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Volume 14, Number 3 March 2004 Home | IBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Photography Shelf Metaphysical Shelf
Self-Help Shelf Business Shelf Language Shelf
Military Shelf Graphic Novel Shelf Journalism Shelf
Political Science Shelf Education Shelf Jobs/Careers Shelf
International Shelf Religion/Spirituality Shelf Antiques/Collectibles Shelf
Parenting Shelf Needlecraft Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Money/Finance Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf Writing/Publishing Shelf
Artbook Shelf Science Shelf Library Science Shelf
Railroading Shelf Travel Shelf Fiction Shelf
Library Video/DVD Shelf Cookbook Shelf Buddhist Studies Shelf
Theatre/Cinema Shelf Library CD Music Shelf World History Shelf
Musicbook Shelf Audiobook Shelf Computer Shelf
Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Literary Shelf Genealogy Shelf
Philosophy Shelf Gardening Shelf Interior Design Shelf
Automotive Shelf Dance Shelf Gaming Shelf
Architecture Shelf Biography Shelf Judaic Shelf
Criminology Shelf Psychology Shelf Native American Shelf
Civil War Shelf Nautical Shelf Human Sexuality Shelf
Social Issues Shelf Woodworking Shelf Martial Arts Shelf


Reviewer's Choice

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

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

Pool Scaping
Catronia Tudopr Erler
Storey Books
210 MassMoca Way, N. Adams, MA 02147
1580173853 $19.95 storeybooks.com

Transform the swimming pool of a backyard into a Tuscan paradise with tiles and flowering plants, or create a pool with a beach-like presence filled with beach plants: that's the idea of Pool Scaping, a title which covers both swimming pool decor and appropriate landscaping around it. Pool Scaping is a lovely guide which covers the specifics of plants in a water surrounding.

The Style Sourcebook
Judith Miller
Firefly Books Ltd.
4 Daybreak Lane, Westport, CT 06880
1552977919 $59.95 1-800-387-5085

This highly recommended reference will find its way to any library with holdings in the decorative arts: The Style Sourcebook covers fashionable styles of interior decoration from the Middle Ages to modern times and offers over two thousand color photos to enhance its history of the evolution of design styles. A historical overview introduction deftly blends into chapters which focus on fabrics, wallpapers, paints, tiles and flooring each considering varieties, history and evolution, and differences in mediums. Concluding with a directory listing international manufacturers and distributors, this revised classic is a winner.

Yodel-Ay-Ee-Oooo
Bart Plantenga
Routledge Press
29 W. 35th St., New York NY 10001
0415939909 $19.95 1-800-634-7064

Yodel-Ay-Ee-Oooo is the first book to provide an analysis of the art of yodeling as a world-wide phenomenon. From the Swiss mountains to the African Pygmies and beyond, this provides regional surveys of yodeling styles and yodelers, showing that the art has its roots in many countries and throughout the musical world. Add discographies of featured yodelers and you have a lively reference unparalleled in the music industry.

And Round Me Rings
Ann Spencer
Tundra Books
PO Box 1030, Plattsburgh, NY 12901
0887765971 $11.95 tundrabooks.com

Any interested in bells, whether it be musically or otherwise, will find Ann Spencer's And Round Me Rings to be a wonderful history of bells in general, with history reading like fiction in all its drama. Bell tales and folklore cover the world and provide facts and folklore gleaned from centuries of accounts about bells. Highly recomended for school and community library collections, And Round Me Rings is a marvelous and fun title.

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

The British satire boom created an abundance of material for comedians in the US and Britain, and formed a foundation for American humor and comedy. Humphrey Carpenter's A Great, Silly Grin (1586480-812, $27.50) provides a narrowed focus on the British satire boom of the 1960s, from Beyond the Fringe to popular shows which made it to the US. The assessment of the impact of satire on America and its own productions makes for an important survey. Joan Burbick's Rodeo Queens And The American Dream (1586481118, $26.00) examines the women of the rodeo: those who traveled the rural West for years and who became 'rodeo royalty' from the 1930s onward. Women's stories tell of their successes and failures riding the rodeo circuit in this involving guide.

New Dictionary Of Cultural Literacy
E.D. Hirsch, Jr., et.al.
Houghton Mifflin
215 Park Ave. South, NY, NY 10003
0618226478 $29.95 1-800-225-3362

New Dictionary Of Cultural Literacy provides a basic, working knowledge of cultural changes and literary topics which range from concepts of the digital divide and Kwanzaa to pheromones, spam, and different cultural icons which have changed over the centuries. The chapters are organized by general topic (world history, American history, politics, psychology and sociology) and provide an A-Z reference for each chapter. Browsers and students alike will find it handy.

Oshkosh At 150
Michael J. Goc
New Past Press
PO Box 558, Friendship, WI 53934
www.newpastpress.com
0938627597 $40.00 1-608-339-7191

Published to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Oshkosh's incorporation in 1853, Oshkosh At 150: An Illustrated History Of Oshkosh is an informed and informative, single-volume history which aptly chronicles stories of this quirky and wonderful Wisconsin city -- and the people wh have lived there over the years. Very nicely illustrated with a wealth of black-and-white photographs, Oshkosh At 150 is an excellent gift or souvenir book, extensively researched and offering a detailed, wide-eyed glimpse into local history, and a "must" for all public school and community library Wisconsin History collections.

Illuminating The Particular
John Gurda & Christel T. Maass
Wisconsin State Historical Society
University of Wisconsin Press, dist.
816 State St., Madison, WI 53706-1482
0870203479 $39.95 www.shsw.wisc.edu

The collaborative effort of John Gurda (Seven-time winner of the Wisconsin Historical Society's "Award of Merit") and Christel T. Maass (Academic Librarian, Special Collections Department, Golda Meir Library, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee), Illuminating The Particular is an impressive compilation of the photography of Roman B. J. Kwasniewski in a documentary celebration of the Polish American immigrant experience in Milwaukee, Wisconsin prior to the years of World War II. These were the critical pre-war years (1913 to 1947) were when the children and grandchildren of the Polish immigrant community in Milwaukee were transitioning and evolving into full fledged American citizens. A strongly recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library Wisconsin History collections, Illuminating The Particular provides a superb visual showcasing of Milwaukee's second largest ethnic group and their distinctive community which developed and distinctively hallmarked Milwaukee's South Side.

Native People Of Wisconsin
Patty Loew
Wisconsin Historical Society Press
University of Wisconsin Press, dist.
816 State Street, Madison, WI 53706-1482
www.wisc.edu/wisconsinpress/books
0870203487 $13.95 1-800-621-2736

The fifth title in the outstanding "New Badger History" series for students ages 8 to 14, and written as readable, informational, and enjoyable for all ages, Native People Of Wisconsin by Patty Loew presents the stories of the twelve Native Nations in Wisconsin. Surveying the unique culture, traditions, tribal history, and life today for each nation, and wonderfully enhanced with maps, illustrations, pronunciation guidelines, a simple glossary, and more, Native People Of Wisconsin is an ideal addition to Native American Studies and Wisconsin History library collections and as a supplemental resource for grade school, middle school, and home schooling educational curriculums.

Personal Legal Forms Simplified
Daniel Sitarz
Nova Publishing Company
1103 W. College St, Carbondale, IL 62901
0935755977 $28.95 novapublishing.com

Expertly compiled by attorney Daniel Sitarz, Personal Legal Forms Simplified is a no-nonsense consumer reference which is packed from cover to cover with everything an American needs to know concerning basic contracts, wills, living trusts, bills of sale, promissory notes, and more. Its easy-to-use forms (valid in all 50 states and Washington D.C.), are both available in the text and are also included on CD. Personal Legal Forms Simplified is an excellent and strongly recommended resource for ordinary citizens with no specialized legal training or experience of their own.

Ocean Treasure
Terry Johnson & Kurt Byers
Alaska Sea Grant College Program
University of Alaska Fairbanks
Box 755040, Fairbanks, AK 99775-9990
1566120802 $25.00 uaf.edu/seagrant

Expertly written by Terry Johnson (commercial fisherman, journalist, Marine Advisory agent in Homer Alaska, and Professor of Fisheries with the University of Alaska - Fairbanks) and deftly edited for the non-specialist general reader by Kurt Byers, Ocean Treasure: Commercial Fishing In Alaska is a fact-filled discussion of everything from how fishing boats operate; to how price is set for salmon; to thorny conservation and wildlife management issues; to the history and methodologies of Alaskan commercial fishing, and more. A fascinating compendium, Ocean Treasure offers the reader a wealth of information and insight on the contemporary fishing industry in Alaska and the lives of the people who work in it.

Baking Soda
Vicki Lansky
Book Peddlers
15245 Minnetonka Boulevard, Minnetonka, MN 55345
0916773418 $8.95 bookpeddlers.com

Written by Vicki Lansky (a contributing editor to "Family Circle" magazine), Baking Soda: Over 500 Fabulous, Fun & Frugal Uses You've Probably Never Thought Of is a handy householder's tip guide filled from cover to cover with useful applications for baking soda. Ranging from cooking tips, to kitchen care and cleaning, to personal hygiene, doing laundry, and so much more, Baking Soda is enthusiastically recommended as a practical, informative, "user friendly" and money-saving compilation of household suggestions.


The Photography Shelf

Mastering Nikon Compact Digital Cameras
Peter iNova
Graphics Management Press
10520 Ohio Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90024
www.GMBOOKS.com
1882383125 $49.95 1-310-475-2988

A rich, detailed, information-laden and easy-to-pick-up and use guide, Peter iNova's Mastering Nikon Compact Digital Cameras is an interactive CD software which is fully compatible with both Macintosh and Windows platforms. Featuring extensive "walk-through" instructions to making the most of camera systems, special effects, computer software, and more, Mastering Nikon Compact Digital Cameras will improve any dedicated photographer's digital photography skills with respect to the economical Nikon Compact Digital Camera. Also very highly recommended is Peter iNova's The Sony Advanced Cyber-Shot eBook (1882383184, $49.95) written specifically for practitioners of all skill and experience levels. In-depth camera courses, digital photography lessons, demo software, live internet connections, pdf files, example files, and so much more make The Sony Advanced Cyber-Shot eBook an advanced, interactive self-teaching guide of the highest order.

Truth And Photography
Jerry L. Thompson
Ivan R. Dee
1332 Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60622-2694
156663539X $27.50 www.amazon.com

Pictures via camera reflect not only what the photographer sees, but what he thinks about. The most successful reflect an understanding of things as much as their image, and Jerry Thompson's exploration of the relationship between seeing and thinking in Truth And Photography provides a set of fine duotone photos to illustrate essays reflecting on working photography experiences.

Art Of The Chopper
Tom Zimberoff
Motorbooks International
c/o MBI Publishing Company
380 Jackson Street, St. Paul, MN 55101
0760315728 $39.95 1-800-826-6600

Art Of The Chopper is a flawless showcase for the photographic skills of Tom Zimberoff. In addition to visually profiling twenty top motorcycle builders, Zimberoff enhances his presentation with an informed and analytical commentary revealing the design philosophies and unique styles behind the manufacture and customization of these outstanding two-wheel motorized vehicles. Art Of The Chopper is a superb compendium of information enhanced photos and a simply outstanding tribute that will be much appreciated by all motorcycling enthusiasts and "chopper buffs".

Waiting For Daylight
Janell Kleberg
Stoecklein Publishing, LLC
PO Box 856, Ketchum, ID 83340
1931153272 $60.00 1-800-727-5191

Waiting For Daylight: King Ranch: Images From The Past is a marvelous showcase of full-color photographs taken by Janell Kleberg from horseback while working cattle in South Texas, Brazil, Argentina, and Australia. Descriptive captions add insight to the moving images of ranch and animal herding life. Providing the reader with a unique suspension of the ever-present flow of time, the beautiful scenery, the hard-working horses, and superbly documented images of everyday life create and unforgettable window into the lives of dedicated men and women employed in the hard but rewarding work of ranching.

Aerial
Jason Hawkes
Rockport Publishers Inc.
33 Commercial Street, Gloucester, MA 01930-5089
2880467276 $35.00 rockpub.com

Very highly recommended for personal and community library Photography Book collections, Aerial: The Art Of Photography From The Sky by aerial photography Jason Hawkes is a compendium of truly spectacular full-color photography book featuring sweeping viewpoints from high above the earth. The informed and informative text offers unique insight into these amazing one-of-a-kind visual scenarios perfectly captured by camera from above, compiled into a visually glorious coffee table book.

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

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

Rick Sammon's Complete Guide To Digital Photography
Rick Sammon
W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, NY, NY 10110
www.wwnorton.com
0393325512 $45.00 1-800-233-4830

A very highly recommended contribution to both novice and professional photography reference collections, Rick Sammon's Complete Guide To Digital Photography is a comprehensive self-teaching tool featuring 107 individual lessons covering all aspects of effectively taking, editing, storing, printing, and sharing high quality digital images. Full-color illustration enhances a meticulous text which offers detailed walkthroughs, tutorials, and more to fill the pages of this superbly organized and presented "how-to guide" written especially for photographers adapting their visual media to the diverse complexities and challenges of the Information Age.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

A Witch's Guide To Psychic Healing
Gavin Frost & Yvonne Frost
Weiser Books
368 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210
1578632951 $18.95 redwheelweiser.com

A welcome addition to any Metaphysical Studies reference collection, A Witch's Guide To Psychic Healing: Applying Traditional Therapies, Rituals, And Systems by Gavin and Yvonne Frost is a truly excellent introduction into the techniques that Wiccans practice in order to promote physical and spiritual healing. From nutrition and exercise guidelines especially for witches; to true stories of Wiccan self-healing; to the renewing power of meditation, and more, A Witch's Guide To Psychic Healing is an uplifting and insightful discussion of practiced techniques to promote bodily and emotional wellness.

Count Michael Maier: Life And Writings
J. B. Craven
Ibis Press/Nicolas-Hays, Inc.
PO Box 1126, Berwick, ME 03901-1126
0892540834 $16.95 nicolashays.com

First published in 1914, the photo-mechanically reproduced edition of Count Michael Maier: Life And Writings by J. B. Craven analyzes all of the works about alchemy created by Count Michael Maier (1568-1622). Offering a biography of this alchemical pioneer, his pursuit for the formula that would transmute lead into gold, his views of alchemy as both science and a metaphor for spiritual attainment, and so much more, Count Michael Maier: Life And Writings is an amazing compilation that sublimely captivates a creative passion that transcends its century of origin. Count Michael Maier: Life And Writings is an invaluable addition to contemporary Alchemy Studies reading lists and reference collections.

New Page Books
PO Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
1-800-227-3371 www.newpagebooks.com

Four new titles from this publisher provide intriguing discussions of rituals, spells, and new age rites. Hillary Webb's Exploring Shamanism (1564146634, $13.99) examines tribal experiences of reality with an eye to showing how their perceptions lead to the evolution of the shaman's role in their social and spiritual well-being. Basic skills essential to a Shaman practitioner make this more than just a history. Carl McColman's Before You Cast A Spell (1564147169, $13.99) provides a lively new age spell book which examines the underlying spiritual principles of magic. It explains universal laws behind magical practices and is meant to provide a basic understanding of magic, its foundations, and what it can and can't do. Denise Dumars and Lori Nyx's Dark Archetype (1564146936, $13.99) examines the power of darkness, why it's so frightening, and how to focus on the magic of various goddesses to thwart fears and balance dark sides. History and myths associated with each archetype of darkness provide plenty of foundation material for understanding. Kerri Connor's Pocket Spell Creator (1564147150, $9.99) provides a very hand Wiccan spell guide which puts essential lists of magical correspondences at one's fingertips. Perfect and create spells easier and faster using this notebook of formulas.

Tarot And Other Meditation Decks
Emily E. Auger
McFarland & Company, Inc
PO Box 611, Jefferson, NC 28640
www.mcfarlandpub.com
0786416742 $39.95 1-800-253-2187

Highly recommended for Metaphysical Studies and Art History reference collections, Tarot And Other Meditation Decks: History, Theory, Aesthetics, Typology by Emily E. Auger (Professor of art History, Malaspina University College, British Columbia, Canada) is more a work of art history than a systematic study of the metaphysical and meditative aid that is the traditional Tarot deck. Black-and-white photographs of a wide variety of illustrated deck styles, along with extensive insights concerning various interpretations of a theme both artistically and in actual tarot readings, Tarot And Other Meditation Decks is a superbly researched and presented in-depth exploratory that informatively reveals the significance of artistic passion in an often-overlooked venue of visual imagery in the history of Western Art.

Llewellyn
PO Box 64383, St. Paul MN 55164-0383

Three new titles provide solid reference detail for fans of Wicca, tarot and new age spirituality. Bill and Judi Genaw and Chic & S. Tabatha Cicero's Golden Dawn Enochian Skrying Tarot (0738702013, $39.95) is an enchanting gift set offering a complete system for divination, skrying and rituals. 89 cards and an accompanying detailed book reflect the teachings of Enochian magic and traditions, offering a unique tarot deck which is two separate, distinct Tarot decks in one pack. Donald Tyson's Familiar Spirits (0738704210, $14.95) provides a new method for summoning spirit familiars: spirits who interact with and help humans. Beginners will find this an excellent discussion of techniques which do not require prior familiarity with formal rituals or the Kabalah in order to prove useful. Learn from Tyson's own unique system and approach. Denning and Phillips' Mysteria Magica (0738-701696, $24.95) surveys fundamentals of high magic techniques, returning to print a classic which has long been out of print and expensive when found. This complete magic system will delight beginners and advanced users alike with explanations of the core of ceremonial magic systems and a comprehensive teaching of high magic basics and techniques. Both are essential guides.


The Self-Help Shelf

The Future Is Yours
Raymon Grace
Hampton Roads Publishing Company
1125 Stoney Ridge Road, Charlottesville, VA 22902
1571743901 $14.95 www.hrpub.com

The Future Is Yours: Do Something About It! by Raymon Grace is a spiritual self-help guide to learning how to tap into the flow of the universe and make simple changes in one's lifestyle, as well as identifying and dealing with habits in order to avoid conflict, promote healing, and embrace interpersonal cooperation. From thought processes, to actions, to emotional attunement, to the overall adjustments required to bring improvement in the quality of our lives are thoughtfully discussed in this encouraging and highly recommended treatise on holistic self-growth.

Nothing's Wrong
David Kundtz
Conari Press/Red Wheel/Weiser
368 Congress St., Boston, MA 02210
www.redwheelweiser.com
1573249157 $14.95 1-800-423-7087

Nothing's Wrong: A Man's Guide To Managing His Feelings by family therapist and public speaker David Kundtzis an impressively instructive self-help guide written especially for men to dealing with their feelings in a productive manner. The advice and insights within these pages are neither "mushy" nor intended to in any way discourage the worthy and traditionally masculine goals of protector, provider, and role model, but rather will substantively help men of all faiths and cultures lead happier and healthier lives, and less likely to be struck down by stress-related ills. A practical and easy-to-understand assessment, Nothing's Wrong is very highly recommended reading.


The Business Shelf

Moral Capitalism
Stephen Young
Berrett-Koehler Publishers
235 Montgomery Street, Suite 650, San Francisco, CA 94104-2916
1576752577 $29.95 bkconnection.com

Written by Stephen Young (the Global Executive Director of the renowned Caux Round Table, an international network of business executives), Moral Capitalism: Reconciling Private Interest With The Public Good showcases the "Caux Round Table's Seven General Principles for Business" which are the collective antidote to the destructive sides of dog-eat-dog corporate world and the crony-favoring insider deals that come with "brute capitalism" unmitigated by justice or fairness. Discussing moral capitalism as the only system that can truly counter poverty, tyranny, and the needs of individuals and nations alike, Moral Capitalism is an impressive and strongly recommended collection of ideas, ideals, and real, useable principles, as seen through the eyes of a prosperous businessman striving to balance public good with the corporate bottom line.

Leadership Theory And Practice
Peter G. Northouse
Sage Publications, Inc.
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320-2218
076192566X $42.95 sagepub.com

Now in its third edition, Leadership Theory And Practice by Peter G. Northouse (Professor of Communication, Western Michigan University) examines the foremost leadership theories with particular attention as to how each approach can be directly applied to real-world situations and organizations. Exploring basic approaches (as well as theories such as the Contingency Theory, Path-Goal Theory, Leader-Member Exchange Theory), and then expanding beyond methodology to scrutinize such topics as leadership ethics and the barriers unique to women in (or who are seeking) leadership positions, Leadership Theory And Practice is very highly recommended -- whether for both academic study concerning leadership behavior and concrete, or for practical use by any aspiring or practicing leader in the business community today.

Technology Solutions For Growing Businesses
Ramon Ray
Amacom
1601 Broadway, NY, NY 10019
0814472206 $17.95 1-800-250-5308

From choosing desktop computers and their many options to assessing business software and web tools, Ramon Ray's Technology Solutions For Growing Businesses provides the small business owner with valuable strategies for understanding technology options and needs. This goes far beyond recommending specific brands: it covers the basics of linking business goals to equipment assessment, and includes invaluable information on tech support and effective training for technology use.

eBay The Smart Way, third edition
Joseph T. Sinclair
Amacom
1601 Broadway, NY, NY 10019
0814472044 $17.95 1-800-250-5308

Many are selling on Ebay's auction site, but Joseph T. Sinclair's updated third edition is the unauthorized guide which provides newly expanded coverage of its auctions and how to profit from them. From coverage of real estate, international sales and auction management to using PayPal payment online systems and handling images, this is an important guide for any who would do more than dabble on the auction site.


The Language Studies Shelf

The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, NY, NY 10016
0198604572 $150.00 1-800-451-7556

This new fifth edition of The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary is an in-depth, two-volume set handsomely packaged in a cardboard box provides the latest in dictionary terms, including new cultural and political terms including jargon and some slang. Language is always expanding and changing, and this adds 3,500 new words in its updated edition. Nothing has been left out, but a cleaner text design allows more information to fit in nearly the same package as the 4th edition. A "must" for serious reference collections at the high school level through public libraries.

Greek Grammar
John Poly
Polykarpos Publishing
711 E Main St, #333, Riverton WY 82501
0974452505 $24.95

Greek Grammar: You Can Learn Bible Greek is a straightforward, self-teaching resource created and written by Minister and Bible Educator John Poly. Presented in large-print for assimilation without eyestrain, Greek Grammar offers black-and-white illustrations, association tools, and linguistic exercises (including explicitly detailed sample translations of Greek into English) to drill the reader with basic instruction. A superb grammar book for all students of the Greek language, Greek Grammar is an excellent guide to Koine, or Common Greek, especially recommended for non-specialist general readers seeking to better understand the Greek text of the Christian Scriptures.


The Military Shelf

The Shadow Warriors Of Nakano
Stephen C. Mercado
Brassey, Inc.
22841 Quicksilver Dr., Dulles, VA 20166
www.brasseysinc.com
1574885383 $18.95 1-800-775-2518

The Shadow Warriors Of Nakano: A History Of The Imperial Japanese Army's Elite Intelligence School by intelligence and national security historian Stephen C. Mercado is a meticulous examination of the military educational institution that educated Japanese spies, intelligence officers, and commandos between the years of 1938 and 1945. Tracing their lethal effectiveness during World War II, and following the careers many veterans had after the war (some worked with American intelligence, while others rose to notable positions in the Japanese industry or government), The Shadow Warriors Of Nakano is an extensively researched and superbly presented treasury of little-known, specialized details and a uniquely valuable addition to World War II Pacific Theatre Military Studies collections.

The Devil's Adjutant
Michael Reynolds
Spellmount
c/o Casemate (distributor)
2114 Darby Road, Havertown, PA 19083
1862271569 $24.95 1-610-853-9131

In this newly revised, significantly updated, and very highly recommended edition, The Devil's Adjutant: Jochen Peiper, Panzer Leader by Michael Reynolds is the true and accurate story of one of Jochen Peiper, one of Germany's senior commanders in Adolf Hitler's infamous SS Bodyguard, and showcases his involvement in the Battle of the Bulge -- Hitler's last and most desperate attempt to turn back the Allies from their invasion of the German fatherland. An absolutely essential addition to any personal, academic, or community library World War II European Theatre Military reference collection, The Devil's Adjutant is an impressively informative account which is enhanced with sixteen pages of historical photography and twenty battle maps.

Wreaking Havoc
Joseph W. Rutter
Texas A&M University Press
Drawer C , College Station, TX 77843
1585442895 $29.95 1-800-826-8911

Wreaking Havoc: A Year In An A-20 by Joseph W. Rutter (who served with the 312th Bomb Group in the Southwest Pacific and completed 63 missions over New Guinea and the Phillippines) is the personal story of an A-208 airplane, nicknamed "the Havoc" for the damage it inflicted, during 1944 in the Pacific theater. An in-depth recounting of the horrors of war and the singular experience of piloting airborne destruction for the sake of one's country, Wreaking Havoc is a riveting testimony and a highly recommended addition to World War II and Military Aviation studies reading lists and reference collections.

Unconditional Defeat
Thomas W. Zeiler
Scholarly Resources Inc.
104 Greenhill Avenue, Wilmington, DC 19805-1897
www.scholarly.com
0842029915 $17.95 1-800-772-8937

Unconditional Defeat: Japan, America, And The End Of World War II by Thomas W. Zeiler is a brief yet vivid military history of the Pacific Theater of the Second World War, looking closely at the issue of unconditional surrender while taking into account the viewpoints of those who risked life and limb in the conflict. A blunt survey that does not soften the brutal realities of war in the slightest, nor excusing the worst atrocities committed on both sides, Unconditional Defeat is an excellent and seminal addition to World War II military history reference collections and reading lists.

Complete Guide To United States Marine Corps Medals, Badges And Insignia
James G. Thompson
Medals of America Press
114 Southchase Boulevard, Fountain Inn, SC 29644-9019
http://www.usmedals.com
1884452426 $24.95 1-800-308-0849

Exhaustively compiled by James G. Thompson, the Complete Guide To United States Marine Corps Medals, Badges And Insignia World War II To Present is a straightforward guide for collectors or historians, and features color plates of all Marine Corps medals and ribbons from World War II down to the present day. Black and white illustrations combine with a wealth of informative text to offer basic information concerning everything from marksmanship and trophy badges, to World War II shoulder patches, foreign awards and UN medals, as well as the history and award criteria for various decorations, instructions for displaying awards and insignia or how to claim medals, and more. An excellent, authoritative, comprehensive, and fact-filled resource, James Thompson's Complete Guide To United States Marine Corps Medals, Badges And Insignia is also available in a hardcover edition (1884452434, $29.95).


The Graphic Novel Shelf

The Rise Of The Graphic Novel
Stephen Weiner
NBM Press
555 8th Avenue, #1202, New York, NY 10018-4364
1561633674 $14.95 nbmpublishing.com

Graphic novels are a growing part of bookstores and even college courses, but until now no history of their origins and growth has been presented. Stephen Weiner, a comics historian and specialist in children's literature, provides this first history, detailing the appearance of classics in the field, including sample black and white illustrations from these classics, and filling in many gaps in the genre's history. Any fan of the graphic novel format will find The Rise Of The Graphic Novel revealing.

Mister Negativity
Batton Lash
Exhibit A Press
4657 Cajon Way, San Diego, CA 92115
0963395483 $15.95 exhibitapress.com

Mister Negativity: And Other Tales Of Supernatural Law by Batton Lash is a fascinating, black-and-white, graphic novel style anthology with a unique premise - that in today's complicated story, supernatural horrors need lawyers too! A pair of attorneys specializing in the supernaturally afflicted take on cases involving a man so negative he literally repels everyone around him, a young wizard, a gangster who has literally turned into a 800-pound purple gorilla, a misogynistic demon who has been "born again" and pursues church membership, and much more. Suspension of disbelief is swept away in the very believeably written stories, with compelling characterization and all-too-human motives among man and unearthly monstrosity alike. Nicely enhanced with an informed and informative introduction by Tom DeHaven, Mister Negativity is enthusiastically recommended to all graphic novel fans.


The Journalism Shelf

The Business Of Media
David Croteau & William Hoynes
Pine Forge Press
c/o Sage Publications
31 St. James Av, #510, Boston MA 02116
0761986405 $33.95 www.sagepub.com

The expert collaboration of David Croteau (Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richard, Virginia) and William Hoynes (Associate Professor and Chair of Sociology at Vasser College, Poughkeepsie, New York), The Business Of Media: Corporate Media And The Public Interest is a candid revealing and detailed study of the rapidly evolving media industry, especially in an increasingly media-saturated society. A thoroughly scholarly work which deftly presents its in-depth study in largely jargon-free and accessible terms ideal for the non-specialist general reader, The Business Of Media offers insights and a close scrutiny into what really goes on behind newspaper and broadcast journalism headlines.


The Political Science Shelf

America Unbound
Ivo H. Daalder & James M. Lindsay
Brookings Institution Press
1775 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20036-2188
0815716885 $22.95 1-800-275-1447

Collaboratively written by Ivo H. Daalder (a Senior Fellow in Foreign Policy Studies at the Brooks Institution) and James M. Lindsay (the Vice President and Director of Studies of the Council on Foreign Relations), America Unbound: The Bush Revolution In Foreign Policy asks the politically loaded question: "How did a man once mocked for knowing little about the world come to be a foreign policy revolutionary?" Presenting an unabashedly positive portrayal of President George W. Bush's foreign policy, America Unbound draws upon recent modern history to chart a course for the future -- while warning of pitfalls and problems that could stir the resentment of other powers. A stirring and thought-provoking exhortation of President George W. Bush as a bringer of global change, America Unbound is strongly recommended reading for political conservatives, political commentators, and students of contemporary American politics as reflected by the Bush Administration as it engages in a global war against international terrorism.


The Education Shelf

What Every Principal Needs To Know About Special Education
Margaret J. McLaughlin & Victor Nolet
Corwin Press, Inc.
2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 1320-2218
0761938311 $27.95 1-800-818-7243

The collaborative work of educators and academicians Margaret J. McLaughlin and Victor Nolet, What Every Principal Needs To Know About Special Education is a foundational resource of basic information that every school principal needs to master with respect to overseeing special education students -- especially in this modern era of accountability imposed by the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act and the No Child Left Behind Act. Essential information concerning the legal foundations of special education; how to use data for school improvement; fostering an optimum learning climate; applicable features of effective special education practices, and a great deal more, present What Every Principal Needs To Know About Special Education as an excellent and "must-read" reference. A means to the worthy bottom line of how to get better education and better results for the special education students who need it most, What Every Principal Needs To Know About Special Education is highly recommended as a core addition to public school administrative reference shelves and reading lists.

Dealing With Difficult Teachers
Todd Whitaker
Eye On Education
6 Depot Way West, Suite 106, Larchmont, NY 10538
www.eyeoneducation.com
1930556454 $29.95 1-914-833-0551

Now in its second edition which has been expanded with the inclusion of four new chapters focusing on communicating with difficult teachers to eliminate negative behaviors; apply effective questioning strategies; analyzing character with "The Best Teacher/Worst Teacher" test; and more, Dealing With Difficult Teachers remains a exceptional instructional resource (especially for school principals), yet its general precepts concerning leadership and coping with intractable subordinates can apply directly to many other fields as well. Dealing With Difficult Teachers is confidently recommended for its wealth of "tips, tricks, and techniques" to motivate difficult teachers, to weaken the negative influences, and to maintain a positive and enthusiastic attitude, as well as cultivate the best possible learning environment for the next generation.

More Keep Em Reading Bulletin Boards
Stan Jusan, Illustrator
Upstart Books
Box 800 Fort Atkinson, WI 53538-0800
1932146008 $16.95 1-800-448-4887

Pamphlet-type books usually aren't featured here, but many a teacher and parent will want to use More Keep Em Reading Bulletin Boards as an ideal reference for year-round designs for the library and classroom. These easily-used reading-promotional bulletin board designs are packed with fine theme ideas and over a hundred patterns which can be custom mixed to match one's needs.

The Threads Of Reading
Karen Tankersley
ASCD
1703 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
087120794X $25.95 1-800-933-2723

The Threads Of Reading: Strategies For Literacy Development by education administrator Karen Tankersley focuses upon the six foundational "threads" that contemporary students require in order to become skilled readers: phonemic awareness, phonics and decoding, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, and higher-order thinking. Discussing strategies to better aid students in acquiring these skills; assessing how much reading time is enough; manners of using writing to build reading skills; and a great deal more, The Threads Of Reading is a superb aid for grade school teachers and home schoolers alike. The Threads Of Reading is highly recommended as an enthusiastic promotion of reliable techniques to spread the passion and joy of reading, as well as developing the technical skills required.

The History Of Special Education
Margret A. Winzer
Gallaudet University Press
800 Florida Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20002-3695
1563680181 $62.50 1-800-621-2736

The History Of Special Education: From Isolation To Integration by Margret A. Winzer is an astutely presented, coherently organized, and comprehensive discourse of how Western and North American society has regarded, treated, and educated the disabled and mentally retarded from before the eighteenth century down to the modern day. Offering an extensive discussion of widespread philosophical beliefs, scientific learning, the rise and fall of eugenics theory, the evolution of institutions and practices, and so much more, The History Of Special Education is both an excellent study text and a detailed historical resource recommended for anyone seeking to learn more of the background of the special education field -- especially those seeking to enhance their knowledge of a possible career in the field. A seminal 463-page work which includes both a Subject Index and an Author Index, The History Of Special Education is a welcome and highly recommended addition to Education History reference collection.

Charting Your Course
John G. Conyers & Robert Ewy
Quality Press
600 North Plankinton Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53203
http://qualitypress.asq.org
0873896076 $30.00 1-800-248-1946

The collaborative effort of academic experts John G. Conyers and Robert Wey, Charting Your Course: Lessons Learned During The Journey Toward Performance Excellence is the illustrative story of a school district, and a case study for the larger effects of using the Baldrige Criteria to measure K-12 schools. A deftly written and accessibly presented account of the worthy goal of continued improvement, Charting Your Course offers insight and warnings of pitfalls to avoid and is recommended reading especially for educators and building principals. Charting Your Course is especially timely reading for school administrators in today's climate of public school accountability.


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

Impact Publications
9104-N Manassas Drive, Manassas Park, VA 20111-5211
1-703-361-7300 www.amazon.com

Two new career guides are recommended choices for any job-seeking wanting specifics rather than general guides. Ron and Caryl Krannich's second edition of No One Will Hire Me! (1570232199, $13.95) tells how to avoid 15 common mistakes which keep seekers from finding employment. These include a lack of goals and accomplishments, over-reliance on technology and lack of networking among others: each point is addressed with practical information on remedies included. Carl Savino and Ronald Krannich's Military Resumes And Cover Letters (1570232-156, $21.95) also appears in its second edition to update details on incorporating a military background into an attention-grabbing civilian resume. From proving past performance to translating military skills into civilian job requirements, this provides plenty of practical applications.

How To Get The Teaching Job You Want
Robert Feirsen & Seth Weitzman
Stylus Publishing
22883 Quicksilver Dr, Sterling, VA 20166
1579220681 $24.95 http://Styluspub.com

Now in its newly and extensively revised second edition, How To Get The Teaching Job You Want by Robert Feirsen (Deputy Superintendent, Manhasset, New York) and Seth Weitzman Principal, Hommocks Middle School, Mamaroneck Union Free School District, New York), is a straightforward, "user friendly" career guide for graduates newly entering the education field, as well as classroom teachers who are changing school or district job assignments. A practical resource to finding job openings; crafting a polished cover letter and resume; performing well in the job interview; and so much more, How To Get The Teaching Job You Want is an absolute "must-have" for anyone seriously pursuing teaching-related employment in this modern era of constant school related job market shifts.


The International Studies Shelf

Pakistan In The Shadow Of Jihad And Afghanistan
Mary Anne Weaver
Farrar Straus Giroux
19 Union Square West, NY, NY 10003
0374228949 $24.00 1-888-330-8477

Pakistan is both a terrorist haven, a den of corruption, and the probable battlefront of Islamic terrorists. This report considers its pivotal role in world politics, blending a history of the country through two decades of eyewitness reporting with portraits of its leaders. Pakistan In The Shadow Of Jihad And Afghanistan is an excellent source for any seeking an understanding of the history and politics of modern Pakistan.

Pakistan Eye Of The Storm
Owen Bennett Jones
Yale University Press
Box 209040, New Haven, CT 06520-9040
0300097603 $29.95 1-800-987-7323

In Owen Bennett Jones's Pakistan Eye Of The Storm, Pakistan's turbulent history and military rule is treated to a scholarly and in-depth analysis which describes many of the problems of modern Pakistan with an eye to probing their historical roots. Jones assesses regional conflict and influence within the country and provides an important, scholarly assessment of Pakistan's underlying foundations. College-level readers will find it involving.

French Negotiating Behavior
Charles Cogan
United States Institute Of Peace Press
1200 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
1929223528 $17.50 www.usip.org

Also readily available in a hardcover edition (1929223536, $37.50), French Negotiating Behavior: Dealing With La Grande Nation by Charles Cogan (Senior Research Associate, john F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University) offers an informed and informative "window" into French cultural, diplomatic, and business styles and habits that are of immense importance to anyone from other nations pursuing private, corporate, or international negotiations. From the legacy of history; to illustrative case studies; to specific tips, tricks and techniques for negotiating with the French government either unilaterally or through multilateral organizational frameworks, French Negotiating Behavior is very highly recommended and critically important reading.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

Baha'i
Margit Warburg
Signature Books
564 W. 400 North, Salt Lake City, UT 84116-3411
1560851694 $12.95 1-800-356-5687

There are over a hundred thousand Baha'is in this country, but relatively few books specifically covering this religion factiion of Islam alone. Margit Warburg's Baha'i is a very handy pocket guide to this religious heritage which accessibly examines the defining history and spiritual foundations of Bahai faith, from its Islamic roots and rituals to its attention to contemporary social issues.

Travel Guide to Heaven
Anthony DeStefano
Random House Large Print
1745 Broadway, New York NY 10019
0375432922 $20.95 www.amazon.com

The appearance of this important guide in an accessible large print edition cannot be overlooked as a wide audience of Americans who believe in heaven will want to read Travel Guide to Heaven, from avid believers to those who want to investigate Biblical concepts of heaven. The author blends analysis of the Bible with a sense of adventure and exploration in a lively text which is oversized, easily read, and packed with insights. Travel Guide to Heaven is a very highly recommended pick which in its large print format will reach many who could not access a regular font sized text.

Divine Engineering
David N. Brems
Cedar Fort
925 North Main St., Springville UT 84663
www.cedarfort.com
1555176836 $11.95 1-800-388-3727

David N. Brems is a scientist with nearly twenty years' experience in the biopharmaceutical field and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In Divine Engineering: Scriptural Accounts And Scientific Truths About The Earth's Creation Are Compatible, Brems offers the reader an enthusiastic appreciation for the immense power of God the Creator, and presents scientific hypotheses of Creation as approximations to the work that God did. Postulating that God's work took billions of years to complete and utilized the natural laws and principles of chemistry and physics, Divine Engineering is a thoughtful and fresh new look at a long-standing controversy arising from biblical theology and secular science.

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

These powerful guides to Zen offer lessons from a modern master, summarizing the discipline and providing a complete course in Zen meditation. From the usual basics of the practice to more unique chapters on correct breathing and posture, this covers a world of detail. Linda Kohanov's Riding Between The Worlds: Expanding Our Potential Through The Way Of The Horse (1577314166, $22.95) explores a new kind of therapy which blends psychology and spirituality with a love of horses. Human-horse connections can provide invaluable models for growth and understanding, and enthusiasts will appreciate a direct assessment of these connections. Dr. Bernie Siegel's 365 Prescriptions For The Soul : Daily Messages Of Inspiration, Hope, And Love (1577-314255, $18.95) provides a quite personal growth title consisting of a series of vignettes of inspiration and humor. This quality hardcover offers the benefit of being an attractive keepsake and gift edition for any fan of Siegel's spiritual psychology. Wayne Teasdale's A Monk In The World: Cultivating A Spiritual Life (1577314379, $14.95) blends spirituality and religion with an autobiographical coverage of Teasale's visit to the ashram of an English Benedictine monk living in India. Teasdale's evolving life as an Indian monk is revealing and involving.

The Book Of Balance And Harmony
Thomas Cleary, translator
Shambhala Publications, Inc.
300 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02115-4544
1590300777 $14.95 shambhala.com

Expertly translated into English by Thomas Cleary, The Book Of Balance And Harmony: A Taoist Handbook is an anthology of timeless writings by a thirteenth-century master of the Complete Reality School of Taoism, a movement that traces its roots back to the first millennium CE with the initial aim of returning to the pure roots of Taoism's original purposes. Presenting timeless teachings about Vitality, Energy, and Spirit (the "three treasures" of Taoism that carry the keys to mental and physical well-being), The Book Of Balance And Harmony carries its powerful Taoism-centered message to a new generation of readers in the form of essays, dialogues, and poetry to succinctly encapsulate the core of the Complete Reality School.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

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

This publisher's outstanding line of authoritative and collectible-specific price guides blends the finest of color snapshots with the latest valuations and a smudge of history for maximum effect. Generalists who collect toys will welcome the latest 9th updated edition of Schroeder's Collectible Toys Price Guide (1574323660, $17.95): black and white photos accompany values for over 20,000 collectible toys, conveniently organized by type. Toy enthusiasts might also take a look at Judith Izen's American Character Dolls (15743-23415, $24.95), which pairs gorgeous color photos and history with an excellent price guide organized by both manufacturer and type. Also of interest to the toy/doll collector will be Suzanne DeMiller and Dennis Brevik's Arranbee Dolls (157432-3431, $24.95), blending a history of the character/figure dolls Arranbee has made most popular. Those who collect memorabilia will welcome B.J. Summers' Soda Pop Memorabilia (1574323687, $24.95): the value in this guide is its inclusion of all types of soda memorabilia; not just one name brand. In addition to wider-ranging collectible books on toys and clothing, there are some specific collectors' guides for less glitzy items. Craig Nissen's McCoy Pottery Wall Pockets & Decorations (1574323598, $24.95) provides fine color photos and values for this very specific market; Lynell Schwartz's Purse Masterpieces (1574323636, $29.95) highlights the wide world of purse varieties with a lovely popular history of collectible purse styles; and Larry Koon's Roycroft Furniture & Collectibles (1574322644, $24.95) profiles the manufacturer's many goods, from lamps to wood furniture. ; and John and Mary Kathleen Kelly's Business & Tax Guide For Antiques & Collectibles (1574323717, $14.95) packs in business savvy for dealers and investors alike All are highly recommended, important picks.

Colorado Antique Lover's Guide
Niki Hayden, editor
Fulcrum Publishing
16100 Table Mountain Parkway, #300, Golden, Colorado 80403
www.fulcrum-books.com
1555914934 $19.95 1-800-992-2908

Full color photographs on every page wonderfully illustrate Colorado Antique Lover's Guide, an enhanced showcase of timeless treasures ranging from jewelry, to quilts, to antique photographs, to classic furniture, and so much more. Featuring a wide variety of resources including listings of antique dealers, auctions and flea markets, furniture restorers, and much more, Colorado Antique Lover's Guide is a superbly organized and presented "quick lookup" resource for any antique lover or dealer with respect to the wealth of Colorado's antiquarian resources, artifacts, and collectibles.


The Parenting Shelf

Your Musical Child
Jessica Baron Turner, M.A.
Hal Leonard Corporation
7777 West Bluemound Road, Milwaukee, WI 53213
1890490512 $14.95 1-800-637-2852

Your Musical Child: Inspiring Kids For Keeps by music educator and child development expert Jessica Baron Turner is a guidebook to nurturing musical talent in children. Practical advice concerning everything from in utero exposure; to music (while science has proven nothing about the effects of music on an unborn child, it is certainly a good thing if classical music relaxes the pregnant mother); to selecting an instrument that is right for one's child; to encouraging regular practicing without overdoing it; to selecting properly qualified teachers, and so much more, make Your Musical Child very strongly recommended reading for any parent or caregiver with a musically inclined child in their charge.


The Needlecraft Shelf

A Floral Affair
Jennifer Rounsd & Catherine Comyns
C&T Publishing
PO Box 1456, Lafayette, CA 94549
1571202188 $19.95 www.amazon.com

The floral quilt projects comprising A Floral Affair come from the pages of "Quilts Japan" magazine: as such, Japanese quiltmakers share their vision and workmanship with a distinctly oriental flair. 12 selected projects feature floral designs, a range of piecing and applique techniques, and projects which will appeal to all levels. Both standard and US metric measurements accompany projects not limited to quilts, but including cosmetic bags, pillows and more.

Debbie Mumm's Quilts From A Gardner's Journal
Debbie Mumm
Debbie Mumm (publisher)
1116 East Westview Court, Spokane, WA 99218
www.debbiemumm.com
189062165X $24.95 1-888-819-2923

Debbie Mumm's Quilts From A Gardner's Journal is a thoroughly "user friendly" instructional guide to creating admirable homestyle quilts with a strong taste of wonderful country flavor. Colorful photographs and enjoyable anecdotes enhance this supplementary quiltmakers's guide, which bears a spiral binding so it can lay flat for easy reference. From the "Early Daffodils Wall Quilt", to the "Blowing In The Wind Bed Quilt", to the "Christmas Rose Lap Quilt", Debbie Mumm's Quilts From A Gardner's Journal is a simply delightful resource to page through and offers a creative compendium of do-it-yourself needlecraft projects that even the most novice of quilters can master.

Interweave Press
201 E. 4th St., Loveland, CO 80537-5655

Two new titles on beadwork covers basic designs and how-to applications for newcomers who would enter the world of beading. Jean Campbell edits Beaded Bags (1931499349, $16.95), a survey of 30 bag projects designed to appeal to all levels of beadworkers. These aren't just the usual rectangular bags; they are especially notable projects in presenting a diversity of bag styles and designs, from clutches and drawstring purses to wrist bags and market bags. Techniques range from embroidery and loom weaving to bead crochet, with plenty of colorful photos and step-by-step clear instructons. Diane Fitzgerald's Netted Beadwork (193-1499152, $21.95) provides a survey of the netted beadwork technique, which requires fewer beads, works up quickly, and looks like lace. Photos and illustrations pack in the detail so beginners can pick up this special beadwork technique quickly. Both are highly recommended picks for all levels.

American Quilters Society
PO Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
www.aqsquilt.com www.amazon.com

These quilting guides feature easy patterns, clear instructions, and projects which help quilters move quickly beyond the introduction focus to produce intricate designs. Eula Mae Long's Easy Applique Floral Patterns (157432831X, $24.95) includes full-size pullout patterns as it describes easily-cut applique pieces beginners can appreciate. The blocks may be mixed and matched, and Long includes plenty of applications. J. Michelle Watts' Quilted Cross (1574328328, $18.95) tells how to mix cross designs into a quilt project. Crosses from ironwork, wood and stone carvings, architecture and even heraldry appear in a variety of styles and are here incorporated into over thirty patterns applicable to patchwork, embroidery and quilting. Linda Giesler Carlson's Best Of 4 Blocks And More (157432828X, $25.95) mixes original and traditional quilt block designs with an analysis of the four-block quilt style, a selection of favorite designs from Carlson's previous out-of-print titles, and a focus on three new quilt features displaying a range of piecing and applique techniques. The result is a fine gathering of blocks and clear patterns for their reproduction. Sue Nickels' Machine Quilting (1574328301, $24.95) focuses on beginning machine quilting, starting with basic supplies and machines and continuing to discuss various introductory machine quilting techniques and how to trace and practice patterns from the book. Three projects include full-sized quilting patterns to provide practice and tips for new users. Bettina Havig's Classic English Medallion Style (1574328298, $24.95) provides tips for planning a medallion-style quilt using only three sizes of squares for border units. The border-by-border instructions for 12 medallion quilts provide rich discussions of these medallion styles, accompanied by black and white and historic color photos. All are recommended picks, offering something different to avid quilters.

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

New crafts guides from this publisher will appeal to any who enjoy quilting and clothing. Nancie Wiseman's Classic Knitted Vests (1564774724, $27.95) offers 16 different styles for both men and women. These are quick to knit, feature minimal finishing techniques, and include patterns and step-by-step instructions as well as color photos of finished results. Australian Patchwork and Quilting Magazine's Bright Quilts From Down Under (156-4774821, $24.95) offers 13 colorful quilting projects from Australia. The projects have been selected to appeal to all skills levels and include paper, skewed and applique piecing techniques and a focus on bright colors to produce impressive results. Kitty Pippen and Sylvia Pippen's Asian Elegance (156477483X, $24.95) tells how to use the bold fabrics of Asia in a quilt project. Lessons on asymmetry and space show how to combine different fabric styles for optimum quilt results. Carol Thelen's Professional Machine Quilting (1564775097, $22.95) provides a complete guide to using the machine to run a successful quilting business. From start-up and basic business savvy to organizing a studio, developing a unique quilting style, and setting prices and services, this is required reading for any would-be professional quilter. All are wonderful picks.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Big Game Of North America
Erwin A. Bauer
Voyageur Press
123 North Second Street, Stillwater MN 55082-0338
0896584801 $19.95 1-800-888-9653

Superbly enhanced with the nature photography of Erwin and Peggy Bauer, Big Game Of North America is a stunning visual showcasing of seventeen big game animal species whose habitats spreads them out over Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Each animal's basic characteristics are provided along with a succinct overview of their behavior and conservation efforts in their behalf. Tracking details and current range maps enhance an informed text with separate sections covering horned animals, antlered animals, large cats, and bears. Strongly recommended for anyone who appreciates these impressive animals, and who seeks to conserve their populations for the benefit of future generations to hunt and admire, Big Game Of North America is a welcome and recommended addition to personal, school, and community library American Sportsman and Animal Conservation reading lists and reference collections.

Total Critter Control
Don Sedgwick
The Lyons Press
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
1585744794 $19.95 www.amazon.com

Animals are everywhere, often invading human habitats and some of these invasions, such as deer and squirrels may actually be dangerous. Total Critter Control offers the homeowner a variety of expert advice on how to cope with animal invasions, providing details on elimination methods which are humane and safe. From lists of deterrent products to organizations which can help, Total Critter Control is packed with detail.

Paw Prints Through The Years
Jean C. Keating
Astra Publishers
209 Matoaka Ct., Williamsburg VA 23185
0967401631 $28.00 1-757-220-3385

Charmingly enhanced with the artwork of Beverly Abbot, Paw Prints Through The Years by Jean C. Keating is an engaging and personal memoir of six generations of beloved animal companions and the joy their shared with their human owners. Written from both historical and fanciful yet believable canine perspectives, Paw Prints Through The Years is a true delight and an especial treasure for anyone who has ever enjoyed the company of a canine companion.

The Siberian Husky: Live The Adventure
Margaret A. Koehler
Alpine Publications, Inc.
225 S. Madison Ave, Loveland, CO 80537
157779060X $24.95 1-800-777-7257

Expertly written by sled dog racer and Siberian Husky breeder Margaret A. Koehler (who has earned Best of Breed at a national speciality and the internationally famous Westminster Kennel Club), The Siberian Husky: Live The Adventure is a very highly recommended informational and instructional guide to everything anyone would want to know about the faithful and hardy Siberian Husky -- a canine best known for its tenacity in the sled harness, but which is also quite widespread as a beloved and popular personal and family canine companion. Black-and-white photographs nicely illustrate this detailed account focused upon caring for, breeding, and training these majestic and loyal animals.

The Dog Lover's Companion To Chicago
Margaret Littman
Avalon Travel Publishing
1400 - 65th Street, Suite 250, Emeryville, CA 94608
www.dogloverscompanion.com
1566916356 $17.95 1-800-345-5473

Enhanced with the charming illustrations of Phil Frank, The Dog Lover's Companion To Chicago: The Inside Scoop On Where To Take Your Dog by Margaret Littman is an indispensable guide especially recommended for true dog lovers who live in or near Chicago -- or who plan to vacation there with their beloved pet. Region-by-region examination of dog friendly places, as well as a listing of pet-related resources from veterinary hospitals to groomers, animal shelters, pet taxis, dog walkers, dog bakeries, waste removal services and much more, The Dog Lover's Companion To Chicago is a fun, friendly, information-packed, and useful reference.

ABC Practical Guide To Dog Training
Steven Appelbaum
Howell Book House
Lindenbaum Public Relations (publicity)
11939 Weddington Street, #309, Valley Village, CA 91607
www.howellbookhouse.com
0764567225 $16.99 www.amazon.com

ABC Practical Guide To Dog Training: Proven Techniques By A Trainer Of Trainers is an expertly written instructional by Steven Appelbaum (the President and CEO of Animal Behavior and Training Associates Inc., the largest independent dog training company in North America), designed specifically to teach the owner of a canine companion diverse behaviors on command. From learning how to make "pack theory" work to one's advantage; to the simple basics of how a dog learns; to establishing obedience; to selecting the right professional trainer, ABC Practical Guide To Dog Training is a "must-read" for anyone responsible for the behavior and training of the family pet.

The Raccoon Next Door
Gary Bogue
Heyday Books
PO Box 9145, Berkeley, CA 94709
1890771716 $16.95 www.amazon.com

Wild animals causing garden problems? Are deer eating the family bounty, mockingbirds going all night, and raccoons investigating your garbage disposal techniques? The Raccoon Next Door provides a survey of advice blended with amusing anecdotes about wildlife rehabilitation and urban wildlife experiences. Even insects are included in this all-embracing account.

Birding Across North America
Philip Keenan
Timber Press
133 SW Second Ave. #450, Portland, OR 97204-3527
0881925284 $29.95 1-800-327-5680

Philip Keenan's Birding Across North America could be called a memoir of birding years, but it also holds plenty of practical details unique to the field guide, and description common to the travelogue. It may be hard to properly categorize Birding Across North America, but any who love birds will find it most accessible. Individual chapters cover migration, reflections on domestic cats and wild birds, and basic elements of birdwatching in the East. A fascinating, revealing guide.

Where The Grizzly Walks
Bill Schneider
Falcon Press/Globe Pequot Press
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
0762726024 $19.95 1-800-582-2665

Where The Grizzly Walks: The Future Of The Great Bear by Bill Schneider is a straightforward presentation of the grizzly bear species and the tremendous negative impact humanity has had on it. In the 1970s, the lower 48 states had a scant 1000 grizzly bears living in just 2 percent of their former range. Today the grizzly populations strain the limited carrying capacity of their wilderness home compelling them to expand their activities into nontraditional habitats. Diverse ways to save the majestic great bear from the ruthless throttle of civilization are the prime focus of this involving and strongly recommended study.


The Money/Finance Shelf

Handbook Of Financial Planning
Dr. Jae K. Shim
South-Western Publishing
c/o Thomson-Texere
5191 Natorp Blvd., Mason, OH 45040
0538726857 $54.95 1-800-543-0487

The work of Dr. Jae K. Shim (Professor of Finance and Accounting at California State University and who has served as a consultant to commercial and nonprofit organizations alike for over 30 years and earned the Credit Research Foundation Award), Handbook Of Financial Planning: An Expert's Guide For Advisors And Their Clients is a no-nonsense, example laden and checklist-filled, expressive and explicit instructional covering a wide variety of "need-to-know" financial topics. From planning a college education for one's children; to life, health, property and liability insurance; to retirement planning and estate planning; to reducing the cost of living; to mutual funds, diversification, investment risks, banking and cash management; and so much more, Dr. Shim's Handbook Of Financial Planning is a truly first-rate guidebook which is especially recommended for financial professionals and investors but extremely useful to all.

Self-Counsel Press
1704 N. State St., Bellingham WA 98225
1-800-663-3007 www.amazon.com

Two new business guides by Angie Mohr provide detailed and practical business information small business owners will find invaluable. Financial Management 101 (1551804484) provides the second book in the Numbers 101 series, covering business planning from basic financial statements to budgeting for advertising. It's an easy guide on business planning which offers a course for entrepreneurs in sound financial planning methods. Her Bookkeepers' Boot Camp (1551804492) is the first in the series, demonstrating the basics of record keeping for a small business, and how to track information. From understanding a balance sheet to learning income and sales cycle basics, this covers all needed to understand small business management. Invaluable, easily-used guides.

Putting Investors First
Scott C. Newquist with Max B. Russell
Bloomberg Press
PO Box 888, 100 Business Park Drive, Princeton, NJ 08542-0888
www.bloomberg.com/books
1576601412 $39.95 1-888-388-2749

Co-written by Schott C. Newquist (the co-founder of Board Governance Services, a consulting firm to corporate directors), and professional business writer Max Russell, Putting Investors First: Real Solutions For Better Corporate Governance is a no-nonsense financial investment guide especially intended for board members, corporate executives who work with them, and investors large and small with a keen interest in the governance of the corporations in which they own shares. Warning that effective change is unlikely to come from legal regulation since the spirit of the law can be thoroughly twisted while adhering to the letter, Putting Investors First focuses on the importance of having a balance of power, basic principles of good governance, how to align interests and much more. If you are an investor or are called upon to be responsible to corporate stockholders, then you need to give a close and careful reading to Putting Investors First.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Playing The Numbers
American Diabetes Association
1701 North Beauregard Steet, Alexandria, VA 22311
1580401813 $7.95 www.amazon.com

File Playing The Numbers in the pamphlet section of a library holding or it may get lost but don't omit the major importance of this slim holding for any diabetic: because Playing The Numbers deftly and succinctly covers one of the most essential topics in diabetes management understanding fluctuating blood sugar level reading. Playing The Numbers covers everything from finding a pattern in puzzling results, to what low and high BG readings are caused by. Playing The Numbers is an essential reference which every diabetic should own.

What If It's Not Alzheimer's?
Lisa Radin & Gary Radin
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Dr., Amherst, NY 14228
1591020875 $22.00 1-800-421-0351

While general public knows Alzheimer's best among the many dementias in existence, but Playing The Numbers is the first to address FTD, a specific group of dementias and one of the largest non-Alzheimer's groups. The resources and reference material comprising hat If It's Not Alzheimer's? provides the non-specialist general reader with an updated handbook packed from cover to cover with tips and information for caregivers and sufferers alike.

Conscious Eating
Gabriel Cousens, M.D.
North Atlantic Books
PO Box 12327, Berkeley, CA 94710
1556432852 $35.00 www.amazon.com

Written by holistic medical doctor, psychiatrist, family therapist, and licensed homeopathic physician Gabriel Cousens, Conscious Eating is a health-centered eating and nutrition guide that carefully walks readers through individualizing their individual food choices based upon the needs of their bodies (including the option of vegetarianism and making the sometimes difficult transition to a vegetarian diet), as well as numerous and invaluable "tips, tricks, and techniques" with respect to food preparation, and so much more, Conscious Eating is an insightful, fact-filled, "user friendly" guide to improving dietary habits straight away. A number of healthy recipes embellish this worthy 850-page reference, yet its primary focus is information accessible to non-specialist general readers concerning overall nutritional improvement rather than just another compendium of specific dishes.

Before It Happens To You
Jonathan Sackner Bernstein, M.D.
Da Capo Press
c/o Perseus Books Group
Eleven Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142
073820918X $26.00 1-800-242-7737

Before It Happens To You: A Breakthrough Program For Reversing Or Preventing Heart Disease by Jonathan Sackner Bernstein (Director of Clinical Re-search and Director of the Heart Failure Prevention Program at North Shore University Hospital in New York) is a straightforward guide to working with one's doctor and making healthier lifestyle changes for one's personal needs in order to keep one's heart healthier and less susceptible to problems such as heart attack or stroke. A no-nonsense account which is especially appropriate for non-specialist general readers of all background and occupations, Before It Happens To You is exceedingly useful as a basic primer for healthy living and highly recommended for community library Health & Medicine reference collections.

Chronic Illness
Ilene Morof Lubkin & Pamala D. Larsen
Jones & Bartlett Publishers
40 Tall Pine Drive, Sudbury, MA 01776
0763715700 $61.95 www.jbpub.com

Now in a thoroughly updated and expanded fifth edition, Chronic Illness: Impact And Interventions is a study text especially intended for upper level undergraduate and graduate students in nursing, social work, and rehabilitation, but the information it offers is useful to all family members and survivors dealing with the psychological, ethical, organizational, and financial difficulties of ongoing illness. The collaborative effort of Ilene Morof Lubkin (Professor Emeritus, California State University - Hayward) and Pamala D. Larsen (Interim Director, School of Nursing College of Health and Human Services, University of North Carolina at Charlotte), Chronic Illness offers students new chapters on home care, long term care, and the role of the advanced practice nurse. An up-to-date, serious, and effective overview and study of this significant health issue, Chronic Illness is strongly recommended addition to Medical School library reference collections and Nursing Studies supplemental reading lists.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Quit Your Day Job!
Jim Denney
Quill Driver
1831 Industrial Way #101, Sanger, CA 93657
1884956041 $14.95 www.amazon.com

Aspiring authors who dream of quitting a day job for the life of a professional write will find Jim Denney's Quit Your Day Job! to be a candid assessment plan for building a paying career as a full-time writer. Quit Your Day Job! covers both the positives and negatives of a writer's careers, from keeping multiple projects in the pipelines to setting goals - and attaining them.

How To Write A Book Proposal
Michael Larsen
Writer's Digest Books/F&W, dist.
4700 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236
www.writersdigest.com
1582972516 $15.99 1-800-289-0963

Now in its third edition, How To Write A Book Proposal by Michael Larsen is a practical, step-by-step, 280-page "how to" guide to creating a successful book proposal. Ranging from test-marketing the potential of a book idea; to choosing the best agents and editors; to creating a professional quality proposal package; to negotiating the best possible offer from publishers, and so much more, How To Write A Book Proposal is a superbly organized, highly accessible, "must-read" reference for aspiring writers and authors seeking to become financially successful professionals.

Bestseller
George Arnold
Eakin Press
Drawer 90159, Austin, TX 78709-0159
1571687998 $18.95 eakinpress.com

Bestseller: Must-Read Author's Guide To Successfully Selling Your Book is a very handy guide written more for authors seeking to be picked up by a publishing house than for self-publishers braving the volatile book markets on their own. Nevertheless, Bestseller is filled from cover to cover with practical wisdom and advice relevant to both groups. A wry, humorous tone pervades the wealth of down-to-earth serious tips concerning how not to annoy a prospective publisher; the plans must be laid down in advance in order to succeed; how to work with retailers who "don't owe you the time of day", and so much more. An excellent and highly readable resource that focuses on how to get one's words out there for visibility as well as profit. Bestseller is an enthusiastically recommended addition to any aspiring author's personal and professional reference shelf.


The Artbook Shelf

Michele Oka Doner: Natural Seduction
Michele Oka Doner
Hudson Hills Press
PO Box 205, 74-2 Union Street, Manchester, VT 05254
1555952151 $60.00 hudsonhills.com

Enhanced with informed and informative essays by Morris Lapidus, Suzanne Ramljak, and Arthur C. Danto highlighting the central themes of the art, Michele Oka Doner: Natural Seduction is a full-color photographic showcase of the work of internationally acclaimed artist and designer Michele Oka Doner. Grand architectural projects, clay sculpture, drawings, cast silver, and many other types of media offer a broad spectrum of her artistic inspiration; including works celebrate the human figure, natural elements, and sweeping lines which are a recurring theme. Michele Oka Doner: Natural Seduction is an important and very welcome contribution to personal, professional, and academic 20th Century Art History/Art Appreciation collections.

North Light Books/F&W, dist.
4700 E. Galbriath Rd., Cincinnati, OH 45236
1-800-289-0963 www.amazon.com

North Light's books on how to paint, draw, and craft offer some of the easiest beginner's books around: they may focus on beginning attempts, but pair these lessons with professional-quality end results to encourage learners to achieve high-level results. Take John Seerey Lester's Painting Wildlife (1581802420, $28.99): it provides a series of steps to adding feeling and realism to a wildlife painting effort; from rendering fur and feathers which look real to adding background for further depth. Color palates and brush tips accompany these clear step-by-step instructions. Greg Albert's Simple Secret To Better Painting (1581802560, $24.99) also focuses on improving upon beginner's lessons, showing how to improve an art piece with improved understanding of composition. The basic treatise 'never make any two intervals the same' is reinforced in projects which show how to apply balance, shape and focal point to a painting. Penny Soto's Painting Glowing Colors In Watercolor (1581802153, $29.99) tells how to use color and light to enhance the impact of a painting. From seeing personalities in colors and capturing the light enhancing everyday images, this displays an attention to under- and over-painting techniques which aspiring painters will appreciate. The same enhancement effect is achieved in Linda Stevens Moyer's Light Up Your Watercolors Layer By Layer (1581801890, $28.99), which shows how to achieve a radiance and richness of light and color through layering techniques. The basics of mixing color, using white space, and building textures place advanced techniques within the range of the aspiring beginner. Maureen McNaughton's Beautiful Brushstrokes Step By Step (1581803818, $24.99) tells how to choose the right brushstroke for each desired effect. From choosing materials to holding and using a brush properly, this is packed with important tips. Betty Carr's Seeing The Light (1581803427, $28.99) provides a beginner with the foundations of achieving form and depth in a work of art. The focus here is on learning hw to paint light: chapters cover the nuances of light, shadow, and using a range of lighting situations. Photograph your finished results using Roger Saddington's Photographing Your Artwork (1581802838, $19.99), a beginner's guide to producing quality slides of your art without expensive equipment or photographic expertise. From understanding camera choices to capturing the unique qualities of an achievement, this provides artists with a practical method of capturing their art works via camera. Tera Leigh's How To Be Creative If You Never Thought You Could (1581802935, $22.99) tells how to approach crafts for the first time. 16 fun projects cover a range of popular techniques in decoupage, rubber stamping, bookmaking and more, inviting beginners to enter the world of crafts.

Building Your Own Kiln
Hiromi Itabashi, et al.
Kodansha America, Inc.
575 Lexington Avenue, NY, NY 10022
477002973X $25.00 1-800-451-7556

Illustrated with black-and-white as well as color photographs, Building Your Own Kiln: Three Japanese Potters Give Advice And Instructions is a meticulous, step-by-step guide covering everything from choosing the right materials and tools to measuring and construction, safety concerns, and properly operating the kiln once it is built. The collaborative effort of Japanese master potters Hiromi Itabashi, Roppo Tamura, and Naoki Kawabuchi, Building Your Own Kiln is an excellent and "user friendly" guide for pottery hobbyists and seasoned practitioners seeking to take their involvement in their craft to a professional level of quality.


The Science Shelf

DNA
James D. Watson
Knopf/Random House
1745 Broadway, 17th f., NY, NY 10019
www.aaknopf.com
0375415467 $39.95 1-800-726-0600

Fifty years ago author and scientist James D. Watson helped launch an investigation into the phenomena of human DNA with publication of his now-famous "Double Helix" book: today he gives the first history of the genetic revolution from Mendel to human genome sequencing. Individual chapters consider the rise of molecular science, provide explanations of DNA processes and emerging new sciences surrounding genetics, and provides general-interest readers with a fine blend of science and social issues. This is an important survey and a "must" for school and community library Science and Biology collections.

A Brief History Of Disease, Science & Medicine
Michael T. Kennedy, MD FACS
The Writers' Collective
780 Reservoir Avenue, Suite 243, Cranston RI 02910
1932133593 $29.95 www.amazon.com

A Brief History Of Disease, Science & Medicine by Dr. Michael T. Kennedy (retired vascular surgeon and a former Clinical Faculty Member, University of Southern California) informatively surveys the development of modern medical practice from prehistoric times to the modern day. An extensive index allows for easy cross reference of the fascinating facts, pioneer discoveries, traditions of ancient and current civilizations, and much more. A broad-ranging survey packed cover to cover with insights and changes in scientific thinking, A Brief History Of Disease, Science & Medicine is recommended for medical students and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the history and development of modern medicine.


The Library Science Shelf

Neal-Schuman Guide To Celebrations And Holidays Around The World
Kathryn I. Matthew & Joy L. Lowe
Neal-Schuman Publishers
100 William Street, #2004, NY NY 10038
1555704794 $65.00 neal-schuman.com

The collaborative work of curriculum expert Kathryn I. Matthew and library science specialist Joy L. Lowe, Neal-Schu-man Guide To Celebrations And Holidays Around The World is an impressive and highly recommended catalogue of books, media, and multicultural learning activities concerning everything from Martin Luther King, Jr. Day to Cinco de Mayo, Fourth of July, Hana Matsuri and more. Neal-Schuman Guide To Celebrations And Holidays Around The World is a uniformly excellent guide for school and community libraries seeking to keep their reference shelves updated with an informative, comprehensive resource concerning all widespread holidays.

Straight From The Stacks
Laura Townsend Kane
ALA Editions
c/o American Library Association
50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
www.alastore.ala.org
0838908659 $34.00 1-866-746-7252

Straight From The Stacks: A Firsthand Guide To Careers In Library And Information Science by Laura Townsend Kane (Head of Cataloging & Acquisitions, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Library, Columbia, South Carolina), is a very handy and "user friendly" introduction for library students, paraprofessionals, practicing librarians, and anyone else seeking to learn as much as they can about information service careers. Straight From The Stacks is a superb guide addressing a number of common questions ranging from "Where can I apply an advanced degree in library science" to "What experience and training do I need", along with sample job descriptions, firsthand career information from real librarians, required qualities for success in a variety of library-related jobs and more. No Library Science reference collection can be considered complete without the inclusion of Laura Townsend Kane's Strait From The Stacks!


The Railroading Shelf

Ten Turtles to Tucumcari
Klink Garrett with Toby Smith
University of New Mexico Press
1720 Lomas Blvd., NE, Albuquerque, NM 87131-1591
0826330495 $27.95 www.unmpress.com

Ten Turtles To Tucumcari: A Personal History Of The Railway Express Agency is a very personal history of the Railway Express Agency comes from a man who spent much of his life in a national sales position with REA coordinating the transit needs of the Defense Department. His story combines ethics and business savvy with an account of the company's decline and the demise of the nation's railroads.

Snow On The Rails
Dennis Boyer
Badger Books Inc./Waubesa Press
PO Box 192, Oregon, WI 53575
1932542000 $15.95 1-800-928-2372

Snow On The Rails: Tales Of Heartland Railroading by Dennis Boyer brings together bits of railroading legend and lore that recreate the human emotion behind the legacy of the Midwest railway system. Told in a folksy, down-to-earth style, this engaging railroading anthology is a most enjoyable read and is most especially recommended for railroad enthusiasts and railway history buffs. No personal or community library Railroad History collection can be considered comprehensive without the inclusion of Dennis Boyer's Snow On The Rails!

Steam Photo Freights & Passenger Extras
Pentrex
PO Box 94911, Pasadena, CA 94911-4911
1563420988 $29.95 www.pentrex.com

Steam Photo Freights & Passenger Extras is a superbly produced, full color, 96-minute, highly recommended, DVD presentation of outstanding steam locomotive passenger trains which run through scenic and often inaccessible locations. Stereo sound and narration can be played to enhance this experience capturing the recreation of a steam train era; or the narration can be turned off for a railroading enthusiast seeking simply to study and enjoy the trains' majestic and photogenic voyages. Steam Photo Freights & Passenger Extras is also available in a VHS video cassette format (#FPX, $29.95).


The Travel Shelf

Paddling Iowa
Nate Hoogeveen
Trails Books
PO Box 317, Black Earth, WI 53515-0317
1931599335 $19.95 1-800-236-8088

Paddling Iowa: 96 Great Trips By Canoe And Kayak by canoing and kayaking expert Nate Hoogeveen is a straightforward guide specially designed for Iowa water sports enthusiasts wanting to engage themselves in canoeing and kayaking Iowa's challenging river systems. Each two-page spread features a map of a suggested river on one side, and on the other side, detailing extensive information concerning nearby camps or canoe rentals, shuttle routs to the water, gradient, extensive description, tips, tricks, and techniques specific to the route, and more. An excellently organized and easy-to-use resource for planning great canoe and kayak trips, Paddling Iowa is primarily a specialized travel guide and does presume that the reader already knows how to safely and effectively operate a canoe or kayak.

50 Hikes For Eastern Washington's Highest Mountains
James P. Johnson
Frank Amato Publications
PO Box 82112, Portland, OR 97282
1571882960 $14.95 amatobooks.com

50 Hikes For Eastern Washington's Highest Mountains is a no-nonsense and "user firendly" guide to the highest and wildest hiking spots in Eastern Washington by hiker and photographer James P. Johnson. Enhanced by color photographs and trail maps, as well as descriptions for the top of each summit, instructions for traveling to each hike, and so much more, 50 Hikes For Eastern Washington's Highest Mountains is an excellent motivational guide to bestir backpackers and armchair travelers to go out and experiencing what nature has to offer them by way of scenic recreation.


The Fiction Shelf

The Third Child
Marge Piercy
Morrow
10 E. 53rd St., N,Y NY 10022-5299
0066211166 $24.95 www.amazon.com

Marge Piercy's The Third Child is a coming-of-age story tells of a prominent family where ambition comes first and third child Melissa has always felt she comes last. Her freedom at college leads her to Blake, a man of mixed race and unknown parentage, and a fiery affair which hides a secret which could destroy both their families. The Third Child is an intriguing story of ambition and love.

A Great And Terrible Beauty
Libba Bray
Delacorte Press
1745 Broadway, NY, NY 10019
0385730284 $16.95 www.amazon.com

A Great And Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray was written for young adults but the setting and complexity will also lend to its appreciation by an adult audience as well. Blend a Victorian novel with the story of a 16-year-old feisty girl who faces a Victorian girls' school after a beloved childhood home in India and you have a moving story of finishing school faced not by a shy child, but by a near-woman who will have to face the possibility of her own innate unusual powers. A complicated, powerful story evolves.


The Library Video/DVD Shelf

Mystical Moods
Persona Recordings
411 Video Information (publicity)
PO Box 1070-102, Dana Point, CA 92629
DVD $19.95 personarecordings.com

More than two hundred color scenes enhance Mystical Moods, a soothing and welcome DVD montage of peaceful natural scenes enhanced with an entrancing musical score. Cycling through seasons ranging from the cold hibernation of winter to the full bloom of summer, Mystical Moods is a pure delight for leisurely relaxation and emotional renewal. Running Time: 70 minutes

Best Ever Sleepover!
Blue Skies Media
1954 First Street, #156, Highland Park, IL 60035
0974418609 $14.95 blueskiesmedia.com

Best Ever Sleepover! is an amusing DVD for parents and children which is packed with ideas for games and diverting activities for making sleepover parties a lot of good, clean fun. Sample amusements one can share included activities like "Match My Moves", "Sleeping Bag Switcheroo", "Psychic Pendulum" and more. Featuring original music by recording artist Amber Brooke and a free "how-to" booklet, Best Ever Sleepover! contains all a parent (or kid!) needs to know to make the next sleepover a successful and memorable event.

Presidents' Homes
Goldhil Home Media International
411 Video Information (publicity)
137 East Thousand Oaks Blvd., Suite 207, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
GH788 $24.95 1-800-250-8760

Presidents' Homes from Goldhil Home Media International is a video special which was originally created for the Travel Channel and produced in partnership with the National Park Foundation. This unusual architectural travelog takes the viewer upon a unique visual tour through the dwelling places of some of the greatest men of American political history. Viewers are treated to informed and informative tours of Ronald Regan's ranch; Franklin Roosevelt's Springwood Estate; Abraham Lincoln's Springfield home; Theodore Roosevelt's Sagamore Hill; and Dwight D. Eisenhower's Eisenhower Farm. Combining superb camera work with an amazing narrative of history and trivia, President's Homes provides an amazing glimpse into the places that shaped and sheltered our presidential leaders' lives. Running Time: 50 minutes.

Walk Your Way Slim
Michelle Dozois, instructor
Anchor Bay Entertainment
1699 Stutz Drive, Troy, MI 48084
www.collagevideo.com/preventionvideos
VHS $12.95; DVD $14.98 800-546-1949

Walk Your Way Slim is an invigorating, 49-minute, full color, fitness video in the Anchor Bay Entertainment "Prevention Fitness Systems" series and features inspiring instruction by Michelle Dozois -- 15-year fitness professional. Michelle knowledgeably and enthusiastically instructs viewers in how to incorporate power "walking" moves to raise the intensity of a simple walk, burn fat, and promote better health. All the exercises are choreographed to music with three workout levels to choose from. Walk Your Way Slim is an energetic and upbeat introduction to truly making the most of daily walking as a way to improve one's personal care. Also very highly recommended is Michelle Dozois' companion video in the outstadning "Prevention Fitness Systems" series, Flatten Your Belly With Pilates (VHS $12.95; DVD $14.95).

Trails Of The Midnight Sun
Arctic Slayer Productions
8132 Wilcox St., Anchorage, AK 99502
411 Video Information (publicity)
www.arcticslayer.com
DVD $24.95 1-907-245-1883

Trails Of The Midnight Sun from Arctic Slayer Productions is a visually impressive DVD that is ideal for armchair travelers and on-site vacation-goers seeking to make the most of Alaska's finest parks, trails, campgrounds, and recreational areas. Filled with Alaskan history, animated maps, contact information, as well as a wealth of information concerning hiking, berry picking, kayaking, wildlife viewing, photography, camping, fishing, sailing, biking and much, much more, Trails Of The Midnight Sun features full-color footage, an engaging soundtrack, extensive commentary, and is a treat for armchair travelers as sure as vacationers. Running Time: 120 minutes.

Ki-2-Win: Advanced
Leonard Sansevere
Ki-2-Win
411 Video Information (publicity)
4788 SW 106th Street, Ocala, FL 34476
VHS $13.98 www.ki2win.com

Ki-2-Win: Advanced is an impressively produced and presented video workout that blends the experience of high-impact aerobics with training and muscle toning for self defense. Emphasizing empowerment through physical fitness, Ki-2-Win: Advanced also encompasses the mental side of being aware and taking control of a bad situation before it takes control of you. An upbeat, enthusiastic and most enjoyable routine to better fitness and preparedness which features self-defense expert Leonard Sansevere's informative and thoroughly "viewer friendly" instruction. Running Time: 16 minutes. Also very highly recommended for less experienced self-defense practitioners are Ki-2-Win: Basic ($13.98); and Ki-2-Win: Instructional. All three videos form a self-defense/aerobic trilogy that is comprehensive, practical, and exceptional.

Ascend Denali
Weekend Climber Productions
2100 196th Street, SW, Suite 119, Lynnewood, WA 98036
www.ascenddvd.com
DVD $24.95 1-888-450-3888

Ascend Denali from Weekend Climber Productions is an superbly presented interactive DVD guide to Denali, the highest peak in North America and a precipice well known for its extreme and hazardous cold. Ranked among the most dangerous mountains in the world, Ascend Denali presents challenges and hazards which are knowledgeably discussed in depth, along with advice and recommended preparations for experienced climbers seeking to tackle this great summit. Combining an extensive commentary with a spectacular visual tour, and offering a unique and in-depth video gear guide, Ascend Denali is a truly superb resource for both amateur and professional climbers. Also very highly recommended is Ascend Mount Rainier ($24.95), another Weekend Climber Productions interactive DVD guide to several of the most popular routes taken to scale the slopes of Mount Rainier, the fifth highest peak in North America. Following the progress of a guided party tackling the 14,410 foot summit, Ascend Mount Rainier blends informative commentary with breathtaking scenery in a superb resource for dedicated climbers as well as armchair travelers. Special features include 3D and 2D interactive route maps, guide service information, video panoramas, and more.

Food: ReInventing The World
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547
www.bullfrogfilms.com
1560298367 $TBA 1-800-543-3764

Food: ReInventing The World is a an impressively produced, 49 minute, full color VHS documentary complete accessible to viewers from grade 7 to adulthood. Part of a three-volume "ReInventing the World" series, Food: ReInventing The World informatively examines how a global food system that ensures healthful nourishment for all the world's people can be designed. Looking for answers among individuals and among successful programs worldwide, Food: ReInventing The World is thought-provoking, instructional, and offers seeds for ideas that may well brighten the future. Also very highly recommended are the other two titles in this outstanding video trilogy: Work & Time: ReInventing The World and Cities: ReInventing The World.

The Pyramid Principle
Michael C. Pouliot & Anastasia Pouliot
Mind Your Body
411 Video Information (publicity)
2857 Beverly, Clovis, CA 93611
VHS $19.95 1-559-322-6054

Nutrition and exercise specialists Michael C. Pouliot, R.D. and Anastasia Pouliot, R.D. present The Pyramid Principle, an informed and informative video specifically designed to help families combat the real problems of poor nutrition and obesity. Offering simple steps to change unhealthy lifestyle patterns (such as the "80/20" concept of balancing healthy food with occasional more exorbitant treats), the "viewer friendly" instructions on differentiating between high-fat, high-sugar foods and low-fat, low-sugar, recommendations for a daily exercise program, etc. make The Pyramid Principle a truly excellent "personal wellness" instructional resource for the whole family. Running Time: 25 minutes.

Picasso: The Man And His Work
V.I.E.W. Video
34 East 23rd Street, New York, NY 10010
1-212-674-5550 www.view.com
0803020015 (volume 1) $29.98
0803020025 (volume 2) $29.98

Picasso: The Man And His Work is a two volume DVD anthology that painstakingly researches and portrays the life of revolutionary modern painter Picasso. Part 1 covers 1881-1937 and Part 2 covers 1938-1973. Originally made with the complete collaboration of Picasso himself, this artistic presentation unfolds in flashback format, alternately showing scenes of Picasso's life, and in turn displaying how his life experiences deeply affected his work. An absolute "must-have" for fans of Picasso's pioneering style, Picasso: The Man And His Work: Parts 1 & 2 is very highly recommended viewing. A core addition to art school and community library Art History collections, each DVD biographical documentary is in black-and-white, with a running time of 45 minutes plus 60 minutes of bonus features including art galleries, director's memoirs on Picasso, bonus music, and more.

Frontier Visionary
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Smithsonian Institution Press
PO Box 37012
Washington, DC 20013-7012
VHS $TBA 1-800-782-4612

Frontier Visionary: George Catlin And The Plains Indians is a video presentation of the travels and efforts of George Catlin who, in the 1830s was the first major artist to travel beyond the Mississippi and live with American Indians. Recording the "manners and customs" of 50 Plains tribes in his Indian Gallery, Catlin was a pioneer explorer in both art and knowledge -- and his amazing zeal to understand and share other cultures is a quality to be rightfully celebrated, as it remains reflected in his immortal artworks. Informed and informative, Frontier Visionary: George Catlin And The Plains Indians is a welcome contribution to school and community library Native American Studies and American History Studies video curriculum resources and collections. Total Time: 26 minutes.


The Cookbook Shelf

Fresh From The Vegetarian Slow Cooker
Robin Robertson
The Harvard Common Press
535 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118
www.harvardcommonpress.com
1558322566 $14.95 1-888-657-3755

Fresh From The Vegetarian Slow Cooker: 200 Recipes For Healthy And Hearty One-pot Meals That Are Ready When You Are by cookbook author and vegetarian menu expert is a 275-page compendium of some of the best and most versatile eating to every simmer on a kitchen stove. Slow cooking is not just for meat eaters wanting to soften up a tougher cut of inexpensive meat! Slow cooking is also a perfect approach to making dishes featuring beans, grains, vegetables, and so much more. From Curried Cauliflower Soup with Chutney and Cashews; White Beans and Spelt with Escarole; and Winter Squash Stuffed with Couscous, Apricots, and Pistachios; to Smashed Sweet Potatoes with Dried Cranberries; Tiramisu-Inspired Tofu Cheesecake; and Slow Cooker Swedish Glogg, Fresh From He Vegetarian Slow Cooker will quickly prove to be a prized and appreciated addition to any dedicated vegetarian cookbook collection!

The Native Foods Restaurant Cookbook
Tanya Petrovna
Shambhala Publications, Inc.
300 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02115-4544
1590300769 $16.95 shambhala.com

Tanya Petrovna is the head chef of the popular Southern California based "Native Foods" restaurant chain. In The Native Foods Restaurant Cookbook Petrovna draws upon her many years of professional and personal experience to put together a vegetarian cookbook that offers diverse and delicious menus offering her fellow vegetarians delicious, guilt-free options for the dining table. After an informative 3-part introduction ("Native Foods and Me", "The Vegetarian Lifestyle", "Passionate about Organics"), Petrovna goes over the basics of vegetarian cooking from how to equip the kitchen, to a glossary of cooking terms, to overview explanations of basic vegetarian ingredients. Then come a wealth of recipes that have as their common denominator an adherence to vegetarian sensibilities and terrific taste! From Shallot Mushroom Gravy; Tanya's Tempeh Salad; and El Bruncho Burrito; to Bali Surf Burger; Tangerine Yams; and Mexican Hot Chocolate, these are dishes that would grace any table and satisfy any appetite.

Sinfully Vegan
Lois Dieterly
Marlowe & Company
c/o Avalon Publishing Group
161 William Street, NY, NY 10038
1569244766 $16.95 1-800-788-3123

Sinfully Vegan: 140 Decadent Desserts To Satisfy Every Vegan's Sweet Tooth offers vegetarians a very highly recommended culinary wealth of simply wonderful desserts that are guaranteed to be completely dairy-free and cholesterol-free. There are even a variety of wheat-free options for those whose personal diets must exclude the use of wheat flour. In addition to such recipes as German Chocolate Cake; Triple-Chocolate Boston Cream Pie; Swirled Raspberry Cheesecake; and Jelly-Filled Donuts, Sinfully Vegan also offers helpful pantry-stocking tips, creative recipe variations, and a nutritional breakdown for each recipe cited.

Pupus: An Island Tradition
Sachi Fukuda
The Bess Press
3565 Harding Ave., Honolulu, HI 96816
1573060194 $12.95 1-800-910-2377

Born and raised in Hawaii, Sachi Fukuda gives cooking demonstrations, conducts cooking classes, and is dedicated to experimenting with recipes -- especially those which are ethnically relevant to Hawaiian cuisine's impressive diversity. Her latest cookbook, Pupus: An Island Tradition is a 170-page compendium of delicious, nutritious, palate pleasing and kitchen friendly recipes divided into sections devoted to "Dips and Spreads", "Breads and Cheese Pastry", "Mushrooms", "Vegetables", "Chicken", "Seafoods", "Meats", "Healthy Pupus", and a final section called "Miscellaneous". From Hot Broccoli Dip; Portuguese Mini-Pizza; Mushroom Newberg; and Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes; to Butter-Honey Chicken Bits; Oven Curried Shrimp with Hot Marmalade Dip; Beef Sashimi; Terriyaki Tofu; and Korean Aburage, Pupus: An Island Tradition is a simply wonderful and exotic addition to any kitchen cookbook collection.

Pocket Wine Guide 2004
Oz Clarke
Harcourt, Brace and Company
15 East 26th Street, New York, NY 10010
0151008183 $14.00 1-800-543-1918

This significantly revised and thoroughly updated edition of Pocket Wine Guide 2004 appears in true coat-pocket hardcover form to provide a classic wine reference to any who would read about specific wineries or wines. Favored harvest years, ratings of varietals, and lists of top producers and regions accompany a handy A-Z format which makes referencing a quick breeze.

A Yucatan Kitchen
Loretta Miller
Pelican Publishing Company
PO Box 3110, Gretna, LA 70054
1589801326 $17.95 1-800-843-1724

In A Yucatan Kitchen: Regional Recipes From Mexico's Mundo Maya, Loretta Miller (former food editor of the "Press-Enterprise" newspaper) draws upon her personal exploration of the Yucatan region's unique cuisine and provides a compilation of a number of regional favorites from the land of the Maya. From Recado Escabeche (Mild Pickling Spice); Pastel de Lujo (Layered Rice Casserolte); and Puerco En Coca-Cola (Pork Simmered in Cola); to Camarones Al Coco (Coconut Shrimp); Panuchos (Stuffed Open-faced Tacos); and Papadzules (Egg Filled Tortillas in Pumpkin Seed Sauce), A Yucatan Kitchen is filled from cover to cover with enthusiastically recommended, easy to prepare, and delicious "south of the border" favorites to eat!

Collector's Press Inc.
PO Box 230986, Portland, OR 97281
www.amazon.com

Two new titles are recommended picks as gift choices for culinary fans and collectors. Beverly Bundy's Century In Food (1888054670, $35.00) provides a colorful history of America's food fads and innovations; from Cracker Jack and Wrigley's gum to Nescafe. Vintage ad photos in bright, full color accompany lively histories and even recipes. Linda Everett's Retro Diner (1888054689, $16.95) provides a focus on comfort food fare to be found in typical American diners. Diner recipes for regional specialties such as Lilly's Mississippi Mud Pie or Maynard's Potato Salad accompany colorful vintage photos and ads. Both are fun titles.

Start Your Ovens
The Junior League of Bristol, TN/VA
FRP Books
2451 Atrium Way, Nashville, TN 37214
0971021902 $19.95 www.frpbooks.com

The official cookbook of The Bristol Motor Speedway, Start Your Ovens is a sumptuous collection of local flavor and favorite recipes of well-known NASCAR families that bring a taste of the racetrack into the homemade dining. Thrilling themed dishes such as Pesto Pinwheels; Grilled Portabello Mushroom Sandwich; Anchor Chile Lime Butter; and Race Weekend Kabobs with Louisiana Marinade, make for an exciting addition to add spice to any cookbook shelf and is sure to please any NASCAR racing enthusiast!

Along The Garden Path
Bill Varney & Sylvia Varney
FRP Books
2451 Atrium Way, Nashville, TN 37214
0964969106 $24.95 www.frpbooks.com

Expertly written and wonderfully illustrated by the husband and wife team Bill and Sylvia Varney (who own and run Fredericksburg Herb Farm, a business whose Edible Flower Herb Vinegar won the 1991 Outstanding Condiment Award from the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade), Along The Garden Path is an engaging blend of lavish color photographs, thoughtful insights concerning ways to better relax and enjoy life, and fine recipes that elegantly celebrate great taste. The mouth-watering recipes range from Herbed Tomato and Bleu Cheese Soup; Seafood Gazpacho; Creamy Vegetable Dip; and Peppermint Shortbread; to Italian-Style Herb Vinaigrette; Cinnamon Basil Ice Cream; and Peach Brandy Pound Cake with Lemon Verbena. A most enjoyable compilation, Along The Garden Path is most especially recommended for those with a gourmet passion for fine food that features the utilization of fine, garden fresh herbs.

Carolina Thyme
Junior League of Durham & Orange Counties
FRP Books
2451 Atrium Way, Nashville, TN 37214
0961584513 $26.95 www.frpbooks.com

Carolina Thyme: Fresh Ideas For Food is an engaging collection of classy yet vividly spirited recipes offering a brand new twist on old favorites. Dining room delights such as Asian Broccoli; Apricot and Pecan-Stuffed Pork Loin; Almond Biscotti; Black Jack Spareribs; Chocolate Ameretto Heavenly Tarts, and so much more, are offer up with no-nonsense, precisely detailed, "user friendly" instructions to preparing culinary delicacies fit for a professional cafe menu or an elegant family dining occasion.

Thymes Remembered
The Junior League of Tallahassee, Inc.
FRP Books
2451 Atrium Way, Nashville, TN 37214
0962016616 $18.95 www.frpbooks.com

Thymes Remembered: A Lifetime Of Treasured Recipes is a very special cookbook assimilated from the memories and traditions of the American Southern lifestyle. An award-winning cookbook featured in "Better Homes And Gardens", Thymes Remembered includes menus for a romantic dinner for two, weddings, and/or vineyard cocktails. The straightforward instructions for dishes such as Creole Shrimp Salad; Southern Style Creamed Corn; Florida Fresh Fruit Cobbler, and more, make for a truly memorable collection of recipes to treasure. An included "Finding Thyme" CD-ROM for Windows 95 uniquely enhances this delightful and very highly recommended recipe collection.

Always In Season
Junior League of Salt Lake City
FRP Books
2451 Atrium Way, Nashville, TN 37214
0961697229 $21.95 www.frpbooks.com

Always In Season: A Collection Of Recipes From The Junior League Of Salt Lake City, Utah showcases over 200 favorite seasonal recipes from Utah, as well as eight season oriented menus. Contributions from award-winning chefs are combined with scenes of gorgeous full-color Utah landscape photography to make Always In Season an excellent souvenir and cultural celebration as well as a just plain tasty cookbook. From Cache Valley Cheese Souffle; Picture Perfect Macaroons; and Great Salt Lake Caesar Salad; to Cafe Diablo Pumpkin Seed Crusted Trout; Deep Creek Ranch Fajitas; and Cranberry Eggnog Cheesecake, Always In Season will enable even the most novice kitchen cook to prepare gourmet quality dishes that enhance any truly special meal time occasion.

Strictly Chili
A.D. Livingston
Burford Books, Inc./NBN, dist.
PO Box 388, Short Hills, NJ 07078
158080117X $16.95 burfordbooks.com

A.D. Livingston if the food columnist for "Gray's Sporting Journal". In Strictly Chili: Cooking The Best Bowl Of Red, Livingston has brought under one cover an incredible diversity of chili recipes that range from the traditional to the modern. Of special interest for the chili connoisseur are the unique recipes that include rattlesnake, muskrat, wine, soda, whiskey, and other unusual ingredient. From Chili with Soy; New Mexican Red; and Tampa Bay Three-Bean Chili; to Swampman Dan's Deer Meat Chili; McCormick's 20 Minute Chili; and Ham Hock Chili with Beans from Scratch, Strictly Chili is a mandatory addition to any true and dedicated chili enthusiast's personal cookbook collection!

Living Cuisine
Renee Loux Underkoffler
Avery/G. P. Putnam's Sons
375 Hudson Street, NY, NY 10014
1583331719 $21.95 1-800-847-5515

Compiled by Renee Loux Underkoffler, Living Cuisine: The Art And Spirit Of Raw Foods presents more than 300 sumptuous gourmet recipes. Tut this is far more than just another cookbook. Living Cuisine explains in detail the techniques and methods to healthfully and safely prepare raw foods and deftly bring out their flavor. Underkoffler (an expert raw-food chef and the former co-owner of the Raw Experience restaurant in Maui) offers professional techniques for balancing flavors, juicing, sprouting, fermenting, dehydrating, blanching, garnishing, and so much more. These high quality recipes include Vanilla Bean Cookies; Basic Buckwheat Crunch Cereal; and Layered Nueva Corntillas among many more delicious favorites. A superb guide for those seeking to explore the health benefits and fine culinary taste of raw foods, Living Cuisine is a welcome and much appreciated addition to any gourmet cookbook collection.

The Metropolitan Bakery Cookbook
James Barrett and Wendy Smith Born
Catherine Hennessy, photographer
Rodale Press, Inc.
400 South Tenth St, Emmaus, PA 18098
1579547591 $29.95 www.rodale.com

A collaboration between James Barrett and Wendy Smith Born, The Metropolitan Bakery Cookbook: Artisan Breads, Pastries, And Desserts From Philadelphia's Premier Bakery is a high-quality resource written by the co-owners of the popular and award-winning Metropolitan Bakery in Philadelphia. Enhanced with the photography of Catherine Hennessy, The Metropolitan Bakery Cookbook offers up such fine quality pastry dishes as Orange-Currant Scones; Chocolate Walnut-Caramel Tart; Black Olive Tapenade; Flourless Chocolate Cake; Sesame Cookies; and Sun-Dried Tomato Matzo, making for a truly distinctive cookbook which is especially recommended for make-it-yourself baked goods enthusiasts everywhere.

The Ultimate Game & Fish Cookbook
John Schumacher
Publishing Solutions, LLC
1107 Hazeltine Boulevard, Suite 470, Chaska, MN 55318
0972558020 $29.95 ipubsolutions.com

Compiled and organized by John Schumacher (chef and operator of the New Prague Hotel B&B), The Ultimate Game & Fish Cookbook features over 400 savory recipes each of which is specifically designed to bring succulent flavor out of a wild bounty of fish, birds, small game and big game animals. Color photographs and helpful hints enhance the explicit instructions to making such original dishes as Dandelion and Nasturtium Fish Salad; Wild Cherry Breast Of Pheasant; Black Beer And Game Stew; and so much more. The Ultimate Game & Fish Cookbook is an ideal addition to the kitchen cookbook collection of any family who hunts, fishes or traps wild game of any kind for their dining room table.

Everything But The Entree
The Junior League of Parkersburg
FRP Books
2451 Atrium Way, Nashville, TN 37214
0966980700 $19.95 www.frpbooks.com

Everything But The Entree is an engaging compilation of dishes suitable for picnics, potlucks, breakfasts, brunches, and any other meal time occasion. Appetizers, side dishes, and tasty treats include Hot-Sweet-Spicy Roasted Pecans; Cheesy Scrambled Egg Casserole; Asparagus Carrot Squash Tea; Governor Ann Richards' Jalapeno Cheese Corn Bread; Eggplant Parmesan; and so much more. A superbly organized and presented, easy-to-follow, and simply delicious guide for making unforgettable contributions to "bring-a-dish" get togethers, Everything But The Entree will prove a highly popular addition to any kitchen cookbook collection.

Beyond Cotton Country
Junior League of Morgan County
FRP Books
2451 Atrium Way, Nashville, TN 37214
0961440619 $21.95 www.frpbooks.com

Beyond Cotton Country is a simply gorgeous collection of long-time favorite, double kitchen-tested, mouth-watering, appetite satisfying recipes drawn from the Junior League of Morgan County members, their family, and their friends. Fine minimalist color illustrations add an eye-catching touch to offerings such as Spiced Fruit Tea; Grilled Venison; Sunday Morning Pancakes; Orange Chicken Roll-Ups; New Orleans Garlic Bread; Cherry Crown Cake, and more. Sidebar tips offer helpful insights in this overall sumptuous and very highly recommended hardcover cookbook.

Once Upon A Recipe
Friends of the YMCA of Middle Tennessee
FRP Books
2451 Atrium Way, Nashville, TN 37214
0970912803 $18.95 www.frpbooks.com

An association-wide cookbook of the YMCA assembled to promote healthy eating as well as delicious taste, Once Upon A Recipe is an impressive collection of nutritional, easy-to-prepare favorites that the whole family can enjoy. Dishes such as Sausage Won Tons and Apple Nut Cheesecake, as well as on-the-go meals featuring such quick creations as Cheese Blintzes make for a truly tasty collection. Nutritional profiles are provided for each recipe (including calories, proteins, carbohydrates, cholesterol, fiber, sodium and more) thereby enhancing a decidedly nutrition oriented and diet-conscious approach. Highly recommended!

Classic Cajun Deux
Lucy Henry Zaunbrecher
The Wimmer Companies, Inc.
4650 Shelby Air Dr., Memphis, TN 38118
0964074818 $16.95 wimmerco.com

After a series of introductory notes on the Cajun people and their cuisine, Lucy Henry Zaunbrecher organizes her compilation of authentic Cajun recipes in a thoroughly "user friendly" presentation that marks Classic Cajun Deux: More Culture & Cooking as something truly special by way of ethnic cuisine. Each recipe is enhanced with a personal bit of commentary. From Veal New Orleans; Smothered Deer Meat a la Raymond; Oyster Bacon Wrap-Arounds; and Garfish Patties; to Old Fashioned Wilted Salad; Max Dollar's Buttermilk Candy; Gumdrop Cake; and Pineapple Chiffon Pie, Class Cajun Deux is a very special and highly recommended addition to any family cookbook collection.

Complete Guide To Game Care & Cookery
Sam Fadala
Krause Publications
700 East State St., Iola, WI 54990-0001
087349539X $21.99 1-800-258-0929

Now in an significantly expanded fourth edition, Complete Guide To Game Care & Cookery by Sam Fadala is far more than just another recipe collection. This superb culinary compendium features extensively detailed instructions to healthfully and safely clean and prepare fish, game birds, venison and more for sumptuous and savory consumption. Tips, tricks, and techniques are provided in addition to the no-nonsense basics of cleaning and caring for every type of game meat. All of the instructions and recipes are presented in a thoroughly understandable, reader-friendly manner, and instructions for cooking savory dishes ranging from Game Chili Con Carne; to Gameburger Au Gratin Skillet; to Game Chef's Salad are representative of the quality, mouth-watering, appetite satisfying dishes which enhance this thoroughly satisfying and highly recommended wild game guide.

Best Recipes From American Country Inns And Bed & Breakfasts
Kitty Maynard & Lucian Maynard
Rutledge Hill Press
Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000
1401600980 $24.99 1-800-251-4000

Collaboratively researched and assembled by the wife and husband team of Kitty and Lucian Maynard, Best Recipes From American Country Inns And Bed & Breakfasts is a grand compilation showcasing more than 1,500 savory recipes drawn from the menus of more than 450 popular American inns and B&Bs. The recipes are arranged by the state and inn or B&B from which it originates (completed with the address, phone number, and e-mail or web site of each inn or B&B listed), but every last one offers the superb quality of high-class accommodations. The culinary treats range from Moist Banana Bread; Cranberry Pear Dumplings; and Smoked Salmon Quiche; to Ham Has Topped with Eggs in Mustard Cream Sauce; Arlene's Spicy Baked Pears with Yogurt; and Fried Walnuts. Best Recipes From American Country Inns And Bed & Breakfasts truly lives up to its title and would become an instant favorite in any kitchen cookbook collection.

The Empty Nest Cookbook
Joy Smith
Cumberland House Publishing
431 Harding Industrial Park Drive, Nashville, TN 37211
www.cumberlandhouse.com
1581823762 $16.95 1-888-439-2665

Featuring more than 200 original recipes and 25 menus with "kitchen cook friendly" instructions, The Empty Nest Cookbook is an enthusiastically recommended, feel-good guide to tending the kitchen and preparing family meals after the children are grown and gone. Interspersed with thoughts and essays that offer illuminating insights to this new phase of domestic life, The Empty Nest Cookbook includes sometimes indulgent but always delicious delights which range from Strawberry Salsa; Home-Fried Potatoes; Sausage and Peppers; to Baked Amaretto Pears; Gourmet Turkey Burgers; Mile-High Lemon Meringue Pie; and Glazed Cranberries and Onions.

50 Ways To Take The Junk Out Of Junk Food
Julie Whittingham
The Globe Pequot Press
PO Box 480, Guilford, CT 06437
www.GlobePequot.com
0762728698 $7.95 1-800-243-0495

50 Ways To Take The Junk Out Of Junk Food by nutrition expert Julie Whittingham is a straightforward and elegantly simple collection of recipes for helping the family eat healthier. Offering fifty alternatives to the unhealthier foods and treats that kids love most, 50 Ways To Take The Junk Out Of Junk Food includes easy-to-prepare, tasty, fun, and nutritionally sound fare such as baked apples, fruit kabobs, banana sandwich squares, and more. 50 Ways To Take The Junk Out Of Junk Food is very highly recommended -- especially for families struggling to strike a sound balance in today's sugar-saturated society.

A Cook's Tour Of Italy
Joe Famularo
HP Books/Berkley Publishing Group
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
1557884188 $25.95 1-800-847-5515

Written by the James Beard Award-winning cookbook author Joe Famularo, A Cook's Tour Of Italy offers up more than 300 authentic recipes drawn from the various and diverse regions of this nation of grand culinary traditions. Dishes that offer centuries of cultural heritage and enduring classic taste include Fava Beans Country Style; Homemade Tortellini In Broth; Mozzarella Meat Loaf; Shrimp and Smoked Salmon in a Sweet and Sour Sauce; Spaghettini with Clams, Carrots and Wine; Eggs in Purgatory with Grilled Sausages, and more. A step-by-step sumptuous repository, A Cook's Tour Of Italy is a simply wonderful addition to any dedicated family cookbook collection.

Old-Time Farmhouse Cooking
Barbara Swell
Native Ground Music
109 Bell Rd, Asheville, NC 28805-1521
1883206413 $5.95 1-800-752-2656

Lovingly compiled by historic American cooking expert Barbara Swell, Old-Time Farmhouse Cooking is a superbly presented collection of authentic recipes with generational appeal and old-time flavor -- many of which are excerpted from publications circulated up to a century ago like "Farm and Fireside". Upbeat excerpts from 1900's era articles concerning farm life and the hardworking people who lived it add a very special atmosphere to such delightful and pleasing treats such as Verna's Icebox Butter Buns, Never-Fail Dill Pickles, Tomato Surprise, Swedish Orange Rye Bread, Meringue Chews, and more.

Hollyhock Cooks
The Hollyhock Cooks
New Society Publishers
PO Box 189, Gabriola Island, BC, V0R 1X0, Canada
www.newsociety.com
0865714886 $19.95 1-800-567-6772

Hollyhock Cooks: Food To Nourish Body, Mind, And Soil is a compilation of recipes and cuisine from Hollyhock, a coastal retreat center on Cortes Island in British Columbia's Georgia Strait. Palate-pleasing, easy-to-prepare dishes come with straightforward instructions and helpful tips, as well as suggested variations for adding a personal touch or adjusting dishes to special diets, making for an especially delectable compilation. From Curried Summer Squash Half-Moon Bouquet; Roasted Barley Pilaf with Mushrooms and Hazelnuts; and Hollyhock Bread; to Mango Ginger Upside-Down Cake; Peach-Berry Crisp with Cardamom; and Fairy Tea, Hollyhock Cooks is a simply outstanding cookbook collection of wonderful recipes.

Baking At High Altitude
Randi Lee Levin
The Muffin Lady Inc.
1532 Yankee Creek Road, Evergreen, Colorado 80439
0974500801 $26.95 1-303-670-3712

Baking At High Altitude: The Muffin Lady's Old Fashioned Recipes by Randi Lee Levin is a straightforward, step-by-step, point-by-point instructional guide to creating delicious baked goods under the unique altitude conditions of being located 4000 feet or more above sea level. A wide variety of baking recipes (each of which can be altered to meet dietary needs such as being fat-free or sugar-free), offer pleasurable tastes in a wonderful diversity of recipes ranging from Grandmom's Rich Coffeecake; Almond Poppyseed or Almond Chocolate-Chip Muffins; Kathleen's Mother's Austrian Strudel; Great Grandmother's Carrot Cake; and more. A most enjoyable recipe compilation to simply browse through, Baking At High Altitude includes some recipes that have been shared down from mother to daughter to granddaughter for over a century.

The Dinner Doctor
Anne Byrn
Workman Publishing Company
708 Broadway, 6th Fl NY NY 10003-9555
0761126805 $14.95 www.workman.com

Expertly written by Anne Byrn (the nationally known "Cake Mix Doctor" and author of a number of bestselling cookbooks), The Dinner Doctor is a time and money saving guide to creating delicious meals on the go utilizing convenient supermarket foods. Over 230 family-pleasing and tasty recipes are deftly presented, including such "more please" feasts as Black Bean Soup with Lemon Cream; Thai Spaghetti; Lemon Blueberry Muffins with a Lemon Drizze; Slow-Cooker Macaroni And Cheese; Chocolate Fudge Ribbon Cake; Country Sausage, Cheddar, And Apple Bake; and so much more. An excellent recipe book for home chefs on a strict time budget, The Dinner Doctor is a welcome and practical contribution to any kitchen cookbook collection.

Jenny's Country Kitchen Recipes For Making Homemade A Little Easier!
Jennifer Wood
Jenny's Country Kitchen Inc.
438 South Main Street, Dover, MN 55929
www.jennyscountrykitchen.com
1890621595 $21.95 1-800-357-3497

Very nicely enhanced by the illustrations of Carol & Gary Goodding, Recipes For Making Homemade A Little Easier! is a compilation of recipes and shortcuts from Jenny Wood of Jenny's Country Kitchen. A color-coded index makes dishes for specific needs easy to look up, while direct instructions walk the reader through 130 recipes for just plain yummy homestyle food with an emphasis on saving time and energy. From Oven Fried Chicken; to Strawberry-Spinach Salad; Pantry Stocking Brownie Mix; Blueberry-Banana Fruit Salad; Grandma's Favorite Pecan Pie, and more, Recipes For Making Homemade A Little Easier! offers a wealth of tasty, memorable, "kitchen cook friendly" treats for any and all dining occasions.


The Buddhist Studies Shelf

Unlocking The Mysteries Of Birth & Death... And Everything In Between
Daisaku Ikeda
Middleway Press
606 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica, CA 90401
0972326707 $15.00 middlewaypress.org

Now in a newly published second edition, Unlocking The Mysteries Of Birth & Death... And Everything In Between, superbly written by Daisaku Ikeda (a spiritual leader, Nichiren Buddhist teacher, and president of the Soka Gakkai International), is a philosophical exploration of the mysteries of nature and deep pondering on innate questions such as "What is life?" "Where does it come from?" "Where does it go after death?" "How do we overcome the sufferings that lie in between?" An inspirational guide offering wisdom to cope with the terrible tragedies of life as well as the frustrations of daily minutiae, Unlocking The Mysteries Of Birth & Death... And Everything In Between is a superb treatise on faith and the human condition from a Buddhist perspective.

Opening The Heart Of The Cosmos
Thich Nhat Hanh
Parallax Press
PO Box 7355, Berkeley, CA 94707
1888375337 $26.00 www.parallax.com

In Opening The Heart Of The Cosmos: Insights On The Lotus Sutra, Vietnamese Buddhist monk, poet, teacher, writer, peace and human rights activist Thich Nhat Hanh draws upon his more than 30 years of study and experience to focus upon one of the most important of the sutras and reveal how it can be of invaluable service in transforming ourselves and the world around us. By way of illustration, Hanh provides commentary on a number of current issues and enduring world problems ranging from the Palestinian-Israeli impasse, to the threats posed by international terrorism, to the continuing degradation of our planetary environment. Opening The Heart Of The Cosmos is a superbly articulated and presented contribution to the growing body of Buddhist literature for western readers.


The Theatre/Cinema Shelf

Complete Audition Book For Young Actors
Roger Ellis
Meriwether Publishing
Box 7710, Colorado Springs, CO 80933
1566080886 $17.95 www.amazon.com

Young adult actors who want to hone their drama career and audition well will find the set of sixty acting exercises comprising Complete Audition Book For Young Actors by Roger Ellis to hold the key to success. Each exercise provides lessons couched in sample audition pieces from modern playrights, and each piece helps train and instruct young actors in the finer points of auditioning. Complete Audition Book For Young Actors is a highly recommended addition to drama department reference collections.


The Library CD Music Shelf

Rosemary Clooney: The Best Of The Concord Years
Concord Records
100 N. Crescent Drive, Suite 275, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
CD $9.98 www.concordrecords.com

Rosemary Clooney: The Best Of The Concord Years is a superbly recorded, two-CD set collection showcasing some of the most memorable and beloved works of popular singer Rosemary Clooney as drawn from more than 25 years of her remarkable career. These selections range from her remarkable and attention-getting 50's debut, to music from her grand comeback album in 1977. An audio treat for Rosemary Clooney fans, Disc One has tracks Hey There (2:36), I've Got A Crush On You (3:19), Pennies From Heaven (4:15), Lover Man (4:30), I Cover The Waterfront (3:35), How Long Has This Been Going On? (4:53), Meditation (4:43), Will You Still Be Mine? (3:04), Just One Of Those Things (4:07), Stormy Weather (5:42), I'm Beginning To See The Light (3:37), Cheek To Cheek (5:15), A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square (3:10), I Thought About You (5:11), and Something's Got To Give (3:16). Disc Two has tracks I Wish I Were In Love Again (3:03), People Will Say We're In Love (4:51), Sentimental Journey (4:23), Straighten up And Fly Right (4:53), Nice 'N' Easy (3:08), Do You Miss New York? (5:09), As Long As I Live (3:19), Let's Get Away From It All (4:06), The Coffee Song (2:42), Mambo Italiano (2:29), A Foggy Day (3:16), Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams (3:16), Old Devil Moon (4:00), Brazil (6:50), I'm The Big Band Singer (2:26), God Bless America/They Can't Take That Away From Me (4:14), and White Christmas (3:32).

Africa Straight Ahead
Heads Up Entertainment
23309 Commerce Park Road, Cleveland, Ohio 44122
http://headsup.com
HUCD 3079 $17.98 1-216-765-7381

Africa Straight Ahead is a uniquely performed and flawlessly recorded music CD anthology showcasing great African jazz, and celebrating the ten-year anniversary of the end of apartheid. Featuring a cross-section of jazz styles, these toe-tapping rhythms blend emotion and sheer energy with pulsing drumbeat of human history. Tracks include Owed To Bishop (5:54), Naivasha (6:55), Celebrate Mzansi (5:32), Beautiful Love (4:42), Langery (4:49), Tugela Rail (5:39), Sweet Anathi (7:18), Lovers On Empty Corners (4:17), Amasabekwelanggeni (7:36), Dee Mwa Wee (8:24), Imbali (5:51), and Shawn's Uhadi Samba (4:01).

Romantic Dreams
Armik
Bolero Records
18653 Ventura Blvd., #314, Tarzana, CA 91356
CD $14.99 www.bolero-records.com

Romantic Dreams is the ninth music CD recording showcasing guitar prodigy Armik -- who has also incorporated his love of flamenco scales in his outstanding and flawlessly recorded performances. An adventurous experiment in expressing the feeling of romantic love by mixing elements of Latin, flamenco, and jazz into a luminous whole, Romantic Dreams is a treasure to listen to and share. The individual tracks comprising Romantic Dreams include Moments (4:57), Fantasia (4:37), Slow Dancing (4:41), Secret Whispers (5:07), Moonlight Cafe (4:43), Love Letters (5:13), Treasure Island (4:36), Your Touch (5:12), Ocean Breeze (4:35), Amor (2:54), and the title piece, Romantic Dreams (4:51).

Festival In The Desert
World Village
c/o Rock Paper Scissors
5340 Old State Road, 37 South, Suite B, Bloomington, IN 47401
468020 $17.98 rockpaperscissors.biz

Festival In The Desert presents recordings made during the remote 2003 festival held in the Sahara Desert, featuring 30 acts from North Africa, Europe, and North America. Capturing a once-in-a-lifetime jam session (and one that could be reached only by camelback or in a 4x4) showcasing a melding of sound that deserves nothing less than global distribution, Festival In The Desert is very highly recommended for those who appreciate a multicultural ethnic jamboree. The twenty individual tracks comprising Festival In The Desert include: Super 11 (4:46), Buri Baalal (5:01), Tihar Bayatin (3:03), Win My Train Fare Home (6:03), Ya Moulana (3:19), Jah Kas Cool Boy (5:02), Wayena (3:01), Karaw (4:56), Aldachan Manin (3:39), Politique (3:13), Ariyalan (2:13), Chameaux (3:47), Ihama (2:46), Le Juge Ment (4:02), Wana (3:11), Koultouleili-Khalett La (4:21), Oubilalian (2:23), Fady Yeina (2:11), What Do You See (3:41), and Laisse-Moi Dire (2:34).

Round Dance Songs Recorded Live: Honoring Singers And Songmakers, Volume 2
Nothern Cree and Friends
Canyon Records Productions
3131 West Clarendon Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85017
CR-6364 $15.98 1-800-268-1141

Round Dance Songs Recorded Live: Honoring Singers And Songmakers: Volume 2 is the latest recording in which championship pow-wow group Northern Cree joins their talents with that of such friends as Eugene Cardinal, Melvin Stone, Norman Yellowbird, Gordon McGilvery, Jack Bull, Arnold Pete, and David McGilvery. A live presentation of one of the largest round dances in North America, Honoring Singers And Songmakers is a respectful sharing of Native American tradition featuring lively music, soulful humor, and pure celebration. Tracks include Lovesick Blues (5:30), Modern Girl (4:49), The Rock (5:26), Stormin' (4:50), Gordon McGilvery with Northern Cree (5:07), Jack Bull - Straight (4:14), Wah Wah (5:32), Mountain Soul - Straight (3:13), Arnold Pete - Straight (2:44), and Hurtin' (3:33). Also very highly recommended from Canyon Records Productions are their new releases: Round Dance Blues (Randy Wood, CR-6363) and Burning Sky (A Simple Man, CR-7063).

Sapphire Days
Ann Sweeten
Orange Band Records
c/o The Creative Service Company
4360 Emerald Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
CD $15.98 www.annsweeten.com

Sapphire Days is the latest music CD album by classically-trained instrumental pianist Ann Sweeten. Created in tribute to those precious, wonderful days "sapphire days" that are meaningful, poignant, cherished, and which linger in our memory through all the remaining years of our lives. Emphasizing that every day has a potential to be a "Sapphire Day", these passionate and evocative pieces draw out the twin sides of contemplation and exhilaration in life. Tracks include Working With The Wind (4:00), Sapphire Days (3:01), A Prayer For Shazu (3:40), Solitude (3:17), Smoke (2:51), In The Shadows (4:14), Cotton Candy Skies (5:28), White Spirit (3:56), Arrow (3:29), Grains of Sand (4:23), Autumn's Child (2:54) and Canopy Of Stars (4:29).

World Music Network
www.worldmusicnet.net
# 6 Abbeville Mews, 88 Clapham Park Rd, London SW4 7BX, UK

This publisher's music cds are extraordinary pieces individually, but one stands out as a unique production which should be a basic to any world music collection. Debashish Bhattacharya and Bob Brozman's Mahima earns our vote as cd of the year, presenting the best India/Western fusion album of all time. Pair talented slide guitarist/dobro/steel player Brozman with the likes of Indian classical music pro Bhattacharya, who invented his own multi-stringed Indian slide guitar, and you have a series of 'super star' sessions which are not spontaneous encounters, but family participatory creations. Take flamenco and desert sounds and add a blend of North American background music and harmonies and you have the foundations of Javier Ruibal's Sahara, a composer's inspirational survey of Spanish poetic influences. Ruibal's songs are gorgeous evocations of rhythm and lively flamenco styles, drawing upon African, Arabian and Caribbean influences to create a unique style all his own. Not to be missed. The very different Arabia features various artists: its title is a bit misleading as the music comes from across the Middle East and Northern Africa. Ethnic groups other than Arabs, such as Berbers and Nubians, are included. Some of the music has appeared on other collections; but no compilation displays this range of styles or quality of selections. Highly recommended.


The World History Shelf

The Hebrew Pharaohs Of Egypt
Ahmed Osman
Bear & Company/Inner Traditions
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
1591430224 $18.00 www.amazon.com

The Hebrew Pharaohs Of Egypt: The Secret Lineage Of Patriarch Joseph by Ahmed Osman explores the possibility that Biblical Joseph (who was sold into slavery by his kin), was one and the same with Yuya, a vizier of the Eighteenth Dynasty Pharaoh Tuthmosis IV. Shedding light on the sudden rise of monotheism in Egypt as spread by Queen Tiye and her son Akhenaten, The Hebrew Pharaohs Of Egypt is an intriguing, iconoclastic, and highly recommended study which draws upon Biblical and scientific findings to offer a unique interpretation of this specific aspect of the Biblical record.

The Rise And Fall Of The Knights Templar
Gordon Napier
Spellmount Limited/Casemate, dist.
Second Floor, 2114 Darby Road, Havertown, PA 19083
1862271992 $29.95 1-610-853-9131

The Rise And Fall Of The Knights Templar by writer, artist, and medieval history expert Gordon Napier is a truly remarkable work drawing upon all that contemporary historical research can assemble concerning this ancient knightly order's heyday, its participation in the Crusades, and its ultimate decline to the point that Philip the Fair, King of France, would accuse them of monstrous crimes and heresies, thereby unleashing the lethal forces of the Inquisition against them. A well-researched, in-depth, scholarly account that seeks to draw as balanced an interpretation as possible from the legacy of evidence and testimonies that has survived the centuries, The Rise And Fall Of The Knights Templar will prove a valued addition to collegiate Medieval Studies collections and wonderfully accessible to non-specialist general readers with an interest in the fabled Knights Templar.

The Trail Of Martyrdom
Sarah Covington
University of Notre Dame Press
310 Flanner Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556
www.undpress.nd.edu
0268042268 $28.00 1-800-621-2736

The Trail Of Martyrdom: Persecution And Resistance In Sixteenth-Century England, provides Professor Covington's readers with a thorough and scholarly examination of all aspects of persecution, imprisonment, rebellion, dissent, and execution in sixteenth-century England. A work of meticulous scholarship, and presented with a passion for accuracy and logical interpretation, The Trail Of Martyrdom is a fascinating and informative scrutiny of a dark side of human behavior and royal politics under Henry VIII, Edward, Mary, and Elizabeth. Sarah Covington is an Assistant Professor of History at Elizabethtown College and The Trail Of Martyrdom is also available in a hardcover format (026804225X, $55.00).

The Great Pretenders
Jan Bondeson, M.D.
W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
www.wwnorton.com
0393019691 $25.95 1-800-233-4830

Expertly compiled by Jan Bondeson (Professor at the University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff), The Great Pretenders: The True Stories Behind Famous Historical Mysteries is an enthralling anthology of unsolved mysteries which are presented on a case by case basis and keenly analyzed with the exacting scrutiny of modern scientific and medical knowledge. From what DNA testing reveals on the supposed heart of the alleged Lost Dauphin (who claimed to be the son of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette); to Kaspar Hauser (a boy who claimed to be the Crown Prince of Baden and to have lived his entire childhood in an underground dungeon), The Great Pretenders offers a fascinating, informative, and occasionally iconoclastic peek into human identity conundrums down through history.


The Musicbook Shelf

All Music Guide To Country
Vladimir Bogdanov, et al.
Backbeat Books
600 Harrison St, San Francisco, CA 94107
0879307609 $27.95 backbeatbooks.com

The collaborative effort of country music experts Vladimir Bogdanov, Chris Woodstra, and Stephen Thomas Erlewine, and now in an expanded and updated second edition, All Music Guide To Country: The Definitive Guide To Country Music is a gigantic, 963-page reference book which is crammed from cover to cover with reviews and ratings to 10,281 recordings by 1,219 artists and represent all facets and subgenres of the western music genre and is a compendium of facts and factoids about country music and the people who sing it. A thorough, "must-have" resource for dedicated country fans or anyone else who needs to look up country-music related information quickly, the text published in a rather tiny font -- so readers with impaired eyesight had best invest in a good magnifying glass.

Music Melting Round
Edith Borroff
Scarecrow Press
4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200, Lanham, MD 20706
www.scarecrowpress.com
0810846748 $24.95 1-800-462-6420

Music Melting Round: A History Of Music In The United States is an enjoyable overview text of the history of American music, written by musicologist, composer, and academician Edith Borroff for music history students and nonspecialist general readers alike. From colonial times to the modern day, Music Melting Round covers jazz, popular, minstrel shows, music on radio and television, and so much more. Black-and-white photographs nicely illustrate the easy-to-follow narrative text which is enhanced with an appendix of musical concepts, along with a glossary, and two indexes to make Music Melting Round a superb choice as a classroom curriculum text, as well as a seminal addition to music department and community library Music History & Appreciation reference collections.

Reggae: Story Of Jamaican Music
Lloyd Bradley
BBC Books/Trafalgar Square
PO Box 257, North Pomfret, VT 05053
0563488077 $19.95 1-800-423-4525

Interviews, comments from reggae legends and those involved in the music, and a running history accompanies a wealth of color photos following the history of reggae music in Jamaica in Lloyd Bradley's Reggae: Story Of Jamaican Music. While designed to accompany a BBC TV series on the topic, this fine coverage with its photos by Dennis Morris stands alone well as an excellent treatment of reggae's evolving styles and personalities.

The World Of DJs And The Turntable Culture
Todd Souvignier
Hal Leonard Corporation
7777 West Bluemound Road, Milwaukee, WI 53213
0634058339 $18.95 1-800-637-2852

Featuring exclusive interviews with DJ superstars such as Grand Wizzard Theodore, DJ QBert, Rob Swift, and others, The World Of DJs And The Turntable Culture by Todd Souvignier is both a solid introduction to the culture, history, and unique aspects of popular dance music, hip-hop, and turntable tunes, as well as a detailed look at the tools, methodologies, technologies, and more used by modern DJs. The World Of DJs And The Turntable Culture is an accessible and in-depth resource which is most especially recommended for anyone considering a career as a DJ, as well as ideal for casual browsers who are curious about what makes these unforgettable presenters of music tick.

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

These Irish/English titles are not casual readers, but in-depth studies which real scholars of the genre will welcome and appreciate. George Petrie's Complete Irish Music (0486430804, $34.95) is one such classic, presenting 1,582 traditional melodies complete with lyrics and scores. Instrumentalists and musicians will find this an exceedingly handy reference for traditional Irish ballads and music; particularly as it reprints an original 3-volume set under one cover. Volumes 3 and 4 of Francis James Child's English And Scottish Popular Ballads ($24.95 each) add to a five-volume set (entire set not seen) which reprints works originally published between 1882 and 1898. This may be viewed as the definitive sourcebook for English balladry: Professor Child compiled all the ballads with all known variants, adding his own commentary and presenting them for the first time. There are over 300 ballads to the entire collection - no musical stores, but plenty of historical background.


The Audiobook Shelf

The Great Gatsby
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Caedmon/Harper Audio
10 East 53rd Street, NY, NY 10022-5299
0060098902 $27.95 1-800-242-7737

Tim Robbins' smooth rendition brings this excellent classic to life under audio format, pairing an unabridged presentation with letters narrated by Robert Sean Leonard covering Fitzgerald's writings to his editor and his agents and friends. The pairing of the literary classic in audio with this background set of insights makes for an involving listen.

Dragon's Kin
Anne McCaffrey
Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
1593551827 $19.95 1-800-854-7859

Dragon's Kin is the abridged audiobook version of the latest fantasy adventure novel featuring author Anne McCaffrey's fantastic planet of Pern and its dragon-rider protectors. A complex saga, Dragon's Kin follows the life of Kindan, a young man who lives and works in the mines far from civilization and safety. Kindan is charged with the responsibility of raising and looking after the watch-wher - a dragon-like creature superbly suited for life in the mines; though he dreams of becoming a Harper and leaving the place where he grew up behind, disaster claims his family and leaves with the heavy burden and responsibility of hatching and raising a new watch-wher. A thoughtful tale of hard choices and coming of age, Dick Hill's dramatic narration offers a flawless presentation of this newest example of McCaffrey's award winning talent as an established and respected fantasy author. 4 hours, 3 audio cassettes.

Active Parenting Now
Michael H. Popkin
Active Parenting
1955 Road, NW, Suite 108, Kennesaw, GA 30144-7808
www.ActiveParenting.com
1880283891 $19.95 1-800-825-0060

Active Parenting Now is an unabridged audiobook on CD meant especially for parents of rambunctious children ages 5 to 12. Teaching communication and non-violent discipline, and outlining its principles in dialogues brought to life with a professional cast of actors, Active Parenting Now is an excellent and highly commended resource that can be conveniently listened to at home, in the office, or while driving. 4 CDs, 296 minutes.

The Keys Of Hell
Jack Higgins
New Millennium Audio
301 North Canon Drive, Suite 214, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
1590073045 $24.95 1-310-785-2180

The Keys Of Hell is an unabridged, action-packed audiobook thriller by Jack Higgins and features super-spy Paul Chevasse on a high-risk mission to find and take out a double agent in the isolated republic of Albania. But someone has set a deadly trap for him - someone who holds the "keys of hell" - and completing his mission will take far more than a cool head and cold blood. Skillfully narrated by twenty-year career British theater and radio play actor Christian Rodska, The Keys Of Hell is an tale so engrossing that listening to it makes time fly -- and leads to an eager expectation of the next New Millennium Audio edition of a Jack Higgins thriller. 4 hours, 4 cassettes.

Tantor Audiobooks
931 Negocio, #F, San Clemente CA 92673
1-877-782-6867 www.tantor.com

Two powerful titles are highly recommended picks from this audio cd publisher. The Pirate Hunter by Richard Zacks (1400100887) receives a strong narration by veteran reader Michael Prichard, who brings to life this true story of Captain Kidd, separating fact from legend in a lively manner adventure-oriented audiences will relish. Andro Linklater's Measuring America (1400100909, $39.99) receives Alan Sklar's smooth voice as it tells of democracy in America and how we gained American culture and custom. Both are revealing, powerful nonfiction titles.

Aristotle's Children
Richard E. Rubenstein
Recorded Books
270 Skip Jack Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
www.recordedbooks.com
1402561911 $TBA 1-800-638-1304

Now in a complete and unabridged CD audiobook format, Aristotle's Children: How Christians, Muslims, And Jews Rediscovered Ancient Wisdom And Illuminated The Dark Ages by Richard E. Rubenstein informatively examines the beginning of the new scientific era in the wake of the European Dark Ages. Focusing on how the Arab, Jewish, and Christian scholars who rediscovered and translated the works of Aristotle helped to change the European civilization by promoting learning, Aristotle's Children is an amazing look at humanity's thirst for knowledge and the fervency with which the wisdom of ages was uncovered. Engagingly narrated by Nelson Runger, with tracks every 3 minutes for easy book marking, Aristotle's Children is a superb addition to any school or community library collection. 12 CDs, 13.75 hours.

Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
1-800-854-7859

These new leisure listens are involving, challenging audios which pair excellent narrators with vivid, changing plots. Fern Michaels' Kentucky Sunrise (1587882-442, $19.95) receives veteran Laural Merlington's inspired narration as it presents the grand finale to Michaels' Kentucky novels. Nealy is still set on producing a Derby winning racehorse, even though newly married her desire will involve her family in many changes. Joshua Gilder's Ghost Image (1587884425, $24.95) receives Patrick Lawlor's brisk and clear rendition as it provides a mystery revolving around a terrible trauma case and a plastic surgeon's investigations. Robert Crais' Voodoo River (158788518, $24.95) also enjoys Lawlor's smooth style as it tells of a private detective's probe into a TV star's past adoption. Margaret Truman's Murder At Ford's Theatre (15878-8347X, $29.95) receives Richard Allen's inspired and vivid narration as it tells of ongoing intrigue surrounding the infamous Ford Theatre, and new possibilities of murder and cover-up. Nora Roberts' Chesapeake Blue (1587883356, $24.95) receives James Daniel's fine voice as it provides the conclusion to a quartet of related novels. Seth is finally home after a sojourn in Europe as a successful painter; but home is no longer the same, and romance is in the winds. All are involving leisure listens.

Library: An Unquiet History
Matthew Battles
Books On Tape, Inc.
Box 25122, Santa Ana, CA 92799-5122
library.booksontape.com
0736696725 $63.00 1-800-541-5525

Superbly researched and written by antiquarian books librarian Matthew Battles (and flawlessly narrated by Grover Gardner), Library: An Unquiet History is a complete and unabridged audiobook tour through the uses of libraries throughout history which is as inherently interesting as it is impressively recorded. Libraries as an institution have traditionally served a double edged purpose -- sometimes to collect and preserve knowledge, but also sometimes to control, restrict, or even suppress knowledge. A broad-ranging study of these institutions from the clay tablets of Mesopotamia; to the Alexandrian libraries of Egypt; the burned scrolls of China's Q'ing Dynasty; and the book burnings of the Hitler Youth, and so much more, Library: An Unquiet History is intriguing and revealing, and very highly recommended for both academic and community library audiobook collections.


The Computer Shelf

2004 Web Site Source Book, 9th Edition
Omnigraphics
615 Griswold St., Detroit, MI 48226
078080659X $150.00 www.amazon.com

Users of the Internet who frequently access it for information will find the new ninth edition of their 2004 Website Source Book to be an invaluable web site source book offering URLs and contact information by subject. A range of users will find this a very hand format; from industry professionals seeking guides for specific topics to missions, government offices, research institutions and more. This offers links to major US businesses, organizations, agencies, institutions and other information resources including URLs, addresses and phones, and toll-free numbers. Simply packed with essential details not quickly outdated.

The Extreme Searcher's Internet Handbook
Randolph Hock
CyberAge Books
c/o Information Today
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford, NJ 08055
0910965684 $24.95 www.infotoday.com

Randolph Hock's The Extreme Searcher's Internet Handbook: A Guide For The Serious Searcher is an excellent resource for the twenty-first century, as it covers in depth how to use searches to extract and verify accurate information from the Internet, as well as shop safely, browse efficiently, and above all, minimize the waste of time. From finding pictures to the different types and characteristics of various search engines, to protecting oneself from online fraud and much more, The Extreme Searcher's Internet Handbook is an excellent, easy-to-follow guide confidently recommended for Internet users of all skill and experience levels.

Sams Publishing
c/o Pearson Technology Group
201 West 103rd Street, Indianapolis, IN 46290-1097
www.mcp.com www.amazon.com

Two new instructional titles from Sams Publishing are outstanding additions to any dedicated computer reference shelf collection. The collabortive effort of C# experts Mark Schmidt and Simon Robinson, Microsoft Visual C# .NET 2003 Developer's Cookbook (0672325802, $49.99 , 816 pages, Intermediate Level) takes a new and impressively unique approach to stand out among the numerous .NET programming titles available today as being especially "user friendly". The format is well suited for developers that already understand the basics of .NET programming and want a practical reference for various programming tasks. Alison Balter's Mastering Microsoft Office Access 2003 (0672325500, $59.99, 1464 pages, Intermediate Level) focuses upon Master Microsoft Access 11 development from Access insider and expert Alison Balter. Included in this comprehensive instructional are application development and real-world solutions to specific development and programming problems; professional level programming techniques which are consistently backed by concise, no-nonsense explanations of the underlying theories; as well as timely debugging and troubleshooting methods necessary to solving problems quickly and get a stalled development projects back on track.

Upgrading and Repairing Laptops
Scott Mueller
Que Publishing
c/o Pearson Technology Group
201 West 103rd Street, Indianapolis, IN 46290-1097
0789728001, $49.99, www.mcp.com

Even the most novice computer user can easily learn how to upgrade, repair, and general live with a laptop computer from Scott Mueller's Upgrading And Repairing Laptops. A seasoned computer hardware expert, Scott accessibly and concisely expelains all about portable PCs commonly called "laptops", and methodically teaches just how to upgrade, repair, and "hotrod" portable PCs and peripherals. An accompanying CD contains a one-of-a-kind video showing just what's inside a portable PC. If you have a laptop, or are considering the acquisition of a laptop, then Upgrading And Repairing Laptops is an essential addition to your personal computer book reference shelf. 912 pages

Visual Design Fundamentals
Alan Hashimoto
Charles River Media
20 Downer Ave, #3, Hingham, MA 02043
www.charlesriver.com
1584502592 $49.95 1-800-382-8505

Visual Design Fundamentals: A Digital Approach by Alan Hashimoto (Associate Professor of Graphic Design and Computer Art, Utah State University) is a superbly organized and presented resource and self-teaching guide for artists and designers seeking to take advantage of basic computer skills and techniques to create appealing, emotionally charged, and attention-gathering works of two-dimensional art. Visual Design Fundamentals includes straightforward tutorials and projects using Adobe Illustrator CS and Adobe Photoshop CS in order to provide hands-on experience with principles such as modular design, color theory, typeface design, figure abstraction, and more. An included CD offers files needed to complete the projects and trial versions of Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop. Highly recommended for an graphic artist seeking to create and utilize computer generated illustrations and/or designs, Visual Design Fundamentals is replete with both black-and-white and color illustrations throughout which wonderfully enhance the detailed, practical, "user friendly" instructions.

Windows Admin Scripting
Jesse M. Torres
Paraglyph Press
4015 North 78th Street, Suite 115, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
1932111875 $29.99 paraglyphpress.com

Now in a newly updated and expanded second edition, Windows Admin Scripting Little Black Book by Microsoft Windows expert Jesse M. Torres is a comprehensive and superbly organized, 464-page instructional reference and resource. Focusing on immediate solutions to difficult problems with security, information gathering; automatic task scheduling; basic information concerning Windows 2000/XP/2003 architecture, and a great deal more, Windows Admin Scripting is an excellent, detailed and thorough reference which is especially recommended to the attention of systems administrators.

Fundamentals Of Network Security Companion Guide
Cisco Press
201 West 103rd St, Indianapolis IN 46290
1587131226 $80.00 ciscopress.com

Fundamentals Of Network Security Companion Guide is an 870-page textbook specifically written and designed to complement the Cisco Networking Academy Program online curriculum. Developed by a team of Cisco Systems experts, this comprehensive instructional expressly reflects the lessons that students study online, and an accompanying CD-ROM features activities similar to the online material to better understand the concepts. Topics covered and extensively discussed with practical examples include basic router and switch security; router AAA security; router site-to-site or remote access to VPNs; PIX security appliance from basic to advanced protocols; and so much more. A serious, in-depth text highly recommended for anyone pursuing the Cisco online curriculum, Fundamentals Of Network Security Companion Guide is a seminal and highly recommended addition to professional Computer Security reference collections.

Apple Confidential 2.0
Owen Linzmayer
No Starch Press
555 DeHaro Street, #250, San Francisco CA 94107
1593270100 $19.95 www.amazon.com

This definitive history of the Apple computer company follows the company's growth and the people who made Apple an icon, from its forgotten real founder who didn't get his half a billion to computer successes and failures. Forgotten archives, interviews with key players, and analysis of existing Apple information contribute to a well-rounded guide which packs all the details about the company above-board and underground.

Uberhacker II
Carolyn Meinel
Loompanics Unlimited
PO Box 1997, Pt. Townsend, WA 98368
1559502398 $39.95 loompanics.com

Meinel's first book provided many keyboard tricks to understand hacking into a computer system: this follow-up guide continues the information of the first, offering a double-sized companion and providing tips which will prove useful not just for experimenters, but for any who would keep their computer safe from hackers. Web browser attacks, details on breaking into various Windows systems, and building a Linux attack computer are among the many detailed topics covered.

Spidering Hacks
Kevin Hemenway & Tara Calishain
O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
1005 Gravenstein, Hwy N., Sebastopol, CA 95472-2811
www.oreilly.com
0596005776 $24.95 1-800-998-9938

The knowledgeable collaboration of Kevin Hemenway and Tara Calishain, Spidering Hacks: 100 Industrial-Strength Tips & Tools is an extensive, 402-page instructional guidebook and reference to Internet data retrieval through the use of spiders and scrapers. Including information on methodology, philosophies, and ethical considerations, as well as freely available modules, scripts, frameworks, and templates, information on how to build alternative interfaces to online databases, how to keep one's data current and share it in a user-friendly manner, and so much more, Spidering Hacks is an example-filled, easy-to-follow, highly recommended computer shelf resource.

XDoclet In Action
Craig Walls and Norman Richards
Manning Publications Company
209 Bruce Park Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830
1932394052 $44.95 www.manning.com

The collaboration of XDoclet seasoned experts and enthusiasts Craig Walls and Norman Richards, XDoclet In Action is a truly user-friendly introduction and guide to the metadata-driven, code generation engine for Java called XDoclet, and its many uses. A wealth of instructions, examples, and sample code lay out how XDoclet can be used with EJBs, Servlets, JMX, and other technologies, as well as customized or out-of-the-box uses to which XDoclet can be put for one's specific needs. A superbly accessible and useful primer, reference, and self-teaching tool, XDoclet In Action is a welcome addition to the computer reference shelf.

Software Architect Boot Camp
Raphael Malveau
Thomas J. Mowbray, Ph.D.
Prentice Hall Press
240 Frisch Court, Paramus, NJ 07652
www.phptr.com
0131412272 $49.99 1-800-631-8571

Collaboratively written by two experts in the field (Raphael Malveau and Thomas J. Mowbray), and now in an updated and significantly expanded second edition, Software Architect Boot Camp is a clear, concise, and no-nonsense manual to learning how to devise practical solutions to common challenges, avoid costly mistakes, as well as balance costs versus needs as a software architect. Individual chapters cogently address choosing the right architectural model for one's project; applying abstraction; refactoring; architectural proto-typing; coordinating effectively with project managers and teams; managing a professional software architect career, and a great deal more. Software Architect Book Camp is an absolute "must-have" instructional and reference for any practicing or aspiring software architect.

Developing Microsoft Office Solutions
Ken Bluttman
Addison-Wesley
75 Arlington St, #300, Boston, MA 02116
0201738058 $49.99 awprofessional.com

Developing Microsoft Office Solutions by computer systems expert and independent consultant Ken Bluttman comprehensively covers Office 2003, Office XP, Office 2000, and Office 97 in its specifically designed mission to provide what developers need to know to solve practical business problems with Microsoft Office applications. Solution development tools and procedures for Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook, XML, and InfoPath are deftly discussed with illustrative examples, as well as offering more detailed solution construction advice for such tasks as repurposing XML content, situations with dynamic data delivery, smart tags, and more. Case studies and examples round out this exhaustive, 586-page, highly recommended instructional resource.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Galactic Convoy
Bill Baldwin
Timberwolf Press
202 North Allen Drive, Suite A, Allen, TX 75013
1587521563 $26.95 timberwolfpress.com

The second novel in Bill Baldwin's heady sci-fi "Helmsman Saga", Galactic Convoy is an action-packed saga filled from cover to cover with intrigue, deadly spaceship battles, and abiding bonds of friendship forged through troubled times. An upbeat, galaxy-spanning adventure, as thrilling as the futuristic cover art by Hugo Award winning author/artist Ron Miller, Galactic Convoy documents Bill Baldwin as a master of the science fiction action/adventure genre and a welcome read for any and all sci-fi enthusiasts!

Dragons Of Spring Dawning
Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
PO Box 707, Renton, WA 98057-0707
0786930705 $27.95 www.wizards.com

Co-authored by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman, Dragons Of Spring Dawning is the third volume of DragonLance, a best-selling role-gaming fantasy trilogy about an epic war between mere mortals, mighty dragons, -- and an utterly malevolent goddess queen. A handful of heroes strive against darkness and bloodshed, yet betrayal threatens to destroy them all. As enjoyable now as when this outstanding series first introduced readers to the land of Krynn and its once-quiescent dragons, Dragons Of Spring Dawning is quite confidently recommended as an outstanding fantasy action/adventure saga.


The Literary Shelf

Servius' Commentary On Book Four Of Virgil's Aeneid
Christopher M. McDonough, et al.
Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers
1000 Brown Street, Unit 101, Wauconda, IL 60084
0865165149 $29.00 www.bolchazy.com

The collaborative academic effort of Christopher M. McDonough, Richard E. Prior and Mark Stansbury, Servius' Commentary On Book Four Of Virgil's Aeneid is an impressively annotated translation that presents the classic and widely read book four of Aeneid (the story of Dido and Aeneas) in English translation along with a translation of Servius' own detailed and renowned commentary. On the facing pages are the original Latin text and commentary. Notes further illuminate this excellent presentation for both classical literature and Latin language students.

Envisioning The Future
Marleen S. Barr
Wesleyan University Press
110 Mount Vernon Street, Middletown, CT 06459-0433
0819566527 $22.95 1-800-421-1561

Compiled and edited by Marleen S. Barr (Visiting Scholar at Columbia University and winner of the 1997 Pilgrim Award for lifetime achievement in science fiction criticism) Envisioning The Future: Science Fiction And The Next Millennium is an anthology of articulate and knowledgeable essays contributed by a wide variety of authors, including Harlan Ellison, Neil Postman, George Zebrowski, Pamela Sargent. From an engaging diversity of viewpoints, the contributors discuss how science fiction as a literary whole can be expected to change and adapt in the future. Incorporating the overwhelming trend of globalization, cultural shifts in the past century and their predicted progression, and more, Envisioning The Future offers keen insights into the transformation of this popular and evolving literary genre.

The Poetry Of Charles Tomlinson
Judith P. Saunders
Fairleigh Dickinson University Press
c/o Associated University Presses
2010 Eastpark Blvd, Cranbury, NJ 08512
0838639763 $42.50 1-609-655-4770

The Poetry Of Charles Tomlinson: Border Lines by Judith P. Saunders offers an extensive literary analysis of Charles Tomlinson's work, especially focusing on his recurring themes and metaphors of spatial, temporal, and perceptual borders. A meticulous dissection intended for college or graduate school literary studies, The Poetry Of Charles Tomlinson offers both the sweeping insights of a grand overview and the hidden revelations which only a meticulous, scholarly perusal well grounded in Tomlison's history, life, work, and ideas can truly discover. Highly recommended.

The Annotated Pride & Prejudice
Jane Austen
Pheasant Books
16 Pheasant Lane, Delmar, NY 12054
0974505307 $29.95 www.amazon.com

Expertly edited by David M. Shapard, this Pheasant Books edition of Jane Austen's The Annotated Pride & Prejudice is enhanced throughout with extensive annotations offering considerable insights into the historical topics touched upon within the narrative including citations from Jane Austin's own life and work; literary analyses; definitions of archaic words used; and more. An excellent version of a classic work, The Annotated Pride & Prejudice is especially recommended to literature students, as well as the non-specialist general reader who seeks to absorb the most they can from this epic work with the annotations providing a welcome comprehension aid to modern-day readers.

At War
Flann O'Brien
Dalkey Archive Press
Box 8905, Normal, IL 61790-8905
1564783286 $13.95 dalkeyarchive.com

Compiled, edited, and with an informative introduction by John Wyse Jackson, At War is an impressive and much appreciated collection of the columns of Brian O'Nolan (1911-1966) which were originally penned for "The Irish Times" during the war years of 1940 to 1945 under the pseudonym of Flann O'Brien. An emphatic, opinionated and sharply resonating discourse that simply does not back off or back down, At War is a stirring account of real problems in troubled times and of one man's determination to speak out and be heard. One of the titles in the outstanding "Lannan Selection Irish Literature Series" from Dalkey Archive press, At War is a welcome and recommended addition to Irish Cultural Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Alice's Adventures In Wonderland
Lewis Carroll & Iassen Ghiuselev
Simply Read Books
501-5525 West Boulevard, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6M 3W6
1894965000 $29.95 simplyreadbooks.com

This Simply Read Books edition of Lewis Carroll's classic fantasy, Alice's Adventures In Wonderland, is a simply gorgeous version showcasing bold, often monochromatic, and somewhat exaggerated illustrations by Iassen Ghiuselev that bring the unreality of Wonderland vividly to life. Alice's Adventures In Wonderland is a literary treasure for readers of all ages. The quality book binding incorporates a built-in bookmark on a ribbon that says "Read Me", in a delightful complement to this widely beloved story. Due to the coffee-table size of this edition, it may be a little physically large and heavy for younger readers to handle, and therefore is better suited for parents to read aloud to their children. No Lewis Carroll collection can be considered complete without the inclusion of this enthusiastically recommended edition of Alice's Adventures In Wonderland!

The Vonnegut Effect
Jerome Klinkowitz
University of South Carolina Press
937 Assembly St, Columbia, SC 29208
1570035202 $39.95 1-800-768-2500

The Vonnegut Effect by Jerome Klinkowitz (Professor of English and University distinguished Scholar, University of Nor-thern Iowa) is an impressively presented literary study of American author Kurt Vonnegut's amazing ability to retain popular appeal while boldly working in new themes and cutting edge literary forms. A thoroughly researched study of Vonnegut's fiction over the past half-century, The Vonnegut Effect is a thoughtful, thought-provoking discussion which is enthusiastically recommended reading -- especially those craving intelligent discourse about Kurt Vonnegut's remarkable and enduringly popular works of speculative fiction.

Reading Harry Potter
Giselle Liza Anatol
Praeger Publishers
c/o Greenwood Publishing Group
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
0313320675 $39.95 greenwood.com

Expertly compiled and deftly edited by Giselle Liza Anatol (Assistant Professor of English, University of Kanas - Lawrence), Reading Harry Potter: Critical Essays is an impressive anthology of literary criticism draw from a variety of learned authors who all of whom regard J. K. Rowling's popular Harry Potter fantasy series as far more than mere popular culture pablum. Examining the Harry Potter works with regard to theories of child development, literary influences and historical contexts, and morality and social values, Reading Harry Potter is a multifaceted exploration of the Potter books as literature with lasting potential influence on both developing and mature minds today.

A Descriptive Catalogue
David Pingree, compiler
American Philosophical Society
104 South Fifth Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106-3387
0871692503 $20.00 www.amphilsoc.org

Ably compiled, deftly organized and knowledgeably written by David Pingree (the founder and chair of the American Committee for South Asian Manuscripts), A Descriptive Catalogue Of The Sanskrit Astronomical Manuscripts Preserved At The Maharaja Man Singh II Museum In Jaipur, India is a thoroughly researched and detailed technical reference concerning the astronomical manuscripts that reflect celestial activities from 1700 to 1743. Some 275 different manuscripts are described and summarized with sample verses in their original language -- Romanized. An excellent resource, A Descriptive Catalogue is specifically intended for antiquarian manuscript library reference collections and for consultation by experts in the field of the History of Astronomy.

Going Home To A Landscape
Marianne Villanueva & Virginia Cerenio
Calyx Books
PO Box B, Corvallis, OR 97339
0934971846 $17.95 1-888-336-2665

Collaboratively compiled and co-edited by Marianne Villanueva and Virginia Cerenio, Going Home To A Landscape: Writings By Filipinas is an eye-opening, highly recommended anthology of poetry and prose showcasing the work of fifty-two female Filipino contributors. Offering a window into current conditions and daily facets of Filipino life, as well as providing insights into the unique experiences and precepts of Filipino culture, Going Home To A Landscape is a fine body of work documenting gender-based Filipino literature in its ability to collect diverse female voices into a cohesive portrait.

J. R. R. Tolkien's Sanctifying Myth
Bradley J. Birzer
ISI Books
Box 4431, Wilmington, DE 19807-0431
1882926846 $24.95 www.isibooks.org

In J.R.R. Tolkien's Sanctifying Myth: Understanding Middle-Earth, Bradley J. Birzer (Assistant Professor of History at Hillsdale College and a Senior Fellow with the Center for the American Idea, Houston) insightfully examines the religious symbolisms threaded throughout J. R. R. Tolkien's celebrated Middle-Earth fantasy saga. Professor Birzer proposes that Tolkien created a world through myth that accurately reflects fundamental truths directly relevant to the human experience in the postmodern era. J.R.R. Tolkien's Sanctifying Myth is enthusiastically recommended as a thoughtful and thought-provoking literary reflection, and as an excellent companion work offering insight into a timeless classic. No personal, academic, or community library Tolkien Studies reference collection or supplemental reading list can be considered complete or comprehensive without the inclusion of this seminal title.


The Geneaology Shelf

Genealogy Online
Elizabeth Crowe
Osborne/McGraw-Hill
2100 Powell Street, 10th floor, Emeryville, CA 94608
0072229780 $24.99 1-800-722-4726

This newly revised and expanded seventh edition of Elizabeth Crowe's Genealogy Online is a thoroughly "user friendly', 432 page, hands-on, instructional resource which will enable even the most novice genealogist to deftly explore the truly vast resources of ancestry related networks, Web sites, and genealogical online services. Crowe authoritatively explains how to determine and access which ones best suit individual genealogist's purposes. Genealogy Online clearly, step-by-step, shows how to organize a search, where to begin, where to go on the Web, and how to use chat rooms, mailing lists, and Usenet effectively. No genealogical research reference shelf can be considered either complete or up-to-date without the inclusion of this impressive new edition of Elizabeth Crowe's Genealogy Online!

Black Genesis
James M. Rose & Alice Eichholz
Genealogical Publishing Company
1001 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, MD 21202
0806317353 $24.95 1-800-296-6687

Originally published in 1978, and now in its completely updated second edition, Black Genesis: A Resource Book For African-American Genealogy is a straightforward listing of resources especially pertinent to African-American genealogical research. Divided into chapters state by state, each listing a wealth of libraries and repositories filled with more specific information for tracking down bloodlines, Black Genesis is an immediately useful and practical resource. No major genealogical reference collection can be considered complete or comprehensive without the inclusion of this new edition of Black Genesis by James M. Rose and Alice Eichholz.


The Philosophy Shelf

A Philosophical History Of Rights
Gary B. Herbert
Transaction Publishers
Rutgers, The State Univ. of New Jersey
35 Berrue Circle, Piscataway, NJ 08854
0765805421 $29.95 1-888-999-6778

A Philosophical History Of Rights by Gary B. Herbert (Professor of Philosophy, Loyola University, New Orleans), is an informed, conceptually intricate, academically sound, college-level study of the evolution of the moral principle that certain aspects of individual welfare are all-important. Delving into Platonic and Aristotelian accounts of ancient Greece, as well as ruminations by Locke, Rousseau, Kant, Fichte, Hegel, and others, A Philosophical History Of Rights is a broad-reaching discussion that deftly transcends the centuries it covers. A Philosophical History Of Rights is a seminal contribution and highly recommended reading for students in the disciplines of Philosophy, History, and Political Science.


The Gardening Shelf

Fruit And Vegetables
A. K. Thompson
Blackwell Publishing
2121 State Avenue, Ames, IA 50014-8300
www.iowastatepress.com
1405106190 $169.99 1-800-862-6657

Now in an expanded and updated second edition, Fruit And Vegetables: Harvesting, Handling And Storage by academician and agriculture expert A. K. Thompson is an extensively detailed, professional quality reference concerning the harvest, care, and storage needs of a vast variety of fruits and vegetables. Each different edible item has its own entry with meticulously presented information, including tables concerning how storage atmosphere or time affects acidity, taste, or firmness/texture qualities for vegetables such as peas, precise recommendations in degrees celsius for the optimum refrigeration temperature of many fruits and vegetables, safety concerns, and more. A superbly organized, fact-filled resource, Fruit And Vegetables is an impressive text for graduate studies Agricultural Science reading lists and as a thoroughly "user friendly", single volume, professional quality, occupational resource.

Orchids: A Care Manual
Brian Rittershausen & Sara Rittershausen
Laurel Glenn
c/o Advantage Publishers Group
5880 Oberlin Drive, San Diego, CA 92121
1571456767 $19.95 1-800-788-3123

Filled from cover to cover with a profusion of superbly presented full color photographs, Orchids: A Care Manual is a very handy instructional resource for gardeners and horticulturalists concerning the growing these beautiful flowers. The text is replete with in-depth, "user friendly" instructions for their general care, as well as a wealth of species-specific tips, tricks, and techniques. A clearly written, no-nonsense, easy-to-follow guide for gardeners of all skill and experience levels, Orchids is a much fun to simply browse through as it is practical to work from.


The Interior Design Shelf

Great Escapes
Steven Castle & Phillip Ennis
Abrams
115 West 18th St., New York, NY 10011
0810946564 $50.00 abramsbooks.com

Lavishly illustrated with one hundred gorgeous color photographs by Phillip Ennis, Great Escapes: New Designs For Home Theaters By Theo Kalomirakis by Steven Castle presents extravagant designs for "media rooms" in private homes. These are specialized entertainment oriented rooms set aside to take full advantage of surround sound, acoustics, and visual appeal to bring forth the same quality experience as visiting a theater. Great Escapes showcases the work of interior designer Theo Kalomirakis as it artfully presents his work in creating home theaters of celebrities such as Dean Koontz, Eddie Murphy, Roger Ebert, and others in this unique source of enduring ideas.

Creating A New Old House
Russell Versaci
The Taunton Press
63 South Main St, Newtown, CT 06470
1561586153 $39.95 1-800-477-8727

Creating A New Old House: Yesterday's Character For Today's Home by Russell Versaci (an experienced home designer and a founding member of The Institute for Traditional Architecture) is an impressively organized and presented guide to recapturing images, impressions, and positive virtues drawn from past traditions of interior decor in today's homes. Superbly showcasing full-color photographs in order bring interior design principles and ideals to light, Creating A New Old House is a simply beautiful concept sourcebook for adding a strong touch of enduring flavor to one's dwelling and a welcome addition to professional, academic, and community library Interior Design reference shelves.

Decorating Walls And Floors
Liz Risney Manning, et al.
Rockport Publishers Inc.
33 Commercial St, Gloucester, MA 01930
1564969878 $25.00 www.rockpub.com

Brightly illustrated throughout with color photography, Decorating Walls And Floors: A Style Sourcebook is the collaborative work of Liz Risney Manning, Regina Cole, and Karen Aude. Offering a wealth of inspiration, Decorating Walls And Floors presents methodologies, color coordination, creative ways to spruce up floors and walls, in-depth instruction and more. From cover to cover, this beautiful presented and "reader friendly" instructional guide offers a complete course in creative ways to employ the newest types of flooring available from classic wood to marble, along with tips and techniques to use wall coverings to enhance interior space. Decorating Walls And Floors is a welcome and much appreciated addition to any personal, professional, or academic Interior Design reference collection.


The Automotive Shelf

The Sands Of Time
Bill Lazarus
Sports Publishing
804 North Neil St., Champaign, IL 61820
www.SportsPublishingLLC.com
1582617848 $29.95 1-877-807-6034

Officially licensed by NASCAR, The Sands Of Time: Celebrating 100 Years Of Racing At Daytona by journalist and sports writer Bill Lazarus is the rip-roaring multimedia combination of a splendidly photographed, coffee-table book with an informed and informative text recounting the history of the Daytona 500 automobile race from 1903 to 2003, and enhanced with an exclusive, 60-minute companion DVD of rare Daytona footage. The informative history is brought to life with pictures ranging from rare and vintage black-and-white photographs to dazzling color pictures of exciting races in progress. An excellent gift book especially for anyone who enjoys Daytona racing.


The Dance Shelf

Grace Under Pressure
Barbara Newman
Limelight Editions
118 East 30th St., New York, NY 10016
www.limelighteditions.com
0879109955, $22.50 1-212-532-5525

In Grace Under Pressure: Passing Dance Through Time, ballet expert Barbara Newman (Dance Critic of "Country Life" magazine and a journalist contributor to "Dancing Times"), has compiled remarkably informative interviews with eighteen contemporary illuminaries of the world of dance. This impressive collection of leading dancers and renowned dance instructors ranging from Suki Schorer (School of American Ballet) and Marc Du Bouays (Paris Opera Ballet School) to Yuri Fareyev, Margaret Mercier, and Richard Thomas. Enthusiastically recommended reading for anyone contemplating a life in ballet, Grace Under Pressure offers the reader a diverse selection of insights into the dedicated life and working world of the contemporary ballet as the aspirants experience the hard work and intense discipline for learning and practicing this demanding art.


The Gaming Shelf

The Rifter, January 2004
Wayne Smith, editor
Palladium Books
12455 Universal Drive, Taylor, MI 48180
1574570986 $9.95 palladiumbooks.com

The Rifter, January 2004 is the latest in the Palladium Books series of role-playing game supplement publications designed especially to support roleplay campaigns taking place within the Palladium Megaverse. The articles and ideas include "Guns For Hire" written by a former USAF F-15 Avionics technician and offering a selection of military skill programs and mercenary templates; an article on "The Lost Art of Golemancy" concerning the creation and placement of animated magical figures in a fantasy campaign; an adventure "The Fires of Korath" for the Palladium Fantasy RPG, and a great deal more. A most enjoyable and inspirational anthology of flexible source materials, The Rifter is a "must" for all dedicated Megaverse rolegame players.


The Architecture Shelf

Presidio, Mission, And Pueblo
James Early
Southern Methodist University Press
PO Box 750415, Dallas, TX 75275-0415
0870744844 $29.95 1-800-826-8911

Presidio, Mission, And Pueblo: Spanish Architecture And Urbanism In The United States by architectural historian James Early is an informed and informative analytical survey of architectural marvels in the "old Spanish borderlands" of Florida, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Professor Early scrutinizes majestic works from the great stone fort in St. Augustine; the pueblo-style churches of New Mexico, and more. Black-and-white as well as color photographs sumptuously illustrate this extensively researched and deftly narrated examination. Also available in a hardcover edition (0870744828, $49.95), Presidio, Mission, And Pueblo is a very highly recommended addition to academic library American Architectural History Studies reference collections and reading lists.

Manufactured Homes: The Buyers Guide
Steven Taylor
Cycle Publishing
1282 7th Ave., San Francisco, CA 94122
1892495422 $14.95 cyclepublishing.com

Ably researched and accessibly written by Steven Taylor, Manufactured Homes: The Buyers Guide -- How To Realize Your Dream In A Manufactured Home is a "user friendly", step-by-step guide for aspiring home owners who are new to the phenomenon of manufactured homes -- domestic dwellings which are designed, cut, and constructed according to a standardized format. From surveying how such homes are built; to understanding warranties; selecting a floor plan; financing the new home; meticulously shopping for the right house in the right location, and more, Manufactured Homes: The Buyers Guide is a superb primer and introduction to preparing for home ownership before committing hundreds of thousands of dollars. Enhanced with lists of manufacturers, trade associations, state agencies, and federal departments relevant to manufactured homes, Manufactured Homes: The Buyer's Guide is the best introduction to the subject available to non-specialist general readers today!


The Biography Shelf

Lola Montez
James F. Varley
The Arthur H. Clark Company
PO Box 14707, Spokane, WA 99214
0870622439 $29.50 1-800-842-9286

Lola Montez: The California Adventures Of Europe's Notorious Courtesan by free-lance researcher and gifted biographer James F. Varley is the revealing, straightforward life story of Lola Montez (the "nom de plume" of Eliza Rosanna Gilbert). Lola was a provocative dancer who came to California in 1853 and left an indelible mark upon its social circles for good or ill. An expertly researched and wonderfully readable account, Lola Montez strives to paint as accurate a portrayal as possible without glossing over her failings -- including her lurid sexuality, her habit for deceit, and her likely contraction of syphilis. A rousing life story of a character who made a vivid impression, regardless of how shady her motives may have been, Lola Montez is an impressive and recommended addition to both academic and community library American Biography collections.

Unrooted Childhoods
Faith Eidse & Nina Sichel, editors
Nicholas Brealey Publishing
3704 Beard Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55422
1857883381 $23.95 1-888-273-2539

Expertly co-edited by Faith Eidse and Nina Sichel, Unrooted Childhoods: Memoirs Of Growing Up Global is a revealing anthology of personal memoirs drawn from a wide variety of authors, each of whom focus upon the experience of growing up without being able to "put down roots" of belonging. Many of these thoughtful and thought-provoking essays are published here for the first time. They reflect the link between language and cultural identity, as well as the framing the travails of adolescence in North America, South America, and Africa, offering the reader a impressive collection of uniquely human voices identifying the dehumanizing cultural homogenization that globalization tends to unilaterally spread. Unrooted Childhoods is a seminal and highly recommended contribution to contemporary sociology, cultural history, social issues, and autobiography reading lists.

Treasured Islands
Lowell D. Holmes
Sheridan House Inc.
145 Palisade St., Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
1574091301 $29.95 1-888-743-7425

Treasured Islands: Cruising The South Seas With Robert Louis Stevenson is an intriguing study of classic author Robert Louis Stevenson during his last years, and following his search for health and his travels abroad on the seas. Stevenson's studies of Polynesian cultures, framed against the background of life in the 1880s on European colonized and often exploited islands, makes for an in-depth portrait of this great man's memorable travels and cultural discoveries. Treasured Islands is a unique contribution to community and collegiate library biography collections.

Queen Victoria
Helen Rappaport
ABC-CLIO
Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
1851093559 $55.00 1-800-368-6868

Expertly compiled by writer, researcher, Russian translator, 19th Century historical expert and consultant Helen Rappaport, Queen Victoria: A Biographical Companion is an impressively comprehensive 463-page biographical compendium offering a wide selection of information concerning the longest reign of any female monarch in European history. Ranging from her personal life and family, to the sweeping events of history around her, as well as the crucial issues of her day and the Victorian society that reflected her name as the "Victorian Era", Queen Victoria: A Biographical Companion is enhanced an exhaustive index, as well as black-and-white photographs occasionally illustrating this invaluable and highly recommended addition to academic and community library European Biography resource and reference collections.

Inside The Mayo Clinic
John T. Shepherd, M.D.
Afton Historical Society Press
PO Box 100, Afton, MN 55001
1890434612 $28.00 1-800-436-8443

Inside The Mayo Clinic: A Memoir is an insightful remembrance of Dr. John T. Shepherd, an Irish-American immigrant whose varied life eventually saw the Mayo clinic grow from a simple frontier practice to a top-of-the-line medical research and treatment clinic over the course of five tumultuous decades. Dr. Shepherd's tenure as researcher, medical school dean, board member, and trustee offered him a unique and authoritative inside view of the daily problems and triumphs of this famous American medical institution. A most enjoyable autobiographical reminiscence, Inside The Mayo Clinic is engagingly narrated and laced with throughout with Dr. Shepherd's wry Celtic humor.

An Unsettled Spirit
Terry Sturm
University of Calgary Press
2500 University Drive, N.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 1N4
1552381285 $39.95 1-800-565-3770

An Unsettled Spirit: The Life & Frontier Fiction Of Edith Lyttleton (G. B. Lancaster) by Terry Sturm (Professor of English, University of Auckland, New Zealand) is the superbly researched and deftly written biographical story of the life and literature of New Zealand's most widely read author oversees during the first half of the twentieth century. This is the amazing and informative portrayal of the difficult experiences of a very talented woman who, in penning her tales of romance and outdoors adventure, struggled to rise above the limits of potboiler fiction. An Unsettled Spirit is an absolute must-read for literary connoisseurs of Lyttleton's life and work.

Martini Man: The Life Of Dean Martin
William Schoell
Cooper Square Press
200 Park Avenue South, Suite 1109, New York, NY 10003
0815412886 $15.95 1-800-462-6420

Superbly written by William Schoell (the co-author of "The Rat Pack"), Martini Man: The Life Of Dean Martin is an informed and informative biography of the famous celebrity and entertainment legend Dean Martin (1917-1995). One result of this authoritative biography is to dispel the public image of Dean Martin as a ladies' man and hard drinker who casually used and tossed aside comrades, colleagues, associates, and ladyfriends alike. Martini Man also defends Dean Martin's memory against allegations that he was a "Mafia singer" claiming that Martin's contact with gangsters was inevitable and unavoidable as they owned the best clubs and most popular casinos of the day. Martini Man is an upbeat, detailed, thoroughly researched, and straightforwardly presented life story that is a "must read" for the dedicated legions of Dean Martin's fans.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

The Heroic Struggle
Rabbi Yosef Y. Schneersohn of Lubavitch, author
Rabbi Dr. Alter B. Metzger, translator
Kehot Publication Society
770 Eastern Parkway Brooklyn NY 11213
0826604390 $27.00 www.amazon.com

Edited and translated by Rabbi Alter B. Metzer from the memoirs of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn (the foremost Jewish religious leader of Stalinist Russia circa 1927), The Heroic Struggle is the true and riveting story of Rabbi Schneersohn's arrest and brutal mistreatment for his conspiring with other members of the Jewish community to create an underground network that would allow Judaism to survive despite Communist persecution of religion, religious beliefs, religious ceremonies, and religious symbols. A harrowing testimony of an enduring human spirit, and culminating in Schneersohn's miraculous release after his death sentence was commuted to exile, The Heroic Struggle is a superb contribution to 20th Century Jewish History reading lists and reference collections as being a profoundly inspirational testimony about the power of fighting for one's roots and beliefs.

Understanding Your Neighbor's Faith
Rabbi Philip Lazowski
KTAV Publishing House
900 Jefferson Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030
0881258113 $24.95 www.ktav.com

Compiled and edited by Rabbi Philip Lazowski (a Holocaust survivor), Understanding Your Neighbor's Faith: What Christians And Jews Should Know About Each Other offers readers diverse points of view with the goal of promoting better communication, tolerance, and acceptance. This is an anthology of essays and viewpoints contributed by learned clergymen of a variety of Judeo-Christian branches, each of whom explore difficult theological and practical issues in a straightforward question-and-answer style. An excellent resource for non-specialist general readers who seek to better understand Judeo-Christian religion in Western culture, or anyone simply curious of what their friends and neighbor believe; Understanding Your Neighbor's Faith is also recommended for theologists and religious service people seeking to explore and better acquaint themselves with differing perspectives arising from two great world faiths that stem from a common (albeit diverging) origin.

The Return Of Anti-Semitism
Gabriel Schoenfeld
Encounter Books
665 - 3rd Street, Suite 330, San Francisco, CA 94107-1951
1893554899 $25.95 1-800-786-3839

The Return Of Anti-Semitism by Gabriel Schoenfeld (Senior Editor of "Commentary" magazine), is a scathing and documented indictment of an embedded and embittered hatred of the Jewish race and faith throughout most of the world today and with particularly reference to the Muslim circles and communities of Europe, and even within the United States itself. From scrutiny of the re-emergence of anti-semitic traits thought to have ended with World War II; to vicious anti-Jewish sentiments voiced by the "progressive" elements of society rather than simply a distractive justification among downtrodden, The Return Of Anti-Semitism is a sharply worded and quite timely wake-up call of an insidious and growing danger within the democracies and nation states comprising contemporary Western Civilization.


The Criminology Shelf

Down And Dirty Justice
Gary T. Lowenthal
New Horizon Press
PO Box 669, Far Hills, NJ 07931
0882822357 $25.95 1-800-533-7978

Knowledgeably written by Gary T. Lowenthal (a law professor who dared to venture from the ivory towers and work for the Arizona County Attorney's Office), Down And Dirty Justice: A Chilling Journey Into The Dark World Of Crime And The Criminal Courts is an all-too-real presentation of an American judicial system which is chronically riddled with failures, brutality, the ruthless prosecution of the innocent, and the slap on the wrist to the guilty. Forced to conclude that it is the plea bargaining prosecutors, not the judges nor the juries, that rule the criminal justice system Down And Dirty Justice is a chilling and much needed expose and warning of just how bad the system is now -- before it gets any worse within the context and pressures arising from the current "War on Terrorism" and "Patriot Act" legislation.


The Psychology Shelf

We're Friends Right?
William A. Corsaro, Ph.D.
Joseph Henry Press
500 Fifth St., NW Washington, DC 20001
0309087295 $22.95 www.amazon.com

Written by a leading authority on child ethnography William A. Corsaro (Robert H. Shaffer Class of 1967 Endowed Professor of Sociology, Indiana University - Bloomington), We're Friends Right? Inside Kids' Culture is an absorbing account of a dedicated researcher who strived to better understand children by immersing himself in preschool culture. A scientific analysis as well as an intriguing personal narration of individual and illustrative case studies, We're Friends Right? offers a new perspective on child psychology, development, and research. We're Friends Right? is a seminal contribution to Child Development and Parenting Studies reference collections -- as well as highly recommended reading which is thoroughly accessible to non-specialist readers with an interest in gaining an informed and informative insight into the complexities of early childhood.

The Irish Bull God
Sylvia Brinton Perera
Inner City Books
Box 1271, Station Q, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4T 2P4
1894574087 $18.00 1-416-927-0355

The Irish Bull God: Image Of Multiform And Integral Masculinity is a scholarly exploration by Sylvia Brinton Perera of contemporary Western culture's need for a paradigm of maleness that best serves men and women at all stages of life. In an era that increasingly questions or rejects the images of masculinity put forth by its individual and collective fathers, The Irish Bull God: Image Of Multiform And Integral Masculinity is an astutely researched and superbly reasoned study of human psychology, identity, and changing societal needs. Also very highly recommended is Sylvia Perera's three earlier works: Descent To The Goddess: A Way Of Initiation For Women; The Scapegoat Complex: Toward A Mythology Of Shadow And Guilt; and Celtic Queen Maeve And Addiction.


The Native American Shelf

A Kayak Full Of Ghosts
Lawrence Millman
Interlink Books
46 Crosby St., Northampton, MA 01060
1566565251 $13.95 interlinkbooks.com

Expertly compiled and deftly retold by Lawrence Millman, A Kayak Full Of Ghosts: Eskimo Folk Tales is the first comprehensive anthology of Eskimo folk tales to be published in more than sixty years. Sometimes bawdy, sometimes bizarre, sometimes gruesome, and sometimes magical, the narrated stories comprising A Kayak Full Of Ghosts are a reflection of rich cultural heritage and of survival in a harsh land. Highly recommended for Native American Studies and Mythology/Folklore collections, A Kayak Full Of Ghosts is also a simple joy to read from cover to cover.

Going Native Or Going Naive?
Dagmar Wernitznig
University Press Of America
4720 Boston Way, Lanham, MD 20706
0761824952 $28.00 1-800-462-6420

Going Native Or Going Naive? White Shamanism And The Neo-Noble Savage by Dagmar Wernitznig is a scholarly and seminal study of the "new age proliferation" of those born outside Native American tribes and culture who take it upon themselves to adopt the title and role of "Shaman." Wernitznig provides his readers with an evenhanded exploration of tangled issues of identity; devaluation of religious believes when those outside of the religion claim its titles; the purposes pursued by non-natives who consider themselves shamans; New Age eclecticism and environmentalism; women who adopt the role of shaman, and so much more. Strongly recommended for New Age Studies, Religion/Spirituality Studies, and Native American Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists, Going Native Or Going Naive? is a meticulous and thoughtful dissection of motives, beliefs, and impact.

In Dull Knife's Wake
Vernon R. Maddux & Albert G. Maddux
Horse Creek Publications
4500 Highland Hills Drive, Norman, OK 73026
www.HorseCreekPublications.com
0972221719 $16.95 1-405-364-9647

The collaborative effort of Vernon R. Maddux and Albert Glenn Maddux, and set just after the defeat of Custer at Little Bighorn, In Dull Knife's Wake: The True Story Of The Northern Cheyenne Exodus Of 1878 is the true story of 350 Cheyenne who, under the leadership of Chiefs Dull Knife and Little Wolf, escaped from the Oklahoma reservation to which the U.S. Government had forced them to move. The Cheyenne were fleeing starvation and disease, and striving to return to their traditional homelands. They frustrated the U.S. Army and brought terror to civilians caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. All sides of this harsh story of the American West are portrayed with evenhanded accuracy in this absorbing and compelling account. In Dull Knife's Wake is a seminal and strongly recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library Native American Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Civil War Shelf

Vicksburg And The War
Gordon A. Cotton & Jeff T. Giambrone
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053
www.pelicanpub.com
1589801717 $19.95 1-800-843-1724

The collaborative effort of Gordon A. Cotton and Jeff T. Giambrone and extensively illustrated with black-and-white photographs and vintage artworks, Vicksburg And The War tells the Civil War era story of the "most Southern of cities" -- Vicksburg, Mississippi. This was a state which voted against secession from the Union, but became Confederate and contributed both resources and manpower to the Southern side when the Union's army came to bear upon the Confederacy. A wealth of anecdotes and a close study of the battles of 1861 and 1862 (as well as the devastating effects of the Union's occupation after Vicksburg's surrender), Vicksburg And The War is a powerful glimpse into history that emphasizes the lasting Southern spirit and a much appreciated contribution to the growing library of Civil War Studies.

Carrying The Flag
Gordon C. Rhea
Basic Books
387 Park Avenue South, NY, NY 10016
www.basicbooks.com
0465069568 $26.00 1-800-242-7737

Carrying The Flag by civil war historian and expert Gordon C. Rhea is the true story of Private Charles Whilden, an ordinary solider who served the Confederacy during the Civil War and whose courage was so great it would affect the tide of one of the war's greatest battles. An attention compelling, superbly detailed, informed and informative narrative that goes into especial detail concerning the bloody and deadly fights, as well as an intrinsically exciting read, Carrying The Flag is enthusiastically recommended reading for Civil War buffs and a welcome contribution to the growing library of American Civil War literature.

Quantrill Of Missouri
Paul R. Petersen
Cumberland House Publishing
431 Harding Industrial Park Drive, Nashville, TN 37211
www.cumberlandhouse.com
1581823592 $26.95 1-888-439-2665

Quantrill Of Missouri: The Making Of A Guerilla Warrior is a comprehensive, 504-page biography of William Clark Quantrill, the man who led deadly and effective guerilla campaigns on the side of the Confederacy during the darkest days of the Civil War. If history is written by the winners, then the winners have given Quantrill a brutal name indeed, as most accounts portray him as vicious, bloodthirsty, and merciless. Vietnam and Desert Storm veteran Paul R. Petersen seeks to uncover a more balanced and accurate perspective of Quantrill, one that weighs his actions as acts of war rather than of terror -- and often in response to severe brutality administered directly to the people he identified himself with. A thought provoking exploration, analysis, and life story, Quantrill Of Missouri is an invaluable contribution to Civil War Studies reading lists and Western Frontier Biography library collections.

Drunkards & Outright Fools
Thomas P. Lowry
University of Nebraska Press
233 North 8th St, Lincoln NE 68588-0255
0803280246 $17.95 1-800-755-1105

Drunkards & Outright Fools: Courts-martial Of Civil War Union Colonels by Civil War enthusiast and expert Thomas P. Lowry focuses on illustrative case studies as well as a broad-based statistical exploration to better understand why, or at least how in the Union Army, a colonel during the American Civil War was five times more likely to be court-martialed than a private. Colorful anecdotes and a deeper examination of the severities of the times make Drunkards & Outright Fools a unique and inherently fascinating addition to any civil war reference collections or supplemental reading list.


The Nautical Shelf

Steamboat Connections
Frank Mackey
McGill-Queen's University Press
3430 McTavish Street, Montreal, QC, Canada, H3A 1X9
0773525831 $29.95 1-800-387-0141

Researched and written by Frank Mackey, Steamboat Connections: Montreal To Upper Canada is a thoroughly detailed, highly recommended, 383-page nautical history covering the first twenty-five years of steamboat travel on the Ottawa and upper St. Lawrence Rivers. Drawing extensively upon archival sources, Steamboat Connections evaluates the gradual transformation of steamer transportation from 1816 to the early 1840s, and offers the reader a glimpse into the fiery spirit of those entrepreneurs who first blazed a steamboat river trail.


The Human Sexuality Shelf

Find The Love Of Your Life After 50!
Alice Solomon
Writers' Collective
780 Reservoir Ave., Cranston, RI 02910
1932133682 $14.95 1-401-941-9652

Find The Love Of Your Life After 50! by Alice Solomon is an invaluable and thoroughly "user friendly" self-help guide to the singles scene for women over fifty. From the advantages of computer dating; to a no-nonsense survey of what makes dating after 50 different; to the type of man one is most compatible with; to where to meet single men who would have an interest in older women, and so much more, Find The Love Of Your Life After 50! is an excellent primer embodying both the romantic and the practical.

Love At Second Sight
Nancy W. Collins & Mason Grigsby
New Horizon Press
PO Box 669, Far Hills, NJ 07931
www.newhorizonpress.books.com
0882822470 $14.95 1-800-533-7978

Love At Second Sight: Playing The Midlife Dating Game is a self-help, how-to manual for taking control of one's search for a compatible mate during the midlife years. Grounded in over 400 in-depth surveys and interviews with various personalities, Love At Second Sight overs the lowdown on dating services, personal ads, do's and don'ts, suggestions and warnings concerning Internet dating, how to promote effective male/female communication, and much more. The collaborative effort of Nancy W. Collins and Mason Grigsby, Love At Second Sight is very highly recommended -- especially for the single and looking, with advice applicable to all age ranges, and not just the midlife years alone.

101 Things I Wish I Knew When I Got Married
Linda Bloom & Charlie Bloom
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
www.newworldlibrary.com
1577314247 $14.95 1-800-972-6657

Co-written by Linda and Charlie Bloom (two psychotherapists with over fifty-five years of combined experience in relationship counseling), 101 Things I Wish I Knew When I Got Married: Simple Lessons To Make Love Last is a practical guide to keeping the romance in a lifelong partnership alive. Each of the 101 points offers insight into something that should be obvious but often isn't when one is submerged in the ups and downs of a long term relationship, ranging from "When you complain about your partner to your friends, remember that their feedback is based upon distorted information", to "Your primary relationship is with your partner, not your children", and "External conflicts are often outer expressions of internal ones". 101 Things I Wish I Knew When I Got Married is very highly recommended reading for two distinct groups of readers -- those who are contemplating becoming married and those who already are!


The Social Issues Shelf

Genetics And Ethics
Gerard Magill, Ph.D.
Saint Louis University Press
Fordham University Press, dist.
University Box L, Bronx, NY 10458
0965292975 $24.00 1-800-247-6553

Anthologized and edited by Gerard Magill (Executive Director and Department Chair, Center for Health Care Ethics, Saint Louis University), Genetics And Ethics: An Interdisciplinary Study is a seminal compilation of essays contributed by a variety of learned authors, which collectively grapple with the ethical issues of genetics technology, ranging from cultural and social issues, to the legal, policy, and business impact of the modern genetics revolution. Uncovering revelations and "wake-up" calls with regard to the burgeoning new possibilities and its potential uses/misuses, Genetics And Ethics is highly recommended reading for non-specialist general readers and academic scholars with interests in the ethical ramifications of the rapidly evolving applied science and technologies of genetics.

Bioterror
Ellen Ray & William H. Schaap, editors
Ocean Press
PO Box 1186, Old Chelsea Station, New York, NY 10113-1186
1876175648 $9.95 oceanbooks.com.au

Compiled and co-edited by Ellen Ray and William H. Schaap, Bioterror: Manufacturing Wars The American Way is a compendium of eight major essays combining to offering readers a diverse and shocking expose of the United States as being a notorious practitioner of both biological and chemical warfare. The accounts range from the giving blankets laced with smallpox to Native Americans 250 years ago, to modern day development and usage of anthrax, Agent Orange, nerve gas, dioxin, and depleted uranium. Essential reading for anyone concerned with current events, contemporary social issues, and the current American pursuit of a war on international terrorism, Bioterror is a seminal and very strongly recommended work -- as well as a quite disturbing wake-up call revealing America's pioneer (and continuing) role in the creation of deadly biological weapons.


The Woodworking Shelf

501 Best Shop Tips For Woodworkers
Robert J. Settich
Landauer Corporation
12251 Maffitt Rd, Cumming, IA 50061
1890621587 $19.95 1-800-557-2144

501 Best Shop Tips For Woodworkers by expert woodworker Robert J. Settich is a handy and superbly organized question-and-answer guide filled from cover to cover with tips, tricks and techniques concerning designing projects, selecting materials, preparing stock, shaping and bending, cutting joints, gluing and clamping, finishes, tools, safety, repairs, and other aspects of woodworking projects ranging from the simple to the complex. Black-and-white and a few color photographs illustrate this very handy and accessibly written resource. 501 Best Shop Tips For Woodworkers is especially commended to the attention of the novice woodworker for its practicality.

The Commercial Woods Of Africa
Peter Phongphaew
Linden Publishing Company
2006 South Mary, Fresno, CA 93721
0941936821 $49.95 1-800-345-4447

The Commercial Woods Of Africa: A Descriptive Full-Color Guide by timber expert Peter Phongphaew is a truly excellent, superbly information-laden resource concerning over 275 wood types used for commercial use and originating from the African continent. Full-color illustrations of natural grain and patterns, botanical names, mechanical properties, seasoning and working properties, durability, suggestions as to which uses are most and least ideal for each wood type and more pack this quality descriptive guide from cover to cover. A unique reference, The Commercial Woods Of Africa is an enthusiastically recommended addition to academic and professional reference shelves.

Woodworking Tools & Techniques
Chris Marshall
Creative Publishing International, Inc.
18705 Lake Drive East, Chanhassen, MN 55317
1589230965 $19.95 creativepub.com

Woodworking Tools & Techniques is a basic and strongly recommended introductory guide that walks aspiring woodworker through the critically important process of choosing the right tools, setting up a shop, using tools safely, common woodworking techniques, and a great deal more. An excellent instructional resource, whether for self-instruction for even the most novice beginner or simply as a brush up for the more experienced woodworker, Woodworking Tools & Techniques "user friendly" text is enhanced from cover to cover with full-color photography to perfectly illustrate solid and dependable instructions.

The Wood Design Awards 2003
Tuns Press
c/o Faculty of Architecture and Planning
Dalhousie University
PO Box 1000, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada B3J 2X4
0929112504 $24.50 tunspress.dal.ca

The Wood Design Awards 2003: A North American Program Of Architectural Excellence is a simply beautiful presentation of award winners in the only North American Program that exists to specifically recognize superb quality in wood architecture today. Presenting 13 awarded projects for 2003 (which were chosen from a total of 217 submissions), The Wood Design Awards 2003 includes meticulous specifications, detailed descriptions, and copious black-and-white photographs. An inspirational marvel of a wood architecture showcase, The Wood Design Awards 2003 would make a seminal addition to Architectural Studies, Interior Design, and professional woodworking reference collections.


The Martial Arts Shelf

Beyond Brazilian Jujitsu With Mark Hatmaker
Paladin Press
7077 Winchester Cir., Boulder, CO 80301
www.paladin-press.com
DVD $59.95 1-800-392-2400

In Beyond Brazilian Jujitsu: Redefining The State Of The Art In Combat Grappling, western martial arts expert Mark Hatmaker showcases not only the strengths but also the weakness of Brazilian Jujitsu techniques, analyzing them point-by-point and demonstrating Western scientific wrestling techniques that can counter with less wasted motion and maximum effectiveness. A strictly informational DVD, Beyond Brazilian Jujitsu with Mark Hatmaker is very highly recommended for students and practitioners who are dedicated to the pursuit of the martial arts. Running time: 120 minutes.

Ultimate Fitness For Martial Arts
Sang H. Kim
Turtle Press
Box 290206, Wethersfield CT 06129-0206
DVD $39.95 www.turtlepress.com

In Ultimate Fitness For Martial Arts, martial arts expert Sang H. Kim combines the content of three videos on one DVD, resulting in a well-rounded presentation on how to optimize personal physical power, flexibility, and speed. Kim ably demonstrates exercises and techniques in weight training, running, isometrics, and more that have helped him remain limber for over 20 years. A special features on dynamic breathing rounds out this superb high-activity fitness instructional which is recommended to martial arts students and non-specialist general viewers with an interest in optimizing their physical health and well being.

Practical Self-Defense
Andrew Fuentes
Contract Enterprises
411 Video Information (publicity)
867 Prospect Place, Costa Mesa CA 92626
VHS $14.95 1-800-383-8811

Featuring instruction by self-defense expert and trainer Andrew Fuentes (who is also a nationally certified martial arts instructor who has earned a place in the Master's Black Belt Hall of Fame), Practical Self-Defense: Step-By-Step Techniques For Men & Women is a basic instructional guide to protecting oneself against a variety of common attacks, including wrist grabs, shirt grabs, chokes, hair pulling, and headlocks. A superbly presented, full color, 20 minute, "how to" instructional video, the expert demonstrations and clear instructions make for an excellent means to study and review ways to guard oneself against attack. Practical Self-Defense is highly recommended for both personal martial arts and self-defense reference and training collections. Also very highly recommended from Andrew Fuentes is a companion video, Practical Massage: East-To-Learn Do-It-Yourself Massage Techniques (45 minutes $14.95)

There are many factors impacting upon our lives and fortunes, including our access to education and information. There is one place in every community where any deficiencies in these factors can be countered and overcome. That place is the public library which is free and available to everyone regardless of their personal circumstance.


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


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