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Small Press Bookwatch

Volume 13, Number 5 May 2014 Home | SPBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Cookbook Shelf Fiction Shelf
Travel Shelf Criminology Shelf Self-Help Shelf
Automotive Shelf Parenting Shelf Biography Shelf
Religion/Spirituality Shelf World History Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Jobs/Careers Shelf Writing/Publishing Shelf Education Shelf
Poetry Shelf Architecture Shelf Homeowner's Shelf
Graphic Novel Shelf    


Reviewer's Choice

Remember Boston
Photographs by Douglas Potoksky
Green Circle Press
PO Box 18
Whately, MA 01093
www.rememberboston.net
9780615898278 $39.95 www.greencirclepress.com

Remember Boston: The Boston Marathon Bombing Memorials is a photographic portrait of the Boston Marathon memorial of May, 2013, created in honor of those who died and those who worked together to help people in need, in the wake of the deadly Boston Marathon terrorist bombing. A full-color visual showcase, Remember Boston has very little text outside of a brief introduction and the occasional transcript of words or writing within the memorial images. Poignant and profound, Remember Boston is a fitting tribute to human perseverance in spite of incomprehensible tragedy, highly recommended.

Twice As Strong
J. P. Norden, Paul Norden, David Smitherman
Palari Publishing
107 South West Street, PMB 778
Alexandria, VA 22314
www.PalariBooks.com
9781928662280, $26.00, 200pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: JP and Paul Norden had been waiting with Paul's girlfriend, Jacqui, for a friend to cross the finish line when the first explosion went off at the Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013. As they scrambled to help Jacqui to safety, the second bomb detonated right beside them, exactly 12 seconds later. Both of the brothers lost a leg while Jacqui was blown into the street. This is the story of how the Norden brothers have struggled to put their lives back together with a positive attitude and unwavering determination, thanks in part to the support from their family, friends, and the local community.

Critique: Triumph ultimate arising from tragedy. "Twice As Strong: 12 Seconds, 2 Brothers and the Marathon that Changed Their Lives" is a terrific read that is inspiring and a a true-life affirmation of the strength and resiliency of the human spirit. Exceptionally well written from beginning to end, "Twice As Strong" is enthusiastically recommended reading and would make an enduringly popular and highly valued addition to community library collections. It should be noted that "Twice As Strong: 12 Seconds, 2 Brothers and the Marathon that Changed Their Lives" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).

The Map and the Perfection of Distance
Nan Hunt
Outskirts Press, Inc.
10940 South Parker Road, #515, Parker, CO 80134
www.outskirtspress.com
9781478722991, $23.95, 382pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: "The Map and the Perfection of Distance" tells of the adventure of a widow who at age fifty-one travels solo, going abroad for the first time in her life. Compelled by a nightmare she cashes in nearly all of her assets to buy an Air India ticket for an around the world trip sojourning in Tokyo, Kyoto, Hong Kong, Bangkok, India and beyond. During three weeks in Kashmir on a trek in the Himalayas she is the object of treachery and risk to her life. In Bombay she finds a man she loved since college who haunted her dreams for twenty-two years because of a lie and need for confession. The dangers amid social and religious turmoil are not unlike those of today's world. Throughout her trip she meets remarkable women and seductive men: finds sanity in England, soul with Van Gogh in Amsterdam, and a major surprise on her return home.

Critique: An accomplished educator, an expert in Jungian psychology, and an award winning writer, Nan Hunt's "The Map and the Perfection of Distance: A Montage of Memory, Adventure, Dreams and Reflections" is an extraordinary and compelling read from beginning to end. It should be noted that "The Map and the Perfection of Distance: A Montage of Memory, Adventure, Dreams and Reflections" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).


The Cookbook Shelf

Eat More Dessert
Jenny Keller
jennycookies.com
Page Street Publishing Co.
27 Congress Street, Suite 103
Salem, MA 01970
The Trina Kaye Organization (publicity)
9781624140617 $24.99 www.pagestreetpublishing.com

Eat More Dessert: More Than 100 Simple-to-Make & Fun-to-Eat Baked Goods from the Baker to the Stars lives up to its title, proffering a wealth of recipes from author Jenny Keller, a professional specialist in themed dessert tables. Keller's beautiful and scrumptuous creations work just as well whether as a stand-alone dessert or part of a lavish celebration layout. Full-color photography, step-by-step instructions for each pastry, and a wealth of handy tips and tricks for special tasks (such as decorating cupcakes) fill this "must-have" for professional chefs and dessert connoisseurs alike. Recipes include "Marshmallow Pillow Pops", "Green Swirl Ribbon Cake", "Brownie Waffle Bowl Sundaes", "Pumpkin Spice Sandwich Cookies", and many more. Eat More Dessert also makes an excellent giftbook to help cooks of all skill and experience levels spice up birthdays, holidays, and special occasions!

Overcoming Obstacles In Cooking
Matthew W. Miller
Balboa Press
c/o Hay House, Inc.
PO Box 5100, Carlsbad, CA 92018-5100
www.balboapress.com
9781452570679, $35.99, www.amazon.com

"Overcoming Obstacles In Cooking" isn't unique because of the terrific dishes Matthew W. Miller has compiled recipes for. It's because in addition to those 'user friendly' recipes for dishes that will please any palate and satisfy any appetite, Miller has added a section of 'Recipes and a Tip for Kids', as well as ten appendices that will prove to be of immense usefulness for cooking class curriculums and for those with physical disabilities seeking to prepare meals in their own kitchens. Simply stated, "Overcoming Obstacles In Cooking" is enthusiastically recommended for personal, family, school, and community library cookbook and culinary instruction reference collections.

Cooking Techniques with Olive Oil
Mary Platis & Laura Bashar
Two Extra Virgins
0989328929, $26.95, 131pp, www.twoextravirgins.com

Olive oil is a fat obtained from the olive (the fruit of Olea europaea; family Oleaceae), a traditional tree crop of the Mediterranean Basin. The oil is produced by pressing whole olives. Olive oil is commonly used in cooking and has been for at least the last 4,000 years. The collaborative work of Mary Platis and Laura Bashar, "Cooking Techniques with Olive Oil" is a beautifully and profusely illustrated compendium of informative instructions on how to use olive oil in poaching, braising, marinating, streaming, baking, and more! A culinary wealth of olive oil based recipes range from Chicken Breasts with Asparagus and Pea Orzo; Sockeye Salmon with Spinach and Beet Greens; Stuffed Grape Leaves with Brown Rice, Kale, and Fresh Herbs; to Kalamata Olive Bread with Rosemary; Tuna with Citrus and Avocado Salad; Homemade Olive Oil Mayonnaise; and Finger Lime Kamikaze Shots with Mint and Olive Oil. Enhanced with the inclusion of Conversion Charts, a list of References, and a Recipe Index, "Cooking Techniques with Olive Oil" is thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' and very highly recommended for personal, family, and community library cookbooks. It should be noted that "Cooking Techniques with Olive Oil" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).


The Fiction Shelf

Blue Farm
Charles C. Anderson
Outskirts Press, Inc.
10940 South Parker Road, #515, Parker, CO 80134
www.outskirtspress.com
9781478722083, $15.95, 304pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: Dive into the continuing saga of the Carlsons-the uniquely talented family who makes preparedness a way of life-in the third installment of The Farm series. Those who are visiting the Carlson's 4,000-acre plantation for the first time will quickly be drawn to their anything but routine lifestyle. On a pre-enrollment visit to the University of Virginia, twin teenage prodigies Ava and Jack Carlson are devastated when their physically handicapped five-year-old brother Peewee is kidnapped in the Rotunda in Charlottesville. Days later, after paying a ransom, the family finds Peewee's body buried on their own farm. Adding to the family's grief and anger, the murderers leave a message indicating that Peewee is only the first of the Carlson clan to be targeted. The twins' parents, emergency physician and former Navy SEAL Andy Carlson, and his wife, former CIA operative Lindsey Carlson, join forces with their precocious twins to bring the murderers to justice. As the family fights to defend their lives Jack and Ava stumble into their first loves, their first broken hearts...and the horror of who killed Peewee.

Critique: An engaging and solidly entertaining action/suspense novel from first page to last, "Blue Farm" is very highly recommended reading and documents author Charles C. Anderson's knack for crafting memorable characters embedded in a riveting plot from beginning to end. Highly recommended for personal reading lists and community library fiction collections, it should be noted that "Blue Farm" is also available in both a hardcover edition (9781478722106, $23.95) and a Kindle edition ($4.99).

The Secret of Enduring Love
Peter Sklivas
HotCore Yoga
c/o Skye Wentworth Public Relations
9780989649605, $14.99, 348pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: Across the Vedic subcontinent Princess Damayanti embarks on a heart-pounding quest to discover and win the heart of her perfect beloved Prince Nala. First she must risk her life to pass seemingly impossible tests set up by her guru Great Swan, Goddess Shakti, Lords Shiva, Indra and other immortals. Meanwhile, Kala - the tormented god of time - is smitten by Damayanti's beauty and hatches up a plan to destroy Nala by using three diabolical gold dice in a deadly game of chance. This 21st century retelling of an ancient tantric love story reveals the roots of yoga and how past pitfalls must be redeemed to learn the secret of enduring love.

Critique: Author Peter Sklivas has accomplished a remarkable novel blending elements of historical romance with principles and legends of India's fabled yoga traditions. The result is an original and engaging entertainment from first page to last! "The Secret of Enduring Love: Yoga Romance of Damayanti and Nala" is very highly recommended for personal reading lists and community library collections. It should be noted that "The Secret of Enduring Love: Yoga Romance of Damayanti and Nala" is also available in a Kindle edition ($2.99).

The Last Conference
Arild Pedersen
Akademika Publishing
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 Northeast 58th Avenue, Suite 300, Portland, OR 97213
www.isbs.com
9788232103225, $57.00, 300pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: Once, philosophers like Plato and Kierkegaard combined narratives and logical arguments to engage both brain hemispheres, creating a kind of 'Gesamtphilosophy.' Nowadays, philosophers mostly communicate with their left hemisphere. In this novel, Gesamtphilosophy is restored in a spirit of pragmatism. It is the story of an inexperienced New York Times journalist who is sent to Reykjavik by his editor to cover a philosophy conference on experience, where he himself becomes experienced. During the conference, he reports from five presentations on views of experience: those of Timothy Williamson, John McDowell, Robert Brandom, Richard Rorty, and John Dewey, all representing increasingly complex theories. At the same time, he experiences what the theories say. He becomes a participant, rather than a mere reporter, and finds himself living a modern saga with striking similarities to a certain Old Norse saga. Dramatic events, involving love and a power struggle, are crowned by a volcanic eruption with fatal consequences, before he returns to New York as a very experienced man.

Critique: In "The Last Conference: A Pragmatist Saga", author Arild Pedersen clearly draws upon his many years of experience and expertise as a professor of philosophy at the University of Oslo (Norway) and his familiarity with old Norse saga traditions to craft a complex and engaging novel set in contemporary times. The result is a solid and original entertainment. "The Last Conference: A Pragmatist Saga' is very highly recommended for personal reading lists, as well as the fiction collections of both community and academic libraries.

Losing It All
Marsha Cornelius
Hickory Flat Books
106 Rowe Lane, Woodstock, GA 30188
9780615764894, $14.95, 359pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: Frank Barnes is content living on the streets of Atlanta. A soup kitchen and a makeshift shanty sure beat his days as a POW in Vietnam. But Chloe Roberts can't handle the eviction that sends her into the hell of homelessness. With no family or friends to turn to, Chloe and her children are sucked into the traumatic world of night shelters, and dangerous predators. When they bump into each other at the soup kitchen, Frank offers Chloe a glimmer of hope that she can pull her life back together. She rekindles his lost sense of self-worth by taking his mind off his own problems. But they will not meet again until Frank is riding high as a working man, and Chloe has hit rock bottom. By helping Chloe rebuild her broken life, Frank banishes the demons from his own past. Unfortunately, the past comes strolling back into their lives, threatening to destroy the happiness they have finally found.

Critique: Author Marsha Cornelius has a true writer's knack for developing interesting characters and embedding them in a deftly crafted story that holds the reader's rapt attention from beginning to end. A rich and rewarding read, "Losing It All" is highly recommended for personal reading lists and will prove to ben an enduringly popular addition to community library Contemporary Fiction collections with a special appeal to women readers. It should be noted that "Losing It All" is also available in a Kindle edition ($3.99).

The Verona Trilogy
Lory S. Kaufman
Sands of Time Publishing
548 Frontenac Street, Kingston, ON, Canada, K7K 4M2
Author Marketing Service (publicity)

The Lens and the Looker: Volume 1
9781492838463, $14.95, 336pp, www.amazon.com

The Bronze and the Brimstone: Volume 2
9781492851462, $14.99, 336pp, www.amazon.com

The Loved and the Lost: Volume 3
9781492851479, $14.95, www.amazon.com

"The Verona Trilogy" is a superbly crafted, three volume time-travel saga featuring the hazardous adventures of Hansum, Shamira and Lincoln, three 24th Century teenagers who find themselves transported back to 14th Century Verona. Author Lory S. Kaufman has a particular skill in developing a complex story arc of unexpected twists and cliff-hanger turns that will keep his readers fully entertained and engaged from beginning to end. Highly recommended, especially for personal and community library Science Fiction collections, it should be noted that all three volumes are available in Kindle editions: "The Lens and the Looker" ($0.99); "The Bronze and the Brimstone" ($6.95); and "The Loved and the Lost" ($6.95).


The Travel Shelf

Forks
Allan Karl
WorldRider Publishing & Press
PO Box 232356, Leucadia, CA 92023
c/o Independent Publishers Group
814 North Franklin Street, Chicago, IL 60610
www.ipgbook.com
9780989441810 $39.00 www.ForksTheBook.com

Forks: A Quest for Culture, Cuisine And Connection is the true-life story of an avid cross-country motorcyclist who dared to pursue his dream. When author Allan Karl's career felt hollow and his childless marriage ended in divorce, he decided to fulfill his lifelong ambition to travel the roads of the world, alone. His adventure would lead him into danger again and again - from being held at gunpoint in Columbia, to breaking his leg in Bolivia, to risking another deadly accident when an Egyptian convoy drives scarcely six feet behind him at seventy miles per hour. Yet he would also encounter overflowing human generosity at every turn, the kindness of strangers, the resilience of hope, and the ineffable wonder of experiencing new cultures, cuisines, and friendships. Full color photography of Karl's travels through dozens of countries complement his exciting stories of life (and near-death!) on the road. "I never thought I'd have to use it, but before I set out on this adventure I purchased medical assistance and evacuation insurance. Now, even with it, in a public hospital in Bolivia, in the highest city of the world, it takes three days to coordinate and then three flights and more than twenty hours to get me back to the United States... Rehab and recovery are difficult. It takes many months before I can walk without a limp... They think I have given up. I haven't. I work hard to get strong, and many months later I return to Bolivia, retrieve my bike, and continue my journey." A medley of celebrated international recipes round out this incredible coffee-table book, sure to be the crown jewel of many an armchair traveler's collection.

Of Stones And Spirits
Lisa Paulson
Thistlefield Books
W7122 County Road U, Plymouth, WI 53073
9780981690634, $19.95, 305pp, www.thistlefieldbooks.com

"Of Stones and Spirits: 60 Years of Travel" is a superbly written and personal travelogue in which Lisa Paulson shares with her readers a series of essays reflecting her six decades of encounters with other lands, cultures, and peoples from around the world. Deftly organized into three major sections (Traveling with a Mission: Socio/Political Projects and Explorations; Traveling with a Vision: Sear for Enlightenment; Traveling for Fund: Worldwide Family Adventures), "Of Stones and Spirits: 60 Years of Travel" is as informed and informative as it is thoughtful and thought-provoking. At the end of the throughly engaging and 'reader friendly' text is the addition of a summation, a pronunciation guide for Scottish words, a glossary of Portuguese words, and a roster of the travelers. A unique and intrinsically delightful read, "Of Stones and Spirits: 60 Years of Travel" is very highly recommended for personal reading lists and would make an enduringly popular addition to community library collections.


The Criminology Shelf

Busting Bad Guys
Mark Langan
MTL838, LLC
c/o Concierge Marketing Inc.
9780991311019, $19.95, 328pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: In "Busting Bad Guys: My True Crime Stories of Bookies, Drug Dealers and Ladies of the Night", Sergeant Mark Langan relives his front-row seat working the seamier side of crime during his decorated twenty-six-year career from youngest rookie in 1978 to narcotics sergeant on the Omaha Police force. Langan caught bold burglars who silently entered homes to get thrills off of touching sleeping victims. He hit bookie joints in smoke-filled bars, squeezed snitches for information, and arrested prostitutes and their everyday "Johns" in dangerous downtown alleys. Langan worked his way up the ranks to command undercover narcotics operations in the 1980s when sinister LA gangbangers invaded Omaha and claimed neighborhoods to sell crack. In his celebrated career, Langan felt the gut-wrenching pain of innocent children caught inside the wicked world of drugs and crime, their "safe" worlds shattered when the battering ram knocked down their doors-their cries haunt him every day. And two players from his past reemerge in startling ways. Busting Bad Guys delivers a graphic and authentic look at solid policing on the streets of America's heartland and takes readers inside the high-adrenaline, top-secret investigations to develop innovative tactics to outsmart the criminals.

Critique: A riveting read from first page to last, "Busting Bad Guys: My True Crime Stories of Bookies, Drug Dealers and Ladies of the Night" is an extraordinary series of 'life on the street' stories that are the stuff of television dramas -- only Langan's stories are fact -- not fiction. Exceptionally well written, "Busting Bad Guys: My True Crime Stories of Bookies, Drug Dealers and Ladies of the Night" is highly recommended for personal reading lists, community library 'True Crime' collections, and academic library Criminology supplemental study reading lists. It should be noted that "Busting Bad Guys: My True Crime Stories of Bookies, Drug Dealers and Ladies of the Night" is also available in a Kindle edition ($5.95).


The Self-Help Shelf

Create the Life You Want
Diane Easley
Nitis Books
www.nitisbooks.com
c/o BRP Publishing Group
PO Box 822674, Vancouver, WA 98682
www.barkingrainpress.org
9781935460848 $10.95 softcover
9781935460855 $5.95 ebook

Also available as an ebook, Create the Life You Want is a consumable self-help book designed to help readers change themselves and make progress toward their life's goals. Chapters discuss how to make room for change in one's habitual routines, how to find one's own voice and speak out, how to confront the problems that vex one the most, and the importance of taking credit for one's hard work. "Make effort to discover the real causes of your discomfort, and that effort will return back tenfold. Spend some time with yourself to find your discomfort and you will be well on the way to a life free of it." Simple exercises and pages for notetaking enhance this broad-minded, positive inspiration-focused guide to taking charge of one's own life.

Think Smarter
Jay Kshatri
The Kensho Group
www.ThinkSmarterWorld.com
9780989962933, $18.95, 296pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: For the first time in human history, each one of us now possesses access to all of the world's collective knowledge through the Internet. With easy-to-use smartphones, tablets, and apps, we are able to connect with, learn from, and be entertained by people around the globe, at any time and from anywhere. Yet, at the dawn of the 21st century, much of this capability is not being effectively utilized, and the constant stream of digital information and media is beginning to overwhelm our lives and lower our consciousness. Think Smarter in a Digitally Enabled World will show you how to reclaim control of your mind and take fuller advantage of the Web and other electronic innovations. By harnessing the missing ingredients of proactive thinking and leveraging the capability of both sides of our brain-the logical Left and the creative Right-you'll learn how to: Use technology and apps to manage information abundance and amplify your knowledge; Implement leading decision-analysis tools and models to increase productivity and results; Employ techniques such as mindfulness and meditation to lower stress, improve learning, and tap into the creative and intuitive parts of your mind; Achieve your life goals by applying what cutting-edge scientists are saying about our true reality and the power of our thoughts to influence it. This is an extremely exciting time to be alive-never has each individual had more opportunity to realize his or her potential. By embracing the methods and guidance in Think Smarter, you'll not only master the newest technologies, digital media, and the art of mindfully using the power of thought, but you'll elevate your capacity to contribute to the betterment of the entire world.

Critique: Exceptionally well written from beginning to end, "Think Smarter in a Digitally Enabled World: A 21st Century Life Manual for Amplifying Your Knowledge, Achieving Your Potential & Changing the World" is as informed and informative as it is inspired and inspiring. Practical, remarkably presented, and ideal for the non-specialist general reader, "Think Smarter in a Digitally Enabled World: A 21st Century Life Manual for Amplifying Your Knowledge, Achieving Your Potential & Changing the World" is especially recommended for both community and academic library collections. It should be noted that this outstanding work is also available in both a hardcover edition (9780989962919, $25.95) and a Kindle edition ($7.99).


The Automotive Shelf

Energy And EV Secrets
Russell Sydney
Speaker's Press
c/o New Energy Answers Inc.
268 West Santa Barbara Street, Santa Paula, CA 93060
www.energyandevsecrets.com
9780967030852, $17.97, 220pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: The collaborative effort of author Russell Sydney, editor Robin Quinn, illustrator Joan Charles, and photographer Tom Kelley, "Energy and EV Secrets" focuses upon how an electric vehicle (EV) can have a positive impact in cutting fuel costs, improving the environment, and provide practical transport.

Critique: "Energy and EV Secrets: How the volt, plug-in hybrids, electric cars and e-bikes can save energy and cut your gas prices" is exceptionally well written and thoroughly 'reader friendly'. Informed and informative, "Energy and EV Secrets: How the volt, plug-in hybrids, electric cars and e-bikes can save energy and cut your gas prices" is an invaluable contribution to our on-going national dialogue about the role and value of hybrid autos, electric cars and electric bikes to improving our quality of life now and for future generations. It should be noted that "Energy and EV Secrets: How the volt, plug-in hybrids, electric cars and e-bikes can save energy and cut your gas prices" is also available in a Kindle edition ($7.00).


The Parenting Shelf

Raise the Child You've Got - Not the One You Want
Nancy Rose
Braeside Press
1436 - 2nd Street, #180, Napa, CA 94559
www.nancyjrose.com
9780988903807, $16.00, 222pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: Is your family life stressful and unpleasant? Are you exhausted from never-ending battles? Do you wish your child were more patient or more outgoing or less impulsive or simply different from who she is? There is a way out of your endless loop of frustration. In "Raise the Child You've Got - Not the One You Want", parent coach Nancy Rose paves the way with a remarkably effective approach: Leading with Acceptance, which draws upon real life parent/child relationships, current studies, and groundbreaking methods for understanding and accepting your child's CoreSelf traits. Leading with Acceptance will help you: Discover what you can and cannot change about your child; Understand the power of acceptance in building a healthy parent/child connection, no matter how old your child is; Gain peace of mind as you raise your children to become their best, happiest selves.

Critique: In "Raise the Child You've Got - Not the One You Want: Why Everyone Thrives When Parents Lead with Acceptance", author, entrepreneur, and parent Nancy Rose draws upon her years of experience and expertise to write a practical, informative, 'real world' oriented instructional commentary on how to effectively parent a child without being distracted by personal projections of the adult upon the juvenile. Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, "Raise the Child You've Got - Not the One You Want: Why Everyone Thrives When Parents Lead with Acceptance" is thoroughly 'reader friendly' from beginning to end. Informed, informative, thoughtful, and thought-provoking, "Raise the Child You've Got - Not the One You Want: Why Everyone Thrives When Parents Lead with Acceptance" is highly recommended for personal and community library Parenting reference collections and supplemental reading lists. It should be noted that "Raise the Child You've Got - Not the One You Want: Why Everyone Thrives When Parents Lead with Acceptance" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).


The Biography Shelf

Keep This Quiet! III: Initiations
Margaret A. Hall
Seculum University Press
5048 Amber Clay Lane, Raleigh, NC 27612
9780983704560, $17.95, 324pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: ""Keep This Quiet! III - Initiations" begins in the C. G. Jung Institute Zurich, where Margaret was enrolled in 1984. She is headed for a big initiation there, which she narrates for us - showing how initiations are life-transforming. Notably, she also dives into the debate between physicist Wolfgang Pauli and psychiatrist Carl Jung about how science/matter and psyche/spirit/synchronicity emerge from a unified psychophysical realm. Dreams lend assistance, as do the brilliant Jung-Pauli letters. Exercises in the back offer practical help in how to work with energy.

Critique: This is the third and highly recommended title in Margaret Hall's outstanding 'Keep This Quiet' autobiographical series. A fascinating and exceptionally well written personal story, "Keep This Quiet! III: Initiations" is as informative as it is entertaining and will be especially interesting to students of Jungian psychology and metaphysics. ""Keep This Quiet! III: Initiations" is very highly recommended for both community and academic library collections. Also exceptionally commended are the first two volumes in this outstanding series: "Keep This Quiet! My Relationship with Hunter S. Thompson, Milton Klonsky, and Jan Mensaert" (9780983704508, $17.95 PB, $3.99 Kindle) and "Keep This Quiet Too!: More Adventures with Hunter S. Thompson, Milton Klonsky, Jan Mensaert" (9780983704539, $17.95 PB, $3.95 Kindle).

Behind the Curtain: A Journey to Sobriety
Jean
Trafford Publishing
1663 Liberty Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403
www.trafford.com
9781466977808, $14.23, 178pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: This is a well-written, poignant memoir of a woman's unhappy childhood and a brave and gripping account of her triumph over alcoholism. The details of Jean's personal anguish and the obvious authenticity of her report on a life very nearly gone amiss demonstrate the kind of clout that only an honest personal account can have. The frank way the book addresses the sensitive issues of alcoholism and domestic violence, and the vivid recall and dramatic impact with which some scenes are described, make this a powerful testament. Both inspirational and informative, also about the role AA played in her life once she admitted she had a problem. The author stopped drinking 33 years ago and after achieving sobriety her career flourished and she opened her own business in 1985. She is now in her seventies and semi-retired, and has grandchildren who regard her as a cool gran, something that would not have been possible if she hadn't stopped drinking. The manuscript would not only appeal to help-seeking addicts or to those already in rehab, but very strongly, too, to family members and friends of such persons who are often in great need of information and support. This is a personal testimony that will be helpful to many people. This is a well-written, poignant memoir of a woman's unhappy childhood and a brave and gripping account of her triumph over alcoholism. The details of Jean's personal anguish and the obvious authenticity of her report on a life very nearly gone amiss demonstrate the kind of clout that only an honest personal account can have. The frank way the book addresses the sensitive issues of alcoholism and domestic violence, and the vivid recall and dramatic impact with which some scenes are described, make this a powerful testament. Both inspirational and informative, also about the role AA played in her life once she admitted she had a problem. The author stopped drinking 33 years ago.

Critique: Intensely personal, revealing candid, exceptionally accessible, "Behind the Curtain: A Journey to Sobriety" is informative, engaging, and ultimately inspirational reading that is especially recommended for anyone having to deal with the impact of addiction on the lives of themselves or a loved one. Simply stated, "Behind the Curtain: A Journey to Sobriety" should be a part of every community library collection for the enduring benefit of the members of those communities.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

The Promised Land
Brian A. Curtis
Xlibris Corporation
1663 South Liberty Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403-5161
www.xlibris.com
9781483694306, $42.79, 508 pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: Who has tried to read the Hebrew scriptures from cover to cover and fallen short at one of the many hurdles? Who really understands them? This book takes the reader on a journey from Abraham to Joshua and deals with these very issues. Based on the complete Hebrew text, the narrative is presented in a more logical historical order, dealing appropriately with many of the obstacles. At the same time, YHWH's laws are treated with the seriousness that they deserve. Additional comments in italics are interwoven into the text to enhance the readability and understanding of both the narrative and the laws.

Critique: In "The Promised Land", author and theologian Brian Curtis draws upon his years of study and expertise to provide contemporary readers with a modern English translation of the biblical record from Abraham to Joshua. Of special note is the Curtis provides an historical cultural context to explain biblical events (some of which he has rearranged into a more accurate chronology of presentation). Informed, thoughtful, and extraordinarily 'reader friendly', "The Promised Land" is very highly recommended for community and academic library Biblical Studies reference collections, and personal biblical studies supplemental reading lists. It should also be noted that "The Promised Land" is also available in a hardcover edition (9781483694313, $56.07).


The World History Shelf

The Future has an Ancient Heart
Lucia Chiavola Birnbaum
iUniverse, Inc.
c/o Author House
1663 Liberty Dr. Suite #300, Bloomington, IN 47403
www.iuniverse.com
9781475932607, $23.95, 418pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: Feminist cultural historian Lucia Chiavola Birnbaum caps her previous work with The Future has an Ancient Heart, a scholarly study of the transformative legacy of African origins and values of caring, sharing, healing, and vision carried by African migrants throughout the world. Birnbaum focuses on the long endurance of these values from the first human communities in south and central Africa, ones that Africans manifested in the region of the African Mediterranean landmass that later separated Africa from Europe and Asia when the ice melted and waters rose. These migrants reached every continent and later became spiritual as well as geographical migrations back to Africa, from ancient times to the transformative present. Using the same methods as her teaching, Birnbaum employs a mutual learning process in her work to help us think about our own ancestral story, adding to the wisdom we need to surmount contemporary crises and give us the energy to help bring a more equal and just world into being. Her methodologies are grounded on empirical techniques of science and the social sciences and yet leave openings for the liminal knowledge that resides underneath and beyond boundaries of established religions, secular ideologies, and conventional science. A true work of transformation, The Future has an Ancient Heart opens the door to new possibilities within our world.

Critique: An impressive and seminal work of exemplary scholarship and originality, "The Future has an Ancient Heart: Legacy of Caring, Sharing, Healing, and Vision from the Primordial African Mediterranean to Occupy Everywhere" provides an eloquent, systematic, analytic overview of the human condition through history and those cultural and psychological forces that are generational in their effect. Erudite, thoughtful, and thought-provoking, "The Future has an Ancient Heart: Legacy of Caring, Sharing, Healing, and Vision from the Primordial African Mediterranean to Occupy Everywhere" is highly recommended reading and would prove an enduringly valued addition to community and academic library World History collections and supplemental reading lists. It should be noted that "The Future has an Ancient Heart: Legacy of Caring, Sharing, Healing, and Vision from the Primordial African Mediterranean to Occupy Everywhere" is also available in both a hardcover edition (9781475932614, $33.95) and a Kindle edition ($3.99).


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

The Shu: The Gnostic Tao Te Ching
Thomax Green
8th Hour Press
c/o The Barrett Company
12021 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 600, Los Angeles, CA 90025
www.8th-hourpress.com
9781496039514, $10.99, 110pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: One of the core questions of religious, spiritual, and metaphysical inquiries is directed to the goal of discerning life's meaning and pondering the nature of what comes after the death of the body. Written and compiled by Thomax Green, with most of them laid out in the form and format of free verse, "The Shu: The Gnostic Tao Te Ching" is very highly recommended reading. "The Way is like a brightly lit highway, / As long as you stay on it you have nothing to fear. / But most people prefer the scenic routes and make turns that are / unpredictable."

Critique: A compilation of philosophical vignettes that are as inspired and inspiring as they are thoughtful and thought provoking. "The Shu: The Gnostic Tao Te Ching" will prove to be an enduringly prized addition to personal and community library Metaphysical Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists. It should be noted that "The Shu: The Gnostic Tao Te Ching" is also available in a Kindle edition ($5.99).

African Narratives of Orishas, Spirits and Other Deities
Alex Cuoco
Outskirts Press, Inc.
10940 South Parker Road, #515, Parker, CO 80134
www.outskirtspress.com
9781478724513, $36.95, 990pp, www.amazon.com

Synopsis: Acknowledging that the Yoruba are one of the largest and most important groups of people in West Africa, apart from its value as a cultural treasure, African Narratives of Orishas, Spirits and Other Deities will also delight the readers with its wealth of information on Yoruba/Vodun religious beliefs which are told in a spirited form with humor and poetry. Every page reveals the different deeds and aspects of Yoruba deities known as Ori a, as well as a number of spirits and other deities. This stunning collection of narratives showcases the diversity of Yoruba Ori a culture and evokes the power of A. It gives West African deities their much deserved respect and place in world culture. In this collection, Alex Cuoco, specifically kept the text in a non-academic format to afford the reader a free flow of thought without interruptions to check notes. He also chose to use simple language throughout the book to make the texts understandable and valuable to the general reader, as well as, making it a great contribution to the informed. The narratives and all other supporting topics in this work examine Ori a/Vodun beliefs in cultures in Nigeria, Benin, Togo, as well as, the Angola/Congo Nkisi deities, thus creating a cross-cultural foundation for spiritual learning and gaining of wisdom and knowledge.

Critique: "African Narratives of Orishas, Spirits and Other Deities - Stories from West Africa and the African Diaspora: A Journey Into the Realm of Deities" is an impressive and seminal body of work that is enhanced for scholars as well as non-specialist general readers with the inclusion of an extensive bibliography, glossary, and recommended readings. "African Narratives of Orishas, Spirits and Other Deities" is a significant and highly recommended addition to academic library African Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

Displacement Day
Thomas Dowd III
Thomas Dowd Professional Development
PO Box 284, Rockport, ME 04856
www.transformationtom.com
9781628650785, $19.95, www.amazon.com

Because of such market factors as economic downturns, outsourcing, advancements in technology, corporate consolidations, union busting, and more, being laid off or 'downsized' is an all too common experience for men and women in today's workforce ranging from blue collar to white color employment. Today, no one is guaranteed a lifetime job short of being a justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. That's why Tomas Dowd's "Displacement Day: When My Job was Looking for a Job" will prove to be such an invaluable and instructive read. Basically a practical, 'real world', reference guide to finding work, "Displacement Day: When My Job was Looking for a Job" is a 184 page compendium based on the author's personal experience and years of expertise. Of special note is the section devoted to 'Maximize Your Soft and Hard Skills'. Informed, informative, and thoroughly 'user friendly' from first page to last, "Displacement Day: When My Job was Looking for a Job" is strongly recommended for personal reading lists and community library Jobs/Careers reference collections. It should be noted that "Displacement Day: When My Job was Looking for a Job" is also available in a Kindle edition ($9.99).


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Your Guide to Marketing Books in the Christian Marketplace, third edition
Sarah Bolme
Crest Publications
PO Box 481022, Charlotte, NC 28269
www.crestpub.com
9780972554695, $25.99, www.amazon.com

Now in a fully updated and significantly expanded third edition, "Your Guide to Marketing Books in the Christian Marketplace" by Sarah Bolme will prove to be an indispensable 266 page instructional resource for authors and publishers of Christian literature whether fiction or non-fiction. Comprehensive, exceptionally well organized and presented, practical, informed and informative, "Your Guide to Marketing Books in the Christian Marketplace" is an essential read and reference, especially and strongly recommended for those new to writing and publishing for a Christian readership. In the interest of full disclosure, it should be noted that the Midwest Book Review is recommended as a resource for obtaining reviews (page 46).


The Education Shelf

Questioning Sequences In The Classroom
Robert Marzano & Julia A. Simms
Marzano Research Laboratory
555 North Morton Street, Bloomington, IN 47404
www.marzanoresearch.com
9780985890261, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Co-founder and CEO of Marzano Research Laboratory in Centennial, Colorado, Robert J. Marzano is a speaker, trainer, and educational researcher in the United States. He has done educational research and theory on the topics of standards-based assessment, cognition, high-yield teaching strategies, and school leadership, including the development of practical programs and tools for teachers and administrators in K-12 schools. Now in collaboration with Julia A. Simms (Director of Publications, Marzano Research Labratory), "Questioning Sequences in the Classroom" is 140 page compendium of question-based classroom education strategies organized into five succinct chapters: Research and Theory; Questioning Sequences; External Sources of Information; Response Strategies; Preparation for Questioning Sequences. Enhanced with the inclusion of two appendices: (A) Answers to the Comprehension Questions found in Chapte4rs 2, 3, 4 and 5; and (B) Examples of Questioning Sequences; a ten page list of References & Resources; as well as a useful index, "Questioning Sequences in the Classroom" is an informed, informative, and very highly recommended contribution to Teacher Training curriculums and academic library Educational Studies reference collections. It should be noted that "Questioning Sequences in the Classroom" is also available in a Kindle edition ($14.89).


The Poetry Shelf

Love, Etc.
L. L. Barkat
T. S. Poetry Press
21 Belleview Avenue, Ossining, NY 10562
www.tspoetry.com www.llbarkat.com
9780989854238, $14.95, www.amazon.com

L. L. Barkat is a talented writer of experimental fiction and a gifted poet with an impressive ability to create word pictures that evoke both an emotional and cognitive response from her reader. "Love, Etc.: Poems of Love, Laughter, Longing & Loss" is a slender, 134 page compendium comprised of Barkat's extraordinary verse that will well serve to bring her work to the attention of a whole new generation of appreciative readers. 'Writing': I stand by the mirror, / letting down my hair, strand / by brown cherry strand. // You stand by the door, / leaning. // I slip off a white silk / robe, lined with shadow. // You are as one, in an orchard. // And when I turn / to reach for another word, / and the small curve of my flesh / moves into light, // you take the nippled blossoms / onto your tongue.


The Architecture Shelf

Small Thoughts and Projects
Carl Turner Architects
Lakewood Art & Architecture
406 Wyckoff Mills Rd., East Windsor, NJ 08520
c/o Artifice
ActarBirkhauser Distribution
151 Grand Street, 5th floor, New York, NY 10013
9781908967374 $24.95 www.actar-d.com

Small Thoughts and Projects is a showcase of unique design and architectural creations that prove a dwelling does not need to be spacious to be distinctive, practical, and elegant. Each individual project is displayed through room-by-room, full-color photography plus some black-and-white diagrams of basic floor plans or three-dimensional structure. Brief yet accessible text outlines challenges, inspirations, and ideas specific to each unit of architecture. "Local authority planning departments like labeling this 'live/work' to attract premium rates - and special bin collecting arrangements - but it doesn't have to be so complicated. This is cynical profiteering and it's one of those little things that if rethought could make a huge difference." Small Thoughts and Projects is especially relevant for the twenty-first century, as worldwide population increases prompt a revisitation of the economy of space. Highly recommended especially for architectural studies shelves and library collections.


The Homeowner's Shelf

Home Maintenance Made Easy
MyHome Press
c/o National Association of Home Builders
1201 15th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005-2800
www.nahb.org
9780867187182 $19.95 myhomepress.com

Spiral bound for quick and ready access, Home Maintenance Made Easy: What to Do, When to Do It, When to Call For Help lives up to its title as a user-friendly guide to the practice and art of home maintenance. As little as a few minutes a week can potentially save one thousands of dollars, by guarding against preventable long-term problems such as water damage, pests, and air infiltration. Covering all aspects of one's home, including plumbing, electrical systems, kitchens and baths, doors and windows, and much more (even landscaping!), Home Maintenance Made Easy is a "must-have" for homeowners everywhere. Highly recommended!


The Graphic Novel Shelf

Get Over It
Corinne Mucha
Secret Acres
237 Flatbush Ave., #331
Brooklyn, NY 11217
9780988814967 $15.00 www.secretacres.com

Get Over It is an autobiographical graphic novel about a tumultuous period of author Corinne Mucha's life - her painful breakup with her live-in boyfriend. The beginning of the end was a purely honest, heart-to-heart conversation in which he told her, "I want to get married someday. Just not to you. I just can't see it happening. You know?... I just can't see us having a family together, can you?" Learning to accept that she had fallen in love with the wrong man was a difficult process, and there was no quick or easy way to heal. "...this is not a battle. Letting go is not a thing to be won, especially not through harshness... It is a slow thing that can be found by slowing down." Mucha's simplistic, almost scrawled black-and-white artwork anthropomorphizes raw feelings in her head and her heart, recounts key turning points, and spells out her hard-won insights during her long and arduous journey. In the end, she was able to remain friends with the man who once broke her heart, and he was willing to critique the rough draft of her graphic novel (which does not paint him in the most flattering light, but does not demonize him either). Get Over It is a superb pick for anyone looking to come to terms with the worst and most difficult of feelings, worthy of the highest recommendation.


James A. Cox
Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
http://www.midwestbookreview.com


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