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California Bookwatch
Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
Uncle John's Weird Weird World
Bathroom Readers' Institute
PO Box 1117, Ashland, OR 97520
9781626861732, $29.95, www.bathroomreader.com
Uncle John's Weird Weird World comes in an oversized hardcover presentation and packs in fun
facts and zany information on everything from exploding toilets and 'Screaming Memmies' to
camel-wrestling, Grade-B movies, and more. The authors gather a range of zany trivia and fun
facts, from obscure origins and trivia to oddball news, and package them with a wealth of visuals
that lend to browsing and enjoyment. From TV myths and legends to weird bar sports, strange
animals and bathroom news, this is a fun survey of odd facts and ironies perfect for any who
want tidbits of inviting trivia facts.
Anywhere, Anytime, Any Body Yoga
Emily Slonina
Hunter House Publishers
PO Box 2914, Alameda, CA 94501-2914
9780897935197, $14.95, www.hunterhouse.com
Anywhere, Anytime, Any Body Yoga provides simple yoga exercises for those turning to yoga
for a variety of reasons, whether it be handling health issues such as chronic pain or using yoga to
improve all-around well-being. Many of the poses are modifications of traditional yoga
approaches to appeal to this audience, offering all the benefits of traditional poses while teaching
the basics of how to breathe and move to reduce stress. The tips are designed to be incorporated
into one's daily routines, so they don't require much time nor any specific equipment or abilities.
The result is a basic introduction that even the most busy or health-compromised reader will find
accessible and simple.
Living the Secular Life
Phil Zuckerman
Penguin Press
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10014
9781594205088, $29.95, www.thepenguinpress.com
Living the Secular Life: New Answers to Old Questions comes from a professor of sociology and
secular studies who explores secular culture and how one can live a moral life without religion -
and while it's recommended for many a general-interest holding, spirituality readers might find it
particularly thought-provoking. It uses sociological research and interviews with men and women
across the country to consider the moral convictions that govern secular individuals, considering
that nonreligious Americans with spiritual self-reliance hold their own moral code outside of
religious belief. Stories of such individuals and their driving forces make for an involving survey
highly recommended for sociology and spirituality thinkers alike.
Quirk Books
215 Church Street, Philadelphia PA 19106
www.quirkbooks.com
If it's ordinary greeting cards you seek, look elsewhere. If it's a unique collection of fun, zany
postcards that intended to 'say what you mean to say, but wouldn't dare', then these collections of
satirical and fun 1930s postcard by William Staehle are for you. The STARS AND SWIPES: 30
POSTCARDS OF AWKWARD AMERICANA (9781594747342, $9.95) covers fun but
lesser-known periods in American history and is perfect for the too-serious patriot. HUGS AND
MISSES (9781594747335, $9.95) is about failed romance and charm, and offers fun pokes at
love, relationships, and more. While these aren't books, they are literary quips packaged in
ready-to-go postcard format and are perfect choices for any looking for fun historical and
psychological messages.
The Buddhist Studies Shelf
The Buddha from Babylon
Harvey Kraft
Select Books
87 Walker Street, Suite B1, New York City, NY 10013
9781590791431, $19.95, www.selectbooks.com
The Buddha from Babylon: The Lost History and Cosmic Vision of Siddhartha Gautama
provides an ancient history survey that maintains that the sudden death of the Persian Emperor in
522 BCE had something to do with Siddhartha Gautama's leadership in the Magi, an interfaith
order that governed the region at the time, and that the Magi Order's purge and Siddhartha's
journey back east inspired the backlash of Buddhism, created as a pacifist movement in response.
Chapters rely on new evidence that supports this revisionist vision of events and make for a
powerful alternative history that really makes sense.
The Crafts Shelf
Oil Painting with the Masters
Cindy Salaski
North Light Books
c/o F+W Media
1140 Broadway, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10001
9781440329937, $29.99, www.artistsnetwork.com
Oil Painting with the Masters: Essential Techniques from Today's Top Artists uses ten
step-by-step painting demonstrations by award-winning master artists who cover a range of oil
painting approaches and techniques, addressing everything from composition and lighting to
creating a masterpiece oil painting from start to finish. Chapters use examples from masterpieces
to demonstrate everything from brush work and defining a focal area to using Impressionist
techniques in landscapes, and include materials lists, discussions of brushes and pigments,
finishing techniques, and more. The result is a lovely survey and a top recommendation for any
studying oil painting.
Copper Jewelry Collection
Karin Van Vorhees, Compiler
Kalmbach Books
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53187-1612
9781627000482, $19.99, www.kalmbachbooks.com
Copper Jewelry Collection offers a range of projects designed to expand skills of jewelry makers
at all levels of expertise, and focuses on the techniques of copper jewelry makers who will learn
how to form metal by air chasing, apply enamel, add color to copper products, and crochet using
wire. This isn't just one approach; it gathers techniques from a range of artists and offers an
excellent focus on copper jewelry techniques, pairing color photos with in-depth project
assessments. Any jewelry metal-worker will find this a winner.
The Science Shelf
God and the Multiverse
Victor J. Stenger
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781616149703, $26.00, www.prometheusbooks.com
God and the Multiverse: Humanity's Expanding View of the Cosmos provides a fine survey of
how cosmologists view the universe and how key concepts in the history of science have led to
the current intersection of astrophysics and religion, and makes for a fine survey that adopts a
skeptical approach to religion and considers why many long-time beliefs will need to be revised
and eventually set aside. Chapters explain basic cosmological discoveries and spiritual belief by
blending a new worldview with a scientific perspective to make for a blend of science,
philosophy and spiritual insight. The result is a discussion no science student should be
without.
The Cookbook Shelf
Liquid Intelligence
Dave Arnold
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393089035, $35.00, www.wwnorton.com
Liquid Intelligence: The Art and Science of the Perfect Cocktail blends the author's humor with a
passion for cocktails to provide a fine gathering of recipes and insights on the finer art of making
a cocktail. Now, there are many cocktail books on the market, from recipe guides to histories:
what sets this apart is, first of all, the author's witty observational style that makes reading his
book a pleasure. Secondly, its focus on making the best possible beverage - not just any cocktail -
makes this a winning approach. Lastly, there are well over a hundred recipes that include classics
and innovations alike. The result is a powerful survey that combines a lavish presentation with a
fun read.
Mastering Artisan Cheesemaking
Gianaclis Caldwell
Chelsea Green Publishing Company
85 North Main Street, Suite 120, White River Junction, VT 05001
9781603583329, $40.00, www.chelseagreen.com
Mastering Artisan Cheesemaking approaches the fine art of cheesemaking for home hobbyists
and artisans alike, and takes the cheese fan from the first simple cheese-making recipe to the
finer art of creating original recipes and masterpieces. Most books seem directed to beginners
and provide just the basics: this offers a blend of recipe, method, and science and explores the
history and culture of cheesemaking as well as its methods. From profiles of cheesemakers from
around the world to assessments of equipment and techniques, plus a troubleshooting guide, this
is an invaluable, important resource indeed.
Back to Basics
Kevin Dundon
Mitchell Beazley
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9781856339852, $24.99, www.octopuspub.com
Back to Basics deserves ongoing recognition as a fine step-by-step cookbook that demonstrates
basic cooking techniques, and comes from an Irish chef and TV cook who teaches the basics of
everything from making chocolate mousse to shortcrust pastry. His focus is on basic 'foundation
recipes' and techniques which, when mastered, can apply to a wide variety of dishes. Color
illustrations pair with step-by-step sequences to provide novices with tested methods, foolproof
recipes, and cooking techniques that extend beyond a single dish or approach.
The Nut Butter Cookbook
Robin Robertson
Andrews McMeel Publishing
1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
9781449460068, $16.99, www.andrewsmcmeel.com
The Nut Butter Cookbook: 100 Delicious Vegan Recipes Made better with Nut Butter provides
recipes that are not only vegan but gluten-free, soy-free and more, and incorporates nut butter
ideas into dishes from soups and appetizers to main dishes and desserts. It goes far beyond
making nut butters and delves into their use, and considers how to make cheeses, creams and
sauces from all kinds of nuts and sees. Little is required in the way of culinary skills or special
knowledge: the primary ingredient for success here is an interest in nut butters and how to use
them.
The Grain-Free Family Table
Carrie Vitt
William Morrow & Company
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
9780062308153, $29.99, www.harpercollins.com
The Grain-Free Family Table features some 125 recipes for healthy family fare and creates a
paleo cookbook that focuses on foods and recipes that lead to a healthier, sustainable lifestyle. It
comes from a food blogger who was suddenly diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder. The
elimination diet she embarked upon cleansed her system and forced her to find recipes that
adhered to her new strict diet. Her experiments with grain-free recipes and meals resulted in this
cookbook, which demonstrates how to make grain-free basics from pie crusts to crepes and main
courses. Kids will love the recipes, too - and that's a 'must' for a grain substitute approach that the
entire family can absorb.
The Pollan Family Table
Corky, Lori, Dana and Tracy Pollan
Scribner
c/o Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl., New York, NY 10020
9781476746371, $30.00, www.simonandschuster.com
The Pollan Family Table is a lively and fun cookbook from Corky Pollan, who despite her busy
career at Gourmet magazine and column editor at New York magazine, still somehow has time to
cook meals every night for her husband and four children, utilizing local fresh ingredients. Her
shared family meals led her daughters to carry the culinary interests into their own family meals,
and this cookbook gathers over a hundred tested family recipes and techniques from all the
Pollan women. With its bright assessments of home cooked and fresh ingredients and its recipes
tailored for busy cooks who want to make the most of fresh fare, this is a 'must' for any interested
in a blend of recipes, cooking philosophy, and quick homemade fare.
The Little French Bakery Cookbook
Susan M. Holding
Skyhorse Publishing
307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018
9781629145518, $24.95, www.skyhorsepublishing.com
The Little French Bakery Cookbook: Sweet & Savory Recipes and Tales from a Pastry Chef and
Her Cooking School blends a travelogue with a recipe book and comes from the owner of a
successful pastry shop in rural Wisconsin who blends recipes with fun reflections on cooking.
The flavors of Paris fill chapters that cover such dishes as Ladyfinger Sponge Cake, English
Trifle, Confetti Angel Food Cake, and more. Full-page color photos accompany dishes rich in
description and flavor, inviting readers to not only make their own, but to absorb their nuances
and origins - a delight to read, and a delight to make!
30-Minute Paleo Meals
Melissa Petitto
Race Point Publishing
c/o Quarto Publishing Group USA
400 First Avenue North, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1722
www.quartous.com
9781937994549, $25.00, www.fairwindspress.com
30-Minute Paleo Meals gathers paleo recipes for full meals and more and comes from a personal
chef to stars who provides a collection suitable for busy cooks and those who are interested in
paleo cooking without exotic ingredients or time-consuming preparations. Meals contain foods
that were available in Paleolithic times - unprocessed, unmodified, and hearty - and her
collection comes from her background as a registered dietician and personal chef. From Quick
Veal Tagine to Orange Almond Coconut Macaroons, these are filled with winning dishes that
don't take forever to create and which will appeal to the entire family.
Mexico: The Cookbook
Margarita Carrillo Arronte
Phaidon Press
180 Varick Street, 14th floor, New York, NY 10014
9780718467526, $49.95, www.phaidon.com
If there were just one definitive Mexican cookbook to be included in a cooking collection, then
Mexico: The Cookbook should be at the top of the list. It comes from a living culinary legend, it
packs in some 700 recipes from throughout Mexico, and it represents decades of teaching,
research, and travel on the part of Arronte, who packs in color photos to accompany everything
from classic fare to street food. Notes on history, ingredients and techniques accompany a
reference not for the light-hearted, but for any seeking a thick, weighty and definitive guide that
covers all aspects of Mexican culinary influences. From classic fare to little-known and local
recipes, this is a winning collection.
Field Peas to Foie Gras
Jennifer Hill Booker
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053-2246
9781455619726, $26.95, www.pelicanpub.com
Field Peas to Foie Gras: Southern Recipes with a French Accent is a pick for novice and
experienced cooks alike, and offers recipes based on the author's Mississippi heritage and her
interest in farm-to-table cooking. Blend this with classic French techniques and you have a focus
that comes from holidays At the family farm - over a hundred recipes backed by personal stories
and photos of her family, food-pairing suggestions, and more. It's unusual to see a blend of
French cuisine and soul food: leave it to Louisiana to pair the two, and to Jennifer Hill Booker,
executive chef and owner of Your Resident Gourmet, a catering company, to bring it all to
life.
Flavor Flours
Alice Medrich
Artisan Books
c/o Workman Publishing Company
225 Varick Street, New York, NY 10014-4381
9781579655136, $35.00, www.artisanbooks.com
Flavor Flours offers bakers a different approach to the art of baking, using grains, nuts, and
various non-wheat flours: an approach which will surely lend to interest by those who are gluten
intolerant and looking for different substitute flours. Here traditional favorites are adjusted to
work with different flours, thus you'll find a Carrot Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
produced with white rice flour, a Walnut and Honey Tart made with Chestnut Flour, and even
Chocolate Chip Cookies made with oat and brown rice flours. Recipes may sound familiar but
using different flavor flours alters them - often for much the better - making this a pick for any
baker looking to work with a range of different specialty flours.
Vintage Pies
Anne Haynie Collins
The Countryman Press
43 Lincoln Corners Way/P.O. Box 748
Woodstock, Vermont 05091
9781581572643, $21.95, www.countrymanpress.com
Vintage Pies: Classic American Pies for Today's Home Baker offers up a delicious collection of
classic pies from the 18th and 19th centuries - some familiar fare, others relatively new to
modern cooks, and is especially recommended for readers who want to explore vintage recipes
and heirloom pies. Lovely color photos pair well with some fifty years of pie-making history and
recipes, with chapters divided into sections such as 'Cake Pies', 'Custard Pies', 'Cream Pies' and
more. From how to make a lattice top (accompanied by clear, close-up color photos) to
wet-bottom and crumb pies, this is filled with easy and unusual recipes that invite even seasoned
cooks to try something different.
Mes Confitures
Christine Ferber
Michigan State University Press
1405 South Harrison Road, Suite 25, East Lansing, MI 48823-5245
9780870136290, $29.95, www.msupress.msu.edu
Mes Confitures: The Jams and Jellies of Christine Ferber is translated by Virginia R. Phillips and
is a 'must' for any interested in French cooking in general and pastry and preserving in particular.
It offers a wide range of mouth-watering recipes that excel in unique, creative jams and jellies
with a French touch - something different than most collections on jam-making can offer - and it
pairs the jams and jellies with pastries that can be made with them. The result is a powerful
selection of recipes that display the best of not only French jam-making, but the inclusion of jams
and jellies in pastries and sweets, making it a 'must' for any who love baked goods or French
cuisine.
The Photography Shelf
William Helburn: Seventh and Madison
Robert Lilly and Lois Allen Lilly
Thames and Hudson
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110-0017
97805000517659, $65.00, www.thamesandhudsonusa.com
William Helburn: Seventh and Madison offers a lavish, oversized presentation of the works of
one of the most prolific, dynamic photographers of the late 1940s through the 1960s, and
captures his interest in advertising and the use of 'shock value' to promote it. His work appeared
in major magazines and were used by top ad agencies, but has been largely uncredited; so his
name remains familiar to a relatively small number of ad agency professionals. This survey of the
extent of his works is the fist to follow his career and provides many images which have only
been seen when they first appeared decades ago. Add a biography of his life and times and you
have a top recommendation for any arts library strong in photography.
Shoot Macro
Stan Sholik
Amherst Media
175 Rano Street, Suite 200, Buffalo, NY 14207-2176
9781608957231, $27.95, www.amherstmedia.com
Shoot Macro: Techniques for Photography Up Close comes from a photographer who imparts the
basics of lighting and shooting techniques with tiny objects as the subject, and pairs step-by-step
techniques with keys to solving common problems in lighting, focus, and subject. From shooting
with LED or flash to adding background color and controlling depth of field, this delves into the
unique requirements for successful macro photography, embellishing all with gorgeous color
photo examples. From subject and setup to natural environments, this is a top discussion highly
recommended for any macro shooter.
Photoshop CC and Lightroom
Stephen Laskevitch
Rocky Nook
802 East Cota Street, 3rd Floor, Santa Barbara, CA 93103
9781937538583, $44.95, www.rockynook.com
Photoshop CC and Lightroom: A Photographer's Handbook focuses on the elements of
Photoshop that lend to photography workflow, and comes from an Adobe Certified Instructor
who uses his experience as a teacher to provide an effective strategy of workflow for editing
photos in the 2014 release of Photoshop CC and its elements. It is recommended for aspiring
professionals who already have the basics down, but who want to apply key features of these
advanced programs to their work, and covers everything from reducing camera shake and
improving perspective to making better general adjustments. Color photo examples pair with
screen shots at every step, leaving nothing to guess at and making this a solid recommendation -
and one of the few to include Lightroom Mobile.
The Military Shelf
100+ Sniper Exercises
Eduardo Abril de Fontcuberta
Paladin Press
5540 Central Ave Suite 200, Boulder, CO 80301
9781610048590, $40.00, www.paladin-press.com
100+ Sniper Exercises offers a manual of long-range, close-range and other kinds of training for
professional snipers and shooters, and is a pick for any who want a series of exercises on how to
calculate targets, match guns with objectives, apply the basics of camouflage, and more. The
author is a sniper and sniper instructor and provides professional advice and exercises designed
to challenge professional prowess. It also gathers solid techniques that work, based on
experience, and relies on new and old exercises that have been developed and tested so that
snipers can hone skills. From standalone sniper exercises to a complete course from basic to
advanced sniper techniques, this is a 'must' for any who want physical training and equipment
insights.
F-105 Thunderchief MiG Killers of the Vietnam War
Peter E. Davies
Osprey Publishing
4301 21st St, Suite 220B, Long Island City, NY 11101
9781782008041, $22.95, www.ospreypublishing.com
F-105 Thunderchief MiG Killers of the Vietnam War provides another addition to the 'Combat
Aircraft' series, and provides a fine history of an aircraft fighter designed to deliver bombs and
possible nuclear weapons. During the war the Thunderchief became the USAF's best bomber and
conducted many a strategic strike in the country. Chapters consider the tactics of the craft, their
missions, and their pilots and pack in vintage black and white and color photos in a historical
survey that will appeal to military and aircraft history collections alike.
The Education Shelf
A Concise Guide to Improving Student Learning
Diane Cummings Persellin and Mary Blythe Daniels
Stylus Publishing, Inc.
22883 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166-2012
9781620360927, $24.95, www.styluspub.com
A Concise Guide to Improving Student Learning: Six Evidence-Based Principles and How to
Apply Them offers educators at the college teaching levels specific ideas on how to apply theory
to learning, and pairs a research-based book with a guide to advancing scholarship quality in
higher education. Chapters are intended for faculty who want to engage their students, but have
little time to study the process. Recent research findings are thus summarized, linked to college
classroom applications and methods, and contrasted with teaching methods that have been used
less successfully. Add in annotated bibliographies and citations and you have a fine guide
educators will relish.
The Next Digital Scholar
James P. Purdy and Randall McClure
Information Today Inc.
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055-8750
9781573874953, $59.50, www.infotoday.com
The Next Digital Scholar considers the Common Core Standards that are rooted in digital literacy
practices, and follow up on the prior book The New Digital Scholar by considering practices and
standards in K-12. Some thirty experts join in on examining the latest CCSS research as it
pertains to developing standards in digital research, and provides librarians, educators, and more
with an important analysis of how the CCSS applies to learning processes. From alignment of the
WPA OS and CCSS for ELA in grades 11-12 to the question of college readiness in general,
chapters pair teaching experiences with real-world examples and make for an important survey of
CCSS approaches that every educator should know.
Designs for Living and Learning, second edition
Deb Curtis and Margie Carter
Redleaf Press
10 Yorkton Court, St. Paul, MN 55117-1065
9781605543727, $44.95, www.readleafpress.org
Designs for Living and Learning not only maintains that children thrive in spaces designed for
both; it provides an updated second edition to planning outdoor and indoor environments that
nurture children and families. Hundreds of photos and stories from early childhood programs
around the world accompany discussions of the latest early childhood education trends, how to
develop a sense of wonder and scientific thinking, and how to arrange and store materials to
invite the best responses from kids. With its wealth of facts and fun ideas for environment and
play areas, this is a 'must' for any involved in early childhood education.
College Basic Training
Susan Jensen
Swan Fitness Publishing
9780990578925, $19.95, www.swanfitcoach.com
College Basic Training packs in tips on time management, sleep, nutrition and exercise and is
directed to young college women who find themselves struggling with the demands and different
culture of the college environment. It's an encouragement that offers several programs: one of
physical fitness and another addressing the common psychological challenges of college, from
alcohol and drugs to sex and eating disorders. Information blends with insights from a personal
trainer and health coach to make for a serious survey any college student will find accessible and
useful!
Executive Function "Dysfunction"
Rebecca A. Moyes, M.Ed.
Jessica Kingsley Publishers, Inc.
400 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781849057530, $19.95, www.jkp.com
Executive Function "Dysfunction": Strategies for Educators and Parents provides a guide for
understanding and supporting children with executive function problems, and describes the
cognitive and educational challenges by using real-world examples of common problems. This is
no overview of issues, however: also included in the discussion are hints, tips and
accommodations for tackling these issues and helping children with learning disabilities and
autism to function. The result is a solid discussion which looks simple but packs a lot of strategy
into its pages.
The 1:1 Roadmap
Andrew P. Marcinek
Corwin Press, Inc.
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320-2218
9781452226347, $25.95, www.corwin.com
The 1:1 Roadmap discusses innovation in education and provides teachers with an important
resource that advocates implementing 1:1 initiatives. It's about creating an atmosphere in which
this innovation excels, and it's not so much about the ideals of doing so as the practical routines
to adopt in taking these measures. The basics of what schools need in order to begin is the focus
of a title that considers not just technology but how learning works in the classroom. Chapters
consider student-run help desks, dispel common myths about 1:1 environments, and show how to
integrate technology with educational content for maximum effect.
The Music Shelf
Capturing Music
Thomas Forrest Kelly
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393064964, $45.00, www.wwnorton.com
CAPTURING MUSIC: THE STORY OF NOTATION comes with a CD of companion
recordings by Blue Heron and provides a Harvard professor's insights on the history of how the
human race learned to record music. From medieval times and monasteries to how sharing music
required the evolution of rote learning, this covers the science, technology, and changing
perspectives of music and provides a solid foundation connecting the past world of musical
development to today's modern systems. The result is a lovely series of connections on how
music is made, recorded, and passed on between generations: a must for any serious listener.
South Pacific
Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan
Applause Books
c/o Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing Group
19 West 21st Street, Suite 201, New York, NY 10010
www.halleonard.com
9781480355545, $16.99, www.applausebooks.com
SOUTH PACIFIC: THE COMPLETE BOOK AND LYRICS OF THE BROADWAY
MUSICAL adds to Applause's Libretto Library series and provides a fine book gathering the
complete libretto by Hammerstein and Joshua Logan based on James Michener's winning novel
Tales of the South Pacific, a gathering of love stories during wartime. Having the complete
musical under one cover makes for a fine survey and a powerful recommendation not just for
music collections, but for any strong in stage and film.
Ain't Too Proud to Beg
Mark Ribowsky
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9780470261170, $25.95, www.wiley.com
Ain't Too Proud to Beg is a fine survey of The Temptations and their world, and brings Motown
music history to life as it covers the must successful Afro-American recording group in history.
They produced some twenty-five million records and many powerful hits; but this book is about
their inside story. It covers their personal lives, the group's rise to fame and its legacy, the lives of
its individual members, and uses a blend of new interviews with Motown veterans with
considerations of their music and its evolution. The result is a 'must' for any music history
holding: vivid, revealing, and absorbing.
Into the Black
Paul Brannigan and Ian Winwood
Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Book Group
250 W. 57th St., Suite 1500, New York, NY 10107
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9780306821882, $26.99, www.dacapopress.com
Into the Black: The Inside Story of Metallica (1991-2014) provides a fine survey of the band's
evolution and published a volume that goes beyond the band's first decade of growth to considers
its interactions with fans and competing bands. From a pirating dispute with Napster to successes
and unique circumstances which made it the number one metal band in the world, this begins
with the release of Metallica's 'The Black Album' and reveals how this and other events launched
the band to become a stadium-filling act. Chapters analyze Metallica's development, its songs,
and its recordings and make for a powerful survey recommended for any popular music history
holding.
Special Deluxe
Neil Young
Blue Rider Press
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10014
www.penguin.com
9780399172083, $32.00, www.blueriderpress.com
SPECIAL DELUXE: A MEMOIR OF LIFE AND CARS doesn't take the usual path of a music
autobiography, but delves into the surrounding culture of Neil Young and his world, offering
more stories and reflections to supplement a life history begun in Waging Heavy Peace. Chapters
consider both his career and his changing world, from his Canadian roots to six decades in the
music business, adding the focus on how cars have blended in this life - not exotics or fancy cars,
but cars selected for their unique qualities. As such it's a pick not just for Young music fans, but
for those interested in the evolution of a car collector.
On the Road with Janis Joplin
John Byrne Cooke
Berkeley
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10014
www.penguin.com
9780425274118, $26.95, www.amazon.com
On the Road with Janis Joplin comes from Joplin's early road manager who took the job for Janis
and her band in 1967 and served as their 'roadie' for over a decade, until her overdose in 1970.
His insider's perspective chronicles her music, her life on the road with her band, and the heyday
of the 1960s era, replete with sex, drugs, and music. It follows the rise of Joplin and her group, it
comes from one who was there for all of her big moments, from her heyday with Big Brother to
her journey with her new band and her Woodstock appearance, and it offers insights into Janis's
world that other books on her life don't cover. It's a 'must' for any enthusiast of Janis and her
times.
The Audiobook Shelf
On the Road with Janis Joplin
John Byrne Cooke
Penguin Audio
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9781611763331, $45.00, www.penguin.com
On the Road with Janis Joplin is narrated by the author and provides an insider's view from a
road manager and filmmaker who helped run the Janis Joplin Show, and recorded it. His years
with the show and his interactions with Joplin make for an eye-opening survey by one who was
there early on, from Joplin's decision to leave Big Brother and form a new band to her European
tour, their Woodstock performance, and her cross-Canadian journey. One could do no better than
to have a discussion straight from one who interacted with Joplin in her heyday and various
musical incarnations - all of which comes to life in audio.
Sugar Impact Diet
J.J. Virgin
Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
9781478982869, $30.00, www.hachetteaudio.com
Sugar Impact Diet is narrated by Tara Ochs, who has read over forty audiobooks and whose radio
commercials and work in movie and video games lends to a powerful ability to bring action to
life. But this isn't action: it's a program for losing weight fast that explains the idea of Sugar
Impact: how different sugars react differently in the body. From understanding damaging sugars
in common foods to making better choices with low sugar foods, this is a survey no dieter will
want to be without.
The Job
Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg
Random House Audio Books
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 5th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780385367004, $35.00, www.randomhouseaudio.com
The Job is narrated by Scott Brick, whose veteran approach and professional polish lends to a
Fox and O'Hare novel that comes to life in audio. The unlikely protagonists are a con man and a
dedicated FBI agent who find themselves in an unusual association, working together against a
psychopath in an international arena where unusual talents are honed and dangerous
opportunities considered. The result is a powerful adventure and the perfect example of why an
audio format sometimes can trump the printed word in dramatic effect.
The Gardening Shelf
Gaia's Garden, second edition
Toby Hemenway
Chelsea Green Publishing Company
85 North Main Street, Suite 120, White River Junction, VT 05001
9781603580298, $29.95, www.chelseagreen.com
Gaia's Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture appears in its second updated edition to
advocate permaculture and gardens that represent a backyard ecosystem, emulating plant
communities and cooperative systems that can maintain fertility, conserve water, and provide
beneficial habitats for wildlife. This revised, updated edition includes a new chapter on urban
permaculture designed for those with limited growing spaces, and applies the basic principles of
permaculture design on a whole new level. The result is an inviting discussion, packed with color
illustrations and plenty of examples of building the better ecological garden.
Sustainable Market Farming
Pam Dawling
New Society Publishers
PO Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC, Canada, V0R 1X0
9780865717169, $34.95, www.newsociety.com
Sustainable Market Farming is a recommendation for the small-scale market grower and
provides an in-depth year-round guide for all climate zones. It uses the author's background
growing a range of organic fruits and vegetables on a few acres and offers profiles of crops and
their various needs and growing challenges, farm-specific business skills reviews, and more.
Beginners as well as advanced farmers will find this a serious assessment of food production that
promotes small-scale sustainability in a top pick that considers all aspects of not casual, but
intensive vegetable production in a limited space.
The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf
Superman: The Unauthorized Biography
Glen Weldon
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118341841, $25.95, www.wiley.com
Superman: The Unauthorized Biography comes from a NPR comic book expert who tells the
story of the first comic book superhero from his original creation to modern times - but it's more
than just another survey of comic artistry and renditions. It considers the psyche of Superman and
how his persona and image changed over the decades from that of a social reformer to one of a
super-patriot against the war, then a dashing, romantic hero. Chapters discuss how these changes
took place, consider the social evolution of the Superman hero, and provides a lively discussion
perfect for any who want to consider the Superman image beyond its creators' artistry.
The American History Shelf
The Pilgrim Chronicles
Rod Gragg
Regnery Publishing
One Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20001
9781621572695, $27.99, www.regnery.com
The Pilgrim Chronicles: An Eyewitness History of the Pilgrims and the Founding of Plymouth
Colony offers a complete story of the Pilgrims and their journey, the origins of their
Thanksgiving feast, and tells of a search for peace, faith, and a new home. It blends a dramatic
retelling of history with firsthand accounts and a focus that clarifies facts and explains
discrepancies and inconsistencies, from how the Pilgrims originally had two boats going to the
New World to why their first encounters with locals weren't peaceful ones. The drama and
underlying interest in these stories makes for compelling reading for history buffs and casual
readers alike.
The World History Shelf
Christendom Destroyed
Mark Greengrass
Viking Books
c/o Penguin Group USA
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780670024568, $40.00, www.penguin.com
Christendom Destroyed: Europe 1517-1648 comes from a historian who offers an epic story of
religious and social change, considering how the 16th and 17th centuries separated church from
state in Western Europe and, in effect, created the modern world. From how the definition of
Europe changed during this period to the years of reformation, scientific revolution, and social
change, this considers the entire century's blossoming and how the unifying concept of a
'Christendom' was ultimately lost. Any student of European history will find this a solid, close
survey and a 'must' for understanding social and religious change.
The Computer Shelf
Learn to Program with Minecraft Plugins, second edition
Andy Hunt
Pragmatic Programmers
2831 Eldorado Parkway, #103-381, Frisco, TX 75033-7438
9781941222942, $29.00, www.pragprog.com
Learn to Program with Minecraft Plugins appears in its second updated edition to teach
programmers the basics of using Minecraft plugins and code to best advantage when building a
Minecraft game. Chapters discuss the basics of operating in the 3D graphical game environment
and avoid the usual focus on code, while teaching the basics of using functions to write plugins
that react to game events. In such an environment, Java programming and Git are but two of the
tools taught in an effort that includes how to set up and run one's own server.
Programmer/gamers will find this requires no programming experience: only a desire to work
within the Minecraft environment.
Digital Logic Design & Computer Organization
Nikrouz Faroughi
McGraw-Hill Education
c/o McGraw Hill Professional
1221 Avenue of the Americas, 45th Floor, New York, NY 10020
9780071836906, $125.00, www.mhprofessional.com
Digital Logic Design & Computer Organization with Computer Architecture for Security is
recommended for computer engineering collections and provides an in-depth guide to the design
and organization of modern computer systems. It offers techniques for designing both large and
small circuits, considers CPU design techniques that increase performance and memory,
considers security engineering issues and approaches, and packs in sample designs and detailed
diagrams throughout. The result is a basic textbook that is recommended for any college-level
course on digital design and security-oriented computer methods.
Murach's Dreamweaver CC 2014
Zak Ruvalcaba
Murach
4340 North Knoll, Fresno, CA 93722
9781890774776, $54.50, www.murach.com
Murach's Dreamweaver CC 2014 is all about getting up and running fast with Dreamweaver: in
effect, it's a crash course in a book and packs its pages with discussions of using media queries,
layouts, templates, library items, HTML-5 elements, and much more. The basics of creating
interactive and mobile web pages are covered in chapters that use applied theory to teach the
basics, from using data to build sites to adding jQuery features. Sample layouts, visual
descriptions for controls and features, assigning order and keys, and much more make for an
in-depth training reference perfect for any interested in learning Dreamweaver or supporting a
classroom effort.
Coding for Kids for Dummies
Camille McCue, PhD
For Dummies
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118940327, $29.99, www.fordummies.com
Coding for Kids for Dummies provides a coding book for kids interested in creating their own
computer games and applications, and shares some fifteen projects that teach the basics of this
coding. It doesn't assume any prior coding knowledge and it does assume young people's interest
in computers and games, using the latter to teach the basics - as in the second project, a mini golf
program that involves learning how to drag buttons, draw golf holes, and use MicroWorlds Ex to
create new projects. Obviously, this is a pick for kids who have already played with computers
but want to embark on the more serious project of coding with them.
From Mathematics to Generic Programming
Alexander A. Stepanov and Daniel E. Rose
Addison-Wesley
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780321942043, $39.99, www.informit/com/aw
From Mathematics to Generic Programming comes from a software designer and his colleague
who survey the basics of generic programming and the math it's based upon, providing chapters
that introduce abstract algebra and connect number theory with programming basics. From how
math solutions translate to generic programming and code to how to generalize algorithms and
how to build on modern abstractions, this is packed with theories, proofs, axioms and models
that provide programmers with depth and details perfect for furthering generic programming
objectives.
The Art Shelf
Ciao, Carpaccio!
Jan Morris
Liveright Publishing
c/o W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780871407993, $19.95, www.wwnorton.com
Ciao, Carpaccio! An Infatuation focuses on the author's love of the forgotten Renaissance painter
Vittore Carpaccio, and provides a survey of his works of art and why, today, his legacy has
become more associated with a thin slice of raw beef than his art. Her survey blends Renaissance
history, politics and more as it considers the painter's life and times and includes over seventy
four-color reproductions of his works. The result is a vivid and lively coverage filled with
insights about Carpaccio and author Morris, and is highly recommended for any arts
collection.
The Modern Masters of Tattooing
Akos Banfalvi
Schiffer Books
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764347320, $60.00, www.schifferbooks.com
This volume explores a few of the talented modern tattoo artists of our times, covers how they
became masters notable for their art, and gathers images of their works both in tattoo and in other
fine art genres, and is a recommendation for any arts collection strong in modern representations
in general or tattooing in particular. Full-page displays of designs are accompanied by interviews
and insights on the art of tattooing, offering many insights into artistic styles and developments.
The result is a fine gathering of images perfect for any tattoo artistry holding.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
The Three-Body Problem
Cixin Liu
Tor
c/o Tor/Forge Books
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
9780765377067, $25.99, www.tor-forge.com
Ken Liu translates this fine near-future story from a Chinese best-selling science fiction writer,
and is the first time a major Chinese science fiction novel has been translated into English. Its
setting is the Cultural Revolution, where a secret military project attempts contact with aliens -
and succeeds. The aliens plan to invade Earth, while on Earth competing factions plan to either
help them invade or fight them. The result is a powerful social science fiction story that is about
more than aliens invading: it's about how various factions on the planet perceives the invasion
process.
Coming Home
Jack McDevitt
Ace Books
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10014
9780425260876, $25.95, www.penguin.com
Coming Home provides a new addition to the Alex Benedict series and follows the antiquities
dealer and his pilot as they go to earth to learn about missing artifacts. Unfortunately the artifacts
have gone missing amid the planet's rising oceans and chaos, and Alex finds that not only is he
confronting a mystery revolving around the artifacts' resting place, but a possible rescue of an
interstellar transport ship that vanished eleven years ago. It's rare to see a combination of science
fiction and mystery that does justice to both genres, but Alex Benedict succeeds, here, and the
action and intrigue are splendid, promising to delight newcomers and old fans alike.
Collision
Mercedes Lackey with Cody Martin, et.al.
Baen Books
PO Box 1188, Wake Forest NC 27588
9781476736914, $25.00, www.baen.com
Collision is Book Four of the 'Secret World Chronicle' and is based on characters first created in
the popular MMORPG, City of Heroes. It continues the saga of Thulian attacks, assaults against
ECHO headquarters, and Dominic's efforts to obtain The Seraphym - and it follows characters
generated in earlier stories who have evolved to take on new responsibilities and purposes.
Because of all this, Collision is especially recommended for prior followers of the series who
will find the latest saga a seamless journey, packed with new confrontations based on old
experiences and habits.
Star Trek Ships of the Line
Doug Drexler and Margaret Clark, Editors
Gallery Books
c/o Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl., New York, NY 10020
9781476782584, $30.00, www.simonandschuster.com
Star Trek Ships of the Line is a recommendation for Trekkies and pairs text by Michael Okuda
with an updated edition of the Ships of the Line approach from 2014, which packs in over
seventy-five more images appearing for the first time in book format: images that originated in a
calendar series. Adding text by the series' Michael Okuda assures authority and insights on
various starships. Full-page color photos and illustrations from the ships from specific series or
episodes accompany Starfleet insights, reviews of recovery operations, and more. The lovely
display of ship images and episode notes makes this a 'must' not for casual Star Trek viewers, but
for avid fans.
The Doctor and the Dinosaurs
Mike Resnick
Pyr
c/o Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781616148614, $18.00, www.pyrsf.com
The Doctor and the Dinosaurs provides a 'weird West' tale that blends steampunk and magic in
an alternate Wild West scenario, and is a recommended pick for fantasy readers who enjoy
alternative history. Set in 1995, Doc Holliday lies on his deathbed - but Apache medicine man
Geronimo need him and he must navigate dangerous political waters and the white man's world
in order to get what he wants. Add Doc's foray into American paleontology, a new field marked
by genius and rivalry, and an effort to save the world from dinosaurs and you have a crazy romp
through impossibilities perfect for steampunk fans in particular.
The Literary Studies Shelf
The Readers' Advisory Guide to Genre Blends
Megan M. McArdle
American Library Association
50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
9780838912560, $55.00, www.alastore.ala.org
The Readers' Advisory Guide to Genre Blends is a fine compendium of titles that don't neatly fit
into a given 'genre' box, and offers a collection of hybrid writings that take typical approaches
and mix them together. This collection is the perfect starting point for exploring such 'mashups',
providing reviews of selected books and recommended 'pathways' for further reading. Chapters
hold such definitions as 'historical fiction blends', 'science fiction blends', 'fantasy blends' and
'whole collection blends' and profile books that excel in representing several genres under one
cover. By identifying the exact literary pathways that make these blends so unique, The Readers'
Advisory Guide to Genre Blends offers something most literary assessments do not: the
opportunity to read outside the genre box. Librarians and any general-interest reader will relish
this approach!
Intimate Domain
Martha J. Reineke
Michigan State University Press
1405 South Harrison Road, Suite 25, East Lansing, MI 48823-5245
9781611861280, $29.95, www.msupress.org
Intimate Domain: Desire, Trauma, and Mimetic Theory uses Rene Girard's neglected early work
on sensory experience and blends literary criticism with a healthy dose of psychology in
considering mimetic theory. It pairs the insights of Rene Girard with those of Reineke and others
to explore the psychological dynamics inherent in literature, from Proust to Sophocles, and runs
the line between not just psychology and literature, but philosophy as well. From critiques and
insights into Girard's mimetic hypothesis to how readings considered in light of family relations
are changed by perspective, this is a solid recommendation for not just literary holdings, but
psychology and philosophy collections alike!
What Is Your Quest?
Anastasia Salter
University of Iowa Press
119 West Park Road, Iowa City, IA 52242-1000
9781609382759, $27.50, www.uiowapress.org
What Is Your Quest?: From Adventure Games to Interactive Books is recommended not just for
media and cultural studies readers, but for literary readers assessing the impact of electronic
literature on daily lives. It considers the writers and designers who are using this new medium to
best advantage, surveying e-books and electronic literature, the wider world of mobile computers
and storytelling, and how the boundaries between reader and creator are fading in the light of
electronic, interactive settings. From adventure games and quests to interactive books that blur
the boundaries of either genre, this is a powerful assessment that manages something difficult:
providing a scholarly yet lively discussion.
The Social Issues Shelf
Who Killed the American Family?
Phyllis Schlafly
WND Books
2020 Pennsylvania Ave NW, #351, Washington, DC 20006
9781938067525, $26.95, www.wndbooks.com
Who Killed the American Family? considers the institution of the American family as one of the
building blocks of the nation, reflective of a free society, and it considers how this institution has
been fragmented, maligned, and torn down over the last fifty years. From legal changes and court
decisions to education and entertainment influences, the American family structure has long been
under attack in a variety of ways. This book comes from a conservative activist who exposes the
attacks from the Left and offers a plan for reversing the trend. Readers of conservative
viewpoints and family matters will find this an intriguing discussion.
Who's Afraid of the Black Blocs?
Fancis Dupuis-Deri
PM Press
PO Box 23912, Oakland, CA 94623
9781604869491, $19.95, www.pmpress.org
Who's Afraid of the Black Blocs?: Anarchy in Action Around the World outlines the
international phenomenon of Black Blocs: masked protestors who have attacked symbols of
capitalism around the world. It argues that the use of violence always takes place in an ethical
and strategic context and offers a complete revision to include the latest Black Bloc actions in
Greece, Germany and beyond. From a survey of tactics to a coverage of its traditions and history,
this provides a blend of political and social analysis and documents how the Black Bloc fights
injustice around the world in a winning analysis for any social issues debate.
Building an Opportunity Society
Lewis D. Solomon
Transaction Publishers
10 Corporate Place South, Piscataway, NJ 08854
9781412854702, $49.95, www.transactionpub.com
Building an Opportunity Society: A Realistic Alternative to an Entitlement State considers the
federal government's involvement in building an American dream based not on entitlement
programs, but upon social democratic efforts, and considers the domestic atmosphere and
challenges to building such a federal program emphasis. Chapters analyze the federal safety net
that keeps poverty at bay, analyzes current federal programs and policies, and make important
suggestions for future decision-making processes which policymakers will want to consider.
Political and social science holdings alike will find college-level readers an important audience
for this coverage.
Blackout
Richard Heinberg
New Society Publishers
PO Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC, Canada, V0R 1X0
9780865716568, $18.95, www.newsociety.com
Blackout: Coal, Climate, and the Last Energy Crisis is a recommended pick for current events
readers and considers the future of coal as a fossil fuel. One might believe this analysis would
join others in a natural resources or environmental discussion; but actually its focus is more upon
the human impact of waning world coal production - which may be less than two decades away -
and provides planners, educators, and others with a discussion that links the human future to how
we think about and react to coal production challenges. The result is a 'must' for any current
events or social issues collection, as much as for readers of environmental and conservation
concerns.
International Handbook on Aging and Public Policy
Sarah Harper and Kate Hamblin, Editors
Edward Elgar Publishing
9 Dewey Court, Northampton, MA 01060-3815
9780857933904, $240.00, www.e-elgar.com
International Handbook on Aging and Public Policy gathers under one cover the collective
knowledge of experts in the field who explore challenges arising from aging populations around
the world, and considers national state approaches to welfare for older people and how public
and private initiatives work. Each issue receives in-depth coverage, from pensions and health to
welfare and public policies, and each is accompanied by case studies, academic discussions of
policy and practices, and discussions of imbalances ranging from spending processes and the
lifecycle of labor income to families, institutions, the challenges of measuring outcomes for older
populations, and more. College-level collections strong in public policies and aging will find this
a powerful collection of in-depth articles suitable for framing inquiries and considering social
structures.
Locked Down, Locked Out
Maya Schenwar
Berrett-Koehler Publishers Inc.
1333 Broadway, Suite 1000, Oakland CA, 94612
9781626562691, $18.95, www.bkconnection.com
Locked Down, Locked Out: Why Prison Doesn't Work and How We Can Do Better uses stories
of prisoners and their families, including her own family's experiences, to examine how prison is
taking away the things that could lead people to build better lives. It examines community-based
initiatives that deal with typical problems using connection over isolation tactics, and it considers
how to fix a broken punishment system with compassion rather than improved punitive
measures. From pen pals to devices that keep people accountable for their actions, chapters
provide a powerful review of the prison system and how its methods and approaches can be
revised for more effective social change.
The Business Shelf
Magic
Tracy Maylett, Ed.D & Paul Warner, PhD
Greenleaf Book Group Press
PO Box 91869, Austin, TX 78709
9781626341159, $24.95, www.gbgpress.com
MAGIC: FIVE KEYS TO UNLOCK THE POWER OF EMPLOYEE ENGAGEMENT provides
a five-part approach to making organizations stronger and more profitable as well as better places
to work, and advocates five 'magic' keys to invite effective employee engagement in the process.
Leaders who follow these keys - which are based on over 14 million employee survey responses
from seventy countries - will find this a fine survey blending advice with practical business
approaches that work. Plenty of books have been written on employee engagement practices; but
this is powered by employees themselves and uses real-world scenarios to provide a winning
strategy.
Accounting and Finance for Managers
Matt Bamber and Simon Parry
Kogan Page USA
1518 Walnut Street, Suite 1100, Philadelphia, PA 19102
9780749469139, $50.00, www.koganpage.com
Managers seeking to improve analytical skills with new accounting and finance tools will find
this handbook emphasizes learning thorough example, and teaches the basics of accounting form
how to prepare a set of basic financial statements to interpreting profit, cash budgets, pricing
strategies to suit different kinds of markets, and more. Each chapter is paired to course structures
so the book can be used as a classroom text, and each melds theory with real-world business
applications for maximum effect. It's rare to find a title suitable for self study and classroom
learning alike: this book fits the bill, on both.
Actionable Intelligence
Keith B. Carter
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9781118915233, $49.95, www.wiley.com/business
Actionable Intelligence: A Guide to Delivering Business Results with Big Data Fast isn't just
about making charts and graphs to visualize big data, but discusses how to begin with a business
foundation and how to use big data to apply actionable goals to this data. It's a different way of
thinking about and applying data that takes business intelligence and links it to the process of
hiring the right people and formulating the right business goals, and it considers intelligence
initiatives and how to identify areas where intelligence is being applied correctly. From insurance
carriers and understanding the nature and process of value to avoiding common problems such as
hiring too fast, this makes important connections between business practices and data
manipulation and is a 'must' for any who would adjust their thinking on business formulas.
The Sports Shelf
Training for Speed, Agility, & Quickness
Lee E. Brown and Vance A. Ferringo, Editors
Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc.
PO Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61820-5076
9781450468701, $24.95, www.humankinetics.com
Training for Speed, Agility, & Quickness offers a fine training package that pairs online access to
a video library of drills and exercises with keys to developing movement skills and applying
them to a range of sports, from football and track to soccer, lacrosse, tennis, and combat sports.
Chapters written by top sports experts gather under one cover the best information on testing,
drills, and training programs and pack in over two hundred drills and programs that can be
customized. The result is a fine training guide for any aspiring athlete and their coaches.
The Parenting Shelf
Adopting Older Children
Stephanie Bosco-Ruggiero, MA, et.al.
New Horizon Press
PO Box 669, Far Hills, NJ 07931
9780882824826, $15.95, www.newhorisonpressbooks.com
There are many books on the market covering adoption; but too few focus on the special needs
and situations of adopting the older child, making Adopting Older Children: A Practical Guide to
Adopting and parenting Children Over Age Four a special recommendation for any parenting
collection. From an overview of special challenges involved in adopting older children to
developmental concerns, cultural issues, and special needs, this offers a range of coping
mechanisms and assessments of special concerns unique to the older child. The result is a 'must'
for any who contemplating moving beyond the early childhood range to adopt the kids who need
it the most.
The Genealogy Shelf
Polish Roots, second edition
Rosemary A. Chorzempa
Genealogical Publishing Company
3600 Clipper Mill Road, Suite 260, Baltimore, MD 21211
9780806320045, $24.95, www.genealogical.com
POLISH ROOTS defines the history and genealogy of Polish peoples and here appears in its
second updated edition which reflects many advances in Polish genealogy research. Thanks to
the Internet, the task of research Polish names and origins has become easier, and there's a
newfound interest in genealogy research in Poland. This update reflects these new research
opportunities, providing a new introduction, four new chapters, one rewritten chapter, new maps
and charts, and numerous updates. The result is a 'must' for any researching their Polish
roots.
The Environmental Studies Shelf
The Open Space and Land Conservation Handbook
Jeff Loux, PhD
Solano Press Books
PO Box 773, Point Arena, CA 95468
www.solano.com
9780923956745, $TBA / $32.50 Kindle, www.amazon.com
The Open Space and Land Conservation Handbook provides an in-depth approach to
conservation and natural resource management that's a recommendation for any collection strong
in preservation. Planners, landscape architects, government bodies, and conservation
professionals alike receive an analysis of resources, stakeholders, plan management, open space
and urban growth processes, and more, and will appreciate the discussions of funding and
financing that blend land conservation techniques with discussions of how to apply them in
real-world situations. The result is a powerful handbook highly recommended for any
professional working in land management circles.
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Sex, Sorcery, and Spirit
Jason Miller
New Page Books
c/o Career Press Inc.
220 West Parkway, Unit 12, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
9781601633523, $15.99, www.newpagebooks.com
Sex, Sorcery, and Spirit: The Secrets of Erotic Magic provides a fine survey based on the author's
training in Eastern and Western mystery schools, and addresses issues of sexual sorcery and
spirituality. From how to use the moment of orgasm as a catalyst for reaching into higher levels
of spiritual identity to using sexual elixirs in alchemy and sorcery and avoiding the common
pitfalls of sex magic, this blends sexual spells and rituals with reviews of pros and cons of
different approaches, and is a 'must' for any considering the possibilities and limitations of sex
and sorcery connections.
Freedom and Resolve
Gangaji
Hampton Roads Publishing Company
65 Parker St., Ste. 7, Newburyport, MA 01950
9781571747211, $14.95, www.hamptonroads.com
Freedom and Resolve: Finding Your True Home in the Universe offers a slim but powerful
volume inviting readers to discover their place in the universe, and provides an invitation to
self-analysis to those who would ask - and answer - the right reflective questions. Chapters are
designed to help readers ask anew about their thoughts and feelings, using the answers as
pointers toward greater understanding and enlightenment. There's no set spiritual approach on
Gangai's path; no universal set of tools and techniques for arriving at one's individual and unique
destination. There's just a slim book of inquiry processes designed to support the process of
belief and how to get there.
Blessed Are the Wicked
Steven A. LaChance
Llewellyn Worldwide, LTD.
2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125
9780738738963, $16.99, www.llewellyn.com
Blessed Are the Wicked is a true story of living with the aftermath of a demonic possession, and
continues the story of the effects of living in the Union Screaming House described in his first
book The Uninvited. Here the author and his family learn that the possession has left its mark on
them, making them vulnerable to supernatural attacks no matter where they are. Its powerful
in-depth survey of how supernatural forces leave lasting marks will especially intrigue prior
readers who appreciated The Uninvited and here will find a solid continuation that explores
vulnerability and further struggles against demonic forces.
Rising in Love
Ram Das Batchelder
O Books
9781782796879, $29.95, www.obooks.com
RISING IN LOVE: MY WILD AND CRAZY RIDE TO HERE AND NOW WITH AMMA,
THE HUGGING SAINT follows the author's spiritual awakening, encounter with an angel,
discover of Amma "the Hugging Saint", and how all this changed his life, offering a lively
discourse that moves from a life of addiction to one of spiritual wonder. It's an autobiography
following the author's spiritual growth and an awakening process that began at age 21, his
encounter with Amma when he was 25, and his move to India, where he lives in Amma's ashram
to this day. Black and white photos blend with a combination of personal experience and spiritual
insight to make this a powerful survey.
Voices of the Sacred Feminine
Rev. Dr. Karen Tate, Editor
Changemakers Books
c/o John Hunt Publishing, Ltd.
Laurel House, Station Approach, Alresford, Hants, SO24 9JH, UK
www.johnhuntpublishing.com
9781782795100, $24.95, www.changemakers-books.com
Voices of the Sacred Feminine comes from a radio show hosted by the author and is dedicated to
discussions of the Sacred Feminine as a deity and ideal. It's an internet show that has received
much attention and this book captures conversations surrounding the topic, from dream charms
and why modern Westerners have come to worship a masculine god to the historical power of
women's circles and sister/mother archetypes. From new ideals to changing ways to think about
power and spirituality, this is a solid set of discussions recommended for new age and feminist
holdings alike.
The Light: A Book of Wisdom
Keidi Keating
New Page Books
c/o Career Press Inc.
220 West Parkway, Unit 12, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
9781601633385, $16.99, www.newpagebooks.com
The Light: A Book of Wisdom tells of the author's spiritual awakening when at the age of 30,
after a series of healing sessions, an orb of glowing white light appeared and instructed her to
create a "book of light". And so she went forth and gathered the wisdom, exercises, practices, and
insights of some twenty-two noted spiritual leaders and created The Light: A Book of Wisdom,
covering a range of topics from cultivating forgiveness and healing to finding health and
happiness. New age readers will find this engrossing.
The Christian Studies Shelf
Be Good & Do Good
Bernard V. Brady
Orbis Books
PO Box 302, Maryknoll NY 10545-0302
9781626980990, $30.00, www.orbisbooks.com
Be Good & Do Good: Thinking Through Moral Theology provides college-level readers of ethics
and religion with a basic analysis of the topic of moral theology in Christian life and thinking,
and is recommended for scholarly-minded Christian collections interested in biblical material and
its relationship to social experience. Chapters consider the construction of moral theology and its
identity, using scripture and church teachings to engage lay students and theologians alike. The
result is a powerful survey perfect for classroom discussion and debate.
Life Abounding
Brendon Byrne
Liturgical Press
St. John's Abbey, PO Box 7500, Collegeville, MN 56321-7500
9780814635742, $39.95, www.litpress.org
Life Abounding: A Reading for John's Gospel offers a specific reading and scholarly study of the
Fourth Gospel and is the concluding volume representing the completion of Byrne's successful
series of books on the four gospels. As such, it will prove a rich resource to teachers, preachers
and any who want to use it to probe the life of Jesus as it's represented in the gospels. Chapters
are filled with footnoted references and step-by-step references to events in the Gospel and their
interpretation. The author's purpose isn't just to offer a reading of the Fourth Gospel: it's to
explore its puzzles and offer insights into its possible interpretations, avoiding detailed
discussions of history in favor of a focus that helps readers gain spiritual understanding. The
result is a recommended pick for any scholarly Christian collection.
Exploring Christian Theology Volume One
Nathan D. Holsteen & Michael J. Svigel, Editors
Bethany House Publishers
11400 Hampshire Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55438
9780764211300, $16.99, www.bethanyhouse.com
Exploring Christian Theology: Revelation, Scripture, and the Truine God covers the basics of
theology and uses easy language to make its discussions of key Christian doctrines accessible to
all. From building a solid foundation and understanding God in his various forms as the Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit to putting everything together with Biblical support in a manner that makes
sense, this is a primer packed with insights and analysis that are usually limited to scholarly
audiences, but here comes to life for general Bible students.
The Gospel of the Lord
Michael F. Bird
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
2140 Oak Industrial Drive, NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505
9780802867766, $30.00, www.eerdmans.com
The Gospel of the Lord: How the Early Church Wrote the Story of Jesus is for scholarly
Christian collections interested in a blend of evangelical and critical assessments of the historical
development of the four canonical Gospels, and serves to clarify religious debates over the
origins of the Gospels. It blends the latest research with current questions as it considers how the
early Christians wrote and spread the story of Jesus, and provides a powerful road map of insight
for any who would closely examine the origins and nature of the Bible.
The Religion/Spirituality Shelf
Earth and Sky
Guy Delcambre
Influence Resources
9781629120935, $14.99, www.influenceresources.com
Earth and Sky: A Beautiful Collusion of Grace and Grief shares the author's journey from happy
husband to grieving widower and single dad - and his journey to spiritual belief. It's a
recommendation for any who have suffered a loss and want to re-assess belief systems. Chapters
are filled with a blend of personal reflection and spiritual insight as they consider the path to
spiritual insight and what is involved in the search for meaning, and will appeal to any interested
in spiritual examination and personal lives.
The Biography Shelf
The Life and Times of Calamity Jane
Richard W. Etulain
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806146324, $24.95, www.oupress.com
The Life and Times of Calamity Jane provides a fine biography of the real Calamity Jane and her
life, attends to contrasting legend with reality, and provides new facts about a life that has been
written about in many other places. It's a lively biography that surveys her life and times from her
birth to how she developed her reputation as a Wild West heroine, and it tells of her legendary
exploits. Veteran western historian Richard Etulain's account provides new information on her
persona life and family, discredits some well-known 'facts', and provides a powerful portrait
highly recommended for women's history and general American history and biography
collections alike.
Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys. Boys, Boys.
Viv Albertine
Thomas Dunne Books
c/o St. Martin's Press
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
9781250065995, $27.99, www.stmartins.com
Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys. Boys, Boys provides a fine memoir by a
member of the female punk rock group The Slits, and the girlfriend of The Clash's Mick Jones,
and traces her involvement in the punk music scene and culture. Albertine accidentally fell into
the role of leading the female punk rock movement and was at the forefront of punk rock history
and culture. Her memoir traces her associations with musicians, her memories of the times and
culture of the 1980s, and provides a fine set of insights into the evolution of the punk rock
mindset and, in particular, a woman's place in that male-dominated world.
The Good Son
Christopher Andersen
Gallery Books
c/o Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl., New York, NY 10020
9781476775562, $27.00, www.simonandschuster.com
THE GOOD SON: JFK JR. AND THE MOTHER HE LOVED includes new details of JFK Jr.
and his relationship with his mother, and covers his life and death as it explores the connections
between the son and his mother. There have been many, many a Kennedy biography written - but
few incorporate new family facts along with an analysis of the relationships between John, his
mother, and his wife. New details about his marriage, accounts of behind-the-scenes family
interactions, and discussions about the legacy left by Jackie's marriage to Onassis and its effects
on John Jr.'s childhood make for a riveting saga that's nearly impossible to put down, even for
those raised on Kennedy stories.
Brief Encounters
Dick Cavett
Henry Holt & Company
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 400, New York, NY 10010-7725
9780805099775, $26.00, www.henryholt.com
Brief Encounters: Conversations, Magic Moments, and Assorted Hijinks comes from the talk
show host and introduces readers to a cast of characters and personalities encountered during the
course of his show, from John Lennon and Mel Brooks to Nora Ephron. Cavett built both his
name and the talk show industry and his insights speak of foolish notions, viewer responses to
his shows, the best and worst experiences of his entertainment career, and more. The result is a
fine survey recommended for readers of autobiography in general and entertainment industry and
television experiences in particular.
The Needlecraft Shelf
Vest Bets
Editorial Staff
Sixth&Spring Books
161 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 1301, New York, NY 10013
9781936096817, $17.95, www.sixthandspring.com
VEST BETS: 30 DESIGNS TO KNIT FOR NOW FEATURING 220 SUPERWASH ARAN
FROM CASCADE YARNS is the first in the publisher's new Modern Knit Mix series, and
features a wide range of vests that can be layered over all kinds of clothes. Styles range from
color blocking productions to Fair Isle tunics and more, and provide projects for every style and
skill level, from pullovers and cardigans to form-fitting vests. Knitters who want easy projects
and diverse approaches to the vest design will find this a fine pick.
A Flair for Fabric
Linda Lum Debono
Martingale & Company
19021 Avenue NE, Bothell, WA 98011
978160468070, $24.99, www.shopmartingale.com
A Flair for Fabric: Creative Sewing Projects from the Designers at Henry Glass provides a fine
collection of projects based on original designs to Leanne Anderson, Jill Finley, Anni Downs,
and more. Here are keys to how designers create fabric lines and work with fabric, all couched in
some 15 projects that range from pillows and place mats to quilts that use a mix of patchwork,
applique, and more. The result is a powerful survey that is designed to both provide new creative
projects to sewers and to teach new skills in the process producing a polished result.
Mi Amor: Legacy Applique
Margarete Heinisch
American Quilter Society
PO Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
9781604601404, $24.95, www.americanquilter.com
Mi Amor: Legacy Applique documents a Baltimore Album-style quilt created as a celebration
quilt and here embellished with flower and fruit designs. Embroidery accompanies a project
guide that is backed with a CD-ROM and includes not only color photos on nearly every page,
but patterns and charts linking embroidery and stitch to location, color requirements, and more.
From Rose of Sharon and Wine and Roses to Vanity Fair, blocks are represented by full-size
patterns on CD and are lovely in-depth guides to the entire Album quilt concept, making it a pick
for any project-oriented quilter.
Upcycled Fashions for Kids
Cynthia Anderson
Stackpole Books
5067 Ritter Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055-6921
9780811713252, $19.95, www.stackpolebooks.com
Upcycled Fashions for Kids offers over thirty outfits to create for kids from 'found' materials and
styles, and in the process teaches the basics of 'upcycled' usage. It promotes using old clothes and
thrift-store treasures to redo and recreate fashionable results on a budget, and it offers plenty of
tips for not only sewing these materials and designing clothes, but locating and assessing them.
From frocks to nighties, these are whimsical and fun approaches kids will enjoy.
The Psychology Shelf
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
www.jkp.com
Cynthia Kim's NERDY, SHY, AND SOCIALLY INAPPROPRIATE: A USER GUIDE TO AN
ASPERGER LIFE (9781849057578, $19.95) explores the challenges of living with Asperger's
Syndrome and provides an insider's guide at living with being autistic, using her own life for
examples. Not diagnosed until she was an adult, she describes the process of accepting her
personality, then realizing the diagnosis offers further opportunities for coming to terms with her
condition. Her popular blog Musings of an Aspie serves as the foundation for an exploration
packed with anecdotes and insights. Joel Shaul's THE GREEN ZONE CONSERVATION:
FINDING COMMON GROUND IN CONVERSATION FOR CHILDREN ON THE AUTISM
SPECTRUM (9781849057592, $29.95) provides a fine visual mode designed to help children
experience more success in conversational efforts, and presents the idea of a 'Green Zone' to help
children on the autism spectrum find topics of interest to others. By creating a visual link
between conversation and finding shared interests, children on the spectrum (and many an adult)
can discover how to participate in conversations that work. No collection dealing with autism
should be without this creative, key handbook.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
Overcoming Shock
Diane Zimberoff, LMFT and David Hartman, LICSW
New Horizon Press
PO Box 669, Far Hills, NJ 07931
9780882824802, $15.95, www.newhorizon.com
Overcoming Shock: Healing the Traumatized Mind and Heart explores the effects of shock and
trauma, and how it reverberates in the body, and offers proven strategies for success and
treatment, including real-world examples of people who overcame debilitating effects and
post-traumatic shock. There have been numerous books documenting the effects of shock and
trauma on the body's emotional and physical system; but this book's focus on the recovery
process provides many insights and alternatives and is a 'must' for any who would focus on
recovery.
More Than Hot
Christopher Hamlin
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
9781421415024, $25.95, www.press.jhu.edu
More Than Hot: A Short History of Fever joins others in John Hopkins' 'Biographies of Disease'
series and will reach both medicine and general health collections alike with its history of fever
and the efforts of science to classify and handle it. Also included within the discussion are its
social, cultural and political impact, and chapters consider how early writers and medical
community members struggled for language that explained fever and its symptoms. All this
comes from a historian of science and medicine and provides a fine focus on how fevers have
been treated - medically, historically, and literally - in society over the centuries.
Investigations in Healthcare Interpreting
Brenda Nicodemus and Melanie Metzger, Editors
Gallaudet University Press
800 Florida Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20002-3695
9781563686122, $85.00, www.gupress.gallaudet.edu
Investigations in Healthcare Interpreting considers issues of communication in healthcare around
the world and provides a new volume adding to the Studies in Interpretation series in which
international scholars address a range of topics specific to deaf concerns. This focus on
healthcare interpreting methods and challenges belongs not so much in general reference
holdings as in collections strong in healthcare work: it reports on trials of simultaneous video
interpreting in Austrian hospitals, how translated healthcare information for Australian deaf
people work, how medical interview questions are translated from English into ASL, and more.
Healthcare practitioners, in particular, will find it an important resource packed with key issues
and new research.
The Pets/Wildlife Shelf
American Kestrel
Kate Davis
Mountain Press Publishing Company
PO Box 2399, Missoula, MT 59806
9780878426362, $18.00, www.mountain-press.com
American Kestrel: Pint-Sized Predator pairs gorgeous color photos by Kate Davis and Rob
Palmer with a blend of natural history and photos from a bird expert who considers the American
kestrel, and is a fine pick for any who want to learn about its habits and habitats. These lovely
photos aren't to be seen elsewhere: some one hundred shot by Davis and photographer Rob
Palmer capture the bird in the wild and are gorgeous accompaniments to discussions of its life
and activities. Any collection strong in natural history for lay or professional audiences will find
this an appealing presentation.
Desert Bighorn Sheep: Wilderness Icon
Mark C. Jorgensen
Sunbelt Books
c/o Sunbelt Publications
1256 Fayette Street, El Cajon, CA 92020
9781941384008, $29.95, www.sunbeltpub.com
Desert Bighorn Sheep: Wilderness Icon provides a lovely photographic survey of the sheep that
inhabit the deserts of the southwest United States and northern Mexico, and is a pick for any
collection strong in natural history. Over two hundred photos depict the desert bighorn in their
native environment, showing behaviors and offering rare glimpses into their lives. The result is a
survey recommended for lay readers and natural history professionals alike.
Good Dog
David DiBenedetto
HarperWave
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd Street, New York, NY 10022-5299
9780062242358, $25.99, www.harpercollins.com
GOOD DOG: TRUE STORIES OF LOVE, LOSS AND LOYALTY gathers an anthology of
stories from writers who reflect on man's best friend, and celebrates dog ownership, friendship
and kinship. It provides a blend of humor and inspirational celebratory writing as it gathers
essays on the joys and stories of dogs and human relationships, and it provides original pieces as
well as gatherings form Garden & Gun's popular "Good Dog" column, making for a powerful
collection highly recommended for any general-interest collection and any interested in pets.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Once Upon a Grind
Cleo Coyle
Berkeley Prime Crime
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780425270851, $26.95, www.penguin.com
Once Upon a Grind provides a coffeehouse mystery in which a coffeehouse manager becomes an
amateur sleuth. Embedded in the story are fairy tale references, to make matters more complex -
with more than a casual dose of humor thrown in to the mix. This is the 14th book in the mystery
series and accessible to newcomers and old fans alike: its inclusion of classic fairy tale themes
blends social concerns and modern culture with classic fiction and allusions to fairy tales, making
for a fun and mind-bending read.
Murder, She Wrote: Death of a Blue Blood
Jessica Fletcher & Donald Bain
Obsidian
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780451468253, $23.95, www.penguin.com
Murder, She Wrote: Death of a Blue Blood tells of Jessica, who is invited to join a New Year's
party given by British aristocracy at a castle, but finds the celebrations end in murder. When
Jessica uncovers the body of a lady's maid in the garden, the death becomes a matter of British
debate and squabbling in a series of encounters that point out the underlying animosity among
many of the guests. And when festivities attempt to continue, a poisoning reveals far more
possible perps than imagined. The result is a lively, revealing survey recommended for prior fans
and newcomers who like solid mysteries cemented by British personalities.
The Native American Studies Shelf
American Indians in U.S. History, second edition
Roger L. Nichols
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806143675, $24.95, www.oupress.com
American Indians in U.S. History appears in its second updated edition to offer a fine history of
American Indians from their origins to modern times, and uses the latest research to add
information about Indian social and cultural issues in modern times. From new biographies of
key Native American people to an updated chronological and new readings for each era, this
offers a close inspection of tribal experiences and is a pick for any studying American Indian
history.
The Travel Shelf
Roadside Geology of Oregon, second edition
Marli B. Miller
Mountain Press Publishing Company
PO Box 2399, Missoula, MT 59806
9780878426317, $26.00, www.mountain-press.com
Roadside Geology of Oregon appears in its second updated edition and represents a completely
new second edition based on the latest insights on Oregon's geology. While this could have been
featured in our Science section, it's reviewed here because it's really a combination of
destination-oriented explanation as well as science, and helps travelers understand what they are
seeing when they view Oregon's natural wonders. Oregon residents and geologists at any level
will find it packed with specifics on the state's mountains, volcanos, and geological features.
Photographs capture the state's wonders while discussions of geologic history documents its
changes. Maps, color photos, and clear explorations make this especially recommended for
destination-bound visitors who want a clear exploration of Oregon's geologic history.
Chance Encounters
Janna Graber, Editor
World Traveler Press
http://worldtravelerpress.com/page-templates/contact-us/
9780990878605, $16.95, www.worldtravelerpress.com
Chance Encounters: Travel Tales from Around the World is about mishaps, extraordinary
encounters, and journeys that are a cut above the ordinary and long recalled, and is edited by an
award-winning travel journalist who here picks the best for inclusion in a fun collection of
change encounters. From bravery to strength, unforgettable encounters with strangers to musical
connections, these stories are culled from over 40 newspapers, magazines, and websites and
comes from some 20 top international travel writers who here present their best in a highly
recommended collection of armchair readers perfect for any would-be traveler.
The Political Science Shelf
Anthropology, Ecology, and Anarchism
Brian Morris
PM Press
PO Box 23912, Oakland, CA 94623
9781604860931, $24.95, www.pmpress.org
Anthropology, Ecology, and Anarchism provides a fine Brian Morris reader and is a
compendium of his reflections, coming from a teacher and researcher in social anthropology,
politics, and philosophy. Until now his essays, originally published in obscure journals and
political magazines, have been widely scattered: by having them under one cover, collections
strong in anarchist history, traditions, and reflections now have a powerful survey packed with
discussions suitable for classroom debate and reflections from the advanced high school to
college levels.
American Conservatism: An Encyclopedia
Frohman, Beer and Nelson, Editors
ISI Books
3901 Centerville Road, Wilmington, DE 19807-1938
1932236449, $35.00, www.isibooks.org
American Conservatism: An Encyclopedia provides a political and historical reference that offers
insights on individuals, schools, organizations, events and publications that have helped develop
the foundations of the conservative intellectual movement in America since World War II. This
takes the form of over six hundred entries covering a range of social issues and writings, pairing
history with social and political insights and tracing the evolution of political philosophies and
ideas. This volume has been some fifteen years in the making and compiles a powerful set of
authoritative resources on American conservatism, key to any college-level student and
Academics studying the movement.
The Self-Help Shelf
The Real Brass Ring
Dianne Bischoff James
Red Wheel Weiser, LLC
65 Parker Street, Suite 7, Newburyport, MA 01950
9781618520555, $19.95, www.redwheelweiser.com
The Real Brass Ring: Change Your Life Course Now tells of the author's midlife crisis when she
realized she was off-track physically, emotionally and spiritually - and decided to change. Her
"midlife reboot" is chronicled here as inspiration for others, and as she writes about the
influences that changed her life, readers follow her emotional ups and downs and the moments in
which she came to acknowledge the path towards better understanding and, ultimately, a more
involved life. More so than most self-help autobiographies, The Real Brass Ring is filled with
similar opportunities for readers to direct their own paths towards transformation, and is thus
highly recommended for spirituality and self-help collections alike!
The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf
The Future of Television
Pamela Douglas
Michael Wiese Productions
12400 Ventura Blvd., #1111, Studio City, CA 91604
9781615932146, $22.95, www.mwp.com
The Future of Television: Your Guide to Creating TV in the New World provides a fine guide to
all forms of television from networks to new media, and is a recommendation for those already
working in television who want a specific assessment of its trends and the changing nature of
television work down the line. Chapters consider the new stand-alone service of HBO and how it
could change the nature of cable TV, digital channels and meetings using television as their
platform, how writers should think about games, movies, and their future, and more. Interviews
with industry professionals reflect on these changing trends and yet-unseen possibilities alike,
making this a fine survey for any interested in media studies in general and the path of television
in particular.
The Language Studies Shelf
Flirting With French
William Alexander
Algonquin Books
PO Box 2225, Chapel Hill, NC 27515-2225
9781616200206, $15.95, www.algonquin.com
Flirting with French: How a Language Charmed Me, Seduced Me, and Nearly Broke My Heart
offers a lovely, fun memoir by an enthusiast of the French language who here reflects on its
ironies and oddities, and is a pick for any collection strong in lively memoirs about language.
Alexander loved the French and wanted to learn French - but his journey to France and his
attempts to master the language through various means did not come easily. As he embarks on a
series of misadventures in the process of learning French, he finds out more about the people and
about the language than he anticipated. And whether he ever learns to speak it fluently isn't the
actual subject here: it's the journey towards his destination that actually counts. Learning a new
language can be the adventure rather than the end result, and Flirting with French chronicles this
journey and a love affair that doesn't end with a predictable mastery of the language, but with a
deeper understanding of its real roots.
The California Shelf
Antebellum and Civil War San Francisco
Monika Trobits
The History Press
645 Meeting Street, Suite 200, Charleston, SC 29403
9781626194274, $19.99, www.historypress.net
Antebellum and Civil War San Francisco: A Western Theater for Northern & Southern Politics is
very specific - and, therefore, very satisfying. Unlike most books about San Francisco history, it
uses the City's experience as a microcosm of a particular era of U.S. history and events, pairing
the experiences of gold rush pioneers with the advent of the Civil War. While few histories
consider the City's psyche during this period, this book points out that though it seemed isolated,
San Franciscans actually participated in the conflict. Some battled, some extended the
Underground Railroad to the City, and some aired political debates in the City. Black and white
vintage photos and illustrations of families, individuals, and San Francisco scenes pepper a
powerful and unusual survey that should be a 'must' for any authoritative San Francisco early
history collection.
San Francisco's Jewel City
Laura A. Ackley
Heyday Books
PO Box 9145, Berkeley, CA 94709
9781507142922, $40.00, www.heyday.com
There have been numerous books written about the Panama Pacific International Exposition of
1915 (PPIE), but San Francisco's Jewel City is the 'queen' of them all, packing in rare visuals
unavailable elsewhere and pairing this with a close inspection of the history and architectural
wonders of an Exposition whose planning began before the 1906 earthquake, and which became
a driving force thereafter to represent the City's successful rebuilding and comeback. This
definitive work of scholarship is published with the cooperation of the California Historical
Society and comes just in time to mark the 2015 celebration of the centennial of the
Panama-Pacific International Exposition. A century later relatively few relics remain of this
extraordinary event - which places San Francisco's Jewel City in a class of its own. The only
thing that would have made it better would have been guilt edging - but the real glow lies in the
history and images within: a 'must' for any collection covering San Francisco's history.
Donovan's Small Press Highlights
The Blue Planet
Christian Bundagaard and Adam Mork
Oro Editions
9781941806104 $30.00 www.oroeditions.com
The Blue Planet: Denmark's National Aquarium at first glance looks to be a specialty title, as it's
about Northern Europe's biggest aquarium and is presented in a bilingual English/Danish text;
but in reality its subject goes beyond the making of a single public attraction to document
Denmark's unique architectural design choices and how these blended with the country's mandate
to create a world-class public aquarium inspired by the shape of water in motion.
Thus the concept of a whirlpool of flowing motion is incorporated into the structure itself, as
well as a new vision of how an aquarium exhibit seeks to immerse and involve visitors in a
dynamic display blending revolutionary architectural style with water world perspectives.
It should be noted that The Blue Planet's chapters come from an architecture critic and
philosopher who here works with a photographer to blend visuals with history. From the
foundations of general building design and an aquarium's special requirements to how structures
integrate with physical landscapes and displays to meld outdoor and indoor environments, this
wide-ranging celebration is greater than the sum of its parts.
The Blue Planet is thus more than an architectural story, more than a survey of a natural history
exhibit's evolution, and more than an account of the artistry involved in creating a building which
looks much like one of Frank Lloyd Wright's futuristic public structures.
Why will this story of one of Denmark's newest buildings interest architecture, arts and natural
history holdings around the world? Quite simply because it represents a microcosm of advanced
architectural thinking on not only how public places can better serve the public, but how they can
be designed to both represent natural surroundings and enhance their purpose through an
exceptional design process.
Admittedly, The Blue Planet will be a pick more for architects and designers than the general
reading public - and such an audience may expect more in the way of blueprints and drawings
rather than the glossy full-page color shots of interiors and exteriors that fuels this presentation.
That said, the color shots are very well done, and perfectly capture the flow and style of the entire
building: surely a challenge in representing a structure housing many exhibits and an ambitious,
even revolutionary design.
Packed with gorgeous interior and exterior shots by photographer Adam Mork, The Blue Planet
is a recommendation for architecture and design collections around the world.
Murach's Dreamweaver CC 2014
Zak Ruvalcaba
Mike Murach & Associates
4340 North Knoll Avenue, Fresno, CA 93722
9781890774776 $54.50 http://www.murach.com
With over six hundred pages to its name and backed by the Murach brand name of quality in
computer instructional guides, it's no wonder that Murach's Dreamweaver CC 2014 weighs in at
the top of the 'recommended' list when it comes to choosing among the host of Dreamweaver
how-to guides on the market.
Unlike the 'quick and dirty' guides that promise near-instant competency with quick routines and
guidelines, Murach's really takes the time to explore its subject well, providing web designers
with not just a hasty overview, but a lesson plan incorporating all the skills needed to master all
of Dreamweaver's many tools and functions, whether they be beginning or advanced.
While the book opens with a quick overview of how to apply Dreamweaver's many options, it
doesn't stop there (unlike so many others): it reviews the program's strengths which include its
ability to generate consistent, top-level HTML and CSS page flows and styles, it reviews
professional approaches to using the program for more polished website results, whether the
effort involves adding video or making use of its time-saving templates, and it focuses not just on
website building, but superior website production.
This translates neatly to an approach that builds in complexity as foundation techniques are
learned and more advanced polishing methods are presented. All of the skills focus on standard
approaches common to exceptional websites, and all of the approaches teach how to interpret and
manipulate code to its best advantage.
While it's a handy reference for any Dreamweaver programmer, it's a special recommendation for
students who will want to acquire this to use as a classroom textbook supplement; especially as it
provides easy explanations of potentially complex, confusing functions.
Readers seeking a quick overview approach should look elsewhere: while Murach's
Dreamweaver CC 2014 provides the basics in introductory chapters, its real advantage lies in a
continuation of the novice's lesson plan to explore the real powers of Dreamweaver in applied
website settings, and that's what sets this apart from much of the competition.
To Cook is to Love
John Verlinden
Langdon Street Press
http://www.langdonstreetpress.com/contact-us.aspx
9781626525276 $46.99 www.langdonstreetpress.com
To Cook is to Love: Nuevo Cuban: Lighter, Healthier Latin Recipes addresses a common
problem in Latin cooking: the prevalence of high-fat ingredients which translate to vibrant
flavors but make for less healthy dishes. Can the same vibrancy be achieved from modern Cuban
cuisine with a better attention to nutrition?
If the focus were just on healthier Cuban cooking, this cookbook would be a draw in and of
itself; but To Cook is to Love offers even more: a welcoming collection of cooking secrets
interspersed with stories of the author's past and considerations of Cuban history and culture as
seen through the eyes of one Mami Aida, who immigrated to the U.S. to raise her family.
Her stories were told to John Verlinden who pairs them here with colorful Cuban illustrations,
vintage photos, page edges that hold multi-colored postcard-style images of Cuban culture, and
information boxes profiling ingredients, cooking methods, and tips and tricks.
To Cook is to Love thus becomes more than just another Cuban cookbook, a cookbook on
healthy Latin fare, or even a memoir of Cuban culture. By blending all these facets into a lovely
blend of vintage family photos, original drawings, and pre-revolutionary Cuban memorabilia, it
serves as a lively introduction to the country and its peoples.
It's not just another cookbook - but readers looking for the recipes alone will find them easily
accessed. And by leaving nothing to guesswork (no prior cooking expertise or familiarity with
Cuban ethnicity is presumed), To Cook is to Love succeeds in creating a multi-faceted approach
that will satisfy both cooks and those seeking a lively exploration of Cuba's land and culture.
California Coast from the Air
Gary Griggs and Deepika Shrestha Ross
Mountain Press Publishing Company
PO Box 2399, Missoula, MT 59806
9780878426126 $28.00 www.mountain-press.com
California Coast from the Air: Images of a Changing Landscape features half-page color photos
by Kenneth and Gabrielle Adelman paired with an aerial survey of the state's geology and
geography, and represents the photographers' efforts to produce an aerial photographic display of
the entire 1,100-mile coastline, the California Coastal Records Project.
Plenty of books on California offer visual surveys of the state: so much so that one could wonder
at the need for yet another. There are also other a few other aerial books on the market that take
segments of the state (more notably, the major urban areas such as San Francisco ) and provide
photographic views.
It should be noted, however, that California Coast from the Air isn't designed to be a glitzy
armchair tourist read, but is a serious survey of the natural environment using some 150 of the
best photos from a collection of over 100,000 aerial shots.
From coastal dunes and plunging cliffs to the geography of each county in the state, chapters
arranged by county and prefaced with color maps provide both photos and text filled with natural
and human history.
Without such accompanying text, California Coast from the Air could have found itself
competing with more casual aerial photo collections. And without its wide-ranging photo focus
on geography and natural history, the text wouldn't come to life as completely or successfully as
it does, either.
In the end California Coast from the Air is a fine example of a rare, difficult, and successful
marriage between image, geography, and human and natural history, and provides California
readers, in particular, with a fine feature enhanced by oceanographer Gary Griggs, architect
Deepika Shrestha Ross, and photographers Kenneth and Gabrielle Adelman's diverse areas of
expertise.
Urban Remedy
Neka Pasquale, M.S., L.Ac.
Weldon Owen
1045 Sansome Street, Suite 100, San Francisco, CA 94111
9781616288143 $24.95 www.weldonowen.com
Urban Remedy: The 4-Day Home Cleanse Retreat is basically a spa in a book, blending a
nutritional approach with an activity plan to detox and jump start one's optimum healthy
condition. As such, it's recommended reading for any who would undertake a program of better,
whole-food-oriented eating for a healthier lifestyle.
Urban Remedy's focus is on creating a spa-like retreat at home that pairs whole-food guidelines
with revised routines and actions typical of the kind of whole-body cleansing program that one
can expect from an expensive spa.
Yes, there's special equipment and routines involved - so readers unwilling to try alternatives and
who seek a quick, easy program might wish to look elsewhere. This provides daily step-by-step
instructions for a detox cleansing routine that is specific and detailed, using ancient health
principles and mostly raw and vegan recipes to promote a program not just for personal health,
but which holds less impact for the planet.
Author Neka Pasquale is a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist trained in Chinese nutrition. She
runs her own organic food company which specializes in raw, quick meals and snacks, and she
created the 4-7-day juice and raw food retreats promoted in her book, a program which she calls
'The Urban Remedy.'
Participants in her retreats describe a sensation of feeling transformed. It's nice to have an
inexpensive alternative to such a venture: one that can be done in one's home with just a few
special raw food ingredients and a revised attitude towards nutrition.
Key Case Law Rules for Government Contract Formation
Patrick Butler, Lieutenant Colonel
Management Concept Press
8230 Leesburg Pike, Tysons Corner, VA 22182
9781567264470 $89.00 www.managementconcepts.com
Key Case Law Rules for Government Contract Formation is a specialty reference title directed to
government acquisition professionals, and fills a gap in understanding case law and legal
decisions as it applies to managing government contracts.
It organizes and explains recent cases by centering on key protest grounds, from pricing issues to
government involvement in competition and bidding, and it applies the latest legal decisions to
wider issues affecting legal and contracting professionals.
Chapters are arranged by protest grounds and are grouped with paragraphs of legal precedent
under key subject headings for quick and easy consultation: this arrangement eliminates the
necessity of plowing through some 2,000 pages of legal jargon in the Federal Acquisition
Regulation and provides agency managers and legal professionals with at-a-glance resources
quickly accessed and just as quickly digested, with all the proper citations attached for further
research.
From negotiated procurements processes and small business issues to standards of conduct and
alleged bias, Key Case Law Rules for Government Contract Formation documents key language,
cites relevant cases, and offers up commentary essential to any federal legal requirements reader
in a 'must have' reference for acquisition professionals.
Surrounded by Thunder
Tom Williams
Inspire on Purpose
8501 N. MacArthur #1276, Irving, Texas 75063
9780988753365 $17.99 www.inspireonpurpose.com
Surrounded by Thunder: The Story of Darrell Loan and the Rocketmen isn't another survey of
astronauts who participated in space programs, but focuses on the rocket scientists who actually
helped make these journeys happen. So while it's a recommendation for any collection strong in
space science or history; don't expect another 'I was an astronaut' saga here (that's already been
overdone): Surrounded by Thunder offers so much more.
Under a different hand, Surrounded by Thunder could have proved overly technical, focusing on
the science behind space program history, which also has been done before. But this seeks to
capture the atmosphere of the space program in general and Darrell Loan's life and contributions
in particular: as such, it's a gathering of vivid insider stories, details about space program
engineering history and challenges, and behind-the-scenes stories such as how the Mercury
Seven were chosen for their mission. The author conducted extensive interviews with these
pioneering scientists to document NASA'S heady, early days; but his provides these details in an
unusually lively format accessible to a wide audience.
Each chapter reads with the immediacy and vivid description of fiction, yet packs in a blend of
'you are there' reports from newspapers with interview results and fun truths about snafus and
unexpected long-range successes.
While Darrell Loan is the rocket man given specific consideration here, coverage includes a
range of events involving a team of rocket men over the history of the world's space programs,
placing all of them in proper historical and scientific perspective.
So don't look for the usual story of 'how I became an astronaut' or 'what it was like to walk on the
moon.' DO look for a behind-the-scenes expose narrated in an unusually lively style that succeeds
in injecting humor and human insights into its blend of history and biographical profiles.
Surrounded by Thunder recently won the coveted gold medal for non-fiction in the 2013 Florida
Book Awards: this is a good indicator of its award-winning contents!
From the Yoga Mat to the Corner Office
Yvonne James Furth and Molly Rudberg-Leshnock
Highpoint Executive Publishing
9780989105491 $19.99 www.highpointpubs.com
From the Yoga Mat to the Corner Office: A Mindful Approach to Business Success achieves
something seldom seen elsewhere: a blend of business and yoga mentalities (thinking processes
usually at opposite ends of the spectrum) that links new age practices with business
objectives.
It's a compendium of easy exercises that teach professionals how to get ahead in the business
world by using yoga techniques to help lower stress and increase productivity, and it tailors its
approach not to the usual home environment, but to the office.
Is it really possible to achieve mindfulness in a demanding business environment and to redefine
intention and perspective through a process of yoga-infused mindful habits and new approaches
to business? To use basic yoga exercises (such as stretching) to stretch both mind and personal
boundaries for greater business flexibility, creative thinking, and success?
While this may sound either overly complex or too pat, Yoga Mat to the Corner Office is all
about drawing specific, direct connections between yoga's processes and business pursuits, and it
uses conventional business practices and concepts to pair these daily yoga practices with
traditional business demands. Perhaps one reason why this works particularly well here is
because the authors are, themselves, successful career women - not just yoga therapists.
Mindful of the busy business person's life, their book presents its concepts in chapters filled with
digestible discussions paired with 'how to do it' exercises. This lends particularly well to being
able to start and stop chapters as interruptions demand - but handling interruptions by creating
space for meditation and relaxation is just a small part of this title's approach; so soon its
guidelines should prove even simpler to access.
Mindful thinking at work can lead to better business decisions, more flexibility and creativity,
and refined routines that ultimately create a more relaxed, 'take charge' environment. Business
readers - especially those already interested in yoga and mindfulness - will find these specific
applications an important key to long-term success.
Beyond the Horizon
Werner H. Kraus
Xlibris Corporation
1663 South Liberty Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403-5161
9781456822743 $19.99 www.world-sailing-book.com
Beyond the Horizon: Sailing Around the World on "Columbine" has only one prerequisite for
complete enjoyment; and that requirement is an overall interest in sailing - whether it be from an
armchair or from the captain's chair.
One might think this too obvious to mention, as the book's subtitle includes mention of sailing,
but many sailing books are actually not adventure reads but 'how to' treatises - unlike Beyond the
Horizon, which details the author's 7 1/2 year circumnavigation of the globe via sailboat,
beginning and ending in Hawaii. Yes, there's a good number of tips on how to overcome a range
of problems from breakdowns to cultural encounters - but the overall feel is of high adventure,
and plenty of action makes this much more than a boat-oriented journey alone, as it voyages into
dangerous cultural waters as well.
These descriptions of cultural problems and how they were overcome is as much a part of Kraus's
story as the chapters of sailing descriptions. Stories relate navigation challenges in specific
locales that range from Alaska to Indonesia, pointing out the importance of good charts, the
challenge of sailing through kelp beds, and the cultural intricacies of dating women in
Tonga.
Now, finer attention to editing would have solved some minor punctuation and grammar flaws
peppered throughout ("This book chronicles the authors 7 1/2 year circumnavigation." and "They
all hoped for peace, but it seems, perhaps only on their turns."). While these should be noted,
they are actually minor disturbances to the force of the story being told: a satisfying romp
through customs, cultural oddities, government encounters sometimes annoying and occasionally
frightening.
Expect a gripping first-person sailing yarn replete with odd characters, close encounters, and
irksome situations - all of which Werner H. Kraus overcomes with a sailor's flexibility and grace.
Any who love accounts of sailing adventures, mishaps, and high seas adventure will relish the
lively autobiographical stories and cultural revelations in Beyond the Horizon.
(It should be mentioned that the author's website offers sample text and the book's photographs in
color - plus, the option of buying an autographed copy directly from the author.)
New Jump Swing Healthy Aging and Athletic Nutrition Program
Donald "Spiderman" Thomas
Xlibris Corporation
1663 South Liberty Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403-5161
http://www.newjumpswing.com/pdn_store.html
9781462884261 $17.63 Paperback $26.99 Hardcover
Ordering:
http://www.amazon.com/Swing-Healthy-Athletic-Nutrition-Program/dp/1462884261/ref=sr_1_1
?ie=UTF8&qid=1420946615&sr=8-1&keywords=9781462884261
New Jump Swing Healthy Aging and Athletic Nutrition Program is a lot of words for a fitness
title: enough to warn readers expecting the usual diet approach that, perhaps, this is something
different. Add the mention under the author's name that Thomas is a three-times Guinness World
Record holder and you have yet another indicator that this won't be a quick, easy read, and is not
a recommendation for fitness readers who want a 'miracle program' promising fast results with
minimal effort.
Instead it's an unusual dual focus on the author's customized martial arts routines combined with
a vegetarian nutrition regimen; so be forewarned: those not already interested in getting involved
in such a program should look elsewhere... but then, those who aren't interested in real change
involving increased vitality and healthy routines shouldn't be looking in this direction, in
general.
The Guinness World Records mentioned are in public speaking, and this talent is reflected in
discussions that blend a history of nutritional approaches with a specific health and fitness
program pairing the approach of Bruce Lee with some thirty years of research by the author, who
delves into sports nutrition and common aging challenges alike.
Thomas (61 yrs old) has been the celebrity chairperson for the American Heart Associations
Jump Rope for Heart campaign Hawaii chapter for over 21 years. He has taught and continues to
teach his fitness and nutrition program to over 60% of the Hawaii school system including
colleges and universities along with most of Hawaii's fitness clubs.
There's a lot of jumping around (so to speak) in this book's topics: readers who want a narrower
focus will find the approach broad and demanding. Chapters are packed with wide-ranging
discussions, from the dangers of bread and caffeine in energy drinks to selected common barriers
to health during the aging process and how to use nutrition and fitness to overcome them. As a
Social Security Disability advocate, Thomas knows from first hand experience the end results of
not maintaining ones health and fitness.
That's a lot to pack in to some 200 pages - and a lot to digest. It's evident that this program and
approach is not for casual readers who would only lightly pursue a course of fitness and nutrition,
but for the reader already committed to a blend of vegetarian nutrition, martial arts-enhanced
exercise, and change.
Challenging and demanding? You bet. Passionate and well-detailed? Absolutely. Nobody ever
said fitness would be an easy pursuit.
Donald "Spiderman" Thomas's specifics are a satisfying alternative to the plethora of 'pop health'
books on the market, and are recommended for those already on a similar course (i.e. a
vegetarian perspective and attention to personal and planetary health alike) who want more
details on how to achieve better, lasting health as the body ages.
American Hospital English (AHE) Picture Book and Pronunciation Guide
Laura Medlin
Xlibris
1663 South Liberty Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403-5161
9781493162666 $19.99 Paperback
http://www.amazon.com/American-Hospital-English-Laura-Medlin/dp/1493162667/ref=sr_1_1?
ie=UTF8&qid=1420947680&sr=8-1&keywords=9781493162666
Laura Medlin is a registered nurse who also holds degrees in teaching and humanities, so her
unique approach to hospital English and its explanations, American Hospital English (AHE)
Picture Book and Pronunciation Guide, comes from both a clinical and linguistics background
and provides a rare dual focus that will help any interested in the type of English used in
American hospitals.
The intended reader is a non-native speaker of English (whether healthcare professionals or not)
and is tailored after a picture-style dictionary format. Each chapter is devoted to one letter of the
English alphabet and pairs phonetic spellings, definitions, and sentences with images and
symbols specific to many medical profession discussions.
Take the 'L' section, for example: included in the definitions are 'laceration', with a black and
white drawing of a knife penetrating an arm, a medical definition, and reference to "Another
word for laceration is cut." Words and phases may be as simple as 'legs' (with its one-sentence
description "Your legs may feel weak from being in bed for so long.") to 'life support', defined as
'the use of any technique, therapy, or device to assist in sustaining life.'
There are no color illustrations - everything is in black and white, and most of the drawings come
from the author.
With each entry offering a phonetic spelling, a definition, and a sample sentence demonstrating
usage - all cemented by pictures or symbols - this is a good, specific approach for any interested
in American healthcare language and its slang terms: especially for those where English is a
second language.
American Hospital English: Word Puzzles and Exercises
Laura Medlin
Xlibris
1663 South Liberty Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403-5161
9781479792825 $19.99
http://www.amazon.com/American-Hospital-English-Laura-Medlin/dp/1479792829/ref=sr_1_1?
ie=UTF8&qid=1420948483&sr=8-1&keywords=9781479792825
American Hospital English: Word Puzzles and Exercises is recommended as a complimentary
workbook to American Hospital English (AHE) Picture Book and Pronunciation Guide, and
supports the basic approach and principles of the American Hospital English (AHE) Picture
Book - so prior familiarity with the first book is almost a requirement.
Here nearly thirty word puzzles support commonly used American hospital English words and
terms, include abbreviations, and once again work with the author's line drawings to provide
visual cues for understanding.
The difference between this and the first picture book dictionary lies in the fact that American
Hospital English: Word Puzzles and Exercises is a reinforcing study that uses simple exercises to
reinforce the concepts learned in the original book and re-presented here.
One such puzzle involves a picture and invitation to label major organs; another tackles the neuro
system using a crossword puzzle (the puzzle's format is smaller than your usual crossword, so be
forewarned).
From using labeling to understanding medical terminology word roots and matching pictures and
words centered around a patient's room, information ranges from very simple to complex and
presumes readers have little prior familiarity with American hospital English's expressions and
medical vocabulary.
ESL students as well as those working with patients for whom English is a second language will
find these important keys to absorbing the terminology and descriptions inherent in the American
medical system.
How to Write Short Stories That Sell
Jane Bettany
Dormouse Press
Guidemark Publishing Limited
185 Lambourn Drive, Allestree, Derby, DE22 2US
9780957670433 $16.50 www.dormousepress.co.uk
Many fiction writers believe they have to start big, with a full novel; but as Jane Bettany
demonstrates, they do not. How to Write Short Stories That Sell is all about mastering the short
story format, and it covers all the writer's basics that are needed in order to craft not just a short
story, but one that is salable.
This is the point that separates How to Write Short Stories That Sell from other writer's guides:
while it covers the usual approaches to plot, structure, characterization and description, it also
focuses on the editing process and adds important points on sales potential that are often missing
from other creative writer's how-to guides.
It pairs description of technique with reinforcing exercises and examples of solid short story
writing, it shows how to identify the right markets for a particular type of story and how to
submit them to a publication, and (most importantly) it encourages creativity, experimentation,
and a deeper attention to understanding the advantages and disadvantages of different short story
approaches.
How to Write Short Stories That Sell isn't just about how to write: it's how to produce a superior
short story that deserves to be in the public eye. And that's why How to Write Short Stories That
Sell, more than many of its competitors, deserves to be in the writer's eye.
Small Change, Big Results
Pat LaDouceur, PhD
Twin Rocks Press
1505 Solano Avenue, Albany, CA 94707
9780990619505 $16.00 www.smallchangebigresults.com
Small Change, Big Results: How Simple Actions Can Reshape Your Life is designed for readers
with big dreams who want to link these ideals with concrete goal-setting skill sets. While many a
book approaches this similar topic with more of an idealistic viewpoint, the goal of Pat
LaDoucer, a licensed psychotherapist, is to explore how dreams translate into goals and then
reality, and she offers specific tools that can be used to foster such changes.
One might anticipate that these tools would take a good amount of time to learn and employ, but
one of the pleasures of Small Change, Big Results is that they are actually quite simple - and
backed by the latest scientific research, not idealistic thinking.
It's a process - so don't expect a series of quick stand-alone admonitions, but a succession of tools
that interact with each other to form a game plan for identifying and enacting change. Yes, they
are easy to learn - but the importance here lies in absorbing the entire process in chapters that
reinforce the idea of altering thought patterns to accept the most creative paths possible.
It's a system that promises to reduce feelings of overwhelm and negative stress, and one which is
paired with easy reinforcing exercises and 'getting started' tips that take key points and translate
them to simple actions.
Readers ready for positive change will find Small Change, Big Results: How Simple Actions Can
Reshape Your Life the best place to begin.
Facilitating Early Social Communication Skills: From Theory to Practice
Pamela Rosenthal Rollins, MS, EdD, CCC-SLP
AAPC Publishing
11209 Strang Line Rd., Lenexa, KS 66215
9781937473846 $79.95 www.aapcpublishing.net
Educators, parents and professionals working with young children on the autism spectrum today
have plenty of books to choose from; but it wasn't always that way - and the tendency still is to
have 'light' advice and approaches over more technical treatises. That's why Facilitating Early
Social Communication Skills: From Theory to Practice is a recommended pick for educators who
want more than light introductions: it teaches the basics of how to implement an inclusive
program for very young children, and it narrows the focus to social communication and language
skills.
One author is an associate professor of communication disorders at the University of Texas and
Dallas; the other is a certified clinical speech-language pathologist specializing in autism
spectrum disorders. Both have extensive experience and credentials and both bring a blend of
theory and practice to the table that excels in analytical insights and practical applications.
But all this isn't the best part of this book: the best part is its organization, which includes color
diagrams and illustrations throughout and an attention to arranging its advice into units that are
quick and easy to digest despite their technical contents.
From facilitating social games among peers and handling small group play activities inside and
outside the classroom to developing daily classroom themes, instructional units are not only
filled with ideas but are presented in bright, fresh, appealing chapters with sidebars of
information and outlines of policies and reminders, all geared for ages 3-5.
The focus on the SCERTS model (Social Communication Emotional Regulation and
Transactional Supports) blends with some thirty years of author experience in a developmental
program key to working with preschool children both at school and in the home.
It should be noted that an Instructor Manual is available (978193473976) which provides a
companion to this textbook, offering instructors specific highlights of chapter contents, project
ideas, and early learning basics as it applies to youngsters on the autism spectrum, further
enhancing the value of the combined package.
There are plenty of more casual discussions of autism and the education process; but for a
specific textbook and workbook approach, Facilitating Early Social Communication Skills: From
Theory to Practice is the item of choice.
Whole Body Reboot
Manual Villacorta, MS, RD
Health Communications Inc.
3201 S.W. 15th Street, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442-8190
9780757318214 $18.95 www.hcibooks.com
Whole Body Reboot: The Peruvian Superfoods Diet to Detoxify, Energize, and Supercharge Fat
Loss presents the third book covering author Manual Villacorta's Peruvian super foods diet plan,
and provides simple explanations of how this particular diet plan ties in with anti-aging and
disease-fighting ideas.
Its presentation lies somewhere between a recipe book, a diet plan, and a health survey and is
directed to any who want to lose weight for optimum results - but because its focus is on 'detox',
this of necessity means a regimen designed to first rid the body of toxins - and we're talking a
rigorous effort that many won't want to follow. Luckily, there are options - and some of them
involve more reboot than detox in a gentler, more achievable approach than living on a minimum
of food for an entire week.
It should also be mentioned that access to a good health food store for ingredients such as
tempeh, kiwicha, chia seeds, seitan and more is practically a requirement for using the recipes
herein - which might leave out residents in rural areas or smaller towns.
On the plus side, there are gorgeous color photos accompanying all dishes, sidebars of
at-a-glance ingredients lists, assembly methods that don't take a rocket scientist to achieve, and
an attention to using the Peruvian superfoods approach to enhance energy and encourage weight
loss.
Not for the casual dieter or faint of heart, Whole Body Reboot is a recommendation for readers
and cooks serious about embarking on a rigorous program of health, and promises a
well-seasoned reference that links superfoods use and management to a healthier lifestyle.
Reboots are, by definition, not simple affairs; nor is the detox process. The methodical approach
presented here is designed to redefine health and create entirely new approaches to eating.
Readers who consider this a program rather than a recipe collection will be the happiest with
Manual Villacorta's comprehensive approach.
Secrets of Safety-Net Parenting
Leon Scott Baxter
Dumbest Genius Books
9781500919443 $12.99 www.safetynetters.com
Secrets of Safety-Net Parenting: Raising Happy and Successful Children - The Common
Denominator competes nicely with other child-rearing books by tackling a universal desire most
parents hold for their children: to raise happy, successful kids. The difference between this
approach and others lies in its identification of 'secrets' to such parenting that identifies the
common denominator among various child-rearing styles from families selected for feature in
this book.
It also lies in the fact that author Leon Scott Baxter is not just a parent, but a 'relationship guru'
whose background as a teacher and interaction with numerous families created a set of practical
strategies that can be applied to common problems from toddlers through teen years.
Here happiness is equated directly to success, blending personal anecdotes and humor with
details on how the 'safety-netting' process works. Using such an approach, parents allow their
children to experiment to experience both success and failure, and serve as a 'safety net' to
prevent complete crashing.
This approach may not delight the type of parent who views their role as one of guiding a child
so that failure is minimized, but it will involve parents who realize that in order for a child to
recognize success, experiencing failure is valuable. What's left is controlling the depth of that
failure experience - which is what 'safety-net parenting' is all about.
It would have been all too easy for Secrets of Safety-Net Parenting to degenerate into a set of
ideals; but the fact that it focuses on concrete, applied strategies through a series of examples
gleaned from various family experiences, added to the author's own background as a parent and
teacher, makes this a realistic approach that parents will wish to consider.
A Monk in the Bee Hive
Skye Ann Louise Taylor
Logosophia, LLC
90 Oteen Church Road, Ashville, NC 28805
9780981575773 $16.00 www.logosophiabooks.com
Beekeeping and Buddhism are not ordinarily two pursuits mentioned under the same cover; but
then, A Monk in the Bee Hive: A Short Discourse on Bees, Monks and Sacred Geometry is
neither spiritual discourse alone nor natural history survey; but lies somewhere in the shadowy
realm between the two.
Perhaps this will be the most difficult part of its marketing process, too: the fact that spirituality
readers typically don't receive in-depth accounts of beekeeping, while nature readers looking for
details on managing bees will find A Monk in the Bee Hive is more than a nature story.
Instead, it's a story of author Skye Ann Louise Taylor's meditative explorations which center
around nature in general and connections to the sacred world of something she calls "the great
bee".
Now, the concepts of 'sacred queens' or 'holy drones' may prove far-fetched to the ordinary
beekeeper; but to new age audiences, it's an intriguing vehicle for exploring the world using
images and ideas of bees as the foundation for personal insight and spiritual exploration. Under
this approach, something as basic as observing a queen bee's lure and size translates neatly into
deeper lessons on life that blend beekeeper actions and their consequences with larger
explorations.
As the author learns how to work with and handle bees, so she gains not just confidence but
insights on how the world of the hive works in response to human attitudes as well as internal
processes: "Since then I have never worn a veil or globes, but I am slow and careful with these
wild ones, these lovely honey bees. To get close to beauty, sometimes you just have to take a
risk."
From the unnatural drives of the industrial beekeeping business and its relentless compulsion for
'bigger and better' to the origins of alienation, A Monk in the Bee Hive moves deftly from a
serious of personal, introspective reflections to larger social issues: "With the loss of this
relationship comes a loss of caring. We tend to care for what comforts us. When what comforts
us becomes a gizmo rather than a landscape, then, looking at that landscape, our mind mines it
for parts to make our gizmo with. We stop caring about the landscape, we no longer see it whole.
We are sniffling for the parts."
While hard to neatly define and categorize, the most likely happy reader of this evocative,
spiritual and philosophical natural history will be the new age reader with a prior interest in bees,
Buddhist thinking, or both. Such an audience will appreciate the deeply reflective, yet accessible,
blend of thought and interaction with nature that makes up this exceptional, delicate dance
between beekeeper and bee.
Avoiding the Dodgeballs... at Work
E. Marie
CreateSpace
4900 LaCross Rd., North Charleston, SC 29406
www.avoidingthedodgeballs.com
9781484033951 Paperback -$14.95 Kindle - $2.99
Avoiding the Dodgeballs... at Work: A Young Woman's Guide to Succeeding at a First Job
tackles a topic normally buried in wider-ranging career guides: how to dodge typical problems
that affect young women as they embark on their first climb up the business ladder. It's directed
to entry-level female employees or supervisors and it outlines the exact nature of these common
obstacles and how to either avoid them entirely or work with them.
One might anticipate that the major problem involves harassment or prejudices - and indeed
these underlie many of the issues - but the pleasure of this coverage lies in its candid discussions
of office politics and problems that range from gossip to demotions and confrontations both with
peers and superiors.
Chapters display questions and answers from the fictional 'Katie', the perfect example of a new
employee fielding her first obstacles, and use her responses as a foundation for exploring
everything from fringe benefits and how they are applied to identifying both the mindset and
processes of different kinds of supervisors, managing or coping with not only one's own time but
the work of supervisors and peers, and avoiding coworkers who create toxic environments.
While many of these issues may seem to skirt the edges of common-sense thinking more than
business savvy, it's important to note the audience for Avoiding the Dodgeballs: the new grad
student, the entry-level worker, or the female facing her first obstacles on her first job. This
audience is unlikely to receive such insights from anywhere other than this book and the school
of hard knocks: and given the choice between the two, Avoiding the Dodgeballs should win
hands down.
Add in some black and white cartoon embellishments and a format which is chatty yet
information, breaking topics into segments and visuals and making them readable and easy to
understand, and you have a guide which should be in every women's issues or business and
career collection.
Keep Out of Reach of Children
Mark A. Largent
Bellevue Literary Press
NYU School of Medicine
550 First Avenue, OBV A 612, New York NY 10016
9781934137888 $19.95 www.blpress.org
Keep Out of Reach of Children: Reye's Syndrome, Aspirin, and the Politics of Public Health
discusses a syndrome identified in 1963 as a rare condition that affected healthy children just
recovering from minor illnesses: one that led to death in half the cases, or left survivors
permanently disabled.
Many theories revolved around its causes before a Centers for Disease Control study linked the
syndrome to something quite common in the medicine cabinet: aspirin. Widespread warnings
were issued against pediatric aspirin, but before this explanation was fully researched, Reye's
syndrome vanished.
Keep Out of Reach of Children is the first book to discuss this syndrome, its progression, and the
scientific and social influences on both its investigation, publicity, and health policy actions.
While its history of Reye's is unique, perhaps this book's most important and wider-ranging value
lies in its discussion of how public health policies are formed and influenced.
Author Mark A. Largent is a medical historian whose expertise lies in examining how medicine
interacts with business, politics, and public health entities and interests: his background lends to
a discussion that assimilates information from all these interests and brings them together under
one cover in the course of an investigation into a puzzling condition.
It joins others in the Bellevue Literary Press pathographies series that consider how disease
affects populations both from a medical and a cultural perspective, and it provides close
inspection of the aspirin industry's processes and responses, controversies revolving around
treatments of and research into Reye's syndrome, and how the politics of public health
management can at times work against the very populations it's charged with protecting.
All this contributes to a discussion that is far more than a story of parental interests or threats to
children's health. While its title may attract parents concerned about their children, the true
audience for Keep Out of Reach of Children isn't just for parents, but is a recommendation for
any concerned with public health management, research studies, aspirin and its management, or
the processes of intervention, protection, and research that dictate the choices of public health as
a whole.
What's Your Anger Type?
Dr. Peter Andrew Sacco
Doctorzed Publishing
10 Vista Ave, Skye 5072 South Australia
eBook: 9780980836196 $6.99 www.doctorzed.com
http://www.amazon.com/Whats-Your-Anger-Peter-Sacco-ebook/dp/B004GNECYW/ref=sr_1_1
?ie=UTF8&qid=1421525296&sr=8-1&keywords=9780980836196&pebp=1421525107167&pea
sin=B004GNECYW
There are so many books on anger management on the market today that one might wonder how
What's Your Anger Type? stands out from the crowd; especially since it first appeared in 2010
and has been on the market for a while.
It's important, therefore, to note that this book comes with some authority attached: first of all,
it's not a single individual's story of how they conquered their anger, but comes from a
psychology professor who already has a number of self-help psychology books to his name, as
well as television shows that address various topics.
This book is directed to angry individuals who want a clearer explanation of how thoughts are
linked to anger, and anger to choice and action, and provides a discussion that identifies different
types of anger habits, their motivations and expressions, and how each may be managed.
This sets What's Your Anger Type? apart from others because it doesn't make the presumption
that anger is one emotion in and of itself, but shows how different expressions of anger and
different circumstances surrounding these expressions influence the choices of preference, for
better or for worse. Thus, the act of managing anger becomes more directly linked to the process
of learning to recognize its sources and trigger points in order to provide a better course of action
for directing its results.
Chapters make some important connections between these different kinds of anger choices and
the psychology of individuals who reflect them: "Having worked with individuals with
passive-aggressive anger, I've noticed one particularly interesting trait that most possess: their
inability to get what they really want in life."
Active listening is encouraged and various methods for using it are detailed, while different
audiences are considered when analyzing the origins, impact and results of anger ("The best
parents are those who recognize they are both part of the problem and part of the solution when
they have kids with anger-management problems.").
All this is narrated using a chatty first-person tone blending the authority of a psychologist with
the educational approach of a professor.
The result is an accessible discussion that neatly compliments many others on the topic,
providing a specific game plan for better understanding different types of anger and the
management processes they involve.
The Fans' Love Story Encore
Sue Tabashnik
Passion Spirit Dreams Press
Walled Lake, Michigan
www.likedirtydancing.com
9780989408608 $18.95 www.amazon.com
The Fans' Love Story ENCORE: How the Movie Dirty Dancing Captured the Hearts of Millions!
is a 2013 edition vastly expanded from the original 2010 appearance (to that point that 95% is
brand new material, making this, for the most part, a new book) and includes new tributes,
photos, and interviews that carry on the theme of being a tribute to the movie Dirty Dancing.
Of course, this means that an immediate prerequisite is a prior familiarity with the movie and an
existing affection (perhaps even an infatuation) with its characters, plot, and dancing. Those with
such feelings will find this celebratory text packed with behind-the-scenes information on the
producers, stars, and film team that includes an in-depth interview from producer Linda Gottlieb
about its making, interviews and photos with story consultant and dancer Jackie Horner, and
more.
There are exclusive set photos, there are insider tidbits of tantalizing information (and for more
details, you'll just have to read The Fans' Love Story ENCORE), and a portion of the proceeds
from this book's sale will be donated to the Patrick Swayze Pancreas Cancer Research Fund at
Stanford.
With such motivations for enjoyment in mind, pre-existing fans will find this satisfying even if
they have much familiarity with the film and its production.
Chapters offer articles and interviews from various individuals involved in the film, they pair
black and white with color photos throughout, and they cover everything from dancing
challenges and experts involved in specific scenes to how producers and actors become part of
Dirty Dancing and, later, the cult attractions it fostered.
Any involved in the film-making industry will find this coverage leaves little to the imagination:
even the experiences of extras - something typically omitted from film history books - are
included.
Film history as well as general-interest collections will find this a fascinating, specific overview
of not just how the movie was made, but the process whereby it was marketed to eventually reach
millions of enthusiasts.
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive, Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
http://www.midwestbookreview.com
Diane C. Donovan, Editor & Senior Reviewer
12424 Mill Street, Petaluma, CA 94952
phone: 1-707-795-4629
e-mail: donovan@sonic.net
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