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The Bookwatch

Volume 2, Number 10 October 2007 Home | BW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Martial Arts Shelf Writing/Publishing Shelf
Photography Shelf Computer Shelf Business Shelf
Journalism Shelf Education Shelf Sports Shelf
Architecture Shelf International Studies Shelf American History Shelf
Environmental Studies Shelf Science Shelf Religion/Spirituality Shelf
Islamic Studies Shelf Christian Studies Shelf Women's Issues Shelf
Pets/Wildlife Shelf Judaic Studies Shelf Philosophy Shelf
Metaphysical Studies Shelf Music Shelf Needlecraft Shelf
Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf Military Shelf Audiobook Shelf
Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Social Issues Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf
Self-Help Shelf Transportation Shelf Art Shelf


Reviewer's Choice

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

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

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

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


The Martial Arts Shelf

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

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


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


The Photography Shelf

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

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

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

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

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

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


The Computer Shelf

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


The Business Shelf

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


The Journalism Shelf

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

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


The Education Shelf

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

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


The Sports Shelf

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

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


The Architecture Shelf

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

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


The International Studies Shelf

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

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


The American History Shelf

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

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

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

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


The Environmental Studies Shelf

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

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

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

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


The Science Shelf

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

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

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

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

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

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

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


The Islamic Studies Shelf

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

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

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

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


The Christian Studies Shelf

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

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

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

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


The Women's Issues Shelf

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

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


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

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

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

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

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


The Judaic Studies Shelf

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

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


The Philosophy Shelf

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

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


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

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

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

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

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

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

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


The Music Shelf

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

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

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

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


The Needlecraft Shelf

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

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

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

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


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

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

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

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

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

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

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


The Military Shelf

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

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

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

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


The Audiobook Shelf

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

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


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

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

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

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

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


The Social Issues Shelf

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

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

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

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

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

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


The Health/Medicine Shelf

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

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

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

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


The Self-Help Shelf

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

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


The Transportation Shelf

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

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


The Art Shelf

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

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

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

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


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