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Library Bookwatch

Volume 5, Number 2 February 2010 Home | LBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Library Science Shelf Library CD Music Shelf
Library DVD Shelf Audiobook Shelf American History Shelf
Women's Studies Shelf Computer Shelf Cookbook Shelf
Writing/Publishing Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf Architecture Shelf
Art Shelf Travel Shelf Money/Finance Shelf
Hobby/Crafts Shelf Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf Parenting Shelf
Needlecraft Shelf Poetry Shelf Buddhist Studies Shelf
Social Issues Shelf Christian Studies Shelf Psychology Shelf
Large Print Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Judaic Studies Shelf
Environmental Studies Shelf Music Shelf Religion/Spirituality Shelf
Business Shelf Criminology Shelf Fiction Shelf
Sports Shelf Education Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Political Science Shelf World History Shelf Literary Shelf
Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf Science Shelf Jobs/Careers Shelf
Health/Medicine Shelf Self-Help Shelf Agricultural Studies Shelf
Philosophy Shelf    


Reviewer's Choice

Why Don't You Understand?
Karen Gail Lewis
Dog Ear Publishing
4010 W. 86th Street, Ste H, Indianapolis, IN 46268
9781608440252, $15.00, www.genderdictionary.com

Who could think that the change of a single chromosome would be a world of difference? "Why Don't You Understand: A Gender Relationship Dictionary" is a guide devoted to helping the sexes better understand each other and understanding the language barrier that sits between them. Stating that societal pressures are common sources of conflict, and understanding these societal pressures are key to understanding, "Why Don't You Understand" is an intriguing and educational read that should not be missed.


The Library Science Shelf

Fiction Core Collection, sixteenth edition
John Greenfieldt, editor
H.W. Wilson Company
950 University Avenue, Bronx, NY 10452
www.hwwilson.com
9780824211035, $265.00, www.amazon.com

Now in a fully updated and significantly expanded sixteenth edition, "Fiction Core Collection" continues to be an indispensable reference and resource for academic and community library systems seeking to upgrade or expand their fiction collections. Under the capable editorship of John Greenfieldt, the "Fiction Core Collection" offers a total of 11,300 titles, some 2,700 of which are new additions, having been published in the last four years. As with all the previous editions over the past 60 years, each book entry notes the author, the complete title, the publisher, year of publication, page count, ISBN, and a succinct review or two. The comprehensive Title and Subject Index make the "Fiction Core Collection" completely 'user friendly'. Simply stated, this newest edition of the "Fiction Core Collection" is an indispensable and invaluable addition to all library reference collections.

Librarians as Community Partners
Carol Smallwood
American Library Association
50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
9780838910061, $49.50, www.alastore.ala.org

A keeper of knowledge, the librarian can do more for a community than sort books. "Librarians as Community Partners: An Outreach Handbook" is a guide for librarians who want to give back to their community and be big players in making their community a better place. Carol Smallwood draws upon her own expertise to give librarians a fine sampling of how to get started. Outlining options one can use to reach out to other community organizations, the power of creativity, special groups, celebrations, and more, readers will find no shortage of good ideas within. "Librarians as Community Partners" is a fine resource that should be at the hand of every concerned librarian.

Library Data
Darby Orcutt
Libraries Unlimited
c/o ABC-CLIO
130 Cremona Drive, PO Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
9781591588269, $50.00, www.abc-clio.com

Libraries are, above all else, massive storehouses of information. "Library Data: Empowering Practice and Persuasion" is a guide to making arguments using the vast resources and power of the library. Using these resources, editor Darby Orcutt compiles much wisdom from many brilliant authors on how to use the library to its fullest to find data for one's arguments and keeping track of it all. On any subject be literature or business, the library holds data to help anyone argue and persuade. Well organized and invaluable data, "Library Data" is a must have reference to anyone whose job involves persuasion.

How to Give Your Users the LIS Services They Want
Sheila Pantry & Peter Griffiths
Facet Publishing
c/o Neal Schuman
100 William Street, Suite 2004, New York, NY 10038
9781856046725, $85.00, www.facetpublishing.co.uk

If you know your patrons, you can better welcome them to your library. "How to Give Your Users the LIS Services They Want" is a complete and comprehensive guide to the tailoring library services for their users. Defining the many questions about LIS, going in depth about the concepts within it all, training your employees for LIS, the benefits one gains for adapting such a system, the importance of knowing who is going to use it, planning for the future, and so much more, Sheila Pantry & Peter Griffiths give librarians a total run down they should not ignore to maximize their libraries potential. Enhanced with useful appendixes and indexes, "How to Give Your Users the LIS Services They Want" is a must for any community or college library science collection.


The Library CD Music Shelf

Dancing into Silence
R. Carlos Nakai, William Eaton, and Will Clipman
Canyon Records Productions
3131 West Clarendon Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85017
$15.98 www.canyonrecords.com 1-800-268-1141

Dancing into Silence is a collaborative, instrumental album blending the work R. Carlos Nakai on the Native American flute, William Eaton on the harp guitar, and Will Clipman playing a diversity of world ethnic percussion. The result is a unique experience that transports the listener into a soundscape that reflects the mysteries of infinity. An extraordinarily beautiful and everlastingly memorable collection, highly recommended to music lovers intrigued by the prospect of something different. The tracks are "Ancient Awakening" (4:50), "Sun Path" (5:05), "Winged Iridescence" (5:10), "A Breath of Peace" (3:51), "Down to Earth" (3:35), "Radiance" (4:06), "Dancing into Silence" (4:51), "Man in the Maze" (3:11), "Reflections in an Emerald Pool" (4:13), "Horses in the Rain" (5:04), "Havasupai Lullabye" (4:44), "Whispers of the Wind" (4:19), "Memory's Children" (4:46), and "The Way Home" (2:07).

Gente!
SambaDa
Produced by Greg Landau
c/o Rock Paper Scissors (publicity)
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2, Bloomington, IN 47404
$TBA www.rockpaperscissors.biz www.sambada.com

Gente! (the title means "people") is the latest music album offering of the Afro-Brazilian band SambaDa, a band founded by capoeira master Papiba Godinho. The band's evolution from a Brazilian dance group is reflected in its energetic rhythms, which tap into the innate human desire to exult in movement. A heady swing beat marks these enthralling songs, which touch upon the essence of surfing/skating in their perfectly balanced headlong rush. An exciting treat for multicultural music shelves, highly recommended for anyone who loves a great dance beat. The tracks are "Iguana", "Balancou", "Dende", "Rabo De Arraia", "Sangue Africano", "Nao Va Embora", "Mare", "Meu Pai", "Casa De Mainha", and "Sangue Africano Remix".

Whenever
Helen Flaherty, Philip Masure, and David Munnelly
Frea Records
Music & Words (publicity)
Maanlander 41, 3824MN, Amersfoort, The Netherlands
info@musicwords.nl
$16.99 www.musicwords.nl

Irish accordion master David Munnelly, Scottish singer Helen Flaherty, and multi-talented guitarist (among other instruments) Philip Masure present Whenever, a harmonious album of their uniquely blended talents. A captivating collection steeped in Celtic influence, Whenever beautifully balances the dynamic between three artists, creating an extraordinary listening experience. Highly recommended. The tracks are "Lone the Ploughboy" (3:05), "Lovely Willie" (3:33), "The Sligo Fermanagh Reels" (3:52), "Follow the Heron" (5:11), "Jackie Daily's Reels" (4:03), "Whenever" (5:44), "Andy De Jarlis' Jig/Het Vals Bewijs/The Millers Maggot" (4:58), "Tiree Love Song" (3:00), "Julia McMahon's/The Walls Of Liscarroll" (3:09), "Bloody Waterloo" (4:43), "Rakish Highlanders/Nine Points of Roguery/Mollov's" (3:02), "Bus Busk" (3:10), "Valse des Belugas/President Garfield/The Mad French Reel/Corn Rigs" (5:31), "La Partita" (3:05), and "All of It" (3:12).

Raising The Roof!
John Stein
www.johnstein.com
Whaling City Sound
c/o Mixed Media (publicity)
20 Lockmere Road, Cranston, RI 02910
$16.98 www.mixedmediapromo.com www.whalingcitysound.com

Raising The Roof! is an album by jazz guitarist and band leader John Stein with Koichi Sato of Japan on keyboards, John Lockwood of South Africa on bass, and Ze Eduardo Nazario of Brazil on drums. An extraordinary fusion of invigorating rhythms, signature solos, and passionate playing that reflects the love of devoted musicians for their art, Raising the Roof! brims with so much enthusiasm it lives up to its title. A superb choice for jazz lovers everywhere, highly recommended. The tracks are "Nica's Dream" (6:50), "Moanin'" (5:09), "A Child Is Born" (6:25), "Elvin!" (8:21), "Invitation" (7:33), "Vivo Sonhando" (6:35), "Beautiful Love" (5:16), "Wild Woods" (4:48), and "Falling In Love With Love" (6:19).

Secretly Famous
The Spy from Cairo
Wonderwheel Recordings
c/o FlipSwitch (publicity)
PO Box 2207, Bloomington, IN 47404-2207
$15.98 www.wonderwheelrecordings.com

Moreno Visini, a.k.a. The Spy from Cairo, presents his latest album Secretly Famous, a consolidation of tracks each focusing on a distinct type of Middle Eastern music. From an adaptation of traditional Jordanian music, to an optimistic rendition of Moroccan music to a tribute to the Egyptian orchestra compositions of the renowned Mohamed Abdel Wahab, the tracks embody a pan-cultural sampling of styles ranging the emotional gamut from haunting beauty to fierce passion. Guest vocalist Ghalia, respected for her rapturous singing throughout Europe and Arabia, lends her talents to three of these exquisite songs. Highly recommended, especially for multicultural music collections. The tracks are "Nayphony", "Kurdish Delight", "Ana Arabi", "Kembe", "Jennaty", "Leila", "Oud Funk", "Blood and Honey", "Sun Disco", "Saidi the Man", "Reggada", "Ala Shan", and "Indian Dope".

Vanities: A New Musical
Ghostlight Records
Miller Wright & Associates, Inc. (publicity)
1650 Broadway, Suite 1210, New York, NY 10019
$18.98 www.millerwright.com

Vanities: A New Musical is the original cast recording, based on the Obie Award-winning play, and includes liner notes, a synopsis, all the lyrics by songwriter David Kirshenbaum, and full-color photos from the off-Broadway show. Vanities: A New Musical is centered around the relationship of three friends, Mary, Joanne, and Kathy, from their girlhood in small town Texas to their college studies to their lives as grown women with careers, marriages, children to take care of, and dilemmas as they juggle all their responsibilities. An extraordinary production touching upon the heart and soul of American life, Vanities: A New Musical is the next best thing to witnessing the play in person, and an enthusiastically recommended addition to public library music CD shelves.

Real Vocal String Quartet
Flower Note Records
PO Box 2753, Berkeley, CA 94702
$21.49 www.rvsq.com

Real Vocal String Quartet is the exciting album of four classically-trained female players who have forsaken the artificial constraints of both the old classical realm, where musicians are expected to sacrifice their creativity to better contribute to the overall orchestra sound, and the contemporary classical world, the "new music" of which can take difficulty to absurd lengths. Real Vocal String Quartet features simultaneous singing and string playing that defies the boundaries of the soloist-centered and conductor-centered classical music scenes. An extraordinary acoustic experience, Real Vocal String Quartet is a gem for public library collections and anyone interested in hearing classical music played differently from the norm, but with the passion and joie de vivre worthy of the great masters. Highly recommended.

Fra_ctured
Gabriel Johnson
Electrofone Music
c/o Rock Paper Scissors
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2, Bloomington, IN 47404
$8.98 www.rockpaperscissors.biz

Virtuoso trumpet player Gabriel Johnson presents Fra_ctured, an exploration of "fractured jazz" that draws inspiration from yet dares to defy the modern trend of digital substitutes - Johnson recorded each trumpet track of this almost-solo album on a stool in front of a microphone, in one uninterrupted take. The tracks are eight permutations of digital acoustic songs, and carry a lively, passionate pulse. An inexpensive treat for jazz trumpet fans, highly recommended. The tracks are "No Words", "Be Serious", "And Then It Was Ours", "Charisma machine", "You Get What You Deserve", "Confusion", "V.F.T.O.", and "Lullabye".

Cubist: Shapes of Sound and Time
Jerry Leake
Rhombus Publishing
c/o FlipSwitch (publicity)
$18.99, garrett@flipswitchpr.com

Cubist: Shapes of Sound and Time is a percussion album by Jerry Leake, whose creativity knows no bounds. Drawn from practically a lifetime of observing and discovering musical rhythms, traditions, and history around the world, Cubist breathes life into classic themes, and its rhythms call to the listener's entire body. A treasury for percussion fans, highly recommended. The tracks are Aldebaran; Caldera; Zulugu, Plan 9; Freehand; Cubist; Na Yella Bo; In From the Cold; Smoke; Geo; Convex; Nu Atsia; Chrysalis; Gahudo; Middle Ground; and Eclipse. 78 minutes, 24 seconds.


The Library DVD Shelf

Poldark Series 1
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620, Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
$69.99 www.acornmedia.com

As seen on PBS's "Masterpiece Theatre", Poldark Series 1 is the complete first season on DVD of the television series based on the novels by Winston Graham. Set in Britain shortly after the American Revolution, Poldark follows the Captain Ross Poldark, who has returned home to find his estate in shambles, the love of his life engaged to his cousin, and his family's copper mines on the verge of being seized by his rivals. As Poldark seeks both to reclaim his fortune and rediscover true love, he encounters murder, danger, and intrigue. A dramatic portrayal of the strict divisions of historical British society as well as a captivating character portrait and an enthralling adventure, Poldark Series 1 is highly recommended. 16 episodes, 821 min on 4 DVDs, full screen, SDH subtitles.

The Complete Inspector Lewis
PBS Home Video
c/o SSA Public Relations
15260 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1730, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
9781608831289 $69.99 www.shopPBS.org

The Complete Inspector Lewis is the DVD collection the pilot and complete first and second series (for a total of 11 episodes) of "Inspector Lewis", the British detective who strives to live up to the legacy of his late long-time partner, the legendary Inspector Morse. Lewis must rebuild himself after the terrible loss of his wife to a hit-and-run accident, figure out how to work with his intelligent yet estranged younger partner, and prove his worth to a questionable new boss. Yet the cases Lewis receives remain his specialty, as each involves the affairs of the Oxford elite. A dramatic mystery collection featuring flawed yet well-rounded characters, The Complete Inspector Lewis is a superb pick for fans of the genre. 8 DVDs, 16.5 hours.

Lizard Kings
PBS Home Video
c/o SSA Public Relations
15260 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1730, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
$24.99 www.shopPBS.org

Originally broadcast as an episode of the public television series NOVA, Lizard Kings is an extraordinary documentary about monitor lizards, a family of reptiles that includes the tremendous Komodo dragons - the largest lizards found on the planet. Expert herpetologist Dr. Eric Pianka guides the viewer on a fantastic tour of these striking reptiles in Australia's heartland. "Lizard cam" technology even provided an up-close and personal view from the perspective of the lizards themselves, in this extraordinary true-life tour of these fascinating creatures. A wonderful, educational, and utterly captivating documentary, highly recommended for lizard fans of all ages and for public library DVD collections. 56 minutes, widescreen, closed captioned.

Wild Ocean
Image Entertainment
20525 Nordhoff Street, Suite 200, Chatsworth, CA 91311-6104
$19.98 DVD $24.98 Blu-ray www.image-entertainment.com

Originally created for exhibition in IMAX theaters, Wild Ocean is a spectacular, award-winning DVD documentary that reveals the ocean life flourishing under the waves of South Africa's coast. From beautiful shoals to seals and dolphins to breaching whale and bloodthirsty sharks, Wild Ocean is an unforgettable tour of the daily struggle for survival among ocean wildlife, and a reminder of the ecological wonders beneath the waves that are perilously endangered by the encroaches of mankind. Special features include a behind the scenes featurette, an interview with the directors, and a quiz. Available in both DVD and Blu-ray formats, Wild Ocean is an excellent pick especially recommended for public library collections. 40 minutes, widescreen, English/Spanish/French language tracks.

Shiva Rea Yogini
Acacia
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 650, Silver Spring, MD 20910
$19.99 acacialifestyle.com

Set in beautiful Kauai under a waterfall, Shiva Rea Yogini: Vinyasa Flow Yoga for Women is a customizable yoga workout on DVD led by world-class instructor Shiva Rea. Options include a heart-centered practice, a flowing backbend segment, standing poses, and meditation to promote relaxation. A Yoga workout designed especially to help women tap into their innate creative energy (called shakti), Shiva Rea Yogini is a wonderful contribution to yoga and fitness DVD libraries and is highly recommended. 75 min., stereo, 16:9 widescreen.

The Suzuki Diaries
David Suzuki
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547
$250.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com 1-800-543-3764

Intended for viewers in grades 10-12 as well as adults, The Suzuki Diaries: Sustainability in Action is a DVD following geneticist and host of CBC's "The Nature of Things" David Suzuki (along with his youngest daughter Sarika) on a journey through Europe, as they see a glimpse of what a sustainable economic future might look like. In an era when emphasis on unlimited economic growth might send humankind toward its own destruction, what is an alternative to provide for humanity's needs without overtaxing the environment? In Germany, Suzuki and his daughter meet Hermann Scheer, politician and creator of the "feed-in" tariffs that help generate the renewable energy industry, the recently renovated Reichstag Building, and Studio 7.5, a place that created the entirely recyclable Mirra chair. In Denmark, they meet the president of the World Wind Energy Association, Preben Maegaard, and observe Copenhagen's many bicyclers - 40% of the population rides a bike to work or school! In France, they see the organic farm Nicholas Joly, and in Spain, they see a solar power project as well as a new high-speed rail network meant to replace expensive air travel between cities. An extraordinary tour of the latest ecological innovations in transportation and power, highly recommended especially for public library, college library, and school classroom collections. 45 minutes, closed captioned.

Frontline
PBS Home Video
c/o SSA Public Relations
15260 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1730, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
$24.99 each www.shopPBS.org

Three PBS DVDs preserve memorable episodes from their award-winning Frontline documentary series. "The Warning" is a surprising revelation of how early warnings of impending economic meltdown were tragically ignored; high-ranking members of the Clinton administration were at odds witha lone woman seeking to advocate the need to regulate the complicated new derivatives market that would eventually sour the nation's economy. A fascinating story of how entrenched self-interest to the extent of blindness stymied the earliest attempts to prevent future economic meltdown. "Close to Home: Scenes from a Recession" is the up-close and personal story of the modern recession from the perspective of the patrons of a hair salon on New York's Upper East Side. From well-heeled bankers to struggling actors, everyone who comes has their own personal story about getting by in tough times. "Obama's War" is an eye-opening look at the modern-day struggle in Afghanistan and Pakistan - tens of thousands of American troops, led by a new commander and following a counter-insurgency plan built from experience in Iraq, put their lives on the line in a difficult and costly struggle. Featuring interviews with top U.S. commanders on the ground, embeds with U.S. forces, and reporting from Washington, "Obama's War" scrutinizes America's overall strategy - as well as providing a vivid picture of the lives of those who proudly serve their country. As the war in Afghanistan portends to be longer and more costly than any imagined, "Obama's War" is a gripping update on cold, hard reality (note that some footage may not be appropriate for all viewers - individual discretion (or parental guidance in the case of minors) is advised. All three DVDs are highly recommended, especially for public library documentary collections. 60 minutes each.

Dancing the Big Apple 1937
Judy Pritchett
Dancetime! Publications
c/o WC Books
1200 County Road Rt. 523, Flemington, NJ 08822
$39.95 www.DancetimePublications.com 1-888-854-5602

Dancing the Big Apple 1937: African-Americans Inspire a National Craze is an amazing DVD documentary about an African-American nightclub called The Big Apple in Columbia, South Carolina and the dance craze that grew out of it during the Great Depression. An enthusiastic circle dance performed to popular swing music has its roots in the African Ring Shout ceremony, brought to American soil by African slaves and handed down (often secretly) through generations. Choreography expert Lance Benishek demonstrates popular steps from the heyday of the Big Apple, and lively period music combined with exciting black-and-white historical footage brings this revolution in American dance to vivid life. Highly recommended.

History and Concept of Hip-Hop Dance
Moncell Durden, director
Dancetime! Publications
c/o WC Books
1200 County Road Rt. 523, Flemington, NJ 08822
$39.95 www.DancetimePublications.com 1-888-854-5602

Director Moncell Durden's "History and Concept of Hip-Hop Dance: The Street Culture that became a Global Expression" is an examination of urban hip-hop dance in America from 1970's Break-Dancing to the 80's transition to 'easy-to-perform' party dances that appealed partygoers everywhere, to modern-day hip-hop in Afro-Latin communities' dancing and much more. Expert testimony on the origins and heritage of hip-hop dancing tap into the wisdom of choreographers, international dancers, and dance instructors. A celebration of this relatively recent and mutable global dance tradition with ancient roots, History and Concept of Hip-Hop Dance is an excellent, lively and educational addition to any college or personal DVD library with a focus on the history of dance. 43 minutes.

Crystal Productions
PO Box 2159, Glenview, IL 60025-6159
www.crystalproductions.com 1-800-255-8629

Two outstanding DVDs from Crystal Productions immerse the viewer in the striking vivacity of Australian Aboriginal art. Marilynne Bradley's "Aboriginal Art: Past, Present and Future" (9781562904197, $29.95) offers the viewer a stunning tour of Aboriginal art from prehistoric cave decorations (not to mention living tree carvings and engravings on flat rocks) to the creations of modern-day artists. The striking, simplified yet eclectic artistic traditions and styles are captivating to behold. Of particular interest are the thematic motivations of many contemporary Aboriginal artists, whose work often reflects their personal experiences with dispossession, separation from family, racism, and the search for cultural identity. An absolute "must-have" for any art college DVD library. Also highly recommended is art educator Peggy Flores' "Aboriginal Art: How to Create It" (9781562904203, $29.95), an examination of how to craft striking works in the Aboriginal style. From how dots are used in composition, to basic Aboriginal symbols one can use, to crafting Dream paintings and X-ray paintings with various media and inexpensive supplies, "Aboriginal Art: How to Create It" lives up to its title with step-by-step instructions and user-friendly direction. A "must" for artists of all backgrounds intrigued by hands-on learning about the Aboriginal style.

Hubble's Amazing Rescue
PBS Home Video
c/o SSA Public Relations
15260 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 1730, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
9781608830992 $24.99 www.shopPBS.org

Originally broadcast as an episode of NOVA, Hubble's Amazing Rescue is a behind-the-scenes documentary of the extraordinary astronauts and engineers who worked together to save the famous Hubble Space Telescope, an artifact that has contributed enormously to scientific knowledge in the past twenty years. After two decades, Hubble's gyroscopes and sensors were failing; its batteries were running down; and some of its instruments were already dead. A mission to save it had been cancelled in 2004 due to excessive risk to the astronauts. Previous missions had offered replacement parts, but now two of the run-down instruments, a camera and a spectrograph, had no available replacements. It took five careful spacewalks to revive the telescope and fortify it to be sent back into space, anywhere from 10 to 70 times more powerful than when it was first launched. A director's commentary enhances this amazing true-life story of the rebirth of a scientific resource, Hubble's Amazing Rescue is especially recommended for public library DVD collections. 56 minutes, widescreen, stereo, closed-captioned, not rated.

Drop Dead Rock
Starring Adam Ant and Deborah Harry
MVD Entertainment Group
PO Box 280, Oaks, PA 19456
$14.95 www.MVDvisual.com 1-800-888-0486

Drop Dead Rock is a bizarrely funny comedy about a last dregs rock 'n' roll band called Hindenburg that kidnap the great British rock star Spazz-O, and hold him hostage to expose him to their music and thus garner fame. But Spazz-O's ex-porn star wife and her ruthless manager will benefit immensely if Spazz-O dies, and they've hired a hitman to make it happen. A media rush shoots Spazz-O's hype into the stratosphere, and the wealth of an eager media mogul makes Spazz-O worth more alive than dead! It's an all-out free-for-all between an inept rock band of kidnappers, a murderous assassin, frenzied media hounds and more in this laugh-out-loud funny adventure that cuts every sacred cow of the rock world down to size. Highly recommended. Not rated, 93 minutes.

What's On Your Plate?
Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149, Oley, PA 19547
www.whatsonyourplateproject.org
1594589011 $295.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com

What's On Your Plate? is a documentary film about kids and food politics. Though the film follows two biracial eleven-year-old city kids, its thought-provoking explorations of a serious subject makes it valuable for viewers of all ages. The young hosts talk to food activists, farmers, shopkeepers, and more people as they learn about the origins of the food they eat. Their journey takes them from supermarkets and fast food chains to school lunchrooms, but of particular interest is their trips of discovery about the latest innovations of sustainable food-growing practices. Modern community-supported agriculture programs can work with the environment, help struggling farmers, and offer affordable, locally grown food to communities in general - and urban families on a tight budget in particular. An excellent and educational documentary, highly recommended for school classroom and public library viewing shelves. 76 minutes, English, SDH captions or Spanish subtitles.

My Fuhrer
Featuring Ulrich Muhe
First Run Features
630 Ninth Avenue, Suite 1213, New York, NY 10036
$24.95 www.firstrunfeatures.com

My Fuhrer is a shocking, bizarre, and utterly irreverent satire about Adolf Hitler (perhaps a parallel world's Adolf Hitler, since historical accuracy is essentially thrown under the wheels of the comedy bus). In December of 1944, Berlin is about to fall and World War II is almost over. The country needs a speech from its Fuhrer, Adolf, but the man is barely in control of himself, let alone of the political and military machinery around him. The only person who can help Adolf give a great speech is Germany's best acting teacher, Adolf Grunbaum... who happens to be a Jew. The lurid ridicule knows now bounds is this eyebrow-raising character rewrite of real-life villains. Bonus materials include a director's statement by Dani Levy, an interview with actor Ulrich Muhe, and a photo gallery. 89 minutes, color, German with English subtitles.


The Audiobook Shelf

Michael Jackson: King of Pop 1958-2009
Emily Herbert
Read by Andre Blake
Bolinda Publishing
186 S Long Swamp Rd, Jackson, ME 04921
9781742145846 $77.95 www.bolinda.com

Narrated by skilled stage, film, and television actor Andre Blake, Michael Jackson: King of Pop 1958-2009 is the complete and unabridged audiobook adaptation of the story of pop culture star Michael Jackson's life. From his budding musical talent and an exceptionally young age, to his performances with his four brothers as the Jackson 5, to his breakaway successful solo career, to the true story behind the headline scandals that marked the last decade of his life, Michael Jackson King of Pop is an extraordinary portrait of one of America's most financially successful entertainers. Highly recommended especially for fans of Michael Jackson's unforgettably catchy music. 6 CDs, 6 hours 44 minutes, tracks every three minutes for easy bookmarking.

Fallen Angels That Bounce
Meatball Fulton
ZBS Foundation
174 N. River Rd., Fort Edward, NY 12828
193165445X $15.00 www.zbs.org

Fallen Angels That Bounce is a brief yet imaginative audiobook performed by talented voice actors and enhanced with a dash of mood-setting music. Flo is getting more and more frustrated by her dreams in which she is trying to travel, but constantly forgetting her ticket, passport, or purse and misses her train or plane. Joe and Moe offer her helpful advice - visualize how she wishes her dream to end, then go back to sleep and change how the dream unfolds. But just what new direction should her travel dream take? The line between dream and reality becomes increasingly blurred in this talented, oh-so-slightly surreal production great for anyone who loves listening to stories with a twist. 68 minutes.

Stern Men
Elizabeth Gilbert, author
Allyson Ryan, narrator
Penguin Audio
c/o The Penguin Publishing Group
375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014
9780143143345 $39.95 www.penguin.com 1-800-847-5515

Skillfully narrated by stage and television actress Allyson Ryan, Stern Men is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of award-winning author Elizabeth Gilbert's novel set on the Maine coast. Stern Men follows the adventure of a high-spirited, eighteen-year-old woman amid two groups of local lobstermen who constantly quarrel over their rights the waters between their islands. Determined to take her place among the "stern men" of the lobster boats, her courage, heroism, and capacity to love will be truly tested as the feud escalates further. An enjoyable adventure from beginning to end, highly recommended. 9 CDs, 11 1/2 hours.

Riders of the Three-Toed Horse
Garrett W. Vance and Birke Duncan
Produced by Birke Duncan
Directed by Kevin Veatch
Northwest Folklore
PO Box 253, Poulsbo, WA 98370-0253
0971058245 $11.50

Riders of the Three-Toed Horse is a radio play on audio CD about a geologist stranded in the Agate County desert. An ancient, hidden evil has awakened, and it pursues him with relentless bloodthirst - does he have any hope of survival? An exciting narrative from beginning to end, sure to keep listeners on the edges of their seats. 47 minutes.


The American History Shelf

Family Values in the Old South
Craig Thompson Friend and Anya Jabour, editors
University Press of Florida
University of Florida, 15 Northwest 15th Street, Gainesville, FL 32611-2079
9780813034188 $69.95 www.upf.com 1-800-226-3822

Family Values in the Old South is a scholarly anthology of ten essays by expert historians discussing everyday family life in the nineteenth-century American South. Mourning rituals, farming customs, daily life in taverns, political maneuverings, interracial marriage and more are covered. Also examined at length are cross-plantation slave marriages, white orphanages, childhood mortality rates, how miscegenation affected inheritance, common domestic activities and even the existence of same-sex relationships. A remarkably vivid, detailed, and well-researched contribution to modern-day understanding of American culture over a century ago, Family Values in the Old South is an absolute "must-have" for college library American History shelves.

Sins of the Pioneers
James Pylant
Jacobus Books
PO Box 1587, Stephenville, Texas 76401
9780962274664 $15.95 www.JacobusBooks.com

Sins of the Pioneers: Crimes & Scandals in a Small Texas Town shines a spotlight on lawbreakers in the Texas small town of Stephenville from 1864 to 1891 - a time when disgruntled Southerners flooded into Texas, and the deadly cocktail of alcohol and guns helped transform Texas into the nation's most murderous state. As Stephenville evolved from a frontier town to a thriving village, it was also home to a sheriff who played fast and loose with the law to jail criminals (including his kinfolk), horse thieves, hellacious madams, domestic violence, and even a teenage girl axe murderer. Sins of the Pioneers is every bit as salacious as its title suggests, and is highly recommended to true crime fans.


The Women's Studies Shelf

Taking Women in New Directions
Paula Kassell
Hudson House
675 Dutchess Turnpike, Poughkeepsie, New York 12603
9781587768958 $15.95 www.hudsonhousepub.com

Taking Women in New Directions: Stories from the Second Wave of the Women's Movement is an anthology of articles written by author Paula Kassell for the national feminist newspaper "New Directions for Women", which was published from 1972 to 1993. "New Directions for Women" was notable for its calls for affirmative action in the workplace, for women to get involved in all aspects of politics (from voting to campaign work to running for office). Kassell's articles, and some accompanying black-and-white photographs, are reproduced with the same appearance they once had within the paper itself. Taking Women in New Directions is a vital piece of America's history, chronicling milestones, changes, and even the occasional lapse in the progress of women's rights in America. An invaluable contribution to women's studies shelves, especially those of college libraries, Taking Women in New Directions is highly recommended.


The Computer Shelf

Advanced BlackBerry Development
Chris King
Apress, Inc.
233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013
9781430226567 $39.99 www.apress.com

Software engineer Chris King presents Advanced BlackBerry Development, an excellent guide to creating quality professional applications for the BlackBerry platform. Chapters cover the pros and cons of different applications and their functions, with an emphases on teaching the reader how to figure out what is most appropriate for which setting as well as the nuts and bolts of coding. Of particular interested are the chapters on ensuring security or encryption as needed, especially in today's world where electronic identity theft is more rampant than ever. Black-and-white illustrations, charts, and sections of sample code round out this superb "missing manual" highly recommended for advanced Blackberry users.


The Cookbook Shelf

Kau Kau: Cuisine & Culture in the Hawaiian Islands
Arnold Hiura
Watermark Publishing
1088 Bishop Street, Suite #310, Honolulu, HI 96813
9780979676932 $32.95 www.bookshawaii.net 1-866-900-2665

Gorgeously illustrated with historical photography (some images in black-and-white, some in color), Kau Kau: Cuisine & Culture in the Hawaiian Islands is a coffee-table book featuring more than seventy traditional Hawaiian recipes as well as an in-depth history of culinary culture in the Hawaiian Islands. From what it was like to live, work and eat in a missionary or a plantation, to how the introduction of cattle transformed the Hawaiian diet and created the Hawaiian cowboy (or paniolo), to pictures of a medley of different menus found at various Hawaiian restaurants and much more, Kau Kau is an enthralling tour that gourmets, culinary historians, and anyone interested in preparing or sampling Hawaiian cuisine are sure to enjoy. Highly recommended, especially as a sumptuous souvenir for anyone with fond memories of visiting Hawaii.

A Biblical Feast, second edition
Kitty Morse, author
Owen Morse, photography
La Caravane
PO Box 433, Vista, CA 92085
9780615276359 $18.95 www.kittymorse.com

Now in a second edition featuring new photography, A Biblical Feast is a cookbook offering modern-day readers the chance to prepare and sample what the people of biblical times regularly ate. Dishes draw upon the traditional ingredients of thousands of years ago, including lentils, leeks, garlic, almonds, figs, olives, honey, and more; recipes include such unforgettable dishes as "Sesame-Almond-Nigella Mix", "Grilled Quail", "Ezekiel's Bread", and "Herb-Flavored Yogurt Cheese". The step-by-step preparation instructions are enhanced by brief tidbits of background information about each dish, in this wonderful cookbook perfect for adding a special touch to Sunday dinner. Highly recommended .

Billy's Best Bottles: Wines for 2010
Billy Munnelly
McArthur & Company
322 King Street West, Suite 402, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5V 1J2
9781552788103 $19.95 www.mcarthur-co.com

Billy's Best Bottles: Wines for 2010 is the twentieth anniversary edition of an annual wine guide perfect for selecting just the right wine to go with one's cuisine and ambiance. Many of the suggested quality wines are relatively inexpensive - less than $20 or even less than $12 per bottle. Full color photography of each wine bottle helps the reader to easily identify the recommendations, and the text explains the basics of choosing wine to complement an evening in plain terms that readers of all backgrounds can readily understand. Billy's Best Bottles: Wines for 2010 remains the premier choice for aspiring gourmet chefs, or sophisticated hosts and hostesses, or anyone who just loves great wine.

Bean Appetit
Shannon Payette Seip and Kelly Parthen, with Carisa Dixon
Andrews & McMeel
1130 Walnut Street, Kansas City, MO 64106-2109
9780740785177 $14.99 www.andrewsmcmeel.com

Bean Appetit: Hip and Healthy Ways to Have Fun with Food is more than just a bean and pea cookbook - it's packed cover to cover with whimsical, creative, and fun ways to style one's food, especially as a way to get children interested in the kitchen (or even entice a sick child to eat). Full-color photography illustrates fun projects ranging from a pear and chocolate treat designed to look like a penguin, to a tomato half with Parmesan cheese and spaghetti arranged to look like a face ("Mama Mato!"), to delicious domino cookies and much more. A great way to stimulate creativity as well as promote nutritious foods (virtually every dish is vegetarian, and many are vegan), Bean Appetit is highly recommended especially for parents and child-care providers interested in getting children involved in the preparation of a healthy diet.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Is Life Like This?
John Dufresne
W. W. Norton & Company
500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110
www.wwnorton.com
9780393065411, $26.95, www.amazon.com

Most people who sit down in front of a typewriter or their computer intending to write the next 'Great American Novel' never finish the project. What such aspiring authors need is to give a careful reading to John Dufresne's "Is Life Like This?: A Guide to Writing Your First Novel in Six Months". This is a 314-page compendium of sage observation, sound advice, practical realities, and chronologically organized schedule of how to go about crafting a publishable novel in six months time -- all laid out in 26 weeks of step-by-step progress from beginning to end. Of special note is a most effective and interestingly presented bibliography comprising the final chapter -- 'What I Was Reading While I Was Writing'. Thoroughly informed and informative, "Is Life Like This?: A Guide to Writing Your First Novel in Six Months" will prove to be invaluable for the novice beginner, and hold a great deal of interest for experienced authors in non-fiction categories who feel they, too, have a novel to write.

How to Write and Publish a Successful Children's Book
Cynthia Reeser
Atlantic Publishing Group, Inc.
1405 S.W. 6th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34471
9781601384072 $24.95 www.atlantic-pub.com 1-800-814-1132

How to Write and Publish a Successful Children's Book: Everything You Need to Know Explained Simply literally lives up to its title. Chapters give an introduction and overview of the different branches of the children's book publishing industry (the better to understand the specific audience for one's book - both in terms of readership and prospective publishers), how to develop a story and writing style that keeps children's interest from beginning to end, tips and tricks for children's books illustrators, crash-courses in both professionally submitting one's work to publishers and self-publishing, networking suggestions, and much more. An absolute "must-read" for anyone interested in writing children's books. "Your projected cost for [self-publishing] a paperback edition falls in the $11,300 to $13,600 range. It will cost more if you want to publish a hardcover edition. This may sound like a lot of gloom and doom, but it is important that you are aware of the pitfalls, drawbacks, and benefits of each path to publication before committing your time and energy to any of them."

Dollars and Sense for Writers
Linda Mickey
Finish Off Press Ltd.
824 S. Milwaukee Ave. #134, Libertyville, IL 60048
9780615273068 $14.95, www.amazon.com

Dollars and Sense for Writers: A Guide to Managing Your Writing Business is a solid, no-nonsense guide to the business side of writing - from working with agents to keeping proper financial records and registering one's business, to marketing, year-end business review and more. Peppered with helpful checklists, Dollars and Sense for Writers is an easy-to-understand and useful guide to anyone interested in making money from their writing - whether as an occasional hobby or full-time career. Highly recommended, especially for anyone just breaking into the business.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Singing to the Plants
Stephan V. Beyer
University of New Mexico Press
1312 Basehart Road SE, Albuquerque NM 87106-4363
9780826347299 $45.00 www.unmpress.com 1-800-249-7737

Hallucinogen expert and university professor Stephan v. Beyer presents Singing to the Plants: A Guide to Mestizo Shamanism in the Upper Amazon, a scholarly and in-depth academic scrutiny of the plant medicine practiced by mestizo (Spanish-speaking descendants of Hispanic colonizers and indigenous peoples) shamans in small Amazon villages. Chapters discuss the local religious traditions, which often blend the ancient ways of the Amazon with folk Catholicism and traditional Hispanic medicine. The use of powerful plant hallucinogens is explored at length, particularly ayahuasca. Chapters discuss precisely what happens in an ayahuasca healing ceremony, the relationship that an apprentice shaman forms with plan spirits, the shaman's role in curing harm inflicted by sorcerers, and more. An exhaustively researched and detailed study, unique among its kind, and an absolute "must-have" for college library collections strong in anthropology and information on indigenous religions.

The Way of Tarot
Alejandro Jodorowsky and Marianne Costa
Destiny Books
c/o Inner Traditions International, Ltd.
One Park Street, Rochester, VT 05767
9781594772634 $26.95 www.innertraditions.com

Filmmaker and psychotherapist Alejandro Jodorowsky and Tarot workshop teacher Marianne Costa present The Way of Tarot: The Spiritual Teacher in the Cards, a guide to Tarology and unlocking the esoteric wisdom within the Tarot cards. Chapters address the significance of each major and minor arcana, as well as specific pairs of cards, and the steps to successfully read Tarot. "Just as in life, at every moment in a Tarot reading a choice is offered us: we can interpret the facts (the Arcana) in a positive or negative sense. We have seen that this choice is not predetermined, insofar as in the Tarot, no card is innately negative." An excellent all-around guide to both the nuts-and-bolts practical and the spiritual sides of Tarot, The Way of Tarot is filled with invaluable insights for Tarot practitioners of all skill and experience levels.


The Architecture Shelf

New York Deco
Photographs by Richard Berenholtz
Welcome Books
6 West 18th Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY, 10011
9781599620787 $19.95 www.welcomebooks.com

Now available in a relatively compact and indubitably affordable edition, New York Deco is a collection of Richard Berenholtz's full-color photography showcasing some of New York's most outstanding art deco architecture. Brief text captions and the occasional quote enhance this stunning collection that is surely the next best thing to touring New York's grandiosity in person. A treat for art deco fans, and the perfect souvenir for an unforgettable New York vacation, New York Deco is highly recommended.


The Art Shelf

Botanical Serigraphs: The Gene Bauer Collection
Gene Bauer
ESRI Press
380 New York Street, Redlands, CA 92378-8100
9781589482531 $40.00 www.esri.com

Botanical Serigraphs: The Gene Bauer Collection gathers the hand-printed serigraphs (prints made by the silkscreen process) of various plants and flowers, all beautifully reproduced in full color, as created by master artist Gene Bauer. The artworks are delicately beautiful in their simplicity, and pages facing many of the prints are filled with thoughtful ruminations about the plant being portrayed. A strikingly minimalist yet wonderful coffee-table artbook, highly recommended for personal collections or for gift-giving.

Discovery of Design
Donald DeYoung & Derrik Hobbs
Master Books
c/o New Leaf Publishing Group
PO Box 726, Green Forest, AR 72638
9780890515747, $12.99, www.masterbooks.net

Could much of human invention have roots in the natural world? "Discovery of Design: Searching Out the Creator's Secrets" discusses nature and its influences on much of modern technology. With a Christian influence, Donald DeYoung & Derrik Hoobs state that God's design lives on in humanity's creations. Even looking towards the future, "Discovery of Design" presents many intriguing ideas, be they coincidence or divinely inspired.

ABCing
Colleen Ellis
Mark Batty Publisher LLC
36 West 37th Street, Penthouse, New York, NJ 10018
9780981960043 $24.95 www.markbattypublisher.com 1-866-407-6302

ABCing: Seeing the Alphabet Differently is not a standard artbook, but rather a visual experiment in graphic design. Published in board book format, ABCing focusing on each letter of the alphabet, transforming the negative space around the letter into vivid illustration. The depiction in turn helps to exemplify a chosen word beginning with that letter, such as "epiphany" for the letter e. The juxtaposition of iconic symbols crafted from rearranged negative space, bold colors, and introspective word choices makes ABCing a remarkable source of inspiration for artists and graphic designers everywhere. A unique compendium, recommended for anyone curious to look at the alphabet just a little differently than usual.


The Travel Shelf

Insight Guides: Guatemala, Belize & the Yucatan, new edition
Insight Guides
c/o Langenscheidt Publishing Group
15 Tyger River Drive, Duncan, SC 29334
9789812820709 $23.99 www.langenscheidt.com

Now in a fully updated new edition, Insight Guides: Guatemala, Belize & the Yucatan is an in-depth resource that travelers, tourists, and anyone else curious to learn more about this diverse and fascinating Mexican region will find inordinately useful. Chapters offer a brief overview of their history (which was at times bloody and violent during and after Mexican rule), lists of natural and civilized attractions, travel tips, recommendations for lodging and eating out, and much more. Vibrantly beautiful full-color photography on almost every page illustrates this captivating guide. Highly recommended, and a worthy installment in the long-running series of quality Insight Guides.


The Money/Finance Shelf

The Shepherd's Guide
Flora L. Williams PhD, MDIV, RFC
Author House
1663 Liberty Drive, Suite 200, Bloomington, IN 47403-5161
9781449005726 $27.00

Financial consultant, minister, and college professor Dr. Flora L. Williams presents The Shepherd's Guide: Through the Valley of Debt and Financial Change, a manual for guiding Christians in need during economic uncertainty. Although The Shepherd's Guide is specifically intended for Christian counselors, its wisdom is solidly rooted in practical matters, and it is filled cover to cover with invaluable advice for those who would guide the financially troubled regardless of personal faith. Chapters discuss how to create budgeting and spending plans while analyzing expenditures, financial management tips tailored to the different stages in a person's life, and much more. In today's tough economic times, The Shepherd's Guide is an absolute, no-holds-barred "must-have" for every priest, pastor, or Christian counselor, all of whom must be fully prepared to help their flock with financial as well as spiritual dilemmas. "One can call immediately after checking credit card receipts and payments against your monthly bills. Call credit card issuer immediately if it is thought someone has illegally used the card and follow up with a letter. The law provides that one is not responsible for any unauthorized charges from the time reported. If cards are used before you report, the maximum loss is $50 per card."


The Hobby/Crafts Shelf

The DIY Bride Crafty Countdown
Khris Cochran
The Taunton Press
63 South Main Street, Newtown, CT 06470
9781600851193 $19.95 www.taunton.com 1-800-477-8727

The DIY Bride Crafty Countdown is a guide packed cover to cover with great home crafting projects ideal for preparing for one's own wedding - or even for a friend's wedding! Projects are arranged according to time, from six months before the big day to four weeks before to the day before. From beautiful invitations, to stylish accessories, wonderful mood setters (like a "Love in Lights" wall projection), cute culinary garnishes (like a "Groovy Owl Cake Topper") and much more, The DIY Bride Crafty Countdown is a superb guide to bring out the best of one's creative talents and calm one's racing heart and nerves as the wonderful big day approaches. Also highly recommended is author Khris Cochran's previous wedding craft guide, "The DIY Bride".


The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf

Charley's War: Underground and Over the Top
Pat Mills, author
Joe Colquhoun, artist
Titan Books
144 Southwark Street, London SE1 OUP, UK
9781845767976 $19.95 www.titanbooks.com

Charley's War: Underground and Over the Top is the sixth volume in the black-and-white "Charley's War" graphic novel series, which brings to vivid life the harrowing battlefields of World War I from the perspective of young British patriot Charley. Charley lied about his age to enlist in the war; now part of a force responsible for digging mines, Charley discovers that his own commanding officer is as brutal and merciless as the enemy, if not more so. Charley even finds himself on the front at the Third Battle of Ypres, and his brother's life is in grave peril! The gritty, realistic artwork and tone bring to life the horrors of war, in this utterly involving collection presented in oversized hardcover format to better enable the reader to catch even the smallest nuances of the unforgettable art. Brief historical notes and commentaries round out this absolute "must-have" for war comic fans.


The Parenting Shelf

Sneaky Fitness
Missy Chase Lapine and Larysa Didio
Running Press
2300 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-4371
9780762437955 $19.95 www.runningpress.com

Sneaky Fitness: Fun, Foolproof Ways to Slip Fitness into Your Child's Everyday Life lives up to its title as a compendium of ingenious ways that parents can help their children exercise more. Each activity comes with an "at-a-glance" summary of what age ranges are appropriate, how many young folks can participate, optimal times for setting the activity up, and how many calories it is likely to burn. From something as simple as giving one's child a few items of folded laundry at a time to put away, to playing musical chairs during TV commercials, to placing an inflated balloon on one's lawn and seeing how long it takes a child to pop it with only a wiffle bat, and more, Sneaky Fitness is an excellent way to incorporate more activity into the daily routine of one's child. Fifty brand-new "Sneaky Chef" recipes that promote healthy living (such as the "I'm a Vegetarian This Week" Burger and "Race Ya! Rice Balls") round out this superb resource for parents, babysitters, and child care providers everywhere.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Stitch 'n Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker
Debbie Stoller
Workman Publishing Company
225 Varick Street, New York, NY 10014-4381
9780761139850 $15.95 www.workman.com

Stitch 'n Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker is an upbeat, in-your-face guide to learning how to crochet, including patterns for forty fun, useful, and fashionable items. Chapters cover different types of stitches, sewing or crocheting seams, how to read a crochet pattern, and much more. The Happy Hooker is a great starter guide for introducing anyone to crochet, and even crochet experts are sure to enjoy making the patterns, which range from scarves and shawls to hats, bags, belts, blankets, and other delightful items that make wonderfully distinctive gifts. Full-color photography on almost every page illustrates this fun, sassy, and user-friendly how-to book.

Jelly Roll Quilts & More
Kimberly Einmo
American Quilter's Society
PO Box 3290, Paducah, KY 42002-3290
9781574326529, $26.95, www.aqsquilt.com

Quilting is a form of fabric art that is as practical and useful in its finished forms as it is creative and fun in its accomplishment. Especially is this so when even the most novice needlecrafter has access to do-it-yourself instruction guides like Kimberly Einmo's "Jelly Roll Quilts & More". This 96-page compendium of ten quilts and four 'one-block-wonders', is profusely and superbly illustrated throughout while offering truly 'user friendly' step-by-step instructions. Of special note is the opening chapter advising beginners on how to get the most out of what is to follow. Enhanced with a useful list of resources, perhaps the most unique distinction is the concluding chapter on how to how a 'Jelly Roll Quilt Retreat' with friends. Ideal for the novice quilter, "Jelly Roll Quilts & More" is enthusiastically recommended for the needlecraft reference collections of community libraries, and has a great deal to offer even the more experienced quilter looking for novel and entertaining project ideas.


The Poetry Shelf

Stranger
Laura Sims
Fence Books
New Library 320, University at Albany,
1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12222
9781934200230, $16.00, www.fenceportal.org

Art knows no form, so Laura Sims doesn't try to follow one. "Stranger" is a collection of poems from Sims, reflecting on the events after her mother. Sims' unique style is pure emotion as she states what needs to be said and doesn't seek to fluff it up. From the horror of loss to the redemption of hope, "Stranger" is a unique and well crafted read.

Saint Michael in Peril of the Sea
Janice Fitzpatrick Simmons
Salmon Poetry
c/o DuFour Editions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9781907056086, $21.95, www.salmonpoetry.com

The vastness of the ocean has inspired many through the years. "Saint Michael in Peril of the Sea" is the fifth anthology of poetry from Janice Fitzpatrick Simmons. Drawing on her reflections of the many landscapes of the world, she connects with the many states of the human spirit. Inspiring and thought provoking work, "Saint Michael in Peril of the Sea" is a fine collection of work. "The Poet's House": The empty house,/no books or paintings/on the white walls,/no voices down the long hall,/no ghost voices,//no dog patters down the stairs./The sofa has no body/taking comfort there./The house is empty and its stillness/puddles within the wall of my chest--/it's a hollow sound.

After the Revival
Carrie Jerrell
The Waywiser Press
PO Box 6205, Baltimore, MD 21206
DuFour Editions
PO Box 7, Chester Springs, PA 19425
9781904130383, $15.95

A woman of many walks of life, Carrie Jerrell brings a fine blend of them in "After the Revival". Telling stories through her verse, "After the Revival" is about a woman who isn't afraid to play dirty in life but keeps to her life's faith. "After the Revival " is a fresh and intriguing collection. "When the Rider is Hope": We pilot evening's cryptic air/fused as faith and plea in prayer./My burden's to become pure flight;/his, to right me if I scare.//When my blind spot blurs the fence,/he imparts his confidence:/his Easy girl, his loose-rein hands,/reprimand my reticence.//Heel to rib, approach then thrust,/I'm suspended by his trust,/playing earth's brief renegade/in bascules made of breath and dust.

Brief Tracks
Jim Thomas
Truman State University Press
100 East Normal Street, Kirksville, MO 63501-4221
9781935503019, $20.00, www.tsup.truman.edu

A simple life isn't all that simple. "Brief Tracks" is a collection of poetry from Jim Thomas reflecting on the life of a rural Missouri man in the common age. With profound thoughts and ideas, "Brief Tracks" is a top pick for poetry fans. "The Plum Bouquet": Because we raged and fought/at each other, and shouted/and cried, now although still,/the house seemed almost quivering;/they were asleep./I saw the white tatter/on brown rug/and flared inwardly at them/so careless, littering paper./I knelt full of anger/to all the white softnesses of petals,/and fumbled with stiff fingers/among them.

Handling Destiny
Adrian Castro
Coffee House Press
79 Thirteenth Avenue NE, Suite 110, Minneapolis, MN 55413
9781566892353, $16.00, www.coffeehousepress.org

Between three cultures, Adrian Castro has seen many things. "Handling Destiny" is a collection of poems from Adrian Castro, a man who has called Africa, the Caribbean, and North America his home. Drawing on much introspective between these cultures, "Handling Destiny" is a fascinating read that should not be ignored. "Ontological Afro Logic": "There are too many/spirits/lying in the ocean"/says Oluwo//Water in spite of having/no legs no/arms//has made sand of them bones.

The Essential James Reaney
Brian Bartlett
The Porcupine Quill
68 Main St., Erin, ON N0B 1T0
9780889843196, $12.95, www.porcupinesquill.ca

Some men live their lives doing anything they have an interest in. "The Essential James Reaney" delves into the work of James Reaney, a man who executed many endeavors in life, both creative and not-so-creative. For eighty two years he lived his life to the fullest, and Brian Bartlett compiles the best of his work in "The Essential James Reaney". "The Bicycle": Halfway between childhood & manhood,/More than a hoop but never a car,/The bicycle talks gravel and rain pavement/On the highway where the dead frogs are.//Like sharkfish the cars blue by,/filled with the two-backed beast/One dreams of, yet knows not the word for,/The accumulating sexual yeast.

Unincorporated Persons in the Late Honda Dynasty
Tony Hoagland
Graywolf Press
2402 University Avenue, Suite 203, Saint Paul, MN 55114
9781555975494 $15.00 www.graywolfpress.org

The fourth poetry collection by University of Houston teacher Tony Hoagland, Unincorporated Persons in the Late Honda Dynasty is an anthology of free-verse spinning a tongue-in-cheek parable of modern American life. A siren call to remember the most valuable aspects of day-to-day life - aspects that are tied to humanity and community rather than wealth or power. Unincorporated Persons in the Late Honda Dynasty is ultimately a reminder that it is better to be personally "unincorporated". "Voyage": I feel as if we opened a book about great ocean voyages / and found ourselves on a great ocean voyage: / sailing through December, around the horn of Christmas / and into the January Sea, and sailing on and on // in a novel without a moral but one in which / all the characters who died in the middle chapters / make the sunsets near the book's end more beautiful.


The Buddhist Studies Shelf

Entrance to the Great Perfection
Compiled, translated, & introduced by Cortland Dahl
Snow Lion Publications
PO Box 6483, Ithaca, NY 14851
9781559393393 $22.95 www.SnowLionPub.com 1-800-950-0313

Entrance to the Great Perfection: A Guide to the Dzogchen Preliminary Practices is an anthology of essays by renowned masters of Tibetan Buddhism, featuring both classic commentaries and modern-day analyses with recommendations for applying ancient wisdom into the hectic routine of contemporary life. An in-depth introduction to Tibetan Buddhism and its meditative practices, long and short preliminary practice liturgies, and a wealth of appendices for easy reference rounds out this solid guide to the foundational practices of Dzogchen. A thoroughly accessible and highly recommended resource for anyone intrigued to learn more about Tibetan Buddhism.


The Social Issues Shelf

Morbid Symptoms
Leo Panitch & Colin Leys, editors
Monthly Review Press
146 W 29th Street, Suite 6W, New York, NY 10001
9781583672037, $25.00, www.merlinpress.co.uk

The health care debate has turned into an all out war on all sides. "Morbid Symptoms: Health Under Capitalism" discusses the sour sides on the against side of the debate, as well a good deal of voices before. Countless minds weigh in on the debate and looks at international insights on more universal health care system show America what it could become and what it has to avoid. Stating that the urge for greed and money may trump the spirit of good will, "Morbid Symptoms" is an endlessly intriguing and fascinating read that should not be ignored for those seeking insight on health issues.

American Privacy
Frederick S. Lane
Beacon Press
25 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108-2892
9780807044414 $29.95 www.beacon.org

American Privacy: The 400-Year History of Our Most Contested Right is more than just a historical chronicle of the right to privacy in America; it is also an alarming wake-up call to governmental and non-governmental threats to the level of privacy that previous American generations considered an inalienable right. From privacy in state courts and legislatures, to how the Red Scare of the McCarthy era led to unconscionable attacks on privacy, to the surprising persistence and "durability" of data once it gets into modern online networks, and more, American Privacy is an absorbing account, grounded in solid research yet written with an alert tone warning the reader to take heed of deleterious current trends. Highly recommended. "The modern-day epidemic of identity theft stems from the toxic combination of an intrinsically insecure Social Security number that has become a de facto national identification number, massive computer databases vulnerable to hacking, a rapidly growing global data and communications network, and lax security procedures that allow databases and data processing reports to be stored on laptops. Together these elements have helped the crime of identity theft become one of the fastest-growing problems for law enforcement."

Chimeras Hybrids & Interspecies Research
Andrea L. Bonnicksen
Georgetown University Press
3240 Prospect Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007
9781589015746, $26.95, www.press.georgetown.edu

Playing God can be a useful thing, but there must be some regulation. "Chimeras, Hybrids, and Interspecies Research: Politics and Policymaking" discusses the political side of genetics research. The images of abuse of science, of Human-animal hybrids makes people reactionally stand against cross-species research even when a human is not involved. Studying cases of natural occurrences, somewhat natural instances like the liger and tigon, and the potential of humanity in hybrids and chimeras. An intriguing study of bioethics, "Chimeras, Hybrids, and Interspecies Research" is a fascinating read and very highly recommended.

Gridlock
Randal O'Toole
Cato Institute
1000 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20001
9781935308232, $24.95, www.nbnbooks.com

The hour long commute that could be done in ten is no stranger to countless Americans. "Gridlock: Why We're Stuck In Traffic And What To Do About It" discusses the modern issues America and its automobiles face in the countless gridlocks that occur throughout the country around its major cities. Discussing the many solutions that have been proposed such as public transportation and calling out those plans weaknesses, Randal O'Toole and the Cato Institute give much food for thought and offer many ideas for an America where walking five miles doesn't take less time than driving it. "Gridlock" is a must for any community library social issues collection.

The Death of Josseline
Margaret Regan
Beacon Press
25 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02108-2892
9780807042274 $26.95 www.beacon.org

Author Margaret Regan has reported on illegal immigration along the Arizona-Mexico border for almost ten years. Now, she presents her call for societal compassion in The Death of Josseline: Immigration Stories from the Arizona-Mexico Borderlands. Arizona has the highest number of migrant deaths; literally thousands have perished in its deserts and mountains. Regan speaks for the "No More Deaths" advocates, while listening to the concerns of upset ranchers and vigilantes. The Death of Josseline offers a firsthand testimony of the pressures that compel people to risk their lives to illegally enter the United States, the environmental damage caused by the new border wall, and the increasing militarization of the border, including the involvement of private security forces such as Black Hawk. A keen-eyed perspective of how questionable public policy has resulted in far too much preventable loss of life, The Death of Josseline is highly recommended.

Do Good Fences Make Good Neighbors?
Brent L. Sterling
Georgetown University Press
3240 Prospect Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007
9781589015715 $32.95 www.press.georgetown.edu 1-800-246-9606

Defense analyst Brent Sterling presents Do Good Fences Make Good Neighbors? What History Teaches Us About Strategic Barriers and International Security, an analysis of how walls and fortifications have been used to promote national security throughout history. Six famous defenses are studied: Athens' Long Walls, Hadrian's Wall, The Ming Great Wall of China, The Pre Carre, The Maginot Line, and The Bar-Lev Line. An extraordinary examination of how barriers aid (or sometimes undercut!) security, Do Good Fences Make Good Neighbors? is a scholarly assessment of invaluable lessons with powerful implications for modern-day security issues (such as whether an anti-immigration fence along America's southern border is a useful or practical idea). Highly recommended.


The Christian Studies Shelf

The Diocesan Priest
David Bohr
Liturgical Press
Saint John's Abbey,
PO Box 7500, Collegeville, MN 56321-7500
9780814632789, $24.95, www.litpress.org

What is the status of the modern priest? "The Diocesan Priest: Consecrated and Sent" is a scholarly analysis of the modern Catholic priest by Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan, as he discusses the priesthood since the Second Vatican Council all those years ago. The mission of a priest, the role of priest as teacher, and the status of celibacy in the modern priesthood. "The Diocesan Priest" is an intriguing read and insightful read for anyone curious on the lives of the priesthood.

The Church of England in the Twentieth Century
Andrew Chandler
Boydell Press
668 Mt Hope Ave, Rochester, NY 14620-2731
9781843835011, $47.95, www.boydellandbrewer.com

When Henry the VIII broke off from Catholicism, the Church of England was a major deal, but what is its status in recent years, in a much more secular Britain? "The Church of England in the Twentieth Century" discusses the Church's recent history, and its relationship with the nation of the United Kingdom. Ethics questions arose, finances, and other controversies emerged hurting the Church's integrity and placing its future in question. Looking deep into the Church archives, Andrew Chandler presents a very complete and comprehensive history of the Church of England, making "The Church of England in the Twentieth Century" a must have for history and religion collections.

Forgotten Women of God
Diana Webb
Bonneville Books
c/o Cedar Fort
2372 W. 700 S., Springville, UT 84663
9781599553849, $13.99, www.cedarfort.com

Half the population, women had more impact on biblical times than many would be led to believe. "Forgotten Women of God" examines the lesser known but still important women of the Bible. Through biblical study, Diana Webb brings these women's stories to life and gives readers a fascinating collection of insight which is sure to intrigue readers and uplift their spirits. From the wife of Noah, to the mother of Samson, "Forgotten Women of God" is a must read for those seeking the strong female impact of the Bible that so often goes ignored.

A Planet of Grace
Bernadette McCarver Snyder
ACTA Publications
5559 W. Howard Street, Skokie, IL 60077
9780879464011, $19.95, www.actapublications.com

The Earth has beauty that is truly magnificent. "A Planet of Grace: Images and Words from Biosphere One" looks into the status of Biosphere One, better known as Earth. Looking at the natural, cultural, and other beauties of the world through Christian eyes, and with plenty of reflections, Bernadette McCarcer Snyder gives readers a thought provoking and visual treat that is truly unique and sure to please. "A Planet of Grace" is a solid and very highly recommended read.

War, Peace, and Social Conscience
Theron F. Schlabach
Herald Press
616 Walnut Avenue, Scottsdale, PA 15683-1999
9780836194265 $39.99 www.heraldpress.com 1-800-759-4447

Part biography, part historical chronicle of the development of Mennonite pacifism and social ethics during the twentieth century, War, Peace, and Social Conscience: Guy F. Hershberger and Mennonite Ethics examines the leadership Guy Hershberger, whose ideas and advocacy for pacifism would have repercussions far beyond his own church. Despite the conflicts and contradictions of the violent world around him, Hershberger put his concepts to practical use through programs and institutions. War, Peace, and Social Conscience blends survey, appreciation, and criticism of Hershberger's lifelong work, sparing no detail in its exhaustively researched and indubitably scholarly assessment. An extraordinary resource and chronicle, War, Peace, and Social Conscience is highly recommended especially for religious studies and biography shelves.

"God Has Made Us a Kingdom"
Vickie Cleverley Speek
Signature Books
564 West 400 North, Salt Lake City, UT 84116-3411
1560851929 $34.95 www.signaturebooks.com 1-800-356-5687

Award-winning historical researcher Vickie Cleverley Speek presents "God Has Made Us a Kingdom": James Strang and the Midwest Mormons, a meticulously researched accounting of James J. Strang, the prophetic successor to Joseph Smith for Mormons of the Midwest, who formed what would eventually become the Community of Christ. Like Joseph Smith, Strang promoted polygamy, secret ceremonies, baptism for the dead, and communal living, and even crowned himself king of the world. Yet the religious community he formed ultimately faded, with only a tiny handful of followers remaining in the U.S. today. Did polygamy bring about the end of Strang's kingdom, or was it another, less readily apparent force? Expertly researched, "God Has Made Us a Kingdom" brings the story of Strang, his wives, his children, and his followers to vivid life, and is highly recommended especially for college library and American religious history shelves.


The Psychology Shelf

Religious Compulsions and Fears
Avigdor Boncheck
Feldheim Publishers
208 Airport Executive Park, Nanuet, NY 10954
9781598263589, $29.99

Could religion play a hand in some of the compulsions people face? "Religious Compulsions and Fears: A Guide to Treatment" discusses psychological problems and their relation to religion. Written by a man who is both a rabbi and a psychologist who has focused on obsessive compulsive disorder throughout his life, Rabbi Avigdor Boncheck offers much insight and gives readers a lot to learn from and think about in approaching these problems. "Religious Compulsions and Fears" is a fine addition to any psychological or religious collection.

Envy
Victoria C. G. Greenleaf
Cypress House
155 Cypress Street, Fort Bragg, CA 95437
9781879384750, $29.95, www.cypresshouse.com

Jealousy is a complex emotion. "Envy: A Survey of Its Psychology and History" discusses this emotion and what it has meant throughout the world and its history. Victoria Greenleaf gives readers an exploration of the emotion. Typically classified as one of the seven deadly sins, Envy is not without its benefits, stating that it can drive people to achieve greater things in life. "Envy" is an intriguing work of psychology well worth reading for a new perspective on a vilified emotion.

The Heart & Soul of Change, second edition
Barry L. Duncan, et al.
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242
9781433807091 $59.95 www.apa.org/books 1-800-368-5777

Now in an updated second edition, The Heart & Soul of Change: Delivering What Works in Therapy by the editorial team of Barry L. Duncan, Scott D. Miller, Bruce E. Wampold, and Mark A. Hubble is a manual for therapists with emphatic focus on the practical and pragmatic - namely, which approaches consistently deliver solid results for which types of patients. The core principle of The Heart & Soul of Change recognizes that psychotherapy is delivered to one person at a time, and that person's unique situation determines the method that is best to use. Exhaustively researched and thoroughly detailed, The Heart & Soul of Change never allows theory to eclipse its focus of discerning what works best and helps different individuals the most, and is an absolute "must-have" for practicing psychotherapists everywhere.

Intellectual Disability, 11th edition
The AAIDD Ad Hoc Committee on Terminology and Classification
American Association of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
501 Third Street NW Suite 200, Washington, D.C. 20001-2760
9781935304043 $90.00 www.aaidd.org

Intellectual Disability: Definition, Classification, and Systems of Supports is the eleventh updated edition of the American Association of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities' reference manual of definitions. Assembled by a committee of eighteen practicing experts and grounded in research spanning the past seven years, critiques of the tenth edition, and feedback from the field, Intellectual Disability covers the diagnosis and classification of intellectual disability, systems of supports (including prevention) for those with intellectual disability, implications that the latest research has for public policy, education, and support provider organizations, and much more. An excellent, up-to-date reference enthusiastically recommended for college library collections and the resource shelves of aspiring and practicing psychologists.

Let's Look Together
Rae-Lynn Cebul Ziegler
Health Professions Press
PO Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
9781932529517, $28.95, www.healthpropress.com

The way to combat Alzheimer's is to not let the brain go numb. "Let's Look Together: An Interactive Picture Book for People with Alzheimer's and Other Forms of Memory Loss" is a picture book for adults designed to help those with fading minds and memories as through Alzheimer's and similar disorders. The full color photographs are meant to be mental wake up calls, making "Let's Look Together" a top pick for senior health collections.


The Large Print Shelf

Last Mile to Nogales
Ryan Bodie
Ulverscroft Large Print (USA), Inc.
PO Box 1230, West Seneca, NY 14224-1230
9781847828484 $20.99 www.ulverscroftusa.com

Printed in large print to facilitate reading, Last Mile to Nogales is an exciting western set in a Nogales, a small town in the middle of the desert. Ryan Coder, also known as the "gun king" is one of the best guns-for-hire available in this remote and near-lawless land. But when the king of Chad Valley hires Coder to fight his private war, Coder is matched against the rising star gunslinger Holly. A clash of legendary gun warriors unfolds in this thrilling adventure of hard times and rough men.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

World of Warcraft: Stormrage
Richard A. Knaak
Gallery Books
c/o Simon and Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas, 14th fl., New York, NY 10020
9781416550877 $25.00 www.simonsays.com

World of Warcraft: Stormrage is the latest fantasy novel chronicling the land of Azeroth, setting of the runaway hit massively multiplayer online role-playing game World of Warcraft. Ages ago, the Titans who created Azeroth brought to its design the Emerald Dream, an lush and verdant aspect of the realm that embodies all living subconscious, watched over and protected by the regal green dragonflight. Across the ages, druids have aided the green dragonflight by entering the Dream, and through the Dream they help maintain the balance of nature. Yet the Nightmare, a portion of the dream that has turned corrupt and grows like a cancer, has been twisting the Dream's dragon and druid guardians into evil shadows of their former selves. Now Malfurion Stormrage, the first and greatest of Azeroth's druids, may be the Nightmare's latest victim. As nightmares mental and physical beset Azeroth, a quest borne of desperation to aid Malfurion may be the only hope of all living and dreaming things. An exciting adventure from first page to last, Stormage is a riveting read that World of Warcraft fans will especially enjoy. Also highly recommended is the bestselling paperback "Arthas: Rise of the Lich King" (9781439157602, $7.99).


The Judaic Studies Shelf

Israel is Real
Rich Cohen
Farrar Straus Giroux
18 West 18th Street, New York, NY 10011
9780374177782, $27.00, www.fsgbooks.com

One of the biggest threats to Judaism may be Israel itself. "Israel is Real: An Obsessive Quest to Understand the Jewish Nation and Its History" discusses Judaism and how placing all its faith and relativity in the nation of Israel does some harm to the religion. Drawing ideas from the Jews who first embraced the idea that Jerusalem was not essential to the faith, and looks at history at individuals who throughout history emphasized the concept of the wandering Jew. Rich Cohen does not hide his criticisms of the modern state of Israel, and "Israel is Real" is a very intriguing and highly recommended read for those of Jewish faith or want to better understand its relation to the land in the middle east.

Jewish Sages of Today
Aryeh Rubin
Devora Publishing
40 East 78th Street, Suite 16D, New York, NY 10021
www.jewishsagesoftoday.com
9781934440964, $16.95, www.amazon.com

When looking at the Judaic faith of the day, who do contemporary Jews have as icons? "Jewish Sages of Today: Profiles of Extraordinary People" examines major faces in Judaism today with complete and comprehensive profiles of these exceptional individuals and what they mean to modern Judaism. These individuals have done much in the name of Jewish culture and have made much progress that is to be admired. For those looking for a compilation of Jews who have had profound social and political impact, "Jewish Sages of Today" is a collection not to be missed.


The Environmental Studies Shelf

The Tree Rings' Tale
John Fleck
University of New Mexico Press
1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, MN 87131-0001
9780826347572, $21.95, www.unmpress.com

The most minor details can speak so loudly. "The Tree Rings' Tale: Understanding Our Changing Climate" is the history of dendroclimatology, the science of tree rings. John Wesley Powell, studying the natural environment of the Colorado River, noticed a correlation between the rings of a tree and environmental events. With greater research a new science was born, and John Fleck speaks of its countless uses. "The Tree Rings' Tale" is a fine addition to any science or environmental studies collection.

The Economical Environmentalist
Prashant Vaze
Earthscan
c/o Stylus Publishing, LLC
22883 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166-2012
9781844078080, $23.95, www.earthscan.co.uk

You can keep your green while going green. "The Economical Environmentalist: My Attempt to Live a Low-Carbon Life and What it Cost" discusses how much it really costs to live a green life. A resident of London, he demonstrates that little decisions throughout the day can prove to make one's life much greener and environmentally friendly, without destroying their wallets, drawing on his own experience as an economist. With plenty of simple and effective wisdom, Prashant Vaze gives readers many useful tips in "The Economical Environmentalist", highly recommended.


The Music Shelf

Gods And Guitars
Michael J. Gilmour
Baylor University Press
One Bear Place, #97363, Waco, TX 76798-7363
www.baylorpress.com
9781602581395, $19.95, www.amazon.com

From the African-American songs of the 19th century through the folk music and rock of the 20th century, a significant segment of popular secular music has been endowed with profound spiritual messages focused on themes social justice and the emotional ramifications of love, sacrifice, and even the occasional biblical text. In "Gods And Guitars: Seeking The Sacred In Post-1960s Popular Music", academician Michael J. Gilmour (Providence college, Manitoba, Canada) explores the lyrics of popular and influential songs composed and performed by such illustrious music icons as Cat Stevens, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, the Rolling Stones, Madonna, Pearl Jam, Joni Mitchell, U2, and others. Enhanced with extensive notes, an invaluable bibliography for further and more detailed study, and a comprehensive Index, "Gods And Guitars" is an especially recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library 20th Century Popular Music reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Black Music
Leroi Jones
Akashic Books
PO Box 1456, New York, NY 10009
9781933354934, $15.95, www.akashicbooks.com

Jazz caught hold in the early twentieth century and has stayed strong through it. "Black Music" is a collection of jazz criticisms and thought from Amiri Baraka, also known as Leroi Jones. Focusing on the 1960s, Akashic books has reprinted this acclaimed volume as Baraka offers much insight into Jazz legends such as Johnathan Coltrane, Miles Davis, and many more. For anyone who wants an educated and scholarly look at 1960s Jazz, "Black Music" is an ideal selection.

Concert Lighting, third edition
James L. Moody
Focal Press
c/o Elsevier
30 Corporate Drive, Suite 400, Burlington, MA 01803
9780240806891, $44.95, www.focalpress.com

A good concert is about more than the music. "Concert Lighting: Techniques, Art, and Business" is the third edition of Focal Presses's acclaimed guide to the importance of good lighting in concert settings. James Moody is an experienced theatre technician, and Paul Dexter has done lighting for some of the biggest acts in Rock such as Ozzy Osbourne and Motley Crue. Good lighting enhances the music, makes the experience more memorable and more likely to return for another show. "Concert Lighting" is an absolute must for anyone in charge of the finer technical details of a concert.

Little Richard
David Kirby
Continuum Books
80 Maiden Lane, New York, NY 10038
9780826429650, $19.95, www.continuumbooks.com

Rock'n'Roll was more than revolution of music. "Little Richard: The Birth of Rock'n'Roll" looks at Little Richard and the effects that his wild and energetic piano playing did for 1950s America. Richard's music was one of the many things that helped pushed race relations to the forefront of the American agenda, as young people of both races mixed freely in celebration of the music, as well as looking at the man himself and how a legendary performer gets his starts. "Little Richard" is a top pick for any autobiography or music history collection.

Pop Goes to Court
Brian Southall
Omnibus Press
c/o Music Sales Corporation
257 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010
9781847721136, $24.95, www.omnibuspress.com

The world of Rock and Roll is no stranger to the world of law. "Pop Goes to Court: Rock 'n' Pop's Greatest Court Battles" analyzes the legal battles that have erupted in recent history as the drama of music spills over into the courts, both civil and criminal. From Judas Priest accused of inciting suicide, to the never ending battle for Jimi Hendrix's estate to the on and off again feud between the Beatles, "Pop Goes to Court" is an entertaining, informative, and at times depressing read of music and law, making for a choice pick for readers.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

Soulshaping
Jeff Brown
North Atlantic Books
PO Box 12327, Berkeley, CA 94712
9781556438103, $19.95, www.northatlanticbooks.com

Not all lawyers are soulless monsters, as many spurned people would tell you. "Soulshaping: A Journey of Self-Creation" is the story of one of Canada's top criminal lawyers and how he left his profession to search for his soul. Offering much food for thought as he tells a story that many readers will find relation to when coming to terms with their own soul and their spirituality, "Soulshaping" is a heartily recommended read for those who want aid in making an introspective look at their own souls.

Etty Hillesum
AnneMarie S. Kidder
Orbis Books
Price Bldg, Box 302, Maryknoll, NY 10545
9781570758386, $18.00, www.orbisbooks.com

The Holocaust cost the world many brilliant minds. "Etty Hillesum: Essential Writings" is a collection of writings from Etty Hillesum, a Dutch Jewish woman who through her short life did much writing, and even though it wasn't discovered until decades after her death, her voice rings profound a true. Gaining a strong spiritual side in her later years, Hillesum's work is presented and will give those with a spiritual focus in their lives much food for thought from a woman whose mind was taken from the world far too soon. "Etty Hillesum" is a strong addition to any spirituality or religious collection.

The Eleven Eternal Principles
Carmen Harra
Crossing Press
c/o Random House
1745 Broadway, 17th floor, New York, NY 10019
9781580911979, $16.99, www.crownpublishing.com

When you understand the laws of the universe, life becomes much easier. "The Eleven Eternal Principles: Accessing the Divine Within" is a spiritual help guide from Carmen Harra, as she offers much food for thought in relation to the grand picture of the universe. Her eleven rules are designed to help gain a better grasp and understanding of their world, from karma to the role the universe plays in helping people find what they want. "The Eleven Eternal Principles" is a choice pick and very highly recommended read for spirituality readers.


The Business Shelf

Building Business Value
Martin O'Neill
Third Bridge Press
1290 Bay Dale Drive, #323, Arnold, MD 21012
Cardinal Publishers Group (publishers)
2402 N. Shadeland Ave., Suite A, Indianapolis, IN 46219
9780982056905, $22.95, www.buildingbusinessvaluebook.com

A businesses' worth is a powerful thing. "Building Business Value: How to Command a Premium Price for Your Midsized Company" is a guide for companies that have gone past being a small business but have not yet reached the point to become a massive corporation. With tips on assessment, gauging where your company is going, the power of leadership, and what people look for when they are looking to buy or sell companies, Martin O'Neill gives readers a very comprehensive look at the market of business, making "Building Business Value" a choice pick and highly ideal read for accomplished entrepreneurs.

90 Days to Success in Grant Writing
Timothy Kachinske & Judith Kachinske
Course Technology Cengage Learning
20 Channel Center Street, Boston, MA 02210
9781435454866, $19.99, www.courseptr.com

Companies are reluctant to hand out grants, so you have to make your case well. "90 Days to Success in Grant Writing" is a guide for those who are in charge of earning their organization's grant money and make those winning grant letters that secure their cause those much needed funds that often elude them. "90 Days to Success in Grant Writing" is a fine course in understanding the art of the grant letter, highly recommended.

The Truth About the New Rules of Business Writing
Natalie Canavor & Claire Meirowitz
FT Press
1330 Avenue of the Americans, 35th floor, New York, NY 10019
9780137153152, $18.99, www.ftpress.com

Writing is communication, and clear communication is vital. "The Truth About the New Rules of Business Writing" is an exploration of the changes that the internet and technology have brought to communicating through written language in the world of business. E-mails, web site content, among other things have brought new methods through the table, where once only the newsletter and press release stood tall. "The Truth About the New Rules of Business Writing" is a top pick and very highly recommended read that's quite the resource.


The Criminology Shelf

Betrayal, Murder, and Greed
Pam Phree & Mike 'Darkside' Beakley
New Horizon Press
PO Box 669, Far Hills, NJ 07931
9780882823133, $22.95, www.newhorizonpressbooks.com

The life of a bounty hunter isn't as simple as television would lead you to believe. "Betrayal, Murder, and Greed: The True Story of a Bounty Hunter and a Bail Bond Agent" tells the tale of Pam Phree, a woman who has entered the bail bond industry and has vowed to turn the typically shady industry into a more respectable when her peers often exploit it out of greed. It is also the story of Mike Beakley, a former cop who has taken to become a licensed bounty hunter. These two tell the story of trying to keep their moral ground when their competitors really burn the line between the law and crime. "Betrayal, Murder, and Greed" is an intriguing look into the bail bond and bounty hunting industries, highly recommended.


The Fiction Shelf

The Look of Love
Jill Egizii
Brown Books Publishing Group
16200 N. Dallas Parkway, Suite 170, Dallas, TX 75248
9781934812549, $22.95, www.brownbooks.com

Challenging a professional boxer to a fist fight won't turn out well, and neither will challenging a lawyer to a legal battle. "The Look of Love" tells the story of Anna, a woman faced with divorce from her attorney husband. The legal battles over her kids and custody leave her at a disadvantage, as her ex-husband does everything he can to prevent Anna from finding her family and being happy. When everything looks to be at its worst, Anna has to try to make a recovery in life. "The Look of Love" is a fine read, recommended.

Europes
Jacques Reda
Host Publications
277 Broadway, Suite 210, New York, NY 10007
9780924047701, $12.00, www.hostpublications.com

Every journey is different, and Jacques Reda imparts his own experiences. "Europes" is a bilingual French and English volume as Reda presents original about his own journey across Europe, translating the soul and spirit through fine prose and poetry. Displayed in its original French, opposite its English translation, it has appeal to both French purists and those who just want to enjoy a good personal adventure. "Europes" is a fine addition to international memoir and poetry collections.

A Time for Everything
Karl O. Knausgaard
Archipelago Books
232 Third Street, #A111, Brooklyn, NY 11215
9780980033083, $20.00, www.archipelagobooks.org

Angels have always eluded mankind. "A Time for Everything" is the tale of a sixteenth century boy by the name of Antinous Bellori and his encounters with angels. Norwegian author Karl O. Knausgaard drew upon much of the tales of angels, as he draws many connections to biblical stories such as Cain and Abel, Sodom and Gomorrah, Noah's ark and many other stories and the hand that angels played in them all. For anyone entranced with the concept of angels, "A Time for Everything" is a fine read, expertly translated from the original Norwegian by James Anderson.

Screen Play
Chris Coppernoll
David C Cook
4050 Lee Vance View, Colorado Springs, CO 80918
9781434764829, $14.99, www.davidccook.com

A little bit of faith can make the most absurd situations seem reachable. "Screen Play" is the tale of Harper, a struggling to work actress trying to get by in New York. Her biggest break is being understudy to one of the top stars on Broadway, but it seems up to luck to get her through. Love eludes her as well, as the one person she can tolerate on a dating site isn't even in the same time zone. Putting her faith in God, Chris Coppernoll makes "Screen Play" a tale many Christian women will relish.

Becca by the Book
Laura Jensen Walker
Zondervan
5300 Patterson Avenue, S.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49530
9780310276975, $14.99, www.zondervan.com

The things people do for a bet. "Becca by the Book" tells the story of one Becca Daniels, an indomitable free spirit who takes indomitable free spirit to the next level. Judged by her friends to be flaky and impossible to commit, she bets she can keep a relationship for three months with the next guy she meets. She soon eats her words as she's placed with her polar opposite, and embarks on a new sort of adventure with the reserved 'Ben', a church goer who favors tradition. "Becca by the Book" is a fun spin of romance many readers will relish.

Jigsaw
Terri A. DeMitchell
Mayhaven Publishing
PO Box 557, Mahomet, IL 61853
Publishing Works, Inc. (publicity)
151 Epping Road, Exeter, NH 03833
9781932278613, $14.95

Good thieves are hard to fine, much to the dismay of Rachel and Will. "Jigsaw" tells the tale of Rachel and Will as they face a band of thieves that are terrorizing their small coastal town. With the only clues being puzzle pieces left behind, Rachel and Will soon find that greed may not be this band of thieves only motivators. "Jigsaw" is a fine pick for young readers who are embracing novels for the first time.


The Sports Shelf

Power Skating
Laura Stamm
Human Kinetics
PO Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61825-5076
9780736076203, $19.95, www.humankinetics.com

There's more to ice skating than fancy moves. "Laura Stamm's Power Skating" is a guide to iceskating with focus and determination for the sport of hockey. With tips on speed, balance, maneuverability, and using your enhanced skating skills to better effect on the rink, Laura Stamm gives hockey players who want to increase their skills with the fundamental techniques of movement on the advice everything they need to know to not make a false move when it counts. "Laura's Stamm's Power Skating" is a top pick for sports collections and very highly recommended.


The Education Shelf

Patterns and Profiles of Promising Learners from Poverty
Joyce L. Van Tassel-Baska, editor
Prufrock Press
PO Box 8813, Waco, TX 76714-8813
9781593633967, $34.95, www.prufrock.com

A sharp mind can come from any economic background. "Patterns and Profiles of Promising Learners from Poverty" is a guide for educators who want to give every edge they can when dealing with students who come from backgrounds where academics don't get the funding or support they need to flourish when dealing with a child with significant potential. With chapters on dealing with students from many different backgrounds, "Patterns and Profiles of Promising Learners from Poverty" is a top pick for any educator who want the best from their students, no matter what.

A Policy Reader in Universal Design for Learning
David T. Gordon, Jenna W. Gravel, & Laura A. Schifter, editors
Harvard Education Press
8 Story Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
9781934742389, $29.95, www.harvardeducationpress.org

Trying to create something that is far reaching and inclusive can prove difficult. "A Policy Reader in Universal Design for Learning" discusses UDL, a movement that is attempting to make a far reaching and more inclusive educational curriculum that is applicable to all students, no matter their race, gender, financial status, or disabilities. Discussing everything from the uses of technology, to old school handwriting to the use of keyboards, the role of the teacher, and so much more, any educational leader should consider "A Policy Reader in Universal Design for Learning", a fine and scholarly reference text that should not be ignored.

What Student Writing Teaches Us
Mark Overmeyer
Stenhouse Publishers
PO Box 11020, Portland, ME 04104-7020
9781571107138, $17.50, www.stenhouse.com

How a child translates his or her thoughts to paper provides much insight into their skills and what teachers need to know for the curriculum. "What Student Writing Teaches Us: Formative Assessment in the Writing Workshop" analyzes elementary and middle school writing from the perspective of the teacher and the student. Assessment of this writing can prove difficult for educators, but the need for feedback is needed. Mark Overmeyer draws on his own experience with children in this age range to give many thoughts and ideas for better language arts education. "What Student Writing Teaches Us" is an invaluable tool that should not be missed for primary educators.

Preparing Students with Disabilities for College Success
Stan F. Shaw, Joseph W. Madaus, Lyman L. Dukes, III
Paul H. Brookes
PO Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
9781598570168, $34.95, www.brookespublishing.com

College is a stepping stone to a greater career,. "Preparing Students with Disabilities for College Success: A Practical Guide to Transition Planning" is a guide for parents and educators who want to appease the special needs of college-aspiring students so that they can reach their fullest potential. Focusing on learning disabilities, autism and related disorders, among others, Stan Shaw, Joseph Madaus, and Lyman Dukes give readers a complete and comprehensive educational guide to getting the most out of college to succeed and rise up in spite of any disability. "Preparing Students with Disabilities for College Success" is a fine and very highly recommended reference not to be missed.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Healthy Dogs, Your Loving Touch
Sherri Cappabianca
Off The Leash Press, LLC
PO Box 275, Winter Park, FL 32790-0275
9780984198207 $37.95 www.OffTheLeashPress.com

Healthy Dogs, Your Loving Touch: Acupressure Massage for Your Dog is a step-by-step guide to the basics of traditional Chinese medicine, acupressure, and massage and how to apply them to bond with and improve the health of one's beloved canine pet. Full color photography and diagrams illustrate this in-depth guide, which spares no detail on anatomy, the art of palpation ("seeing" with one's hands and fingers, the better to be aware of changes in the body of one's dog), a wide variety of massage techniques and much more. Enthusiastically recommended for dog lovers everywhere, as well as for show dog owners interested in every possible advantage to keep their animals in peak condition, "Healthy Dogs, Your Loving Touch" is a wonderfully user-friendly resource.

Turtles
Whit Gibbons & Judy Greene
The John Hopkins University Press
2717 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218
9780801893506, $24.95, www.press.jhu.edu

Slow, lumbering, ancient creatures provide much wonder. "Turtles: The Animal Answer Guide" is a question and answer guide for young readers focusing on these quiet reptiles which prove to be a curiosity for young children as well as biologists. Detailing the day and the life of the turtle, turtles in culture, turtles as food, turtles as pets, and more, for anyone with an interest in all things turtle, tortoise, or terrapin, "Turtles: The Animal Answer Guide" is a read that should not be missed, and a fine addition to any community library wildlife collection.

Life with McDuff
Judy McFadden
Summit Mountain Publishing
PO Box 91528, Henderson, NV 89009-1528
Atlas Book (distrubutor)
30 Amberwood Parkway, Ashland, OH 44805
9780982455401, $16.95, www.lifewithmcduff.com

Lessons can come from a teacher who doesn't know their teaching. "Life with McDuff: Lessons from a Therapy Dog" is a collection of tales regarding the small black Scottish Terrier called McDuff and the relationships he formed with the patients he was assigned to. McDuff's chain of friends who were suffering from severe disabilities makes for an intriguing read as these people find more strength in the small dog that helps them live their lives and reach for greater heights. "Life with McDuff" is a choice pick for pet lovers.


The Political Science Shelf

Democracy's Spectacle
Jennifer Greiman
Fordham University Press
University Box L, 2546 Belmont Ave., Bronx, NY 10458
9780823230990, $45.00, www.fordhampress.com

In Democracy, the people have the power, and the people are intriguing rulers. "Democracy's Spectacle: Sovereignty and Public Life in Antebellum American Writing" analyzes the literature of the nineteenth century and its relation to the politics of the era. Sovereignty and the people is the major theme, as professor of literature Jennifer Greiman looks at the works of Hawthorne, Melville, and others to discuss literature's impact on activism in the era, slavery, and other topics. "Democracy's Spectacle" is an intriguing and educational read that would do well in any community or college library collection focusing on literature and historical politics.

Democracy at the Crossroads
Craig S. Barnes
Fulcrum Publishing
4690 Table Mountain Drive, Suite 100, Golden, CO 80403
9781555917265, $15.95, www.fulcrumbooks.com

Could the peasantry be making a come back? "Democracy at the Crossroads: Princes, Peasants, Poets, and Presidents in the Struggle for (and Against) The Rule of Law)" is an intriguing warning that America may not be as far from feudalism as we thought we were. Blending history, politics, and social science, Craig S. Barnes says democracy is not natural in social evolution and if we're not careful, the office of president could easily become synonymous with King. "Democracy at the Crossroads" is a fascinating read with many original ideas, highly recommended.


The World History Shelf

Greetings from Spitsbergen
John T. Reilly
Tapir Academic Press
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 Northeast 58th Avenue, Suite 300, Portland, OR 97213
9788251924603 $108.00 www.tapirforlag.no www.isbs.com 1-800-944-6190

Historic black-and-white photographs, full color reproductions of classic postcards and more illustrate Greetings from Spitsbergen: Tourists at the Eternal Ice 1827-1914, a remarkable chronicle of early touristry in Spitsbergen - the European wilderness that is as close as one can get to the North Pole on land. Author John T. Reilly (Professor of Haematology, University of Sheffield) has transformed his life-long passion for arctic history in a thoroughly accessible chronicle that readers of all backgrounds can explore and enjoy. The fascinating untold history of human investigation into the forbidding yet enticing arctic wilds, Greetings from Spitsbergen is a unique, gorgeous, and highly recommended contribution to world history shelves.

Windows into the Past
Judith M. Brown
University of Note Dame Press
310 Planner Hall, Note Dame, IN 46556
9780268022174, $20.00, www.und.nd.edu

The life of one person in history can tell you much of the culture. "Window into the Past: Life Histories and the Historian of South Asia" is Judith M. Brown's analysis of the lives of the people of South Asia in recent history with a focus on the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Focusing on the personal lives in both private and public, Brown gives readers a very comprehensive overview of the common man in India and other countries of the era. "Window into the Past" is a fine addition to any history collection focusing on culture.


The Literary Shelf

No Place for a Puritan
Ruth Nolan
Heyday Books
PO Box 9145, Berkeley, CA 94709
9781597140980, $21.95, www.heydaybooks.com

The desert, barren, devoid of life, but home to some great stories. "No Place for a Puritan: The Literature of California's Deserts" is a collection of literature in many different formats. From excepts from novels to poetry, to short fiction and more, Ruth Nolan compiles quite the read for any who doubt the power of the desert, invoked for its mysteriousness, its hopelessness, its remoteness, and so much more. "No Place for a Puritan" is an excellent read for those who doubt the literary inspiration that is the deserts of California.


The Theatre/Cinema/TV Shelf

QNY
c/o Langenscheidt Publishing Group
15 Tyger River Drive, Duncan, SC 29334
$14.99 each www.langenscheidt.com

Two enjoyable selections from author Will Dodson consist of 6 oversized movie poster postcards and a flat-spined book filled with vintage stills, and make perfect giftbooks for dyed-in-the-wool movie buffs. "Hollywood Musicals" (9780843714319) offers a gallery of vintage images from classic performances, including "Singin' in the Rain" to "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" and "Mamma Mia!". The result is an extraordinary tour of show-stopping song and dance. "Cult Films" (9780843714289) focuses on the sometimes campy, sometimes gruesome, sometimes thrilling movies that have attracted a small yet dedicated knot of fans over the decades - from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" to "Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS" to "Freaks" and more. Celebrating esoteric films that are most definitely not for the faint of heart (or the easily offended!), "Cult Films" is a worthy tribute to its niche. Both collections are vividly illustrated with black-and-white and color images throughout, and highly recommended.

The DbD Experience
Rachel Rosenthal
Routledge
270 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016
9780415551021, $35.00, www.routledge.com

There's no substitute for experience. "The DbD Experience: Chance Know What It's Doing" is a delve into the world of Rachel Rosenthal and her three day seminar that explores the world of theatre and gives readers an exciting and intriguing crash course to the many aspects of theatre and drama, a lot that there are more to than meets the eye. DbD stands for Doing by Doing, and Rosenthal gives readers quite the experience elaborating on these activities and what they bring. "The DbD Experience" is a must for those wanting to break into the world of theatre.


The Science Shelf

Geology of the Great Basin
Bill Fiero
University of Nevada Press
Mail Stop 0166, Reno, NV, 89557-0166
9780874177909, $29.95

The great basin of the United States has brought countless thought and wonder to scientists over the years. "Geology of the Great Basin" is a scientific guide discussing the many unique features and history of the basin. Describing the core fundamentals of geology when approaching this region, Bill Fiero gives readers a complete and comprehensive discussion, complete with color photographs, many maps of many types, diagrams and more. For anyone curious of the science of the environment of the west, "Geology of the Great Basin" is a top pick that should not be ignored.


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

Career Comeback
Lisa Johnson Mandell
Springboard
c/o Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017
9780446549653, $24.99, www.hachettebookgroup.com

You only have one life, don't waste it doing things you hate. "Career Comeback: Repackage Yourself to Get the Job You Want" is a guide to completely overhauling oneself in order to attain what you really want out of life. Lisa Johnson Mandell states that impressions and reputation mean everything, and gives advice on everything from what to wear, presenting your credentials, and more. "Career Comeback" is a must and a worthy investment for those who want to move onto the next stage in life.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

The Trophoblast and the Origins of Cancer
Nicholas J. Gonzalez, MD & Linda L. Isaacs
New Spring Press
PO Box 200, New York, NY 10156
9780982196502, $49.95, www.newspringpress.com

When did Cancer come to plague mankind? "The Trophoblast and the Origins of Cancer: One Solution to the Medical Enigma of Our Time" discusses the origins of cancer and looks towards the work of Dr. John Beard, an English scientist from a century ago and how his early research can be used today. Dr. Nicholas Gonzalez and Dr. Linda Isaacs present their own takes, taking modern research and matching it Dr. Beard's for many intriguing ideas about cancer and how science and medicine can combat it. "The Trophoblast and the Origins of Cancer" is a top pick for any interested in potential cures and their research.

Celebrity Body on a Budget
Cornel Chin
Price World Publishing, LLC
1300 W. Belmont Ave., Suite 20G, Chicago, IL 60657
9780972410281 $14.95 www.PriceWorldPublishing.com

Cornel Chin, who has worked as a personal trainer to celebrities such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Celebrity Body on a Budget, a solid personal fitness guide for the everyman (and everywoman)! Chapters discuss ways to work exercise into one's natural routine including chores and commuting; deciding whether or not a gym membership is worth it; buying tips for different pieces of home exercise equipment such as treadmills, exercise bicycles, elliptical trainers, stepping machines, rowing machines, or various other items; an easy-to-use personal fitness evaluation; advice for changing one's cooking habits for better health; suggestions to improve one's motivation; and much more. A no-nonsense, easy-to-use guide firmly grounded in practical reality, Celebrity Body on a Budget is enthusiastically recommended to fitness-conscious readers from all walks of life.

HealthMinder Personal Wellness Journal
F.E. Wilkins
MemoryMinder Journals, Inc.
PO Box 23108, Eugene, OR 97402-0425
9780963796875 $14.95 www.memoryminder.com

Spiral-bound for ease of use, HealthMinder Personal Wellness Journal is a consumable daily health and symptoms log, ideal for anyone tracking their daily progress with a chronic medical issue. Each two-page spread includes easy-to-use charts and columns for listing one's drugs and medication, physical activities, diet, personal conditions or symptoms, pain/discomfort/skin changes (a simple black-and-white line drawing of the human body allows for easy indication of changes in problem areas), and much more. A brief addition section at the back allows the user to jot down personal health records, notes and questions, and more. An excellent and handy resource, ideal for self-monitoring in between visits to one's doctor.


The Self-Help Shelf

Healing from Depression
Douglas Bloch
Nicolas-Hays, Inc.
PO Box 540206, Lake Worth, FL 33454-0206
c/o Red Wheel, Conari, Weiser
65 Parker St., Unit 7, Newburyport, MA 01950-4600
9780892541553, $19.95, www.redwheelweiser.com

Depression is a funk you need to pick oneself out of, but that's easier said than done. "Healing from Depression: A Body, Mind, and Spirit Recovery Program" is a guide for recovery from depression and what one can do to combat one's own problems. Organized as a twelve week self-help program, Douglas Bloch gives readers a fascinating and insightful look at depression and how to lift oneself out of it. With tips on dealing with multiple types from a mild case of the blues to serious thoughts of suicide, "Healing from Depression" is a must read for those who want to heal themselves from their broken spirits.


The Agricultural Studies Shelf

Transforming Agricultural Education for a Changing World
National Research Council
c/o The National Academies Press
8700 Jericho City Drive, Landover, MD 20785
9780309132213, $45.00, www.nap.edu

The days of a farm dominated world are long over. "Transforming Agricultural Education for a Changing World" discusses modern Agricultural education. A huge collection of experts and professors on agricultural education come under one cover to discuss the future of agricultural education, and what must be done so that the professors of this still vital subject can give their students an updated outlook on the world around them and the demands placed on today's farms. Ethanol, new growing techniques, climate change, and much more are discussed, making "Transforming Agricultural Education for a Changing World" is an absolute must for any college administration collection.


The Philosophy Shelf

The Courage to be Present
Karen Kissel Wegela
Shambhala
Horticultural Hall, 300 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
Naropa University (publicity)
2130 Arapahoe Avenue, Boulder, CO 80302-6697
9781590306581, $24.95, www.shambhala.com

Buddhism, even if it isn't one's religion, has much to offer in psychology. "The Courage to be Present: Buddhism, Psychotherapy, and the Awakening of Natural Wisdom" discusses Buddhist principles and how to apply them to psychotherapy. Karen Kissel Wegela is a disciple of both the science and the religion and uses her interest in both to provide many intriguing thoughts and ideas on the matter. Drawing on the noble truths of Buddhism, the Bodhisattva, and applying many other Buddhist elements, "The Courage to Be Present" is a strong pick for any who want another way to examine human nature.


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


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