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Library Bookwatch

Volume 2, Number 6 June 2007 Home | LBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Health/Medicine Shelf Needlecraft Shelf
American History Shelf Economics Shelf Business Shelf
Travel Shelf Education Shelf Pets/Wildlife Shelf
Biography Shelf Fiction Shelf Christian Studies Shelf
Judaic Studies Shelf Philosophy Shelf Jobs/Careers Shelf
Gay Studies Shelf Poetry Shelf Library DVD Shelf
Homeowner's Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf Genealogy Shelf
World History Shelf International Studies Shelf Graphic Novel Shelf
Native American Shelf Computer Shelf Theatre/Cinema Shelf
Gardening Shelf Crafts Shelf Gaming Shelf
Self-Help Shelf Writing/Publishing Shelf Audiobook Shelf
Military Shelf Parenting Shelf Civil War Shelf
Money/Finance Shelf Art Shelf Music Shelf
Cookbook Shelf Social Issues Shelf Literary Shelf
Aviation Shelf Buddhist Studies Shelf Library CD Music Shelf
Woodworking Shelf Library Science Shelf  


Reviewer's Choice

Miniature Books
Anne C. Bromer & Julian J. Edison
Harry N. Abrams, Inc.
115 West 18th Street, New York, NY 10011
081099299X, $40.00 www.abramsbooks.com 1-800-759-0190

Rare book dealer Anne C. Bromer teams up with scholarly bibliophile and book collector Julian I. Edison (who for more than 40 years has served as the editor of 'Miniature Book News') to present "Miniature Books: 4,000 Years Of Tiny Treasure". This is an elegantly illustrated, 216-page compendium showcasing tiny books showcased in an exhibition at The Grolier Club which, founded in 1884, is America's oldest and largest society for bibliophiles and enthusiasts in the graphic arts. Featuring more than 260 full-color photographic illustrations of miniature books (being 3 inches or smaller in size) from around the world, the examples proffered range from Shakeseare's plays, to Christian bibles, to children's books, to all manner of fiction. Some of these are gemmed, tooled, locked, illuminated, and a few are illustrated by such legendary artists as Picasso, Miro, and Gorey. A work of impressive scholarship and research by Bromer and Edison, "Miniature Books" is a bibliophile's treat and would make a superb Memorial Fund acquisition selection for academic and community library collections.

The Complete Guide to Calligraphy
Professor Ralph Cleminson, General Editor
Firefly Books
Box 1338, Ellicott Station, Buffalo NY 14205
1554071798, $35.00 www.fireflybooks.com

Any who would learn the calligraphy of both West and East will want this introductory lesson guide. It offers step-by-step instruction backed with 45 projects, color photos throughout, and contemporary applications – such as producing Latin Scripts on a stenciled t-shirt, or a birth announcement. It's these modern applications which make The Complete Guide to Calligraphy the perfect addition to any general-interest public library holding.

Miss Ann's Art
Ann Barnes
Winepress Publishing Group
1730 Railroad Street, Enumclaw, WA 98022
1579218253, $29.95 www.winepressgroup.com

"Mis Ann's Art" is an impressive compilation of paintings, stories and poems by Ann Barnes created over many years and reflecting aviation history, Christian inspiration, and family activities. The artworks are museum quality. The stories are heartfelt and engaging. The poetry is superbly crafted. The combinations laid out in the pages of "Miss Ann's Art" are thoughtful and thought-provoking, inspirational and inspiring, engaging and entertaining, and taken all together, an enduring memorial to a life carefully observed, thoughtfully reflected, expertly referenced, well observed, and fully lived. "Miss Ann's Art" is very highly recommended reading and an especially appropriate choice for community library Memorial Fund acquisitions.

Clear Blogging
Bob Walsh
Apress
2560 Ninth Street, Suite 219, Berkeley, CA 94710
1590596919, $24.99 www.apress.com

A vitally important addition to highschool, university, and community library collections, "Clear Blogging: How People blogging Are Changing The World And How You Can Join Them" by software developer and blogging expert Bob Walsh is an ideal introduction for the non-specialist general reader to what blogging is, how it is done, and why ordinary people should engage in it. "Clear Blogging" is an ideal 'do-it-yourself' manual for aspiring bloggers and offers real-life examples of four successful bloggers in the form of interviews with financially successful blogger Darren Rowse, blogg marketing expert Steve Rubel, business-to-business blogging consultant Richard Edelman, and internet marketing guru Seth Godin. "Clear Blogging" is thoroughly reader friendly and user friendly. If you want to be a part of this latest development in computer-based communication, read Bob Walsh's "Clear Blogging".

Thinking Like a Terrorist
Mike German
Potomac Books Inc.
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166-2012
1597970255, $26.95 www.potomacbooksinc.com

THINKING LIKE A TERRORIST: INSIGHTS OF A FORMER FBI UNDERCOVER AGENT covers the latest war on global terror – thought the eyes of one fighting it. Mike German was a former FBI counterterrorism agent who here contends that despite all American efforts, there's a basic failure to understand the terrorists' wants and how they intend to get it. Our policies are driven by misunderstanding: THINKING LIKE A TERRORIST seeks to define and analyze the thinking of terrorism and is essential for any collection strong in terrorist studies, whether it be high school, college or public lending library.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Botanical Body Care
Karin C. Uphoff
Cypress House
155 Cypress Street , Fort Bragg, CA 95437
1879384671, $18.95 www.cypresshouse.com 1-800-773-7782

In "Botanical Body Care: Herbs And Natural Healing For Your Whole Body", practicing herbalist, teacher, and nutritional consultant Karin C. Uphoff shows how anyone can increase their vitality, strengthen their immune system, relieve physical and psychological stress, prevent illness, and treat common ailments through the use of natural plants and thereby avoid the harmful side effects (and expense!) of conventional pharmaceuticals. "Botanical Body Care' shows how readily available herbs can be easily made into tinctures, extracts, salves, and flavorful teas which have a long and honored history as a general, effective natural remedy for a great many commonly encountered medical conditions. An impressive and thoroughly 'reader friendly' 259-page compendium of herbal medicine, "Botanical Body Care" is an invaluable addition to personal and community library Health & Medicine reference collections, and especially recommended reading for health practitioners, students of the healing arts, nutritionists, dietitians, and non-specialist general readers seeking to take better care of themselves and their families.


The Needlecraft Shelf

Bead Embroidery
Yukiko Ogura
Japan Publications Trading Company
c/o Kodansha America, Inc.
575 Lexington Avenue, 23rd Floor, New York, NY 10022
4889962158, $12.95 www.kodanshaamercia.com 1-800-451-7556

Yukiko Ogura is an expert Japanese handcraft designer who specializes in embroidery needlework and exhibits frequently exhibits her creations at home and abroad. In "Bead Embroidery" Ogurua offers practical, user-friendly instructions, guidance and advice on how to turn any article of clothing or needlecraft project into a unique fashion statement through the use of bead embroidery. The step-by-step instructions and diagrams will enable even the most novice beader to master a variety of stitching techniques. Enhanced with full-color photography throughout, dedicated needlecrafters will be able to create their own unique, personalized embellishments to jeans, jackets, sweaters, bags, shoes, scarves, pillows, and more. "Bead Embroidery" is a welcome addition to Needlecraft and Beading instructional reference collections. Also very highly recommended are two other instruction books on beading from Japan Publications Trading: Ondori Staff's "Art of Antique Beading" and "Antique Style Bead Accessories" by Matsuko Sawanobori.

Martingale & Company
20245 – 144th Avenue NE, Woodinville, WA 98072-8478
www.martingale-pub.com

Cyndi Hershey's SUDOKU QUILTS (9781564777317, $14.95) provides four fine patterns which use the game-like presentation to display rows and block columns, each in three-by-three squares of different colors and fabrics. The approach will appeal to quilters beyond sudoku game fans: they provide new options for quilts and substitute colors and fabrics for the game's design patterns. Margaret Rolfe's THE PEACE QUILT (9781564777720, $9.95) and Nancy Mahoney's RED TULIPS (9781564777621, $9.95) both provide patterns for specific single projects: two quilts based on peace and tulip themes. Each includes a backboard of materials listings and each pattern set makes it easy to lay out, cut and assemble a quilt. These are excellent picks for any quilter's collection.

Never Knit Your Man a Sweater
Judith Durant
Storey Publishing
210 MassMoca Way, North Adams, MA 01247
1580176461, $19.95 www.storey.com

Plenty of knitting guides provide sweater patterns: but how many key knitting projects to relationship-appropriate levels? When is it time to knit a mean a sweater, and when should one give a Movie Scarf? Warm up the relationship with a series of appropriately timed knitting projects to be gleaned from Never Knit Your Man a Sweater Unless You've Got the Ring! Both home knitters and collections catering to knitters will find the different approach pairs well with the book's 22 projects for all levels of commitment, casual to wedded.


The American History Shelf

Fort Randall on the Missouri, 1856-1892
Jerome A. Greene
South Dakota State Historical Society Press
900 Governors Drive, Pierre, SC 57501-2217
0977795500, $17.95 www.sdshspress.com

Research historian Jerome A. Greene presents Fort Randall on the Missouri, 1856-1892, an in-depth study of the military post of Fort Randall: its establishment, the day-to-day life of its troops and their support of military expeditions against American Indians, routine patrols of Dakota and Nebraska territory, exploration and mapping missions among the Black Hills, and more. Black-and-white photographs and illustrations, including all twenty-four of the original stereopticon photographs of Sitting Bull's incarceration at Fort Randall, illustrate this heavily researched and meticulously accurate chronicle. A welcome addition to American and Missouri state history shelves.

The Opium Debate
Diana L. Ahmad
University of Nevada Press
Mail Stop 166, Reno, NV, 89557-0076
0874176980, $34.95 www.unpress.nevada.edu 1-877-682-6657

"The Opium Debate And Chinese Exclusion laws In The Nineteenth-Century American West" by Diana L. Ahmad (Associate Professor of History at the University of Missouri-Rolla) is the story of a mid-nineteenth century 'war on drugs' and immigration restriction policies carried out by governmental agencies. Professor Ahmad articulately explains how anti-Chinese propaganda and the spread of opium addiction led to exclusionary immigration laws and the attitude that the Chinese and the recreational use of opium associated with their communities were a danger to the national economy and middle-class Anglo-American domestic life. A fascinating and scholarly study that features extensive notation, an exhaustive bibliography, and a comprehensive index, "The Opium Debate" is as informed and informative as it is well organized and 'reader friendly'. This is an impressive and very highly recommended contribution to academic library 19th Century American History reference collections and reading lists.


The Economics Shelf

The Big Three In Economics
Mark Skousen
M.E. Sharpe, Inc.
80 Business Park Drive, Armonk, NY 10504
0765616947, $25.95 www.mesharpe.com 1-800-541-6563

Enhanced throughout with charts and photos, "The Big Three In Economics: Adam Smith, Karl Marx, And John Maynard Keynes" by academician and economist Mark Skousen is a history of modern economics as represented by the contributions of the three most influential economists in world history. Adam Smith expounded a revolutionary new doctrine in the 18th century that a nation of rich and poor could flourish under laissez faire and an unfettered market; Karl Marx inspired disenfranchised workers and intellectuals in the 19th century to end the exploitation of the underprivileged by the powerful; and in the 20th century, British economist John Maynard Keynes sought to stabilize a crisis prone market system through activist fiscal and monetary government policies. A work of impeccable scholarship that draws from both biographical and historical data to showcase the lives and ideas of three men who shaped economic theory and practice form three centuries, and whose contributions continue to influence economists in the 21st century, "The Big Three In Economics" is very strongly recommended reading for both students of Economics and non-specialist general readers with an interest in economic history and theory.


The Business Shelf

Small Business, Big Life
Louis Barajas
Thomas Nelson Publishers
PO Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214
Jane Wesman Public Relations (publicity)
322 Eight Avenue, Suite 1702, New York, NY 10001
140160336X, $22.99 www.thomasnelson.com 1-800-251-4000

"Small Business, Big Life: Five Steps To Creating A Great Life With Your Own Small Business" by financial and business expert Louis Barajas is an articulate, 'reader friendly', step-by-step, how-to manual for aspiring entrepreneurs wanting to establish a business enterprise, building a viable business, and still have a robust and satisfying personal life. The key to it all is the creation and maintenance of a proper 'mind-set' based on the four basic principles of Truth, Responsibility, Awareness, and Courage. "Small Business, Big Life" explains how to identify values and priorities and then fashion them into a kind of 'life blueprint'. Barajas reveals the components for creating a successful business include doing what you love, doing what your good at, and being profitable with what you do. The importance of systems for orderly, manageable growth are stressed, as is creating access to good attorneys, bankers, accountants, insurance agents, and vendors. If you are thinking about launching a small business, regardless of the products or services it will entail, then you need to give Louis Barajas a careful and considered reading!

Leadership For Innovation
John Adair
Kogan Page USA
525 South 4th Street, #241, Philadelphia, PA 19147
0749448008, $21.95 www.koganpage.com 1-800-232-0223

In "Leadership For Innovation: How To Organize Team Creativity And Harvest Ideas", author John Adair draws upon his many years of experience and expertise advising business, governmental, education, health, and volunteer organizations throughout the world to present an superbly organized, informed and informative instruction manual for dealing with the contemporary challenges all modern businesses face that requiring them to either innovate or face stagnation, the adapt to the changes brought on by a fiercely competitive, highly volatile, and continually evolving marketplace be it local, regional, national, or international in scope. Adair examines the links between leadership, creativity and changing using his distinctive style to explore every aspect of developing and implementing business leadership and team-driven profitable growth. Simply put, "Leadership For Innovation" should be considered mandatory reading for anyone charged with the responsibility for their business to be competitively profitable regardless of its product or service.

My Business Life Cycle
Gerald Paul & Victoria Barrett
Purdue University Press
1207 South Campus Courts, Bldg. E, West Lafayette, IN 47907
1557534268, $29.95 www.thepress.purdue.edu 1-800-933-9637

Gerald Paul is a German immigrant who came over to the United States in 1938 and founded Paul Harris Stores in 1954 which eventually grew into a chain of 303 stores. Written with the assistance of Victoria Barrett, "My Business Life Cycle: How Innovation, Evolution, And Determination Made Paul Harris Great" is the life story of Gerald Paul and his achievements, setbacks, and eventual success as an entrepreneur and businessman who, in 1994, was selected as CEO of the year by 'Indiana Business Magazine' and is now retired from Paul Harris Stores. "My Business Life Cycle" provides readers with an insider's perspective on the inner workings of specialty retail stores in a complex and ever evolving marketplace. It is also a kind of modern Horatio Alger story of a success that arose, flourished, declined, and ultimately ended. "My Business Life Cycle" is very highly recommended and informative reading for anyone striving for success in the business community. It is also an enduringly important and scholastically impressive addition to community and academic library 20th Century American Business reference collections.

Private Label Strategy
Nirmalya Kumar and Jan-Benedict E.M. Steenkamp
Harvard Business School Press
60 Harvard Way, Boston, MA 02163
1422101673, $35.00 www.HBSPress.org 1-800-668-6780

Marketing professors Nirmalya Kumar and Jan-Benedict E.M. Private Label Strategy: How to Meet the Store Brand Challenge, a tell-it-like-it-is expose of how the old days of packaging generic brands in white wrapping and black lettering have passed. Today, the once-powerful brand manufacturers find themselves in direct competition for shelf space with the chains that are their biggest customers, like Tesco and Wal-Mart. Too many companies are still building their strategies around outdated myths that Private Label Strategy debunks. Chapters of Private Label Strategy cover how to compete on price with private labels, how to compete on quality with premium store brands, how to use private labels to maximize retailer profitability, how to cultivate innovation, and much more. "The financial community, of course, presses companies to be specific on the anticipated numbers because it makes the work of the analysts easier. But it may not be wise to play along with this game. For example, Nestle has a policy of not promising specific financial targets but instead articulating its strategy and letting analysts do the work of computing the expected numbers." An absolute "must-read" for anyone involved in branding responsibilities or branding strategy.

Compliance & Conviction
Curtis J. Crawford, Ph.D.
CEO, Inc.
c/o C.S. Lewis & Co. Publicists
196 Van Dale Road, Woodstock, NY 12498
0976901919, $29.99 www.amazon.com

African-American business leader Curtis J. Crawford, Ph.D. (founder and CEO of consulting firm XCEO Inc.) presents Compliance & Conviction: The Evolution of Enlightened Corporate Governance, an insider's look at corporate failures of the twenty-first century - particularly the disasters precipitated by illegal business practices, though only a small number of business leaders have been convicted of such. Compliance & Conviction also examines the repercussions of those failures, such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that renewed focus on corporate governance and what needs to be done to regain stakeholders' respect and confidence. Written in straightforward language for business leaders of all backgrounds, chapters discuss correlations between corporate governance and share value, executive compensation, director independence, evaluating board director performance, the impact of investor activism, and much more. A solid and insightful look at repercussions of headline-grabbing business scandals in modern-day business governance.

Teambuilding That Gets Results
Linda Eve Diamond & Harriet Diamond
Sourcebooks Inc.
1935 Brookdale Road, #139, Naperville, IL 60563
1402207468, $16.95 www.sourcebooks.com 1-800-432-7444

"Teambuilding That Gets Results: Essential Plans And Activities For Creating Effective Teams" is the collaborative work of Harriet Eve Diamond (founder of the training and business consulting company Diamond Associates) and training program designer and conductor Linda Eve Diamond. Designed to be a specifically 'user friendly' instruction manual for business managers in how to effectively development and operate a business team, "Teambuilding That Gets Results" offers step-by-step guidance on running quick, profitable business meetings of all kinds; initiate positive changes in a business operation; acquire clear, concise communication skills with others; monitor the team and evaluate their results; provide positive constructive feedback to employees; embrace and utilize 'cultural consciousness'; expand the business team and hire the best person for a given job; even how to network and apply other external resources to the company. Of special note are the 'Quick Tip' sections throughout the accessibly written text. "Teambuilding That Gets Results" is very highly recommended reading for anyone charged with the responsibility of establishing or managing a corporate team effort or assignment, as well as an important addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library reference Business Reference collections.

Close Like The Pros
Steve Marx
Career Press Inc.
PO Box 687, Franklin Lakes, NJ 07417
156414934X, $15.99 www.careerpress.com 1-800-227-3371

"Close Like The Pros: Replace Worn-Out Tactics With The Powerful Strategy Of Interactive Selling" by Steve Marx is a single volume instruction manual offering tested and effective sales techniques on concluding a deal with a client or customer. A career salesmen who has built his own business (The Center for Sales Strategy) into the media industry's preeminent sales and management consulting firm, Marx draws upon his impressive experience and considerable expertise to explain why becoming expert in closing a sale is an essential part of interactive selling and without this skill no company or salesman can hope to prosper in the competitive and often volatile marketplace regardless of the service or product they are merchandising. "Close Like A Pro" should be considered as mandatory reading for anyone engaged in salesman ship! Also very highly recommended are two new business management titles from Career Press: Ken Lloyd's "151 Quick Ideas To Recognize And Reward Employees" (1564149455, $12.99) and Carrie Mason-Draffen's "151 Quick Ideas To Deal With Difficult People" (1564149382, $12.99).

Building Tomorrow's Talent
Matthew Gay & Doris Sims
Author House
1663 Liberty Drive, Suite 200, Bloomington, IN 47403-5161
1425994652, $59.99 www.authorhouse.com 1-800-280-7715

The collaborative work of human resource specialists Matthew Gay and Doris Sims, "Building Tomorrow's Talent: A Practitioner's Guide To Talent Management And Succession Planning" is a superbly organized and articulately presented compendium of practical advice, ideas, tips, techniques, and planning tools designed to create and implement processes for the accurate assessment of a leadership team within any sized business organization from newly launched entrepreneurial enterprises to established multinational corporations. "Building Tomorrow's Talent" features numerous checklists, 'FAQ' sections, charts, slide presentation ideas, and an applicable project planning template adaptable to any business organization. Of special note is the 'to tell or not to tell' question with respect to high potential notification decisions. "Building Tomorrow's Talent" is a unique and highly recommended instructional reference for anyone charged with the responsibility of developing and managing the human resources of a business operation of any size or scope.


The Travel Shelf

The Streets of Jerusalem
Ronald L. Eisenberg
Devora Publishing
c/o Pitspopany Press
40 East 78th Street, Suite 16D, New York, NY 10021
1932687548, $21.95 www.devorapublishing.com 1-800-232-2931

Radiologist and non-practicing attorney Ronald L. Eisenberg presents The Streets of Jerusalem: Who, What, Why, a most unusual reference to Jewish history as well as Israel's streets. Arranged alphabetically like an encyclopedia, The Streets of Jerusalem consists of entries, most of which are one paragraph long, describing the histories of people in the Old Testament and more recent historical figures who have had Israeli streets named after them, and the meanings and context behind other street names referring to people or places. Black-and-white photographs pepper this thoughtful, thorough, and heavily researched quick-reference.

A Traveler's History of Poland
John Radzilowski
Interlink Publishing Group, Inc.
46 Crosby Street, Northhampton, MA 01060-1804
156656655X, $14.95 www.interlinkbooks.com

Written by Poland history and culture expert John Radzilowski, A Traveler's History of Poland is a primer of Polish history written for anyone looking to better experience and understand the nation's culture and legacy during their visit. From Poland's origins, to the end of the Commonwealth, war, occupation, and the Holocaust, the all too often violent rule of Communism, the ascent of Polish pope John Paul II and the dawn of modern Polish independence, A Traveler's History of Poland succinctly surveys history and does not whitewash the sufferings and atrocities that all the different ethnicities of people in Poland have endured across the decades. A highly readable, enlightening, even-handed and accessible account ideal for readers of all backgrounds.


The Education Shelf

Home Schooling At The Speed of Life
Marilyn Rockett
B&H Publishing Group
127 Ninth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37234-0143
0805444858, $17.99 www.bhpublishinggroup.com 1-800-251-3225

In "Home Schooling At The Speed Of Life", Marilyn Rockett draws upon her experiences homeschooling three of her four sons over the course of fifteen years (plus six grandchildren who are all homeschooled) to create an instruction manual for fathers and mothers seeking to homeschool their sons and daughters and needing to balance the demands of the home, schooling, and family life in the contemporary world at large. Enhanced with an accompanying CD-ROM starts with some cogent remarks on 'Getting Started' and then proceeds with chapters covering everything from getting organized, to home management, to record-keeping, to so much more that is practical and applicable to the needs and necessities of homeschooling. With the inclusion of four appendices on Resources; File-a-Plan Category List; File-a-Plan Archive Category List; and File-a-Plan From List: Description, "Home Schooling At The Speed Of Life" concludes with a list of available seminars and workshops of particular interest to dedicated homeschooling parents. Anyone considering, or already engaged in, homeschooling their children will want to give Marilyn Rockett's "Home Schooling At The Speed Of Life" a careful reading. It will prove to be an invaluable reference and very useful resource.

Teaching The Story
Carol Baldwin
Maupin House Publishing
PO Box 90148, Gainesville, FL 32607
0929895959, $23.95 www.maupinhouse.com 1-800-524-0634

"Teaching The Story: Fiction Writing In Middle School" was developed from materials that freelance writer Carol Baldwin developed when she taught creative writing in several different middle-school classrooms over the years. "Teaching The Story" is a thoroughly 'student friendly' curriculum supplement that will enable classroom teachers to prepare their students for standardizing testing, as well as for their academic writing assignments. Baldwin's flexible approach to teaching creative writing skills to children are especially appropriate for students seeking to write coherent and readable sports, fantasy, science fiction, mystery, and historical stories. Enhanced with more than seventy customizable transparencies and reproducibles included on an accompanying CD, "Teaching The Story" is strongly recommended for use with grades 5 through 8.

Getting Started with English Language Learners
Judie Haynes
ASCD
1703 North Beauregard Street, Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
1416605193, $23.95 www.ascd.org

Written by veteran elementary ESL teacher Judie Haynes, Getting Started with English Language Learners: How Educators Can Meet the Challenge is an in-depth guide for schoolteachers to encouraging English language learners to participate in class, help them feel more comfortable around other students, and above all, help them succeed. Packed with tips, tricks, techniques, and wisdom borne of 26 years of experience, Getting Started with English Language Learners is especially valuable for educators who are new to the ESL field yet recommended to ESL teachers of all experience levels. "Because many ELLs simply memorize material for a test and don't understand what they have learned, teachers need to develop alternative assessments specifically for ELLs. These assessments should provide teachers with a realistic picture of what individual ELLs can do without focusing unduly on what they can't do." From basic concepts of second-language acquisition theory, to the best way to handle newcomers' first weeks of school, to differentiating instruction for English language learners, programs for English language learners, and more, Getting Started with English Language Learners is a top-quality resource.

Integrating Literacy And Technology
Susan Watts Taffe & Carolyn B. Gwinn
Guilford Publications, Inc.
72 Spring Street, New York, NY 10012
1593854528, $19.95 www.guilford.com 1-800-365-7006

"Integrating Literacy And Technology: Effective Practice For Grades K-6" is the collaborative project of literacy education researchers and consultants Susan Watts Taffe (a former special education teacher and reading diagnostician) and Carolyn B. Gwinn (who is currently an elementary curriculum specialist for one of the largest school districts in Minnesota). Specifically organized and designed for maximum accessible for elementary school classroom teachers for whom in-service training time is a premium, "Integrating Literacy And Technology" will enable an teacher in grades K to 6 through a step-by-step instructional process involving ongoing cycles of planning, teaching, and assessment in a technology-rich environment that includes the utilization of the internet, reading and writing software, and more to teach core literacy skills to their students, as well as help those children to develop new reading and communication competencies for the digital age. Enhanced with a wealth of specific tools and tips to support professional development, and also available in a hardcover format (1593854536, $42.00), "Integrating Literacy And Technology" is a welcome and invaluable addition to any teacher in-service training curriculum in the field of literacy education.

Summer Smarts
Jeanne Crane Castafero & Janet Van Roden
Kingfisher
c/o Houghton Mifflin Company
222 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116
0753461129, $8.95 www.hmco.com 1-800-225-3362

The collaborative and thoroughly 'kid friendly' effort of experienced elementary school classroom instructors Jeanne Crane Castafero and Janet Van Roden, "Summer Smarts: Activities In Math, Science, Language Arts, And Social Studies To Prepare Students For 2nd Grade" is a workbook compendium of fun and educational activities, puzzles, exercises and quizzes which are based on standard school curriculums, reinforce concepts and skills covered by achievement tests, build confidence and self-esteem for children about to enter the second grade. Children will engage in such skill building activities as addition and subtraction, number values, vowel sounds and rhyming, reading and writing, American history and geography. Simple projects and science information will encourage children to explore the world while providing literally hours of self-guided learning. "Summer Starts" is especially recommended for Summer School curriculums, home-schooling parents, and for use as a rainy day activity source, long car trips, and 'quiet time' recreations.

Raising Multicultural Awareness in Higher Education
Ana Maria Klein
University of America Inc.
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, Maryland 20706
0761832572, $21.00 www.univpress.com 1-800-462-6420

Raising Multicultural Awareness in Higher Education by Ana Maria Klein (assistant professor, College of Education, SUNY Fredonia) is a straightforward guide to fostering cultural awareness among teacher candidates. A consumable book with practice exercises and reflection exercises followed by blank lines for the reader to write upon, Raising Multicultural Awareness in Higher Education covers such diverse topics as self-regulated learning, life-long learning, multiculturalizing thematic units, the teacher's role as change-agent/negotiator/peace-builder, and much more. "Helpful techniques for developing cross-cultural listening skills for example, require that you don't just listen to something, instead you are encouraged to listen for something. Listening to silence or for non-verbal cues or variations in voice intonation provide something to listen for. Learning how to ask questions or what questions to ask are also important cross-cultural considerations." An excellent broadening and enriching guide, recommended for college teachers everywhere and those in charge of screening, training, or hiring them.

Founding the Future
David C. Nichols
Truman State University
100 East Normal Street, Kirksville, MO 63501-4221
1931112630, $34.95 www.tsup.truman.edu

Written by former Truman State University director of the graduate program in music David C. Nichols, Founding the Future: A History of Truman State University is an eye-opening chronicle of the proud history of Truman State from its visionary founding over a hundred years ago to modern changes and transformations, such as the introduction of value-added assessment and student reactions. Founding the Future also looks beyond Truman State's rich history toward its future legacy, from study abroad to the development of liberal education outside the classroom. Black-and-white photographs, notes, and appendices round out this glowing tribute to the evolution of an American font of higher learning.

All American Colleges
Intercollegiate Studies Institute
ISI Books
PO Box 4431, Wilmington, DE 19807-0431
1932236880 $22.00 www.isibooks.org

Compiled by Intercollegiate Studies Institute, All American Colleges: Top Schools For Conservatives, Old-Fashioned Liberals, and People of Faith is a practical, no-nonsense profile of fifty colleges especially suitable for prospective students with specific values and educational goals - ones who seek learning grounded in concepts of liberty, and education as an enrichment in the process of understanding what it means to be a "good" or "free" person. In other words, institutions that are not so radicalized as to attack fundamental concepts such as abstract truth or disinterested, unbiased scholarship. The medley of schools surveyed include a broad range of religious colleges, as well as secular schools for conservatives and "old-fashioned" liberals in the tradition of John F. Kennedy and George McGovern. From Catholic colleges to Southern military academies to Quaker and Mennonite schools to evangelical Christian universities, All American Colleges spans the gamut of faiths and interests. Each school profile offers vital statistics (enrollment numbers, freshman retention rate, graduation rate, courses with fewer than 20 students, etc.), lists of what courses all students are required to take, several pages summarizing what the college offers and the nature of its environment. An excellent starter guide for learning more about and possibly choosing a higher-education institution with good old-fashioned moral values.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Cold Noses and Warm Hearts
Laurie Morrow, compiler
Willow Creek Press
PO Box 147, Minocqua WI 54548
1595434410, $19.95 www.willowcreekpress.com 1-800-850-9453

A revised copy of the original 1959 publication, with new stories about working dogs and helpmates added (and a few of the old stories that came across as dated removed), Cold Noses and Warm Hearts: Beloved Dog Stories by Great Authors is an anthology of short stories and excerpts celebrating man's best friend by a wide variety of well-known writers, from E. B. White and John Steinbeck to Rudyard Kipling, P. G. Wodehouse, and many more. All tales have a common thread in their reverence for the bond between dog and master, whether told with a touch of humor or the underscore of deep emotion. A superb giftbook for dog lovers everywhere.

Stress in Dogs
Martina Scholz & Clarissa von Reinhardt
Dogwise Publishing
PO Box 2778, 701B Poplar, Wenatchee, WA 98807
1929242336, $14.95 www.dogwise.com

Written by expert dog trainers Martina Scholz and Clarissa von Reinhardt, Stress in Dogs: Learn How Dogs Show Stress And What You Can Do To Help is a guidebook for professional canine trainers and ordinary pet owners alike about dealing with an overstressed dog. Common symptoms of stress include such harmful behaviors as destroying the house while the owner is away, hyperactivity, over-shedding, or a plethora of medical ills. Straightforward instructions and color photographs walk the reader through basic techniques to help a stressed dog, means to avoid stressors that are specific to male or female dogs, guidelines for how many outings are too many and how much stimulation is too much, and much more. Numerous real-life behavior examples illustrate the points in this practical-minded, problem-solving guide to fostering a better quality of life for both dogs and their owners.

And Baby Makes Four
Penny-Scott Fox, CPDT, author
Ingrid Kallick, illustrator
T.F.H. Publications
1 TFH Plaza, 3rd & Union Avenue, Neptune City, NJ 07753
0793805678, $9.95 www.tfh.com 1-800-631-2188

Written by dog behavior specialist Penny-Scott Fox, And Baby Makes Four: A Trimester-by-Trimester Guide to a Baby-Friendly Dog is a practical, easy-to-use guide to dog training written especially for expectant parents. The first trimester covers a health check and status reduction program; after ensuring that one's dog is healthy, one must acclimate the dog to accepting a lower rank in the family and not getting its own way - not sleeping in the human bedroom, not feeding the dog before anyone else in the house, teaching him to respond to commands always, and not just when he feels like it, etc. The second trimester involves professional training if needed, teaching the dog not to destroy or bury baby toys, desensitizing the dog to baby sounds, and modifying problem behavior, particularly aggression, jumping up, or fear of strangers. The third trimester involves acclimating the dog to baby smells, leash training, and jumbling the dog's routine so that it doesn't expect or demand to be fed/walked/etc. on a precisely specific schedule (a schedule that the coming of a new baby will be likely to sporadically mix up). Written in plain terms, with professional techniques spelled out in easy-to-follow steps, And Baby Makes Four is a "must-have" for any dog owners who plan on becoming parents.


The Biography Shelf

Chad: I Can't Be Stopped
Paul Daugherty
Orange Frazer Press
PO Box 214, Wilmington, OH 45177
1933197137, $29.95 www.orangefrazer.com 1-800-852-9332

Written by "Cincinnati Enquirer" sports columnist Paul Daugherty, Chad: I Can't Be Stopped is the true-life story of National Football League superstar Chad Johnson - well known for his professional prowess, and perhaps also known for his touchdown celebrations that prompted the NFL to tighten their rules on what is considered a permissible expression of victory. Black-and-white photographs illustrate this candid story of Chad the person as well as Chad the expert football player. "Says Hue Jackson, Bengals receiver coach and one of Johnson's few confidantes, 'Chad doesn't drink or smoke. He's not a guy that has to be out among the celebrities. I don't lose sleep on Saturday nights, worrying about Chad Johnson.'" Highly recommended as an upbeat, in-depth portrait of an athlete who happens to be a positive role model.

Follow Me
Carol Pine
North Star Press of St. Cloud
PO Box 451, St. Cloud, MN 56302
0878392475, $29.95 nspress@cloudnet.com

"Follow Me: The Life Of John B. Hawley" by business journalist and corporate historian Carol Pine is the life story of John B. 'Jack' Hawley -- an entrepreneur and business man in the classic capitalist mode. A rugged individualist who began his successful business career with a good education and some excellent mentors, Hawley (an engineer by training but born to be an entrepreneur) was able to build the Northern Pump Company -- a sprawling manufacturing plant on a sixty-acre cornfield in the Minneapolis suburb of Fridley -- that would carry out a five-million-dollar navy contract to make precision pieces for anti-aircraft guns. Hawly didn't let inexperience with oil and gas exploration hinder him from accurately predicting energy shortages and becoming a wildcat driller. It all paid off for a man who avoided business partnerships so that he could freely operated independently outside of traditional business norms and routine conventions. Highly informative and engaging reading, "Follow Me" is a fascinating biography of an exemplary life of a truly gifted entrepreneur who took reasoned chances, worked hard, defied the 'common wisdom', and created one of the most successful careers in American 20th century business history.

Autobiography of a Yogi
Paramhansa Yogananda
Crystal Clarity, Publishers
14618 Tyler Foote Road, Nevada City, CA 95959
1565892127, $14.00 www.crystalclarity.com 1-800-424-1055

Autobiography of a Yogi is the life story of the first yoga master of India who made it his mission to teach in the West, Paramhansa Yogananda, as written by his own hand. A reprint of the first edition published in 1946, Autobiography of a Yogi presents the original unedited text, with a final chapter presented free from changes other editions made after Yogananda's passing, and a new foreword and afterword by Swami Kriyananda, one of Yogananda's best-known direct disciples. Gentle anecdotes, spiritual insights, and a treasury of plain and simple sensibility distinguish this masterpiece. "The life of an advanced Kriya Yogi is influenced, not by effects of past actions, but solely by directions from the soul. The devotee thus avoids the slow, evolutionary monitors of egoistic actions, good and bad, of common life, cumbrous and snail-like to the eagle hearts." Named one of the top hundred spiritual books of the twentieth century, Autobiography of a Yogi distinguishes itself with insight and compassion, and is especially recommended for religious and spiritual studies shelves.

Steve Williams: How Doctor Death Became Doctor Life
Steve Williams and Tom Caiazzo
Sports Publishing L.L.C.
804 North Neil St., Suite 100, Champaign, IL 61820
1596701803 $24.95 www.SportsPublishingLLC.com 1-877-424-2665

Japanese & Mid South Wrestling Legend "Dr. Death" Steve Williams brings an inspirational story of his life, career, and battle with throat cancer. He tells of his college football career and how he failed to make the jump to the now-defunct USFL. He vowed to a pro wrestling trainer to never play football professionally again, and he emerged on the Mid-South Wrestling circuit, the UWF - two of them no less, and WCW. He regales the reader with his run in Japan, where he gained most of his fame, and why he preferred promotions there over American promotions. And then he speaks of how all his sports achievements ultimately meant nothing, when he was diagnosed with throat cancer and found hope in religion. A heartwarming story of an imperfect man, highly recommended to wrestling fans and wrestling historians alike.


The Fiction Shelf

The Artemis Phenomenon
Herbert G. Geist
Xlibris Corporation
International Plaza II, Suite 340, Philadelphia, PA 19113
Gulotta Communications (publicity.)
341 Lexington Street, Newton, MS 02466
1425726941, $21.99 www.xlibris.com

Former World War II U.S. Naval Aviator Herbert G. Geist presents The Artemis Phenomenon, a stark novel that parallels the modern world perhaps just a little bit too closely. In the nation of "Arcadia" in the year 2010, the beautiful Princess Artemis of the royal family charms and delights all who view her even as she just might be manipulated by sinister and ruthless forces. The Artemis Phenomena brings together elements of farce, high satire, and shocking violence into a one-of-a-kind, impossible-to-put-down whole.

Mindful of Madness
Ida-Rose Mead
Outskirts Press, Inc.
10940 S. Parker Rd. - 515, Parker, CO 80134
1598001590, $8.95 www.outskirtspress.com 1-888-672-6657

Researcher Ida-Rose Mead presents Mindful of Madness, a humorous novel about one man's bizarre war against desire and dreams, as personified by the luscious appeal of a sapphire-eyed beauty. Entrenched as a spectator in his own dream, Conrad Buncombe wars against desire again and again, amid an omnipresent atmosphere of beat-tapping and verse-crooning. An intriguingly introspective adventure of one man's quest to regain control over his own dreams, written with tongue-in-cheek panache.

Infinite Kindess
Laurie Blauner
Black Heron
PO Box 95676, Seattle, Washington 98145
0930773802, $22.95 www.blackheronpress.com

Award-winning author Laurie Blauner presents Infinite Kindess, a dark novel set in the mid-nineteenth century, about Ann Russell, a nurse, former co-worker of Florence Nightingale, and veteran of the Crimean War. The medical quandaries thrust upon her include problems of sexual identity, grief, spirituality, triage, and perhaps most disturbingly, euthanasia. She slays cripples, the poor, the degraded, and when she returns to service in wars, upon young enemy soldiers her side has deemed too burdensome to keep alive. The at times shockingly graphic imagery of death is in stark contrast against the vivid descriptions of emotion and internal turmoil in this haunting tale, told through Russell's eyes.

An Awkward Commission
David Donachie
Allison & Busby
c/o International Publishers Marketing
22841 Quicksilver Drive, Dulles, VA 20166
074908166X, $25.95 www.internationalpubmarket.com 1-800-758-3756

Naval history buff David Donachie presents An Awkward Commission, the latest historical novel set in following the life of reluctant seaman John Pearce. Though Pearce is finally free to follow his dreams rather than serve in King George's Navy, his closest friends have the misfortune to be shanghaied off to the Mediterranean under the command of a ruthless tyrant. Unable to call in aid from any higher authority, Pearce must board a ship and follow them. A complex and at times deadly naval adventure, filled with power plays and plot twists; pure excitement from cover to cover.


The Christian Studies Shelf

Real Christianity
William Wilberforce, author
Regal Books
1957 Eastman Ave., Ventura, CA 93003
0830743111, $14.99 www.regalbooks.com 1-800-4-GOSPEL

Revised and updated by Bob Beltz, Real Christianity is a classic text originally written by abolitionist William Wilberforce more than 200 years ago in order to denounce slavery by appealing to human belief and redefining authentic Christian life. Now, experienced minister Bob Beltz offers a revised and updated version of Real Christianity in modern English (with brief notes) for contemporary readers. Wilberforce's core messages about the true standards of Christian behavior, authentic faith, and the nature of man are unchanged and thoroughly accessible to readers of all backgrounds. "To live our lives and miss that great purpose we were designed to accomplish is truly a sin. It is inconceivable that we could be bored in a world with so much wrong to tackle, so much ignorance to teach and so much misery we could alleviate." Highly recommended.

My Conversations With God
Henry A. Buchanan
AuthorHouse
1663 Liberty Drive, Suite 200, Bloomington, IN 47403
1425976867, $27.99 www.authorhouse.com

My Conversations With God: Wondering, Pondering and Trying to Get it Right is nothing less than the meticulous accounting of personal talks that author and theology expert Henry A. Buchanan had with the Creator and Father of Jesus Christ. Chapters state God's own words as Buchanan heard them about Adam and Eve, the story of the Flood, Abraham, Jacob, Job, Judas, Paul the Apostle, and much more. "Then God said, 'of course, Jesus of Nazareth, the child of Joseph and Mary, is My Son, and you are My Son, without impugning the sanctity of your parents' marriage. Jesus is called the First Born, and Unique Son because He is the First to really get the message from Me... don't you be put off by the people who want to evade the responsibilities of sonship by relegating it to some area of magic and mystery beyond the knowledge and experience of man. People do that in order to make it seem impossible to do what they are not willing to do.' I said, 'What is that, Lord?' And He said, 'Be like Jesus. They excuse themselves by making Him different in nature, hence incapable of being the example of character and behavior that I am requiring them to follow.'" Regardless of whether one accepts My Conversations With God as a literal transcript the author's communion with the divine, the insight into human beliefs, morals, strengths, and weaknesses is vividly unforgettable.

Pardon and Peace
Alfred Wilson, C.P.
Roman Catholic Books
PO Box 2286, Fort Collins, CO 80522-2286
1929291930, $19.95 www.booksforcatholics.com 1-970-490-2735

Written by pastor Father Alfred Wilson, Pardon and Peace was originally published in the 1940s; today, this laymen's guide to obtaining the full spiritual and mental gifts of the Catholic practice of Confession remains as relevant and valuable as ever. Chapters discuss the problems of inaccurate confession, the three conditions that must be present for a sin to be mortal, four guidelines for confessing venal sins, common excuses for avoiding Confession and why they should be shot down, helpful advice for those who find themselves confessing the same sins over and over, and much more. "God has given us ten commandments only. If we make additions of our own, we imply that God's way is not safe, which is blasphemous nonsense and implicit, if unintended, lecturing of the Almighty. By all means let us do the harder thing, the supererogatory, provided our motive is love not fear; but let us not make commandments out of counsels." A reflective and timeless guide, enthusiastically recommended for practicing Catholics of all walks of life.

Catholic Spirituality in Focus
George E. Saint-Laurent
Paragon House Publishers
1925 Oakcrest Avenue, Suite 7, St. Paul, MN 55113-2619
1557788650, $12.95 www.paragonhouse.com

Written by comparative religion instructor George E. Saint-Laurent, Catholic Spirituality in Focus: Eight Themes of Mind and Heart is a thoughtful guide to blending the practical daily life of a Christian with ideals from the Gospel. Each chapter discusses a different virtuous ideal with reference to model individuals whose dedication spiritually embodied that ideal: Dorothy Day for the ideal of Christian Vision, Jacques Maritain for Christian Values, Mother Teresa of Calcutta for Christian Virtue, and more. "Human suffering of mind, heart, and body is a profound mystery, but we may still find meaning and not absurdity through faith in the redemptive Cross of Jesus. Presented with the option of faith or agnosticism, we choose to believe in a God of infinite love. This is our deliberate option, and our spiritual resources enable us to deal with our crosses large and small along the way." A profoundly thoughtful theological primer and introduction to moral, religious, and spiritual self-improvement, written for Catholics of all walks of life.

How To Become a Saint
Jack Bernard
Brazos Press
PO Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
1587431998, $12.99 www.brazospress.com

Written by Christian missionary Jack Bernard (1942-2002), How to Become a Saint: A Beginner's Guide is a simple guide for anyone who seeks to become closer to God and Jesus Christ through embarking upon the long road to sainthood. How to Become a Saint denounces the myth that sainthood is an anomaly, only for a few individuals with superhuman religious zeal. Chapters discuss sainthood defined as undividedness toward God; the obedience that comes from faith; the importance of perseverance; true versus false mysticism; and much more. "As a proper grasp of grace leads to obedience, knowing we are predestined leads to determined effort at faithfulness. You are not on your own with the promise of a reward at the end if only you can gut it out. What Jesus said to his first disciples he still says to you 'And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age' (Matt. 28:20)". Highly recommended for dedicated Christians seeking to better understand and embody their faith.

The Gospel of Matthew
John F. O'Grady
Paulist Press
997 MacArthur Boulevard, Mahwah, NJ 07430
0809144409, $24.95 www.paulistpress.com 1-800-218-1903

Written by Albany, NY Diocese priest and retired biblical theology professor John F. O'Grady, The Gospel of Matthew: Question by Question is a bible study guide and second in the Question by Question series. Presented in a unique question-and-answer format, The Gospel of Matthew: Question by Question draws the reader into the text with material found in no other traditional commentary. Each chapter also includes introductions and conclusions to assist the reader's understanding. "Both John and Jesus point out the presence and absence of God in their society and in their religion and culture. They both speak for God. People like it when a prophet points out the presence of God but rebel when the prophet highlights the absence of God, especially in religion and among religious leaders." An excellent guide for adult bible-study groups, introductory scripture courses, and individual study.


The Judaic Studies Shelf

JPS Guide To American Jewish History
Norman H. Finkelstein
Jewish Publication Society
2100 Arch Street, 2nd floor, Philadelphia PA 19103-1399
0827608101, $18.00 www.jewishpub.org 1-800-234-3151

Nicely illustrated with more than 70 occasional black-and-white historical photographs, maps, and charts, and laced throughout with informative sidebars, the "JPS Guide To American Jewish History" by Norman H. Finkelstein (series editor of the JPS Guides) is the story of Jewish communities and personalities in the 350-year history of North American and the 200+ history United States. From the earliest Jewish settlers on American shores, to the integration and success of Jews in American business, politics, arts, culture, entertainment, science, and more. Enhanced with the inclusion of concise biographies, timelines, notes, a bibliography, and an index, "American Jewish History is the perfect introductory survey of American Jewish history and a core addition to personal, academic, and community library Judaic Studies and American History reference collections. Also very highly recommended for the Judaic Studies reference shelf and supplemental reading lists are three other titles in the outstanding 'JPS Guides" series from the Jewish Publication Society: "JPS Guide To Jewish Traditions"; "JPS Guide To Jewish Women"; and the "JPS Dictionary Of Jewish Words".

The Ethiopian Jews Of Israel
Len Lyons
Jewish Lights Publishing
PO Box 237, Woodstock, VT 05091
1580233236, $34.99 www.jewishlights.com 1-800-962-4544

Profusely illustrated with the full color photography of Ilan Ossendryver and featuring an informative foreword by Alan M. Dershowitz, "The Ethiopian Jews Of Israel: Personal Stories of Life In The Promised Land" by Len Lyons reveals through candid interviews and personal accounts the struggles and accomplishments of Ethiopian Jews who migrated to Israel and became Ethiopian Israelis. Among the more than fifty men and women included in this fascinating account are religious leaders, soldiers, lawyers, students, actors, musicians, and even a member of the Israeli Knesset. Each succinct biographical synopsis is illustrated with a full page photographic portrait. "The Ethiopian Jews Of Israel" is an impressive and welcome treatise that is enthusiastically recommended for personal and community library Judaic Studies and Israeli Studies reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Chicken Soup to Warm the Neshama, revised edition
Pesach Burston & Chana Burston
Dwelling Place Publishing, Inc.
c/o Merkos Publications
291 Kingston Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11213
097131294X, $9.95 www.dwellingplacepub.com 1-866-DWELL-PL

Now in a revised edition, Chicken Soup to Warm the Neshama: 101 Short Stories, Insights & Sayings Containing Life-Long Lessons is an anthology of one-page and two-page vignettes offering comfort, spiritual richness, respect for the Torah, and a unique soul-warming quality. Sample gems of wisdom include "To be bigger than your friend, there is no need to pull him down. Simply elevate yourself!" and "An argument is an exchange of ignorance. A conversation is an exchange of intelligence." Written especially for Jewish readers, but sure to touch the Neshama (soul) of all readers regardless of personal background, Chicken Soup to Warm the Neshama is highly recommended.


The Philosophy Shelf

The Quotable Atheist
Jack Huberman, editor
Nation Books
c/o Avalon Publishing Group
1400 - 65th Street, Suite 250, Emeryville, CA 94608
1560259698, $15.95 www.nationbooks.org www.jackhuberman.com

Passionate atheist and fluently opinionated blogger Jack Huberman presents The Quotable Atheist: Ammunition for Nonbelievers, Political Junkies, Gadflies, and Those Generally Hell-Bound, an anthology of quips, quotes, and searing insights from philosophers, scientists, poets, writers, artists, entertainers, and political figures throughout history - all challenging the widespread impulse to believe without proof, and all chosen to hearten and intellectually stimulate fellow atheists. The quotes are grouped together by author, organized alphabetically by author's last name for quick reference, and each author's name is followed by a brief biography of a few sentences. Good for a quick browse or extended study, The Quotable Atheist is enthusiastically recommended as the perfect antidote to a modern culture with endemic quotations of scripture. "I believe that virtuous behavior is trivialized by carrot-and-stick schemes, such as promises of highly improbable rewards or punishments in an improbable afterlife." -Kurt Vonnegut

Listening
Jean-Luc Nancy, author
Charlotte Mandell, translator
Fordham University Press
2546 Belmont Avenue, University Box L, Bronx, NY 10458-5172
0823227731, $16.00 www.fordhampress.com 1-800-247-6553

Skillfully translated from the original French by Charlotte Mandell, Listening is Professor of Philosophy Jean-Luc Nancy's thoughtful treatise upon the philosophical ramifications of sound and its relationship to the human body. Contemplating how music affects the listener, not only physically but also emotionally and ideologically, Listening is at times technical yet overall an ingenious yet serious exploration of the mutual transformations of auditory art and those who experience it. "Music is the art of the hope for resonance: a sense that does not make sense except because of its resounding in itself. It calls to itself and recalls itself, reminding itself and by itself, each time, of the birth of music, that is to say, the opening of a world in resonance, a world taken away from the arrangements of objects and subjects, brought back to its own amplitude and making sense or else having its truth only in the affirmation that modulates this amplitude." An excellent read for music theory students and scholars, as well as philosophers.


The Jobs/Careers Shelf

Excuse Me, Your Job Is Waiting
Laura George
Hampton Roads Publishing Company
1125 Stoney Ridge Road, Charlottesville, VA 22902
1571745297, $16.95 www.hrpub.com 1-800-766-8009

Human resource management expert applies her resume-sorting wisdom gleaned from both sides of the hiring desk in Excuse Me, Your Job Is Waiting: Attract the Work You Want, a solid guide to identifying the right job opening and getting ahead of the pack in the application and interview process. Chapters present insights into deciding whether a company's energy is right, how to transform negative emotions into positive ones, how to infuse an upbeat attitude into one's resume, how to stay focused during the job hunt, how to discern whether it's time to start one's own business, and much more. "Ironically, successful folks don't take unnecessary risks, and they don't accept boredom as a part of life. In fact, they detest boredom. They find boredom to be a waste of time, and they can't stand to waste time. They try to jam as much into a finite lifetime as possible. At work, they become more efficient to squeeze out boredom. They listen intently when a new concept hits their radar..." A go-getter of a career guide, especially recommended for anyone dissatisfied with their current job or career prospects.


The Gay Studies Shelf

Voices from the Kingdom
Beverly Cole
Kimimi Publications
PO Box 358, Salina, KS 67402-0358
Cate Cummings Publicity
7601 East 93rd St., Kansas City, MO 64138
0978852206, $13.95 www.amazon.com

Beverly Cole, a devoted Christian and the mother of a gay son, presents Voices from the Kingdom: All God's Children Have Keys, a collection of question-and-answer format interviews with faithful gay and lesbian believers, whose voices are all too often drowned out by mainstream church debates over whether to condemn homosexuality as a sin. Voices from the Kingdom is emphatically not a politically-minded, or agenda-driven compilation, but rather an expression of spirituality, community, hope, and love. "'What are your thoughts on gay marriage?' 'Politics aside, if we want linguistically to use that term marriage to refer to male and female, so be it. But, being a humane society, we need to come up with a term or concept, and not just for equal rights and health insurance but equal value for the blessing of the relationship. I'd settle for that. I would hope that the traditionalists could share equal respect for same-sex relationships as for opposite sex relationships. I don't see that it is any threat to the sanctity of marriage. A gay couple across town does not threaten my marriage to Mary Lee.'" A rational, powerful and moving assortment of testimonies.


The Poetry Shelf

75 Poems on Retirement
Robin Chapman & Judith Strasser, editors
University of Iowa Press
100 Kuhl House, 119 West Park Road, Iowa City, IA 52242-1000
158729527X, $19.95 www.uiowa.edu/uiowapress 1-800-621-2736

75 Poems on Retirement is an anthology of poems by a diversity of male and female writers, all ranging in age from their fifties to their eighties. Some are retired; some are contemplating retirement; all offer their unique, sometimes disconcerting, sometimes witty, sometimes thoughtful insights into this turning point of one's life. Most of the poems are free-verse and brief in length, though all have the resonating power of reflection borne from personal experience. "Open House": I work as hard as I can / to have nothing to do. // Birds climb their rich ladder / of choruses. // They have tasted the top of the tree, / but they are not staying. // The whole sky says, / Your move.

Dancing On A Slippery Floor
Jane Katims
American Literary Press
8019 Belair Road, Suite 10, Baltimore, MD 21236
1561679690, $9.95 www.americanliterarypress.com 1-800-873-2003

A member of the Board of Visitors of the English Department at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and co-producer of six radio series for Wisconsin Public Radio, Jane Katims now demonstrates her impressive skills as a wordsmith with "Dancing On A Slippery Floor", a very highly recommended book of poetry showcasing an undeniable talent with free verse pieces that evoke recognition and appreciation in the mind of the reader. 'Time With Louisa': We hung out in my kitchen,/her dark eyes fixed on the table/as if its wood-grain/held ridges of Brazil./Her Portuguese sounded distant/like the chirping of cicada,/remote, like the large land shape/she traced in my son's Atlas./We learned quickly/a language without words./Otherwise, her isolation/far from the floresta,/and mine/would be endless as the Amazon.

Cold Panes Of Surfaces
Chris Banks
Nightwood Editions
c/o Harbour Publishing
PO Box 219, Madeira Park, BC, Canada, V0N 2H0
0889712220, $16.95, www.harbourpublishing.com 1-604-883-2730

"Cold Panes Of Surfaces" offers appreciative readers 96-pages of Chris Banks superbly crafted and enthusiastically recommended prose poems that take for the subject matter an impressive range of themes drawn from the Southern Ontario landscape, a fifteenth-century Japanese poet, a magician's assistant, the Muse, and all the vagaries of human relationships. 'Neighbourhood Watch': One day you come home/to a letter in your mailbox./It asks you to quietly observe/a neighbour -- a young man/who owns a brick house/across the street from you./You scan the envelope for clues/to its origins, wondering how/it came to you to bear witness/to a stranger's life. but/after scrutinizing the instructions,/you sit the whole long night/outside the poor man's house,/staring through his windows,/under the lag of moon and stars,/recording his every private act or whim,/slight ashamed to be alone/rooting through his garbage, too,/looking for the secret writ to his life,/for what it is he is hiding -- until,/empty-handed and solemn/you walk home, noticing someone/has trampled your rose bushes/and your garbage is strewn/like a banner of lies and half-truths,/across the city's shining ruin.

Cornsilk
Carol Alena Aronoff
Pelican Pond Publishing
c/o Blue Dolphin Publishing
PO Box 8, Nevada City, CA 95959-0008
1577331753, $12.95 www.bluedolphinpublishing.com 1-800-643-0765

An impressive and very highly recommended collection of poems and photographs by Hawaiian-based psychologist, academician, and writer Carol Alena Aronoff, "Cornsilk" offers a body of lyrical prose poems that, combined with an accompanying black-and-white photograph, reveal the wonder of the natural world of earth and sky, sight and sound, texture and aroma, that are so integral a part of ancient native cultures and contemporary metaphysical meditations. 'Ualena': I am the tears of joy/you weep/in the laughing/yellow rain./Your sound/rounds my tongue/in waves/of mango moonlight;/your soft drops/fall hard/on glistening rock --/tapping sweetly,/tapping sweetly./I listen/for your floating/hula rhythms/as you dance/through the drought/in my heart --/tapping sweetly,/tapping sweetly./Ualena.

Anson County Poems
Joseph Bathanti
Parkway Publishers
PO Box 3678, Boone, NC 28607
1933251115, $11.95 www.parkwaypublishers.com 1-800-821-9155

An award winning poet, Joseph Bathanti was born and raised in Pittsburgh, and now teaches Creative Writing at the Applachian State University. "Anson Country Poems" is his latest anthology and continues to document him as a an imaginative master of the prose poem who draws his inspiration from what most of us see without noticing, note without reflection, and accept without further inquiry. 'Drought': The corn chants/to be buried in early August,//It prays the land lie/fallow under merciful heaven.//Even the direst Love/in the burnt cropheart//and the blood of a boy/farmer could not save it.//There is a farmhouse surrounded/by more hell-colored corn//than one can see beyond./The cows go unfed//on the day of trucks/at the Walltown graveyard. Also very highly recommended reading for poetry enthusiasts are Joseph Bathanti's previous four collections: "Communion Partners"; "The Feast Of All Saints"; "This Metal"; and "East Liberty".

The Passion Of Phineas Gage & Selected Poems
Jesse Glass
Ahadada Books
3158 Bentworth Drive, Burlington, Ontario, Canada, L7M 1M2
0973223367, $16.50 www.ahadadabooks.com 1-800-869-7553

Jesse Glass was raised on a horse farm near Westminister, Maryland. He currently lives and works in Tokyo, Japan. His plays, poems, performance works, and fiction have been published in a wide variety of journals and anthologies over the years. "The Passion Of Phineas Gage & Selected Poems" is the latest collection of his poetry and will well serve to bring his abilities as a word smith to an appreciative readership. Glass is perhaps best known for his experimental writing and insights into human nature. This new compilation of his writings will continue to document his unique approach to the written word that includes the deft use of such postmodernism tools and poetic forms as collaging, fragmentation, and 'Oulipo-like' processes. The limitations of this review format cannot hope to do justice to Glass' imaginative layouts and framing of words-on-the-page. "The Passion Of Phineas Gage & Selected Poems" collection of Jesse Glass' work is most especially recommended to the attention of avant-garde poetry enthusiasts. Two other volumes of poetry from Ahadada Books are also highly recommended for personal, academic, and community library poetry collections: Jerome Rothenberg's "China Notes & The Treasures Of Dunhuang" (0973223391, $12.95) and Jim Daniels' "Now Showing" (0978141415, $10.00).

The Resurrection Trade
Leslie Adrienne Miller
Graywolf Press
2402 University Avenue, Suite 203, Saint Paul, MN 55114
1555974635, $14.00 www.graywolfpress.org 1-651-641-0077

Leslie Adrienne Miller is an instructor at the University of Saint Thomas in Saint Paul, Minnesota and an accomplished poetry with four previously published volumes of her work documented her ability and talent. "The Resurrection Trade" is her fifth and newest collection with a deftly scripted theme of delving into women's lives to understand the objectification of the female -- past and present -- through the deft use of lyrical and engaging free verse. 'Anatomy at the Dinner Table': Vesalius advises us to notice as we pluck/at table the cooked meat from the neck/of a calf, piglet or kid, the yellow ligament/so tough it's offered only to dogs./The only ligament in the body unfit/for human consumption, it is offered/he says, in Brussels to young girls/because its pale yellow color is not/unlike the color they desire in their hair,/and the ligament itself diffuses its fine/strains into other parts of the body./Not unusual then, to recommend/that one eat what one desires to wear/in the flesh, Beauty, we suppose,/being its own invitations to a meal.

The Geometry Of Loneliness
Lee Passarella
David Robert Books
PO Box 541106, Cincinnati, OH 45254-1106
1933456396, $17.00 www.davidrobertbooks.com

Academician, writer, literary editor, and an award winning poet, Lee Passarella is a master of the prose poem and able to create word images that impact on both the imagination and the emotions of his reader. Enthusiastically recommended reading for anyone who appreciates well-crafted examples of lyrical prose that evokes images as effective as they are unexpected, "The Geometry Of Loneliness" will prove to be a very rewarding read. 'Auto-da-fe': Cruel as the grave/you said of jealousy/that night you were even crueler,/when I came to you still/in the winding sheet. And you,/bringing resurrection like a trial,/like the fireball Jesus rides on/in the Bruenwald Resurrection:/you ask more of the faithful/than any god would ask,/a savior/like an inquisition, a Christ of napalm,/killing villages to save them,/and I your converted jew,/your reclaimed good.

Shouldering Zero
S. Beth Bishop
Custom Words
PO Box 541106, Cincinnati, OH 45254-1106
1933456485, $17.00 www.custom-words.com

Collectively, the poetry by Beth Bishop as compiled in "Shouldering Zero" map out the landscapes of the human heart and mind as she deftly explores through a lyrical poetic license a diversity of subjects, themes, and issues. 'Say Something: Attinni stylo': Between lovers' talk, the threat of dry tongue space/clicks and cleaves, heaves spittle, leaves a gap./St. Simeon, say! You Stylites might have guessed/that sainthood's built, as Babel was: ground-up.//Or that cubits more of pillar can amplify/only the eye, leaving the voice to Doppler's mercy/and distance. A word might serve as a bridge or prize/our hills apart. A thought could be lightning and we//mere lightning rods. God! Thirty-seven years/on pillars! It's a living good for one dead saint. No two/alike, saints or snowflakes, both brushed as hair/from the mountains. One settles cold, another shoots//away, like a curl, from the high, bald ridge./Oh, speak me a scissor; I'm freezing white on this ledge.

The Underflower
Jay Snodgrass
Cherry Grove Collections
PO Box 541106, Cincinnati, OH 45254-1106
1933456647, $17.00 www.cherry-grove.com

The poetic talents of Jay Snodgrass are clearly documented in this highly recommended collection of his work that aptly displays his unique and distinctive visions concerning the relationships between the mundane and the spiritual. 'Crawling Growth': Sealed like a love letter/And visibly desperate, you may not/Leave this place, Insect-Sun, in an envelope,/Nor scorn the gifts/Of my higher head, its/Murky sewer laser-beamed/With love and strewn with chewed up/Carnations. These exposed crocus beds/Are a rhizomatic perversion,/The grass handlers gift of/Heavy ropes and highway:/I only hear this now/Because of the infiltrating breeze's/Turned-down gift of righteous flesh.

Babel's Stair
Rhoda Janzen
Word Press
PO Box 541106, Cincinnati, OH 45254-1106
1933456523, $17.00 www.word-press.com

Enthusiastically recommended reading, "Babel's Stair" succinctly showcases the verse of Rhoda Janzen, with each of her carefully crafted poems telling a little story that is hallmarked by the lyrical precision that only a master poet can successfully construct. 'How We Unlove Our Heroes': Consider how we unlove our heroes./We fall in love with Wagner. And then dense/as Nietzsche, we wait gloved in an immense/drawing room, concentrating on our prose./Naturally faith flourishes like fiction./One of Cosima's chickens rustles in,/dressed absurdly in a crinoline,/twittering to set the cracked addiction./Clucks breezy as a hostess dropping hints./You know how you try not to read ahead,/but how the last word is already read?/It's like the dawn, all vicious innocence–/and implicated by the very word/that crashes like a high-toned Wagner chord.


The Library DVD Shelf

The Good Soldier
Acorn Media Group
801 Roeder Road, Suite 700, Silver Spring, MD 20910
AMP-9241, $24.99 www.acornmedia.com

With a stellar cast that includes Jeremy Brett, Robin Ellis, Susan Fleetwood, Vickery Turner, Elizabeth Garvie, Pauline Moran, and John Ratzenberger, "The Good Soldier" is the story of two Edwardian couples who become friends when meeting for nine consecutive years at an annual retreat in a German spa. Superbly adapted from the novel by Ford Madox Ford, "The Good Soldier" features beautiful costuming, meticulous set designs, and superb photography in a 104 minute production that is technically flawless in its execution. Viewers are treated to an unfolding story of unexpected plot twists, memorable characters, and shifting perspectives, as this remarkably engaging story of love, loss, betrayal is revealed. Strongly recommended for community library video collections, the DVD format of "The Good Soldier" allows for the inclusion of a Ford Madox Ford biography, cast filmographies, and a scene index feature.

Razor Digital Entertainment
12031 Ventura Blvd. #3, Studio City, CA 91406
www.razordigitalent.com

Jennifer Kries' HOT BODY COOL MIND: THE LIFE FORCE POWER WORKOUT: WAKING ENERGY (1595523588, $19.99) and her HOT BODY COOL MIND: LEVEL 1 (1595523510, $19.99) each pack in powerful workouts from a Pilates expert who blends exercise with the healing arts of China, India and Tibet. Flexibility, stamina and relaxation come from calming 'un-workouts' which seek to replenish and restore rather than to challenge and force. LEVEL 1 is the first step, introducing a workout with all seven 'hot''and 'cool''specialty routines. WALKING ENERGY furthers the cause, with more routines: both are perfect picks for any fitness library.

Reality Films
www.reality-entertainment.com www.amazon.com

Reality Films has produced three outstanding DVDs on three fascinating and controversial subjects. "Nick Pope: The Man Who Left The MOD" (RYE 1005) features an interview by Michael Bourne of Nick Pope -- the only UFO investigator to be employed by the British Government to go on the record and spell out his findings and opinions with respect to unidentified flying objects. This unique DVD reveals and discusses the Russians and 'Black Technology'; information concerning the Rendlesham Forest incidents; quantum physics, psychology, and governmental reports and sightings by insiders. "Science Of Soul: The End-Time Solar Cycle of Chaos In 2012 A.D." (RYE 1004) is a documentary by John Jay Harper (one of the world's leading metaphysicians on the apocalypse" and focuses upon the opening of the third eye and super-consciousness in the year 2012 A.D. Ranging from quantum physics to life after death, and addresses the sacred teachings of humanities past, "Science Of The Soul" is a simply fascinating production that is both thoughtful and thought-provoking. "The Cross of Thoth" (RYE 1006) is the story laid out by E. M. Miller of an ancient instrument hidden for more than four millennia within the great pyramid. The instrument was designed to unlock some of mankind's most baffling mysteries concerning life, death, and the future. All three of these superbly produced titles are recommended for personal and community library Metaphysical Studies DVD collections

Learning ZoneXpress
PO Box 1022, Owatonna, MN 55060
www.learningzoneexpress.com 1-888-455-7003

'Confessions of' is an outstanding series of video documentaries (available in both DVD and VHS formats) highlighting and showcasing contemporary careers for viewers from sixth grade through college. This outstanding series includes: "Confessions Of A Fashion Designer" (1571754466 DVD; 1571754458 VHS; $79.95; 12 minutes) with dress designer DeBora Rachelle taking the viewer behind-the-scenes of a fitting session and speaking about the business aspects of fashion; "Confessions Of An Interior Designer" (1571754482 DVD; 1571754474 VHS; $79.95; 13 minutes) with professional interior designer Brandi Hagen discussing the pros and cons of a professional interior design career, along with a typical office, a client meeting, and a series of design showrooms; "Confessions Of Chefs And A Restaurateur" (157175444X DVD; 1571754431 VHS; $79.95; 15 minutes) highlights five chefs from Le Cordon Bleu College of the Culinary Arts and is hosted by Brenda Langton, chef restaurateur and owner of Café Brenda and Spoonriver restaurants. All three of these outstanding, technically flawless, full-color, informed and informed videos to be superbly produced introductory descriptions of viable and highly competitive careers which are strongly recommended additions to both school and community library Jobs/Careers reference collections.


The Homeowner's Shelf

About the House with Henri De Marne
Henri de Marne
Upper Access Inc.
87 Upper Access Road, Hinesburg, VT 05461
094267930X, $16.95 www.upperaccess.com

Written by home improvement columnist Henri De Marne, About the House with Henri De Marne is a comprehensive homeowner's manual written in plain English for lay readers. From crawl spaces to roofs, doors and windows, plumbing, electrical systems, kitchens, baths, interior surfaces, insulation, and more, About the House with Henri De Marne provides "how-to" solutions to common problems and recommends when to do it yourself and when calling in a professional is recommended. A small amount of black-and-white photographs and sketches illustrate this money-saving, question-and-answer format guide. "The best way to clean an oil stain from concrete or asphalt is by sprinkling a layer of TSP-PF crystals onto the stains and sprinkling hot water onto the TSP-PF. Scrub with a stiff bristle brush and let stand for a half hour. Rinse with clear water. If the oil is deeply embedded, you may need to repeat the procedure." An excellent resource of tips, tricks, and techniques for keeping one's home in top condition.

About The House with Henri De Marne
Henri De Marne
Upper Access, Inc.
87 Upper access Road, Hinesburg, VT 05461
094267930X, $16.95 www.upperaccess.com 1-800-310-8320

Simply put, "About The House: How To Maintain, Repair, Upgrade And Enjoy Your Home" by career housing consultant and professional building inspector Henri De Marne should be on the bookshelf of every homeowner and apartment dweller in the country. For some 32 years Henri De Marne wrote a nationally syndicated home improvement newspaper column called 'First Aid for the Ailing House'. His 464-page 'how to' instruction manual in all manner for home repairs and home maintenance is a handbook compilation of step-by-step instructions on everything from roofs, foundations, attics, bathrooms, kitchens, basements, and garages, to mold, insulation, moisture, heating, cooling, air infiltration, septic systems, and so much more. Accessible organized into succinct chapters dedicated to various structures of the house, every page offers a wealth of practical, applicable, and thoroughly 'user friendly' information, advice, tips, shortcuts, techniques, and basic information for dealing with everything from electrical and plumbing repairs, to leaky gutters, decayed siding, fixtures, appliances, flooring, windows, and more. With a superbly presented Q&A format, each task or problem is presented with a description, then a solution. "About The House" is strongly recommended for both personal and community library Home Maintenance and 'do-it-yourself' Home Repairs reference collections.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

One World
John C. Polkinghorne
Templeton Foundation Press
300 Conshohocken State Road, Suite 670, West Conshohocken, PN 19428
1599471116, $14.95 www.templetonpress.com

Written by Anglican priest and former professor of mathematical physics John C. Polkinghorne, One World: The Interaction of Science and Theology is the first book in a trilogy written to examine reality through the dual perspectives of science and religion. Chapters offer a historical reassessment of the scientific method, a defense of natural theology as a discipline, the concept of sacrament as the point of connection between scientific and theological understanding, discussions of creationism, determinism, prayer, miracles, and future life, and much more. "Theology differs from science in many respects because of its very different subject matter, a personal God who cannot be put to the test in the way that the impersonal physical world can be subjected to experimental enquiry. Yet science and theology have this in common, that each can be, and should be, defended as being investigations of what is, the search for verisimilitude in our understanding of reality." A serious-minded quest for truth, highly recommended.

My Doctor Says I'm Fine… So Why Do I Feel So Bad?
Margaret Smith Peet, ND & Shoshana Zimmerman, ND
Blue Dolphin Publishing, Inc.
PO Box 8, Nevada City, CA 95959
1577330854, $19.95 www.bluedolphinpublishing.com 1-800-643-0765

Written by Margaret Smith Peet, ND & Shoshana Zimmerman, ND, My Doctor Says I'm Fine… So Why Do I Feel So Bad? A Self-Help Guide to Restoring Health is a guide for novices to understanding the basic tenets of Eastern medicine, self-observation, and expressions of life-force that are symptomatic of unhealthy diseases and conditions. A handful of black-and-white diagrams illustrate this methodical listing of both physical and spiritual warning signs to look for. From examining one's tongue for signs of vitamin deficiency or disease, to yoga poses designed to counter life-force imbalances, to recommended food plans for promoting dietary health and life-force balance, My Doctor Says I'm Fine... is not a substitute for a physician's examination but rather an excellent prevention and self-help treatment regimen for learning to live well when simply taking a prescribed pill is insufficient.


The Genealogy Shelf

The Three Charters of the Virginia Company of London
Samuel M. Bemiss
Genealogical Publishing Company, Inc.
3600 Clipper Mill Rd., Suite 260, Baltimore, MD 21211
0806350881, $18.95 www.genealogical.com

Originally published in 1957, The Three Charters of the Virginia Company of London: With Seven Related Documents 1606-1621 compiles a number of historical documents from the 1600's sure to be of use to amateur and professional genealogists alike. Authentic reproductions of the charter text, complete with extensive lists of names and a brief introduction comprise this basic yet solidly presented primary source. Some of the documents presented in addition to the three charters include "Ordinance and Constitution, March 9, 1607", "Virginia Company Instructions to Sir George Yeardley, November 18, 1618 (Sometimes called 'The Great Charter')", and more. An excellent source and reference for genealogy libraries.


The World History Shelf

"Better in France?"
Frederic Ogree, editor
Bucknell University Press
c/o Associated University Presses
2010 Eastpark Blvd., Cranbury, NJ 08512
0838755976, $55.00 www.bucknell.edu./universitypress

Edited by Frederic Ogree (Professor of English Literature, University of Paris 7 - Denis Diderot), "Better in France?": The Circulation of Ideas Across the Channel in the Eighteenth Century is an anthology of essays by distinguished authors concerning the theory and practice of cultural exchange between Britain and the Continent, from 1660-1815. The process of cultural transfer, and the manner in which ideas from another way of life are imported, imitated, translated, appropriated, and criticized form the heart and soul of these writings, which include "The Spectator's Curtailed Legacy: The Periodical Press Between England and France in the 18th Century", "The Englishness of the English Gothic Novel: Romance Writing in an Age of Europhobia", and "The Britishness of Caricature in Revolutionary France". Aspects of culture from music and art to philosophy and pop culture drama or fiction each have their moment in the spotlight, in this scholarly and extensively researched scrutiny historical human interaction, recommended for college library shelves.

Reading and Riding
Eileen S. DeMarco
Lehigh University Press
c/o Associated University Presses
2010 Eastpark Blvd., Cranbury, NJ 08512
0934223831, $38.50 1-609-655-4770

Scholar Eileen S. DeMarco presents Reading and Riding, the very first in-depth study of Hachette and Company's railroad bookstore network, The Bibliotheque des Chemins de Fer, which originated in 1853 to market a collection of books to train travelers and evolved into France's first national chain bookstore. Focusing on events from 1826 to 1914, Reading and Riding traces the supervisors, suppliers, operators, and consumers of the network, how financial clout, more than political discourse, was destined to shape landmark decisions in the commerce of book distribution. Extensively researched, with a selected bibliography, alphabetic list of authors and book titles of The Bibliotheque des Chemins de Fer, and an index, Reading and Riding is a scholarly case study sure to particularly intrigue bibliophiles.

Dictionary of Latino Civil Rights History
F. Arturo Rosales
Arte Publico Press
University of Houston, 452 Cullen Performance Hall, Houston, TX 77204-2004
1558853472, $69.95

Written by F. Arturo Rosales (professor of history at Arizona State University), Dictionary of Latino Civil Rights History is a solid, first-of-its-kind dictionary reference of people, places, events, issues, and terms crucial to Latino history, particularly Mexican, Cuban, and Puerto Rican history. Entries are arranged alphabetically, with cross references; a handful of black-and-white photographs, a chronology, bibliography, and index further enhance utility. Each entry also cites its source, which is frequently a functioning website. "National Day of Solidarity: On October 27, 1974, the Puerto Rican Socialist Party mobilized twenty thousand people, filling up Madison Square Garden in solidarity for the independence of Puerto Rico. Not only did this represent the largest political assembly of Puerto Ricans in the United States, but it also demonstrated the strong support that independence organizations had obtained during the decade. [SOURCE: Torres and Velazquez, 'The Puerto Rican Movement', 54.]" An excellent and easy-to-use reference especially recommended for college libraries and Latino Studies shelves.


The International Studies Shelf

NGOs in International Politics
Shamima Ahmed & David M. Potter
Kumarian Press, Inc.
1294 Blue Hills Avenue, Bloomfield, CT 06002
1565492307, $24.95 www.kpbooks.com 1-800-289-2664

Written by associate professor Shamima Ahmed and professor of political science David M. Potter, NGOs in International Politics is a thoughtful, in-depth survey of the explosive popularity of nongovernmental organizations, and the varieties of interactions that NGOs have with states, international organizations, and international politics. Designed especially for classroom study, yet also suitable for self-education, NGOs in International Politics covers the evolution of NGOs, case studies of NGOs including instances of foreign aid, international security, human rights, and global environmental activism, and much more. Especially recommended for international studies and politics shelves, as well as public and college libraries.

Demystifying Kashmir
Navnita Chadha Behera
Brookings Institution Press
1775 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington DC 20036-2188
0815708602, $28.95 www.brookings.edu

Written by Delhi University (India) political science teacher Navnita Chadha Behera, Demystifying Kashmir is a close examination of the contested Kashmir territory, which has been a source of dispute and outright war between Indian and Pakistan for practically half a century. Yet Kashmir has its own ethnic, cultural, religious, and political history. Drawn from extensive field research, Demystifying Kashmir examines the conflict over Kashmir in the context of a political battle of statemaking between India and Pakistan, rather that an ideological Hindu-Muslim conflict. Chapters examine the medley of races caught in the midst of strife, the doomed Kashmiri insurgency of 1989 (initially an indigenous and underground movement of young people calling themselves the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front prior to developing into a mass movement for independence), and the modern day "peace puzzle" that focuses on what Behera refers to as the four P's: the parameters, players, policies, and prognosis of the peace process in Kashmir. An absolute "must-read" for anyone seeking to familiarize themselves with the history and current political situation of Kashmir, enthusiastically recommended for public and college library reference shelves.


The Graphic Novel Shelf

Fullmetal Alchemist: The Abducted Alchemist
Makoto Inoue, author
Alexander O. Smith, translator
Viz Communications Inc.
295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133
1421502224, $9.99 www.viz.com 1-800-394-3042

Fullmetal Alchemist: The Abducted Alchemist is the second in a series of text novels based on the wildly popular Fullmetal Alchemist anime and manga. Written by Makoto Inoue, skillfully translated from the original Japanese by Alexander O. Smith, and featuring two afterwords (one by the author, and one by Fullmetal Alchemist manga creator Hiromu Arakawa), Fullmetal Alchemist is set amid a dual terrorist crisis: a succession of train lines destroyed seemingly without victims, and a series of kidnappings targeting friends and families of the military. Colonel Roy Mustang suspects a link between these criminal acts, but it is Edward and Alphonse Elric who become embroiled in the middle of the investigation - becoming targets of the kidnappers themselves! An action-packed, enthralling adventure from cover to cover, and a "must-read" for Fullmetal Alchemist fans.

Sounds of Your Name
Nate Powell
Microcosm Publishing
PO Box 14332, Portland, OR 97293
0977055795, $18.00 www.microcosmpublishing.com

Sounds of your Name is a graphic novel anthology of black-and-white zine and comic stories by punk band player Nate Powell. Featuring dark, gritty artwork, dialogue that turns on a dime from casual to deadly serious, and sequences that are likewise drift from day-in-the-life to tense to shockingly explosive, the stories in Sounds of Your Name captivate with underground fervor. From the hard life of an alley cat who longs for the comforts of domesticity, to the simultaneously grim and spiritual insights of a war veteran, to the rites of passage from childhood to adulthood, Sounds of Your Name is undeniably a "thinking man's comic" from cover to cover. An avant-garde collection especially recommended for anyone interested in taking the pulse of the underground comix scene.

Top Shelf Productions Inc.
PO Box 1282, Marietta, GA 30061-1282
www.topshelfcomix.com 1-770-425-0551

Simply put, Top Shelf Productions is a premiere publisher of avante garde and counter-culture comix and graphic novels whose diverse titles showcase the very essence of originality. Their newest and highly recommended graphic novel releases include Nicholas Mahler's "Lone Racer" (9781891830693, $12.95). The story of a down-and-out racecar driver who hits bottom with a botched robbery where he was the getaway driver, and his decision to turn his life around. "Regards From Serbia" (9781891830426, $19.95) by Serbian cartoonist Aleksandar Zograf who takes as his subject matter how the war shattered the lives of his friends and neighbors even while the routine of daily life remained largely unchanged. "American Elf: Book 2" (9781891830853, $19.95) which showcases a little biographical comic strip based upon the daily life of its author/artist James Kochalka. "Essex County: Tales From The Farm (9781891830884, $9.95) by Xeric Award-winning cartoonist Jeff Lemire illustrated the life of Lester, a recently orphaned ten-year-old who goes to live on his Uncle's farm, and his friendship with gas station owner Jimmy Lebeuf. Also highly recommended to mature readers for their artistic excellence and deft storytelling are three new comix from Top Shelf Production: Jeffrey Brown's Feeble Attempts (48-pages; $5.00); Jame Kochalka's Super F*ckers #4 (24-pages; $5.00); and Nate Powell's "Please Release" (40-pages; $5.00).


The Native American Shelf

Navajo And Pueblo Earrings 1850-1945
Robert Bauver
Rio Grande Books
925 Salamanca NW, Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM 87107
189068970X, $27.95 www.nmsantos.com

In "Navajo And Pueblo Earrings 1850-1945" author Robert Bauver draws upon his experience and expertise from collecting and studying Southwestern Native American jewelry for more than 30 years. Providing an informed and informative introduction to the different types of Navajo and Pueblo earrings made by Native American craftsmen from 1850 to 1945, readers will learn how these adornments were used as Bauver combines archival photographs and current photographic illustrations of examples in this documented and specialized history of Native American culture. Also available in a hardcover edition (978-1-890689-49-0, $39.95), "Navajo And Pueblo Earrings 1850-1945" is a work of outstanding scholarship and a unique contribution to Native American Studies that is especially recommend to the attention of academia and non-specialized general readers with an interest in Native American Studies.


The Computer Shelf

Linux Appliance Design
Bob Smith, et al.
No Starch Press
555 DeHaro Street, #250, San Francisco, CO 94107
1593271409, $59.95 www.nostarch.com

Linux continues to increase in popularity and utility among computer enthusiasts. The combined effort of Linux experts Bob Smith, John Hardin, Graham Phillips, and Bill Pierce, "Linux Appliance Design: A Hands-On Guide To Building Linux Appliances" teaches Linux users how to build better appliances for the Linux systems thereby providing them with more types of interfaces, more dynamic interfaces, and better debugged interfaces. Linux users will learn how to build backend daemons, handle asynchronous events, connect various user interfaces, and so much more. Now even the most novice Linux user can add professional network management capabilities to their applications, build a web-based appliance and a command line interface, build a framebuffer interface using infrared controls as input, as well as manage logs and alarms on appliance. If you have a Linux system, then "Linux Appliance Design" will prove an invaluable, indispensable, thoroughly 'user friendly' instruction and reference manual for getting the most out of your do-it-yourself designer software


The Theatre/Cinema Shelf

Imaging Blackness
Audrey Thomas McClusky
Indiana University Press
601 North Morton Street, Bloomington, IN 47404-3797
0253217792, $24.95 www.iupress.indiana.edu 1-800-842-6796

"Imaging Blackness: Race And Racial Representation In Film Poster Art" is compiled, edited, curated and presented by Audrey Thomas McCluskey (Associate Professor of African-American and African Diaspora Studies). Professor McCluskey draws upon her years of experience and expertise when she was formerly the director of the Black Film Center Archive at Indiana University to present a series of movie posters for the 'race movies' that were a part of cinematic history from the late 1920s through the early 1940s when African-Americans were largely barred from mainstream Hollywood productions (except for stereotypical roles as maids, butlers, and comic relief characters), necessitating independent and small budget productions featuring African-American casts. Posters were a widespread means of advertising and promotion, designed to persuade members of the public to buy a ticket and see the film publicized by the images depicted in the poster material. "Imaging Blackness" shows the steady evolution of how African-American men and women were pictured on those posters in incremental changes that paralleled the discrimination and slow progress of change of the broader American culture. A fascinating approach to film history that accords with vigorous academic standards of scholarship, "Imaging Blackness" is an especially recommended addition to academic and community library African-American Studies and American Film History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.

Sexy Thrills
Nina K. Martin
University of Illinois Press
1325 South Oak Street, Champaign, IL 61820-6975
0252074378, $20.00 www.press.uillinois.edu 1-800-545-4703

Written by Nina K. Martin (assistant professor of film studies, Emory University), Sexy Thrills: Undressing the Erotic Thriller is a close examination of direct-to-video erotic thriller films - which unlike most soft-core pornography, are usually made specifically for female viewers. Chapters examine how the erotic thriller has refashioned the gothic and film noir genres, the subtle and not-to-subtle messages these films convey concerning female sexuality, subjectivity, and gender construction, and much more. Scrutinizing the almost contradictory tendency of these films to elevate an empowered, sexually experienced heroine ("sexy bad girl") and emphasize standards that strictly limit acceptable expressions of female sexuality, Sexy Thrills provides an expert-level measured discourse of this pop culture phenomenon. Highly recommended especially for cinematic studies shelves.


The Gardening Shelf

All About House Plants
Otho
Meredith Books
1716 Locust Street, Des Moines, IA 50336-0001
0696232189, $12.95 www.meredithbooks.com 1-800-678-8091

Houseplants are a very special way to enhance the living quality and standards of any domicile. They can add color, fragrance, and elegance to homes and offices, fitting in with any decor or interior design. Drawing upon the experience and expertise of a number of gardening experts, the new Ortho edition of "All About House Plants" not only provides a comprehensive selection guide to more than 150 blooming and foliage plants suitable for indoors, but step-by-step instructions on how to grow healthy plants indoors, and offers practical solutions to common problems encountered with the care and maintenance of house plants. Fully illustrated throughout with full color photography, summary descriptions, and instructions for each plant, "All About House Plants" is a thoroughly 'user friendly' guide that is especially suited for the non-specialist general reader wanting to include indoor plants as part of their home or office environment. Also very highly recommended from Ortho for home gardeners are two other newly published titles: "All About Perennials (9780696232152, $12.95) and "All About Roses" (9780696232176, $12.95).


The Crafts Shelf

The Everything Soapmaking Book
Alicia Grosso
Adams Media Corporation
57 Littlefield Street, 2nd floor, Avon, MA 02322
1598692291, $14.95 www.adamsmedia.com 1-800-872-5627

Now in a newly updated and expanded second edition, "The Everything Soapmaking Book" offers the non-specialist general reader with a complete and easy-to-follow guide for making and creating all manner of soaps ranging from simple bath soaps to lovely and aromatic gift soaps. Thoroughly 'user friendly', "The Everything Soapmaking Book" takes the aspiring soap maker through every step of the process of making soap, including buying the right kind of soap making equipment, securing the proper ingredients, developing unique soap recipes, packaging soaps for holidays and special occasions, adding scents and colors, and the artistic techniques to make soaps in unique shapes and sizes. "The Everything Soapmaking Book" is enthusiastically recommended for anyone of any age wanting to try their hand at making soaps for themselves, their family, or their friends!

200 Braids to Twist, Knot, Loop, Or Weave
Jacqui Carey
Interweave Press
201 East Fourth Street, Loveland, CO 80537-5655
Independent Publishers Group, distributor
814 North Franklin Street, Chicago, IL 60610
1596680180, $27.95 www.interweave.com www.ipgbook.com 1-800-888-4741

Profusely illustrated on every page, "200 Braids to Twist, Knot, Loop, Or Weave" by braid making expert and instructor Jacqui Carey offers everything you need to know to create personalized braided trims for clothing, furnishings, greeting cards, jewelry, totes, gift wraps, floral arrangements, gift wrapping, and any other crafts project. Features with easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions are all of the techniques necessary including twisting, knotting, interloping, weaving, braiding, loopwork, ply-split darning, working with beads, and creating braids from start to finish. The techniques are categorized by the materials used, color combinations, and textures, with each braid featured in a lovely close-up full color photograph. Each braid also features a materials list, and is ranked accordingly to difficulty of execution. Ideal for the novice, "200 Braids to Twist, Knot, Loop, Or Weave" has a great deal of value to offer even the more experienced braider seeking to incorporate braids into textile projects, couching down braids to form decorative designs, hiding ends in seams, edging, and using war ends to form decorative finishes. "200 Braids to Twist, Knot, Loop, Or Weave" is a welcome and enthusiastically recommended addition to personal and professional Needlecraft, Braiding, and hand Weaving instructional reference collections.


The Gaming Shelf

Blood-Horse Authoritative Guide to Betting Thoroughbreds
Eclipse Press
c/o Blood Horse Publications
PO Box 919003, Lexington, KY 40591-9003
1581501196, $16.95 www.eclipsepress.com 1-800-582-5604

Written and compiled by the staff members and correspondents of Blood-Horse Publications, the "Blood-Horse Authoritative Guide to Betting Thoroughbreds" is a superbly organized and presented step-by-step instruction manual that will teach the reader how to effectively wager on 'the sport of kinds'. "Blood-Horse Authoritative Guide to Betting Thoroughbreds" covers how to place a bet and cash a ticket, understand what odds mean, read the tote board, study past performances, and generally gain invaluable insights into the world of race horses as it is relevant to determining and placing bets in terms of their workouts, medication, and equipment. An absolutely essential read for novice gamblers, "Blood-Horse Authoritative Guide to Betting Thoroughbreds" has a great deal of value for even the more experienced gambler on thoroughbred horse racing.


The Self-Help Shelf

Ancient Secrets Of Facial Rejuvenation
Victoria J. Mogilner, C.A.
New World Library
14 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94949
1577315529, $14.95 www.newworldlibrary.com 1-800-972-6657

Drawing upon her more than thirty years of experience and expertise, "Ancient Secrets Of Facial Rejuvenation: A Holistic, Nonsurgical Approach to Youth & Well-Being" by Victoria J. Mogilner (a certified acupuncturist, Chinese medicine practitioner, aesthetician, and tai chi instructor) presents a holistic alternative to caring for the skin without the use of chemical and surgical procedures. Advocating the use of facial acupuncture to counteract the signs of aging and which takes only a few minutes each day in the form of an 'Acupuncture Facelift' process that involves lightly pressing certain points on the face, "Ancient Secrets Of Facial Rejuvenation" also features strategies for attaining outer beauty and inner beauty through health nutrition, essential oils and aromatherapy, tai chi, qigong, and self-massage. A welcome addition to Alternative Medicine reference collections, "Ancient Secrets Of Facial Rejuvenation" is especially recommended reading for anyone concerned with rejuvenating their facial skin without resorting to plastic surgery.

Coping with Infuriating, Mean, Critical People
Nina W. Brown
Praeger Publishers
88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881
0275989844, $39.95 www.praeger.com

Narcissistic behaviors displayed by those in power, friends and lovers affect everyone and are prevalent throughout society, which is why Coping with Infuriating, Mean, Critical People is so important and explains a destructive mental pattern which takes hold and affects many. Methods to help victims of this behavior are provided and come from a scholar/professor in Educational Leadership and Counseling, covering everything from indifference to others and emotional intimacy challenges to projection, protection and conquering loneliness. An outstanding guide surveys both victims and survivors as well as the narcissistic personality, this book is a pick for not only college-level holdings strong in psychology and sociology, but for general-interest library collections.

A Group I Never Wanted to Join
Marty McNunn
Syren Book Company
5120 Cedar Lake Road, Minneapolis, MN 55416
0929636678, $15.00 www.syrenbooks.com 1-800-901-3480

Written by lay pastor and certified grief recovery specialist Marty McNunn, A Group I Never Wanted to Join is a self-help guide to dealing with one of life's most overpowering challenges - coping with the death of a loved one. Featuring personal stories from individuals who have suffered many types of loss - that of a child, parent, or spouse - A Group I Never Wanted to Join walks the reader through reactions to grief, the importance of forgiving the dead, dealing with loneliness, finding comfort from the Bible, and more. Though A Group I Never Wanted to Join is spiritual, the emphasis lies primarily upon the day-to-day aspects of surviving grief rather than religious implications. Recommended for readers of all faiths.


The Writing/Publishing Shelf

The Freelance Writer's Bible
David Trottier
Silman-James Press
1181 Angelo Drive, Beverly Hills, Ca 90210
1879505851, $19.95 www.amazon..com

David Trottier is a successful freelance writer and writing teacher who since 1998 has had hundreds of his articles published in magazines ranging from 'Writer's Digest' to 'Road and Track'. he has also authored several successful books (including "The Screenwriter's Bible"), written and sold several featured film scripts, worked as a business writer, copywriter, and newsletter editor. In "The Freelance Writer's Bible", David draws upon his considerable experience and expertise to create an invaluable compendium of information, advice, instruction, tips, techniques, illustrations, anecdotes, and more about just what aspiring writers seeking freelance careers must know and be able to do if they are to be successful in their chosen field. from discovering and developing a creative vision, to achieving higher and higher levels of creativity and improved writing excellent, to selling in seventeen key writing markets, to creating a strategic marketing plan, "The Freelance Writer's Bible" will prove to be a reliable instructional guide and 'user friendly' manual. Readers will learn how to set up a writing business, make that business profitable, deal with writing bocks, write effective query and proposal letters, enhance their writing income, and so much more. With a great deal of 'fill in the blank' forms, this must be considered something of a 'consumable' title and therefore not a good selection for a public library collection. But if you aspire to becoming a professional freelance writer, regardless of the genres or media you intend to work in, then you need to give a careful and personal reading to your very own copy of "The Freelance Writer's Bible" by David Trottier.

From Hollywood Experts And Published Authors
Marilyn Peake, editor
Double Dragon Publishing
PO Box 54016, 1-5762 Highway 7 East, Markham, Ontario, Canada, L3P 7Y4
155404426X, $15.99 www.double-dragon-publishing.com

Compiled, organized and edited by author and columnist Marilyn Peake, "From Hollywood Experts And Published Authors: Words of Wisdom For Starving Artists " features commentaries and information contributed by a variety of authors to the free monthly online newsletter edited by Marilyn Peake -- 'The Golden Goblet' -- during its first year of publication, with some of the articles being especially written for this informed and informative little compendium of advice for writers. The contributors range from Natalie and Lincoln Bandlow on 'Literary Legalities: Copyright And Other Protections For Aspiring Writers'; to Michael J. Wallach's 'Oh, Those Managers And Agents...Can't Live With Them, Can't Live Without Them...'; to Patricia Harrington's 'Grants And Opportunities For Writers: Thinking Outside The Box', to succinct advisories from ten other savvy, experienced, articulate, knowledgeable writers. Each contributor is given a brief biographical introduction followed by their contribution. Useful, practical, and an easy read, "From Hollywood Experts And Published Authors" is strongly recommended for anyone aspiring to a career as a professional writer regardless of genre or media.

Sixty-Four years As A Writer
Bill Gulick
Caxton Press
312 Main Street, Caldwell, ID 83605-3299
0870044532, $16.95 www.caxtonpress.com 1-800-657-6465

For more than six decades, Bill Gulick successfully pursued a career as a writer and author. He has written twenty-seven novels, eight books of non-fiction, as well as several plays. A regular contributor to 'The Saturday Evening Post' and other national magazines, many of his published stories became major motion pictures starring such Hollywood luminaries as Burt Lancaster and Jimmy Stewart. His friends and associates in literary circles and the publishing industry are legion and range from A. B. Guthrie, to Elmer Kelton, to William McCleod Raine. Gulick has also made a name for himself as a leading authority on Pacific Northwest History."Sixty-Four Years As A Writer" is a remarkable, memorable, personal history of his life and career from his days in Oklahoma during the Great Depression to his current status as one of America's premier Western authors. Very highly recommended reading (especially for anyone contemplating a professional writing career for themselves), this is an intrinsically fascinating memoir laced with anecdotes and told in a superbly articulate and engaging narrative style for which he is so well known.

Mystery Writing In A Nutshell
John McAleer & Andrew McAleer
James A. Rock & Company Publishers
9710 Traville Gateway Drive, #305, Rockville, MD 20850
1596635053, $9.95 www.rockpublishing.com 1-800-411-2230

The combined effort of best selling author John McAleer (and a winner of the Mystery Writers of America annual 'Edgar' award) and Andrew McAleer (Professor of Crime Fiction at Boston College and the author of three published mystery novels), "Mystery Writings In A Nutshell: The World's Most Concise Guide To Mystery And Suspense Writing" truly lives up to its title as a 100-page compilation of succinctly presented tips, tricks and techniques for crafting good mystery fiction whether as a short story or a full length novel. From defining mystery and suspense, to the concept of a narrative hook, to diverse elements for story ideas, to enriching the context of the story, to the use of motives and weapons, to character development issues, to plotting out a story, "Mystery Writing In A Nutshell" covers it all in crisp, 'user friendly' detail. Of special note is the concluding section devoted to 'Miscellaneous' offerings that include a number of invaluable entries including 'Conversations About Writers and Writing' and 'A Short Essay on Writers Influencing Writers'. Any aspiring writer seeking to professionally establish themselves in this popular and demanding genre should read what John and Andrew McAleer have to say in the pages of "Mystery Writing In A Nutshell".

On Writing Romance
Leigh Michaels
Writer's Digest Press
c/o F&W Publications, Inc.
700 East State Street, Iola, WI 54990
1582974365, $16.99 www.fwpublications.com 1-800-726-9966

In addition to several nonfiction books, Leigh Michaels is the published author of more than eighty romance novels and so brings a very special expertise to "On Writing Romance: How To Craft A Novel That Sells", her instruction manual for aspiring writers in a demanding and popular genre. Practical, comprehensive, informed and informative, "On Writing Romance" covers the origins and evolutions of the romance novel, and then takes the aspiring writer through each and every stage of the writing and publishing process. Breaking down more than thirty romance subcategories, aspiring writers will learn how to steer clear of cliches and stereotypes by studying the genre they propose to establish themselves in; craft engaging and realistic characters that will appeal to a discerning readership; add conflict through the use of secondary characters; utilize tension and timing to make love scenes come alive; and provide stories with 'happy-ever-after' endings that are neither ordinary or uninspiring, but will reward the reader with a story that they will remember long after the book is finished and returned to the shelf. Enhanced with a sample query letter, a cover letter, and synopsis, "On Writing Romance" also provides specific and practical 'how to' information on preparing a manuscript for submission to agents, editors, and publishers. Anyone seeking to write a commercially successful romance novel of any kind should begin by giving a careful and considered reading to Leigh Michael's "On Writing Romance".

Free Fire Zone
Theresa Rebeck
Smith & Kraus Publishers
76 Aver Road, North Stratford, NH 03590
1575252406, $17.95 1-800-895-4331

Playwright Theresa Rebeck presents Free Fire Zone: A Playwright's Adventures on the Creative Battlefields of Film, TV and Theater, a tell-it-like-it-is guide for aspiring professional writers to the career politics inherent in writing for movies, television, and theater. Free Fire Zone also covers how to write a script with honesty, originality, and vision, but its unique strength lies in its insights for navigating Machiavellian power struggles, and the lies in all shapes and sizes that have practically become calling cards for the industry. "When a theater tells you that you have a home there, what they really mean is they want the right of first refusal on all your plays, and they don't want to have to pay you for it." "When it comes to talking to actors, let them figure out as much as they can on their own. It is always better to have an actor figure out what feels right for his character himself; it is never as good to tell him what he's playing." Free Fire Zone is highly recommended as a one-of-a-kind guide that anyone attempting to break into multimedia writing must read.

Publishing Without Boundaries
Michael N. Ross
The Association of Educational Publishers (AEP)
510 Heron Drive, Suite 201, Logan Township, NJ 08085
0978985702, $24.95 www.edpress.org

Very highly recommended and instructive reading, "Publishing Without Boundaries: How To Think, Work, And Win In The Global Marketplace" by Michael N. Ross (Senior Vice President, Corporate Development, Encyclopedia Britannica Inc.) focuses upon the impact digital publishing has had on the publishing industry, how to work with international publishers, and how American publishers can maximize development efforts. "Publishing Without Boundaries" is designed to teach publishers how to adapt what they do to other cultures and media for the purpose of establishing relationships, negotiating licensing, and developing co-publishing contracts. Of particular importance to educational publishers, "Publishing Without Borders" has a great deal of relevance and value for American trade publishers, niche publishers, independent publishers, and self-published authors seeking to expand their markets into other countries.

Writer Profits: "How I Got the Gig"
Susan M. Carter, editor
Nasus Publishing
8917 Kell Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55437
0967029171, $14.95 www.writerprofits.com

Expertly compiled and deftly edited by Susan M. Carter, "Writer Profits" is a very special compilation of advice and commentary by fifteen professional writers who share their individual stories of pursuing and winning writing assignments of all kinds. Included in this group, each of whom wrote their own chapter, are both part-time and full-time writers, writers who right for fun and writers who ply their craft for profit, writers who write periodically and writers who write every day. Collectively, their stories reveal a wealth of tricks, tips and techniques that will have exceptional and practical value for aspiring authors seeking to break into print, as well as those novice authors seeking to land paid assignments. "Writer Profits" shows just how to turn a vacation into a book opportunity, turn quick tips into quick cash, become a recurring columnist, get writing referrals, establish and develop a technical writer career, become a script writer for television, and so much more. If you want a career as a professional writer, give a careful reading to "Writer Profits" and learn how to land gigs of your own!


The Audiobook Shelf

Brilliance Corporation
PO Box 887, Grand Haven, MI 49417
www.brillianceaudio.com 1-800-854-7859

Ridley Pearson's THE FIRST VICTIM (1423314301, $34.95) tells of a shipping container and the discovery of a scam involving illegal aliens. Scott Rosema provides an engrossing account of intrigue, discovery and an investigation that involves Melissa in a dangerous confrontation. Susan Isaacs' PAST PERFECT (142333888X, $36.95) receives Randy Kaye's fine actress background and broadcasting strengths are it tells of Katie's ideal life working as a TV series writer. But despite her warm home life and job, Katie misses the excitement and thrills of her former CIA job – so when she gets a call to return, she embarks on a journey with dangerous consequences. Robert Crais' THE WATCHMAN (1593550421, $34.95) receives Chicago actor James Daniels' smooth and vivid narrative style as it tells of one Larkin Barkley, who is young, rich, and the sole witness to a secret federal investigation in the aftermath of a terrible accident. Her life is changed and it's up to ex-cop Joe Pike to protect her. T. Jefferson Parker's STORM RUNNERS (1423305876, $34.95) receives Christopher Lane's powerful audio narration skills, which have backed over 100 previous winning audiobooks, as it tells of one Matt, wounded and bereaved after an explosion kills his family. He has largely recovered from his losses and is ready to take on another case at his police force job – only to find it leads him back to his loss and the killer who caused it. Stephen Coonts' DEEP BLACK: JIHAD (1423306422, $36.95) receives J. Charles' fine presentation which lends drama and high action to the story of an anti-terrorist force which has developed a listening device inside the skull of a terrorist. Their infiltration of a global terrorist network is only the beginning to a showdown of force against Al Qaeda which will threaten the world. Robert Dugoni's DAMAGE CONTROL (1423326520, $38.95) receives another Christopher Lane passionate rendition as it tells of a gifted attorney's world broken by crime and secrets. Her discovery of a priceless earring in the debris of her murdered brother's trashed home leads her deeper into a spiraling case involving murder, deception and power. Elizabeth George's RECKLESS LOVE (1423315448, $38.95) enjoys Laurel Merlington's warm and professional reading as it tells of one Janna, who has braved the wild west and faces the warriors of El Cascabel along with a wild stallion and a stranger who may steal all their heart. All are excellent, basic choices for leisure lending libraries and audiobook readers.


The Military Shelf

Patton's Pawns
Tony Le Tissier
The University of Alabama Press
PO Box 870380, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0380
0817315578, $34.95 www.uapress.ua.edu 1-800-621-2736

Retired British lieutenant colonel Tony Le Tissier presents Patton's Pawns: The 94th US Infantry Division at the Siegfried Line, a close-up examination of an infantry division created late in World War II, primarily of draft-deferred university students and officer corps assembled from various domestic postings. Chapters recount how the division was incorporated into General Patton's Third Army south of the Moselle-Saar Triangle, its first combat experience during the Battle of the Bulge which entailed heavy casualties from the fierce winter weather as well as the fighting, and its application in an all-out assault to break through the Siegfried Line against entrenched defenders. A handful of black-and-white photographs and maps, as well as notes, a bibliography, and an index round out this in-depth historical chronicle of this outnumbered division and the tremendous sacrifice it paid. Highly recommended.

Comrades and Commissars
Cecil D. Eby
Pennsylvania State University Press
820 North University Avenue, Suite C, University Park, PA 16802
0271029102, $39.95 www.psupress.org 1-800-326-9180

Written by retired Professor of English Cecil D. Eby, Comrades and Commissars: The Lincoln Battalion in the Spanish Civil War is a fascinating history of 2,800 American fighters who formed a Battalion to fight against Generalissimo Francisco Franco and his right-wing nationalists against the Republican government of Spain during the Spanish Civil War in the late 1930's. Building upon Eby's previous study published in 1969, "Between the Bullet and the Lie", Comrades and Commissars draws from additional data that Eby gathered in recent decades, including the Lincoln Battalion archives that have been hidden in a Moscow storeroom for sixty years. These papers shed light on some of the most provocative questions concerning the Battalion, including which Americans were persecuted or even executed by the brigade commissariat. An in-depth reference, composed by an author with a solid reputation for expertise, balance, and objectivity on the topic, Comrades and Commissars is a welcome addition to world and military history reference shelves.

Chemical and Biological Warfare, 2nd Edition
Al Mauroni
ABC-CLIO
Box 1911, Santa Barbara, CA 93116-1911
1598840274, $55.00 www.abc-clio.com

Any college-level reference collection strong in science, technology and military history will find the second updated edition of Chemical and Biological Warfare an essential addition: it provides essays, history, and biographies surrounding the topic, joins others in the 'Contemporary World Issues' which also makes it a pick for social issues holdings, and it packs in case studies, timelines of events, and more. An excellent, well-rounded reference.

Osprey Publishing
400 Hahn Road, Westminster, MD 21157
www.ospreypublishing.com

These excellent new military histories are recommended picks for any specialty collection strong in in-depth coverage. Joining Osprey's 'Fortress' series of ancient history is Nic Fields' ROME'S SAXON SHORE: COASTAL DEFENSES OF ROMAN BRITAIN AD 250-500 (1846030943, $16.95). The forts of the 'Saxon shore' are among the most impressive surviving monuments of the Roman occupation of the British Isles, and this explores the history of the frontier system and ruins, surveying design, technology, and innovation as well as strategic positions and battles. Mark Landas' AFRICAN AMERICAN SOLDIER IN THE CIVIL WAR (1846030927, $17.95) tells of the United States Colored Troops, who performed countless acts of courage under fire, following the movement of Afro-Americans from slave to soldier to free man. Black and white vintage photos and color drawings accept a survey recommended for any collection strong in Afro-American history as well as military history.


The Parenting Shelf

Parents, Predators, and Prevention
Sergeant James Giammarinaro
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street, Gretna, LA 70053-2246
1888562153, $12.95 www.pelicanpub.com 1-800-843-1724

Law enforcement veteran Sergeant James Giammarinaro presents Parents, Predators, and Prevention: the Complete Guide to Keeping Your Kids Safe and Confident, a straightforward guide to protecting children from sexual predators, and especially, teaching children to protect themselves. Chapters give a basic grounding in how to "password-protect" one's children (choose a code word that only the parent and child know, and drill into the child that he or she must never go with someone who doesn't know it), self-defense strategies, what children should do if they're at home without an adult (lock all doors and windows, never answer the door for anyone, never answer the phone unless the machine picks up and it's a parent's voice), the dangers of internet predators, and much more. A final chapter offers additional tips for adults to staying safe, such as watching for vans and cars that pull up next to the driver's side of one's own car, especially in parking lots - this is a favored ploy of rapists seeking to abduct women as they try to enter their own vehicles. An absolute "must-have" for all parents; reading Parents, Predators and Prevention could easily save the lives of one's own children.


The Civil War Shelf

The 4th North Carolina Cavalry in the Civil War
Neil Hunter Raiford
McFarland & Company, Inc
PO Box 611, North Carolina 28640
0786429569, $29.95 www.mcfarlandpub.com 1-800-253-2187

The 4th North Carolina Cavalry in the Civil War is a detailed, specific history grounded heavily on primary sources, including official records, letters, diaries, and personal recollections of Civil War soldiers. In 1862, the Partisan Ranger Act induced North Carolina leaders to recruit companies of irregular soldiers for Confederate Army service; seven of these companies were merged into the regiment of the 4th North Carolina Cavalry, a medley of urban and rural dwellers alike across fifteen counties. Chapters recount the major engagements of the 4th North Carolina Cavalry, including skirmishes along the Blackwater, The Battle of Whitehall, and Gettysburg, but well over half of The 4th North Carolina Cavalry in the Civil War is devoted to an extensive person-by-person roster of individuals, each with a short paragraph delineating what historical records say happened to him. (One such entry is "Pugh, George A.: Private - Enlisted in Co. D on 5/10/1864 in Perquimans Co., NC; present or accounted for on muster rolls through October 1864.") Black-and-white photographs, notes, a bibliography, and an index round out this in-depth supplement to Civil War reference shelves.


The Money/Finance Shelf

Buying A Second Home
Craig Venezia
Nolo Press
950 Parker Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
1413305563, $24.99 www.nolo.com 1-800-955-4775

The purchase of a second home for use as an income property, for vacation getaways, for retirement, is becoming more and more popular and no longer relegated to the upper income wealthy. Indeed, in today's market, two out of every five U.S. homes are purchased as a second residence. Craig Venezia is an authority on private mortgages and brings to bear his considerable experience and expertise in "Buying A Second Home: Income, Getaway Or Retirement", a comprehensive and detailed manual designed for the non-specialist general reader thinking about acquiring a second residence. Of special note are the 'Seven Secrets of Buying a Second Home' covering such fundamental issues as timing the purchase of a second home, budgeting for a second home, the importance of location, understanding tax consequences, nontraditional financing, renting to offset the expenses of purchase and maintenance, and protecting the investment that a second home represents. Accompanied by a CD containing useful checklists and custom worksheets for use when entering the market for a second residence, "Buying A Second Home" is essential, money-saving, investment enhancing, anxiety abating, fundamentally important reading for anyone contemplating the purchase of a second home for themselves that would be compatible with their financial resources and life style plans.


The Art Shelf

Divided Portraits
Hilary Cooper
Umbrage Editions
515 Canal Street, New York, NY 10013
1884167640, $35.00 www.umbragebooks.com 1-212-965-0197

Hilary Cooper is an obviously gifted, professionally accomplished, and artistically elegant portrait painter that has included among her subjects such celebrities as Matheissen, Salter, George Plimpton, Patti Hearst and former New York Mayor Ed Koch. When Hilary was in an accident that left her a quadriplegic for life she battled hard to regain enough use of her limbs to embark on making a series of portraits of people with disabilities in order to counter the perception that the disabled are somehow fundamentally different from everyone else. "Divided Portraits: Identity And Disability" is the result of her project. Enhanced with an introduction by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith and a particularly thoughtful essay by Roxana Robinson, "Divided Portraits" combines brief biographical sketches of Hilary's selected subjects along with her full color portraits of them. A very special book, "Divided Portraits" would make an excellent addition to academic library American Art History shelves, and an especially appropriate Memorial Fund collection for community libraries.


The Music Shelf

The Big Book Of Children's Songs For Little Guitar Pickers
Santorella Publications, Ltd.
13 Pleasant Avenue, Danvers, MA 01923
TS104, $17.95 www.santorellapublication.com 1-877-600-0049

A thoroughly 'kid friendly' anthology of well-known songs, "The Big Book Of Children's Songs For Little Guitar Pickers" will enable children who are learning to play the guitar to gain experience, expertise, and confidence with their instrument. Showcasing 176 popular songs that range from Hush Little Baby, The Farmer in the Dell, Ten Little Indians, and Old MacDonald, to The Bear Went Over the Mountain, Three Blind Mice, Rock-A-Bye Baby, and Mary had a Little Lamb. Enhanced with an alphabetical listing for ease of access to any given song by its title, "The Big Book Of Children's Songs For Little Guitar Pickers" is especially recommended as an instructional text by music teachers working with young children, involved parents wanting to instill a love of music in their son or daughter, and as a curriculum supplement for grade school music education programs. Also very highly recommended from Santorella Publications are "Easy Method For Little Guitar Pickers" (TS255, $14.95); "Easy Gospel Songs For Little Guitar Pickers" (TS253, $7.95); "Easy Songs For Little Guitar Pickers" (TS252, $7.95); and "Easy Bluegrass Songs For Little Guitar Pickers" (TS254, $7.95);


The Cookbook Shelf

Betty Crocker Sunday Dinner Cookbook
Deseret Books
PO Box 30178, Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0178
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5773
1590387198, $24.95 www.wiley.com www.deseretbook.com 1-800-225-5945

Simply put, Betty Crocker is the most established and trusted name in cookbooks. Now some 150 elegantly presented recipes comprise the newest of the Betty Crocker cookbooks: "Betty Crocker Sunday Dinner Cookbook". It's the Sunday Dinner that is an American family's most traditional meal when and where family members and their friends gather together to enjoy the best that can be offered from what they have. Published with a concealed spiral binding that allows the pages to lay flat upon the kitchen counter or table for ease of use, and wonderfully illustrated throughout with full color photography, each of the recipes comprising this outstanding cookbook collection combines a complete list of ingredients with step-by-step instructions on their preparation into a delicious, nutritious dish that would complement a celebratory family dining occasion whether it would be held on a Sunday or any other day. From halibut-Asparagus Stir-Fry; Chili with Corn Dumplings; Stuffed Zucchini; and Crispy Baked Fish with Tropical Fruit Salsa; to Cheesy Broccoli-Rice Bake; Vegetable-Beef Soup; Baked Barbecue Chicken; and Countryside Pasta Toss, the "Betty Crocker Sunday Dinner Cookbook" is an enthusiastically and confidently recommended as a popular and 'kitchen cook friendly' addition to the family cookbook shelf.

Modern-Day Macrobiotics
Simon G. Brown
North Atlantic Books
1435 Fourth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
1556436432, $19.95 www.northatlanicbooks.com 1-800-788-3123

More than just another collection of terrific recipes guaranteed to please the palate and satisfy the appetite of even the most gourmet of diners, "Modern-Day Macrobiotics: Transform Your Diet And Feed Your Mind, Body, And Spirt" also presents vitally important information about the importance and health benefits of eating whole, living foods; explains about how eating the foods that are right for the human body can actually enhance our physical and mental energy; why it is necessary to add quality, variety, and flexibility to our diets for health and enjoyment; how to design a personalized macrobiotic diet for a single day, for three months, or for the rest of our lives; as well as where and how to buy wholesome ingredients. Of special note is the advice and guidance for creating menu plans. Enhanced with almost eighty delicious, step-by-step, easy-to-prepare recipes ranging from Shoyu Soup with Carrot and Radish; to Chinese Cabbage and Sauerkraut Rolls; to Nutty Rice Pudding, "Modern-Day Macrobiotics" is very highly recommended, especially for students of nutrition, alternative medicine, and healthy family dining.

Cooking Big Game
Scott Haugen & Tiffany Haugen
Frank Amato Publications
PO Box 82112, Portland, OR 97282
1571884076, $19.95 www.amatobooks.com

Beautifully illustrated on every page with full-color photography showcasing the finished dish, "Cooking Big Game" is the collaborative effort of the husband and wife team of Scott and Tiffany Haugen. Each superbly presented recipe is complete with a comprehensive list of ingredients and clearly organized step-by-step instructions. Of special note are the little descriptive vignettes for each dish giving some background or context to the proffered recipe. There are 'kitchen cook' friendly recipes for dishes involving venison, wild pig, and bear. With a spiral-bound binding that allows for the pages to lay out flat on a kitchen counter or table, "Cooking Big Game" will prove to be a wonderful and unique addition to any personal or professional cookbook collection. Also very highly recommended by Scott Haugen are his previous cookbooks (three by himself and three with his wife) from Frank Amato Publications: "Plank Cooking" (1571883320, $19.95); "Cooking Salmon & Steelhead" (157188291X, $24.95); "Smoking Salmon & Steelhead (1571882901, $19.95);"Summer Steelhead" (1571882952, $13.95); "Recreational Dungeness Crabbing" (157188288X, $12.95); and "Egg Cures: Proven Recipes & Techniques" (1571882383, $15.00).

World Hospitality Cookbook
Erma Sider, Dan Harman, Betty Harman, editors
Evangel Publishing House
2000 Evangel Way, Nappanee, IN 46550
1928915345, $14.95 www.evangelpublishing.com 1-800-253-9315

Published with a ring-style binder that allows the pages to lay out flat on a kitchen counter or table, the "World Hospitality Cookbook" showcases a superb series of easy-to-prepare recipes that have been compiled, organized and edited by the culinary team of Erma Sider, Dan Harman, and Betty Harman. There are dishes for every part of the meal and every dining occasion including appetizers, beverages, breads, soups, salads, dressings, relishes, vegetables, meats, main dishes, and desserts. Of special note is the chapter devoted to 'Menus by Country'. The featured dishes in this highly recommended kitchen cookbook range from the Coconut Bread of Brazil; to an Avocado Dip from Argentina; to a Tamaulipeca Salad from Mexico; to an Orange Chutney from India; to Fried Cauliflower from Egypt; to Stuffed Pork Roast from Denmark; a Cornmeal Porridge from Zimbabwe; to a Chocolate Butter Cream Torte from Germany. The "World Hospitality Cookbook" clearly lives up to its title and would make a superb (and popular!) addition to any kitchen cookbook collection.


The Social Issues Shelf

Illusions Of Security
Maureen Webb
City Lights Publishers
261 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94133
0872864766, $16.95 www.citylights.com

"Illusions Of Security: Global Surveillance And Democracies In The Post-9/11 World" by human rights lawyer and activist Maureen Webb offers an eye-opening expose about the secret domestic spying programs that the Bush administration introduced with the passive acquiesce of a Republican controlled congress over the past six years. Even with congress under the limited control of the Democrats, the Bush government is still watching the American public, buying personal data from private contractors and foreign governments. The pretense is that the Bush administration collections this information in order to 'predict' who might be a terrorist. God help you if you are caught up in this web of internal security. Not since the "Watergate Papers" of a generation past has there been so critically important an expose published on what the American government is doing to the American citizenry. Simply put, if our nation is to remain a bastion of democracy, "Illusions Of Security" should be read by every American citizen regardless whether their political philosophies are liberal or progressive, conservative or libertarian, democrat or republican or independent.


The Literary Shelf

Literary Theory
Mary Klages
Continuum
c/o T&T Clark and Reference
80 Maiden Lane, Suite 704, New York, NY 10038
0826490735, $19.95 www.continuumbooks.com 1-800-561-7704

Written by literary theory teacher Mary Klages, Literary Theory: A Guide for the Perplexed is a straightforward introduction to thinkers, writers, and subjects that students of literature can find confusing. The overviews apply specific focus to the most challenging ideas and concepts, and touch upon structuralism, deconstruction, psychoanalysis, feminism, queer theory, ideology and discourse, race and postcolonialism, postmodernism, and prominent figures of humanist literary theory. Written in terms accessible to lay readers, Literary Theory is especially ideal for high school seniors and freshman college students, and anyone else who can use a solid grounding in the basics.


The Aviation Shelf

The Handley Page Victor Volume 1
Roger R. Brooks
Pen & Sword
c/o Casemate
1016 Warrior Road, Suite C, Drexel Hill, PA 19026
1844154114, $60.00 www.casematepublishing.com 1-610-853-9131

Royal Air Force veteran Roger R. Brooks presents The Handley Page Victor Volume 1, an in-depth reference, resource, and historical archive of the longest serving V-Bomber aircraft in the RAF, used from 1965 to 1993. Volume One covers the HP 80 Protype and the Mark 1 Series of the Handley Page Victor, and trace all aspects of their creation from concept to flight. At times highly technical in its language, The Handley Page Victor Volume 1 includes numerous reports reprinted in their original typeface, vintage black-and-white photographs, diagrams, insights into unique problems besetting the Handley Page Victor, and much more. A first-class reference for serious aircraft and aviation history buffs.


The Buddhist Studies Shelf

The Poetry of Zen
Sam Hamill and J.P. Seaton, translator & editor
Shambhala Publications, Inc.
Horticultural Hall, 300 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02115-4544
159030425X, $12.95 www.shambhala.com 1-800-733-3000

Skillfully translated and edited by award-winning poet Sam Hamill and Professor of Chinese J.P. Seaton, The Poetry of Zen is an anthology of the poetic Buddhist expressions of enlightened minds. Collecting works by a wide variety of great authors, including Lao Tzu, Han Shan, Li Po, Dogen Kigen, Saigyo, and many more, The Poetry of Zen offers a cross-section of historical classics that all have in common a resonating theme conducive to meditation, reflection, and self-transformation. Highly recommended. "Everything must end. / Thus the day tries to begin / with the morning bell. / But the long night remains, / empty moon still in the sky."


The Library CD Music Shelf

Haran
Pharaoh's Daughter
Oy Hoo! Records
c/o Rock Paper Scissors
216 West Allen Street, Suite 137, Bloomington, IN 47403
CD $16.98 www.rockpaperscissors.biz

Haran is the latest music CD album by Pharaoh's Daughter, featuring the vocal stylings of band leader Basya Schechter. Many of the songs are derived from the songs of the Jewish Sabbath known as zmirot or mystic Kabalistic poetry from the 11th-15th centuries. A palpable expression of the story of Exodus with inspirational influence drawn from Basya's journeys through Turkey and Africa, Pharaoh's Daughter is an audio sensation that celebrates history and cultural legacy with an unforgettable fusion of fervor and tradition. The tracks are "By Way of Haran", "Ka Ribon", Samai", "Hagar", "Enpesare", "Ven Hermosa", "Yona", "Lev Tahor", "Hashomer", "Askinu".


The Woodworking Shelf

Geometric Puzzle Design
Stewart Coffin
A K Peters, Ltd.
888 Worcester Street, Suite 230, Wellesley, MA 02482
1568813120, $39.00 www.akpeters.com

Written by veteran woodworker and expert wood puzzle designer Stewart Coffin, Geometric Puzzle Design is a one-of-a-kind guide to creating intriguing, three-dimensional wooden puzzles. Special techniques for creating oddly shaped small puzzle pieces accurately and safely, recommendations for drafting one's own original designs, mathematical concepts that can be applied as engineering tools, and much more fill this original craftsman's manual. A "must-have" for intermediate to advanced woodworkers seeking to create truly brain-teasing gifts.


The Library Science Shelf

Managing Facilities For Results
Cheryl Bryan
ALA Editions
c/o American Library Association
50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611
0838909345, $50.00 www.alastore.ala.org 1-866-746-7252

At the request of the Public Library Association, Cheryl Bryan (Assistant Administrator for Consulting and continuing Education at the Southeastern Massachusetts Library System) has written "Managing Facilities For Results: Optimizing Space for Services". As a library experiences increases in their patronage and collections, space is a perennial problem. In order to avoid the expenses of building additions to an existing library, or the costs of building a newer and larger library, library boards and library staff members try to carve out new service areas within the space of their existing library structure. "Managing Facilities For Results" is designed to help the library staff to prioritize new services that need space, make plans and identify appropriate locations, present their case to their funding authorities, conduct a 'gap analysis', find resources to reallocate and determine what new items are needed, and to identify building professionals to assist with alterations. Enhanced with twenty-three workforms to support the information and collection process, three toolkits (one providing technical assistance on calculating square footage, one for assessing the message, and one for complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements), and with real-life examples of small to large-sized libraries, "Managing Facilities For Results" is a very highly recommended and invaluable instructional reference and resource for any librarian, library staff, or library board facing the need to provide more and different services within their existing library structure.

Out Front with Stephen Abram
Judith A. Siess & Jonathan Lorig, compilers
ALA Editions
50 East Huron St., Chicago, IL 60611
0838909329, $40.00 www.alastore.com

Compiled by interpersonal networking expert Judith A. Siess and technical systems coordinator Jonathan Lorig, Out Front with Stephen Abram: A Guide for Information Leaders is a guide addressed to all types of library professionals - not just public and school librarians, but also special and corporate librarians, vendors, technology specialists, and more. Out Front with Stephen Abram especially focuses upon the most complex aspects of the twenty-first century information environment. From recent and project future changes is library clientele, to the impact of modern technology including PDAs and Google, and how to communicate the value of libraries to the public, Out Front with Stephen Abram offers statistic-supported research as well as tested, practical advice. "Librarians usually are not nextheads; we tend to be textheads... Today the printed text represents only a small fraction of all stored data and information, and in some markets like business, it represents a very small portion of content acquisition budgets. However, de-emphasizing text has driven a further change that we need to explicitly acknowledge - the dominance of educated persons who decode and internalize 'text' well is ending." A thoughtful survey of current and future challenges to be met by librarians everywhere, highly recommended.


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


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