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Internet Bookwatch

Volume 17, Number 10 October 2007 Home | IBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Martial Arts Shelf Writing/Publishing Shelf
Photography Shelf Computer Shelf Business Shelf
Journalism Shelf Education Shelf Sports Shelf
Architecture Shelf International Studies Shelf American History Shelf
Environmental Studies Shelf Science Shelf Religion/Spirituality Shelf
Islamic Studies Shelf Christian Studies Shelf Women's Issues Shelf
Pets/Wildlife Shelf Judaic Studies Shelf Philosophy Shelf
Metaphysical Studies Shelf Music Shelf Needlecraft Shelf
Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf Military Shelf Audiobook Shelf
Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Social Issues Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf
Self-Help Shelf Transportation Shelf Art Shelf
Cookbook Shelf Hunting/Fishing Shelf Railroading Shelf
Poetry Shelf Martial Arts Shelf Library DVD Shelf
Civil War Shelf Jobs/Careers Shelf World History Shelf
Literary Shelf Biography Shelf Gaming Shelf
Social Work Shelf Theatre/Cinema Shelf Political Science Shelf
Native American Shelf Interior Design Shelf Language Studies Shelf
Criminology Shelf Nautical Shelf Gardening Shelf
Library Science Shelf Fiction Shelf Library CD Shelf
Judicial Studies Shelf Mathematics Shelf Humor Shelf
Holocaust Studies Shelf Travel Shelf  


Reviewer's Choice

Terra Antarctica
William L. Fox
Shoemaker & Hoard Publishers
c/o Avalon Publishing Group
245 West 17th Street, 11th floor, New York, NY 10011-5300
9781593761486, $19.95 www.shoemakerhoard.com 1-800-788-3123

Terra Antarctica: Looking Into the Emptiest Continent is the true-life story of award-finalist author William L. Fox's journey to explore the Antarctic, the "largest and most extreme desert on Earth". A medley of artistic, cartographic, and scientific images intertwine in his reflections of the remote and brutally harsh continent. A handful of gorgeous color photographs illustrate this compelling tale tempered with a scientist's respect for and love of nature's glory.

Tomahawks
David Grant
Paladin Press
Gunbarrel Tech Center
7077 Winchester Circle, Boulder, CO 80301
9781581606089, $15.00 www.paladin-press.com 1-800-392-2400

The tomahawk is one of the oldest weapons known to man. It appears in one form or another in virtually every culture around the world because it is exceptionally effective in hand-to-hand combat and can be thrown as a missile weapon. A durable field tool, the tomahawk was also good for breaking through barriers like doors and windows, as well as dispatching captives and wounded enemies. In "Tomahawks: Traditional To Tactical", weapons expert David Grant informatively traces the history of this readily available and easily repaired hand weapons, examines historical and traditional tomahawk designs, and analyses the contributions to the development and use of the tomahawk by such luminaries as Peter LaGana (creator of the legendary Vietnam Tomahawk) and modern masters of the weapon like Wally Hayes, J. Neilson, Daniel Winkler, Kevin McClung, and others. Surveying a variety of tomahawk styles from historical sources as well as contemporary manufacturers, "Tomahawks" features dozens of photographs enhancing the thoroughly 'reader friendly' text. Of special note is the chapter on how to choose the best tomahawk for one's personal needs, as well as contact information for tomahawk designers and manufacturers. "Tomahawks" is a superbly presented and enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library reference collections.

Edward Johnston: Master Calligrapher
Peter Holliday
Oak Knoll Press
310 Delaware Street, New Castle, DE 19720-5038
9781584561989, $49.95 www.oakknoll.com 1-800-996-2556

Calligrapher is a graphic art that goes back centuries and is to be found in one form or another in almost every culture. Edward Johnson (1872-1944) was an acknowledge master of calligraphy, a typeface designer, and the creator of the distinctive lettering and branding of the London Underground. Additionally, Johnson was a teacher and philosopher whose practical ideas on calligraphy and lettering are still influential today. In "Edward Johnston: Master Calligrapher", the late photographer, bibliophile and history lecturer at Ravensbourne School of Art, Peter Holliday (1938-2003), presents a profusely illustrated, 398-page compendium on the life and work of Edward Johnston. The result is an informed and informative treatise on Johnston's involvement with the arts and crafts movement, his enduring influence as a calligrapher, as well as his genealogical background. Of special note is the concluding chapter, 'Johnston and John Ruskin: A Social Theory of Design'. A highly recommended addition to personal, professional, and academic library collections, "Edward Johnston: Master Calligrapher" is a work of seminal scholarship and an important contribution to the 20th Century history of calligraphy in England.

The Half-Life of an American Essayist
Arthur Krystal
David R. Godine, Publisher
PO Box 450, Jaffrey, New Hampshire 03452
9781567923285, $24.95 www.godine.com

Essayist Arthur Krystal's work has previously appeared in such respected publications as "The American Scholar", "The New Yorker", "The Wall Street Journal", and more. The Half-Life of an American Essayist is a selection of twelve literary essays, written in a conversational tone yet addressing both political and semiotic precepts. Topics range from the growth of the Holocaust industry, to the life of Raymond Chandler, to the history of boxing. "While scholarly books and serious documentaries about the Holocaust are invaluable in learning about what happened and why, a certain kind of excess breeds indifference, and even this essay may be in some measure a form of betrayal. There is a part of me that feels that whatever I say for public consumption somehow cheapens the suffering of those who died and those who survived. If I have any justification for writing this, it is that I promised my father I would present his alternative to the pomp and circumstance of remembrance." An eclectic and thought-provoking assortment, recommended for intellectual and casual readers alike.

Finding Betty Crocker
Susan Marks
University of Minnesota Press
111 Third Avenue South, Suite 290, Minneapolis, MN 55401-2520
9780816650187, $15.95 www.upress.umn.edu

Finding Betty Crocker: The Secret Life of America's First Lady of Food is the true story behind a commercial icon of 1950's homemaking - Betty Crocker. Created in 1921 as a "friend to homemakers" for the Washburn Crosby Company (a forerunner of modern-day General Mills), "Betty Crocker" was in fact the collective women of the Home Service Department who signed Betty's name. Betty Crocker's local radio show on WCCO expanded, as audiences across the nation learned to appreciate her money-saving recipes and wrote her nearly 5,000 fan letters a day. An amazing look at an enduring culinary and marketing history figure, illustrated with vintage black-and-white photographs.

The End of America
Naomi Wolf
Chelsea Green Publishing Company
PO Box 428, White River Junction, VT 05001-0428
9781933392790 $13.95 www.chelseagreen.com 1-800-639-4099

Despite its subtitle, The End of America: A Letter of a Warning to a Young Patriot should be required reading for all American patriots regardless of age. Author Naomi Wolf has extensively researched to the rise of 20th century dictatorships in Germany, Russia, China, and Chile, and observed ten parallel steps that governments routinely take to guide the nation to a fascist takeover, and bring an end to any aspects of democracy. What is far more frightening than any horror novel is that the ten steps have been and continue to be applied here, in present-day America. One chilling example is step 2, "Create secret prisons where torture takes place," which is currently underway along with the current administration's assertion of the "right" to name any American citizen an "enemy combatant" and detain them indefinitely without trial. Also horrifying is step 3, "Develop a thug caste or paramilitary force not answerable to citizens," which is gradually being realized through the private service of Blackwater, a military force used by the American government in Iraq, that allegedly is prone to fire upon civilians and legally is not subject to military court-martial or Iraqi law. Wolf warns that daily life can appear to proceed normally as liberties crumble, until the instant that fascism takes power and the rule of law is suspended; to protect American liberty and democracy, citizens must act now - there is not one year, one month, one day to waste. Highly recommended.

Get It Together
Melanie Cullen with Shae Irving, J.D.
Nolo Press
950 Parker Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
1413305636, $21.99 www.nolo.com

Everyone has important paperwork and legal information which loved ones should have access to: GET IT TOGETHER: ORGANIZE YOUR RECORDS SO YOUR FAMILY WON'T HAVE TO appears in its second updated edition to tell how to sort important records, help your family find needed information, and how to do so with or without a computer in hand. Step-by-step descriptions of what documents will be needed, how to organize and protect them, and how to provide selected users with keys for finding them quickly make GET IT TOGETHER a top pick for any public library reference section.


The Martial Arts Shelf

Paladin Press
Gunbarrel Tech Center
7077 Winchester Circle, Boulder, CO 80303
www.paladin-press.com

Major Rex Applegate's KILL OR GET KILLED: A MANUAL OF HAND-TO-HAND FIGHTING (9781581606218, $20.00) has always been considered an influential book on close-quarters combat, but most readers only know the revised 1976 edition few have had access to the original 1943 edition until now. Libraries serious about military and battle manuals thus need this, written during World War II and including the spirit and insights on both hand combat and the war itself. Michael Babin's YANG-STYLE TAIJI (9781581606188, $30.00) is written for those interested in both the health and battle tactics of this martial art, and will greatly enhance any martial arts holding with its survey of how Yang-type taiji practitioners use the art to both build meditative discipline and hone combat techniques. Both are excellent recommendations any martial arts collection needs.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Theses and Dissertations
R. Murray Thomas and Dale L. Brubaker
Corwin Press
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
9781412951166, $34.95 www.corwinpress.com

The revised classic THESES AND DISSERTATIONS should be on the bookshelves of any basic college-level collection catering to graduate students: it helps this audience understand the thesis writing process and offers references and new details on Internet searching, plagiarism, and Internet publishing options alike. Checklists and numerous examples allow students to understand the entire process, from preparing a topic and collecting information to interpreting results and making a presentation that is original and acceptable for either college credit or publication. A top pick for graduate school holdings, it's sure to be a popular, often-consulted and practical reference.

Writing Matters
Andrea A. Lunsford
University of Georgia Press
330 Research Drive, Athens, GA 30602-4901
0820329312, $24.94 www.ugapress.org

Writing would seem to be changing its forms thanks to Internet and blog requirements but in fact rhetoric hasn't really changed all that much, as professor Andrea Lunsford maintains in WRITING MATTERS: RHETORIC IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LIVES. Her study is suitable for college-level English class discussions and libraries catering to this audience: it surveys the underlying meanings and practices of writing and rhetoric and follows its translation to the digital world. Excellent for rhetoric courses and their debates.

Writer's Digest Books
c/o F&W Publications
4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236
www.fwpublications.com

Any who would record their life history for future generations whether it be the general public or their descendants will appreciate Steve Zousmer's You Don't Have to Be Famous: How to Write Your Life Story (9781582974385, $16.99). Different writing models, from flashback chronology to something more versatile, are surveyed in chapters which discuss writing techniques, solidifying objectives, and putting everything in writing. An excellent guide most accessible to beginners who may have no professional writing experience or objectives but plenty of desire to chart a life for future generations. General-interest libraries will find it a popular pick, especially with scrapbooking gaining such attention for its visual memories. The 2008 GUIDE TO LITERARY AGENTS (1582975035, $26.99) tells how to find the right agent to represent work and has been completely updated and revised to pack new details in its 17th Annual Edition. Over six hundred listing of script agents, literary agents, and writer's conferences guide would-be pros to the best paths for promoting and distributing writing. Leigh Michaels' ON WRITING ROMANCE: HOW TO CRAFT A NOVEL THAT SELLS (1582974365, $16.99) comes from a noted romance novelist who guides writers through the process of writing and publishing romance. From avoiding genre stereotypes and cliches to highlighting relationship developments and creating logical trains of thought, using tension and timing to develop sensuality, ON WRITING ROMANCE is packed with insights.

The Artful Edit
Susan Bell
W.W. Norton
500 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393057522, $23.95 www.wwnorton.com

THE ARTFUL EDIT: ON THE PRACTICE OF EDITING YOURSELF provides a refreshing, new look at the idea of editing and how writers must step apart from their writing process to develop editing as a separate, distinct tool. From holding back on premature editing and using longhand to avoid mistakes made by computer editing choices to using tips and exercises to streamline the editing process, THE ARTFUL EDIT is packed with insights important for aspiring writers.

A Thinker's Guide To Effective Writing
Bill Bailey
Echo Mountain Press
4010 Echo Mountain Drive, Kingwood, TX 77345
9780979362606, $25.00 http://echomountainpress.com

Being learned in a subject is no guarantee of fluency in writing about it. Having an original story does not automatically mean that it will be written down in paper as engagingly and seamlessly as the author intended. Writing takes a set of skills that include more than the ability to spell or a basic grasp of grammar. "A Thinker's Guide To Effective Writing" presents two sets of rules fundamentally necessary to being able to write effectively. One set focuses upon creating a text that is simple, efficient, and so clearly laid out that even grade-school children can understand what is written. The goal is to write as simply as possible without sacrificing content. The twenty-five rules comprising this set are presented, explained and illustrated with total accessibility. The second set of twelve rules promotes effective writing without consciously seeking efficiency, but efficiency often is a welcome by-product. Profuse with examples by writers ranging from Francis Bacon and Winston Churchill, to Albert Einstein and George Orwell, "A Thinker's Guide To Effective Writing" is a complete course of easily assimilated and practical instruction that is particularly recommended to the attention of students, aspiring authors, educators, editors, editorialists, journalists, attorneys, and anyone else who needs to communicate by writing whether it be on paper or on computer.

The Copyright Handbook
Stephen Fishman
Nolo Press
950 Parker Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
9781413305333, $39.99 www.nolo.com 1-800-955-4775

Simply stated, "The Copyright Handbook: What Every Writer Needs To Know" by copyright attorney Stephen Fishman is the definitive reference on the subject of copyright law. This thoroughly 'user friendly' instruction manual shows aspiring authors how to register their work; how to maximize copyright protection for their work; how to use a copyright notice; how to transfer ownership of a copyright; how to avoid copyright infringements and effectively deal with those who infringe on their copyrighted material; the legal definition of the 'fair use' rule; how to obtain permission to use copyrighted work; how to profit from a copyright. All this and a great deal more (such as copyrighting Internet works such as blogs) are covered in this newly updated and expanded ninth edition of "The Copyright Handbook" which is accompanied by a CD-ROM providing more than 30 legal and copyright forms. "The Copyright Handbook" is very strongly recommended as essential reading and an invaluable reference to authors seeking a professional career and publishers wishing to avoid becoming entangled in copyright issues.

How To Sell Your Screenplay
Lydia Wilen & Joan Wilen
Square One Publishers
115 Herricks Road, Garden City Park, NY 11040
0757000029, $17.95 www.squareonepublishers.com 1-877-900-2665

Writing a screenplay for the movies or for television is only the beginning of the process. Once the script is written it must be pitched (sold) to a studio executive or a production company producer. Expertly co-authored by veteran script writers Lydia and Joan Wilen, "How To Sell Your Screenplay: A Realistic Guide To Getting A Television Or Film Deal" provides an informed and informative introduction to how the script writing business works, what the components of a professional-looking screenplay are, and how to format a script to make the best impression. "How To Sell Your Screenplay" then goes on to explain the role and importance of agent and managers, producers, lawyers, directors, and actors. Enhanced with the example of an effective query letter, "How To Sell Your Screenplay" also features the 'Square One System' for submitting scripts with a minimum of time, cost and effort, while achieving a maximum of success. Of special value is the up-to-date listing of resources, the advice for improving pitching skills, and avoiding common mistakes in pitching a script. Simply stated, "How To Sell Your Screenplay" should be considered 'must reading' for all aspiring script writers seeking to establish themselves professionally.


The Photography Shelf

40 Digital Photo Retouching Techniques, 3rd Edition
Youngin
9788931433708, $16.99 www.youngin.com

The updated third edition of 40 Digital Photo Retouching Techniques makes for a top pick for any owner of Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0: it tells how to touch up photos, add color to black and white shots, open and process RAW image files and more but uses a series of step-by-step color screens for clear examples of the entire process. These color screen shots make for a much easier manual for beginners than most and make 40 DIGITAL PHOTO RETOUCHING essential for any general-interest photo computer collection.

John Wiley
111 River Street, 4th Floor, Hoboken, NJ 07030
www.wiley.com

Chris Bucher's LIGHTING PHOTO WORKSHOP (9780470114339, $29.99) tells how to use the camera to capture atmosphere and images through a better understanding of light's properties and how the camera works to incorporate it into special effects. From working with natural light to creating mood with artificial light, chapters use plenty of color photo examples packing nearly every page as they explain how light can be mastered. The author's commercial photography work lends a business approach to a guide recommended for any general photography collection. Stephen Romaniello's PHOTOSHOP CS3 CHANNELS AND MASKS BIBLE (9780470102640, $49.99) probes the heart of Photoshop's strength and one of its potentially most confusing aspects. From using channels and masks for faster workflow and understanding how digital color is converted to working with single and multiple document selections and layering masks, this is a pick any serious Photoshop library can't miss.

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

From refining camera settings to minimize the need for later touch-ups to designing a customized JPEG workflow, organizing a more effective digital workstation and photo strategy, and fixing common image problems, Tom Lee's Digital Capture and Workflow for Professional Photographers (9781584282006, $34.95) pairs professional color photos throughout with tips on how to streamline the entire process of their production, making this an excellent reference any professional photographer needs. Marcus Bell's MASTER'S GUIDE TO WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY: CAPTURING UNFORGETTABLE MOMENTS AND LASTING IMPRESSIONS (9781584281979, $34.95) is a winning survey of what makes for a unique wedding image. From building relationships with each couple to hone in on subjects, themes and approaches which will elicit the best result to using photojournalism to capture spontaneous emotions and developing a shooting strategy, this moves a step beyond most photography guides on wedding pictures and offers collections a rich alternative packed with insider tips.

Now We Are One
Michael Wilson & David Wecker
Orange Frazer Press
PO Box 214, Wilmington, OH 45177
9781933197388, $18.00 www.orangefrazer.com 1-800-852-9332

More than 1.50 million children in the United States are adopted. These include more than 20,000 international adoptions every year. While 64% of these adoptions are girls and 36% are boys, nearly half of all international adopted children are infants, and 90% of international adoptees being less than five years old. Featuring an essay by Melissa Fay Greene, "Now We Are One: Faces of International Adoption" is a compendium of photographs by Michael Wilson with a bit of informational text by Cincinnati Post columnist David Wecker. The focus is on the stories and images of ordinary families in Cincinnati, Ohio. Fifteen families demonstrate the reality of American families adopting children from other countries and is a far cry from the circus atmosphere of some recent Hollywood celebrity foreign adoptions. Here are pictorially documented adoptions that focus on the simple, ordinary ways children from diverse (and sometimes horrific) backgrounds have become integrated as vital and beloved members of their new American families. Highly recommended, especially for anyone considering an international adoption for a family of their own.

Train Your Gaze
Roswell Angier
AVA Publishing Ltd.
c/o Watson Guptill Publications
770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003-9535
9782940373376, $49.95 www.wgpub.com 1-800-451-1741

Academic, photographer, and artist Roswell Angier applies his twenty years of experience to Train Your Gaze: A Practical and Theoretical Introduction to Portrait Photography. The result is a beautifully illustrated guide to refining one's technique in capturing the situational element of photography. The activity of one person looking can completely transform the sense of a piece, as revealed again and again in the sample black-and-white and color photographs, each of which has its background described at length. The soulful images make Train Your Gaze a welcome addition to photography connoisseur shelves as well as photographer-in-training reference shelves.


The Computer Shelf

The CSS Anthology, 2nd Edition
Rachel Andrew
Sitepoint
424 Smith Street, Collingwood, VIC Australia 3066
097584198X, $39.95 www.sitepoint.com

THE CSS ANTHOLOGY: 101 ESSENTIAL TIPS, TRICKS & HACKS gathers the best practice solutions from the most challenging CSS problems and places them and their source code under one cover perfect for any programmer handling the demands of CSS web standards programming. This new edition has been completely revised to cover the latest techniques and newest browsers, with chapters showing how to troubleshoot common problems, use the latest CSS techniques to solve them, and offering up color-coded boxes of CSS recipes and examples to streamline learning. Any serious college-level computer library needs this.

Internet 101 for Artists, 2nd Edition
Constance Smith with Susan F. Greaves
ArtNetwork press
Box 1360, Nevada City, CA 95959-1360
9780940899988, $15.95 www.artmarketing.com

If you're a practicing artist with little computer knowledge, then no easier introduction is available than Internet 101 for Artists, 2nd Edition, which covers everything from setting up email to making money on ebay, acquiring a URL, using meta tags to promote traffic and art, and more. It's a very easy, specific introduction which goes beyond the usual general computer guide for newcomers to reach directly into the artists' community.

O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, CA 95472
www.oreilly.com

College-level and specialty computer libraries covering web development will find William Sanders & Chandima Cumaranatunge's ActionScript 3.0 Design Patterns (0596528469, $44.99 ) an excellent acquisition, covering common problems in Flash and Flex applications and providing developers with the tools necessary to adopt superior design patterns. From key components of ActionScript 3.0 and its characteristics to the benefits of developing both structural and behavioral patterns, ACTIONSCRIPT 3.0 is a pick for any advanced programmer's library. Geoff Coffey and Susan Prosser's FILEMAKER PRO 9: THE MISSING MANUAL (0596514131, $34.99) is yet another 'missing manual' guide which offers up an easy, engaging introduction to the software. From getting your first database up and running to simple tasks, from sorting to streamlining data entry, FILEMAKER PRO 9 covers both the basics and the more advanced specifics of generating reports and using formulas and macros to streamline operations. It's more than the book that 'should have been in the box' it's a key to more efficiently using Filemaker Pro 9.

Addison Wesley
75 Arlington Street #300, Boston, MA 02116
www.awprofessional.com

Michael Hartl and Aurelius Prochazka's RAILSSPACE (0321480791, $44.99) is for libraries catering to programmers in general and Ruby developers in particular. It teaches how to build large-scale projects with Rails by developing a real-world social networking website such as MySpace: in using this popular venue as a foundation for learning, programmers new to Rails will find it creates an easy, logical real-world set of foundation tips essential to understanding Rails applications. James Adam, et.al.'s PROFESSIONAL RUBY COLLECTION (0132417995, $39.99) pairs a cd-rom of digital shortcuts with a package which joins eight breakthrough insight on today's Ruby and Rails technologies. New content and code come from Ruby innovators and programmers and provide tips on subsystems, lean code development, plugin extensions and much more. Programming libraries will find these important acquisitions.

Computer-Based Numerical & Statistical Techniques
M. Goyal
Infinity Science Press
11 Leavitt Street, Hingham, MA 02043
9780977858255, $69.95 www.infinitysciencepress.com

College-level computer collections and specialty computer libraries will appreciate the technical detail and depth in Computer-Based Numerical & Statistical Techniques, a survey applicable not just to computer libraries but to libraries strong in industrial engineering, math, and science. This joins statistical analysis with computer-based numerical models and offers software-based examples and solutions, covering a range of math topics needed by the majority of university courses in calculus and ODEs. It's an excellent technical manual not to be missed.

SOA: Principles of Service Design
Thomas Erl
Prentice Hall
501 Boylston #900, Boston, MA 02116
0132344823, $49.99 www.prenhallprofessional.com

SOA: PRINCIPLES OF SERVICE DESIGN is a top recommendation for college-level collections strong in advanced software engineering topics. It offers in-depth coverage of SOA computing concepts and benefits, considering eight specific design principles and their illustrative purposes, service contracts, commercial design approaches and approaches for positioning services as easy and obvious resources, and more. The blend of theory with applied techniques and insider's perspectives makes for an outstanding guide.

AutoCad 2008 and AutoCad Lt 2008 Bible
Ellen Finkelstein
Wiley
111 River Street, 4th Floor, Hoboken, NJ 07030
9780470120491, $49.99 www.wiley.com

Novices who want to move from the basics to programming in AutoLISP and VBA and advanced users of AutoCad who want a seasoned trainer's perspective on all the features of the program will find AUTOCAD 2008 AND AUTOCAD LT 2008 BIBLE essential. While it's a weighty reference which looks as though it would takes week to learn, actually a QuickStart chapter allows for creating drawings on the first day, while features are covered in logical, building-block order to create a strong foundation of tools and knowledge. Add screen shot examples throughout and you have a winning coverage key to any serious engineering or computer library, particularly at the college level.

Object-Oriented Computation in C++ and Java
Conrad Weisert
Dorset House Publishing Company
353 12th Street, New York, NY 10014
9780932633637, $39.93 www.dorsethouse.com

Information systems and advanced programming teacher Conrad Weisert presents Object-Oriented Computation in C++ and Java: A Practical Guide to Design Patterns for Object-Oriented Computing, a guide that especially focuses on aspects of object-oriented programming that other books tend to gloss over. Emphasizing the nuances of dealing with numeric data items, chapters cover a review of techniques for defining classes, how to define a pure numeric data type, the point-extent pattern for pairs of numeric types, inheritance and polymorphism with numeric types, programming with numeric vectors and matrices, and much more. A wealth of problems and exercises offer hands-on practice, and the lessons are thorough and offer numerous lines of sample code. An index rounds out this highly recommended supplement for aspiring and practicing object-oriented computer programmers.


The Business Shelf

Knockoff: The Deadly Trade in Counterfeit Goods
Tim Phillips
Kogan Page
525 South 4th Street, #241, Philadelphia, PA 19147
0749449411, $16.95 www.kogan-page.co.uk

Counterfeiting is one of the fastest growing and most profitable industries in the world, and hold a market worth over, $500 billion dollars. KNOCKOFF exposes the truth behind the fakes and charts the ramifications of counterfeit manufacture and trafficking, probing an illegal global industry that is slowly undermining world economics. Interviews with victims, investigators and people who sell counterfeits counter the common notion that fakes are acceptable, reveals the organized crime behind many fakes, and makes for a recommended pick for any serious business library.

Mining the Talk
Scott Spangler & Jeffrey Kreulen
IBM Press
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
0132339536, $44.99 www.ibmpressbooks.com

MINING THE TALK: UNLOCKING THE BUSINESS VALUE IN UNSTRUCTURED INFORMATION tells how to use unstructured data to become more competitive. While this could've been featured in our Computer Shelf area, it's reviewed here for recommendation to a wider audience than computer collections alone: business shelves should not miss the opportunity to display a survey of the business drivers which have made such data so essential, and will relish the real-world IBM techniques which cover learning from customer interactions.

Digital Portfolios, 2nd Edition
Elizabeth Hartnell-Young and Maureen Morris
Corwin Press
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
1412949300, $27.95 www.corwinpress.com

Experts in the field provide educators and libraries catering to both educational professionals and businesspeople with an excellent survey to creating a digital portfolio which accurate communicates professional goals and achievements. While the presentation is tailored for educators, all levels of business professional will learn from a survey of how such a portfolio is developed from scratch, from the basics of selecting and highlighting material to using digital technology to its best advantage.

Amacom Books
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019-7420
www.amacombooks.org

Any consumer investing in the stock market and any library catering to such patrons needs Michael C. Thomsett's The Stock Investor's Pocket Calculator (0814474608, $17.95): it makes the math behind equity investing simple, offering over 100 ratios and formulas broken down into easy steps and presented in simple English for the non-mathematician. Readers will learn the formulas the pros use, and can then apply them for quick and accurate results. Gini Graham Scott's 30 DAYS TO A MORE POWERFUL MEMORY (0814474454, $14.95) provides strategies and applied exercises which can be used to sharpen memory. The latest research from cognitive experts and psychologists is connected to real-world business applications with an eye to teaching the basics of a sharp memory, making this a top pick for any business library seeking applied business and self-help improvements based on a blend of research and real-world experience.

New Ideas from Dead CEOs
Todd H. Buchholz
Collins
c/o HarperCollins
10 East 53rd Street, New York NY 10022-5299
9780061197628, $26.95 www.harpercollins.com

Any businessman seeking the keys to business success from CEO expertise will welcome NEW IDEAS FROM DEAD CEOS, which examines the professional and personal lives of corporate giants who succeeded where others failed. From Estee Lauder's ideas on selling high-priced cosmetics through a new market to Kroc's lessons from Krispy Kreme, discussions of inventions, business school and real world influences, and businessman influences and innovations make for enlightening, lively business history reading perfect for both business and public libraries alike.

Power And Influence
Robert L. Dilenschneider
The McGraw Hill Companies
Two Penn Plaza, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10121-2298
9780071489768, $22.95 www.books.mcgraw-hill.com 1-877-833-5524

An internationally recognized communication authority and leadership counselor, Robert L. Dilenschneider is the founder and CEO of The Dilenschneider Group, and therefor brings a very special expertise to "Power And Influence: The Rules Have Changed". Many of the traditional ways of doing business in a pre-internet world have become obsolete with the coming of globalization and only those businesses that can adapt to these changes will survive and prosper. A master power broker and experienced communications expert, Dilenschneider provides the reader with the intellectual, technical, and ethical tools required to thrive in an increasingly competitive world environment. The advice, insights, instructions, and recommendations comprising "Power And Influence" are distilled into ten universal principles for success in a technology-driven and volatile national and international economies. Of special note are the real-world anecdotes that illustrate how to acquire and amplify power and influence both as an individual and as a corporation. Enhanced with the inclusion of two essays on the 'Power Game' and an appendices, 'The Power Quiz', "Power And Influence" is very strongly recommended as being informed and informative on a critically important reading for anyone engaged in the business community be it local, regional, national, or international in scope.

Competing In A Flat World
Victor K. Fung, William K. Fung, Yoram Jerry Wind
Wharton School Publishing
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96h Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780132332903, $27.99 www.mcp.com 1-800-428-5331

The collaborative effort of Victor K. Fung (Group Chairman of Li & Fung and Vice Chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce), William K. Fung (Group Managing Director of Li & Fung and former Chair of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce), and Yoram 'Jerry' Wind (Lauder Professor and Professor of Marketing at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and a lecturer on global marketing and business strategy), "Competing In A Flat World: Building Enterprises For A Borderless World" focuses on how an business can be successful access a global market for its goods and services from manufacturing to sales. The template is Li & Fung which has produced more than $8 billion in garments and other goods for nationally and internationally recognized brands -- all without owning a single factory. Reader swill learn how to successfully compete 'network vs network; how to crate a 'big-small' company combing scale and agility; how to forge 'loose-tight' relationships with suppliers; how to balance control with empowerment, stability with renewal; how to deal with such issues as politics and terrorism. A fascinating study founded upon real-world experience and a remarkable attention to detail, "Competing In A Flat World" is to be considered essential reading for anyone contemplating doing business in today's increasingly global economy.

Global Ambitions and Local Identities
Galit Ailon
Berghahn Books
150 Broadway, Suite 812, New York, NY 10038
9781845451943, $60.00 www.berghahnbooks.com 1-800-540-8663

Sociology and Anthropology lecturer Galit Ailon presents Global Ambitions and Local Identities: An Israeli-American High-Tech Merger, an extensive case study of a successful Israeli high-tech company's merger with an American competitor. The example offers an opportunity to dissect at length the social and personal effects of mergers, not to mention an account of what really happens behind the balance sheets. Global Ambitions and Local Identities has a decidedly scholarly bent, and its scrutiny of personal viewpoints and human reactions is especially insightful. Particularly recommended for business college libraries and reference shelves.


The Journalism Shelf

30: The Collapse of the Great American Newspaper
Charles M. Madigan, Editor
Ivan R. Dee, Publisher
1332 N. Halsted Street, Chicago, IL 60622-2694
1566637422, $26.00 www.ivanrdee.com

The age of the urban newspaper is over - and reflects a vast change in news communications delivery, charted here in 30, which tells of the urban American newspaper's decline. Technological change, management policy, and changing social values have helped erode the print newspaper's meaning and also reflects changing audience and newspaper worker needs. Author Charles Madigan is a former UPS International correspondent and columnist for the Chicago Tribune: his insider's focus considers everything from underlying profit concerns to social changing, making THIRTY a strong pick for both college-level holdings strong in media studies and general-interest libraries alike.


The Education Shelf

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

The second updated edition of Mandia Mentis, Marilyn Dunn-Bernstein, and Martene Mentis's MEDIATED LEARNING: TEACHING, TASKS, AND TOOLS TO UNLOCK COGNITIVE POTENTIAL (9781412950701, $34.95 ) offers a host of important intervention techniques to increase student motivation and improve problem-solving skills, and is a recommended pick for any college-level teaching or education collection. Case studies blend with coverage of meta-learning and meta-teaching techniques to promote more effective teaching skills and encourage thinking in students. The inclusion of worksheets makes for a practical resource, offering reproducible fill-in checkpoints for success. Robert L. Wyatt III and J. Ealine White's MAKING YOUR FIRST YEAR A SUCCESS, 2ND EDITION (9781412949576, $22.95) provides a classroom survival guide for middle to high school teachers, revealing such basics as how to blend technology into classroom activities, how to handle standards and differentiation challenges, and how to deal with teaching stresses. The authors' combined 50 years of teaching experience blends with insights from hundreds of working teachers to create a specific set of tips and insights perfect for educator libraries. Teresa N. Miller, Mary Devin and Robert Shoop's CLOSING THE LEADERSHIP GAP: HOW DISTRICT AND UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIPS SHAPE EFFECTIVE SCHOOL LEADERS (9781412936750, $27.95) offers college-level education libraries a satisfying blend of theory and real-world applications to address issues of effective leadership and draw together examples of results when universities and districts work together to shape such leadership qualities. School leaders and others in the field contribute to a survey of tools, forms, and research on effective leadership, making this a top pick for any collection catering to educators, leadership coaches, staff developers or practicing school administrators. Kristen J. Nelson and Kim Bailey's STARTING STRONG: SURVIVING AND THRIVING AS A NEW TEACHER (9781412955621, $34.95) appears in its second edition to provide time-tested classroom strategies for new teachers just beginning their first year. College-level libraries catering to educators will find it a basic and popular pick covering everything from easy classroom layout suggestions and practices to promote positive individual and group behavior to samples of oral and written communication with parents, tips on creating classroom newsletters, and ideas for incorporating web-based learning into the curriculum. It's an excellent beginning teacher's guide highly recommended for any venturing into the classroom for the first time.

Windows On Learning
Judy Harris Helm, et al.
Teachers College Press
1234 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027
9780807747865, $19.95 www.tcpress.com 1-800-575-6566

Now in a newly expanded and updated second edition, "Windows On Learning: Documenting Young Children's Work" is the collaborative work of educational consultant Judy Harris Helm, educational resource specialist Sallee Beneke, and classroom teacher Kathy Steinheimer (Valseka Hinton Early Childhood Education Center). "Windows On Learning" provides teachers with a proven method for collecting, analyzing and displaying children's work at school. Instructions are provided that will easily enable principles, curriculum coordinators, and Head Start personnel how to develop children's portfolios to share with parents or for assessing children's academic performance. Replete with examples, illustrations, and basic information on incorporating standards into documentation, "Windows On Learning" also discusses how to analyze and talk about documentation in professional learning communities and teams. There is even cogent information on preparing teacher portfolios. Of special note is the "Movie Theater Project, a literacy-rich project from an inner-city pre-kindergarten classroom. "Windows On Learning" is strongly recommended as a resource for any educator involved with documenting the academic and classroom performance of children preschool through second grade.

Playing With Print
Carol Ann Bloom
Good Year Books
PO Box 91858, Tucson, AZ 85752-1858
9781596471337, $18.95 www.goodyearbooks.com 1-888-511-1530

Now in a newly expanded and updated second edition, "Playing With Print: Fun Activities And Ideas For Fostering Emergent Literacy" by early childhood education specialist Carol Ann Bloom offers Preschool, Kindergarten, First Grade, and Second Grade classroom teachers tools that can greatly improve the development of their students' emergent literacy through utilizing a wide range of play experiences and literacy-related props. "Playing With Print" offers a wealth of different ways to incorporate print into the instruction curriculum for reading and writing that will attract, engage and inspire children to attach meaning to the printed word with a naturalness and expertness that will stand them in very good stead for further academic achievement. The thoroughly 'user friendly' text is enhanced throughout with illustrations and with 'Tips' making "Playing With Print" an invaluable and highly recommended resource for both classroom teachers and home-schooling parents.

Big Ideas For Growing Mathematicians
Ann Kajander
Zephyr Press
c/o Independent Publishers Group
814 North Franklin StreetChicago, IL 60611
9781569762127, $19.95 www.zephyrpress.com 1-800-232-2187

Developed for use by students ages 10 to 14, and in grades 5 through 8, "Big Ideas For Growing Mathematicians: Exploring Elementary Math With 20 Ready-To-Go Activities" by Ann Kajander (founder of the Kindermath Enrich Project and an Adjunct Professor in the Mathematics Department of Lakehead University) is enthusiastically recommended resource for elementary school mathematics enrichment program curriculums. Thoroughly 'kid friendly', "Big Ideas For Growing Mathematicians" showcases twenty intrinsically interesting projects that collectively cover a wide range of math content and skills including triangular tessellations (geometry and repeating patterns), fractional salaries (multiplying and dividing fractions), and kaleidocycles (geometric hexaflexigons). Each united includes an overview, objectives, materials, vocabulary, and step-by-step procedures. Enhanced with reproducible student activity sheets are included for instruction and assessment, "Big Ideas For Growing Mathematicians" is also recommended for use by home-schooling parents.

Promoting Self-Determination In Students With Developmental Disabilities
Michael L. Wehmeyer
Guilford Publications, Inc.
72 Spring Street , New York, NY 10012
9781593854607, $25.00 www.guilford.com 1-800-365-7006

"Promoting Self-Determination In Students With Developmental Disabilities" by Professor of Special Education Michael L. Wehmeyer (who is also the Associate Director of the Beach Center on Disability at the University of Kansas, and the Director of the Kansas University Center on Developmental Disabilities) is based on the finding that self-determination is a significant factor in improving educational performance and transition outcomes in students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Professor Wehmeyer surveys and assesses various methods for teaching components of self-determination (including making choices, problem solving, decision making, goal setting, self-advocacy, and self-regulated learning) and makes practical recommendations that classroom teachers can immediately apply within their classrooms and within their curriculums regardless of the subject matter. A work of seminal scholarship which is enhanced with reproducible worksheets and forms, extensive references, and a comprehensive index, "Promoting Self-Determination In Students With Developmental Disabilities" is a the latest title in the impressive 'What Works for Special-Needs Learners' series from Guilford Publications. Also available in a hardcover edition (9781593854614, $48.00), "Promoting Self-Determination In Students With Developmental Disabilities is strongly recommended reading for the teachers and counselors of special needs students.

Independent Study Program
Susan K. Johnsen & Kathryne Lee Johnson
Prufrock Press
PO Box 8813, Waco, TX 76714-8813
9781593632304, $99.95 www.prufrock.com 1-800-998-2208

Collaboratively compiled and expertly co-authored by academicians Susan K. Johnsen (Professor, Department of Educational Psychology, Baylor University) and Kathryne Lee Johnson (Adjunct Professor, School of Education, University of Rhode Island), the "Independent Study Program" includes a teacher's guide, a student workbook, and a set of 112 resource cards. Classroom teachers are provided with step-by-step instructions for organizing materials and guiding their students through the research process. Featuring teaching tips for students at all levels, "Independent Study Program" lays out just what is required for successful classroom management including suggestions, advice, helpful rubrics, checklists, and student rating scales. With sample lesson plans and real-world examples, "Independent Study Program" can provide the basis for adding an independent study program to elementary school curriculums regardless of the subject to be studied. "Independent Study Program" is also highly recommended for use by home schooling parents as well.

Sensory Integration
Christy Isbell & Rebecca Isbell
Gryphon House, Inc.
PO Box 207, Beltsville, MD 20704
978876590607, $19.95 www.ghbooks.com 1-800-638-0928

The numbers of young children entering private preschools and the public school system exhibiting sensory processing disorders is increasing every year and currently are estimated to affect 12 to 17 percent of all children in the United States according to the Sensory Integration Education and Research Foundation. The collaborative work of Christy Isbell (Program Directory and Associate Professor for the Occupational Therapy Program at Milligan College in Tennessee) and Rebecca Isbell (Director of Tennessee's Center of Excellence in Early Childhood Learning), "Sensory Integration: A Guide For Preschool Teachers" focuses on providing teachers with the tools they need to help children whose brains are not correctly processing information brought in by their senses. This problem can manifest itself as oversensitivity or undersensitivity to touch, sights, sounds, movement, tastes, or smells; unusually high or low activity levels; coordination problems; poor attention span or difficulty focusing on tasks; and low self-esteem. In addition to helping teachers identify these children, "Sensory Integration" also offers practical, easy-to-use solutions to supporting children's sensory needs. Of special note are the chapters that show how to determine whether a child is a sensory seeker or avoider; create effective learning environments to support the sensory development of all children; and the implementation of practical solutions to meet the needs of individual children in the preschool classroom. "Sensory Integration" is recommended as require reading for all preschool teachers, and would be highly informative reading for the parents of children with sensory disorders as well.

Visual Supports for People with Autism
Marlene J. Cohen, Ed.D., BCBA & Donna L. Sloan M.A., BCBA
Woodbine House
6510 Bells Mill Road, Bethesda, MD 20817
9781890627478, $21.95 www.woodbinehouse.com 1-800-843-7323

Experts Marlene J. Cohen and Donna L. Sloan combine their expertise in Visual Supports for People with Autism: A Guide for Parents & Professionals, an educational guide for parents and professionals responsible for instructing children with autism spectrum disorder. Packed with examples and black-and-white photographic illustrations of over 140 visual supports, Visual Supports for People with Autism is an excellent supplementary resource for working on problem learning areas such as language, attention, memory, motivation, sequential skills, or social skills. An excellent, reader-friendly guide featuring reproducible diagrams to facilitate its ideas and concepts for enhancing learning.

From My Classroom to Yours
James Rourke
Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
National Writers Literary Agency (publicity)
3140 South Peoria Street, #295, Aurora, CA 80014
9781578866045, $22.95 www.rlpgbooks.com 1-800-462-6420

History teacher James Rourke presents From My Classroom to Yours: Reflections on Teaching, a compendium of classroom-tested methodologies for increasing student performance, and countering teacher apathy and burnout. Chapters address critical thinking through feedback, coaching in the classroom, what students most need to know, and much more. "We must detach ourselves from focusing on the students as the problem and recognize our true antagonists. In doing so, we can maintain enthusiasm and dedication, even toward those students who exhibit these antagonistic traits. Once we detach ourselves from the idea that the students are the problems, we can actually attach ourselves to the idea that we are allies in the struggle to overcome common foes, like arrogance or ignorance." A thoroughly accessible guide, highly recommended for grade school through high school teachers of all backgrounds.

Crafting Opinion and Persuasive Papers
Tim Clifford
Maupin House Publishing
PO Box 90148, Gainesville, FL 32607
9780929895611, $19.95 www.maupinhouse.com 1-800-524-0634

Written by middles-school language-arts teacher Tim Clifford, Crafting Opinion and Persuasive Papers: For Teachers of Developing Writers in Grades 4-10 is a straightforward guide to helping students learn how to craft quality papers advocating a point or a cause, and therefore cultivate the ability to make informed judgments about the media messages they encounter over the course of their lives. The sample lessons readily incorporated into any curriculum, or compiled as whole into a complete course. Examples, reproducible pages for classroom use, recommendations for opening the lesson and modeling writing skills, work time suggestions, closing activities, and recommended reading lessons compose the meat of this handy teacher's aide.

Once Upon a Time
Jane Heitman
Linworth Publishing, Inc.
3650 Olentangy River Road, Suite 250, Columbus, OH 43214
9781586832315, $36.95 www.linworth.com

Once Upon a Time: Fairy Tales in the Library and Language Arts Classroom for Grades 3-6 is a resource for librarians and language arts teachers. Drawing upon classic fairy tales to teach core language skills to young students and English as a second language learners alike, Once Upon a Time is divided into two sections. The first section has background information, an annotated bibliography of adaptations appropriate for students in grades three through six. The second section offers ready-to-use lessons for reading, writing, speaking, and listening, as well as assessment suggestions and sample rubrics. Reproducible worksheets and templates enhance this useful educational tool.


The Sports Shelf

TriPower
Paul Frediani and William Smith, CSCS
Hatherleigh Press
5-22 46th Avenue Suite 200, Long Island City, NY 11101
9781578262441, $16.95 www.hatherleighpress.com

TRI POWER: THE ULTIMATE PROGRAM FOR TRIATHLON SUCCESS is a key component of any weight training or conditioning exercise program, offering up four phases of conditioning and showing athletes how to get the most from a triathlon experience. The authors are certified teachers and experts: their instruction will appeal to any triathlon trainer and to any collection strong in sports representation.


The Architecture Shelf

The Rammed Earth House
David Easton
Chelsea Green
Box 428, 85 North Main #120, White River Junction, VT 05011
9781933392370, $40.00 www.chelseagreen.com

Any owner/builder who would study up on rammed earth construction, both theory and applied concepts, must have The Rammed Earth House: this edition has been completely revised and pairs color photos by Cynthia Wright with discussions of the art and technology of rammed earth housing. Chapters come from an architect and discuss everything from field testing soil to understanding layout, design, and soil compaction. A 'must' for any studying alternative housing, and sure to be a popular, repeat lend for any public lending library.

Roofing Construction & Estimating
Daniel Atcheson
Craftsman Book Company
6058 Corte del Cedro , Carlsbad, CA 92009
9781572180074, $38.00 www.craftsman-book.com 1-800-829-8123

In "Roofing Construction & Estimating", Dan Atcheson draws upon his many years of experience and expertise as a draftsman, as an apprentice in plumbing, electrical and carpenter, as a professional in all areas of construction from earthwork, to framing, to roofing. The result is an impressively 'user friendly' instructional compendium on roof sheathing, underlayment, asphalt shinglers, wood shingles and shakes, mineral-surfaced roll roofing, tile and slate roofing, metal roofing and siding, as well as built-up and elastomeric roofing. Profusely illustrated, enhanced with tables, charts, calculations, examples, step-by-step instruction and repair procedures, "Roofing Construction & Estimating" is ideal for novice or do-it-yourself roofer, and would make an invaluable reference for even the more experienced roofing contractor with respect to making a roofing estimate, installing or repairing roofing in residential or commercial buildings. A highly recommended specialized reference, "Roofing Construction & Estimating" should be a part of every professional, trade school, and community library Building Contractor or Architecture reference collection.


The International Studies Shelf

The Conquest of Nature
David Blackbourn
W.W. Norton & Company
500 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393329995, $17.95 www.wwnorton.com

THE CONQUEST OF NATURE: WATER, LANDSCAPE, AND THE MAKING OF MODERN GERMANY is a recommended pick for any library strong in modern Western history in general and German history and culture in particular. Both college-level and general-interest lending collections will appreciate the fine reproductions of paintings, maps and photos which go into a survey linking culture, politic and environmental issues in German history to modern times. It's a key component of any comprehensive collection on German issues and background.

Global Perspectives On The United States, Volume 3
David Levinson & Karen Christensen, editors
Berkshire Publishing Group
314 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA 01230-1615
9781933782072, $150.00 www.berkshirepublishing.com

The newly published third volume of "Global Perspectives On The United States" series from the Berkshire Publishing Group, this compendium of informed and informative essays provides the reader with a series of in-depth analysis of U.S. policies and programs, key historical events, cultural phenomena (including religion and pop culture), and more. Of special note is the section devoted to listing and describing U.S. agencies and organizations. Enhanced with more than 120 sidebars and illustrations that illuminate the original text which includes historic speeches and treaties, firsthand journalistic accounts of personal experiences, "Global Perspectives On The United States" reveals the complexities and diversities of how America is viewed by the men and women of other countries and other cultures. Now complete with this 435 page addition, the three volume set that is "Global Perspectives On The United States" is a necessary and core addition to academic and community library International Studies reference collections.

The Fight for Jerusalem
Dore Gold
Regnery Publishing, Inc.
One Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20001
9781596980297, $27.95 www.regnery.com 1-800-338-4550

Former Israel ambassador to the U.N. (among his many other credentials) Dore Gold presents The Fight for Jerusalem: Radical Islam, the West, and the future of the Holy City, a serious-minded discussion of the future of Jerusalem, a city holy to Christians, Jews, and Muslims. The Fight for Jerusalem makes a convincing argument that for Jerusalem to be a free city where all faiths can be practiced, it will have to remain under Israeli sovereignty, because the United Nations cannot be relied upon to protect it and the Muslim Palestinians have become increasingly affected by a branch of radical Islam that seeks to eliminate other faiths from Jerusalem, not co-exist with them. Drawing upon meticulous scholarly research, The Fight for Jerusalem addresses how Palestinians are destroying archaeological evidence of ancient Jewish presence in Jerusalem, particularly on the Temple Mount; how Western diplomatic concessions strengthen the apocalyptic speculations of radical Muslims; how the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza brought more power to Palestinian extremists at the expense of Palestinian moderates; why negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority over the status of Jerusalem have little chance of creating an agreement; and much more. It should be noted that The Fight for Jerusalem specifically denounces the religious intolerance radical Islam, and recognizes that the majority of the Muslim world is not radical, though The Fight for Jerusalem decries the increasing power that radical Islamic factions have. A politically charged yet thoughtfully reasoned exhortation on how Jerusalem, a potential focal point of radical Islam's jihad against the West, can best be preserved for future generations.

Basque Nationalism and the Spanish State
Andre Lecours
University of Nevada Press
Mail Stop 166, Reno, NV, 89557-0076
9780874177220, $34.95 1-877-682-6657

Basque Nationalism and the Spanish State is a scholarly study of Basque nationalism specifically in the context of the historical rise and evolution of the Spanish nation-state. Andre Lecours (associate professor of political science, Concordia University) examines how Basque nationalism has been greatly influenced by the different forms of the state, from its confederal, centralist, and authoritarian historical phases to its democratic phases. Of especial interest is the up-to-date scrutiny of the movement in the wake of recent events such as ETA's announcement in 2006 of a permanent cease-fire. "A fourth process of globalization is peculiar to Europe: political integration. The European Union influences nationalist movements in different ways. From a discursive perspective, the EU can be presented as being either antithetical to, or coherent with, substate nationalism." A welcome contribution to Spanish history and political science reference shelves, especially in college libraries.

Egyptian Customs and Festivals
Samia Abdennour
The American University in Cairo Press
c/o International Publishers Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
9789774160608, $14.95 www.aucpress.com 1-800-758-3756

Samia Abdennour, a Palestinian now thoroughly at home in Egypt, presents Egyptian Customs and Festivals, a guide for travelers, visitors, and anyone unfamiliar with Egyptian customs. Chapters teach the reader basic Egyptian etiquette and a crash course on cultural norms concerning meals at home or on the street, general social interaction, comforting a friend after the loss of a loved one, marriage and divorce, and other matters. Egyptian Customs and Festivals offers information concerning what is considered appropriate among both Muslim and Christian Egyptians, with the caveat that religion in general is best avoided as a topic of discussion. "As a sign of respect it is advisable for everyone - foreigners, non-Muslims, and non-fasting people - to abstain from eating, drinking, or smoking in public during daylight hours in Ramadan." A handful of color illustrations enhance this highly practical and useful guide. An absolute "must-read" for anyone visiting Egypt or cultivating ties with Egyptian friends or business associates.


The American History Shelf

The Gunfighters
Col. Charles Askins
Paladin Press
7077 Winchester Circle, Boulder, CO 80301
9781581606133, $25.00 www.paladin-press.com

THE GUNFIGHTERS: TRUE TALES OF OUTLAWS, LAWMEN, AND INDIANS ON THE TEXAS FRONTIER tells of early Texans and comes from a U.S. Border Patrol agent and big-game hunter who brings hundreds of early Texans to life. From the Texas Rangers and the notorious Bonnie and Clyde to Apaches and other Indian encounters, dramatic true stories chart the paths of the early gunmen and make for a history perfect for any history collection strong in Texas or early Western history.

Inventing Los Alamos
Jon Hunner
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
0806138912, $19.95 www.oupress.com 1-800-627-7377

INVENTING LOS ALAMOS: THE GROWTH OF AN ATOMIC COMMUNITY provides a powerful social history of Los Alamos, the birthplace of the Atomic Age. It began as an 'instant city' created in 1943 for this purpose but came to accommodate scientists and over 6,000 residents brought in to achieve a goal. Most books focus on science: this provides urban studies collections with more: an in-depth survey of the community which grew from a political and scientific objective.

Grand Excursion
Steven J. Keillor
Afton Historical Society Press
PO Box 100, Afton, MN 55001
1890434639, $28.00 www.aftonpress.com 1-800-436-8443

"Grand Excursion: Antebellum America Discovers The Upper Mississippi" by academician and Midwest historian Steven J. Keillor is a fascinating and superbly written history of the coming of the railroad to the Mississippi river. In June 1854 the owners of the Chicago & Rock island railroad invited hundreds of shareholders, bondholders, and others to travel by rail as guests of the railroad to Rock Island, Illinois, and from there by steamboat to St. Anthony Falls in the newly settled Minnesota territory. The expedition, termed 'The Grand Excursion', proved to be a huge success, which was played out against the pre-Civil War background when the western territories were the subject of intense and growing conflict over slavery. A consummate historian, Keillor draws upon historical records and eye-witness accounts of the round-trip journey, and provides the reader with an informed and informative account of its historical context and relevance. "Grand Excursion" is a work of impressive and thoroughly 'reader friendly' scholarship, making it an invaluable and highly recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library 19th Century American History collections.

Tied to The Great Packing Machine
Wilson J. Warren
University of Iowa Press
100 Kuhl House
119 West Park Road, Iowa City, IA 52242-1000
1587295369, $39.95 www.uiowapress.org 1-800-621-2736

Based on more than twenty-five years of painstaking scholarship and exhaustive research, "Tied To The Great Packing Machine: The Midwest And Meatpacking" by Wilson Warren (Associate Professor of History, Western Michigan University--Kalamazoo) presents an informed and informative history of the meatpacking industry's considerable impact on the economics, culture, and environment of the Midwest over the past 150 years. Meatpacking was a part of both the rural as well as urban areas, moving from the huge railroad supplied stockyards of Chicago and Kansas City to the meatpacking companies of smaller and less populated communities. The result is a complete and comprehensive picture of the meatpacking industry and its influence within the agro-industrial landscape of the American Midwest. Enhanced with numerous tables, regional and city maps, extensive notes, a bibliography, and an index, "Tied to The Great Packing Machine" is a seminal work and a strongly recommended addition to academic and community library American History reference collections.

Dance and Its Music in America, 1528-1789
Kate Van Winkle Keller
Pendragon Press
PO Box 190, Hillsdale, NY 12529
9781576471272, $84.00 www.pendragonpress.com 1-518-325-6100

Written by music and dance expert Kate Van Winkle Keller, whose many accomplishments include service as choreographer for the film "The Last of the Mohicans", Dance and Its Music in America, 1528-1789 is an in-depth history and analysis of dances and dance music in America during the era of Spanish, French, and English exploration and settlement. Timelines, a scattering of black-and-white illustrations reproducing vintage artworks and handwritten musical scores, bibliographical references and an index enhance this thoughtful city-by-city, region-by-region history. "At some point, the May King took on the name and attributes of a Delaware Indian Chief named Tammany (?1625-?1701). Subject of many myths, Tammany was credited with supernatural exploits and was chosen in the 1770s as the figurehead of May Day ceremonies that combined elements of British May Day and seasonal visiting traditions with Native American references, the patriotic resistance movement, and dancing." A studious and thorough chronicle of early American music and dance, accessible to lay readers and historians alike.

Long Branch
Sharon hazard
Arcadia Publishing
420 Wando Park Boulevard, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
9780738549675, $19.99 www.arcadiapublishing.com

A superb compilation of period postcards reproduced in black-and-white, "Long Branch" showcases the buildings, avenues, vehicles, and people of Long Branch, New Jersey in the first few decades of the 20th Century. Included are postcard images of the most impressive Long Branch hotels and homes, well-known actors, politicians and business tycoons of the day who visited the area, as well as other prominent people of the community. Of special note are the post card images of the beach, the boardwalk, and Ocean Avenue. Each postcard image is supported by an informative caption by Sharon Hazard, who has strong family ties to Long Branch. Entertaining and informative, "Long Branch" could well serve as a template for post-card oriented photograph history compilations showcasing other American communities.


The Environmental Studies Shelf

Global Warming: Causes, Effects and the Future
Mark Malin
WorldLife Library
c/o Voyageur Press
380 Jackson Street Suite 200, St. Paul MN 55101-3885
0760329656, $17.95 www.voyageurpress.com

The second updated edition of a classic treatise provides a fine review of what global warming is and how it's affecting the planet. Where similar books sport a weighty appearance lending to college-level pursuit, this slim paperback offers a more user-friendly presentation making it a fine recommendation to both high school and general-interest public library collections, especially in light of the numerous color photos throughout.

Conflicts Over Natural Resources
Jacqueline Vaughn
ABC-CLIO
Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
9781598840155, $55.00 www.abc-clio.com

Conflicts over natural resource management, from minerals and forests to rangeland and protected areas abound so it's good to find all facets of resource management conflicts considered under one cover in a reference which includes resolutions, issues, and reasons why particular resources are in conflict. Both high school and college-level collections strong in resource management will find CONFLICTS OVER NATURAL RESOURCES an important reference packed with articles, statistics and background history. While it adds to the 'Contemporary World Issues' series, it also stands well alone.

Finding Community
Diana Leafe Christian
New Society Publishers
PO Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC, Canada, V0R 1X0
9780865715783, $24.95 www.newsociety.com 1-800-283-3572

Environmental issues are becoming more urgent and more prominent with each passing year. More and more members of the general public are trying to live 'eco-friendly' lifestyles. For many, this includes living in eco-villages or communities of like-minded people. "Finding community: How To Join An Ecovillage Or Intentional Community by environmental activist Diana Leafe Christian is, quite literally, a 'how to' manual of instructions, case studies, anecdotes and information about life in an eco-village and becoming a member of a eco-friendly community. Of special note is a North American 'What It Costs' table coving both the United States and Canada and such issues as questions to be asked of community members and oneself, signs of a healthy (and not-so-healthy) community, the costs of joining and staying in a community, as common blunders to be avoided. Enhanced with sample community membership documents and an essay 'Can Living in Community Make a Difference in the Age of Peak Oil?', "Finding Community" should be considered a 'must read' by every environmentally conscious and conscientious man and woman in North America, as well as an essential addition to school and community library Environmental Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Peachtree Creek
David R. Kaufman
University of Georgia Press
330 Research Drive, Athens, GA, 30602-4901
9780820329291, $25.00 www.ugapress.org 1-800-266-5842

Published by the University of Georgia Press in cooperation with the Atlanta History Center, "Peachtree Creek: A Natural And Unnatural History Of Atlanta's Watershed" by David R. Kaufman is a photographically enhanced exploration and survey of Peachtree Creek from its headwaters to its confluence with the Chattoochee River. The result of thirteen years of research, study, and exploration, "Peachtree Creek" artfully combines the informational content of scholarly research with the readability of talented storytelling to present a compelling mix of urban travelog, local history, and a clarion call for conservation. Combining historical images with his own superb examples of color photography, this study of a specific and finite watershed is a seminal example of an original work that would be as at home on the shelves of an academic library's Environmental Studies reference collection as it is on the front room coffee table of a non-specialist general reader with an interest in this history of the Peachtree Creek and its five tributaries (North Fork, South Fork, Clear Creek, Nancy Creek, and Tanyard Creek). An enthusiastically recommended read that is as informed as it is informative, "Peachtree Creek" would also serve as an excellent template for similar histories and studies of other American waterways.


The Science Shelf

To the Digital Age
Ross Knox Bassett
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
0801886392, $25.00 www.press.jhu.edu

TO THE DIGITAL AGE: RESEARCH LABS, START-UP COMPANIES, AND THE RISE OF MOS TECHNOLOGY provides college-level collections strong in science history with a survey of the rise of the transistor and its affects on both business and scientific pursuits. The achievements and discoveries of individual scientists and the participation of private industries in breakthrough discoveries alike are charted in a survey which is perfect for both business and science libraries at the college level, offering students an excellent opportunity to understand and discuss how technological advancements both affect and are fostered by business pursuits.

The Trouble with Physics
Lee Smolin
Houghton Mifflin
215 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10003
061891868X, $15.95 www.marinerbooks.com

THE TROUBLE WITH PHYSICS: THE RISE OF STRING THEORY, THE FALL OF A SCIENCE, AND WHAT COMES NEXT has been a best-seller in hardcover and its new paperback edition offers even more collections an affordable access to theoretical physicist Lee Smolin's discussion on fundamental physics which argues the discipline is losing its ideals. Chapters chart an increasing gap between experiment and theory, and the proliferation of ambitious ideas and theories that have yet to be tested experimentally. High school, college-level and public lending libraries will find the discussion perfect for any who would understand the latest range of theories in physics.

Robotics: Appin Knowledge Solutions
Appin Group
Infinity Science Press
11 Leavitt Street, Hingham, MA 02043
9781934015025, $59.95 www.infinitysciencepress.com

ROBOTICS is a top pick for college-level collections strong in engineering applications and industrial engineering based on robotic technology, and will appeal to both students and practicing engineering techs working in the field. The major robot classifications are surveyed, with chapters covering basic concepts, mechanics and electronics alike, and kinematics. The technical depth of the survey makes it a highly recommended pick for any college-level holding with courses on the topic.

Biotechnology and the Human Good
C. Ben Mitchell, et.al.
Georgetown University Press
3240 Prospect Street NW, Washington DC 20007
9781589011380, $24.95 www.press.georgetown.edu

Great scientific and technological advancements benefitting mankind have come from biotech labs but also some of the greatest ethical concerns have accompanied them, unfortunately. BIOTECHNOLOGY AND THE HUMAN GOOD charts the latest arguments over recent developments in reproductive and genetic science, building a case for stewardship routed in Judeo-Christian theism. What is science's responsibility in promoting the greater good? BIOTECHNOLOGY AND THE HUMAN GOOD is essential for college-level science libraries; particularly those interested in some of the religious foundations of bioethical concerns.

Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
www.prometheusbooks.com

Paul Kurtz, Editor & David Koepsell's SCIENCE AND ETHICS: CAN SCIENCE HELP US MAKE WISE MORAL JUDGMENTS? (9781591025375, $21.00 ) is a survey that blends scientific ideas with ethnical and moral investigation, offering up a collection of essays by some thirty contributors who range from scientists and philosophers. Chapters perfect for college-level collections strong in either science or philosophy probe such issues as research ethics, applications of technological and medical advancements, and social issues ranging from racism to criminal management. Peter S. Rudman's HOW MATHEMATICS HAPPENED: THE FIRST 50,000 YEARS (9781591024774, $26.00) provides both a review of the history of mathematical development an a survey of the cultural and social influences on math queries and developments. From differing ways of expressing fractions to the birth of math some 50,000 years ago, chapters follow the developments of logic and numbers systems and describe major misunderstandings in the history and development of counting and measuring methods in a lively survey both college-level and general-interest libraries will appreciate.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

Teen Voices from the Holy Land
Mahmoud Watad and Leonard Grob
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781591025351, $19.00 www.prometheusbooks.com

TEEN VOICES FROM THE HOLY LAND: WHO AM I TO YOU offers up an intriguing survey by author who asked young Palestinians and Israelis to describe their lives and dreams for the future. Their words offer insights into not only their lives and experiences but their perceptions of past, present and future, making this a top pick for any spiritual collection or library strong in Middle East issues.

What's Next After Now?
Steven Harrison
Sentient Publications
1113 Spruce Street, Boulder, CO 80302
1591810345, $14.95 www.sentientpublications.com

WHAT'S NEXT AFTER NOW? POST-SPIRITUALITY AND THE CREATIVE LIFE addresses the question of what is 'next after the now' when spirituality is set aside and you drop into the present. Spiritual seekers have consulted gurus and religions and discovered the power of the present within the spiritual circle WHAT'S NEXT AFTER NOW? Addresses what comes after, and is a wonderful survey recommended for any spirituality or new age library.

The Rubais of Rumi: Insane with Love
Nevit O. Ergin and Will Johnson, Translators
Inner Traditions
Box 388, Rochester, VT 05767
1594771839, $14.95 www.InnerTraditions.com

Rumi is known for over 44,000 verses that appear in a 23-volume collection, yet Rumi also composed nearly two thousand rubias (short observations). His rubias were primarily oral and spontaneous as he journeyed through Turkey, so unlike his other collected verses few have been translated into English, until now. Nevit Ergin is translator of Rumi's 44-volue set and he and Will Johnson together present over two hundred of Rumi's best rubias, making this a recommended pick for any collection strong in Rumi wisdom.

Bitten by the Black Snake
Manuel Schoch
Sentient Publications
1113 Spruce Street, Boulder, CO 80302
9781591810605, $12.95 www.sentientpublications.com1-303-443-2188

Swiss mystic and therapist Manuel Schoch presents Bitten by the Black Snake: The Ancient Wisdom of Ashtavakra, an interpretation of and commentary upon the timeless wisdom of the ancient Indian text of Ashtavakra, from the classic Vedanta period. Rendering the concepts into modern-day terms accessible to readers of all backgrounds, Bitten by the Black Snake reveals how to observe, rather than engage in the continual struggle created by the black snake of one's ego. Rather than identifying oneself through body, thoughts, feeling, habits, and experience, one can become connected to the everlasting consciousness that manifests these. "As Ashtavakra says, if you desire liberation, stop dealing with the mind. The Buddha said it differently - that enlightenment is the ending of identification. Only thoughts and fast and slow feelings can be identified with. You can never identify with the atmosphere; you cannot say this is my atmosphere. Climate cannot be identified with, but you can feel it even though you cannot grasp it as your own." A powerful description of how to rest in the stillness that generates the highest qualities of life, love, peace, compassion, and enlightenment.


The Islamic Studies Shelf

The Essential Seyyed Hossein Nasr
William C. Chittick, Editor
World Wisdom
1501 E. Hillside Dr., Bloomington IN 47401
9781933316383, $24.95 www.worldwisdom.com

Collections strong in either philosophy or Islamic religious beliefs will welcome The Essential Seyyed Hossein Nasr, a collection of writings by a living legend in Islamic studies and a spokesperson for Islam whose essays and reflections represent a traditionalist perspective on Islamic thought. These scholarly writings expose the basic concepts and struggles of Islam and are a top pick for any spirituality collection seeking discussion and interpretation routes.

The Suicide of Reason
Lee Harris
Basic Books
c/o Perseus Publishing Group
387 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
046500203X, $26.00 www.basicbooks.com

THE SUICIDE OF REASON: RADICAL ISLAM'S THREAT TO THE WEST is a recommended pick for any college-level collection strong in Islamic studies, East/West politics, interactions and social issues. It argues that the basic Western concept of a possible democracy in Iraq is itself misguided and the notion of fostering a Western style liberal democracy only encourages radical Islam. The West is in a war with Islamic fanaticism and THE SUICIDE OF REASON charts this war, offering up original thinking and analysis as well as better strategies for East/West relations.

Muhammad: Islam's First Great General
Richard A. Gabriel
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806138602, $24.95 www.oupress.com 1-800-627-7377

Muhammad: Islam's First Great General is not a typical biography Muhammad, prophet and founder of the religion of Islam. Military historian and retired U.S. Army officer Richard A. Gabriel presents a close examination of Muhammad as a military genius, who introduced innovations that would transform armies and warfare throughout the Arab world. With a keen eye upon the connections between social, economic, and cultural environment in which Muhammad lived and the religion he founded to Muhammad's military achievements, Muhammad: Islam's First Great General is an exceptional chronicle of how a brand-new religious movement survived its tumultuous birth through eight major battles, eighteen raids, and thirty-eight other military operations in its first ten years alone. Also covered is Muhammad's masterful application of nonmilitary methods including bribery, alliance building, and political assassination, to fortify his long-term position and goals, even at the expense of short-term military objectives. Muhammad: Islam's First Great General reveals how Muhammad's talents and inspirations enabled his successors to defeat the armies of Persia and Byzantium, and establish the foundations of the Islamic empire, and is a singularly fascinating study of historical warfare and leadership. Highly recommended.


The Christian Studies Shelf

The Bible as Prayer
Stephen Hough
Paulist Press
997 MacArthur Boulevard, Mahwah, NJ 07430
0809145073, $15.95 www.paulistpress.com

THE BIBLE AS PRAYER is a recommended pick for Christian libraries, offering up an anthology of short phrases and passage from the Bible designed specifically to aid in prayer. From early monk phrases taken from Scriptures for meditation purposes to the development of the Jesus Prayer in the East, THE BIBLE AS PRAYER: A HANDBOOK FOR LECTIO DIVINA offers up both useful phrases and history.

Orbis Books
PO Box 308, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0308
www.orbisbooks.com

Albert Nolan's JESUS TODAY: A SPIRITUALITY OF RADICAL FREEDOM (1570756724, $16.00) offers a fine sequel to his popular classic JESUS BEFORE CHRISTIANITY, and focuses on the spirituality of Jesus and his relevance in modern times. This outline is perfect for Christian spiritual holdings: if offers perspectives and lessons which make for deeper spiritual insights. Such holdings should also include a copy of JESUS BEFORE CHRISTIANITY, and the 25th anniversary edition reprint (1570754047, $15.00) is thus an essential companion volume.

The Truth About Jesus and the Lost Gospels
David Marshall
Harvest House Publishers
990 Owen Loop North, Eugene, Oregon 97402-9173
9780736920551, $9.99 www.harvesthousepublishers.com 1-800-547-8979

Written by David Marshall, founder and director of the Kuai Mu Institute for Christianity and World Cultures, The Truth About Jesus and the Lost Gospels: A Reasoned Look at Thomas, Judas, and the Gnostic Gospels is a thoughtful examination of the ancient "Lost Gospels" that portray Jesus Christ in a different manner than the canonical New Testament. Chapters discuss what the "Lost Gospels" are and where they came from, whether these writings can be trusted on par with the Bible, and whether certain popular perceptions of Jesus have been mistaken all along. The Truth About Jesus and the Lost Gospels is sharply critical of Gnosticism, going so far as to declare "'Gnostic Christianity' is a contradiction of terms", and emphasizes that true freedom can only be found through Jesus Christ. Delving into examples of how Christianity has transformed lives throughout history up to the modern day, The Truth About Jesus and the Lost Gospels is a persuasively written, passionate treatise, accessible to readers of all backgrounds.

Starting a House Church
Larry Kreider & Floyd McClung
Regal Books
1957 Eastman Avenue, Ventura, CA 93003
9780830743650, $12.99 www.regalbooks.com 1-800-235-3415

Pastors Larry Kreider and Floyd McClung present Starting a House Church: A New Model for Living Out Your Faith, a handy guide to participating in the growing house-church movement, which has sprouted to meet the needs of Christians and their communities in a manner beyond the ability of traditional churches. Chapters cover how to start one's own house church, ideal models for leading house churches, current and future trends in the house-church movement, how to work together with local, traditional, and mega-churches, and much more. "Who ministers to the children when they meet separately for the second half of the meeting? Whatever works! Here are some ideas: a rotation of all adult house-church members; responsible, trustworthy older kids; a rotation of couples with children; or teams composed of one parent and another adult (so that the other parent can participate in the discussion). Some house churches share children's services and resources with other house churches." A handy and useful "get-started" primer, enthusiastically recommended for any Christian reader interested in supplementing their spiritual gathering needs of their community.

The Moral Measure of the Economy
Chuck Collins & Mary Wright
Orbis Books
PO Box 308, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0308
9781570756931, $18.00 www.orbisbooks.com

Institute for Policy Studies senior scholar Chuck Collins and JustFaith Ministries staff member Mary Wright combine their wisdom in The Moral Measure of the Economy, a guide written especially for Catholics in answer to the growing need for economic justice and a strong moral foundation in today's society. Chapters address "Catholic Teachings on Economic Life", "Global Trade and the Power of Corporations", "Solidarity in Action: Alternatives for a Just Economy", and much more. "As a society, we should not permit private actors, such as corporations, to shift their 'costs' onto the commons... A company, for example, has the choice of either illegally dumping polluted water into the stream (where we all pay the 'costs'), or cleaning the water, returning it to the stream, and building the extra cost into its product or service. Economists make the distinction here between 'externalizing' the cost - i.e., getting everyone else to pay - and 'internalizing the cost, by incorporating it into the cost of doing business... Wal-Mart externalizes the costs of its 1.3 million employees by paying them less than a living wage and providing fewer than half of them with health insurance - while encouraging them to enroll in taxpayer-funded health programs." Though The Moral Measure of the Economy is written especially to Catholics, its powerful message about the need for morality and social accountability to provide guidance to economic systems deserves to be heard by readers of all religious backgrounds. A can-do guide to incorporating fundamental human values into one's economic beliefs and actions.

The Art of Saint John's Bible
Susan Sink
The Liturgical Press
St. John's Abbey, PO Box 7500, Collegeville, MN 56321-7500
9780814690628, $14.95 www.litpress.org 1-800-858-5450

Featuring rich color photography, The Art of Saint John's Bible: A Readers Guide to Pentateuch, Psalms, Gospels and Acts is a beautiful tour of illuminated Biblical text in the first three published volumes of "The Saint John's Bible": Pentateuch, Psalms, and Gospels and Acts. The text examines specific illuminations with all the fine attention to detail, history, and context worthy of museum pieces, while the copious color pictures reveal the wondrous detail of visual elements and textual treatments. Highly recommended for church libraries as an aide to more deeply experiencing and understanding illuminated biblical text.

At the Heart of the Gospel
L. Ann Jervis
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
2140 Oak Industrial Drive, NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
9780802839930, $14.00 www.eerdmans.com 1-800-253-7521

Anglican priest and professor of New Testament L. Ann Jervis presents At the Heart of the Gospel: Suffering in the Earliest Christian Message, a testament that suffering is a significant part of the human condition, and offering the Biblical words of Paul as proof. A close examination of three of Paul's letters (Thessalonians, Philippians, and Romans) reveals the importance of accepting the suffering of believers, with faith that even though we suffer, God's great plan for all creation does not include suffering and God will ultimately vanquish human misery. "Believers' liberation from sin unfortunately does not completely wipe out the past from our present - we still die because of sin (8:10). We believers may be able to hope for a future life for our bodies (8:11), but now both we and those who do not share our faith share the same fate: our physical bodies die." A compelling and extensively researched essay of conviction and vindication, highly recommended for Christian studies shelves.

The Lost Gospel of Mary
Frederica Mathewes-Green
Paraclete Press
PO Box 1568, Orleans, MA 02653
9781557255365, $19.95 www.paracletepress.com

Award-winning author Frederica Mathewes-Green presents The Lost Gospel of Mary: The Mother of Jesus in Three Ancient Texts, an examination of the theological and cultural questions as well as the historical background offered by three sacred texts. The first is "The Gospel of Mary", a story of the Virgin Mary's life from her conception to the birth of Jesus, written circa AD 150; the second is the oldest known prayer to Mary, found on papyrus in Egypt and dated to the third century; the third is "The Annunciation Hymn", written by the Syrian poet Romanos circa AD 520 and widely considered a classic of Eastern Christian poetry, still sung in Eastern Orthodox churches throughout the modern world today. Combined, the texts offer a wondrous spiritual viewpoint into the mother of the Lord. Written from the perspective of a devout believer, The Lost Gospel of Mary is a welcome addition to Christian spirituality shelves.

A Beginner's Guide to Spirituality
Michael Keiser
Conciliar Press
PO Box 76, Ben Lomond, CA 95005-0076
9781888212884, $10.95 www.conciliarpress.com 1-800-967-7377

Written by Orthodox priest Father Michael Keiser, A Beginner's Guide to Spirituality: The Orthodox Path to a Deeper Relationship with God is a simple guide to spirituality, defined as keeping in balance with God, our fellow man, and the material world. Chapters discuss different types of prayer from adoration and thanksgiving to penitence and petition, the purpose of confession, aspects of asceticism, and much more. "If you have sinned in a major, soul-destroying way, don't wait until your next scheduled confession to deal with it. Don't defer confession of major sins, for they build up quickly and darken our soul, helping the passions to take root. Follow this simple rule: when in doubt, spill your guts." An accessible and enlightening guide.


The Women's Issues Shelf

Good Observers of Nature
Tina Gianquitto
University of Georgia Press
330 Research Drive, Athens, GA 30602-4901
0820329193, $19.95 www.ugapress.org

"GOOD OBSERVERS OF NATURE": AMERICAN WOMEN AND THE SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF THE NATURAL WORLD 1820-1885 provides a fine survey important not only to science and nature collections at the college level, but to women's studies holdings. Here is a survey of women's education, women's involvement in nature stud, and the rise of women who contributed to 19th century natural science.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

In Pursuit of Snakes & Other Reptiles
Adrian Crane
Bibliomania!, distributor
Box 58355, Salt Lake City, UT 84158
No ISBN, $TBA www.herplit.com

IN PURSUIT OF SNAKES & OTHER REPTILES: THE HERPETOLOGICAL LIBRARY OF ADRIAN CRANE is a specialty catalog of the specialty library of Adrian Crane, and as such as a recommended pick for college-level herpetological collections. It offers a powerful reference that charts books and writings, describes covers and latest prices, and includes color and vintage duotone photos on nearly every page. Serious collectors of herpetological books know how valuable something like the Crane catalog is and how unique, to have such a reference in print.

Keeping Chickens
Jeremy Hobson & Celia Lewis
David & Charles
c/o F&W Publications
4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236
0715325671, $19.99 www.fwpublications.com

Anyone keeping chickens, especially those new to the art, will welcome KEEPING CHICKENS: THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO ENJOYING AND GETTING THE BEST FROM CHICKENS. It offers an all-in-one guide to chickens, from understanding the specific attributes of over 40 breed types to choosing, buying, and keeping chickens healthy. If only one chicken-keeping guide were chosen for either a rural or urban library, it should be this: the easy tips and color throughout make it both practical and inviting.

Getting in TTouch with Your Puppy
Linda Tellington-Jones
Trafalgar Square Publishing
PO Box 257, Howe Hill Road, North Pomfret, VT 05053-0257
9781570763724, $14.95 www.trafalgarsquarebooks.com 1-800-423-4525

Trainer, behaviorist, and animal therapist Linda Tellington-Jones presents accumulated wisdom from 40 years of working with animals in Getting in TTouch with Your Puppy: A Gentle Approach to Training and Influencing Behavior. Color photographs on virtually every page illustrate the step-by-step instructions to basic care, feeding, and grooming, as well as house-training, good behavior on a leash, riding in cars, and much more. The "Tellington Touch Method" used to train puppies is a "no-force" means to influence behavior of dogs through gentle physical contact. An excellent and easy-to-use guide, recommended for anyone considering a new puppy for a pet.

Sharks of the Pacific Northwest
Dr. Alessandro De Maddalena, Dr. Antonella Preti, & Tarik Polansky
Harbour Publishing
PO Box 219, Madeira Park, BC, Canada, V0N 2H0
9781550174182, $19.95 www.harbourpublishing.com 1-604-883-2730

Sharks of the Pacific Northwest Including Oregon, Washington, British Columbia & Alaska presents the combined wisdom of three marine experts in a beautiful guide to shark species featuring a wealth of gorgeous color photographs, as well as a handful of black-and-white diagrams. Accessible to lay readers, amateur naturalists, and professional researchers alike, Sharks of the Pacific Northwest is not only an identification guide to the 18 species of shark in the Pacific Northwest, but also offers general scientific information concerning the biology of sharks, the truth behind shark/human interaction, and more. In-depth profiles of the nuances of the eighteen species round out this handy guide, which is supplemented by a bibliography and an index. Enthusiastically recommended for anyone seeking to learn more about these wondrous and often misunderstood creatures.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

The Modern Jewish Mom's Guide to Shabbat
Meredith L. Jacobs
HarperCollins
10 East 53rd Street, New York NY 10022
9780061120657, $16.95 www.harpercollins.com

The modern, busy Jewish mother here receives a key to getting everything done in 24 hours AND to putting on Shabbat to bring a busy family together. Here are recipes, prayers, and even discussion questions that offer a wealth of ideas to translate an old ritual into modern times. Any collection catering to modern Jewish living needs this.

Encyclopedia Of American Jewish History
Stephen H. Norwood & Eunice G. Pollack, editors
ABC-CLIO
PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
9781851096381, $195.00 www.abc-clio.com 1-800-368-6868

Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by Stephen H. Norwood and Eunice G. Pollack, the "Encyclopedia Of American Jewish History" is a two volume compendium of information covering every aspect of more than three and a half centuries of Jewish immigrants and their descendants with respect to their influence and impact upon American culture -- as well as the Jewish communities elsewhere in the world. Here detailed are the seminal contributions of Jewish Americans to academia, the arts, politics, the professions, the sciences, music, and American popular culture in general. Enhanced throughout, this two volume set features essays, maps, documents, tables, charts, and a thoroughly 'reader friendly' text that makes it especially appropriate and strongly recommended for school as well as community library Judaic Studies and American History reference collections.

New Readings Of Yiddish Montreal
Pierre Anctil, Norman Ravvin, Sherry Simon
University of Ottawa Press
542 King Edward, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1N 6N5
9782760306318 $35.00 www.uopress.uottawa.ca

Featuring a bilingual (French & English) text, "New Readings Of Yiddish Montreal" is the collaborative project of Pierre Anctil, Norman Ravvin, and Sherry Simon. Occasionally illustrated with black-and-white photography, this compendium of eight informed and informative essays focus upon the use and translation of Yiddish with respect to Jewish literature generated by the Judaic community of Montreal, Canada. Of special note is the biographies section on the contributors. A specialized, scholarly, and fascinating subject, "New Readings Of Yiddish Montreal" is a welcome and strongly recommended addition to academic library Judaic Studies and Canadian Culture Studies reference collections.

A Faithful Heart
Benjamin Levy
UAHC Press
633 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017-6778
0807407542, $13.95 www.uahcpress.com 1-888-489-8242

Very highly recommended as informed and informative reading, "A Faithful Heart: Preparing For The High Holy Days" by Benjamin Levy (the Rabbi of the Monroe Township Jewish Center in Spotswood, New Jersey) is a study text for students of Judaism which is based on The Midrash (Maaseh Avraham Avinu). Specific chapters focus on God's uniqueness, unity, and might. Other chapters deal with idolatry and spiritual survival, what it means to be 'God's Servant', as well as the efficacy of prayer and good intentions. Of special note is the postscript 'A Rabbinic Response to the Challenges of Jewish Survival'. Founded on impeccable scholarship, "A Faithful Heart" is completely accessible to the non-specialist general reader with an interest in Judaism and spirituality.

Turim, Volume One
Dr. Michael Schmidman, editor
KTAV Publishing House
930 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306-6316
9780881259599, $30.00 www.ktav.com

The first of two volumes of Jewish Studies compiled in honor of Dr. Bernard Lander, founder and president of Touro College, Turim: Studies in Jewish History and Literature Presented to Dr. Bernard Lander, Volume One is a collection of scholarly essays by a variety of academic authors discussing topics ranging from the Dead Sea Scrolls to medieval and modern Jewish history, to biblical commentary, rabbinic literature, and Jewish philosophy, ethics, and law. Nearly all the essays are in English, but the final two writings are in Hebrew. From "Circumcision Controversy in Historical Context" to "Orthodox Rabbis Confront the War Refugee Board" to "Destroying Property in Order to Save One's Life", the essays are intellectually challenging, heavily researched and extensively referenced. A welcome addition to Judaic studies shelves and college libraries.

The Time Of Our Lives
Nina Beth Cardin & Scott Blumenthal
Behrman House Inc.
11 Edison Place, Springfield, NJ 07081
087441718X, $9.95 www.behrmanhouse.com 1-800-221-2755

The skillfully collaborative work of Nina Beth Cardin and Scott Blumenthal, "The Time Of Our Lives: A Teen Guide To The Jewish Life Cycle" is specifically designed to introduce Jewish teenagers to the Jewish life cycle as it is demarcated through Jewish traditions and milestone celebrations. A profusely illustrated consumable, "The Time Of Our Lives" is replete with special features that include Fast Forward (assisting teens to envision what their own life cycle events); Step by Step (a sequenced summary of each life cycle event); Be a Give-Your-Best Guest (a series of 'to-do' lists when being a guest at the celebrations of family and friends); From Generation to Generation (how families can share memories of past life cycle events -- and dreams for those events to come); What Do You Think (thoughtful and thought-provoking questions honing a teens ability to think critically); Back to the Sources (citations that connect modern celebrations to ancient Judaic texts); and Spark of a New Tradition (modern customs and practices which help teenagers to visualize how they can contribute to Jewish life in general, and Jewish life cycle events in particular. Regardless of their denominational affiliation (Orthodox, Conservative, Reform), "The Time Of Our Lives" should be considered a 'must' for teenaged boys and girls within the Jewish community.


The Philosophy Shelf

What is Secular Humanism?
Paul Kurtz
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781591024996, $9.95 www.prometheusbooks.com

Are there ethical values and principles nonreligious individuals can live by? Secular humanism attempts to address these principles and thus is an essential acquisition for any collection strong in linking spirituality to ethical and moral behavior patterns. It provides a blend of science, philosophy, ethics and spirituality that offers up new insights into both spiritual and humanistic behavior choices: perfect for college-level library acquisition and debate.

Kant and the Scandal of Philosophy
Luigi Caranti
University of Toronto Press
10 St. Mary Street, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4Y 2W8
9780802091321, $60.00 www.utppublishing.com 1-800-565-9523

Philosopher and Marie Curie Fellow at Philipps-Universitat Luigi Caranti presents Kant and the Scandal of Philosophy, an examination of Kant's arguments against Cartesian skepticism. Kant considered it a scandal that philosophy failed to discover a rational proof of the existence of the external world. Caranti addresses this issue with extreme attention to detail, offering a complete historical analysis of Kant's anti-skeptical postulations from the pre-critical period to "Reflexionen zum Idealismus" (1788-93). "Ironically, the more we emphasize Kant's dismissive attitude towards metaphysics and its various problems (including idealism), the harder it becomes for us to explain why only a few years later, in the 1770 Dissertation, he returned in grand style to metaphysics - in particular, to a metaphysical argument against idealism." Revealing how Kant's critique is crucial to understanding the origin of his philosophy, as well as how the skeptical challenge led Kant to a crucial stage in his thought, Kant and the Scandal of Philosophy is an invaluable contribution to philosophy shelves and enthusiastically recommended for intermediate to advanced students and experts in the field.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

The Souls of Animals
Gary Kowalski
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
1577315901, $14.00 www.newworldlibrary.com

Do animals have souls, and do they experience spirituality as humans do? THE SOULS OF ANIMALS offers stories backed with science to show that other creates are sentient beings who also have spiritual lives. From the music of birds to the nature of elephants, THE SOULS OF ANIMALS utilizes numerous examples from nature to reveal evidence of animal spirituality.

The Hidden Path
Raven Grimassi and Stephanie Taylor
Llewellyn Worldwide
c/o Llewellyn Publications
PO Box 64383, St. Paul, MN 55164-0383
9780738710709, $19.95 www.llewellyn.com 1-800-843-6666

Mickie Mueller's The Hidden Path provides a boxed kit of some 40 cards, a 216-page guidebook and a black bag, all of which are tools to entering and revealing mystical paths and realms. It comes from a noted Wiccan author and a High Priestess who collaborate with Pagan artist Mickie Mueller to pack a kit wit transformative cards which can be used either separately or as a companion to their WELL WORN PATH kit. Perfect for New Age card readers and practitioners.

Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom
Rachel Pollack
Red Wheel Weiser
65 Parker Street Suite 7, Newburyport, MA 01950
1578634083, $19.95 www.redwheelweiser.com

Tarot users will find SEVENTY-EIGHT DEGREES OF WISDOM: A BOOK OF TAROT a fine compilation of two previous volumes under one cover, joining THE MAJOR ARCANA and THE MINOR ARCANA in one revised, updated volume with a new introduction by the author. As such it's a powerful tarot reference no serious new age library should miss.

Fortune in Your Hand, revised edition
Elizabeth Daniels Squire, author
C. B. Squire and Worth Squire, editors
Five Star Publications
PO Box 6698, Chandler, AZ 85246-6698
9781589850606, $15.95 www.fortuneinyourhand.com

Now in a revised and expanded edition, Fortune in Your Hand: The Art of Palmistry is a complete how-to guide to palm reading, as well as a comprehensive history of palmistry from prehistoric Indian and Gypsy traditions to the modern day. Featuring all the black-and-white illustrations of the original edition, including hand prints from such well-known figures as Salvador Dali, Carl Sandburg, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Helen Keller, Fortune in Your Hand covers how to make a map of one's own hand; different hand types; the mounts and lines of hands; the traits of a hand that suggest success, luck, or the lack thereof; fingerprints; reading the past and future; and many more fine nuances of the art. The new edition of Fortune in Your Hand is revised by the husband and son of the original author Elizabeth Daniels Squire, and based on her own notes. A bibliography and index round out this excellent standard for anyone interested in palmistry.


The Music Shelf

Improve Your Piano Playing
Dr. John Meffen
Allworth Press
10 East 23rd Street, Suite 510, New York NY 10010
9781581154764, $12.95 www.allworth.com

Piano teacher and music scholar Dr. John Meffen here blends humor with technique to go beyond the usual 'how to play piano' instructional, adding a focus on how to play the music of your choice the way you imagine it should be heard. How can a book do this? By teaching a step-by-step program for fingering, showing how to handle tricky passages, and teaching phrasing, tone and pedaling, among other things. Piano students who already have some instruction and collections catering to both amateur musicians and beginning students will find this an excellent, well rounded survey focusing on improvement strategies.

This Business of Music, 10th Edition
M. William Krasilovsky and Sydney Shemel
Billboard Books
c/o Watson-Guptill Publications
770 Broadway, New York NY 10003
9780823077236, $29.95 www.watsonguptill.com

Now in its 10th edition, THIS BUSINESS OF MUSIC has been completely revised and updated to reflect the latest changes in the music business, and provides powerful survey which includes major changes in digital technology and how music has been distributed. Any who would keep making, promoting and successfully selling music needs THIS BUSINESS OF MUSIC: it provides musicians, agents, managers and music publishers with the latest industry insights, covering legal and business issues and covering contracts, royalties and much more. Both college-level collections strong in music studies and business and general-interest public lending libraries will find it a popular pick.

The Cambridge Companion to Schumann
Beate Perrey, editor
Cambridge University Press
32 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10013-2473
0521789508, $29.99 www.cambridge.org 1-800-872-7423

Expertly compiled and edited by Beate Perry, "The Cambridge Companion to Schumann" is an up-to-date introduction showcasing the work of nineteenth and twentieth-century classical composer Robert Schumann. An anthology of essays by learned authors discuss topics ranging from "Life and literature, poetry and philosophy: Robert Schumann's aesthetics of music" to "Novel symphonies and dramatic overtures", while other in-depth discussions of Schumann's musical works include "Schumann in his time and since." A very highly recommended, essential addition to academic and university music department reference collections, "The Cambridge Companion to Schumann" is enhanced with extensive notes, an index, and a few measures of musical notation round out this scholarly guide to the works and philosophies of a musical genius.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Martingale & Company
20205 144th Ave NE, Woodinville, WA 98072-8478
www.martingale-pub.com

Tricia Lund and Judy Pollard's SHOWSTOPPING QUILTS TO FOUNDATION PIECE (9781564776921, $26.95) displays some gorgeous quilts and offers up tips on how to produce 13 quilts which feature feathered stars, pinwheels, and more. Step-by-step lessons on foundation piecing techniques tell how to change color, design, and more to produce outstanding quilts, and provide fine examples for any quilter seeking superior art. Janet Shipley Hawks' SCULPTED THREADS: ARTFUL BROOCHES, EARRINGS, AND MORE (9781564777287, $18.95) tells how to sew multiple layers of thread to create fine blends of color and depth in some 13 projects. A home sewing machine and a variety of threads are all that's needed to create works of art in a range of useful forms: earrings, brooches, bowls, bags and more. Outstanding for any needlework crafter seeking something different. Not suitable for library lending but perfect for gift-giving is the 'Little Box' series of boxed instructions ($19.95 each). Crafters and needlework enthusiasts receive clear directions on portable project cards perfect for slipping into a bag for on-the-go project ideas. BRACELETS AND EARRINGS (9781564777652) covers some twenty bracelets, many with matching earrings, which display different styles and contemporary, easy projects. KNITTED GIFTS by Sandy Scoville (9781564777482) provides some 20 gift ideas from bags and scarves to hats and throws. BEADED NECKLACES AND EARRINGS (9781564777655) surveys jewelry making, offering easy stringing techniques along with tips on how to build a foundation of basic knowledge. CROCHETED GIFTS (9781564777577) provides crochet ideas for bags, throws and more. Each card pairs a full-color picture on the front with lists of materials, tips on sizing, and step-by-step directions on the back.

Watson-Guptill
770 Broadway, New York NY 10003
www.watsonguptill.com

Sonya Nimri's JUST FOR THE FRILL OF IT (0823099970, $12.95) tells how to put together a hot new wardrobe with items you already own. These can be items which have lost their luster, or are shoved in back of a closet for some reason but Nimri shows how to turn these once-appealing clothes into new styles, from pairing a scarf with an old sweater to produce a novel tango top to stretching old ties together to make a new shirt. The focus on contemporary styles for 20-somethings makes for a fun, appealing idea book packed with easy sewing instructions and color photos: perfect for libraries seeking something different and practical for a needlework addition. Scarlet Taylor's KNIT WITH BEADS: STUNNING SHAWLS & WRAPS (0823016757, $14.95) is for knitters who want to embellish a knitted product with something different. The author's a knitwear designer who was inspired to adorn her own knitting from the offerings of a local bead shop: her creative shawls and wraps offer up something quite different from the usual knitter's guide, making KNIT WITH BEADS a fine addition to any knitting library.


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

Comic Book Nerd
Pete Von Sholly
TwoMorrows Publishing
10407 Bedfordtown Drive, Raleigh, NC 27614
$8.95 www.twomorrows.com

Magazines aren't typically featured in our book issues but this one's exceptional and deserves a place in any lending library strong in comics and graphic novel representation. It's a fun parody of the fan press world of comic books and it provides a hilarious parody in a 68-page color magazine. Any avid comics reader will readily recognize the humor here and will love it!

The Art of Ratatouille
Karen Paik
Chronicle Books
680 2nd Street, San Francisco CA 94107
0811858340, $40.00 www.chroniclebooks.com

The Pixar Studios animated film RATATOUILLE is a winner and celebrating the storyline in print is the art-packed book version which collects over 300 of the artistic sketches, pastels, and sculpts which went into the movie. Both movie fans and fans of cartoon film artistry as well as collections strong in film art will want The Art of Ratatouille: it pairs extensive quotes from artists, animators and production team members with full-page color displays and makes for a lovely keepsake, coffee table display, or popular library lend.

Hell Beasts
Jim Pavelec
Impact Books/North Light
c/o F&W Publications
4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236
1581809263, $19.99 www.fwpublications.com

HELL BEASTS: HOW TO DRAW GROTESQUE FANTASY CREATURES is for any would-be comic or graphic novel artist: it tells how to create and draw monsters, how to make selected monsters even creepier, and how to draw upon imagination to create new monsters. It's a pick not just for graphic novel and comics collections, but for any general-interest lending library reaching out to young would-be artists.

Terry and the Pirates, Volume 1
Milton Caniff
IDW Publishing
4411 Morena Boulevard, Suite 106, San Diego, CA 92117
9781600101007, $49.99 www.idwpublishing.com

Milton Caniff was one of the most popular and influential newspaper comic strip artists and storytellers of his day. Perhaps his most important and successful strip was "Terry and the Pirates" which began in 1934 and finally concluded some twelve years later. IDW Publishing has published the first volume of this outstanding series which includes more than 800 consecutive comic strips (black-and-white during the weekdays and in color for the Sunday papers) beginning with its 1934 debut and continuing through to the end of 1936 and comprising all of the strips for the series first two years. A whole new generation of readers will be introduced to young Terry lee, his adult pal Pat Ryn, their sidekick Connie, and an unforgettable array of brigands and bad guys including Captain Judas, Blaze, Burma, and the one-and-only Dragon Lady. Very strongly recommended for personal and community library collections, this debut "Terry and the Pirates" collection of high adventure on the China Seas is a genuine treat from beginning to end and will leave the reader looking eagerly toward the arrival of Volume 2!


The Military Shelf

Civil Wars of the World
Karl DeRouen Jr. and Uk Heo, Editors
ABC-CLIO
Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
9781851099191, $195.00 www.abc-clio.com

Any serious military library with a strong focus on modern world wars needs the 2-volume reference CIVIL WARS OF THE WORLD: MAJOR CONFLICTS SINCE WORLD WAR II. It fills a reference gap in post-World War II conflicts in charting nations at war within themselves, offering an alphabetical reference of over 40 nations that have experienced civil conflict. World experts on civil strife are both scholars and politicians and offer essays which provide historical and political insights alike, accompanying detailed maps showing conflict progress and focal points of action, tables, chronologies of events, and more. The set promises lasting reference value for any high school to college-level specialty military collection.

Sniper: A History of the U.S. Marksman
Martin Pegler
Osprey Publishing
443 Park Avenue South Suite 806, New York NY 10016
9781841769790, $24.95 www.ospreypublishing.com

Think 'sniper' and one usually thinks of 20th century marksmen but SNIPER is more than a survey of modern military strategy; it covers military marksmanship history in America from Revolutionary War days to modern times, considering the first usage of marksmen and their strategic evolution. Chapters chronicle over 200 years of sniper history and developments, from training to weaponry, and make for an excellent addition to any military library.

First to the Rhine
Harry Yeide and Mark Stout
Zenith Books
c/o MBI Publishing Company
Galtier Plaza, Suite 200, 380 Jackson Street, St. Paul, MN 55101-3885
9780760331460, $27.95 www.mbipublishing.com 1-800-458-0454

International affairs analyst Harry Yeide and defense think-tank researcher Mark Stout present First to the Rhine: The 6th Army Group in World War II, an in-depth study of the 6th Army Group and the "champagne campaign" of World War II - a nine-month struggle to push the Nazis back past the Rhone River, the Vosges Mountains, the Rhine River and the Danube. The 6th Army Group consisted of American veterans, and its French units swelled with tens of thousands of Free French Forces of the Interior and the Maquis. First to the Rhine spotlights little-known battles, such as the one at Montelimar when an ad hoc American armored command plus the 36th Infantry Division almost cut off the entire German Nineteenth Army, in addition to well-known events. First to the Rhine draws upon official American and French after-action reports, contemporary combat records such as detailed S-3 and G-3 operations journals, U.S. Army interviews of its soldiers shortly after actions occurred, and the personal journals of American, French, and German commanders. Of especial interest is the study devoted to the French role in combat and the relationship between the U.S. Army and French forces that faced down enemy fire under American command. A handful of official U.S. Army photographs illustrate this thorough chronicle, accessible to lay readers as well as military historians.

Bayonets for Hire
William Urban
Greenhill Books
c/o MBI Publishing Company
Galtier Plaza, Suite 200, 380 Jackson Street, St. Paul, MN 55101-3885
9781853677427, $39.95 www.mbipublishing.com 1-800-458-0454

William Urban (Professor of History, Monmouth College) presents Bayonets for Hire: Mercenaries at War 1550-1789, an in-depth scrutiny of how mercenaries - and increasingly, mercenary armies - affected military history through the late 1600s and into the 1700's. The evolution of mercenary service as an increasingly sophisticated profession is traced, though the volunteer armies of the French Revolution would temporarily dethrone the power of money with the power of patriotism. Bridging the tumultuous transformation of the medieval era to modern nation-states, Bayonets for Hire a through study of a unique dynamic of war and conquest in early modern Europe and a highly recommended addition to public and college library military history collections.


The Audiobook Shelf

Brilliance Audio
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com 1-800-854-7859

Karen Kingsbury's SUMMER (1423343964, $34.95) receives Sandra Burr's seasoned, warm reading voice as it tells of a summer of new beginnings, which come from marriage, pregnancy, and a reality show which threatens a solid marriage. It's another 'Baxter Family' drama, #2 in the 'Sunrise Series', and is especially recommended for prior fans. Sarah Addison Allen's GARDEN SPELLS (1423333314, $34.95) receives Susan Erickson's seasoned voice and performance background which lends a rich quality to the story of a successful caterer whose dishes are seasoned with mystical plants and purposes, and the return of a rebellious sister to the family fold, who will turn her world upside down. Catherine Coulter's DOUBLE TAKE (1593557256, $36.95) enjoys a dual narration by veteran Sandra Burr and Phil Gigante and packs in a thriller revolving around murder, romance, and more. A sheriff's investigation of an unusual woman will lead to a shocking truth with many lives at stake.

The Testament Of Gideon Mack
James Robertosn
Clipper Audio
c/o Recorded Books
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
H2110, $98.75 www.recordedbooks.com 1-800-638-1304

Superbly narrated with a range of Scottish accents by Tom Cotcher, "The Testament Of Gideon Mack" is a compelling fantasy novel by James Robertson that is completely original and inherently fascinating from beginning to end. A manuscript of Gideon Mack's experiences growing up a preacher's son, his basic atheism, his becoming a minister of the Scottish church despite his disbelief in God, his encounter with a mysterious Standing Stone where no such stone should be, his near death by drowning, his encounter with the Devil, his attempt to reveal what he has experienced and the catastrophic consequences that result, all this and more are delivered into the hands of a publisher after Gideon's sudden disappearance followed by the discovery of his body. The publisher commissions an investigation into the Gideon's life and the claims of his biographical manuscript. The results leave the listener spellbound and, in the end, confronted with their own decision to make as to whether Gideon's story was real, or the result of madness. Wonderfully entertaining from beginning to end, and very strongly recommended for community library collections, "The Testament Of Gideon Black" is a superbly recorded, 12-cassette audiobook with a total running time of 16.25 hours.

Becoming What You Want To See In The World
Mary Claire O'Neal
River Birch Publishing
PO Box 23198, Lexington, KY 40523-3198
9780977256617, $19.95 www.riverbirchpublishing.com

A superbly recorded, two disc, 1.9 hour audiobook production narrated by Mary Clair O'Neall, "Becoming What You Want To See In The World" examines the 'physics' of happiness and how anyone can invoke and restore passion and joy into the fabric of their lives. Replete with inspiring personal stories, "Becoming What You Want To See In The World" also provides tools and activities illustrating practical approaches to leading a more fulfilled, balanced, and meaningful life regardless of the listener's personal circumstances or economic restrictions. Especially recommended to the attention of those who are leading busy, time stressed lives, and feel they don't have the ability or opportunity to make changes in their schedules or themselves, "Becoming What You Want To See In The World" is ideal for learning how to take the time and invest the energy needed to improve the quality of life on a daily basis.

MacArthur
Richard B. Frank
Blackstone Audiobooks
PO Box 969, Ashland, OR 97520
9781433200465, $55.00 www.BlackstoneAudio.com 1-800-729-2665

MacArthur is an audiobook biography of legendary general Douglas MacArthur, known not only for his brilliance in World War II, but also his peacetime occupation of Japan - the most successful occupation in history. Written by Vietnam veteran Richard B. Frank, MacArthur explores how a man commissioned before the Wright Brothers' first flight became one of the most adaptable and innovative military leaders, quick to adjust to new dimensions in warfare. Enthusiastically recommended especially for public library collections. 6 CDs, 7 hours, tracks every three minutes for easy bookmarking.

All You Need to Know to Celebrate Kwanzaa
C. E. Rodgers
MasterBuy Audiobooks
20 Vesey Street, Suite 401, New York, NY 10007
9780974208879, $19.95 www.amazon.com

All You Need to Know to Celebrate Kwanzaa is an audiobook step-by-step guide to partaking in Kwanzaa, an African-American cultural holiday. Seven key principles and the objects needed to enhance the celebration are discussed at length, and a walkthrough of a typical Kwanzaa celebration is also present. A friendly, easy-to-follow resource sure to answer any and all questions families have. 1 hour 30 minutes.

Dark Possession
Christine Feehan, author
Phil Gigante and Jane Brown, narrators
Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
9781423340140, $36.95 www.brillianceaudio.com 1-800-854-7859

Dark Possession is an unabridged audiobook about the sensual bond between Carpathian near-vampire Manolito De La Cruz and his human destined lifemate, MaryAnn Delaney. When MaryAnn, a counselor for battered women, dares to venture into South America to offer guidance to a brutalized young woman, she walks unawares into a remorseless trap - Manolito waits to ensnare her with seductive, predatory power. Scenes of explicit adult content are present in this atmospheric and sexually charged dark fantasy. 12 CDs, approximately 13 hours.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Black Flame
c/o BL Publishing
1525 Hulse Road, Unit 1, Pt. Pleasant, NJ 08742
www.blacklibrary.com www.blackflame.com

Mike Wild's BETTER THAN THE DEVIL (1844164322, $7.99) tells of a secret department within the British Ministry of Defense which is investigating the supernatural when hard times hit and it's sold off to a private company, becoming Caballistics, Inc. Despite their pact not to use magic, they are forced to do so when attacked in London and must form alliances with the undead to survive in this fast-paced fantasy perfect for collections strong in supernatural fantasy. Marc Gascoigne and Christian Dunn edit TALES FROM THE DARK MILLENNIUM (1844164187, $7.99), an anthology of short stories set in the Pyrus Reach Sector, which is under attack from the hordes of Chaos. It's up to humanity to defend their world but the challenges prove unending in this fast-paced collection of ongoing action and battles. Sandy Mitchell's DUTY CALLS (1844164659, $7.99) returns Warhammer hero to new action as it tells of one Commissioner Cain, who finds himself in the hot seat despite his attempts to escape the war-torn 41st millennium. From rampaging aliens to an uncontrolled populace, ongoing dangers create a fast-paced science fiction thriller hard to put down. These are fine picks any science fiction or fantasy library will want to include.

Helix
Eric Brown
Solaris Books
c/o BL Publishing
1525 Hulse Road, Unit 1, Pt. Pleasant, NJ 08742
1844164721, $7.99 www.solarisbooks.com www.blacklibrary.com

Five hundred years after its launch a colony ship carrying four thousand humans in search of a new home finds itself on a dangerous world after a forced landing leaves the ship in a polar section of the Helix a construct of worlds. It's s up to surviving crew members to search for a habitable section of the spiral in a journey which brings them not only face to face with aliens, but with a mystery which affects the origin of their new world. An invigorating mystery blends with science fiction to create a fast-paced plot reminiscent of Larry Nivin's Ringworld series and perfect for science fiction fans who like complex worlds and dramatic, fast-paced plots.


The Social Issues Shelf

The Extreme Future
James Canton, Ph.D
Plume
c/o Penguin Publishing Group
375 Hudson Street, New York NY 10014-3658
9780452288669, $16.00 www.penguin.com

THE EXTREME FUTURE: TOP TRENDS THAT WILL RESHAPE THE WORLD IN THE NEXT 20 YEARS could've been featured in our 'Business Shelf' section but is surveyed here for its wider interest beyond the general-interest business lending library. Its chapters discuss and define new risks and definitions of opportunity and come from a renowned futurist and advisor to three administrations, and it covers everything from the climate and energy trends certain to reshape the planet to shifting population demographics, medical enhancements, and the spread of terrorism. A key survey, THE EXTREME FUTURE is recommended cross the board for high school, college, and general-interest public library lending collections.

The Rise of the Blogosphere
Aaron Barlow
Praeger Publishers
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
0275989968, $49.95 www.praeger.com

In 1985 The Well, a dial-up discussion board, instigated what was to become the first 'blog': since then much has changed in cyberspace, but this survey of the history and changes of The Well is also a survey of the progress and evolution of American journalism and the rise of the popular written word, and offers college-level students of either journalism or social issues an important cultural and historical survey of the rise of the blog. The discussion even goes back to times of the American Revolution in a surprising probe of cultural forms of expression highly recommended for any serious college-level holding strong in social issues.

Beyond AI
J. Storrs Hall, Ph.D.
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781591025115, $28.00 www.prometheusbooks.com

BEYOND AI: CREATING THE CONSCIENCE OF THE MACHINE discusses both the scientific and the ethical challenges of artificial intelligence, which is advancing so quickly that it holds vast potential for quickly changing everyday human life as vast as the Internet's realm. Computers are already capable of driving cars, playing soccer and organizing Web information: but if machine intelligence comes to rival human intelligence, will it eventually overcome humanity? This and other questions are addressed by a computer scientist who surveys achievements, potentials, and accompanying social challenges, making it a fine pick not just for libraries strong in computer studies, but for college-level and even general-interest holdings equally strong in social science.

Intellectual Property
Charlotte Waelde & Hector MacQueen, editors
Edward Elgar Publishing
9 Dewey Court, Northampton, MA 01060-3815
9781845428747, $115.00 www.e-elgar.com 1-800-390-3149

Intellectual Property: The Many Faces of the Public Domain is a meticulous and scholarly examination of the concept of intellectual property. A thorough historical analysis combined with balanced discussion of contemporary debate on the issue, especially in the modern world when technology and the very definition of intellectual property is changing faster than ever before. "The critical factor in securing free speech in a vibrant public domain is not so much the extent to which material is subject to property rights, but rather the nature of the right-holder and, specifically, the degree of power wielded generally by that right-holder in intellectual space." Highly recommended for college libraries and anyone seeking an in-depth, exhaustively researched account on the subject.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Herbal Prescriptions After 50
David Hoffmann
Healing Arts Press
c/o Inner Traditions
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
1594771804, $24.95 www.healingarts.com

HERBAL PRESCRIPTIONS AFTER 50: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW TO MAINTAIN VIBRANT HEALTH offers a fine approach to healthy aging and comes from a medical herbalist who examines the unique needs and herbal effects on those over fifty. His treatments focus on prevention and longevity but also cover common ailments such as hypertension, insomnia, and arthritis. Over a hundred herbs by both common and Latin names are revealed, along with important information on possible side effects with synthetic drugs. An important acquisition for any library seeking a serious book on herbal remedies which is age-specific in approach and well reasoned in medical applications.

The Medicalization of Society
Peter Conrad
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
080188585X, $20.00 www.press.jhu.edu

THE MEDICALIZATION OF SOCIETY: ON THE TRANSFORMATION OF HUMAN CONDITIONS INTO TREATABLE DISORDERS provides an overview of a field which recounts our love/hate relationship with the health professionals and the business side of health care systems, making for a complex analysis perfect for college-level health libraries and social science collections alike. Chapters build on over thirty years of research to explore trends in health care, treatment, and perceptions of health and the human condition, using common medical problems to consider their changing treatment and its implications for society as a whole.

Consumer's Guide to Dietary Supplements and Alternative Medicines
W. Marvin Davis, Ph.D.
Pharmaceutical Products Press
c/o Hawthorne Press
10 Alice Street, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580
9780789030412, $49.95 www.HaworthPress.com 1-800-429-6784

Written by Doctor W. Marvin Davis, Consumer's Guide to Dietary Supplements and Alternative Medicines: Servings of Hope is a thoroughly accessible reference for consumers of all backgrounds concerning dietary supplements from vitamins and minerals to herbal and botanical products. Chapters discuss at length modern conflicts on the current health care scene concerning supplements, as well as debunking commonly held myths like "If a little is good for you a lot will be better" or that "herbal" remedies are necessarily purely vegetarian - for example, any product that lists "orchis" as an ingredient refers not to the flower, but rather to male testes! Specific types of supplements such as vitamins, minerals, ascorbic acid, bioflavonoids, soy products, good vs. bad fats and more are scrutinized at length. A glossary, bibliography, and index round out this solid reference highly recommended for the personal bookshelves of health-conscious consumers everywhere.

Dervish Yoga For Health And Longevity
Idris Lahore, et al.
Nicholas Hays
c/o Red Wheel/Weiser
65 Parker Street, Suite 7, Newburyport, MA 01950-4600
9780892541317, $16.95 www.redwheelweiser.com 1-800-423-7087

Ably translated into English by Moses Bergmann, "Dervish Yoga For Health And Longevity: Samadeva Gestural Euphony -- The Seven Major Arkanas" is the impressively collaborative work of painter, poet and author Idris Lahore, yoga expert Ennea Tess Griffith, and yoga/massage instructor Emma Thyloch. The focus is upon the art, philosophy and science of the movements of Samadeva as they have been taught and practices by the Sufi dervishes from antiquity down to the present day. "Dervish Yoga For Health And Longevity" details the seven fundamental Samadeva Arkanas (sacred exercises) which are similar to the movements of yoga, T'ai Chi Chuan, and dance. Simple and revitalizing, these exercises are illustrated in the step-by-step presentation by detailed photographs and be easily learned in an exercise program of just ten minutes a day. "Dervish Yoga For Health And Longevity" is confidently recommended for anyone with an interest re-balancing, re-centering, and revitalizing their life through an ancient but effective system of movements.

The Dry Eye Remedy
Robert Latkany, M.D.
Hatherleigh Press
5-22 46th Avenue, Suite 200, Long Island City, NY 11101
9781578262427, $15.95 www.hatherleighpress.com 1-800-528-2550

Board-certified ophthalmologist and founder/director of the Dry Eye Clinic Robert Latkany presents The Dry Eye Remedy: The Complete Guide to Restoring the Health and Beauty of Your Eyes, a guide written especially to help the 77 million Americans (and millions of others worldwide) who suffer from "dry eye", also known as dysfunctional tear syndrome. Often beginning as a minor irritation, dry eye causes lines, wrinkles, bags, and redness, and traditional remedies such as eyelid surgery or eyedrops can potentially make the problem worse. Offering recommendations to improve eye health and appearance without resorting to surgery, The Dry Eye Remedy includes advice for improving one's home environment, proper nutrition, how to set up a "home eye spa", which over-the-counter remedies are harmful, the pros and cons of medical treatments such as hormone therapy or punctal plugs, and a guide to deciding upon the dry eye therapy that works best for the reader. A list of resources and an index round out this solid guide, accessible to readers of all backgrounds, and highly recommended for anyone who cherishes their eyes.


The Self-Help Shelf

Snap Out of it Now!
Dr. Adrianne Ahern
Sentient Publications
1113 Spruce Street, Boulder, CO 80302
9781591810568, $18.95 www.sentientpublications.com

SNAP OUT OF IT NOW! FOUR STEPS TO INNER JOY provides a program for personal fulfillment on many levels covering everything from recognizing and avoiding the wrong relationships to understanding a myriad of self-defeating actions, from failing at diets and allowing stress to block good judgment to feeling happier with life in general. It's a fine, specific recommendation for public lending libraries strong in self-help psychology sections and new age holdings alike.

Widow Words
Marcia A. Curran
VanderWyk & Burnham
PO Box 2789, Acton, MA 01720-6789
9781889242330, $15.95 www.vandb.com

Written by mother, grandmother, and widow Marcia A. Curran, Widow Words: 100 Simple Pieces of Advice from Another Widow is a compilation of one hundred suggestions for dealing with grief and celebrating the life of a dearly departed husband. Offered ideas and insights include "Take the scissors to that outfit you wore to his funeral. Who needs that reminder around?", "Go to your local diner where you feel comfortable. Dine with friends. The secret is to be relaxed.", and "It's normal for a long, long time to awaken thinking of your husband, and to be thinking of him as you fall asleep. This will lessen, believe it or not." A simple and straightforward self-help guide, highly recommended for personal perusal or as a giftbook to a friend or relative who has recently lost that someone special in her life.


The Transportation Shelf

Motorcycle: Evolution, Design, Passion
Mick Walker
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218
0801885302, $35.00 www.press.jhu.edu

If you're either a motorcycle enthusiast or a librarian catering to such, make it a point to consider MOTORCYCLE: EVOLUTION, DESIGN, PASSION. It's an oversized, definitive guide to motorbike design and goes beyond the usual showcase of bikes to tap into the wellspring of knowledge and life experience of motorcycle racer and historian Mike Walker. Motorcycle history and evolution are covered in a particularly notable set of vintage photos and historical review, making for a unique and valuable collection addition.


The Art Shelf

After the Revolution
Eleanor Heartney, Helaine Posner, Nancy Princenthal, Sue Scott
Prestel
900 Broadway #603, New York NY 10003
9783791337326, $39.95 www.prestel.com

AFTER THE REVOLUTION: WOMEN WHO TRANSFORMED CONTEMPORARY ART comes from four prominent critics and curators who each examine the achievements and influence of twelve selected contemporary women artists in essays which cover both their key works and their influences. Color reproductions of their best works accompany detailed analysis which considers their works in light of global politics, culture, and events, making this an exceptional recommendation for college-level collections not only strong in art, but in women's history and issues.

Textiles in America 1650-1870
Florence M. Montgomery
W.W. Norton
500 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393732245, $50.00 www.wwnorton.com

TEXTILES IN AMERICA 1650-1870 was first published in 1984 to become a celebrated, definitive study on the topic of textiles in early American homes. Its reprint here makes it an ongoing top pick and mention for any college-level art library holding: it draws on source material scrapbooks of cloth swatches offering period terms, dimensions, prices, and engravings of their times to reproduce both photos and information, adding historical background on decorative practices and textile use in both England and America. College-level collections strong in textile history and art can't miss this.

A Dilemma Of English Modernism
Michael J. K. Walsh, editor
University of Delaware Press
c/o Associated University Press
440 Forsgate Drive, Cranbury, NJ 08512
0874139422, $65.00 1-609-655-4770

Compiled and edited by Michael J. K. Walsh (Associate Professor of Art History, Eastern Mediterranean University, Northern Cyprus), "A Dilemma Of English Modernism: Visual And Verbal Politics In The Life And Work Of C. R. W. Nevinson (1889-1946) is a survey of the three-and-a-half decade career of the English artist C. R. W. Nevinson. This was a man who made his reputation as the most important, controversial, and influential artist in London during the years of the Roaring Twenties and the Jazz Age. Nevinson subsequently came into conflict with the Royal Academy, Fascism, and the elitism manifesting during the years of the Great Depression. "A Dilemma Of English Modernism" is more than a simple recapping of his biography, it is an impressive and scholarly collection of nine new and important essays illuminating one of the icons of post-World War I English Modernism. Enhanced with an informative introduction by Michael J. K. Walsh, and an appendix by Sir Osbert Sitwell, as well as a selected bibliography, notes on the contributors, and an index, "A Dilemma Of English Modernism" should be considered as a core addition to art department and academic library European Art History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Painting Katrina
Phil Sandusky
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053-2246
9781589804777, $19.95 www.pelicanpub.com 1-800-843-1724

Now that we have just seen the second anniversary of one of America's worst natural disasters, "Painting Katrina", featuring the art of Phil Sandusky, is a fitting memorial and tribute to all those whose lives were forever impacted by the force of the hurricane. Sandusky's paintings fully capture in panoramic compositions the devastation of New Orleans and the overwhelming power of hurricane Katrina. Showcasing seventy-six Sandusky paintings (thirty created a year before Katrina, depicting New Orleans in better times; thirty in the immediate aftermath of the story; and the last sixteen painted approximately one year after Katrina), reveal what has been lost, and a city's slow, painstaking attempts to rebuilt. Highly recommended as much for the quality of the art and it's subject matter, "Painting Katrina" is an impressively compelling and highly recommended visual journal chronicling an artist's experience exploring and capturing the hurricane's devastation on a beloved American city.

Joe Fafard
Terrence Heath
Douglas & McIntyre
2323 Quebeck Street, Suite 201, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V5T 4S7
9781553652212, $55.00 www.douglas-mcintyre.com 1-800-367-9692

Canadian sculptor Joe Fafard was born in 1942 in a small farming hamlet in southern Saskatchewan. It was in the 1960s and 1970s that he became internationally recognized as of Canada's most innovative sculptors and teachers who was in the vanguard of working with new media and creating new imagery. His trademark ceramic cows and bulls have achieved an iconic status, as has his three-dimensional portraits with their wit and whimsey. Compiled with commentary by curator and art historian Terrence Heath, "Joe Fafard" is a compendium of the best of Fafard's work and is a companion to a retrospective exhibition currently on tour. A welcome addition to any personal, professional, or academic library 20th Century Art History reference collection, "Joe Fafard" will be of special interest to students of contemporary Canadian art in general, and sculpture in particular.

American West Designs
C.B. Mordan
Stemmer House Publishers, Inc.
4 White Brook Road, Gilsum, NH 03448
0880451270, $5.95 www.stemmer.com 1-800-345-6665

One of the titles in the outstanding 'International Design Library' series from Stemmer House Publishers, "American West Designs" by C.B. Mordan is a showcase compendium of icons drawn from the American West. Included are images of cowboy boots, spurs, saddles, hats, and lariats, as well as cattle brands, the badges of lawmen, western textiles, architectural details, and mechanical devices. Of special interest to Western Americana enthusiasts, "American West Designs" is a welcome and highly recommended addition to personal, art department, academic library, and community library American West and Art History reference collections.

Licensing Art 101
Michael Woodward
ArtNetwork
PO Box 1360, Nevada City, CA 95959-1360
9780940899841, $19.95 www.artmarketing.com

Now in a newly updated and expanded third edition, "Licensing Art 101: Publishing And Licensing Your Artwork For Profit" takes up where most art classes leave off -- how to make a living as an artist. Drawing upon his more than 31 years of experience and expertise in the licensing industry, Michael Woodward clearly covers such fundamental issues for aspiring artists as how to negotiate fees for their services, how to approach various markets with their artworks, targeting a presentation, exhibiting in trade shows, and protecting their rights as artists. "Licensing Art 101" is enhanced with some 300 contacts including calendar publishers, art licensing agents, greeting card publishers, fin are publishers, and book publishers. Taking a comprehensive, step-by-step, real-world approach to the subject of licensing art, this basic introduction is thoroughly 'user friendly' and should be considered essential, mandatory reading for anyone seeking to pursue a professional career as an artist regardless of the medium in which they work.


The Cookbook Shelf

Extra Vegan
Laura Matthias
New Society Publishers
PO Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC, Canada, V0R 1X0
0865715513, $24.95 www.newsociety.com 1-800-283-3572

A superbly compiled and presented compendium of delicious and easy-to-prepare recipes that would please any palate and satisfying any appetite, "Extra Vegan: Original Recipes from Phoenix Organic Farm" is an enthusiastically recommended addition to any personal or community vegetarian cookbook collection! Featuring more than 250 vegan dishes that range from Pumpkin Seed Yam Pate; Garbanzo Bean and Sundried Tomato Spread; Lemon Curried Lentils and Potatoes; and Ginger Anise Peach Muffins; to Creamy Mandarin Orange Icing; Toasted Pecan Apricot Crust; Mocha Hazlenut Spice Cookies; Vegan Baklava; and Blueberry Yogi Popsicles, there are vegan recipes for every dining occasion from daily family meals, to snack time, to that special celebratory occasion. Of special note are the sections on 'Natural Food Dyes' and 'A Glossary of Edible Flowers'. If you only have shelf space for one more vegetarian cookbook, then you'd be well advised to make it "Extra Vegan"!

Eating By Color For Maximum Health
Williams-Sonoma
Oxmoor House
c/o Leisure Arts Inc.
5701 Ranch Drive, Little Rock, AR 72223-9633
9780848731908, $34.95 www.leisurearts.com 1-800-643-8030

Enhanced with beautiful, full-color, photographic images of finished dishes, "Eating By Color For Maximum Health" is a compendium of easy-to-follow, step-by-step recipes for a cornucopia of great eating that are as healthy as they are delicious. From Roasted Tuna with Olives, Grapes & Pine Nuts; Grilled Fish Tacos with Green Cabbage Salad; Turkey Sandwiches with Sweet Onions; and Spanish Tortilla with Golden Potatoes; to Baked Stew of Curried Root Vegetables; Lamb Kebabs with Blood Orange Salad; Strawberries in Red Wine; and Oatmeal & Dried Peach Muffins, "Eating By Color For Maximum Health" have dishes that range from the simple to the complex, any of which are suitable for every dining occasion from daily family meals to special event celebratory dining. Simply stated, "Eating By Color For Maximum Health" is an especially recommended addition to personal, professional, and community library cookbook collections.

The Middle Eastern Cookbook
Maria Khalife
Interlink Publishing Group
46 Crosby Street, Northampton, MA 01060-1804
9781566566759, $20.00 www.interlinkbooks.com

The cuisine of the Middle East reflects centuries of infusions from a multitude of cultures that make up this ancient part of the world, including those culinary influences of the Greeks, the Romans, the Asians, and others who at one time or another impacted upon the nations and cultures of the Middle East. In "The Middle Eastern Cookbook", Maria Khalife (a celebrity chef in the Arab world and founder of the Soufra Daimeh Food Network -- the first Arab food television channel) has compiled more than 120 traditional recipes drawn from the entire Middle East including the countries and cultures of Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. All of these showcased recipes have been adapted to western kitchens and use readily available ingredients for American cooks. From Aish bel lahm (Bread with Meat) from Saudi Arabia; to Warak inab bil zeit (Stuffed Vine Leaves) from Lebanon; to Dajaj salona (Chicken with Vegetables) from Bahrain; to Kebab al rubyan (Shrimp Balls) from Kuwait, "The Middle Eastern Cookbook" is a profusely illustrated and enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, professional, and community library international cookbook collections!

Vineyard Cuisine
Merrill Bonarrigo & Paul Bonarrigo
Bright Sky Press
340 South Second Street, Albany, TX 76430
9781933979021, $24.95 www.brightskypress.com 1-866-933-6133

The collaborative effort of Merrill and Paul Bonarrigo who draw upon their more than thirty years of experience and expertise as vintners in Texas, "Vineyard Cuisine: Meals & memories From Mossina Hof" is an historical journal about wine, food, love and laughter. Messing Hof is the first winery in Texas to produce wine based foods. The Bonarrigos also opened a restaurant featuring 'vineyard cuisine' and served gourmet breakfasts in the Villa. The very best of their wine-based dishes are showcased in "Vineyard Cuisine", along with step-by-step instructions that any kitchen cook can follow. Enhanced with color photography throughout, "Vineyard Cuisine" features recipes that range from Almnd Anise Biscotti; Treberwurst (wine-Soaked Bratwurst); and Spicy Calamari; to Champagne Vinaigrette Salad; Port Zabaglione; and Vintage House Focaccia Bread. "Vineyard Cuisine" is an especially recommended addition to the cookbook collections of discriminating connoisseurs of gourmet quality dining.

Tantalizing Tamales
Gwyneth Doland
Rio Nuevo Publishers
PO Box 5250, Tucson, AZ 85703
9781933855035, $12.95 www.rionuevo.com

Part of the outstanding "Cook West" series from Rio Nuevo Publishers, "Tantalizing Tamles" by Gwyneth Doland showcases a staple of Mexican cuisine through fifty different and original recipes. These superbly illustrated and deftly presented "kitchen cook friendly" recipes range from Green Corn Tamales with Green Chile; Grilled Trout Tamales with Sage and Bacon; Pork and Red Chile Tamales; and Oaxacan Tamales with Mole Negro; to Goat Cheese, Rosemary, and Fig Tamales; Pumpkin Raisin Tamales with Shredded Beef; Maple Flavored Breakfast Tamales; and Sweet Tamales with Cinnamon and Anise. Also very highly recommended for personal and community library ethnic cookbook collections is Gwyneth Dolands "Seductive Salsa" (9781933855028, $12.95) offering fifty illustrated and easy-to-prepare recipes representing the diversity of this south-of-the-border condiment that has grown so popular with Americans.

Adventures Of An Italian Food Lover
Faith Heller Willinger
Clarkson Potter Publishers
c/o The Crown Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, #B1, New York, NY 10019-4305
9780307346391, $32.50 www.randomhouse.com 1-800-726-0600

"Adventures Of An Italian Food Lover: With Recipes From 254 Of My Very Best Friends" by chef, cooking teacher, and food detective Faith Heller Willinger is a veritable showcase of Italian cuisine shared within the context of Italian culture and sensory experiences. Featuring more than 110 superbly presented and authentic Italian dishes, the 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes range from Leek and Sausage Orzotto; Roast Veal Shank; and Pear Cake with Grappa Sauce; to Spaghetti with Parmigiano-Reggiano and Armando's Extra Virgin; Tuscan Brownies; and Pasta with Mussels and Zucchini Flowers. But what makes "Adventures Of An Italian Food Lover" stand out among other Italian cookbooks are the personal anecdotal stories about the mean and women from whom these simply wonderful recipes were obtained. As much fun to browse through as to cook from, "Adventures Of An Italian Food Lover" is confidently recommended for personal and community library ethnic cookbook collections.



The Hunting/Fishing Shelf

Deer Rifles & Cartridges
Wayne van Swoll
Stoeger Publishing
17603 Indian Head Highway, Suite 200, Accokeek, MD 20607-2501
9780883173480, $19.95 www.stoegerpublishing.com

An in-depth guide to which rifles and munitions are best for what kind of deer hunting, "Deer Rifles & Cartridges" by avid sportsman Wayne van Zwoll features an informed and informative text that is enhanced throughout with photographs, reference charts, general advice, and specific information on deer scopes and sights. Of special note are the expert tips on marksmanship for deer hunters. Simply stated, "Deer Rifles & Cartridges" should be considered essential reading for dedicated deer and elk hunters of all ages, backgrounds, and levels of experience.


The Railroading Shelf

First Class
Patrick Poivre d'Arvor
The Vendome Press
1334 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021
Harry N. Abrams, Inc. (distributor)
115 West 18th Street, New York, NY 10011
9780865651883, $35.00 www.abramsbooks.com 1-800-759-0190

"First Class: Legendary Train Journeys Around The World" by Patrick Poivre d'Arvor is a truly elegant book showcasing eleven fabled railroad lines during the golden age of train travel around the world. Featured among these iconic railroads are the Toy Train of Darjeeling and its route along the Himalayan mountains; the fabled Orient Express; the mimosa-scented Train Blue, and the now legendary Trans-Siberian Railway. The informed and informative text is liberally enhanced with the inclusion of historic and contemporary photographs (245 in full-color and 30 in black-and-white) and artifacts, maps, and quotations about these railroads taken from the literature of the world. Superbly organized and featuring its own slipcased box in the form of a steamer trunk, "First Class" is especially recommended to the attention of railroad history buffs.


The Poetry Shelf

Collected Poems
Jane Kenyon
Graywolf Press
2402 University Avenue, Suite 203, Saint Paul, MN 55114
9781555974787, $16.00 www.graywolfpress.org 1-651-641-0077

Collected Poems is a complete compilation of the all the published poetry created by poet, essayist, and newspaper columnist Jane Kenyon throughout her rich life. All the poetry from her previous volumes as well as her posthumously published collections, four poems never before published in book form, and her translations in "Twenty Poems of Anna Akhmatova" are included. The flowing free verse grapples with larger than life issues - God, love, death, beauty, loss, and wonder. A definitive and emotionally absorbing volume of life's work, highly recommended. "What Came to Me": I took the last / dusty piece of china / out of the barrel. / It was your gravy boat, / with a hard, brown / drop of gravy still / on the porcelain lip. / I grieved for you then / as I never had before.

Expectation Days
Sandra McPherson
University of Illinois Press
1325 South Oak Street, Champaign, IL 61820-6975
9780252074752, $18.95 www.press.uillinois.edu 1-800-545-4703

The latest volume in the acclaimed Illinois Poetry Series, "Expectation Days" (also available in a hardcover edition, 9780252032349, $40.00) is a showcased compendium of poetry by Sandra McPherson (Professor of English, University of California--Davis). The author of numerous previously published poetry collections, McPherson takes for her autobiographical themes in "Expectation Days" a variety of subjects ranging form movie-making to medical misadventures, and from meditation on widowhood to feminist protestations. Highly recommended as being both intellectually and emotionally satisfying, McPherson's free verse and prose poetry is always engaging, consistently interesting, and displays her consummate skills as both a word smith and a lyricist. 'Bereavement: 1919': Believing I am going to live,/I begin the war of nerves./When I need just a little calmative/I drink top milk at the creamery./But toward evening let me recommend/This, should you ever need it--/I hang a locket of asafetida around my neck./Works wonders.


The Martial Arts Shelf

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Basic Techniques
Fabio Gurgel
Blue Snake Books
PO Box 12327, Berkeley, CA 94712
North Atlantic Books (distributor)
1435 Fourth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
www.northatlanticbooks.com 1-800-788-3123
9781583941652, $19.95 www.bluesnakebooks.com

Fabio Gurgel is an eight-time martial arts world champion and co-founder of more than forty academies around the world. He is president of the Professional League of Jiu-Jitsu which is based in Brazil and continues to teach at his own academy in Sao Paulo. Fabio therefore writes with a very special expertise in "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Basic Techniques", a superbly organized and presented, step-by-step, illustrated introduction to a very special and effective form of the martial arts. Fabio begins with a brief history of jiu-jitsu, a martial art that originated in India more than 4,000 years ago as a self-defense technique employed by monks. Ideal for the absolute novice, "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Basic Techniques" is a confidently recommended instruction manual. Also very highly recommended is the companion book by Fabio Gurgel and also published by Blue Snake Books, "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: Advanced Techniques (97815893941669, $19.95) which goes on to instruct the reader in additional self-defense techniques including passing the guard, sweeps, side attacks, mounted attacks, rear attacks, guard attacks, mounted escapes, and throws. Together, both volumes of "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu" comprise a complete and comprehensive course of do-it-yourself instruction.


The Library DVD Shelf

Dreaming Lhasa
Ritu Sarin & Tenzing Sonam
First Run Features
630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 1213, New York, NY 10036
FRF 912808D, $24.95 www.firstrunfeatures.com

"Dreaming Lhasa" is a superbly produced dramatic feature film set in the refugee community in India comprised of exiled Tibetans who fled the Chinese communist take-over of their native country. In "Dreaming Lhasa", veteran filmmakers, Ritu Sarin and Tenzing Sonam have created a compelling story of a generation of men and women born into refugees families and who have never seen the country of their parents' origin. This is the story of Tibetan filmmaker Karma traveling from New York to Dharamsala (the Dali Lama's exile headquarters in northern India) to interview political prisoners who have escaped from Tibet. There she meets Dhondup, an enigmatic ex-monk who has come to India to fulfill his dying mother's last wish -- to deliver a charm box to a long-missing resistance fighter. Soon karma finds herself caught up in his quest, which becomes both a journey into Tibet's fractured past and a voyage of self-discovery. "Dreaming Lhasa" is played out in spectacular settings and features compelling images of people and places largely unknown to American audiences. The DVD format allows for the inclusion of such additional features as a 'Making of Documentary'; interviews with the filmmakers, a short film 'rights...& wrongs'; film notes by Human Rights Watch; and directors' notes and biographies. With a running time of 90 minutes, and featuring Tibetan & English with English subtitles, this full color production is very highly recommended viewing and would make a popular addition to any community library DVD film collection.

Six Days in June
WGBH Boston Video
c/o SSA Public Relations
16027 Ventura Blvd., Suite 206, Encino, CA 91436
9781593757847, $19.95 www.ssapr.com

Originally shown on public television, Six Days in June: The War that Redefined the Middle East is a DVD documentary re-examining the war between Israel and Arab nations that left a historical legacy lingering to the tragic Middle East conflict raging in the current day. Shot on location in Israel, Palestine, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Moscow, and Washington, Six Days in June incorporates recently declassified archives, home movie footage, personal photographs, and recreations to unfold a composite picture of the war from beginning to end. Highly recommended, especially for public library collections. 108 minutes, letterboxed, color.

Air Gear Volume 1: East Side Showdown
ADV Films
10114 W. Sam Houston Pkwy #200, Houston, TX 77099
9781413914641, $29.98 www.advfilms.com

Air Gear: East Side Showdown is the first volume of a new Japanese anime DVD series that takes extreme sports above and beyond human expectations. Set in a world where "Storm Riders", where motor-powered inline skates called "Air Trecks" allow the most hardcore competitors to ride the skies and risk life and limb in a competition for fame and power. Ikki Minami, the toughest fighter of the east side of town, rules his local skill and challenges violent gangs single-handedly. He lives with the Noyamanos, four voluptuous sisters sharing a hidden secret. After the sisters are defeated by a fearsome gang of Storm Riders, they introduce Ikki to a world where strength, speed, and raw ambition can lead the dedicated player to new risk all upon new heights. Four episodes kick off this thrilling adventure featuring the options of English dubbing or original Japanese language with English subtitles. 100 minutes, color. Also highly recommended are Volume 2: Growing Wings, Volume 3: A New Legacy, Volume 4: Wings Reborn!, and Volume 5: Battle of Kings.

Murder In Suburbia: Series 1 & 2
Acorn Media Group
801 Roeder Road, Suite 700, Silver Spring, MD 20910
DVD, $39.99 each www.acornmedia.com

The two-DVD boxed sets comprising the first and second seasons of the weekly one hour British television "Murder In Suburbia" series starring Caroline Catz as Detective Inspector Kate "Ash" Ashurst and Lisa Faulkner as Detective Sergeant Emma "Scribbs" Scribbins, two young female homicide detectives who conduct murder investigations in less-than-merry-old-England. A very odd pair indeed, Ash is a graduate of a posh girls' academy, a member in good standing of Britain's upper middle class, and the possessor of a pragmatic and sharply analytical mind. Scribbs on the other hand is a blue-color gal with more of an instinctual approach to detective work. Together they form a formidable pair of sleuths who work their torturous and often frustrating way through a series of homicide cases. Both are unmarried and serving under the supervision of their bemused boss (played perfectly by Jeremy Sheffield). The individual mystery plots are intelligent, play fair with the viewer, are superbly produced in accordance with the high production standards associated with the BBC. "Murder In Suburbia: Series 1 & 2" is unstintingly recommended as popular and entertaining acquisitions for both personal and community library DVD collections. Librarians in particular are encouraged to visit the Acorn Media Group website at www.acornmedia.com for a complete listing of all their various DVD British mystery series.

LivingRoom Yoga
Razor Fitness
947 Hamilton Avenue, Menlo Park, CA 94025
1595523774, $14.99 www.razorfitness.com

Hosted by fitness expert Eva Barash, LivingRoom Yoga is a DVD emphasizing systematic bodily exercises as well as special movement and breathing techniques. Designed to be carried out with a minimum of apparatus - living room furniture works just fine - LivingRoom Yoga includes the traditional sun salutation, held standing poses, core strengthening exercises, yoga calisthenics, and relaxation cool-down. An interview with Eva, "Making the most out of your living room" featurette, and a library of proper yoga poses round out this excellent introduction to the benefits of yoga for ordinary people. 48 minutes, color.

John James Audubon: Drawn from Nature
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547
DVD $250.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com 1-800-543-3764

John James Audubon: Drawn from Nature is an absorbing biographical documentary for all ages about John James Audubon, artist, naturalist and self-made man whose passion for drawing and studying birds made his name virtually synonymous with respect for our feathered friends. His classic natural history work "The Birds of America" featured 435 life-size prints and was the largest book printed in the nineteenth century. A spectacular DVD film, John James Audubon: Drawn from Nature is also packed with DVD extras including a description of the printing process, a Donald Heald Gallery comparison between the work of Alexander Wilson and Audubon, and a demonstration of how Audubon once painted birds. Highly recommended, especially for public school and library collections. 54 minutes, color.

Granny D. Goes to Washington
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547
DVD $195.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com 1-800-543-3764

Granny D. Goes to Washington is the true story of an extraordinary march across the United States by political activist Doris Haddock. She hiked 3,200 miles from California to Washington, D.C. to emphasize the need to restore representative government in America and downsize the enormous influence of special interest money in politics. Granny D. Goes to Washington records her travels and her passionate commitment to campaign finance reform. An inspirational film for viewers of all ages, especially recommended for public library and classroom collections. 27 minutes, color.

V.I.E.W. Video
34 East 23rd Street, New York, NY 10010
www.view.com

The Museum City Series introduces armchair travelers to crowning jewels of human civilization, filled with historical lore as well as breathtaking camera work. London: City of Majesty (0803020538, $14.98, 52 minutes) is an award-winning tour of London's greatest museums, monuments, and architecture, featuring digitally mastered audio and video. A modern travel guide immersed in centuries of history, London: City of Majesty is awe-inspiring and packed with bonus features including a museum and gallery guide. Rome: The Eternal City (0803020546, $14.98, 48 minutes) doubles as a visual travel guide for first time visitors and an awe-inspiring documentary to the history and legacy Rome has bequeathed upon the world. From the homes of the Pope, Julius Caesar, and Michelangelo, to the City of Seven Hills, the Tiber River, Saint Peter's Basilica, and the Via Veneto, Rome: The Eternal City savors the art, architecture, and poetry that has made Rome great. Both volumes are ideal for public library collections and highly recommended.

The Camden 28
First Run Features
The Film Center Building, 630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 1213, NY, NY 10036
DVD $24.95 www.firstrunfeatures.com 1-800-229-8575

The Camden 28 is a DVD presentation of the PBS documentary that aired on September 11th, 2007. Set in the early 70's, The Camden 28 investigates the historical incident of when 28 people, mostly non-violent activists from the Catholic left, plotted to break into a local draft board office and destroy records. But a mole had successfully infiltrated their operation; within hours of beginning their mission they were rounded up and arrested by the FBI, under the personal authority of J. Edgar Hoover. The Camden 28 includes a wealth of archival materials from Camden 28 members, witness for the defense Howard Zinn, and a former FBI agent involved in the case. A gripping true story of political dissent, offering relevance that far transcends the Vietnam era. Highly recommended. 83 minutes, color and black-and-white.

The New Fly Fishing Basics
Bennett-Watt HD Productions, Inc.
13021 244th Avenue SE, Issaquah, WA 98027
DVD $29.95 www.Bennett-Watt.com 1-425-392-3935

Featuring widescreen digital composition and high definition Dolby stereo sound, The New Fly Fishing Basics is a DVD guide to essential fishing techniques, knots, equipment, and fly tying. From a wide variety of different casts (including but not limited to reach cast, slack line cast, jump roll cast, and wind casts), to a grounding in the simple entomology that fly fishers need to know, The New Fly Fishing Basics is especially ideal for relative newcomers to the sport, though veteran fishers will also appreciate the video demonstrations of a wide assortment of techniques. The perfect preparation before embarking upon a fly-fishing voyage with family or friends. 90 minutes, color.

Back in Step
Prevention Plus, Inc.
5775 Wayzata Blvd., Suite 700, Minneapolis, MN 55416
411 Video Information (publicity)
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
DVD $29.95 www.preventionplusinc.com www.411videoinfo.com

Back in Step: The Road to Recovery From Back Pain is a DVD guide to preventing and managing back pain. Occupational therapist Michael Melnik teaches viewers through the proper ways to engage in sitting or standing, lifting, kitchen activities, child care, yard work, driving, and other daily activities that can strain the back. The DVD format allows for numerous demonstrations and examples that viewers can follow for themselves, in this "must-have" posturepedic guide especially recommended for anyone at risk for back pain. 60 minutes.

Robert Frost: New England in Autumn
Monterey Video
566 St. Charles Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360-3901
1569944164, $19.95 www.montereymedia.com 1-800-424-2593

Robert Frost: New England in Autumn is a DVD presentation of a medley of Robert Frost's classic poems, selected to perfectly suit a brisk autumn day in New England. Filmed in the vibrant farm country of Massachusetts, Robert Frost: New England in Autumn includes readings of "The Pasture", "The Exposed Nest", "Bluebird", "After Apple-Picking", "The Wood-Pile", "The Road Not Taken", and many more, for a total of eighteen poems. Enthusiastically recommended for poetry and nature lovers alike. 29 minutes, color.

Endurance for Movement with Tracie Long
Braun Media
c/o 411 Video Information (publicity)
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
1599875292, $14.99 www.411videoinfo.com www.bmsdigital.com

Endurance for Movement with Tracie Long is part of a series of vibrantly energetic fitness DVDs. Endurance for Movement offers a workout that needs very little equipment: light-medium weights (3-10 pounds), a stability ball, and a cloth rag or paper plate. The exercises include kick-heavy cardio routines for the hips and thighs, muscle-building routines that work one leg at a time, stretches to improve flexibility, and much more. Hosted by certified fitness instructor Tracie Long, Endurance for Movement is ideal for weight loss, staying improving core strength, limber, and overall fitness. 59 minutes, color.

Ingrid Bergman Remembered
Janson Media
88 Semmens Road, Harrington Park, NJ 07640
9781568392427, $24.95 www.janson.com

Ingrid Bergman Remembered is a biographical DVD tribute to legendary Hollywood actress and devoted mother Ingrid Bergman, known for her stellar performance in such classics as "Casablanca", "Gaslight", and "Anastasia". Rare and never-before-seen photographs and home movies add a highlight to this wondrous retrospective a talented and widely beloved actress. Highly recommended, especially for fans of Bergman's work. 90 minutes, black-and-white and color.


The Civil War Shelf

Historic Photos Of The Siege Of Petersburg
Emily J Salmon & John S. Salmon
Turner Publishing Company
200 - 4th Avenue North, Suite 950, Nashville, TN 37219
9781596523920, $39.95 www.turnerpublishing.com 1-800-788-3350

With informative captions provided by Emily and John Salmon, "Historic Photos Of The Siege Of Petersburg" is a photographic documentation of the Union siege of the Confederate city of Petersburg, as part of General Ulysses S. Grant's campaign in 1865 against the forces of Robert E. Lee. This outstanding compilation of hundreds of historic black-and-white photographs showcase the soldiers, their fortifications, their casualties, their effectiveness, and the ultimate fall of the city to Union forces. A work of immense value, "Historic Photos Of The Siege Of Petersburg" is a fundamentally important addition to academic library American Civil War Studies reference collections and will prove to be of intense interest to Civil War scholars, as well as highly recommended and informative for non-specialist general readers with an interest in Civil War history.


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

Federal Resume Guidebook
Kathryn Kraemer Troutman
JIST Publishing
8902 Otis Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46216-1033
9781593574260, $21.95 www.jist.com 1-800-648-5478

Now in a completely updated and expanded fourth edition, "Federal Resume Guidebook: Strategies For Writing A Winning Federal Electronic Resume, KSAs, And Essays" by federal resume expert, career consultant, and government human resources career trainer Kathryn Kraemer Troutman is a practical and superbly presented compendium of instructions that will readily enable anyone seeking federal employment to maximize the effectiveness of their online resume, analyze federal job announcements, and make the cut for interviews based on an effective presentation of their experiences and qualifications. Job seekers are provided with an illustrative wealth of federal resume samples, detailed procedures, and tips. Of special note is Troutman's advice for those transitioning from military service to a federal career, and for those transitioning from Wage Grade to General Schedule positions. With instruction on preparing for the new Behavioral Interview process and strategies for advancing a federal career, the "Federal Resume Guidebook" continues to be an indispensable and invaluable reference guide for job seekers regardless of the federal position being sought after. Simply stated, the "Federal Resume Guidebook" is essential for anyone seeking federal employment and is a fundamentally necessary addition to personal, professional, academic, governmental job center, and community library Jobs/Careers reference collections.

On the Market
Sandra L. Barnes
Lynne Rienner Publishers
1800 30th Street, Suite 314, Boulder, CO 80301
9781588265357, $22.50 www.rienner.com

Associate sociology professor Sandra L. Barnes presents On the Market: Strategies for a Successful Academic Job Search, a no-nonsense guide to putting one's best foot forward when pursuing an academic career. Chapters walk the reader through getting the most out of one's graduate school experience, the application process, the importance of a teaching portfolio for candidates, the interview process, other employment options such as joint appointments, the importance of maintaining one's quality of life despite the rigorous demands of one's new career, and much more. "Beware of 'schools bearing gifts.' While you should expect an employment package reflective of both the current salary and perks in your industry and your unique skills, talent, and experience, by skeptical of offers that greatly exceed your expectations. Make sure there aren't ulterior motives. Does the department seem genuinely interested in you or simply interested in filling the position with [for example] a female candidate?" A "must-have" for anyone aspiring to an academic position.


The World History Shelf

Desolation Sound
Heather Harbord
Harbour Publishing
PO Box 219, Madeira Park, BC, Canada, V0N 2H0
9781550174076, $24.95 www.harbourpublishing.com 1-604-883-2730

Desolation Sound: A History is an anecdote-filled chronicle of the rich past of Desolation Sound, one hundred miles north of Vancouver, British Columbia. Today, Desolation Sound is almost as depopulated today as it was in 1792 when the dyspeptic Captain George Vancouver named it. From reclusive hermits, to a Depression-era logging camp that valued life so poorly that accident victims were piled in a heap and not moved until the following day, Sliammon chief Joe Mitchell, and much more. Debunking false legends and confirming true stories, Desolation Sound is a most enjoyable read accessible to history lovers of all backgrounds, and is highly recommended for Canadian History shelves.

Books on Fire
Lucien X. Polastron
Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
9781594771675, $24.95 www.innertraditions.com 1-800-246-8648

Historian Lucien X. Polastron presents Books on Fire: The Destruction of Libraries throughout History, a chronicle of the destruction of libraries. The reasons for expunging repositories of human knowledge were varied: educated people are more difficult to govern; some claimed that only the illiterate can save the world; sometimes library's owner succumbed to paranoia; and sometimes destruction came through weather or worms rather than human agencies. From the burning of the great library of Alexandria on three separate occasions, to the biblio-destruction inflicted under Nazi occupation and library ransacking during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Books on Fire explores the literary tragedies of history, and follows up with a new possible threat to the physical paper book - the digital book. With books increasingly being transferred to electronic mediums and read online for free, could old-fashioned libraries one day become a thing of the past? A "must-have" history for public libraries and the shelf of any book lover.

The Invention of Ancient Slavery?
Niall McKeown
Duckworth
c/o International Publishers Marketing (IPM)
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
9780715631850, $22.00 www.ducknet.co.uk 1-800-758-3756

Niall McKeown (Lecturer in Ancient History, University of Birmingham) presents The Invention of Ancient Slavery?, a sampler of modern theories concerning ancient slavery as circulated among scholars and students today. In the quest to uncover the "reality" of ancient slave life, The Invention of Ancient Slavery? examines surviving evidence (particularly where Roman slavery is concerned) such as ancient drama, legal regulations, poetry, letters, philosophy, inscriptions, and the work of Greek and Roman historians. How should modern historians reconstruct the past from such materials, and what effect does the nature of the evidence have upon their job? To what extent do modern preconceptions affect our understanding of ancient sources? A scholarly, meticulous discussion especially recommended for college libraries and ancient history courses, written to stoke critical thinking of human history.


The Literary Shelf

American Poets in the 21st Century
Claudia Rankine & Lisa Sewell, editors
Wesleyan University Press
215 Long Lane, Middletown, CT 06459
9780819567284, $27.95 www.wesleyan.edu/wespress 1-800-421-1561

Poets and English professors Claudia Rankine and Lisa Sewell have meticulously assembled an ideal introduction to contemporary American poets and poetry in American Poets in the 21st Century: The New Poetics. The heart of American Poets in the 21st Century is comprised of the voices of thirteen notable contributing poets: Joshua Clover, Stacy Doris, Peter Gizzi, Kenneth Goldsmith, Myung Mi Kim, Mark Levine, Tracie Morris, Mark Nowak, D.A. Powell, Juliana Spahr, Karen Volkman, Susan Wheeler, and Kevin Young. Rounding out the poems themselves are a brief statement from each poet, and thirteen critical essays offering historic context and close analysis of how individual works of poetry can transform American cultural understanding of the art form's look, feel, and sound. An accompanying audio CD of readings from each poet rounds out this superb text, ideal for self-study or college classrooms and poetry libraries.

Windows of the Heart
Ted Mitchell, editor
University of South Carolina Press
718 Devine Street, Columbia, SC 29208
9781570036743, $34.95 www.sc.edu/uscpress 1-800-768-2500

Windows of the Heart: The Correspondence of Thomas Wolfe and Margaret Roberts collects seventy-five letters exchanged between twentieth-century author Thomas Wolfe and his influential grade-school teacher, Margaret Roberts, whom he called "the mother of my spirit". These writings reveal their complicated relationship, and a driving force in Wolfe's life and personal growth. For her part, Roberts was one of Wolfe's strongest supporters of his literary potential since his talent shined through in a writing contest he won at age eleven. Now their letters are published in their entirety for the first time, along with forty-two black-and-white photographs; the result is a welcome addition to literary studies shelves and a "must-read" for anyone seeking to understand more about Wolfe's life and works.


The Biography Shelf

The Bending Cross
Ray Ginger
Haymarket Books
PO Box 180165, Chicago, IL 60618
9781931859400, $18.00 www.haymarketbooks.org 1-773-583-7884

Originally published in 1947, The Bending Cross: A Biography of Eugene V. Debs is now in a new 2007 edition featuring an introduction by historian Mike Davis. The Bending Cross unapologetically advocates activism in its story of the life of railway organizer and socialist Eugene Debs. Yet though Debs devoted his life and his passion to his cause, neither did he turn away from people who were nonpolitical, or even anti-socialist, in their hour of need. Though Debs suffered imprisonment for "disloyalty", his moral compass and loyalty to the labor movement were both unwavering. An amazing, in-depth portrait of one of the most eloquent speakers of the socialist movement.

Emerson & Eros
Len Gougeon
State University of New York Press (SUNY)
194 Washington Avenue, Suite 305, Albany, NY 12210-2384
9780791470770, $35.00 www.sunypress.edu 1-800-666-2211

Written by a former president of the Ralph Waldo Emerson Society, Emerson & Eros: The Making of a Cultural Hero is the story of the life and the spiritual, psychological, and intellectual growth of American literary icon Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882). From Emerson's undergraduate studies at Harvard to his Transcendental philosophy to his later career as a social reformer, Emerson & Eros plumbs the depths far beyond the simple events in Emerson's life. Students and scholar's of Emerson's classic works will find the meticulous dissection and reconstruction of Emerson's intellectually formative influences an eye-opening, thoughtful, and compelling assessment. Extensive notes and an index round out this biography especially recommended for college libraries and literary studies shelves.

Fanny Kemble
Deirdre David
University of Pennsylvania Press
3905 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4112
9780812240238, $39.95 www.upenn.edu/pennpress 1-800-537-5487

Fanny Kemble: A Performed Life is the amazing biography of the intelligent and cultured Fanny Kemble (1809-93), a Victorian celebrity known on both sides of the Atlantic as an actress, proud member of the Kemble theatrical dynasty, solo performer of Shakespeare, and author of journals about life on her husband's Georgia plantation. Fiercely antislavery despite being married to a wealthy slave owner, she published "Journal of a Residence on a Georgian Plantation", a text that revealed the horrific conditions under which slaves lived, and eventually underwent a divorce. Fanny Kemble: A Performed Life is the first biography in twenty-five years to study her life in its entirely, and highly recommended as an unforgettable portrait of a complex and principled woman.

The Judge
Frank Sikora
NewSouth, Inc.
PO Box 1588, Montgomery, AL 36102
9781588381583, $29.95 www.newsouthbooks.com 1-334-834-3556

The Judge: The Life & Opinions of Alabama's Frank M. Johnson, Jr. is the biography of a federal judge who presided over some of the most tense and emotional hearings and trials of the civil rights era. From the Montgomery Bus Boycott, to the Freedom Rides, school desegregation, the Selma-to-Montgomery march, and the Ku Klux Klan conspiracy case in the night-rider slaying of Viola Liuzzo, The Judge gives an inside look that blends court transcripts, reporting, and exhaustive oral history interviews with Judge Johnson, originally conducted over the course of years from 1976 to 1989. "In Montgomery, the boycott did not bring an end to segregation on the buses. The court order Judge Rives and I entered did. If we hadn't ruled as we did, I'm certain blacks would still be boycotting and walking. The white power structure would never have yielded. The same thing could be said of voting rights; the Selma marches didn't bring them, court orders and the U.S. Congress did. As to my role, I would say the decisions stand and speak for themselves." A no-nonsense look behind the scenes of the courtroom, and a welcome contribution to biography as well as American History shelves.

My Many Selves
Wayne C. Booth
Utah State University Press
78 Old Marin Hill, Logan, UT 84322-7800
9780874216318, $24.95 www.usu.edu/usupress 1-800-239-9974

My Many Selves: The Quest for a Plausible Harmony is the autobiography of author Wayne C. Booth, modern literary critic and English scholar, and author of numerous required reading college classroom texts including "The Rhetoric of Fiction", "Essays and Ironies for a Credulous Age", "Critical Understanding" and many more. My Many Selves lives up to its title in its in-depth examination of Booth's numerous personal aspects; in writing his autobiography, he sought to bring harmony to the distinctive and at times oppositional parts of his own identity, as well as resolve conflicts in his own thoughts and beliefs. His life story begins with his youth in rural Utah, a background he values highly; throughout his life he identified himself as Mormon, even though he renounced many Latter-day Saint doctrines. His lifelong concerns with ethics and rhetoric were shaped from years of observation and study. Chapters narrating phases of his life include "Ambition vs. Teaching for the Love of It", "A Wandering Generalist Longs to Be a True Scholar", "The Man of Peace Tries to Tame the Slugger", and much more. Wayne C. Booth passed away in 2005, only a number of months after completing My Many Selves; his life's wisdom from multiple perspectives is preserved between the covers. Highly recommended.

You'll Be Okay
Edie Kerouac-Parker, author
Timothy Moran and Bill Morgan, editors
City Lights Publishers
261 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94133
9780872864641, $14.95 www.citylights.com

You'll Be Okay: My Life with Jack Kerouac is the true-life memoir of Edie Kerouac-Parker (1923-1992), the first wife of famous novelist Jack Kerouac. Penned long after Jack Kerouac had passed on, You'll Be Okay is a tale of girlhood love - when both Edie and Jack were only 18, and met at Columbia University. The young lovers moved in together, sharing an apartment with the future wife of William Burroughs, and began lifetime friendships with Allen Ginsberg, William Burroughs, and others. A reminiscence of excitement, hope, passion, and dreams, illustrated with a handful of black-and-white photographs and skillfully edited by Timothy Moran and Bill Morgan.

Stan Musial
Joseph Stanton
Greenwood Publishing Group
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
9780313336096, $35.00 www.greenwood.com 1-800-225-5800

After playing professional baseball for twenty-two years (disrupted for one year to serve in the U.S. Navy during World War II) with the Cardinals, Stan 'The Man' Musial retired holding seventeen Major League records, 29 National League records, and 9 all Star game records. He hit over .300 seventeen times in the course of his career and was second in all-time total bases, fourth in hits, fifth in runs batted in (RBI), and sixth in the number of games played. But every bit as important to his fans as Stan's prowess on the field, was his exemplary character off it. Now the latest titles in the outstanding Greenwood Publishing Group's 'Baseball's all-time Greatest Hitters' series of baseball greats, "Stan Musial: A Biography" by baseball historian and enthusiast Joseph Stanton presents a deftly written, meticulously definitive, and very highly recommended history of Stan's life and accomplishments that will be greatly appreciated by baseball enthusiasts in general, and Stan Musial's legions of fans in particular.

Regina's Closet
Diana M. Raab
Beaufort Books
c/o Caroly Fass Publicity/Public Relations
26 West 17th Street, Suite 802, New York, NY 10011
9780825305757, $23.00 www.beaufortbooks.com

To a whole new generation of young adults in America, World War II is very ancient history and something that they do not perceive as having any relevance to their lives and interests. If for that reason alone, "Regina's Closet" by essayist, memorist and poet Diana M. Raab deserves as large a readership as possible. The source for "Regina's Closet" is a journal kept by Diana's grandmother, plus her own memories and their very special connection as family. It wasn't until the journal fell into Diana's hands that she learned of her grandmother's past, starting with World War I in Poland, to the tragic death of Regina's mother, to her trials and tribulations as an orphan, and her eventual immigration to Vienna and then on to the United States. The entries from Regina's journal are in italic with Diana providing an illuminating commentary. The result is a compelling narrative account of a most remarkable woman who lived through some very harrowing and difficult times. A fascinating read from beginning to end, "Regina's Closet" is a welcome and very highly recommended addition to community library 20th Century Biography collections.


The Gaming Shelf

Hades, Pits of Hell
Carl Gleba
Palladium Books
12455 Universal Drive, Taylor, MI 48180
9781574571646, $22.95 www.palladiumbooks.com

The tenth volume in the 'Rifts Dimension' gaming series from Palladium Books, "Hades, Pits of Hell" is also the first title in a new multi-part series called the 'Minion War' which will span the Palladium Megaverse and can be played across many of Palladium's existing game lines. Written by Carl Gleba, "Hades, Pits of Hell" maps out Hades, its society and its demon hierarch, features new demons, sub-demons, netherbeasts, a demon high priest, other monsters, and a great deal more. Enhanced with addition text by rift creator Kevin Siembieda, "Hades, Pits of Hell"offers hours of high-quality, 'user friendly', and highly recommended role-play gaming. Those new to the Palladium Megaverse are encouraged to visit the Palladium Books website for a complete listing of their available gaming titles.

Fantasy Gaming
Martin Hackett
Sutton
c/o MBI Publishing Company
Galtier Plaza, Suite 200, 380 Jackson Street, St. Paul, MN 55101-3885
9780750943604, $29.95 www.mbipublishing.com 1-800-458-0454

Author Martin Hackett applies his thirty years of experience in gaming and rule system writing in Fantasy Gaming: A Guide to Fantasy Role Play and Table-Top Battles, a handy introduction to both fantasy wargaming (which pits armies of mythical creatures against one another) and fantasy role-playing (in which players each take on the role of a single fighter in a small party destined for adventure). Fantasy Gaming introduces the complete, original gaming system "Magic and Monsters", which is easy to learn and adapt to any campaign. A handful of color photographs illustrate this methodical guide, highly recommended for anyone interested in starting a fantasy gaming campaign without investing dozens of dollars into a host of different rule books and supplements.


The Social Work Shelf

Foundations of Social Work Practice, fourth edition
Mark A. Mattaini & Christine T. Lowery
NASW Press
750 First Street, NE, #700 , Washington, DC 20002-4241
9780871013743, $54.99 www.naswpress.org 1-800-227-3590

Now in an updated fourth edition, Foundations of Social Work Practice: A Graduate Text is an instructional reference created especially to teach, challenge, and foster the development of graduate students in the field. The framework of Foundations of Social Work Practice uses an approach that balances and integrates four crucial views on practice: ecosystems, social justice and human rights, evidence-based practice, and shared power. Written especially to help students understand the importance of thinking carefully, and properly evaluating the nuances of each client's or subject's problem, Foundations of Social Work Practice covers a wide range of topics in the realms of theory and application, including "Professional Values and Ethics", "Monitoring Social Work Practice", "Social Work with Families", "Social Work with and in Organizations", "Generalist Practice: People and Programs" and much more. A highly recommended educational text, especially for aspiring professionals in the field.


The Theatre/Cinema Shelf

Special Effects
Michael Slone
Michael Wiese Productions
3940 Laurel Canyon Boulevard, #1111, Studio City, CA 91604
9781932907261, $31.95 www.mwp.com 1-800-833-5738

Independent filmmaker of 12 years' experience Michael Slone presents Special Effects: How to Create A Hollywood Film Look on a Home Studio Budget, a guide especially for small-time filmmakers on a tight budget. Chapters walk the reader through how to apply advances in technology, especially computer technology, to give life to one's dreams and dress up one's films with eye candy. Full-color photographs on high-quality paper illustrate what is possible, while assorted computer screenshots help underscore the nuts and bolts of the step-by-step instructions. Additional insider information from professional and Emmy Award-winning special effects artists round out this absolute "must-have" supplementary resource for aspiring, novice, and independent filmmakers.

Sentimental Fabulations, Contemporary Chinese Films
Rey Chow
Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd Street, New York, NY 10023-7015
9780231133333, $22.50 www.columbiaedu/cu/cup 1-800-944-8648

Humanities professor Rey Chow presents Sentimental Fabulations, Contemporary Chinese Films, a thoughtful discussion of what nine contemporary Chinese directors and their cinematic accomplishments have to say about the sentimental side of the human experience. The Chinese directors studied are Chen Kaige, Wong Kar-wai, Zhang Yimou, Ann Hui, Peter Chan, Wayne Wang, Ang Lee, Li Yang, and Tsai Ming-liang; their works touch upon subjects ranging from nostalgia and everyday life, to the feminine, biopolitics, and migration, to homosexuality, kinship, and incest. A handful of black-and-white photographs illustrate this thoughtful critique of films that can be termed "sentimental fabulations", or screen representations of culture possessing irreducible aesthetic, conceptual and speculative logics unique to themselves. Plot synopses, in-depth analysis, and thoroughly extensive notes characterize this thoughtful critical analysis.

Why Is That So Funny?
John Wright
Hal Leonard Corporation
777 West Bluemound Road, Milwaukee, WI 53213
9780879103439, $19.95 www.halleonard.com 1-800-637-2852

Why Is That So Funny?: A Practical Exploration of Physical Comedy is an amazing look at physical comedy written especially for performers, directors, students, and teachers. Topics covered include complicity, finding and declaring the game, states of tension, rhythm, comic timing, clowning, parody, satire, pastiche, caricature, burlesque, and buffoon. A thoughtful and meticulous deconstruction of the elements of humor, the better to improve one's performance or playwriting.

Filming Politics
Malek Khouri
Michigan State University Press
Suite 25, Manly Miles Building, 1405 South Harrison Road, East Lansing, MI 48823-5202
9781552381991, $34.95 www.msupress.msu.edu

Associate Professor of film Malek Khouri presents Filming Politics: Communism and the Portrayal of the Working Class at the National Film Board of Canada, 1939-46, a scholarly argument that the work of the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) during the 1939-46 period connected heavily with a portraying working-class people as agents of social change, and fomented a link between Canadian efforts toward social progress, and the global war against fascism. Analyzing the political elements involved in the NFB's discourse, Filming Politics uncovers films from the early years of the NFB that have been long forgotten today, in the historical context within which they were produced and viewed. A welcome addition to cinema studies shelves.


The Political Science Shelf

Forms Of Local Government
Roger L. Kemp, editor
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
9780786431007, $35.00 www.mcfarlandpub.com 1-800-253-2187

Knowledgeably compiled and deftly edited by Roger L. Kemp, "Forms Of Local Government: A Handbook On city, County And Regional Options" provides the reader with an overview of all of the various and diverse forms of government below the state level that are currently in use within the United States of America. Included are traditional commissions, mayor-council, strong mayor, and council-manager models for counties, cities, townships, and school districts. Also addressed are governing entities that transcend traditional boundaries of cities and counties, including residential community associations and regional government structures. Sub-metropolitan districts like municipalities and boroughs are also covered. "Forms Of Local Government" features 45 essays addressing issues ranging from revenue and privatization, to strategic planning and suburbanization, as well as city-county consolidation and other urban/rural topics. Of special note is the descriptive analysis of the roles of elected and appointed officials in all of these different models. "Forms Of Local Government" is a core addition to school and community library Political Science reference collections and a highly recommended addition to Social Studies supplemental curriculum reading lists.

The Revolutionary Writings of John Adams
Selected by C. Bradley Thompson
Liberty Fund, Inc.
8335 Allison Pointe Trail, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46250-1684
9780865972858, $21.00 www.libertyfund.org 1-800-955-8335

Professor of Political Science C. Bradley Thompson has selected an array of principle shorter writings by an American Founding Father in The Revolutionary Writings of John Adams, an anthology of Adams' discussions of the prospect of revolution and the ideal form of government for the newly born United States. Additional documents from before the Revolution reflect upon the nature of the British Constitution and the meaning of rights, sovereignty, representation, and obligation. A principled primary source of political philosophy and enduring wisdom, especially recommended for public library and American History reference shelves.


The Native American Shelf

The Architecture Of Chaco Canyon, New Mexico
Stephen H. Lekson, editor
University of Utah Press
1795 East South Campus Drive, #101, Salt Lake City, UT 84112-9402
9780874808469, $55.00 www.uofupress.com 1-800-773-6672

Knowledgeably compiled and expertly edited by Stephen H. Lekson (Professor of Anthropology and Curator of Anthropology, Museum of natural History, University of Colorado--Boulder), "The Architecture Of Chaco Canyon, New Mexico" focuses upon the Native American structures of Chaco Canyon built between AD 850 and 1130. These magnificent ruins are numbered upon the most compelling buildings constructing in the pre-Columbian world of North America. The various contributors concentrate on the Chaco Great Houses in terms of three overlapping themes: studies of technology and building types employed by the ancients; analyses of architectural change; and readings of the built environment. Informed and informative, the text is enhanced throughout with the inclusion of more than 150 maps, floor plans, elevations, and photographs (both black-and-white as well as color). "The Architecture Of Chaco Canyon, New Mexico" is a work of superb scholarship and a highly recommended contribution to any academic library's Native American Studies and Pre-Columbian Archaeology Studies reference collections.

Po'li: Traditional Songs of the Hopi
Clark Tenakhongva
Canyon Records Productions
3131 West Clarendon Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85017
CD $14.98 www.canyonrecords.com 1-800-268-1141

Po'li: Traditional Songs of the Hopi is a music CD album by Hopi singer Clark Tenakhongva. Named after the Hopi word for "butterfly", in honor of Tenakhongva's maternal grandfather who belonged to the Butterfly and Badger clan, Po'li features original music crafted in respect of traditional Hopi styles and rhythms, yet reflective of Hopi life in the modern-day world. An insert lists the lyrics of this unforgettable album; the tracks are Butterflies are Free (3:59), Po'li (3:16), Sunflowers (4:23), Intertribal (4:43), Butterfly Clouds (4:04), Supai Maiden (3:28), Zuni Rain (3:47), Comanche (3:00), Hopi Sweetheart (2:24), O'Shi' Heart (2:39), Hopi Two-Step (2:24), The Beauty Way (4:49), Moo'sa (3:15), and Prayers (3:18). A lively and welcome addition to modern Native American music collections. 50 minutes 32 seconds.


The Interior Design Shelf

India Contemporary
Henry Wilson
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
9780500513651, $40.00 www.thamesandhudsonusa.com 1-800-233-4830

Featuring a thoroughly 'reader friendly' text that is enhanced with 261 colored illustrations, "India Contemporary" by Henry Wilson is a compendium of commentary and examples of interior designs and design elements that are breathtakingly beauty in their exotic compositions. These are samples and examples of interior design that are radically modern while hauntingly traditional, evoking the traditional crafts of the Indian subcontinent and wonderfully demonstrate the international appeal of uniquely Indian design sensibilities. As informed and informative as it is inspired and inspiring, "India Contemporary" should be considered 'must' reading for student designers, and a highly recommended reference for professional, academic, and community library Interior Design collections.

The Orvis Book Of Cabins
Amy Laughinghouse
The Lyons Press
246 Goose Lane, Guilford, CT 06437
9781599210292, $34.95 www.lyonspress.com 1-800-836-0510

In "The Orvis Book Of Cabins", freelance writer and interior design expert Amy Laughinghouse celebrates a very special form of rural architecture through profiling more than eighteen cabin getaways that cater to anglers, hunters, hikers, canoe paddlers, and simple lovers of nature. Beautifully photographed in full color, the cabins range from small and simple to large and rustic. Some have been the home to generations of families, while others are either newly built or completely remodeled. But all of them are superb examples of an active Orvis lifestyle catering to the enjoyment of the outdoor worlds of mountains, lakes, rivers, and woodlands through every season of the year. "The Orvis Book Of Cabins" is especially recommended for browsing by non-specialist general readers with an interest in cabin architecture and interior design, and of immense value as a reference for professional architects and anyone planning to build a cabin of their own!

Style Source Ireland - Interiors
Eoin Lyons
Currach Press
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
9781856079440, $39.95 www.dufoureditions.com 1-800-869-5677

"Style Source Ireland - Interiors" by Eoin Lyons is not just another routine interior design book, but stands out for what it presents by way of advice and resources for acquiring exactly the right furnishings for an Irish-style interior design whether it be for an entrance hall, a living room, a dining room, a kitchen, a bedroom, a bathroom, a room for children, or a home office. Of special note is the section on wardrobes for bed linens. A major chapter is devoted to 'Special Things' in terms of 'style sources ranging from the french look, to art deco, to modern. "Style Source Ireland - Interiors" finishes with 'Around the House' covering the subjects of antiques and auctions, flooring, curtains, fabrics, paints, wallpaper, lighting, hanging pictures, fireplaces, shelves and drawers, shopping in Belfast, gifts, and Christmas. There is even a section devoted to 'Supplier's Contact Details'. Very nicely illustrated in full color, "Style Source Ireland - Interiors" is an informed and highly desirable addition to personal and professional Interior Design reference collections.


The Language Studies Shelf

A Catullus Workbook
Helena Dettmer & LeaAnn A. Osburn
Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers
1000 Brown Street, Unit 101, Wauconda, IL 60084
9780865166233, $22.00 www.bolchazy.com

Co-authored by academicians Helena Dettmer (Professor of classics and Associate Dean at the University of Iowa) and LeaAnn A. Osburn (who until her recent retirement taught Latin at the Barrington High School, a regular presenter on Latin pedagogy at conferences around the country, and who serves as an editor for Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers for the Latin language instruction titles), "A Cattullus Workbook" is enhanced for the Latin language student with a Latin-to-English glossary developed by Ronnie Ancona. This superbly organized and presented workbook features the complete Latin text for all the selections on the AP Catullus syllabus; short answer questions addressing underlying grammatical and syntactical structures of each Catullus poem; multiple choice questions on grammar, syntax, figures of speech, and content; passages for scansion and translation; short and long essay questions; four review chapters (including essays requiring comparative analysis of the poems). Thoroughly 'student friendly', "A Catullus Workbook" will prove to be an essential and invaluable supplement to any highschool or college level Latin language instructional curriculum.

The Way of Chinese Characters
Jianhsin Wu
Cheng & Tsui Company
25 West Street, Boston, MA 02111-1213
9780887275272, $28.95 www.cheng-tsui.com

The Way of Chinese Characters: The Origins of 400 Essential Words is an excellent mnemonic guide for anyone learning written Chinese. Simple black-and-white sketches enhance the step-by-step deconstruction of common Chinese characters and their radicals, revealing their origins and therefore making them easier for astute students of Chinese to memorize. Each description of a Chinese character is written in both English and Chinese, to further enhance learning. A superb self-study resource or complementary teaching tool.


The Criminology Shelf

Predatory Priests, Silenced Victims
Mary Gail Frawley-O' Dea & Virginia Goldner, editors
The Analytic Press
10 Industrial Avenue, Suite 3, Mahwah, NJ 07430-2284
9780881634242, $34.95 www.analyticpress.com

Predatory Priests, Silenced Victims: The Sexual Abuse Crisis and the Catholic Church is an anthology of essays by experts on the issues pertaining to clerical sexual abuse, including psychoanalysts, biblical scholars, clergy, historians, survivors of sexual abuse, and cultural critics. Predatory Priests, Silenced Victims vigorously debunks myths such as the false belief that homosexual priests are more likely to commit abuse (which statistics have shown to be wrong), that the preponderance of abuse is committed by priests under the influence of alcohol or other drugs (again, statistics show that the majority of predatory priests are "clean and sober"), or that celibacy by itself propagates abuse (of much greater concern is the demonization of both women and human sexuality promoted along with the celibacy). Ultimately, Predatory Priests, Silenced Victims does not pigeonhole itself to a single "root" cause of clerical sexual abuse, but rather scrutinizes the severe problem from all angles in the search for better means to prevent future victimizations. Highly recommended.

Got Murder?
Martin Hintz
Tails Books
c/o Big Earth Publishing
145 North Commercial Street, Suite 100, Neenah, WI 54956
9781931599962, $18.95 www.bigearthpublishing.com 1-800-258-5830

Wisconsin has a very strange and notorious history of serial killers and macabre murders ranging from such infamous characters as Ed Gein and Jeffrey Dahmer. "Got Murder?: The Shocking Story Of Wisconsin's Notorious Killers" by Wisconsin author Martin Hintz is a compilation of Badger State crimes and criminals whose lethal behavior has never been so well detailed and annotated. as they have in this compendium of true crime stories. From the murder of Frank Lloyd Wrights lover and her children with a hatchet; to Ed Gein's grave robbing and bizarre butchery; to a deer-hunting trip that left six people dead, to the cannibalism of Jeffrey Dahmer, these stories range from Wisconsin's pioneer era down to today's newspaper headlines. Strongly recommended for personal and community library 'true crime' collections and reading lists, "Got Murder?" is fascinating, riveting anthology of stories that brings a whole new and dark dimension to Wisconsin history.


The Nautical Shelf

Rigging
Lennarth Petersson
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD 21402
9781591147313, $42.95 www.navalinstitute.org 1-800-233-8764

In "Rigging: Period Fore-and-Aft Craft", author and professional illustrator Lennarth Pettersson draws upon his many years of experience and expertise as a model maker an draughtsman in the study of eighteenth-century rigs and rigging, to provide readers with a visual compendium concerning ever aspect and facet of a ship's rigging. Three kinds of vessels are used to illustrate and exemplify the rigging: The British Naval Cutter; The French Lugger; and The American Schooner. "Rigging" is a seminal work that should be included into every personal, professional, and academic library Nautical Studies reference collection, and will prove to be of special interest and practical value for model ship builders dedicated to accuracy in their constructions.

Arctic Hell-Ship
William Barr
University of Alberta Press
Ring House 2, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2E1
9780888644336, $34.95 www.uap.ualberta.ca

Lifetime Achievement Award-winning Canadian historian William Barr presents Arctic Hell-Ship: The Voyage of HMS Enterprise 1850-1855, the true story of Richard Collinson's sea voyage to the Arctic in search of the missing Franklin expedition. Collinson and his crew approached the Northwest Passage from the west, hoping to find and rescue the Franklin expedition; yet as time passed, relations between Collinson and his officers deteriorated so badly that three of them spent much of the voyage under arrest, though they were later exonerated of wrongful charges in the UK. A handful of color paintings by the ship's assistant surgeon, Edward Adams, illustrate this absorbing true story of bitter and unpredictable survival on the harsh arctic seas.


The Gardening Shelf

Orchids to Know and Grow
Thomas J. Sheehan and Robert J. Black
University Press of Florida
University of Florida, 15 Northwest 15th Street, Gainesville, FL 32611-2079
9780813030654, $19.95 www.upf.com 1-800-226-3822

Professors emeritus of environmental horticulture Thomas J. Sheehan and Robert J. Black combine their talents and expertise in Orchids to Know and Grow, a user-friendly guide to identifying, classifying, and cultivating orchids. Packed with tips, tricks, and techniques for selecting optimum specimens and properly tending to them at home or in a greenhouse, Orchids to Know and Grow also offers an extensive selection of orchid genera, with each listing featuring a black-and-white sketch of the orchid as well as its genus, tribe, subtribe, etymology, native habitat, number of species, commonly grown species, list of what the plant hybridizes with, and its generic description, flowering season, and methods of being cultured. An inset selection of color plates rounds out this easy-to-use guide accessible to gardeners of all skill and experience levels.

Compendium of Rose Diseases and Pests
R. Kenneth Horst & Raymond Cloyd
APS Press
3340 Pilot Knob Road, St. Paul, MN 55121-2097
9780890543559, $59.00 www.shopapspress.org 1-800-328-7560

Now in an updated second edition, Compendium of Rose Diseases and Pests is an in-depth resource ideal for intermediate to expert or rose gardeners. Full color photography on virtually every page illustrates this in-depth perusal of virtually every parasite or malady known to affect roses, including lists of symptoms and recommendations for managing or combating each affliction. A glossary and index round out this useful guide, which is detailed to the point of being technical. A "must-have" especially for professionals in the field.


The Library Science Shelf

Using XML
Kwong Bor NG
Neal-Schuman Publishers
100 William Street, Suite 2004, New York, NY 10038-4512
9781555705671, $85.00 www.neal-schuman.com 1-866-672-6657

Designed and written specifically to enable librarians to utilize XML to create and organize documents, fine-tune documents with special characters, using Cascading Style Sheets, and displaying information on a library website, "Using XML: a How-To-Do-It Manual and CD-ROM For Librarians by Kwong Bor NG (Associate Professor, Graduate School of Library and Information Studies, Queens College, CUNY) truly lives up to its promise as a 'librarian friendly' instructional manual which deftly combines a clearly written, step-by-step presentation with an accompanying CD-ROM which reproduces every exercise so librarians can compare their work on a chapter-by-chapter basis to insure that the documents they create are displaying properly. Simply stated, "Using XML" is an essential and very strongly recommended instructional reference that is a necessity for adequately training library staff members to make the most out of XML in the areas of technical services, metadata, system libraries, and library website development.


The Fiction Shelf

Justice West Of The Pecos
Nick Castanis
American Literary Press
8019 Belair Road, Suite 10, Baltimore, MD 21236
9781561679720, $14.95 www.americanliterarypress.com 1-800-873-2003

Life was hard on America's southwestern frontier where settlers and ranchers fought off hostile Indians and outlaw bandits, endured sweltering summers and brutal winters, struggled with loneliness, and sought to build lives and fortunes for themselves and their families. These were truly lawless times where often justice was administered with a pistol or a rope. "Justice West Of The Pecos" is the riveting story of Civil War veteran Elliot Stewart and his partner, Rafer, who are forced to leave Texas to look for work. The finally found jobs wrangling Arabian thoroughbreds for a Spanish don in New Mexico. A saloon owner hires an outlaw to clear the way so he could take over the ranch, killing both Rafer and the don in the process. Although Elliot is in love with the don's daughter, his sense of justice compels him to follow the outlaw and his gang to extract revenge for his friend and his boss. Enthusiastically recommended reading, "Justice West Of The Pecos" is a superbly written novel of the Old West that is on par with the best of Louis L'Amour or Max Brand.

Revenge & Redemption
Brad E. Hainsworth
Deseret Books
PO Box 30178, Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0178
9781590387443, $16.95 www.deseretbook.com 1-800-453-3876

Written by Brad E. Hainsworth (emeritus professor of communications, Brigham Young University), Revenge & Redemption is an enthralling historical fiction novel set during the Civil War. When Union Civil War soldier Clay Ashworth returns to his Utah ranch from a bloody battle fought at Glorieta Pass in New Mexico, his bride delivers a stillborn first child. Unable to bear her sorrow, she returns to her home in Mexico; meanwhile, her grief-stricken husband is summoned to meet with President Abraham Lincoln and embark on a dangerous secret assignment. Meanwhile, another survivor of Glorieta Pass, Wolf Striker, struggles to find his way east to join Confederate forces and defend Vicksburg against a Yankee siege. Yet his journey becomes all the more perilous when he crosses paths with the Southern belle wife he deserted twenty years ago - a woman who wants to personally inflict capital punishment upon him for deserting her. An adventurous Civil War saga, written to captivate readers of all backgrounds.

The Republic of Nothing
Lesley Choyce
Goose Lane Editions
500 Beverbrook Court, Suite 330, Fredericton, NB, Canada, E3B 5X4
9780864924933, $19.99 www.gooselane.com 1-800-565-9523

Winner of the Dartmouth Book Award, The Republic of Nothing is a novel set in the 1960's on Whalebone Island, a.k.a. "The Republic of Nothing", a small dot of land off the coast of Nova Scotia that dares to declare its independence to the world. As the island's inhabitants become increasingly drawn into the turbulent politics of the day including the Vietnam War and the peace movement, an unexpected individual steps forward to society's rescue. Originally published in 1994, now in a new "Reader's Guide" edition featuring an afterword by Rush drummer and lyricist Neil Peart, The Republic of Nothing is a quirky yet compelling drama where anything and everything can happen, even as anarchy becomes increasingly prevalent.

The Alice Stories
Jesse Lee Kercheval
University of Nebraska Press
233 North 8th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska, 68588-0255
9780803211353, $24.95 www.nebraskapress.unl.edu 1-800-755-1105

Winner of the Prairie Schooner Book Prize in Fiction, The Alice Stories is an original novel by Jesse Lee Kercheval (Professor of English, University of Wisconsin-Madison) that observes the story of a girl raised in Florida who ends up as a woman living in Wisconsin. She, her husband, and her daughter experience the richness of family; the tolls of pain and loss; and the importance of friends to help one through the roughest parts of life. A thoughtful, community-driven narrative emphasizing the importance of connections and emotional outlook, highly recommended.

Shakespeare's Kitchen
Lore Segal
The New Press
38 Green Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10013
9781595581518, $22.95 www.thenewpress.com 1-800-233-4830

Shakespeare's Kitchen is an anthology of thirteen interconnected short stories, seven of which have previously appeared in "The New Yorker", about the yearning for friendship and the development - and loss - of closeness. Author and award-winner Lore Segal reveals the world of Ilka Weisz, who has accepted a junior position at a Connecticut think tank at the cost of departing her beloved circle of New York friends. As she comes to know her new acquaintances through a series of memorable dinner parties, afternoon picnics, and Sunday brunches, she experiences the outsider's loneliness among people as well the delight of cultivating familiar companionship, the wonderment of love, and the shock or even bizarre behavior in the wake of losing a fellow human being to death. An emotional saga of interpersonal relationships as a barometer of the human condition.

Converting Kate
Beckie Weinheimer
Viking Books
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
TCI Smith Publicity (publicity)
2 Split Rock Drive, Suite 12, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
9780670061525, $16.99 www.penguin.com 1-800-847-5515

Kate Anderson is fifteen years old and raised in the Church of the Holy Divine. But now that she is a high school sophomore, Kate finds that she's just not as certain as she used to be that her church is the only true church -- or that she is anything special for being a member. Kate's church has a strict dress code, restrictions on what can be watched on television, what movies can be seen, bans against reading 'worldly books' or using the internet. Her church has an all-male hierarchy that dictates that she, as a female, can have no occupation other than that of motherhood, and that homosexuals are damned. Despite Kate's being a sixth generation member of her Church, she finds that she must break away from it, leaving behind her family, her heritage, her friends in the church, and a way of life that is simply not compatible with her growing aspirations. Is this simply an ordinary adolescent rebellion, or the result of more complex issues that are as relevant as today's newspaper headlines about the American religious right and their cultural war against a secular society. A welcome and highly recommended addition to highschool and community library fiction collections, "Converting Kate" is deftly written, inherently fascinating, consistently entertaining, thoughtful and thought-provoking reading by anyone of any age.


The Library CD Shelf

Arc
Falkner Evans, Belden Bullock, and Matt Wilson
Consolodated Artists Productions, Inc.
The Creative Service Company (publicity)
4360 Emerald Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
CD $13.97 www.falknerevans.com www.jazzbeat.com

The Falkner Evans Trio presents Arc, their third music CD, a toe-tapping expression of improvised jazz that allows its beat to flow through minimal structure rather than succumb to over-arrangement. The tracks are Regatta (6:02), Singing Darkness (5:21), Central Park West (3:48), Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum (6:02), Bar Enigma (6:44), Lucia's Happy Heart (6:51), Make Tracks, Child (5:48), Come Rain or Come Shine (7:25), and Lost in the Stars (5:01). A smoothly flowing album easy on the ears and fondly accessible to listeners and jazz fans and of all backgrounds. 53 minutes, 2 seconds.

Dreams & Visions
Mary-Kathryn
Rhythm House Records
c/o The Creative Service Company (publicity)
4360 Emerald Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
CD $18.49 www.rhythmhouse.com

The fourth album of Mary-Kathryn, Dreams & Visions is a music CD album of spiritual music that encourages human beings to have faith in one another and the future. Combining sung lyrics and world music-influenced sound, Dreams & Visions is a transcendental listening experience. Its tracks are Incense of Praise (5:23), You Are There (4:41), Dreamers (4:18), Psalm 91 (4:18), My Father's World (5:53), In Your Time (6:08), Flying Toward the Sun (4:33), Eve of Your Return (4:12), Wailing Wall (6:30), and Glory Forever (3:46). A truly rapturous collection, highly recommended.

Secret Journey
Omar Akram
Real Music
85 Libertyship Way, Suite 207, Sausalito, CA 94965
The Creative Service Company (publicity)
4360 Emerald Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
CD $14.95 www.realmusic.com

Secret Journey is an original music CD created by Omar Akram, whose international travels have exposed him to a wide and eclectic variety of styles that he freely draws upon, from jazz and new age influences to themes hearkening from different corners of the world. The tracks are Run Away With Me (5:08), Secret Journey (6:04), Nomadic Rhapsody (3:17), Passage of the Heart (3:32), Gypsy Spirit (4:28), Stargazers (3:56), Seven Secrets (4:47), Whispers in the Moonlight (4:37), Mirage (4:32), Shimmering Star (4:40), Caravan (4:35), and Angel of Hope (3:31). A masterful collection, highly recommended for listening pleasure. 56 minutes, 35 seconds.

Sounds from a Bygone Age Vol. 4
Toni Iordache
Ashalt Tango Records GmbH
c/o Rock Paper Scissors
216 West Allen Street, Suite 137, Bloomington, IN 47403
$21.98 www.rockpaperscissors.biz

Sounds from a Bygone Age Volume 4 the latest music CD installment of past musical treasures by legendary international artists. Volume 4 features fourteen songs by Toni Iordache, the great Romanian tambal player, who was bestowed the highest honors in his day and sentenced to a year in prison for seeking small pleasures. Arrested for the crime possessing foreign currency (acquired from his international tours), his fame and skill were so beloved that his fellow inmates helped him with his share of hard prison labor. Sounds from a Bygone Age Volume 4 especially features Iordache's cimbalom music; Iordache's exceptional speed, timing, and sensitivity allowed him to create superlative performances. His musical interests extended beyond traditional Gypsy influences, to incorporate elements of other musical styles such as jazz. Sounds from a Bygone Age Volume 4 echoes the era of the Iron Curtain, featuring the original analogue sound of Iordache's music as recorded in the 1960's and 1970's. Enthusiastically recommended for public and private music CD libraries.

MVD Audio
c/o Music Vido Distributors
M-840 North Circle Drive, Oaks, PA 19460
www.mvdb2b.com 1-800-888-0486

A premier producer of both 'time-lost' and contemporary music CDs for personal and library collections, MVD Audio has now made available "The Fall: Live At The Knitting Factory", a recording original made in Hollywood in 2001 and previously only available on the DVD Access All Areas. The band performs a number of Fall classics and documents one of the many different line ups of Mark E. Smith's popular and influential group. A superbly produced recording that takes full advantage of CD technology, "The Fall: Live At The Knitting Factory" is a 'must' for the legion of their enthusiastic fans and a welcome introduction for those who have not yet encountered their music. Also very highly recommended listening are several other new CD releases from MVD Audio including: The British group Attrition's "Esoteria: A Collection of Ambient and Classical Works 1982-2004" (4GodsCD) and "The Attrition of Reason" (5GodsCD); Paradiso' "Tangerine Dream" (EGVP101CD) which is the third installment of the music based on Dante Alighieri's 'La Divina Commedia'; the British Group Gentle Giant's "Live in Santa Monica 1975" (Glass109CD); and Refugee's "Live in Concert: Newcastle City hall 1974" (VP421CD). Music enthusiasts, librarians, and collectors are encouraged to visit the MVD Audio website at www.mvdb2b.com for a complete listing of all of their available albums.


The Judicial Studies Shelf

Winning at Trial
D. Shane Read
National Institute for Trial Advocacy
361 Centennial Parkway, Suite 220, Louisville, Colorado 80027
9781601560018, $75.00 www.nita.org

D. Shane Read, an experienced legal professional and adjunct professor at Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, commits his wisdom to paper in Winning at Trial, a text ideal for legal courses and self-study alike. Chapters cover basic trial strategies, Voir Dire, tips tricks and techniques for the phases of the trial (opening statements, direct examination, cross examination, and closing arguments), exhibits and objections, and much more. Numerous examples illustrate Read's practical and experience-tested recommendations. "If your case has many witnesses, take a digital photograph of each witness when she is in the witness room before she testifies. Having the photograph will help you immensely in closing argument. When you summarize an important part of a witness' testimony, you can project the photograph on your screen in the courtroom. This will aid the jury in recalling exactly which witness you are referring to and help you refresh the jurors' memory regarding her testimony." An accompanying DVD rounds out this highly recommended text for legal professionals of all skill and experience levels - even courtroom veterans are sure to discover a useful tidbit.


The Mathematics Shelf

Summa Summarum
Mogens Esrom Larsen
A K Peters, Ltd.
888 Worcester Street, Suite 230, Wellesley, MA 02482
9781568813233, $49.00 www.akpeters.com

Summa Summarum is an advanced mathematics text discussing how to efficiently evaluate finite sums and combinatorial identities. Written especially for graduate and upper-level undergraduate mathematics students, Summa Summarum presupposes a thorough foundation of algebra in its numerous sample mathematical equations and summations. Chapters discuss theories concerning numerous different known sums and identities, polynomial sums and linear difference equations, a guide to classifying unknown sums and changing them to a standard form, and much more. Introducing a wealth of useful tools from the classical concepts of Euler to modern computer algorithms discovered by Gosper as well as Wilf and Zeilberger, Summa Summarum is a superb reference and study text.

The Education of T. C. Mits
Lillian R. Lieber, author
Hugh Gray Lieber, illustrator
Paul Dry Books
117 South 17th Street, Suite 1102, Philadelphia, PE 19103
9781589880337, $11.95 www.pauldrybooks.com

Originally published in 1944, The Education of T. C. Mits: What Modern Mathematics Means to You is a unique, plain-terms introduction to the amazing world of mathematics, written for readers of all backgrounds. In higher mathematics, sometimes the most fundamental of precepts can be challenged: two times two is not always four; the sum of the angles in a triangle does not always equal 180 degrees, and two parallel lines can be drawn through the same point! The free-verse poetry format does not interfere with the straightforward message, sample problems, and mathematical explanations in the least. Simple black-and-white line drawings illustrate this amazing exploration of mathematical mysteries for "T. C. Mits", or "The Common Man in the Street". A joy to read, especially recommended for public library collections to stimulate human interest in math and science. Highly recommended. "There is one very essential difference / between the behavior of T. C. and / that of a scientist. / T. C. is apt to think that / if he is good at hunches sometimes, / he may rely on them always. / But the fact is that / EACH INDIVIDUAL HUNCH MUST BE / CHECKED AND DOUBLE-CHECKED!"


The Humor Shelf

Growing Old with B.C.
Johnny Hart
Checker Book Publishing Group
2044 A South Alex Road, West Carrollton, OH 45449
9781933160689, $19.95 www.checkerbpg.com

Growing Old with B.C.: A 50 Year Celebration is a retrospective and tribute to the long-lived, multiple award-winning newspaper comic strip B.C., starring a gaggle of cavemen and two strong-willed cavewomen. B.C.'s creator and artist Johnny Hart himself designed the cover and engaged in the first round of edits before he passed away. Growing Old with B.C. is more than anthology of the best of the best B.C. strips in the past 50 years; photographs and brief interviews with Hart's friends - many of whom were the direct inspiration for the comic strip's core characters - a short biography of Hart, and even a brief introduction by Hart's wife round out this collection. A sidesplitting overview of Hart's laughter-steeped life's work, and an excellent giftbook for anyone who reads the comic strip page first in the newspaper.


The Holocaust Studies Shelf

Escape From Hell
Alfred Wetzler, author
Ewald Osers, translator
Berghahn Books
150 Broadway, Suite 812, New York, NY 10038
9781845451837, $34.95 www.berghahnbooks.com 1-800-540-8663

Originally written in 1963 under the pseudonym "Jozef Lanik", Escape From Hell: The True Story of the Auschwitz Protocol is the true story of author Alfred Wetzler's horrifying experience as a one of millions of victims of the Nazi Holocaust, his fortuitous escape, and most poignantly, his efforts to subsequently inform the world about the truth behind Nazi camps of mass murder. Escape from Hell describes in detail the inhuman atrocities perpetrated by the Nazis, the ingenious plan made by the resistance movement in the camp, and how Wetzler successfully escaped with his friend Rudi Vrba. A chilling day-by-day account of life in Auschwitz, by a man whose determination to spread the truth likely saved more Jews from the machinations of the SS than any other single act. A "must-have" for Holocaust Studies shelves and collections.


The Travel Shelf

Rome With Kids
J.M. Pasquesi
Synergy Books
2100 Kramer Lane, Suite 300, Austin, TX 78758
9781933538471, $16.95 www.amazon.com

Rome With Kids is a guide to making the most of one's visit to Rome, the great seat of Western civilization, written especially for parents with children in tow. Color photographs and maps enhance the step-by-step itineraries, recommendations for kid-friendly activities, advice on viewing the finest museum collections before the kids burn out, tips on where to shop or rent bikes, and much more. Written by mother and former Rome resident J.M. Pasquesi, Rome with Kids is enthusiastically recommended to parents for its attention to detail and ease of use.


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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