The Internet Guide To Survival And Self-Reliance
Rich Gray
Paladin Press
7077 Winchester Circle, Boulder CO 80301
www.paladin-press.com
158160470X $20.00 1-800-392-2400
Want expert advice on everything from harvesting wild foods and supplying one's own energy to saving money on autos and treating injury? If you don't wish to spend hours surfing the Net, use Rich Gray's quick Internet Guide To Survival And Self-Reliance: More Than 300 Web Sites To Help You Live Better, Live Cheaper, And Survive When Things Get Tough. Many books would offer just survival info: Gray's goes beyond this, addressing quality of life issues which face those cut off from their usual utilities and stores, linking itself to the author's own web site of links to make it easy to copy and paste website recommendations, and adding the author's owner personal tips to compliment overviews of each recommendation.
The Lyons Press
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
1-800-836-0510 www.lyonspress.com
Dean K. Boorman's Guns Of The Old West: An Illustrated History (1592286-380, $18.95) provides a fine survey of the firearms which helped win the West - and it packs in the color photos which make such guns easy to identify and understand. From handguns to longarms and those who used them on both sides of the law, Guns Of The Old West will find a ready audience in Western history buffs and collectors alike. Sister Surfer: A Woman's Guide To Surfing With Bliss And Courage (1592287212, $19.95) by Mary Osborne and Kia Afcari provides the basics of surfing for women who want to learn how. From catching whitewater, adapting a stance, bailing, and looking great in the process to understanding fear and different surf cultures, Sister Surfer packs in color photo examples and practical advice with plenty of psychological insights.
Death And The Sun
Edward Lewine
Houghton Mifflin
222 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116
www.hmco.com
061826325X $24.00 1-800-225-3362
Few books are written these days on the politically-incorrect (in the USA anyway) art of bullfighting, so it's refreshing to see a modern matador reporter's account of the sport and his participation in it in Death And The Sun: A Matador's Season In The Heart Of Spain. Journalist Edward Lewine is the first to admit "The bullfighting business could be awful", but his insider's look at the tradition follows one season in the life of one of Spain's famous modern fighters and provides an understanding of bullfighting which goes beyond cliches and misperceptions. Chapters blend a travelogue with a social history and an explanation of the meaning of bullfighting in Spanish culture.
Prestel
900 Broadway #603, NY, NY 10003
www.prestel.com
The history of the 20th century can be revealed through its fashion trends, and Gerda Buxbaum Icons Of Fashion: The 20th Century (3791333127 $19.95) proves this with an overview of fashion trends and revolutions. Yes, there are the icons of fashion to testify to these changes: Chanel, Karan and others - but also fine photos capturing styles ranging from body stockings to military and cocktail dress; all contained in an excellent overview blending visuals with a running commentary on fashion's influence. The gorgeous Spirits Speak: A Celebration Of African Masks (3791332287, $49.95) edited by Peter Stepan with contributions by Iris Hahner gathers a representative sampling of African masks from the world's leading museums and private collections, choosing samples which reflect powerful artistry and spiritual meaning alike. The power in Spirits Speak lies in full-page color photos of each mask making for a catalog which pairs an introductory section of history and cultural insight with plates which pack a visual punch.
Abracadabra!
Nathaniel Schiffman
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Dr., Amherst, NY 14228
www.prometheusbooks.com
1591022487 $18.00 1-800-421-0351
Magicians use more than smoke and mirrors to deceive audiences, but their secrets are rarely revealed. Writer and magic enthusiast Nathaniel Schiffman's Abracadabra! Secret Methods Magicians And Others Use To Deceive Their Audience provides a lay reader's guide to common methods used to fool or mislead audiences. While experiments and magic tricks are included, the focus here is on how a magician manipulates the audience toward belief: an intriguing expose is created.
Custom Knifemaking
Tim McCreight
Brynmorgen Press/Stackpole Books
58 Washington Ave., Portland, ME 04101
www.stackpolebooks.com
0811721752 $19.95 brynmorgen.com
Ten projects from a master craftsman provide enlightening details on how to make a range of knives - and remain unique instructions, keeping Custom Knifemaking: 10 Projects From A Master Craftsman active on the list of recommended picks even years after publication. From kitchen paring knives and forged camp knives to pocket knives and wilderness skinning knives, Custom Knifemaking provides tempering, soldering, and fitting details available in few other references.
Kalmbach Books
21027 Crossroads Circle, Waukesha, WI 53186
http://kalmbachbooks.com
Artists and model railroaders alike will appreciate these three fine guides. Nana V. Mizushima's Metal Clay Magic: Making Silver Jewelry The Easy Way (0871162202, $21.95) provides a solid introduction to metal clay, showing beginners how to create beads, brooches, and more from this new Japanese material. Lesson plans are based on over twenty easy projects and provide everything from shaping and use tips to hints on how to fire metal clay with a butane torch, use an electric kiln, and more. The inclusion of Internet resources and a bibliography round out the how-to facts, which are packed with step-by-step color photos for easy demonstration of technique. The third updated edition of Dave Frary's How To Build Realistic Model Railroad Scenery (0890244707, $24.95) is a 'must' for any model railroad builder who would produce professional-quality scenery. From planning the scenery and building forms and shells to support it to choosing materials and colors, adding depth and texturing, and understanding the logical progression of construction, How To Build Realistic Model Railroad Scenery is packed with color photos of successful projects and provides plenty of tips for overcoming common problems. Lawrence Hansen compiles The Basics Of Scale Modeling (089024-3921, $16.95), a step-by-step photo guide to scale modeling for bare-bones beginners. The best models are tiny museum-quality replicas of the real thing: the art lies in capturing the element of realism of the real thing, and it's an art presented by The Basics Of Scale Modeling's techniques culled from FineScale Modeler magazine articles covering the basics. From setting up the initial work area and assembling the tools to planning a project for smooth success, this is a 'must' for any who would start on their first scale model.
The Game
Neil Strauss
Regan Books
10 E. 53rd St., New York NY 10022-5299
0060554738 $29.95 reganbooks.com
Two years ago author Strauss, a writer for the Rolling Stone and New York Times, decided to investigate an exciting underground community: an international network of men devoted to the art of seduction. They weren't rich, they weren't criminals or unduly attractive - but they had success with even the most remote woman, and had a scientific set of rules which dictated their successful moves. The Game: Penetrating The Secret Society Of Pick-Up Artists is more than just an expose of an underground community: it tells of Strauss' own experiments as a single male with little personal success with women himself, and of his undercover life for two years as he works to master the Game - successfully. But The Game isn't autobiography either: it reveals the secrets of the Game, why its strategies work, and what women can learn from the tricks pick-up artists commonly use on women.
Ecovillages
Jan Martin Bang
New Society Publishers
PO Box 189, Gabriola Island, British Columbia, V0R 1X0 Canada
0865715386 $24.95 newsociety.com
There's long been a movement towards living in community with others as an alternative to the nuclear family model, but in modern times 'ecovillages' have emerged around the world, adding attention to sustainability and social interactions to the model. Ecovillages explores these developments, opening with a history of the movement and progressing to include a practical manual for planning and maintaining a sustainable community using permaculture as a foundation. From house design and building options to farming and handling sewage and energy sources, Ecovillages is packed with practical applications; not just theory.
Messages To The World
Bruce Lawrence
Verso
180 Varick Street, New York NY 10014
1844670457 $16.95 versobooks.com
Osama Bin Laden's statements have been widely covered in TV and radio in bits and pieces; but they haven't been gathered together under one cover before; so to receive a unified presentation of all his admonitions, turn to Messages To The World: The Statements Of Osama Bin Laden. Statements issued in his name over the last ten years are here newly translated from the Arabic and annotated with a critical introduction by editor Lawrence, an Islamic scholar, which adds historical, political and religious context to the statements. Any who want insights on Bin Laden's thoughts and viewpoint must have Messages To The World.
My Love Affair With The French
Fannie Lillian
Dorrance Publishing
701 Smithfield, 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-3906
0805964463 $23.00 dorrance.com
Fannie Bellamy grew up in rural Virginia under segregation and discovered some deep bonds with France and the French people early on in life: her account tells of her journey from rural Virginia to college and on to travels to France in search of the French tradition. My Love Affair With The French is a lively first-person account of a fine adventure abroad.
The Blacksmith's Craft
Charles McRaven
Storey Publishers
210 Mass MoCa Way, North Adams, MA 01247
1580175937 $19.95 storeybooks.com
Very few titles go into much depth on the vanishing art of blacksmithing as does Charles McRaven's The Blacksmith's Craft: A Primer Of Tools And Methods - which is why any would-be blacksmith will want to see this on a reference shelf and even in a home collection. From setting up your own forge and making common items to using recycled materials, learning and acquiring the basic tools, and using blacksmithing skills to restore homes, The Blacksmith's Craft is a 'must' for any rural resident or student craftsman thinking of taking up the art of blacksmithing for fun or profit.
We Changed The World
Sidney Pike
Paragon House
1925 Oakcrest Avenue, #7, St. Paul, MN 55113-2619
1557788553 $24.95 paragonhouse.com
The introduction of CNN's 24-hour cable news channel in 1980 changed the world of television, with satellite and cable providing a strong competitive alternative to tradition TV - and author Sidney pike was in the middle of the revolution, here explored in his We Changed The World: Memoirs Of A CNN Satellite Pioneer. Pike met with media and government leaders around the world trying to sell CNN programming, and was an early pioneer for the global television channels we know today. His memoir provides a first-person review of obstacles, achievements, challenges, and a rapidly-changing industry under transition to this day.
The Religion/Spirituality Shelf
Abraham & Family
Hershel Shanks, editor
Biblical Archaeology Society Press
4710 - 41st Street, NW, Washington, DC 20016-1700
1880317575 $14.95 1-800-221-4644
Abraham & Family is a collection of essays by fifteen Biblical experts, each offering a different path to understanding the chapters in Genesis about Abraham, who was called by God to leave his home and his country and venture into the unknown. A handful of black-and-white and color illustrations, particularly those of classic artworks depicting Biblical scenes, add a visual touch to the matter-of-fact text. Essays cover such topics as whether Abraham was really ready to kill his son Isaac, the story of Hagar's expulsion, the question of whether Jacob's wrestling match was with an angel or with Esau, the sibling rivalry between Rachel and Leah during their marriage to Jacob, and much more. The discussions are thoughtful and literate, balancing both Judaic and Christian interpretations of Genesis as well as presenting ancient theological puzzles (such as how Jacob could have married two sisters when, even though polygamy was permitted, polygamy with two siblings was supposedly against Tora law) and different suggested solutions, all in simple-to-follow layman's terms. An excellent introduction to Biblical scholarship concerning Abraham and his immediate lineage.
Selected Writings Of Baha'u'llah
Baha'i Publishing
415 Linden Avenue, Wilmette, IL 60091
193184724X $10.00 bahaibooksusa.com
Baha'u'llah (1817-1892) was the founder of the Baha'i faith which has its historical roots in Islam, but is considered a separate religion which considers all the messengers of God to be valid guides including (but not limited to) Krishna, Abraham, Moses, Buddha, Jesus, and Muhammad. Baha'u'llah is considered by the Baha'i community to be another of these prophetic messengers whose work was to reveal an unfolding divine plan for humanity. Selected Writings Of Baha'u'llah provides an succinct introductory overview into the Prophet Baha'u'llah's teachings, including his remarks on God, God's Messengers, the path to God, spiritual aspects of the world civilization, the nature of the human soul and its journey after death, and the renewal of God's covenant with humanity. Also very highly recommended reading for students of the Baha'i faith is the companion pocket book, Gleanings From The Writings Of Baha'u'llah (1931847-223, $12.00).
Wise Thoughts For Every Day
Leo Tolstoy
Arcade Publishing
141 Fifth Avenue, 8th Fl, NY, NY 10010
www.arcadepub.com
1559707860 $15.99 1-800-759-0190
Wise Thoughts For Every Day: On God, Love, Spirit, And Living A Good Life appears for the first time in English, with a translation by Peter Sekirin, and provides Tolstoy's daily reflections in a fine pocket-sized book which will make for an excellent gift for any Tolstoy reader. From living in the present to reflections on evil and the afterlife, Wise Thoughts For Every Day is a fine inspirational.
Common Ground
Bradley Panvino
Hudson Hills Press
PO Box 205, Manchester, VT 05254
0974986046 $12.95 hudsonhills.com
Vietnam veteran, philosopher, and religious studies student Bradley Pavino presents Common Ground: Principles For Living, an inspirational guide to "primary principles" needed to promote world peace and harmony, particularly in an age when international conflict and terrorism have access to higher technology and weapons. Common Ground breaks down a complex dilemma into the simplest precepts: basic principles for pure living, such as faith, generosity, discipline, and love; positive attributes such as courage, honor, and parenting ability; negatives to avoid such as cheating, stealing, hypocrisy, and pessimism; and more. A resource of building blocks applicable to all faiths, creeds, and individual lifestyles in striving to cultivate a better self, a better faith, and a better world.
The Computer Shelf
How to Cheat at IT Project Management
Susan Snedaker, MBA, MCSE, MCT
Nels Hoenig, Tech Editor
Syngress Press
800 Hingham St., Rockland, MA 02370
1597490377 $44.95 syngress.com
Where other books cover IT project basics, How To Cheat At It Project Management goes a step further in showing project managers how to make sure an IT project is in line with company strategic objectives, and which will deliver the best results. Learn how to link work process to project tasks and budgets, and how to manage a team more effectively through a book which covers 'cheating' or shortcut methods to get a project back on the fast track. From when and how to report to identifying risks, How To Cheat At It Project Management holds all the answers to decreasing errors and increasing returns.
ESRI Press
380 New York Street, Redlands, CA 92373-8100
www.esri.com
Winnie Tang and Jan Selwood's Spatial Portals: Gateways To Geographic Information (1589481313, $29.95) tells how new 'spatial portals' link technology with geographic to affect daily lives. Government systems and other organizations hold information which can help consumers and businesses alike evaluate options and make good decisions: case studies, examples and visual surveys of such geographic information provide both students and decision makers with a review of spatial portals and how they are changing our lives. Cynthia A. Brewer's Designing Better Maps: A Guide For GIS Users (1589480-899, $24.95) covers the latest advances in GIS mapping software which have led a growing number of people without cartographic training to make use of new systems and map offerings. There's a bad side to the story, though: there's a dearth of poorly designed, inaccurate maps which obscure efforts to understand - so Designing Better Maps is written for those without cartography training who still need to know how to create and understand maps for their work. From understanding scale bars and legends to choosing the right map layout for a purpose, Designing Better Maps: A Guide For GIS Users is essential to proper map illustration and information usage.
Linux Debugging & Performance Tuning
Steve Best
Prentice Hall Press
One Lake Street, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458
0131492470 $49.99 www.phptr.com
Learn how to debug Linux code at both kernel and application levels through a hands-on tutorial which covers all kinds of performance optimization issues. From cache misses and memory management issues to network performance and dump analysis from crashes, Linux Debugging And Performance Tuning Tips And Techniques is packed with real-world examples, with screen shots and code lists helping explain debugging logic and procedures. Highly recommended for any Linux systems administrator involved in debugging processes.
Two new guides provide excellent JavaScript References for CS2 users working with the programs. Adobe Illustrator CS2 (032141294X, $39.99) provides the programmer with a complete reference for JavaScript objects and properties defined by Illustrator CS2. From basic and advance scripting techniques tailored to Illustrator CS2 to textpath properties, GradientStops properties, and more, the JavaScript reference holds all the keys to working effectively with Adobe Illustrator CS2. Adobe Photoshop CS2 (0321409-701, $39.99) achieves the same for Photoshop CS2, showing how to automate CS2 workflow by using the Javascript objects and methods defined by Adobe CS2. All the utilities and tools in ExtendScript are covered, as well as value types, techniques, and definitions. Charts, screen shots, object properties for Window and layout, and more all receive excellent technical discussions. Both are highly recommended as basic picks for any working with JavaScript and these two applications. Jan Kabili and Colin Smith's How To WOW: Photoshop CS2 For The Web (0321393945, $39.99) is outstanding: it presents the in-depth tips from two professional graphic designer/trainers who have developed a method for combining quality, flexibility and speed with web graphic creation based on Photoshop CS2. Their program teaches all the fundamentals for building more effective sites, building upon basics to move to more advanced topics such as animation. A companion cd-rom disc includes all the original designs used in the project-building HOW TO WOW, along with styles, actions and pattern presets. A 'must' for any owner of Photoshop CS2 who is serious about building the better web site.
Degunking Windows
Joli Ballew & Jeff Duntemann
Paraglyph Press
1238 East Cambridge Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85006
www.paraglyphpress.com
1932111840 $24.99 www.amazon.com
The first edition of Degunking Windows provided a basic reference to Windows XP: the revised edition includes the extensive update Service Pack 2 and focuses on the 'gunk' remaining in this update as well as tweaking issues for Windows. Learn how to clean up and streamline PC operations, how to work faster and more efficiently with file systems, and how to boot quickly and cleanly: chapters lend to both study and referencing.
O'Reilly
1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol CA 95472
www.oreilly.com
It's astonishing how many books and magazines O'Reilly publishers monthly, making a name for themselves as a major player in the computer reference industry, and these new arrivals represent some top picks from their latest publications. Venkat Subramaniam's .Net Gotchas (05960-09097, $39.95) is for programmers working in .NET programming applications, whether it be the .NET platform itself, or Java or C#. Common problems from loops and exceptions from threads to garbage collection are reviewed with an eye to identifying and covering the errors which most common trip up .NET programmers. Unix users will welcome Brian Jepson and Ernest E. Rothman's Mac OS X Tiger For Unix Geeks: Demystifying The Geekier Side Of Mac OS X (0596009127, $34.95). The authors are longtime Unix users and understand the differences between Unix and the Mac OS X system: chapters cover everything from porting Unix software and understanding the X window system to partitioning for Linux and using built-in services. Patrick Niemeyer and Jonathan Knudsen's Learning Java (0596008732, $44.95) appears in its 3rd updated edition to cover J2SE 5.0. This isn't just a tutorial for beginners: it moves from a basic introduction and application examples all the way to advanced topics such as advanced Java 5.0 features and writing threaded programs. So don't expect a simple introduction - though the lessons are designed as a 'classroom in a book' - chapters are quite technical and Java programmers with programming backgrounds will be pleased with its depth.
Charles River Media
10 Downer Ave, Higham, MA 02043
www.charlesriver.com
These excellent guides are highly recommended picks for college-level students of computer science. Kenny Erleben, Jon Sporring, Knud Henricksen and Henrik Dohlmann's Physics-Based Animation (1584593807, $69.95) provides an in-depth, advanced survey of animation and gaming with a focus on physics-based animation. From equations and math applications to examples linking code choices to algorithms and physics systems, this weighty student's guide goes beyond simple introductions to provide the nuts and bolts of physics-based animation sequences and explanations. Frank Nielsen's Visual Computing: Geometry, Graphics, And Vision (1584504277, $59.95) provides students with an introduction to data structures, algorithmic techniques, and geometry associated with computer graphics. Students involved in 3D techniques receive not only background on concepts and formulas, but important real-world examples to reinforce concepts. Both are fine college-level picks. An even wider audience will be found for Chris Bateman and Richard Boon's 21st Century Game Design (1584504293, $39.95), which examines how best to design games and tailor them for specific kinds of audiences. Chapters focus more on the psyche and needs of the player than most programming or game books, discussing both how games can address these desires and how they can appeal to a wider audience outside the hard-core gamer. Any game designer or those seeking to develop and distribute games would do well to examine 21st Century Game Design with its audience-oriented focus. Paul Schuytema and Mark Manyen's Game Development With Lua (1584504048, $49.95) discusses a program which uses complex artificial intelligence to enhance the game environment. While Game Development With Lua may seem like a guide for only the most advanced programmers, developers will be pleased to note it may be written by practicing Lua game developers for commercial development, but assumes little prior knowledge, providing both a history of Lua and how to blend it into a C++ development project. The focus is a blend of activities and instructions on key game development features which uses the game programmer's C++ basics to explain Lua links and applications.
The Cult Of iPod
Leander Kahney
No Starch Press
555 DeHaro Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
1593270666 $24.95 nostarch.com
Fans of the Cult Of Mac book will find equally absorbing Leander Kahney's new look at how the iPod is revolutionizing all kinds of information. A history of the iPod's development and marketing is accompanied by colorful cultural insights and examples of iPod's vast changes to music culture and file sharing. Any interested in making, marketing or listening to music must consider The Cult Of iPod: it's an eye-opening look at how the iPod itself has changed the nature of music.
Digital Gameplay
Nate Garrelts, editor
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson, NC 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
0786422920 $35.00 1-800-253-2187
Digital Gameplay isn't another game programmer's handbook, but a collection of scholarly, college- level essays on the topic of digital games with a survey of the role of the game. Fifteen essays discuss how players interact with games - essential information for programmers to know - and survey both physical and mental aspects of playing. While video games are also included, any game programmer will find discussions of how games are perceived and used by players to be important considerations in organizing and developing routines.
Thomson Course Technology
25 Thomson Place, Boston, MA 02210
www.courseptr.com
Joseph Nalven and JD Jarvis' Going Digital: The Practice And Vision Of Digital Artists (1592009182, $39.99) is written by a cultural anthropologist who developed photography as a tool for working on ethnographic research, and an author who has long worked in TV production and graphic design: the two together offer a survey of the digital process as it applies to creating the art, from photos to finished products. 17 artists were asked to take three seed photos and use the images creatively in their own works of digital art: Going Digital takes these 17 efforts and blends them with discussions and examples of digital art from around the world, considering common challenges, presenting step-by-step processes from digital pioneer efforts, and creating a solid set of practical examples. A must for any aspiring digital artist. Matt Kelland, Dave Morris and Dave Lloyd's Machinima: Making Animaled Movies In 3d Virtual Environments (1592006507, $29.99) provides examples of a new way of making movies based on technology originally developed for computer games. Machinima movies are made on virtual sets using virtual characters and 2D graphics engines derived from popular games - so any filmmaker with a home PC an create them. Learn how to build sets, handle animation, customize existing sets, and plug in characters through a title which addresses everything form camera angles and acting to a history of machinima. David McCarthy, Ste Curran an Simon Byron's Art Of Producing Games (1592006116, $29.95) is a recommended pick for any programmer interested in designing a successful video game. From concepts to sketches and story lines through building workable prototypes, scripts, storyboards and screenplays with video and music, The Art Of Producing Games isn't just the author's experiences alone: it's backed by interviews with well-known industry figures who offer their valuable insights on how games are designed, prototyped, tested and published. John W. Gosney's Beyond Reality: A Guide To Alternate Reality Gaming (1592007376, $29.99) narrows the focus to alternate reality games, which ask players to ignore the usual barriers between real and fantasy worlds to use web sites, TV ads, and game-generated phone calls as clues to uncovering the game's mystery. When lines between real and virtual worlds are blurred and intersect, a higher-quality gaming experience can be achieved: that's the message of Beyond Reality which leads programmers to uncover just how this can be accomplished, from honing critical thinking skills to building an ARG simulation which works. Game Programming For Teens, 2nd Edition (1592008348, $29.99) by Maneesh Sethi tells teens how to program their own games, developing skills needed to produce a video game from graphics to sound and music. Sethi is himself a California high school student who has long worked in web design and gaming, offering fellow teens his own set of processes for learning game programming. The goal of Game Programming For Teens is to have the teen create a working game by book's end - and any teen who follows Sethi's directions will find themselves with a game to their name.
Service-Oriented Architecture Compass
Norbert Bieberstein, et.al.
IBM Press/Pearson
Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458
0131870025 $44.99 ibmpressbooks.com
The IBM Enterprise Integration Team experts provide a comprehensive guide to planning, using and managing Service-Oriented Architecture, helping business readers migrate to SOA by sharing best practices and lessons gained from projects and development efforts. From considering SOA's impact and importance in the business environment to SOA design, analysis, security and integration into other systems, chapters provide technical and detailed software engineering information based on models, services and activities in real world situations.
The Writing/Publishing Shelf
Write Tight
William Brohaugh
ISI Books
Box 4431, Wilmington, DE 19807-0431
www.isibooks.org
1882926889 $14.95 1-800-526-7022
Former editor of "Writer's Digest" magazine William Brohaugh presents Write Tight: How To Keep Your Prose Sharp, Focused And Concise, a practical guide to focusing one's message with grace, simplicity, and power, especially in today's attention-span deprived world of sound bites and distractions. From removing unnecessary syllables to excising gratuitous chapters, Write Tight identifies sixteen types of "flabby" writing (which says too little with too much verbage), offers "verbal aerobics" to hone one's skills, and even offers nonverbal devices such as sidebars and checklists to streamline one's manuscripts. Write Tight is a supremely valuable, "must-have" for aspiring writers in all fields from prose to nonfiction, journalistic copy, screenwriting and so much more.
Writer's Breakthrough
Grace LaJoy Henderson, PhD.
Inspirations by Grace LaJoy
PO Box 181, Raymore, MO 64083
0974758310 $15.99 www.gracelajoy.com
Writer's Breakthrough: Steps To Copyright And Publish Your Own Book is a guide written especially for aspiring writers who know absolutely nothing about book publishing. Though Writer's Breakthrough is especially addressed to gifted Christian writers, its advice is solid and practical for writers of all faiths, as are its sample forms. Roughly half of Writer's Breakthrough is devoted to a simplified, step-by-step walkthrough to publishing a book, with bonus tips concerning marketing and distribution; the other half is filled with examples and forms, from a suggested format for a copyright page to a sample copyright application. Writer's Breakthrough is an excellent, practical, easy-to-understand resource for novice writers and aspiring self-publishers.
Heavy Words Lightly Thrown
Chris Roberts
Gotham Books/Penguin
375 Hudson Street, NY, NY 10014
1592401309 $20.00 www.penguin.com
Was Jack Horner a squatter? Why was Mary so contrary? And what made Gorgy Porgy run? The history beyond common nursery rhymes is covered in a lively survey of rhyme meaning and origins in Heavy Words Lightly Thrown: The Reason Behind The Rhyme. Here are quirky tales and realities: once you read Heavy Words, you'll never look at Mother Goose quite the same way!
Comma Sense
Richard Lederer & John Shore
St. Martin's Press
175 - 5th Avenue, New York NY 10010
0312342543 $22.95 www.stmartins.com
Not just another book on punctuation! What can Comma Sense: A Fundamental Guide To Punctuation hold over its many competitors? 'Fun' is the operative word here, as Richard Lederer and John Shore poke fun at the misuse of punctuation and how choices in punctuation can have very different results. Plenty of examples come couched in this humor, which makes Comma Sense quite easy to learn. Just consider that here the exclamation point is the 'titan of tingle, the prince of palpitation' and you have some idea of the allure of Comma Sense - and its potential of educating those who traditionally wouldn't touch grammar books with a ten-foot pole.
The Geography Shelf
Why Geography Matters
Harm de Blij
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Ave, NY, NY 10016-4314
0195183010 $30.00 www.oup-usa.org
Why indeed does geography matter? Because it'll play a key role in some major challenges facing this country: climate change, the rise of China and the impact of global terrorism. Why Geography Matters: Three Challenges Facing America draws some strong connections between the discipline of geography and an understanding of world interactions and issues. The world is indeed shrinking, national interests now directly affect other nations, and it's impossible to deal with world issues without dealing with world nations: that's why geography matters.
Mapping The World
Ralph E. Ehrenberg
National Geographic Books
1145 - 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036-4688
0792265254 $40.00 www.ngs.org
Mapping The World: An Illustrated History Of Cartography comes from one of the major publishers specializing in geography subjects: so one would anticipate an exceptional production in book form - and it's not disappointing. Author Ralph Ehrenberg is former chief of the Geography and Map Division of the Library of Congress, among other major archives: his background lends to a lovely coverage of over a hundred maps from around the world and across the eras. Each full-page color maps is accompanied by a detailed history and explanation setting the map in social and historical perspective. Recommend for any serious world history collection, from the high school level on up.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Golden Gryphon
3002 Perkins Road, Urbana, IL 61802
www.goldengryophon.com
Two excellent new titles are simply wonderful recommendations featuring top-notch writers and varied, absorbing plots. Jack Dann edits The Fiction Factory (1930846363, $24.95), a fine collaborative collection of Jack Dann's short fiction with stories written with one or more co-authors from Gardner Dozois to Jack Haldeman and Barry Malzberg. These 18 stories include a Nebula-nominated short ''High Steel'' as well as others nominated for honors, and are as varied as an account of first dates with Jesus, time machines, and a vampire in a concentration camp. These are quite diverse presentations packed with magic and variety: a huge delight for any who like different plots. Robert Reed's The Cuckoo's Boys (19308-46371, $24.95) also features variety: the title tale is set in the near future where a lonely genius clones himself - millions of times - by creating a virus that affects pregnant women, other stories tell of an alien abduction which affects a man's entire life - and which may be fantasy - and a rejected heaven.
The Photography Shelf
Gretchen Wilson
Susan Moyer
Sports Publishing
804 North Neil Street, Suite 100, Champaign, IL 61820
www.SportsPublishingLLC.com
1596701072 $19.95 1-877-424-2665
Gretchen Wilson is an amazing photographic tribute to Grammy and ACM Top Female Vocalist award winner Gretchen Wilson. A devoted mother as well as a wildly popular country music singer, Gretchen Wilson reveals both public and private moments of her life in the vivid full-color photography, enhanced with brief paragraphs of text about her life and memorable quotes by Gretchen and those closest to her. A vibrant visual testimony to the life's work of a singularly talented vocalist.
Walking, Talking, Lying
Laurie Simmons & Kate Linker
Aperture
547 West 27th Street, 4th floor, New York, NY 10001
www.aperture.org
1931788596 $50.00 1-212-505-5555
Walking, Talking, Lying is a full-color gallery of most unusual photographic works by Laurie Simmons. Nearly all the photographs are of dolls or mannequins juxtaposed with objects and artifacts - from a doll-sized hourglass with very feminine lower torso and legs to a ventriloquist's dummy seated and posed as if for an expensive formal portrait. The text commentary by Kate Linker points out the binding themes of Simmons' work such as the confusion of individuals with their possessions, to the extent that they identify with inanimate objects. Simmons' photographs form an unforgettable impression in their fusion of human nonhuman simulacra in this singularly distinctive treasury.
Lake Superior Secrets
Bruce Montagne
Ann Arbor Media Group
2500 So. State St., Ann Arbor, MI 48104
1587262932 $39.95 www.amazon.com
Lake Superior Secrets is a dazzling photography book of the flora, fauna, and scenery of Lake Superior. A caption of one to two sentences garnishes each beautiful, full-color image, caught on film by Bruce Montague, a nature photographer with over 15 years experience. An especial treat for nature lovers, as its photographs illuminate everything from wind-blown sand and snow dunes to ancient pictures written in red ochre on stone cliffs to a stunning image of a ring-billed gull against a clear blue sky. Highly recommended.
L.A. Huffman
Larry Len Peterson
Mountain Press
PO Box 2399, Missoula, MT 59806
0878425144 $45.00 mountain-press.com
Frontier photographer Len Huffman worked in the late 1800s to capture the American West on film during an era where images of the open range and Indians were rare. He produced works from Montana which defined the public perception of the West, and well deserves the extensive celebration of his life and achievements that L.A. Huffman: Photographer Of The American West brings to modern readers. An oversized presentation and pages packed with his photos - some 500 - accompanies text introducing his characteristic style and approach. If only one definitive Huffman coverage were selected for a discriminating library collection, it should be this.
The American History Shelf
Heavenly Intrigue
Joshua Gilder & Anne-Lee Gilder
Anchor Books
c/o Random House
1745 Broadway, 17th fl., NY, NY 10019
www.randomhouse.com
1400031761 $15.00 1-800-726-0600
Heavenly Intrigue: Johannes Kepler, Tycho Brahe, And The Murder Behind One Of History's Greatest Scientific Discoveries is a historical re-creation of the seventeenth-century collaboration between geniuses Johannes Kepler and Tycho Brahe. Kepler's scientific brilliance laid the foundation for modern physics, and his mentor Brahe spent forty years mapping the heavens with more accuracy than any before him; yet Brahe refused to share his maps with Kepler. When Brahe died far too young in 1601, rumors circulated that he had been murdered, yet it took twentieth- century forensics to reveal the proof - poison in Brahe's remains. Authors Joshua Gilder and Anne-Lee Gilder apply detective work to point a reasoned accusation against the ambitious Kepler. Heavenly Intrigue is a simply stunning, thoroughly researched work that dares to question the personal character of great thinkers.
Rock Of Contention
Kim Munholland
Berghahn Books
150 Broadway, Suite 812, NY, NY 10038
www.berghahnbooks.com
1571816828 $60.00 1-800-540-8663
Modern European and French History professor Kim Munholland presents Rock Of Contention: Free French And Americans At War In New Caledonia, 1940-1945, a close scrutiny of why Franco-American relations soured and broke into bitter disputes during World War II - a time when the threat of the axis powers should have provided a unifying common enemy. Focusing on the South Pacific colony of New Caledonia as the most incendiary cause of acrimony, Rock Of Contention demonstrates the presence of suspicion, fear, and even paranoia that colored Free French policy toward the Americans present at virtually every phase. This is a sharply drawn, deftly written, straight-laced exposure of the perceptions and biases that generated a lasting international ill will, with repercussions up to the present day.
American Frontier Lawmen
Charles M. Robinson III
Osprey Publishing
443 Park Avenue South, NY, NY 10016
www.ospreypublishing.com
1841765759 $16.95 www.amazon.com
A superbly written work on development of policing and early law enforcement on the American frontier, Charles M. Robinson III 's American Frontier Lawmen 1850-1930 provides the reader with a rich, colorful documentary of early frontier lawmen who delivered justice in many new Western towns. From interactions between lawmen, vigilante committees, and wealthy ranch owners, to famous gunfighters and law enforcers alike, American Frontier Lawmen 1850-1930 engagingly documents some of the most vivid of personalities, adding color drawings by Richard Hook for stronger impact.
The Parenting Shelf
Parenting Power In The Early Years
Brenda Nixon
Winepress Publishing
PO Box 428, Enumclaw, WA 98022
157921343X $12.95 brendanixon.com
Parenting Power In The Early Years: Raising Your Child With Confidence From Birth To Age Five is a brief guide packed with practical advice especially for new parents, or parents coping with their first toddler to preschool-aged child. Mother of two and Adjunct Professor of child development and parent education at MidAmerica Nazarene University Brenda Nixon dispenses wisdom in short, to-the-point bursts, from how to soothe one's separation anxiety when away from an infant to the toilet-teaching hurdle of the toddler years to how to tell when a child is ready for kindergarten and more. Appendices with recommended gift-giving tips, a 0-5 child development guide, and a parent resource index round out this no-nonsense, highly recommended supplement to the reading lists of busy and frantic parents - especially those with far to little time in their hectic day to lumber through wordier advice guides. Highly recommended.
Just a Little Too Thin
Michael Strober & Meg Schneider
Da Capo Press/Perseus Books Group
11 Cambridge Ctr, Cambridge, MA 02142
www.perseusbooks.com
0738210188 $25.00 1-800-242-7737
Eating disorder authority Michael Strober, Ph.D. and therapist Meg Schneider MA, LMSW combine their expertise in Just A Little Too Thin: How To Pull Your Child Back From The Brink Of An Eating Disorder, a straightforward guide to recognizing the dangerous signs of when one's daughter (or more rarely, one's son) shifts from becoming an "innocent" to "exhilarated" to "preoccupied dieter" - when dieting has less to do with weight and health and more to do with emotional issues that could prove fatal. Offering compassionate, no-nonsense advice on how to talk to one's children about weight issues, and guide him or her away from the slippery slope that can lead to anorexia, bulimia, or other eating disorders, Just A Little Too Thin is a valuable, jargon-free guide. Additional chapters also offer insight concerning when professional help or medical intervention are necessary, and if so, how to go about it. Highly recommended.
No Child Undiscovered
Wayne Arnold
Llumina Press
PO Box 772246, Coral Springs, FL 33077-2246
1595261060 $12.95 www.llumina.com
No Child Undiscovered: Real Education For The Child In All Of Us is a guide to how mind-body methods work, and how they can be used in a beneficial program of self-discovery. Mind-body techniques have an especial possible benefit in the area of education, as it fosters the compassion, respect, and self-confidence that children need. Chapters proffer 30 self-discovery methods that anyone can use, three basic steps for empowering children, techniques for improving mind-body health and balance, and much more. Written in plain terms, No Child Undiscovered offers the seeds of a quiet revolution toward greater self-acceptance and harmony among all ages.
The Education Shelf
The Anti-Bullying And Teasing Book For Preschool Classrooms
Barbara Sprung et al.
Gryphon House
PO Box 207, Beltsville, MD 20704
www.ghbooks.com
0876592426 $14.95 1-800-638-0928
Barbara Sprung, Merle Froschl and Dr. Blythe Hinitz are three experienced educators pool their wisdom in The Anti-Bullying And Teasing Book For Preschool Classrooms, a quite straightforward guide to creating a caring environment at school and properly responding when negative social behaviors such as teasing and bullying assert themselves. Offering over 40 activities designed to help control teasing and bullying by fostering friendship, community, and positive interactions, The Anti-Bullying And Teasing Book For Preschool Classrooms stresses the importance of family involvement, community, feelings, and friendship. A positive-minded, extremely practical, "must-have" for anyone charged with fostering safety and harmony among groups of preschool children. Very highly recommended reading for school faculty and administration.
From Standards To Success
Mark R. O'Shea
ASCD
1703 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
www.ascd.org
1416602070 $26.95 1-800-933-2723
Education professor Mark O'Shea presents From Standards To Success: A Guide For School Leaders, a multi-layered guide to the author's Standards Achievement Planning Cycle (SAPC), which is a comprehensive tool for meeting high expectations. Walking the reader through a fictional school that prepares to install the SAPC, From Standards To Success reveals the value of each facet of implementation from the levels of superintendent and principal to teacher observation and student assessment. Spelling out strategies to help school leaders identify which standards are most important, select appropriate curriculum materials and resources, create a benchmark-testing program, and much more. Charts and bullet points help clarify potentially confusing procedures and recommendations, and checklists at the end of each chapter emphasize the best practices in this useful guide to making standards-based education a reality.
A Parent's Guide To Special Education
Linda Wilmshurs & Alan Brue
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019
www.amacombooks.org
0814472834 $16.95 1-800-250-5308
Special education embraces a host of different learning challenges, from developmental delays and disabilities to emotional problems, language impairment, and more: with all these conflicting needs present, it becomes a challenge to assess and run a special education program for all. Parents receive help and guidance to programs and administrators in A Parent's Guide To Special Education: Insider Advice On How To Navigate The System And Help Your Child Succeed. Here are discussions of the special education process, its place and role in the overall educational system, and how intelligence is assessed. Chapters on what to expect from special education and where it can fail, parent-teacher communications and meetings, and issues beyond basic eligibility determinations provide plenty of clear insights.
Balancing Reading & Language Learning
Mary Cappellini
Stenhouse Publishers
477 Congress Street, Suite 4B, Portland, ME 04101-3451
www.stenhouse.com
1571103678 $30.00 1-800-988-9812
Balancing Reading & Language Learning: A Resource For Teaching English Language Learners K-5 by educational consultant and former bilingual resource teacher, ESL teacher, and literacy coach Mary Cappellini offers a framework for a balanced classroom reading program that includes the use of reading aloud, shared reading, guided reading, and independent reading to develop a student's skills and fluency in the English language. Classroom instructors will learn how to set up an environment that will enable all English language learners to succeed in advancing their fluency and academic performance; the stages of English language proficiency and how to use them to assess and plan for individual children; advice for tapping into children's prior knowledge in their primary language while teaching reading in English, and the use of Spanish/English cognates to help develop academic language skills; how to manage numerous guided reading groups with children at all stages of reading and language proficiency, and more. Enhanced with ideas for events to involve the parents, thematic planning sample units for primary and upper grades, forms and checklists, bibliographies and suggested reading lists, Balancing Reading & Language Learning is a welcome and instructive addition to professional and bilingual instructor reference collections and ESL curriculum development resources.
The Homeowner's Shelf
Hannah's Art Of Home Life
Hannah Keeley
Capital Books Inc.
PO Box 605, Herndon, VA 20172-0605
1931868824 $17.95 capital-books.com
Author Hannah Keeley is the founder of a line of baby spa products, the publisher of an online family magazine, and holds a degree in psychology - as well as home-schooling six kids. Her Hannah's Art Of Home: Managing Your Home Around Your Personality offers a personality test linked to home atmosphere. Learn how the test relates to clutter, organizational patterns, cleaning and decorating choices in a handbook which offers de-cluttering, cleaning, organization and decorating hints for every room of the house.
The Urban Loft
Martin Myers
Fitzhenry Whiteside Ltd.
121 Harvard Ave., #2, Allston, MA 02134
1550418394 $24.95 fitzhenry.ca
Loft dwellers who dream of living in a loft and who have to start from scratch will appreciate The Urban Loft: Creating A Dream Space In The City: it will appeal to architects, renovators, designers or the builder or re-builder and provides both tips on how to build a loft and advice on what not to do. Chapters consider the construction and organization of the loft environment and provide plenty of details on what works, what doesn't, and why.
Interior Desecrations
James Lileks
Three Rivers Press
c/o The Crown Publishing Group
1745 Broadway, 17th fl, NY, NY 10019
www.crownpublishing.com
0307238725 $18.00 1-888-523-9292
The worst of 1970s interior decoration ideas is gathered from magazines, books and pamphlets to prove the era was a grim design period indeed, making Interior Desecrations: Hideous Homes From The Horrible 70s an example of what bad taste can look like. From overwhelming 'green crap' to candid assessments of bad style ("I have this horrible vision: it's day one of Alexander Solzhenitsyn's exile in America, and this is where they put him up."), Interior Desecrations is a winning commentary on poor taste.
Home Enlightenment
Annie B. Bond
Rodale Press
400 - 10th St., Emmaus, PA 18098
1579548113 $27.95 www.rodale.com
If 'home' means more to you than a roof over your head, and you seek to create a nurturing, toxin-free atmosphere and lifestyle within its walls, then Home Enlightenment is for you: it provides an encyclopedia of natural living which covers everything from animal dander and water management to lighting, fire, mercury concerns, laundry and fabric health, and more. It's rare to see a guide on home systems so attentive to overall health concerns: Home Enlightenment's wide-ranging details on creating and maintaining a healthy environment makes it a unique, top pick.
Artificial Rock Waterfalls
J. Erik Kinkade
Granite Canyon Publications
2631 West Bennett, Springfield, MO 65807
0972003657 $59.95 rockandwater.com
You can build a rock waterfall not just for a pond but for a swimming pool, spa, or garden; especially with the step-by-step ideas and instructions in Artificial Rock Waterfalls: Rock Making Techniques For The Professional And The Hobbyist. Produce fountains and falls which look entirely natural, blend it into an existing theme or environment, and understand the materials and construction techniques of different layers in a guide which is loaded with photos of the step-by-step process. Discussions of design alternatives, electrical and plumbing options, and more provide everything you need to gain an idea and the knowledge to follow through.
Gibbs Smith
PO Box 667, Layton, UT 84041
www.gibbs-smith.com
Douglas Keister's Courtyards: Intimate Outdoor Spaces (1586855409, $39.95) takes a rare look at the function, definition and purpose of a courtyard surveying courtyards around the world which grace both home and public establishment. Courtyards can be adapted to both large and small spaces, vary in greenery, stonework, and lighting, and are perfect additions for homeowners seeking to remodel with style. Turn a backyard into a courtyard setting or consider many options through the phone color exhibition of photographer Keister, paired with text which considers design options and successful examples. Paula Baker-Laporte & Robert Laporte's Eco Nest: Creating Sustainable Sanctuaries Of Clay, Straw, And Timber (158685691X, $24.95) surveys and contrasts different methods of green building which avoid the typical troubles of conventional building methods, from pollution and chemical usage to inefficient synthetic insulation. From design details to take advantage of solar energy to choices in lighting, entryways, and architectural design, ten selected 'dream homes' are presented. Full-page color photos of interiors and exteriors compliment design plans and first-person insights by the owner-builders on what makes each home a work of art - and an ecologically sustainable structure.
Condominiums
Frank J. La Mar
Windstorm Creative
PO Box 28, Port Orchard, WA 98366
www.windstormcreative.com
1590920368 $9.99 www.amazon.com
People just starting out and those seeking to downsize and reduce homeowner maintenance often opt for condos as less expensive options: before you sign on the dotted line, be aware of the pros and cons through Condominiums The Pros And Cons Of Ownership. From their rules, restrictions and resale/marketability potentials to repairs, damage, and governing board rules, Condominiums: The Pros And Cons Of Ownership covers it all using simple language any potential buyer will readily understand.
Got Sun? Go Solar
Rex A. Ewing & Doug Pratt
PixyJack Press
PO Box 149, Masonville, CO 80541
0965809870 $18.95 www.amazon.com
Are you connected to the grid but seeking independence from high energy bills? Looking to harness solar and wind power? Plenty of other books have surveyed the benefits of renewable energy or systems; but this is one of the few to add simplicity into the formula to make it possible for novices to convert. Chapters tell how to power an existing grid-tied home with renewable sources and how to make the conversion at minimum expense. From understanding a home's big energy wasters and how to contemplate either doing without or doing with less to sizing a system, obtaining permits for installations, and considering the pros and cons of manufacturers, Got Sun? Go Solar is a winning guide: specific where others just generalize.
Complete Guide To Building Your Home For Less
Michael Conroy
Betterway/F&W
4700 E. Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236
1558707697 $19.99 www.amazon.com
Builder and author Michael Conroy has built many a home for only $43 per square foot: half the national average; and his secrets of construction point the way for similar savings for owner/builders in The Complete Guide To Building Your Home For Less. From choosing economical materials and simplifying floor plans to buying undervalued land and learning how to follow building codes, this book is the item of choice for any who would do some of the work themselves and understand where to trim costs without trimming quality.
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Circle Of Life
James David Audlin
Clear Light Publishing
823 Don Diego, Santa Fe, NM 97505
1574160826 $19.95 clearlightbooks.com
Circle Of Life: Traditional Teachings Of Native American Elders is for any who would understand Native sacred teachings, bringing James David Audlin (Distant Eagle)'s lifetime study of oral traditions and ceremonies to general-interest audiences. From songs and ceremonies to visions, healings, and Native methods of worship, Circle Of Life covers spiritual realities, insights on human relationships, and the meanings behind various sacred ceremonies and rituals.
Each chapter of Dianne Sylvan's The Body Sacred (0738707619 $14.95) is a treat: it packs in spells, rituals, myths and meditations for women who want to build better self-images through Wiccan practices, and it provides a survey of six divine female archetypes and themes, linking these to a spiritual survey of the female body's importance. Dianne Sylvan has been a practicing Wiccan for decades: The Body Sacred offers suggestions for exploring different facets, from The Mother to The Healer and The Dancer, with each themed chapter offering an overview, exercises, and admonitions for positive thinking. James Endredy's Ecoshamanism: Sacred Practices Of Unity Power & Earth Healing (0738707422, $19.95) is for any who have wondered what shamanism is. Earth Education is here explained as a spiritual offshoot of environmentalism, and Shamanism blends spiritual perceptions with understanding of nature's cycles and connections between spirituality and the earth. Chapters do more than provide a philosophical and spiritual overview: they include over fifty 'ecoshamanistic' practices from ceremonies to rituals and point the way to a lifestyle which supports these practices.
Goddesses And Angels
Doreen Virtue, Ph.D.
Hay House Inc.
PO Box 5100, Carlsbad, CA 92018-5100
1401904742 $14.95 hayhouse.com
Commune with angels and goddesses, understand fairies, and join author Doreen Virtue as she experiences a Sedona sweat lodge, visits a goddess temple, and journeys around the world in search of the nature and attributes of gods and angels. Her first-person journey will sweep the reader along as it reveals insights and encounters with high priestesses and the sources of women's spiritual roots.
New Page Books
PO Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
www.newpagebooks.com
Take a dose of craft traditions, mix it with a spiritual set of insights into the wellsprings of divine inspiration, and pair it with recipes and crafts geared for celebrations of life and you have a multicultural magic guide which integrates crafts with new age spirituality and well-being. From designing fun clothes for celebrations to creating special gifts for handfastings and blessings, Kristin Madden & Liz Roberts' Magickal Crafts (1564148394 14.99) is something unique in the world of mystic and new age guides, and will appeal to both adults and children with its many projects and details. Eileen Holland's Grimoire Of Magickal Correspondences: A Ritual Handbook (1564148319, $18.99) provides practicing witches, magicians, shamans and Santerians - virtually anyone working in new age spirituality - with one of the finest books of magickal correspondences ever written. Over five hundred topics are arranged alphabetically by intent and range from Zodiac and Yang to speed, invisibility, intelligence and more. References include numbers, plants, sun, medical conditions, ancestral memories and more. Working With Fairies: Magick, Spells, Potions & Recipes To Attract & See Them (1564148246, $13.99) examines fairies from house spirits to the outdoors, guardians to elementals. There are not only meditations and plantings which can attract them; there's etiquette in dealing with them and spells to enable the sight - and Working With Fairies covers them all. These are invaluable practicing guides.
Former hospice chaplain and psychotherapist Dianne Archangel maintains in Afterlife Encounter: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Experiences (1571744363, $15.95) that receiving communication from the dead is a normal and even a common experience, using Afterlife Encounters to prove her point. Her stories come from five years of study of those who have had life-changing visitations from deceased loved ones, and blends these accounts with research linking these visits to healing processes. Gary E. Schwartz, Ph.D. works with William L. Simon in The Truth About Medium (1571744592, $19.95), a survey of the life of medium Allison DuBois, who has been the subject of rigorous scientific experiments conducted at the University of Arizona by Harvard-trained psychologist/author Schwarz. These scientific experiments and results are detailed in The Truth About Medium, going beyond conjecture and speculation to present the author's own scientific probe.
We Publish Books
PO Box 1814, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270
www.WePublishBooks.com
Deserving of ongoing recommendation for any interested in positive life changes is Gisi Stupp's Ancient Feng Shui's Ultimate Secrets For Home And Office (192-9841124 $24.95), a guide which blends feng shui home and office arrangements with insights on systems and personal aspects for maximum well-being. Author Stupp operates Feng Shui services in California: she's been consulting on the topic for years and here offers in-depth blueprints, diagrams, charts as well as theory and insights: everything needed for an applied understanding rather than just overviews. Thomas Lyons' Modern Day Mystic: A Psychic & Spiritual Journey Through A Not Quite Ordinary Life (19-29841140, $23.95) provides a memoir one who has spent his life interacting with psychics, healers, gurus and mediums to understand their views. Host of Psychic & Spirit Radio Show, Thomas Lyons has worked with the best and worst, experienced group chanting and initiations, and provides an insider's set of viewpoints hard to find elsewhere - all couched in the very involving style of a memoir.
A Course In Astral Travel And Dreams
Belzebuub
Absolute Publishing Group
Box 99167, Emeryville, CA 94662-9167
www.absolutepublishinggroup.com
0974056014 $18.95 www.amazon.com
Any who wish to experience the metaphysical experience of astral travel needs A Course In Astral Travel And Dreams: it's a complete program in 'how to', not just a philosophy course, and it provides beginners with all the details needed to know about the Astral plane and how to connect to it and use it. And there's more: a free online course with access to a follow-up website and downloadable mp3 sound files: it doesn't get much more specific than this.
The Business Shelf
Cashing In With Content
David Meerman Scott
CyberAge Books/Information Today
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055
0910965714 $24.95 www.amazon.com
Cashing In With Content: How Innovative Marketers Use Digital Information To Turn Browsers Into Buyers is a solid, example-filled guide to improving one's online sales immediately and turn casual browsers into consumers. The Web is a vastly different world than that of TV - hype loses out to content every time, because consumers have a wide array of choices and price-comparison options literally at their fingertips. So how does one go about improving one's content to the point that consumers will pounce? Cashing In With Content addresses how to deliver great content for business, nonprofit organization, and fundraising websites through interviews with 20 of today's most adaptable and successful marketers. Chapters address how free content can sell subscriptions (as worked for the Wall Street Journal Online), how website content can support a grassroots political movement, basic tips for streamlining the buying process so that online consumers aren't turned away by clumsy, complicated, or error-ridden shopping carts, and much more. A final point-by-point summary of the top practices rounds out this "must-have" web design business guide for the twenty-first century.
Alpha/Penguin
375 Hudson, New York, NY 10014
www.idiotsguides.com
Three outstanding new guides provide job seekers and entrepreneurs with important information. Brian O'Connell's Complete Idiot's Guide To Dream Jobs (1592573-827, $18.95) describes over a hundred occupations not to be found in the usual want ads, from home-based jobs to successful independent concept operators which brings in good money. The pros and cons of each business are surveyed, job duties and typical pay and perks are outlined, and facts and figures which support the job's future expectations revealed. Or, you can narrow it down right away to Susan Gilbert, W. Eric Martin and Linda Formichelli's Complete Idiot's Guide To Starting & Running A Coffee Bar (1952-574068, $16.95) which reveals all the details about what it takes to run a coffee bar. From legal issues and labor laws to tracking sales and developing a marketing strategy, Complete Idiot's Guide To Starting & Running A Coffee Bar is packed with industry-specific tips. Any involved in business need to know how to put together a winning business letter or memo, and Tom Gorman's Complete Idiot's Guide To Business Letters And Memos (1592574246, $21.95) appears in its second updated edition to include a CD ROM along with details on writing more effectively. From formats appropriate for electronic communications to the basics of grammar and producing a press release, Complete Idiot's Guide To Business Letters And Memos is a guide any professional needs on his desk, close at hand.
Wharton School Publishing
1 Lake St., Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458
www.whartonsp.com
Two powerful titles reveal how to profit in hard times. Tony Davila, Marc Epstein and Robert Shelton's Making Innovation Work: How To Manage It, Measure It, And Profit From It (0131497863, $29.99) draws upon the authors' experience as innovation consulting specialists to review the latest research and ideas on how to construct strategies and organizational structures to encourage and manage innovation. From taking innovation ideas and incorporating them into an existing business structure to devising a strategy for encouraging innovation and building networks within and outside the company, chapters provide specific details on how to get the job done. Vijay Mahajan and Kamini Banga's The 86% Solution: How To Succeed In The Biggest Market Opportunity Of The 21st Century (0131589070, $26.99) discusses emerging markets: the key to the future. Emerging nations have many risks and potentials: the solutions for these nations offer a balance between tradition and innovation and are based upon author experiences with these emerging markets. Any company or business manager seeking to understand these markets will find The 86% Solution a key to understanding the new global marketplace's underlying forces and influences.
Dearborn Trade
30 S. Wacker Drive, #2500, Chicago, IL 60606-7481
www.kaplan.com
Grocery retailing is a most competitive world and may groceries fail - but Trader Joe's succeeds, despite the fact it never places items on sale, pays some of the highest wages in the industry, offers employees fine benefits, and avoids advertising. These methods would seem to fly in the face of common grocery strategies: so how do they do it? Supermarket industry journalist Len Lewis traces the success of Trader Joe's In The Trader Joe's Adventure (1419500139, $24.95) from its beginnings 45 years ago to its current image as a grocery with unique products and bargains alike. A 'must' for any who would uncover the rationale and strategies of a different kind of grocer. Mitch Meyerson's Success Secrets Of The Online Marketing Superstars (1419505017, $22.95) offers a wealth of e-commerce strategies geared to those who would stand out in the cluttered websites of today. From driving traffic to your site to writing web copy which invites purchase - and setting up a purchasing system which is secure and easy to use - Success Secrets Of The Online Marketing Superstars covers the biggest mistakes and biggest successes online, teaching users how to rely on strategies already used successfully by online marketers. Very highly recommended.
How To Succeed With Your Own Construction Business
Stephen Diller & Janelle Diller
Craftsman Book Company
6058 Corte del Cedro, Carlsbad CA 92009
www.craftsman-book.com
0934041598 $28.50 1-800-829-8123
Construction industry professionals Stephen Diller and Janelle Diller present How To Succeed With Your Own Construction Business, a no-nonsense, step-by-step walkthrough of the fundamentals of setting up a new construction company and getting to work. Chapters cover the different manners of structuring one's company and the advantages and disadvantages of each; how to get business; how to interact with clients; necessary legal matters; how to estimate with accuracy; finding and keeping good employees; running an efficient office; buying insurance (critically important in this industry!) and much more. Written in no-nonsense, down-to-earth terms, How To Succeed With Your Own Construction Business is a "must-have" for anyone considering an entrepreneurship in construction, and is also packed cover-to-cover with practical advice for aspiring business owners in any field.
Berrett-Koehler
235 Montgomery, #650, San Francisco CA 94104-2916
www.bkconnection.com
Quite often the idea of profit and environmental health work against each other; but if 20 leading organizations as outlined in Pamela J. Gordon's Lean And Green: Profit For Your Workplace And The Environment (1576751708, $24.95) can succeed at both, any business can. Lean And Green shows how these companies succeeded by adopting solid environmental principles which worked economically as well. Over a hundred examples from major companies from Intel to Polaroid discuss various commitments, from recycling and environmental management systems to involving top management on down. Moshe Yudkowsky's The Pebble And The Avalanche: How Taking Things Apart Creates Revolutions (1576752941, $27.95) discusses the dynamic of 'disaggregation', in which changing industries rely on changing established structures and routines for modern advantage. From separating information from its storage medium (as in downloading data from the Web) to breaking up large company structures for better service and more clearly defined products, The Pebble And The Avalanche examines how disaggregation works: the five methods used to take things part, and how this can generate new innovations and business options.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
Essentials of the US Health Care System
Leiyu Shi & Douglas Singh
Jones & Bartlett Publishers
40 Tall Pine Drive, Sudbury, MA 01776
076373151X $51.95 www.jbpub.com
Department of Health Policy Management Professor Leiyu Shi and School of Public and Environmental Affairs Associate Professor Douglas Singh present Essentials of the US Health Care System, a concise and accessible introduction to available US health care. Written as a textbook especially for students considering a profession in the field, yet also accessible to lay readers, Essentials of the US Health Care System includes basic information concerning the effects of modern medical technology, the roles of different providers and professionals in US health care, managed care and health networks, long-term care services, and much more. Graphs, charts, and black-and- white photographs round out this excellent primer of basic terms and concepts; each section features a neatly summarized conclusion and a list of references for more information. Also very highly recommended is the author's previous textbook, Delivering Health Care In America: A Systems Approach.
The Monster At Our Door
Mike Davis
The New Press
38 Greene Street, New York NY 10013
1595580115 $21.95 thenewpress.com
With avian flu so much in the news - and spreading around the world - it's important to run, don't walk, to pick up a copy of The Monster At Our Door: The Global Threat Of Avian Flu to fully understand the threat and why scientists are so concerned. In 1918 the flu killed over 40 million people in three months - now researchers believe avian flu to be on the same magnitude, on the verge of mutating into a pandemic form that can kill two out of three people infected. The Monster At Our Door is a frightening look at not just this latest threat, but the ongoing possibilities of a pandemic flu's effect on the world's population.
What happens to sexual drive after the age of 50? There may be changes, but it doesn't dry up, so read Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer's Dr. Ruth's Sex After 50: Revving Up The Romance, Passion & Excitement! (1884956432, $14.95) to find out what physical and psychological changes actually lend to sex after 50. Sex therapist Westheimer discusses romance and passion as well as these changes, providing a focus on how passion can be retained through the years. There's an epidemic of misdiagnoses today: that's the contention of sally M. Pacholok, RN and Jeffrey J. Stuart, D.O. in Could It Be B12? An Epidemic Of Misdiagnoses (1884956467, $12.95). What makes misdiagnoses so probable is that this vitamin deficiency masquerades itself in so many symptoms: tremors, depression, terrible limb pains, chronic fatigue. It can't be prevented by the usual multivitamin pill - and sometimes even high-dose oral formulas don't work. It's considered a disease of the elderly, but kids can be hit hard too. An eye-opening survey comes form the author and her physician husband's extensive research into the findings of numerous medical centers and universities.
When Your Loved One Has Dementia
Joy A. Glenner, et.al.
Johns Hopkins University Press
2715 North Charles Street, Baltimore MD 21218-4363
www.press.jhu.edu
0801881145 $16.95 1-800-537-5487
Any who care for Alzheimer sufferers or those with other dementias know the challenges involved: eighty percent of people with dementia live at home, and family members often find themselves challenged by unfamiliar demands and new routines. When Your Loved One Has Dementia: A Simple Guide For Caregivers reviews all kinds of challenges, from safety in handling and caring for sufferers and communication challenges to understanding levels of impairment, daily life, and more. An excellent starting point for those with questions.
Haworth Press
10 Alice St, Binghamton, NY 13904-1580
www.haworthpress.com
Four excellent health titles are fine picks for any home or public library collection, promising lasting reference and value. You Don't Look Sick! Living Well With Invisible Chronic Illness (0789024497, $14.95) co-authored by Joy H. Selak and Steven S. Overman, MD outlines a patient's true- life stories and her physician's insights as it covers the three stages of chronic illness: getting sick, being sick, and living well. From finding a doctor you can work with to coping with grief and altered lifestyle, You Don't Look Sick shows you can live well even with chronicle illness. Jack E. Fincham, Ph.D., RPH's Taking Your Medicine: A Guide To Medication Regimens And Compliance For Patients And Caregivers (078902859X, $22.95) offers patients a practical guide to taking medicines, revealing a variety of strategies which help patients follow treatment plans. From understanding how problems result from taking too many medicines simultaneously to choosing a pharmacist as well as a doctor, patients will receive a very basic guide to assessing health care advice as well as assessing drug interactions and routines. M. Sandra Wood's Internet Guide To Cosmetic Surgery For Women (0789010674, $22.95) guides the reader through a range of concerns about cosmetic survey, providing details of web site listings for every body part and strategies for locating specific information on the Web. There are lists of internet addresses and basic sites, discussions of surgery costs and good surgeons, plus statistics and search tips. Elizabeth Connor's Internet Guide To Food Safety And Security (0789026325, $19.95) is also a winning guide to internet research which tells readers how to gain information on a web site's reliability and the quality of its content. From locating vital information on food illness and diseases to specific issues and controversies, Internet Guide To Food Safety And Security is packed with detail on how to produce the best results from web research.
The Money/Finance Shelf
What Goes Up
Eric J. Weiner
Little, Brown
1271 Avenue of Americas, NY, NY 10020
0316929662 $27.95 www.twbg.com
There have been other histories of Wall Street before: so what makes What Goes Up: The Uncensored History Of Modern Wall Street As Told By The Bankers, Brokers, CEOs And Scoundrels Who Made It Happen so special from the others? The title says it all: this is not just a third-party analysis of history but a set of insider's observations by those who made Wall Street the center of the financial world. Financial journalist Weiner provides insights based on not just a few, but hundreds of interviews with all levels of Wall Street insider from Warren Buffett to Alan Greenspan: the result is an excellent overview other coverages barely touch.
The Musicbook Shelf
The Musical Order Of The World
Siglind Bruhn
Pendragon Press
PO Box 190, Hillsdale, NY 12529
www.pendragonpress.com
1576471179 $36.00 1-518-325-6100
Musicologist, concert pianist, and interdisciplinary scholar Siglind Bruhn presents The Musical Order Of The World: Kepler, Hesse, Hindemith, a contemplative discussion of the connections between music study, world cultures, and cosmology, particularly as researched by great scientific minds. Covering topics from "Music's Moral Power in Ancient China and Hesse's Castalia" to "The Eternal Realm of Numerical Relations", to an extremely close reading of Kepler's poetry concerning the meaning of death. The Musical Order Of The World is a thoughtful and perfectly attuned blend of advanced music study, ground-breaking scholarship, and metaphysical awareness.
Kent State University Press
PO Box 5190, Kent, OH 44242-0001
www.kentstateuniversitypress.com
Nine key immigrant groups from Irish and Eastern Europeans to Chinese and Mexicans responded to their new lives in America through music, expressing the sorrow of leaving homeland and loved ones and the troubles experienced in fitting into a new society. Historian Victor Greene's A Singing Ambivalence: American Immigrants Between Old World And New, 1830-1930 (0873387945, $39.00) surveys the music associated with these immigrants, drawing important connections between themes, immigrant group concerns, and how immigrants expressed themselves. From common sentiments to differing musical approaches, A Singing Ambivalence holds college-level information and insights suitable not just for music libraries, but for collections strong in immigrant issues and American history. John Vacha's The Music Went 'Round And Around: The Story Of Musicarnival (0873387988, $16.00) tells of the Musicarnival located in a Cleveland suburb where one John Price Jr. decided to open a unique summer theater. His venture was one of the last commercially legitimate theaters in Cleveland and had a capacity of 2,500, presenting eight to ten shows each summer. From his successful seasons and resident people to his involvement in packaged productions and his strong following, the story of Musicarnival comes to life in a vivid recollection.
Workin' Man Blues
Gerald Haslam, et al.
Great Valley Books/Heyday Books
PO Box 9145, Berkeley, CA 94709
1597140171 $21.95 heydaybooks.com
Think of country music and you think of the South automatically - but California too has been the source of many a notable country music artists, and here's Workin' Man Blues: Country Music In California by Gerald Haslam with the assistance of Alexandra Haslam Russell and Richard Chonto celebrates and highlights that fact. Chapters cover a range of artists who contributed to the genre, from early immigrants to California to later stars. Bob Wills, Gene Autry, Buck Owens and Dwight Yoakam: the lives of each famous contributor to the genre is linked with California musical history as a whole, creating a vivid interplay between musical history and biography. Outstanding.
Billboard Book Of Top 40 R&B And Hip-Hop Hits
Joel Whitburn
Billboard Books/Waston-Guptill
770 Broadway, New York NY 10003
0823082830 $27.95 www.wgpub.com
Any avid follower of R&B and hip-hop hits will have to make Billboard Book Of Top 40 R&B And Hip-Hop Hitsa part of their collection: it does far more than detail hit charts; it provides artist and song title for quick reference, extensive biographies of artists and groups, lists of record holders, and more. Author Joel Whitburn's company Record Research has compiled extensive references to music based on Billboard charts: Billboard Book Of Top 40 R&B And Hip-Hop Hits is one of the best of his works, packing in a wealth of information. A 'must' for any serious follower of the genre.
Brazilian Music
Larry Cook
ABC-CLIO
Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
1576072878 $60.00 www.abc-clio.com
Any with more than a casual interest in Brazilian music history simply must look at this top ethnomusicology study Brazilian Music: Northeastern Traditions And The Heartbeat Of A Modern Nation: it provides college-level audiences with a survey of the unique regional musical traditions of Brazil, covers its early influences and the mix of peoples who have contributed to changes in the genre, and shows how Brazilian popular music rooted in rural traditions flourished throughout the country. The author's own observations and perceptions of Brazilian music and dance permeate his studies of the region and provide a personal touch to a scholarly, college-level analysis.
The Hunting/Fishing Shelf
Gun Digest Books
c/o F&W Publications, Inc.
700 East State St, Iola, WI 54990
1-800-726-9966 fwpublications.com
Two exceptional gun guides are picks for hunters as well as sharpshooters, providing the basics for reference. Rick Sapp's Reloading For Shotgunners, 5th Edition (0873498135, $24.99) provides an updated fifth edition to include data for lead and non-toxic shot, and from .410 bore to 10-gauge magnums. What differentiates Reloading For Shotgunners from any other is its expanded coverage: virtually anything that can be fired in a shotgun is covered, with charts including notes on powder type, wads, maximum pressure and special load notes. With its numerous black and white photos and gauge-specific charts, Reloading For Shotgunners is a 'must' for both novices and advanced shooters. Massad Ayoob's Beretta Pistols (0873499980, $27.99) is also a winning reference, detailing the Beretta's performance, function, and specs in chapters which cover precision marksmanship, differences between Beretta types and also between Berettas and other guns, and tips on loading, reloading, and firing. Both are recommended as basic references which should be made a part of any serious gunman's collection.
Whitetail Wisdom
Daniel E. Schmidt
KP Books
700 E. State Street, Iola, WI 54990-0001
www.krause.com
0873499468 $19.99 1-800-258-0929
The busy deer hunter seldom has time to read all the books on the market providing tips on deer hunting strategy: but if only one book were recommended, make it the '12-Step program' of Whitetail Wisdom: A Proven 12-Step Guide To Scouting Less And Hunting More. From insights on how to fool mature bucks to assessing modern hunting gear and using the bow and rifle to better advantage, deer hunters will find Whitetail Wisdom a 'must' for improving their odds.
The Biography Shelf
The Miller Beer Barons
Tim John
Badger Books
PO Box 192, Oregon, WI 53575
1932542167 $19.95 badgerbooks.com
The Miller Beer Barons: The Frederick J. Miller Family And Its Brewery is the true and fascinating story of the Miller family, which started and ran the Miller Brewing Company for over one hundred years. Stretching from late 1800's Germany, when Mr. Miller brewed his first beer, to 1970, when Harry G. John Jr.'s sale of Miller stock was the end of the family's involvement with the company, The Miller Beer Barons is a trans-generational tour of wealth, power, and their sometimes rocky transitions. An inset section of black-and-white photographic plates nicely rounds out this exhaustively researched, meticulously detailed, highly recommended family biography.
Prince Of The City
Robert Daley
Moyer Bell
549 Old North Road, Kingston, RI 02881
1559213809 $12.95 www.amazon.com
Prince Of The City: The True Story Of A Cop Who Knew Too Much is the dramatic true story of Detective Robert Leuci, a deep cover sleuth who assembled corruption cases against lawyers, bail bondsmen, mob figures, and even some of his own, putting his own life in peril for the sake of law and justice. Written in the style of a novel, Prince Of The City offers an unflinchingly honest portrait of the rigors of policework, the toll it can take, and the horrors it encounters all too often. An introduction by Rudolph Giuliani rounds out this mesmerizing chronicle of courage and duty.
The Velvet Lounge
Gerald Majer
Columbia University Press
61 West 62nd Street, NY, NY 10023-7015
www.columbiaedu/cu/cup
023113682X $27.50 1-800-944-8648
The Velvet Lounge: On Late Chicago Jazz is a memoir of author and English professor Gerald Majer's experience growing up in sixties and seventies Chicago, amid troubled inner city neighborhoods and jazz-club oases of lightning-beat sound. Contemplating both jazz itself and issues of identity, culture, art, race, and politics, The Velvet Lounge captures both a wistful look at the big picture and vibrant memories of star music players such as Jimmy Smith, Gene Ammons, Sonny Stitt, Sun Ra, and more. A deeply moving memoir in tune with the rhythms of music itself and its influence on society.
Greenwood Press
PO Box 5007, Westport CT 06881-5007
1-800-225-5800 www.greenwood.com
Greenwood Press has a very strong sports-oriented publishing program which is particularly ideal for academic and community library collections. With all the action tennis sisters Venus and Serena Williams have brought to the sport, it's near certain Jacqueline Edmonson's Venus And Serena Williams: A Biography (0313331650, $29.95) will bring added attention and a ready audience. The life stories of the tennis pro sisters is shared in chapters which cover their stories and associated topics of gender and race. An excellent addition to Greenwood's biography series. David L. Porter edits Basketball: A Biographical Dictionary (0313309523, $89.95) covering a history of the sport from its beginnings at the turn of the 20th century to its current popularity. Almost six hundred entries in this A-Z dictionary present narratives on the lives and careers of important names in the sport, from coaches and players to others. Students who want a quick reference Basketball: A Biographical Dictionary packed with detail.
John Haygarth, FRS
Christopher Booth
American Philosophical Society
104 South Fifth Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106-3387
0871692546 $60.00 amphilsoc.org
Physician and historian Christopher Booth presents John Haygarth, FRS: A Physician of the Enlightenment (1740- 1827), a meticulous biography of an educated man from Yorkshire whose idea for introducing separate wards in the Chester Infirmary for patients with fever became the stimulus for the development of fever hospitals in nineteenth century England. His writings on medical and financial matters were highly influential, and he played a key role in founding the Bath Provident Institution for Savings, a model for the savings-bank movement in England. His distinguished life and contributions to history, and his efforts to help elevate hospitals into a place for the sick to turn to in times of need rather than a death-trap to be shunned and feared speak for themselves. A meticulously researched accounting of a remarkable man's groundbreaking life.
Always Someone To Kill The Doves
F. T. Flahiff
NeWest Press
#201, 8540-109 Street, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 1E6
www.newestpress.com
1896300839 $28.95 1-800-805-1083
Always Someone To Kill The Doves: A Life Of Sheila Watson is a keenly written biography, peppered with diary excerpts by a remarkable woman. Written in Paris in 1955-56, the entries portray a woman of the era, affected by her troubled marriage, genius intelligence, and the moral weight of her Catholic upbringing. A serious-minded account by F. T. Flahiff, who knew Watson personally and placed her in the highest regard, Always Someone To Kill The Doves was written expressly to honor Watson's wish from late in her life: "I want my story told." Her courage and intellect distinguish her, rendering her worthy of the author's decision to "assume rather than argue for her importance". A captivating look into the mind and experiences of a resilient human being.
The Jobs/Careers Shelf
6 Habits Of Highly Effective Bosses
Stephen Kohn & Vincent O'Connell
Career Press
PO Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
1564148327 $14.99 careerpress.com
Why do people work hard for one boss and want to quit on another? Quite often it's the boss' management style which is the problem - that, and different habits which may actually work against productivity. There are six habits of human relations which the authors have identified as habits used by bosses everyone admires. Models of exceptional supervisory skills are presented for any interested in honing better leadership skills.
How To Kill The Job Culture Before It Kills You
Claire Wolfe
Loompanics Unlimited
PO Box 1197, Pt. Townsend, WA 98368
1559502479 $12.95 loompanics.com
There were two goals involved in the production of How To Kill The Job Culture Before It Kills You: Living A Life Of Autonomy In A Wage-Slave Society: to help workers escape the 'wage-slave job culture' we've created, and to question its existence and how it could be changed. It's not normal to separate work from home, family and community and to adhere to rigid schedules which take away from all three purposes, Wolfe maintains: from the free-market case against jobs to revising work style options, How To Kill The Job Culture offers plenty of alternatives.
Adams Media
57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322
www.adamsmedia.com
Women have unique strengths in leading startups - because they run their businesses differently than men, trusting intuition and putting more emphasis on life balance. Author Elizabeth Cogswell Baskin should know - she's a successful entrepreneur herself, and in How To Run Your Business Like A Girl (1593374550 $14.95) she imparts all the basics of what it means to run a start-up company; from understanding requirements of the job to considering a partnership and being a boss without being hated. Martin Yate's Knock 'em Dead 2006: The Ultimate Job-seeker's Guide (1593374526, $14.95) comes from 20 years experience as a job counselor. Yate helps seekers locate better jobs and also provides a game plan for maintaining employability in the workplace, from skills levels to networking contacts. Tactics for both accompany discussions of the effectiveness of different strategies, from using online job sources to acing an interview.
The Hip Girl's Handbook For The Working World
Jennifer Musselman with Patty Fletcher
Wildcat Canyon Press
c/o Council Oak Books Ltd.
2105 E. 15th St, Suite B, Tulsa, OK 74104
www.counciloakbooks.com
1885171846 $14.95 1-800-247-8850
The Hip Girl's Handbook For The Working World is a guide for women who are new to the workforce, just got laid off, or who are looking to jump-start their career. Chapters offer practical tips for putting one's best foot forward when interviewing for a job, negotiating a fair deal, dealing with real-world situations of etiquette or relationships in the workplace, and how to make a graceful exit should one have to leave a job by choice or force. Though carefully researched, The Hip Girl's Handbook for the Working World focuses on practical advice rather than drowning the reader in statistics, and humorous anecdotes add an extra bit of mirth to the beginning of each chapter. Highly recommended.
Two excellent guides are recommended picks for business and public library holdings alike, promising lasting reference value. Charlotte and Laura Shelton's The Next Revolution: What Gen X Women Want At Work And How Their Boomer Bosses Can Help Them Get It (0891-062009, $24.95) tells of the latest group of young female workers and why they feel disillusioned with the workplace, caught between a 'go for it' ideal and the realities of the modern corporate establishment. The Sheltons surveyed over a thousand of these women and interviewed others about their work experiences: these interviews blend with insights about the differing views of two generations to show how it affects the workplace - and what can be done to prevent the migration of talent. Dick Richards' Is Your Genius At Work? 4 Key Questions To Ask Before Your Next Career Move (0891061940, $18.95) uses stories of those who have found their genius to blend with philosophical and spiritual ideas to indicate career pathways which work. From locating one's ideal image of genius and honing in on methods to enhance it to locating work which furthers genius and personal satisfaction, Is Your Genius At Work links enlightenment and personal satisfaction with career goals.
Music Business Handbook And Career Guide
David Baskerville, Ph.D.
Sage Publications
2455 Teller Rd, Thousand Oaks CA 91320
1412904382 $64.95 www.sagepub.com
The new updated edition of Music Business Handbook And Career Guide provides the latest insights into the industry, which is going through extensive changes. For one, digital downloads and piracy are changing how music itself is available to the public. Online music, iPods, and other computer-based changes are transforming not only how the industry does business, but how it presents products and sells them. Sections on careers include all kinds of options, from managing artists to producing concerts, producing motion picture and TV scores, and more. A focus on all kinds of interactions between artist and producer, record company executive to band, makes Music Business Handbook And Career Guide one of the most comprehensive music business books on the market.
The World History Shelf
An Abundance Of Witches
P. G. Maxwell-Stuart
Tempus/Trafalgar Square Publishing
PO Box 257, Howe Hill Road, North Pomfret, VT 05053-0257
www.trafalgarsquarebooks.com
0752433296 $30.00 1-800-423-4525
An Abundance Of Witches: The Great Scottish Witch-Hunt is a detailed history of witch-hunting and persecution in Scotland from approximately 1658-1662, an era generally thought to be the high point of a turbulent history of violence and hatred for accused witches. The turmoil of political history, Scotland's previous time as an English province, and the revived fervor of Calvinist religion in the Scottish Church accentuated the internal conflict. An Abundance Of Witches does not shy from sometimes horrifying details, including calculated tallies of men and women strangled or burned alive at the stake, fees paid to those involved in hunting, capturing, and executing witches; materials, components, and implements of torture used for such purposes, a search for the psychological motivations behind the slaughter, and more. An excellent and scholarly contribution to Scottish and European history shelves.
The Sports Shelf
Baseball In 1889
Daniel M. Pearson
Popular Press
University of Chicago Press (dist.)
1427 East 60th Street, Chicago, IL 60637
www.uchicago.edu
0879726199 $21.95 1-800-621-2736
Baseball In 1889: Players Vs. Owners is the absorbing true story of baseball in general and the New York Giants in particular in the late 1800's, as the popularity of the sport began to take off and politicians, team owners, athletes and others vied for control over nascent leagues' power and the immense profits to be made from fans. As the stakes grew ever higher and disgruntled athletes complained about their treatment, the season became, as one sportswriter put it, something close to a Lobster-Frankenstein nightmare! Vivaciously written, Baseball In 1889 offers clean and convincing historical proof that sports feuds over money are not a recent sour development, but quite literally an intrinsic part of American history. Highly recommended.
Quiet Water Maine
Alex Wilson & John Hayes
Appalachian Mountain Club Books
5 Joy Street, Boston, MA 02108
www.outdoors.org
1929173652 $18.95 1-800-262-4455
Now in a completely revised second edition, Quiet Water Maine: Canoe & Kayak Guide identifies more than 100 ponds, lakes, and rivers in Maine that are particularly suitable for canoeing and kayaking. Each suggested trip includes directions, parking, and launch information; tour descriptions with estimates of time, distance and difficulty; notes of flora and fauna to be seen in the area; and more. Written for paddlers of all skill levels from beginner to experienced, as well as for birdwatchers, anglers, and families with children, Quiet Water Maine is enthusiastically recommended both for its attention to detail and its enthusiasm for nature.
Bold Ruler
Edward L. Bowen
Blood-Horse/Eclipse Press
National Book Network, distributor
4501 Forbes Boulevard, #200, Lanham, MD 20706
1581501307 $24.95 www.amazon.com
The horse Bold Ruler was a star of the 1950s: one of the best of a generation of racehorses who participated in the memorable 1957 Triple Crown season. His story is recounted in a vivid memoir which follows the sport of horse racing overall, revealing Bold Ruler's championship runs and riders. With black and white photos adding excitement, Bold Ruler is a thoroughbred legend account which reads with all the drama of fiction and is a highly recommended pick for any horse racing fan.
Beyond The Lion's Den
Ken Shamrock & Erich Krauss
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
www.tuttlepublishing.com
0804836590 $29.95 www.amazon.com
Ken Shamrock is a legendary martial artist and fighting champion best known perhaps for his WWF superstar fame: there's no better place to learn about his competitions and the stories behind them than in his autobiographical Beyond The Lion's Den: The Life, The Fights, The Techniques. Packed with color photos throughout, Beyond The Lion's Den captures not just the high points of Shamrock's career, but provides plenty of movement-by-movement discussions of basic fighting techniques which lend to martial arts lessons.
Bodie: Go Fast, Be Good, Have Fun
Bode Miller & Jack McEnany
Villard Books
1745 Broadway, 17th fl, NY, NY 10019
www.villard.com
1400062357 $24.95 1-800-726-0600
2005 overall world cup champion Bodie Miller was raised in New Hampshire in a rural cabin without electricity or indoor plumbing, so his roots are as unconventional as his rise to become a top sports star. Go Fast, Be Good, Have Fun is an autobiography which recounts his philosophy in life as much as his sports experience: he tells of the world of competitive skiing and how he bucked conventional wisdom to rise to the top, and his personal theories shine brightly throughout. Go Fast, Be Good, Have Fun is packed with first-person 'you are there' adventure and insights: paired with Miller's personal formula for success, it's as much a winner as he is.
Crashing The Borders
Harvey Araton
The Free Press
1230 Avenue of Americas, New York, NY 10020
0743280695 $25.00 simonsays.com
Basketball fans will find a vibrant and unusual story in Crashing The Borders: How Basketball Won The World And Lost Its Soul At Home: it tells how talented players from around the world are playing at a level which challenges American pros, and how the sport is simultaneously facing a troubled image on its own home turf. Relations between players and fans are at a low point, TV ratings for NBA games are on the decline, and basketball fan Harvey Araton, sports columnist for the New York Times, here traces the problem to the greed of those who would exploit the game and thus weaken it. Fans will find this a hard-hitting account that pulls no punches.
The Gardening Shelf
Wild Gardens
c/o 411 Video Information
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
DVD $19.95 www.411videoinfo.com
Wild Gardens: Anza-borrego Desert Part One is an incomparable tour of the natural beauty of California's Sonoran Desert wildflowers. Breathtaking close-ups of individual wildflowers and panoramic views of the sky and the mountains, combined with gentle descriptive narration and symphonic music, makes Wild Gardens a delight for the senses and a joy for nature enthusiasts. A wonderful opportunity to luxuriate in the beauty of nature, Wild Gardens is especially recommended for wildflower and natural scenery enthusiasts. 24 minutes, color.
Irises: A Gardener's Encyclopedia
Clarie Austin
Timber Press
133 SW Second Avenue, Suite 450, Portland, OR 97204-3527
www.timberpress.com
0881927309 $49.95 1-800-327-5680
Claire Austin is a nationally renowned, award winning expert with respect to growing irises and perennials. Irises: A Gardener's Encyclopedia is an enthusiastically recommended 339 page compendium of what she knows about selecting and growing irises. Enhanced with more than 1100 spectacular full color photographs, aspiring gardeners are provided with thoroughly accessible and applicable cultivation advice, information about the breeding history of the iris, ideas for using irises with other plants in the garden, and an ideal horticultural reference for growing the iris in a wide variety of climate zones including hot and dry, temperate, and even cold northern climates. Also highly recommended for horticultural and gardening reference collections is Michael King's Gardening With Tulips (0881927749, $29.95) from Timber Press. Michael King is for the cultivation of tulips what Claire Austin is for the cultivation of the iris.
Sonoran Desert Plants
Raymond M. Turner, et.al.
University of Arizona Press
355 S. Euclid, #103, Tucson, AZ 85719
0816525196 $39.95 uapress.arizona.edu
The Sonoran Desert is a unique ecosystem with fragile and unusual plants: that's why any college-level collection specializing in botany will want to include Sonoran Desert Plants: An Ecological Atlas in their collection. The atlas packs in details on the taxonomy, distribution and ecology of over three hundred plants from trees to succulents, and represents over three decades of compilation. Graphs, charts, maps, and black and white photos accompany the botanical details. A specialty item? You bet - but invaluable for the right reference collection.
The Leadership Shelf
Fit In Stand Out
Blythe McGarvie
McGraw-Hill
2 Penn Plaza, New York NY 10121-2298
www.books.mcgraw-hill.com
0071460799 $21.95 1-877-833-5524
There are important connections between success, business ethics, and financial strengths: connections illustrated in Fit In Stand Out: Mastering The Fiso Factor. Author Blythe McGarvie is a leadership expert who has taught effectiveness for many years: during the course of her teachings she discovered a basic lesson: in order to be a successful leader you must both fit in and stand out. The two are not opposites necessarily, as chapters here demonstrate: McGarvie reveals a FISO Factor program which helps business professionals learn how to achieve both.
The Art Shelf
Cork Silver And Gold
John R. Bowden & Conor O'Brien
Collins Press/Dufour Editions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
www.dufoureditions.com
190346496X $56.95 1-800-869-5677
Cork Silver And Gold: Four Centuries Of Craftsmanship was published to coincide with the exhibition in the Crawford Gallery Cork, but stands alone as well as the first to detail the work of Cork silversmiths and goldsmiths, and will appeal to specialty art collections. Both public and private holdings were culled for this feature: what results is a display which will serve as both a history and a reference to any dedicated jewelry student studying Cork craftsmanship.
Antlers
Dennis Walrod
Stackpole Books
5067 Ritter Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055-6921
www.stackpolebooks.com
0811732290 $16.95 1-800-732-3669
Collectors pay top dollar for antlers, and mounting techniques for these trophies have come a long way in the last ten years. To learn the latest facts, from where to buy to how to mount antlers and use them in shop or home, make Antlers: A Guide To Collecting, Scoring, Mounting And Carving a part of your collection: it covers everything necessary to measuring, scoring, mounting, collecting and carving antlers, and comes from a New York outdoorsman who's written for dozens of hunting and outdoor publications. An outstanding reference.
The Architecture Shelf
Manhattan Skyscrapers
Eric P. Nash
Princeton Architectural Press
37 East 7th Street, New York NY 10003
1568985452 $45.00 www.papress.com
The city of New York hosts some of the most memorable skyscrapers in the world: for those unable to personally visit, Manhattan Skyscrapers provides a newly revised, expanded edition to present over eighty of the best of Manhattan's skyscrapers. Though full-page color portraits of each are packed into each feature, equally striking is the blend of historical background, architectural insight and details Nash provides in each accompanying description. A 'then and now' feel is created by the color contemporary photo facing a page of vintage or black and white illustration. Highly recommended for any fan of Manhattan or urban architectural style.
The Self-Help Shelf
The Intuitive Way
Penney Peirce
Council Oak Books Ltd.
2105 East 15th St, #B, Tulsa, OK 74104
www.counciloakbooks.com
1571781609 $16.95 1-800-247-8850
Now in a new expanded edition, The Intuitive Way: The Definitive Guide To Increasing Your Awareness is a straightforward guide to tapping into one's inner knowledge. In the Information Age, where every avenue is packed with more knowledge than any one human being could possibly learn, being able to stay aligned with one's inner wisdom is more critical than ever to survive amid environmental demands of lightning-fast reaction and judgment. Chapters address how to unlock the secrets of one's subconscious mind, become aware of the invisible, harness the power of dreams and imagination, apply the power of intuition to everyday life, and much more. A valuable and insightful self-help resource, especially for those who put too little faith in their own natural wisdom.
Strength In The Storm
Eknath Easwaran
Nilgiri Press
PO Box 256, Tomales, Ca 94971
1586380176 $14.00 nilgiripress.org
We can't control what life gives us; we can only control our own responses to it: that's the message of Strength In The Storm: Creating Calm In Difficult Times, a survey of lessons which can be learned from children, crisis, and even eating. Reflections on life and handling crisis rely on Buddha's teachings to provide wisdom and philosophical and spiritual strength. Strength In The Storm is highly recommended and personally rewarding reading.
The Needlecraft Shelf
So Simple Crochet
Melody Griffiths
Creative Homeowner
24 Park Way, Upper Saddle River, NJ 07458
www.creativehomeowner.com
1580112765 $19.95 www.amazon.com
So Simple Crochet presents 24 fun, fashionable, and easy-to-do designs for novice to intermediate crocheters. Projects are divided into four categories: "Classic", such as the denim duffle coat; "Weekend", such as the chunky blue beret, "Casual", such as the shimmery tank top, and "Glamorous", such as the beaded evening scarf. An extensive introductory section walks beginners through basic techniques, from how to read stitch diagrams to making a slip knot or chain stitch to grouping stitches and more. Full color photography and step-by-step instructions make So Simple Crochet an ideal hands-on project guide for needlecrafters interested in creating holiday gifts with a personal touch.
Fons & Porter Presents Quilts From The Henry Ford
Mariane Fons & Liz Porter
Landauer Corporation
12251 Maffitt Road, Cumming, IA 50061
www.landauercorp.com
1890621919 $27.95 1-800-557-2144
Fons & Porter Presents Quilts From The Henry Ford showcases 208 pages of history, stories and the artistry of original quilts that directly reflect the ingenuity, resourcefulness and innovation of some of the best American quilt makers ever to practice this domestic needlecraft art. Enhanced with a time line, Fons & Porter Presents Quilts From The Henry Ford features projects which were inspired by the antique quilts archived in The Henry Ford and including "user friendly" instructions and full-size patterns for making replicas of these beautiful, historic, functional quilts. There's even a special section devoted to the impressive quilt collection of Susan McCord, an internationally renowned 19th century quilter. No personal, professional, academic, or community library quilting history reference collection can be considered comprehensive or complete without the inclusion of Fons & Porter Presents Quilts From The Henry Ford!
Knitting Yarns And Spinning Tales
Kari Cornell, Ed.
Voyageur Press
123 N. 2nd Street, Stillwater, MN 55082
0896587258 $16.95 voyageurpress.com
Universal experiences of knitters from a range of backgrounds are provided in twenty-three short essays and stories about knitted items, knitting, and crocheting. Here's a blend of philosophy and insights from knitting ranging from a woman who found solace in knitting after a miscarriage to sheep shearing reflections. Knitting Yarns And Spinning Tales is a lovely, literary collection which will make the perfect gift for that 'knitter who has everything'.
Martingale & Company
20205 - 144th Avenue NE, Woodinville, WA 98072-8478
www.martingale-pub.com
Some of the best quilting guides come from Martingale, which produces a healthy assembly of new titles almost monthly: these are top recommended picks from their latest and finest. Nancy J. Martin's A Treasury Of Scrap Quilts (1564-776034, $27.95) demonstrates the author's technique of using scraps in quilts: a passion which has spanned 30 years and is still growing. Martin tells how she built her 'stash' of scraps for the quilts, and then incorporated them into quilts: eighteen patterns range from traditional to new ideas and all come with her tips for using leftover fabrics to best advantage. Jean Van Bockel's Polka-Dot Kids' Quilts (15-64776344, $24.95) shows how to sew twelve full-size quilts plus a handful of 'mini' projects for pillows or dolls, and is packed with lovely, fun designs from animals to circus themes. Materials, cutting and assembly instructions assume no prior quilting background and come packed with color illustration and easy step-by-step instructions. All are outstanding picks. Sharon Pederson's Sensational Sashiko: Japanese Applique And Quilting By Machine (1564776085, $27.95) uses 12 sample projects to explore two traditions - sashiko and Japanese family crests. Here are not just patterns and ideas but the author's own new techniques for making perfectly spaced stitches suitable for quick sashiko-style quilts. Applique and quilting blend with machine stitches for quick and polished results, while projects address problems such as binding and how to solve them with reversible binding, and couching heavyweight threads. Naje Snakk quilts with the sophistication of multi-dimensional designs with Sharon K. Baker's Fabulous Flowers: Mini-quilts In Dimensional Applique (1564776107, $24.95): it shows how to create both simple and elaborate applique flowers, then blend them into a quilt project for maximum effect. Twenty featured projects highlight eighteen flowers and show how to blend in yarns and beads for best results, while quilters are provided with basics and then encouraged to create their own flower designs. From folds and tucks to special tricks for creating dimensional results, Fabulous Flowers will appeal to a variety of crafts beyond quilters.
C&T Publishing
PO Box 1456, Lafayette, CA 94549
www.ctpub.com
Quilters are always searching for new project ideas, and three from C&T provide inspiration and new patterns and projects perfect for those with some quilting background who want more interesting projects. Judy Mathieson's Mariner's Compass Quilts: Setting A New Course (1571203001, $26.95) provides new patterns and projects for an old style, using two large projects as examples to encourage individual projects. There are thirteen full-size patterns here, and new circles and rings for backgrounds and results. Color photos pack pages demonstrating each process. Becky Goldsmith & Linda Jenkins' The New Applique Sampler: Learn To Applique The Piece O' Cake Way (157120265X, $26.95) offers step-by-step instructions for both right- and left-handed stitchers which reveal the basics of applique and fabric combinations. Beginners will find this the perfect starting place for learning the basics of applique. Norah McMeeking's Bella Bella Quilts: Stunning Designs From Italian Mosaics (157-1203044, $26.95) provides quilt designs based on the Italian Renaissance, using familiar quilting shapes in new combinations and patterns to create quite a different look. There are eight sample projects in different sizes which also advise on how to create variations on themes, plus full-sized paper- piecing patterns. These are lovely quilts and fine additions to any quilter's library.
XRX Books
Box 1525, Sioux Falls, SD 57101-1525
www.knittinguniverse.com
These gorgeous knitter's guides are top picks for any who would consult bright, oversized titles with plenty of color and creativity. Ginger Luters' Module Magic: Creative Projects To Knit One Block At A Time (1893762165, $19.95) uses the concept of knitted 'modules' to create geometrically pleasing designs. From mitered squares to patchwork and stained glass, MODULE MAGIC is packed with fun ideas. Sally Melville's The Knitting Experience; The Knit Stitch (1893762130, $19.95) provides a learn-to-knit book which offers over twenty projects which build on knitting skills, so even advanced knitters can learn something new and enjoy new projects. Alexis Xenakis provides lovely photos of both modeled, finished projects and step-by-step knitting directions to compliment measurements and patterns, while sidebars of information include skills levels, supplies, and details on how to correct common mistakes. Elaine Rawley edits Socks Socks Socks (0964-639157, $19.95), a lovely survey of 70 patterns gleaned from around the world, from Iceland to New Zealand. The international focus, as well as contributions of projects by all skills levels of knitters, makes for a wonderfully diverse collection packed with color photos, patterns, and easy instructions. Maggie Jackson's Maggie's Ireland: Designer Knits On Location (1893762181, $37.95) brings a fashion designer's eye to hand knitted projects, along with an Irish flair - but lest you expect complex projects and patterns, take note: Maggie's Ireland will appeal to all levels, most using simple stitches which blend traditional Irish yarns with new techniques and bits of exotic fiber for embellishment. Full-page color photo spreads model on people and against backgrounds while instructions assume basic knowledge of knitting and directions. A lovely, appealing set of projects knitters will relish.
American Quilter's Society
PO Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
www.AmericanQuilter.com
Two new and excellent themed quilter's guides offer different patterns and ideas for any with an affection for travel-inspired productions. J. Michelle Watts' Quilts Of The Southwest (1574328891, $21.95) provides a dozen quilt, wallhanging and table runner patterns in a fine set of diverse styles and projects. Bright colors, Native American-inspired patterns, and Southwest themes capture the spirit of the region in quilt designs which are unique - and easily reproduced with rotary cutting or machine piecing. Kimberly Einma's Quilt A Travel Souvenir (1574328-921, $22.95) uses different assembly methods and ideas to produce vibrant quilt patterns inspired by the author's European travels. From photos incorporated into quilts to Parisian Pinwheels and reflections on Market Day, these themes are unusual and lovely. Both offer strong ideas for quilters who want to move beyond the basic block patterns.
The Cookbook Shelf
Gold Rush Grub
Ann Chandonnet
University of Alaska Press
PO Box 756240, 104 Eielson Building, Salcha Street, Fairbanks, AK 99775-6240
www.uaf.edu/uapress
1889963712 $34.95 1-888-252-6657
Gold Rush Grub: From Turpentine Stew To Hoochinoo is not just a vintage-themed cookbook, but also an in-depth examination of culinary life on the frontier, especially among prospectors. Time-tested recipes of wild foods, or foods that stored well even in inclement conditions, formed the basis of many a prospector's diet; Gold Rush Grub reveals how to recreate the recipes of yesteryear with step-by-step, easy-to-follow instructions. Vintage photography of former prospectors and an amazing tour through history complete Gold Rush Grub, an authentic glimpse into the harsh life and culinary accomplishments of the old gold rush era.
Cooking With Coconut Flour
Bruce Fife, N.D.
Piccadilly Books, Ltd.
Box 25203, Colorado Springs, CO 80936
0941599639 $14.95 piccadillybooks.com
Cooking With Coconut Flour: A Delicious Low-Carb, Gluten-Free Alternative To Wheat is an excellent cookbook and practical guide to creating breads, cakes, frosting, breading for fried foods and much more using coconut flour. Coconut flour is regarded as hypoallergenic because so few people are allergic to it, unlike wheat, dairy, and even soy flour. Coconut flower is also ideal for heart health because it contains a type of fiber that reduces cholesterol levels, and is a good food for diabetics and others who must watch their blood sugar because it has a low glycemic index. The beginning of Cooking With Coconut Flour offers general tips and suggestions, followed by a multitude of recipes for coconut-flour pancakes, Cheese Muffins, Strawberry Chiffon Pie, Spaghetti with Meatballs, Chicken and Dumpling Casserole, Hawaiian Nut Bread, and so much more. Cooking With Coconut Flour is a highly recommended and easy-to-use cookbook packed from cover to cover with healthy, taste-tested recipes.
Ciao Sicily
Damian Mandola & Johnny Carrabba
Bright Sky Press
PO Box 416, Albany, TX 76430
1931721262 $24.95 brightskypress.com
Ciao Sicily: Recipes from the PBS Series "Cucina Sicilia" is a gorgeous, coffee-table sized cookbook of stunning Sicilian cuisine as prepared by restaurant and PBS Series legends Damian Mandola and Johnny Carrabba, in the manner of their relatives both generations past and living in Italy today. Illustrated throughout with full-color photography, Ciao Sicily includes such mouth-watering dishes as Marinated Zucchini, Grilled Pork Tenderloin, Stuffed Calamari, Watermelon Pudding, and so much more. Supplementary sections walk beginning cooks through the basics and techniques of the Sicilian kitchen and the contents of a Sicilian pantry, while an index allows for quick and easy reference. Ciao Sicily is a superb, gourmet quality addition to regional and ethnic cooking shelves.
The Perfect Egg And Other Secrets
Aldo Buzzi
Bloomsbury
175 - 5th Ave., #300, New Y, NY 10010
1582346046 $16.95 bloomsbury.com
Italian essayist Aldo Buzzi's book about the food which has intrigued him all his life is a celebration of recipes and techniques more than a 'how-to' guide. With a scholarly, witty observational style, Buzzi provides some delectable insights into food appreciation: "…the best way to cook pigeon? We cannot do better than mention Gadda's stuffed pigeons 'roasted in a casserole with sprigs of rosemary and new potatoes, moderately sweet and on the small side, a touch overcooked but seasoned by the gravy produced by these very pigeons."
How To Break An Egg
Fine Cooking Magazine
Taunton Press
PO Box 5507, Newtown, CT 06470-5507
1561587982 $19.95 www.taunton.com
For an all-in-one guide to kitchen troubles, whether it be rescuing a failed recipe, making emergency substitutions, or brushing up on techniques, How To Break An Egg: 1,453 Kitchen Tips, Food Fixes, Emergency Substitutions And Handy Techniques packs in tips by the editors, contributors and readers of Fine Cooking Magazine. Each chapter on 'tips' or 'techniques' is subdivided in the table of
