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Internet Bookwatch

Volume 19, Number 10 October 2009 Home | IBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Poetry Shelf Computer Shelf
Art Shelf World History Shelf Cookbook Shelf
Martial Arts Shelf Photography Shelf Music Shelf
Judaic Studies Shelf Social Issues Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf
Travel Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf Christian Studies Shelf
Biography Shelf Self-Help Shelf Education Shelf
International Studies Shelf Gardening Shelf Gay Studies Shelf
Fiction Shelf Literary Shelf Business Shelf
Mystery/Suspense Shelf Jobs/Careers Shelf Psychology Shelf
Parenting Shelf Gaming Shelf Science Shelf
Political Science Shelf Military Shelf Religion/Spirituality Shelf
Environmental Studies Shelf Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Philosophy Shelf Fashion Shelf Sports Shelf
Pets/Wildlife Shelf Journalism Shelf Mathematics Shelf
American History Shelf Audiobook Shelf Interior Design Shelf
Needlecraft Shelf Antiques/Collectibles Shelf Crafts Shelf
Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf Woodworking Shelf Library DVD Shelf
Library Science Shelf Writing/Publishing Shelf Library CD Music Shelf
Buddhist Studies Shelf Native American Shelf Islamic Studies Shelf
Humor Shelf Archaeology Shelf Railroading Shelf
Large Print Shelf Language Studies Shelf  


Reviewer's Choice

Yoknapatawpha
George G. Stewart
The University of South Carolina Press
718 Devine Street, Columbia, SC 29208
9781570038419, $49.95, www.sc.edu/uscpress

To understand a classical writer, you have to understand where they came from. "Yoknapatawpha: A Photographic Study of Faulkner's Country" is a photographic journey through the hometown of acclaimed southern classical author William Faulkner. Drawing from Faulkner's work, author George G. Stewart tries to connect it with what potentially inspired it from Faulkner's surroundings. A blend of literary merit, fine black and white photography, biography and more, "Yoknapatawpha" is a scholarly addition to any Faulkner collection.

Overqualified
Joey Comeau
ECW Press
2120 Queen Street East, Suite 200, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4E IE2
9781550228588, $14.95, www.ecwpress.com

The mundane approach to cover letters using the same tired jargon can almost drive a person sane. "Overqualified" is Joey Comeau firing back at the cliche of the cover letter, using them as a medium like any other. Although not true cover letters, he tells his stories in a unique way and makes for a memoir like no other. "Overqualified" is a charming read that will entertain many for hours on end, enthusiastically recommended.

Drops Like Stars
Rob Bell
Zondervan
5300 Patterson Avenue SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49530
9780310275039, $34.99, www.zondervan.com

Art is not bound by tradition, only creativity of the human mind. "Drops Like Stars" is a blend of words and the unique photography style of Rob Bell to bring readers a delight for the senses. Full color photographs sit alongside stories which are meant to help the reader question life, enjoy the smaller things, and more. Bell brings readers and viewers all through the emotional spectrum. A truly unique coffee table book, "Drops Like Stars" is a top pick for any library art collection.

Makeshift Workshop Skills For Survival And Self-Reliance
James Ballou
Paladin Press
7077 Winchester Circle, Boulder, CO 80301
9781581607055, $29.00, www.amazon.com

In these economically distressed times, the mantra of 'reuse, recycle, repair, re-purpose' has never been more applicable. That's why James Ballou's 'do-it-yourself' instruction guide, the "Makeshift Workshop Skills For Survival And Self-Reliance: Expedient Ways to Make Your Own Tools, Do Your Own Repairs and Construct Useful Things Out of Raw and Salvaged Materials" is so timely and so valuable. Profusely illustrated, this 'how-to' instruction guide will enable anyone to create homemade tools (hammers, drills, screwdrivers, wrenches, pliers, saws, files, chisels, vises, clamps, and more!); make successful repairs using glue, tape, cord, wire, dowels, nuts and bolts); construct useful items out of coat hangers, old care parts, 2 x 4s, wooden dowels, nails, rebar, coffee cans, and other readily available materials); "Makeshift Workshop Skills For Survival And Self-Reliance" even shows how to build a homemade forge out of an old barbeque, perform soldering using a road flare, and do quick weld repairs using care batters, jumper cables, and a pair of pliers. From makeshift metalworking, to practical calculating, to salvaging, along with a wealth of practical tips, tricks and techniques, "Makeshift Workshop Skills For Survival And Self-Reliance" is a welcome, thoroughly 'user friendly', and highly recommended addition to personal, family, and community library collections.

Art Nouveau & Art Deco Fashion Postcards
Edith Weber
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
www.schifferbooks.com
9780764332708, $29.99, www.amazon.com

Typically associated with the time frame separating two world wars, the art nouveau and art deco periods of the 1920s and early 30s is quite distinctive and readily recognizable. These art movements were wide spread and influenced everything from architecture, to interior design, to furniture, to fashion. One of the areas of influence was the ephemeral artifact of the postcard. Now in "Art Nouveau & Art Deco Fashion Postcards", Edith Weber (nationally known for identifying and appraising antique jewelry) turns her years of experience and expertise to compiling an impressively illustrated compendium identifying postcards picturing art nouveau and art deco women's fashions. Showcasing the work of some twenty artists of the time period covered, "Art Nouveau & Art Deco Fashion Postcards" is enhanced with more than 230 beautifully reproduced images. As informed and informative as it is simply entertaining to browse through, "Art Nouveau & Art Deco Fashion Postcards" is highly recommended as a superlative addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library 20th Century Popular Culture reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

The Life And Legend Of Sheridan R. Jones
Joseph Hilko
The Whitefish Press
c/o Hilko Library & Media Service
PO Box 225, Ballston Spa, NY 12020
9780981510286, $54.95, www.amazon.com

Sheridan R. Jones (1881-1956) was to fishing lures what Henry Ford was to automobile production. The Fishing Editor of Outer's Recreation Magazine in the 1910s through the 1920s, Jones helped to create a fishing and camping culture for America's growing middle class. His endorsement was avidly sought by manufactures of fishing and camping equipment, his articles extolling the joys and challenges of fishing were exceedingly popular with the public. Upon his death he had the largest collection of fishing lures in private hands. "The Life And Legend Of Sheridan R. Jones: America's Pioneering Outdoor Writer & His Search For The Perfect Fishing Lure" is the story of this leading figure of earlier twentieth-century American fishing, including his pioneering contributions and enduring legacy to recreational fishing that continue to this very day. Profusely illustrated throughout with color photography, "The Life And Legend Of Sheridan R. Jones" is deftly written and thoroughly 'reader friendly' making it an ideal acquisition choice for personal, academic, and community library collections.

Voices On The Wind
Bonnie McGee
Skylark Publications
Box 772592, Steamboat Springs, CO 80477
9780615250595, $44.95, www.amazon.com

Bonnie McGee was one of two highschool teachers who decided to embark upon a trip around the world in a 33 foot sailboat. This extraordinary trip was to last four years, six months and take them to places and introduce them to people from natives of Polynesia, to the island inhabitants of New Guinea, to the aborigines of Australia, to the coastal tribes of Africa. "Voices On The Wind" is the story of this memorable adventure -- and the stories of the men and women they encountered along the way. Profusely and beautifully illustrated with full color photography, browsing through the pages of "Voices Of The Wind" is the next best thing to having been there oneself -- making a perfect read for armchair world travelers, as well as a highly prized and recommended addition to personal and community library collections.

Public Sector Leadership
Jeffrey A. Raffel, et al.
Edward Elgar Publishing
9 Dewey Court, Northampton, MA 01060-3815
www.e-elgar.com
9781848440890, $160.00, www.amazon.com

Just as in the private sector, experienced and capable leadership is a fundamental necessity in the public sector as well. Knowledgeably compiled and deftly edited by the team of Jeffrey A. Raffel (Charles P. Messick Professor of Public Administration, University of Delaware), Peter Leisink Professor of Public Management and Organization Studies, Utrecht University, The Netherlands), and Anthony E. Middlebrooks (Assistant Professor of Leadership, University of Delaware), "Public Sector Leadership: International challenges And Perspectives" presents eighteen informed and informative essays by experts in the field and covering a multitude of thematically relevant issues addressing challenges confronting public management today on an international scale; political-administrative relations in the U.S. and Europe; the role of leadership within interorganizational networks; considerations of ethics, values and diversity (of special note is the article on 'Leadership, administrative evil and the ethics of incompetence: the failed response to Hurricane Katrina' by Guy B. Adams and Danny L. Balfour); and leadership training and development. Representing a body of impressive and impeccable scholarship, "Public Sector Leadership" is especially recommended for academic library international leadership reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Alien Hand Syndrome
Alan Bellows and editors of Damn Interesting
Workman Publishing
225 Varick Street, New York NY 10014-4381
9780761152255, $12.95 www.workman.com

ALIEN HAND SYNDROME gathers nearly a hundred amazing but true stories taken from history and re-created for modern audiences. From the Molasses Flood of 1919 and the development of the Sun Gun to Mike the Headless Chicken and oddities of all kinds of science, this gathering of too-weird-not-to-be-true tales is the perfect leisure reader's choice and will appeal to any general lending library.

All We Need is a Paradigm
S. Phineas Upham, Editor
Open Court
70 East Lake St., Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60601
9780812696356, $44.95 www.opencourtbooks.com

ALL WE NEED IS A PARADIGM: ESSAYS ON SCIENCE, ECONOMICS, AND LOGIC FROM THE HARVARD REVIEW OF PHILOSOPHY offers a range of solid contributions by Ned Hall, Simon Saunders, Warren Goldfarb and others, collecting for the first time in one place some of the most important essays from the Harvard Review of Philosophy and examining the philosophical basics of how the world works. From physics and math to music, this packs in analysis and asks questions key to understanding the applications of philosophy across disciplines.

The August House Book of Scary Stories
Liz Parkhurst, editor
August House Inc.
3500 Piedmont Road NE, Suite 310, Atlanta, GA 30305
9780874839159 $15.95 www.augusthouse.com

All cultures have stories designed to scare, and most importantly educate children. "The August House Book of Scary Stories: Spooky Tales for Telling Out Loud" is a collection of scary stories for young people, drawn from a wide range of sources, ranging from folk tales from traditions around the world to urban legends. Also including the origins of each of its stories, "The August House Book of Scary Stories" is a good source for either those looking for stories or those who want a bit more of the history of the scary story. "The August House Book of Scary Stories" is a top pick.

The Future That Brought Her Here
Deborah Denicola
Ibis Press / Nicolas-Hays, Inc.
PO Box 540206, Lake Worth, FL 33454-0206
Red Wheel/Weiser (distribution)
65 Parker Street, Suite 7, Newburyport, MA 01950-4600
www.redwheelweiser.com 1-800-423-7087
9780892541485 $16.95 www.nicolashays.com

The wholeness of a spirit fulfilled is a desire that will take people across the world. "The Future That Brought Her Here: A Memoir of a Call to Awaken" is Deborah Denicola's reflections on her spiritual journeys around the world. Encouraging women to use their natural gifted intuition, she shows what knowledge she has gained going around the world, from Israel to France and beyond. "The Future That Brought Her Here" is an inspiring read especially for women.

Exposed! Ouija, Firewalking, and Other Gibberish
Henri Broch, author
Bart K. Holland, translator
The Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9780801892462 $24.95 www.press.jhu.edu

The paranormal endlessly captivates us, much like a good fantasy story. Henri Broach believes it's because it's the same thing. "Exposed!: Ouija, Firewalking, and Other Gibberish" is an expose on many of the paranormal scams that are promoted by today's modern con men or perhaps only misinformed people. Henri Broch seeks to debunk many of these myths and take a stand against new age garbage that so many people seem to spot. For those who want a better understanding of these questionable concepts, "Exposed!" might be the read for them.

60 Hikes within 60 Miles
Tamara York
Menasha Ridge Press
PO Box 43673, Birmingham, AL 35243
9780897327053, $17.95, www.menasharidge.com

Hiking is great exercise with a nod to adventure. "60 Hikes Within 60 Miles" is a guide for hikers in the Ohio region who want to find all of the exciting trails throughout the region. Covering the city of Cincinnati and its surrounding regions, this guide form the American Hiking Society covers man aspects of what a hiker needs to know, such as the amount of shade available, how long is it open, and other special features. "60 Hikes Within 60 Miles" is a must have for any hiker in the region.

The Friends We Keep
Sarah Zacharias Davis
WaterBrook Press
c/o Waterbrook Multnomah Publishing Group
12265 Oracle Boulevard, Suite 200, Colorado Springs, CO 80921
The B&B Media Group, Inc.
9781400074396, $12.99, www.waterbrookpress.com

The friendship between women is worlds different than the friendship between men. "The Friends We Keep: A Woman's Quest for the Soul of Friendship" is a discussion of the friendships of women and how their relationships are unique. So often women's friendships involve competition, where there's lot of unfriendly behavior, yet the women who have these rivalries end up friends for a lifetime. Examining this anomalies, author Sarah Zacharias Davis offers much food for thought for women and their friendships. "The Friends We Keep" is a worthwhile and highly recommended read.

Great Discoveries
Kelly Knauer, editor
Time Inc. Home Entertainment
PO Box 11016, Des Moines, Iowa 50336-1016
www.time.com
9781603200837, $29.95, www.amazon.com

Magnificently illustrated throughout, "Great Discoveries: Explorations That changed History" showcases succinct histories underlying epic explorations and discoveries in such diverse subjects as geography, paleontology, astronomy, and archaeology. From dinosaur digs to underwater dives for the Titanic, from Egyptian tombs to space age explorations of the solar system, "Great Discoveries" truly lives up to its title and readers will find it as informed and informative as it is engaging and entertaining. With its thoroughly 'reader friendly' text, "Great Discoveries" is a strongly recommended addition to both school and community library collections.

Osama Bin Laden Dead or Alive?
David Ray Griffin
Olive Branch Press
c/o Interlink Publishing Group
46 Crosby Street, Northampton, MA 01060-1804
9781566567831, $15.00, www.interlinkbooks.com

The hunt for Osama Bin Laden has been a topic for the past eight years, but what if it's all for naught? "Osama Bin Laden Dead or Alive?" is an exploration of the status of notorious terrorist leader Osama Bin Laden, and the evidence debating whether he's alive and still hiding in Pakistan or Afghanistan - or elsewhere - or the fact that he could have died many years ago, due to age, health, or U.S. bombings during the early Afghani war. "Osama Bin Laden Dead or Alive?" is an interesting read on the main focus of the War on Terror, highly recommended.


The Poetry Shelf

So Inspired
Jerry Brown Schwartz
Ivy House Publishing Group
5122 Bur Oak Circle, Raleigh, NC 27612
www.ivyhousebooks.com
9781571974945, $29.95, www.amazon.com

Poetry at its very best is a linguistic celebration showcasing and memorializing perceptions, memories, and wonder. "So Inspired: Preludes And Poems" is just such a collection of outstanding verse by Jerry Brown Schwartz, beautifully published and enhanced with colorfully and thematically illustrative art throughout its 144 pages. From life's minutiae to the imponderable mysteries of the human heart, to the simple joys and beauties associated with a simpler life and easier times, each individual poem is a carefully crafted with an succinct introductory comment, making it an elegantly presented work of poetic art. "So Inspired" truly live up to the promise of its title and is a welcome, highly recommended addition to personal and community library poetry collections and supplemental reading lists.

Wisconsin Poets Laureate
Wisconsin Poet Laureate Commission
Marsh River Editions
M233 Marsh Road, Marshfield, WI 54449
www.marshrivereditions.com
9780977276868, $10.00, wordzoo@dwave.net

An impressive literary project of the Wisconsin Poet Laureate Commission, presented by Marsh River Editions (a Wisconsin publishing house based in Marshfield, Wisconsin), "Wisconsin Poets Laureate" is a slender, elegantly published, 29-page showcase celebrating three outstanding poets whose work has earned them the accolade of becoming the most recent Wisconsin Poet Laureates. Marilyn L. Taylor (the current Poet Laureate of Wisconsin) is represented with eight examples of her verse; Denise Sweet (Poet Laureate of Wisconsin from 2004 to 2008) with seven; and Ellen Kort (Poet Laureate of Wisconsin from 2000 to 2004) with nine. "Wisconsin Poets Laureate" is a unique and highly recommended addition to personal poetry reading lists, and should be a core addition to every Wisconsin academic and community library collection.

Rock Worn by Water
Florence Chard Dacey
Plan View Press
1509 Dexter Street, Austin, TX 78704
9780911051216, $14.95, www.plainviewpress.net

With three previous collections to her name, Florence Chard Dacey brings readers "Rock Worn By Water". Simple verse with a simple message, her work paints with a vivid brush of her thoughts making for a highly fulfilling romp through the world of poetry. "Rock Worn By Water" is a treasure for any poetry collection. "Cedar": Oh cedar,/you are cut down now,/gone like the buffalo.//Where is your green?//Where will the deer sleep now?//Who will hide me from the rain?//Oh cedar,/you are cut down now.//Gone is your scent,/gone the blue berries.//In your stump-/Red.

Selected Poems: 1970-2005
Floyd Skloot
Tupelo Press
The Eclipse Mill, Loft 305, PO Box 1767, North Adams, MA 01247
9781932195590 $17.95 www.tupelopress.org

Many books of poetry under his name have been widely published. Floyd Skloot has become a notable figure in the poetry world. "Selected Poems: 1970-2005" is a collection of his work that prove of high quality and of fine example to those trying to craft their own poetry. "Selected Poems" is a seminal addition to any poetry collection, a highly recommended choice. "Seed": She is alive. Although her doctors said/there was nothing to be done, she is home,/planting her summer garden, is not dead,/and plans to eat everything she has grown in this plot, each carrot and tomato,/each squash, pepper, lettuce leaf. She will live/beyond the harvest and what will not grow/is her tumor, its flowers held captive/and still beneath her heart./Only the live/ wire of her will separates her now from/the future displayed in black and white five/months ago, backlit clearly. It will come/sooner or later, but this is her time/to cultivate and seed. She is alive.

Broken Sleep
Sally Read
Bloodaxe Books
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc. (distribution)
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
9781852248451 $17.95 www.dufoureditions.com 1-800-869-5677

Motherhood is one of the most inspirational experiences of one's life. "Broken Sleep" is the second collection of poetry from Sally Read, focusing on the relationship between mother and newborn child in the first half, and the fear of loss in the second. A fine and varied collection of work, "Broken Sleep" is a solid addition to many poetry collections. "The Belly": Six months gone, a succession/of diamond crazes my navel:/each growth-spurt snagging/its mark, like the rings of a tree.//Your father enfolds me from behind,/I would have you always like this./When his fingers trace the bump's/topography of silver rivulets//you thrash and fling yourself up/like a muscular fish./And his face -/a man whose hand falls through glass/as he reaches into a mirror.

Manatee/Humanity
Anne Waldman
Penguin Book Poetry
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
Naropa University
2130 Arapahoe Avenue, Boulder, CO 80302
9780143115212, $18.00, www.penguin.com

They share the earth with us, but do we truly understand them? "Manatee/Humanity" is a collection of poetry from Anne Waldman, who presents a collection of poetry focusing on the relationships that mankind has with the animal kingdom. Drawing inspiration from evolution, animal empathy, and all things that link humans with the rest of their animal brethren, "Manatee/Humanity" is an intriguing work of verse, sure to make many a reader ponder their roots.

Finding Your Best Angle
Mary Rose Betten
Fithian Press
PO Box 2790, McKinleyville, CA 95519
9781564744869 $12.00 www.danielpublishing.com

Everyone wants to be the next Bruce Willis or Nicole Kidman, but there's some wisdom that can bring you down to earth. "Finding Your Best Angle: Give This to an Actor" is a collection on poems on the tumultuous world of Hollywood, written by an experienced actor in her own right. Simple wisdom in fine verse is what's for sale in "Finding Your Best Angle". "Residuals Less Than Postage": This check comes like clockwork/from a show I did so long ago;/Joe Pesci's wife in "Lethal Weapon."/They cut the part, even had a scene/with Mel Gibson. Once a nice fat/payment for extraction now tooth/fairy money for breath mints.

On Poets & Poetry
William H. Pritchard
Swallow Press
c/o Ohio University Press
19 Circle Drive, Athens, OH 45701
9780804011150 $24.95 www.ohioswallow.com 1-800-621-2736

What is the point of poetry, anyway? "On Poets & Poetry" is William H. Pritchard seeking to answer that question in this intriguing volume of literary criticism as Pritchard studies poetry and comes up with many unique ideas and criticism of modern poetry and its evolution on a wide scale throughout recent history. Written by a true scholar of modern poetry, "On Poets and Poetry" is a must read for any fan of poetry who enjoys trying to gain a better understanding of it.

Rooms and Their Airs
Jody Gladding
Milkweed Editions
1011 Washington Avenue South, #300, Minneapolis, MN 55415-1246
9781571314321 $16.00 www.milkweed.org 1-800-520-6455

Humanity is as natural as anything else. "Rooms and Their Airs" is a collection of poetry from Jody Gladding with the overlying theme of the natural and artificial worlds, and the blurry, sometimes nonexistent line between them. Simple and thought provoking, "Rooms and Their Airs" is a fine read, through and through. "She Wants to Sleep in Her Own Bed": Through cloud cover/the moon rises late and small/enough light to see that it's raining in/no matter how hard nothing will draw/her close again tonight/I shut the windows.

Trucker's Moll
Rosemary Canavan
Salmon Poetry
c/o Dufour Editions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9780956128768, $21.95, www.dufoureditions.com

You don't need a lot of words to send a message. "Trucker's Moll" is the simple and honest work of Rosemary Canavan, an accomplished poet who can call both Scotland and Ireland her home. Her poetry reflects upon her heritage with simple stories and verse that speak louder and longer than they appear. "Trucker's Moll" is a choice pick for international poetry collections, recommended. "The Blind Woman": She was the still mentor/of the house,/the hearth goddess.//At first you saw darkness,/then a small figure by the range/feeding the fire,/outside/her brother with sleeves rolled/splitting wood for it.

Falling Body
David Cavanagh
Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
9781903392980 $21.95 www.dufoureditions.com 1-800-869-5677

Life never stops moving, and neither should poetry. "Falling Body" is poetry using the theme of the constant movement of life. The second collection by David Cavanagh, "Falling Body" will charm many a reader. "Falling Body" is a deftly written poetry that many a fan will cherish. "Dear Lillian"L with your dying such a trump/you've played./the rest of us shuffling/over and over,/trying to change the luck.

We Mad Climb Shaky Ladders
Pamela Spiro Wagner
CavanKerry Press
6 Horizon Road, No. 2901, Fort Lee, NJ 07024
9781933880105, $16.00, www.cavankerrypress.org

Poetry is a form of expression, and can be a better way to understand someone. "We Mad Climb Shaky Ladders" is a collection of poetry from Pamela Spiro Wagner, reflecting on her twenty five years diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. With commentary from her psychologist, "We Mad Climb Shaky Ladders" is a fascinating exploration of the psyche of the paranoid schizophrenic. "Food Sentence": Kill and eat/eat like a whore/four times over easy/the eggs are gone to omelet/a fat tongue wags and Wags/and the feast is under/glass, a vacuum jar/pickled in pure air./I'm a tow bag affair./The barter is for bread,/be pure instead be true/be bloodless, be a martyr/the foot is on the other shoe.

Perfect Hurt
Bradford Gray Telford
The Waywiser Press
PO Box 6205, Baltimore, MD 21206
Dufour Editions (distribution)
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9781904130345, $14.95, www.dufoureditions.com

Life is not pain, but how one deals with that pain. "Perfect Hurt" is a collection of poetry from Bradford Gray Telford, using his verse to discuss the world and how the hardships make it a world worth living in. "Perfect Hurt" is a thoughtful poetry read, recommended. "September": I guess I was the quintessential "lad."/They said my having little meant I had//it all, this life before me stretching out,/an endless pocket endlessly turned out./Then planes, fires./Then the first battalion./Then night and smoke and then mere oblivion//sans teeth sans eyes sans taste everything I/used to sing I used to sing I used to sing.


The Computer Shelf

The CSS Anthology, third edition
Rachel Andrew
Sitepoint
business@sitepoint.com
9780980576801, $39.95, www.sitepoint.com

Now in a fully updated and significantly expanded third edition, "The CSS Anthology: 101 Essential Tips, Tricks & Hacks by Rachel Andrew (an acknowledge CSS expert and the author of the first two editions of "The CSS Anthology") covers all the information of the first two editions and adds the latest techniques and newest browsers (including Firefox 3 and Internet Explorer 8) to continue "The CSS Anthology" as the most comprehensive and user friendly instructional manuals for CSS users. Demystifying otherwise complex CSS issues, offering a number of 'ready-to-use' solutions for commonly encountered CSS user needs, providing a wealth of practical answers incorporating CSS techniques, presenting practical solutions for cross-over browser compatibility problems, and including illustrative and working examples of layouts, navigation, forms and more, "The CSS Anthology" is confidently recommended for novice and practiced CSS users alike.

Modular Java
Craig Walls
Pragmatic Programmers
P.O. Box 293325, Lewisville, TX 75029-3325
www.pragprog.com
9781934356401, $34.95, www.amazon.com

MODULAR JAVA provides a fine guide to developing modular applications using OSGi, the framework for modularity in Java. Beginners will find excellent step-by-step coverage of the basics of creating loosely coupled modules and how they are applied to larger applications, and will learn how to build a complete web application made up of several such modules. Packed with programming tips, this is a 'must' for any serious Java collection.

Dynamic SOA and BPM
Marc Fiammante
IBM Press
800 East 96th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46240
0137018916, $39.99 www.ibmpressbooks.com

DYNAMIC SOA AND BPM: BEST PRACTICES FOR BUSINESS PROCESS MANAGEMENT AND SOA AGILITY tells how to integrate SOA and BPM for maximum business flexibility and comes from an IBM SOA architect who offers a step-by-step tutorial on combining the two. From moving from simplified integration to a dynamic process to planning for services and providing an integration layer, this is a key pick for any technical computer business library.

Programming Scala
Venkat Subramaniam
Pragmatic Programmers
P.O. Box 293325, Lewisville, TX 75029-3325
www.pragprog.com
9781934356319, $34.95, www.amazon.com

Developers facing issues in programming and working with different applications may have heard of the power of Scala in bringing disparate devices together - and PROGRAMMING SCALA offers this audience a fine key to understanding its strengths and how to use it to write traditional code. Libraries catering to software developers will find this packs in details on how to create concurrent applications that run on Java's JVM platform, and will quickly come to consider PROGRAMMING SCALA essential.

Vue 7: Beyond the Basics
Richard Schrand
Course Technology
20 Channel Center St., Boston, MA 02210
159863884X, $59.99 www.courseptr.com

VUE 7: BEYOND THE BASICS is for any 3D artist and animator who owns the program and wants to learn how to use its new, updated features for either Vue 7 or 7.5. A series of tutorials and projects offer all the tips and tricks needed to expand knowledge on creating everything from realistic underwater environments to texturing land and building neighborhoods with cartoon effects. A CD offers project files based on the book's tutorials.

The Passionate Programmer
Chad Fowler
Pragmatic Programmers
P.O. Box 293325, Lewisville, TX 75029-3325
www.pragprog.com
1934356344, $23.95, www.amazon.com

THE PASSIONATE PROGRAMMER: CREATING A REMARKABLE CAREER IN SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT is for any avid programmer who wants success in IT development. In its new edition it tells how to become a programming entrepreneur, using a step-by-step format to cover all the basics of building, marketing and selling programming skills to specialized audiences. Plans link skills to employment and provide the latest paths and venues, and include perspectives from successful members of the programming world. Perfect for computer or business collections alike.

Addison Wesley
c/o Pearson Education
801 East 96th Street, 3rd floor, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.informit.com/devlibrary

Jim Highsmith's 2nd edition of AGILE PROJECT MANAGEMENT: CREATING INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS (0321658396, $44.99) is a powerful set of software development best practices for managing projects in agile environments - and has been updated with new techniques for larger projects. From understanding when and how agile methods work in project management to setting realistic business goals and optimizing all stages of an agile project, AGILE PROJECT MANAGEMENT is a recommended pick for business and computer libraries alike. Walker Royce, Kurt Bittner and Mike Perrow's ECONOMICS OF INTERATIVE SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT: STEERING TOWARD BETTER BUSINESS RESULTS (0321509358, $34.99) provides software development libraries with a strong software management guide discussing how business and technical managers can blend economics and integrative development to receive the best from limited budgets. From improvement in development to using automated tools to improve effectiveness, both business and software collections will welcome this. J. Jeffrey Hanson's MASHUPS: STRATEGIES FOR MODERN ENTERPRISE (032159181X, $39.99) is a top pick for any library strong in web services and tells how to create quality web 2.0 mashups. From understanding how to use presentation-based and other mashup styles to applying proven patterns to the mashup infrastructure and building mashups with third-party tools, this packs in solid, creative ideas for businesses and web users alike.

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

Jan Goyvaerts' and Steven Levithan's REGULAR EXPRESSIONS COOKBOOK (9780596520687, $44.99) provides over 100 recipes to help blend data and text with regular expressions, offering programmers and software development collections a powerful set of step-by-step instructions for using C#, Java, Perl, Python and VB.Net, among others. Learn how to format input, manage lines, find solutions for common markups and paths, and more in this advanced programmer's cookbook of basics. Rick Rogers, et.al.'s ANDROID APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT (9780596521479, $39.99) provides an in-depth book on the concepts and code needed to build smartphone applications with the Android program. Android lies at the heart of core functions available for modern mobile devices, and this provides a specific guide for programmers seeking to use Android's UI elements and take advantage of provided code to implement special features. As an adjunct to Android's documentation, it's a winner. David Pogue's IPHONE: THE MISSING MANUAL (9780596804299, $24.99) provides a lavishly illustrated guide to the tips and workarounds of the latest iPhone - the 3GS that offers a camcorder, compass and speed all in one, the 3.0 software for older models offering new features, and more. This expanded edition covers it all in a colorful guide to the latest iPhone's many features. Toby Segaran, et.al.'s PROGRAMMING THE SEMANTIC WEB (9780596153816, $39.99) tells how to use graph data to build solid, flexible applications - applications in which machines can find, share and combine data on the Web. Several ways to implement semantic web applications are explored in a guide that covers different pieces of semantic technology and how to use it to solve real problems.

Course Technology
20 Channel Center St., Boston MA 02210
www.courseptr.com

Computers and data storage devices have become entwined in all parts of society and business and law enforcement and information technology professionals alike will thus find key Christopher L.T. Brown's 2nd updated edition of Computer Evidence: Collection and Preservation (1584506997, $49.99), a survey of computer forensics and data storage evidence. The focus on digital evidence in court cases provides a fine survey for computer forensics students and tells how to preserve case integrity during the computer examination process. Law enforcement libraries especially will welcome this. Michael Jang's LPIC-1 IN DEPTH (1598639676, $49.99) explores the LPIC-1 exams and offers nearly 500 practice questions to provide the latest test prep guide available for both Linux Professional Institute Level 1 exams 101 and 102. It's a 'must' for any taking the exams, with chapter summaries, key terms, review questions and more offering multiple learning paths. Very highly recommended.

Modular Web Design
Nathan Curtis
New Riders
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.newriders.com
0321601351, $44.99, www.amazon.com

User experience design teams often suffer from a broad approach to documenting a design solution for different projects. MODULAR WEB DESIGN: CREATING REUSABLE COMPONENTS FOR USER EXPERIENCE DESIGN AND DOCUMENTATION discusses components and how to use them based on an established design system, defining their role and discussing how to apply them to practices. Any library catering to neo-professional web designers will find this a key to understanding user interface components.

The Official Ubuntu Server Book
Kyle Rankin and Benjamin Mako Hill
Prentice Hall/PTR
c/o Pearson Education
801 East 96th Street, 3rd floor, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.informit/com/ph
0137021186, $39.99, www.amazon.com

College-level collections catering to Linux programmers and developers will find The Official Ubuntu Server Book a top addition to the collection, covering a complete, free server operating system in a guide to getting going quickly. From making the most of Ubuntu Server's latest technologies to automating installs and protecting the server using Ubuntu's built-in security tools, The Official Ubuntu Server Book is packed with keys to success for any Ubuntu user.

Artificial Intelligence
Thomas W. Rondeau & Charles W. Bostian
Artech House
685 Canton Street, Norwood, MA 02062
9781607832348, $99.00, www.artechhouse.com

As computers become more and more advanced, artificial intelligence becomes more prominent through technology. "Artificial Intelligence in Wireless Communications" is a technological text focusing on the concept of cognitive radio. A highly technical text, "Artificial Intelligence" explains how to develop AI through radio, teaching it to learn from what it experiences and what one needs to do as an engineer to make all of these concepts a reality. Meant for current researchers and students about to delve into this field, "Artificial Intelligence" provides an excellent reference through and through. Enhanced with appendixes explaining the math, terms, and an index, "Artificial Intelligence in Wireless Communication" is a must add to any college library collection dedicated to technology.

Cyber Fraud
James Graham, et al.
CRC Press
c/o Taylor & Francis Group
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487
www.crcpress.com
9781420091274, $79.95, www.amazon.com

With the coming of the computer age came a new brand of criminal conduct which came to be called 'cyber crime'. The use of computers and computer software to illicitly invade, to steal, to corrupt, and to disrupt. From 'lone wolf' amateur hackers to well organized criminal conspiracies, to sophisticated hostile governmental spying, cyber crime has emerged as a serious and daily threat to personal privacy, American business, and even national security. That's why "Cyber Fraud: Tactics, Techniques, And Procedures" is such a timely and critically important instructional textbook. The combined effort of seventeen knowledgeable, experienced, and expert authors and editors, "Cyber Fraud" describes the cyber criminal culture, along with such tactics and strategies employed by cyber defrauders including phishing and pharming, trojans and toolkits, direct threats, pump-and-dump scams, and more. Profusely illustrated with case examples, "Cyber Fraud" also covers how to deal with these various and on-going threats thereby enabling the reader to better understand the nature of these threats and how best to defend against them. Comprehensive, up-to-date, and completely 'user friendly', "Cyber Fraud" is a critically important addition for personal, professional, corporate, academic, and community library Computer Science reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Fundamentals Of Computer Graphics, third edition
Peter Shirley & Steve Marschner
A K Peters, Ltd.
888 Worcester Street, Suite 230, Wellesley, MA 02482
9781568814698, $99.00, www.akpeters.com

Whether for purposes of business, gaming, seeking to develop an outstanding web site for any other purpose, computer graphics are a key factor in the highly competitive world of the internet. The collaborative work of Peter Shirley (Senior Research Scientist at NVIDIA - a world leader in visual computer technologies and the inventor of the GPU) and Steve Marschner (Associate professor of Computer Science, Cornell University), and an impressive roster of experts in the field, this newly updated and expanded third edition of "Fundamentals Of Computer Graphics" continues to be an outstanding and comprehensive introduction to the fundamentals of computer graphic technology. Of special note are the new chapters on implicit modeling, computer graphics, color, and information visualization. Superbly organized and thoroughly 'user friendly, this new edition "Fundamentals Of Computer Graphics" is an ideal textbook and highly recommended for computer course curriculums, as well as a personal and professional reference.

Murach's JavaScript and DOM Scripting
Ray Harris
Mike Murach & Associates
4340 North Knoll Avenue, Fresno, CA 93722
www.murach.com
9781890774554, $54.50, www.amazon.com

A superbly organized and presented instruction manual and reference guide, "Murach's JavaScript and DOM Scripting" by JavaScript programming expert Ray Harris is a 764-page compendium that covers every aspect of JavaScript programming. Specifically designed to rapidly but methodically bring the novice JavaScript programmer to a professional standard of execution ability, "Murach's JavaScript and DOM Scripting" covers coding, testing, debugging, HHTML, CSS, JavaScript essentials, DOM scripting, with chapters dedicated to controlling the web browser, and using JavaScript libraries. Of special note is the appendices of instructions for setting up a personal computer specifically for taking full and complete advantage of "Murach's JavaScript and DOM Scripting". Enhanced with an exhaustive index, "Murach's JavaScript and DOM Scripting" is an invaluable and highly recommended addition to personal and professional instructional reference collections.


The Art Shelf

Fletcher Benton: The Kinetic Years
Peter Selz
Hudson Hills Press
74-2 Union Street, Manchester, VT 05254
www.hudsonhills.com
9781555952952, $60.00, www.amazon.com

Fletcher Benton is an American artist whose pioneering work in the kinetic art movement of the early 20th Century carried on the constructivism tradition associated with Alexander Calder's mobiles. Blending motion with shape by incorporating battery-powered motors to propel his colorful combinations of circles, triangles, and parallelograms to create kaleidoscopic moving sculptures, Benton made an enduring impact on American art history. Informatively enhanced by an essay on the artist's life and contributions by Diane Ghirado, a full, insightful, and profusely illustrated compendium of his work has been deftly organized and superbly presented by Peter Selz in "Fletcher Benton: The Kinetic Years". Also very highly recommended for professional, academic, and community library American Artists and Art History reference collections is "Fletcher Benton: An American Artist" (9781555952969, $75.00, Hudson Hills Press), the collaborative work of Carter Ratcliff, Collette Chattopadhyay, and Jolei Leisegang.

Gunnar Birkerts: Metaphoric Modernist
Sven Birkerts & Martin Schwartz
Edition Axel Menges
c/o National Book Network
4270 Boston Way, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.nbnbooks.com
9783936681260, $109.00, www.amazon.com

Born in Latvia, educated at the Technische Hochschule in Stuttgart, Germany, Gunnar Birkerts made his way to American and became part of a group of influential architects that were known as 'modernists' and included such luminaries as Kevin Roche and Cesar Pelli. "Gunnar Birkerts: Metaphoric Modernist" is beautifully and profusely illustrated compendium showcasing the architect's work, his evolving design process and philosophy, and his iconic work ranging from the Federal Reserve Bank in Minneapolis to the Corning Museum of Glass, to the Houst Arts Museum, to the Latvian National Library. A master of architectural symbolism and metaphor, Gunnar Birkerts' readily identifiable architectural signature is clearly defined and illuminated by the informed and informative text of Sven Birkerts. An impressive introduction and showcasing of a major architectural talent, "Gunnar Birkerts: Metaphoric Modernist" is highly recommended as a core addition to professional and academic library 20th Century Architectural Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

The Alchemy of Paint
Spike Bucklow
Marion Boyars
24 Lacy Road, London, SW15 1NL
c/o Meryl Zegarek Public Relations, Inc. (publicity)
255 West 108th Street, Suite 9D1, New York, NY 10025
9780714531724 $17.95 www.marionboyars.co.uk

The Alchemy of Paint: Art, Science and Secrets from the Middle Ages is the fascinating true story of the secrets behind artist's palette pigments from the middle ages. From what really went into "dragonsblood" (which was alleged to be a mixture of dragon and elephant blood), to the hidden recipes behind the colors that added life to great classical works, The Alchemy of Paint is an in-depth revelation sure to intrigue casual browsers as well as serious scholars of art history. Highly recommended, especially for college library art history shelves.

Artists in the Old Kingdom
Naguib Kanawati & Alexandra Woods
The American University in Cairo Press
c/o International Publishers Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
www.aucpress.com
9789774379857, $34.50, www.amazon.com

With fully half the book magnificently showcasing full color illustrations, Artists in the Old Kingdom: Techniques and Achievements is an informed and informative survey of the role and contributions performed by the otherwise unknown artists responsible for the creation of funerary art that was such an integral aspect of Egyptian funerals rites. The monograph addresses thematically relevant information concerning the artists of the Old Kingdom period, as well as the diverse principles, materials and techniques employed. Enhanced with commentary on selected wall scenes, copious end notes, an extensive index, "Artists in the Old Kingdom" is a model of meticulous scholarship and an enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, professional, and academic Egyptology Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Schiffer
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
www.schifferbooks.com

A fine collection of images explores the homes of three of the finest wood artist of our times: Tina Skinner and Steven Paul Whitsitt's ESHERICK, SAM MALOOF AND GEORGE NAKASHIMA: HOMES OF THE MASTER WOOD ARTISANS (9780764332029, $49.99). Gardens, work areas, and diverse settings contrast well with these very different styles with very different influences, with color photos of both interiors and exteriors packing every page. Perfect for any college-level collection strong in architectural styles. Donna McMenamin's POPULAR ARTS OF MEXICO 1850-1950 (9780764332845, $59.99) provides a survey of a hundred years of Mexican art, offering nearly four hundred color photos illustrating over 675 selected objects. The history, techniques and artists who produced these figures are surveyed along with personal interviews and research on the histories of artistic families. Add room shots displaying collections and you have an outstanding, key survey for any collection strong in Mexican art.

Space Planning Basics, 3rd edition
Mark Karlen
John Wiley & Sons
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9780470231784, $60.00, www.wiley.com

Any college-level library appealing to architecture and interior design students - especially those involved in commercial buildings - needs SPACE PLANNING BASICS. The third updated edition includes coverage of stair design, a new section on such design, and programming examples for small and large commercial spaces (up to 4,000 square feet). Hands-on exercises and advice are perfect for intermediate-level students in construction management and interior design.

Voices of Contemporary Glass: The Heineman Collection
Corning Museum of Glass
Hudson Hills Press
P.O. Box 205, Manchester, VT 05254-9911
9781555953140, $85.00 www.hudsonhills.com

VOICES OF CONTEMPORARY GLASS tells of two longtime Chicago residents who assembled one of the largest, finest collections of studio glass sculptures in the U.S. Over 240 objects by nearly ninety artists from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Japan offer a range of examples of historical developments in the field and make for a fine survey of the Heineman Collection's importance.

Down By the Sea with Brush and Pen
Claudia Nice
North Light Books
c/o F&W Publications, Inc.
700 East State Street, Iola, WI 54990
www.fwpublications.com
160061163X, $26.99 www.artistsnetwork.com

DOWN BY THE SEA WITH BRUSH AND PEN begins with the basics of composition and creating watercolors, offering some sixty step-by-step demonstrations to focus on different coastal scenes and colors. From mixing different colors to reflect different kinds of water to creating textures and using reference photos, Down By the Sea with Brush and Pen is a fine pick for any aspiring artist or library catering to water colorists.

Jean Nouvel by Jean Nouvel
Jean Nouvel & Philip Jodidio
Taschen America LLC
www.taschen.com
9783822857724, $200.00, www.amazon.com

Jean Nouvel has well earned his acclaim as one of France's most talented architects working today. One of his most recent professional honors was achieving the 2008 Pritzker Prize. Now the best of his work is showcased in "Jean Nouvel by Jean Nouvel: Complete Works 1970-2008", an impressive, two volume, 896-page compendium that he designed himself and which is also the truly impressive result of a five year collaborative project with architectural author and editor Philip Jodidio. Here displayed with expert and insightful commentary is a seminal monograph on the man and his work that is as informed and informative as it is thoughtful and thought-provoking. A seminal and comprehensive body of work, "Jean Nouvel by Jean Nouvel: Complete Works 1970-2008" is a very highly recommended core addition to professional and academic Architectural Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Charles Munch, Dreaming In Color
Jody Clowes & Richard Ely
University of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe Street, Third Floor, Madison, WI 53711-2059
www.wisc.edu/wisconsinpress
9781879483965, $19.95, www.amazon.com

Best known for his luminous paintings showcasing images of people and animals, Charles Munch began his twenty-five year career as an American artist in a poetic realism tradition and gradually evolved to paint the elegant semi-abstractions for which he is acclaimed today. In addition to compiling a superbly illustrated collection, Jody Clowes has provided the reader with an informed and informative essay that along with the inclusion of an extended biographical essay by Richard Ely, and a chronology of the artist's professional accomplishments, life and exhibition history, make "Charles Munch, Dreaming In Color: Paintings 1971-2006" a welcome and highly recommended additions for personal, academic, and community library American Art History collections.

Edwin Howland Blashfield
Mina Rieur Weiner, editor
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
www.wwnorton.com
9780393732818, $49.95, www.amazon.com

Edwin Holwand Blashfield (1848-1936) was an acclaimed artist and master mural painter whose work enhanced public buildings and whose working career produced a legacy that has inspired the efforts of his peers and subsequent generations of muralists. Knowledgeably compiled and deftly edited by museum curator Mina Rieur Weiner, "Edwin Howland Blashfield: Master American Muralist" is an impressively informative and beautifully illustrated history that is enhanced with the inclusion of essays by Anne E. Samule (Mural Painting for America: The Artistic production of Edwin Howland Blashfield); Gillian Britta Randell (Observations from a Conservator's Perspective); Jeff Greene (The Legacy of Edwin Howland Blashfield); as well as Mina Rieur Weiner's 'Edwin Howland Blashfield: Defender of the Classic Tradition'. Enhanced with the inclusion of a chronological listing of Blashfield's known murals; as well as a chronology of his life and career; and a selected bibliography, "Edwin Howland Blashfield" is an impressive work of impeccable scholarship and a strongly recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library American Art History collections.


The World History Shelf

The Cult of St. George in Medieval England
Jonathan Good
Boydell Press
c/o Boydell & Brewer Inc
668 Mount Hope Avenue, Rochester, NY 14620-2731
9781843834694 $95.00 www.boydellandbrewer.com

Written by Jonathan Good (Assistant Professor of History, Reinhardt College, Georgia) The Cult of St. George in Medieval England is an in-depth, scholarly assessment of the origins, development, and overall history of the Cult of St. George, from its inception and arrival in England (and St. George's ascendance to a patron of England when he was not English and his principal shrine was not located in England) to its influence through the Middle Ages and beyond. Good presents the well-researched hypothesis that St. George became a means for the people to chastise misgovernance, and reclaim influence in their communities. Good also traces the role St. George played in the development of English national identity during the Middle ages, with a brief examination of the changes that occurred after the Middle Ages. An excellent, methodical study, highly recommended to academics and curious lay readers alike.

Cults, Conspiracies, & Secret Societies
Arthur Goldwag
Vintage Books
c/o Random House
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780307390677 $16.00 www.randomhouse.com 1-800-726-0600

Cults, Conspiracies, & Secret Societies: The Straight Scoop on Freemasons, the Illuminati, Skull & Bones, Black Helicopters, the New World Order, and Many, Many More lives up to its title as an indispensable overview of the histories and practices of numerous secret societies, some from antiquity, some persisting into the modern day. From Satanism to The Benevolent Protective Order of Elks to Weather Underground and its many sub-factions, and more, each of the multitude of secret orders is given a brief yet thoroughly descriptive entry. An excellent, broad-ranged survey sure to pique any reader's curiosity.

Rebellious Satellite: Poland 1956
Pawel Machcewicz
Stanford University Press
1450 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1124
www.sup.org
9780804762052, $55.00, www.amazon.com

In 1956 most of eastern Europe in general, and Poland in particular, was firmly under the control of the Soviet Union and had been from the last year of the World War II as the Russian army pushed back the German occupation troops from Polish territory. But that year also saw a mass political movement as Polish citizens sought to change Polish-Soviet relations while averting a Soviet military-backed Communist Party suppression. Drawing upon newly available archival documents of the Polish communist party leadership (including photographs from Pozan in June 1956 taken by the police), "Rebellious Satellite: Poland 1956" by Pawel Machecwicz (Institute of Political Studies, Warsaw, Poland) provides an informed and informative history of the political opposition movements that took place in Pozan in June of 1956 and continued elsewhere in Poland through October and November. A superbly researched and deftly written detailed account, "Rebellious Satellite: Poland 1956" is a very highly recommended addition to academic library 20th Century European History collections.

Famous Men Of Rome
Cheryl Lowe & Leigh Lowe
Memoria Press
4605 Poplar Level Road, Louisville, KY 40213
www.MemoriaPress.com
193095381X, $17.95, www.amazon.com

The 'Teacher Guide' for the Memoria Press history curriculum textbook "Famous Men Of Rome", classroom instructors are provided with overlaid answers which avoids having to deal with a separate answer key to the student workbook. The result is a complete and thoroughly 'user friendly' combination for the classroom teacher. It should be noted that Cheryl and Leigh Lowe's "Famous Men Of Rome" is an excellent introduction to key figures of the Roman Republic and Empire. Also very highly recommended as a thematic companion from Memoria Press to a Roman History class curriculum is Teacher Manual edition of "Latina Christiana: An Introduction To Christian Latin: Book I" (B0015GE7RK, $19.50); "Latina Christiana: Introduction to Christian Latin, Book II" (9781930953062, $20.00). An instructional DVD, flashcards, and pronunciation CD are also available.

Belligerents, Brinkmanship and the Big Stick
John Dobson
ABC-CLIO
P.O. Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
9781598841312, $95.00 www.abc-clio.com

Belligerents, Brinkmanship and the Big Stick: A Historical Encyclopedia of American Diplomatic Concepts offers five chronologically arranged sections describing key events and relationships and over 200 alphabetical listings of major events in the history of American foreign relations. College-level libraries strong in political science history will find this a key acquisition, packing in excerpts from key foreign policy documents, treaties, statements and more.

The Koreas
Mary E. Connor, Editor
ABC-CLIO
P.O. Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
9781598841602, $95.00 www.abc-clio.com

Joining others in the 'Asia in Focus' series, THE KOREAS is a history and social survey of the contrasts and similarities between two nations. History, geography, politics and cultures are considered in chapters exploring the countries and their connections, making this a top pick for high school to college-level libraries strong in Asian studies.

The Dying and the Doctors
Ian Mortimer
Boydell & Brewer Inc
668 Mount Hope Avenue, Rochester, NY 14620-2731
9780861933020 $95.00 www.boydellandbrewer.com

Leeches were not always the answer, as some enlightened thinkers soon realized. "The Dying and the Doctors: The Medical Revolution in Seventeenth-Century England" is a history of how great strides in medicine were made during the 1600s and how they strongly affect western medicine to this day. Author Ian Mortimer presents a history of how society came to turn away from God and leeches, to the hands of science to save their lives. Enhanced with countless charts, statistics, and appendixes, "The Dying and the Doctors" is a must for any studying the history of science or subjects related to the Renaissance and Industrial Revolutions.

Robert Paynell's Exchequer Reports (1627-1631)
W. Hamilton Bryson, editor
Medieval & Renaissance Texts & Studies
Arizona State University
PO Box 872508, Tempe, AZ 85287-2508
www.asu.edu/clas/acmrs/publications/mrts/catalo.html
9780866984065, $65.00, www.amazon.com

Born in 1602, Robert Paynell became a barrister in 1645, sat as a justice of the peace in Norfolk, England from 1650 to 1657, and died in 1658. Deftly edited by W. Hamilton Bryson, "Robert Paynell's Exchequer Reports (1627-1631)" is a compilation of Paynell's exchequer cases published in the order that he himself originally made. Profusely footnoted by the editor, these reports provide a wealth of basic information on the seventeenth century Court of Exchequer that will prove invaluable for historical researchers. A work of impressive and impeccable scholarship, "Robert Paynell's Exchequer Reports (1627-1631)" is a valued and highly recommended addition to academic and professorial 17th Century British Judicial History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Ambitions Tamed: Urban Expansion in Pre-revolutionary Lyon
Pierre Claude Reynard
McGill-Queen's University Press
3430 McTavish Street, Montreal, QC, Canada, H3A 1X9
9780773534926 $85.00 www.mqup.ca 1-800-387-0141

Urban development was an issue before the term urban was even coined. "Ambitions Tamed: Urban Expansion in Pre-Revolutionary Lyon" tells the story of the development of Lyon, which faced a population explosion before the French Revolution. Bringing the history of the city to the forefront, "Ambitions Tamed" blends urban development history with European history as the two conflict and the French monarchists at the time took much convincing. It is also story of Jean-Antoine Morand, a man who became rich off his ideas that helped Lyons. But it was all perhaps lost when the revolution came. "Ambitions Tamed" is a read that would serve well as an addition to both European history and urban development collections.

History is Wrong
Erich Von Daniken
New Page Books
3 Tice Road, PO Box 687, Franklin, NJ 07417
Warwick Associates (publicity)
18340 Sonoma Highway, Sonoma, CA 95476
9781601630865, $17.99, www.newpagebooks.com

Ancient history is often up to interpretation. "History is Wrong" is author Erich Von Daniken arguing his stance on the Voynich manuscript, a critical piece of information in the discussion of early human history and lost civilizations. Drawing lines between the Voynich manuscript and other documents that he claims other researchers fail to see, Daniken hopes to challenge readers ideas on history, as well as offer new facts to the table. "History is Wrong" is a must read for anyone with a powerful interest in ancient and pre-history.

Henry VIII
David Loades
The National Archives
c/o International Publishers Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Dr, Dulles, VA 20166
www.internationalpubmarket.com
9781905615421, $19.95, www.amazon.com

He began as the a quintessential prince of the realm, the embodiment of what a future king should be -- athletic, handsome, articulate, courageous, devout, fun loving, charismatic, and intelligent. He ended his royal career as obese, vindictive, self-centered, feared, devious, cruel, and capricious. Along the way he forever altered England and the lives of its nobility and commoners alike. His fame and his infamy are simply legendary in their scope. It is also the subject matter in "Henry VIII: Court, Church, and Conflict" by historian and Tudor era authority David Loades (Professor Emeritus, University of Wales, and Associate of the Centre for Early Modern History, University of Oxford). Informed, informative, insightful, and a masterwork of historical scholarship, "Henry VII" is a fascinating and thoughtful descriptive analysis that is a welcome addition to community and academic library English History collections, and especially recommended reading to students of the Tudor era in general, and the reign of Henry VIII in particular.

Crusade of the Left
Robert A. Rosenstone
Transaction Publishers
Rutgers University
35 Berrue Circle, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8042
9781412809979 $34.95 www.transactionpub.com

International conflicts often bring the attention of those whose nationality isn't involved. "Crusade of the Left: The Lincoln Battalion in the Spanish Civil War" is the story of three thousand American soldiers who sailed to France and joined in to fight alongside the Communist forces at the time, all led by leftist beliefs believing that Communism can work. Not a politically-inclined text, "Crusade of the Left" covers the history of these Americans, why they chose to fight, how they chose to fight and what happened to them. "Crusade of the Left" is of interest to any of those looking for lesser known bits of military history.


The Cookbook Shelf

Chefs Of The Triangle
Ann Prospero
John F. Blair, Publisher
1406 Plaza Drive, Winston-Salem, NC 27103
www.blairpub.com
9780895873705, $16.95, www.amazon.com

The Triangle region of North Carolina is comprised of Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Hillsborough, Cary, and Pittsboro. "Chefs Of The Triangle: Their Lives, Recipes, And Restaurants" by Ann Prospero is a compendium of interview based profiles showcasing the prominent chefs with each entry reveals that particular chef's cooking philosophy, influences, and personality. Each illustrative profile also includes their restaurant and offers two or three of the chef's favorite recipes, each of which is thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' and suitable for family dining occasions. With recipes ranging from Pan-Seared Black Sea Bass with Stew of White Beans, Pancetta, Wild Mushrooms, and Glazed Beets (Executive Chef Alex Gallis, 'Cypress on the Hill'); to Lamb Tagine with Apricots, Olives, and Buttered Almonds (Chef Amy Tornquist, 'Watts Groceries'); to Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Breast, Savory Cabbage, and Sage Risotto (Executive Chef Colin Bedford, 'Fearrington House Restaurant'), "Chefs Of The Triangle" is informative, fun, and a highly recommended addition to both personal and community library cookbook collections.

The Frugal Foodie Cookbook
Lara Starr & Lynette Shirk
Viva Editions
c/o Cleis Press
PO Box 14697, San Francisco, CA 94114
www.cleispress.com
9781573443630, $15.95, www.amazon.com

Not since "The Supermarket Handbook" by Nikki and David Goldbeck has there been such an invaluable and highly recommended guide to making the most of one's food purchasing dollars. But just in time to deal with the budgetary pressures of increases in food costs combined with the currently dismal economic conditions of the country is Lara Starr and Lynette Shirk's "The Frugal Foodie Cookbook", A compendium of practical, useable advice on stretching the food budget by the creative (and delicious!) use of ingredients and left-overs. Of special note is that at the end of each chapter of thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes, are tips for saving money at the grocery story, the restaurant, and when dining at home. Enhanced with recipes for beauty treatments that can be inexpensively created at home for pennies on the dollar of what those same treatments would cost 'store bought', "The Frugal Foodie Cookbook", with recipes ranging from Sweet-and-Sour Glazed Meatloaf", to a Mushroom and Goat Cheese Pizza, to Ted's Grilled Cheese Sandwich, is the perfect addition to the cookbook collections of budget stressed families.

250 Treasured Country Desserts
Andrea Chesman & Fran Raboff
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247
www.storey.com
9781603421522, $16.95, www.amazon.com

Nothing tops off a meal like a good desert. That's why "250 Treasured Country Desserts: Mouthwatering, Time-Honored, Tries & True, Soul-Satisfying, Handed-Down Sweet Comforts" is such a desired and desirable addition to any family cookbook shelf. The collaborative project of noted cookbook author Andrea Chesman and culinary arts instructor Fran Raboff (herself the co-author of several successful cookbooks), "250 Treasured Country Desserts" truly lives up to its extended title with such culinary delights as Rich Chocolate Crinkles; Black Walnut Cake; Coconut Cream Pie; Charlotte Russe with Strawberry Sauce; Lime Sorbet; and 245 more 'kitchen cook friendly' traditional desserts. Enhanced with listings on metric conversions, egg information, volume and weight equivalents, "250 Treasured Country Desserts" will prove a welcome and popular addition to any personal, family, or community library cookbook collection!

Bobbie's Organic Planet
Bobbie Williamson
A.R.E. Press
215 - 67th Street, Virginia Beach, VA 23451
www.edgarcayce.org
9780876045756, $24.95, www.amazon.com

The late Edgar Cayce is chiefly noted as an American mystic. What is not so commonly known is that he also had a great deal to share about the value of holistic medicine, including the critical importance of the diet to good health. In "Bobbie's Organic Planet: How To Buy Local And Cook Global", author Bobbie Williamson draws upon advice from Edgar Cayce, her life abroad living abroad in six countries on three continents, and her many years of experience and expertise with the culinary traditions of foreign cultures to write instructional commentaries and compile the organic recipes comprising this treasure trove of nutritious, delicious, seasonal recipes. Enhanced for the novice kitchen cook with practical advice on stocking a pantry, identifying essential ingredients for the modern kitchen cupboard, and even useful food combinations, "Bobbie's Organic Planet" showcases not just individual recipes but also has a section dedicated to menu suggestions. With recipes ranging from Black Bean Hummus; Mediterranean Anchovy Vinaigrette; Chilled Melon Soup; and Lake Geneva Perch Filets; to Moroccan Chicken Tagine; French Tarte Tatin; Cinnamon Applesauce; and Grilled Portobello Mushroom Canapes, "Bobbie's Organic Planet" is a welcome and highly recommended addition to personal, family, and community library multinational cookbook collections.

Southern Farmers Market Cookbook
Holly Herrick
Gibbs Smith, Publisher
PO Box 667, Layton UT 84041
www.gibbs-smith.com
9781423604747, $19.99, www.amazon.com

Farmer's markets are a very special and appreciation local community event where people can access all manner of seasonal produce that because they are locally grown and marketed tend to be fresher and generally better than their counterparts for sale in the major chain supermarkets. What Holly Herrick has done in "Southern Farmers Market Cookbook" is to compile nutritious, delicious, 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes incorporating locally purchased and fresh seasonal produce. The recipes are drawn from the farmers market communities from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. From Cantaloupe Balls with Prosciutto, Lime, and Basil; Fresh Sweet Onion and Corn Chowder; Spinach and Radish Salad with Candied Pecans and Red Wine Vinaigrette; and Red Cabbage Slaw with Bacon, Scallions, Toasted Pecans and Roquefort; to Sweet River Run Farms Grass-Feed Beef Meatloaf; Soulful Braised Pork with Fresh Cider and Winesap Apples; Strawberry Mint Clafoutis; and Berry Coddled Cobbler, "Southern Farmers Market Cookbook" showcases superbly illustrated dishes that will please any palate, satisfy any appetite, and grace any dining occasion from family to formal.

Simply Quince
Barbara Ghazarian
Mayreni Publishing
PO Box 5881, Monterey, CA 93944-5881
www.mayreni.com
9781931834315, $21.95, www.amazon.com

The quince is a seriously underestimated and all-to-often underappreciated fruit that, culinarily speaking, is as versatile as the apple, is a staple in the orchards and kitchens of many different countries and cultures around the world. It was first cultivated in American by the early European colonists. A fuzz-covered and aromatic cousin of pears and apples, most of us know the quince primarily as a jam. But as Barbara Ghazarian amply demonstrated in "Simply Quince", it can be so much more! Comprising seventy 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes that range from Quince-Orange Pickles; Quince-Cranberry Sauce; Veal Shanks with Prunes, Apricots, and Quince; and Brandied-Quince Buckle; to Buttery Almond-Quince Phyllo Tarts; Quick Quince Chutney; and White Pizza with Quince, Prosciutto, Asiago Cheese and Chives; Quince-Infused Spirits Grappa and Vodka, "Simply Quince" offers an impressively broad spectrum of quince oriented dishes that will satisfy even the most gourmet of tastes and is a highly recommended and unique addition to personal, family, and community library cookbook collections.

Sweet Utopia
Sharon Valencik
The Book Publishing Company
PO Box 99, Summertown, TN 38483
www.thefarm.org/businesses/bpc.html
9781570672330, $19.95, www.amazon.com

Being a vegan means eating healthy. That most assuredly includes desserts as evidenced by Sharon Valencik's "Sweet Utopia: Simply Stunning Vegan Desserts". And 'simply stunning' is no mere exaggeration! Not with such luscious, mouth-watering delights ranging from Strawberry Fields Cake with Unbeetable Buttercream Frosting; Chocolate-Glazed Almond Cookies; Pumpkin-Nut Pie; Coconut Tiramisu; and Fruity-Berry Cookie Cobbler! Enhanced throughout with the full color photography of Milan Valencik, "Sweet Utopia" offers recipes that are ideal for anyone having allergies to dairy or eggs, need to be concerned with respect to their cholesterol or exposure to saturated fats, or simply appreciate a vegan twist on traditional desserts. "Sweet Utopia" is an impressive and strongly recommended addition to any and all personal, family, and community library cookbook collections!

The Barcelona Cookbook
Sasa Mahr-Batuz, et al.
Andrews McMeel
1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106
0740773941, $29.99 www.andrewsmcmeel.com

From a tapas party for 4-8 to specialty breads and foods intrinsic to Spanish culture, recipes and color photos abound in THE BARCELONA COOKBOOK, a team project by Sasa Mahr-Batuz and Andy Pforzheimer with Mary Goodbody, is simply packed from cover to cover with food, wine and cultural discussion. Consider this more than just another cookbook - it's a celebration of tradition.

The Dessert Architect
Robert Wemischner
Delmar Cengage Learning
5 Maxwell Drive, Clifton Park, NJ 12065-2919
www.cengage.com/delmar
1428311777, $55.95, www.amazon.com

THE DESSERT ARCHITECT is a guide to building versatile, creative desserts and developing a balanced dessert menu geared to neo-professional cooks. From pairing beverages with desserts and locating ingredients to essential kitchen equipment and photos of each completed dessert - including step-by-step shots - this is a real winner for any library catering to professional-quality cooks.

Jam Today
Tod Davies
Exterminating Angel Press
1892 Colestin Road, Ashland, OR 97520
www.exterminatingangel.com
9781935259046 $15.95, www.amazon.com

Sometimes one needs to improvise to get things done. "Jam Today: A Diary of Cooking with What You've Got" is a blend of cookbook and memoir, about going to the cabinet and cooking with whatever one can find in there (instead of preplanning ingredients and other aspects). With no recipes, author Tod Davies comes to readers with a more practical approach to cooking for those who don't plan their meals weeks in advance. "Jam Today" is recommended reading for any who cook on their whim instead of reading a recipe.

Dishes With Dashers
Katie Dashwood
Quiller
Wykey House, Wykey, Shrewsbury, SY4 1JA, UK
www.countrybooksdirect.com
9781846890376, $24.95, www.amazon.com

DISHES WITH DASHERS: ENTERTAINING WITH PANACHE comes from a self-taught cook who provides a range of recipes and ideas, from a savory Tomato Pudding to Borscht and Cranberry Soup and Cherries with White Chocolate Dipping Sauce. Drawings and tips enhance an appealing and fun guide of quick and easy dishes perfect for entertaining.

Bon Appetit Fast Easy Fresh Cookbook
Barbara Fairchild
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
www.wiley.com
9780470399125, $34.95, www.amazon.com

Longtime editor Barbara Fairchild returns after the success of her BON APPETIT COOKBOOK to provide over a thousand recipes that are perfect for quick cooking at home. It's inspired by the 'Fast Easy Fresh' section of the magazine and offers a focus on seasonal ingredients, quick dishes and inspirational international flairs. A peppering of color photos lends to an outstanding presentation of options perfect for any general lending library.

Robin Rescues Dinner
Robin Miller
Clarkson Potter
c/o The Crown Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, #B1 New York, NY 10019-4305
www.clarksonpotter.com
9780307451408, $19.99, www.amazon.com

Food Network television star Robin Miller provides 52 weeks of quick meals and a plan to get them on the table quickly with ROBIN RESCUES DINNER. A peppering of color photos accompanies a wide range of dishes, from Seared Pork with Warm Sherry-Shallot Vinaigrette to Sweet Ginger Shrimp with Coconut-Curry Sauce. Any general lending library needs this.

Just Food
James E. McWilliams
Little, Brown
c/o Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.hachettebookgroup.com
9780316033749, $25.99, www.amazon.com

JUST FOOD: WHERE LOCAVORES GET IT WRONG AND HOW WE CAN TRULY EAT RESPONSIBLY counters the myths of the locavore movement and use facts to tell the truth about fresh food, challenging myth and misinformation to reveal that the 'greenest' food choices may not be as presented. Transporting fruits and vegetables from thousands of miles away, for example, may be more energy efficient than growing locally. This and other truths are provided in a title sure to be controversial - and a key discussion point in any library concerned with green movements in general and food consumption habits in particular.

Delicious Diabetic Recipes
Rani Polak, MD
Imagine Publishing
300 East 34th Street, Suite 21K, New York, NY 10016
www.imaginebks.com
9780982293973, $24.95, www.amazon.com

The medical diagnosis of diabetes is a life changer. Among those fundamental changes are a person's diet. But those dietary changes do not have to mean an end to the gourmet pleasures of the table. Not when there is Dr. Rani Polak's "Delicious Diabetic Recipes: The Gourmet Cookbook For A Health Life" to draw upon for recipes that will please any palate, satisfy any appetite, while adhering to the necessary conditions imposed by diabetes with respect to what can be consumed, what must be avoided, and the physical necessities of nourishing the body while dealing with its special needs. An impressive compilation of dishes that range from Stuffed Peppers with Brown Rice in Tomato Sauce; Beef Should in Fresh Oregano and Root Vegetable Sauce; Mango Sorbet and Fruit Salad with Maple Tahini; and Baby Salad Greens with Stir-Fried Shrimp and Avocado; to Sea Bass Ceviche with Bermuda Onion and Sumac; Beef and Eggplant Hamburgers with Homemade Ketchup; Gazpacho with Raw Beets; and Thai Beef Salad with Onion and Lemongrass, "Delicious Diabetic Recipes" truly lives up to its title. Of special note is that each cited recipe includes an accompanying 'info block' with respect to its calories, total fat, cholesterol, sodium, and other pertinent data. Profusely illustrated throughout, superbly organized and presented with the inclusion of informed and pertinent commentaries about basic ingredients and cooking techniques, "Delicious Diabetic Recipes" is an enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, family, and community library specialty cookbook collections.

Delightful Southern Cooking
Debra S. Grubbs
Roger D. Grubbs, Publisher
PO Box 6188, Winter Park, FL 32793-5188
www.forthevictimsnovel.com
9780981668079, $24.95

Showcasing a compendium of truly outstanding recipes (many of which were handed down to cookbook author Debra Grubbs from her parents, her grandparents, and even her great-grandparents), "Delightful Southern Cooking" truly lives up to its title with recipes ranging from Fried Chicken, Corn Bread; Banana Crunch Cake; and Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars; to Lemon Icebox Pie; Sausage Balls; Hushpuppies; and Old Fashioned Macaroni & Cheese. Healthy, wholesome, delicious, appetite satisfying, and 'kitchen cook friendly', these are dishes that would grace any table for all dining occasions with friends and family. Of special note is an insert section of full color photographs for many of the dishes included in this superlative recipe collection. "Delightful Southern Cooking" is enthusiastically recommended as a welcome and popular addition to family and community library cookbook collections!

At My Table
Fay Lewis
Struik
c/o International Publishers Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Dr, Dulles, VA 20166
www.internationalpubmarket.com
9781770077621, $16.95, www.amazon.com

Beautifully illustrated throughout with full color photography, Fay Lewis' compendium of elegant recipes are as much fun to simply browse as they are inspiring for fine dining occasions with friends and family. From Coffee and Brunch, to Lunch and Afternoon Tea, to Snacks and Dinners, "At My Table" provides a succinct introduction to each dish followed by thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' instructions. From Apricot and Pistachio Biscotti; Cinnamon-Buttermilk Pancakes with Glazed Pears; Mango Chicken with Macadamia Nuts; and Asparagus Quiche; to Carrot Cake; Tomato and Parmesan Puff Pastry Tarts; Rack of Lamb with Green Herb Crust; and Flop-Proof Meringues, "At My Table" offers an impressive culinary compendium that will please even the most discerning gourmet requirements. Enhanced with a glossary and conversion charts, "At My Table" is a welcome and highly recommended addition to family and community library cookbook collections!

The Bryant Family Vineyard Cookbook
Barbara Bryant & Betsy Fentress
Andrews & McMeel
4520 Main St., Kansas City, MO 64111
www.andrewsmcmeel.com
9780740769771, $50.00, www.amazon.com

Showcasing more than eighty truly elegant yet 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes, "The Bryant Family Vineyard Cookbook: Recipes From Great Chefs And Friends" draws upon gourmet quality chefs such as Thomas Keller, Eric Ripert, Jean-Georges, Vongerichten and others. The result is a superior compendium of equally superior dishes that will please any palate and satisfy any appetite. With dishes ranging from Terrance Brennan's 'Mushroom Panna Cotta with Wild Mushroom Escabeche'; to Pilar Sanchez's 'Vegetable Pot-au-Feu'; to Barbara Bryant's 'Baked Wild Rice with onion and Pecans'; to Narsai David's 'Chocolate Decadence', "The Bryant Family Vineyard Cookbook" is a fascinating browse, as well as a welcome and highly recommended addition to personal, professional, family, and community library cookbook collections.


The Martial Arts Shelf

Passing The Guard, second edition
Ed Beneville & Tim Cartmell
Grappling Arts Publications
c/o Cardinal Publishers Group
2402 North Shadeland Avenue, Suite A, Indianapolis, IN 46219
www.grapplingarts.net www.cardinalpub.com
9780972109765, $36.95, www.amazon.com

Now in a newly revised and expanded second edition, "Passing the Guard: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Details and Techniques" by martial arts experts Ed Beneville (a student of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu since 1996 and studied under 7th Degree Black Belt holder Joe Moreira for the past eight years) and Tim Cartmell (Shen Wu Academy of Martial Arts in Southern California) continues to be an ideal instructional introduction and reference with this new edition including more than sixty guard passing techniques, submissions and submission counters, as numerous drills. Of special note is how the showcased techniques are viewed from different angles with each key point fully illustrated, including photo sequences demonstrating such relevant factors as application, timing and strategy. Expertly organized and superbly presented, "Passing the Guard" is a fundamental and strongly recommended instruction guide and reference for students and practitioners of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Transparent Power
Tatsuo Kimura
MAAT Press
130 East Grand Avenue, South San Francisco, CA 94080
9781893447103, $34.95, www.amazon.com

"Transparent Power: A Secret Teaching Revealed" is the first complete English translation of the martial arts philosophy Yukiyoshi Sagawa by one of his dedicated students, Tatsuo Kimura, and now made available in this country from MAAT Press. Arguably considered to be the true heir of the body of martial arts traditions known as Aikido, the focus of "Transparent Power" is on the internal personal force and how it is transmitted to the student by the teacher (sensei) as the disciple is taught by the master to develop it and use it as life's circumstances dictate. "Transparent Power" is not a martial arts instruction manual of physical techniques on overpowering opponents, but how the will develops -- information that is as relevant to any human activity well beyond the boundaries of martial arts combat. As informed and informative and it is thoughtful and thought-provoking, "Transparent Power" is very strongly recommended reading for all martial arts students regardless of the particular discipline in which they are training, and a welcome addition to both academic and community library Martial Arts reference collections as well.

Bagua Quan: Foundation Training
He Jinghan
Singing Dragon
c/o Jessica Kingsley Publishers, Inc.
400 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
www.singing-dragon.com
9781848190153, $19.95, www.jkp.com

An ancient, respected, and traditional Chinese form of martial art that blends the cultivation of internal strength and control with external movement, the Bagua Quan system regulates and balances the flow of Qi, blood, Yin and Yang. A fifth generation master of Bagua Quan, He Jinghan has written a comprehensive and profusely illustrated instruction manual with "Bagua Quan: Foundation Training", which is specifically designed to introduce the aspiring martial arts student to the underlying philosophy as well as the techniques that comprise the art of Bagua Quan. Of special note is the chapter dedicated to relating He Jinghan's own master's teachings which he is so effectively passing on to a new generation of martial arts students. A compendium of invaluable exercises for improving stamina, strengthening bones, muscle and mind, as well as being enhanced with the inclusion of a glossary and an index, "Bagua Quan: Foundation Training" is very highly recommended and an invaluable addition to personal, profession, and dojo library and reference collections.


The Photography Shelf

Enough To Go Around
Chip Duncan
SelectBooks Inc.
One Union Square West, Suite 909, New York, NY 10003
www.selectbooks.com
9781590791981, $34.95, www.amazon.com

When Afghanistan, Pakistan and Darfur make the news it is almost always with stories of atrocity, war, refugees, death and dying. Quite regularly stories of humanitarian activities and the enduring kindness of a majority of the ordinary people in these extraordinary times gives way to vivid accounts of the tragedies that have resulted in so much misery for so many. That's why "Enough To Go Around: Searching for Hope in Afghanistan, Pakistan & Darfur" by writer and photojournalist Chip Duncan is such a welcome documentary showcasing men and women, although having to reside in refugee camps and/or who have had family members slain, yet refuse to give in to victimhood but hold out hope and endurance and simple acts of kindness. With an informed and informative text, profusely embellished with memorable images, "Enough To Go Around" is a phenomenal read and highly recommended addition to personal, school, academic, and community library collections.

HDR Photography
Pete Carr and Robert Correll
Wiley-Blackwell
10475 Crosspoint Blvd, Indianapolis IN 46256
www.wiley.com
9780470412992, $39.99, www.amazon.com

HDR photography can create photos that mimic fine paintings, provide outstanding images, and more. Learn how to create HDR images using camera features, how to process and tweak them using Photoshop and Photomatix, and how to create landscapes, interiors, and more from single exposures using the basics covered in HDR Photography Photo Workshop. Any library catering to digital photographers needs this, which is packed with color photo examples and screenshots throughout.

Adobe Photoshop Elements 7
Philip Andrews
Focal Press
c/o Elsevier/Butterworth Heinemann
www.focalpress.com www.elsevier.com
30 Corporate Drive #400, Burlington, MA 01803
9780240521572, $39.95, www.amazon.com

Any studying Photoshop Elements 7 will find this a fine introductory survey packed with tutorials for every step of Elements. From hundreds of images designed to show the specific results of every Elements 7 command to creating scrapbooks, albums, and making easy image changes, Adobe Photoshop Elements 7: A Visual Introduction to Digital Photography is a 'must' for any serious photography or Photoshop collection.

Selling Your Photography
Richard Weisgrau
Allworth Press
10 E. 23rd St., New York NY 10010
9781581156607, $24.95 www.allworth.com

SELLING YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY: HOW TO MAKE MONEY IN NEW AND TRADITIONAL MARKETS offers a fine survey of the market for professional and amateur photographers, considering magazines, newspapers, books, greeting cards and a range of alternative business sources such as annual reports and more. The focus on more diverse markets than the usual photography sales guide provides a fine set of options.

Galen Rowell: A Retrospective
Sierra Club Books Editors
Sierra Club Books
85 Second Street, Second Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105-3441
www.sierraclub.org
9781578051595, $39.95, www.amazon.com

Galen Rowell was a master photographer who utilized natural phenomena ranging from sunsets to the northern lights to produce truly memorable and artistic images that rose to museum quality standards of excellence. Dying in an accident at the age of 62, Rowell left behind a body of work that deserves to be memorialized in a compendium that will inspire future generations of what can be done to photographically capture magnificent landscape vistas and ephemeral natural phenomena. That is why "Galen Rowell: A Retrospective", deftly compiled and superbly published by the editorial board of the Sierra Club, is so highly recommended for personal, academic, and community library American Photography collections.


The Music Shelf

Travelin' Man
Tom Weschler & Gary Graff
Painted Turtle Books
c/o Wayne State University Press
4809 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201-1309
http://wsupress.wayne.edu
9780814334591, $27.95, www.amazon.com

"Travelin' Man: On the Road and Behind the Scenes With Bob Seger" by the team of writer and photographer Tom Weschler and music journalist Gary Graff is a superbly illustrated history of musician Bob Seger's career. During the late 1960s through the 1970s, Weschler had a special vantage pint as Seger's tour manager and photographer. The result is an impressive behind-the-scenes documentary that is further enhanced for the reader's benefit with eight Seger album covers, an informative forward by John Mellencamp, and an insightful afterword by Kid Rock. Of special note for Bob Seger fans is the inclusion of a comprehensive discography making "Travelin' Man: On the Road and Behind the Scenes With Bob Seger" a 'must' for Seger fans and a recommended addition for academic and community library American 20th Century Music history and reference collections.

Rock & Roll
Cousin Brucie Morrow & Rick Maloof
Imagine Publishing
300 East 34th Street, Suite 21K, New York, NY 10016
9780982306437, $35.00, www.imaginebks.com

Beginning with its pre-rock roots, "Rock & Roll...And The Beat Goes On" by radio music broadcasting legend 'Cousin Brucie' Morrow and rock music historian and practicing musician Rick Maloof is an informed and informative history of rock 'n roll music as it evolved throughout the 1950s, the 1960s, and the earlier years of the 1970s. This almost three decade long 'Golden Age' of an authentically American music spurred on by charismatic performers, gifted songwriters, and talented musicians, was to shape entire generations both here at home and around the world. Often to the dismay of older generations! Profusely illustrated, "Rock & Roll" is a superbly written and presented history that will serve to stir up nostalgia for those lived through magnificent era that and had their own musical tastes and imaginations shaped by the bands and the performers, the radio jocks and American Bandstand style television programs. Enhanced with a foreword by Brian Wilson and a preface by Petula Clark, "Rock & Roll" is enthusiastically recommended for personal, academic, and community library American Music History and American Popular Culture collections.

Jane Austen Sings the Blues
Nora Foster Stovel, editor
University of Alberta Press
Ring House 2, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, T6G 2E1
9780888645104 $26.95 www.uap.ualberta.ca

Pride and Prejudice and Blues are what these people are about. "Jane Austen Sings the Blues" is a collection of essays from scholars with a strange at first cross of interests - the famed eighteenth century English writer and Blues music. Blending the two concepts and presenting them throughout as memoir, poetry, and thanks to an included music CD, blues music. "Jane Austen Sings the Blues" is an unusual combo, but one that works surprisingly well.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

Revealed Texts, Hidden Meanings
Hayyim J. Angel
KTAV Publishing
930 Newark Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07306
9781602801288, $25.00 www.ktav.com

Revealed Texts, Hidden Meanings: Finding the Religious Significance in Tanakh is the second collection of studies and essays on Tanakh, providing in-depth text studies and four articles exploring the basics of learning methodology, followed by sixteen studies applying these foundation principles. Jewish scholars and college-level collections catering to them receive a fine survey highly recommended for any student of Tanakh.

Early Judaism
George W. E. Nickelsburg & Michael E. Stone
Fortress Press
PO Box 59303, Minneapolis, MN 55459-0304
9780800662868, $32.00, www.fortresspress.com

Judaism is one of the oldest religions in the world. "Early Judaism: Texts and Documents on Faith and Piety" traces the lines back to the earliest days of this ancient religion and looks at its early belief and how the faith was truly started and got spread throughout the middle east, during a time where monotheism was a strange and focusing belief. "Early Judaism: Texts and Documents on Faith and Piety" is a fine and scholarly addition to any Judaic or world history collection, highly recommended.

Imagining Holiness
Justin Jaron Lewis
McGill-Queen's University Press
3430 McTavish Street, Montreal, QC, Canada, H3A 1X9
9780773535190 $49.95 www.mqup.ca 1-800-387-0141

A story has little purpose if it cannot be applied to modern times. "Imagining Holiness: Classic Hasidic Tales in Modern Times" is an analysis of classical Hasidic tales of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century and how they still hold relevance roughly one hundred years later for Hasidism. By studying the literature of this sect, readers will gain a greater understanding of Hasidic culture through their works. Discussing the common themes in the works, their origins, and their impact on society, "Imagining Holiness' is a must for anyone who wants to better understand these classical works.

Against All Hope
Hermann Langbein, author
Harry Zohn, translator
Paragon House
1925 Oakcrest Avenue, Suite 7, St. Paul, MN 55113-2619
9781557788825 $24.95 www.paragonhouse.com

Dissent is a natural part of human nature, and not all of the concentration camp victims did nothing to stop their fate. "Against All Hope: Resistance in the Nazi Concentration Camps 1938-1945" documents the stories of those who fought back against the Nazi concentration camps within. Author Hermann Langbein brings to light the little-known resistance movements in these many camps. "Against All Hope" is an uplifting story about those who would not just stand by and let evil be done to them.

The Seven Questions You're Asked in Heaven
Ron Wolfson
Jewish Lights Publishing
Sunset Farm Offices, Route 4, PO Box 237, Woodstock, VT 05091
9781580234078, $16.99, www.jewishlights.com

When it all is said and done, what will be the questions? "The Seven Questions You're Asked in Heaven: Reviewing & Renewing Your Life on Earth" uses the title question to offer an enlightening spiritual volume which he hopes will help people look at their lives and reevaluate what's truly important. Written in a light-hearted style that will entertain as it makes readers think, "The Seven Questions You're Asked in Heaven" is of strong consideration to many reader looking for a fresh look at faith.

The Social Issues Shelf

Gambling
Alan Wolfe & Erik C. Owens, editors
Baylor University Press
One Bear Place, #97363, Waco, TX 76798-7363
www.baylorpress.com
9781602581951, $34.95, www.amazon.com

Gambling can be traced to the very origins of human civilization. It is pervasive within all recorded cultures. So are the attempts to control it, regulate it, and even prohibit it. The opposition to gambling has as its roots religious or "morality" based arguments. One of the ironies of modern American life is that Utah, a state which absolutely bans all forms of gambling, leads the country in the volume of online gaming. Another irony is that the state of Nevada, and a number of formerly impoverished reservation-restricted Native American tribes, are able to achieve a significant measure of economic prosperity by the legalization of gambling and the construction of gambling casinos. In "Gambling: Mapping The American Moral Landscape", Alan Wolfe (Professor of Political Science and the Director of the Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life, Boston College) and Erik C. Owens (Assistant Director of the Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Theology, Boston College) have expertly compiled a series of informed and informative essays by fellow academics and researchers on various aspects of the politics and policy of gambling; individual behavior and social impacts related to gambling; the interconnection of theology, gambling and risk; and the context of gambling within American culture today. Enhanced with copious notes, an extensive bibliography, and a comprehensive index, "Gambling" is a seminal work of impressive scholarship and a very strongly recommended addition to academic library Social Issues reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Invoking the Invisible Hand
Robert Asen
Michigan State University Press
Manly Miles Building, Suite 25, 1405 South Harrison Road, East Lansing, MI 48823-5245
9780870138430 $59.95 www.msupress.msu.edu

Robert Asen (Associate Professor of Rhetoric in the Communication Arts Department, University of Wisconsin-Madison) presents Invoking the Invisible Hand: Social Security and the Privatization Debates, a close examination of the modern-day debate concerning proposals to privatize Social Security. Asen notes that the two sides of the debate use language to frame and describe Social Security differently. Is Social Security simply a return on one's investment (in which case its low yield is questionable while privatization options would be an excellent choice for individual investors to increase their earnings)? Or is Social Security a social insurance program, the purpose of which is to serve as a safety net for the nation's older citizens (in which case privatization is much more questionable, especially given that private enterprises or investments can and do fail)? Revealing the manner in which debate participants tend to manipulate language and perception to favor their side, Invoking the Invisible Hand is strongly recommended not only to college libraries, but also anyone involved in the Social Security debate, the better to fully understand all sides of the issue, and the fine details that advocates on each side tend to leave out.

The Increase in Leisure Inequality
Mark Aguiar & Erik Hurst
American Enterprise Institute
1150 Seventeenth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036
9780844743134, $15.00, www.aei.org

The rich take multiple trips to exotic locations every year. The poor get maybe a weekend at a nearby relative's. Maybe. "The Increase in Leisure Inequality 1965-2005" discusses how America's working class more and more often seems to be getting less leisure time, being forced to work multiple jobs to make ends meet. Mark Aguiar & Erik Hurst investigate these trends pointing out inconsistencies at multiple levels in society, who gets the most time for themselves, and most importantly, why it matters. "The Increase in Leisure Inequality" is a fascinating read that sheds some light on modern America, enthusiastically recommended.

Marijuana is Safer
Steve Fox, Paul Armentano, and Mason Tvert
Chelsea Green Publishing Company
Box 428, White River Junction, VT 05001-0428
9781603581448 $14.95 www.chelseagreen.com

With each passing year, more and more Americans are agreeing. "Marijuana is Safer: So Why Are We Driving People to Drink?" is a discussion of the current laws prohibiting marijuana use in the public, which the authors describe as simply 'draconic'. The premise is that marijuana has little confirmed scientific effect, while alcoholic beverages cause thousands of deaths per year (from wrongful use to alcohol related deaths). Therefore, why should marijuana be illegal when alcohol is not? "Marijuana is Safer" is an informative and enlightening read on the place of marijuana in today's society.

Dismantling Privilege, revised and updated
Mary Elizabeth Hobgood
The Pilgrim Press
700 Prospect Avenue East, Cleveland, OH 44115-1100
9780829818239 $20.00 www.pilgrimpress.com

Why is there so much special treatment in today's society? "Dismantling Privilege: An Ethics of Accountability- Revised & Updated" is an exploration of modern society and the favoritism that appears on many of its levels. Race, sex, economical class, and more all seem to operate by different views, yet many established religions and ethical systems such as Christianity do not endorse such differentiation. Speaking on this subject in a broad scope that goes through those divisions, "Dismantling Privilege" is an endless fascinating read that is sure to inform and educate many readers about the divide the world has today.

Blackout
Richard Heinberg
New Society Publishers
PO Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC V0R 1X0, Canada
Perseus Distribution (distribution)
193 Edwards Drive, Jackson, TN 38301-7716
9780865716568, $18.95, www.newsociety.com

Coal is a major provider of much of America's energy, but like oil, it is finite. "Blackout: Coal, Climate, and the Last Energy Crisis" discusses the serious issue that could go ignored in the face of other issues - the problem of peak coal production and the reliance the world has on it. With chapters on coal use throughout the world, 'clean' coal, and more, "Blackout" is a fairly complete and comprehensive volume on the subject.

Wage Theft in America
Kim Bobo
The New Press
38 Greene Street, New York, NY 10013
9781595584458, $17.95, www.thenewpress.com

A major portion of one's life is spent working, but there are those who would deny compensation for that labor. "Wage Theft in America: Why Millions of Working Americans Are Not Getting Paid - And What We Can Do About It" tells the story about a lesser known crisis in modern America where people are being paid less than minimum wage, and being forced to work unpaid overtime. Kim Bobo encourages readers to help stand against such practices where employers exploit their employees to make themselves richer. "Wage Theft in America" addresses this issue and offers many solutions.

Being White in the Helping Professions
Judy Ryde
Jessica Kingsley Publishing
400 Market St #400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781843109365, $39.95, www.jkp.com

White people in the helping professions may try to practice without discrimination but often are unaware of their own cultural influences and their impact upon others. Judy Ryde reveals how white people have implicit and explicit advantages and tells how to work with and overcome this privilege when working in a multicultural setting. From understanding the foundations of a white identity to exploring racial awareness and its training, Being White in the Helping Professions is a pick for any seeking an understanding of being white in a diverse society.

John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
www.wiley.com

Ryan Grim's THIS IS YOUR COUNTRY ON DRUGS: THE SECRET HISTORY OF GETTING HIGH IN AMERICA (9780470167397, $24.95) comes from a journalist who challenges everything you knew about America's drug culture and how it evolved. From government rules, standards and responses to drugs to social movements and links between drugs and the modern mass media's evolution, THIS IS YOUR COUNTRY ON DRUGS is a key blend of history and social issues essential for any library, from high school and college-level collections to general lending libraries. Peter Tertzakian works with Keith Hollihan in THE END OF ENERGY OBESITY (9780470435441, $27.95), exploring solutions to the problem of a widening appetite for energy and showing how to change the fuel diet for a better future. His focus on practical options and immediate applications makes for a comprehensive survey key to any serious understanding of energy usage and alternatives: a pick for both college and general lending collections.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Health is Simple: Disease Is Complicated
James Forleo, DC
North Atlantic Books
2526 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Berkeley, CA 94704-2607
www.northatlanticbooks.com
9781556437182 $22.95, www.amazon.com

It's better prevent disease before it starts. "Health is Simple, Disease is Complicated: A Systems Approach to Vibrant Health" is a body system by body system approach to health and how to care for each part. Discussing each system, how to maintain its general health, and how to deal with the ailments that may affect it, "Health is Simple, Disease in Complicated" is a solid read for those who want to take their health seriously with a pre-emptive strike.

The Ultimate Metabolism Diet
Scott Rigden, MD
Hunter House Publishers
PO Box 2914, Alameda, CA 94501-2914
9780897935104 $15.95 www.hunterhouse.com 1-800-266-5592

Metabolism is different from person to person. "The Ultimate Metabolism Diet: Eat Right for Your Metabolic Type" is a metabolic guide for readers who want a more scientific and personalized approach to dieting. Outlining the various metabolic types and discussing the potential disorders with each, author Scott Rigden, MD does well in educating his readers about the metabolic system. "The Ultimate Metabolism Diet" is a must read for those who want a greater understanding of how to control their own weight.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases Sourcebook, 4th edition
Laura Larsen, Editor
Omnigraphics
Box 31-1640, Detroit, MI 48231
9780780810730, $78.00 www.omnigraphics.com

Joining others in the red-edged 'Health Reference' series is the 4th updated edition of Sexually Transmitted Diseases Sourcebook, packing in the latest research on treatments and options for STDs and couching them in a language any general library can use as a solid reference. From symptoms to key groups, testing options, and clinical trails and vaccines, this is a 'must' not just for college-level health libraries, but for any serious lending collection strong in general health issues.

iUniverse Inc.
1663 Liberty Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403
www.iuniverse.com

Three powerful titles are top picks for any health or general lending collections. Nick Rogen's A LIFE WORTH LIVING (9781440146947, $17.95) tells of the author, an average small-town teen until his mother's bipolar disorder lead him to know a world of doctors, electroshock treatments and his own battle with substance abuse. His story tells how he began to find hope in the course of a trip to China that changed his perspective when his family adopted an abandoned Chinese girl. Debra J. Suchy's BELLOWED WHISPERS: JOURNEYING BACK TO WHO YOU ARE (9781440151118, $12.95) offers both new age and health libraries an alternative healing treatise from a Usui Reiki Master and intuitive counselor and teacher. From uncovering the magic of rocks and animal totems to healing through past lives, this offers a blend of the author's personal journey and how others may follow in her footsteps. R. Lee Hall's AS NORMAL AS POSSIBLE: A BREAST CANCER STORY (9781440150821, $13.95) offers a medical autobiography telling of a caregiver's experiences caring for his wife Brenda during her struggles with breast cancer. It is both a tribute to her life and a survey of caregiving challenges and a cancer patient's struggles.

Menopause Illustrated
Jan Brehm
Planet Sweet Pea
c/o Sweet Pea Productions
833 SE Main #310, Portland, Or 97214
411 Video Information (publicity)
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
www.planetsweetpea.com

MENOPAUSE ILLUSTRATED in DVD is actually a guy's guide to menopause and blends humor and an entertaining, guy-friendly format with real insights on how to handle spouses and partners going through menopause. From what happens during the 'change of life' to guidelines to understanding a woman's shifts, this is packed with real advice as well as entertaining perspectives.

Overcoming ADHD
Stanley I. Greenspan, MD with Jacob Greenspan
Da Capo Press
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
9780738213552, $25.00 www.dacapopress.com

OVERCOMING ADHD: HELPING YOUR CHILD BECOME CALM, ENGAGED AND FOCUSED - WITHOUT A PILL discusses the range of symptoms that form ADHD as a syndrome, relating them to different sensory, motor and self-regulation issues and discussing the role of emotions in the development of the nervous system. It shows how kids can learn to engage, understand their senses and maintain focus without medication and offers an alternative set of ideas for parents and educators seeking different management approaches.

Your Brain After Chemo
Dan Silverman, MD, PhD & Idelle Davidson
DaCapo Press
c/o Perseus Publishing Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
9780738212593, $25.00 www.dacapopress.com

Any health library or general collection catering to cancer patients will find specific and key the guide Your Brain After Chemo: a Practical Guide to Lifting the Fog and Getting Back Your Focus. One of the foremost researchers in chemotherapy's effects and a journalist and cancer survivor combine talents to explore emotional and physical reactions to chemo treatments, blending science with health insights in a book that should be a foundation title in any serious health or general library.

Drug Information Handbook for Nursing, 2010
Beatrice B. Turkoski, RN, PhD, et.al.
Lexi-Comp
1100 Terex Road, Hudson, OH 44236
9781591952572, $42.95 www.lexi.com

Administration, assessment, monitoring, guidelines and more pack Lexi-Comp's drug reference handbook for nurses and college-level libraries catering to them. Now in its 11th updated edition, Drug Information Handbook for Nursing offers 40 new drug monographs, new fields from product availability to drug interactions, and appendix updates of abbreviations, compatibility issues, immunizations and more. Over 4800 medications are alphabetically indexed by brand and generic names and provides an outstanding, at-a-glance reference.

The Poet-Physician and the Healer-Killer
Roberta Kalechofsky
Micah Publications
255 Humphrey St., Marblehead, MA 01945
9780916288556, $22.00

Vivisection has been the subject of much modern debate. "The Poet Physician and the Healer-Killer: Vivisection and the Emergence of a Medical Technocracy" is a discussion, history and partial memoir from Roberta Kalechofsky. Exploring the history of vivisection, its protesters from the earliest days to the more modern era, "The Poet-Physician and the Healer-Killer" also offers her own experience as a doctor with the concept. "The Poet Physician and the Healer-Killer" is an intriguing perspective on vivisection, highly recommended.

Why Our Health Matters
Andrew Weil, M.D.
Hudson Street Press
c/o The Penguin Press
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9781594630668 $25.95 www.penguin.com 1-800-847-5515

As the health care debate rages on, many Americans confused. "Why Our Health Matters: A Vision of Medicine That Can Transform Our Future" is one man's argument for the establishment of nationalized healthcare, with reasons why the health of the American people is vital to the progress of our society as a whole. Written by Doctor Andrew Weil, "Why Our Health Matters" is filled with ideas drawing upon his vast experience. "Why Our Health Matters" is something to strongly consider when debating the current arguments surrounding America's health.

The Cleveland Clinic Guide to Arthritis
John D. Clough
Kaplan Publishing
1 Liberty Plaza, 24th Floor, New York, NY 10006
9781427799562, $14.95, www.kaplanpublishing.com

Arthritis is a highly debilitating condition, causing many people to live in constant pain. "The Cleveland Clinic Guide to Arthritis: Everything You Need to Know About the Many Forms of Arthritis from a renowned Rheumatology Expert" discusses arthritis in depth, outlining the different types one would face, how to know when to seek a doctor for potential diagnosis, the impact of diet and exercise, and more. There is no shortage of medical expertise within. "The Cleveland Clinic Guide to Arthritis" is from a leading medical professional on the subject and is a must for anyone who thinks they may have arthritis.

An A-Z Guide to Food Additives
Deanna M. Minich
Conari Wellness
c/o Red Wheel Weiser Conari Book Publishers
65 Parker Street, Suite 7, Newburyport, MA 01950
9781573244039, $9.95, www.redwheelweiser.com

Polyvinylpyrrolidone, does anything sound more delicious than that? "An A-Z Guide to Food Additives: Never Eat What You Can't Pronounce" is a guide for readers who want to better understand the long and commonly incomprehensible things that go into today's processed food. Designed to be carried in the back pocket of the health conscious, this dictionary covers each of these chemicals, their alternate names, and more. For anyone concerned about what exactly they are putting in their mouths, "An A-Z Guide to Food Additives" is a handy and solid reference.


The Travel Shelf

Sports Traveler: Chicago
Anbritt Stengele & Lydia Rypcinski
Lake Claremont Press
PO Box 25291, Chicago, IL 60640
www.lakeclaremont.com
9781893121225, $15.95, www.amazon.com

As a dedicated Chicago sport fans and the owner of Sports Traveler (a sports tourism company), Anbritt Stengele draws upon her years of experience and expertise in "Sports Traveler: Chicago" to provide both the causal visitor and the life-long resident with practical information and advice on enjoying the many and manifold sporting events that Chicago has to offer, celebrate their fandom, and enjoy new sports fan experiences. Included in practical and authoritative advice with respect to where to sit, what to eat, what else to see at the park, fan customs, lodging picks, transportation advice, pre-game parties, post-game traditions, historical sites, bars for fans, fan memories, off-season conventions, minor league teams, and so much more! Whether the sport is baseball, basketball, football, hockey, soccer, auto racing, horse racing, bicycle racing, lacrosse, golf, and the Chicago Marathon, "Sports Traveler: Chicago" is the quintessential guide that is packed from cover to cover with immediately useful information specific to enjoying sporting events in Chicago all year long.

The Bizarre Truth
Andrew Zimmern
Broadway Books
1745 Broadway, New York, NY, 10036
9780767931298 $24.99 www.broadwaybooks.com 1-800-726-0600

Written by the host of the Travel Channel's popular series "Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern", The Bizarre Truth: How I Walked Out the Door Mouth First... and Came Back Shaking My Head is an enjoyable travelogue of Zimmern's many cultural and culinary adventures filming the show. From the plight of vanishing foods and cultures subsumed by mainstream globalization, to a session with an Incan witch doctor in Ecuador who blows fire on him, to dining on roasted bats on a Samoan Island, to eating raccoon and opossum in Mississippi, The Bizarre Truth is a chronicle of adventure, strange and wonderful palate delights (or distresses), and above all, an open-minded appreciation of the myriad ways mankind has adapted his diet and his way of life to his environment. Highly recommended, especially to fans of the television show.

The Spiritual Traveler: Spain
Beebe Bahrami
Hidden Spring
c/o Paulist Press
997 MacArthur Boulevard, Mahwah, NJ 07430
www.hiddenspringbooks.com 1-800-218-1903
9781587680472 $24.00 www.paulistpress.com

A gateway of sorts between Africa and Europe, Spain has an incredible amount of history. "The Spiritual Traveler: Spain: A Guide to Sacred Sites and Pilgrim Routes" is a guide to the many spiritual locations of Spain, which has been ruled by Catholic Europeans, Muslim Moors, Wiccan Celts, and other peoples whose faiths have left an undeniable mark. A fascinating read for tourists of any faith, "The Spiritual Traveler" is especially recommended for any spiritual person visiting Spain.

The Beachcomber's Guide to Seashore Life, revised edition
J. Duane Sept
Harbour Publishing
PO Box 219, Madeira Park, BC V0N 2H0
9781550174533, $26.95, www.harbourpublishing.com

Part of the beauty of the Pacific Northwestern coast is the life. Now in a newly revised edition, "The Beachcomber's Guide to Seashore Life: in the Pacific Northwest" is a guide for those who want to gain a better understanding of the life that sits along the beaches of the northwest. Topics covered include crabs, starfish, and fish, to the shore, coast, and nearby ocean, and more, all presented in full color with photos of most of the creatures discussed. Any nature lover needs the revised edition of "The Beachcomber's Guide to Seashore Life: In the Pacific Northwest".

Paris Movie Walks
Michael Schurmann
The Intrepid Traveler
PO Box 531, Branford, CT 06405
9781887140836 $15.95 www.intrepidtraveler.com

France has a movie scene all its own, and many American fans of it will be attracted to their landmarks. "Paris Movie Walks: Ten Guided Tours Through the City of Lights! Camera! Action!" is a guide for the movie lover and Paris lover, as the tours take tours through significant spots that consist both of Parisian film spots and areas where American stars made their mark in Paris. "Paris Movie Walks" is a must for any movie buff making the pilgrimage to Paris in the future.

Going Coastal New York City, second edition
Barbara La Rocco
Fordham University Press
2546 Belmont Avenue, University Box L, Bronx, NY 10458-5172
9780823230242, $22.95, www.goingcoastal.org

The coasts of New York have a certain charm to them, blending the beauty of the skyline with the natural beauty of the Atlantic. Now in an updated and expanded second edition, "Going Coastal New York City" is a guide for those with an enthusiasm for the beaches and coasts of America. Outlining the activities one can do on these waterfronts, Barbara La Rocco does well in fully offering the coast lover everything they want and need. "Going Coastal New York City" is another solid recommended reference that emerges from the Going Coastal series.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Becoming An Oracle
Nicki Scully
Sounds True Audio
413 South Arthur Avenue, Louisville, CO 80027
www.soundstrue.com
#113400, $69.95, www.amazon.com

Utilizing a number of different techniques an oracle is someone who can draw upon the divine for information and for assistance. Drawing upon ancient practices and spiritual methods derived from such diverse cultures as the Greeks, the Egyptians, and the Mayans, as well as her own extensive personal experience and expertise, shamanic expert Nicki Scully (who is a lineageholder in the Hermetic Tradition of Thoth, a priestess of Hathor, and founder of Shamanic Journeys Ltd.) has produced "Becoming An Oracle: Connecting To The Divine Source For Information And Healing", a seven-disc instruction manual that explains in depth and detail what an oracle is, the role of 'pathworking', utilization of the 'heart-breath' technique and visualization practices, guided inner journeys to mystic destinations, and the use of such oracular tools as the Tarot, Nordic runes, and scrying bowls. This six-hour compendium of information and commentary will enable the careful listener to learn how to access divine intelligence and healing through the means of oracular rituals and practices, making "Becoming An Oracle" an invaluable addition to personal, academic, and community library Metaphysical Studies collections.

The Wanderings of the Grail
Andre Douzet
Adventures Unlimited Press
PO Box 74, Kempton, IL 60946
www.adventuresunlimitedpress.com
1931882363 $14.95, 1-815-253-6390

The Holy Grail was searched for in medieval times, and believed to be a sacred relic of Christianity. "The Wanderings of the Grail: The Cathars, the Search for the Grail, and the Discovery of Egyptian Relics in the French Pyrenees" is a exploration of the idea that the Holy grail may have been holy to the Egyptian people as well, under the religion of the Cathars. This forgotten Cathar religion may have untold knowledge to the status of the grail, and author Andre Douzet pieces together what may be the answer to an ancient historical puzzle. "The Wanderings of the Grail" is an interesting read all the way through.

The Spellcaster's Reference
Eileen Holland
Weiser Publishers
65 Parker Avenue, Suite 7, Newburyport, MA 01950
9781578634521 $16.95

The Spellcaster's Reference: Magickal Timing for the Wheel of the Year is a straightforward guide to timing one's castings of spells, ceremonies, and rituals for maximum effectiveness. Part I walks the reader through making effective use of the wisdom in The Spellcaster's Reference; Part II makes recommendations according to the current state of the season, the current astrological year, the current day of the week, and much more. Part III covers the repercussions of lunar cycles and daily (vs. annual) solar cycles., and Part IV presents a list of possible spell subjects followed by recommendations for each. A glossary rounds out this excellent, easy-to-use reference, especially recommended as a supplement to Wiccan magic shelves.

Kundalini Rising
Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa, et. al.
Sounds True Audio
413 South Arthur Ave, Louisville, CO 80027
www.soundstrue.com 1-800-333-9185
9781591797289 $19.95, www.amazon.com

Kundalini Rising: Exploring the Energy of Awakening is a selection of twenty-four essays concerning "kundalini", the power to spur one's spiritual evolution and fully awaken consciousness. Topics range from personal testimonies to yogic practices, modern brain research, examinations of kundalini throughout history, and more, Kundalini Rising touches on a wide range of aspects and is an excellent tool for spiritual readers of all backgrounds to educate themselves and promote inner growth. "The Life Review showed me a dance that pulls us back and forth between light and dark, good and evil, neediness and extension. It's this dance that leads us to waking up so we have choices in all our relationships: with ourselves, with others (including our community and this planet), and with the God of our understanding. As we wake up, we seem to move along a healing continuum toward Unity consciousness."

Born in Blood
John J. Robinson
M. Evans
c/o Taylor Trade Publishing
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
National Book Network (distribution)
4270 Boston Way, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
9781590771488 $17.95 www.rowman.com 1-800-275-8188

Written by the late John J. Robinson, the founder of the Masonic Information Center, Born in Blood: The Lost Secrets of Freemasonry is a historical account of the Freemasons grounded on years of research, piecing together the mystery of their origins with the ingenuity of a skilled detective. Revealing that Freemasonry's origins lie in the remnants of the Knights Templar, who created a secret society of mutual protection while fleeing from the wrath of the pope and the king, Born in Blood pries apart the mysteries of time with a discerning eye. Accessible to readers of all backgrounds, Born in Blood is fascinating from first page to last and enthusiastically recommended to anyone curious about the hidden history of the Freemasons.

The End of Materialism
Charles T. Tart, Ph.D.
Noetic Books
c/o New Harbinger Press
5674 Shattuck Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609
9781572246454 $29.95 www.newharbinger.com 1-800-748-6273

Could science reveal evidence of there being something more than what simply is? "The End of Materialism: How Evidence of the Paranormal is Bringing Science and Spirit Together" brings a different approach to the paranormal and spiritual, drawing upon both science and what author Charles T. Tart believes to be evidence of the existence of the paranormal and supernatural. His theories make for intriguing reading; "The End of Materialism" is a read that many metaphysical readers will be entranced with.

Tao of Letting Go
Bruce Frantzis
Blue Snake Books
c/o North Atlantic Books
Box 12327, Berkeley, CA 94712
www.northatlanticbooks.com
9781556438080, $19.95, www.amazon.com

Collections strong in Taoism, meditation and spirituality will find a powerful pick in Bruce Frantzis' "Tao of Letting Go: Meditation for Modern Living", which teaches techniques to help people overcome obstacles and learn to relax. From working with chi to improve health and mind, to understanding Taoist methods of letting go internally and externally, "Tao of Letting Go: Meditation for Modern Living" is a powerful pick for any new age library strong in meditative techniques.

The Power of Shakti
Padma Aon Prakasha
Destiny Books
c/o Inner Traditions
One Park St., Rochester, VT 05767
9781594773167, $16.95 www.destinybooks.com

Both new age and women's collections will relish THE POWER OF SHAKTI: 18 Pathways to Ignite the Energy of the Divine Woman, a survey of basic Tantra Yoga principles and how to open the 18 energetic pathways of the Shakti Circuit. While the volume is designed for use by both men and women, it's women who will find this most powerful - and new age collections that will benefit from its wisdom and spiritual teachings.

The Spiritual Anatomy of Emotion
Michael A. Jawer with Marc S. Micozzi, MD,PhD
Park Street Press
c/o Inner Traditions
One Park St., Rochester, VT 05767
9781594772887, $24.95 www.destinybooks.com

Modern science contends the brain rules the body and generates feelings and perceptions: these two authors argue that it is feeling that underlies consciousness and determines how life is lead. The Spiritual Anatomy of Emotion supports this theory using the latest scientific research on immunity, stress, cognition and emotions to show how emotion leads to extraordinary perception abilities. Neurochemistry and new age thought blend in a fine research-based examination perfect for new age and science libraries alike.

The Return of the Dead
Claude Lecouteux
Inner Traditions
One Park St., Rochester, VT 05767
9781594773181, $19.95 www.innertraditions.com

New age collections strong in writings on ghosts and paganism will find this discussion of ghosts and their role in indigenous cultures and pagan circles blends history, cultural inspection and spirituality in a satisfying survey. The modern world sees a border between that of the living and the dead - but ancestors have viewed it as less rigid. Claude Lecouteux is a former professor of medieval literature and civilization with numerous books on pagan afterlife beliefs and history: his expertise lends to a powerful survey.

The Uncommon Path of Awakening Authentic Joy
Mick Quinn
O Books
c/o National Book Network
PO Box 62188, Baltimore, MD 21264-2188
9781846942082, $24.95, www.o-books.net

The path to true happiness lies on a concealed road within us. "The Uncommon Path of Awakening Authentic Joy: An Integral Guide to Uncovering Concealed Conditioning" is a metaphysical philosophy book hoping to help readers find the true happiness. Filled with much to intrigue readers about the psyche beneath the psyche, "The Uncommon Path of Awakening Authentic Joy" hopes to help people find a more complete life. "The Uncommon Path of Awakening Authentic Joy" is a strong choice for metaphysical psychology readers.

Elemental Shaman
Omar W. Rosales
Llewellyn Worldwide, LTD.
2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125
9780738715018 $18.95 www.llewellyn.com 1-800-843-6666

People will travel thousands of miles just to gain a greater understanding of the universe. "Elemental Shaman: One Man's Journey into the Heart of Humanity, Spirituality, & Ecology" is a delve into the Shamanistic traditions of four cultures and how author Omar W. Rosales embraced them for a greater understanding of the spiritual world as a whole. A worthwhile read for anyone seeking to experience spirituality through the scopes of multiple religions, "Elemental Shaman" is a top recommendation.

Advanced Chi Nei Tsang
Mantak Chia
Destiny Books
c/o Inner Traditions
One Park Street, Rochester, Vermont 05767
9781594770555 $14.95 www.DestinyBooks.com

A good flow of energy out of the body is one way to stay healthy. "Advanced Chi Nei Tsang: Enhancing Chi Energy in the Vital Organs" is a guide to the chi energy that resides in all of our bodies. This energy, if left unused, stagnates and manifests itself as illness, leaving people feeling less than their body. Mantak Chia offers his approach to better health through embracing a flow of Chi energy, making "Advanced Chi Nei Tsang" of interest to any with a strong interest in metaphysical spirituality.


The Christian Studies Shelf

Three Simple Rules
Rueben P. Job
Abingdon Press
PO Box 801, Nashville, TN 37202
www.abingdon.org
9781426700262, $8.95, www.amazon.com

Religion is only complicated for theologians. For ordinary folk is as uncomplicated as the guidelines comprising "Three Simple Rules That Will Change The World". They are: Do No Harm; Do Good; and Stay In Love With God. Protestant Reformer John Wesley taught these basic principles for a Christian life. Now retired United Methodist bishop Rueben P. Job has written a succinct 94-page volume explaining to the reader how adhering to these three concepts can change our lives and affect the world we live in through 'mutual respect, unity, and a deeper relationship with God'. Enhanced with an extended listing of quotation sources, "Three Simple Rules" is highly recommended and highly rewarding reading for anyone seeking to live a simpler and most Christian life.

Simple Student Ministry
Eric Geiger and Jeff Borton
B&H Publishing Group
127 Ninth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37234-0143
www.bhpublishinggroup.com
9780805447941 $16.99, www.amazon.com

It's never too early to start being a church leader. "Simple Student Ministry: A Clear Process for Strategic Youth Discipleship" is a guide for mentoring young, would-be church leaders to help them become the church leaders of tomorrow. For all sizes of churches, "Simple Student Ministry" is a solid and recommended read to foster enthusiastic faith for the next generation.

Everyday Justice
Alan J. Talley & Scott Holzknecht
Saint Mary's Press
702 Terrace Heights, Winona, MN 55987-1318
9780884898580, $13.95, www.smp.org

Little bits of wisdom are all one needs to keep themselves chugging through life. "Everyday Justice: 365 Reflections" is a collection of Catholic oriented teachings for readers, intended to be read day by day for a daily reaffirmation of faith, something that so often takes a beating from life. "Everyday Justice" is a treasure trove for the faithful, a highly recommended read.

Correspondences of the Bible
John Worcester
Swedenborg Foundation
320 North Church Street, West Chester, PA 19380
9780877851127, $39.95, www.swedenborg.com

How does the human body relate to the heavens? "Correspondences of the Bible: The Human Body" is another entry into the Correspondences of the Bible series, this time focusing on the human body and the symbolism it carries to the religion and to the community of God. Hoping to help readers understand the Bible more as well as their own body, John Worcester creates an intriguing parallel for readers that will make them think and perhaps increase their faith. "Correspondences of the Bible" is a fine addition to any Christian studies collection, sure to catch the eyes of many inquiring Christians.

Power and Practices
Jeremy M. Bergen, Anthony G. Siegrist, & Glen Harold Stassen, editors
Herald Press
616 Walnut Avenue, Scottsdale, PA 15683-1999
www.heraldpress.com 1-800-759-4447
9780836194470 $12.99, www.amazon.com

Society changes, and Christianity must change with it. "Power and Practices: Engaging the Work of John Howard Yoder" looks at the modern Christian thinker John Howard Yoder and what scholars have taken away from his writings and thoughts on current issues from a Christian perspective. Sexism, political turmoil, and theology are all discussed, making "Power and Practices" a solid and highly recommended read for Christians who ponder their faith's place in the world.

The Lost Commandment
Dave Greber
Kregel Publications
PO Box 2607, Grand Rapids, MI 49501
www.kregelpublications.com 1-800-733-2607
9780825429354 $13.99, www.amazon.com

Jesus never promoted hate, so why is there so much hate in Christianity today? "The Lost Commandment: Have We Missed What Jesus Really Wants?" draws upon the verse in the book of John, that simply states that Jesus wishes for people to love one another as he has loved them. Discussing the meaning of this verse and packed with materials for study, "The Lost Commandment" is of interest to anyone looking for valuable subjects for Bible study.

Love as a Way of Life
Gary Chapman
Waterbrook Press
12265 Oracle, Boulevard, Suite 200, Colorado Springs, CO 80921
www.waterbrookmultnomah.com
9781400072590, $13.95, www.amazon.com

Love is a versatile and powerful emotion. "Love as a Way of Life: Seven Keys to Transforming Every Aspect of Your Life" is a guide for bringing love into more of one's life. Using the seven traits of love, traits such as forgiveness, generosity, and humility, author Gary Chapman does very well in his inspiring of readers to bring a more positive and ultimately happier outlook on life. "Love as a Way of Life" may be the pick me up some readers need to just enjoy life once more.

Making Your Emotions Work for You
Harold Sala
Harvest House
990 Owen Loop North, Eugene, Oregon 97402-9173
www.harvesthousepublishers.com
9780736925730, $12.99, www.amazon.com

Stress can be the greatest debilitator or the greatest motivator. "Making Your Emotions Work for You: Coping with Stress, Avoiding Burnout, Overcoming Fear...and More" is a Christian's guide to facing one's emotions and overcoming them. With advice on using one's emotions to your benefit, defeating boredom, and more, author Harold J. Sala does well in bringing the word of God into dealing with one's emotions. "Making Your Emotions Work for You" is of solid and highly recommended reading for Christians who struggle to keep hold of themselves.

In the Presence of the Poor
Kay Marshall Strom
Authentic Publishing
1820 Jet Stream Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80921
B&B Media Group
109 South Main Street Corsicana, TX 75110
9781606570128 $12.99 www.authenticpublishing.com

The caste system, although not officially practiced in India, still holds some ground in the modern day. "In the Presence of the Poor: Changing the Face of India" from Kay Marshall Strom tells the story of one Dr. Vijayam, an Indian man of science who embraced Jesus and began his work to help the poor he felt previously powerless to help, attempting to use God's word to combat the Hindu-oriented caste system. "In the Presence of the Poor" is a powerful story of using religion for social progress.

A Different Kind of Wild
Debbie Alsdorf
Revell
c/o Baker Publishing Group
PO Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
9780800733667 $12.99 www.bakerbooks.com

Faith doesn't have to be boring. "A Different Kind of Wild: Is Your Faith Too Tame?" is author Debbie Alsdorf's approach to faith using a concept she calls WILD - Women in Lifelong Development. Encouraging women to live more exciting and fulfilling loves as women of the world who have fun while holding reverence for God, Debbie Alsdorf presents an intriguing and fresh way of exploring God. "A Different Kind of Wild" is an original book for women of Christian faith looking for a different sort of inspiration in their lives.

Seasons of the Soul
Bruce Demarest
Formatio
c/o InterVarsity Press
PO Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426
9780830835355, $16.00, www.ivpress.com

Faith sits right beside someone on the roller coaster of life. "Seasons of the Soul: Stages of Spiritual Development" is a discussion of the unique journey every Christian takes through their life through simply laying their faith and their lives into the hands of Christ. Hoping to inspire Christians to greater faith, "Seasons of the Soul" is of strong interests for those looking to better understand Christ and their own faith.

God Stories
Andrew Wilson
David C. Cook
4050 Lee Vance View, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
9781434765390, $14.99, www.davidccook.com

The Holy Bible has much to motivate and inspire...and entertain? "God Stories: Exploration in the Gospel of God" discusses the stories within the Bible and the epic tale of God that is woven through it. The Bible from cover to cover is one of the greatest stories ever told, from Genesis to Revelations. "God Stories" expands this concept while still remaining true to the faith, saying that the method of the story is part of the spiritual message.


The Biography Shelf

An American Prophet's Record
Scott H. Faulring
Signature Books
564 West 400 North, Salt Lake City, UT 84116-3411
www.signaturebooks.com
0941214788, $19.95, www.amazon.com

Never before available to the general public, "An American Prophet's Record: The Diaries And Journals Of Joseph Smith" is a complete an unexpurgated volume comprised of Mormon Church founder Joseph's Smiths (1805-1844) personal diaries and journals. It should be noted that when parts of these diaries and journals were previously published they were censored, selectively assembled, and sometimes even re-written. Now they are presented by Mormon scholar Scott Faulring in their comprehensive and complete entirety. The result is a 518-page compendium that provides original source material that will prove invaluable for both academic scholarship and the interested non-specialist general reader alike. "An American Prophet's Record" is a biographical treasure trove and a major contribution to personal, community, academic library American Biography and Mormon History collections.

Beech Mountain Man
Thomas Burton
The University of Tennessee Press
293 Communications Building, Knoxville, TN 37996-0325
9781572336650 $32.95 www.utpress.org 1-800-621-2736

Beech Mountain Man: The Memoirs of Ronda Lee Hicks is a down-to-earth collection of anecdotes, memories, and storytelling from the personal life of North Carolina native Ronda Lee Hicks. Relating events from drunken episodes to moments of violence (including numerous scrapes with the law and being sent to prison twice) to his relationships with his two wives, Beech Mountain Man tells the story of a rugged, hardy individual who didn't always fit in with society's rules and regulations. Reflections of southern Appalachian mountain culture pepper this engrossing and unforgettable memoir.

My Grandfather's Prison
Richard A. Serrano
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Boulevard, Columbia, MO 65201
9780826218643 $24.95 www.umsystem.edu/upress 1-800-828-1894

My Grandfather's Prison: A Story of Death and Deceit in 1940s Kansas City is more than just a a memoir-style accounting of family history - it is a true-life mystery unraveled, as author Richard A. Serano takes the readers on a tour through the events that led to his grandfather's alcoholism, arrest, solitary confinement in Kansas City jail, and sudden death due to a broken neck that the authorities who arrested him could not explain. When Serrano found his grandfather's death certificate from 1948, he discovered evidence of murder, which led him to investigate the whys and wherefores of how his grandfather died - and who had motive, means, and opportunity to kill him. A smoothly written, narrative-style yet real-life whodunnit sure to keep the reader's attention to the very last page, My Grandfather's Prison is highly recommended.

The Rat That Got Away
Allen Jones with Mark Naison
Fordham University Press
2546 Belmont Avenue, University Box L, Bronx, NY 10458-5172
www.fordhampress.com
9780823231027 $29.95 www.amazon.com

The Rat That Got Away is the true-life memoir of Allen Jones, from growing up on the streets of Bronx to his exciting career as a professional athlete and banker in Europe. Jones lived in a public housing project in South Bronx during the 1950's, when the place was a bastion of optimism for black and Latino families aspiring to the American Dream. Written with a flair for dramatic storytelling, The Rat That Got Away is a pleasure to read from first page to last. Highly recommended.

Debussy's Melisande
Gillian Opstad
Boydell Press
c/o Boydell & Brewer
668 Mount Hope Avenue, Rochester, NY 14620-2731
9781843834595 $60.00 www.boydellandbrewer.com

As times change, people must change with them or be left in the dust. "Debussy's Melisande: The Lives of Georgette Leblanc, Mary Garden, and Maggie Teyte" tells the story of these musical sweethearts of the early twentieth century. They were originally opera stars who were driven to make themselves some of the best of their time. With the advent of recorded music, radio, and moving pictures, they embraced the new technologies with much fervor, becoming beloved icons of theatre and art in France. "Debussy's Melisande" is a gripping biography of these beloved Frenchwomen and the changes that their art form faced during their time.

Cop Book
Richard Greelis
Beaver's Pond Press
7104 Ohms Lane, Suite 101, Edina, MN 55439
9781592982820 $14.95 www.BeaversPondPress.com 1-952-829-8818

They are the protectors of society - a dull day is a good day for a cop. "Cop Book: True Stories of Life, Death, and the Cops Who Manage the Space Between" is a collection of anecdotes about author Richard Greelis' decades long career as an officer of the law. His career ranged from being on the beat to running operations for the Republican National Convention. Seeking to give the reader a glimpse into the life of a police officer, "Cop Book" is a fascinating read about real-life heroes of society.

It's Not Me, It's You
Stefanie Wilder-Taylor
Simon Spotlight Entertainment
c/o Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
www.simonandschuster.com
9781416954149, $23.99, www.amazon.com

IT'S NOT ME, IT'S YOU offers a lively, involving and introspective autobiography that takes the form of essays showing how a New York Jewish girl became a Hollywood produce and writer. Her journey's highlights and pitfalls are narrated in a fun and lively voice perfect for any general lending library strong in narratives about Hollywood successes.

Einstein: A Biography
Jurgen Neffe
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
0801893100, $29.95 www.press.jhu.edu

Shelley Frisch translates EINSTEIN: A BIOGRAPHY and provides a new portrait of the physicist in a very different approach to Einstein's life and work. New documents - including a series of letters from Einstein to his sons - provide a richer psychological portrait of the genius and goes beyond the usual focus on his science alone (though plenty of science is included in the course of discussions), making this a pick not just for science collections but for any general holding interested in Einstein's life.

Travels With Mae
Eileen M. Julien
Indiana University Press
601 N. Morton St, Bloomington, IN 47404-3797
9780253353160, $19.95 www.iupress.indiana.edu

Any collection strong in African-American memoirs or discussions of black experiences in urban settings will find TRAVELS WITH MAE: SCENES FROM A NEW ORLEANS GIRLHOOD to be a top pick. It tells of a middle-class life in a city usually portrayed by its black population's poverty, and provides lovely stories of an Afro-Louisiana Creole background. Any library catering to African-Americans must have this touching, revealing memoir.

Fidel & Gabo
Angel Esteban & Stephanie Panichelli
Pegasus Books
80 Broad Street,5th Floor, New York, NY 10004
9781605980584 $26.00 www.pegasusbooks.com

One is a legendary writer, the other is a despised dictator, yet they are best of friends. "Fidel & Gabo: A Portrait of the Legendary Friendship Between Fidel Castro and Gabriel Garcia Marquez" investigates the relationship between the Nobel Prize winning author and the Communist dictator of Cuba. Seemingly an odd couple, their bond seems to find strength in their similar political views, but there is more to it than that. Endlessly intriguing, "Fidel & Gabo" is well worth the read for those trying to better understand Gabriel as well as Castro.

Seychelles Global Citizen
James R. Mancham
Paragon House
1925 Oakcrest Avenue, Suite 7, St. Paul, MN 55113-2619
9781557788870 $24.95 www.paragonhouse.com

The Cold War was called cold because there was no direct confrontation, but that doesn't mean there weren't conflicts. "Seychelles Global Citizen: The Autobiography of the Founding President of the Republic of Seychelles" is the biography of a man who was President of the small Island Nation of Seychelles after the island was given its independence in 1976. Although only president for a year before a communist coup overthrew him, he presents a unique perspective on the cold war that's unlikely to be duplicated. "Seychelles Global Citizen" is a fascinating read that should not be missed by history buffs.

Public Poet, Private Man
Christoph Irmscher
University of Massachusetts Press
PO Box 429, Amherst, MA 01004
9781558495845 $24.95 www.umass.edu/umpress 1-800-537-5487

Some men are pioneers of their art form during their eras. "Public Poet, Private Man: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow At 200" is a biography of one of the premier authors and poets of the early nineteenth century in America, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. A man of the world, Henry believed that American literature should be like its people, the best from around the world. His life is an important one in the history of American literature, making "Public Poet, Private Man" a fine entry into any literary or biography collection.

Beautiful Hardship: My Story
B. Michael Fett
Millennial Mind Publishing
c/o American Book Publishing
5442 So. 900 East, #146, Salt Lake City, UT 84117-7204
9781589825550 $22.00 www.american-book.com

If you've made bad decisions all your life, it doesn't mean it's too late to start making good ones. "Beautiful Hardship: My Story" is the autobiography of Bret Michael Fett, whose career as bodybuilder led him down a dark road of steroid abuse. But when he tried to get his life on track by becoming a commercial airline pilot, the aftermath of September 11th left him without a job and soon without a home. An inspirational story of turning one's life around and keeping the fight up even when the world beats you down, "Beautiful Hardship" is quite the read, a highly recommended treasure.

The Road to Siena
Edmund G. Gardner, author
Jon M. Sweeney, editor
Paraclete Press
PO Box 1568, Orleans, MA 02653
9781557256218 $21.99 www.paracletepress.com

The lives of saints are exceptional of those who rose beyond their peers to earn their title. "The Road to Siena: The Essential Biography of St. Catherine" is the story of the life and times of one of the most treasured saints of Italy, Catherine of Siena. A bold woman who stood up for the people while speaking out against the queen with honesty, her life is covered with much depth to help readers gain a feel for who the woman truly was. "The Road to Siena" is a must read for those who want to better understand the people who became the saints.

The Life of Mary Queen of Scots
Roderick Graham
Pegasus Books
80 Broad Street,5th Floor, New York, NY 10004
9781605980492 $35.00 www.pegasusbooks.com

Even when one is when born into nobility, there is no guarantee of a good end. "The Life of Mary, Queen of Scots: An Accidental Tragedy" follows the life story of one of the most intriguing figures in European monarchy. Crowned queen shortly after her birth and married to two short lived husbands, her life started going downhill when she found herself imprisoned and eventually executed by Queen Elizabeth I of England. "The Life of Mary, Queen of Scots" is a fine addition to any European history collection.

Cops, Crooks, and Other Crazies
George C. Nuttall
New Century Press
1055 Bay Blvd., Suite C, Chula, Vista, CA 91911
9781890035747, $24.95, www.newcenturypress.com

From normal people having a bad day to the crazies, "Cops, Crooks, and Other Crazies: Memoirs of 31 Years in the San Diego Police Department and the California Highway Patrol" is the reflections of the author George C. Nuttall's time as a highway patrolman. "Cops, Crooks, and Other Crazies" has no shortage of intriguing stories that will entertain readers as well as make readers sympathize with the plights of some of these so called criminals. Nuttall provides a wide range of stories that range from the scum of the earth to the leaders of nations. "Cops, Crooks, and Other Crazies" is a top pick for memoir collections.

Roses and Revolutions
Dudley Randall
Wayne State University Press
4809 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48201-1309
9780814334454, $27.95, www.wsupress.wayne.edu

One of the foremost icons of African American literature and poetry, "Roses and Revolutions: The Selected Writings of Dudley Randall" offers readers a dive into the mind of one Dudley Randall, using his work in short fiction and poetry as an exploration of his beliefs, drawing conclusions on his impact on black literature. "Roses and Revolutions" is a seminal addition to any literary collection focusing on African American literary history.

A Mother's Search for Meaning
Roberta Bandy
Concordia Publishing House
3558 South Jefferson Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63118-3968
9780758617774 $9.99 www.cph.org 1-800-325-3040

A child with a disorder is not a child to shunned. "A Mother's Search for Meaning: The Dance Goes On..." tells the story of Roberta Brandy and her son Rob. Rob was born with a rare disorder that made his life short, but during his life, there was much Roberta gained. A Christian oriented inspirational book, "A Mother's Search for Meaning" will ring true for other Christian parents of disabled children. "A Mother's Search for Meaning" is ultimately an uplifting read.

Yakuza Moon
Shoko Tendo
Kodansha America, Inc.
451 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016
9784770030863 $11.95 www.kodanshaamercia.com 1-800-451-7556

What's it like, growing up in a family of crime? "Yakuza Moon: Memoirs of a Gangster's Daughter" is the memoir of Shoko Tendo, born to a member of a street gang. Remembering her home life, and how she began to turn her life around for the better, she presents a vivid account of what a life of crime does to one's children, and what it is like to grow up dubbed as the 'yakuza kid'. "Yakuza Moon" is a highly intriguing and fascinating story that is sure to please any true crime reader.

By His Own Wits
John Meers
North Star Press of St. Cloud, Inc.
PO Box 451, St. Cloud MN 56302
9780878393053, $14.95, www.northstarpress.com

It's the American dream. "By His Own Wits: A Polish Orphan Finds a Future in the United States" is the touching story that has inspired so many throughout the years. John Meers fled Poland early in life during World War II, and the life he found in the United States. Not a perfect example of the American dream, Meers faced much hardship throughout his life and even when he started to pull himself up and make his life in the United States. A moving story that is sure to inspire readers with the tenacity of the human spirit, "By His Own Wits" is a solid and recommended read for memoir and biography fans.


The Self-Help Shelf

Let My Words Be Sweet Upon You
Emma Hofstede
North Star Press of St. Cloud, Inc.
PO Box 451, St. Cloud, MN 56302
9780878393398, $19.95, www.northstarpress.com

The wisdom of a grandmother is the wisdom of a woman who has seen a lot of the world. "Let My Words Be Sweet Upon You: Messages from Grandmother God" is a collection of inspirational writings from author Emma Hofstede, combing the concepts of God and the Grandmother, a wise being who loves without question. The wisdom is simple, profound, and will give readers much to smile about. "Let My Words Be Sweet Upon You" is of highly recommended reading to anyone who desires more love in the world.

The Art Of Meaningful Living
Christopher F. Brown & John Palmer
Synergy Books
c/o Phenix & Phenix Literary Publicists
2100 Kramer Lane, Suite 300, Austin, TX 78758
www.phenixpublicity.com
9780982160176, $29.95, www.amazon.com

Combining psychology with art, "The Art Of Meaningful Living" is a truly elegant self-help, self-improvement guidebook for transforming our lives through employing our passions to overcome our fears, our dissatisfactions, and our disappointments. Christopher F. Brown draws upon his many years as a professional psychotherapist to articulate and exemplify psychological concepts derived from his own life and the lives of his patients. John Palmer enhances the informative and insightful text with seventy-five pieces of thematically original and truly impressive artworks. The result is a compendium of useful information and authentic inspiration that is particularly recommended to the attention of anyone struggling with grief, pain, and the 'dark night of the soul'.

Your Ex-Factor
Stephen B. Poulter, Ph.D.
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2119
9781591027249, $18.98 www.prometheusbooks.com

YOUR EX-FACTOR: OVERCOME HEARTBREAK AND BUILD A BETTER LIFE offers a step-by-step survey taking readers from divorce to a separate life then a more fulfilling emotional attachment. From how breakups happen to how to put them behind, this is a key resource for any general lending library and many a psychology collection.

Ditching Mr. Wrong
Nicholas Aretakis
Next Stage Press
24950 N. 107th Place, Scottsdale, AZ 85255
9780977622436, $24.95 www.nextstagepress.com

Why do so many women find Mr. Right impossible to locate? Because they are all too often wasting time on Mr. Wrong! Men's personalities - the wrong ones - are typed in this guide to 'wrong men'. Exercises, quizzes, and checklists help women recognize Mr. Wrong more quickly. Ditching Mr. Wrong is the perfect gift for that woman who can't seem to find 'Mr. Right' in her life.

What Do You Want From Me?
Terri Apter
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393066975, $25.95 www.wwnorton.com

WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME? LEARNING TO GET ALONG WITH IN-LAWS is a pick for any general-interest library, offering a look at how in-laws affect married life, well-being and more. The author's a psychologist versed in family dynamics with prior successful books to her name: she draws on two decades of research and provides a concrete guide for any interested in developing better relationships with in-laws.

Time Well Spent
Lyndon Jones and Paul Loftus
Kogan Page USA
525 South 4th Street, #241, Philadelphia, PA 19147
www.koganpage.com 1-800-232-0223
9780749456498 $17.95, www.amazon.com

Time is money, and if you're wasting time, you're wasting money. "Time Well Spent: Getting Things Done Through Effective Time Management" is a guide to help business leaders more effectively manage their time for greater productivity. With advice on knowing one's own limits, combating procrastination, running quicker meetings, and so much more, "Time Well Spent" is a top pick for any manager who wants to budget their time more efficiently.

Good Influence
Daniel R. Heischman
Morehouse Publishing
445 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016
9780819223630, $16.00

There is a certain wisdom that comes with age that is passed from generation to generation. "Good Influence: Teaching the Wisdom of Adulthood" is a musing of the wisdom that comes with age and how to teach it. Daniel R. Heischman discusses age and maturity, stating there are things that some adults need to do to earn the respect of younger people. "Good Influence" is well worth the read for anyone who is trying to be an effective mentor.

Moments of Being
Barrie Brett
Morgan James Publishing, LLC
1225 Franklin Ave., Ste 325, Garden City, NY 11530-1693
9781600376245 $19.95 www.MorganJamesPublishing.com

Radical changes are oh so possible throughout one's life. "Moments of Being: ...Finding Your One Moment in Time" examines the brief moments in time that change lives, provide epiphanies and change the very course of one's being. These moments however, are not always positive and if not handled properly, may lead one down the wrong path in life. "Moments of Being" is a fine and recommended read for those trapped in one of these life altering moments and want the better outcome.

Love Each Day
Gail Bernice Holland
Modern History Press
c/o Loving Healing Press
5145 Pontiac Trail, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
9781932690798 $16.95 www.lovinghealing.com

A day hated is a day wasted. "Love Each Day: Live Each Day So You Would Want to Live it Again" is a collection of inspirational true stories about making the most out of each day. With advice from normal everyday people on countless assorted walks of life, their stories grant readers the enlightenment they seek to help gain a more complete and comprehensive grasp of what one needs to truly be happy. "Love Each Day" is a pick me up with real, down to earth advice for the common man.


The Education Shelf

Methods and Materials for Teaching the Gifted, third edition
Frances A. Karnes & Suzanne M. Bean
Prufrock Press
Box 8813, Waco, TX 76714-8813
www.prufrock.com
9781593633479, $115.00, www.amazon.com

Ideally, every public and private school system should incorporate into its curriculums classes specifically designed for gifted and talented students. That's why this newly updated and significantly expanded third edition of "Methods and Materials for Teaching the Gifted" is such a highly advised and strongly recommended addition to school libraries and university teaching department reference collections and classroom teacher supplemental reading lists. Deftly compiled and edited by Frances A. Karnes (Professor of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education, University of Southern Mississippi) and Suzanne M. Bean (Director of the roger F. Wicker Center for Creative Learning and Professor of Education, Mississippi University for Women), "Methods and Materials for Teaching the Gifted" is a compilation of twenty-three informed and informative articles by experts, scholars, and researchers in the field of gifted education, addressing a variety of thematically appropriate issues relevant to gifted education curriculum development including assessing the needs of gifted students, instructional planning and evaluation, educational strategies, as well as supporting and enhancing gifted student programs. Of special note are the lists of teacher resources provided which include books, periodicals, and web sites, as well as the descriptive information regarding blogs, podcasts, and wikis, and social networking.

Fairy Tales Readers Theatre
Anthony D. Fredericks
Teacher Ideas Press
c/o ABC-CLIO
PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
9781591588498 $25.00 www.teacherideaspress.com

These stories enchanted the youths of many generations, and can be a fine introduction to the finer arts. "Fairy Tales Readers Theatre" presents common fairy tales and some heavily inspired takes on them, so that they may be easily taught to younger students as an introduction to theatre and acting. "Fairy Tales Readers Theatre" is a must for any educator who feels theatre is part of a solid English curriculum.

Making Math Accessible to English Language Learners: Grades K-2
Solution Tree
304 West Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, IN 47404
www.solution-tree.com 1-800-733-6786
9781934009628 $24.95, www.amazon.com

It can prove an arduous task to learn mathematics when one is still trying to grasp the language the teacher is speaking. "Making Math Accessible to English Language Learners: Grade K-2" is a guide for teaching mathematics to young children whose first language isn't English, and who are in the process of learning. Solution Tree arms teachers with much knowledge about how to effectively communicate through language barriers to young students. "Making Math Accessible to English Language Learners" is a must for any math teacher responsible for instructing young English language learners.

Safe & Healthy Secondary Schools
Susan Lamke, Denise Pratt, Stan Graeve
Boys Town Press
14100 Crawford St., Boys Town, NE 68010
9781934490112, $24.95, www.boystownpress.org

Too much emotional turmoil can lead to highly toxic secondary schools where both students and teachers feel unsafe. "Safe & Healthy Secondary Schools: Strategies to Build Relationships, Teach Respect, and Deliver Meaningful Behavioral Support to Students" is a guide for educators to combating teen angst and all the problems that so often come with it. Encouraging teachers to make more of a difference in their students' lives, "Safe & Healthy Secondary Schools" is a solid guide to better middle and high schools for tomorrow.

Students with Asperger Syndrome
Lorraine E. Wolf, Jane Thierfeld Brown, G. Ruth Kukiela Bork, et. al.
Autism Asperger Publishing Co.
PO Box 23173, Shawnee Mission, KS 66283
9781934575390, $26.95, www.asperger.net

Asperger's is a unique condition in that it's not necessarily an impairment. "Students with Asperger Syndrome: A Guide for College Personnel" discusses Asperger syndrome and how college-level educators and administrators should deal with students affected with the condition and how these students are different from the others. Defining Asperger's and how it will affect the many different avenues of campus life, "Students with Asperger Syndrome" is a strong and highly recommended pick for these teachers who may not be familiar with Asperger's.

Teacher Practice Online
Desiree H. Pointer Mace
Teacher's College Press
1234 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027
9780807749685, $25.95, www.tcpress.com

With young, impressionable minds in their hands, teachers need to be at their best. "Teacher Practice Online: Sharing Wisdom, Opening Doors" is a guide for teachers for using the internet to improve their craft and improve their skills when it comes to teaching students at any age. All across the internet there is a teaching brain trust that many teachers can draw wisdom from. "Teacher Practice Online" is a guide for teachers to finding and using this wisdom to the fullest, making an ideal pick for any educator who wants the best possible for their students.

200+ Educational Strategies To Teach Children of Color
Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu
African American Images
PO Box 1799, Chicago Heights, IL 60412
9781934155196 $14.95 africanamericanimages.com

What cultural differences must one take into account when dealing with colored students? "200+ Educational Strategies to Teach Children of Color" is a guide packed cover to cover for educators filled with simple straightforward strategies for educators to give them a leg up in educating their students and how to approach and motivate them. "200+ Educational Strategies to Teach Children of Color" is a fine addition to any educational collection focusing on multicultural education.

Rethinking Homework
Cathy Vatterott
ASCD
1703 N. Beauregard St., Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
9781416608257, $23.95, www.ascd.org/books

Students everywhere hate it, but is it rightfully so? "Rethinking Homework: Best Practices That Support Diverse Needs" is an educational discussion of homework and its role in the modern educational processes. Presenting both sides of the homework debate, Cathy Vatterott chooses instead to focus on a different approach that supports quality over quantity of work, and encouraging children to get it done while not punishing them too harshly if they cannot. "Rethinking Homework" is an excellent pick and highly recommended reading for those planning today's curriculums.

ACT or SAT?
Josh Bornstein & Rebecca Lessem
The Princeton Review
c/o Random House
1745 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
9780375429248, $15.99, www.princetonreview.com

Both have become accepted at many of the major schools throughout the country. "ACT or SAT?: Choosing the Right Exam for You" is a guide for potential college attendees who want to know which entrance exam will prove better for them to increase their chances for their future. Outlining the various different nuances between the two tests, the advantages and disadvantages, and how some aspects of one's personality will apply better to each, almost every aspect of each test is covered. Any aspiring college student should consider "ACT or SAT?", a very thorough resource.

The Power of Your Child's Imagination
Charlotte Reznick, Ph.D.
Perigee
c/o Penguin Putnam
375 Hudson, New York NY 10014
9780399535079, $14.95 www.penguin.com

THE POWER OF YOUR CHILD'S IMAGINATION: HOW TO TRANSFORM STRESS AND ANXIETY INTO JOY AND SUCCESS shows how to empower a child for survival and how to handle daily stress-related problems from headaches and coping with death and divorce to schoolwork concentration issues and squabbling with siblings and others. Parents and educators alike will find this a key acquisition.

Creative Activities for Young Children, 9th edition
Mary Mayesky
Delmar Cengage Learning
10 Davis Drive, Belmont, CA 94002-3098
1428321802, $127.95, www.cengage.com

The 9th updated edition of CREATIVE ACTIVITIES FOR YOUNG CHILDREN offers a comprehensive coverage of two-dimensional activities, development levels, creative language experiences, and a host of learning tools for young kids, making this a top pick for any library strong in early education. Color photos, sidebar charts, clear explanations and more make for a fine and comprehensive guide.

RedLeaf Press
10 Yorkton Court, St. Paul MN 55117
www.redleafpress.org

Preschoolers receive a fine educational foundation based on tested techniques and tools of success and assessment in an activities guide any educator will relish, Harlan S. Hansen, Ph.D. and Ruth M. Hansen, Ph.D.'s LESSONS FOR LITERACY (9781933653907, $24.95). From classroom basics that reinforce literacy learning to building letters, numbers, vocabulary and strong family participation in the process, this is packed with important keys to successful preschooler engagement. Education collections will also welcome Aerial Cross' ANTS IN THEIR PANTS: TEACHING CHILDREN WHO MUST MOVE TO LEARN (9781933653877, $29.95). Here's a fine survey of busy children who are constantly in motion and curious - who require tactile experiences through the day to thrive. Educators learn how to tailor atmospheres for these kids, offering a hands-on resource for sensory-play activities and more. Lisa Burman's ARE YOU LISTENING? (9781933653464, $27.95) provides a fine series of dialogues between teachers and children and uses examples to illustrate how to listen more and talk less. From focusing conversations in a classroom to setting up a learning environment that encourages kids to communicate amongst each other more effectively, educators receive an outstanding guide.

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

John L. Badgett and Edwin P. Christmann's DESIGNING ELEMENTARY INSTRUCTION AND ASSESSMENT USING THE COGNITIVE DOMAIN (9781412971218, $26.95) provides a fine tool for any teacher seeking an easy resource of step-by-step guidelines for writing measurable objectives and developing assessments. Teachers learn how to develop unit and daily objectives based on local and national standards and receive examples of assessment items from three major subject areas in this pick for any education library. Also a top pick is Bob Algozzine, et.al.'s 63 TACTICS FOR TEACHING DIVERSE LEARNERS GRADES 6-12 (9781412942423, $33.95), a survey packed with field-tested teaching methods for students with diverse needs. From how to blend different learning styles into a classroom to supportive worksheets and tips from teachers who have used these methods, this is packed with real-world, research-based teaching. Victoria Groves Scott's PHONEMIC AWARENESS: READY-TO-USE LESSONS, ACTIVITIES AND GAMES (9781412972154, $33.95) provides an outstanding second, updated edition packed with an updated collection of nearly fifty lessons for children in grades K-3 or students in grades 4-6 who have reading difficulty. Activities are arranged in phonemes or sounds and teaches can sequence them according to skills ranging form rhyming and blending to identification in a fine overview of lesson plans paired with reproducible forms. Very highly recommended for any working with young kids. Jan Miller Burkins' PRACTICAL LITERACY COACHING: A COLLECTION OF TOOLS TO SUPPORT YOUR WORK (9780872074736, $24.95) offers literacy coaches a fine set of tools for defining a coaching role, developing learning communities, coaching teachers, and documenting work. Any involved in literacy support work will find this packed with key approaches. Elaine K. McEwan's TEACH THEM ALL TO READ, 2nd edition (9781412964982, $35.95) shows teachers how to help students read, offering the latest research in reading instruction, effective instructional practices, graphic organizers of key concepts, and more. Educators are proving successful at teaching every child how to read, and this surveys strategies and tells how to keep kids from falling through the cracks.


The International Studies Shelf

The Iraq War: Origins and Consequences
James DeFronzo
Westview Press
2465 Central Avenue, Boulder, CO 80301
www.westviewpress.com 1-800-242-7737
9780813343914 $32.00, www.amazon.com

Written by James DeFronzo (emeritus faculty of sociology, University of Connecticut) The Iraq War: Origins and Consequences is a close study of the historical, social, and political aspects of the Iraq War, from the forces and political decisions that caused it to the most important facts about the occupation, the development of the resistance, and the conflict's effect on other nations. More than just a historical account, The Iraq War: Origins and Consequences speculates on the future of the relationship between Iraq and the U.S., grounding its predictions for possible outcomes solidly in the evidence of the present. "'A lot of women in Iraq will say this was a war meant... to bring a better life and in fact, the bitter irony is that it brought exactly the opposite.'... Family law was turned over to religious courts. A number of female activists or women considered immoral were murdered, and criminal justice authorities seemed unwilling or powerless to punish the perpetrators. Banning female police officers from carrying guns threatened to reduce the number of policewomen, making the investigation and punishment of rape and spousal abuse much more difficult." A level-headed, at times disturbing account, The Iraq War: Origins and Consequences is highly recommended.

Africa's Freedom Railway
Jamie Monson
Indiana University Press
601 North Morton St., Bloomington, IN 47404-3797
9780253352712, $39.95 http://upress.indiana.edu

In the 1970s a team of Chinese railway workers and their Tanzanian counterparts faced a team of American-led road workers advancing across the same countryside - in direct competition with the Chinese railway project. A standoff ensued between the two development projects - and first-hand experiences of engineers and laborers contribute to a survey of the railroad's design, construction, and effects on the local social and economic atmosphere of one of the poorest countries in Africa. College-level collections strong in African culture and history need this.

The Handbook of Country Risk
Coface
GMB Publishing
525 South 4th Street, Suite 241, Philadelphia, PA 19147
9781846731723, $125.00, www.globalmarketbriefings.com

Not every country has the same relative political stability that the United States promotes. "The Handbook of Country Risk: 2009-2010" is a complete and comprehensive business guide for those who want to expand into international territory for their business. Continent by continent, country by country, the people at Coface present a scholarly manual that would do well in being in the library of any aspiring international business. Weaknesses, strengths, and other key information grace each entry, giving readers a greater understanding of each country and its prospects for profit. "The Handbook of Country Risk" is simply an absolute must.

What is Iran?
Laurie Blanton Pierce
Herald Press
616 Walnut Avenue, Scottsdale, PA 15683-1999
9780836194463 $12.99 www.heraldpress.com 1-800-759-4447

Ignorance breeds hatred when it's not necessary. "What is Iran?: A Primer on Culture, Politics, and Religion" is a guide hoping to drive Americans to gain a better understanding of Iran and its people by discussing its history, culture, and how Iran stands in the modern day in international affairs such as terrorism. For anyone who is looking for a solid introductory on the nation of Iran, "What is Iran?" is a solid choice that encourages readers direct their hate at the governments, not the people, and understand what Iran is truly responsible for.

Negotiating with Iran
John W. Limbert
United States Institute of Peace Press
PO Box 605, Herndon, VA 20172
9781601270436 $14.95 www.usip.org 1-800-868-8064

Iran is something that must be approached gingerly. "Negotiating with Iran: Wrestling the Ghosts
of History" discusses how to approach the Iranian government when the United States and Iran have had a shaky relationship for decades, through much of the countries' shared existence. John Limbert puts his scholarly mind with advice to diplomats and other international negotiators on how to come out of this conflict a more peaceful world, and averting a potential nuclear crisis. "Negotiating with Iran" is a wise and highly recommended read for those who seek a better understanding of the current crisis.

Russia and the North
Elana Wilson Rowe, editor
University of Ottawa Press
542 King Edward, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1N 6N5
9780776607009 $29.00 www.uporess.uottawa.ca 1-800-565-9523

If you look at a standard map, it may not seem Norway is neighbors with Russia and Canada, but that's because you aren't looking north. "Russia and the North" is a scholarly discussion of Russia and its international disputes with its nearby neighbors via the North Pole. The arctic carries its own politics and dilemmas that these nations in unison must cooperate over - fishing rights, climate change, territorial issues, and more. "Russia and the North" is an intriguing look at a set of politics that so often goes ignored in international affairs.


The Gardening Shelf

A Weed by Any Other Name
Nancy Gift
Beacon Press
25 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108-2892
9780807085523, $23.95, www.beacon.org

Weeds are still life, and there can be a certain beauty to them. "A Weed By Any Other Name: The Virtues of a Messy Lawn, or Learning to Love the Plants We Don't Plant" is a gardening manual with a new approach to weeds. Nancy Gift preaches a new method of gardening, pushing people to instead embrace the natural life on their lawn. With recipes to use some of these so called 'weed', Gift presents an intriguing gardening book. For this reason, "A Weed By Any Other Name" is a solid and recommended read for those sick of de-weeding their lawn.


The Gay Studies Shelf

Smash the Church, Smash the State
Tommi Avicolli Mecca, editor
City Lights Publishers
261 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94133
9780872864979, $18.95

When everyone hates you, it's natural to hate them right back. "Smash the Church, Smash the State!: The Early Years of Gay Liberation" is a look at the early days of gay liberation where much of society grew finally tired of hiding a major part of them and took a stand for their rights. A fight that rages on to this day, the stories of those who threw the first stone are inspiring and will motivate current civil rights fighter to stand their ground. "Smash the Church, Smash the State!" is an ideal addition to any history collection focusing on civil rights.


The Fiction Shelf

Journeying
Barbara Fleming
Gale Cengage Learning
27500 Drake Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48331
9781594147906, $25.95, www.cengage.com

Ignorance is not something that can be escaped by location. "Journeying" is a historical romance following one Hannah Morris as she seeks to flee westwards from the high Yankee society in the late nineteenth century, for she has fallen in love with a physician of mixed heritage, Lucas Bowman. But even as they go westward, their love does not find tolerance. Blending romance with the racial intolerance of the past, author Barbara Fleming weaves an intriguing story with "Journeying", a read that will provoke thought as well as entertain.

Mara's Move
Jean C. Gordon
Avalon Books
160 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016
http://avalonbooks.com
9780803499553, $23.95, www.amazon.com

Alex Price was dumped by his social-climbing fiancee. Mara Riley's track record in men has been unrelentingly dismal. When the two of them meet aboard a cruise ship excursion, they agree to help each other fend off undesirable impositions from other shipboard passengers. What begins as a mutual defense pact seems to be evolving into something else quite entirely! Jean C. Godorn is a gifted storyteller and "Mara's Move" is her fifth romance novel for Avalon Books -- and perhaps her best yet! Even so, those other four are also very highly recommended for fans of the romance genre and include: "Mandy and the Mayor" (9780803495340, $23.95); "Love Undercover" (9780803494725, $23.95); "Candy Kisses" (9780803498341, $23.95); and "Bachelor Father" (9780803494138, $23.95).

The Ice Chorus
Sarah Stonich
Alma Books Ltd.
c/o Literary Ventures Fund (publicity)
154 Christopher Street, NY 10014
9781846880827 $14.95 www.literaryventuresfund.org

Marriages stagnate and passions die. "The Ice Chorus" tells the story Liselle Dupre as she relocates to Ireland after a failed marriage in Toronto. She soon finds that the lack of passion that broke her marriage will quickly return as she finds a gentleman called Charlie. New love and new surroundings make for quite the adventure for Liselle, making "The Ice Chorus" a romance that will delight many a reader.

Distant Thunder
Jimmy Root Jr.
Bedside Books
c/o American Book Publishing
5442 So. 900 East, #146, Salt Lake City, UT 84117-7204
9781589825536 $24.95 www.american-book.com

Israel throughout its existence has stood tall, but no one should think of them as saints. "Distant Thunder" takes a fictional situation that holds some ground in reality, the question of what would happen if the world turned its back on Israel. Following the story of American Pastor Ty Dempsey and Israeli military man Moshe Eldan, Jimmy Root weaves an intriguing what if story of a world turning to chaos. "Distant Thunder" a fascinating thriller sure to keep the pages turning.

Blue Shadows Farm
Jerry Apps
Terrace Books
c/o University of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe Street, Third Floor, Madison, WI 53711-2059
9780299232504 $26.95 www.wisc.edu/wisconsinpress 1-800-621-2736

When a family stays in one place for a century, that place becomes a member of the family. "Blue Shadows Farm" is a novel taking place over a century as three generations of Starkweathers care for a farm and face their own challenges. A small area in Wisconsin, Silas comes to found the farm in the mid nineteenth century. His son Abe finds himself bootlegging to keep the bills paid during prohibition, and Abe's daughter is challenged with its sale. Bouncing between the perspectives of the three protagonists, "Blue Shadows Farm" paints a vivid picture of the history of rural America, making for one intriguing and entertaining tale.

Sometimes We're Always Real Same-Same
Mattox Roesch
Unbridled Books
2000 Wadsworth Boulevard, #195, Lakewood, CO 80214
9781932961874 $15.95 www.unbridledbooks.com 1-888-732-3822

Transplanted from LA to Alaska is a heck of a shift. "Sometimes We're Always Real Same-Same" is the story of young Cesar, a young man who has embraced urban culture when his mother moves them to Alaska in a small village where she grew up. A fish out of water, Cesar has to make his way in life and into adulthood in a place that's totally alien to him. "Sometimes We're Always Real Same-Same" is a charming and unique coming of age tale, well composed and a worthwhile read.

Slow Burn
George Alexander
University of Western Australia Press
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 Northeast 58th Avenue, Suite 300, Portland, OR 97213
9781921401244 $22.50 www.isbs.com 1-800-944-6190

Chaos comes in layers, especially for one Alex Tolman. "Slow Burn" is a work of literary fiction from Australia telling the story of Alex, a man who is torn apart by his emotions during his serious marriage issues which may lead to divorce. As a reporter, he has to cover the stories of a terrorist organization which threatens Sydney, in a story which combines many of the problems of contemporary Australia. "Slow Burn" provides an entertaining story as well as a fine picture of Australian politics.

Creede of Old Montana
Stephen Bly
Center Point Large Print
600 Brooks Road, PO Box 1, Thorndike, ME 04986-0001
9781602855755, $29.95

The search for friends can lead someone to so much more. "Creede of Old Montana" is the story of one Avery Creede, who journeyed up the Missouri River to reunite with some old Civil War Army buddies. But when he doesn't find his comrades, he does find conflict after conflict, and himself in the center of them all. A story of one man's stoic nature hoping to guide him through, "Creede of Old Montana" is now available in a large print edition, making it easily accessible for lovers of Westerns whose eyes have begun to betray them.

Life Among the Lutherans
Garrison Keillor
Augsburg Books
PO box 1209, Minneapolis, MN 55440
9780806670614, $23.99, www.augsburgfortress.org

A pastor is a leader, but he is not the solution to all of life's problems. "Life Among the Lutherans" is a collection of short stories of a small Lutheran town in America about the problems they face in their daily lives and the constant pursuit of a more perfect community. Moving and simple stories of small town life, "Life Among the Lutherans" has a very positive message, highly recommended.

An Insignificant Family
Da Ngan
Curbstone Press
321 Jackson Street, Willimantic, CT 06226
9781931896481, $15.00, www.curbstone.org

War changes lives, during it and forever it after. "An Insignificant Family" is a novel of a Vietnamese family following the war with the United State. In particular, one Nguyen Thi My Tiep, who fought in the war as a guerrilla. A woman who is a good citizen at heart, her life depicts the spirit of the Vietnamese strongly through Da Ngan's fine prose. A top pick for literary fiction readers, "An Insignificant Family" is enthusiastically recommended.

The Justice Game
Randy Singer
Tyndale Fiction
351 Executive Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188
Side Door Communications (publicity)
3004 Talaga Drive, Algonquin, IL 60102
9781414316345, $13.99, www.tyndalefiction.com

Sometimes the truth won't be exposed in the courtroom, but behind it. "The Justice Game" tells the story of Kelly Starling and Jason Noble, the persecutor and defense attorney for a majorly sensationalized firearms case, centering around a murder on live television. But what Starling and Noble soon learn, that despite being on opposite sides of the courtroom, that neither of their sides seem to be in the right, as there are more sinister forces behind it all. A fine courtroom thriller of finding justice, "The Justice Game" is quite the page turner.

Collision of Evil
John J. LeBeau
Oceanview
2817 West End Ave., Suite 126-274, Nashville, TN 37203
9781933515540, $25.95, www.oceanviewpub.com

Evil is evil, no matter how old or ancient. "Collision of Evil" is an international thriller following German detective Franz Waldbaer as he works with the brother of a murdered man to solve said murder. Shadows of past evils that the German people are ashamed of still hang over their heads as Waldbaer's investigation of the murder turns into something more than murder, he finds a larger conspiracy may be behind it all. "Collision of Evil" is an exciting thriller, sure to keep the pages turning.

The Badlands Saloon
Jonathan Twingley
Scribner
c/o Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl., New York, NY 10020
9781416587064 $30.00 www.simonsays.com 1-800-223-2336

Far from any media attention and knowledge, sits the small towns of North Dakota. "The Badlands Saloon" is an offbeat and entertaining novel from Jonathan Twingley. An art student from New York finds himself residing in small town North Dakota. He spends his nights in the Badlands Saloon, a Saloon packed with countless strange characters that range from murderers to horrible singers. Charming, entertaining, and a visual delight with unique full-color artwork splattered throughout, "The Badlands Saloon" is a fine choice for fiction readers who like their art, or the other way around.

Under the Table Books
Todd Walton
Lost Coast Press
155 Cypress Street, Fort Bragg, CA 95437
9781935448020 $26.95 www.cypresshouse.com

The characters that make up the stories of our lives are not always the most normal. "Under the Table Books: A Novel of Stories" composes an entertaining and delightful novel out of the stories of many strange and eccentric characters, all focused around an off the beaten path bookstore in California. The characters are all entertaining in their own right, and together they create quite the entertaining blend. "Under the Table Books" is an enthusiastically recommended and enjoyable read.

Then We Saw the Flames
Daniel A. Hoyt
University of Massachusetts Press
PO Box 429, Amherst, MA 01004
9781558496996 $19.95 www.umass.edu/umpress 1-800-537-5487

Variety is the spice of life, and Daniel A. Hoyt has a lot of spice. "Then We Saw the Flames" is a collection of short stories from one Daniel Hoyt, as he presents a fine compilation of short stories that go into a variety of topics, with the overlying themes of the challenges that everyone faces in their life. With plenty of entertainment crammed between the covers, "Then We Saw the Flames" is a great short fiction pick.

Power's Garden
Dianne Ebertt Beeaff
Five Star Books
295 Kennedy Memorial Drive, Waterville, ME 04901
9781589851245 $15.95 http://gale.cengage.com/fivestar 1-800-223-1244

Love doesn't care for God or earthly disagreements. "Power's Garden" is the story of a typical Texas family and their clash with another family in the area who happen to be Mormons. Not getting along without any hitches, the families find themselves butting heads. But in spite of this, there may be hope yet as two of their clans find something more important. A story of rural love in the early twentieth century, "Power's Garden" is a wonderful read that many will relish, highly recommended.

Auto-Erotica
Stacia Saint Owens
The University of West Alabama
UWA Station 22, Livingston, AL 35470
9781604890259, $15.95, www.uwa.edu

At any given time, everyone has their own story, marginally related to each other. "Auto-Erotica" is a novel following this concept as author Stacia Saint Owens tells the story of many individuals throughout the city of Los Angeles. Scams, insane mothers, prostitutes, cults, and more are all the subject that Owns weaves into an entertaining, if sometimes disturbing read. "Auto-Erotica" is a top pick for contemporary fiction collections, highly recommended.


The Literary Shelf

The Book of Jokes
Momus
Dalkey Archive
c/o University of Illinois
1805 S. Wright Street, MC-011, Champaign, IL 61820
9781564785619, $13.95, www.dalkeyarchive.com

The lives of some aren't governed by logic. They're governed by something far worse. "The Book of Jokes" is a humorous adventure following one Sebastian Skeleton. Murderers and child molesters are his constant companions in his macabre and bizarrely brutal life. Sex crimes of all types appear in this a wickedly dark novel from an offbeat (unhinged?) mind. "The Book of Jokes" is something that has to be read to be understood and is recommended to those who have an appreciation for nasty humor.

Intertexts: Studies in Anglo-Saxon Culture
Virginia Blanton and Helene Scheck, editors
Arizona Center for Medieval & Renaissance Studies
Arizona State University,
PO Box 874402, Tempe, AZ 85287-4402
9780866983822 $57.00, www.amazon.com

Gathered in honor of Paul E. Szarmach, Intertexts: Studies in Anglo-Saxon Culture is an anthology of essays by learned scholars concerning Anglo-Saxon literature and culture. Divided into three segments addressing scholarly reception, material texts and contexts, and textual transmission, Intertexts breathes life into the fascinating study of ancient classics and the changing culture they represented. Highly recommended, especially for college library literary studies shelves.

The Mythology of Imperialism
Jonah Raskin
Monthly Review Press
146 West 29th Street, Suite 6W, New York, NY 10001
9781583671863 $19.95 www.monthlyreview.org 1-800-670-9499

How does the classic literature of Britain's imperial era come into play in today's world? "The Mythology of Imperialism: A Revolutionary Critique of British Literature and Society in the Modern Age" was first published in 1971, but today it still holds much ground as Britain and its former colonies continue to grow more distant from the principles of the Empire, as author Jonah Raskin predicted almost forty years ago. His work is a must read for anyone evaluating and criticizing modern English literature in comparison to the literature of the empire. "The Mythology of Imperialism" is a core addition to any collection focusing on British literature.

Gods and Soldiers
Rob Spillman, Editor
Penguin Press
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10014
9780143114734, $16.00 www.penguin.com

GODS AND SOLDIERS: THE PENGUIN ANTHOLOGY OF CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN WRITING is a top pick for any library strong in African representation. It provides stories reflecting the modern continent's concerns and experiences - some thirty - and reflects different cultures and perspectives across the continent.

Cuentos del Centro: Stories from the Latino Heartland
Latino Writers Collective
Scapegoat Press, LLC
PO Box 410962, Kansas City, Missouri 64141
9780979129124 $15.95

A person's fiction can tell untold things about their heart and soul. "Cuentos del Centro: Stories from the Latino Heartland" is a collection of fiction from Latino writers. The writers are varied within their culture coming to readers with stories about various topics and ideas. These are stories from Americans, and are mostly in English except where Spanish is used for emphasis. "Cuentos Del Centro" is a must for anyone who wants a wider sample of American literature in the big picture.


The Business Shelf

The Truth About Green Business
Gil Friend
FT Press
1330 Avenue of the Americans, 35th fl, New York, NY 10019
9780789739407 $18.99 www.mcp.com

Economic prosperity and environmental prosperity are not mutually exclusive things. "The Truth About Green Business" is a guide for business leaders about keeping their business green while staying out of the red. Stating simple, straight to the point facts for readers about environmentalism's clashes with capitalism, author Gil Friend puts together a solid manual that is fairly comprehensive. "The Truth About Green Business" as such deserves a place in public library as well as private business collections.

Customer Driven Change
Bud Taylor
Brown Books Publishing Group
16200 N. Dallas Parkway, Suite 170, Dallas, Texas 75248
9781934812402 $26.95 www.BrownBooks.com www.customerdrivenchange.com

It all boils down to the customers - without them, you don't have a business. "Customer Driven Change: What Your Customers Know, Your Employees Think, Your Managers Overlook" is a book about business and change, a necessary practice to keep up in today's hectic business world. Emphasizing the value of employees, author Bud Taylor offers his opinions on many problems ranging from acquiring competitors to downsizing. "Customer Driven Change" is a realist's business book, highly recommended reading for managers and leaders.

The Sticking Point Solution
Jay Abraham
Vanguard Press
c/o Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
www.vanguardpressbooks.com
9781593155100 $25.95, www.amazon.com

Growth is the key element for a successful business. "The Sticking Point Solution: 9 Ways to Move Your Business From Stagnation to Stunning Growth in Tough Economic Times" is a guide to avoiding stagnation in one's business, by sticking to one's goals and not straying from them. Outlining nine sticking points, author Jay Abraham hopes to help business leaders and their business endure a rough economy. "The Sticking Point Solution" belongs in every business library collection.

Beyond Success
Jeffrey L. Gitterman
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019-7420
0814413366, $22.00 www.amacombooks.org

BEYOND SUCCESS: REDEFINING THE MEANING OF PROSPERITY tells what happened to make author Jeffrey Gitterman so successful - and how any can follow his lead. He went from earning less than, $20K a year as an insurance salesman struggling with debt to running his own financial company and multiplying his income. At the peak of success he began to question assumptions about happiness and money - and found a way to achieve and enjoy a different kind of success. His inspirational guide is a top pick for both business and general lending libraries.

Addison-Wesley
c/o Pearson Education
801 East 96th Street, 3rd floor, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.informit.com/seiseries

The second updated edition of Bill Curtis, William E. Hefley, Sally A. Miller's People CMM (032155390X, $69.99) documents Version 2 of the People CMM and describes practices for different maturity levels, explaining workforce development at each level and how to apply the framework of CMM as an assessment tool. Human resources and business managers personnel and college-level business libraries catering to them will find PEOPLE CMM packed with tips on a structure broadly adopted by small and large organizations around the world. Pollyanna Pixton, Niel Nickolaisen, et.al.'s STAND BACK AND DELIVER: ACCELERATING BUSINESS AGILITY (0321572882, $39.99) offers the agile leadership tools needed to achieve extraordinary performance levels. It offers immediately usable frameworks and a step-by-step process that helps focus efforts and tells how to use the author's model to make better investment decisions. Chapters offer guidelines on everything from bringing agility concepts to projects to developing innovative collaborative styles. Business libraries will find this inspiring.

Berrett-Koehler
235 Montgomery Street, Suite 650, San Francisco CA 94104-2916
www.bkconnection.com

Edward E. Gordon's WINNING THE GLOBAL TALENT SHOWDOWN: HOW BUSINESSES AND COMMUNITIES CAN PARTNER TO REBUILD THE JOBS PIPELINE (9781576756164, $27.95) maintains that the U.S. and world talent pool is emptying - and it shows how a more global approach to talent shortages can help if communities act now to change the trends. Any serious business collection strong in global business practices needs this survey of future talent shortages and solutions. Kellie A. McElhaney's JUST GOOD BUSINESS: THE STRATEGIC GUIDE TO ALIGNING CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY AND BRAND (9781576754412, $29.95) uses ten years of the author's consulting experience inside companies to build a basic treatise on CSR practices in a title for managers and leaders alike. From knowing a customer to practicing consistency, JUST GOOD BUSINESS is a top pick. John Kador's EFFECTIVE APOLOGY: MENDING FENCES, BUILDING BRIDGES, AND RESTORING TRUST (9781576759011, $19.95) challenges thinking about fundamental values of apology to giver and receiver alike, exploring the basics of apologies that heal versus other types and offering advice on how to accept or reject an apology, and a quiz to test your Apology Quotient. A key guide for any business organization as well as general libraries seeking self-help/self-improvement guides.

Land the Tech Job You Love
Andy Lester
Pragmatic Programmers
P.O. Box 293325, Lewisville, TX 75029-3325
www.pragprog.com
9781934356265, $23.95, www.amazon.com

Programmers, project managers and graphic designers have a harder time finding and landing a job: companies are demanding, the competition is smart and resourceful, and standard skills and approaches likely don't work in the tech industry. That's why Land the Tech Job You Love is a key acquisition for computer and business libraries alike: it tells how to locate the right job, understand the hidden jobs market of the tech industry, and shows what works and why. Real-life stories pepper an account covering everything from interviews to the kind of technical job likely to make you happy.

And Then The Roof Caved In
David Faber
Wiley-Blackwell
10475 Crosspoint Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46256
www.wiley.com
9780470474235, $26.95, www.amazon.com

AND THEN THE ROOF CAVED IN: HOW WALL STREET'S GREED AND STUPIDITY BROUGHT CAPITALISM TO ITS KNEES tells of the realities behind the current economic crisis, detailing what happened to cause the greatest economic collapse since the Depression. It comes from an award-winning correspondent who has covered Wall Street for over two decades and is packed with firsthand accounts of the bankers who have contributed so heavily to this disaster. Any business library needs this.

Course Technology
20 Channel Center St., Boston, MA 02210
www.courseptr.com

In the 'Perspectives' business series the two authors never collaborate - so you get the truth from very different angles on each subject. Michael A. Fina's MANAGING EMPLOYEES (1598638734, $29.99) presents the management perspective of Michael Fina, VP who has worked in his family's business and is regarded as an innovator, as well as the employees of different business structures. From how to get the most from new hires and building relationships to rewarding employees and managing problems, this provides a real winner for any business library catering to managers at any level. Howard Podeswa's UML FOR THE IT BUSINESS ANALYST, 2ND EDITION (1598638688, $49.99) offers a guide to the Unified Modeling Language and tells how to create a business requirements document that confirms to the UML 2.2 standard. From using job aids while working on the job to details for both new IT business analysts and experienced ones, UML FOR THE IT BUSINESS ANALYST updates the latest information for any considering using the Unified Modeling Language.

How I Made It, second edition
Rachel Bridge
Kogan Page US
525 South 4th Street, #241, Philadelphia, PA 19147
9780749455422, $19.95, www.koganpage.com

There is more than one way to get to easy street. "How I Made It: 40 Successful Entrepreneurs Reveal How They Made Millions" imparts the wisdom of millionaires as they relay their story on how they fought tooth and nail from their own relative nothings to take their own piece of the pie. Aiming to inspire readers to do what they need to themselves to gain their riches, "How I Made It" is a top pick for self-help and business collections.

The Work at Home Sourcebook, tenth edition
Lynie Arden
Live Oak Media
PO Box 652, Pine Plains, NY 12567-0652
www.liveoakmedia.com 1-800-788-1121
9780911781205 $19.95, www.amazon.com

Working at home can do much for one's enthusiasm for their work. "The Work at Home Sourcebook" is the tenth edition of this renowned manual. Outlining the staggering amount of positions one can hold from their home, how to enter into them, the qualifications one would need, and more, "The Work at Home Sourcebook" proves an invaluable reference. "The Work at Home Sourcebook" should be at the right hand of anyone interested in a work at home job.

Design-Driven Innovation
Roberto Verganti
Harvard Business School Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
http://press.harvardbusiness.org
9781422124826 $35.00, www.amazon.com

It's easy to win the game if you're writing the rules. "Design-Driven Innovation: Changing the Rules of Competition by Radically Innovating What Things Mean" is a guide to dominating a market through pushing innovation to the point where you create your own unique market, apart from the separate. Using models such as Apple's iPod, which changed the way music was listened to or other radical changes that earned companies millions just by offering something new and unique. "Design-Driven Innovation" is a must for any business who values evolution in their company.

Brand Busters
Chris Wirthwein
Paramount Market Publishing
950 Danby Road, Suite 136, Ithaca, NY 14850
9780980174502, $24.95, www.paramountbooks.com

Marketing is the most key part of selling a product. "Brand Busters: 7 Common Mistakes Marketers Make" explores seven concepts of marketing that are commonly ignored and often lead to inevitable failure. From overestimating a customer's memory to trying to be too broad in scope, to horrible pricing techniques, Chris Wirthwein does well in providing a guide for navigating the minefield of marketing.

The Hamster Revolution
Mike Song, Vicki Halsey, & Tim Burress
Berrett-Koehler
235 Montgomery Street, Suite 650, San Francisco, CA 94104-2916
C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists (publicity)
19 Cardinal Drive, Woodstock, NY 12498
9781605090078, $19.95, www.bkconnection.com

Meetings don't have to be an agonizing nightmare. "The Hamster Revolution for Meetings: How to Meet Less and Get More Done" is a guide to streamlining the meeting system to cut away the clutter of the meetings that so often waste dozens of people's time and assassinate productivity. A treasure for those who would rather sever their arm then attend another meeting, "The Hamster Revolution for Meetings" is a top pick for business collections.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Homicide Related: A Ryan Dooley Mystery
Norah McClintock
Red Deer Press
c/o Fitzhenry & Whiteside Limited
311 Washington Street, Brighton, MA 02135
9780889954311 $12.95 www.fitzhenry.ca

Getting one's life back on the right track after time behind bars is not an easy task. "Homicide Related: A Ryan Dooley Mystery" follows the story of titular character Ryan Dooley as he tries to walk the straight and narrow path, but soon finds his past is bent on knocking him off it. Not only that, his girlfriend's faithfulness is called into question, his mother is something he can't figure out, and his family's dark secrets may be dumped on him. "Homicide Related" is an intriguing read of trying to do what's right when everything is going wrong.

Self's Murder
Bernhard Schlink
Vintage Crime
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780375709098, $15.00, www.vintagebooks.com

If you're good at something, you keep doing it to get by no matter what anyone says. "Self's Murder" tells the story of Gerhard Self, an investigator helping a banker by tracking down his lost partner. When handed money by a mysterious man who is killed shortly after, Gerhard is faced with quite the enigma, and it seems he's forced to do what he does best - solve the case. "Self's Murder" is a choice pick for lovers of mystery.

Vanished
Kat Richardson
ROC
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780451462770, $23.95 www.penguin.com

VANISHED provides a fine urban fantasy telling of a small-time PI who died for two minutes - and became a Greywalker, moving between the living world and the psychic universe. Her new abilities are bringing her all kinds of strange cases - and her own case investigates her transition to becoming a Greywalker in this blend of intrigue and fantasy: a pick for both mystery and fantasy libraries alike.

English Trifle
Josi S. Kilpack
Deseret Books
PO Box 30178, Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0178
9781606411216 $17.95 www.DeseretBook.com

Cooking seems so secondary when there's a corpse around. "English Trifle" follows chef and wannabe detective Saide Hoffmiller as she takes her daughter Breanna to England. Their vacation goes sour when they finds a corpse, and Saide may have to put down the recipe rolodex to solve a murder. "English Trifle" is a delightful combo of mystery and gourmet cooking, highly recommended.

Berkeley Prime Crime
375 Hudson, New York NY 10014
www.penguin.com

Yasmine Galenorn's MURDER UNDER A MYSTIC MOON (9780425200025, $7.99) tells of Emerald's party preparations for a teen daughter's birthday, when she's called upon to use her psychic abilities to look into a friend's disappearance. Her discovery of a body and a murder also uncovers a possible monstrous force in this fine thriller. Elizabeth Lynn Casey's SEW DEADLY (9780425229101, $6.99) tells of Tori, trying to forget gossip about her cheating ex in her small town home when she discovers the tow sweetheart dead at her back door. A fine mystery involves her in intrigue. Sheila Connolly's ROTTEN TO THE CORE (9780425228760, $6.99) provides a new Orchard Mystery revolving around Meg's apple orchard and a killer season when a local organic farmer is found murdered in her springhouse - involving her as the prime suspect. Annette Blair's LARCENY AND LACE (9780425229118, $7.99) tells of Madeira's new vintage clothing store housed in a renovated old town morgue and a dead body uncovered in one of the old body drawers. Add a break-in and intrigue is heavy, here. Chaz McGee's DESOLATE ANGEL (9780425228739, $6.99) tells of a second-rate cop murdered in a drug bust gone bad - and left wandering in limbo. A first-person story of the soul's determination to become a good ghost makes for a fine ghostly mystery. Kaye Morgan's KILLER SUDOKU (9780425228395, $6.99) tells of Liza, looking forward to a sudoku competition to break way form her boyfriends and job - until her toughest opponent drops dead. Contestants are being murdered and she may be next unless she can stem the tide. Jennie Bentley's SPACKLED AND SPOOKED (9780425229132, $6.99) tells of a home renovation gone awry when a home's inhabitants are dead. Avery's boyfriend wants to flip a ranch house where murder once happened - and renovations come to a halt when an unhappy ghost is unearthed. All are outstanding mysteries.

Obsidian
c/o Penguin Group
375 Hudson, New York NY 10014
www.penguin.com

Gail Oust's WHACK N ROLL (9780451227690, $6.99) tells of an active hen group of bunco players who come across a dismembered arm during a golf game and decide to roll out their own investigation as a team. A fine thriller of elderly investigators evolves. Juliet Blackwell's SECONDHAND SPIRITS (9780451227454, $6.99) provides a fine witchcraft mystery telling of Lily, whose spell-casting powers draw mischievous spirits. Her vintage store could become a hit - but a client's murder and children's disappearances involve Lily in a crime-solving path. Sheila Lowe's DEAD WRITE (9780451228123, $6.99) tells of Claudia, on a new assignment to investigate an elite dating service whose members are dying. Claudia's latest investigation places her at odds with her LAPD detective boyfriend, who suspects a dangerous world is being probed. Karen E. Olson's THE MISSING INK (9780451227461, $6.99) tells of Brett, a tattoo artist catering to clients in Las Vegas who does murder investigation on her free time. A dead body, danger and more involve Brett in a questionable world in this fine thriller.

Poisoned Pen Press
6962 E. 1st Ave #103, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
www.poisonedpenpress.com

Ann Parker's LEADEN SKIES: A SILVER RUSH MYSTERY (9781590585771, $24.95) is set in the Leadville, Colorado 1880s era and tells of a part-owner of a saloon whose backroom deal fires when she discovers one of her women dead. It's up to Inez Stannert to investigate - only to find her past has come back to haunt her in this revealing saga, perfect for historical mystery holdings. Tim Maleeny's JUMP (9781590585740, $24.95) tells of a hated San Francisco landlord who jumps off the roof of his own building. The police want to call it suicide, but ex-cop Sam knows it was murder - and knows he could be a suspect. His quest to prove his innocence involves him with neighbors and ultimately danger in this highly charged mystery. Jeffrey Siger's MURDER IN MYKONOS (9781590585818, $24.95) tells of a young woman on holiday in Mykonos in Greece when she vanishes, leading politically incorrect detective Andreas Kaldis on a journey to find a killer nobody cares about before the media destroys the island's reputation as a safe paradise. Another young woman vanishes, and tensions mount in this fine thriller. Margit Liesche's HOLLYWOOD BUZZ (9781590585795, $24.95) tells of one Pucci Lewis, who has been dispatched to a motion picture unit doing a documentary on women airforce service pilots. A suspicious plane crash is threatening the operation, a cover-up is in process, and it's up to Pucci to found answers from a dangerous homicide case in this powerful thriller, a pick for any solid mystery collection. Priscilla Royal's CHAMBERS OF DEATH: A MEDIEVAL MYSTERY (9781590586402, $24.95) packs in a powerful story of Prioress Eleanor, who accepts lodging at a nearby manor and finds underlying family affairs are affecting not just lodging but leading to murder. But the sheriff doesn't really want to investigate the real killer, so it's up to Prioress Eleanor to find out the truth in this revealing historical thriller. Mary Anna Evans' FLOODGATES (9781590585917, $24.95) is set in New Orleans and tells of centuries of tragedy and a flood that killed a thousand people. Faye and her team of archaeologists discover a corpse too new to be part of their historic dig - and become involved in a deadly murder investigation. New Orleans setting and history makes for a fine thriller.


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

Get the Job You Want Even When No One's Hiring
Ford R. Myers
Wiley-Blackwell
10475 Crosspoint Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46256
9780470457412 $19.95 www.wiley.com

With all the fuss about the bad economy, many people assume they have to take anything they can find, and that they can't do what they really want to do. "Get the Job You Want Even When No One's Hiring: Take Charge of Your Career, Find a Job You Love, and Earn What You Deserve" is a guide to establishing one's career in spite of a rough economy. Offering tips from skilled job hunters, suggestions for social networking, and more, author Ford Meyers provides a much needed resource for those who don't want to settle for less. "Get the Job You Want Even When No One's Hiring" is a must for job hunters in a bad economy.

The Complete Guide to Writing Effective Resume Cover Letters
Kimberly Sarmiento
Atlantic Publishing Group, Inc.
1405 S.W. 6th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471
9781601382382 $29.95 www.atlantic-pub.com

For so many jobs, it may boil down to the presentation of the resume. "The Complete Guide to Writing Effective Resume Cover Letters: Step-by-Step Instructions" is a guide for job hunters who want to have every edge they can in getting that job of their dreams. The cover letter is the first thing many employers see, and first impressions are lasting - a poor one is a pain to recover from. Offering countless tips and tricks, author Kimberly Sarmeinto packs in a companion CD with many samples to help job seekers out. "The Complete Guide to Writing Effective Resume Cover Letters" is a strong consideration for those about to send out resumes.


The Psychology Shelf

Mind Works
Antonino Ferro
Routledge
270 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016
www.routledge.com
9780415429917, $99.00, www.amazon.com

One of the volumes composing the outstanding Routledge series 'The New Library of Psychoanalalysis' under the general editorship of Dane Birksted-Breen and published in cooperation and association with The Institute of Psychoanalysis, London, "Mind Works: Techniques And Creativity In Psychoanalysis" by psychiatrist Antonino Ferro (Training and Supervising Analyst, Italian Psychoanalytical Society) is a compilation of session reports combined with client analytical histories which illustrate and illuminate psychoanalytic techniques and concepts including interpretive modalities, the end of analysis, psychosomatic pathologies, narcissism, dreaming, and the influence of both internal and external stimuli upon thoughts and emotions. Presenting a body of seminal and impeccable scholarship, "Mind Works" is especially commended to the attention of academia, therapists, practitioners, and researchers in the fields of psychology and psychiatry.

Connecting Through Music with People with Dementia
Robin Rio
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market St. #400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781843109051, $22.95, www.jkp.com

People with dementia often perceive the world as a frightening, isolating place - and music has been proven to overcome cognitive issues and bring people together. Connecting Through Music with People with Dementia explains to caregivers how they can learn to use melody or rhythm to connect with otherwise non-responsive dementia patients, and is packed with practical advice on using music - including a songbook suggesting popular and effective song choices. Both family and professional caregivers with no former experience of music therapy will find this a key, specific approach.

Free From Lies
Alice Miller
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393069136, $24.95 www.wwnorton.com

FREE FROM LIES: DISCOVERING YOUR TRUE NEEDS shows how former victims can heal the scars of their childhood by finding the true history of their childhood instead of denying it. Therapists should become partial witness to the survivor of obvious cruelty - and Dr. Miller proposes a way to help patients find the right therapist who will stay on the wide of their wounded child self. The dynamics of abused kids and their reactions as adults makes for a particularly engrossing self-help title key for any psychology or general lending collection.

Mental Health Disorders Sourcebook, 4th edition
Amy L. Sutton, Editor
Omnigraphics
Box 31-1640, Detroit, MI 48231
9780780810419 $93.00 www.omnigraphics.com

The 4th updated edition of MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS SOURCEBOOK offers consumers all the basics and latest facts about medications, treatments, mental health concerns in all ages, and tips on living with mental illness. From recognizing signs to following preventative lifestyles and handling a diagnosis, no health collection should be without this resource, which will reach into many a general lending library as well.

Object Relations Self-Psychology
Barry Joseph Weber and David I. Downing
University of Indianapolis Press
1400 E. Hanna Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46227-3697
www.uindy.edu/universitypress
9781880938720, $39.95, www.amazon.com

OBJECT RELATIONS & SELF-PSYCHOLOGY: A USER-FRIENDLY PRIMER offers a primary text introduction to complex theories. It blends developmental theory and treatment methods to assist clinicians and psychology students alike, covering a new theory that offers new foundations. Any working in short-term psychoanalytical psychotherapy will find specific listings of symptoms and approaches in this key college-level survey.

Caveman Logic
Hank Davis
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781591027218 $19.98 www.prometheusbooks.com

Even with all the technology and scientific advancement we have, we're still nothing more than hairless apes. "Caveman Logic: The Persistence of Primitive Thinking in a Modern World" is a discussion of this irrationality that seems to affect all of mankind. Written in a light hearted manner, the issue is not one necessarily one to be laughed at, being the root of many problems America and its neighbors still face. A delve into the psychology of modern man and how the vestigial instincts still drive us, "Caveman Logic" is an utterly fascinating read that will shed light on modern reason.

An American Jungian
George R. Elder & Dianne D. Cordic, editors
Inner City Books
Box 1271, Station Q, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4T 2P4
9781894574266 $35.00 www.innercitybooks.net

Often, good ideas start in other countries, but it takes someone else to bring it to America. "An American Jungian: In Honor of Edward F. Edinger" explores this psychiatrist who was on the frontier of bringing Jungian philosophy to America, and throughout his life published many psychological manuals to help others in their research of the mind. Much of his shorter work and essays are provided within this volume, offering a snapshot of one of the greatest minds in the recent history of American psychology. "An American Jungian" would do well in any psychological collection, especially with those with a focus on its history.

Memory Rehabilitation
Barbara A. Wilson
Guilford Publications, Inc.
72 Spring Street, New York, NY 10012
9781606232873 $48.00 www.guilford.com

They say the memory is the first thing to go, but can it be taken back? "Memory Rehabilitation: Integrating Theory and Practice" is a scholarly psychological text discussing memory and how to rehabilitate it when faced with disorders such as amnesia, memory loss attributed to age and other disorders such as Alzheimers. The therapies listed include everything from simple aids to ways to train one's mind. "Memory Rehabilitation" is a informed and highly scholarly text that does well in every community or college library collection that focuses on psychology and its disorders.


The Parenting Shelf

Talk to Me, Baby!
Betty S. Bardige
Paul H. Brookes Publishing Company
PO Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
9781557669773 $24.95 www.brookespublishing.com 1-800-638-3775

Speech comes faster to some children than others, but parents can help. "Talk to Me, Baby!: How You Can Support Young Children's Language Development" is a guide for parents who want to encourage their children's speech development. With plenty of activities that one can do with their child to spur their natural talent for speech, with tips and advice for potential impediments or even helping a child in a bilingual household grasp both languages, author Betty S. Bardige provides a solid manual. "Talk to Me, Baby!" is a strong choice for parents and community library parenting collections.

Baby Smarts
Jackie Silberg
Gryphon House
PO Box 207, Beltsville, MD 20704
9780876590652 $12.95 www.ghbooks.com 1-800-638-0928

You want your child to get every edge they can possibly get. "Baby Smarts: Games for Playing and Learning" is a parent's guide to playing with one's child to promote education and put their brain to work for a better future. Suggesting that playing with one's child is the best way to promote a healthy mind and intellectually stimulate them, "Baby Smarts" is a strong choice for parents who want their children to be the next great thinkers of the world.

The Safe Baby, expanded and revised edition
Debra Smiley Holtzman
Sentient Publications
1113 Spruce Street, Boulder, CO 80302
9781591810858 $16.95 www.sentientpublications.com 1-303-443-2188

Every parent wants their child to be safe. "The Safe Baby: A Do-It-Yourself Guide to Home Safety and Healthy Living" is an expanded and revised edition of Debra Smiley Holtzman's previous volumes on doing what one can to baby proofing one's home. The home is a dangerous place, and it's impossible to assure complete safety, but there are many things a parent can do to lower the chances of an accident. With plenty of tips on advice on a more safe environment for one's child, "The Safe Baby" is a fine volume for parents to have on hand, and an excellent baby shower gift.

The Autism Transition Guide
Carolyn Thorwarth Bruey, Psy.D.
Mary Beth Urban, M.Ed.
Woodbine House
6510 Bells Mill Road, Bethesda, MD 20817
9781890627812 $19.95 www.woodbinehouse.com

School is meant to prepare anyone for the life ahead, but autistic students require a special approach. "The Autism Transition Guide: Planning the Journey From School to Adult Life" is a guide for educators and parents who want to best prepare their autistic child for the more complex nuances of adult life. Housing, employment, and other topics are discussed in this informative help book for parents and their autistic children. "The Autism Transition Guide" as such is a strong consideration for parents of these special children.


The Gaming Shelf

Planning the Play of a Bridge Hand
Barbara Seagram and David Bird
Master Point Press
331 Douglas Ave., Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5M 1H2
9781897106518 $19.95 www.masterpointpress.com

Bridge can be a fun game, but it can be quite daunting to get into at times. "Planning the Play of a Bridge Hand" is an introductory guide to the game of bridge. Explaining simple strategies that one needs to learn when first starting, Barbara Seagram and David Bird cover the basics and then some. For anyone looking to get into the game of bridge, "Planning the Play of a Bridge Hand" is a solid pick and is highly recommended.

Dangerous Weapons: The King's Indian
Richard Palliser, Glenn Flear, and Yelena Dembo
Everyman Chess
c/o The Globe Pequot Press
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
9781857445930, $24.95, www.everymanchess.com 1-800-243-0495

Chess is a game to see who has the most effective strategies. "Dangerous Weapons: The King's Indian: Dazzle Your Opponents!" is a guide to using what is considered an unorthodox opening in the game of chess, the King's Indian. Examining the strategy, its history, and how each side of the board must play it different to gain the most effect, expert player Richard Palliser and his collaborators bring forth much wisdom concerning the game of chess, which can help readers secure more victories. "Dangerous Weapons" is a fine choice for expanding one's chess arsenal.


The Science Shelf

Champions of the Ocean
Fran Hodgkins
Dawn Publications
12402 Bitney Springs Road, Nevada City, CA 95959
9781584691198, $11.95, www.dawnpub.com

In the deepest, darkest spots of the ocean, there is still light, but not provided by the sun. "Champions of the Ocean" looks into the stories of eight extraordinary young people who made a radical difference in science's approach to the last of Earth's greatest enigmas, the ocean. From fish that provide life, to disproving the bloodthirsty nature of sharks, these are exceptional stories that will inspire many young would-be oceanologists. "Champions of the Ocean" is a fine addition to young adult science collections.

Organizational Learning at NASA
Julianne G. Mahler with Maureen Hogan Casamayou
Georgetown University Press
3240 Prospect Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007
9781589012660 $29.95 www.press.georgetown.edu 1-800-246-9606

Tragic accidents need not be total losses. "Organizational Learning at NASA: The Challenger & Columbia Accidents" is a discussion of whether NASA is truly learning from its mistakes. Both accidentals were blamed on organizational failures which allowed technological failures. The authors ask if that's what caused the first, why did the second occur? Tracing what NASA truly did between the accidents and what has happened since the Challenger incident in 2003, "Organizational Learning at NASA" is an informed and informative critique of modern NASA, highly recommended.

The Handy Weather Answer Book, second edition
Kevin Hile
Visible Ink Press
43311 Joy Road #414, Canton, MI 48187-2075
9781578592210 $21.95 www.visibleink.com

Weather is a complicated subject, but it affects so much in our lives. Now in a newly revised second edition, "The Handy Weather Answer Book" is a non-specialist general reader's guide to meteorology. Answering many questions that many readers ponder about their weather forecasts, the impact of weather on a world wide scale, and many other questions, well over one thousand in all. For anyone curious about the subtle nuances of the weather, "The Handy Weather Answer Book" is a top pick.

Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2119
www.prometheusbooks.com

Harvard paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould was America's best-known natural scientist until his death in 2002, producing monthly essays in a popular natural history publication and winning awards for his books. Most books about Gould cover his science: David F. Prindle's STEPHEN JAY GOULD AND THE POLITICS OF EVOLUTION (9781591027188, $26.98) is the first to be written about his political connections and how they influenced his science career, and provide a fine survey of how Gould's mind worked along both scientific and political paths. A top pick for any interested in Gould's approaches and their origins. Kendrick Frazier edits SCIENCE UNDER SIEGE: DEFENDING SCIENCE, EXPOSING PSEUDOSCIENCE (9781591027157, $21.98) offers a new collection of recent articles presented in The Skeptical Inquirer magazine and offers some of the best writing on topics of current interest, from Carl Sagan's final question/answer piece on science and skeptical inquiry to physicians who defend the value of vaccinations. Over thirty articles explore the science and nature of skeptical inquiry and provide a fine series of analytical articles perfect for high school and college-level science libraries alike.

Life Ascending
Nick Lane
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393065961, $26.95 www.wwnorton.com

LIFE ASCENDING: THE GREAT INVENTIONS OF EVOLUTION comes from a biochemist who uses the latest scientific findings to tell of life's evolution and the process of life evolution. Drawing on new scientific knowledge, Nick Lane reconstructs this history by describing the ten greatest inventions of evolution based on their impact in the living world.


The Political Science Shelf

Judging Bush
Robert Maranto, et al.
Stanford University Press
1450 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1124
www.sup.org
9780804760898, $24.95, www.amazon.com

The presidency of George W. Bush was an exceptionally polarizing experience for the American electorate and American allies. The most recent addition to the Stanford university Press series 'Studies in the Modern Presidency', "Judging Bush" is the collaborative editorial project of Robert Maranto (21st Century Chair in Leadership, Department of Education Reform, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville), Tom Lansford (Professor of Political Science, International Development and International Affairs, University of Southern Mississippi), and Jeremy Johnson (Political Science Doctoral Candidate, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island). Comprised of sixteen informed and informative articles by scholars and researchers, "Judging Bush" presents the presidency of George W. Bush within a useful comparative perspective; addresses institutions and the policy regime of the Bush administration; Bush administration domestic policies; and Bush administration foreign policies. Of special note is the concluding article 'Why Judging George W. Bush is Never as Easy as It Seems'. A model of academic scholarship, "Judging Bush" is an especially recommended addition to academic library Political Science reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Framing the Future
Bernie Horn
Berrett Koehler
235 Montgomery #650, San Francisco CA 94104-2916
9781576754597, $24.95 www.bkconnection.com

FRAMING THE FUTURE: HOW PROGRESSIVE VALUES CAN WIN ELECTIONS AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE tells how American can identify the values that the most American voters hold, and how to translate these values into political campaign goals. Research, polling and testing methods help identify America's progressive core values of freedom, opportunity and security and offer candidates directions on how to reclaim these values.

Just One Vote
Ian Stewart
University of Manitoba Press
301 St. John's College, Winnipeg, MB, Canada, R3T 2M5
www.umanitoba.ca/uofmpress
9780887557118 $26.95, www.amazon.com

The greatness of democracy is every vote counting. "Just One Vote: From Jim Walding's Nomination to Constitutional Defeat" uses Canadian politics as a model where those single votes truly did make all the difference in the world. Set in the 80s, this is the true story of how one man, Jim Walding, was elected by a single vote and defeated his own government by the same margin. Jim Walding is a key figure in Canadian politics, and "Just One Vote" is an ideal addition to any political collection discussing Canadian politics or democracy on a whole.


The Military Shelf

Strategy and Command
Roy A. Prete
McGill-Queen's University Press
3430 McTavish Street, Montreal, QC, Canada, H3A 1X9
www.mqup.ca 1-800-387-0141
9780773535220 $75.00, www.amazon.com

Strategy and Command: The Anglo-French Coalition on the Western Front, 1914 is the first of three projected volumes examining the First World War from the French point of view (as opposed to the more ubiquitous British perspective), from the inception of hostilities to 1915, when trench warfare changed the world forever. Drawing heavily upon new information from French public and private archives, including private diaries, Strategy and Command reveals that suspicion and distrust were omnipresent on both sides of the alliance, and that both sides had drastic and fundamental differences in their strategies. An excellent and thought-provoking military history, especially recommended for college library collections.

Peace At Last
Deborah L. Grassman
Vandamere Press
Box 149, St. Petersburg, FL 33731
9780918339720, $19.95 www.vandamere.com

PEACE AT LAST: STORIES OF HOPE AND HEALING FOR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES is a fine inspirational piece for veterans and their families and comes from the author's work in a hospice setting at a VA hospital. Stories of pain and peace are built into a book for caregivers, family members and vets and offers their stories juxtaposed with hospice experiences and lessons in an inspirational fine guide.

The Surge
Kimberly Kagan
Encounter Books
900 Broadway, Suite 601, New York, NY 10003
9781594032493, $25.95, www.encounterbooks.com

Peace in Iraq seems ever more possible as time rolls on. "The Surge: A Military History" is an operation by operation analysis of the United States actions in Iraq for past few years, in particular since the troop surge of 2006 began. Kimberly Kagan does well in presenting this military history; Kagan herself president of the Institute of the Study of War. For anyone who wants a more complete history of the current Iraq conflict, "The Surge" is a scholarly and informative text.

Peace at Last
Deborah L. Grassman
Vandamere Press
PO Box 149, St. Petersburg, FL 33731-0149
9780918339720 $19.95 www.vandamere.com

Peace is something always discussed but rarely realized. "Peace at Last: Stories of Hope and Healing for Veterans and Their Families" is a collection of memoirs from Deborah L. Grassman, compiling the stories of a quarter century of veterans and presenting them in this volume. Their stories, meant for other veterans and those who love them, serves as quite the inspiration. "Peace at Last" is something to be enjoyed by anyone who is searching for peace themselves.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

The Life Worth Living
Byron L. Sherwin
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
2140 Oak Industrial Drive, NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
9780802862938 $18.00 www.eerdmans.com

Life is full of questions, but pushing us on are the answers to the biggest one - Why? "The Life Worth Living: Faith in Action" is a religious answer to these questions from one Byron L. Sherwin, a scholar of various Jewish schools of thought. His philosophy is an intriguing read that will help many people find a more spiritual approach to life regardless of their traditional faith. "The Life Worth Living" is a read to be treasured and thought upon.

Milton and Monotheism
Abraham Stoll
Duquesne University Press
600 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15282
9780820704104 $62.00 1-800-666-2211

God is a strange character in the fact he resists being a character. "Milton and Monotheism" is a scholarly discussion of the work of Milton, a man who spent much of his life writing fiction and poetry focusing on God and Christianity, often retelling biblical stories. Author Abraham Stoll discusses Milton's use of God as a character, and does well in outlining Milton's thought processes when approaching the omnipotent being. An intriguing analysis of God in Milton's writings (and in a way, fiction in general), "Milton and Monotheism" is recommended for readers who want a greater understanding of Milton's work, as well as college and community library literary studies collections.

Is Yeshua the Prophesied Messiah of the Hebrew Bible?
Dan Kane
Winepress Publishing Group
1730 Railroad Street, Enumclaw, WA 98022
9781606150030 $19.99 www.winepressgroup.com

Could Jesus really be the Messiah that was prophesied? "Is Yeshua the Prophesied Messiah of the Hebrew Bible?" is an scholarly research of the Hebrew Torah and its own prophecies regarding the Jewish Messiah. Stating that Jesus, also referred to as Yeshua in some texts, does share some of the qualities that were said the Jewish messiah said to have, Dan Kane offers much insight to this religious debate and its impact on history and on the Christian and Jewish traditions. "Is Yeshua the Prophesied Messiah of the Hebrew Bible?" is well worth the consideration for any scholar, professional or amateur, or the Abrahamic religions.

Encounters
Kim Sung-Hae and James Heisig
The Royal Asiatic Society
c/o Cheng & Tsui Company
25 West Street, Boston, MA 02111-1213
9788995442494, $35.00, www.cheng-tsui.com

Religion is an ever-changing beast, with new ideas being founded every day. "Encounters: The New Religions of Korea and Christianity" is the theological discussion of the emerging religions of South Korea from the perspective of Christianity. Covering each faith's origins, beliefs, and where they stand today, "Encounters" is a must for those who want to understand modern world religions as a whole and the sects that split off them. "Encounters" is a recommended addition to community library religious collections.

Validating Violence, Violating Faith?
William W. Emilsen & John T. Squires, editor
ATF Press
c/o International Publishers Marketing
PO Box 605, Herndon, VA 20172-0605
9781920691899, $30.00, www.atfpress.com

Millions of children are encouraged to read it, but the Bible may be one of the most violent things one can ever lay eyes on. "Validating Violence, Violating Faith?: Religion, Scripture, and Violence" is an examination of the violence and violent imagery that one can find in the scripture of the three Abrahamic religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Discussing this violence and providing many observations on the subjects, William Emilsen and John Squires provide quite the discussion and insight. "Validating Violence, Violating Faith" is a fine addition to any Bible study collection.

Becoming Fire
Sally K. Severino, M.D.
Epigraph Publishing
c/o Monkfish Book Publishing Company
27 Lamoree Road, Rhinebeck, New York 12572
9780982453001 $24.95 www.epigraphPS.com

Sigmund Freud was a staunch atheist, but can his teachings be applied to the spiritual? "Becoming Fire: A Freudian Psychoanalyst's Spiritual Journey" blends the teachings of Freud with modern psychotherapy for a unique read. Drawing upon her own journey, science, and spirituality, Sally K. Severino brings readers a truly unique memoir. "Becoming Fire: A Freudian Psychoanalyst's Spiritual Journey" is a solid addition to any spirituality collection.

Interrupted
Jen Hatmaker
Navpress
PO Box 35001, Colorado Springs, CO 80935
9781600062179, $12.99, www.navpress.com

When church life becomes stagnant, the prayers become more and more lip service. "Interrupted: An Adventure in Relearning the Essentials of Faith" is a guide to revolutionizing one's church to refresh the faith and piety of one's congregation. Revolution restores passion for one's faith, which is important for keeping a congregation together in the long term. "Interrupted: An Adventure in Relearning the Essentials of Faith" is quite the read and a top pick for anyone looking to revitalize their church.


The Environmental Studies Shelf

The Yuma Reclamation Project
Robert A. Sauder
University of Nevada Press
Mail Stop 0166, Reno, NV, 89557-0166
www.unpress.nevada.edu 1-877-682-6657
9780874177831 $44.95, www.amazon.com

The Yuma Reclamation Project: Irrigation, Indian Allotment and Settlement along the Lower Colorado River presents a meticulously researched historical account of the Yuma Reclamation Project (authorized in 1904), one of the first federal irrigation projects in the Western United States. Chapters scrutinize in depth the myriad obstacles encountered just to get the program started, its impact, and its legacy up to the modern day. A thoughtful analysis of economic and social as well as environmental factors of the time, The Yuma Reclamation Project is sufficiently thorough to satisfy professional scholars yet thoroughly accessible to readers of all backgrounds. Highly recommended.

The Wild Marsh
Rick Bass
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10003
9780547055169, $26.00 www.hmhbooks.com

THE WILD MARSH: FOUR SEASONS AT HOME IN MONTANA provides a rich account of the author's life in Yaak Valley, where he marks seasonal changes and reflects on what it means for his children to grow up surrounded by nature. His discovery of the Yaak's secrets and passing on of nature history knowledge makes for a moving, intimate nature journal suitable for any general lending library.

Yellowstone Drift
John Holt
AK Press
674-A 23rd Street, Oakland, CA 94612-1163
9781904859895, $18.95, www.akpress.org

There are few things left in nature completely unspoiled by mankind. "Yellowstone Drift: Floating the Past in Real Time" is a memoir of John Holt's journey through the Yellowstone river, one of the last rivers in America completely un-dammed and regulated by man. Recounting his experiences travel down the river, he paints vivid imagery through his prose, giving readers a taste of what may not be here in the future. "Yellowstone Drift" is of strong interest to any nature reader, highly recommended.

Restoring Wildlife
Michael L. Morrison
Island Press
1718 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 300, Washington, DC 20009-1148
9781597264938 $45.00 www.islandpress.org 1-800-828-1302

Loss and debilitation of habitats happens, but recovery is possible. "Restoring Wildlife: Ecological Concepts and Practical Applications" is an environmental text about wildlife restoration and how it is being executed throughout the countryside. Discussing wildlife populations and when mankind should intervene, techniques of intervention, situations where we should be cautious, and how to make these projects success stories, author Michael Morrison does well in presenting a highly through text on the subject. "Restoring Wildlife" is a fine addition to any community or college library environmental collection.


The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

Taking Woodstock
James Schamus
Newmarket Press
18 E. 48th Street, New York, NY 10017
9781557048479, $19.95, www.newmarketpress.com

Woodstock is the icon of a generation, but what of the people who in charge of running the event? "Taking Woodstock: The Shooting Script" is another entry in Newmarket Press's The Shooting Script series, focusing on Ang Lee's Taking Woodstock, a departure from the man better known for Brokeback Mountain. Focusing on the man behind the legendary music festival, the story behind Woodstock is quite unique and not often heard. "Taking Woodstock: The Shooting Script" is well worth it for any fan of the film or anyone studying modern film.

The Television Horrors Of Dan Curtis
Jeff Thompson
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
9780786436934, $55.00, www.amazon.com

Some of the most popular and influential television horror fantasy shows have been the work of award-winning director Dan Curtis. Perhaps the most enduringly memorable were 'Dark Shadows' and 'The Night Stalker'. Now the work of this innovative director has been compiled in "The Television Horrors Of Dan Curtis" by Jeff Thomson (Professor of English, Tennessee State University - Nashville). From 1966 to 1971 Curtis was involved with the production of sixteen made-for-television horror films which he produced, co-wrote, and/or directed, in addition to his pioneering Dark Shadows series. Illustrated with sixty-nine period photographs and informed and featuring an informed and informative foreword by Jim Pierson of Dan Curtis Productions, "The Television Horrors Of Dan Curtis" is a unique and highly recommended addition for professional and academic library American Television History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

He Was Some Kind of a Man
Roderick McGillis
Wilfrid Laurier University Press
75 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3C5, Canada
9781554580590, $29.95, www.wlupress.wlu.ca

Manly men, these were the stars of the cheesy Western of yesteryear. "He Was Some Kind of Man: Masculinities in the B Western" discusses masculinity and how it appeared in the low budget films of decades ago, that were studded by names like Roy Rogers. These films shaped a generation, and speak much on the psyche of its viewers and how it has affected society as a whole. "He Was Some Kind of Man" is a solid and recommended read for any studying film and psychology.

Coming Soon
Keith M. Johnston
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
9780786444328 $39.95 www.mcfarlandpub.com 1-800-253-2187

The advancement of new technologies can sell a movie in its own, people wanting to see the marvels of the latest modeling and other such advancements. "Coming Soon: Film Trailers and the Selling of Hollywood Technology" is a discussion of new technologies in film making and how new technology can sell movies. And in a meta manner, how the fact that this can sell movies pushes new technology further. "Coming Soon" is an intriguing read about Hollywood's ever changing technology, highly recommended.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Prime
Nate Kenyon
Apex Publications, LLC
PO Box 24323, Lexington, KY 40524
9780982159620 $13.95 www.apexbookcompany.com

The advancement of science continues to dehumanize people, yet could it eventually go too far? "Prime" tells the story of one William Bellow, a man who finds himself coming closer and closer with something known as the 'Transformation' which pushes him to becoming more machine than man. But Bellow may lose his life in this process, as he has to fight for his very existence in multiple fronts of the world. "Prime" is something that will entice many a science fiction reader.

Albrim's Curse
Trevis Powell
BlackWyrm Publishing
10307 Chimney Ridge Ct., Louisville, KY 40299
9780982006740, $11.95

Is humanity a definite quality? "Albrim's Curse" tells the story of a young man coming of age with a serious problem - lycanthropy. Sent away from his family, he serves under a warrior, doing what he can to recover his humanity and just be the best person he can, even if he's sometimes not a person. "Albrim's Curse" is a fascinating and highly recommended read for young readers with an interest in fantasy.


The Philosophy Shelf

Stephen Colbert and Philosophy
Aaron Allen Schiller
Open Court
70 East Lake Street, Suite 300, Chicago, IL 60601
9780812696615, $19.95, www.shanearbogast.com

Who knew a spinoff on a second rate cable network could have such an impact? "Stephen Colbert and Philosophy: I Am Philosophy (And So Can You!)" approaches the character Stephen Colbert, the man behind the character, and how the Colbert Report has had quite the impact on modern society and politics despite being admittedly nothing more than a comedy show. "Stephen Colbert and Philosophy" is another fine addition to the pop-culture and philosophy series, sure to please fans of both 'The Report' and the book series.


The Fashion Shelf

Altered You!
Karin Buckingham
Kalmbach Publishing Company
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53186
9780871162601 $19.95 www.kalmbachbooks.com 1-800-533-6644

You can wear purchased stuff as is, or you can apply your own personal touch to make it truly yours. "Altered You!: Alter Your Style... Your Stuff... Your Space" is a guide for young adults who want to apply their own personal spins on their clothes, bags, and other possessions. Hoping to inspire creativity in young readers, "Altered You!" is a must for any blossoming fashion designer or young girls with their own creative bend. "Altered You!" is a fine gift for one's teenager or other creative loved one.


The Sports Shelf

Gridiron Gauntlet
Andy Piascik
Taylor Trade Publishing
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.rowman.com 1-800-275-8188
9781589794429 $24.95, www.amazon.com

In 1947, four black football players who joined the Cleveland Browns and Los Angeles Rams one year before Jackie Robinson broke the color line in baseball. Gridiron Gauntelet: The Story of the Men Who Integrated Pro Football, in Their Own Words recounts the daily lives of twelve people of color whose football careers began between 1946 to 1955. Their trail blazing efforts to transform the game brought them death threats, and violence on and off the field, but they were also fortunate enough to have support from white players and coaches as well as their family and close friends. An excellent and worthy contribution to sports history shelves, Gridiron Gauntlet is highly recommended.

Muhammad Ali and the Greatest Heavyweight Generation
Tom Cushman
Southeast Missouri State University Press
MS 2650, One University Plaza, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701
http://www6.semo.edu/universitypress
9780982248928 $19.00, www.amazon.com

Sportswriter and columnist Tom Cushman presents Muhammad Ali and the Greatest Heavyweight Generation, an anthology of essays from Cushman's personal files as well as his research. Offering behind-the-scenes insights into the true stories of great athletes from boxing's glory days, Muhammad Ali and the Greatest Heavyweight Generation tells of incredible battles, nefarious crimes, determined struggles, and much more. From Liston's tragic early death, to Foreman's incredible rise to glory, Holmes' earthshaking defeat, and much more, Muhammad Ali and the Greatest Heavyweight Generation brings sports legends to life. Highly recommended for any boxing enthusiast curious about the grand days when Muhammad Ali reigned in the ring.

Golf From the Ground Up
Geoff Bryant
Buford Books
32 Morris Avenue, Springfield, NJ 07081
9781580801546, $16.95, www.bufordbooks.com

If you don't have the foundation, what are you going to build on? "Golf From the Ground Up: A New Focus on Fundamentals from a Master Teaching Pro" is a guide to mastering the most basic of golf skills to give the aspiring pro golfer the techniques they need and how to avoid most of the bad habits that bring many rookie players down. "Golf From the Ground Up" is a top pick for anyone who wants to master the game of golf.

Haynes
861 Lawrence Drive, Newbury Park, CA 91320
www.haynes.co.uk www.amazon.com

Two fine motorsport titles are 'must' acquisitions for any serious library where patrons demand great car racing books. Gordon Spice's LIFE OF SPICE; THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF GORDON SPICE (9781844255689, $49.95) tells of a driver who blended his successful business career with 23 years of professional driving. He won four consecutive FIA World Endurance Drivers' titles in the 80s driving sportscars produced by his own engineering company and he here provides an outstanding survey of his own life and achievements, discussing how innovations led to his business success and long-time involvement in the motor sports industry. Anthony Pritchard's FERRARI: MEN FROM MARANELLO (9781844254149, $70.00) provides an A-Z biography of all significant Ferrari racing drivers, engineers and team managers and is a 'must' for racing collections where Ferrari is a focus. Biographies of some 200 individuals who have contributed to Ferrari's success pack a fine survey crossing years to include even team managers in the roundup. Very highly recommended.

Fight or Die: The Vinny Paz Story
Tommy Jon Caduto
Lyons Press
Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
9781599215563, $24.95 www.lyonspress.com

FIGHT OR DIE: THE VINNY PAZ STORY tells of an American boxer who changed from a street fighter to a champion in two weight divisions over his twenty-year career. His best friend chronicles his life and the boxing world's special challenges in a gritty biography perfect for any general lending library strong in boxing history and personalities.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

The Simple Little Vegan Dog Book
Michelle A. Rivera
The Book Publishing Company
PO Box 99, Summertown, TN 38483
www.thefarm.org/businesses/bpc.html
9781570672439, $9.95, www.amazon.com

While we haven't quite figured out how lambs can safely lay down next to lions, animal rights activist and canine companion enthusiast Michelle A. Rivera has been able to create a compendium of nutritious 'cruelty free' vegan recipes for dog treats and meal times that are better for a dog than what is served them out of commercially canned dog food. With recipes ranging from a Canine Cashew Casserole; to Yeasted Gourmet Dog Treats; to German Shepherd's Pie, the dog compatible biscuits, substantial meal time staples and doggie treats comprising "The Simple Little Vegan Dog Book" will result in a healthy, happy, and 'earth friendly' canine companion. In addition to these thoroughly 'dog owner' friendly recipes, there is a wealth of information about why certain human foods are toxic for dogs; resource lists, and an informed introduction to the vegan lifestyle and how it applies to canines. "The Simple Little Vegan Dog Book" is highly recommended for dog owners of all breeds and backgrounds.

Birding The Great Lakes Seaway Trail
Gerald Smith, et al.
Seaway Trail Inc.
PO Box 660, Sackets Harbor, NY 13685
9780943689081, $19.95, www.seawaytrail.com

The freshwater shoreline of the Great Lakes has always been of immense value to dedicated bird watchers, as well as avian researchers tracking migration patterns. "Birding The Great Lakes Seaway Trail" will prove to be of immense value for the amateur and the professional alike as an informed and informative 224-page illustrated field guide principally written by ornithologist Gerald Smith and enhanced with special chapters by Willie D'Anna, Jerry McWilliams, and David Semple. Of special note are the maps and their symbols assisting the reader in utilizing the guide for exploratory outings whether they are simple day trips, weekend holidays, or extended week-long excursions. Covering 518-mile freshwater byways in New York and Pennsylvania, "Birding The Great Lakes Seaway Trail" includes the Pennsylvania borderlands, the Presque Isle area, the Lake Erie Basin, the Dunkirk Harbor area, Eastern Lake Erie, along the Niagara River, Far Western Lake Ontario, the Braddock Bay and Rochester region, from Sodus Bay to Little Sodus Bay, along the lower reaches of the Oswego river, Mexico Bay, the eastern Lake Ontario dunes, the Henderson and Chaumont Bays, the Thousand Island region, the Indian River lakes, Middle St. Lawrence, Lake St. Lawrence, as well as other notable regional birding areas, the "Birding The Great Lakes Seaway Trail" will prove to be a valued, thoroughly 'user friendly', and indispensable travel guide and a welcome addition to personal, professional, and community library reference collections.

Dogs Are From Neptune, second edition
Jean Donaldson
Dogwise Publishing
403 S Mission St. Wenatchee, WA 98801
9781929242658, $14.95, www.dogwise.com

Men are from Mars, women are from Venus, dogs are from Neptune. Now in a newly revised and expanded second edition, "Dogs Are From Neptune" plays on the concept of that other famed self-help book to a guide readers better understand their dogs and their occasionally baffling behavioral patterns which so often seems to work against dog and owner's best interests. Outlining the fundamentals that all creatures follow and building on that, "Dogs Are From Neptune" is a must read for someone who wants to better understand man's best friend.

Manual of Clinical Procedures in Dogs, Cats, Rabbits & Rodents, 2nd edition
Steven E. Crow, et al.
Wiley-Blackwell
10475 Crosspoint Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46256
www.wiley.com/wiley-blackwell
9780813813042, $59.99, www.amazon.com

Compiled and written by the team of Steven E. Crow, Sally O. Walshaw, Jennifer E. Boyle, this second updated edition of a classic clinical guide continues a top pick for practicing vets and vet students alike, covering the basics of small exotic mammals as well as dogs and cats. A survey of classic veterinary clinical material geared to these smaller animals is accompanied by the latest clinical procedures and expanded coverage of rodents in an exceptional guide.

Wiley-Blackwell
10475 Crosspoint Boulevard
Indianapolis, IN 46256
www.wiley.com/wiley-blackwell

Lila Miller and Kate Hurley's INFECTIOUS DISEASE MANAGEMENT IN ANIMAL SHELTERS (9780813813790, $79.99) provides a specific, college-level guide to preventing, managing and treating disease outbreaks in shelters. From basic principles of disease control and management to practical information on population health risks, this survey is a 'must' for any shelter-specific worker or libraries catering to them. Pharmacology and canine and feline common health issues alike are covered. The seventh updated edition of Rowen D. Frandson, W. Lee Wilke and Anna Dee Fails' ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF FARM ANIMALS (9780813813943, $79.99) represents a thoroughly updated, revised version of a classic and includes new clinical extracts, a new chapter on poultry species, and explanations in species differentiation and physiology. Collections strong in veterinary and agricultural science must have this. The same audience also needs Shelly L. Vaden, et.al.'s BLACKWELL'S FIVE-MINUTE VETERINARY CONSULT: LABORATORY TESTS AND DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES: CANINE & FELINE (9780813817484, $99.99). It offers a comprehensive, one-stop reference on the diagnostics used daily in treating dogs and cats, covering nearly three hundred procedures and tests and offering a volume of essays written by experts in their areas of specialty. Any serious practicing vet or vet's collection must have this. Robert Bill's pocket-sized handbook MEDICAL MATHEMATICS AND DOSAGE CALCULATIONS (9780813823638, $39.99) appears in its second, updated edition substantially revising topics ranging from basic math to the latest drug prescription and dosing information. Step-by-step instructions for calculating dosages, concentrations and more have been revised to include more details on the calculations, expanding chapters with new drawings and offering all the basics in new sections, as well. No practicing vet's library should be without it.

How Birds Migrate, 2nd edition
Paul Kerlinger
Stackpole Books
5067 Ritter Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
9780811732307, $21.95 www.stackpolebooks.com

Paul Kerlinger was director of the New jersey Audubon Society's Cape May Bird Observatory for seven years and offers a revised edition considering migration. Case studies and drawings explain the basics of flight, flight strategy, and the science involved in bird migration processes, offering a survey of scientific investigations into bird patterns. Any general lending library will find this a fine acquisitions.

Herding Dogs
Christine Hartnagle Renna
BowTie
c/o Kennel Club Books
40 Broad St., Freehold, NJ 07728
9781593787370, $14.95 www.kennelclubbooks.com

HERDING DOGS: SELECTING AND TRAINING THE WORKING FARM DOG comes from a life-long rancher and herding-dog trainer and introduces readers to working farm dogs, discussing everything from selecting the right herding-breed puppy to training and health. Any who contemplating acquiring such a pet will welcome this treatise with its specialized focus on the herding dog.


The Journalism Shelf

The Vanishing Newspaper, second edition
Philip Meyer
University of Missouri Press
2910 Lemone Blvd., Columbia, MO 65202
9780826218773, $24.95, www.press.umsystem.edu

Why read a newspaper when the internet has everything one wants and more? Now in a newly revised and updated second edition, "The Vanishing Newspaper: Saving Journalism in the Information Age" is a business model for newspapers who want to keep their business booming during a time where newspapers seem more and more like a relic of the past than a way to communicate the news. Promoting an 'influence' model, author Philip Meyer offers newspapers much sage advice for their modern survival. "The Vanishing Newspaper" is a very highly recommended read for those who run newspapers of any size, or those who are concerned with the future of print media.


The Mathematics Shelf

Master Math: Solving Word Problems
Brita Immergut
Course Technology
20 Channel Center St., Boston, MA 02210
1598639838, $17.99 www.courseptr.com

Master Math: Solving Word Problems provides a comprehensive reference guide that explains word problems and offers alternatives for understanding them. From the most common types of word problems to more advanced issues, Master Math: Solving Word Problems shows how to focus on the words in a problem, breaking them down into smaller segments and choosing the right math tools to solve them. Highly recommended for either general or school libraries.

Mathematical Amazements and Surprises
Alfred S. Posamentier and Ingmar Lehmann
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2119
9781591027232, $20.98 www.prometheusbooks.com

Any library strong in math and science will find Mathematical Amazements and Surprises: Fascinating Figures and Noteworthy Numbers delightful and stimulating. It provides fun math insights, highlighting the beauty and significance of numbers, and offering both novices and professionals arithmetic entertainment at its best. Many a high school to college-level library will find a winner here - but general-interest lending libraries will also find it a fun, different pick.

Bar Harbor's Gilded Century 1850-1950
Lydia Bodman Vandenbergh
Earle G. Shettleworth Jr.
Down East Books
PO Box 679, Camden, ME 04843
9780892727056, $18.95 www.downeast.com

Over 250 historic photos, some never before published, follow a light documentary of Bar Harbor from the 1850s, when it was established as a farming and fishing community, to modern times when mansions and resorts made it famous. Any familiar with the region will find this a lovely pictorial history blending local color with trivia and offering a carefully researched, historically accurate story.

Extraordinary Book of Facts and Bizarre Information
Uncle John's Bathroom Reader
Bathroom Reader's Institute
5880 Oberlin Drive, San Diego, CA 92121
1592236057, $17.95 www.advmkt.com

The most intriguing, entertaining material from nine previous 'Bathroom Readers' is compiled in a gathering of fun facts and easy topics, perfect for bathroom and other trivia reading. Quick, fun facts are arranged in sections ranging from 'Fruits and Vegetables' to 'Skin and Bones' in a fine gathering of hilarious trivia, perfect for any general lending library or as a giftbook.

Dreaming in Hindi
Katherine Russell Rich
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 Park Avenue South, NY, NY 10003
9780618155453, $26.00 www.hmhbooks.com

DREAMING IN HINDI: COMING AWAKE IN ANOTHER LANGUAGE tells how Rich took on a writing assignment in India, where she became involved in trying to speak Hindi. Her decision to study the language in India led to a range of experiences of Indian culture, recounted here in a hilarious, moving personal memoir of linguistics and language. Any general lending library as well as college-level libraries strong in linguistics and Indian culture will find this fascinating.


The American History Shelf

Republic Of Barbecue
Elizabeth S. D. Englehardt
University of Texas Press
PO Box 7819, Austin, TX 78713-7819
www.utexaspress.com
9780292719989, $21.95, www.amazon.com

Simply stated, Texas is home to the best barbecue on the planet. But there's more to great barbecue than what is basted on a rotating spit. That's why Elizabeth Englehardt's "Republic Of Barbecue: Stories Beyond The Brisket" is such an informative and fascinating read. It places the culinary art of the barbecue within a cultural framework ranging from feedlots, factories, and hardwood forests (fuel for the barbecue pits), to pit masters, proprietors, themes, histories, music, drinks, films, and more. Profusely illustrated throughout, this is a superbly researched, deftly written, and impressively presented American history as reflected through that enduringly popular culinary phenomena called 'the barbecue'.

Lt. Charles Gatewood & His Apache Wars Memoir
Charles B. Gatewood, author
edited with additional text by Louis Kraft
Bison Books
c/o University of Nebraska Press
233 North 8th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska, 68588-0255
9780803218840 $17.95 www.nebraskapress.unl.edu 1-800-755-1105

Lt. Charles Gatewood & His Apache Wars Memoir is the primary source memoir and testimony of Lt. Charles B. Gatewood (1853-96), an educated and remarkable Virginian who served in the Sixth U.S. Cavalry as the commander of Indian scouts. What made Gatewood exceptional was the immense effort he put into understanding Indian cultures, and eventually, the drive for Indian rights. Independent modern scholar Louis Kraft rounds out Gatewood's perspective with additional commentary, extensive notes, and an epilogue. Lt. Charles Gatewood & His Apache Wars Memoir is a unique and welcome supplement to American military history or Native American studies shelves.

Tejanos in the 1835 Texas Revolution
L. Lloyd MacDonald
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster St, Gretna, LA 70053-2246
www.pelicanpub.com 1-800-843-1724
9781589806382 $26.00, www.amazon.com

Tejanos in the 1835 Texas Revolution is an intriguing and thoroughly accessible historical study of the role that Mexican-born revolutionaries played in earning Texas' independence from Mexico's government. First-person perspective anecdotes pepper this solid account, enhanced with maps and a handful of illustrations worked by hand into leather. An excellent contribution to Texas-American History shelves, Tejanos in the 1835 Texas Revolution is particularly recommended for public and college library collections.

Seneca Falls and the Origins of the Women's Rights Movement
Sally G. McMillen
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, NY, NY 10016-4314
www.oup.com/us 1-800-451-7556
9780195393330 $16.95, www.amazon.com

Professor of History Sally G. McMillen presents Seneca Falls and the Origins of the Women's Rights Movement, a scholarly historical examination of the 1848 Seneca Falls convention that would catapult the women's rights movement forward and forever change the course of history. Revealing the true stories behind four extraordinary individuals key to the movement - Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Lucretia Mott, Lucy Stone, and Susan B. Anthony - Seneca Falls and the Origins of the Women's Rights Movement shows how the then-radical ideas of greater legal rights for women, greater educational opportunities, full equality with men, and the right to vote were boldly advanced despite powerful social pressures in direct opposition. A handful of black-and-white photographs illustrates this absolute "must-have" for women's studies shelves.

Woodstock: Three Days That Rocked the World
Mike Evans and Paul Kingsbury, Editors
Sterling
387 Park Avenue South, NY, NY 10016-8810
www.sterlingpublishing.com
9781402766237, $35.00, www.amazon.com

Woodstock: Three Days That Rocked the World covers all aspects of the music festival and appears in three parts: a survey of its origins in the music and cultural trends of its times, a chronicle of the event with coverage of each act and their performance, and a survey of media coverage, follow-up festivals and the ongoing impact of Woodstock. Add a survey packed with color photos and you have a 'must' for any library strong in American cultural history, music, or Woodstock events.

Introducing the Sky Blazers
Jack Jacobson
Potomac Books
22841 Quicksilver Dr., Dulles, VA 20166
9781597972857, $26.95 www.potomacbooksinc.com

In New York City in 1939 neither the author nor his teen friend Murray Davison had any idea of joining the military. After Pearl Harbor the two decided to enlist in the Air Corps, persuaded their commander to let them use their skills as a comic and a jazz trumpet player to entertain the troops, and formed the first Combat Special Services Entertainment Unit. It eventually became a 15-piece troupe of comics, singers and musicians, The Sky Blazers: this is their story and should be a key part of any serious military or music library.


The Audiobook Shelf

The National Parks: America's Best Idea
Dayton Duncan and Ken Burns
Random House Audio Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 8th floor, New York, NY 10019
www.randomhouse.com 1-800-726-0600
9780739366325 $30.00, www.amazon.com

Read aloud by the award-winning authors with a supporting cast, The National Parks: America's Best Idea is an abridged audiobook (abridgement approved by the authors) of Dayton Duncan and Ken Burns' historical chronicle of the concept of public American parks. From the 1851 discovery of the valley that would come to be called Yosemite, to the most recent additions to a modern national park system that involves nearly four hundred sites and 84 million acres, The National Parks is an extraordinary tour of America's preserved natural splendor. The National Parks is the perfect audiobook to listen to while one is driving to visit America's wonderful natural parks, as well as an excellent addition to public library audiobook shelves. 5 CDs, 6 1/2 hours.

Alexander the Great
Paul Cartledge, author
John Lee, narrator
Blackstone Audiobooks
PO Box 969, Ashland, OR 97520
www.BlackstoneAudio.com 1-800-729-2665
9781433295737 $90.00, www.amazon.com

Paul Cartledge (professor of Greek history, Cambridge University) presents Alexander the Great: The Hunt for a New Past, an engaging historical portrait of one of history's greatest conquerors, now available in unabridged audiobook format. Narrated by Earphones and Audie Award-winning stage actor John Lee, "Alexander the Great" strips away the myths to reveal the strengths that made Alexander the Great such a successful leader, from his charisma to his ruthlessness to his skill at international politics. An utterly absorbing work of nonfiction, enthusiastically recommended for any listener curious about this legendary leader, as well as for public library collections. Eight CDs, 9 1/2 hours, tracks every three minutes for easy bookmarking.

My Sister's Keeper
Jodi Picoult
Recorded Books, LLC
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
9781402586408 $123.75 www.recordedbooks.com 1-800-638-1304

My Sister's Keeper is an unabridged audiobook rendition of Jodi Picoult's novel about a family's troubles, and complex moral quandaries. Thirteen-year-old Anna Fitzgerald was deliberately conceived to help her older sister Kate with her struggle against leukemia. All her life Anna has provided platelets, bone marrow, and even stem cells; now, she is expected to donate a kidney. Exhausted by the increasingly invasive medical procedures, Anna hires a lawyer to sue for control of her own body. Anna's mother dusts off her law degree to represent Kate. Meanwhile, the Anna and Kate's neglected older brother Jesse is caught in an increasingly self-destructive spiral of drugs and arson. A poignant, emotional saga of heart-wrenching family conflicts with no easy answers and no obvious rule of right and wrong, brought to life by multiple narrators, My Sister's Keeper is highly recommended especially for public library audiobook collections. 12 CDs, 13.75 hours.

Blindman's Bluff
Faye Kellerman, author
Mitchell Greenberg, narrator
Harper Audio
10 East 53rd Street, NY, NY 10022-5299
www.harpercollins.com 1-800-242-7737
9780061768170 $39.99, www.amazon.com

Blindman's Bluff is the unabridged audio book adaptation of an exciting installment in "Decker and Lazarus" series of mystery thrillers. LAPD homicide detective Paul Decker and his wife Rina Lazarus must deal with a savage multiple murder - an inside job that slaughtered billionaire developer Guy Kaffey, his wife, and four employees. Decker is assigned to the case, but was the motive simply robbery, or something far more complex? At first Rina is not involved in the case, serving on a jury at the courthouse, but a chance encounter with a court translator in need of help mires her amidst her husband's investigation and the plots of an utterly remorseless gang of killers. Tense and involving from beginning to end, Blindman's Bluff is sure to please anyone who loves a good mystery. 10 CDs, 12 hours.

Even Money
Dick Francis and Felix Francis, authors
Martin Jarvis, narrator
Penguin Audio
c/o The Penguin Publishing Group
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
http://us.penguingroup.com 1-800-847-5515
9780143144830 $39.95, www.amazon.com

Even Money is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of an exciting thriller blend of horse racing, bookmaking, and murder. Ned Talbot has worked all his life as a bookmaker, only to see large gambling conglomerates threaten to devour his family business. He has long believed that his parents died in a car crash when he was a baby - but when a grey-haired man claims to be his father, only to be stabbed to death barely an hour later, Ned must race against time to solve the riddle of who killed his alleged father and why. A captivating whodunnit expertly narrated by masterful dramatic actor Martin Jarvis, Even Money is especially recommended for long car trips - the high suspense is perfect for keeping one awake and alert at the wheel! 9 CDs, 10 1/2 hours.

The Deep Blue Sea for Beginners
Luanne Rice, author
Blair Brown, narrator
Random House Audio Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 8th floor, NY, NY 10019
www.randomhouse.com 1-800-726-0600
9780739343661 $29.95, www.amazon.com

Narrated by Tony Award winner Blair Brown, The Deep Blue Sea for Beginners is an audiobook adaptation (abridgement approved by the author) is a novel of a woman's reconnection with her mother, and her search for deeper family understanding. Lyra Davis left the lavish world of her family's wealth long ago, chasing the pull of her heartstrings. Now as Pell Davis prepares to go to college, she needs to know that her younger sister Lucy will be secure; their father has passed on, and so Pell embarks on a journey across the ocean to find the mother she distantly remembers. A poignant and captivating emotional saga, highly recommended. 5 CDs, 6 hours.

The Eleventh Victim
Nancy Grace, author
Kate McIntyre, narrator
Hyperion Books
77 West 66th Street, NY, NY 10023-6298
www.hyperionbooks.com 1-800-759-0190
9781401393113 $34.99, www.amazon.com

An abridgement approved by author Nancy Grace, The Eleventh Victim is the chilling audiobook adaptation of a mystery-thriller following psychology student and therapist Hailey Dean. Scarred by the murder of her fiance only weeks before their wedding, she seeks to return to a normal life, but when a savage psychopath begins murdering her therapy clients she must put her mind to solving the case - and resisting the unhelpful NYPD! The killer has set his sights on her, and it's a race against time to reveal the mystery and bring him to justice before it's too late. An exciting narrative to the very end, highly recommended to murder mystery fans. (It should be noted that a portion of the author's proceeds from "The Eleventh Victim" will go to The Wesley Glen Ministries of Macon, Georgia, a non-profit ministry of the United Methodist Church). 7 hours, 6 CDs.

The Traffickers
W.E.B. Griffin
Penguin Audio
375 Hudson, New York NY 10014
9780143144564, $39.95 www.penguin.com

Scott Brick's smooth acting voice lends drama and intrigue to this powerful story of a homicide sergeant seeing too many murders in Philadelphia. Gangs trafficking in guns, drugs and human lives makes for a colorful story stretching coast to coast in an audio replete with high drama, intrigue, and action.

I Can See You
Karen Rose
Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9781600246456, $34.98 www.hachetteaudio.com

Elisabeth S. Rodgers is a film actress and stage person and adds a spicy, clear voice to Karen Rose's dramatic I CAN SEE YOU, a suspense novel telling of an injured woman who once chose online life over reality. Now a graduate student researching the addictions of online communities, Eve Wilson finds test subjects turning up dead from suicide, and soon has her hands full in a top thriller recommended for any audio collection.

The Neighbor
Lisa Gardner
Random House Audio Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 8th floor, NY, NY 10019
www.randomhouseaudio.com
9780739366622, $39.95, www.amazon.com

Emily Jance Card, Kirby Heyborne and Kirsten Potter's reading of THE NEIGHBOR makes for a gripping story indeed, telling of a young mother who vanishes from her South Boston home without a trace, leaving behind a toddler as the only witness and her secretive husband as the suspect. Detective D.D. Warren sense something wrong about the whole setup - and his probe of the missing woman's life leads to some startling revelations in this winner, recommended for any library strong in murder mystery high drama on audio.

Brilliance
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com

Phil Gigante provides the seasoned, passionate reading for Daniel Silva's THE DEFECTOR (142332806X, $36.99), taking place six months after Moscow Rules and telling of Gabriel's attempt to honeymoon with his new wife in the hills of Umbria. A defector who once saved his life has vanished and is suspected of being a double agent - but Gabriel knows better and is once again drawn into intrigue and adventure in a thriller that comes to life in audio. Greg Iles' THE DEVIL'S PUNCHBOWL (1423318137, $38.99) receives veteran narrator Dick Hill's smooth voice and brings to life the thriller revolving around a new mayor of Natchez, Mississippi who faces challenges from the gambling industry and dangerous vices that could lead to murder. When his childhood friend with evidence of these crimes is murdered, Penn finds his own family in danger in this engrossing thriller. P.J. O'Rourke's DRIVING LIKE CRAZY (1423396715, $24.95) receives Christopher Lane's seasoned voice as it tells of a gearhead and a terrifying driver's passion for autos. This anthology celebrates cars and details America's love affair with them, gathering over thirty years of journalistic writing in a hard-hitting audio perfect for any with an affection for cars and humor. Nevada Barr's BORDERLINE (1423325702, $26.99) receives Joyce Bean's fine voice and provides another Anna Pigeon novel set in Southwestern Texas. Here Amanda is on administrative leave and hopes a rafting trip will ease her spirits - but when the raft is lost in the rapids and a dead body is discovered, the holiday turns into another riveting murder investigation in this tense thriller. David Rollins' A KNIFE EDGE (1423332539, $38.99) pairs Mel Foster's background in acting and his smooth expressive voice with the story of a strange murder and an ex-Air Force special investigator's involvement in military secrecy and danger. A scientist's murder and Vin Cooper's investigation leads to some deadly secrets in this powerful thriller. David Weber's ON BASILISK STATION (1423393384, $29.99) presents Book 1 in the 'Honor Harrington' series and receives Allyson Johnson's fine narrative voice as it tells of Honor exiled to Basilisk Station in disgrace and set up for ruin by her superior. Her post to a wayside station makes for an involving story of politics and space opera perfect for science fiction audio libraries.


The Interior Design Shelf

Building Systems for Interior Designers, 2nd edition
Corky Bingtgeli, ASID
Wiley-Blackwell
10475 Crosspoint Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46256
9780470228470, $90.00, www.wiley.com

This updated guide to technical building systems for interior designers comes from members of the building design team and has been revised in its second edition to address the concerns of blending the interior designer's functions with a design team's overall building objectives. Technical building systems and engineering systems are explored for interior designers in chapters that discuss how to communicate with architects, engineers, and contractors alike. Any college-level arts collection needs this.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Swing Swagger Drape
Jane Slicer-Smith, author
Alexis Xenakis, photographer
XRX Books
PO Box 1525, Sioux Falls, SD 57101
www.knittinguniverse.com
9781933064178, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Jane Slicer-Smith is an Australian knitwear designer whose garment creations exhibit a masterful use of color, fabrics that move easily with the human form, yet present a customized and flattering fit. Profusely illustrated with full color photography by Alexis Xenakis, "Swing Swagger Drape: Knit The Colors Of Australia" is a compendium of patterns showcasing her creations and offering step-by-step projects that can be expertly accomplished by even the most novice needlecrafter. From jackets to vests to sweaters and more, "Swing Swagger Drape" is an ideal and highly recommended addition to personal and community library needlecraft instructional reference collections.

The Big Book Of Socks
Kathleen Taylor
The Taunton Press
63 South Main St., Newtown, CT 06470
www.taunton.com
9781600850851, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Knitting is not only a recreational activity, it is also a practical and functional one producing items for wear that are as useful as they are attractive. This is especially the case with socks. That's why Kathleen Taylor's "The Big Book Of Socks: The Ultimate Beyond-the-Basics Guide to Knitting Socks" is such a treasure for both novice and experienced needlecrafters! Featuring seventy-five illustrated and thoroughly 'user friendly' patterns, anyone can make socks to be proud of! "The Big Book Of Socks" covers all aspects from sock styles and yarn selection, to needles, gauges, swatching, and even sock repair. Among the various sock styles are included Tweed Tube Socks; Basic Child Flap and Gusset Socks; Easy Basket Weave Heel Socks; Nordic-Style Adult Socks; Alpaca Striped Kneedsocks, Easy Lace Socks; Holiday Garland Socks; Beaded Anklets; Knees and Toes Toe Socks. From stripes and cables, to argyle and lace, each pattern provides clear instructions from beginning to end. Enhanced throughout with a wealth of practical tips and shortcut suggestions, "The Big Book Of Socks" is enthusiastically recommended for personal and community library needlecraft instructional and reference collections.

C&T Publishing
Box 1456, Lafayette, CA 94549
www.ctpub.com

Two sisters share their love of quilting and their interest in using fat quarters in Barbara Persing and Mary Hoover's STRATAVARIOUS QUILTS (9781571205018, $21.95), a fine guide to techniques of joining and sewing some nine strip quilts from these quarters. From using large blocks to assembly, step-by-step directions for quilt projects come packed with color photos for inspirational assembly. M'Liss Rae Hawley's FAST FAT QUARTER BABY QUILTS (9781571205278, $25.95) provides 8 cotton and flannel quilts for infants and toddlers in small projects so easy to make that one can be finished in a day. Some forty quilts go beyond the usual pastels to projects in different color schemes and assembly options in this fine guide. Princess Mirah Batiks' COLOR YOUR WORLD (9781571205636, $19.95) offers over twenty projects to sew, knit, crochet and bead home embellishments, and tells how to make quick personal and home accessories with batiks. From coordinations for bedroom and dressing room to new-sew projects perfect for teens, this is packed with artful presentations. Rayna Gillman's CREATE YOUR OWN HAND-PRINTED CLOTH (9781571204394, $27.95) provides 8 techniques for one-of-a-kind fabric making showing how to produce original fabric prints. Any material can be used and these easy directions will provide lovely art cloth on the fly in a book recommended for any needlework library. Carol Armstrong's BEST IN SHOW (9781571206107, $26.95) offers quilters the opportunity to show of 24 dog breeds in little applique portrait quilts, includes patterns with full-size applique templates, and offers basic materials, cutting instructions and more. Any who would blend animal pictures into quilts will find this packed with eye-catching suggestions.

Crafty Chica's Guide to Artful Sewing
Kathy Cano-Murillo
Potter Craft
c/o The Crown Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, #B1, New York, NY 10019-4305
www.pottercraft.com
9780307406668, $21.95, www.amazon.com

Any sewer who wants crafts that don't necessarily conform to traditional patterns and rules will find Crafty Chica's Guide to Artful Sewing a key attraction. Its projects range from place mat purses to scarf dresses and embellishments using edgy stitching, and it provides a set of projects that teach the basics of a stitchery style that can easily lead to new and different sewing approaches. Libraries catering to needleworkers will welcome this different, unique perspective.

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

Lesley Chaisson's CHARMED, I'M SURE: QUILTS AND MORE FROM 5" SQUARES (9781564779014, $24.99) offers some 15 projects ranging from lap quilts and table runners to bed quilts and provides projects to make the most of modern coordinated sets of 5" squares. Templates, patterns, and color photos abound in a set of patterns perfect for any who would take the 5" square further. Mary Hickey's WARM WELCOME: COZY QUILTS FOR BABY (9781564778956, $26.99) follows up on the SWEET AND SIMPLE BABY QUILTS best-seller and offers a new selection of original quilts from Mary Hickey - some 17 projects small, quick and easy enough for beginning quilters. Basic piecing and a few machine applique projects make for a fine selection of fun baby quilt ideas perfect for newcomers to quilting. For a holiday title, Cheryl Almgren Taylor's DECK THE HALLS: QUILTS TO CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS (9781564779106, $26.99) packs in a collection of Christmas patterns for the home: everything from mantels and tables to doors. Ten projects for decorating or gifts offer pieced and appliqued projects replete with all kinds of interesting motifs, in full color.

Punchneedle: The Complete Guide
Marinda Stewart
Krause Publications
4700 E. Galbraith Rd, Cincinnati OH 45236
0896896528, $29.99 www.fwmedia.com

Any needlecraft collection strong in embroidery guides will welcome PUNCHNEEDLE: THE COMPLETE GUIDE, providing an overview of materials, tools, and techniques including working with novelty threads and creating special effects. Nine embroidery projects on a range of surfaces included a photo album cover, napkins and Christmas ornaments in this highly recommended guide.

Quilt National 2009
Lark Books & Dairy Barn Arts Center
Lark Books
387 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
9781600594236, $24.95 www.larkbooks.com

QUILT NATIONAL 2009: THE BEST OF CONTEMPORARY QUILTS offers some 80 quilt designs award-winning at the annual Athens, Ohio exhibit. These have been chosen from more than 1,000 entries for the 2009 exhibition and feature quilters from over 24 states and 13 foreign countries. Each entry was judged as a work of art before it was judged as a quilt: color photos compliment notes on their making in a title for any needlework library.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

Cameos Old & New, 4th edition
Anna M. Miller, GG, RMV
Gemstone Press
Box 237, Woodstock, VT 05091
0943763606, $19.99 www.gemstonepress.com

CAMEOS OLD AND NEW appears in its fourth updated edition, revised and expanded by Diana Jarrett, GG, RMV in a newly updated set of details for both novice and advanced jewelry collectors. This is the first - and only - guide to cameos and covers everything from where to hunt for them to how to value and identify them. Many new cameo photos and key factors for defining value contribute to an exceptional survey of where, how and when to buy cameos whether it be at auction, from a dealer, or via the Internet. Any serious collector's library must have this.

Standard Knife Collector's Guide, 6th edition
Ron Stewart
Collector Books
Box 3009, Paducah, KY 42002-3009
9781574326185, $16.95 www.collectorbooks.com

The updated 6th edition of identification and values packs in black and white photos of all kinds of knives and covers their history as well as collector ratings by condition and the latest values. Knife collectors will find Standard Knife Collector's Guide a detailed, important reference perfect for identifying and assessing a collection.

Mauzy's Depression Glass, 6th edition
Barbara & Jim Mauzy
Schiffer
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764332753, $29.99 www.schifferbooks.com

Any library strong in glass collecting or references to glass must have the latest updated edition of MAUZY'S DEPRESSION GLASS. It packs in color photos glassmaker histories, and offers an exceptional photographic reference and price guide to include good-sized color photos of glass and sidebars of the latest information. The extensive historical backgrounds of glass manufacturers of the times makes this a powerful, in-depth history.


The Crafts Shelf

Creative Beading V. 4
Bead & Button Publishers
Kalmbach Books
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53186
9780871162892, $29.95 www.kalmbachbooks.com

Any jewelry maker seeking a specific guide to beading inspirations will relish the 4th volume of CREATIVE BEADING, packing in color photos and step-by-step instructions tested by the editors of Bead & Button Magazine. From necklaces to bracelets to earrings, a range of editor-tested products assures success at all levels in this top pick.

Silhouettes
Sharyn Sowell
Lark Books
387 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
9781600592782, $19.95 www.larkbooks.com

Over eighty patterns to copy pack a paper cutting crafts guide perfect for any interested in creating romantic silhouette designs to enhance home decor. Learn to case a shadow using a digital camera, cut a freehand design, or copy patterns included in the book and receive instruction on transferring these to home accents in this outstanding guide.

Amulets and Talismans
Robert Danlik
North Light Books
c/o F&W Publications, Inc.
700 East State Street, Iola, WI 54990
www.fwpublications.com
1600611613, $24.99 www.mycraftivity.com

Learn how to make jewelry with meaning in a different kind of jewelry-making title: one that shows how to learn cold-connection jewelry techniques to expand creativity. From creating jump rings to blending inlays, concrete, paper pulp and more into the jewelry-making process, Amulets and Talismans: Simple Techniques for Creating Meaningful Jewelry is packed with images and directions perfect for any library containing jewelry-making basics.


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

Manga Kamishibai
Eric P. Nash, author
Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
115 West 18th Street, 6th floor, New York, NY 10011
9780810953031 $35.00 www.abramsbooks.com 1-800-759-0190

Filled with over 250 gorgeous, full-color illustrations, including some reproduced for the first time from Japanese archives, Manga Kamishibai: The Art of Japanese Paper Theater is the amazing history of this nearly-extinct Japanese art form that predated modern-day Japanese comic books and manga. In the 1930's, storytellers would journey to villages during the day and set up butais (small wooden prosceniums), then use illustrated boards combined with lively narration to spin tales ranging from Westerns to period pieces, traditional folk tales, melodramas, and even nightly news reports on World War II. Skilled storytellers would apply their talents to acting out the parts of each character, with different voices and facial expressions. The text of Manga Kamishibai includes a wealth of research and interviews, revealing the history of this amazing art form. An indispensable "missing link" of manga history, highly recommended especially for college library and other shelves dedicated to the history of manga and comics.

Modern Masters V. 20: Kyle Baker
Eric Nolen-Weatherington, Editor
TwoMorrows Publishing
10407 Bedfordtown Drive, Raleigh, NC 27614
1605490083, $14.95 www.twomorrows.com

Cartoon artist Kyle Baker is known for his funny comic productions, but he does do serious works too - and this collection blends black and white examples of his work with detailed interviews on how he works with characters, plots and properties to produce exceptional results. Any library strong in modern cartoon artists needs this survey of the extent of his works, which will interest any enthusiast of either Baker or cartoons in general.


The Woodworking Shelf

Cabinetmaking, second edition
Alan Peters
2006 South Mary, Fresno, CA 93721-9875
www.woodworkerslibrary.com
9781933502267, $27.95, www.amazon.com

Now in a newly revised and expanded second edition, Alan Peters' "Cabinetmaking: The Professional Approach" continues to be an ideal illustrated instructional text for anyone who aspires to becoming a professional furniture designer and craftsman. "Cabinetmaking: The Professional Approach" covers every aspect of setting up a professional shop, the equipment required to produce professional quality work, the finances and other business aspects of professional and customized furniture making, furniture making techniques, individualized commission work, batch production, and so much more. Of special note is the practical advice and commentary on exhibitions, publicity, gallery display, and the role of photography. Informed and informative, "Cabinetmaking: The Professional Approach" is expressly recommended for anyone aspiring to, or engaged in, cabinetry and furniture manufacture on a professional level.


The Library DVD Shelf

Elsewhere DVD
E1 Entertainment
c/o Koch Vision
VideoSales@kochent.com
141723203X, $24.98 www.kochvision.com

Teens seeking suspense and many an adult viewer looking for something different will find the movie ELSEWHERE an avid show. Sarah and Jillian have been long-time best friends although very different. Sarah is shocked to find her friend has started meeting anonymous men over the internet in search of excitement - and when Jillian vanishes, she and her friend search for their missing friend and the reason why nobody in town seems to want her found. Deleted scenes, audio commentary with the film's director and producer, and a featurette enhance a gripping saga highly recommended for teen to adult viewers.

On the Road with Charles Kuralt, set 1
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
DVD, $39.99 www.acornmedia.com

On the Road with Charles Kuralt is a three-DVD thinpack collection the wonderful, Emmy-winning series following Charles Kuralt down America's byways, in a quest for the oft-overlooked moments, aspects, and unique individuals. From horse traders to worm hunters, mailmen who carry a tune to sharecroppers who put their families through college, On the Road with Charles Kuralt reveals up close and personal portraits of salt-of-the-earth Americans with unique talents, aspirations, and dreams. A wonderful, family-friendly documentary collection, On the Road with Charles Kuralt is an excellent DVD gift set and also recommended for public library DVD shelves. 3 DVDs, 18 episodes, 378 min.,4:3 full screen, subtitled.

10 Minute Solution: Quick Sculpt Pilates
Anchor Bay Entertainment
2401 West Big Beaver road, Suite 200, Troy, MI 48084-3304
$24.97 www.anchorbayentertainment.com

10 Minute Solution: Quick Sculpt Pilates is an exercise kit consisting of an instructional DVD plus an inflatable toning ball with an easy-to-use inflation device. The DVD shows the viewer how to use the inflated toning ball in five simple Pilates workouts, each only ten minutes long, which can be easily mixed and matched to suit one's tastes. The five workouts are "Total Body Toner" which warms up the abdominals and focuses on a toned overall body; "Buns & Thigh Sculptor" which shows one how to use the ball to strengthen one's lower body without adding bulk; "Strength & Flexibility Pilates" which is a routine designed to help one become more limber; "Core Conditioning" which helps improve one's posture as well as strengthen the core; and "Standing Pilates Sculpt" which uses Pilates mat exercises in standing positions to improve both the upper and lower body. Hosted by ACE certified instructor Leigh Rogers, 10 Minute Solution: Quick Sculpt Pilates is a superb fitness and body toning choice time-strapped individuals! 56 minutes.

What On Earth? Inside the Crop Circle Mystery
c/o Warwick Associates (publicity)
18340 Sonoma Highway, Sonoma, CA 95476
DVD, $24.95 www.warwickassociates.net

For fifteen years, Suzanne Taylor has joined forces with a community of artists, scientists, philosophers, geometers, and farmers intrigued by the mysterious phenomenon of crop circles - elaborate patterns that turn up in farmers' field crops overnight. Could crop circles come from things other than humans? Or possibly even things not of the earthly world? What On Earth? takes viewers along for the investigative ride; bonus features include a deleted scene, a tribute to John Mack, a crop circle montage, and more. A most engaging addition to metaphysical studies DVD shelves! 81 minutes, not rated.

Yoga for Weight Loss
Anchor Bay Entertainment
2401 West Big Beaver Road, Suite 200, Troy, MI 48084-3304
$14.98 www.anchorbayentertainment.com

Hosted by expert yoga instructor Ashley Turner (who also holds a Master's in Counseling Psychology), Yoga for Weight Loss is a beautiful instructional DVD that walks the viewer through vinyasa flow yoga sequences and strengthening poses ideal for toning and improving one's muscles. The vinyasa flows cause one's heart rate to increase and provide a solid workout, while the strengthening poses help build muscle tissue. A psychological dimension to the workout promotes relaxation and tapping into one's own power to create happiness from within. A gentle, wonderful, and easy-to-use resource, Yoga for Weight Loss is a choice supplementary pick for fitness DVD libraries. 53 minutes. Also highly recommended specifically for expecting and new moms is "Prenatal & Postnatal Yoga" ($14.98, 69 minutes) hosted by Elena Brower.

Best Bun & Leg Shapers
Denise Austin
Lionsgate
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
DVD, $14.98 www.411videoinfo.com

Denise Austin hosts Best Bun & Leg Shapers, an exercise DVD broken into seven 5-10 minute workouts ideal for toning and firming one's backside. From "Hit the Spot: Pilates" to "Power Zone Ultimate Workout" to "Hit the Spot: Core" and much more, these short routines can be mixed and matched to suit the viewer's needs. Best Bun & Leg Shapers requires no expensive equipment, and is an excellent supplementary fitness tool. Highly recommended. 70 minutes, full screen.

Full Battle Rattle
First Run Features
630 Ninth Avenue, #1213, NY, NY 10036
DVD, $24.95 www.firstrunfeatures.com

Full Battle Rattle is an eye-opening DVD revealing how the modern American military trains its troops to fight new types of battles, against more difficult and challenging enemies. In the Mojave Desert of California, the U.S. Army has created an urban warfare simulation - backdrop of towns and villages modeled on those in the Middle East, with Iraqi-American residents playing their roles to the hilt. Full Battle Rattle follows an army battalion throughout the simulation as they seek to aid a village seemingly on the verge of civil war. The result is a vividly realistic war game, meant to hopefully prepare its participants for the real thing. A truly extraordinary feature, enhanced with bonus scenes, a photo gallery, a filmmaker Q&A, and more. 85 minutes.

Tai Chi for Beginners with Grandmaster William C.C. Chen
Acacia
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 650, Silver Spring, MD 20910
DVD, $19.99 www.AcaciaLifestyle.com

Tai Chi for Beginners with Grandmaster William C.C. Chen is a DVD introduction into the ancient Chinese art of Tai Chi, a martial art that can be practiced to reduce stress, strengthen the body and mind, and improve one's bodily well-being. Host William C. C. Chen, one of the most respected Tai Chi Grandmasters of his generation, leads the viewer through fundamental, low-impact routines. Special features include learning segments with continuous loop option; three different complete-form practices centering around basic, counting, and energy; Tai Chi tips; and audio options that include music only or music combined with descriptive instruction. An excellent starting resource for those new to Tai Chi, recommended for public library collections as well as private fitness DVD shelves. 67 minutes (plus 20 min. bonus), 16:9 widescreen.

Hurt
Monterey Media Inc.
566 St. Charles Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360-3901
www.montereymedia.com 1-800-424-2593
9781569946640 $26.95, www.amazon.com

Hurt is a terror-inducing movie about a newly widowed single mother Helen Coltrane (played by Melora Walters of "Big Love"), her teenage son (Jackson Rathbone of "Twilight") and daughter, seeking aid from her hermit-like, gun-toting brother-in-law. As they struggle to come to grips with the drastic changes in their life, they cross paths with a foster child who claims that Helen's late husband pledged to take her in. They do so... with dire consequences as one by one lies, illusions, and darkness unravel. A gripping and eerie saga to the very end, especially recommended for fans of tense psychological thrillers. 97 minutes, rated R.


The Library Science Shelf

The Innovative School Librarian
Sharon Markless, editor
Facet Publishing
c/o Neal-Schuman Publishers (publicity)
100 William Street, Suite 2004, New York, NY 10038-4512
9781856046534 $110.00 www.neal-schuman.com 1-866-672-6657

The best solutions to some problems are not the most obvious. "The Innovative School Librarian: Thinking Outside the Box" is a guide for librarians who want to promote literacy and library use but have exhausted conventional methods. Discussing the school librarian's vision for their library's future, the reputation of the library, and bringing the library to more prominence in the school, author Sharon Markless puts together quite the volume to help readers better grasp the limits and options librarians can undertake in order to achieve their goals. Enhanced with appendixes filled with useful references, "The Innovative School Librarian" should be at the right hand of every ambitious librarian, and is a solid entry into any collection dedicated to library science.

Library Mania
Charlene C. Cali
Upstart Books
c/o Highsmith Inc.
PO Box 800, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538-0800
9781602130432 $17.95 www.upstartbooks.com 1-800-448-4887

The library should be more than a place to stash books. "Library Mania: Games & Activities for Your Library" is a guide for librarians looking to educate readers of elementary school age. A library can be a hub of games and activities and do much to inspire a love of reading and learning in children; author Charlene C. Cali comes to librarians with much to inspire them to help improve their libraries. "Library Mania" is well worth considering for librarians and for library science collections everywhere.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Show & Tell 6: Writers on Writing
The Publishing Laboratory
University of North Carolina Wilmington
601 South College Road, Wilmington, NC 28403
9780982338209 $19.95 www.uncw.edu/writers

Show, don't tell is one of the proverbs many amateur writers hear when trying to hone their craft. In a newly revised and expanded edition, "Show & Tell 6: Writers on Writing" is a collection of essays on the subject of writing from the minds at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. These minds offer different perspectives on the many vehicles of writing, prose, poetry, novels, and more. From brainstorming to the extensive editing process, "Show & Tell 6" is a must read for any writer trying to strengthen their craft and their habits.

The Call of the Writer's Craft
Tom Bird
Adams Media
57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322
9781598698541, $12.95, www.adamsmedia.com

You could be the most talented writer in the world, but with no business sense, you might as well be a hack. "The Call of the Writer's Craft: Writing and Selling the Book Within" is a guide to writing a book and getting it published in an industry where editors are encouraged to look for reasons to reject books. Offering a roadmap to the publishing world, author Tom Bird presents his own method to help writers attain the treasured title of 'published author'. "The Call of the Writer's Craft" is a strong pick to any trying to get published.


The Library CD Music Shelf

Energie
Chuck & Albert
c/o Rock Paper Scissors
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2, Bloomington, IN 47404
CD, $TBA www.rockpaperscissors.biz

Energie is the debut music CD of Chuck & Albert Arsenault, presenting their exciting rendition of a traditional repertoire of French-Acadian songs, fiddle tunes, stories, and social commentaries, as gathered by Georges Arsenault in the 1970's. Some of the melodies performed over 400 years old - beloved classics that have withstood the test of time to delight generation after generation. Chuck & Albert lend their own unique touch to these wonderful and widely beloved songs, bringing them to life for a new generation in a rapturous listening experience. Highly recommended. The tracks are "Keep your cool" (2:46), "Dance like rubber" (2:28), "In the village of Egmont Bay" (3:51), "My father's tunes" (2:36), "By the clear fountain" (3:39), "The lover's return" (4:23), "Me and my brothers" (3:41), "There once was a shepherdess" (3:28), "Shepherd's pie" (3:14), "While turning the corner" (2:38), "The fever" (5:16), "There once was a little man" (2:27), and "The pigeon set" (2:08).

Meera: The Lover...
Vandana Vishwas
Rock Paper Scissors
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2, Bloomington, IN 47404
$14.99 www.rockpaperscissors.biz www.vandanavishwas.com

The debut album of Canadian singer Vandana Vishwas, Meera: The Lover... is a music CD album of romantic devotional songs from India, reverberating with an emotion and passion that transcends nationality or language. A soul-hauntingly beautiful work, Mera: The Lover... is a delight to listen to for pleasure and an excellent gift to any loved one who appreciates fine audio art. Highly recommended. The tracks are "Introduction" (1:20), "Badara Re" (7:03), "Piya Bin" (6:55), "Sanware Ke Rang" (5:12), Sun Lijo (7:02), "Fagun Ke Din Char" (6:36), "Rana Ji!" (6:02), "Chala Wahi Des" (5:26), and Dandiya" (5:05).


The Buddhist Studies Shelf

The Inner Science of Buddhist Practice
Artemus B. Engle, translator
Snow Lion Publications
PO Box 6483, Ithaca, NY 14851
www.SnowLionPub.com 1-800-950-0313
9781559393225 $34.95, www.amazon.com

The Inner Science of Buddhist Practice: Vasubandhu's Summary of the Five Heaps with Commentary by Sthiramati presents English-language translations of two great texts by Indian Buddhist scholars: Vasubandhu's "Summary of the Five Heaps", and Sthiramati's commentary on Vasubandhu's root text. Additional appendices by translator and expert scholar of Buddhism Artemus B. Engle help the reader better appreciate this classic explanation of how the minds of all people, even at birth, hold instinctively ingrained predispositions that affect our perception, leading to such false beliefs such as the concept that entities persist indefinitely through time, that the personal pleasures one chases are truly satisfying, or that one's personal being is governed by a real self. The Inner Science of Buddhist Practice reveals how to reject such flawed beliefs, and reveals the doctrine of the Five Heaps - form, feeling conception, formations, and consciousness. An absolute "must-have" for intermediate to advanced Buddhist studies collections, highly recommended.


The Native American Shelf

O, My Ancestor
Claudia Jurmain & William McCawley
Heyday Books
PO Box 9145, Berkeley, CA 94709
www.heydaybooks.com 1-510-549-3564
9781597141154 $21.95, www.amazon.com

O, My Ancestor: Recognition and Renewal for the Gabrielino-Tongva People of the Los Angeles Area is a thoroughly accessible compendium of writings by and about the Gabrielino-Tongva community native to the Los Angeles area. Interviews with leaders, activists, educators, and artists are interspersed with essays on Gabrielino-Tongva history and traditional culture. Black-and-white photographs illustrate this extraordinary reference and resource, highly recommended for Native American studies collections.


The Islamic Studies Shelf

Muslim Women Reformers
Ida Lichter
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Dr, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
www.prometheusbooks.com 1-800-853-7545
9781591027164 $27.98, www.amazon.com

Muslim Women Reformers: Inspiring Voices Against Oppression is a scholarly yet heart-rending anthology of portraits of Muslim women who dare to speak out against discrimination and violence perpetrated against women in Islamic communities in nations all over the globe, from Afghanistan to Bangladesh, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, and many more - even some Muslim communities in more western or modern nations such as France or Egypt. "Background" sections briefly summarize the severity of each nation's local religious policies where women are concerned; in extreme cases are incidents of "honor killings", where women are murdered by male relatives - allegedly for bringing dishonor to the family, but in practice often for the slightest ill rumor, or even as a cold-blooded means to steal an inheritance. The women who dare to speak out and take action in "Muslim Women Reformers" risk slander, attack, or even murder for daring to take a stand; yet even as they struggle against an entrenched, misogynist, theocratic power base, they hold out hope for a better tomorrow. Muslim Women Reformers deserves the absolute highest recommendation, and a place on both public and college library women's studies shelves.


The Humor Shelf

Freedom's Just Another Word for People Finding Out You're Useless
Scott Adams
Andrews & McMeel
4520 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111
www.andrewsmcmeel.com 1-800-851-8923
9780740778155 $12.99, www.amazon.com

Scott Adams has done it again with Freedom's Just Another Word for People Finding Out You're Useless, his latest collection of sometimes sneering, always hysterical comics featuring helplessly trapped corporate engineer Dilbert and his highly questionable co-workers. "'I'm in charge while our pointy-haired boss is on vacation. I expect each of you to be professional and productive during this time.' 'Nice lying.' 'I practice in front of a mirror.'" Bringing the previously black-and-white strips to life with soft-palette color, Freedom's Just Another Word for People Finding Out You're Useless is as hard-hitting funny as previous Dilbert Collections, and enthusiastically recommended as the perfect giftbook for anyone who enjoys office humor.


The Archaeology Shelf

Tools of the Trade
Jayne Wilkins & Kirsten Anderson
University of Calgary Press
2500 University Drive, N.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4
9781552382493 $39.95 www.uofcpress.com

Just because you're studying the past doesn't mean you can't use the methods of the future. "Tools of the Trade: Methods, Techniques, and Innovative Approaches in Archaeology" is a shop-approach to modern archeology, outlining the new ways and methods that modern science uses to dig deeper about the past of the world and humanity. Discussing the amazing technologies that have both been adapted to and developed for the science, Jayne Wilkins and Kirsten Anderson provide a great explanation of the methods of modern archaeology. "Tools of the Trade" deserves a place in every community library archaeology collection.


The Railroading Shelf

Realistic Modelings For Toy Trains
Dennis Brennan
Kalmbach Publishing Company
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53186
www.kalmbachbooks.com
9780890247457, $19.95, www.amazon.com

Advancing modeling railroading to a whole new level, Dennis Brennan's "Realistic Modelings For Toy Trains: A Hi-Rail Guide" provides the model railroading enthusiast with a step-by-step tour-de-force in constructing a hi-rail layout. But it's not just a 'how to' guide, "Realistic Modelings For Toy Trains" also offers cogent and practical advice on the modeling process, as well as the basic concepts that are the foundation for hi-rail. Profusely illustrated throughout, "Realistic Modelings For Toy Trains" also covers planning the foundation, designing the setting, laying tarcks, building harbors, adding bridges, creating a cityscape, modeling structures, kitbashing, and where a new and customized scale model can be made by combining elements from commercial kits. Also very highly recommended and newly released for dedicated model railroading fans by the Kalmbach Publishing Company is Pelle K. Soeborg's "Essential Model Railroad Scenery Techniques: Realistic Scenery for Mountains, Desert, City, and County" (9780890247365, $21.95).


The Large Print Shelf

The Curse Of Montezuma
Les Savage, Jr.
Sagebrush
c/o Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
www.ulverscroftusa.com
9780753182611, $27.99, www.amazon.com

Les Savage Jr. is a master storyteller and "The Curse Of Montezuma" from Sagebrush is the large print edition of a three short-story western anthology representing some of the best of his work. 'Commanche Legend' is a story centered on the horse that General George Armstrong Custer rode into history in the legendary battle of Little Big Horn. So respected by the Native Americans that fought in that battle that they left Custer's horse 'Commanche' unharmed on the battlefield. When Caddo Adair is given the task of capturing the horse it precipitates all manner of unexpected difficulties -- beginning with an attempt on his life. "The Legend Of Yallow Hole" is the story of two cattle rustlers, Bibo Adams and Running Iron Smith, and Ardis Manners, a young woman with a rifle and a job for one of them that they simply cannot refuse -- as much as they'd like to! The title piece of the trilogy is "The Curse Of Montezuma", which continues the adventures of Elgera Douglas, popularly known as Senorita Scorpion. This time she must go up against someone trying to bring back the Aztec Empire -- which promises to be every bit as bloody and oppressive as the old one. "The Curse Of Montezuma" is an outstanding trilogy and the large print format makes it particularly appropriate for community library collection.


The Language Studies Shelf

The Spanish Verb Conjugator
Jeanne M. Bielejeski
Roche Publishing
409 - 7th Street NE, Little Falls, MN 56345
www.thespanishverbconjugator.com
9780615265872, $24.95, www.rochepublish.com

Specifically written and designed by Jeanne M. Bielejeski (a high school Spanish teacher for more than ten years), "The Spanish Verb Conjugator: The Beginner's Guide To Mastering Spanish Verbs" is a ready instructional reference of more than one thousand frequently-used verbs that will prove invaluable to novice students of the Spanish language. Covering both regular and irregular present tense verbs, "The Spanish Verb Conjugator" also deals with preterit and imperfect past tenses, as well as reflexive vers and 'verbs like gustar'. Of special note is that through a group of 110 irregular core verbs, "The Spanish Conjugator" reinforces the essential verb modeling necessary to mastering verb conjugation, making it a highly recommended and thoroughly 'user friendly' Spanish language curriculum supplement.

Sugar Comes From Arabic
Barbara Whitesides
Interlink Publishing Group
46 Crosby Street, Northampton, MA 01060-1804
www.interlinkbooks.com
9781566567572, $20.00, www.amazon.com

Arabic written script commonly in use by more than 300 million people in more than twenty countries around the world is radically different from that of the scripts descended from the Roman alphabet. But now American and European students wanting to learn to read and write in Arabic have a superbly produced learning tool with Barbara Whitesides' "Sugar Comes From Arabic: A Beginner's Guide To Arabic Letters & Words". This deftly composed and presented Arabic alphabet book demystifies the letters by introducing them in an English alphabetical order, and then using the spelling of English names and words as a way of learning Arabic. Students will be able look up matching letters, follow clear directions, and quite quickly become able to write their own name in Arabic. Profusely illustrated throughout, "Sugar Comes From Arabic" is an enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, school, and community library Language Studies reference collections and curriculum supplements.


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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