Hollow Earth
David Standish
Da Capo Press
11 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
0306813734 $24.95 www.dacapo.com
HOLLOW EARTH: THE LONG AND CURIOUS HISTORY OF IMAGINING STRANGE LANDS, FANTASTICAL CREATURES, ADVANCED CIVLIZATIONS, AND MARVELOS MACHINES BELOW THE EARTH'S SURFACE is for any who have loved Jules Vern, H.G. Wells, and imaginative history. From Sir Edmond Halley's 17th century theory of a hollow earth to account for magnetic pole flux to Hitler's search for an opening in the planet to use as a possible hideout, chapters chart speculations and manias from ancient civilizations to modern times, providing a lively survey not just of evolving beliefs, but of how they fostered changes. The forty illustrations include maps and movie posters and provide vivid accompaniment to a fun title that promises to reach a wide audience – and not just science fiction buffs.
Number Freaking
Gary Rimmer
Disinformation
163 – 3rd Ave. #108, New York NY 10003
1932857273 $13.95 www.disinfo.com
You'd expect the topic to be statistics with a title like NUMBER FREAKING: HOW TO CHANGE THE WORLD WITH DELIGHTFULLY SURREAL STATISTICS: not so: in fact, it has nothing to do with accounting or statistics. It's a compilation of ‘absurd arithmetic' and covers everything from calculating how many people on Earth are drunk in a given moment to wondering if America will eventually collide with Japan, or how many lightning flashes there are every year. An engaging study.
The Art of Psychic Bidding And Its Pitfalls
Julian Pottage & Peter Burrows
Batsford/Sterling Publishing
387 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016-8810
0713488816 $15.95 www.batsford.com www.sterlingpub.com
Any with an interest in psychic bluffing's forms and applications shouldn't miss The Art of Psychic Bidding And Its Pitfalls. Psychic bidding is defined as bluffing calls to create an illusion of strength or length in a suit, or to hide weakness: this is the only full-length book on the topic to cover ethics, applications, and the experiences of famous psychs.
Complete Idiot's Guides
Lita Epstein, MBA
Alpha/Penguin
375 Hudson, New York NY 10014
www.idiotsguides.com
The second edition of SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE (1592575196, $16.95) is a top pick any public library will want to include in their collection. It updates all information on rules, coverage, benefits and more, providing tips on everything from timing retirement benefits to understanding how divorce and death affects social security benefits. An ever-increasing population of baby boomers will find it useful. Dan Ramsey's CAR CARE AND REPAIR ILLUSTRATED (0028644328, $18.95) is for any newcomer to car repair and care – the perfect gift for the teen: it provides easy checks to maintain performance, step-by-step instructions for common auto repairs, advice on preventative maintenance and more. Both are excellent general-interest guides.
This fourth Tufte title continues his themes of pairing image with text, focusing on how information can be transmitted graphically and focusing on ‘sparklines': data-intense, word-like graphics. Perhaps it's impossible to adequately describe this concept using plain print: for more, you need to see BEAUTIFUL EVIDENCE, blending cartography, diagrams, science and art in a winning survey of measurement-based images.
Blood and Religion
Jonathan Cook
Pluto Press
c/o University of Michigan
839 Greene Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104-3209
0745325556 $24.95 www.plutobooks.com www.press.umich.edu
BLOOD AND RELIGION: THE UNMASKING OF THE JEWISH AND DEMOCRATIC STATE comes from a reporter on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and provides an argument tracing the Jewish state's motives – to avoid a Palestinian majority in the region. Any interested in the history and progress of Zionism will find BLOOD AND RELIGION a thought-provoking survey.
Pointed Leaf Press
1100 Madison Avenue, New York NY 10028
www.pointedleafpress.com
Peter Schifando and Jean H. Mathison's CLASS ACT: WILLIAM HAINES, LEGENDARY HOLLYWOOD DECORATOR (0972766146 $95.00) tells of a 1920s Hollywood ‘decorator to the stars', who opened a new talent contest in 1922 and appeared in over twenty films as a leading man. When his film career faded, his decorating skills of the past emerged – and many of his costars became his first clients. Eventually he was designing the homes of directors, producers, and Hollywood's elite. CLASS ACT pairs an outstanding collection of black and white photos and drawings – many of which haven't been published before – with a discussion which includes gorgeous interior design insights. This has been reviewed earlier but deserves ongoing recognition as an unparalleled treasure and ‘must' for any serious interior design holding. Stefan Falke's gorgeous photos in MOKO JUMBIES (0972766138, $65.00) could've been featured in our travel or photography sections, but is reviewed here for its gorgeous artistic qualities which pair an oversized presentation with vivid color throughout. Seventeen years ago one Glen Souza founded the Keylemanjahro School of Arts and Culture on Trinidad to revive nearly-forgotten West African traditions of dancing on stilts. Today over a hundred Moko Jumbies practice at the school – and renowned photographer Steven Falke spent six years documenting them, the fruits of which grace a lovely, stunning collection. Both are highly recommended, top picks for art library holdings.
The price tag's a bargain for an oversized presentation of nearly five hundred pages perfect for both general interest public library holdings and those specializing in Egyptian history or archaeological discoveries. The ruins of not one but three ancient cities off the coast of Egypt have contributed important clues to the culture, life and sentiments of early Egyptian civilization, and author Franck Goddio as key discoverer of these relics is in a prime position to present images of the excavation process in EGYPT'S SUNKEN TREASURES. His survey not only documents the process of excavation and research, but Goddio's role as founder and president of the European Institute for Underwater Archaeology in Paris lends an authority and background to the discoveries which is unique and well detailed. One would think this would result in a survey too weighty for general audience interest, but the extensive color photos and historical background is accessible to all.
Universal Beauty
Cara Birnbaum
Rutledge Hill Press
Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214
1401602290 $29.99 www.thomasnelson.com
If you want only one ‘beauty bible' filled with color and insights, it should come from an authority – and UNIVERSAL BEAUTY; THE MISS UNIVERSE GUIDE TO BEAUTY doesn't get any more authoritative. Contributions come from the former Miss Universe titleholders and pair advice from beauty writer Cara Birnbaum with the experts' insights. From choosing beauty products and understanding labeling to beauty secrets that helped win the crown, UNIVERSAL BEAUTY comes packed with expertise and plenty of color photos.
ISA
67 Alexander Dr., Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
www.isa.org
The third updated edition of Lawrence M. Thompson's BASIC ELECTRICITY AND ELECTRONICS FOR CONTROL: FUNDAMENTALS AND APPLICATIONS (155617988X) has been class tested and is an excellent primer for either classroom or on-job use. It covers behavior, not design – and it provides the basics of electricity as it's measured and controlled today. Chapters include procedures to make successful measurements of electrical quantities and by minimizing the amount of math calculations, are very accessible by beginners at either the college or work world level – though it's been developed from course materials and is written with students in mind. William L. Mostia, Jr., P.E.'s second edition of TROUBLESHOOTING: A TECHNICIAN'S GUIDE (1556179634) is for any working with loops and systems, and provides a newly revised edition based on the author's experience as an electrical engineer. Real-world examples of typical problems illustrate troubleshooting approaches, pros and cons and covers not only beginning to advanced methods and strategies, but tips on safety, training and advanced skills development. Harley M. Jeffrey's LOOP CHECKING: A TECHNICIAN'S GUIDE (1556179103) narrows the focus to process control loops, defining loop checking and controls as they relate to plant start-up and maintenance. General methods can apply across industries and build a foundation of knowledge from the basics to factory accepted testing and performance checks. All are top picks for any in-depth electrical engineer's collection.
The International Studies Shelf
The Punishment of Virtue
Sarah Chayes
Penguin Press
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
1594200963 $25.95 www.penguin.com
THE PUNISHMENT OF VIRTUE: INSIDE AFGHANISTAN AFTER THE TALIBAN comes from an NPR reporter who arrived in Afghanistan in 2001, leaving reporting as the Taliban left to help rebuild the nation by heading a non-profit founded by the brother of President Hamid Karzai. Her reporting background, access to top players in the post-war government, and personal participation in the rebuilding of the nation makes for a powerful blend of insights.
A Land Without Time
John Sumser
Academy Chicago
363 W. Erie St. #7E, Chicago, IL 60610
0897335430 $17.95 www.academychicago.com
Here's a first: the story of Afghanistan prior to and during the communist coup of 1979, told by an American who worked as a Peace Corps volunteer in Afghanistan. Only a handful of foreigners lived in the country at the time: A LAND WITHOUT TIME: A PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER IN AFGHANISTAN starts in the US with peace corps training and recruitment then follows a group of young men and women to the country, where they adopt to its needs and ways. A ‘must' for any who would understand Afghanistan culture and history and the peace corps perspective.
The Iraq War
Rick Fawn & Raymond Hinnebusch
Lynne Rienner Publishers
1800 – 30th St., Suite 314, Boulder, CO 80301-1026
1588264386 $23.50 www.amazon.com
From the major international and regional influences leading to the Iraq War to a history of issues relating to international law, foreign policy and foreign relations, The Iraq War: Causes & Consequences offers one of the best assessments in print. Chapters take a country-by-country approach in assessing the major players around the world, their interests in Iraq, and more. A ‘must' for any who would truly understand underlying motivations and forces in the region.
The Native American Shelf
Indian Yell
Michael Blake
Northland Publishing
2900 N. Fort Valley Rd., Flagstaff, AZ 86001
0873589076 $21.95 www.northlandbooks.com
Michael Blake is author of DANCES WITH WOLVES, and in INDIAN YELL: THE HEART OF AN AMERICAN INSURGENCY he not only reviews past practices but connects them to modern-day policies. Twelve significant conflicts receive survey in INDIAN YELLOW, a narrative which covers conflict between Indian and white man during the nation's expansion. The analysis dispels common myths and stereotypes of the Indian Wars, uses research to analyze both military and cultural interactions, and provides important connections to today's events and concerns among Indian nations.
A Song for the Horse Nation
George Horse Capture & Emil Her Many Horses
National Museum Am Indian/Fulcrum Publishing
16100 Table Mtn Pkwy #300, Golden, CO 80403
1555911129 $12.95 www.fulcrumbooks.com
A Song for the Horse Nation: Horses in Native American Cultures is edited by a scholar and a curator and includes a historical essay as it packs in photos of objects form the collection of the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian along with photos of North American Indians and horses.
The Psychology Shelf
A Mind of Its Own
Cordelia Fine
W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
0393062139 $24.95 www.wwnorton.com 1-800-233-4830
A MIND OF ITS OWN: HOW YOUR BRAIN DISTORTS AND DECEIVES explores the mind's deceptions, methods, defenses and processes – and provides a special focus on how the brain tends towards self-delusion. Our brain wraps our perceptions and incoming data, Dr. Fine maintains: as an experimental psychologist she holds the background and technical insights to link everyday brain functions with understanding of ways in which the brain can deceive.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
101 Tips on Nutrition for People with Diabetes
Patti B. Geil, MS, RD, FADA, CDE & Lea Ann Holzmeister, RD, CDE
American Diabetes Association
1701 N. Beauregard St, Alexandria, VA 22311
1580402542 $14.95 www.amazon.com
This second updated edition of a diabetes fact book packs in nutrition details as did the first – with a difference. It updates common questions and answers diabetics have about best eating routines for diabetes control, provides both a review of basic nutrition facts and a survey of diabetes-specific issues, and provides not short but good-length answers to potentially confusing questions such as ‘can I eat anything marked sugar-free?' An excellent survey recommended above the prior edition for its detail and further depth.
Our Lady of Weight Loss
Janice Taylor
Viking Studio
375 Hudson, New York NY 10014
0142005088 $19.95 www.amazon.com
Author Janice Taylor is a weight loss coach and has written much on her lifetime project of losing weight, so Our Lady of Weight Loss represents the voice of experience. She's now fifty pounds lighter and here shares her gospel truths on how to stop cravings, move away from weight gain routines, and use healthy recipes which taste good in place of more fattening choices. A fun, sensible set of routines are presented for any struggling with weight issues.
Edible Medicines
Nina L. Etkin
University of Arizona Press
355 S. Euclid Ave. #103, Tucson, AZ 85719
0816520933 $50.00 www.uapress.arizona.edu
College-level collections, doctors, nutritionists and even the general public will find EDIBLE MEDICINES: AN ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY OF FOOD an important guide linking food history, dietary needs and culture. Plenty has been written covering the nutritional values of food, but relatively little on the pharmacological potentials of diet: EDIBLE MEDICINES focuses on the medicinal properties of foods in different cultures and blends history with underlying medical concerns and reflections on human evolution. A fascinating survey.
Crooked Angels
Carol Lee
Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
1902638670 $15.95 www.dufoureditions.com 1-800-869-5677
Carol Lee's health journal is a vivid reminder to us all that good health can suddenly change at a moment's notice. Carol awakes to a world of pain – and it takes her two years to discover what's happened and why. Unable to move her arms, her condition defies diagnosis until an osteopath helps her uncover a history which leads her through Tanzania and a Middle Eastern desert. An intriguing story of extreme illness and recovery.
Dictionary of Pharmacy
Dennis B. Worthen, Editor
Haworth Press
10 Alice St., Binghamton, NY 13904-1580
0789023288 $39.95 www.haworthpressinc.com
College-level health collections as well as public libraries with a strong health information section will welcome DICTIONARY OF PHARMACY – the only English-language reference to provide a comprehensive A-Z listing of abbreviations, weights and measures, ethics, professional associations, colleges of pharmacy in the US, and more. Students will find it packed with all kinds of details relating to the industry – an essential handbook.
A Social History of Medicines in 20th Century
John K. Crellin
Pharmaceutical Products Press/Haworth Press
10 Alice St., Binghamton, NY 13904
0789018454 $39.95 www.HaworthPress.com
The cultural insights on the daily use of medicines in modern times in A SOCIAL HISTORY OF MEDICINES IN THE 20TH CENTURY; TO BE TAKEN THREE TIMES A DAY are not to be missed by any college-level collection serious about pharmaceutical studies. Chapters review institutional trends in choosing and prescribing formularies, consider the history of gatekeeping measures for drugs, and discuss clinical freedom and changes in a running history of changes in the medical world.
The Total Wellbeing Diet
Dr. Manny Noakes & Dr. Peter Clifton
New American Library
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
0451219228 $16.95 www.amazon.com
Two doctors join forces to provide a high protein, low fat diet plan pairing medical insights with easy recipes. Many diets are complicated matters: not so the ‘Total Wellbeing Diet': it's very simple and tells how to get the weight off, keep it off, and diet without complications.
Eat Right-Electrolyte
W. Rex Hawkins, MD
Prometheus Books
50 John Glenn Dr., Amherst, NY 14228-2197
1591023645 $28.00 www.prometheusbooks.com
EAT RIGHT-ELECTROLYTE: A NUTRITIONAL GUIDE TO MINERALS IN OUR DAILY DIET comes from an MD in private practice and provides evidence that the usual American diet does not provide for a healthy balance of electrolytes. The common results of such an imbalance: hypertension, osteoporosis, heart disease and Crohn's disease: all common problems of modern society. Nutritional research documents what makes harmful doses of minerals, what happens when there aren't enough, and advises on how to overcome dietary deficiencies.
The End of Medicine
Andy Kessler
Collins
10 E. 53rd St., New York NY 10022-5299
006113029X $24.95 www.harpercollins.com
THE END OF MEDICINE: HOW SILICON VALLEY (AND NAKED MICE) WILL REBOOT YOUR DOCTOR profiles the emerging new technologies which will change medicine from one which offers chronic care and after-illness detection to a proactive medical community which will emphasize early detection and quick cures. Author Andy Kessler discovered his cancer quite by accident, literally – his effort to discover new keys to self-help and emerging health tests makes for a lively blend of autobiography and health industry survey revealing the cutting edge of medical cures.
How to Talk to Your Doctor
Jane Williams
Principle Publications
4101 W. Green Oaks Blvd., Suite 305-585, Arlington, TX 76016
0976645629 $17.95 www.principlepublications.com
The author's a former pharmaceutical sales rep and trainer and has written a guide to the industry of pharmaceutical sales, so her medical background lends to teaching the average reader how to talk to a doctor. From misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis and understanding doctor language and concerns to lists of state medical boards and senior citizens help organizations, How to Talk to Your Doctor is filled with important resources average consumers must have.
Nancy Foldvary-Schaefer, D.O.'s GETTING A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP (1596240148, $14.95) may sound like another guide to insomnia, but it's much more: it offers advice from the head of the Sleep Medicine Program at the Cleveland Clinic who comes with medical background and expertise to her name. From why you can't sleep and can't stay awake to different forms of sleep disorders, their risks, and treatment options, this is the only book anyone should need. Curtis Mark Rimmerman, M.D.'s HEART ATTACK: A CLEVELAND CLINIC GUIDE (1596240318, $14.95) covers the frustrating condition of a silent killer which often is only realized after a heart attack. The early symptoms of heart disease may be the same as common conditions such as indigestion, and the later signs may be fatal. Case histories blend with reviews of heart health and chapters dispel many myths about who is at risk.
Complimentary and Alternative Medicine Sourcebook
Sandra J. Judd, Editor
Omnigraphics
615 Griswold St., Detroit, MI 48226
0780808649 $78.00 www.omnigraphics.com
The updated third edition of this survey of alternative medicine is a 'must' reference for any serious healthcare collection: it offers general readers tips on widely used CAM therapies, guidelines for their success and safety, and describes medical systems which have evolved from cooperation between traditional and alternative medicines. Public library holdings, too, will welcome it as a popular reference.
An Uncommon Dialogue
Debra J. Drake
Wakefield Press
1 The Parade West, Kent Town, S. Australia 5067
www.wakefieldpress.com.au www.amazon.com
1862546797 $19.95
This could've been featured in our Autobiography/Biography shelf, but it's featured here for its many medical insights in a first-person account of her journey through therapy to come to grips with a past littered with unsuccessful therapies and failed relationships. The author's mother was aware of the abuse and failed to respond to protect her daughters: AN UNCOMMON DIALOGUE is as much a story of the therapeutic relationship as the author's past.
Let Them Eat Flax
Dr. Joe Schwarcz
ECW Press
2120 Queen Street East, Toronto, Ontario, Canada ME4 1E2
1550226983 $15.95 www.ecwpress.com
Let Them Eat Flax: 70 All-New Commentaries on the Science of Everyday Food & Life could've been featured in our ‘Food and Wine' or ‘Science' section, but is reviewed here for its in-depth blend of science and history with food and health issues. From trans fats and vitamin supplements to pesticides and acupuncture, readers learn about the chemistry behind health, food, and related issues.
Learning to Smell
Donald W. Wilson & Richard J. Stevenson
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218
0801883687 $80.00 www.press.jhu.edu
LEARNING TO SMELL: OLFACTORY PERCEPTION FROM NEUROBIOLOGY TO BEHAVIOR is written by a neurobiologist and psychologist and provides a new theory of olfactory perception, making it a recommended pick for any college-level health library holding. The major research in the area lies in determining how the brain identifies and separates smells: chapters reviews research approaches and propose that experience and cortical plasticity combine to play a defining role in odor perception. A review of the physiology of olfactory systems and mechanics of detection enhances this excellent discourse.
The Hundred-Year Lie
Randall Fizgerald
Dutton
375 Hudson, New York NY 10014
0525949518 $24.95 www.penguin.com
THE HUNDRED YEAR LIE: HOW FOOD AND MEDICINE ARE DESTROYING YOUR HEALTH pinpoints the dilemma of chemicals in everyday products which are affecting health – and tells what to do about it. It comes from a newspaper reporter and investigative writer who here attacks the lies perpetuated by the chemical, pharmaceutical and processed foods industry, offering an eye-opening view of real health issues.
The Self-Help Shelf
It's My Life Now
Meg Kennedy Dugan & Roger R. Hock
Routledge
270 Madison Ave., New York NY 10016
0415953251 $18.95 www.taylorandgrancisgroup.com
The updated second edition of IT'S MY LIFE NOW: STARTING OVER AFTER AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP OR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE provides a blend of case histories and self-help advice and updates a 2000 winning publication which has long served as a working manual for survivors who are starting over. Updated resources blend with a new emphasis on safety assessment making for a simply invaluable presentation sure to save lives.
The Human Sexuality Shelf
Crossing Sexual Boundaries
J. Ari Kane-DeMaios, EdD, & Vern L. Bullough, Ph.D., Dsci, RN
Prometheus Books
50 John Glenn Dr., Amherst, NY 14228-2197
1591023882 $28.00 www.prometheusbooks.com
CROSSING SEXUAL BOUNDARIES: TRANSGENDER JOURNEYS, UNCHARTED PATHS compiles autobiographies of women and men who describe their difficult transgender struggles, whether they be bisexual, homosexual or heterosexual. Their life stories illustrate both social and biological gender issues and outlines issues from work to family. Readers receive a personal set of insights rather than the usual study on the issues involved, making this a valuable addition for social science holdings as well as general public libraries.
The Education Shelf
College Planning For Gifted Students
Sandra L. Berger
Prufrock Press
Box 8813, Waco, TX 76714-8813
1593631812 $18.95 www.prufrock.com
COLLEGE PLANNING FOR GIFTED STUDENTS: CHOOSING AND GETTING INTO THE RIGHT COLLEGE is a top pick in its updated third edition, which helps students and their families plan for the best. From writing college application essays and requesting recommendation letters to visiting, assessing and selecting the right college, chapters are packed with tips on overcoming common barriers.
Schools and Data
Theodore B. Creighton
Corwin Press
2455 Teller Rd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
1412937337 $29.95 www.CorwinPress.com
The second updated edition of SCHOOLS AND DATA: THE EDUCATOR'S GUIDE FOR USING DATA TO IMPROVE DECISION MAKING covers an area which is no longer optional for educators, providing analysis of statistics relating to data use in the schools of teachers and principals. Real-world examples accompany step-by-step procedures for collecting, organizing and using data to provide leaders with more effective decision-making tools. A ‘must' for educators and administrators in school settings.
Cambridge Handbook of Expertise and Expert Performance
K. Anders Ericsson, et.al., Eds
Cambridge University Press
32 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10013
0521600812 $65.00 www.cambridge.org
THE CAMBRIDGE HANDBOOK OF EXPERTISE AND EXPERT PERFORMANCE gathers reviews by psychologists and computer scientists alike on the area of expertise, researching studies, providing a guide to the latest literature, and including essays on experimental, observational and analytical techniques. College-level students in psychology or the social sciences will find it packed with theories of expert performance that do an excellent job of updating and expanding the vast changes in the discipline. From math and history to memory and creative thinking, case studies often pair with research results to reinforce findings.
Cracking the LSAT, 2007 Edn
Adam Robinson & Karen Blemel
Updated by Mindy Myers and Robert Spruill
Princeton Review
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
0375765557 $36.95 www.PrincetonReview.com
The 2007 edition of Cracking the LSAT offers a range of study options, from classroom courses and private tutoring to online courses and books – and enhancing all these methods is a book packed with proven techniques from experts. CRACKING THE LSAT reviews the major skills needed to ace the test, offers up a customized study plan with plenty of reviews and tests supplemented online, and includes six full-length practice tests. From approaches and variations to clue types and summaries, CRACKING THE LSAT is a ‘must have' for any serious law student.
The Computer Shelf
Pro Oracle Database 10gRAC on Linux
Julian Dyke & Steve Shaw
Apress
2560 – 9th St. #219, Berkeley, CA 94709
1590595246 $59.99 www.apress.com
Any programmer or designer who wants a step-by-step tutorial to Pro Oracle Database 10gRAC on Linux must have this book: it surveys all details from installation to advanced administration and optimization, with chapters covering installations across multiple servers for all Oracle users. The book delivers RAC on Linux solutions through a series of explanations on configuration, tips on techniques, and more: it's eye to improving processes and manageability can't be beat.
Hacker's Challenge 3
David Pollino, et.al.
Osborne/McGraw-Hill
160 Spear #700, San Francisco, CA 94105
0072263040 $49.99 www.osborne.com
HACKER'S CHALLENGE 3: 20 BRAND-NEW FORENSIC SCENARIOS AND SOLUTIONS comes from too-tier security experts who offer 20 new real-world network security incidents to allow readers to test computer forensics skills and responses. From phishing and internal corporate hacking to wireless and Linux hacks, each challenge includes an in-depth explanation of the incident, how it was detected, and provides technical logs and network maps: everything needed for readers to test their skills at solving the incident. And yes, detailed analysis of successful results appear at the end.
Video Conferencing Over IP
Michael Gough and Jason Rosenfeld
Syngress
800 Hingham St., Rockland, MA 02370
1597490636 $49.95 www.syngress.com
Simple, easy solutions for producing high-quality video conferencing are gathered under one cover in a title that covers the hardware needed for both business and personal use. Learn about requirements, protect privacy with firewalls and control systems, understand different set-ups and options, and integrate your system with the perfect choices with Video Conferencing Over IP: Configure, Secure and Troubleshoot.
O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein Hwy N., Sebastopol, CA 95472
www.oreilly.com
AJAX is a hot programming technique web developers will already know – but they may not know about the patterns and best practices reviewed in Michael Mahemoff's Ajax Design Patterns: Creating Web 2.0 Sites with Programming and Usability Patterns (0596101802 $44.99). Tips range from the basics required for Ajax development to programming, functional applications, and development processes – Ajax users will find it loaded with time-saving insights. Chris Brown's SUSE LINUX: A COMPLETE GUIDE TO NOVELL'S COMMUNITY DISTRIBUTION (059610183X, $39.99) is a very user-friendly, accessible Linux guide progressing logically and easily from initial installation to hardware support. SUSE is installed daily and favored for its ease of use and versatility: SUSE LINUX examines the operating system through a series of easy lessons which teach all the basics of setting up SUSE as either a desktop or server operating system.
The Internet: The Missing Manual
David Pogue & J.D. Biersdorfer
Pogue Press/O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein Hwy N., Sebastopol, CA 95472
www.oreilly.com www.missingmanuals.com
059652742X $24.99 www.amazon.com
Everyone who uses a computer knows about the Internet: but how many know how to search with an eye to uncovering winners and avoiding junk? Learn how to use the Internet tools the pros use – and the ways they use them – with THE INERNET: THE MISSING MANUAL. Chapters cover everything from locating movies and music download sites to social networking and Internet telephony. All options are surveyed including common traps and tricks for overcoming them. A ‘must' for any who use the Internet regularly.
Computer Network Security And Cyber Ethics
Joseph Migga Kizza
McFarland
Box 611, Jefferson, NC 28640
0786425954 $35.00 www.mcfarlandpub.com
The second updated edition of COMPUTER NETWORK SECURITY AND CYBER ETHICS is out, and is a top recommendation fully updating the 2002 edition which won the Choice Outstanding Academic Title award, adding three new chapters on morality, ethics and technology and discussing security issues such as cyber crime, loopholes in the cyberspace infrastructure, and more. No comprehensive computer collection should be without.
Sitepoint
424 Smith St., Collingwood, VIC 3066, Australia
www.sitepoint.com www.amazon.com
Ajax can create high-powered, responsive websites and Matthew Eernise's Build Your Own Ajax Web Applications (0975841947 $39.95) offers the key to unlocking this power, showing how to build interactivity to web site using JavScript and AJAX applications. Developers – especially those new to AJAX's potentials – will find plenty of tips on using its features, including those to minimize common problems and maximize gains. Learn how to use REST, SOAP and others in the process, and build arrays using the code and steps supplied here. James Edwards & Cameron Adams' THE JAVASCRIPT ANTHOLOGY: 101 ESSENTIAL TIPS, TRICKS & HACKS (0975240269, $39.95) compiles a range of solutions to the most common JavaScript questions and problems, offering up tested solutions, standards-compliant tips, and keys to ensuring JavaScript code is clean, accessible and logical. From the basics of making a drop-down or fly-out menu to making attribute tooltips display on focus, THE JAVASCRIPT ANTHOLOGY is a ‘must' for any serious Javascript programmer.
Blog Rules
Nancy Flynn
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019
0814473555 $19.95 www.amacombooks.org
Nine million U.S. bloggers currently operate with some 80K new blogs appearing daily – but despite this proliferation of blogs, many businesses are missing the boat on their money-making potentials. BLOG RULES: A BUISNESS GUIDE TO MANAGING POLICY, PUBLIC RELATIONS AND LEGAL ISSUES covers both pros and cons of the blog revolution, clarifying threats, revealing opportunities, and covering both external bloggers outside the company with internal bloggers. Among the issues covered: keeping company politics and organization private, protecting confidential company information, and keeping track of the contents of official company blogs.
New Riders/Peachpit Press
1249 8th St., Berkeley, CA 94710
www.peachpit.com www.newriders.com
Two powerful new titles are top picks which stand out from the computer books on the market. Bruce Fraser's REAL WORLD IMAGE SHARPENING WITH ADOBE PHOTOSHOP CS2: INDUSTRIAL-STRENGTH PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES (0321449916, $39.99) goes beyond more general discussions of sharpening tools to pinpoint the kind of sharpening each image needs, and how to use Photoshop CS2's many tools to achieve perfection. Learn the range of these tools, their differences in application, and how to sharpen selectively in a book which comes form an internationally recognized authority on digital imaging and color image reproduction. Chapters assume a basic grounding in Photoshop but go further in describing the sharpening process. Dan Saffer's DESIGNING FOR INTERACTION: CREATING SMART APPLICATIONS AND CLEVER DEVICES (0321432061, $40.00) comes from an authority who's worked as a Webmaster and interactive media master for the past decade. His design savvy here offers beginner to intermediate designers a range of applications and shortcuts, from using controls and widgets to designing the better mousetrap. While his isn't strictly a computer book, it does provide a range of tips on brainstorming and creating smarter applications for hardware and software alike. Both are fine picks.
John Wiley
111 River St., Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
www.wiley.com
EBAY SIMPLIFIED: TIPS & TRICKS (0471933821, $19.99) adds to Wiley's Visual Encyclopedia series and is recommended for any potential ebay seller or buyer who wants plenty of screen shot examples. It's now in its third edition, reflecting constant evolution in ebay itself, and provides a 5-star visual learning system covering everything from listing in color and understanding listing fees to copyrighting auction photos. The only book you'll ever need on ebay's processes, pros and cons. Ellen Finkelstien's AUTOCAD 2007 AND AUTOCAD LT 2007 BIBLE (0471788864, $49.99) packs a cd-rom of drawings paired to exercises in the book with the latest features covering AutoCAD software, including the latest new 3D enhancements, commands, drawings and dimensions. Learn processes which streamline results, increase efficiency with hyperlinks, and customize AutoCAD with an excellent guide to all levels of its operations. Greg Harvey, Ph.D.'s EXCEL WORKBOOK FOR DUMMIES (0471798452, $24.99) provides easy step-by-step explanations and clear procedures for even the most complex of Excel workbook functions, including a tear-out cheat sheet, sheets with workspaces for working out problems, and more. From understanding and using formulas correctly to tricks and traps of Excel, hundreds of exercises provide a self-paced program building a logical foundation of knowledge. Jennifer Grappone and Gradiva Couzin's Search Engine Optimization An Hour a Day (0471787531, $29.99) provides a step-by-step guide to using search engines more effectively, from cutting jargon and avoiding common search mistakes to optimizing a website for search engines and understanding how pay-per-click engines work. Whether you're a search engine user or a website owner, SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION AN HOUR A DAY is for you.
Pivot Table Data Crunching
Bill Jelen & Michael Alexander
QUE Publishing
800 E. 96th St., Indianapolis, IN 46240
0789734354 $29.99 www.quepublishing.com
Excel users may already be aware of the power of pivot tables, which allow summarization of 50,000 rows of data with one click of the mouse – but many user's guides don't begin to touch upon its powerful features. PIVOT TABLE DATA CRUNCHING provides a tutorial which promises users and prior Excel fans the ability to get up to speed quickly, using real-world examples such as how to highlight productivity channels and produce meaningful reports. An excellent business guide.
No Fluff, Just Stuff 2006 Anthology
Neal Ford, Compiler
Pragmatic
0977616665 $29.95 www.pragmaticprogrammer.com
Articles by many notables – Scott Davis, Neal Ford, and more – pack an anthology covering all kinds of topics, from real-world web issues and applications to project testing, total object makeovers, and more, computer pros will find topics detailed, in depth and specialized to the computer geek world – and packed with logic and detail.
Project retrospectives can help educate a team by providing a clear review of what went right or wrong on a project, and why – but usually they are held at the end of a project after its completion, offering insights for the next project only. Agile retrospectives are incremental during the course of the project and can serve to strengthen courses and identify problems along the way: AGILE RETROSPECTIVES explains and explores the methodology and techniques for producing such analysis through the life of the project. Project-oriented programmers must have this.
Charles River/Thomson
25 Thomson Place, Boston, MA 02210
www.charlesriver.com
Computer games are becoming more like Hollywood productions, requiring good plots and valued story lines which use good narrative styles. In Chris Bateman, Editor's Game Writing: Narrative Skills for Videogames (1584504900 $39.95) are practical articles on how to do so, written by members of the International Game Developer's Association and covering all kinds of game writing, from comedy to plots. A ‘must' for any video or computer game writer. Neal Krawetz's INTRODUCTION TO NETWORK SECURITY (1584504641, $69.95) is for any working in the field of network protection, and for students studying network or computer security issues. Learn how to understand and identify potential threat, apply mitigation options, and react to attacks quickly with a title surveying all the fundamental concerns and including security terms, ethics, and issues. Examples are based on the latest network protocols and models provided are specific to common real-world scenarios.
The World History Shelf
Lodz Ghetto: A History
Isaiah Trunk
Indiana University Press
601 N. Morton St., Bloomington IN 47404-3797
0253347556 $35.00 http://iupress.indiana.edu
LODOZ GHETTO: A HISTORY represents the first English translation of Isiah Trunk's study, originally published in Yiddish in 1962 which describes and explains the first major ghetto imposed by the Germans after they invaded Poland during the war. Lodoz once housed a quarter-million Jews: when the Soviets arrived they found 877 living Jews left. Trunk's purpose was to describe the course of events in the Ghetto: his blend of statistics and historical review is essential for any college-level collection strong in Holocaust studies.
London: A Historical Companion
Kenneth Panton
Tempus/Trafalgar Square Publishing
PO Box 257, Howe Hill Road, North Pomfret, VT 05053-0257
0752434349 $35.00 www.trafalgarsquarebooks.com 1-800-423-4525
Any who would study British history in general and London's evolution in particular must have LONDON: A HISTORICAL COMPANION in their collection: it synthesizes events of some 2,000 years into a study of events, buildings, politics and social life from Roman to modern times, using a dictionary reference format for quick at-a-glance details both students and travelers will appreciate.
Sub-Saharan Africa
Gregory H. Maddox
ABC-CLIO
Box 1991, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1011
1851095551 $85.00 www.abc-clio.com
Sub-Saharan Africa: An Environmental History joins others in the ‘Nature and Human Societies' series to survey both positive and negative environmental effects of human activities from colonialism to modern urban pressures. Chapters link historic events to environmental impact and consequences, providing a running blend of details on history, culture, and lasting results. A fine pick for any college-level collection strong in either environmental history or African history.
Muslims in China
Aliya Ma Lynn
University of Indianapolis Press
1400 E. Hana Ave., Indianapolis IN 46227-3697
0880938528 $19.95 www.uindy.edu/universitypress
Early trade with Muslims in the Middle East brought Isam to China, and Muslims today have a strong influence in the country: that's why MUSLIMS IN CHINA has continuing and ongoing importance to modern readers even though it appeared several years ago. Presented in a bi-lingual English/Chinese edition, MUSLIMS IN CHINA is a top pick for college-level collections.
George Washington and Benedict Arnold
Dave R. Palmer
Regnery Publishing
1 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20001
1596980206 $29.95 www.regnery.com
Does character define destiny? Here's a fine comparative biography of two greats in GEORGE WASHINGTON AND BENEDICT ARNOLD: A TALE OF TWO PATRIOTS, which contrasts personalities, objectives, lives and achievements. One rose above his enemies, the other joined them. Psychological and historical insights blend in an excellent overview.
A Short History of the 20th Century
Geoffrey Blainey
Ivan R. Dee
1332 N. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60622-2694
1566636876 $26.00 www.ivanrdee.com
Blainey's SHORT HISTORY OF THE WORLD was published in 2002 to become one of the foundation books on the topic: here he offers up another history which surveys the age of the 20th century in general and war and peace in particular. Also included are technological revolutions, cultural changes, and the impact of environmentalism: while all are detailed topics which have commanded their own books and genres, it's Australian historian Blainey's ability to weave diverse elements together in a smooth narrative which make A SHORT HISTORY OF THE 20TH CENTURY so inviting.
Servants of the Fish
Myron Arms
Upper Access Inc
Midpoint Trade, Distributors
Box 457, Hinesburg, VT 05461
0942679296 $24.95 www.upperaccess.com
SERVANTS OF THE FISH: A PORTRAIT OF NEWFOUNDLAND AFTER THE GREAT COD COLLAPSE isn't just a pick for Canadians or New Englanders: it warns that Newfoundland is a microcosm example of impending environmental disasters around the world – and its probe of why and how the fishery industry collapsed in the region thus holds plenty of implications far beyond Newfoundland's borders. The history of people and society and environmental consequences makes this a top pick.
Women of the House
Jean Zimmerman
Harcourt
15 E. 26th St., New York NY 10010
015101065X $26.00 www.harcourtbooks.com
Author Jean Zimmerman had passed by Philipse Manor Hall in downtown Yonkers many times and wondered who could have built the mansion: her investigation revealed it was the creation of a Dutch-born fur trader and ship merchant – a women named Margaret who set up her home in the then ‘wilderness'. Thus evolved an investigation which has led to THE WOMEN OF THE HOUSE: HOW A COLONIAL SHE-MERCHANT BUILT A MANSION, A FORTUNE, AND DYNASTY. No women's history collection – no matter where it's located – should be without.
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Dutton
375 Hudson, New York NY 10014
www.penguin.com
Path of the Dream Healer: My Journey Through the Miraculous World of Energy Healing (0525949488 $23.95) introduces the healing techniques of one Adam, named ‘The Miracle Worker' by the international press. Adam is a college student with the power to heal – even across a continent. He can read auras and unblock energy. THE PATH OF THE DREAMHEALER continues a journey begin in DREAMHEALER and shows how this power is accessible to all. Sylvia Browne's INSIGHT: CASE FILES FROM THE PSYCHIC WORLD (0525949550, $25.95) comes from a best-selling author who here provides stories about her career giving psychic readings. Some fifty years of such readings contribute to a well-rounded survey of how she's changed lives, how her psychic gifts work, and how she has built a career based upon them. A vivid, memorable account of a long-time psychic.
Complete Idiot's Guide to Wicca & Witchcraft, 3rd Edition
Denise Zimmermann & katherine Gleason
Revised with Miria Liguana
Alpha/Penguin
375 Hudson, New York NY 10014
1592575331 $16.95 www.idiotsguides.com
Newcomers to Wicca and witchcraft will appreciate this latest update to the ‘Complete Idiot's' guides: it assumes no prior knowledge and teaches all the basics of walking the Wiccan path, from an introductory history of Wicca from ancient to modern times to a seasonal survey of rituals, discussions of spells and ‘bibles', and surveys of different Wiccan denominations. A pleasing, detailed survey explains all the beliefs and ideas – and how they evolved.
Faces of the Living Dead
Martyn Jolly
Mark Batty Publishers
6050 Boulevard E. #2H, West New York, NJ 07093
0977282732 $39.95 www.markbattypublisher.com
FACES OF THE LIVING DEAD: THE BELIEF IN SPIRIT PHOTOGRAPHY follows the history and products resulting from a fad popular from the 1870s to the 1930s. When the Civil War and First World War and influenza brought great loss of life and grief, spirit photography was there with its promise of loved ones not fully gone. The holdings of The British Library and other major British and American archives provide a rich array of spirit photos and their photographers, so FACES OF THE LIVING DEAD is as rich in example as in written history.
Enlightenment for Beginners
Chuck Hillig
Sentient Publications
1113 Spruce St., Boulder, CO 80302
159181040X $14.95 www.sentinentpublications.com
Unlike most titles on spirituality, this isn't meant to instruct or provide new insights: Enlightenment for Beginners: Discovering the Dance of the Divine is instead meant to steer in the right direction – and to remind readers about what they might have forgotten. As such, chapters offer very simple one-line reflections to encourage self-examination and understanding.
World Wisdom Inc.
1501 E. Hillside Dr., Bloomington, IN 47401
www.worldwisdom.com
Donovan Roebert edits SAMDHONG RINPOCHE: UNCOMPROMISING TRUTH FOR A COMPROMISED WORLD (1933316209, $22.95), a treatise linking Tibetan Buddhist principles with concerns of the modern world. Rinpoche is the first elected prime minister of the Tibetan government in exile and has long contributed scholarly and spiritual thoughts to the world: he's professor whose convictions are solidly based on Buddhism – and his blend of reflection, experience, and self-insight pair well with a world vision acknowledging modern social pressures. Arvid Sharma's A GUIDE TO HINDU SPIRITUALITY (1933316179, $17.95) comes from a renowned scholar of Hinduism and provides a distillation of the essence and concepts of Hindu spirituality. From his outline of major schools of Hinduism to discussions and overviews of key philosophy and spiritual practice, A GUIDE TO HINDU SPIRITUALITY builds a non-limiting framework for discussions.
Chi Self-Massage
Mantak Chia
Destiny Books/Inner Traditions
One Park St., Rochester, VT 05767
1594771103 $12.95 www.DestinyBooks.com
The Western concept of massage concerns itself with muscle manipulation, but Chi Self-Massage focuses on both internal and sense organs and employs Taoist techniques which until recently have been closely guarded secrets. Master Mantak Chia pieces this system into a logical routine any can duplicate, using methods used by these masters to explore the theory and purposes behind Chi Self-Massage. Spirituality blends with practical application in an easily-followed guide.
Museum of Lost Wonder
Jeff Hoke
Red Wheel/Weiser
65 Parker St. Suite 7, Newburyport MA 01950
1578633648 $49.95 www.redwheelweiser.com
Take psychology and science, add a healthy spiritual/new age dose and then meld all with a graphic novel-style format and you have a truly special recipe with MUSEUM OF LOST WONDER, written by an exhibit designer for the Monterey Bay Aquarium who seeks to flavor non-scientists with the wonders of nature. MUSEUM takes the form of a walk through eight exhibit halls, representing the eight stages of the alchemical process, and covers subjects from museum history and zoological realities to examining the meaning of life. Sharp graphics and hands-on activities will appeal to entire families. Searching for something indescribably different? MUSEUM OF LOST WONDER is your ticket to adventure.
Red Wheel Weiser
65 Parker St. Suite 7, Newburyport, MA 01950
www.redwheelweiser.com
Brian Cotnoir offers a step-by-step introduction to alchemy and its concepts in The Weiser Concise Guide To Alchemy (1578633796 $12.95), exploring its history and its modern applications from its roots in Egypt to modern times. Questions such as relationships between alchemy and chemistry are asked, with results revealing far more spiritual underpinnings to Alchemy than science alone could explain. The practical lab experiments enhance a fine presentation. Barbara Ardinger's Pagan Every Day: Finding The Extraordinary In Our Ordinary Lives (157863332X, $24.95) provides a spiritual practice book for those who live in the real world but practice pagan beliefs. Daily meditations include notes on world festivals, concepts of ‘green', flowers, the first UFO sighting – a host of pagan topics to encourage daily thought.
New Page Books
P.O. Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
www.newpagebooks.com
Sister Moon's SPELL CASTINGS: PRACTICAL MAGICK FOR DAILY LIFE (1564148777, $13.99) tells how to use cosmic forces and provides over a hundred easy, practical spells to access these forces. Even novices will find these spells accessible, with specific procedures offering a step-by-step tutorial with no prior knowledge of ingredients or processes required. Patricia Telesco's KITCHEN WITCH'S GUIDE TO MAGICKAL TOOLS (1564148432, $13.99) tells how to build or make all the tools a witch needs, from an altar and travel amulet to a drum, broom and more. Tips don't stop at construction: also reviewed are spells and techniques.
Aromatherapy for the Soul
Valerie Ann Worwood
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
1577315626 $19.95 www.newworldlibrary.com
Fragrances contain unique properties which can not only heal, but evoke emotions memories and even visions: while much discussion revolves around healing, Aromatherapy for the Soul: Healing the Spirit with Fragrance and Essential Oils focuses more on the psyche, with chapters exploring links between spirituality and aromatherapy. It previously appeared as THE FRAGRANT HEAVENS: its new title promises a wider audience.
The Buddhist Studies Shelf
Buddha or Bust
Perry Garfinkel
Harmony/Crown
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
140008217X $24.95 www.randomhouse.com
It may surprise you to know a recent study revealed one in eight Americans say that Buddhist teachings or practices have influenced their lives: BUDDHA OR BUST: IN SEARCH OF TRUTH, MEANING, HAPPINESS, AND THE MAN WHO FOUND THEM ALL tells of a journalist's world-wide journey to understand why. His assignment for National Geographic led him to follow the footsteps of the Buddha, and in the course of his travels to sacred Buddhist sites and his interviews with renowned Buddhist authorities, he discovered many underlying influences on Buddhist beliefs systems – revealed here, in a lively blend of travelogue and spiritual examination.
The Religion/Spirituality Shelf
Finding God Beyond Harvard
Kelly Monroe Kullberg
InterVarsity Press
Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426
0830833870 $20.00 www.ivpress.com
A satisfying blend of memoir and theology follows author Kelly Kullberg's search for God in Finding God Beyond Harvard: The Quest for Veritas. The Veritas Forum brings Christian principles to universities: it follows the author's love of God to the highest levels of understanding, identifying a group of Christian friends and scholars who are speakers, scientists, authors and lecturers. An absorbing and moving discourse blends Christian insights with university analysis.
Africa Bible Commentary
Tokunboh Adeyemo, General Editor
Zondervan Publishing House
5300 Patterson Avenue, S.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49530
0310264731 $39.99 www.zondervan.com
THE AFRICA BIBLE COMMENTARY represents the first one-volume Bible commentary produced in Africa by African theologians to meet the needs of African pastors and leaders. As such, it interprets the Bible in light of current African cultures and concerns, with section-by-section interpretations providing a useful guide of interest not just to African residents, but to world Bible readers who will here find plenty of different insights and ideas. Over seventy special articles handle key topics ranging from secularism and materialism issues to beliefs in witchcraft and Biblical interpretations of demons.
Jesus People
David Catchpole
Baker Publishing Group
Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
0801031605 $29.99 www.bakeracademic.com
JESUS PEOPLE: THE HISTORICAL JESUS AND THE BEGINNINGS OF A COMMUNITY comes from a scholar in Jesus and Gospels studies and surveys not only the ‘real Jesus', but what made his movement a community with lasting impact into modern times. Judaism is the foundation of Jesus: Catchpole uses this to consider the idea of discipleship, attitudes towards Israel's holiness, and more. This isn't light reading for the religious followers but a scholarly survey of the historical Jesus idea and tradition: a recommended pick for any college-level religious institution's holding.
God That Did Not Fail
Robert Royal
Encounter Books
900 Broadway Suite 400, New York NY 10003-1239
1594031452 $25.95 www.encounterbooks.com
Secular progressives have been predicting the demise of religion for over two hundred years; but even those who were to be liberated by such aren't agreeing: such is the message of THE GOD THAT DID NOT FAIL: HOW RELIGION BUILT AND SUSTAINS THE WEST explores both biblical faith and the rejection of its foundations, which has encouraged ignorance of its history as a central force in the development of the West. Readings of religion in ancient Greece and Rome, of Christianity and Judaism and through the decades offers strengthening conclusion to attest to religion's importance past, present and future.
Challenging Nature
Lee M. Silver
Ecco/HarperCollins
10 E. 53rd St., New York NY 10022
0060582677 $26.95 www.harpercollins.com
CHALLENGING NATURE: THE CLASH OF SCIENCE AND SPIRITUALITY AT THE NEW FRONTIERS OF LIFE could've been featured in our science section, but is reviewed here for its survey of biotechnology and spiritual clashes. Author Professor Silver is a hands-on scientist who has manipulated genes, but he doesn't stay in the lab –0 he journeys the world to bring science to the public and CHALLENGING NATURE probes both spiritual and economic impacts of scientific research.
Encyclopedia of Religious & Spiritual Development
Eliuzabeth Dowling & W. George Scarlett, Eds
Sage Publications
2455 Teller, Thousand Oaks, CA 93210
0761928839 $156.00 www.sagepub.com
While the weighty price tag of Encyclopedia of Religious & Spiritual Development may limit this volume to serious spiritual collections, reference libraries – especially at the college level – will find it absorbing. Key short entries written by leading specialists from a range of disciplines and professions examine spiritual development within communities and traditions, with listings including themes (‘forgiveness'), biographical sketches, overviews of movements and more. A bibliography for further reading enhances each entry. A ‘must' for any serious religious collection.
On the Other Side Of Oddville
Dwight A. Moody
Mercer University Press
1400 Coleman Ave., Macon, GA 31207
0865549915 $20.00 www.mupress.org 1-800-634-2378
Dwight Moody is a columnist whose reflections on religion and American culture have been widely published in regional and national papers and journals: here they're gathered together under one cover at last, blending personal observation and experience with public insights which combine reflection with humor. Short essays reflect on everyday themes and move easily between such diverse topics as the Biography Channel on TV and medieval religion.
The Biography Shelf
The Busiest Man in England
Kate Colquhoun
David R. Godine
9 Hamilton Place, Boston, MA 02108
www.godine.com
1567923011 $35.00
THE BUSIEST MAN IN ENGLAND: A LIFE OF JOSEPH PAXTON, GARDENER, ARCHITECT & VICTORIAN VISIONARY tells of an 1800s Victorian pragmatist who worked in horticulture, urban planning and architecture and solved everything from big problems to small design issues. At only 23 years he became heard gardener and architect at the Derbyshire estate of the sixth duke of Devonshire, changing it to one of the most extraordinary garden concepts in the country. Given his vast influence and local fame, it's surprising no detailed biographical sketch has been produced before THE BUSIEST MAN IN ENGLAND. Kate Colquhoun uses personal papers and extensive research to provide a well-rounded biography of the man's personal and public life alike – and amazingly, it's her first book. An outstanding, detailed production displays the prowess of a fine writer.
Babylon By Bus
Ray LeMoine & Jeff Neumann with Donovan Webster
Penguin Press
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
www.penguin.com
1594200912 $24.95
BABYLON BY BUS is for any counter-culture reader or autobiography fan who wants something different: a kind of Kerouac bus trip extended overseas to Iraq. The two young, directionless American men went to Baghdad in 2003 in search of truth and adventure, giving up their jobs selling ‘Yankees Suck' t-shirts at Fenway and becoming volunteers for the U.S. Government Coalition's Provisional Authority. BABYLON BY BUS recounts their eye-opening new duties as volunteers, which allowed them access to the streets of Baghdad and gave them insights unique outside of the occupying forces.
A Stranger on Earth
Jeremy Reed
Dufour Editions Inc.
Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
www.dufoureditions.com
072061273X $28.95
Readers of Anna Kavan's novels will want to include A STRANGER ON EARTH: THE LIFE AND WORK OF ANNA KAVAN on their reading lists: newly discovered material contributes to an analysis of an author who did everything possible to avoid biographical surveys of her life and works. From her lifelong addiction to heroin and failed marriages to her reclusiveness, discussions include a centerfold of the author's artwork, and are a ‘must' for understanding her writings.
Assembling My Father
Anna Cypra Oliver
Mariner Books/Houghton
222 Berkeley, Boston, MA 02116
www.hmco.com
0618619321 $14.95
In the late 1960s the author's father and mother joined a countercultural enclave in New Mexico, where their marriage floundered and Anna's father committed suicide. Anna was five years old at the time. Twenty years later the discovery of some old photos sends her on a journey to learn more about her father: her reconstruction of her past is charted in ASSEMBLING MY FATHER: A MEMOIR and provides a moving personal history which will also inspire any conducting their own family history search.
Rory Stewart titles
Harcourt
15 E. 26th St., New York NY 10010
www.HarcourtBooks.com
The Prince of the Marshes And Other Occupational Hazards of a Year in Iraq (0151012350 $25.00) provides an unusual survey of Stewart's time as an interim and deputy governor in Iraq's marsh regions. His THE PLACES IN BETWEEN (0156031566, $14.00) became a best seller and told of his walk across Afghanistan and encounters with the region's people; here he describes nearly a year in a remote, improvised marsh region in southern Iraq negotiating hostage releases, holding elections, and developing an uncertain government leadership. Any who would understand the peoples and politics of Iraq must read The Prince of Marshes: it brings the politics and lives to the foreground as no professional politician's words could achieve.
Who's Who in Animated Cartoons
Jeff Lenburg
Applause
19 W. 21st St., New York NY 10010
www.applausepub.com
155783671X $19.95
Here's the first biographical reference to detail the careers of nearly three hundred animation greats around the world, from producers and directors to animator artists. It's written in cooperation with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and scientists and other major film and award groups, and provides an A-Z reference of biographical information, discussions of early film works and styles, key films, and character evolution. While this could've been featured in our arts or cartooning sections, it's reviewed here so nobody will miss its biographical strengths.
Maimonides
Sherwin B. Nuland
Schocken Books
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
www.schocken.com
0805242007 $19.95
Students of ancient or Jewish history will find MAIMONIDES an important biographical study, telling of a rabbi, physician and philosopher whose works blended science with spirituality, and who has served as a model for Jewish doctors since the 12th century. Chapters provide a focus on Maimonides' works and perspective with an eye to drawing connections to the modern world, and make for an essential set of insights.
FIDEL CASTRO recounts the life of a charismatic leader and dictator who has led Cuba since 1959. While much has been written about his regime, FIDEL CASTRO goes beyond politics to survey his life as well, following his rise, struggles, and international politics alike. His history is one of Cuba as a whole, and should not be missed by any studying Cuban history and culture.
Mao Zedong
Jonathan Clements
Life & Times/Haus Publishing
www.hauspublishing.co.uk
www.amazon.com
1904950337 $15.95
Mao was a peasant farmer's son who became the ruler of China, fostering revolutionary changes which were to transform the country in one of the greatest experiments in history. His leadership and influence – which lasts into modern times – is told in a biographical sketch packed with politics and insights, and is a ‘must' for any student of Chinese history.
My Einstein
John Brockman, Editor
Pantheon
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
www.randomhouse.com
0375423451 $25.00
MY EINSTEIN: ESSAYS BY TWENTY-FOUR OF THE WORLD'S LEADING THINKERS ON THE MAN, HIS WORK, AND HIS LEGACY could've been reviewed in our science section but is reviewed here for its detailed surveys by leading scientists, historians and contemporaries. These essays comment and reflect on the man, his contributions and how he influenced their worldviews and methods: even more than a legacy to Einstein's genius, they offer important insights into Einstein's lasting legacy and his life.
Audiobook Shelf
Secrets of the Immortal
Gary Renard
Sounds True
Box 8010, Boulder, CO 80306-9886
1591794447 $69.95
SECRETS OF THE IMMORTAL: ADVANCED TEACHINGS FROM A COURSE IN MIRACLES provides 6 cds of detail which enables listeners to chart spiritual progress. Forgiveness is at the heart of such progress, and judgement affects ability to connect with the Devine – yet it's possible to reverse world thinking and personal paths, and SECRETS OF THE IMMORTAL tells how.
Clipper Audio
270 Skipjack Rd., Prince Frederick, MD 20678
www.recordedbooks.com
Clipper Audio's unabridged library-packed titles used to be very pricey: the prices have come down and now even 15-cassette packs are affordable. Libraries will find them solid picks, all unabridged, featuring British authors and fine mysteries and novels narrated by British voices. Sheila O'Flanagan's HOW WILL I KNOW? (1845054960, $64.95) pairs Caroline Lennon's sharp and revealing voice with the story of love, marriage, and a tragic accident which leaves a single mother with only one thing left to care for. Santa Montefiore's MEET ME UNDER THE OMBU TREE (1845055323, $67.95) includes a rare interview with the author to spice a fine story narrated by Juanita McMahon, who spices the story of an Argentine spoiled, willful girl who is punished by her mother and embarks on a love affair which will bring her exile from family and home. Bernard Knight's FIGURE OF HATE (1845055551, $54.95) receives Paul Matthews' smooth and evocative voice as it provides a historical story set in 1195 England and telling of a local jousting confrontation's lead to murder. Too many suspects muddle the investigations. Speaking of murder, Simon Beaufort and five other authors collaborate on the fine historical mystery THE TAINTED RELIC: THE MEDIEVAL MURDERERS (1845056179, $49.95), narrated by Stephen Thorne and providing five interlinked mysteries from the UK's best mystery authors. This is a treat indeed, set in 1100 and revolving around a priceless holy relic entrusted to an English knight.
Clipper Audio
270 Skipjack Rd., Prince Frederick, MD 20678
www.recordedbooks.com
Carol Smith's HIDDEN AGENDA (1845055195, $49.95) receives Laurence Bouvard's warm and crisp style as it tells of an old school friend who faces execution for the murder of her children. London rabbi Deborah Hirsch is charged with proving her innocence. John Harvey's ASH AND BONE (1845058429, $79.95) benefits form Gordon Griffin's excellent style as it tells of a retired recluse detective's immersion in the violent crime of London and the problems of a willful daughter. All are excellent, recommended picks.
Twelve Angry Men
Reginald Rose
LA Theatre Works
www.latw.org
1580813348 $24.95
A full cast of readers contributes depth to Reginald Rose's teleplay TWELVE ANGRY MEN, which evolved into an Academy-Award nominated film. The play received a Tony for Best Revival of a Play and the cd's readers come from movies and TV roles, so the 2-cd version covering twelve jurors who debate the fate of a young 19-year-old murderer is an exceptional production, and highly recommended.
Tell Me a Story
Amy Friedman
4160 Lyceum Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90066
www.mythsandtales.com www.audible.com
No ISBN $18.95
A wide range of listeners of all ages will relish TELL ME A STORY: TIMELESS FOLKTALES FROM AROUND THE WORLD, read by eight talented actors and covering tales from Africa to Scotland. From an African Anansi story ANANSI AND THE TURTLE'S FEAST to the frightening THE BOATMAN'S HOWLING DAUGHTER, over seventy minutes of vivid description pack a fine gathering which will be a ‘must' for folktale collections for any age group.
Barbra: The Way She Is
Christopher Andersen
Tantor
www.tantor.com
1400102456 $39.99
She's a global icon, a diva, and famous – and here actress Ellen Archer brings her biography and personal details to life in Barbra: The Way She Is, a survey of a remarkable singer and actress who has made her looks and talents famous around the world. New insights into her marriage, failed loves, career and more make for a real winner.
Tantor Audio
www.tantor.com
Thomas Holland's ONE DROP OF BLOOD (1400102375, $37.99) provides a forensic thriller by the scientific director of the Department of Defense's Central Identification Lab, pairs this with a vivid narration by Patrick Lawlor, and tells of one Robert ‘Kel' McKelvey, who faces a particularly challenging case in the recovery of an Arkansas soldier who died a hero's death in Vietnam, until a link between him and an unsolved racial killing emerges. Plenty of tension comes alive in audio. Colin G. Calloway's THE SCRATCH OF A PEN: 1763 AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF NORTH AMERICA (1400102332, $29.99) receives a smooth and evocative voice in Simon Vance as it charts the story of 1763, when the Treaty of Paris would end war and change the world. Thomas Perry's NIGHTLIFE (1400102413, $39.99) pairs audio narrator Shelly Fraiser's warm and clear rendition with the tense thriller of two women pitted against each other: a lovely serial killer and a detective. An excellent story of suspense. Ace Atkins' WHITE SHADOW (1400102405, $39.99) pairs long-time audio veteran William Dufris' experienced and lively style with the story of 1955 Tampa's underworld, where the death of a mob boss leads to a probe of his secrets. Nicholas Wade's BEFORE THE DAWN: REDISCOVERING THE LOST HISTORY OF OUR ANCESTORS (1400102324, $37.99) receives veteran narrator Alan Sklar's clear and revealing voice to add to the lively nonfiction examination of how language began, how ancestors defeated the Neanderthals, and how races evolved. Marc Wortman's THE MILLIONAIRES' UNIT (1400102502, $39.99) reveals the nonfiction story of a generation of young privileged students who participated in the Yale flying club – and were prepared to give up their elite positions to join the war in France. Patrick Lawlor's award-winning voice brings events to life. Morgan Llywelyn's THE GREENER SHORE (1400102537, $34.95) pairs British actor Simon Vance's award-winning voice with the story of ancient druids in Celtic Gaul who face Roman invasion and exile in Hibernia. Fast-paced action comes to life in audio with these new winners.
Brilliance Corporation
www.brillianceaudio.com
These are key winners and powerful picks, standing out in the audio leisure listening world and highly recommended for discriminating collections. Kay Hoover's SLEEPING WITH FEAR (1423309456, $24.95) receives Kathy Garver's warm reading and tells of one Riley Crane, who wakes up fully dressed, covered in blood, and without memory. Even her clairvoyant powers and federal agent status aren't providing many clues. Terry Goodkind's PHANTOM (1596008768, $34.95) receives Sam Tsoutsouvas' unique and involving voice as it tells of one Kahlan, who remembers nothing but her name but discovers she's the central key in a variety of puzzles which converge on her life, from war to one man's vanished love. John Saul's IN THE DARK OF THE NIGHT (1423304411, $26.95) receives Mel Foster's vivid dramatization as it tells of a shadowy threat faced by teens who discover a strange cache of discarded objects and junk, recorded carefully in a ledger. Their fascination with their discovery will uncover a dangerous force. Joel C. Rosenberg's THE COPPER SCROLL (1596003146, $24.95) enjoys Jeff Woodman's quick and precise voice as it tells of a copper scroll which could be history's greatest treasure map, leading to the building of the Third Jewish Temple – if it's code can be broken. Carly Phillips CROSS MY HEART (1423312892, $24.95) receives Marie Caliendo's dramatic style which perfectly matches the classy New York story of one Lacey, a small business owner who has gone from rags to riches and who returns to her old life as an heiress, up against an uncle who wants to stop her. Marcia Muller's VANISHING POINT (142331204X, $32.95) receives veteran Susan Ericksen's excellent reading style and ability to bring passion and drama to the story as it tells of a marriage between a detective and a sexy fellow investigator which goes bad as a baffling case commands attention and dredges up long-held secrets. David Morrell's THE FIFTH PROFESSION (1597377678, $29.95) receives a full cast narration, which is the perfect accept to a high drama revolving around two protection specialists whose mission is to protect and retrieve a lovely American woman whose rich husband is out to destroy her. All are powerful listens, and highly recommended library acquisitions.
The Cold Moon
Jeffrey Deaver
Simon & Schuster Audio
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
0743552687 $49.95 www.simonsaysaudio.com
A new Lincoln Rhyme novel brings the thriller genre to high tension, especially spiced with Joe Mantegna's readings. He's received Emmy nominations for his TV work and won the Tony Award for his stage work – there should be an award for his smooth voice which perfectly captures the tension brewing from the story of deadly murders in New York City and a renowned criminologist who comes to realize the killer's future plans. This is audio at its best.
Random House Audio
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
www.randomhouse.com/audio
Steven M. Gillon's 10 DAYS THAT UNEXPECTEDLY CHANGED AMERICA (0739333356, $29.95) pairs professional actor Stephen Hoyle's extensive 30-year experience and voice with the popular TV History Channel show pinpointing pivotal days which changed the nation and the world. From Shays' Rebellion of 1787 right up to modern times, these key events are recounted along with their long-lasting impacts. Frank Delaney's SIMPLE COURAGE: A TRUE STORY OF PERIL ON THE SEA (0739333682, $29.95) tells of a 1951 ship laden with passengers and tons of cargo heading from Europe to America which faced huge waves which about destroyed her. Her captain fought to bring her cargo and passengers safely to port: his courageous story is told on audio for the first time, and uses historical documents and modern accounts to spice true adventure.
Audio Editions
1133 High St., Auburn, CA 95604
www.audiopartners.com
The Reluctant Mr. Darwin by David Quammen (1572705698, $29.95) comes to life in a vivid rendition by actor and award-winning narrator Grover Gardner, who brings passion and enthusiasm to this story of Darwin. Darwin's own secret notebooks and personal letters provided the foundation for this coverage, which tells of the evolution of his theory. Stephen Frey's THE POWER BROKER (1572705590, $37.95) receives award-winning audio narrator Holter Graham's smooth and powerfully dramatic voice as it tells of one Christian Gillette, approached by a group representing vast influence and wealth who want to partner with his company. When politics intervenes, trouble evolves in this tense thriller.
The Inimitable Jeeves
P.G. Wodehouse
Audio Editions
1133 High St., Auburn, CA 95604
1572705426 $29.95 www.audiopartners.com
Jonathan Cecil has extensive theatre experience and it shows in his narration of another funny and pointed Jeeves classic in THE INIMITABLE JEEVES. When Bingo decides to marry one of his many loves, he enlists Bertie's help – and it's up to the practical Jeeves to overcome problems.
The Library DVD Shelf
Jinki: Extend
ADV Films
www.advfilms.com
1413914497 DVD $29.98
Manga and Japanese anime fans will appreciate JINKI: EXTEND, the new anime series from ADV which features giant robots and lovely anime girls who drive them. It pairs soap opera action and romance with science, and promises anime fans much adventure.
Comic Party Revolution
ADV Films
www.advfilms.com
1413914591 $29.98
Fans of manga will here rejoin Kazuki and Mizuki who are college students now: Kazuki is an amateur comic artist with an attention to girls even as Taishi plans world domination. A host of sexy manga girls and zany action ensues in a series of fast-paced encounters.
Poise Workout: Fullbody #1
Dr. Teri Jory
Poise Productions
www.poiseproductions.com
No ISBN DVD
Dr. Terry Jory's POISE routine comes from a professional ice skater, dancer and 2nd degree black belt, and provides a physical and mental fitness program developed by the author after the birth of her twins. Her development of varied movements and stretches embraces pilates, ballet, and martial arts alike with an excellent, vivid routine all levels will easily follow.
Desk Sets Workout
Sharyn Pak
Bayview Entertainment
8203 Westminster Rd., Elkins Park, PA 19027
www.onairvideo.com
www.bayviewentertainment.com
No ISBN DVD $19.99
This 54-minute workout DVD is for any office or computer worker, and offers quick, easily-followed routines that an be performed in the office or home using only a desk, chair and filing cabinet. These are 10 and 5-minute sessions which each target a different area of the body: the DVD offers specific examples of each, discusses common problems of office work including carpel tunnel, and designs exercises to stretch little-used muscles and avoid common office-related conditions. A top pick.
Christi Taylor fitness DVDs
Bayview Entertainment
www.taylordfitness.com
$19.99 Each
Christi Taylor's exercise routines promise lasting, quick cardio results. CARDIO COLLECTIBLES provides 1/2 step and 1/2 high-low workouts packed with energetic music and inspirational dvd routine examples: fast-paced and energetic, it promises fun as much as exercise. MISSION: POSSIBLE provides a workout for beginners new to cardio fitness, featuring Christi and her ‘special agents' who illustrate step and multi-impact workouts for all levels. Both are top picks, especially for reluctant home exercises who might think routines tend to be dull. Christi is positively inspiring.
Combatant: Extreme Self Defense
GoWellUSA
www.wellgousa.com www.comparestyles.com
$29.95 DVD No ISBN
Any interested in martial arts demonstrations – particularly from notable masters – must have COMBATANT: EXTREME SELF-DEFENSE: here four martial artists share their techniques for any who would use the arts for self-defense, offering real-life scenarios which are re-creations of possible hostile occurrences. Illustrations of the ‘Fast Defense' techniques are easily followed and are exceptionally well done on DVD.
Going Going Gone! 1
www.goinggoinggone1and2.com
No ISBN DVD
Shannon Holand's time-lapsed exercise video is designed for overweight and de-conditioned folks who need a special easy program with invigorating music and an easy program. The program key here is 100 beats per minute with a very simple choreography spiced with a variety of moves, making GOING GOING GONE! A perfect choice for beginning exercisers.
Samba Party Workout 2
Vanessa Isaac
Razor Entertainment
12031 Ventura Blvd, Suite 3, Studio City, CA 91406
159552181X $14.99 www.razordigitalent.com
Brazilian samba sanding is the perfect sound for exercise, and Brazilian dancer Vanessa Isaac has developed a high-energy routine that uses live drums and inspiring pulses to get you moving. SAMBA PARTY WORKOUT 2 provides a hot cardio workout spiced with the best of Brazilian beats, and presented by a host of dancers in a video as fun to watch as it is to exercise with.
Anchor Bay Entertainment
1699 Stutz Dr., Troy, MI 48084
www.anchorbayentertainment.com/fitness
Anchor Bay's fitness entertainment DVDs are excellent offerings pairing powerful routines with lively multi-level choices. Each DVD in the ‘Pick Your Level' set ($14.98 Each) offers 3 levels for workouts for advanced, intermediate or beginner. WEIGHT LOSS PILATES provides half an hour of a Pilates program geared to weight loss, gathering the best of three types of Pilates – standing, side-lying and mat – in a set of 10-minute routines for each, and FAT TO FIRM FAST gathers four short workouts from experienced personal trainers for a program which uses multiple muscles and exercises. The '10 Minute Solutions' sets offer customization routines to 10-minute workouts to shape the body: FITNESS BALL WORKOUTS develops five such routines using the fitness ball to shape and tone; RAPID RESULTS PILATES focuses on toning buns, thighs, and more with a series of efficient workouts and stretches paired to body areas of concern, and FAT BLASTING DANCE MIX provides instructor Jennifer Galardi's professional dancing techniques and a load of personality and fun as it pairs dance routines to exercise. All are excellent exercise picks.
Family Disaster Preparedness: Terrorism Awareness
TotalSource Inc.
C/o 411 Video Information
Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
0974432512 $19.99 www.411videoinfo.com
You can watch this on either a DVD player or on computer: either way, the entire family should watch FAMILY DISASTER PREPAREDNESS: TERRORISM AWARENESS, which tells how to keep a family safe and how to survive disaster. From developing a supply kit and communication plan to knowing evacuation routes and saving pets, this dvd tells how to survive through advance planning.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
BL Publishing
1525 Hulse Rd. Unit 1, Pt. Pleasant, NJ 08742
www.blackflame.com www.blacklibrary.com
Black Flame's science fiction titles are top picks for discriminating readers: they produce strong action-packed adventures and fine reads. Among the latest picks: Aaron Rosenberg's DAY OF THE DAEMON (1844163660, $7.99) tells of a gothic Old world and a treasure hunter who returns to a war-shattered city, only to become immersed in a plot to summon a daemon prince; C.S. Goto's WARRIOR COVEN (1844163652, $7.99) presents the second novel in the ‘Deathwatch' series, this providing an excellent sequel to ‘Warrior Brood' and featuring more of the Deathwatch Space Marines; Dan Abnett and Mike Lee's REAPER OF SOULS: A TALE OF MALUS DARKBLADE (1844161933, $7.99) tells of a dark half-elf with a warrior's reputation and cruelty who is possessed by a demon and has to regain five magic artifacts to free his soul; Matthew Farrer's BLIND (1844163733, $7.99) provides anotehr in the Shira Calpurnia series, telling of an Imperial fortress where a law enforces faces a murder investigation; Mitchel Scanlon's RED SHADOWS (1844163776, $7.99) joins others in the ‘Anderson PSI Division' series telling of a unit of PSI investigators who combat dangerous psychic criminals; and James Swallow's JADE DRAGON (1844163784, $7.99) joins others in the 'Dark Future' set telling of a future America in a world ruled by corporations and paranoia. Andy Hoare's ROGUE STAR (184416375X, $7.99) tells of rogue trader Lucian, a starship captain facing declining family fortunes, unless he can aid an Imperial world's commander in war and come out on top. Mike wild's HELLO N EARTH (1944163865, $7.99) joins Canallistics, Inc. titles telling of a secret government department investigating the supernatural, now sold off to become a private company. Under the wrong hands it could either be a threat – or save the world. All are fine adventure reads.
Gotrek & Felix: First Omnibus
William King
BL Publishing
1525 Hulse Rd. Unit 1, Mt. Pleasant, NJ 08742
1844163741 $10.99 www.blacklibrary.com
Pair a bargain price tag with a Warhammer omnibus of fantasy action gathering the flagship series under one cover and you have a fine pick for any serious fantasy collection. All three of the classics – TROLLSLAYER, SKAVENSLAYER and DAEMONSLAYER are included to provide a smooth, seamless introduction to a fast-paced, war-torn world which has since spawned a host of popular adventures.
Baen Books
Box 1403, Riverdale, NY 10471
www.baen.com
John Ringo and Travis S. Taylor's VAN NEUMANN'S WAR (1416520759, $25.00) begins a new series of fast-paced action: Mars, the ‘red' planet, is turning gray, and a team of scientists suspects the worst when their probe is destroyed. It seems Mars is being used as the staging ground for an invasion of Earth – by a robot race. Excellent drama ensues and leaves readers hungering for more. Christopher Anvil's THE TROUBLE WITH ALIENS (compiled and edited by Eric Flint) (1416520775, $24.00) tells of bureaucrats and aliens, offering up the complete stories of the war with the Outs, gathered for the first time into a novel-length series of adventures and paired with more stories of human/alien battles. David Drake's OTHER TIMES THAN PEACE (1416420767, $25.00) is a pick for fans of military science fiction: soldiers in these stories battle space, time, and aliens in a series of vignettes about strategies and action plans which don't always include warrior survival. John Ringo's CHOSERS OF THE SLAIN (1416520708, $25.00) provides a sequel to Ghost and Kildar: here the Ghost is on a new mission, seeking relaxation – but when a U.S. senator faces a daughter's kidnapping, he's called out of semi-retirement and into the world of political intrigue and Albanian gangs. Paul Chaf'e DESTINY'S FORGE (1416520716, $25.00) continues the Man-Kzin stories first created by Larry Niven, here telling of warriors, diplomats, and starship commanders who all interact in an epic battle against a bid for power. All are exceptional, recommended picks.
Dragon's Fire
Anne McCaffrey & Todd McCaffrey
DelRey Books
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
0345480287 $24.95 www.delreybooks.com
Readers who have long enjoyed Anne McCafrrey's Pern stories of a world of dragons and tenders will relish yet another new novel of Pern; this joined by her son Todd who also contributed to the prior DRAGON'S KIN and DRAGONSBLOOD. This is their second collection and tells of four abandoned youngsters whose entwined lives reflect inherited problems from their parents and very different perspectives on life. When the last remaining firestone mine explodes, the four will prove key to the ultimate survival – or dissolution – of Pern.
The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf
Fabulous Fakes
Carole Tanenbaum
Artisan
708 Broadway, New York NY 10003
1579652921 $35.00 www.artisanbooks.com
FABULOUS FAKES: A PASSION FOR VINTAGE COSTUME JEWELRY is much more than just another identification or pricing guide: it captures and shares the author's own enthusiasm for the history and background of costume jewelry, offering chapters spiced with numerous color photos. Her pieces accompany a running history of vintage costume jewelry from Victorian to modern times, offering excellent and vivid insights into show-stopping pieces. A ‘must' for any serious collecting library, especially those covering costume jewelry.
331+ Essential Tips & Tricks
Stuart C. Mowbray
Mowbray Publishing
54 East School St., Woonsocket, RI 02895
1931464227 $35.99 www.manatarmsbooks.com
331+ Essential Tips & Tricks: A How-To Guide for the Gun Collector provides a practical approach to guying, maintaining, displaying and collecting firearms, going beyond most gun titles which focus on collection alone to show how the gun may be maintained under working or non-working conditions alike. Color photos of firearms pack tips on how to work on them, with large headers and bulleted points covering major tips such as being patient, looking for key points in an original condition gun, and fitting and refinishing. A ‘must' for any gun collector needing a comprehensive reference.
The Colors of Heisey Glass
Debbie & Randy Coe
Schiffer Books
4880 Lower Valley Rd., Atglen, PA 19310
0764325078 $35.00 www.schifferbooks.com
Colored Heisey glass made from 1896-1958 is explored in a series of fine photos - over five hundred color presentations – and provides colors defined with production dates and histories. From pattern numbers and names to measurements and values, The Colors of Heisey Glass is an excellent reference and recommended pick for any glass collector.
Collector Books
Box 3009, Paducah, KY 42002-3009
www.collectorbooks.com
The 25th updated edition of the classic SCHROEDER'S ANTIQUES PRICE GUIDE (1574325256, $17.95) is out, and it promises to be just as popular as prior editions, updating values, providing information in full color, and charting some 50,000 antiques and collectibles. More than just a book of listings, it also provides historical background as keys to makers and production lines, as well. Mark Pickvet's COLLECTING PLAYING CARDS IDENTIFICAITON AND VALUE GUIDE (1574325248, $24.95) pairs an introductory history to the topic with a color photo gallery of playing cards and values, offering good-sized playing card photos and notes which make identification a snap. A solid guide for any who would collecting playing cards. National Cambridge Collectors, Inc's COLORS IN CAMBRIDGE GLASS II (1574325116, $29.95) is organized by sets and colors and provides a catalog of Cambridge glass from the 1920s to the 40s. Collectors will appreciate the clear pictures and value keys. Gene & Cathy Florence's ELEGANT GLASSWARE OF THE DEPRESSION ERA, 12TH EDITION (1574325140, $24.95) includes photo lends and covers Cambridge, Fostoria, Heisey and other glass makers' works, pairing photos with value charts for easy access. Are are top picks for collectors.
Antique Trader Book Collector's Price Guide
Richard Russell
Krause Publications
700 E. State St., Iola, WI 54990-2873
0896892913 $24.99 www.fwpublications.com
The expanded new edition of a classic book collector's market guide provides full color and plenty of detail, updating prices for over 5,000 books and using charts to help identify first editions -–which can be a tricky process, as publisher's marks vary from publisher to publisher. A new chapter on children's books has been added, while Top Ten lists of rarities and an alpha listing by author makes it quick and easy to use this as a take-along tote for flea market ventures.
Warman's Antiques & Collectibles Price Guide, 40th Edn
Ellen T. Schroy
Krause Publications
700 E. State St., Iola, WI 54990-2873
0896893170 $21.99 www.fwpublications.com
The 40th edition of WARMAN'S ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES PRICE GUIDE, edited by Tracy L. Schmidt, is a ‘must' for any serious collector: it packs in over two thousand small color images essential to proper identification of a range of collectibles, offers details on history, fakes and reproductions, and updates all price listings to reflect current market values. From jewelry and glass pieces to coin-operated items and scales, WARMAN'S ANTIQUES & COLLECTIBLES PRICE GUIDE holds it all.
Schiffer
4880 Lower Valley Rd., Atglen, PA 19310
www.schifferbooks.com
A. & H. Harding's VICTORIAN STAFFORDSHIRE DOGS (076432456X, $49.95) packs in over seven hundred color photos to display the varieties of ceramic dogs produced by potters of England's Staffordshire district during Victorian times. Also included are discussions of the potters that produced these figurines, along with tips on valuing a collection of piece. Notes on differences between photos and actual pieces are also important. Roseann Ettinger's POPULAR JEWELRY OF THE 60S, 70S & 80S (0764324705, $29.95) pairs some six hundred color photos and sixty ad pieces with discussions of fashion and social trends to explain the evolution of values in the popular jewelry world of modern times. Roseann Ettinger's background as a vintage jewelry and clothing dealer lends to discussions of patterns, trends, and valuation systems. Erin Henderson and Yvonne Barineau's COLORFUL VINTAGE KITCHEN TOWELS (0764323806, $29.95) includes designs from the top manufacturers of the kitchen towel from the 1930s through the 60s, showcasing and contrasting towels which have become a popular collector's item. Whether you know them as tea towels, dish towels, or hand towels, their variety and growing values are displayed in nearly six hundred color photos paired with previously unpublished details on the era's top textile artists. All are fine recommended picks collectors must have.
Schiffer
4880 Lower Valley Rd., Atglen, PA 19310
www.schifferbooks.com
Anita Yasuda's HELLO KITTY: FOREVER CUTE, CREATIVE & COLLECTIBLE (0764323520, $19.95) gathers Hello Kitty goods which originated in Japan and has since become popular internationally, introducing each chapter with correspondence between Kitty and her friends, including nearly six hundred photos displaying Kitty items from toys to jewelry, and adding photos from the Kitty 30th Anniversary exhibit. Even collectors may be astounded at the variety Hello Kitty has fostered. Hillary James' THE COMPLETE UNAUTHORIZED GUIDE TO VINTAGE BARBIE DOLLS (0764325124, $24.95) presents the dolls and their outfits for each, listing all pieces originally included with the doll or outfit packages, giving values for both sets and individual items, and pairing all with color photos and each item's stock number, date and latest value. The whole Barbie family is included here, and collectors won't want to miss it.
The Transportation Shelf
Air Accident Investigation, 3rd Edition
David Owen
Patrick Stephens/Haynes Publishing
Phoenix Mill, Thrupp, Stroud, Glous UK GL5 2BU
0750944951 www.haynes.co.uk www.amazon.com
This post-911 new edition comes from a former aerospace engineer, who reviews aviation accidents and their causes, examining how each major accident was affected by weather, pilot error, metal fatigue or maintenance issues. Crucial incidents are reconstructed with an eye to solving puzzles and even those which received intense media profile reveal new angles in Owen's investigation. Add advice on industry changes and you have a pick aviation collections shouldn't miss.
Wolfgang Publications
217 - 2nd St. North, Stillwater, MN 55082
www.wolfpub.com
HOW TO BUILD AN OLD SKOOL BOBBER by Kevin Baas (1929133243, $24.95) is a fine survey of a classic American motorcycle and explains which engines fit which frames, which drives to use, and more. Over a hundred pages packs in over three hundred color images and teaches how to build basic bobbers, choppers, and how to use after market and factory frames. A fine pick for any intending on building a bike. Vince Goodeve's PROFESSIONAL AIRBRUSH TECHNIQUES (1929133286, $24.95) is the book to use to decorate your chopper: Vince here teaches how to set up his shop, mix paint, use colors and detail, with gorgeous photo displays on each page presenting artistic examples throughout. From materials lists to techniques, PROFESSIONAL AIRBRUSH TECHNIQUES is a lovely presentation.
The Theatre/Cinema Shelf
Today in History: Musicals
Joe Stollenwerk
Emmis Books
1700 Madison Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45206
1578602653 $14.95 www.emmisbooks.com
TODAY IN HISTORY: MUSICALS offers a day-by-day account of the shows, stars and history of Broadway in a format which allows fans to flip to any day of the year to discover fun facts and trivia. From the birth dates of stars and major musical events to fun pop quiz queries, TODAY IN HISTORY: MUSICALS is a fine discussion for any fan of the genre.
Experimental Film and Video
Jackie Hatfield, Ed
John Libbey
c/o Indiana University Press
601 N. Morton St., Bloomington, IN 47404
0861966643 $27.95 www.iupress.indiana.edu
Artists working in film and video today may not realize it, but the last forty years has seen a technological revolution in the materials of production, fostering many possibilities for experimentation. EXPERIMENTAL FILM AND VIDEO gathers key artists working in film, video and digital media to present a collection of philosophical reflections on the course of digital media and progress of narrative, performance, and theatre. A college-level, scholarly tone makes this the perfect guide for college collections strong in film media.
Boffo!
Peter Bart
Miramax Books
77 W. 66th St., New York NY 10023-5298
1401352162 $26.95 www.miramax/com
BOFFO! HOW I LEARNED TO LOVE THE BLOCKBUSTER AND FEAR THE BOMB comes from the editor-in-chief of Variety and co-host of AMC's Sunday Morning Shootout, and provides a vivid, experienced look at Hollywood, using nearly thirty hits from film, TV and theatre to examine the making of blockbusters and the lessons they hold for any would-be hit maker. From budget concerns to anticipating changes in audience tastes, BOFFO covers pitfalls as well as successes and is a ‘must' for any film director, producer, or Hollywood wannabe.
The Art of Superman Returns
Daniel Wallace
Chronicle Books
85 – 2ND St., San Francisco, CA 94012
0811853446 $40.00 www.chroniclebooks.com
Fans of the film SUPERMAN RETURNS must have this film book: it covers all the concepts and developmental art which served as the movie's foundation, pairing over two hundred works of art – costumes, locations, sets – with interviews with the director, screenwriters, artists and costume designers involved. Sketches and color stills accompany reviews of the plot's progression and choices in production. THE ART OF SUPERMAN RETURNS packs in the color and the depth and is the perfect accompaniment to the movie.
Johnny Depp: A Modern Rebel
Brian J. Robb
Plexus Publishing
110 Riverside Dr. Apt. 5F, New York NY 10024
0859653854 $19.95 www.plexusbooks.com
Perfectly timed for the latest ‘Pirates of the Caribbean' blockbuster film is Johnny Depp: A Modern Rebel: a biography of the quirky actor whose good looks and lively adventures hide a rebellious young man whose drug-filled adolescence seemed unlikely to create a celebrity. From his volatile relationships and life to his evolving career and interest in independent, adventure-laden roles, is Johnny Depp: A Modern Rebel is revised and updated and comes packed with black and white and color photos.
Transamerica
Duncan Tucker
Newmarket Press
18 E. 48th St., New York NY 10017
1557047324 $18.95 www.newmarketpress.com
Here's the official book tie-in to a winning movie about a transsexual woman about to take the surgical plunge to become full woman when she learns she once fathered a son – and the two meet. The complete shooting script here is accompanied by scene notes, two essays by the film's writer on making the film and on transsexuality, and production notes. Add nearly firth black and white still photos and you have a keepsake for avid fans of the film TRANSAMERICA.
Acting the Part
Lori Pauli, Editor
Merrell
49 W. 24th St., 8th Flr, New York NY 10010
1858943280 $49.95 www.merrellpublishers.com
ACTING THE PART: PHOTOGRAPHY AS THEATRE provides readers with the first major history of staged photography, using many key works to provide a history of the genre from the mid-nineteenth century to modern times. It could've been reviewed in our Arts or Photography section – but any interested in theatre will also find it involving and not to be missed, discussing play-acting and Surrealism, sources of inspiration, and narrative strategies from cinematography and advertising as they influence modern performance art. A gorgeous blend of art and theatre evolves.
Michael Wiese Productions
11288 Ventura Blvd. #621, Studio City, CA 91604
www.mwp.com
Two excellent film guides are picks for aspiring actors and directors alike. John Badham and Craig Modderno's I'LL BE IN MY TRAILER: THE CREATIVE WARS BETWEEN DIRECTORS & ACTORS (1932907149, $26.95) is for directors who find the actor's personality and needs both puzzling and challenging. How can a director lead a stubborn actor, pairing temperament with the work at hand? How can directors modify behaviors that alienate actors? These and other common issues unique to the director/actor relationship and movie production are reviewed in chapters that offer solutions. John Gaspard's FAST CHEAP & UNDER CONTROL (1932907157, $26.95) tells how to stretch production dollars, handle tight budget constraints, and get the most from personnel and props to create a memorable film production. Lessons from low-budget mavericks serve as foundations for duplicating success, with descriptions covering everything from dealing with written scripts and hidden improvisation potentials to previewing results and achieving memorable films even when poor. Both are outstanding recommendations and ‘musts' for any serious film library holding, promising lasting lending value.
Backstage at the Tonight Show
Don Sweeney
Taylor Trade
4501 Forbes Blvd. #200, Lanham, MD 20706
158979303X $16.95 www.rowman.com
Author Don Sweeney was with The Tonight Show for nearly twenty years until Jay Leno took over in 1992, so he's in the perfect position to provide the celebrity vignettes and anecdotes which follow its peak years in BACKSTAGE AT THE TONGITH SHOW FROM JOHNNY CARSON TO JAY LENO. More than two dozen celebrities are profiled here form Bill Cosby and Frank Sinatra to Letterman and Stevie Wonder, with descriptions bringing the show experience to life. A recommended pick for not only The Tonight Show viewers past and present, but for any who enjoy celebrity exposes.
The 30-Second Storyteller
Thomas Richter
Thomson Course Technology
25 Thomson Place, Boston, MA 02210
1598632264 $34.99 www.courseptr.com
Is there a job in the world where you need work only 10 days to make $100K? It's real, all right, and is explored in THE 30-SECOND STORYTELLER: THE ART AND BUSINESS OF DIRECTING COMMERCIALS. Chapters focus on the position of a commercial director and while it's a tough job to get and keep, they focus on the rewards and challenges alike. From understanding common production problems and how to overcome them to creating a TV spot that works, THE 30-SECOND STORYTELLER is very specific and narrow in its focus, and will appeal to any interested in the world of commercials.
Allworth Press
10 E. 23rd St. #510, New York NY 10010
www.allworth.com
These fine guides will help film producers and animation artists, providing specific industry-tested tips and insights. Sara Caldwell's JUMPSTART YOUR AWESOME FILM PRODUCTION COMPANY (1581154003, $19.95) follows the steps necessary to turn the dream of a film into reality, using real-life stories from many filmmakers to review pros and cons, challenges along the way, and more. From creating a financial plan and locating and working with investors to making industry contacts and promoting a film, JUMPSTART YOUR AWESOME FILM PRODUCTION COMPANY is packed with great ideas. David B. Levy's YOUR CAREER IN ANIMATION: HOW TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE (1581154453, $19.95) tells how to break into the animation industry or move up the ladder in a career, and offers a blueprint for understanding the industry's players, strategies for advancement, and more. Chapters tell how to build an impressive portfolio, handle periodic unemployment, and network effectively: while these are common business practices in any industry, tips specific to animation also include lists of animation schools, societies, web sites and more.
The Parenting Shelf
The Mislabeled Child
Brock Eide, MD, MA & Fernette Eide, MD
Hyperion
www.hyperionbooks.com
1401302254 $24.95
THE MISLABELED CHILD: HOW UNDERSTANDING YOUR CHILD'S UNIQUE LEARNING STYLE CAN OPEN THE DOOR TO SUCCESS provides parents, teachers and educators a fine, clear guide to children who are different, how diagnoses often fail, and how to look beyond labels to find the basics of a child's problems. Flaws in current methods of evaluation and diagnosis, especially by non-specialists, accompany tools and information based on the latest research along with first-hand accounts by the children themselves.
The Library Science Shelf
Less is More
Donna J. Baumbach & Linda L. Miller
ALA Editions
Box 932501, Atlanta, GA 31193-2501
0838909191 $28.00 www.alastore.ala.org
LESS IS MORE: A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO WEEDING SCHOOL LIBRARY COLLECTIONS is for professional school librarians seeking a specific routine for weeding. All the basics are here; from getting started and understanding philosophy to breaking down weeding criteria by Dewey Numbers and using automation tools. School librarians – particularly newcomers to the profession – will find it filled with tips.
The Agricultural Studies Shelf
Handbook of Milk of Non-Bovine Mammals
Young W. Park & George F.W. Haenlein
Blackwell Publishing
2121 State Ave, Ames, IA 50014
0813820510 $199.99 www.blackwellprofessional.com
Think milk and you usually think ‘cow', but the contribution of milks from secondary domesticated dairy species around the world is growing, and HANDBOOK OF MILK OF NON-BOVINE MAMMALS is the only authoritative, in-depth title to assemble dairy and nutrition experts from around the world to consider the milks of not just goat and sheep, but camels, yaks, reindeer, llamas and more. Methods of raw milk production, changes in processing technologies, and distribution around the world pairs with health information to provide a significant reference essential for any agricultural collection.
The Science Shelf
Murmurs from the Deep
Gilles Fonteneau
Arcade Publishing
141 Fifth Avenue, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10010
1559707763 $25.00 www.arcadepub.com 1-800-759-0190
You may not readily recognize the author's name; but he launched his own expedition ala Cousteau in 2001 to measure the movement of the tectonic plates of the Caribbean – and indeed joined Cousteau's team and sailed with him for several years. So while his background is similar and influenced by Cousteau, he moved on to become a business executive for thirty years before returning to his first love, marine exploration. His goal was more than measuring plate movements: he wanted to make audio recordings of the fish of the Caribbean, and wished to study the erosion of local coral reefs. The blend of natural history and area political insights combine in a fine first-person survey of adventure in MURMURS FROM THE DEEP: SCIENTIFIC ADVENTURE IN THE CARIBBEAN.
Encyclopedia of Cryptozoology
Michael Newton
McFarland
Box 611, Jefferson, NC 28640
0786420367 $95.00 www.mcfarlandpub.com
Many journals have recommended ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CRYPTOZOOLOGY and it's easy to see why: it packs in the research material, adds reference and bibliographic notes, and features animals unrecognized by modern science in nations around the world. That said, it's also recommended as a pick for college-level natural history collections and public library holdings alike: it packs in over two thousand reference entries on particular creatures, providing history of human interactions, natural history, and comments on environment. While not many general-interest readers would initially pick up ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CRYPTOZOOLOGY, figuring it too weighty for leisure reading, its articles and listings prove surprisingly accessible to general-interest readers, once you get past the impressive, technical-sounding title.
Dictionary of Weather & Climate
Jacqueline Smith
Facts on File
132 W. 31st St., 17th Flr, New York NY 10001
081606296X $49.50 www.factsonfile.com
The revised edition of Dictionary of Weather & Climate offers high school and college-level collections over 2,000 cross-referenced entries defining and exploring terms used in meteorology and climatology. The previous edition appeared five years ago: this adds over 150 new entries and includes pronunciation symbols for over 800 uncommon terms.
Krieger Publishing Company
Krieger Drive, Malabar, FL 32950
www.kriegerpublishing.com
John V. Rossi and Roxanne Rossi's SNAKES OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA: NATURAL HISTORY AND CARE IN CAPTIVITY (1575240319, $145.00) offers a natural history and captive maintenance survey of all species of snakes found in the U.S. and Canada. The Rossis spent years studying these species personally and have researched thoroughly in the course of their studies: evidence of this shows in species discussions which include name origins, identification challenges, habits of captive and breeding snakes, and much more. Color photos abound to compliment the many facts. Bob L. Tipton's SNAKES OF THE AMERICAS: CHECKLIST AND LEXICON (157524215X, $94.50) is a technical survey which will prove perfect for college-level natural history collections. Chapters divide by groups and families, offering species-level taxa, citations, remarks, and notes on range.
Coming to Life
Christiane Nusslein-Volhard
Kales Press
www.kalespress.com
0967007674 $29.95
COMING TO LIFE: HOW GENES DRIVE DEVELOPMENT covers the world of biology and recounts groundbreaking discoveries that provide new knowledge of genetic functions and development influences. From resulting ethical conflicts over cloning and genetic therapies to issues affecting gene development and sequences of life forms, COMING TO LIFE is a primer science students will relish.
Silent Snow
Marla Cone
Grove Press
841 Broadway, New York NY 10003
0802142591 $14.00 www.groveatlantic.com
The Arctic is thought of as the last unspoiled place on the planet; but mankind's influence is touching even this pristine wilderness and SILENT SNOW: THE SLOW POISONING OF THE ARCTIC comes from a top national environmental journalist who documents the degradation. Chapters survey new evidence of Arctic poisoning, its effects on ocean food webs, and why the Arctic people are among the most contaminated human beings on Earth. An eye-opening, frightening read evolves.
The Military Shelf
The Business of Civil War
Mark R. Wilson
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21218-4363
0801883482 $45.00 www.press.jhu.edu
THE BUSINESS OF CIVIL WAR: MILITARY MOBILIZATION AND THE STATE, 1861-1865 is a pick for any in-depth Civil War history holding, who will find it much more than the usual rehash of politics. Instead, American history teacher Mark Wilson provides his own structured analysis of the politics and economics of the large military supply project in the North which proved such a major influence on the war's events and progression. His research in Army and business archives alike documents this project with an eye to displaying the military economy it created and encouraged. A ‘must' for any serious student of Civil War history who would go beyond the usual statistics and battle events.
Thunder Bay Press
5880 Oberlin Dr., San Diego, CA 92121-4794
www.thunderbaybooks.com
$29.95 Each
Two outstanding references are top picks, packing in pages of value for their price tags and providing a wide-ranging history. Chris Bishop edits ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TANKS & ARMORED FIGHTING VEHICLES FROM WW I TO THE PRESENT DAY (159223626X): an exhaustive reference that may appeal to general readers, but is a special pick for military collections. Over 300 tanks and vehicles are presented in a pairing of vintage and action photos and detailed drawings, with descriptions including extensive and in-depth service histories of specs and tanks. Jim Winchester edits ENCYCLOPEDIA OF MODERN AIRCRAFT FROM CIVILIAN AIRLINERS TO MILITARY SUPERFIGHTERS (1592236286), using the same extensive format and packing in over 300 military and civil aircraft in service around the world. Color photos pack presentations that include specs, history, and many technical details. Both are top reference picks promising lasting value.
Besieged
Duncan B. Campbell
Osprey Publishing
443 Park Avenue South #806, New York NY 10016
1846030196 $24.95 www.ospreypublishing.com
BESIEGED: SIEGE WARFARE IN THE ANCIENT WORLD may be a specialty item for college-level holdings, but any collection strong in early history – not just military holdings – must have it. It covers the methods of siege warfare, examining history, politics, tactics and weaponry alike in a thorough coverage which includes lavish illustrations, photos and maps throughout. The evolution of siege warfare through nine centuries comes to life in a top pick for any ancient history library.
Once I had a Comrade
R.W. Byrd
Helion & Company
26 Willow Rd., Solihull, W. Midlands, B91 1UE EK
1874622582 $59.95 www.helion.co.uk www.amazon.com
R.W. Byrd's ONCE I HAD A COMRADE: KARL ROTH AND THE COMBAT HISTORY OF THE 36TH PANZER REGIMENT 1939-45 tells of the author's German father-in-law Karl Roth, who grew up in the 1930s, and of his regiment. His eyewitness participation in campaigns in Poland in 1939, France in 1940 and Yugoslavia in 1941 before serving at the Eastern Front charts a division under siege and a fighter who saw much of the war's many battles. A vivid memoir of Karl Roth and his war encounters.
From POW to Blue Angel
Jim Armstrong
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Dr., Norman, OK
0806137649 $29.95 www.oupress.com
Raleigh E. ‘Dusty' Rhodes helped develop the Blue Angels, the world's most famous military aerobatic team – and was only the third fighter pilot to become its leader. Interviews, Dusty's scrapbooks and flight logs form the foundations of a survey which is part biography, part aviation history, and always interesting: fans of military history and aviation will find it a top pick. Mark Matthews' SMOKE JUMPING ON THE WESTERN FIRE LINE: CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS DURING WORLD WAR II (0806137665, $29.95) offers a fascinating and rare probe into a little-researched aspect of World War II history: the story of deeply religious young men whose beliefs led them to reject military service. Instead, some of them were paid a minimum wage to volunteer for the Civilian Public Service as U.S. Forest Service smoke jumpers based in Montana: this is their story, and uses extensive interviews with World War II conscientious objectors and original documents to recreate their stories.
What Caused the Civil War?
Edward L. Ayers
W.W. Norton
500 – 5th Ave., New York NY 10110
0393328538 $14.95 www.wwnorton.com
Historian Edward Ayers explores the South past and present in essays that blend his personal relationship to the South with a history of its culture and concerns. Don't expect a military history alone in WHAT CAUSED THE CIVIL WAR? REFLECTIONS ON THE SOUTH AND SOUTHERN HISTORY: chapters explore sentiments about the South both within and outside of it, argue its biggest problems are misconceptions held on all sides, and provide an excellent survey.
Love My Rifle More Than You
Kayla Williams
W.W. Norton
500 – 5th Ave., New York NY 10110
0393329224 $14.95 www.wwnorton.com
We reviewed this title in hardcover and gave it special recommendation for its gutsy, blunt tone and insights into the modern world of the army and the female experience in combat: in paperback now, LOVE MY RIFLE MORE THAN YOU: YOUNG AND FEMALE IN THE US ARMY will reach an even wider audience with its outstanding and riveting memoir.
Heroes: U.S. Army Medal Of Honor Recipients
Barrett Tillman
Berkley
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
0425210170 $26.95 www.penguin.com
Heroes: U.S. Army Medal Of Honor Recipients provides a fine collection of battle stories behind the 100 Army Corps Medal Of Honor winners, pairing these stories with over a hundred photos and providing a military history which will please a wide audience. The Medal of Honor is awarded for outstanding courage and sacrifice in combat, and is the greatest honor awarded to a soldier: their stories are vividly brought to life here.
This is Our War
Devin Friedman & Editors of GQ
Artisan
708 Broadway, New York NY 10003
157965309X $29.95 www.artisanbooks.com
THIS IS OUR WAR: A SOLDIERS' PORTFOLIO: SERVICEMEN'S PHOTOGRAPHS OF LIFE IN IRAQ is simply outstanding: it offers powerful and personal photos all taken by the men and women serving in Iraq, thus going beyond a reporter's outsider impressions to provide nearly three hundred images culled from tens of thousands GQ collected from servicemen and women. From everyday life to combat, all aspects of the Iraq experience are illustrated.
Enough Blood Shed
Mary-Wynne Ashford & Guy Dauncey
New Society Publishers
Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC V0R 1XO, Canada
0865715270 $21.95 www.newsociety.com
Is war inevitable? ENOUGH BLOOD SHED: 101 SOLUTIONS TO VIOLENCE, TERROR AND WAR thinks not – and it provides an invaluable compendium of solutions for every sector of society, individuals to schools to media to cities and communities. It doesn't just provide plans – it pairs these ideas with nonviolent success stories for diffusing all kinds of volatile situations. A ‘must' for any who would do more than dream of peace.
Longbow
Robert Hardy
Sutton/MBI, Dist.
380 Jackson St., St. Paul, MN 55101-3885
0750943912 $27.95 www.mbipublishing.com
LONGBOW: A SOCIAL AND MILITARY HISTORY follows the evolution of the longbow: a 6-foot weapon with a long-reaching history from ancient to more modern times in Britain. It became the most important weapon in the English military arsenal and won many battles: black and white illustrations throughout chart its progress and evolution.
Enemy Combatant
Moazzam Begg
New Press
38 Greene St., New York NY 10013
1595581367 $26.95 www.thenewpress.com
The author was a second-generation British Muslim born and raised in England, and was seized from his family home in Pakistan in 2002, accused by the U.S. of being a terrorist, and held for over three years. His story of his imprisonment and detention including two years at Guantanamo Bay provides the first account by a detainee of life inside the prison. From his intense interrogations to his release in 2005, this account is co-authored by Victoria Brittain, former foreign editor of the UK Guardian, and provides an engrossing, condemning eyewitness account of the US prison system and civil rights pertaining to terrorist suspects.
Endgame
Lt. General Thomas McInerney & Maj. General Paul Vallely
Regnery Publishing
1 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20001
089526000X $16.95 www.regnery.com
Numerous books analyze the history and strategies of terrorism in the world – but too few tell how to win the war on terror. Here, under one cover, is an exit strategy for Iraq and a global blueprint of political and economic changes, as well as military tips, on how to win the war, coming from two military pros who lend their expertise to ENDGAME; THE BLUEPRINT FOR VICTORY IN THE WAR ON TERROR. Food for thought from the expert's table.
Mike Ostlund's Find ‘Em, Chase ‘Em, Sink ‘Em: The Mysterious Loss of the WWII Submarine USS Gudgeon (1592288626 $26.95) could also have been reviewed in our ‘true adventure' section, but earns a spot here for being the first to recount the loss of the sub in a treacherous patrol area during the war. The author's uncle was aboard that ship, providing the impetus for a research project which involved patrol reports in both U.S. and Japanese naval archives, interviews with veterans of the ship before its last journey, and interviews with relatives. While it can't completely resolve the mystery, it does lend many insights. James P. Duffy's TARGET AMERICA: HITLER'S PLAN TO ATTACK THE UNITED STATES (1592289347, $14.95) argues that Hitler intended to bring war to America once he'd succeeded fully in Europe: for the first time Hitler's plans for worldwide offensives using his new secret weapons are revealed, with chapters recounting other Axis schemes for attack and how planners considered various options for conquest.
The Social Issues Shelf
The Decency Wars
Frederick S. Lane
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Dr., Amherst, NY 14228-2197
1591024277 $28.00 www.prometheusbooks.com
THE DECENCY WARS: THE CAMPAIGN TO CLEANSE AMERICAN CULTURE doesn't come from a journalist like you'd expect, but from a First Amendment specialist who considers the country's changing attitudes toward decency, using newspaper headlines as a foundation for documenting cultural change. It's inappropriate for the government to regulate morality in this issue, Frederick S. Lane maintains, and his book packs in surveys of decency controversies from past and present years, charting how new media has fostered questionable issues on freedom and also fostered an answering flood of writings on whether decency should be regulated.
The Reaper's Line
Lee Morgan II
Rio Nuevo Publishers
451 N. Bonita Ave., Tucson, AZ 85745
188789697X $25.00 www.rionuevo.com
Would you die to enter another country? THE REAPER'S LINE: LIFE AND DEATH ON THE MEXICAN BORDER comes from a U.S. Customs special agent who has spent some thirty years on the U.S.-Mexico border as a federal agent. His account of corruption, mass murder, gunfights and dangerous liaisons and inter
