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California Bookwatch
Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
The Routes Not Taken
Joseph B. Raskin
Empire State Editions
c/o Fordham University Press
2546 Belmont Avenue, University Box L, Bronx, NY 10458-5172
www.fordhampress.com
www.empirestateeditions.com
9780823267408, $19.95, www.amazon.com
The Routes Not Taken: A Trip Through New York City's Unbuilt Subway System is a top
recommendation for both transportation and urban history holdings and those which specialize in
New York City history. It discusses transit lines that were never built and how those which did
evolve were modified, including a subway that was envisioned in 1929 but is not slated to open
until next year. From puzzles about choices in demolition or reconstruction of New York systems
to choices in expansion or eliminating blueprint ideas, this is an in-depth survey that will delight
transit buffs across the U.S.
Aldous Huxley's Hands
Allene Symons
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
www.prometheusbooks.com
9781633881167, $18.00, www.amazon.com
It's hard to neatly peg Aldous Huxley's Hands to tie it to a singular genre or audience: perhaps the
subtitle says it all: 'His Quest for Perception and the Origin and Return of Psychedelic Science'.
Prior readers of Huxley's works, new age followers of psychedelics, biography enthusiasts, and
more will find this a curious and wide-ranging blend of neuroscience, historical biography and
new age read which uses interviews, road trips, and family documents to reconstruct the
mid-1950s era in L.A. - a time when Professor Huxley experimented with psychedelics and
advocated using them to treat mental illness. Research and discussions blend in an account which
should be added to any definitive Huxley collection.
The American History Shelf
Excommunicated from the Union
William B. Kurtz
Fordham University Press
2546 Belmont Avenue
University Box L, Bronx, NY 10458-5172
www.fordhampress.com
9780823268863, $35.00, www.amazon.com
Excommunicated from the Union: How the Civil War Created a Separate Catholic America is
recommended for Catholic studies and history holdings alike, and examines Catholic interests
and social and religious sentiments around the time of the Civil War. Many history readers
unfamiliar with this background will be delighted with a survey that provides unusual insights on
how Irish and German Catholics become involved in supporting the Union war effort, contrasting
their experiences and approaches with the calls for religious and political inclusion that
challenged their concepts of faith and social structure. In documenting anti-Catholicism in early
America, this book illustrates the experiences of Catholics who served in a time of upheaval and
who preserved their religious views in the face of challenges to their roles as Americans. From
Catholic opposition to the war to how they remember it, this wide-ranging history is key to any
Civil War collection as well as a recommendation for Catholic studies students.
Carnival in the Countryside
Chris Rasmussen
University of Iowa Press
100 Kuhl House
119 West Park Road, Iowa City, IA 52242-1000
www.uiowapress.org
9781609383572, $27.50, www.amazon.com
Carnival in the Countryside: The History of the Iowa State Fair documents events surrounding
the Midwest state fair experience in general and Iowa in particular, and documents a fair that
attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors a year. More than a singular examination, this considers
connections between entertainment and agriculture, surveys the fair's evolution from the 1800s to
modern times, and considers the social, economic, agricultural and political impact of the fair
upon Iowans and beyond. While obviously this belongs in any Iowa history holding, it also
promises much of interest to any American history collection as well as many devoted to
agricultural topics.
City on a Grid
Gerard Koeppel
Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Book Group
250 W. 57th St., Suite 1500, New York, NY 10107
www.perseusbooksgroup.com
9780306822841, $29.99, www.dacapo.com
City on a Grid: How New York Became New York tells how the street grid of Manhattan was
created in 1811 by a three-man commission whose vision would change the entire region, laying
the grid concept across the island to create the future city. Their plans represented an ambitious
approach that represented the largest grid operation in Western civilization and introduced it to a
city just under two hundred years old. It was ripe for planning - and the plans would influence
city-building for decades to come. With its powerful survey of the politics, urban planning issues,
city-building approaches, and social atmosphere of its times, City on a Grid is not only a 'must'
for any interested in how New York evolved, but for any with a special interest in urban planning
history.
The World History Shelf
Whoppers: History's Most Outrageous Lies and Liars
Christine Seifert
Zest Books
35 Stillman Street, #121, San Francisco, CA 94107
9781936976980, $13.99, www.zestbooks.net
Whoppers: History's Most Outrageous Lies and Liars documents some of the most outrageous,
improbable historical inaccuracies and lies in history; from a man who sold the Eiffel Tower
twice to a talented swindler of corporations to a 1980 marathon 'win' by a woman nobody
recalled seeing run. More than collecting historical whoppers, this book (even more importantly)
documents the rationale behind each lie... and each offers a unique story. The result is a lively
piece that traverses continents and historical record to provide a lively, fun read designed to
appeal to leisure audiences and history buffs alike.
The Science Shelf
The Paradox of Evolution
Stephen Rothman
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
www.prometheusbooks.com
9781633880726, $17.00, www.amazon.com
The Paradox of Evolution: The Strange Relationship Between Natural Selection and
Reproduction considers the contradictions in two basic contentions of Darwin's theory of natural
selection and reproduction, and comes from a scientist who claims that the evolution of life's
systems isn't due to natural selection, but to other factors. Just how logical systems and life
evolved from chaos and the purposes of a survival process that cares nothing for life's persistence
or demise, discussions center around reactions to danger and the power destruction brings to
change. Readers with a penchant for scientific inquiry should ideally read this along with
Darwin's theories, then engage in classroom discussions contrasting the two approaches, making
it a special pick for college-level audiences.
Alfred Wegener
Mott T. Greene
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
www.press.jhu.edu
9781421417127, $44.95, www.amazon.com
Alfred Wegener: Science, Exploration, and the Theory of Continental Drift provides a powerful
blend of science and biography as it tells of a man drawn to fieldwork and its applications to a
variety of disciplines beyond science. He's best known as the author of the theory of continental
drift, which led to the development of modern plate tectonics, but also is less popularly known as
a major contributor to geology, physics, meteorology and other scientific disciplines all while
struggling with economic depression and illness. His insistence on field work would ultimately
kill him; but before it did, he spent decades producing research and results which would
transform many scientific disciplines and ultimately create new ones. Alfred Wegener: Science,
Exploration, and the Theory of Continental Drift should be a mainstay in any serious science
collection and is the first biography to provide an in-depth survey of the man and his many
achievements.
The Music Shelf
Sinister Urge
Joel McIver
Backbeat Books
c/o Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing Group
33 Plymouth Street, Suite 302, Montclair, NJ 07042-2677
www.halleonard.com
9781617136160, $29.99, www.amazon.com
Sinister Urge: The Life and Times of Rob Zombie provides a detailed biography of the heavy
metal musician that only requires an affection for the man or his music to prove interesting.
Zombie kept many aspects of his background and life a close-held secret, so this is the first such
biography to reveal many lesser-known facets of his life and times. Zombie has sold millions of
albums and is still going strong: original research blends with new interviews with
contemporaries to consider his life challenges, successes, musical talents, and his world on and
off stage. The detailed examination of his life's work, which includes his films, makes for a
powerful and revealing music biography that deserves a place on any musician's bookshelf.
The Cookbook Shelf
The Cookbook for Children with Special Needs
Deborah French
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
www.jkp.com
9781849055383, $24.95, www.amazon.com
The Cookbook for Children with Special Needs: Learning a Life Skill with Fun, Tasty, Healthy
Recipes provides a color step-by-step cookbook especially designed for kids with special needs,
and will best be used by parents and kids who want a project they can read through and work on
together. Good-size print and color-coded pages offer exceptionally clear step-by-step cooking
instructions, sidebars that outline the skills needed or taught for each recipe, and include sections
where readers can add their own notes. As it comes from an educator who works with special
needs individuals, it promises an easier format and approach than most children's cookbooks can
offer.
Vegetarian India
Madhur Jaffrey
Alfred A. Knopf
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
www.randomhouse.com
http://knopfdoubleday.com/imprint/knopf
9781101874768, $35.00, www.amazon.com
Vegetarian India: A Journey Through the Best of Indian Home Cooking comes from an Indian
cook who has many, many cookbooks to her name - so many that her cooking has become
synonymous with Indian fare for over forty years. Many of these cookbooks have served as basic
introductions to the country's cuisine, and her latest is no exception, offering a focus on the
vegetarian fare the country is so noted for as a way of life for over 300 million Indians. If you
visit India, the restaurants that advertise 'veg' fare are everywhere and are the rule rather than the
exception, as they are in this country. Jaffrey traverses India from North to South, collecting
recipes from home cooks, shops, and restaurant sources and revealing many family specialties
not to be easily found elsewhere. A prior affection for Indian cuisine will lend to appreciating
this cookbook, packed with over 200 recipes peppered with full-page color photos of dishes and
scenes from Jaffrey's journeys.
Mildreds: The Cookbook
Mildreds Restaurant
Mitchell Beazle
c/o Octopus Publishing
236 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.octopusbooksusa.com
9781784720308, $29.99, www.amazon.com
Mildreds: The Cookbook comes from a London vegetarian restaurant acclaimed for their
innovations since 1988, which has been serving budget-friendly fare for several decades. Here
are a hundred recipes that mix in vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free options and offer recipes that
are quick to make, flavorful, and which can be adapted for meals including meat. These often use
special ingredients, such as quinoa or capers to pomegranate syrup; so access to a well-stocked
market would be one prerequisite to success. From a Warm Ruby and Golden Beet Salad
flavored with date syrup, blood oranges, hazelnuts and homemade cheese to Italian Tomato,
Eggplant and Black Olive Burgers with various seasonings, this is filled with dishes not to be
found elsewhere, and is simply a delight.
Fermented
Charlotte Pike
Kyle
192 - 198 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London, England, SW1V 1DX
www.kylebooks.com
National Book Network (distributor)
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.nbnbooks.com
9781909487376, $24.95, www.amazon.com
Fermented: A Beginner's Guide to Making Your Own Sourdough, Yogurt, Sauerkraut, Kefir,
Kimchi, and More is a recommendation for any home cook who enjoys experimenting with new
dishes, and who would like to hone the craft of fermentation with the goal of incorporating its
healthy benefits into home cooking. Other books have been written on the subject but usually
offer a more singular focus (on beer brewing, for example; or sourdough breads): this one
expands the recipes to all kinds of fermentation with an international focus. Cooks may be
surprised to learn there are no special skills or equipment involved in home-fermented foods,
either. A liberal dose of full-page color photos compliments chapters on fruits and vegetables,
legumes, breads, and more, and also includes recipes on how to use the fermented results,
making this a winning, wide-ranging discussion.
Italy from the Source
Sarah Barrell
Lonely Planet Publications
150 Linden Street, Oakland CA 94607
www.lonelyplanet.com
9781743607619, $24.99, www.amazon.com
Italy from the Source: Authentic Recipes from the People That Know Them Best comes not from
the usual approach (family traditions or a personal collection), but from street food vendors,
chefs, and Italians who have invented their own dishes by adapting classics or creating new fare.
This means that stews, pasta, and desserts receive introductions that include full-page photos of
their creators as well as the finished dish, and descriptions that discuss how the creator worked to
improve upon or create a specialty. With its focus on Italian culture as well as food, Italy From
the Source represents a different kind of culinary exploration and is a compelling addition to any
cookbook collection.
Precious Cargo
Dave Dewitt
Counterpoint Press
1919 Fifth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710-1916
www.counterpointpress.com
9781619026025, $18.95, www.amazon.com
Precious Cargo: How Foods from the Americas Changed the World traces how western
hemisphere foods spread around the world and changed it, offering a narrowed focus on
American foods and crops and arranging everything by type of food. This is no light read for
casual foodies, but a serious history that embraces the sciences of botany, zoology, and more,
considering political influences, agricultural developments, national obsessions over new foods,
and more. Add full-page color photos and botanical illustrations throughout and you have a
powerfully appealing survey.
Saveur: Italian Comfort Food
Editors of Saveur
Weldon Owen, Inc.
415 Jackson Street, San Francisco, CA 94111
www.weldonowen.com
9781616289645, $35.00, www.amazon.com
Saveur: Italian Comfort Food packs in over a hundred recipes for Italian dishes that blend
traditional comfort food favorites with new ideas, and is recommended for any who would
produce fare from scratch. From a Ricotta Gnocchi with Olives, Capers & Tomatoes rich in a
heartier dumpling result to Lemon-Rosemary Risotto or a pancetta and herb-stuffed veal breast,
these explore some of the staples of Italian cuisine and will especially delight relative newcomers
who want to cook Italian fare that is basic and hearty, and who enjoy color photos of finished
dishes.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Dead to the Last Drop
Cleo Coyle
Berkeley Prime Crime
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
www.us.penguingroup.com
9780425276099, $26.95, www.amazon.com
Dead to the Last Drop provides a new coffeehouse mystery that adds recipes into the mix of
intrigue, and is recommended reading for mystery fans who enjoy coffee and food. Newcomers
to Coyle's series and old fans alike will find this latest involves master roaster Clare's
involvement in a White House wedding, where she discovers a host of secrets brewing that
complicates her visit to the nation's capital. As her new coffee venture struggles to earn a profit
in DC, she discovers a plot and her nose for murder senses something more troublesome than
caffeine addiction; especially when a State Department employee collapses in her coffeehouse.
Murder, intrigue, and the scent of something deliciously complex brewing: these are the elements
that make Dead to the Last Drop the perfect winter mystery choice: warm and rich in character
and content.
Poisoned Pen Press
6962 E. First Ave., #103, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
www.poisonedpenpress.com
Eric Reed's The Guardian Stones (9781464205019, $26.95) is set in 1941, when children
evacuated to a remote small village to escape the Blitz begin to vanish. Retired American
professor Edwin Carpenter is studying standing stones and when he discovers bloody clothing in
the forest, he concludes that the vanished children are more then runaways. Thus begins an
investigation conducted by his daughter Grace and filled with social and political possibilities.
Are the Germans behind the vanishings? Can the prehistoric stone circle above the town be
involved? As evidence points to no clear path of resolution, Grace and Edwin run full force into
prejudice against Americans and a mystery steeped in impossible circumstances. Vasudev
Murthy's Sherlock Holmes The Missing Years: Timbuktu (9781464204524, $26.95) picks up
where Holmes' death at the Reichenbach Falls with his nemesis Moriarty leaves off, and tells of a
story in which Dr. Watson knows the truth, and of a period between 1891 to 1894 when Holmes
was dead to the world. When an Italian scholar looks for Holmes' help in locating half of an
ancient parchment and its secret, Holmes fakes his death at the Falls and then moves undercover
to one of the greatest mysteries in his career. Those interested in Holmes tales will find this a
satisfying account holding many twists and turns.
The Audiobook Shelf
Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
www.hachetteaudio.com
James Patterson's Cross Justice (9781478928041, $35.00) is narrated by Ruben Santiago Hudson
and Jefferson Mays, and continues the Alex Cross thriller series by returning Cross to his roots
when a cousin has been accused of a terrible murder and Cross brings his entire family to North
Carolina for the first time in decades. Far from getting a welcome wagon, Cross finds that the
atmosphere in his home town has changed vastly; and it's up to him to find out why - and to
absolve his cousin of a terrible crime. His journey will involve elusive truths, terrible dangers,
and a case that will challenge everything he believes in. Both newcomers and prior fans will find
this a vivid audio thriller. Julie Checkoway's The Three-Year Swim Club (9781619693845,
$30.00) is narrated by Alex Chadwick, who lends a compelling and clear voice to the story of a
1937 schoolteacher in Maui who challenges a group of poor plantation kids to become Olympic
swimmers against all odds. These Japanese-American children were malnourished and had no
pool: they trained in plantation irrigation ditches and were destined not for the Olympics, but to
become field workers. How they changed their destinies against all odds and during the
anti-Japanese prejudices of the late 1930s makes for a compelling, inspirational story that comes
alive in audio. Robert Galbraith's Career of Evil (9781478962663, $40.00) is narrated by Robert
Glenister and provides a Cormoran strike novel that opens with a chiller: a mysterious package
contains a woman's severed leg. P.I. Cormoran Strike has an idea of who could be behind the
horrific shipment; but his ideas run contrary to police investigations and so he and his assistant
Robin find themselves again on the hunt for an impossibly elusive perp. Personal interactions
and professional savvy clash in a suspense mystery that is hard to stop listening to. Dennis
McNally edits and introduces Jerry on Jerry: The Unpublished Jerry Garcia Interviews
(9781478931669, $30.00), an audio production which includes a .pdf of photos and artwork in its
hours of Garcia conversations. Of course, a prior affection for the Grateful Dead and Jerry Garcia
is required in order to appreciate this audio, which discusses everything from Garcia's youth in
the San Francisco Bay Area and his early obsession with music to his opinions about
mind-altering drugs and the government. Those with such a prior affection - and even those with
extensive Jerry Garcia biographies and information - will find these audio interviews something
special, and a 'must' collection addition. Michael Connelly's The Crossing (9781619696224,
$40.00) returns Detective Harry Bosch to the forefront, even though he's retired from the LAPD,
when his defense attorney brother needs help with a case. Actor Titus Welliver provides a
powerful reading of this thriller, which documents a woman's brutal murder, evidence that points
to the wrong person, and the challenges to Bosch's entire career and perceptions of his
contributions of some thirty years as a homicide cop. And when Bosch takes the case against his
better judgment, courtroom and street intrigue evolve to lead him into a complex cat-and-mouse
game with a killer who actually has Bosch on his radar. The powerful saga comes to life in audio
and is especially recommended for prior Bosch fans who will find this latest thriller even more
complex and revealing. Rene Auberjonois narrates Preston and Child's latest novel Crimson
Shore (9781478960317, $40.00), a rollicking adventure that comes to life under the voice of a
narrator whose credits include regular television roles on major productions such as Star Trek
Deep Space Nine and Boston Legal. Those familiar with such productions will readily recognize
his strong voice, which lends a compelling element to the saga of a special agent's case which
turns into an Indiana Jones-style adventure. What begins as a sojourn to a quaint New England
village to investigate a wine collection's theft turns into something more as a skeleton emerges
and the entire town becomes suspect and reveals its dark history. A powerful story emerges with
the signature twists and turns that have made Preston and Child such notable thriller authors in
the past.
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
The Soul of Ancient Egypt
Robert Bauval and Ahmed Osman
Bear & Company
c/o Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
www.innertraditions.com
www.bearandcompanybooks.com
9781591431862, $18.00, www.amazon.com
The Soul of Ancient Egypt: Restoring the Spiritual Engine of the World belongs in any new age
collection revolving around ancient mysteries and models that influenced the ancient world of
Egypt, and comes from authors who analyze different phases of Egyptian history from early
times to its Christian and Arab influences. Chapters provide evidence that Egypt has faced
ongoing Islamization pressures beginning with the 7th century and continuing to modern times in
an organized effort to wipe out the country's spiritual history and knowledge of its role as the
source of the Western Mystery tradition. The authors make a good case for a return to the origins
of Egyptian belief systems in a new age discussion key to any discussion of Egyptian
spirituality.
Sacred Dung
John D. Duncan
Austin Brothers Publishing
3616 Sutter Court, Fort Worth, TX 76137
www.austinbrotherspublishing.com
9780996428545, $14.95, www.amazon.com
Sacred Dung: Grace to Turn Bad Things Into Good Things is the third in the author's "Sacred
Trilogy" to take common experiences in a believer's life and examine them for their underlying
spiritual meaning. It comes from a pastor and father devoted to locating and using the sacred in
everyday life: his book covers what can be gained from closely considering what he calls the
"dung of life" for its hidden jewels, and its focus will help the everyday, ordinary spiritual reader
undercover God's messages and meanings in the most unusual places.
The Education Shelf
Paying for College Without Going Broke
Kalman A. Chany with Geoff Martz
The Princeton Review
c/o Random House Inc.
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
www.PrincetonReview.com
9781101881972, $21.99, www.amazon.com
Paying for College Without Going Broke appears in an updated 2016 edition to cover the latest
strategies for paying less for college, from new financial aid eligibility to reducing college costs
overall. This is no single path but assesses a wide range of cost-reducing strategies, from
understanding inheritance issues and problems to realizing how assets and liabilities are joined
when it comes to financial aid applications. From reducing potential problems in qualifying and
gaining aid to assessing the real costs of a college education and logical areas to cut, this is a
reference every college-bound student and their parents will need.
Supporting New Teachers
Lynn F. Howard
Corwin Press, Inc.
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320-2218
www.corwinpress.com
9781483375007, $25.00, www.amazon.com
Supporting New Teachers: A How-To Guide for Leaders provides a basic set of directions
designed to help leaders support the efforts of new teachers, addressing the problem of some fifty
percent of new teachers leaving the discipline within the first five years. Studies show that
paperwork demands and isolation contribute to the exodus, but so does lack of administrative
support. This manual offers information on the types of support that make a difference, gathering
stories from the field with discussions of how administrators can make a difference in new
teacher success. Any in a position to help will find this filled with specific ideas for
improvement.
Taming the Data Monster
Christine Reeve, PhD, BCBA-D
Susan Kabot, EdD, CCC-SLP
AAPC Publishing
11209 Strang Line Rd., Lenexa, KS 66215
www.aapcpublishing.net
9781942197072, $40.95, www.amazon.com
Taming the Data Monster: Collecting and Analyzing Classroom Data to Improve Student
Progress tackles the issues surrounding data used to track student progress, and provides an
in-depth resource to adapting data collection systems to different teaching situations for different
ages and objectives. Educators will benefit from a comparison of such systems and methods used
to analyze their data, and will find overviews, product discussions, applications, and analysis
applies to both academic and behavioral skills alike, making for a solid and highly recommended
reference.
The Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Snakes of the Southeast
Whit Gibbons and Mike Dorcas
University of Georgia Press
Main Library, Third Floor
320 South Jackson Street, Athens, Georgia 30602
www.ugapress.org
9780820349015, $28.95, www.amazon.com
Snakes of the Southeast appears in a revised edition to profile over fifty kinds of snakes found in
the Southeast corner of the country, which holds nearly half of all native North American species.
Over 300 color photos accompany information by two herpetologists who provide an account
packed with new photos, new research, new species discoveries, and new maps outlining
distribution. It can be used as a basic field guide (though the size belays its use as a pocket field
tote) or as a library reference, packing in charts and keys to identification along with descriptions
of habitat and natural history. Add a conservation discussion throughout and you have a key
acquisition recommended for any collection strong in Southeast herpetology.
Drug Therapy for Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat
Valerie J. Wiebe
Wiley Blackwell
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148
www.wiley.com/wiley-blackwell
9781118557341, $59.99, www.amazon.com
Drug Therapy for Infectious Diseases of the Dog and Cat provides a quick reference guide for
treating infectious diseases in the two, and has been designed for instant access whether readers
are searching by organism or drugs. This makes it a particularly strong recommendation for
clinics, pairing the basics principles with details on different kinds of therapy options an
alphabetic arrangement of organisms and agents, and drug reference alike. From diagnosis and
dosages to risk factors and resources for further reading in professional veterinary publications,
all the guidelines and details are written with clinical settings in mind, making this a top office
pick.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
Pharmacology Applications
Bob Elling, MPA, EMT-P
Kristen M. Elling, BS, EMT-P
Jones & Bartlett Learning
5 Wall Street, Burlington, MA 01803
www.jblearning.com
9781284098440, $118.95, www.amazon.com
This revised first edition of a pharmacology reference is a highly recommended pick for any
interested in ALS treatment through pharmacologic intervention, and provides health students
with a detailed discussion of medications, intervention options, and the types of conditions that
require quick pharmacologic intervention. Case studies blend with facts and questions for review
and critical thinking in a guide that includes skill drills, safety tips, basic health and physiology
discussions, and reviews of medication dosages and indicators, including a complete formulary
reference in an appendix. The result is a solid reference, highly recommended for any
college-level EMT course or students in various health disciplines with a specific interested in
intervention techniques and the latest research.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
The Sword of the South
David Weber
Baen Books
PO Box 1188, Wake Forest NC 27588
www.baen.com
9781476780849, $27.00, www.amazon.com
The Sword of the South comes from a best-selling author who presents a vivid saga of a warrior
who doesn't recall his past, and only has the scars - and the skills - to indicate that he once was a
fighter. Add to Kenhodan's predicament the presence of a powerful wizard who holds answers he
won't reveal, a champion who faces a final confrontation with Kontovar, and a wide array of evil
sorcerers, demons, and more, and you have a powerful saga of struggle and survival against even
impossible odds such as lack of knowledge of the past.
The Technology Shelf
Engineering Speaking by Design
Edward J. Rothwell and Michael J. Cloud
CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487
www.crcpress.com
9781498705776, $49.99 PB, $47.45 Kindle, www.amazn.com
Engineering Speaking by Design: Delivering Technical Presentations with Real Impact focuses
on engineering presentations and their common issues: engineers typically don't enjoy public
speaking and don't know how to deliver their knowledge to audiences who may not have their
level of expertise. Audiences often complain, therefore, that engineering presentations are boring
and confusing. This book focuses on oral technical presentation skills that will help these
situations, providing engineers with directions supported by examples and outlining the common
causes of communication failures and how to develop better audience rapport. Chapters discuss
technical terms and requirements for importing information with an eye to appealing to the
engineer's approach to problem-solving, couching public speaking routines in ways that
engineers will understand. The result should be in any collection where engineers are
readers.
The International Studies Shelf
Contemporary China: Between Mao and Market
Francois Godement
Rowman & Littlefield
c/o Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.rowman.com
9781442225381, $85.00 HC, $30.00 PB, $28.50 Kindle, www.amazon.com
Contemporary China: Between Mao and Market belongs in current events, China affairs and
political science collections alike as it provides an overview of modern Chinese society from an
international scholar who narrows the focus to the country's last few decades of events. From its
changing policies (both internally and externally) to the most recent events affecting its foreign
policy and relationships, chapters offer many behind-the-scenes insights into how decisions are
made, the state of political and social reforms and sentiments, and what's really happening in
modern China. The result is a handbook designed to serve as a discussion point, with Europe's
leading China expert providing a hard-hitting assessment of where the nation has been and where
it's heading, and why.
The Business Shelf
Recipe for Success
Abigail Steinberg
Amacom Books
1601 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
www.amacombooks.org
9780814436866, $18.95, www.amazon.com
Recipe for Success: An Insider's Guide to Bringing Your Natural Food to Market is a pick for
entrepreneurs, gardeners, farmer-growers who seek to market their own produce, and for any who
would understand the business basics of marketing natural foods. Whether you're contemplating
a family rub or spice mixture or a canned product or growing fresh foods, this book reveals the
strategies and approaches of the natural products market, teaching how to analyze the potential
for success, how to handle FDA regulations and other natural industry requirements, how to
understand and develop relationships with distributors, and more. There's a wealth of information
packed into this book which address both wholesale and retail concerns, making it an invaluable
guide for any who contemplate bringing their natural product into the marketplace, protecting its
rights, and branding its name.
Getting Beyond Better
Roger L. Martin and Sally R. Osberg
Harvard Business Review Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
http://hbr.org/books
9781633690684, $30.00, www.amazon.com
Getting Beyond Better: How Social Entrepreneurship Works comes from a business strategy
leader who surveys how social entrepreneurs work, changing target systems to revolutionary new
organizations. These leaders may be called visionaries or may be viewed as destructive: their
goals are to develop and tailor solutions in new ways that links business pursuits to transforming
the world for greater good, and this discussion offers a theory of social entrepreneurship that
takes historical precedent and business case studies and uses them to create an overall framework
for social change.
The Computer Shelf
Designing the Requirements
Chris Britton
Addison Wesley
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.mcp.com
9780134021218, $39.99, www.informit.com/aw
Designing the Requirements: Building Applications That the User Wants and Needs considers
why some software applications are inferior, identifying core problems in development and
requirements and how design, when applied to these requirements, improves the overall result.
It's one thing to say that such is needed; but Britton goes beyond admonishment to consider the
specifics of what constitutes good or bad design solutions, showing how to apply
engineering-style design analysis to plan for superior results. From improved user interfaces and
better database management and access systems to designing frameworks that embrace both
components and individual processes, this teaches better design practices at all project levels.
The attention to detail on what makes various designs superior will please any software architect
or project manager who want keys to better user-focused designs.
The Sports Shelf
Conditioning Young Athletes
Tudor Bompa, PhD and Michael Carrera
Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc.
PO Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61820-5076
www.HumanKinetics.com
9781492503095, $23.95, www.amazon.com
Conditioning Young Athletes is one of the most important references a sports or education
collection could acquire, and documents the most proven effective exercises and programs that
hone young athlete speed, strength, and agility. Coaches, parents and teachers alike will find it
synthesizes the best training advise and programs, advocating establishing a foundation of fitness
first, then incorporating specific exercises tailored for youth to prove training plans and specific
sports objectives, from baseball and football to ice hockey and swimming. The result is a top
guide packed with all the evidence-supported research and strategies that sports educators could
wish for: a 'must have' for any serious athletic program.
The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf
Still in the Saddle
Andrew Patrick Nelson
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
www.oupress.com
9780806148212, $19.95, www.amazon.com
Still in the Saddle: The Hollywood Western, 1969-1980 offers a top pick for any fan of the
western who wants a new history not of the roots and old shows of the film genre, but a
contemporary survey of the Hollywood Western in the 1970s, when filmmakers sought to revive
the genre with new productions. It provides an in-depth chronological filmography of releases
from 1969 to 1980, focusing on those reworked from the 1930s to modern times, and it offers a
different approach to the history of the evolutionary stages of the Hollywood Western, making it
a satisfying acquisition for any film collection interested in the genre.
The Only Woman in the Room
Rita Lakin
Applause Books
c/o Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing Group
19 West 21st Street, Suite 201, New York, NY 10010
www.applausebooks.com
9781495014055, $29.99, www.amazon.com
The Only Woman in the Room: Episodes in My Life and Career as a Television Writer comes
from a long-time television industry writer whose career spans several decades, bringing her into
contact with hundreds of show business celebrities from Dick Van Dyke and Cary Grant to more.
It's not surprising that her name remains relatively unknown even as theirs are famous: while her
writings received top billing, their author did not. It's about time her autobiography appeared to
correct this omission: Lakin's journey to become one of the most respected television writers in
the business came at a time when women were not viewed as business models; and her efforts
paved the way for women for generations to come. Her observations embrace both TV writing
and women's rights, making for a solid, thought-provoking read.
Andy & Don
Daniel de Vise
Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl., New York, NY 10020
www.simonandschuster.com
9781476747736, $26.00, www.amazon.com
Andy & Don: The Making of a Friendship and a Classic American TV Show is authored by Don
Knotts' brother-in-law and offers an insider's view of the series and its evolution. Andy Griffith
and Don Knotts and their show are widely known, but this book delves well behind the scenes in
showing how material was written, how actors made choices in their portrayal of rural Mayberry
events, and most of all, how the relationship between the two fueled an enduring work of
American television. Unpublished interviews with those closest to Knotts and Griffith
accompany a history of the social culture surrounding these men and the show, and chronicles a
life-long friendship. The spirited biography will be of interest to any who cultivate an affection
for the series and its actors.
The Photography Shelf
Rarely Seen
National Geographic
National Geographic Press
1145 17th Street N.W., Washington, DC, 20036-4688
www.nationalgeographic.com/books
9781426215612, $40.00, www.amazon.com
Rarely Seen gathers some of the most stunning nature photos from the pages of National
Geographic, charting rare animals, landscapes, and eye-popping images from around the world;
but be forewarned: some of these images - such as the cover photo - may only be accessible
through the pages of this book. So travelers who want to use it as a guide for visiting far-away
places in search of such personal encounters may be disappointed because many of these images
are once-in-a-lifetime captures, while others - such as the cover photo - lie on private property
behind locked doors, inaccessible to the ordinary adventurer or photographer. These cautions in
mind, Rarely Seen is an exquisite gathering worthy of coffee table addition!
Portraiture Unleashed
Travis Gadsby
Amherst Media
175 Rano Street, Suite 200, Buffalo, NY 14207-2176
www.amherstmedia.com
978108959419, $34.95, www.amazon.com
Portraiture Unleashed: 60 Powerful Design Ideas for Knockout Images presents an inviting book
designed to spark creative impetus and lead photographers to move from routine and everyday
results to extraordinary presentations. From props, clothing, and new locations to styling ideas
and results that elevate artistic results, this offers something different to the portrait
photographer, packing in color photo examples that clearly show the difference between
ordinary, predictable options and extraordinary results.
The Military Shelf
Eisenhower's Armies
Niall Barr
Pegasus Books
80 Broad Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10004
www.pegasusbooks.us
9781605988160, $35.00, www.amazon.com
Eisenhower's Armies: The American-British Alliance During World War II offers an in-depth
and engrossing study of the relationship between Britain and the U.S. from 1941 to 1945: a
puzzling affair that embraced personal relationships, international politics, alliances in political
circles on both sides, and more. Where many other studies adopt a singular approach in the
process, this wider-reaching examination delves into the relationship between British and
American armies themselves throughout the conflict, considering strategic decisions,
command-level interactions, and the experiences of ordinary soldiers alike. The result is a
powerful survey that succeeds where others fail: in pinpointing the underlying influences,
controversies, and struggles made on both sides during World War II. No military history
collection should be without this.
The Biography Shelf
My Name is Mahtob
Mahtob Mahmoody
Thomas Nelson Publishers
PO Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214
www.thomasnelson.com
9780718022106, $24.99, www.amazon.com
Any who were captivated by Betty Mahmoody's Not Without My Daughter will be thrilled to
find that daughter has produced her own story of living without a father, but with his constant
dangerous possibilities, in My Name is Mahtob. Positively riveting are the memories of a child
who was trapped in Iran and her escape at an early age with her mother in a dangerous mountain
journey; but even more than her memories of her past is the gripping saga of how she leads her
life since then. Mahtob's father always worked to get her back, and Mahtob fiercely defends her
right not to see him even as she lives her life in America. Her spiritual growth, her struggles with
lupus, and her determination to not just survive but thrive makes for an important story of
childhood survival that addresses many issues of children from broken families who struggle to
evade the clutches of controlling parents.
I Am Evelyn Amony
Evelyn Amony
University of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe Street, Third Floor, Madison, WI 53711-2059
www.uwpress.wisc.edu
9780299304942, $26.95, www.amazon.com
I Am Evelyn Amony is a powerful memoir that belongs not just in collections strong in memoirs
and autobiography; but in libraries offering women's studies, African studies, and military
accounts. The author was one of 60,000 children abducted by the violent African rebel group the
Lord's Resistance Army. Forced to be a wife to a LRA leader after her capture in Uganda, Amony
returned home after eleven years to find her experiences had created a stigma for her and her
children. Her pursuit of a new life as a human rights advocate against all odds makes her account
a powerful story of how war affects women, and how they can gain real freedom against all odds.
Even readers who know little about African politics and social issues will find I Am Evelyn
Amony riveting and accessible.
The Gardening Shelf
Hydroponics for the Home Grower
Howard M. Resh
CRC Press
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487
www.crcpress.com
9781482239256, $29.95 PB, $26.17 Kindle, www.amazon.com
Hydroponics for the Home Grower is recommended for agriculture and home gardening
collections and offers a specific focus on hydroponics systems and their positive attributes. An
introduction covers how hydroponics evolved, while discussions specific to growing vegetables
and herbs in a home or backyard greenhouse environment consider how hydroponic systems
operate and assess different systems that may be purchased or built by the home grower. Also
included are insights on crop selection, seeding, maintaining a hydroponics habitat, and more.
The result is a reference that can be used by any home grower more than casually interested in
the benefits and process of creating a hydroponics system.
The California Shelf
The Forgotten Governor
John Willis
Langdon Street Press
322 1st Avenue N, Suite 500, Minneapolis, MN 55401
9781634137270, $21.95, www.langdonstreetpress.com
The Forgotten Governor: Fernando de Rivera and the Opening of Alta California is especially
recommended for California history holdings seeking studies based on primary source materials.
In this case, such collections are in for a special treat; because The Forgotten Governor is no
rehash of information but retells California's early history based partly upon Rivera's newly
translated journals, which provide different insights and perspectives on history. It blends a
biography with a California history and reviews accounts of Spanish and Native American
interactions and different intersections of colonization and tribal and white man encounters in the
area, and includes translations of letters between Rivera and Father Serra. The result is a unique
presentation offering much original source material not available elsewhere: a 'must' for any
collection serious about California history.
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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