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Internet Bookwatch

Volume 13, Number 5 May 2003 Home | IBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Social Issues Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Musicbook Shelf Education Shelf Biography Shelf
Sports Shelf Money/Finance Shelf Computer Shelf
Political Science Shelf Buddhist Studies Shelf Writing/Publishing Shelf
Jobs/Careers Shelf Business Shelf International Studies Shelf
Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf Martial Arts Shelf Nautical Shelf
Science Fiction Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf Antiques/Collectibles Shelf
Religion/Spirituality Shelf Literary Shelf Cookbook Shelf
Fiction Shelf Travel Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf
Audiobook Shelf Library CD Music Shelf Library Video/DVD Shelf
Large Print Shelf Needlecraft Shelf Environmental Studies Shelf
World History Shelf American History Shelf Art Shelf
Judaic Studies Shelf Parenting Shelf Gardening Shelf
Bibliophile Shelf Military Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Poetry Shelf Civil War Shelf Hunting/Fishing Shelf
Native American Shelf Photography Shelf Railroading Shelf
Theatre/Cinema Shelf Law/Justice Shelf Gaming Shelf
Women's Studies Shelf Science Shelf Architecture Shelf
Interior Design Shelf    


Reviewer's Choice

The Complete Stenciling Handbook
Sandra Buckingham
Firefly Books Ltd.
4 Daybreak Lane, Westport, CT 06880
1552096386 $35.00 1-800-387-5085

Stencilers who want a complete handbook to the art, from choosing between materials and tools to understanding paint differences, glazes, and equipment, will find The Complete Stenciling Handbook packed with essential details. The chapters on how to create different stencil effects, from producing raised art to using layered patterns, supplement techniques and discussions with plenty of color photos illustrating finished results. An excellent comprehensive guide.

Learn To Draw Comics
George Leonard Carlson
Dover Publications
31 E. 2nd St., Mineola, NY 11501
0486423115 $5.95 1-800-223-3130

Learn To Draw Comics is an informal guide providing aspiring cartoonists with a wealth of basic information on how to build a successful comic strip. Learn To Draw Comics first appeared in the 1930s, but it continues to provide fine basic instruction in all areas of comic drawing, remaining relevant to modern audiences.

Exploring Consciousness
Rita Carter
University of California Press
945 Madison Ave., New York NY 10021
0520237374 $34.95 www.ucpress.edu

The nature and purposes of human consciousness and thought are probed in Exploring Consciousness, a superbly prensented academic inquiry which deftly blends science and philosophy to consider whether consciousness is an illusion or a byproduct of brain functioning. This scholarly discussion blends the latest hypotheses on consciousness, using the latest discoveries of how the brain functions to provide insights on how consciousness creates time and perception. A lively discourse, recommended for a wide range of interdisciplinary studies.

The Letter Box
Mark & Diane Button
Beyond Words
20827 NW Cornell Rd. #500, Hillsboro OR 97124-9808
1582700877 $16.95

Mark and his wife wanted a family for years and were filled with joy upon discovering they were expecting triplets but when the dream was ruined, Mark faced an empty future. His container for collecting thoughts and feelings became gifts which included his friends and anyone who knew him. The Letter Box is a wrenching story of love beyond death and the recovery process, and is a highly rekommended pick.

Greetings With Love
Michele Karl
Pelican Publishing
1000 Burmaster St., Gretna LA 70053
1565549937 $19.95 1-800-843-1724

Greetings With Love: The Book Of Valentines will hold year-round attraction for any interested in greeting card art, collectability, or history. The focus here is on antique valentines, with chapters surveying the earliest valentine in history to modern times. Over 20 vintage valentines from mechanical cupids to lace productions are detailed in a history which traces the changing trends of the day. Beautiful color photos of antique productions make for a bright, highly recommended coverage.

On Top Of The World
Tom Barbash
HarperCollins
10 E. 53rd St., New York NY 10022-5299
0060510293 $25.95 1-800-242-7737

Here's a 9/11 story of loss and renewal which goes beyond the individual experience: nearly 700 of company Cantor Fitzgerald's New York employees were lost on 9/11, and their friends and coworkers who survived only did so by chance. On Top Of The World focuses as much upon the recovery process of these coworkers as it does upon the events of the day itself, showing how an entire corporation absorbed disaster and kept the company from liquidation and opportunistic take-over. Very highly recommended, especially for business managers.

The Philosophers' Secret Fire
Patrick Harpur
Ivan R. Dee
1332 North Halsted Street, Chicago, IL 60622-2694
1566634857 $27.50 1-800-462-6420

This history of the imagination blends insights on myth, folklore and philosophy alike, tackling issues of imagination and unconscious insight to consider how beliefs in the otherworld have fueled philosophical and spiritual innovations. The Philosophers' Secret Fire skirts the line between spirituality and philosophy, drawing important connections between the two disciplines and providing a history which links philosophy, psychology and romanticism alike.

Calligraphy In Ten Easy Lessons
Eleanor Winters & Laurie Lico
Dover Publications, Inc.
31 East 2nd Street, Mineola, NY 11501
0486418049 $8.95 1-800-223-3130

Anyone can master the beauty and complicated art of hand drawing words with the help of Calligraphy In Ten Easy Lessons the only one to teach the basic Italic hand in ten easy steps. Beginners receive step-by-step advice from two experts who cover everything from material choices to placement of paper and setting up the page. Add a focus on applications and you have a winner.

Routledge
29 W. 35th St., New York NY 10001
1-800-634-7064 www.amazon.com

Two powerful new titles provide readers with thought-provoking insights. Anthony Giddons' Runaway World: How Globalization Is Reshaping Our Lives (041594-4872, $12.95) is an unusual title: written by an intellectual powerhouse and covering the topic of the increasing impact of globalization, it provides a relatively easy primer on how growing interdependencies in foreign markets are changing everyday American lives. Chapters cover the scope of these sweeping changes and analyze how they are affecting not only lives, but cultural norms. Harvey Molotch's Where Stuff Comes From: How Toasters, Toilets, Cars, Computers And Many Other Things Come To Be As They Are (0415944007, $24.95) examines a range of 'stuff', from the Palm Pilot to the PT cruiser, considering how design, technology and innovation blend to come up with new products to market and sell. Fascinating insights on cultural definitions and revelations made by such products makes for a lively title still studious enough for college-level readers.

Non Campus Mentis
Anders Henriksson
Workman Publishing Company
708 Broadway, New York NY 10003
0761129790 $7.95 1-800-722-7202

Compiled by Anders Henriksson, Professor Anders Henriksson's Non Campus Mentis joins a few other titles in gathering funny student papers and misconceptions, providing them together in a survey of history which is anything but ordinary. From Marie Curie's Noel Prize for inventing the radiator to nobles who claim to be descended from better jeans, this is packed with comedy both intentional and unintentional.

The Complete Buyer's Guide To Manufactured Homes & Land
John Grissim
Rainshadow Publications
PO Box 3238, Sequim, WA 98382
0972543600 $19.95 www.amazon.com

From locating a reputable dealer and negotiating a fair price to understanding the pros and cons of the manufactured home, The Complete Buyer's Guide To Manufactured Homes & Land packs in ratings of top manufacturers, insights on the importance of trustworthy dealers, and guidelines for checking out models, land, and construction loans. Everything you need to buy and build one of these homes is here in one handy place.

Scholarly Resources Inc.
104 Greenhill Avenue, Wilmington, DC 19805-1897
1-800-772-8937 www.amazon.com

Two new titles are recommended for college-level readers studying history and politics. Call To Arms: Presidential Speeches, Messages, And Declarations Of War edited by Russell Buhite (084202-5936, $22.95) provides a survey of Presidential speeches, messages, and declarations of war from John Adams to George Bush. Chapters are packed with these addresses and speeches, and will prove invaluable references both for associated reading and in their entirety for students contrasting issues in the language of conflict. Steven Woodworth's Beneath A Northern Sky: A Short History Of The Gettysburg Campaign (0842029338, $14.95) provides a short history of the Gettysburg campaign which reviews the entire battle and its underlying foundations. Chapters survey the sequence of events and the entire conflict in a narrative which will also prove accessible to high school students. Both are recommended school picks.

New York's Forgotten Substations
Christopher Payne
Princeton Architectural Press
37 East 7th St., New York NY 10003
1568983557 $21.95 1-800-722-6657

New York's Forgotten Substations: The Power Behind The Subway is hard to easily categorize this title, but any with an interest in New York history and culture will find this a fascinating topic and worthy of a visit. The author was introduced to the substations by an official of the NYC Transit Author's Power Department; he photographed and wrote the history of these buildings, and his photos and drawings embellish a little-known side of New York history. A large audience will find a fascinating account here.

Exploring Holotropic Breathwork
Kylea Taylor, Editor
Hanford Mead
PO Box 8051, Santa Cruz CA 95061-8051
0964315866 $69.95

The price tag of Exploring Holotropic Breathwork: Selected Articles From A Decade Of The Inner Door is weighty indeed but so is the information packed within its covers. This guide gathers well over a hundred field reports related to a non-drug altered-state work. Over eighty authors trained in breathwork published these articles between 1991-2002, providing a foundation of important information to practitioners in fields ranging from medical to spiritual areas. From work with trauma survivors to work with lupis and HIV patients, this details a range of effects of breathwork and offers invaluable advice on how it can blend with traditional and alternative therapies. A unique, invaluable guide highly recommended for the new age health library.

How To Obtain Your U.S. Immigration Visa For A Temporary Stay
Benji Anosike
Do-It-Yourself Legal Publishers
60 Park Place #1013, Newark, NJ 07102
0932704522 $29.95

To Obtain Your U.S. Immigration Visa For A Temporary Stay: The Non-immigrant Visa Kit: Immigration Manual, Benji Anosike's focus on understanding lawful admission to the U.S. explains all the basics of obtaining a temporary type of visa, whether it be for a student, businessman, or worker. From explanations of how to qualify to immigrate to this country to tips on how to stay legally in the U.S. and understanding the deportation process, this covers all the legal basics, from forms and paperwork to the rights of aliens and natives alike.

Mother Goose On The Loose
Bobbye S. Goldstein
Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
100 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10011
0810942399 $18.95 1-800-759-0190

Compiled and edited by Bobbye S. Goldstein, Mother Goose On The Loose With Cartoons From "The New Yorker" is a humorous and engaging satire of the classic mother goose nursery rhymes. Chuckle-inducing, thought-provoking cartoons and caricatures spoofing the adventures of Little Bo Peep, the Cow that Jumped Over the Moon, and many more as well as amusing variants of the rhymes themselves comprise this highly enjoyable parody. "When Jack climbed up the beanstalk / A mean giant he did meet, / So Jack slid down the beanstalk / And made a fast retreat!"

Contact Any Celebrity
Jordan McAuley, editor
MegaNiche Media
8721 Santa Monica Boulevard, #431, West Hollywood, CA 90069-4507
www.contactanycelebrity.com
0970709528 $29.95 www.amazon.com

Now in an updated edition for 2003, Contact Any Celebrity: Accurate Contact Information For Over 13,000 Celebrities And Public Figures compiled and edited by Jordan McAuley is a very straightforward, "user friendly" reference. From cover to cover, it presents nothing but a solid list of celebrity and public figure mailing addresses - surface mail addresses only, that is; no e-mail addresses or web sites. An excellent tool for autograph hunters and also charity fundraisers (as it is common practice to politely solicit celebrities for autographed items that can be auctioned to benefit a non-profit organization) Contact Any Celebrity will prove to be an invaluable resource.

Old World Wisconsin
Fred L. Holmes
The Wisconsin Historical Museum
c/o University of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe Street, Third Floor, Madison, WI 53711-2059
155971056X $14.95 1-800-621-2736

First published in 1944, Old World Wisconsin by Fred L. Holmes is an "armchair tour" of historical vistas throughout the Dairy State, and offering the reader an involving, informative look at key Wisconsin traditions, historically significant sites, and the progression of Wisconsin's cultural history itself. Old World Wisconsin is enthusiastically recommended and intrinsically engaging read for anyone with an interest in the background behind the many ethnic groups of settlers that have made Wisconsin their home.

The Complete Gods And Goddesses Of Ancient Egypt
Ricahrd H. Wilkinson
Thames & Hudson, Inc.
500 Fifth Avenue, NY, NY 10110-0017
0500051208 $39.95 1-800-233-4830

Compiled and written by Richard H. Wilkinson (Professor and Directory of the University of Arizona Egyptian Expedition), and enhanced with 338 illustrations (132 in full-color), The Complete Gods And Goddesses Of Ancient Egypt is a straightforward introduction to Egyptian mythology and iconography, offering comprehensive details about both major and minor deities. Organized into five general categories (Rise and Fall of the Gods; Nature of the Gods; Worship of the Gods; Kingship and the Gods; and The Catalogue of Deities), The Complete Gods And Goddesses Of Ancient Egypt is a first-rate, strongly recommended resource and reference for writers, historians, and lay readers curious about the mythologies of the Egyptian culture over a period of more than two thousand years.

Backroad Bicycling In Wisconsin
Jane Hall & Scott Hall
Backcountry Guides
PO Box 748, Woodstock, VT 05091
www.backcountrypress.com
088150548X $16.95 www.amazon.com

The collaborative effort of Jane and Scott Hall, Backroad Bicycling In Wisconsin: 28 Scenic Tours Through Lakes, Forests, And Glacier-Carved Countryside is a superbly organized and presented resource filled with maps, recommended routes, tips and tricks, and much more for avid cyclers, complete with information about terrain, where to find repairs and rentals, highlights of one's trips, and much more. Backroad Bicycling In Wisconsin is confidently recommended as being a truly first-rate, "user friendly" guide for avid Wisconsin cyclers.

Dr. Seuss Goes To War
Richard H. Minear
The New Press
450 West 41st St, 6th floor, NY NY 10036
1565847040 $17.95 1-800-233-4830

Dr. Seuss Goes To War: The World War II Editorial Cartoons Of Theodor Seuss Geisel is a remarkable, memorable, and highly recommended collection of the barbed and sharp-witted editorial cartoons drawn by Theodor Seuss Geisel, who is perhaps best known as Dr. Seuss, the author of such popular favorite children's books as "Horton Hears a Who" and "The Cat in the Hat". The cartoons presented here date back to the dark years of World War II, when the Axis powers threatened to consume the world; many of the cartoons revolve around the imminent threat to America and the need to become involved before it was too late. The cartoons cease in late 1942 to early 1943 as Geisel himself went to war to protect his country. He survived the fighting but after the war was over he never returned to editorial cartoon work, but achieved an enduring literary legacy through creating children's classics with underlying meaningful themes.

Working For Wages
Peter Browning, et al.
Great West Books
PO Box 1028, Lafayette, CA 94549
0944220150 $15.95 www.amazon.com

Working For Wages: On The Road In The Fifties by Peter Browning is a memoir of nearly ten years on a job driving new cars and trucks from Detroit to Los Angeles between 1949 and 1958 makes for a memoir which is hard to easily peg, charting changing social, economic and business issues of the times. Vanishing lifestyles and jobs, changing 1950s sentiments, and both humor and high drama are imparted in this lively, revealing guide.

The Red-Haired Girl From The Bog
Patricia Monaghan
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
1577311906, $22.95, 1-800-972-6657

The Red-Haired Girl From The Bog: The Landscape Of Celtic Myth And Spirit by Celtic history expert Patricia Monaghan is a spiritual voyage through the countryside of Ireland, exploring the intermeshing aspects of folklore, goddess worship, Celtic ceremony, and Christian faith. A thoughtful and deeply reverent viewpoint of a land steeped in tradition and lore, The Red-Haired Girl From The Bog is especially recommended for Celtic Mythology and Irish History reference collections and reading lists.


The Social Issues Shelf

Genetically Modified Foods
Michael Ruse & David Castle
Prometheus Books
59 John Glenn Dr., Amherst, MA 14228
1573929964 $20.00 1-800-421-0351

How are genetically altered foods affecting daily lives, and are genetically changed materials becoming a part of our genetic makeup through digestion of these foods? Genetically Modified Foods explores the myriad of issues and argument arising from the use of genetically modified foods, offering chapters which cover their history, science, and health concerns. Over thirty essays are contributed by experts in science, law, religion and public policy, making a guide which is packed with important observations and facts.

Basic Books
387Park Ave. So., NY, NY 10016
1-800-242-7737 www.amazon.com

Martin Schram's Avoiding Armageddon (0465072550, $26.00) accompanies a mini-series which seeks to analyze threats of both conventional and unconventional war in modern times. Interviews with political leaders and security experts discuss mankind's ability to face threats of world wars, with issues ranging from weapons of mass destruction to terrorist threat. An outstanding title which should reach a large audience. Anna Salter's Predators Pedophiles, Rapists And Other Sex Offenders (0465071724, $26.00) provides parents and educators keys to understanding the actions, intentions, and methods of these predators. Salter has studied sexual offenders and their victims for over twenty years: her title provides insights into not only how they think, but how they deceive their victims and elude the law. An essential title for modern times.

An Anti-Capitalist Manifesto
Alex Callinicos
Blackwell Publishing, Inc.
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148
0745629040 $19.95 www.polity.co.uk

An Anti-Capitalist Manifesto by Alex Callinicos (Professor of Politics, University of York, England) is an informed and informative study of contemporary anti-globalization movements. Examining the crucial questions of whether protests against globalization are truly against the capitalist system itself, An Anti-Capitalist Manifesto also dissects the resistance to neo-liberal economic policies embraced by the seven leading industrial countries; makes a persuasive argument that protests worldwide are particularly anti-capitalism; and marks the possibility of synthesizing elements of Marxist tradition into a new world market system that offers more balance, stability, and well-being for all. An Anti-Capitalist Manifesto is a welcome and recommended addition to International Studies, Economic Studies, and Political Science reference collections and supplementary reading lists.

Edgeless Cities
Robert E. Lang
The Brookings Institution
1775 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036-2188
0815706111 $18.95 www.brookings.edu

Edgeless Cities: Exploring The Elusive Metropolis by Robert E. Lang (Director, Metropolitan Institute, Virginia Tech, Alexandria, Virginia) is an informative look at a new form of city development that combines grand-scale office parks with major retail and housing, instead of having the traditional delineated boundaries between home and store. Praised by some, sharply criticized by others, this new type of city geography has both high and low points worthy of careful study especially in the new millennium of population pressures that put the squeeze on more restricted city designs. Edgeless Cities is a recommended addition to Urban Studies, Architectural Studies, and Social Issues reference collections and reading lists.

Voucher Wars
Clint Bolick
Cato Institute
1000 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20001
1930865384 $12.00 1-800-767-1241

Voucher Wars: Waging The Legal Battle Over School Choice considers the legal battles over school choice and the underlying issues of failing public schools, examining landmark educational cases and the 12-year struggle to provide families with real choices in educational quality. Bolick began and nurtured the legal battle for school choice for underprivileged children: Voucher Wars outlines the issues.

How Safe Are Our Skies?
Rodney Wallis
Praeger Publishers
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
0275978478 $34.95 www.amazon.com

How Safe Are Our Skies?: Assessing The Airlines' Response To Terrorism by Rodney Wallis (former Director of Security of the International Air Transport Association) takes a hard and informative look at how safe it really is to fly in this modern day and age. From terrorist and security threats, to mechanical risks and pilot error, to lessons drawn from the tragic past, and so much more, How Safe Are Our Skies? is especially and particularly recommended reading for anyone concerned with the impact of contemporary air travel conditions, and especially for those frequent flyers genuinely concerned about the present and foreseeable risks of domestic and international air travel.

Protecting The Future
Wendy Holmes
Kumarian Press, Inc.
1294 Blue Hills Av Bloomfield CT 06002
1565491629 $29.95 www.kpbooks.com

Written by Wendy Holmes for the International Rescue Committee, Protecting The Future: HIV Prevention, Care And Support Among Displaced And War-Affected Populations is unfortunate but extremely necessary resource for the twenty-first century, as it presents both short and long-term consequences of the ravages of HIV/AIDS among the globe's populations and exhorts strategies for preventing and containing the spread of this deadly virus. Practical ideas for motivating behavior change, promoting improved sexual health, preventing the transmission of the virus from mothers to children and more fill this welcome and much needed contribution to health and medicine reference shelves. Protecting The Future is seminal, necessary, and highly recommended.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Nostradamus And The Lost Templar Legacy
Rudy Cambier
Adventures Unlimited Press
PO Box 74, Kempton, IL 60946
1931882118 $17.95 1-815-253-6390

Nostradamus And The Lost Templar Legacy by Rudy Cambier is an fascinating and engaging study of the prophesies popularly attributed to Nostradamus; author Rudy Cambier presents a convincing case that the actual words were composed by a Cistercian monk, Yves de Lessines, over two hundred years before Nostradamus' time - and that the true purpose behind the words was to point the way to the concealed and lost treasure of the Templars. A most fascinating analysis, Nostradamus And The Lost Templar Legacy is a thoughtful and thought-provoking contribution to the growing library of Nostradamus literature. Also very highly recommended as collateral reading from Adventures Unlimited Press is Francine Bernier's The Templars' Legacy In Montreal, The New Jerusalem (1931882142, $21.95)

Secret Societies Of America's Elite
Steven Sora
Destiny Books/Inner Traditions
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
0892819596 $20.00 InnerTraditions.com

Secret Societies Of America's Elite: From The Knights Templar To Skull And Bones is a crucial history of darkly shrouded societies, alliances, and elites who use their wealth to exert hidden influence. From secret Masonic cells that provided covert and overt inspiration for the American Revolution, to the murderous campaigns of terror perpetrated by the Ku Klux Klan, Secret Societies Of America's Elite is a simply fascinating, authoritative, strongly recommended study of a metaphysical aspect of human history not shown in most textbooks.

Llewellyn
P.O.Box 64383, St. Paul MN 55164-0383
www.llewellyn.com www.amazon.com

Jhampa Shaneman and Jan Angel's Buddhist Astrology (073870315X, $19.95) blends Buddhist wisdom and teachings with insights on astrological readings to satisfy a wide audience. This explores how three key Buddhist wisdoms interact within Siddhartha's chart, applying the new theory's results to all astrological charts. An intriguing survey. Karri Ann Allrich's Cooking By Moonlight (1567180159, $17.95) tells how to cook in harmony with seasons and moon phases. Included are lunar menus, tips for herb use and the use of spices in magic rituals, and guidelines for a 'moonlit pantry'. Teresa Michelsen and Mary K. Greer's Designing Your Own Tarot Spreads (0738702633, $12.95) tells those with some tarot experience how to get creative with tarot cards. From posing appropriate questions and deciding how many cards to use to clarifying card positions and using special clarification cards, this provides a wealth of insights and inspirations for unique tarot spreads. Silver Ravenwolf's Solitary Witch: Designing Your Own Tarot Spreads (0738703192, $19.95) is for those serious about the Wiccan craft: it's a book for new witches who seek an understanding of the history and culture of magic in the Western world, and is includes bits and pieces of information the serious practicing witch might find useful. From charms and plantings to rituals and the history of herbal codes, this is packed with insights and advice for new generation witches. All are unique, important guides for new age readers.

New Page
3 Tice Rd., Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417

Three intriguing new titles are recommended picks for readers of New Age spirituality. R.J. Stewart's Miracle Tree (1564146402, $14.99) provides a different approach to Western Qabalah by a practitioner with thirty years experience. No background in occultism is necessary in order to understand the rudiments of the Qabalah traditions presented here, while those already familiar with the process will find the secret techniques imparted here are unusual and can produce rapid results. Belinda Whitworth's New Age Encyclopedia (1564146405, $14.99) provides a reference to everything New Age, from Eastern religious traditions to concepts of graphology, zen, UFOs, hemp, and magnet therapy. Definitions and explanations make for a specific, important guide. Patricia Telesco's Mastering Candle Magick (1564146545, $13.99) explores one of the widest metaphysical methods in a new way, building on information presented in an earlier book to detail a variety of candlelit activities. Create or adapt spells , rituals, and chants and use candle-oriented spells for birthday blessings and special celebrations using this inviting guide created for beginners and prior users alike.

Timpson's Leylines
John Timpson
Cassell/Trafalgar Square
PO Box 258, Howe Hill Road, North Pomfret, VT 05053
1841881198 $22.95 1-800-423-4525

John Timpson became fascinated with a stone which was supposed to be a leyline marker, and his fascination led to his study of ley lines which blends everything from beliefs in prehistoric ancient meetings to 'new age' beliefs that they are landing sites for UFOs. Timpson's Leylines is a metaphysical study which is hard to neatly categorize: there are many theories and there's much folklore about the origins of leylines: the author's exploration of history, myths and folklore results in a lively coverage indeed.

The Ghost Next Door
Mark Alan Morris
iUniverse.com, Inc.
2021 Pine Lake Road, Lincoln, NE 68512
0595269443 $11.95 www.iuniverse.com

Compiled by Mark Alan Morris, The Ghost Next Door is a collection of chilling stories of paranormal encounters, as told by everyday men and women. Careful description and attention to detail make these tales eerily believable and truly spooky. From the woman who was visited by her grandfather on the night of the old man's funeral; to the playground where one particular swing is always occupied by a ghost; to the home in Texas that was visited by a ghost who came all the way from Gettysburg, the tales comprising The Ghost Next Door are very strongly recommended for students of the occult.


The Musicbook Shelf

Back To A Shadow In The Night
Jonathan Cott
Hal Leonard Corporation
7777 West Bluemound Road, Milwaukee, WI 53213
0634035967, $28.95, 1-800-637-2852

Back To A Shadow In The Night: Music Writings And Interviews 1968-2001 by music critic Jonathan Cott (who is a contributing editor to "Rolling Stone" magazine), is a selection of compiled interviews, articles, and reflections on and about famous personages of popular music, ranging from the late 1960's to the opening years of the twenty-first century. The unabashed thoughts of such luminaries as John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, and many others fill the pages of this erudite compendium which is strongly recommended for jazz, classical, and popular music enthusiasts.

45 RPM
Spencer Drate, e.al.
Princeton Architectural Press
37 East 7th St. New York NY 10003
1568983581 $16.95 1-800-722-6657

45 RPM offers a stunningly visual survey of 7-inch 45 album sleeves. The chronological arrangement features over 200 albums from all genres of music, chosen for the innovative and appealing designs. Students of design will find 45 RPM draws some important links between the art and music worlds and those with a special nostaligia for the heyday of the 45 will delight in this visually impressive compendium.

Band On The Run
Garry McGee
Taylor Trade Publishing
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, Maryland 20706
0878333045 $19.95 1-800-462-6420

Band On The Run: A History Of Paul Mccartney And Wings by Garry McGee (who spend more than twenty years in collecting materials and interviews for this book) is the informative biography of the famous former Beatles member that concentrates exclusively on the music Paul McCartney made after he left the Beatles and strived to refine his music with a personally chosen group of studio musicians. Based on twenty years' worth of research and interviews, Band On The Run successfully strives to present an accurate portrait of Paul McCartney, the Wings band, and their musical contribution to popular culture in the twentieth century.

Let The Good Times Roll
Larry Goshen & Mark Shaw
Books for Life Foundation
c/o Cardinal Publishers Group
7301 Georgetown Road, Suite 118, Indianapolis, IN 46268
0971759626 $22.95 cardinalpub.com

Compiled by Larry Goshen with the assistance of Mark Shaw, Let The Good Times Roll: An Anthology Of Indiana Music - Rock, Pop, Jazz & Country is a straightforward listing of dozens and dozens of Indiana singers, bands and music teams, offering very brief descriptions and illustrated with black-and-white photographs. Ranging from Michael Jackson; Axl Rose, and Hoagy Carmichael, to Janet Jackson, David Baker, and The Faith Band, Let The Good Times Roll is a simple and "user friendly" reference which is organized by decades from the 50s to the 90s with chapters dedicated to "Country and Western Guys and Gals"; "Jazzmakers"; and "Indiana Notables".

The Billboard Guide To Contemporary Christian Music
Barry Alfonso
Billboard Books
c/o Watson-Guptill Publications
770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003
0823077187 $19.95 1-800-451-1741

Compiled, written and edited by Barry Alfonso, The Billboard Guide To Contemporary Christian Music presents information on hits, trends, controversies, stars, and more in the world of contemporary Christian music. An A-Z encyclopedia format, The Billboard Guide To Contemporary Christian Music provides basic biographical information on the most well-known artists, a solid history of Contemporary Christian Music since its origin, and a great deal more. The Billboard Guide To Contemporary Christian Music is highly recommended as a resourceful introduction and guide to an increasingly popular music genre.

Garage Band Cookbook
Dan Titus
Venture Marketing
PO Box 151 Chino Hills, CA 91709
1582911096 $34.95 bizventures.com

Written by music industry veteran Dan Titus (who draws upon his years of experience as a musician, DJ, producer, and writer), the Garage Band Cookbook: Business Start-Up Guide is a definitive, step-by-step, do-it-yourself, "how-to" manual for establishing a band as a successful commercial venture. The president of the business media-publishing firm Venture Marketing, Dan Titus shows how to start a "for profit" company; provides a business start-up checklist; explains how to finance a commercial venture in music; explains sole proprietorships, limited liability companies, partnerships, and corporations; shows how to write a business plan (a sample plan is included as a template); demonstrates how to write a marketing plan (including the use of publicity); explains how to select a lawyer, an agent, and an accountant; as well as providing invaluable information on insurance and government permits. Garage Band Cookbook is enhanced with a tandem website that includes PDF ebooks and free software downloads. If you are contemplating taking your band from amateur to professional status, give the Garage Band Cookbook a close and careful reading. Also very highly recommended are two other "how to" books by Dan Titus: DJ Cookbook: Business Start-Up Guide (1582911088, $34.95) and Video Cookbook: Business Start-Up Guide (158291-110X, $34.95).

All Music Guide To The Blues
Vladimir Bogdanov, et al.
Backbeat Books
600 Harrison Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
0879307366 $24.95 backbeatbooks.com

Now in an expanded and updated third edition, the All Music Guide To The Blues: The Definitive Guide To The Blues is the collaborative effort of Vladimir Bogdanov, Chris Woodstra, Stephen Thomas Erlewine. A dictionary-style compendium of biographies of great blues masters, reviews and ratings for top-notch performances and collections, the Music Guide To The Blues offers a wealth of essays, music map chronologies of the evolution of the blues, and so much more. The entries are concise yet fact-filled in this definitive resource which is a core addition to any personal, professional, or academic reference collection.


The Education Shelf

Reading Essentials
Regie Routman
Heinemann Publishing
Box 6826, Portsouth, NH 03802-6926
0325004927 $25.00 1-800-225-5800

Reading Essentials: The Specifics You Need To Teach Reading Well by language arts expert and reading workshop instructor Regie Routman is a detail-oriented "how to" guide for becoming an effective reading teacher. Individual chapters address how to organize an above-average classroom library, setting up an independent reading program, emphasizing shared reading, and so much more. A first-rate resource for parents and educators alike, Reading Essentials should be a mandatory addition to academic reading instruction reference collections and curriculum supplementation reading lists.

Educating The Heart
Alison Hagee
Zephyr Press
Box 66006, Tucson, Arizona, 85728-6006
1569761493 $29.95 1-800-232-2187

Educating The Heart: Standards-Based Activities To Foster Character, Community, And Self-Reflection by education resource specialist Alison Hagee offers an impressive selection of activities for building both educational skills in reading, science, math, arts, social studies, and physical education, as well as building character in young people, while helping them to bond with their community, and learn more about personal self-reflection. Educating The Heart offers a highly recommended wealth of practical ideas and variations, combined to offer "user friendly" curriculum enriching tools for ideal for gradeschool classroom teachers as well as homeschooling parents seeking new ways to bond with their children and help make learning fun.

Developing More Curious Minds
John Barell
ASCD
1703 N. Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
0871207192 $25.95 www.ascd.org

Developing More Curious Minds By John Barell (Professor Emeritusis, Montclair State University) is an impressive and "reader friendly" compendium of ideas for enriching young people's learning experiences and contributing to more open and inquisitive ways of thought. From making wise use of the World Wide Web, to looking critically at texts, to encouraging young folks to express themselves articulately in oral and written communication, Developing More Curious Minds is an excellent and highly recommended supplemental addition to any grade school, high school, or home schooling curriculum development resource and reference list.

Induction
Robert Richin, et al.
Corwin Press, Inc.
2455 Teller Rd, Thousand Oaks CA 91320
0761946764 $29.95 1-800-818-7243

The collaborative effort of Robert Tichin, Richard Banyon, Rita P. Stein, and Francine Banyon, Induction: Connecting Teacher Recruitment To Retention is a fundamentally practical guide to recruiting and retaining the highest quality professional educators in a diverse and competitive market. From adopting successful renewing and reorienting practices; to numerous sample forms and correspondence (such as an example tenure letter); and a great deal more, Induction: Connecting Teacher Recruitment To Retention is a reliable, indispensable resource for primary, secondary, and university level educational institution recruiters everywhere.

Words Work!
Terryt Mahony
Crown House Publishing
PO Box 2223, Williston, VT 05495-2223
1899836985 $27.95 crownhouse.co.uk

Words Work!: How To Change You Language To Improve Behavior In Your Classroom by Terry Mahony (Professional Development Manager for Hampshire Education Authority) is a "user friendly" guide to using models of language which aid in the management of sometimes unruly classrooms and was written especially and specifically for classroom teachers. From the art of verbal aikido to redirect the negative energies of hostile name-calling, to communication techniques, useful tactics, advice for coping with recalcitrant students, and much, much more, Words Work! is a very highly recommended resource which packed from cover to cover with useful, practical, applicable advice for anyone responsible for teaching children -- or recalcitrant adults!

Toward Digital Equity
Gwen Solomon, et al.
Allyn & Bacon
160 Gould Street, Needham Heights, MA 02494
0205360556 $23.00 1-781-455-1250

Collaboratively compiled and edited by Gwen Solomon (TechLearning.com), Nancy J. Allen (Texas A&M University), and Paul Resta (University of Texas at Austin), Toward Digital Equity: Bridging The Divide In Education brings together writings from twenty-three experts in educational technology, who offer practical and affordable ideas for teachers, administrators, and education policy-makers charged with preparing the next generation for the digital age. Emphasizing ways to enhance the learning environment for optimum potential, Toward Digital Equity is a superbly presented and highly recommended resource for educators at local, district, state, and/or federal levels of responsibility.

Mike's Math Club Presents The Monstrously Fun Fraction Book
Ian Noah & Stephanie Logan
Mike's Math Club
PO Box 922, Culver City, CA 90232-0922
0964642514 $24.95 www.mff.org

The collaborative effort of Ian Noah and Stephanie Logan, Mike's Math Club Presents The Monstrously Fun Fraction Book is a superb supplement to traditional school curriculums and home schooling/home study math curricula for young people in grades 3 to 6. Every page is packed with worksheets and activities to help students practice skills with fractions. Black-and-white cartoon characters add an eye-catching and intrinsically fun appeal to the math exercises, and an accompanying CD-ROM allows one to print out the pages intended for student use on the computer. Mike's Math Club Presents The Monstrously Fun Fraction Book is a very highly recommended and "user friendly" tool for educators and concerned parents.

Ancient History From Primary Sources
Harvey Bluedorn & Laurie Bluedorn
Trivium Pursuit
PMB 168, 429 Lake Park Blvd., Muscatine, IA 52761
No ISBN, $59.00 triviumpursuit.com

Compiled by experienced homeschoolers Harvey and Laurie Bluedorn, Ancient History From Primary Sources: A Literary Timeline is an extensive bibliography of primary sources of ancient history, ranging from the writings of Aristotle and the scriptures of the Bible, to the chronicles of Pliny and Virgil, and much, much more. Offering history curricula, two CDS with full text English translations of most of the literature referred to in the book, as well as biographical information on the authors of the ancient writings, Ancient History From Primary Sources: A Literary Timeline is a first rate, "user friendly" resource written and designed especially for homeschooling parents and of invaluable assistance to traditional classroom teachers of children ages twelve and older.


The Biography Shelf

The Glory Walk
Cathryn E. Smith
VanderWyk & Burnham
PO Box 2789, Acton, MA 01720
1889242179 $22.95 www.VandB.com

Cathryn E. Smith's The Glory Walk is the candid memoir of a daughter who gradually lost her father to the debilitating effects of Alzheimer's disease. A moving testimony, filled with compassion and devotion, one that clearly resonates with the reader in terms of its poignancy and personal sharing, The Glory Walk is worthwhile reading and a recommended addition to community library collections.

Bravo Of The Brazos
Robert K. DeArment
University of Oklahoma Press
1005 Asp Avenue, Norman, OK 73019
0806134151 $29.95 1-800-627-7377

Bravo Of The Brazos: John Larn Of Fort Griffin, Texas by independent scholar Robert K. DeArment is the true life story of John Larn, a colorful Texas lawman turned frontier outlaw. No stranger to shootouts, Larn led a vigilante committee with widespread support and killed at least a dozen men before he turned 29. At first his killing of horse or cattle thieves on sight garnered approval, but then he started to kill for profit or revenge, and when Larn threatened to reveal the names of the people on his vigilante committee, a mob of relatives, former friends, and various associates ruthlessly silenced his threat and ended his life. Bravo Of The Brazos is a fascinating tale of power and corruption, as well as a welcome and appreciated contribution to academic American Frontier History & Biography collections.

In Code: A Mathematical Journey
Sarah Flannery & David Flannery
Algonquin Books
708 Broadway, New York NY 10003
1565123778 $13.95 www.amazon.com

In January 1999 a sports-loving teen from Ireland won the coveted Young Scientist of the Year award for her discoveries in Internet cryotography. Her discoveries earned her the acclaim of a mathematician at just sixteen: In Code: A Mathematical Journey tells how she moved from a family intrigued by math puzzles to a life involved in creating theories and tackling scientific challenges. Anticipate a personal biography juxtaposed with plenty of math insights and theory.

Bing Crosby: Crooner Of The Century
Richard Grudens
Celebrity Profiles Publishing
PO Box 344 Main Street, Stony Brook, NY 11790-0344
1575792486 $19.95 richardgrudens.com

Richard Grudens' Bing Crosby: Crooner Of The Century is an impressive presented and informatively written tribute to the famous singer Bing Crosby, his varied and sometimes difficult life, his family, the success story of his singing and acting career, and the lasting cultural reflections of his work. Featuring an introduction by Bing Crosby's wife Kathryn Grant Crosby, Bing Crosby: Crooner Of The Century is a "must-read" for the lingering legions of Bing Crosby fans.

Ron Howard
Beverly Gray
Rutledge Hill Press
Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000
1558539700, $24.99, 1-800-251-4000

Ron Howard: From Mayberry To The Moon ...and Beyond is a full-length biography by Beverly Gray of a Hollywood child actor star who grew up to become a successful and respected movie director. From his days as Opie Taylor on "The Andy Griffith Show" to his seasons as Richie Cunningham of "Happy Days", to his recent directorial achievements (including the winning of an Academy Award for Best Director of "A Beautiful Mind"), Ron Howard's professional and family life are recounted in exuberant detail in this engaging and informative presentation which is strongly recommended reading for his legions of fans.

A Song Of Faith And Hope
Frankie Freeman & Candace O'Connor
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Boulevard, Columbia, MO 65201
1883982413, $29.95, 1-800-828-1894

A Song Of Faith And Hope: The Life Of Frankie Muse Freeman is the fascinating memoir of a most remarkable African-American woman, who grew up in the Jim Crow era South and, upset at the injustice that surrounded her every day, became an effective St. Louis civil rights attorney who dedicated her personal and professional life to improving justice and equality for all, and which eventually earned her the distinction of being the first woman to be appointed to the U.S. Commission of Civil Rights. A stirring portrayal and highly recommended reading, A Song Of Faith And Hope is an invaluable contribution to personal and academic Black Studies collections.

Robert Emmet: A Life
Patrick M. Geoghegan
McGill-Queen's University Press
3430 McTavish Street, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3A 1X9
0773525424 $34.95 www.mqup.ca

Robert Emmet: A Life by Patrick M. Geoghegan (Lecturer in the Department of Modern History, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland) is an involving and detailed biography of the greatly romanticized Irish revolutionary. Robert Emmet's short life, passionate yet doomed love for Sarah Curran, his daring rebellion for Irish independence against the British, and his subsequent execution in 1803 formed the bases of both history and legend, leading W. B. Yeats to declare him the leading saint of Irish nationalism. A dramatic, detailed, and fascinating life story, Robert Emmet: A Life is a superb work of scholarship and an enthusiastically recommended contribution to Irish History.

Mercy Pilot
Dirk Tordoff
Epicenter Press
c/o Graphics Arts Center Publishing
PO Box 10306, Portland, OR 97210
0970849370 $17.95 1-800-950-6663

Mercy Pilot: The Joe Crosson Story is the amazing biography by Dirk Tordoff of one of the most outstanding bush pilots in North America. Here is the impressive story of Joe Crosson whose pioneer work in forging Alaskan air routes, his service in flying mercy missions (including a famous 1929 search in Siberian winter darkness for a lost pilot and friend Carl Ben Eielson) is terrific reading from beginning to end. Black-and-white photographs enrich the descriptive text of a great flyer's achievements in this captivating biographical portrait, which is also a very strongly recommended addition to personal and academic Aviation Studies supplemental reading lists.

This Fantastic Struggle
Lisa A. Miles
Creative Arts Book Company
833 Bancroft Way , Berkeley, CA 94710
0887394671 $18.00 1-800-848-7789

The life and art of Esther Phillips is revealed in This Fantastic Struggle: The Life And Art Of Esther Phillips, a collection of letters, interviews, scholarly analysis, and insights on what it meant to be an artist during the Depression years and thereafter. A gorgeous centerfold display of a selection of her works accompanies pages of detail which are intricate and insightful, filled with drama and facts. The result is a comprehensive coverage of a lesser-known artist who deserves a place in history.

Body Of Truth
Philip Callow
Ivan R. Dee, Inc. Publisher
1332 North Halsted Street, Chicago, IL 60622-2632
1566634946 $27.50 1-800-462-6420

In 1919 Lawrence arrived in Venice with a banned book to his name, living on very little and concerned with health problems. His last years in Venice were to include a relationship with Frieda and travels between America, Europe and England Body Of Truth: D.H. Lawrence, The Nomadic Years, 1919-1930 re-creates his movements and his nomadic years, and his eventual reconciliation with the literary world.

Edgar Rice Burroughs And Tarzan
Robert W. Fenton
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611, Jefferson NC 28640
078641393X $35.00 1-800-253-2187

The first biographical account of Edgar Rice Burroughs' life and published in 1967 under the title "The Big Swingers", Edgar Rice Burroughs And Tarzan: A Biography offers letters, documents, synopses, lists of characters and plots of themes used by Burroughs, and much, much more. A veritable treasure trove of information especially designed for devoted Burroughs readers and fans, Edgar Rice Burroughs And Tarzan provides a complete introduction to the life, work and commentaries of an enduringly popular writer whose work in fields as diverse as science fiction, romance, westerns, mysteries, and action/adventure continue to attract the admiration of new generations of readers. In addition to 66 photographs, readers will be treated to Burroughs observations on women's suffrage, prohibition, Hollywood morality, and the Scopes trial in Tennessee. If you've ever thrilled to the tales of Tarzan, John Carter of Mars, or any of the other memorable Burroughs characters, the read Edgar Rice Burroughs And Tarzan!


The Sports Shelf

Sports And Games Of The Ancients
Steve Craig
Greenwood Press
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
0313316007 $49.95 greenwood.com

The newest title in the outstanding "Sports and Games through History" series from Greenwood Press, Sports And Games Of The Ancients by sports historian Steve Craig is an amazing and painstakingly researched resource offering insights into the history of what was to evolve into modern-day sports and games. Many of the physical sports were practiced as much to emphasize survival skills as to relax and play. Ancient sports worldwide are discussed and evaluated in this adventurous and detailed repository filled with fascinating facts for true sports lovers. Also very highly recommended for sports history enthusiasts are the other two titles in this unique series: Sports And Games Of Medieval Cultures (0313317119, $49.95), and Sports And Games Of The 18th And 19th Centuries (0313316104, $49.95).

Women College Basketball Coaches
Rosemarie Skaine
McFarland & Company, Inc.
PO Box 611, Jefferson, NC 28640
www.authorsden.com/rosemarieskaine
0786409207 $28.50 1-800-253-2187

Women College Basketball Coaches by sociologist Rosemarie Skaine is an informed and informative study of the role women coaches play in the exciting and competitive arena of college basketball. From trends in program revenues, to statistical information concerning resource allocation, to the diversity of coaches and coaching styles, to college basketball game attendance, and more, Women College Basketball Coaches is a fact-filled, seminal, account of female influence in a widely popular collegiate sport. Enhanced with photos of the coaches, Women College Basketball Coaches is a welcome and highly recommended contribution to academic Sports History reference collections in general and especially commended to the attention of women's college basketball enthusiasts in particular.

Coaching Soccer
Giuliano Rusca
Reedswain Inc.
612 Pughtown Rd, Spring City PA 19475
www.reedswain.com
1890946311 $14.95 1-800-331-5191

Coaching Soccer: 6 To 10 Year Olds by experienced soccer coach Giuliano Rusca is a useful and "user friendly" guide to building motor and teamwork skills in young people. Yet the involving text quickly gives way to pages and pages of soccer play diagrams, sample drills for lessons, and tables to record athlete's performance. Simply put, Coaching Soccer is a "must-have" for any gym teacher, team coach or volunteer parent charged with the responsibility of teaching this increasingly popular team sport to young people.


The Money/Finance Shelf

Driving The Best Deal
Abbu Sayah, Director
Driving the Best Deal
www.drivingthebestdeal.com
0971823006 $19.95 www.amazon.com

Driving The Best Deal is an essential visual guide to getting the best deal possible on a car: it's a 42-minute video which imparts the basics of auto buying; from avoiding common negotiation pitfalls to obtaining the best deal on negotiations. The step-by-step tape covers all the financial and negotiation processes and explains to consumers how to remedy common buying problems. An important, clear visual instruction guide.


The Computer Shelf

Swing
Matthew Robinson & Pavel Vorobiev
Manning Publications Company
109 Vincent Ave., Lynbrook, NY 11563
193011088X $49.95 www.manning.com

Now in an updated and expanded second edition, Swing (the collaborative effort of software development experts Matthew Robinson and Pavel Vorobiev) is packed with over 400 pages of substantially revised text, new examples, and updated information specific to J2SE 1.4 and is successfully intended to be an all-inclusive resource for programmers looking to make the most of the Swing library for enhanced graphical user interface in their Java applications and software. Pages of examples, explanations, recommendations, step-by-step instructions and more make Swing a definitive self-teaching aid and resource for intermediate to advanced level programmers.

Computer Graphics For Architects, Engineers, And Environmental Designers
D. Dayton Reuter
Allworth Press
10 E. 53rd St. #510, NY, NY 10010
1581152426, $35.00 1-800-491-2808

D. Dayton Reuter's Computer Graphics For Architects, Engineers, And Environmental Designers blends a reference with a text on how to apply computer graphics to designs. Find answers to common challenges quickly, using both the CD ROM attached and the applied information on contracts, formats, and design.

The Art Of Interactive Design
Chris Crawford
No Starch Press
555 De Haro St., Suite 250, San Francisco, CA 94107
1886411840 $29.95 www.nostarch.com

Accessibly written by experienced game developer and lecturer Chris Crawford, The Art Of Interactive Design is a superbly presented software designer's guide to crafting more practical and functional interactive software. Individual chapters aptly focus on methods and metaphors for creating algorithms, language design, practical and innovative advice for adaptable anthropomorphization, advice for avoiding common mistakes, and a great deal more. The Art Of Interactive Design is an excellent instructional guide, an informative overview, and a "must-have" supplement for personal and professional interactive computer programming reference shelves.

Java Oracle
David J. Gallardo
Prentice Press
c/o Addison-Wesley Professional
75 Arlington Street, Boston, MA 02116
0130462187 $49.99 www.phptr.com

Java Oracle: Database Development by independent software consultant David J. Gallardo is a straightforward, hands-on guide for intermediate-level Java users seeking to learn the Oracle database technology (covering both Oracle 8i and 9i), and wanting perform database work quickly and efficiently. Presenting means to compare, contrast, and integrate Java and Oracle database technologies, with especial focus upon JDBC 2.0 and JDBC 3.0, Java Oracle a solid instructional tool and a core Java and Oracle user reference shelf addition.

Preventative Programming Techniques
Brian Hawkins
Charles River Media
20 Downer Avenue, Suite 3, Hingham, MA 02043
1584502576 $44.95 1-800-382-8505

Examples in standard C++ and Java code fill the pages of computer programming expert Brian Hawkins' Preventative Programming Techniques: Avoid And Correct Common Mistakes, a thoroughly "user friendly" guide filled from cover to cover with solid general wisdom for programmers who work in all computer languages. From being wary of premature optimization; to avoiding making one's code to complex or too simple; to learning the most efficient and effective code documentation; and so much more, Preventative Programming Techniques is a truly first-rate resource and self-teaching tool for becoming a more skilled programmer. An accompanying CD-ROM contains examples and sample programs.

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

Now in an updated and expanded second edition, Richard Waymire and Rick Sawtell's Sams Teach Yourself Microsoft SQL Server 2000 in 21 Days (0672324695, $39.99, 800 pages, Beginner-to-Intermed-iate level) will clearly define and walk the reader through the features of SQL Server 2000. The reader will be given tips and tricks for working within the new SQL Server 2000 product environment as well as working with SQL Server databases. Sams Teach Yourself Microsoft SQL Server 2000 in 21 Days features information on creating and altering databases; managing security and implement permissions; protecting, backing-up, and restoring data; enforcing and ensuring data integrity: modifying and manipulating data; creating views, triggers, functions and stored procedures. The new fourth edition of JavaScript Unleashed by J. Allen Wyke and Jason Gilliam (067-2324318, $49.99, 816 pages, Intermediate-to-Advanced) serves as a complete reference to the JavaScript language for the experienced programmer as well as a guide for developing JavaScript applications from the ground up for the beginner who's new to JavaScript but familiar with other programming languages. Over the years JavaScript has solidified its position as the de facto standard in Web site scripting-even Microsoft uses JavaScript on its Web sites. And the capabilities of JavaScript have gradually been extended to the server-side and to third-party products. JavaScript can be used in both Microsoft's .NET environment and Windows Script Host, and Adobe Web development products are beginning to use JavaScript as their built-in scripting language.

End-To-End DSL Architectures
Wayne Vermillion, editor
Cisco Press
201 West 103rd Street, Indianapolis, IN 46290-1097
1587050870 $60.00 ciscopress.com

Compiled and edited by technology knowledge transfer expert and specialist Wayne Vermillion, End-To-End DSL Architectures is a straightforward guide to exploiting Digital Subscriber Line services to save time and money in one's business software architecture. Individual chapters address the basics of DSL technology, advice for planning the evolution of one's network, guidelines for implementing DSL technology anywhere in any network, step-by-step instructions, a wealth of information specific to all DSL varieties around the world, all six architectures that implement DSL with TCP/IP, solutions to common problems and much more. Enhanced with "bonus appendixes" providing an overview of ATM as well as a tour of Cisco Long-Reach Ethernet, End-To-End DSL Architectures is a highly recommended instructional resource and reference.

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

Two new and outstanding titles from Que Publishing are especially commended for their "user friendly" presentations. Codeguru.com Visual C++ Goodies (0789727-773, $39.99) by the INT Media Group is the key source of beginner to advanced Visual C++ information for top professional developers. As a service to CodeGuru.com members and the programming public, Codeguru.com Visual C++ Goodies has been pulled together from the top-rated articles and postings to provide easy-to-use and east-to-reference code, commentary and quick fixes. Coverage includes both Visual C++ 6 and .NET, as most programmers are still using the older version of the language for day-to-day work. The CD-ROM is a valuable resource tool for developers to find the code they need and copy it into their applications, all royalty-free. Now in a completely updated and expanded sixth edition, The Winn L. Rosch Hardware Bible by Winn Rosch (0789728591, $39.99) provides an completely accessible background on how things work, puts competing technologies, standards, and products in perspective, and serves as a reference that provides quick answers for common computer and technology questions. The Winn L. Rosch Hardware Bible also functions as a buying guide, telling not only what to buy, but why. It also lays the foundation for upgrading or repairing a computer, but stops short of the step-by-step mechanics of the process. Some new features in this sixth edition include rewritable DVD technology as well as Blu-ray Discs, wireless networking including 802.11a and 802.11b, Bluetooth wireless communications, and extended coverage of digital cameras, scanners, and telecommunications. The Winn L. Rosch Hardware Bible targets a general, consumer-level audience to provide a reference for common questions about computers and technology, history and background on technology, and to serve as a buyer's guide.

Software Fortresses
Roger Sessions
Addison-Wesley Professional
75 Arlington Street, Boston, MA 02116
0321166086 $34.99 awprofessional.com

Deftly written by enterprise software architectures expert Roger Sessions, Software Fortresses: Modeling Enterprise Architectures is an indispensable instructional and reference guide for advanced software engineers to the software fortress model of forging large enterprise systems. In this model, enterprise architecture is viewed as self-contained, mutually suspicious fortresses that interact through carefully crafted treaty relationships. Straightforward text, charts, questions and answers, and a great deal more, enhance the value and utility of Software Fortresses, making it a solid "must-read" for anyone looking to study and assimilate this particular methodology.

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

Three New Rider titles are especially recommended for website designer instructional reference collections. Integrated Web Design: Building The New Breed Of Designer & Developer by Molly E. Holzschlag (0735712336, $39.99) draws on the authors background and career as a web designer by creating a book long overdue for developers and designers. Because web site designers are expected to be both graphically gifted and technically savvy, this book discusses artistic and technical concepts in web design separately, and then merges them together both conceptually and through examples. Submit Now: Designing Persuasive Web Sites By Andrew Chak (0735711704, $35.00) shows what it takes to design a site so browsers become buyers: the ultimate measurement of success for an e-commerce site. By examining how customers search, evaluate, and make decisions realistically, this do-it-yourself manual provides a simplified description of the essential process necessary for designing a site that gets visitors to click. Designing CSS Web Pages by Christopher Schmitt(0735712638, $29.99) documents that the ability to use CSS is fast becoming a vital tool in the web professional's toolkit -- but using it requires a new way of thinking when it comes to building web pages. Designing CSS Web Pages encourages web designers to look at the perceived limitations of the web as a new challenge to their design skills--without relying on HTML for presentation of pages.

Garth Gardner Publishing
2545 Sandbourne Ln, Herndon VA 20171

Garth Gardner's Computer Graphics & Animation Dictionary (1589650050, $24.95) offers short definitions of production terms used by visual effects and animation pros, packing in hundreds of phrases and words. Both promise lasting value as references for the industry. Gardner's Web Design Sketchbook (1589650093, $24.95) is recommended more for the individual user than for a library lending setting: its wire spiral binding makes it less sturdy than the lending public would require, with no spine lettering; while its scores of worksheets and blank pages invite fill-in usage. Web designers will find this an essential drawing book for the planning and organizing of Web pages, providing a template of clients, projects, and images and links which are easy for fill-in use and organization during the planning process. All are fine guides.

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

Three outstanding computer software titles from McGraw-Hill deserve special mention and strong recommendation. Oracle 9iAS Building J2EE Applications by Nirva Morisseau-Leroy (0072226145; 544 pages; $59.99) focuses exclusively on developing J2EE applications with the Oracle9i Application Server, this "user friendly instructional reference ably provides coverage of Java Servlets, Java ServerPages (JSPs), JavaBeans, Web Services, SOAP, WSDL, UDDI - and much more. Mac OS X Jaguar: The Complete Reference by Jesse Feiler (0072227893; $39.99; 912 pages) gives a thorough run-down of the OS X operating system and the Aqua interface, and explains essential system protocols, storage technologies, Internet and Ethernet performance, data protection, new UNIX tools, security features, networking capabilities, and much more. Hacker's Challenge 2: Test Your Network Security & Forensic Skills (007-2226307; $39.99; 352 pages) by Mike Schiffman, Adam J. O'Donnell, Bill Pennington, & David Pollino features brand-new, real-life security incidents, with an accessible text that provides security administrators the opportunity to examine several scenarios and gain insight into intruders' thought processes. Each challenge in Part I unfolds like a chapter from a novel and is followed by a series of questions for the reader. Part II presents detailed explanations of exactly what happened in each incident and the answers to the questions posed in Part I, along with prevention and mitigation tips.

Loosely Coupled
Doug Kaye
RDS Press
113 Terrace Avenue, Kentfield, CA 94904
1881378241 $39.99 www.rdspress.com

Loosely Coupled: The Missing Pieces Of Web Services by Doug Kaye (CEO of RDS Strategies, LLC) is a 352-page instructional guide for advanced website developers and programmers to learning more about topics such as transactions, security, reliable asynchronous messaging, and more. While Loosely Coupled does not cover the basics of web services, such as creating source code or XML fragments; it is a first-rate resource for extending the capabilities of a website designer to taking their website projects to the next level.

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

Two new Osborne/McGraw-Hill titles deserve special commendaton and recommendations for personal and professional computer reference collections. Oracle9i Mobile (007222455X; 624 pages: $49.99) by Alan Yeung, Philip Stephenson, & Nicholas Pang shows how to design, deploy, and manage flexible mobile applications on the Oracle platform. From the exclusive publishers of Oracle Press books, this resource explains how to use and extend the mobile services available in Oracle9iAS Wireless and integrate with other Oracle technologies. Mobilize any e-business, reach new customers, and deliver critical information to mobile users with the most scalable and reliable mobile infrastructure available. Windows XP Professional: The Complete Reference (0072-22665X; $49.99; 960 pages) by Guy Hart-Davis covers intermediate to advanced features of Windows XP Professional for corporate and small networks and shows how XP Professional fits into large, domain-based networks running on Windows 2000 Server or Windows.NET Server. Explains how to configure the operating system centrally, how to work with XP Professional as a network client, and more.

Unix
Deborah S. Ray & Eric J. Ray
Peachpit Press, Inc.
1249 Eighth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
0321170105 $21.99 www.peachpit.com

Now in an updated and expanded second edition, Unix is a Peachpit Press "Visual QuickStart Guide" that relies heavily on pictures and examples to quickly instruct users in the basics of operating in Unix, from creating and editing files to writing simple scripts, sending and receiving email, accessing the internet, and much more. The collaborative effort of Unix computer experts Deborah S. Ray and Eric J. Ray, Unix is an extremely easy-to-follow reference highly recommended for non-specialist general readers seeking to learn about and acquire a familiarity with the Unix environment.

Java Performance Tuning
Jack Shirazi
O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
1005 Gravenstein, Hwy N., Sebastopol, CA 95472-2811
0596003773 $44.95 1-800-998-9938

Now in an updated second edition that covers Java SDK 1.4 and J2EE performance tuning, Java Performance Tuning: Efficient & Effective Tuning Strategies by Java programming expert Jack Shirazi is a solid and superbly presented instructional resource and reference for advanced computer programmers wanting to improving their Java program performances, ranging from optimizing input/output routines, to speeding up servlets, to making the most of profiling tools, to searching out program bottlenecks, to applying appropriate sorting and other algorithms, and much, much more. A solid and comprehensive guide offering plenty of examples and sample code in addition to the well-reasoned text, Java Performance Tuning is an ideal and strongly recommended addition to any Java user's reference personal or professional reference collection.


The Political Science Shelf

The Tao Of Democracy
Tom Atlee
The Co-Intelligence Institute
PO Box 493, Eugene, OR 97440
www.taoofdemocracy.com
193213347X $15.95 1-541-683-3823

Tom Atlee's The Tao Of Democracy: Using Co-Intelligence To Create A World That Works For All offers the reader a positive viewpoint on and for creating a democracy founded upon wisdom, citizen participation, a culture of dialogue, and in an harmonious balance that encourages the best in people. A thoughtful and philosophical work written specifically to stave off the impending self-destructive side of current civilization, The Tao Of Democracy is recommended reading for students of Political Science and Philosophy.


The Buddhist Studies Shelf

The Wheel Of Time Sand Mandala
Barry Bryant
Snow Lion Publications/NBN dist.
PO Box 6483, Ithaca, NY 14851
1559391871 $24.95 1-800-950-0313

Written by Barry Bryant in full cooperation with the Namgyal Monastery, and featuring a forward by the XIV Dalai Lama, The Wheel Of Time Sand Mandala: Visual Scripture Of Tibetan Buddhism is a welcome and informative introduction to the creation of the Kalachakra Sand Mandala (also known as the Wheel of Time), an act done by monks of Tibetan Buddhism for the purpose of promoting worldwide peace and healing. Black-and-white illustrations, along with a brief selection of color photographs, enhance this captivating and very highly recommended account.

Buddhism: A Concise Introduction
Huston Smith and Philip Novak
Harper SanFrancisco
353 Sacramento Street, Suite 500, San Francisco, CA 94111-3653
www.harpercollins.com/sanfran
0060506962 $18.95 www.amazon.com

The collaborative effort of world religion expert Huston Smith and Philip Novak (Professor of Philosophy and Religion, Dominican University, San Rafael, California), Buddhism: A Concise Introduction offers a straightforward summary of the origins and faith of Buddhism, beginning with the life of the Buddha, and then tracing the spread of Buddhism -- including its increasing presence and influence in the West. From the distinctions between Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism, to Pure Land, Zen, and Tibetan Buddhism, to diversity in American Buddhism, and much, much more, Buddhism: A Concise Introduction showcases the variety and tradition of this world class faith and aptly presents Buddhist teachings, philosophy, and history for interested non-specialist general readers of all backgrounds.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

The Author's Toolkit
Mary Embree
Allworth Press
10 East 23rd St., #210, NY, NY 10010
1581152604 $16.95 1-800-491-2808

The Author's Toolkit: A Step-By-Step Guide To Writing And Publishing Your Book offers beginners a handy basic reference to writing a book; from nurturing initial ideas and changing them to first drafts to creating a polished, finished work and understanding publishing options. No prior familiarity with the writing world is assumed, making this a perfect introduction for beginners.

How To Write Killer Fiction
Carolyn Wheat
Perseverance/John Daniel
Box 21922, Santa Barbara, CA 93121
1880284626 $13.95 1-800-662-8351

Writing is about creating a memorable experience for the reader: it's a shame most writers haven't learned this art, but Wheat's intention is to identify the emotions a writer can foster in pursuit of this experience. Whether it's a mystery, novel, or a thriller, How To Write Killer Fiction tells how to create emotional excitement and how to craft a work of fiction to make it unforgettable. An essential guide.

How To Become A Fulltime Freelance Writer
Michael A. Banks
The Writer Books/Kalmbach Pub., dist.
PO Box 1612 , Waukesha, WI 53187
0871161974 $16.95 1-800-533-6644

How To Become A Fulltime Freelance Writer: A Practical Guide To Setting Up A Writing Business At Home by professional author Michael A. Banks is a straightforward and practical guide to earning a living by writing full-time. Individual chapters address the skills and character traits necessary to supporting oneself through writing, financial planning for writers, relationships with agents and editors, sources of extra income, and much, much more in this well-thought-out compendium that should be required reading for all aspiring writers who hope to establish themselves professionally.

The American Directory Of Writer's Guidlines
Brigitte M. Phillips, et al.
Quill Driver Books
1831 Industrial Way, Sanger CA 93657
188495619X $27.95 1-800-497-4909

Now in its third edition, The American Directory Of Writer's Guidelines: A Compilation Of Information For Freelancers From More Than 1,400 Magazine Editors And Book Publishers collaboratively compiled by Brigitte M. Phillips, Susan D. Klassen, and Doris Hall, gathers together a massive host of submission guidelines that freelance writers can follow to get their work published in magazines and books across America. Featuring more than 1,000 periodical publishers and more than 400 book publishers, The American Directory Of Writer's Guidelines is an easy-to-use, quick accessible resource, and a "must-have" for freelance writers who seek to maximize their efforts to be professionally published and paid.

Television Scriptwriting
Marilyn Webber
Garth Gardner Company Publishing
2545 Sandbourne Ln, Herndon, VA 20171
1589650042 $26.95 GoGardner.com

Television Scriptwriting: The Writer's Road Map by Marilyn Webber is a highly practical guide to the art of writing viable, intelligent, and commercially marketable television shows and scripts. Whether attempting to turn ideas into a television series, or a seeking to earn a living as a professional writer in the exciting and dynamic medium of television, Television Scriptwriting: The Writer's Road Map is a first-rate and highly recommended resource (especially for the novice with no prior experience) featuring basic information, pitfalls to be aware of, useful checklists, and much, much more.

Beginning Radio-TV Newswriting
K. Tim Wulfemeyer
Iowa State University Press
2121 State Avenue, Ames, IA 50014-8300
0813828708 $24.99 1-800-862-6657

Now in its fourth edition, Beginning Radio-TV Newswriting: A Self-Instructional Learning Experience by Tim Wulfemeyer is a solid primer on the basic ins and outs of writing professionally for radio and television. News terms, sample writing assignments, examples, tips, tricks, techniques, and more make Beginning Radio-TV Newswriting a an invaluable instructional reference for anyone with an interest in entering this exciting and specialized field of writing. Also very strongly recommended is Tim Wulfemeyer's accompanying text, Radio-TV Newswriting: A Workbook, 2nd Edition (0813829097, $29.99).

Home Publishing
David Hoye
Techno Publishing/Level Press
227 SW Fourth Ave Gainesville FL 32601
0970245149 $19.95 1-352-264-8100

Home Publishing: How To Print, Bind, Publish And Sell Your Book For The Cost Of Paper, Ink, & Glue is a practical and solid guide to making hundreds of professional-quality copies of one's own book. This thoroughly "user friendly" how-to guide was itself home-published, at the cost to the author and home publisher of 87 cents per copy (and in this context, note it's $19.95 cover price!), and is as presentable as any other trade paperback designed for aspiring self-published authors. An included CD-ROM offers forms for letters and address labels, in addition to this book's instructions for greatly reducing the cost of a self-publishing venture. An excellent instructional guide and reference, Home Publishing offers a complete do-it-yourself course of action worth exploring for anyone seeking to profitably publish their own work.


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

Trophy Husband
Steve Brewer
University of New Mexico Press
1720 Lomas Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87131-1591
0826329209 $21.95 1-800-249-7737

Author Steve Brewer is one of more than 20 million Americans who work from home. As a novelist and father, Brewer writes a column on telecommuting challenges and parenting which brings to life the many issues of the work-at-home with more than a light touch of humor. Trophy Husband: A Survival Guide To Working At Home is very highly recommended reading for househusbands and the growing legions of men who telecommute to their jobs.

Choice Points
Sydney Rice
Davies-Black Publishing
3803 E. Bayshore Rd Palo Alto CA 94303
0891061738 $20.95 1-800-624-1765

Choice Points: Navigate Your Career Using The Unique PaperRoom Process by professional business coach, consultant and trainer Sydney Rice (founder and president of The Boston Coaching Company) is a superbly organized and presented self-help guide written to aid readers in navigating their ideal career path. Personal inquiry exercises to better understand oneself, one's talents, and one's goals, are blended with solid advice for reviewing and presenting one's past work experience, tips tricks and techniques for pursuing serious career advancement. Choice Points is strongly recommended as an methodical and integrative career planning guide.


The Business Shelf

Finding Money For Your Small Business
Max Fallek & Kris Solie-Johnson
American Institute of Small Business
7515 Wayzata Blvd., Suite 129, Minneapolis, MN 55426
0939069725 $24.95 www.aisb.biz

Finding Money For Your Small Business showcases more than 50 different sources of funding for small business enterprises. These include banks, grants, commercial loan companies, the Small Business Administration, as well as many non-traditional sources. If you need capital for your small business venture, then you need a copy of Finding Money For Your Small Business!

Blended Learning
Kaye Thorne
Kogan Page
22883 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling VA 20166-2012
0749439017 $24.95 kogan-page.co.uk

Blended Learning: How To Integrate Online And Traditional Learning by Kaye Throne (organizational development specialists and the Founder of "The Inspiration Network") is a timely and authoritative guide to the latest trend in workplace training in the wake of the on-going digital revolution. Diverse ways to incorporate online learning with assimilation through more traditional teaching techniques make for a handy and well-rounded guide which is particular recommended for anyone responsible for corporate sponsored and/or governmentally authorized organizing training programs.

Super Searchers On Madison Avenue
Grace Villamora & Reva Basch
Information Today
143 Old Marlton Pike, Medford NJ 08055
0910965633 $24.95 1-800-300-9868

Others books have focused on research pros who work in various fields; Super Searchers On Madison Avenue tackles those who function in the advertising and marketing world, using interviews with researchers who find and analyze information for fueling new product launches and ad campaigns. Especially intriguing are case histories showing how successful researchers made the change from traditional careers to being an online researcher.

St. Benedict's Rule For Business Success
Quentin R. Skrabec, Jr.
Purdue University Press
South Campus Courts, Building E
509 Harrison St., West Lafayete IN 47907
1557532540 $21.95 thepress.purdue.edu

More than 1500 years ago, St. Benedict created a Rule to organize the Roman Catholic monastic communities of Europe. Now in St. Benedict's Rule For Business Success, Quentin R. Skrabec Jr. has adapted the Benedictine Rule to apply to entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and business managers by offering them an approach to the eliminations of negativity in their organizations; develop teamwork; utilize cooperative advantages; integrate work and spirituality, become more self-actualized; and constructively build an enduring knowledge-creating enterprise.

CRM For The Common Man
Russ Lombardo
PEAK Sales Consulting
8205 Wooden Windmill Court, Las Vegas, NV 89131
www.PeakSalesConsulting.com
0972826300 $24.95

Written by sales trainer and CRM specialist Russ Lombardo (President of the Las Vegas-based organizational consulting firm PEAK Sales Consulting), CRM For The Common Man is not a detailed or a technical guide - rather it focuses upon general strategies thematically appropriate for successful Customer Relations Management within the structure of commercial business practices. Pragmatic advice, illustrative anecdotes, and sound logic fill the pages of this excellent and eye-opening guide specifically written with the big corporate picture firmly in mind.

The Restaurant Manager's Handbook
Douglas Robert Brown
Atlantic Publishing Group, Inc.
1210 SW 23rd Place, Ocala, FL 34474-7014
0910627096 $79.95 1-800-541-1336

Now in a completely revised and thoroughly updated third edition, The Restaurant Manager's Handbook: How To Set Up, Operate And Manage A Financially Successful Food Service Operation by Douglas Robert Brown is a solid, no-nonsense, all-encompassing curriculum to teaching oneself the basics of the restaurant business. An exhaustive compendium of step-by-step instructions, advice, checklists, legal issues, as well as encompassing an extensive listing of state restaurant associations (and so much more!) fill the pages of this "must-have" reference for anyone with a serious and dedicated interest in the dynamics of food service oriented small business ownership. A companion CD-ROM with printable versions of all the handy and useful sample forms is included.


The International Studies Shelf

Factional Politics In Post-Khomeini Iran
Mehdi Moslem
Syracuse University Press
621 Skytop Road, Suite 110, Syracuse, NY 13244-5290
http://sumweb.syr.edu/su_press/
0815629788 $29.95 www.amazon.com

Factional Politics In Post-Khomeini Iran by Mehdi Moslem (Research Associate, Oriental Institute, Oxford University) is an insightful and revealing survey and analysis of Iran's modern political history, focusing especially on the landslide victory of President Mohammad Khatami and the ensuing struggle between reformers and the entrenched conservative religionists. Competing ideologies, and practical issues versus a sometimes dangerous conflict are cogently outlined in this informative account. Factional Politics In Post-Khomeini Iran is an important and strongly recommended addition to Middle East Studies in general, and contemporary Iranian political history reading lists in particular.

Defiance And Compliance
Heba El-Kholy
Berghahn Books
604 West 115th Street, New York, NY 10025
1571813918 $25.00 1-800-540-8663

The thirteenth volume in the outstanding "New Directions In Anthropology" series from Berghahn Books, Defiance And Compliance: Negotiating Gender In Low-Income Cairo by Heba El-Kholy (Policy Advisor at the University Nations Development Program, New York) is a collection of insightful observations and cogent interviews derived from the residents of four low-income neighborhoods in Cairo, Egypt. Focusing in particular on the pressures and struggles of indigent women striving to make ends meet in a labor market that frequently discriminates against them, Defiance And Compliance is commended as being a thoughtful and thought-provoking survey which offers much-needed insights on economic ramifications and their lasting effects.

Behind The Invasion Of Iraq
Research Unit for Political Economy
Monthly Review Press
New York University Press, dist.
122 West 27th Street, NY, NY 10001
1583670939 $9.95 monthlyreview.org

The collaborative effort of the Research Unit For Political Economy, Behind The Invasion Of Iraq is a sharply focused and informatively critical look at America's motives for launching the invasion of a Saddam Houssain and Baath Party dominated Iraq. Taking into account Iraq's history and relationship with the West, within the context of modern-day economic crises and strategic agendas for staging an invasion, Behind The Invasion Of Iraq is commended as being a sober, carefully researched and immediately relevant treatise -- especially now that the national debate has moved on to post-invasion reconstruction issues and a growing possibility of collateral invasion of Syria.


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

Peculia
Richard Sala
Fantagraphics Books/NBN, dist.
7563 Lake City Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115
1560974958 $12.95 1-800-657-1100

Imaginatively written and deftly drawn by Richard Sala, Peculia is a unique and highly recommended black-and-white graphic novel that connects the bizarre adventures of a truly unusual girl from the comic book series "Evil Eye." The plucky young lady confronts witches, madmen, evil children, and other denizens of the macabre in this tongue-in-cheek, distinctively drawn, and succinctly presented collection.

NBM
555 8th Ave. #1202, NY, NY 10018
http://nbmpublishing.com

Two outstanding graphic novels are highly recommended picks: very different from your usual modern thriller, and intriguing in their choices and presentations. Patrick Atangan's The Yellow Jar (1561633313, $12.95) presents the first volume in a coverage of Atangan's graphic Japanese works, using two tales from the Japanese tradition to embellish the 'floating pictures' style. A very different graphic novel approach. Stephane Heuet adapts Marcel Proust's classic Remembrance Of Things Past Part 2: Within A Budding Grove (1561633429, $16.95), continuing the unusual, stunning juxtaposition of literary imagist Proust with the graphic novel format. This is a beautiful pairing of wordplay and graphic novel and should not be missed. Both are unique, exceptional presentations.


The Martial Arts Shelf

Classical T'ai Chi Sword
Petra Kobayashi, et al.
Charles Tuttle
364 Innovation Dr. N. Clarendon VT 05759
0804834482 $18.95 www.amazon.com

The collaborative effort of Petra Kobayashi, Toyo Kobayashi, Chiang Tao Chi, and Petra, Classical T'ai Chi Sword blends martial arts insights with an exercise program which should appeal to a wide audience of martial arts students. These special exercises use a sword, staff or saber and provide keys to understanding a form which is growing beyond its tai chi roots. A specialized, excellent guide for the devoted martial arts student interested in exploring all forms.


The Nautical Shelf

The Way Of A Ship
Derek Lundy
The Ecco Press
10 E. 53rd St., New York NY 10022
0066210127 $25.95 www.amazon.com

The Way Of A Ship: A Square-rigger Voyage In The Last Days Of Sail recreates a sea voyage on one of the last merchant sailing ships near the close of the 19th century, and provides a satisfying blend of historical reconstruction, fictional narrative, and focus on seamanship. It's hard to easily categorize this account: The Way Of A Ship reads like fiction but couples such with rich historical detail, resulting in a multi-faceted guide.

Confessions Of A Boatbuilder
James Douglas Rosborough
Sheridan House, Inc.
145 Palisade Street, Dobbs Ferry, New York 10522
1574091271 $16.50 sheridanhouse.com

Confessions Of A Boatbuilder is the autobiography of Nova Scotia boatbuilder James (Doug) Rosborough, whose nautical design endeavors have included the construction over 150 sea-worthy vessels in the 1940s and 1950s, -- most of them schooners. Of special interest are the personal insights Rosoborugh provides into the professional life of a skilled designer who was able to build seaworthy craft until the wooden boat-building industry petered out as a result of changing economics and the introduction of such boat-building materials as fiberglass and aluminum. Confessions Of A Boatbuilder is a unique and highly recommended contribution to personal, academic, and community library Nautical History collections.


The Science Fiction Shelf

Ace Books
375 Hudson St., New York NY 10014

This publisher's many different titles offering science fiction and fantasy to suit all types of readers, and these are some top picks from their latest releases. Kevin Randle's Signals (0441010393, $5.99) introduces Book 1 of the 'Exploration Chronicles' series, a four-part series which follows the discovery of intelligent life in the universe. Be prepared for an adventure which won't be completed until the last addition to the set, and action which just doesn't quit. James Blaylock's 13 Phantasms (0441010148, $14.00) provides a fantasy collection of short stories diverse in topic and scope; from an alien's influence on a typical American neighborhood to one man's special gardening challenges. John Varley's Red Thunder (0441010156, $23.95) tells of the end of the US space program and the probable landing of the Chinese on Mars first until a band of suburban misfits construct a ragtag spaceship to challenge them. These diverse publications will offer something for everyone.

Lord Of Rings: Art Of Two Towers
Gary Russell
Houghton Mifflin
215 Park Avenue, NY, NY 10003
0618331301 $35.00 1-800-225-3362

This keepsake edition for fans of the "Two Towers" movie packs in gorgeous full-page color plates depicting the art of the film. From the process of model-making based on drawings by Tolkien illustrators to costuming and the making of new visual designs, Lord Of Rings: Art Of Two Towers is packed with beautiful works and insights into their creation and origins. Very highly recommended.

A Tolkien Compass
Jared Lobdell, Editor
Open Court Publishing Company
332 S. Michigan Ave. #1100, Chicago, IL 60604-4434
0875483038 $15.95 opencourtbooks.com

Fans of Tolkien and his fantasy will thrill to A Tolkien Compass, a handbook which provides reflections on his political, religious, and psychological principles. Ten writers explore these concepts, offering very different backgrounds of expertise and approaches to Tolkien's art. The result is a literary analysis excellent in its scope.

DAW Books
375 Hudson St., NY, NY 10014

Martin Greenberg and Larry Segriff edit Future Wars (0756401291, $6.99), a powerful collection of short science fiction war stories which covers some of the finest in contemporary novels. Here ten fine writers survey the future conflicts and technological challenges which may change the face of war in the future. Julie Czerneda's Hidden In Sight (0756401-399, $6.99) is recommended for prior readers of the 'Web Shifters' series: Book 3 continues the story of Esen-alit-Quar, the youngest member of a destroyed Web who together with her human friend have newly established lives in a new web they have built. It's up to them to respond to a new threat to their community in this fine account. Irene Radford's Guardian Of The Promise (0756400783, $24.95) presents Book 4 of the 'Merlin's Descendants' series, but stands alone as well as a fine fantasy of Merlin's England. Descendants of Merlin and Arthur find themselves in a dangerous world where twins fall heir to a promise of leadership and duty, in a world which is facing new challenges. The fantasy is fast-paced and involving. Steven Silver and Martin Greenberg's Wonderous Beginnings (0756400-988, $6.99) is perhaps the most intriguing, offering works which began the careers of such notable writers as Murray Leinster, Arthur C. Clarke, and Gene Wolfe. Accompanied by short insights on these writers' reactions to their first published works, these are powerful, exciting stories packed with variety and action.

Baen Books
PO Box 1403, Riverdale, NY 10471

James Hogan's Genesis Machine (07434-35974, $6.99) tells of the ultimate weapon produced by a dedicated young math physicist whose passion for science leads to a dangerous potential for war. It's up to Clifford and his colleagues to create something other than a super-weapon in this intriguing blend of hard science and military science fiction. David Weber's Empire From The Ashes (0743435931, $25.00) combines a wry sense of humor with a swiftly-changing plot as a USDN commander finds a simple training mission leads to the discovery that Earth's moon is actually an alien starship in disguise. Zany conflict ensues in a satisfying action-packed plot.

Golden Gryphon Press
3002 Perkins Rd., Urbana, IL 61802

Over thirty years of Harry Waldrop's short story writing has produced collaborations from five short story collections which have purposely been withheld from prior collections in order to create this special volume, Custer's Last Jump (1930846-134, $24.95). The result is an outstanding blend of speculative fiction, science fiction and fantasy which has not seen anthology form in past, each of which enjoys a funny introduction by Waldrop. The diverse plots and action make these exciting and quite original winners a powerful gathering recommended for any science fiction reader. Lucius Shepard's Louisiana Breakdown (1930846142, $21.95) is a complex and intriguing fantasy piece which tells of a strange bar where odd green drinks and a newcomer bring a strange blend of chance and good fortune to the bar-hopping hopers. Blend a fast-paced fantasy with a solid mix of Louisiana country humor and psychological tension and you have an intriguing story indeed.

ROC Books
375 Hudson, New York NY 10014

Alan Troop's Dragon Moon (0451459-202, $6.50) tells of a lonely man who longs for a mate to fill the void left by his wife's death. He settles on his wife's younger sister, but must travel to wild Jamaica to gain her; once there making some discoveries about the unusual world she inhabits. Nancy Kress edits the Nebula Awards Showcase 2003 (0451459091, $14.95), providing a highly-rated colelction of award-winning short stories by James Patrick Kelly, Mike Resnick, and other notables. If it's a limited amount of science fiction shorts you have time to read this year, make it this award-winning collection: it won't disappoint.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

The White Road
John Connolly
Atria Books
1230 Ave. of Americas, NY NY 10020
0743456386 $25.00 www.amazon.com

In The White Road, Detective Charlie Parker has finally gotten over the suffering of his wife and daughter's murders, and is awaiting the birth of his first child by his lover Rachel, when he finds himself defending a young black man accused of raping his white girlfriend, the daughter of a powerful Southern millionaire. When he agrees to take on the case he finds nightmares from the past re-surfacing in this tense thriller.

Berkeley Prime Crime
375 Hudson St., NY, NY 10014

Lyn Hamilton's latest archaeological mystery Thai Amulet (0425190064, $22.95) takes place in Bangkok and tells of a search for a missing antiques dealer. Lara is supposedly on vacation from investigating; but armed only with a fifty-year old mystery and some broken amulets, she finds herself involved in a strange inquiry which takes her from the urban streets to the back country of Thailand in this fast-paced, involving mystery. Laurell K. Hamilton's Cerulean Sins (0425188361, $22.95) provides a fascinating blend of mystery and fantasy as Anita Blake, vampire hunter, embarks on her latest challenges. A wild love life between a vampire and a leopard shapeshifter tests her desires and her ability to stay human in this fast-paced story.


The Antiques/Collectibles Shelf

2003 Standard Catalog Of Basketball Cards
Krause Publications
700 E. State St., Iola WI 54990
0873494741 $21.95 1-800-258-0929

Now in a completely updated sixth edition, 2003 Standard Catalog Of Basketball provides the latest prices and photos to over 155,000 basketball cards, including thousands of sets from all top manufacturers from 1948 to modern times. Don't anticipate the glitzy color of competitors who fall short on the facts: 2003 Standard Catalog Of Basketball is a price guide 'bible' and packs in plenty of pricing details along with small, black and white photos of selected cards. Highly recommended as a basic reference for the basketball card collector.

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

These new titles are outstanding specialty picks for collectors seeking concrete price guides and references. Lar Hothem's Indian Artifacts Of The Midwest Book V (1574323261, $24.95) is simply packed with color photos from end to end and is a highly recommended, essential guide for any gathering Indian artifacts of the region. This covers different blades, points, and pieces in both public and private collections. A specialty item but worth every penny to the Indian artifact collector. Over ten years of auction results from 1990-2002 are gathered in Treadway Gallery's Rookwood Pottery (1574323318, $39.95), also packed with color photos, descriptions of pottery, and the latest prices. Enough detail shows in these photos to lend to quick identification. Sydney Ann Sutton and Patsy Moyer's Scouting Dolls Through The Years (1574323334, $19.95) provides color photos throughout of changing scouting doll art. Accompanied by extensive written description, this will prove a 'must' for any collecting scouting paraphernalia, and includes a good bit of history of each creation. Carnival glass is a popular and often-seen collectible, making the pocket edition of Bill Edwards and Mike Carwile's Collector's Companion To Carnival Glass (1574323-180, $12.95) an excellent take-long guide. Clear color photos accompany values and identification, which are up to date and which are easily tucked in a pocket for quick flea market access. Edwards and Carwile's Standard Encyclopedia Of Pressed Glass (157432330X, $29.95) appears in its third updated edition and while more extensive and less totable, holds invaluable pictures and values for glass from 1860-1930. Extensive chapters of detail and description make for easy reference. Jack Clark and Robert Wicker's Hot Wheels Volume 2 (1574323253, $24.95) features small, sharp oclor photos and values for this range of Redline toys made between 1968-77. These cars, bikes, and action vehicles are often zany, futuristic, and quite collectible.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949

Shannon Duncan's treatise Present Moment Awareness (1577314123, $17.95), on how to live in the present moment, is based on Buddhist philosophy and provides a simple guide to 'living in the now' which is a recommended pick for those seeking happiness and self-realization. This blends spirituality and self-help in a positive guide to finding peace. The companion Jim Donvan's Handbook To A Happier Life (1577314018, $12.95) focuses on useful exercises for making positive changes. From realistic goal-setting to understanding how self-empowering questions work, this is filled with practical tips to effecting positive changes. Gary Snyder, Georgia O'Keeffe and others provide essays on their sources of inspiration and spiritual understanding in Where Inspiration Lives (1577312414, $19.95). The blend of insights by artists and writers alike makes for a vivid set of memoirs and details which outline all kinds of methods for tapping inspirational wellsprings. Peter Russell's From Science To God (1577314093, $19.95) discusses the nature of reality and religion within the context of Russell's exploration into the nature of consciousness. His fascination with physics, psychology and spirituality makes for an important guide blending scientific and religious insights.

Sacred Wounds
Jan Goldstein
Regan Books
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
10 East 53rd St., NY, NY 10022-5299
0060096578 $24.95 1-800-242-7737

Sacred Wounds: Succeeding Because Of Life's Pain is another blend of spiritual and psychological insight: this demonstrating how people can succeed because of pain. Among the central steps to success are acknowledging the pain, letting go of guilt, accepting wisdom and embracing hope. Each chapter has a 3-step approach to positive living and self-enhancement.


The Literary Shelf

The Wind Never Stops
Chang Sik Kim
World Shim Gum Do Association
203 Chestnut Hill Avenue, Brighton, MA 02135
0967647940 $20.00 www.amazon.com

The Wind Never Stops: A Volume Of Zen Poetry is the Zen Master Chang Sik Kim's sixth collection of poetry; but will reach new audiences of both poets and Zen believers with a hard-hitting set of works which are diverse. They tell stories, they paint pictures, and they provide beautiful, powerful insights which invite re-reading: "Live is everyday movement./People love each other, they hate each other./They are so wild, the houses are too small ./The movement of everyday life/is just like the flapping of wings." Outstanding.

Imagining America
Wesley Brown & Amy Ling, Eds.
Persea Books
853 Broadway, #604, NY, NY 10003
0892552778 $16.95 www.amazon.com

This revised edition of an original 1991 publication in multicultural American fiction provides eleven new authors to join the others profiled in the prior anthology. Add a time line of historical events from 1900 to present times within the context of these short stories and you have a rich blend of multicultural history in fiction which is packed with important authors and works.


The Cookbook Shelf

Seasons In Thyme
Virginia Hutchins et al.
Junior League of Birmingham Michigan
c/o FRP Books
2451 Atrium Way, Nashville, TN 37214
0972036903 $29.95 frpbooks.com

Enhanced with the photography of Jeff Hage, the food stylings of Virginia Hutchins, and the illustrations of Christina Schloss Forhan, Seasons In Thyme: Favorite Recipes & Menus From The Junior League Of Birmingham Michigan showcases more that 225 "triple tested" recipes organized in four seasonal menus sections. Incorporated with useful cooking tips, unique ingredient facts, and interesting Michigan trivia, the recipes are drawn from some of Detroit's most famous restaurants and chefs. From Pear-Stuffed French Toast; Mandarin Orange Salad Dressing; Orzo with Broccoli, Tomatoes and Feta Cheese; and Portuguese Seafood Stew; to Sun-Dried Tomato and Spinach Pasta; Cranberry Almond Pound Cake; Praline Pumpkin Pie; Rack of Lamb with Caramelized Pears and Chestnuts; and Michigan Apple and Cherry Cobbler, Seasons In Thyme is as "user friendly" as it is elegantly impressive.

A Celebration Of Herbs
Shirley Kerins & Peggy Park Bernal, eds.
Huntington Library Press
1151 Oxford Rd., San Marino, CA 91108
c/o Baker and Taylor
0873281993 $29.95 www.amazon.com

Featuring more than 200 recipes, A Celebration Of Herbs: Recipes From The Huntington Herb Garden is the culinary collaboration of Huntington Library volunteers, staff, and scholars under the skillful editorship of herb expert Shirley Kerins and Peggy Park Bernal. Featuring a full range of dishes from appetizers, salads, side dishes, soups and breads, to entrees, preserves, desserts, and beverages, A Celebration Of Herbs is enhanced with excerpts and illustrations drawn from the Huntington Library's collection of rare herbals and botanical books from the 15th to the 18th century. A Celebration Of Herbs is an elegant, unique, and enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, professional, and community library Cookbook Collections.

The Church Potluck Supper Cookbook
Elaine Robinson
Adams Media Corporation
57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322
1580628389 $15.95 1-800-872-5627

From Real New England Fish Chowder; Chilly-Night Chili; and Old Favorite Ham Loaf; to Hummingbird Cake; Lemon-Strawberry Punch; Stained-Glass Fruitcakes; and American Chop Suey for 25, The Church Potluck Supper Cookbook is a culinary celebration featuring more than 500 hearty, delicious, easy-to-make dishes suitable for family gatherings, meals with friends, as well as community and church suppers and cookouts.

The Pressure Cooker Gourmet
Victoria Wise
Harvard Common Press/NBN, dist.
535 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118
1558322000 $24.95 1-888-657-3755

The Pressure Cooker Gourmet showcases 225 superbly presented recipes and instructions by Victoria Wise for today's safe and easy-to-use pressure cookers that will please any palate and satisfy any appetite. From Cream of Tomato Soup; Black Pepper Pot Steak with Shallots and Spicy Red Wine Gravy; American All-Beef Meat Loaf; and Duck with Green Olives, Turnips, and Turnip Greens; to Baby Artichokes and Two Sauces; Zucchini Stuffed with Spinach, Cream Cheese, and Pine Nuts; Omi's Chickpeas with Lime and Onion Ring Topping; and Chevre Rosemary Popover Pudding, The Pressure Cooker Gourmet will prove a real time saver when serving up dishes that would grace any family meal or special celebratory dining event!

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

Two outstanding, different titles will provide special appeal to seasoned cooks always seeking something different. Virginia Jerro Gerbino and Philip Kayal's Taste Of Syria (0781809460, $24.95) provides a strong collection of family Syrian favorites brought to America by the author's grandparents. From Lamb Meatballs in Lemon/Tomato Sauce to Fava Beans with Garlic, this offers a blend of flavors and tastes unique to Syrian cuisine yet easy to reproduce in an American kitchen with few special seasonings. Susan Chan's Flavors Of Burma (0781809479, $22.50) provides a fine review of a cuisine which is primarily located in Burmese homes and receives relatively little mention outside the country. From Pennywort Salad and Lemon and Onion Salad to Beef Curry with Coconut Milk, this is packed with cultural insights and black and white photos as well as dishes perfect for those just beginning to cook Burmese dishes. Both are exceptional picks.

The Flax Cookbook
Elaine Magee
Marlowe & Company
c/o Avalon Publishing Group
161 William St., 16th fl., NY, NY 10038
156924507X $14.95 www.amazon.com

Flaxseed has a pleasant flavor and is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, soluble fiber, and lignans. From Caramel Apple Muffins; 7-Layer Mexican Ben Dip; and Pesto Pasta Salad; to Stuffed Red Bell Peppers; Challah Bread Braid; and Pizza Sticks, The Flax Cookbook showcases a diverse collection of easy-to-prepare recipes, as well as the history and probperities of flax --including the latest scientific findins on its health benefits.

Let The Flames Begin
Chris Schlesinger & John Willoughby
W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.
500 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10110
0393050874 $30.00 1-800-233-4830

Every cookbook collection needs a good and comprehensive grilling oriented cookbook. Let The Flames Begin: Tips, Techniques, And Recipes For Real Live Fire Cooking offers a wealth of recipes, directions and advice that make it an indispensable resource for anyone wanting to cook over an open fire be it a portable grill or a camp fire framework. This collaborative project by Chris Schlesinger and John Willoughy is enhanced with color photography by William Meppem and line illustrations by John Burgoyne, as well as a sections on "Summer Splurges" and "Party Planner". If you can only add one more title to your personal cookbook collection, Let The Flames Begin is enthusiastically recommended.

Cooking For Blondes
Rhonda Levitch
Champion Press
8689 North Port Washington Road, #329, Milwaukee, WI 53217
1891400940 $16.00 championpress.com

Cooking For Blonds: Gourmet Recipes For The Culinarily Challenged is a compilation of recipes carefully chosen and designed to be "novice cook friendly". Each recipes is even rated for quick reference with "Blond", "Blonder", and "Blondest" symbols. From Blue Corn Pancakes; Apricot-Lemon Scones; Skinny Shepherd's Pie; and Coconut-Pecan Biscotti; to Pepper Butter; Avocado Cream Soup; Garlic Shrimp Pizza; and Peppermint Whipped Cream, Cooking For Blondes brings truly gourmet dishes within the grasp of any culinary beginner -- and will prove to have great appeal for even the most experienced kitchen chef.

More Healthy Homestyle Cooking
EvelynTribole, M.S., R.D.
Rodale Press, Inc.
400 South Tenth St., Emmaus, PA 18098
1579546633 $17.95 www.rodale.com

Healthy cooking expert Evelyn Tribole (the 1995 recipient of the American Dietetic Association's national award for excellence in private practice and consultation) has compiled more than 200 wonderfully delicious recipes in More Healthy Homestyle Cooking. From exotic dishes like Chocolate Chip Pecan Loaf; Mandarin Spinach Salad with Orange Vinaigrette; and Hummingbird Cake; to mainstream dishes like Cornmeal-Fried Fish; Mexican Pizza; and Homestyle Mashed Potatoes, More Healthy Homestyle Cooking is an impressive, "kitchen cook friendly" addition to any home or community library cookbook reference collection.

Indonesian Street Food Secrets
Keith Ruskin Miller
Hawkibinkler Press
7725 North Fowler, Portland, OR 97217
0972106901 $19.95 streetfoodsecrets.com

Indonesia is the fourth largest country in the world and home to the largest Islamic population on earth. Indonesian Street Food Secrets: A Culinary Travel Odyssey is an impressive compilation of ethic family recipes that are prepared right on the sidewalk by Indonesian food vendors. Enhanced with 230 color photographs of the food and culture, Indonesian Street Food Secrets also includes an accompanying CD-ROM providing hours of movies, sounds and recipes that are customizable for their degree of "hotness" and party size. With its collection of authentic recipes, Indonesian Street Food Secrets will prove to be a unique addition to kitchen cookbook collections and is especially recommended to dining clubs wanting to celebrate the culinary traditions of the Indonesian archipelago!

Jax Fish House Book Of Fish
Dave Query & Jill Zeh Richter
Pruett Publishing Company
7464 Arapahoe Rd., Boulder, CO 80303
0871089211 $30.00 1-800-247-8224

The Colorado-based Jax Fish House has a well earned reputation among the locals as being one of the best places to go for a good fish dinner. In Jax Fish House Book Of Fish, owner and chef Dave Query and Jax Fish House veteran Jill Zeh Richter have collaborated to showcase some of the very best that this restaurant has to offer in seafood dining. Enhanced with beautiful photography, the recipes range from Blackened Catfish with Shrimp Etouffee, Roasted Pepper Grits, and Hush Puppies; to Rosemary-Skewered Mahi Mahi with Potato "Risotto" and Caramelized Onion; to Tarragon-Crusted Scallops with Absolut Citron Yellow Tomato Sauce and Tarragon Oil; to Tuna Poke with Cucumber Salad, Gaufrette Chips, and Wasabi Tobiko Vinaigrette.

Half A Loaf
Elizabeth A. Stoltz
North Star Press of St. Cloud
PO Box 451, St. Cloud, MN 56302-0451
0878391959 $14.95 1-888-820-1636

Half A Loaf: Johnny Bread Recipes To Nourish The Body And Soul compiled by Elizabeth A. Stoltz combines a collection of outstanding recipes with personal memories and anecdotes of the places around the St. John's University campus. Enhanced with black-and-white photography, Half A Loaf is part nostalgia, part traditional cookbook, and a completely worthwhile addition to personal cookbook collections offering Johnny Bread-based recipes for all dining occasions and events ranging from dorm-room snacks like Kitchen Counter Pizza and Peanut Butter Johnny Bars, to specialty breads like Biscotti and Bruschetta.

Cook Once, Eat For A Week
Jyl Steinback
Perigee Books
c/o The Berkley Publishing Group
375 Hudson St., New York, NY 10014
039952844X $17.95 1-800-847-5515

Jyl Steinback shows how to save time and money without giving up on taste and quality when preparing healthy, delicious dishes for the family. In addition to a wealth of more than 200 outstanding recipes, Cook Once, Eat For A Week reveal quick and easy ways to keep food fresh; shortcuts that don't impair flavor, tips on freezing food; two-week "mix & match" menu plans; nutrition information for each dish (including diabetic exchanges and carbohydrate choices); handy what-you-need shopping lists for revery recipes; as well as a substitution and equivalent chart. If you are a time stressed, budget conscience, family cook, then give a careful reading to Jyl Steinback's Cook Once, Eat For A Week.

The Food Journal Of Lewis & Clark
Mary Gunderson
History Cooks
215 Walnut St., #205, Yankton, SD 57078
www.historycooks.com
0972039104 $19.95 1-877-581-8422

Compiled and written by food historian Mary Gunderson, The Food Journal Of Lewis & Clark offers more than eighty authentic, full-flavored recipes that reflect the culture and times of an expanding early 19th century American frontier. Gunderson brings the famous exploratory journey of Lewis and Clark to life through their own words about satisfying daily hungers, provides glimpses into Thomas Jefferson's sophisticated table at the time Meriwether Lewis served as the president's secretary; shows how Captain Meriwether Lewis and Captain William Clark each understood the role of food and spirits in maintaining morale among their colleagues; and the explorer's encounters and experiences with Native American tribal foods and customs. The Food Journal Of Lewis & Clark is a unique and enthusiastically recommended addition to personal cookbook shelves and community library Food History collections.

Southwest Indian Cookbook
Marcia Keegan
Clear Light Publishers
823 Don Diego, Santa Fe, NM 87501
0940666030 $12.95 1-800-253-2747

Marcia Keegan's Southwest Indian Cookbook wonderfully showcases Pueblo and Navajo recipes enhanced with beautiful photographic images and thematically appropriate quotes. From Potato and Tomato Cream Soup; Skillet Squash; and Taos Rabbit; to Pueblo Venison Stew; Indian Fry Bread; and Navajo Cake, the Southwest Indian Cookbook is a fitting culinary tribute to Native American cuisine and would grace any multicultural kitchen cookbook collection.

America's Best RV Cookbook
Joyce Ryan
Butterfly Books
4210 Misty Glade, San Antonio TX 78247
0939077078 $16.95 1-210-494-0077

RV's are noted for their built-in kitchens -- and the limited space accommodations those kitchens are restricted with. In addition to 381 simple and delicious "RV kitchen friendly" recipes, America's Best RV Cookbook: The Complete Guide To RV Cooking also includes 108 "no-fuss" menus; equipment and supplies selection advice; substitutions and equivalents; metric conversions; dealing with limited storage space; cooking in challenging environments and climates; and even how to cope with quirky RV ovens and refrigerators! If you have an RV, then you have an RV kitchen, and you need your very own copy of Joyce Ryan's America's Best RV Cookbook!

Cape May Cooks
Connie Correia Fisher & Joanne Correia
Small Potatoes Press
1106 Stokes Ave. Collingswood NJ 08108
www.smallpotatoespress.com
0966120043 $9.95 1-856-869-5207

Over one hundred recipes drawn from some of the finest restaurants, inns, and B&Bs of New Jersey's Victorian Cape May community are showcased in Cape May Cooks: Recipes From New Jersey's Restaurant Capital. The collaborative effort of Connie Correia Fisher and Joanne Correia, Cape May Cooks can also do yeoman service as a kind of tour and travel guide featuring more than 40 restaurant travel profiles packed with informative details about each participating restaurant and accomodation -- as well as local travel tips from the innkeepers and chefs! From Orange Toast (Beauclair's Bed & Breakfast); Coffee Toffee Bars (Windwrd House Inn); and Elegant Spinach Pie (Bayberry Inn); to Cioppino Broth (Aleathea's); Lobster Pasta (The Mad Batter Restaurant); and Raspberry Tart (The Dormer House), Cape May Cooks is as much fun to browse through as it is inspiring to cook from!

Everybody Loves Ramen
Eric Hites
Andrews & McMeel
4520 Main St., Kansas City, MO 64111
0740733265 $10.95 1-800-851-8923

Ramen noodles has been an impoverished college student's mainstay for decades. But now, in Everybody Loves Ramen: Recipe, Stories, Games, And Fun Facts About The Noodles You Love, ramen noodle enthusiast and expert Eric Hites has compiled a wonderful collection of recipes featuring this inexpensive pasta and enhanced his specialty cookbook with thematically appropriate anecdotes, fun factoids, games, puzzles. From Stroganoff Ramen Style; Ramen Pizza Party; and Easy Cheesy Ramen; to Rootin' Tootin' Ramen Chili; Thai-One-On Ramen; and Hawaiian Chicken Ramen, a whole new generation of ramen enthusiasts will discover that this versatile and "budget-friendly" pasta can be prepared to please any palate and satisfy any appetite.

Wisconsin Cook Book
Karin Marple Wade
Golden West Publishers
4113 North Longview, Phoenix, AZ 85014-4949
1885590415 $6.95 1-800-658-5830

Compiled and edited by Karin Marple Wade, the Wisconsin Cook Book showcases more than 150 recipes drawn from some of Wisconsin's best and most famous cooks and chefs. From Swiss Cheese Fondue; Norwegian Toast; Milwaukee Pork Stew; and All Wisconsin Scrambled Omelet; to Wisconsin Sauerbraten; Wisconsin Wild Rice Soup; Wisconsin Gouda & Beer Spread; and Wisconsin Apple-Cranberry Muffins, the Wisconsin Cook Book is a true regional classic as well as a welcome addition to Wisconsin dining enthusiasts!

Best Of The Best From Wisconsin Cookbook
Gwen McKee & Barbara Moseley
Quail Ridge Press
PO Box 123, Brandon, MS 39043
0937552801 $16.95 1-800-864-1082

Collaboratively compiled by Gwen McKee and Barbara Moseley, the Best Of The Best From Wisconsin Cookbook showcases a diverse culinary wealth of recipes drawn from dozens of Wisconsin-based cooks and cookbooks. Each individual recipe is identified as to which cookbook it originates from and are arranged in the usual categories of Appetizers and Beverages; Bread and Breakfast; Soups; Salads; Pasta & Rice; Seafood; Vegetables; Poultry; Meats; Cookies and Candies; Cakes; Pies and Desserts. In addition there is a list and a catalog of contributing cookbooks (which could easily serve as a reference resource for building up a Wisconsin oriented cookbook collection), as well as a "user friendly" Index. No personal or community library collection throughout the Badger State can be considered complete without the inclusion of Gwen McKee and Barbara Mosely's Best Of The Best From Wisconsin Cookbook.


The Fiction Shelf

The Jester
James Patterson & Andrew Gross
Little, Brown & Company
1271 Ave. of the Americas, NY NY 10020
0316602051 $27.95 1-800-759-0190

Poor innkeeper Hugh returns from the First Crusade tired of battle and looking forward to retirement from war, only to find his son dead and his wife Sophie has been kidnapped. Hugh has no time to recover from conflict; he must infiltrate the duke's castle and court to find his beloved, only to discover an underlying evil which will change his life. Highly recommended, The Jester, offers the reader fast-paced action and drama making for an involving historical fiction piece.

Cavern
Jake Page
University of New Mexico Press
1720 Lomas Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87131-1591
0826322271 $13.95 1-800-249-7737

The setting is an unexplored cave near Carlsbad Caverns and the scientists who study it and begin disappearing. Something is evidently down there, and amid issues of nuclear waste and research lies evidence of a new threat to mankind which must be stamped out. Cavern features fast action and a thrilling plot which will keep readers guessing to the end.

Bonaparte's Horsemen
Richard Howard
Time Warner UK
c/o Trafalgar Square Publishing
PO Box 257, Howe Hill Road, North Pomfret, VT 05053-0257
0316850527 $27.50 1-800-423-4525

Fans of military fiction will find Bonaparte's Horsemen an involving account of 1807 Poland, where Napoleon is facing a dangerous battle and Sergeant Lausard his most decisive battle. Add historical insights to a fast-paced plot of military fiction and you have a story which just doesn't quit.

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