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Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
Museums and the Construction of Disciplines
Christopher Whitehead
Duckworth
c/o International Publishers Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
9780715635087 $24.00 www.ducknet.co.uk 1-800-758-3756
Museums are not just storehouses for old stuff. "Museums and the Construction of Disciplines:
Art and Archaeology in Nineteenth-Century Britain" is a scholarly discussion of the debate of
museums in the nineteenth century where there was a debate between what to classify much of
the ancient art that was found - was it a representation of art, or should it be icons of that culture?
Thought provoking reading about the thin line that divide the two disciples, "Museums and the
Construction of Disciplines" is a fine addition to any scholarly collection comparing archeology
and art.
The Library CD Music Shelf
Light Returning
Acoustic Ocean
c/o The Creative Service Company (publicity)
4360 Emerald Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
$20.49 myspace.com/creativeservicecompany
Light Returning is a beautiful CD featuring melodies played on the Celtic Harp, accompanied by
instruments ranging from the guitar to hammered and mountain dulcimer, mandolin, piano,
voice, and even sounds from nature. The acoustic, melodious arrangements promote a sense of
relaxation and wonder. Light Returning is a joy to experience, and especially recommended for
listening to while one meditates, or sheds the stress from a long and difficult day. The tracks are
"Light Returning" (6:26), "Refuge from the Storm" (7:03), "We Are the Ones" (5:41), "Innocence
Recalled" (9:44), "Ancient Forest" (7:07), "Always in my Heart" (8:53), "Prayer for Peace"
(6:41) and "Stillness at the Center" (8:26). 1 hour.
Golden Earrings
Laura Theodore, vocals
Joe Beck, alto guitar & acoustic guitar
Whaling City Sound
c/o Mixed Media Promotion
20 Lockmere Road, Cranston, RI 02910
$14.99 www.mixedmediapromo.com
Recorded over the course of four months from October 2006 to February 2007, Golden Earrings
is the collaborative effort of jazz singer Laura Theodore and the late, great guitarist Joe Beck
(who passed away in 2008 due to complications from lung cancer). Golden Earrings is a tribute
to some of America's most beloved songs - and some songs less widely known, but nonetheless
heart-touching. The beautiful musical stylings reflect how deeply these songs touched Laura and
Joe, and the result is an album of pure audio splendor. Highly recommended for pure listening
pleasure. The tracks are "Johnny Guitar" (3:27), "Why Don't You Do Right?" (2:25), "Take a
Little time to Smile" (3:44), "Fever" (3:55), "My Small Senor" (2:33), "Don't Smoke in Bed"
(2:23), "I Get Along Without You Very Well" (3:36), "You Was Right Baby" (2:32), "I Can't
Believe That You're In Love With Me" (2:59), "Solitude" (3:10), "Everything Is Moving Too
Fast" (2:05), "When You Speak With Your Eyes" (3:17), "Golden Earrings" (3:16), "I Don't
Know Enough About You" (2:59), "What More Can a Woman Do?" (3:21), and "Manana"
(2:27).
The Library DVD Shelf
Angry Monk: Reflections on Tibet
a film by Luc Schaedler
Icarus Films
c/o First Run Features
630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 1213, New York, NY 10036
$24.95 www.firstrunfeatures.com
Angry Monk: Reflections on Tibet is a DVD documentary and portrait of Gendun Choephel, a
monk who chose to refute monastic life and spoke out severely against the extreme religious
conservatism and cultural isolationist attitude permeating the government of his nation. After he
left the monastery in 1934, he traveled through Tibet and India to better understand the history of
Tibet and Buddhism. Angry Monk: Reflections on Tibet includes rare archival footage,
Choephel's paintings, modern-day scenes of sites he traveled to, and above all, the wisdom and
insight of an outcast critic, whose determination has made him an immortal symbol of political
and spiritual reform in Tibet. Highly recommended. Bonus features include a director interview
and biography, writing extracts by Gendun Choephel, and a Tibetan film gallery.
The Bible Unearthed: The Making of a Religion
First Run Features
630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 1213, New York, NY 10036
$29.95 www.firstrunfeatures.com
Based on the book "The Bible Unearthed" by Israel Finkelstein and Neil Silberman, The Bible
Unearthed: The Making of a Religion is a captivating examination of the origins of the Bible,
offering firsthand visits to archaeological digs in Egypt, Jordan, and Israel (including Megiddo,
one of the most fundamental sites of Biblical archaeology known). Computer simulations and
rare archival footage bring to life the wisdom of world-renowned archaeologists and biblical
scholars, including experts from the Louvre, the British Museum, and the museums of Cairo and
Jerusalem. Our body of knowledge today about the society and history of the men who wrote the
Bible continues to evolve with new discoveries; The Bible Unearthed: The Making of a Religion
is sure to fascinate casual viewers and religious scholars alike. Highly recommended, especially
for public library DVD collections. Four episodes, 208 minutes.
Undeliver@ble
Vat19
11783 Borman Drive, St. Louis, MO 63146
$24.95 www.Vat19.com
Undeliver@ble: E-mail Etiquette for Today's Workplace is a simple and straightforward training
DVD ideal for teaching one's employees how to professionally handle customer service issues via
e-mail. Topics covered range from sending attachments to addressing recipients, inappropriate
content, proofreading, professional signatures, the value of clarity and brevity, issues to watch
out for when writing e-mails that contain good or bad news, and much more. Real-life
re-enactments and easy-to-see graphical animations help drive home the solid lessons on
formatting and phrasing quality business e-mails. Four interactive quizzes and printable
certificates of completion round out this easy-to-use resource. An absolute must-have for
businesses in today's modern world, where e-mail is a more important tool for communication
than ever before! 40 minutes.
Beethoven's Guitar Shred
Music Video Distributors (distribution)
Thomas Public Relations, Inc.
734 Walt Whitman Rd., Suite 206, Melville, NY 11747
$9.95 www.greatkat.com
Beethoven's Guitar Shred carries a parental advisory warning with regard to explicit content -
specifically, graphic references to torture, including torture devices, blood and playacting victims
- as guitar performer Kat (aka Katherine Thomas) refuses to let America indulge in forgetfulness
about the human right abuses at Abu Ghraib. "The Great Kat" is shocking to behold regardless,
wantonly discarding all cultural preconceptions of female behavior to dress in bloody leather
wear and crucifix tattoos. Her guitar performance is beyond energetic, transcending to the level
of mania, as she shreds a ferocious medley of Beethoven, Bach, and raw fervor. The seven shred
videos share a raucous blend of classical music, heavy metal, and stinging social commentary.
Bonus features include a cartoon and hot photos of Kat at her finest (or wildest)! Beethoven's
Guitar Shred is truly unforgettable, and especially recommended for metal fans.
America's Test Kitchen Season Nine
WGBH Boston Video
c/o SSA Public Relations
15260 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1730, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
9781593758851 $39.99 www.ssapr.com
America's Test Kitchen Season Nine is DVD thinpack set collecting the latest season of the
most-watched cooking show on public television. A great way to learn delicious home cooking,
America's Test Kitchen Season Nine guides viewers step-by-step through such recipes as French
Chicken in a Pot, Almost No-Knead Bread, Crispy Breaded Pork Chops, Blueberry Pie, and
much more. Also present are no-nonsense taste tests of supermarket ingredients, ratings of
kitchen equipment, and handy shopping tips for the smart consumer. Cooking enthusiasts of all
skill and experience levels are sure to enjoy this excellent compendium, which includes printable
versions of each of its fifty-two recipes! 4 DVDs, 26 episodes, 11.5 hours.
Simple Living with Wanda Urbanska
Janson Media
88 Semmens Road, Harrington Park, NJ 07640
$24.95 www.simplelivingtv.net www.janson.com
Simple Living with Wanda Urbanska presents five episodes of the popular public television
series designed to teach the viewer about ways for more cost-effective, conscientious, and
sustainable living. The first nationally syndicated series of this kind, Simple Living shows ways
ordinary people everywhere can be better stewards of the environment and more informed
consumers, while promoting a strong, positive message of fiscal responsibility and community
involvement. From reducing one's carbon footprint to doing a "green remodel" of one's home to
enjoying the pastime of gardening, Simple Living with Wanda Urbanska is a wonderful and
refreshing show - the frugality and energy-saving tips especially are and more valuable than ever
during tough economic times. Highly recommended. 135 minutes.
The Beatles: Rare and Unseen
MVD Entertainment Group
PO Box 280, Oaks, PA 19456
$14.95 www.MVDb2b.com 1-800-888-0486
The Beatles: Rare and Unseen is a DVD packed with long-hidden treasures concerning one of the
most popular and beloved bands in the world: previously unseen home movies, personal
photographs, recently rediscovered film, and true stories related firsthand from the witnesses who
were there. From the earliest known footage of the Beatles on stage (Liverpool, Feb. 1962), to the
one existing film of their Scotland tour (Caird Hall Dundee, Oct. 1964) to highlights of an
interview with John Lennon (recorded in New York for French TV), The Beatles: Rare and
Unseen is an absolute "must-have" for Beatles fans everywhere. Highly recommended. 90
minutes.
Menopause Illustrated
Jan Brehm
Planet Sweet Pea
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$19.99 www.411videoinfo.com
Menopause Illustrated is a brief, lighthearted and witty DVD and accompanying booklet created
especially to for men in need of advice to help their wives or significant others through the
devastating change that is menopause. Created by Jan Brehm, a wife whose loving husband had
the best of intentions but nearly drove her off the wall during the change of life, Menopause
Illustrated lays out just how men everywhere can deal with this difficult time - and why a
woman's issues with and feelings about menopause can't simply be "fixed" the way one might fix
a leaky faucet. The wry humor permeating Menopause Illustrated is what distinguishes it as
something that men will find not only enlightening but also thoroughly entertaining. Highly
recommended.
Pilates Power Ball Sculpt
Bernadette Giorgi
JustBMethod
c/o 411 Video Information (publicity)
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
$19.98 www.justbmethod.com www.411videoinfo.com
Pilates expert Bernadette Giorgi presents Pilates Power Ball Sculpt, an exercise DVD featuring
Pilates-style mat work that incorporates an inexpensive sculpting ball or hand weight to enhance
effectiveness. An exercise program designed to promote a lean physique, Pilates Power Ball
Sculpt includes classic Pilates-based exercises such as "The Hundred", "Teaser", and "Mermaid"
incorporating the sculpting ball for a new experience. Pilates Power Ball Sculpt features one
complete workout, and three options for quick workouts: Lower Abs & Butt Express, "Pilates
Style Magazine" Power Sculpt, and Recovery Stretch. A user-friendly, easy-to-follow regimen
perfect for helping to develop the strength and physique of an expert dancer, Pilates Power Ball
Sculpt is enthusiastically recommended. 52 minutes.
Yoga for the Rest of Us: Heart Healthy Yoga with Peggy Cappy
WGBH Boston Video
c/o SSA Public Relations
15260 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1730, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
$24.99 www.ssapr.com
As seen on public television, Yoga for the Rest of Us: Heart Healthy Yoga with Peggy Cappy is
an exercise DVD focusing upon yoga sun salutations that work the entire body, and that can be
performed by viewers of all skill and experience levels. Movements for the spine, lunges, side
stretches, breathing techniques, leg stretches, relaxation poses, and more make for an
easy-to-follow yoga workout at home perfect for viewers age nine to ninety. Host Peggy Cappy, a
yoga instructor of 30 years' experience, guides the viewer through this solid workout perfect for
easing stress and improving balance, joint flexibility, and endurance. Yoga for the Rest of Us:
Heart Healthy Yoga with Peggy Cappy is especially recommended for anyone who is new to
Yoga and wants to learn what all the positive word of mouth is about! Closed-captioned, 100
minutes.
Breaking the Bank
PBS
c/o SSA Public Relations
15260 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1730, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
079367090X $24.99 www.ssapr.com
Breaking the Bank is an episode of the award-winning "Frontline" television series, now
available on DVD. The true-life story of Bank of America CEO Ken Lewis and former Merrill
CEO Jon Thain and the risks they took amid a financial crisis threatening to destroy the
American economy, Breaking the Bank presents a dramatic yet unbiased accounting of the facts
as the federal government was forced to seriously consider nationalizing the banking industry - or
risking nationwide economic collapse. Readers of all backgrounds will appreciate this riveting
glimpse into the inner workings of economic titans with glass ankles; Breaking the Bank is
especially recommended for public library DVD collections - the modern economic morass is
one piece of history that everyone needs to learn about, because no one can afford to repeat
it!
Learning ZoneXPress
PO Box 1022, Owatonna, MN 55060
$79.95 each www.learningzoneexpress.com 1-888-455-7003
Two closed-captioned DVDs from Learning ZoneXpress continue to uphold the excellent,
educational tradition of the publisher on timely and important topics. It cannot be overstated how
important the financial management basics of "Cash, Credit and Your Future" (1571757317, 23
min.) are for teens (and adults!) to know, particularly in today's economy which is still reeling an
excess of consumer debt and shady monetary practices. Some debt may be necessary to pursue
dreams such as a college diploma or one's own car; "Cash, Credit and Your Future" outlines one's
options and warns against common mistakes while planning for the financial future. "Easy Being
Green" (1571758429, 20 min.) offers basic, easy-to-follow tips that viewers of all ages should
know in order to not only help protect the planet, but also conserve energy and money. Starting
with a brief overview of the environmental issues that affect all of humanity, how driving habits
impact the environment (with a demonstration on how to properly inflate one's car tires), to
things one can do around the house to conserve energy, to which electronic items are the worst
energy hogs and why it's important to look for the Energy Star logo when purchasing new
electronics. Both DVDs are particularly recommended for public library collections and
classroom viewing, and have invaluable insights for viewers of all ages.
The Library Science Shelf
Sequels, fourth edition
Janet G. Husband & Jonathan F. Husband
ALA Editions
50 East Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611
9780838909676 $95.00 www.alastore.ala.org
Now in a fully updated fourth edition, Sequels: An Annotated Guide to Novels in Series is a
gigantic compendium of listings of titles in series that are ideal for library collections - the
authors have deliberately selected titles suitable for (and common to) a medium-sized public
library, and weeded out obscure or unpopular series. Identifying novels by title, author, and a
very brief (typically one sentence) description of the novel's contents, the fourth edition of
Sequels includes series started since 1989 and updated through 2007. An effective and
easy-to-use librarian's resource.
Inside, Outside, and Outline
Chrystie Hill
ALA Editions
50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
9780838909874, $48.00, www.alastore.ala.org
A library is more than a building that grants access to information. "Inside, Outside, and Outline:
Building Your Library Community" is a guide for librarians to adapting one's library to the
community around it. Every community is different, and therefore every library should be
different to suit local needs. With advice on identifying the needs and desires of the communities,
attracting the community, and more, "Inside, Outside, and Outline" is of strong recommendation
for any librarian who wants their library and their community to be successful.
The Accidental Library Marketer
Kathy Dempsey
Information Today Inc.
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055
9781573873680, $29.50 www.infotoday.com
Avoid common pitfalls that marketing amateurs encounter when tailoring programs to advocate
library services using an A-Z guide by the longtime editor of the Marketing Library Services
newsletter. Real-world examples of strategies and the pros and cons of different approaches and
ideas combine with checklists and expert advice in a fine how-to resource for library marketing
recommended for any library sciences collection.
The Library PR Handbook
Mark R. Gould, editor
ALA Editions
c/o American Library Association
50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
www.alastore.ala.org
9780838910023, $55.00, www.amazon.com
Public relations is at the heart of any library's success with respect to the community it is
designed to service. Every staff librarian carries part of the responsibility for a successful public
relations campaign with respect to a library's patrons and community supporters. From the large
multi-site urban library systems, to the small town and village library, the need and necessity for
public support is universal -- and public relations is how that support is best generated and
maintained. That's why "The Library PR Handbook: High Impact Communications" is such an
important and invaluable instruction manual comprising informed and informative essays by
professional and successful librarians from around the country. Knowledgeably compiled and
deftly edited by Mark R. Gould, "The Library PR Handbook: High Impact Communications" is
replete with practical ideas ranging from the creation of public service announcements, to
recruiting community partnerships, to establishing outreach programs, to utilizing podcasts, to
hosting special events, and so much more. Thoroughly 'user friendly' throughout, "The Library
PR Handbook: High Impact Communications" is highly recommended reading for anyone
charged with the responsibility of summoning up community support and involvement in behalf
of a school or community library.
The Library Journal
Maria Roncevic, editor
Neal-Schuman Publishers
100 William Street, Suite 2004, New York, NY 10038
9781555706852, $55.00, www.neal-schuman.com
The Internet is a massive resource of information, for use by everyone, put together by everyone.
And that fact is commonly the problem. "The Library Journal Guide to E-Reference Resources"
is a far-reaching guide to trustworthy references on the internet, to help librarians cut through the
difficult jungles of electronic misinformation. With straightforward reviews of each of these
resources, covering what they offer by category, "The Library Journal Guide to E-Reference
Resources" is an enthusiastically recommended acquisition for librarians and librarian
administrators who don't want to be led around loops of verifying sources.
Next Chapter Book Club
Tom Fish & Paula Rabidoux with Jillian Ober & Vicki L. W. Graff
Woodbine House
6510 Bells Mill Road, Bethesda, MD 20817
9781890627799 $24.95 www.woodbinehouse.com 1-800-843-7323
The Next Chapter Book Club (NCBC) is a nationwide network of over 130 book clubs to help
adolescents and adults with disabilities (and all levels of reading abilities) read, discuss books,
and socialize. Next Chapter Book Club: A Model Community Literacy Program for People with
Intellectual Disabilities is a step-by-step guide to creating just such a club in one's own
community. Chapters spell out how to form and sponsor a club, find and train volunteer
facilitators, attract members, choose an ideal meeting location, build literacy skills, select books,
and much more. Tips, tricks, and suggestions fill this user-friendly manual, and the eighteen
appendices provide all the blank forms, reports, and surveys one will need to get one's club off
the ground. The forms are also present on a companion CD-ROM for ease of printing and
duplication. Next Chapter Book Club: A Model Community Literacy Program for People is a
"must-have" for anyone interested in starting a book club to enrich the lives of people with
intellectual disabilities, especially librarians. Highly recommended.
The Environmental Studies Shelf
Pandora's Locks
Jeff Alexander
Michigan State University Press
1405 S. Harrison Rd., Ste. 25, East Lansing, MI 48823-5245
9780870138577, $29.95, www.msupress.msu.edu
A gem of engineering genius, the St. Lawrence Seaway was not easily built, not by any stretch of
the imagination. "Pandora's Locks: The Opening of the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Seaway" tells
the story of the canal's creation and the road leading up to its historic opening. A story of trade,
politics, and science, "Pandora's Locks" discusses the canal from many perspectives, with special
care to the environmental approach. "Pandora's Locks" is a far reaching and scholarly look at the
St. Lawrence Seaway.
The Great Experiment In Conservation
William F. Porter, et al.
Syracuse University Press
621 Skytop Road, Suite 110, Syracuse, NY 13244-5290
www.SyracuseUniversityPress.syr.edu
0815632312, $45.00, www.amazon.com
Adirondack Park, located in the state of New York, is composed of six million acres of land that
is half public and half private, making it one of the signal case studies in U.S. conservation
history and development. In "The Great Experiment In Conservation: Voices From The
Adirondack Park", the team of William F. Porter (Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Director of
the Adirondack Ecological Center at SUNY ESF), Jon D. Erickson (Associate Professor of
Ecological Economics, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, and fellow of
the Gund Institute for Ecological Economics at the University of Vermont), and Ross S. Whaley
(Emeritus President and Professor of SUNY ESF, as well as the former chairman of the
Adirondack Park Agency, and who served on the Governor's Commission for the Adirondacks in
the Twenty-First Century) have knowledgeably compiled and deftly edited informed and
informative contributions and commentaries from Herman Daly, Bill McKibben, Barbara
McMartin, Philip G. Terrie, Amy Vedder, and Bill Weber to provide a historical overview and
analysis of the ecological, cultural, and economic aspects and relationships of the communities
and the environment of the Adirondack Park. A seminal work of impressive scholarship, "The
Great Experiment In Conservation" is a core addition to academic library Environmental Studies
reference collections, and especially recommended for non-specialist general readers with an
interest in American conversation history and land preservation in general, and the Adirondack
Park in particular.
Greening Your Home
Clayton Bennett
McGrawHill
Two Penn Plaza, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10121-2298
9780071499095, $24.95, www.mhprofessional.com
Little tweaks around the house can go a long way toward helping the planet. "Greening Your
Home Sustainable Options for Every System in Your House" is a guide full of simple tips and
tricks to green one's home. Greening one's home not only has benefits for the environment but
can also bring efficiency in energy to one's power usage, saving money. "Greening Your Home"
is a top pick for any concerned homeowner.
The Religion/Spirituality Shelf
Connected
Peter Wallace
Morehouse Publishing
c/o Church Publishing
445 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016
9780819223081, $18.00 www.amazon.com
However you feel about Him, God seeks to connect with you. "Connected: You and God in the
Psalms" is a collection of inspirational scripture to help readers better connect with God. The text
focuses on ninety psalms, analyzing and explaining them to readers so that they may obtain a
greater grasp of God's word. For those trying to meditate on their faith, "Connected" is an ideal
guide, recommended.
Love, Sex, Fear, Death
Timothy Wyllie
Feral House
1240 W Sims Way #124, Port Townsend, WA 98368
9781932595376, $24.95, www.feralhouse.com
Cults are strange things, and with a little fame, they catch on fast. "Love, Sex, Fear, Death: The
Inside Story of the Process Church of the Final Judgment" is an inside account of one of the most
notorious and famous cults of the 1960s, the Process Church, which gained celebrity
membership, nationwide coverage, and members around the world. With plenty of propaganda
posters, personal stories from members, and more, "Love, Sex, Fear, Death" is a treasure for any
reader who is fascinated by cults.
The Christian Studies Shelf
Cathedrals of Bone
John C. Waldmeir
Fordham University Press
University Box L, 2546 Belmont Ave, Bronx, NY 10458
9780823230600, $50.00, www.fordhampress.com
Something as old as the Catholic Church has taken many interpretations through the years.
"Cathedrals of Bone: The Role of the Body in Contemporary Catholic Literature" is a study of
the Church and the metaphor of it as a body of Christianity in contemporary literature.
Discussing how the concept has evolved, author John C. Waldmeir puts a scholarly study forth
that will educate readers on the art and the history behind it and how it has become what it is
today, with intellectual criticism of recent developments. "Cathedrals of Bone" is well worth the
read for anyone studying modern Christianity.
Warrior from Heaven
Kermit Zarley
Synergy Books
PO Box 80107, Austin, Texas 78758
9780981546223 $17.95 www.synergybooks.net
Jesus is commonly depicted as a bastion of peace, but in the second coming, could he be riding
out for war? "Warrior from Heaven" discusses the idea of Christ as liberator in the eventual
rapture to stand against the Antichrist. Spinning this theory into an entertaining tale, "Warrior
From Heaven" is of strong interest to any Christian wondering about the rapture and what
Christ's return will be like.
Where is Knowing Going?
John C. Haughey
Georgetown University Press
3240 Prospect Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007
9781589014862, $34.95, www.press.georgetown.edu
There are many courses that are taught in colleges that strongly conflict with the Catholic dogma.
"Where is Knowing Going?: The Horizons of the Knowing Subject" explores modern Catholic
Schools such as Notre Dame and the conflicts they face today as academic institutions in today's
ever changing world where religious ties can prove to be detrimental to the school's credibility
and options of courses to offer. John C. Haughey discusses this conflict at length and leaves both
academics and Christians much to think on. "Where is Knowing Going?" is a solid addition to
any Christian academia collection.
The Dark Night
Daniel P. Schrock
Herald Press
616 Walnut Avenue, Scottsdale, PA 15683-1999
9780836194258, $16.99, www.heraldpress.com
Could the depression of some Christians truly be a yearning for God? "The Dark Night: A Gift of
God" is an analysis of Christian depression and how it may not be depression, but merely
believing that God has abandoned them. Speaking to Christians who feel depressed and
abandoned, author Daniel P. Schrock urges readers do what they can to find God once more and
get their lives back. "The Dark Night" is the inspiration some Christian readers may need. Also
from Herald Press of Christian interest, is "Like a Mustard Seed: Mennonites in Paraguay"
(9780836194203, $16.49), focusing on the Mennonites and their ministry in Paraguay.
Theological Foundations
J.J. Mueller
Saint Mary's Press
702 Terrace Heights, Winona, MN 55987-1318
9780884899204, $27.95, www.college.smp.org
Faith is not something easily understood; it has baffled philosophers and thinkers for centuries.
"Theological Foundations: Concepts and Methods for Understanding Christian Faith" is a
scholarly text for amateur and professional theologians who want to better understand the most
basic concepts of faith, from a thinker's standpoint. Breaking down Christian faith in the chapters
and books of the Bible, J.J. Mueller presents a fairly complete and comprehensive treatise on
faith. "Theological Foundations" deserves a place in any community or college library collection
on theology.
Did the Resurrection Happen?
David Baggett
Veritas Books
c/o InterVarsity Press
PO Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426
9780830837182, $16.00, www.ivpress.com
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most key point of his divinity. "Did the Resurrection
Happen?: A Conversation with Gary Habermas and Antony Flew" discusses the realty of the
resurrection. Covering historical records and scientific evidence, this debate will provide much
food for thought in this religious debate which holds one of the most vital beliefs of Christianity
in the balance. A top pick for any scholarly collection on Christianity, "Did the Resurrection
Happen?" is enthusiastically recommended.
God Has Not Forgotten About You
Leslie Haskin
Bethany House
11400 Hamsphire Ave., S., Bloomington, MN 55438
9780764206047, $13.99, www.bethanyhouse.com
To Christians, there is always someone who cares. "God Has Not Forgotten About You: ...and
He Cares More Than You Can Imagine" is an inspirational manual for those who have lost touch
with their faith and want to re-establish it in tough times. Profound and spiritual, "God Has Not
Forgotten About You" gives readers what they need to make that connection with God once
more. "God Has Not Forgotten About You" is a strong recommendation for Christian
readers.
A Family Guide to the Bible
Christin Ditchfield
Crossway
1300 Crescent Street, Wheaton, IL 60187
9781581348910, $15.99, www.crossway.org
Fully understanding the Bible is a challenge for any young Christian. "A Family Guide to the
Bible" is a guide for parents that want to help their children better understand the Bible and the
fundamentals of Christianity. Written by a man experienced in educating young readers about
Christian matters, "A Family Guide to the Bible" lives up to its title. "A Family Guide to the
Bible" is a worthwhile consideration for any Christian family with young children.
The Infancy Gospels of Jesus
Stevan Davies, translation
Sky Light Paths Publishing
PO Box 237, Sunset Farm Offices, Rt. 4, Woodstock, VT 05091
9781594732584, $16.99, www.skylightpaths.com
The lessons of Christ did not wait until he was an adult. "The Infancy Gospels of Jesus:
Apocryphal Tales from the Childhoods of Mary and Jesus Annotated & Explained" explores the
three principal infancy gospels, fictionalized accounts of the early life of the Virgin Mother and
Jesus. Although viewed by many as folktales, these stories still hold strong in the hearts of many
Christians. "The Infancy Gospels of Jesus" is a very much recommended read for those looking
for a greater understanding of these books.
50 Ways to Help Save the Earth
Rebecca Barnes-Davies
Westminster John Knox Press
100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202-1396
9780664233709, $14.95, www.wjkbooks.com
It doesn't take a lot to make a big difference. "50 Ways to Help Save the Earth: How You and
Your Church Can Make a Difference" is a guide for the individual and the community about
being responsible stewards of the environment. Faith based but still of value to readers of all
religious backgrounds, "50 Ways to Help Save the Earth" empowers readers with what they need
to do to make the world a better place. "50 Ways to Help Save the Earth" is a solid and valued
read for those looking for fresh ideas.
Purpose-Filled Presentations
Tony Jeary
Standard Publsihing
8805 Governor's Hill Drive, Suite 400, Cincinnati, OH 45249
9780784723142, $14.99, www.standardpub.com
If Jesus wasn't a good orator, his message would have never gotten out. "Purpose-Filled
Presentations: How Any Christian Can Communicate More Effectively to Anybody, Anytime,
Anywhere" is a church leader's guide to speaking like a businessman and getting one's ideas and
concepts across in a church or other religious environment. With seven steps to improving
presentations, finding confidence, and what to do in a pinch for time, "Purpose-Filled
Presentations" is a solid and highly recommended read for any Christian who wants to improve
their presentation skills.
The World History Shelf
Murder of a Medici Princess
Caroline P. Murphy
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016-4314
9780195385830, $16.95, www.oup.com/us
The Medicis were one of the most powerful families in old Florence. "Murder of a Medici
Princess" tells the true story of Isabella de Medici, the controversy surrounding her murder, and
the story of her life. A riveting biography of high society in one of the most romanticized times in
history, "Murder of a Medici Princess" does well in telling Isabella's tale. "Murder of a Medici
Princess" is of interest to any historical biography collection.
The Scribes for Women's Convents in Late Medieval Germany
Cynthia J. Cyrus
University of Toronto Press
2250 Military Rd, Tonawanda, NY 14150
9780802093691, $75.00, www.utppblishing.com
Before the printing press, books were rare, and made mainly by religious institutions. "The
Scribes for Women's Convents in Late Medieval Germany" discusses this manuscript production
of women during this era, and how these manuscripts differed from those of their male
counterparts. Scrutinizing a forgotten portion of women's history, author Cynthia J. Cyrus goes
over the work of women from nearly five hundred convents who did much in the production of
the era's literature. Granting insight on the stories of these unsung copyists, "The Scribes for
Women's Convents in Late Medieval Germany" is a top pick for any medieval history or
women's studies collections.
The Travel Shelf
Waterfalls of British Columbia
Tony Greenfield
Harbour Publishing
PO Box 219, Madeira Park, BC V0N 2H0
9781550174625, $26.95, www.harbourpublishing.com
There are few natural beauties that can compare to a waterfall. "Waterfalls of British Columbia:
A Guide to BC's 100 Best Falls" is a guide for the nature lover who wants to experience the very
best British Columbia has to offer with regard to its splendid waterfalls. Discussing individual
waterfalls, their locations, and other natural attractions, "Waterfalls of British Columbia" is
enthusiastically recommended for any nature lover who plans on visiting British Columbia.
The Judaic Studies Shelf
Jews and Judaism in African History
Richard Hull
Markus Wiener Publishers
231 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ 08542
9781558764965, $26.95, www.markuswiener.com
Judaism to this day still holds a very strong presence in African culture. "Jews and Judaism in
African History" discusses Judaism and its impact on the African continent - an influence which
many people commonly ignore despite its prominence. For thousands of years Judaism has had a
strong showing on Africa, and to this day a good portion of Judaism's followers still reside there,
breaking the stereotype that all Jews are white. "Jews and Judaism in African History" brings to
light an important aspect of African history.
Farewell to Dejla
Tova Murad Sadka
Academy Chicago Publishers
363 W. Erie Street, Chicago, IL 60654
9780897335812, $16.95, www.academychicago.com
What is not public knowledge is that Iraq holds one of the oldest Jewish communities in the
world. "Farewell to Dejla: Stories of Iraqi Jews at Home and in Exile" is a collection of these
stories with a focus on how a good majority of these people who stayed there for thousands of
years finally fled to Israel upon its formation. Their story, not often heard, is a fascinating one for
historians seeking to learn about Jews around the world.
Judaism Does Not Equal Israel
Marc H. Ellis
The New Press
38 Greene Street, New York, NY 10013
9781595584250, $24.95, www.thenewpress.com
Just because it houses Jerusalem and is the world's only Jewish state does not mean Jews should
support it without question. "Judaism Does Not Equal Israel" is an attack on the current policies
of Israel, from a source that isn't usually listed as one of its opponents - political critic Marc H.
Ellis, himself a Jewish man. Claiming that Israel has strayed from Jewish principles in favor of
Holocaust victimization and cruelty to Palestinians, "Judaism Does Not Equal Israel" is a frank
and blunt volume that reflects what many American Jews feel about their so-called homeland,
and a top pick for community library collections on current Jewish issues.
Muslim Anti-Semitism in Christian Europe
Raphael Israeli
Transaction Publishers
c/o Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
35 Berrue Circle, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8042
1412810353, $39.95
Anti-Semitism still lives, and in some regions is as strong as ever. "Muslim Anti-Semitism in
Christian Europe: Elemental and Residual Anti-Semitism" discusses Muslim anti-Semitism and
its presence in Europe today. Portraying a unique situation which fails to garner much attention
since much of it happens in societies where both Jews and Muslims are minorities, "Muslim
Anti-Semitism in Christian Europe" paints a vivid picture of a serious standoff that goes
unnoticed by a Christian public. Produced by a man with much education in the fields of Muslim
culture and history, "Muslim Anti-Semitism in Christian Europe" is an ideal scholarly addition to
any modern social issues collection.
The Business Shelf
The Truth About Trust in Business
Vanessa Hall
Emerald Book Co.
PO Box 91869, Austin, TX 78709
Planned Television Arts (publicity)
1110 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10022
9781934572177, $22.95, www.emeraldbookcompany.com
Trust is a more valuable resource than people give it credit for being. "The Truth About Trust in
Business: How to Enrich the Bottom Line, Improve Retention, and Build Valuable Relationships
for Success" is a guide to inspiring employee loyalty and trust, and pushing businesses to expand
further on this trust. On so many levels, from customer and employee to CEOs, trust is something
that is simply needed to keep a business honest, moving, and profitable. "The Truth About Trust
in Business" is a must read for any business leader and a valuable addition to any community
library business collection.
Without Warning
Rodney N. Johnson
Adams Business & Professional
c/o Beaver's Pond Press
7104 Ohms Lane, Suite 101, Edina, MN 55439
9781592982745, $22.00, www.beaverspondpress.com
The worst disasters are the ones you don't see coming. "Without Warning: Breakthrough Strategies for Solving the Silent Problems taking Aim at Your Organization" is a guide to facing subtle problems that can potentially snowball and destroy a company. With much advice on prevention and treatment, using real world examples from major corporations, "Without Warning" is recommended reading for any business.
eBay Income Advanced
John N. Peragine
Atlantic Publishing Group
1405 SW 6th Ave, Ocala, FL 34471-0640
9781601381231, $24.95, www.atlantic-pub.com
Ebay can be far more than a way to just get rid of old junk. "eBay Income Advanced: How to
Take Your eBay Business to the Next Level - For PowerSellers and Beyond" is a followup to the
previous 'eBay Income' book, this time taking its research and advice further, interviewing a
greater selection of people who have 'PowerSeller' status, who make their living through eBay.
One of the most basic ways to make one's living using the internet, "eBay Income Advanced" is
well worth the consideration for any would be entrepreneur.
Do the Right Thing
James Hoggan
Capital Books
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166
9781933102863, $16.95, www.capital-books.com
Damage control, creative lying, spin - Public Relations has become a more and more tainted
concept. "Do the Right Thing: PR Tips for a Skeptical Public" is a guide for public relations
professionals who want to improve their own and their company's image in the face of a public
which has been led through the motions so many times that they won't give most PR
professionals the time of day anymore. "Do the Right Thing" is well worth the read for those who
want to be wise to a wise society.
Building Your Leadership Resume
Johnny M. Hunt
B&H Publishing Group
127 Ninth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37234-0143
9780805449648, $14.99, www.BHPublishinggroup.com
A good resume gets you ahead, especially when it comes to leadership. "Building Your
Leadership Resume: Developing the Legacy That Will Outlast You" is a Christian business guide
from Johnny Hunt hoping to inspire Christians to embrace faith and use what they have learned
to lead - both in spiritual matters, and in business. "Building Your Leadership Resume" is a fine
and recommended book for Christians who want to carve their own niche in the world of
Leadership.
Helping People Win at Work
Ken Blanchard & Garry Ridge
FT Press
1330 Avenue of the Americas, 35th Floor, New York, NY 10019
9780137011711, $21.99, www.ftpress.com
A helping hand can go a long way further than harsh criticism. "Helping People Win at Work: A
Business Philosophy Called 'Don't Mark My Paper, Help Me Get an A'" speaks of a more
progressive business philosophy that seeks to improve performance in the workplace by
correcting errors instead of punishing them. With many helpful corporate examples of the
philosophy in practice, "Helping People Win at Work" gives business leaders much to learn from
about strengthening weaknesses in one's organization. "Helping People Win at Work" is a
worthwhile read for any manager.
Don't Bring It to Work
Sylvia LaFair
Wiley
989 Market Streeet, San Francisco, CA 94103-1741
Creative Energy Options (publicity)
45 Country Place Lane, White Haven, PA 18661
9780470404362, $24.95, www.josseybass.com
Work and the home are best kept apart, for the greater good of both. "Don't Bring It to Work:
Breaking the Family Patterns That Limit Success" is a guide for leaving one's personal problems
at home, the better to improve productivity. Too often people let outside influences distract them
and these distractions cause people to fall behind in their goals. "Don't Bring It to Work" explains
what one can do to make oneself a better employee with greater self-control. Highly
recommended to any who want to rise up higher in their organization.
The Inspiring Leader
John H Zenger, et al.
McGraw Hill
Two Penn Plaza, 11th Floor, NY, NY 10121-2298
9780071621243, $29.95, www.mhprofessional.com
What's the difference between an average leader and a truly great one? "The Inspiring Leader:
Unlocking the Secrets of How Extraordinary Leaders Motivate" is John Zenger and his
collaborators Joseph R. Folkman, and Scott K. Edinger discussing what an important and
inspiring leader should be. Outlining what one needs to do to establish themselves as a leader
optimizing everything they need such as empathy, long term planning and goal setting,
cooperation, and more, there is much to motivate and inspire someone to motivate and inspire
others. "The Inspiring Leader" is a top pick and recommended reading for anyone faced with the
task of leadership.
Heart and Sold
Valerie Fitzgerald
Atria
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
9781416542926, $15.00, www.simonandschuster.com
Recessions don't have to devastate one's business; they can be an opportunity to survive or even
thrive. "Heart and Sold: How to Survive and Build a Recession-Proof Business" tells the story of
a woman who crafted her business to do just that. A real-estate agent and a good one at that,
author Valerie Fitzgerald has made her millions through wise business practice and following her
heart as a mother. "Heart and Sold" is a top pick for any who want reliability from their
business.
They Don't Teach Corporate in College, revised edition
Alexandra Levit
Career Press
3 Tice Road, PO Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
9781601630582, $15.99, www.careerpress.com
The corporate world is different from the real world. Now in a newly revised edition, "They
Don't Teach Corporate in College: A Twenty-Something's Guide to the Business World" is a
guide to understanding the complex world of business and its countless rules which are never,
ever explained to people outright and can often make an early business career incredibly
challenging. Giving the lessons that college should, "They Don't Teach Corporate in College" is a
high recommendation to anyone who wants to get a heads up on the rat race.
The Poetry Shelf
Downstate
David Gardiner
Salmon Poetry
c/o DuFour Editions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9780956128737, $21.95, www.salmonpoetry.com
In every community, there are countless bloodlines that compose that society. "Downstate" is a
collection of poetry discussing people and their heritage. Author David Gardiner reflects
wistfully on society and its reverence for its heritage; "Downstate" is a fine, insightful, and
entertaining volume. "Plains Storm, Omaha": Around here, a truck's rumble past is/as natural as
wind that rocks the porch swing in your absence.//"God doesn't give his thunder to us all."/We
tell ourselves we're lucky; with our daylilies and dogwoods -//we're the stuff that survives, has
roots and mind/enough not to stick our heads above neighboring flowers.//The winds, the sirens,
and the early bathtimes/all fall together to make our long horizons,//hang together as front
porchswing rocks/with silhouettes of wild roses waiting for the storm./The front of a life that
blows in from elsewhere.
The Looking House
Fred Marchant
Graywolf Press
2402 University Avenue, Suite 203, Saint Paul, MN 55114
9781555975289, $15.00, www.graywolfpress.org
Veteran poet Fred Marchant brings readers more of his fine work with "The Looking House".
Focusing on the human evolution and the wars that cause so much suffering, Marchant paints in
broad strokes and hopes to give readers much to ponder. Highly recommended. "Camp and
Locust": House on the corner where I grew up, second floor flat I still find in dreams,//window
from which I see Candy/squirm out of his collar again.//It is always a lurid, purple night,/the
middle of summer. He is taking off,/having figured it out, and is headed toward/ all that existence
promises, even to dogs.
Coal and Roses
PK Page
The Porcupine Quill
68 Main St, Erin, ON N0B 1T0
9780889843141, $16.95, www.porcupinesqull.ca
A Companion to the Order of Canada, one of Canada's highest civilian arts, PK Page brings her excellent expertise to the table with "Coal and Roses". An exploration language using a the concept of Glosas, "Coal and Roses" discusses poetry by channeling sources of many other famous Canadian poets to execute her work, staying true to the original work while getting her message across with fine technique. "On a Far Shore": It is summer, early evening/stars beginning/no dog barking./The morning star/promises daylight,/and the moon is full./Yet darkness fights for itself./It has its methods,/is infinitely resourceful./The night unravels its blue wool.
Deaf American Poetry
John Lee Clark, editor
Gallaudet University Press
800 Florida Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20002-3695
Chicago Distribution Center (distribution)
11030 S. Langley Ave., Chicago, IL 60628
9781563684135, $35.00, www.gupress.gallaudet.edu
What is the world like, completely devoid of sound? "Deaf American Poetry" is a collection of poetic work from over two hundred years of deaf American poets, with nearly one hundred pieces from thirty-five renowned poets across that period. Offering a perspective for readers that they do not commonly see and to help them empathize with the deaf throughout history, there is much for readers to enjoy and understand. "Deaf American Poetry" is a solid, commonly unheard voice in American poetry. "On My Deafness" by Howard L. Terry: "All things go well until they feel his wrath./O silence, there are marvels in thy state!/Flora may bud and bloom despite the drouth,/Impelled of God, and I, despite my fate,/Believing, yet may bloom in fairer fields./If listening inwardly to unheard sound/Is reaping all that's best, what silence yields,/Then sound deceives; truth is in silence found.
The Poems of Vikram Babu
Jesus Aguado
Host Publications
277 Broadway, Suite 210, New York, NY 10007
9780924047596, $12.00, www.hostpublications.com
Eastern philosophy presents many pressing questions to the western reader. "The Poems of
Vikram Babu" is a collection of bilingual Spanish/English poetry from acclaimed author Jesus
Aguado as he uses seventeenth century Indian mystic Vikram Babu, and presents profound
writing in the voice, provoking readers with intriguing questions. "The Poems of Vikram Babu"
is a fresh and intriguing collection, sure to provoke much thought. A sample: Like the long line
of ants in single file:/an I detached/must find a hole,/shelter,/a name,/what we so proudly call the
world//Vikram Babu asks:/you too?
Crush Depth
Michael Spence
Truman State University Press
100 East Normal Street, Kirksville, MO 63501-4221
9781931112901, $15.95, www.tsup.truman.edu
Poets come in all shapes and sizes, including Navy men. "Crush Depth" is a collection of poetry
from Michael Spence, a veteran Naval officer with much military and life experience. Discussing
naval life through his verse, he does well in capturing the emotion along with the day to day life
he lived. "Crush Depth" is original, fresh, and educational, and highly recommended. "A Cairns
Idyll": Oblivious to starfish chewing up/The coral of the Great Barrier reef,/While Dad walks off
for tickets for our trip//To watch its vanishing, I lounge and leaf/Through Chaucer as a palm tree
pricks my back./The fronds clack overhead - tongues gone stiff//With salt and sun. I can't keep
track/Of where the story leads, trying to ignore/The sea beyond me. Medieval spellings
frac-//Ture my attention, and my eyes grow sore/From footnotes. I try to raise lust for the
wench/of Bath while waves pull sparks of light ashore.//A thump! I feel through my buttocks
makes me flinch: The coconut rocks to a stop. I shift to a bench.
As Is
James Galvin
Copper Canyon Press
PO Box 271, Port Townsend, WA 98368
9781556592966, $15.00, www.coppercanyonpress.org
James Galvin brings fans of his previous work a treat with "As Is", his seventh collection of poetry. More of what Galvin excels at, his work speaks on a wide array of subjects, with articulate verse. "As Is" is a collection that many poetry fans will very much enjoy. "The Fall Guy": Hello?/Is this the Fall Guy?/Speaking./Did you take the fall?/It's what I do./So, you're in prison now?/You call it prison. Prison is my heaven,/My afterlife.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
The Legend of Burial Island
David A. Crossman
Down East
PO Box 679, Camden, ME 04843
9780892727858, $15.95, www.downeast.com
Abandoned islands are usually abandoned for a reason. "The Legend of Burial Island: A Bean
and Ab Mystery" follows Crossman's mystery series of teens Bean and Abigail as they try to
understand Burial Island - which has a sinister secret behind its name. As they search for a lost
friend, they find more adventure than they bargained for. "The Legend of Burial Island" is a solid
and recommended read for any who want a fun mystery.
Port City Shake Down
Gerry Boyle
Down East
PO Box 679, Camden, ME 04843
9780892727957, $24.95, www.downeast.com
Good intentions never go unpunished. "Port City Shake Down" is the first Brandon Blake
mystery from Gerry Boyle. As protagonist Brandon Blake begins to learn of the world of law
enforcement and quickly makes powerful enemies, he gets a crash course he never asked for. An
exciting mystery of rookie detective work, "Port City Shake Down" is a recommended read for
anyone looking for a new mystery series to enjoy.
The Fiction Shelf
The Shovel
Baker Fore & Tom Massey
Robert D. Reed Publishers
PO Box 1992, Bandon, OR 97411
9781934759349, $12.95, www.rdrpublishers.com
Messages can be conveyed in many ways, and Dr. Massey and Dr. Fore have chosen the novel to
convey their message of business inspiration. "The Shovel" tells their story of motivation via the
parable of A.B. Lincoln, who is faced with the task of moving mountains, something that many
people in today's society feel they are faced with. "The Shovel" is a unique approach, highly
recommended.
The Departure Lounge
Paul Eggers
The Ohio State University Press
180 Pressey Hall, 1070 Carmack Rd., Columbus, OH 43210
9780814251959, $24.95, www.ohiostatepress.com
People are very different when put under a different microscope. "The Departure Lounge" is a
collection of stories of people displaced from their nations of origin and forced into different
societies, and how this has caused them to gain a better understanding of who they really are.
Strained relationships, past glories, remembering relatives, and much more are gathered into
intriguing and fascinating stories. "The Departure Lounge" is a top pick and a recommended read
for short fiction lovers.
Brush with Destiny
Mono Ingram
Avalon Books
160 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016
9780803499430, $23.95, www.avalonbooks.com
Love isn't something that's going to stand by and wait. "Brush with Destiny" follows the story of
saddened mother and divorcee Ashley Stewart, who tries to find her peace on the islands of
British Columbia. An artist, she finds there is more than just her paintings in art, and that family
may have not have totally escaped her yet in a the widowed father Matt. "Brush with Destiny" is
a pick that many a romance reader will enjoy snuggling up with.
The Economics Shelf
Super Rich
George Irvin
Polity
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148
9780745644653, $24.95, www.polity.co.uk
America is the richest country in the world, yet some of its citizens are so poor. "Super Rich: The
Rise of Inequality in Britain and the United States" discusses the growing gap of wealth in the
western world, focusing on Great Britain and the United States. Globalization has supposedly
increased the gap of wealth between countries further, where the richest and most elite only
become more so while the poor continue to suffer and struggle day to day. "Super Rich"
discusses a truly real issue in today's western economies and offers many intriguing insights,
highly recommended.
The Parenting Shelf
The Daddy Shift
Jeremy Adam Smith
Beacon Press
25 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108-2892
9780807021200, $25.95, www.beacon.org
Fifty years ago, it would have been heresy for a father to stay home as the mother brought home
the paycheck. "The Daddy Shift: How Stay-at-Home Dads, Breadwinning Moms, and Shared
Parenting Are Transforming the American Family" tells the story of the changing American
culture on its stance towards parenting and gender issues. No longer is the father forced to break
his back to feed his family, or the mother forced to abandon career ambitions, and Jeremy Smith
argues the positives of this changing American Dream. "The Daddy Shift" is an intriguing look at
changes in American parenting, recommended.
The Ultimate Dream
Heather Chabino & Sherri Watson
Brown Books Publishing Group
16200 N Dallas Parkway, Suite 170, Dallas, TX 75248
9781934812334, $15.95, www.brownbooks.com
Gift giving can be one of the most thoughtful or thoughtless things, and Heather Chabino wanted
to make sure her daughter knew to do the former. "The Ultimate Dream: A Child's Gift Giving
Journey" is a memoir of her mother and the lesson that she hoped to teach her daughter through
experience. Little Kenzie learns that not all gifts are physical things, and Heather Chabino wants
Kenzie's lessons to inspire other parents and their children. "The Ultimate Dream" is of interest
to any parent who puts value on the many gifts of life, no matter what they are.
Autism Handbook for Parents
Janice E. Janzen
Prufrock Press
5926 Balcones Drive, Suite 220, Austin, TX 78731
9781593633615, $16.95, www.prufrock.com
Autism is a tricky subject for many parents. "Autism Handbook for Parents: Facts and Strategies
for Parenting Success" is a guide for parents who have recently found that their children have
been diagnosed with autism, and who are confused and anxious about what they as parents
should be doing. Offering simple, straight to the point answers, "Autism Handbook for Parents"
has much wisdom to be found. Well worth the acquisition for parents inexperienced in matters
concerning autism.
Love You More Than You Know
Janie Reinart & Mary Anne Mayer
Gray & Company, Publishers
1588 E. 40th St., Cleveland, OH 44103
9781598510553, $14.95, www.grayco.com
It's hard to send one's child off to a dangerous situation. "Love You More Than You Know: 45
Powerful, Personal Tales of Love, Faith, and Courage" is a collection of stories from mothers
who have faced with nerve-wracking event of sending their children off to war, with no certainty
of their safe return. From the dread of enlisting, to the realization of deployment, there are many
stories of parents coping with their worry and coping with a mix of pride and fear. "Love You
More Than You Know" is a treasure any military parent will cherish.
The Self-Help Shelf
How People Tick, second edition
Mike Leibling
Kogan Page US
525 South 4th Street, #241, Philadelphia, PA 19147
9780749454593, $19.95, www.koganpage.com
Everybody is different and everybody proves to be a different pain in the neck. Now in a newly
updated second edition, "How People Tick: A Guide to Over 50 Types of Difficult People and
How to Handle Them" is a guide to dealing with annoying, difficult people who overall just
make one's life ever more unpleasant. Using various archetypes, author Mike Leibling gives
readers solid advice in how to get out of certain situations with the least damage done. "How
People Tick" is a strongly recommended read for any who want to deal with people better.
The Love-Shy Survival Guide
Talmer Shockley
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781843108979, $19.95, www.jkp.com
Love is a hard ball game to break into. "The Love-Shy Survival Guide" is an advice book for
those who are love shy and are having a hard time getting into the world of relationships. Author
Talmer Shockley draws on his own experience as a Love-Shy, a term he gives to those who
struggle with getting started in dating. "The Love-Shy Survival Guide" is just what some people
may need to get out there and start their romantic life.
Living Fully Dying Well
Edward W. Bastian & Tina L. Staley
Sounds True
PO Box 8030, Boulder, CO 80306-8010
9781591797012, $24.95, www.soundstrue.com
You're going to die, and there's no way to stop that. "Living Fully, Dying Well: Reflecting on
Death to Find Your Life's Meaning" is about using one's mortality as fuel for a better and more
complete life. Fear of death should not make one paranoid, writes authors Edward Bastian and
Tina Staley, but must push people to live more complete and spiritual lives, making the most of
the time they have. "Living Fully, Dying Well" is of interest to any who are looking at their
oncoming death in the eye.
The American History Shelf
In His Own Words: Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson, author
Robert C. Baron, editor
Fulcrum Publishing
4690 Table Mountain Dr., Ste. 100, Golden, CO 80403
9781555917111, $9.95, www.fulcrumbooks.com
One of the most celebrated figures in American history, he is now discussed in his own words
with "In His Own Words: Thomas Jefferson". Drawing from Jefferson's own documents and
writings, "In His Own Words: Thomas Jefferson" introduces a fresh picture of one of the most
dear founding fathers and imparts wisdom about America through one of its most intellectual
leaders. "In His Own Words: Thomas Jefferson" is a top pick for anyone who wants to know
more about Jefferson. Also of interest in the "In His Own Words" series is "In His Own Words:
John Adams" (9781555917128, $9.95), chronicling the writings of America's second
president.
Slick As A Mitten
Ennis M. Larsen
WSU Press
PO Box 645910, Pullman, WA 99164-5910
www.wsupress.wsu.edu
9780874223026, $24.95, www.amazon.com
Traveling the Oregon trail in 1852, Ezra Meeker built his fortune in hop farming and brokering in
Puget Sound country. Platting Puyallup, Meeker served as the town's first mayor and was a key
businessman. A scourge of hop aphids hit in the 1890s, followed by a national economic
depression which wiped out Meeker's assets. When the Puyallup bank was on the verge of
failure, Meeker came to the aid of his friends and neighbors by using his own greatly diminished
finances to return funds to the depositors. 1898 saw the Alaskan Klondike gold rush and, even
though he was now in his 60s, Meeker went north four times transporting and selling one
hundred tons of vegetables, dried foods and canned goods in mining camps, primitive inns and
restaurants while his wife Eliza Jane stayed behind to manage the family business. To put it
mildly, Ezra Meeker led an interesting life and "Slick As A Mitten: Ezra Meeker's Klondike
Enterprise" is his fascinating story superbly compiled with historic black-and-white photos by
Dennis M. Larsen. An engaging and entertaining read from beginning to end, "Slick As A
Mitten" is a splendid and enthusiastically recommended addition to academic library American
History and American Biography collections.
Alabama Illustrated Engravings From 19th Century Newspapers
James L. Baggett & Kelsey Scouten Bates
Turner Publishing Company
200 - 4th Avenue North, Suite 950, Nashville, TN 37219
www.turnerpublishing.com
9781596525368, $29.95, www.amazon.com
It wasn't until the 1890s that technology was developed allowing newspapers to publish
photographs. Prior to this time all newspaper illustrations were the result of engraving. Gifted
artists were routinely employed to draw and engrave images of people, places, and events. These
reproducible images were used to illustrate not only news stories of the day, but also to embellish
poems and short stories -- and sometimes achieving such detailed excellence as to become works
of art appreciated to this day. Drawing from national and international newspapers published
from the 1850s to the 1890s, "Alabama Illustrated Engravings From 19th Century Newspapers"
showcases 250 engraved images showcasing Alabama scenes of city and country life, politics,
the civil war, industry, agriculture, entertainment, and the everyday life of the common folk.
With technically flawless reproductions that are the hallmark of the Turner Publishing Company,
"Alabama Illustrated Engravings From 19th Century Newspapers" is a very highly recommended
addition to personal and academic library 19th Century American History collections. In the
nineteenth century, the people of Alabama relied on newspapers to learn about the world outside
their own hometowns. Prior to the 1890s, the technology did not exist to economically publish
photographs in newspapers, so some publishers employed artists to draw and engrave images of
places, events, and people. Many of these engraved illustrations, which accompanied news
stories, poems, and short fiction, are impressive for their detail and artistic quality. From the
1850s to the 1890s, more than 250 engraved images of Alabama were published in national and
international illustrated newspapers. This book contains nearly 50 of those illustrations from five
nineteenth-century newspapers such as Harper's Weekly. These striking black-and-white images
depict city and country scenes of everything from politics and civil war to agriculture, industry,
entertainment, and everyday life, providing readers passionate about history and art a unique
insight into Alabama's rich cultural past.
The Interior Design Shelf
Starting Your Career as An Interior Designer
Robert K. Hale & Thomas L. Williams
Allworth Press
10 East 23rd Street, New York, NY 10010
9781581156591, $24.95, www.allworth.com
Some people have more of a touch with design than others. "Starting Your Career as An Interior
Designer" is a guide for those with the talent who want to break into the business of being an
interior designer. From picking a specialized field, to finding clients, maintaining good
relationships with them, doing the business half of operations, and so much more, "Starting Your
Career As An Interior Designer" is an ideal acquisition for anyone who wants to make their
interior design business dream a reality.
The Jobs/Careers Shelf
Career Success Without a Real Job
Ernie J. Zelinski
Ten Speed Press
PO Box 7123, Berkeley, CA 94707
9781580089678, $16.95, www.tenspeeed.com
Steady employment and success are not the same thing. "Career Success Without a Real Job: The
Career Book for People Too Smart to Work in Corporations" is a guide to success outside the
corporate rat race and finding one's ideal dream job. If one is smart enough and wise enough, one
can make one's own way in life under one's own terms, and still live fairly comfortably. A person
who isn't under the stress of a cruel boss lives a happier life; "Career Success Without a Real
Job" is a guide to attaining that happiness.
The Social Issues Shelf
Conspiracy of Silence
Zachary Abuza
United States Institute of Peace Press
1200 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
9781601270023, $14.95, www.usip.org
Thailand, a place promoted as one of the finer Asian tourist attractions, has its own problems.
"Conspiracy of Silence: The Insurgency in Southern Thailand" discusses a modern problem that
many Thai face in their society today - southern insurgents are trying to tear the country in two
through a violent secessionist movement. Exploring the roots of the conflict, what's going on in
the present time, the religious conflicts, and the errors the Thai government has made,
"Conspiracy of Silence" is a complete and comprehensive discussion of this serious issue in
modern Thailand.
Iranophobia
Haggai Ram
Stanford University Press
1450 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1124
9780804760683, $19.95, www.sup.org
Imagine if the United States had to fear nuclear strikes from Canada - that's a similar fear Israelis
have from the potential development of Iranian nuclear weapons. "Iranophobia: The Logic of
Israeli Obsession" discusses the conflict of the middle east and how the root of the problem lies
not in geopolitical conflicts, but instead a series of long, deep seated problems between the two
cultures. "Iranophobia" is a recommended read for anyone trying to get a greater understanding of
today's middle eastern conflict.
The Music Shelf
White Face, Black Mask
Darien J. Davis
Michigan State University Press
1405 S. Harrison Rd., Ste. 25, East Lansing, MI 48823-5245
9780870138348, $29.95, www.msupress.msu.edu
Brazil is a culture with much in the way of unique roots. "White Face, Black Mask: Africaneity
and The Early Social History of Popular Music in Brazil" is a scholarly discussion of the history
of Brazilian music and the move towards Africaneity during the first half of the twentieth
century. Samba, classical, and other genres are discussed as author Darien Davis takes a wide-
reaching look at the evolution of the country's music. "White Face, Black Mask" is of interest to
any musical historian, be they amateur or professional.
A Lyrical Vision
Edward Foley
Liturgical Press
St. John's Abbey, PO Box 7500, Collegeville, MN 56321-7500
9780814632796, $9.95, www.litpress.org
Music has always been a huge part of religious worship. "A Lyrical Vision: The Music
Documents of the US Bishops" traces the history of Catholic music and its evolution through
recent history in the United States. A scholarly eye and ear is paid to the history; author Edward
Foley presents a fine chronicle. "A Lyrical Vision" is a top pick for religious studies collections,
recommended.
The Biography Shelf
Welcome to the Zoo
Lloyd Kraal
Regent Press
2747 Regent Street, Berkeley, CA 94705
9781587901669, $20.00, www.regentpress.net
There's more than one way to stumble backwards into a den of tigers. "Welcome to the Zoo: A
Whistleblower's Memoir" is the memoir of Lloyd Kraal, who took on the corruption of San
Francisco when it reached so far it affected many parts of public life and government work, such
as the titular topic of the zoo. A primary source detailing the corruption of public officials, "A
Whistleblower's Memoir" is a top pick and highly recommended read.
On Native Ground
Jim Barnes
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
www.oupress.com
9780806140926, $16.95, www.amazon.com
Jim Barnes was appointed the Oklahoma State Poet Laureate for 2009-2011 by Governor Brad
henry in recognition and appreciation of his published accomplishments in the field of poetry.
"On Native Ground: Memoirs And Impressions" by Jim Barnes (Distinguished Professor of
English and Creative Writing, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah) is an informed and
informative biography of Jim Barnes beginning with his boyhood in rural southeaster Oklahoma
during the Great Depression and World War II and concludes with a survey of his adult years and
acclaim as an internationally recognized Native American poet. Of Welsh and Choctaw ancestry,
Barnes is an eloquent word smith. For this University of Oklahoma Press edition, a new
postscript has been penned by author and biographer Jim Barnes to bring the reader fully up to
date on the life and times of a master American poet. A superb work of impeccable literary and
biographical scholarship, "On Native Ground" is especially recommended for academic library
American Biography and American Poet reference collections and supplemental reading
lists.
River of No Return
Jeffrey Buckner Ford
Cumberland House
431 Harding Industrial Drive, Nashville, TN 37211
9781581826531, $26.95, www.cumberlandhouse.com
There are idols of years gone past that captivated generations. "River of No Return: Tennessee
Ernie Ford and the Woman He Loved" tells the life story of Ernie Ford, a renowned showman
who is most known for his own television show in the late 1950s, 'The Ford Show' where he
reached and entertained millions of Americans. With a focus on his personal life, a touching
story in itself, "River of No Return" is well worth the read for those who want to learn who the
legend is, or are feeling nostalgic.
Seth Bullock
David A. Wolff
South Dakota State Historical Society Press
900 Governors Drive, Pierre, SD 57501
9780979894053, $12.95, www.sdshpress.com
Sometimes truth is more interesting than the fiction. "Seth Bullock: Black Hills Lawman" tells
the story of the man who has become known in modern society for being portrayed in television,
movies, and American folklore alongside famed President Teddy Roosevelt. He was a successful
lawman, and he was a vital figure in South Dakota history. "Seth Bullock" is of interest to anyone
seeking the man behind the legend.
The Literary Shelf
Edgar Allan Poe and the Dupin Mysteries
Richard Kopley
Palgrave MacMillan
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
MPS (distributor)
16365 James Madison Highway, Gordonsville, VA 22942
9780230604704, $84.95
There is always a story behind every story. "Edgar Allan Poe and the Dupin Mysteries" is about
world renowned author Edgar Allan Poe and the stories behind his beloved Dupin mysteries (Poe
was one of the earliest writers of the mystery genre). Richard Kopley puts his education and
research to good use as he offers studies of Poe, his life, and the inspirations that lead to the
creation of his stories. A top pick for those intrigued with Poe, those studying his impact on
literature, and scholarly literature collections, "Edgar Allan Poe and the Dupin Mysteries" is
highly recommended.
Leo Tolstoy's 20 Greatest Short Stories
Andrew Barger
Bottletree Books
128 Ivy Brook Cv., Collierville, TN 38017
www.BottletreeBooks.com
9781933747149, $24.98, www.amazon.com
Most widely known in the west for his novels "War and Peace" and "Anna Karenina", the famed
Russian author Leo Nikolaivich Tolstoy was also a master of the short story. Now for the first
time, twenty of his best short stories have been compiled and edited into a single volume by
Andrew Barger. Enhanced for the reader with informative annotations. The stories comprising
this outstanding collection include: A Candle, After the Dance, Albert, Alyosha the Pot, An Old
Acquaintance, Does a Man Need Much Land?, If You Neglect the Fire You Don't Put It Out,
Khodinka: An Incident of the Coronation of Nicholas II, Lucerne, Memoirs of a Lunatic, My
Dream, Recollections of a Scorer, The Empty Drum, The Long Exile, The Posthumous Papers of
the Hermit Fedor Kusmich, The Young Tsar, There Are No Guilty People, Three Deaths, Two
Old Men, and What Men Live By. A truly impressive anthology, "Leo Tolstoy's 20 Greatest
Short Stories" is especially recommended for acquisition by community and academic libraries,
as well as the supplemental reading lists for students of Russian Literature.
The Gaming Shelf
The Budapest Gambit
Timothy Taylor
Everyman Chess
c/o The Globe Pequot Press
246 Goose Lane, PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
9781857445923, $24.95, www.everymanchess.com
Chess has captivated thousands by being a game of endless strategy and metagaming. "The
Budapest Gambit" describes this tactic embraced by chess grandmasters in incredible depth.
Written by US Champion Chess player Timothy Taylor, "The Budapest Gambit" describes
situations for both the black and white sides of the board. There is much to teach both the
amateur and experienced player about the game and this complex strategy. "The Budapest
Gambit" is a top pick for any collection with a focus on chess strategy.
Casino-ology
Bill Zender
Huntington Press
3665 Procyon Street, Las Vegas, NV 89103
0929712277, $39.95, www.huntingtonpress.com
Many things are an art, many things are a science, but a good deal of most of them are a bit of both. "Casino-ology: The Art of Managing Casino Games" is a business guide for casino owners who want to maximize their profits by mastering the art of defending against the con artists and cheats that casinos inevitably attract. In addition to anti-cheating tactics, poor practices that must be avoided when running a successful casino are also covered. "Casino-ology: The Art of Managing Casino Games" is a top pick and a must read for any running a casino or dreaming of one day owning one.
Fleets Of The Three Galaxies
Braden Campbell
Palladium Books, Inc.
39074 Webb Court, Westland, MI 48185
www.palladiumbooks.com
9781574571479, $16.95, www.amazon.com
The 13th volume in the outstanding 'Rifts Dimension' gaming books from Palladium, "Fleets Of
The Three Galaxies" is a compendium of additional information to be used in gaming with
galactic war fleets including key figures, locations, and adventure hooks. Showcased in this
128-page gaming reference are 17 major military spacecraft from fighters to dreadnoughts; space
tugs, lifeboats and special gear; missiles and weapon systems; ship classifications; fleet ranks,
space combat strategies and tactics; a Three Galaxies time-line, even a little 'space magic'.
Enhanced with occasional illustrations, "Fleets Of The Three Galaxies" is a highly recommended
addition to Megaverse roleplay gaming reference and resource collections.
The Art Shelf
God & Work
Brian Keeble
World Wisdom
1501 E Hillside Dr., Bloomington, IN 47401
9781933316680, $19.95, www.worldwisdom.com
Many write off their work as nothing more than a chore to make ends meet, but there can be a
spirituality and connection with God to go alongside it. "God & Work: Aspects of Art and
Tradition" is a spiritual approach to the workplace and how to invite a more meaningful approach
to what some dread waking up for every morning. Introducing much to inspire workers, "God &
Work" presents a solid and unique message.
The Theatre/Cinema Shelf
Life As We Show It
Brian Pera and Masha Tupitsyn
City Lights Book
261 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94133
9780872865259, $18.95, www.citylights.com
The movie has long since passed the book as the primary method of American storytelling. "Life
As We Show It: Writing on Film" is a blend of fiction and ponderings on film from many well
known writers who offer their ideas on the concept of life imitating art. The result is intriguing,
thought-provoking and high entertaining. Brian Pera and Masha Tupitsyn have put together quite
a volume, making "Life as We Show It" a uniquely recommended read.
The Hunting/Fishing Shelf
Texas Gulf Coast
Colby Sorrells
Wilderness Adventures Press
46 Buckskin Road, Belgrade, MT 59714
9781932098662, $28.95, www.wildadvpress.com
Separate regions require separate techniques to maximize productivity. "Flyfisher's Guide to the
Texas Gulf Coast: The Flats and Off Shore" is a guide for fishermen who want to improve their
catch on the Texas coastline. Discussing the countless locations and what each of them offer,
author Colby Sorrells gives fishermen the information they need to enjoy their hobby to the
fullest, including tourist information such as restaurants and lodging. "Flyfisher's Guide to the
Texas Gulf Coast" is a treasure for fishermen, highly recommended.
The Saltwater Angler's Guide to Flordia's Big Bend and the Emerald Coast
Tommy L. Thompson
University of Florida
15 Northwest 15th Street, Gainesville, FL 32611-2079
9780813033389, $22.50, www.upf.com
There are few fishing waters like those of the Emerald Coast of Florida. "The Saltwater Angler's
Guide to Florida's Big Bend and Emerald Coast" is a guide for both professional and amateur
fishermen. With GPS coordinates, fishing advice, and tips on finding the good catches, and more,
author Tommy L. Thompson equips fishermen with all the tools they need to fish well. "The
Saltwater Angler's Guide to Florida's Big Bend and Emerald Coast" is a top pick for fishing
collections.
Fly Fishing BC's Interior
Brian Smith
Caitlin Press
8100 Alderwood Road, Halfmoon Bay, V0N 1Y1, Canada
9781894759359, $24.95, www.caitlin-press.com
The waterways of British Columbia offer much to fisherman. "Fly Fishing BC's Interior: A Fly
Fisher's Guide to the Central Interior and North Cariboo Waters" is a travel guide and fishing
manual for the fisherman who either lives in British Columbia or will be traveling to the region
soon to enjoy its unique array of fishing opportunities. With plenty of advice and techniques,
anyone who plans to fish in British Columbia needs "Fly Fishing BC's Interior".
The Cookbook Shelf
In Search of The Lost Taste
Joshua Ploeg
Microcosm Publishing
674-A 23rd Street, Oakland, CA 94612-1163
9781934620014, $8.00
Some people make simple, filling meals. Others treat cooking like one big science experiment,
and there are those who are more successful than others. "In Search of the Lost Taste" is a vegan
cookbook from Joshua Ploeg, a man who takes a fresh and exciting approach to vegan cooking,
doing everything from simulated fried food to Miso Marys. With a strange, surreal story
alongside the recipes, "In Search of the Lost Taste" is a cookbook experimental chefs will
love.
Notes on Cooking
Lauren Braun Costello & Russell Reich
RCR Creative
c/o Pathway Book Service
4 White Brook Road, Gilsum, NH 03448
9780972425513, $21.95, www.rcrcreative.com
Cooking is both an art and a science, making it all the more complicated. "Notes on Cooking: A
Short Guide to an Essential Craft" is a book of simple tips, tricks, and profound knowledge to be
used by the most dedicated of cooks, be they amateur or professional. Highlighting 217 'notes', as
authors Lauren Braun Costello and Russell Reich put it, there is no shortage of information to be
found here. "Notes on Cooking" is a top pick for any who find cooking to be a favorite
pastime.
The Philosophy Shelf
Clint Eastwood and Issues of American Masculinity
Drucilla Cornell
Fordham University Press
University Box L, 2546 Belmont Ave, Bronx, NY 10458
9780823230136, $24.00, www.fordhampress.com
If you ask someone to name ten icons of manliness, there's a high chance that Clint Eastwood
would be on that list. "Clint Eastwood and Issues of American Masculinity" is a study of what is
viewed as manly in today's society using the film work of Clint Eastwood as a case study.
Eastwood's career is decades long and as such, his career shifts the trending attitudes of
manliness from the gun slinging cowboy to the grizzled grandfather. "Clint Eastwood and Issues
of American Masculinity" is a fascinating read, highly recommended.
The Psychology Shelf
Doing Couple Therapy
Robert Taibbi
The Guilford Press
72 Spring Street, New York, NY 10012
9781606232446, $35.00, www.guilford.com
There is much people can do to restore that love and trust that so many couples lose over the
course of their relationships. "Doing Couple Therapy: Craft and Creativity in Work with Intimate
Partners" is a guide for both psychologists and the couples they council covering the stages
ranging from newlyweds to senior couples who have spent more decades together than without
each other. "Doing Couple Therapy" is a scholarly volume on the subject, and is a top pick for
any community library or college library collection dedicated to psychology.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
Life After Bread
Eydi Bauer
Cypress House
155 Cypress Street, Fort Bragg, CA 95437
1879384779, $12.95, www.cypresshouse.com
One can have gluten intolerance and not know it. "Life After Bread: Get Off Gluten and Reclaim
Your Health" is a guide to living without bread, something that up to one in every three people
might need to do due to some intolerance to gluten at varying levels. It may seem daunting as
bread is in everything, but author Eydi Bauer hopes to give readers the information they need to
make it possible. "Life After Bread" is a solid choice for those who suspect they may be
gluten-intolerant.
Healing Heart To Soul
Peter J. Rappa, MD
Brown Books Publishing Group
16200 North Dallas Parkway, Suite 170, Dallas, TX 75248
9781934812440, $16.95, www.amazon.com
Mental attitude can and does have a tremendous impact upon our physical well-being and upon
our ability to recover from illness or injury. Often a dysfunctional mental/emotional condition
can create serious health problems of a physical nature to begin with. In "Healing Heart To Soul:
One Doctor's Journey Of Health, Healing And Life", Dr. Peter J. Rappa draws upon his many
years of experience and expertise to illustrate this point through a collection of informative and
illustrative medical narratives revealing the intimate connection between the soul and the body.
The result is an increased awareness of the power of positive emotions to ameliorate and even
heal bodily ailments. Also available in a hardcover edition (9781934812518, $22.95), "Healing
Heart To Soul" is a highly recommended, thoughtful and thought-provoking read.
The Nautical Shelf
The Rules Book
Eric Twiname & Bryan Willis
Sheridan House
145 Palisade Street, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
9781574092806, $24.95, www.sheridanhouse.com
Nautical races are the pastimes of many people, and to understand them, one needs to understand
their rules. "The Rules Book: Complete 2009-2012" is a collection of rules for boat racing that
explains them fully for the aspiring nautical racer or the curious spectator, With many diagrams
offering clarification, "The Rules Book" is an absolute must-have for those who want to play the
game the way it is meant to be played.
The Education Shelf
Improving Student Achievement
Beverly Nichols
Linworth Books
3650 Olentangy River Road, Suite 250, Columbus, OH 43214
1586832905, $44.95, www.linworth.com
How does one inspire kids to do more with their education? "Improving Student Achievement:
50 More Research-Based Strategies for Educators" is a presentation of scholarly research
designed to help schools, libraries, and other educational facilities push forward the ideas that
will enhance the education of students. Including a multimedia CD filled with presentations and
examples of said ideas, "Improving Student Achievement" gives tools to educators and
educational administrators. "Improving Student Achievement" is a top and recommended pick
for readers, sure to help many teachers take their work even further.
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Jesus and the Essenes
Dolores Cannons
Ozark Mountain Publishing
PO Box 754, Huntsville, AR 72740
1886940088, $14.50, www.ozarkmt.com
How much truth does the Bible really state about the life of Jesus? "Jesus and the Essenes" is
author Dolores Cannons' exploration of biblical times through conversations with one of Essenes,
a Jewish group that existed circa the era of Christ's life. Cannons' encounter was made possible
through past-life regression therapy. Offering a new perspective on the life of Christ and his
teachings, "Jesus and the Essenes" is ideal for those who want to read more into Christian history
with a nod to those with an interest in regression therapy.
Secret Power of Tantrik Breathing
Swami Sivapriyananda
Destiny Books
c/o Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
9781594772894 $16.95 www.innertraditions.com 1-800-246-8648
Could the way we breathe alter our very being? "Secret Power of Tantrik Breathing: Techniques
for Attaining Health, Harmony, and Liberation" is a discussion of tantrik breathing and what it
can do for one's health. Saying that each nostril brings air with its own properties, author Swami
Sivapriyananda presents his thoughts on this spiritual practice. "Secret Power of Tantrik
Breathing" is a pick for spirituality and metaphysical studies readers.
The Sports Shelf
The Northwest Dive Guide
Mike Hughes
Harbour Publishing
PO Box 219, Madeira Park, BC V0N 2H0 Canada
9781550174762, $29.95, www.harbourpublishing.com
Scuba is not limited to the tropical climates. "The Northwest Dive Guide: A Scuba Handbook for
BC, Washington, and Oregon" is a guide to cold weather diving on the northwestern coast of the
United States and everything one needs to know to enter into this exciting sport. From gear to
resting up after one's undersea adventure, author Mike Hughes covers it all and supports it with
countless full color photos. "The Northwest Dive Guide" is an intriguing and highly
recommended read for anyone with an interest in cold weather scuba diving.
The Science Shelf
Stephen Jay Gould and the Politics of Evolution
David F. Prindle
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781591027188 $26.98 www.prometheusbooks.com 1-800-853-7545
Some men fight long and hard for their beliefs, even on the side of their real careers. "Stephen
Jay Gould and the Politics of Evolution" discusses the man, widely renowned as a man of
science, and his political body of work fighting for liberal causes such as gender equality, racism,
and more, using science to back up his beliefs. He has been a particularly fierce opponent of
creationism and intelligent design. "Stephen Jay Gould and the Politics of Evolution" is a top
pick for science and biography collections.
The Computer Shelf
No Stress Tech Guide To Xcelsius 2008
Indera E. Murphy
Tolana Publishing
PO Box 719, Teaneck, NJ 07666
www.tolanapublishing.com
9781935208051, $39.95, www.amazon.com
Drawing upon more than twenty years of experience and expertise, Indera E. Murphy has deftly
written an ideal instructional guide to the use of Xcelsius 2008 (including Xcelsius Present 2008)
by anyone seeking to learn how to turn Excel spreadsheet data into an effectively useable analysis
tool, as well as enhanced PowerPoint data presentations. Thoroughly 'user friendly', the "No
Stress Tech Guide To Xcelsius 2008" covers various categories of charts, password protections,
help windows, 'dashboards' (including the incorporation of calendars, dials, maps into dashboard
designs), using an Add-On Manager, and a great deal more. "No Stress Tech Guide To Xcelsius
2008" is especially recommended for those previously unfamiliar with Xcelsius and seeking to be
able to deftly and effectively create dashboards.
The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf
Just A Simple Wedding
Lynn Johnston
Andrews & McMeel
4520 Main St., Kansas City, MO 64111
www.andrewsmcmeel.com
9780740780974, $12.99, www.amazon.com
The Patterson family was first introduced to the reading public in 1979 and so began a three
decade long relationship with a fictional but all too believable Canadian family whose lives were
to provide a consistent measure of wit, wisdom, laughter, insight, and thoughtful reflection. The
creation of cartoonist and storyteller Lynn Johnston, the manifold adventures of Elly, John,
Michael, Elizabeth, Anthony, April, and their myriad friends, neighbors, and relations comes to a
very satisfying closure with the publication of "Just A Simple Wedding". Simply stated, this
concluding volume of the 'For Better or For Worse' newspaper comic strips is a 'must' for
Johnston's legions of faithful fans. But for those for whom "Just A Simple Wedding" will be their
first introduction to the Patterson family, be forewarned -- you will feel compelled to seek out
and read all thirty years of their previous adventures, wanting to see these characters grow up and
grow old -- just like the rest of us!
IDW Publishing
5080 Santa Fe Street, San Diego, CA 92109
www.idwpublishing.com
While the two dominate publishers of American comics continue to be DC and Marvel, several independent comic companies are giving them hefty competition. One of those companies is IDW Publishing who have breathed new and vibrant life into the comic book genre. There are four new IDW titles newly introduced that deserve special attention because of the quality of both the storytelling and the artwork. "Star Trek: Nero #1" is a continued expansion of the Star Trek universe which has been an IDW comic book staple. "Transformers: Tales of the Fallen #1" is still another addition to the growing and increasingly popular Transformer universe. "GrimJack: The Manx Cat #1" is a welcome return to one of the most imaginative British science fiction worlds ever created. "Starstruck #1" is an avante garde comic that is beautifully drawn and complex in its plotting. All four of these new titles are superlative contributions to IDW Publishing's line of science fiction and fantasy. All of them adhere to IDWs usual and impeccable high standards making them enthusiastic recommendations for anyone who enjoys terrific storytelling that is imaginative, coupled with great artwork that is truly memorable.
The International Studies Shelf
Berkshire Encyclopedia of China
Linsun Cheng, et al.
Berkshire Publishing Group
120-122 Castle Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230-1506
www.berkshirepublishing.com
9780977015948, $675.00, www.amazon.com
Knowledgeably compiled and professionally edited by the team of Linsun Cheng, Kerry Brown,
Winberg Chai, and Joan Lebold Cohen, this five-volume, 2800 page encyclopedic compendium
of information features almost one thousand informed and informative articles contributed by
outstanding scholars from China and around the world covering a complete spectrum of issues
ranging from the geopolitical role of China in the modern world, to adoption practices, to the
Zhou Dynasty, to it literary, artistic, religious, financial, and cultural contributions. The
"Berkshire Encyclopedia of China" contains both comprehensively broad and thematic essays, as
well as short categorical entries focused on people, events, organizations, festivals, sports, and all
other aspects required for a sound understanding of China and its people. Of special note is the
up to date information on China in the information age of computers, blogs, and the Internet. Of
special note is that each individual article can easily be photocopied making it an ideal
curriculum resource for classroom instruction. The use of English, Chinese characters and Pinyin
transliteration with tone marks further enhances the value of the "Berkshire Encyclopedia of
China" for students of the Chinese language. Presenting an encyclopedic reference from a
distinctively Chinese perspective, profusely enhanced throughout with illustrations, maps,
timelines, sidebars, and even traditional Chinese proverbs, the "Berkshire Encyclopedia of
China" is a core reference which is highly recommended for personal, professional, academic,
and community library International Studies collections in general, and Chinese Studies reference
collections and supplemental reading lists in particular.
The Military Shelf
From Fledgling To Eagle
Brig-Gen Dick Lord
30th South Publishing
c/o International Publishers Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
www.internationalpubmarket.com
9781920143305, $39.95, www.amazon.com
In the southwestern region of Africa from 1966 to 1989 a bloody border war took place in
Angola and Namibia. A key aspect of the conflict was the use of military air power. "From
Fledgling to Eagle: The South African Air Force During The Border War" by Brigadier General
Dick Lord has written a comprehensive and definitive history of the South African Air Force
(SAAF) operations as part of every major South African Defence Force (SADF) operation from
the outbreak of hostilities to the 'April Fool's Day War' in 1989. Lord writes with a particular
expertise drawn from his own personal operational reports and diaries, enhanced with recorded
anecdotes of aviators from individual squadrons and flyers from all manner of military aircraft
from Mirages to C-160s to helicopters. Of special note is the descriptive information on SAAF
coordination with various ground troop units. "From Fledgling to Eagle" is more than a simple
recording of battles, but also offers analysis into such aspects of the conflict as Angola as a
Soviet proxy in an attempt to weaken South Africa as a regional power. Informed and
informative, is a terrific read and a welcome addition to personal and academic library Military
History collections in general, and Military Aviation Studies supplemental reading lists in
particular.
The Writing/Publishing Shelf
The Art Of Time In Fiction
Joan Silber
Graywolf Press
2402 University Avenue, Suite 203, Saint Paul, MN 55114
www.graywolfpress.org
9781555975302, $12.00, www.amazon.com
To say that a novel or short story has a beginning, a middle, and an end is to grossly simplify the
importance of the element timing in the process of crafting any work of fiction. In "The Art Of
Time In Fiction: As Long As It Takes", Joan Silber draws upon her personal expertise as the
published author of six books of fiction (one of which, "Ideas of Heaven" was the finalist for the
National Book Award and the Story Prize) to focus on identifying and illustrating five
fundamental ways in which time unfolds in fiction. In this slim 120-page compendium of
practical instruction, Silber devotes specific chapters to discussing Classic Time; Long Time;
Switchback Time; Slowed Time; Fabulous Time; and Time as Subject. Of special note is the
listing of Works Discussed as Silber draws from the works of a range of influential authors from
F.l Scott Fitzgerald, to Henry James, to Virginia Woolf. The latest addition to the outstanding
Graywolf Press 'The Art Of' series of focused instruction and reference books for writers, "The
Art Of Time In Fiction" is highly recommended for aspiring authors, and an invaluable reference
for experienced writers as well.
Clean, Well-Lighted Sentences
Janis Bell
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
www.wwnorton.com
9780393337150, $13.95, www.amazon.com
They used to teach grammar in elementary school. Judging by so much of what crosses a book reviewer's desk these days it's clear that there's a lot of defective instruction in the basics of English grammar going on in the school systems of today. That's why such remedial publications as Janis Bell's "Clean, Well-Lighted Sentences: A Guide To Avoiding The Most Common Errors In Grammar And Punctuation" is so timely and so necessary. "Clean, Well-Lighted Sentences" offers thoroughly 'user friendly' information on how punctuation marks work to make the written word truly effective, replete with illustrative examples. Of special note is that at the conclusion of each chapter, quizzes followed by their answers are provided to insure that the material covered has been understood. Written in a decidedly non-professorial and thoroughly conversational style, "Clean, Well-Lighted Sentences" is especially commended to the attention of authors who are not otherwise well schooled or grounded in the grammatical and punctuation norms of written English.
Writers Workshop Of Horror
Michael Knost, editor
Woodland Press
118 Woodland Dr., Chapmanville, WV 25508
www.woodlandpress.com
9780982493915, $21.95, www.amazon.com
Every author can improve with respect to their skills as storytellers, as providers of information,
as artists and craftsmen of the written word. That's why the assembled wisdom, advice,
experience, insights, examples and counsels from an impressive roster of successful and
influential published authors that Michael Knots has deftly compiled and skillfully edited in the
"Writers Workshop Of Horror" is so impressive and so highly recommended to the attention
aspiring writers seeking to become published, as well as experienced authors wanting to hone
their craft to even greater standards of accomplishment. Although the principle focus is on
writing horror stories, the gamut of useable information provided is just as applicable to all other
genres including romance, westerns, mysteries, science fiction, general fiction, and even
biographies. The "Writers Workshop Of Horror" is a recommended addition to the professional
reference collections of all dedicated authors and small press publishers.
Social Networking For Authors
Michael Volkin
Volkin Associates
531 Tocia Court, Fairfield, CA 94534
www.sellatonofbooks.com
9780615299853, $24.95, www.amazon.com
First the bad news: More than 70% of published books in this country do not earn a profit for
their publishers. The average shelf life of a hardcover book is between 3 and 6 months. For a
paperback it is 3 to 6 weeks. More than 120,000 books are published each year in the U.S. alone.
The percentage of the general population that reads for recreation is crashing harder and farther
than a Wall Street stock market. And according to Michael Volkin who has written "Social
Networking For Authors: Untapped Possibilities For Wealth", the average reader, browsing in a
bookstore or on the internet, spends less than 8 seconds deciding whether to buy a book or not.
Now the good news: Michael Volkin in the pages of "Social Networking For Authors" shows
aspiring authors and limited budget publishers how to use social networking sites such as
Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and the growing number of others, to create customers for a book.
Volkin explains how anyone can create a book oriented website that will sell books. Readers of
"Social Networking For Authors" will also discover how to take advantage of free tools
specifically useful for authors seeking to increase their book sales and converting single copy
sales into multi-copy sales. All this and a great deal more make "Social Networking For Authors"
an invaluable and highly recommended read, especially for self-published authors who must bear
the entire burden of book marketing upon themselves.
The Audiobook Shelf
The Spire
Richard North Patterson, author
Holter Graham, narrator
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
9781427208071 $39.99 www.macmillanaudio.com
The Spire is the unabridged audiobook presentation of former trial lawyer Richard North
Patterson's saga of buried crimes unearthed. Trial lawyer Mark Darrow heeds the call of his alma
mater in its hour of need, becoming its new president in the wake of an embezzlement scandal
that jeopardizes its continued existence. Yet returning brings back the painful memory of
discovering the corpse of a black female student, followed by the arrest and life prison term of
his best friend for the crime. Darrow encounters evidence that his best friend was wrongly
accused - but the more he learns about the misdeeds of the past, the greater the danger to his own
life! An enthralling saga that captivates the reader from the beginning to end, highly
recommended. 9 CDs, 11 hours.
Fire and Ice
J.A. Jance, author
Performed by Hillary Hubar and Erik Davies
Harper Audio
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
9780061776687 $39.99 www.harpercollins.com 1-800-242-7737
Brought to life by Hillary Hubar and Erik Davies' memorable performance, Fire and Ice is the
unabridged audiobook adaptation of J.A. Jance's sequel to "Partner in Crime". Seattle
investigator J.P. Beaumont and Cochise County sheriff Joanna Brady return, as grisly murders -
one a serial killing of young women whose remains were found charred, one the homicide of the
caretaker of an ATV park - cause their jurisdictions to cross. Once sparks flew between
Beaumont and Brady, but now they must set aside the flames of their past and work together
before a growing conspiracy claims the lives of those closest to them. An exciting crime thriller,
highly recommended. 9 CDs, 10 1/2 hours.
Crazy for the Storm
Norman Ollestad
Blackstone Audiobooks
PO Box 969, Ashland, OR 97520
9781433290909 $35.00 www.BlackstoneAudio.com 1-800-729-2665
An unabridged audiobook adaptation read by author Norman Ollestad, Crazy for the Storm: A
Memoir of Survival is the story of a young man inducted into the world of surfing and
competitive downhill skiing by the father he loved. In 1979, a chartered plane carrying Norman,
his father, and his father's girlfriend crashed in the mountains due to a blizzard. Norman's father
was dead, and eleven-year-old Norman had to descend the mountain alone, braving snow and ice
without any gear. A story of confronting the challenges of survival, the exhilaration of pushing
one's limits, and timeless familial love, Crazy for the Storm is utterly captivating and highly
recommended. 6 CDs, 7 1/2 hours.
Graceling
Kristin Cashore
Full Cast Audio
PO Box 6110, Syracuse, NY 13217
www.fullcastaudio.com
9781934180891, $39.95, www.amazon.com
In the seven kingdom medieval fantasy world of Katsa and Prince Po a 'grace' is an inborn gift.
Katsa's 'grace' is to be a preternaturally gifted fighter. Prince Po's 'grace' is a form of telepathy.
And there are other 'graces' in the world -- some of which enable their possessors to commit
horrific atrocities. That is the setting for Kristin Cashore's brilliantly imaginative
action/adventure fantasy story that is so perfectly presented in a true 'theatre of the mind' full cast
theatrical performance that includes strategically employed music. Of special note is the use of
age-appropriate casting among the voice actors. A truly riveting fantasy adventure, filled with
plot twists, populated by memorable characters, and flawless production values, "Graceling" will
appeal to listeners from 12 to 82 and is an especially recommended addition to personal, school,
and community library audio book collections.
The Language Studies Shelf
First Start French: Student Edition
Danielle L. Schultz
Memoria Press
4605 Poplar Level Road, Louisville, KY 40213
www.MemoriaPress.com
1930953658, $17.50, www.amazon.com
After English, French is perhaps the most world-wide of the European languages. "First Start
French: Student Edition" is a specifically designed set of language instruction exercises designed
by Danielle L. Schultz as an introduction to mastering the French language for children at grade
levels three through eight. In addition to teaching the basics of French grammar, "First Start
French" provides fluency with respect to developing a large and practical vocabulary, develop
basic conversational skills when speaking French, translating and reading French, and even
presents an informed introduction to French culture through 'user friendly' worksheet
assignments. A highly recommended addition to private and public school French language
instruction curriculums. Memoria Press also has available an accompanying "First Start French:
Teacher's Edition" (1930953666, $17.50) and a "First Start French" CD containing the 36 lessons
of the book edition, plus Fere Jacques; Tetes, Epoules, Genoux, Pieds; Airisi Font, Font, Font;
Alouette; Au Clair de la Lune; Sur le Pont d'Avignon; and a Pronunciation Guide.
Talking About Arabic
Mourad Boutros, et al.
Mark Batty Publisher LLC
36 West 37th Street, Penthouse, New York, NJ 10018
www.markbattypublisher.com
9780979554667, $16.95, www.amazon.com
To most westerners, Arabic script is simply exotic. In "Talking About Arabic", Mourad Boutros,
and an impressive roster of professional experts examine and analyze Arabic script in a
multi-country and multi-cultural context with respect to the use and strategic employment Arabic
design and typography. Replete with numerous real-world examples deftly illustrating how
technological advances in printing and other forms of communication have influenced the use of
Arabic, whether it is published in print or online, "Talking About Arabic" deftly examines and
illustrates how advances in font technologies have enabled digitized Arabic to advance Arabic
calligraphic traditions in providing a discourse for both Arabic and non-Arabic speakers with
respect cultural, religious and aesthetic linguistic issues in a contemporary and global cultural
context with respect to Arabic fonts and web site designs. Also very highly recommended as a
addition to professional and academic library Arabic language reference collections is Mourad
Boutros' "Arabic For Designers" (9780976224556, $34.95).
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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