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The Bookwatch

Volume 7, Number 3 March 2012 Home | BW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Metaphysical Studies Shelf Music Shelf
Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf Christian Studies Shelf Gardening Shelf
Military Shelf Cookbook Shelf Computer Shelf
Technology Shelf Photography Shelf Crafts Shelf
Travel Shelf Science Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Fiction Shelf Biography Shelf Literary Studies Shelf
Business Shelf Art Shelf Needlecraft Shelf
Audiobook Shelf American History Shelf World History Shelf
Women's Studies Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf Education Shelf
Language Studies Shelf Native American Shelf Theatre/Cinema Shelf
Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf Library DVD Shelf
Political Science Shelf    


Reviewer's Choice

Greedy Bastards
Dylan Ratigan
Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
9781451642223, $25.00, www.simonandschuster.com

Greedy Bastards: How We Can Stop Corporate Communists, Banksters, and Other Vampires from Sucking America Dry comes from an author furious with government corruption and corporate communism, ailing health care, and American dependency upon foreign oil. His goal is to 'take back the country' and here he advocates a political, economic and social system that achieves real change. Any interested in economics, politics, social issues and change will find this a thought-provoking assessment of fundamental American issues and their possible solutions.

Unstuck
Noah Scalin
Voyageur Press
c/o Quayside Publishing Group
400 First Avenue North, Suite 300
Minneapolis, MN 55401
9780760341346, $17.99, www.voyageurpress.com

UNSTUCK: 52 WAYS TO GET AND KEEP YOUR CREATIVITY FLOWING AT HOME, AT WORK & IN YOUR STUDIO offers a toolbox packed with skills to help any get 'unstuck'. Over fifty project prompts are designed for business and personal creative use alike, offering activities that can be done either randomly or regularly, as the muse strikes. Pages also offer room to sketch, journal and document experiences and inspirations, making this a fine gift choice for any who would 'unstick' their creativity!

Gay Men Don't Get Fat
Simon Doonan
Blue Rider Press
5 Kendal Drive, Oberlin, OH 44074-1901
9780399158735, $24.95, www.blueriderpress.com

Gay Men Don't Get Fat provides a fine and fun survey offering light observation of why gays know how to work, play and dress better than anyone. Building on this basic premise, Simon Doonan tells how adopt their techniques, from using step-by-step approaches to building better wardrobes to acquiring a knowledge of cultural trends, tips for building a better self-image, and adopting a more balanced diet. The combination of whimsy and cultural insights makes this a light and fun read recommended for general lending collections.

Greatness: The 16 Characteristics of True Champions
Don Yeager
Center Street
c/o Hachette Publishing Group
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017-0010
9781599954288, $23.99, www.centerstreet.com

Greatness: The 16 Characteristics of True Champions offers a survey on personal and professional greatness and how it can be achieved. For over 20 years sports journalist Don Yaeger has asked what makes it possible for people to move from goodness to being truly great. His interviews and discussions revealed some 16 characteristics shared by the best winners of modern times, and are distilled into this book. Anecdotes accompany surveys of characteristics and how lessons gained from these winners can be incorporated into our daily and personal lives for maximum benefit. Any collection strong on self-improvement will find this a solid survey!


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Happy
Lonely Planet Publications
150 Linden Street, Oakland CA 94607
9781742205885, $14.99, www.lonelyplanet.com

HAPPY: SECRETS TO HAPPINESS FROM THE CULTURES OF THE WORLD comes from a travel guide publisher who provides a fine survey of different happiness-generating methods in different cultures, making this a pick for new age and travel holdings alike. HAPPY brings together a host of cultural insights to happiness and shows readers how to bring these insights into their own homes. From using natural celebrations to realizing connections to the outside world to exercising to produce endorphins, HAPPY is an outstanding, positive guide for any general lending library.


The Music Shelf

Hal Leonard
c/o Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing
33 Plymouth St, Suite 302, Montclair, NJ 07042
www.halleonard.com

GUITAR PLAY ALONG: BOB MARLEY (9781423495345, $16.99) offers a CD and tab book combination that teaches reggae fans how to play 8 songs, and is a top pick for any player who wants a basic introduction to Marley and reggae's style. Some of his top hits - including 'Get Up Stand Up' and 'Three Little Birds' - are covered in this tab and sound-alike CD pairing, helping guitar players get up to speed with both visual and audio keys to success. The CD is playable on any CD player and is enhanced so MAC and PC users can just the tempo without changing the pitch: an added bonus to this easy learner's guide! GUITAR GEAR OF THE GREATS: THE GUITARS, AMPS & EFFECTS BEHIND THE SOUND OF 100 PLAYERS (9781423492221, $19.99) come with a CD and accompanies rare photos and stories from a music historian to accompany tablature, bios, and profiles of 100 selected top guitarists. All music styles are embraced from rock to jazz, with discussions on Brad Paisley, Joe Pass, Larry Carlton, Eric Clapton and more offering specifics on the gear they used and the sound they created or influenced. A fine pick for any music collection!


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

Sunday Brunch
Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman
Andrews McMeel
1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
9781449407971, $19.99, www.andrewsmcmeel.com

Sixteen year old Jeremy, son of Connie and Walt, struggles with sex, career, school, sleep, and clueless parents in this comic book collection that presents nearly three hundred of the best full-color Zits Sunday strips in an oversized, lovely presentation. Essays from other famous cartoonists round out this latest Zits survey of a teen's perspective, making for an outstanding gathering highly recommended for general lending collections and comic and graphic novels holdings alike.


The Christian Studies Shelf

Godly Seed
Allan Carlson
Transaction Publishers
Rutgers University
35 Berrue Circle, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8042
9781412842617, $29.95, www.transactionpub.com

Godly Seed: American Evangelicals Confront Birth Control, 1873-1973 examines the history and process by which evangelical leaders eventually moved from being against contraception to accepting birth control and even briefly abortion. It uncovers a relatively little-known segment of evangelical history and Christian religion, exploring shifts in arguments and interests in the early Church and following the religious movement's influences and changing interpretations of the Bible. Any Christian collection strong in Christian social history will find this a scholarly survey that fills in many gaps.

Readings from the Edges
Jean-Pierre Ruiz
Orbis Books
Box 302, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0302
9781570759444, $28.00, www.orbisbooks.com

Readings from the Edges: The Bible and People on the Move comes from a Hispanic scholar who connects the migration of peoples with Biblical texts, connecting the immigrant experience to Biblical experience and weaving together accounts of migration, exile, and cultural and social identity with Biblical perspectives. The result is a survey especially recommended for Hispanic collections examining Christian history and identity from a Hispanic viewpoint.


The Gardening Shelf

The Holistic Orchard
Michael Phillips
Chelsea Green Publishing Company
85 North Main Street, Suite 120
White River Junction, VT 05001
9781933392134, $39.95, www.chelseagreen.com

THE HOLISTIC ORCHARD: TREE FRUITS AND BERRIES THE BIOLOGICAL WAY tells how to grow a small-scale orchard of tree fruits and berries and offers basic knowledge for aspiring fruit growers who would avoid chemical solutions to common problems. From pairing varieties with climate to basic horticultural skills and companion planting measures, this teaches how to grow tree fruits and berries under the best conditions and offer individual chapters on all the major pome fruits and woody berries. Newcomers to organic techniques, in particular, will relish the clear and specific instructions in a title recommended for any general home gardening library.


The Military Shelf

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

Gordon L. Rottman's THE M16 (9781849086905, $17.95) joins others in Osprey's 'Weapon' series and provides illustrated examinations of a range of operational and historical design and deployment activities surrounding the M16. The M16 is one of the most controversial rifles ever introduced, with a long history of design defects and cleaning difficulties. Discussions take into account the pros and cons of the M16 and analyzes its history and features, and comes from a Vietnam Special Forces veteran. Any serious military equipment analysis needs this! Savin Mortimer's SAS IN WORLD WAR II: AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY (9781849086462, $25.95) provides a fine re-creation of war history during 1941 when a young Scots Guard officer persuaded MEHQ to give its backing to sixty men who were to perform the initial SAS raids against Axis airfields and throughout the war. The SAS's formative years are documented in a fine exploration based on Mortimer's expertise and rare access to the SAS Regimental Archives. Interviews with surviving veterans make this a winning history key to any in-depth World War II military library! Osamu Tagaya's AICHI 99 KANBAKU 'VAL' UNITS 1937-42 (9781841769127, $22.95) joins others in Osprey's 'Combat Aircraft' series to explore the Imperial Japanese Navy's carrier bomber force from 1941 plus. Its design and deployment made it an effective, powerful figure in all the great carrier battles during the first year of the Pacific War, and this book pairs vintage black and white photos with history to provide a fine in-depth coverage of the bomber's experiences.

How the End Begins
Ron Rosenbaum
Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl.
New York, NY 10020
9781416594215, $28.00, www.simonandschuster.com

HOW THE END BEGINS: THE ROAD TO A NUCLEAR WORLD WAR III is a powerful account recommended for any military collection and many a science fiction holding - but its contents are researched nonfiction, not the stuff of fantasy. It provides documentation and analysis of how close - and often - the world has come to nuclear annihilation and why we're once again at the brink, offering insights into war game strategies, underground nuclear command structures, missiles, and the system involved in nuclear launch failsafes. The close attention to specific scenarios and dangers makes for an appealing, involving title.


The Cookbook Shelf

Carrabba's Italian Grill
Carrabba's
John Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118197332, $19.99, www.wiley.com

Carrabba's Italian Grill Recipes from Around Our Family Table provides a fine survey of Italian grill cookery and based on the dishes of an establishment in business for over two decades. Over seventy recipes come form generations of family cooking and teach the basics of grilling and producing Italian side dishes. From Seared Scallops with Spinach Orzo to Lobster Macaroni and Cheese and Braised Short Ribs with Red Wine, this pairs lovely color photos with dishes easy to reproduce at home and is a pick for any general lending library.

Grillhouse
Ross Dobson
Lyons Press
c/o Globe Pequot
P.O. Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437-0480
9780762773787, $27.50, www.LyonsPress.com

GRILLHOUSE: GASTROPUB AT HOME celebrates 'gastropub' fare which blends classic pub dishes with innovations on classic pub dishes. From Apple and Cheddar Pie to Steaks with Green Peppercorn Sauce and Crispy Pork Belly with Apple Sauce and classic Steak and Kidney Pies, this pairs color photos with classic pub dishes highly recommended for any culinary collection.

Jonny Boweden, PhD, CNS and Jeannette Bessinger, CHHC
Fair Winds Press
c/o Quayside Publishing Group
400 First Avenue North, Suite 300
Minneapolis, MN 55401-1721
9781592334940, $24.99, www.fairwindspress.com

The 150 Healthiest Slow Cooker Recipes on Earth comes from a team who uses wholesome ingredients from fresh fruits and veggies to wild-caught fish and pasture-raised poultry in recipes that skip canned products commonly used in slow cooker recipes. Flavors abound based on spices and seasonings and natural ingredients, while color photos enhance recipes loaded with attraction from Turkey and Fruit-Sweetened Cranberry Sauce Supper to an unusual Pineapple Pepper Chili and Easy Asian Sweet Chili Chicken. Any seeking an alternate slow cooker cookbook that avoids the usual canned products will relish this emphasis on fresh, seasonal ingredients.

A Well-Seasoned Kitchen
Sally Clayton & Lee Clayton Roper
MLC Publishing
209 Cook Street, Denver, CO 80206-5304
9780984116331, $34.95, www.seasonedkitchen.com

The mother/daughter Colorado team of Sally Clayton and Lee Clayton Roper join forces to provide a cookbook that began with Sally's early-stage memory loss and her daughter's efforts to collect cherished family recipes. Sally passed away as the cookbook was being completed and until now its 186 tested recipes have only been available in Colorado, so it's a pleasure to see this national presentation and a host of appealing dishes from Rack of Lamb with Nut Crust to Apple Cake. Menus are easy to reproduce, perfect for entertaining and loaded with appeal making this title a recommendation for any general cookbook collection.

Chronicle Books
680 Second Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
www.chroniclebooks.com

Sarah Billingsley & Rachel Wharton's HANDHELD PIES: DOZENS OF PINT-SIZE SWEETS & SAVORIES (9781452102146, $19.95) features some forty recipes for miniature pies, from pop tarts to tiny cream pies, and pairs stories of pie-makers with tips on preparation, molds, and recipes that fit the miniature pie concept. From structured pies that need a mold or small pan to bake in to the pop tart concept and pies that an be made in jars, this is filled with innovative baking ideas, color photos, and a wide range of recipes you won't find in competing pie books. Coleman Andrews' THE COUNTRY COOKING OF ITALY (9780811866712, $50.00) offers lovely color photos by Hirsheimer and Hamilton and follows on the success of the authors' best-selling COUNTRY COOKING OF IRELAND. It's based on over forty years of traveling and eating in Italy and packs in over two hundred recipes, capturing the foods and traditions of the Italian countryside in dishes and photos. Some of these recipes are little-known outside of Italy, making this a fine compilation discussing technique, culture, and unique dishes. Any cookbook collection - even those with numerous Italian cookbooks already in their holdings - will find this a winner.


The Computer Shelf

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

Two fine exam guides are top picks for any planning on studying for these exams, and should be considered by any college-level collection strong in software developer education. Tony Northrup and Matthew A. Stoecker's MCPD EXAM REF 70-518 (9780735667236, $39.99) covers the basics of designing Windows applications using Microsoft.NET Framework 4. It uses the exam to follow and teach the basics and is designed for experienced MCTS-certified professionals ready to advance their careers. Arranged by exam objective, this is filled with real-world scenarios and applications analysis. Orin Thomas' MCITP EXAM REF 70-663 (9780735658080, $49.99) covers designing solutions with Microsoft Exchange Server 2010, and offers professional-level preparation to help experienced, MCTS-certified professionals advance their careers. From planning and designing Exchange Server infrastructures to deploying antivirus features and configuring subscriptions, this is filled with keys to success not just in the exam, but in advancing knowledge and career objectives. Both are top picks for exam-takers in these IT areas.

The Linux Command Line
William E. Shotts, Jr.
No Starch Press
38 Ringold St., San Francisco CA 94103
9781593273897, $49.95, www.nostarch.com

The Linux Command Line: A Complete Introduction provides an in-depth survey on the command line and comes from one who has been a Linux user for over 15 years. Readers learn tips from their first keystrokes to writing full problems in Bash, the most popular Linux shell, with chapters covering everything from secure communications with remote hosts to a history of printing, compiling programs, and validating input with Linux. A fine pick for any computer collection attracting newcomers to Linux!

New Programmer's Survival Manual
Josh Carter
Pragmatic Programmers
P.O. Box 293325, Lewisville, TX 75029-3325
9781934356814, $29.00, www.pragprog.com

New Programmer's Survival Manual teaches the basics of assessing and obtaining key industry skills to help apply raw programming talent to a job. It considers what goes on in an office, and how to land that first job using programming skills. From working on larger-scale programs to understanding the corporate working environment from office politics to challenges to teamwork, this provides a top reference to any newly-graduated programmer who wants real-world applications.

O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein, Hwy N., Sebastopol, CA 95472-2811
www.oreilly.com

Preston Gralla's GALAXY TAB: THE MISSING MANUAL (9781449396855, $19.99) offers keys to the TouchWiz interface and other features of Galaxy Tab, which lets your mobile device become interactive. Chapters cover all the basics of adding widgets and mini-apps to a screen, downloading programs, using email and browsers, shooting photos and videos and more. From browsing Google Maps to posting on walls, this is packed with details and black and white illustrations throughout, making it a pick for any mobile device owner using Galaxy Tab to stay in touch. Matt Aimonetti's MACRUBY: THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE (9781449380373, $39.99) is for any Mac Os X programmer and covers the basics of getting started with MacRuby. From using MacRuby with Apple's Xcode developer package to advanced techniques and applications that can hold examples from a location web service, this is a reference programmers at all levels can readily use. Clay A. Jonson's THE INFORMATION DIET: A CASE FOR CONSCIOUS CONSUMPTION (9781449304683, $22.99) is a recommendation for media and computer collections alike and considers the social issues involved in the glut of information available online. Chapters tell how to navigate the information society, from learning what to look for and what to avoid to being selective about media's offerings. Any reader concerned about media marketing and information's underlying purposes will find this a thought-provoking, important guide! J.D. Biersdorfer and David Pogue's IPOD: THE MISSING MANUAL (9781449312855, $21.99) packs in all the details iPod users need, from learning how to load iPods with movies, games, ebooks and more to handling iTunes, using variations such as the Nano and Shuffle, and customizing a media library. It's a powerful pick for any iPod user and should be the 'bible' accompanying any new user's purchase! Lyza Danger Gardner and Jason Grigsby's HEAD FIRST MOBILE WEB (9781449302665, $44.99) uses the latest research in cognitive learning skills to provide a learning experience that's visually rich and quick to absorb. It's patterned on the way the brain works and uses dynamic, inviting pages to teach the basics of adopting a mobile strategy for business: one that takes into account the growing use of phones, tablets and e-reader devices for browsing the web. From strategic changes to mobile web design to learning through puzzles and images, this covers everything from device databases to building hybrid mobile apps, and is a 'must' for business and computer libraries alike.


The Technology Shelf

iPhone 4S for Dummies, 5th edition
Edward C. Baig and Bob "Dr. Mac" LeVitus
John Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118036716, $24.99, www.wiley.com

iPhone 4S for Dummies offers a fine survey of the iPhone 4S and all its new possibilities, and should accompany any iPhone new acquisition. It covers all the basics and uses full color, step-by-step examples throughout that teach both basics and more advanced customization techniques. From working with its camera and restricting usage to using utilities, this updated 5th edition covers the latest iPhone 4S, 4 and 3GS, and is a top recommendation!

iPod & iTunes for Dummies, 9th edition
Tony Bove
John Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118130605, $21.99, www.wiley.com

iPod & iTunes for Dummies teaches how to set up an iPod and iTunes account, how to fill the iPod with music and videos, and how to add music tracks from CDs to a library and iPod. It appears in its 9th updated edition to cover the latest iPod and iTunes editions, and teaches both the basics and advanced functions of obtaining, organizing and working with playlists and content. Step-by-step instructions and use keys make this a winning discussion even for those who have their first iPod and no clue about setup and applications.

iPad2 for Seniors for Dummies, third edition
Nancy C. Muir
John Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118176788, $24.99, www.wiley.com

iPad2 for Seniors for Dummies offers a full-color third updated edition to teach users how to use the iPad2 to exchange emails, share photos, and more. Tips cover the iPad, iPad2 and iOS 5 and the 'senior' angle teaches the basics of its features and functions, designed for seniors who hold only minimal technology skills. Larger-sized print and easy directions make it easy for seniors to get started learning all the basics.


The Photography Shelf

Social Media Marketing for Digital Photographers
Lawrence Chan
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118014127, $29.99, www.wiley.com

Social Media Marketing for Digital Photographers tells photographers how to gain maximum exposure for their work and teaches how to use social media marketing to explore customer wants and needs. From developing a basic photography marketing strategy to exploring specific social media channels and finding out how to promote luxury photography and lucrative paths, how to listen to customer needs, and how to use social media to brand products. Black and white and color photos throughout illustrate the basics of creating marketing content and converting social media fans and friends into clients. Aspiring professional photographers must have this!


The Crafts Shelf

Irina's Inspirations for Jewelry
Irina Miech
Kalmbach Publishing Co.
P.O. Box 1612, Waukesha, WI 53187-1612
9780871164025, $21.95, www.kalmbachbooks.com

Irina's Inspirations for Jewelry comes form a designer who shares photos and notes on where she locates ideas for her handcrafted jewelry. Irina has journeyed around the world and closer to home in Wisconsin, so her ideas come from varied experience. This title offers step-by-step photos to show how to create pieces matching Irina's artistic insights - and offer jewelry makers keys to obtaining ideas from their own worlds. Necklaces, bracelets and earrings use a range of simple techniques making this a pick for any level of beader.

North Light Books
c/o F+W Media
4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236
www.createmixedmedia.com

Thomas Mann's METAL ARTIST'S WORKBENCH: DEMYSTIFYING THE JEWELER'S SAW (1440311463, $27.99) offers an in-depth survey of how to get the most from sawn projects using the jeweler's saw. It comes from a veteran artist who provides exercises designed to start the beginner with some fifteen projects ranging from a chef's knife pendant to pins and switch plates. Each project is designed to teach sawing basics and techniques and uses lovely projects form metal, plastic, wood or paper as a starting point. Step-by-step color close-up photos throughout make the learning process a snap in this recommendation for any jewelry-making or crafting collection. Nita Leland's NEW CREATIVE COLLAGE TECHNIQUES (1440309213, $29.99) is packed with basic methods and innovations on collage and teaches over 50 collage projects using step-by-step directions, charts, and more. Learn techniques that translate to addition creative projects in a survey that uses the work from 60 artists to show various collage options that are far from ordinary. These projects teach color contrasts, texture, using paints and much more. With lay-flat binding and hardcover spine lettering, this is a perfect pick for any budding artist's collection.


The Travel Shelf

Route 66 Lost & Found
Russell A. Olsen
Voyageur Press
c/o Quayside Publishing Group
400 First Avenue North, Suite 300
Minneapolis, MN 55401
9780760339985, $30.00, www.voyageurpress.com

Black and white vintage photos pack the pages of ROUTE 66 LOST & FOUND: MOTHER ROAD RUINS AND RELICS - THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION, and come from an author and photographer who documents past appearances and provides new profiles of the same scene. Over 200 profiles have been re-sequenced along with updated maps featuring new sites and archival images of each establishment on Route 66, making this a fine armchair read recommended for any American history or travel library.


The Science Shelf

The Life of Super-Earths
Dimitar Sasselov
Basic Books
c/o Perseus Books Group
387 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
9780465021932, $25.99, www.basicbooks.com

The Life of Super-Earths: How the Hunt for Alien Worlds and Artificial Cells Will Revolutionize Life on Our Planet comes from a renowned astronomer and planet hunter who considers how life came to be. The answers to this question may lie in planets billions of miles and millions of light-years from us, and involves exploring other Earth-like planets. THE LIFE OF SUPER-EARTHS adopts a chatty tone as it considers the latest advances in this area, offering a history of the hunt for planets beyond our solar system and explaining planetary environments and their connections to the origins of life. An outstanding survey evolves.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

A Perilous Conception
Larry Karp
Poisoned Pen Press
6962 E. First Ave., #103, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
9781590589731, $24.95, www.poisonedpenpress.com

A Perilous Conception provides a fine mystery set in 1976 and telling of Dr. Colin Sanford, a brilliant obstetrician practicing in the Pacific Northwest who resolves to become the first to produce a baby by in vitro fertilization. Politics, competing scientific investigations, and a husband's fatal shooting over a birth create a vivid mystery packed with twists and turns of plot revolving around births, death, and conflict. A satisfying, unusual 'must' for any mystery collection.


The Fiction Shelf

Land of Painted Caves
Jean M. Auel
Bantam Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780553289435, $8.99, www.bantamdell.com

This conclusion of the long-running saga Earth's Children is a top pick for any fan of the prehistoric romance between Ayla and Jondalar. The two have an infant daughter and are living with the Zelandoii in the Ninth Cave. Ayla is an acolyte to a spiritual leader and begins training tasks that need to blend with her newfound family obligations. But Jondalar is drifting away from her. A powerful, unexpected conclusion provides a satisfying, consistent ending to this passionate series, recommended for any fiction collection seeing popularity with the past novels.


The Biography Shelf

Herge, Son of TinTin
Benoit Peeters
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles St., Baltimore MD 21218
9781421404547, $29.95, www.press.jhu.edu

Tina A. Kover translates a fine biography that delves into the psyche of Herge, creator of TinTin, in a survey that appears in English for the first time. Given that the new TinTin movie has made an impact in theatres, this should see much popularity with American audiences. Peeters was the last person to interview Herge, and provides the complete story of how the TinTin character evolved. Differences between Herge's private personality and his public persona are explored in a fine coverage packed with anecdotes and perceptions: a 'must' for any TinTin or Herge fan.


The Literary Studies Shelf

Dogs in Books
Catherine Britton
Mark Batty Publisher
68 Jay Street, Suite 410, Brooklyn, NY 11201
9781935613404, $14.95, www.markbattypublisher.com

DOGS IN BOOKS: A CELEBRATION OF DOG ILLUSTRATION THROUGH THE AGES celebrates the role of dogs in literature and is a fun celebration of a range of literary canines, from Lassie and Toto to White Fang and more. It comes from the British Library's archives, examines the personas and roles of dogs in different stories, and is packed with classic illustrations culled from dog stories over the decades. Arts as well as literary holdings will find this an attraction.


The Business Shelf

Stepping Up
John Izzo, Ph.D.
Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc.
235 Montgomery Street, Suite 650
San Francisco, CA 94104-2916
9781609940577, $16.95, www.bkconnection.com

Stepping Up: How Taking Responsibility Changes Everything provides a fine argument that says nearly all world problems can be solved when everyone looks to themselves to be the agent of change, rather than blaming someone else. With responsibility comes change, and the more each person chooses to initiative change, the more they will discover their own personal power. Examples from business and society make this a fine collection of empowerment stories suitable not just for business but for general-interest audiences and for readers interested in the basics of social change.

Small Business for Dummies
Eric Tyson and Jim Schell
John Wiley & Sons
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118083727, $22.99, www.wiley.com

Small Business for Dummies is a recommendation for any new to starting a business, and offers an in-depth guide that starts from scratch, from the basic idea for a start-up and researching the business opportunity to evaluating an existing business, solving common problems facing the new start-up, and dealing with bankers, lawyers and others. It even includes online marketing strategies and buying a franchise, making this a top first title to turn to!

The Best of Guerrilla Marketing
Jay Conrad Levinson & Jeannie Levinson
Entrepreneur Press
2445 McCabe Way Suite 400, Irvine, CA 92614-6244
9781599184227, $21.95, www.entrepreneurpress.com

The Best of Guerrilla Marketing: The Guerrilla marketing Remix offers important insights on everything from internet advertising and networking to career branding, and combines the latest strategies and tools from over 35 Guerrilla books for a new generation. From publicity and marketing to networking, selling, and public speaking, this covers everything from social media to retail sales and beyond, offering a range of proven marketing techniques for any company that would think outside the box. Common pitfalls in traditional business thinking are outlined alongside guerrilla marketing solutions in a powerful 'must have' for any serious business holding!

Why She Buys
Bridget Brennan
Crown Business
c/o Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
9780307450395, $15.00, www.crownbusiness.com

WHY SHE BUYS: THE NEW STRATEGY FOR REACHING THE WORLD'S MOST POWERFUL CONSUMERS exposes the gender gap between people who decide what to manufacture and those who decide what to buy. It identifies gender as the most powerful determinant of purchases, shows how male-dominated companies don't successfully cater to this market, and discusses demographic trends, gender psychology, and new research on brain differences. Interviews with executives in major companies accompany the analysis to help executives re-direct their marketing and thinking approaches in a title recommended for business and women's issues holdings alike.


The Art Shelf

Hudson Hills Press
PO Box 205
3556 Main Street, Manchester, VT 05254
www.hudsonhills.com

Marylyn Dintenfass' commissioned paintings and sculptures contributed to her great achievement constructing the sculpture at Parallel Park in Fort Myers Florida, and Aliza Edelman, et.al.'s MARYLYN DINTENFASS: PARALLEL PARK (9781555953461, $55.00) celebrates the extent of her work and its place in the public art arena. An introductory essay by Aliza Edelman provides the author's background and cultural influences while a particularly enlightening account by Barbara Anderson Hill, Art Consultant to the City of Fort Myers Public Art Program, documents the process by which Dintenfass was commissioned to work with Fort Myers on her production. Color plates of the gallery exhibition and the construction of the sculptures makes this a powerful, highly recommended documentation of the entire process of public art from the artistic to the political levels, recommended for any arts collection. Jack Parsons' DARK BEAUTY: PHOTOGRAPHS OF NEW MEXICO (9781555953706, $60.00) offers a lovely catalog featuring not only Parson's color photos, but the people and landscapes of New Mexico. It covers many byroads and side places not usually seen in other coverages of more common New Mexico destinations, and is a fine example of not only landscape art but New Mexico's diversity. Any collection strong in regional American portraits will find this a fine pick!

Participate
Helen Armstrong & Zvezdana Stojmirovic
Princeton Architectural Press
37 East 7th St., New York NY 10003
9781616890254, $24.95, www.papress.com

PARTICIPATE: DESIGNING WITH USER-GENERATED CONTENT could also have been featured in our Computer Shelf section for its solid application to website and internet design, but offers a wider-reaching survey of how the design shifts sparked by Internet objectives actually affect the industry as a whole. PARTICIPATE considers historical and modern models of design that discuss how designers can lead the newly changed generation of design objectives, and deserves a spot in arts and computer sections alike.


The Needlecraft Shelf

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

KNIT LOCAL: CELEBRATING AMERICA'S HOMEGROWN YARNS offers over thirty knits made in the U.S. from family-owned companies that grow, spin and dye their yarns in this country, and pairs company histories and products with a review of the drive towards home-grown products within the knitting community. Yarns accompany color photos of over thirty projects along with easy directions on their use, with references on events and companies listed in the back. Any knitter's collection will benefit from this unusual, specific guide!

Weave Classic Crackle & More
Susan Wilson
Schiffer Publishing Ltd.
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764339400, $34.99, www.schifferbooks.com

Weave Classic Crackle & More focuses on a specific weave structure that teaches how to create classic crackle. Discussions of design choices, treadling variations, and different challenges presented by crackle are accompanied by over 200 images illustrating techniques throughout. Any hand weaver or library catering to them will appreciate this book's specific focus.

Bobbin Quiltin' & Fusin' Fun
Michele Scott
American Quilter's Society
PO Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
9781604600063, $26.95, www.AmericanQuilter.com

Bobbin Quiltin' & Fusin' Fun explores a range of fusing and applique techniques that tells how to finish quilting projects using fun threads in the bobbin, and is a fine pick for any quilter's collection seeking finishing touches. Learn how to choose from a range of decorative threads and yarns and learn to machine quilt from the back with a guide that uses projects to blend fusing and raw edge applique techniques. Color photos, patterns, and examples assure success!


The Audiobook Shelf

Finding Your Way in a Wild New World
Martha Beck
Highbridge Audio Books
201 Sixth Street SE, Suite 220
Minneapolis, MN 55414
9781611747935, $34.95, www.highbridgeaudio.com

Finding Your Way in a Wild New World: Reclaim Your True Nature to Create the Life You Want comes from a life coach who guides you on how to get to the next level in life. Business and spiritual concerns teach the basics of how to find a life path, how to take action and make a lasting impact in the world, and how to find peace with self and the outside world, offering a fine survey recommend for new age and self-help listeners alike!

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

Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child's BRIMSTONE (9781611139389, $24.98) is thriller listening at its best. Pair Scott Brick's impressive and engrossing voice with a thriller revolving around a body found in the attic of a rich Long Island estate where a hoofprint is scorched into the floor and you have a real mystery that centers around the supernatural. BRIMSTONE holds many unexpected twists and turns of plot in a delightful story that is hard to stop listening to. Both prior fans of Preston and Child and newcomers who love vivid thrillers will find this engrossing! Laurie Sandell's TRUTH AND CONSEQUENCES: LIFE INSIDE THE MADOFF FAMILY (9781611135251, $29.98) includes a pdf of photos and is presented with a fine narration by Maggie Hoffman as it tells of the 2008 arrest of financier Bernard Madoff, accused of swindling thousands including friends and family. This audio captures the drama, is spiced with access to the surviving family members, and provides a riveting account of high drama in the real world of finance, suitable for any nonfiction or business holding. Ravi Zacharias' WHY JESUS? (9781609414580, $24.98) is narrated by the author, the founder of International Ministries, and offers a spiritual survey of the modern spiritual world. From Eastern mysticism to New Age religions and paganism, this provides a fine and well-researched survey that considers the Christian church and its evolving roll in the world. A top listen for any Christian! Joshilyn Jackson's A GROWN-UP KIND OF PRETTY (9781611139921, $29.98) is narrated by the author, a native of the Deep South, and provides a fine account of how trouble comes after three Slocumb women once every fifteen years. Three generations struggle with all kinds of decisions and past mistakes in a gripping novel filled with twists of plot and the story of three related women fighting for their place in the world.

Explosive Eighteen
Janet Evanovich
Random House Audio Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 8th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780307932501, $32.00, www.randomhouseaudio.com

EXPLOSIVE EIGHTEEN receives a vivid narration by Lorelei King, an actress and narrator who has numerous audiobook recordings to her name, and presents a fine survey of Stephanie, whose dream vacation has turned into a nightmare. She's flying home alone, her seatmate on the plane is dead, and her casual involvement turns into a dangerous nightmare of murder and tension in Hawaii that threatens to immerse her. A fine pick for any audio mystery collection!

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

Dean Koontz's 77 SHADOW STREET (9781441818478, $34.99) receives a fine performance by Peter Berkrot, who is a veteran actor with four decades of lively performance behind him. The Pendleton is a Gilded age palace built as a tycoon's dream home: now it is home to wealthy residents who enjoy the apartment building's elegance - until supernatural figures emerge to spark terror in the residents. An engrossing account of terror makes this a powerful pick for any audio collection! Carmine Gallo's THE INNOVATION SECRETS OF STEVE JOBS (9781743105900, $19.99) receives a fine narration by Sean Mangan, who brings to life the assessment of qualities that make the Apple co-founder the most innovative leader in modern business. Jobs' basic business principles are loaded with research, quotes and first-person interviews with business leaders, making this an applied survey that uses Jobs' example to teach the basics of business success. Narrator Sean Mangan was raised in Canada and is a singer, musician, author - and solid narrator. J.D. Robb's CHAOS IN DEATH (145581847X, $19.99) receives a fine performance by veteran narrator Susan Ericksen and tells of a psychotic killer who roams the city with detective Eve Dallas in close pursuit. The only problem is - Eve has an impossible, otherworldly description of the murderer - and finds way too many possibilities fit even the most exotic description in this involving thriller, even more lively in audio than in book format and recommended for any audio thriller library.


The American History Shelf

From Liberation to Conquest
Bonnie M. Miller
University of Massachusetts Press
Box 429, Amherst, MA 01004
9781558499249, $29.95, www.,umass.edu.umpress

From Liberation to Conquest: The Visual and Popular Cultures of the Spanish-American War of 1898 explores how the American people supported the nation's entry into the Spanish-American War of 1898, which led to U.S. imperial expansion into the Caribbean and pacific. It was the country's media makers who fueled public excitement in the Cuban crisis, and this book analyzes the media representations of U.S. actions during the conquest from liberation to conquest, showing how it provided 'real world entertainment' by dramatizing events for the American public. Any U.S. history or military collection will find this solid scholarship.


The World History Shelf

A Line in the Sand
James Barr
W.W. Norton
500 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10110
9780393070651, $29.95, www.wwnorton.com

A Line in the Sand: The Anglo-French Struggle for the Middle East, 1914-1948 is a best-seller in the U.K. and provides a blend of political and historic insights into how the Middle East came to be divided up between Britain and France in wartime London in 1915. It's not a dry document but provides a lively examination as it chronicles politics, espionage, terrorism and revenge and moves around the world in a lively dance documenting interactions between world politicians and others. Highly recommended for any Middle East history collection, it chronicles the foundations of many of today's conflicts and is a 'must' for any who would understand Middle East history and culture.

The Royal Stuarts
Allan Massie
Thomas Dunne Books
c/o St. Martin's Press
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
9780312581756, $26.99, www.stmartins.com

THE ROYAL STUARTS: A HISTORY OF THE FAMILY THAT SHAPED BRITAIN provides a lively account of the Stuart family, with a violent history of backstabbing, betrayal and more. The Stuarts ruled Scotland for over 300 years and Britain and Ireland for over a century, with wide-reaching influence on the political milestones in British history. This surveys the family's famous members and explores the entire line and is a special recommendation for any collection strong in British history and culture.

Vanished Kingdoms
Norman Davies
Viking Press
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780670022731, $40.00, www.penguin.com

VANISHED KINGDOMS: THE RISE AND FALL OF STATES AND NATIONS charts how states and empires rise, fall and vanish and provides an in-depth examination that seeks to challenge our interpretation of the past. It comes from a historian whose histories of Europe and the U.K. have all been best-selling picks and is a recommendation not just for college-level history shelves, but for many a general lending collection. From alternative paths history might have taken in Europe to how the world would be different were it not for a key event, this is an intriguing collection of alternative scenarios!


The Women's Studies Shelf

Sisters in the Faith
Glendyne R. Wergland
University of Massachusetts Press
PO Box 429, Amherst, MA 01004
9781558498631, $24.95, www.umass.edu/umpress

SISTERS IN THE FAITH: SHAKER WOMEN AND THE EQUALITY OF THE SEXES uses an archive packed with primary documents to support discussions of how and why women joined the Shakers and how they were perceived by those outside their community. From tasks divided between men and women to how Shaker communities succeeded in instigating gender equality at a time when women elsewhere suffered many restrictions, SISTERS IN THE FAITH makes for an involving survey perfect for college-level women's history collections.

Daughters of the Declaration
Claire Gaudiani and David Burnett
Public Affairs
250 West 57th St. Suite 1321, New York NY 10107
9781610390316, $26.99, www.publicaffairsbooks.com

DAUGHTERS OF THE DECLARATION: HOW WOMEN SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS BUILT THE AMERICAN DREAM documents the contributions of women entrepreneurs who built 'social profit' in America before others built universities and foundations bearing their names. Women from the time of the Revolution to the end of the New Deal are documented in a fine collection discussing their goals, influences, contributions, and unique growth tactics. History, politics, economics and social issues come together under one cover and provide a fine survey perfect for any who would gain a sense of women's contributions and influences upon American ideals.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Venomous Reptiles of the United States, Canada and Northern Mexico V. 2
Carl H. Ernst and Evelyn M. Ernst
The Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9780801898761, $75.00, www.press.jhu.edu

The second volume of the comprehensive herpetology reference Venomous Reptiles of the United States, Canada and Northern Mexico is a 'must' recommendation for any college-level science holding serious about herpetology. It completely revises their reference VENOMOUS REPTILES OF NORTH AMERICA and includes the authors' research as well as data descriptions and stories from other references. General background information on Crotalus includes specific details on rattlesnake behavior, with each species including color photos, range maps, and specific discussions. Packed with bibliographic references and the latest research, these two volumes together are a 'must'.

Veterinary Infection Prevention and Control
Linda Caveney, Barbara Jones, Kimberly Ellis
Wiley-Blackwell
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148
9780813815343, $59.99 www.wiley.com

Veterinary Infection Prevention and Control gathers articles key to infection surveillance and control in the veterinary setting and outlines steps for implementing an infection control program for veterinary practices and hospitals. From specific infection prevention strategies in a vet setting to standard procedures for infection control, this includes a companion website with review questions and answers and more resources, and is a pick for vet students and practitioners alike.


The Education Shelf

Culturally Proficient Instruction, third edition
Kikanza J. Nuri-Robins, et.al.
Corwin Press
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
9781412988148, $36.95, www.corwin.com

Culturally proficient instruction comes from exploring values and pairing them with a workplace or school's policies, and this title provides a newly updated third edition of a classic exploration featuring a case study showing how cultural proficiency works in the field. It updates discussions of the tools of cultural proficiency and new language for understanding cultures and blends sociology lessons and insights with accounts of proficient instruction. A 'must' for any educator's collection.

Nature Sparks
Aerial Cross
Redleaf Press
10 Yorkton Court, St. Paul MN 55117-1065
9781605540412, $29.95, www.redleafpress.org

NATURE SPARKS: CONNECTING CHILDREN'S LEARNING TO THE NATURAL WORLD provides developmentally appropriate, nature-oriented indoor and outdoor classroom practices that include hands-on learning centers, field trips and hikes along with play activities, and offers teachers and day care providers strategies for involving a child with nature's wonders. From creating nature discovery trails to centers filled with nature observations based on land, water, and air, this tells educators how to involve all ages during all seasons, and is a fine pick for any early childhood collection.

Kaplan ACT Primer 2012
Kaplan Publishing
1 Liberty Plaza, 24th floor, New York, NY 10006
9781609780531, $31.99, www.kaplanpublishing.com

Kaplan ACT Primer 2012 packs in six practice tests (two are accessible online), detailed answer explanations to explore correct and incorrect responses, 3-minute video mini-lessons and more in a collection that pairs the best of online, book and accompanying CD-ROM teaching methods. Kaplan's ACT products and programs offer a range of study materials and approaches and mirror realistic testing methods. The result is a well-balanced, authoritative guide perfect for ACT test takers.

GRE For Dummies, 7th edition
Ron Woldoff with Joe Kraynak
John Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9780470889268, $29.99, www.wiley.com

Any planning on taking the high school equivalency exam the GRE will find this expanded book and CD combination provides a winning guide on all areas of the exam, from verbal and quantitative reasoning to analytical writing. Five tests reflect real GRE question ns and offer all the basics in a checklist of everything needed for taking the test. Add some 400 vocabulary terms most likely to appear on the test and three brand-new practices and you have a winning updated 7th edition of a classic.


The Language Studies Shelf

Basic Spoken Chinese
Cornelius C. Kubler
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive
North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
9780804840156, $49.95, www.tuttlepublishing.com

BASIC SPOKEN CHINESE: AN INTRODUCTION TO SPEAKING AND LISTENING FOR BEGINNERS tells how to acquire basic fluency in spoken Mandarin and includes 2 discs of software featuring some 40 native-speaker videos plus an audio disc featuring 6+ hours of audio. The basic spoken lessons are keyed to common daily encounters and inquiries, from visiting an acquaintance at her home to asking about opening and closing times or chatting, and it offers an outstanding guide for any would-be Mandarin speaker. No other book pairs visual, written and spoken insights as well, making this a top recommendation for any languages collection.

Tagalog for Beginners
Joi Barrios
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive
North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
9780804841269, $19.95, www.tuttlepublishing.com

TAGALOG FOR BEGINNERS: AN INTRODUCTION comes with a MP3 audio disc and provides a practical focus on conversational Tagalog filled with real-world dialogues and activities and exercises designed to help reinforce the reading, writing and speaking of Tagalog. Any wanting to learn the national language of the Philippines will find this filled with keys to success, offering learners background information, cultural insights, and practical applications. It comes from an author who holds a Ph.D. in Filipino Literature from the University of the Philippines, and is a top pick for any language collection.


The Native American Shelf

Winning the West with Words
James Joseph Buss
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman OK 73069
9780806142142, $34.95, www.oupress.com

Winning the West with Words: Language and Conquest in the Lower Great Lakes explores how 19th century Anglo-Americans used language and rhetoric to claim cultural ownership of the Lower Great Lakes region. It comes from a historian who uses literary studies combined with anthropology to consider images of pioneers and Indians used by American settlers to support their vision of an empty landscape in which they established governments and settlements, showing how this approach replaced a more complex vision of cooperation and encounters between the different groups. From travel journals and treaty ceremonies to newspapers and local histories, this provides an outstanding survey recommended for any literary and Native American history holding.

The People of the Standing Stone
Karim M. Tiro
University of Massachusetts Press
Box 429, Amherst, MA 01004
9781558498907, $26.95, www.,umass.edu.umpress

The People of the Standing Stone focuses on the Oneida nation from the Revolution through the Era of Removal, and blends scholarly historical examination with a narrative that analyzes the tribe's traumas, tribulations, and involvement with the revolutionaries. The revolution sparked a division in the tribe as they tried to help the patriots while tried to avoid harming their Iroquois brethren. Their reward for loyalty was to be dispossessed of nearly all their lands through treaties with New York. Any Native American history holding needs this well-researched account!


The Theatre/Cinema Shelf

Letters to Young Filmmakers
Howard Suber
Michael Wiese Productions
12400 Ventura Blvd., #1111, Studio City, CA 91604
9781615930630, $20.95, www.mwp.com

Letters to Young Filmmakers is packed with anecdotes, wisdom and insights based on the author's years of relationships in the film business, and is a 'must' for any performing arts and film collection. It provides sage advice for writers and directors alike, with chapters using a question-and-answer format to discuss everything from what is the important element involved in making a classic American movie to understanding how screenplays translate to film. A 'must' for any serious film holding!


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Tribulations
Ken Shufelot
Tor
c/o Tor/Forge Books
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
9780765365583, $7.99, www.tor-forge.com

TRIBULATIONS begins with a bang: an asteroid storm has obliterated Earth, and Billy and Linda West have built enough space-going arks to save a number of humans who roam the universe searching for a new home. Billy attempts to exceed the speed of light, damages his ship, and winds up drifting alone near a mysterious planet. Strong characters and plot make for a fast-paced survival story with many twists and turns making TRIBULATIONS a fine pick for any science fiction holding.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Scared Sick
Robin Karr-Morse & Meredith S. Wiley
Basic Books
c/o Perseus Books Group
387 Park Avenue, New York NY 10016
9780465013548, $26.99, www.basicbooks.com

SCARED SICK: THE ROLE OF CHILDHOOD TRAUMA IN ADULT DISEASE comes from a family therapist and a lawyer who together show how the body's fear response in the first thousand days of life lies at the root of many physical and mental illnesses. It's the first book to show how childhood trauma physically alters the body's immune systems and sets the stage for adulthood disease patterns currently attributed to aging and genetics, and uses previously unconnected psychological research to show the wide-ranging effects of chronic fear. Any health or psychology collection as well as general lending libraries will find this invaluable!

A Man's Guide to Muscle and Strength
Stephen Cabral
Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc.
PO Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61820-5076
1450402208, $19.95, www.humankinetics.com

A Man's Guide to Muscle and Strength: Transform Your Body in 6 Weeks offers serious programs to develop muscle strength and size, and is packed with step-by-step black and white photos demonstrating workouts. It comes from a personal trainer who focuses on nine proven six-week programs for muscle-building and covers all the basics of building mass, strength, agility and overall conditioning. Each program can also be easily customized to fit one's lifestyle. A fine pick for any sports collection!

A Lethal Inheritance
Victoria Costello
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2119
9781616144661, $19.00, www.prometheusbooks.com

A LETHAL INHERITANCE: A MOTHER UNCOVERS THE SCIENCE BEHIND THREE GENERATIONS OF MENTAL ILLNESS tells of the author's family, where mental illness had been given different names over at least four generations until her own children were endangered by misinformation. It blends autobiography, science, and health issues in recounting how the mental unraveling of her teen son prompted her to more closely examine her family history, there to uncover subtle clues to an insidious mental illness trait. Her struggles to obtain mental health care and treatment that ultimately resulted in full recovery makes for a powerful survey highly recommended for general and mental health collections alike.


The Library DVD Shelf

The Adventures of Merlin, 3rd Season
BBC
0780681576, $49.98, www.bbcdvd.com

The Adventures of Merlin is now in its third season, and this compilation of adventures is finally released for North American audiences who have had prior enthusiasm for the adventures of Merlin and Arthur in early Camelot. Fine monsters, quick action, and plenty of depth of characterization offers many satisfying twists and turns of plot while a 'Making of Merlin Season 3' featurette and the inclusion of deleted scenes makes this a winner for DVD and science fiction and fantasy collections alike.

Primeval Volume 3
BBC America
0780670167, $49.98, www.bbcdvd.com

PRIMEVAL is now in its third season and despite the elimination of many of its characters in prior seasons, it continues to provide a satisfying, gripping range of unpredictable twists and turns based on a team of specialists appointed by the government to handle the rips in time that are affecting the UK and the world. Connor and Abby face more dangerous creatures from past and present as they get closer to understanding the history of the anomalies that are changing their world. Prior fans will consider this a 'must have' acquisition!

Dr. Who releases
BBC America
$34.98 each, www.bbcdvd.com

DR. WHO: INVASION OF THE DINOSAURS (0780684419) covers the Jon Pertwee years from 1970-74, appears in a 2-DVD set, and tells of the Doctor and Sarah Jane's return to London, where they find a dead and vacant city. Somehow dinosaurs have returned to Earth and the Doctor is just beginning to uncover how they are operating when Sarah Jane is kidnapped and he faces added dangers. This re-mastered version of the classic Who has bonus features of audio commentary, a making-of featurette, photo gallery, and more. DR. WHO: THE ANDROID INVASION (0780684427) features The Tom Baker years from 1974-81, where Dr. Who sidekick Sarah Jane returns to her sleepy English village home only to find it deserted with white-suited spacemen patrolling the countryside and the dead coming back to life. The Doctor decides to contact UNIT for help, but his friends are also in danger and UNIT itself may be infected in this riveting story. Both are top picks for any science fiction or Dr. Who collection.


The Political Science Shelf

Strategic Vision
Zbigniew Brzezinski
Basic Books
c/o Perseus Books Group
387 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
9780465029549, $26.00, www.basicbooks.com

STRATEGIC VISION: AMERICA AND THE CRISIS OF GLOBAL POWER comes from a former National Security Advisor and considers the cause and effect of ongoing shifts in global power, and the role America should plan to foster global stability in the decades to come. Chapters consider the current crisis of changing global power and shifts from West to East, examining the political and international environments involved and showing how American action can re-vitalize America's economy and place in the world. Any political studies holding should have this!


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Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
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Oregon, WI 53575-1129
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e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
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