 |
Book
Reviews,
Book Lover Resources, Advice for Writers and Publishers |
| Home / Wisconsin Bookwatch |
Wisconsin Bookwatch
Table of Contents
Reviewer's Choice
Rural Wit & Wisdom
Jerry Apps, author
Steve Apps, photographer
Fulcrum Publishing
4690 Table Mountain Drive, Suite 100
Golden, Colorado 80403
9781555916015 $14.95 www.fulcrum-books.com
Rural Wit & Wisdom: Time-Honored Values from the Heartland lives up to its title with
vignettes, quotable quotes, folk wisdom, and glimpses into contemporary rural life. A handful of
black-and-white photographs illustrate this assembly of idiom definitions ("Don't muddy the
water" means "when things are going okay, leave them alone"), philosophies ("Be careful before
tossing an old idea aside - especially if the old idea involves values and beliefs, such as accepting
those different from us, caring for the needy, and loving the land"), practical tips ("Plant
tomatoes in a different place each year. By doing this you can help to control tomato blight and
other tomato diseases,"), and general advice ("Worrying that your neighbor is achieving more
than you prevents you from doing your best.") Rural Wit & Wisdom: Time-Honored Values from
the Heartland is an ideal giftbook, as enjoyable to browse as it is edifying. Highly
recommended.
An Immigrant's Journey to the West
Yu-long Ling
University of Indianapolis Press
1400 East Hanna Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46227
9781880938805, $29.95, www.uindy.edu/universitypress
Confucianism creates much of the base of Chinese thought, but these ideas crossover to western
thought more than many would believe. "An Immigrant's Journey to the West: Confucianism &
Americanism" is a personal memoir and discussion of philosophy from Yu-long Ling, as he
shares his journey to America and how his upbringing in China and Taiwan has shifted his views
of American culture, bringing a new perspective on the culture. "An Immigrant's Journey to the
West" is a fine and much recommended addition to memoir and philosophy collections.
Writing & Healing
Pamela Post-Ferrante
Hatherleigh Press
c/o The Hatherleigh Foundation
5-22 46th Ave, Ste 200
Long Island City, NY 11101
9781578264223, $35.00, www.hatherleighpress.com
Beating cancer is like finding a second chance at life. "Writing & Healing: A Mindful Guide for
Cancer Survivors" is a spiritual guide to finding worth anew after escaping the weight of cancer.
Advising survivors to help create their own environment of healing and worth around
themselves, and empower themselves to share their stories with others. Enhanced with full color
imagery throughout and meditative CD included, "Writing & Healing" is an inspirational pick for
anyone who wants to affirm their life after cancer.
A Sanctuary of Trees
Gene Logsdon
Chelsea Green Publishing Company
85 North Main Street, Suite 120
White River Junction, VT 05001
9781603584012, $19.95, www.chelseagreen.com
Trees are vital to humanity, no matter how much we may deny it. "A Sanctuary of Trees:
Beechnuts, Birdsongs, Baseball Bats, and Benedictions" is a collection of musings surrounding
the arboreal plant life that surrounds us, as Gene Logdon focuses on the life lived next to the
woods and their place in putting our lives together. "A Sanctuary of Trees" is a strongly
recommended pick for environmental history and memoir collections, highly recommended.
The Needlecraft Shelf
Temari Techniques
Barbara B. Suess
Breckling Press
283 Michigan Street
Elmhurst, IL 60126
9781933308326 $29.95 www.brecklingpress.com
Illustrated with step-by-step diagrams and captivating color photography throughout, Temari
Techniques: A Visual Guide to Making Japanese Embroidered Thread Balls is an extraordinary,
how-to guide to the craft of creating brilliant and decorative thread balls in the Japanese artistic
tradition. Temari Techniques is written for prospective needlecrafters of all skill and experience
levels, walking the reader through the process from making the ball's core, stitching and
wrapping methods, and tips, tricks, and techniques for challenging designs. The sheer variety of
stitches discussed (including a stitching guide especially for left-handers!) distinguishes this
"must-have" guide for any needlecrafters curious to try something different. Also highly
recommended are author Barbara B. Suess' previous craft guides, "Japanese Temari" and
"Japanese Kimekomi".
Needleturn Applique
Angela Lawrence
Landauer Corporation
3100 NW 101st Street, Suite A
Urbandale, Iowa 50322
9781935726173 $27.95 www.landauercorp.com
Illustrated throughout with full-color photography of its step-by-step instructions, Needleturn
Applique: The Basics & Beyond is a hands-on guide to needleturn applique, complete with nine
sample projects. An accompanying packet of full-size, ready-to-use patterns complements the
easy-to-follow directions for preparing applique shapes and learning applique stitches.
Needleturn Applique: The Basics & Beyond is highly recommended for needlecrafters
everywhere who are interested in trying their hands at this beautiful, advanced variant of their
craft.
The Hunting/Fishing Shelf
Fishing Secrets from Florida's East Coast
Ron Presley
University Press of Florida
University of Florida
15 Northwest 15th Street
Gainesville, FL 32611-2079
9780813039756, $22.50, www.upf.com
Fishermen know that to succeed in an area, you have to know the territory. "Fishing Secrets from
Florida's East Coast" is a fishing guide for those who want to make the most of their fishing
troop onto Florida's coasts. Ron Presley advises any fisher person who wants to make the most of
their trip to Florida's Atlantic coast, finding fish in both water types. "Fishing Secrets from
Florida's East Coast" is a must for any American regional fishing library collection, highly
recommended.
Productive Trout Flies for Unorthodox Prey
Jeff Morgan
Frank Amato Publications
PO Box 82112
Portland, OR 97282
9781571884268, $29.95, www.amatobooks.com
When you're going for the unusual, you need something unusual. "Productive Trout Flies for
Unorthodox Prey: Ecology & Imitation" is a fishing guide for those who want to find something
a bit different for their fishing needs, as Jeff Morgan presents a full color guide to catching the
more unusual fish that one will face while fishing, with these 'oddball' lures that can catch the
harder to find trout. "Productive Trout Flies for Unorthodox Prey" is a strong pick for those
enthusiastic about fishing and want to catch more than the run of the mill trout, bass, and
carp.
The Business Shelf
Theft By Employees
Douglas C. Landa & Henry C. Landa
The Film Instruction Company of America
5928 West Michigan Street
Wauwatosa, WI 53213
0931974321, $19.50, www.ficoa.biz/theft.htm
Theft by an employee can range from the pocketing of a few desk supplies to the embezzlement
of company funds. It is a chronic and pervasive problem that all companies and corporations will
inevitably encounter sooner or later. "Theft By Employees" is a kind of instruction manual
specifically designed by Douglas and Henry Landa for small to medium sized businesses which
will enable the owners and managers with methods of detection and prevention of employee theft
by dishonest workers. Organized into four major sections (Detection; Security; Prevention; and
'Officers), "Theft By Employees" is enhanced throughout with 'real world' anecdotes illustrating
both problems and countermeasures. Offering a wealth of practical and thoroughly 'user friendly'
advice, "Theft By Employees" is very highly recommended reading for all small business
owners.
Management, Administration, Supervision And Bureaucracy
Douglas C. Landa & Henry C. Landa
The Film Instruction Company of America
5928 West Michigan Street
Wauwatosa, WI 53213
093197433X, $29.50, www.ficoa.biz/theft.htm
The collaborative effort of Douglas C. Landa and Henry C. Landa, "Management,
Administration, Supervision And Bureaucracy" is a do-it-yourself instruction manual for anyone
who aspires to or has just been hired on in a management, administrative, or supervisory position
of responsibility in a business or governmental agency. Organized into four major sections,
"Management, Administration, Supervision And Bureaucracy" offers a wealth of insights ranging
from 'management vs. leadership'; the conducting of meetings; public relations; general rules of
personal administrative performance; budgets and the budgeting process; leadership styles;
bargaining, negotiating, and compromise; self-promotion; and so much more. Enhanced with
seventeen appendices; a bibliography; a glossary; and a comprehensive index, "Management,
Administration, Supervision And Bureaucracy" is very strongly recommended reading for anyone
charged with administrative or supervisory responsibilities at all corporate or governmental
levels.
Project Management for Profit
Joe Knight, Roger Thomas, & Brad Angus
Harvard Business School Press
60 Harvard Way
Boston, MA 02163
9781422144176, $25.00, http://hbr.org/books
Avoiding the pitfalls of bad management may be the only thing one needs to stay in the black.
"Project Management for Profit: A Failsafe Guide to Keeping Projects on Track and On Budget"
is a guide to more comprehensive business management and success in one's field due to better
understanding a budget - in terms of money, time, and other factors. With practical advice and
wisdom on overcoming many obstacles one may not even realize are there, "Project Management
for Profit" is a strong and highly recommended pick for business and reference collections.
Principles of Management
Dr. B. S. Moshal
Global Professional Publishing
c/o Stylus Publishing
PO Box 605, Herndon, VA 20172-0605
9781906403492, $65.00, www.styluspub.com
Good management is universal, no matter what field a business person works in. "Principles of
Management" is an advisory guide from Dr. B. S. Moshal as he engages the readers with the
fundamental universal ideas of good management. Encouraging would be managers to better
understand the process, organization, strategy, modern management, leadership, and the
importance of communication on any level. "Principles of Management" is a strongly
recommended addition to any business education reference collection, not to be overlooked.
The Mystery/Suspense Shelf
Writ of Mandamus
Rick Robinson
Headline Books, Inc.
PO Box 52, Terra Alta, WV 26764
9780938467427,$ 19.95, www.headlinebooks.com
The corruption of Washington is an always growing threat. "Writ of Mandamus" is another entry
into political fiction from Rick Robinson, who has gotten much acclaim for his works of
independent fiction, bringing readers another fast paced thriller of a man facing the deep seated
corruption of government. "Writ of Mandamus" is worth considering for those in love with
political suspense.
Falling Glass
Adrian McKinty
Serpent's Tail
3A Exmouth House
Pine Street, London, England, EC1R 0JH
c/o Meryl Zegarek Public Relations
255 West 108th Street, Suite 901
New York, NY 10025
9781846687839, $14.95, www.serpentstail.com
One final job and being set for life can make anything truly tempting. "Falling Glass" follows
Killian, a man who has made his life straddling the lines of legality. When a powerful man offers
him a massive contract to find his ex-wife and children who have been running from him. Killian
soon learns that money isn't everything and he has to let a contract go for the sake of his
conscious, and the forfeit may be his life. "Falling Glass" is a fine novel for those seeking crime
fiction thrillers, highly recommended.
Run to Ground
D. P. Lyle
Oceanview Publishing
595 Bay Isles Road, 120-G
Longboat Key, FL 34228
9781608090570, $25.95, www.oceanviewpub.com
Rage is a powerful force, but it can't solve many problems. "Run to Ground" is a mystery thriller
following Dub Walker, a forensic and criminal behavior expert as he tries to hunt down the
missing to a murder and other heinous crimes, which may be against their own blood. With a few
allies, he tries to crack some light on this case and he may find even more shocking things on the
way down. "Run to Ground" is a fine pick for general fiction thriller/mystery collections, highly
recommended.
The Religion/Spirituality Shelf
Jesus, Buddha, Krishna & Lao Tzu
Richard Hooper
Hampton Roads Publishing Company
65 Parker Street, Suite 7, Newburyport, MA 01950
www.hrpub.com
9781571746801, $18.95, www.amazon.com
All of the major religions and philosophies deal with commonly encountered human conditions,
questions, and aspirations. What Richard Hooper has accomplished with "Jesus, Buddha,
Krishna, and Lao Tzu: The Parallel Sayings" is the create a 200-page compendium in which
quotes and citations on an impressively diverse series of subjects by four major figures in the
history of religion and philosophy are laid out side by side. The subjects range from The Self; to
Love and Compassion; to Enlightenment and Liberation; to Death and Immortality; and more. Of
special note is the appendix article 'Did Jesus Travel to Tibet?'. Inspired and inspiring, thoughtful
and thought-provoking, and a welcome addition to both academic, church, and community
library collections, "Jesus, Buddha, Krishna, and Lao Tzu: The Parallel Sayings" offers a unique
perspective and is enthusiastically recommended to the attention of seminary students, clergy,
philosophers, academicians, and the non-specialist general reader with an interest in world
religions and philosophies.
Where Is Your Final Destination
David Pitt
Balboa Press
c/o Hay House, Inc.
Box 5100, Carlsbad, CA 92018-5100
www.hayhouse.com
9781452543857, $23.95, www.amazon.com
"Where Is Your Final Destination" by David Pitt is a 56-page workbook the utilizes poetry,
graphics, puzzles, scriptural citations, and more to guide people along a do-it-yourself journey of
personal spiritual growth. Thoroughly engaging, inspired and inspiring, "Where Is Your Final
Destination" offers a 'user friendly' approach that will prove to be both thoughtful and
thought-provoking. "Where Is Your Final Destination" is highly recommended for those who
aspiring to be spiritually more mature within the context of their daily lives.
Live Your Divinity
Adamus Saint-Germain
Weiser Publishers
c/o Red Wheel, Conari, Weiser
65 Parker Avenue, Suite 7
Newburyport, MA 01950
9781578635245, $16.95, www.crimsoncircle.com
Our own greatness lies there for us to embrace. "Live Your Divinity: Inspiration for New
Consciousness" is a study of spiritual insight and places in our own soul, encouraging readers to
find their own call and awakening in their lives on many levels. With strong and devoted
messages to consider, Adamus Saint-Germain presents plenty to ponder for those seeking the
next level of spirituality in their lives. "Live Your Divinity" is a must for spiritual
collections.
The Christian Studies Shelf
God In Our Midst
Daniel R. Hyde
Reformation Press
c/o Ligonier Ministries
400 Technology Park
Lake Mary, FL 32746-6229
www.ligonier.org
9781567692815, $18.00, www.amazon.com
There is a wealth of Old Testament scriptures, especially those dealing with the tabernacle and its
attendant priesthood) foretelling the coming and mission of a messiah that subsequent history
would identify as Jesus the Christ. "God In Our Midst: The Tabernacle And Our Relationship
With God" by Daniel R. Hyde (A graduate of Westminster Seminary California and Puritan
Reformed Theological Seminary and currently Pastor of Oceanside United Reformed Church in
Carlsbad, California) is a 272-page compendium of theological research, discourse, and expert
commentary demonstrating the central importance of Jesus Christ within the context of the entire
canonical biblical narrative. Organized into seventeen specific chapters focusing specifically
upon the Exodus narrative detailing the Tabernacle, "God In Our Midst" is enhanced with an
appendix (Preaching the Pentateuch), extensive footnotes, a scripture index and a subject index,
making it a welcome and seminal work of theological scholarship and a prized addition to
seminary and academic library Christian Studies and Biblical Studies reference collections and
supplemental reading lists.
Jesus Lives
Sarah Young
Thomas Nelson Publishers
Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214
www.thomasnelson.com
9781400320943, $15.99, www.amazon.com
Inspired and inspiring, "Jesus Lives: Seeing His Love in Your Life" by Sarah Young is a compact
368-page compendium of biblical scriptures and succinct commentaries on a diverse spectrum of
subjects from a Christian perspective ranging from Adversity; Endurance; Heaven; and Prayer; to
Forgiveness; Self-Control; Victorious Living; and Worship. Written as a companion to Sarah
Young's early work, "Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence" (9781591451884, $15.99),
"Jesus Lives" offers a wealth of inspiration, solace, and day-to-day comfort, making it worthy of
being highly recommended to the attention of all Christians regardless of their denominational
affiliation.
Enough
Will Davis Jr.
Revell
c/o Baker Publishing Group
6030 E Fulton
Ada, MI 49301
9780800720025, $13.99, www.revellbooks.com
More is not always more, against everything popular culture tells us. "Enough: Finding More by
Living with Less" is a guide to making the most out of what we have out of our life, and using
Christian faith to make the most out of the simplistic nature of our lives and find greater meaning
out of it all. "Enough" is a powerful read for those who don't got much but think that's more than
enough for a worthy life in the eyes of God.
Onesimus Our Brother
Matthew V. Johnson & Collaborators
Fortress Press
P.O. Box 1209
Minneapolis, MN 55440-1209
9780800663414, $39.00, http://fortresspress.com
The Bible is from a distant era, and its words on slavery are not entirely clear to many readers.
"Onesimus Our Brother: Reading Religion, Race, and Culture in Philemon" is an entry into
Fortress Press's critical analysis of the book of Paul. Matthew V. Johnson and his collaborating
editors come together and provide a discussion that focuses on the concepts of racism and
slaveholding, and how interpretations of the Gospel of Paul have been used to justify both
throughout history. "Onesimus Our Brother" is a strongly recommended pick for Christian and
religious studies collections, not to be missed.
Please Pass the Faith
Elsie H. R. Rempel
Herald Press
616 Walnut Avenue
Scottsdale, PA 15683-1999
9780836196429, $12.99, www.heraldpress.com
A grandparent can pass unique ideas and wisdom to the next generation. "Please Pass the Faith:
The Art of Spiritual Grandparenting" is a thoughtful guide for faithful grandparents who want to
reach out to the younger generation and present Christian spirit and wisdom for them to carry
with themselves for a lifetime, and doing one's duty as an elder in their life. "Please Pass the
Faith" is a strongly recommended pick for spirituality and parenting collections.
And the Life of the World to Come
John F. Craghan
The Liturgical Press
St. John's Abbey, PO Box 7500
Collegeville, MN 56321-7500
9780814634134, $9.95, www.litpress.org
Faith should challenge one to think. "And the Life of the World to Come: Reflections on Biblical
Notions of Heaven" is an inspirational and faithful read from John F. Cragham as he presents an
exploration of the ultimate destination of the Christian, exploring what the Bible truly says about
Heaven. "And the Life of the World to Come" is an insightful and much recommended pick for
those seeking a spirited pick that provokes much to ponder on the nature of Heaven.
Better Than Babylon
Thomas G. Casey
Paulist Press
997 MacArthur Boulevard
Mahwah, NJ 07430
9780809147700, $16.95, www.paulistpress.com
Babylon has a huge place in mythology, and it has a place in our pursuits of a greater culture.
"Better Than Babylon: A New Vision for Western Culture" is a cultural and Christian exploration
of the soul of the world and how Revered Thomas G. Casey believes our world has become
dominated by the superficial that shields us from what truly matters in our place with faith and
God. "Better Than Babylon" is a strongly recommended pick for cultural and religious
collections.
We Have Found Mercy!
Christoph Cardinal Schonborn
Ignatius Press
PO Box 1339
Fort Collins, CO 80522
1586174150, $14.50, www.ignatius.com
God has proven quite wrathful, but he is also very much merciful. "We Have Found Mercy: The
Mystery of God's Merciful Love" is a theological discussion surrounding God's mercy from a
Catholic perspective, compiled by the Archbishop of Vienna, Christoph Cardinal Schonborn.
Drawing on scripture and the event's God's eternal mercy, the tradition, and the push for justice
within it, "We Have Found Mercy" is a core addition to any modern theological collection
focusing on contemporary Catholic writings.
God is Always There
Kathleen Atkinson
Liguori Publications
1 Liguori Drive, Liguori, MO 63057-9999
9780764821585, $12.99, www.liguori.org
There are times when god can seem so distant. "God is Always There: Psalms for Every
Moment" is a collection of psalms for readers to take to heart throughout life's many obstacles, as
Kathleen Atkinson presents powerful and poignant reading for spiritual individuals. "God is
Always There" is a strong addition to any Christian reference collection focusing on prayers and
reflections, highly recommended.
Exploring Prosperity Preaching
Debra J. Mumford
Judson Press
PO Box 851
Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851
9780817017088, $15.99, www.judsonpress.com
Prosperity is an important part of modern life, but what place does it have in faith? "Exploring
Prosperity Preaching: Biblical Health, Wealth, and Wisdom" delves into the ideals of prosperity
in regards to faith. Debra Mumford, PhD and Associate Professor of Homiletics, presents her
own study of these ideas and their place in the church, with a focus on African American
congregations. "Exploring Prosperity Preaching" is well worth considering for ministers and
Christians in general challenged by their own ideas of prosperity.
Has Grace Been Abused?
Dywen Lauren
Westbow Press
1663 Liberty Drive, Suite 200
Bloomington, IN 47403-5161
9781449730451, $13.99, www.westbowpress.com
God's grace is a wonderful thing, but like all things, it can be sadly exploited. "Has Grace Been
Abused?" is a spiritual exploration of the ideal of grace in today's world, as Dywen Lauren, a
woman of both the corporate and spiritual worlds, as she explores the failing of grace and its
place in our world, and where it is being abused. "Has Grace Been Abused?" is a strongly
recommended pick for Christian inspirational collections, not to be overlooked.
The Memoir Shelf
Proving Ground
W. David Tarver
Cypress House
155 Cypress Street, Fort Bragg, CA 95437
9781789384927, $18.95, www.davidtarver.com
To delve into business head first is often a hell of a gamble. "Proving Ground" is a memoir from
David Tarver, as he recounts his decision to jump from a certain career in a major electronics
company to form Telecom Analysis Systems, a move that made him a millionaire. Telling his
journey of business from a garage, the obstacles he faced due to race, and the length a good idea
can go, "Proving Ground" is an uplifting business memoir, very much recommended.
In the Center of the Fire
James Wasserman
Ibis Press
PO Box 540206
Lake Worth, FL 33454-0206
9780892542017, $35.00, www.ibispress.net
The search for knowledge can often take you into avenues one truly does not fully understand.
"In the Center of the Fire: A Memoir of the Occult 1966-1989" is a memoir from James
Wasserman as he explores the history surrounding the delves into the occult and spirituality by
many thinkers throughout this two decade period and the things learned in this unusual aside
from the normal stories of sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll of the era. "In the Center of the Fire" is an
insightful and curious spin of the pursuits of higher consciousness and the strange side effects
within.
The Wilderness Within
Daniel L. Dustin
Sagamore Publishing
1807 N. Federal Dr., Urbana, IL 61801
9781571676948, $39.95, www.sagamorepub.com
Leisure is our time truly unfettered from life. "The Wilderness Within: Reflections on Leisure
and Life" explores the spirituality of leisure through the memoir of Daniel L. Dustin, who
touches on his own exploration of what it means to be free and understand the meaning of his
life. As he tells his story, he offers much to ponder for readers about their own lives and where
they are going with it. "The Wilderness Within" is a must for general memoir collections,
especially those with a strong spiritual and motivational aspect.
My Sweety
Karen R. Hurd
Western Reflections Publishing Company
951 N. Highway, 149
PO Box 1149, Lake City, CO 81235
9781932738995, $21.95, www.westernreflectionspublishing.com
There can be a natural bond between people and the animals around them. "My Sweety: The
Heartache of Loving a Deer" is a memoir from Karen R. Hurd, as she recounts her friendship
with a deer in lake City, Colorodo who she had named Sweety, and the problems that come with
keeping a deer as a pet and its clash with local laws. "My Sweety" is a unique story of a love for
animals, highly recommended.
Chasing Dreams
Matthew Chance
Westbow Press
1663 Liberty Drive, Suite 200
Bloomington, IN 47403-5161
9781449731717, $11.95, www.westbowpress.com
One should always be clawing to improve themselves in their life. "Chasing Dreams: A College
Student's Pursuit of Destiny" is an inspirational work of self-improvement from Matthew Chance
as he explores the ideas of constant self-improvement and grace throughout one's life, using his
faith and drive to push himself ever forward. With plenty to consider, "Chasing Dreams" is a
strong addition to Christian motivational memoir shelves.
The Woodworking Shelf
Whittlin' Whistles
Rick Wiebe
Linden Publishing
2006 South Mary
Fresno, CA 93721-9875
97816110350395, $12.95, www.woodworkerslibrary.com
A knife can be part of a musical experience. "Whittlin' Whistles: How to Make Music With Your
Pocket Knife" is a guide to whittling whistles for those who want to create a large array of
woodwind instruments for personal use or for hobby, as Rick Wiebe uses his long time
experience with the hobby in outlining how to make well balanced whistles, with full color
diagrams all throughout. "Whittlin' Whistles" is a strong pick for any woodworking hobbyist,
highly recommended.
The Sports Shelf
Barbaric Sport
Marc Perelman
Verso
20 Jay Street, 10th Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11201-8346
9781833678594, $14.95, www.versobooks.com
The good will of sport seems to be taking a backseat to ulterior motives. "Barbaric Sport: A
Global Plague" explores the hypocrisy behind the Olympics, as author Marc Perelman examines
the exploitation of international sport which is being used as a political power play and leading to
various abuses rather than a good old fashioned competition. Criticizing the impact of the games
especially in context of the 2008 Shanghai games and into history of the 1936 Berlin games,
"Barbaric Sport" is a strongly recommended addition to social and international issues collections
with many intriguing points throughout.
The Greatest Phillies Clubs of All Time
Ken Bingham
Camino Books
PO Box 59026, Philadelphia, PA 19102
9781933822372, $17.95, www.caminobooks.com
The Phillies bear the towns name and bear the hearts of the baseball fans of the city. "The
Greatest Phillies Clubs of All Time" discusses the history of their team and their greatest lineups
that made their sharp impact on the league and their drives to find more and more success
including their World Series success in 2008. "The Greatest Phillies Clubs of All Time" is a
strong pick for any fan of the team and baseball in general.
The Environmental Studies Shelf
Imperiled Life
Javier Sethness-Castro
AK Press
3500 Parkdale Avenue, Building 1, #A28
Baltimore, MD 21211
9781849351058, $12.00, www.akpress.org
The world seems to be on a collision course with disaster. "Imperiled Life: Revolution against
Climate Catastrophe" is an anarchist perspective on the growing climate crisis and the lack of
action taken by capitalist governments, and the heavy impact that will be felt. An intriguing
perspective that blends environmental issues with politics, "Imperiled Life" is a strongly
recommended addition to political and environmental studies collections.
The Cookbook Shelf
Vegan for the Holidays
Zel Allen
Book Publishing Company
P.O. Box 99, Summertown, TN 38483
9781570672842, $19.95, www.bookpubco.com
"Vegan for the Holidays" is an inspired collection of vegan recipes for traditional celebration
feasts, such as Thanksgiving, Hanukah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and New Year's Day. While many
other delightful, non-vegan foods are associated with these times, it is extremely thoughtful to
present this festive collection for many family cooks who will entertain guests and family
members with vegan preferences. Recipes are organized in chapters by holiday, with lists of
ingredients on the left and numbered, step-by-step directions on the right of each page. Colorful,
enticing photos of prepared dishes orchestrate the chapters. Introductory notes describe some of
the special uses of each dish, and some of its special attractions as well. Every chapter is loaded
with imaginative vegan recipes for soups, salads, desserts, and main dishes and sides. here are
some of the outstanding recipes, all clearly and simply presented: Butternut, Squash, Beet, and
Apple Soup, Pomegranate-Apple Salad with Ginger and Mint, and Pistachio and Sweet Pea Torte
with Roasted Tomato Aioli, all for Thanksgiving vegan menus. For Christmas holiday feasts,
there are recipes for Christmas Carrot Wreath, Savory Chickpea Yule Log, Wild Rice and
Chestnut Pilaf, and tomato-Pine Nut Pie with Sweet Potato and Nut Crust, not to mention
Pistachio Paradise Cookies and Spiced Cranberry Nog. Hanukkah brings recipes for Sweet and
Sour Cabbage Borscht, Carrot and Sweet Potato Tzimmes, and Potato Latkes with Tofu Sour
Cream and Applesauce. The Tofu Sour Cream recipe is also useful for many purposes. Delicious,
exotic Kwanzaa recipes include African Pumpkin Stew, Jamaican Rice and Peas, and the familiar
Hoppin' John, black-eyed peas updated with vegan touches and a little extra spice and heat.
Tempting New Year's recipes include the innovative Tempeh Bacon-Stuffed Mushrooms, Sweet
Potato Puffs, and new Year Logs in Spicy Pecan Gremolata. To summarize, "Vegan for the
Holidays" is a cooks proof that there need be no stinting or deprivation in preparation of a
glorious vegan feast for the holidays!
Barefoot and In the Kitchen
Ashley Rowe
Microcosm Publishing
636 SE 11th Ave., Portland, OR 97214
9781934620557, $8.95, www.microcosmpublishing.com
"Barefoot and In the Kitchen: Vegan Recipes for You" is a down-to -earth, practical collection of
personally developed vegan recipes for both the uninitiated and the experienced vegan. The
author describes herself as arriving at her veganism through a Punk values related approach to
living that stresses personal responsibility for all self care in ways consistent with environmental
and earth ethics. Along the way, she developed some quite tasty, gourmet alternatives to less
healthy, non-vegan fare. "Barefoot and In the Kitchen" is her latest installment of creative recipe
sharing, part of an ongoing effort and dialogue (see notes about the "Barefoot" zine which started
this trend). What is really great about "Barefoot and in the Kitchen" is not only the easy and
delicious recipes for homemade vegan foods, but also the encouraging notes of introduction to
each recipe as well as the overall positive, empowering attitude of the delightfully witty author. It
takes all the scary challenge out of the idea of veganism and makes it something any one of us
could attempt. Here are some of the fun recipe titles, which are clearly and humorously
presented, with lists of ingredients first and paragraph style directions after. For main dishes,
there is Broccoli Rice Au Gratin, Amazing Meaty Lasagna, Stuffed Shells (really sounds yummy,
pasta shells with a garlic/tofu stuffing and a creamy and tomato sauce), Three Bean Chili With
Veggies, Savory Maple Glazed Baked Tofu, and Stuffed Acorn Squash (filled with a mixture of
brown and wild rice, vegetable broth, walnuts and cranberries). For dazzling side dishes, there
are recipes for Quinoa Salad with Lemon Shallot Dressing, Tzatziki, Caramelized Roasted
Carrots, and Garlicky Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Kale, yum. For desserts or treats, there are
recipes for Chocolate Walnut Fudge, Zucchini Bread, and Perfect Pancakes with Berry Compote.
For anyone who has flirted with the idea of cooking vegan style, here is the perfect encouraging
basic cookbook. Chock full of helpful hints, bits of spice and growth encouraging experiences,
illustrated with little cartoon self portraits and comics, "Barefoot and in the Kitchen" is a great
solution to educating the non-vegan cook and consumer. It belongs on every college students gift
list, and some others as well.
The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Sixties Cookbook
Rick Rodgers & Heather Maclean
Running Press News
c/o Persea Books Group
2300 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
9780762445738, $20.00, www.runningpress.com
The "The Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Sixties Cookbook: More than 100 Retro Recipes for the Modern
Cook" is a delightful retro cookbook for fans of Sixties cuisine and style. Embellished with retro
60's style modern illustrations and colorful full page photos of completed recipes, "The Mad....
Sixties Cookbook" offers its readers both a look back at an earlier style of cooking and
entertaining and a look forward to modern reinterpretations of vintage fare and presentation for
sampling. There are organized menus for 60's style dinner parties with decoration and
presentation suggestions as well as other tips and tricks to gain authenticity for the planned event.
History and trivia notes abound, and for those who are itching to sample some of these 60's
delights, "The Mad....Sixties Cookbook" is the perfect key to unlock past delights for present joy
and consumption. Chapters are organized by meal course recipes, such as Food to Drink By:
Appetizers and Hors D'oeuvres, Vichyssoise, Iceberg, and Aspic.. Oh My! Soups, Salads and
Sandwiches, Company Food: Main Courses, Best Supporting Players: Vegetable and Side
Dishes, Showstoppers: Desserts, and Executive Cocktails. Forget your prejudices against 60's
convenience foods and dive into this extremely appealing cookbook for a very positive
experience of authentic, delicious 60's cuisine. From Oysters Rockefeller to Tomato and Shrimp
Aspic, from Vichyssoise to Beef Wellington, from the Stacked Salmon and Egg Salad Sandwich
to the Ultimate Meat Loaf, these recipes are guaranteed to please the pickiest palate. So jazz up
your cultural/retro cuisine awareness with a mad adventure of home entertainment cooking from
the 60's and taste some memories along the way.
Food & Wine Annual Cookbook 2012
Kate Heddings, editor
Courtney Waddell Eckersley, art director
Imagine Publishing
c/o Charlesbridge
85 Main Street, Watertown, MA 02472
9781932624410, $32.95, www.charlesbridge.com
"Food & Wine Annual Cookbook 2012: An Entire Year of Recipes" is a fabulous, imaginative
collection of over 700 tested gourmet recipes from the pages of the trend-setting, epicurean
magazine of the same name. Drawing on the talents of multiple chef stars of international fame,
"Food & Wine Annual Cookbook 2012" is easily the top contender for best assortment of
wonderful new flavor adventures. A feast for the senses, this collection is filled with cutting edge
food adventures, with fabulous wine pairing suggestions, illustrated by multiple stunning color
photographs of attractively presented dishes and sides. Recipes abound in all categories from
salads, soups and pasta to meats, fish, vegetables breads and desserts, with a special nod to
breakfast and brunch and potatoes, grains and beans. There are even added recipes for cakes,
cookies, and special drinks, plus a recipe index, measurement guide, and a five page list of
contributors. Some highlighted recipes include Apple Muesli with Goji Berries, Polenta-Crusted
Fish Cakes with Spicy Tomato Sauce, Curried Spaghetti Squash and Chickpea Toasts, Spiced
Leg of Lamb with Olives, Apricots and Lemons (to be served with a "decadent, berry-rich Italian
red: 2008 Alois Lageder Merlot"), White Bean and Ham Stew, and Israeli Couscous and Tomato
Salad with Arugula Pesto. Many are the talented chefs who have helped create this astounding
collection, which is fit to grace any serious food and wine lover's bookshelf.
Country Cooking, City Style
Edna 'Ma' Bragg, author
Oceola Bragg, editor
Woodley Books, LLC
555 String St., Suite 605
Bethlehem, PA 18018
http://woodleybooks.com
9780978647254 $26.00 Southerncooking.blogspot.com
Edna 'Ma' Bragg was raised in the Mississippi, and brought time-honored culinary traditions with
her to Manhattan, where she worked as a cook and later an expert caterer. Country Cooking, City
Style gathers a wealth of her most popular recipes, along with her anecdotes, insights, and
reminiscences of particularly memorable culinary presentations. The result is a cookbook that is
as much of a pleasure to browse as it is a resource of time-honored favorite dishes such as
Country Ham, Salmon Mousse with Green Sauce, Endive Salad, Apple Brown Betty, and more.
Highly recommended for especially gourmets and connoisseurs of homestyle American
cooking!
Salt to Honey
Junior League of Salt Lake City, Inc.
Favorite Recipes Press
2451 Atrium Way
Nashville, TN 37214
9780961697235 $27.95 www.frpbooks.com
Salt to Honey: Recipes for Great Gatherings lives up to its title with a wealth of recipes that are
simple to make, yet worthy of a gourmet and ideal for serving at gatherings. From "Polenta Pesto
Squares" to "Spicy Coconut Soup", "Chicken Stir-Fry Lettuce Cups", "Butternut Squash Gratin",
"Yogurt Chocolate Cake", and more, Salt to Honey offers new twists on old favorites with
easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions. A handful of color photographs illustrates this
user-friendly anthology of mouth-watering, home-style artisan cooking, highly recommended for
home chefs of all skill and experience levels.
101 Breakfast & Brunch Recipes
Gooseberry Patch
2500 Farmers Dr., #110
Columbus, OH 43235
9781612810850, $14.95, www.gooseberrypatch.com
As the day starts, there are plenty of recipes to embrace the most out of each morning. "101
Breakfast & Brunch Recipes" is a comprehensive collection of many recipes for the first half of
the day, getting the most out of many traditional and hearty breakfast food ingredients. With full
color photographs and easy to follow instructions all throughout, "101 Breakfast & Brunch
Recipes" is a strongly recommended pick for general cookbook collections.
Checkered Flag Cooking
Kent Whitaker
Quail Ridge Press
PO Box 123
Brandon, MS 39043
1893062767 $16.95 www.quailridge.com
Spiral-bound to lay flat for easy reference, Checkered Flag Cooking is a compendium of recipes
ideal for those who especially love to take part in tailgating and observe the thrills of
motorsports. In addition to popular favorite dishes such as "Oven-Style Beef Ribs", "Chicken
Salad Wraps", "Cajun Butter Grilled Shrimp", "Deep-Fried Twinkies" and more, Checkered Flag
Cooking is packed with tips, tricks, and techniques for enhancing the tailgating experience.
Profiles and black-and-white photos of drivers, crew members, fans, and officials as well as a
quick introduction to "must-know" racing terminology and a guide to racing flags round out this
user-friendly recipe resource.
Boozy Brunch
Peter Joseph
Taylor Trade
c/o Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
4501 Forbes Blvd., Suite 200
Lanham, MD 20706
9781589796782, $16.95, www.rlpgbooks.com
Drinking before the evening doesn't make one a drunk if you show the right tastes. "Boozy
Brunch: The Quintessential Guide to Daytime Drinking" is a bartending guide from Peter Joseph
as he presents a daytime array of alcoholic beverages one can create for a bit of classy daytime
drinking, bringing variations into coffee and tea, in addition to fruit and vegetable mixes as well.
"Boozy Brunch" is a strong addition to any cookbook or general bartending collection.
The Civil War Shelf
The Maps Of Antietam
Bradley M. Gottfried
Savas Beatie
PO Box 4527, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
www.savasbeatie.com
9781611210866, $39.95, www.amazon.com
The Civil War battle of Antietam (including the Battle of South Mountain) took place on
September 2 through 20, 1862. It was one of the bloodiest conflicts of the civil war. With "The
Maps of Antietam: An Atlas of the Antietam (Sharpsburg) Campaign", civil war historian
Bradley M. Gottfried has created a 360-page compendium of 124 original, full page, colored
maps of the conflict along with historically descriptive commentary. Ideal as a guide for visitors,
civil war reenactors, and civil war scholars, "The Maps of Antietam: An Atlas of the Antietam
(Sharpsburg) Campaign" is a unique and welcome contribution to growing library of American
Civil War reference materials, and an ideal addition to personal, professional, academic, and
community library reference collections.
New Beford's Civil War
Earl F. Mulderink III
Fordham University Press
2546 Belmont Avenue
University Box L
Bronx, NY 10458-5172
9780823243341 $55.00 www.fordhampress.com
Earl F. Mulderink III (Professor of History, Southern Utah University) presents New Bedford's
Civil War, a close scrutiny of the social, political, economic, and military history of New
Bedford, Massachusetts during the nineteenth century, with especial emphases on its
involvement in the American Civil War as well as the city's black community, soldiers, and
veterans. Chapters explore how mobilization for war transformed New Bedford as part of the
Union's home front; New Bedford volunteers who served in the Civil War, whaling and
manufacturing in wartime New Bedford, the post-Civil War era, and more. Extensively
researched, and supported with an exhaustive array of notes, New Bedford's Civil War is a
comprehensive examination and especially recommended for college library American History
and Civil War reference shelves.
The Tenth Minnesota Volunteers
Michael A. Eggleston
McFarland & Company
PO Box 611
Jefferson NC 28640
9780786465934, $40.00, www.mcfarlandpub.com
Some are conscripted, but those who join willingly may have the extra drive to succeed. "The
Tenth Minnesota Volunteers: 1862-1865" focuses on the 10th Minnesota volunteer regiment who
contributed to helping the northern front of the conflict, who had to turn their attention away
from the confederacy to deal with a Sioux uprising. Their contributions are often unsung in many
histories, but Michael A. Eggleston brings their duties to light. "The Tenth Minnesota
Volunteers" is a must for history and Civil War collections.
The Relationship Shelf
Don't Say I Do!
Orna Gadish, MSC
New Horizon Press
PO Box 669
Far Hills, NJ 07931
9780882823829 $14.95 www.newhorizonpressbooks.com
Don't Say I Do! Why Women Should Stay Single offers a postmodern point of view to women's
relationship choices. Intended as an antidote to cultural pressures that push women to marry, or
to stay in unhappy marriage, Don't Say I Do! informs women about the positive values of
remaining single. Being single gives women more time and focus to pursue career paths,
cultivate friendships, or simply enjoy their lives; marriage is not necessary to "complete" a
woman. Don't Say I Do! also explores the benefits of living together with a significant other
rather than marrying, or even "Living Apart Together" relationships in which each member has
his or her own home and finances. There is a wealth of advice concerning finances and
practicalities for women considering divorce or the single life, although most of it is fairly broad
and general. Single parenthood is also discussed, as are in vitro fertilization options for women
who wish to become pregnant without a partner. Interspersed with the encouragement and
plain-terms information are brief, true-life anecdotes of women who chose nontraditional single
lives, and why. Don't Say I Do! glosses over the economic, physical, and emotional hardships of
raising one or more children as a single parent, but remains a valuable counterpoint to our
culture's push for marriage above all else - even when it may not be in the woman's best interests,
and especially when it's to the wrong man.
The Wine Shelf
The Homebuilt Winery
Steve Hughes
Storey Publishing
210 Mass MoCA Way
North Adams, MA 01247
9781603429900, $19.95, www.storey.com
Good wine is something many seek, but few know how to attain. "The Homebuilt Winery: 43
Projects for Building and Using Winemaking Equipment" is a read from Steve Hughes as he
seeks to expand the reader's knowledge of techniques to make a homemade wine making practice
that works and delivers quality. Projects throughout focus on everything from the bottling
process, storage, to the wine itself. "The Homebuilt Winery" is a must for anyone who wants to
try their own hand at winemaking, highly recommended.
The Fiction Shelf
The Last Temple
Hank Hanegraaf & Sigmund Brouwer
Tyndale House Publishers
351 Executive Drive
Carol Stream, IL 60188
9780842384469, $13.99, www.tyndale.com
The Roman legion offered much for its loyal soldiers. "The Last Temple" is a historical novel set
surrounding the resistance of Judea against the power of Rome. The Temple of Judea lies in the
balance, and former warrior and gladiator Vitas is forced to continue to fight, with his deserved
rest eluding him. With Christian connections throughout, "The Last Temple" is a riveting and
much recommended pick for Christian historical fiction collections.
Boleto
Alyson Hagy
Graywolf Press
250 Third Avenue North, Suite 600
Minneapolis, MN 55401
9781555976125, $24.00, www.graywolfpress.org
When your future lies heavily on one thing and one thing alone, you go all in. "Boleto" is a novel
from Alyson Hagy, following Wyoming horse trainer Will Testerman who throws his life savings
at a quarter horse, and on that horse, embarks on a challenging run through it all. "Boleto" is a
riveting novel for those who love horses and want a classically inspired tale of the New West and
its growing pains, recommended.
The Winds and the Waves
Dean Hughes
Deseret Books
PO Box 30178
Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0178
9781609070588, $24.95, www.deseretbook.com
A chance at something greater often seems endlessly alluring. "The Winds and the Waves" is the
first entry into the 'Come to Zion' series from Dean Hughes, telling of tenant farmer Will Lewis,
stuck going nowhere in 1840s England. A preacher and apostle of a newly emerging church
offers him a chance to break from this rut, but such an endeavor won't come easily. "The Winds
and the Waves" is a fine and much recommended pick for those seeking Mormon-driven fiction
that touches on the history of the church.
Wanted: Elevator Man
Joseph G. Peterson
Northern Illinois University Press
2280 Bethany Road
DeKalb, IL 60115
9780875806778, $14.00, www.niupress.niu.edu
Life often doesn't pan out as we had hoped it would. "Wanted: Elevator Man" is a novel
following the rut that Eliot Barnes Jr. faces in his life, having the best set up he could hope for
only to be stuck without much hope and aspiration in spite of his education and roots. A story of
coping with expectations proving to be a lie in one's life, "Wanted: Elevator Man" is a literary
addition to any contemporary fiction collection, highly recommended.
Inukshuk
Gregory Spatz
Bellevue Literary Press
c/o Dept. of Medicine
NYU School of Medicine
550 First Ave., OBV 612
New York, NY 10016
9781934137420, $14.95, http://blpress.org
Fantasy is where we retreat when reality is not tolerable. "Inukshuk" is a novel following father
and son combo John ad Thomas Franklin as they withdraw to a Northern Canadian town, trying
to cope with a mother and wife who abandoned them. Exploring the history surrounding a
historical explorer's own endeavors, Gregory Spatz puts together a book of facing life's crises and
overcoming them. "Inukshuk" is an entertaining and much recommended pick for general fiction
collections.
Creed
Michael Chavez
Quest
3520 Avenue H, Nederland, TX 77627
9781619290532, $17.95, www.regalcrest.biz
It is devastating to finally shirk the pain of one's past only to be dragged back into it. "Creed" is a
novel from Michael Chavez, following the struggles of young Theo Jaquez as he pulls himself
out of his rough life, but as a friend is dragged into it, he must go back into his past life to learn
why, and to be true to his fading friend. "Creed" is a riveting novel of corruption, politics,
terrorism, and the value of friendship.
The Fantasy/SciFi Shelf
Yield
Bryan K. Johnson
Bedside Books
14510 Big Basin Way #155
Saratoga Village, CA 95070
9781589826816, $24.95, www.american-book.com
Humanity has the power to end itself, and everything on the planet. "Yield" is the first entry into
Bryan K. Johnson's Armageddia series, exploring the aftermath of humanity's lust for
self-destruction and the struggles to breath life back into a shattered world once more. "Yield" is
a strong pick for those seeking a touch of post-apocalyptic fiction, highly recommended.
The Health/Medicine Shelf
Lower Blood Pressure Without Drugs
Roger Mason
Square One Publishers
115 Herricks Road
Garden City Park, NY 11040
9780757003660, $9.95, www.squareonepublishers.com
Hypertension is a herald for many other problems. "Lower Blood Pressure Without Drugs:
Curing Your Hypertension Naturally" is an advisory guide for those who want to fight their own
high blood pressure using good diet and exercise, with tips tailored to just this problem. With
plenty of practical advice and wisdom for living well and more effectively in one's own life,
"Lower Blood Pressure" is a fine addition to general health and wellness collections.
Navigating the Realities of Prostate Cancer
Craig T. Pynn
Demos Medical Publishing
11 West 42nd Street, 15th Floor
New York, NY 10036
9781936303359, $18.95, www.demosmedpub.com
Prostate cancer becomes a very real fear as a man enters middle age. "Navigating the Realities of
Prostate Cancer: One Man's Life-Changing Diagnosis" is a memoir from Craig T. Pynn as he
shares his story of overcoming the difficulties of prostate cancer and dealing with the very real
problems that come with it. With a positive outlook, he presents the strength to overcome these
challenges, and a better future for those who may deal with the disease. "Navigating the Realities
of Prostate Cancer" is a must-read especially for those who may be facing a similar
diagnosis.
The Self-Help Shelf
Extreme Intuitive Makeover
Anne Deidre
Maven Mark Books
2625 S. Greeley St. Suite 201
Milwaukee, WI 53207
9781595981783, $18.95, www.henschelHAUSbooks.com
Intuition is within all of us, it just needs to be unlocked. "Extreme Intuitive Makeover: 55 Keys
to Health, Wealth, and Happiness" is an inspirational book from Anne Deidre who touches on the
intuition to understanding our world, our selves, and achieve greater success in our lives in the
process. With plenty to consider for a better future, "Extreme Intuitive Makeover" is a strongly
recommended addition to any inspirational book collection. Also from Maven Mark Books in the
inspirational genre is "Set Yourself Free: Reon Schutte's 10 Principles to Break Out of Your
Personal Prison Through the Power of Choice" (9781595981523, $14.95), advising readers on
how to stop being the jailer that prevents their lives from truly flourishing.
The Wisdom of the Healing Wound
David Knighton
Health Communications, Inc.
3201 S.W. 15th Street
Deerfield Beach, FL 33442-8190
9780757415619, $14.95, www.hcibooks.com
Our pain is mostly in our minds. "The Wisdom of the Healing Wound: A New View on Why We
Hurt & How We Can Cure Even the Deepest Physical and Emotional Wounds" is an
inspirational work, as David Knighton advises readers how to keep their spirits high, and use an
injury, be it emotional or physical, and use it as a catalyst for greater health out of life. "The
Wisdom of the Healing Wound" is ideal for spirituality and self-help collections.
Stage Climbing
Michael S. Broder
MPA Publications
1420 Locust Street, Suite 7G
Philadelphia, PA 19102
9781889577395, $19.95, www.drmichaelbroder.com
One's own potential can be reached, but it may take some effort. "Stage Climbing: The Shortest
Path to Your Highest Potential" is an inspirational read from Michael S. Broder as he seeks to
help readers find their own wisdom, know what they truly want out of life, build relationships
that matter, and find one's own engine of success. "Stage Climbing" is a much recommended
pick for those who want to move to the next level of their life.
Comeback
Rick McDaniel
Westbow Press
1663 Liberty Drive, Suite 200
Bloomington, IN 47403-5161
9781449741266, $11.95, www.westbowpress.com
Faith can give you the power to withstand the worst of life's abuses. "Comeback: Overcoming the
Setbacks in Your Life" is a Christian driven read as he advises readers to evaluate the setbacks
one faces and how to use the traditional and practical faith to let one not be deterred, and surge
forward in life. "Comeback" is a strongly recommended addition to any self-help and Christian
collection.
Recovering the Self
Debra Kelly, author
Ernest Dempsey, editor
Loving Healing Press
5145 Pontiac Trail, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
9781615991617, $11.95, www.higherpowerfoundation.com
Healing is a long process at times, and often seems like something that will never truly come.
"Recovering the Self: A Journal of Hope and Healing" is a periodical from the people at Loving
Healing Press, who present a series of writings designed to help those who are trying to face
down life's pain succeed and flourish at a higher level. "Recovering the Self" is a choice and
much recommended addition to self-help and spirituality collections.
The Political Science Shelf
The Political Handbook For Small And Local Government Operations
Douglas C. Landa & Henry C. Landa
The Film Instruction Company of America
5928 West Michigan Street
Wauwatosa, WI 53213
0931974305, $69.50, www.ficoa.biz/theft.htm
There are a lot of 'how to' books on getting elected political office, but very few (if any!)
instruction manuals on how to effectively govern after being elected or appointed to a responsible
political position -- especially in local government. That's why "The Political Handbook For
Small And Local Government Operations" by Douglas C. Landa and Henry C. Landa will prove
to be welcome reading for anyone who finds themselves with newly elected responsibilities. "The
Political Handbook For Small And Local Government Operations" is an instruction manual on
how to become organized and efficient; offers a wealth of 'tips, tricks & techniques' with respect
to being a candidate and running for office; provides basic information relevant to leadership and
management; keeping informed and up-to-date through self-study, as well as the value of
self-improvement. Of special note is the emphasis on what positions in a political or
governmental systems should descriptively be. Thoroughly 'user friendly', comprehensive,
informed and informative, "The Political Handbook For Small And Local Government
Operations" should be considered a 'must' for anyone aspiring to (or newly elected to)
governmental responsibility in any and all areas of local governmental service.
Ronald Reagan's Wisdom for the Twenty-First Century
Commentary by John E. Wade II & Daniel P. Agatino
Edited by Charlotte Livingston
Pelican Publishing Company
1000 Burmaster Street
Gretna, LA 70053-2246
9781455617067 $12.95 www.pelicanpub.com
Ronald Reagan's Wisdom for the Twenty-First Century collects invaluable and insightful
quotations from America's widely beloved former President, enhanced with commentary by
television producer John E. Wade and attorney Daniel P. Agatino. Each page features a different,
thought-provoking quotation, as relevant today as it was decades ago, such as "Freedom is a
fragile thing and is never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by
inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only
once to a people. Those who have known freedom and then lost it have never known it again."
Ronald Reagan's Wisdom for the Twenty-First Century lives up to its title and is a highly
recommended browse.
Stuff 'n Nonsense
Harry H. Bash
Inkwater Press
6750 SW Franklin Street, Suite A
Portland, OR 97223-2542
9781592996636, $19.95, www.inkwaterpress.com
The world of politics can rarely be taken seriously any longer. "Stuff 'n Nonsense: A
Hodge-Podge of Whimsical, Sober & Politically Incorrect Musings" is a collection of ramblings
and political musings from Harry H. Bash, who provides his insights on the modern political
climate and the failings of many in politics, mocking all sides for losing their way and turning it
all into a political circus. "Stuff 'n Nonsense" is worth considering for those seeking offbeat
political commentary, recommended.
Democrips and Rebloodicans
Jesse Ventura
Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.
307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10018
9781616084486, $24.95, www.skyhorsepublishing.com
America's political parties seem more concerned with battling each other than truly helping the
people. "Democrips and Rebloodicans: No More Gangs in Government" is protest and call to
arms against what he believes to be a corrupt two party system in America. Former Independent
Minnesota Governor and NAVY Seal Jesse Ventura brings his views to the table, calling for a
break in the oligarchy, a party-free political system, and various reforms for the American people.
"Democrips and Rebloodicans" is well worth considering for fans of the governor's loose cannon
take on politics, recommended.
What Really Happened
Rielle Hunter
BenBella Books
10300 N. Central Expressway, Ste 400
Dallas, TX 75204
9781937856403, $24.95, www.benbellabooks.com
John Edwards was once a revered politician, who was on the cusp of the vice presidency, but his
secrets could not be evaded forever. "What Really Happened: John Edwards, Our Daughter, and
Me" explores the headline making affair between the former senator and Rielle Hunter. After
Edwards failed bid for the presidency in 2008, his unfaithful extramarital affair was brought to
light, which changed everything about his place and political career. "What Really Happened" is
a strongly recommended pick for those who want Hunter's perspective on the affair and another
perspective on Edwards.
The Poetry Shelf
Liveaboard
Emily Wall
Salmon Poetry
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7
Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
9781907056970, $21.95, www.dufoureditions.com
Life at sea can make the world a very different place. "Liveaboard" is an assortment of poetry
from Emily Wall, who draws from her experiences living on a large sailboat for four years of her
life, interpreting a different view of human nature. "Liveaboard" is a strongly recommended
addition to any contemporary poetry collection. "Living in the City": My hands/these strange
birds --/at night I dream they take/off and owl through some/foreign place of soil and
branches/satiating themselves --//then I wake, and here they lie/folded and warm on my
belly//flexing slightly, as if soothing/back one wild, damp feather.
Wayworn Wooden Floors
Mark Lavorato
Porcupine's Quill
68 Main St., PO Box 160
Erin, Ontario Canada N0B 1T0
9780889843516, $16.95, www.porcupinesquill.ca
Poetry is an attempt to share the purest essence of our life in the form of text. "Wayworn Wooden
Floors" is Mark Lavorato's collection of poetry as he touches on the many aspects of life and
living through the essence of his work, with a down to earth and thoughtful touch on many topics
on the matter. "Wayworn Wooden Floors" is insightful and much recommended addition to many
a modern poetry collection. "Where He Put Them": Isn't it strange how light collects,/gathers in
the quietest puddles,/inside the shoes of someone/who is gone?
Not Finding Wittgenstein
J S Harry
Bloodaxe Books
c/o Dufour Editions, Inc.
PO Box 7
Chester Springs, PA 19425-0007
9781852249285, $26.95, www.dufoureditions.com
As we explore the world, we learn much, and much more that we don't understand. "Not Finding
Wittgenstein" is a collection of poetry from J. S. Harry, an Australian poetry who uses the icon of
Peter Henry Lepus, a world traveling rabbit who speaks with many figures in recent histories for
different perspectives. "Not Finding Wittgenstein" is a riveting addition to general international
poetry collections. "A Suspension?": Clifta is not pleased with Peter./She has begun to doubt/if
he will EVER help her/to leave Iraq. He notices/she spends more & more time/racing after tiny
ants./At first he thought /she was playing games with them/but she sprang at him so crossly/when
he tried to come closer/to question her//that he decided not.
The Biography Shelf
Paint and Canvas
Rachel Berenson Perry
Indiana Historical Society
450 W. Ohio St.
Indianapolis, IN 46202
9780871952950, $17.95, www.indianahistory.org
The pursuit of art rarely goes the way the artist envisions it. "Paint and Canvas" is a biography of
Indiana painter Theodore Clement Steele by art historian Rachel Berenson Perry. Covering
Steele's life journey from a field worker who found his own way into an artistic career, who was
also known for speaking on the topic and bringing greater thought and spreading arts education
through America. Known for his many portraits of prominent Americans, "Paint and Canvas" is a
strong addition to any Indiana focused history collection as well as any art history collection.
He Rode with Butch and Sundance
Mark T. Smokov
University of North Texas Press
PO Box 311336
Denton, TX 76203-1336
9781574414707 $29.95 www.unt.edu/untpress
He Rode with Butch and Sundance is an in-depth biography of notorious Old West outlaw
Harvey Alexander Logan, better known by his alias Kid Curry. Originally a cowboy, Logan was
forced to flee to Wyoming after a vicious conflict with a neighbor rancher. He undertook cattle
rustling, and eventually started robbing banks and trains as a member - then leader - of the
infamous Wild Bunch. Logan was often portrayed as a ruthless killer with little intellect, but how
much truth lies within the stories? Author and magazine contributor Mark T. Smokov draws
upon research to closely examine Logan's history. While Logan certainly never hesitated to kill
when threatened by a posse or by policemen, his bloodthirsty reputation may well have been
exaggerated; when he was brought to trial, he was charged with forging and passing stolen
banknotes rather than murder and train robbery (due to lack of evidence). Endnotes, a
bibliography, and an index round out this thoughtful and evenhanded portrait of a legendary
criminal.
The Crafts Shelf
The Book of Blacksmithing
Michael Cardiff
Paladin Press
7077 Winchester Circle
Boulder, CO 80301
9781610045773, $16.00, www.paladin-press.com
The skill of the blacksmith is still a highly useful one. "The Book of Blacksmithing" is an
advisory guide for those who want to delve into the art of blacksmithing and how to use it more
effectively in one's day to day life, creating and repairing useful objects through it all. Also
touching on the artistic side of working with hot iron and the fulfillment that can come from its
practice, "The Book of Blacksmithing" is a must for those who want to embrace a historical skill
that is still very much useful to this day.
The Computer Shelf
The GIS Guide To Public Domain Data
Joseph J. Kerski & Jill Clark
ESRI Press
380 New York Street, Redlands, CA 92373-8100
www.esri.com/esripress
9781589482449, $49.95, www.amazon.com
The collaborative work of geographer, cartographer Joseph J. Kerski and expert technical author
Jill Clark, "GIS Guide to Public Domain Data" focuses upon providing GIS users with specific
and detailed instructional information on sources for and policies concerning access to and the
use of spatial data available as public domain information. This 372-page compendium is
methodically organized into ten major sections: spacial data and the public domain; spatial data
models, vector data, and data quality; raster data and privacy issues; the true cost of, and local
access to, spatial data; national and state data portals and metadata standards; international spatial
data infrastructures; putting public domain spatial data to work; public domain data on the cloud;
the future of public domain data in GIS. A seminal and comprehensive work, "The GIS Guide To
Public Domain Data" is a highly recommended addition to personal, professional, academic, and
community library GIS instructional reference and research collections.
C# 5.0 Pocket Reference
Joseph Albahari & Ben Albahari
O'Reilly & Associates, Inc.
1005 Gravenstein, Hwy N.
Sebastopol, CA 95472-2811
9781449320171 $14.99 www.oreilly.com
Twenty-year veteran programmer Joseph Albahari and former Microsoft program manager Ben
Albahari present C# 5.0 Pocket Reference, a compact, conveniently-sized resource for C# 5.0
programmers of all skill and experience levels. Plain-spoken text and C# 5.0 examples on
virtually every page demonstrate all of C# 5.0's fundamentals; an assortment of advanced topics
such as operator overloading, type constraints, iterators, lambda expressions, etc.; a grounding in
LINQ; dynamic binding and the new asynchronous functions in C# 5.0; warnings against unsafe
code and pointers; custom attributes; XML documentation; and much more. Programmers may
be familiar with the authors' more exhaustive reference "C# 5.0 in a Nutshell" (9781449320102,
$49.99), a lengthy and thoroughly comprehensive resource concerning the language; at a slim
212 pages with an index, C# 5.0 Pocket Reference succinctly distills the key elements of its
expansive brother tome into a slender, easy-to-carry-and-use format.
The Artist's Guide to GIMP, second edition
Michael J. Hammel
No Starch Press
38 Ringold Street
San Francisco, CO 94103-4403
9781593274146, $39.95, www.nostarch.com
GIMP is a free open source image editor that is just as capable as Photoshop. "The Artist's Guide
to GIMP: Creative Techniques for Photographers, Artists, and Designers" is a comprehensive
how to use manual surrounding the Photoshop alternative, understanding its unique interface and
getting the most out of the program. Designed to grant plenty of advice for users of any skill level
with the program or other image editors, "The Artist's Guide to GIMP" is a must for anyone who
is looking to learn photo and image editing on a budget.
In Design CS6
Olav Martin Kvern, David Blatner, and Bob Bringhurst
Peachpit Press
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780321834614, $59.99, www.mcp.com
Publishing was once a newspaper... then magazines... and now it is a whole slew of media.
"Adobe In Design CS6: Industrial-Strength Publishing Techniques" is a comprehensive how to
manual for greater success in design using InDesign CS6. Outlining the many details and options
that the program offers, illustration and design professionals Olav Martin Kvern, David Blatner,
and Bob Bringhurst come together to offer plenty of useful tricks to create effective and
professional quality work with the program, discussing the importance of everything from
typeface to color selection. For anyone who wants to better understand the value of good
publishing techniques, "Adobe In Design CS6" is a must for technology and art design
community and college library collections.
Contractor's Guide To QuickBooks 2012
Karen Mitchell & Craig Savage
Craftsman Book Company
6058 Corte del Cedro, Carlsbad, CA 92009
www.craftsman-book.com
9781572182721, $58.50, www.amazon.com
QuickBooks is the preferred and most widely used accounting software utilized in the
construction industry because of its superior and 'user friendly' features for such routine office
paperwork as writing checks, tracking bank balances, invoicing, generating profit and loss
statements, writing payroll checks, tracking job costs, paying suppliers and subcontractors,
estimating project costs, and so much more. "Contractor's Guide To QuickBooks 2012" is a
complete course and manual for using QuickBooks and takes the reader through step-by-step
instructions for setting up and implementing the process for all office bookkeeping needs in a
reliable accounting system. Nicely illustrated, comprehensive, replete with duplicatable
examples, and with the added value of free downloads, "Contractor's Guide To QuickBooks
2012" is the ideal introduction to all the financial tools required to run a profitable contracting
operation regardless of its size and scope.
The Education Shelf
The Lowering Of Higher Education In America
Jackson Toby
Transaction Publishers
35 Berrue Circle
Piscataway, NJ 08854-8042
www.transactionpub.com
9781412846240, $24.95, www.amazon.com
The cultural ideal is that every student should go to college in preparation for both gainful
employment and personal fulfillment. It is also the common assumption that there is sufficient
financial resources through student loans, grants, and scholarships to pay for a college education
for those students aspiring to a university degree. Unfortunately the reality is quite different. "The
Lowering of Higher Education in America: Why Student Loans Should Be Based on Credit
Worthiness" is a 228-page compendium in which academician and author Jackson Toby
(Professor Emeritus of Sociology) asserts that not every high school graduate is automatically
entitled to attend college if they or their parents lack the necessary financial means to do so.
Professor Toby assess the flaws in the federal financial aid programs that do not take into
consideration a students academic qualifications, but only their financial needs. The result is a
'dumbing down' of college admission standards of admission and expectations, accompanied by
very high rate of college dropouts of academically ill prepared or performing financial aid
students. Controversial, culturally iconoclastic, yet very well researched and argued, "The
Lowering of Higher Education in America: Why Student Loans Should Be Based on Credit
Worthiness" is a valued contribution to today's national debate over the financing of higher
education and is especially recommended to the attention of governmental and university policy
makers.
The SAPRpbis Manual
Bridget Walker & Douglas Cheney
Brookes Publishing Company
PO Box 10624
Baltimore, MD 21285-0624
9781598571707, $40.00, www.brookespublishing.com
A well-behaved and orderly school is one that learns better. "The SAPRpbis Manual: A
Team-Based Approach to Implementing Effective Schoolwide Positive Behavior Interventions
and Supports" explores how to create a positive reinforcing environment for one's school. The
SAPRpbis - The Self Assessment and Program Review for Positive Behavior Interventions and
Supports, has been called an excellent way to measure and improve a school's harmony,
improving the learning environment and creating powerful relationships. "The SAPRpbis
Manual" is a strongly recommended pick for educational reference collections aimed at guidance
counselors and other individuals who take charge of school behavior.
The Botany Shelf
A Field Guide to Alpine Wildflowers of the Rocky Mountains
Halle Flygare
Harbour Publishing
PO Box 219
Madeira Park, BC, Canada, V0N 2H0
9781550175530, $7.95, www.harbourpublishing.com
The flowers of the Rocky Mountains are varied as they are wonderful. "A Field Guide to Alpine
Wildflowers of the Rocky Mountains" is a full color eightfold pamphlet designed to be used a
field guide for nature lovers who live or will soon find themselves in the fields surrounding the
Rocky Mountain region. With a water resistant construction, Halle Flygare presents a
comprehensive reference no lover of flora should be without. "A Field Guide to Alpine
Wildflowers of the Rocky Mountains" is strongly recommended.
The Comix/Graphic Novel Shelf
Image Comics
George Khoury
TwoMorrows Publishing
10407 Bedfordtown Drive, Raleigh, NC 27614
www.twomorrows.com
9781893905719, $34.95, www.amazon.com
For a great many decades the comic book industry was dominated by two giant corporate
publishers: Marvel & DC. Then a new publisher emerged to successfully challenge them --
Image Comics. Their stories were edgier, their artists among the most skilled in the field, and
their appeal to the reading public included adults as well as teens. The collaborative work of
Image icons George Khoury, Jim Lee, Erik Larsen and Todd McFarlane, "Image Comics: The
Road To Independence" is a profusely illustrated 280-page compendium showcasing the
company's seven founding artists, its management team, and its roster of associates. Of special
note is the concluding chapter showcasing perhaps the most influential artist and storyteller in the
modern comic book/graphic novel industry -- Jack Kirby. Informed and informative, "Image
Comics: The Road To Independence" will prove to be a fascinating read for the legions of Image
Comics fans and prove to be an enduringly popular addition to personal, academic, and
community library collections.
The Audiobook Shelf
Bad Little Falls
Paul Doiron, author
www.pauldoiron.com
Henry Levya, narrator
Macmillan Audio
175 Fifth Avenue, Suite 315
New York, NY 10010
9781427221308 $34.99 www.macmillanaudio.com
Bad Little Falls is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of award-winning author Paul Doiron's
thrilling novel about the ruthless side of men and nature. When Maine game warden Mike
Bowditch is sent to a remote site on the border with Canada, a severe blizzard is the least of his
problems. Sent into the wilderness on a rescue mission, he discovers evidence of murder, with
the killer or killers still at large! Outnumbered and outgunned, the only one he can ask for help is
the multitalented bush pilot Charley Stevens - but in the meantime Bowditch must use his head
and his will to survive the ravages of both a winter storm and remorseless smugglers. Brought to
life by Henry Leyva's talented storytelling, Bad Little Falls is a choice pick for suspense fans, and
highly recommended. 7 CDs, 9 hours.
Molly Bloom's Soliloquy from Ulysses
James Joyce, author
Marcella Riordan, narrator
Naxos of America, Inc.
1810 Columbia Avenue, Suite 28
Franklin, TN 37064
9781843796244 $17.98 www.naxosaudiobooks.com
Molly Bloom's Soliloquy from Ulysses is the audiobook rendition of an extended excerpt from
Joyce's classic novel "Ulysses". Molly Bloom's internal monologue, in which the passionately
amorous and sexually adventurous woman mediates on her many, vigorous infidelities while
lying next to her sleeping husband, is perhaps the most famous passage of Joyce's novel. Veteran
theater performer and award-winning radio actress Marcella Riordan brings to life Molly's
convoluted and sometimes difficult narrative, in this unabridged adaptation (although only this
audiobook features only the soliloquy, and not the rest of "Ulysses"). Molly Bloom's Soliloquy is
highly recommended for fans Joyce's widely popular works. 2 CDs, 2 hours 24 min.
The Great Escape
Susan Elizabeth Phillips, author
Shannon Cochran, narrator
Harper Audio
10 East 53rd Street
New York, NY 10022-5299
9780062189400 $39.99 www.harpercollins.com
The Great Escape is the unabridged audiobook rendition of award-winning romance writer Susan
Elizabeth Phillips' novel of a privileged woman, Lucy Jorik, who falls hard for the bad boy - in
this case, a temperamental stranger with no sense of manners, riding on a mangled motorcycle.
Her "great escape" with the mysterious man takes her to Great Lakes beach house. As her sudden
departure prompts an all-out search, she must use what little time she has to figure out her heart
and her destiny - although her rough-as-nails partner-in-evasion seems to defy any and all
interpretation! The Great Escape seduces the listener into an escape of their own, and is a choice
pick for romance connoisseurs. 12 CDs, 13 1/2 hours.
Devil's Peak
Deon Meyer, author
Simon Vance, narrator
Highbridge Audio Books
201 Sixth Street SE, Suite 220
Minneapolis, MN 55414
9781611748062 $39.95 www.highbridgeaudio.com
Devil's Peak is the unabridged audiobook adaptation of South African crime writer Deon Meyer's
intense saga of three flawed, driven individuals. A former soldier loses his son to a gas station
shootout and takes up arms against any who would prey upon children; an alcoholic detective has
been given a family ultimatum to dry out even as he searches for an unknown killer; and a sex
worker struggles to find a path to a better life for herself and her child - at any price. Knife-edge
suspense delineates the thin line between justice and revenge, murder and retribution, in this
gripping audio experience superbly performed by Booklist's 2008 "Voice of Choice" reader
Simon Vance. Highly recommended. 10 CDs, 12 1/2 hours.
The DVD Shelf
Injustice
Created by Anthony Horowitz
Acorn Media Group
8515 Georgia Avenue, Suite 620
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3403
9781598288254 $39.99 www.acornonline.com
Injustice is a harrowing, five-part British crime thriller that will keep the viewer fascinated to the
very end. Blending elements of the legal drama, police procedure, mystery, and suspense genres,
Injustice follows disillusioned defense barrister William Travers, who is called out of retirement
to defend an old comrade from a homicide charge. But the further the case progresses, the more
sinister elements appear, until the specter of death hangs over his neighborhood and he becomes
a target of investigation! Injustice is not for the faint of heart, due to scenes of violence, strong
language, and disturbing images. A bonus photo gallery enhances this excellent, tightly crime
story. 5 episodes on 2 DVDs, 223 min., widescreen, SDH subtitles.
St. Louis Steam Celebration
Pentrex
2652 East Walnut St.
Pasadena, CA 91107
1563423170 $29.95 www.pentrex.com
St. Louis Steam Celebration (2 hours) is a DVD capturing the greatest steam event of 1990,
during which four of America's largest steam locomotives came to Union Station in Saint Louis,
Missouri for the NRHS convention. Six camera crews from the railroad documentary specialists
of Pentrex covered the Cotton Belt 819, the Frisco 1522, the Norfolk & Western 1218, and the
Union Pacific 844, and the captivating activities of the grand celebration, including convention
excursions across beautiful countryside. St. Louis Steam Celebration is truly the next best thing
to riding the greatest and most venerable steam locomotives in person, and highly recommended
especially for railroading enthusiasts. Also choice picks for railroad buffs are "Santa Fe 3751:
The Restoration" (1563423235, $29.95, 1 hour), the true story of how the San Bernardino
Railroad Historical Society spent ten years and thousands of man-hours to restore a historic
steam locomotive and return her to the rails, and "Santa Fe 3751: Return to Steam" (1563423030,
$29.95, 1 hour), a DVD displaying the successful maiden voyage of this beautifully restored
locomotive, in honor of the 99th anniversary of the original train's debut. All three Pentrex DVDs
are in full color with standard definition 4x3 format and hi-fi sound and narration.
The DVD-ROM Shelf
Adobe InDesign CS6 Learn by Video
Presented by Kelly McCathran
Adobe Press
c/o Pearson Technology Group
801 East 96th Street, #300
Indianapolis, IN 46240-3759
9780321840691 $64.99 www.mcp.com
Created and approved by Adobe Press, Adobe InDesign CS6 Learn by Video is a solid training
video on DVD-ROM, ideal for self-teaching and polishing one's building block skills with the
program Adobe InDesign CS6. Adobe Certified Expert Kelly McCathran guides the student
through using the program to create basic text and image layouts as well as advanced features.
The course includes tips, tricks and techniques on how to use Adaptive Design Tools (which
allow layouts to be adjusted to look their best on a variety of page sizes, orientations, or devices);
applying colors to maximum effect; high-end text handling; book features; dynamic content; and
much more. An accompanying 48-page booklet in full color complements this superb
DVD-ROM, packed with over 8 hours of professional-quality instruction. A top-notch resource
for anyone interested in using Adobe InDesign CS6 for cost-effective self-publishing.
The Military Shelf
My Life in the Service
Staff Sergeant Jack E. Bates
Compiled by Wayne N. Horton
Heritage Books
100 Railroad Ave, Suite 104
Westminster, Maryland 21157-4826
9780788453892 $25.00 www.heritagebooks.com
My Life in the Service: The World War II Diary (October 7, 1944 - October 14, 1945) of Staff
Sergeant Jack E. Bates is the day-by-day primary source written by a member of America's 2nd
Squadron, 22nd Bombardment Group of the Fifth Air Force. Jack E. Bates called Horseheads,
New York home, volunteered (allegedly) for the infantry in 1944, then transferred to the Army
Air Corp. He trained as an armor gunner, was sent to Australia, and served in the Pacific theater
until the end of the war. Most daily entries are fairly brief, taking up no more than a paragraph,
but Bates was not one to waste words. Vintage black-and-white photographs pepper this candid
and captivating firsthand account of bombing missions, daily life, and more. "Dec. 28, 44 - Didn't
get it fixed again so at 4 p.m. we took off with a 408th crew and came back to Anguar late that
night. Was even on the mission list tomorrow but someone had crossed my name off. They sure
don't plan on giving me a rest. If I go on many missions like the last two they'll be putting me to
rest I'm afraid." Compiler Wayne N. Horton has added a wealth of clarifying footnotes and an
index to round out this excellent, accessible, and highly recommended snapshot of one airman's
perspective of World War II.
The Travel Shelf
Discover USA
Lonely Planet Publications
150 Linden Street
Oakland CA 94607
9781742200019 $27.99 www.lonelyplanet.com
Lonely Planet continues their distinguished line of top-quality travel guides with Discover USA,
an excellent, easy-to-use reference for vacationers interested in the best of the best tourist
destinations of America. Divided into sections focusing on New York City, Washington DC,
Chicago, Boston & New England, New Orleans & the South, Florida, The Grand Canyon & the
Southwest, The Pacific Northwest, California, and "The Best of the Rest" (with notes on Hawaii,
Alaska, the Rocky Mountains, Texas, Philadelphia, Niagara Falls, and Mount Rushmore),
Discover USA is packed with suggested itineraries, user-friendly maps, recommended
restaurants, "need-to-know" information and advance planning tips, and much more. Packed with
color photographs throughout, Discover USA lives up to its title and is highly recommended for
both foreign travelers and Americans interested in cross-country sightseeing!
Discovering Totem Poles
Aldona Jonaitis
Douglas & McIntyre
2323 Quebec Street, Suite 201
Vancouver, BC, Canada, V5T 4S7
9781926812854, $19.95, www.douglas-mcintyre.com
The totem pole is an icon of Pacific Northwest Native American art. "Discovering Totem Poles"
is a full color guide to the totem pole exhibits throughout the region, touching on their cultural
meaning and their artistic attraction, and how to better understand these sculptures as a tourist.
Presented in full color and with plenty of information all throughout, "Discovering Totem Poles"
is a strongly recommended pick cultural and travel collections, not to be overlooked.
Canadian Battlefields 1915-1918
Terry Copp, Matt Symes, and Nick Lachance
Clare Hitchens
LCMSDS Press
c/o Wilfrid Laurier University Press
Wilfrid Laurier University
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2L 3C5
9781926804118 $32.99 wlupress.wlu.ca
Canadian Battlefields 1915-1918: A Visitor's Guide is an ideal resource for planning a travel
itinerary that allows one to see firsthand Canadian World War I battlefield sites on Europe's
Western Front. Illustrated with maps and color photographs throughout, along with historical
renditions of how the battles at each site played out, Canadian Battlefields 1915-1918 is a choice
pick for armchair travelers and military history enthusiasts as well as tourists. Highly
recommended.
The Photography Shelf
She
Lise Sarfati
Twin Palms Publishers
PO Box 10229, Santa Fe, NM 87504
www.twinpalms.com
9781936611003, $75.00, www.amazon.com
Modeled after a family photography album whose captions and context have been lost so that all
that is left for the browser are the photographic images of several women within the context of
rooms and streets. "She" is a coffee table book of color photos, each of which could evoke a story
within the mind and eye of the viewer. Lise Sarfati is clearly a master photographer able to
capture ordinary female images and convert them into an extraordinary body of work in this
120-page compendium. Of special note is the bilingual (French/English) commentary that at the
end of this volume and serves as a kind of extended 'Afterword'. "She" is highly recommended as
a seminal contribution to personal, professional, and academic 20th Century Photography
reference collections and supplemental reading lists.
The Art Shelf
Ingenious Contrivances, Curiously Carved
Stuart M. Frank
David R. Godine, Publisher
PO Box 450, Jaffrey, NH 03452
9781567924527, $65.00, www.godine.com
Although use of ivory and whalebone has fallen out of fashion, the art of the past still remains.
"Ingenious Contrivances, Curiously Carved: Scrimshaw in the New Bedford Whaling Museum"
explores the creatures used using these modernly condemned items and their unique creations as
a piece of history. With full color photography all throughout, Stuart M. Frank creates a detailed
history of these creations, their origins, and their creators. A choice pick for those seeking a bit of
artistic history for their coffee table, "Ingenious Contrivances, Curiously Carved" is very much
recommended.
The Jewelry Shelf
Showcase 500 Beaded Jewelry
Ray Hemachandra
Lark Crafts
c/o Sterling Publishing
387 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10016
9781454703167 $27.95 www.larkcrafts.com
Showcase 500 Beaded Jewelry lives up to its title with striking, full-color photography of five
hundred captivating beaded jewelry pieces by modern crafters. From multipart necklaces to
modern-art style creations to subtle depth in color and pattern, this beadworks are sure to dazzle,
amaze, and inspire. Each photographed piece has a brief caption listing its physical dimensions,
components, and methods of creation. Showcase 500 Beaded Jewelry is a sheer visual joy to
browse and savor, and a reservoir of creative inspiration for beaded jewelry artists
everywhere.
Metal Clay & Color
Mary Wohlgemuth
Kalmbach Publishing Company
21027 Crossroads Circle
Waukesha, WI 53186
9780871164414, $21.95, www.kalmbachbooks.com
There's more than gold and silver in jewelry. "Metal, Clay, & Color: Inventive Techniques from
20 Jewelry Designers" is a do it yourself jewelry crafter's guide to embracing the many methods
to adding color to their ensemble above and beyond the traditional ideas. From using naturally
colored materials to using pencils and other color devices to force the way, "Metal, Clay, &
Color" is filled with full color artwork throughout and makes for a strong and solidly
recommended read not to be overlooked. Also from Kalmbach for do-it-yourself Jewelry
collections is "Creative Beading Vol.7" (9780871164827, $29.95), filled with ways to use beads
to add more depth to one's creations.
The Theatre/Cinema Shelf
The Beauty Of The Real
Mick LaSalle
Stanford University Press
1450 Page Mill Road
Palo Alto, CA 94304-1124
www.sup.org
9780804768542, $24.95, www.amazon.com
It could well be argued that American cinema has been negligent in its treatment of its actresses.
Not so French cinema. "The Beauty of the Real: What Hollywood Can Learn from Contemporary
French Actresses" by Mick LaSalle (film critic for the San Francisco Chronicle and Hearst
Newspapers) is a 248-page compendium showcasing a number of French actresses who
remarkable talents and bodies of work provide valued insights into the nature of womanhood and
the inevitable vicissitudes of life. These are actresses who screen stories and performances
compel others to reflect upon a wide range of life-centric issues. Of special note are the profiles
of French actresses based upon personal interviews and critiques of their films by LaSalle. Not to
be missed is the appendices on 'How to See French Films in the United States'. "The Beauty of
the Real: What Hollywood Can Learn from Contemporary French Actresses" is a welcome and
unique contribution to the growing body of Cinematic Studies Literature.
The Gaming Shelf
Caro's Book Of Poker Tells
Mike Caro
Cardoza Publishing
5473 South Eastern Avenue
Las Vegas, NV 89119
www.cardozapub.com
9781580420822, $24.95, www.amazon.com
Mike Cardoza is widely recognized as a world class poker player and a prolific author of
instructional books on the game. One of his very best is "Caro's Book of Poker Tells: The
Psychology and Body Language of Poker", a 320-page compendium that is packed from cover to
cover with a wealth of 'real world' information on how players can use the power of observation
to decode what other players are doing, including the range of hands they are playing and when
they might be bluffing. Enhanced throughout with photographic illustrations and play-by-play
examples, Mike Caro shows aspiring poker players how to interpret body language based 'tells'
including subtle shrugs, sighs, shaky hands, eye contact, throat pulsation, chip handling,
conversation patterns, 'stare downs', and a great many more. A true classic that is an absolute
'must' for amateur and professional players alike, "Caro's Book of Poker Tells: The Psychology
and Body Language of Poker" will prove to be of enduring value. Aspiring poker players would
be well advised to visit the Cardoza Publishing web site (www.cardozapub.com) for a complete
list of Mike Caro instructional poker titles.
Championship 107 Hold'em Tournament Hands
T. J. Cloutier & Tom McEvoy
Cardoza Publishing
5473 South Eastern Avenue
Las Vegas, NV 89119
www.cardozapub.com
9781580422680, $19.95, www.amazon.com
One of the 'grand old men of poker', T. J. Cloutier is in the Poker Hall of Fame, winner of six
WSOP bracelets, was twice voted Player of the Year, and has the distinction of winning more
titles in no-limit and pot-limit hold than any other professional in the field. Another seasoned
professional, Tom McEvoy is the winner of four WSOP gold bracelets (including the World
Championship), as well as the 2009 WSOP Champion of Champions event, and the first player
to ever win a PPT championship and a WSOP Main Event Championship. Together, Cloutier
and McEvoy have collaborated to write "Championship 107 Hold'em Tournament Hands: A
Hand-by-Hand Guide to Winning Hold'em Tournaments!", a 320-page compendium composed
of illustrations and step-by-step explanations of outstanding poker tournament hands by
outstanding tournament poker players. Aspiring poker players seeking to improve their play will
learn how to play all important hold-em hands from preflop to the river card. They'll also be
instructed in how to use strategic play for maximum profit and how specific World Series of
Poker champions played key hands in WSOP tournament 'do-or-die' situations. Of special note is
'Agony and Ecstasy at the Final Table: A Conversation with T. J. Cloutier'. Simply stated,
"Championship 107 Hold'em Tournament Hands: A Hand-by-Hand Guide to Winning Hold'em
Tournaments!" is informed, informative, and should be considered mandatory reading for anyone
seeking to win their way to a tournament championship of their own!
The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
Unexplained!
Jerome Clark
Visible Ink Press
43311 Joy Road #414, Canton, MI 48187-2075
9781578593446, $22.95, www.visibleinkpress.com
There are many unsolved mysteries of the world which just beg us to ask more questions.
"Unexplained!: Strange Sightings, Incredible Occurrences, and Puzzling Physical Phenomena" is
a collection of mysterious events throughout the world and of the world's mythology that lead to
unexplained occurrences. From the unusual nature of vanishing things in the Bermuda Triangle,
UFOs, to more unknown aberrations, "Unexplained!" is a strongly recommended addition to
metaphysical and mythology and legend collections.
The American History Shelf
Museums, Monuments, And National Parks
Denise D. Meringolo
University of Massachusetts Press
PO Box 429, Amherst, MA 01004
www.umass.edu/umpress
9781558499409, $26.95, www.amazon.com
Beginning in the 1970s, public history underwent a rapid expansion. So much so that in some
quarters it was thought to be a new branch of historical inquiry. In "Museums, Monuments, and
National Parks: Toward a New Genealogy of Public History", author and historian Denise D.
Meringolo (Associate Professor of History and Directory of Public History, University of
Maryland) effectively documents that the dedicated involvement of the federal government in
developing, collecting, preserving, and making available historical documents to scholarship and
the general public began in 19th Century and was given a significant and special emphasis in the
programs of the Natonal Park Service History program and select WPA projects during the
1930s. Informed and informative, "Museums, Monuments, and National Parks: Toward a New
Genealogy of Public History" is a work of seminal scholarship and a welcome addition to
academic library American History reference collections and supplemental reading lists.
The World History Shelf
Ninja Attack!, revised edition
Hiroko Yoda and Matt Alt, authors
Yutaka Kondo, illustrator
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive
North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436
9784805312186 $15.95 www.tuttlepublishing.com
Now in a revised, full-color edition with sixteen additional pages Ninja Attack! True Tales of
Assassins, Samurai, and Outlaws is a fascinating look at who Japan's legendary "ninja" really
were, and their exploits throughout history. The heart of the compendium are brief, biographical
sketches of legendary spies, assassins, warriors, criminals, and the lords who commanded them.
Lively illustrations pepper this engaging collection, which is written especially for lay readers
who are curious to know who ninja really were, beyond the confines of star-studded Hollywood
action movies. "Ninja didn't harbor a blind allegiance to traditional weaponry. They were, in fact,
at the forefront of the military technology of their day. Already innovators in explosives,
firearms, and communication systems, a sixteenth-century ninja would undoubtedly have been
overjoyed with a modern pair of night-vision goggles or a high-powered sniper rifle." A final
section explaining the tools once used by ninja, as well as famous locations connected to ninja,
rounds out this resourceful, user-friendly guide. Ninja Attack! is especially recommended not
only to curious lay readers, but also as a ground zero reference for anyone and everyone
interested in writing their own, fantastic stories about ninja! Also highly recommended to readers
intrigued by Japanese history, culture, and mythology are the authors' two other books in the
"Attack" series, "Yokai Attack! The Japanese Monster Survival Guide" (9784805312193,
$15.95) and "Yurei Attack! The Japanese Ghost Survival Guide" (9784805312148, $15.95).
The Wisconsin Shelf
Midwest Majesty: Silos of Wisconsin
Jack Tackman
Little Creek Press
c/o Kristin Mitchell Design, LLC
5341 Sunny Ridge Road
Mineral Point, WI 53565
9780984924530 $28.95 www.littlecreekpress.com
Midwest Majesty: Silos of Wisconsin lives up to its title with a vast collection of striking,
full-color photographs of the vast variety of silos that can be found across Wisconsin. Silos made
of fieldstone, wood, brick, block, glazed tile, or concrete pepper the pages, and each is paired
with a commentary vignette about how it was built or used. True tales from the farmers who
relied on these faithful silos pepper this thoroughly enjoyable blend of history, trivia, and
agricultural architecture. Highly recommended, especially for any who enjoy virtual tours of
Wisconsin's rural landscape.
A Farm in Wisconsin
Richard Quinney
University of Wisconsin Press
1930 Monroe Street, Third Floor
Madison, WI 53711-2059
9780983517405, $35.00, www.wisc.edu/wisconsinpress
Wisconsin's farms are plentiful and curious. "A Farm in Wisconsin" tells the history of one of
these farms, that had its birth in 1868 and grew into a behemoth of a farm 160 acres in size. A
family's story is told in the process, offering a generational look at rural Wisconsin and its impact
and history on the development of the state. With black and white photography throughout, "A
Farm in Wisconsin" is a fine and much recommended read for those intrigued by Wisconsin's
fascinating history.
Poles in Wisconsin
Susan Gibson Mikos
Wisconsin Historical Society Press
816 State Street
Madison, WI 53575
9780870204227, $9.95, www.wisconsinhistory.org
Many peoples of Europe came to America and saw many challenges for different cultures. "Poles
in Wisconsin" is a historical look at the Polish peoples journey to Wisconsin in the 1870s, and
the clash they faced competing with the German and Scandinavian peoples who had already
claimed the state as their own. Working hard to make their impact, "Poles in Wisconsin" is a
much recommended cultural history, not to be missed.
Building Taliesin
Ron McCrea
Wisconsin Historical Society Press
816 State Street, Madison, WI 53575
www.wisconsinhistory.org
9780870206061, $35.00. www.amazon.com
Frank Lloyd Wright is an iconic American architect whose combination home and studio,
Taliesin, is one of his most renown and original constructions. "Building Taliesin: Frank Lloyd
Wright's Home of Love and Loss" by Ron McCrea and published by the Wisconsin Historical
Society Press is a profusely illustrated, 240 page history of both the building and the people who
are most closely associated with it. What unfolds is a story of both architectural triumph and
personal tragedy. "Building Taliesin: Frank Lloyd Wright's Home of Love and Loss" is both
informed and informative, making it especially recommended reading for students of the life and
work of Frank Lloyd Wright.
Arcadia Publishing
420 Wando Park Blvd.
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
www.arcadiapublishing.com
Arcadia Publishing specializes in producing photograph-based histories of local communities in
their simply outstanding 'Images of America' series. Three contributions specific to Wisconsin
should be especially highlighted for the Badger State's community, academic, and history society
libraries. "Waunakee And Westport" (9780738591742, $21.99); "Two Rivers" (9780738588711,
$21.99); and "Langlade County" (9780738588636, $21.99). Compiled by Katie Brenner,
"Waunakee And Westport" is a 127-page compendium of 19th and early 20th century
photographs with captions this Wisconsin community and its residents organized along the
themes of farming, the railroad, businesses, churches, schools, and houses. Of special note are
the chapters specific to 'People' and 'Community'. The team of Patrick J. Ganon and Cassandra
Ganon Kronforst showcase the Wisconsin community of "Two Rivers" in a 127-page
compilation of superbly reproduced and captioned 18th and 19th century photos. "Langlade
County" is a pictorial celebration of the history of Wisconsin's "Langlade County" compiled and
edited by Richard Klatte Prestor and Joseph Hermolin. Of special note in this 'Great North
Woods' county are the several Native American tribes that are photographically represented.
Each of these three historically impressive works are informed, informative, and highly
recommended for non-specialist general readers with an interest in Wisconsin history.
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Diane C. Donovan, Editor
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575-1129
phone: 1-608-835-7937
e-mail: mbr@execpc.com
e-mail: mwbookrevw@aol.com
http://www.midwestbookreview.com
Copyright ©2001
Site design by Williams Writing, Editing &
Design