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Internet Bookwatch

Volume 13, Number 1 January 2003 Home | IBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Antiques/Collectibles Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Photography Shelf Martial Arts Shelf Sports Shelf
Psychology Shelf Business Shelf Theatre/Cinema Shelf
International Studies Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf Jobs/Careers Shelf
Environmental Shelf Biography Shelf Parenting Shelf
Archaeology Shelf Interior Design Shelf Women's Studies Shelf
Gardening Shelf Nautical Shelf Military Shelf
Computer Shelf Needlecraft Shelf Cookbook Shelf
Literary Shelf Science Shelf Language Studies Shelf
World History Shelf Audiobook Shelf Fantasy/Sci-Fi Shelf
Native American Shelf Education Shelf Judaic Studies Shelf
Travel Shelf Aviation Shelf Civil War Shelf
Writing/Publishing Shelf Political Science Shelf Artbook Shelf
Musicbook Shelf American History Shelf Law/Justice Shelf
Journalism Shelf Social Issues Shelf Library Video Shelf
Metaphysical Shelf Gaming Shelf Religion/Spirituality Shelf
Philosophy Shelf Fitness/Exercise Shelf Architecture Shelf


Reviewer's Choice

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

In Architects Of Peace, 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 his tritone photos of these people with essays reflecting their beliefs. From Jean-Michael Cousteau and Elie Wiesel to Joan Baez and others, this makes for a fine repersentation of images and tributes to peace.

Sanctuary
Thomas Roma
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218-4319
0801869552 $29.95 1-800-537-5487

The title of 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. His excellent black and white photos pack in contrasting images of different religious faiths and sanctuaries.

Pubic Affairs
250 West 57th St. #1321, NY, NY 10107
1-877-782-1234 www.amazon.com

The British satire boom created an abundance of material for comedians in the US and Britain, and formed a foundation for American humor and comedy. Humphrey Carpenter's superbly written A Great, Silly Grin (1586480812, $27.50) which provides a narrowed focus on the British satire boom of the 1960s, from "Beyond the Fringe" to popular shows which made it to the US. The assessment of the impact of satire on America and its own productions makes for an important survey. Joan Burbick's Rodeo Queens And The American Dream (1586481118, $26.00) examines the women of the rodeo: those who traveled the rural West for years and who became 'rodeo royalty' from the 1930s onward. Women's stories tell of their successes and failures riding the rodeo circuit in this involving guide.

Princeton Architectural Press
37 East 7th St., New York NY 10003
1-800-722-6657 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.

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.

Metrobooks
230 5th Ave., New York NY 10001
1-800-367-9692 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 (1586631160, $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.

They Came To Wisconsin
Julia Pferdehirt
Wisconsin Historical Society Press
816 State Street, Madison, WI 53706-1482
0870203282 $13.95 1-800-621-2736

A part of the Wisconsin Historical Society Press "The New Badger History Series", They Came To Wisconsin by Julia Pferdehirt, is the engaging story of a wide variety of immigrant groups who settled in the American Midwest state of Wisconsin during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and ranges from a variety of traditional European groups to the African Americans, Latinos, and Hmong newcomers of today. Oral histories, excerpts from the Wisconsin Historical Society's archives, interviews, and much, much more fill this rich 127-page survey of Wisconsin's plural heritage. A "must" for all Wisconsin library systems, there is also a Teachers Guide & Student Materials for They Came To Wisconsin (0870203363, $24.95) that is ideal for traditional classroom and/or homeschooling instruction as well.

Toy Train Memories
John Grams
Kalmbach Publishing Co.
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53186
0871161982 $29.95 1-800-533-6644

Vividly illustrated from cover to cover with numerous full color photographs, Toy Train Memories by John Grams is a superbly organized and presented celebration of classic model railroad sets, such as many readers might have once received as Christmas gifts or seen in department stores near the holiday season, especially during the 1940's and 1950's. Very highly recommended for enthusiasts and collectors of classic model trains, Toy Train Memories is a veritable treasure trove of nostalgic memories about these fascinating toys enjoyed by generations of youngsters (and their fathers!), the companies that created them, as well as the advertising and marketing efforts that made them household names.

Take a Deep Breath
Sylvia Forges-Ryan & Edward Ryan
Kodansha America, Inc.
575 Lexington Avenue, NY, NY 10022
4770028857 $16.00 thejapanpage.com

Take A Deep Breath: The Haiku Way To Inner Peace is the combined work of Sylvia Forges-Ryan, a well-known American haiku poet, and her husband, Edward Ryan, a psychologist, that presents meaningful insights into emotional and spiritual well-being, placed side by side with inspirational haiku poetry embodying the inner lessons being taught. Take A Deep Breath is recommended as being a thoughtful, practical, "reader friendly", aid to discovering and nurturing a personal tranquility within. "Summer afternoon/last notes on the music box/dragging".


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

Collector Books
Box 3009, Paducah, KY 42002-3009
1-800-626-5420

These new collector's guides blend identification with values and clear color photos of sample items, making it easy for specialty collectors to price and locate items. Carole Bess White's Made In Japan Book IV (1574322974, $24.95) updates information on a range of ceramics made in Japan. An introductory discussion of maker's marks provides illustrated examples while chapters organized by item type, from bookends to condiment sets and cigarette items, makes for quick reference. Alex Wescot's Standard Antique Clock Value Guide (1574323113, $19.95) is packed with black and white illustrations of antique clocks, with each receiving a simple line of explanation of type, pattern, price and height. Jack Clark & Robert Wicker's Hot Wheels (1574323016, $24.95) presents the 'ultimate' guide to Redline cars from 1968-77, packing in the color photos of Mattel concept toys ranging from Formula One cars to promotional Shell items. Ronna Lee Aikins' Brilliant Rhinestones (1574322958, $24.95) covers rhinestone jewelry from the Ronna Lee collection. The organization of rhinestones by color aids in the identification process. All are top picks.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Dreams Don't Last
Joyce Lavene & Jim Lavene
Avalon Books
c/o Thomas Bouregy & Co., Inc.
160 Madison Avenue, NY, NY 10016
0803495684 $19.95 www.amazon.com

The latest Sharyn Howard mystery by the writing team of Joyce and Jim Lavene, Dreams Don't Last is a suspenseful political saga of unsolved murders, election fever, and hidden family secrets in Sharyn Howard's personal and public life. Sharyn is running against ex-sheriff Roy Tarnower, and the race promises to be anything but painless. Dreams Don't Last is tautly written novel of cover-ups and shady motives, with an exciting twist as election day draws near. Also recommended are the earlier Sharyn Howard mysteries: Last Dance (0803493894, $19.95); One Last Good-bye (0803494386, $19.95); Until Our Last Embrace (0803495080, $19.95); The Last To Remember (0803494688, $19.95); and For The Last Time (080349548X, $19.95).

Poisoned Pen Press
6962 East First Avenue, #103, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
1-800-421-3976

Four new titles from this publisher excel in mysteries which have a touch of something different. Deborah Turrell Atkinson's Primitive Secrets (1589580176, $24.95) presents a Hawaiian mystery which revolves around modern cultures confronting ancient beliefs and mysteries. The death of Storm's beloved relative and her subsequent flight to Hawaii brings a series of near-misses which seem to sudden to be mere accidents, and Storm must solve the puzzle or face destruction. Cornelius Lehane's Beware The Solitary Drinker (1590580168, $24.95) provides beautiful, metaphoric symbolism throughout its descriptions of a bartender's investigation into his customer's murder. Brian's commitment to the chase uncovers numerous killings and a young business woman who is equally determined to uncover the killer. Kit Ehrman's At Risk (1589580362, $24.95) tells of a young man who drops out of college to become a barn manager at a farm. When Steve confronts a pack of thieves and is hijacked along with the horses, he becomes involved in a scam and earns the attention of a killer. Fast-paced action throughout. Pip Granger's Not All Tarts Are Apple (1589580338, $24.95) provides an unusual first novel which offers a British child's life during one summer in 1953. Rosie lives happily in a rough Soho neighborhood, until she learns at school that her mom's a tart and a drunk. As her family seeks to protect her further, Rosie makes additional discoveries about her background. A first person dialogue throughout keeps the characterization vivid.


The Photography Shelf

The Performance Horse
David R. Stoecklein & Jennifer F. Meyer
Stoecklein Publishing, LLC
Graphic Arts Center Publishing, dist.
PO Box 856, Ketchum, ID 83340
1931153221 $60.00 1-800-452-3032

Featuring the incredible photography of David R. Stoecklein, The Performance Horse is a visually stunning tribute to man's equine companions, celebrating horses in racing, sports, rodeos and championships the world over. Insightful captions and commentaries by Jennifer Forsberg Meyer enhances this largely pictorial capturing of the partnership and sometimes rivalry between man and animal. The Performance Horse is enthusiastically highly recommended for horse fanciers, and would make an "Memorial Fund" acquisition choice for academic or community libraries.

Aperture
20 E. 23rd St., New York NY 10010
1-800-929-2323 www.amazon.com

Three new titles present very different collections which art libraries will find a cut above the ordinary. Eikoh Hosoe's Ba Ra Kei: Ordeal By Roses (0893811696, $45.00) presents famous writer Mishima's last work with Hosoe, the photographer. This is the first Western edition of a collaboration between writer and photographer which began in 1961 and continued until Mishima's suicide. The black and white images are stark and involving. R.H. Cravens' Photography Fast Forward (0893819964, $55.00) presents an overview of Aperture photography artists and their works, from Ansel Adams to Tomatsu. History and excerpts from the Aperture journal's archives document the works of photographers who have contributed to Aperture over the decades. Eugene Richards and Janine Altongy's Stepping Through The Ashes (089381014, $40.00) blends Richards' photos with interviews by Altongy. The focus here is upon September 11th, with stark black and white photos capturing the too-real drama of human destruction.

Our Chicago
Marilyn D. Clancy & Ron Schramm
Voyageur Press, Inc.
PO Box 338, Stillwater, MN 55082
0896580059 $14.95 voyageurpress.com

Our Chicago is a visual smorgasbord of the great sights and highlights of this grand city. Full-color photographs by Ron Schramm, enhanced with an engaging text and informative captions by Marilyn D. Clancy vividly illustrate this visual tour of this American Midwestern city, from its homey neighborhoods to its fast-paced commerce and high culture. An excellent and memorable souvenir of vacationing or living in the Windy City, Our Chicago is a welcome and highly recommended work, which could well serve as a template or example for similar visual showcase tributes for other major American cities.

Canada
Roberta Bondar
Douglas & McIntyre
2323 Quebec St., Suite 201, Vancouver, BC, Canada V5T 4S7
1550549588 $29.95 1-800-367-9692

Canada: Landscape Of Dreams By Roberta Bondar (the first Canadian woman astronaut to fly in space) is a superbly visual tribute to the natural beauty and splendor of a lush and majestic land. Each two-page spread presents a breathtaking photograph of forests, flowers, mountains, rivers, and more. Each image is enhanced with an accompanying briefly worded and memorable thought about Canada by an august personage. Canada is a visual and literary treasure to read and savor, again and again.

In The Presence Of Nature
Jim Wright & Jerry Barrack
Camino Books
PO Box 59026, Philadelphia, PA 19102
0940159759 $35.00 caminobooks.com

In The Presence Of Nature: The Celery Farm Natural Area, Allendale, New Jersey is a gorgeous and inspirational collection of full-color photographs by photographer Jerry Barrack showcasing the beauty of the plants and animals. Brief yet insightful text commentary by Jim Wright enhances these captivating images of nature's majesty. A welcome addition to any personal or professional photography collectoin, In The Presence Of Nature would also make a superb choice for a school or community library "Memorial Fund" acquisition.

A Turning Point
Victor Gagliardi
Gagliardi Photography
27 West 20th Street, #400, NY, NY 10011
0971268703 $65.00 www.beaglebay.com (exclusive distributors)

A Turning Point is a superbly presented collection of full-color photography by Victor Gagliardi, a professional photographer and owner of two New York galleries. Gagliardi spent nearly ten years on the creation of this remarkable volume; the images within present a unique and balanced application of color, form, poise, and subject, -- each of which enhanced by a thoughtful and thought-provoking quotation. A treasure to simply page through, A Turning Point would make a welcome and much appreciated addition to any personal, academic, or community library photography collection.

A Portrait Of Missouri
Paul E. Parker
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Blvd, Columbia, MO 65201
082621438X $34.95 1-800-828-1894

A Portrait Of Missouri: 1935-1943 by Paul E. Parker (Professor of Political Science, Truman State University, Kirksville, Missouri) is an impressive and evocative collection of black-and-white photographs drawn from the historical archives of the Farm Security Administration. Documenting the impoverished farm economy during the Great Depression as well as part of the World War II era, these striking images preserve a memorable portrait of small town and rural history itself. The extensive, informative, scholarly text places the photographs within their historical context and complements this superb and highly recommended photographic gallery.

Arena Editions
425 Sandoval St., Santa Fe, NM 87501
www.arenaeditions.com

Two new titles cover the contributions and careers of photographers whose images defy easy categorization, and will interest art library collections with their diverse explorations. Jan Saudek's Realities (1892041618) features the author's nude photography which blends traditional images with elements of the bizarre. All ages, sexes, and manner of men and women are included in a title which can be as shocking as eye-opening. Fulvio Ferrari's Carlo Mollino Polaroids (189204160X) gathers a range of small color vintage photos of women. Chapters provide intriguing images which are diverse and unusual. Both are excellent art library acquisitions, especially for collections strong in photography.

Photography: Focus On Profit
Tom Zimberoff
Allworth Press
10 E. 23rd St. #510, New York NY 10010
1581150598 $35.00 1-800-491-2808

Photography: Focus On Profit isn't just another beginner's how-to guide on taking or marketing pictures. Photography: Focus On Profit culls the industry's best practices, using software to put its lessons into practice. Photographers are given all the information needed to incorporate profitability into their efforts. Chapters provide specific guidelines geared to profitability, from buying equipment only when and as needed to generate an immediate payback, to defining a potential customer base. An essential, basic guide.


The Martial Arts Shelf

Tai Chi Walking
Robert Chuckrow, Ph.D.
YMAA Publication Center
4354 Washington St., Boston, MA 02131
188696923X $16.95 1-800-669-8892

Tai Chi Walking: A Low-Impact Path To Better Health by Tai Chi Chuan expert Robert Chuckrow is a superbly presented, "user friendly", instructional compendium on the health benefits and practices of walking, employing Tai Chi principles for meditation and improved health at the same time. Readers will learn how to walk properly and naturally, why poor walking posture can actually damage physical health, and how proper walking can significantly increase longevity and vitality. Tai Chi Walking is confidently recommended reading for all students of the martial arts, physical fitness, and alternative health resources and practices.

Secrets Of The Ninja
Jennifer Cahill & Michie Itoh
DH Publishing, Inc.
2-3-3F Kanda Jimbocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0051 Japan
0972312412 $30.00 dhp-online.com

Collaboratively compiled and edited by Jennifer Cahill and Michie Itoh, Secrets Of The Ninja: Their Training, Tools, And Techniques is a fascinating compendium of ancient training methods, rituals, martial arts, survival strategies, and much, much more used by those ancient Japanese spies, saboteurs, assassins and warriors once known as "ninja". Enhanced with an informative introduction by Hiromitsu Kuroi (Director of the Iga Sect Ninja Association, Jurondo), the descriptive text combined with exquisitely detailed, full color photography, bring the "real world" of Ninja training, tools, costumes, codes, diets, lifestyles, techniques, and philosophy vividly to life in a first-rate, historically accurate, "user friendly" reference which is very highly recommended for martial arts students, Japanese history buffs, fantasy and historical fiction writers employing ninja characters, as well as the non-specialist general reader who is genuinely curious about what it once meant to be a ninja.

The Ancient Art Of Life And Death
A. Flane Walker & Richard C. Bauer
Paladin Press
7077 Winchester Cir., Boulder, CO 80301
1581603703 $39.95 1-800-392-2400

Collaboratively written by A. Flane Walker and Richard C. Bauer, The Ancient Art Of Life And Death: The Book Of Dim-Mak is an intense, thorough, authoritative, and holistic study/presentation of all aspects of the martial art of Dim-Mak, which was originally created as a blend of medical and martial arts with the goal of being used to heal. Cycles of rebirth and destruction permeate the teachings and philosophy of the art; The Ancient Art Of Life And Death presents both basic information and higher-level overviews by combining modern-day interpretations with reproductions of classical texts. Analysis of acupoints, the fabled 36-chamber training sequence, herbal pharmacology and much more fill this seminal reference for dedicated martial arts practitioners who are interested in learning more about this ancient practice.


The Sports Shelf

Nitschke
Edward Gruver
Taylor Trade Publishing
c/o Rowman & Littlefield Publishing
4720 Boston Way, Lanham, MD 20706
0878332715 $24.95 1-800-462-6420

Nitschke is the first biography of accomplished professional football player Ray Nitschke (1936-1998), who won the Green Bay Packers five NFL titles and the first two Super Bowls. Constructed from thorough research and dozens of interviews by biographer Edward Gruver, Nischke is the impressive portrait of a courageous man who lost both his parents at age 13, played a legendary championship "Ice Bowl" game in sub-zero weather, was inducted into the Pro Football hall of fame in 1978, and earned lasting memorials and tributes after his unfortunate death from a heart attack. Nitschke provides the reader with an inspiring account of the life of a dedicated game player and is "must" reading for Packer fans in general, and those who remember Ray Nitschke's performances on the field in particular.

The Golden Voices Of Baseball
Ted Patterson
Sports Publishing, LLC
804 No. Nell, #100, Champaign, IL 61820
1582614989 $39.95 1-877-807-6034

Written by the award-winning sportscaster Ted Patterson, The Golden Voices Of Baseball is a vividly presented collection of brief biographical portraits of the great baseball announcers of radio history. Enhanced with an accompanying set of two CDS featuring captivating tracks of memorable sports callers in action The Golden Voices Of Baseball offers a truly exciting survey, filled throughout with black-and-white photographs, history, nostalgia, and commentary. An ideal gift for baseball enthusiasts, The Golden Voices Of Baseball is a unique and very highly recommended sports history.


The Psychology Shelf

The Psychology Of Sopranos
Glen Gabbard, MD
Basic Books
387 Park Avenue South, NY, NY 10016
0465027350 $22.00 1-800-242-7737

Mafia don Soprano and his associates have captured more than 11 million viewers in the HBO TV hit series; but what makes the series so fascinating especially to psychoanalysts? The Psychology Of Sopranos provides an intriguing survey of the characters and attractions of the series, using the gangster family as a foundation for analyzing the American psyche and its fascination with death.

Analyzing Freud
Susan Stanford Friedman
New Directions Publishing Corporation
80 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY 10011
0811214990 $39.95 ndpublishing.com

Deftly compiled and edited by Susan Stanford Friedman (Virginia Woolf Professor of English and Women's Studies and Chair of the English Department, University of Wisconsin-Madison), Analyzing Freud: Letters of H. D., Bryher, And their Circle is a fascinating, informative primary source providing invaluable insights into the life and work of the famous father of modern psychoanalysis -- Sigmund Freud. The poet H. D. was one of Freud's patients in 1933 and 1934; her letters to her novelist companion Bryher (which often revolve around the hours she spent with Freud), offer a unique glimpse into the inception of psychoanalysis, the modern-day science of the mind. Analyzing Freud is a very highly recommended, essential, seminal addition to History Of Psychology reference shelves and supplemental reading lists.

Reflecting Psychoanalysis
Jurgen Reeder
H. Karnac Books, Ltd.
c/o Other Press LLC
224 West 20th St., NY, NY 10011-3510
1855752840 $30.00 1-877-843-6843

Reflecting Psychoanalysis: Narrative And Resolve In The Psychoanalytic Experience by Jurgen Reeder (Associate Professor and Researcher, Department of Education, Stockholm University, Sweden) is a thoughtful and thought-provoking approach to a core ethical question embedded at the heart of psychoanalytic practice: "With what legitimacy do I assume the right to interpret my fellow being?" Professor Reeder articulately presents and discusses the fundamental intersubjectivity of psychoanalytic experiences with respect to the mutual phenomena of influencing and/or acting upon the informational presence of both therapist and patient. That the dialectic interaction which occurs is not simply the cumulative acquisition of information or methodically layered experience, but an always evolving emergence of interpretation. Reflecting Psychoanalysis is especially well presented and very highly recommended reading for both students and practitioners of psychoanalysis.


The Business Shelf

Conquering Cold-Calling Fear
Don Surath
Cypress House
155 Cypress Street, Fort Bragg, CA 95437
1879384507 $16.95 cypresshouse.com

Conquering Cold-Calling Fear: Before And After The Sale by record-setting sales professional and sales trainer Don Surath is a proactive, go-getter manual for written specifically for professional salespeople, and which offers a wealth of shortcuts; tips, tricks, techniques; practical advice; experience-based observations; and more -- all designed to improve the cold-call (unannounced) salesman's pitch, the use body language to the salesman's benefit, close a deal solidly; and cultivate repeat business. A first-rate primer with useful advice for more than just salespeople, such as job seekers, public speakers, entrepreneurs, and others who could well benefit from the tactics and strategies laid out in the pages of Don Surath's Conquering Cold-Calling Fear.

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

Brochure Design That Works deserves a very high recommended as an important tool for graphic designers and business executives charged with the responsibility for creating effective, attractive brochures. Nationally and internationally recognized brochures demonstrated here for efficiency range from corporate client work to institutional, educational and arts brochures. Individual chapters probe each completed work for the elements which make it a success, from its initial idea to technical aspects of its production.

Insurance Solutions
Laura D. Cooper, Esq.
Demos Publishing
386 Park Avenue So, #201, NY NY 10016
1888799552 $24.95 www.amazon.com

Insurance Solutions is a very strongly recommended workbook specifically designed for businesses with employees having chronic conditions or disabilities and is especially valuable for its importance as an effective financial planning and problem solving management tool. Insurance should cover all disability-related costs, but it's important to understand differences between insurance policies and benefits. Readers learn how to examine health, life, disability and care plans for long-term usefulness.

Dearborn Publishing
30 S. Wacker Dr., Chicago, IL 60606
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 (079315412X, $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.

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

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 Publishing
3000 Lava Ridge Court, Roseville, CA 95661-3034
0761563520 $14.95 1-800-632-8676

The groundwork behind a highly successful career and a commercially viable venture often lies in effective presentations to management, clients, and the public. In Maximize Your Presentation Skills: How To Speak, Look And Act On Your Way To The Top, professional image coach 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 www.amazon.com

How can business people succeed and lead? Making Horses Drink 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. Chapters show how to develop and form improvement goals for maximum effect.

The Market Planning Guide
David H. Bangs, Jr.
Dearborn Trade Publishing
155 North Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606-1719
0793159717 $22.95 1-800-621-9621

Now in its sixth edition, The Market Planning Guide by entrepreneur David H. Bangs, Jr. (founder of the Upstart Publishing Company) is a straightforward, "user friendly", and highly recommended guide to creating a plan to promote, publicize, and market any business, product, or service. From price setting guidelines, to analyzing the competition, to responding quickly to inevitable market changes, The Market Planning Guide is an excellent basic "how to" resource, filled from cover to cover with a wealth of recommendations, charts, tips, tricks, techniques and much more.

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

Of Permanent Value: The Story Of Warren Buffett is a weighty tome will appeal to fans of financial wizard Warren Buffett, exploring his 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. Biography and business savvy makes for an intriguing blend, here.

Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019
1-800-250-5308 www.amazon.com

From shared decision-making to organizing more effective meetings through adjusting programs and structure, Eli Mina's The Business Meetings Sourcebook (081440670X, $65.00) provides business managers with important insights on efficiently managing meetings. Introductory chapters provide learners with the ideas to form a business meeting foundation, while experienced managers will want to turn to the later chapters on converting dysfunctional groups and handling more complex group issues. An essential executive's guide. Allan Henderson's E-Learning (0814471692, $19.95) tells how to make the most from an online learning environment. From budgeting costs for e-learning to supporting employees who respond to e-learning opportunities, this is packed with interviews with experts plus examples of e-learning in sales, legal training and HR. An exciting survey.

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

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 found within the pages of Knock Em Dead Business Presentations necessary to creating an effective, nuts and bolts presention of a fine business program from scratch.


The Theatre/Cinema Shelf

Book On Acting
Stephen Book
Silman-James Press
3624 Shannon Rd, Los Angeles CA 90027
1879505606 $24.95 1-323-661-9922

Book On Acting: Improvisation Technique by acting coach, teacher, and directory Stephen Book (long-time faculty member of The Juilliard School and the University of Southern California) is a "user friendly" handbook written especially anyone who serious aspires to becoming professional actors in film, theater, and television. Offering ways to improve one's performance with both scripted and memorized lines, and covering everything from using improvisation to liven one's monologues or improving one's chances at an audition in better displaying conflict, agreement, etc. on camera, Book On Acting: Improvisation Technique is an excellent and confidently recommended single volume instructional resource.

Accents
Robert Blumenfeld
Limelight Editions
118 East 30th Street, NY, NY 10016
087910967X $29.95 1-212-532-5525

Now in a fully revised and expanded new edition, Accents: A Manual For Actors by professional actor and dialect coach Robert Bluemfeld is a 425 page compendium of detailed and "student friendly" instruction for actors seeking to learn how to perform their lines in anyone of more than a hundred different dialects. Superbly organized into nine broad categories (The British Island and Commonwealth; North America; Romance Languages; Germanic Languages, Slavic Languages; Miscellaneous European; Middle Eastern; African; and Asian), each individual section provides an intensive breakdown of the accents found within the broader category. Enhanced with two accompanying CD discs, Accents is a complete and highly recommended single volume course which will prove to be an invaluable addition to any personal, professional, community theater, or school theater department's reference collection.

The Actor's Guide To Performing Shakespeare
Madd Harold
Lone Eagle Publishing Company
1024 North Orange Drive, Hollywood, CA 90038
1580650465 $18.95 www.hcdonline.com

The Actor's Guide To Performing Shakespeare For Film, Television And Theatre by actor, director, producer, teacher, and writer Madd Harold is a straightforward, superbly "user friendly" instructional guide to just about everything a moderately knowledgeable actor needs to know in order to bring Shakespeare's classics to life upon the stage. From narrative rhythms that anyone speaking lines in iambic pentameter should be aware of, to controlling one's breathing during dialogue, to what antithesis is when performing Shakespeare, The Actor's Guide To Performing Shakespeare is a comprehensive, informed, informative, and very highly recommended manual showcasing the nuances of learning to perform classic Shakespearian dramas and comedies.

Frida
Linda Sunshine, editor
Newmarket Press
18 East 48th Street, NY, NY 10017
1557045402 $35.00 1-800-669-3903

Enhanced with an informative Foreword by Kayden Herrera and with introductions by Julie Taymor and Salma Hayek, Frida: Bringing Frida Kahlo's Life And Art To Film is a superb companion title to Julie Taymor's electrifying and artistic movie "Frida", showcasing the true story of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, the Mexican painters whose acclaimed work and passionate love affair distinguished them during the twentieth century. Featuring full-color photographs on virtually every page which illustrate the screenplay text, as well as interviews with cast and crew members and production notes, Frida is fun to simply page through, a highly recommended addition to academic film libraries, and is a "must-have" acquisition for admirers of the movie celebrating one of the twentieth-century's most remarkable female artists.

Action!
Sandra R. Gordon
Applause Theatre & Cinema Books
151 West 46th St, 8th fl, NY, NY 10036
1557835845 $16.95 applausepub.com

Action!: Establishing Your Career In Film & Television Production by Emmy award winning Sandra R. Gordon is a handy and practical guide specifically written for people who are interested in a career in one or more segments of the entertainment industry. From internship tips, to the ins and outs of the production department, to crafting a production resume, to the value of adopting a solid work ethic, Action! is a first-rate and highly readable resource intended and enthusiastically recommended for job seekers of all backgrounds seeking a position with film and/or television production careers.

JoBlo.com Presents The 50 Coolest Movies Of All Time
Berge Garabedian
Quiet Storm Publishing
PO Box 1666, Martinsburg, WV 25402
0971429669 $17.95 quietstormbooks.com

JoBlo.com Presents The 50 Coolest Movies Of All Time by Berge Garabedian (founder of the internet movie website joblo.com) draws from more than 1500 movie reviews to showcase the fun and enjoyment of watching movies ranging from Aliens; A Clockwork Orange; The Empire Strikes Back; Goodfellas; and Mad Max; to Pulp Fiction; Saturday Night Fever; Trainspotters; The Usual Suspects; and Wall Street. Enhanced with an informative Foreword and a rather thoughtful Epilogue, JoBlo.com Presents The 50 Coolest Movies Of All Time is a "must" for movie buffs, whether they dip into the entries here and there, or simply start with page one and reading straight on through!

Pure Imagination
Mel Stuart with Josh Young
LA Weekly Books/St. Martin's Press
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
0312287771 $29.95 www.stmartins.com

Pure Imagination: The Making Of Willy Wonka And The Chocolate Factory is written by Mel Stuart (who directed the film) with the assistance of Josh Young. A colorful and exiting look at the making of the fantastic movie adaptation of a classic children's book, and which starred Gene Wilder, Pure Imagination is the story of how the popular children's book was faithfully adapted into a major Hollywood movie. The memorable story is about a poverty-stricken young boy who is granted the chance to experience the mystic workings of fabulous candy factory; yet there are hidden dangers amid the tour! Vivid color photographs and adventurous text with a touch of wry humor bring to life the adventure of capturing a wondrous literary fantasy on the silver screen for all to see. Pure Imagination is a gorgeous and memorable read which is especially recommended to anyone who has enjoyed the film either in its original theatrical release or at home on video.

From Celluloid To Cyberspace
Kevin McCarthy & Elizabeth Ondaatje
RAND
Box 2138, Santa Monica, CA 90407-2138
0833030760 $20.00 www.rand.org

Collaboratively written by art media experts Kevin F. McCarthy and Elizabeth Heneghan Ondaatje, From Celluloid To Cyberspace: The Media Arts And The Changing Arts World is a scholarly and engaging survey and analysis of the dynamics of America's media arts - that is, art produced by film, video, computers, or any combination thereof. Looking at media arts within the context of their broader environment, and discussing the audiences, arts organizations, and funding applied to media arts, From Celluloid To Cyberspace is a fascinating, informative, and confidently recommended study of how the American silver screen continues to evolve and influence American popular culture.


The International Studies Shelf

Islam Versus Terrorism
Firooz E. Zadeh
Twin Lakes Publishing, Inc.
6286 CR 10 Twin Lakes, CO 81251
0967448018 $15.00 vtinet.com/swiss

Providing an insightful and illuminating explanation of Islam as practiced throughout the Middle East, Islam Versus Terrorism by educator and lecturer Firooze E. Zadeh is an articulate, straightforward, informative presentation about Islam, a religion practiced by an estimated 1.6 billion people worldwide, and which like all religions has been misused by a minority of its believers to perpetrate intolerable cruelties "in the name of God". With a particular eye toward the September 11 attacks, Islam Versus Terrorism emphasizes that Islam is a peaceful religion that does not spawn terrorism - rather it is political, social, cultural, and economic desperation which creates terrorism and terrorists, and that is America's foreign policy with regard to the predominantly Islamic nations which needs to be scrutinized more closely than ever in the wake of September 11 if terrorism is to be successfully and fairly dealt with.

Tinderbox
Stephen Zunes
Common Courage Press
PO Box 702, Monroe, ME 04951
www.commoncouragepress.com
1567512267 $18.95 www.amazon.com

Tinderbox: U.S. Middle East Policy And The Roots Of Terrorism by Stephen Zunes (Associate Professor of Politics and Chair of the Peace & Justice Studies Program, University of San Francisco) is a informed and informative explanation and analysis of current U.S. policies in the Middle East, with a particular emphasis on their political shortcomings with respect to the rise of international terrorism and American national security. Specifically addressed is the critical question of whether or not American political policies with respect to the Middle Eastern nations have diminished or engendered terrorism? With an especial eye upon the September 11 attacks and their root causes, Tinderbox is a sharply worded, insightful, articulate analysis of politics and its deadly outcomes which is a welcome contribution to the national dialogue regarding the current "war on terrorism".

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

Three titles are highly recommended picks. Judith Caesar's Writing Off The Beaten Track: Reflections On The Meaning Of Travel And Culture In The Middle East (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: Lives Of Professional Pakistani Women (0815629605, $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 impressive work, Voices From Iran: The Changing Lives Of Iranian Women (0815629818, $9.95) 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. All are recommended picks.

Relentless Pursuit
Samuel Katz
Forge
175 5th Ave., New York NY 10010
0765304023 $24.95 1-888-330-8477

Relentless Pursuit focuses on the Diplomatic Security Services (DSS) and its hunt for Al-Queda terrorists provides Katz's six years of travel throughout the Middle East and Europe, researching international terrorism and bin-Laden's global network. His encounters with the DSS leads to an exploration of this federal enforcement agency, which comes alive in chapters of in-depth research and personal experience.

Reference Shelf 2002: China
Dimitri Cavalli, editor
H. W. Wilson Company
950 University Avenue, Bronx, NY 10452
082421014X $45.00 1-800-367-6770

Capably edited by China expert Dimitri Cavalli as part of the outstanding H. W. Wilson Company "Reference Shelf 2002" series, China is a straightforward reference for readers of all ages and backgrounds to a variety of trends and conditions of the modern-day nation of China. Individual chapters excerpt articles from magazines such as Business Week, National Post, Washington Times and many more to offer a broad based picture of China's political and economic trends, human rights issues, and relations with other states. China is recommended as being an excellent resource and informative educational read.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

The Horse In Motion
Sarah Pilliner, et al.
Blackwell Publishing
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148-5018
063205137X $34.99 blackwell-science.com

Collaboratively written by equestrian expert Sarah Pilliner, freelance illustrator Samantha Elmhurst, and equine nutritionist and consultant Zoe Davies, The Horse In Motion: The Anatomy And Physiology Of Equine Locomotion is an extensive and authoritatively examination of equine anatomy and how horses walk, trot, canter, and jump. Profusely illustrated with numerous black-and-white photographs and sketches, and offering invaluable tips to avoid hindering a horse as well as a wealth of information about how horses move, The Horse In Motion is very highly recommended reading, especially for equine enthusiasts and for anyone with an interest in painting or animating these robust creatures. Also very highly recommended is Sarah Pilliner and Zoe Davies' earlier work, Equine Science, Health And Performance (0632039132; $54.95).

A Plague Of Rats And Rubber Vines
Yvonne Baskin
Island Press
1718 Connecticut Ave. NW #300, Washington, DC 20009-1148
1559638761 $25.00 1-800-828-1302

Plague Of Rats And Rubber Vines provides a very important discussion of species invasions around the world while also addressing many of the little-known consequences of such invasions, including the consequences of global trade and world travel so popular with Westerners. Plant and animal communities are increasingly being degraded by invasive species, and Plague Of Rats And Rubber Vines provides a discussion which includes solutions to the threat.

Of Moths And Men
Judith Hooper
W.W. Norton & Company
500 5th Ave., New York NY 10110
0393051218 $26.95 1-800-233-4830

Peppered moths of England were the most renowed insects in the world, featured in nearly every scientific textbook and acquiring fame through a British physician and amateur lepidopterist who used moths to demonstrate evolution in action. Of Moths And Men explores new evolutionary theories of the peppered moth, exploring how the moths became invisible to birds and escaped being preyed upon. Kettlewell and his theory of natural selection is surveyed in a lively, informative guide.

Cool North Wind
Stephen Stuebner
The Caxton Press
312 Main St., Caldwell, ID 83605-3299
0870044265 $24.95 caxtonpress.com

Cool North Wind: Morley Nelson's Life With Birds Of Prey by Stephen Stuebner is the compelling story of Morley Nelson, a gifted naturalist with a special love for raptors, and a man whose work in falconry, nature films, raptor-rehabilitation, and the recovery endangered peregrine falcons (among other achievements), has long distinguished him as an exceptional and respected conservationist. Highly recommended reading for environmentalists and wildlife enthusiasts, this deftly written biography presents a complete picture of a World War II veteran, dedicated environmentalist, raptor expert, and truly remarkable man.

Attracting Butterflies & Hummingbirds To Your Backyard
Sally Roth
Rodale Press
33 E. Minor St., Emmaus, PA 18098
0875968880 $16.95 www.rodale.com

Attracting Butterflies & Hummingbirds To Your Backyard deserves ongoing mention as an outstanding survey of how gardens can attract desired wild birds and butterflies. From determining how native plants interact in the environment and help attract native visitors to understanding how to maintain a healthy environment, Attracting Butterflies & Hummingbirds To Your Backyard comes packed with tips which blend gardening and wild animal management and observation.


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 this new eighth edition of High Impact Resumes And Letters, a powerful book which contains practical information for tailoring a submission for maximum effect. This "user-friendly" guide 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.

300 Best Jobs Without A Four-Year Degree
Michael Farr, et al.
JIST Works
8902 Otis Avenue, Indianapolis, IN 46216
1563708612 $16.95 www.jist.com

Collaboratively written by Michael Farr and LaVerne L. Ludden, with additional assistance by Laurence Shatkin, 300 Best Jobs Without A Four-Year Degree is an impressive and thoroughly "user friendly" 449-page compendium of useful lists, statistics, and thorough descriptions of exciting and satisfying jobs, none of which require a college degree. The basics of the trade for everything from advertising sale agents to welding machine operators are presented in a completely reader-friendly format, along with data drawn from government information about the overall makeup of the people who are drawn to each career path. 300 Best Jobs Without A Four-Year Degree is highly recommended as a superb guide for non-college degree job-seekers and otherwise cash-poor students.

The Best Computer Jobs In America
Carol L. Covin
Twenty Minutes Press
12510 Izaak Walton Road, Bristow, VA 20136
0971784604 $18.95 www.amazon.com

The Best Computer Jobs In America: 20 Minutes From Home by Carol L. Covin (a 25-year veteran of the computer industry) is a straightforward, thoroughly "user friendly" guide to finding and getting the best computer jobs available in America today. Listings of corporations; their locations and contact information; the requirements and computer skills they need; techniques for business interviews; an overview of what each job requires; and a wealth of tips, tricks fill this solid career resource from cover to cover. If you are seeking a job in the computer industry, then give a careful reading to Carol Covin's The Best Computer Jobs In America!


The Environmental Studies Shelf

The Lost Language Of Plants
Stephen Harrod Buhner
Chelsea Green Publishing
Box 428, White River Junction, VT 05001
1890132888 $19.95 1-800-639-4099

We are polluting the environment with pharmaceuticals developed to heal, and are losing the planet's natural healers and stabilizers in the process. In the The Lost Language Of Plants, Stephen Bohner sees plants as sentient beings adjusting to the environment: the discussion focuses on the importance of preserving plants which hold the key to healing both man and environment.

Wilderness: A New Mexico Legacy
Corry McDonald
Sunstone Press
PO Box 2321, Santa Fe, NM 87504-2321
0865340560 $15.95 1-800-243-5644

Wilderness: A New Mexico Legacy by wilderness expert Corry McDonald is an informative history of the conflicting forces striving to determine the fate of New Mexico's wild lands -- on one hand, the press of population growth and the desire to "tame the wilderness"; and on the other, the efforts of environmental movements and outdoor recreation groups to preserve the wilderness and its heritage. Black-and-white photographs illustrate this thoughtful and moving account which is a welcome and much appreciated contribution to Environmental Studies reference collections and reading lists.

Bountiful Harvest
Thomas R. DeGregori
Cato Institute
1000 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20001
1930865317 $12.95 www.cato.org

Bountiful Harvest: Technology, Food, Safety, And The Environment by Thomas R. DeGregori (Professor of Economics, University of Houston) is a thoroughly "reader friendly" introduction and analysis of how modern technology has drastically affected our environmentally based, technology enhanced food supply. Exposing myths and presenting extensive, meticulous research on the history of pesticides, pollution, organic agriculture, and much more, Bountiful Harvest is a very highly recommended, fact-filled primer, which will provide the non-specialist general reader an invaluable instructional background with respect to what really is served up on the dinner plate.

A Rough Sort Of Beauty
Dana F. Steward, editor
The University of Arkansas Press
McIlroy House, 201 Ozark Avenue, Fayetteville, AR 72701
1557287295 $19.95 1-800-626-0090

Compiled and edited by Dana F. Steward, A Rough Sort Of Beauty: Reflections On The Natural Heritage Of Arkansas is an impressive and memorable compilation of thoughtful and erudite essays about the natural beauty, wildlife, and scenery of rustic Arkansas. A wide variety of environmentally-conscious voices add their insights and observations to this succinct and meaningful collection. A Rough Sort Of Beauty is very highly recommended to the attention and reading lists of Environmentalist/Conservationists in general, and to Arkansas Regional Studies collections and outdoor enthusiasts in particular!

Red Delta
Charles Bergman
Fulcrum Publishing
16100 Table Mountman Parkway, #300, Golden, Colorado 80403
www.fulcrum-books.com
1555914608 $29.95 1-800-992-2908

Red Delta: Fighting For Life At The End Of The Colorado River by environmentalist Charles Bergman is a remarkable and insightful look at the natural life of a lush and ecologically complex area of American wetlands associated with the Colorado River. Beautiful, full-color photographs illustrate this thoughtful account of a majestic and beautiful wild resource which is unfortunately endangered by the all-too-common threats of pollution and overpopulation. Red Delta is a welcome and recommended addition to academic Environmental Studies reference collections in general, and Colorado Reviewer oriented wildlife enthusiasts in particular.


The Biography Shelf

In The Shadow Of The Throne
Ruth Norrington
Peter Owen/Dufour Editions, dist.
Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
072061127X $27.95 1-800-869-5677

In The Shadow Of The Throne: The Lady Arbella Stuart by historical biographer Ruth Norrington offers the reader an unusually insightful portrait of one of England's most overlooked princesses. Once the favored heir to the throne of Elizabeth I, the Lady Arbella Stuart was descended from Henry VII through his eldest daughter Margaret Tudor and was the niece of Mary Queen of Scots. But her life was marred by illness, and modern opinion is that she suffered from the hereditary disease of porphyria - a "vampire sickness" that made those afflicted horrendously sensitive to sunlight, among other blights. Her cousin King James I opposed her marriage to William Seymour, and eventually incarcerated her in the Tower of London, where Lady Arbella Stuart died from it in 1615. A fascinating saga of British royal family history, extensively researched and including numerous letters and correspondence, In The Shadow Of The Throne is enthusiastically recommended reading for anyone with an interest in British royal history in general, and the life and times of the doomed Lady Arbella Stuart in particular.

Stephenson Blake
Roy Millington
Oak Knoll Press
310 Delaware Street, New Castle, DE 19720
158456086X $49.95 www.oakknoll.com

Illustrated with black-and-white photographs and samples of typefounding, Stephenson Blake: The Last Of The Old English Typefounders is the biography of a man whose family business dominated the British typefounding industry throughout most of the 19th Century - until the late 1880's, when mechanical typesetting systems spelled the doom of the typefounding industry. A detailed history and chronology of the rise and fall of a powerful and influential business carefully researched and very nicely presented by Roy Millington (who draws from his lifetime involvement with Stephenson, Blake & Company, Limited where for more than 30 years he served as the company's honorary archivist and librarian), Stephenson Blake is a unique and very welcome contribution to Publishing History archives and reference collections.

Overcoming
Lori Sturdevant, editor
Afton Historical Press
PO Box 100, Afton, MN 55001
www.aftonpress.com
1890434523 $28.00 1-800-436-8443

Overcoming: The Autobiography Of W. Harry Davis is the autobiographical story of a remarkable African-American man who helped to shape civil-rights history in the United States. Exploring Davis' life as one of the first black executives in a major Twin Cities corporation, one of the principle leaders of a historic church merger, the founder of a bank, a member of the U.S. Olympic boxing committee, and the first black mayoral candidate to campaign in the Twin Cities, Overcoming is as much a testimony to the results of dedication, perseverance, and hope, as it is the remarkable life story of an impressive and dedicated man within the context of his life and times. Overcoming is an especially welcome and highly recommended addition to Black Studies biographical reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

The Great Garbo
Robert Payne
Cooper Square Press/NBN, dist.
200 Park Avenue South, Suite 1109, New York, NY 10003-1503
0815412231 $25.95 1-800-462-6420

Researched and written by historian and biographer Robert Payne, The Great Garbo is a thoughtfully presented and informative biography of the great film actress Greta Garbo (1905-1990), a woman who mesmerized the movie-goers of the 1920's and 1930's. It was Garbo's silver screen stories helped America cope during the depths of the Great Depression and left a lasting impression on American popular culture that continues to this very day. The 120 black-and-white photographs add a superb visual touch to this very highly recommended tribute to the life, work and legacy of a truly glamorous woman.

A Forgotten Voice
Ann G. Klein, Ed.D.
Great Potential Press, Inc.
PO Box 5057, Scottsdale, AZ 85261
0910707537 $22.00 giftedbooks.com

Highly recommended for both Women's Studies and American Education History Studies, A Forgotten Voice: Biography Of Leta Stetter Hollingworth is the story of the proverbial "mother of gifted education." Born in 1886 in rural Nebraska, Leta Hollingworth (1886-1939) survived an abusive childhood and endemic gender discrimination to become a talented psychologist, feminist, author, educator, and tireless advocate for the education of gifted children. Biographer Ann G. Klein (Professor Emerita, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire) provides a truly fascinating study into the life and work of an extraordinary, trailblazing woman.

Elizabeth: The Queen Mother
Grania Forbes
Pavilion/Trafalgar Square
PO Box 257, Howe Hill Road, North Pomfret, VT 05053-0257
1862054169 $22.95 1-800-423-4525

This new edition of Elizabeth: The Queen Mother, a classic biography which provides a photo portrait of Britain's most beloved Royal, and which blends in a history of modern Britain in the process, provides a new text and new photos bringing her life into to modern times, and covers her recent death as well. Fans of the British Royalty in general, and the Royal Queen of Britain in particular, will relish this display and history.


The Parenting Shelf

The Baby Bonding Book
Victoria Loveland-Coen
Self-Mastery Press
PO Box 55116, Valencia, CA 91385
0964476525 $12.95 babybonding.com

The Baby Bonding Book: 50 Ways To Connect With Your Infant by Victoria Loveland-Coen (an author and mother of twin preschoolers) offers new parents a compendium of easy and enjoyable suggestions for communicating with and sharing with their infant. From a "Name Those Toes" game, to dabbling in foreign languages, to the delight of using a favorite rattle, The Baby Bonding Book is enthusiastically recommended as being a truly first-rate collection of stimulating ideas for novice parents.

Fussbusters On The Go
Carol Baicker-McKee, Ph.D.
Peachtree Publishers, Ltd.
1700 Chattahoochee Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia 30318-2112
1561452637 $15.95 peachtree-online.com

Fussbusters On The Go: Strategies by child psychologist and youth services expert Carol Baicker-McKee is an outstanding compilation of effective strategies and "parent friendly" games to help make errands, outings, vacations, and general travel with preschool children fun and stress-free. From easy to understand and follow guidelines, to ensuring the little ones get nutritions munchies on the go, to handling separation anxiety and soothing incessant whining, to hygiene tips for staying clean, Fussbusters On The Go is an especially recommended addition to community library Parenting Skills reference collections, as well as invaluable, essential reading for parents of toddlers who have every had to take their child to the dentist, doctor, grocery store, mall shopping, or extended car trips.

Collecting Child Support
Susan Herskowitz, Esq.
Made E-Z Products, Inc.
384 South Military Trail, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442
1563824795 $14.95 www.MadeE-Z.com

Collecting Child Support by Susan Herskowitz is the latest in the Made E-Z guide series, and truly lives up to the promise of its title as it succinctly presents the matter-of-fact truth about child support in America, and how to efficiently go about collecting it legally and confidentially, even from delinquent parents. Although Collecting Child Support cannot replace the services of an attorney, it is extremely practical and helpful guide, and absolute "must" reading to prepare oneself before sitting down at a high-priced legal meeting with legal counsel paid for by the hour. Simply put, Collecting Child Support is essential reading for any parent needing to protect their children with a court-ordered child support obligation.

How To Teach Your Baby To Read
Glenn Doman & Janet Doman
The Gentle Revolution Press
810 Gleneagles Court, #305, Towson, MD 21286
www.gentlerevolution.com
1591170087 $16.95 1-866-250-2229

Now in a thoroughly revised and significantly updated 40th anniversary edition, How To Teach Your Baby To Read: The Gentle Revolution by child brain development experts Glenn Doman and Janet Doman is a simple, thoroughly "parent friendly" instructional guide to how fathers and mothers can help make reading fun for their children and prepare them for school through offering enjoyable activities and learning tasks which can begin in infancy. How To Teach Your Baby To Read is especially recommended for its extensive, simple to use, easy-to-follow learning plan combined with useful outlines and commentary to help structure quality bonding and instructional time with very young children. If you are a parent seeking to provide your son or daughter with the advantageous that an ability to read and that a love of reading will provide them throughout their school years and beyond, if you are looking to enhance your own parent/child bond, you wish to unlock your child's imagination, enhance your child's academic success, if you want to "school-proof" your child in the event that their teachers or classrooms are inadequate to your child's educational needs, then you need Glenn and Janet Doman's How To Teach Your Baby To Read!

Problem Child Or Quirky Kid?
Rita Sommers-Flanagan
John Sommers-Flanagan
Free Spirit Publishing, Inc.
217 Fifth Avenue North, Suite 200, Minneapolis, MN 55401-1299
1575421216 $15.95 www.freespirit.com

Collaboratively written by clinical psychologists and educators Rita Sommers-Flanagan and John Sommers-Flanagan, Problem Child Or Quirky Kid? is a straightforward, parent-friendly, "common sense" introduction and guide to the nature of significant childhood problems in terms of what is normal and what is not. Problem Child Or Quirky Kid? deftly addresses such issues as hyperactivity, childhood trauma, disobedience, suicidal tendencies, alcohol and drug use, chronic anger, socially crippling shyness, radical mood swings, and more. Thoroughly researched and offering solid, reliable information, Problem Child Or Quirky Kid? is very highly recommended for concerned parents who find their children exhibiting what seem to be unusual, detrimental, or worrisome behaviors.

One Small Starfish
Anne Addison
Future Horizons
721 W. Abram St., Arlington, TX 76013
1885477872 $24.95 1-800-489-0727

One Small Starfish: A Mother's Everyday Advice, Survival Tactics & Wisdom For Raising A Special Needs Child is the true story of Anne Addison, a mother who worked hard to raise a child diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Asperger's Syndrome, and developmental delays, and sensory integration problems. Facing the formidable challenges of teaching a child who is constantly pulled onto paths only he understands, Addison mastered the basic necessities of familial survival and helped her son learn how to cope in a dangerous world. One Small Starfish is a 372-page compendium of practical, "parent friendly", highly recommended observations and experiences from which the mothers and fathers of special needs children can draw information, advice, and hope. Addison's son is currently a successful student in a typical fourth grade classroom and, as other boys his age, actively participates in sports, church choir, and music.

Parenting Rule #1: Mom Has Fun!
Nicole MacKenzie
Skyward Publishing, Inc.
c/o Smith Publicity
PO Box 67, Fairless Hills, PA 19030
www.micpeakperformance.com
1881554163 $18.95 www.amazon.com

Parenting Rule #1: Mom Has Fun! by business woman, performance trainer, and public speaker Nicole MacKenzie is a highly practical, "user-friendly" parenting guide and help book to assist mothers of all ages and backgrounds with properly and effectively disciplining their child without having to resort to corporal punishment; becoming able to successfully cope with unacceptable behaviors such as tantrums, whining, and disrespect; to encourage their child's natural talents; and to learn how to have simply have fun being a mother. Simple examples, readable prose, bullet points, and down-to-earth solid advice fill this very highly recommended guide for mothers of small children everywhere.


The Archaeology Shelf

Lost Civilizations
Austen Atkinson
Watson-Guptill Publications
770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
0823028739 $40.00 1-800-451-1741

Illustrated throughout with full color photography, Lost Civilizations: Rediscovering Ancient Sites Through New Technology by author and journalist Austen Atkinson takes the reader upon an exciting and informative journey into the past, piecing together the great civilizations of antiquity from all that modern-day science can tell us from the artifacts they have left behind. Covering the antiquarian civilizations of the Americas, Mediterranean, Middle East, and Asia, Lost Civilizations offers a grand and highly recommended tour of the world as well as the ages.

World Rock Art
Jean Clottes
Getty Publications
1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90049-1682
0892366826 $29.95 1-800-223-3431

Vibrantly illustrated throughout with a series of full-color photographs, World Rock Art by Jean Clottes (a world authority on aboriginal and neolithic rock art) is a global tour of ancient and prehistoric rock artworks from around the world. The informed and informative text accessibly relates what modern archaeology has been ably to deduce about these various works and the peoples who created them, and warns against the destruction and deterioration of these works - some are threatened by natural forces, others by over-eager tourists and visitors. The latest title in the outstanding Getty Institute "Conservation and Cultural Heritage" series, World Rock Art is a combination of art history and archaeology, as well as a superbly presented showcase of a truly ancient art form.

Secrets Of The Maya
Archaeology Magazine
Hatherleigh Press
5-22 46th Avenue, Suite 200, Long Island City, NY 11101
1578261236 $25.95 hatherleighpress.com

Compiled by the editorial staff of Archaeology Magazine, Secrets Of The Maya is an enthralling look into all that modern archaeology can tell us about the Mayan civilization, how they lived, who they were, their wars, their cruelties, and their incredible scientific achievements. Collecting twenty-nine informed and informative essays drawn from a variety of learned and scholarly authors, Secrets Of The Maya paints a vivid and amazing picture of a grand Native American civilization of antiquity. Enhanced with a section of color photography, Secrets Of The Maya is a very highly recommended contribution to any personal, professional, academic, or community library Native American Studies or Central American Archaeology reference collection or supplemental reading list.


The Interior Design Shelf

The Desert Home
Tamara L. Hawkinson
Northland Publishing
PO Box 1389, Flagstaff, AZ 86002
0873587960 $40.00 1-800-346-3257

The Desert Home by professional interior designer and freelance writer Tamara L. Hawkinson takes the reader upon a wonderful and memorable tour through a series of Southwestern American homes which are filled with personality, flavor, charm, and showcase a love for life in the desert. Warm earthen tones predominate the styles depicted herein, all of which are beautifully illustrated with numerous full-color photographs, and commented upon at length in a "reader friendly" text. Simply put, The Desert Home is great source book of ideas when searching for a desert or western motif for any area of one's own home.

More Splash Than Cash Window Treatments
Donna Babylon & Victoria Waller
Windsor Oak Publishing
KSB Promotions (publicity)
PO Box 1603, Westminster, MD 21158
0966822714 $17.95 1-800-304-3269

Highly recommended for the non-specialist general reader with a desire for home-enhancing do-it-yourself projects, More Splash Than Cash Window Treatments presents over 250 ideas and techniques for sprucing up any size or kind of window with just the right touch to complement the interior decoration of the rest of the home. Easy to follow step-by-step instructions succinctly cover everything from working with sheer fabrics to sewing on buttons, to installing a mounting board, employing classic motifs, and more. More Splash Than Cash Window Treatments is a truly great guide that puts its emphasis on looking smart and fashionable without spending extravagantly.


The Women's Studies Shelf

Confucian Feminist
Zeng Baosun, writer
Thomas L. Kennedy, translator
American Philosophical Society
104 So. Fifth St., Philadelphia, PA 19106
0871699214 $24.00 1-800-821-7823

Expertly translated into English and adapted for an American readership by Thomas L. Kennedy, Confucian Feminist: Memoirs Of Zeng Baosun (1893-1978) is the remarkable autobiographical testimony and memoir of the late Zeng Baosun, a thoughtful and expressive woman who recounts her education abroad, to her survival through two world wars, to her life and exile in Taiwan, and even entails cogent observations on President Nixon's resignation from office. An insightful look at nations and history itself from a personal perspective, Confucian Feminist is a very highly recommended addition to Aisan Studies and Women's Studies reference collections and reading lists.

Women Of Divorce
Susan Shapiro Barash
New Horizon Press
PO Box 669, Far Hills, NJ 07931
0882822225 $16.95 1-800-533-7978

Women Of Divorce: Mothers, Daughters, Stepdaughters - The New Triangle by critical thinking and gender studies educator Susan Shapiro Barash is an impressively conceived and superbly presented self-help guide for women in stepfamilies -- an increasingly common occurrence in today's modern world with its soaring divorce rate where more than sixty-five percent of remarriages will involve stepchildren. From how a parent's remarriage changes their personal universe for daughters, to forging new bonds between step-siblings, Women Of Divorce offers sound, practical, experienced, hands-on, vetted relationship-building advice, guidance, and insight regarding the long transition process to the successful creation of a happily blended family. Women Of Divorce is especially recommended reading for all women faced with the responsibility for forging new relationships with the children of a previous marriage -- whether they are his or hers.


The Gardening Shelf

Growing Camellias In Cold Climates
William L. Ackerman
Noble House
8019 Belair Road, #10, Baltimore, MD 21236
1561677167 $34.95 1-800-873-2003

Growing Camellias In Cold Climates by horticultural expert William L. Ackerman is an informed and informative guide to establishing and cultivating beautiful landscape shrubs that will enhance any home or garden the whole year round by using hybridization and selection to increase the plant's hardy qualities and put it on par with other sturdy ornamental plants such as azaleas and hollies. An enthusiastically recommended addition to any personal, professional, or community library gardening reference collection, Growing Camellias In Cold Climates is an excellent, detailed, and thoroughly "user friendly" guide.


The Nautical Shelf

Primer Of Towing
George H. Reid
Cornell Maritime Press, Inc.
PO Box 456, Centreville, MD 21617
0870334301 $17.00 1-800-638-7641

Originally published in 1975, Primer Of Towing by professional mariner George H. Reid has been thoroughly revised and deftly updated in a new second edition packed from cover to cover with the latest information on towing marine craft for modern times. A straightforward manual to the skill of towing ships and tugboat seamanship, Primer Of Towing capably addresses barge configuration and handling, salvage and emergency situations, structural considerations, and much, much more. Highly recommended for anyone involved in this respected and necessary duty of nautical tradition, Primer Of Towing is as informed and informative as it is accessible and "user friendly".


The Military Shelf

The Gatling Gun Notebook
James B. Hughes
Andrew Mobray, Inc.
PO Box 571716, Houston, TX 77257-1716
0917218949 $23.00 1-800-999-4697

Compiled by James B. Hughes from contemporary sources, The Gatling Gun Notebook: A Collection Of Data And Illustrations is an impressive compendium of black-and-white illustrations and basic factual data about the incredible variety of gatling guns, from their first appearance in 1862, down to 1917 when the last U.S. government manual for the Gatling was printed. Ten gatling gun makers in five countries are extensively covered, and virtually every page features a drawing, diagram, or photograph, with most of them being about century old. The succinct and informative text entries provide invaluable background to each illustration, as well as technical specifications about the gatling gun in question. Simply put, The Gatling Gun Notebook is enthusiastically recommended as being a unique and fascinating resource for firearm and military history buffs.

Soldiers In The Shadows
William Weir
New Page Books
PO Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
1564146294 $24.99 newpagebooks.com

Enthusiastically recommended for any personal, academic, or community library Military Studies/Military History collection, Soldiers In The Shadows: Unknown Warriors Who Changed The Course Of History by military historian William Weir is a compilation of true stories about ten soldiers whose brave and intelligent actions helped shape history around the world, yet whose deeds on the field of combat remain largely forgotten today. From Edward Lansdale, defender of Philippine democracy; to John Singleton Mosby, a Confederate private who effectively prolonged the Civil War at least six months; to Captain Jack, a Modoc Indian chief who defied 100 times his followers' number of U.S. Army troops for months, Soldiers In The Shadows is a simply fascinating case study of military history and men who made it. Also very highly recommended is William Weir's 50 Battles That Changed The World (1564144917; $24.99).

"Honoring Those Who Paid The Price"
Randy K. Mills
Indiana Historical Society Press
450 W. Ohio St, Indianapolis, IN 46202
0871951622 $29.95 indianahistory.org

"Honoring Those Who Paid The Price": Forgotten Voices from the Korean War by Randy K. Mills (Associate Professor of History, Oakland City University, Oakland City, Indiana), is a candidly personal, movingly emotional, and informatively serious survey of a seemingly forgotten war that claimed approximately 54,000 American lives. Individual stories of those who served, those who died, and the loved ones who waited anxiously at home, fill this sober tribute. Highly recommended as testimony to the many souls who paid the highest price. "Honoring Those Who Paid The Price" is a welcome addition to Military History collections and would well serve as a template for similar books on other "minor" American twentieth-century conflicts ranging from Granada to Somalia.

A Mighty Fortress
Charles Alling
Casemate
2114 Darby Road, Havertown, PA 19083
1932033017 $29.95 1-610-853-9131

Candidly written by Charles Alling (a pilot of the 8th Air Force and recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters during World War II), A Mighty Fortress: Lead Bomber Over Europe is a personal memoir of the final months of World War II when Alling was flying B-17s in combat over Germany. Harrowing danger, the heroic and strenuous efforts of a coordinated flight crew, the horrors of war, and the ultimate triumph of "the greatest generation" fill this captivating autobiography from beginning to end. A Mighty Fortress is highly recommended reading and a welcome addition to the growing Military History library of World War II eye-witness memoirs and autobiographies.

Far Eastern Tour
Brent Byron Watson
McGill-Queen's University Press
3430 McTavish Street, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A 1X9
0773523723 $34.95 1-800-387-0141

Far Eastern Tour: The Canadian Infantry In Korea 1950-1953 by Brent Byron Watson (History Teacher, Okanagan University College) is a tautly written and serious-minded examination and history of Canada's involvement in the Korean War, including the hardships Canadian infantry suffered which included inappropriate training, stark living and combat conditions, and the deadly blood toll of the war itself. Far Eastern Tour is very highly recommended as being an extensively researched, carefully written, and scholarly accurate look into what living amid such combat was like, the pressures it demanded, and the extraordinary people who faced the horrors of war and did not back down from what had to be done.

Kosciuszko, We Are Here!
Janusz Cisek
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson, NC 28640
0786412402 $45.00 mcfarlandpub.com

Researched and written by Janusz Cisek (Deputy Director of the Department of International Relations and European Integration at the Ministry of Culture in Warsaw, Poland), Kosciuszko, We Are Here! reveals the relatively unknown story of the Kosciuszko Squadron, a small group of American flyers who defended Poland in the years after World War I, serving from 1919-1921. Without the support of the American State Department, these men were expected to protect a Poland which was in ruins as a result of the devastation of World War I, from the growing threat of the Soviet's Bolshevik armies, and prevent the communist revolution in Russia from spreading to Germany. Kosciuszko, We Are Here! is an informed, succinctly written, and superbly presented "window in time" glimpse into a hitherto obscure aspect of military and aviation history.

Forgotten Heroes Of World War II
Thomas E. Simmons
Cumberland House Publishing, Inc.
431 Harding Industrial Drive, Nashville, TN 37211
1581823215 $14.95 cumberlandhouse.com

Compiled and edited by Thomas E. Simmons, Forgotten Heroes Of World War II: Personal Accounts Of Ordinary Soldiers offers contemporary readers with fourteen intensely personal perspectives of individual rank-and-file soldiers, aviators, and seamen who were quite ordinary people thrown into the extraordinary and often horrific demands of World War II combat. Of special interest is "The Diary Of Tarao Kawaguchi" which relates the perspective of a Japanese soldier stationed in Saipan during 1944. Also of interest is concluding chapter "The Home Front". Their strength and valor are commemorated in this moving, compelling, informative, and highly recommended contribution to the growing library of World War II military histories.


The Computer Shelf

Computer Facial Animation
Frederic I. Parke & Keith Waters
A. K. Peters, Ltd.
289 Linden Street, Wellesley, MA 02181
1568810148 $66.00 www.akpeters.com

The collaborative effort of computer animation experts Frederic I. Parke and Keith Waters, Computer Facial Animation is a fascinating, in-depth, and thoroughly "user friendly" technical guide to the art and craft of three-dimensional computer animation, especially as applied to faces and expressions. An in-depth, exhaustive, and scholarly "how-to" text, Computer Facial Animation is an impressively comprehensive, 365-page textbook which is especially recommended for advanced students of graphics, mathematics, and programming.

Flash: The Future
Jon Warren Lentz, et al.
No Starch Press
555 De Haro Street, Suite 250, San Francisco, CA 94107
1886411964 $49.95 www.nostarch.com

Collaboratively written by computer program and gaming experts Jon Warren Lentz, Bill Turner, and Ian Chia, Flash: The Future is a no-nonsense, highly accessible, step-by-step guide to creating content and applications for platforms such as handhelds, wireless devices, video/DVD, Pocket PCS, and more. Flash applications, Pocket Internet Explorer, Flash animations, ActionScript techniques, eMbedded Visual Basic, Microsoft eMbedded Visual C++, and much, much more are all deftly covered with illustrative examples and walk-through explanations. An accompanying CD-ROM contains code and examples drawn from the text, as well as bonus developer tools for the Pocket PC. Flash: The Future is a highly recommended addition to any personal or professional Computer Graphics/Design reference collection.

The Art Of Photoshop
Daniel Giordan
Sams Publishing
201 W. 103rd St, Indianapolis, IN 46290
0672322706, $49.99 www.mcp.com

Adobe Photoshop is the world's leading image manipulation software. Used by both professional and amateur graphic designers, it is the de facto standard for print Web publishing. The Art Of Photoshop centers on a suite of 20 digital images created by Daniel Giordan and his staff at DigiRAMA design studios. Visually complex, and rich in layered tonality, these images are designed to inspire readers to push their understanding of Photoshop and its capabilities, while offering a glimpse over the designer's shoulder into how the images were made. The reader will not only learn the techniques used by the author, but also how to apply them to their own images. They will learn how to use curves to correct color, sihouette images, use gradient maps, build custom brushes, use blending modes, and draw and paint into an image. Approx. Page Count: 328, User Level: Intermediate-to-Advanced

Designing Systems for Internet Commerce
G. Winfield Treese & Lawrence Stewart
Addison Wesley
75 Arlington St, #300, Boston, MA 02116
0201760355 $49.99 awprofessional.com

Now in a fully updated and expanded second edition, Designing Systems For Internet Commerce by computer security experts and consultants G. Winfield Treese and Lawrence C. Stewart is an informed, thoughtful, and imminently practical examination of what it takes to create an effective and secure system for successful Internet commerce. From learning the basics of Extensible Markup Language (XML), to adapting to mobile and wireless systems, managing shopping carts and other online means of taking orders, to exploiting the Internet to market one's goods at a much lower cost, Designing Systems For Internet Commerce is an excellent and highly recommended introductory reference for any company or corporation seeking to make the most of the twenty-first century's advances in technologically driven commerce and networking.

Sun Certification Training Guide: Java 2 Enterprise Edition (J2EE) Web Component Developer
Alain Trottier
Que Publishing
201 W. 103rd St, Indianapolis, IN 46290
0789728214, $49.99, www.mcp.com

This certification manual is for Sun Certified Programmers on a Java 2 Platform who are using servlet and JavaServer Pages (JSP) APIs to develop Web applications using the Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition (J2EE). The certification consists of one exam and requires Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform status. Readers preparing for this exam will find our Training Guide series to be the most successful self-study tool in the market. This instructional reference is consider as their "one-stop shop" because of its teaching methodology, the accompanying ExamGear testing software, and superior web-site support at www.quepublishing.com/certification. User Level: Intermediate, Approx. Page Count: 504

New Riders
201 West 103rd Street, Indianapolis, IN 46290-1097
www.newriders.com

Two outstanding new titles from New Riders are strongly recommended additions to any dedicated programmers reference shelf. Steve Holzner's Inside JavaScript (0735712859, $49.99) is the only comprehensive book available that covers the latest technology, such as Internet Explorer 6 and JavaScript 1.5, and JScript 5.6. Specifically designed and written for beginning to intermediate readers looking to learn how to work with JavaScript and how best to use it with other web technologies. The collaborative effort of Laura Gutman, Patty Ayers, and Donald S. Booth, Inside Dreamweaver MX (073571181X, $45.00) offers a effective mix of in-depth explanations of Dreamweaver MX features, real world tips and useful tutorials on all Dreamweaver functions. The all-new tutorials have been expanded to provide even more explanation of the Dreamweaver MX upgrades and functions. This book builds on the foundation laid by "Inside Dreamweaver 4", and the end result is more in-depth knowledge of the software and how it provides solutions for the user in the work environment.

HTTP: The Definitive Guide
David Gourley & Brian Totty
O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, CA 95472
1565925092 $44.95 www.oreilly.com

Collaboratively written by HTTP experts David Gourley and Brian Totty (with the additional assistance of Marjorie Sayer, Sailu Reddy, and Anshu Aggarwal), HTTP: The Definitive Guide is a thorough and "reader friendly" introductory presentation of HTTP protocol, how it works, and how it is used to create webpages and to develop web-based applications. A wealth of development and application tips, tricks, techniques, as well as cogent strategies for optimizing proxies and caches, creating robots and web crawlers, crafting secure HTTP applications, and much, much more are featured in this highly recommended and truly extensive guide which packed with numerous and illustrative examples ideal for aspiring web programmers, administrators, and application developers.

E-Support
Andrew Connan & Vincent Russell
Cisco Press
201 W. 103rd St, Indianapolis, IN 46290
158720052X $24.95 ciscopress.com

Collaboratively written by Cisco experts Andrew Connan and Vincent Russell, E-Support: How Cisco Systems Saves Millions While Improving Customer Support is an intrinsically fascinating, informed and informative presentation of the E-support system -- a self-service, web-based means of providing help and support to customers that is much less costly than traditional telephone-based support services. A thorough and "reader friendly" guide to what e-support is, and how it can benefit the conduct of business (especially focusing upon the e-support network created by Cisco Systems), E-Support is very highly recommended reading and directly applicable to understanding and developing an e-support corporate marketing strategy.

The Complete Guide To Game Audio
Aaron Marks
CMP Books
1601 West 23rd Street, Suite 200, Lawrence, Kansas 66046
1578200830 $34.95 cmpbooks.com

The Complete Guide To Game Audio by digital audio expert and music composer Aaron Marks is a solid resource for all composers, musicians, sound designers, and game developers which covers everything from the essential skills for making a living in the exciting world of video and computer game audio, to searching for and landing a job in the field, to how much to charge, as well as a wealth of tips, tricks, and techniques for creating exciting and suitable music. An accompanying CD-ROM contains music and sound effect samples, demo versions of sound editing programs, interviews with composers and sound designers, and much, much more. The Complete Guide To Game Audio is confidently recommended, especially for neophyte musicians looking to make their mark in a growing and popular field.

A Debugging Methodology: THEM
Larry R. Fisher
Pangean Sun
36631 SE Fall City, Snoqualmie Road, Fall City, WA 98024
www.pangeansun.com
0972238247 $86.00 1-877-726-4326

A Debugging Methodology: THEM by software engineer Larry R. Fisher instructs the reader in the fundamentals of debugging philosophy and practice as applied to any programming language or computer. Excellent as a one-volume self-study course in cultivating and improving one's debugging skills, A Debugging Methodology features an overarching approach for successfully handling large-scale computer debugging tasks with maximum efficiency. Highly recommended, especially for self-starting programmers, A Debugging Methodology should be in every school curriculum's computer science library reference and resource collection.

Learn To Program With C++
John Smiley
Osborne/McGraw-Hill
2600 Tenth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
0072225351 $29.99 www.osborne.com

Learn To Program With C++ by John Smiley (Computer Science Professor at Penn State University), is a straightforward "reader friendly" introduction especially written for beginners to the art and skill of programming in the C++ language. No prior programming experience is required to quickly grasp these basic, easy-to-understand lessons which are enhanced with questions and exercises. Functions, inheritance, errors and error handling, classes and creating objects, and more are covered in this superbly presented and highly recommended introductory primer.

Information Today
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055-8750
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 (0910965129X, $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

Macromedia FreeHand 10 For Windows And Macintosh
Sandee Cohen
Peachpit Press
1249 Eighth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
0201749653 $19.99 www.peachpit.com

Macromedia FreeHand 10 For Windows And Macintosh by Sandee Cohen is the latest in the superbly presented "Visual Quickstart" guidebook series and swiftly teaches the basics of Macromedia FreeHand computer applications by relying heavily on screenshots and pictures rather than extensive verbal explanations. A marvelous reference for learning Freehand quickly and easily, and enhanced with a special chapter concerning Flash animations, Macromedia FreeHand 10 For Windows And Macintosh is very highly recommended, especially for novice computer users who tire of puzzling their way through excessively long textual descriptions.

Linux In The Workplace
SSC, Publishers of Lunix Journal
No Starch Press
555 De Haro St., Suite 250, San Francisco, CA 94107
1886411867 $29.95 www.nostarch.com

Compiled by the staff of Specialized Systems Consultants, Inc. (publishers of Linux Journal magazine), Linux In The Workplace: How To Use Linux In Your Office is a straightforward and "user friendly" guide to using the (free!) Linux operating system in the workplace as a workable alternative to paying expensive licencing fees for other systems such as Microsoft's Windows. Individual chapters address using word processing programs ideally suited for desktop operations, graphics, web browsers, using the command line, and numerous other practical nuances of using a Linux operating system to aid in carrying out all manner of corporate and workplace tasks. Black-and-white photographs and detailed examples enhance this refreshingly easy-to-understand and enthusiastically recommended primer. Adobe Photoshop 7.0

Adobe Systems Incorporated
345 Park Avenue, San Jose, CA 95110
www.adobe.com/adobepress/main.html
0321115627 $45.00 www.amazon.com

Adobe Photoshop 7.0 is the latest installment in the outstanding "Classroom in a Book" series, which teaches the reader how to make the most of Adobe Photoshop 7.0 software. Eighteen lessons comprehensively cover everything from Photoshop basics to the tips, tricks, and techniques of the pros. An excellent guide and an exceptional resource for creating eye-catching illustrations on one's computer, and enhanced with an accompanying CD-ROM, Adobe Photoshop 7.0 is an essential and thoroughly "user friendly" instructional guide and reference that should in every Adobe Photoshop reference collection.

Mac OS X
Todd Stauffer
Sybex, Inc.
1151 Marina Village Parkway, Alameda, CA 94501
0782141188 $39.99 www.sybex.com

Now in a substantially revised and expanded second edition which is updated for OS X v10.2, Mac OS X is a comprehensive and definitive guide which offers a straightforward tutorial on everything to do with the OS X operating system for the Macintosh including troubleshooting, security precautions, installation, networking, data recovery and much more. Screenshots, thorough examples, and easy-to-follow, step-by-step, expert instructions fill the pages of this first-rate, confidently recommended resource and reference.

Murach's SQL For SQL Server
Bryan Syverson
Mike Murach & Associates, Inc.
2560 West Shaw Lane, Suite 101, Fresno, CA 93711-2765
1890774162 $49.95 www.murach.com

Murach's SQL For SQL Server is a comprehensive reference and professional training manual for computer programmers which offers both basic and advanced tutorials in such things as how to write SQL queries that retrieve and update the stored contents of a Microsoft SQL Server database; designing databases; and using features embraced by professions such as triggers, locking and security, stored procedures; and much, much more. A solid guide packed with examples, tips, tricks, and techniques, Murach's SQL For SQL Server also includes a CD-ROM containing the Microsoft SQL Server Desktop Engine, Microsoft SQL Server Enterprise Evaluation Edition, Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Books Online, five databases that can be used in conjunction with the text, examples from the book, and a great deal more. Murach's SQL For SQL Server is an invaluable and highly recommended addition to SQL oriented reference collections.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Sioux Quill And Beadwork Designs And Techniques
Carrie A. Lyford
Dover Publications, Inc.
31 East 2nd Street, Mineola, NY 11501
0486420892 $9.95 1-800-223-3130

This guide to quillwork and its counterpart beadwork was originally published in the 1940s for the U.S. Dept. of Indian Affairs, and sees new light today thanks to Dover. Craftspeople of all kinds will find Sioux Quill And Beadwork Designs And Techniques begins with a short history of Sioux art and patterns to quickly move into the specifics of creating and sewing quills and using beadwork techniques adapted for Sioux designs. A special guide to a very specific art.

Simply Amazing Quilted Photography
Tammie Bowser
Bowser Publications
917 Fremont, PMB 138, South Pasadena, CA 91030
1887467602 $24.95 QuiltedPhoto.com

Simply Amazing Quilted Photography by fashion industry expert and quilting authority Tammie Bowser is a detailed and thoroughly "user friendly" instructional manual for transforming fabric into photographs, and creating wonders and satisfying projects that will bring joy and amazement. Grids, step-by-step instructions, illustrations both in black-and-white and in color, and the occasional quotable quote help make this informative "how-to" guide as easy to follow as possible and is especially recommended for the non-specialist general reader with an interest in quilting and the do-it-yourself craft of making quilted photos.
The Yarn Girls' Guide To Simple Knits
Julie Carles & Jordana Jacobs
Clarkson Potter
299 Park Avenue, NY, 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.

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. 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.

Martingale & Company
20205 144th Ave. 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.

Infinite Feathers
Anita Shackelford
American Quilter's Society
PO Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
1574327984 $25.95 www.AQSquilt.com

Infinite Feathers: Quilting Designs by award winning quilting expert Anita Shackelford offers over 100 feather designs in various popular quilting sizes. Color photographs help demonstrate how to apply the simple yet beautiful patterns. Step-by-step instructions guide the aspiring quilter in exactly what to do, and the black-and-white patterns shapes that take up full pages are easy to copy and put to practical use. An excellent resource for enthusiastic quilters who want to add that special extra touch, Infinite Feathers is very user friendly for even the most novice quilter, and offers a wealth of imaginative design ideas that the more experienced quilter will find as invaluable as they are stimulating.


The Cookbook Shelf

For The Love Of Potatoes!
Darlene Kronschnabel
The Guest Cottage Inc.
PO Box 848, Woodruff, WI 54568
1930596189, $14.95 1-800-333-8122

We don't ordinarily think of potatoes as a comfort food (except in the form of potato chips), but Darlene Kronschnabel's For The Love Of Potatoes!: Comfort Cooking With An American Favorite amply demonstrates and documents the incredible versatility of the humble potato to achieve a culinary status that ranges from the health and fun eating to elegant gourmet dining. The 115 recipes showcased in For The Love Of Potatoes! range from Spanish Potato Salad; Garlic-Parmesan Mashed Potatoes; Rosemary Potato and Garlic Oven Fries; and Potato Egg Bread; to Rhubarb Custard Potato Kuchen; Tarragon Chicken And Potatoes; Jalapeno-Ham Stuffed Potatoes; and Spicy Sweet Potato Prune Bread. For The Love Of Potatoes! is a prized contribution to any dedicated kitchen cookbook collection.

The Japanese Kitchen
Hiroko Shimbo
Harvard Common Press
535 Albany St., Boston, MA 02118
1558321772 $18.95 1-888-657-3755

Selected and compiled by food writer, consultant, teacher, and Japanese cuisine expert Hiroko Shimbo, The Japanese Kitchen features 250 wonderful recipes drawn from traditional Japanese kitchens. Enhanced descriptions of Japanese ingredients (including where to find them and how to choose them), as well as with helpful illustrations and clear, step-by-step preparational instructions, the recipes range from Ingen no Kurumi-miso-ae (Green Beans in Walnut-Miso Dressing); Shimeji Gohan (Rice with Shimeji Mushrooms); and Buta-miso Ramen (Ramen with Pork-and-Miso Sauce); to Suzuki no Gomamiso-yaki (Broiled Sea Bass with Sesame Seeds); Tori-nabe (Hearty Chicken Hot Pot); and Mushi Chokoreito Keiki (Light and Delightful Steamed Chocolate Cake). Informative and thoroughly "user friendly", The Japanese Kitchen is enthusiastically recommended for inclusion into multi-cultural and ethnic cookbook collections.

The Il Fornaio Pasta Book
Maurizio Mazzon
Chronicle Books
85 Second Street, 6th floor, San Francisco, CA 94105-3441
0811830160 $27.50 1-800-722-6657

In The Il Fornaio Pasta Book: Authentic Recipes Celebrating Italy's Regional Pasta Dishes, Italian culinary expert Maurizio Mazzon (he is also a native of the Veneto region), offers a wealth of fine dining selections that would grace any menu and satisfy even the most discerning palate. An informative introduction is followed with a Pasta Glossary, as well as sections devoted to ingredients, equipment, classic pasta recipes, techniques for cooking perfect pasta, and advice on how pasta should be served. Then come a host of recipes drawn from every region of Italy. From Frenette con Pesto alla Genovese (Poasta Ribbons with Pesto, Green Beans, and Potatoes); to Canederli Tirolesi (A Trio of Spinach, Mushroom, and Ricotta-Pancetta Dumplings Served in Chicken Stock); to Crespelle alla Fiorentina (Delicate Fresh Crepes with a Spinach-Ricotta Filling); to Vermicelli alla Vongole (Thin Pasta Strands with Fresh Clams and Garlic-White Wine Sauce), The Il Fornaio Pasta Book is a gourmet's delight and a warmly recommended addition to any kitchen cookbook collection.

The Barbecue America Cookbook
Rick Browne & Jack Bettridge
The Lyons Press
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
1585746894 $19.95 1-800-836-0510

In The Barbecue America Cookbook: America's Best Barbecue Recipes From Coast To Coast, barbecue experts and contest judges Rick Browne and Jack Bettridge collaborate to provide an impressive and illustrated compendium of barbecue recipes drawn from various American regional culinary traditions. The book companion to a 13-part PBS series of the same name, The Barbecue America Cookbook features more than one hundred savory recipes showcasing the best of barbecuing. Beginning with a section devoted exclusively to the subject of Barbecue Sauces, the recipes that follow cover pork, poultry, fish, beef, lamb and mutton, as well as side dishes and desserts. An informative appendix is offers Smokin' with Gas; Carolyn Wells: The Godmother of Q; Barbecue Shrines; How to Tell if the Griller you Love Has Gone "Q" Far; Barbecue Associations; Festivals; and more. If you are a dedicated barbeque enthusiasts, then The Barbecue America Cookbook is the one for you!!

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 (0764566083, $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.

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

The recipes comprising the Easy Diabetic Meals provide easy-to-follow 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.

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. 101 Things To Do With A Cake Mix offers 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.

John Wiley & Sons
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 outstanding guide. Tish Boyle's The Good Cookie (0471387916, $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.

Retro Diner
Linda Everett
Collectors Press, Inc.
PO Box 230986, Portland, OR 97281
1888054689 $16.95 1-800-423-1848

Retro Diner: Comfort Food From The American Roadside by Linda Everett is a compendium of nostalgic, yesteryear cuisine that is a kind of birthright culinary legacy for every American. Profusely illustrated throughout, Retro Diner is a celebration of great eating as experienced by generations of men and women who ate "blue plate specials" and other palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, pocketbook friendly fare from a local diner. From Granny Glenn's Biscuits n' Gravey; Corn Chowder from the Sweetheart Diner; and Off the Grill Ham n' Cheese; to Countryside Chicken n' Dumplings; Big Daddy's Diner Meat Loaf; and Mushroom Burgers from Mooney's, Retro Diner is a pure and highly recommended celebration of a distinctive American cuisine and individualistic dining ambiance that was to pass into cultural history with the introduction and coming dominance of the fast-food franchise.

Savor Santa Barbara
Assistance League of Santa Barbara
FRP Books
2451 Atrium Way, Nashville, TN 37214
0971002908 $27.95 www.frpbooks.com

Illustrated with beautiful color photography, Savor Santa Barbara is a beautifully composed example of a regional, fund-raising cookbook where the proceeds are intended to support various philanthropic enterprises. The easy-to-prepare, culinary entrees are organized as: Savor The Spirit (beverages and appetizers); Savor The Dawn (breakfast, brunch and breads); Savor The Extraordinary (soups, sandwiches and condiments); Savor The Freshness (salads and dressings); Savor The Distinction (vegetables and side dishes); Savor The Sensational (seafood and poultry); Savor The Tradition (meat entrees); Savor The Sunset (desserts and sweets). Ranging from Crostini with Bay Shrimp and Feta Cheese; California Fresh Minestrone; and Candied Walnut Salad with Goat Cheese; to Very Veggie Enchiladas; Santa Barbara Crab Cakes with Tomatillo and Lime Vinaigreet; and Fruitcake Blanco, Savor Santa Barbara is a welcome addition to any dedicated regional cookbook collection!

Hot Toddies
Christopher B. O'ara
Clarkson Potter Publishers
299 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10171
0609610074 $16.95 1-800-726-0600

From hot buttered rum to unusually warming cocktails, this comes packed 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.

Zuni Cafe Cookbook
Judy Rodgers
W.W. Norton & Compny
500 5th Ave., New York NY 10110
0393020436 $35.00 1-800-233-4830

Recipes from a popular San Francisco institution and culinary tradition are packed between the covers of Zuni Cafe Cookbook, with dishes providing a delightful array of innovative and refreshing ideas, from Spicy Squid Stew with Red Wine and Roasted Peppers to Beef & Onion Gratin with Tomatoes. Cooks who don't mind spending time in the kitchen will find these dishes appealing and delicious.

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

Recipes blend with drinks and lore from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Russia in Kay Shaw Nelson's Cuisines Of The Caucasus Mountains: Recipes, Drinks, And Lore From Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, And Russia (0781809282, $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/NBN, dist.
535 Albany St., Boston, MA 02118
1558322434 $9.95 1-888-657-3755

Party Nuts: 50 Recipes For Spicy, Sweet, Savory, And Simply Sensational Nuts That Will Be The Hit Of Any Gathering is not just for holiday celebrations, but deserves year-round attention for its focus on party nut blends which make for both perfect parties of any kind and gifts for any occasion. Both savory and sweet mixes are featured in a collection of 50 recipes, spiced with appealing color photos.

Food Lover's Atlas Of The World
Martha Rose Shulman
Firefly Books Ltd.
4 Daybreak Lane, Westport, CT 06880
1552975711 $3.00 1-800-387-5085

From the different culinary styles and regions of France to the history of and cultural influences upon North African cuisines, the Food Lover's Atlas Of The World provides a wide-ranging discussion of various food trends, styles, and influences around the world. Color photos of fresh ingredients and regional marketplaces accompany histories which focus on regional signature dishes and their evolution. A bright, fascinating coverage which invites browsing.

The Anatomy Of A Dish
Diane Forley
Artisan
708 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
1579651895 $35.00 1-800-722-7202

Compiled by Diane Forely (Chef and Proprietor of the Verbena Restaurant, New York City), The Anatomy Of A Dish is a mouth-watering compendium of delicious dishes that cover every aspect and stage of sumptuous dining. After the interesting and informative preambles "Why Botanical Studies"; "My Garden and My Kitchen"; and "About This Books", each recipe is organized into one of the three major sections: "Building a Dish"; "Developing a Menu"; and "Concluding with a Sweet". Enhanced with superbly presented, full-color photography by Victor Schrager, as well as a list of definitions, a bibliography, acknowledgments, and an index, The Anatomy Of A Dish offers palate pleasing, appetite satisfying, gourmet recommended fare that ranges from Mixed Grain Pilaf; Tomato and Cucumber Salad with Avocado Cream; Toasted Angel Hair Pasta in Shiitake Broth; and Braised Octopus; to Tamarind-Marinated Flank Steak; Quinoa-Crusted Chicken; Pan-Roasted Duck Breast with Pineapple Chutney; and Frozen Mocha Roulade.

Sandwich Book
Nancy Silverton & Teri Gelber
Alfred A. Knopf
280 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
0375412603 $24.95 1-800-726-0600

Nancy Silverton has made her culinary reputation in the pastry kitchen, and in the Sandwich Book, with the assistance of Teri Gelber, she expands her repertoire to sandwiches, which are a gourmet meal on bread. From Beef Brisket Hash on Toast to Croque Madame and Piled-High Pork Sandwich, these are easy to make and loaded with unusual flavor blends. Photos add to their attraction.

Playboy Bartender's Guide
Thomas Mario
MetroBooks
c/o Friedman/Fairfax Publishers
230 Fifth Avenue, #700, NY, NY 10001
1586637231 $9.98 1-800-367-9692

A sturdy, handsome leatherette cover with a reader's ribbon inside makes for an appealing bartender's guide to mixed drinks providing an unusually comprehensive reference. Here are local and famous mixed drinks organized alphabetically by title for quick bartender reference. If only one such guide were to be included in a discriminating library, the Playboy Bartender's Guide should be the item of choice.

The Art Of Romanian Cooking
Galia Sperber
Pelican Publishing Company
PO Box 3110, Gretna, LA 70054
1565549295 $21.00 1-800-843-1724

Romania is usually included in general cookbooks about the Baltic nations, so it's refreshing to see it earn its own acclaim in Galia Sperber's The Art Of Romanian Cooking, a specialty cookbook which covers everything from appetizers such as Fried Cheese Papanasi to speciality entrees such as Tongue with Olives. The historical commentary accompanying many of the dishes is also fascinating, informative and inviting.

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

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 (0962633585, $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 QUICK Lunches & Brunches (0970025327, $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.


The Literary Shelf

Palindromania!
Jon Agee
Farrar Straus Giroux
19 Union Square West, NY, NY 10003
0374357307 $15.51 1-888-330-8477

Palindromes form different words when considered from left to right or right to left (e.g., dog/god). This zany collection provides words or phrases which read the same forward or backward, pairing the zany phrases with entertaining comic strip cartoons. A whimsical, fun gift for the English major.

Writing Mothers And Daughters
Adalgisa Giorgio, editor
Berghahn Books
604 West 115th Street, NY, NY 10025
1571813411 $25.00 berghahnbooks.com

Compiled and edited by Adalgisa Giorgio (Senior Lecturer in Italian Studies at the University of Bath), Writing Mothers And Daughters: Renegotiating The Mother In Western European Narratives By Women is a selection of impressive, erudite, thoughtfully written essays by seven forward-thinking contributors focusing upon mother-daughter relationships in literature and fiction, and covers written works of Spain, Italy, France, England, Ireland, Germany, and Austria. Enhanced with an informed and informative ten page introduction by Giorgio (Mothers and Daughters in Western Europe: Mapping the Territory), Writing Mothers And Daughters offers thoughtful and thought-provoking discourses which are highly recommended for Literary Studies and Women's Studies reference collections and reading lists.

Bard Of Iceland
Dick Ringler
The University of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe Street, Madison, WI 53711
www.wisc.edu/wisconsinpress/
0299177203 $45.00 1-800-621-2736

Translated into English for the first time by Dick Ringler (Professor Emeritus of English and Scandinavian Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison), Bard Of Iceland: Jonas Hallgrimsson, Poet And Scientist is an extensive, 474-page compilation of and commentary upon the poetry of Jonas Hallgrimsson (1807-1845), a Renaissance-style scientist who contributed to geography, botany, zoology, and archaeology. His life, his struggle to help Iceland gain independence from Denmark, and his mastery of poetic verse in context are all showcased in this impressive literary collection, skillfully gathered with astute and insightful commentary by an accomplished Scandinavian literary academician and expert.

Chelsea House
1974 Sproul Road, #400, Broomall, PA 19008
1-800-848-2665 www.amazon.com

Three new titles in the outstanding "Critical Modern Interpretations" literary series under the editorship of Harold Bloom, provide advanced high school to college-level students of literature with specific critical study guide collections for major literary works. George Eliot's Silas Marner (079107045X, $37.95) receives critical analysis with chapters which review the plots and sub-plots, characters, and social message of this classic. Bram Stoker's Dracula (0791070484, $37.95) discusses such varied topics as gender, sexuality, reform and purity underlying the early horror story. Don DeLillo's White Noise (0791070441, $37.95) receives a fine critical analysis which includes an overview of the heroic narrative format in general as well as the characters and concepts of White Noise in particular. All are excellent study guides, highly recommended.


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 insi