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Internet Bookwatch

Volume 14, Number 2 February 2004 Home | IBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Musicbook Shelf Computer Shelf
Metaphysical Shelf International Shelf Psychology Shelf
Travel Shelf Sports Shelf Judaic Studies Shelf
Gaming Shelf Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf Buddhist Studies Shelf
Graphic Novel Shelf Parenting Shelf Library Video/DVD Shelf
Social Issues Shelf Writing/Publishing Shelf Political Science Shelf
Gardening Shelf Fantasy/Sci-Fi Shelf Needlecraft Shelf
Artbook Shelf Antiques/Collectibles Shelf Library Science Shelf
Jobs/Careers Shelf Fiction Shelf Business Shelf
Cookbook Shelf Science Shelf Photography Shelf
Audiobook Shelf Literary Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Automotive Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf Railroading Shelf
Humor Shelf Genealogy Shelf Women's Studies Shelf
Library CD Music Shelf Woodworking Shelf Economics Shelf
Egyptology Shelf World History Shelf Biography Shelf
Marriage Shelf Military Shelf Money/Finance Shelf
Health/Medicine Shelf Native American Shelf Language Studies Shelf
Religion/Spirituality Shelf Environmental Shelf Self-Help Shelf
American History Shelf Philosophy Shelf Education Shelf


Reviewer's Choice

Skin Deep
Karol Griffin
Harcourt, Brace & Company
15 East 26th Street, New York NY 10010
0151008841 $24.00 1-800-543-1918

Karol Griffin takes the myths of the West (and surrounding the outlaw image) on faith in Skin Deep as she encounters a body art workshop in Laramie Wyoming, only to find a new vocation on the fringes of polite society. Griffin's newfound career as a tattoo artist leads to plenty of social insights and commentary in this lively unusual, "reader engaging", and very highly recommended discourse.

Our Own Devices
Edward Tenner
Knopf/Random House
1745 Broadway, 17th fl., NY, NY 10019
0375407227 $26.00 1-800-726-0600

Edward Tenne's Our Own Devicesr is superbly presented survey which is hard to easily categorize but nonetheless very highly recommended reading. Our Own Devices informatively covers inventions of everyday things that protect us, enhance performance, and help position us. From ergomatic chairs and recliners which moved from health resources to symbols of obesity to a keyboard which failed because professional pianists believed difficult passages needed to stay challenging, Our Own Devices draws some interesting parallels between advancements, achievement, and self-preservation.

Yale University Press
Box 209040, New Haven, CT 06520-9040
1-800-987-7323 www.amazon.com

Two excellent art titles deserve ongoing mention and recommendation as standard art library acquisitions. Lewis Carroll's photography is explored in Dreaming In Pictures (0300091699, $39.95), a gorgeous presentation of duotones of the writer's lesser-known art works. Before Carroll achieved fame as a writer, he was a sophisticated photographer well known in the art world of Victorian England. This accompanies an exhibition of his photos of young children. Linda Baumgarten's What Clothes Reveal (0300095805, $65.00) reveals clothing in Colonial and Federal American style. This important title blends history and fashion in a coverage which includes formal clothing to daily garments, and which also includes apparel of slaves and nursing apparel. The wealth of historical background and information is complimented by color photos throughout. Both are unusual and exceptional recommendations.

Searching For Anne Frank
Susan Goldman Rubin
Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
100 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10011
www.abramsbooks.com
0810945142 $19.95 1-800-759-0190

Published in association with the Simon Wiesenthal Center-Museum of Tolerance Library and Archives, Searching For Anne Frank: Letters From Amsterdam To Iowa by Susan Goldman Rubin surveys the correspondence between Anne Frank and ten-year-old Juanita Wagner of Danville, Iowa. Juanita chose Anne's name off of a list provided by her teacher for a pen-pal experience; each girl was to see a very different view of the horrific events unfolding in World War II. This poignant look at the brief correspondence between two young girls, filled with black-and-white and color photographs, offers unique insight into Anne Frank's famous Diary, and is a highly recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library 20th Century Biography collections and Holocaust Studies reading lists.

Homespun Gifts From The Heart
Karen Ehman, et al.
Revell/Baker Book House
Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
0800758706 $14.99 bakerbooks.com

The collaborative effort of Karen Ehman, Kelly Hovermale, and Trish Smith, Homespun Gifts From The Heart offers 200 simple projects for personally making beautiful and uniquely touching gifts, ranging from candy cane cappuccino, to window gardens and bridal baskets for happily engaged female friends. Black-and-white photographs and easy-to-follow instructions, and 250 gift tags combine to make Homespun Gifts From The Heart a truly first-rate craft creation guide suitable for all celebratory gift-giving occasions.

How To Stop A Stalker
Detective Mike Proctor
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Dr., Amherst, NY 14228
www.prometheusbooks.com
1591020913 $21.00 1-800-421-0351

Detective Mike Proctor teaches readers the basics of defending themselves in How To Stop A Stalker, a guide for those coping with repeated harassment by potentially violent individuals. From why stalkers follow their victims; to what to do if one is being stalked; the collection of evidence; getting the justice system on one's side; what to do in court, and so much more, How To Stop A Stalker is an absolute "must-read", and bears the very highest recommendation for men and women alike -- because statistical data indicates 1 out of 12 women and 1 out of every 45 men will be stalked in their lifetime. In our troubled times of having to also deal with the threats presented by domestic and foreign terrorism, How To Stop A Stalker is even more relevant to the lives of ordinary citizens and could well save your life and the lives of those dear to you.

Collector Press
PO Box 230986, Portland, OR 97281
1-800-423-1848 www.amazon.com

This publisher's gorgeous historical coverages should not be missed, and many an art library collection will want to include them in the holdings. Arlen Schumer's Silver Age of Comic Book Art (188054-859, $29.95) provides the author's pop-art tribute to mainstream comic book artists of the 1960s. This blends text and graphic design to capture the achievements of the comics creators who heralded the Silver Age of comics. The visual blends of classic comic covers and full-page art make this a eye-catching volume indeed. Fans of pin-up girls won't want to miss the latest additions to the expanding offerings from this publisher: Playful Pin-Ups (188054-59X) provides full-page reproductions of girls under windy conditions; Elvgren Girls II (188054344) provides stunning art from this major pinup artist, with color so bright it looks like it's jumping from the page; and Max Allan Collins' Calendar Girl (188054786, $39.95) provides a narrowed focus reprinting complete calendars well into the 1950s. All are gorgeous historical presentations.

Sanctuary
Thomas Roma
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 N. Charles St., Baltimore MD 21218
0801869552 $29.95 1-800-537-5487

Sanctuary refers to a place of worship and also a state of mind. Thomas Roma places these in visual perspective, locating sacred parts of the community within the Brooklyn area and charting the efforts of generations to leave their mark. Roma's excellent black and white photos are showcased in contrasting images of different religious faiths and sanctuaries. Sanctuary is an impressively memorable and recommended work.

The Woodworker's Handbook
Roger Horwood
The Lyons Press
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
1585748390 $19.95 1-800-836-0510

The Woodworker's Handbook provides a complete reference guide to woodworking, introducing beginners to everything from assessing woods for different purposes to choosing tools and equipment, learning basic woodworking skills, and completing a set of sample projects. Included also are techniques for repairing and restoring old wood. An excellent, practical guide for any newcomer wishing entry into the world of the woodworker.

Princeton Architectural Press
37 East 7th St., New York NY 10003
1-800-777-4726 www.amazon.com

Babette Hines' Photobooth (1568983816, $19.95) is outstanding: a rare collection of vernacular photos which focus on photo booth images. Her history of the concept and evolution of the photo booth accompanies sets of booth-produced images which document both changing personalities and seasons and the uniqueness of the photobooth style. Jessica Helfand's Reinventing The Wheel (1568983387, $24.95) covers everything from calculators to slidable information wheels and chart wheels. The focus is on wheels which turn data into visual information images: the result's a unique, involving coverage.

Seeing Double
J. Richard Lock
Routledge
29 West 35th St., New York NY 10001
0415934826 $19.95 1-800-634-7064

Over 200 illusions and examples of mind-bending tricks are included in Richard Lock's Seeing Double, a fascinating guide to curious visual phenomena which tricks the eye into seeing two different images of each selection and never at the same time. These are hand-drawn renderings (from both antique and contemporary sources) taken from around the world, and providing both well-known and unusual images from double illusions and ambiguous images to puzzles. Seeing Double is a treasure trove of mind-challenging images.

Metrobooks
230 5th Avenue, New York NY 10001
www.amazon.com

Two new titles are ongoing, recommended picks for readers interested in visual displays. Astounding and unusual is Frank Chery, Jason Miller's title (158663674X, $12.95) which captures the architect's unique and changing styles, from residential abodes to commercial interiors. Over twenty of his bold buildings are displayed in full color, accompanying a text which describes their significant architectural features and unique attributes. Robert Moore Jr.'s America From The Air (1586-631160, $19.98) is a bargain price for a thick, oversized coffee-table presentation. It packs in aerial shots of natural landscapes around the country and is remarkable and notable for its striking landscape images. Both are excellent titles of strong value.

Architects Of Peace
Michael Collopy
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
1577312317 $24.95 1-800-972-6657

Photographer Michael Collopy set out to document the visions of over seventy of the world's great peacemakers spiritual leaders, politicians, and artists alike. Architects Of Peace blends art and insights alike in a volume which blends Collopy's tritone photos of these people with essays reflecting their beliefs. From Jean-Michael Cousteau and Elie Wiesel to Joan Baez and others, Architects Of Peace makes for a fine repersentation of images and tributes to peace.

Watson-Guptill
770 Broadway, New York NY 10003
1-800-451-1741 www.amazon.com

This publisher's basic 'how to' guides will appeal to any with an interest in beginning art. Fans of Japanese manga comics fans will relish Christopher Hart's Manga Mania (0823030350, $19.95), which provides an introduction on how to draw the popular Japanese comics. Fight scenes, flying scenes, and classic manga characters are all displayed in a clear step-by-step set of how-to instructions. Tom Ang's Photoshop For Photography (0823053733, $24.95) tells how to master Photoshop to produce superior digital images. Hobbists and professionals alike will find this an excellent guide to creating balanced, clean images. Diane Maurer-Mathison's Art And Craft Of Handmade Cards (0823021831, $24.95) tells how to create beautiful cards for all occasions. Either purchase paper or make your own using a title which tells how to stencil, batik, stamp and use other techniques to create a card. Claire Watson Garcia's Drawing For The Absolute And Utter Beginner (0823013952, $19.95) is based on the author's own successful workshops and provides notices with the basics on how to draw. From using different pencils, pens and charcoal to creating compositions and views, this is packed with basic techniques. All are lively, excellent titles.

None Of Them Were Heroes
Chaim Rockman
Devora Publishing
40 East 78th St, Suite 16D, NY NY 10021
www.devorapublishing.com
1930143745 $21.95 1-800-232-2931

Compiled and arranged by Chaim Rockman, None Of Them Were Heroes: Letters Between The Lines 1938-1942 is an anthology of letters written by a family dispersed over three continents who tried to maintain contact with one another during the dark days of World War II. Arranged with selected newspaper articles from Europe and the United States that combine to put the terrible events of the spread of Nazism in context, None Of Them Were Heroes shows a very personal and unforgettable viewpoint of ordinary individuals struggling to survive and endure during those perilous times.

Mark Twain And Medicine
K. Patrick Ober
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Boulevard, Columbia, MO 65201
0826215025 $47.50 1-800-828-1894

Mark Twain And Medicine: "Any Mummery Will Cure" by K. Patrick Ober (Professor of Internal Medicine and Associate Dean for Education, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina) is an informative and scholarly survey and analysis of the famous and opinionated American author Mark Twain's views of and experiences with the medical profession. Twain's experiments with alternative care systems available in his era (partly due to his frustration with the shortcomings of traditional medicine), and Twain's articulate (and sometimes scathing) commentaries offer a unique perspective on the American medical industry of his day -- and still comes alive for contemporary readers who are keeping in mind how the author's life experience impacted his great works of literature. Highly recommended for in-depth American literature studies shelves, and particularly for those devoted to Twain's immortal literary classics, Mark Twain And Medicine is a welcome addition to academic and community library collections.


The Musicbook Shelf

African-American Jazz Musicians In The Diaspora
Larry Ross
The Edwin Mellen Press
PO Box 450, Lewiston, NY 14092-0450
edwinmellenpress.com
0773468579 $99.95 1-716-754-2788

Expertly written by Larry Ross (a winner of the International Association of Jazz Educators Award for Outstanding Musicianship for the piano), African-American Jazz Musicians In The Diaspora is a methodical survey of the history of jazz music in the twentieth century, including jazz in Germany 1925-1945; jazz musicians in postwar Europe; the influence American culture had on the death rates of jazz and classical musicians; contemporary changes in the European jazz scene, and more. A thoughtful, extensively researched, and fact-filled discourse, African-American Jazz Musicians In The Diaspora is very strongly recommended for the academic library Black Studies, Music Studies and/or Music History reference shelf.

The Essential Guide To Irish Flute And Tin Whistle
Grey Larsen
Mel Bay Publications, Inc.
#4 Industrial Drive, Pacific, MO 63069
0786649429 $39.95 www.melbay.com

The Essential Guide To Irish Flute And Tin Whistle by master musician Grey Larsen is a combination history and instruction book which is enhanced with the inclusion of a set of two audio CDS intended to aid the reader in mastering both basics and advanced techniques to playing the Irish Flute, Tin Whistle/Pennywhistle, Boehm-System Flute, and/or Piccolo. Black-and-white photographs; meticulously detailed instructions concerning everything from rhythms to finger placement; a fascinating and informative body of history and tradition concerning the Irish Flute; a veritable wealth of musical transcripts; as well as the music playing of masters recorded and released from 1925 to 2001 on the CDS, mark The Essential Guide To Irish Flute And Tin Whistle as a "must-have" for dedicated musicians and performers determined to make the most of their talent with these tradition and folk music instruments.

The Jubilee Singers And Their Songs
J.B.T. Marsh
Dover Publications
31 East 2nd Street, Mineola, NY 11501
0486431320 $12.95 1-800-223-3130

The Jubilee Singers And Their Songs is the informative and seminal story of the Jubilee Singers and their songs is one of the evolution of Negro folksongs and spirituals, with this republication of a 1892 classic recounting the group's rise to popularity and fame. Add a score notated in both open and in a two-stave keyboard reduction for rehearsal and you have a title which is a strongly recommended pick for students of American Music History.

Ticket To Ride
Larry Kane
Running Press
125 South Twenty-Second Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-4399
0762415924 $22.95 1-800-345-5359

Yet another book on the Beatles, with a difference: Larry Kane's Ticket To Ride narrows the focus to their 1964 tour which changed their place in the world, and also includes a cd featuring rare interviews with the foursome. At the time nobody had ever done a tour of this size: it would be part of history, and author/newsman Kane recognized this in its making in 1964, becoming the only American reporter to tour with the Beatles to every concert and venue in 1964 and 1965. A revealing road-trip evolves.

Playing Bach On The Keyboard
Richard Troeger
Amadeus Press
512 Newark Pompton Turnpike, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444
1574670840 $24.95 halleonard.com

In Playing Bach On The Keyboard, keyboardist and Bach specialist Richard Troeger takes a new look at the Bach keyboard music available but directs his examination to the nonspecialist player, bringing in historical background and discussions of musical applications of the styles and instruments Bach employed. From the importance of notational details in understanding the composer's intentions to changes in norms between Bach's period and modern times, Playing Bach On The Keyboard provides classical musicians with a wonderful survey of issues in Bach's music

Songbook
Nick Hornby
Riverhead Books/Berkley Publishing
375 Hudson Street, NY, NY 10014
1573223565 $13.00 1-800-847-5515

This collection of personal insights on pop music provides a series of essays and reflections on what makes good music, and what attracts listeners to music. Sprinkled within this first-person observational are reflections on the art of music and the appreciation of various pop artists and styles which will delight music-loving audiences.


The Computer Shelf

Art Of Java Web Development
Neal Ford
Manning Publications Company
109 Vincent Ave., Lynbrook, NY 11563
1932394060 $44.95 www.manning.com

Java expert Neal Ford's Art Of Java Web Development is a solid instructional text and resource for Java web developers who have already mastered the basic ins and outs of servlets, JSPs, statelessness, and other fundamentals. Art Of Java Web Development specifically focuses on frameworks, such as Struts, Tapestery, WebWork, and others -- the class libraries of pre-built web parts that all web applications need. Unit testing, caching, pooling, performance tuning, and other issues involved in working with frameworks are all studied in depth with examples, sample code, screenshots, and much more. Neal Ford's Art Of Java Web Development is confidently recommended as being a superbly organized and presented website development resource.

Que Publishing
201 West 103rd St, Indianapolis IN 46290
www.mcp.com www.amazon.com

Absolute Beginner's Guide To WordPerfect 11 (0789730715, $18.95) by Laura Acklen reveals all the secrets necessary to fulfill word processing needs of the novice. This superbly organized and presented guide will methodically take the reader step-by-step through the essential tasks to produce any type of document rangin from letters, invoices, lists, reports, and newsletters, to invitations, charts, presentations, spreadsheets, and more. If you are new to using a word processor, then Laura Acklen's Absolute Beginner's Guide To WordPerfect 11 is the ideal instructional for you. Special Edition Using Microsoft Office Frontpage 2003 (0789729547, $39.99) by Microsoft Office FrontPage software expert Paul Colligan is completely rewritten and redesigned from previous editions in order to incorporate the much-changed new version of FrontPage. The strongly recommended instruction and referrence manual emphasizes how to design professional looking sites, how to keep them current with effective content management techniques, and how to do both while working toward the crucial goals of strong communication and interaction. An accompanying CD package is enhanced with the inclusion of Woody's Office Power Pack and one hour of video training.

Adobe Press/Peachpit Press
1249 8th Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
1-800-283-9444 www.peachpit.com

These important new guides are recommended picks from Adobe. Adobe Photoshop 7.0 Classroom In A Book (0321115-627, $45.00) comes with a CD ROM and holds 18 lessons designed to teach the basics of Adobe Photoshop. The book is designed for maximum use; it can be either followed from start to finish, or users can skip around to pertinent chapters. The official training workbook from Adobe Systems. Don't miss Jack Davis and Linnea Dayton's Adobe Photoshop 7 One-Click Wow! (0321125312, $29.99) which also comes with a cd and which specializes in a range of tips for producing custom art. From layer styles and enhancements for photos, this provides keys to using photoshop to its maximum potential. Clear color photo examples help demonstrate the importance of these styles and choices in affecting the final image. The 5th edition of Elizabeth Castro's HTML For The World Wide Web, 5th Edition (0321130073, $21.99) provides an updated visual guide to learning HTML coding. Use it like a reference book for instant answers to common HTML problems: it provides plenty of basics in an easily-understood, visual format.

Information Today
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055
1-800-300-9868 www.amazon.com

Carole Lane's Naked In Cyberspace (0910965501, $29.95) provides a powerful focus on locating information on the internet: personal records which are now available if you know where to look. From locating and investigating people to seeking information on background, assets, and employee information, this provides a source for locating personal information which doesn't just provide web addresses, but a whole routine for conducting an investigation both within and outside the computer realm. Irene McDermott's Librarian's Internet Survival Guide (091096129X, $29.50) provides strategies for the reference librarian who wants to make the most of technology. From Web resources for answering reference questions to understanding the importance of current information and how to grasp it, this helps librarians make the most of Web tools

Going Wi-Fi
Janice Reynolds
CMP Books
1601 West 23rd Street, Suite 200, Lawrence, KS 66046
1578203015 $34.95 www.cmpbooks.com

Going Wi-Fi: A Practical Guide To Planning And Building An 802.11 Network is a straightforward manual by information technology and Internet/Intranet expert Janice Reynolds for installing a "Wi-Fi" wireless network, whether within an existing corporate network or starting from scratch. An overview of "Wi-Fi" history; an introduction to its technology; and a "walk through" of the individual steps to get started, Going Wi-FI also addresses such critically important concerns as security issues, antenna positioning, troubleshooting, and more. Packed from cover to cover with a richly detailed and "user friendly" text, Going Wi-Fi is an indispensable how-to resource for understanding and implementing Wi-Fi technology at home, in the workplace, or at school.

Sams Publishing
201 West 103rd St, Indianapolis IN 46290
www.mcp.com www.amazon.com

Expertly organized and thoroughly "user friendly", Microsoft Visual Basic .NET 2003 Kick Start (0672325497, $34.99) by Duncan Mackenzie bypasses the usual handholding and basic programming instruction associated with entry-level tutorials. Full of code examples, tips, and professional insights, Microsoft Visual Basic .NET 2003 Kick Start is about maximum payoff with minimum effort for the working programming who wants to use Visual Basic .NET straight off. Mark Artiges' BEA WebLogic Server 8.1 Unleashed (0672324873, $59.99) is the justifiably definitive reference work for the WebLogic developer, offering an in-depth look at the capabilities provided by WebLogic Server and illustrating the best development practices. BEA WebLogic Server 8.1 Unleashed comprehensively covers WebLogic's role in every aspect of a J2EE application: working with Servlets, JavaServer Pages and Enterprise JavaBeans, managing distributed systems including transactions with JTA, directory services with JNDI, messaging with JMS, and more.

Murach's ASP.NET Web Programming With VB.NET
Doug Lowe & Anne Prince
Mike Murach & Associates
2560 W. Shaw Lane, Suite 101, Fresno, CA 93711-2765
1890774200 $49.50 www.murach.com

The collaborative effort of ASP.NET web programming experts Doug Lowe and Anne Prince, Murach's ASP.NET Web Programming With VB.NET is an extensive, 718-page training and reference manual featuring instruction, techniques, examples, sample code and a great deal more concerning ASP.NET essentials, debugging, database programming skills, including how to secure a web application and developing custom server controls. An extremely thorough and comprehensive instructional and reference guide for users of all levels of web programming expertise, Murach's ASP.NET Web Programming With VB.NET is a simply superb guide that gets the job done and packs in just about everything any ASP.NET programmer needs to know within a single, well organized volume.

Osborne/McGraw-Hill
2100 Powell Street, Emeryville, CA 94608
1-800-722-4726 www.amazon.com

Quicken 2004: The Official Guide (0072-229705; 560 pages; $24.99) by Maria Langer has the honor of having been reviewed and endorsed by Intuit, the makers of Quicken. Quicken 2004: The Official Guide nicely provides full coverage of all the diverse features that make Quicken the top-selling personal finance software. Quicken 2004: The Official Guide deftly shows its readers how to manage their money and investments including spending, savings, budgets, banking, and a great deal more. The collaborative effort of Richard Petersen & Ibrahim Haddad, Red Hat Linux Pocket Administrator (00722-29748; 256 pages; $24.99) is handy resource which accessible offers busy network administrators clear and concise information for daily on-the-job tasks--all in a portable format. Key management tasks are presented in logically organized sections, with special emphasis on system administration. In The Art Of Java (007222-9713; 400 pages; $39.99) by Java experts Herb Schildt & James Holmes there is something for every programmer in the expert presentation of a number of practical, high-powered applications of Java. Included are pure code subsystems such as the expression parser, which readers will adapt for use in their own programs, financial calculations and statistics programs that feature ready-for-use applets/servlets, interpreter or the AI-based search engine, and much more.

Embedded Ethernet And Internet Complete
Jan Axelson
Lakeview Research
5310 Chinook Ln., Madison, WI 53704
1931448000 $49.95 www.Lvr.com

Embedded Ethernet And Internet Complete by computer networking expert Jan Axelson is a very practical and "user friendly" instructional guide to designing and programming tiny web servers and using TCP/IP to communicate over local networks and the Internet. A truly in-depth, detail-oriented, and very comprehensive resource replete with examples, suggestions, basics to get started quickly, and more, Embedded Ethernet And Internet Complete is an ideal reference for professionals as well as those who aspire to a professional level of competence in their own right. Also very highly recommended are Jan Axelson's other computer instructionals: USB Complete; Serial Port Complete; and Parallel Port Complete.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Bear & Company/Inner Traditions
PO Box 388, Rochester, VT 05767
1-800-246-8648 www.amazon.com

Two new guides from Inner Traditions provide an important set of insights into various aspects of spiritual awareness. Ellen Pearlman's Tibetan Sacred Dance (0892819189, $29.95) provides an important exploration of the significance and symbolism of the sacred and ritual dances of Tibetan Buddhism. The history of sacred Cham is explored in chapters which range from a survey of storytelling operas and folk dances to descriptions of the mental, physical and spiritual processes involved in their production and participation. A gorgeous, revealing guide. Claudia Muller-Ebeling, et.al.'s Witchcraft Medicine (0892819715, $24.95) is a scholarly achievement which analyzes witch medicine through a history of women who for centuries were healers. Ancient and medieval texts up to Renaissance times are considered in a guide which describes events, rituals, the evolution of the female healer over the decades, and the history of forbidden medicine. Caelum Rainieri and Ivory Andersen's Nahualli Animal Oracle (Bear & Co, 1-59143017-8, $35.00) blends a lovely gift package of forty color cards and a 192-page illustrated book for spiritual seekers interested in Aztec spirituality. Nahualli is the word for shadow soul, the animal double of the human soul: the divination cards and book offers a means for modern spiritual seekers to identify their own nahualli and receive guidance from Aztec traditions.

The Soul's Book Of Answers
Carol Bolt
Stewart, Tabori & Chang, Inc.
115 West 18th Street, NY, NY 10011
1584793015 $16.00 1-212-519-1200

The Soul's Book Of Answers by Carol Bolt is a unique work not meant to be read in the traditional manner. It is comprised of aphorisms, quotes from famous figures, common wisdom, prayers, and more inspirational thoughts that touch upon all aspects of life. To use it, one meditates upon a question, opens the book to a page that feels appropriate, and reads the thought on that page, which can be applied as one's answer. One would be surprised how relevant general advice such as "Do not be overly concerned to change [others'] opinion[s]" can be to a given problem of the heart. Also very highly recommended is Carol Bolt's previous work - Love's Book Of Answers (Stewart, Tabori & Chang, 1584793015, $16.00).

Llewellyn Worldwide
PO Box 64383, St. Paul, MN 44164
www.llewellyn.com www.amazon.com

Llewellyn has a corner on the New Age spirituality market, and their latest publications provide basic texts which will appeal widely to the Wiccan and New Age spirituality reader. Raven Grimassi's Spirit Of The Witch (0738703389, $12.95) considers the role of religion and spirituality in the work of modern witchcraft. Chapters consider the spiritual elements of the Wiccan rituals, crafts, and practices and consider how they apply to both seasonal and religious rituals. Carl Neal's Incense: Crafting & Use Of Magickal Scents (0738703362, $15.95) narrows the focus to incense, from using it appropriately in spiritual ceremonies to crafting homemade blends. This promises interest beyond New Age readers: any who enjoy incense will appreciate the dozens of recipes for creating blends for every occasion. Ann Moura's Grimoire For The Green Witch (0738702870, $17.95) narrows the focus to Green Witchcraft, covering Circle Casting, Circle Opening, spells, formulas, and seasonal rituals. This set of instructions is a facsimile of her own Book Of Shadows And Grimoire, and will please any seeking exact formulas and progressions for rituals. Ray Malbrough's HooDoo Mysteries (0738703508, $12.95) focuses on the traditions and spiritualism of the bayous of Louisiana, examining Hoodoo magic, rituals, and history. From the secrets of root working and magical baths to medium tools, this is packed with insights on divination and Hoodoo magic. John Michael Greer's New Encyclopedia Of The Occult (073873360, $29.95) presents a comprehensive reference book on the topic, providing an 'A to Z' Bible on the history, philosophies and major figures of Western occultism. History, folklore, philosophies, and practices blend in a fine and absorbing reference. Raven Kaldera and Tannin Schwartzstein's HandFasting And Wedding Rituals (0738704-709, $16.95) provides a set of wedding rituals to appeal to Pagans who feel alienated by other ceremonies: it's meant to bring together Pagan and non-Pagan family alike, displaying ceremonies which blend diffeent spiritual paths for maximum effect.

Asteroid Goddesses
Demetra George & Douglas Bloch
Ibis Press
c/o Nicolas-Hays, Inc.
PO Box 1126, Berwick, ME 03901
0892540826 $22.95 nicolashays.com

Now in a newly published and expanded edition with updated ephemerides of 16 asteroids 1930-2050, Asteroid Goddesses by Demetra George and Douglas Bloch is an impressive astrology guide emphasizing the mythology and psychology intertwined with heavenly bodies and the practice of interpreting their prophecy and guidelines. An extremely lengthy and data-filled appendix of ephemerides enhances this technical and in-depth dissection. Asteroid Goddesses is a welcome and much appreciated contribution to the Astrology and Metaphysical Studies reference shelf.

Zodiac Manager
J. T. Ford
New Page Books
PO Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
www.newpagebooks.com
1564145603 $14.99 1-800-227-3371

A welcome and seminal contribution to Metaphysical Studies in general, and Astrology reference collections in particular, Zodiac Manager: An Astrological Expose Of Everyone In The Office by J. T. Ford is an unique astrology book which has been written especially to enable the reader to make an astrologically based metaphysical study of workplace colleagues. Whether finding the job most suited for one's birth sign; determining horoscope compatibility for a winning sales team; creating leadership profiles, and more, Zodiac Manager expertly integrates the signs of human strengths and weaknesses indicated by astrology with sound business practice and human resources principle.

Understanding Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot
Lon Milo DuQuette
Red Wheel/Weiser
368 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210
www.redwheelweiser.com
1578632765 $24.95 1-800-423-7087

Understanding Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot: An Authoritative Examination Of The World's Most Fascinating And Magical Tarot Cards by occult studies expert Lon Milo DuQuette is an impressively informative resource that expertly dissects and analyzes the occult symbolism of the popular Thoth Tarot deck. Each individual card of the major and minor arcana is examined with its potential meanings for carefully analyzing readings appropriately. A detailed resource filled from cover to cover with insights accessible to any dedicated Tarot card reader, whether amateur or professional, Understanding Aleister Crowley's Thoth Tarot is a welcome and seminal contribution to the growing library of Tarot Studies, as well as a highly recommended addition to personal, professional, and academic Metaphysical Studies collections.


The International Studies Shelf

Post-Stabilization Politics In Latin America
Carol Wise & Riordan Roett, editors
Brookings Institution Press
1775 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20036-2188
www.brookings.edu
0815793839 $22.95 1-800-275-1447

Expertly compiled and deftly co-edited by Carol Wise (Associate Professor, University of Souther California School of International Relations) and Riordan Roett (Sarity and Don Johnston Professor and Director of the Western Hemisphere Program at the School for Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University), Post-Stabilization Politics In Latin America: Competition, Transition, Collapse examines the overall trend toward civilian rule in the last twenty years of Latin American history, including what modern market reforms of liberalization, privatization, and deregulation have yielded, both in positive and negative results, as well as the three main patterns of political economic adjustment. Scholarly essays by a diverse authority of learned authors informingly and challengingly explore the complex interworkings of economy and government in an astute and insightful manner. Post-Stabilization Politics In Latin America is a core addition to professional and academic library Latin American Studies reference collections.

Relentless Pursuit
Samuel Katz
Forge
175 5th Ave., New York NY 10010
0765304023 $24.95 www.amazon.com

Relentless Pursuit by Samuel Katz specifically focuses upon the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) and its hunt for Al-Queda terrorists and is drawn from Katz's six years of travel throughout the Middle East and Europe, researching international terrorism and bin-Laden's global network. Katz's encounters with the Diplomatic Security Service leads to an exploration of this unique federal enforcement agency, which comes alive in chapters of impeccable in-depth research and dramatic personal experience.

Syracuse University Press
1600 Jamesville Ave., Syracuse NY 13244
1-800-365-8929 www.amazon.com

Three new titles from Syracuse University Press are very highly recommended picks for Islamic Cultural Studies, Middle East Studies, and Women's Studies reading lists and library reference collecitons. Judith Caesar's Writing Off The Beaten Track (0815629575, $29.95) reflects on the meaning of travel and culture in the Middle East as it surveys her journey through the Untied Arab Emirates and the flavors of Arabia. Cultural and social insights abound. Shahla Haeri's No Shame For The Sun (081-5629605, $49.95) is recommended for college-level collections specializing in both women's studies and Middle East history. This surveys the lives of professional Pakistani women in chapters which document both political and social thought in Pakistani society. Mahnaz Kousha's Voices From Iran (0815629621, $39.95) reveals the rapidly-changing lives of modern Iranian women and is also recommended for college-level students. From family ties to cherished bonds of matrimony, this considers all aspects of Iranian women's experiences.


The Psychology Shelf

Confidentiality
Charles Levin, et al.
The Analytic Press
101 West Street, Hillsdale, NJ 07642
0881633550 $55.00 analyticpress.com

Collaboratively compiled and edited by Charles Levin, Allannah Furlong, and Mary Kay O'Neil, Confidentiality: Ethical Perspectives And Clinical Dilemmas is comprised of a selection of essays by learned authors concerning the ethical, legal, and clinical issues regarding confidentiality in the relationship between psychoanalyst and patient. In the twenty-first century, an era in which personal privacy is increasingly stripped away, the importance of confidentiality in legal and psychoanalytical terms requires close scrutiny in a striving to balance the needs of the public at large with the rights of the individual. Case studies of ethical dilemmas, the consequences of breaches of confidentiality, problems directly relating to clinical practice as well as more general legal matters, and much more are covered in this diverse and thoughtful engagement of a multi-sided issue.

Understanding Creativity
Jane Piirto, Ph.D.
Great Potential Press
PO Box 5057, Scottsdale, AZ 85261
0910707588 $49.95 giftedbooks.com

Understanding Creativity is an examination of the psychological impulses that drive the quality in human beings broadly labeled as "creativity," which also covers how parents and teachers can enhance creativity, as well as the cognitive aspect of creative writers, scientists, musicians, and physical performers, as well as ways to assess and train creativity. Author Jane Piirto, a teacher of the College of Education and the Director of Talent Development Education in Ashland University, offers a wealth of research, theory, and a guideline around the Seven I's - Inspiration, Imagery, Imagination, Intuition, Insight, Incubation and Improvisation - to form the foundation of a solid creative process. Understanding Creativity needs to be carefully read by anyone charged with the responsibility of recognizing talent in children, setting a creative tone with children, and encouraging children to utilize their creativity in their personal lives.

Them And Us
Arthur J. Deikman, M.D.
Bay Tree Publishing
721 Creston Road, Berkeley, CA 94708
097200212X $17.95 1-510-525-6902

Them And Us: Cult Thinking And The Terrorist Threat by Arthur J. Deikman (Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, University of California - San Francisco and a recognized expert on cult psychology) is a close and compelling study of human tendencies that can be (and have been) drawn into extreme variants that promote horrific human behaviors. Belittling others, clamping down on dissention, relying too heavily on an inspiring leader, are all common traits that, if embraced with no checks or balances, can readily lead to such nightmares as the loss of life at Waco or the September 11th attacks. Them And Us is commended as a particularly thought provoking, scholarly, and chillingly in-depth psychological study.


The Travel Shelf

Wonderwalks
Patricia Robinson
Plexus Publishing, Inc.
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055
0937548537 $19.95 www.amazon.com

Wonderwalks: The Trails Of New Jersey Audubon by Patricia Robinson is a straightforward guide to the trails, sanctuaries, and nature centers owned by the New Jersey Audubon Society and which are open to the public without toll or entry fees. Black-and-white photographs, along with an inset section of color photographs, wonderfully enhance the solid text of basic information concerning recommended paths, species of birds, butterflies, and more to be seen on various walks. Citing open hours, contact information of sites, and so much more, Wonderwalks is especially recommended "interesting things to do" resource for New Jersey natives and tourists.

Mexico By RV
Kathy Olivas
SunSeeker Publications
1970 N. Leslie Street, Suite 2003, Pahrump, Nevada 89060
0971193622 $19.95 sunseekerpub.com

Because of its abundance of maps and a strong emphasis on the need-to-know issues of daily life in another country, Mexico By RV: A Step By Step Guide to R.V.'ing In Mexico by Kathy Olivas is an extremely practical guide to vacationing, traveling, and exploring in Mexico while enjoying the comforts and mobility of one's own RV. From document requirements to cross the U.S./Mexican border; to necessary vehicular and medical insurance; to traffic laws and driving customs; to shopping (especially with regard to groceries, itinerary suggestions), and so much more, Mexico By RV is a superb travel book and enthusiastically recommended for all Mexico-bound travelers in general, and those with an RV in particular!

Kids' Adventures Around San Francisco Bay
Elina Wong
Kids EdVentures
PO Box 1090, Los Gatos, CA 95031-1090
0974361712 $16.95 www.amazon.com

Residents of the San Francisco Bay Area will welcome Kids' Adventures Around San Francisco Bay: Educational Places To Go, Things To Do, And Classes To Take In The North Bay, Peninsula, Silicon Valley, East Bay, And Santa Cruz, a book packed with ideas for visits and repeat visits to Bay Area attractions which are kid-friendly. The attractions chosen here help kids to learn new things, covers the entire Bay Area, and includes related follow-up activities to reinforce learning. These attributes plus an attention to budget-minded trips makes this a much more accessible travel guide for the entire family.


The Sports Shelf

Ring Around The Bases
Ring Lardner
University of South Carolina Press
937 Assembly Street, 8th Floor, Columbia, SC 29208
1570035318 $24.95 1-800-768-2500

First published in book form in 1992, Ring Around The Bases anthologizes the baseball short stories of famous twentieth century baseball expert and sports journalist Ring Lardner (1885-1933). Featuring an additional, previously uncollected short story in this outstanding 644-page paperback edition (edited and with an introduction by Matthew J. Bruccoli who is the Emily Brown Jefferies Professor of English at the University of South Carolina - Columbia), Ring Around The Bases, offers insights not only into the great game, but the characters of those who played it. Drawing heavily upon Lardner's lengthy experience reporting the sport, these tales make turn of the century sports excitement truly come alive. Ring Around The Bases is an important addition to any academic, or community library Sports History collection in general -- and the personal reading lists of dedicated baseball fans in particular.

The Minor League Milwaukee Brewers 1859-1952
Brian A. Podoll
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
0786414553 $29.95 1-800-253-2187

In The Minor League Milwaukee Brewers 1859-1952, Wisconsin sports historian Brian A. Podoll presents a straightforward history of baseball in Milwaukee from its debut in that city in 1859 down to the Brewers' last season in 1952. Black-and-white illustrations fill out and nicely enhance this in-depth narration, which is packed from cover to cover with statistics, trivia gems, little-known quirks of great players of yesteryear, and an overall inner core of respect for this great and popular favorite game. If you are a dedicated Brewers fan, then Brian Podoll's The Minor League Milwaukee Brewers 1859-1952 is an absolute "must"!

Living The Gold Medal Life
Mary Lee Tracy
Standard Publishing
8121 Hamilton Ave, Cincinnati OH 45231
0784713316 $12.99 1-800-543-1301

Olympic gold-medal coach Mary Lee Tracy presents Living The Gold Medal Life: Inspirations From Female Athletes, a spiral-bound collection of wisdom and insight from women who trained hard to achieve the pinnacle of physical strength, speed, finesse, and grace. Self-improvement questions with blanks for writing down answers pepper the pages of this motivational and highly recommended personal athletic performance guide filled with tips and solid advice.

100 Athletes Who Shaped Sports History
Timothy Jacobs & Russell Roberts
Bluewood Books
PO Box 689, San Mateo, CA 94401
0912517530 $7.95 1-650-548-0754

The collaborative effort of Timothy Jacobs and Russell Roberts, 100 Athletes Who Shaped Sports History is a compilation of one hundred single-page biographies summarizing the lives and achievements of great athletes ranging from Ted Williams, Patty Berg, and Sugar Ray Leonard, to Jackie Robinson, Michael Jordan, and Wayne Gretzky. A black-and-white photograph or a simple sketch of each of the great sports figures accompanies the brief narrative describing their role in the particular sport they embraced. 100 Athletes Who Shaped Sports History is recommended as a quick and easy read for sports trivia buffs, as well as being a great book to introduce young people to the varied and diverse world of sports legends.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

Finding A Spiritual Home
Rabbi Sidney Schwarz
Jewish Lights Publishing
PO Box 237, Woodstock, VT 05091
1580231853 $19.95 1-800-962-4544

Finding A Spiritual Home: How A New Generation Of Jews Can Transform The American Synagogue by Rabbi Sidney Schwarz is an informed and informative examination of a new synagogue model for the contemporary American synagogue community. Profiling four synagogues (each of which sports unique innovations and each of which is connected to one of the major movements of Judaism), Finding A Spiritual Home is a thought provoking and far-reaching discussion of what it means to congregate together and share experiences, understanding, rituals and celebrations of the Jewish faith.

Caring For The Soul
Richard F. Address
UAHC Press
633 3rd Ave., NY, NY 10017-6778
0807408867 $12.95 1-888-489-8242

Caring for the Soul: R'Fuat Hanefesh: A Mental Health Resource And Study Guide is a mental health resource and study guide which was specifically created in response to the need to raise awareness within congregations where members are struggling with mental illness: as such, it provides details on how a congregation can understand and support the issues which meld into spiritual concerns. Lay and professional leadership alike will find this shows how to create educational programs, including relevant sacred texts and readings for use in services and support groups.

The Divine Symphony
Israel Knohl
Jewish Publication Society
2100 Arch St., Philadelphia PA 19103
www.jewishpub.org
082760761X $30.00 1-800-234-3151

Bible scholar Israel Knohl presents his opposing viewpoint to the fundamentalist perspective of the Bible as a monolithic document in The Divine Symphony: The Bible's Many Voices. Drawing upon specific Bible texts, literary works in Israel between the time of Solomon's Temple and the return from Babylonian exile, The Divine Symphony explores opposing views of humanity's place in the universe, the origin and meaning of evil and suffering, the role of free will and predestination, and a great deal more. A welcome contribution to philosophy and religious studies shelves, The Divine Symphony is an excellent and recommended addition to Judaic Studies reading lists and Biblical Studies reference collections.


The Gaming Shelf

Starting Out: The Sicilian
John Emms
Everyman Chess
c/o The Globe Pequot Press
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437-0480
1857442490 $16.95 everymanbooks.com

Expertly written by a renowned chess Grandmaster John Emms, Starting Out: The Sicilian is an instructively accessible guide to the art of the Sicilian defense. From the basics to advanced chess theory and examples, Starting Out: The Sicilian is illustrated with diagrams, move-by-move observations and insightful commentary, Starting Out: The Sicilian is an excellent and strongly recommended resource for any and all serious chess players seeking to better understand and improve at this popular pastime.


The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

Frida
Salma Hayek
Newmarket Press
18 E. 48th St., New York NY 10017
1557045402 $35.00 1-800-669-3903

Driven by a life-long passion for artist Frida Kahlo's life and achievements, Selma Hayek spent over eight years moving the film on her life into production. Frida is a lavish moviebook deserves mention as a fine tribute to the artist's life and times. The contents of the play are juxtaposed with startling images from the film in an artistic, memorable display. Highly recommended -- especially for fans of the late artist's work.

Meriwether Publishing
Box 7110, Colorado Springs, CO 80933
1-800-937-5297 www.amazon.com

Two new guides to acting from Meriwether Publishing will provide both teen and adult drama students with many inspirational fundamentals. Tim McDonough's Acting Narrative Speeches (1566080762, $19.95) defines four critical essentials of how actors learn to add drama to speech, from understanding the story and conflict to layering opposite energies. Chapters and examples bring these concepts to life. Roger Ellis edits New International Plays For Young Audiences (1566080819, $19.95), providing a new anthology of complete and current plays reflecting globalization and cultural conflict. Both are inviting choices for serious drama students.

How Not To Audition
Ellie Kanner & Denny Martin Flinn
Lone Eagle
1024 N. Orange Dr, Hollywood CA 90038
www.hcdonline.com
158065049X $19.95 1-800-815-0503

Ellie Kanner is an expert and experienced casting director. Denny Martin Flinn is a skilled and successful screenwriter. Kanner and Flinn combine their respective talents and insights in How Not To Audition: Avoiding The Common Mistakes Most Actors Make. This outstanding and "real world" based advice guide for earning that crucial role offers the aspiring actor a wealth of practical suggestions, illustrative examples, and a hard-won wisdom derived from long years of personal experience. How Not To Audition is a superb guide which is enthusiastically recommended for anyone with a serious interest in establishing themselves with a performing career in theater, film or television.

Classic Sitcoms
Vince Waldron
Silman-James Press
1181 Angelo Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 91210
1879505258 $18.95 www.amazon.com

Now in a newly revised and significantly expanded second edition, Classic Sitcoms: A Celebration Of The Best In Prime-Time Comedy by television history expert Vince Waldron provides tv sitcom fans with a complete episode-by-episode summary and guide to ten of the all-time best television sitcoms, as chosen by forty-five top TV critics. "I Love Lucy"; "The Honeymooners"; "The Dick Van Dyke Show", "The Mary Tyler Moore Show", "All In The Family", "M*A*S*H", "The Bob Newhart Show", "Taxi", and "Cheers" are presented with insightful behind-the-scenes notes and anecdotes from the stars, writers, and producers. Complete credits, basic episode storylines, and tallies of Emmy awards and yearly ratings make Classic Sitcoms a superb and highly recommended resource for TV fans and trivia buffs alike.

Allworth Press
10 E. 23rd St. #510, New York NY 10010
1-800-491-2808 www.amazon.com

Two excellent guides are recommended picks for students of film and stage production. Vincent LoBrutto's Filmmaker's Guide To Production Design (1581152-248, $19.95) provides a practical guide to all areas of the production design process, from the first reading of the script to its entire production. From coordinating a team and planning different stages to constructing sets and budgeting, this is packed with advice on designing films. Charles Grippo's Stage Producer's Business And Legal Guide (1581152418, $19.95) provides a basic manual for any presenting any type of live stage entertainment, covering everything from business issues to booking halls. The emphasis on keeping production costs low and quality high makes for an excellent basic guide. Both are practical handbooks.

Media Law For Producers
Philip H. Miller
Focal Press
200 Wheeler Rd, Burlington, MA 01803
0240804783 $39.95 focalpress.com

Knowledgeably written by Philip H. Miller (an expert practicing attorney specializing in media law), and now in its fourth edition featuring new and expanded sections on option agreements, the use of copyrighted materials, developments in Internet law, as well as interactive productions, Media Law For Producers is a straightforward, 399-page guide to legal issues relevant to media projects for theatrical, television, radio, print, or electronic projects from production contracts, to copyright registration for finished programs, and more. Specifically written to be accessible to the non-specialist general reader, and to be as a solid resource with which to educate oneself before consulting with a media attorney who would charge by the hour for his expertise, Media Law For Producers is a "must-have" resource for anyone seriously involved in producing a media project regardless of the subject matter or format.

Trafalgar Square, dist.
PO Box 257, Howe Hill Road, North Pomfret, VT 05053-0257
1-800-423-4525 www.amazon.com

These film titles provide insights, entertainment, and solid views of film history. Steven Paul Davies' Prisoner Handbook (Boxtree, 0752219685, $19.95) will fascinate any who relished this cult TV series, which celebrates its 35th anniversary this year. Only 17 episodes were made, but the semi-supernatural overtones and symbolism has kept it engrossing: this book reviews these episodes, fan responses, and philosophy alike. Ian Markham-Smith and Liz Hodgson's Nicholas Cage (John Blake, 1857823966, $16.95) surveys one of the most secretive stars in Hollywood, revealing his private and professional life and surveying his film contributions. Plenty of detail on his major films makes for chapters which will intrigue any fan of the actor. Eric Braun's Frightening The Horses (Reynolds & Hearn, 190311102, $24.95) surveys gay icons of the cinema, survey gay-themed productions through surveys of the actors and actresses who appeal to gay viewers. From Judy Garland to Marlon Brando, this packs in intriguing surveys. David Bishop's Complete Inspector Morse (Reynolds, 903111269, $24.95) will reach a narrower audience of fans of the Oxford sleuth TV show, but any who have enjoyed these programs on US television will find this a viewer's pleasure, packed with a critique of the character, the original novels which produced him, and the writers' involvement in the characters of the series. All are excellent, involving titles.


The Buddhist Studies Shelf

What Is Love? A Simple Buddhist Guide
Taro Gold
Andrews & McMeel
4520 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111
0740738380 $9.95 1-800-851-8923

A splendid addition to any personal Buddhist Studies reference collection or reading list, What Is Love?: A Simple Buddhist Guide To Romantic Happiness is a compact-sized collections of inspirational and spiritual insights into the ways of love and reflecting the wisdom of a Buddhist perspective. Famous Buddhist quotes and proverbs such as "You may search the universe for someone more worthy of your love and affection than you are yourself, but such a person does not exist" are interlaced with author Taro Gold's insight into the human condition, in this impressively uplifting, and enlightening little book.

This Precious Life
Khandro Rinpoche
Shambhala Publications, Inc.
300 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02115-4544
1570623074 $21.95 shambhala.com

Featuring a foreword by the Dalai Lama, This Precious Life: Tibetan Buddhist Teachings On The Path To Enlightenment by Khandro Rinpoche is a soulful work of insight. The text of This Precious Life informatively examines the "Four Reminders" of Tibetan Buddhist teachings: the preciousness of human birth; the truth of impermanence; the reality of suffering; and the inescapableness of karma. Khandro Rinpoche insightfully explores how all of us have the potential to best enjoy, use, and fulfill the brief years of our short lives. An uplifting work embracing the philosophy of self-improvement and opening one's mind to maximum possibilities, This Precious Life is particularly recommended to the attention of both students and practitioners of Buddhism.


The Graphic Novel Shelf

Isaac The Pirate
Christophe Blain
NBM Press
555 8th Ave, #1202, NY, NY 10018-4364
1561633666 $14.95 nbmpublishing.com

Isaac The Pirate: 1. To Exotic Lands is a graphic novel by Christophe Blaine of an especially high literary quality. Isaac Sofer is a talented young artist searching for money to make himself a worthy suitor to his beloved signs on to paint the portrait of a ship captain - yet once they are on the seas, Isaac learns that he is working aboard a pirate ship! Furthermore, the captain dreams of discovering new lands around the South Pole - but at what cost? The simplistic color illustrations set the stage for a powerful and enduring tale of the failings of human nature. The first of an anticipated series, Isaac The Pirate is a very enthusiastically recommended addition to graphic novel enthusiasts.


The Parenting Shelf

1-2-3 Magic
Thomas W. Phelan
ParentMagic, Inc.
800 Roosevelt Road, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
www.parent-magic.com
1889140163 $14.95 1-800-442-4453

Now in an expanded and updated third edition, 1-2-3 Magic: Effective Discipline For Children 2-12 is a guide accessibly written by Thomas W. Phelan (an internationally known expert and lecturer on child discipline and Attention Deficit Disorder). 1-2-3 Magic is an extremely straightforward "user manual" for controlling obnoxious behavior of children ages 2 to 12 -- and teaching these youngsters to be responsible for their own actions. Denouncing the fallacy of pretending that children are "little adults" when in fact they are often selfish or foolish simply because they are too young to know any better and need to be taught, 1-2-3 Magic focuses on a core system of counting to three, then if the bad behavior persists, punishing a recalcitrant child with a time-out or a loss of privileges. A central key to the system is not to talk too much or show emotion. Indeed, a parent should not explain more than once, as too much discussion tends to confuse a child. As the child grows older the benevolent dictatorship of parenthood gradually transitions into the more democratic process of raising a teenager. An astutely written, expert work, 1-2-3 Magic is very highly recommended reading for all parents, grandparents, teachers, and babysitters.

How To Get Your Child To Love Reading
Esme Raji Codell
Algonquin Books
PO Box 2225, Chapel Hill NC 27515
1565123085 $18.95 1-800-722-7202

This treasure trove features over 3,000 hand-picked titles on all kinds of topics, and has been both child-tested and teacher-approved. From books which begin with read-alouds to support for parents of reluctant readers and indexes for locating books by subject, this packs in activities, ideas for storytimes, and all kinds of book-reinforcing fun for the kids. Many creative ideas for parents wanting to instill a love of reading abound here, making How To Get Your Child To Love Reading very strongly recommended.

Better Parenting
Leland E. Pulley
Stewardship Enterprises
PO Box 3757, Central Point, OR 97502
www.stewardshipenterprises.com
0961128240 $30.00 1-541-664-9209

With the needs of families in today's fast-paced modern world in mind, Better Parenting: A Simple Approach by Leland E. Pulley is a straightforward guide to handling parent-child interaction in a manner that uses a blend of love and firmness to set proper rules, teach children respect, responsibility, safety, and other valuable traits, improves overall communication and much more. Offering very practical strategies and useful advice for both immediate situations and long-term concerns, Better Parenting covers all age ranges of children and is highly recommended reading for all parents and those who are expecting to become parents.

The New Face Of Grandparenting
Don Schmitz
Grandkidsandme
1764 Hampshire Ave, St. Paul, MN 55116
www.grandkidsandme.com
097417100X $14.95 1-651-695-1988

The New Face Of Grandparenting: Why Parents Need Their Own Parents by Don Schmitz (Founder of Grandkisand me, The Grandkisandme Foundation, Grandparent Camp, and Grandkid Days) is an insightful and informative examination of the changing role of grandparents in today's world, along with very practical advice for becoming a grandparent, and offering an emphasis on the "four L's" of effective relationships: Loving, Laughing, Listening, and Learning. Advice for maintaining a strong family bond even if members live many miles apart, as well as the importance of preserving heritage and legacy, are among the highlights of this gentle, thoughtful, and very strongly recommended guide to how parents and grandparents can best work together for the benefit of the children.

If Your Child Is Bipolar
Cindy Singer & Sheryl Gurrentz
Perspective Publishing
KSB Promotions (publicity)
2528 Sleepy Hollow Drive, Suite A, Glendale, CA 91206
www.familyhelp.com
1930085060 $18.95 1-800-330-5851

Collaboratively written by Cindy Singer (Founder of Mothers of Asperger's Syndrome Kids - MASK) and Sheryl Gurrentz (whose brother has a Bipolar Disorder), If Your Child Is Bipolar: The Parent-To-Parent Guide To Living With And Loving A Bipolar Child is an impressive self-help guide for parents struggling to cope with children who have a behavioral or mood disorder. From recognizing behaviors that can be a sign of mental illness; to finding mental healthcare professions who can properly diagnose and treat a child; to learning parenting skills to help control a child's behavior at home; to wrestling with recalcitrant insurance companies, and a great deal more, If Your Child Is Bipolar is a comprehensive resource and a very strongly recommended source of tested advice for parents, grandparents, and other care givers.

Losing A Parent To Death In The Early Years
Alicia F. Lieberman, et al.
Zero To Three Press
PO Box 960, Herndon, VA 21072
0943657725 $39.95 zerotothree.org

Especially written for clinicians (but of immense value to non-specialist general readers as well), Losing A Parent To Death In The Early Years: Guidelines For The Treatment Of Traumatic Bereavement In Infancy And Early Childhood is the collaborative effort of Alicia F. Lieberman, Nancy C. Compton, Patricia Van Horn, and Chandra Ghosh Ippen. A straightforward resource for helping those in infancy and early childhood cope with the loss of a parent or primary caregiver, Losing A Parent To Death In The Early Years draws on expert authors and affiliates of The Child Trauma Research Project in order to comprehensively cover difficult issues that arise when a parent dies from a socially stigmatized cause, such as suicide, murder, or AIDS. Also address is the making a clinical diagnosis; creating a safe frame for the treatment; recurrent treatment themes and more. An expertly presented instructional resource, Losing A Parent To Death In The Early Years is an invaluable addition to academic and professional reference collection.


The Library Video/DVD Shelf

Sketchbooks: How Artists Use Them
Crystal Productions
PO Box 2159, Glenview, IL 60025
www.crystalproductions.com
156290308X $29.95 1-800-255-8629

Featuring the instruction of Trish Gans (an art educator and consultant of 25 years' experience), Sketchbooks: How Artists Use Them is an informational and skill-building instructional video centering around why sketchbooks are such a useful tool in the visual arts, as well as ways to apply them to art in the context of literacy, math, and science. An excellent and visually illustrated discussion of a useful technique for aspiring artists of all walks of life, Sketchbooks How Artists Use Them is a welcome and highly recommended addition to personal, school art department, and community library art instruction video collections.


The Social Issues Shelf

A Voice For Nonprofits
Jeffrey M. Berry & David F. Arons
Brookings Institution Press
1775 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20036-2188
0815709129 $26.95 1-800-275-1447

Informatively written by Jeffrey M. Berry (Professor of Political Science, Tufts University) with the assistance of David F. Arons (Co-Director of Charity Lobbying in the Public Interest), A Voice For Nonprofits examines and addresses the dilemma of nonprofit organizations, which increasingly provide basic government services yet are discouraged by federal law from participating in legislative lobbying efforts. Analyzing these restrictions on the participation of nonprofit organizations in policy making processes, and offering ways to address the problems caused between an imbalance of communication let alone legislation, A Voice For Nonprofits offers crucial insight into a very real modern problem. A Voice For Nonprofits needs to be read by every social activist, as well as every non-profit organization manager, director, and those who serve on board of directors.

Passing
Brooke Kroeger
Public Affairs
250 West 57th St., #1321, NY, NY 10107
1891620991 $25.00 1-877-782-1234

It may surprise readers to learn that many Americans today still 'pass: black for white, and in new ways. Passing is viewed as negative, but Brooke Kroeger's Passing reveals the underlying reasons why people pass for other than what they are, using the lives of six present-day 'passers' to reveal these motives and experiences.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Starting Your Career As A Freelance Writer
Moira Anderson Allen
Allworth Press
10 East 23rd St, Suite 210, NY, NY 10010
www.allworth.com
158115304X $19.95 1-800-491-2808

Starting Your Career As A Freelance Writer by professional author Moira Anderson Allen is an extremely practical and detailed career guide for the aspiring writer seeking to become a paid professional. Starting Your Career As A Freelance Writer comprehensively and accessibly covers how to make time for writing; honing research and interview techniques; find markets for written work of all kinds; writing and marketing nonfiction books and articles, and a great deal more. A no-nonsense advice guide packed with tips, tricks, and techniques, Starting Your Career As A Freelance Writer is an absolute "must-read" for anyone seriously interested in developing a successful career as a professional freelance writing.

Writing About Nature
John A. Murray
University of New Mexico Press
1720 Lomas Blvd., NE, Albuquerque, NM 87131-1591
www.unmpress.com
0826330851 $17.95 1-800-249-7737

Now in a newly revised and expanded edition, Writing About Nature: A Creative Guide by John A. Murray deftly teaches aspiring nature writers diverse exercises and examples with which to hone the communication skills of anyone who has experienced nature and the outdoors and yearns to share what they have seen. Covering a broad range of genres, and conveying a wealth of tips, tricks, techniques, as well as surveying publication issues, and enhanced with a new chapter about nature writing and environmental activism, Writing About Nature is an original, superbly organized and presented resource. Writing About Nature is an excellent skill improvement guide which is a highly recommended addition to any nature writer's instructional reference shelf or reading list.

Writing Wide
Billie H. Williams
Filbert Publishing
PO Box 326, Kandiyohi, MN 56251
www.FilbertPublishing.com
0971079633 $9.95 1-320-212-4457

Writing Wide: Exercises by Wisconsin author and writing expert Billie A. Williams is an instructional guidebook to successful writing techniques with exercises to practice for the improvement of one's skills. A practical instructional to avoiding common pitfalls; broadening word choice; promoting the effortless flow of narration, and so much more, Writing Wide is a superb self-improvement guide and highly recommended for writers of all skill and experience levels.

Grass Roots Book Marketing
Rusty Fischer
Filbert Publishing
PO Box 326, Kandiyohi, MN 56251
0971079668 $13.95 1-320-212-4457

Grass Roots Book Marketing is a handy guidebook of free or inexpensive tips, tricks, and techniques for creative book marketing self-published eBooks and POD titles. Nearly three hundred ideas for getting the word out on one's book are succinctly summarized and range from promoting an e-book by letting people read the first couple chapters for free; to providing an attractive display case with copies of one's book to beauty and barber shops; to submitting the website for one's book to a host of search engines; to utilizing QVC television programming, Grass Roots Book Marketing is an excellent supplementary resource for any dedicated self-publisher. If you have an eBook or a POD published title, either fiction or non-fiction, the you need to read your way through Rusty Fischer's Grass Roots Book Marketing!

The Concise Guide To Copy Editing
Paul LaRocque
Marion Street Press
PO Box 2249, Oak Park, IL 60304
www.marionstreetpress.com
0972993711 $12.95 1-866-443-7987

Expertly written by experienced journalist and journalism educator Paul LaRocque, The Concise Guide To Copy Editing: Preparing Written Work For Readers is a straightforward and comprehensive introduction to the skill of editing text with the needs of the reader foremost in mind. Principles and examples concerning general order of ideas, compressing and strengthening prose, common grammar errors, and the overall self-improvement of personal editing skills, The Concise Guide To Copy Editing is a "must-read" introduction for anyone seriously interested in copy editing as a career -- as well as an invaluable instructional for aspiring authors or novice publishers wanting to know what the proper duties and responsibilities of a copy editor are within the framework contemporary publishing.


The Political Science Shelf

Political Corruption In America
Mark Grossman
ABC-CLIO
Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
1576070603 $85.00 1-800-368-6868

Compiled by history writer Mark Grossman, Political Corruption In America: An Encyclopedia Of Scandals, Power, And Greed is an informationally impressive, very nicely organized, 466-page reference which lists more than 250 cross-referenced A-Z entries detailing famous people, court cases, and events of political scandals throughout the history of the United States from its inception down to the present day. Illustrated with black-and-white cartoons that mocked political corruption in newspapers throughout the years, Political Corruption In America is an excellent reference resource and a highly recommended acquisition for school and community library American History and Political Science collections.


The Gardening Shelf

American Garden Writing
Bonnie Marranca, editor
Taylor Trade Publishing
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, Maryland 20706
1589790235 $18.95 1-800-462-6420

Knowledgeably compiled and expertly edited by Bonnie Marranca and now in a newly expanded edition, American Garden Writing: An Anthology is a an impressive and inherently fascinating collection of excerpts from classical and distinguished literature celebrating the inspiration, interplay of art and nature, and bounty of the garden. Marranca's choices drawn from a diverse cast of international authors make for enjoyable leisure reading and an unfettered celebration of mother earth's cultivated bounty. American Garden Writing is very highly recommended reading -- especially for gardening enthusiasts!


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

The Resurrection Man's Legacy
Dale Bailey
Golden Gryphon
3002 Perkins Rd., Urbana, IL 61802
1930846223 $4.95 www.amazon.com

The Resurrection Man's Legacy represents Dale Bailey's first collection, though his fantasies have been published for a decade: as such, it showcases the title story, slated for development as a motion picture, and combines this growing classic with tales of grief and family ties. The tone of these short stories is historical in style: Bailey's stories provide believable near-futures, science which could be real, and a literary, poetic bent to the language which is unusual and compelling. Highly recommended.

Conqueror's Moon
Julian May
Ace
375 Hudson St., New York NY 100014
0441011322 $24.95 www.amazon.com

Conqueror's Moon is the first in a projected trilogy, returning to the epic fantasy worlds May is famous for in painting the story of an island divided into warring kingdoms. Add geologic unrest and the influence of outside sorcerers and seed this setting with the story of a prince's secret alliance with a beautiful sorceress and you have a powerful fantasy which is gripping and hard to put down.

Baen Books
PO Box 1403, Riverdale, NY 10471
1-800-223-2336 www.amazon.com

Tom Kratman's State Of Disobedience (0743471709, $22.00) provides an alternate history of a second American revolution which is realistic and moving. 2060 in the U.S. presents a world where the Alamo comes to life under the leadership of Juanita Seguin, a leader who becomes embroiled in what will be the Second American Revolution. A fine blend of futuristic setting and re-enactment of regional pride. Mercedes Lackey, et.al.'s This Rough Magic (0743471490, $26.00) is a recommended prequel for fans of the prior Shadow Of The Lion: here Corfu in the 16th century is a repository of magic and a demon who tries to take the island and crush Venice. It's up to a small band of fighters and a very reluctant young heroine to battle the ancient powers of evil to wrest magic to its inner good. Anne McCaffrey and Jody Lynn Nye's Ship Who Saved The Worlds (0743471717, $22.00) combines two popular sequels: The Ship Who Won And The Ship Errant. Here a physically disadvantaged woman becomes a shellperson/spaceship on a mission to search for intelligent life, only to encounter a strange world dominated by sorcerers. In the sequel, Carialle and her crew must brave a devastating sector of space which challenges the definition of a newfound alien friendship. Both are excellent choices for prior fans of some of the 'Ship Who' series titles.

The Impending Storm
Clifford B. Bowyer
Silver Leaf Books
PO Box 6460, Holliston, MA 01746
www.SilverLeafBooks.com
0974435449 $27.95 1-888-823-6450

Beginning "The Imperium Saga" series, The Impending Storm is a grand work of high fantasy by Clifford B. Bowyer. An ancient civilization of elves, all but brought to ruin by an insidious force, sends a trio of emissaries and protectors to find a chosen girl of the Seven Kingdoms, prophesied to be their savior. The Empress of the Seven Kingdoms, and those allies closest to her, are struggling with rebellion, ruthless enemies, and the machinations of a hidden tyrant. A sweeping saga of dire conflict and sparkling hope, The Impending Storm is a well crafted heroic fantasy and will leave the reader looking eagerly towards the next volume in what promises to be a truly outstanding "Fall of the Imperium Trilogy" crafted by a skilled and talented master of the genre.

Edge/Hades Publications
Box 1414 Calgary, AB, T2P 216, Canada

Two impressive new novels are startling science fiction collections replete with power and diverse plots. K.A. Bedford's Orbital Burn (1894063104, $14.95) is the author's first published science fiction novel and combines the unusual character of a P.I. solving petty crimes with the setting of a home planet doomed by an asteroid and her association with a strange defective biological android boy Kid. Combine an impossible case with a struggle for survival and you have a plot which will delight fans of science fiction and detective stories alike. Elisabeth Vonarburg's Dreams Of The Sea (1894063964, $20.95) presents the first of five books in the acclaimed Tyranael series. The eclipse of twin planets over planet Tyranael kills most of its Earth colonist settlers, forcing the few survivors to make a new life in the cities of a long-vanished alien population. The strange dreams of Eilai are forecasting more challenges, however, and it's up to the colonists to unravel the truth beyond her dream's dangerous predictions.

Microcosms
Gregory Benford, Ed.
DAW Books
375 Hudson, New York NY 10014
0756401712 $6.99 www.amazon.com

Contributions by Jack McDevitt, Stephen Baxter, Sheckley and other notables in the field provide a powerful collection which examines basic concepts of hard science physics in considering futures in which worlds have been created by man. The thirteen stories comprising Microcosms range from accounts of physicists who act as God in a variety of small microcosmic worlds to a God who decides to put a stop to man's creation efforts. A satisfyingly fascinating read.


The Needlecraft Shelf

The Yarn Girls' Guide To Simple Knits
Julie Carles & Jordana Jacobs
Clarkson Potter
299 Park Avenue, New York NY 10171
0609608800 $30.00 1-800-726-0600

Using this basic guide, even the newcomer to knitting to take up the craft of knitting. The authors own a yarn shop and have taught knitting for years; The Yarn Girls' Guide To Simple Knits pairs ten modern patterns and projects with step-by-step illustrated lessons in knitting designed especially for novices. Directions are quite specific and leave nothing for wonder down to the size of needles and yarn type.

Martingale & Company
20205 144th Avenue NE, Woodinville, WA 98072-8478
1-800-426-3126 www.amazon.com

The beautiful Treasury Of Rowan Knits edited by Stephen Sheard (1564774368, $39.95) is a lavish guide a knitter will take joy in. Eighty designs from famous knitter designers mark a title which profiles dozens of techniques from basic to complicated, producing professional-quality results. Teri Christopherson's Best Of Black Mountain Quilts (1564774633, $28.95) provides over thirty projects based on this popular set of quilt designs. Simple piecing and stitching methods make them accessible to all audiences, while color photos of finished results pack a display which invites quilters to try something new. Gretchen K. Hudock'' Quick Quilts Using Quick Bias (1564774295, $22.95) tells how to use Quick Bias tape in new ways to apply patchwork and applique to projects. From ten projects for decorating and giving gifts to using the tape to maximum efficiency, this is filled with ideas.

Wild By Design
Janet Catherine Berlo and Patricia Cox Crews
University of Washington Press
PO Box 50096, Seattle, WA 98145-5096
0295983094 $35.00 www.amazon.com

Wild By Design: Two Hundred Years Of Innovation And Artistry In American Quilts is an impressively informative exploration of American improvisational, asymmetrical quilting experiments provides a fine history of evolving designs, colors and motifs from the early 19th century to modern times. Of particular note here are insights on regional American and modern art quilts from local communities, as well as surveys of the collections and holdings of the International Quilt Study Center. A gorgeous analysis which includes a concurrent history of women and the textile arts in America, this is studded with color photos.

More Quilts From The Quiltmaker's Gift
Joanne Larsen Line
Orchard Books/Scholastic
557 Broadway, New York NY 10012
0439519519 $26.95 1-800-242-7737

This needlecraft publication by children's books publisher Orchard Books is deftly designed to have appeal to quilting enthusiastis all ages, and so is reviewed here as the perfect parent/child introduction to quilts and quilting. More Quilts From The Quiltmaker's Gift features 19 traditional quilt patterns for young quilters, including instructions on fabric selections, assembly details, and clear piecing directions. Parents will want to use Joanne Line's More Quilts From The Quiltmaker's Gift as a guide for involving the entire family in a quilting project, as it's most accessible to all.

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

Two titles provide inspiration variations on traditional quilting patterns and techniques. Bobbie Aug and Sharon Newman's Quilt Blocks X 9 (1574327992, $19.95) presents twelve quilts which use the nine-block arrangement to create various block patterns. From fabric combinations to embracing different backgrounds, this packs in templates, easy directions, and an approach which lends to experimentation. Anita Shackelford's Infinite Feathers Quilting Designs (1574327984, $25.95) provides the basics of creating quilt designs which fit in the blocks and borders of a quilt. From different types of patterns and designs and their transfer to over a hundred feather designs in different sizes, this provides easy step-by-step instructions quilters will appreciate.

C&T Publishing
1651 Challenge Dr., Concord, CA 94520
1-800-284-1114 www.amazon.com

Two new titles are filled with design examples and projects for quilters. Laura Lee Fritz's 250 More Continuous-line Quilting Designs (1571201467, $17.95) provides design templates which may be used in hand, machine and longarm quilting. Individual chapters profile over two hundred design possibilities and include a special pull-out section of coordinating border designs. Claudia Olson's Fifteen Two Block Quilts (1571201475, $26.95) tells how to multiple a design using just two basic quilting blocks. A secondary design is created by placing two blocks side by side, and numerous color photos and instructions tell how to create a multitude of designs and effects through these patterns.


The Artbook Shelf

F&W Publications
4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236
1-800-289-0963 www.amazon.com

Three new guides from North Light Books present inviting how-to "do-it-yourself" instructional manuals which invite artistic experimentation. Lesley Harrison's Painting Animals That Touch The Heart (158-1801319, $27.99) provides a guide to creating touching animal paintings. Amateurs and those with minimal art experience will find this an easy set of step-by-step demonstrations which are based on creating animal outlines and filling in with color. An inviting, encouraging guide outstanding in its attention to realistic animal drawing. Dorothy Dent's Painting Realistic Landscapes (1581801572, $24.99) shares years of creative decorative experiences with a focus on creating landscapes in acrylic. Both beginners and those with some landscape painting background will find this a fine basic guide to creating textures, patterns, and effects to be proud of. Melvyn Petterson and Ian Kearey's Drawing Landscapes (David & Charles, 07153-14521, $22.99) tells how to capture a variety of landscapes using a few simple techniques in pen and pencil. Plenty of color drawings demonstrate polished results. All are excellent guides for all levels.

Creative Authenticity
Ian Roberts
Atelier Saint-Luc Press
PO Box 1082, Fairfield, IA 52556
0972872329 $14.95 1-888-333-4541

A landscape and gallery painter of over 40 years' experience, Ian Roberts has also incorporated the questions and input of over 200 students in Creative Authenticity: 16 Principles To Clarify And Deepen Your Artistic Vision. A very helpful guide to unlocking one's creative potential, Creative Authenticity debunks the "Van Gogh Syndrome" and myth that genius requires torment; addresses the almost universal necessity of dealing with natural tendencies to procrastinate; presents effective working methods; shows how to reap ideas from everyday life, and so much more. Enthusiastically recommended reading for anyone wanting to engage in their own artistic aspirations, Creative Authenticity transcends its focus upon painting to serve as an inspirational guide to artists of all mediums.

MFA Highlights American Painting
Elliot Bostwick Davis, et. al.
MFA Publications
465 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115
0878466606 $19.95 mfa-publications.org

Enhanced with a full-color display of 150 illustrations, MFA Highlights American Painting is a stunning, 232-page, art history discussion of over one hundred masterworks dating from 1670 to 1960. The creations of such diverse artists as O'Keeffe, Pollock, Copley, and others are presented along with a general discussion of art in American history and how events of the ages interplayed with the creation of classic works of art. A joy to read and behold, and a superb resource for any dedicated art history connoisseur, MFA Highlights American Painting is a strongly recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library Art History core reference collections and Art Appreciation supplemental reading lists.

Graphic Modernism
Art Institute of Chicago
Hudson Hills Press
PO Box 205, Manchester, VT 05254
0865592071 $50.00 hudsonhills.com

A co-production of the Art Institute of Chicago and Hudson Hills Press, Graphic Modernism displays artworks drawn from the Francey and Dr. Martin L. Gecht Collection at the Art Institute of Chicago. Showcasing color illustrations of bold 19th Century, Twentieth-Century European, and Twentieth-Century American works that range from realism to more abstract constructions of shape and image. Graphic Modernism is enhanced with accompanying and extensively informative commentary, history, and critique by Suzanne Folds McCullagh (The Gecht Collection and the Chicago Tradition) and Mark Krisco (Francey and Dr. Martin L. Gecht: An Appreciation) to make Graphic Modernism a thoroughly impressive survey of modernism, displaying works by Cezanne, Degas, Gauguin, Pollock, and so many others. Graphic Modernism is a visual treasure that will superbly complement any personal, academic, or community library Art Appreciation and/or Art History collection.

Steve Tobin's Natural History
Steve Tobin
Hudson Hills Press
PO Box 205, 74-2 Union Street, Manchester, VT 05254
1555952119 $65.00 hudsonhills.com

Steve Tobin's Natural History is a grand coffee table book flawlessly published and presented by Hudson Hills Press featuring the sculpture of Steve Tobin as showcased in the photography of George Erml and enhanced by the informative essays of Donald Kuspit. Indeed, Erml's brilliant full-color photography reveals the daring, natural-themed works from a mosaic of seeds to shoes filled with preserved natural items to three-dimensional renditions of human torsos, and so much more. Kuspit's insightful and deftly written essay series prefaces the visual display. A strongly recommended addition to academic and community library Artbook Collections, Steve Tobin's Natural History allows the original work of this master artist in a full, free, and unfettered reign.

The Jade Book: A Stone Of Hope
Daniela Geracitano Vance
Colossal Creations
2591 Panorama Drive, Coquitlam, BC, V3E 2Y0, Canada
0973139013 $24.95 colossalcreations.com

The Jade Book: A Stone Of Hope is an informationally impressive tribute to a singularly unique and powerful work of the stone shaper's art -- a book crafted entirely of jade, with pages that can be turned due to extremely skilled carving. Only three sentences are in this remarkable book, each a quote from a great human figure: "You must be the change you wish to see in the world" from Mahatma Gandhi; "Works of love are works of peace" from Mother Teresa; and "Let Freedom Ring" from Martin Luther King Jr. The Jade Book: A Stone Of Hope also contains finely carved and polished portraits of each notable humanitarian, and embodies the lasting and joyous power of the noble ideals it celebrates. Featuring full-color pictures of the book-made-out-of-jade, as well as an in-depth study of its intricate creation process, The Jade Book: A Stone Of Hope offers an unusual and very special spotlight upon truly memorable art.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

Collecting Santa Fe Authors
T. N. Luther & Marilyn Luther
Ancient City Press
PO Box 5401, Santa Fe, NM 87502
1580960138 $22.00 1-505-982-8195

Expertly compiled by T. N. Luther and enhanced with occasional illustrations by Marilyn Luther, Collecting Santa Fe Authors is a very straightforward, "collector friendly" reference and price guide featuring short biographies and information concerning noted works of famous Santa Fe Authors. Ranging from the great science fiction writer Roger Zelazny; to the talented and accomplished author Jack Schaefer; to the mystery/suspense writer Stuart Woods, and so many others, Collecting Santa Fe Authors (which is also available in a hardcover edition: 158096012X, $45.00) includes price listings of classic first editions and is a particularly excellent resource for dedicated bibliophiles interested in the creative works of the Santa Fe region.

Collector Books
PO Box 3009, Paducah, KY 42002-3009
1-800-626-5420 www.amazon.com

Glass collecting remains one of the most popular areas of interest, and Collector Press has not overlooked this market. Don't miss the updated 7th edition of Gene & Cathy Florence's Collectible Glassware From The 40s, 50s, 60s (157-4323512, $19.95), which updates values and includes an excellent background history of popular glassworks manufacturers; Tom Bredehoft's Glass Tumblers 1860s T0 1920s (1574323555, $29.95), which narrows the focus to tumbles from all manufacturers, Jim & Susan Harran's Collectible Cups & Saucers Book III (157-4323520, $24.95), covering both entire services and china cabinet cups and saucers, the 16th edition of Gene & Cathy Florence's popular Encyclopedia Of Depression Glass (1574323539, $19.95), which profiles depression glass pieces and their latest valuations; and Bill Edwards & Mike Carwile's Carnival Glass (1574323-474, $29.95), which narrows its focus to the best, most desirable pieces in the genre. For a handy take-along tote, don't miss the 14th edition of the Flea Market Trader (1574323547, $12.95): it has only black and white photos, but documents thousands of items with their latest values. John and Malinda Bomm's Official Precious Moments Collector's Guide To Company Dolls (1574323628, $19.95) provides excellent quality color photos to accompany prices of the entire line of this company's doll lines. B.J. Summers' Pocket Guide To Coca-Cola Identifications (1574323504, $12.95) appears in its fourth edition to provide a take-along tote for collectors who travel to buy. All are highly recommended, important picks.


The Library Science Shelf

The Public Library Start-Up Guide
Christine Lind Hage
ALA Editions
50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
www.alastore.ala.org
0838908667 $42.00 1-800-545-2433

In The Public Library Start-Up Guide, Christine Lind Hage draws upon her experience and expertise to provide the reader with a no-nonsense guide to getting a public library off the ground. Individual chapters comprehensively address how to secure library financing; long-term plans; building and furnishing a suitable public library; library promotion; and much, much more. Research, tried and tested methods, anecdotes, and an overall wealth of firsthand information and "walk-through" steps fill the pages of this absolute "must-read" for anyone responsible for the creation or establishment of a public library within their community.

Libraries, Mission, & Marketing
Linda K. Wallace
ALA Editions
c/o American Library Association
50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
0838908675 $27.00 1-800-545-2433

Linda K. Wallace is a talented library communications professional who draws upon her experience and expertise in Libraries, Mission, & Marketing: Writing Mission Statements That Work to provide Library Science students and novice community librarians with an excellent and accessible guide to the power of mission statements required in order to turn ideas into action for the benefit of an academic, corporate, or community library system. Featuring over one hundred example mission statements used in libraries today (divided by type of library and sub-categorized to take into account varying nuances), Libraries, Mission, & Marketing is a simply superb resource for crafting an optimum mission statement for libraries regardless of size or setting, and especially useful to anyone confronted with the problem of creating a mission statement for their library system.


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

High Impact Resumes And Letters
Ronald Krannich & William Banis
Impact Publications
1904 Manassas Drive Suite N, Manassas Park, VA 20111
1570231893 $19.95 www.amazon.com

Acquire skills for success and understand how electronic resume searches affect applicants with the aid of a powerful book which contains practical information for tailoring a submission for maximum effect. This updated and expanded eigth edition of Ronald Krannich and William Banis' High Impact Resumes And Letters is a strongly recommended guide which covers everything from different types of employment letters for different situations to key questions and answers which should be addressed in a presentation. A powerful set of examples of winning results rounds out the workbook pages for fill-in participation. If you are entering, re-entering, or simply upgrading your resume, then read High Impact Resumes And Letters.

Your Essential Guide To Career Success
Sheila Pantry & Peter Griffiths
Facet Publishing
c/o Neal-Schuman Publishers
100 William St, #2004, NY, NY 10038
1856044912 $59.95 neal-schuman.com

Sheila Pantry and Peter Griffiths draw upon their years of professional experience as a pair of expert trainers in Your Essential Guide To Career Success, an authoritative and informationally impressive guide especially meant for information professionals seeking to thrive in the global library of the 21st century. From taking full advantage of case studies; to adapting to changes in employment law; to keeping one's edge honed in the wide variety of skills (online, linguistic, negotiating, consulting and more) necessary to the success of an information professional, Your Essential Guide To Career Success is a solidly practical career guide, reference and resource. A superbly presented self-improvement guide for any business professional looking to sharpen his or her acumen, image, confidence, and interpersonal skills, Your Essential Guide To Career Success is a core addition to personal reading lists and counseling services reference collections.

Where The Jobs Are
Joyce Hadley Copeland
Career Press Inc.
PO Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
1564144224 $13.99 1-800-227-3371

Now in an expanded and updated third edition, Where The Jobs Are by Joyce Hadley Copeland offers the reader a close-up look at the hottest job markets today. Offering up-to-date facts and figures profiling a wide variety of industries, including salary levels, overview of current field trends, the largest employers, advice for breaking into the field, and so much more, Where The Jobs Are covers everything from Accounting to Computer & Information Services to Travel and Hospitality and more. A superbly "user friendly" informational reference guide, Where The Jobs Are is very highly recommended for anyone who finds themselves having to make (or remake!) a career choice.


The Fiction Shelf

The Good House
Tananarive Due
Atria Books
1230 Ave. of Americas, NY, NY 10020
0743449002 $25.00 www.amazon.com

When Angela loses her child and her husband simultaneously, she rejects the old house which was the scene of tragedy: now, years later, Angela must return to the rural house she once loved, only to face the possibility that a string of unusual tragedies are haunting it. Don't expect overt ghosts here though; the plot of The Good House focuses more on issues of psychological damage and healing than spectres, and is satisfyingly complex.

University of Chicago Press
5801 South Ellis Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637-1496
1-800-621-2736 press.uchicago.edu

Thomas McMahon's three classic works of fiction are presented in affordable paperwork form with eye-catching covers to satisfy newcomers and old fans alike. Loving Little Egypt (0226561097) tells of a blind physics prodigy who taps into the nation's phone lines and tries to warn of a security threat; Mckay's Bees (0226561-119) tells of a man determined to make a fortune from raising bees, despite challenges from a country on the verge of civil war; and Principles Of American Nuclear Chemistry (0226561100) imagines life at Los Alamos as seen through the eyes of an MIT physics expert who worked on the project. Moving plots deftly combine lively characters with realistic settings.

The Travels Of Increase Joseph
Jerry Apps
Badger Books Inc./Waubesa Press
PO Box 192, Oregon, WI 53575
1932542019 $22.95 badgerbooks.com

The Travels Of Increase Joseph by Jerry Apps is a superbly crafted historical novel of a pioneer preacher who came to the wildlands of Wisconsin in 1852 with his small gathering of followers, the Standalone Fellowship. Supporting the Fellowship by selling his special curative tonic, and delivering oratory and with powerful messages that are nothing short of spellbinding, Joseph Link dared to speak out as he journeyed and his words and ideas made an impression that stayed. The Travels Of Increase Joseph is a most thoughtful and wonderfully entertaining read. Jerry Apps writes with vibrant character and has a penchant for making Wisconsin history come alive.

The Emerald Prairie
Harold G. Ross
Sunflower University Press
PO Box 1009, Manhattan, KS 66505-1009
0897452747 $14.95 1-800-258-1232

Set in the American West during the late 1800s, The Emerald Prairie by Harold G. Ross is the sweeping and highly recommended story of a pioneer family looking to stake their claim on Kansas prairie. A tale of faith in God, survival, and a young man who grows up tested by destiny yet driven by the courage and challenge passed on in his blood, The Emerald Prairie is a moving tale that brings a bygone era vividly alive and documents Harold Ross as an original author and a talented master of the western genre.

Calling Up The Dead
Brett Weaver
Livingston Press
Station 22, Livingston, AL 35470
193198221X $14.95 www.uwa.edu

Calling Up The Dead is an anthology of moving short stories by Brett Weaver and which offer intense glimpses into riddles of contemporary existence. An Asian Indian has repatriated only to witness a patricide; three war refugees barely into puberty must find a way to survive and endure; an elderly woman can only find pity in the mysterious voice of a balcony; and three more dramatic, haunting vignettes comprise this outstanding compilation. Highly recommended reading, Calling Up The Dead is also available in a library edition (1931982201, $25.00).


The Business Shelf

Knock Em Dead Business Presentations
Martin Yate & Peter Sander
Adams Media
57 Littlefield St., Avon, MA 02322
1580627609 $12.95 1-800-872-5627

The collaborative effort of Martin Yate and Peter Sander, Knock Em Dead Business Presentations tackles the fundamentals of making a successful business presentation; from researching a presentation and capturing audience attention to using visual aids to make a point, and involving an audience in a presentation. Everything is here to create the nuts and bolts of a fine business program from scratch.

Voice Over Etiquette
Bill Filipiak
Three-F Publishing
PO Box 2342, Brentwood, TN 37024
0972353208 $14.95 www.amazon.com

Bill Filipiak's Voice Over Etiquette is an insider's guide to creating a voiceover demo tape and marketing it for maximum efficiency goes far in explaining how the industry works. Voice Over Etiquette explains common barriers to breaking into a popular industry of creating ads and using one's voice to impart a message, and offers a variety of tips such as creating a web site for marketing an MP3 tape. A definitive guide to a little-explored industry.

Maximize Your Presentation Skills
Ellen Kaye
Prima
3000 Lava Ridge Court, Roseville, CA 95661-3034
www.primapublishing.com
0761563520 $14.95 1-800-632-8676

The different between a highly successful career and an acceptable venture often lies in presentations to management, clients, and the public. In Maximize Your Presentation Skills, professional image coach Ellen Kaye reveals how to communicate like a seasoned professional, with chapters using a question/answer format to teach the basics of leadership image.

Making Horses Drink
Alex Hiam
Entrepreneur Press
2445 McCabe Way, #400, Irvine, CA 92614-6244
1891984500 $19.95 1-800-462-6420

How can business people succeed and lead in these competitive times? Making Horses Drink by Alex Hiam covers the basics of motivating employees and keeping them on; from putting employees in charge of their performance and reviews to developing a leadership philosophy which results in longevity and lasting, satisfied workers and customers alike. Individual chapters show how to develop and form improvement goals for maximum effect.

Brochure Design That Works
Lisa Cyr
Rockport Publishers
33 Comemrcial St., Gloucester MA 01930
1564969126 $30.00 www.rockpub.com

Lisa Cyr's Brochure Design That Works could also have been reviewed in our art section, but deserves mention here is an important tool for commercial designers and retail business researchers alike. Nationally and internationally recognized brochures demonstrated here for efficiency range from corporate client work to institutional, educational and arts brochures. Chapters probe each completed work for the elements which make it a success, from its initial idea to technical aspects of its production.

Player Manager
Philip Augar & Joy Palmer
South-Western Publishing
c/o Thomson/Texere
300 Park Avenue South, NY, NY 10010
1587991659 $27.95 www.etexere.com

The collaboration of equities analyst Philip Augar and management consultant/business writer Joy Palmer, Player Manager: The Rise Of Professionals Who Manage While They Work focuses upon the role of the so-called player manager in today's era of downsizing and increased pressure to adhere to the bottom line in business. A practical guide intended for those charged with managerial duties in daily life, addressing the skills and flexibility needed to organize, stay in the game and remain competitive, make Player Manager an excellent business book drawing upon practical examples for business managers of all skill and experience levels.

A Passion For Winning
Aaron D. Cushman
Lighthouse Point Press
100 First Ave., #525, Pittsburgh PA 15222
0963796615 $21.95 1-412-323-9320

A Passion For Winning: Fifty Years Of Promoting Legendary People And Products offers the personal and professional wisdom of experienced Public Relations career man and author Aaron Cushman. Now retired, Cushman shares anecdotes drawn from his lively working years and directly addresses matters important and specific to public relations work. From his insight into, and definitions of, the practice of "spinning"; to tips, tricks, and techniques to earn positive media relations; to reacting to unexpected crises, and much, much more, A Passion For Winning is very highly recommended reading -- especially for anyone interested in a PR career for themselves.

Dearborn Publishing
30 South Wacker Drive, #2500, Chicago, IL 60606-7481
1-800-621-9621 www.amazon.com

These new titles provide fine basic business guides for business readers. Jeffrey Shuman and Janice Twombly with David Rottenberg's Everyone Is A Customer (079315412-X, $24.00) provides proven methods for measuring relationship values in collaborative business ventures. This covers not just customers in the conventional sense, but internal and external supplier relationships and resources allocated to sustaining these relationships. Joe Marconi's Cause Marketing (0793152585, $25.00) examines elements needed to support a socially responsible marketing plan. Case studies supplement discussions of such plans and probe how a 'cause oriented' marketing program can work or fail. Insights from post-September 11th are included. David Bangs Jr.'s Market Planning Guide (0793159717, $22.95) tells how to create a successful plan to market a business, and appears in its sixth updated edition to contain new, focused marketing strategies for all sizes of business. From understanding basics to generating solutions to customer issues using Web tools, this is packed with insights. James Hutcheson's Portraits Of Success (0793152593, $18.95) provides keys to understanding business success, from giving successors room for change to keeping chains of command clear during the process. Closely-held businesses are notorious for failing once their successors leave: this title tells how to successfully make the transition. All are excellent, basic references for business managers.

Of Permanent Value
Andrew Kilpatrick
AKPE Publishing
2200 Woodcrest Place #108, Birmingham, AL 35209
0964190540 $30.00 www.amazon.com

Of Permanent Value by Andrew Kilpatrick is weighty tome will appeal to fans of financial wizard Warren Buffett. Of Permanent Value deftly explores Buffett's newfound popularity in wake of the latest stock market environment and exploring how Buffett began from scratch to form a business empire. Rises and falls blend with in-depth examinations of Buffett business philosophy and perspectives to pack in over 1400 pages of detail in a surprisingly lively read. This combination of biography and business savvy makes for an intriguing blend, here.


The Cookbook Shelf

Hungry Minds
909 Third Ave., New York NY 10022
1-800-434-3422 www.amazon.com

If it's that old-fashioned Betty rocker touch you seek in a cookbook, look no further than the gorgeous reprint of her Cooky Book (0764566377, $24.95) complete with its bright red cookie-filled cover from the 1963 edition and lay-flat handy binding for the cook. This authentic facsimilie is packed with hundreds of recipes paired with color photos and comments. An inviting, basics guide. Minutemeals' 20-Minute Gourmet Menus (0764564966, $17.95) provides a game plan for organizing and creating entire gourmet meals in minutes. Menus have shopping lists, pantry ingredient lists everything needed to prevent last-minute surprises. Complete meals include main dishes, sides and desserts as well as vegetables and have everything timed perfectly to finish simultaneously.

101 Things To Do With A Cake Mix
Stephanie Ashcraft
Gibbs Smith
PO Box 667, Layton, UT 84041
1586852175 $9.95 1-800-748-5439

Of course, you can make cakes with cake mixes and there's a host of cakes which embellish store mixes with added ingredients for superior results but also the cake mix can be used to produce cookies, breads, and brownies. Here's a host of recipes which use the mix as a foundation for greater things. The lay-flat comb binding will prove handy to cooks and the clear plastic protective cover will keep 101 Things To Do With A Cake Mix looking fresh and new in the kitchen.

Hot Toddies
Christopher B. O'Hara
Clarkson Potter
c/o The Crown Publishing Group
299 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10171
0609610074 $16.95 1-800-726-0600

From a satisfying hot buttered rum to unusually warming cocktails, Christopher O'Hara's beverage recipes book Hot Toddies comes packed from cover to cover with seasonal drink ideas geared to the weather and filled with warming spices. From Sherbet Punch to an unusual Chocolate Martini, enjoy dishes which are inviting and spiced with full-page color photos for maximum effect.

C&G Publishing
2702 19th St. Rd., Greeley, CO 80631

Two cookbooks from this publisher present some very basic, appealing guides which should find a home in many a kitchen across the country. Dyndi Duncan and Georgie Patrick's Cookie Exchange (096-2633585, $12.95) provides a new cookbook based on recipes collected during their annual cookie exchange. From low-fat recipes to baking hints, this comes packed with cookie ideas both traditional and new. Duncan and Patrick's "kitchen friendly" Quick Lunches & Brunches (970025327, $14.95) packs in over a hundred recipes and easily-followed instructions for those who want to eat at home without a lot of prep. Casseroles, sandwiches and other dishes lend a festive atmosphere with a minimum of effort. Both are sans photos, but the easy dishes seldom need embellishment.

Easy Diabetic Meals
Better Homes & Gardens
Meredith
1716 Locust Street, Des Moines, IA 50309
0696215489 $19.95 1-800-678-8091

The recipes comprising Easy Diabetic Meals provide directions and ingredient amounts for both 2 and 4 servings, feature easily-located and common ingredients, and lack the complexity of some diabetic cookbooks which require long preparation times. The result is a set of complete 2-week menus for three different calorie levels and meals which embrace the concept of appeal for the entire family, diabetic or not.

John Wiley & Company
605 3rd Ave., New York NY 10158
1-800-225-5945 www.amazon.com

Two new guides are filled with inviting color and dishes which cooks will appreciate. Vegetarians usually receive rather basic guides: enter Ken Charney with his Bold Vegetarian Chef (0471212784, $29.95), providing adventures in flavor and taste and savory dishes which range from seitan protein meals to salads and side dishes. Can vegetarian foods be comfort foods? Yes, with the aid of this guide. Tish Boyle's The Good Cookie (0471387-916, $34.95) blends sections of color photos with the heart of the guide: cookie recipes which are simple to produce and inviting to look at. Re-creations of classics and innovations on themes make for many original cookies which are inviting and fun.

Hippocrene Books
171 Madison Avenue, NY, NY 10016
1-718-454-2366 www.amazon.com

Classic ethnic recipes blended with drinks and lore from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Russia in Kay Shaw Nelson's Cuisines Of The Caucasus Mountains (078-189282, $24.95), which explains differences between the culinary styles of the regions. Unusual egg, lamb, and salad dishes are among the host of offerings in an inviting cookbook packed with new ideas. Nur Ilkin and Sheilah Kaufman's Taste Of Turkish Cooking (0781809487, $24.95) provides both a history of Turkey's culinary traditions with almost two hundred recipes of traditional foods. Packed with interesting flavors and very basic dishes central to Turkish cuisine, this has no photo embellishments.

Party Nuts!
Sally Sampson
Harvard Common Press
535 Albany St., Boston, MA 02118
1558322434 $9.95 www.amazon.com

Sally Sampson's Party Nuts! is a perfect resource for holiday parties but deserves year-round attention for any celabraotry occasion because of its focus on party nut blends which make for both perfect parties and wonderful gifts. Both savory and sweet mixes are featured in this simply outstanding collection showcasing 50 recipes, and spiced with appealing color photos.

Dining Dakota Style
Junior League of Sioux Falls
Favorite Recipes Press
PO Box 305142, Nashville, TN 37230
0972931309 $22.95 www.frpbooks.com

A very highly recommended addition to any kitchen cookbook collection, Dining Dakota Style: A Celebration Of Heartland Recipes is a collection of culinary delights capturing the spirit and flavors so prevalent in the Dakota tradition. From Pork Loin Cubano; Roquefort Waldorf Salad on Mixed Greens; and Bacon-Wrapped Pheasant Bites; to Winter Pear Salad; Wild Turkey Kabobs, and Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake, Dining Dakota Style combines easy-to-follow instructions with handy hints and recommended serving combinations of specific dishes for enchanted evening meals.

Cooking Class
Carol Dearth, CCP
Fork In The Road Publishers
1883 145th Place Southeast, Bellevue, Washington 98007
www.raincitycookingschool.com
0974082503 $24.95 1-800-563-2385

Cooking Class: A Chef's Step-By-Step Guide To Stress-Free Dinner Parties That Are Simply Elegant! by Carol Dearth (a chef formally trained in a Master Chef program at Le Cordon Bleu in London), is a superbly illustrated guide to creating masterpieces with professional techniques, not only for bringing out flavor, but also for garnishing and presentation. The full-color photographs, the extensive instructions, and the unique extra touches highlighting culinary creations, make for an excellent and confident introduction to expanding any kitchen chef's cooking skills into the realm of high society quality cuisine. From Lemon Linguini with Fresh Tomato Sauce and Grilled Chicken; Eggplant Fans with Onion Marmalade; and Basil and Ricotta Tart; to Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Crostini; Black Bean Salsa; and Truly Decadent Chocolate Sauce, Cooking Class truly lives up to the promise of "do-it-yourself" culinary elegance and memorable dining!

Savor The Moment
The Junior League of Boca Raton
Favorite Recipes Press
PO Box 305142, Nashville, TN 37230
0967094402 $28.95 www.frpbooks.com

A winner of the James Beard Foundation KitchenAid Book Awards, Savor The Moment: Entertaining Without Reservations is the collaborative effort by members of The Junior League of Boca Raton and a simply glorious guide to hosting a classy gathering, and featuring amazing, kitchen-tested recipes, advice for creating an enjoyable atmosphere, stunning color photographs, and more. Explicit instructions (with side advice for preparations that can be made in advance), make creating mouth-watering dishes such as Filet Mignon with Shallot Sauce; Tropical Island Shrimp; Caramel Drenched Cheesecake, and a culinary wealth of many other delectable delicacies, kitchen and dining room tasks easily within the means of any dedicated host or hostess.

Dave Miller's Homebrewing Guide
Dave Miller
Storey Books
Schoolhouse Road, Pownal, VT 05261
0882669052 $16.95 www.storey.com

Knowledgeably and expertly written by the winner of a lifetime achievement award from the American Homebrewers Association, Dave Miller's Homebrewing Guide is an all-encompassing and up-to-date 358-page instructional and reference guide to brewing great-tasting beer in the privacy of one's home. Covering malts, water and water treatment, mash methods, hops, necessary equipment -- including kettles and wort coolers, methodical directions, practical and safety tips, and more, Dave Miller's Homebrewing Guide is a "must-have" for anyone seeking to brew their own beer at home whether as an simple pastime or as an approach to acquiring a professional microbrewery expertise. Also very strongly recommended for any personal or community library homebrewing reference collection are Joe and Dennis Fisher's The Homebrewer's Garden: How To Easily Grow, Prepare, And Use Your Own Hops, Malts, Brewing Herbs (1580170102, $14.95); and Homebrew Favorites: A Coast-To-Coast Collection Of More Than 240 Beer And Ale Recipes (0882666134, $14.95) and More Homebrew Favorites: More Than 260 New Brews! (0882669680, $14.95) by Karl F. Lutzen and Mark Stevens.

Steven Raichlen's Big Flavor Cookbook
Steven Raichlen
Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers
151 West 19th Street, NY, NY 10011
1579123295 $19.95 1-800-722-7202

Illustrated with mouth-watering color photography, Steven Raichlen's Big Flavor Cookbook is the brainchild of a renowned restaurant critic and journalist turned expert and innovative cook. Compiling a wealth of recipes for healthy yet tasty delights ranging from Fisherman's Stew; Tuscan Roast Pheasant; and Cider-Glazed Turnips; to Balinese Banana Split; Chicken Poached with Star Anise; and Grilled Snapper with Avocado Sauce, Steven Raichlen's Big Flavor Cookbook is a true and highly recommended volume of culinary delights blending straightforward recipe instructions with sound information concerning calories, proteins, fats, carbohydrates, sodium, and cholesterol in each serving.

The Northwest Best Places Cookbook
Cynthia C. Nims
Sasquatch Books
119 South Main Street, Suite 400, Seattle, WA 98104-2555
157061380X $19.95 1-800-775-0817

The second of a two volume series, The Northwest Best Places Cookbook: Volume 2 presents and showcases 125 of the most-requested recipes from star-rated restaurants, hotels, cafes and more which were featured in the fourteenth edition of the "Best Places Northwest" guidebook. Unique and savory dishes abound with regional flavor and range from Pacific Rim Crab Cakes with Sesame-Ginger Aioli; Penn Cove Mussels with Hard Cider, Bacon, and Apple Chutney; and Grilled Salt Spring Island Lamb Burgers; to Northwest Seafood Pepper Pot; Roasted Oysters with Hazelnut Butter; and Stilton Cheesecake with Rhubarb Compote. The Northwest Best Places Cookbook: Volume 2 is a true and highly recommended culinary celebration of fine cuisines from Washington, Oregon, and British Columbia.

15 Minute Low Carb Recipes
Dana Carpender
Fair Winds Press
33 Commercial St, Gloucester, MA 01930
www.fairwindspress.com
159233041X $17.95 1-978-282-9590

15 Minute Low Carb Recipes: Instant Recipes For Dinners, Desserts, And More! by Dana Carpender is a "quick-and-easy" cookbook designed especially for health and weight-conscious folks whose kitchen time is at a premium. Brief, simple recipes for eggs, tortillas, poultry, fish and seafood, skillet suppers, soups, side dishes, and more are all covered in this handy, 260-page instructional guide to incorporating proper nutrition without an excess of carbohydrates into one's routine, even if one leads a hectic life. From Parmesan Rosemary Eggs; Seriously Spicy Citrus Chicken; and Tuna Salad with Lemon and Capers; to Cumin Mushrooms; Cheater's Chowder; and Strawberry Crunch Parfait, 15 Minute Low Carb Recipes are easy, quick, and totally delicious!


The Science Shelf

Life Evolving
Christian de Duve
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Ave., NY, NY 10016-4314
0195156056 $30.00 1-800-451-7556

What is the nature of life and our place in the universe? In Life Evolving, Christian De Duve describes how the first cells may have arisen and evolved, arguing that life was likely to arise and to move more quickly along evolutionary lines than has previously been postulated. He examines how humans have evolved and developed, and shares insights on religion and science along the way. An intriguing account blending a history of life with a survey of where it's heading.

Einstein's Clocks, Poincare's Maps
Peter Galison
W.W. Norton & Company
500 5th Ave., New York NY 10110
0393020010 $23.95 1-800-233-4830

Einstein and Poincare were two inventors who made parallel attempts to harness time and helped create the science of relativity; but no single study has previously drawn such close links between the efforts of the young German physicist Einstein and the mathematician Poincare. Peter Galison's Einstein's Clocks, Poincare's Maps expertly examines the achievements and details of each, and in doing so incorporats new information drawn from forgotten patents, rare photos, and archived materials to chart a little-known but inherently fascinating race toward a theory of time. An important addition to school and community library History of Science collections, Einstein's Clocks, Poincare's Maps is an exciting, intriguing and enthusiastically recommended coverage.

Nanocosm
William Illsey Atkinson
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019
0814471811 $24.95 1-800-250-5308

William Illsey Atkinson's Nanocosm is an expert survey of nanotechnology and the big changes coming from small science advancements providing a series of eye-opening insights on the nature of scale and space. Nanoscience is the study of the infinitesimally small: the discove