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California Bookwatch

Volume 4, Number 11 November 2009 Home | CALBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Fiction Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Education Shelf Judicial Studies Shelf Automotive Shelf
Social Issues Shelf International Studies Shelf Criminology Shelf
Judaic Studies Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Business Shelf
Jobs/Careers Shelf Money/Finance Shelf Biography Shelf
Political Science Shelf Psychology Shelf Needlecraft Shelf
Technology Shelf Cookbook Shelf Fashion Shelf
Art Shelf Sports Shelf Audiobook Shelf
Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf Self-Help Shelf
Health/Medicine Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf
Photography Shelf Travel Shelf Crafts Shelf
Woodworking Shelf Christian Studies Shelf Military Shelf
Interior Design Shelf Architecture Shelf Music Shelf
Environmental Studies Shelf Science Shelf Computer Shelf
Antiques/Collectibles Shelf Literary Shelf Railroading Shelf
American History Shelf 2010 Calendar Shelf Humor Shelf
California Shelf    


Reviewer's Choice

Flags of the World
Sylvie Bednar
Abrams
115 W. 18th St., New York NY 10011
9780810980105, $19.95 www.abramsyoungreaders.com

While this is under Abrams' children's label, FLAGS OF THE WORLD is reviewed here for its attraction to any reference library and to all ages. It reviews colors, patterns, designs and evolutions of flags around the world, offering a survey of each nation's flag and its history. A fine 'must have' for any reference section strong in world geography and cultures.

The Vincent in the Barn
Tom Cotter
Motorbooks,
c/o Quayside Publishing Group
400 First Avenue North, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55401
9780760335352, $26.00 www.motorbooks.com

THE VINCENT IN THE BARN: GREAT STORIES OF MOTORCYCLE ARCHAEOLOGY is for any motorcycle enthusiast or collector and for libraries catering to them: it tells stories of old bikes left in garages and abandoned in barns, that are worth a fortune. The author writes regularly for Road & Track Magazine and has a long love for motorcycle and auto rescue: his stories are lively and fun!

Cruisers
Jonny Fuego and Michael Ames
Gibbs Smith, Publisher
PO Box 667, Layton UT 84041
9781423602675, $21.99 www.gibbs-smith.com

CRUISERS isn't about boats: it explores the history and evolution of bicycle cruising, offering an insider's look at the design and history of the latest cruiser bicycle styles and designs and tells how people can transform their own bikes to cruiser style. From trendy bike fashions over the decades to color photos of exceptional and different styles, CRUISERS is an outstanding presentation any general-interest library will find appealing.

Get Me Out of Here!
David Jacobson
Running Press
2300 Chestnut St., Philadelphia PA 19103
076242916X, $12.95 www.runningpress.com

GET ME OUT OF HERE! EXIT STRATEGIES FOR ALL OCCASIONS doesn't just cover business: it covers personal life as well, and covers everything from avoiding small talk on the bus or at the office Christmas Party to avoiding a one-night stand potential, and honing the art of politely saying, "I've got to go now". Very highly recommended for any general lending library!

Building a Home With My Husband
Rachel Simon
Dutton
c/o Penguin Publishing Group
375 Hudson, New York NY 10014
9780525951209, $24.95 www.penguin.com

Building a Home With My Husband: A Journey Through the Renovation of Love tells of a couple who decide to renovate their charming but small, dark home. Author Rachel Simon finds the job involves forcing her to confront memories, and repair problems with those closest to her. From changed friendships to family relationships, the process of re-examination comes to light in the context of a fine survey of a passionate project. Any general lending library will find this a lively read.

The Slippery Year
Melanie Gideon
Alfred A. Knopf
c/o Random House
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, NY, NY 10019
9780307270672, $24.95 www.aaknopf.com

THE SLIPPERY YEAR: A MEDITATION ON HAPPILY EVER AFTER provides a blend of autobiography and fun meditation of a year in the author's life in which she confronts fading youth and the realities of midlife with a family. Her search to find passion, beauty and happiness midway through life makes for a revealing, passionate survey and is inviting reading for any general library's patron.

Bicycle Diaries
David Byrne
Viking
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
9780670021147, $25.95 www.penguin.com

BICYCLE DIARIES comes from musician and visual artist David Byrne, who has been riding a bike as his main means of transport in New York City - and who began taking folding bikes around the world when traveling. His observations of his encounters with people around the world include thoughts on culture, globalization, and new ways cities are becoming more bike-friendly, and make this a powerful guide!

Say Everything
Scott Rosenberg
Crown
c/o The Crown Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, #B1, New York, NY 10019-4305
9780307451361, $26.00 www.crownpublishing.com

SAY EVERYTHING: HOW BLOGGING BEGAN, WHAT IT'S BECOMING, AND WHY IT MATTERS offers a history of blogging's rise and triumph, consider its impact on political, social, business and personal lives and providing close-ups of Blogger founders and innovators who pioneered the industry. Chapters discuss pre- and post-blogging environments with an eye to revealing how society has changed because of them.

Got Sun? Go Solar, second edition
Rex A. Ewing and Doug Pratt
PixyJack Press
Box 149, Masonville, CO 80541
9780977372461, $20.00 www.PixyjackPress.com

GOT SUN? GO SOLAR offers homes on the grid many options for getting off the grid in an updated, expanded new second edition. Any library appealing to homeowners interested in alternative residential solar energy will find this a fine pick: easy to read, packed with information related in a non-technical manner, and offering tips on how grid-connected homeowners can make good future energy decisions.

Exposed!
Henri Broch
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218
9780801892462, $24.95 www.press.jhu.edu

EXPOSED! OUIJA, FIREWALKING, AND OTHER GIBBERISH tackles science vs. pseudoscience, debunking popular perceptions of paranormal phenomenon and deconstructing contentions to explore the roots of 'pseudoscience'. His scientific explanation for psychic or supernatural tricks and twists makes for a fine survey not just of these 'facts' but of the process of scientific investigation, proof and fallacy. A pick for both science and general libraries - particularly at the high school level.

How Not to Act Old
Pamela Redmond Satran
Harper
9780061771309, $14.99 www.harpercollins.com

HOW NOT TO ACT OLD covers everything from 'old-people entertainment' to 'old-people communication', surveying the typical habits, viewpoints, and cultural differences that separate generations and representing 'old' habits and styles of thinking. From accepting tattoos to typing with thumbs, this is packed with observations and 'new' habits!

Domestic Violence Sourcebook, third edition
Joyce Brennfleck Shannon, Editor
Omnigraphics
Box 31-1640, Detroit, MI 48231-1640
9780780810389, $93.00 www.omnigraphics.com

The third edition of DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SOURCEBOOK provides the latest, updated information about the physical, mental and social effects of violence experienced by all segments of society, from elders and teens to partners and parents. Facts about types of abuse are provided along with information about prevention and guidelines for intervention and safety. A fine reference any general lending library needs.


The Fiction Shelf

That Old Cape Magic
Richard Russo
Alfred A. Knopf
c/o Random House
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
www.randomhouse.com
9780375414961, $25.95 www.aaknopf.com

Griffin has been driving around with his father's ashes in his car for nearly a year, and as this novel opens he's driving down to Cape Cod to celebrate the marriage of their daughter Laura's best friend. The cape is where they honeymooned thirty years ago - and all their dreams at the time have come true, since. Now he's lost - and a wedding is bringing him back home. THAT OLD CAPE MAGIC is romance at its best and provides an outstanding lending library pick.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Valley of the Lost
Vicki Delany
Poisoned Pen Press
6962 E. First Ave. #103, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
9781590585955, $24.95 www.poisonedpenpress.com

In a Canadian mountain town a young woman is discovered dead of a heroin overdose, her baby at her side. But the death may not be entirely accidental - and a growing investigation brings personal conflict for Probationary Constable Molly Smith and Sergeant John Winters. Who was the victim? A drug deal turns into something more dangerous in this riveting novel perfect for any mystery collection.

The Silent Spirit
Margaret Coel
Berkeley Prime Crime
375 Hudson, New York NY 10014
9780425229767, $24.95 www.penguin.com

THE SILENT SPIRIT is a Wind River mystery certain to appeal to fans of Tony Hillerman, who adds his endorsement to this riveting story of the great-grandson of an AWOL Indian whose people believe had abandoned his new wife and unborn son. Newly released from prison, grandson Kiki is determined to uncover the truth behind his great-grandfather's disappearance - and his search will lead to his death and new probe into a near-forgotten mystery. Any mystery collection will find this engrossing.

The Bordeaux Betrayal
Ellen Crosby
Pocket Books
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
9781439112380, $6.99 www.simonandschuster.com

THE BORDEAUX BETRAYAL is a fine pick for any interested in a wine-based murder mystery. A verbal brawl with a noted wine critic results in murder and involves Lucie and a priceless wine's questionable background in this fine thriller, recommended for any mystery library.


The Education Shelf

Creative Strategies to Transform School Culture
John F. Eller and Sheila Eller
Corwin Press
2455 Teller Rd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
9781412961189 $28.95 www.corwinpress.com

School culture is one of the key factors affecting student and staff performance, and this celebration emphasizes the main components of that culture, allowing school leaders to go directly to sections of specific interest. From fostering personal rapport to developing collaborative work relationships, Creative Strategies to Transform School Culture is a fine education library pick, directing leaders to positive improvements and addressing official issues.

Cracking the LSAT, 2010 edition
Princeton Review
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
9780375429293, $22.99 www.review.com

The 2010 edition of Cracking the LSAT is a pick for any student practicing for the exam, offering pages packed with 'how to succeed' insights, sample questions and drills, a detailed chapter about logic games, reviews of strategies and more. Proven techniques come from test-prep experts and provide 3 full-length practice tests - 2 in the book and one online - as well as a companion website. Any library catering to LSAT students needs this.

The Big6 Goes Primary
Barbara A. Jansen
Linworth Books
3650 Olentangey River Rd Suite 250, Columbus, OH 43214
9781586832926, $44.95 www.linworth.com

THE BIG6 GOES PRIMARY! TEACHING INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY SKILLS IN THE K-3 CURRICULUM provides a fine resource for followers of the Big6, offering a new resource including state and national standards, evaluation guides, and lessons for using puppets to teach young students. Any education library including other Big6 titles for working with young learners will find this a key, essential acquisition.

GRE, 18th edition
Barron's
250 Wireless Blvd, Hauppauge, NY 11788
0764142003, $18.99 www.barronseduc.com

The 18th updated edition of a leading test preparation guide offers the latest review and practice tests available in a title offering two full-length model tests plus a diagnostic, subject review sections, and a comprehensive subject review of all GRE test topics. Students studying for the exam will find this a key to success, and it's a top pick for any library catering to GRE students. An edition that includes two additional computer-adaptive tests on CD-ROM (0764195948, $34.99) will please any serious student determined to make full use of the 18th edition's many resources.

Teaching Students with Dyslexia and Dysgraphia
Virginia w. Berninger and Bevelry J. Wolf
Brookes Publishing
Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
1557669341 $34.95 www.brookespublishing.com

How teachers can provide literary instruction for students with learning differences while helping others in the classroom is the topic of Teaching Students with Dyslexia and Dysgraphia. Here teachers learn how to integrate such students in the regular classroom, from improving student literacy for both oral and written language instruction to understanding how differentiated learning works. It's a fine survey for any education collection.

The Shaping School Culture Fieldbook, second edition
Kent D. Peterson and Terrence E. Deal
Jossey-Bass
989 Market St., San Francisco CA 94103
9780787996802 $29.00 www.josseybass.com

The Shaping School Culture Fieldbook uses the authors' extensive research and nationwide school contacts to provide exercises for school leaders to help uncover a school's hidden values and beliefs and rethink its mission and direction. It's been completely revised to include an expanded version of the original model and provides new ideas and new material on 'toxic' environments. Very highly recommended.


The Judicial Studies Shelf

Litigation Logic
Paul Bosanac
ABA Publishing
321 North Clark St., Chicago, IL 60654-7498
9781604425710, $129.95 www.ababooks.org

LITIGATION LOGIC: A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE ARGUMENT reviews the rules of legal logic and the arguments attorneys are ethically prohibited from making. It offers explanations of litigation processes, keys to winning an effective argument, insights on common fallacies in the legal argument arena, and how to assess and use tools to win legal arguments. A 'must' for any serious law library or student collection.


The Automotive Shelf

Automotive Welding: A Practical Guide
Jeffrey Zurschmeide with Russell Nyberg
Car Tech
39966 Grand Ave., North Branch, MN 55056
9781932494860, $24.95 www.cartechbooks.com

Automotive Welding: A Practical Guide is a 'must' for any library strong on shop or automotive repair. It covers all the basics for amateurs using inexpensive or rented tools and little experience, offering common auto metalwork projects form repairing a cracked manifold to fabricating a roll bar. While the projects relate to real-world experience, their sum allows for an actual complete 'course' in all the different auto welding options, making this a top recommendation for all kinds of libraries.


The Social Issues Shelf

Bottlemania
Elizabeth Royte
Bloomsbury
175 - 5th Ave. #300, New York NY 10010
159691372X, $15.00 www.bloomsburyusa.com

BOTTLEMANIA: HOW WATER WENT ON SALE AND WHY WE BOUGHT IT proves an entertaining expose of the lengths corporations have taken to commercialize water, and the social and environmental costs of quenching human thirst. The industry of bottled water is a huge billion dollar business in the U.S. - yet only recently are consumers questioning bottle water contents and perceptions. A lively consumer's examination will appeal to a range of water-users and to any general lending library.

Getting Immigration Right
David Coates & Peter Siavelis, Editors
Potomac Books
22841 Quicksilver Dr., Dulles, VA 20166
9781597972659, $29.95 www.potomacbooks.com

Getting Immigration Right: What Every American Needs to Know offers a discussion of Mexico-US immigration politics, policies, and procedures, and comes from top experts on the topic. Any interested in Mexican immigration to this country will find this an outstanding collection of essays considering past and future policies, including legal rights, non-Mexican immigration issues, causes and results of immigration policies, and more. College-level collections will find this an excellent starting point for debate.

The Transition Timeline for a Local, Resilient Future
Shaun Chamberlin
Chelsea Green Publishing Company
PO Box 428, White River Junction, VT 05001-0428
9781603582001, $22.95 www.chelseagreen.com

The Transition Timeline for a Local, Resilient Future offers four possible scenarios for the UK and world over the next twenty years, from that of failing to respond to environmental challenges and putting the blinders on, to shifting cultural assumptions to fit our circumstances and moving to lower-energy requirements. Any seeking to change the world and others will relish this approach.

Socialnomics
Erik Qualman
John Wiley
111 River St., Hoboken, NJ 07030
9780470477236, $24.95 www.wiley.com

SOCIALNOMICS; HOW SOCIAL MEDIA TRANSFORMS THE WAY WE LIVE AND DO BUSINESS is a penetrating analysis of the social media phenomenon, considering if it's a fad or the biggest shift since the Industrial Revolution. Real world case studies accompany a survey of why and how companies are changing, listening first and selling based on what they hear. Social media is the #1 activity on the Web: statistics analyze how prevalent it is and its trends in our business and personal lives.

Lethal Logic
Dennis A. Henigan
Potomac Books
22841 Quicksilver Dr., Dulles, VA 20166
9781597973564, $29.95 www.potomacbooksinc.com

LETHAL LOGIC: EXPLODING THE MYTHS THAT PARALYZE AMERICAN GUN POLICY offers the first book to acknowledge the deadly impact of the gun lobby's logic on the gun control debate, exposing their dangerous thoughts and assessing lifesaving gun laws. From lobbying and political powers to taking political risks by operating against the gun lobbyists, LETHAL LOGIC is an outstanding survey recommended for any college-level or public library strong in social and legal issues.

The Great Waves of Change
Marshall Vian Summers
New Knowledge Library
c/o Warwick Associates
18340 Sonoma Highway, Sonoma, CA 95476
9781884238604, $14.95 www.warwickassociates.net

Great changes are coming as long-tested institutions, as authority figures fail and old routines fail to apply to new situations. The Great Waves of Change: Navigating the Difficult Times Ahead answers questions of how to handle various changes, from economic and social climate to environmental issues. There are dangers in a divided humanity - the author's a spiritual teacher who offers explorations in inner preparation and changes to how business and humanity operate.

Total Recall
Gordon Bell and Jim Gemmell
Dutton
c/o Penguin Publishing Group
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
9780525951346, $26.95 www.penguin.com

TOTAL RECALL: HOW THE E-MEMORY REVOLUTION WILL CHANGE EVERYTHING comes from a legendary computer scientist and a Microsoft senior researcher who reveal the social, political and technological changes coming from a new digital revolution. New innovations in memory and search techniques will soon make it possible to record and recall everything one has ever seen or done. Total Recall will have vast impact across society and will change the world: this study tells how to anticipate changes and is a top pick for general and college-level collections across the board.


The International Studies Shelf

China's Long March to Freedom
Kate Zhou
Transaction Books
300 McGaw Dr, Edison, NJ 08837
1412810299, $39.95 www.transactionpub.com

"China's Long March to Freedom: Grassroots Modernization" tells of a country where people seek liberty on a daily basis - and have been largely successful, despite the country's control by a single party. Differences between people and government are emerging, and Chinese across the board have participated in a grassroots movement powerful in its revolutionary force. Any library considering Chinese history and cultural influences needs this.

Poppies and Politics in China
Xiaoxiong Li
University of Delaware Press
2010 Eastpark Blvd., Cranbury, NJ 08512
Associated University Press (dist.)
440 Forsgate Drive, Cranbury, NJ 08512
9780874130546, $61.50 www2.lib.udel/edu/udpress

POPPIES AND POLITICS IN CHINA: SICHUAN PROVINCE, 1840S TO 1940S covers Chinese social history and politics during an era where it was the most important opium-producing and consuming country in the world. This college-level, scholarly study considers the opium situation in Sichuan during the 1840s to 1940s, detailing how the region's social and psychological state influenced opium production and consumption and how changing politics led to opium prohibition. Recommended for any college-level library strong in Chinese history and culture.


The Criminology Shelf

Trusted Criminals, 4th edition
David O. Friedrichs
Wadsworth
c/o Cengage Learning
10 Davis Drive, Belmont, CA 94002-3098
0495600822 $78.95 www.cengage.com/wadsworth

Now in a fully updated and expanded fourth edition, TRUSTED CRIMINALS: WHITE COLLAR CRIME IN CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY provides the latest noteworthy cases and developments in fraud in all kinds of industries, from sub-prime mortgage loans and illegal activity in pharmaceutical circles to insurance scams. It covers attempts to control these crimes, shifts in legal practice in prosecuting cases, and surveys changing regulations, initiatives against corporate crimes, and more. Any college-level library strong in criminology needs this.

The Real World of a Forensic Scientist
Dr. Henry C. Lee, et al.
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Dr, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
www.prometheusbooks.com
9781591027294, $25.98, www.amazon.com

"The Real World of a Forensic Scientist: Renowned Experts Reveal What it Takes to Solve Crimes" by Dr. Henry C. Lee, Elaine M. Pagliaro and Katherine Ramsland, offers Dr. Lee's personal story and a forty-year career showing how forensic science developed in the 20th century and came to be accepted by law as a key to investigating crimes. His experiences are surveyed, then discussion proceeds to careers in forensic science, high profile cases requiring different forensic approaches from accounting to psychology, and discussions of how evidence is analyzed. Especially recommended for any college-level library strong in law enforcement careers.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

Israel is Real
Rich Cohen
Farrar, Straus, Giroux
18 West 18th Street, New York, NY 10011
9780374177782, $27.00 www.fsgbooks.com

ISRAEL IS REAL: AN OBSESSIVE QUEST TO UNDERSTAND THE JEWISH NATION AND ITS HISTORY offers a new survey of Zionism and the Jewish state, providing a history of Israel as if it were the biography of a person driven to reach Jerusalem. From false messiahs and leaders to early Zionists and modern Jewish heroes, this is a lively survey and a 'must' for any serious Judaic studies collection - and many a general lending library.

Rashi
Elie Wiesel
Nextbook / Schocken Books
c/o Random House
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, NY, NY 10019
www.schocken.com www.nextbook.com
9780805242546, $22.00, www.amazon.com

Rashi is Rabbi Shlomo Yitzhak - a biblical and Talmudic commentator of the Middle Ages - and this book provides not just a biography of the man but a review of medieval European Jewry where scholars existed in closed communities surrounded by anti-Semitism. Scholar Rashi has been in every printing of the Talmud since the 15th century: beginners and advanced students of the Bible will relish this explanation of his life and times.

Small Miracles of the Holocaust
Yitta Halberstam and Judith Leventhal
Lyons Press
Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
9781599214078, $19.95 www.lyonspress.com

Small Miracles of the Holocaust: Extraordinary Coincidences of Faith, Hope and Survival adds to the 'Small Miracle' series and offers a fine collection of some fifty Holocaust and post-Holocaust coincidences that led to survival and remarkable circumstances. Heroic acts are celebrated in an uplifting collection highly recommended for any Judaic Studies library and many a general-interest lending collection.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

The Sword of the Lady
S.N. Stirling
ROC Books
c/o Penguin Publishing Group
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
9780451462909, $25.95 www.penguin.com

THE SWORD OF THE LADY: A NOVEL OF THE CHANGE returns to a world Stirling created in DIES THE FIRE and takes place 12 years after his previous trilogy of that setting. Here a new generation affected by 'the Change' tells of Rudi, who completes a trek across the land once known as America and who finds the only house standing in Nantucket is a strange old stone house, where a sword of unusual powers awaits him. Both prior series readers and newcomers will relish this adventure.

Sandman Slim
Richard Kadrey
EOS
10 E. 53rd Street, New York NY 10022
9780061714306, $22.99 www.eosbooks.com

Set in modern Los Angeles, James Stark comes back from Hell after being trapped there for eleven years, and is out for blood and revenge. But he's out of touch with modern times and requires the help of an old French alchemist and a young street-wise punk girl to understand the new world he's returned to. His hunt for his enemies results in a story of magic and bloodshed in this gripping saga recommended for both science fiction and mystery thriller collections.

Desolation Road
Ian McDonald
Pyr
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781591027447, $15.98 www.pyrsf.com

Thirty years ago on Mars a greenperson affected the town of Desolation Road - and its bizarre inhabitants come to life in a science fiction novel telling of the town's strange inhabitants and otherworld evolutions. This reprint of a 1988 classic offers a new cover and its dramatic, engrossing story to new generations. Libraries with worn or missing copies will want this new, eye-catching story.

War and Space
Lester DelRey
NEFSA
Box 809, Framingham, MA 01701
9781886778764, $29.00 www.nesfa.org/press

WAR AND SPACE appears in its first volume to offer selected short stories by Leser Del Rey, part of a two-volume series. This volume offers his space opera and post-apocalyptic fiction - including the winning 'Nerves' which later became a full novel, and includes 29 stories with an introduction by giant Frederik Pohl. It's a rare treat to have these short stories - many widely scattered and hard to find elsewhere - under one cover, and any serious science fiction collection needs this.

Belisarius III: The Flames of Sunset
Eric Flint & David Drake
Baen Books
Box 1403, Riverdale, NY 10471
9781439132807, $23.00 www.baen.com

Belisarius III: The Flames of Sunset offers two books in one: THE TIDE OF VICTORY and THE DANCE OF TIME, covering the Malwa Empire and the world of the future that reaches into the past with a monster. The Malwa and their evil struggle with the worlds of the past in this fine and complex read, highly recommended for any science fiction collection.


The Business Shelf

They Don't Teach Corporate in College
Alexandra Levit
Career Press
Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
9781601630582, $15.99 www.careerpress.com

THEY DON'T TEACH CORPORATE IN COLLEGE: A TWENTY-SOMETHING'S GUIDE TO THE BUSINESS WORLD is a guide intended to ease the transition from school life to corporate life, addressing the needs and ideas of college grads in the workplace. Chapters consider everything from work friends vs. real friends to the average workday, work politics, and more, and offer invaluable tips often only gained from the school of hard knocks. This should be in every business and lending library - and in the hands of every college grad.

Carve Your Own Road
Jennifer Remling & Joe Remling
Career Press
Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
9781601630520, $14.99 www.careerpress.com

CARVE YOUR OWN ROAD: DO WHAT YOU LOVE & LIVE THE LIFE YOU ENVISION offers a process for reconnecting to dreams and opportunities - and comes from those who have successfully transitioned to careers that inspire. Dozens of stories of entrepreneurs who have pursued new jobs and discovered happy new lives in the process make for a powerful coverage perfect for any lending library strong in re-careering opportunities.

Marketing Interior Design
Lloyd Princeton
Allworth Press
10 E. 23rd St., New York NY 10110
9781581156621, $24.95 www.allworth.com

MARKETING INTERIOR DESIGN is for any designer who would understand the business end of the art. From setting prices and understanding promotional branding to finding leads through networking and handling jobs, this is a 'must' for any interior designer who would understand marketing challenges specific to the industry. Fees, appointments, persistence, and more are reviewed in key chapters essential to understanding the overall process.

Branding the Man
Bertrand Pellegrin
Allworth Press
10 E. 23rd St., New York NY 10010
9781581156638, $27.50 www.allworth.com

BRANDING THE MAN: WHY MEN ARE THE NEXT FRONTIER IN FASHION RETAIL offers an outstanding guide to male fashion and comes from a brand development expert who answers the question asked by store managers on how to get men to shop. From areas men feel comfortable in to fashion feelings and how modern men have changed attitudes on shopping, this is packed with solid insights.

Managing
Henry Mintzberg
Berrett-Koehler Publishers
235 Montgomery St., Suite 650,
San Francisco CA 94104-2916
9781576753408, $26.95 www.bkconnection.com

MANAGING offers a review of the basics of the managing process, and comes from an author who observed nearly thirty different managers working in very different fields and settings. From job pace and too much activity to overwhelming responsibility, Mintzberg observed many of the shared pitfalls of all these managers - and used their experiences to develop a new model centering on management as a practice. College-level business libraries will relish this.

Federal Contracting Answer Book, second edition
Terrence O'Connor and Mary Ann Wangemann
Management Concepts
8230 Leesburg Pike Suite 800, Vienna, VA 22182
9781567262452, $99.00 www.managementconcepts.com

Mary Ann Wangemann has 25 years experience in the government marketplace working in federal procurement and contract performance, making her second updated edition of Federal Contracting Answer Book a 'must' for any working with federal contracts. This new edition is for contracting personnel at all levels and includes new chapters on pricing, costing, and how the federal government evaluates an offered price. Keys to how the government researches competition and risk factors will provide many essential insights in this top pick for any serious business library.

The New Language of Marketing 2.0
Sandy Carter
IBM Press
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.ibmpressbooks.com
0137142498, $24.99, www.amazon.com

The New Language of Marketing 2.0: How to use ANGELS to Energize Your Market is a top pick for any marketer or entrepreneur interested in using social networks, online communities, gaming, wikis, bloggs, RSS and more. It offers case studies and working examples for 'next generation' marketing tools, considering their use and how to tie them into revenue generation. From global priorities to program reviews, this packs in the latest marketing options and is a 'must' for any serious business library and many a general lending collection.


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

How to Launch Your Wine Career
Liz Thach, Ph.D. & Brian D'Emilio
Wine Appreciation Guild
360 Swift Ave., South San Francisco CA 94080
9781934259061, $29.95 www.wineappreciation.com

How to Launch Your Wine Career is the first book written by industry professionals to consider developing and succeeding in a wine industry career, from marketing and production to vineyard management, wine writing, public relations and suppliers. Interviews with some of the industry's finest figures show how others 'made it' and explains job descriptions, skill requirements, careers, and job hunting. A 'must' for any business library or collection strong in wine industry guides.

The Greening of IT
John Lamb
IBM Press
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
www.ibmpressbooks.com
0137150830, $39.99, www.amazon.com

The Greening of IT: How Companies Can Make a Difference for the Environment provides a basic treatise on how companies can make a difference by 'going green. Best practices for 'greening' a company uses leading-edge case histories to assess external and internal challenges, issues and obstacles, and how to blend in solutions that improve business flexibility.

The Retail Revolution
Nelson Lichtenstein
Metropolitan Books
c/o Henry Holt
175 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10010
0805079661, $25.00 www.henryholt.com

The Retail Revolution: How Wal Mart Created a Brave New World of Business tells the history of how Wal Mart changed the way business was done. Other books survey the company's structure and evolution but this guide from historian Nelson Lichtenstein links Wal-Mart's rise to the cultural and religious values of Bible Belt America and political influences, considering his the company success has changed American politics itself. An outstanding guide, this covers more social angles than most and any business or social sciences library will welcome it.

Head First PMP, second edition
Jennifer Greene, PMP
Andrew Stellman, PMP
O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein Hwy, Sebastopol CA 95472
9780596801915, $69.99 www.oreilly.com

HEAD FIRST PMP is a key acquisition for any business collection catering to project managers seeking the certification exam. Where most coverages of the topic are dry, dull and challenging, HEAD FIRST PMP blends 'brain research' to offer bigger pictures, plenty of visuals, and a rich format designed for blending with methods the brain uses to learn. The result is an exciting, interesting presentation assuring a much higher level of PMP exam 'passes'. Highly recommended!

End the Fed
Ron Paul
Grand Central Publishing
c/o Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
www.HachetteBookGroup.com
9780446549196, $21.99, www.amazon.com

END THE FED argues that we can't fix the broken economy without re-assessing the Federal Reserve and its strengths and weaknesses - and it provides a history and economic analysis along with stories from author Ron Paul's long political life to explain how and why the Federal Reserve has been overly involved in the American financial system. A top pick for any economics collection at the high school to college level.


The Money/Finance Shelf

The Secret Language of Money
David Krueger MD with John David Mann
McGraw-Hill
Two Penn Plaza, 11th Floor, NY, NY 10121-2298
www.mhprofessional.com
0071623396, $25.95, www.amazon.com

THE SECRET LANGUAGE OF MONEY: HOW TO MAKE SMARTER FINANCIAL DECISIONS AND LIVE A RICHER LIFE surveys spending habits, money management, and comes from a former psychiatrist and business coach who examines how money connections to relationships, freedom, happiness and more. Those who feel they never have enough money and are controlled by it would do well to read this accessible, pointed survey discussing subconscious connections between money and happiness. A pick for health, business and general lending libraries alike.

Making Sense of the Dollar
Marc Chandler
Bloomberg Press
731 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10022
www.bloomberg.com/books
9781576603215, $27.95, www.amazon.com

MAKING SENSE OF THE DOLLAR: EXPOSING DANGEROUS MYTHS ABOUT TRADE AND FOREIGN EXCHANGE refutes common notions about gloomy economics and maintains that Americans in many ways are better off than ever, and the dollar remains the strong world currency of choice. Common gloomy myths are dispelled one by one in a fine analysis of global markets and American strengths.


The Biography Shelf

What Else But Home
Michael Rosen
Public Affairs
250 West 57th St., Suite 1321, New York NY 10107
9781586485627, $24.95 www.publicaffairsbooks.com

WHAT ELSE BUT HOME: SEVEN BOYS AND AN AMERICAN JOURNEY BETWEEN THE PROJECTS AND THE PENTHOUSE tells of a friendship between the author's son and teammates form nearby public and subsidized housing, offering a touching memoir of a middle-class family and their new extended family. The author decided it was their responsibility to protect the boys and get them to college and out of the poverty they'd been born to: a powerful, moving story results.

Getting It Through My Thick Skull
Mary Jo Buttafuoco with Julie McCarron
Health Communications Inc.
3201 S.W. 15th Street, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442-8190
0757313728, $24.95 www.hcibooks.com

Author Mary Jo Buttafuoco's life as a suburban wife and mother in a small New York town ended in 1992 when she was shot in the head on her own porch by her husband's teen mistress. The 'Long Island Lolita' saga sparked media attention while Mary Jo stood by her man. It took nearly thirty years for Mary Jo to acknowledge she was married to a sociopath - and to tell her story, so others will understand sociopathic behavior patterns and emotional traps. General lending libraries will find this a fascinating, popular addition to the American biography collection.

IraqiGirl
Elizabeth Wrigley-Field, Editor
Haymarket Books
Box 180165, Chicago, IL 60618
9781931859738, $13.00 www.haymarketbooks.org

IRAQIGIRL comes from teen Hadiuya, blogging from her hometown of Mosul, Iraq to the world to reveal her daily life under military occupation of her country. It's more than just one girl's diary: it's an experience of life under war, as a member of an occupied nation, and offers observations, stories of changed lives, and ultimately an account of survival.

Mountains Beyond Mountains
Tracy Kidder
Random House
c/o The Random House Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, NY, NY 10019
www.randomhousereaderscircle.com
9780812980554, $18.00, www.amazon.com

This fine biography tells of a man who while in medical school found his life's calling: to cure infectious diseases and bring modern medicine to the poor. MOUNTAINS BEYOND MOUNTAINS: THE QUEST OF DR. PAUL FARMER, A MAN WHO WOULD CURE THE WORLD tells of his dedication to humanity and his world travels and provides an inspirational story of one man's contribution to social change in a powerful survey recommended for a wide range of collections.

The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe
J. Randy Taraborrelli
Grand Central Publishing
c/o Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9780446580823, $26.99 www.hachettebookgroup.com

This story of the world-famous daughter handling a parent's paranoid schizophrenia provides a different survey of Marilyn Monroe and her family, including her mother, foster mother, and legal guardian. It reveals, for the first time, the identity of her real father and half-brother she never knew, her relationship with the Kennedys, and more offering newly discovered photos of Marilyn that have never been published, the most complete filmography in print, and detailed research. Highly recommended.

iWant
Jane Velez-Mitchell
Health Communications, Inc.
3201 SW 15th Street, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442-8190
075731371X, $24.95 www.hcibooks.com

iWant is a powerful survey of addiction and comes from a successful woman whose story of suffering and various types of addictive behavior patterns will draw recognition from others. From her experience of how the Twelve Steps helped her cope to her belief in therapy and her desire to make a difference in the world, iWant is a fine biography of growth and discovery that any self-help library should have.

Before They Changed the World
Edwin Kiester Jr.
Fair Winds Press
100 Cummings Center, Suite 406-L, Beverly MA 01915-6101
1592333656, $19.99 www.fairwindspress.com

Before They Changed the World: Pivotal Moments That Shaped the Lives of Great Leaders Before They Became Famous considers over twenty leaders whose deeds changed the world, and the events that shaped them. Key to the collection is the identification of incidents in personal or public life that inspired them to perform memorable feats that led to their fame and world contributions. Vintage black and white and color illustrations throughout make for an outstanding collection perfect for any general lending library.

Betrayal: The Life and Lies of Bernie Madoff
Andrew Kirtzman
Harper
c/o HarperCollins
10 E. 53rd St., New York NY 10022-5299
9780061870767, $25.99 www.harpercollins.com

Betrayal: The Life and Lies of Bernie Madoff uses new interviews with those who worked closest to him and his family to examine the man who was at the heart of history's most notorious financial crime. Bernie seemed to be a loving father, generous to his employees, and charitable to strangers. On Wall Street he was known as a wise elder statesman, successful in investments but not overly risky. He was revered and trusted. But in 2008 he confessed that he'd bilked all his clients of their money. Relatively little is known of his life: BETRAYAL fills this gap, using interviews from over a hundred people in his life to build a portrait of his life, times and actions. General biography and business libraries will find it revealing.


The Political Science Shelf

The Battle for America 2008
Dan Balz and Haynes Johnson
Viking
375 Hudson, New York NY 10014
9780670021116, $29.95 www.penguin.com

THE BATTLE FOR AMERICA 2008: THE STORY OF AN EXTRAORDINARY ELECTION provides a fresh, new account of a landmark election told in real-time as events unfold, and details strategy memos for the Obama, McCain and Clinton campaigns in a survey coming from the authors' exclusive access to the major dealings of each faction in the election. A powerful addition to any college, high school or general lending library strong in political or election analysis.


The Psychology Shelf

The Philosophical Baby
Alison Gopnik
Farrar Straus Giroux
18 W. 18th St., New York NY 10011
9780374231965, $25.00 www.fsgbooks.com

THE PHILOSOPHICAL BABY: WHAT CHILDREN'S MINDS TELL US ABOUT TRUTH, LOVE, AND THE MEANING OF LIFE comes from a leading child psychologist and philosopher who considers children's imaginations and ideas about love and morality, discovering keys to human nature in how they play and explore. Contrasting with common notions, babies have the ability to imagine and process complex information even beyond many adults: chapters explore this process and use psychology, neuroscience and philosophy to explore how kids experience the world. Parents, teachers, and any involved with kids will relish this.

Group Interventions for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Albert J. Cotugno
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market Suite 400, Philadelphia PA 19106
9781843109105, $55.00 www.jkp.com

Group Interventions for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Focus on Social Competency and Social Skills offers a review of the theoretical and practical implications of developing and implementing peer-based, group-focused therapeutic approaches with children. From theories to interventions and models based on basic cognitive research, this is a fine book for school, clinic and general practitioners involved in group work with special needs kids.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Freeform Style
Jonelle Raffino & Prudence Mapstone
North Light Books
c/o F&W Publications, Inc.
4700 E. Galbraith, Cincinnati, OH 45236
www.fwpublications.com
1600611389, $27.99 www.mycraftivity.com

FREEFORM STYLE is for any knitter or crocheter seeking new projects exploring freeform knitting and crochet potentials. Some 10 patterns for clothes, each presented in three skill-level variations, makes for a series of fine step-by-step instructions building details on designs and options. A fine and different guide for any needlework enthusiast and libraries catering to them, this is packed with color photos and easy directions.

Inchie Quilts
Nadine Ruggles
American Quilters Society
Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
9781574329919, $24.95 www.americanquilter.com

Inchie Quilts provides complete instructions for ten quilt projects and tells how to create and display tiny Inchies. From embellishments with beads and embroidery to tools, fabric, and tips on adding Inchies to quilts using Velcro tape, this is packed with detail backed by project examples in full color, and is a pick for any quilting library.

Toe-Up!
Chrissy Gardiner
Sydwillow Press
Box 13607, Portland, OR 97213
9780981966809, $24.95 www.sydwillowpress.com

Toe-Up! Patterns and Worksheets to Whip Your Sock Knitting Into Shape begins at the toe and tells how to knit toe-up socks for customized fittings. It's packed with tutorials and tips, offering some fifteen patterns and color photos. Close-up color photos of different knitting choices enhances a specific guide knitters will appreciate.

Knits to Fit & Flatter
Jane Ellison
David & Charles
c/o F&W Publications
4700 E. Galbraith, Cincinnati, OH 45236
0715331469, $22.99 www.mycraftivity.com

Stylish knitwear designs for sweaters, tank tops and camisoles that fit and flatter well make for a fine gathering of versatile patterns that have a fine modern finish for women of all sizes, making for a specific knitter's guide that goes beyond the usual 'one size fits all' approach. Variations for edgings, sleeves, and simplifications of classic garment styles makes for a fine gathering of knit projects suitable for any knitter's collection.

Book of Fair Isle Knitting
Alice Starmore
Dover Publications, Inc.
31 East 2nd Street, Mineola, NY 11501
www.doverpublications.com
0486472183, $24.95, www.amazon.com

Scotland's Fair Isle is celebrated for its distinctive stranded-color knitting and author Alice Starmore is famous for her expertise in the knitting style, so her guide is a top pick for beginning and advanced knitters alike, offering a workshop in the Fair Isle style. Dover's unabridged republication of this classic Taunton Press 1988 original returns a fine, affordable paperwork to library shelves and is a pick for any knitting library.

Fat-Quarter Quilting
Lori Smith
Martingale & Company
20205 - 144th Avenue NE, Woodinville, WA 98072-8478
9781564779465, $26.99 www.martingale-pub.com

FAT-QUARTER QUILTING packs in twenty-one 16" x 20" projects as guidelines on how to use fat quarter materials, teaching how to connect a range of prints and how to change them into quilts using fat quarters with no piecing, piecing, or applique techniques alike. Directions for samplers, blocks and more make for outstanding, polished quilting results in a pick for any avid quilter.

Bend the Rules With Fabric
Amy Karol
Potter Craft
c/o Crown Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
9780307451835, $21.95 www.crownpublishing.com

BEND THE RULES WITH FABRIC: FUN SEWING PROJECTS WITH STENCILS, STAMPS, DYE, PHOTO TRANSFERS, SILK SCREENING AND MORE comes from the blogger who produced Angry Chicken, a top crafting blog, and accompanies her first BEND-THE-RULES SEWING guide to blend humor with tips on trendy, fun new approaches to sewing. Integrating styles, methods, and crafting techniques, Amy Karol shows how to produce an exceptional, unique product from a range of integrated techniques. A 'must' for quilters and crafters seeking something different.

Applique Outside the Lines
Becky Goldsmith & Linda Jenkins
C&T Publishing
Box 1456, Lafayette, CA 94549
9781571206091, $27.95 www.ctpub.com

Applique Outside the Lines with Piece O'Cake Designs offers no rules-no ruler quilt projects in 8 selected ideas for creating foolproof applique quilts. Use fabrics and colors to make a quilt come to life and use freestyle border, block and quilt assembly techniques to create innovative, free-flowing designs with this fine quilter's handbook, recommended for any collection catering to applique quilters.

Felting Fashion
Lizzie Houghton
Batsford
c/o Sterling Publishing Company
387 Park Avenue South, NY, NY 10016
9781906388140, $27.95 www.anovabooks.com

Practical ideas for creating lovely clothes from felt provide step-by-step directions for working with nuno felt and offers designer Lizzie Houghton's original creations. FELTING FASHION: CREATIVE AND INSPIRATIONAL TECHNIQUES FOR FELTMAKERS offers Houghton and others' original works and teaches how to make everything from brooches and hats to jackets and coats. Needlework libraries looking at felting guides will find this an appealing pick.

The Big Book of Socks
Kathleen Taylor
Taunton Press
Box 5506, Newtown, CT 06470-5506
9781600850851, $24.95 www.taunton.com

THE BIG BOOK OF SOCKS: THE ULTIMATE BEYOND-THE-BASICS GUIDE TO KNITTING SOCKS offers over seventy original patterns for all skill levels and packs in designs from basics socks to lace, Fair Isle and more. Tips come from a 30-year sock knitting veteran, are accompanied by color photos throughout, and make for a fine sock guide for any wanting more than just the basics.


The Technology Shelf

My New iPhone
Wallace Wang
No Starch Press
555 DeHaro #250, San Francisco CA 94107
9781593271954, $29.95 www.nostarch.com

Any owner of the iPhone readily recognizes it holds great potential - and great mystery. From understanding how voice mail works to using applications and navigating menus and sub-menus, MY NEW IPHONE packs in details on usage for everything to using Skype to call for free to browsing iTunes, YouTube videos, creating custom ringtones and more. A top pick for iPhone owners and any library catering to them.

iPhone Games Projects
Dave Mark, Series Editor
Apress
2855 Telegraph Avenue, Suite 600, Berkeley, CA 94705
9781430219682, $39.99 www.apress.com

iPhone game developers share their techniques and secrets in IPHONE GAMES PROJECTS, a survey of the most popular games and how they were created. Tips for game development and the iPhone environment accompany insights on optimizing games, using social gaming web services, and creating multiplayer iPhone games. A technical yet top pick for any library strong in iPhone or games programming specifics.


The Cookbook Shelf

Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove Cookbook
Debbie Macomber
Harlequin Books
225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada, M3B 3K9
9780373892136, $29.95 www.eHarlequin.com

Meals play an important role in romance writer Debbie Macomber's writings and her descriptions of celebrations and eating are often mouth-watering. DEBBIE MACOMBER'S CEDAR COVE COOKBOOK is for both fans of Macomber's novels and for those interested in down home American cuisine: it provides dishes ranging from Roasted Garlic White Pizza to Pumpkin Tea Cake With Honey Cream and Lattice-Top Cherry Pie, and will appeal to any library strong in either Macomber's works or American cuisine.

The Cake Mix Doctor Returns!
Anne Byrn
Workman Publishing
225 Varick Street, New York NY 10014
9780761129615, $15.95 www.workman.com

THE CAKE MIX DOCTOR RETURNS is a top pick for both newcomers and old fans of the 'cake mix doctor', who explores how to use cake mixes as a foolproof foundation for more elaborate cakes. 160 new, fast recipes change an ordinary cake mix into an amazing cake, with over twenty new frostings enhancing 5results. From how to use different shape pans and how to turn a white cake mix into a chocolate cake mix to recipes for Easy Coconut Refrigerator cake and a Chocolate Flan Cake, this is a top pick for any general lending library.

Shark's Fin and Sichuan Pepper
Fuchsia Dunlop
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393332889, $16.95 www.wwnorton.com

Shark's Fin and Sichuan Pepper offers an outstanding food memoir written by a food writer who went to live in China as a student in 1994 and vowed to eat everything she was offered. Her memoir of her experiences with China and its food provides a fine survey of the cuisine and culture of Sichuan Province and makes for a vivid blend of culinary and travel narrative perfect for food, travel and Chinese culture collections alike.

Cook's Country Best Lost Suppers
Cook's Country
America's Test Kitchen
17 Station St., Brookline, MA 02445
1933615443, $29.95 www.cookscountry.com

COOK'S COUNTRY BEST LOST SUPPERS come from family favorites that were once hidden in old cookbooks and family boxes - and thus are largely unknown to modern cooks. From Pan-Fried Chicken with Milk Gravy to Sweet and Sour Meatballs and Cornbread Meatloaf, these are outstanding picks highly recommended for any lending library interested in American regional and home cooking.

The Russian Heritage Cookbook
Lynn Visson
Overlook Press
141 Wooster St., New York NY 10012
9781590201169, $28.95 www.overlookpress.com

Favorite family recipes collected and passed down through generations are presented in over three hundred Russian dishes representing an entire culinary heritage. This has been revised with new recipes added for new readers, and features hundreds of classic Russian dishes. No color photos - but the easy dishes don't need them.

Nobu Miami: The Party Cookbook
Nobu Matsuhisa and Thomas Buckley
Kodansha International
c/o Kodansha America, Inc.
451 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016
www.kodanshaamercia.com
9784770030801, $39.95 www.kodansha-intl.com

NOBU MIAMI provides secrets of two leading chefs who have captured Miami's attention with innovative Japanese party food. Each dish blends Japanese and South American cuisine and adds a dose of Florida's local ingredients for good measure, so any state located on the water will appreciate the innovative dishes that include a healthy dose of seafood entrees. From Baked Florida Oysters to Steamed Chilean Sea Bass with Dried Miso, it's packed with fare perfect for any neo-professional chef interested in Asian fusion cuisine.

Rose's Heavenly Cakes
Rose Levy Beranbaum
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9780471781738, $39.95 www.wiley.com

Anyone who loves to bake will find this companion to THE CAKE BOOK packs in more gorgeous cake desserts, pairing them with color photos throughout and offering tested, easily-followed recipes focusing on lovely results. Over 100 recipes with step-by-step instruction pack in explanations that cover why some cakes succeed while others fail. This 'course in a book' is perfect for any would-be home baker and a highly recommended, attractive library addition as well.

Easy Japanese Cooking: Bento Love
Kentaro Kobayashi
Vertical Inc.
1185 Avenue of the Americas, 32nd floor, New York, NY 10036
9781934287583, $14.95 www.vertical-inc.com

Any Japanese cookery library needs Easy Japanese Cooking: Bento Love, a survey adding to the 'Easy Japanese Cooking' series with a focus on Bento Box lunches. Color photos accompany easy recipes for everything from a mini-Cheeseburger Bento to marinated Seasoned Pike Bento and more. It's pleasing to see a different focus than the usual Japanese cookbook offers!

The Farmer's Wife Canning & Preserving Cookbook
Lela Nargi, Editor
Voyageur Press
400 First Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55401
9780760335253, $15.99 www.voyageurpress.com

The Farmer's Wife was a monthly magazine published in Minnesota between 1893 and 1939: its staff of experts, bulletins issued by the USDA and canning and preserving topics makes for an outstanding collection of tested recipes updated by the current USDA recommendations for safe use in everyday kitchens. Add recipes of results and you have a real winner.

Raw for Dessert
Jennifer Cornbleet
Book Publishing Company
Box 99, Summertown, TN 38483
9781570672361, $14.95 www.bookpubco.com

You can stay vegetarian, gluten-free and still eat cakes pies, custards and more. RAW FOR DESSERT shares her favorite no-bake sweets that avoid white sugar, white flour, dairy products and processed foods, offering date-filled chocolate cupcakes, Mango-Raspberry Crumble, Spice Cake and more. A top pick for any seeking healthier, innovative desserts and for libraries catering to them.

Notes on Cooking
Lauren Braun Costello and Russell Reich
RCR Creative Press
9780972425513, $21.95 www.rcrcreative.com

NOTES ON COOKING: A SHORT GUIDE TO AN ESSENTIAL CRAFT offers a new book on not just cooking or kitchen tools, but storage, foundation dishes, and even life lessons on how to recognize quality and seek beauty in cooking. Everyday cooks wanting to improve as well as neo-experts looking to review culinary experience will find this fills a gap between recipes and procedure, offering the basics on how to become a better cook overall. Highly recommended for both general and culinary collections.

Vegan Yum Yum
Lauren Ulm
Health Communications Inc.
3201 S.W. 15th St., Deerfield Beach, FL 33442
0757313809, $18.95 www.hcibooks.com

When author Lauren went vegan she faced many questions and prejudices from friends and acquaintances: VEGAN YUM YUM answers those who believe vegan food is dull, offering her own creative vegan twists for flavorful dishes appealing to all. From Eggplant and Basil Stuffed Tomatoes to Smoky Miso Tofu sandwiches and Creamy Tomato Barley Risotto, this is packed with appealing vegan delights.

The Art of Making Fermented Sausages
Stanley Marianski, Adam Marianski
Bookmagic, LLC
PO Box 7872, Seminole, Fl 33775
9780982426715, $19.95 www.book-magic.com

Any college-level collection strong in food science will relish the scientific and culinary specifics in The Art of Making Fermented Sausages, a very specific guide to controlling meat acidity, choosing proper fermenting and smoking temperatures, understanding the process, and more. From commercial starter cultures to making quality salamis at home, this is packed with insider tips.

Bringing It to the Table
Wendell Berry
Counterpoint
2117 - 4th St., Berkeley CA 94710
9781582435435, $14.95 www.counterpointpress.com

Before organic produce was available at any supermarket author Wendell Berry was farming and writing about food issues - and BRINGING IT TO THE TABLE: ON FARMING AND FOOD offers his insights on mindful eating and farming practices. Literary food essays draw important links between consumption choices and the environment and provide a fine survey recommended for any library strong in cuisine and food or farming issues.


The Fashion Shelf

The Men's Fashion Reader
Peter McNeil and Vicki Karaminas, Editors
Berg Publishers
175 - 5th Ave, New York NY 10110
9781845207878, $44.95 www.bergpublishers.com

The Men's Fashion Reader brings together key articles covering the history and culture of men's fashion around the world, using primacy research and case studies to review clothing trends, consumption and media influence on men's styles. Each section includes a bibliography for further reading, illustrations of men's dress from various historical periods, and scholarly analysis. Any college-level collection strong in fashion design or men's trends will find this a 'must'.


The Art Shelf

David Bellamy's Complete Guide to Watercolour Painting
David Bellamy
Search Press
Wellwood, North Farm Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3DR
9781844483389, $29.95 www.searchpress.com

David Bellamy's Complete Guide to Watercolour Painting goes beyond the usual singular approach of watercolor guides that narrow the focus to one subject (landscape, still life or animals for example), offering a wider range of material to offer instruction in all these areas. From painting from sketches and photos and handling still lifes from a different perspective to developing linear perspective, this is a 'must' for any library catering to newcomers to watercolor painting.

Neuland
TwoPoints.net
Actar D
575 Prospect St., Suite 301, Lakewood, NJ 08701
9788496954564, $39.95 www.actar-D.com

NEULAND: THE FUTURE OF GERMAN GRAPHIC DESIGN is for any serious college-level library strong in international graphic design trends. It packs in photos and examples from new German designers to consider what elements of German design are evolving and what is unique to that country's talents. The color photos pack every page and provide fine German design examples throughout: very highly recommended as essential to any library representing European graphic design examples and trends.

Dog Painting: A History of the Dog in Art
William Secord
Antique Collectors' Club
116 Pleasant Street, Suite 60B, Easthampton, Ma 01027
www.antiquecollectorsclub.com
9781851495764, $89.00, www.amazon.com

Dog Painting: A History of the Dog in Art packs in color photos of dog paintings to accompany a history of U.K. and America's 'golden age' of dog paintings. From the dog's role in continental art to the influence of social and political forces in dog portraits, DOG PAINTING offers a survey of a variety of breeds, considers show and working dogs alike, and provides plenty of dog information along with artistic commentary. A 'must' for any arts collection.

Truckers
Mary Richardson
Mark Batty Publisher
36 W. 37th St., #409, New York NY 10018
9780979966682, $32.95 www.markbattypublisher.com

Any collection strong in social issues and economic forces that seeks an artistic exploration will value the color images drawing on the author's many years of experience writing for a trucking industry trade magazine. Mary Richardson and her photographers document the stories of truckers and their experiences on the road, making for a blend of artistic and social commentary that will appeal to both arts and social issues collections at the college level.

Flying the Colors
Alan Granby and Janice Hyland
Hudson Hills Press
Box 205, Manchester, VT 05254
9781555953515, $125.00 www.hudsonhills.com

Flying the Colors: The Unseen Treasures of 19th-Century American Marine Art provides a fine survey of marine art, covering maritime paintings by both famous and lesser-known artists and surveying American naval experience. The works of painter James Butterworth, Antonio Jacobsen, and more accompany sections devoted to those American artists who painted American ships and shore, and make for an outstanding presentation recommended not just for art libraries, but any serious nautical collection.


The Sports Shelf

Game Plan for Life!
Joe Gibbs with Jerry B. Jenkins
Tyndale House
Carol Stream, IL 60188
9781414329796, $24.99 www.tyndale.com

Not many rise to the top of two competitive professions - but 3-time Super Bowl champion and 3-time NASCAR champ Joe Gibbs has accomplished this - and here shares his ideals that have guided him to the pinnacle of achievement in his entire life. From moment management to relationships, this is a religious survey considering how God has moved and guided Gibbs in all his life choices. A fine pick for both sports and spirituality libraries.

The Science of Formula 1 Design
David Tremayne
Haynes North America
861 Lawrence Drive, Newbury Park, CA 91320
1844253406 L19.99 www.haynes.co.uk

The Science of Formula 1 Design analyzes the basics of Grand Prix car design at the turn of the 21st century, drawing on information from the sport's leading design engineers to explain how toe Formula One car works and the philosophy and technology behind its construction. Any enthusiast of the sport will relish The Science of Formula 1 Design, an expert analysis packed with color photos and technical information perfect for sports and racing libraries.


The Audiobook Shelf

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

Marc Vietor provides a fine voice spiced with his background acting on television and in film lending action and drama to John Ringo's A Hymn Before Battle (1423395085, $29.99), a story of backward Terrans, friendly races of the galactic federation who offer them help, and the confusion of armies of humanity bound to protect not only Earth but two other worlds. Military science fiction at its best comes to life in a gripping audio. Ringo's EYE OF THE STORM (1423395182, $29.99) also comes to life under Vietor's seasoned voice and proves a fine sequel to Hell's Faire. A general's corps is destroyed and his staff shot, he's arrested on war crimes charges, and a new invasion from a mysterious race threatens. Three generals vie for control in this engrossing military thriller.

Julie & Julia
Julie Powell
Hachette Audio
237 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9781600245329, $16.98 www.hachetteaudio.com

Julie Powell herself reads her story and the CD set includes a special conversation with the author in this fun, irresistible story of a modern-day secretarial worker who decides to cook, in the span of a year, every one of the 524 recipes in Julia Child's famous cookbook. Her experiences and blog make for a fun, revealing story in this fine audio, which springs to life as much as the movie.

The Master-Key to Riches
Napoleon Hill
Penguin Audio
375 Hudson, New York NY 10014
9780143144618, $25.95 www.penguin.com

Joel Fotinos, a VP at Penguin Group, narrates this fine audiobook offering the blueprint for Napoleon Hill's wealth strategy to listeners who would understand 'cosmic habitforce', sharing wealth, and more. It's an outstanding guide to wealth-building and riches and is especially lively in audio format, perfect for listening in the car and for any lending library general or business!


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

The Supergirls
Mike Madrid
Exterminating Angel
1892 Colestin Road, Ashland, OR 97520
9781935259039, $16.95 www.exterminatingangel.com

Any comics or graphic novel library needs THE SUPERGIRLS: FASHION, FEMINISM, FANTASY AND THE HISTORY OF COMIC BOOK HEROINES. It provides a cultural history of comic book heroines and asks whether their fantasy world has connections to our own, offering a fine survey of different super-women in comic history and crime fighting. Any long-time comic book reader will relish this blend of scene re-creation and social analysis.

The Brinkley Girls
Trina Robbins, Editor
Fantagraphics Books
7563 Lake City Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115
9781560979708, $29.99 www.fantagraphics.com

The Brinkley Girls: Best of Nell Brinkley's Cartoons from 1913-1940 packs in full-page, color reproductions of Nell Brinkley's American Weekly covers and provides a fine biographical and artistic introduction by editor Trina Robbins. All the fine detail and intricate drawings of Nell Brinkley come to life in a keepsake survey that is a 'must have' for any serious cartoon, graphic or arts library.

Confessions of a Ex-Doofus Itchy Footed Mutha
Melvin Van Peebles
Akashic Books
Box 1456, New York NY 10009
9781933354866, $17.95 www.akashicbooks.com

Melvin Van Peebles fostered Afro-American cinema and indie films and here provides a graphic novel that was inspiration for his latest film, offering a set of black and white drawings of a lonely man's search for love in all the wrong places. A Doofus wanders the world on a futile quest: stills from the film blend with original drawings and dialogue to provide a fun addition to any graphic novel or film library.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Compassion and Meditation
Jean-Yves Leloup
Inner Traditions
One Park St., Rochester, VT 05767
9781594772771, $14.95 www.innertraditions.com

COMPASSION AND MEDITATION: THE SPIRITUAL DYNAMIC BETWEEN BUDDHISM AND CHRISTIANITY is a fine comparative religion guide surveying Asian spiritual traditions and comparing Buddhist and Christian thinking. These two religious traditions have many common links, and both faiths could benefit from understanding these links. New age and spiritual libraries on both sides need this.

Kundalini Rising
Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa, et.al.
Sounds True
413 S. Arthur Ave., Louisville, CO 80027
9781591797289, $19.95 www.soundstrue.com

KUNDALINI RISING: EXPLORING THE ENERGY OF AWAKENING ANTHOLOGY blends personal accounts and yogic practices with history and brain research in an anthology probing the rise of kundalini energy and connections to spiritual and personal paths of discovery. Over twenty essays by seasoned voices experienced with kundalini make for a fine survey of the mystical and practical potentials of kundalini, making for a top pick for any new age collection.

The Vortex
Esther and Jerry Hicks
Hay House
PO Box 5100, Carlsbad, CA 92018-5100
9781401918828, $16.95 www.hayhouse.com

THE VORTEX: WHERE THE LAW OF ATTRACTION ASSEMBLES ALL COOPERATIVE RELATIONSHIPS reveals the false premises at the heart of major relationship issues, offering a survey of the Vortex that already has put together the kind of relationships and encounters needed. Planetary harmony blends with personal health and admonitions perfect for any new age collection.


The Self-Help Shelf

Infinite Possibilities
Mike Dooley
Atria Books
1230 Ave of the Americas, NY, NY 10020
Beyond Words Publishing
20827 NW Cornell Road, Suite 500, Hillsboro, OR 97124
9781582702261, $25.00, www.beyondword.com www.amazon.com

INFINITE POSSIBILITIES: THE ART OF LIVING YOUR DREAMS explains that dreams are invitations to understand truths about ourselves. It tells how to open your heart and mind and blend spiritual thinking with recognition of daily opportunities that fill our lives, offering insights into purposeful and loving living. Recommended for a range of libraries, from new age and spirituality collections to general interest inspirational holdings.

It's All About Him
Lisa E. Scott
Cedar Fort Inc.
2373 W. 700 S., Springville, UT 84663
9781599552187, $9.99 www.cedarfort.com

One of the best relationship guides to appear this year is IT'S ALL ABOUT HIM: HOW TO IDENTIFY AND AVOID THE NARCISSIST MALE BEFORE YOU GET HURT. Author Lisa Scott's examples come from experience - and solidly identify the personality traits and approaches of the narcissistic male, who requires excessive attention and admiration and believes that he's unique while being devoid of empathy. An outstanding survey, and a highly recommended pick for any lending library.

How to Be a Hepburn in a Hilton World
Jordan Christy
Center Street
c/o Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9781599951836, $16.99 www.centerstreet.com

"How to Be a Hepburn in a Hilton World: The Art of Living with Style, Class, and Grace" is packed with fun assignments, notable names and real-world examples in a new book covering everything from diet and work ethics to relationships, fashion and more. Modern ladies can be beautiful and intelligent in different ways - and this book tells how. Any general lending library will find this a winner.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Zumba
Beto Perez and Maggie Greenwood-Robinson, PhD
Wellness Central
237 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9780446546126, $24.99 www.hachettebookgroup.com

ZUMBA: DITCH THE WORKOUT, JOIN THE PARTY! THE ZUMBA WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM packs in a fitness plan appearing in gyms across the country. The plan blends dance with sculpting moves, is inspired by Latin rhythms, and burns between 700 and 1,000 calories an hour. The second part of the plan is a diet plan which begins with a 5-Day Express Diet to help lose up to 9 lbs. In 5 days, then offers 14-day meal plans and recipes. An accompanying DVD offers further exercise moves and visual reinforcement, making this a 'must' package for any wishing to lose weight AND have fun!

Insights into Lyme Disease Treatment
Connie Strasheim
BioMed Publishing Group
Box 9012, S. Lake Tahoe, CA 96158
9780982513804, $39.95 www.lymebook.com

Which treatments do doctors use to fight Lyme Disease are considered in a book by a health care journalist who has conducted interviews with thirteen of the world's most competent Lyme disease healers. Connie Strasheim spent months compiling their answers into an organized coverage of treatment options: this covers a range of medical disciplines from traditional approaches to homeopathic and energy medicine and makes for an exceptional guide any health collection simply must own.

Nordic Walking: Complete Guide to Health, Fitness and Fun
Claire Walter
Hatherleigh
5-22 46th Ave Suite 200, Long Island City, NY 11101
9781578262694, $15.95 www.hatherleighpress.com

NORDIC WALKING tells how to walk using special lightweight poles that relieve stress on the knees, hips and more to offer a core workout. Nordic Walking is a low-impact exercise and this tells how to make the most of Nordic Walking poles, from selection to stride and pole movements, various exercises and routines. A 'must' for any Nordic walker and for any collection strong in health and fitness.

The Six Week Cure for the Middle-Aged Middle
Michael R. Eades, MD
Crown
c/o Crown Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
9780307450715, $24.99 www.randomhouse.com

The Six Week Cure for the Middle-Aged Middle offers hope to middle-aged readers with unique needs and exercise abilities, sharing the author's new patient-proven program for shedding fat and becoming more youthful. Most books promote eliminating fat on top of abs: middle age is different though, and this book offers a different approach. Any general lending library will find it a popular pick.

The Healing of America
T.R. Reid
Penguin Press
375 Hudson, New York NY 10014
9781594202346, $25.95 www.penguin.com

THE HEALING OF AMERICA: A GLOBAL QUEST FOR BETTER, CHEAPER, AND FAIRER HEALTH CARE isn't just another coverage of America's healthcare pros and cons: it provides an assessment of various healthcare systems around the world, arguing that solutions to problems already exist in other systems. He travels of wealthy, industrialized democracies like our own and gathers reports from doctors, government officials and patients alike to consider how foreign countries provide quality health care at a reasonable cost. An invaluable assessment.

Delmar's Administrative Medical Assisting, fourth edition
Wilburta Q. Lindh, et.al.
Delmar
c/o Cengage Learning
5 Maxwell Drive, Clifton Park, NJ 12065-2919
1435419227 $105.95 www.cengage.com/delmar

The 4th updated edition of Delmar's Administrative Medical Assisting is a 'must' for any college-level collection offering writings to medical students studying medical assisting. From the latest competency-based procedures and technology to new electronic health records systems, over 15 new administrative procedures with hands-on training using accompanying software, and updated certification information for exams, this is packed with new keys to terms and processes.

Dying to Be Thin
Nikki Grahame
John Blake
3 Bramber Ct, 2 Bramber Rd, London W14 9PB UK
9781844547432 $26.95 www.blake.co.uk www.amazon.com

DYING TO BE THIN: THE TRUE STORY OF MY LIFELONG BATTLE AGAINST ANOREXIA tells of a woman who from age eight until she was nineteen battled anorexia nervosa. Her battle against food disorder charts years of tricks and techniques to keep her weight below normal and provides a survey of a painful road to recovery that will serve as an inspiration to any and a strong addition to any health library.

Inside Assisted Living: The Search for Home
J. Kevin Eckert, et.al.
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218
9780801892608, $16.95 www.press.jhu.edu

Inside Assisted Living: The Search for Home draws on in-depth interviews with residents, family members, and administrators who all consider daily life in six different types of assisted living residence. Chapters cover new findings and issues and detail positive, negative, and common experiences to be found in assisted living homes, making this an important reference for any general lending library as well as health collections.

Art Therapy Techniques and Applications
Susan I. Buchalter
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market St. #400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781849058063 $29.95 www.jkp.com

Art Therapy Techniques and Applications offers an original collection of therapeutic tools and innovative suggestions easy to implement, and provides therapists with a fine reference for developing art therapy skills. Students, counselors, psychologists and others working in the field will find tips on using drawing, clay, puppets and multimedia in projects. No psychology collection should be without this specific set of guided exercises and ideas.

2010 Lippincott's Nursing Drug Guide
Amy M. Karch
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
323 Norristown Road #200, Amber PA 19002-2756
1605475548 $39.95 www.nursingdrugguide.com

Any library catering to nurses or student nurses - as well as practicing nurses - MUST have 2010 Lippincott's Nursing Drug Guide in their reference section. This newly updated edition includes complete monographs on nearly a dozen newly approved drugs, new topical drugs and biologicals, graphic logos to identify new indications and dangerous drugs, and updates of all the latest drug formulations, dosage changes, and new research. All this couched in a thick but pocket-sized guide perfect for nurses! A top 'must' - a 'foundation reference' for any serious nursing collection.

Medical Mysteries
Ann Reynolds and Kenneth Wapner
Hyperion
114 - 5th Ave., New York NY 10011
9781401309985, $14.99 www.hyperionbooks.com

MEDICAL MYSTERIES: FROM THE BIZARRE TO THE DEADLY offers a collection of real-life medical oddities and strange medical mysteries, from the story of sleep eaters and a man who appears to be turning into a tree to bizarre cases that have been featured on the accompanying TV show. Any interested in medical oddities will find this a fine account.

Face to Face
Maria Sieminow, MD, PhD
Kaplan Publishing
1 Liberty Plaza, 24th Flr, New York NY 10006
9781607140511, $22.95 www.kaplanpublishing.com

FACE TO FACE: MY QUEST TO PERFORM THE FIRST FULL FACE TRANSPLANT includes a great deal of medical insights and a survey of transplant science in general. What it doesn't include are any photos of transplant results, or in-depth case histories. Thus medical collections will be satisfied with the detailed history and examination of the medical challenges involved, while general-interest holdings will wish for more patient details.

Everything You Need to Know About Enzymes
Tom Bohager
Greenleaf Book Group Press
Box 91869, Austin, TX 78709
9781608320196, $16.95 www.greenleafbookgroup.com

Enzymes can treat everything from digestive problems to allergies, migraines and arthritis, and Everything You Need to Know About Enzymes surveys all the options on using enzymes for restoring good health. Chapters cover supplemental enzyme therapies and options and review all the pros and cons of different choices: any health library will welcome this introduction.

Public Health 101
Richard Riegelman, Editor
Jones and Bartlett
40 Tall Pine Dr., Sudbury, MA 01776
9780763760441 $68.95 www.jbpub.com

Public Health 101: Healthy People-Healthy Populations provides a wider perspective to public health and disease than many titles offer, surveying a range of intervention options for public health, offering case studies and examples for healthcare system management, and providing a curriculum framework for college-level undergrads in public health education. The result is a powerful package of resources key to any college-level collection offering public health programs.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Turtles of the United States and Canada, second edition
Carl H. Ernst and Jeffrey E. Lovich
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218
9780801891212, $95.00 www.press.jhu.edu

The second updated edition of Turtles of the United States and Canada provides the latest updated information and is the most comprehensive coverage of turtles available, blending the latest research and information into a survey representing vast amounts of new scientific discoveries on turtles over the past fifteen years. Any college-level library strong on turtle research, as well as museums, nature centers, and biologists working with them, must have this 'bible'.

Dogswear
Mette Syrstad Hoydal
Trafalgar Square Books
Box 257, N. Pomfret, VT 05053
9781570764301, $17.95 www.trafalgarbooks.com

DOGSWEAR: OVER 30 SUPER EASY SEWING PROJECTS could also have been featured in our 'Needlework' section but is reviewed here for its high recommendation for any dog owner or animal lover. These projects offer fun and comfortable jackets, wraps, doggie bags and more and pair color photos of various dogs wearing completed projects with a fine range of designs and options. Both needlework and pet libraries in general lending collections will find this appealing and fun.

Hope for Animals and Their World
Jane Goodall with Thane Maynard and Gail Hudson
Grand Central Publishing
c/o Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9780446581776, $27.99 www.hachettebookgroup.com

Hope for Animals and Their World: How Endangered Species Are Being Rescued from the Brink blends Jane Goodall's firsthand experiences with research from some of the world's foremost scientists, offering a survey of environmentalists' efforts to protect the habitats of species. A centerfold of color photos adds to a history of environmental efforts and threats to specific species as well as the animal kingdom as a whole.

Saluki
Brian Patrick Duggan
McFarland & Company
Box 611, Jefferson, NC 28640
9780786434077, $45.00 www.mcfarlandpub.com

SALUKI: THE DESERT HOUND AND THE ENGLISH TRAVELERS WHO BROUGHT IT TO THE WEST covers one of the oldest breeds of domesticated dogs who traveled throughout the Middle East with desert tribes and valued them for their ability to hunt gazelles. The story of those who brought the Saluki to the West and those who fell in love with the breed over the decades makes for an outstanding history and reference for any library strong in animal books and dog breed specifics.

Veterinary Pharmacovigilance
K.N. Woodward, Editor
Wiley-Blackwell
10475 Crosspoint Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46256
www.wiley.com/wiley-blackwell
9781405169684, $299.99, www.amazon.com

Veterinary Pharmacovigilance: Adverse Reactions to Veterinary Medicinal Products is a 'must' foundation reference for both practicing vets and college-level libraries reaching vet students. Chapters offers a range of articles on veterinary pharmacovigilance in Europe and the U.S., analyzing industry perspectives, quality assurance issues, adverse reactions in animals and humans, and much more. When a new vet medicinal product is launched, adverse drug reactions may become apparent: global regulations address these issues and his book attempts to survey and summarize the latest approaches to veterinary pharmacovigilance, reviewing effects and solutions. A 'must'.

Tom Dokken's Retriever Training
Tom Dokken
Krause Publications
700 E. State St., Iola, WI 54990-0001
089689858X, $19.99 www.krausebooks.com

TOM DOKKEN'S RETRIEVER TRAINING is for dog owners and any owning a retriever, offering a strong guide to flushing game, retrieving birds, and more. It provides tested methods for teaching a hunting dog and supplies step-by-step color training photos throughout in this outstanding survey any dog owner needs.


The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

Final Cut Pro 7
Diana Weynand
Peachpit Press
1249 - 8th St., Berkeley, CA 94710
0321635272, $54.99 www.peachpit.com

Apple Pro Training Series: Final Cut Pro 7 provides a powerful reference for any interested in professional video editing, completely revising instructions for the Pro 7 version and featuring new footage from TNT's hit show Leverage and more. From basic video editing techniques to the program's advanced features, each chapter provides a complete lesson in video editing and finishing and an accompanying DVD-ROM includes lesson and media files for over 40 hours of training, making for a 'must' for any student surveying Final Cut Pro 7.

Animation Development from Pitch to Production
David B. Levy
Allworth Press
10 E. 23rd St., New York NY 10010
9781581156614, $24.95 www.allworth.com

Animation Development from Pitch to Production offers writers and animation creators a fine survey of the process of creating an animation, from pushing projects through collaborations and partnerships to creating a pitch and considering new media platforms. Any library strong in film and animation development needs this.

A Year of Hitchcock
Jim McDevitt and Eric San Juan
Scarecrow Press Inc.
4501 Forbes Blvd. #200, Lanham, MD 20706
9780810863880 $49.95 www.scarecrowpress.com

A YEAR OF HITCHCOCK is arranged into 52 chronological chapters and invites readers to spend a year with the director's best works to appreciate his development. Each film is considered in light of Hitchcock's career and themes central to his work, offering a focus on the range of his famous and lesser-publicized films and providing a key analysis perfect for any college-level film library serious about Hitchcock's films.


The Photography Shelf

Understanding Close-Up Photography
Bryan Peterson
Amphoto Books
c/o Watson Guptill Publications
1745 Broadway, New York, NY 10019
0817427198, $25.95 www.amphotobooks.com

Photographer and instructor Bryan Peterson provides a sixth book on photography: this one on close-up work, to challenge common assumptions and ideas. Both traditional and untraditional viewpoints and camera shots are included in a survey on how to gain the most using minimal specialized equipment, offering new ways of using lenses and discovering unconventional subjects to photograph. Any library strong in photo techniques needs this.

The Digital Photography Book V. 3
Scott Kelby
Peachpit Press
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300, Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
0321617657, $24.99 www.peachpit.com

Volume 3 of Scott Kelby's classic best-selling digital photography handbook provides step-by-step instructions for making a photo look polished and professional, offering a follow-up to his Volume 2 with a new book that picks up where the second volume left off. Each page covers a single idea on how to make a photo better - professional tips and tricks pack a solid handbook detailing exact settings and options that translate to professional results. A 'must' for any aspiring photographer or library catering to them.

How to Digitally Photograph Cars
Jason Siu & Josh Mackey
CarTech Inc.
39966 Grand Ave., North Branch, MN 55056
9781932494990, $24.95 www.cartechbooks.com

How to Digitally Photograph Cars offers a range of details on equipment, lighting, location and more for any who would photography cars. It's the first book on digitally photographing a vehicle, offering post-processing techniques and tips on planning, controlling lighting, and more. Any who would photograph cars, races, and more needs this specific guide, packed with ideas and examples.

Photographing Jewish Weddings
Stan Turkel
Amherst Media
Box 586, Buffalo, NY 14226
9781584282549, $39.95 www.amherstmedia.com

Photographing Jewish Weddings: A Complete Handbook for Professionals offers keys to understanding the entire Jewish wedding ceremony, with all its traditions, rituals, and unique photographic opportunities. Timelines, schedules, and symbolism are surveyed within the context of 'must have' images in a fine guide for any creating formal portraits of the occasion.

How to Cheat in Photoshop Elements 7
David Asch & Steve Caplin
Focal Press
30 Corporate Drive #400, Burlington, MA 01803
9780240521541, $39.95 www.focalpress.com

How to Cheat in Photoshop Elements 7 includes a CD for both Mac and PC users and tells how to create exceptional graphics. Elements is a montage application and shows how to do everything from importing missing people into photos to wrapping surfaces, creating curtains, distorting perspective, making curls and folds, and more. It's a photo manipulator's dream book, and tops for any Photoshop library.


The Travel Shelf

360 Degrees Longitude
John Higham
Alyson Books
245 W. 17th St., Suite 1200, New York NY 10011
1593501080, $17.95 www.alyson.com

360 DEGREES LONGITUDE: ONE FAMILY'S JOURNEY AROUND THE WORLD tells of how the author and his family packed up and set out to travel around the wo5rld, crossing 24 times zones and visiting 28 countries in 52 weeks. Their discoveries of other cultures, wildlife, and about each other makes for a fun narrative that accompanies Google Earth as a compliment to the narrative. General lending libraries will find it a different kind of travel title.

Shopping Marrakech
Susan Simon
Little Bookroom
435 Hudson, 3rd Floor, New York NY 10014
9781892145789, $18.95 www.littlebookroom.com

SHOPPING MARRAKECH includes color photos throughout by Nally Bellati, includes style considerations by the author, and is packed with insights on how to navigate Marrakech's markets and alleys to locate treasures. Seven walks plotted on maps are accompanied by shopping tips and packed into a very small take-along tote perfect for destination travelers and those reaching Marrakech's shopping opportunities. Market locations, hours, payment methods and notes abound in an astounding array of insights.

China Underground
Zachary Mexico
Soft Skull Press
2117 - 4th St. Suite D, Berkeley, CA 94710
9781593762230, $16.95 www.softskull.com

CHINA UNDERGROUND is a fine firsthand story of a young American's encounter with the 'new China' and its subcultures. From rock stars trying to make it big in Shanghai to a Chinese Mafia kingpin and a punk band trying to stay at the cutting edge of different cultural norms, this provides a fine view of a China trying to change its own culture and its relationship with the world, and is a pick for both armchair readers and any collection interested in modern Chinese affairs.

The National Parks: America's Best Idea
Dayton Duncan and Ken Burns
Alfred A. Knopf
c/o Random House
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, NY, NY 10019
9780307268969, $50.00 www.aaknopf.com

The National Parks: America's Best Idea offers a companion volume to the twelve-hour PBS series and provide a history of the idea of America's national parks, from birth to development. From explorations to political battles behind the parks system, THE NATIONAL PARKS is an outstanding celebration of American achievement and this is a pick both for travelers interested in visiting parks to any interested in how the parks system evolved. Packed with color photos and exciting history.

Ho! For Wonderland
Lee H. Whittlesey & Elizabeth A. Watry
University of New Mexico Press
1312 Basehart Road SE, Albuquerque NM 87106-4363
9780826346162, $29.95, www.unmpress.com

Collaboratively compiled and deftly edited by the team of Lee H. Whittlesey and Elizabeth A. Watry, "HO! FOR WONDERLAND: TRAVELERS' ACCOUNTS OF YELLOWSTONE, 1872-1914" offers a wonderful set of stories from Lee's lifelong editing of thousands of firsthand accounts of Yellowstone. Blend that with Elizabeth Watry's passion for Yellowstone's cultural history and you have a blend of history and travelogue packed with unique park experiences and encounters, perfect for any library interested in Yellowstone's background.

Women in the Wild
Lucy McCauley, Editor
Travelers' Tales
Box 610160, Redwood City, CA 94061
188521121X, $17.95 www.oreilly.com/ttales

Deserving of ongoing recommendation is this lively survey of 'wild women' who journey into remote wilderness locations to make discoveries and have adventures. From Iceland, Ireland, Ecuador to India, first-person experiences capture both adventure and connection and are a pick for any lending library.

Cycling France
Ethan Gelber
Lonely Planet
150 Linden St., Oakland, CA 94607
9781741040449, $24.99 www.lonelyplanet.com

CYCLING FRANCE offers over thirty rides through French countryside, from route descriptions to maps, cue sheets and more. This take-along tote offers everything needed to get prepared, from what to bring and costs to different areas of France perfect for a bicycle tour. A 'must' for any planning a bicycle tour of France.


The Crafts Shelf

Jewelry in a Flash
BeadStyle Magazine Editors
Kalmbach Books
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53186
9780871162687, $19.95 www.kalmbachbooks.com

JEWELRY IN A FLASH provides a fine and rewarding survey of quick, easy and stylish jewelry that can be made in 50 minutes or less. Some forty-two easy projects display all the basics of technique and offer complete supply lists for each project. Newcomers will find this an excellent introduction to the art.

Beadwork Techniques of the Native Americans
Scott Sutton
Crazy Crow Trading Post
Box 847, Pottsboro, TX 75076
1929572115 $19.95 www.crazycrow.com

Beadwork Techniques of the Native Americans is a 'must' for any jewelry-making, beadwork or Native American crafts library. It explains tricks the author's learned from his extensive experience as a bead worker, includes techniques not to be found in competing beadwork titles, and offers step-by-step color photos tying the information together. The result is a fine survey packed with a range of beadwork styles, from stitching and loom work to applique.


The Woodworking Shelf

1001 Tips for Woodworkers
Percy Blandford
Linden Publishing
2006 S. Mary, Fresno, CA
1933502150, $21.95 www.lindenpub.com

Woodworkers seeking tips gathered from a lifetime of experience will welcome this 'bible' compendium of facts covering all areas of woodworking, from using traditional or new handtools to getting the most from power tools and other equipment. Step-by-step how-to directions include diagrams and safety coverages and make this a fine addition to any library strong in woodworking projects.


The Christian Studies Shelf

The House Church Book
Wolfgang Simson
Barna
c/o Tyndale House Publishers
351 Executive Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188
9781414325521, $17.99 www.tyndale.com

House churches are small groups of believers who meet in homes, coffee shops and more - and these groups are becoming more common. This book discusses their nature, how a house church can be formed, and steps for reaching into the community. Common pitfalls as well as success stories make for very practical survey recommended for any spirituality library and any general lending collection where community churches are strong.

In God's Womb
Edwina Gateley
Orbis Books
Price Bldg, Box 308, Maryknoll, NY 10545
9781570758478, $20.00 www.orbisbooks.com

IN GOD'S WOMB: A SPIRITUAL MEMOIR blends spirituality with a memoir of volunteer missionary work in Africa, adding poems and reflections on the author's personal relationship to God. Spirituality libraries will find it a powerful, revealing guide perfect for their 'autobiography' section recounting spiritual lives.

Life Among the Lutherans
Garrison Keillor
Augsburg Fortress
P.O. Box 59304, Minneapolis, MN 55459-0304
9780806670614, $23.99 www.augsburgfortress.org

LIFE AMONG THE LUTHERANS comes from a Midwest commentator known for his lively and penetrating 'Prairie Home Companion', is edited by Holly Harden, and provides an inside view of the psyche and thoughts of the Lutheran Midwest mentality. Its social and religious commentary is penetrating and fun " .one thing that's true of every single last one of them without a single exception is that the low point of their year is their summer vacation." Both Lutherans and non-Lutherans will relish this.

The Christian Future and the Fate of Earth
Thomas Berry
Orbis Books
Box 302, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0302
9781570758515, $22.00 www.orbisbooks.com

Mary Evelyn Tucker and John Grim edit The Christian Future and the Fate of Earth, a fine guide to Thomas Berry's reflections on Christianity and the environmental crisis. From the interrelatedness of the Earth community to a Christian thinker's concern over the Earth's situation, this offers some powerful connections between religion and the environment and is an ongoing pick for any serious Christian library.


The Military Shelf

The Will to Resist
Dahr Jamail
Haymarket Books
Box 180165, Chicago, IL 60618
9781931859882, $20.00 www.haymarketbooks.org

THE WILL TO RESIST: SOLDIERS WHO REFUSE TO FIGHT IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN offers an in-depth study of modern military resisters, considering dissent within military ranks and outside of it and documenting the resistance of soldiers who decide to go AWOL within Iraq and at home. Plenty of books have been written on Vietnam events, so it's refreshing to see a different focus that takes into account the latest battles and their ethical, social and military implications. Military and general collections will find this a revealing set of interviews and insights.


The Interior Design Shelf

The Al Fresco Life
Joe Vassallo and Mary Vail
Schiffer
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764331886, $39.99 www.schifferbooks.com

THE AL FRESCO LIFE: POOLS, SPAS, BARS, AND KITCHENS offers an inspirational set of home ideas for creating spaces conducive to entertaining and relaxing outside. From custom pool designs and outdoor features to grilling recipes from a master chef, homeowners looking to revamp their garden entertainment areas will love the many options here.


The Architecture Shelf

Green Building Trends: Europe
Jerry Yundelson
Island Press
1718 Connecticut Ave NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20009
1597264776, $30.00 www.islandpress.org

Green Building Trends: Europe is a fine discussion for any library strong in building and architecture. It surveys green building techniques, addresses issues in U.S. green design, and offers European trends and insights, focusing on sustainable systems throughout Europe. Architecture and home construction collections will find it packed with specific insights.


The Music Shelf

Michael Jackson: A Visual Documentary, updated edition
Adrian Grant
Omnibus Press
257 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10010
9781849382618, $29.95 www.omnibuspress.com

Michael Jackson: A Visual Documentary is a keeper for any music collection strong in popular music or the works of Michael Jackson. This new edition has been updated to include events about his recent death but covers the 1950s to modern times, recording his moves, music, and including hundreds of color and black and white photos of his records, concerts, awards, and more. Jackson fans will find this a fitting tribute.

Heart: In the Studio
Jake Brown
ECW Press
2120 Queen St E. #200, Toronto, Ontario Canada M4E 1E2
1550228315, $19.95 www.ecwpress.com

Any fan of the group Heart - two sisters who produced a string of classic songs in the 70s and who continue to perform to this day - will want HEART: IN THE STUDIO. It follows Heart's evolution to present day, going behind the scenes of their various hit songs and albums and featuring interviews with the audio, their guitarist, and their producers. Heart fans as well as libraries strong in country or contemporary music will find this packed with insights and history.

Green Day: 21st Century Breakdown
Alfred Music Publishing
Box 10003, Van Nuys, CA 91410-0003
0739062050, $21.95 www.alfred.com

Rock music libraries strong in guitar tab references will find this Green Day collection includes some of their largest hits, from 'Know Your Enemy' to 'Restless Heart Syndrome'. The three-act green Day package is perfect for guitar-playing fans who want to produce covers of their 21st Century Breakdown album songs.

Getting Great Sounds: The Microphone Book
Tom Lubin
Course Technology
20 Channel Center St., Boston, MA 02210
1598635700, $39.99 www.courseptr.com

Learn how to choose and use microphones for optimal advantage with a book covering types of microphones, pickup patterns, polarity, acoustics, impedance, stereo sounds and transducers, and much more. The focus is on different microphones for different settings, making this a 'must' for practicing and aspiring musicians in all genres, and libraries catering to them.

Sound Equalization Tips and Tricks
Eddie Bazil
PC Publishing
Keeper's House, Merton, Thetford, Norfolk, IP25 6QH, UK
9781906005092 $19.95 www.pc-publishing.com

Sound Equalization Tips and Tricks is an excellent pick for any library interested in technical guides to music processing. All kinds of equalizers and processes are covered in a fine collection written in layman's language offering explanations of all types of EQ, what they're used for, and how to use them. A 'must' for any serious music collection.


The Environmental Studies Shelf

Environmental Communication and the Public Sphere, second edition
Robert Cox
Sage Publications
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
9781412972116, $49.95 www.sagepublications.com

The second updated edition of this classic college-level survey remains the only comprehensive introduction to the field of environmental communication and thus continues to deserve a place in any collection strong in environmental issues. The author uses his background as three-time president of the Sierra Club to explore the interaction between environmentalists and the political and media systems. This offers discussion of major issues and practices in the field and adds new information about court rulings on global warming, new media and more.

Cold
Bill Streever
Little, Brown
237 Park Avenue, New York NY 10017
9780316042918, $24.99 www.hachettebookgroup.com

COLD: ADVENTURES IN THE WORLD'S FROZEN PLACES is packed with examination of cold and ice, offering a poetic, involving and moving account of the author's experiences of cold and its importance in a warming world. From a history of the influence of cold on the planet to a personal quest for ice and cold mid-summer, this blends history with natural history in an unusual, passionate guide to cold and ice. Any science, environmental studies, or nature collection will find it a moving survey.

Heart of Dryness
James G. Workman
Walker & Company
175 - 5th Ave., New York NY 10010
9780802715586, $26.00 www.walkerbooks.com

HEART OF DRYNESS: HOW THE LAST BUSHMEN CAN HELP US ENDURE THE COMING AGE OF PERMANENT DROUGHT recounts the history of the Bushmen of the Kalahari and how they struggled with water shortages. The Bushmen are one of the world's most successful civilizations: their story and experiences with both drought and politics offer numerous social, political and adaptation lessons to a world increasingly linked to water availability.

Seeking the Sacred Raven
Mark Jerome Walters
Island Press
1718 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 300, Washington, DC 20009-1148
1559630906, $24.95 www.islandpress.org

Deserving of ongoing recommendation is SEEKING THE SACRED RAVEN: POLITICS AND EXTINCTION ON A HAWAIIAN ISLAND. At first glance it might seem to hold limited interest for non-Hawaiian collections: not so. In fact it holds relevance for any library strong in environmental issues and animal preservation, considering the politics and economics of wildlife extinction processes and offering an intimate survey of a vanishing species. Highly recommended.

People of the Sturgeon
Kathleen Schmitt Kline, et.al.
Wisconsin Historical Society Press
816 State St., Madison, WI 53706
9780870204319, $29.95 www.wisconsinhistory.org

PEOPLE OF THE STURGEON: WISCONSIN'S LOVE AFFAIR WITH AN ANCIENT FISH adds photos by Bob Rashid and celebrates the sturgeon fish, on the brink of extinction throughout the Northern Hemisphere. The narrowed focus on the surviving sturgeon of Lake Winnebago in Wisconsin might initially seem to hold a narrow focus for Wisconsin residents, but actually reaches far beyond to promise insights on fishing, ecology, and conservation success. Any lending library strong in these areas needs PEOPLE OF THE STURGEON in their collection.

The Sibley Guide to Trees
David Allen Sibley
Alfred A. Knopf
c/o Random House
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, NY, NY 10019
9780375415197, $39.95 www.aaknopf.com

THE SIBLEY GUIDE TO TREES is written and illustrated by David Sibley and provides a powerful reference recommended for any library where gardening, horticulture or tree identification is needed. It follows the format of the author's successful bird books and provides a fine companion volume with clear illustrations, descriptions, range maps, and an organization by tree family that lends to quick look-ups. Very highly recommended!


The Science Shelf

The Fallen Sky
Christopher Cokinos
Tarcher/Putnam
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014-3658
9781585427208, $27.95 www.penguin.com

THE FALLEN SKY: AN INTIMATE HISTORY OF SHOOTING STARS blends natural history, science, and a memoir as it probes maverick scientists and adventurers studying meteorites from early to modern times. The focus on meteorites and their origins, study and science makes for a lively and fine read recommended not just for science libraries, but for general-interest collections.

Missions to the Moon
Rod Pyle
Sterling
387 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016-8810
9781402769801, $40.00 www.sterlingpublishing.com

MISSIONS TO THE MOON: THE COMPLETE STORY OF MAN'S GREATEST ADVENTURE offers a boxed, slipcased keepsake survey of man's quest to explore the moon, from the early development of the German V1 and V2 weapons to the Apollo moon landings. Over 150 photos and 20 facsimile documents offer testimony to efforts and removable pieces not appropriate for library lending, but perfect for a space fan's private collection.


The Computer Shelf

Professional Excel Development, second edition
Rob Bovey, et.al.
Addison Wesley
c/o Pearson Technology Group
501 Boylston St. #900, Boston MA 02116
0321508793, $59.99 www.informit.com/aw

Any collection strong in Excel programming that seeks just one solid, definitive and comprehensive technical survey will find this a top pick, offering a survey of how to build the latest solutions using Excel 2007. It's been fully updated for 2007 and covers everything from designing better worksheets and creating cross-version applications that work with old Excel files to developing applications based on data in servers, automating Excel with VB.NET, and more. A top pick for any collection strong in Excel.

Handcrafted CSS
Dan Cederholm with Ethan Marcotte
New Riders
c/o Pearson Technology Group
1249 - 8th St., Berkeley, CA 94710
0321643380, $39.99 www.newriders.com

HANDCRAFTED CSS: MORE BULLETPROOF WEB DESIGN offers connections between artistry and web design and explores CSS3 for modern browsers. Web designers, project managers and artists alike receive an excellent progressive series of lessons on how to enrich designs using CSS3 properties and how to create fluid, flexible layouts. Color screen shots throughout provide excellent examples.

The CSS Anthology, third edition
Rachel Andrew
Sitepoint
9780980576801, $39.95 www.sitepoint.com

The third updated edition of THE CSS ANTHOLOGY: 101 ESSENTIAL TIPS, TRICKS AND HACKS packs in ready-to-use CSS solutions and 'best practice' ideas, providing a completely revised, updated new edition covering the latest techniques and newest browsers. Any CSS user will find this packs in solutions to problems ranging from issues of compatibility to using the latest CSS techniques. Highly recommended.

Foundation Blender Compositing
Roger D. Wickes
Apress
2855 Telegraph Ave #600, Berkeley, CA 94705
9781430219767, $49.99 www.apress.com

A DVD is included with this in-depth survey of how to use the Blender program to maxim advantage. It's the world's foremost open source computer graphics digital content authoring system and has been used to create cartoons, shorts, TV commercials, and more. The software and references on the companion DVD support a step-by-step approach to animating elements and sequencing shots with audio. Any computer video producer needs this.

CSS: The Missing Manual
David Sawyer McFarland
O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein Hwy North, Sebastopol, CA 95472
9780596802448, $34.99 www.missingmanuals.com

CSS: THE MISSING MANUAL offers all the basics for CSS design, covering everything to know about creating cascading style sheets with quick-loading web pages. From elegant layouts and navigation to learning which properties work with the latest browsers, CSS: The Missing Manual is a top pick for any computer collection catering to CSS engineers and those who would refine their talents.

Foundations of Green IT
Marty Poniatowski
Prentice Hall
c/o Pearson Technology Group
0137043759, $44.99 www.informit.com/ph

Foundations of Green IT: Consolidation, Virtualization, Efficiency and ROI in the Data Center is a pick for any college-level computer collection strong in networking issues. It comes from a team of leading Green IT consultants and provides technical information and case studies for consolidation, better design, and reducing PC waste. Technical specifics make this a powerful recommendation.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

Estate Jewelry 1760-1960
Diana Sanders Cinamon
Schiffer
4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, PA 19310
9780764333002, $49.99 www.schifferbooks.com

Any library strong in collectors of jewelry will want ESTATE JEWELRY 1760-1960. It provides color photos of period and antique jewelry created of 200 years in Canada, Europe, The U.K. and the U.S. Construction techniques, changing jewelry styles, and more are revealed along with identification marks, values of over 500 items, and a quick reference section lending to easy lookups. A 'must' for any serious jewelry collector.

Diamonds, second edition
Antoinette Matlins, P.G.
GemStone Press
Route 4, Box 237, Woodstock, VT 05091
0943763460, $18.99 www.gemstonepress.com

The newly expanded, updated edition of DIAMONDS: THE ANTOINETTE MATLINS BUYING GUIDE tells how to select, buy and care for diamonds and is a 'must' for any library catering to consumers with jewelry books. It covers everything from quality differences and grading reports to how to compare prices, spot differences in stones, and protect from misrepresentation. A 'must' for any who would collect or assess diamonds.

The Gun Digest, 64th edition
Dan Shideler, Editor
Gun Digest
c/o Krause Publications
700 E. State St., Iola, WI 54990-0001
1440202338, $32.99 www.gundigestbooks.com

Any gun collector or library catering to them will find the 2010 edition of a classic reference to be a key acquisition. It comes with a DVD of highlights and includes new product reports, articles, and an illustrated firearms catalog packed with black and white images and sidebars of specifications and information. A 'must' for any serious gun collector or libraries catering to them.

Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, 15th edition
George S. Cuhaj
Krause Publications
700 E. State St., Iola, WI 54990-0001
9780896898370, $55.00 www.krausebooks.com

The 15th updated edition of a complete world bank note reference from 1961 to present offers the largest English language catalog available. This newly updated edition includes over 19,000 variety listings, 12,000 illustrations, the latest retail pricing in 3 condition grades, and a CD with the complete book content for quicker reference for computer users. An invaluable reference, this is a 'must' for any library with more than a casual interest in money collecting.


The Literary Shelf

The Rhetoric of Terror
Marc Redfield
Fordham University Press
University Box L, 2546 Belmont Ave., Bronx, NY 10458
9780823231249, $24.00 www.fordhampress.com

Any college-level collection strong in political rhetoric will welcome The Rhetoric of Terror: Reflections on 9/11 and the War on Terror. It provides a strong analysis of war scenarios, political influences on language, and political and military self-expression, offering a literary and social survey of how 'terror' has haunted politics and theory from the French Revolution to modern times.

Garner's Modern American Usage, third edition
Bryan A. Garner
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Ave., New York NY 10015-4314
9780195382754, $45.00 www.oup.com/us

The third updated edition of GARNER'S MODERN AMERICAN USAGE offers a new feature: a "Language-Change Index" which registers where each disputed usage in modern English falls into a range from non-acceptability to acceptability. This is the first usage guide to incorporate such a language-change index and makes for a powerful addition to any college-level literary reference collection.

Writing Away
Lavinia Spalding
Traveler's Tales
853 Alma St., Palo Alto, CA 94301
9781932361674, $14.95 www.travelerstales.com

This could have been featured in our 'travel' shelf but is reviewed here as an outstanding survey of journal-writing for travelers and any who want to capture their experiences on paper. Its survey of travel, personal development, and how to keep a travel journal makes for an outstanding and lively recommendation for travelers and non-travelers alike and is a top pick for any library strong in either creative writing or travel accounts.


The Railroading Shelf

Baldwin Locomotives
Schiffer Publishing
4880 Lower Valley Rd, Atglen, PA 19310
0764333763, $39.99 www.schifferbooks.com

BALDWIN LOCOMOTIVES is a top pick for any collection strong in railroad history, especially appealing to engineers and collectors of rail information. It covers the history of the Baldwin Locomotive Works, founded in Philadelphia in 1831, and covers the manufacture of Baldwin designs used across the country. Hundreds of etchings and diagrams reveal ten years of locomotive history and make for an outstandingly well-detailed compendium of facts.


The American History Shelf

Cotton and Race in the Making of America
Gene Dattel
Ivan R. Dee
1332 N. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60642-2694
9781566637473, $28.95 www.ivanrdee.com

Cotton and Race in the Making of America: The Human Costs of Economic Power offers a fine, pioneering study of central social issues in the story of cotton development and race relations, discussing the leading export crop of the country and its connections to Afro-American experiences. Any college-level library strong in race relations and economic and social influences will find this narrowed focus key to understanding cotton's role in race relations and developments.

The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Sixties
Jonathan Leaf
Regnery Publishing Inc.
One Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington DC 20001
9781596985728, $19.95 www.regnery.com

Woodstock has become the symbol of a decade of free love, but in The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Sixties author Jonathan Leaf rejects the idea that the era fostered radical change in all society. This book tells how radical factions took over movements such as civil rights and feminism and replaced their ideas with more extreme methods and ideas - and it tells of a decade dominated by cultural conservatism and family values, instead. An excellent alternative viewpoint.

I'm Dying Up Here
William Knoedelseder
Public Affairs
250 W. 57th St. #1321, New York NY 10107
9781586483173, $24.95 www.publicaffairsbooks.com

I'M DYING UP HERE: HEARTBREAK AND HIGH TIMES IN STAND-UP COMEDY'S GOLDEN ERA is a fine pick for any library strong in comedy history and shows. It comes from a reporter who wrote the first major newspaper profiles of several future stars and influential club owners, and tells the story of the rise of the golden age of comedy and the strike that ended it. Entertainment libraries will find this a popular history.

Daily Life in Immigrant America: 1870-1920
June Granatir Alexander
Ivan R. Dee
1332 N. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60642-2694
9781566638302, $16.95 www.ivanrdee.com

Daily Life in Immigrant America: 1870-1920 provides a survey of the second wave of immigrants that brought over 26 million into this country, covering their diverse origins and their daily life, from settlement patterns and experiences to pressures to become American. It joins a companion introduction and makes for a powerful history for any general lending library or high school collection studying American immigrant experiences.


The 2010 Calendar Shelf

Andrews & McMeel Publishing
1130 Walnut St., Kansas City MO 64106
www.andrewsmcmeel.com

Three outstanding wall calendars are top picks for any who want to combine the practicality of a wall calendar organizer with some of the finest humor comic strips in print. Scott Hilburn's THE ARGYLE SWEATER (0740784609, $14.99) offers a weekly wall 2010 calendar with planning pages, monthly pages, year-at-a-glance bottom pages, and a different full-color comic for each WEEK. 54 weekly pages make this an exceptional pick for busy families. Scott Adams' Dilbert character is perfect for businesses and THERE ARE ONLY TWO THINGS YOU CAN'T BUY FOR THE TEST LAB THIS YEAR. HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE (0740781839, $13.99) is hilarious. Large monthly single-panel comics and a row of 6 color panels below it accompany an easy at-a-glance wall calendar with large boxes for fill-ins and prior months. Stephen Pastis' 'Pearls Before Swine' offers the 2010 calendar AND DA WIND CRY MORON (0740782061, $13.99) provides single monthly full-color panels and four smaller panels at the bottom of each, along with fine boxes for write-in dates. These are all outstanding, superior calendar picks highly recommended above other humor presentations.


The Humor Shelf

Deedee Divine's Totally Skewed Guide to Life
Diana Estill
Corncob Press
120 E. FM 544, Suite 72, PMB 135, Murphy TX 75094
9780979970818, $14.95 www.totallyskewed.com

"Deedee Divine's Totally Skewed Guide to Life" belongs in the collection of any library strong in humor essays. Outrageous advice on why women won't read maps, health and beauty pursuits, food and fitness, and more make for a series of hilarious comments on the human condition in a zany, fun read perfect for general lending libraries.

Confessions of a Swinging Single Sea Turtle
Jim Toomey
Andrews & McMeel Publishing
1130 Walnut St., Kansas City MO 64106
0740785516, $12.99 www.andrewsmcmeel.com

Any fan of Sherman's Lagoon already knows there are numerous comic strip collections - but may not realize that Confessions of a Swinging Single Sea Turtle represents the 14th such gathering. Black and white and facing color pages of cartoon strips make for an outstanding gathering with a focus on not just a lonely sea turtle looking for love, but other Sherman underwater characters. A lovely set of lively and fun encounters between sea life and humanity evolves in a collection highly recommended for any general-interest library.

Pearls Sells Out
Stephen Pastis
Andrews & McMeel Publishing
1130 Walnut St., Kansas City MO 64106
0740773968, $16.99 www.andrewsmcmeel.com

Pearls Before Swine is one of the most hilarious comic strips in print, telling of the antics of crocodiles who long to consume their zebra neighbor, of a not-so-smart pig and his sidekick Duck, and more. The blend of color and black and white strips is outstanding and make this a highly recommended pick for both newcomers and old fans of the Pearls Before Swine comic strips.


The California Shelf

Imperial
William T. Vollmann
Viking
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
9780670020614, $55.00 www.penguin.com

California's Imperial County covers deserts, date groves, and more - it draws right across the Mexican border and generations of migrant workers have roots and history tied to the county. This weighty study of Imperial County offers an unprecedented survey of not just the county but the social issues involved in illegal immigration and border issues, considering the county's early history, its challenges, its descent into poverty, and its immigration history and connections with Mexico. Never has another county been given such thorough historical and social analysis, making IMPERIAL a 'must' not just for California collections, but for any library strong in immigration issues.

Arcadia Publishing
420 Wando Park Blvd., Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
www.arcadiapublishing.com

Any collection strong in California's ethnic communities in general and Portuguese community history in particular will find this latest addition to the 'Images of America' set, Portuguese Community of San Diego by the Portuguese Historical Center with Donna Alves-Calhoun (0738570346, $21.99) to be absorbing and powerful, documenting and preserving local San Diego photos of its community. The author is a second-generation native to Point Loma and a director of the Portuguese Historical Center: this gathering uses archival photos and identifies the history and culture of the region, and is a top pick for any California library. Also tops are Dolores Gomez and Christy Thilmany's BRISBANE (0738570486, $21.99), telling of a small town just outside of San Francisco that has been largely overlooked in regional Bay Area history. The images from the Brisbane Library Historical Collection begun in the 1970s make up the bulk of this book and compliment photos from other local collections documenting Brisbane's planning and history. A rare, invaluable peek at a nearly-forgotten small town. Jay Jennings' KNOTT'S BERRY FARM: THE EARLY YEARS (0738569216, $21.99) tells of Knott's Berry Farm, before Disneyland a family attraction. It began as a small roadside berry stand in Buena Park, California and grew to become one of the most popular amusement parks in the world. This collection of some 200 rare images comes from a Los Angeles native who has spent the last 25 years researching the history of Southern California amusement parks as a whole, and provides an outstanding collection of images perfect for any California collection.


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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