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Internet Bookwatch

Volume 13, Number 6 June 2003 Home | IBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Computer Shelf Education Shelf
Needlecraft Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Jobs/Careers Shelf Psychology Shelf Architecture Shelf
Sports Shelf Women's Studies Shelf Money/Finance Shelf
Artbook Shelf Religion/Spirituality Shelf Business Shelf
Civil War Shelf Self-Help Shelf Judaic Studies Shelf
Graphic Novel Shelf Hunting/Fishing Shelf Railroading Shelf
American History Shelf Social Issues Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Travel Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf Theatre/Cinema Shelf
Fiction Shelf Audiobook Shelf Writing/Publishing Shelf
Literary Shelf Antiques/Collectibles Shelf Gardening Shelf
Science Shelf World History Shelf Cookbook Shelf
Native American Shelf Gaming Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Martial Arts Shelf Interior Design Shelf Nautical Shelf
Musicbook Shelf Woodworking Shelf Genealogy Shelf
Military Shelf Political Science Shelf Environmental Studies Shelf
Philosophy Shelf International Studies Shelf Biography Shelf
Poetry Shelf Aviation Shelf Buddhist Studies Shelf
Parenting Shelf    


Reviewer's Choice

Circling the Tortilla Dragon
Ray Gonzalez
Creative Arts Book Company
833 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, CA 94710
0887394760 $15.00 1-800-848-7789

The short-short fictions comprising Circling the Tortilla Dragon deftly blend the imagery of poetry with the art of the prose poem, blending history, cultural insights and visionary descriptions of such experiences as the serving of the last jellyfish in the world, or the discovery of a Big Chief tablet from childhood's remains. Vignettes provide sometimes-whimsical observations of Mexican and American cultural differences.

Ivan R. Dee/NBN, dist.
1332 N. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60622
1-800-462-6420 www.amazon.com

Theodore Dalrymple's Life At The Bottom (1566635055, $16.95) examines the underlying values, social and political issues which lead to a world underclass in society, examining how and why the underclass exists. British psychiatrist Dalrymple brings a psychological insight into the matter which links long-term poverty to a dysfunctional set of values, reinforced by the very culture which needs victims in order to elevate its own class system. An intriguing survey of class systems and underlying influences on their organization. Richard Schickel's Good Morning, Mr. Zip Zip Zip (1566634911, $27.50) discusses movies and their relationship to ideas of World War II. Not entirely a social history, this blends an autobiographical memoir of the author's coming of age during the war with insights into a boy's attraction to the movies, and their importance in overcoming wartime fears. Lisa Lieberman's Leaving You (1566634962, $24.95) draws on sources ranging from novels to philosophy and psychology in her analysis of suicide and its cultural meanings. From individual choice in the decision to die to sociological explanations, this provides an intriguing examination of suicide's impact in society.

Dover Publications
31 E. 2nd St., Mineola, NY 11501
1-800-223-3130 www.amazon.com

Two very different titles hold appeal for any involved in the arts. Margaret Flower's Victorian Jewellery (0486422305, $19.95) was the first English-language book published about the era's jewelry, and provides a fine historical survey of changing styles, fashion, and trends of the era. Black and white photos accent quotes from contemporary fashion writers and insights on Victorian jewelry and style. Francis Kelly and Randolph Schwabe's European Costume And Fashion 1490-1790 (0486423220, $16.95) provides an exhaustive study which traces the evolution of apparel in Western Europe from the late Tudor period through George II. Period paintings and prints provide details of clothing styles, while the origins of trends and styles are meticulously analyzed from source material. Both will especially please students of costume and fashion history.

Trafalgar Square, dist.
PO Box 258, North Pomfret, VT 05053
1-800-423-4525 www.amazon.com

These diverse new titles distributed in this country by Trafalgar Square offer different insights and impressions of the arts, and are recommended picks for a general interest readership with little arts background. Robert Ross' Complete Terry Thomas (Reynolds & Hearn, 1903111293, $24.95) surveys the pioneer of TV comedy and movies, providing a survey of his stage and radio appearances, a filmography, and details of his career and life. Prior fans of the British comedian will find this an engrossing title. A set of new 'Beginner's Guides' from Hodder & Stoughton ($9.95 each) provides new learners and non-artists with an excellent opportunity for learning about artistic styles and history. Bentham's Picassco (0340846186), Nicholson's Andy Warhol (0340946208) and Frank Lloyd Wright (034084614-) as well as Andrew Forrest's Van Gogh (84619-4) all forego the glittery color of competing coverages to focus on the lives, perspectives, and creative inspirations of each of the artists. Beginners will find these excellent introductions.

Marshall Islands Legends And Stories
Daniel A. Kelin II, editor
Bess Press
3565 Harding Ave., Honolulu, HI 96816
1573061409 $14.95 1-800-910-2377

Compiled and edited by Daniel A. Klin II (Director of Drama Education with the Honolulu Theatre for Youth) , and enhanced with black-and-white illustrations by Nashton T. Nahson, Marshall Islands Legends And Stories is an entertaining and richly presented collection of oral folklore featuring 50 stories recorded from 18 storytellers on 8 Marshall islands and atolls. Magic, mischief, quarrels, heroism, traditional Marshallese customs and culture, and much more fill this most engaging read, which enhanced with profiles of storytellers, a glossary, and a pronunciation guide. Also available in a hardcover edition (1573061417, $22.95), Marshall Islands Legends And Stories is a valued contribution to Pacific Island Folklore & Mythology reference collections and reading lists.

The Encyclopedia Of Country Living
Carla Emery
Sasquatch Books
119 South Main Street, Suite 400, Seattle, Washington 98104
www.sasquatchbooks.com
157061377X $29.95 1-800-775-0817

Now in a completely updated and expanded ninth edition (including the introduction of websites and new mail-order sources), Carla Emery's The Encyclopedia Of Country Living is much more than just an ordinary recipe, notions, and activities book. The Encyclopedia Of Country Living is crammed from cover to cover with a wealth of tips and ideas for people inclined toward a country living atmosphere for their homes and lifestyles -- no matter whether their home happens to be located in the city, in the suburbs, or in the countryside. From the basics of raising chickens, pigs, and other livestock; to making a quilting frame; to pruning a tree; to recipes for homemade food with flair, The Encyclopedia Of Country Living is a handy, comprehensive, useful and "user friendly" 896-page reference.

Spirit Of The North
Ricahrd Hamilton Smith
Trails Books
c/o Wisconsin Trails
PO Box 317, Black Earth, WI 53515-0317
1931599238 $29.95 1-800-236-8088

Spirit Of The North: A Photographic Journey Through Northern Wisconsin by photographer Richard Hamilton Smith is a simply gorgeous coffee-table book filled from cover to cover with full-color photographs of natural scenes and wildlife throughout Northern Wisconsin. Almost no text interrupts the mesmerizing visual display. Spirit Of The North is enthusiastically recommended for those who enjoy seeing the ever-changing wonder of wilderness captured in an instant of time -- and a "must" for all Wisconsin community libraries!

Shackleton
Jonathan Shackleton & John MacKenna
University of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe Street, Third Floor, Madison, WI 53711-2059
0299186202 $29.95 1-800-621-2736

The collective effort of Jonathon Shackleton (Antarctic special and a cousin of the famed explorer) and biographer John Mackenna, Shackleton: An Irishman In Antarctica is an informed and informative portrayal of Ernest Shackleton's historic, dramatic, highly dangerous South Pole expedition. Even though the voyage's ultimately failed to achieve it's stated goal, and Shackleton's crew were stranded on ice floes, all hands worked together to survive for a year before the perilous return to civilization could be made. Not a single man died in Shackleton's expedition, a credit to Shackleton's leadership and determination. His is a profound, inspirational, and keenly engaging story which is very highly recommended reading.

Wiscracks!
Wolfgang Mieder
The New England Press
PO Box 575, Shelburne, VT 05482
1881535452 $6.95 www.amazon.com

Wolfgang Mieder's Wisecracks!: Fractured Proverbs is a humorous and sometimes thought-provoking collection of twists on more than 150 popular proverbs. For example, the oft-said "No man is a hero to his valet" has the tongue-in-cheek variants "A valet's testimony tells you more about valets than it does heroes," "No author is a hero to his proofreader," "No man is a hero to a bill collector," "Heroes never have valets," and more. Wisecracks! is totally engaging and a lot of fun to browse through!

Classic Deere Tractors
Voyageur Press
123 N. Second St, Stillwater MN 55082
0896586200 $19.95 1-800-888-9653

Compiled by American tractor enthusiast Cletus Hohman, Classic Deere Tractors is a showcase album of a wide variety of farm tractors from 1914 to 1970. Full-color photographs present each of these classic "big green" tractor models, while brief captions containing just the facts about each model enhance what is primarily a pictorial tribute. Classic Deere Tractors is a thoroughly enjoyable and nostalgic book which is specifically and enthusiastically recommended for dedicated tractor enthusiasts in general, and John Deere fans in particular.

Divorce Agreements Simplified
Daniel Sitarz
Nova Publishing Company/NBN, dist.
1103 W. College St, Carbondale, IL 62901
0935755861 $29.95 1-800-462-6420

Presented with Adobe Acrobat Reader and assorted forms on an accompanying CD, Divorce Agreements Simplified by Attorney-at-Law Daniel Sitarz is a step-by-step, legal guide for divorcing couples on speaking terms offering how-to divorce instructions that are easy to understand and follow. With explanations of divorce laws in all 50 states and Washington DC, as well as guides for handling such matters as property division, child support and custody, tax issues, alimony and more, Divorce Agreements Simplified is an excellent resource (and legally valid in all 50 states) with which to familiarize oneself of the divorce process and issues before visiting an expensive attorney.

Exploring The Dimenions Of Human Sexuality
Jerrold S. Greenberg, et al.
Jones & Bartlett Publishers
40 Tall Pine Drive, Sudbury, MA 01776
0763719846 $82.95 www.jbpub.com

Collaboratively written by Jerrold S. Greenberg, Cline E. Bruess, Debra W. Haffner, and now in an updated and expanded 2002 edition, Exploring The Dimensions Of Human Sexuality, 2002 Update is an explicitly detailed educational resource covering everything from statistical surveys to health issues, including STDs, conception, pregnancy, birth, gender communication, psychology, criminality, cultural taboos and much, much more. Suitable for classroom use, self-teaching, or scholarly reference, Exploring The Dimensions Of Human Sexuality provides a fascinating wealth of vital information on every aspect of human sexuality.

New Handbook For Storytellers
Caroline Feller Bauer
American Library Association
50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
0838906648 $45.00 1-800-545-2433

Compiled and written by Caroline Feller Bauer, New Handbook For Storytellers: With Stories, Poems, Magic, And More is an extensive, 550-page guide to the art of storytelling, which ranges from reading a book at bedtime to making a grand production with visual aids to an entire classroom. Tips, tricks, and techniques for narrative timing, suggestions for enhancing the presentation, performance skills, a wide variety of unique enhancements ranging from paperback cut-ups to fingerplays and action rhymes, recommending storytelling booklists, and much, much more fill the pages of this highly recommended "how-to book" designed for aspiring as well as practicing storytellers everywhere.


The Computer Shelf

Cocoon Developer's Handbook
Lajos Moczar
Sams
201 West 103rd St, Indianapolis IN 46290
0672322579 $49.99 www.mcp.com

Cocoon is one of the showpieces of the Apache XML project. It is a powerful framework that allows developers to more efficiently set up, create, and maintain sophisticated Web-oriented applications. Cocoon has attracted widespread attention because it solves a substantial problem for Web developers. Yet Cocoon's reliance on a wide array of open source technologies and standards makes it very complex. And, unlike some other open source technologies, Cocoon's online documentation is sparse and inadequate. Lajos Moczar's Cocoon Developer's Handbook is a practical, detailed guide for intermediate to advanced level developers who need to learn how to implement the Cocoon framework in a Web XML publishing system. Cocoon Developer's Handbook is not a theoretical work about XSL, XSP, and XSLT standards, but rather a hands-on explanation of these technologies within the Cocoon framework, with examples and solutions to get developers up and running with Cocoon. 816 pp.

The Sound Blaster Live! Book
Lars Ahlzen & Clarence Song
No Starch Press
555 De Haro St., Suite 250
San Francisco, CA 94107
1886411735 $39.95 www.nostarch.com

The collaborative effort of website developer Lars Ahlzen and software engineer Clarence Song, The Sound Blaster Live! Book is a complete and through guide to the single most popular computer sound card on the current market. Individual chapters deftly address how to physically connect the Sound Blaster Live! hardware and peripherals, configuring the sound card to play games, creating a music library, connecting MIDI instruments, and much, much more. An accompanying CD-ROM contains music and audio files, sample sound clips, SoundFonts, and useful freeware ans shareware in this succinct and useful guide which is especially recommended for anyone with a keen interest in quality computer audio.

McGraw-Hill Book Company
Two Penn Plaza, New York, NY 10121
1-800-722-4726 www.amazon.com

Two diverse and outstanding new computer shelf titles from McGraw-Hill are especially recommended for personal and professional reference collections. Biomet-rics: Identity Assurance In The Information Age (007222227; $49.99; 416 pages) by John D. Woodward, Nicholas M. Orlans, and Peter T. Higgins coherently explains the technical properties and applications of fingerprints, hand geometry, facial and voice recognition, iris and retinal scans, and signature and keystroke dynamics, and includes sample scenarios and real-world case studies to help readers understand the intricate details of biometrics. Build Your Own PC Entertainment System (0072227699; 224 pages; $24.99 by Brian Underdahl provides all the details of creating a PC-based entertainment center - it explains how to choose the appropriate case, motherboard, processor, memory, and how to select the operating system and additional software to enhance performance. It includes fully illustrated instructions, operating, and troubleshooting tips. From TV tuner and video card options to amplification recommendations, this book delivers a complete guide to the parts and accessories needed to build a dream home entertainment system.

JavaScript & DHTML Cookbook
Danny Goodman
O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, CA 95472
0596004672 $39.95 www.oreilly.com

Superbly written and organized by computer and consumer electronics expert Danny Goodman, JavaScript & DHTML Cookbook is a computer guide that focuses on how to improve the appearance and value of a web page. Compiled from the collective wisdom and experience of countless webpage scripters, JavaScript & DHTML Cookbook is filled from cover to cover with "how-to" enhancements including from simple ways to better position HTML elements; as well as creating visual effects from stationary content, user-friendly page navigation ideas, working with interactive forms, and so much more. The JavaScript & DHTML Cookbook is strongly recommended for both novice and professional website designers.

Osborne/McGraw-Hill
2600 Tenth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
1-800-722-4726 www.amazon.com

Osborne/McGraw-Hill has a quite justifiable and enduring reputation for "user friendly" instructional references for Linux users. Two new and highly recommended Linux manuals continue to document that dependability. Now in an updated and expanded second edition, Hacking Exposed Linux (0072225645; $49.99; 744 pages) by Brian Hatch, James Lee, and George Kurtz Completely covers all of the latest Linux security vulnerabilities and tools as it provides informed and informative details about brand-new Linux attacks, counter measures and case studies. Red Hat Linux 8: The Complete Reference DVD Edition (0072226463; $49.99; 1008 pages) by Richard Peterson provides detailed coverage of everything from installation and configuration to system administration and server management. Includes full coverage of system, network, security, and server setup tasks as well as discussions of GUI interfaces, security concerns, TCP/IP network configuration, Internet tools, and software management. The enclosed DVD contains more than 1,500 applications and corresponding source code for the entire Red Hat Linux 8 distribution - normally available on 6 CD-ROMs. If you are a Linux user, then you need to add Hacking Exposed Linux and Red Hat Linux 8: The Complete Reference DVD Edition to your instructional reference collection.

InDesign For QuarkXPress Users
David Blatner, et al.
Peachpit Press
1249 Eighth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
0321159489 $34.99 www.peachpit.com

The collaborative effort of QuarkXPress experts David Blatner, Christopher Smith, and Steve Werner, InDesign For QuarkXPress Users is an impressive reference tool for those who are already basically proficient in QuarkXPress software and want to learn Adobe InDesign for the creation of professional graphics. Straightforward instruction, numerous screenshots and examples, and an easy-to-follow language makes InDesign For QuarkXPress Users an excellent and thoroughly "user friendly" informational and reference resource for a very rapid learning curve.

Upgrade Your PC To The Ultimate Machine In A Weekend
Faithe Wempen
Premier Press
2645 Erie Ave, #41, Cincinnati, OH 45208
www.premierpressbooks.com
1931841616 $24.99 1-800-428-7267

Computer software and hardware expert Faithe Wempen's Upgrade Your PC To The Ultimate Machine In A Weekend is a fast-paced and superbly presented "user friendly" guide to swiftly and easily improving performance on any personal computer. From upgrading video and audio quality; to increasing hard disk space; to connecting to the Internet at a faster speed; and even replacing one's motherboard when necessary, Upgrade Your PC To The Ultimate Machine In A Weekend is an ideal, step-by-step guide especially and particularly recommended for those novices who wants to improve their computer's abilities but aren't sure where to start.

New Riders
201 W 103rd St, Indianapolis, IN 46290
www.newriders.com www.amazon.com

There are two new and enthusiastically recommended additions to a ColdFusion software users reference shelf. ColdFusion MX With Dreamweaver MX (07357-12719 $69.50) by David Golden focuses on using Dreamweaver to build ColdFusion applications rather than exhaustive explanations of CFML code. It uses task-based tutorials that reside within the frameworks of two major sections: building a ColdFusion-powered site from scratch and transforming an existing static site into one that's dynamic and database-driven. Dynamic Publishing With ColdFusion MX (073571312X $62.50) by Ben Elmore utilizes examples based in a real-world application to addresses the interaction of three key roles in dynamic publishing: developer, architect, and technical manager. However, Elmore goes beyond the tool-based information to also provide concrete guidance on the challenges of dynamic publishing and how to solve them. If you want to take advantage of ColdFusion for your projects, then add ColdFusion MX With Dreamweaver MX and Dynamic Publishing With ColdFusion MX to your instructional and reference resources.

Top-Down Network Design
Priscilla Oppenheimer
Cisco Press
201 West 103rd St, Indianapolis IN 46290
1578700698 $55.00 www.cisco.com

Top-Down Network Design: A Systems Analysis Approach To Enterprise Network Design is an advanced resource written by information science expert and technical instructor Priscilla Oppenheimer especially for advanced computer programmers needing learn about or engage in top-down network design. The methods for network design are particularly applicable to campus LANs, remote-access networks, WAN links, and large-scale internet works. Filled with illustrations, real-world examples, and explicit step by step instructions for analyzing technical requirements, as well as selecting protocols based on performance goals, improving network throughput, and much, much more fill this detailed, 560-page text which is especially ideal as a classroom text, or for self-teaching instruction and reference.

Inside Windows Server 2003
William Boswell
Addison-Wesley Professional
75 Arlington St, #300, Boston, MA 02116
www.awprofessional.com
0735711585 $59.99 1-617-848-6536

William Boswell is the principal engineer for the Windows Consulting Group based in Phoenix, Arizona and author of the "Windows Insider" column for "MCP Magazines". He draws upon his many years of practical experience and expertise in Inside Windows Server 2003 to make it an especially practical, scholarly, and exhaustive reference for information technology professionals. Focusing especially on the complexities of installing, configuring, and managing a Windows Server 2003 system; as well as offering recently updated information on new command line tools; features to improve system security; and much, much more, Inside Windows Server 2003 is very strongly recommended instructional reference resource and text for anyone seeking to better understand, create and maintain Windows servers for business, personal, or professional use.

Murach's VB.NET Database Programming with ADO.NET
Anne Prince & Doug Lowe
Mike Murach & Associates, Inc.
2560 West Shaw Lane, Suite 101, Fresno, CA 93711-2765
1890774197 $49.50 www.murach.com

The collaborative and impressive effort of Anne Prince and Doug Lowe, Murach's VB.NET Database Programming With ADO.NET is a training and reference resource which is especially useful as a self-teaching tool or supplement, and was specifically created to instruct Visual Basic programmers in VB.NET skills in order to develop professional level database applications in ADO.NET in the span of only a few weeks. Sample code and meticulously delineated steps help simplify the difficult process of learning complex ideas and structrues at an advanced and professional level. Murach's VB.NET Database Programming With ADO.NET is commended as a "must-have" personal and professional library addition for database programmers working with ASP.NET.


The Education Shelf

What Video Games Have To Teach Us About Learning And Literacy
James Paul Gee
Palgrave/Macmillan
175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010
1403961697 $26.95 www.palgrave.com

What Video Games Have To Teach Us About Learning And Literacy by James Paul Gee (Tashia Morgridge Professor of Reading, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, School of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison) is a controversial yet thought-provoking look at interactive games and what can be learned from them. Persuasively presenting thirty-six learning principles that are built into good interactive video games, and contemplatively studying everything from issues of forming identity, to the acquisition of problem-solving skills, to learning non-verbal cues, What Video Games Have To Teach Us About Learning And Literacy sheds considerable light in a most extraordinary way on this rapidly evolving and increasingly pervasive aspect of American popular culture in the twenty-first century.

Teaching Middle School Mathematics
Stephen Krulik &Jesse A. Rudnick
Allyn & Bacon
160 Gould Street, Needham Heights, MA 02494
0205286283 $37.00 1-781-455-1250

Researched and created by teachers Stephen Krulik and Jesse A. Rudnick, Teaching Middle School Mathematics: Activities, Materials, And Problems is an extensive, "classroom friendly" resource of sample problems, worksheets, exercises and more for teaching middle school students about everything from fractions and magic squares, to basic geometry and algebra, to networks with odd and even vertices, and a great deal more. Reproducible pages and carefully explained directions for the activities make Teaching Middle School Mathematics a truly first-rate curriculum supplement for tenured and substitute teachers, and would prove an invaluable resource for dedicated homeschool instruction as well.

Educating Oppositional And Defiant Children
Philip S. Hall & Nancy D. Hall
ASCD
1703 N. Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
0871207613 $25.95 www.ascd.org

Illustrative anecdotes drawn from actual classroom cases enhance Educating Oppositional And Defiant Children, a straightforward guide by Philip and Nancy Hall, to successfully coping with disruptive students in the classroom who have severe behavior disorders. Techniques for positively influencing maladaptive student reactions; creating classroom environments that promote success; techniques for enhancing school culture; and much, much more fill the pages of this very highly recommended guide for every classroom schoolteacher who has ever had to deal with an antisocial or chronically disruptive student -- and their parents!

Giving Away The Keys
Bruce R. Gibbs
You Will Learn Publishing
5295 Highway 78, Suite D-222, Stone Mountain, GA 30087
0972091408 $10.95 1-800-462-6420

Giving Away The Keys: A Professor Unlocks The Secrets To College Success by academician Bruce R. Gibbs is a very useful "self-help" guide to embarking upon college studies with an optimistic and dedicated drive to achieve. From dealing with practical-life issues of roommates; to driving to school; to dealing with registration; to holding down a job; to keeping balanced finances; to practicing effective study habits, and a great deal more, Giving Away The Keys is a very highly recommended and superbly presented compendium of sound advice making it a "must-read" for every high school graduate, whether they intend upon entering a local community college or attending a major university.

Why Johnny Doesn't Behave
Barbara D. Bateman & Annemieke Golly
IEP Resources
c/o Atainment Company, Inc.
PO Box 930160, Verona, WI 53593-0160
1578614902 $35.00 1-800-327-4269

Barbara D. Bateman & Annemieke Golly, delve into their years of experience with behavioral intervention programs in Why Johnny Doesn't Behave: Twenty Tips And Measurable BIPs, a sound resource for teachers attempting to cope with irascible and worse student behavior. Extensive examples, instructional guidelines, flowcharts for determining the proper response to undesired behavior and more pack this highly recommended instructional. Also very highly recommended for classroom instructors is Barbara Bateman and Cynthia M. Herr's Writing Measurable IEP Goals And Objects (IP0021, $25.00)


The Needlecraft Shelf

Magic Quilts By The Slice
Bethany S. Reynolds
American Quilter's Society
PO Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
1574328204 $25.95 www.aqsquilt.com

Magic Quilts By The Slice by knowledgeable quilting expert Bethany S. Reynolds is a do-it-yourself instructional quilting book offering patterns and techniques for the author's "Stack-n-Whack" process of swiftly and expertly creating gorgeous quilts. Eye-catching color illustrations and easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions make Magic Quilts By The Slice a highly enjoyable guide for dedicated quilters and needlecraft hobbyists everywhere.

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

Three new quilting guides from this publisher provide very different projects and applications for quilters. Cyndy Rymer's Shoreline Quilts: 15 Glorious Get-Away Projects (1571202013, $24.95) provides seashore- inspired quilts which feature a range of colors, movement, and moods associated with water. Fifteen projects feature the beach, ocean and underwater themes and arrive just in time for summer. Valori Wells' Radiant New York Beauties: 14 Paper-Pieced Quilt Projects (1571201998, $24.95) focuses on paper-pieced quilt projects, offering lessons on block construction, piecing, assembly, and fabric choices alike. Her hands-on technique is filled with practical tips for approaching difficult quilting situations. Beautifully Quilted With Alex Anderson: How to Choose or Create the Best Designs for Your Quilt: 5 Timeless Projects, Full-Size Patterns, Ready to Use (15712-01904, $16.95) offers five classic quilt projects which teach how to decide on the right quilting design for a project. From drafting original designs and customizing commercial patterns to using ready-to-trace commercial offerings, this encourages quilters to create and consider their own design innovations.

Just Can't Cut It!
Pamela Mostek
Martingale & Company
20205 - 144th Avenue, NE, Woodinville, WA 98072-8478
156477449X $22.95 1-800-426-3126

Just Can't Cut It!: Quilts From Fabulous Fabrics is a simple guide by quilting expert Pamela Mostek to the art and craft of assembling quilts from fabrics that are simply too gorgeous to be cut into small shapes! Twelve quilt patterns, tips for using large-scale prints, step-by-step instructions, and more, make Just Can't Cut It! an easy-to-follow addition recommended for any and all personal needlecrafting reference collections.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Fitness Over Fifty
National Institute on Aging
Healthy Living Book
c/o Hatherleigh Press
5-22 46th Avenue, Suite 200, Long Island City, NY 11101
1578261368 $15.95 1-800-528-2550

The National Institute on Aging is part of the National Institutes of Health and has the mission of improving the health of older people. Their latest manual, Fitness Over Fifty: Strength, Flexibility, Vitality, Balance, presents twenty-five, easy-to-practice exercises for improve a mature man or woman's basic health, physical fitness, and emotional sense of well-being. Exercise safety tips; motivational assistance, tips on nutrition and healthy eating, as well as records for daily, weekly, and monthly exercise and nutrition records are clearly presented for older readers. Black-and-white photographs enhance the meticulous instructions for activities which are designed especially with the brittle bone and other concerns older men and women must be concerned about fill the pages of this useful, accessible, and very highly recommended health and exercise guide.

ShapeWalking
Marilyn L. Bach & Lorie Schleck
Hunter House Inc., Publishers
PO Box 2914, Alameda, CA 94501-0914
0897933737 $14.95 hunterhouse.com

ShapeWalking: Six Easy Steps To Your Best Body by fitness consultant professionals Marilyn L. Bach and Lorie Schleck is a straightforward , "user friendly", and very highly recommended fitness guide to customizing an easy-to-follow exercise routine with the goal of improved overall health and fitness. Enhanced with illustrative photographs for recommended exercises; step-by-step instructions; charts to record personal progress; and a great deal more fill the pages of this upbeat and simple regimen guide especially designed and intended to help people of all fitness levels get into shape.

Mapping Human History
Steve Olson
Houghton Mifflin
222 Berkeley St., Boston, MA 02116
0618352104 $14.00 1-800-225-3362

Science, history, and medical technology blend in Mapping Human History, a survey of the genes and how genetics can produce unique historical and cultural insights as well as medical breakthroughs. Many of the ethnic and racial differences which divide societies are biologically meaningless, Olson maintains: Mapping Human History draws some important links between genes and human origins.

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

Jonathan Edlow, MD's Bull's Eye: Unraveling The Medical Mystery Of Lyme Disease (0300908677, $29.95) traces the medical investigations which led to the discovery of the elusive Lyme disease a condition which spanned centuries and thwarted researchers around the world. From how physicians make a diagnosis and test to how science is influenced by cultural expectations and social conditions, this provides a survey not just of Lyme disease, but the process of understanding medical research. Robert Donaldson Jr. and others edit A Yale Guide To Careers In Medicine And The Health Professions: Pathways To Medicine In The Twenty-First Century (0300100299, $18.95), a guide to new medicine career paths of the future. From medical writers and medical anthropologists to medical executives and bioethicists, professionals in each of these fields offer candid descriptions of their choices of careers, their special challenges in the medical field, and the pros and cons of their expertise. The personal touch makes this a unique, practical handbook of advice by successful practitioners.

Health Insurance Resources
Dorothy Northrop & Stephen Cooper
Demos
386 Park Avenue S. #201, NY NY 10016
1888799692 $24.95 www.amazon.com

Those with chronic health conditions or disabilities are often the last to qualify for good health insurance. Health Insurance Resource Manual: Options For People With A Chronic Disease Or Disability contains details about options for individuals who are uninsured, underinsured, or who have questions about Social Security, Medicare and other options. The first section answers questions and reviews health insurance plans; the second offers the directories and resources to aid in further research.

Omnigraphics
615 Griswold St., Detroit, MI 48226
1-800-234-1340 www.amazon.com

Two newly updated editions and two new additions to this expanding series help to keep consumers updated on the latest medical facts, and will make invaluable references for health libraries wanting to stock the latest details. The second edition of Amy Sutton's Eye Care Sourcebook: Basic Consumer Health Information About Eye Care And Eye Disorders (0780806-352, $78.00) and the third edition of Dawn Matthews' Diabetes Sourcebook: Basic Consumer Health Information About Type 1 Diabetes (0780806298, $78.00) each provide the latest information, revamping books with new details, research, and treatment options. Joyce Brennfleck Shannon's Movement Disorders Sourcebook: Basic Consumer Health Information About Neurological Movement Disorders (078080628X, $78.00) is the latest new edition to the series, helping general readers understand the symptoms and treatment of various movement disorders, coping skills, and medical facts. From Parkinson's disease to cerebral palsy and Huntington's, this covers all the symptoms, causes, and treatments. Don't miss Joyce Shannon's Stroke Sourcebook: Basic Consumer Health Information About Stroke (0780806301, $78.00): it provides the latest information on strokes; from early symptoms and the importance of quick diagnosis to health risk factors, and treatments. An essential handbook packed with the latest facts.

Combat Fat!
Andrew Flach
Hatherleigh Press
5-22 46th Avenue, Suite 200, Long Island City, NY 11101
www.hatherleighpress.com
1578261198 $15.95 1-800-528-2550

Based on official guidelines from the Surgeon General and CDC, Combat Fat! by fitness, diet, and exercise authority Andrew Flach is a solidly written, "user friendly" guide to healthy eating, proper exercise, and a medically sound weight loss plan to improve personal overall fitness and health. Body-mindful recipes, stretches, workouts, and more fill the pages of this handy and very highly recommended informational resource.

Complete Guide To Diabetes Management
American Diabetes Association
1701 N. Beauregard St., Alexandria, VA 22311
1580401619 $29.95 www.amazon.com

From new types of insulin and the best ways the body can absorb it to injection-free techniques and new oral medications, the newly updated and expanded third edition of the American Diabetes Association Complete Guide To Diabetes: The Ultimate Home Reference From The Diabetes Experts provides the latest updated information on managing diabetes at home, work, and in school. Types 1 and 2 diabetes are covered in a comprehensive home reference which packs in details about past, present and future treatment options.

The Merck Manual: 2nd Home Edition
Mark H. Beers, M.D., editor
Merck Publishing Group
PO Box 2000, Rahway, NJ 07065-9865
0911910352 $37.50 www.amazn.com

The original home edition of a medical classic reference has been completely revised and revamped The Merck Manual Of Medical Information, Second Edition: The World's Most Widely Used Medical Reference - Now In Everyday Language holds all the information of the original manual, but in a form which makes it easy for everyday readers to understand. Nearly 200 medical experts have contributed their backgrounds to the contents of this fine guide, which includes new or revised chapters in alternative medicine, symptoms of gynecologic disorders, and healthcare communications.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

The Essential Golden Dawn
Chic Cicero & Sandra Tabatha Cicero
Llewellyn Publications
Box 64383, St. Paul, MN 55164-0383
0738703109 $16.95 llewellyn.com

"The Golden Dawn" is one of the most respected systems of magic in the world: over a century old, it has its roots in long-reaching traditions. The Essential Golden Dawn is a beginner's guide geared for newcomers to Golden Dawn. The Essential Golden Dawn is written by experts on the topic and explores both the history and the spirituality of this tradition, explaining ideas of magic and magical philosophy and exploring the teachings and basics of the Golden Dawn belief system. An outstanding introduction.

Change Your Aura Change Your Life
Barbara Y. Martin with Dimitri Moraitis
WisdomLight Books
Cate Cummings (publicity)
PO Box 1099, Sunland, CA 91041-1099
www.WisdomLightBook.com
0970211813 $16.95

Change Your Aura Change Your Life: A Step-By-Step Guide To Unfolding Your Spiritual Power by clairvoyant and metaphysical educator Barbara Y. Martin is an informed and informative "self-help" guide to harnessing personal spiritual energy, and utilizing effective metaphysical techniques to improve one's aura, feel better, look better, and enjoy life more. Meditative prayers, counseling, spiritual wisdom, and the developing/exercising power over oneself, are all presented and discussed in this inspirational, motivational, metaphysical guide.

Tree Of Dreams
Lynn Andrews
Jeremy P. Tarcher
c/o G. P. Putnam's Sons
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
1585422150 $12.95 1-800-847-5515

Tree Of Dreams: A Spirit Woman's Vision Of Transition And Change by Lynn Andrews is a deeply moving narrative of her quest for growth, spiritual fulfillment, and better understanding of sacred things. Embracing the power of healing and coping with "little deaths" such as divorce or the sudden loss of a job, as well as the great losses of loved ones to "Time's Eternal March", Lynn Andrews' Tree Of Dreams is a powerful and moving metaphysical reflection. Also very highly recommended are Lyn Andrews' previous books: Medicine Woman and Jaguar Woman.

Past Lives Dreams And Soul Travel
Harold Klemp
Eckankar Books
PO Box 27300, Minneapolis, MN 55318
1570431825 $14.00 1-952-380-2317

Past Lives Dreams And Soul Travel by past lives, dream interpretation, and "soul travel" expert Harold Klemp is a metaphysical guide to grand metaphysical adventures. From learning how to remember and grow from experiences in a former life; to cherishing spiritual freedom in dreams; to traveling with the soul and embracing the "light and sound of God", Past Lives Dreams And Soul Travel is mystical, inspirational, and an enthusiastically recommended addition to personal and professional Metaphysical Studies reading lists and library reference collections.

Return Of The Revolutionaries
Walter Semkiw, M.D.
Hampton Roads Publishing Company
1125 Stoney Ridge Road, Charlottesville, VA 22902
1571743421 $16.95 www.hrpub.com

Return Of The Revolutionaries: The Case For Reincarnation And Soul Gro-ups Reunited by Walter Semkiw (Occupational Medicine Physician and the Founder of the Pluto Project) makes a strong and compelling case for reincarnation, claiming that key figures of the American Revolution have come back to us as modern-day figures ranging from such as Oprah Winfrey to Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Jesse Ventura, Jesse Jackson, -- and even himself as the present-day incarnation of John Adams. A deftly written and engaging presentation embracing the concept that all of us have been "the other" in race and/or gender during the transition of lifetimes, Return Of The Revolutionaries is an engaging read concerning the metaphysical issues of life cycles and eternal karma.

The Unknown Nostradamus
Peter Lemesurier
John Hunt Publishing Lt.
46A West Street, Alresford, Hants SO24 9AU, U.K.
1903816327 $27.95 www.o-books.net

Published in honor of the 500th anniversary of his birth, The Unknown Nostradamus by linguist, translator, educator, and Nostradamus expert Peter Lemesurier is a comprehensive and up-to-date biography of Nostradamus, the medieval prophet whose predictions are still closely studied today. Extensively researched, filled with translations of contemporary critiques of Nostradamus' work, offering full translations of surviving documents, and much, much more, The Unknown Nostradamus is a "must-read" for anyone seeking to learn more about this remarkable figure and his metaphysical and encoded prophetic visions.


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

Your Successful Real Estate Career
Kenneth Edwards
Amacom
1601 Broadway, New York NY 10019
0814471609 $18.95 www.amazon.com

Any who dream of making a career change and working with people would do well to think of real estate and the tips offered by Kenneth Edwards, who provides guidelines to getting involved in the industry. From obtaining a license and winning clients to avoiding problems and making career choices, Your Successful Real Estate Career tells of the positives and pitfalls of a career as a real estate agent.

Breakthrough Networking
Lillian D. Bjorseth
Duoforce Enterprises, Inc.
PO Box 1154, Lisle, IL 60532
www.duoforce.com
0964883937 $21.95 1-800-941-3788

Now in an newly updated and expanded second edition, Breakthrough Networking: Building Relationships That Last by syndicated columnist Lillian D. Bjorseth is a truly "user friendly" guide to building networking skills in order to control one's own career path and uncover bright future prospects in an era where corporate cradle-to-grave job security is a thing of the past. From presenting the best possible personal image; to staying in touch; to engaging in ice-breaking activities; to dealing with gender-specific discrepancies, and a great deal more, Breakthrough Networking is particularly recommended reading for aspiring and practicing free-lancers in any vocational category or job level.

Impact Publications
9104 Manassas Drive, Manassas Park, VA 20111
www.amazon.com

Make sure resumes, cover letters, and even interview answers contain the keywords which impart language the employer is seeking with the use of Wendy S. Enelow, Best Keywords For Resumes, Cover Letters, And Interviews: Powerful Communications Tools For Success (157023-1958 $17.95), which offers a comprehensive guide organized by major industry and profession. Examples of hard-hitting keyword essays and resumes pack a guide which tells how such keywords can make all the difference between qualifying an applicant and dismissing a resume. For the travel enthusiast, don't miss Ron and Caryl Krannich's Jobs For Travel Lovers: Opportunities At Home And Abroad (1570231966, $19.95), appearing in its 4th edition to present travel jobs at home and abroad. Tips on understanding the travel and hospitality industry accompany guides to positions, benefits, and pros and cons of different industries which offer travel opportunities.

A Fork In The Road
Susan Maltz & Barbara Grahn
Impact Publications
9104 Manassas Drive, Suite N., Manassas Park, VA 20111-5211
www.impactpublications.com
1570231974 $14.95 1-800-361-1055

The collaborative effort of Susan Maltz and Barbara Grahn, A Fork In The Road: A Career Planning Guide For Young Adults is an interactive workbook that high-school and college aged readers can use to achieve a better understand themselves and the appeals of various options for their future. Information on training; providing the best possible image; preparing themselves for interviews, and so much more fill the pages of this excellent and highly recommended supplementary resource to choosing an ideal career path.


The Psychology Shelf

The Diagnosis And Stigma Of Schizophrenia
Charles E. Harman
Old Court Press
PO Box 4031, Brookings, OR 97415
0964939134 $15.50

The Diagnosis And Stigma Of Schizophrenia offers an intriguing alternative to standard DSM diagnostic and traditional psychiatric statistical manuals. Citing the medical history and the harmful emotional stereotypes attached to the very word "schizophrenia", The Diagnosis And Stigma Of Schizophrenia presents workable solutions to the potential harm of simply labeling a person as schizophrenic. A thoughtful, thought-provoking, persuasively argued and iconoclastic account by Charles E. Harman, The Diagnosis And Stigma Of Schizophrenia is a strongly recommended addition to professional and academic Human Psychology collections, and especially recommended reading for anyone having to struggle with the emotional and intellectual distresses commonly lumped under the generic psychiatric classification of schizophrenia.


The Architecture Shelf

Sugimoto: Architecture
Hiroshi Sugimoto
Distributed Art Publishers
155 Sixth Avenue, 2nd floor, New York, NY 10013-1507
189102454X $55.00 1-800-338-2665

Hiroshi Sugimoto is known for his long-exposure photos of empty movie theaters and museums: his blurred masterpieces of public places depict both familiar, major structures and lesser-known buildings. Sugimoto: Architecture is an impressive collection of his art offers full-page unsullied black and white reproductions of his finest works and will delight fans of photography, architectural representation, and the Sugimoto style in particular.

2003 National Construction Estimator
Dave Ogershok
Craftsman Book Company
PO Box 6500, Carlsbad, CA 92018
1572181222 $47.50 1-800-829-8123

2003 National Construction Estimator is a specialized resource for the professional construction industry. It is packed from cover to cover with tables listing prices for equipment and materials; estimates for labor and other costs involved in given construction chores; and other matters directly relevant to quickly calculating and recording an accurate estimate. An enclosed CD-ROM contains an easy-to-use program for putting the information of the text to quick and easy use thereby allowing a contractor to arrive upon a useful estimate in just seconds. The 2003 National Construction Estimator is an essential tool and very highly recommended for professionals having to quickly gauge construction costs for residential, commercial, and/or industrial projects.


The Sports Shelf

Home Is Everything
Marcos Breton
Cinco Puntos Press
701 Texas Avenue, El Paso, TX 79901
0938317709 $24.95 1-915-838-1625

In Home Is Everything, Marcos Breton presents story vignettes of Latinos involved in American Baseball, told in both English and Spanish, and enhanced with full-color photographs by Jose Luis Villegas. Slices of daily life training and competing in this great sport, as well as the names and brief profiles of remarkable and dedicated people, comprise this celebration of baseball which is enthusiastically recommended for the fans of Latino players.

Tales From The Pirates Dugout
John McCollister
Sports Publishing
www.SportsPublishingLLC.com
1582616302 $19.95 1-877-807-6034

Compiled by native Pittsburgher and long-time Pirates fan John McCollister, Tales From The Pirates Dugout: A Collection Of The Greatest Pirates Stories Ever Told offers the reader a wealth of heartwarming and memorable stories on and about the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team. Looking at the team's dynamic evolution over the past century, Tales From The Pirates Dugout embraces the spirit of the sport of baseball and showcases many of the determined and adventurous athletes who give their all to the team and the game!

Winning Baseball Strategies
Coach Marty Schupak
Youth Sports Club
9 Florence Ct., Valley Cottage, NY 10989
www.youthsportsclub.com
0967124832 $24.95 1-800-511-2101

Drawn from the years of experience of a youth baseball coach, Winning Baseball Strategies is an extensive, tip-filled instructional video guide to incorporating skillful strategies into baseball as a team sport. Ranging from situations that call for bunting; to when to use the delayed steal; to offensive and defensive tactics for first and third base; bunting; pick off situations, and much, much more Winning Baseball Strategies is a very highly recommended resource and an exceptional enhancement for any little league coach or highschool baseball instructional video collection.

Atta Girl!
Alexandra Powe Allred
Wish Publishing
PO Box 10337, Terre Haute, IN 47801
1930546610 $16.95 wishpublishing.com

Atta Girl!: A Celebration Of Women In Sports by marshal artist and kickboxing expert Alexandra Powe Allred (who was also former member of the US Women's Bobsled team and current member of the Women's Professional Football League's Texas Rage) is the upbeat, revised and rewritten version of "The Quiet Storm", offering an exciting and informative presentation of female athletes today. From balancing the demands of a sport with the needs of the family; to the frustrations of overcoming gender-based barriers in the sports world; to an encouraging upward trend in the popularity of women's sports, Atta Girl! is a fully engaging and truly uplifting read written and recommended especially for women's sports enthusiasts and supporters.

All The Courses In the Kingdom
Richard E. Peck
REPertory Publishing
PO Box 1278, Placitas, NM 87043
www.REPertory.us
0972630872 $39.95 1-877-737-3786

All The Courses In The Kingdom: An American Plays At The Birthplace Of Golf is a very special sports travelogue written especially for dedicated golfing enthusiasts. Filled from cover to cover with an especial appreciation for Scottish golf courses; tips for vacationers and business travelers seeking to enjoy the beauty of golfing in Scotland in person; and enhanced throughout with full-color photographs for the benefit of the armchair traveler home community-bound golfer, All The Courses In The Kingdom is an avidly, passionately, beautifully presented account.


The Women's Studies Shelf

Women Writing Africa
M. J. Daymond, et al.
The Feminist Press
365 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016
1558614060 $75.00 feministpress.org

Collaboratively compiled and edited by M. J. Daymond, Dorothy Driver, Sheila Meintjes, Leloba Molema, Chiedza Musengezi, Margie Orford, and Nobantu Rasbotsa, Women Writing Africa: The Sou-thern Region is an extensive, 554-page work detailing (from a distinctly women's perspective) the history, culture, social issues, and modern-day living conditions in the southern region of Africa. Countless personal testimonies form the core of this aptly presented and profoundly insightful collection. Women Writing Africa is enthusiastically recommended for African Studies and Women's Studies reference collections and reading lists.

Problems Of Women's Liberation
Evelyn Reed
Pathfinder
410 West Street, New York, NY 10014
0873481674 $12.95 www.amazon.com

Problems Of Women's Liberation: A Marxist Approach by Evelyn Reed looks at why women have been oppressed throughout recorded history, and why opponents to women's rights are so implacably entrenched and determined. From examining the myth of female inferiority; to ways women as a whole can regain control of their destiny; to how cosmetics and fashions exploit women, Problems Of Women's Liberation is a sharp-eyed and stringently worded wake-up call to the problems of the past and how they have shaped present gender discriminations. A very strongly recommended addition to Women's Studies reading lists and Women's History collections, Problems Of Women's Liberation also offers concrete hope for a more egalitarian future.


The Money/Finance Shelf

What's Your Investing IQ?
Carrie L. Coghill & Evan M. Pattak
Career Press Inc.
PO Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
1564146324 $14.99 1-800-227-3371

Written by Carrie L. Coghill with the assistance of Evan M. Pattak, What's Your Investing Iq? is a personal finance resource suitable for people of all ages and experience levels in having to cope with a variety of money matters ranging from taxes to mortgage refinancing. Written in an accessible, instructional style enhanced with multiple choice questions, What's Your Investing Iq? is a thoroughly "reader friendly" way to assess and improve personal financial savvy.

A Convicted Stock Manipulators Guide To Investing
Marino Specogna
iUniverse.com
2021 Pine Lake Road, Lincoln, NE 68512
0595264662 $13.95 iuniverse.com

A Convicted Stock Manipulators Guide To Investing by Marino Specogna reveals the deceptive tricks and deceitful techniques that traders use to run their scams and abscond with the hard-earned dollars of their victims. From what to look for to spot a scam deal; to how manipulators pry their talents to control stock pricing; to the ruthless and destructive business practices to beware of, A Convicted Stock Manipulators Guide To Investing is recommended supplementary reading for anyone with a bright eye for the stock market. If you are considering investing in the stock market (or already are!) then you need to give A Convicted Stock Manipulators Guide To Investing a close and careful reading!

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

Two new titles on money management offer consumers invaluable practical advice. Attorney Harvey Platt's Your Will And Estate Plan: How To Protect Your Estate And Your Loved Ones (1581152531, $16.95) provides a sequel to his prior title on living trusts and estate management, this one covering the successful estate plan which can apply to all sizes of estates. From selecting beneficiaries to avoiding costly transfer costs, this covers the basics of managing personal assets and those of dependents, such as parents. Thomas Kostigen's What Money Really Means (1581152590, $19.95) provides a personal finance book which goes beyond an investment guide, pointing out the significant of money in society and the philosophical issue of how money influences life decisions. Chapters cover the basics of how to determine how much money is needed, and how to use money to bring happiness.


The Artbook Shelf

Himalayas: An Aesthetic Adventure
Pratapaditya Pal
The Art Institute of Chicago
111 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago IL 60603
0520239008 $39.95 www.ucpress.edu

Compiled and organized by Pratapaditya Pal, Himalayas: An Aesthetic Adventure is a stunning artbook quality collection of sculptures, illuminated pages, pigment on cotton artworks, and more -- all skillfully crafted across centuries of Himalayan history. Full-color photography and an extensive, scholarly text filled the pages of Himalayas: An Aesthetic Adventure with history, anecdotes, and insights to create a seminal and impressive work which is very highly recommended for Art History collections and enthusiasts.

The Drawings Of Stefano Da Verona And His Circle
Evelyn Karet
American Philosophical Society
PO Box 481, Canton, MA 02021-0481
0871692449 $65.00 amphilsoc.org

The Drawings Of Stefano Da Verona And His Circle And The Origins Of Collection In Italy: A Catalogue Raisonne by Early Renaissance Studies expert Evelyn Karet (with the collaborative and scholarly assistance of expert archivists and translators of the 15th-Century Italian texts found upon the drawings) is an impressively comprehensive collection of the work of the painter and draughtsman Stefano da Verona (1375-1438). An impressively extensive and informative text about the artist and his work accompanies the many illustrations of da Verona's quite moving black-and-white sketches. Fully annotated, (and including a group of rejected works), The Drawings Of Stefano Da Verona And His Circle is a very well-written and ardently recommended addition to any comprehensive European Art History collection in general, and Renaissance Era Italian Artwork reference reading lists in particular.

Baby-Boom Daydreams
Dan Cameron et al.
Hudson Hills Press/NBN, dist.
PO Box 205, 74-2 Union Street, Manchester, VT 05254
1555952216 $45.00 hudsonhills.com

Enhanced with essays by Dan Cameron, Estill Curtis Pennington, David S. Rubin, as well as an informative Foreword by Jay Weigel, Baby-Boom Daydreams: The Art Of Douglas Bourgeois presents the vivid and attention-getting artworks of Douglas Bourgeois, who blended attention-getting caricatures with enduring themes of man's erosion of nature, religion, poverty, human perseverance, and so much more. The full-color illustrations practically leap off the page, and the erudite commentary adds depth and insight to this unforgettable presentation. Baby-Boom Daydreams is a welcome and recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library Contemporary Art History collections.

Prehistoric Art
Randall White
Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
100 Fifth Avenue, NY, NY 10011
0810942623 $45.00 1-800-759-0190

Prehistoric Art: The Symbolic Journey Of Humankind by Ice Age art and technology expert Randall White (Professor of Anthropology, New York University) is an amazingly impressive and informationally detailed survey overview of the paintings, sculptures, pottery, and more, crafted by human beings before times remembered and recorded by the written word. Breathtaking full-color photographs superbly enhanced a thorough, scholarly, fully accessible text describing what is known about sites of prehistoric art worldwide. Prehistoric Art is a work of impeccible scholarship and very highly recommended addition to Art History and Anthropological Studies reference shelves and reading lists.

Drawing Basics
Sandra McFall Angelo
Discover Art with Sandra Angelo, Inc.
411 Video Information (publicity)
PO Box 262424, San Diego, CA 92196
1887823239 $50.00 1-888-327-9278

The first in veteran artist Sandra McFall Angelo's "So You Thought You Couldn't Draw" series of "user friendly" instructional videos, Drawing Basics is a step-by-step introduction to the basic processes of drawing. Produced especially for people who don't find that drawing comes naturally, Drawing Basics shows step-by-step ways to learn through both viewing and practice. Drawing Basics goes best with its companion workbook, but there is considerable value in watching the video with an ability to rewind and review any portion of it. Also very highly recommended are the more specific "how to" installments in this thoroughly "art student friendly" series, including The Easy Way To Draw Landscapes, Flowers & Water (1887823212, $50.00) and Seven Common Drawing Mistakes And How To Correct Them (1887823166, $50.00).


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

The African Sermons
Albert Schweitzer
Steven E. G. Melamed, Sr., editor
Syracuse University Press
1600 Jamesville Ave., Syracuse NY 13210
0815629206 $45.00 1-800-365-8929

Edited and translated from the French by Steven E. G. Melamed, Sr., The African Sermons is a collection of sermons delivered by Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965) on Sundays in Lambarene, Gabon, from 1913 to 1935. Words of wisdom which reveal the relevance of biblical stories to the daily realities of African life, The African Sermons is an enduring testimonial that transcends the decades, brimming with both faith and practical understanding. Very highly recommended reading for Christians of all walks of life, The African Sermons provide an indispensable insight into the character of one of history's most selfless men of genius.

New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
1-800-972-6657 www.amazon.com

Three new publications by this spiritual press provide very different views of reflective and religious insight. Shakti Gawain's Reflections In The Light: Daily Thoughts And Affirmations (1577314-107, $12.95) presents daily thoughts and affirmations, revised and updated in a new edition to provide daily insights for the year. One-line statements are followed by a paragraph of insight/teachings which offer readers comfort and spiritual insights. Tobin Blake's The Power Of Stillness: Learn Meditation In 30 Days (1577312-422, $12.95) tells of exploring feelings of spirituality through meditation. The guide teaches the art of meditation in a 30-day structured set of exercises which discuss using fears, attachments, and other familiar patterns to build a new foundation of insight. Marta Williams' Learning Their Language: Intuitive Communication With Animals And Nature (1577312430, $14.95) is for the animal lover who wants to explore the hidden world of intuitive communication with animals and nature. Chapters present exercises on honing these subconscious intuitive skills, demonstrating how to use focusing and other techniques to gain insight. All are diverse, excellent spiritual guides, and very highly recommended reading.

Ground Zero And The Human Soul
Lynn Jericho & Bethene LeMahieu
Foursquare Conversations LLC
Box 392, Jersey City, NJ 07303-0392
www.4sqconversations.com
0972331204 $49.95 1-866-477-4778

Ground Zero And The Human Soul: The Search For The New Ordinary Life is an impressively presented audio collection of six conversations with Lynn Jericho and Bethene LeMahieu who discuss personal spiritual growth; the ramifications of the September 11th attacks; and various ways to chart a future that rises above fundamentalism, aggression, and greed. A profound and moving listening experience, Ground Zero And The Human Soul is narrated with confidence, reflecting a primary concern with sharing a positive vision for tomorrow. 6 cassettes, 6 hours.


The Business Shelf

Real Numbers
Jean E. Cunningham & Orest J. Fiume
Managing Times Publishing
440 Ben Franklin Blvd., Durham, NC 27704
0972809902 $27.50 www.tbmcg.com

How can a manager gain a real picture of a company's performance? Real Numbers: Management Accounting In A Lean Organization helps managers understand management accounting practices, which often produce complex financial statements which have little to do with reality. Each of the authors is a CFO who probes management accounting systems and how simplicity and clarify can be restored to an organization's accounting system. The authors provide some solid, invaluable advice on tweaking accounting practices to get the most from facts and figures generated by accountants.

Waltzing With Bears
Tom DeMarco & Timothy Lister
Dorset House Publishing
353 West 12th Street, NY, NY 10014
www.dorsethouse.com
0932633609 $33.45 1-800-342-6657

The collaborative effort of Tom DeMarco and Timothy Lister, Waltzing With Bears: Managing Risk On Software Projects is a hard-hitting guide to braving greater risks for greater rewards in the exciting, challenging, competitive, and rapidly advancing field of software development. From advice on the pros and cons of risk management techniques; to successful value quantification; to tests for risk management and knowing when to go back to basics, Waltzing With Bears is a very savvy guide especially recommended for experienced entrepreneurs who know their specialized markets and want a better feel for when and what would be an acceptable risk in pursuit of marketplace success.

How To Start And Run Your Own Corporation
Peter I. Hupalo
HCM Publishing
Box 18093, West Saint Paul, MN 55118
0967162440 $22.95 hcmpublishing.com

How To Start And Run Your Own Corporation: S-Corporations For Small Business Owners by experienced entrepreneur Peter I. Hupalo is a straightforward, "user friendly", instructional and resource guide covering everything from choosing the most appropriate business structure; to issuing shares of stock to attracting investors; to the role of bylaws; to minimizing taxes; and much, much more. How To Start And Run Your Own Corporation is a solid, accurate, informed and informative primer which is especially recommended for anyone looking to quickly pick up the basics and put themselves into business.

Building & Running A Successful Research Business
Mary Ellen Bates
CyberAge Books
c/o Information Today, Inc.
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055-8750
0910965625 $29.95 1-800-300-9868

MaryEllen Bates' Building & Running A Successful Research Business: A Guide For The Independent Information Professional is a step-by-step processing to creating and running one's own independent research firm. Individual chapters cogently address what independent information professionals do; how to structure a business; tips, tricks, and techniques for managing clients and money; marketing, online services; and much, much more. Deftly edited by Reva Basch, Building & Running A Successful Research Business is an absolute "must-read" for aspiring entrepreneurs with an eye for the dynamic, volatile, competitive, potentially profitable field of commercial research and product development.

Lights, Cubicle, Action!
A. A. Cantor
The DocVoc Press
PO Box 2478, Reston, VA 20195
0970872801 $12.95 www.docvoc.com

Lights, Cubicle, Action!: 100+ Directives For Survival In Corporate America is a collection of sound tips and insights by A. A. Cantor into surviving the perils of working for large corporations. Each insightful revelation or sage piece of advice is enhanced with a brief, no-nonsense explanation. From "Employees would rather read a blatant lie than hear incontrovertible truth."; to "Succeed at what you dislike and you will be forever condemned to it."; to "Success breeds success - but a great deal more contempt.", these memorable vignettes offer a true window of perception into the often twisted maze of office politics.

(Niche) And Grow Rich
Jennifer Basye Sander & Peter Sander
Entrepreneur Press
c/o Phenix & Phenix Literary Publicists
2525 West Anderson Lane, Suite 540, Austin, TX 78757
1891984764 $16.95 www.bookpros.com

The collaborative effort of Jennifer and Peter Sanders, (Niche) and Grow Rich: Practical Ways To Turn Your Ideas Into a Business is an upbeat, go-getter guide to commercial success through specialization. From learning how to use intellectual property protection; to keep one's idea from being stolen; to the essentials of a solid business plan; to making the most of the Internet to promote a new business, (Niche) and Grow Rich is an excellent, practical, advice-packed, "user friendly", and highly recommended guide -- especially for the novice entrepreneur.

How To Become A Successful Trader
Ned Gandevani, MBA, Ph.D.
Writer's Club Press/iUniverse.com
2021 Pine Lake Road, Suite 100, Lincoln, NE 68512
0595243894 $29.95 www.iuniverse.com

How To Become A Successful Trader by professional trader Ned Gandevani is an invaluable resource for traders, investors, and hedge fund managers seeking to increase their trading performance and deepen their understanding to harnessing the powers of the free market. From personality profiles; to decision traps one needs to avoid; to the balance of insight vs. knowledge, How To Become A Successful Trader is a very highly recommended reading before plunging wholeheartedly into volatile financial circles and the vagaries of the marketplace.


The Civil War Shelf

The Outbreak Of The Civil War
Jean Alicia Elster, editor
Greenhaven Press
c/o Gale San Diego
10911 Technology Place, San Diego, CA 92127
0737713445 $27.45 1-800-231-5163

A volume in the Greenhaven At Issue in History series and edited by Jean Alicia Elster, The Outbreak Of The Civil War is a scholastic text for young adults offering both primary and secondary sources concerning the morass of causes and conflicting agendas that contributed to the eruption of the American Civil War. An excellent, balanced, fair-minded and well-researched resource, The Outbreak Of The Civil War is part of the Opposing Viewpoints series and very highly recommended for both school and community library collections.

Civil War America
James Marten
ABC-CLIO Inc.
Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
1576072371 $85.00 1-800-368-6868

Compiled and edited by James Marten (Professor of History, Marquette University), Civil War America: Voices From The Home Front is a collection of personal testimonies of individuals drawn from both the North and the South, from blacks and whites, from the young and the old, from males and females, in order to give the reader an accurate, overall picture of what American life was like for those just off the battlefield during the terrible years of the American Civil War. A sober and involving text, Civil War America is strongly recommended for both academic Civil War Studies collections, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in Civil War History.

The Flags Of Civil War North Carolina
Glenn Dedmondt
Pelican Publishing Company
PO Box 3110, Gretna, LA 70054
1565549929 $20.95 1-800-843-1724

Compiled and written by educator and Civil War expert Glenn Dedmondt, The Flags Of Civil War North Carolina is a very straightforward reference presenting photographs, color illustrations, descriptions and history of the titular flags that flew over North Carolina when it seceded from the Union and fought on the side of the Confederacy during the years of the American civil war. Each page or two-page spread features the different flags of the various North Carolina regiments. A meticulously detailed resource offering very specific information for history and civil war buffs, The Flags Of Civil War North Carolina is a welcome contribution to the growing library of Civil War Studies and could well serve as a template for similar volumes for the other Confederate as well as Union states.

Scouts And Spies Of The Civil War
William Gilmore Beymer
Bison Books
c/o University of Nebraska Press
233 North 8th Street, Lincoln, NE 68588
www.nebraskapress.unl.edu
080326206X $19.95 www.amazon.com

Scouts And Spies Of The Civil War by William Gilmore Beymer (1881-1969) is an amazing collection compiled from both primary and secondary sources, including interviews, diaries, journals, letters, remembrances of family and friends and more. First published at the turn of the nineteenth century in an effort to present a realistic portrayal of spying efforts by both sides during the American Civil (as opposed to overly romanticized "cloak and dagger" accounts in popular fiction and imaginations of the time), Scouts And Spies Of The Civil War has superbly weathered the test of time and is now presented with a new, eye-opening introduction. Edited for contemporary readers by William B. Feis (Associate Professor of History, Buena Vista University), Scouts And Spies Of The Civil War continues to be a welcome and recommended addition to Civil War Studies academic library collections, and Civil War buff reading lists.


The Self-Help Shelf

Protect Yourself
Silver Lake Editors
Silver Lake Publishing
2025 Hyperion Avenue, L. A., CA 90027
www.silverlakepub.com
1563437651 $19.95 1-888-663-3091

Protect Yourself is a definitive and thoroughly "user friendly" instructional guide to successfully defending oneself against a variety of all manner of threats arising in a post-September 11th world. From keeping careful track of one's diet; to making plans against man-made or natural catastrophes; to guidelines for buying property insurance; to ways of coping with troublesome friends or family members, Protect Yourself shares a wealth of common sense "tips, tricks and techniques" for keeping ourselves and our families safe and sound. Protect Yourselves is very highly recommended reading for individuals and family providers everywhere.

Strong And Fearless
Phil Nuernberger, Ph.D.
Yes International Publishers
1317 Summit Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55105
0936663340 $15.95 yespublishers.com

Strong And Fearless: The Quest For Personal Power by Phil Nuernberger is basically a "self-help" guide to taking charge of one's own psyche, so as not to be controlled or overshadowed by fear or self-doubt. An inspirational and meditative guide to mastering skills of relaxation and mental discipline, Strong And Fearless is strongly recommended for personal self-help reading lists and self-improvement library resource collections.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

The Jews In Early America
Sandra Cumings Malamed
Fithian Press
c/o John Daniel & Co.
PO Box 2790, McKinleyville, CA 95519
1564744078 $15.95 1-800-662-8351

The Jews In Early America: A Chronicle Of Good Taste And Good Deeds is a chronicle of early Jewish individuals and peoples who made ther mark on American history makes for an important survey of early Jewish lives and communities and will appeal to any interested in a special study of our nation's early years. There's been relatively little written for the general audience on Colonial Jewish history, and with its "reader friendly" format, The Jews In Early America stands out as a superbly presented invitation to learn about early Judaic achievements in America.

Why Didn't the Press Shout?
Robert Moses Shapiro, Editor
KTAV Press
926 Newark Ave., Jersey City, NJ 07306
0881257753 $49.50 www.amazon.com

Why Didn't The Press Shout: American & International Journalism During The Holocaust is an in-depth survey of American and international journalism during the Holocaust and offers essays and scholarly analysis by over thirty scholars of journalism and history, who consider what was reported about the Holocaust in over a dozen countries and languages. Studies of such reporting in countries from the Soviet Union to the Vatican and Romania make for a thought-provoking analysis of how the media neglected the story or, in the case of Nazi countries, twisted it to their own political interests. A thought-provoking critique of the power of the press.

Zionism: A Brief History
Michael Brenner
Markus Wiener Publishers
231 Nassau Street, Princeton, NJ 08542
1558763015 $16.95 markuswiener.com

Written by Michael Brenner (Professor of Jewish History and Culture, University of Munich, Germany) and deftly translated for an English readership by Shelley L. Frisch, Zionism: A Brief History is a concise yet insightful survey of the movement of Jewish political Zionism, ranging from its variety of ideologies; to the political machinations that fostered the movement to the impact of the Holocaust; as well as the internal and external political problems confronting the State of Israel since its inception. An accessible yet scholarly introduction to the dynamics and repercussions of this movement, and its past and current effects on world history, Zionism: A Brief History is also available and recommended for library collections in a hardcover edition (1558763007, $38.95).

Shalom In My Heart, Salaam On My Lips
Gloria Becker Marchick
Micah Publications, Inc.
255 Humphrey St, Marblehead MA 01945
091628848X $15.00 micahbooks.com

Shalom In My Heart, Salaam On My Lips: A Jewish Woman In Modern Morocco is the personal memoir of Gloria Becker Marchick, a female Jewish teacher of "English as a Second Language" in Morocco. The second Intifada broke out just a few weeks after her arrival, putting her identity, humanity, sense of humor, and survival instincts to the test. A deeply personal and thoughtful testimony, at times alternately witty and somber, Shalom In My Heart, Salaam On My Lips is a unique and very strongly recommended contribution to Contemporary Judaic Studies and Middle East Studies supplemental reading lists.

Talmud For Everyday Living, Book 2
Hillel Gamoran
UAHC Press
633 Third Ave., NY, NY 10017-6778
0807408158 $10.00 1-888-489-8242

Talmud For Everyday Living, Book 2: Insights Into Buying And Selling by Hillel Gamoran (Lecturer in Talmud and Rabbinic Literature, University of Washington) is the second volume in a series form UAHC Press which is specifically dedicated to investigating what Judaism has to say about ethics with regard to the business world. Rabbi Gamoran draws from the Talmud itself when evaluating business dilemmas of the past, present, and future. A well-reasoned and unequivocally written spiritual guide that blends faith with practical necessity, Talmud For Everyday Living: Book 2 is a welcome and recommended addition to Judaic Studies reference collections and Business Ethics supplemental reading lists.

Jewish Statesmanship
Paul Eidelberg
University Press of America
4270 Boston Way, Lanham, MD 20706
0761823808 $41.00 univpress.com

Jewish Statesmanship: Lest Israel Fall is deftly written by Paul Eidelberg who exhibits an impressively comprehensive knowledge of Jewish history and Hebrew Scriptures, as well as considerable scholarship and expertise in political science. Predicting that Israel's current system of government needs to be drastically modified or else Israel will disappear as a Jewish state, Jewish Statesmanship both outlines the philosophical and practical problems, while offering thoughtful and thought-provoking remedies compatible with moral principles of the Hebrew Bible. A profound and necessary presentation offering vital and much-needed wisdom, Jewish Statesmanship is a welcome and recommended contribution to the current debate over the nature and future of Israel.


The Graphic Novel Shelf

Stylish Vittles: All The Way
Tyler Page
Dementian Comics
4849 Emerson Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55409
0972080112 $17.00 stylishvittles.com

Tyler Page's Stylish Vittles: All The Way is a black-and-white graphic novel presenting a unique love story for the modern day. An intimate couple must reconcile the hectic buzz of campus life, obligations to friends, plans for the future, respective past sexual histories, and more, in order to form a functional and loving teamwork relationship as a couple. Perhaps they even have a chance of going "all the way" in life's journey to commitment... or do they? Stylish Vittles is a deeply satisfying and insightful tale brought vividly to life with emotion invoking artwork.

NBM
555 8th Ave. #1202, NY NY 10018
www.nbmpublishing.com

Two new fine graphic novels from this publisher are highly recommended picks which shouldn't be missed. Christophe Blain's Speed Abater (1561633496, $13.95) holds special appeal in its all-color format as it tells of a destroyer in search of an enemy sub during wartime. Three novice sailors make a fatal mistake and find themselves in the grip of terror in this fast-paced adventure. The P. Craig Russell adaptation of Mozart's opera Magic Flute (156163350X, $24.95) in graphic novel form is nothing less than astonishing. This brings back Russell's name to new audiences, with his classic adaptation of the story taking the entire book and illustrating the underlying fantasy elements of the theme. Again, the full color format choice is particularly commendable in bringing the extent of Russell's adaptation to life.


The Hunting/Fishing Shelf

Hunting From Home
Christopher Camuto
W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, NY, NY 10110
0393049159 $24.95 1-800-233-4830

Hunting From Home: A Year Afield In The Blue Ridge Mountains by Christopher Camuto is a engaging and personal memoir of hunting and fishing afield in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Written with a passionate love of, and respect for, the beauty and providence of Nature; the satisfaction of enjoying a "border life"; and offering deeply insightful thoughts on man's relationship to the natural world and his role in claiming subsistence from it without being wasteful, Hunting From Home is an engaging read and strongly recommended for those who enjoy what the outdoors has to offer, as well as "armchair travelers" through the grand hunting grounds of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Color Guide To Steelhead Drift Fishing
Bill Herzog
Frank Amato Publications, Inc.
PO Box 82112, Portland, Oregon 97282
1878175599 $16.95 1-503-653-8108

Jammed from cover to cover with extensive instructions, tips, and color photographs on every page, Color Guide To Steelhead Drift Fishing is a truly "user friendly" resource on everything from acquiring bait; to casting the line; to preparing a caught fish for cooking. Accessibly written by expert fisherman Bill Herzog (who spends approximately 150 days a year on the river), Color Guide To Steelhead Drift Fishing is a very highly recommended guide and resource for dedicated steelhead drift anglers of all skill and experience levels.


The Railroading Shelf

Steam To The Grand Canyon
Pentrex
PO Box 94911, Pasadena, CA 91109
1563421178 $29.95 www.pentrex.com

Steam To The Grand Canyon: 3751 NRHS Convention Special is a superbly produced and presented full color DVD tour of the splendors of both modern railway technology and the natural beauty of America's famous landmark and landscape as seen from a railroading perspective from Los Angeles, California to Williams, Arizona. A panoramic railroad tour filled with raptly involving narration and truly eye-catching images, Steam To The Grand Canyon: 3751 NRHS Convention Special especially recommended for railroading enthusiasts and dedicated "armchair travelers".

Tourist Trains 2003
Empire State Railway Museum
Kalmbach Publishing Company
PO Box 1612 , Waukesha, WI 53187
0890244294 $16.95 1-800-533-6644

An annually updated resource, the Empire State Railway Museum's Tourist Trains 2003 is an exhaustive resource which is especially recommended for those tourists and travelers who happen to also be railroading fans. The 38th annual guide to tourist railroads and museums presenting more than 500 railroad-related attractions to visit (including ones that offer train rides, with open hours, fees, coupons good for discounts, and much, much more), Tourist Trains 2003 is commended as being an excellent, information-packed guide filled from cover to cover with fun railroading activities that the whole family can enjoy!

The Railway Paintings Of Alan Fearnley
David & Charles
c/o F & W Publications, Inc.
4700 E Galbraith Rd Cincinnati OH 45236
0715315013 $19.99 1-800-289-0963

The Railway Paintings Of Alan Fearnley is an impressively memorable artbook showcasing Alan Fearnley's captivating, full-color oil-on-canvas paintings of a wide variety of celebrated steam locomotives. Each individual painting (and they are truly gorgeous!) has its own full page of information devoted solely to it, as well as a brief commentary on the history of the locomotive being featured. A splendid artbook in its own right, The Railway Paintings Of Alan Fearnley is most especially recommended for train buffs and railroading enthusiasts.


The American History Shelf

Chinese In America
Iris Chang
Viking Press
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
0670031232 $29.95 1-800-847-5515

Iris Chang provides an intriguing history of one of the fastest-growing ethnic groups in this country, telling of the many accomplishments of Chinese-American immigrants and providing stories of families and individuals from all walks of life in the process. Political economic and cultural observations deftly blend in Chinese In America, a narrative history which offers a personal look at Chinese-American culture and lives.

John Bidwell And California
Michael J. Gillis & Michael F. Magliari
The Arthur H. Clark Company
PO Box 14707, Spokane, WA 99214
0870623168 $39.50 1-800-842-9286

The collaborative effort of Michael J. Gillis and Michael F. Maglian, John Bidwell And California: The Life And Writings Of A Pioneer 1841-1900 is an informative biography that draws upon pioneer John Bidwell's own writings about the time he lived in (which included the Gold Rush years), the history of the state of California, and a great deal more. Occasional black-and-white illustrations enhance this scholarly account, offering a unique view of the nineteenth-century American West through the eyes of a man who called it home. John Bidwell And California is a welcome and valued addition to Western American Frontier Studies reading lists in general and California History reference collections in particular.

South Carolina And The American Revolution
John W. Gordon
University of South Carolina Press
937 Assembly Street, 8th Floor, Columbia, SC 29208
157003480X $29.95 1-800-768-2500

South Carolina And The American Revolution: A Battlefield History by John W. Gordon (Professor of National Security Affairs, United States Marine Corps Command and Staff College, Quantico, Virginia) is a sharply written, encounter-by-encounter look at the deadly South Carolina battles from 1775 to 1783, many of which were crucial to winning America's independence from Great Britain. Troop movements, black-and-white illustrations, meticulous historical details enhance South Carolina And The American Revolution, a prized and recommended addition to American Revolutionary War Studies in general, and South Carolina State History reading lists in particular.

Calls To Arms
Russell D. Buhite
Scholarly Resources Inc.
104 Greenhill Ave, Wilmington DE 19805
0842025936 $22.95 www.scholarly.com

Compiled and edited by academician and historian Russell D. Buhite, Calls To Arms: Presidential Speeches, Messages, And Declarations Of War is a superbly presented primary source anthology of presidential declarations of war ranging from John Adams and the quasi-war he directed against France; to the harsh words George W. Bush has declaimed in response to Al-Qaida terrorist attacks. A straightforward and neatly organized compilation, Calls To Arms is a seminal work which is especially recommended to Political Science supplemental reading lists, and American History Studies academic reference collections.

Arizona Frontier Military Place Names 1846-1912
David V. Alexander
Yucca Tree Press
c/o Barbed Wire Publishing
270 Avenida de Mesilla, Las Cruces, NM 88005
1881325547 $13.00 barbed-wire.net

Now in a revised edition, Arizona Frontier Military Place Names 1846-1912 compiled and organized by David V. Alexander is an alphabetical listing of major sites from Arizona's Indian War days. Each site name is accompanied by a capsule of information about its township and range coordinates, elevation, description of the area, and the historical events and people associated with the site. An invaluable quick-lookup reference, Arizona Frontier Military Place Names 1846-1912 is a unique and highly recommended addition to American Frontier History collections. Also very strongly recommended is David Alexander and Daniel C.B. Rathbun's New Mexico Frontier Military Place Names (1881325504, $13.00).

The Custer Companion
Thom Hatch
Stackpole Books
5067 Ritter Rd, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
0811704777 $29.95 1-800-732-3669

The Custer Companion: A Comprehensive Guide To The Life Of George Armstrong Custer And The Plains Indian Wars by historian and Custer expert Thom Hatch combines an informative biography of George Armstrong Custer with a vividly presented history of the Plains Indian Wars. The Custer Companion covers The Surrender Flag Controversy; Custer's Mad Dash across Kansas; Wild Bill's Showdown with Tom Custer; Red Cloud's War; The Sand Creek Massacre; The Russian Grand Duke's Buffalo Hunt; The Arrest and Revenge of Rain-in-the-Face; The Midnight Ride of Charley Reynolds; and a wealth of other aspects of "Custeriana". Solid, straightforward text enhanced with numerous sidebars going into little-known details, as well as a profusion of black-and-white photographs coupled with the results of an exhaustive research, makes The Custer Companion an indispensable resource for anyone studying one of America's most colorful (and controversial) military figures of the 19th century -- a man whose turbulent character and impact on American frontier history evokes renewed interest in every new generation of Americans.

Capital Losses
James M. Goode
Smithsonian Institution Press
750 Ninth Street NW, Suite 4300, Washington, DC 20560-0950
1588341054 $69.95 1-800-782-4612

Now in an updated second edition, Capital Losses: A Cultural History Of Washington's Destroyed Buildings by Washington history expert James M. Goode is a carefully presented documentation and chronicle of the great architectural and cultural edifices of Washington, D.C., which have been lost to the endless grind of urban renewal in the years prior to 1978. That was the year in which crucial preservation legislation was passed. Packed from cover to cover with black-and-white photographs, enhancing a text which is extensive in detail, history, unique historical insights, Capital Losses is an exceptional architectural tour and a unique resource offering a kind of "window" into the architectural past of the nation's capital.

Disco Divas
Sherrie A. Inness
University of Pennsylvania Press
4200 Pine Street, 3rd floor, Philadelphia, PA 19104-4011
0812218418 $19.95 1-800-445-9880

Compiled, written and edited by Sherrie A. Inness, Disco Divas: Women And Popular Culture In The 1970s cogently examines the 1970s as an era of great social change, especially for women. Illustrating the reverberations of cultural shifts in the 60's, the changing images of women in popular culture and mass media, and the changes that continue to evolve as those generations of women grew older, Disco Divas is a timely and insightful contribution to Women's Studies reading lists and American Popular Culture Studies reference collections.

Letters From The Dust Bowl
Caroline Henderson
Alvin O. Turner, editor
University of Oklahoma Press
1005 Asp Avenue, Norman, OK 73019
0806135409 $14.95 1-800-627-7377

Deftly edited for contemporary readers by Alvin O. Turner, Letters From The Dust Bowl is a collection of letters and published materials written by Caroline Henderson (1877-1965), a woman who lived through the Oklahoma Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. Her articles on the Dust Bowl first began appearing in "Atlantic Monthly" in 1931, drawing the woes of American farmers into the public eye. Her correspondence and articles, which date from 1908 to 1966, offers insight into the daily struggle to put food on the table, and her descriptions of the dust storms that covered the Plains are unforgettable. Enhanced with a biographical essay and precise annotations supplementing this extraordinary compilation, Letters From The Dust Bowl is highly recommended for students of 20th Century American History.

Barrons
250 Wireless Rd., Hauppauge, NY 11788
1-800-645-3476

These 'Coming to America' titles from Barrons will reach a wide audience of readers; from young adults at the high school level to adults who want to become familiar with their ethnic roots. Each book focuses on the emigrant experience of a particular ethnic group, adding many color photos and illustrations to the cultural insights and history. Barry Moreno's Italian Americans (0764156241, $14.95), Tom Deignan's Irish Americans (076415-6276), Robert Stein's Jewish Americans (0764156268, $14.95) and David Boyle's African Americans (0764156284, $14.95) each provides very different histories of the group's arrival and experiences in the New World. An excellent set, with plenty of illustration conducive to leisure browsing.


The Social Issues Shelf

Stray Voltage
Wayne Michael Hall
Naval Institute Press
118 Maryland Av., Annapolis MD 21402
1591143500 $36.95 1-800-233-8764

Enemies of the U.S. who lack military might and money will use the strategies and tools of asymmetric warfare to win future conflicts: that's the contention of Wayne Michael Hall, a retired general with thirty years of intelligence experience. From potential conflicts prepared for with cyberspace to information superiority and deception, Stray Voltage advises a public and a governmental focus on merging brainpower with technology to meet and master this new threat.

The American Nightmare
Thomas A. Hockin
Lexington Books
4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 20706, Lanham, MD 20706
0739105256 $36.95 lexingtonbooks.com

The American Nightmare: Politics And The Fragile World Trade Organization by educator and investment expert Thomas A. Hockin offers a "reader friendly" presentation and analysis of the political challenges to free trade in general, and United States trade policy in particular. From addressing the problems and solutions to thorny issues in free trade itself; to ideological challenges and more to the WTO; to caste histories under the FTA and NAFTA; and a great deal more, The American Nightmare is a timely contribution to contemporary policy debates and a very highly recommended addition to Economic Studies reading lists and collections.

Reinventing Eden
Carolyn Merchant
Routledge
29 West 35th St., New York NY 10001
0415931649 $25.00 1-800-634-7064

The "Garden Of Eden" was a paradise lost, and mankind has spent centuries searching for it. Reinventing Eden reveals how the image and myth of Eden has actually led to further degradation of the planet, revealing its origins, its influence on political and social thought, and related issues concerning man and nature. Human manipulation of the environment in search of Eden has led to an erosion of nature: Reinventing Eden documents exactly how.

Romancing Mary Jane
Michael Poole
Greystone Books
c/o Douglas & McIntyre Publishing Group
2323 Quebeck Street, Suite 201, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V5T 4S7
1550547496 $19.95 1-800-367-9692

Romancing Mary Jane: A Year In The Life Of A Failed Marijuana Grower is the memoir of Michael Pools, an unabashed, unashamed, self-professed Canadian marijuana cultivator who combined his love of the outdoors with his passion for psychoactive plants. Michael's daily life, his resistance to the pressures of Canadian anti-drug laws, as well as his travails and insights fill the pages of this eye-opening book, one which is emphatically not intended for those intolerant of recreational marijuana use, yet amusing in its own right and a thoroughly interesting and thought-provoking contribution to the national dialogue over a "cannabis culture".

Our Final Hour
Martin Rees
Basic Books
c/o The Perseus Books Group
387 Park Avenue So., NY, NY 10016
0465068626 $25.00 1-800-242-7737

Martin Rees asserts in Our Final Hour that the odds are no better than half that the human race will survive to the end of this century. Martin Reesis a scholarly scientist, not a fanatic: his past writings have focused on analysis of the universe, and Our Final Hour persuasively imparts the alarming idea that in only another ten or twenty years, the rapidly evolving and expanding high technology used by terrorist groups could migrate to a few technically proficient fanatics as the result of rapid democratization of scientific information through the Internet. A frightening scenario, backed by facts, is Our Final Hour is timely and very strongly recommended reading.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

War Of The Flowers
Tad Williams
DAW
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
0756401356 $24.95 1-800-847-5515

War Of The Flowers departs from William's tendency toward multi-book sequels to provide a satisfying stand-lone fantasy set in Northern California and centering around a strange parallel world. A has-been rock singer who seeks refuge in an isolated woods cabin finds an odd memoir written by a relative who believes he's found a fairy world and finds it the key to a universe almost beyond imagination. Swift action and strong characterization make War Of The Flowers an excellent and original fantasy novel.

Baen Books
Box 1403, Riverdale, NY 10471
1-800-242-7737 www.amazon.com

Two new titles will provide science fiction fans with fascinating new reading. David Weber's Service Of The Sword (0743435-990, $26.00) provides Book 4 in the 'Worlds of Honor' series, depicting the world of one Honor Harrington whose life touches other worlds. Various writers contribute to embellishing her world in this collection; from veteran Timothy Zahn who tells of a young tactical officer who faces men with secret weapons and naval spies to Eric Flint, a frequent Baen contributor who tells of an idealistic young officer who finds himself in altered circumstances after a battle. Politics and swift action result. Jack Chalker's Kaspar's Box (074343563X, $24.00) tells of an interstellar search for the fabled Worlds of the Three Kings a lost goldmine legend which has brought many across the galaxy in a futile search. A chance encounter with alien forces brings an armed expedition to the third planet of the Three Kings, where they will face a dangerous encounter with the superior beings who created the worlds. Both are fine titles.

The Rising
Brian Keene
Delirium Books
PO Box 338, North Webster, IN 46555
1929653417 $50.00 deliriumbooks.com

The Rising by master wordsmith and storyteller Brian Keene, is a gruesome and macabre tale of horrific madness sweeping across the civilized world. The lucky ones are the dead and destroyed. The unlucky ones are reanimated in gruesome parodies of their former lives as human beings. One man with an ordinary tangled life is caught in the middle of the tides of damnation, in this blood-curdling and spine-tingling tale. The Rising is especially commended to the reading lists and personal collections of horror fantasy enthusiasts.

A Rendezvous In Averoigne
Clark Ashton Smith
Arkham House Publishers
PO Box 546, Sauk City, WI 53583
0870541560 $32.95 arkhamhouse.com

Ideal for introducing a whole new generation to one of the greatest fantasy authors ever to set pen to paper, A Rendezvous In Averoigne is an impressive collection of the classically horrific fantasy writings by Clark Ashton Smith, a man who wrote for "Weird Tales" alongside such legendary and groundbreaking authors as H. P. Lovecraft and Robert E. Howard. The fantastic settings, the plottings of dire necromancers, the perilous quests, and the struggles to survive in mysterious and hostile worlds, fill the pages of this macabre yet inviting anthology. The short stories comprising A Rendezvous In Averoigne have superbly weathered the decades since their original publications.

Ace Science Fiction
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
1-800-847-5515 www.amazon.com

Ian MacLeod's Light Ages (0441010555, $23.95) is not to be missed: it blends a story of an unusual kind of Victorian era with strong tale of a boy who is haunted by his childhood love a young woman who harbors a mysterious magic ability the same one that claimed his mother. Add class conflicts and a touch of fantasy and you have a compelling story of a Victorian London of another nature. Robin McKinely and Peter Dickinson's Water (0441010-563, $14.00) provides beautiful collection centered around water themes; from sea horses and mermaids to sea worlds and their rulers. Beautiful stories of enchantment abound.

Custer's Last Jump And Other Collaborations
Howard Waldrop, et. al.
Golden Gryphon Press
3002 Perkins Road, Urbana, IL 61802
1930846134 $24.95 1-800-888-4741

Compiled by Howard Waldrop (a renowned writer of deftly researched alternate-history stories and winner of both the Nebula and World Fantasy awards), Custer's Last Jump And Other Collaborations is an enthralling anthology of original short stories in which Howard Waldrop combined his talent with other skilled wordweavers such as George R. R. Martin, Bruce Sterling, and others. From a unique perspective on the saga of Troy; to a distant future in which Mankind is nearly extinct; to an alternate history when Crazy Horse uses Confederate monoplanes against Custer; Custer's Last Jump And Other Collaborations is a dazzling display of literary imagination, and a very strongly recommended read for science fiction fans enthusiasts everywhere.

ROC Books
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
1-800-847-5515 www.amazon.com

Syne Mitchell's Changeling Plague (045-1459105, $6.99 is a gripping futuristic story which is impossible to put down. Geoffrey Allen is a millionaire who buys a genetic cure for his killer disease cystic fibrosis only to find he's encouraged research which has loosed a plague on the planet. Geoffrey becomes a human guinea pig in the search for a cure, finding unlikely alliances in a rebellious research scientist with her own sins to atone for and a renegade computer hacker whose efforts to track a cure may change the nature of humanity. Compelling, with many unexpected twists and turns of plot. Nancy Kress edits the Nebula Awards Showcase 2003 (0451459091, $14.95), a powerful collection of the cream of the crop of 2002 stories. From Mike Resnick's surreal story of elephants on Neptune who face a new band of human conquerors to the story of children on the moon designed to serve as a stopgate for a possible catastrophe, this is filled with powerful tales.

Kissing Carrion
Gemma Files
Prime Books, Inc.
PO Box 36503, Canton, OH 44735
1894815637 $17.95 primebooks.net

Kissing Carrion is a macabre collection of seventeen horrific and original short story fantasies, each of which is carefully and dramatically crafted by author Gemma Files about dark magic, burning desires, and vampires that long for a great deal more than mere human blood. Hideous hungers and soul-consuming obsessions mark these lurid yet fascinating stories that fearfully keep one up late at night. Kissing Carrion is especially recommended to the attention of all horror fantasy enthusiasts.

Time Travelers, Ghosts, And Other Visitors
Nina Kiriki Hoffman
Five Star Books
295 Kennedy Memorial Drive, Waterville, ME 04901
078625338X $25.95 1-800-223-1244

Time Travelers, Ghosts, And Other Visitors is an imaginative anthology of nine short science fiction and fantasy by multiple Nebula and Hugo-award nominee Nina Kiriki Hoffman. These superbly crafted fantasy tales range from the exploits of a manipulated time traveler, to the award-nominated novella "Haunted Humans" where ghosts and mortals must join forces to stand against a vile killer. An unforgettable collection that spans both minds and worlds, Nina Hoffman's Time Traveler's, Ghosts, And Other Visitors clearly documents her as one of the very best in her chosen genre.


The Travel Shelf

Vintage France
Jim Tanner
iUniverse
2021 Pine Lake Road, Lincoln, NE 68512
0595233945 $13.95 iuniverse.com

Vintage France: Adventures Along The French Wine Route expresses delight in French cuisine, wines, and classic culture, with an exquisite eye for narrative detail. An excellent reading tour of the remarkable aspects of the wine culture of this proud, flavorful, and inviting nation from village vineyards to festivals, to simple hospitality.

Pleasures And Landscapes
Sybille Bedford
Counterpoint
c/o The Perseus Books Group
387 Park Avenue South, NY, NY 10016
www.counterpointpress.com
1582431701 $16.00 1-800-242-7737

Pleasures And Landscapes: A Traveller's Tales From Europe engagingly recounts the experiences and observations of Sybille Bedford. The format is that of a one woman travelogue as Bedford traveled through France, Italy, Portugal, Yugoslavia, and other European countries and wrote travel articles for Vogue, Esquire and other magazines. Vivid, chatty, with an insightful eye for the human condition that transcends borders and nationalities, Pleasures And Landscapes is an immersive and memorable continental tour which is especially recommended for dedicated armchair travelers!

Roadside Geology Of Nebraska
Harmon D. Maher Jr., et al.
Mountain Press
PO Box 2399, Missoula, MT 59806-2399
0878424571 $18.00 www.mtnpress.com

The collaborative effort of Harmond D. Maher Jr.; George F. Englemann; and Robert D. Shuster, Roadside Geology Of Nebraska is an informed and informative travel guide to the diverse and appealing geology of Nebraska (including Agate Fossil Beds National Monument; Scotts Bluff National Monument; Toadstool Geological Park; Ashfallstate Historical Park; Ponca State Park; Indian Cave State Park; Schramm Park; and Niobrara State Park) which is quite visible and accessible to anyone vacationing or traveling in the state. From rhinoceroses in natural tombs of volcanic ash, to toadstools in jointed sandstone, Roadside Geology Of Nebraska is packed with maps, visible features seen from the perspective of the state highways, fascinating fun facts, and a great deal much more. If you are planning a trip through Nebraska and have an interest in geology, give a reading to Roadside Geology Of Nebraska for a truly memorable experience!

Michigan Vacation Guide
Kathleen R. Tedsen
TR Desktop Publishing
PO Box 180271, Utica, MI 48318-0271
0963595350 $14.95 www.mivg.com

Now in an updated and expanded seventh edition, Michigan Vacation Guide: Cottages, Chalets, Condos, B&B's presents updated information on rental properties, regional attractions, tours, wineries, casinos, and a whole lot more that would make any vacation or business trip in Michigan simply unforgettable. The collaborative, painstaking effort of Kathy Tedsen and Bev Rydel, the Michigan Travel Guide is enhanced with black-and-white photographs and offers the traveler a wealth of information about various featured sites. The Michigan Vacation Guide a truly first-rate and highly recommended resource planning out an itinerary whether it be for a day-trip, getaway weekend, or an extended vacation.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

The Angel Acronym
Paul M. Edwards
Signature Books
564 West 400 North, Salt Lake City, UT 84116-3411
156085166X $21.95 1-800-356-5687

Paul M. Edwards' The Angel Acronym is an involving and original mystery, featuring the head director of church education, Toom Taggart, who suspects foul play when the church archivist is found dead in the temple complex. A dark and twisted tale of hidden motives, and the conflicting politics of bureaucracy, religious zeal, and public perception, The Angel Acronym is a fascinating page-turner to be read closely to the last page.

Berkeley Prime Crime
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014
1-800-847-5515 www.amazon.com

Three excellent mysteries are recommended picks offering fast-paced plots and intriguing action. Donna Andrews' Click Here For Murder (0425188566, $22.95) presents quite a different detective story: a sleuth who is an artificial intelligence personality blending software with a human twist. A systems engineer is her sidekick and helps solve murders in this unusual twist. Rosemary Stevens' Murder In The Pleasure Gardens (042519051X, $22.95) presents one Beau Brummell, who opens his own gentlemen's club only to find his club's success becomes embroiled in scandal and a duel. Murder adds to the distasteful excitement and builds intrigue in this fascinating mystery. Earlene Fowler's Sunshine And Shadow (0425188558, $22.95) tells of a mystery writer's journey to San Celina to reconnect with the town she left years before. Sleuth Benni becomes involved in a mystery surrounding her when murder takes a hand in affairs.


The Theatre/Cinema Shelf

Film, Video And TV Dictionary
Garth Gardner
Garth Gardner Publishing
2545 Sandbourne Ln, Herndon VA 20171
1589650069 $24.95

An important reference to the film industry that will find its home in any library collection serious about production and design, Garth Gardner's Film, Video And TV Dictionary (1589650069, $24.95) defines the technical and digital terms used in the production of these mediums, with an A-Z set of definitions making it easy for students of drama and film to locate explanations and examples.

Avid Editing
Sam Kauffman
Focal Press
200 Wheeler Road, 6th floor, Burlington, MA 01803
0240805410 $49.99 focalpress.com

Now in a completely updated and expanded second edition, Avid Editing: A Guide For Beginning And Intermediate Users by Sam Kauffmann (Boston University College of Communication) is a straightforward "how-to" guide regarding nonlinear editing on the Avid Xpress DV, Avid Media Composer, and Avid Xpress softwares on the Windows and Macintosh platforms. An excellent primer for newcomers to the software, covering the basics of editing, trimming, handling sound, and a great deal more, Avid Editing now features new chapters on 16: 9 Widescreen Editing, and Script Integration. Very highly recommended for students of film and video editing, Avid Editing is enhanced with an accompanying DVD of video and audio clips, as well as a shooting script upon which to practice editing projects.

New One-Act Plays For Acting Students
Deb Bert & Norman Berts, Eds.
Meriwether Publishing
Box 7710, Colorado Springs, CO 80933
1566080843 $17.95 1-800-937-5297

New One-Act Plays For Acting Students is a new anthology of over twenty modern one-act plays provides plays designed with teens in mind: play times are 8-15 minutes, each offers about 5 minutes acting time per character, and all are balanced roles which teach teens the basics of a good play and good acting skills. Highly recommended for young actors and their directors, New One-Act Plays For Acting Students is packed from cover to cover with high-caliber scripts which teach a variety of performance techniques.

Dreamcatcher: The Shooting Script
William Goldman & Lawrence Kasdan
Newmarket Press
18 East 48th Street, NY, NY 10017
1557045666 $19.95 newmarketpress.com

Dreamcatcher: The Shooting Script is a unique book that presents the William Goldman and Lawrence Kasdan collaborative film script of the movie "Dreamcatcher", along with an extensive commentary describing how Stephen King's popular horror novel was successfully adapted to the silver screen. A superb resource that teaches by example the tips, tricks, and techniques of professional screen writers, Dreamcatcher: The Shooting Script is a welcome addition to personal, professional, and film school resource collections and reference archives.

"Movies Were Always Magical"
Leo Verswijver
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
0786411295 $35.00 1-800-253-2187

"Movies Were Always Magical" is a truly wonderful collection of interviews with 19 Hollywood directors, actors, and producers from the 1930s to the 1950s. Black-and-white photographs and extended notes enhance the commentaries of Pat Boone, Jeff Corey, Kathyrn Grayson, and many, many more of the truly great names from filmmaking of yesteryear. Especially for classic movie buffs, "Movies Were Always Magical" is an impressive and commended addition to any Theatrical Studies and Hollywood History reading list and reference collections.

Play By Play
Jonathan Kalb
Limelight Editions
118 East 30th Street, NY, NY 10016
www.limelighteditions.com
087910984X $17.95 1-212-532-5525

Play By Play: Theater Essays & Reviews, 1993-2002 is a collection of essays and reviews by Jonathan Kalb, a winner of the George Nathan Award for Dramatic Criticism. From offering a disparagingly sharp view of the state of current theater criticism, dubbed "Critical Mess"; to a thoughtful appraisal of the work of Samuel Beckett; to the latest trends of Broadway musicals, Play By Play: Theater Essays & Reviews, 1993-2002 is offers an engaging and significant read which is strongly recommended for the contemporary Broadway Theater enthusiast.

The Cinema Of Robert Zemeckis
Norman Kagan
Taylor Trade Publishing
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, Maryland 20706
0878332936 $18.95 1-800-462-6420

The Cinema Of Robert Zemeckis by Hollywood cinema historian and expert Norman Kagan, is an informed and informative survey and analysis of award-winning filmmaker Roger Zemeckis' life and his dazzling, memorable, and often pioneering works of cinematic excellence, including "Back to the Future", "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?", "Forrest Gump", and more. Part biography, part film study, The Cinema Of Robert Zemeckis is a truly fascinating work and especially recommended for fans of Zemeckis' cinema who want to learn more about the ideas and the man that crafted such enduring silver screen favorites.

Notes On Directing
Frank Hauser & Russell Reich
RcR Creative Press
400 Central Park West, Suite 7S, New York, NY 10025-5833
0972425500 $19.95 1-800-345-6665

Notes On Directing is a collection of wisdom gathered by Frank Hauser (Director of the Oxford Playhouse for sixteen years) and Russell Reich (Artistic Associate at the Circle Repertory Company, New York) over a lengthy directing careers. Hauser and Reich offer invaluable tips on how directors can help their actors better get into character, internalizing a script, performing their roles efficiently (without micromanaging), and a great deal more. Each individual tip is straightforwardly and usefully presented. Useful for theater directors at all levels of experience and expertise, Notes On Directing is especially recommended for the novice director in school and community productions as an easy-to-grasp supplementary instructional and reference resource.

Casting Directors Tell It Like It Is
Joel Asher Studio
c/o 411 Video Information (publicity)
PO Box 1223, Pebble Beach, CA 93953
VHS $49.95 www.411videoinfo.com

Casting Directors Tell It Like It Is presents and showcases for aspiring actors (as well as students of Cinematic Studies) the wisdom, experience, and advice of four casting directors (Fern Champion, Danny Goldman, Lindsay Chag, and Joey Paul). An informed and informative 40-minute video of what casting directors look for in a photo; tips for showcasing oneself and handling callbacks; the star qualities that set a chosen few actors apart from the rest; and a great deal more make Casting Directors Tell It Like It Is a "must-see" for anyone seriously interested in a performing career on stage, in television, or in film.


The Fiction Shelf

Random House Large Print
www.randomlargprint.com

Three large print novels by top-rated authors expand this publisher's excellent, growing cache and offer satisfying variety. Jan Karon's In This Mountain (0375728-201, $14.95) provides the seventh book in the Mitford Years series, but readers needn't be old hands to enjoy her style. This finds Father Tim and Cynthia again living in Mitford, with Father Tim facing the unwelcome choices of either change or retirement. A compelling story of faith emerges.Kristin Hannah's Between Sisters (0375432132, $25.95) is a top pick novel which tells of sisters and the bonds of family. A woman haunted by past failures seeks to reconcile with an alienated sister. The large print makes this a fine read which will especially attract sight-impaired readers who long for more literary quality in the picks available. Those who enjoy suspense will welcome Iris Johansen's Dead Aim (43192-6, $26.95), a thriller which tells of a killer focused on a photographer. The larger print makes the fast-paced action easy to absorb. All three are winners.

The Water Dancers
Terry Gamble
Morrow
10 E. 53rd St., New York NY 10022
0060542667 $24.95 1-800-242-7737

In Terry Gamble's novel, The Water Dancers, a poor orphan teen Native American comes to work in a family summer home in post-war summer 1945, and finds her life changed through her assignment to the family's emotionally shattered son Woody, who has lost a leg in the war. Woody's pain blends with her sad understanding to bring about an uncertain romance which will change both their lives.

The Guardian
Nicholas Sparks
Warner Books
1271 Avenue of Americas, NY NY 10020
0446527793 $24.95 1-800-759-0190

Julie lost her husband to brain cancer and she's left a lonely widow until some unexpected gifts from her husband begin her recovery. Four years later she has the choice of two seemingly wonderful men and a nightmare which will lead her to a life-threatening situation instead of the peaceful romance she desires. The Guardian is commended as an intense story of emotional recovery and new romance.

A Town Where Lights Are Blue
William Saffell
Quiet Storm Publishing
PO Box 1666, Martinsburg, WV 25402
www.quietstormpublishing.com
0971429685 $22.95 www.amazon.com

Set in Japan in the 1970s, William Saffell's A Town Where Lights Are Blue is a novel about John Sky, an American Vietnam War veteran who lives among the shadows of Tokyo bars and nightspots. Two women, Sayoko (a young cabaret hostess) and Miyako (a reserved, aging businesswoman) are to have an enduring effect on his life. A Town Where Lights Are Blue is recommended as a powerful, original tale of friendship, love, and adjusting to daily life -- in or out of the cultural mainstream.

Conflicted
Michael Culp
Mecox Bay Press
Box 495, Southampton, NY 11969-0495
0972796185 $30.00 www.amazon.com

David's special brokerage assignment will gain him $20 million if conflict of interest probes don't bring down the golden dream in this story of a researcher and analyst whose involvement in business brings him to unethical decisions. The author's own research background and position as a high-ranking analyst lends authenticity and real business savvy to Conflicted, a business novel of the stock market and success.


The Audiobook Shelf

A Patriot's Handbook
Caroline Kennedy
Hyperion Audiobooks
1401396658 $24.98 1-800-759-0190

Caroline Kennedy's collage of poems, stories and speeches celebrating America will appeal to any patriotic sentiment: it features archival recordings selected by Kennedy of Neal Armstrong, Robert and John Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr, and others who have made an impact on America. Many are from archives; others are read by famous narrators such as Edward Kennedy and James Earl Jones. An exceptional collection.

Random House Audio
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
1-800-726-0600 www.amazon.com

Two new audios provide wonderful listening opportunities for audio enthusiasts. For solid adventure you can't beat western novelist Louis L'Amour's From The Listening Hills (0739302884, $18.00); especially when it's spiced with actor John Lloyd's smooth voice, and brought to life in an unabridged production. Six short stories tell of outlaws, lawmen, and Western adventure. Don't Know Much About History (0739303961, $24.95) by Kenneth Davis comes to life in a compact disc abridgement narrated by Jeff Woodman with Jonathan Davis. The classic's revised, expanded format teaches American history as you've never heard it before, with the audio format reinforcing the lessons and bringing the message to life. Both are excellent recommendations.

Good Faith
Jane Smiley
Recorded Books
270 Skipjack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
1402536348 $34.99 recordedbooks.com

Narrator Richard Poe's successful career in theater and TV translates well to the audio format in general and to this avid story in particular as he brings to life Smiley's story of a New Jersey realtor who is divorced and seeking a fresh start. A former IRS agent becomes involved with a rich-quick scheme and the two find themselves on the verge of either bankruptcy or riches beyond belief in this thriller.

The Cat Who Killed Lilian Jackson Braun
Robert Kaplow
New Millennium Audio
301 North Canon Drive, Suite 214, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
No ISBN $25.00 www.nmaudio.com

Robert Kaplow's outstanding mystery parody, The Cat Who Killed Lilian Jackson Braun, is the unabridged and superbly produced audiobook version. Burlesque and humorous, Kaplow borrows the identity of the real and popular author of twenty-four "Cat Who..." mystery series as that of the unfortunate, decapitated murder victim at the center of a morass of bizarre extremes. A most raucous work of fiction, The Cat Who Killed Lilian Jackson Braun is superbly narrated by Arte Johnson and highly recommended for those who are not faint of heart! 4 cassettes, 4.75 hours

Darwin's Children
Greg Bear
Books on Tape, Inc.
Box 25122, Santa Ana, CA 92799-5122
www.librarybooksontape.com
0736689672 $72.00 1-800-541-5525

Nebula award winner Greg Bear's Darwin's Children is the fascinating, unabridged science fiction audiobook sequel to "Darwin's Radio." Ten years after "upgraded" miracle children begin to be born to mothers across the world, generation has been pitted against generation in turmoil and s