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Small Press Bookwatch

Volume 9, Number 6 June 2010 Home | SPBW Index

Table of Contents

Reviewer's Choice Fantasy/SciFi Shelf Money/Finance Shelf
Sports Shelf Fiction Shelf Library Reference Shelf
Self-Help Shelf Biography Shelf Business Shelf
Social Issues Shelf Education Shelf Black Studies Shelf
Christian Studies Shelf Poetry Shelf Health/Medicine Shelf
American History Shelf Travel Shelf Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Parenting Shelf Music Shelf Art Shelf


Reviewer's Choice

Uncle Yah Yah
Al Dickens
Yah Yah Publications
134 Evergreen Place, Suite 305, East Orange, NJ 07018
9780975964682, $14.95

Simplicity is the thing most easily delivered. "Uncle Yah Yah: 21st Century Man of Wisdom" is a collection of short stories from Al Dickens encouraging readers to embrace faith and improve their lives through these values. With no shortage of virtue within these pages, "Uncle Yah Yah" is a fun and inspiring read, highly recommended.

Escape from Manchuria
Paul K. Maruyama
Rising Star
1663 Liberty Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403
Star Treatment (publicity)
PO Box 133, Beaver Crossing, NE 68313
9781450205795, $27.95, www.iuniverse.com

Not all conquerors are as merciful as the Americans. "Escape from Manchuria: The Rescue of 1.7 Million Japanese Civilians Trapped in Soviet-occupied Manchuria Following the End of World War II" tells the story of how three determined men in the US Armed forces found themselves heroes to nearly two million people after World War II ended and the Cold War began to settle in, and many Japanese citizens found themselves not under their empire, but under the uneasy rule of America's ally in Soviet Russia. "Escape from Manchuria" is a fascinating tale of a few of many unsung heroes of World War II.


The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf

Shadow from the Past
E. A. Rappaport
Owl King Publishing
119 Kennedy Drive, Orange, CT 06477
9780978939342, $11.95, www.owlking.com

A scapegoat is an easy way for a true evil to go by unanswered. "Shadow from the Past" tells the story of Jarlen, whose master was murdered and the only evidence of it is green fire. When the rest of the village writes it off as the Ferfolk, Jarlen doesn't buy it and hopes to find the true attacker, making unusual friends along the way. "Shadow from the Past" is a fascinating and highly recommended fantasy for young readers that shouldn't be missed.


The Money/Finance Shelf

Don't Read This
Dov Baron
Baron Mastery Institute
141-6200 McKay Ave #327, Burnaby, BC, V5H 4M9, Canada
9781926768038, $21.77

Creating that wealth is easier than one thinks. "Don't Read This: Unless You Want More Money: Subconscious Tactics of the Truly Affluent" is a guide to the habits of successful people and how they get heir money and keep it. The Affluence formula is Dov Baron's idea for furthering one's wealth, accruing skills and states that the first step of success is your mind. "Don't Read This" is an intriguing read that shouldn't be overlooked.

That Thing Rich People Do
Kaye A. Thomas
Fairmark Press
PO Box 6175, Elgin, IL 60121
9780979224881, $13.95, www.fairmark.com

Being rich starts with the mind, not the wallet. "That Thing Rich People Do: Required Reading for Investors" is a guide to how the rich keep their wealth - they never truly stop acquiring it. Turning money into more money is the goal, and Kaye A. Thomas outlines how to do so through wise investing, good risk taking, and recovering from failure well. "That Thing Rich People Do" is a top pick for any aiming to get money and keep it.

Wealth Strategies Investing For Your Retirement
Hunter William Bailey
Aspiring Millionaires Publishing House
7509 Madison Ave #107, Citrus Heights, CA 95610
9780981626802, $19.99, www.hunterwilliambailey.com

A retirement isn't much of one if you're panicked about money. "Wealth Strategies Investing for Your Retirement: Preretirement Ideas, Postretirement Strategies" is a guide from Hunter William Bailey, an experienced stock broker and financial analyst on how to make your retirement a successful one instead of one where you have to struggle to rejoin the work force at old age, or living in poverty. "Wealth Strategies Investing for Your Retirement" is a choice guide for those who want to be wise and be prepared for the worst financially.


The Sports Shelf

Cooler Full of Fish
Linda Legeza
Eloquent Books
c/o Strategic Book Group
PO Box 333, Durham, CT 06422
9781609110666, $24.25, www.strategicpublishinggroup.com

There's more to fishing than just wasting an afternoon lazily on a boat. "Cooler Full of Fish" follows Jeff Grabowski, a man who has spent his life passionate about fishing. As the world changes around him and everyone he knows moves on and reaches for something else in life, Jeff is content with fishing and faces criticism for his path in life, told he can't fish forever. But Jeff will do just that. "Cooler Full of Fish" is a choice pick for those who want to believe a lifetime of fishing can be a reality.


The Fiction Shelf

Danger in the Tulip Fields
Patti Ann Bengen
Book Worm Publishing
PO Box 759, Shoreham, NY 11786
9780977405947, $16.95

Settling seems the best now, but the heart will not go ignored. "Danger in the Tulip Fields" is the story of Amanda Noble, a reporter who traveled to Afghanistan and found love in Jeffrey Sunderman. But when 9/11 strikes, the two are torn apart as Amanda's career shoots up, and she loses track of Jeffrey. Finding love elsewhere, she soon regrets her decision, and longs for Jeffrey, but the world of international intrigue may have it out for the news anchor. "Danger in the Tulip Fields" is a fascinating and enticing romance which shouldn't be missed.

To Nourish & Consume
Ryan O'Reilly
Black Oak Press
c/o Arbor Books
2831 S. Ingram Mill Rd., Springfield, MO 65804
9780979412813, $14.95, www.tonourishandconsume.com

There are so many possibilities in the past and each of them leave more questions in the present. "To Nourish & Consume" tells the story of a love triangle of Brain Falk, his best friend Dabney, and the object of both of their desires in Jackie. But their desires don't seem to be entirely on Jackie, not shunning the allure of each other. Their affair is ended however, as Jackie chooses Dabney, and leaves Brain in a haze of self-doubt, which may find answer as he returns to the home he fled years before. "To Nourish & Consume" is an enticing and sensual read, well worth considering.

A Separate Heaven
Alex Disanti
Still Waters
314 San Saba, Marble Falls, TX 78654
9780615273358, $24.99

Love makes you know people, perhaps more than you should. "A Separate Heaven" tells a story of Dominic Gianelli, a man with a whole world of secrets behind him. Keeping people away from him, he finds it hard to allow Paige, a woman he has grown fond of, into his world, fearing for her safety. But Paige soon finds that her life may just change forever, as neither as unable to repel their attraction. "A Separate Heaven" is a riveting read of fame, fortune, and its pitfalls.

Wagons to Hangtown
Diana M. Johnson
Superior Book Publishing Company
16417 Superior Street, North Hills, CA 91343-1836
9780966150469, $16.95

Some people get lucky, other people get so lucky that they wish they weren't so. "Wagons to Hangtown: A Story of the California Gold Rush" tells the tale of Edward Daingerfield as he heads west, hoping to return home better off than he left. The dreams of gold prove true, however the dream wasn't everything Edward thought it'd be. Engrossing storytelling makes "Wagons to Hangtown" a choice pick for those looking for historical fiction.

How the West Went to Hell
Eric S. Brown
Pill Hill Press
343 W 4th St., Chadron, NE 69337
9781617060120, $10.99

It isn't outlaws worrying these gunslingers. "How to West Went to Hell" tells the story of an editor traveling west to Reaper's Valley. Expecting your common Old western town, he's surprised to find that the main concern of the people of Reaper's Valley is not bandits, but instead demons surrounding the town. "How the West Went to Hell" is a fun and creative read that is sure to please many a reader.

Noggle Stones
Wil Radcliffe
Dailey Swan Publishing
2644 Appian Way #101, Pinole, CA 94564
9780977367696, $14.95, www.daileyswanpublishing.com

The search for knowledge is not without its own pitfalls. "Noggle Stones" follows a goblin called Bugbear as he goes through the woods seeking ancient ruins. But when he finds such ruins, he finds connections to a much darker and evil time, and soon finds there are things he may not be wise to investigate. "Noggle Stones" is a fun read for young fantasy readers, highly recommended.

The Oyster Garden
Kristin Kraus
Queen Bee Press
40 Stratridge Gardens SW, Calgary, AL T3H 3S1
9780980889611, $12.95, www.queenbeepress.org

Having it all sometimes just isn't enough. "The Oyster Garden" tells the tale of unfulfilled housewife Maggie as she faces a crisis of unhappiness in her life. But when she discovers that oysters are in need of talents she can provide, she may have just found the purpose in life she was looking for. "The Oyster Garden" is a choice pick that will inspire other women unsure of what to do with their lives.

The Inventor
W. E. Gutman
CCB Publishing
616 Gardenia Court, Rosamond, CA 93560
9781926585758, $17.95, www.ccbpublishing.com

The potential of humanity is limitless if applied right. "The Inventor" is a uniquely presented story of an artist, an inventor facing a world that doesn't embrace him tapping into the most he can do. Facing religious and political pressure, humanity pushes itself to create something greater. Literary and highly thought provoking, W. E. Gutman presents a highly thoughtful and thought-provoking read in the form of "The Inventor" lending it to being a very highly recommended read.

Lead Me Home
Niles Reddick
Roseheart Books
PO Box 1606, Chiefland, FL 32644-1606
9780984187065, $11.95, www.roseheartbooks.com

When life gets exponentially more confusing, all you can depend on is faith to help you through. "Lead Me Home" is a novel from Niles Reddick as he tells the story of Max Peacock as he faces politics at work, politics at church, his first child, family problems, criminal investigations, and so much more. "Lead Me Home" is an intriguing and entertaining novel that many readers will relate to with their own hectic lives.

Main Street Stories
Phyllis LaPlante
Genoa House
316 Mid Valley Center #194, Carmel, CA 93923
9780981393919, $19.95, www.genoahouse.com

Lust is a powerful emotion that can change lives. "Main Street Stories" is a novel following the town of Massey, Texas as its citizens wrestle with their own sexuality as well as the mistakes that it has brought them to in the past. As the people face their mistakes and what they truly want in their lives, a profound lesson is discovered. The focus of sexuality makes "Main Street Stories" an enticing read that will be hard to put down.

Kabbalah of Stone
Irene Reti
Juniper Lake Press
PO Box 7467, Santa Cruz, CA 95061
9780984319602, $15.00, www.juniperlakepress.com

The force of the Inquisition was not met unopposed. "Kabbalah of Stone: tells the story of a Rabbi as he and his people were being expelled from Spain during the inquisitions of the fifteenth century. Author Irene Reti tells the story of the Kabbalah in Spain and its relation to the gender and sexuality issues of the time, crafting a riveting story on a subject many readers have little understanding of. "Kabbalah of Stone" is a top pick for those seeking a novel that blends many topics of the Medieval world well.

Final Cut
Kay Finch
Top Publications
12221 Merit Dr., Suite 950, Dallas, TX 75251
9781929976683, $14.95, www.toppub.com

Some divorces are quite a bit nastier than others. "Final Cut" Tells the story of private investigator Corie McKenna as she finds herself between a nastily feuding couple, as a high class spa finds itself a murder scene with more questions being found than answers, and the body count starting to add up. "Final Cut" is a riveting read for mystery fans that they won't want to miss.

Rock & Roll Rip-Off
RJ McDonnell
Killeena Publishing
PO Box 3611, Scranton, PA 18505
9780981491424, $25.95, www.rjmcdonnell.com

The music industry isn't all about the sound anymore. "Rock & Roll Rip-Off" is the story of Jason Duffy, a private detective who accepts a job and soon finds the music industry has more than memorabilia in their closets. He becomes entrenched in a plot surrounding a failed debut album of an emo band, and soon finds himself on the wrong side of a successful hit man. "Rock & Roll Rip-Off" is a fascinating adventure on the darker side of the music industry and the criminal underworld that lies with it.

Daring Daughter of the Covenant
Emilie M. Barnett
Windjammer Adventure Publishing
289 South Franklin Street, Chagrin Falls, OH 44022
9780615337906, $24.95

Throughout the centuries following the Protestant reformation, Christianity was in a time of constant change. "Daring Daughter of the Covenant" is a novel based on the life of Beatrice Nasi Mendes, a woman of the sixteenth century who was in the midst of these constantly changing religious times, who experienced many of them first hand despite it being a time where the thoughts of women were not yet fully valued. "Daring Daughter of the Covenant" is a choice read for those looking for a religious oriented historical novel.

The Galilean Secret
Evan Drake Howard
Guideposts
16 East 34th Street, New York, NY 10016
DeChant Hughes & Associates (publicity)
1440 N. Kingsbury, Chicago, IL 60622
9780824947941, $24.99, www.evandrakehoward.com

Millennia of stagnation does not kill the power of an idea. "The Galilean Secret" is a novel telling a duality of two stories. In the modern day, a Palestinian boy finds himself on the run from society, caught between a shunned affair and his family. He finds a scroll written by a Jewish woman in the first century, and the dilemma she faces as rebellion faces the Roman Empire in Jerusalem. The duality of these stories proves highly fascinating and makes for a riveting read.

Red Flag Warning
Kurt Kamm
Aberdeen Bay
23850 Harbor Vista Dr., Malibu, CA 90265
9781608300297, $15.95, www.aberdeenbay.com

Fire has a certain allure to some people, so much so that they will risk lives to see it. "Red Flag Warning" is the tale of the Los Angles County Fire Department and the challenges they face matched off against a serial arsonist who keeps sending the forests of the region into a towering inferno. A look into the challenges faced by fire departments against arsonists as well as arsonists themselves, "Red Flag Warning" is a riveting read.

Boone Springs
Rudy Dunnigan
A-Argus Better Book Publishers, LLC
PO Box 914, Kernersville, NC 27285
9780982305058, $19.95, www.a-argusbooks.com

Every where one turns, there may be a friend or a threat, but you might not know it until it's too late. "Boone Springs" is a tale of the town of Boone Springs, under fire by a sheriff who exploits his position for his sadistic tendencies over a town that needs them, overblown with crimes against one another, exploiting it to the fullest. But there may yet be hope for Boone Springs, making "Boone Springs" a riveting tale of trying to change one's community for the better.

Nonna's Book of Mysteries
Mary Sborne
Lake Street Press
4064 N. Lincoln Avenue, #402, Chicago, IL 60618-3038
9781936181162, $16.95

Heirlooms are not to be bartered with lightly. "Nonna's Book of Mysteries" is the tale of a woman with dreams before her time in the form of Emilia. But in the Renaissance, women's dreams are meaningless, and she finds that her one treasure, an ancient book from her Grandmother, is in fear of falling into the hands of a man who only wants to use it for power. Using the secrets of the book, Emilia tries to defend her treasure and tries to find her dreams. "Nonna's Book of Mysteries" is a fascinating and fun read, not to be missed.

Animythical Tales
Sarah Totton
Fantastic Books
PO Box 243,Blacksburg, VA 24060
9781604599329, $12.99, www.sarahtotton.com

Stories of the fantastic have a lot of place in reality. "Animythical Tales" is a collection of short stories from Sarah Totton using a wide array of characters to discuss many elements of human nature and the psyche around that. Entertaining, clever, and thought provoking, "Animythical Tales" is a read no fantasy or short story reader will want to miss.

The Prophet Of Sorrow
Mark Van Aken Williams
Lucky Press
PO Box 754, Athens, OH 45701
9780984462704, $26.00, www.amazon.com

An accomplished poet, in "The Prophet Of Sorrow", Mark Van Aken Williams has superbly crafted an historical novel around the assassination of Leon Trotsky. The killing took place in Mexico at the order of Joseph Stalin and was implemented by the men of the infamous Soviet organization the GPU. This is the story of Ramon Mercarder who spent twenty years in a Mexican prison for felling the old Bolshevik with a mountain climbing axe he had smuggled underneath his coat into the unsuspecting Trotsky's home. Told from the perspective of the assassin, "The Prophet Of Sorrow" is a riveting novel that plays careful respect to historical detail. An entertaining read from beginning to end, "The Prophet Of Sorrow" is an especially recommended addition to community library fiction collections.


The Library Reference Shelf

Membership Directory 2010
Public Record Retriever Network
BRB Publications
PO Box 27869, Tempe, AZ 85285-7869
9781879792272, $9.95, www.prrn.us

The nation's public records are quite massive, and trying to find them on your own could be an exercise in futility. "Public Record Retriever Network: Membership Directory 2010" is a guide to helping the public record searcher find the agency they need to find the record they want in America's massive database. This resource lists these many organizations, how to contact them, and how far out they'll go for your record. "Public Record Retriever Network" is an invaluable resource for any who want to hunt down a public record of any type.


The Self-Help Shelf

Evolution of Mind
Vijai S Shankar
Adavita
c/o Selby Ink
PO Box 791, Staunton, VA
9789079731091, $19.87, www.acadun.com

The human mind is a very complex and unique thing. "Evolution of Mind" is a discussion from Dr. Vijai S. Shankar as he discusses the mind and gives his own opinions on its complexities and how it develops over the existence of man and throughout life. The mind is the key to one's real identity, and "Evolution of the Mind" explores it well with many thoughtful questions, making for a solidly recommended read that shouldn't be missed.

A New Fearless You
Evonne Weinhaus & Cindy Smith
Breakthrough Transformations, LLC
10859 Picadily Square Drive, St. Louis, MO 63146
9780982645604, $17.95, www.anewfearlessyou.com

Life is an endless succession of games, just most of the players don't know it. "A New Fearless You: Freedom from Hide and Seek and Other Games Grown-Ups Play" is an inspirational guide designed to help readers realize the games being played in their lives and how to escape them. When one sees the games being played, one can play them much better, or avoid the games entirely. "A New Fearless You" is a choice pick for anyone who wants to be done with life's games.

Be the Noodle
Lois Kelly
Audience Artist Group
303 Park Avenue South, Suite 1440, New York, NY 10010-3657
9781935444695, $20.00, www.worldaudience.org

A good caregiver doesn't run from one in need. "Be the Noodle: Fifty Ways to be a Compassionate, Courageous, Crazy-Good Caregiver" is a guide for those who are faced with the challenge of a dying loved one, and how one can help them in their final days and come off as better, stronger people for it all. Lois Kelly imparts wisdom no training can give, and she hopes that when faced with experiences like her own with her mother, others will take note. "Be the Noodle" is a must for anyone faced with such an unfortunate situation.

Living the Dream
Peter Wallin
Word Association Publishers
205 Fifth Avenue, Tarentum, PA 15084
9781595715159, $15.00, www.wordassociation.com

General happiness is liking every part of one's life. "Living the Dream: The Four Pillars to Life Mastery" is an inspirational guide from Peter Wallin as he urges people to embrace four aspects of life he believes are needed to attain happiness. Prioritizing what's important, giving to others, sharing your experiences, and caring about what you do and how it affects the other people in your life, "Living the Dream" has much wisdom about it all and can prove to be a highly insightful read, through and through.

Teen's Guide to Not Being Perfect
Tom Krause
Bluegrass Publishing
PO Box 634, Mayfield, KY 42066
9781599780115, $14.95, www.bluegrasspublishing.com

No one is perfect and no one should expect to be. "Teen's Guide to Not Being Perfect" is an inspirational guide for teens to help them come to terms with that they can't do everything in their lives perfectly and how to live their lives to the fullest when realizing you might let someone down, you might not be able to solve all the world's problems, and you might feel bad about yourself while doing so. Uplifting teens through being honest, "Teen's Guide to Not Being Perfect" is a strong pick for any teen trying to do it all.


The Biography Shelf

D-Day & Beyond
Julie M. Phend
Burd Street Press
c/o Beidel Printing House
63 West Burd Street, Shippensburg, PA 17257-0708
1572493623, $8.95

To be a prisoner of war is one of the last things a soldier wants to face. "D-Day & Beyond: A True Story of Escape and POW Survival" tells the tale of Stanley E. Edwards, a pilot who was shot down over France and captured by the Nazis, even though he fought capture kicking and screaming, escaping only to be recaptured. A riveting story of true life action and adventure, "D-Day & Beyond" is a fascinating and highly recommended read that serves as a fine addition to any military memoir collection.

A Child Died, a Father Cried... and God Answered
Mark Canfora
Read and Believe!
c/o Veritas
PO Box 2075, Canon City, CO 81215
9780615344133, $14.95, www.readandbelieve.com

There is no worse feeling than losing a child to suicide. "A Child Died, a Father Cried... and God Answered: A Parent's Worst Nightmare... A Real-Life Story of Tragedy, Hope, and Healing" is a memoir of the tragedy faced by Mark Canfora of his son's suicide. The event led Canfora to ministry and to promote God's word through a series of festivals across the country, where he seeks to make a difference in the life of many readers. "A Child Died, a Father Cried... and God Answered" is a strong pick for any parent who is facing a tragedy in the same vein as Mark Canfora.

The Day I Almost Destroyed the Boston Symphony and Other Stories
John Sant'Ambrogio
Nebbadoon Press
PO Box 91244, Santa Barbara, CA 93190
9781891331152, $23.95, www.nebbadoonpress.com

Accidents happen, and the costs for such errors are huge. "The Day I Almost Destroyed the Boston Symphony and Other Stories" is a memoir from John Sant'Ambrogio, a nearly four-decade veteran of the Boston and Saint Louis Symphony Orchestras. A master of the cello, he brings readers a fine collection of stories to give a bit of inside insight into the world of classical music with a wide array of fascinating tales. "The Day I Almost Destroyed the Boston Symphony and Other Stories" is a fine addition to any memoir collection with a special nod to music collections.

Finding This Place
Marcia Breece
Book Publishers Network
PO Box 2256, Bothell, WA 98041
9781935359203, $18.95, www.findingthisplace.com

What is expected of you is what is not always what you want. "Finding This Place: One Woman's Journey Beyond Restriction" is Marcia Breece's story of coming to terms that she wasn't happy being the stereotypical stay at home mother and pushed herself to become something so much more in life, and her story encourages any other woman who finds herself constrained by her life to find something greater. "Finding This Place" is an uplifting and highly recommended read which shouldn't be missed.

Sky Full of Dreams
Austin Bruce Hallock
Elevon Books
1975 SE Crystal Lake Drive #222, Corvallis, OR 97333-1986
9780982639009, $16.00, www.elevonbooks.com

It takes a certain type of individual to make their life in the skies. "Sky Full of Dreams: The Aviation Exploits, Creations, and Visions of Bruce K. Hallock" tells the story of Bruce K. Hallock through the eyes of his son, Austin. A man who took to the skies for his livelihood and imparted many of the stories of his profession and travels to his son, who in turn shares these stories with a new audience. "Sky Full of Dreams" is a fascinating look at aviation throughout the twentieth century.


The Business Shelf

Pragmatic Project Management
David Pratt
Management Concepts
8230 Leesburg Pike, Suite 800, Vienna, VA 22182
9781567262742, $32.00, www.managementconcepts.com/pubs

A good leadership can be the difference between failure and astounding success. "Pragmatic Project Management: Five Scalable Steps to Success" is a guide to project management from successful consultant with over twenty years of experience in the field, stating that a good plan from the start can set a project on the fast track to success, if you can stay on that track. "Pragmatic Project Management" is a strong reference that should be on hand for any project leader.

Karmic Inc.
Pujan Roka
Jaico Books
9788184950205, $19.00, www.jaicobooks.com

Having a soul is not exclusive from being a powerful organization that gets things done. "Karmic Inc.: New Ways to become a Creative, Competitive, Meaningful, and Purpose-Driven Organization" is a guide from Pujan Roka as he gives ideas for managers to motivate their employees to work harder and believe their work matters, stating that employee morale is vital to a successful company as happy employees are more creative, which leads to many more opportunities of success. "Karmic Inc." is a choice pick for any business leader who wants to get motivated.


The Social Issues Shelf

The War on Intimacy
Richard A. Panzer
Center for Relationship Intelligence
PO Box 97, Westwood, NJ 07675
9780982487914, $15.95, www.thewarontimacy.com

The American sexual philosophy when it comes to teens may just be one of the baffling things of our time. "The War on Intimacy: How Agenda-Driven Sex Ed Sabotages Committed Relationships & Our Nation's Health" is a unique argument for today's sexual education, stating that today's sexual education has not proven to be the most effective in today's society and the roots lie bad science and a very highly sexualized culture. "The War on Intimacy" has some very intriguing ideas, highly recommended.

When Media Goes to War
Anthony DiMaggio
Monthly Review Press
146 W 29th Street, Suite 6W, New York, NY 10001
9781583671993, $18.95, www.monthlyreview.org

The media is more powerful than any point before in history. "When Media Goes to War: Hegemonic Discourse, Public Opinion, and the Limits of Dissent" discusses the media and its impact on the political opinions of he country, and in essence, its impact on the political direction of the country. Stating that much of today's news blurs the line between news and propaganda, he provides an intellectual and scholarly argument that is sure to make readers think when watching the news. "When Media Goes to War" is a solid addition to any social issues collection.


The Education Shelf

Reimagining Education
Dennis Patrick Slattery & Jennifer Leigh Selig
Spring Jounral Books
627 Ursulines Street, #7, New Orleans, LA 70116
9781882670635, $25.95, www.springjournalandbooks.com

Education is not entirely a science. "Reimagining Education: Essays on Reviving the Soul of Learning" is a call from many educators as they offer their own insights on where education went wrong and how America's problems can be righted. Decrying the policies of the No Child Left Behind act, these writers and thinkers provide insightful reading that shouldn't be missed for any educator or educational administrator. As such, "Reimagining Education" is a core addition to any educational studies collection.


The Black Studies Shelf

My Fellow Americans
Bernadette Anderson
The Speech Excel Center, Inc.
3330 S. Indiana Ave., Suite 2N, Chicago, IL 60616
9780615301105, $14.98

Being educated has been commonly written off as 'uncool', but dumbing oneself down is not how it has to be. "My Fellow Americans: It's Cool to Speak Like You've Been to School" is an urging black Americans and other minorities against using ebonics and other urban lingo in an effort to help them land jobs and get to do what they want for their lives faster. "My Fellow Americans" has valuable advice on first impressions, and proves to be a solid read.


The Christian Studies Shelf

Divas of the Divine
Donna McCrary & Sherri Holbert
Hensley Publishing
6116 E 32nd St, Tulsa, OK 74135
9781563221088, $19.99, www.hensleypublishing.com

Faith isn't a one size fits all thing. "Divas of the Divine: How to Live as a Designer Original in a Knock-Off World" is a guide to creating one's own unique faith in the world and their own relationship with God. Taking charge of one's life and being in control is an empowering experience, and Donna McCrary and Sherri Holbert show women how. "Divas of the Divine" is a strong pick for any Christian woman.

The Power of Prayer, Endurance, and Truth
David Beato
Trastevere Publishing
PO Box 936, 3935 Washington, Road, McMurray, PA 15317
9780615338538, $15.95

When your value is unknown, it takes a little faith to unleash it. "The Power of Prayer, Endurance, and Truth" is a religious memoir from David Beato as he states how he found his place in life through faith. A victim of bullying in Italy, his faith in God led him to America where he found his place and much success in life. Uplifting and spiritual, "The Power of Prayer, Endurance, and Truth" is a must have for any Christian who is being crushed by his life.


The Poetry Shelf

Love Over 60
Mayapple Press
408 N. Lincoln St., Baycity, MI 48708
9780932412874, $16.95, www.mayapplepress.com

The body may age, but it doesn't mean the heart does. "Love over 60: An Anthology of Women's Poems" is a collection of poetry from many women over the age of sixty as they write how their desire for love never truly dies, that it starts at puberty and never goes away. "Love over 60" is a unique look at love and old age, highly recommended. "O, Champion", by Dorothy Ryan: If I'd known/It was going to be//Our last blue-ribbon/Orgasm//I'd have worked harder//Screamed louder, shuddered longer/Skimmed a bit off the top//To preserve as a trophy.

Palette of Life
Virginia Bates
Abecedarian Books, Inc.
2817 Forest Glen Drive, Baldwin, MD 21013-9574
9780982298534, $19.99

A life's work contains a lot of wisdom accumulated throughout life. "Palette of Life" is a collection of poetry from Virginia Bates, as she presents the many poems she has crafted in her life long interest in poetry, and as such presents wisdom from a young women as well as one wizened by the years. "Palette of Life" is a choice pick for any poetry lover. "Hope": Tomorrow when the great white winged bird of peace/circles this crying earth/May he find in you/soft feathers of caring/and nest within your heart.

Nothing Between Us
Wendy Barker
Del Sol Press
2020 Pennslyvania Avenue, NW, Suite 443, Washington, DC 20006
9781934832097, $14.95

While no one bats an eye at interracial couplings today, fifty years ago it was much different. "Nothing Between Us" is a novel through prose poetry from Wendy Barker, telling the unique story of a married white woman and her tension with a black colleague whom she develops a fascinating relationship with. "Nothing Between Us" is a choice pick for those looking for a story told in its own special way with a powerful message.

The Sleep Hotel
Amy Newlove Schroeder
Oberlin College Press Field
50 N. Professor Street, Oberlin, OH 44074
9780932440396, $15.95, www.oberlin.edu

Traveling the world is one of the best ways to experience it fully. "The Sleep Hotel" delves into the mind and thoughts of Amy Newlove Schroeder as she presents a riveting read of poetry. Her work expresses her feelings as well as offers his experiences traveling the world and gives much for readers to enjoy. "The Sleep Hotel" is a fascinating and highly recommended collection which shouldn't be missed. "Pacific": the water is so impersonal/a stranger to everyone//a child-wind spends itself in the palm/the moon makes endless promises//tonight she's wearing her sailor face,/preparing to cast off.


The Health/Medicine Shelf

Philadelphia Running and Walking
Warwick Ford & Nola Ford
Wyltan Books
700 S Monarch, St Suite 203, Aspen, CO 81511
9780976524434, $10.95, www.funonfoot.com

There is no greater exercise than what people do nearly everyday. "Philadelphia Running and Walking: A Guide for Athletes and Fitness Seekers" is a guide for Philadelphians who want to see their city up close and personal through exercise. Outlining foot routes through the city that maximize training or fitness, points of interest, running clubs of the area, and annual races, "Philadelphia Running and Walking" is a choice pick for the walking enthusiast in the city of brotherly love.

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

You don't need the best in the world to get the body you want. "Celebrity Body on a Budget" is Cornel Chin's advisory guide for people who want that celebrity styled body but don't have that celebrity styled money. Saying that the celebrity body can be achieved without an expensive gym membership, Chin gives a huge list of suggestions for the fitness conscious yet money lacking individual. "Celebrity Body on a Budget" is a choice pick for any seeking a model body without model money.

Eat It Up!
Connie Stapleton
Transformation Media Books
c/o Sgarlat Publicity
PO Box 4204, Charlottesville, VA 22905
9780982385074, $15.95, www.penandpublish.com

When it comes to surgery for weight loss, it isn't a permanent solution unless one makes it so. "Eat It Up!: The Complete Mind;/Body/Spirit Guide to a Full Life After Weight Loss Surgery" is a guide to how to eat after one faces a life changing weight loss surgery. Weight loss surgery presents a radical change in one's life, changing one's eating habits drastically causing a rough adjustment. "Eat it Up!" is a strong pick for anyone recovering or facing such a procedure.


The American History Shelf

The Lost Rocks
David La Vere
Dram Tree Books
PO Box 7183, Wilmington, NC 28406
9780984490011, $19.95, www.dramtreebooks.com

Abandoned by their European allies, the colony of Roanoke's fate has many explanations. "The Lost Rocks: The Dare Stones and Unsolved Mystery of Sir Walter Raleigh's Lost Colony" offers a new perspective on the Lost Colony of Roanoke, offering an idea that the settlers may have left the colony and found their way to Georgia in the face of Indian attacks. Using evidence of certain stones dating back to the period, "The Lost Rocks" presents an intriguing idea, and makes for a fascinating read.

Ted & Superior
Bruce K. Cox
Agogeebic Press
PO Box 131, 408A Sunday Lake Street, Wakefield, MI 49968
9780982239018, $15.95, www.gogebicbooks.com

Divided by the great lakes and the state of Wisconsin, the northern Peninsula of Michigan has always had issues with unity of its mainland. "Ted & Superior: Ted Albert & the 51st State of Superior" looks at the movement, most prominent in the 1970s, of the succession of the northern peninsula of Michigan into its own state under the name of Superior, complete with its own senator and a more direct government. "Ted & Superior" is a fascinating read of one of the struggles not heard often from non-Michiganites.

Securing Civil Rights
Stephen P. Halbrook
The Independent Institute
100 Swan Way, Oakland, CA 94621-1428
9781598130386, $22.95, www.independent.org

True equality that is blind to race, gender, or status has been an uphill struggle. "Securing Civil Rights: Freedmen, the Fourteenth Amendment, and the Right to bear Arms" discusses the progression of civil rights ranging from the civil war to even the twentieth century. The law has been pushing ahead even when society hasn't been the most embracing of such ideas. "Securing Civil Rights" is a solid addition to any collection focusing on studying the law of civil rights over the course of history.


The Travel Shelf

Lake Superior, second edition
Lake Superior Port Circles, Inc.
PO Box 16417, Duluth, MN 55816-0417
9780942235975, $19.95, www.lakesuperior.com

Between four states, Lake Superior offers a grand array of attractions. "Lake Superior: The Ultimate Guide to the Region" is a tourist guide to the many sights and sounds of Lake Superior and its surrounding coastal areas. From the lake itself to the many attractions around it in the form of ski parks, golf courses, summer water parks, guided tours, and more, "Lake Superior" is an invaluable resource for any planning a trip to the region.


The Metaphysical Studies Shelf

Edgar Cayce and the Kabbalah
John Van Auken
Edgar Cayce's A. R. E.
215 67th Street, Virginia Beach, VA 23451-2061
9780876045695, $16.95, www.edgarcayce.org

For a greater understanding of the metaphysical world, one must combine their studies. "Edgar Cayce and the Kabbalah: A Resource for Soulful Living" is a presentation and discussion of the investigations of John van Auken on the work of famous psychic and seer Edgar Cayce and his study of the Jewish mysticism of the Kabbalah. Through his studies, he brings readers an insightful look at consciousness and what lies ahead for readers. "Edgar Cayce and the Kabbalah" is a fascinating and very highly recommended read that shouldn't be missed for metaphysical studies collections.


The Parenting Shelf

Discover Your Child's Heart with the Kids Flag Page
Tim Kimmel
Laugh Your Way America
3475 Humboldt, Green Bay, WI 54311
Veritas (publicity)
PO Box 2075, Canon City, CO 81215
No ISBN?, $TBA, www.laughyourway.com

Knowing your child is another way to love your child. "Discover Your Child's Heart with the Kids Flag Page: What to Do With Each Child and Why" is a guide to learning and understanding one's child with heavy Christian influences. The Kids Flag Page serves as a tool for children to help them learn to understand the many unique hopes and dreams of their children, and does it well. "Discover Your Child's Heart" is a treasure trove of information and a very highly recommended read.


The Music Shelf

Music Success in Nine Weeks
Ariel Hyatt
Ariel Publicity
389 12th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215
9780981633114, $34.99, www.musicsuccessinineweeks.com

In the music industry, marketing is everything. "Music Success in Nine Weeks: A Step-by-Step Guide on How to use Social Media & Online Tactics to Supercharge Your PR, Build Your Fan Base, and Earn More Money" is a guide to pushing one's music in today's highly connected and media driven world. Anyone can get a chance to have their music heard, and Ariel Hyatt does well in fully explaining the methods she believes will help readers gain a greater grasp of PR for themselves and their band. "Music Success in Nine Weeks" is a top pick for those who want their chance at the big time.


The Art Shelf

Airbrush Bible
Timothy Remus
ArtKulture
c/o Wolfgang Publications
PO Box 223, Stillwater, MN 55082
www.wolfpub.com
9781929133864, $29.95, www.amazon.com

Knowledgeably compiled and deftly edited by Timothy Remus, "Airbrush Bible" features fourteen expert artists with each individual artist walking the reader through an illustrated step-by-step process for producing diverse examples of airbrush projects and techniques. "Airbrush Bible" is a compendium of fourteen informed and informative seminars offering succinct interviews with the individual artists and complete painting sequences demonstrating why they differ in the materials they work with ranging from watercolors to acrylic paints, basic strokes for creating images, the use of multiple layers of transparent paint to create skin tones, body painting, pin-ups, and more. Thoroughly 'user friendly' and an inherently fascinating read, "Airbrush Bible" is a superb introduction to the many forms and approaches to airbrushing and a confidently recommended addition to personal, professional, academic, and community library instructional reference collections and supplemental reading lists.


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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