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The Bookwatch

Volume 7, Number 4 April 2012 Home | BW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Interior Design Shelf
Cookbook Shelf Psychology Shelf Human Sexuality Shelf
Health/Medicine Shelf Needlecraft Shelf Computer Shelf
Education Shelf Art Shelf Science Shelf
Photography Shelf Audiobook Shelf Travel Shelf
Military Shelf Biography Shelf Automotive Shelf
Marriage Shelf Writing/Publishing Shelf Crafts Shelf
Sports Shelf Business Shelf Fiction Shelf
Mystery/Suspense Shelf Social Issues Shelf Native American Shelf
Humor Shelf Political Science Shelf American History Shelf
World History Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf  


Reviewer's Choice

The Unlikely Peace at Cuchumaquic
Martin Prechtel
North Atlantic Books
2526 Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Berkeley, CA 94704-2607
9781583943601, $24.95, www.northatlanticbooks.com

The Unlikely Peace at Cuchumaquic: The Parallel Lives of People as Plants: Keeping the Seeds Alive reflects the author's experiences growing up on a Pueblo Indian reservation and his years of apprenticing to a Guatemalan shaman, returning to the U.S. after fleeing the country's civil war. It provides a diverse survey hard to easily categorize, detailing our current ecological crisis and the vanishing indigenous values and cultures around the world. Real human culture is exterminated when the non-genetically modified seeds of plants that feed us are lost - and this approaches the issue both metaphorically and spiritually, discussing how such seeds of spirituality and culture need to be cherished, replanted, and harvested. Collections strong in tribal insights, ecology, spirituality, and autobiography alike will find this a moving, passionate work.

Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way
North Adams, MA 01247
www.storey.com

Lewis Hill and Leonard Perry's THE FRUIT GARDENER'S BIBLE: A COMPLETE GUIDE TO GROWING FRUITS AND NUTS IN THE HOME GARDEN (9781603425674 $24.95) provides a fine survey from planning to picking and teaches how to choose the best varieties from every region of North America. From creating edible landscapes and selecting spray-free fruits for an organic garden to pruning according to habit, considering cultivars and climate needs, and understanding harvest, this provides color photos and specifics for all kinds of fruit and nuts and shows how to virtually assure a bountiful crop. Home and garden and general lending libraries will relish this! Gail Damerow's THE CHICKEN ENCYCLOPEDIA: AN ILLUSTRATED REFERENCE (9781603425612, $19.95) is a 'must' for any interested in a fast reference answering chicken questions. From which breeds lay what kind of eggs to growing chickens for meat, catching and hypnotizing a chicken, handling molting, and more, this provides illustrations and answers that lend to at-a-glance referencing, and is perfect for any rural or small town library where patrons contemplate keeping chickens.

364 Questions
Stephen G. Bucher
New Riders
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
0321733002, $14.99, www.newriders.com

364 QUESTIONS: THE CREATIVE PERSON'S DO-IT-YOURSELF GUIDE TO INSIGHT, SURVIVAL, AND ARTISTIC FULFILLMENT offers a fun visual series of flowcharts, diagrams and designs that begin with a creative person's purposes and create flowchart options for uncovering underlying barriers and finding ultimate satisfaction. Humor blends with illustration and applied logic in a fine and fun set of queries perfect for the artistic personality seeking light enlightenment and laughter.

A History of Design from the Victorian Era to the Present, second edition
Ann Ferebee with Jeff Byles
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393732726, $50.00, www.wwnorton.com

A History of Design from the Victorian Era to the Present: A Survey of the Modern Style in Architecture, Interior Design, Industrial Design, Graphic Design, and Photography appears in its second updated edition to provide a unique cross-disciplinary survey of design history for any college-level student of architecture or design. It packs in an illustrated survey of design around the world, considering the rise of different styles, and influences of major design figures, and providing expanded coverage in this edition to include the latest design changes over the last forty years. Any classes strong in design and architecture will appreciate this colorful survey.

Math for the Frightened
Colin Pask
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst NY 14228-2197
9781616144210, $19.00, www.prometheusbooks.com

MATH FOR THE FRIGHTENED: FACING SCARY SYMBOLS AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT FREAKS YOU OUT ABOUT MATHEMATICS posits that the math and science books for the general public usually avoid the use of symbolic notation and thus deny the public the opportunity to realize math's power. Readers are introduced the main ideas of math and how terms are expressed using symbols, with discussion showing how math is used in science and the everyday world alike. Beginners who have little math background but who are curious about math will find this an accessible introduction geared to non-math lay readers.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Boneyards
Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Pyr
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 142280-2197
978161614539, $16.00, www.pyrsf.com

BONEYARDS is a pick for any interested in space opera science fiction, and returns Rusch's character Boss to a new adventure. Her search for an ancient technology to help her friends find answers to the mystery of their past leads her to evidence of ancient space battles, and involvement with an old friend who is also on the wrong side of the empire and who needs her help to fight. Between battles and struggles with friendships, Boss finds herself facing new major life challenges and changes in a fast-paced story filled with politics, battles, and personal confrontation.

Shadows in Flight
Orson Scott Card
Tor Books
c/o Tor/Forge
175 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10010
9780765332004, $21.99, www.tor-forge.com

SHADOWS IN FLIGHT is a sequel to SHADOW OF THE GIANT that can be read as a standalone novel, offering new insights on Julian "Bean" Delphiki, who fled to the stars in search of a cure for the gene alteration that he and three of his children share. SHADOWS IN FLIGHT expands on the Ender's Game scenario, and involves a struggle in the Delphiki clan to try to stop their rapid aging. Add an alien ship and a dangerous exploration and you have a fine survey highly recommended for any fan of Ender, Card, or newcomers to Orson Scott Card's magic.


The Interior Design Shelf

It's Lonely in the Modern World
Molly Jane Quinn
Chronicle Books
680 Second Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
9780811879286, $19.95, www.chroniclebooks.com

It's Lonely in the Modern World: The Essential Guide to Form, Function, and Ennui from the Creators of Unhappy Hipsters offers a fine guide from the popular Web site and considers that's required to create a satisfying modern home. From landscaping to kitchen appliances, ductwork to artwork, this covers modern design choices and results and packs chapters with illustrations, photos and charts to discuss and represent the ideals of modernity and how it functions in a home setting. Both home and arts collections will find the survey lively, involving, and an embrace of the cultural underpinnings of modernity.

Salvage Secrets
Joanne Palmisano
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393733394, $39.95, www.wwnorton.com

SALVAGE SECRETS: TRANSFORMING RECLAIMED MATERIALS INTO DESIGN CONCEPTS provides a fine resource from a veteran salvager and designer who offers interior decoration potentials using a range of rescued materials. This goes beyond the usual applications and offers twists on topics, from using old windows as room dividers to using oak doors as wall paneling and recycled granite for a modern fireplace. From where salvaged materials can be used in a modern home to making them into unique designs, SALVAGE SECRETS is a 'must' for any home and garden or interior design library.


The Cookbook Shelf

Handheld Pies
Sarah Billingsley & Rachel Wharton
Chronicle Books
680 Second Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
9781452102146, $19.95, www.chroniclebooks.com

HANDHELD PIES: DOZENS OF PINT-SIZE SWEETS & SAVORIES deserves ongoing recommendation as a very fine guide to small-scale eating. Color photos by Ellen Silverman accompany a fine collection of variations of miniature pies, from homemade pop tarts to tiny cream pies in canning jars. Bacon, Egg and Cheese Breakfast Pie, Shepherd's Pie, and more are provided in small dishes and containers that lend to bite-sized enjoyment. A top pick for any collection strong in gourmet cookbooks and 'small bites' cookery.

Reclaiming Our Food
Tanya Denckla Cobb
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way
North Adams, MA 01247
9781603427999, $24.95, www.storey.com

Reclaiming Our Food: How the Grassroots Food Movement is Changing the Way We Eat pairs photo essays by Jason Houston with a discussion of the rising public demand for more fresh, local foods. Community food projects are springing up to meet this demand by schools, restaurants, food markets and individuals, lead by creative people whose projects are creating jobs and building local enthusiasm for growing and consuming fresh local produce. These are the stores of some 60 grassroots food programs, synthesizing the lessons they learned and providing a 'how to' handbook for any interested in achieving the same in their community, making this a pick for any general lending library.

Rawlicious
Peter and Beryn Daniel
North Atlantic Books
2526 Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Berkeley, CA 94704-2607
9781556439650, $19.95, www.northatlanticbooks.com

RAWLICIOUS: DELICIOUS RAW RECIPES FOR RADIANT HEALTH pairs color photos throughout with insights from two raw food chefs who maintain that a raw food diet is actually very easy to achieve and is filled with health benefits and flavor. It provides the basics of raw cooking principles and pairs these with a range of recipes, from juices to salads and gourmet dishes, and is a pick for any collection strong in natural and raw foods preparations. International influences add flavor and ideas with Thai sauces, Cilantro Pesto, and breakfasts of nutty fruit salads and toppings.

The Nepal Cookbook
Association of Nepalis in the Americas
Snow Lion Publications
PO Box 6483, Ithaca, NY 14851
9781559393812, $14.95, www.snowlionpub.com

THE NEPAL COOKBOOK provides a rare Nepalese cookbook providing everything from festival dishes to everyday recipes and represent the best of Nepal's different cultures and cuisines. From Cauliflower and Potato Curry to Pan-Fried Okra, Sun-Dried Potato Curry and Raisin Pickle, dishes are simple in approach and representative of the diversity of the Nepalese peoples. Highly recommended for any collection strong in ethnic cuisine; particularly since Nepalese cookery books are few and far between. No photos, but the very easy dishes need no embellishment to prove successful.

Professional Cake Decorating, updated edition
Toba Garrett
John Wiley
111 River Street, Hoboken NJ 07030-5774
9780470380093, $65.00, www.wiley.com

PROFESSIONAL CAKE DECORATING provides a fine updated edition of a classic guide to cake decorating and is for both professionals and hobby bakers. It comes from a baker with years of experience as a master cake designer, and presents all the cake decorating skills in an illustrated step-by-step format with line art and lovely photos throughout. The introductory chapter on all basics of the cake designer's art covers everything from assembling and icing a cake to assembling tiers with columns and decorating in a range of styles from beginning to advanced icing and piping, writing, hand molding and more. Highly recommended!


The Psychology Shelf

Autism Spectrum Disorders Through the Life Span
Digby Tantam
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market St., Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781843109938, $125.00, www.jkp.com

Autism Spectrum Disorders Through the Life Span provides a fine resource embracing the latest research and clinical practices for the diagnosis, treatment and support of autistic individuals at each stage of life. Health, psychology, and social issues blend in an in-depth guide that considers associated psychiatric and medical conditions, new methods of assessment, and standard clinical and psychological assessment as well as genetic testing. While college-level health collections will be the most likely readers, many a general lending library will find the technical insights accessible by lay readers.

That's Disgusting
Rachel Herz
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393076479, $26.95, $26.95

THAT'S DISGUSTING: UNRAVELING THE MYSTERIES OF REPULSION comes from a psychologist who blends science, humor and insights into the human psyche to identify the instincts and origins of how disgust shapes our culture and everyday lives. Disgust is an emotion that evolved so people could avoid danger: today it's more of a cultural response and determines social etiquette and strategies to attract mates. Disgust is a blend of survival instinct and culture, and THAT'S DISGUSTING identifies the latest findings in neurology and brain research. Examples blend with humor to spice a lively discourse suitable for general lending collections as well as many a psychology holding.


The Human Sexuality Shelf

Naked at Our Age
Joan Price
Seal Press
1700 - 4th St., Berkeley CA 94710
9781580053389, $16.95, www.sealpress.com

NAKED AT OUR AGE: TALKING OUT LOUD ABOUT SENIOR SEX advocates that seniors can have a full sex life no matter what their age. The ups and downs of senior sexuality are discussed with an eye to showing how people over 50 can achieve satisfaction. From surviving divorce and handling erectile dysfunction to dating later in life and handling sex pain, this surveys everything from problems to making sex more satisfying by using sex toys. It's rare to find a coverage on senior sexuality and this is a pick not only for health collections, but for any public library appealing to a senior population.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Doctors are More Harmful Than Germs
Harvey Bigelsen, MD
North Atlantic Books
2526 Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Berkeley, CA 94704-2607
9781556439582, $17.95, www.northatlanticbooks.com

Doctors are More Harmful Than Germs: How Surgery Can Be Hazardous to Your Health - and What To Do About It shows that common medical problems are the cause of many chronic, long-term health problems, and argues that better medical approaches allow the body go through the process of healing rather than suppressing symptoms. He promotes a different approach that teaches searching for the root causes of illness in the body as a whole, and offers a radically different perspective on illness and its treatment. And he condemns surgery as 'causing injury' that never is fully resolved, from vasectomies to root canals in teeth. This will especially appeal to those with chronic illness that never seen fully resolved, and is a pick for general-interest and medical collections alike.

Eat to Defeat Menopause
Karen Giblin and Mache Seibel, MD
Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Book Broup
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
9780738215099, $19.00, www.dacapopress.com

EAT TO DEFEAT MENOPAUSE: THE ESSENTIAL NUTRITION GUIDE FOR A HEALTHY MIDLIFE pairs over 130 recipes with tips from two of the nation's top menopause experts, pairing facts about menopause and its symptoms with insights on how dietary modifications can make the menopause transition an easier event. From choosing foods that contain phytoestrogens such as soy and garlic to stabilizing mood swings by eating omega-3 fatty acids and choosing foods that encourage a healthy sex drive, this advocates a diet that combats mood swings and many of the symptoms of menopause.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Knitting with the Color Guys
Kaffe Fassett and Brandon Mably
Sixth&Spring Books
161 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10013
9781936096374, $24.95, www.sixthandspringbooks.com

Knitting with the Color Guys comes from two top designers who together provide a fine collection of knits that showcases their color patterns, sharing their techniques for creating vibrant patterns and colors, and is a pick for any needlework collection. Each chapter is arranged by color inspiration to band together similar hues and shades, and each chapter compliments bright color displays with discussions of why they work. The result is a personal workshop in a book sharing the authors' techniques and approaches to textile color, and is a solid pick for any quilter or needleworker's collection.

60 Pieced Quilt Borders
Judy Laquidara
American Quilter's Society
Box 3290, Paduch, KY 42002-3290
9781604600124, $26.95, www.AmericanQuilter.com

60 Pieced Quilt Borders is a pick for quilter's libraries and tells how to produce some fifteen quilts with 4 border designs each. Any of the 60 borders covered can be used on any quilt, and this book teaches beginners and advanced quilters alike how to make adjustments for size and style. Color drawings and illustrations, notes on yardage and assembly, and keys to cornerstone applications make this a winning guide to any who would expand their knowledge of finishing touches on a quilt border.

Make it Sew Modern
Vanessa Christenson
Martingale & Company
19021 - 120th Ave NE #102, Bothell, WA 98011-9511
9781604680591, $24.99, www.martingale-pub.com

Make it Sew Modern: Gather, Twist, Pleat, Texture tells how to use three-dimensional flowers, embellishments, pleats, and other techniques to add dimension and texture to any sewing or quilting project and is a pick for any who would sew easy patterns and create unique designs. Chapters are packed with color examples, step-by-step instructions, and black and white diagrams and ideas for adding accents to a range of projects. Any needlework collection strong in finishing touches will find this a fine pick!

Knit Local
Tanis Gray
Sixth&Spring Books
161 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 1301
New York, NY 10013
9781936096183, $19.95, www.sixthandspringbooks.com

KNIT LOCAL: CELEBRATING AMERICA'S HOMEGROWN YARNS celebrates American yarn companies and showcases their products, pairing a history of yarn companies with a collection of some 30 designs for men, women and children. Complete patterns are accompanied by photos of American farms and the sheep, alpacas and bison that live on them, while local fiber events and festivals across the country are profiled. Projects are designed to showcase local sustainable yarns and fibers and make for an outstanding resource for any fiber artist and for collections catering to them.

The Knitter's Life List
Gwen W. Steege
Storey
210 MassMoca Way, North Adams, MA 01247
9781603429962, $24.95, www.storey.com

THE KNITTER'S LIFE LIST provides a fine survey listing over 1,000 experiences based on knitting. It comes from a veteran knitter and fiber artist who has assembled ideas and inspiration from the knitting community, from amazing yarns and classic techniques to museums of knitting-related exhibits, festivals and retreats based on knitting, and history surrounding yarn developments. From yarn-friendly cities to classic sweater designs and experiences in weaving, spinning, dyeing and crochet, this compiles techniques, designs, and knitting challenges under one cover and is a fine and varied pick for any knitter who would explore knitting history, patterns and culture.


The Computer Shelf

iPhone and iPad Apps for Absolute Beginners, i0S 5 Edition
Dr. Rory Lewis
Apress
233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013
9781430236023, $29.99, www.apress.com

iPhone and iPad Apps for Absolute Beginners, i0S 5 Edition teaches the basics of getting started building iPhone and iPad apps, and is a pick for any professional programmer seeking specific details in this area. It uses plain English and practical examples to teach step-by-step basics on creating such apps, discusses how to set up a computer and programming environment tailored for iPhone and iPad OS5 application development, and provides all the shortcuts, cheat sheets, and examples to teach basic application skills. Any developer and libraries catering to professionals will find the black and white screen shots and accompanying video opportunity to be key to app development.

Microsoft Press
c/o O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
1005 Gravenstein, Hwy N.
Sebastopol, CA 95472-2811
www.microsoft.com/mspress

Egbert Jeschke, et.al.'s MICROSOFT EXCEL 2010 FORMULAS & FUNCTIONS INSIDE OUT (9780735658028, $59.99) is a recipe book for intermediate and advanced Excel 2010 users who want keys to understanding, creating and customizing Excel's formulas. Over 350 built-in functions are described along with reusable formulas for common calculations and keys to adapting formulas by nesting functions. Many formulas keyed to common business analysis and financial pursuits are presented, explained, and accompanied by screen shots and diagrams throughout, making Microsoft Excel 2010 Formulas & Functions Inside Out a top recommendation for any comprehensive Excel collection. The 4th updated edition of MICROSOFT MANUAL OF STYLE (9780735648715, $29.99) provides a fine reference to the usage, terminology and style appropriate for professional technical communications, and is a 'must' for any computer reference collection. It's been fully updated and optimized for easy use ad packs in a glossary of over 1000 terms and acronyms, keys to 'best practices' for web writing and global content, keys to formatting and grammar in the online environment, and more. Writers, content managers and any involved with computer technology can't afford to be without this clear guide. Eric Brechner's I.M. WRIGHT'S "HARD CODE": A DECADE OF HARD-WON LESSONS FROM MICROSOFT (9780735661707, $44.99) appears in its second updated edition to provide insights on how to increase software value and reliability. It's a 'must' for any software engineer who wants better coding practices and comes from a Microsoft insider who analyzes software development practices and provides insight into managing a software career. It's based on I.M. Wright's entertaining "Hard Code" columns which have been sparking debates inside Microsoft for more than a decade. Highly recommended as a basic addition to any software developer's library, this updated second edition includes even more best practices and ideas.

The iOS 5 Developer's Cookbook, third edition
Erica Sadun
Addison Wesley
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
0321832078, $44.99, www.informit.com/aw

The iOS 5 Developer's Cookbook: Core Concepts and Essential Recipes for iOS Programmers appears in a third updated edition to cover iOS 5, Xcode 4.2, and more, and is a pick for any advanced computer collection appealing to developers. It provides tested recipes that cover all areas of iOS development, from user interface design to view controllers, networking and security. Chapters group related tasks and provide formulas, screen shots and examples to accompany code solutions, and is a 'must' for any computer collection appealing to iOS developers.

For Dummies
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
www.wiley.com

Bruce Clay & Susan Esparza's SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION ALL-IN-ONE FOR DUMMIES (9781118024416, $39.99) tells how to make a web site irresistible to search engines and how to use search engine metrics to help a website grow. From choosing the right keywords and designing a search engine to finding out competitors, making your online business compete more effectively, and finding the perfect web host, this links website optimization strategies to tips on building keywords and choosing an analytics package, and is a top recommendation for business and computer collections who want a title specific to understanding how search engines work and how to optimize them. Susannah Gardner and Shane Birley's BLOGGING FOR DUMMIES (9781118151945, $24.99) tells how to compare and use the latest blogging software tools and provides an updated 4th edition that covers everything from gaining an audience to blending a blog with social media and making money with search engine optimization. From getting started and registering a domain to discovering a niche and adding photos to a blog, this provides a fine basic survey for any who would become blog-savvy.

How to Do Everything iCloud
Jason R. Rich
McGraw-Hill
c/o The McGraw Hill Companies
Two Penn Plaza, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10121-2298
9780071790178, $25.00, www.mhprofessional.com

How to Do Everything iCloud tells how to configure and use iCloud, choosing online storage and music alternatives to iTunes and iCloud, backing up iPhone and iPad on the Cloud wireless, and managing and storing digital photos. It's a complete handbook to wireless syncing, storing and accessing files and data using cloud computing, and it offers a step-by-step guide to maximizing all the features of iCloud so you can get more function from an iPad, iPhone and Mac. Black and white screen shots throughout make this a real winner!

To the Cloud
Pankaj Arora, Raj Biyani, Salil Dave
McGraw-Hill
c/o The McGraw Hill Companies
Two Penn Plaza, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10121-2298
007179221X, $30.00, www.mcgraw-hill.com

TO THE CLOUD: CLOUD POWERING AN ENTERPRISE considers an enterprise cloud adoption and connects cloud computing to model trends. A four-step framework based on the experiences and best practices of Microsoft's own IT group explains the points of Explore, Envision, Enable and Execute and tells how to analyze application portfolios to identify good cloud candidates, choose the right cloud models, and understand how the move to the cloud affects budgets and staffing. Recommended for computer and business collections alike, TO THE CLOUD charts the progress of making the transition and provides graphics, tables and summaries to streamline the entire process.


The Education Shelf

Cracking the PCAT 2012-2013
Princeton Review
c/o Random House Inc.
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
9780375427435, $29.99, www.princetonreview.com

Cracking the PCAT 2012-2013 offers proven techniques for a higher score in the PCAT and provides everything needed to master all seven sections of the Pharmacy College Admissions test. Two full-length online practice exams accompany this in-depth review of chemistry, biology, math and English - all the sections contained in the PCAT. Graphs, charts and examples abound in a fine pick for any lending library catering to students who will be taking the Pharmacy College Admissions Test.

Early Childhood Experiences in Language Arts: Early Literacy, 10th edition
Jeanne M. Machado
Wadsworth
c/o Cengage Learning, Inc.
200 First Stamford Place, Stamford, CT 06902
9781111841188, www.cengage.com/wadsworth

The 10th updated edition of Early Childhood Experiences in Language Arts: Early Literacy is designed for a college-level instructor's use, accompanies the student version, and provides keys to understanding early learning and language arts acquisition. Use this manual to create a custom book, view electronic chapters of selected titles and resources, and offer supplemental materials online to interested students with a title that teaches the basics of developing literacy skills in the very young. A fine pick for any early childhood educator's collection!

The Teacher's Guide to Media Literacy
Cyndy Scheibe and Faith Rogow
Corwin Press
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
9781412997584, $41.95, www.corwin.com

The Teacher's Guide to Media Literacy: Critical Thinking in a Multimedia World asks what literacy actually means in the modern world, and how these skills can blend media literacy across the curriculum. Dozens of suggested activities compliment examples of teaching strategies, lessons and approaches to building media literacy, providing a title that shows how to teach critical thinking skills and how to help students associate school learning with their lives. Chapters are packed with self-reflection exercises, terms, classroom-tested lesson plans for different approaches to media literacy, and more. Highly recommended for any concerned with the wider applications of media literacy!

Barron's
250 Wireless Boulevard
Hauppauge, NY 11788
www.barronseduc.com

John B. Nici, M.A.'s BARRON'S AP ART HISTORY (9780764146916, $18.99) appears in its second updated edition to pack in proven test-taking strategies for the AP Art History exam. Here are three full-length model tests plus discussions of the five most critical concepts to master for the test. Chapters are packed with sample questions, detailed explanations, study tips, test-taking advice and more. Every book offers an in-depth answer explanation, while over 600 works of art are included in a top reference for any AP Art History student. A similar format makes Eugene V. Resick, M.A.'s AP UNITED STATES HISTORY (9780764146824, $18.99) a reference pick for any student taking the AP U.S. History exam. It pairs 2 full-length practice tests with strategies for answering questions and chapter reviews covering all relevant AP U.S. History topics from the 1400s to modern times, and provides a comprehensive coverage any test-taker will appreciate. A 'must' for any AP student!


The Art Shelf

Thomas Kinkade Poster Book
Thomas Kinkade
Andrews & McMeel
1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
9781449401283, $19.99, www.andrewsmcmeel.com

Thomas Kinkade Poster Book is a top pick for any who have enjoyed Thomas Kinkade's art but been unable to afford the prints for sale. This poster book holds some 20 images sized to fit a standard 14" x 11" frame, and is bound without perforations to the posters can be removed cleanly. Kinkade fans who would frame affordable prints now have an invaluable art resource!

Oeuvre: Drew Struzan
Drew & Dylan Struzan
Titan Books
144 Southwark Street, London, SE1 OUP, UK
9780857685575, $49.95, www.titanbooks.com

Oeuvre: Drew Struzan is a fine art and film title, and a companion volume to THE ART OF DREW STRUZAN. Stories of his early years accompany selections of his powerful art, packing in movie images and nearly 300 pages of work he did for Lucas, Indiana Jones, and other famous movies. The reprint edition includes some pieces already in THE ART OF DREW STRUZAN and combine that with the 2004 Ouvre edition, including captions for the illustrations at the back of the book and pairing portraits of stars and scenes with personal works and new material. A 3-4 page foldout of images completes a fine survey of Drew Struzan's work and is especially recommended for collections strong in movie artists.


The Science Shelf

Experimental Design
Douglas W. Cunningham and Christian Wallraven
CRC Press
711 Third Avenue, New York NY 10017
9781568814681, $59.95, www.crcpress.com

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN; FROM USER STUDIES TO PSYCHOPHYSICS is a reference for college collections strong in computer graphics and psychology and offers a basic introduction to psychological experiments and experimental design for any working with computers. It links design to experimental tasks, from multiple choice and forced-choice to physiological studies, and it includes stimulus materials, issues, and resources. Statistics, analysis, and a range of experimental tasks include real-world research applications and make for a fine guide recommended for college-level psychology, computer and design libraries alike.

Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences, 9th edition
Frederick J. Gravetter and Larry B. Wallman
Wadsworth
c/o Cengage Learning, Inc.
200 First Stamford Place, Stamford, CT 06902
9781111835590, $181.95, www.cengage.com/wadsworth

Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences provides instructors with a text designed to supplement an accompanying student copy and teaches the basics of discussing statistics for the behavioral sciences. It comes packed with tables, examples, and real-world applications of these statistics, showing how to correlate the math with applied cases and providing summaries, key terms, samples, review exercises and more. There are additional supporting resources available for this text, from a lecture software piece to web connections, making this a fine pick for any college-level instructor.

Modern Physics for Scientists and Engineers, fourth edition
Stephen T. Thornton and Andrew Rex
Wadsworth
c/o Cengage Learning, Inc.
200 First Stamford Place, Stamford, CT 06902
9781133108979, $209.49, www.cengage.com/wadsworth

Modern Physics for Scientists and Engineers appears in an updated fourth edition for college-level instructors of scientists and engineering students, and provides a survey of the latest discoveries in physics and their applications. Experiments that led to these discoveries, applications of the new information, and a flexible arrangement in the text allows teachers to select and teach topics in a different sequence, providing a foundation of knowledge that will help students learn and instructors select the best approach for their classroom.

The Quantum Universe
Brian Cox & Jeff Forshaw
DaCapo Press
c/o Perseus Books Group
44 Farnsworth St, 3rd Floor, Boston MA 02210
9780306819643, $25.00, www.dacapopress.com

THE QUANTUM UNIVERSE (AND WHY ANYTHING THAT CAN HAPPEN, DOES) comes from two physics professors who show how to clock concept can be used in actual calculations. This and other methods are employed to explain challenging ideas using terms non-scientists readily know, and contribute to a title which draws links between quantum physics and everyday life. It's a pleasure to see a science title that links daily life to complex scientific topics: THE QUANTUM UNIVERSE creates a powerful discussion for general readers with minimal scientific background and is a recommendation for any general-interest collection where science is a popular topic.


The Photography Shelf

Ten Photo Assignments
Amanda Quintenz-Fiedler
Rocky Nook
802 East Cota Street, 3rd Floor
Santa Barbara, CA 93103
9781933952796, $19.95, www.rockynook.com

TEN PHOTO ASSIGNMENTS TO DEVELOP YOUR PHOTOGRAPHIC SKILLS provides real-world assignments that help novices move to the intermediate photography level, and is a fine pick for any photography collection. From equipment that enhances a camera's abilities to techniques in exposure, composing, color and light basics, this teaches how to become a better digital photographer using 'assignments' that illustrate concepts. Color photo examples throughout enhance a winning presentation that teaches through example and fieldwork, making this a fine pick for any who would improve their abilities using a measured formula for success.

Amherst Media
Box 586, Buffalo, NY 14226
www.amherstmedia.com

Kirk Tuck's LED LIGHTING: PROFESSIONAL TECHNIQUES FOR DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHERS (9781608954476, $34.95) offers a thorough review of LED lighting and shows how these units can produce exceptional results. LEDs make lighting design choices easier and ore intuitive, with their soft lighting putting subjects at ease. This covers all the basics, from selecting the best LED gear and using them in both studio and on location to LED lighting design for portraits and interiors, this covers all the basics of using LED in a wide range of settings - even enhanced videography - and is a top pick for any aspiring professional. Stephanie Zettl's NIKON SPEEDLIGHT HANDBOOK: FLASH TECHNIQUES FOR DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHERS (9781608954513, $34.95) tells how to achieve results with Nikon Speedlights, from easy one-flash bounce to multiple flashes and modifiers. It teaches the basics of custom functions using flash units, reviewing the basics of setting optimal modes, using high-speed sync, and modifying Speedlights for refined results. The in-depth focus on the unique features of the Nikon Speedlight system makes this a fine pick for any user.


The Audiobook Shelf

The Fear Index
Robert Harris
Random House Audio Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 8th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780449008737, $40.00, www.randomhouseaudio.com

THE FEAR INDEX receives a vivid reading by Christian Rodska, who is well known for his theater, television, film and radio work. He's narrated many documentaries and THE FEAR INDEX tells of the legendary Dr. Alex Hoffmann, a renowned among the rich for his development of a revolutionary form of artificial intelligence that predicts movements in the financial markets. He's making billions - but when an intruder breaches his security he finds himself playing a dangerous game against an unknown assailant in this powerful thriller, recommended for any general audio lending library.

The Rope
Nevada Barr
Brilliance Audio
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
9781441816092, $36.99, www.brillianceaudio.com

THE ROPE provides a new Anna Pigeon novel performed by veteran narrator Joyce Bean, who spices a fine mystery telling of Anna's new job as a seasonal employee at a park. On her day off she goes hiking never to return - and finds herself trapped at the bottom of a well, naked. Her memory soon returns to tell her someone's tapped her there - and unless she can outwit her captor, she may never return. An engrossing thriller packed with unpredictable twists and turns of plot, THE ROPE is a top pick for any audio lending library.

Supervolcano: Eruption
Harry Turtledove
Recorded Books
270 Skipjack Rd, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
9781461807704, $123.75, www.recordedbooks.com

Jim Frangione's fine narrative style stems from his background as an actor-director who appeared in various plays and TV shows: his compelling voice enhances and brings to life an audio of alternate history revolving around a supervolcanic eruption in Yellowstone Park which sends lava and mud flowing toward populated areas nearby and threatens the entire nation with climate change. It's apocalyptic writing at its best, creating an involving series of scenarios and protagonists that revolve not around the science and mechanics of the event so much as the lives of people changed by its magnitude. Any interested in disaster science fiction will find this a satisfying blend of high drama and action in a story that unfolds with unerring tension, spiced by the audio format.

Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017-0010
www.hachetteaudio.com

Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child's GIDEON'S CORPSE (9781611139884, $34.98) provides an outstanding thriller spiced by voice-over artist David Collins' smooth voice and tells of a top nuclear scientist who takes an innocent family hostage at gunpoint while a nuclear bomb is detonated in New York City. An engrossing scenario is created in which a major American city will be vaporized by a terrorist attack in ten days leading Gideon Crew to uncover something even more terrible. An engrossing thriller, this is hard to stop listening to! Lisa Osteen Comes' YOU ARE MADE FOR MORE! (9781611139976, $24.98) comes from an associate pastor at a Texas church, the largest in the U.S. She survived a birth defect and a mail bomb explosion that made headlines and still holds hope for the future, offering here the inspirational spiritual idea that everyone is 'made for more' and can achieve their goals with spiritual insights and determination. An outstanding, vivid account evolves and comes to life in audio format, especially recommended for spirituality holdings. Adam Lashinsky's INSIDE APPLE: HOW AMERICA'S MOST ADMIRED - AND SECRETIVE - COMPANY REALLY WORKS (9781611130959, $26.98) receives a fine narration by the author, who is a senior editor at large for Fortune Magazine. His account offers an analysis of Apple and the management strategies that allowed Steve Jobs and his ground-breaking company to create hits tied to culture and interests. Each chapter begins with analysis of apple's unique design practices, how they created brand name identity, and how it currently is handling the transition from Jobs to Cook. Jodi Kantor's THE OBAMAS (9781611139730, $34.98) is narrated by Robin Miles and provides a compelling unabridged account including an interview with the author. Any interested in the Obamas will find this provides a powerful insider's account of the Obamas as they entered a new world of politics in the White House. From Michelle's struggles to contain her natural bluntness and strong opinions with Barack's daunting new challenges assuming the Presidency, this survey of their personalities and challenges makes for compelling reading! ROBERT LUDLUM'S THE JANSON COMMAND (9781409116479, $41.75) is actually by Paul Garrison based on a Ludlum scenario, and not an original Ludlum work. Now that this explanation has been offered, note that Scott Shepherd is an outstanding narrator whose theater background spices the story of Paul Janson, reformed from covert-operations days and working in partnership with a sharpshooter to rehabilitate disenchanted agents. His involvement with Somali pirates, militant thugs, and more makes for an involving survey that excels in underground operations and excitement, perfect for audio listeners who enjoy espionage tales.


The Travel Shelf

Lonely Planet Publications
150 Linden Street, Oakland CA 94607
www.lonelyplanet.com

Fionn Davenport, et.al.'s IRELAND (9781741798241, $24.99) offers a pull-out map of Dublin, completely updated new listings, and a format that packs in destination-oriented coverage of history, culture and travel facts representing over six months of coverage. Over eighty smaller maps compliment the listings and work of five authors who journeyed throughout Ireland to assemble this travel guide. Sidebars of highlighted information accompany all the basics - and all have been updated to assure the latest information for those planning a visit to Ireland. Josephine Quintero and Stuart Butler's CANARY ISLANDS (9781741791648, $19.99) covers all kinds of destinations throughout the Canary Islands and is a fine pick for independent travelers who want to make the most of a Canary Island visit. From small maps to festivals, activities, accommodations and food, this covers all the basics and is a pick for any destination-bound traveler who wants a pocket take-along tote.


The Military Shelf

Osprey Publishing
4402 - 23rd Street, Suite 219
Long Island City, NY 11101-5058
www.ospreypublishing.com

Robert N. Watt's APACHE TACTICS 1830-86 (9781849086301, $18.95) provides a fine focus on Apache culture and warfare and offers an in-depth survey of the tactics of the Apache people as they raided and eluded U.S. government forces. Primary research conducted in New Mexico and Arizona focus on the small-scale unit warfare of Apache tribes, pairing history and strategy analysis with color photos and maps documenting terrain and approaches to conflict. Steven J. Zaloga's US MARINE CORPS TANKS OF WORLD WAR II (9781849085601, $17.95) provides a fine focus on the tank equipment of the US Marines, offering analysis of the tactics and technology they created during the war. From considerations of the Marine Corps tank arsenal to its six tank battalions and combat experiences, this is a fine examination perfect for in-depth World War II and military equipment collections. Steve Davies' RED EAGLES: AMERICA'S SECRET MIGS (9781846039706, $25.95) provides the full story of the secret MiGs in America during the Cold War: a particularly notable endeavor because much of the information has either been destroyed or remains classified. To produce a detailed story of those who trained America's fighter pilots the author has interviewed over thirty of the Red Eagle pilots, along with other members of the squadron, and provides new material perfect for any military collection seeking a detailed coverage of the MiG operations. This new edition includes recently declassified material and is a 'must' for any who want a definitive survey. Angus Konstam's WARSHIPS OF THE ANGLO-DUTCH WARS 1652-74 (9781849084109, $17.95) covers the design and operation of early warships from 1652-74, a revolutionary era for naval warfare and tactics. This pairs black and white and color artwork and illustrations by Peter Bull with insights on the building and deployment of the warships, from design to manpower and raids. Any military collection strong in early ships and machines will find this a fine analysis.


The Biography Shelf

Hiding from Reality
Taylor Armstrong
Gallery Books
c/o Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl.
New York, NY 10020
9781451677713, $25.00, www.simonandschuster.com

HIDING FROM REALITY: MY STORY OF LOVE, LOSS, AND FINDING THE COURAGE WITHIN tells of the author's loss when she discovered the body of her estranged husband hanging in his California home. Her fans were horrified at his death and at the accounts of the physical and mental abuse she suffered at his hand that she'd been terrified to tell. HIDING FROM REALITY recounts the experience of domestic abuse, the threat of financial ruin and fears for her young daughter that kept her tied to her abuser, and how the family cultivated a lavish and rich persona to the outside world even as they suffered. Any who know Taylor Armstrong from her TV show THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF BEVERLY HILLS as well as readers interested in accounts of domestic abuse will find this a powerful autobiography.

How I Got My Wiggle Back
Anthony Field with Greg Truman
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118019337, $25.95, www.wiley.com

HOW I GOT MY WIGGLE BACK: A MEMOIR OF HEALING comes from the co-founder of The Wiggles, a hugely popular children's music group, and reveals how as The Wiggles rose to unprecedented fame in the children's show world, he personally became locked in a downward spiral that nearly ended his career. His health challenges and their impact on his life is documented in a dual account of the Wiggles' many achievements and how a health issue affected career choices and recovery. In the end it was simple techniques that changed his health and life - and are recommended here, making this a fine pick for any also struggling with chronic ill health.

Leonardo's Legacy
Stefan Klein
DaCapo Press
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge MA 02142
9780306820083, $16.00, www.dacapopress.com

There have been many books written about Leonardo DeVinci, but while most cover his contributions, few discuss the man himself. So any arts collection strong in DeVinci coverage must have LEONARDO'S LEGACY: HOW DA VINCI REIMAGINED THE WORLD. From his unorthodox studies to his obsession with flying and advances in automation, LEONARD'S LEGACY considers the man, his genius, and his world. It questions his worldview and considers how DeVinci's method of exploring and re-envisioning his world changed his life. Any arts or biography holding strong in DeVinci needs this.


The Automotive Shelf

How to Build Killer Big-Block Chevy Engines
Tom Dufur
CarTech Books
39966 Grand Avenue, North Branch, MN 55056
9781934709283, $24.95, www.cartechbooks.com

How to Build Killer Big-Block Chevy Engines covers street and competition engine designs, offers insights into blocks, heads and all kinds of big-block options, and is a top pick for any auto reference collection. It reviews the commonly available factory parts and aftermarket options and considers and contrasts all options, offering popular buildup recipes and providing research and design specs with color photos throughout. Highly recommended for any auto design holding!

How to Design, Build & Equip Your Automotive Workshop on a Budget
Jeffrey Zurschmeide
CarTech Books
39966 Grand Avenue, North Branch, MN 55056
9781934709511, $24.95, www.cartechbooks.com

How to Design, Build & Equip Your Automotive Workshop on a Budget From Planning to Final Build provides an outstanding survey on how to set up an organized, functional garage or workshop for professional-level work on a budget. Here's all the information needed for considering tools, designs, installations, setup and workspace, with step-by-step instructions for all kinds of procedures, from basic electrical wiring for connecting light banks to plumbing basic shop fixtures. A treasure trove of specifics, this goes beyond your usual garage-oriented guide to address the particular needs of the automotive workshop.


The Marriage Shelf

Vintage Weddings
Marnie Fogg
Lark Books
387 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016
9781454702832, $29.95, www.larkcrafts.com

VINTAGE WEDDINGS: ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF BRIDAL FASHION AND STYLE showcases gowns from 1900 to modern times and considers the designers who created them and the cultural influences and key fashion looks that represented the styles of each decade. From examples of early turn-of-the-century and Edwardian styles to Modernism and the advent of tubular dress shapes and short hemlines, this offers a link between fashion and wedding dress style changes, offering keys to understanding how wedding choices evolved and what they mean to today's modern bride. Black and white photos of vintage dresses make this a gorgeous presentation for any collection strong in fashion or wedding planning.

Southern Living Wedding Planner and Keepsake
Southern Living
Oxmoor House
Box 11095, Des Moines, Iowa 50336-1095
0848734890, $29.95, www.oxmoorhouse.com

Southern Living Wedding Planner and Keepsake is the planner to have on hand even before saying "I do". It comes in a hardcover binder format with tabs that begin with 'You're engaged' to 'What to wear' and 'pictures', 'flowers and cakes' and more, and each section provides concrete tips on shopping, what to expect in a timeline from purchase to receipt, and how to be prepared for various kinds of appointments, from dress fittings to ceremony consultation. Ideas for every step of the wedding planning process makes this an outstanding 'bible' of information. While the binder format doesn't readily lend to library lending, this should be the initial gift of choice for any bride.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Vintage Type and Graphics
Steven Heller & Louise Fili
Allworth Press
307 W. 36th St., 11th Floor, New York NY 10018
9781581158922, $17.95, www.allworth.com

VINTAGE TYPE AND GRAPHICS: AN ECLECTIC COLLECTION OF TYPOGRAPHY, ORNAMENT, LETTERHEADS, AND TRADEMARKS FROM 1896-1936 provides graphic designers with fine artifacts from type and typography books dating from 1896 to 1936. This could have been featured in our 'arts' section but is reviewed here for its broader appeal to design professionals and any with an interest in rare, never-before-reprinted type specimens and vintage logos and decorations. It's packed with inspiring graphic design resources and is a treasure trove for any who would use antique type images. As a further 'bonus', a CD of all images accompanies the book.


The Crafts Shelf

Diane Fitzgerald's Favorite Beading Projects
Diane Fitzgerald
Lark Crafts
c/o Lark Books
387 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016
9781600599224, $27.95, www.larkcrafts.com

Diane Fitzgerald's Favorite Beading Projects is a pick for any jewelry-making or design collection and provides a range of beadwork projects, from a hard candy bracelet and tie-on necklace to tassel necklace, art deco necklace, lacy bracelets and more. Designs cover stringing to beadweaving and accompany full-page color photos with lists of supplies, step-by-step beading illustrations, and text explaining each step of the beadmaking process. Highly recommended!


The Sports Shelf

Physiology of Sport and Exercise, 5th edition
W. Larry Kennedy, et.al.
Human Kinetics
Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61825-5076
0736094091, $99.00, www.humankinetics.com

Physiology of Sport and Exercise includes a web study guide and provides a title designed as a text book for undergraduate exercise physiology courses. It's been fully updated in content and design and appears in an updated 5th edition completely revamped with photos, illustrations and medical artwork illustrating how the body performs and responds to physical activity. New content is based on the latest research and a reorganized structure and is backed by an accompanying web study guide that provides updated learning activities complimenting each chapter. A 'must' for any sports physiology collection.


The Business Shelf

The Decision Book
Mikael Krogerus and Roman Tschappeler
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393079616, $17.95, www.wwnorton.com

THE DECISION BOOK: 50 MODELS FOR STRATEGIC THINKING argues that using models for decisions enables a pattern of sidelining irrelevant details of any situation to focus on what is truly important. Because most readers already have the tools for navigating the world, it's easy to compile them into a strategy for decision-making, especially when paired with THE DECISION BOOK which has already done the job. Chapters gather 50 of the best methods and explain how and when they can be applied, offering readers a set of different models that can be used at different times. From management issues to social issues in the workplace, this offers an easy at-a-glance format that will prove perfect for any business manager seeking easy keys to decision-making.

Who's in the Room?
Bob Frisch
Jossey-Bass
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118067871, $29.95, www.josseybass.com

WHO'S IN THE ROOM? HOW GREAT LEADERS STRUCTURE AND MANAGE THE TEAMS AROUND THEM provides a fine survey that considers the gap between the myth and reality of decision making between teams and bosses. It doesn't follow the usual ideas of organizational psychology but argues that the solution lies in unseating senior management teams at the top of the decision-making process. Instead a portfolio of different types of teams can produce leaders to match decisions to an appropriate team makeup, allowing for greater flexibility and approaches. The author's decades of experience as one of the world's leading strategy facilitators shows how leaders can match teams to tasks for better approaches to business management.

Building a Magnetic Culture
Kevin Sheridan
McGraw-Hill
1221 Avenue of Americas, 45th Floor, New York NY 10020
0071773991, $28.00, www.mhprofessional.com

Building a Magnetic Culture: How to Attract and Retain Top Talent to Create An Engaged, Productive Workforce offers a fine strategy for attracting talented employees to the workplace by empowering them and sustaining an environment in which they are likely to stay. His review of the culture of Employee Engagement uses years of experience and research and provides concrete tactics needed to create such a culture in a business environment, using experiences from big companies such as Campbell Soup, Groupon, Intel and more. A top guide for any business collection results!

Advantage
Adam Segal
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393341249, $16.95, www.wwnorton.com

ADVANTAGE: HOW AMERICAN INNOVATION CAN OVERCOME THE ASIAN CHALLENGE explains how the American penchant for innovation is the saving strength of our nation, and will prove the key to making sure America's economy and technology stay on top. Political, social and business issues combine in an analysis of America's advantage and consider how America's strengths lie in the process of innovation itself. Over decades of effort America has developed a system that has allowed sustained creativity based on a free flow of ideas between public and private institutions and an embrace of risk. Examples from successful American and Asian companies and initiatives that have failed in all three countries demonstrate how the U.S. can utilize China and India's strength and weaknesses to its advantage.

Inside Apple
Adam Lashinsky
Business Plus
c/o Hachette Publishing Group
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017-0010
9781455512157, $26.99, www.businessplus.com

INSIDE APPLE: HOW AMERICA'S MOST ADMIRED - AND SECRETIVE - COMPANY REALLY WORKS explains why so few understand what really goes on behind the scenes at Apple, and reveals the systems, tactics and management strategies that allowed Jobs and his company to constantly innovate and create compelling market devices from the Mac to the iPod and iPad. Adam Lashinsky is one of the leading journalists covering Silicon Valley and his background lends to exploring Apple's little known practices, from the training program Steve Jobs started to unconventional top-down practices such as holding one individual directly accountable for every task. Any who would understand the underlying practices and secrets of Apple will appreciate this survey, which intends on decoding the business mystery behind Apple's facade.

Creating Personal Presence: Look, Talk, Think, Act Like a Leader
Dianna Booher
Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc.
235 Montgomery Street, Suite 650
San Francisco, CA 94104-2916
9781609940119, $15.95, www.bkconnection.com

CREATING PERSONAL PRESENCE comes from an award-winning speaker and consultant who demystifies the observations that affect perceptions of potential. Four specific areas influencing personal presence are identified: How you look, talk, think, and how you act. It's the combination of these elements that lend to personal presence, at the heart of a title that shows how to develop a personal presence and then how to apply it in a work environment. Any with an interest in self-improvement and professional work enhancement will find this packed with tips.

How to Open & Operate a Financially Successful Independent Record Label
Martha Maeda
Atlantic Publishing Group
1405 SW 6th Avenue, Ocala FL 34471
9781601381422, $39.95, www.atlantic-pub.com

Whether you're an independent artist looking for more control over your music or a businessman looking to make money in the music industry, this comprehensive new book provides step-by-step instructions on how to set up, operate and manage a financially successful independent music label. A companion CD-ROM holds all the forms used in the book in PDF format for easy use, paired with a sample business plan. From finding a location that will bring success to auditing, budgeting, and profit planning, this teaches how to set up computer systems, a basic business plan, and setting up a music site where customers will pay to download your music. A 'must' for any wanting to become involved in the marketing, distribution and business end of music promotion.


The Fiction Shelf

Left for Dead
J.A. Jance
Touchstone
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
9781451628586, $25.99, www.simonandschuster.com

LEFT FOR DEAD is set in Arizona and tells of a border area plagued by illegal immigrant crossings and drug wars. When Santa Cruz deputy Jose Reyes is gunned down during a routine traffic stop, he fights to cling to life and Ali is left to face charges that Jose and his wife may be involved in illegalities. Her discovery of more violence and strange links between Ali's former classmate and other victims creates a moving thriller that joins Ali with Sister Anselm in an effort to clear Jose's name and discover the truth behind a drug cartel's ongoing actions. LEFT FOR DEAD is a thriller that just won't quit.

Titan Books
144 Southwark Street, London, SE1 OUP, UK
$9.95 each, www.titanbooks.com

Two newly republished Fu Manchu mysteries from the Golden Age of pulp magazines are fine picks for any who knows the thriller writing of Sax Rohmer. Rohmer created the model for the super-villains of James Bond, and Titan Books has obtained the publishing rights to the only complete, unauthorized set of the Fu-Manchu novels. The series opens with THE MYSTERY OF FU MANCHU (9780857686039), which introduces the character of an assassin who seeks to climb the ladder of a secret society's hierarchy and conquest his native China. He's pursued by the narrator of the series in an introduction key to any who would obtain the Fu Manchu adventures. THE RETURN OF DR. FU-MANCHU (9780857676046) takes place in London where the evil Fu Manchu is working on subverting the British government to prepare for the rise of China. Murders and deadly encounters make for a gripping saga. Both are recommended picks for mystery and espionage collections: particularly those who intend on purchasing all the Fu-Manchu stories.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Signet
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
www.penguin.com

Laura Alden's FOUL PLAY AT THE PTA (9780451234087, $6.99) offers a fine survey of a murder at a PTA meeting and tells of Beth's struggles when her newest bookstore employee falls under suspicion. The real killer is still roaming the streets - and it falls to Beth to act on her suspicions to free her small town from a murder spree in this engrossing adventure. Karen E. Olson's INK FLAMINGOS (9780451233790, $7.99) tells of a high-end tattoo shop on the Vegas strip where Brett comes upon outlines of dead bodies, and realizes she's implicated in the murders. A tall redhead matching her description was seen leaving the crime scene, and she's the prime suspect - unless she can pinpoint the real murderer. Wendy Lyn Watson's A PARFAIT MURDER (9780451233806, $6.99) includes ice cream recipes as it tells of Tallulah Jones, who is on the judging panel at a county fair but finds her cousin implicated in a murder at the fair. Tally needs to prove Bree's innocence - but it's also possible Bree has committed the perfect murder in this fast-paced thriller. All are fine picks for any mystery holding.

Berkeley Prime Crime
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10014
www.penguin.com

Sheila Connolly's LET'S PLAY DEAD (9780425242209, $7.99) tells of an electrocution at a colleague's children's museum and the involvement of Nell, who discovers that a series of electricity-based mishaps are happening and lead to murder. She's in the middle of things as she tries to discover whether the murder is intentional or an accidental result of an attempt to sabotage the exhibition. Annette Blair's SKIRTING THE GRAVE (9780425242223, $7.99) tells of Maddie, a vintage fashion shop owner who also must handle visions she gets from some of her fashion finds. A new student, a murder at a train station, and a suspicious woman who appears in town afterwards leads Maddie on a dangerous chase in this winning mystery. Melinda Wells' PIE A LA MURDER (9780425242216, $7.99) includes recipes as it tells of Della, who is in the middle of a bake sale contest when her sweetie tells her of a teen daughter who is coming to live with him. Celeste becomes tangled with a Hollywood photographer intent on exploiting her and when he's later found murdered, it's up to Della to clear her sweetie's name. Ada Madison's THE SQUARE ROOT OF MURDER (9780425242193, $7.99) provides a fine Professor Sophie Knowles mystery that includes puzzles and brainteasers as it explores a bead shop owner's penchant for puzzles. Sophie is always busy, but when a disliked professor is murdered, it's up to her to fit crime-solving into her hectic life in this satisfying puzzler. Rebecca M. Hale's HOW TO MOON A CAT (9780425242179, $7.99) provides a fun 'cats and curios mystery' revolving around a sleuth cat with a penchant for locating hidden cash - and murder. A valuable hidden treasure leads to a gold rush hint in Nevada City and a ripping good yarn. Jenn McKinlay's BOOKS CAN BE DECEIVING (9780425242186, $7.99) provides a fine library lover's mystery and tells of a reference librarian's involvement in a small town murder. Who really committed the crime? A fine 'whodunnit' plot evolves with many questions and lots of fine tension. All these books are fine library mystery picks!


The Social Issues Shelf

The End of Money
David Wolman
Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Books Group
44 Farnsworth St., 3rd Floor, Boston MA 02210
9780306818837, $25.00, www.cacapopress.com

THE END OF MONEY: COUNTERFEITERS, PREACHERS, TECHIES, DREAMERS - AND THE COMING CASHLESS SOCIETY takes a critical look at cash, its liabilities, and what our world would be like without cash at all. From a history of the invention and rise of physical money to the evolution of paperless alternatives and cross-cultural influences on cash today, this pairs history with insights from a range of individuals who see the option of a 'cashless society' as either a big pro or a big con. Any collection strong in economics and money issues will find this an intriguing survey of what will happen to counterfeiters and others in the coming cashless society.

The People's Money
Scott Rasmussen
Threshold Editions
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
9781451666106, $26.00, www.simonandschuster.com

THE PEOPLE'S MONEY: HOW VOTERS WILL BALANCE THE BUDGET AND ELIMINATE THE FEDERAL DEBT identifies voters as the key to solving our nation's fiscal crisis, and dispels claims made by politicians from both parties that voters refuse to support specific spending cuts. Voter are more willing than their representatives to make hard decisions to reduce federal spending, and THE PEOPLE'S MONEY maintains that it will be voters, not politicians of any given party, who will balance the budget and eliminate Federal debt. Any business, economics, political or social issues collection will find this a hard-hitting analysis.

Wired for Culture
Mark Pagel
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393065879, $29.95, www.wwnorton.com

WIRED FOR CULTURE: ORIGINS OF THE HUMAN SOCIAL MIND comes from an evolutionary biologist who takes us back eighty thousand years to a point where humans developed culture, following the timeline of how our ancestors began to live in larger tribal societies and how they worked together to share customs, ideas, sills, and more. Thanks to culture humans could learn from one another and benefit from community support, choosing cooperation over competition for survival and betterment of the species as a whole. WIRED FOR CULTURE is a fascinating exploration recommended for social issues and science collections alike, following the origins of the human social mind and its many interactions. It's a top pick for any collection where patrons are interested in cultural development and the benefits of social habits.

Liars & Outliers
Bruce Schneier
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118143308, $24.95, www.wiley.com

LIARS & OUTLIERS: ENABLING THE TRUST THAT SOCIETY NEEDS TO THRIVE provides a powerful survey on trust, cooperation, and the evolution of a social system. It considers how traditional trust mechanisms have worked in the past, and how new technology is challenging these traditional functions that create or question trust. LIARS AND OUTLIERS considers cooperation and social stability, discussing new social cues involved in creating trust and considering how security has come to substitute methods for trust. Any social issues collection as well as libraries strong in business and internet endeavors will find this a powerful pick.


The Native American Shelf

Rez Life
David Treuer
Atlantic Monthly Press
841 Broadway, New York NY 10003
9780802119711, $26.00, www.groveatlantic.com

REZ LIFE: AN INDIAN'S JOURNEY THROUGH RESERVATION LIFE comes from the son of on Ojibwe judge and an Austrian Holocaust survivor who grew up on a reservation in northern Minnesota. There are over 310 Indian reservations in this country: some tiny, some vast - twelve are bigger than the entire state of Rhode Island. This tackles current issues of sovereignty, treaty rights, and relationships between the U.S. government and reservations, and provides a blend of autobiography and tribal background with a wider-reaching survey of the modern issues affecting reservation life. No American social or cultural issues collection should be without this, which is also a 'must' for any Native American holding.


The Humor Shelf

The Hunger Pains
The Harvard Lampoon
Touchstone
c/o Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl.
New York, NY 10020
9781451668209, $13.99, www.simonandschuster.com

THE HUNGER PAINS is a hilarious account perfect for any avid follower of young adult and science fiction reading, offering a mock-up of the popular dystopian young adult novel THE HUNGER GAMES. It provides a scene-for-scene parody that follows heroine Kantkiss Neverclean, a resident of a telemarketing district in post-apocalyptic Peceland as she fights for her life in the annual Hunger Games. The Lampoon makes fun of all participants, but unless you've read THE HUNGER GAMES, you'll miss many of the zany jokes - and that would be a shame. Pair this observation with the original book and you have a hilarious romp recommended for any general lending collection!

CollegeHumor: The Website. The Book.
Streeter Seidell
DaCapo Press
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
9780306820267, $20.00, www.dacapopress.com

Deserving of ongoing recommendation for any general computer collection is this compilation of some of the best articles that have appeared online. From comics to graphics and cartoons, this is a fun presentation of college humor gathered from the best writings on the website. The first decade of unpublished articles from the website are compiled here, providing humor laced with the unique perspective of a college student. Especially recommended for college collections and any general library strong in humor collections.

How to Archer
Sterling Archer
IT Books
c/o Newmarket Press
18 East 48th Street, New York, NY 10017
9780062066312, $15.99, www.youritlist.com

HOW TO ARCHER: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO ESPIONAGE AND STYLE AND WOMEN AND ALSO COCKTAILS EVER WRITTEN reveals secrets on how to drive an elephant, pilots an airboat, and make a Molotov cocktail and stems from an animated half hour comedy that revolves around the International Secret Intelligence Service and the lives of its employees. Covert operations offer an excuse for the staff to undermine and betray each other for personal gain, and this title captures the fun and high points of intelligence. HOW TO ARCHER is a pick for any general lending collection looking for tongue-in-cheek humor.


The Political Science Shelf

Ameritopia
Mark R. Levin
Threshold Editions
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
9781439173244, $26.99, www.simonandschuster.com

AMERITOPIA: THE UNMAKING OF AMERICA offers a follow-up to his Mark R. Levin's best-selling LIBERTY AND TYRANNY and makes the case for constitutional conservatism and against big-government. It considers how tyranny has traditionally stemmed from the efforts towards a government-run utopian society, and it exposes the basic ideals of utopian movements, shows how they are impossible, and more importantly, considers how they actually destroy freedoms. AMERITOPIA analyzes the psychology and motivations of such movements and draws important connections between ideals of American liberty and processes which disintegrate it. Social and political collections will find this a 'must'.

The Obama Hate Machine
Bill Press
St. Martin's Press
175 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10010
9780312641641, $26.99, www.stmartins.com

THE OBAMA HATE MACHINE: THE LIES, DISTORTIONS, AND PERSONAL ATTACKS ON THE PRESIDENT - AND WHO IS BEHIND THEM discusses how lies concerning Obama in fact have originated from extremists in the media and in corporate circles, and documents the process by which the media and the Republican Party has been corrupted. From the failure to check facts to ways in which the extreme right-wing media has exhorted control over the American voting population, THE OBAMA HATE MACHINE documents an insidious process designed to foster misinformation, slander, and more. Presidents have routinely endured personal attacks: what is different is the level of character assassination taking place in modern political circles. Any collection strong in politics and issues of freedom and media representation needs this detailed analysis of a new kind of force at work in American politics!


The American History Shelf

Uncovering the Truth About Meriwether Lewis
Thomas C. Danisi
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2119
9781616145057, $26.00, www.ptometheusbooks.com

Uncovering the Truth About Meriwether Lewis provides a fine historical biography and explores his adventurous life and controversial death, extending the studies conducted in his prior MERIWETHER LEWIS to add historical essays of new findings based on newly discovered documents. From record of the entire court martial proceedings to documentation of Lewis' health challenges and new material explaining some of the remaining mysteries of his life, this is a 'must' for any collection that saw prior enthusiasm over MERIWETHER LEWIS and anticipates ongoing interest in a scholarly analysis of Lewis' life and times.


The World History Shelf

Five Days That Shocked the World
Nicholas Best
St. Martin's Press
175 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10010-7848
9780312614928, $27.99, www.stmartins.com

FIVE DAYS THAT SHOCKED THE WORLD: EYEWITNESS ACCOUNTS FROM EUROPE AT THE END OF WORLD WAR II offers a fine work of history and brings together reports of famous and other individuals who experienced the war in their personal lives. From Walter Cronkite's parachuting into Holland with a Canadian trooper to Audrey Hepburn's concerns about being conscripted into a Wehrmacht brothel, this uses personal narratives to document the history of five days when Fascism fell in Europe, from April 28 to May 2, 1945. The narrowed focus paired with the first-person accounts makes for an outstanding reference for any military or world history collection.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

The Audubon Backyard Birdwatcher
Robert Burton and Stephen W. Kress
Thunder Bay Press
c/o Baker & Taylor Publishing Group
10350 Barnes Canyon Rd, Ste 100
San Diego, CA 92121
1571451862, $24.95, www.thunderbaybooks.com

The Audubon Backyard Birdwatcher: Birdfeeders and Bird Gardens packs in over 1,000 color photos and teaches the basics of how to attract and identify birds, focusing on the most familiar garden birds and their habits, habitats and feeding preferences. From building birdfeeders and nesting boxes to gardening to create an attractive bird habitat, The Audubon Backyard Birdwatcher is loaded with keys to creating a bird-friendly environment.

The Complete Beginner's Guide to Raising Small Animals
Carlotta Cooper
Atlantic Publishing Group
1405 SW 6th Avenue, Ocala FL 34471-0640
9781601383761, $24.95, www.atlantic-pub.com

The Complete Beginner's Guide to Raising Small Animals was written for any considering raising domesticated animals for family pets or food producers, and teaches the basics of caring for chickens, cows, sheep, rabbits and others. Small farmers and animal experts were interviewed for this title, which includes details about how to purchase, house, feed, breed and butcher animals of all types. All the basics are reviewed in a comprehensive coverage highly recommended for any small-scale farmer.

Show Dog
Josh Dean
IT Books
c/o Newmarket Press
18 East 48th Street, New York, NY 10017
9780062020482, $24.99, www.youritlist.com

SHOW DOG: THE CHARMED LIFE AND TRYING TIMES OF A NEAR-PERFECT PUREBRED comes from a magazine journalist who offers an expose on the dog show world, using a year raising a champion dog to provide a hilarious and touching portrait of dog types and their handlers. The book follows Jack as the dog matures over the year from an adolescent to a seasoned adult show dog, with insights from handlers, owners, and breeders discussing what it's like to own and train a show dog. Any interested in purebred dog showing will find this an involving and memorable read.


James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
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Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
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