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Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
Succeed with Social Media Like a Creative Genius
Brainard Carey
Allworth Press
www.allworth.com
c/o Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.
307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018
www.skyhorsepublishing.com
9781621536987, $12.99, PB, 144pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Whether you're a published author, an artist or a craftsman selling your work, the
owner of a small start-up hoping to network, or just looking for a more meaningful social media
experience, "Succeed with Social Media Like a Creative Genius: A Guide for Artists,
Entrepreneurs, Inventors, and Kindred Spirits" by Brainard Carey is an ideal instructional guide
and manual for using social media as a platform for your marketing efforts.
In "Succeed with Social Media Like a Creative Genius" Carey draws from his experience and
interviews with others to show creative people how to make the most of their time on outlets like
Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Readers will learn how to develop social media campaigns
that reflect their personalities, share their unique offerings, and achieve their goals.
Chapter topics include: Building a following; Maintaining an authentic image; Creative ways to
share information; Using social media to earn a living; and so much more!
With chapters focusing on practical how-tos and real-world examples, Succeed with Social
Media Like a Creative Genius provides readers with both instructive and demonstrative lessons
in making the most of their online presence. Everyone can do it with the right tools, and Carey
offers an insider's guide to an otherwise daunting process.
"Succeed with Social Media Like a Creative Genius" will awaken and nurture the creative genius
in everyone.
Critique: Authors and publishers alike can not hope to succeed without becoming 'social media
literate'. Exceptionally well organized and presented, "Succeed with Social Media Like a
Creative Genius: A Guide for Artists, Entrepreneurs, Inventors, and Kindred Spirits" is the
perfect instruction manual and guide to becoming expert in utilizing social media to market
books. While very highly recommended for community and academic library Small Business
Management collections in general (and aspiring writers and novice publishers in particular), it
should be noted for personal reading lists that "Succeed with Social Media Like a Creative
Genius: A Guide for Artists, Entrepreneurs, Inventors, and Kindred Spirits" is also available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
Editorial Note: Brainard Carey is an artist, teacher, walker, and pool player. He cofounded the
artistic collaborative Praxis with his wife, Delia Carey. As host of the popular Yale University
radio show Lives of the Artists, he has interviewed more than one thousand artists and creative
people to illuminate their careers and work. He is passionate about art education and has written
several books for artists to develop their careers, including Making It in the Art World, New
Markets for Artists, and The Art World Demystified, Fund Your Dream Like a Creative Genius,
Sell Online Like a Creative Genius. Living in New York City, he also co-founded Praxis Center
for Aesthetics, an online school for professional artists.
The Mother of the Brontes
Sharon Wright
Pen & Sword Books
c/o Casemate (distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk
9781526738486, $39.95, HC, 184pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: They were from different lands, different classes, different worlds almost. So what
were the chances of Cornish gentlewoman Maria Branwell (15 April 1783 - 15 September 1821)
even meeting the poor Irish curate Patrick Bronte in Regency England, let alone falling
passionately in love, were remote.
Yet Maria and Patrick did meet, making a life together as devoted lovers and doting parents in
the heartland of the industrial revolution. An unlikely romance and novel wedding were soon
followed by the birth of six children. They included Charlotte, Emily and Anne Bronte, the most
gifted literary siblings the world has ever known.
Her children inherited her intelligence and wit and wrote masterpieces such as Wuthering
Heights, Jane Eyre, and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. Yet Maria has remained an enigma while
the fame of her family spread across the world. It is time to bring her out of the shadows, along
with her overlooked contribution to the Bronte genius.
Untimely death stalked Maria as it was to stalk all her children. But first there was her fascinating
life's story, told here in "The Mother of the Brontes: When Maria Met Patrick" for the first time
by Sharon Wright.
Critique: Exceptionally well researched, written, organized and presented, "The Mother of the
Brontes: When Maria Met Patrick" is a 'must' for the reading lists for the legions of fans of the
Bronte sisters. Impressively informative and an inherently fascinating study, "The Mother of the
Brontes" will be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community and academic
library Biography collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Monter of
the Brontes" is also available in a paperback edition (9781526757609, $24.95, and in a digital
book format (Kindle, $19.99).
Editorial Note: Sharon Wright is an author, journalist and playwright. She was born in Bradford,
West Yorkshire, and lives in South West London with her family. She has worked as a writer,
editor and columnist for leading national magazines, newspapers and websites. She is also the
author of critically acclaimed plays performed in Yorkshire and London. Her first book
Balloonomania Belles was serialized in the Mail on Sunday and received widespread coverage,
including on BBC Woman's Hour and in the New York Post.
The Writing/Publishing Shelf
Writing Fiction
James Essinger
The Conrad Press
http://theconradpress.com
9781911546542, $13.00, 185pp
Synopsis: In "Writing Fiction: A User-Friendly Guide", author James Essenger draws on the his
more than thirty years of experience as a professional writer, as well as on the work and ideas of
writers including (in alphabetically order): Anthony Burgess; Joseph Conrad; George Eliot; Ken
Follett; Frederick Forsyth; Dan Harmon; Ernest Hemingway; David Lodge; Norman Mailer; John
Milton; Ben Parker; J.K. Rowling; William Shakespeare; Martin Cruz Smith; J.R.R.
Tolkien.
The twenty-four chapters comprising "Writing Fiction: A User-Friendly Guide" by James
Essinger cover every important matter an aspiring author need to know about including: devising
a compelling story, creating and developing characters, plotting, 'plants', backstory, suspense,
dialogue, 'show' and 'tell', and how to make a novel more real than reality.
Also featuring special guest advice from legendary screenwriter Bob Gale, who wrote the three
immortal 'Back to the Future' movies (1985, 1989 and 1990), and novelist and screenwriter
William Osborne, whose many screen credits include the co-writing of the blockbuster 'Twins'
(1988), "Writing Fiction" is highly entertaining book provides all the advice and practical
guidance needed to make the dream of becoming a published fiction writer come true.
Critique: "Writing Fiction: A User-Friendly Guide" draws on James Essinger's more than thirty
years of experience as a professional writer, and on the work and ideas of writers including: Anthony Burgess; Joseph Conrad; George Eliot; Ken Follett; Frederick Forsyth; Dan Harmon;
Ernest Hemingway; David Lodge; Norman Mailer; John Milton; Ben Parker; J.K. Rowling;
William Shakespeare; Martin Cruz Smith; and J.R.R. Tolkien. Itself exceptionally well written,
organized and presented, "Writing Fiction" is unreservedly recommended for community,
college, and university library Writing/Publishing instructional reference collections. It should be
noted for the personal reading lists of any and all aspiring authors that "Writing Fiction" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99, Amazon.com).
Editorial Note: James Essinger has been a professional writer since 1988. his non-fiction books
include Jacquard's Web (2004), Ada's Algorithm (2013), which is to be filmed by Monumental
Pictures, and Charles and Ada: The Computer's Most Passionate Partnership (2019). His novels
include The Mating Game (2016) and The Ada Lovelace Project (2019).
The Jobs/Careers Shelf
Job Interview Tips for Overcoming Red Flags
Ronald L. Krannich
Impact Publications
14 Cotesworth Place, Savnnah, GA 31411
www.impactpublications.com
9781570234019, $19.95, PB, 160pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Most people have one or two red flags in their background. Some will be minor and
embarrassing, but others are major job application killers. Given today's high-tech world, with its
rapid communication and instant background checks, your red flags may follow you wherever
you go. For employers, they become major objections to hiring and the bases for firing.
While most interview books are designed for the perfect job seeker (the well-educated,
credentialed, goal-oriented, skilled, enthusiastic, and accomplished) "Job Interview Tips for
Overcoming Red Flags" by Ronald L. Krannich specifically addresses those who struggle to get
ahead because of their less than stellar backgrounds. Many of them make poor education and
career choices, frequently change jobs, get into trouble, and experience bad luck. They are seen
by potential employers as risky hires to be avoided.
That's the subject of this unique book for job seekers is how to best handle red flags during the
job interview. It's all about convincing reluctant employers to hire you by speaking truth to
power, turning weaknesses into strengths, scrubbing a sketchy background, preparing for
sensitive interviews, and knowing what to say and do when confronted with red flag issues.
Jam-packed with seasoned insights and solid job interview advice for people with not-so-hot
backgrounds, this book examines: What employers really want and look for in great candidates;
Major red flags that consistently derail thousands of job seekers; Ways to identify your red flags
and transform them into green lights; 101 questions asked at most job interviews by subject
category; Key nonverbal behaviors, from dress and handshakes to eye contact; Great ways to
impress interviewers with compelling examples and stories; 35 common interview errors you
must never commit; Best ways to address 10 red flags that come up during many interviews;
Expert follow up and salary negotiation techniques that work wonders; Key resources from
books to blogs that will keep you focused on the prize; Ways to scrub and repair online red flags
and reputation issues.
Filled with interview strategies, examples, stories, quizzes, questions, sample Q&A dialogues,
and advice, "Job Interview Tips for Overcoming Red Flags" is the perfect interview book for
anyone with a spotted background who is also highly motivated to move ahead with their
career.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Job Interview Tips for
Overcoming Red Flags" is as 'real world practical' as it is effective as a training manual for
anyone seeking employment but having a detrimental personal history that would diminish their
chances for a successful job interview. "Job Interview Tips for Overcoming Red Flags" is
unreservedly endorsed and recommended for personal reading lists and community library
Jobs/Careers instructional reference collections.
The Cookbook Shelf
Clean Snacks
Arman Liew
The Countryman Press
c/o W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
www.countrymanpress.com
9781682683194, $21.95, HC, 160pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: In "Clean Snacks: Paleo Vegan Recipes with Keto Options" Arman Liew draws upon
his years of culinary experience and expertise to create a compendium of illustrated and
thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' snacks for any and all occasions ranging from Flourless
Almond Butter Cookies; Spiced Baked Potato Wedges; No Churn Coffee Ice Cream; and Classic
Bliss Balls; to Keto Granola Bars; No-Bake Cherry Coconut Candy Bars; Sugar-Free Candied
Pecans; and Keto Blueberry Muffins.
Critique: A simple delight to browse through and inspiring to plan vegan snacks for special
occasions with, "Clean Snacks" is a unique and unreservedly recommended addition to personal,
professional, and community library cookbook collections. It should be noted that "Clean
Snacks" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).
From the Oven to the Table
Diana Henry
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Books
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781784726096, $29.99, HC, 240pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout, all of the recipes in showcases in the
pages of "From the Oven to the Table" by Diana Henry can be cooked in one dish or pan. A
compendium of delicious recipes, the kitchen cook need only to simply prep the ingredients then
pop them in the oven to roast. From quick after-work suppers and light veggie meals to more
substantial feasts to feed friends, the recipes comprising "From the Oven to the Table" are simply
packed with full-on flavor.
Diana includes recipes such as Spatchcock Chicken with Chilie, Garlic and Oregano Aioli, Cod
with Chorizo, Tomatoes, Olives and Saffron and Sherry-roast Jerusalem Artichokes, Chestnuts
and Mushrooms, proving that impressive meals are achievable in every home -- no matter how
limited the time, resources or energy on the apart of the kitchen cook.
Critique: The range of the palate pleasing and appetite satisfying dishes is truly impressive and
ranges from Chicken with Feta Cheese, Dill, Lemon & Harissa Yogurt; Roasted Radishes with
Honey, Mint & Preserved Lemon; Baked Sweet Potato with Avocado & Chimichurri; and White
Beans & Roasted Tomatoes with Caper, Mint & Chili Dressing; Slow-Roast Hoisin Pork Butt
with Radish & Cucumber Salad; Roast Lamb with Applies, Apple Brandy 7 Cream; and Cassis
& Bay-Baked Pears with Blackberries. Each showcased recipes includes an ingredients list, step-
by-step prep instructions, and estimated serving size. While unreservedly recommended for
personal, family, professional, and community library cookbook collections, it should be noted
that "From the Oven to the Table" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $12.99).
The Health/Medicine Shelf
What You Must Know About Dry Eye
Jeffrey Anshel, OD
Square One Publishers
115 Herricks Road, Garden City Park, NY 11040
www.squareonepublishers.com
9780757004797, $16.95, PB, 144pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: While the condition known as dry eye may sound like a minor problem, it can cause
tremendous discomfort, even pain. Worse, this disorder can lead to eye fatigue, blurred vision,
and difficulty driving, especially at night. In a healthy eye, lubricating tears continuously bathe
the cornea the dome-shaped outer surface of the eye. These tears provide a layer of liquid
protection from the environment while nourishing the cells, keeping the eyes comfortable, and
helping the eyes function properly. But when tears are not of adequate quality or quantity, dry eye
disease occurs.
Written by optometrist Jeffrey Anshel, "What You Must Know About Dry Eye: How to Prevent,
Stop, or Reverse Dry Eye Disease" is divided into two parts. Part One begins by explaining the
anatomy of the eye and how it works. It then focuses on dry eye -- what the condition is, what
causes it, how it impacts vision, and how it is diagnosed. In Part Two, it examines a full range of
treatments. First, it looks at conventional therapies, from over-the-counter artificial tears to
prescription drugs. It then guides the reader in using smart nutrition and a proven supplement
plan to relieve dry eye while making the eyes healthier, more comfortable, and able to see more
clearly.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, "What You Must Know About Dry Eye: How to Prevent,
Stop, or Reverse Dry Eye Disease" is as impressively informative as it is 'reader friendly' in
organization and presentation. Simply stated, this is a 'must' for the personal reading lists of
anyone suffering from the medical condition popularly known as 'Dry Eye' and will prove to be a
very worthwhile and enduringly valued addition to both community and academic library
Health/Medicine collections.
Editorial Note: Jeffrey R. Anshel, OD, received his bachelor of science degree in visual science
and his doctorate of optometry from the Illinois College of Optometry. After his service in the
US Navy, Dr. Anshel went into private practice, offering his patients nutrition and alternative
therapies as part of their vision care. He lectures internationally and has written six books on eye
care, including Smart Medicine for Your Eyes and What You Must Know About Age-Related
Macular Degeneration.
Winning Your Blood Sugar Battle
Richard Furman, MD, FACS
Revell
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 East Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
www.revellbooks.com
9780800728069, $13.99, PB, 208pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: In 2017 it was documented that more than 30 million Americans have diabetes.
Another 84 million (more than 30% of the adult population) have elevated blood sugar levels that
put them at risk for developing Type 2 diabetes.
For most of us, it takes a medical emergency to get us to make vital changes to our eating,
exercise habits, and weight control. At that point it is often too little, too late. The unfortunate
reality is that 80% of diabetics will die of a heart attack. "Winning Your Blood Sugar Battle" by
Dr. Richard Furman is the trigger for the diabetes vulnerable reader to make critical lifestyle
changes before any medical emergency ever occurs.
In "Winning Your Blood Sugar Battle", Dr. Furman shows the three essential steps to take in
order to defeat diabetes before it can cripple or kill. He carefully explains the latest medical
literature, offers proven guidelines on what to eat (and what not to eat), and outlines an effective
exercise program for keeping the heart healthy.
Critique: Specifically and successfully written for the non-specialist general reader, "Winning
Your Blood Sugar Battle" is an ideal and unreservedly recommended read for anyone and
everyone who is diabetic, prediabetic, or overweight. "Winning Your Blood Sugar Battle" will
prove to be especially instructive for the loved one or caregiver who wants specific directions for
supporting the diabetic man or woman in their life as they help them make vital life saving
lifestyle changes. Simply stated, every community and academic library should have a copy of
"Winning Your Blood Sugar Battle" as a core part of their Health/Medicine collections. It should
be noted for personal reading lists that "Winning Your Blood Sugar Battle" is also available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $10.49).
Editorial Note: Richard Furman, MD, FACS, spent more than thirty years as a vascular surgeon.
The author of Prescription for Life, Your Cholesterol Matters, and Defeating Dementia, Dr.
Furman is past president of the North Carolina Chapter of the American College of Surgeons,
past president of the North Carolina Surgical Society, and a two-term governor of the American
College of Surgeons. Dr. Furman is also the cofounder of World Medical Mission which is the
medical arm of Samaritan's Purse, and a member of the board of Samaritan's Purse.
Rethinking Diabetes
Emily Mendenhall
Cornell University Press
512 East State Street, Ithaca, NY 14850
www.cornellpress.cornell.edu
9781501738302, $95.00, HC, 240pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: In "Rethinking Diabetes: Entanglements with Trauma, Poverty, and HIV", Emily
Mendenhall (Associate Professor of Global Health, Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign
Service, Georgetown University) investigates how global and local factors transform how
diabetes is perceived, experienced, and embodied from place to place. Professor Mendenhall
argues that the link between sugar and diabetes overshadows the ways in which underlying
biological processes linking hunger, oppression, trauma, unbridled stress, and chronic mental
distress produce diabetes. The life history narratives in "Rethinking Diabetes" show how deeply
embedded these factors are in the ways diabetes is experienced and (re)produced among poor
communities around the world.
"Rethinking Diabetes" focuses on the stories of women living with diabetes near or below the
poverty line in urban settings in the United States, India, South Africa, and Kenya. Professor
Mendenhall shows how women's experiences of living with diabetes cannot be dissociated from
their social responsibilities of caregiving, demanding family roles, expectations, and gendered
experiences of violence that often displace their ability to care for themselves first. These case
studies reveal the ways in which a global story of diabetes overlooks the unique social, political,
and cultural factors that produce syndemic diabetes differently across contexts.
From the case studies, "Rethinking Diabetes" clearly provides some important parallels for
scholars to consider: significant social and economic inequalities, health systems that are a mix
of public and private (with substandard provisions for low-income patients), and rising diabetes
incidence and prevalence. At the same time, Professor Mendenhall asks us to unpack how social,
cultural, and epidemiological factors shape people's experiences and why we need to take these
differences seriously when we think about what drives diabetes and how it affects the lives of the
poor.
Critique: An erudite work of original and seminal scholarship, "Rethinking Diabetes:
Entanglements with Trauma, Poverty, and HIV" is an extraordinary study that is especially and
unreservedly recommended for college and university library Contemporary Health/Medicine
Issues collections in general, and International Diabetes supplemental studies lists in particular. It
should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academics, governmental health police
makers, and non-specialists general readers with an interest in the subject that "Rethinking
Diabetes" is also available in a paperback edition (9781501738432, $28.95) and in a digital book
format (Kindle, $13.99).
The Pets/Wildlife Shelf
The One Minute Cat Manager
Kac Young
Hubble & Hattie
Veloce House
www.hubbleandhattie.com
9781787113732, $13.99, PB, 112pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: In the pages of "The One Minute Cat Manager: Sixty Seconds to Feline Shangri-la",
Kac Young showcases 60-second techniques that anyone can practice with their cat.
Often, people pass up the opportunity to rescue a cat because they believe they don't have the
time to care for a pet. The One Minute Cat Manager shows how, by employing certain
sixty-second techniques can make cat care easy for all, and demonstrates the rewards that
unconditional cat-love can bring, creating a bond that will last a lifetime. Specially
commissioned illustrations enhance and inform the text throughout.
With expert insight into the inner workings of the feline mind, and analysis of cat behavior, "The
One Minute Cat Manager" will facilitate a deeper understanding, and stronger bond with a feline
friend and companion.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, accessibly organized and deftly presented, "The One Minute
Cat Manager: Sixty Seconds to Feline Shangri-la" is impressively informative and thoroughly
'user friendly'. This unique and effective instruction manual is 'real world' practical and especially
recommended for community library Pets/Wildlife collections. It should be noted for anyone and
everyone with a feline companion that "The One Minute Cat Manager" is also readily available
in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99).
Australian Birds of Prey in Flight
Richard Seaton, Mat Gilfedder, Stephen Debus
CSIRO Publishing
c/o Stylus Publishing, Inc.
22883 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166-2012
www.styluspub.com
9781486308668, $31.95, PB, 144pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Birds of prey spend most of their time in flight, and, when viewed from the ground,
they are notoriously hard to identify. "Australian Birds of Prey in Flight" is a photographic guide
to the eagles, hawks, kites and falcons flying high in the sky.
Individual species profiles describe distinguishing features and the text is supported by detailed
images showing the birds at six different angles and poses, using photographs from many of
Australia's leading bird photographers. the inclusion of an annotated multi-species comparison
plates highlight key features that can help differentiate birds of prey in flight.
"Australian Birds of Prey in Flight: A Photographic Guide" will prove to be of immense and
practical value to anyone who wants to learn more about Australia's birds of prey, and will
provide a useful reference for identifying soaring birds in the field, and also while trying to
identify images from their own camera.
Critique: Exceptionally well organized and presented, "Australian Birds of Prey in Flight: A
Photographic Guide" is an immense pleasure to browse through and impressively practical for
identifying specific bird species in the skies of Australia, making it an ideal and unreservedly
recommended addition to both community and academic library collections. It should be noted
for personal reading lists that "Australian Birds of Prey in Flight: A Photographic Guide" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.27).
The Music Shelf
The Road Goes on Forever
Michael Buffalo Smith
Mercer University Press
1501 Mercer University Drive, Macon, GA 31207-0001
www.mupress.org
9780881467123, $24.00, PB, 352pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: "The Road Goes on Forever: Fifty Years of The Allman Brothers Band Music
(1969-2019)" by Michael Buffalo Smith utilizes history, personal interviews, and many collected
documents to aid in the telling of the story of the humble beginnings and career of the original
Southern rock band on this, the 50th anniversary of their formation.
For "The Road Goes on Forever", Smith personally spoke with and interviewed former Allman
Brothers members including Gregg Allman, Dickey Betts, Butch Trucks, Warren Haynes, and
Allen Woody, as well as producers, engineers, roadies, and fans to create a tribute to Macon,
Georgia's greatest rock and roll export.
In the pages of "The Road Goes on Forever" Smith takes us inside the Big House on Vineville
Avenue in Macon where the band lived during their peak years and into Capricorn Studios where
they recorded all of their original albums. The albums are each given the spotlight as well,
including Gregg and Dickey's solo projects, and the book explores the exhaustive list of
recording credits accumulated by Duane Allman during his far too short career. There is a
complete review of the unprecedented 40th anniversary Beacon Theatre residency in 2009 that
found the band joined onstage by a veritable Who's Who of contemporary music greats.
More than just a history of the greatest Southern band of all time, "The Road Goes on Forever" is
a kind of reference manual for fans of the band and a book filled with ramblin' men, blue skies,
Georgia peaches, and great music. Chuck Leavell (who was a former band member and is
currently the Rolling Stones band leader) provides an informative foreword.
Critique: Extraordinarily informative and impressively organized and presented, "The Road Goes
on Forever: Fifty Years of The Allman Brothers Band Music (1969-2019)" is the definitive
history of one of the most influential and popular music groups in American music culture. An
absolutely 'must read' for the legions of dedicated Allman Brothers fans, "The Road Goes on
Forever" is unreservedly recommended for community and academic library Contemporary
American Music History collections.
Editorial Note: Michael Buffalo Smith has authored a total of seven books on Southern music
history. He was founder and publisher of both Gritz music magazine and Kudzoo magazine, and
has written countless cover stories, interviews, and reviews for many publications including
Rolling Stone, Mojo, Goldmine, Hittin' the Note, and Relix. He is also a singer/songwriter with a
new album produced by Macon's Paul Hornsby and featuring Capricorn star Tommy Talton,
called Makin' it Back to Macon.
The American History Shelf
The Devil's Triangle
James M. Smallwood, Kenneth W. Howell, and Carol C. Taylor
University of North Texas Press
1155 Union Circle #311336, Denton, TX 76203-5017
www.untpress.unt.edu
9781574417722 $19.95 amazon.com
Synopsis: In the Texas Reconstruction Era (1865 - 1877), many returning Confederate veterans
organized outlaw gangs and Ku Klux Klan groups to continue the war and to take the battle to
Yankee occupiers, native white Unionists, and their allies, the free people. This study of
Benjamin Bickerstaff and other Northeast Texans provides a microhistory of the larger whole.
Bickerstaff founded Ku Klux Klan groups in at least two Northeast Texas counties and led a
gang of raiders who, at times, numbered up to 500 men. He joined the ranks of guerrilla fighters
like Cullen Baker and Bob Lee and, with their gangs often riding together, brought chaos and
death to the "Devil's Triangle," the Northeast Texas region where they created one disaster after
another.
Critique: The Devil's Triangle is a close study of a criminal who extended a campaign of brutal
guerilla violence for years after the Civil War. Here is the horrifying true tale of Ku Klux Klan
groups and raiders who terrorized native white Unionists and freed slaves of Texas. Armed
citizens killed Bickerstaff in the town of Alvarado in 1869, but the grim legacy of his crimes is
reflected in the horrifying history of the Klan. An expertly researched case study of not only one
man's depredations, but also a microcosm of racial and political strife in America, The Devil's
Triangle is highly recommended for public and college library American History and
Criminology collections.
The Ordeal of the Jungle
David Bates
Southern Illinois University Press
1915 University Press Drive, SIUC Mail Code 6806, Carbondale, IL 62901
www.siupress.com
9780809337446 $29.50 pbk / $28.02 Kindle amazon.com
Synopsis: Between 1910 and 1920, the Chicago Federation of Labor (CFL) inaugurated a
massive organizing drive in the city's meatpacking and steel industries. Although the CFL sought
legitimately progressive goals, worked earnestly to organize an interracial union, and made major
inroads among both black and white workers, their efforts resulted in a bitter defeat. David Bates
provides a clear picture of how even the most progressive of intentions can be ground to a
halt.
By organizing workers into neighborhood locals, which connected workplace struggles to ethnic
and religious identities, the CFL facilitated a surge in the organization's membership, particularly
among African American workers, and afforded the federation the opportunity to aggressively
confront employers. The CFL's innovative structure, however, was ultimately its demise. Linking
union locals to neighborhoods proved to be a form of de facto segregation. Over time union
structures, rank-and-file conflicts, and employer resistance combined to turn the union's hopeful
calls for solidarity into animosity and estrangement. Tensions were exacerbated by violent shop
floor confrontations and exploded in the bloody 1919 Chicago Race Riot. By the early 1920s, the
CFL had collapsed.
The Ordeal of the Jungle explores the choices of a variety of people while showing a complex,
overarching interplay of black and white workers and their employers. In addition to analyzing
union structures and on-the-ground relations between workers, Bates synthesizes and challenges
previous scholarship on interracial organizing to explain the failure of progressive unionism in
Chicago.
Critique: The Ordeal of the Jungle: Race and the Chicago Federation of Labor 1903-1922
examines the bitter lessons to be learned from the historical rise and fall of a progressive labor
movement. Although the Chicago Federation of Labor strived to create an interracial union to
benefit the city's meatpacking and steel industry workers, its methods ultimately undercut its
lofty goals. Mistrust and estrangement in festered within the union, and the horrific 1919
Chicago Race Riot arguably inflicted a mortal wound. The CFL dissolved in the early 1920's.
Author David Bates (assistant professor of history, Concordia University Chicago) examines the
CFL's tenure with scholarly precision, offering a complex, nuanced portrayal of race relations in
Chicago a century ago. The Ordeal of the Jungle is a welcome contribution to public and college
library American History collections, highly recommended. It should be noted for personal
reading lists that The Ordeal of the Jungle is also available in a Kindle edition ($28.02).
The Strenuous Life
Ryan Swanson
Diversion Books
www.diversionbooks.com
9781635766127 $27.99 hc / $17.99 Kindle amazon.com
Synopsis: Crippling asthma and grossly myopic eyesight as a child, Theodore Roosevelt was
plagued by such ailments. Give up exercise completely, he was told by a doctor while attending
Harvard, or you might die of a heart attack. Still, Roosevelt pressed on. His body was his
weakness, the one hill he could never fully conquer.
But, oh, how he tried!
Roosevelt developed a lifelong obsession with athletics that he carried with him into the highest
office in the nation. As President of the United States, Roosevelt boxed, practiced Ju-Jitsu,
played tennis, conducted harrowing "point-to-point" walks, and invited athletes to the White
House constantly. He also made certain that each of his children participated in athletics. Not
surprisingly, Roosevelt's personal quest had broad reverberations. During his administration,
America saw an unprecedented rise in sports and recreational activities. With Roosevelt in office,
baseball's first ever World Series took place, interscholastic sports began, and schools began to
place a legitimate emphasis on physical education. Additionally, the NCAA formed, and the
United States hosted the Olympic Games for the first time.
And the "Bull Moose," as he'd come to be known, resided squarely in the midst of this upheaval.
He fought desperately (and sometimes successfully) to shape American athletics in accordance
with his view of the world. Filled with amazing anecdotes, a who's who of American political
and sports figures from the early 20th century, and Rooseveltian gusto and humor, this book tells
the tale of Roosevelt's struggle, which he termed "The Strenuous Life," and how it changed
America.
Critique: The Strenuous Life: Theodore Roosevelt and the Making of the American Athlete
examines how President Theodore Roosevelt's devotion to athletics affected American culture. A
striking rise in American sports and recreational activities occurred during Roosevelt's time in
the White House, from the first ever baseball World Series to the formation of the NCAA, the
implementation of physical education programs in schools, and more. Peppered with expertly
researched anecdotes, and enhanced with endnotes and an index, The Strenuous Life is an
extraordinary look into a lesser-studied aspect of American History, thoroughly accessible to
scholars and lay readers alike. The Strenuous Life is a welcome addition to public and college
library American History collections, highly recommended. It should be noted for personal
reading lists that The Strenuous Life is also available in a Kindle edition ($17.99).
Hot Type, Cold Beer and Bad News
Michael D. Roberts
Gray & Company, Publishers
www.grayco.com
9781598511024, $24.95, HC, 293pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: The 1960s were the most turbulent era in Cleveland history -- and an exciting time to
be a newspaper reporter. "Hot Type, Cold Beer and Bad News: A Cleveland Reporter's Journey
Through the 1960s" is Michael Roberts personal memoir of those tumultuous times. It's an
eyewitness account by a veteran journalist who, as an ambitious young reporter, covered the
major events of the day: civil rights violence, corruption and crime, Vietnam, Kent State, and
more.
Cleveland was already changing by the beginning of the 1960s. Racial unrest, migration to the
suburbs and the decline of its once-mighty industrial base reshaped the city's politics and
population. Cleveland found itself at the forefront of social upheaval that would sweep the nation
and alter America. In those days, a journalist could find a story that reflected the times down the
street or around the world.
Reporting for the Plain Dealer, Roberts covered a decade of destruction, death and dissension
ranging from the riots on Cleveland's East Side, to the Tet Offensive in Vietnam, to the aftermath
of the Six-Day War in the Middle East, to the tragedy of the Kent State shootings.
There were enlightened moments, too. For a good part of that decade the eyes of the nation were
on Cleveland, watching whether it would elect the first African American mayor of a major
American city. It did, in Carl B. Stokes.
It was also the last golden hour of print newspapers -- although they didn't know it yet.
Technology had not yet altered the business. All a journalist needed was a pen, a notebook, a
typewriter, a pay phone and a pocketful of change. Television was only just beginning to make a
serious impact on news reporting. Newspapers were a unifying force in communities, a friendly
visitor that arrived on your doorstop every day. But by decade's end, the spirit of revolt would
come to haunt the newspaper and pluck both the verve and the soul from it.
For a reporter in search of a big story, though, bad times were also the best of times. This is the
way it was.
Critique: An absolutely fascinating and sometimes nostalgic read, "Hot Type, Cold Beer and Bad
News: A Cleveland Reporter's Journey Through the 1960s" will prove to be an enduringly valued
contribution to both community and academic library 20th Century American History and
Contemporary American Biography collections in general, and American Journalism
supplemental studies lists in particular. Simply stated, every journalism student should read "Hot
Type, Cold Beer and Bad News" to truly learn what journalism should be -- even in a world of 24
hours cable news, an era of an ever pervasive social media, and the slow demise of traditional
newspapers.
Editorial Note: Michael D. Roberts got his start as a newspaper reporter in 1962 and joined the
Plain Dealer in 1963. He received the Ohio Associated Press Award in 1966 for exposing a
forged Rembrandt painting. He reported on assignment from Vietnam, the Middle East, and the
newspaper's Washington Bureau. He joined Cleveland Magazine in 1972 and served as editor for
17 years. He currently works in public relations and regularly writes for several publications.
Early Alabama
Mike Bunn
The University of Alabama Press
PO Box 870380, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0380
www.uapress.ua.edu
9780817359287, $24.95, PB, 184pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Alabama's territorial and early statehood years represent a crucial formative period in
its past, a time in which the state both literally and figuratively took shape. The story of the
remarkable changes that occurred within Alabama as it transitioned from frontier territory to a
vital part of the American union in less than a quarter century is one of the most compelling in
the state's past.
"Early Alabama: An Illustrated Guide to the Formative Years, 1798 - 1826" by Mike Bunn
(Director of the Historic Blakeley State Park in Baldwin County, Alabama) is a state history that
features a wealth of stories about charismatic leaders, rugged frontiersmen, a dramatic and
pivotal war that shaped the state's trajectory, raging political intrigue, and pervasive sectional
rivalry.
Many of Alabama's modern cities, counties, and religious, educational, and governmental
institutions first took shape within this time period. It also gave way to the creation of
sophisticated trade and communication networks, the first large-scale cultivation of cotton, and
the advent of the steamboat. Contained within this story of growth and innovation is a parallel
story, the dispossession of Native groups of their lands and the forced labor of slaves, which
fueled much of Alabama's early development.
"Early Alabama: An Illustrated Guide to the Formative Years, 1798 - 1826" will also aptly serve
as a kind of traveler's guidebook to the state with it's fast-paced narrative that traces Alabama's
developmental years. Despite the great significance of this era in the state's overall growth, these
years are perhaps the least understood in all of the state's history and have received relatively
scant attention from historians.
Critique: Featuring selected homes, churches, businesses, government buildings, battlefields,
cemeteries, and museums, "Early Alabama: An Illustrated Guide to the Formative Years, 1798 -
1826" is an impressively detailed historical guide that is unreservedly recommended as a
curriculum textbook, and a uniquely informative addition to community, college, and university
library collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, and
non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Early Alabama" is also
available in a digital book format (eTextbook, $21.73).
The World History Shelf
Sudden Courage
Ronald C. Rosbottom
Custom House
c/o William Morrow & Company
195 Broadway New York, New York 10007
www.harpercollins.com
9780062470027, $27.99, HC, 366pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: On June 14, 1940, German tanks rolled into Paris. Eight days later, France accepted a
humiliating defeat and foreign occupation. Most citizens adapted and many even allied
themselves with the new fascist leadership. Yet there were others who refused to capitulate; in
answer to the ruthless violence, shortages, and curfews imposed by the Nazis, a resistance arose.
Among this shadow army were Jews, immigrants, communists, workers, writers, police officers,
shop owners, including many young people in their teens and twenties.
In "Sudden Courage: Youth in France Confront the Germans, 1940-1945", Ronald Rosbottom
(the Winifred L. Arms Professor in the Arts and Humanities and a Professor of French, European
Studies, and Architectural Studies at Amherst College) tells the riveting story of how those brave
and untested youth went from learning about literature to learning the art of sabotage, from
figuring out how to solve an equation to how to stealthily avoid patrols, from passing notes to
stealing secrets -- and even learning how to kill. The standard challenges of adolescence were
amplified and distorted.
"Sudden Courage" brilliantly evokes this dark and uncertain period, from the beginning of the
occupation until the last German left French soil. A chronicle of youthful sacrifice and courage in
the face of evil, it is a story that holds relevance for our own time, when democratic nations are
once again under threat from rising nativism and authoritarianism. Beyond that, it is a riveting
investigation about what it means for a young person to come of age under unpredictable and
violent circumstances.
Critique: A thoroughly absorbing and impressively informative history of one of the more
obscure aspects of the German occupation of France during World War II, "Sudden Courage:
Youth in France Confront the Germans, 1940-1945" is an extraordinary and emotionally moving
study that is unreservedly recommended for community, college, and university library
collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, and non-
specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Sudden Courage" is also available
in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99) and as a complete and unabridged audio book
(Blackstone Audio, 9781982661373, $39.99, CD).
Scotland: A Concise History
Fitzroy Maclean, author
Magus Linklater, author
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500294727, $16.95, PB, 224pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: "Scotland: A Concise History" is a highly readable and succint account that
disentangles the complex threads of the history of Scotland from its beginnings to the
present.
Bringing the story of Scotland up to date, this newly revised fifth edition of Fitzroy Maclean's
classic work includes additional chapters by distinguished journalist Magnus Linklater.
Adding to Maclean's informed and informative history, Linklater examines how the new Scottish
parliament has fared and discusses significant events, such as devolution and the transfer of
taxation rights from Westminster, the release of the Lockerbie bomber, and the fallout from the
2008 global financial crash.
This expanded new edition of "Scotland: A Concise History" also touches on the independence
referendum, the future of the United Kingdom now that the Scottish National Party is in power,
and Britain's impending exit from the European Union.
Written with wit and scholarship, Scotland presents a highly readable account that disentangles
the complex history of Scotland from its beginnings to the present, and offers a rich record of
Scotland's art, politics, intellectual life, and national identity.
Critique: Enhanced for the reader's enjoyment with 30 color illustrations, this newly updated and
expanded edition of "Scotland: A Concise History" is unreservedly recommended for personal
the reading lists of students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the
subject, as well as core addition to both community and academic library European History
collections in general, and History of Scotland supplemental studies lists in particular.
Franklin's Fate
John Roobol
The Conrad Press
http://theconradpress.com
9781911546498, $25.00, HC, 368pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: The 1845 North-West Passage expedition of Sir John Franklin in the ships HMS
Erebus and HMS Terror, with a full company of 129 officers and men, none of whom ever saw
England again, was one of the most heroic and courageous, maritime expeditions in history.
"Franklin's Fate: An Investigation Into What Happened To The Lost 1845 Expedition Of Sir John
Franklin" is an enthralling and deftly written history that is the result of seven years of arduous
research by retired geologist Dr. John Roobol, who weighs evidence gathered over more than 170
years, and offers a highly convincing interpretation of what really happened to the lost, heroic,
expedition.
Critique: Impressively informative work of original scholarship and exhaustive research,
"Franklin's Fate" is enhanced for academia with the inclusion of maps, four appendices, a two
page listing of acknowledgments, twelve pages of source notes, and a one page listing of
bibliographic references. While unreservedly recommended for community, college, and
academic library collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of students,
academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Franklin's Fate"
is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $4.99).
The Civil War Shelf
"Lee is Trapped and Must be Taken"
Thomas J. Ryan and Richard R. Schaus
Savas Beatie
PO Box 4527, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
www.savasbeatie.com
9781611214598 $32.95 hc / $19.95 Kindle amazon.com
Synopsis: Countless books have examined the battle of Gettysburg, but the retreat of the armies
to the Potomac River and beyond has not been as thoroughly covered. "Lee is Trapped, and Must
be Taken": Eleven Fateful Days after Gettysburg: July 4 to July 14, 1863, by Thomas J. Ryan and
Richard R. Schaus goes a long way toward rectifying this oversight.
This comprehensive study focuses on the immediate aftermath of the battle and addresses how
Maj. Gen. George G. Meade organized and motivated his Army of the Potomac in response to
President Abraham Lincoln's mandate to bring about the "literal or substantial destruction" of
Gen. Robert E. Lee's retreating Army of Northern Virginia. As far as the president was
concerned, if Meade aggressively pursued and confronted Lee before he could escape across the
flooded Potomac River, "the rebellion would be over."
The long and bloody three-day battle exhausted both armies. Their respective commanders faced
difficult tasks, including the rallying of their troops for more marching and fighting. Lee had to
keep his army organized and motivated enough to conduct an orderly withdrawal away from the
field. Meade faced the same organizational and motivational challenges, while assessing the
condition of his victorious but heavily damaged army, to determine if it had sufficient strength to
pursue and crush a still-dangerous enemy. Central to the respective commanders' decisions was
the information they received from their intelligence-gathering resources about the movements,
intentions, and capability of the enemy. The eleven-day period after Gettysburg was a battle of
wits to determine which commander better understood the information he received, and directed
the movements of his army accordingly. Prepare for some surprising revelations.
Woven into this account is the fate of thousands of Union prisoners who envisioned rescue to
avoid incarceration in wretched Confederate prisons, and a characterization of how the Union
and Confederate media portrayed the ongoing conflict for consumption on the home front.
The authors utilized a host of primary sources to craft their study, including letters, memoirs,
diaries, official reports, newspapers, and telegrams, and have threaded these intelligence gems in
an exciting and fast-paced narrative that includes a significant amount of new information. "Lee
is Trapped, and Must be Taken" is a sequel to Thomas Ryan's Spies, Scouts, and Secrets in the
Gettysburg Campaign, the recipient of the Bachelder-Coddington Literary Award and Gettysburg
Civil War Round Table Distinguished Book Award.
Critique: Winner of the Edwin C. Bearss Scholarly Research Award, "Lee is Trapped and Must
be Taken": Eleven Fateful Days after Gettysburg, July 4-14, 1863 is a scholarly, in-depth study of
the crucial period immediately after the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War,
which ultimately led to the surrender of General Lee of the Confederacy and the war's
conclusion. Chapters scrutinize the day-by-day pursuit of General Lee and his withdrawing army,
including the challenges both sides faced in gathering intelligence on the enemy and motivating
their troops. Expertly researched, featuring black-and-white maps, a thorough bibliography, and
an index, "Lee is Trapped and Must be Taken" is a welcome addition to public and college
library Civil War shelves. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Lee is Trapped and
Must be Taken" is also available in a Kindle edition ($19.95).
Pinkertons, Prostitutes and Spies
John Stewart
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476679075, $29.95, PB, 231pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Hattie Lawton was a young Pinkerton detective who with her partner, Timothy
Webster, spied for the U.S. Secret Service during the Civil War. Working in Richmond, the two
posed as husband and wife. A dazzling blonde from New York and a handsome Englishman,
both with checkered pasts, they were matched in charm, cunning, duplicity and boldness.
Betrayed by their own spymaster, Allan Pinkerton, the two of them fell into the hands of the
dictator of Richmond, the notorious General John H. Winder. "Pinkertons, Prostitutes and Spies:
The Civil War Adventures of Secret Agents Timothy Webster and Hattie Lawton" by John
Stewart is a lively history that was scrupulously researched from all available sources, corrects
the record on many points, and definitively answers the long-standing question of Hattie
Lawton's true identity.
Critique: Winner of numerous reference book awards, the late John Stewart was the author of
nonfiction books on a variety of topics including African states and rulers, Antarctica, the British
Empire, Moons of the solar system, Italian movies, Broadway musicals, the British circus, Lord
Byron, and the flight of the Confederate government from Richmond. With the publication of
"Pinkertons, Prostitutes and Spies" he has made an enduringly appreciated and unique
contribution to the growing library of American Civil War literature. While especially
recommended for community, college, and university library American Civil War history
collections and supplemental studies lists, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of
students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that
"Pinkertons, Prostitutes and Spies" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$15.99).
General Emory Upton in the Civil War
Robert N. Thompson
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476678900, $39.95, PB, 204pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Emory Upton (August 27, 1839 - March 15, 1881) was a United States Army General
and military strategist, prominent for his role in leading infantry to attack entrenched positions
successfully at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House during the American Civil War, but he
also excelled at artillery and cavalry assignments. His work, "The Military Policy of the United
States", which analyzed American military policies and practices and presented the first
systematic examination of the nation's military history, had a tremendous effect on the U.S. Army
when it was published posthumously in 1904. (Wikipedia)
Considered by many to be the architect of the modern U.S. Army, General Emory Upton
commanded Union troops in almost every major battle of the Civil War's Eastern Theater.
Witnessing some of the war's bloodiest engagements convinced him of the need for
comprehensive reform in military organization, professionalism, education, tactics and personnel
policies. From the end of the war to his 1881 death by suicide, Upton led an effort to modernize
U.S. military culture. While much has been written about the politics of his reform campaign,
"General Emory Upton in the Civil War: The Formative Experiences of an American Military
Visionary" details his wartime experiences and how they informed his intense fervor for
change.
Critique: Replete throughout with historical photographs and maps, "General Emory Upton in the
Civil War: The Formative Experiences of an American Military Visionary" by historian and
former career military officer Robert N. Thompson must be considered a core and essential
contribution to both community and academic library American Civil War collections and 19th
Century U. S. Military history supplemental studies lists.
Washington Roebling's Civil War
Diane Monroe Smith
Stackpole Books
5067 Ritter Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055-6921
www.stackpolebooks.com
9780811737883, $29.95, HC, 464pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: A civil engineer, today Washington Roebling (May 26, 1837 - July 21, 1926) is best
known as the man who supervised construction of the Brooklyn Bridge. What is not so well
known is that his path to overseeing that monumental task began during the Civil War as an
officer in the Union army.
In addition to his brave, dramatic actions at Gettysburg, his Civil War service was remarkable
and diverse including being an artilleryman, a bridge builder, a scout, a balloonist, a map maker,
an engineer, and a staff officer.
His story as laid out in "Washington Roebling's Civil War: From the Bloody Battlefield at
Gettysburg to the Brooklyn Bridge" by Diane Monroe Smith reveals much about Gettysburg but
also about Civil War intelligence and engineering and the politics and infighting within the Army
of the Potomac's high command. Roebling's service in terms of leadership, engineering,
decision-making, and managing personalities and politics prepared him well for overseeing the
construction of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Critique: Enhanced with the inclusion of maps, fifty pages of Notes, a six page Bibliography, and
a fourteen page Index, "Washington Roebling's Civil War: From the Bloody Battlefield at
Gettysburg to the Brooklyn Bridge" is an extraordinarily well researched, impressive well
written, and exceptionally well organized and presented biographical study that is unreservedly
recommended for community, college, and university library American Biography and American
Civil War collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, and
non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Washington Roebling's Civil
War" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $27.23).
Editorial Note: Diane Monroe Smith is the author of Fanny & Joshua: The Enigmatic Lives of
Frances Caroline Adams and Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain (Thomas Publications, 1999;
University Press of New England, 2013), Command Conflicts in Grant's Overland Campaign:
Ambition and Animosity and the Army of the Potomac (McFarland, 2012), and Chamberlain at
Petersburg: The Charge at Fort Hell (Thomas Publications, 2004). She is an expert on the Army
of the Potomac's 5th Corps (in which Chamberlain served and which Gouverneur Warren
commanded after Gettysburg). Smith has been a volunteer guide at the Joshua Lawrence
Chamberlain Museum and has spoken widely on Chamberlain and Maine in the Civil War,
including at National Park Service events, Civil War roundtables, and historical societies.
The Great Partnership
Christian B. Keller
Pegasus Books
148 West 37th Street, 13th Floor, New York, NY 10018
www.pegasusbooks.com
9781643131344, $28.95, HC, 352pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Christian B. Keller is the Dwight D. Eisenhower Chair of National Security and
Professor of History in the Department of National Security and Strategy at the United States
Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
In "The Great Partnership: Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, and the Fate of the Confederacy",
Professor Keller directly address such questions as: Why were Generals Lee and Jackson so
successful in their partner- ship in trying to win the war for the South, and what was it about their
styles, friendship, even their faith, that cemented them together into a fighting machine that
consistently won despite often overwhelming odds against them?
"The Great Partnership" significantly impact how historians and civil war buffs will think about
Confederate strategic decision-making and the value of personal relationships among senior
leaders responsible for organizational survival. Those relationships in the Confederate high
command were particularly critical for victory, especially the one that existed between the two
great Army of Northern Virginia generals.
"The Great Partnership: Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, and the Fate of the Confederacy" will
inspire a very lively debate among the thousands of students of Civil War history, and
significantly revise how Confederate strategy during the height the war is evaluated, as well as
our understanding of why, in the end, the South lost.
Critique: Nicely enhanced for the reader with the inclusion of 16 pages of historical photographs,
"The Great Partnership: Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, and the Fate of the Confederacy" is a
masterpiece of original and seminal historical scholarship. While unreservedly recommended for
community, college, and academic library American Civil War collections and supplemental
studies lists, it should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an
interest in the subject that "The Great Partnership: Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, and the
Fate of the Confederacy" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.61).
The General Fiction Shelf
Lizzie Flowers And The Family Firm
Carol Rivers
Magna Large Print
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9780750547390, $35.50, HC, Large Print, 300pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: It's 1934 and Lizzie Flowers has been mother and protector to her East End family, the
Allens of Langley Street, since she was fifteen. Even when her doomed marriage to Frank
Flowers collapses, she sacrifices her own happiness to keep the family united. But when Lizzie
buys the infamous dockland's pub, the Mill Wall, she discovers she's bitten off more than she can
chew. Long-time love Danny Flowers abandons her, a close friend is murdered and her adopted
child Polly is threatened. Then crime lord, Salvo Vella, makes a move on the Mill Wall. Lizzie
could be forced to make a pact with the devil to save herself and her family and friends.
Critique: A compelling drama of a novel by an author with a distinctive and reader engaging
narrative storytelling style, "Lizzie Flowers and the Family Firm" is a thoroughly entertaining,
page turner of a read from beginning to end. This large print edition is especially recommended
for personal reading lists and community library General Fiction collections.
Elsewhere
Ken McCoy
Magna Large Print
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9780750547291, $35.50, HC, Large Print, 402pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Eleven-year-old Billy Clegg and his big sister Peggy disappear from their home in
Leeds after a suspicious fire in a local mill. The owner says the children caused it by lighting
fireworks on Mischief Night. Their widowed mother Betty, badly injured in the incident, doesn't
know if her children are alive or dead. She prefers to think of them as being elsewhere.
Following various adventures, the resourceful duo find themselves a long way away from bleak
post-war Britain. Though successful, both of them are haunted by memories of the fire and the
possibility that they caused their own mother's death. When the family is finally reunited, the
repercussions continue!
Critique: A fully absorbing and exceptionally engaging novel of two struggling children in a
post-war Britain, this large print edition of "Elsewhere" by Ken McCoy is certain to be an
immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library General Fiction collections
We, the Survivors
Tash Aw
Farrar, Straus & Giroux
175 Varick Street, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10014
www.fsgbooks.com
9780374287245, $27.00, HC, 336pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Ah Hock is an ordinary man of simple means. Born and raised in a Malaysian fishing
village, he favors stability above all, a preference at odds with his rapidly modernizing
surroundings. So what brings him to kill a man?
This question leads a young, privileged journalist to Ah Hock's door. While the victim has been
mourned and the killer has served time for the crime, Ah Hock's motive remains unclear, even to
himself. His vivid confession unfurls over extensive interviews with the journalist, herself a local
whose life has taken a very different course. The process forces both the speaker and his listener
to reckon with systems of power, race, and class in a place where success is promised to all yet
delivered only to its lucky heirs.
An uncompromising portrait of an outsider navigating a society in transition, Tash Aw's
anti-nostalgic tale, "We, the Survivors", holds its tension to the very end. In the wake of loss and
destruction, hope is among the survivors.
Critique: A unique and deftly crafted novel showcasing author Tash Aw's genuine flair for
originality and a thoroughly reader engaging narrative storytelling style, "We, the Survivors" is
an extraordinary and highly recommended addition for community and academic library
Contemporary Literary Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "We,
the Survivors" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99).
Make/Shift: Stories
Joe Sacksteder
Sarabande Books, Inc.
822 E. Market Street, Louisville, KY 40206
www.sarabandebooks.org
9781946448323, $16.95, PB, 168pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Readers of Joe Sacksteder's short story anthology. "Make/Shift" will find themselves
confronting moments in which status and ceremony are shown to be destabilized, contingent, and
sorting through the suddenly unfamiliar contents of a time capsule, hanging poolside with parents
while their hockey player sons devastate a hotel, and wandering the memory palace of a
traumatized valedictorian during a commencement address -- all while flash vignettes based on
corporate slogans saturate the story collection with greater and greater frequency, like the
commercials of a TV movie.
Critique: Original, entertaining, thought-provoking, iconoclastic, and above all, memorable, the
short stories comprising "Make/Shift" showcase author Joe Sacksteder as an extraordinary
literary talent, making it unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library
Contemporary American Literary collections as well as personal reading lists.
The Romantic Fiction Shelf
The Housekeeper's Daughter
Rosie Meddon
Magna Large Print
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9780750547512, $34.90, HC, Large Print, 354pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Kate Bratton is a young woman who dreams of more. It's 1914, and her life is mapped
out ahead of her: continue working as a maid in the beautiful Woodicombe House, settle down
with Luke the gardener and, of course, start a family. Desperate to run away in search of
adventure, Kate's plans are curtailed by the arrival of the Russell family at Woodicombe House.
Tasked with becoming a lady's maid for their daughter, Naomi, Kate gets a glimpse of the other
side of life. Will she return to the safety of her life before, or will the handsome Ned Russell turn
her head?
Critique: A deftly crafted and impressively entertaining novel by an author with an especially
effective narrative storytelling style, this large print edition of "The Housekeeper's Daughter" by
Rosie Meddon will prove to be a valued and much appreciated addition to community library
collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Housekeeper's Daughter" is
also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $0.99).
The Western Fiction Shelf
Tillman's Bounty
Scott Gastineau
Five Star Publishing
10 Water Street, Suite 310, Waterville, ME 04901
http://gale.cengage.com/fivestar
9781432852139, $25.95, HC, 409pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: After the mining company he works for goes belly up, young Max Tillman has a
chance encounter with a man who has a bounty on his head. He soon takes up tracking other
wanted men, but realizes he may be in over his head as he travels through some of the most
dangerous towns in the West and crosses paths with those who survive by taking what is not
theirs. Max meets people who draw him toward a more settled life, but is a peaceful life possible
for a man with his past, especially in a region known for its lawlessness? And can he keep those
he has come to care for safe?
Critique: A simply riveting western by a master of the genre, Scott Gastineau's "Tillman's
Bounty" features more unexpected plot twists and turns than a bucking brama bull! Certain to be
an immediate and enduringly popular addition to personal reading lists and community library
Western Fiction collections, "Tillman's Bounty" is unreservedly and enthusiastically
recommended!
The Man Who Hated Hickok
C. M. Wendelboe
Five Star Publishing
10 Water Street, Suite 310, Waterville, ME 04901
http://gale.cengage.com/fivestar
9781432858179, $25.95, HC, 241pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: In 1876, the once notorious town of Cheyenne, Wyoming (long a haven for thugs and
thieves) has taken on an air of civility. That is, until Wild Bill Hickock comes to town and
humiliates a local gunman's mentally-challenged brother to the point of suicide.
Ira Drang promptly vows to hunt Wild Bill and kill him. Broke, Ira takes work as a shotgun
messenger on the notorious Cheyenne to Deadwood stage -- to make it across the Black Hills
after Wild Bill. It's a sporadic route through rough country fraught with road agents robbing
whatever scraps the Indian raiders leave behind. So, it's no surprise when the stage is held up just
out of Cheyenne -- and by Ira's longtime rival!
His daughter was murdered, and he knows the killer is on that stage. But Ira understands that
nothing will stop him -- just as nothing will stop Ira's pursuit of Wild Bill Hickok!
Critique: A deftly crafted and original western novel, "The Man Who Hated Hickok" by C. M.
Wendelboe is an extraordinarily entertaining and inherently compelling read from cover to cover,
making it an especially recommended addition to community library Western Fiction collections,
as well as the personal reading lists of all dedicated western action/adventure fans!
Bitter Is The Dust
Scott A. Gese
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444839159, $20.99, PB, Large Print, 272pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: When Sarah McKinney finally escapes the clutches of her abusive husband (and
beating him half to death in the process), she and her adopted son Jason begin a perilous new life
on the run. Eventually they find her brother Mac (who is also Jason's father) and settle down as
Sarah finds work as a doctor's assistant, and Jason takes a job as a ranch hand. But Jason's quick
temper soon gets him into trouble with his employer, and their future hangs in the balance as
their unhappy past threatens to catch up with them.
Critique: A deftly written western with more plot unexpected twists and turns than a rodeo bull
rider, "Bitter Is The Dust" is a true page turner of a western novel and in this large print edition is
certain to be an enduringly popular addition to personal reading lists and community library
Western Fiction collections.
Riding The Vengeance Trail
Jack Martin
Linford Western Library
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781444841428, $20.99, PB, Large Print, 232pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Thomas Fury had a young wife, a child on the way, and a farm to tend. They had kept
him busy; but he'd enjoyed the toil, for he knew that he was building a future for himself and his
family. That future, though, was shattered one afternoon when five riders, led by Luke Marlow,
blew in. Soon gunshots rang out, and Thomas Fury's world fell apart. Now Fury rides the
vengeance trail, driven on by a desire to deal out justice, one by one, to those who have destroyed
everything that mattered to him. Along that trail he is joined by a young half-breed boy and an
Apache girl -- an unlikely pair that prove indispensable to Fury in his question for gunsmoke
justice.
Critique: One of the best westerns of recent times, "Riding The Vengeance Trail" is a simply
riveting read from cover to cover -- and one with the most unusual and unanticipated plot twists
ever to the end a vengeance crusade in the Old West. This large print edition of Jack Martin's
"Riding The Vengeance Trail" is whole heartedly and enthusiastically commended for personal
reading lists and community library Western Fiction collections.
Mulvane's War
William Heuman
Sagebrush Large Print Westerns
Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9781785416828, $29.99, PB, Large Print, 168pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: When Mulvane rides from the high country to his intended destination of Boulder City
he is jumped by two men and finds himself into the middle of a range war between sheepmen
and cattlemen. Working for a hardheaded woman to move sheepmen off of her cattle grazing
range, he finds himself even more of a target when he quits her because of her greed based
decision to violate the sheepmen's territory. Ending back up in town he takes the sheriff's badge
(after first refusing it, but reconsidering after the Sheriff shot) Mulvane wonders just how long he
will be stay alive this time.
Critique: A riveting read from cover to cover by a master storyteller, this large print edition of
William Heuman's "Mulvane's War" is an extraordinary, entertaining, and highly recommended
addition to personal reading lists and community library Western Fiction collections.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
The Time for Murder is Meow
T. C. Lotempio
Midnight Ink
2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125-2989
www.midnightinkbooks.com
9780738760360, $15.99, PB, 312pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Crishell "Shell" McMillan sees the cancellation of her TV series as a blessing in
disguise. The former actress can now take over her late aunt's pet shop, the Purr N' Bark, and do
something she loves.
While getting the shop ready for re-opening, Shell is asked to loan her aunt's Cary Grant posters
to the local museum for an exhibit. She finds the prospect exciting -- until a museum board
member, who had a long-standing feud with Shell's aunt, votes against it.
When she discovers the board member dead in the museum, Shell becomes suspect number one.
Can she, her Siamese cat Kahlua, and her new sidekick (her aunt's Persian Purrday) find the real
culprit, or will her latest career go up in kitty litter?
Critique: Another delightfully entertaining and original 'whodunnit' from the pen of T. C.
Lotempio, "The Time for Murder is Meow" is a genuinely compulsive page turner of a read by a
master of the genre. While "The Time for Murder is Meow" is unreservedly recommended,
especially for community library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the
personal reading lists of all dedicated cat lovers and mystery buffs that it is also available in a
digital book format (Kindle, $10.99).
Cookies and Clairvoyance
Bailey Cates
Berkley Prime Crime
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
www.penguin.com
9780399587016, $7.99, PB, 320pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Hedgewitch Katie Lightfoot is juggling wedding preparations, a visit from her father,
and home renovations on top of her long hours at the Honeybee Bakery, where she and her aunt
Lucy imbue their yummy cookies and pastries with beneficial magic. But when firefighter Randy
Post is accused of murdering a collector of rarities, and his prints are on the statue that was used
to kill the man, Katie steps in.
Randy is not only Katie's fiance's coworker, but also the boyfriend of fellow spellbook club
member and witch Bianca Devereaux. Bianca and Declan are both sure Randy is innocent, and so
is Katie. However, to prove it she'll have to work with ornery detective Peter Quinn again -- and
this time around he knows she's more than your everyday baker!
Critique: Another 'Magical Bakery Mystery' from the pen of Bailey Cates, "Cookies and
Clairvoyance" is a deliciously delightful and deftly crafted 'whodunnit' that will have special
appeal for any and all dedicated mystery buffs! While unreservedly recommended for community
library Mystery/Suspense collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of all
Bailey Cates fans that "Cookies and Clairvoyance" is also available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $7.99).
To the Lions
Holly Watt
Dutton
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, 3rd floor, New York, NY 10014-3657
www.us.penguingroup.com
9781524745455, $27.00, HC, 400pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Casey Benedict, a female star reporter at the Post, has infiltrated the lives and exposed
the lies of countless politicians and power players. Using her network of contacts, and her ability
to slip into whatever identity suits the situation, Casey is always on the search for the next big
story, no matter how much danger this might place her in, or what the cost might be,
emotionally.
Tipped off by an overheard conversation at an exclusive London nightclub, she begins to
investigate the apparent suicide of a wealthy young British man whose death has left his fiancee
and family devastated. The young man's death, however, is only the tipping point of a much more
sinister and dangerous scandal involving the world's most powerful leaders and magnates -- men
who are gathering in northern Africa for an extreme and secret hunt.
With fellow reporter Miranda and combat veteran Ed by her side, Casey's determined hunt for the
truth could well end in her own demise.
Critique: A deftly crafted suspense thriller of a read from first page to last, "To the Lions" by
author Holly Watt showcases her exceptionally literary skills and distinctive narrative storytelling
style that will hold the riveted reader's full attention. The stuff of which block buster movies are
made and while certain to be an immediate and enduringly popular addition to community library
Contemporary General Fiction collections, it should be noted that "To the Lions" is also available
in a digital book format (Kindle, $13.99).
The Literary Studies Shelf
Modern Japanese Short Stories
Ivan Morris, editor
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
www.tuttlepublishing.com
9784805315248, $19.99, PB, 512pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Ivan Morris (1925-1976) was a highly regarded figure in the field of Japanese studies.
He was a professor at Columbia University from 1960 to 1973 where he was head of the
Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures. He is known for his work on Japanese history
and literature, though his numerous books, articles, and translations reflect the familiarity he had
with all aspects of Japan.
Compiled and edited by Professor Morris "Modern Japanese Short Stories" is a remarkable
collection of Japanese short stories from the pioneers of contemporary Japanese literature.
Comprised of twenty-five stories by as many authors this unique volume display a wide range of
style and subject matter, revealing picture of modern Japanese culture and society.
Featuring a new foreword by Japanese literary scholar Seiji Lippit and striking woodcut
illustrations by Masakazu Kuwata, the stories were translated by into English for an American
readership by Professor orris, with the assistance of Edward Seidensticker, George Saito, and
Geoffery Sargent.
Critique: Successfully reflecting and presenting in a short story anthology format the literary
value of Japanese literature, "Modern Japanese Short Stories: Twenty-Five Stories by Japan's
Leading Writers" is a unique and unreservedly recommended addition to community, college,
and university library Contemporary Literary Fiction collections in general, and Japanese
Literature supplemental studies lists in particular. It should be noted for the personal reading lists
of students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that
"Modern Japanese Short Stories" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).
Monster, She Wrote
Lisa Kroger & Melanie R. Anderson
Quirk Books
215 Church Street, Philadelphia PA 19106
www.quirkbooks.com
9781683691389, $19.99, HC, 352pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Frankenstein was just the beginning: horror stories and other weird fiction wouldn't
exist without the women who created it. From Gothic ghost stories to psychological horror to
science fiction, women have been primary architects of speculative literature of all sorts. And
their own life stories are as intriguing as their fiction.
Everyone knows about Mary Shelley, creator of Frankenstein, who was rumored to keep her late
husband's heart in her desk drawer. But have you heard of Margaret "Mad Madge" Cavendish,
who wrote a science-fiction epic 150 years earlier (and liked to wear topless gowns to the
theater)? If you know the astounding work of Shirley Jackson, whose novel The Haunting of Hill
House was reinvented as a Netflix series, then try the psychological hauntings of Violet Paget,
who was openly involved in long-term romantic relationships with women in the Victorian
era.
In "Monster, She Wrote: The Women Who Pioneered Horror and Speculative Fiction", are such
celebrated icons as Ann Radcliffe and V. C. Andrews, as well as forgotten wordsmiths like Eli
Colter and Ruby Jean Jensen, plus today's female vanguard including Helen Oyeyemi.
Part biography, part reader's guide, "Monster, She Wrote" offers engaging write-ups and detailed
reading lists that will introduce more than a hundred authors and over two hundred of their
mysterious and chilling literary works. Indeed, the curated reading lists point to their most
spine-chilling tales.
Critique: Unique, fascinating, informative, "Monster, She Wrote: The Women Who Pioneered
Horror and Speculative Fiction" is an extraordinary and unreservedly recommended addition to
personal, community, college, and university library Literary Studies reference collections and
supplemental studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, and non-specialist general
readers with an interest in the subject that "Monster, She Wrote" is also available in a digital
book format (Kindle, $11.99).
The Parenting Shelf
Sesame Street: Ready for School!
Rosemarie T. Truglio & Pamela Thomas
Running Press
c/o Perseus Book Group
250 W. 57th St., Suite 1500, New York, NY 10107
www.runningpress.com
9780762466078, $18.00, PB, 288pp, www.amazon.colm
Synopsis: For the past 50 years, Sesame Street has stood at the forefront of child development,
stimulating and nurturing the minds of preschoolers not only through the iconic TV show, but
also through books, games, mobile apps, and community engagement initiatives. In the pages of
"Sesame Street: Ready for School!: A Parent's Guide to Playful Learning for Children Ages 2 to
5", Senior Rosemarie Truglio (VP of Curriculum and Content at Sesame Workshop) shares all
the research-based, curriculum-directed school readiness skills that have made Sesame Street the
preeminent children's TV program, and that every parent needs in order to get their preschooler
ready for lifelong learning.
Each of the eight chapters comprising "Sesame Street: Ready for School!" focuses on a key area:
language, literacy, math, science, logic & reasoning, social & emotional development, healthy
habits, and the arts. An essential dynamic of Ready for School! is its emphasis on the importance
of play in a child's learning process. To respond to that need, dozens of "Play & Learn" activities
are included to aid parents in educating their children: at the kitchen table, on the bus, in the
park, or in the preschool classroom while playing together.
In addition, "Sesame Street: Ready for School!" recommends scores of hints, tips, ideas for
useful products, and deep-dives on more complex topics for parents, all designed to make
preparing young kids for school easy and joyful.
Critique: Exceptionally well organized and thoroughly 'user friendly' in presentation, "Sesame
Street: Ready for School!: A Parent's Guide to Playful Learning for Children Ages 2 to 5" is
especially and unreservedly recommended for use by home schooling parents, as well as a
daycare center and preschool staff in-service training curriculum manual and instructional
reference. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Sesame Street: Ready for School!: A
Parent's Guide to Playful Learning for Children Ages 2 to 5" is also available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $11.99).
Stuff Every Grandfather Should Know
James Knipp
Quirk Books
215 Church Street, Philadelphia PA 19106
www.quirkbooks.com
9781683691006, $9.95, HC, 144pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Becoming a grandfather is one of the most exciting events in a man's life -- but there's
a lot to learn! That is way "Stuff Every Grandfather Should Know" by James Knopp is a little
book that is jam-packed with all the wisdom, know-how, and trivia that needed in order to
become the best grandfather possible.
"Stuff Every Grandfather Should Know" address a wealth of relevant grandfathering issues
including: How to Pick Your Grandfather Nickname; How to Share Your Wisdom; How to Tell
A Tall Tale; When to Step Up and When to Step Back; Planning for Your Future (And
Theirs!).
Critique: Impressively organized and presented with 'real world practical' and timeless
information make "Stuff Every Grandfather Should Know" a perfect gift for seasoned grandpas
and grandpas-to-be alike and an enduringly popular addition to community library Parenting
instructional reference collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Stuff Every
Grandfather Should Know" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $5.99).
The Education Shelf
Rise to the Challenge
Jeff C. Marshall
ASCD
1703 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
www.ascd.org
9781416627982, $20.95, PB, 118pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Jeff C. Marshall is a professor and associate dean for research and graduate studies in
the College of Education at Clemson University. He has received the Presidential Award for
Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching; published 5 other books and more than 60
articles; and given over 130 presentations in the last 12 years alone. He also serves as a
consultant for school districts, universities, and grant projects across the nation.
In "Rise to the Challenge: Designing Rigorous Learning That Maximizes Student Success",
Professor Marshal draws upon his years of experience and expertise to help those classroom
teachers who sense that some of their students have mentally "checked out" of their classroom
because those students are actually bored by lessons that they view as unchallenging and
uninteresting.
"Rise to the Challenge: will enable teachers to: Reorient themselves and their students toward
active learning -- and establishing the habits that allow it to flourish; Create a classroom culture
where students aren't afraid to take risks -- and where they grow as learners because of it; Plan
the same lesson at different levels of challenge for different levels of development -- and
designing assessments that gauge student progress fairly without sacrificing expectations;
Implement inquiry-based activities that push students beyond their comfort zones -- and that
result in well-rounded learners with stronger character and sharper thinking skills.
Leveraging the latest research in the field as well as years of hard-won classroom experience,
"Rise to the Challenge" offers practical strategies, replicable examples, and thoughtful reflection
exercises for educators to use as they work to help students embrace the mystery, complexity,
and power of challenge.
Critique: Deftly organized and presented, "Rise to the Challenge: Designing Rigorous Learning
That Maximizes Student Success" is an extraordinary and 'real world practical' instructional
guide that is unreservedly recommended for school district, college, and university library
Teacher Education collections and supplemental studies reading lists. It should be noted for the
personal reading lists of student teachers, classroom instructors, school administrators, education
reform activists, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Rise to the
Challenge" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $19.99).
Becoming a Globally Competent Teacher
Ariel Tichnor-Wanger, et al.
ASCD
1703 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
9781416627517, $30.95, PB, 260pp, www.ascd.org
Synopsis: Classroom teachers today must prepare students for an increasingly complex,
interconnected, and interdependent world. Being a globally competent teacher requires
embracing a mindset that translates personal global competence into professional classroom
practice. It is a vision of equitable teaching and learning that enables students to thrive in an
ever-changing world.
"Becoming a Globally Competent Teacher" is thought-provoking instruction manual and
textbook that introduces a proven self-reflection tool to help educators of all grade levels and
content areas develop 12 elements of such teaching. Divided into three sections (Dispositions,
Knowledge, Skills) each individual chapter is devoted to an element of globally competent
teaching and includes a description of that element, tips for implementation delineated by
developmental levels, and links to additional resources for continuing the journey.
Examples of globally competent teaching practices include: Empathy and valuing multiple
perspectives; A commitment to promoting equity worldwide; An understanding of global
conditions and current events; The ability to engage in intercultural communication; A classroom
environment that values diversity and global engagement.
Throughout, there are illustrative examples of these practices at work from real teachers in real
schools. No matter what your experience with global teaching, the information in this book will
help you further develop your practice as a global educator -- a teacher who prepares students not
only for academic success but also for a life in which they are active participants in their own
communities, as well as the wider world.
Critique: Expertly organized and presented, "Becoming a Globally Competent Teacher" is
enhanced for academia with the inclusion of an Appendix (The Globally competent Learning
Continuum Self-Reflection Tool), a thirteen page list of References, and a ten page Index,
making it unreservedly recommended for school district, college, and university Teacher
Education collections and supplemental studies reading lists.
Ten Traits of Resilience
James Hilton
Bloomsbury Education
c/o Bloomsbury Press
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
www.bloomsbury.com
9781472951502, $23.90, PB, 179pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: In an increasingly complex and ever-changing education landscape, school leadership
is a rewarding but multifaceted profession. In order to survive in the job long term, school
leaders need to understand how they can lead with positivity and purpose, all the while avoiding
stress, coping with adversity, and taking better care of themselves physically and mentally. With
teacher wellbeing and retention a growing concern, it is essential school leaders pass on this
confidence and optimism to their staff members too.
"Ten Traits of Resilience: Achieving Positivity and Purpose in School Leadership" is
thought-provoking study in which James Hilton explores ten traits of resilience and demonstrates
to school leaders how they can embed these traits into their own practice and into their school to
create a climate of resilience in every classroom.
"Ten Traits of Resilience" is packed from cover to cover with practical advice, tips and reflective
questions to help school leaders evaluate and improve their current practice, and threaded
throughout are also perspectives from a number of education experts, including Ross Morrison
McGill, Patrick Ottley-O'Connor, Viv Grant and Kim Johnson.
Critique: Featuring a an informative Foreword by Dr Andy Cope, "Ten Traits of Resilience:
Achieving Positivity and Purpose in School Leadership" is especially recommended reading for
all K-12 school administrators, as well as college and university departmental heads seeking to
promote and maintain a culture of resilience in their schools, as well as improve their own mental
health and professional wellbeing, and that of their staff and pupils too! While unreservedly
recommended for school district, college, and university library Education Administration
collections, it should be noted for personal reading list that "Ten Traits of Resilience" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.34).
Editorial Note: James Hilton is a former head teacher working as a conference speaker and
author, specializing in leadership, stress management and positive psychology. He applies his
experience of human leadership to inspire a wide range of clients including school leaders, the
NHS, local government and businesses. James provides fresh insights into the challenges of
leadership in the intense environment that is the modern workplace.
The Relevant Classroom
Eric Hardie
ASCD
1703 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
www.ascd.org
9781416627678, $29.95, PB, 160pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Students need to connect to the real world, be engaged, and learn deeply. But how are
teachers supposed to ensure that students meet these objectives in the current school
system?
In "The Relevant Classroom: Six Steps to Foster Real-World Learning", Eric Hardie presents six
strategies derived from his two decades of experience as an elementary and secondary teacher
and principal to show teachers ways to foster real-world connections, genuine engagement, and
deeper learning to: Make meaning central to student work; Contextualize the curriculum; Create
space to learn; Connect student work to the community; Follow the (student) leaders; Re-
envision feedback and evaluation.
A practical volume, "The Relevant Classroom" includes advice on how to get started, vivid
examples, reflection questions, and tips on how to overcome common obstacles. "The Relevant
Classroom" is about recognizing that teachers who tap into students' capacities for creativity,
collaboration, and innovation can create learning experiences that are truly meaningful for
students.
Critique: Impressively organized and presented, "The Relevant Classroom: Six Steps to Foster
Real-World Learning" will prove to be of enduring value for classroom teachers and is
unreservedly recommended as a supplemental studies curriculum textbook for Teacher Education
classes, as well as school district and college/university library collections. It should be noted for
personal reading lists that "The Relevant Classroom" is also available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $28.99).
Editorial Note: Eric Hardie is a superintendent of instruction at the Ottawa-Carleton District
School Board in Eastern Ontario. With more than two decades of experience in education, Hardie
is a former elementary and secondary school teacher and principal. He holds a degree in English
from Western University, a Bachelor of Education from Mount Allison University, and a Master
of International Education (School Leadership). Hardie has provided professional development
and training in experiential learning, working with both teachers and school leaders, and has
previously published articles in ASCD's Educational Leadership.
The Political Science Shelf
A Constitution in Full
Peter Augustine Lawler, author
Richard m. Reinsch II, author
University Press of Kansas
2501 West 15th Street, Lawrence, KS 66049
www.kansaspress.ku.edu
9780700627813, $29.95, 216pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: When political debates devolve, as they often do these days, into a contest between
big-government progressivism and natural rights individualism, Americans tend to appeal to the
"self-evident" truths inscribed in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. But in "A
Constitution in Full: Recovering the Unwritten Foundation of American Liberty", authors Peter
Lawler (who was the Dana Professor of Government at Berry College) and Richard Reinsch
(who is the editor of Law and Liberty and the host of the podcast Liberty Law Talk) remind us
that these truths understood in the abstract are untethered from a prior, unwritten constitution
presupposed by the Framers -- one found in culture, customs, traditions, experiences, and
beliefs.
"A Constitution in Full" is Lawler and Reinsch's attempt to return this critical context to US
constitutionalism in order to recover a political sense of individualism in relation to country,
family, religious community, and nature.
Power, the authors suggest, is a public trust, not a form of obedience to either majoritarian
suppression of particular liberties or the endless rights-claims lodged by autonomous individuals
against society. Instead, power is ordered to the demands of a shared political enterprise that
emerges from man's social nature.
Building on political insights from Alexis de Tocqueville, Orestes Brownson, John Courtney
Murray, and others Lawler and Reinsch seek to restore the relational person - the individual
grounded in family, work, faith, and community -- to a central place in our understanding of
republican constitutionalism. Their work promotes the ongoing development of constitutional
self-government rooted in our historical, legal, and religious foundations.
The shared middle-class values that once united almost all Americans as well as any confidence
in democratic deliberation or political liberty are rapidly atrophying. "A Constitution in Full"
aims to rebuild this confidence by helping us think seriously about the complex interplay
between political and economic liberties and the relational life of creatures and citizens.
Critique: Enhanced for academia with the inclusion of fourteen pages of Notes, a six page
Bibliography, and a five page Index, "A Constitution in Full: Recovering the Unwritten
Foundation of American Liberty" is exceptionally well written, thoughtful, thought-provoking,
and a timely contribution to our current and on-going discussion with respect to the concepts of
political liberty within the context of a constitutional democracy. While highly recommended as
a core addition to both community and academic library Contemporary Political Science
collections in general, and Constitutional Democracy supplemental studies lists in particular, it
should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, political activists, and non-
specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "A Constitution in Full" is also
available in a digital book format (Kindle, $29.95).
Claiming Her Place in Congress
Katherine H. Adams
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476677187, $39.95, PB, 246pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: The fall of 2018 saw an unprecedented number of women elected to Congress,
changing estimates of how long it might take to achieve equal representation. For the first time,
women candidates used techniques honed by America's political families, which have helped
women enter politics since 1916.
Drawing on extensive research and conversations with successful women politicians, "Claiming
Her Place in Congress: Women from American Political Families as Legislators" by Katherine H.
Adams (who is the Hutchinson Distinguished Professor of English at Loyola University New
Orleans) offers a history of the political opportunities provided through familial
connections.
Family networks have a long history of enabling women to run for political office. There is much
for the latest group of candidates to emulate.
Critique: An extraordinary and timely study, "Claiming Her Place in Congress" is enhanced for
academia with the inclusion of an Appendix (Widows and Other Members of Political Families
in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House to the 115th Congress 2017-2019); twenty pages of Chapter
Notes; a twenty-one page Bibliography, and a four page Index. Exceptionally informative,
thoroughly comprehensive, fully 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "Claiming Her
Place in Congress" is an especially recommended for the personal reading lists of any woman
aspiring to elected political office, as well as a critically important addition to community and
academic library Political Science collections and supplemental studies lists.
The Credibility Challenge
Inken von Borzyskowski
Cornell University Press
512 East State Street, Ithaca, NY 14850
www.cornellpress.cornell.edu
9781501736544, $49.95, HC, 246pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: The key to the impact of international election support is credibility; credible elections
are less likely to turn violent. This is the basic and core premise of "The Credibility Challenge:
How Democracy Aid Influences Election Violence" by Inken von Borzyskowski (Assistant
Professor of Political Science, Florida State University) who also provides an explanation of why
and when election support can increase or reduce violence.
Professor Von Borzyskowski answers four major questions: Under what circumstances can
election support influence election violence? How can election support shape the incentives of
domestic actors to engage in or abstain from violence? Does support help reduce violence or
increase it? And, which type of support (observation or technical assistance) is better in each
instance?
"The Credibility Challenge" pulls broad quantitative evidence and qualitative observations drawn
from Guyana, Liberia, Kenya, Sierra Leone, and Bangladesh to respond to these questions.
Professor Von Borzyskowski finds that international democracy aid matters for election
credibility and violence; outside observers can exacerbate post-election violence if they cast
doubt on election credibility; and technical assistance helps build electoral institutions, improves
election credibility, and reduces violence. Her results advance research and policy on peace
building and democracy promotion in new and surprising ways.
Critique: A seminal work of consistently insightful and meticulous scholarship, "The Credibility
Challenge: How Democracy Aid Influences Election Violence" is a timely and exceptionally well
written, organized and presented contribution to community, college and university library
Contemporary Political Science collections and supplemental studies lists. It should be noted for
the personal reading lists of students, academia, political activists, politicians, governmental
policy makers, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "The
Credibility Challenge" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $24.99).
Presidents by Fate
F. Martin Harmon
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476677422, $39.95, PB, 231pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Throughout the history of the United States, only nine men were elevated to the White
House by the death or failure of a sitting president, and their legacies are as mixed as their
circumstances.
In "Presidents by Fate: Nine Who Ascended Through Death or Resignation", retired journalist F.
Martin Harmon informatively evaluates the similarities and distinct differences of these men,
their varying degrees of ambition and readiness, and how each handled their suddenly enormous
duties.
Some became presidential legends, while others are counted among the worst. Their shared
stories shed light on America's political development during the last two centuries.
Critique: A unique, impressively informative, and inherently fascinating political history of the
presidencies of men who were not elected to the office of the presidency, but as elected vice-
presidents inherited the office through episodes of national tragedy, "Presidents by Fate: Nine
Who Ascended Through Death or Resignation" will prove to be a welcome and enduringly
appreciated addition to personal, community, and academic library collections.
The Money/Finance Shelf
The Fundamental Principles of Finance
Robert Irons
Routledge
711 - 3rd Avenue, Floor 8, New York, NY 10017-9209
www.routledge.com
9781138477513, $180.00, HC, 224pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Finance is the study of value and how it is determined. Individuals, small businesses
and corporations regularly make use of value determinations for making strategic decisions that
affect the future outcomes of their endeavors. The importance of accurate valuations cannot be
overestimated; valuing assets too highly will lead to investing in assets whose costs are greater
than their returns, while undervaluing assets will lead to missed opportunities for growth. In
some situations (such as a merger or an acquisition), the outcome of the decision can make or
break the investor. The need for solid financial skills has never been more pressing than in
today's global economy.
Robert Irons is an Associate Professor of Finance at Illinois Wesleyan University, USA. He has
taught undergraduate and MBA students for over 20 years and is published in numerous
academic journals, including the Journal of Investing and the Journal of Portfolio Management.
Prior to teaching full time, Dr. Irons worked as a financial analyst for such firms as AT&T and
United Airlines.
In "The Fundamental Principles of Finance", Professor Irons draws upon his years of research
and expertise to offer a new and innovative approach to financial theory. He introduces three
fundamental principles of finance that flow throughout the theoretical material covered in most
corporate finance textbooks. These fundamental principles are developed in their own chapter of
the book, then referred to in each chapter introducing financial theory. In this way, the theory is
able to be mastered at a fundamental level. The interactions among the principles are introduced
through the three precepts, which help show the impact of the three principles on financial
decision-making.
Critique: Impressively well written, organize and presented, "The Fundamental Principles of
Finance is an ideal and comprehensive introduction to the subject for students, academia,
corporate financial managers, capital market investors, governmental policy makers, and non-
specialist general readers. While a core and essential addition to academic and corporate library
collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The fundamental Principles of
Finance" is also available in a paperback edition (9781138477520, $59.95) and in a digital book
format (eTextbook, $51.66).
The Sports Shelf
Sport Volunteering
Russell Hoye, et al.
Routledge
711 - 3rd Avenue, Floor 8, New York, NY 10017-9209
www.routledge.com
9780367262778, $150.00, HC, 186pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Volunteers are central to sport at all levels, from mega-events to grassroots clubs.
"Sport Volunteering" is a definitive and comprehensive guide to the issues associated with
managing volunteers in sport.
"Sport Volunteering" specifically focuses upon the psychology of the voluntary experience, the
challenges inherent in managing a volunteer workforce for not-for-profit and other groups, and
the development of volunteers. It provides a perspective on the roles of volunteers in the
development and delivery of sport in a range of contexts (events, clubs, associations and other
non-profit groups) and explores important contemporary issues such as sustainability, diversity
and the management of risk.
Critique: Exceptionally well organized and presented, "Sport Volunteering" is essential reading
for anyone studying sport volunteering or managing volunteers in sport, and is a valuable and
valued resource for students of sport development, sport management, sport business, sport
events, sport administration, sport policy, community sport, sport facilities, sport operations,
event management or sport coaching. While unreservedly recommended for college, university,
and professional sports association library reference collections, it should be noted for students,
academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Sport
Volunteering" is also available in a paperback edition (9780367262792, $39.95) and in a digital
book format (Kindle, $37.58).
That's My Team!
Paul Volponi
Rowman & Littlefield Publishing
4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.rowman.com
9781538126738, $28.00, HC, 160pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: How did author Edgar Allen Poe influence the naming of the NFL's Baltimore
Ravens? What major historical events inspired the naming of the Philadelphia 76ers, San
Francisco 49ers, and Oklahoma Sooners? And what caused the NBA's Washington Bullets to
change their name to the Wizards?
In "That's My Team!: The History, Science, and Fun behind Sports Teams' Names", Paul
Volponi shares the answers to these questions and more. Leading his readers on a fast-paced
journey through different parts of the United States and the world, Volponi reveals fascinating
pieces of information on pop culture, history, science, literature, and a slew of other subjects
through the lens of sports. While examining how teams from a variety of sports received their
names, he also includes segments on Native Americans, minorities overcoming prejudice, and
the growth of women's sports.
"That's My Team!" also features fifteen challenges that test the knowledge readers have gained
through the chapters, while three "timeouts" provide readers with opportunities to create
meaningful names for their own brand new sports teams. Both reluctant and sports-crazed
readers, teens and preteens alike, will find "That's My Team!" to be an exciting way to learn
about a variety of subjects through their favorite sports teams.
Critique: A unique and certain to be highly prized addition to personal and community library
Sports History collections, "That's My Team!: The History, Science, and Fun behind Sports
Teams' Names" is an inherently fascinating read from cover to cover. It should be noted for the
personal reading lists of all dedicated sports fans that "That's My Team!: The History, Science,
and Fun behind Sports Teams' Names" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$26.50).
The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf
Manga
Edited by Nicole Rousmaniere and Matsuba Ryoko
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500480496 $39.95 amazon.com
Synopsis: The story of manga, a vibrant form of Japanese narrative art, from its roots to its
emergence as a contemporary global sensation.
Manga is a form of Japanese narrative art that has grown over the centuries to become a global
phenomenon in the post - World War II era. Initially referring to graphic novels and comics,
manga has expanded beyond its original forms to include animation, fashion, and new
media.
Arranged into six thematic chapters, each opening with an essay, followed by interviews and art
selections, this revealing study traces the origins of manga and explores its role in society, and its
appearance in different media, from video games to street art, as well as its growing international
reach. The voices of manga artists and editors are reflected throughout the book, along with
critical analysis by leading scholars.
Taking the style of the genre and its terms of reference as its cue, Manga draws upon printed
manga works, artwork, manga magazines, original drawings, theater, film, digital technologies,
and interviews with artists and publishers to bring the subject vividly to life. This book gives
readers an understanding of the excitement generated by a form that crosses cultures and media
in a globalized world. 225 color illustrations.
Critique: Manga is not a graphic novel, but rather a museum-quality close study of the evolution
of manga (Japanese comics), with emphasis on its modern incarnations in the past century.
Visual examples of manga, including 225 color illustrations, complement essays by a wide
variety of experts. Arranged into six thematic chapters, Manga is an extraordinary and impressive
work of scholarship, enriched with interviews, notes, a bibliography, and an index. Manga is
especially and enthusiastically recommended for public and college library collections.
Animal Farm: The Graphic Novel
George Orwell, author
Odyr, adapter/illustrator
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
3 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10016
www.hmhco.com
9780358093152, $22.00, HC, 176pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: In 1945, George Orwell, was called "the conscience of his generation" and created an
enduring, devastating story of new tyranny replacing old, and power corrupting even the noblest
of causes. Today it is all too clear that Orwell's masterpiece is still fiercely relevant wherever
cults of personality thrive, truths are twisted by those in power, and freedom is under attack.
Now, in this fully authorized edition of George Orwell's "Animal Farm', the artist Odyr deftly
translates the world and message of Animal Farm into a gorgeously re-imagined graphic
novel.
Old Major, Napoleon, Squealer, Snowball, Boxer, and all the animals of Animal Farm come to
life in this newly envisaged classic. From his individual brushstrokes to the freedom of his page
design, Odyr's adaptation seamlessly moves between satire and fable and will appeal to readers of
all ages.
Critique: Unexpectedly timely in the age of the Trump administration and the rising tide of white
nationalism, "Animal Farm: The Graphic Novel" will prove to be an immediate and enduringly
valued addition to both community and academic library collections. It should be noted for
personal reading lists that "Animal Farm: The Graphic Novel" is also available in a digital book
format (Kindle, $11.99).
The Library CD Shelf
Growing Up
Josh Lovelace
Stonycroft Records
$9.69 CD / $9.49 MP3 amazon.com
Growing Up is a family-friendly album by performer Josh Lovelace, created for listeners of all
ages to enjoy together. Inspired by watching his own children come of age, Lovelace's songs
evoke the honest, human experience of growing up. Warm, thoughtful, and brought to life with
memorable vocals and masterful guitar play, Growing Up is highly recommended for personal
and public library music collections. The Tracks are "You've Got Me and I've Got You",
"Traveling Band (When I Grow Up)", "Calypso", "This Is A New Song", "Let's Go Drive",
"Butterfly (feat. Frances England)", "Hey It's A Good Day", "Upside Down", "Annie Beth",
"Forever My Friend", "Goodbyes are the Hardest Thing To Do", and "You Are Loved".
The Golden Rule: for Sonny
Eric Wyatt
Whaling City Sound
www.whalingcitysound.com
$16.99 CD / $8.99 MP3 amazon.com
Bandleader and tenor talent Eric Wyatt presents The Golden Rule: for Sonny, a jazz tribute music
album in honor of Sonny Rollins. The band members include guitarist Russell Malone, pianist
Benito Gonzalez, trombonist Clifton Anderson, tenor JD Allen, Giveton Gelin on trumpet and
pianist Sullivan Fortner. Eric Wyatt and the band have crafted a heartfelt, passionate wellspring.
The Golden Rule: for Sonny is highly recommended for public library music collections, and an
absolute "must-have" for jazz connoisseurs. 79 min.
Dreams for a Better Tomorrow
Alejandro Santoyo
www.alejandrosantoyo.com
Banade Records
$TBA CD / $9.49 MP3 amazon.com
Dreams for a Better Tomorrow is a piano album composed, arranged, produced, and performed
by Alejandro Santoyo. Santoyo's world-class talent shines; some songs are supported with
orchestral accompaniment, and all are drawn from the realities, joys, and despairs of life itself.
Sweeping and rapturous, Dreams for a Better Tomorrow resonates with hope, and is highly
recommended for both personal and public library music collections. The tracks are "Legends of
Love", "New World", "Leaving Behind", "Home Again", "Nostalgia", "Amor", "Hope",
"Awakening", "Lullaby", "Nenita", "Soft Touch", "Morning Light", "The March of Time",
"Embrace", "It's All Right", "Happenstance", "Just Us", and "The Miracle of Life".
The Library DVD Shelf
Islands of America
Martin Clunes
Acorn Media
c/o RLJ Entertainment
www.us.RLJEntertainment.com
$34.99 www.acornonline.com
Award-winning actor Martin Clunes hosts Islands of America, a four-episode documentary
miniseries on DVD showcasing the panoramic beauty and wonder of American islands. Clunes
starts in the state of Hawaii, notorious for its volcanoes; travels to Alaskan islands to watch bears
in the wild; observes seals and sea lions in California's Channel Islands; enjoys salsa dancing in
Puerto Rico; watches wild ponies swim at Chincoteague; and much more. An utterly gorgeous
tour, Islands of America is a treasure for armchair travelers and public library collections, highly
recommended. 4 episodes on 1 DVD, 196 min. widescreen, English language with English and
Spanish subtitles.
The Photography Shelf
Stories Behind the Images
Corey Rich
Mountaineers Books
1001 SW Klickitat Way, Suite 201, Seattle, WA 98134-1161
www.mountaineersbooks.org
9781680512649, $29.95, PB, 288pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: From his early days working out of his dorm room and shooting on film to becoming a
Nikon ambassador and official photographer of the historic Dawn Wall ascent, Corey Rich has
been capturing iconic shots of adventure superstars for more than two decades.
Now with the with the publication of "Stories Behind the Images: Lessons from a Life in
Adventure Photography", Corey tells how he got some of his favorite images of climbers,
adventurers, skiers, performance artists, and more. He shares insights into the business of
photography, photography tips, outdoor lessons, and what he has learned about human nature
along the way.
Featured outdoor athletes that are particularly showcased in "Stories Behind the Images" include:
Tommy Caldwell; Project Bandaloop; Beth Rodden; Lynn Hill; Ashima Shiraishi; Kelly Slater;
Bear Grylls; Alex Honnold; Fred Beckey; and many more.
Critique: Beautifully and profusely illustrated throughout in full color, "Stories Behind the
Images: Lessons from a Life in Adventure Photography" is an inherently fascinating and
impressively informative read from first page to last. Of special note is how the contents page
listing all of the individual chapters feature small photographs along with the one line chapter
titles. "Stories Behind the Images" is an especially recommended addition to the personal reading
lists of amateur and professional photographers, and certain to be an enduringly popular addition
to both community and academic library Contemporary Photography collections.
Flora Magnifica
Makoto Azuma, author
Shunsuke Shiinoki, photographer
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
9780500545003, $50.00, HC, 256pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Makoto Azuma cofounded the floral atelier Jardins des Fleurs with photographer
Shunsuke Shiinoki. Azuma is internationally renowned for his extraordinary "botanical
sculptures," which he has exhibited extensively across the globe. Shunsuke Shiinoki is a
photographer and cofounder of the floral atelier Jardins des Fleurs. Together they have created a
magnificent coffee table -style (9 x 1.1 x 12 inches ) volume of simply breathtaking photographs
of flowering plants.
A visually sumptuous book, "Flora Magnifica: The Art of Flowers in Four Seasons" is more than
a reference work or a simple collection of beautiful flowers. It is the product of a longstanding
symbiotic collaboration between renowned flower artist Makoto Azuma and botanical
photographer Shunsuke Shiinoki. Working together, they have selected hundreds of plant species
and arranged them in striking combinations that could never exist in the natural world, creating a
unique, fantastical floral aesthetic.
The result is a series of dense, luxuriant images, rich in color and texture, in which nature and
artifice are skillfully mingled. "Flora Magnifica" is organized thematically by season: the
freshness and new life of spring, the exuberance and abundance of summer, the fading grandeur
of fall, and the deepening shadows of winter. Recalling the opulent still-life paintings of the
seventeenth century, the photographs not only capture the surface beauty of the flowers, but
suggest the burgeoning life brimming within them as well as its transience.
From the delicate beauty of opening petals to the unfurling elegance of fern fronds, these
gorgeous displays are vividly preserved in a stunning book that will enchant lovers of nature,
photography, and art alike.
Critique: A visual joy to browse through page by page, "Flora Magnifica: The Art of Flowers in
Four Seasons" is a unique and extraordinary volume that would be an especially appreciated and
valued library Memorial Fund acquisition selection. Unreservedly recommended for personal,
community, college and university library Contemporary Photography collections, "Flora
Magnifica" is within itself an impressively memorable work of art.
The Art Shelf
The Artist's Guide to Public Art, second edition
Lynn Basa
Allworth Press
www.allworth.com
c/o Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.
307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018
www.skyhorsepublishing.com
9781621536147, $19.99, PB, 240pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Lynn Basa, an artist for almost forty years, has conceived and produced site-specific
work for hospitals, universities, corporate headquarters, and private collections. In 2017, she
began The Corner Project, a community development initiative to revitalize the old
working-class main street in Chicago where she lives and has a studio.
In this newly updated and expanded second edition of "The Artist's Guide to Public Art: How to
Find and Win Commissions", Lynn shows aspiring artists how to find, apply for, compete for,
and win a public art commission.
First-hand interviews with experienced public artists and arts administrators provide
in-the-trenches advice and insight, while a chapter on public art law, written by Barbara T.
Hoffman, the country's leading public art law attorney, answers questions about this complex
area.
Packed with details on working with contracts, conflict, controversy, communities, committees,
and more, This new edition of "The Artist's Guide to Public Art", shows artists how to cut
through the red tape and win commissions that are rewarding both financially and artistically.
Also discussed are recent trends in the field such as: how the political climate affects public art,
the types of projects that receive funding, where that funding comes from, how the digital age
impacts public art, how to compete with the increase of architecturally trained artists, and
more.
Critique: Essential reading for any dedicated artists seeking to make a living with their work,
"The Artist's Guide to Public Art: How to Find and Win Commissions" is packed from cover to
cover with information every artist needs to know including: Finding commissions; Submitting
applications; Negotiating contracts; Budgeting for projects; Navigating copyright law; Working
with fabricators, and so much more! While unreservedly recommended for community, college,
and university collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "The Artist's Guide to
Public Art: How to Find and Win Commissions" is also available in a digital book format
(Kindle, $13.99).
Return to Calgary
Brian W. Dippe, editor
Charles M. Russell Museum
c/o University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
www.oupress.com
9780974270234, $29.95, PB, 144pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: From his days spent on the open range of Montana, Charles M. Russell (March 19,
1864 - October 24, 1926) was drawn to depicting the life and history of the American West. In
1912 and again in 1919, the charismatic Wild West showman and rodeo promoter Guy Weadick
sought out Russell as a major exhibitor and headliner to help promote the fledgling "Stampede"
rodeo in Calgary, Alberta. The week long run of events and exhibits was designed to
commemorate the values and people of the Old West, then rapidly changing from a way of life in
North America to the stuff of memory, legend, and sport.
By celebrating old-timers, pioneers, ranching, cowboying, and indigenous traditions, the
Stampede delivered the "West that had passed" (which was a theme central to Russell's work as
an artist) to popular audiences across Canada. The special 1919 Calgary event was branded the
Victory Stampede in honor of the troops returning home from the Great War overseas and in
celebration of the signing of the Treaty of Versailles.
"Return to Calgary: Charles M. Russell and the 1919 Victory Stampede" richly illustrates all
twenty-four paintings and eight bronzes included in the historic 1919 special exhibition of
Russell's work at Victoria Park in Calgary.
Critique: Beautifully reproducing the vividly painted artwork in a large book format (12.2 x 0.5 x
9 inches), and featuring informative commentaries compiled and edited by Brian W. Dippe, this
outstanding edition "Return to Calgary: Charles M. Russell and the 1919 Victory Stampede" is
an unreservedly recommended addition to personal, community, and academic library Western
Art History collections in general, and Charles M.Russell supplemental studies reading lists in
particular.
Disrupted Realism
John Seed
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
www.schifferbooks.com
9780764358012, $50.00, HC, 208pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: John Seed is an artist and curator known for his HuffingtonPost Arts blog. Seed has
written for many publications, including Art Ltd., Arts of Asia, Catamaran, and
www.Hyperallergic.com, as well as having appeared in the Google Arts and Culture series 'Name
That Art'.
In "Disrupted Realism: Paintings for a Distracted World", Seed draws upon his impressive
expertise as an author and blogger to present an original survey the works of contemporary
painters who are challenging and reshaping the tradition of Realism.
Helping art lovers, collectors, and artists approach and understand this compelling new
phenomenon, "Disrupted Realism" includes the works of 38 artists whose paintings respond to
the subjectivity and disruptions of modern experience. These are artists Seed sees as visionaries
in this developing movement. The artists' impulses toward disruption are as individual as the
artists themselves, but all share the need to include perception and emotion in their artistic
process.
Six sections lay out and analyze common themes: "Toward Abstraction," "Disrupted Bodies,"
"Emotions and Identities," "Myths and Visions," "Patterns, Planes, and Formations," and
"Between Painting and Photography." Of special note is the inclusion of interviews with each
artist that offer additional insight into some of the most incisive and relevant painting being
created today.
Critique: Showcasing beautifully reproduced paintings in this coffee-table style artbook (9.2 x 1
x 12.2 inches) that includes single page layouts, "Disrupted Realism: Paintings for a Distracted
World" is an impressively informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking study that is
unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and academic library
Contemporary Art History collections and supplemental studies reading lists.
The Gardening Shelf
50 Simple Indoor Miniature Gardens
Catherine Delvaux
Fox Chapel Publishing Company
1970 Broad Street N., East Petersburg, PA 17520
www.FoxChapelPublishing.com
9781497100480, $17.99, PB, 144pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Catherine Delvaux is an agronomist and editor in chief of the French gardening
magazine Detente Jardin. She is the author of several gardening books including The 50 Golden
Rules of Permaculture and How to Grow From Seeds and Seedlings.
In "50 Simple Indoor Miniature Gardens", Catherine draws upon her impressive expertise
instructively showcase 50 inventive micro-garden ideas that were specifically selected for their
simplicity and easy upkeep. Here featured are terrariums, mini greenhouses, hanging plants, and
other original compositions among these stunning garden projects. With step-by-step illustrated
instructions, anyone can create and maintain a variety of charming and low-maintenance mini
indoor gardens, whether you prefer succulents, cacti, greenery, flowering plants, vegetables, or
orchids!
All of these selected plants are inexpensive, easy to find at your local garden center, and can each
thrive with simple care. But the containers and displays are creative and out-of-the-box! Long
gone are the days of the basic terracotta pot. Recycle and transform everyday objects into
amazing and beautiful plant displays, from glass jars and tin cans to sieves, seashells, and even
old chairs!
Critique: Impressively 'user friendly' in organization and presentation, especially for the novice
home gardener, "50 Simple Indoor Miniature Gardens" is an ideal and unreservedly
recommended addition to personal, professional, and community library Contemporary
Gardening instructional reference collections.
The Self-Help Shelf
The Imposter Cure
Jessamy Hibberd
Aster
c/o Octopus Books
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781783253067, $14.99, PB, 288pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Imposter syndrome is a phenomenon in which people believe they are not worthy of
success. They convince themselves that they have done well due to luck and are terrified their
shortcomings will eventually be exposed, making it impossible to enjoy their
accomplishments.
"The Imposter Cure: Escape the Mind-Trap of Imposter Syndrome" by Jessamy Hibberd explores
the psychological impact of imposter syndrome and exposes the secrets fears and insecurities felt
by millions of men and women. Dr. Hibberd provides sound expert advice to help the reader
better understand the problem and overcome it, so they think differently, gain self belief and
learn to see themselves as others do.
Filled with case studies to bring the concepts alive and packed with strategies to increase
confidence, "The Imposter Cure" is especially insightful reading for anyone who has struggled
with their achievements.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "The Imposter Cure: Escape the
Mind-Trap of Imposter Syndrome" is thoroughly 'reader friendly' in tone and 'real world practical'
in commentary, making it an ideal and unreservedly recommended addition to personal and
community library Self-Help/Self-Improvement collections. It should be noted for personal
reading lists that "The Imposter Cure" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle,
$8.99).
Editorial Note: Dr Jessamy Hibberd (BSc, MSc, DClinPsy, PgDip) is a highly respected
chartered clinical psychologist, author and commentator. She has 14 years' experience working in
mental health (within the NHS and in her own practice), and is passionate about psychology and
the benefits it can bring.
The Library Science Shelf
Do Archives Have Value?
Michael Moss & David Thomas, editors
Facet Publishing
www.facetpublishing.co.uk
9781783303335, $199.99, HC, 240pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Collaborative compiled and co-edited by Michael Moss (who was an archvist and
archival educator at Glasgow and Northumbria Universities) and David Thomas (who spent his
career at The National Archives, Londoan, Kingland, largely in the digital area), "Do Archives
Have Value?" explores ways of establishing value and measuring in the archives and specials
collections.
There is a vast literature about ways of measuring value for cultural heritage assets as a whole,
particularly museums and visitor attractions, but archives and special collections in libraries have
largely been overlooked. They have been very poor at garnering statistical data and devising ways
of measuring the impact of what they do, unlike museums and visitor attractions with their much
heavier footfall.
Comprised of ten impressively informative articles by experts on their subjects, "Do Archives
Have Value?" discusses the various valuation methods available, including contingent valuation,
willingness to pay and value chain, and assesses their suitability for use by archives and special
collections.
"Do Archives Have Value?" also assesses the impact of the transition to the digital in archival
holdings, which will transform their character and will almost certainly cost more. The
discussion will be set in the context of changing societal expectations of the archive in the wake
of child abuse and other scandals where records to address grievances must be kept irrespective
of cost. Value is explored in a range of different cultural and organizational contexts with case
studies from a range of countries, including Australia, China, Japan, Malawi, Kenya, Russia and
Thailand.
There are contributions from Nancy Bell, Head of Conservation at The National Archives, Louise
Craven, one of the leading UK archival scholars, Paul Lihoma, National Archivist of Malawi,
Helen Morgan from the University of Melbourne, Pak Te Lee of the University of Hong Kong
and Richard Wato from the National Archives of Kenya. Key chapters include: The value of the
Clinton emails for research The value of Russian archives before and after revolution The value
of archives in public inquiries - the case of the Hillsborough tragedy The value of Find &
Connect - Australia's response to child abuse The Chinese long tradition of record keeping Why
and how to value Valuing digital content The commercialization of archives.
"Do Archives Have Value?" will be useful reading for professional archivists and students on
archival studies courses. In the wider world of cultural heritage valuation is of increasing
importance in justifying services and bidding for scant resources. As a result, "Do Archives Have
Value?" will also be of particular interest to senior management with oversight of libraries and
museums, owners of collections and external funders.
Critique: A unique, seminal, and expressly organized and presented work of collective
scholarship, "Do Archives Have Value?" will prove to be an essential, core addition to
professional, college, and university 'Library Science & Technology' collections and
supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of students,
academia, librarians, library board members, and non-specialist general readers with an interest
in the subject that "Do Archives Have Value?" is also available in a paperback edition
(9781783303328, $89.99).
The Automotive Shelf
Ludicrous
Edward Niedermeyer
BenBella Books
10300 N. Central Expressway, Ste 400, Dallas, TX 75204
www.benbellabooks.com
9781948836128, $27.95, HC, 220pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Tesla Motors and its CEO, Elon Musk, have become household names, shaking up the
traditional auto industry by creating a set of innovative electric vehicles that have wowed the
marketplace and defied conventional wisdom. The company's market valuation now rivals that of
long-established automakers, and, to many industry observers, Tesla is defining the future of the
industry.
But behind the hype, Tesla has some serious deficiencies that raise questions about its sky-high
valuation, and even its ultimate survival.
Tesla's commitment to innovation has led it to reject the careful, zero-defects approach of other
car manufacturers, even as it struggles to mass-produce cars reliably, and with minimal defects.
While most car manufacturers struggle with the razor-thin margins of mid-priced sedans, Tesla's
strategy requires that the Model 3 finally bring it to profitability, even as the high-priced Roadster
and Model S both lost money. And Tesla's approach of continually focusing on the future, even
as commitments and deadlines are repeatedly missed, may ultimately test the patience of all but
its most devoted fans.
In "Ludicrous: The Unvarnished Story of Tesla Motors", journalist and auto industry analyst
Edward Niedermeyer lays bare the disconnect between the popular perception of Tesla and the
day-to-day realities of the company -- and the cars it produces. Blending original reporting and
never-before-published insider accounts with savvy industry analysis, Niedermeyer tells the story
of Tesla with objectivity and insight.
Critique: Exceptionally well written, impressively informative, deftly organized and presented,
"Ludicrous: The Unvarnished Story of Tesla Motors" is an extraordinary, detailed, and
documented study of an automobile company and its iconoclastic founder. While unreservedly
recommended for both community and academic library collections, it should be noted for
personal reading lists that "Ludicrous: The Unvarnished Story of Tesla Motors" is also available
in a digital book format (Kindle, $15.99).
The Biography Shelf
The Bourbon King
Bob Batchelor
Diversion Books
www.diversionbooks.com
9781635765861 $27.99 hc / $10.99 Kindle amazon.com
Synopsis: On the 100th anniversary of The Volstead Act comes the epic, definitive story of the
man who cracked the Prohibition system, became one of the world's richest criminal
masterminds, and helped inspire The Great Gatsby.
Love, murder, political intrigue, mountains of cash, and rivers of bourbon . . . The tale of George
Remus is a grand spectacle and a lens into the dark heart of Prohibition. Yes, Congress gave teeth
to Prohibition in October 1919, but the law didn't stop George Remus from amassing a fortune
that would be worth billions of dollars today. As one Jazz Age journalist put it, "Remus was to
bootlegging what Rockefeller was to oil."
Author Bob Batchelor breathes life into the largest bootlegging operation in America--greater
than that of Al Capone--and a man considered the best criminal defense lawyer of his era. Remus
bought an empire of distilleries on Kentucky's "Bourbon Trail" and used his other profession, as
a pharmacist, to profit off legal loopholes. He spent millions bribing officials in the Harding
Administration, and he created a roaring lifestyle that epitomized the Jazz Age over which he
ruled.
That is, before he came crashing down in one of the most sensational murder cases in American
history: a cheating wife, the G-man who seduced her and put Remus in jail, and the plunder of a
Bourbon Empire. Remus murdered his wife in cold-blood and then shocked a nation winning his
freedom based on a condition he invented--temporary maniacal insanity.
Critique: The Bourbon King: The Life and Crimes of George Remus, Prohibition's Evil Genius is
the biography of Prohibition-era bootlegger George Remus. Here is a true-life tale worthy of the
most sensationalist tabloids. Remus amassed a multi-million dollar illegal fortune, and entrusted
control of his money to his wife, who cheated on him and attempted to file for divorce. Remus
murdered his wife in broad daylight, to the horror of onlookers, yet walked away a free man from
the trial due to the verdict of "not guilty on grounds of insanity". Notes, a timeline, and an index
round out this expertly researched story, sure to fascinate historians, criminologists, and lay
readers alike. Highly recommended, especially for public library biography collections. It should
be noted for personal reading lists that The Bourbon King is also available in a Kindle edition
($10.99).
Elizabeth Widville, Lady Grey
John Ashdown-Hill
Pen & Sword Books
c/o Casemate (distribution)
www.casematepublishers.com
https://www.pen-and-sword.co.uk
9781526745019, $42.95, HC, 224pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Wife to Edward IV and mother to the Princes in the Tower and later Queen Elizabeth
of York, Elizabeth Widville was a central figure during the War of the Roses. Much of her life is
shrouded in speculation and myth with even her name, commonly spelled as 'Woodville', being a
hotly contested issue among historians.
Born in the turbulent fifteenth century, she was famed for her beauty and controversial second
marriage to Edward IV, who she married just three years after he had displaced the Lancastrian
Henry VI and claimed the English throne. As Queen Consort, Elizabeth's rise from commoner to
royalty continues to capture modern imagination. Undoubtedly, it enriched the position of her
family. Her elevated position and influence invoked hostility from Richard Neville, the
'Kingmaker', which later led to open discord and rebellion.
Throughout her life and even after the death of her husband, Elizabeth (popularly known to her
people as the 'Pink Queen') remained politically influential: briefly proclaiming her son King
Edward V of England before he was deposed by her brother-in-law, the infamous Richard III.
She would later play an important role in securing the succession of Henry Tudor in 1485 and his
marriage to her daughter Elizabeth of York, thus and ending the War of the Roses.
Elizabeth Widville was an endlessly enigmatic historical figure, who has been obscured by
dramatizations and misconceptions. In this fascinating and insightful biography, Dr John
Ashdown-Hill brings shines a light on the truth of her life.
Critique: "Elizabeth Widville, Lady Grey: Edward IV's Chief Mistress and the 'Pink Queen'" is a
simply fascinating and deftly crafted biography of an extraordinary life lived out in extraordinary
times. Enhanced with the inclusion of a seven page Bibliography, twenty-two pages of Notes,
and a six page Index, this outstanding work of original and meticulous scholarship is
unreservedly recommended for community, college, and university library collections. It should
be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, and non-specialist general readers
with an interest in the subject that "Elizabeth Widville, Lady Gray" is also available in a
paperback edition (9781526765833, $29.95).
Editorial Note: Dr John Ashdown-Hill is a well-known medieval historian, having published
extensively on a variety of topics within that period but focusing mainly on the Yorkist era. He is
best-known for his pivotal role in uncovering the burial place of King Richard III for and for
tracing collateral female-line descendants of Richard's elder sister to establish his mtDNA
haplogroup, which matched the mtDNA of the bones found in the Leicester car park. He
continues to write about this period of history, and in 2015 he was awarded an MBE 'for services
to historical research and the exhumation and identification of Richard III'.
On Stage at the Ballet
Robert J. Barnett & Cynthia Crain
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476679105, $35.00, PB, 221pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Dancer Robert Barnett trained under legendary choreographer Bronislava Nijinska. His
professional ballet career was launched when he joined the Colonel de Basil Original Ballet
Russe company. In the late 1940s, when George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein formed the
New York City Ballet, Barnett was among the first generation of dancers. Under Balanchine's
direction, he rose from corps de ballet to soloist.
In 1958 he became principal dancer and associate artistic director of the Atlanta Ballet the oldest
continuously operating company in America and served as artistic director for more than thirty
years. He was head coach of the American delegation to the International Ballet Competitions in
Varna, Bulgaria, in 1980 and in Moscow in 1981.
Written by Robert Barnett with the assistance of Cynthia Crain, "On Stage at the Ballet"
autobiography recounts his life of a dancer and artistic director, offering insight into what is
involved in pursuing a professional career in dance, as well as providing a history of ballet in
America from the early 1920s through 2019.
Critique: An extraordinary account of an extraordinary man of extraordinary accomplishment,
"On Stage at the Ballet: My Life As Dancer and Artistic Director" is unreservedly recommended
for both community and academic library Contemporary American Biography collections and is
a 'must' for anyone who has ever enjoyed a American ballet performance.
The Environmental Studies Shelf
Firestorm
Edward Struzik
Island Press
2000 M Street NW, Suite 650, Washington, DC 20036
www.islandpress.org
9781610918183, $30.00, HC, 272pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: For two months in the spring of 2016, the world watched as wildfire ravaged the
Canadian town of Fort McMurray. Firefighters named the fire "the Beast." It acted like a
mythical animal, alive with destructive energy, and they hoped never to see anything like it again.
Yet it's not a stretch to imagine we will all soon live in a world in which fires like the Beast are
commonplace. A glance at international headlines shows a remarkable increase in higher
temperatures, stronger winds, and drier lands -- a trifecta for igniting wildfires rarely seen
before.
This change is particularly noticeable in the northern forests of the United States and Canada.
These forests require fire to maintain healthy ecosystems, but as the human population grows,
and as changes in climate, animal and insect species, and disease cause further forestry
destabilization, wildfires have turned into a potentially uncontrollable threat to human lives and
livelihoods.
Our understanding of the role fire plays in healthy forests has come a long way in the past
century. Despite this, we are not prepared to deal with an escalation of fire during periods of
intense drought and shorter winters, earlier springs, potentially more lightning strikes and hotter
summers. There is too much fuel on the ground, too many people and assets to protect, and no
plan in place to deal with these challenges.
In "Firestorm: How Wildfire Will Shape Our Future", journalist Edward Struzik visits scorched
earth from Alaska to Maine, and introduces the scientists, firefighters, and resource managers
making the case for a radically different approach to managing wildfire in the 21st century.
Wildfires can no longer be treated as avoidable events because the risk and dangers are becoming
too great and costly. Struzik weaves a heart-pumping narrative of science, economics, politics,
and human determination and points to the ways that we, and the wilder inhabitants of the forests
around our cities and towns, might yet flourish in an age of growing megafires.
Critique: Impressively and comprehensively informative, exceptionally well written, organized
and presented, "Firestorm: How Wildfire Will Shape Our Future" is one of those extraordinary
studies that will be read with interest by environmental experts and non-specialist general readers
alike. Certain to be an enduringly valued and highly prized addition to both community and
academic library Environmental Studies collections in general, and Forestry Management
supplemental lists in particular, it should be noted for personal reading lists that "Firestorm" is
also available in a paperback edition (978-1610919975, $23.00) and in a digital book format
(Kindle, $16.19).
Editorial Note: Edward Struzik is an award-winning writer and photographer. His previous books
include Future Arctic, Arctic Icons, and The Big Thaw, among others. A fellow at the Institute
for Energy and Environmental Policy at Queen's University in Kingston, Canada, his numerous
accolades include the prestigious Atkinson Fellowship in Public Policy and the Sir Sandford
Fleming Medal, awarded for outstanding contributions to the understanding of science. He lives
in Edmonton, Alberta.
The Military Shelf
Navy SEALs
Don Mann & Lance Burton
Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.
307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018
www.skyhorsepublishing.com
9781510716551, $24.99, HC, 344pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: In a world where acts of terror have become all too commonplace, America has turned
to the elite warriors of special operations to lead the fight and hunt down those whose very
ideology is one of hate for everything our nation stands for. Among those units one stands apart
from the rest, carrying out the most dangerous missions with precision and now legendary
lethality: the US Navy SEALs. What led these warriors to become one of the most feared and
respected units in history?
From their birth in World War II as combat swimmers clearing the beaches of Normandy to their
evolution into fighting men who could operate anywhere in the world by sea, air, or land, the
intrepid story of the US Navy SEALs is one of courage, sacrifice, and world-renowned toughness
that echoes of other great military units of history such as the Spartans, the Roman legions, or the
Japan's samurai.
"Navy SEALs: The Combat History of the Deadliest Warriors on the Planet", authors Don Mann
and Lance Burton reveal and document just what makes the SEALs America's deadliest
warriors.
Mann and Burton take the reader through the inception of the Naval Combat Demolition Teams
(NCDU) and Underwater Demolition Teams (UDT) during World War II, their testing and
development in Korea and into the Vietnam War, where the SEALs truly laid the groundwork for
their legendary status, and on into the present day. The authors highlight the major steps and
operations along the way, discuss the training and what it takes, and explore some of the most
important moments in SEAL history.
Critique: Exceptionally informative and an inherently fascinating read from cover to cover,
"Navy SEALs: The Combat History of the Deadliest Warriors on the Planet" will prove to be an
immediate and enduringly popular addition to both community and academic library American
Military History collections in general, and SEALs supplemental studies lists in particular. It
should be noted for the personal reading lists of military buffs and non-specialist general readers
with an interest in the subject that "Navy SEALs: The Combat History of the Deadliest Warriors
on the Planet" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $16.99) and as a complete and
unabridged audio book (Highbridge Audio, 9781681685991, $29.99, CD).
The Business Shelf
American Businesses in China, third edition
Nancy Lynch Street & Marilyn J. Matelski
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
https://mcfarlandbooks.com
9781476672274, $39.95, PB, 341pp, www.amazon.com
Synopsis: Since the publication of earlier editions of "American Businesses in China: Balancing
Culture and Communication" by Nancy Lynch Street (Professor Emerita of Communication
Studies at Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, Massachusetts) and Marilyn J. Matelski
Professor Emerita of Communication at Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts), China's
political and economic landscapes have changed dramatically, with the rise of new leadership,
evolving alliances, tariff wars, educational policies and technological advancements. Focusing on
Chinese-American ventures, this expanded and revised third edition chronicles the investments
that have marked China's astonishing growth in the 21st century. Adding another dimension to
the exploration of Chinese-American commerce, this newly updated and expanded third edition
discusses China's roots in Confucian identity and its effect on modern business culture. Case
studies of American businesses that have been successful in China are included. Reflecting upon
the changing nature of Chinese consumerism and international corporate behavior, Professors
Lynch and Matelski close with specific suggestions for those interested in doing business in
China.
Critique: Given the worsening impact of the current U.S. administration's invoked tariff war with
China, this new and updated third edition of "American Businesses in China: Balancing Culture
and Communication" should be considered essential and imperative reading for any corporate
executive or entrepreneur considering or already engaged in a business enterprise with respect to
China. This new third edition of "American Business in China" is unreservedly recommended for
corporate, governmental, community, and academic library America/China International
Business reference collection.
The Social Issues Shelf
Frenemies
Jaime E. Settle
Cambridge University Press
One Liberty Plaza, Fl. 20, New York, NY 10006
www.cambridge.org
9781108459952 $31.99 pbk / $24.49 Kindle amazon.com
Synopsis: Why do Americans have such animosity for people who identify with the opposing
political party? Jaime E. Settle argues that in the context of increasing partisan polarization
among American political elites, the way we communicate on Facebook uniquely facilitates
psychological polarization among the American public. Frenemies introduces the END
Framework of social media interaction. END refers to a subset of content that circulates in a
social media ecosystem: a personalized, quantified blend of politically informative 'expression',
'news', and 'discussion' seamlessly interwoven into a wider variety of socially informative
content. Scrolling through the News Feed triggers a cascade of processes that result in negative
attitudes about those who disagree with us politically. The inherent features of Facebook, paired
with the norms of how people use the site, heighten awareness of political identity, bias the
inferences people make about others' political views, and foster stereotyped evaluations of the
political out-group.
Critique: Frenemies: How Social Media Polarizes America applies scholarly scrutiny to an
increasingly apparent problem - American politics, and psychological attitudes, have become
their most polarized since the Civil War. Chapters example why and how social media platforms
such as Facebook contribute to the divide, by reinforcing preconceptions, and steering users
toward the subsection of the Internet that agrees with their own views and villifies the opposing
side. Exhaustively researched, intensely data-driven and featuring an index for ease of reference,
Frenemies is a welcome contribution to public and college library Social Issues collections. It
should be noted for personal reading lists that Frenemies is also available in a Kindle edition
($24.49).
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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