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Volume 18, Number 8 August 2008 Home | IBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Wisconsin Shelf World History Shelf
Parenting Shelf Travel Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf
Poetry Shelf Biography Shelf Fiction Shelf
Political Science Shelf Literary Shelf Photography Shelf
Economics Shelf Women's Studies Shelf Martial Arts Shelf
Social Issues Shelf Christian Studies Shelf Theatre/Cinema Shelf
Mystery/Suspense Shelf Business Shelf Psychology Shelf
Cookbook Shelf Art Shelf Sports Shelf
American History Shelf Philosophy Shelf Nautical Shelf
Environmental Studies Shelf Religion/Spirituality Shelf Computer Shelf
Judaic Studies Shelf Judicial Studies Shelf Education Shelf
Science Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf Self-Help Shelf
International Studies Shelf Native American Shelf Gardening Shelf
Gaming Shelf Fashion Shelf Jobs/Careers Shelf
Gay Studies Shelf Needlecraft Shelf Music Shelf
Real Estate Shelf Geriatric Studies Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Military Shelf Buddhist Studies Shelf Writing/Publishing Shelf
Library CD Music Shelf Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf Library DVD Shelf
Automotive Shelf Woodworking Shelf Library Reference Shelf
Audiobook Shelf Interior Design Shelf  


Reviewer's Choice

Afterimages
Carol Ascher
Holmes & Meier Publishers
PO Box 943, Teaneck, NJ 07666
9780841914490, $24.00, www.holmesandsandmeier.com

A story of growing up in refuge from one of the most brutal dictators of the 20th century, "Afterimages: A Family Memoir" is the collective memories of a family who grew up in Topeka, Kansas after their parents fled Hitler's Germany in fear. Author Carol Ascher reflects on her bright-eyed to a fault mother, who always told her about better days back in the old country, and the dark sense of humor of her father, whose work in psychology only made it darker. "Afterimages" is a unique story, shedding light on those Germans who did not agree with Hitler's policies and left the country to escape his tyranny.

Analyzing Intelligence
Roger Z. George & James B. Bruce, editors
Georgetown University Press
3240 Prospect Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007
1589012011, $29.95, www.press.georgetown.edu, 1-800-246-9606

Expertly compiled and deftly co-edited by Roger Z. George (a career analyst serving in the CIA, State Department, and Defense Department) and James B. Bruce (a retired career CIA intelligence analyst who served with the National Intelligence council, in the Directorates of Intelligence and Operations, as well as other intelligence community organizations), "Analyzing Intelligence: Origins, Obstacles, And Innovations" is a compilation of informed and informative essays and articles on the subject of intelligence analysis providing academia, professionals, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject with a comprehensive overview of the issues, tools, and resources that American intelligence services and departments have with respect to obtaining and understanding the information that they collect. Beginning with a basic introduction to intelligence analysis by James B. Bruce and Roger Z. George, the knowledgeable contributors cover analytic tradition and history, the role of the analyst, the challenges endemic to intelligence analysis, common problems and concerns associated with intelligence analysis, as well as trends and changes within the field of intelligence analysis. An impressively articulate and scholarly body of work, "Analyzing Intelligence" is especially recommended for academic, governmental, and community library reference collections, and the supplemental reading lists of students, journalists, and interested general readers with an interest in the subject.

Doing Things Right in the Matters of the Heart
John Ensor
Crossway
1300 Crescent, St. Wheaton, IL 60187
9781581348422, $11.99, www.crossway.com

So many spend their dating lives going through a tiresome routine that leaves them both emotionally and spiritually drained. "Doing Things Right in the Matters of the Heart" is a Christian influenced guide for dating, written especially for those in turmoil over the matter. With advice for both men and women trying to find the one person with whom can they settle down and have a long, healthy relationship, "Doing Things Right in the Matters of the Heart" is highly recommended for Christian singles everywhere.

Survival Along the Continental Divide
Jack Loeffler
University of New Mexico Press
1 University of New Mexico MSCO4 2820, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
9780826344397, $24.95 www.unmpress.com

Decades worth of interviews with such contemporary visionaries as Stewart Udall, David Kammer, Melissa Savage and Paul Horgan comprise "Survival Along the Continental Divide", which explores issues of landscape, environment and culture in New Mexico. While regional New Mexico collections will likely be the most interested in this anthology, any college-level holding strong in regional American culture should also find it a worthy addition.

My Journey in Mystic China
John Blofeld
Inner Traditions
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
9781594771576, $24.95 www.innertraditions.com

Part travelogue, part memoir and part cultural exploration, My Journey in Mystic China: Old Pu's Travel Diary deserves ongoing mention as a powerful expose from the travel diaries of English-born John Blofeld, covering his life in China. Blofeld translated the I Ching and spent much of his adult life traveling during the 1930s and 40s; his scholarly comments are ideal for any who would better understand pre-World War II China. Highly recommended.

Model Masters Dragons
Elizabeth Allen, author
Ivan Vazquez & Miriam Hidalgo, illustrators
Silver Dolphin Books
1700 Fourth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
9781592237722, $19.95 www.silverdolphinbooks.com 1-800-788-3123

Intended for dragon lovers age eight to eighty, Model Masters Dragons is an inexpensive kit consisting of four plastic dragon figures, each of which is a couple inches long or tall; a paintbrush; six little pots of paint (yellow, black, blue, green, white, and red - they can be mixed to produce other colors); two little pots of glaze; and a 32-page, full-color softcover book. In addition to giving detailed instructions and guidelines for painting the dragon figures, the softcover book also features an assortment of brief summaries of classic dragon legends, illustrated with fantastic original artwork. A wonderful rainy-day project for stimulating creativity, and enthusiastically recommended not just for young people, but also for teens or adults who want to practice their skills before attempting to paint more expensive figurines!

The Essential Reference Of Domestic Brewers And The Bottled Brands
MC Basset, LLC
PO Box 241, Asbury, NJ 08802
9780977480012, $60.00

Now in an entirely updated third edition, "The Essential Reference Of Domestic Brewers And The Bottled Brands" is a superbly organized professional reference that is divided into seven major sections: an alphabetically arranged lists of breweries; comparison charts of color and bitterness; a beer style index of beer brands; 'Availability by State Charts'; a geographic brewery listing including state commentary; 'How Supplied Charts'; and a comprehensive listing of brewery brand portfolios. An essential resource for academic and professional reference collections, "The Essential Reference Of Domestic Brewers And The Bottled Brands" will also prove to be an invaluable and strongly recommended addition to the collections of beer, ale, and lager enthusiasts who seek to explore all the brewery offerings in their particular state or in other defined regions of the country. For example, in Wisconsin beginning with Angry Minnow Brewing in Hayward and finishing with the William Kuether Brewing Company of Clear Lake.


The Wisconsin Shelf

History of the Territory of Wisconsin from 1836 to 1848
Moses M. Strong
Heritage Books Inc.
100 Railroad Avenue, Suite 104, Westminster, Maryland 21157-4826
0788422316, $29.95, www.HeritageBooks.com 800.876.6103

This is a 665-page facsimile reprint of Moses M. Strong's study of territorial Wisconsin originally published in 1885 by the Democrat Printing Co. State Printers, Madison, Wisconsin. The original of this seminal study is nearly impossible to find, hard to pay for, and frankly needs this re-airing just for the index alone. Strong precedes his territorial history with an account of some pre territorial events that shaped the foundations of Wisconsin. He takes us back to different world, back to the late 1500's covering civil government under Florida and Louisiana, wars with the Fox Indians, the Langlade Family, Carver's explorations, the transfer to British jurisdiction from 1705 to 1775, the various Indian wars, the lead mines, covering civil governments to 1834, right up to the back door of Wisconsin Territory, and on to statehood in 1848, a grand and glorious adventure. For a hundred and forty three years, Moses Strong's very readable study has been a godsend for genealogists and other budding historians. Strong deserves the new market and kudos to the Heritage people for providing this reasonably priced volume.

Wisconsin Dells
Dirk Vanderwilt
Channel Lake Inc.
PO Box 1771, New York, NY 10156
9780979204395, $13.95, www.channellake.com

One of the best known tourist oriented areas of the Badger State are the rides and attractions of Wisconsin Dells, Now in a newly updated and expanded second edition, "Wisconsin Dells: A Comprehensive Guide To Waterparks, Resorts, Tours, and More" compiled and organized by Dirk Vanderwilt is the ideal trip planning guide to what the Dells have to offer the visitor be it an afternoon outing, an extended weekend, or a full summer vacation experience. the 186 information packed pages provided detailed and practical travel information, a full index, and a thoroughly 'user friendly' format. Of special note is the chapter devoted to the world famous 'House on the Rocks'. Enhanced with a brief history of the Dells, black-and-white photography, recommended travel scenarios, author recommendations, thematically appropriate websites, and an index, "Wisconsin Dells" is an indispensable planning guide and a recommended addition to all Wisconsin library travel reference collections.

Wisconsin Historical Society Press
816 State Street, Madison, WI 53706
www.wisconsinhistory.org 608-264-6465

Nicknamed the 'Badger State', Wisconsin was settled by successive waves of 19th century immigrants, each of whom left an enduring impact upon Wisconsin history and culture. The Wisconsin Historical Society Press has published an impressive series of monographs showcasing the various ethnic settlers and their roles in the early development of Wisconsin. With informed and informative texts that are enhanced with black-and-white period photography, this outstanding and highly recommended series includes: "Finns In Wisconsin: Revised and Expanded Edition" (978087020390, $9.95) by Mark Knipping; "Danes In Wisconsin: Revised and Expanded Edition" (0870203665, $9.95), "Swedes In Wisconsin: Revised and Expanded Edition" (0870203371, $9.95), and "Swiss In Wisconsin: Revised and Expanded Edition" (9780870203770, $9.95) by Frederick Hale; "Irish In Wisconsin" (0870203460, $9.95) by David G. Holmes; "Norwegians In Wisconsin: Revised and Expanded Edition" (9780870203343, $9.95) by Richard J. Fapso; "Germans In Wisconsin: Revised and Expanded Edition) 087020324X, $9.95) by Richard H. Zeitlin; and "Welsh In Wisconsin: Revised and Expanded Edition" (9780870203565, $9.95) by Phillips G. Davies. Although each title is readily available for personal libraries, community, and school libraries should acquire the entire series for their Wisconsin History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The World History Shelf

Encyclopedia Of World History
Marsha E. Ackermann, et al.
Facts On File, Inc.
c/o Infobase Publishing
132 West 31st Street, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10001
www.factsonfile.infobasepublishing.com
9780816063864, $650.00, 1-800-322-8755

Even in this age of online databases, print editions of encyclopedias have their necessary place within personal, professional, academic, and community library reference collections. This is especially true of the new Facts On File seven volume "Encyclopedia Of World History". The collaborative editorial work of Marsha E. Ackermann, Michael J. Schroeder, Janice J. Terry, Jiu-Hwa Lo Upshur, and Mark F. Whitters, the "Encyclopedia Of World History" provides an informed and informative, balanced and globally oriented perspective on human history in full accordance with academic standards for history. Enhanced with thematic essays designed to assist students in making comparisons and connections across different regions and time periods; primary source documents representative of six distinct world eras; cross-referenced entries; a chronology for each individual volume; more than 600 illustrations (including a 32-page insert of full color maps) for each volume in order to convey the importance of geography within the context of world history; recommended reading sections for further study; individual volume indexes and a comprehensive set index, "Encyclopedia Of World History" is an essential and core addition that is as praiseworthy for its 'user friendly' layout as it is for its breadth and comprehensive coverage of recorded history.

The History of Saint Edward the King
Matthew Paris, author
Thelma S. Fenster and Jocelyn Wogan-Browne, translators
Arizona Center for Medieval & Renaissance Studies
Arizona State University , P.O. Box 874402, Tempe, AZ 85287-4402
9780866983891, $40.00 www.asu.edu/clas/acmrs 1-480-965-5900

Originally written centuries ago by artist, historian, and Benedictine monk Matthew Paris (c. 1200-1259) and dedicated to Queen Eleanor, The History of Saint Edward the King is a portrayal of the reign of King Edward the Confessor that reveals at least as much (if not more) about the era, values, and dynastic concerns of King Henry III's reign as it does of its titular time period. Portraying King Edward as a wise, benevolent, married virgin king, who presided over harmonious rulership and dispensed miracles, The History of Saint Edward the King is most assuredly not unbiased - its representations of Anglo-Danish relations, vilification of Harold Godwinson's brief reign before the battle of Hastings (and the claiming of the English throne by Norman duke William),and its almost stage-worthy depictions of love affairs, epic events, history and hagiography distinguish this chronicle among records of its time. Skillfully translated from the original French, (no easy task considering the rhymed rubrics peppering the original), The History of Saint Edward the King is enhances with exhaustively extensive notes. An appendix of passages from Paris' original writings, recommended further reading, and an index of proper names round out this seminal references and resource. Highly recommended for college library collections and course teaching lists.

Migrants to the Metropolis
Marie Price and Lisa Benton-Short
Syracuse University Press
1600 Jamesville Avenue, Syracuse, NY 13210
9780815631866, $24.95 www.SyracuseUniversityPress.syr.edu 1-800-365-8929

Migrants to the Metropolis: The Rise of Immigrant Gateway Cities is an assembly of essays by expert authors discussing worldwide immigration trends and issues, with particular focus upon how cities (where the overwhelming majority of immigrants settle) are affected. Observing that many of the most common cities favored by immigrants in various countries are usually diverse, linked globally through transnational networks, and increasingly subject to de facto segregation, Migrants to the Metropolis offers a thought-provoking modern commentary upon demographic shifts in today's increasingly globalized world. Sample essays include "Washington, D.C.: From Biracial City to Multiethnic Gateway", "Immigrants and Natives in Tel Aviv: What's the Difference?", "Amsterdam: A Multicultural Gateway?", "Mean Streets: Johannesburg as an Emergent Gateway" and much more. A seminal and worthy addition to college libraries and immigration studies reading lists, highly recommended.

London: Memories Of Times Past
Rose Barton & Mary Anne Evans
Thunder Bay Press
c/o Advantage Publishers Group
5880 Oberlin Drive, Suite 400, San Diego, CA 92121-0653
9781592238583, $24.95, www.thunderbaybooks.com, 1-800-788-3123

Born in Ireland in 1856, Rose Barton studied art in London and Paris, exhibited widely, and was elected a full member of the Royal Watercolour Society in 1911. She died in 1929 leaving behind an immense legacy of superbly accomplished art, including scenes of a 'yesteryear' London. In "London: Memories Of Times Past", writer, editor, and current Chair of the British Guild of Travel Writers, Mary Anne Evans provides an informed and informative text giving the reader an historical context for the sixty-one paintings of Rose Barton, placing these images (along with those taken from period maps, postcards, newspapers, and railway tickets), within the framework of life in London in the early twentieth century. Of special note are the section on 'Sources, Notes, and Captions', and the extensive Bibliography. An elegant, enlightening, entertaining, nostalgic, illustrative urban history, "London: Memories Of Times Past" is very highly recommended reading and a popular addition to personal, academic, and community library collections.

Stalin's Slave Ships
Martin J. Bollinger
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD 21402
9781591140467, $19.95, www.navalinstitute.org, 1-800-233-8764

Most students of the Stalin era are aware of the transportation of criminals and political dissidents to Siberia via the Soviet train system. What is not so well know is that from 1932 through 1953 a fleet of Russian cargo ships were pressed into the service of carrying approximately one million forced laborers to the Soviet Gulag in Kolyma, one of the most infamous of the Soviet gulags and located along the Arctic Circle in far northeastern Siberia. Now for the first time, that obscure aspect of Soviet history is thoroughly described and fully documented in "Stalin's Slave Ships: Kolyma, The Gulag Fleet, And The Role Of The West" by Martin J. Bollinger and published by the Naval Institute Press. Of special note is the previously unrecognized role of the American government in this horrific activity as U.S. shipyards constructed most of the Soviet Gulag fleet -- and even overhauled many of these ships free of charge. Drawing from private and public records from both American and Russian archives, as well as firsthand testimony from those directly involved in these transport operations, "Stalin's Slave Ships" reveals just how much Washington knew about the use of American ships by the Russians to transport slave laborers to their gulag destination. Superbly documents, "Stalin's Slave Ships" is an essential, core addition to academic library Soviet Studies and 20th Century Russian History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Parenting Shelf

A Mother Apart
Sarah Hart
Crown House Publishing Limited
6 Trowbridge Drive, Suite 5, Bethel, CT 06801
9781845900946, $24.95, www.chpus.com

The instincts nature imbues in parents call for them to nurture their children, but what if distance disallows this? "A Mother Apart: How to Let Go of Guilt and Find Happiness Living Apart from Your Child" is a guide for mothers who, by any number of circumstances, have been forced to live apart from their children. Offering advice on coping with not being able to always be there, how to keep one's child in one's thoughts without obsessing, and how to make the most of the limited time one has with one's child, "A Mother Apart" is highly recommended to any mother in these trying circumstances.

Family Activism
Roberto Vargas
Berrett-Koehler Publishers
235 Montgomery Street, Suite 650, San Francisco, CA 94104-2916
9781576754801, $17.95, www.bkcurrents.com

The world leaders of tomorrow first gain their morals and beliefs in their homes. "Family Activism: Empowering Your Community, Beginning With Family and Friends" is a guide for creating a better world through a better environment at home. Focusing not only on the values and virtue of the home, but also on the invaluable abilities that people pick up at home such as communication skills and more, "Family Activism" is a solid manual for parents who want their children to become positive beacons for the future.

What to Expect When Your Child Leaves for College
Mary Spohn
Atlantic Publishing
1405 SW 6th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471
9781601382184, $21.95 www.atlantic-pub.com

Going to college is a stressful time for parents and kids alike; What to Expect When Your Child Leaves for College: A Complete Guide for Parents Only is an essential key to understanding how to handle kids before and after they go. Personal accounts of how the author handled her two eldest sons as they left for college warn readers of common mistakes and how to learn from them. What to Expect When Your Child Leaves for College will prove invaluable for any parent whose child is embarking upon a college education, whether at the local community college or a far distant university.

Confident Parenting
Jim Burns
Bethany House
11400 Hampshire Avenue South, Bloomington, MN 55438
9780764202070, $19.99, www.bethanyhouse.com

Children don't come with an instruction manual. "Confident Parenting" is a guide for parents to deal with that. Admitting that the parenting process is more of a feel thing than anything else, "Confident Parenting" gives the best advice it can – to be confident. With practical tips to help parents get by, and guidelines to make one's home as harmonious as possible, "Confident Parenting" is a must for parents striving to do the best they can.

Parenting Your Internationally Adopted Child
Patty Cogen
The Harvard Common Press
535 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118
9781558323261, $14.95, www.harvardcommonpress.com

Civil Wars, famines, tyrannical governments, so many factors may take parents from a child so early in their life. "Parenting Your Internationally Adopted Child: From Your First Hours Together Through the Teen Years" is a guide for those parents with big enough hearts to take in a child that is not only not their own, but from another country entirely. Focusing on advice on helping bridging the cultural divide and helping the children get over the loss of their old home, regardless if it was horrible or not, it's an ideal guide for these parents who want to help these children's transitions be as smooth as possible. "Parenting Your Internationally Adopted Child" is a must for these parents for the info contained within.

25 Things to Do
Laurie A. Kanyer
Parenting Press, Inc.
PO Box 75267, Seattle, WA 98175-0267
9781884734533, $13.95, www.parentingpress.com

Loss is inevitable, but how one deals with it is personal. "25 Things to Do: Activities to Help Children Suffering Loss or Change" is a guide for parents to help their children when dealing with a radical and likely irrevocable change, such as a divorce or the death of a beloved relative or pet. The activities are all easy to do and will help children come to terms with the world. "25 Things to Do" is a great gift to any child facing difficult times.


The Travel Shelf

Understanding Bolivia
Vivien Lougheed
Harbour Publishing
PO Box 219, Madeira Park, BC V0N 2H0 Canada
9781550174441, $24.95, www.harbourpublishing.com

Want a grand dose of culture? One doesn't have to go much further than Bolivia. "Understanding Bolivia: A Traveler's History" explores Bolivia's rich history of cowboys, religion, carnivals, silver mines, ancient American history, and that's just the beginning. With a special look at adventurers who have traveled through Bolivia through the years, "Understanding Bolivia" is a must for anyone interested in the country or planning a visit.

The Adventurous Traveler's Guide to Health
Christopher Sanford
University of Washington Press
PO Box 50096, Seattle, WA 98145-5096
9780295988085, $14.95, www.washington.edu/uwpress

While vacationing in other countries can be a fresh and exciting experience, a sudden injury can make one miss the skill of American doctors. "The Adventurous Traveler's Guide to Health" is a must-have for travelers who want to experience the world as a whole and not be held back by fears of health concerns. Also containing valuable information on traveling when one suffers from chronic illness or other similar ailments, "The Adventurous Traveler's Guide to Health" is a must for any health conscious traveler.

Ride Guide: New Jersey Mountain Biking
Joshua M. Pierce
Ecopress
c/o Finney Company
8075 - 215th Street West, Lakeville, MN 55044
9780933855250, $15.95, www.finney-hobar.com

Biking has become an increasingly popular hobby -- even more so these days with the astronomical prices of gas. Now in a newly updated third edition, "Ride Guide: New Jersey Mountain Biking" by mountain biking expert Joshua M. Pierce is a comprehensive guidebook to mountain biking rails throughout the Garden State. The twenty-six rides include both low-impact and hard-core trails that take the rider through the varied and occasionally spectacular terrain that New Jersey offers. "Ride Guide: New Jersey Mountain Biking" is enhanced with the inclusion of practical information as to levels of trail difficulty, turn-by-turn cue sheets and maps, as well as accurate and succinct descriptions of topography, trail conditions, and points of interest. Also very highly recommended for regional bike enthusiasts is Joel D. Sendek's "Ride Guide: Mountain Biking in The New York Metro Area, third edition" (9780933855267, $15.95).

The Little Black Book Of Las Vegas
Lark Ellen Gould
Peter Pauper Press, Inc.
202 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains, NY 10601
9781593598259, $12.95, www.peterpauper.com

Although best known world wide as a gaming mecca, Las Vegas offers so much more for its more than 40,000,000 visitors that has made it one of American's top vacation destinations. This famous Nevada desert city is laid out into four major sections: Downtown; the North Strip; the Central Strip; and the South Strip. Enhanced with maps by David Lindroth Inc. and illustrations by Kerren Barbas Steckler, "The Little Black Book Of Las Vegas" is specifically written and designed by Lark Ellen Gould to be a pocket-sized compendium of practical, guidebook information for visitors to use as a planning guide and on-site reference to what Las Vegas has to offer within each of its four major sections including Casinos, Shows, Seasonal Events; Museums, Public Gardens; Hoover Dam, Shops, Restaurants; and Lodging. Compact and comprehensive, as informed and informative as it is user-friendly, anyone planning a trip to Las Vegas for pleasure or business would be well advised to consult their very own copy of "The Little Black Book Of Las Vegas" to ensure they get the most from their visit, be it a day trip, a weekend, or an extended stay.

Homegrown Handmade
North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources
John F. Blair Publisher
1406 Plaza Drive, Winston-Salem, NC 27103
978895873552, $19.95, www.blairpub.com

The Eastern and Piedmont regions of North Carolina have much to offer travelers. "Homegrown Handmade: Art Roads and Farm Trails" is a travel guide focusing on these areas of North Carolina, listing countless art galleries, performances, agricultural fairs, festivals, and other attractions which will bring visitors much entertainment and interest. A must for anyone planning on visiting North Carolina, "Homegrown Handmade" is highly recommended for community library travel collections.

The Australian Bed & Breakfast Book 2008, revised edition
Carl Southern, editor
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053-2246
9781589805262, $21.95, www.pelicanpub.com, 1-800-843-1724

Originally published in 1989, this newly revised and updated edition of "The Australian Bed & Breakfast Book 2008" marks the twentieth anniversary of what has come to be commonly regarded as the premier travel guide to B&B resources throughout Australia for vacationers and business travelers alike. Regionally organized, "The Australian Bed & Breakfast Book 2008" offers updated prices, general travel guidelines, and invaluable tips to finding just the right location for the traveler's needs. Enhanced with colorful photographs of each showcased B&B, each recommended site comes with a complete and detailed description written by the hosts and even includes occasional guest comments. The B&Bs themselves range from homestays and farmstays, to guesthouses and boutique hotels. Practical, informative, and thoroughly 'user friendly', "The Australian Bed & Breakfast Book 2008" is the perfect trip planning guide for anyone desiring the best B&B experience as they travel or vacation in Australia. Also very highly recommended for personal and community library Travel Guide reference collections from the Pelican Publishing Company is "The New Zealand Bed & Breakfast Guide 2008" (9781589805248, $19.95).

Florida for Families
Larry Lain
Interlink Travel
46 Crosby Street, Northampton, MA 01060-1804
9781566566957, $22.00, www.interlinkbooks.com

Florida s truly a beautiful state that has rightfully earned its place as one of the most popular tourism destinations in America. "Florida for Families" is a excellently compiled guide for anyone who want to bring the whole family to Florida, cataloguing the many family-friendly experiences that only the Sunshine State can offer. With entries on aquariums, zoos, nature reserves, hiking, and so much more to bring joy without breaking the bank, "Florida for Families" is a must for any family planning a Florida visit.

The Irish Bed & Breakfast Book
Elsie Dillard & Susan Causin
Pelican
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053
9781589805590, $19.95, www.pelicanpub.com

Nothing can give you that home away from home feel like a bed & breakfast. "The Irish Bed & Breakfast Book" is a comprehensive listing of over one hundred and fifty great bed & breakfast locations throughout the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Touting the lodging provided by these locales may be incentive enough to invite people to visit Ireland! "The Irish Bed & Breakfast Book" is a strong consideration for anyone planning a vacation or business trip to Ireland.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Headaches
Robert S. Kunkel
Cleveland Clinic
9500 Euclid Avenue, NA32, Cleveland, OH 44195
9781596240193, $9.95, www.clevelandclinicpress.org

Nothing can ruin one's day like a bad headache, or worse, a chronic headache. "Headaches: A Cleveland Clinic Handbook" looks at why headaches sometimes go past annoyance to the point of being a serious affliction. Chapters differentiate between the many types of headaches, revealing truths and common myths about headache treatment. Packed with virtually everything one needs to know on the subject. "Headaches" is a complete and comprehensive medical manual, and a must for anyone who is a chronic sufferer.

One Man's Take on Beating Alcoholism
Tyrone Patrick Fahey
Llumina Press
PO Box 772246, Coral Springs, FL 33077-2246
9781595267863, $12.95, www.llumina.com

"You have a problem" are the words spoken to many in denial, but their ears go deaf to it. "One Man's Take on Beating Alcoholism" is author Tyrone Patrick Fahey's journey to overcome his addiction. Written to encourage others faced with the terrible reality of chronic addiction, Fahey claims he failed over one hundred times before finally triumphing. "One Man's Take on Beating Alcoholism" is the strength some may need to beat the booze.

The FDA Worldwide Quality System Requirements Guidebook for Medical Devices
Amiram Daniel & Ed Kimmelman
ASQ Quality Press
600 N. Plankinton Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53203
9780873897402, $95.00, www.asq.org

Now published in a newly expanded and updated second edition, "The FDA Worldwide Quality System Requirements Guidebook for Medical Devices" is a complete and comprehensive reference for Quality System Regulation standards governing the use of medical devices. Now in a new and improved second edition, "The FDA Worldwide Quality System Requirements Guidebook for Medical Devices" addresses many newer topics such as risk management, efficiency, and compliance issues, and much more. Covering both American and international health standards, "The FDA Worldwide Quality System Requirements Guidebook for Medical Devices" is a must for medical device manufacturers, and anyone who must comply with these regulations.

Essentials Of Biostatistics In Public Health
Lisa M. Sullivan
Jones & Bartlett Publishers
40 Tall Pine Drive, Sudbury, MA 01776
9780763756208, $72.95, www.jbpub.com, 1-800-832-0034

A part of the outstanding 'Essential Public Health' series published by Jones & Bartlett Publishers, "Essentials Of Biostatistics In Public Health" by Lisa M. Sullivan (Chair, Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts) provides a basic and essential 232-page introduction for students wanting to learn how to apply and interpret biostatistical applications in the field of public health. Especially appropriate and ideal for students with limited mathematical backgrounds, "Essentials Of Biostatistics In Public Health" utilizes data and examples from the Framingham Heart Study to demonstrate methodology including the role of assumptions, statistical formulas, and appropriate interpretation of results. Also featured are specific sections devoted to study design and a sample size computation; multi-variable statistical methods accessible to first year students; and statistical computing using Excel or manual calculation. Enhanced throughout with graphs and charts, this thoroughly 'student friendly' textbook is accompanied by Professor Sullivan's "Essentials Of Biostatistics Workbook: Statistical Computing Using Excel" (9780763754778).

Cancer Caregiving A to Z
American Cancer Society
250 Williams Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30303-1002
0944235921, $14.95 www.cancer.org

CANCER CAREGIVING A TO Z: AN AT-HOME GUIDE FOR PATIENTS AND FAMILIES describes the most common issues arising in home cancer care, offering patients and caregivers solutions, listing topics in a fine encyclopedia 'a to z' reference form, and offering tips on treatment options, when to call the doctor, and how and where to ask for help. Any general-interest library strong in healthcare in general and cancer home care in particular will find this packed with specific, important details.

The Venus Week
Rebecca Booth, MD
Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Publishing Group
2300 Chestnut #200, Philadelphia, PA 19103
9780738211640, $24.00 www.dacapopress.com

All women have one week of the month where they can feel great about themselves: more attractive, focused, receptive to others – so what is this window of physical health and how can women understand and perhaps take advantage of these physical and emotional changes? THE VENUS WEEK comes from a leading gynecologist who reveals how to manage a body's weekly hormonal shifts to best advantage. From defining a personal Venus Week to mitigating the effects of other phases, any women's health collection will find this an intriguing, hopeful study.

Cleveland Clinic Press
9500 Euclid Avenue, NA32, Cleveland, OH 44195
www.clevelandclinicpress.com, 1-216-444-1158

The Cleveland Clinic Press is a premier publisher of medical books for the non-specialist general reader and offer expert advice on specific health conditions from medical specialists in their particular fields. Offering practical, informative introductions, each title is an ideal introduction for patients with new diagnoses, as well as their families and friends wanting basic information about specific conditions. This outstanding series of Cleveland Clinic handbooks includes "Headaches" (9781596240193, $9.95) by Robert S. Kunkel, M.D. and along with facts on varies categories of headaches, includes a Q&A guide debunking commonly held headache myths. "Epilepsy" (9781596240650, $14.95) by Elaine Wyllie, M.D. provides accurate information, why bystanders can do when someone has an epileptic seizure, long-term health prospects, and more. "Liver Disorders" (9781596240889, $14.95) is the collaborative work of Nizar N. Zein, M.D. and Kevin M. Edwards, M.S.N., C.N.P, and provides a complete overview including chapters on cirrhosis, hepatitis, and the 'liver healthy' lifestyle. "Prostate Cancer" (9781596240865, $14.95) by Eric A. Klein, M.D. offers an candid explanation of risk factors, prevention, detection and treatment. "You And Your Cardiologist" (9781596240810, $14.95) by Curtis Mark Rimmerman, M.D. is a complete 'how to' guide for selecting a cardiologist, evaluating information from the Internet, tests, diagnoses and medications, and developing a functional and informative relationship with a cardiologist. "Bladder Cancer (9781596240605, $14.95) by the team of Derek Raghavan, M.D. and Kathleen Tutill provides a comprehensive survey of all the various aspects of bladder cancer and what is to be expected 'each step of the way' from diagnosis through treatment options. Each of these very highly recommended titles for personal reading lists and community library Health & Medicine reference collections, is optimally informative for the non-specialist general reader.

Patient Listening
Loreen Herwaldt
University of Iowa Press
100 Kuhkl House, Iowa City, IA 52242
9781587296529, $24.95, www.uiowapress.org

There's more to listening to a patient then just comprehending the words coming out of their mouths. "Patient Listening: A Doctor's Guide" is a guide for doctors to understanding and interpreting patients' complaints. Better listening, claims author Loreen Herwaldt, creates a better bond between doctor and patient, and improves the quality of treatment all around. "Patient Listening" is a recommended read for all physicians and community library health collections.

Maximum Muscle, Minimum Fat
Ori Hofmekler
North Atlantic Books
2526 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Berkeley 94704
9781556436895, $16.95, www.northatlanticbooks.com

How exactly does one reach peak physical condition? "Maximum Muscle, Minimum Fat: The Secret Science Behind Physical Transformation" is a guide to doing just that. Offering advice and tips in order to stimulate one's metabolism, along with advice to pushing one's mind with the body and increasing muscle gain through workout techniques and improved dieting, among other things, "Maximum Muscle, Minimum Fat" is a must for anyone who wants to achieve their own, truly healthy form.

The IBS Healing Plan
Theresa Cheung
Hunter House Publishers
PO Box 2914, Alameda, CA 94501-0914
RES Marketing Alliance (publicity)
1927 Michigan Drive, Kissimee, FL 34759
9780897935074, $14.95, www.hunterhouse.com

Irritable Bowel Syndrome is truly an unpleasant condition to be afflicted with. "The IBS Healing Plan: Natural Ways to Beat Your Symptoms" is a guide for sufferers seeking to determine whether they have the affliction, and how to treat it without (or in tandem with) costly medicines or invasive surgery. Promoting five key areas for fighting the symptoms such as monitoring one's diet, vitamin supplements, managing stress in everyday life, and describing the pros and cons of a variety therapies to help sufferers, "The IBS Healing Plan" is a thorough guide on the subject, and a worthy addition to community library health collections.

Conquering Stroke
Valerie Greene
Wiley Publishers
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030
9780470137925, $24.95, www.wiley.com

A stroke can radically change one's life – to the point that he or she isn't the same person anymore. "Conquering Stroke: How I Fought My Way Back and How You Can Too" encourages sufferers of strokes to not let it and do whatever it takes to overcome their affliction and live how they want to once more. While offering plenty of advice for both treatment and the recovery process, it acknowledges that the best cure is prevention and has a focus on that subject as well. "Conquering Stroke: How I Fought My Way Back and How You Can Too" is a top pick for senior health collections and for anyone who fears or wants to overcome stroke.


The Poetry Shelf

Freshly Rooted
Emily Wall
Salmon Poetry
Dufour Editions (publicity)
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9781903392720, $21.95, www.salmonpoetry.com

Most Americans don't realize that living in Alaska is a completely different experience from living in any other state. "Freshly Rooted" is Emily Wall's reflections through poetry about adapting to the whole new world that is the coldest state of the Union. Her narrative reflects on how every aspect of her life changed, and how she learned to love it. "Freshly Rooted" is a must for any poetry fan curious about Alaska. "Poem After Bathing": That full flesh moon -/can you see her?-/some soft abdomen,/that spoon of cream/coming out/brimming tonight/able to pray, belly/bared to the black coffee/night, delicious because she/believes it, makes it so,/swallows her sky full.

Letters of Transit
Theodore Worozbyt
University of Massachusetts Press
East Experiment Station, 671 North Pleasant St., Amherst, MA 01003
9781558496552, $14.95, www.umass.edu/umpress

The 33rd recipient of the Juniper Prize for poetry, "Letters of Transit" is an anthology of poetry from grant winner Theodore Worozbyt. Focusing on the value of the middle ground, "Letters of Transit" is a unique set of verse touching on the many subjects of our world, both pleasant and unpleasant. The result is a collection spanning matters from the strange to the mundane, to the magnificent. "Letters of Transit" is a must for poetry fans.

A Metaphorical God
Kimberly Johnson
Persea Books
853 Broadway, New York, 10003
9780892553426, $14.00, www.perseabooks.com

Fans of "Leviathan with a Hook" can now rejoice, as Kimberly Johnson has released her second anthology, "A Metaphorical God". Seeking to combine the divine with the sensual, Johnson's verse is as thought provoking as it is sexually titillating, creating a strange and delightful blend indeed. "A Metaphorical God" is a great choice for poetry lovers. "On Divination by Fire" : Or rather, the turnings of fire: first sea/and of sea, half is earth, half firewind –// Heraclitus knew fire's a showy number//near-burlesque in colored scarves, turning/firewood to ash and heat. One hot Mojave/day, summer wind blasting from the east.

A Time in Xanadu
Lars Gustafsson
Copper Canyon Press
PO Box 271, Port Townsend, Washington 98368
9781556592751, $16.00, www.coppercanyonpress.org

Unusual and appealing poetry sometimes makes its way here from Europe. "A Time in Xanadu" is an intriguing anthology of poetry by Lars Gustafsson, translated from the original Swedish by John Irons. Gustafsson's poem-stories take figures from countless avenues such as entertainment, history, mythology, and even modern comics, and use them as actors in his uniquely philosophical narratives. "A Time in Xanadu" is an appealing treat for poetry lovers. "December": December was always the month/when one rather stopped living./One became a hiatus in the dark,/little else./Light were lit, lamps and candles./But they were so clearly insufficient/against the rising tide of darkness./It is easy to understand/the message of some/more heathen Yule:/To regain sunlight at any price/with the aid of flares and torches//whose return was never self-evident.

Bear
Karen Chase
CavanKerry Press
6 Horizon Road, No. 2901, Fort Lee, NJ 07024
9781933880068, $16.00

Fans who enjoyed "Kazimierz Square" will be delighted as Karen Chase returns with her second anthology of poetry with "Bear". She focuses on the inspiration she drew from discovering an illegal bear poaching ring near her home in Massachusetts. The poems mix themes, leading to a varied yet enjoyable poetry experience that her fans will enjoy very much indeed, making "Bear" highly recommended to community library poetry collections. "Then I Talked to a Bear": Bear, you are all the people/ I have ever lost and all those/ I dread losing, who knows the order.// In this house of lost ones, you are my/ soulmate, a word I never used. This prison/ has stolen my subjunctives, my roar and/ lungs – think if a hunter cut your tongue.

Sunrise to Sunset
H.E. McIntyre
American Literary Press
8019 Belair Rd., Suite 10, Baltimore, MD 21236
9781934696088, $12.95, www.americanliterarypress.com

Having composed over four hundred poems in his lifetime, and served as both a former teacher and principal in Maryland, poet H.E. McIntyre is a man of experience. "Sunrise to Sunset: And All That Lies Between" is a compilation of all of that life experience, as McIntyre tries to pass on his lessons and reflections of living on the eastern shore of Maryland. Excellent through and through, "Sunrise to Sunset" is a strong pick for any poetry lover.

The Choreographer Of Raindrops
Carl Lindner
Parallel Press
372 Memorial Library, 728 State Street, Madison, WI 53575
9781934795002, $10.00, http://parallelpress.library.wisc.edu 1-800-636-0071

Poetry as its very best induces reflection as it resonates within the mind, imagination, and memory of its reader. Such is the case with the anthology of Carl Linder's free verse poetry presented in the pages of the Parallel Press edition of "The Choreographer Of Raindrops". Elegant, memorable, engaging, and deftly executed, "The Choreographer Of Raindrops" is confidently recommended reading for anyone who appreciates the power of language to convey human experience, aspiration, and observation. "A Certain Way": When I sit a certain/way in my swivel-//rocker, I can see/the bird-feeder, and,//as the wind blows,/it turns so that I//sometimes see the back,/and sometimes the only way//I know there's a bird/on the other side//is the slow rain/of seed//falling into light.

A Most Marvelous Piece of Luck
Greg Williamson
The Waywiser Press
PO Box 6205, Baltimore, MD 21206
Dufour Editions (distributor)
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
9781904130284, $15.95, www.waywiser-press.com

The third exciting anthology of poetry from award winning poet Greg Williamson, "A Most Marvelous Piece of Luck" is here. Following an everyman as he goes through life, Williamson's poems tackle everything from careers and conspiracy theories to love and death. His verse is gripping and full of black comedy, sure to give fans of his work more of what they have come to love. "Music": 'From Bix to Buxtehude to Boulez,'/ From Dicke Betts to... boy bands? Music is/ (Ok we're in a slump, whatever pays)/ The bread of life, shoes, soft drinks, and Show Biz.

Matter of Fact
Eamon Grennan
Graywolf Press
2402 University Avenue, Suite 203, St. Paul, MN 55114
9781555975005, $15.00, www.graywolfpress.org

With six poetry anthologies to his credit, Eamon Grennan again proves that he is a master of his craft in "Matter of Fact". His verse and lyrics focus the world around us and what is the absolute truth – thus, the matter of facts. "Matter of Fact" is a marvelous work of poetry, sure to be enjoyed by anyone seeking a solid work grounded in the eternal quest for truth. "Signland": Cicadas tear the air to flitters./Stitch it together again/As though nothing had happened.//All the leaves of the locust trees/have been leached of greenness, burned/the brown of a penitential habit:/Brother Fungus does it.


The Biography Shelf

The Seven Deadly Virtues
Lynn Z. Bloom
The University of South Carolina Press
1600 Hampton Street, 5th Floor, Columbia, SC 29208
9781570037306, $29.95, www.sc.edu/uscpress

Too much of a good thing can be just as bad as too much of a bad thing. "The Seven Deadly Virtues And Other Lively Essays" is a compilation of essays, autobiographical in nature. Author Lynn Bloom warns of the seven deadly virtues throughout her life – duty, rationality, conformity, efficiency, order, economy, and punctuality – and that the overuse of any of them can sometimes lead to many of the problems normally associated with the seven deadly sins. Full of wit and wisdom, "The Seven Deadly Virtues" is an entertaining read indeed to anyone aspiring to be a writer or teacher, and especially for anyone who fears they may be trying a bit too hard.

Kate Field
Gary Scharnhorst
Syracuse University Press
1600 Jamesville Avenue, Syracuse, NY, 13244-5160
0815608748, $27.95, www.syracuseuniversitypress.syr.edu

She was a trailblazer in more than one way. "Kate Field: The Many Lives of a Nineteenth-Century American Journalist" describes the life of one of the first journalists to gain celebrity status in her own right, in addition to being a pioneer female journalist and an advocate for black rights. She was friends with authors such as Charles Dickens and Mark Twain, and even became the inspiration for certain classic fictional characters. The extraordinary life of an extraordinary woman, "Kate Field" is a must-read for biography lovers.

Gift of the White Life
James N. Frey
Quill Driver Books
1254 Commerce Way, Sanger, CA 93657
9781884956799, $25.00, www.quilldriverbooks.com

What goes on inside the mind of a psychic? "Gift of the White Life: The Strange and Wonderful Story of Annette Martin, Psychic" is the story of the first psychic ever to testify as an expert witness in a murder case, and her life and times going through life being a psychic. For nearly forty years she has made a career out of her gift, making this a book for anyone intrigued by the concept and wanting to learn more. "Gift of the White Life: The Strange and Wonderful Story of Annette Martin, Psychic" is highly recommended to community library biography collections.

Shopping for Porcupine
Seth Kantner
Milkweed Editions
1011 Washington Avenue South, Open Book, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55415-1246
9781571313010, $28.00, www.milkweed.org

Life in the frigid tundra of Alaska is much unlike life anywhere else in the United States. "Shopping for Porcupine: A Life in Arctic Alaska" is author and novelist Seth Kanter's memories of growing up in Alaska. Filled with essays and full color photographs regarding nature and its importance to Kanter and his Inuit roots, "Shopping for Porcupine" is a strong choice for any community library memoir collection and for anyone with a healthy interest in Alaska.

Faith in the Fog of War
Chris Plekenpol
Multnomah
12265 Oracle Boulevard, Suite 200, Colorado Springs, CO 80921
B&B Media Group (publicity)
109 South Main Street Corsicana, TX 75110
9781590527412, $12.99, www.faithinthefog.com

One of the most eye opening situations one can be in is on the battlefield, with one's mortality at stake. "Faith in the Fog of War: A Soldier's Stories of Triumph and Tragedy in the Midst of Battle" is the memoir of a U.S. Soldier who served in the Iraq war, and his reflections on his faith. His experiences are poignant and enlightening. "Faith in the Fog of War" is especially recommended for Christians and anyone concerned about the Iraq war.

River of Hope
David Tank
Planert Creek Press
1404 Silvermine Drive, Eau Claire, WI 54703
9780981506401, $17.95, www.planertcreekpress.com

To overcome an unbeatable disease is viewed by the established medical community as impossible. "River of Hope: My Journey with Kathy in Search of Healing from Lou Gehrig's Disease" is the personal story of Kathy Tank, as told by her husband who was alongside her every step of the way. When doctors wrote her off as doomed, she was determined to beat her Lou Gehrig's disease, and never stopped searching until she did. With great insight to the nuances of this ailment, "River of Hope" is a compelling biography and especially recommended for anyone with a family member with Lou Gehrig's disease or who are themselves afflicted.

A Red Boyhood
Anatole Konstantin
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Boulevard, Columbia, MO 65201
9780826217875, $29.95, www.umsystem.edu

Stalinist Russia – no one will ever say that was the pinnacle of Russian civilization, and in fact is well and below considered one of the nation's lowest points. "A Red Boyhood: Growing Up Under Stalin" is a memoir focusing on the life of one on the outskirts of society, one who lost countless loved ones to Stalin's purges, and under a mother who struggled just so that her and her boys could manage to survive. An even darker look into a dark era for the country's history, "A Red Boyhood: Growing Up Under Stalin" is highly recommended to community library memoir collections, especially those with a focus on world events.

My Journey in Mystic China
John Blofeld
Inner Traditions
1 Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
9781594771576, $24.95, www.innertraditions.com

Some exotic cultures can appear almost like another world to a western traveler. "My Jouney in Mystic China" is author John Blofield's reflections on his time in Peking (now called Beijing) and other Chinese cities and villages in the 1930s and 1940s. The reflections and views are of a time that will not ever return to China, most having been lost to the Cultural Revolution of Mao Zedong in the following decades. A vivid portrait of this lost land, "My Journey in Mystic China" is of interest to any Chinese history enthusiast.

Children of the Dust
Betty Grant Henshaw
Texas Tech University Press
PO Box 41037, Lubbock, TX 79409-1037
9780896726314, $22.95, www.ttup.ttu.edu

The dust bowl was a harsh time, when even finding the backbreaking work needed to eke out a living was hard. "Children of the Dust: An Okie Family Story" is author Betty Grant Henshaw's reflections on her life growing up in this difficult environment, under a father who had to toil long hours in the boiling sun every day, for a pittance of a wage, just so she could eat. A touching story of adolescence in the crux of adversity, "Children of the Dust" is a great read, and effectively a window into the tough times of yesteryear.

The Genizaro & the Artist
Napoleon Garcia & Analinda Dunn
Rio Grande Books
925 Salamanca NW, Los Ranchos de ABQ, NM 87107-5647
9781890689285, $15.95 www.nmsantos.com

Part of the award-winning "Stories from New Mexico Villages" series, The Genizaro & the Artist: Stories from New Mexico Villages is the memoir of author Napoleon Garcia, a longtime Genizaro (individual who claims descent from both Colonial Spanish settlers and Native American tribes) resident of Abiquiu, New Mexico, who knew and worked for Georgia O'Keeffe during the forty years in which she called Abiquiu home. Though Garcia has been interviewed about O'Keeffe before, The Genizaro & the Artist tells in his own words, pace, and style (with help from his friend Analinda Dunn) what it was truly like to know a famous artist as a fellow villager. A handful of black-and-white photographs illustrate this testimony, especially recommended for anyone interested in a different, down-to-earth perspective on Georgia O'Keeffe.

Frances Yates and the Hermetic Tradition
Marjorie G. Jones
Ibis Press
c/o Nicolas Hays
PO Box 540206, Lake Worth, FL 33454-0206
9780892541331, $24.95 www.ibispress.net

Frances Yates and the Hermetic Tradition is the first full-length biography of Frances Yates, the female British historian and intellectual who wrote "Giordano Bruno and The Hermetic Tradition" and "The Art of Memory". Drawing upon excerpts from Yates' own diary and personal papers as well as exhaustive research, Frances Yates and the Hermetic Tradition recreates her scholarly career, and the cultural influences that shaped her interdisciplinary approach to history and literary criticism. A handful of black-and-white photographic plates illustrate this thoughtful biography, especially recommended for public and college library collections.

An Army in Skirts
Frances DeBra Brown
Indiana Historical Society Press
450 West Ohio Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202-3269
9780871952646, $27.95 www.indianahistory.org

An Army in Skirts: The World War II Letters of Frances Debra collects the letters Frances DeBra Brown sent to her family, while she served in the Women's Army Corps in World War II as a draftsman at American headquarters in London and Paris. Chronicling her WW II service from her training at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia to her assignment at an army air field in Florida to surviving buzz bomb and V-2 rocket attacks in London and witnessing the devastation of Paris a scant two weeks after the city's liberation, An Army in Skirts is the candid testimony of a woman's perspective - thoughtfully discussing the connections Brown made with individual people and the simple day-to-day matters of survival as well as larger issues of war and peace. Highly recommended.

Oklahoma Rough Rider
Billy McGinty, author
Jim Fulbright and Albert Stehno, editing & commentary
University of Oklahoma Press
2800 Venture Drive, Norman, OK 73069
9780806139357, $19.95 www.oupress.com 1-800-627-7377

Oklahoma Rough Rider: Billy McGinty's Own Story is the firsthand testimony of Billy McGinty, a veteran cowboy whose horsemanship served him well as one of Teddy Roosevelt's Rough Riders. He participated in the battle of Las Guasimas, the attack on San Juan Heights, and the siege of Santiago; later, he performed in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show and won the Cowboy Hall of Fame's Great Westerner award. Editors Jim Fulbright (a former broadcast journalist) and Albert Stehno (a rancher and historian) enhance McGinty's writings with comments on historical context, and a summary of McGinty's later years when McGinty promoted the McGinty Cowboy Band and saw to it that their music - a precursor of modern-day country-western - could be heard on live radio. An absolute must-read for fans of true-life American West exploits, tales and legends.

Reflections of a Khmer Soul
Navy Phim
Wheatmark
610 East Delano Street, Suite 104, Tucson, AZ 85705
9781587368615, $14.95, www.wheatmark.com

To be brought up both in the United States and the killing fields of Cambodia - what is life like for such an individual? "Reflections of a Khmer Soul" is the life story of Navy Phim, who experienced this kind of childhood. She discusses the culture clash and shock that she had to deal with between the two places, and the differences between them. An intriguing tale from an experienced world traveler, "Reflections of a Khmer Soul" is highly recommended to community library biography collections.


The Fiction Shelf

Taking the Stairs
John Stiles
Nightwood Editions
PO Box 1779, Gibsons, BC Canada V0N 1V0
9780889712218, $16.95, www.nightwoodeditions.com

Getting started as an author in Toronto isn't easy. "Taking the Stairs" is a novel about struggling writer Jarod Palmer, who earns the money he needs to stay alive doing whatever it takes from telemarketing to gofering, while trying to make the most of his writing career. He sees success in his grasp, but characters from his overprotective mother to seedy film producers strew obstacles along his path. "Taking the Stairs" is a gripping tale with everyday problems that readers will relate to – such as paying the rent!

The Waitress Was New
Dominique Fabre, author
Jordan Stump, translator
Archipelago Books
252 Third Street, #A111 Brooklyn, NY 11215
9780977857692, $15.00, www.archipelagobooks.org

Losing one's livelihood is never easy. "The Waitress Was New" follows Pierre as the cafe that employed him as a bartender for most of his life suddenly closes. Over the next three days he much acclimate himself to the shock and figure out what to do. A deft examination of the human psyche, excellently translated from the original French by Jordan Stump, "The Waitress Was New" is a great pick for any seeking foreign fiction.

The Cold Edge
Trevor Scott
Salvo Press
PO Box 7396, Beaverton, OR 97007
9781930486775, $25.95, www.salvopress.com

Travel through the frozen wastes of the world to retrieve the remains of a murdered agent – not an easy task to begin with. "The Cold Edge" follows Jake and Anna, two Interpol officers as they try to accomplish this mission through the harsh and brutal environment. That wasn't enough, as Cold War tensions still remain in the world as and old nemeses take the opportunity to come after them. A riveting thriller all the way through, "The Cold Edge" is a top pick for community library thriller collections.

The Misremembered Man
Christina McKenna
Toby Press
PO Box 8531, New Milford, CT 06776-8531
9781592642199, $24.95, www.tobypress.com

Though he was resigned to a life of miserable loneliness, some hope still remained for Jamie McCloone. "The Misremembered Man" is the story of two opposites. One is the rugged Jamie, with his cruel history of orphanhood and a sad life; the other is Lydia, a cleanliness next to godliness type, who lives under an oppressive mother. They meet through the newspaper and an intriguing romance begins to bud, in this touching story of companionship set in rural Ireland's darker times. A top pick for readers seeking a well-written period piece.

God is an Atheist
N. Nosirrah
Sentient Publications
1133 Spruce Street, Boulder, CO 80302
9781591810728, $9.95, www.sentientpublications.com

If we believe in God, then what does God believe in? "God is an Atheist: A Novella for Those who Have Run out of Time" is a unique and offbeat story of a homosexual affair between Richard Dawkins and the pope, Islamic extremists hunting down the Christian deity, the family issues of Buddha, and other bizarre events. Sure to enthrall (and possibly perplex) readers, "God is an Atheist" is a must for anyone looking for a novel on religion with a twist.

Galaxy Press
7051 Hollywood Boulevard, Suite 200, Hollywood, CA 90028
www.galaxypress.com www.goldenagestories.com

Long before L. Ron Hubbard founded Scientology, he was a prolific writer of stories for 'pulp fiction' magazines. Long out of print, Galaxy Press is now bringing them back in their 'Stories of the Golden Age' series dedicated to bringing these tales of thrills, adventure, and mystery to a whole new generation of appreciative readers beginning with two collections of Hubbard's stories originally published in the 1930s and 1940s. "Spy Killer" (9781592123025, $9.95) features the adventures of Kurt Reid, a hard case sailor who is accused of murder and grand larceny who flees to pre-Communist China and the exotic city of Shanghai where he encounters Varinka Savischna, a White Russian with her own agenda. Reid finds himself captured by the Chinese and blackmailed into an effort to assassinate a Japanese spy. Offering the reader a true 'roller coaster' ride of intrigue, suspense, action and adventure, "Spy Killer" is pulp fiction at its best. Also very highly recommended in this outstanding series (with each paperback volume being enhanced with cover art feature a colorful pulp magazine style cover art) is L. Ron Hubbard's "Under The Black Ensign" (9781592123391, $9.95), a riveting tale of sailing ships, piracy and the high seas.

Color of Blood
Les Coalson
Eakin Press
PO Box 21235, Waco, Texas, 76702
9781934645550, $26.95, www.eakinpress.com

To be torn between one's romantic love and one's family is a situation no one is happy to be in. "Color of Blood" is the tale of Clay Aker and the conflict that tears him apart. His girlfriend is in danger from those who want to silence her testimony in a trial, and her mother must search for his lost brother and his beloved, who have vanished seemingly without a trace. All these problems, and Clay hasn't the first clue where to start! A riveting novel with many excellent twists and turns, "Color of Blood" is a great thriller sure to please fans of the genre.

Red Dust, Red Sky
Paul S. Sunga
Coteau Books
2517 Victoria Ave., Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, S4P OT2
9781550503708, $21.00, www.coteaubooks.com

The small kingdom of Lesotho, completely surrounded by South Africa, was a refuge for those persecuted by South Africa's crude apartheid policies. "Red Dust, Red Sky" follows Kokoanyana as she grows up in this harsh world of government sponsored racism. She faces a world that hates her for something she can't change in this riveting tale about a realistic life in a faraway land on our own planet. "Red Dust, Red Sky" is a great read for anyone looking for a novel about real-life hardships, that forces the reader to think about fundamental rights that most people in the western world simply take for granted.

Emma
Ervin R. Stutzman
Herald Press
616 Walnut Avenue, Scottsdale, PA 15683
9780836194128, $23.99, www.heraldpress.com

What do you do with six mouths to feed when the person you loved and cared for the most has ceased to be? "Emma: A Widow Among the Amish" is a novel about an Amish wife after the death of her breadwinning husband. Coping with grief, and faced with pressing immediate need, Emma is at a crossroads; her tale is intriguing all the way through, and many readers will see a bit of themselves within her.

Domestic Affairs
Eileen Goudge
Vanguard Press
c/o Perseus Books Group
387 Park Avenue South, Floor 12, New York, NY 10016
9781593154752, $25.95, www.perseusbooks.com

Revenge is suppose to be sweet, right? "Domestic Affairs" is the story of two childhood friends who cease their friendship as a result of family conflicts. Abigail was left penniless, while Lila continued her life of luxury. Decades later, tides turned, and it was Lila who was penniless, and Abigail well off from her life of hard work. Lila begs Abigail for assistance; but their re-entrance into each other's lives does not happen without consequences. A gripping tale about the morality of revenge, the complexity of life, and friendship, "Domestic Affairs" is a highly recommended read for anyone looking for a story with these elements done well.

Apologies Forthcoming
Xujun Eberlein
Livingston Press
University of West Alabama, Station 22, Livingston, AL 35470
Gulotta Communications (publicity)
341 Lexington Street, Newton, MA 02466
9781604890075, $15.95, www.uwa.edu

Growing up in Chongquing, China, Xujun Eberlein came to America in the summer of 1988 to advance her education. Receiving a PhD from MIT in 1995, after graduation she became a computer algorithm developer until 2003 when she embarked upon a new career as a writer, for which she has since been awarded a number of literary honors for her stories and personal essays published in the United States, Canada, England, Kenya and Hong Kong. Xujun Eberlein currently hosts the literary and cultural blog 'Inside-out China'. Now eight of her stories have been collected and published by the Livingston Press as "Apologies Forthcoming". These erudite and compelling stories focus on the experiences of people during China's 'Cultural Revolution' which saw the intellectual class of a generation of Chinese under Mao subjected to humiliation and repression. Included in this outstanding anthology of realistic fiction are Snow Line; Pivot Point; Feathers; Men Don't apologize; Watch the Thrill; disciple of the Masses; The Randomness of Love; and Second Encounter. Documenting Xujun Eberlein as an exceptional talented author, "Apologies Forthcoming" is especially recommended to readers with an interest in superbly presented and engaging fiction deftly showcasing the human condition with a particular flair for realism in both character and dialogue.

Vienna Dolorosa
Mykola Dementiuk
Synergy Press
PO Box 8, Flemington, NJ 08822
0975858157, $25.00, www.viennadolorosa.com

A look into the bizarre side of things, never mentioned due to the major events occurring otherwise. "Vienna Dolorosa" is a novel about Hitler's invasion of Austria, as told from the perspective of a transvestite brothel in Vienna. An unusual story filled with unsavory characters and the grittier aspects of humanity, "Vienna Dolorosa" is a skillfully written and intriguing tale, sure to please historical fiction lovers looking to read something different.


The Political Science Shelf

The Politics of Presidential Appointment
Sheldon Hackney
NewSouth Books
PO Box 1588, Montgomery, AL 36102
1588380688, $25.95, www.newsouthbooks.com

Presidential appointment can be used effectively or ineffectively. Author Sheldon Hackney reflects on his time as a presidential appointee in "The Politics of Presidential Appointment: A Memoir of the Culture War", his memoir of being an unwilling combatant in a major conflict between the left and right during the time the National Endowment for the Humanities was formed. Hackney seeks to dispel lies and misperceptions about his tenure in this inside look enhanced with a foreword by Vernon Jordan. "The Politics of Presidential Appointment" is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the dark side of letting the president choose his co-workers in charge of the country.

The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Middle East
Martin Sieff
Regnery Publishing
1 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20001
9781596980518, $19.95, www.regnery.com

People just don't want to hear what they have to face in reality. "The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Middle East" is an examination of this tumultuous region and the facts about what is going on there, presented without the fog of political correctness – a fog that has cost lives in that region. Pulling no punches against Islam, Judaism, Israel, America, or democracy, "The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Middle East" is a blunt and necessary read for any realist who truly seeks to understand the Middle East. "The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Middle East" especially deserves to be read by anyone responsible for dealing with such conflicts.

Smart Power
Ted Galen Carpenter
Cato Institute
1000 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20001
9781933995168, $24.95 www.cato.org

American foreign policy makers struggle with many issues, and face a range of foreign policy problems: to understand them properly, SMART POWER: TOWARD A PRUDENT FOREIGN POLICY FOR AMERICA provides a Cato Institute VP for defense and foreign studies' insights. Chapters consider policy-making, disagreements over foreign issues and consequences, strategies involving economic sanctions and military force, and more, and are a perfect starting place for discussion and debate both at the college level and for general-interest readers.

Smart Power
Ted Galen Carpenter
Cato Institute
1000 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20001
9781933995168, $24.95, www.nbnbooks.com

The most powerful country in the world has to make expert moves in order to achieve peace. "Smart Power: Toward a Prudent Foreign Policy for America" examines the current foreign policies of the country and how they can be improved. From the overthrow of the Taliban to the ousting of Saddam, "Smart Power" discusses both what is right and wrong about current policies, and seeks to keep America out of needless and unnecessary military conflicts. A must for community library politics collections.

The Coming China Wars
Peter Navarro
FT Press
1330 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019
9780132359825, $15.99, www.comingchinawars.com

China has over one billion people and the largest military in the world. Now in a newly revised and significantly expanded edition, "The Coming China Wars" is a discussion of what many politically savvy Americans fear, something that may or may not be inevitable – war with China. Explaining the root problems of growing conflicts between the United States and China, yet with the optimistic message that there is still hope for civility and friendship between the two, "The Coming China Wars" is surprisingly scholarly and a must for anyone concerned about America's greatest potential military threat.


The Literary Shelf

Reading with Oprah
Kathleen Rooney
The University of Arkansas Press
201 Ozark Ave., Fayetteville, AR 72701
1557288739, $15.95, www.uapress.com

Oprah's Book Club has inspired many people to read in the past several years. "Reading with Oprah: The Book Club That Changed America" is an examination of the book club and those who participate within it. Topics covered include the criticisms lobbied at Oprah's book club, the club's effects on the books it features, and Oprah's turn to contemporary fiction in recent years. The new second edition includes an expanded analysis of the James Frey scandal. "Reading with Oprah" is a must for anyone interested in how the club has affected the reading habits of America as a whole.

Deserts
Wayne Grady, editor
Greystone
1094 Flex Drive, Jackson, TN 38301
9781553653264, $22.95, www.greystonebooks.com

They're far more than harsh, heat-ridden wastelands; deserts have been important throughout the history of mankind. "Deserts: A Literary Companion" is a compilation of various writings on the second most biologically diverse ecosystem in the world, right behind rainforests. The essays span history, offering a cross-cultural, in depth look at subject, and call attention to the marvels and wonders of the desert. Highly recommended to any who seek to learn more about the sandy lands of the planet.

Baghdad Mon Amour
Salah Al Hamdani, author
Sonia Alland, translator
Curbstone Press
321 Jackson Street, Willimantic, CT 06226
9781931896443, $15.00, www.curbstone.org

Imprisoned and forced away from his home, author Salah Al Hamdani savors what Americans take for granted. "Baghdad Mon Amour" is an anthology of his writings, offering readers a unique perspective on the people of Iraq from one of their own. Impoverished as a youth, imprisoned as an adult, and exiled afterwards to France, Salah Al Hamdani will open his readers' eyes with writings that span the gamut from poetry to fiction to other mediums. Skillfully translated from the original French by Sonia Alland, "Baghdad Mon Amour" is highly recommended to any who wants to understand an Iraqi's love for his homeland.

Philip Roth
Ross Miller, editor
The Library of America
14 East 60th Street, New York, NY 10022
9781598530308, $35.00, www.loa.org

Philip Roth emerged as one of the most influential American writers of the 20th century and a man whose talents were to stretch the boundaries of western literature and bring new life into American fiction. Capably edited by Ross Miller (Professor of English and Comparative Literature, University of Connecticut), "Philip Roth: Novels and Other Narratives 1986-1991" is the fifth and latest volume in the outstanding Library of America series showcasing the work of this American literary giant. These writings are taking from the author's mid-career and include 'The Counterlife', a ground-breaking novel which was published in 1986; 'The Facts: A Novelist's Autobiography' published in 1988 and represents Roth's professional memoir; 'Deception', a candid noel of adultery published in 1990; and 'Patrimony: A True Story' which, published in 1991, received the National Book Critics Circle Award and is the story of the author observing his 86-year-old father Herman Roth unrelenting struggle against a fatal brain tumor. Published on acid-free paper, "Philip Roth: Novels and Other Narratives 1986-1991" is a critically essential addition to academic and community library American Literature reference collections and 20th Century American Literature supplemental student reading lists.

The Monster Loves His Labyrinth
Charles Simic
Ausable Press
1026 Hurricane Road, Keene, NY 12942
9781931337403, $14.00 www.ausablepress.org 1-800-283-3572

Yugoslavia-born U.S. Poet Laureate Charles Simic presents The Monster Loves His Labyrinth: Notebooks, an amalgamation of his notebook entries over the course of many years. The observations, insights, and inspirational gleanings are not themselves poetry per se, but rather the stuff from which great poetry (or great prose) can be wrought - or perhaps a simple source of thoughtful contemplation, ideal for whenever one has a few minutes to spare. "We call 'street wise' someone who knows how to look, listen, and interpret the teeming life around him. To walk down a busy city block is a critical act. Literature, aesthetics, and psychology all come into play."

Conversations With C.S. Lewis
Robert Velarde
Inter Varsity Press Books
PO Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426
9780830834839, $15.00, www.books.ivpress.com

With the recent success of the Chronicles of Narnia movies, interest in the author of the Narnia books, C.S. Lewis, has risen once again. "Conversations with C.S. Lewis: Imaginative Discussions About Life, Christianity, and God" is a fictional interview with C.S. Lewis as written by one of the most dedicated scholars of his work, Robert Velarde. Covering Lewis's life, his beliefs, and his friendships with other writers as he created the books that inspire so many children today, "Conversations with C.S. Lewis" also touches heavily on Lewis' religion and beliefs, some of which were not wholly traditional. "Conversations with C.S. Lewis" is solid look at C.S. Lewis, highly recommended especially for Narnia fans.

Shakespeare: A Life in Art
Russel Fraser
Transaction Publishers
The State University, 35 Berrue Circle, Piscataway, New Jersey, 08854-8042
9781412806053, $34.95, www.transactionpub.com

Bringing together two previously published volumes of Author and Professor of English Literature Russel Fraser's excellent scholarly works on William Shakespeare, "Shakespeare: A Life in Art" is a complete and educated look at one of the greatest writers the world has ever known. Primarily focusing on the man's art and life's work first, Fraser doesn't ignore the fact that his personal life and the current events of Shakespeare's time had massive impact on everything the bard did, and covering everything we know about the man, even his time as an actor. "Shakespeare: A Life In Art" is highly recommended for readers seeking an in depth look at the man behind the plays and for community library collections focusing on English History of Classic literature.

Literary Research Guide
James L. Harner
Modern Language Association
26 Broadway, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10004-1789
9780873528085, $37.50, www.mla.org

With well over eight hundred pages, MLA's "Literary Research Guide" is a complete and comprehensive guide for researchers who study literature. This new fifth edition boasts over 1,000 entries, which inform readers about countless books and other pieces of written media. Also sporting new chapters on cultural studies, "Literary Research Guide" leaves out little on every item discussed. An absolute must for community library reference collections focusing on literary studies, and highly recommended for college libraries as well.

Tante Jolesch or The Decline of the West in Anecdotes
Friedrich Torberg
Ariadne Press
270 Goins Court, Riverside, CA, 92507
9781572411494, $24.00, http://ariadnebooks.com

Friedrich Torberg is not one well known to English speakers, but his impact is still there. "Tante Jolesch or the Decline of the West in Anecdotes" is a memoir of sorts spanning many decades of his life. He reflects on his early days with other intellectuals in Vienna coffee houses towards his time as a budding author only to have his career cut short by Hitler's anti-Judaic sanctions. Fleeing to America, he plied his craft through the war as one of many German Anti-Nazi writers. He returned and kept writing, and his writings are compiled within. "Tante Jolesch" is a look at one of the most treasured German writers, and the book explains why he is rightfully so considered.


The Photography Shelf

Crash Burn Love
Bill Lowenburg
Backstreet Books
PO Box 367, Revere, PA 18953
9780976653509, $69.95, www.backstreetbooks.com

Demolition derbies are an enigma to much of America. What makes demolition derby drivers willingly get into mindless wrecks? "Crash Burn Love" is a collection of photographs and essays by author Bill Lowenburg, exploring this sport. The photos, although black and white, capture both the smash action of the demolition derby and the faces of the fans who look on in amazement, cheering the supposed madness on. A deep look into the sport, "Crash Burn Love" is an ideal coffee table book for anyone intrigued by demolition derbies.

Lighting Techniques for Middle Key Portrait Photography
Norman Phillips
Amherst Media
Box 586, Buffalo, NY 14226
9781584282310, $34.95 www.AmherstMedia.com

Learn to avoid common problems and make conscious decisions in arranging key images and surrounding elements with Lighting Techniques for Middle Key Portrait Photography, a guide to laying out objectives to set up better photographic studies. From creating middle key images in studio or on location to artistic arrangements of subjects, LIGHTING TECHNIQUES culls innovative ideas from a variety of professionals.

Fine Art Printing for Photographs
Uwe Steinmueller & Juergen Gulbins
Rockynook
26 West Mission St. Ste 3, Santa Barbara, CA 93101-2432
9781933952314, $44.95, www.rockynook.com

Both the technologies of digital photography and laser jet printing have been moving along at an excellent pace. Now available in a newly published second edition, "Fine Art Printing for Photographers: Exhibition Quality Prints with Inkjet Printers" is a guide to maximizing one's quality when printing photography, looking to almost perfectly match the quality of a priceless work of art with the quickness of digital photography. The second edition covers the new wave of technology on the subject, making "Fine Art Printing for Photographers" a must for anyone who use these skills on a regular basis, whether amateur or professional.


The Economics Shelf

The Economics of Keynes
M.G. Hayes
Edward Elgar Publishing
William Pratt House, 9 Dewey Court, Northampton, MA 01060
9781848440562, $45.00, www.e-elgar.com

Keynes was one of the most influential economic thinkers in modern history. "The Economics of Keynes: A New Guide to a General Theory" is a scholarly examination that looks at how Keynes' work can be applied to today's world. Designed to be read along with Keynes "The General Theory", "The Economics of Keynes" is an ideal companion to enhance one's understanding of that classic work. A must for anyone who truly wants to call themselves an expert on economics.

Small is Possible
Lyle Estill
New Society Publishers
PO Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC V0R 1X0, Canada
9780865716032, $17.95, www.newsociety.com

Globalization is becoming more and more the name of the game in recent years, but is it really needed? "Small is Possible: Life in a Local Economy" is a look why smaller economies are still viable in the modern world. Focusing on self-sufficient towns and cities that produce almost everything they need on their own, and how such locations improve their own economies while importing very little from the outside, "Small Is Possible" is an interesting read which offers something new from an oft-overlooked source – the past.


The Women's Studies Shelf

The Maternal is Political
Shari MacDonald Strong , editor
Seal Press
1700 Fourth Street, Berkeley CA 94710
9781580052436, $15.95, www.sealpress.com

The most powerful women in the world are also the most powerful people in their own home. "The Maternal is Political: Women Writers at the Intersection of Motherhood & Social Change" is a look at the women who change American lives every day with their politics and writings, and how they bring up their children. With writings from figures such as Nancy Pelosi, Anna Quindlen, Gayle Brandeis, and others, "The Maternal is Political" reveals how raising a family and raising a country are not entirely different things. "The Maternal is Political" is an ideal piece for discussion among feminists and other politically oriented groups.

Pearls, Politics & Power
Madeleine M. Kunin
Chelsea Green Publishing
85 North Main Street, Suite 120, Post Office Box 428, White River Jct. VT 05001
9781933392929, $14.95, www.chelseagreen.com

The near success of Hillary Clinton almost nabbing the Democratic Nomination for 2008 sends a powerful message to women: they, too, can be successful in politics. "Pearls, Politics & Power: How Women Can Win and Lead" pushes women to be everything they can be in the world of politics. Written to inspire fifty percent of America's population to make up fifty percent of the government (a percentage that is unfortunately a far cry to the actual numbers of today's world), "Pearls Politics & Power" is a must for any woman aspiring to gain anything from town council membership to a senate seat, a governor's chair, or even the Oval Office.


The Martial Arts Shelf

Meditations on Violence
Sgt. Rory Miller
YMAA Publication Center
23 North Main Street, Wolfeboro, NH 03894
9781594391187, $18.95, www.ymaa.com

Violence is a necessary evil of the world. "Meditations on Violence: A Comparison of Martial Arts Training & Real World Violence" is a reflection on martial arts and self defense. From a man who has been practicing and using it for well over two decades, Rory Miller hopes to explain the facts and fictions of what is known about martial arts and how to use one's training in a real situation. He also reflects on why and when it should be used, how real life will alter one's actions, and more. "Meditations on Violence" is a scholarly and deft look at martial arts and their uses in the world.


The Social Issues Shelf

A Bridge Worth Saving
Mike Mort
Michigan State University Press
1405 South Harrison Road, Suite 25 Manly Miles Building, East Lansing, MI 48823-5202
9780870138287, $24.95, www.msupress.msu.edu

Bridges can be more to people than simply a method of crossing water without a boat. "A Bridge Worth Saving" is a thoroughly 'user friendly' guide for activists wanting to save historical landmarks they deem worth the effort and expense to campaign for their preservation. Filled from cover to cover with practical advice for keeping an old bridge in tip top condition, "A Bridge Worth Saving" is a complete and comprehensive instructional guide to bridge restoration, enhanced with an index and appendixes. Highly recommended for personal, professional, academic, and community library collections.

In the News
William Wray Carney
The University of Alberta Press
Ring House 2, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada, T6G 2EI
0888644957, $26.95, www.uap.ualberta.ca

The media has a tremendous impact upon the people, and as they say, with great power comes great responsibility. Now in a newly updated and expanded second edition, "In the News: The Practice of Media Relations in Canada" is an in-depth study of the relationship between the media and the people in the nation of Canada. A scholarly and complete examination now in an updated second edition, "In the News" is an excellent read for anyone interested in the status of the media in modern society. An ideal choice for community library social issues collections focusing on Canada.

Custom Maid Knowledge for New World Disorder
Peter G. de Krassel
CAL Books
c/o Casemate
1016 Warrior Road, Suite C, Drexel Hill, PA 19026
9889766671, $25.95 www.casematepublishing.com

America, China and other rising world leaders must guide the world through the 21st century from globalization to interlocalism as part of a 'new reality' that focuses on the economic interaction between different communities. That's the message of Custom Maid Knowledge for New World Disorder, a weighty treatise on the geography, politics and economics of this new world environment. College-level collections strong in modern world trends, both economic and political, will find this an important reference.

Disabling Pedagogy
Linda Komesaroff
Gallaudet University Press
800 Florida Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20002-3695
9781563683619, $45.00, http://gupress.gallaudet.edu

Deafness is all too common in children, but deaf children are perfectly capable of being fully productive members of society, provided they get as high a quality of education as their hearing peers. "Disabling Pedagogy: Power, Politics, and Deaf Education" is a look at deaf education and the power and politics behind it. Examining today's current situations and suggesting improved models to follow with some instances of combining deaf children's education with hearing children's education, "Disabling Pedagogy" is a thorough and scholarly guide on the subject, and a top pick for social issues discussions regarding issues of the deaf.

Segregation
James H. Carr & Nandinee K. Kutty, editors
Routledge
270 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Gulotta Communications (publicity)
341 Lexington Street, Newton, MA 02466
0415965330, $36.95, www.routledge.com, 1-800-634-7064

The struggle to end segregation back in the 1950s was only the beginning of a process that is still going on today. While we are no longer a country of Jim Crow laws and segregated lunch counters, the editorial team of James H. Carr and Nandinee K. Kutty have assembled in "Segregation: The Rising Costs For America" no less than eleven compelling studies demonstrating and documenting the continuing and pervasive presence of segregation in various aspects of American society as African-American households still average about one-tenth of the wealth enjoyed by our country's white households; the blacks continue to have twice the number of below federal poverty guidelines families as those of whites; highschool graduation rates half that of white students; higher incarceration rates, and more. The essays and researches comprising "Segregation: The Rising Costs For America" reveal that the American towns and cites of 2008 are authentically more racially segregated than they were in 1908. A work of impressive and seminal scholarship by truly knowledgeable academics and activists, ""Segregation: The Rising Costs For America" is a core addition to professional and academic library collections, and a highly recommended addition to social activist and student reading lists with respect to contemporary race relations in America -- especially when progress appears to have been made with the political phenomena of bi-racial African-American Barack Obama becoming the nominee of a major political party to seek the presidency of the United States.

Transformations of La Familia on the U.S.-Mexico Border
Raquel R. Marquez and Harriett D. Romo
University of Notre Dame Press
310 Flanner Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556
9780268035099, $28.00 www.undpress.nd.edu 1-800-621-2736

Transformations of La Familia on the U.S.-Mexico Border is an anthology of papers by expert scholars discussing how Mexican and Mexican-origin families living in the transnational space of the U.S.-Mexico border. Analyzing demographic, historic, economic, political and public policy factors, Transformations of La Familia on the U.S.-Mexico Border is an astute and balanced close study that especially highlights the challenges faced by women, who increasingly work outside the home whether married or not, and migrant children, who are at high risk for dropping out of school on either side of the border. An invaluable resource interpreting the latest statistical data, highly recommended especially for anyone involved in policymaking with regard to issues affecting these families and their neighbors. "...stressful economic conditions generally encourage informal economic activity and, observably, this occurs with a high degree of frequency along the U.S.-Mexico border. The key to harnessing informal economic transactions is to create a network of supportive microbusiness services housed in culturally competent community-based organizations that transition the informal business activities into microenterprises (Robles 2003)."

Civil War and the Rule of Law
Agnes Hurwitz, editor
Lynne Rienner Publishers
1800 30th St., Suite 314, Boulder, CO 80301-1026
9781588265074, $24.50, www.rienner.com

Civil War is not civil at all. "Civil War and the Rule of Law: Security, Development, and Human Rights" is a book written for those in power who want to establish peace in a country after a violent and bloody civil war. Focusing on the three key aspects of safety for the people and the nation itself, rebuilding what was lost, and most importantly that the people of the nation have what they deserve fundamentally as human beings, "Civil War and the Rule of Law" is a must for community library politics collections.


The Christian Studies Shelf

Jesus and First Century Christianity in Jerusalem
Elizabeth McNamer & Bargil Pixner
Paulist Press
997 Macarthur Boulevard, Mahwah, NJ 07430
9780809145232, $19.95, www.paulistpress.com

The origins of Christianity is a compelling subject of interest for every new generation of scholars and believers. Advances in archaeology has made tremendous and on-going contributions to our understanding of how the Christian movement has evolved over its first few decades and centuries of existence. "Jesus and First Century Christianity in Jerusalem" is a close examination of early Christianity. In the beginning, Christianity was considered a fringe sect of Judaism; some even considered it no more than a mad cult. Comprehensive in its coverage, "Jesus and First Century Christianity in Jerusalem" is enthusiastically recommended to anyone curious how one of the most powerful forces in the western world got its start.

The Preacher
Austin B. Tucker
B&H Publishing Group
127 Ninth Avenue, North, Nashville, TN 37234
9780805447088, $24.99, www.BHpublishinggroup.com

Storytelling was developed thousands of years ago as an effective way to deliver a message. "The Preacher: As Storyteller" offers suggestions to all the pastors and preachers out there to improve the power of their sermons by increasing their storytelling abilities. Delivering the message of the Holy Bible and telling a great story are one in the same, claims author and Southern Baptist pastor of thirty years Austin Tucker. "The Preacher" deserves a major consideration for any church leader who wants deliver God's word more effectively.

What Women Wish You Knew About Dating
Stephen W. Simpson
Baker Books
6030 E. Fulton, Ada, MI 49301
9780801068409, $12.99, www.bakerbooks.com

What do women really want? "What Women Wish You Knew About Dating: A Single Guy's Guide to Romantic Relationships" is a guide for guys who want to cut through the bull and find the right girl to settle down with - and how to be the right guy. Presenting a Christian perspective on dating, author Stephen Simpson emphasizes that women are looking for men who are men, not boys. A guide to maturity, and maintaining a healthy balance in relationships, "What Women Wish You Knew About Dating" is a top pick for any Christian man in need of advice to find the one.

Creation and the Patriarchal Histories
Patrick Henry Reardon
Conciliar Press Ministries
PO Box 76, Ben Lomond, CA, 95005
9781888212969, $13.95, www.conciliarpress.com

The Book of Genesis is a story all Christians know. "Creation and Patriarchal Histories" is a closer examination of the first book of the Holy Bible, and how it reflects onto Christianity as a whole. Drawing upon the scholarship of Orthodox Christian leaders to discuss and educate readers on the history of creation, "Creation and the Patriarchal Histories" breaks down the story into segments. Covering the earliest creation, and the stories of Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and other legendary biblical patriarchs, "Creation and the Patriarchal Histories" is a must for anyone who wants to truly understand the early Old Testament.

A Prayer Book for Catholic Families, new edition
Christopher Anderson, Susan Gleason, & LaVonne Neff, editors
Loyola Press
3441 N. Ashland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60657
9780829427172, www.loyolabooks.org

Many Catholics wish to stay true to their religion, but may not know how. Now available in a newly redesigned and completely updated edition, "A Prayer Book for Catholic Families" is a compilation of prayers and wisdom for Catholics who wish to incorporate their faith more efficiently into their every day lives. With prayers for every event in one's life, "A Prayer Book for Catholic Families" is an invaluable tool for practicing Catholics, and a strong choice for Catholic church library collections.

Praying With Icons
Jim Forest
Orbis Books
PO Box 308, Maryknoll, NY 10545
9781570757587, $22.00 www.orbisbooks.com

First published ten years ago, PRAYING WITH ICONS has since become a modern spiritual classic, recognized for its groundbreaking insights into the history and theology behind icons. This reprint is recommended for any spiritual collection needing another, modern copy: it uses classic and contemporary icons within a collection of meditative reflections on typical images, from Christ to the saints. Christian libraries will find it important.

Doing Time
Dennis Burke
Paulist Press
997 Macarthur Boulevard, Matwah, NJ 07430
0809145278, $14.95 www.paulistpress.com

Collections strong in ministry resources will welcome DOING TIME: FINDING HOPE AT SAN QUENTIN. It offers up a personal story of the author's ten years of prison ministry, visiting men in the cellblocks at San Quentin State Prison, and it provides case histories of issues and spiritual concerns behind prison walls. Spiritual collections strong in ministry services will find it revealing and poignant.

50 Reasons People Give for Believing in God
Guy P. Harrison
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
9781591025672, $16.95 www.prometheusbooks.com

Many books challenge religious belief and alienate potential believers with a combative argument. "50 Reasons People Give for Believing in God" will appeal to believers, skeptics, and everyone in between with a selection of some fifty common reasons people give for believing in a God – and why some of these perceptions may be wrong. The focus is upon rationales for beliefs, and chapters survey these logical foundations and their impact.

The Quiet Way: A Christian Path to Inner Peace
Gerhard Tersteegen
World Wisdom Inc.
1501 E. Hillside Drive, Bloomington, IN 47401
9781933316529, $17.95 www.worldwisdom.com

Gerhard Tersteegen wrote in the early 1700s and many will find his hymn 'Tho Hidden Love of God' in modern hymnals – such an audience will find further embellishment and insights in his QUIET WAY, a collection of some one hundred of his letters and seventeen of his hymns. His emphasis on charity and religious devotions influenced many a Protestant believer and holds much for modern readers as well: perfect for any Christian library.

Mark & Method
Janice Capel Anderson & Stephen D. Moore, editors
Fortress Press
c/o Augsburg Fortress Publishers
PO Box 59304, Minneapolis, MN 55459-0303
9780800638511, $22.00, www.fortresspress.com

People have been studying the Bible in much the same way for the past two thousand years; "Mark & Method: New Approaches in Biblical Studies" brings some new methods and ideas to the table. Offering a thorough and scholarly examination of the Bible and present-day theology, including topics such as feminism and cultural diversity, "Mark & Method" is an ideal pick for anyone looking to intelligently discuss the Bible in a modern context. Highly recommended for community library theology collections and church library collections.

Be Last
Jeremy Kingsley
Tyndale
c/o Alive Communications
7680 Goddard Street, Suite 200, Colorado Springs, CO 80920
B&B Media Group
109 South Main Street Corsicana, TX 75110
9781414316413, $12.99, www.tyndale.com

In this harsh world, everyone is seemingly out to protect their own hide, ignoring the needs of everyone else. "Be Last: Descending to Greatness" offers a fresh perspective and a contrary one: the idea that rushing to be number one is not always the best way to do things. Putting the needs of others before oneself can reap its own set of benefits, and can help one's own personal soul with the transformative power of giving charity. A book with a strong Christian message, "Be Last" is recommended reading to anyone interested in becoming a better human being.

A Christianity Worth Believing
Doug Pagitt
Jossey-Bass
c/o Wiley & Company
989 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94103-1741
Dechant & Hughes Associates (publicity)
1440 N. Kingsbury, Chicago, IL 60622
9780787998127, $21.95, www.josseybass.com

So many in the modern era are faced difficult questions of faith, finding themselves bombarded with controversy surrounding their religion. "A Christianity Worth Believing: Hope-Filled, Open-Armed, Alive-And-Well Faith" is a guide for Christians who doubt their own faith but are not yet ready to give up on it all. Seeking to inspire souls to find their faith once more by addressing common problems and answering the questions not normally answered, "A Christianity Worth Believing" is a choice pick for anyone who wants to reclaim their religion.

Transforming Congregations
James Lemler
Church Publishing
445 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016
9780898695847, $16.00, www.churchpublishing.org

Church leaders often become leaders of communities, and therefore are charged with leading them toward their hopes and dreams. "Transforming Congregations" is a guide for these leaders to help improve the communities of their congregations. Good leaders will help their people stay faithful, helpful, and charitable towards others, while bad leaders will have the exact opposite effect. Highly recommended for leaders of congregations of any size, "Transforming Congregations" is a top notch guide for any church authority figure who wants to improve the general lives of their brethren.

God's Welcome
Amy G. Oden
The Pilgrim Press
700 Prospect Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44115-1100
9780829817355, $14.00, www.thepilgrimpress.com

Christians are increasingly viewed as hostile throughout the world, the exact opposite of the religion's intent. "God's Welcome: Hospitality for a Gospel Hungry World" is a guide for Christians who want to bring their religion's hospitable roots back into public view. Author Amy Oden seeks to dispel the negative image surrounding Christianity and promote the hospitality and goodwill that early Christians held so dear. An inspiring look at a side of Christianity that is too often forgotten, "God's Welcome" is especially recommended for Christians who strive for self-improvement.

My Devotions
Deborah Henry
Concordia Publishing House
3558 S. Jefferson Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63118-3968
9780758615930, $12.99, www.cph.org

A piece of wisdom for every day of the year. "My Devotions: 365 Timeless Devotions for Families" is something to consider for all Christian families, packed cover to cover with a devotion for each day of the year. In a special fiftieth anniversary edition, each page has a piece of scripture, a real life anecdote, and a prayer. A book designed to be shared with children by their parents for every day at a low price, "My Devotions" has little reason for it not to be picked up.


The Theatre/Cinema Shelf

Crowdscenes
Michael Tratner
Fordham University Press
University Box L, 2546 Belmont Ave, Bronx, NY 10458
9780823229024, $28.00, www.fordhampress.com

Did the power of the masses increase with the introduction of the movie theater? "Crowdscenes: Movies and Mass Politics" looks at how movies may have influenced the masses. Examining the crowd scenes in many classic films and drawing comparisons to scenes in Nazi and Soviet propaganda films, "Crowdscenes" is a deft examination of something many viewers don't notice in the motivations of these films – the political messages behind them. A deftly crafted and highly recommended source of insight, "Crowdscenes" is a top pick for community library collections on films and politics.

Picture Yourself Directing a Movie
Eric Nicholas
Course Technology
25 Thomson Place, Boston MA 02110
1598634895, $29.99 www.courseptr.com

If you've always wanted to make a movie but are not sure how to begin, "Picture Yourself Directing a Movie" is the beginner's guide to creating short films for you. It provides all the basics of directing and principles to make a film idea real, using simple language and directions for newcomers to the industry. A companion DVD provides sample film clips to illustrate techniques. Amateurs also receive plenty of insights into professional tips to customize and streamline results. Both film and general-interest libraries will find "Picture Yourself Directing a Movie" a popular lend.

Rent
Jonathan Larson
Hal Leonard Corporation
19 West 21st Street, Suite 201, New York, NY 10010
9781557837370, $16.95, www.applausepub.com

Celebrating one of the most famous Broadway musicals, "Rent: The Complete Book and Lyrics of the Broadway Musical" is the script and songbook for the show that has been running on the famed musical theater street for well over a decade. The play, which focuses on young artists making their way in the world as the AIDS epidemic begins to hit, has gained its popularity for a reason - its no-holds-barred take on contemporary issues is speaks openly to theater goers of all backgrounds. "Rent" is sure to please fans of the play who want a souvenir to cherish as its Broadway run comes to an end.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Cezanne's Quarry
Barbara Corrado Pope
Pegasus Books
45 Walls Street, Suite 1021, New York, NY 10005
9781933648835, $25.00, www.pegasusbooks.us

When one dies young, it's a tragedy. When it's murder, the result is a race to find the one responsible and bring them to justice. "Cezanne's Quarry" tells of Solange Vernet, who is found dead. Bernard Martin is chosen to solve the crime; he is torn between his two prime suspects of Vernet's lover Charles Westbury and her spurned ex-lover Paul Cezanne. The evidence points to both, so Martin must dive into the dark past of all three to find out. An enthralling novel all the way through, "Cezanne's Quarry" is a must for mystery fans who prefer historical settings over contemporary ones.

Green Monster
Rick Shefchik
Poisoned Pen Press
6962 E. First Ave., #103, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
9781590585245, $24.95, www.poisonedpenpress.com, 1-800-421-3976

Boston Red Sox owner Louis Kenwood received an extortion note singed 'Babe Ruth' claiming that the 2004 World Series in which the Sox finally won and ended the 'Curse of the Bambino' was fixed and the author of that extortion note wants $20 million to keep quiet. If the public were to become aware of this accusation, the value of Kenwood's franchise would be eroded so he turns to detective Sam Skarda to find out if the allegation is true, and who's behind the blackmail attempt. Kenwood's lovely assistant heather Canby is assigned to monitor and accompany Sam on his investigation. The clues lead Sam into the Los Angeles underworld, through the slums of Venezuela, and back to Fenway Park. A good mystery novel must have two essential elements: characters that attract our attention and plots that compel our interest from beginning to end. "Green Monster" by Rick Shefchik is highly recommended reading on both those conditions. Also highly recommended reading for mystery buffs is Rick Shefchik's early Sam Skarda detective novel published by Poisoned Pen Press is "Amen Corner".

Spun Tales
Felicia Donovan
Midnight Ink
2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125
9780738713106, $13.95, www.midnightinkbooks.com

Authors everywhere desire to become famous and have their novels sell millions. But fame, much like everything, carries a cost. "Spun Tales" is a novel of the Black Widow Agency series, following the group as they protect an author from those who would do her harm and those who would and beg her for an autograph. If that wasn't enough, someone is out for her latest book, and the Agency must deal with irritants in their daily lives. An excellently crafted mystery novel especially recommended for women, "Spun Tales" is thoroughly enjoyable.

Dog Eats Dog
Iain Levison
Bitter Lemon Press
9781904738312, $14.95, www.bitterlemonpress.com

When a teacher goes too far with a student, consequences are to be expected. And sometimes they aren't what one would expect. "Dog Eat Dog" follows bank robber Dixon as he flees to a quiet town in New England where he finds a Professor White with a high school student. Using his savvy and lack of morality, he blackmails White into doing his bidding, including hiding him from the cops. Dixon thinks he's safe for now and enjoyed several hundred thousand for his hard work, but a certain FBI agent won't give up and Professor White isn't as dense as he seems. "Dog Eat Dog" is an original and creative thriller, sure to please readers who want a story of intrigue and suspense.

Death Vows
Richard Stevenson
MLR Press
3052 Gaines Waterport Road, Albion, NY 14411
9781934531334, $14.99, www.mlrpress.com

The allowance of legal gay marriage in Massachusetts has caused many a gay couple to travel there for their opportunity to be wed. "Death Vows" is another chapter in the series of Donald Strachey's adventures as the only gay private investigator in Albany, New York. His latest case deals with the fear and hypocrisy surrounding Gay marriage in Massachusetts, where one person pays a price no one should pay for love. "Death Vows" is a riveting mystery with a good dose of satire on today's worlds opinions on homosexuality.

Harum Scarum
Felicity Young
Fremantle Press
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 NE 58th Ave, Suite 300, Portland, OR 97213-3786
9781921361104, $22.95, www.fremantlepress.com.au

The internet can both be a tool for good and evil. "Harum Scarum: Spinning a Web of Evil" is a story of the latter, following the trail of certain sick individuals using the web as a tool to pick their next victims for their crimes, which happen to be pre-adolescent girls. DS Stevie Hooper is out to find the root of all this, and must deal with a vigilante who is also after them. Their good intentions can be as much of a problem as the bad intentions of the Dream Team – the name of the very pedophilia ring Stevie Hooper wants to crack down on. "Harum Scarum" is a riveting mystery and a classic tale of good versus evil and those who would use the latter to do the former.

Chain of Evidence
Garry Disher
Soho Press
853 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
9781569475003, $13.00, www.sohopress.com

Bad news rarely comes alone. "Chain of Evidence" is a mystery novel featuring previous scene Inspector Hal Challis as he returns to his Australian home where his father is dying, but his brother is law is also missing. He sets out to find him, as back home newcomer to the series Sergeant Ellen Destry tries to track down the scum members of a suspected pedophilia ring. A gripping set of mysteries, "Chain of Evidence" is sure to please fans of the genre everywhere.


The Business Shelf

Leadership Chronicles of a Corporate Sage
Susan J. Bethanis
Dearborn Trade Publishing
30 South Wacker Drive, Suite 2500, Chicago, IL 60606-7481
079318603X, $18.95, www.dearborntrade.com

No one becomes a magnificent manager out of pure natural skill. "Leadership Chronicles of a Corporate Sage: Five Keys to Becoming a More Effective Leader" is a leadership manual in the form of fictionalized conversations between a corporate leader and his executive coach. Laying out five key facts that separate mediocre business leaders from great ones, "Leadership Chronicles of a Corporate Sage" is a strong choice for businesses striving to push their managers to the next level.

Background Screening and Investigations
W. Barry Nixon, Kim M. Kerr
Butterworth-Heinemann
30 Corporate Drive, Suite 400, Burlington, MA 01803
9780750682565, $49.95, www.books.elvier.com/security

To employ someone is to trust them to some degree, so how does one know whom to trust? "Background Screening and Investigations: Managing Hiring Risk from the HR and Security Perspectives" is a guide to screening employees before they potentially become a problem for the company. The strengths of a person with an excellent record who appears to be brilliant may be far outweighed by a serious attitude problem or worse. How does a Human Resources official decide when is it safe to hire a convicted felon, or a sexual predator? How far can a company go before breaking the fair opportunity laws? All of these topics are tackled expertly in "Background Screening and Investigations", a must read for any employer who wants to assure a harmonious work environment.

No Limit
Donald G. Krause and Jeff Carter
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019
0814480640, $19.95 www.amacombooks.org

Hundreds of people play 'no limit' poker, but few realize its strategies can be used to get ahead in business and life. NO LIMIT explores connections between poker and business, showing how Texas Hold 'em, the most popular version of the game, holds many keys to business success. Any game players who know Texas Hold 'em well and are interested in business concepts, as well as business libraries, will find here a fine opportunity for success and strategic planning.

The Complete Guide to Project Management
Elle Bereaux
Atlantic Publishing
1405 SW 6th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471
9781601380104, $24.95 www.atlantic-pub.com

Too few projects assigned to management are completed in a timely manner or done correctly and under budget. Project management is the art of organizing and managing resources so that these objectives are met, and The Complete Guide to Project Management tells how to meet them. Libraries catering to managers will appreciate the focus on creating project plans, assessing problems, managing multiple projects, and implementing basic concepts, with chapters providing managers with not just a stepping-stone plan, but the keys to avoiding common obstacles along the way.

Mastering the Management Buckets
John Pearson
Regal Books
1957 Eastman Avenue, Ventura, CA 93003
9780830745944, $19.99, www.regalbooks.com

Leaders have to be competent, or the whole thing won't work. "Mastering the Management Buckets: 20 Critical Competencies for Leading Your Business Or Nonprofit" is a crash course in leadership skills for those who want to learn everything they need to know about company management. With nearly one hundred pieces of invaluable advice, as well as an index and bibliography, "Mastering the Management Buckets" is an excellent choice for prospective leaders and for community library business collections.

Atlantic Publishing
1405 SW 6th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471
www.atlantic-pub.com

Mary B. Holihan's COMPLETE GUIDE TO INVESTING IN COMMODITY TRADING AND FUTURES (9781601380036, $24.99) is a pick for any business library specializing in stock market strategies for individual investors. Chapters tell how to make the most of the commodity trading market, entering a realm where large banks and the wealthy trade. From different commodity products to common pitfalls, this is an outstanding introduction. Janet Engle's FASHION DESIGN BUSINESS (9781601382252, $39.95) comes with a companion cd-rom and covers opportunities in the fashion design industry. The business side of fashion design receives excellent surveys of various opportunities, from fashion buyers and coordinators to retail store managers. Marketing, manufacturing and design are all covered in a pick any career library will find intriguing – as well as many a business collection. Angela Adams, B.A.'s THE RESTAURANT MANAGER'S SUCCESS CHRONICLES (9780910627962, $24.95) provides a series of interviews with restaurant pros and insiders to reveal how successful operations thrive. Real-life examples of successes and pitfalls go far beyond most books covering basic restaurant ownership, providing detailed step-by-step direction for opening a successful establishment. John N. Peragine Jr.'s HOW TO OPEN & OPERATE A FINANCIALLY SUCCESSFUL WEDDING CONSULTANT AND PLANNING BUSINESS (9781601381149, $39.95) comes with a companion cd-rom and tells how to plan a wedding, offering all the details needed to over business plans, control systems, menus, legal and pricing concerns, and more. The 'when, how, what and where' questions all receive plenty of depth and detail. All are excellent picks for career and business collections alike.

Marketing Without Advertising
Michael Phillips & Salli Rasberry
Nolo Press
950 Parker Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
9781413306323, $20.00, www.nolo.com, 1-800-955-4775

Paid advertising can often be the most expensive and least effective method of marketing goods and services to the public. Now in a significantly updated and expanded sixth edition, "Marketing Without Advertising: Easy Ways To Build A Business Your Customers Will Love & Recommend" by the team of Michael Phillips and Salli Rasberry (both of whom are recognized pioneers in 'values-based' business models) is a thoroughly 'user friendly' and practical instruction manual for high-impact, low-cost marketing strategies that offer a wealth of tips and techniques for developing repeat customers, creating word-of-mouth publicity, transforming dissatisfied customers into a loyal clientele, planning and executing low-cost marketing events, utilizing the Internet and the World Wide Web, attracting media attention, and a whole lot more. Focusing on such essential issues as the physical appearance of the business, pricing, customer education, and marketing plan design, "Marketing Without Advertising" can be considered to be a complete, comprehensive, and invaluable instructional that will enable even the most novice entrepreneur and business manager to succeed in today's volatile marketplace and competitive economic environment no matter what the product or service they are seeking to promote.

What If?
Steve L. Robbins
Davies-Black Publishing
1055 Joaquin Road, 2nd Floor, Mountain View, CA 94043
C.S. Lewis & Co. Publishers
196 Van Dale Road, Woodstock, NY 12498
9780891062752, $18.95, www.daviesblack.com

Some concepts of the workplace aren't taught up front. "What If? Short Stories to Spark Diversity Dialogue" is a series of twenty six stories written to teach those in the workplace what they need to know to truly understand diversity and inclusionary concepts, and how to apply these principles in every day business. "What If?" should be considered essential reading for every manager, and is highly recommended for community library business collections.

How to Survive in an Organization
James J. Heaphey
Today's Books
c/o History Publishing Company LLC
PO Box 700, Palisades, NY 10964-0700
9781933909196, $17.95, www.historypublishingco.com

Understanding one's situation is the first step to achieving excellence. "How to Survive in an Organization" is a guide for those who want to improve their performance at their place of work. With advice on successful management, evaluations, where the power truly lies in organizations, and other elements of success, "How to Survive in an Organization" is a seminal pick for anyone seeking to make the most of their career.


The Psychology Shelf

Mistakes Were Made (But Not By Me)
Carol Tavris and Elliott Aronson
Harcourt Trade
c/o Harcourt Books
215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003
9780156033909, $15.00 www.harcourtbooks.com

Why do people dodge responsibility when things fall apart, and why are there arguments revolving around who is 'right'? Years of research lends to a survey of how people avoid accepting responsibility, with chapters studying behaviors and limitations. Carol Tavris is a social psychologist and works with co-psychologist Elliott Aronson to produce a hard-hitting analysis in MISTAKES WERE MADE (BUT NOT BY ME): WHY WE JUSTIFY FOOLISH BELIEFS, BAD DECISIONS AND HURTFUL ACTS.

Healing Scripts
Marlene Hunter, M.D.
Crown House Publishing
PO Box 2223, Williston, VT 05495-2223
9781845900724, $39.95, www.CHPUS.com 1-877-925-1213

The use of hypnosis as a medical tool in the field of psychology and psychiatry predates Sigmund Freud. "Healing Scripts: Using Hypnosis To Treat Trauma And Stress" by Dr. Marlene Hunter (Certificant and Fellow of the College of Family Physicians of Canada) draws upon her more than thirty years experience working with highly dissociative patients. As a past president of the American Society of clinical hypnosis, she writes a particular expertise on the subject of utilizing hypnosis to clinically address acute stress disorders including pain in all of its forms, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (with sections on denial, hypervigilance and hyper-arousal), acute stress, sleep disorders, and dissociation disorders (including ego-strengthening and integration). Of note is the section focused on helping children suffering from acute stress and trauma. An impressively informative work, "Healing Scripts" is particularly recommended reading for students and practitioners of psychiatric medicine, and a core addition to professional and academic library Psychology, Psychiatry, and Medical Science instructional reference collections.

Marie-Louise von Franz: The Classic Jungian and The Classic Jungian Tradition
James A. Hall and Daryl Sharp, editors
Inner City Books
Box 1271, Station Q, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4T 2P4
9781894574235, $25.00 www.innercitybooks.net 1-416-927-0355

Marie-Louise von Franz: The Classic Jungian and The Classic Jungian Tradition gathers testimonies of and memories about Dr. Marie-Louise Von Franz (1915-1998), an expert in the psychological interpretation of dreams, alchemical texts, and fairy tales, who worked with C.G. Jung for nearly thirty years. Contributors include Thomas B. Kirsch, Anne Maguire, James A. Hall, Barbara Davies, and more. In addition to reflecting upon Von Franz's remarkable life and accomplishments, Marie-Louise von Franz: The Classical Jungian and The Classic Jungian Tradition also examines what, precisely is meant by the "classic Jungian tradition" that Dr. von Franz pursued (and added her own individual stamp to). A handful of black-and-white photographs illustrate this reflective text, especially recommended as a supplement to Jungian psychology collections.


The Cookbook Shelf

The Cape Malay Illustrated Cookbook
Faldela Williams
Struik Publishers
c/o International Publishers Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
9781770074057, $15.95, www.internationalpubmarket.com

There is a growing appreciation for authentic regional and ethnic cuisines prepared in American kitchens for the culinary adventurous. A very highly recommended addition to personal, professional, and community library multi-cultural cookbook collections is "The Cape Malay Illustrated Cookbook" featuring a series of recipes from Cape Malay's Muslim populace. Assembled by Faldela Williams from her exhaustive and intimate expertise with Malay cooking traditions and nicely illustrated with the watercolor artwork of Liz Mills, the thoroughly 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes are presented with metric measurements that can easily be converted to American measurements with included 'Conversion Tables'. These authentic and palate pleasing dishes range from Spicy Kebabs; Tuna Biryani; Tomato Bredie; and Masala Steak; to Orange Baked Pumpkin; Easy Pineapple Cheesecake; Cornflake Biscuits; and Aniseed Raisin Loaf. "The Cape Malay Illustrated Cookbook" is especially appropriate for anyone seeking menu selections for a Cape Malay themed dinner party -- and for extraordinary family dining.

Our Favorite Recipes
Lexi Petronis, editor
Rio Grande Books
925 Salamanca NW
Los Ranchos de ABQ, NM 87107-5647
9781890689377, $15.95, www.nmsantos.com

One of the most popular of the New Mexico regional publications is the 'Albuquerque' magazine. Housewives and homemakers particularly appreciated the recipes that were featured within its pages. Now Lexi Petronis (the magazine's editor-in-chief) has compiled a 96-page compendium of the best of those recipes and illustrated them with 142 color plates of the finished dishes and the chefs that prepared them. One especially nice feature is that each showcased recipe also features a miniature replica of the particular issue in which it appeared. The recipes themselves range from a Chipotle-Maple Marinated Pork Tenderloin; to a Child-Seared Salmon on Mango Salsa; to a Grilled Rosemary Chicken Breast Over Arugula with Roasted Red Peppers, Capers and Fresh Mozzarella; to a Betty Rancho Burger on French Bread. This impressive collection of gourmet quality, kitchen cook friendly, palate pleasing and appetite satisfying dishes would make an elegant and popular edition to any personal, professional, and community library cookbook collection!

The Vegetarian Revolution
Giorgio Cerquetti
Torchlight Publishing, Inc.
PO Box 52, Badger, CA 93603
1887089004, $14.95, www.torchlightpub.com

One does not have to consume the flesh of dead animals to enjoy delicious food. "The Vegetarian Revolution: Commentary and Cookbook" is a combination of essays on the subject of vegetarianism and veganism in modern society, enhanced with well over one hundred recipes from bestselling cookbooks and famous vegetarians. From Plato to Paul McCartney, and from Rice Salad to Vegan Quiche, "The Vegetarian Revolution" is a must for vegetarians and vegans. An excellent choice for community library cookbook collections.

The Miami Mediterranean Diet: Expanded Edition
Michael Ozner, MD
Benbella Books Inc.
6440 N. Central Expswy Suite 503, Dallas TX 75206
9781933771502, $24.95 www.benbellabooks.com

The expanded edition of MIAMI MEDITERRANEAN DIET comes from a noted cardiologist who argues for the virtue of the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle, updating the traditional Mediterranean diet for an audience interested in clinically proven strategies to thwart heart diseases. 300 recipes from soups to desserts show how to lose weight, maintain an active lifestyle, and more: any general-interest library whose patrons have shown enthusiasm for The Mediterranean Diet must have this expanded follow-up.

Belly Up to the Bar
J.S. Mitchell
Cumberland House Publishing
431 Harding Industrial Drive, Nashville, TN 37211
9781581826364, $14.95 www.cumberlandhouse.com

BELLY UP TO THE BAR: DINING WITH NEW YORK CITY'S CELEBRITY CHEFS WITHOUT RESERVATIONS is a guide to getting into the best Manhattan restaurants without reservations, and is a pick for any collection strong in New York travel guides. Each bar receives a 2-page description with all the information on ambiance to number of bar seats to people. From assessments of formality to etiquette and of course food quality, the book assesses only New York's best.

The Battle for Wine and Love or How I Saved the World from Parkerization
Alice Feiring
Harcourt Inc.
215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003
9780151012862, $23.00 www.harcourtbooks.com

Wine journalist Alice Feiring had a long affection for complicated wines – and was horrified when she discovered all kinds of wines were beginning to taste alike. Her search for originality in the wine world led her on a journey through ancient vineyards of France, Spain and more as she searched out old-fashioned wines and artisan winemaking over corporate production techniques. "The Battle for Wine and Love or How I Saved the World from Parkerization" is a fine blend of wine culture and travelogue, perfect for any library strong on wine appreciation.

Mr. Food's Quick & Easy Diabetic Cooking, 2nd Edition
Mr. Food & Nicole Johnson
American Diabetes Association
1701 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311
1580402712, $16.95 www.diabetes.org

When Mr. Food met with Nicole Johnson, Miss America of 1999 and an international diabetes advocate, a partnership was formed which created "Mr Food's Quick & Easy Diabetic Cooking", a useful diabetic and general health food cookbook. The updated second edition packs in over 150 recipes, hints for eating lighter as a lifestyle change, and portion sizes geared to aid in diabetes control and weight loss. Recipes are very easy, offer streamlined dishes based on pre-made foods as much as possible, and will appeal to any interested in modifying their cooking habits to accommodate diabetic needs.

The New England Clam Shack Cookbook
Brooke Dojny
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way, North Adams, MA 01247
9781603420266, $16.95 www.storey.com 1-800-827-8673

Now in a completely updated second edition featuring twenty new recipes, six new restaurants and three new recommended "clam-shack weekend itineraries" for making the most of New England dining, The New England Clam Shack Cookbook is far more than just a collection of recipes. Interspersed between the easy-to-follow instructions to make seafood delights from Lobster Stew to Old-Fashioned Salt Codfish Cakes to Creamy Cape Cod Clam Chowder are anecdotes, New England culinary trivia, quotable quotes, and much more. Illustrated with black-and-white and color images throughout, The New England Clam Shack Cookbook is as much fun for gourmands to page through as it is for seafood chefs of all skill and experience levels to cook from. Highly recommended for both personal and community library cookbook collections.

Our Founding Foods
Jane Tennant with S.G.B. Tennant, Jr.
Willow Creek Press
PO Box 147, Minocqua WI 54548
9781595435910, $16.95 www.willowcreekpress.com 1-800-850-9453

Our Founding Foods: Classics From the First Century of American Celebrity Cookbooks is a vintage collection of select recipes from eighteenth-century American cookbooks, from recipes collected by Martha Washington (America's first celebrity chef) to choices from Thomas Jefferson's cousin Mary Randolph (many of whose recipes are still used today) to the Thanksgiving traditional fare propagated by enterprising New Yorker Amelia Simmons. Collecting over 200 recipes out of the very best cookbooks created during the first 100 years of America's culinary history, Our Founding Foods is a much-deserved addition to American cookbook shelves.


The Art Shelf

Defining Landscape
Oh Chi Gyun
Hudson Hills Press
PO Box 205
3556 Main Street, Manchester, VT 05254
National Book Network (distributor)
4270 Boston Way, Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
9781934435045, $50.00 www.hudsonhills.com www.nbnbooks.com 1-800-462-6420

An artist trained in Seoul, Korea and in New York City, Oh Chi Gyun is best known to the art world for his Impressionist style of thickly textured landscape and streetscape paintings, using as his subject scenes of a Korean country village, the streets of new York City, or views from the American Southwest. Oh Chi Gyun's three decade career as an artist is now on view at the Chelsea Art Museum of New York and "Defining Landscapes", one of the newest titles from the premiere art book publishing firm of Hudson Hills Press, compiles more than 80 color plates showcasing the best of this artist's distinctive work. Enhanced with a brief but informative Foreword, a Chronology of the artists life, and succinct essays by Richard Vine, Phoebe Hoban; Raul Zamudio; Kim Boggi, and concluding with a List of Works, "Defining Landscape" is a welcome addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library 20th Century Art History collections.

The Dancer
Annette Dixon, et al.
Portland Art Museum
c/o University of Washington Press
PO Box 50096, Seattle, WA 98145-5096
9781883124274, $39.95, www.washington.edu/uwpress

From the ballet to the Can-Can, French dance studios, dance stages, and dancers have long been favored subjects for French artists in general, including such luminaries of brush and canvas as Degas, Forain, and Toulouse-Lautrec. In "The Dancer: Degas, Forain, and Toulouse-Lautrec", this specific theme as represented in 19th century avant-garde French art are explored by Annette Dixon, with the invaluable assistance and contributions of Mary Weaver Chapin, Jill Devonyar, Richard Kendall, and Florence Valdes-Forain. Enhanced with 269 full color illustrations and extended bibliography, "The Dancer" is a 256 page compendium of informed and informative commentary that will prove of immense interest to students of the works of these three great artists, as well as the subject they chose to interpret through art and sculpture. Simply stated, no academic, art department, or community library art history reference collection should be considered complete without the inclusion of "The Dancer".

Spirit of Drawing
Connie Smith Siegel
Watson-Guptill Publications
770 Broadway, New York NY 10003
0823032124, $24.95 www.watsonguptill.com

Blend meditation with drawing insights using a range of experiments and you have SPIRIT OF DRAWING, an exciting survey of drawing through touch, perception and meditative insight. From drawing inspiration from another's work to experimenting with perspective and movement, SPIRIT OF DRAWING packs in black and white examples, exercises, and insights blending meditative techniques with artistic sentiments.

Hudson Hills Press
Box 205, Manchester, VT 05254
www.hudsonhills.com

Francoise Siriex's THE HOUSE OF LELEU (1555952860, $160.00) provides an excellent selection of classic French styles from 1920-1973, pairing these classics with modern styles in a weighty volume perfect for college-level libraries strong in interior decoration and design. Nearly five hundred pages comes from the design and decoration firm Leleu and its powerful family, and gather the range of the firm's contributions to modern French style. Photos abound and pack a survey that examines its style and includes original drawings, images and essays by leading experts in their fields, and more. Industry pros will find it an invaluable, unprecedented contribution. EDMOND LACHENAL & HIS LEGACY (9780978837136, $95.00) considers the 19th and early 20th century French ceramics industry in light of one of its major contributors and is a specialty item any art library strong in ceramics history needs. It presents the work of Lachenal's career and includes pieces by his collaborators and students, as well as his family and assistant, and pairs scholarly essays and period photos with descriptions of his works.

Saints of the Pueblos
Charles M. Carrillo
LPD Press
925 Salamanca NW, Los Ranchos, NM 87107-5647
9781890689308, $22.95 www.nmsantos.com

Winner of the Twitchell History Award among other honors, Saints of the Pueblos is a wonderful testimony to the influence that the images of saints have upon Pueblo pottery traditions - a unique melding of Hispanic and Pueblo cultures. Each of the nineteen active pueblos is represented with a retablo as created by author Charlie Carrillo of its patron saint, in the style of the pueblo. Four additional, ancestral pueblos are also represented. The colorful imagery, interspersed with black-and-white photography and thoughtful text about the history of each pueblo and its art makes Saints of the Pueblos a distinguished, viscerally visual exploration of how Catholicism and Pueblo culture are inextricably interwoven. A welcome addition to Native American art studies shelves.

Spirit of the Wedge-Tailed Eagle
Penny Olsen, author
Humphrey Price-Jones, illustrator
CSRIO Publishing
c/o International Publishers Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
9780643094338, $43.00 www.internationalpubmarket.com 1-800-758-3756

Spirit of the Wedge-Tailed Eagle: The Art of Humphrey Price-Jones is a stunning, oversized hardcover art book showcasing the work of artist Humphrey Price-Jones' and features his lavish illustrations of the wedge-tailed eagle -- Australia's largest true eagle. Both black-and-white sketches and striking, incredibly detailed full-page color artworks fill this compilation which is worthy to stand side-by-side with the works of the master avian artist Audubon himself. The informed and informative text by author Penny Olson is filled with a wealth of fascinating facts about the wedge-tailed eagle. The result is a coffee table art book enthusiastically recommended as an unforgettable gift for bird lovers everywhere, as well as a welcome addition to academic and community library collections.

The Rublev Trinity
Gabriel Bunge
St. Vladimir's Seminary Press
575 Scarsdale Road, Yonkers, NY 10707
9780881413106, $27.00, www.svspress.com

One piece of art can mean so much to so many people. "The Rublev Trinity" is a look at a monk named Andrei Rublev. Around 1400 A.D., he painted his depiction of the holy trinity of Christianity, which has stayed in the minds of practicing Eastern Orthodox Christians for the following six centuries. With a scholarly history on iconographic traditions of the western world and the power of Rublev's painting all the way up to the modern day, "The Rublev Trinity" is highly recommended to anyone studying the strong connection that exists between art and religion.


The Sports Shelf

Walkoffs, Last Licks, and Final Outs
Bill Chuck and Jim Kaplan
ACTA Publications
5559 West Howard Street, Skokie, IL 60077
9780879463427, $14.95 www.actapublications.com 1-800-397-2282

Walkoffs, Last Licks, and Final Outs: Baseball's Grand (and not-so-grand) Finales is an amazing, year-by-year collection of baseball's greatest (and not-exactly-great) final acts. From the classic moment of Carlton Fisk's home run in the 1975 World Series, to the wince-inducing moment when Fred Merkle failed to touch second base, prompting a 1908 National League tiebreaker, Walkoffs, Last Licks, and Final Outs is a trivia repository of baseball finales throughout the last century. Including a comprehensive breakdown of every perfect game in major league baseball history, box scores and linescores for the greatest games ever played, black-and-white photographs, eulogies and career statistics for baseball players whose lives ended too soon, the heroic (and not so much) endings to Hall of Fame careers, and more, Walkoffs, Last Licks, and Final Outs is sure to delight any baseball trivia fan.


The American History Shelf

Jiffy: A Family Tradition
Cynthia Furlong Reynolds
University of Michigan Press
839 Greene Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104-3209
9780980232608, $24.95, www.press.umich.edu

The "Jiffy" brand is a familiar brand to every housewife in America. What began almost 80 years ago in the kitchen of Mabel Holmes as she set about creating a biscuit mix so easy that even 'a man could do it', grew into a multi-million dollar commercial enterprise based on America's first packaged and prepared baking mix. "Jiffy: A Family Tradition - Mixing Business and Old-Fashioned Values" is the story of this American success story, as well as how the Holmes family went on to survive two World Wars, the Great Depression, personal tragedies, and the rapidly changing food industry. All this while maintaining their private and public integrity while engaged in enormous marketplace competition with food industry giants. Superbly researched and written by journalist Cynthia Furlong Reynolds and an inherently fascinating read, "Jiffy: A Family Tradition" is an informed and informative history of an American family and an American company that could well serve as a real-life example and inspiration for the entrepreneurs of today -- and tomorrow!

Life of the Marlows
Robert K. DeArment, editor and annotator
William Rathmell, revisor
University of North Texas Press
PO Box 311336, Denton, TX 76203-1336
9781574412536, $14.95 www.tamu.edu/upress 1-800-826-8911

Life of the Marlows: A True Story of Frontier Life of Early Days is a true tale of the American West, now back in print and featuring expert annotation by historian Robert K. DeArment, chronicling the lives of the five Marlow brothers and their downfall in Young County, Texas. After one Marlow brother killed a well-liked sheriff and was subsequently slaughtered by bounty hunters, the other four brothers were arrested as accessories and jailed. When a mob of furious citizens ambushed the Marlows during a transfer to another town, two of the brothers were shot and killed, the other two were badly wounded, and three of the mob members died. The debacle would eventually inspire the classic John Wayne movie, "The Sons of Katie Elder". A riveting account of crime and law, love and hate, justice and injustice in the late 1800's, Life of the Marlows captivates the reader from first page to last and is a worthy addition to any western history collection.

The Founders' Second Amendment
Stephen P. Halbrook
Ivan R. Dee
1332 North Halsted Street, Chicago, IL 60622-2694
1566637929, $28.95 www.ivanrdee.com

THE FOUNDERS' SECOND AMENDMENT: ORIGINS OF THE RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS considers the history of the constitutional rights of Americans to bear arms in early America from 1768 to 1826, offering up the first book-length account of these origins based on the Founders' own statements from newspapers, debates, and legislative resolutions. The depth and detail added to source material quotes makes this a fine pick for both college and high school collections strong in American history and politics.

1758
William R. Nester
State University of New York Press (SUNY)
194 Washington Ave., Suite 305, Albany, NY 12210-2384
9780791473214, $65.50, www.sunypress.edu

The bloodiest battle in the entire French and Indian War. "1758: The Epic Battles for Ticonderoga" takes a look at the year of 1758 amidst the key battles in this conflict. An in-depth military history covering the conflicts throughout the year on both sides through the minds of their leaders and the blunders that led to that fateful day where almost an entire two thousand British men lost their lives or were injured. With a focus on British General James Abercromby and his unfortunate military blunder, it stays on the failed campaign that was a precursor to the return attempt where Britain finally claimed the land as its own. Enhanced with a bibliography, index, and other appendixes, "1758: The Epic Battles for Ticonderoga" is highly recommended to community library history collections.

Basins of Silver
Eric Twitty
Western Reflections Publishing Company
PO Box 1149, Lake City, CO 81235
9781932738445, $32.95 www.westernreflectionspub.com 970-994-0110

Basins of Silver: The Story of Silverton, Colorado's Las Animas Mining District is a detailed and methodical yet thoroughly accessible history of one of Colorado's richest and longest-worked mining areas, one of the first places in which the economies of scale in mining and milling low-grade ore were practiced and refined. The resulting techniques would forever transform the mining industry. Meticulously distinguishing history from folklore, Basins of Silver covers booms and busts, from The Great Silver Crash of 1983 to the demand surge caused by World War I to the devastating impact of the Great Depression and the end to Silverton's mining era. A handful of black-and-white photographs illustrate this thoughtful, balanced, and extensive account. A welcome addition to Colorado state history shelves.


The Philosophy Shelf

What Is Philosophy? An Introduction
Alistair J. Sinclair
Dunedin
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 Northeast 58th Avenue, Suite 300, Portland, OR 97213
9781903765944, $28.95 www.isbs.com 1-800-944-6190

What Is Philosophy? An Introduction is a serious-minded yet accessible text for readers of all backgrounds, about the origins and history of the mental discipline of philosophy, from the early Greek and classical Greek era to medieval times to the seventeenth, eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth centuries. Further chapters explore the core and peripheral subjects discussed by philosophy, twentieth-century philosophical movements, and well-known philosophical problems revolving about such fundamental issues as free will, time, truth, facts and values, personal identity, and more. A thoughtful, exhaustively researched, and well-grounded primer, What Is Philosophy? An Introduction lives up to its title - a more difficult task than one might first guess, considering the complexities of the subject. Highly recommended, especially for public and college libraries, and as a textbook for Philosophy 101 courses. "Nietzsche wrongly thought that when the authority of religion is overthrown, a nihilistic view is inevitable, namely, that the world is valueless, purposeless and amounts to nothing... Nietzsche failed to appreciate that truth is a process and not an end in itself. We are responsible for creating our own values and finding our own meaning in life. Religion is just one way of doing this and has become inadequate for our present purposes. Presumably, his theory of eternal recurrence prevented him from thinking of cultural change and improvement since, in his view, everything comes back to the same thing in the end."

The Infinite In Act
Ion G. Soteropoulos
Apeiron Centre
PO Box 4726, Portsmouth, NH 03802
Science Publisher (publicity)
234 May Street, PO Box 699, Enfield, NH 03748
9781931807623, $25.00, www.enfieldbooks.com

The Universe is a complicated place. "The Infinite in Act: A Treatise on the Founding Principle of the Physical Body Endowed with Continuous Motion" is Ion Soteropoulos's attempt to explain it as a whole. Tackling such concepts as the theory of motion, the relativity of good and evil, the nature of science, and knowledge itself, it's an advanced read for those who think deeply about our world and what surrounds it." The Infinite in Act" should be a consideration for all those who ponder the nature of the universe.


The Nautical Shelf

Bonnie Dahl's Superior Way
Bonnie Dahl
Lake Superior Port Cities
PO Box 16417, Duluth, MN 55816-0417
9780942235920, $49.95, www.lakesuperior.com

Now in a completely revised and newly updated edition, "Bonnie Dahl's Superior Way" is a complete and comprehensive guide to sailing on Lake Superior and enjoying all it has to offer. Packed with everything one needs to know about boating on the lakes, "Bonnie Dahl's Superior Way" features over 300 diagrams to help sailors, 350 GPS waypoints, marina and anchorage information, additional advice for the Sault Ste. Marie and St. Mary's rivers, and more. Spiral-bound especially for readability at the helm of a ship, "Bonnie Dahl's Superior Way" is a must for boaters of all skill and experience levels.

Weather Wise
Alan Watts
Sheridan House
145 Palisade Street, Dobbs Ferry, New York, 10522
9781574092660, $22.95, www.sheridanhouse.com

"Weather Wise: Reading Weather Signs" is a excellently crafted introduction to the world of meteorology, explaining in plain terms how the world's atmosphere works, in each of its regions. Filled with practical advice for novice meteorologists who want to better understand the sky above, "Weather Wise" is essential for any outdoor lover whose hobby depends on the condition of the skies, but most particularly anyone sailing the upon the rivers, lakes, seas, and oceans of the world. Highly recommended for personal, professional, and community library instructional reference collections.

Understanding Boat Plumbing And Water Systems
John C. Payne
Sheridan House Inc.
145 Palisade Street, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
9781574092639, $14.95, www.sheridanhouse.com, 1-888-743-7425

Every owner of a sailing ship or yacht needs to understand the sanitation and water systems that are an integral part of their craft. John C. Payne is an internationally recognized expert in marine electrical systems and electronics who brings to bear his many years of experience and expertise to the technical issues as he addresses the specific issues of marine plumbing systems, fresh water systems, hot water systems, galley plumbing systems, watermaker systems, salt water systems, bilge pump systems, shower (gray) water systems, sewage (black) water and MSD systems. The result is the comprehensive and thoroughly 'user friendly' instructional compendium "Understanding Boat Plumbing And Water Systems" as an concise, compact, and fully illustrated shipboard reference. Also very highly recommended for personal, professional, academic, and library Nautical Reference collections and supplemental reading lists is John C. Payne's "Understanding Boat AC Power Systems" (9781574092622, $14.95, Sheridan House).


The Environmental Studies Shelf

The Climate Diet
Jonathan Harrington
Earthscan
22883 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 21066-2012
9781844075331, $15.95, www.earthscan.co.uk

Sometimes people go on a diet to better themselves. Could the same be said of our climate? "The Climate Diet: How You Can Cut Carbon, Cut Costs, and Save the Planet" is a guide for humanity as a whole to cut back, so that the world can do the same. Emphasizing that the key purpose to saving the planet is curtail the excesses that too many individuals have been accustomed to, and claiming that a healthier self can lead to a healthier planet, "The Climate Diet" is a solid choice for anyone concerned about the environment.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

Timeless Wisdom
Eknath Easwaran
Nilgiri Press
PO Box 256, Tomales, CA 94971
9781586380274, $14.95, www.easwaran.org

The majority of religions have a positive message for their followers. "Timeless Wisdom: Passages for Meditation form the World's Saints and Sages" is an extensive anthology of inspirational religious passages and writings from the world's leading spiritual leaders throughout history. A compilation meant to be enjoyed by readers of all religious and spiritual backgrounds, "Timeless Wisdom" is a must for anyone literally in search of sage advice.

An Introduction to Islam for Jews
Reuven Firestone
Jewish Publication Society
PO Box 960 Herndon, VA 20172-0960
9780827608641, $18.00, www.jewishpub.org

The relationship of Islam and Judaism has long been a turbulent one. "An Introduction to Islam for Jews" is a scholarly examination of the Islamic faith and how it relates to the Jewish people. Examining Islam and Muslims as a whole, "An Introduction to Islam for Jews" spans the history of Islam from its origins to recent calls for Jihad from extremists. Despite its title, "An Introduction to Islam for Jews" is not exclusively for Jews, but rather a recommended pick for readers of all faiths who seek to better understand Islam.

The Dark Side of the Supernatural
Bill Myers & Dave Wimbish
Zondervan
5300 Patterson Avenue SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530
B&B Media Group
109 South Main Street, Corsicana, TX 75110
9780310279242, $12.99, www.zondervan.com

All myths and legends have some basis in a true story. "The Dark Side of the Supernatural: What Is of God and What Isn't" is a look at common stories and mythology to research what is real in the world and what is not. Topic by topic, the book tackles subjects such as Witchcraft, Vampirism, Satanic Possession, Reincarnation, and much more in this eye opening look at what most deem as simply fodder for science fiction and fantasy. "The Dark Side of the Supernatural" is highly recommended for anyone with an interest in these types of phenomena and wants to know their place in reality.


The Computer Shelf

Picture Yourself Learning Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac
David W. Boles
Course Technology
25 Thomson Place, Boston, MA 02210
1598635158, $29.99 www.courseptr.com

Whether you are new to using the Office suite on a Mac or just want to understand the nuances of the Mac environment, LEARNING MICROSOFT OFFICE 2008 FOR MAC packs in the basics of applications, offering step-by step color images which walk users through the basics of all applications. From customizing the suite to utilizing Excel and Powerpoint, all the basics are covered in a fine color pictorial approach. Any basic library catering to Mac users needs this.

Groovy Recipes: Greasing the Wheels of Java
Scott Davis
Pragmatic Programming
P.O. Box 293325, Lewisville, TX 75029-3325
9780978739294, $34.95 www.pragprog.com

Libraries strong in advanced Java programmer's guides will relish GROOVY RECIPES, for the seasoned but busy Java professional seeking quick, tested solutions to everyday problems. The Groovy language and Grails web framework fit perfectly with Java coding objectives, with each recipe blending a code example with an in-depth explanation to make the most of the Groovy environment. Any library strong in Java programmer guides needs this excellent quick-start reference.

The Ultimate CSS Reference
Tommy Olsson and Paul O'Brien
Sitepoint
58 Cambridge Street, Collingwood, Vic Australia 3066
9780980285857, $44.95 www.sitepoint.com

Any computer collection catering to programmers and covering CSS will find "The Ultimate CSS Refrence" to be the definitive work for mastering CSS, the building block of nearly every web site today. Written by two of the world's most renowned CSS experts, "The Ultimate CSS Reference" features extensive tips, facts, and detail. A perfect for college-level or advanced computer libraries.

My New Mac
Wallace Wang
No Starch Press
555 De Haro Street, Suite 250, San Francisco, CA 94107
9781593271640, $29.95, www.nostarch.com

The major alternative to PCs with the Windows OS is the Macintosh. "My New Mac" is a complete and comprehensive guide for anyone who wants to do everything they did on a Windows machine and more, using the popular alternative. With countless tips on organization, internet browsing, media creation and archiving, security and more, "My New Mac" is the ideal starter's manual, and even has a few tips veterans will find handy. Highly recommended for community library computer collections.

Murach's ASP.NET 3.5
Anne Boehm
Murach
4340 N. Knoll, Fresno, CA 93722
9781890774479, $52.50, www.murach.com

An innovative and exciting website is a great way to attract customers. "Murach's ASP.NET 3.5: Web Programming with VB 2008" is a highly complete and comprehensive training and reference guide to those seeking to have total mastery over the program to better assist their company. It covers how to create one's own program from scratch using Visual Basic 2008 and using ASP.NET features to enhance one's own programs and how to do it professionally. Enhanced with an index and appendixes which cover the changes Windows Vista brought to the to field, "Murach's ASP.NET 3.5" is a must for community library computer collections.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

Festival of Lights
Penny Harow
Urim Publications
c/o Lambda Publishers
3709 13th Avenue Brooklyn, New York, 11218
9789655240092, $24.95, www.urimpublications.com

The Festival of Lights is an annual Jewish community celebrating Chanukah. "Festival of Lights: A Delightful Collection of Handmade Chanukiot" is a collection of images depicting dozens of creative methods for celebrating this tradition with unique lights, from action figures to pool balls fashioned into candles. A wonderful look at creative ways to cherish the holiday, "Festival of Lights" is a must-have for any celebrator who wants to do something different.

Jews in Nevada: A History
John P. Marschall
University of Nevada Press
Mail Stop 0166, Reno, NV, 89557-0166
9780874177374, $34.95 www.unpress.nevada.edu 1-877-682-6657

John P. Marschall (Emeritus Professor of History, University of Nevada, Reno) presents Jews in Nevada: A History, a scholarly volume that indubitably lives up to its title. Chapters cover 1850 to the modern day, evaluating the history of Nevada's Jews more or less chronologically; especial interest is paid to "Antisemitism in the Twentieth Century" and "Civil Rights and Uncommon Causes". "Nevada has a chance to shape a revival of Jewish culture and religion in the West at a time when prophets of doom point only to national decline. Las Vegas's recent growth and expansion of a Jewish infrastructure and its ability to exert a supportive influence to northern Nevada will be the tipping points of success or failure. Proponents of a more robust Jewry in Nevada may be comforted or perplexed knowing that Las Vegas once had a Jewish major who prayed as well as he cursed and who, on the feast of purim, may not have known the difference between the villain Haman and Mordechai the hero." A welcome addition to Judaic studies shelves, as well as Nevada state history shelves.

Modern Jews Engage the New Testament
Michael J. Cook
Jewish Lights Publishing
PO Box 237, Sunset Farm Offices, Rt. 4, Woodstock, VT 05091
9781580233132, $29.99, www.jewishlights.com

The Jewish and Christian faiths share a common origin, and have been bound closely through the ages. "Modern Jews Engage the New Testament: Enhancing Jewish Well-Being in a Christian Environment" shows how several rabbis and other Jewish leaders view the Holy Bible's New Testament. Touching on New Testament topics that are critically important to the Jewish people, such as how Jewish traditions are entwined within Christianity, and how the New Testament regards the Jewish people, "Modern Jews Engage the New Testament" is a thoroughly accessible work of scholarship. "Modern Jews Engage the New Testament" is highly recommended for anyone interested in a look at the New Testament from another perspective.

Rabbi, Mystic Leader: The Life and Times of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson
Merkos Publications
291 Kingston Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11213
9780826600974, $22.95,www.kehot.com

Everyone is equal if Communism was to be done by the book. But Russian Jews had no such hope in the Soviet Union under the Lenin, Stalin, and their successors. "Rabbi, Mystic, Leader: The Life and Times of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson" is a look at one of the leading Russian Rabis during the time of the Communist rule who risked his own life to keep his faith alive in his home country. A compelling biography of a man who truly lived for his faith, "Rabbi, Mystic, Leader" is a tale of adversity and the human spirit that will inspire many Jews everywhere, (and most especially those who hail from Russia), to love and sacrifice for their faith wherever they may abide and under whatever regimes they must live.

Bubbe Meises
Ronald H. Isaacs
KTAV
930 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07306
9781602800328, $19.95, www.ktav.com

Jewish stereotypes are almost as old as Judaism itself. "Bubbe Meises: Jewish Myths, Jewish Realities" is an examination of many of these myths and stereotypes. Written by Ronald H. Isaacs, a rabbi with over three decades of experience, "Bubble Meises" covers range of subjects including Jewish traditions, Jewish sayings, and mis-beliefs about Judaism. Highly recommended for anyone seeking to more completely understand the Jewish people, "Bubbe Meises" is a welcome addition to community library Judaic studies collections.

Jewish Sacred Music & Jewish Identity
Jonathan L. Friedmann & Brad Stetson, editors
Paragon House
1925 Oakcrest Avenue, Suite 7, St. Paul, MN 55113-2619
9781557788726, $19.95, www.paragonhouse.com

A culture's music is its theme song of identity. "Jewish Sacred Music & Jewish Identity: Continuity and Fragmentation" is a deftly insightful examination of traditional Jewish music with its respects to religion and how it has changed over the years with the assimilation of the cultures around them. Also with a focus on one of the greatest minds in Jewish music Cantor William Sharlin and his place in the history of it, the book is a deft look at the genre as a whole. "Jewish Sacred Music & Jewish Identity" is a must for anyone who wants to more closely examine the relationship between culture, religion, and its music.

Army Fatigues
Mark Werner
Devora Publishing
9781934440087, $21.95, www.devorapublishing.com

A member of a successful law firm in America, Mark Werner felt an obligation to come to the aid of an Israel beset by hostile neighbors. "Army Fatigues: Joining Israel's Army of International Volunteers" is Mark Werner's passionate memoir of his time volunteering in Israel's army, despite his prosperity in America. Enraged by the second Palestinian Intifada, he volunteered. He speaks on why some people give their time and risk their lives for this as well as reflecting on his time. "Army Fatigues" is a compelling read about one man's decision to sacrifice a comfortable life in service to the Jewish nation.


The Judicial Studies Shelf

Courtroom Modifications for Child Witnesses
Susan R. Hall & Bruce D. Sales
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002
9781433803543, $79.95, www.apa.org

The bravery to confront one's tormentor is not an innate quality of many children. "Courtroom Modifications for Child Witnesses: Law & Science in Forensic Evaluations" states that children require special treatment when being used as witnesses in the court of law, especially in cases of child abuse and neglect. Several mental health and legal experts speak out on what must be done to help a child confront their nightmares; "Courtroom Modifications for Child Witnesses" gives advice on how to deal with a child's trauma, distress, and common disorders, as well as giving suggestions for alleviating the simple fears that all children face. "Courtroom Modifications for Child Witnesses" is a must-have for anyone who has to deal with a child in a courtroom situation, especially recommended for college library law and psychology collections.

The Law of Nations
Emer De Vattel
Liberty Fund, Inc.
8335 Allison Pointe Trail, Suite 300, Indianapolis, IN 46250-1684
9780865974517, $12.00, www.libertyfund.org

What makes up the basis of what's called an honorable practice in today's world? "The Law of Nations" is a new and updated edition of Emer De Vattel's classic writing from over two hundred years ago. Despite its age, its wisdom holds true even today, touching on how nations ought to act when dealing with one another in order to promote peace and prosperity. Enhanced with an index and many informative appendixes, "The Law of Nations" is a top pick for anyone who would educate themselves with this international judicial studies classic from the Enlightenment period.


The Education Shelf

The ABCs of Learning Disabilities
Bernice Y. L. Wong & Collaborators
Academic Press
c/o Elsevier Academic Press
525 B Street, Suite 1900, San Diego, CA 92101-4495
9780123725530, $59.95, www.books.elsevier.com

Packed with brand new material in this updated and expanded second edition, "The ABCs of Learning Disabilities" is now available in a second edition that improves upon the first in every way. Covering the history of disabilities by academic subject, the new edition sports an informative introduction to learning disabilities, how to diagnose them in students, a new chapter on self-regulation, and much more. "The ABCs of Learning Disabilities" is a must for every educational professional who and wants to educate learning disabled students in the most efficient and effective way possible.

Peer Buddy Programs
Carolyn Hughes & Erik W. Carter
Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co.
PO Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
9781557669803, $29.95, www.brookespublishing.com

No one really wants to be a loner. "Peer Buddy Programs for Successful Secondary School Inclusion" is a guide for educators trying to blend special education and normal education classes, and to encourage peer relationships between students of both. Chapters cover how to set up peer buddy programs, the roles of those involved in these programs, procedures for these groups, and encouraging social inclusion outside of the program, as well as other valuable advice and tips. "Peer Buddy Programs for Successful Secondary School Inclusion" is a strong choice for any secondary school administrator.

Teaching Math to People with Down Syndrome
DeAnna Horstmeier
Woodbine House
6510 Bells Mill Rd., Bethesda, MD 20817
9781890627669, $24.95, www.woodbinehouse.com

The mark of an excellent educator is to be able to teach students the subject, regardless of any learning disabilities. "Teaching Math to People with Down Syndrome and Other Hands-On Learners: Advanced Survival Skills" is book two in a series meant to help educators deal with differently abled students and teach them what they need to know to deal with the world. Book two focuses on advanced topics such as multiplication, fractions, decimals, percentages, and other vital math skills. "Teaching Math to People with Down Syndrome" is an absolutely indispensable book on the subject.

Are You Listening?
Lisa Burman
Redleaf Press
10 Yorkton Court, St. Paul, MN 55117
9781933653464, $27.95, www.redleafpress.org

Conversation is a powerful tool; young children first learn to speak from listening to the conversations of their parents. "Are You Listening? Fostering Conversations That Help Young Children Learn" examines the art of conversation in the avenue of children's education. Packed with information concerning how to listen to one's children, how to converse about subjects that will interest one's child, and other techniques to foster a children's skills in both listening and speaking, "Are You Listening?" is a expertly crafted manual. A great resource especially recommended for parents and educators of small children.

More Math Logic Mysteries
Marilynn L. Rapp Buxton
Prufrock Press
PO Box 8813, Waco, TX 76714-8813
9781593633134, $16.95, www.prufrock.com

The best way to encourage learning is to entertain as one educates. "More Math Logic Mysteries: Mathematical Problem Solving with Deductive Reasoning" is a guide for educators who want to inspire their students to learn through real-world influenced logic puzzles. Covering countless essential math skills for students, from basic operations to fractions to algebra, "More Math Logic Mysteries" is a great guide for teachers who want to make learning fun for their students. An essential addition to any library catering to arithmetic teachers.

Compass Constructions
Christopher M. Freeman
Prufrock Press
5926 Balcones Dr. Ste. 220, Austin, TX 78731
9781593633165, $17.95, www.prufrock.com

Geometry doesn't have to be all about complex formulas that will bore students to sleep. "Compass Constructions: Activities for Using a Compass and Straightedge" is a guide that shows educators how to teach students to use these tools in the subject of geometry. Packed with countless tips on supplementing the curriculum for advanced students in grades 5 to 8, "Compass Constructions" is an ideal read for any primary or secondary school math teacher. "Compass Constructions: Activities for Using a Compass and Straightedge" is highly recommended to community library mathematics collections.

Encountering Faith in the Classroom
Miriam Rosalyn Diamond
Stylus Publishing
22883 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166
9781579222376, $24.95, www.styluspub.com

Religion is a touchy subject – one wrong word can imply a deep, personal insult to someone one merely intended to have an intellectual discussion with. "Encountering Faith in the Classroom: Turning Difficult Discussions into Constructive Engagement" is a deftly written look at how to handle discussions in a classroom – a setting unlikely to have students who are all of one faith. Focusing on changing religion from a controversial matter to an enlightening one for all involved, "Encountering Faith in the Classroom: Turning Difficult Discussions into Constructive Engagement" is a seminal pick for any educator who deals with religion on a common basis, and for community library education collections.

I'd Rather Teach Peace
Colman McCarthy
Orbis Books
PO Box 308, Maryknoll, NY 10545
9781570757624, $16.00 www.orbisbooks.com

When Washington Post columnist Colman McCarthy was invited to teach a course on writing at an impoverished public school in Washington DC, he responded that he'd 'rather teach peace' – and thus he began a new career, teaching courses on nonviolence and conflict management to a range of schools. "I'd Rather Teach Peace" details one semester in six of these schools, and is an excellent pick for educators seeking insights on teaching peace within the education curriculum.

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

Jill C. Dardig's INVOLVING PARENTS OF STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS (9781412951203, $25.95) offers 25 strategies for engaging parents, addressing such interactions to teachers of PreK-12 and showing how to do everything from use email, letters or phone to provide parents with effective communication paths to helping parents teach kids at home and understanding typical school/home conflicts. The samples of such communications form a particularly valuable bridge to understanding. Shira Lubliner and Judith A. Scott's NOURISHING VOCABULARY: BALANCING WORDS AND LEARNING (9781412942461, $35.95) shows how to support student academic prowess with targeted vocabulary instruction. From acquiring language and independent reading to decoding words and helping students understand different language patterns in their world, NOURISHING VOCABULARY offers a strategy for success. Carolyn Chapman and Rita King's DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTIONAL MANAGEMENT: WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER (9781412925013, $32.95) tells how teachers can create a more positive classroom environment, offering a blend of strategies and guidelines for planning and managing classrooms for all kinds of learners. From flexible grouping to different kinds of assessment tools, DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTIONAL MANAGEMENT packs in tips on learning styles and student needs. The second updated edition of INCLUSION: AN ESSENTIAL GUIDE FOR THE PARAPROFESSIONAL by Peggy Hammeken (1890455342, $35.95) provides paraprofessionals with a range of tools for inclusion settings. 80 pages of updated, revised and new information provides details on classroom instruction and offers up ideas on instructional modifications, with reproducible forms to help with communication, rules, organization and more. Barry W. Sweeny's LEADING THE TEACHER INDUCTION AND MENTORING PROGRAM, 2ND EDITION (9781412944618, $37.95) is written for the leaders of teacher and mentor development, and comes from a nationally known mentoring expert who offers guidance to strategies that allow leaders to support mentors and novices. Step-by-step directions for program development and sample schedules and reproducible forms make for a fine survey extensively revised to include the latest research. Eugene F. Provenzo, Jr., Dan W. Butin and Anthony Angelini's 100 EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING ACTIVITIES FOR SOCIAL STUDIES, LITERATURE, AND THE ARTS GRADES 5-12 (9781412940009) focuses on using active learning to encourage critical thinking skills. Primary sources blend with arguments for integrating new learning with past knowledge in a survey of 100 cross-disciplinary activities. Larry J. Koenig's SMART DISCIPLINE FOR THE CLASSROOM: RESPECT AND COOPERATION RESTORED, 4TH EDITION (9781412954051) provides a collection of strategies – over sixty – for increasing respect and cooperation in the classroom. From intervention methods for common problems to special techniques used with students with ADHD, SMART DISCIPLINE FOR THE CLASSROOM is packed with specific techniques teachers will appreciate. Susan E. Israel's EARLY READING FIRST AND BEYOND: A GUIDE TO BUILDING EARLY LITERACY SKILLS (9781412951029) helps early childhood educators develop readiness for kindergarten, showing how to create rich learning environments and using a range of techniques, from school-parent partnerships to phonological awareness methods – to foster early reading skills. Donna walker Tileston and Sandra K. Darling's TEACHING STRATEGIES THAT PREPARE STUDENTS FOR HIGH-STAKES TESTS (9781412949767, $28.95) tells how to improve student performance on standardized tests, and comes from the results of over 30,000 studies of best practices linked to declarative and procedural knowledge, ranked on such tests. From understanding how tests apply to grade levels to identifying their key elements, this is perfect for any educator teaching students testing skills. Steve Reifman's 8 ESSENTIALS FOR EMPOWERED TEACHING & LEARNING, K-8 (9781412954426, $30.95) comes from an experienced teacher who explains what makes a quality classroom, how to measure its effectiveness, and how to promote student motivation and higher-level functions. Classroom applications, reproducible pages and more use tested 'best' ideas. Nicole Saginor's DIAGNOSTIC CLASSROOM OBSERVATION: MOVING BEYOND BEST PRACTICE (9781412955140, $33.95, hardcover: 9781412955133, $70.95) helps instructors in the entire supervision process and has been developed in collaboration with NWREL and the Vermont Institutes. This DCO model covers analysis, lesson planning and implementation, and classroom culture alike, offering forms and exercises to teachers to streamline the process. Principals and teachers alike will find it a tested classroom observation system that works. Garth Sundem, Jan Krieger and Kristi Pikiewicz's 10 LANGUAGES YOU'LL NEED MOST IN THE CLASSROOM: A GUIDE TO COMMUNICATING WITH ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS AND THEIR FAMILIES (9781412937825, $38.95) is a 'must' for any teacher working with multi-lingual students in grades K-12. From discussions of traditions and religions in the family and classroom to guides to common words and phrases in a student's native language, reproducible picture dictionaries, sample parent letters with translations and more, this helps break down classroom language barriers for ELL teachers at all levels. Susan E. Israel's EARLY READING FIRST AND BEYOND (9781412951029, $29.95) covers phonological and print awareness, written and oral language development showing how to use learning paths to create rich learning environments with activities to stimulate kids. Proven practices, assessments and guidelines for individual student learning make up an invaluable workbook. The fourth edition of Larry J. Koenig's SMART DISCIPLINE FOR THE CLASSROOM: RESPECT AND COOPERATION RESTORED (9781412954051, $27.95) tells how to develop a proactive discipline plan with a collection of strategies that motivate students to learn. Over 65 such strategies accompany discussions of prevention, intervention, and handling special student needs. Glenda Beamon Crawford's DIFFERENTIATION FOR THE ADOLESCENT LEARNER: ACCOMMODATING BRAIN DEVELOPMENT, LANGUAGE, LITERACY, AND SPECIAL NEEDS (9781412940535, $70.95) offers teachers discussions of adolescent learning methods, teaching adaptations, and differentiated learning environments at the adolescent level. Chapters blend the latest research on brain development with tips on special needs and strategies geared specifically towards adolescents. Carolyn Orange's 2nd updated edition of 25 BIGGEST MISTAKES TEACHERS MAKE AND HOW TO AVOID THEM (9781412957887, $33.95) offers a blend of case history and analysis to teach educators how to find better ways to address unsatisfactory classroom situations. From teacher-student relations and building classroom policy to adjusting teaching behavior and modifying student responses, teachers will find this an important tool for change. Rich Allen's GREEN LIGHT CLASSROOMS: TEACHING TECHNIQUES THAT ACCELERATE LEARNING (9781412956109, $31.95) uses brain-based research and studies to provide sample lesson plans pairing learning routines with innovative teaching techniques. Descriptions and analogies of assessments of key principles of basic teaching. Margaret M. Thombs, Maureen M. Gillis and Alan S. Canestrari's USING WEBQUESTS IN THE SOCIAL STUDIES CLASSROOM (9781412959513, $28.95) offers practical strategies for using WebQuests: inquiry-oriented, collaborative student activities based on web analysis and research. Chapters pair stories of use with guidelines and tips for developing education WebQuests. Eric Jensen's BRAIN-BASED LEARNING: THE NEW PARADIGM OF TEACHING, 2ND EDITION (9781412962568, $35.95) uses research from neurosicence, biology and psychology and comes from a brain expert who provides an easy connection between learning methods and the brain. From decision making based on brain research to low-cost teaching strategies and easily-followed chapter outlines, teachers and administrators will find it an excellent pick. Page Keeley's SCIENCE FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT: 75 PRACTICAL STRATEGIES FOR LINKING ASSESSMENT, INSTRUCTION, AND LEARNING (9781412941808) provides teachers in grades K-12 with flexible assessments which can be used with any science curriculum, including descriptions of how each technique enhances learning, modifications for instructional needs, tips on using each technique, and more. All will appeal to any educator's library.

Making Links
Janet Gonzalez-Mena
Teachers College Press
Teachers College, Columbia University, 1234 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027
9780807748435, $35.95, www.tcpress.com

Life experience counts more than anything. "Making Links: A Collaborative Approach to Planning and Practice in Early Childhood Programs" is a guide for educators who want to make sure children five years of age and younger get the most thorough and complete life experience possible, as much as they can in a classroom setting. With advice on learning about a child's specific culture, and how to be understanding if the child's culture is alien to the educator, "Making Links" is a tolerant guide to helping those who may need a little help to get by. Enhanced with an index and references, "Making Links" is a must for educators who want their questions about teaching young children the best way possible answered in a scholarly manner.

Teaching Your First College Class
Carolyn Lieberg
Stylus Publishing
22883 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166-2102
9781579222260, $24.95, www.styluspub.com

Teaching a college class is different from any other teaching situation. "Teaching Your First College Class: A Practical Guide for New Faculty and Graduate Student Instructors" is a guide for fresh professors on how to effectively teach in a college classroom. With proven strategies that work to maintain control and deliver the best educational experience possible, "Teaching Your First College Class" tackles all of the essentials: time management, grading, setting rules with the students, discipline, and more. A great pick for any college educator who is just getting started, and highly recommended for college library education collections.

How to Read Texts
Neil McCaw
Continuum
4775 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg, PA 17112
9780826492883, $19.95, www.continuumbooks.com

The thousand page textbooks that lie ahead of students are always intimidating. "How to Read Texts: A Student Guide to Critical Approaches and Skills" tells students how to face these daunting behemoth tomes that are handed to them at the start of every semester. The advice laid out within in a form that is not a massive book in itself is designed to help prepare students for the mounds of education that lies before them. Critical theory, history and context, relationships between reader and author, and many more subjects are touched upon. With a solid set of appendixes and an index, "How to Read Texts" is enthusiastically recommended for those facing a tough pile of books in their future.

Attainment's Teaching to Standards Math
Katherine Trela, Bree Jimenez, and Diane Browder
Attainment Company Inc.
PO Box 930160, Verona, WI 53593-0160
1578616395, $199.00 (complete kit), www.AttainmentCompany.com 1-800-327-4269

The implementation guide of "Attainment's Teaching to Standards Math" is a spiral-bound resource created especially for mathematics teachers of geometry, algebra, data analysis, and measurement. The suggested lessons are ideal for use in classrooms of students age twelve to twenty-one, and include comprehensive breakdowns of each unit with recommended lessons, dissected story problems suitable for use in a teaching lecture (and how to break them down so that students better grasp their examples), and much more. An accompanying CD-ROM has copies of PDF files useful to educators drawing from these lesson plans and selections. Reproducible problem statements, assessment forms, and "concept maps" that vividly illustrate key ideas and more enhance this top-quality, professional guide created by expert educators. Highly recommended. The complete Introductory Kit from publisher Attainment Company also includes an accompanying staff training DVD, 11 graphic posters, counting manipulatives, and a student book.


The Science Shelf

Astronomy and Astrophysics
A.B. Bhattacharya, S. Joardar and R. Bhattacharya
Infinity Science Press
11 Leavitt Street, Hingham, MA 02043
9781934015056, $69.95 www.infinitysciencepress.com

A CD of third-party simulations including NASA figures and all the figures from the book is included with ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS, a survey of the genre that includes new developments in radio astronomy and recent data from Hubble. From discussions of astronomy from radio and optical perspectives to details of instruments and measurement techniques, Astronomy and Astrophysics is a pick for any college-level physics and astronomy library.

Flying Saucers and Science
Stanton T. Friedman, Msc.
New Page Books
Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
9781601630117, $16.99 www.newpagebooks.com

Nuclear physicist and lecturer Stanton Friedman packs in over 40 years of research on UFOs and advanced nuclear and space systems to survey data from a variety of large-scale scientific UFO studies in Flying Saucers and Science, bringing these studies to lay readers in plain terms. While this is more a science book than a new age title, public libraries strong in new age holdings will likely purchase it more readily than serious science libraries. It's the general-interest reader who will likely benefit most from the study.

Notes on Acoustics
Uno Ingard
Infinity Science Press
11 Leavitt Street, Hingham, MA 02043
9781934015087, $69.95 www.infinitysciencepress.com

College-level libraries strong in audio and acoustics engineering will find NOTES ON ACOUSTICS will appeal to readers at the undergraduate as well as the graduate level. Problem-solving focus and chapters which offers invaluable previously unpublished material on the topic of acoustic science provide introductions, explanations of oscillations, sound waves, transmission and more, and plenty of real-world examples and problem-solving insights. An outstanding, in-depth survey.

Soil Science Simplified
Neal S. Eash & Collaborators
Blackwell Publishing
2121 State Avenue, Ames, IA, 50014
Wiley Publishers (publicity)
350 Main St., Malden, MA 02148
9780813818238, $60.00, www.blackwellprofessional.com

Soil has more uses than just feeding the world (although that is extremely important too). "Soil Science Simplified" is now in a fifth edition that covers this rapidly changing field about furthering the non-agricultural uses of soil in sciences such as engineering. Covering every detail and use for the soil completely and comprehensively, "Soil Science Simplified" is the most user friendly and thorough guide on the subject, as it has been for nearly three decades now. A must for anyone in the field, and highly recommended for college library science collections.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Alone Within The Pack
Sandra Lynch-Bakken
Ecopress
c/o Finney Company
8075 - 215th Street West, Lakeville, Minnesota 55044
9781893272118, $17.95, www.finneyco.com 1-800-846-7027

"Alone Within The Pack" is the fascinating and informative memoir of Sandra Lynch-Bakken who has photographed and studied captive wolves for some twenty years as a zookeeper for the Heritage Zoo located in Grand Island, Nebraska. There she was responsible for a pack of gray wolves, each of whom had distinctive personalities. Laced throughout her engaging account are color photographs as the reader becomes immersed into Sandra's accounts of individual and wolf pack behavior. Written with a genuine flair for narrative, "Alone Within The Pack" is an amazing account that will grasp the reader's total attention from beginning to end. Of special note is Sandra's 'Epilogue' that provides the perfect ending for this personal account of a dedicated and appreciative observer of wolves. Enhanced with a succinct bibliography of reference works, "Alone Within The Pack" is strongly recommended as an addition to both academic and community library Wildlife reference collections, and a "must" for non-specialist general readers with an interest in wolves and wolf behavior.

The Cat Owner's Problem Solver
Margaret H. Bonham
TFH Publications
1 TFH Plaza, Third Union Avenues, Neptune City, NJ 07753
9780793806508, $15.95, www.tfh.com

Understanding is the first step to solving countless problems. "The Cat Owner's Problem Solver: How to Manage Common Behavior Problems by Thinking Like Your Cat" is a guide for cat owners who want to better know their feline companions. Covering common problems such as scratching, territoriality, aggression, cat fights, and more, "The Cat Owner's Problem Solver" offers customized solutions for each. A thorough guide that every cat owner should read.

Experiences Along the Way
Joe Andrews
Alpine Publications
38262 Linman Rd, Crawford, CO 81415
9781577790440, $9.95, www.alpinepub.com

A horse can be man's best friend as much as any dog. "Experiences Along the Way" is part memoir, part guide for anyone who wants to better understand humankind's equine friend, and how the relationship between horse and human can help the human become more than just a good horse handler. The stories contained within "Experiences Along the Way" will help readers learn about horses as author Joe Andrews reflects on his lifetime of working with them. Highly recommended to horse lovers everywhere.

The Emotional Lives of Animals
Marc Bekoff
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
9781577316299, $14.95 www.newworldlibrary.com

Any library strong in animal reference studies, will find this an intriguing coverage surveying pet emotions and how they can contribute to better understanding. From joy to sorrow, THE EMOTIONAL LIVES OF ANIMALS uses the author's 35 years of experience studying social and communication patterns of animals to survey animal empathy. Chapters draw important connections between animal emotional lives and the purpose behind animal emotions.

Fundamentals of Veterinary Clinical Pathology, second edition
Steven L. Stockham and Michael A. Scott
Blackwell Publishing
2121 State Avenue, Ames, IA 50014-8300
9780813800769 $94.99 www.wiley.com www.blackwellpublishing.com 1-800-216-2522

College-level libraries strong in veterinary references at the advanced level will appreciate the second updated edition of Fundamentals of Veterinary Clinical Pathology. It provides in-depth details about common clinical laboratory assays used to evaluate domestic animals and this edition adds additional disorders, diagnostics, images, references and more, covering abnormal lab data, revising color plates to include microscopic images, adding new chapters with accompanying websites, and rounding out the reference's information and impact.

America's Best Zoos
Allen W. Nyhuis & Jon Wassner
The Intrepid Traveler
PO Box 531, Branford, CT 06405
9781887140768, $15.95, www.intrepidtraveler.com

The United States is home to some of the best zoos in the entire world. "America's Best Zoos: A Travel Guide for Fans and Families" is a complete and comprehensive listing of the best places to visit humanely kept wildlife in the United States. Featuring a directory complete with tips, driving directions, listings of rare exotic animals and the niches some of them fill (such as Arizona-Sonoroa's Desert Museum for desert creatures), "America's Best Zoos" is a must-have for any wildlife lover traveling across the country. Highly recommended for community library travel collections.


The Self-Help Shelf

Stop Clutter
Mike Nelson
New Page Books
3 Tice Road, PO Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
9781601630087, $15.99, www.newpagebooks.com

Clutter is more than just simply junk sitting around one's house. Clutter is something in every aspect of one's life. Now in a newly revised and updated edition, "Stop Clutter From Stealing Your Life: Discover Why You Clutter & How You Can Stop" is a look at how clutter piles up, and how it can negatively affect one's life and relationships. Now in a new and improved revised edition, "Stop Clutter" adds more clutter management skills to help one streamline their space and manage their time at home and the office, and how to deal with the clutter one's family foists upon one. "Stop Clutter From Stealing Your Life" is a top pick for self help collections and for anyone who feels there's just too much crowding their lives.

We Carry Each Other
Eric and Sharon Langshur with Mary Beth Sammons
Conari Press
65 Parker Street Suite 7, Newburyport, MA 01950
1573243116, $16.95 www.redwheelweiser.com

WE CARRY EACH OTHER: GETTING THROUGH LIFE'S TOUGHEST TIMES comes from the care-giving experiences of the CarePages community, presenting their stories on how to make a difference when a loved one or friend is facing a serious illness or loss. From diagnosis to loss, chapters survey how to organize helpful responses to friends and family alike, creating game plans for expressions of hope and help that truly make a difference.

The Code
Tony Burroughs
Weiser Books
65 Parker Street, Suite 7, Newburyport, MA 01950
9781578634293, $14.95 www.redwheelweiser.com

"The Code: Use the Laws of Manifestation to Achieve Your Highest Goal" provides a new, workable solution for common daily challenges, and offers a new Code of Conduct pairing real-life stories with directions on how personal empowerment can be achieved to enhance peace and quality living. A blend of spirituality and ethics makes for a treatise that includes saying intentions out loud daily, acknowledging a greater good in the universe, and more. New age libraries will find "The Code" an intriguing addition.

Her Inspiration
Mina Parker
Conari Book Publishers
65 Parker Street, Suite 7, Newburyport, MA 01950
9781573243247, $14.95, www.redwheelweiser.com

What seems obvious may not be. "Her Inspiration: Secrets to Help You Work Smart, Be Successful, and Have Fun" is a compilation of wisdom from hundreds of women worldwide, offering intelligent and simple advice for everyday life. From dealing with one's job to one's family to just life in general, the advice is wide-ranging and invaluable to readers of any age, male or female. A solid pick for community library self-help collections.


The International Studies Shelf

PSI Handbook of Global Security and Intelligence
Stuart Farson, et.al.
Praeger Security
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
9780275992071, $225/2 vols www.praeger.com

This 2-volume study is a top pick for national security collections at the college level: while a specialty choice, it comes packed with political and security debates essential to political affairs and intelligence libraries. Volume 1 covers The Americas and Asia, Volume 2 covers Europe, the Middle East and South Africa. Legal framework, influences on national security policies and more make this set an invaluable reference.

Empire of the Mind: A History of Iran
Michael Axworthy
Basic Books
c/o Perseus Books Group
www.perseusbooksgroup.com 1-800-242-7737
9780465008889, $27.50 www.basicbooks.com

The history of Iran, foreign invasions against it, and its cultural and intellectual movements makes for fascinating general-interest reading. "Empire of the Mind: A History of Iran" is a fine addition to any college library strong in Middle Eastern studies. Here the author focuses on the evolution of Iran and its world, exploring the true story of the interplay of Iran's faiths and peoples, and placing Iran's history within context of the region's development. A welcome discussion of Iranian progress and a top pick for any library strong in Middle Eastern studies.

Transnational Actors In Central In Central and East European Transitions
Mitchell A. Orenstein, Stephen Bloom, & Nicole Lindstrom
University of Pittsburgh
Eureka Building, Fifth Floor, 3400 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260
9780822959946, $27.95, www.upress.pitt.edu

The development of one nation's politics is the business of another's, apparently. "Transnational Actors in Central and East European Transitions" is a look at western Europe and America's involvement in Eastern Europe's affairs. It is a collection of scholarly essays on both the positive and negative effects of these practices and the various subjects they are making themselves involved in from anything from Human Trafficking, Bank Privatization, Stabilizing governments, and more. "Transnational Actors in Central and East European Transitions" is an enlightening array of essays about a lesser known gear in how the world works.


The Native American Shelf

Edward Sheriff Curtis
Joanna Cohan Scherer
Phaidon
180 Varick Street, Fourteenth Floor, New York, NY 10014
9780714841762, $39.95, www.phaidon.com

A race destined to fade from the earth - many assumed this of the Native Americans at the beginning of the twentieth century. "Edward Sheriff Curtis" displays one man's photographs of these people as they held on to their millennia-old traditions. A powerful collection of imagery, capturing the spirit and ideals of a culture faced with possible extinction, "Edward Sheriff Curtis" is a highly recommended coffee table book.

Native American Resistance
John P. Bowes, et al.
NHD/National History Day
c/o ABC-CLIO
PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
9781598841831, $39.00, www.abc-clio.com, 1-800-368-6868

In the last few decades, academia has brought renewed attention to the impact of white conquest on Native American cultures, resulting in a new and more appreciative understanding of how various Native American tribes and nations tried to ward off the advancing white domination and protect their aboriginal cultures. The newest addition to the outstanding ABC-CLIO 'The Individual in History' series which focuses on defining moments and movements in American history, "Native American Resistance" is the collaborative effort of John P. Bowes (Eastern Kentucky University); Chris Mullin (Santa Ynez Valley Union High School); and Brett Piersma (Santa Ynez Valley Union High School). Beginning with a succinct introduction 'Reconsidering Resistance', this compilation of informed and informative lessons provide students and non-specialist general readers with an historical overview of Native American attempts to retain and protect their cultures, their lands, and their way of life from the colonizing efforts of the white man from Colonia America down to the present day. Two chapters focus on 'Defining Moments', the first is "king Philip and New England Colonial Expansion in the 1670s', the second is 'Tecumseh and the Westward Movement'. Each of these sections is complete with classroom activities, primary and secondary sources, as well as background material. Making them ideal for classroom lesson plans. Of special note is the concluding sections of 'Additional Resources' that include 'Integration into National History Day'; 'Using ABC-CLIO Web Sites for Researching Native American Resistance'; and 'Additional Native American Resistance Topic Ideas'. "Native American Resistance" is especially recommended for school and community library Native American reference collections.

Life on the River
William R. Hildebrandt & Michael J. Darcangelo
Heyday Books
PO Box 9145, Berkeley, CA 94709
9781597140867, $13.95, www.heydaybooks.com

Lost to the sands of time was the Wintu people, but the sands of time can be dug through. "Life on the River: The Archaeology of an Early Native American Culture" is the results of that digging. Hilldebrandt and Darcangelo reveal the culture's history as best they can from the artifacts they uncover and the theories about the Wintu's people's life, from how they ate to how they lived to how they died. A riveting look at a time before the touch of the Europeans came to their land, "Life on the River" is highly recommended to any history fanatic seeking something fresh and new to learn.

B Street
Lawney L. Reyes
University of Washington Press
PO Box 50096, Seattle, WA 98145-5096
9780295988535, $18.95 www.washington.edu/uwpress 1-206-543-4050

B Street: The Notorious Playground of Coulee Dam captures an up-close, in-focus glimpse of American history in the making during the era of the Great Depression and beyond. During these difficult times, B Street was a place of recreation for white workingmen, particularly those who labored on the Coulee Dam; filled with shops, restaurants, and brothels, B Street was off-limits to blacks and most dark-skinned individuals, including Indians. Opening with the eyes and memories of author Lawney L. Reyes, a young boy who wandered B Street with his little sister Luana and their dog Pickles while their Indian mother and Filipino father survived hand-to-mouth running a Chinese restaurant, B Street continues through preservations of Reyes' mother's diary, enhanced with stories told by his parents and other members of the Sin-Aikst tribe. B Street is ultimately a profound testimony to the history and culture of the Indians whose way of life was overwhelmed with change through the creation of the Grand Coulee Dam. Highly recommended, especially for Native American reading lists.


The Gardening Shelf

The Green Gardener's Guide
Joe Lamp'l
Cool Springs Press
101 Forrest Crossing Boulevard, Suite 100, Franklin, Tennessee 37064
9781591864264, $16.95 www.coolspringspress.net

Nationally syndicated gardening writer and host of the PBS series "GardenSmart" Joe Lamp'l (a.k.a. Joe Gardener) presents The Green Gardener's Guide: Simple, Significant Actions to Protect & Preserve Our Planet, a straightforward how-to guide that lives up to its title. Written in plain terms for gardeners of all skill and experience levels, The Green Gardener's Guide covers how to reduce water usage (even fixing leaky faucets and collecting roof runoff in rain barrels can make a sizeable difference), minimize the use of chemicals and pesticides, reduce waste through recycling and composting, and much more. Of especial interest is the warning that relying too heavily upon cultivating a single species rather than promoting biodiversity can promote disaster when a parasite that preys upon that one species inevitably appears, as in the great Irish Potato Famine and many other situations. The Green Gardener's Guide is enthusiastically recommended to gardeners everywhere not only for its promotion of social responsibility, but also for its straight-talk and practical advice. "Research conducted by universities, laboratories, and even commercial airports has shown that [Japanese Beetle traps] attract many more beetles than are actually caught. Consequently, susceptible plants along the flight path of the beetles and in the vicinity of traps are likely to suffer much more damage than if no traps are used at all. In most landscape situations, use of Japanese Beetle traps will likely do more harm than good."


The Gaming Shelf

Tournament Tips from the Pros
Shane Smith
Cardoza Publishing
PO Box 1500, Cooper Station, New York, NY 10276
9781580422253, $14.95, www.cardozapub.com

Doyle Brunson, Mike Caro, Johnny Moss, and more give advice in "Tournament Tips from the Pros: Your Guide to Making Big Money at Small Stakes Poker Tournaments". Featuring twenty-one tips covering the fine nuances of the sport, from re-buys and aggression to calling bluffs and so much more. The pros themselves outline in depth why their strategies work – and how to avoid the common pitfalls of rookie players. "Tournament Tips from the Pros: Your Guide to Making Big Money at Small Stakes Poker Tournaments" is a deftly composed guide and highly recommended to anyone looking to improve their low level tournament poker game.


The Fashion Shelf

Passion for Fashion
Jeanne Beker, author
Nathalie Dion, illustrator
Tundra Books
75 Sherbourne Street, 5th Floor, Toronto ON M5A 2P9 Canada
9780887768002, $18.95 www.tundrabooks.com

Nathalie Dion adds dynamic illustrations to "Passion for Fashion", which comes from Jeanne Beker, the producer of a syndicated fashion television show. "Passion for Fashion" is a fine introduction to the fashion world that includes quotes, profiles of successful fashion people, and insights into the fashion world as a whole. Chapters tell how to break into this world, providing all ages with a passionate survey. Perfect for high school through general lending library collections, and for any collection strong in business career guides.


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

How to Master Psychometric Tests
Mark Parkinson
Kogan Page
525 South 4th Street, #241, Philadelphia, PA 19147
9780749451653, $17.95, www.koganpage.com

A psychometric test can be the difference between getting a job or not. Now in a newly expanded and updated fourth edition, "How to Master Psychometric Tests: Expert Advice on Test Preparation with Practice Questions from Leading Test Providers" is a guide for acing these tests issued by employers. With tips on preparation and several practice tests throughout, and enhanced with a free online test with a feedback report, "How to Master Psychometric Tests" is a must-have for anyone facing this hurdle.

Picture Yourself Creating Video Games
Jason Darby
Course Technology Cengage Learning
25 Thomson Place, Boston, MA 02210
9781598635515, $34.99, www.courseptr.com

In the eighties and nineties, millions of children were captivated by the art form of video games. "Picture Yourself Creating Video Games" is a career manual for those who work in this field. A guide to understanding the requisite science and computer skills, "Picture Yourself Creating Video Games" walks readers step by step through the process of crafting a video game of their own. Enhanced with a CD-ROM complete with a demo version of Games Factory 2, sample artwork to use in creating the game, web browser plug ins, and a sample game, "Picture Yourself Creating Video Games" is especially recommended for anyone trying to figure out whether a career in making video games is for them.

The Career Chronicles
Michael Gregory
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
9781577315735, $15.95 www.newworldlibrary.com

THE CAREER CHRONICLES: AN INSIDER'S GUIDE TO WHAT JOBS ARE REALLY LIKE offers professional opinions and assessments on jobs from over seven hundred professionals. These reflections offer candid assessments of two dozen popular professions, contrasting reality with ideas of the job, including reviews of each profession, its requirements and its duties, and offering college students an excellent opportunity to make better informed decisions on their career choices.

Best Answers to 202 Job Interview Questions
Daniel Porot and Frances Bolles Haynes
Impact Publications
9104 Manassas Suite N, Manassas Park, VA 20111
1570232717, $17.95 www.impactpublications.com

Providing good answers to interview questions is key to acing a job interview – but what makes for a 'good' answer, and what do interviewers look for in applicants? These and other questions are answered through a review of 202 job interview questions and their 'best' answers, with chapters packed with case history examples covering everything from ice breakers and self-evaluation tips to dissuasions of work habits, problem solving and personality styles, and more. Libraries appealing to job and career hunters will find plenty of value, here.


The Gay Studies Shelf

King of Shadows
Aaron Shurin
City Lights Books
261 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94133
9780872864900, $16.95, www.citylights.com

San Francisco is known for its large gay community, and "King of Shadows" is one gay man's reminiscence upon living in the city as a poet. With twenty one essays, each heartfelt, personal, and filled with emotion, "King of Shadows" is a clear look into a life lived out in the open, unafraid of society's homophobia. A strong pick for any personal, academic, or community library gay studies collection.


The Needlecraft Shelf

American Quilter's Society
Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
www.AmericanQuilter.com

Susan Stewart's HEIRLOOM MACHINE SEWING FOR QUILTERS (9781574329445, $24.95) tells how to use classic heirloom methods to create unique, original gifts. From material selection to easily-followed techniques, techniques, supplies, fabric, cutting directions and more provide specific tips and techniques quilters will appreciate. Susan Purney Mark and Daphne Greig's FAT QUARTER FRENZY TWO (9781574329483, $26.95) tells how to use fat quarters to produce easy gifts. Thirteen projects range from table runners to full-size quilts and pair full-size photos with step-by-step directions on working with blocks and patterns. Both are excellent surveys for any library strong in quilting direction. Karen Griska's QUILTS FROM THE SELVAGE EDGE (9781574329575, $19.95) offers tips on using selvages in quilting projects. Quilt piecers can save money and use discarded possibilities to produce lovely quilted results using this discussion of fast, easy quilt production. Projects are accompanied by color photos and sidebars of information exploring the entire process of using selvage edges in complete quilts.


The Music Shelf

Choral Music in the Nineteenth Century
Nick Strimple
Amadeus Press
c/o Hal Leonard Performing Arts Publishing Group
19 West 21st Street, Suite 201, New York, NY 10010
9781574671544, $24.95 www.halleonard.com 1-800-637-2852

Written by music director and faculty member of the University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music Nick Strimple, Choral Music in the Nineteenth Century is a scholarly and exhaustively thorough discussion of its subject, covering both sacred and secular music for vocal ensembles. Chapters discuss nineteenth-century choral music in Austria and Germany, France, Switzerland, The British Isles, Czech lands, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland, Russia, Scandinavia, the Baltics, the Americas, and more. Written music samples, letters, drawings, and black-and-white photographs, and quick reference lists round out this seminal work, indispensable to choral artists and scholars seeking an in-depth historical grounding. Also highly recommended is the companion volume "Choral Music in the Twentieth Century".

Positively Main Street
Toby Thompson
University of Minnesota Press
111 Third Avenue South, Suite 290, Minneapolis, MN 55401-2520
9780816654451, $15.95, www.upress.umn.edu

Bob Dylan is one of the most creative songwriters of the twentieth century. "Positively Main Street: Bob Dylan's Minnesota" tells of Toby Thompson's travels to learn more about Bobby Zimmerman, the man behind the legend. Thompson talks with the people who knew Zimmerman as a boy to further understand the mind behind the music. With interviews conducted by the author and never before released photographs, "Positively Main Street" is a must for any Dylan fan.

Bluegrass Mandolin for the Complete Ignoramus
Wayne Erbsen
Native Ground
109 Bell Ground, Asheville, NC, 28805
9781883206550, $19.95, www.nativeground.com

The bluegrass mandolin can be a very fulfilling and fun instrument to play for old fashioned blue grass lovers. "Bluegrass Mandolin for the Complete Ignoramus" is a complete and comprehensive guide for those who seek to master this instrument. Covering everything from tuning the bluegrass mandolin to reading sheet music, playing as part of a band, and more, "Bluegrass Mandolin for the Complete Idiot" is an excellent introductory guide.

Electrify My Soul
Dan Kimpel
Thomson Course Technology
25 Thomson Place, Boston, MA 02210
1598634445, $21.99 www.courseptr.com

ELECTRIFY MY SOUL: SONGWRITERS AND THE SPIRITUAL SOURCE comes from an author who has interviewed nearly every major songwriter in the history of American popular music, and offers here a gathering of inspirational interviews with top songwriters of the world. From Melissa Etheridge and Beth Nielsen Chapman to Michelle Shocked, ELECTRIFY MY SOUL packs in insights in the spiritual origins of songs. Music collections will find this a fine and unusual addition.

Beatles for Sale
John Blaney
Jawbone Press
1700 Fourth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
9781906002091, $19.95 www.jawbonepress.com

This new examination of the history of the Beatles considers just how the Beatles and their manager Brian Epstein pioneered not just their music, but the modern music business itself. From how they promoted and sold records to playing concerts, making films, and setting up their own recording companies, BEATLES FOR SALE provides a very different focus from the many books which have revealed their music and lives, making it a top pick not just for popular music collections, but for business libraries as well.

River of No Return
Jeffrey Buckner Ford
Cumberland House
431 Harding Industrial, Nashville, TN 37211
9781581826531, $26.95 www.cumberlandhouse.com

RIVER OF NO RETURN: TENNESSEE ERNIE FORD AND THE WOMAN HE LOVED provides a different view of Ford's career and life: one which focuses as much on the effects his career and famous image had upon his family, as on his many accomplishments. Chapters pair career events with family internal experience, making for a far more intimate survey than most titles: any library strong in Tennessee Ernie Ford coverage needs this to round out less intimate portraits.


The Real Estate Shelf

The Complete Guide to Your First Rental Property
Teri B. Clark
Atlantic Publishing
1405 SW 6th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471
9780910627986, $24.95 www.atlantic-pub.com

If you're ready to begin investing in your first rental property, or you represent a general lending library catering to new investors and real estate acquirers, then The Complete Guide to Your First Rental Property is an essential pick. The Complete Guide to Your First Rental Property covers the basics of property selection, acquisition, marketing, housing regulations, taxes, and more. The first (and best) place to prepare for real estate investment.


The Geriatric Studies Shelf

Seven Strategies for Positive Aging
Robert D. Hill
W.W. Norton
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
9780393705232, $17.95, www.wwnorton.com

No one likes aging, but it's a fact of life that must be faced. "Seven Strategies for Positive Aging" is a guide for those who don't want the dawning of the late years of their life to curtail their fun. With advice on how to stay healthy, keep learning, gain and impart wisdom, and more aspects to making one's life complete and successful, "Seven Strategies for Positive Aging" is a must for anyone who wants their progression into seniority to be an enjoyable one.

Unleashing Your Creativity After 50
Gene Perret
Quill Driver Books
1254 Commerce Way, Sanger, CA 93657
1884956815, $14.95 www.quilldriverbooks.com

From reasons to get creative and how to find time and ways to spark creativity to funneling it to creative projects and locating ideas, this over-50 guide is a reference any age can actually use to spark creativity and drive newfound business projects. UNLEASHING YOUR CREATIVITY AFTER 50 is an excellent survey perfect for any looking to change, and to direct the change into concrete projects.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

"Things" and More "Things"
Ivan T. Sanderson
Adventures Unlimited Press
PO Box 74, Kempton, IL 60946
9781931882781, www.adventuresunlimitedpress.com 1-815-253-6390

"Things" and More "Things" reprints two books originally published in the late 1960s by world-famous explorer and naturalist Ivan T. Sanderson. In "Things" and "More Things", Sanderson recounts fantastic phenomena which remain scientifically inexplicable to this day, from telepathic ants to mechanical dowsing, flying saucers and UFO nests, water monsters, giant skulls, the Toonijuk, and much more. Divided into chapters on "Live Things", "Dead Things", "Man Things", "Funny Things", and "Nasty Things", "Things" and More "Things" is a singularly fascinating delve into matters weird and mysterious, enthusiastically recommended for metaphysical studies collections.

Ghost Hunter's Guide to Seattle and Puget Sound
Jeff Dwyer
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053-2246
9781589805170, $15.95 www.pelicanpub.com 1-800-843-1724

Ghost Hunter's Guide to Seattle and Puget Sound is an in-depth look at supernatural sightings in the geographic area surrounding Seattle and Puget Sound. Spotlighting dozens of sites and recounting the ghost stories and lore of each, Ghost Hunter's Guide to Seattle and Puget Sound is enhanced with black-and-white photographs, a suggested further reading list, a list of local historical societies and museums, recommended internet resources, and index, and more. A highly accessible and definitive guide for Seattle-area ghost hunters!

Inner Paths to Outer Space
Rick Strassman, M.D., et.al.
Park Street Press
c/o Inner Traditions
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
9781594772245, $19.95 www.parkstpress.com

New age collections strong in visionary plants and psychology will find that Inner Paths to Outer Space combines over sixty years of research on brain function and psychology to examine how psychoactive substances allow the brain to bypass the five senses to unlock another realm of existence. Alien worlds in such an existence actually mirror inner space mind worlds, not outer space, the authors maintain: chapters draw connections between 'alien' worlds encountered through altered consciousness and paths to self-growth.

Synastry
Rod Suskin
Llewellyn Publications
2143 Wooddale Drive, Woodbury MN 55125-2989
9780738712550, $21.95 www.llewellyn.com

Synastry is a fine tool for understanding dynamics between two people, explaining elements of relationship analysis which begin with the natal chart and lead to identification of patterns and perspectives. From methods of predicting relationship changes to sample worksheets and ethical and legal concerns, SYNASTRY: UNDERSTANDING THE ASTROLOGY OF RELATIONSHIPS is an outstanding survey perfect for new age libraries.

Creating the Soul Body
Robert E. Cox
Inner Traditions
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
9781594772214, $18.95 www.innertraditions.com

New age collection specializing in mysticism and ancient symbols from Egyptian and Hebraic traditions will find CREATING THE SOUL BODY: THE SACRED SCIENCE OF IMMORTALITY a strong pick exploring the road to immortality. His explanation of the process explains the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, and maps the spiritual journey involved in the science of immortality: a challenging, involving read for any serious new age library.

Haunted Spaces, Sacred Places
Brian Haughton
New Page Books
c/o Career Press Inc.
PO Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
Warwick Associates (publicity)
17470 Sonoma Highway, Sonoma, CA 95476
9781601630001, $15.99, www.newpagebooks.com 1-800-227-3371

There are metaphysical sites around the globe that are felt to be extraordinary because they seem to attract or manifest paranormal phenomena. In "Haunted Spaces, Sacred Places: A Field Guide To Stone Circles, Crop Circles, Ancient Tombs, And Supernatural Landscapes", qualified archaeologist and researcher Brian Haughton has compiled histories of thirty-two sites that are especially noted for mystery and legend. These sites range from tombs of the Etruscans; the temples of Angkor Wat; and Stonehenge; to Germany's Aachen Cathedral; Native American sties in Colorado's San Luis Valley; and the Ohio Serpent Mound. Also featured are the subjects of such phenomena as UFO sightings, 'spooklights', ghost encounters, and other unexplained experiences associated with ancient sacred places. Enhanced with more than 25 photographs and illustrations, "Haunted Spaces, Sacred Places" is a fascinating and informative read which is especially recommended for personal, academic, and community library Metaphysical Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

The Encyclopedic Sourcebook of Satanism
James R. Lewis & Jesper Aagaard Petersen, editors
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Drive, Amherst, NY 14228-2197
1591023904, $105.00 www.prometheusbooks.com

Satanism is popularly associated with hedonism and horror, but there are concrete facts which actually surround the practice of Satanism, and this reference gathers together scholarly studies of Satanism along with original source material to survey its history and practices. Both historic and modern Satanism are covered in a survey which discusses its practices, common misbeliefs, and modern concerns such as the role of the media in Satanistic coverage. An outstanding sourcebook and a 'must' for any library where Satanism and alternative beliefs are covered.

The Secret Language of Tarot
Ruth Ann and Wald Amberstone
Red Wheel Weiser
65 Parker Street Suite 6, Newburyport, MA 01950
9781578634163, $24.95 www.redwheelweiser.com

The symbols universal in Tarot decks are reviewed in "The Secret Language of Tarot", a book which acts as either a reference to these images or as a series of guided meditations on each Tarot symbol. Each chapter offers a set of symbols that share a common theme, with plenty of background information surveying myths, realities and research. New age libraries strong in Tarot studies will find "The Secret Language of Tarot" an absorbing analysis useful on more than one level.


The Military Shelf

The Rescue of Streetcar 304
Kenny Wayne Fields
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road, Annapolis, MD 21402
9781591142713, $19.95 www.navalinstitute.org 1-800-233-8764

Author and Navy veteran Kenny Wayne Fields flew 139 combat missions during two combat tours in Vietnam, and served for years as a flight instructor. The Rescue of Streetcar 304: A Navy Pilot's Forty Hours on the Run in Laos is Fields' true-life story of his first combat mission in his A-7 Corsair II. At the time, his target was Laos, even though it was "officially" off-limits for U.S. attacks. He destroyed his target, but was shot down with enemy troops in pursuit. This began his brutal, 40-hour struggle for survival while the U.S. Air Force embarked on one of its largest air rescue missions of the war. In the process, 189 sorties were flown, four pilots were forced to eject, seven planes were lost or severely damaged, and one pilot became a prisoner of war for five years. The Rescue of Streetcar 304 is a captivating true tale of duty, brotherhood, and confronting the very real possibility of an early death. Highly recommended.

Osprey Publishing
443 Park Avenue South, New York NY 10016
www.ospreypublishing.com

Gordon L. Rottman & Derrick Wright's HELL IN THE PACIFIC: THE BATTLE FOR IWO JIMA (9781846033353, $24.95) coverage the Iwo Jima campaign in detail, surveying the men who fought one of the most savage battles of World War II. Black and white photos throughout mark an excellent survey for general-interest and specialty military libraries alike. Editor Ruth Sheppard's ALEXANDER THE GREAT AT WAR: HIS ARMY, HIS BATTLES, HIS ENEMIES (9781846033285, $24.95) surveys not so much the man as his military strategy and campaigns, packing black and white and color photos of relics and images throughout to enliven the discussion. From his development of his army to unusual strategies, ALEXANDER THE GREAT AT WAR is a pick for any serious military library.


The Buddhist Studies Shelf

Buddha in a Teacup
Todd Walton
Lost Coast Press
155 Cypress Street, Fort Bragg, CA 95437
9781882897957, $19.95 www.cypresshouse.com

BUDDHA IN A TEACUP: TALES OF ENLIGHTENMENT provides a range of short stories – humorous, sad, and interesting – all linked by their origins in Buddhist dharma. Collections strong in Buddhist beliefs and history will find it involving and uplifting.

The Way and the Mountain: Tibet, Buddhism, and Tradition
Marco Pallis
World Wisdom Inc.
1501 E. Hillside Drive, Bloomington, IN 47401
9781933316536, $21.95 www.worldwisdom.com

Author Marco Pallis was a student of language and visited one Buddhist monastery after another seeking Lamas, teachers of the faith. His encounters with Buddhist greats offered many lessons which are recounted in "The Way and the Mountain: Tibet, Buddhism, and Tradition", a collection of previously unpublished material. Filled with insights on soliciting and assessing spiritual advice, "The Way and the Mountain" is perfect for new age libraries strong in Buddhist studies.

Why the Dalai Lama Matters
Robert Thurman
Atria
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York NY 10020
1582702209, $24.00 www.beyondwords.com

The Dalai Lama's life is devoted to peace and non-violence – but few are aware of how he's achieved a worldwide reputation for such. WHY THE DALAI LAMA MATTERS blends a history of Tibet with a survey of political and social change, weaving in the Dalai Lama's biography in the process. Any library strong in human rights issues, Asian history or Eastern spirituality and religion needs WHY THE DALAI LAMA matters.

Snow Lion Publications
Box 6483, Ithaca, NY 14851
www.snowlionpub.com

John Powers' A CONCISE INTRODUCTION TO TIBETAN BUDDHISM (1559392967, $14.95) provides an economical introductory text to Tibetan Buddhism, surveying its unique practices and providing an easy overview for newcomers. The author has an M.A. in Indian Philosophy and a Ph.D. in Buddhist Studies: he's published widely on Buddhist thought and practice, is a teacher, and yet provides a very easy introduction most accessible to newcomers. David Michie's BUDDHISM FOR BUSY PEOPLE: FINDING HAPPINESS IN AN UNCERTAIN WORLD (1559392983, $14.95) provides an easy handbook which links Tibetan Buddhism teachings to daily life, beginning with the owner's own efforts. Chapters show how life goals can be linked to spiritual exploration and cover everything from cultivating compassion to understanding memory and rebirth experiences. Both are top picks for both new age collections and general-interest libraries interested in accessible, easy Tibetan Buddhism texts. LION OF SIDDAHS: THE LIFE AND TEACHINGS OF PADAMPA SANGYE is translated by David Molk with Lama Tsering Wangdu Rinpoche (1569392991, $18.95) and provides two fine texts under one cover: a biography of Sangye and a collection of his verbal and nonverbal teachings. Sangye taught in Tibet during the eleventh century and his teachings spread through all schools of Tibetan Buddhism, so any collection strong in Tibetan Buddhism needs this reference.

Traditional Thai Yoga
Enrico Corsi and Elena Fanfani
Healing Arts Press
c/o Inner Traditions
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
9781594772054, $19.95 www.healingartspress.com

"Traditional Thai Yoga" teaches readers about a practice rooted in the Ayurvedic tradition, involving exercises that originated with Buddha's own physician. Each posture works the sen energy system of Thai medicine, and the postures here are solutions to many common ailments of the back, knees, hips and neck. The exercises promote weight loss and circulation improvement too; any New Age collection strong in yoga techniques will want this photo-packed visual introduction.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Juicy Pens, Thirsty Paper
SARK
Three Rivers Press
c/o The Crown Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780307341709, $18.95, www.crownpublishing.com, 1-888-523-9292

Susan Ariel Rainbow Kennedy is a personal growth teacher, an artist, an inspiration speaker, a bestselling author, and under the pen name SARK has written and compiled "Juicy Pens, Thirsty Paper: Gifting The World With Your Words And Stories And Creating The Time And Energy To Actually Do It", a compendium of creative games and techniques that aspiring writers will find to be invaluable in the practice of their chosen craft. There are any number of excellent 'how to' books on how to write better, more effectively, and even more profitably. The unique focus of "Juicy Pens, Thirsty Paper" is an emphasis of practical 'how to' exercises to generate ideas, become inspired by people and things, make time to write within the context of a busy schedule, deal with writer's block and 'bad writing blues', -- even tips on getting published. Enhanced with personal anecdotes, uplifting quotes, interviews with artists, and more, "Juicy Pens, Thirsty Paper" is a welcome and recommended read for all novice authors and holds a great deal of benefit for experienced writers as well.

The Half-Known World
Robert Boswell
Graywolf Press
2402 University Avenue, Suite 203, Saint Paul, MN 55114
9781555975043, $15.00, www.graywolfpress.org

Writing fiction requires a combination of expertise, talent, experience, and imagination. In "The Half-Known World: On Writing Fiction", Robert Boswell (the published author of five novels and an instructor in creative writing at the New Mexico State University, the University of Houston, and in the Warren Wilson MFA program) draws upon his more than twenty years of personal experience and earned expertise to compile nine compelling informed and informative essays on the craft issues facing every literary writer and author. Comprising this extraordinary compendium of observation, insights and advice are Process and Paradigm; Narrative Spandrels; On Omniscience; Urban Legends, Pornography, and Literary Fiction; The Alternate Universe; Politics and Art in the Novel; Private eye Point of View; You Must Change Your Life; and the title piece, The Half-Known World. Enhanced with a two and a half page listing of referenced works at the end, "The Half-Known World" will prove to be a fascinating and educative read for anyone who aspires to literary success as a writer of deftly crafted fiction.

The Power of the Darkside
Pamela Jaye Smith
Michael Wiese Producations
3940 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Suite 1111
9781932907438, $22.95, www.mwp.com

A world where everything goes according to plan isn't terribly interesting at all; a good antagonist is essential to a great story. "The Power of the Darkside" is a guide for screenwriters who want to craft a truly memorable and believable villain, someone viewers will talk about as much as they talk about the hero. And a good hero, of course, needs an excellent villain. Sound and wise in its advice on the shadier side of the script, "The Power of the Darkside" is a must for aspiring writers and for community library collections.


The Library CD Music Shelf

Jah is Real
Burning Spear
Burning Music
c/o Rock Paper Scissors
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2, Bloomington, IN 47404
CD, $16.98 www.rockpaperscissors.biz www.burningspear.net

Reggae artist Burning Spear, who chose his music name in honor of Kenyan freedom fighter and first president Jomo Kenyatta, presents his latest album in a decades-long career promoting peace, unity, and love. Burning Spear has traveled to violence-torn Nairobi at the behest of the United Nations to offer the positive influence of his music; now listeners across the globe can feel his strong, positive message of self-reliance, African unity, and respect for one's fellow man in Jah is Real. After bitter disputes with record labels and distributors, Burning Spear has learned the hard way that the best way to ensure he receives proper compensation for his music is to release it himself; fans of the music and the man can rest assured that buying this CD fully supports the artist. Bass guitar and keyboard music form the rhythmic, captivating background for roughly half of the tracks, in this album conveying a much-needed message not for just Africa, but also the world at large. The tracks are "The Cruise", "Step It", "You Were Wrong", "Run for Your Life", "Jah Is Real", "People in High Places", "One Africa", "Grandfather", "Wickedness", "Stick to the Plan", "No Compromise", "700 Strong", "Grassroot", and "Step It Remix".


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

Shonen Jump Fifth Anniversary Collector's Edition
Viz Communications Inc.
295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133
9781421526188, $24.99 www.viz.com 1-800-394-3042

Shonen Jump Fifth Anniversary Collector's Edition is a hardcover anthology of shonen manga (Japanese comics generally aimed toward young men, but sure to delight action fans of any ages or gender), reprinted especially for collectors and fans. Consisting of the first issue of Shonen Jump plus a wide selection of the best interviews and articles found in issues 1-60, Shonen Jump Fifth Anniversary Collector's Edition presents the very first chapters of the popular black-and-white comic series "Dragonball Z", "One Piece", "Yu-Gi-Oh!", "Yu Yu Hakusho", "Naruto", and "Sand Land" (another manga by "Dragonball Z" creator Akira Toriyama). Shonen Jump Fifth Anniversary Collector's Edition reads right-to-left; its manga are "unflipped", representing the artwork exactly as it was in the original Japanese publications. The perfect introduction to the fast-paced, action-packed world of shonen manga, and an absolute "must-have" for collectors!


The Library DVD Shelf

Teen Safety: When You Are Alone
Learning ZoneXPress
PO Box 1022, Owatonna, MN 55060
1571755586, $79.95 www.learningzoneexpress.com 1-888-455-7003

The world can be a dangerous place for the unwary and complacent. Intended for viewers ranging from sixth grade students to high school seniors, college students, and adults, Teen Safety: When You Are Alone is an instructional DVD ideal for classroom use. Presenting the basic facts every teen should know to reduce the risk of abuse, sexual violence, or abduction, Teen Safety: When You Are Alone demonstrates realistic scenarios and features interviews with experts. From safety strategies teens should use when home alone or walking alone, to tips for responsible use of the Internet, to advice for teens in charge of babysitting younger children (who are potentially at even greater risk for violence or abduction) and more, Teen Safety: When You Are Alone deserves the absolute highest recommendation for its practical treatment of basic facts every teen (and adult) must know. 17 minutes.

The Dead Sea Scrolls
Lawrence H. Schiffman
The Modern Scholar
c/o Recorded Books
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
UC102, $98.75, www.recordedbooks.com 1-800-638-1304

When a collection of ancient scrolls were first discovered in cliff side caves above the long abandoned settlement of Qumran in Israel in 1947, they were dubbed the 'Dead Sea Scrolls' and were justifiably acclaimed as on of the most important archaeological findings of the 20th Century. A fabulous collection they provide some of the oldest Jewish sacred texts we have. They also provided a wealth of new documents and information about a Jewish religious movement that was contemporary with the emergence of Christianity. Now in fourteen informed and informative lectures compiled in "The Dead Sea Scrolls: The Truth Behind The Mystique", Lawrence H. Schiffman (Chairman, New York University Skirball Department of Hebrew and Judaic Studies, and the Ethel and Irvin A. Edelman Professor of Hebrew and Judaic Studies) shares his years of studies and internationally acclaimed expertise about what these scrolls have provided scholarship with respect to our understanding of Judaism and the natal development of religious thought that would be the genesis of Christianity. The lectures begin with a description of 'The Library of Qumran'; and continue with sessions devoted to 'Scandal and Publication'; 'Sects of the Second Temple Period'; 'The Halakhic Letter and the Founding of the Sect'; 'The Qumran Sect'; Women and th eDead Sea Scrolls Sect'; 'Theology and Beliefs of the Dead Sea Sect'; 'Biblical Interpretation'; 'The Hebrew Bible in Second Temple Times'; 'The Messiah and the End of Days'; 'The Temple Scroll'; 'The Scrolls, Judaism, and Christianity'; 'Controversial Messianic Texts'; and then concludes with 'The Scrolls in Public Culture'. A college-level course of instruction, 'The Dead Sea Scrolls' is a superbly presented and enthusiastically recommended boxed set of seven flawless recorded compact discs.

The Dick Francis Thriller: The Racing Game
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
AMP-8096, $39.99, www.acornmedia.com

A superbly produced production, "The Dick Francis Thriller: The Racing Game" is a six episode, two volume boxed set that originally aired in the U.S. on the PBS award winning series 'Mystery!' in its 1980 inaugural season. Sid Halley is a star steeple chase rider who suffers a career-ending injury that ends his riding career and launches him into life as a private detective who specializes in all manner of race track mischief from bookies, to blackmailers, to murder. From top-notch acting, to spot on set designs, to a meticulous attention to Dick Francis' original story, "The Dick Francis Thriller: The Racing Game" provides a bit more than five hours of riveting entertainment and is especially recommended to Dick Francis fans, mystery buffs, and community library DVD collections!

America's Test Kitchen Season Eight
Christopher Kimball, host
WGBH Boston Video
c/o SSA Public Relations (publicity)
16027 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 206, Encino, CA 91436
9781593758400, $39.95, www.ssapr.com

America's Test Kitchen Season Eight is a DVD collection of all twenty-six episodes of the popular, public television cooking extravaganza show. Host Christopher Kimball and his fellow cast members walk the viewer through the basics of quality home cooking and great recipes. Episodes include Rainy Day BBQ Pork Chops to French Classics, Asian Take-Out at Home, Pasta and Tomatoes Reimagined, Fish on the Grill, Easy Skillit Suppers, Favorite Slow-Cooker Classics, and much more. Rounding out the step-by-step recipe instructions include no-nonsense taste tests of supermarket ingredients, ratings of the most important pieces of kitchen equipment, and useful kitchen science tips. In today's era of rising prices, inexpensive and healthful cooking at home has become a more attractive option than ever before; to that end, the America's Test Kitchen series is highly recommended both for private use and public library collections. 4 DVDs, 26 episodes.

Ape Genius
WGBH Boston Video
c/o SSA Public Relations (publicity)
16027 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 206, Encino, CA 91436
9781593758219, $19.95 shop.wgbh.org www.ssapr.com

Ape Genius is an episode of the scientific public television series NOVA on DVD that seeks to answer the questions: just how smart are the great apes (chimpanzees, bonobos, orangutans, and gorillas), and what exactly is it that differentiates their thought processes from those of humans? Apes have been seen to use tools, and controlled experiments have shown them to possess shared culture, even the ability to perform simple math. Yet the latest research has revealed subtle, crucial limitations ape brains have that prevent them from dominating the world like humans have. An utterly absorbing and educational presentation, enthusiastically recommended for public library collections and anyone curious about what makes humans unique among the animal kingdom. 54 minutes, color, with the options of closed-captioned and described video for the hearing impaired.

Up Close & Toxic
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547
1594581150, $250.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com 1-800-543-3764

With today's headlines steadily proclaiming contaminated foods, toys, household products and more, the current health crisis is one of the most important issues facing every American. Up Close & Toxic is a wake-up call to indoor air pollutants, the concentration of which can often exceed what is found in the most polluted cities outdoors! From cleaning products to pesticides, paint dust, lead particles in the carpet, or even plastic toys, Up Close & Toxic reveals numerous sources of potential biohazards and recommends alternatives to promote healthier breathing indoors. A singularly invaluable addition to public library shelves and classroom viewing schedules, particularly in today's modern era of rising health care costs. 45 minutes.

World Class Restaurant Service
World Class Productions, LLC
423 Kanekapolei Ste. 9, Honolulu, Hawaii 96815
DVD, $59.95, www.worldclassproductionz.com

World Class Restaurant Service is a training film on DVD created especially to guide entry-level employees entering the time-honored profession of restaurant service. Filmed in beautiful Hawaii, World Class Restaurant Service covers on-the-job basics of proper teamwork, how to greet customers, winning confidence, wine service nuances, how to make a good impression, and much more. In addition to demonstrating what to do, World Class Restaurant Service also features a comic relief waiter who gives a contrasting demonstrations of what not to do! A thoroughly accessible, easy-to-follow resource, World Class Restaurant Service is an absolute must-have for any sit-down restaurant, whether owned by a small family or a large corporation - and also a useful study-at-home tool for anyone considering a career in restaurant service. 27 minutes, color.

Bill Monroe: Father of Bluegrass Music
MVD Entertainment Group
PO Box 280, Oaks, PA 19456
DVD, $19.99, www.MVDb2b.com 1-800-888-0486

Bill Monroe: Father of Bluegrass Music is the DVD documentary of legendary musician Bill Monroe, credited with creating bluegrass from a fusion of fiddle tunes, Scotch-Irish ballads he learned from his mother and uncle, and "old Southern blues" taught to him by black blues guitarist Arnold Schultz. Bill Monroe: Father of Bluegrass Music pays tribute to this one-of-a-kind composer with interviews, archival footage including rare 1990s performances that Monroe gave in his final years, backstage glimpses of Monroe at the Grand Ole Opry, and much more. An absolute "must-see" for bluegrass fans and players everywhere. 90 minutes.

Rune Soldier Complete Collection
ADV Films
5750 Bintliff Drive, Suite 210, Houston, TX 77036
DVD, $39.99, www.advfilms.com

Rune Soldier Complete Collection brings together the complete 24-episode "Rune Soldier" fantasy-comedy anime television series in one affordable thinpack box set! Created by Ryo Mizuno (known for his work in the more serious fantasy anime "Record of Lodoss War"), Rune Soldier is about a trio of female adventurers - Genie the deadly fighter, Merrill the sly thief, and Melissa the effeminate yet potent cleric - in search of a powerful magician to shore up their ranks. But instead of a mighty veteran adventurer magician, the best they can find is the lecherous, klutzy, and incompetent novice Louie! A fun and fantastic adventure that never dares to take itself too seriously, Rune Soldier Complete Collection is enthusiastically recommended to fans of the genre.

Naruto the Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel
Viz Communications Inc.
295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133
1421522705 $29.98 www.viz.com 1-800-394-3042

Naruto the Movie: Legend of the Stone of Gelel is the second feature-length animated film starring the popular manga character Naruto, a brash, headstrong, passionate youth determined to prove himself the best ninja in the world. Sent on a seemingly run-of-the-mill mission to return a lost ferret to its owner along with his teacher Shikamaru and female classmate Sakura, Naruto becomes entangled in the machinations of a ruthless invading force and its loyal front-lines warrior Temujin. Though the attackers claim to be founding a utopia that will spread peace to the world, their merciless quest for the stone of Gelel has already brought them into fierce conflict with Sand Ninja Kankuro and Gaara! It's an all-out battle not only to survive, but to separate truth from lies in this action-packed epic adventure. A two-disc set, Legend of the Stone of Gelel is in 16:9 anamorphic widescreen and includes director's audio commentary, as well as over sixty minutes of extra content and a colorful collector's booklet. A must-see for fans of shonen anime! 95 minutes plus special features, color.


The Automotive Shelf

The Model T
Robert Casey
The John Hopkins University Press
2175 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218
9780801888502, $24.95, www.press.jhu.edu

Eight hundred fifty dollars for a car seems cheap now, but it was only just within the grasp of the everyday man in 1908. "The Model T: A Centennial History" is a celebration of the hundredth birthday of the first affordable automobile, marking an era when America would gain mobility like never before. An in-depth history of the vehicle describing why the science of its design worked for America, "The Model T" is enhanced with countless black and white photos, some of which have never before been published. A must for true car lovers.


The Woodworking Shelf

Emotions in Wood
Ann Brouwers
Linden Publishing
2006 S. Mary, Fresno, CA 93721
9781933502168, $21.95, www.lindenpub.com

There's nothing wooden at all about the emotions on these faces. "Emotions in Wood: Carving the Expressive Face" is a guide for those who partake in the craft of carving wood. Step by step instructions guide the reader to create enthralling wooden sculptures that invoke emotion. Ideal for woodworkers who are just getting started or have a little practice already, "Emotions in Wood" is a must for anyone who wants to master the expressive human face in the art of woodcarving.


The Library Reference Shelf

Natural Disasters
Lee Davis
Facts on File
c/o Infobase Publishing
132 West 31st Street, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10001
9780816070008, $75.00, www.factsonfile.com

Nature is seemingly out to get humanity. Now in a fully updated and expanded new edition, "Natural Disasters" is a complete and comprehensive guide to this, covering everything from the black death to hurricanes to earthquakes to tsunamis. In this newly revised and expanded edition, "Natural Disasters" discusses the tragedies of Hurricane Katrina, the Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004, SARS, and other recent developments. Enhanced with over eighty photos, "Natural Disasters" is an ideal addition to community library reference collections.

Dictionary Of Herpetology
Harvey B. Lillywhite
Krieger Publishing Company
PO Box 9542, Melbourne, FL 32902-9542
1575240238, $112.50, www.krieger-publishing.com, 1-800-724-0025

Herpetology is defined as the scientific study of amphibians and reptiles. As with all other disciplines of scientific inquiry, herpetology has its own technical terms and conceptual terminology that must be mastered by its students and practitioners. New from the Krieger Publishing Company, "Dictionary Of Herpetology" is an updated, alphabetically arranged, 384-page guide by Harvey B. Lillywhite (Professor of Zoology, University of Florida). This authoritative, comprehensive, single-volume dictionary features selected cross-referenced entries clarifying technical terms and concepts associated with herpetology. The "Dictionary Of Herpetology" provides a complete, concise, 'user friendly' compilation of 11,358 entries and emphasizes terminology related to anatomy, physiology, systematics, evolution, and other thematically appropriate aspects of herpetology -- including newly emerged fields of the sciences relevant to the study of amphibians and reptiles. A core addition to academic library reference collections, the "Dictionary Of Herpetology" is an essential reference for students and anyone else involved with the study of amphibians and reptiles, as well as community library reference shelves for non-specialist general readers seeking clarification of associated terminologies and concepts.

International Poisonous Plants Checklist
D. Jesse Wagstaff
CRC Press
c/o Taylor & Francis Group
6000 NW Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300
Boca Raton, FL 33487
9781420062526, $149.95, www.crcpress.com, 1-800-272-7737

Poisonous plants are both detrimental and beneficial to human health. They are present (or potentially present) in every horticultural climate. Plant toxicology has been a field of study for centuries and while our knowledge of them in immense, every year brings new scientific discoveries. "International Poisonous Plants Checklist: An Evidence-Based Reference" by plant toxicologist D. Jess Wagstaff is an impressive and up-to-date encyclopedic compendium that defines toxic vascular plants of the world using accepted botanic names; provides support toxicity information for each plant from references to primary literature; and cross-references selected toxic plant synonyms and common names. Included are all known animal feed plants, human food plants, and many plants that are sources of herbal products and dietary supplements, tonics, and therapeutic agents along with verification of known data on toxic vascular plants from around the world. The "International Poisonous Plants Checklist" should be considered as a core and mandatory addition to professional and academic library Biological Sciences, Horticultural, and Pharmaceutical reference collections.


The Audiobook Shelf

Secrets of a Shoe Addict
Beth Harbison, author
Orlagh Cassidy, narrator
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315, New York, NY 10010
9781427204233, $29.95 www.macmillanaudio.com 1-800-221-7945

Secrets of a Shoe Addict (7 CDs, 9 hours) is an beautifully recorded unabridged audiobook by Beth Harbison about three female friends who become bosom buddies when tragicomic (well, mostly comic) events threaten their formerly stable lives. One accidentally hired a male prostitute; another, a minister's wife, is being blackmailed; the third is a wife and mother teetering on the edge of a bottomless pit of credit card debt. A lighthearted novel of romance, friendship, struggling to raise kids, revenge, and the many dimensions of love that is superbly narrated by Orlagh Cassidy, Secrets of a Shoe Addict is a wonderfully engaging audiobook experience, especially recommended to fans of the popular television series and movie "Sex and the City" as a spiritual offshoot of the genre. Also highly recommended is author Beth Harbison's previous audio book novel, "Shoe Addicts Anonymous".

The Broken Window
Jeffery Deaver, author
George Guidall, narrator
Recorded Books, LLC
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
9781436118576, $123.75 www.recordedbooks.com 1-800-638-1304

Part of the "Lincoln Rhyme" series of crime fiction novels by author Jeffery Deaver, The Broken Window is an flawlessly recorded unabridged audiobook rendition a shocking, modern murder mystery by Jeffery Deaver. Aggregated consumer data is being manipulated to serve the whims of a psychopathic killer. When Lincoln's cousin is charged with a brutal crime, and a preponderance of evidence suggests his guilt despite his claims of innocence, Lincoln's investigation uncovers the machinations of an evil man who plucks the system's strings to frame others for his rapes and murders. The murderer has apparently already framed other innocent victims using the worst possible type of identity theft, and Lincoln himself could be next! Chillingly read by narrator George Guidall, and enhanced with tracks every three minutes for easy bookmarking, The Broken Window is sure to appeal to crime fiction connoisseurs. 12 CDs, 14 hours.


The Interior Design Shelf

Guy Spaces
Wayne Kalyn
Creative Homeowner
PO Box 38, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458-0038
9781580113991, $19.95, www.creativehomeowner.com

Whether it's genetic or cultural (and probably a mix of both), there are distinctive and easily recognizable differences between the kinds of interior designs favored by women as distinguished from those favored by men. "Guy Spaces: A Guide To Defining A Man's Personal Space" by Wayne Kalyn is a profusely illustrated compendium of examples of what especially appeals to male sensibilities when it comes to the interior designs, layouts, furnishings, and color choices for garages, workshops, media and game rooms, game courts and home gyms; grilling spaces (clearly the most male of domestic male domains!); sheds; bedrooms, bathrooms and storage. Enhanced with the inclusion of a Resources section, a Glossary, and an Index, "Guy Spaces is not only informed and informative, but occasionally inspired as it provides showcased examples of interior design concepts and ideas. "Guy Spaces" is an exceptional and specialized addition recommended for personal, professional, academic, and community library Interior Design reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Simple Style
Julia Bird
Quadrille Publishing
525 South Fourth Street, #241, Philadelphia, PA 19147
9781844005246, $39.95, www.quadrilleusa.com

Just as in fashion, music, art and architecture, there are trends and fads in the field of interior design. Currently the emphasis in interior design for homes is toward simplicity and the absence of clutter, the importance of comfort and a non-minimalist subtlety. The collaborative work of freelance stylist and interior designer Julia Bird, freelance writer and illustrator Bridget Bodoano, and lifestyle, interiors photographer Hotze Eisma, "Simple Style: Creating Relaxed interiors In The Contemporary Home" is an instructive and illustrative compendium of ideas and concepts for creating calm, comfortable home environments whose hallmark is one of simplicity but not the minimalism of an earlier era. All aspects are covered including space, color, materials, furnishings, storage, and detail. Informed and informative, "Simple Style" provides a thoroughly 'reader friendly' approach that is illustrated with twelve case studies showcasing how simply stylish interiors can be created. A superbly practical and inspiring reference, "Simply Style" is recommended for academic library Interior Design reference collections, as well as the working library collections for professional interior designers, as well as community library collections for the benefit of non-specialist general readers with an interest in the principles and concepts of interior design.


James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
http://www.midwestbookreview.com


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