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Library Bookwatch

Volume 6, Number 7 July 2011 Home | LBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Anthropology Shelf Education Shelf
Literary Shelf Music Shelf Biography Shelf
Writing/Publishing Shelf Psychology Shelf World History Shelf
Science Shelf Architecture Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf
Library Science Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf American History Shelf
Parenting Shelf Computer Shelf Photography Shelf
Cookbook Shelf Fiction Shelf Native American Shelf
Philosophy Shelf Business Shelf Environmental Studies Shelf
Economic Studies Shelf Memoir Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Geography Shelf Poetry Shelf Military Shelf
Audiobook Shelf Library CD Shelf Library DVD Shelf
Christian Studies Shelf Archaeology Shelf Law/Justice Shelf
International Studies Shelf Nautical Shelf Language Studies Shelf
Sports Shelf Civil War Shelf  


Reviewer's Choice

Reading with the Stars
Leonard Kniffel
American Library Association
50 E. Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
9780838935989, $17.95, www.alastore.ala.org

Knowledge is power, and there are fewer roads quicker to knowledge than books. "Reading with the Stars: A Celebration of Books and Libraries" is a collection of essays, interviews, and speeches about the importance of libraries and reading, as the likes of President Barack Obama, Philanthropist Bill Gates, and cultural icons like Oprah Winfrey leading the charge on the value of education to success and getting them to where they are today. "Reading with the Stars" is an excellent addition to any community or school library collection, the better to encourage literacy and further reading from young people.

Nuclear Servitude
Annie Thebaud-Mony
Baywood Publishing Company
26 Austin Avenue PO Box 337, Amityville, NY 11701
9780895033802, $57.95, www.baywood.com

Nuclear power is a valuable resource but it must be handled with care. "Nuclear Servitude: Subcontracting and Health in the French Civil Nuclear Industry" discusses the health issues that come up as France annually calls in thousands of employees from outside agencies. Annie Thebaud-Mony, a director of research in the National Institute for Health and Medical Research seeks to investigate the effects of the radiation that these contractors are exposed to, and how the disorganization of France's practices is exposing them to unneeded amounts of radiation and further endangering their health. Chapters investigate every level of the crisis from the lowest level to the higher ups. "Nuclear Servitude" is a scholarly look at a major issue to the health risks associated with nuclear power and how they can be reduced, a vital addition to community and college health studies collections.


The Anthropology Shelf

Ethnic Groups Of Europe
Jeffrey E. Cole, editor
ABC-CLIO
PO Box 1911
Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
www.abc-clio.com
9781598843026, $85.00, www.amazon.com

A 349-page encyclopedic compendium, "Ethnic Groups Of Europe" provides informed and detailed descriptive information on more than one hundred European ethnic and national groups. Each group entry provides a basic overview of that particular group, as well as in-depth information on their origins, early history, cultural life, and continuing development. Included are such particular details as estimated national and global population figures, geographical distribution, religions, languages, and more. Of special note is the information that editor Jeffrey E. Cole (Professor of Anthropology, Connecticut College, New London, Connecticut) provides with respect to the methodology utilized for identifying and selecting ethnic groups, as well as an insightful and informative introductory essay on the general subject of European ethnicity. An impressive work of academic excellent, "Ethnic Groups Of Europe" should be a part of every high school, university, and community library reference collection.


The Education Shelf

Designing and Implementing Effective Adapted Physical Education Programs
Luke E. Kelly
Sagamore Publishing
1807 N. Federal Dr., Urbana, IL 61801
9781571676733, $34.95, www.sagamorepub.com

Physical education should not be pushed aside, especially with today's rising levels of obesity. "Designing and Implementing Effective Adapted Physical Education Programs" is a discussion of physical education and how teachers and leaders can create a physical education program that can cater to the various levels of mobility of students, from the typical to those facing motor issues like being wheelchair bound. For anyone who wants to keep their physical education program all-inclusive, "Designing and Implementing Effective Adapted Physical Education Programs" is a strong pick with plenty of tips and tricks in staying true to it all.

Journey to Literacy
Krista Flemington, Linda Hewins, & Una Villiers
Pembroke Publishers
538 Hood Road, Markham, Ontario, Canada, L3R 3K9
Stenhouse (distribution)
480 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101
9781551382616, $21.00, www.pembrokepublishers.com

Literacy is perhaps one of the most important aspects one can take from education. "Journey to Literacy: No Worksheets Required" is a guide for kindergarten and other young education administrators who want to encourage literacy from a young age. Suggesting games and other activities to encourage learning, the authors suggest many alternatives to the standard worksheet educational method that has been used for decades. "Journey to Literacy" is a strongly recommended pick for community library education collections and for educators of young children.

Teaching Teens with ADD, ADHD, & Executive Function Deficits, second edition
Chris A. Zeigler Dendy
Woodbine House
6510 Bells Mill Rd., Bethesda, MD 20817
9781606130162, $24.95, www.woodbinehouse.com

Education is important, no matter what stands in its way. "Teaching Teens with ADD, ADHD, & Executive Function Deficits: A Quick Reference Guide for Teachers and Parents" is a guide for educators who want to teach their students everything they need to flourish in spite of learning problems and disabilities. The book is broken down into sections with plenty of advice for such conditions as well as the law, medicine, and the importance of pushing such things for teachers. "Teaching Teens with ADD, ADHD, & Executive Function Deficits" is a very highly recommended resource for any educator or educational administrator.

Social Enjoyment Groups
John Merges
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
400 Market Street, Suite 400, Philadelphia, PA 19106
9781849058346, $22.95, www.jkp.com

Friendship is something we all seek, and autism does not change that. "Social Enjoyment Groups: For Children, Teens, and Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders" is a guide for encouraging growth of social groups for young people with autism, and how to form and run such groups effectively to encourage growth of such skills and lead to more independence in life, along with greater fulfillment. "Social Enjoyment Groups" is a strongly recommended pick for anyone in charge of educating autistic pupils.

Alternative Approaches to Assessing Young Children, second edition
Angela Losardo & Angela Notari Syverson
Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co
PO Box 10624, Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
9781598570878, $39.95, www.brookespublishing.com

Written tests aren't the best way to measure the skills of someone who can barely write. Now in its second edition, "Alternative Approaches to Assessing Young Children" is an educational discussion of early childhood education and how to assess it appropriately and correctly. Focusing on these methods, which include strengths and weaknesses of each, how to approach the results of an assessment, and much more, the new edition covers when greater intervention is required. "Alternative Approaches to Assessing Young Children" is an excellent addition to any educational reference collection for teachers and schools open to alternative methods.

Successful Transfer Of Learning
Sandra Ratcliff Daffron & Mary Wehby North
Krieger Publishing Company
1725 Krieger Lane
Melabar, FL 32950-3323
www.krieger-publishing.com
1575242982, $35.25, www.amazon.com

In our post-industrial 'information age' society, the concepts and values of adult education and 'life-long learning' are increasingly salient and compelling issues for both the individual and our national economy. The collaborative work of academician Sandra Ratcliff Daffron (Professor of Adult Education, Western Washington University) and training consultant Mary Wehby North (who also draws upon her expertise and experience as a former Readiness Training Program Manger for the Microsoft Corporation), "Successful Transfer of Learning" is 201-page compendium presenting and explaining the results of a complex and comprehensive study of seventeen professional groups with respect to the transfer of learning from one setting to another, one program to another. Analyzing theoretical implications underlying successful transfers, learner characteristics and motivation, designs and deliveries, learning contexts, strategies, and implementation techniques, "Successful Transfer of Learning" is enhanced with appendices and an index making it a seminal work that would prove to be a welcome and core contribution to professional and academic library Adult Education instructional reference collections and supplemental studies reading lists.


The Literary Shelf

The Myth of Paganism
Robert Shorrock
Bristol Classical Press
c/o International Publishers Marketing
PO Box 605, Herndon, VA 20172-0605
9780715636688, $33.00, www.bloomsburyacademic.com

Art is still art, no matter what is thought to have inspired it. "The Myth of Paganism: Nonnus, Dionysus and the World of Late Antiquity" discusses Pagan poetry and literature, as Robert Shorrock hopes to dispel the myth that this work was any lesser due to the rising power of Christianity, and critiques much of this dismissed work in comparison to other contemporary work and how it still holds its influence in later writing, much like the late-antiquity Christian works. "The Myth of Paganism" is scholarly critique about the importance of these forgotten artists.

Voegelinian Readings of Modern Literature
Charles R. Embry, editor
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Blvd., Columbia, MO 65201
9780826219152, $60.00, www.press.umsystem.edu

As you read more and more, you can gain a greater grasp of the world and everything around it. "Voegelinian Readings of Modern Literature" analyzes the writings of and essays of Eric Voegelin, a man who through his vast education in literature and history in all its forms in his search for philosophy. Charles Embry collects Voegelin's work, and offers his own study and analysis as he goes through Voegelin's search for meaning and an explanation to the blights of humanity in war and religious conflict. "Voegelinian Readings of Modern Literature" is an excellent addition to any community and college literary studies or philosophy collections.

Jane Austen
Laurence W. Mazzeno
Camden House
668 Mount Hope Avenue
Rochester, NY 14620-2731
www.boydell.co.uk
9781571133946, $75.00, www.amazon.com

Jane Austen is one of the cornerstones of 19th century English literature. Laurence W. Mazzeno is an accomplished academician and President Emeritus of Alvernia University in Reading, Pennsylvania who has written extensively on such literary luminaries as Charles Dickens, Alfred Lord Tennyson, and Matthew Arnold. In "Jane Austen: Two Centuries of Criticism", Professor Mazzeno has created a 312-page compendium of insightful commentary on and about Austen's literary work and accomplishments which had been neglected by previous generations of literary critics during her lifetime and for decades after her death, finally to be acknowledged by academia and to find enduring popularity with the general public with her works adapted for movies and continuously in print. Of special note are the implications and insights Professor Mazzeno provides on the impact literary critics can have on the literary reputation of the authors they assess. Informed and informative from beginning to end, "Jane Austen: Two Centuries of Criticism" is a seminal work of academic excellence and an especially recommended addition to personal and academic library reference collections and reading lists.

Catholic Modernists, English Nationalists
Timothy J. Sutton
University of Delaware Press
200A Morris Library
181 South College Avenue
Newark, DE 19717-5267
www2.lib.udel.edu/udpress
9781611491333, $56.00, www.amazon.com

Religious conversion has impacted the lives and literary efforts of many a writer. But none more so that Gerard Manley Hopkins, Ford Madox Ford, T. S. Eliot, Evelyn Waugh, and Graham Greene. Their conversions to the Catholic faith and the influence of such conversions with respect to English literary modernism is the subject of Timothy J. Sutton's "Catholic Modernists, English Nationalists". Of particular note is the impact Catholicism had on these writers in terms of aesthetics and ideology as reflected by their post-conversion works. Informed, informative, insightful, and occasionally iconoclastic, "Catholic Modernists, English Nationalists" is a seminal work of literary criticism and an invaluable contribution to academic library collections and college level 20th Century English Literature supplemental reading lists.


The Music Shelf

The Instrumental Music of Iannis Xenakis
Benoit Gibson
Pendragon Press
PO Box 190, Hillsdale, NY 12529
9781576471616, $36.00, www.amazon.com

There is a science and philosophy to everything, even the production of music. "The Instrumental Music of Iannis Xenakis: Theory, Practice, Self-Borrowing" is a scholarly look at this unique method of composition done by Iannis Xenakis, a composer who compiled his prolific work with theoretical writings of mathematics, drawing on his dual training as musician and engineer. For students of music and engineering, this proves as a unique meeting of disciplines, as Benoit Gibson writes in tribute, 10 years after his death. "The Instrumental Music of Iannis Xenakis" is a must for any scholar of music theory, professional or amateur.

Looking For The "Harp" Quartet
Markand Thakar
University of Rochester Press
668 Mt. Hope Avenue
Rochester, NY 14472
www.urpress.com
9781580463461, $49.95, www.amazon.com

A 225-page tour de force, "Looking for the 'Harp' Quartet: An Investigation into Musical Beauty" by Markand Thakar (Charles A. & Carolyn M. Russell Music Director, Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra; music director, Baltimore Chamber Orchestra; principal conductor, Duluth Festival Opera; and co-director of the graduate conducting program, Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University) addresses the musical experience of beauty in terms of what comprises it. Utilizing Beethoven's String Quartet No. 10 in E-Flat Major (known as the 'Harp') as both an illustration and as a recurring theme, of particular note are the three insightful essays that comprise the second have of the book ('Remembrance of Things Future: On the Listener's Contributions'; 'Patterns of Energy: On The Composers Contribution'; and 'Dynamic Analysis: On The Performer's Contribution'). Enhanced with an appendix, extensive footnotes, a bibliography, and an index, "Looking For The "Harp" Quartet" is an exercise in academic excellence and a seminal contribution for personal, professional, and academic Classical Music Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


The Biography Shelf

G. K. Chesterton
Ian Ker
Oxford University Press
198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016-4314
9780199601288, $65.00, www.oup.com/us

Humor is a weapon, and G. K. Chesterton was a fond user of such an instrument. "G. K. Chesterton" is a scholarly biography of the man and his work from Ian Ker. A critic of the contemporary literature of his time, he is well known for offering opposing and differing viewpoints with the likes of Charles Dickens and H. G. Well. Although he was a political thinker, pushing his version of democracy, he also spoke candidly on religion, supporting both Christianity and Catholicism while not being blind to the many flaws in those faiths. Well researched and well written, "G. K. Chesterton" is an excellent addition to any biography collection focusing on major figures in English literary history.

Last Stop, Carnegie Hall
Brian A. Shook
University of North Texas Press
4354 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-4354
9781574413069, $24.95, www.unt.edu/untpress

Talent only takes you so far, you have to have the drive to follow up with it. "Last Stop, Carnegie Hall: New York Philharmonic Trumpeter William Vacchiano" is the story of this famed trumpeter whop for over thirty years was one of the best in his art. Chronicling his work as a musician, as a teacher, and his influence on the trumpet throughout the twentieth century, anyone with a scholarly interest in the developments in orchestral and big band music through the trumpet should consider "Last Stop, Carnegie Hall" as a core addition to musical biography collections.

Gandhi the Man
Eknath Easwaran
Nilgiri Press
PO Box 256, 3600 Tomales Road, Tomales, CA 94971
9781586380557, $16.95, www.easwaran.org

Gandhi's first choice in life was not the icon of nonviolent resistance as he's known today. "Gandhi the Man: How One Man Changed Himself to Change the World" looks at the transformation of a young lawyer as Gandhi studied to be into a man who used spirituality and passion to lead nearly a half billion people for independence. Looking at how the man found his own path, and what it can teach us fifty years later, Eknath Easwaran uses his own dedication to Gandhi's ideas to show us that the greatness can lie in any of us as he investigates the early life of a Gandhi who is much unlike the thin balding man in robes we know him as. "Gandhi the Man" is a choice pick for any person or library collection who wants a more complete understanding at one of the icons of the twentieth century.

The History Of A History Man
Patrick Collinson
Boydell & Brewer Inc
668 Mount Hope Avenue
Rochester, NY 14620-2731
www.boydellandbrewer.com
9781843836278, $80.00, www.amazon.com

"The History of a History Man: Or, the Twentieth Century Viewed from a Safe Distance. The Memoirs of Patrick Collinson" is the life story of Patrick Collinson. He was Regius Professor of Modern History in the University of Cambridge from 1988 to 1996, and he is a Fellow of Trinity College. The distinguished and academically acclaimed author of many studies of the Reformation and of post-Reformation religion, politics and society, Collinson was also the founding President of the Church of England Record Society. This 224-page memoir covers his childhood, his interest in history, his travels, his academic career, as well as his friends, associates, and colleagues. Of special note is his concluding chapter devoted to 'The Glacis of Retirement'. The story of an extraordinary man with an extraordinary career, "The History OF A History Man" is informative, engaging, and highly recommended reading, making it an ideal and welcome addition to both academic and community library 20th Century memoir collections.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

Electronic Publishing
Gabriel Egan, editor
ACMRS
Arizona State University
Box 874402, Tempe, AZ 85287-4402
www.asu.edu/clas/acmrs/publications/mrts/catalo.html
9780866984492, $52.00

Compiled and edited by Shakespearean scholar and author Gabriel Egan, "Electronic Publishing: Politics And Pragmatics" is a 218-page compendium of informed and informative articles written by ten experienced professionals on diverse aspects of electronic publishing from particularly apt academic perspectives. Also featuring an insightful introduction by Gabriel Egan and an Afterword commentary by John Lavagnino, the contributors focus on a variety of subjects and issues ranging from the impact of computers on scholarly editing, to digitizing printed works, to software tools for creative writing, and so much more. Of special note is Peter Robinson's commentary comprising 'How We Have Been Publishing the Wrong Way, and How We Might Publish a Better Way'. A seminal work of outstanding academic excellence, "Electronic Publishing" should be considered essential reading and an invaluable addition to personal, professional, and academic library instructional publishing reference collections.


The Psychology Shelf

Malpractice In Psychology
David L. Shapiro & Steven R. Smith
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
www.apa.org/books
9781433808951, $59.95, www.amazon.com

The collaborative work of David L. Shapiro (Professor of Psychology, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida) and Steven R. Smith (Professor of Law, California Western School of Law, San Diego, California), "Malpractice in Psychology: A Practical Resource for Clinicians" is a 202-page compendium of superbly presented information on the manifold legal liabilities associated with the provision of psychological services. Of particular note are the chapters devoted to such core issues as confidentiality and privacy, negligent diagnosis and treatment, violence (including suicide), sexual misconduct, the use of nontraditional therapies, and so much more. The chapter devoted to judicial trials and 'doctor-patient confidentiality' are especially pertinent. Enhanced with a bibliography of references, a 'Table of Authorities', and a comprehensive index, "Malpractice In Psychology" should be considered as a basic textbook for academia, and a continuing reference work for professionals engaged in the practices of psychotherapy.


The World History Shelf

The History Of China
David Curtis Wright
Greenwood Press
c/o ABC-CLIO
PO Box 1911
Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
www.abc-clio.com
031330940X, $55.00, www.amazon.com

The newest addition to the outstanding Greenwood Press 'The Greenwood Histories of the Modern Nations' series, "The History Of China" by David Curtis Wright begins with an an extensive 'Timeline of Historical Events', and the proceeds to provide a succinct overview of China's geography, government, population, and early history. Chapters are then devoted to Pre-Imperial China (1122-221 B.C.); Early Imperial China (221 B.C. to 589 A.D.); Middle and Late Imperial China (589 A.D. to 1800 A.D.); and China in the 19th Century. Modern or 20th century China is presented in terms of 'Revolution and Republic'; The People's Republic: From First Breath to Mao's Death'; 'Deng's China', and 'China in the 1990s. Enhanced with a biographical roster of 'Notable People in the History of China' and 'Chinese Dynasties', "The History Of China" is enhanced with the inclusion of a glossary, a bibliographic essay, and a comprehensive index. An informed and informative, 264-page compendium, "The History Of China" is a superbly written and accessible history that should be a core addition to personal, academic, and community library China Studies and World History instructional reference collections.

Battleship Vieques
Cesar J. Ayala and Jose L. Bolivar
Markus Wiener Publishers
231 Nassau Street
Princeton, NJ 08542
9781558765382 $24.95 www.markuswiener.com

Battleship Vieques: Puerto Rico from World War II to the Korean War is a critical close study of the repercussions of the U.S. Navy's decision to essentially take over the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico. When German U-boats sank more ships in the Caribbean than anywhere else, the American government resolved to turn the island of Vieques into an "unsinkable battleship"; the navy appropriated two-thirds of the island's land, ignoring the cultural traditions of the local Puerto Rican population, forcibly relocating residents, introducing racial discrimination, and destroying the local economy. Battleship Vieques scrutinizes the ruthless occupation during and after World War II in fine detail, exploring the roots of the demonstrations that would eventually force the U.S. Navy out in 2003. A brief survey of long-term consequences of the Vieques occupation rounds out this sober and eye-opening account, highly recommended especially for world and naval history shelves.


The Science Shelf

Born in Africa
Martin Meredith
Public Affairs
250 West 57th Street, Suite 1321, New York, NY 10107
9781586486631, $26.99, www.publicaffairsbooks.com

All our scientific evidence points to the start of humanity taking place in Africa. It's not a very narrow aim, given the size of the continent. "Born in Africa: The Quest for the Origins of Human Life" is a deeper study of the origins of humanity trying to uncover the birthplace of humanity, what the constantly changing picture of the earth means in the development of humanity, our most recent common ancestor, the cradle of civilization, and how many sciences have begun to clash on the many finds. A massive detective story that no one is sure will ever be able to be solved, "Born in Africa" is of immense interest to anyone who ponders where it all began for homo sapiens.

Prudent Practices In The Laboratory
National Research Council
National Academies Press
500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
www.nap.edu
9780309138642, $99.95, www.amazon.com

Chemistry based explosions in the lab is the stuff of comedy in the movies. Science running amok in the lab has featured as the plot line in many a science fiction epic. But laboratory accidents can a source of genuine tragedy in real life. That's why the National Research Council of the National Academies has written and compiled a completely updated, 360-page edition of "Prudent Practices in the Laboratory: Handling and Management of Chemical Hazards". Offering comprehensive guidelines and practices for assessing hazards, managing chemicals, disposing of wastes, insuring personal and public safety, "Prudent Practices in the Laboratory" covers everything from creating a culture of laboratory safety, to emergency planning, to laboratory security, and so much more. Enhanced with the includes of an extensive bibliography, three appendixes (OSHA Laboratory Standard; Statement of Task; Committee Member Biographies), and a comprehensive index, "Prudent Practices in the Laboratory" also features invaluable supplemental materials on CD as well. "Prudent Practices in the Laboratory" should be considered as an indispensable core addition to academic, corporate, and professional reference libraries.


The Architecture Shelf

Light Perspectives
Aksel Karcher, et al.
Erco
c/o ActarBirkhauser Distribution (Actar D)
151 Grand Street, 5th floor, NY, NY 10013
www.actar-d.com
9783981321616, $59.95, www.amazon.com

The collaboration of Aksel Karcher, Martin Krautter, David Kuntzsch and Thomas Schielke, "Light Perspectives: Between Culture And Technology" is a 268 page, profusely illustrated, informed and informative compendium on the importance and implementation of light and light sources with respect to an array of architectural forms and formats. Accessible organized into three major categories of Light, Space, and Perspectives, "Light Perspectives" presents professional perspectives regarding the intrinsic qualities of light, techniques and design approaches, as well as abstract lighting concepts. Of special note is how our perception of light is deeply rooted in both the biological and the cultural history of human evolution. Enhanced with an extended glossary, bibliography, and index, "Light Perspectives" is a seminal and very strongly recommended acquisition for professional and academic Architectural Studies instructional reference collections.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Dying To Be Men
Will Courtenay
Routledge
270 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016
9780415878760, $39.95, www.routledgementalhealth.com

Living up to a high standard, a standard that many can't even truly describe. "Dying To Be Men: Psychosocial, Environmental, and Biobehavioral Directions in Promoting the Health of Men and Boys" discusses the impact of masculinity and the desire to be men has on male health. Will Courtenay, a doctor focused on men's health discusses how the health needs of men are not being met and that it may be attached to psychology and culture. Discussing all ages of men, "Dying To Be Men" is a truly fascinating, scholarly, and highly recommended read that should be in any psychology and health studies collection, aimed at those who want to understand man in today's society.

Complete Guide to Fitness & Health
Barbara Bushman, editor
Human Kinetics
PO Box 5076, Champaign, IL 61825-5076
9780736093378, $21.95, www.humankinetics.com

Health is a status that can be maintained for a lifetime. "Complete Guide to Fitness & Health: Physical Activity and Nutrition Guidelines for Every Age" is a wise read from Human Kinetics edited by Barbara Bushman. Within, she presents a no nonsense guide for general health and better health at any age in any status of life, from youth to adulthood, pregnancy, middle aged, and the elderly years. Many later life plagues such as diabetes, arthritis, and blood pressure issues can be fought with good exercise and diet throughout life. "Complete Guide to Fitness & Health" is something to be strongly considered for the private home bookshelf for any family.


The Library Science Shelf

Using Qualitative Methods in Action Research
Douglas Cook & Lesley Farmer, editors
Association of College and Research Libraries
c/o American Library Association
50 East Huron Street
Chicago, IL 60611
9780838985762 $40.00 www.alastore.ala.org

Using Qualitative Methods in Action Research: How Librarians Can Get to the Why of Data is a straightforward and thorough guide to the practice of qualitative research written especially for librarians and library science professionals. A wealth of experts in the field contribute their wisdom concerning the recursive cycle of qualitative action research, as well as specific useful methodologies such as content analysis, performance-based self-assessment, discourse analysis as applied to understanding social networking, and much more. Issues addressed with the tool of qualitative research include the reference interview in both real time and virtual time, and qualitative methods for library collection development, among many others. "As information evolves, literacy skills will need to adapt to these changes. Today, the use of visuals has expanded in ways that were perhaps unthinkable to us thirty years ago. Librarians are asked how to cite information from Flickr, how to find examples of the best uses of graphics in advertising, and how to find text fonts that cannot be found in Microsoft Word. As visual sources become more complex and predominant, teaching visual literacy should be the next evolving step of information literacy." An index rounds out this excellent, cutting-edge resource for information science professionals in the field.

Reference Sources and Services for Youth
Meghan Harper
Neal-Schuman Publishers
100 William Street, Suite 2004, New York, NY 10038
9781555706418, $65.00, www.neal-schuman.com

With so much information it can be quite daunting to many young people in managing it all. "Reference Sources and Services for Youth" is a guide aimed at public and school librarians who want to better equip their facilities to help children and young adults cut through the massive bloat of information that librarians often seems quite overwhelming when using the library for school projects or self-interest. Meghan Harper provides advice on helping librarians by breaking down the major references and what age group they are appropriate for. "Reference Sources and Services for Youth" is a volume to be considered for entry into community and school library science shelves.

Books on Early American History and Culture, 1996-2000
Raymond D. Irwin
Praeger Publishers
c/o ABC-CLIO
PO Box 1911
Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
9780313314285 $54.95 www.abc-clio.com

Books on Early American History and Culture, 1996-2000: An Annotated Bibliography is an index designed to help librarians and serious researchers sort through the immense amount of available monographs, references, exhibition catalogs, and essay collections that have been reviewed in at least one of 45 different general periodicals and historical journals. Covering more than 700 titles 1996 to 2000, Books on Early American History and Culture features a succinct summary of each listed work. Subdivided by general category (Nautical, Gender, Native American, Urban Life, etc.) with individual entries listed alphabetically by author's name and a straightforward author index, Books on Early American History and Culture is a useful and practical guide for building a solid reference collection.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Raptors of the West Captured in Photographs
Kate Davis, author
Kate Davis, Rob Palmer, and Nick Dunlop, photography
Mountain Press Publishing Company
PO Box 2399
Missoula, MT 59806
9780878425754 $30.00 www.mountain-press.com

Raptors of the West Captured in Photographs lives up to its title with astonishing, full-color photography of birds of prey found in the American West. Striking images on virtually every page show eagles, falcons, osprey, hawks, owls, and condors hunting, feeding, flying, and caring for their young. The text offers grounding and context for the striking images, as well as a sprinking of fascinating facts about these magnificent birds. Raptors of the West Captured in Photographs is sure to be a popular lend for public libraries and also makes a superb giftbook for bird lovers. Highly recommended.

The Natural Vet's Guide to Preventing and Treating Arthritis in Dogs and Cats
Shawn Messonnier
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
9781577319757, $14.95, www.newworldlibrary.com

Ailments affect our furry friends in their advanced age just like us. "The Natural Vet's Guide to Preventing and Treating Arthritis in Dogs and Cats" is a guide to Arthritis as it affects two of the most common domestic pets, cats and dogs. However, just like humans, good diet and practices can help fight these ailments and prevent them for leaving beloved pets in constant pain. For those with a strong concern about their pet's health, "The Natural Vet's Guide to Preventing and Treating Arthritis in Dogs and Cats" is well worth considering for their greater health.

The Complete Book of North American Butterflies
Paul A. Opler, editor
Thunder Bay Books
c/o Baker & Taylor
10350 Barnes Canyon Road, San Diego, CA 92121
9781607102762, $18.95, www.thunderbaybooks.com

Butterflies have a certain natural beauty to them, and many look for them and see nature's artistic endeavors. "The Complete Book of North American Butterflies" is a guide to the many varieties of butterfly that lurks throughout America. In glossy full color, Butterflies and caterpillars are shown in their natural beauty as they mature into adulthood and gain their unique appearance unlike anything else in nature. Looking through the United States and Canada's vast amount of nature, identifying species, and migrations, "The Complete Book of North American Butterflies" is a must for anyone with a certain fascination for butterflies, highly recommended.

The Guide to Colorado Reptiles and Amphibians
Mary Taylor Young
Fulcrum Publishing
4690 Table Mountain Drive, Suite 100
Golden, Colorado 80403
9781555915841 $26.95 www.fulcrum-books.com

The Guide to Colorado Reptiles and Amphibians is a full-color identification guide to the snakes, turtles, lizards, frogs, toads, and salamanders of the Colorado region. Excellent photography of each species along with easy-to-use field ID guidelines, and notes on the habitat and distribution of various species. Of particular interest are the "legal status" for various species; for example, under the Common Lesser Earless Lizard listing it states "Nongame species. Up to four individuals can be taken and possessed without a license for noncommercial purposes, though no more than 12 individuals in total of all animals from the list of allowed species can be possessed at any one time." A handful of fascinating general facts, such as the origin of the light-sensitive vestigal "third eye" on the back of various lizards' heads, round out this excellent, user-friendly field guide.


The American History Shelf

Upheaval in Charleston
Susan Millar Williams and Stephen G. Hoffius
University of Georgia Press
330 Research Drive
Athens, GA, 30602-4901
9780820337159 $29.95 www.ugapress.org

Upheaval in Charleston: Earthquake and Murder on the Eve of Jim Crow is the true story of a natural disaster that beset Charleston, South Carolina on August 31, 1886. A monumental earthquake sent shock waves as far abroad as Maine, Florida, and the Mississippi river, leaving death and destruction in its wake. Upheaval in Charleston collects testimonies from Confederate veterans and former slaves, as well as telling the story of Fancis Warrington Dawson, a British expatriate and editor of the Charleston's "News and Courier", who labored to find common ground between the races, a perilous undertaking that jeopardized his life as well as his reputation. An inset section of black-and-white photograph and illustrative plates enhances this absorbing testimony of severe tragedy in the American south, over a century before Hurricane Katrina.

Making War and Minting Christians
R. Todd Romero
University of Massachusetts Press
PO Box 429
Amherst, MA 01004
9781558498884 $26.95 www.umass.edu/umpress

Making War and Minting Christians: Masculinity, Religion, and Colonialism in Early New England is a close examination of the interplay between gender roles, religious practice, and warfare in colonial America. R. Todd Romero (Assistant Professor of History, University of Houston) studies the drastic differences in the English colonialists' and missionaries' view of manliness from that of the Native Americans they sought to convert. Both groups attached religious significance to warfare; the English justified their territorial expansion with the concept of divine sanction, while the Indians attributed victories to "the Great God" and the view that their enemies "were like women". "However differently Natives and Anglo-Americans understood the nature of the divine, both groups might well have agreed with the notion that God was the font of all things as King Philip's War (1675-76, to 1678 in Maine) unfolded." A handful of black-and-white illustrations pepper this scholarly and thoughtful analysis.

Civil Rights in New York City
Clarence Taylor, editor
Fordham University Press
2546 Belmont Avenue
University Box L
Bronx, NY 10458-5172
9780823232895 $35.00 www.fordhampress.com

Civil Rights in New York City: From World War II to the Giuliani Era is an invaluable addition to American History shelves in its chronicle of the civil rights movement in a Northern city - the South wasn't the only place where African-American rights were curtailed at work and at home. An anthology of essays by expert authors discuss such facets as "Rochdale Village and the Rise and Fall of Integrated Housing in New York City", "Conservative and Liberal Opposition to the New York City School-Integration Campaign", "Racial Events, Diplomacy, and Dinkins's Image", and much more. A sober, practical, and serious-minded collection, highly recommended.

Voices of Revolutionary America
Carol Sue Humphrey
Greenwood
c/o ABC-CLIO
130 Cremona Drive, Santa Barbara, CA
9780313377327, $75.00, www.abc-clio.com

The Revolutionary War was a truly unique spectacle to the civilian, but in between the heroics of the future founding fathers, what was the status of the common man? "Voices of Revolutionary America: Contemporary Accounts of Daily Life" is a study of the everyday life of the British subject turning into an American citizen. Providing an analysis of marriage customs of the time, poverty, slavery, faith, and much more, it paints a picture of an America already peeling away from its European motherland, not just politically, but socially as well. Focusing on the period of 1775 to 1783 and the transition from territory to sovereignty, it also briefly touches on the time leading up to this era. A scholarly, complete and comprehensive look at these issue of the people, granting a different picture of an era celebrated but not fully known, "Voices of Revolutionary America" is a strongly recommended pick for any American history collection.

Derelict Paradise
Daniel R. Kerr
University of Massachusetts Press
PO Box 429, Amherst, MA 01004
9781558498495, $28.95, www.umass.edu/umpress

Why would anyone wish for vagrancy on anyone? How could anyone profit? "Derelict Paradise: Homelessness and Urban Development in Cleveland, Ohio" is Daniel Kerr's own attempts to answer such a question, focusing on the city of Cleveland in his search for answers. Looking at the market, politics, development, the law, and much more, he tries to put reason to the process and how many times in history there have been efforts to 'solve' the homeless problem and how the will and resourcefulness of survival have stopped it every step of the way. "Derelict Paradise" proves to be a fascinating breakdown of this complex issue, and offers many answers and food for thought.


The Parenting Shelf

The Smart Stepdad
Ron L. Deal
Bethany House
c/o Baker
11400 Hampshire Ave. S, Bloomington, MN 55438
9780764206962, $13.99, www.bethanyhouse.com

The role of the step dad is a daunting one, as you find yourself mentoring children who may very well start off resenting you. "The Smart Stepdad: Steps to Help You Succeed" is a guide for those who have taken on this task of fatherhood to children who aren't theirs biologically yet expected to due to marriage. Ron Deal advises would be stepfathers on being a good role model, when to step away from acting like Dad, and how to deal with the ex, and other testy issues that come with entering a family in progress. "The Smart Stepdad" is a strong pick for anyone entering this role and seeks the best for their new mate and their children.

Autism Tomorrow
Karen L. Simmons & Bill Davis
The Center for AAC & Autism
c/o Exceptional Resources
1425 Broadway #444, Seattle, WA 98122
Atlas Books (distribution)
30 Amberwood Parkway, Ashland, OH 44805
9780972468220, $29.95, www.autismtoday.com

Autism is not a declaration that normalcy is impossible. "Autism Tomorrow: The Complete Guide to Help Your Child Thrive in the Real World" is a guide for parents of Autistic children who want to help their child overcome their disorder to live something close to what we call normal, as Karen Simmons and Bill Davis advise parents on how to advise their children on the many things that make up the real world, finances, sexuality, employment, health, and so much more. "Autism Tomorrow" is a strong pick for any parent who has higher expectations and hope for their children than to treat them like children their entire life.


The Computer Shelf

Step by Step
Maria Langer
Microsoft
c/o O'Rielly
1005 Gravenstein Highway North, Sebastopol, CA 95472
9780735651890, $29.99, www.oreilly.com

E-Mail, even with the advent of instant messaging and texting, still is a very important aspect of modern business. "Step by Step: Microsoft Outlook for Mac 2011" is a complete and comprehensive guide to using Microsoft Outlook to its fullest extent as an e-mail managing tool, integrating it with other Microsoft programs, working with multiple e-mail programs, filtering one's e-mail, making sure you are aware of the most important e-mails, and making Outlook work with you, instead of you working through it. "Step by Step" is a strong pick for anyone who wants to manage their e-mail more efficiently.

Game Development Tools
Marwan Y. Ansari, editor
CRC Press
c/o Taylor & Francis
6000 Broken Sound Parkway, NW, Suite 300
Boca Raton, FL 33487
9781568814322, $49.95, www.taylorandfrancisgroup.com

Game development is a combination of many disciplines now, from art to design to programming. "Game Development Tools" is a discussion from many authors on the tips, tricks, and skills needed to make the most out of game development. Chapters touch on the methods of doing design, creating art assets, both visual and audio, implementing them, tricks to streamline code and debug it more efficiently, and much more, chapters speak on many coding language with many tips on how to bring the whole product together into one playable and fun end. "Game Development Tools" is an excellent pick for anyone studying game development on a professional or amateur level.


The Photography Shelf

Defining the Future of Photography
Matthew Bamberg
Course Technology Cengage
20 Channel Center Street, Boston, MA 02210
9781435458574, $29.99, www.courseptr.com

Photography took much of the practical use away from drawing and painting, but will such a thing take over photography's place? "Defining the Future of Photography: New Image Frontiers" discusses photography and its future. As technology keeps advancing, photography evolves with it, from old school film all the way to camera phones. Many experts on art photography and photography in general offer their perspective and views into what seems to be a good future for photography. "Defining the Future of Photography" is an intriguing study for any career or hobbyist photographer, highly recommended.


The Cookbook Shelf

Diabetes Cookbook for Dummies
Alan L. Rubin
Wiley
111 River St., Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
9780470536445, $19.99, www.dummies.com

A diagnosis of diabetes does not mean nothing good ever again. "Diabetes Cookbook for Dummies" is a cookbook from the people at the Dummies book with advice on how to make an easily prepared, easy to understand diabetic diet that isn't the modern equivalent of gruel. With over one hundred recipes, plenty of information on treatment of diabetes, shopping tips, substituting sugar, children's tastes, and much more, "Diabetes Cookbook for Dummies" is a strong pick for those who want to cook diabetes friendly but have no idea where to start.

Simple, Fresh, & Healthy
Linda Hafner
Beaufort Books
27 West 20th Street, Suite 1102, New York, NY 10011
9780825305573, $19.95, www.beaufortbooks.com

Fresh fruit is a treat all its own when it's in season, but it can be made even better. "Simple, Fresh, & Healthy: A Collection of Seasonal Recipes" is a cookbook focusing on seasonal dishes and how to make the most of them. The recipes are not entirely vegetable based, and mix in meats and other non-plant qualities for the recipes, as they are split season by season. From lemonade made from scratch, fruit pizza, sage turkey burgers, and white chili, "Simple, Fresh, & Healthy" is an excellent collection of recipes for those who like the cook by the season for best taste.

The Eat Local Cookbook
Lisa Turner
Down East
PO Box 679, Camden, ME 04843
9780892729234, $19.95, www.downeast.com

With people seeing the environmental costs of their food more and more, local eating has made a serious come back. "The Eat Local Cookbook: Seasonal Recipes from a Maine Farm" is a guide for those in Maine to use the local agricultural bounty to create a wide array of delicious dishes. With well over one hundred recipes, Lisa Turner offers her take on classics like Ultimate Mashed Potatoes, Stuffed Peppers, and some more original dishes such as Steak Salad and Radish sandwiches. For anyone who is looking to embrace good cooking, "The Eat Local Cookbook" is well worth considering, even for those without the option of a local-driven diet.


The Fiction Shelf

My American Unhappiness
Dean Bakopoulos
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
215 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10003
9780151013449 $24.00 www.hmhpub.com

My American Unhappiness is a biting novel of obsession, futility, and myopic pursuit of the American Dream. Thirty-three year old Zeke Pappas is studious of everyone he meets, always asking them "Why are you so unhappy?" He becomes increasingly obsessed with categorizing and detailing the many answers he receives into a convoluted project, and his private life becomes even more tangled. Convinced that marrying the "perfect mate" will earn him custody of his orphaned nieces, Zeke follows the steps laid out by a woman's magazine to focus on potential wives; the candidates include his recently divorced neighbor, his administrative assistant, and Sofia Coppola, who might be out of his league but why not at least take part in the tryouts? Exacting, insightful, and flavored with sardonic subtext, My American Unhappiness is highly recommended.

Autumn Bends the Rebel Tree
Carolyn Guy
Canterbury House Publishing
225 Ira Harmon Rd., Vilas, NC 28692-9369
9780982539699, $16.95, www.canterburyhousepublishers.com

The driver of a woman to protect her family as its sole provider is something that should never be underestimated. "Autumn Bends the Rebel Tree" tells the story of Clarinda Darningbush, a woman of the great depression who faces the common fate of Appalachian women, marrying early and having many children. As her husband passes, her challenges grow as Carolyn Guy tells this well researched story of the devoted nature of motherhood. "Autumn Bends the Rebel Tree" is a thoughtful and very highly recommended read, not to be missed.

Together
Julius Chingono & John Eppel
Uno Press
UNO College of Liberal Arts
New Orleans, LA 70148
9781608010493, $18.95, www.unopress.org

With nothing in common, they find they have everything in common. "Together" is a collection of short fiction from Julius Chingono & John Eppel, two writers in Zimbabwe who come together to share a different world perspectives, united in their disgust at the abuse of power for greed and hopes for their people. A fine assortment of fiction and poetry, "Together" is an excellent assortment of Zimbabwean perspective, highly recommended.

Vlad
C. C. Humphreys
Sourcebooks Landmark
1935 Brookdale Rd., Suite 139, Naperville, IL 60563
9781402253515, $15.99, www.sourcebooks.com

Fear is a powerful weapon in war, it can create heroes. But it also sometimes creates legends of infamy. "Vlad: The Last Confession" is a novel seeking to stay true to the story of one Vlad Tepes, the supposedly vile and vicious lord of Wallachia. C. C. Humphreys strays from the vampiric mythology to tell the riveting story of Dracula as a man, the unique individual who is historically credited with routing the Ottoman advance into Europe. "Vlad" is a must for any fan of historical fiction, or those who want another view on the legend of Dracula.

Welcome to Our Hillbrow
Phaswane Mpe
Ohio University Press
19 Circle Drive, The Ridges, Athens, OH 45701
9780821419625, $16.95, www.ohioswallow.com

Unity was not immediately embraced when Apartheid fell, as life still presented much social conflict. "Welcome to Our Hillbrow" is a novel of postapartheid South Africa, hoping to look into the minds of South Africans and their world of racism, sexual issues boiling over, and the constant violence that seems to be apart of their everyday life. Telling an excellent story of what these people face and the want of a more perfect life, "Welcome to Our Hillbrow" explores the culture and tells a human story that will resonate with anyone.


The Native American Shelf

The Navajo Code Talkers
Doris A. Paul
Dorrance Publishing
701 Smithfield Street, Third Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
9780805945904, $17.00, www.dorrancebooks.com

In World War II, America's diversity won them a major victory in intelligence. "The Navajo Code Talkers" chronicles how America tapped the Native Americans to befuddle Axis forces who struggled to understand the native language of the Americas. Doris A. Paul tells their story of how it was only decades before that the United States government persecuted their people harshly, but patriotism for their land, even if they strongly disagreed with who ran it, won out over a blood grudge. Embracing the Navajo language as code, a language that is very difficult to learn, especially from German and Japanese, they formed a code that was nigh impossible to decipher. "The Navajo Code Talkers" is a strong pick on this truly unique work of military cunning.

The People of the River's Mouth
Michael Dickey
University of Missouri Press
2910 LeMone Boulevard
Columbia, MO 65201
9780826219145 $19.95 www.umsystem.edu/upress

The People of the River's Mouth: In Search of the Missouria Indians is the history of the Indian tribe after whom the Missouri river was named. They numbered in the thousands when first discovered by the Europeans; by 1804, less than four hundred remained. The People of the River's Mouth gathers rare printed references, documents, and incidents of oral tradition to reconstruct the Missouria's history and their interactions with French, Spanish, and early American settlers. A handful of black-and-white images rounds out this scholarly yet accessible and welcome contribution to college library Native American history shelves.

First Nations Gaming in Canada
Yale D. Belanger, editor
University of Manitoba Press
301 St. John's College, Winnipeg, MA, Canada R3T 2N2
9780887557231, $27.95, uofmpress.ca

The American Indian casino isn't something exclusive to the United States. "First Nations Gaming in Canada" discusses the Aboriginal culture of Canada, the First Nations, and their commercial gaming facilities that have developed throughout the region in recent years. Twelve essays from many who are analyzing Canada and the effects of these institutions, what they do for the people of the First Nations, and what they do for the rest of Canada. A scholarly study that ponders Canada's present and future, "First Nations Gaming in Canada" is a must for any collection pondering social and aboriginal issues in Canada.


The Philosophy Shelf

Confucius, the Analects
Rodney L. Taylor, annotations
James Legge, translator
Skylight Paths
PO Box 237, Sunset Farm Offices, Rt. 4, Woodstock, VT 05091
9781594733062, $16.99, www.skylightpaths.com

Confucius's wisdom was so strong, many consider it a religion in itself despite no claim of divinity from Confucius. "Confucius, the Analects: The Path of the Sage" discusses the wisdom of Confucius, who for thousands of years has had his words and philosophies studied. Rodney L. Taylor works with translator James Legge to explore one of his most famous works and help readers understand why Confucius and his studies are still very important in the modern day. "Confucius, The Analects: The Path of the Sage" is a must for anyone who wants to apply this ancient yet wise philosophy to their life.


The Business Shelf

Business Fraud
Jack L. Hayes
Bascom Hill Publishing Group
212 North 3rd Avenue, Suite 290, Minneapolis, MN 55401
9781935098515, $19.95, www.bascomhillpublishing.com

When it comes to theft in your business, the biggest fear isn't someone busting in wielding a gun. It's your own managers. "Business Fraud: From Trust to Betrayal, How to Protect Your Business in 7 Easy Steps" discusses security in business against white collar crime, which peddles in fraud and massive damage to business due to betrayal from within a company. The surge of technology has both helped and hindered fraud within a company, as Jack Hayes seeks to explain his proven ideas for fighting fraud and promoting honesty within a business. "Business Fraud" is a must for anyone who risks ruin from the greed that sits beneath them.

With Respect to the Japanese
John C. Condon & Tomoko Masumoto
Interculture Press
c/o Nicholas Brealey Publishing
20 Park Plaza, Suite 1115A, Boston, MA 02116
9780984247127, $24.95, www.interculturalpress.com

Japan has surged as a global economic power after World War II, leading to many people finding work there. "With Respect to the Japanese: Going to Work in Japan" discusses the culture clash that comes with American or other people of western origin finding work in Japan, and how to prepare with this cultural divide. Describing the biggest challenges that come with working in Japan, knowing the etiquette, standard and business, that is very important there, and much more, "With Respect to the Japanese" is an absolute must for those diving into the Japanese culture for employment.


The Environmental Studies Shelf

Sustainable Business & Industry
Joseph Jacobsen
ASQ
600 N. Plankinton Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53203-2914
9780873898102, $85.00, www.asq.org

Exploiting the environment will turn unprofitable quickly when there's no environment to exploit. "Sustainable Business & Industry: Designing and Operating for Social and Environmental Responsibility" discusses the politics and methods behind creating sustainable businesses that will last for decades to come. Chapters present the argument for sustainability, the social responsibility that lies behind it, the numbers behind it all, how industrial plants work into the greater picture, and the involvement on the world stage. Appendixes discuss the value of statistics, the social element all this involves, and the importance of understanding the science of heat energy. "Sustainable Business & Industry" is an invaluable study of the nexus point that is the future of business, economy, and our world all mingling together.

Climate Change and National Security
Daniel Moran, editor
Georgetown University Press
3240 Prospect Street, NW, Washington, DC 20007
9781589017412, $29.95, www.press.georgetown.edu

The biggest threat to mankind does not seem to be terrorists, but perhaps the very planet we live on. "Climate Change and National Security: A Country-Level Analysis" discusses the environmental risks to national security that will be coming in the very near future. Daniel Moran compiles a series of thoughts and opinions on this very important discussion that affects not only the United States but the entire world. With many thinkers speaking on many countries criticizing environmental policies, preparations, and much more, "Climate Change and National Security" is a core addition to any social issues and environmental community and college library collections.

Global Governance of the Environment
Afshin Akhtarkhavari
Edward Elgar
William Pratt House, 9 Dewey Court, Northampton, MA 01060
9781849802550, $135.00, www.e-elgar.com

The environment cannot be handled on a small scale, it will take the entire world to make a difference. "Global Governance of the Environment: Environmental Principles and Change in International Law and Politics" is a scholarly text breaking down the international debate of law on a grander scale that the world faces in maintaining and recovering its environment from current and past abuses. Too often the exploitation that may take place in a place like Germany will affect its neighbors, leading to pollution in France, for an example. For real environmental progress to be made, the campaigns and changes must happen on a world scale. Afshin Akhtarkhavari is an Australian lawyer who has extensively studied the topic, and discusses what international protocols are required to push forward, quoting previous cases that have been brought before the United Nations. A highly scholarly read on the necessary environmental and international law the whole world needs to embrace, "Global Governance of the Environment" is a cornerstone of any environmental or international studies collections in community and college libraries.

Water Security
World Economic Forum
Island Press
1718 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20009
9781597267366, $30.00, www.islandpress.org

Water is the most vital resource to continued prosperity. "Water Security: The Water-Food-Energy-Climate Nexus" discusses the incredible importance of water in our future, and how water form the roots of many other important aspects of continued existence. In the near future, water will become more and more scarce, and acting now in both a political and environmental front is needed to make sure our supply never completely dwindles, leading to catastrophic results. Securing water for the future as such has become an incredibly important aspect in today's intentional discourse, and "Water Security" proves an educated and very highly recommended read.


The Economic Studies Shelf

How Latvia Came through the Financial Crisis
Anders Aslund and Valdis Dombrovskis
Peterson Institute for International Economics
1750 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036
9780881326024 $21.95 www.piie.com

Current Latvian Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis, who guided Latvia through the recent global economic crisis, and expert economist Anders Aslund present How Latvia Came through the Financial Crisis, a no-nonsense analysis of the situation and its aftermath from Latvia's perspective. Chapters chronicle why the Latvian economy became overheated during the boom cycle, the debate that raged over devaluing Latvia's currency, why and IMF and European Union stabilization program was necessary, the actions that the Latvian government took to resolve the crisis, and what lessons can be drawn from Latvia's ultimately successful story. "The financial crisis in Latvia has been remarkable for everything that did not happen. There was no significant reaction against globalization, capitalism, the European Union, or the euro. No major strikes or social unrest erupted, while the population rose against populism and unjustified state privileges. Politically and financially, crony businessmen were the biggest losers, whereas the political winners were the moderate but decisive center-right forces." Charts, graphs and an extensive index round out this enthusiastically recommended addition to global economic studies and college library shelves.

International Trade
Jonathan Reuvid & Jim Sherlock
Kogan Page
1518 Walnut Street, Suite 1100, Philadelphia, PA 19102
9780749462376, $39.95, www.koganpage.com

Trade is needed more than ever, but it can be quite troublesome in the international community. "International Trade: An Essential Guide to the Principles and Practice of Export" discusses the concerns and issues that occur when engaging in and managing modern overseas trade. An easy to use and comprehensive textbook, the authors cover common customs, the law, shipping, how to deal with the money through it all, and more, "International Trade" is a very much recommended read for any business leader who wants to go across borders for their product and wants to do it right.

The Entrepreneur
Joseph A. Schumpeter
Stanford Business Books
1450 Page Mill Road
Palo Alto, CA 94304-1124
9780804762830, $32.95, www.sup.org

Economics is a philosophy all in itself. "The Entrepreneur" is a collection of the texts of Joseph A. Schumpeter, a man who was a respected thinker of economic theory, with many acclaimed books to his name. This compilation has many works translated into English for the first time, granting a more complete understanding of his theories of economics. The editors add their own notes on his work, granting a comprehensive analysis to tie the work together as a whole. "The Entrepreneur" is a must for any student of economics, be they scholarly or non-specialist general reader, and is a core addition to community and college business library collections.


The Memoir Shelf

Deliver Us From Evil
Mary W. Schaller
The University of South Carolina Press
1600 Hampton Street, 5th Floor, Columbia, SC 29208
9781570039508, $29.95, www.uscpress.com

The war effort consumes everything, even the means to get home. "Deliver Us From Evil: A Southern Belle in Europe at the Outbreak of World War I" is a biography of Nancy Johnson, daughter of a congressman who as World War I came into being, found herself unable to leave the region, and had to much closer to the conflict than they had hoped. Author and grand daughter of Nancy Johnson, Mary W. Schaller goes through the photos and letters of her Grandmother along with other research to craft her adventure and paint a picture of an outsider looking in, very close to the conflict. "Deliver Us From Evil" is a unique story, well worth addition to biography and history collections focusing on World War I.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

The Generation Starship
Simone Caroti
McFarland
PO Box 611, Jefferson, NC 28640
9780786460670, $38.00, www.mcfarlandpub.com

Science shaped much in the twentieth century, not just the real world, but the world of fiction as well. "The Generation Starship: A Critical History, 1934-2001" discusses the generation starship, a massive vessel that flies through space leaving people to live out their entire existence, never touching a planet. Simone Caroti brings a literary discussion of this concept that seems to resound strongly alongside other science fiction concepts, one that puts challenges against mankind that couldn't be replicated otherwise. Discussing the fathers of the concept to its earliest days and how as science advances, the generation starship seems like it could be less science fiction and more science fact. "The Generation Starship" is a strongly recommended read for any student of speculative fiction.

The Way of Thorn and Thunder
Daniel Heath Justice
University of New Mexico Press
MSC05 3185, 1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001
9780826350121, $24.95, www.unmpress.com

There is no telling what lost as the American Indian population waned. "The Way of Thorn and Thunder: The Kynship Chronicles" is a fantasy spun off of eighteenth century America, spinning legends of these cultures into fantasy and the struggles of the Kyn and their Everland. Daniel Heath Justice seeks to do something new with fantasy and executes it all too well. "The Way of Thorn and Thunder" is a fine fantasy for those looking for something new that blends in American Indian legend as well.


The Geography Shelf

The New Atlas of the Arab World
The American University in Cairo Press
420 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10018
9789774164194, $39.50, www.aucpress.com

The Arabic world is not one force, it is made of several very different nations spread throughout with very different cultures and states. "The New Atlas of the Arab World" is an atlas of the many peoples and cultures that make up the Arab world. All encompassing, it looks at the major states and crises throughout Northern Africa and the Middle East from the lawless states of civil war in Somalia to the longer lasting establishments such as Saudi Arabia. Presented in full color photos that capture both cultural images and pictures of the varied environment throughout the region. A large book sure to educate and captivate with its information, "The New Atlas of the Arab World" is a strong pick for any cultural atlas collection.

Notes and Comments on the Composition of Terrestrial and Celestial Maps
J. H. Lambert
ESRI Press
380 New York St., Redlands, CA 92373-8100
9781589482814, $24.95, www.esri.com

Maps are simply another way of displaying information, and it's vital to understand the details in their creation to fully understand them. "Notes and Comments on the Composition of Terrestrial and Celestial Maps" discusses map composition, first published in Germany in 1772. This new edition updates the 1972 English translation, blending classical study with modern notes on the major advancements of the years. "Notes and Comments on the Composition of Terrestrial and Celestial Maps" is a strongly recommended addition to any astrology or cartography focused community and college library collection.


The Poetry Shelf

Spring and All
William Carlos Williams
New Directions Publishing Corporation
80 Eighth Avenue
New York, NY 10011
9780811218917 $12.95 http://www.ndpublishing.com

New Directions Publishing presents Spring and All, a facsimile of the original 1923 Contact Press edition of the poetry/prose compilation by Pulitzer Prize winner William Carlos Williams (1883-1963), best known for his promotion of the "American idiom" in poetry and his influence on later generations of American poets. Nearly ninety years after its creation, Spring and All remains a sensory experience, gliding seamlessly from poetry to prose and back again as it captures moments of keenest awareness. "The reason people marvel at works of art and say: How in Christ's name did he do it? - is that they know nothing of the physiology of the nervous system and have never in their experience witnessed the larger processes of the imagination. // It is a step over from the profitless engagements of the arithmetical." A timeless classic, highly recommended.

In This Life
Michael O'Loughlin
New Island
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 NE 58th Ave., Suite 300, Portland, OR 97213-3786
9781848400795, $13.99, www.isbs.com

The voice of Ireland is one of persistently living next to chaos. "In This Life" is a collection of poetry from Michael O'Loughlin, an Irish poet who has been speaking on his country throughout his life. In his first volume in ten years, "In This Life" continues O'Loughlin's thoughtful work. "A Latvian Emigrant Bids Farewell to His Beloved in Riga": Your breasts shine like dark stars/in this black hole/into which we disappear//When we are together, you said/it's like we're in a cocoon./I place my palm on your hot stomach//I feel a strange wingbeat./You are a white harvest/and I will reap you.

Come and See
Fanny Howe
Graywolf Press
250 Third Avenue North, Suite 600, Minneapolis, MN 55401
9781555975869, $15.00, www.graywolfpress.org

Some people are still coming to grips with the idea of the twenty-first century. "Come and See" is a collection of poetry of author Fanny Howe, prolific and award winning poet, trying to come and understand how we have arrived in the world we live in today, trying to understand the war and greed that seem to be the major powers of the day. "Come and See" is an excellent compendium, very much recommended reading. "At the Heart of It": The dirt is spirit/the people both/Celtic and Baltic./Potatoes and onions,/Bread and beets./Mystical, musical,/Violent and sad./Without a way/Either right or left,/East or west./But tears, plenty/of tears to drink/While they dig.

Here Lies Lalo
Abelardo Delgado
Arte Publico Press
452 Cullen Performance Hall, Houston, TX 77204-2004
9781558856943, $19.95, www.artepublicopress.com

Poetry is just one weapon in the arsenal of ideas, as the war of words is continued to be fought in the modern day. "Here Lies Lalo: The Collected Poems of Abelardo Delgado" takes the work of the late poet throughout his career that spanned many decades and spoke out of the concerns of the Chicano people. An excellent addition to any poetry collection with a focus on ethnicity and ideology from many groups, "Here Lies Lalo" is a must for anyone who wants to understand the man's work. "Scumble": to scunner and not to hate,/to scupper and keep the taste,/to hide under the thick scurf/of scurile life that yearning/to scurry itself leaps out/and is able to see its own scut,/obsolete as old scutage./scutched, then, my mountainous love/with the scutcheon of no hope/my nonhoping scute hides me./pour, fate, then, into my scuttle/so that I can scuttle away my love,/I still have faith as scutum/tho time's scythe cuts away my autumn.


The Military Shelf

The 14-Hour War
James E. Wise Jr. and Scott Baron
Naval Institute Press
291 Wood Road
Annapolis, MD 21402
9781591149743 $34.95 www.navalinstitute.org

The 14-Hour War: Valor on Koh Tang and the Recapture of the SS Mayaguez recounts the violent true story of the effort to recover the American container ship Mayaguez and her crew, taken by the Khmer Rouge off the Cambodian coast in 1975. The military effort suffered from severely inaccurate intelligence, and a micromanaged control structure. Two hundred young Marines, with next to no experience outside of boot camp, were briefed to expect minimal resistance; instead, they discovered three hundred heavily armed Khmer Rouge veterans. The ensuing brutal battle against a superior force lasted half a day until evacuation. Forty-one American servicemen perished, and three were left behind to face eventual execution. The sacrifice and bravery of servicemen is beyond what can be put into words; The 14-Hour War supplements its straightforward relation of the facts with over one hundred and fifty pages of recollections from veterans in their own words. A handful of black-and-white photographs round out this welcome contribution to military history shelves.

Soldiers of Fortune
Tony Geraghty
Pegasus Books
c/o W. W. Norton
80 Broad Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10004
9781605981420, $15.95, www.pegasusbooks.us

With the controversy surrounding Blackwater in Iraq, the eye is on private military companies more than ever. "Soldiers of Fortune" discusses these groups which play a huge hand in Afghanistan and Iraq alongside the United States's standard military forces. Freelance soldiers, mercenaries, or whatever they may be called in the modern lexicon, has proved polarizing figures, both doing what they do well and allegations of brutality. Author Tony Geraghty hopes to show the truth behind these figures and what they mean to the bigger picture of society and our conflicts. "Soldiers of Fortune" is a must for anyone who wants to understand the modern mercenary and their place in today's military conflicts.


The Audiobook Shelf

Separate Beds
Elizabeth Buchan, author
Sarah Le Fevre, narrator
Penguin Audio
c/o Penguin Group (USA)
375 Hudson Street, 4th floor
New York, NY 10014
9780142428856 $39.95 http://us.penguingroup.com

Separate Beds is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of Elizabeth Buchan's enthralling novel about a British couple whose estranged marriage is pushed to the brink of divorce by pressures stemming from the recession. Annie and Tom have both put so much of their lives into their careers, keeping up the surface of civility but refusing to confront the deeply buried issues that have wedged them apart, to the extent that they sleep in separate beds and one of their children refuses to have anything to do with the family. When Tom's longtime radio job is "made redundant", and lack of money forces his son (who is also on the verge of divorce) and his mother to move back, pressures mount, forcing Annie and Tom to a turning point - they can no longer put off dealing with the internal problems of their relationship. A vividly believable portrait of economic, middle-class, and marital crisis, Separate Beds is tense yet also heartwarming, a highly recommended story sharply reflecting the problems of modern times. 12 CDs, 14 hours.

Queen of the Flowers
Kerry Greenwood, author
Stephanie Daniel, illustrator
Bolinda Publishing
186 S Long Swamp Rd
Jackson, ME 04921
9781742149189 $87.95 www.bolinda.com

Queen of the Flowers is the unabridged audiobook rendition of Kerry Greenwood's adventurous murder mystery starring Phryne Fisher. Set in 1928, Queen of the Flowers follows Fisher's involvement in the Flower Parade, which includes everything from magic shows and marionettes to tea dances, lifesaving demonstrations, lantern shows, beach picnics and more. Yet Fisher's efforts to celebrate are marred by the knowledge that her daughter is missing... The discovery of a young woman drowned at the beach kicks the plot into high gear, in this sweeping saga of love, courage, and the will to face one's deepest problems. Highly recommended. 8 CDs, 8 hours 25 min.

A Death in Summer
Benjamin Black, author
John Keating, narrator
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315
New York, NY 10010
9781427212375 $39.99 www.macmillanaudio.com

A Death in Summer is the unabridged audiobook performance of Benjamin Black's high-stakes murder mystery about a power player newspaper tycoon found dead, his head destroyed by a shotgun blast. Suicide, or murder? Detective Inspector Hackett calls for aid from his longtime compatriot Quirke, who rubs elbows with Dublin's elite, in his efforts to unearth the truth. Amid a morass of enemies underpinning a shady business empire, Hackett and Quirke just might be the next targets of ruthless intrigue, in this exciting crime novel sure to keep listeners on the edge of the seats. 8 CDs, 10 hours.

Dreaming in English
Laura Fitzgerald, author
Angela Dawe, narrator
Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887
Grand Haven, MI 49417
9781441839572 $29.99 www.brillianceaudio.com

Dreaming in English is an unabridged audiobook rendition of Laura Fitzgerald's story of Tamila Soroush, a young Iranian woman who seeks to join her sister and find a husband in America. She becomes the wife of Ike Hanson, but not everyone is happy with their marriage. When tensions and difficulties arise, Tamila questions her own choices, and feels conflicted over whether she has any right to be happy when her parents in Iran are not. A thoughtful story of adapting to tremendous change, and learning to experience American-style love, Dreaming in English is highly recommended. 10 CDs, 11 hours 46 min.


The Library CD Shelf

We Dreamed These Days
Michael Feinstein with the Carmel Symphony Orchestra
www.michaelfeinstein.com
DuckHole Records
25444 N. 113th Way
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
Miller Wright & Associates, Inc. (publicity)
1650 Broadway, Suite 1210, New York, NY 10019
$17.68 www.millerwright.com

Platinum-selling vocalist and pianist Michael Feinstein presents We Dreamed These Days, a captivating music CD recorded with the Carmel Symphony Orchestra, with all proceeds going to The Feinstein Foundation and the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. Feinstein's vocals supported by the heady orchestra reinvigorates classic theater and popular culture songs, as well as two world premier songs composed by Feinstein - the title track "We Dreamed These Days" combines Feinstein's melody with words by Dr. Maya Angelou, and "With You" has lyrics by Lindy Robbins and an arrangement created by Alan Broadbent. A first-class listening experience from beginning to end, We Dreamed These Days is a "must-have" for anyone who truly loves the art of music and wishes to support its practice while enjoying its finest distillations. The tracks are "How Do You Keep the Music Playing", "Two for the Road", "As Long As She Needs Me", "With You", "The More I See You", "There Will Never Be Another Like You", "Dream a Little Dream of Me", "What Kind of Fool am I", "I Remember You", "The Hungry Years", "When I Fall in Love/My Foolish Heart", "If They Ask Me", "I'd Rather Leave While I'm in Love", and "We Dreamed These Days".

Tonalities of Emotion
James Boyk
Performance Recordings
$25.00 www.PerformanceRecordings.com

Tonalities of Emotion is a music CD gathering concert pianist James Boyk's performances of instrumental classics. A beautiful rendition of timeless musical treasures superbly rendered, Tonalities of Emotion lives up to its title and is especially recommended for public library music CD collections. The tracks are "Bach Chromatic Fantasy & Fugue, BWV 903" (11:44), "Chopin Fantasy-Impromptu, OP. 66" (6:02), "Debussy Reflets dans l'Eau" (6:34), and "Mozart Sonata in A minor K. 310" (20:25). 44 min. 59 sec.

...and Love Rages On!
AO Music
Arcturian Gate, PO Box 8606
Asheville, NC 28814
c/o The Creative Service Company
4360 Emerald Drive
Colorado Springs, CO 80918
$16.89

...and Love Rages On! is the third album of AO Music, a group with roots in its members' love for ethnomusicology worldwide. Blending instruments and rhythms from cultures around the globe, AO Music promotes the message of "One People, One World" with its exciting ethnic fusion of sound. The pan-cultural songs will awaken and enrich the listeners with their beauty, adventurous spirit, and bold experimentation. Highly recommended, especially as a unique and original gift! the tracks are "Gaiya Lo Mane" (5:52), "In Lake'ch" (I am another you) (5:58), "Shen Deni" (6:00), "Ena Na Lena" (5:32), "Sheyu" (4:50), "Kumale Saleyo" (4:19), "Tio Da Ye" (4:53), "One Kaleo" (5:16), and "Ubuntu" (4:25). 47 min.

Mumtastic
Tareq Abboushi & Shusmo
Rock Paper Scissors
511 West 4th Street, Suite 2
Bloomington, IN 47404
$TBA www.rockpaperscissors.biz

Palestinian pianist and buzuq player Tareq Abboushi leads the quintet Shusmo, a trailblazing New York-based group that blends Arabic music with elements of funk, swing-happy jazz, and even Latin rhythms. Their latest album Mumtastic (a combination of "fantastic" and "mumtaz", the Arabic word for "excellent") offers this new style of alternative Arabic music, brimming with pulsing energy that encourages the listener to go with the flow. The difficulties of Palestinian life, from sharing the culture in exile from one's homeland to the burdens of those living in the homeland, form an integral part of Shusmo's unforgettable songs. Highly recommended. The tracks are "Longa Nakreez" (5:46), "The Time It Takes" (5:05), "Georgina +2" (5:14), "Traveling" (10:14), "Samba for Maha" (6:58), "Rasty George" (4:32), "Reprise 2" (1:47), "Bayatak" (5:39), "Interlude" (1:35), "The Wall (featuring Amir Elsaffar-Trumpet)" (7:08), "Pickles" (6:11), "Reprise 3" (2:38), and "Dal'ona" (10:49).

Making Speech Free
Utah Phillips
Free Dirt Records
PO Box 11451, Takoma Park, MD 20913
www.freedirtrecords.com
PM Press
PO Box 23912, Oakland, CA 94623
9781604863550 $15.96 www.pmpress.org

Making Speech Free is a live recording of Utah Phillips' 1999 performance as part of a Free Speech Teach-In. This sock-it-to-'em showcase of history, humor, song, and reminders of the importance of the continuing struggle directly takes on modern social, economic, and moral challenges. "Don't Mourn, Organize" and the importance of making one's voice heard is the underlying philosophy of this inspirational and solidly motivational album. Highly recommended. The tracks are "Railroading on the Great Divide", "Armed with only our sense of degradation", "No More Reds in the Union", "She favored bank robbers", "Pretty Boy Floyd", "Anybody who doesn't need a cop to tell him what to do", "The rich will not permit you to vote away their wealth", "I Got to Know Why", "All we want is to create voluntary combinations", "I Will Not Obey", "Soup", "The origin of the hiring hall and free speech rights", "Preacher and Slave", "Keep your hands in your pockets", "Bread and Roses", "The most dangerous woman in America", "The Charge on Mother Jones", "A strike is a massive act of free speech", "There's Power in the Union", "This Land is Not Our Land", and "You cannot even passively participate". 74 min.


The Library DVD Shelf

God & Politics
Bill Moyers
Athena
c/o Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
www.acornonline.com
9781598285895 $49.99 www.athenalearning.com

Emmy and Peabody-award winning journalist Bill Moyers hosts God & Politics, a thought-provoking philosophical series about the interconnection between religion and politics in America. Although God & Politics was filmed during the Reagan presidency, its revelations are just as critical in the twenty-first century. From the Christian right's influence in Washington, D.C. to evangelical missions in Central America to organized religion's effects on the political process, God & Politics shows how faith impacts secular politics in a significant and lasting way. A twelve-page viewer's guide and a bonus disc packed with hours of extras including the "Is God Green?" 2006 documentary rounds out this highly recommended thinpack set. 3 episodes, 200 min. plus 125 min. bonus material, full screen, SDH subtitles.

Customer Service Basics: Service with a Smile
Learning ZoneXPress
PO Box 1022
Owatonna, MN 55060
$79.95 www.learningzoneexpress.com

Intended for both high school and adult viewers, Customer Service Basics: Service with a Smile is an educational DVD offering a solid grounding in the basics of customer service. Employees of the fictional Lucky Star Coffee Company learn about customer service from Mark, the shop manager, in this lighthearted presentation slightly reminiscent of a situation comedy. Security cameras have captured well-intentioned employees making common customer service mistakes that everyone should watch out for! Topics covered include the importance of listening to the customer, anticipating their needs, and admitting mistakes honestly. An excellent primer of absolutely required skills for the demanding service market, Customer Service Basics is enthusiastically recommended for high school and public library collections. 22 min.

Priceless
Habitat Media
c/o Bullfrog Films, Inc.
PO Box 149
Oley, PA 19547
1594589097 $295.00 www.bullfrogfilms.com

Priceless is a non-partisan DVD documentary exposing the deleterious effects of America's money-driven electoral system. Congress continues to deliver gigantic subsidies to the farming and energy corporations that are at the heart of severe problems, while American troops fight and die abroad. Priceless examines the dysfunctional system in close detail, especially the lobbyists and wealthy donors who have regular access to members of Congress. Special interests push forth policies that benefit themselves at the expense of America's security, quality of life, and national debt. In response, a new citizen movement is being tested in Arizona and Maine to demand drastic changes to America's flawed electoral system. Priceless is an eye-opening presentation especially recommended for high school, college, and public library collections. 58 min. (25 min. version also available on the same DVD), SDH captions.

American Indian Collection
Questar, Inc.
307 North Michigan Ave., Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60601
9781594646546 $49.99 www.questarentertainment.com

American Indian Collection is a thinpack set of six DVDs, each of which offers a different true story connected to the native peoples of the Americas; some are true-life documentaries, while others are cinematic adventures. The six programs are "Great Indian Leaders & Nations", an anthology of true stories about Chief Joseph, Crazy Horse, Geronimo, the Lakota Sioux, the Seminole, the Navajo, and many more; "Sacagawea", a biography of the Native American woman who saved the Lewis & Clark expedition from certain doom; "Spirit Bear", an inspirational documentary of a boy who spearheaded the movement to protect the beautiful and endangered spirit bears; "The Sign of the Beaver", a movie about the friendship between a young boy and a Native American set in 1768 Maine; "Windrunner", an action-packed movie about a boy whose father is imprisoned and whose life is transformed by his meeting with Wa Tho Huck; and "The Legend of Tillamook's Gold", a movie about a child who discovers a time-worn coin on the beach, which proves to be the key to a hunt for legendary Native American treasure. A thoroughly enjoyable anthology, "American Indian Collection" makes an excellent gift set and is highly recommended. 6 DVDs, over 9 hours.

The Life of Leonardo Da Vinci
Questar, Inc.
307 North Michigan Ave., Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60601
9781594646591 $29.99 www.questarentertainment.com

The Life of Leonardo Da Vinci is a DVD biography of one of the greatest geniuses of the Renaissance. Beautiful footage of many of the locations in which Da Vinci once lived and worked distinguishes this immersive portrayal of a truly extraordinary man, grounded in eyewitness accounts, evidence from history, and reconstructive speculation. Special attention is paid to Da Vinci's creation of "The Last Supper" and the "Mona Lisa", paintings that will be forever remembered as treasures of high art. Special extra features include the mini-documentaries "The Rise of Renaissance Italy", "Leonardo's Masterpieces", "Da Vinci's Inventions", "The Maestro vs. Michelangelo", and "The Works of Two Great Masters: A Timeline". An 8-page booklet rounds out this excellent and educational pick highly recommended for public library DVD collections. 2 DVDs, 270 min.

Seasonal Italian Cuisine with Chef Tom Small
Bennet Watt HD Productions, Inc.
13021 - 244 Avenue SE
Issaquah, WA 98027
$24.95 www.Bennett-Watt.com

Chef Tom Small hosts Seasonal Italian Cuisine, a set of four high-definition DVDs featuring step-by-step walkthroughs of how to traditional Italian methods to create classic dishes. "Spring" (73 min.) includes recipes for Tricolor Salad, Pesto Pizze, Lamb Chops, and Spring Frittata; "Summer" (78 min.) includes Watermelon Sald with Feta & Mint, Turkey Burger with Provolone, Fusilli with Grilled Vegetables, and a special feature on how to de-bone a chicken; "Fall" (92 min.) includes Tuscan White Bean Soup, Stracotto, Biscotti, and special features on knives and how to make homemade sausage without special equipment; and "Winter" (91 min.) includes "Goat Cheese Torta", "Butternut Squash Lasagne", and "Bread Pudding - Caramelized Apple". All of these superb, user-friendly DVDs are also available in Blu-ray and downloadable versions for the same price, and all are enthusiastically recommended for cooks of all skill and experience levels, as well as public library DVD collections.

Scenic Routes Around the World
Questar Entertainment
307 North Michigan Ave., Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60601
9781594646362 $59.99 www.questarentertainment.com

Beautifully shot in HD, Scenic Routes Around the World is a thinpack collection of six DVDs exploring some of the most captivating locations worldwide. Highlights include the Alaska Highway of the Pacific, to the Inca Trail of South America, the Danube River of Europe, India's Route of the Gods in Asia, the Path of Flowers in Japan, and the Salt Road of Africa. The sweeping splendor of Scenic Routes Around the World make it an excellent gift for armchair travelers, as well as a highly recommended pick for public library DVD collections. Over 15 hours on 6 DVDs.

Bittersweet
A film by Doron Benvenisti
Sisu Home Entertainment Inc.
340 W. 39th St., 6th fl.
New York, NY 10018
1560867213 $24.95 www.sisuent.com

An Israeli film in Hebrew with subtitles in Hebrew or English, Bittersweet is a compelling drama following three successful Israeli couples. When a mysterious fortune teller abruptly informs each of them how many children they will have, the reverberating impact of the prophecy forces each of them to confront their fears, their yearnings, and the hardest choices that they will make in their lives. Bittersweet lives up to its title and is poignantly beautiful in its portrayal of ordinary human beings who must make and follow hard choices. Highly recommended. 97 min.

Garrow's Law, series 2
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
9781598286816 $39.99 www.acornonline.com

The second season of "Garrow's Law", an award-winning courtroom drama that takes place in 18th-century England, is now available on DVD. Set in a time when prisoners in court had next to no rights, the historical hero Garrow (played by Andrew Buchan) revolutionized how the accused were perceived; he was the first to put forth the phrase "innocent until proven guilty". His labors to defend the accused against the state made him dangerous to his dogged enemies, especially Sir Arthur Hill (played by Rupert Graves), now an assistant secretary to the admiralty. Further complicating matters, the jealous Hill fervently believes that Garrow is involved with his wife, Lady Sarah (played by Lyndsey Marshal). Ultimately, Hill's machinations place Garrow on trial for "criminal conversation", the 18th-century term for adultery; can Garrow's mentor John Southouse (played by Alun Armstrong) rescue his reputation or his career? A bonus 22-minute "William Garrow: Fact and Fiction" featurette, a behind-the-scenes photo gallery, and cast filmographies round out this brilliant period piece. 4 episodes on 2 DVDs, 240 min. plus bonus, widescreen, SDH subtitles.

The Bretts: The Complete Collection
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
$59.99 www.acornonline.com

The Bretts: The Complete Collection gathers series 1 and 2 of the British television show co-created by "Upstairs, Downstairs" writer Rosemary Anne Sisson, that originally aired on "Masterpiece Theatre". Set in the late 1920s, The Bretts follows a wealthy family that struggles to maintain the opulent lifestyle they are familiar with by buying a West End theater to manage. The family's children include actors and a radical playwright, and their loyal yet gossip-mongering servants enliven the adventures of every day! An exquisite glimpse of the Roaring Twenties amid both humor and pathos, The Bretts is enthusiastically recommended especially to any viewer who loves tautly well-written British drama. 19 episodes on 6 discs, 16 1/4 hours.

Inception Media Group
3130 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 400, Santa Monica, CA 90403
c/o Greenleaf & Associates
vicki@greenleafandassociates.com
$19.98 each www.inceptionmediagroup.com

Two astonishingly beautiful Blu-ray DVDs from Inception, originally shown in IMAX theaters, dazzle the senses with vivid portrayals of the natural world. "Tropical Rainforest" (38 min.) takes the viewer on a tour through the dense rainforest jungles of Australia, Costa Rica, French Guiana, and Malaysia, revealing the colorful local wildlife, the majesty of the towering plant life... and warning against this land's impending destruction, as human encroachment threatens to render thousands of species extinct before they can ever be discovered. "Ring of Fire" (38 min.) explores a 30,000-mile regoing circling the Pacific Ocean that is especially prone to volcanic eruptions; yet 500 million people have adapted to life in the shadow of fiery death. From miners in Chile who extract sulphur in the heart of active volcanoes, the natural hot springs in Japan's remote "Hell Valley", Ring of Fire is a captivating documentary tour of some of mother nature's most unpredictable and dangerous lands. Both DVDs are absolutely breathtaking, and especially recommended as gifts or as choice picks for public library collections.


The Christian Studies Shelf

Believe in Love
Brendan Leahy
New City Press
202 Comforter Blvd., Hyde Park, NY 12538
9781565484214, $13.95, www.newcitypress.com

Catholics everywhere hold a special place in their heart for the former pope. "Believe in Love: The Life, Ministry, and Teachings of John Paul II" is about this pope who is remembered fondly and is already in talks of beatification. Recounting his education, writings, and how it has strongly changed the path of modern Christianity, "Believe in Love" is a choice pick for anyone who wants to gain a greater appreciation of the work that Pope John Paul II brought to the faith.

The Development of LDS Temple Worship
Devery S. Anderson, editor
Signature Books
564 West 400 North, Salt Lake City, UT 84116-3411
9781560852117, $49.95, www.signaturebooks.com

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has some customs to outsiders that are not entirely understood. "The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History" seeks to explain these customs through explaining their history. From the earliest days where the church still traveled towards its famed Utah stronghold to the resistance to changes and how it has developed over the past century and a half, Devery S. Anderson presents a complete and comprehensive understanding of the Mormon form of worship that will prove a fascinating read to Mormon and non-Mormon reader alike. "The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000" is a fascinating study of history and culture, very much recommended reading.

On Your Mark
William J. O'Malley
Liturgical Press
St. John's Abbey, PO Box 7500, Collegeville, MN 56321-7500
9780814633502, $19.95, www.litpress.org

To be a student of the scripture only requires the scripture. "On Your Mark: Reading Scripture Without a Teacher" is a guide for those who want to study the Bible who want learn to understand the scripture for its intended message, and not just literalism. Stating that many modern Biblical commentaries assume deep study in other material. William O'Malley, a religion teacher of many years hopes to equip readers with all they need to know to approach the ancient text, to draw their own understanding of life and everything else. "On Your Mark" is a must for anyone who wants to know scripture better themselves, starting with the Gospel of Mark.


The Archaeology Shelf

Stone and Dung, Oil and Spit
Jodi Magness
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.
2140 Oak Industrial Drive N. E., Grand Rapids, MI 49505
9780802865588, $25.00, www.eerdmans.com

Understanding life two thousand years ago can give great understanding to the ministry of Christ and why people followed him as they did. "Stone and Dung, Oil and Spit: Jewish Daily Life in the Time of Jesus" is a study of archaeological discoveries made in recent times looking at the century around the time of Jesus, in hopes to gain a greater understanding of every day life in the period. From toilet habits, the Sabbath, rituals of the dead, and much more, "Stone and Dung, Oil and Spit" is an excellent read for those curious about the lives of Israelis two thousand years ago, and wants to understand the story of Jesus of Nazareth more completely.


The Law/Justice Shelf

The Solemn Sentence of Death
Lawrence B. Goodheart
University of Massachusetts Press
PO Box 429
Amherst, MA 01004
9781558498471 $28.95 www.umass.edu/umpress

The Solemn Sentence of Death: Capital Punishment in Connecticut lives up to its title as an in-depth study of the practice in the only New England state that has executed people since 1960. Studying the history of the death penalty in Connecticut from the 1600's to the modern day, The Solemn Sentence of Death examines the crimes for which death was prescribed as punishment, and also explores how execution became less frequent and subject to lengthy appeals processes in modern times - but the practice still persists. A methodical, solidly written, and reflective study, highly recommended especially for social issues and Connecticut history shelves.


The International Studies Shelf

No Word for Welcome
Wendy Call
University of Nebraska Press
1111 Lincoln Mall Ste. 400, Lincoln, NE 68588-0630
9780803235106, $29.95, www.nebraskapress.unl.edu

The rapid prominence of a global economy does not come without its struggles. "No Word for Welcome: The Mexican Village Faces the Global Economy" discusses the challenges faced by these smaller Mexican communities and the challenges put before them. Farmland that once provided their livelihood has been replaced with highways, environmental issues threaten them, and leave them without a way to produce the product they need to get by. A deep study of the effects of this rapid change, "No Word for Welcome" is an excellent study of these factors that are affecting smaller communities all around the world.

Feeling Canadian
Marusya Bociurkiw
Wilfrid Laurier University Press
75 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON Canada N2L 3C5
9781554582686, $32.95, www.wlupress.wlu.ca

The last thing Canadians want to be is American, even if it means following some guy in a beer commercial. "Feeling Canadian: Television, Nationalism, and Affect" is a study of Canadian popular culture and identity through the lens of Canadian television. Author Dr. Marusya Bociurkiw presents an intriguing study on what much of Canada's identity and Canadianism comes from what they see on television, be it from commercials, dramas, or other television offerings. "Feeling Canadian" is a fascinating study of the Canadian culture, a solid addition to any cultural studies collection in community and college libraries.


The Nautical Shelf

Ice Navigation
Norvald Kjerstad
Tapir Academic Press
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 NE 58th Ave., Suite 300
Portland, OR 97213-3786
9788251927604, $76.00, www.tapirforlag.no

Sailing through ice is a treacherous task, something that hasn't been undertaken since recent history. "Ice Navigation" discusses the process of sailing through ice and frost, a very difficult and potentially deadly process. Norvald Kjerstad demonstrates knowledge in every step of the process of preparing for an expedition through these Arctic regions. From specifications of ship technology, geological concerns, what to expect from the environment, regulations, and much more. Designed as both an introductory and a reference guide for those whose journeys will take them to an ice ridden regions. "Ice Navigation" is complete and comprehensive reading, compiled by a professor who has been working with this area for expertise for some decades.


The Language Studies Shelf

Show of Hands
David F. Armstrong
Gallaudet University Press
800 Florida Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20002-3695
9781563684883, $35.00, www.gupress.gallaudet.edu

Communication will happen with or without hearing. "Show of Hands: A Natural History of Sign Language" chronicles the history of sign language, and perhaps indirectly, the history of language as a whole. From the earliest states of human history and perhaps a bit further back, David F. Armstrong discusses how sign language has developed in both the hearing and non hearing worlds. With a focus on deafness and its effects on history, "Show of Hands" is a strong addition to any language and deaf studies collection on the bigger picture of it all.


The Sports Shelf

Nobody's Perfect
Armando Galarraga and Jim Joyce with Daniel Paisner
Atlantic Monthly
c/o Grove/Atlantic, Inc.
841 Broadway
New York, NY 10003-4793
9780802119889 $24.00 www.groveatlantic.com

A "perfect game" in baseball is when there are no hits, no walks, and no men reaching base. Nobody's Perfect: Two Men, One Call, and a Game for Baseball History is the true story of what should have been the twenty-first perfect game in 130 years of Major League Baseball - only it wasn't, because the veteran umpire Jim Joyce missed the call on the final out. Joyce admitted his error after seeing a replay of the game; but pitcher Armando Galarraga did not protest; he simply continued to pitch, mentioning "Nobody's perfect," in the locker room later. The game would later be named the number-one sports story of the year by "Time" magazine; "Nobody's Perfect" brings the full story the great players and the nail-biting tense moments to life. Written in lively prose accessible to readers of all backgrounds, "Nobody's Perfect" is a choice pick for baseball fans.


The Civil War Shelf

Cyrus Hamlin's Civil War
David M. Gold
Heritage Books
100 Railroad Ave, Suite 104
Westminster, Maryland 21157-4826
9780788453298 $19.50 www.heritagebooks.com

Cyrus Hamlin's Civil War: Letters of the Vice President's Son on the Civil War and Reconstruction gathers the correspondence of the son of Lincoln's first vice president, covering the American Civil War from its inception to a horrible New Orleans race riot to early Reconstruction politics in Louisiana. Hamlin was no ordinary soldier; he chased Stonewall Jackson in Shenandoah Valley, and he served as an officer in Brigadier General Daniel Ullmann's brigade of black soldiers. This amazing insider testimony of the Ullmann Brigade, combined with Hamlin's observation of the powerful figures he interacted with, distinguish his Civil War letters; though Hamlin himself was not an especially gifted intellectual, he gives an honest, up-front and unforgettable accounting of a chaotic time in the United States' history. An appendix and bibliographical note round out this excellent contribution to primary source testimonies of the Civil War.


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
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
http://www.midwestbookreview.com


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