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Library Bookwatch

Volume 6, Number 10 October 2011 Home | LBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Writing/Publishing Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Education Shelf Nautical Shelf Memoir Shelf
Health/Medicine Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf American History Shelf
World History Shelf Anthropology Shelf Social Issues Shelf
Christian Studies Shelf Religion/Spirituality Shelf Library Science Shelf
Military Shelf Philosophy Shelf Biography Shelf
Cookbook Shelf Poetry Shelf Parenting Shelf
International Studies Shelf Economic Studies Shelf Photography Shelf
Literary Studies Shelf Autism Shelf Fiction Shelf
Fashion Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf Audiobook Shelf
Library CD Shelf Library DVD Shelf Civil War Shelf
Sports Shelf Gaming Shelf Psychology Shelf
Political Science Shelf Archaeology Shelf Gardening Shelf
Native American Shelf Art Shelf  


Reviewer's Choice

Making Healthy Places
Andrew L. Dannenberg, et al.
Island Press
1718 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 300
Washington, DC 20009-1148
www.islandpress.org
9781597267274, $40.00, www.amazon.com

There is a growing movement in the field of Urban Planning deliberately seeking to make our towns and cities healthier places in which to live. "Making Healthy Places: Designing and Building for Health, Well-being, and Sustainability" is a 440-page compendium comprised of twenty-four articles by experts in their fields and selected for inclusion by the editorial team of Andrew L. Dannenberg, Howard Frumkin, and Richard J. Jackson. Beginning with 'An Introduction to Healthy Places' by Robin Fran Abrams and Emil Malizia, the essays and articles comprising this outstanding urban planning collection is organized into specific sections focused on The Impact of Community Design on Health; Diagnosing and Healing Our Built Environments; Strategies for Health Places: A Toolbox; and Looking Outward, Looking Ahead. Enhanced with an extensive glossary, a listing of the contributors, and a comprehensive index, "Making Healthy Places" is ideal for use as an Urban Planning curriculum textbook, as a seminal addition to academic library Urban Planning Studies reference collections, and supplemental reading lists for governmental policy makers, professional urban planners and developers, environmentalists, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in promoting a healthy urban environment for themselves and their families.

Refighting the Pacific War
Jim Bresnahan, editor
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road
Annapolis, MD 21402
9781591140795 $29.95 www.navalinstitute.org

Refighting the Pacific War: An Alternative History of World War II is an extraordinary round table of essays by learned authors, each of which imagines and supports theories of what could have happened if events in the Pacific Theater had turned out differently. It should be stressed that Refighting the Pacific War is not intended to be fiction, but rather a meticulously researched and well-reasoned estimation of how history could have been different than it is. Contributors respond to questions concerning each phase of the war in round robin format, in this thoughtful and extraordinary extended hypothesis.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Carve Out Your Niche
Terry Sprouse
Planeta Books
PO Box 41223, Tucson, AZ 85717
9780979856624, $15.00, www.amazon.com

In the highly competitive and constantly evolving world of writing, publishing, and book selling, creating a specialized or particular niche for your work is often the key to being financially successful and reaching your specifically intended readership. That's why "Carve Out Your Niche: How to Live Your Passion, Write Your Book, & Help Others Change Their World" by Terry Sprouse is such a valued addition to the growing library of instructional books on writing and publishing. Basically, "Carve Out Your Niche" breaks down the process into three main stages: Inspiration; Creation; and Promotion. Accessible written and thoroughly 'reader friendly', "Carve Out Your Niche" first addresses finding something passionate within your life that will propel you to write. Then the rest of this very nicely organized 150-page compendium is packed with specifics on not only writing a book, but also the possibility and practicality of self-publishing and marketing what you've written. Of special note is the chapters devoted to tips for marketing a book on Amazon; utilizing the internet for publicity and promotion; as well as the use of seminars, newspapers, and book contests to market your title. "Carve Out Your Niche" will prove to be invaluable for anyone seeking to successfully write, publish, and market their own work.

How To Get Your Book Published Free In Minutes And Marketed Worldwide In Days
Gordon Burgett
Communications Unlimited
PO Box 845, Novato, CA 94948
www.ancillarypublishing.com
9780982663516, $19.95, www.amazon.com

Before the advent of computers and desktop publishing software, it would take from several weeks to many months in order turn a manuscript into a book and then make that book available to the reading public. Now with the advent of computers and desktop publishing software it takes only minutes to turn a manuscript into a purchasable item -- at least in a digitally published form such as Kindle, and not so very much longer for turning that manuscript into a traditional print edition through self-publishing, either directly under the authors own imprint, or indirectly through a POD (publish on demand) company. That is the particular value underscoring Gordon Burgett's new 'how to' instruction manual "How to Get Your Book Published Free in Minutes and Marketed Worldwide in Days: A step-by-step guide for new or veteran publishers". Burgett draws upon his personal and professional experience and expertise (he has 39 books in print and has sold over 1700 freelance articles), to provide sound, superbly organized information on digitally or POD publishing a book that will enable even the most novice of authors to be in the market and successfully pitching their purchasable title in less than a week. A 168-page compendium of sound 'real world' information and instruction, "How to Get Your Book Published Free in Minutes and Marketed Worldwide in Days" is especially recommended reading for anyone wanting to publish their own work and expose it to the widest possible readership in the least amount of time.

The 90-Day Novel
Alan Watt
Privately Published
c/o SJ Miller Communications (publicity)
10 Turning Mill Lane, Randolph, MA 02368
9780983141204, $16.95, www.the90daynovel.com

Everyone has a story; getting it down is what matters. "The 90-Day Novel: Unlock the Story Within" is an advisory guide from Alan Watt as he encourages readers to embrace their inner novel and get their story down. Telling people to find their literary voice, creating a memorable plot and characters, and declaring war on writer's block, "The 90-Day Novel" is a strong pick for anyone who wants to pick up a pen and get started right away.

Memo from the Story Dept.
Christopher Vogler & David McKenna
Michael Wiese Productions
12400 Ventura Blvd., #1111
Studio City, CA 91604
9781932907971, $26.95, www.mwp.com

Good characters make movies memorable. "Memo From the Story Dept.: Secrets of Structure and Character" is a script writing guide from Christopher Vogler & David McKenna as they bring their expertise in film and character to bring notes on how to make characters truly memorable, stating their advice is applicable to any medium, be it film, novel, or video game. For those who want the best quality out of their work, "Memo from the Story Dept." is a choice and very much recommended read, not to be overlooked.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

The Encyclopedia Of Dog Breeds
T.F.H. Publications
1 TFH Plaza, Third & Union Avenue
Neptune City, NJ 07753
9780793812776, $29.95, www.tfh.com

Compiled by the editorial staff of T.F.H. Publications, "The Encyclopedia Of Dog Breeds" is a 480-page, illustrated compendium covering 231 breeds and varieties of canine companions. Organized alphabetically, each breed features a full-colored photograph and description beginning with country of origin, physical descriptions, history and personality information, as well as data on their exercise, grooming, training, and health. This single volume reference is ideal for personal, professional, academic, and community library reference collections and is a thoroughly reliable and 'user friendly' identification guide for pet owners and those seeking a canine companion of their own.

Behavior Adjustment Training
Grisha Stewart
Dogwise
403 S Mission St. Wenatchee, WA 98801
9781617810503, $17.95, www.dogwise.com

Dogs, just like humans, have anxiety around others. "Behavior Adjustment Training: BAT for Fear, Frustration, and Aggression in Dogs" is a guide to working with dogs as a trainer and an owner and encourage dogs to behave appropriately in situations that inspire aggression and anxiety throughout their lives. Placing the focus on what triggers the behavior and how to calm a dog through it, and the importance of starting young, "Behavior Adjustment Training" is an insightful and much recommend dive into dog psychology for community library pets collections.

Frogs and Toads
Devin Edmonds
T.F.H. Publications
1 TFH Plaza, Third & Union Avenue
Neptune City, NJ 07753
9780793828623, $14.95, www.tfh.com

The classification of amphibian is perhaps the least understood classification in the kingdom. "Frogs and Toads: A Complete Guide to Fire-Bellied Toads, Horned Frogs, and 40 Other Species" is a guide to these very common creatures near lakes and forests, with special advice on the details on keeping these unique creatures as pets. Presented in full color with wisdom and classification on all of them, "Frogs ad Toads" is an excellent read for anyone with an interest in these misunderstood creatures.


The Education Shelf

How To Study In College, tenth edition
Walter Pauk & Ross J. Q. Owens
Wadsworth
c/o Cengage Learning, Inc.
200 First Stamford Place, Stamford, CT 06902
www.cengage.com
9781439084465, $105.95, www.amazon.com

The college classroom and curriculum demands often come as a shock to students fresh out of high school. That's why "How To Study In College" (now in a newly updated and expanded tenth edition) is such a relevant and useful instruction manual for beginning freshmen and any other student struggling with the need to make good grades in their university studies. "How To Study In College" is the collaborative effort of academicians Walter Pauk & Ross J. Q. Owens and deftly organized into for major sections: Building a Foundation (goal-setting, organizing time and space, concentration); Retaining Information (memorizing, taking notes and converting them into knowledge); Explaining Information (tests and quizzes, class discussions, writing assignments). Of special note is that each individual chapter concludes with 'Final Words', 'Chapter Checkup', and 'Vocabulary in Action' to insure mastery of that particular chapter's contents. "How To Study In College" is thoroughly 'student friendly' in presentation and is also highly recommended for high school student seniors anticipating moving on to college or university students upon graduation, as well as any college or university student finding themselves on academic probation because of low or incomplete grades.

More Than A Smart Goal
Anne E. Conzemius & Terry Morganti-Fisher
Solution Tree
304 West Kirkwood Avenue
Bloomington, IN 47404
www.solution-tree.com
9781935543244, $24.95, www.amazon.com

The education of our children is both a local concern and a national issue. "More Than A Smart Goal: Staying Focused On Student Learning" by Anne E. Conzemius (Cofounder and President of QLD Learning, Madison, Wisconsin) and Terry Morganti-Fisher (an educational reformer and currently Vice President of client services for QLD Learning, Austin, Texas), is a 160-page compendium focused on the tools, techniques, and methodologies for improving school system practices, policies, and curriculums for engaging students in the learning process. Addressing a range of pertinent issues from asking the right questions and what to do when an educational system cannot be improved or repaired, to creating supportive structures and schedules, to models of evaluation, 'More Than A Smart Goal' is solidly based on statistical research and 'real world' classroom experience. Of special note is the final chapter devoted to 'Engaging the Mind, Body, and Spirit'. Enhanced with an extensive bibliography (references) and a comprehensive index, "More Than A Smart Goal" is informed and informative throughout, making it highly recommended for professional and academic library Educational Studies reference collections and the supplemental reading lists of classroom teachers, school administrators, and education policy makers.

The Pre-K Debates
Edward Zigler, Walter S. Gilliam, & W. Steven Barnett
Paul H Brookes
PO Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
9781598571837, $36.95, www.brookspublishing.com

The role of Pre-Kindergarten is one that is not universally agreed on. "The Pre-K Debates: Current Controversies & Issues" discusses the importance of this level of education, the role of the teachers, and the universal level that children should face when attending such a class, how long, about every part of the process is under debate from experts on early childhood education. To gain a greater understanding of all angles, "The Pre-K Debates" is an excellent read and an excellent addition to community and college education library collections.

A Student's Guide to European Universities
Lena Krichewsky, Oliver Milhaud, Laura Pettinaroli, & Marie Scot, editors
Barbara Budrich Publishers
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 NE 58th Ave. Suite 300, Portland, OR 97213-3786
9783866494428, $89.95, www.barabra-budrich.net

To learn in another country is to get a new view of the world. "A Student's Guide to European Universities: Sociology, Political Science, Geography, and History" is a guide from many professionals of European education as they bring to light the aspects of attending the universities within Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Czech Republic and Great Britain. Each section contains elaborate information on the sociology, politics, history, among other ideas that are vital for considering one's academic future. For anyone who is contemplating going to Europe for higher education, "A Student's Guide to European Universities" should not be overlooked, and is a core addition to community and college library education collections.

162 Keys to School Success
Franklin P. Schargel
Eye on Education
6 Depot Way West, Larchmont, NY 10538
9781596671560, $29.95, www.eyeoneducation.com

Making your school successful can often prove far more daunting than one thinks. "162 Keys to School Success: Be the Best, Hire the Best, Train, Inspire, and Retain the Best" is a book packed cover to cover with solid wisdom on making the most out of one's school by getting the best people and keeping them happy and under the school's banner for years to come. From keeping integrity to making a good place to work at that works for the students and faculty, "162 Keys to School Success" is a strong pick for any school or educational administrator.

Moving the Classroom Outdoors
Herbert W. Broda
Stenhouse Publishers
477 Congress Street, Suite 4B
Portland, ME 04101-3451
9781571107916, $22.50, www.stenhouse.com

The outdoors, even right outside the school, have plenty of lessons to teach. "Moving the Classroom Outdoors: Schoolyard-Enhanced Learning in Action" is a discussion of the value and effects of outdoor learning as professor of education Herb Roda and Matthew Broda provide practical advice in making lessons work outside and what can be taught. For any teacher with a love of the outdoors who wants to encourage that love in their students, "Moving the Classroom Outdoors" is a fine read, very much recommended.

Two Way Teaching And Learning
Nola Purdie, Gina Milgate, & Hannah Rachel Bell
Australian Council for Educational Research
sales@acer.edu.au
International Specialized Book Services (distributor)
920 NE 58th Ave. Suite 300, Portland, OR 97213-3786
9781742860183, $49.94, www.isbs.com

Good education isn't one size fits all. "Two Way Teaching and Learning: Toward Culturally Reflective and Relevant Education" is an Australian educational studies book that focuses on the understanding of Aboriginal and other unique educational situations that face many Australian educators in today's educational situations. Stating that educators must also learn their students to understand each other and tailor the educational experience well to lead to greater academic success. Additionally, the authors cover the recent policy changes at the political level that play a role in cross-cultural understanding. "Two Way Teaching and Learning" is a strong pick for educators and educational administrators who want to ensure their aboriginal and Torres Strait students get the best opportunity at education possible.


The Nautical Shelf

Reeds Knot Handbook
Jim Whippy
Paradise Cay Publications
PO Box 29, Arcata, CA 95518-0029
9780939837939, $9.95, www.paracay.com

When your out at sea, knowing a good knot is useful for far more than just tying your shoes. "Reeds Knot Handbook: A Pocket Guide to Knots, Hitches, and Bends" is a guide to knowing the many types of knots that will hold true for one's needs at sea, leading to much smoother sea faring journeys. For those who want to learn the value of these many types of knots and how to effectively make them and use them, "Reeds Knot Handbook" is a choice read for beginners or for more experienced sailors looking for reference.

West Coast Wrecks
Rick James
Harbour Publishing
PO Box 219, Madeira Park, BC Canada V0N 2H0
9781550175455, $24.95, www.harbourpublishing.com

Disaster on the seas is all too common, but it only seems to add to the enticement with the sea many have. "West Coast Wrecks & Other Maritime Tales" is a collection of real life stories of many sea time events throughout history as historian and photographer Rick James walks readers through many events throughout history, with black and white photography throughout. Featuring many wrecks throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, "West Coast Wrecks & Other Maritime Tales" is an excellent pick for anyone with a love of the sea.


The Memoir Shelf

One Day I Will Write About This Place
Binyavanga Wainaina
Graywolf Press
250 Third Avenue N, Suite 600
Minneapolis, MN 55401
9781555975913, $24.00, www.graywolfpress.org

Modern Africa is without understanding in Modern America. "One Day I Will Write About This Place" is an award winning and critically acclaimed memoir from Binyavanga Wainaina as he writes of his middle class childhood in Kenya. Speaking on the modern culture of Kenya which has more connections to America than most believe, he tells of his failed pursuits of education and his travels throughout the rest of the continent. "One Day I Will Write About This Place" is profound and insightful, a must for anyone who wants a personal insight about the state of Kenya and the African continent.

Deep Trails in the Old West
Frank Clifford, author
Frederick Nolan, editor
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive
Norman, OK 73069
9780806141862 $29.95 www.oupress.com

First written in 1940, Deep Trails in the Old West: A Frontier Memoir is the recollections of Frank Clifford, an adventurous man in frontier America. He roamed America's most lawless lands in the 1870s and 1880s especially, often changing his name (perhaps to keep one step ahead of the law) and even encountering such prominent and dangerous figures as Clay Allison and Billy the Kid. Clifford's story also vividly illustrates the day-to-day demands on the lives of ranchers and ordinary people in America's wilder lands and days. Frederick Nolan has provided a wealth of helpful annotations to Clifford's own worlds, enhancing Deep Trails in the Old West as an invaluable primary testimony of what everyday frontier life was like over a hundred years ago. Highly recommended.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Health Care Comes Home
National Research Council
Publicity Department
National Academies Press
500 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001
www.nap.edu
9780309212366, $35.00, www.amazon.com

The United States is home to an increasingly aging population, which in turn is steadily cranking up the need for health care services for every growing numbers of older people with chronic conditions and diseases. Compounding this trend is the introduction of a degrading environmental factors in food, water, air quality, and living conditions (both urban and rural) that expose the general population to the need for medical services. The National Research Council has produced "Health Care Comes Home: The Human Factors", a 200-page compendium of research laying a sound foundation for addressing health care factors involved with the development and deployment of medical devices, technologies, and practices for ameliorating the health care with the individual home, as a less expensive and sometimes more practical alternative to the institutional care provided for by hospitals and nursing facilities. Offering a wealth of data-based information, "Health Care Comes Home: The Human Factors" should be considered mandatory reading for health care providers, health care policy makers, and interested non-specialist general readers with an interest in contemporary health care issues.

At the Interface of Culture and Medicine
Earle H. Waugh, Olga Szafran, & Rodney A. Crutcher
The University of Alberta Press
Ring House 2, University of Alberta
Edmonton, AB Canada T6G 2E1
9780888645326, $49.95, www.uap.ualberta.ca

While environmental factors are well known to impact on the health of a population, what is less well appreciated is that the effects of a culture can also have such an impact for good or ill. Knowledgeably compiled and deftly edited by the team of Earle H. Waugh (Professor Emeritus and Director of the Centre for the Cross-Cultural Study of health and Healing), Olga Szafran (Associated Director of Research in the Department of Family Medicine), and Rodney A. Crutcher (Professor, Department of Family Medicine, University of Calgary), "At the Interface of Culture and Medicine" is a compilation of informed and informative essays experts and scholars in the field of culture and medicine. Organized into four major sections (Culture and End-of-Life Care; Culture and Alberta's International Medical Graduates; Cultural Competence and Language in Medical Practice; Cultural and Ethnic Diversity in Health Care), "At the Interface of Culture and Medicine" is fascinating and seminal contribution to the field. Recommended reading for health care professionals, academicians, policy makers, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the influence of cultural factors on the practice of medicine, "At the Interface of Culture and Medicine" is especially recommended for professional and academic library reference collections.

Complete Guide to Fitness & Health
Barbara Bushman, editor
Human Kinetics
PO Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61825-5076
9780736093378, $21.95, www.humankinetics.com

Good nutrition knows no age. "Complete Guide to Fitness & Health: Physical Activity and Nutrition Guidelines for Every Age" is a health reference from Barbara Bushman as she compiles a wide array of common sense and knowledge in order to select one's most effective path of health through their life and how to attain that health and keep it. With practical wisdom on exercise, diet, dealing with disorders such as diabetes, cholesterol, and much more, "Complete Guide to Fitness & Health" is a choice pick for any personal and family health reference collection.

The Smart Woman's Guide to Diabetes
Amy Stockwell Mercer
Demos Health
11 West 42nd Street, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10036
9781936303137, $16.95, www.demoshealth.com

Diabetes is far from a death sentence when dealt with sensibly. "The Smart Woman's Guide to Diabetes: Authentic Advice on Everything from Eating to Dating and Motherhood" is a guide from Amy Stockwell Mercer who provides a heaping dose of wisdom for dealing with diabetes on any front of one's life and living well through it all. Dealing with the many potential complications of life with grace and wisdom, "The Smart Woman's Guide to Diabetes" is a thoughtful and useful read for anyone making the most of their life in spite of diabetes.

Sleeping Better Together
Gerhard Klosch
Hunter House Publishers
1700 Fourth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
9780897935678, $15.95, www.hunterhouse.com

As years go by, sharing a bed can lose the joy it once had. "Sleeping Better Together: How Both of You Can Get a Better Night's Rest" is a guide to keeping bed sharing a pleasant experience for years to come. Discussing the biology of aging and how it can change things that once worked, the aspects of finding a good bed, allowing others into the bed, health issues, and more, "Sleeping Better Together" has plenty of practical wisdom for keeping tradition alive for years to come.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Evolve Two
Nancy Kilpatrick
EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy
PO Box 1714
Calgary, Alberta, T2P 2L7, Canada
9781894063623, $14.95, www.edgewebsite.com

Nothing can survive without adaptation. "Evolve Two" is a collection of twenty two vampire tales, stepping into the future of the mysterious predators of humanity. Twisting the future of man by telling the stories of these beloved monsters, Nancy Kilpatrick does well in compiling a fine blend of horror and fantasy, making "Evolve Two" a top pick for fantasy and science fiction collections.


The American History Shelf

Killing Lincoln
Bill O'Reilly & Martin Dugard
Henry Holt & Company
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 400
New York, NY 10010-7725
9780805093070 $28.00 www.henryholt.com

Bill O'Reilly (the esteemed anchor of the extraordinarily popular talk show "The O'Reilly Factor") and historian Martin Dugard present Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination that Changed America Forever. Killing Lincoln is a straightforward history of the assassination of the beloved American President responsible for seeing the nation through the Civil War, as well as the stories of assassin John Wilkes Booth, the co-conspirators who assisted him, and the lawmen who toiled for justice. A handful of vintage black-and-white photographs illustrate this account of a chilling time in American history, written to be accessible to readers of all backgrounds. In addition to an index for quick and easy reference, Killing Lincoln also offers an appendix offers a re-creation of the April 29, 1865 issue of "Harper's Weekly", which was entirely devoted to covering the assassination and death of President Abraham Lincoln. Killing Lincoln is an excellent choice for public library American history shelves, and highly recommended.

American Food By the Decades
Sherri Liberman, editor
ABC-CLIO
130 Cremona Drive, Box 1911
Santa Barbara, CA 93116
9780313376986 $85.00 www.abc-clio.com

"American Food By the Decades" is a fascinating glimpse into history through American dietary commercial preferences. Starting with the foods selected and newly available in the 1900's, ten chapters encompass the evolution of popular American foods up until the 1990's. Many tidbits of American dietary history are presented in amazing detail. For example, who knew that the Hershey bar, canned tuna, the muffuleta, Jell-o, and cotton candy all originated in the first decade of the twentieth century? How about the Betty Crocker cake mix, originating in the 1940's, along with McDonald's and the popular fast-food chain restaurants? Along with foods is the importance of their availability in supermarkets, which actually are traced as beginning in the 1920's, when chain stores became commonplace. Famous historical allusions are reflected in specially created recipes such as the famous Watergate cake, (made of pistachio pudding mix, white cake mix, pineapple, nuts, and whipped cream or Cool Whip) created in the 1970's to commemorate President Nixon's Waterloo. Further items of interest and study include the crock-pot and associated recipes, TV dinners, and counterculture foods. "American Food By the Decade" is a fascinating examination of cultural history through food availability, customs, and consumption that belongs on every devoted foodie's bookshelf.

The Rockets' Red Glare
Donald R. Hickey & Connie D. Clark
The John Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9781421401553, $39.95, www.press.jhu.edu

The War of 1812 was a conflict that almost erased America, yet it never receives quite the attention such a thing would be. "The Rockets' Red Glare: An Illustrated History of the War of 1812" covers the history of this vital yet underscored conflict in which America once more went to war with the British and faced almost certain destruction when Washington, D.C. Fell. Focusing on American politics of the era as well as the causes leading up the conflict with a liberal use of portraits, sketches, and maps of the era to add a graphical touch, "The Rockets' Red Glare" is an excellent history of this vital and important conflict, highly recommended.

Unburdened by Conscience
Anthony W. Neal
University Press of America
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
9780761854920, $26.95, www.univpress.com

When cruelty is normal, there is little to challenge the contrary. "Unburdened by Conscience: A Black People's Collective Account of America's Antebellum South and the Aftermath" discusses the views of slavery before the Civil War in the American south. Anthony Neal looks through history to try to gain accounts from blacks throughout the south telling of what life as a slave endured, and the normalcy it was viewed with. "Unburdened by Conscience" is a riveting and complete account on this dark shadow of American history.


The World History Shelf

Egypt: Yesterday And Today
Fabio Bourbon & Antonio Attini
American University in Cairo Press
420 Fifth Avenue, NY, NY 10018-2729
www.aucpress.com
9789774164101, $39.95, www.amazon.com

One of the great 19th century contributions to Egyptology was the work of David Roberts who in 1838 visited a series of important sites and used his considerable skills to create outstanding lithographs which continue to be admired to this very day. In "Egypt: Yesterday And Today", author Fabio Bourbon and photographer Antonio Attini collaborate to bring Roberts' work to the attention of a whole new generation of appreciative readers in this 287 page compendium showcasing his beautifully rendered lithographs along side Roberts' journal entries. The result is simply outstanding, making "Egypt: Yesterday And Today" a welcome and highly recommended core addition to personal, professional, and academic library Egyptology reference collections and supplemental reading lists. Also very highly recommended from the American University in Cairo Press are three other oversized portfolio volumes showcasing ten of David Roberts' Egyptian lithographs (suitable for framing). They are "The Pyramids Portfolio" (9789774164293, $19.95); "The Cairo Portfolio" (9789774164286, $19.95); and "The Luxor Portfolio" (9789774164309, $19.95).

American Doctors in Canton
Guangqiu Xu
Transaction Publishers
300 McGaw Drive, Edison, NJ 08837
9781412818292, $59.95, www.transactionpub.com

A meeting of knowledge is a great advancement of knowledge. "American Doctors in Canton: Modernization in China, 1835-1935" discusses the meeting of medicinal philosophies as China welcomed western physicians and brought about massive amount of change in China in the avenue of not just being medicine, but various other parts of society as well. Canton served as the center of this revolution, and discusses its movements through history. From the forming of the first Cantonese hospital in the early nineteenth century, the rise of medicinal education, social change, and much more. "American Doctors in Canton" is a unique and very much recommended read, a core addition to any collection focusing on world history, with a stronger focus on Chinese and medicinal history as well.

Polar Imperative
Shelagh D. Grant
Douglas & McIntyre
2323 Quebec Street, Suite 201
Vancouver, BC Canada V5T 4S7
9781553658061, $27.95, www.douglas-mcintyre.com

Who owns the polar ice caps? "Polar Imperative: A History of Arctic Sovereignty in North America" discusses the politics surrounding the arctic and claims made for both territory and science surrounding these far north, uninhabitable by humans regions. With claims from North America, Asia, Europe, and much more being staked upon it, the nature of the North Pole will gain much attention in coming years. "Polar Imperative" is a valuable and important read for history and science collections, highly recommended.

Promoters, Planters, and Pioneers
Cornelius J. Jaenen
University of Calgary Press
2500 University Drive, NW
Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4
9781552382585, $34.95, www.uofcpress.com

When opportunity calls, people will go anywhere. "Promoters, Planters, and Pioneers: The Course and Context of Belgian Settlement in Western Canada" discusses the Belgian immigration to Western Canada. Belgian settlers seemed to defy tradition among European immigrants choosing to integrate with other groups freely, and this open minded nature and resourcefulness led to prosperity for their people. A fine read and study of a unique people, "Promoters, Planters, and Pioneers" is an excellent addition to any Canadian history collection.


The Anthropology Shelf

Weaponizing Anthropology
David H. Price
AK Press
3500 Parkdale Ave., Building 1, Suite 3
Baltimore, MD 21211
9781849350631, $15.95, www.akpress.org

The study of people has more use to the war machine than one would know. "Weaponizing Anthropology: Social Science in Service of the Militarized State" discusses the use of anthropological knowledge in warfare. David Price speaks on collaborations of war and the study of people, he states the power of cultural knowledge in the many states of today's attempts to spread democracy. "Weaponizing Anthropology" is an intriguing read about an often unspoken angle of warfare.


The Social Issues Shelf

Narratives of Citizenship
Aloys N. M. Fleischmann, Nancy Van Styvendale, & Cody McCarroll, editors
University of Alberta Press
Ring House 2, Edmonton
Alberta, Canada, T6G 2E1
9780888645180, $39.95, www.uap.ualberta.ca

The right to call the nation you stand on as your own is too often taken for granted. "Narratives of Citizenship: Indigenous and Diasporic Peoples Unsettle the Nation-State" is a collection of essays from many writers people of the first nation face in Canada, a constant war within the self and within the communication that both embraces and fiercely resists assimilation with the European originating peoples. A discussion of art and culture, "Narratives of Citizenship" is a riveting read of what all too many face in today's mixed cultures.

Comfortably Unaware
Richard A. Oppenlander
Langdon Street Press
212 3rd Avenue North, Suite 290
Minneapolis, MN 55401
9781936183944, $22.95, www.langdonstreetpress.com

A vegan based has another force pushing it behind health and ethical reasons - the environment. "Comfortably Unaware: Global Depletion and Food Responsibility... What You Choose to Eat is Killing Our Planet" is Richard Oppenlander states that many people who indulge in the common western world diet are causing untold damage to the world, stating that the damage done extends past climate change concerns. "Comfortably Unaware" is worth considering for those concerned about the effects their breakfast can have on the world.


The Christian Studies Shelf

Studying the Life of Saint Francis of Assisi
William R. Hugo
New City Press
202 Comforter Blvd, Hyde Park, NY 12538
9781565483972, $19.95, www.newcitypress.com

A man of the faith can inspire generations with his devotion. "Studying the Life of Saint Francis of Assisi" is an analysis of the man of faith who has been a major figure in Catholicism. A workbook that combines lessons with activities to help readers understand the man and his impact. For any dedicated student of Catholicism or for religious teachers who want to incorporate a lesson of the man into their curriculum, "Studying the Life of Saint Francis of Assisi" is an excellent and recommended pick for any Catholic studies collection.

Is There a Doctor In the House?
Ben Witherington III
Zondervan
554 Ridge Drive, Medina, OH 44256
9780310493020, $18.99, www.zondervan.com

There is much to be studied from the Bible. "Is There a Doctor in the House? An Insider's Story and Advice on Becoming a Bible Scholar" is an exploration of what it takes to be a biblical scholar. Calling on a love of knowledge, history, archeology, and understanding literature and ancient fables, as well as forming a greater understanding of philosophy, "Is There a Doctor in the House?" is a fascinating breakdown of what is required to be a Biblical scholar in today's Christian academic environment.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

Ancient Mesopotamian Religion
Tammi J. Schneider
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
2140 Oak Industrial Drive NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49505
9780802829597, $18.00, www.eerdmans.com

Religion is as old as man itself. "An Introduction to Ancient Mesopotamian Religion" discusses ancient Middle Eastern faith and its place in the history of the world in the cradle of civilization. From the buildings constructed in the name of faith, the people who led the faith, the Gods themselves and the doctrines constructed around them, Tammi J. Schneider, professor of religion does well in giving readers a comprehensive look at the connection of mankind and its faiths. "An Introduction to Ancient Mesopotamian Religion" is an excellent addition to any collection studying ancient faiths.

Abraham Joshua Heschel: Essential Writings
Abraham Joshua Heschel
Orbis Books
PO Box 308, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0308
9781570759192, $20.00, www.orbisbooks.com

Through the atrocities in much of the twentieth century, spirituality helped get through it all. "Abraham Joshua Heschel: Essential Writings" is a collection of writings of this individual who was in his academic prime during the worst of the atrocities during World War II. Challenging the Catholic church and its long history of anti-Semitism and discussing philosophy with Martin Luther King and much more, "Abraham Joshua Heschel: Essential Writings" is an excellent collection from a major mind of the twentieth century, with an introduction by his daughter, Susannah Heschel.


The Library Science Shelf

Make Mine A Mystery II
Gary Warren Niebuhr
Libraries Unlimited
c/o ABC-CLIO
Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
www.abc-clio.com
9781598845891, $55.00, www.amazon.com

The second volume in an impressive series by librarian Gary Warren Niebuhr, "Make Mine A Mystery II: A Reader's Guide To Mystery and Detective Fiction" is a 250-page compendium that focuses on the works by established authors of the genre that includes authors not included in the first volume. About 700 mystery titles are organized into categories: Amateur, public, and private detective. Subcategories include the type of protagonist: classic eccentric, lone wolf, police, lawyer, etc. Author pseudonyms are identified, author titles listed, and succinct synopsis of titles are provided. Along with the first volume, "Make Mine A Mystery: A Reader's Guide To Mystery and Detective Fiction (9781563087844, $65.00) mystery and detective fiction vans will find a literary wealth of genre authors and titles that can be utilized to create terrific reading lists for themselves. Superbly organized and presented, "Make Mine A Mystery II" is an ideal and highly recommended addition to academic and community library reference collections.

Convergence of Libraries and Technology Organizations
Christopher D. Barth
Chandros Publishing
c/o Neal Schuman
100 William Street, Suite 2004, New York, NY 10038
9781843346166, $80.00, www.chandrospublishing.com

As technology grows more and more complex, knowledge becomes more and more vital. "Convergence of Libraries and Technology Organizations" looks at the meeting of the two groups and how the fields meeting can lead to great things for both sides of the development. Discussing the potential clash of professional cultures, organizational concerns, staffing, and the paths of specialization and generalization, as well as the evolution of information technologies in coming years. For any business that deals heavily in formation and for any library who wants to reach out to meet them, "Convergence of Libraries and Technology Organizations" is full of wise wisdom for making the most of it all, a core addition for library science, technology, and business collections.


The Military Shelf

The US Intelligence Community, sixth edition
Jeffrey T. Richelson
Westview Press
c/o Perseus Books Group
2300 Chestnut Street, Suite 200
Philadelphia, PA 19103
9780813345116, $49.00, www.westviewpress.com

Today's wars still need soldiers, but intelligence does much of the heavy lifting. "The US Intelligence Community, sixth edition" discusses the importance and role of today's intelligence community and just how enveloping it is over today's society. Discussing the countless jobs and pieces that make it up from the traditional spy to the satellites thousands of mils above the planet, "The US Intelligence Community" is an intriguing study of this vital yet often misunderstood branch of military and national security.

The Politics of Space Security, second edition
James Clay Moltz
Stanford University Press
1450 Page Mill Road
Palo Alto, CA 94304-1124
9780804778589, $35.00, www.sup.org

With the advancement of technology, more fronts of warfare have been created. "The Politics of Space Security: Strategic Restraint and the Pursuit of National Interests" discusses the threat of space-based attacks and warfare and how space complicates terrestrial politics. With the rise of many other powers into the stars, and the Obama administration's stance on space exploration, "The Politics of Space Security" provides serious concern for America's future in science and the world as a whole.


The Philosophy Shelf

Classical Indian Philosophy
Deepak Sarma
Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd Street
New York, NY 10023-7015
9780231133999, $29.50, http://cup.columbia.edu

India has proved a unique clash of Western, Eastern, and Middle Eastern philosophies for much of its existence. "Classical Indian Philosophy" provides a study of the classical philosophers and their writings throughout India's traditional history and how it has warped through its exposure to its neighbors, and the many faiths which can call it home, in Hindu, Islam, and Buddhism. "Classical Indian Philosophy" is a strongly recommended and core addition to any religious and philosophical studies collection that wants to include traditional philosophies from around the world.


The Biography Shelf

Call Me Tom
James N. Giglio
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Boulevard
Columbia, MO 65201
9780826219404 $34.95 www.umsystem.edu/upress

Call Me Tom: The Life of Thomas F. Eagleton is the first book-length biography of one of Missouri's most successful senators. In thirty years of public service, Eagleton never lost an election; he began as St. Louis Circuit Attorney in 1956 at the young age of 27, became attorney general in 1960, lieutenant governor in 1964, and was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1968, an office he held until 1987. The breaking story of his mental health issues, especially the shock treatments he received for depression, forced him to resign as the Democratic vice-presidential nominee in 1972. Eagleton's Senatorial career remains marked by significant achievements, especially in his contributions to environmental and social legislation, his defense of Congressional authority, and his involvement in U.S. military disengagement from Southeast Asia in 1973. Notes, a bibliography, and an index enhance this in-depth study of both the professional career and the personal life of a dedicated representative an extraordinary human being. Call Me Tom is highly recommended especially for public and college library collections.

The Captain Who Burned His Ships
Gordon S. Brown
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road
Annapolis, MD 21402
9781612510446 $28.95 www.navalinstitute.org

The Captain Who Burned His Ships: Captain Thomas Tingey, USN, 1750-1829 is the first full-length biography of Captain Thomas Tingey, a crucially important individual involved in the formation of the U.S. Navy who significantly influenced American naval victories in the War of 1812. Tingey's accomplishments include essentially creating a shipyard (The Washington Navy Yard) from scratch, as well as his establishment of shipyard procedures and practices. Of special note is the terrible events of 1814, in which Tingey was forced to burn his own ships to keep them from being taken by the British. The Captain Who Burned His Ships is both an excellent biography and work of American naval history, highly recommended especially for college library collections.

George Crook
Paul Magid
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806142074, $39.95, www.oupress.com

When locked against opponents in enmity for an extended, you can quickly gain respect for them as worthy opponents. "George Crook: From the Redwoods to Appomattox" is a biography of General George Crook, a man known for being the leader of America's forces during its many conflicts throughout the nineteenth century. With a strong focus on his role during the civil war where the views of his heroism are mixed, it also covers his advocacy for the native peoples as the Indian wars came to a close. "George Crook: From the Redwoods to Appomattox" tells of a driven man who was one of the best at his position.

Rank and Gravity
William W. Betts
Heritage Books
229 Danagher Court, Holly Springs, NC 27540
9780788452734, $50.00, www.heritagebooks.com

One of the great heroes of Pennsylvania history, the story of John Armstrong is not spoken of too often. "Rank and Gravity" tells the story of the hero of Kittanning and a major military figure for America during the American revolution. Serving as General of Pennsylvania's militia forces and in public services following the nation's independence, John Armstrong worked in representing the interests of the Quaker state in the later eighteenth century. A comprehensive biography of a man of faith and pride, "Rank and Gravity" serves to be an excellent and choice read for American biography and history collections.


The Cookbook Shelf

Great Chefs Cook Vegan
Linda Long, editor
Gibbs Smith, Publisher
PO Box 667, Layton UT 84041
www.gibbs-smith.com
9781423623274, $24.99, www.amazon.com

"Great Chefs Cook Vegan" is a 272-page compendium of great menus and outstanding recipes contributed by twenty-five gifted and experienced professional chefs. Knowledgeably compiled and deftly edited by Linda Long, the recipes are organized by chef and begin with a photograph and one-page biographical description of the contributing chef. Then follows four recommended and beautifully illustrated vegan dishes complete with listed ingredients and preparatory instructions. These elegant dishes range from Cantaloupe Truffle Bar with Soy Caramel and Spearmint Ice; Curried Cauliflower with Currants and Pine Nuts; Vegetable Carousel Torte with Pomme Souffes filled with Peas; and Gratin of Berries with Tahitian Vanilla Bean and Dark Rum; to Charred Corn Ravioli, Cherry Tomato Salad and Basil Fondue; Avocado Cotton Candy; Eggplant and Vanilla Puree, Chinese Broccoli, and Fried Tofu Cutlet; Stuffed Squash Blossoms with Mint and Fava Bean Puree. With outstanding dishes guaranteed to turn any ordinary dining occasion into an extraordinary culinary event, "Great Chefs Cook Vegan" is an enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, professional, family, and community library cookbook collections.

Fresh From The Farmer's Market Cookbook
Gwen McKee, Terresa Ray, Barbara Moseley
Quail Ridge Press
PO Box 123, Brandon, MS 39043
www.quailridge.com
9781934193716, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Farmer's Markets, a designated place now to be found in most communities at a particular location on a particular day of the week, are growing in popularity as a place where those who produce the vegetables, fruits, meats, jams, breads, and flowers, sell them directly to the general public -- often with an emphasis on what they sell as being organically grown or prepared. That's why "Fresh From The Farmer's Market Cookbook", a cooperative project by the editorial team of Gwen McKee, Terresa Ray, and Barbara Moseley is so timely and so welcome. Utilizing ingredients that are seasonally and typically featured in local farmer's markets, their are recipes nicely organized into chapters dedicated to Beverages & Appetizers; Breads & Breakfast; Soups, Stews & Chilies; Salads; Vegetables; Pasta, Rice, Etc.; Poultry; Seafood; Meats; Cakes; Cookies & Candies; Pies & Other Deserts. These are outstanding recipes gathered together from a wide variety of other cookbooks as being the 'Best of the Best'. Of special note is 'Extra Help', a chapter offering cogent advice on selecting fruits and vegetables and a seasonally organized listing of produce. From Strawberry Cheesecake French Toast; to Potato Chip Taco Salad; to Sausage-Squash-Pecan Casserole; to Banana Pudding, "Fresh From The Farmer's Market Cookbook" offers a cornucopia of great dishes guaranteed to please any palate and satisfy any appetite!

Quick-Fix Gluten Free
Robert M. Landolphi
Andrews & McMeel
1130 Walnut Street
Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
www.andrewsmcmeel.com
9781449402938, $16.99, www.amazon.com

Now anyone with a gluten-based food allergy can enjoy foods like breads and pastas (and a whole lot more!) in dishes that are as tasty as they are nutritious. That's the promise and performance of professional chef Robert M. Landolphi's "Quick-Fix Gluten Free, a compendium wonderful dishes that range from Maple-Drizzed Fruit Salad with Toasted Coconut; Golden Walnut Baked Stuffed Shrimp; Broccoli and Chicken Alfredo; and Pork and Beef Bolgnese with Tagliatelle; to Molasses Flax Sandwich Bread; Jalapeno-Cheddar Buttermilk Biscuits; Mississippi Sweet Potato Pie; and Bittersweet Bean Brownies. Of special note are the informed and informative sections on 'Understanding Gluten-Free Flours, Doughs, and Batters'; 'The Gluten-Free Pantry'; 'Substitutions'; and 'Techniques for Adding Flavors'. Simply stated, "Quick-Fix Gluten Free" is a thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' and absolute kitchen cookbook shelf 'must' for anyone having to deal with a gluten-based food allergy.

The Cooking of Emilia-Romagna
Giovanna Bellia la Marca
Hippocrene Books
171 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016
9780781812566, $24.95, www.hippocrenebooks.com

The tomato is a recent addition to Italian cooking, and the North part of Italy embraces a more ancient tradition without it. "The Cooking of Emilia-Romagna: Culinary Treasures from Northern Italy" is a collection of recipes dedicated to this longstanding tradition that is still celebrated throughout the world. Recipes throughout favor fresh ingredients, subtle flavors, pasta, and much more, with dishes available for any occasion. From simple ingredient sauces to complex dishes, "The Cooking of Emilia-Romagna" is a vital pick for any chef who wants to expand their perception of Italian cooking beyond the South.


The Poetry Shelf

This City
Jennifer Compton
Otago University Press
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 NE 58th Ave., Suite 300
Portland, OR 97213-3786
9781877578106, $30.00, www.isbs.com

Every city in the world carries its unique flavor, and best experienced personally. "This City" is a collection of poetry from Jennifer Compton as she provides her own experience and though through the world. As she experiences Italy and other cities, she reflects poignancy of it the buildings and their people. "This City" is a fine addition to any international poetry collection, highly recommended. "Gleaners": I find buttons on the street, she finds playing cards/if she won't pick one up/the wind blows it to/the next bus stop./Soon she will have a full pack./I have a crick in my neck/from looking down for/the next-self-shank or flat./I think of people/with their clothes agape.


The Parenting Shelf

Help! There's a Toddler in the House
Thomas M. Reimers
Boys Town Press
14100 Crawford St., Boys Town, NE 68010
9781934490198, $14.95, www.boystownpress.org

When your child develops a will of its own, parenting gets more interesting. "Help! There's a Toddler in the House: Proven Strategies to Survive and Thrive Through the Mischief, Mayhem, and Meltdowns" is an advisory guide for parents who want to deal with children in this vital developmental time and want to work with it more effectively, and how to deal with them being uncooperative as they try to understand what is expected of them. For parents who find themselves overwhelmed with the slew of problems that can develop, "Help! There's a Toddler in the House" is a finely recommended read that shouldn't be overlooked.

10 Things Not to Say to Your Gifted Child
Heilbronner Family
Great Potential Press
7025 E. 1st Avenue, Suite 5, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
9781935067030, $18.95, www.giftedbooks.com

Natural talent needs to be nurtured to reach its full potential. "10 Things Not to Say to Your Gifted Child: One Family's Perspective" is a parenting guide from the Heilbronner family as they advise other parents with their own experiences in how to nurture a child's talents. With a powerful reminder that gifted and talented children are still children, the wisdom within offers much advice and solutions to dealing with the conflicts unique to talented children. "10 Things Not to Say to Your Gifted Child" is a top pick for any parent who wants the best out of their children.


The International Studies Shelf

Water
Brahma Chellaney
Georgetown University Press
3240 Prospect Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007
9781589017719, $29.95, www.press.georgetown.edu

Water is life, and it is not infinite. "Water: Asia's New Battleground" investigates this growing conflict which Brahma Chellaney, a strategist and analyst, views will be the most important conflict of the twentieth century. As population grows and international tensions rise, the contested waters which flow through international borders become a growing focus. As treaties fail to be reached, the resource of water could be muddied in the future with blood. "Water: Asia's New Battleground" is a much needed read for anyone who wants to understand this important issue in Asia today.

Revolutionary Doctors
Steve Brouwer
Monthly Review Press
146 West 29th Street, Suite 6W
New York, NY 10001
9781583672396, $18.95, www.monthlyreview.org

The future of health care may come from Cuba, of all places. "Revolutionary Doctors: How Venezuela and Cuba are Changing the World's Conception of Health Care" studies the new ideas these nations and many like them are changing health care in the Latin American world and how they could spread elsewhere. Using a metaphor of revolution and the combat against it throughout the world, especially in regards to the United States, "Revolutionary Doctors" is an intriguing look at health care on an international scale.

A Promise in Haiti
Mark Curnutte
Vanderbilt University Press
PO Box 351813, Nashville, TN 37235
9780826517838, $25.00, www.vanderbuiltuniversitypress.com

Living on the brink of death is no way to live at all. "A Promise in Haiti: A Reporter's Notes on Families and Daily Lives" is a study of Haitian life from Mark Curnutte, who blends together his study of the Haitian people and their culture for the past decade. A nation under constant struggle, he reminds people that these struggles continue even when the media turns its head away. A fascinating pick for anyone who want to better understand the people of Haiti, "A Promise in Haiti" is an excellent addition to any world cultural studies community library collection.


The Economic Studies Shelf

The Economics and Financing of Media Companies, second edition
Robert G. Picard
Fordham University Press
University Box L, 2546 Belmont Ave
Bronx, NY 10458
9780823232574, $24.00, www.fordhampress.com

Media is truly a unique business that has its place embedded in society. "The Economics and Financing of Media Companies" analyzes the economic aspects of the media and how money pushes their ideas and how the media. The concept of media is constantly shifting and changing, which leads to a business model that must constantly evolve with the times to stay ahead of their competitors. A fascinating breakdown of mass media, its marketing and economics, and its unique nature in the business world, "The Economics and Financing of Media Companies" is a strong addition to any economics, business, or media studies library collection.


The Photography Shelf

Dark Beauty
Jack Parsons
Hudson Hills Press
PO Box 205, 3556 Main Street
Manchester, VT 05254
9781555953706, $60.00, www.hudsonhills.com

Through natural beauty and the spirit of the old west, "Dark Beauty: Photographs of New Mexico" is a collection of photography surrounding the state and its unique status in American culture, between its American roots and the strong influence from its namesake in Mexico, as well as the unique in the form of Roswell and other oddities. Presented in a glossy full color, photographer Jack Parsons captures the spirit well and offers a vivid snapshot of people and the environment that they shaped, as well as the environment that shapes them. "Dark Beauty" is a vital addition for any scenic photography collection and an excellent choice for coffee table book selection.


The Literary Studies Shelf

The Vulgar Question Of Money
Elsie B. Michie
The Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street
Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
www.press.jhu.edu
9781421401867, $70.00, www.amazon.com

A commonly encountered theme of 19th Century English novelists was the imposition of a romantic dilemma upon the protagonist: the necessity to choose between love on the one hand, and wealth/social status on the other. In "The Vulgar Question of Money: Heiresses, Materialism, and the Novel of Manners from Jane Austen to Henry James", Elsie B. Michie (Associate Professor of English, Louisiana State University) draws upon her considerable expertise with respect to the Victorian Era, to create a 320-page compendium exploring how British novelists dealt with the cultural conflicts associated with the growing development of a commercial, capitalism-based society upon the lives and romantic aspirations of their characters -- and their readers! Addressing these issues in the works of Jane Austen, Henry James, Anthony Trollope, and others, Professor Michie's "The Vulgar Question of Money: Heiresses, Materialism, and the Novel of Manners from Jane Austen to Henry James" is a seminal body of outstanding scholarship and a very highly recommended addition to academic library English Literature reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Tolkien and the Study of His Sources
Jason Fisher, editor
McFarland
PO Box 611, Jefferson, NC 28640
9780786464821, $40.00, www.mcfarlandpub.com

The father of the modern heroic fantasy, one has to wonder where Tolkien drew his own inspiration. "Tolkien and the Study of His Sources: Critical Essays" discuss the sources of Tolkien's work and how he blended them all together to create the much beloved, and in recent times, much criticized Lord of the Rings series among other works. Discussing many other works which bring a literary analysis of his work and what has been descended from it, "Tolkien and the Study of His Sources" is an intriguing work that provides another angle on one of the most influential writers of the twentieth century.

Uncle Tom's Cabin and the Reading Revolution
Barbara Hochman
University of Massachusetts Press
PO Box 429, Amherst, MA 01004
9781558498945, $28.95, www.umass.edu/umpress

A work of fiction can change the world. "Uncle Tom's Cabin and the Reading Revolution: Race, Literacy, Childhood, and Fiction: 1851-1911" delves into this important book and the power it had on the American culture, slowly coming to terms with the horrors of slavery. Beyond the civil war, the book became a cornerstone of popular culture, with people who have not reading it themselves knowing its words, and its value in encouraging mass literacy. "Uncle Tom's Cabin and the Reading Revolution" is a fine study of this book and the role of literature in nineteenth century America.


The Autism Shelf

Managing Anxiety in People with Autism
Anne M. Chalfant
Woodbine House
6510 Bells Mill Rd., Bethesda, MD 20817
9781606130049, $19.95, www.woodbinehouse.com

Anxiety is a problem in many people, but autism often adds another layer of problem. "Managing Anxiety in People with Autism: A Treatment Guide for Parents, Teachers, and Mental Health Professionals" discusses the complexity of dealing with anxiety in those with autism, and how best to combat it so that the individual may better function more effectively in their life. With plenty of practical and professional information, "Managing Anxiety in People with Autism" is a solid pick for parents and educators who deal with chronically anxious autistic in their everyday life.


The Fiction Shelf

The Chamomile
Susan F. Craft
Ingalls Publishing Group
PO Box 2500, Banner Elk, NC 28604
9781932158946, $15.95, www.ingallspublishinggroup.com

For family, one will go to any length. "The Chamomile" follows Lilyan as she tries to rebel against the British Occupation of Charlestown, South Carolina in the name of her brother. But in her journey for rescue, she finds it grows all the more complicated with love and makes it so it's not just her family she wants to worry about. A historical novel of adventure and romance, "The Chamomile" is a fine story that shouldn't be overlooked.


The Fashion Shelf

Fashion Designers at the Opera
Helena Matheopoulos
Thames & Hudson
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780500515761, $60.00, www.thamesandhudson.com

The stage lets fashion designers run wild without having to deal with crazy ideas like practicality or subtlety. "Fashion Designers at the Opera" is a full color photography book from Helna Matheopoulos as she brings readers through the creative world of Opera and theatre fashion as designers touch on period pieces and the realms of fantasy, leading to some unique and thoughtful designs. An ideal coffee table book for any lover of unique fashion or just fashion in general, "Fashion Designers at the Opera" belongs in any fashion, theatre, or photography collection.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

The Analyst
P. T. Dawkins
Llumina Press
7101 W. Commercial Blvd., Ste. 4E
Tamarac, FL 33319
9781605947235, $18.95, www.llumina.com

When money is on the table, people can get vicious. "The Analyst" is a thriller set along wall street and the cut throat business acumen that goes down between it all. David, trying to help his family overcome rough financial times, dives head first into Wall Street and quickly understands the cutthroat world and is faced with a clash of illegal trading and joining those who would do it, or be the target of those who would do it. "The Analyst" is a riveting read of Wall Street intrigue, highly recommended.

Dead Dolls Don't Talk, Hunt the Killer, & Too Hot to Hold
Day Keene
Stark House
4720 Herron Road, Eureka, CA 95503
9781933586335, $23.95, www.starkhousepress.com

Mystery and thrillers never spoil with age. "Dead Dolls Don't Talk, Hunt the Killer, & Too Hot to Hold" is three novels under one cover, all of noir mystery and of a famed writer of the time in Day Keene, who choose writing to let his storytelling imagination run wild in a time where everyone was rushing towards film. Branching into mainstream writing later on, his early work is a testament to the excitement of the genre. "Dead Dolls Don't Talk, Hunt the Killer, & Too Hot to Hold" is a must for anyone who wants a heaping helping of noir reading.


The Audiobook Shelf

Death of a Salesman
Arthur Miller
Starring Stacy Keach and Jane Kaczmarek
L.A. Theatre Works
681 Venice Boulevard
Venice, CA 90291
9781580818308 $25.95 www.latw.org

Death of a Salesman is the full-cast audio production of Arthur Miller's classic 1949 play about the severe toll that fixation upon material wealth can take on individuals. Willy Loman is the titular traveling salesman who yearns for greatness and social acceptance, even as he rests on the brink of losing his job. His two sons drift trying to figure out what they will do with their lives, while the success of another man's family eats away at Willy, threatening to destroy the illusions he has held so close for so long. A stunning, memorable work brought vividly to life, Death of a Salesman is more than a timeless classic - it brilliantly predicted the modern American future where finding employment, purpose, and material wealth are more challenging than ever, with a critically relevant cautionary message against dangerous obsession. Highly recommended. 2 CDs, 136 min.

Carte Blanche
Jeffery Deaver, author
Toby Stephens, narrator
Recorded Books, LLC
270 Skip Jack Road
Prince Frederick, MD 20678
9781456119157 $123.75 www.recordedbooks.com

Carte Blanche is the unabridged audiobook rendition of a brand-new novel by Jeffery Deaver, starring Ian Fleming's iconic agent James Bond in the post-9/11 world. A veteran of the Afghan War, Bond has been recruited into a new organization, and when an impending terrorist attack threatens to massacre thousands, Bond is given carte blanche to do whatever he must to stop it. An exciting saga of adventure, danger, and high stakes, Carte Blanche brings to life the vivid excitement of the Bond legacy and is sure to prove a popular addition to public library audiobook collections. 11 CDs, 13.5 hours.

The Race: An Isaac Bell Adventure
Clive Cussler and Justin Scott, authors
Scott Brick, narrator
Penguin Audio
c/o The Penguin Publishing Group
375 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10014
9781611760170 $39.95 http://us.penguingroup.com

Clive Cussler's real-life adventures include teaming up with volunteers to discover long-lost ships of historical importance, and his popular fiction brims with even more excitement. He collaborated with Justin Scott to write The Race: An Isaac Bell Adventure, a high-energy thriller set in 1910, when airplanes were just beginning to impact the world. A newspaper offers a staggering $50,000 prize to the first aviator to cross America in less than fifty days. Female pilot Josephine Frost yearns to rise to the challenge, but her ruthless, wealthy, and jealous husband Harry Frost is determined to see her dead. The intrepid Isaac Bell has clashed with Harry Frost before, but when he signs up to protect Josephine and her sponsor, he just might be in for the shock of his life - a shock that might well prove fatal. Scott Brick smoothly brings to life this unabridged audiobook adaptation, sure to prove a choice pick for fans of high adventure. 9 CDs, 11 hours.

The Girl in the Blue Beret
Bobbie Ann Mason, author
Fred Sullivan, narrator
AudioGo
42 Whitecap Drive
North Kingstown, RI 02852-7445
9781609983413 $29.95 www.audiogo.com

Drawn from the real-life experiences of her departed father-in-law, award-winning author Bobbie Ann Mason presents The Girl in the Blue Beret, a gripping historical novel about the struggles of an American World War II pilot shot down in Occupied Europe. Now available in unabridged audiobook format, The Girl in the Blue Beret is superbly performed by award-winning veteran actor Fred Sullivan. The Girl in the Blue Beret is the story of a man saved by the kindness and courage of ordinary people, amidst the horrors of war, including one remarkable woman who dared to guide him through Paris; many years later, he returns to the Belgian field where his plane went down in hope of finding her again. The truths he discovers are profound, heartbreaking, and ultimately shocking, in this captivating novel of human struggle for redemption as well as survival. 9 CDs, 10 hours 30 min.

Healing Hearts
Beth Wiseman, author
Christian Taylor and Brooke Sanford, narrators
Oasis Audio
289 Main Place
Carol Stream, IL 60188
9781598599732 $32.99 www.oasisaudio.com

Healing Hearts is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of three Amish novellas about using a second chance to rebuild, the value of forgiveness, and the wisdom of listening to one's heart. The stories themselves are quite memorable. "Healing Hearts" tells of a married couple whose children have grown and left; after a year's separation, can the two of them rediscover the love that first brought them together? "A Change of Heart" follows Leah, a writer in a community that discourages such efforts, pushing her to pursue the cooking, cleaning, quilting, and gardening skills of an Amish housewife; though the demands of her responsibilities seem to stifle her, a young man captivated by her dares to make her the offer of a lifetime. "A Choice to Forgive" is the story of Lydia, whose first love Daniel disappeared long ago to experience the outside world; she married his brother Elam instead, but when Elam passes away, her heart is broken. Then Daniel reappears in her life, saying he wants to return to the Order; can she look past the hurt she once felt to move forward into the future? A truly heartwarming audiobook collection, Healing Hearts is a choice pick for public library audiobook shelves. 10 CDs.


The Library CD Shelf

Glide
Damjan Krajacic
www.damjanmusic.com
FlipSwitch (publicity)
PO Box 2207
Bloomington, IN 47404-2207
$TBA www.flipswitchPR.com

Glide is a sumptuous, instrumental music CD album featuring Zagreb-born, L.A.-based performer Damjan Krajacic on the flute. With the smooth flute notes as a highlight, Glide drifts through a variety of Brazilian, Cuban, and jazz rhythms, while never losing sight of Krajacic's classical and Balkan roots. Cresting with energy, Glide transitions between style variants with exceptional elegance, and is a choice pick especially for anyone who loves original takes on international music. Highly recommended. The tracks are "Glide" (4:40), "Come Play" (6:29), "Lara" (5:00), "About Time" (5:57), "Morning Smile" (2:54), "Inspire" (6:07), "Heartbeat" (5:48), "Resemblance" (6:23), "In Life" (5:56), and "Goodbye" (5:58).

Sing for Your Lives!
Vagabond Opera
www.vagabondopera.com
Rock Paper Scissors (publicity)
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2
Bloomington, IN 47404
$16.09 www.rockpaperscissors.biz

Sing for Your Lives! is the latest album by Vagabond Opera, a cabaret troup that delights in blending elements of Eastern European folk with the latest trends in klezmer, elements of grandiose classical opera, and even the upbeat cheer of showtune musicals. The result is a wildly carefree, exotic, holistic fusion of styles, lifting the listener in a sweeping tide of passionate joy. The tracks are "Red Balloon", "Tough Mazel", "Beard & Moustache", "Coimbra", "Penny", "King of the Gypsies", "Spirit Dances Evermore", "Lullaby", "Hanumonsoon", "The Last Dance", and "Sing for Your Lives". Also highly recommended for international music collections are Sevara Nazarkhan's "Tortadur" and Vlada Tomova's "Balkan Tales".

Ayah Ye! Moving Train
KG Omulo
www.kgomulo.com
c/o Rock Paper Scissors (publicity)
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2
Bloomington, IN 47404
$TBA www.rockpaperscissors.biz

Native Kenyan performer KG Omulo regularly packs American dance floors full to capacity whenever he performs with his rich, moving baritone and his rhythmic Afrofunk style. His new album Ayah Ye! Moving Train continues his efforts to shake up the status quo in politics by speaking up and singing out. Omulo believes strongly in the role that faith has to play as well the drive to shape the world for the better. Elements of rock and reggae interweave into his unique Afrofunk to create an album that speaks directly to the heart and soul. Highly recommended. The tracks are "Intervention" (3:44), "Moving Train" (3:53), "Cleary Boulevard" (3:36), "Ready To Love" (3:00), "It's a Relief" (3:01), "Quality Women" (3:38), "Walkway" (3:03), "No Means No" (3:00), "Ayah Ye!" (3:23), "Stop Me Now" (2:55), and "Do You Feel?" (3:24).

Carried Away
Janice Faber
janicefaberpiano.com
c/o The Creative Service Company
4360 Emerald Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
$11.48 thecreativeservicecompany.com

Carried Away is a beautiful album of original, solo piano music by dedicated pianist Janice Faber. Drawing upon her intense study of classical music, as well as her decades of experience performing at church services, weddings, and community events, Faber has crafted a soulful, sweeping experience that transports the listener's imagination to thoughts of peace and joy. Carried Away is a truly wonderful listening experience, highly recommended especially for public library music collections. The tracks are "Looking Forward", "Gift of Joy", "Morning Prayer", "Imagining", "Carried Away", "Nocturne", "Steadfast", "Passing Through", "Gracious Gift", "Peace Be Still", "Hero", "Tomorrow's Hope", "Gentle Soul", "Neverending", "Strand of Three Chords", and "Night Music".


The Library DVD Shelf

Art of the Western World
Athena
c/o Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
$59.99 www.acornonline.com

Art of the Western World is an extraordinary, three-DVD documentary originally broadcast in nine episodes on PBS, offering an incredible tour of Western art across 2,500 years of civilization. Covering painting, sculpture, and architecture from ancient Greece to the modern day, Art of the Western World features eye-opening filmography of great works in over 150 locations among eight countries. A 20-page viewer's guide with brief biographies of major artists rounds out this exceptional set, highly recommended for public library DVD collections and the perfect gift for art connoisseurs. 3 DVDs, 513 minutes, SDH subtitles.

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
9781598286915 $49.99 www.acornonline.com

Based on the book by John le Carre, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy collects six episodes of the tense British drama set during the height of the Cold War. A mole has infiltrated the British Secret Intelligence Service, and it must be one of the four men operating at the highest level. When sidelined agent George Smiley is called to ferret out the mole, it marks the beginning of a masterful predator-and-prey game through the double-blind environment of Cold War espionage. An exclusive interview with John le Carre, production notes, and more bonus features round out this extraordinary and masterful series, highly recommended. 6 episodes on 3 DVDs, 324 minutes, closed captioned.


The Civil War Shelf

The Civil War Confiscation Acts
John Syrett
Fordham University Press
2546 Belmont Avenue
University Box L
Bronx, NY 10458-5172
9780823224906 $25.00 www.fordhampress.com

The Civil War Confiscation Acts: Failing to Reconstruct the South is a close, scholarly examination of two important but little-studied laws passed during the American Civil War. The Confiscation Acts (1861-1862) authorized the federal government to claim rebel properties, including land, and grant freedom to slaves who fought with or worked for the Confederate military. President Abraham Lincoln had open reservations about the Confiscation Acts, as he feared they might prompt border states, especially Missouri and Kentucky, to secede; yet eventually the Emancipation Proclamation and the Thirteenth Amendment made the Confiscation Acts largely irrelevant. The Civil War Confiscation Acts scrutinizes the political context of these controversial laws, the debate about them, and how their ultimate failure heralded the problems and shortcomings that would afflict the Reconstruction after the war. Highly recommended, especially for college library Civil War reference shelves.

The Civil War in New Mexico
F. Stanley
Sunstone Press
PO Box 2321, Santa Fe, NM 87504-2321
9780865348158 $34.95 www.sunstonepress.com

Originally published in 1960, The Civil War in New Mexico has been released in a new edition (with a new foreword by Marc Simmons) as part of the "Southwest Heritage Series" published by Sunstone Press. Meticulously constructed from nineteen years of research, The Civil War in New Mexico is the story of the American Civil War as the Volunteers of New Mexico experienced it. Chapters cover a much wider scope than the war years, exploring Texas' aggressive glaim to all the area of New Mexico bordering the Rio Grande, and a near war with the United States over Santa Fe County, Texas. The final chapter offers an alphabetical list of New Mexico Volunteers drawn from the records of the War Department, in order to aid relatives in tracing the war records of the valiant men who fought. An index and bibliography round out this excellent and highly recommended contribution to Civil War and American History shelves.

Every Day Of The Civil War
Bud Hannings
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
9780786444649, $125.00, www.amazon.com

Bud Hannings is an expert in U.S. military history with several major textbooks to his credit, including 'American Revolutions War leaders: A Biographical Dictionary"; "Chronology of the American Revolution: Military and Political Actions Day by Day"; "The Korean War: An Exhaustive Chronology"; and "Forts of the United States: An Historical Dictionary 16th through 19th Centuries". In "Every Day Of The Civil War: A Chronology Encyclopedia" Hannings has created a 637-page compendium that begins on June 3-12, 1850 with the initiation of conditions that led up the American Civil War, and concludes with January 8 (Monday) 1866 when as the last act of the war the Union Army abolished the XXV Corps. A superbly presented, informed and informative daily chronology that is enhanced with the inclusion of 498 photos, 31 maps, several appendices, a lengthy bibliography, and a very comprehensive index, "Every Day Of The Civil War" is an indispensable core addition to personal, academic, and community library American Civil War reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Sports Shelf

Gibson's Last Stand
Doug Feldmann
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Boulevard
Columbia, MO 65201
9780826219503 $29.95 www.umsystem.edu/upress

Doug Feldman (Associate Professor in the College of Education, Northern Kentucky University, and part-time scout for the Cincinnati Reds) presents Gibson's Last Stand: The Rise, Fall, and Near Misses of the St. Louis Cardinals, 1969-1975, an in-depth biography on one of the Cardinal's most successful pitchers. Yet Gibson's Last Stand is more than just the life story of an athlete; it tells of an era when dramatic changes were happening to baseball - the strike zone shrank, the pitcher's mound lowered, and even the traditional animosity between hitter and pitcher became softened. The Cardinals themselves endured one change after another, as owner August A. Busch Jr. and manager Albert "Red Schoendienst searched for new players to improve its performance; Gibson was the only constant in a changing team eventually destined to face off against the Detroit Tigers in the 1968 World Series. The influence of significant events in American history is also discussed in this excellent cross-section of one man struggling to pitch his very best amid a popular sport in flux. Accessible to readers of all backgrounds, Gibson's Last Stand is highly recommended especially for sports biography collections and Cardinals fans.


The Gaming Shelf

Gaming Matters
Judd Ethan Ruggill & Ken S. McAllister
The University of Alabama Press
PO Box 870380
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0380
9780817317379 $35.00 www.uapress.ua.edu

Written by the co-directors of the Learning Games Initiative, a transdisciplinary research group that has been studying, collecting, teaching and building computer games since 1999, Gaming Matters: Art, Science, Magic and the Computer Game Medium is a scholarly treatise on the medium of computer and video games, focusing especially on the question of: what defines the medium of games? Chapters focus on individual underpinnings that distinguish computer games as a medium - they are irreconcilable (sufficiently complex that players and scholars have contradictory descriptions for them), anachronistic (combining aged tropes with the latest technological innovations), laborious (often repetitive to the point where they approach labor rather than play), and more. A gameography, extensive notes, list of works cited, and more round out this measured assessment of one of the most popular modern sources of creative works. Highly recommended, especially for college library collections.


The Psychology Shelf

Sibling Relationships In Childhood And Adolescence
Avidan Milevsky
Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd Street
New York, NY 10023-7015
http://cup.columbia.edu
9780231157094, $29.50, www.amazon.com

Among all forms of human relationships, that between siblings is one of the longest lasting and most influential. In "Sibling Relationships In Childhood And Adolescence: Predictors And Outcomes", Avidan Milevsky (Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Kutztown University, Pennsylvania) presents a descriptive analysis of direct and indirect variables impacting upon a sibling relationship including family structure and parenting influences. Of special note is the chapter devoted to 'Sibling Deidentification'. Enhanced with the inclusion of a lengthy section of references and a comprehensive index, "Sibling Relationships In Childhood And Adolescence" is an informed and informative body of exceptional well presented and seminal scholarship, making it an important addition to academic library Psychological Studies reference collections in general, and sibling relationship studies supplemental reading lists in particular.

Engaging Men In Couples Therapy
David S. Shepard & Michele Harway, editors
Routledge
270 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016
www.routledge.com
9780415875882, $34.95, www.amazon.com

Partly because of the way the male brain is wired neurologically, and partly because of gender-oriented cultural conditioning, men can have a more difficult time 'opening up' and communicating freely in a couples counseling session than their female companions. The newest edition to the outstanding "The Routledge Series on Counseling and Psychotherapy with Boys and Men' series, "Engaging Men in Couples Therapy" is a 348-page compendium of informed and informative articles from seasoned experts and seminal researchers that have been knowledgeably compiled and deftly edited by the team of David S. Shepard (Associate Professor of Counseling, California State University) and clinical psychologist Michele Harway (Founding Chair of the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program, Antioch University). Beginning with the editors' informed and informative introduction, the contributed articles are organized into three major sections: Foundations of Male-Sensitive Couples Therapy; Theoretical Models; Special Populations and Issues. Of special note is Steven M. Kadin and Don-David Lusterman's article on 'Male-Sensitive Couples therapy With Unfaithful Men'. The use of in-depth case examples throughout help immeasurably to illustrate both theoretical concepts and practical applications, making "Engaging Men In Couples Therapy" essential reading for practitioners in the field, students in the classroom, and a core addition to professional and academic Psychology & Counseling instructional reference collections.


The Political Science Shelf

Religious Free Exercise And Contemporary American Politics
Jerold L. Waltman
Continuum International Publishing Group
80 Maiden Lane, Suite 704, NY, NY 10038
www.continuumbooks.com
9781441122032, $32.95, www.amazon.com

Religion and politics have been an integral part of American politics from the founding of the Colonies down to the present day. Often adhering to the theoretical concept of 'Separation of Church and State', politicians on the federal level have occasionally passed some rather questionable legislation that seeming blurs the principle. Such is the case with respect to the statute passed and named the 'Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act' (RLUIPA) which showcased an involved, complex, elaborate, and somewhat devious machinations on the part of congressional proponents and opponents. In "Religious Free Exercise and Contemporary American Politics: The Saga of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000", Jerold L. Waltman (R.W. Morrison Professor of Constitutional Studies, Department of Political Science, Baylor University) provides a detailed, informed history and informative analysis of this legislation. A seminal study of impressive scholarship, "Religious Free Exercise and Contemporary American Politics: The Saga of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000" is a welcome and highly recommended addition to academic library American Political Science reference collections and American Church/State Studies supplemental reading lists.


The Archaeology Shelf

The Archaeology Of Forts And Battlefields
David R. Starbuck
University Press of Florida
University of Florida
15 Northwest 15th Street
Gainesville, FL 32611-2079
www.upf.com
9780813036892, $69.95, www.amazon.com

The history of the world can be viewed as a history of wars. As with most other human activities, the battles, military encampments, and military fortresses leave behind remnants and artifacts that are the stuff of archaeology. In "The Archaeology Of Forts And Battlefields", David R. Starbuck (Associate Professor of Anthropology and Sociology, Plymouth State University, New Hampshire) has written an historical and archaeologically based overview of detailed case studies focused on sites from each of the major wars fought out on American soil: The French and Indian War; The American Revolution; The Civil War; and The Indian Wars of the West. Professor Starbuck explains the modern techniques and tools archaeologists utilize in their work on such sites. Of special note is the discussion of problems encountered with respect to human remains in these archaeological excavations. Also explained is the use of forensic anthropology in identifying human remains and the protection afforded by archaeology to the preservation of these sites. Enhanced with an extensive bibliography and a comprehensive index, "The Archaeology Of Forts And Battlefields" is a seminal contribution to the growing body of archaeological literature and very highly recommended for professional, academic, and community library Archaeological Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Gardening Shelf

Futurescapes
Tim Richardson
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, NY, NY 10110-0017
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500515778, $60.00, www.amazon.com

Global climate change is clearly impacting the flora and fauna of the world. From large scale agriculture, to small scale gardening, changing climatic conditions are altering what thrives and what struggles in heretofore traditional landscapes. In "Futurescapes: Designers For Tomorrow's Outdoor Spaces", established landscape critic Tim Richardson has created a profusely illustrated, 352-page compendium profiling the work of fifty international landscape design studios working for private and corporate clients in the creation of outdoor landscapes including photographically illustrated contemporary projects and plans. Of special note are the five informed and informative essays identifying and explaining a range of particularly germane issues such as creating new landforms and urban landscape trends. Essential reading for professional landscape designers, "Futurescapes" is thoroughly 'user friendly' and therefore also very highly recommended to the attention of amateur gardeners and urban policymakers, making it very highly recommended as a core addition to personal, professional, community, and academic library Landscaping & Gardening reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Native American Shelf

Pueblo Dancing
Nancy Hunter Warren & Jill Drayson Sweet
Schiffer Publishing
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764338601 $39.99 www.schifferbooks.com

"Pueblo Dancing" is an exquisite collection of black and white photographs of Pueblo dances taken by Nancy Hunter Warren between 1970 and 1990, accompanied by four illuminating chapter essays about the history and significance of Pueblo dancing by eminent anthropologist and Pueblo dance expert Jill Drayson Sweet. The photographs are striking and expressive, compositions in reverent movement, light and shadow. The chapters and essays are on the nature of Pueblo dance, beauty and humor in Pueblo dance, tourism and non-Indian visitors at the dances, and continuity, change and meaning. Great care is taken to instruct the reader in the proper courtesies and appropriate behavior for tourists and non-Pueblo observers of the dances. Also, there are very interesting discussions of the role and behavior of the sacred clowns(sometimes called Kossa or Koshare), all of whom are never photographed because permission of the Pueblo elders is withheld, due to the sacred nature of the role of the clown dancer. All photographs were taken with express permission of the designated Pueblo elder(s). It is a grave discourtesy to attempt any type of photo recording of the dance without obtaining full permission first. Even cell phones may be banned at dances. To quote a description of the observation of the Pueblo dances, note the following: "For these (tourist) visitors the dances are colorful performances that promise some good tales to tell back home. For other non-Indian visitors, however, the dances are like a text that can be read to learn something about a culture that is simultaneously archaic and contemporary, mystical and mundane, agrarian and post-industrial (p.39)." Photographs of Buffalo, Corn, Game Animal, Matachine, Comanche, and other dances are included. some of these photos are certainly of immense historic as well as aesthetic cultural value. The essay closes with a poetic description of the end of a good day of dancing, with a gathering of many different invited guests in the private home of an old Pueblo woman, for a happy feast. An added bibliography provides further resources for the avid student of Pueblo dancing.

Life Stages and Native Women
Kim Anderson
foreword by Maria Campbell
University of Manitoba Press
301 St. John's College
Winnipeg, MB, Canada, R3T 2M5
9780887557262 $27.95 www.uofmpress.ca

Drawn from materials of the oral histories of the Metis, Cree, Anishinaabek, or Ojibway and Saulteaux elders, "Life Stages and Native Women: Memory, Teachings, and Story Medicine" is presented as the result of digging up the medicines, or the teachings. The medicines contained are offered as "a contribution to the healing process we call decolonization...to encourage dialogue about the role that gender can play in that process (p. 3)." The book is based on northern Algonquian stories, the tradition of the author's cultural background. But many familiar themes and characters from other native traditions will be recognized. The life cycle of women is divided into roughly four chapters according to Anishinaabe tradition: The Life Cycle Begins, The "Good Life" and the Fast Life": Childhood and Youth, Adult Years, and Grandmothers and Elders. Stories and traditions and sayings are woven into these chapters within the earlier explained context of the use of the oral tradition to preserve knowledge and wisdom. Most compelling of all is the conclusion chapter, Bundling the Layers: Building on the Strengths of the Past to Take Us into the Future. The author explains her intent as follows: "My hope is that as I launch this book into Indian country and the world beyond, it will work like an arrow, piercing the injustices of our past and slicing open more avenues for change. I encourage each reader to dig out the medicines that suit his or her particular needs, and continue to dig, as there is so much more to learn (p. 161)." She then proceeds to list four layers to the bundling process: the Power of Women and Girls (Layer One), Connecting the Stories to Life Stage Theory (Layer Two), Contributions to the Health and Well-Being of native Communities (Layer Three), and applying Story Medicine Today and into the Future (Layer Four). Although the history is indeed clouded with pain and oppression, the message for today is one of hope and rebuilding, along with the empowerment of native people, particularly women, to rebuild the circle of indigenous communities of greater Turtle Island.


The Art Shelf

Plains Indian Art
Jane Ewers Robinson, editor
Candace S. Greene, preface
Evan M. Maurer, introduction
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, Oklahoma 73069
9780806130613 $39.95 www.oupress.com

"Plains Indian Art: The Pioneering Work of John C. Ewers" is a magnificent color-print illustrated collection of cultural and historical essay studies by famed Ethnologist Emeritus and former director of the Smithsonian, John C. Ewers (1909-97). Edited by his daughter and presented complete with all originally selected illustrations and photographs and prints, "Plains Indian Art" encompasses the imagery history of the Plains native nations from rock pictographs to modern art creations, including carved pipes, skin paintings, wood carvings, specific parts of native costumes, and more. There is a chapter on Blackfeet picture writing, a special chapter on pipes for the presidents, and also a chapter on Assiniboin antelope-horn headdresses, with detailed color and black and white photos. Many art works by native artisans are presented and discussed, both living and extant. 140 illustrations embellish the pages of native American Plains peoples' ethnohistory analysis and illumination. "Plains Indian Art" is far more than a quality coffee table native American art book; it is a definitive offering of a life's work of striving to enlarge understanding of Plains Indians' culture and history through pictorial art.

The Eugene B. Adkins Collection, Selected Works
Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art
Philbrook Museum of Art
Jane Ford Aebersold, et al.
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806141008 $29.95 www.oupress.com

A collaborative effort of Jane Ford Aebersold, Christina E. Burke, James Peck, B. Byron Price, W. Jackson Rushing III, Mary Jo Watson, and Mark A. White, "The Eugene B. Adkins Collection" edition of selected works is a visually stunning presentation of exquisite color photographs of 170-plus artworks of Native American and American Southwestern origin. Including paintings, photographs, jewelry, baskets, textiles, ceramics, and more, "The Eugene B. Adkins Collection" is timed to coincide with the opening of a new gallery level of the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art to showcase selected works from the extensive Adkins Collection, working in collaboration with the Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa. The collection of both Native and non-Native Southwestern art was acquired by connoisseur Tulsa resident Eugene B. Adkins (1920-2006) over a period of four decades. In addition to stunning full color photographs of seminal artworks and pieces, "The Eugene B. Adkins Collection" offers arts essays on related topics by an array of knowledgeable experts on Art of the American Southwest and Native American Art. Photos of the amazing artworks speak for themselves in this extraordinary collection. Not coincidentally, the University of Oklahoma School of Art and Art History has created a new Ph.D. program in Native American art history and art of the American West, effective in 2008. "The Eugene B. Adkins Collection" features works of the highest quality, with excellent documentation and references, plus access to the Philbrook's collection of Native American art, together representing "one of the finest surveys of twentieth-century Native American art anywhere (p. ix)." A stunning, spectacular art book, "The Eugene B. Adkins Collection" edition of selected works is a treasury of Native American and American art history and culture.


James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
http://www.midwestbookreview.com


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