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The Bookwatch

Volume 11, Number 6 June 2016 Home | BW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Needlecraft Shelf Computer Shelf
Gardening Shelf Education Shelf Photography Shelf
Writing/Publishing Shelf Audiobook Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Fiction Shelf Cookbook Shelf Technology Shelf
Sports Shelf Biography Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf


Reviewer's Choice

The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu
Joshua Hammer
Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl., New York, NY 10020
www.simonandschuster.com
9781476777405, $26.00, www.amazon.com

The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu And Their Race to Save the World's Most Precious Manuscripts provides something unusual in equating an Indiana Jones-style adventure with a real-world story of how a band of librarians in Timbuktu pulled off a heist to save Arabic texts from Al Qaeda, and is a powerful account of how a mild-mannered librarian and historian's smuggling job preserved a critical piece of a library. His goal was to sneak all 350,000 volumes out of the city to safety in southern Mali: a seemingly impossible job that succeeded through grit, determination, and adventure. His powerful story of preservation issues, jihadi encounters, and changing governments and perspectives makes for a gripping true-life story certain to delight any with an affection for books and historic preservation challenges.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Soft & Cozy Keepsakes: Faux Rag Quilting
Margo Yang
American Quilter's Society
PO Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
9781604604146, $22.95, www.americanquilter.com

Soft & Cozy Keepsakes: Faux Rag Quilting discusses rag quilting methods and shows how to create a cozy keepsake using a new technique to make a brighter, faster rag quilt than traditional methods can offer. This technique involves adding a pattern on top of a print, embellishing them with Faux Rag strips and creating different shapes and patterns from a range of fabrics. The results look like a combination of primitive art and simple beginner's piece work but result in a rag quilt approach accessible to a much wider audience and especially to beginners who would like to produce results from a novice's attempts.

I Love Log Cabins
Compiled by Karen M. Burns
Martingale & Company
19021 - 120th Avenue NE, Suite 102, Bothell, WA 98011
9781604686685, $22.99, www.shopmartingale.com

I Love Log Cabins gathers sixteen designs in the Log Cabin motif for a range of quilting projects, from lap to full bed quilts, and shows how to apply fat quarters, precut strips, and scraps to the log cabin motifs. This collection features no single designer but holds the projects of a range of quilters for maximum variety, while the step-by-step color photos and instructions leave nothing to guess at. Any who have worked with the log cabin motif but who want fresh, new applications and ideas will relish this collection.


The Computer Shelf

AutoCAD 2016 3D Modeling
M. Hamad
Mercury Learning
PO Box 605, Herndon, VA 20172-0605
9781942270508, $49.95, www.mercurylearning.com

AutoCAD 2016 3D Modeling provides all levels of users with step-by-step instructions on how to move from 2D to 3D AutoCAD processes, and uses metric and imperial measurements to illustrate the many tools and applications useful in the 3D environment. 3D AutoCAD represents a big difference from the 2D modeling environment, and workshops and small projects include architectural and mechanical applications as they tell how to understand the basics of 3D modeling. The result is an essential key to moving AutoCAD users beyond the basics and into real-world applications.


The Gardening Shelf

The Book of Pears
Joan Morgan with Paintings by Elisabeth Dowle
Chelsea Green Publishing Company
85 North Main Street, Suite 120, White River Junction, VT 05001
www.chelseagreen.com
9781603586665, $65.00, www.chelseagreen.com

The Book of Pears: The Definitive History and Guide to Over 500 Varieties packs in forty color plates and some ninety historic images to tell the story of the pear and discuss over 500 varieties of pears. While at first glance this would seem to be a discussion gardeners will relish, many different audiences will find it equally useful and appealing, from cooks who want some basic information on how to use different varieties to botany history followers with a special interest in the history and development of pear plants. The gorgeous illustrations and wide-ranging discussions of pears and their properties lends to a visual display that leaves no pear untouched in its survey of the best of varieties and their special attractions, making this a reference for home and garden and botany and arts holdings alike.


The Education Shelf

Building Social Relationships 2
Scott Bellini, PhD
AAPC Publishing
11209 Strang Line Rd., Lenexa, KS 66215
9781942197164, $39.95, www.aapcpublishing.net

Educators too often choose to build social skills in reaction to undesirable behaviors, and books addressing social relationships often assume the formats of identifying problems and reacting to them. Building Social Relationships 2 isn't a solution-based set of tips for bad behavior, but a systematic approach to teaching social interaction skills; and while it's directed to children and teens on the autism spectrum, it can also serve as a social skills program for all ages. From using pictures and videos to read emotions to different tests, reinforcement methods, and social behavior options, this book is a powerful 'must' for educators working with all kinds of kids.

The World Becomes What We Teach
Zoe Weil
Lantern Books
PO Box 960, Herndon, VA 20172-0960
www.lanternbooks.com
9781590565186, $10.00, www.amazon.com

This new approach to education reform processes will especially delight educators who are interested in shifting the focus of the educational process to redefine the purpose of schooling and the support systems surrounding that process, presenting a set of practical ideas to encourage kids to problem-solve and become more aware of their impact on the world. Ideas describe the idea of influencing a generation of young people who are focused on creating a better future which is more sustainable, fair, and peaceful, and the tools and systems for achieving this focus are well described and specific to the educator's process. No education holding should be without this.

Corwin
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320-2218
www.corwinpress.com

Miranda Talley Reagan's STEM-Infusing the Elementary Classroom (9781483392363, $28.95) shows teachers how to plan interdisciplinary STEM lessons for K-5 grades, and offers a set of approaches that requires students to take more risks for better results. Teachers are provided with specific sets of STEM-based instructional approaches that include first-person case history examples, sample lesson plans, step-by-step lesson applications, and keys to understanding their results. Yong Zhao's The Take-Action Guide to World Class Learners: How to Create a Campus Without Borders (9781483339542, $23.95) offers Book Three in the series and shows teachers how to encourage kids to become powerful, responsible global citizens. From establishing a Global Campus or classroom and integrating world class learning into a lesson plan to encouraging sustainable global connections, this offers a wide-reaching program that goes beyond geography and basic understanding. Jacie Maslyk's Steam Makers: Fostering Creativity and Innovation in the Elementary Classroom (9781506311241, $32.95) shows how to blend STEAM and makerspaces into a classroom or school to help kids innovate and create. Chapters directed to school leaders show how to take the basics of STEAM and apply these concepts to instructional approaches and existing curriculum, offering insights into this new way of learning and including teacher experiences as they became used to the STEAM approach. Education collections will find it cutting edge in its discussions of how to apply these concepts to existing classroom and school structures. The second edition of Douglas Fisher, Nancy Frey and Diane Lapp's Text Complexity: Stretching Readers with Texts and Tasks (9781506339443, $30.00) adds four new chapters to instructional routines that help students forge ahead in their reading skills, and offers a program that focuses on teaching complex texts; not just assigning them for reading. Chapters show how to teach the basics of analytical skills for literary texts and also show how to impart the basics of analyzing informational texts. Classroom scenarios of engagements around both fiction and nonfiction supplement discussions on factors of complexity, different levels of meaning, cognitive strategies such as visualization, and more. The result is a highly recommended basic primer on how to teach complex text analysis. The second edition of John J. Hoover, Leonard M. Baca and Janette K. Klingner's Why Do English Learners Struggle with Reading?: Distinguishing Language Acquisition from Learning Disabilities (9781506326498, $34.95) appeals to general and special education teachers alike and appears in an updated second edition to cover best practices revolving around common teaching tools. From techniques to use when assessing students and making decisions about their educational options to standards-based education and reading challenges, assessment processes and cultural influences, and data-driven decision options, this is a powerful discussion any ESL teacher needs.


The Photography Shelf

Amherst Media
175 Rano Street, Suite 200, Buffalo, NY 14207-2176
www.amherstmedia.com

Joseph Classen's Wildlife Photography: Advanced Field Techniques for Tracking Elusive Animals and Capturing Magical Moments (9781608959136, $34.95) comes from a nature photographer who began as his journeys as a hunter, but soon decided to capture his animals via camera. Not only is it unusual for a wildlife enthusiast to come from these roots and make this transition, but the blending of the two and the movement from bow and arrow to camera hunting involved, surprisingly, many of the same skills sets, which are outlined here. From identifying environments where animals can be found to understanding their habits and habitats, tracking and calling them, and creating the best scenes for a camera shot, this is a unique and powerfully compelling wildlife photography coverage that is like no other, surveying not just the mechanics of setting up and taking a shot, but the techniques of locating wild animals by knowing more about their habits. Very highly recommended as a powerful and unique approach to wildlife photography. Mark Chen's Professional HDR Photography (9781608956371, $27.95) discusses how high dynamic range imaging can be used by professionals in a variety of photographic objectives, and provides keys to adding to and optimizing images through HDR processing, shooting with HDR in mind, and using Photoshop's professional interface to fine-tune the results. From blending HDR with Camera Raw shooting to applying presets and correcting images for common problems in movement and special effects, this is filled with the author's experiences with and tips in handling HDR, and opens up a world of possibilities previously limited to less professional applications. Christopher Grey's Cheap Tricks: Ingenious Lighting & Shooting Ideas for Studio Photography (9781682030127, $29.95) is all about shooting portraits that look professional and tailored without the cost involved in special equipment. Neo-professionals on a budget will appreciate the focus on lights, props, and techniques that involve just a few tricks to utilize very basic photography equipment that most aspiring pros will likely already own, or low-cost added equipment readily available in hardware stores. From creating special effects on a budget to solving many common problems, this is a solid pick highly recommended for any who want to get more from their photo shoots without the added cost.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Writing in English for the Medical Sciences: A Practical Guide
Steve Hart
CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487
9781498742368, $33.95, www.crcpress.com

Writing in English for the Medical Sciences: A Practical Guide has been designed to help medical students and professors in medicine and surgery schools to make best use of English in the course of their work, and teaches how to produce professional results in medical writing. The profession has many common requirements for such writing, but writing errors typically occur during the process. This book identifies these common mistakes, shows how to correct them, and includes errors by international students and ESL students and professors. Exercises encourage self-testing and real understanding of the underlying principles of English, making this a top recommendation for college-level medical and English language reference collections alike.

Book Cover Designs
Matthew Goodman
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
www.schifferbooks.com
9780764350160, $34.99, www.amazon.com

Book Cover Designs compiles over five hundred designs and descriptions of the process from over fifty leading modern designers, and gathers some of the most clever of titles and themes of both classic and modern books from illustrators, design professionals, students, and more. The result is a range of approaches to book cover design that can serve two purposes: as a fine set of visual artistic efforts for artists seeking book cover inspiration, or for authors who want to sample the full range of approaches to book jackets and all the options involved.


The Audiobook Shelf

Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
www.HachetteAudio.com

Matthew Ouirk's Cold Barrel Zero (9781478936602, $30.00) comes from a history and literature student and reporter whose best-seller first novel is in process of becoming a major motion picture. His latest book comes to life under an audio treatment by veteran narrator Peter Coleman, who lends life and interest to the story of a code that is hidden yet visible, and a special ops agent who is on the run and bent on revenge. Thomas Byrne is charged with stopping an impossible attacker, but he's a surgeon trying to forget his past and the talents which now require him to assume a different role in life, and to fight against the one man he once was close to. The cat-and-mouse political game against the backdrop of struggling personal relationships lends high drama to a powerful, compelling story. Monica Hesse's Girl in the Blue Coat (9781478938361, $25.00) is narrated by film and stage actress Natalia Payne and is set in 1943 Amsterdam, where Hanneke spends her days locating black market goods for customers and keeping the truth from her parents. Her life is changed when an older woman pleas for help to locate a Jewish teen she's been hiding, who has vanished from a hidden room. At first Hanneke considers this problem way outside her usual activities; but soon she's drawn into a dangerous mystery that could change her life. The story comes to life in audio, between Natalia's compelling voice and Hesse's story. Leila Meacham's Titans (9781478932710, $35.00) receives an unabridged narration by Brian Hatch and Casey Holloway and is set in Texas in the early 1900s, where heiress Samantha becomes involved with a farm boy in the course of running a cattle ranch. Family secrets and a touch of emotional connections come together in an explosive exploration of early Texas on the cusp of change. Dodie Osteen's If My heart Could Talk (9781478952596, $30.00) is read by the author and follows the life of a woman who is a wife, mother, and oversees the Lakewood Church. Her life story and religions connections create a gripping saga of love and faith in this compelling account. All are highly recommended audio listens.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Berkeley Prime Crime
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
www.us.penguingroup.com

Laura Childs' Devonshire Scream (9780425261666, $26.00) comes from a murder mystery enthusiast whose prior books revolve around tea and murder, and includes recipes and tea tips along with yet another variation on the theme Laura Childs has so successfully developed. Tea shop owner Theodosia's life is never quiet and peaceful, and in this book a local gala and catering opportunity seems to promise that her Indigo Tea Shop will receive much acclaim. Unfortunately, murder rears its ugly head, and when a gang of masked muggers break into festivities and conduct a brazen heist, it's up to her to sleuth on behalf of her best friend who has become a victim. A fast-paced story line and involving plot makes this a riveting tale. Victoria Thompson's Murder in Morningside Heights (9781101987087, $26.00) provides a new 'gaslight mystery' and revolves around Frank Malloy and his wife, who are facing the dual challenges of New York high society and an investigation that skirts the boundaries of impropriety to that society. The death of a young woman instructor whose murder ended her dreams of independence involves police in a case that they want to close - until the parents request Frank's help and he uncovers an increasingly complex series of clues that could lead him into new trouble. A fine, winding story line keeps readers riveted, even if they are newcomers to Frank Malloy's character and world.


The Fiction Shelf

Two If By Sea
Jacquelyn Mitchard
Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl., New York, NY 10020
www.simonandschuster.com
9781501115578, $25.99, www.amazon.com

Two If By Sea provides another compelling family saga and story of survival by best-selling author Jacquelyn Mitchard: this one revolving around an American expat and police officer in Australia who saves a little boy's life only hours after his wife and her whole family are killed in a tsunami. Acting on impulse, Frank takes the terrified child into his home and life and begins to discover the boy harbors a special gift: a gift that dangerous people know about and want. Survival takes on a whole new meaning in this story of turbulent lives and challenged worlds, which is compelling and hard to put down.

Scare Tactics
Jeffrey Andrew Weinstock
Fordham University Press
2546 Belmont Avenue
University Box L, Bronx, NY 10458-5172
www.fordhampress.com
9780823271887, $25.00, www.amazon.com

Scare Tactics: Supernatural Fiction by American Women belongs in any college-level collection of women's literature or literary fiction studies, and gathers the most notable standouts among hundreds of tales published by women from the end of the Civil War to the 1930s. While those in women's studies programs will readily recognize some of these classic authors, such as Charlotte Perkins Gilman, many of the lesser-known supernatural works featured here come from equally powerful sources. However, it's not just a short story holding, but an analytical survey of the feminist, social, and cultural impacts of these short tales that examine the language of the story lines, 19th century expectations about female interactions, choices in depiction of males, ghosts, and settings, and how the stories reveal different facets of women's experience. No college-level literary reader interested in either supernatural fiction or women's writings should be without access to this important contribution to the literature.

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

Sally Goldenbaum's Murder at Lambswool Farm (9780451471642, $25.00) provides a new 'Seaside Knitters' mystery packed with knitting insights and intrigue. Birdie's love of knitting seems to take a back seat with her latest project to revitalize the family farm, but Lambswool Farm is thriving and is ready to serve up its first dinner - until one of the guests becomes fatally ill. The gossip and accusations which follow demand that the Seaside Knitters become involved to uncover the truth and save one of their own from having her business shot down before it's even off the ground. Elaine Viets' The Art of Murder (9780451476135, $25.00) tells of an art world shaken by the deadly murder of one of its own. Helen and her friend Margery are on the case when Helen is hired as an undercover investigator, only to find that the victim has so many possible enemies that the investigation becomes a labyrinth of motives for murder. A satisfying mystery evolves with many surprises along the way.


The Cookbook Shelf

Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com

These new arrivals are some of the best cookbooks of 2016, offering different flavors, novel approaches, and visuals that will make even non-cooks want to hit the ovens. Cetna Makan's The Cardamom Trail: Chetna Bakes with Flavours of the East (9781784721299, $29.99) comes from the semi-finalist on The Great British Baking Show, and offers 100 recipes that integrate Indian ingredients into familiar Western baked goods to lend an exotic taste to the result. The basic idea is to infuse Indian herbs and spices - especially green cardamom - into various recipes both sweet and savory. From Mango and Praline Eclairs with hazelnuts and mango puree to Lychee Cake, dishes are arranged by featured spice and offer primary sweets, but a selection of savory spicy dishes as well. Danny Lidgate and Hattie Ellis's Lidgate's The Meat Cookbook: Buy and Cook Meat for Every Occasion (9781784720490, $29.99) comes from a team of cooks who focus on how the home meat cook can get the best tasting results from various cuts, meat dishes, and approaches to using beef, lamb, duck, game, and others. Recipes include roasts, stews, pies and other dishes and offer step-by-step illustrations when it comes to exploring techniques. Full-page color photos accompany many of the recipes such as Breast of Lamb Stuffed with Almonds & Apricots and Duck & Fennel Kebabs. Perhaps most importantly of all, attention to dishes that are accessible to all levels of cook with all kinds of interests, from neo-pros to novices, make this an attractive all-in-one standout from other meat cookbooks on the market. Claus Meyer's The Nordic Kitchen: One Year of Family Cooking (9781784721625, $29.99) promotes seasonal fare, foraging, and new Nordic foods presented with a seasonal flair, and is recommended for enthusiasts of the cuisine who want a more contemporary take on Nordic recipes. From Meatloaf with Lingonberries and Homemade Saurkraut to Pears Poached in Elderberry Juice and Buttermilk Ice Cream with Lemon and Vanilla, this offers many appealing dishes that allow for new interpretations of Nordic fare. Da-Hae and Gareth West's K-Food: Korean Home Cooking and Street Food (9781784721596, $24.99) covers the basics of modern Korean cooking and provide recipes which show how to incorporate traditional Korean recipes into modern Western flavor fusions. Full-page, lovely color photos accompany such dishes as Korean Chile Crab, LA Galbi (Korean-Style Short Ribs), and Japchae (Stir-Fried "Royal" Noodles). Introductions to each dish offer insights on its origins and importance in Korean and Western cultures alike, while a section on martinis rounds out the focus on ethnic cuisine fusions.

Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com

Chris Honor's Big Flavors From a Small Kitchen (9781784721053, $29.99) comes from an Australian-born chef whose original recipes are tailored for home cooks and readily-available ingredients, and provides a collection of 100 recipes produced in conjunction with Laura Washburn Hutton. Color photos accompany discussions of the processes of tea smoking (with its accompany recipe for Duck Soy Sauce Green Tea), foods that can be tossed together almost instantly (such as Blue Cheese Guinness Sunflower Seeds), and comfort foods such as a Potato Mushroom Caraway Seed combination. The result are dishes that make the most of full flavors using the least amount of space and ingredients in the process. Julian Metcalf and Blanche Vaughan's ITSU 20-Minute Suppers: Eat Beautiful with Noodles, Gains, Rice and Soups (9781784721305, $24.99) is the second cookbook from the authors of ITSU: The Cookbook, and focuses on quick recipes that can each be made in 20 minutes using simple ingredients. Some hundred Asian-based recipes focus here on noodles, rice, grains and soups and dishes that are simple to put together and filled with 'superfoods' and nutritious ingredients. From Pork & Mushrooms with Cucumber Noodles to Stir-Fried Mixed Seafood with Ginger and Sesame Rice, these are outstanding and surprisingly easy dishes to reproduce even though some of their titles sound complex.

Infuse
Paula Grainger & Karen Sullivan
Hamlyn
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9780600633273, $16.99, www.amazon.com

Infuse: Herbal Teas to Cleanse, Nourish, and Heal comes from a California Clinical Herbalist and Karen Sullivan, who provide recipes for herbal tea blends to aid in a variety of restorative purposes, from cleansing and better sleep to improved circulation. Herbal teas offer many healing opportunities but tea books typically focus on tastes and food pairings. The pleasure of Infuse lies in its attention to links between tea infusions and health, and offers spicy, warming blends made by the mug full or by cups. From light and refreshing cooled teas for hot days and bodies to teas for aching joints, this offers a solid connection between teas and restorative choices, and is a top recommendation for any herbal tea drinker.

Weldon Owen
415 Jackson Street, San Francisco, CA 94111
www.weldonowen.com

Nina Parker's The South of France Cookbook (9781661880532, $35.00) provides stories from Nina Parker's summers in St. Tropez in the South of France, and enhances these stories of the region's peoples and foods with classic recipes that cover everything from lavish meals to breakfasts and picnics. The focus on regional fare such as a St. Tropez Tart made of pistachios, vanilla and almond extract, and a custardy filling to dishes from locals such as Jacques Feline's Bouillabaisse makes for a collection that embeds its dishes with French flavors and the colorful surroundings that helped create them. Williams-Sonoma's American Girl Baking (9781681880228, $19.95) provides some forty recipes designed to encourage family participation in baking. Color photos of girls baking cookies, cupcakes and more accompany professional-looking results captured in full-page color photos, while kid-friendly dishes range from Strawberry Shortcakes to Easy Cheesecake Pie and Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownies. All are outstanding productions kids will want to make.


The Technology Shelf

A Sampler of Useful Computational Tools for Applied Geometry, Computer Graphics, and Image Processing
Daniel Cohen-or, Editor, et.al.
CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487
www.crcpress.com
9781498706285, $69.95, www.amazon.com

A Sampler of Useful Computational Tools for Applied Geometry, Computer Graphics, and Image Processing could have been featured in our computer review section, but is reviewed here because of its interest to engineering reference readers, as well. It covers the basic, most important math tools for graphics and image processing, tackling subjects with students in working engineers in mind, and focuses on a collection of math techniques that can be used to solve key problems in applied math and computer science. From solutions to a range of applied problems to different approaches to programming and analytical challenges, this is a top pick for math students in advanced classes in applied geometry or visual computing.


The Sports Shelf

Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc.
PO Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61820-5076
www.HumanKinetics.com

Loren Landow's Ultimate Conditioning for Martial Arts (9781495206157, $23.95) provides a program directed to martial arts participants which teaches the basics of how to build an individual conditioning program. Where most similar-sounding books would focus on a particular routine or set of regimens, this book presents over a hundred exercises and shows athletes how to select from among them and customize them for particular objectives, whether it be developing a new skill, conditioning a particular area, or enhancing existing performance levels. Chapters provide small black and white step-by-step photos along with discussions of equipment and procedures. The result is a powerful survey perfect for any martial arts practitioner looking for keys to developing a personal routine. Hal Higdon's Half Marathon Training (9781492517245, $19.95) comes from a contributing editor to Runner's World and offers a specific focus on the requirements and training for the half marathon. Here are sixteen programs directed to novice to advanced runners with keys to understanding different approaches and strategies, training goals and methods, and encouragement to half marathon runner to develop their own programs and specific goals. Designed to be an inspirational series of layered techniques leading to success and running pleasure, Half Marathon Training is a 'must' for any who would take control of their running abilities.


The Biography Shelf

Strange As It Seems
Chip Jacobs
Vireo
c/o Rare Bird Lit
453 South Spring Street, Suite 302, Los Angeles, CA 90013
9781942600244, $15.95, www.rarebirdbooks.com

Strange As It Seems: The Impossible Life of Gordon Zahler offers an amazing biography (told by his nephew, Chip Jacobs) of a man who was initially not expected to live after a swimming accident in 1940 severed his spine at age 14. Not only did Gordon Zahler survive, but he lived for over thirty years, defying the limitations introduced by his quadriplegia to live a dream life, traveling around the world, visiting dangerous places, and having adventures. Just how does the class clown face death-defying odds to embark on such a life, making Hollywood productions and achieving a dizzying amount of fame during the process of shooting films and even marrying? Chip Jacobs captures the turbulent ups, downs, successes and failures of a life well lived in a biography which is vivid, exciting, and thoroughly engrossing.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

New Page Books
c/o Career Press Inc.
12 Parish Drive, Wayne, NJ 07470
www.newpagebooks.com

Nick Redfern's Weapons of the Gods (9781632650382, $16.99) joins others in ancient mysteries and UFO titles and provides the argument that many early civilizations actually knew about atomic power, but became the victims of their own discoveries. Other civilizations may have been destroyed by hostile aliens with their own nuclear weapons. Lest the reader think this is all conjecture, Redfern gathers evidence that shows how to examine the clues that led to these scenarios, from Biblical events to ancient world cultures around the world. Sanskirt texts, evidence of atomic Armageddon in the U.S., and early account of encounters with aliens make for a powerful and thought-provoking discussion filled with evidence and early observations. Thomas J. Carey and Donald R. Schmitt's The Children of Roswell (9781632650191, $16.99) provides evidence of on-going coverups in the Roswell UFO conspiracy world and examine how the lasting legacy of Roswell's events is now a part of the next generation's experience. Seven decades of conspiracy, intimidation and cover-ups are charted in a collection that juxtaposes family memories and stories with newfound evidence of military personnel actions. Debra Diamond's Life After Near Death (9781632650245, $16.99) gathers stories of miracles in healing and people with extraordinary gifts, and belongs in spirituality and new age holdings alike. It offers a different take on the near-death experience by considering the miraculous aftereffects of this encounter, and it redefines the popular notion of 'near death' as an experience that doesn't necessarily involve clinical death. Dozens of cases of cognitive and physiological after-effects of this experience, including elevated IQ and increased artistic abilities and psychic powers, are charted in a powerful new examination of near death and its consequences.


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
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
http://www.midwestbookreview.com


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