $24.95 www.warwickassociates.net

For fifteen years, Suzanne Taylor has joined forces with a community of artists, scientists, philosophers, geometers, and farmers intrigued by the mysterious phenomenon of crop circles - elaborate patterns that turn up in farmers' field crops overnight. Could crop circles come from things other than humans? Or possibly even things not of the earthly world? What On Earth? takes viewers along for the investigative ride; bonus features include a deleted scene, a tribute to John Mack, a crop circle montage, and more. A most engaging addition to metaphysical studies DVD shelves! 81 minutes, not rated.

Yoga for Weight Loss
Anchor Bay Entertainment
2401 West Big Beaver Road, Suite 200, Troy, MI 48084-3304
$14.98 www.anchorbayentertainment.com

Hosted by expert yoga instructor Ashley Turner (who also holds a Master's in Counseling Psychology), Yoga for Weight Loss is a beautiful instructional DVD that walks the viewer through vinyasa flow yoga sequences and strengthening poses ideal for toning and improving one's muscles. The vinyasa flows cause one's heart rate to increase and provide a solid workout, while the strengthening poses help build muscle tissue. A psychological dimension to the workout promotes relaxation and tapping into one's own power to create happiness from within. A gentle, wonderful, and easy-to-use resource, Yoga for Weight Loss is a choice supplementary pick for fitness DVD libraries. 53 minutes. Also highly recommended specifically for expecting and new moms is "Prenatal & Postnatal Yoga" ($14.98, 69 minutes) hosted by Elena Brower.

Best Bun & Leg Shapers
Denise Austin
Lionsgate
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
DVD, $14.98 www.411videoinfo.com

Denise Austin hosts Best Bun & Leg Shapers, an exercise DVD broken into seven 5-10 minute workouts ideal for toning and firming one's backside. From "Hit the Spot: Pilates" to "Power Zone Ultimate Workout" to "Hit the Spot: Core" and much more, these short routines can be mixed and matched to suit the viewer's needs. Best Bun & Leg Shapers requires no expensive equipment, and is an excellent supplementary fitness tool. Highly recommended. 70 minutes, full screen.

Full Battle Rattle
First Run Features
630 Ninth Avenue, #1213, NY, NY 10036
DVD, $24.95 www.firstrunfeatures.com

Full Battle Rattle is an eye-opening DVD revealing how the modern American military trains its troops to fight new types of battles, against more difficult and challenging enemies. In the Mojave Desert of California, the U.S. Army has created an urban warfare simulation - backdrop of towns and villages modeled on those in the Middle East, with Iraqi-American residents playing their roles to the hilt. Full Battle Rattle follows an army battalion throughout the simulation as they seek to aid a village seemingly on the verge of civil war. The result is a vividly realistic war game, meant to hopefully prepare its participants for the real thing. A truly extraordinary feature, enhanced with bonus scenes, a photo gallery, a filmmaker Q&A, and more. 85 minutes.

Tai Chi for Beginners with Grandmaster William C.C. Chen
Acacia
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 650, Silver Spring, MD 20910
DVD, $19.99 www.AcaciaLifestyle.com

Tai Chi for Beginners with Grandmaster William C.C. Chen is a DVD introduction into the ancient Chinese art of Tai Chi, a martial art that can be practiced to reduce stress, strengthen the body and mind, and improve one's bodily well-being. Host William C. C. Chen, one of the most respected Tai Chi Grandmasters of his generation, leads the viewer through fundamental, low-impact routines. Special features include learning segments with continuous loop option; three different complete-form practices centering around basic, counting, and energy; Tai Chi tips; and audio options that include music only or music combined with descriptive instruction. An excellent starting resource for those new to Tai Chi, recommended for public library collections as well as private fitness DVD shelves. 67 minutes (plus 20 min. bonus), 16:9 widescreen.

Hurt
Monterey Media Inc.
566 St. Charles Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360-3901
www.montereymedia.com 1-800-424-2593
9781569946640 $26.95, www.amazon.com

Hurt is a terror-inducing movie about a newly widowed single mother Helen Coltrane (played by Melora Walters of "Big Love"), her teenage son (Jackson Rathbone of "Twilight") and daughter, seeking aid from her hermit-like, gun-toting brother-in-law. As they struggle to come to grips with the drastic changes in their life, they cross paths with a foster child who claims that Helen's late husband pledged to take her in. They do so... with dire consequences as one by one lies, illusions, and darkness unravel. A gripping and eerie saga to the very end, especially recommended for fans of tense psychological thrillers. 97 minutes, rated R.


The Library Science Shelf

The Innovative School Librarian
Sharon Markless, editor
Facet Publishing
c/o Neal-Schuman Publishers (publicity)
100 William Street, Suite 2004, New York, NY 10038-4512
9781856046534 $110.00 www.neal-schuman.com 1-866-672-6657

The best solutions to some problems are not the most obvious. "The Innovative School Librarian: Thinking Outside the Box" is a guide for librarians who want to promote literacy and library use but have exhausted conventional methods. Discussing the school librarian's vision for their library's future, the reputation of the library, and bringing the library to more prominence in the school, author Sharon Markless puts together quite the volume to help readers better grasp the limits and options librarians can undertake in order to achieve their goals. Enhanced with appendixes filled with useful references, "The Innovative School Librarian" should be at the right hand of every ambitious librarian, and is a solid entry into any collection dedicated to library science.

Library Mania
Charlene C. Cali
Upstart Books
c/o Highsmith Inc.
PO Box 800, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538-0800
9781602130432 $17.95 www.upstartbooks.com 1-800-448-4887

The library should be more than a place to stash books. "Library Mania: Games & Activities for Your Library" is a guide for librarians looking to educate readers of elementary school age. A library can be a hub of games and activities and do much to inspire a love of reading and learning in children; author Charlene C. Cali comes to librarians with much to inspire them to help improve their libraries. "Library Mania" is well worth considering for librarians and for library science collections everywhere.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Show & Tell 6: Writers on Writing
The Publishing Laboratory
University of North Carolina Wilmington
601 South College Road, Wilmington, NC 28403
9780982338209 $19.95 www.uncw.edu/writers

Show, don't tell is one of the proverbs many amateur writers hear when trying to hone their craft. In a newly revised and expanded edition, "Show & Tell 6: Writers on Writing" is a collection of essays on the subject of writing from the minds at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. These minds offer different perspectives on the many vehicles of writing, prose, poetry, novels, and more. From brainstorming to the extensive editing process, "Show & Tell 6" is a must read for any writer trying to strengthen their craft and their habits.

The Call of the Writer's Craft
Tom Bird
Adams Media
57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322
9781598698541, $12.95, www.adamsmedia.com

You could be the most talented writer in the world, but with no business sense, you might as well be a hack. "The Call of the Writer's Craft: Writing and Selling the Book Within" is a guide to writing a book and getting it published in an industry where editors are encouraged to look for reasons to reject books. Offering a roadmap to the publishing world, author Tom Bird presents his own method to help writers attain the treasured title of 'published author'. "The Call of the Writer's Craft" is a strong pick to any trying to get published.


The Library CD Music Shelf

Energie
Chuck & Albert
c/o Rock Paper Scissors
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2, Bloomington, IN 47404
CD, $TBA www.rockpaperscissors.biz

Energie is the debut music CD of Chuck & Albert Arsenault, presenting their exciting rendition of a traditional repertoire of French-Acadian songs, fiddle tunes, stories, and social commentaries, as gathered by Georges Arsenault in the 1970's. Some of the melodies performed over 400 years old - beloved classics that have withstood the test of time to delight generation after generation. Chuck & Albert lend their own unique touch to these wonderful and widely beloved songs, bringing them to life for a new generation in a rapturous listening experience. Highly recommended. The tracks are "Keep your cool" (2:46), "Dance like rubber" (2:28), "In the village of Egmont Bay" (3:51), "My father's tunes" (2:36), "By the clear fountain" (3:39), "The lover's return" (4:23), "Me and my brothers" (3:41), "There once was a shepherdess" (3:28), "Shepherd's pie" (3:14), "While turning the corner" (2:38), "The fever" (5:16), "There once was a little man" (2:27), and "The pigeon set" (2:08).

Meera: The Lover...
Vandana Vishwas
Rock Paper Scissors
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2, Bloomington, IN 47404
$14.99 www.rockpaperscissors.biz www.vandanavishwas.com

The debut album of Canadian singer Vandana Vishwas, Meera: The Lover... is a music CD album of romantic devotional songs from India, reverberating with an emotion and passion that transcends nationality or language. A soul-hauntingly beautiful work, Mera: The Lover... is a delight to listen to for pleasure and an excellent gift to any loved one who appreciates fine audio art. Highly recommended. The tracks are "Introduction" (1:20), "Badara Re" (7:03), "Piya Bin" (6:55), "Sanware Ke Rang" (5:12), Sun Lijo (7:02), "Fagun Ke Din Char" (6:36), "Rana Ji!" (6:02), "Chala Wahi Des" (5:26), and Dandiya" (5:05).


The Biography Shelf

An American Prophet's Record
Scott H. Faulring
Signature Books
564 West 400 North, Salt Lake City, UT 84116-3411
www.signaturebooks.com
0941214788, $19.95, www.amazon.com

Never before available to the general public, "An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries And Journals Of Joseph Smith" is a complete an unexpurgated volume comprised of Mormon Church founder Joseph's Smiths (1805-1844) personal diaries and journals. It should be noted that when parts of these diaries and journals were previously published they were censored, selectively assembled, and sometimes even re-written. Now they are presented by Mormon scholar Scott Faulring in their comprehensive and complete entirety. The result is a 518-page compendium that provides original source material that will prove invaluable for both academic scholarship and the interested non-specialist general reader alike. "An American Prophet's Record" is a biographical treasure trove and a major contribution to personal, community, academic library American Biography and Mormon History collections.

Beech Mountain Man
Thomas Burton
The University of Tennessee Press
293 Communications Building, Knoxville, TN 37996-0325
9781572336650 $32.95 www.utpress.org 1-800-621-2736

Beech Mountain Man: The Memoirs of Ronda Lee Hicks is a down-to-earth collection of anecdotes, memories, and storytelling from the personal life of North Carolina native Ronda Lee Hicks. Relating events from drunken episodes to moments of violence (including numerous scrapes with the law and being sent to prison twice) to his relationships with his two wives, Beech Mountain Man tells the story of a rugged, hardy individual who didn't always fit in with society's rules and regulations. Reflections of southern Appalachian mountain culture pepper this engrossing and unforgettable memoir.

My Grandfather's Prison
Richard A. Serrano
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Boulevard, Columbia, MO 65201
9780826218643 $24.95 www.umsystem.edu/upress 1-800-828-1894

My Grandfather's Prison: A Story of Death and Deceit in 1940s Kansas City is more than just a a memoir-style accounting of family history - it is a true-life mystery unraveled, as author Richard A. Serano takes the readers on a tour through the events that led to his grandfather's alcoholism, arrest, solitary confinement in Kansas City jail, and sudden death due to a broken neck that the authorities who arrested him could not explain. When Serrano found his grandfather's death certificate from 1948, he discovered evidence of murder, which led him to investigate the whys and wherefores of how his grandfather died - and who had motive, means, and opportunity to kill him. A smoothly written, narrative-style yet real-life whodunnit sure to keep the reader's attention to the very last page, My Grandfather's Prison is highly recommended.

The Rat That Got Away
Allen Jones with Mark Naison
Fordham University Press
2546 Belmont Avenue, University Box L, Bronx, NY 10458-5172
www.fordhampress.com
9780823231027 $29.95 www.amazon.com

The Rat That Got Away is the true-life memoir of Allen Jones, from growing up on the streets of Bronx to his exciting career as a professional athlete and banker in Europe. Jones lived in a public housing project in South Bronx during the 1950's, when the place was a bastion of optimism for black and Latino families aspiring to the American Dream. Written with a flair for dramatic storytelling, The Rat That Got Away is a pleasure to read from first page to last. Highly recommended.

Debussy's Melisande
Gillian Opstad
Boydell Press
c/o Boydell & Brewer
668 Mount Hope Avenue, Rochester, NY 14620-2731
9781843834595 $60.00 www.boydellandbrewer.com

As times change, people must change with them or be left in the dust. "Debussy's Melisande: The Lives of Georgette Leblanc, Mary Garden, and Maggie Teyte" tells the story of these musical sweethearts of the early twentieth century. They were originally opera stars who were driven to make themselves some of the best of their time. With the advent of recorded music, radio, and moving pictures, they embraced the new technologies with much fervor, becoming beloved icons of theatre and art in France. "Debussy's Melisande" is a gripping biography of these beloved Frenchwomen and the changes that their art form faced during their time.


The International Studies Shelf

The Iraq War: Origins and Consequences
James DeFronzo
Westview Press
2465 Central Avenue, Boulder, CO 80301
www.westviewpress.com 1-800-242-7737
9780813343914 $32.00, www.amazon.com

Written by James DeFronzo (emeritus faculty of sociology, University of Connecticut) The Iraq War: Origins and Consequences is a close study of the historical, social, and political aspects of the Iraq War, from the forces and political decisions that caused it to the most important facts about the occupation, the development of the resistance, and the conflict's effect on other nations. More than just a historical account, The Iraq War: Origins and Consequences speculates on the future of the relationship between Iraq and the U.S., grounding its predictions for possible outcomes solidly in the evidence of the present. "'A lot of women in Iraq will say this was a war meant... to bring a better life and in fact, the bitter irony is that it brought exactly the opposite.'... Family law was turned over to religious courts. A number of female activists or women considered immoral were murdered, and criminal justice authorities seemed unwilling or powerless to punish the perpetrators. Banning female police officers from carrying guns threatened to reduce the number of policewomen, making the investigation and punishment of rape and spousal abuse much more difficult." A level-headed, at times disturbing account, The Iraq War: Origins and Consequences is highly recommended.


The Art Shelf

Fletcher Benton: The Kinetic Years
Peter Selz
Hudson Hills Press
74-2 Union Street, Manchester, VT 05254
www.hudsonhills.com
9781555952952, $60.00, www.amazon.com

Fletcher Benton is an American artist whose pioneering work in the kinetic art movement of the early 20th Century carried on the constructivism tradition associated with Alexander Calder's mobiles. Blending motion with shape by incorporating battery-powered motors to propel his colorful combinations of circles, triangles, and parallelograms to create kaleidoscopic moving sculptures, Benton made an enduring impact on American art history. Informatively enhanced by an essay on the artist's life and contributions by Diane Ghirado, a full, insightful, and profusely illustrated compendium of his work has been deftly organized and superbly presented by Peter Selz in "Fletcher Benton: The Kinetic Years". Also very highly recommended for professional, academic, and community library American Artists and Art History reference collections is "Fletcher Benton: An American Artist" (9781555952969, $75.00, Hudson Hills Press), the collaborative work of Carter Ratcliff, Collette Chattopadhyay, and Jolei Leisegang.

Gunnar Birkerts: Metaphoric Modernist
Sven Birkerts & Martin Schwartz
Edition Axel Menges
c/o National Book Network
4270 Boston Way, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.nbnbooks.com
9783936681260, $109.00, www.amazon.com

Born in Latvia, educated at the Technische Hochschule in Stuttgart, Germany, Gunnar Birkerts made his way to American and became part of a group of influential architects that were known as 'modernists' and included such luminaries as Kevin Roche and Cesar Pelli. "Gunnar Birkerts: Metaphoric Modernist" is beautifully and profusely illustrated compendium showcasing the architect's work, his evolving design process and philosophy, and his iconic work ranging from the Federal Reserve Bank in Minneapolis to the Corning Museum of Glass, to the Houst Arts Museum, to the Latvian National Library. A master of architectural symbolism and metaphor, Gunnar Birkerts' readily identifiable architectural signature is clearly defined and illuminated by the informed and informative text of Sven Birkerts. An impressive introduction and showcasing of a major architectural talent, "Gunnar Birkerts: Metaphoric Modernist" is highly recommended as a core addition to professional and academic library 20th Century Architectural Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

The Alchemy of Paint
Spike Bucklow
Marion Boyars
24 Lacy Road, London, SW15 1NL
c/o Meryl Zegarek Public Relations, Inc. (publicity)
255 West 108th Street, Suite 9D1, New York, NY 10025
9780714531724 $17.95 www.marionboyars.co.uk

The Alchemy of Paint: Art, Science and Secrets from the Middle Ages is the fascinating true story of the secrets behind artist's palette pigments from the middle ages. From what really went into "dragonsblood" (which was alleged to be a mixture of dragon and elephant blood), to the hidden recipes behind the colors that added life to great classical works, The Alchemy of Paint is an in-depth revelation sure to intrigue casual browsers as well as serious scholars of art history. Highly recommended, especially for college library art history shelves.

Artists in the Old Kingdom
Naguib Kanawati & Alexandra Woods
The American University in Cairo Press
c/o International Publishers Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
www.aucpress.com
9789774379857, $34.50, www.amazon.com

With fully half the book magnificently showcasing full color illustrations, Artists in the Old Kingdom: Techniques and Achievements is an informed and informative survey of the role and contributions performed by the otherwise unknown artists responsible for the creation of funerary art that was such an integral aspect of Egyptian funerals rites. The monograph addresses thematically relevant information concerning the artists of the Old Kingdom period, as well as the diverse principles, materials and techniques employed. Enhanced with commentary on selected wall scenes, copious end notes, an extensive index, "Artists in the Old Kingdom" is a model of meticulous scholarship and an enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, professional, and academic Egyptology Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Buddhist Studies Shelf

The Inner Science of Buddhist Practice
Artemus B. Engle, translator
Snow Lion Publications
PO Box 6483, Ithaca, NY 14851
www.SnowLionPub.com 1-800-950-0313
9781559393225 $34.95, www.amazon.com

The Inner Science of Buddhist Practice: Vasubandhu's Summary of the Five Heaps with Commentary by Sthiramati presents English-language translations of two great texts by Indian Buddhist scholars: Vasubandhu's "Summary of the Five Heaps", and Sthiramati's commentary on Vasubandhu's root text. Additional appendices by translator and expert scholar of Buddhism Artemus B. Engle help the reader better appreciate this classic explanation of how the minds of all people, even at birth, hold instinctively ingrained predispositions that affect our perception, leading to such false beliefs such as the concept that entities persist indefinitely through time, that the personal pleasures one chases are truly satisfying, or that one's personal being is governed by a real self. The Inner Science of Buddhist Practice reveals how to reject such flawed beliefs, and reveals the doctrine of the Five Heaps - form, feeling conception, formations, and consciousness. An absolute "must-have" for intermediate to advanced Buddhist studies collections, highly recommended.


The American History Shelf

Republic Of Barbecue
Elizabeth S. D. Englehardt
University of Texas Press
PO Box 7819, Austin, TX 78713-7819
www.utexaspress.com
9780292719989, $21.95, www.amazon.com

Simply stated, Texas is home to the best barbecue on the planet. But there's more to great barbecue than what is basted on a rotating spit. That's why Elizabeth Englehardt's "Republic Of Barbecue: Stories Beyond The Brisket" is such an informative and fascinating read. It places the culinary art of the barbecue within a cultural framework ranging from feedlots, factories, and hardwood forests (fuel for the barbecue pits), to pit masters, proprietors, themes, histories, music, drinks, films, and more. Profusely illustrated throughout, this is a superbly researched, deftly written, and impressively presented American history as reflected through that enduringly popular culinary phenomena called 'the barbecue'.

Lt. Charles Gatewood & His Apache Wars Memoir
Charles B. Gatewood, author
edited with additional text by Louis Kraft
Bison Books
c/o University of Nebraska Press
233 North 8th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska, 68588-0255
9780803218840 $17.95 www.nebraskapress.unl.edu 1-800-755-1105

Lt. Charles Gatewood & His Apache Wars Memoir is the primary source memoir and testimony of Lt. Charles B. Gatewood (1853-96), an educated and remarkable Virginian who served in the Sixth U.S. Cavalry as the commander of Indian scouts. What made Gatewood exceptional was the immense effort he put into understanding Indian cultures, and eventually, the drive for Indian rights. Independent modern scholar Louis Kraft rounds out Gatewood's perspective with additional commentary, extensive notes, and an epilogue. Lt. Charles Gatewood & His Apache Wars Memoir is a unique and welcome supplement to American military history or Native American studies shelves.

Tejanos in the 1835 Texas Revolution
L. Lloyd MacDonald
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster St, Gretna, LA 70053-2246
www.pelicanpub.com 1-800-843-1724
9781589806382 $26.00, www.amazon.com

Tejanos in the 1835 Texas Revolution is an intriguing and thoroughly accessible historical study of the role that Mexican-born revolutionaries played in earning Texas' independence from Mexico's government. First-person perspective anecdotes pepper this solid account, enhanced with maps and a handful of illustrations worked by hand into leather. An excellent contribution to Texas-American History shelves, Tejanos in the 1835 Texas Revolution is particularly recommended for public and college library collections.

Seneca Falls and the Origins of the Women's Rights Movement
Sally G. McMillen
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, NY, NY 10016-4314
www.oup.com/us 1-800-451-7556
9780195393330 $16.95, www.amazon.com

Professor of History Sally G. McMillen presents Seneca Falls and the Origins of the Women's Rights Movement, a scholarly historical examination of the 1848 Seneca Falls convention that would catapult the women's rights movement forward and forever change the course of history. Revealing the true stories behind four extraordinary individuals key to the movement - Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, Lucy Stone, and Susan B. Anthony - Seneca Falls and the Origins of the Women's Rights Movement shows how the then-radical ideas of greater legal rights for women, greater educational opportunities, full equality with men, and the right to vote were boldly advanced despite powerful social pressures in direct opposition. A handful of black-and-white photographs illustrates this absolute "must-have" for women's studies shelves.


The Military Shelf

Strategy and Command
Roy A. Prete
McGill-Queen's University Press
3430 McTavish Street, Montreal, QC, Canada, H3A 1X9
www.mqup.ca 1-800-387-0141
9780773535220 $75.00, www.amazon.com

Strategy and Command: The Anglo-French Coalition on the Western Front, 1914 is the first of three projected volumes examining the First World War from the French point of view (as opposed to the more ubiquitous British perspective), from the inception of hostilities to 1915, when trench warfare changed the world forever. Drawing heavily upon new information from French public and private archives, including private diaries, Strategy and Command reveals that suspicion and distrust were omnipresent on both sides of the alliance, and that both sides had drastic and fundamental differences in their strategies. An excellent and thought-provoking military history, especially recommended for college library collections.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Becoming An Oracle
Nicki Scully
Sounds True Audio
413 South Arthur Avenue, Louisville, CO 80027
www.soundstrue.com
#113400, $69.95, www.amazon.com

Utilizing a number of different techniques an oracle is someone who can draw upon the divine for information and for assistance. Drawing upon ancient practices and spiritual methods derived from such diverse cultures as the Greeks, the Egyptians, and the Mayans, as well as her own extensive personal experience and expertise, shamanic expert Nicki Scully (who is a lineageholder in the Hermetic Tradition of Thoth, a priestess of Hathor, and founder of Shamanic Journeys Ltd.) has produced "Becoming An Oracle: Connecting To The Divine Source For Information And Healing", a seven-disc instruction manual that explains in depth and detail what an oracle is, the role of 'pathworking', utilization of the 'heart-breath' technique and visualization practices, guided inner journeys to mystic destinations, and the use of such oracular tools as the Tarot, Nordic runes, and scrying bowls. This six-hour compendium of information and commentary will enable the careful listener to learn how to access divine intelligence and healing through the means of oracular rituals and practices, making "Becoming An Oracle" an invaluable addition to personal, academic, and community library Metaphysical Studies collections.

The Wanderings of the Grail
Andre Douzet
Adventures Unlimited Press
PO Box 74, Kempton, IL 60946
www.adventuresunlimitedpress.com
1931882363 $14.95, 1-815-253-6390

The Holy Grail was searched for in medieval times, and believed to be a sacred relic of Christianity. "The Wanderings of the Grail: The Cathars, the Search for the Grail, and the Discovery of Egyptian Relics in the French Pyrenees" is a exploration of the idea that the Holy grail may have been holy to the Egyptian people as well, under the religion of the Cathars. This forgotten Cathar religion may have untold knowledge to the status of the grail, and author Andre Douzet pieces together what may be the answer to an ancient historical puzzle. "The Wanderings of the Grail" is an interesting read all the way through.

The Spellcaster's Reference
Eileen Holland
Weiser Publishers
65 Parker Avenue, Suite 7, Newburyport, MA 01950
9781578634521 $16.95

The Spellcaster's Reference: Magickal Timing for the Wheel of the Year is a straightforward guide to timing one's castings of spells, ceremonies, and rituals for maximum effectiveness. Part I walks the reader through making effective use of the wisdom in The Spellcaster's Reference; Part II makes recommendations according to the current state of the season, the current astrological year, the current day of the week, and much more. Part III covers the repercussions of lunar cycles and daily (vs. annual) solar cycles., and Part IV presents a list of possible spell subjects followed by recommendations for each. A glossary rounds out this excellent, easy-to-use reference, especially recommended as a supplement to Wiccan magic shelves.

Kundalini Rising
Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa, et. al.
Sounds True Audio
413 South Arthur Ave, Louisville, CO 80027
www.soundstrue.com 1-800-333-9185
9781591797289 $19.95, www.amazon.com

Kundalini Rising: Exploring the Energy of Awakening is a selection of twenty-four essays concerning "kundalini", the power to spur one's spiritual evolution and fully awaken consciousness. Topics range from personal testimonies to yogic practices, modern brain research, examinations of kundalini throughout history, and more, Kundalini Rising touches on a wide range of aspects and is an excellent tool for spiritual readers of all backgrounds to educate themselves and promote inner growth. "The Life Review showed me a dance that pulls us back and forth between light and dark, good and evil, neediness and extension. It's this dance that leads us to waking up so we have choices in all our relationships: with ourselves, with others (including our community and this planet), and with the God of our understanding. As we wake up, we seem to move along a healing continuum toward Unity consciousness."

Born in Blood
John J. Robinson
M. Evans
c/o Taylor Trade Publishing
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
National Book Network (distribution)
4270 Boston Way, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
9781590771488 $17.95 www.rowman.com 1-800-275-8188

Written by the late John J. Robinson, the founder of the Masonic Information Center, Born in Blood: The Lost Secrets of Freemasonry is a historical account of the Freemasons grounded on years of research, piecing together the mystery of their origins with the ingenuity of a skilled detective. Revealing that Freemasonry's origins lie in the remnants of the Knights Templar, who created a secret society of mutual protection while fleeing from the wrath of the pope and the king, Born in Blood pries apart the mysteries of time with a discerning eye. Accessible to readers of all backgrounds, Born in Blood is fascinating from first page to last and enthusiastically recommended to anyone curious about the hidden history of the Freemasons.


The Travel Shelf

Sports Traveler: Chicago
Anbritt Stengele & Lydia Rypcinski
Lake Claremont Press
PO Box 25291, Chicago, IL 60640
www.lakeclaremont.com
9781893121225, $15.95, www.amazon.com

As a dedicated Chicago sport fans and the owner of Sports Traveler (a sports tourism company), Anbritt Stengele draws upon her years of experience and expertise in "Sports Traveler: Chicago" to provide both the causal visitor and the life-long resident with practical information and advice on enjoying the many and manifold sporting events that Chicago has to offer, celebrate their fandom, and enjoy new sports fan experiences. Included in practical and authoritative advice with respect to where to sit, what to eat, what else to see at the park, fan customs, lodging picks, transportation advice, pre-game parties, post-game traditions, historical sites, bars for fans, fan memories, off-season conventions, minor league teams, and so much more! Whether the sport is baseball, basketball, football, hockey, soccer, auto racing, horse racing, bicycle racing, lacrosse, golf, and the Chicago Marathon, "Sports Traveler: Chicago" is the quintessential guide that is packed from cover to cover with immediately useful information specific to enjoying sporting events in Chicago all year long.

The Bizarre Truth
Andrew Zimmern
Broadway Books
1745 Broadway, New York, NY, 10036
9780767931298 $24.99 www.broadwaybooks.com 1-800-726-0600

Written by the host of the Travel Channel's popular series "Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern", The Bizarre Truth: How I Walked Out the Door Mouth First... and Came Back Shaking My Head is an enjoyable travelogue of Zimmern's many cultural and culinary adventures filming the show. From the plight of vanishing foods and cultures subsumed by mainstream globalization, to a session with an Incan witch doctor in Ecuador who blows fire on him, to dining on roasted bats on a Samoan Island, to eating raccoon and opossum in Mississippi, The Bizarre Truth is a chronicle of adventure, strange and wonderful palate delights (or distresses), and above all, an open-minded appreciation of the myriad ways mankind has adapted his diet and his way of life to his environment. Highly recommended, especially to fans of the television show.


The Environmental Studies Shelf

The Yuma Reclamation Project
Robert A. Sauder
University of Nevada Press
Mail Stop 0166, Reno, NV, 89557-0166
www.unpress.nevada.edu 1-877-682-6657
9780874177831 $44.95, www.amazon.com

The Yuma Reclamation Project: Irrigation, Indian Allotment and Settlement along the Lower Colorado River presents a meticulously researched historical account of the Yuma Reclamation Project (authorized in 1904), one of the first federal irrigation projects in the Western United States. Chapters scrutinize in depth the myriad obstacles encountered just to get the program started, its impact, and its legacy up to the modern day. A thoughtful analysis of economic and social as well as environmental factors of the time, The Yuma Reclamation Project is sufficiently thorough to satisfy professional scholars yet thoroughly accessible to readers of all backgrounds. Highly recommended.


The Literary Shelf

The Book of Jokes
Momus
Dalkey Archive
c/o University of Illinois
1805 S. Wright Street, MC-011, Champaign, IL 61820
9781564785619, $13.95, www.dalkeyarchive.com

The lives of some aren't governed by logic. They're governed by something far worse. "The Book of Jokes" is a humorous adventure following one Sebastian Skeleton. Murderers and child molesters are his constant companions in his macabre and bizarrely brutal life. Sex crimes of all types appear in this a wickedly dark novel from an offbeat (unhinged?) mind. "The Book of Jokes" is something that has to be read to be understood and is recommended to those who have an appreciation for nasty humor.

Intertexts: Studies in Anglo-Saxon Culture
Virginia Blanton and Helene Scheck, editors
Arizona Center for Medieval & Renaissance Studies
Arizona State University,
PO Box 874402, Tempe, AZ 85287-4402
9780866983822 $57.00, www.amazon.com

Gathered in honor of Paul E. Szarmach, Intertexts: Studies in Anglo-Saxon Culture is an anthology of essays by learned scholars concerning Anglo-Saxon literature and culture. Divided into three segments addressing scholarly reception, material texts and contexts, and textual transmission, Intertexts breathes life into the fascinating study of ancient classics and the changing culture they represented. Highly recommended, especially for college library literary studies shelves.


The Sports Shelf

Gridiron Gauntlet
Andy Piascik
Taylor Trade Publishing
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.rowman.com 1-800-275-8188
9781589794429 $24.95, www.amazon.com

In 1947, four black football players who joined the Cleveland Browns and Los Angeles Rams one year before Jackie Robinson broke the color line in baseball. Gridiron Gauntelet: The Story of the Men Who Integrated Pro Football, in Their Own Words recounts the daily lives of twelve people of color whose football careers began between 1946 to 1955. Their trail blazing efforts to transform the game brought them death threats, and violence on and off the field, but they were also fortunate enough to have support from white players and coaches as well as their family and close friends. An excellent and worthy contribution to sports history shelves, Gridiron Gauntlet is highly recommended.

Muhammad Ali and the Greatest Heavyweight Generation
Tom Cushman
Southeast Missouri State University Press
MS 2650, One University Plaza, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701
http://www6.semo.edu/universitypress
9780982248928 $19.00, www.amazon.com

Sportswriter and columnist Tom Cushman presents Muhammad Ali and the Greatest Heavyweight Generation, an anthology of essays from Cushman's personal files as well as his research. Offering behind-the-scenes insights into the true stories of great athletes from boxing's glory days, Muhammad Ali and the Greatest Heavyweight Generation tells of incredible battles, nefarious crimes, determined struggles, and much more. From Liston's tragic early death, to Foreman's incredible rise to glory, Holmes' earthshaking defeat, and much more, Muhammad Ali and the Greatest Heavyweight Generation brings sports legends to life. Highly recommended for any boxing enthusiast curious about the grand days when Muhammad Ali reigned in the ring.


The Audiobook Shelf

The National Parks: America's Best Idea
Dayton Duncan and Ken Burns
Random House Audio Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 8th floor, New York, NY 10019
www.randomhouse.com 1-800-726-0600
9780739366325 $30.00, www.amazon.com

Read aloud by the award-winning authors with a supporting cast, The National Parks: America's Best Idea is an abridged audiobook (abridgement approved by the authors) of Dayton Duncan and Ken Burns' historical chronicle of the concept of public American parks. From the 1851 discovery of the valley that would come to be called Yosemite, to the most recent additions to a modern national park system that involves nearly four hundred sites and 84 million acres, The National Parks is an extraordinary tour of America's preserved natural splendor. The National Parks is the perfect audiobook to listen to while one is driving to visit America's wonderful natural parks, as well as an excellent addition to public library audiobook shelves. 5 CDs, 6 1/2 hours.

Alexander the Great
Paul Cartledge, author
John Lee, narrator
Blackstone Audiobooks
PO Box 969, Ashland, OR 97520
www.BlackstoneAudio.com 1-800-729-2665
9781433295737 $90.00, www.amazon.com

Paul Cartledge (professor of Greek history, Cambridge University) presents Alexander the Great: The Hunt for a New Past, an engaging historical portrait of one of history's greatest conquerors, now available in unabridged audiobook format. Narrated by Earphones and Audie Award-winning stage actor John Lee, "Alexander the Great" strips away the myths to reveal the strengths that made Alexander the Great such a successful leader, from his charisma to his ruthlessness to his skill at international politics. An utterly absorbing work of nonfiction, enthusiastically recommended for any listener curious about this legendary leader, as well as for public library collections. Eight CDs, 9 1/2 hours, tracks every three minutes for easy bookmarking.

My Sister's Keeper
Jodi Picoult
Recorded Books, LLC
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
9781402586408 $123.75 www.recordedbooks.com 1-800-638-1304

My Sister's Keeper is an unabridged audiobook rendition of Jodi Picoult's novel about a family's troubles, and complex moral quandaries. Thirteen-year-old Anna Fitzgerald was deliberately conceived to help her older sister Kate with her struggle against leukemia. All her life Anna has provided platelets, bone marrow, and even stem cells; now, she is expected to donate a kidney. Exhausted by the increasingly invasive medical procedures, Anna hires a lawyer to sue for control of her own body. Anna's mother dusts off her law degree to represent Kate. Meanwhile, the Anna and Kate's neglected older brother Jesse is caught in an increasingly self-destructive spiral of drugs and arson. A poignant, emotional saga of heart-wrenching family conflicts with no easy answers and no obvious rule of right and wrong, brought to life by multiple narrators, My Sister's Keeper is highly recommended especially for public library audiobook collections. 12 CDs, 13.75 hours.

Blindman's Bluff
Faye Kellerman, author
Mitchell Greenberg, narrator
Harper Audio
10 East 53rd Street, NY, NY 10022-5299
www.harpercollins.com 1-800-242-7737
9780061768170 $39.99, www.amazon.com

Blindman's Bluff is the unabridged audio book adaptation of an exciting installment in "Decker and Lazarus" series of mystery thrillers. LAPD homicide detective Paul Decker and his wife Rina Lazarus must deal with a savage multiple murder - an inside job that slaughtered billionaire developer Guy Kaffey, his wife, and four employees. Decker is assigned to the case, but was the motive simply robbery, or something far more complex? At first Rina is not involved in the case, serving on a jury at the courthouse, but a chance encounter with a court translator in need of help mires her amidst her husband's investigation and the plots of an utterly remorseless gang of killers. Tense and involving from beginning to end, Blindman's Bluff is sure to please anyone who loves a good mystery. 10 CDs, 12 hours.

Even Money
Dick Francis and Felix Francis, authors
Martin Jarvis, narrator
Penguin Audio
c/o The Penguin Publishing Group
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
http://us.penguingroup.com 1-800-847-5515
9780143144830 $39.95, www.amazon.com

Even Money is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of an exciting thriller blend of horse racing, bookmaking, and murder. Ned Talbot has worked all his life as a bookmaker, only to see large gambling conglomerates threaten to devour his family business. He has long believed that his parents died in a car crash when he was a baby - but when a grey-haired man claims to be his father, only to be stabbed to death barely an hour later, Ned must race against time to solve the riddle of who killed his alleged father and why. A captivating whodunnit expertly narrated by masterful dramatic actor Martin Jarvis, Even Money is especially recommended for long car trips - the high suspense is perfect for keeping one awake and alert at the wheel! 9 CDs, 10 1/2 hours.

The Deep Blue Sea for Beginners
Luanne Rice, author
Blair Brown, narrator
Random House Audio Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 8th floor, NY, NY 10019
www.randomhouse.com 1-800-726-0600
9780739343661 $29.95, www.amazon.com

Narrated by Tony Award winner Blair Brown, The Deep Blue Sea for Beginners is an audiobook adaptation (abridgement approved by the author) is a novel of a woman's reconnection with her mother, and her search for deeper family understanding. Lyra Davis left the lavish world of her family's wealth long ago, chasing the pull of her heartstrings. Now as Pell Davis prepares to go to college, she needs to know that her younger sister Lucy will be secure; their father has passed on, and so Pell embarks on a journey across the ocean to find the mother she distantly remembers. A poignant and captivating emotional saga, highly recommended. 5 CDs, 6 hours.

The Eleventh Victim
Nancy Grace, author
Kate McIntyre, narrator
Hyperion Books
77 West 66th Street, NY, NY 10023-6298
www.hyperionbooks.com 1-800-759-0190
9781401393113 $34.99, www.amazon.com

An abridgement approved by author Nancy Grace, The Eleventh Victim is the chilling audiobook adaptation of a mystery-thriller following psychology student and therapist Hailey Dean. Scarred by the murder of her fiance only weeks before their wedding, she seeks to return to a normal life, but when a savage psychopath begins murdering her therapy clients she must put her mind to solving the case - and resisting the unhelpful NYPD! The killer has set his sights on her, and it's a race against time to reveal the mystery and bring him to justice before it's too late. An exciting narrative to the very end, highly recommended to murder mystery fans. (It should be noted that a portion of the author's proceeds from "The Eleventh Victim" will go to The Wesley Glen Ministries of Macon, Georgia, a non-profit ministry of the United Methodist Church). 7 hours, 6 CDs.


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

Manga Kamishibai
Eric P. Nash, author
Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
115 West 18th Street, 6th floor, New York, NY 10011
9780810953031 $35.00 www.abramsbooks.com 1-800-759-0190

Filled with over 250 gorgeous, full-color illustrations, including some reproduced for the first time from Japanese archives, Manga Kamishibai: The Art of Japanese Paper Theater is the amazing history of this nearly-extinct Japanese art form that predated modern-day Japanese comic books and manga. In the 1930's, storytellers would journey to villages during the day and set up butais (small wooden prosceniums), then use illustrated boards combined with lively narration to spin tales ranging from Westerns to period pieces, traditional folk tales, melodramas, and even nightly news reports on World War II. Skilled storytellers would apply their talents to acting out the parts of each character, with different voices and facial expressions. The text of Manga Kamishibai includes a wealth of research and interviews, revealing the history of this amazing art form. An indispensable "missing link" of manga history, highly recommended especially for college library and other shelves dedicated to the history of manga and comics.


The Native American Shelf

O, My Ancestor
Claudia Jurmain & William McCawley
Heyday Books
PO Box 9145, Berkeley, CA 94709
www.heydaybooks.com 1-510-549-3564
9781597141154 $21.95, www.amazon.com

O, My Ancestor: Recognition and Renewal for the Gabrielino-Tongva People of the Los Angeles Area is a thoroughly accessible compendium of writings by and about the Gabrielino-Tongva community native to the Los Angeles area. Interviews with leaders, activists, educators, and artists are interspersed with essays on Gabrielino-Tongva history and traditional culture. Black-and-white photographs illustrate this extraordinary reference and resource, highly recommended for Native American studies collections.


The Islamic Studies Shelf

Muslim Women Reformers
Ida Lichter
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Dr, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
www.prometheusbooks.com 1-800-853-7545
9781591027164 $27.98, www.amazon.com

Muslim Women Reformers: Inspiring Voices Against Oppression is a scholarly yet heart-rending anthology of portraits of Muslim women who dare to speak out against discrimination and violence perpetrated against women in Islamic communities in nations all over the globe, from Afghanistan to Bangladesh, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, and many more - even some Muslim communities in more western or modern nations such as France or Egypt. "Background" sections briefly summarize the severity of each nation's local religious policies where women are concerned; in extreme cases are incidents of "honor killings", where women are murdered by male relatives - allegedly for bringing dishonor to the family, but in practice often for the slightest ill rumor, or even as a cold-blooded means to steal an inheritance. The women who dare to speak out and take action in "Muslim Women Reformers" risk slander, attack, or even murder for daring to take a stand; yet even as they struggle against an entrenched, misogynist, theocratic power base, they hold out hope for a better tomorrow. Muslim Women Reformers deserves the absolute highest recommendation, and a place on both public and college library women's studies shelves.


The Social Issues Shelf

Gambling
Alan Wolfe & Erik C. Owens, editors
Baylor University Press
One Bear Place, #97363, Waco, TX 76798-7363
www.baylorpress.com
9781602581951, $34.95, www.amazon.com

Gambling can be traced to the very origins of human civilization. It is pervasive within all recorded cultures. So are the attempts to control it, regulate it, and even prohibit it. The opposition to gambling has as its roots religious or "morality" based arguments. One of the ironies of modern American life is that Utah, a state which absolutely bans all forms of gambling, leads the country in the volume of online gaming. Another irony is that the state of Nevada, and a number of formerly impoverished reservation-restricted Native American tribes, are able to achieve a significant measure of economic prosperity by the legalization of gambling and the construction of gambling casinos. In "Gambling: Mapping The American Moral Landscape", Alan Wolfe (Professor of Political Science and the Director of the Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life, Boston College) and Erik C. Owens (Assistant Director of the Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Theology, Boston College) have expertly compiled a series of informed and informative essays by fellow academics and researchers on various aspects of the politics and policy of gambling; individual behavior and social impacts related to gambling; the interconnection of theology, gambling and risk; and the context of gambling within American culture today. Enhanced with copious notes, an extensive bibliography, and a comprehensive index, "Gambling" is a seminal work of impressive scholarship and a very strongly recommended addition to academic library Social Issues reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Invoking the Invisible Hand
Robert Asen
Michigan State University Press
Manly Miles Building, Suite 25, 1405 South Harrison Road, East Lansing, MI 48823-5245
9780870138430 $59.95 www.msupress.msu.edu

Robert Asen (Associate Professor of Rhetoric in the Communication Arts Department, University of Wisconsin-Madison) presents Invoking the Invisible Hand: Social Security and the Privatization Debates, a close examination of the modern-day debate concerning proposals to privatize Social Security. Asen notes that the two sides of the debate use language to frame and describe Social Security differently. Is Social Security simply a return on one's investment (in which case its low yield is questionable while privatization options would be an excellent choice for individual investors to increase their earnings)? Or is Social Security a social insurance program, the purpose of which is to serve as a safety net for the nation's older citizens (in which case privatization is much more questionable, especially given that private enterprises or investments can and do fail)? Revealing the manner in which debate participants tend to manipulate language and perception to favor their side, Invoking the Invisible Hand is strongly recommended not only to college libraries, but also anyone involved in the Social Security debate, the better to fully understand all sides of the issue, and the fine details that advocates on each side tend to leave out.


The Humor Shelf

Freedom's Just Another Word for People Finding Out You're Useless
Scott Adams
Andrews & McMeel
4520 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111
www.andrewsmcmeel.com 1-800-851-8923
9780740778155 $12.99, www.amazon.com

Scott Adams has done it again with Freedom's Just Another Word for People Finding Out You're Useless, his latest collection of sometimes sneering, always hysterical comics featuring helplessly trapped corporate engineer Dilbert and his highly questionable co-workers. "'I'm in charge while our pointy-haired boss is on vacation. I expect each of you to be professional and productive during this time.' 'Nice lying.' 'I practice in front of a mirror.'" Bringing the previously black-and-white strips to life with soft-palette color, Freedom's Just Another Word for People Finding Out You're Useless is as hard-hitting funny as previous Dilbert Collections, and enthusiastically recommended as the perfect giftbook for anyone who enjoys office humor.


The Computer Shelf

The CSS Anthology, third edition
Rachel Andrew
Sitepoint
business@sitepoint.com
9780980576801, $39.95, www.sitepoint.com

Now in a fully updated and significantly expanded third edition, "The CSS Anthology: 101 Essential Tips, Tricks & Hacks by Rachel Andrew (an acknowledge CSS expert and the author of the first two editions of "The CSS Anthology") covers all the information of the first two editions and adds the latest techniques and newest browsers (including Firefox 3 and Internet Explorer 8) to continue "The CSS Anthology" as the most comprehensive and user friendly instructional manuals for CSS users. Demystifying otherwise complex CSS issues, offering a number of 'ready-to-use' solutions for commonly encountered CSS user needs, providing a wealth of practical answers incorporating CSS techniques, presenting practical solutions for cross-over browser compatibility problems, and including illustrative and working examples of layouts, navigation, forms and more, "The CSS Anthology" is confidently recommended for novice and practiced CSS users alike.


The Business Shelf

The Truth About Green Business
Gil Friend
FT Press
1330 Avenue of the Americans, 35th fl, New York, NY 10019
9780789739407 $18.99 www.mcp.com

Economic prosperity and environmental prosperity are not mutually exclusive things. "The Truth About Green Business" is a guide for business leaders about keeping their business green while staying out of the red. Stating simple, straight to the point facts for readers about environmentalism's clashes with capitalism, author Gil Friend puts together a solid manual that is fairly comprehensive. "The Truth About Green Business" as such deserves a place in public library as well as private business collections.

Customer Driven Change
Bud Taylor
Brown Books Publishing Group
16200 N. Dallas Parkway, Suite 170, Dallas, Texas 75248
9781934812402 $26.95 www.BrownBooks.com www.customerdrivenchange.com

It all boils down to the customers - without them, you don't have a business. "Customer Driven Change: What Your Customers Know, Your Employees Think, Your Managers Overlook" is a book about business and change, a necessary practice to keep up in today's hectic business world. Emphasizing the value of employees, author Bud Taylor offers his opinions on many problems ranging from acquiring competitors to downsizing. "Customer Driven Change" is a realist's business book, highly recommended reading for managers and leaders.

The Sticking Point Solution
Jay Abraham
Vanguard Press
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
www.vanguardpressbooks.com
9781593155100 $25.95, www.amazon.com

Growth is the key element for a successful business. "The Sticking Point Solution: 9 Ways to Move Your Business From Stagnation to Stunning Growth in Tough Economic Times" is a guide to avoiding stagnation in one's business, by sticking to one's goals and not straying from them. Outlining nine sticking points, author Jay Abraham hopes to help business leaders and their business endure a rough economy. "The Sticking Point Solution" belongs in every business library collection.


The Parenting Shelf

Talk to Me, Baby!
Betty S. Bardige
Paul H. Brookes Publishing Company
PO Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
9781557669773 $24.95 www.brookespublishing.com 1-800-638-3775

Speech comes faster to some children than others, but parents can help. "Talk to Me, Baby!: How You Can Support Young Children's Language Development" is a guide for parents who want to encourage their children's speech development. With plenty of activities that one can do with their child to spur their natural talent for speech, with tips and advice for potential impediments or even helping a child in a bilingual household grasp both languages, author Betty S. Bardige provides a solid manual. "Talk to Me, Baby!" is a strong choice for parents and community library parenting collections.


The Archaeology Shelf

Tools of the Trade
Jayne Wilkins & Kirsten Anderson
University of Calgary Press
2500 University Drive, N.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4
9781552382493 $39.95 www.uofcpress.com

Just because you're studying the past doesn't mean you can't use the methods of the future. "Tools of the Trade: Methods, Techniques, and Innovative Approaches in Archaeology" is a shop-approach to modern archeology, outlining the new ways and methods that modern science uses to dig deeper about the past of the world and humanity. Discussing the amazing technologies that have both been adapted to and developed for the science, Jayne Wilkins and Kirsten Anderson provide a great explanation of the methods of modern archaeology. "Tools of the Trade" deserves a place in every community library archaeology collection.


The Christian Studies Shelf

Three Simple Rules
Rueben P. Job
Abingdon Press
PO Box 801, Nashville, TN 37202
www.abingdon.org
9781426700262, $8.95, www.amazon.com

Religion is only complicated for theologians. For ordinary folk is as uncomplicated as the guidelines comprising "Three Simple Rules That Will Change The World". They are: Do No Harm; Do Good; and Stay In Love With God. Protestant Reformer John Wesley taught these basic principles for a Christian life. Now retired United Methodist bishop Rueben P. Job has written a succinct 94-page volume explaining to the reader how adhering to these three concepts can change our lives and affect the world we live in through 'mutual respect, unity, and a deeper relationship with God'. Enhanced with an extended listing of quotation sources, "Three Simple Rules" is highly recommended and highly rewarding reading for anyone seeking to live a simpler and most Christian life.

Simple Student Ministry
Eric Geiger and Jeff Borton
B&H Publishing Group
127 Ninth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37234-0143
www.bhpublishinggroup.com
9780805447941 $16.99, www.amazon.com

It's never too early to start being a church leader. "Simple Student Ministry: A Clear Process for Strategic Youth Discipleship" is a guide for mentoring young, would-be church leaders to help them become the church leaders of tomorrow. For all sizes of churches, "Simple Student Ministry" is a solid and recommended read to foster enthusiastic faith for the next generation.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Health is Simple: Disease Is Complicated
James Forleo, DC
North Atlantic Books
2526 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Berkeley, CA 94704-2607
www.northatlanticbooks.com
9781556437182 $22.95, www.amazon.com

It's better prevent disease before it starts. "Health is Simple, Disease is Complicated: A Systems Approach to Vibrant Health" is a body system by body system approach to health and how to care for each part. Discussing each system, how to maintain its general health, and how to deal with the ailments that may affect it, "Health is Simple, Disease in Complicated" is a solid read for those who want to take their health seriously with a pre-emptive strike.


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

Get the Job You Want Even When No One's Hiring
Ford R. Myers
Wiley-Blackwell
10475 Crosspoint Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46256
9780470457412 $19.95 www.wiley.com

With all the fuss about the bad economy, many people assume they have to take anything they can find, and that they can't do what they really want to do. "Get the Job You Want Even When No One's Hiring: Take Charge of Your Career, Find a Job You Love, and Earn What You Deserve" is a guide to establishing one's career in spite of a rough economy. Offering tips from skilled job hunters, suggestions for social networking, and more, author Ford Meyers provides a much needed resource for those who don't want to settle for less. "Get the Job You Want Even When No One's Hiring" is a must for job hunters in a bad economy.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

The Life Worth Living
Byron L. Sherwin
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
2140 Oak Industrial Drive, NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
9780802862938 $18.00 www.eerdmans.com

Life is full of questions, but pushing us on are the answers to the biggest one - Why? "The Life Worth Living: Faith in Action" is a religious answer to these questions from one Byron L. Sherwin, a scholar of various Jewish schools of thought. His philosophy is an intriguing read that will help many people find a more spiritual approach to life regardless of their traditional faith. "The Life Worth Living" is a read to be treasured and thought upon.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

The Simple Little Vegan Dog Book
Michelle A. Rivera
The Book Publishing Company
PO Box 99, Summertown, TN 38483
www.thefarm.org/businesses/bpc.html
9781570672439, $9.95, www.amazon.com

While we haven't quite figured out how lambs can safely lay down next to lions, animal rights activist and canine companion enthusiast Michelle A. Rivera has been able to create a compendium of nutritious 'cruelty free' vegan recipes for dog treats and meal times that are better for a dog than what is served them out of commercially canned dog food. With recipes ranging from a Canine Cashew Casserole; to Yeasted Gourmet Dog Treats; to German Shepherd's Pie, the dog compatible biscuits, substantial meal time staples and doggie treats comprising "The Simple Little Vegan Dog Book" will result in a healthy, happy, and 'earth friendly' canine companion. In addition to these thoroughly 'dog owner' friendly recipes, there is a wealth of information about why certain human foods are toxic for dogs; resource lists, and an informed introduction to the vegan lifestyle and how it applies to canines. "The Simple Little Vegan Dog Book" is highly recommended for dog owners of all breeds and backgrounds.

Birding The Great Lakes Seaway Trail
Gerald Smith, et al.
Seaway Trail Inc.
PO Box 660, Sackets Harbor, NY 13685
9780943689081, $19.95, www.seawaytrail.com

The freshwater shoreline of the Great Lakes has always been of immense value to dedicated bird watchers, as well as avian researchers tracking migration patterns. "Birding The Great Lakes Seaway Trail" will prove to be of immense value for the amateur and the professional alike as an informed and informative 224-page illustrated field guide principally written by ornithologist Gerald Smith and enhanced with special chapters by Willie D'Anna, Jerry McWilliams, and David Semple. Of special note are the maps and their symbols assisting the reader in utilizing the guide for exploratory outings whether they are simple day trips, weekend holidays, or extended week-long excursions. Covering 518-mile freshwater byways in New York and Pennsylvania, "Birding The Great Lakes Seaway Trail" includes the Pennsylvania borderlands, the Presque Isle area, the Lake Erie Basin, the Dunkirk Harbor area, Eastern Lake Erie, along the Niagara River, Far Western Lake Ontario, the Braddock Bay and Rochester region, from Sodus Bay to Little Sodus Bay, along the lower reaches of the Oswego river, Mexico Bay, the eastern Lake Ontario dunes, the Henderson and Chaumont Bays, the Thousand Island region, the Indian River lakes, Middle St. Lawrence, Lake St. Lawrence, as well as other notable regional birding areas, the "Birding The Great Lakes Seaway Trail" will prove to be a valued, thoroughly 'user friendly', and indispensable travel guide and a welcome addition to personal, professional, and community library reference collections.


The Fiction Shelf

Journeying
Barbara Fleming
Gale Cengage Learning
27500 Drake Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48331
9781594147906, $25.95, www.cengage.com

Ignorance is not something that can be escaped by location. "Journeying" is a historical romance following one Hannah Morris as she seeks to flee westwards from the high Yankee society in the late nineteenth century, for she has fallen in love with a physician of mixed heritage, Lucas Bowman. But even as they go westward, their love does not find tolerance. Blending romance with the racial intolerance of the past, author Barbara Fleming weaves an intriguing story with "Journeying", a read that will provoke thought as well as entertain.

Mara's Move
Jean C. Gordon
Avalon Books
160 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016
http://avalonbooks.com
9780803499553, $23.95, www.amazon.com

Alex Price was dumped by his social-climbing fiancee. Mara Riley's track record in men has been unrelentingly dismal. When the two of them meet aboard a cruise ship excursion, they agree to help each other fend off undesirable impositions from other shipboard passengers. What begins as a mutual defense pact seems to be evolving into something else quite entirely! Jean C. Godorn is a gifted storyteller and "Mara's Move" is her fifth romance novel for Avalon Books -- and perhaps her best yet! Even so, those other four are also very highly recommended for fans of the romance genre and include: "Mandy and the Mayor" (9780803495340, $23.95); "Love Undercover" (9780803494725, $23.95); "Candy Kisses" (9780803498341, $23.95); and "Bachelor Father" (9780803494138, $23.95).


The Political Science Shelf

Judging Bush
Robert Maranto, et al.
Stanford University Press
1450 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1124
www.sup.org
9780804760898, $24.95, www.amazon.com

The presidency of George W. Bush was an exceptionally polarizing experience for the American electorate and American allies. The most recent addition to the Stanford university Press series 'Studies in the Modern Presidency', "Judging Bush" is the collaborative editorial project of Robert Maranto (21st Century Chair in Leadership, Department of Education Reform, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville), Tom Lansford (Professor of Political Science, International Development and International Affairs, University of Southern Mississippi), and Jeremy Johnson (Political Science Doctoral Candidate, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island). Comprised of sixteen informed and informative articles by scholars and researchers, "Judging Bush" presents the presidency of George W. Bush within a useful comparative perspective; addresses institutions and the policy regime of the Bush administration; Bush administration domestic policies; and Bush administration foreign policies. Of special note is the concluding article 'Why Judging George W. Bush is Never as Easy as It Seems'. A model of academic scholarship, "Judging Bush" is an especially recommended addition to academic library Political Science reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Psychology Shelf

Mind Works
Antonino Ferro
Routledge
270 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016
www.routledge.com
9780415429917, $99.00, www.amazon.com

One of the volumes composing the outstanding Routledge series 'The New Library of Psychoanalalysis' under the general editorship of Dane Birksted-Breen and published in cooperation and association with The Institute of Psychoanalysis, London, "Mind Works: Techniques And Creativity In Psychoanalysis" by psychiatrist Antonino Ferro (Training and Supervising Analyst, Italian Psychoanalytical Society) is a compilation of session reports combined with client analytical histories which illustrate and illuminate psychoanalytic techniques and concepts including interpretive modalities, the end of analysis, psychosomatic pathologies, narcissism, dreaming, and the influence of both internal and external stimuli upon thoughts and emotions. Presenting a body of seminal and impeccable scholarship, "Mind Works" is especially commended to the attention of academia, therapists, practitioners, and researchers in the fields of psychology and psychiatry.


The Education Shelf

Methods and Materials for Teaching the Gifted, third edition
Frances A. Karnes & Suzanne M. Bean
Prufrock Press
Box 8813, Waco, TX 76714-8813
www.prufrock.com
9781593633479, $115.00, www.amazon.com

Ideally, every public and private school system should incorporate into its curriculums classes specifically designed for gifted and talented students. That's why this newly updated and significantly expanded third edition of "Methods and Materials for Teaching the Gifted" is such a highly advised and strongly recommended addition to school libraries and university teaching department reference collections and classroom teacher supplemental reading lists. Deftly compiled and edited by Frances A. Karnes (Professor of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education, University of Southern Mississippi) and Suzanne M. Bean (Director of the roger F. Wicker Center for Creative Learning and Professor of Education, Mississippi University for Women), "Methods and Materials for Teaching the Gifted" is a compilation of twenty-three informed and informative articles by experts, scholars, and researchers in the field of gifted education, addressing a variety of thematically appropriate issues relevant to gifted education curriculum development including assessing the needs of gifted students, instructional planning and evaluation, educational strategies, as well as supporting and enhancing gifted student programs. Of special note are the lists of teacher resources provided which include books, periodicals, and web sites, as well as the descriptive information regarding blogs, podcasts, and wikis, and social networking.

Fairy Tales Readers Theatre
Anthony D. Fredericks
Teacher Ideas Press
c/o ABC-CLIO
PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
9781591588498 $25.00 www.teacherideaspress.com

These stories enchanted the youths of many generations, and can be a fine introduction to the finer arts. "Fairy Tales Readers Theatre" presents common fairy tales and some heavily inspired takes on them, so that they may be easily taught to younger students as an introduction to theatre and acting. "Fairy Tales Readers Theatre" is a must for any educator who feels theatre is part of a solid English curriculum.

Making Math Accessible to English Language Learners: Grades K-2
Solution Tree
304 West Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, IN 47404
www.solution-tree.com 1-800-733-6786
9781934009628 $24.95, www.amazon.com

It can prove an arduous task to learn mathematics when one is still trying to grasp the language the teacher is speaking. "Making Math Accessible to English Language Learners: Grade K-2" is a guide for teaching mathematics to young children whose first language isn't English, and who are in the process of learning. Solution Tree arms teachers with much knowledge about how to effectively communicate through language barriers to young students. "Making Math Accessible to English Language Learners" is a must for any math teacher responsible for instructing young English language learners.

Safe & Healthy Secondary Schools
Susan Lamke, Denise Pratt, Stan Graeve
Boys Town Press
14100 Crawford St., Boys Town, NE 68010
9781934490112, $24.95, www.boystownpress.org

Too much emotional turmoil can lead to highly toxic secondary schools where both students and teachers feel unsafe. "Safe & Healthy Secondary Schools: Strategies to Build Relationships, Teach Respect, and Deliver Meaningful Behavioral Support to Students" is a guide for educators to combating teen angst and all the problems that so often come with it. Encouraging teachers to make more of a difference in their students' lives, "Safe & Healthy Secondary Schools" is a solid guide to better middle and high schools for tomorrow.


The Railroading Shelf

Realistic Modelings For Toy Trains
Dennis Brennan
Kalmbach Publishing Company
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53186
www.kalmbachbooks.com
9780890247457, $19.95, www.amazon.com

Advancing modeling railroading to a whole new level, Dennis Brennan's "Realistic Modelings For Toy Trains: A Hi-Rail Guide" provides the model railroading enthusiast with a step-by-step tour-de-force in constructing a hi-rail layout. But it's not just a 'how to' guide, "Realistic Modelings For Toy Trains" also offers cogent and practical advice on the modeling process, as well as the basic concepts that are the foundation for hi-rail. Profusely illustrated throughout, "Realistic Modelings For Toy Trains" also covers planning the foundation, designing the setting, laying tarcks, building harbors, adding bridges, creating a cityscape, modeling structures, kitbashing, and where a new and customized scale model can be made by combining elements from commercial kits. Also very highly recommended and newly released for dedicated model railroading fans by the Kalmbach Publishing Company is Pelle K. Soeborg's "Essential Model Railroad Scenery Techniques: Realistic Scenery for Mountains, Desert, City, and County" (9780890247365, $21.95).


The Poetry Shelf

So Inspired
Jerry Brown Schwartz
Ivy House Publishing Group
5122 Bur Oak Circle, Raleigh, NC 27612
www.ivyhousebooks.com
9781571974945, $29.95, www.amazon.com

Poetry at its very best is a linguistic celebration showcasing and memorializing perceptions, memories, and wonder. "So Inspired: Preludes And Poems" is just such a collection of outstanding verse by Jerry Brown Schwartz, beautifully published and enhanced with colorfully and thematically illustrative art throughout its 144 pages. From life's minutiae to the imponderable mysteries of the human heart, to the simple joys and beauties associated with a simpler life and easier times, each individual poem is a carefully crafted with an succinct introductory comment, making it an elegantly presented work of poetic art. "So Inspired" truly live up to the promise of its title and is a welcome, highly recommended addition to personal and community library poetry collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Large Print Shelf

The Curse Of Montezuma
Les Savage, Jr.
Sagebrush
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9780753182611, $27.99, www.amazon.com

Les Savage Jr. is a master storyteller and "The Curse Of Montezuma" from Sagebrush is the large print edition of a three short-story western anthology representing some of the best of his work. 'Commanche Legend' is a story centered on the horse that General George Armstrong Custer rode into history in the legendary battle of Little Big Horn. So respected by the Native Americans that fought in that battle that they left Custer's horse 'Commanche' unharmed on the battlefield. When Caddo Adair is given the task of capturing the horse it precipitates all manner of unexpected difficulties -- beginning with an attempt on his life. "The Legend Of Yallow Hole" is the story of two cattle rustlers, Bibo Adams and Running Iron Smith, and Ardis Manners, a young woman with a rifle and a job for one of them that they simply cannot refuse -- as much as they'd like to! The title piece of the trilogy is "The Curse Of Montezuma", which continues the adventures of Elgera Douglas, popularly known as Senorita Scorpion. This time she must go up against someone trying to bring back the Aztec Empire -- which promises to be every bit as bloody and oppressive as the old one. "The Curse Of Montezuma" is an outstanding trilogy and the large print format makes it particularly appropriate for community library collection.


The Self-Help Shelf

Let My Words Be Sweet Upon You
Emma Hofstede
North Star Press of St. Cloud, Inc.
PO Box 451, St. Cloud, MN 56302
9780878393398, $19.95, www.northstarpress.com

The wisdom of a grandmother is the wisdom of a woman who has seen a lot of the world. "Let My Words Be Sweet Upon You: Messages from Grandmother God" is a collection of inspirational writings from author Emma Hofstede, combing the concepts of God and the Grandmother, a wise being who loves without question. The wisdom is simple, profound, and will give readers much to smile about. "Let My Words Be Sweet Upon You" is of highly recommended reading to anyone who desires more love in the world.

The Art Of Meaningful Living
Christopher F. Brown & John Palmer
Synergy Books
c/o Phenix & Phenix Literary Publicists
2100 Kramer Lane, Suite 300, Austin, TX 78758
www.phenixpublicity.com
9780982160176, $29.95, www.amazon.com

Combining psychology with art, "The Art Of Meaningful Living" is a truly elegant self-help, self-improvement guidebook for transforming our lives through employing our passions to overcome our fears, our dissatisfactions, and our disappointments. Christopher F. Brown draws upon his many years as a professional psychotherapist to articulate and exemplify psychological concepts derived from his own life and the lives of his patients. John Palmer enhances the informative and insightful text with seventy-five pieces of thematically original and truly impressive artworks. The result is a compendium of useful information and authentic inspiration that is particularly recommended to the attention of anyone struggling with grief, pain, and the 'dark night of the soul'.


The Language Studies Shelf

The Spanish Verb Conjugator
Jeanne M. Bielejeski
Roche Publishing
409 - 7th Street NE, Little Falls, MN 56345
www.thespanishverbconjugator.com
9780615265872, $24.95, www.rochepublish.com

Specifically written and designed by Jeanne M. Bielejeski (a high school Spanish teacher for more than ten years), "The Spanish Verb Conjugator: The Beginner's Guide To Mastering Spanish Verbs" is a ready instructional reference of more than one thousand frequently-used verbs that will prove invaluable to novice students of the Spanish language. Covering both regular and irregular present tense verbs, "The Spanish Verb Conjugator" also deals with preterit and imperfect past tenses, as well as reflexive vers and 'verbs like gustar'. Of special note is that through a group of 110 irregular core verbs, "The Spanish Conjugator" reinforces the essential verb modeling necessary to mastering verb conjugation, making it a highly recommended and thoroughly 'user friendly' Spanish language curriculum supplement.

Sugar Comes From Arabic
Barbara Whitesides
Interlink Publishing Group
46 Crosby Street, Northampton, MA 01060-1804
www.interlinkbooks.com
9781566567572, $20.00, www.amazon.com

Arabic written script commonly in use by more than 300 million people in more than twenty countries around the world is radically different from that of the scripts descended from the Roman alphabet. But now American and European students wanting to learn to read and write in Arabic have a superbly produced learning tool with Barbara Whitesides' "Sugar Comes From Arabic: A Beginner's Guide To Arabic Letters & Words". This deftly composed and presented Arabic alphabet book demystifies the letters by introducing them in an English alphabetical order, and then using the spelling of English names and words as a way of learning Arabic. Students will be able look up matching letters, follow clear directions, and quite quickly become able to write their own name in Arabic. Profusely illustrated throughout, "Sugar Comes From Arabic" is an enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, school, and community library Language Studies reference collections and curriculum supplements.


The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

Taking Woodstock
James Schamus
Newmarket Press
18 E. 48th Street, New York, NY 10017
9781557048479, $19.95, www.newmarketpress.com

Woodstock is the icon of a generation, but what of the people who in charge of running the event? "Taking Woodstock: The Shooting Script" is another entry in Newmarket Press's The Shooting Script series, focusing on Ang Lee's Taking Woodstock, a departure from the man better known for Brokeback Mountain. Focusing on the man behind the legendary music festival, the story behind Woodstock is quite unique and not often heard. "Taking Woodstock: The Shooting Script" is well worth it for any fan of the film or anyone studying modern film.

The Television Horrors Of Dan Curtis
Jeff Thompson
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
9780786436934, $55.00, www.amazon.com

Some of the most popular and influential television horror fantasy shows have been the work of award-winning director Dan Curtis. Perhaps the most enduringly memorable were 'Dark Shadows' and 'The Night Stalker'. Now the work of this innovative director has been compiled in "The Television Horrors Of Dan Curtis" by Jeff Thomson (Professor of English, Tennessee State University - Nashville). From 1966 to 1971 Curtis was involved with the production of sixteen made-for-television horror films which he produced, co-wrote, and/or directed, in addition to his pioneering Dark Shadows series. Illustrated with sixty-nine period photographs and informed and featuring an informed and informative foreword by Jim Pierson of Dan Curtis Productions, "The Television Horrors Of Dan Curtis" is a unique and highly recommended addition for professional and academic library American Television History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Science Shelf

Champions of the Ocean
Fran Hodgkins
Dawn Publications
12402 Bitney Springs Road, Nevada City, CA 95959
9781584691198, $11.95, www.dawnpub.com

In the deepest, darkest spots of the ocean, there is still light, but not provided by the sun. "Champions of the Ocean" looks into the stories of eight extraordinary young people who made a radical difference in science's approach to the last of Earth's greatest enigmas, the ocean. From fish that provide life, to disproving the bloodthirsty nature of sharks, these are exceptional stories that will inspire many young would-be oceanologists. "Champions of the Ocean" is a fine addition to young adult science collections.


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


Copyright ©2001

Site design by Williams Writing, Editing & Design