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Small Press Bookwatch

Volume 5, Number 1 January 2006 Home | SPBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Self-Help Shelf Metaphysical Shelf
Fiction Shelf Astronomy Shelf Science Shelf
Education Shelf Cookbook Shelf Money/Finance Shelf
Business Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Biography Shelf Mystery/Suspense Shelf Music Shelf
Pets/Wildlife Shelf Philosophy Shelf Sports Shelf
Travel Shelf Children's Shelf Nautical Shelf
American History Shelf Theatre/Cinema Shelf Social Issues Shelf
World History Shelf Parenting Shelf Poetry Shelf
Photography Shelf Art Shelf Religion/Spirituality Shelf
International Studies Shelf    


Reviewer's Choice

The Charm Carver
David Shuch
Integrative Arts Press
11 U.S. Highway 206, Suite 201, Augusta, NJ 07822
0976813602 $20.00

The Charm Carver is a soulful anthology of brief, almost poetic short folk-style tales, told from the point of view of an old woman fondly remembering her days in the presence of Simon the charm carver, who created each of his works as a key to heal and enlighten human hearts. Warm, witty, and insightful, The Charm Carver is a soulful journey through troubles with hope glistening in the horizon. The Charm Carver's pages fly past one's fingertips but linger in the mind.

Highland Handcrafters
Michael Joslin
Parkway Publishers, Inc.
PO Box 3678, Boone, NC 28607
1933251085 $19.95 www.parkwaypublishers.com

Highland Handcrafters: Appalachian Craftspeople is the captivating true story of both early and late immigrants to the Appalachian Mountains region and the wondrous handcrafts they have produced throughout the generations. Chapters tell the stories of individuals who created everything from harnesses to metal sculptures, paintings, blown glass, pottery, stone buildings, music, furniture, cider, and much more. Each profile of an individual includes a black-and-white photographs and a down-to-earth about the person's life and creations. An absorbing multiple profile of resourceful, creative, and skilled human beings.

Thank You, Brain For All You Remember
William R. Klemm
Benecton Press
9001 Grassbur Road, Bryan, TX 77808
0975522507 $24.95 www.thankyoubrain.com

Most of us would like to improve our memory. This is especially true as we get older and find that our memory isn't quite as sharp as it once was. In Thank You, Brain For All You Remember: What You Forgot Was My Fault, Bill Klemm (Professor of Neuroscience, Texas A&M University) draws upon his more than forty years studying the human brain to present more than 150 key ideas to improving and retaining memory. From learning in just a single attempt, to noticing and making associations, to working with hidden memories, to using memory gimmicks, to removing bad emotions, to reducing incorrect memories, to slowing the aging of the mind, to compensating for aging, Thank You, Brain For All You Remember is a compendium of accessible, practical, invaluable information. Indeed, Thank You, Brain For All You Remember is specifically and enthusiastically recommended reading for students wanting to improve their performance on tests, workers needing to improve their job performance, senior citizens who are losing memory capability, and anyone else who simply wants to improve their memory and memory skills in daily life.


The Self-Help Shelf

The Science of Love
Uldis Sprogis
Arbor Books
19 Spear Road, Ramsey, NJ 07446
0977187020 $12.00 1-877-822-2500 www.arborbooks.com

Analytical scientist Uldis Sprogis presents The Science of Love: Rational Answers to the Irrational Emotions of Adoring, Caring, Longing, and Heartbreak, a dry, clinical, straightforward guide to what love really is and what it means. Written entirely in question-and-answer format, The Science of Love offers no-nonsense answers to a diverse array of questions, such as "What is the definition of 'affection'?" ("a medium-intensity caring attraction to anything") and "What are some of the major factors that can threaten marital stability?" ("overcommitment and physical exhaustion / excessive debt and conflicts over money spending / unrealistic expectations" are among the numerous causes cited). A didactic and methodical account enthusiastically recommended for anyone seeking straight answers about love.

Soulmate Logic
Kendall Smith-Sullivan
Quantum Wave Media Corporation
19046 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard #243, Tampa, Florida 33647-2434
1419608770 $17.95 www.quantumwavemedia.com

Happily married Professor of English Kendall Smith-Sullivan presents Soulmate Logic: How Any Woman Can Find Her Perfect Partner Now, a practical-minded handbook especially for single women looking for a lasting relationship. Written in a down-to-earth, "girlfriend-to-girlfriend" manner, Soulmate Logic is divided into two main sections - the first about the power of thoughts and words to transform oneself and one's life, and the second about means to take action and find the right person with whom to marry raise a family. Much of Soulmate Logic is grounded heavily in common sense - for example, moving in with a man is unlikely to be a step toward marriage, since he has ready access to one without any of the legal or social commitment, and the guy who says he "has a different marriage timeline" is unlikely to be a prospect for the altar; after a certain amount of time together, either he's ready to get married or he isn't, and waiting to see if he changes (people tend to be very stubborn and rarely change much) will mostly likely eat up years of one's life. Activities such as keeping a journal and a few consumable sections encourage the reader to get personally involved in her own plan to find the right lifemate. Highly recommended.

The More You Know
Bill Mitchell
Eagle's Nest Publications
PO Box 8735, Endwell, NY 13762-8735
0971864500 $14.95 www.eaglesnestpub.com

Licensed private investigator Bill Mitchell, also known as "The Seven-Day Detective" for his ability to garner crucial information in a single week, The More You Know: Getting the Evidence and Support You Need to Investigate a Troubled Relationship is a straightforward guide for individuals, investigators, attorneys, clergy, and counselors - anyone who needs to know right away whether a spouse is cheating. Chapters cover the eight telltale signs of adultery, how to obtain proof of infidelity which can be used in a court of law and can influence asset and custody settlements, and how to pick up the pieces of one's life and move on. An absolute "must-have" for anyone concerned that their relationship may be at risk.

Backpacking Through Divorce
Sean Hinchey
Liquid Footprint Publishing
PO Box 1977, Venice, CA 90294
0976359502 $19.95 www.backpackingthroughdivorce.com

Backpacking Through Divorce: How to Deal When You've Been Dumped is a guide for both men and women coping with the painful reality and aftermath of the death of a marriage. Author Sean Hinchey discusses his European travels that were his antidote to the misery of the end of his marriage, and offers help to other sufferers. Hinchey's survival strategies include how to streamline and get rid of one's clutter, why "closure" isn't as valuable as pop psychology would have one believe, how to find the will to go on, when to seek help and when to find the strength to strike out on one's own. Backpacking Through Divorce is an emotional self-help guide first and foremost, leaving such thorny divorce issues as child custody and legal/property/financial disputes to other guides, yet it shines in its down-to-earth honesty and recognition of human feelings and human needs.

Radical Happiness
Gina Lake
iUniverse, Inc.
2021 Pine Lake Road, #100, Lincoln, NE 68512
0595348335 $13.95 iuniverse.com

Author Gina Lake, holder of a Masters degree in Counseling Psychology with twenty years' experience in supporting spiritual growth, presents Radical Happiness: A Guide to Awakening is a self-help guide for spiritual seekers in search of the question: "Who am I, really?" Charting the steps of the journey from separation to Oneness, Radical Happiness explores how to change one's consciousness, where desires, drives, and emotions come from, the purpose of free will and its limitations, and much more. A self-help guide that does not talk down to the reader, Radical Happiness is a guide filled with solid advice for improving self-acceptance and learning to make the most of one's life.

Keeping the Masses Down
August K. Anderson and Nola L. Kelsey
AuthorHouse
1663 Liberty Drive Suite 200, Bloomington, IN 47403
1420867520 $19.95 www.authorhouse.com

Keeping the Masses Down: How to Escape the Vicious Downward Spiral of Poverty & Tyranny is a motivational, consumable self-help book filled cover to cover with a positive-minded messages and advice to break out of poverty. Each of the twelve chapters offers a different "lesson" in the form of an obstacle to be conquered, from taxes to feelings of entitlement to bad credit, insurance, negativity, and more. Sample worksheets, checklists, and self-test quizzes designed to wean the reader from feeling sorry for oneself and get fixated on the future enhance the simplistic yet forceful text. Half of Keeping the Masses Down consists of a 100-day journal designed to help one break out of one's rut and change one's life for the better. Above all, Keeping the Masses Down emphasizes that focus on a positive attitude is critical to building the life of one's dreams. Keeping the Masses Down offers simple, clear-cut messages ("marriage/alimony/welfare/waiting for your parents to die is not a career plan") that desperately needs to be heard in today's entitlement-saturated world.

Happiness: The Real Medicine and How It Works
Blair Lewis, PA
Himalayan Institute Press
630 Main Street, Suite 350, Honesdale, PA 18431-1843
0893892459 $14.95 www.HimalayanInstitute.org

Featuring black-and-white illustrations and the occasional humorous cartoon, Happiness: The Real Medicine and How It Works is a self-help guide to improving one's outlook and quality of life. Author Blair Lewis reveals that happiness is an intrinsic human condition, obscured by negative emotions such as fear and guilt, and the never-ending quest for material possessions. Chapters cover traits shared by happy people such as self-restraint, disentanglement from conflict, and the cultivation of a quiet mind; how to develop a positive personal philosophy and wean oneself from the pharmaceuticals marketed to promote "happiness"; techniques for obtaining happiness including learning to love oneself, meditation, and yoga therapy; and much more. Happiness: The Real Medicine and How It Works looks especially to the ancient wisdom of East India as it guides the reader's thoughts toward a more pleasant and fulfilling existence.


The Metaphysical Shelf

Aleister Crowley and the Ouija Board
J. Edward Cornelius
Feral House
PO Box 39910, Los Angeles, CA 90039
1932595104 $16.95 www.feralhouse.com

Aleister Crowley and the Ouija Board presents the fascinating true history of the ouija board, a device purported to facilitate communication with spirits, back to John Dee, Queen Elizabeth's advisor, who allegedly used it to contact angels and codify the Enochian Alphabet. Of especial interest is the true story of twentieth-century magician Aleister Crowley, who made effective use of the ouija board and even attempted to create and sell a version of the device. An absorbing examination of the history, current usage, and future of a mysterious and mystical device, cherished by some as a magical tool, and condemned by others as a gateway to the devil, and dismissed by skeptics as a hoax.


The Fiction Shelf

The Tunnel Hoard
Paul Rutherford
Whitston Publishing Company, Inc.
1717 Central Avenue, Suite 201, Albany, NY 12205
0878755586 $24.95 www.whitston.com

Jacob Thomas and other POWs spent 16 months of their captivity at the hands of the Japanese in the jungles of the Phillipines digging a large secret tunnel in the side of a mountain. The only thing that kept Jacob alive was a promise he made to his wife. Then he simply disappeared. Almost sixty years later in upstate New York, Connor Mason receives a coded message from his father's estranged business partner. The message exposes his father's secret life and includes sketchy information about a huge buried treasure on the other side of the world. With his own business failing, Connor decides to take his father's place in a dangerous operation already under way. The object is whatever was buried in that long lost tunnel hacked into a mountain by the long vanished Jacob Thomas and those other Japanese captives back in World War II. In writing The Tunnel Hoard, author Paul Rutherford drew upon his real-life experiences in the jungles of the Phillippines tracking down a vast cache of gold hidden by the Japanese during World War II, thereby infusing his action/adventure novel with a realism that quickly engages the reader's total and rapt attention from first page to last. Very highly recommended reading from beginning to end!

Freshwater Road
Denise Nicholas
Agate Publishing
1501 Madison St., Evanston, IL 60202
1932841105 $23.95 www.agatepublishing.com

The debut novel of award-winning actress Denise Nicholas, Freshwater Road is a story set during the summer of 1964, about a volunteer for the civil rights movement who may be in over her head. Nineteen-year-old college sophomore Celeste Tyree travels to a small Mississippi town to organize a voter registration project, and prepare townspeople to pass the state's convoluted voting test to defy the Jim Crow laws meant to exclude black citizens from the polls. But as violence strikes members of the movement and a young girl close to her goes missing, she must recognize the ruthlessness of those who oppose change. There are no easy answers in this gripping novel about tensions drawn between lines of race, color, creed, and the power of family bonds.

The Ahriman Gate
Thomas & Nita Horn
Musterion Press
c/o VMI Publishers
26306 Metolius Meadows Drive, Camp Sherman, Oregon 97730
1933204001 $14.99

The Ahriman Gate is a novel about a nightmarish scenario of shadow governmental secrets, ghastly genetic manipulation, and the brink of discoveries that could spell the end of the world. An ordinary man must find the courage and the wherewithal to confront extraordinary menaces; through fiction, the author provides a cautionary tale of where human cloning advances and research could lead if scientific experiments are not tempered by moral caution. A thrilling saga of the quest to unveil cruelty and destruction before it runs rampant.

Under A Standstill Moon
Ann Howard Creel
Brown Barn Books
c/o Pictures of Record, Inc.
119 Kettle Creek Road, Weston, CT 06883
0974648183 $8.95 www.brownbarnbooks.com

Set in the prehistoric Southwestern United States circa 900 A.D., Under A Standstill Moon is the novel of a girl born during a "lucky month"; as she becomes a woman, her good fortune becomes a cruel destiny, as she is forced to leave the village and the man she truly love to be given to the High Priest, Sun Watcher. The magic and power of the Sun Watcher frightens the people of her village; and so a young woman must dig deep inside herself to conquer her fear and take control of her destiny. A poignant and powerful tale for all ages, that draws deeply upon what archaeology tells us today of how the native population in the Southwest once lived.

The Ghetto Garden
Edythe S. Cohen
PublishAmerica
PO Box 151, Frederick, MD 21705-0151
1413795390 $12.95 publishamerica.com

The Ghetto Garden is a brief novel about a young Bronx girl who hates the vacant lots and dilapidated buildings plaguing the area where she lives; she hopes to transform the cold concrete into gardens of vegetables and flowers. With the help of classmates, residents and even local gangs, bit by bit the local area becomes reborn with greenery. In the process, all involved improve themselves. Written by a Bronx-born teacher, The Ghetto Garden is a poignant and profound story of working together to fulfill a wondrous dream.

The Fastest Ship
Larita Arnold
Lulu Press
PO Box 2344, Napa, CA 94558
1411639502 $19.95 www.lulu.com

Set in 1860, at the close of the Golden Age of Sail, The Fastest Ship is an exciting novel of rescue, adventure and lost treasure. When the daughter of the Governor of Jamaica is abducted by pirates, the man she is destined to marry, and who will build England's first iron-armored warship, the HMS Warrior. The Warrior's maiden voyage in search of a long-lost treasure and hidden memory, on the brink of a revolutionary transformation in nautical technology makes for a rousing fierce saga of the high seas. An exciting historical novel especially for nautical buffs.

Selling America
Tom Tolnay
Silk Label Books
First Ave., PO Box 700, Unionville, NY 10988
1928767389 $12.99 www.rfwp.com

Selling America is an anthology of brief, inventive stories, all bound to the common theme of selling and buying. Each tale reflects a different aspect of America's modern product and consumerism-driven culture, with advertisements hidden under virtually every rock and tree, and deals made during every moment of life stretching from before birth to after death. At times darkly comic, at times tragic, always with biting insight into the relentless drive of materialism, Selling America is highly recommended.

Mystic Island
Jan Evan Whitford
Hilliard Harris
PO Box 3358, Frederick, MD 21705-3358
1591331269 $16.95

Mystic Island is the debut novel of Jan Evan Whitford, is a thrilling and suspenseful novel about a mysterious 1945 letter that President Roosevelt secretly penned to Adolph Hitler. Only one man knows where the secret letter is; he has suffered severe brain trauma for over fifty years, yet at last his hidden knowledge comes to light. His granddaughter becomes obsessed with finding the letter, but at what price? Buried within an old German POW camp lies the missive that could destroy the campaign of a senator with presidential aspirations, turn history upside down, and send shockwaves across the American political landscape. A tautly exciting thriller about the lengths some travel to keep the past under wraps.

Devil in the North Woods
Walt Shiel
Slipdown Mountain Publications LLC
28151 Wuarry Lake Rd., Lake Linden, MI 49945
0974655317 $14.95 1-877-388-5227 www.SlipdownMountain.com

Devil in the North Woods is a work of historical fiction, based on modern reports and oral histories of a terrible 1908 wildfire in Michigan. Ten-year-old Henry Hardies survived the fire that claimed his mother and three younger sisters; in real life, Hardess told personal stories that his own children have handed down to this day. Devil in the North Woods vividly recreates the terrible blaze from start to finish, the toll it took, and the trials of human beings forced to recover from the devastating losses it inflicted. Though Devil in the North Woods tells the story of man vs. nature, its core is emotional and human-centered.


The Astronomy Shelf

Objects In The Heavens
Peter Birren
Birren Design Company
502 Shadywood Lane, Elk Grove, IL 60009
155369662X $24.99 www.BirrenDesign.com

Now in a newly updated and expanded third edition, Peter Birren's Objects In The Heavens is an ideal combination of field book, notebook, and reference work for student and amateur astronomers engaged in "real-world" viewing of the night sky. This new edition is enhanced with numerous objects not shown in the major atlases (including the Sky Atlas 2000) and offers a complete list of all known objects to a mag10 level of observation. Also new to this substantive addition is the inclusion of star group stories that help bring together larger portions of the night sky in truly memorable ways. 144 double stars are listed and mapped in order to provide useful targets for those nights when deep-sky observation is less than optimum. Spiral-bound to permit this exceptionally practical reference and guide to be laid out flat, special symbols are employed to aid in identifying particular objects, stars, double stars, and asterism. An ideal and enthusiastically recommended reference for novice astronomers, Objects In The Heaven's is sufficiently detailed to be of immense value for even the most experienced explorers of the night sky, and an ideal curriculum supplement reference and resource for introductory astronomy classes for highschool and college level students.

Lost Star Of Myth And Time
Walter Cruttenden
St. Lynn's Press
PO Box 18680, Pittsburgh, PA 15236
0976763117 $19.95 1-412-466-0790 www.loststarbook.com

In Lost Star Of Myth And Time, Walter Cruttenden argues that a binary relationship of two heavenly bodies may well be the cause of the Dark Ages and the Golden Ages of mankind down through the millennia. An heretofore unknown star in its relationship to the sun has had a profound influence on human consciousness and on our planet. Cruttenden draws upon archaeoastronomy, ancients texts, myths, and folklore, presenting his findings and theories enhanced with vivid graphics and scientific commentary that will engage the reader's attention from beginning to end. A work of seminal originality, meticulous reasoning, and iconoclastic insights, Lost Star Of Myth and Time is thoughtful and thought-provoking, and most assuredly recommended reading for students of astronomy, metaphysics, and the historical upsurges and contractions of the human consciousness and human civilizations.


The Science Shelf

The Solar Energy Handbook
Henry C. Landa
The Film Instruction Company Of America
5928 West Michgian Street, Wauwatosa, WI 53213-4248
1-414-258-6492 www.politicalbookreviews.com
0931974038 $58.70 (hardcover); 0931974208 $36.20 (softcover)

Henry Landa, formerly with the Wisconsin Technical College System and currently adjunct faculty member, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has been involved with the development of solar energy since the late 1960s. In this newly expanded, reorganized and updated sixth edition of "The Solar Energy Handbook", Landa draws upon his considerable expertise and experience as a professional engineer, as well as his academic experience in teaching students about theoretical and applied technology to create a definitive design, engineering, and architecture reference compendium methodically organized and presented in definitive sections: Theory (basic information on how solar energy works); General, Scientific & Engineering Data (offering data on incoming solar energy for various latitudes, months of the year, time of day, solar radiation maps, sunshine, climatic data, construction materials, operation, and insulation); Heat, Ventilating & Air Conditioning (covering building design, location, orientation, internal systems and components, operational modes); Other Applications (surveying the extensive range of solar energy application to industrial and personal needs); Control (hardware and systems necessary to operate a solar energy system with particular attention to the need for manuals and instructions, non- automatic manual controls, and the manual override of the automatic controls); Economics (the differences between solar and fossil-fuel systems, including original investment, return-on-investment, economic life, and depreciation); Calculations & Programs (short programs covering the design of various components in a simple Algebraic Operating System programming language A.O.S.). "The Solar Energy Handbook" is enhanced with the inclusion of Readings, References, a Glossary of Terms & Units, an Appendix (additional technical data not incorporated into previous sections or chapters), and a nine-page index. Ideal as a college level curriculum textbook for students of solar energy design and application, "he Solar Energy Handbook" is also highly recommended for non-specialist general readers with an interest in the technical and engineering facets of solar energy production and application


The Education Shelf

The Political Handbook For Student Government Operations
Henry C. Landa
The Film Instruction Company Of America
5928 West Michgian Street, Wauwatosa, WI 53213-4248
1-414-258-6492 www.politicalbookreviews.com
0931974224 $56.95 (hardcover); 0931974216 $34.45 (softcover)

Now in a newly updated, reorganized and expanded ninth edition, "The Political Handbook For Student Government Operations" by Henry Landa (formerly with the Wisconsin Technical College System and currently adjunct faculty member, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee) is a definitive, comprehensive, and thoroughly "user friendly" instructional reference on every aspect of student government and activities from candidate selection, to leadership styles, to organizational configuration, to the role of faculty advisors. "The Political Handbook For Student Government Operations" will show aspiring and practicing student government members on "what-to-do", "how-to-do-it", and "why-you-do-it" issues and insights that range from "Candidacy & Campaigning" (of special note is the role of the campaign manager and the necessity of winning office), to "Leadership" (dealing with authority and the art of delegation), to "Management" organizational generalities, techniques, and educational institution bureaucracy); "Offices and Officers" (descriptions and definitions, operational guidelines and tricks-of-the-trade); "Advisors" (students making use of advisors and guidelines for advisors). "The Political Handbook For Student Government Operations" is enhanced with the further inclusion of a Readers and Reference chapter, a Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations, and an Appendix of sixty-five articles offering techniques, detail, and "obscure topics" of factors and issues that can make or break a student government officer. "The Political Handbook For Student Government Operations" is virtually unique in the field and should be considered an critically important core reference for all college and university library Student Government reference and resource collections.


The Cookbook Shelf

The Veggie Queen
Jill Nussinow, MS, RD
Vegetarian Connection Press
PO Box 6042, Santa Rosa, CA 95406-0042
0976708507 $19.95 www.theveggiequeen.com

Culinary educator and registered dietitian Jill Nussinow presents The Veggie Queen: Vegetables Get the Royal Treatment, and compilation of more than 100 seasonal recipes that will teach the reader to prepare vegetables in a wide variety of scrumptious ways, from Smoky Gazpacho to Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Soup to Winter Squash Enchiladas and much more. All recipes are delineated with extensive, crystal-clear step-by-step instructions. A mouth-watering way to enrich one's diet with of healthy vegetable dishes, The Veggie Queen is an enthusiastically welcome addition to cookbook shelves, especially in the modern era full of fried, fatty and junk foods. Highly recommended.

The Lantern Vegan Family Cookbook
Brian McCarthy
Lantern Books
One Union Square West, #201, New York, NY 10003
1590560876 $20.00 1-800-856-8664 www.lanternbooks.com

From Snacks to Dips, from side dishes to entrees, from beverages to breads, from salads to desserts, The Lantern Vegan Family Cookbook is an impressive and "kitchen cook friendly" collection of vegan recipes compiled and organized by Brian P. McCarthy who has been a professional chef from twenty-five years and has enjoyed a vegan diet for the past ten years. From Root Stew with Marjoram; Couscous Corn Salad; Ginger Rice with Peppers & Soybeans; and Thai Grilled Tofu over Coconut Rice; to Chai Tea Mix; Pecan Pie; Caramelized Onion & Garlic Spread; and Baked Potato Bar, The Lantern Vegan Family Cookbook has a delicious diversity of hearty, easy-to- make dishes that will quickly become family favorites for every dining occasion. Enhanced with the inclusion of "Cook's Notes", a glossary, a conversion chart, recommendations for a well-stocked vegan pantry, a "Protein List", and a comprehensive index, The Lantern Vegan Family Cookbook is confidently recommended for any and all family cookbook collections!

7-Color Cuisine
Marcia Zimmerman
Penmarin Books
1044 Magnolia Way, Roseville, CA 95661
1883955424 $19.95 www.penmarin.com www.thenutritionsolution.com

7-Color Cuisine: Making Healthy, Colorful Foods A Lifestyle For Nutrition And Good Eating by internationally renowned nutrition author, educator, and consultant Marcia Zimmerman showcases a simple four-step system to plan menus, shop for top-quality ingredients, and prepare recipes for dishes that are as savory and appetite satisfying as they are healthy, visually pleasing, and easy to prepare. The nutritional, preparational, and "kitchen friendly" information is organized into two main sections: "Creating Colorful Cuisine" and "A New Way of Eating". This is then concluded with diverse appendices: "Identifying What You Need to Change"; "How to Read Nutrition Fact Panels"; "Shopping Lists"; "Resources"; "Cooking Essentials"; "Measurement Conversions", and a comprehensive index. 7-Color Cuisine is as highly recommended for those with a professional responsibility to prepare nutritious meals in a commercial setting (nursing home, school system, hospice, restaurant, etc.), as it is for the non-specialist family cook wanting to provide loved ones with meals that will inspire the dining occasion as well as satisfy the appetite.

Eat * Taste * Heal
Thomas Yarema MD, Daniel Rhoda, Chef Johnny Brannigan
Five Elements Press
4504 Kukui Street, Suite 13, Kapaa, HI 96746
0976917009 $29.95 www.eattasteheal.com

Eat * Taste * Heal: An Ayurvedic Cookbook For Modern Living is a compendium of recipes and information that combines groundbreaking and seminal work within the field of holistic nutrition and healthy living. The collaborative effort of a medical doctor, a patient, and a professional chef, Eat * Taste * Heal is enhanced throughout with color photography, features an extensive background information (Ayurvedic Concepts in a Nutshell), a great deal of solidly practical instruction (Buying, Preparing & Storing Vibrant Food), then goes on to present the reader with "The ABC's Ambiance, Blessing & Consumption"; "The Rhythms of Nature"; and "Food as Medicine". From Stewed Apples with Dates and Cinnamon; Avocado Soup with Cucumber; Warm Almond Milk with Coconut & Mango; Braised Chicken with Cilantro Reduction Sauce; and Steamed Kale with Lemon and Dill Butter; to Cream of Beet Soup with Puy Lentils; Samosas with mango Chutney; Braised Bok Choy, Fennel & Tofu with Lemon & Coriander; Green Beans & Carrots with Fried Almonds, Chapati (Indian flat bread); and Chocolate Saveur with Coconut Creme, Eat * Taste * Heal will quickly prove a popular and appreciated addition to any household cookbook collection.


The Money/Finance Shelf

Kick the Dealer... Not the Tires!
Mark Marine
Motom
76 W. 2100 S., Salt Lake City, UT 84115
0976887819 $14.95 1-801-499-6021

Daily radio show personality Mark Marine shares the secrets he had to fight for the right to speak freely in Kick the Dealer... Not the Tires!, is a cut-the-bull assessment of how to get the best deal on how to shop for a new or used car, and especially, how to prevent car dealers from using your credit against you. Do you have a good credit score? Then watch out! Kick the Dealer... Not the Tires! reveals how customers with good credit are the most likely to get "buried" (meaning "to owe more in loans on a car than the car is actually worth") in a bad car deal, because both the dealer and lenders see a good credit rating as an invitation to jack up loan rates and pile as many unneeded extras on the bill as possible. Car dealers have been known to overcharge good credit customers to make up for money lost selling to bad credit customers! And if your credit is not so good, don't let it be an invitation to get gouged either - arm yourself with the knowledge to protect your pride, your rights, and your wallet. Kick the Dealer... Not the Tires! offers warnings against common pressure sales tactics and pitfalls, tips for protecting oneself against dishonesty and fraud, and much more, and is an absolute "must-have" for anyone who can't afford to pay for their car in a lump sum (which is to say, the vast majority of us).

TurnKey Investing with Lease-Options
Matthew S. Chan
Ascend Beyond Publishing
5435 Woodruff Farm Road, #B-300, Columbus, GA 31907
0971394784 $24.95 www.turnkeyinvesting.com

With contributions by Wes Weaver, professional real estate investor and property manager Matthew S. Chan has creative "TurnKey Investing with Lease-Options: How To Simply & Safely create 12% Returns With Investment Property!" a comprehensive, "reader friendly", instructive introduction on creating, investing, and managing a profitable real estate portfolio utilizing Lease-Option. Readers will learn how Lease-Options work to simply and safely build an investment portfolio; how to generate steady, spendable cash flow through Lease-Options; finding the right real estate market to safely invest in for a reliable return; profitably manage properties while avoiding ongoing maintenance expenses eating into the bottom line; recruiting the right management team to build and guard a real estate based investment portfolio; even how to invest in a Lease Option investment strategy without the necessity of owning property. Superbly organized, informed and informative, Matthew Chan's "TurnKey Investing with Lease-Options" should be considered a mandatory study and on-going reference guide by anyone aspiring to make money consistently and reliably in today's volatile and competitive real estate market through the utilization of Lease-Option strategies.


The Business Shelf

100 Smartest Marketing Ideas Ever
Mitzi Keen Crall, Ph.D.
Glenbridge Publishing Ltd.
19923 E. Long Ave., Centennial, Colorado 80016
0944435521 $20.95

100 Smartest Marketing Ideas Ever is a superb supplementary resource for both aspiring and professional marketers. Written by nationally known marketing consultant Mitzi Crall, 100 Smartest Marketing Ideas Ever offers such valuable tips as "Good public relations is some of the best advertising you can get", "Hire good people, then get out of their way", and "If you don't know how to write copy and create designs that sell, desktop publishing only helps you create poor collateral faster". Each tip is accompanied by a couple sentences of explanation and a humorous black-and-white cartoon illustrating the point. Highly recommended.

Vital Integrities
George Brymer
All Square, Inc.
4211 Oak Tree Place, Toledo, OH 43623
0976633590 $24.95 www.vitalintegrities.com

Vital Integrities: How Values-Based Leaders Acquire and Preserve Their Credibility is a guide written especially for employers about building trust and respect among employees and others. Written by the author of a three-day program that teaches values-based leadership, Vital Integrities covers how to master and project such positive qualities living by the values one professes, how to recognize the best in others, how to develop a vision and convince others to share it, and much more. Written in plain terms, and drawing upon examples ranging from medical history to NFL rules regarding instant replays to illustrate its points, Vital Integrities focuses above all on how to be a boss who listens to employees and acts upon useful suggestions without eroding one's workplace authority. Highly recommended.

Become the Squeaky Wheel
Michelle Dunn
Never Dunn Publishing, LLC
PO Box 40, Plymouth, NH 03264
0970664516 $29.99 www.credit-and-collections.com

Written by a professional with 17 years' experience in the debt collection industry, Become the Squeaky Wheel: A Credit & Collections Guide for Everyone is a straightforward, easy-to-use, quick-reference guide for business owners to collecting what they are due from non-paying customers. Chapters cover solid credit policies that will maximize repeat business from good customers while preventing fraud from high-risk customers, laws concerning debt collection, how to make collections calls, when a debt should be turned over to a collections agency, when a "bad debt" should simply be written off, when and how to use small claims court, and much more. One-third of Become the Squeaky Wheel explains the basics of a solid collection policy in plain terms for lay readers; one-third offers a wide variety of sample forms from a request for credit references to a suggested "friendly reminder" to a "seven days letter"; and one-third is an appendix of relevant acts and laws including The Fair Credit Billing Act, The Truth in Lending Act, and much more. Enthusiastically recommended, and an absolute "must-have" for any small business owner; though the legal information does not replace the counsel of an attorney, it will definitely serve as a useful guideline for small claims.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

IMHE's !!I Hate My Eyeglasses!!
A. Arcand, LDO
Lonefrog Books
PO Box 151824, Tampa, FL 33684-1824
0976977907 $24.50

IMHE's !!I Hate My Eyeglasses!! Consumer Guide to Happier Vision is a handy guide to options for maintaining and improving one's vision, covering everything from eyeglasses to sports sunwear to contacts, refractive surgery, and tools for the partially sighted in cases where vision cannot be corrected. Written by a licensed optician, IMHE's !!I Hate My Eyeglasses!! covers virtually anything and everything the lay reader needs to know in clear prose, with black-and-white photographs, glimpses of history, easy quick-reference appendices and more. Of especial interest is the advice for the nuances of eyeglass shopping - finding just the right frames for one's needs and budget. A handy tear-out shopping guide rounds out this excellent resource for anyone who has less than 20/20 vision.

These Hips are Mine
Ann King
Double Diamonds Publishing
4419 Centennial Blvd., #103, Colorado Springs, CO 80907
0975929402 $21.95 www.doublediamondsbooks.com

These Hips are Mine: A Weight-Loss Companion Guide is both a personal testimony and a how-to guide to improved overall eating habits and health. When author Ann King became frustrated at the ineffectiveness of diets and diet plans, she chose to abandon calorie counting in favor of positive lifestyle changes - fruit became easily accessible as a snack, junk foods were removed, and the family kitchen was closed at night. Once the author's mental focus shifted to eating healthy and making lifestyle changes rather than just losing weight, her physical and mental well-being both improved. Her story is a life-affirming testimony to conquering both internal and external demons in the search for better health. Chapters address the steps needed to promote a positive lifestyle change, basic knowledge such as how to read food labels and recognize different types of fat, factors that can limit one's efforts at weight loss and self-improvement, survival techniques for taking control of one's food intake at home or when eating out, the five stages of success and how to ensure that success is lasting rather than the first step of a yo-yo, and much more. A positive and practical-minded guide with a keen focus on overall health rather than simply fewer pounds.

Functional Fitness
Paul D'Arezzo, M.D.
Marcellina Mountain Press
PO Box 6781, Colorado Springs, CO 80934
0972907912 $19.95 719-633-1824

Board-certified emergency physician Paul D'Arezzo presents Functional Fitness: Look Younger Stay Active Longer, a guide to delaying the effects of age not through expensive (and potentially dangerous!) surgery, but rather through healthier living and habits. Chapters cover everything from proper posture and nutrition to staying flexible, preventing back pain, personalizing an exercise program one can stick to, avoiding or coping with arthritis, the mental dimension of energy, and much more. Illustrated with black-and-white cartoons and diagrams throughout, Functional Fitness gives practical tips in no-nonsense terms. Though particularly valuable for aging baby boomers, Functional Fitness is a superb self-care guide for all ages. Also highly recommended is D'Arezzo's previous book "Posture Alignment".

Your Complete Guide to Total Hip Replacements
Jennifer Frantin, P.T.
Idyll Arbor, Inc.
PO Box 720, Ravensdale, WA 98051
1882883551 $12.00 360-825-7797

Jennifer Frantin, a physical therapist of 16 years' experience, presents Your Complete Guide to Total Hip Replacements, a pocket-sized, in-depth guide to taking control of the medical process to ensure a successful hip replacement and adaptation. Chapters discuss how to prepare for surgery, including choosing the right doctor and hospital, and dealing with one's insurance company; exercise and recovery after the surgery; home care; outpatient physical therapy; and much more. Black-and-white photographs clearly illustrate such issues as the importance of not bending one's hip past 90 degrees during the recovery period, even when sitting up in bed, and how to turn properly when using a walker. A glossary and index round out this compact yet information-filled guide, highly recommended and a "must-have" for anyone contemplating or recovering from total hip replacement.

The Back Pain Chronicles
Paul Parsons, D.C.
Painless Publications
916 Grand Avenue, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
0975531700 $29.95 1-970-618-0391

Written by an experienced chiropractor who personally battled back pain at a young age, The Back Pain Chronicles: Your Complete Guide to a Pain-Free Life is a no-nonsense guide written to help relieve fellow sufferers. Chapters cover the causes of back pain, including but not limited to bad posture, poor diet, and stress; simple exercises and stretches to prevent and ease pain; the benefits of massage; the importance of "detoxifying" one's diet and environment; the value of ergonomics; choosing a sleep position that is kind to one's back; and much more. Written in plain terms for the lay reader and illustrated with black-and-white photographs, The Back Pain Chronicles is enthusiastically recommended not just for back pain sufferers, but also for everyone who seeks to avoid joining their ranks.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Left Horse Black
S. J. Reisner
ArcheBooks Publishing Inc.
9101 W. Sahara Ave., Suite 105-112, Las Vegas, NV 89117
1595070893 $26.99 www.archebooks.com

Book One of The Sorcerer's Twilight series, Left Horse Black is an exciting novel about a long-running war between the ruthless Kersian sorcerers, known for their bloody sacrifices of women and children to their "no name" god, and Danaria's sorcerers. Now Kersian sorcerers are seizing human-ruled kingdoms one by one, amassing a human army to exterminate their foes once and for all. A human prince, an unskilled Danarian sorceress, and their friends must band together, as their pooled strength is the one chance the world has to stop the Kersian's depravity and save a dying race. A rousing, tautly written adventure of high fantasy.

Stark and the Star Kings
Edmond Hamilton and Leigh Brackett
Haffner Press
5005 Crooks Road Suite 35, Royal Oak, Michigan 48073-1239
1893887162 $45.00 www.haffnerpress.com

Featuring a handful of black-and-white illustrations by Alex Ebel, Stark and the Star Kings is a science fiction epic anthology set 200,000 years in the future. Written by Edmond Hamilton and Leigh Brackett, two classic science fiction authors who become married in 1946, Stark and the Star Kings features an ordinary 20th century man who is ripped from his humdrum life to exchange bodies with a prince wrapped in a treacherous plot against the Star Kings; Eric John Stark, a larger-than-life mercenary forged in the heat of Mercury and tempered in the desert of Mars; and the only formally collaborated story of Hamilton and Brackett, in which Brackett's Stark meets Hamilton's Star Kings and desperately strives to persuade them to halt their political games long enough to save the universe from doom. A "must-have" omnibus collection especially recommended for golden age science fiction fans.

Rocket Science
Jay Lake
Fairwood Press
5203 Quincy Ave. SE, Auburn, WA 98092
0974657360 $17.95 www.fairwoodpress.com

Rocket Science is an engaging alternate-history science fiction story. When a seemingly ordinary man returns to Kansas after serving in World War II, he carries with him a secret aircraft stolen out from under the noses of the Germans - but it isn't just any aircraft. It has been buried under Arctic ice for hundreds of years, and it can talk. It is not a ship from anywhere on Earth! Unfortunately, a great many interested parties know about the ship, including the Nazis and the U.S. Army, and they will stop at nothing to get it. If the ship falls in the wrong hands, humanity's fate is sure to be in deep trouble! An enthralling story of fallible humans struggling to cope with inexplicable technology before time runs out, Rocket Science is a fast-paced novel that leaves the reader guessing right up to the end.


The Biography Shelf

Triple Crown Winner
Richard J. Maturi
21st Century Publishers
1320 Curt Gowdy, Cheyenne, WY 82009
0960729852 $29.95 www.triplecrownwinnerearlsande.com

Triple Crown Winner: The Earl Sande Saga is the biography of a tall, lanky kid who learned to ride in competitive horse races on the "leaky-roof", dirt track, racing circuits, eventually rising to the top ranks of North American jockeys racing on the most prestigious courses in the country. Sande was a distinctive jockey who, in a time when other jockeys routinely resorted to the whip, used the whip sparingly, preferring to coax supreme efforts out of his mounts with a gentle hand while riding them to victory and singing in their ears. Biographer and horse racing enthusiast Richard J. Maturi has done a truly excellent job in presenting the life story of one of horse racing's most memorable jockeys -- Earl Sande.

Center Square
Joe Florenski and Steve Wilson
Advocate Books
6922 Hollywood Blvd Suite 1000, Los Angeles, CA 90028
155583793X $15.95 www.alyson.com

Center Square: The Paul Lynde Story is the true biography of Paul Lynde, well-known for his three decades of appearances as a character actor on TV, film, and stage. A popular actor known for his portrayal of a gay persona long before Ellen, Rosie, or "Will & Grace", Lynde dared to sneak doses of slanted wit into American living rooms during a noticeably more straight-laced era than today. In addition to Lynde's boisterous professional life, Center Square offers a glimpse into Lynde's tumultuous personal life, including his struggles with alcohol, his ever-changing love affairs, and his notoriously explosive temper. For all his flash, wealth, triumphs, and weaknesses, Lynde stayed true to himself - certainly a feat in Hollywood. Enthralling from first page to last.

Unfinished Business
Lorraine Lush
Blue Ibis Books
PO Box 6973, Brandon, FL 33508
0976549506 $23.95

Unfinished Business: How You Can Build Your Dream, Lose it, and Still Survive is the autobiography of Lorraine Lush, a truly remarkable female entrepreneur. When her first marriage went sour, and she realized she might have to raise two children on her own, she buckled down in determination and pursued her dream to create the first private career college in the Canadian province of Newfoundland. For decades, her college thrived and promoted gainful employment; but when a sudden shift in governmental regulations hit just as her business was trying to expand, the resulting squeeze closed the college's doors - and scarcely two weeks later, the laws that had forced her dream to go under were repealed. Despite the shattering of her dream, life went on, one day at a time; step by step she picked herself up, kept on going, and trusted in God. Her story is one of vigilance, determination, ingenuity, and constant life learning; her successes, mistakes and triumphs all make valuable lessons for would-be entrepreneurs thinking big. A motivational and inspirational life story, and proof that the failure of one's business isn't the end of the world, nor does it diminish one's accomplishments.

The Long Ride Home
Mick Sterling
Crotalus Publishing
3500 Vicksburg Lane North #302, Plymouth, MN 55447-1333
0974186058 $15.00 www.crotaluspublishing.com

The Long Ride Home is the true-life story of a Minneapolis soul singer making his living in gigs from smoke-filled bars to Twin Cities clubs to gigantic outdoors festivals. Author Mick Sterling tells in his own words of the balancing act to keep a working band together while raising a family, and describes how he created the Heart & Soul fundraising effort to send hundreds of thousands of dollars to help children living with HIV/AIDS. Interviews with Twin Cities who's who of music such as Lori Barbero of Babes in Toyland, Pat Hayes of Lamont Cranston Band, songwriter Kevin Bowe, drum legend Bobby Vandell, and more round out this "must-have" straight-talk tale of a life steeped in music.

The Carny Kid
Kenneth Kahn
Pendant Press
c/o Promotion in Motion
6464 Sunset Blvd., Suite 755, Hollywood, CA 90028
0976111500 $19.95

The Carny Kid: Survival of a Young Thief is the true-life memoir of a young Jewish boy forced to grow up in a multi-ethnic ghetto with parents who are drug users and drug dealers. One summer the father leads the family on a vagabond life as thieves traveling the carnival circuit. Yet in spite of adversity, young Kenneth Kahn develops his people skills, befriends black and Hispanic ghetto residents, uses the library as his safe haven and draws upon the advice of teachers and coaches to excel, eventually becoming a successful Los Angeles criminal defense attorney. Kahn sees no need to condemn or moralize about most facets of the gang life he grew up around; he just tells his experiences as they happened, and lets the reader judge for himself or herself. A handful of black-and-white photographs illustrate the author's tenacious and amazing journey from struggling to survive to penthouse prosperity.

Searching for Values
Stuart Muszynski
Hiram College
PO Box 67, Hiram, OH 44234
0976789906 $19.95

Searching for Values: A Grandmother, a Grandson, and the Discovery of Goodness is a memoir, a visualization, and an urgent missive to counter greed and dishonesty run rampant in modern culture. Author Stuart Muszynski, bedridden for over a year with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, visualized his grandmother's life and home town in Poland, and the ethical values that inspired five Christian families to hide her and his parents during the Holocaust. Exploring history and the cruel choices that once had to be made to survive during and after the Nazi occupation of Poland, Searching for Values recounts chilling tales of the Third Reich's methodical genocide while marveling at the compassion of those who risked their lives to defy it. A profoundly moving blend of the lessons of present and past in the quest for building a fulfilling life and community, and passing on positive values to one's children.


The Mystery/Suspense Shelf

Tropic of Fear
Ron Terpening
Stuyvesant & Hoagland
1133 Brodway, Suite 706, New York, NY 10010
0975576194 $24.95 www.Stuyvesant-Hoagland.com

Tropic of Fear is a suspenseful novel following an unlikely pair of researchers visiting Chaco, the "green hell" of Paraguay, who become immersed in the crossfire between rebel forces fighting to free their imprisoned leader, the brutal secret police of a power-hungry government official, and the machinations of a ruthless dictator. As the chaos of a revolution erupts, the two must struggle to survive and escape amid the vicious power grabs. Vivid, descriptive, imaginative, and chilling in its presentation of the lengths human beings will go to dominate one another, Tropic of Fear is an exciting thrill ride from first page to last.

Fatal as a Fallen Woman
Kathy Lynn Emerson
Pemberley Press
PO Box 1027, Corona del Mar, CA 92625
0970272790 $24.95 www.pemberleypress.com

The second thrilling adventure in the Diana Spaulding Mystery series, Fatal as a Fallen Woman is set in 1888 and follows "girl-reporter" Diana Spaulding who suddenly receives word that her father is murdered and her mother has been accused of the heinous crime. Though long estranged from her parents, she rushes to find out the truth and - she hopes - prove her mother's innocence; the story that unfolds threatens to impugn her own reputation, for it would seem that her father threw her mother out and her mother continued to earn a living as a "fallen woman". Diana's quest to uncover the truth will pit her against the fiercest elements of her home city, and her own mother doesn't seem to want her help! A rip-roaring exciting mystery.

Five Minutes
Nick Lucas
Beachfront Publishing
PO Box 811922, Boca Raton, FL 33481
1892339501 $25.00

Five Minutes: A Comic Thriller is a darkly funny, rip-roaring novel about a fast-talking realtor who is quite possibly the world's worst judge of character. Hunted down by drug dealers, irate customers, a betrayed girlfriend and the husband of a married woman he had an affair with, he has five minutes to live at the opening of the story - perhaps more if he can persuade the angry husband not to point the gun at his head. Then again, perhaps not. Oh, and his mother has come to live with him and won't take no for an answer. A wildly frantic novel about a ne'er do well whose bad deeds have caught up with him, and his wacky struggle to stay just one step ahead of the trigger, suspenseful to the very last word.


The Music Shelf

Teenagers Guide To The Beatles
Z. Lalani
AverStream Press
13176 N. Dale Mabry Hwy, Tampa, FL 33618
0965874079 $24.95 www.averstreampress.com

Written by a father for his teenaged daughter, Teenagers Guide To The Beatles goes beyond the realm of most biographies to cover not only The Beatles' amazing success as a band, but also the mysteries surrounding them, their legacy to popular music, and hot topics for modern-day Beatles fans. Black-and-white photographs illustrate this fascinating tour of The Beatles and Beatlemania, written in a brisk, plain style accessible to young and old readers alike. Ideal for school and public libraries, Teenagers Guide To The Beatles is an informative, diverse, and satisfying survey of the legacy of four talented musical stars.


The Pets/Wildlife Shelf

Dogs on the Trail
Gary Hoffman
InsightOut Publishing
11720 West Howard Avenue, Greenfield, WI 53228
0976994305 $13.95 1-414-321-8119 www.insightoutpublishing.com

Written by an avid hiker and proud dog owner, Dogs on the Trail: Hiking, Camping, and Traveling With Your Dog is a no-nonsense guide to hitting the trail with a faithful canine companion. Chapters cover selecting the right type of dog for backpacking excursions, recommended equipment and preparations, how to train one's pooch, etiquette on the trail, special notes for dealing with adverse weather or long trips, and much more. A compact guide written in plain, down-to-earth terms, Dogs on the Trail is a "must-have" for anyone interested in sharing the wonder of nature with a beloved animal companion.


The Philosophy Shelf

The Philosophy of Doublethink
Rick Weires
Asbury House Publishing
440 Summer Drive, Asbury, Iowa 52002
0975489348 $16.95 www.doublethinkbook.com

The Philosophy of Doublethink: Theory of Contradictory Values explores the concept popularly enshrined in George Orwell's classic "1984" as "doublethink" - when a person tells himself or herself a lie and completely believes it. Author and experienced product safety engineer Rick Weires explores the many ways humans can deceive themselves, the strained relationship between empirical and non-empirical reading, the revolutionary "clump psychological" model, and the question of what place can there be for religious thought or belief in God in a world where science and technology are constantly revealing more and more about how everything works. A thoughtful book, which sometimes views beliefs through the eyes of model characters aligned to an extreme philosophical point of view, The Philosophy of Doublethink is highly accessible to lay readers and seasoned philosophers alike in its exploration of the concepts of God, science, free will, and self-deception.


The Sports Shelf

The Complete Paddler
David L. Miller
Farcountry Press
PO Box 5630, Helena, MT 59604
1560373253 $18.95 1-800-821-3874 www.farcountrypress.com

The Complete Paddler: A Guidebook for Paddling the Missouri River from the Headwaters to St. Louis, Missouri is a no-nonsense manual written for paddlers of all skill and experience levels with an interest in exploring the Missouri River. Chapters discuss necessary equipment, risks and hazards, shoreline descriptions, currents and prevailing winds, portages, river-mile marks, historical sites to be seen, and much more. The Complete Paddler also capitalizes on modern advancements by using Global Positioning System (GPS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to give accurate "sailing directions". Author David Miller also recounts his personal anecdotes of his three-summer-long, solo kayak expedition. Enthusiastically recommended for kayakers with an interest in experiencing the great Missouri River for themselves.

Golf in Scotland
Allan McAllister Ferguson
WF Publishing
1743 S. Marion St., Denver, CO 80210
0971032629 $22.95 1-800-835-6692 www.fergusongolf.com

Now in its third edition, Golf in Scotland is a guide for travelers seeking to plan the perfect golf vacation in Scotland. Featuring profiles of 68 great courses, and information about local lodging, air travel, car rental, suggested itineraries, and much more, Golf in Scotland is a one-size-fits-all travel guide for golf enthusiasts. Packed cover to cover with recommendations such as when to reserve a course, whether to use a tour operator or travel planner, the recommended size of a golf party, and many other choices that can have a profound impact on the success of a grand vacation. A scattering of black-and-white photographs illustrate this enthusiastically recommended travel-planning guide for golfers abroad.

What's My Name, Fool?
Dave Zirin
Haymarket Books
PO Box 180165, Chicago, IL 60618
1931859205 $15.00 1-773-583-7884 www.haymarketbooks.org

What's My Name, Fool? is a charged collection of brief, straight-talk essays about racism, politics, athletes and sports in American history. From the story Muhammad Ali, who refused participation in the Vietnam War and was stripped of his title for it, to the exploited death of Pat Tillman, who refused to be used as a propaganda symbol for America's wars in life but proved to be far more pliable in death (until the acknowledgment came five weeks later that he was killed by friendly fire), to a biting criticism of how female athletes are subject to sexist media slurs, What's My Name, Fool? balances close scrutiny of the facts with a no-holds-barred denouncement of racism, sexism, and just plain rampant greed. A handful of black-and-white photographs illustrate this fiery revelation to a side of sports that big team owners, corporations, and fat cats don't want ordinary fans to see. More than highly recommended; if you read only one sports book this year, make it What's My Name, Fool?


The Travel Shelf

The Great Towns of Oregon
David & Joan Vokac
West Press
PO Box 99717, San Diego, CA 92169
0930743091 $14.95 www.greattowns.com

The Great Towns of Oregon: The Guide to the Best Getaways for a Vacation or a Lifetime is a vacation and relocation guide to the most scenic and civilized Oregon locales, including 1,000+ descriptions of the best restaurants, attractions, and lodgings. The eighteen Oregon towns covered at length are Ashland, Astoria, Baker City, Bandon, Bend, Brookings, Cannon Beach, Florence, Gold Beach, Grants Pass, Hood River, Jacksonville, Joseph, Lincoln City, McMinnville, Newport, Seaside, and Sisters. Full chapters on each of the towns, towns, along with weather and livability ratings, allow for a level of depth ideal for individuals searching for the perfect Oregon home.

Roads Less Traveled
Catherine Watson
Syren Book Company
5120 Cedar Lake Road, Minneapolis, MN 55416
0929636457 $14.95 www.itascabooks.com

Roads Less Traveled: Dispatches from the Ends of the Earth is a collection of travel essays by Catherine Watson, the chief travel columnist and photographer of the Minneapolis "Star Tribune" newspaper from 1978 to 2004. Divided into segments that devote a short and sweet 4-10 pages or so to each destination, Roads Less Travels recount highlights of the author's journeys to Spain, India, Mexico City, Vietnam, Australia, Bhutan, Antarctica, Kilimanjaro, and many more exciting and far-off places. A truly eclectic and fun compilation of the sights, sounds, smells, and one-of-a-kind experiences present all around the world.


The Children's Shelf

Kyoodoz Algebra Solutions Book
Yvonne Low
Kyoodoz
PO Box 60231, Sunnyvale, CA 94088-0231
0977117200 $14.50 www.kyoodoz.com

Kyoodoz Algebra Solutions Book is an educational book of sample algebra problems and solutions, offering step-by- step guidance to solving problems, and useful tips presented with charm and humor. Text is kept to a bare minimum, so as not to be a confusing distraction, and focuses on just the information necessary to understand the algebra problems. A handful of charming, cartoon-like illustrations help make learning fun. Though intended for young students seeking to solidify or refresh their algebra mastery, the diversity and usefulness of Kyoodoz Algebra Solutions Book makes it a very practical self-teaching resource for students of all ages.

Art + Science
Mary Jo See
Natural Genius Books
PO Box 191088, Sacramento, CA 95819
0976507021 $15.95 www.NaturalGeniusBooks.com

Art + Science is both a coloring book for ages 9 and up and a tribute to the 100th anniversary of Albert Einstein's "Theory of Relativity". Wavy lines assemble into shapes illustrating great scientific discoveries, and the text segments honor both fascinating ideas and the people who labored to reveal them. From a coloring picture illustrating principles of horizontal convergence and foreshortening in art, to a hydrogen atom circled by an electron to illustrate subatomic particles, to a simple picture of Einstein himself playing his the violin, Art + Science is a one-of-a-kind eclectic coloring and learning experience, highly recommended as an educational rainy-day activity.

Indigo Animal and the Lawn Statuary Research Institute
Rue Harrison
Porch Lion Press
PO Box 5008, Berkeley, CA 94705
0966727916 $16.00

The sequel to "Indigo Animal", Indigo Animal and the Lawn Statuary Research Institute is a delightful, full-color picturebook for all ages. Unlike most picturebooks, which tend to be very brief in length, Indigo Animal and the Lawn Statuary Research Institute is quite lengthy, though each page contains only a sentence or two at most of text. Following the wanderings of the "overly serious" indigo animal past works of great art, about a most unusual campus, Indigo Animal and the Lawn Statuary Research Institute blends an appreciation for artistic creations, good- natured humor, and the thirst for knowledge into an engaging and original read-aloud story. There is some mild nudity present in Indigo Animal and the Lawn Statuary Research Institute, in the illustration's portrayal of a classical work of female Greco-Roman sculpture, all quite tastefully done. Highly recommended.


The Nautical Shelf

Tail Fins and Two-Tones
Peter Hunn
Devereux Books
PO Box 503, Marblehead, MA 01945
1928862101 $23.95 www.devereuxbooks.com

Tail Fins and Two-Tones: The Guide to America's Classic Fiberglass and Aluminum Runabouts begins with a lengthy overview of stylish American runabout boats, and then offers a meticulous listing of the hundreds of companies that made them. Each listing includes the company's current address, if still in business, and many offer notes on the types and distinctive features of boats each company has made or continues to make. Author and public school administrator Peter Hunn has been a boat buff since age 10; he applies his home-grown enthusiasm in this superb, user-friendly guide for avid boating enthusiasts, especially those searching for the perfect model of runabout to suit their tastes.


The American History Shelf

The Gruber Wagon Works
Carol J. Hunsberger
Berks County Heritage Center
c/o McDonald & Woodward Publishing
431-B East College St., Granville, OH 43203
0977072401 $35.00 www.mwpubco.com

The Gruber Wagon Works: The Place Where Time Stood Still presents the remarkable true story of Gruber Wagon Works, once a bustling business in the late 19th and early 20th century, later christened a National Historic Landmark long after it manufactured its last wagon in 1956. Now open to the public, Gruber Wagon Works reveals how wheelwrights, blacksmiths, and painters once worked together well prior to the heavily mechanized modern era, and offers insight into the evolution of manufacturing. Black-and-white photographs, some up to or more than a century old, and a detailed text tour through history distinguish this fascinating coffee table guide, which is surely the next best thing to traveling to the Berks County Heritage Center of Pennsylvania and beholding the Gruber Wagon Works in person.


The Theatre/Cinema Shelf

The Triumph of Anti-Art
Thomas McEvilley
McPherson & Company
PO Box 1126, Kingston, NY 12401
0929701674 $30.00 1-800-613-8219 www.mcphersonco.com

Much has been written about traditional art forms of drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, music, plays and movies; but little has been said about the more esoteric and avant-garde forms of conceptual and performance art; The Triumph of Anti-Art: Conceptual and Performance Art in the Formation of Post-Modernism handily remedies this deficiency. The Triumph of Anti-Art is an absorbing tour through the origins of the controversial art forms of conceptual art and performance art, walking the reader through the seemingly complicated and ambiguous meanings and nuances of such formats. Chapters specifically focus upon the works of Francois Morellet, Bernar Venet, Beuys and Warhol, Marina Abramovic, and many more. Offering enlightenment as to the motives, messages, and expressions of conceptual and performance art, The Triumph of Anti-Art is a "must-read" for novices and experienced art connoisseurs alike.


The Social Issues Shelf

Seize the Time
Bobby Seale
Black Classic Press
PO Box 13414, Baltimore, MD 21203
093312130X $18.95

Now featuring a new introduction by the author Seize the Time: The Story of the Black Panther Party and Huey P. Newton is the reissue of a protest-era manifesto first published in 1970. Recorded and written by the author during 1969 and 1970 when he was a political prisoner in the San Francisco County Jail - incarcerated as a defendant in two prejudiced political trials that he later won in court - Seize the Time offers an amazing, up-close and personal view of the Black Panther Party's formation, goals, and obstacles both within and without. The party's strict code of conduct, including an absolute prohibition against drug use or the misuse of firearms, is described in depth, as are the lives of its founders. From persecution and harassment by all levels of government to the need to expel individuals who were "black racists", or who tried to use the party for personal status and reputation without doing any work to promote the party's cause of equality, awareness, and self-defense, Seize the Time is an absorbing true portrayal of the rocky road of resistance to racism and class oppression. Highly recommended.


The World History Shelf

The Windsor Beauties
Lewis Melville, author; Coby Fletcher, additional French translation
Victorian Heritage Press
c/o Loving Healing Press
5145 Pontiac Trail, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
1932690131 $27.95

The Windsor Beauties: Ladies of the Court of Charles II is the newly revised edition of the classic 1928 text. An absorbing masterpiece that meticulously and faithfully renders the day-by-day interplay of court life during the reign of Charles II of England, especially focusing upon those women notable enough to be immortalized in a portrait project at the behest of the Duchess of York, The Windsor Beauties is sparsely illustrated with black-and-white copies of the famous portraits. Yet the real draw is the eye-opening, unrepentantly honest written account, now enhanced with a new glossary, bibliography, extended footnotes for lay history readers, and the first-ever translations of French language poems, letters, and epistles. Highly recommended especially for lay historians and writers planning to pen court life period pieces.


The Parenting Shelf

Help Your Kids Become Millionaires
Larry Lynch
Infinity Publishing.com
c/o Buy Books On The Web
1094 New Dehaven Street, #100, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2713
0741425386 $11.95 www.amazon.com

Larry Lynch, the developer of the "So Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" educational programs for middle school students, presents Help Your Kids Become Millionaires, a no-nonsense guide to amassing financial security for one's children. Covering both how to amass sufficient wealth and how to install good financial sense in one's children so that they use their inheritance wisely, Help Your Kids Become Millionaires includes chapters on everything from instilling a healthy respect for mathematics to the pros and cons of investing, when to hire financial professionals, the importance of setting a good example early, and much more. Written in plain terms for lay readers, Help Your Kids Become Millionaires lives up to its title with its serious-minded assessment of good money habits for all generations.

A Practical Guide to Activities for Young Children
Christine Hobart and Jill Frankel
Nelson Thornes Ltd.
c/o International Specialized Book Services
920 Northeast 58th Avenue, Suite 300, Portland, OR 97213
074879252X $17.50 1-800-944-6190 www.isbscatalog.com

Now in its completely revised and updated third edition, A Practical Guide to Activities for Young Children is a straightforward listing of practical activities for babies, toddlers, young children, and infant schoolchildren designed and selected for creativity, educational value, and just plain fun. A valuable resource for educators, parents, babysitters, Sunday schools, and anyone else tasked with watching over children who wants better for them than just sitting them in front of the TV, A Practical Guide to Activities for Young Children is extremely reader-friendly and highly valuable in its delineation of adult roles. Although A Practical Guide to Activities for Young Children presents numerous sample activities such as compiling a book of recipes with children, or mixing cornflour with water and allowing toddlers to smooth it on to the table or roll it in their hands, the chief focus of this guide lies in giving childcare providers and educators the tools and knowledge needed to skillfully design age-appropriate activities to balance or enhance development in chosen areas. Full-color photographs throughout illustrate this high-concept level addressment of a surprisingly complex responsibility.


The Poetry Shelf

Bone Strings
Anne Coray
Scarlet Tanager Books
PO Box 20906, Oakland, CA 94620
0967022495 $15.00 www.scarlettanager.com

Alaskan-born poet Anne Coray presents Bone Strings, a collection of free-verse poetry reflecting upon seasonal beauty and the ever-changing rhythms of nature. A handful of poems have a brief, one-sentence introduction referring to their inspiration or dedication, from "The Ptarmigan", written in response to the tragic accidental shooting of a well-known Anchorage doctor, to "Mail Run", a meditation upon those who carried mail across the snows via dog team. A wistful evocation of the many facets of Alaska's soul. "Divested": The mist, / a perfume of absence, / walks through the day's largess. // I have nothing. / No tonic of bright bells, / or resound of iron. // A casket meant for pearls / drifts on the mute wind.


The Photography Shelf

God's Art
Greg Smith
Grand Canyon Publishing
PO Box 8550, Mesa, Arizona 85214-8550
0976715406 $34.95 www.gregsmithbooks.com

God's Art is a stunning photographic tour of the beauty of the universe, from breathtaking sunsets, waves and coastal dunes to the magnificence of stars and galaxies. The stunning, full-color photography on every page is complemented by the thoughtful text, which reflects upon God and the marvelous wonder of His natural creations. A blend of perfectly captured scenic brilliance and spiritual contemplation, God's Art is truly a treasury for photography and spirituality shelves alike.


The Art Shelf

Alphabet In Color
Vladimir Nabokov
Gingko Press
5768 Paradise Drive, Suite J
Corte Madera, CA 94925
1584231394 $25.00 www.gingkopress.com

Renowned twentieth-century literary author Vladimir Nabokov maintained that he could "hear" color. Enhanced with the memorable and interpretative illustrations of Jean Holabird, Alphabet In Color showcases what Nabokov heard with respect to colors would manifest visually to the rest of us with charming, vibrant, synesthetic colored letters. No student of Nabokov's literary work (which included "Lolita", "The Gift", "Pale Fire", "The Defense", "Invitation to a Beheading", Pnin", "Ada", and so much more) should pass up the opportunity to peruse this unique and original study of Nabokov's appreciation of color and its role in western literature.


The Religion/Spirituality Shelf

The Healing Power Of Sufi Mediation
as-Sayyid Nurjan Mirahmadi & Hedieh Mirahmadi
Islamic Supreme Council of America
c/o Naqshbandi Haqqani Sufi Order of America
17195 Silver Parkway, #206, Fenton, MI 48430
1930409265 $14.00 www.naqshbandi.org www.nurmuhammad.com www.amazon.com

Sufi meditation (muraqabah) is a mental doorway through which practitioners can discern the reality that lies behind the illusory nature of the world around them. It is through this mediation that seekers have a means to return to their perfected original selves and advance in spiritual degrees from themselves to God through higher states of consciousness. An important contribution to Islamic Studies and Meditation Studies, "The Healing Power Of Sufi Meditation" is the collaborative effort of as-Sayyid Nurjan Mirahmadi and Hedieh Mirahmadi offering the reader with an informed and informative introduction to a path of divine enlightenment that has been traveled by the great spiritual leaders of the Sufi tradition. Also very highly recommended for students of Sufi traditions is The Sufi Science Of Self-Realization: A Guide To The Seventeen Ruinous Traits, The Ten Steps To Discipleship, And The Six Realities Of The Heart" by Shaykh Muhammad Hisham Kabbani (193040929X, $19.95).


The International Studies Shelf

China's Generation
Michael Stanat
Homa & Sekey Books
c/o Planned Television Arts
1110 Second Avenue, NY, NY 10022
1931907250 $24.95 www.plannedtvarts.com

China's Generation: Understanding The Future Leaders Of The World's Next Superpower by seventeen year old author Michael Stanat deftly and knowledgeably addresses the phenomena of China's emergence as an economic power that has the capacity to rival the United States. The problem is that while American and European businesses are trying to take advantage of China's burgeoning youth market, there is very little solid research data for them to base their marketing strategies upon. What Michael Stanat has done is to employ focus groups, original research, and first-hand observations of that heretofore elusive demographic marketing information to provide American businessmen and political scientists with a glimpse into the new generation of "capitalism friendly" Chinese and the predicted future of China-U.S. relations. Articulate, informative, thoughtful and thought-provoking, China's Generation is strongly recommended reading for anyone wanting to do business with China's youth market, or who want a glimpse into what we can expect from China over then next few decades.


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


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